Chapter 36

"Thanks…"

He gave the smallest of smiles in return and left to check on someone else's work. Hermione watched him from the corner of her eye for a minute. For some reason she felt better that he had acknowledged her. Not because of the compliment or his smile, but because she missed his presence. She was still angry, but... How did her mum used to put it? 'Feed a dog for three days and you'll get used to him.'

Hermione added the last ingredient and watched as the murky green liquid turned bright yellow. She was done; first as always. Slowly bottling the potion, she reached for the top of the vial, but something snagged her attention. On the top of her book bag lay on single blood red rose.

"I hope you are almost done, as you have just 15 minutes left. Those who have already completed their potion may bottle and bring them to my desk."

Hermione was still staring at the flower laying so innocently on the top of her old bag. She could feel his eyes on her as the others hurried to complete their work, but she didn't look at him, not as she took her vial to the front and not as she gathered her things together and went out the door.

But all that time she was holding the rose carefully in her left hand.

'Roses are red…'

Hermione would have had to say that she was impressed. Severus was genuinely trying. His behaviour hadn't changed, but then given the circumstances that wouldn't really be appropriate, but he found other ways to show her that he cared. Like the flowers. He really wasn't the sweets and flowers sort of guy, so he didn't give them to her directly; instead she found them in the most unexpected places; by her bag, in the shower, sometimes one would even appear as she ate.

It was... Nice. Sometimes she wondered where he got them from. Well… who cared? They were for her.

She never talked to Severus about them, or thanked him. The fact that she kept the flowers was enough to show him that she appreciated them, and he was more than Slytherin enough to understand that message.

Severus Snape was having a bad day. A very Very bad day. One that was soon going to get even worse.

The Slytherin extended his hand and knocked smartly on the door before him. A sneer automatically forming on his face. Half a year ago he wouldn't have been caught anywhere near this place. Just to think that he was reduced to this... that she had reduced him to this…

The smiling face of his would be host appeared on the opening of the door, however upon seeing who his guest would be the smile disappeared and a look of surprise replaced it.

"Severus? Why... I..."

"If you are quite done stammering, might I come in?"

"What? I mean, of course. Yes. Do come in."

"Thank you."

Severus stalked in past the man without saying anything more.

"Well… this is a bit of a surprise… Can I help you?"

"Yes, you can. Have you any Fire Whiskey?"

"Excuse me?"

"Alcohol? Anything. Whiskey? Brandy? Wine? Please don't tell me that you have suddenly embraced sobriety." Severus looked with disbelieving eyes at his host.

"I have a feeling you didn't come here just to get lost in my cups."

"Oh, however did you guess that?" The Slytherin stopped before he could say anything else rude. "Yes. Please forgive me. Just… If you ever tell anyone of what we talk about here today, I will make you seriously regret it. Is that clear?" He glared for good measure.

"Yes, sir."

"Good"

"So, what can this old…."

"You're only 49, that is far from "old"." He interrupted.

"Yes yes, how can I help? Because I will not even try to guess what it is you expect me to do? So, what can this humble Muggle Studies Professor do for you?"

"What do you know about Muggle Courtship?"

"In what sense?" The Muggle Studies Professor stood by the liquor cabinet and was pouring Fire whiskey into two generous glasses.

"In all senses, Mat. What do you know about it?"

Mat Carl, 49 years of age, a bald and merry man was the Muggle Studies Professor, sat opposite his colleague looking perplexed.

"I don't quite understand…"

"This is your job isn't it? To know everything about Muggles?"

"Careful of your tone there, you are married to a muggleborn after all."

"Why do you think I am here? For a polite chat?"

"Oh … oh… I don't get it."

Severus almost threw his glass at the man and gritted his teeth.

"What do Muggles do on their dates you idiot."

"Oh, that... Well… If you really want to know…"

She was Good. Good and evil when she wanted to be. Not talking when she was angry, that was fine, and he could live with that. He massaged his temples with his fingertips hoping to hold off the headache he could feel beginning. He could truly appreciate now that he had a lovely young wife who was Very good at being evil. That was the only possible conclusion he could draw having returned from his chat with Mat.

What in the world had he been thinking when he suggested dating? Of course, he really hadn't been thinking that he had such a devious wife, and that things would backfire on him so spectacularly.

He sighed. Next week was going to be Very long. With lots of trips to Muggle London.

'This had better be worth it.'

Hermione was watching as Madam Pomfrey took care of one of the younger Hufflepuffs. The third year had been attacked by Devil's Snare during Herbology. 'That's why you should listen to your teacher during class.' She chuckled as the Mediwitch rushed the girl out with a newly bandaged arm.

"Well dear, now I am ready for you. How about we have some tea in my office while we talk?"

"Sounds good to me." The Gryffindor smiled at the Mediwitch and followed her to the back of the hospital wing. She felt slightly anxious, she had been meaning for a while now to come and visit the Mediwitch, but there was always something else to take of first. Now Hermione decided that she absolutely had to take care of this. There was something… bothering her.

Hermione followed Madam Pomfrey to her office; it was much cosier than the infirmary. Cream and sand colours dominated, creating a feeling of freshness and warmth simultaneously. It very much suited the kind hearted woman. She was strict, but exceptionally nice at the same time. One way or another all students ended up in her care at least one during their years in Hogwarts. Hermione already lost count of how many times she had been a patient here. Too many for her liking. It was one of the reasons why she hadn't chosen to become a healer herself. She had had her fair share of hospitals and medicines already.

"So dear, how can I help you?" Poppy Pomfrey asked smiling at her from behind her desk.

"I am fine, I think, don't worry. It's just that…."

The door burst open and they both jumped up in surprise. Lowering her instinctively raised wand as the surprise vanished and she saw who it was. She wanted to moan.

"What are you doing here?"

The dark eyes glared back at her.

"Me? What are you doing here? And why didn't you tell me that you required a healer?"

"Why should you be informed?"

"Well, I don't know. My wife is in the Hospital Wing. I think that maybe that is something that your Husband should be made aware of..."

"Can you for once, not overreact? I just came to have a chat with Madam Pomfrey…"

"Meaning something is wrong."

"Meaning that I don't know and will not find out if you do not leave. Now."

"Leave? Absolutely not. You are my wife; it's my right to be here."

"You wouldn't…"

"Watch me!"

Hermione turned pleadingly towards the Mediwitch, who'd remained wisely silent during this. "He can't stay, can he?"

The elder witch sat back down into her chair and looked at the imposing Slytherin. She didn't look happy to have him there also.

"I'm afraid he can dear. You see, as he is your spouse he has the right to know any medical issues you might have. I would ask him to leave only if our conversation was not to be of a medical nature. I'm sorry, but those are the rules." The mediwitch said that as if reading from a book, but from her face you could tell that she was just as unhappy and angry with that like Hermione herself.

"That's not fair!" She looked at the two again. Severus looked determined as he sat in the empty chair next to her and Madam Pomfrey looked sorry for not being able to do any differently. "Fine! Fine!" Hermione also sat down, not looking at the man next to her. She was fine with that, if he wanted to stay, well that was just fine! Just bloody fine! She was concerned about her health and wasn't going to leave without answers. She took a deep breath. "What were we talking about before being so rudely interrupted?"

"You didn't finish your thought, Mrs Snape. You were about to say something."

Hermione's cheeks flamed. This was so embarrassing…

"Yes, well… I'm late… four months."

"Oh dear…" The Mediwitch was looking at Severus instead of Hermione. The Gryffindor wanted the ground to open and swallow her.

"What do you mean … you're late? You can't be late!"

'Why did he have to come? Why? Why? Why?... Why me?'

"Nevertheless… I am."

"HOW…"

"Severus! Keep your voice down in my office! Now Hermione, it's okay." Poppy pomfrey looked like she was about tyo kick Severus out if he doesn't behave. "Everything is fine. You are married, sometimes witches don't plan for it to happen, but it does…" Her voice was soft and motherly soothing as she spoke to Hermione again.

"I am not pregnant. I simple can't be."

The Mediwitch glared at Severus again and sighed. Young witches could be so stubborn. The Slytherin said nothing.

"I can't be pregnant Madam Pomfrey. As… you see…" Hermione was working on saying it, but couldn't get her tongue to work.

"What she is trying to say, Poppy, is that we haven't consummated our marriage yet."

At that Madam Pomfrey Opened and closed her mouth a couple of times.

"Oh… I see. You haven't…"

"No, we haven't."

"Well then, Hermione dear follow me. I'll do some tests." At least Severus couldn't follow her there as Madam Pomfrey refused to allow it.

The tests weren't what Hermione expected them to be. 'God Bless magic'. She didn't have to undress and spread her legs, or deal with a speculum. All she had to do was undress to her underwear and lay on the bed while Poppy cast some diagnostic spells and asked some questions.

"So how late did you say you were?"

"Over four months… I think. Since the Minister announced the possibility of passing the Marriage Law."

"I see… During the time when you were supposed to be on your period, but weren't, did you experience any discomfort?"

"No… Well, yes… It was like needles at the bottom of my stomach, but only for a few days a month. On those days… Well... It wasn't exactly painful… but it wasn't right… Is this serious? Am I sick?" Hermione's voice sounded worried as she tried valiantly to appear calm and collected.

The Mediwitch smiled at her.

"We'll see, from what I have seen so far, you are going to be just fine, now let me finish this up and get all the results together. Take a deep breath for me and hold it until I say, don't worry if you feel a bit of a chill in your legs."

All the tests and the questioning lasted for about an hour, but finally she was allowed to get up and dress.

"You go back to my office and wait for me okay? I just need to fetch some things."

10 minutes later Hermione felt her blood run cold and dots appear behind her eyes as the Mediwitch gave her diagnosis.

"You're kidding. Right?"

"Hermione." The Mediwitch raised her voice seeing that the young witch was about to panic. "There are only a very few things that magic can't fix, and this condition is in that number. I will give you a potion, which you must take regularly for the next month."

"I don't understand. It was just a few months… How?"

"You're not a Muggle, Hermione. Maybe Muggle women can skip periods and not have long lasting consequences, but that's not how it is with witches. Many people underestimate the harm that stress can have on the body. It really is a good thing that you didn't wait any longer to come for a check up."

"That's all… It's just because of stress?"

Hermione just gaped at her incredulously. It was like that joke; if you want to be sick go to a doctor. This morning she felt just fine and now she felt sick. She closed her eyes for a minute. The room was spinning.

All this time Severus sat quietly in his chair listening. His anger was long since gone. He mentally kicked himself; he should have noticed something was wrong with her. Hermione was right. He was too busy being angry to notice anything.

"I will give you a potion dear…" Madam Pomfrey's voice was soft and kind. Hermione just nodded still keeping her eyes shut. "It's Essenti Magnus. You will have to take it once or twice a day."

"Essenti Magnus?" Finally the Slytherin also spoke. "Poppy, the potion is more likely to make her sick."

Hermione frowned. She hadn't heard of this. Of course she hadn't researched healing potions specifically.

"Hermione needs her whole system up, Severus. That's what the potion is for…"

Hermione skipped dinner, only dropping in to check on Hannah. The girl's parents were back from holiday and had managed to make the Ministry recheck Hannah's background, gaining them a couple of weeks at least. There was nothing that they could do to get her excluded from the stupid law, but they were looking for a nice young wizard in the meantime who would treat her well, unfortunately however, without much success.

After making sure that her friend was at least coping a little better today, Hermione went straight to her rooms to lay down. She felt exhausted and had a headache. She'd had a row with Severus immediately after stepping out of the Mediwitch's office. The whole infirmary rang with his voice. He was furious that Hermione hadn't told him that she was unwell. It all ended up with the Gryffindor telling him to fuck off and storming out. She was sick, she felt bad and upset. The last thing she needed was her dearest Slytherin-Half having hysterics. At least now he wasn't home.

The Gryffindor frowned. 'Home?' When does a house become a home?

Looking around the sitting room, she tried to understand, to pinpoint when it had happened. What had they gone from being Severus' rooms to becoming theirs, and from theirs to being Home.

As the chill came to the castle along with autumn rains the fire was always burning comfortingly in the evenings. The flames slowly eating away at the dry wood, bathing the silent rooms in a dancing light.

But she felt strangely lonely.

'Home'. To her it meant so many things… so long ago… She felt tears swelling in her eyes, clouding her vision. The world before her turned into a complete blur. She sat in the big leather armchair next to the fire.

How long could you lie to yourself? How long could you pretend not to care?

'What?! Our daughter is a witch?' The word sounded like a curse. Like something dirty and unworthy. Hermione Jane Granger was a witch. Something her parents weren't pleased about.

Home, a place where people love you no matter what you did, or who you are.

Hermione couldn't say that her parents didn't love her. They did. But their love had limits that they just couldn't or weren't willing to go beyond. Life was a bitch. You had to make lots of hard choices.

She tiredly wiped her face.

Why could she only think about the bad things? The bad things and the worse things. As if mocking her, the emerald on her ring finger twinkled in the changing reflections of fire. The Gryffindor glared at it.

'Stupid thing' sometimes it drove her up the wall more than anything else. Even Severus.

Wasn't her life just peachy? She had nothing. No family. Her best friends weren't having anything to do with her; they wouldn't even look at her. No matter how much she denied it, she missed Ron and Harry. Missed the way things used to be… She played with the ring on her finger. Sometimes she wondered if she did the right thing…

'Only time will tell…'

Then she shook her head and gave a half grin.

'Now I really could get good use out of that Time Turner I had third year. Oh yes… But I don't think that my Dear Head of House would give it to me. I can just see her face if I should ask her for that' A small snicker left her mouth. It echoed in the silent rooms, making Hermione wince.

'Okay, being alone in my mood is not good. Hmmm… I wonder… What is Pansy up to?'

………………………………………………………………………………………

"Another chocolate bar, Hermione?"

"Just pass over the box, Pansy"

The Slytherin watched as her Gryffindor friend finished one more bar of chocolate and promptly open up another. They had been destroying her chocolate supplies for the last half an hour and Hermione still hadn't said what was wrong. And soon they were going to run out of it all together. Pansy could only wonder where the girl fit it all. She herself could barely eat half as much, even at the height of PMS.

"Soooo, what's up?"

"Life's a bitch."

"Besides that?"

Hermione flopped back on Pansy's bed and buried her face in a pillow for a moment muttering something.

"What? Would you please speak just a little louder?"

"I said. I got into an argument with Severus again."

Pansy let out a sigh.

"What did he do this time?"

"Nothing… Almost. It's just that… I am a bit unwell…"

"What? You're sick?" Pansy's ears perked up and she sat up straight beside Hermione concerned.

"No… Yes… Sort of. It's because of stress. I will have to drink a potion of some kind. I went to Madam Pomfrey without telling Severus, and he had a cow. Barged in while I was sitting there and later he yelled at me about it… For not telling him." Pansy patted Hermione's shoulder in silent support. The Gryffindor was still laying on her bed.

"It's not serious? I mean your health problem."

"I'll be fine, just need to keep my nerves in check, try not to worry so much. Not stress out. I can't even remember the name of the potion I have to drink… shit."

"Madam Pomfrey didn't tell you?"

"She did. I just wasn't paying attention at that moment. It's Esant... Something. Can't remember. I can't even remember how I left."

"I see… More chocolate?"

"Thanks, but I'm full. Where's Millicent? It's getting late."

"It's not that late. She's with her boyfriend most likely. Lucky cow…" The last words Pansy muttered, but Hermione heard it just the same and turned to face her.

"Pansy Parkinson, did I just hear envy in your voice? Since when do you have problems attracting a Wizards attention? Hmmm?"

Pansy wouldn't say anything for a while; she just went red in the face and turned to look somewhere else.

"Well, well, well… So Pansy. What's new in your love life?"

"Nothing."

"So then, what's old?"

"Neville."

Hermione opened and closed her mouth. The Slytherin looked like she just told her the most guarded of secrets.

"Really?"

"No, Not really! I just like expressing these things for kicks."

The Gryffindor chuckled at Pansy's defensive tone.

"Problems?"

"How'd you guess?"

"Well... I just… Gods. You and Neville?"

"There is no me and Neville."

"But you wouldn't mind if there were? Would you? So… How are things between you two?"

"There are no things between us. He kind of…"

"Yes? He kind of…?"

Pansy sighed playing with the edge of her robe. She had to talk to someone about it. But the words just wouldn't come out. The Slytherin felt frustrated. How hard could it be to talk to someone? She knew she could trust Hermione. Just… She tried to push the words out.

"He doesn't know I like him."

"Couldn't you just tell him? It can't be that hard."

"Are you stupid?! I can't just go and say it!"

"What's with you Slytherins and talking? First Severus now you, Merlin! Is it hardwired into your house crests of something? You're not a third year Pansy, suck it up. Honestly!"

"That's easy for you to say. We're not Gryffindors. We rely on ourselves. Besides, what if he doesn't like me too?"

"What if he does like you?"

"Why does it have to be so hard? So complicated?"

"It's not hard, nor is it complicated. We're the ones that are making it that way."

"I feel like a fool."

"Just don't start a pity part okay? I'm already having one. Two at the same time, in the same place requires far too much chocolate to even contemplate; Honeydukes would have to close down for restocking."

Pansy threw a pillow at her and they both laughed a little.

"So Pansy. You and Neville huh?"

"Yeah, so? Nothing could be weirder than you and Snape."

"True. But still. When did all this happen? The only time… Oh my… That Hogsmead weekend. You didn't want to go alone. So I asked Neville to take you, and he punched Malfoy."

Pansy's Cheeks were bright red. Hermione chuckled.

"Well, well, well. Liked being the damsel in distress did we?"

"Is that a crime?"

"No. Of course not. I'm happy for you. Neville is a great guy. He'll be good for you, and I hope you'll be good for him." Hermione looked pointedly at her friend.

"We will never find out if things keep on this way." Pansy sulked a little, her raven hair falling over her face.

"Can you stop playing the dying swan, Pansy? Your problem is a drop in the sea compared to mine. All you have to do is not to give up. Like me."

"Easy to say…"

"And even easier to do. Sometimes. Well... Anyways, what are you waiting for? Christmas? You expect Santa to drop him off tied up with a red ribbon?"

"No, but he's a guy, he should ask first."

"For goodness sake… Have you at least hinted to him that you might want something more than just being friends? At least once?"

"Well... I…"

"I'll take that as a no. You know, Pansy. Slytherins are not the only ones who are afraid to be rejected. Gryffindor bravery doesn't include matters of the heart. Besides it's not like you'd be asking him to marry you."

"Could you? Maybe… You know…?" The Slytherin looked pleadingly at her friend.

"No. Pansy, come on. How would it look? Me asking Neville on a date on your behalf?"

"Yeah, sounds awfully… Hufflepuff!"

"Gryffindor actually. You would be surprised how forward Hufflepuffs can be in these matters."

"Surprise. Surprise. Well... How are things in your camp? Besides today's argument that is?"

Hermione thought a little on the answer. She herself wasn't sure how things were.

"Okay… I think…"

Pansy looked blankly at her.

"You... think? That sounds reassuring."

The Gryffindor shrugged.

"Pansy? Have you ever tried making sense of my husband?"

"Me? Of course not. I have better things to do than think about my Head of House." The Slytherin was outright lying, and from the look on Hermione's face her friend knew that too. Pansy was thinking about her Head of House. She couldn't help it. She was worried after The Incident. He was dangerous for goodness sake! And married to her friend!

"Riiiight... Okay. I have a feeling that he is working on that Muggle dating idea of mine." Hermione allowed herself a sadistic smile to cross her lips.

"Sounds painful."

"Not really. It should be more… Irritating for him, than painful. All he needs to do is use Muggle money, the phone, some means of Muggle transport, talk to people that don't know him or his reputation and all this while being stared at for his fashion sense."

"Wouldn't it be easier to just kill him?"

"I'm angry at him, but not that much."

"Not that much? Hermione… For Merlin's sake. You know just as well as I do what Snape thinks about Muggles and their inventions. He is a Slytherin in the real deep and true meaning of that word…"

"And he is proud of that also you know."

"Yes… You are enjoying it, aren't you?"

"What can I say. Payback is a bitch. Besides it's the only thing I can do. Under other circumstances I would have simply left him, but as hell will host the Winter Olympics before that happens, I don't have much choice."

"So how is he doing?"

"Not bad."

"And that is…?"

"That is that…"

"He's succeeding!" She wasn't asking a question it was a statement. "Isn't he?"

The Gryffindor gave a weak smile, wordlessly agreeing with her. She shrugged "I can't be angry forever."

"

I know it's not really good, but... Review? Please?