Chapter 34

"Severus?" She couldn't believe her eyes, and she just couldn't believe his nerve. "What the hell are you doing?"

The Slytherin calmly raised his eyes from the book he was studiously reading and cocked a brow.

" Reading."

"That's not what I meant."

"I would advise you to close the door if you don't want wake up our guest."

Hermione glared at him, but did as she was told. She closed the door and cast Silencio for good measure.

"Severus, why are you here?" Hermione tried to do her best not to go into hysterics, she'd had a long day, too long to face him.

"I live here if you'll remember."

"And the last time I checked you weren't welcome in here. You can get out."

"This is my bedroom too, so I have as much right as you do to be in here."

"Severus."

"Yes?"

"Get out."

"Is Miss Abbott asleep?"

Hermione wanted to throw something at him.

"Don't change the subject. I thought that we agreed that I am not going to be anywhere near you."

"I didn't agree to anything, I just… heard you out."

Hermione closed her eyes, counted to ten and looked at her husband laying calmly on his half of the bed, all ready to rest in his Pyjamas.

"Can you tell me why the Hell I married you?"

"For my charming personality?"

"More like your dashing good looks."

"Are you going to stand there all night Hermione?"

"Severus, I am tired, could you please just leave."

"I am not sleeping on the couch in my own home."

"Well you could always take the carpet. The one in front of the fireplace looks… cosy."

Severus Snape bit his tongue at Hermione's suggestion. The witch was awfully cheeky with him lately. If he wasn't trying to get back on to her good side, he would have said something sarcastic in response.

"I guess that's a no. Well the couch is just perfect for me."

"Hermione, I am sure that Miss Abbott will be curious as to why you are spending the night in the sitting room."

'Hannah! I keep forgetting about her' She frowned slightly and worried at her lower lip.

'Well at least there will be an upside to the Abbott girl being here if she lets this go.'

With a sort of sadistic pleasure Severus watched as Hermione didn't know what to say. He decided to push his luck a little.

"I will behave, Promise."

Hermione gave him a suspicious look. She didn't have many options, she didn't have any idea when Hannah usually woke up and she really didn't want to cause that kind of scene. The Hufflepuff might be up just in time for classes or an hour early. Hermione groaned, her legs were heavy and all she wanted was to rest. She sighed.

'I hate when he is right'

"You will sleep on your half of the bed. Clear?"

" Crystal."

"I am warning you Severus…"

"I gave you my word didn't I?"

"I think I have heard that before."

"Hermione, I have already apologised for that."

Severus' voice was calm, but buried deep within were tones of irritation. Being a true Slytherin he didn't like to hear about his own mistakes and certainly didn't like when it was rubbed in his face. He would have preferred it if Hermione stopped mentioning it. That is what any good pureblood wife would have done. But the Gryffindor that was glaring at him wasn't a pureblood and had her own opinion on things like that.

The witch stood by the door for one more minute trying to decide what to do next. Gathering her wits she turned to the dresser where her night clothes were.

"You can stop looking at me you know"

"Is it a crime?"

"No, but it is starting to bother me."

"Why?"

Severus knew he should probably just avert his eyes and get back to the reading, but it was the closest thing to a normal conversation they had had in a while, and Hermione's voice didn't sound acidic, just a bit irritated.

"Because you look like you want to tell me something, but you never do."

"Can't I just look at you?"

"What for? You see me often enough. There is no need to stare at me."

"The muggles don't look at each other after getting married?"

Hermione turned to him.

"Well of course they do, what a silly question. Before, after, whenever they want."

"So why am I forbidden the same privilege?"

"There's a difference between looking and staring."

"Do you know that it is unacceptable to look at a witch for long periods of time if you are not married to her?"

"Come again?"

"When I married you it became my right to watch you. You will notice that other men don't look at you more than is strictly necessary."

"What? That's just..."

"Silly? Taking such an interest, watching so intently, could be seen as a man making an advance on you. It would be ok if you weren't married."

"But... I am."

"Yes"

Suddenly Hermione frowned, thinking about something, Severus also frowned. She didn't look angry, but looked like she was trying to make a connection between something.

"Hermione?"

"Just a second Severus. What are you trying to say?"

"That I can..."

"No! Not that! That's ok with me. The other thing. That long watching can be considered as an advance? Like crushing on someone… Is that right?"

"Yes, but that you could say that it is a pureblood thing if you like. I would not consider Potter's staring at you an advance, even if it is rude."

"I think I'm going to be sick…" Hermione leaned on the closet for a second. "It's disgusting…"

"Just because our customs looks strange to you it doesn't mean that…"

"Albino Senior is staring at me whenever I see him."

"He what? Lucius?"

"No the other Senior Albino, of course Lucifer! Oh God Severus, Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?!"

"What? What happened?"

"I have a bloody staring contest every lesson with him."

"You What?! You're practically accepting his move on you."

"How the Hell could I have known?! I got tired of ignoring his stares, and I didn't want to back down, so I stared back!"

"Why didn't you tell me?! I would have taken care of it!"

"Because you weren't talking to me That's Why!"

"You could have…"

"Could have what?? Do Tell! You were too busy being angry at me to care!"

"That's not true" Severus lowered his voice as they were in a shouting match again.

"Oh, Really? So you cared so much you didn't listen."

"I thought that we were past that."

Hermione cleared her throat. "Just stay on your side of the bed. Ok." And slammed the bathroom door shut.

Severus' irritation was hitting the ceiling. 'Lucius, Lucius, Lucius, this is playing dirty, even for you. She didn't even know what you were up to.'

Severus still wasn't sleeping as Hermione finally left the bathroom. He bit his tongue as he saw her night clothes. They were grandmother approved pyjamas in a truly horrible yellow colour.

"If that's for me, you really shouldn't have."

"Drop dead Severus. For your information they are very comfortable."

"I just bet they are" He muttered under breath.

"What was that?"

"I said: Nice colour."

"If you don't like, don't look. I will somehow survive the lack of attention."

"Why do you have to make an argument over everything I say?"

"Because I am right."

Hermione got under the covers and snuggled into the pillow to get comfortable.

"What are you going to do with Lucius?"

"So, it's Lucius now?"

"The albino line is getting tired and we have two Malfoy's around now. Well?"

"I will have a talk with him."

"That means?"

"Lucius is not just some man. Like you said before, we were in the same club."

"Great." She sighed. "Do you have any idea why Dumbledore hired him?"

Severus put down his book and looked at his wife.

"The Headmaster doesn't share his plans with me."

"Ginny is with Ferret now, did you know?"

"Yes."

Hermione huffed.

"I am the last to know everything lately."

"Lucius still doesn't know about it."

Hermione turned to look at Severus as he Nox'ed the lights.

"I have a feeling that he won't really care. Draco is not serious about pursuing a relationship with her, is he?"

"No. Miss Weasley might not know that though."

"You could at least pretend to care."

"What for? If she is stupid enough to fall for his charm, who am I to stop her?"

"You don't like her?"

"No."

Hermione fell silent as she understood that they were having a totally normal conversation. She hadn't even noticed as he turned the conversation to neutral matters. She turned away from him again as she remembered why she was angry at him.

"Good night Hermione…"

"Night…"

Hermione snuggled into the warmth beside her. It felt so good, cosy. The warm object shifted so she would be more comfortable. She frowned in her half sleep state. It, whatever it was, was breathing. Hermione stretched lazily under the blanket, and wanted to turn around to sleep on her other side, but found it impossible. Something was holding her.

Blinking sleepily Hermione reached her hand out to know what was holding her. What she found felt silky and she tugged at it to bring it to her face for a closer look. The object let out a growl and she froze.

"My hair is attached to my head, if that's what you were wondering."

Hermione let go of it immediately

"Severus?"

"No. The Head Goblin."

"What are you doing on my side of the bed?"

"Sleeping, or trying to. You should try it."

"Get your hands off of me Severus Snape or I swear you will regret it." Hermione hissed at him trying to get out of the bed.

"Stop that Hermione." The Slytherin took her by the hand as she managed to sit up, and tugged her back.

"Stop what?"

"Your hysterics. You act like I will bite you if I get to close to you." Hermione didn't cease her struggling to get free and he didn't let go. "I am saying this for the last time… Stop it."

Apparently the ex-Deatheater had some hand on hand combat experience as Hermione was soon back in bed with her hands held over her head, and Severus sitting on her waist to keep her still.

"Get OFF of me!" Hermione was outraged, still trying to get free.

"You asked for it." The Slytherins voice was calm as he looked down at her.

"Excuse me? I What?! How dare you!"

"For the last month you didn't have a problem with sleeping in my arms."

"For the last month you hadn't just scared me to death!"

Severus let go of her immediately. Hermione pulled the blanket to her chin and scooted to the farthest side of the bed, as far away from him as possible.

"That's not true."

Hermione said nothing.

"You know that I would never hurt you, don't you? Hermione?"

"I know that I don't want you to touch me."

"I was just holding you. I would never do anything without your consent…"

"I know... I just…"

"Hermione, why don't you want me to hold you? You're still afraid of me?"

"No! You just..."

"Just what?"

The Slytherin was sitting close to her, but not touching.

"Hermione?"

"Leave me alone."

"Hermione" Severus growled exasperated at the childish answer. "Look at me please." Hermione rolled onto her back and glared at the man looming over her.

"What do you want Severus?"

"World peace." Hermione's lip twitched against her will. "And of course the House Cup would be nice, but at least Gryffindor hasn't got a chance this year…."

She hit him on the shoulder.

"We'll kick Slytherins Arse. Like we do every year."

"Not if I have anything to say about it."

"Well that's too bad, because you don't."

"How very…"

"…Gryffindor of me?"

"Something like that."

The Gryffindor blinked at the Slytherins smirk and opened her mouth for a second as if to say something, but closed it again glaring at the wizard.

"How very Slytherin of you Severus, to switch topics like this."

"What ever works. Are you calmer now?"

"Yes."

"Good."

He slowly raised his hand and carefully touched her shoulder. Hermione flinched back from it.

"Don't touch me."

"Why?"

"Because I say so."

"You have to give me a better reason than that."

"Doesn't not want you to touch me reason enough?"

"No. My touch will not burn you."

"That's what you think…" Hermione muttered under her breath, but Severus was close enough to hear it.

"What was that?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She tried to roll back onto her side, but Severus put hands on both sides of her, not allowing it.

"I will not disappear if you just turn away from me. Trust me, I also don't want to talk about this, but we will. I will not have you running away from me at the smallest of touches. I am sorry for what I did. I deeply regret it. You know that."

"It doesn't matter what I know Severus. I still remember it every time you touch me."

"Why don't you remember the pleasant things?"

"What pleasant things? That was the only bloody time you touched me like that, not through clothes."

Severus looked at Hermione's angry face, he'd never thought about it like that.

"But there was one time, when… after we had dinner together."

"That was a month ago Severus. The only time you took me out, so if I were you I wouldn't boast about it."

It was true, the only time he had taken her out was over a month ago and after that…

"Would you like to go out for dinner?"

"What?"

"Would you like to go out for dinner?"

"What are you up to?"

"We can start all over again."

"As in… start dating? That kind of thing?"

"Yes. Would you like that?"

Hermione's mind came up with an idea, a devilish one at that. He wanted to date? Well, why not?

"Yes I would love that." She was smiling broadly at him; Severus narrowed his eyes a little.

"Good. I will make some preparations..."

"I am sure you will need some time for that."

"Time? It will not take long to make a reservation. I will owl them..."

"But, Severus, Muggles don't like owls."

"Muggles? What do you mean muggles?"

"You do want to take me out on a date, don't you?"

"Yes" His voice turned cautious.

"I am sure you will come up with something entertaining for us to do."

"But, what do you mean by muggles?"

"Simple," Hermione leaned on her elbows so her face was closer to his. "You will not court a muggleborn witch in a pureblood way… Will you?"

Severus felt his mouth dry.

"You wouldn't…"

"Suck it up my dear Slytherin. You were the one who suggested it. Nox! Good night Severus."

When Hermione turned from him Severus was still gapping in the darkness. He couldn't believe it. Courting, the muggle way? He wasn't a muggle! He had absolutely no idea how they did it. He felt a headache creep up. Something told him that it was going to be torture. He glanced at the peacefully sleeping witch. He had a feeling that someone somewhere was having a great laugh at his expense.

Severus growled under his breath.

"You will surely be the death of me…"

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