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Chapter 40: Negotiations

It had been an emotional evening for Severus but the best bit for him was the affection from Hermione. She had kissed him. Not just a social peck on the cheek but she kissed him on his lips. Severus had felt her soft luscious lips and tasted some of her raspberry coulis from her dessert mixed in with the rich dark chocolate that was from the mousse. The dark man wanted to taste it again but was reminded by a kick to his shins from his godson, Draco, that he was in a public place.

It was heavenly feeling Hermione in his arms her small body fitting so comfortably into his. He could easily tuck her close to his chest. Severus had dreamed about having her head resting on his shoulder both of them lounging and reading book. Tonight he had comforted Hermione all the time hoping she would not take notice of his racing heartbeat when she cried into his suit.

Yes the former spy had been thoroughly distracted by the young lioness at his side. If she could feel his pulse in the hand she had claimed Hermione would have noted that his heart rate was elevated thanks to her closeness. It had happened so many times in the last year since Severus had started to get her know her not as a student but as a colleague. The Headmaster frequently second guessed himself about his interaction with her thinking that he was being a prat like that redheaded idiot Weasley. Severus had not felt like this since his fourth year and Lily. His stomach was doing tumble turns of anxiousness.

Narcissa claimed Severus for a dance. Out on the dance floor in the middle of a foxtrot his long time friend put him on the spot. "Severus do you want to have a relationship with Hermione?" she asked her blue eyes holding his inky black irises with a stare. There was a tilt to her head and he knew he had to answer her honestly. "I know I shouldn't be but I am attracted to her. I know, I know I am old enough to be her father. For goodness sake she is the same age as Draco your son and my godson. But Cissy why can't I see if what I am feeling is mutual?"

"Severus, Severus, don't be so negative. I will support both of you but you need to remember the forms of decorum. You're her boss. She is also a national treasure and many will still remember you as the bat of the dungeon. Just don't rush it. Talk to each other go out together find out about each other's interests. You both have friends who will support you just remember them," advised his friend. The music ended and he escorted her back to the table.

Tinky popped in and asked Missus Wolf to come and feed the little one. Hermione was feeling like her battery was starting to run out. All her muscles were starting to feel heavy. Turning to Severus she said "You are going to have to excuse me as I need to retire before I turn into a rip van winkle where I am sitting. I am so sorry because I have really enjoyed your company but I will have to take an elf popping me back to Hogwarts.

"Good Evening". Hermione gently kissed Severus' cheek and he returned the salutation to hers. "Thank you for being my companion tonight and good night. Take care Hermione". Dora had stood and walked round to Hermione when she had heard that Hermione wanted to go back to the castle. Headmaster removed Hermione's crutches from his pocket before resizing them for her. The two witches then said their final good byes. Dora would be returning. Before long Tinky popped the two of them back to the Castle.

In the teachers accommodation hallway Hermione could hear little Elizabeth Marie demanding that her mother feed her. Winky had opened the Lupin's front door and there was a small elfess who kept putting her head out the door to check for the child's mother. "Missus Wolf the cub wants her feeding you be coming now" ordered Winky as the ruler of the nursery.

"Well I have been told. Good night Hermione. Let yourself sleep out you have had a long day," advised Tonks with a kiss on Hermione's cheek before following Winky into her apartment to feed the little one.

Tinky bustled Hermione into her apartment and then went to the bathroom to run a bath for Miss Mia. The elfess returned to where Hermione had plopped herself on her bed and started to help her get undressed. Pins from Hermione's hair were gently removed; the dress was vanished to its hanger; stockings in the laundry hamper. Tinky then propelled Hermione in her knickers and bra into the bathroom. Sitting her on the bath chair the elfess turned to check the water temperature before adding a scoop of lavender scented herbal salt. She then clicked her fingers and Tinky was dressed in a bathing suit and cap. Tinky then gently moved Miss Mia who was almost asleep where she was so she was sitting into the bath. Another click and the drowsy witch's underwear was removed as she was further lulled by the warm water that now surrounded and covered her body into the arms of Morpheus.

Using a soft washer Tinky gently bathed Hermione. The elfess made sure all Hermione's make up was off washing her face with the washer. Hermione had had a long day so the fizzy of the water was wonderful for all her aching muscles. The whole time Tinky's magic had supported the witch so her head did not sink under the water. Leaving her to soak for a moment Tinky then arranged to have some fluffy towels ready to cocoon Miss Mia when she lifted her out of the bath.

The next thing Hermione remembered of the night was her being placed in her bed and someone's magical hands massaging her shoulders. Hermione slept herself out to about 11am the next morning. It was probably one of the longest periods of sleep she had ever had since her awakening from the coma.

oOoOo

Hermione's departure left Severus feeling threatened. In a way he was facing the worse committee of brothers. Pansy, Narcissa and Margaret had gone to powder their noses when Harry and Luna stopped by their table seconds after Tinky had popped Tonks and Hermione away. Luna was actually the one who suggested that they convene in the nearest cloakroom.

Severus now had Kingsley, Amos, Remus, Draco and Harry giving him the infamous chat where older brothers, uncles and fathers express the idea "You hurt her and we will hurt you badly. If you break her heart we will kill you and nobody will ever find you". Amos willing involvement in this briefing was a bit of a surprise but then Hermione was a national treasure so a Senior Ministry of Magic Official was going to do his job and protect this symbol of their newfound freedom.

After the return of the women, Luna broke the tension that had settled on the table with a tap on Severus shoulder " I would like that dance now. Hermione looked like she was floating on air. Both of your auras were mixing together". While everyone was wondering what she had meant Severus went into action and took the blonde witch to the floor.

While the unlikely duo were dancing in comfortable silence those left at the table were doing a double take. It was Pansy who raised the question that many of them had wondered "Could they be a soul bond couple?"

"Well that could be one explanation why he has stayed a bachelor for so long?" suggested

Narcissa. Draco provided the voice of the devils advocate " It was not like he had much of a choice over the years. He was a spy and with former comrades like my dear aunt Bella it was the best option to be single".

"Draco!" admonished Narcissa. She was then closely followed by Andromeda who advised, "I know you only knew her when she was past redemption, but she once was the sweetest little girl and she was our sister". The witch herself seemed to be the closest in resemblance to the dark witch who haunted many in their nightmares.

oOoOo

The Hogwarts contingent at the Victory Ball danced long into the early morning before returning to the castle. Harry returned with Narcissa back to Grimmauld Place. The night had been a success for those who were running the event. Kingsley Shacklebolt had sighed a deep breath of relief that the former trio of best friends had not come to blows and that Ginny had not demonstrated any of the aggressive behaviour like she had been doing so before the Christmas break. It had taken careful and detailed organisation to ensure the balance of tables and the separation of the antagonists. It seemed that all the favours he had called in from Order of Phoenix members had paid bags full of dividends.

Narcissa had already prepared the headlines and story for the Sunday paper so it was a case of selecting pictures from the early proofs halfway through the night to illustrate the pieces on the event. That done she had headed back to the dancing. Dragging Severus out onto the floor Narcissa had made sure a) he was occupied and b) she was dancing. How she missed going dancing with Lucius?

The third reason why she had a good reason to be on the floor with Severus was that she was protecting him from anymore concerned citizens who looked like they all wanted to warn the Headmaster off Hermione. It was Hermione that had kissed him and these people needed to get their facts right the regal witch thought shaking her head.

Working on the paper had taught her how lazy individuals were. She had been the witch that supplied the new broom to the Daily Prophet and now some five or so months after her installation she had a smoothly run organisation with people who could and were willing to use their initiative within the guidance set down by the Editor in Chief, herself.

Narcissa could not wait for Draco to finish his education. Malfoy Manor needed him so that the rebuilding could be done. The mistakes of the past needed to be changed the witch was determined to remove the dark stain on the family and that started for her in their home.

oOoOo

Severus Snape as the Headmaster did not get the luxury of sleeping in after a rather late night no he got to deal with quite a considerable amount of misbehaviour and a couple of serious offences. Thank Goodness he had some Aurors here along with a squad of goblin guarding the students.

It seemed that for the next couple of weeks the poor Headmaster would be teaching potions to some students. The current potions master would need to help cover some of the Transfiguration classes as Marcus Turner had decided since the cats were away that he would come out and play. Unfortunately he could not drink himself to drunkenness quietly in his room oh no the bastard had to do it in Hogsmeade and then be a pain in the arse to a number of Aurors who rightly challenged him at the school gates.

Once one of the staff had vouched for the man and let him into the building a couple of Aurors had tried to put him to bed quietly so he could sleep it off. It was then that it was discovered that the man had photos he shouldn't have. One of the Aurors had stayed with the passed out drunk while the other had gone to the chain of command he had left in place to report his findings. Regrettably the drunkard had awoken to find a stranger in his room and proceeded to start hexing the Auror. The Auror called out for help, which was answered by the nearby troop of goblins.

Turner had taken offense to presence of these creatures in his rooms a little more aggressively than his earlier reaction to an unknown wizard in the red Auror robes being there. The complete imbecile started throwing even more aggressive hexes to which the goblins provided their standard response. A full frontal do or die sword charge. Really like you can stop a sword in its downward stroke upon your person. The wizard lost his wand arm, Poppy got a patient under an armed guard and Severus Snape the lucky bastard, got the headache and the paperwork to boot.

Headmaster Snape let the Aurors do the investigation of the former transfiguration master, as he wanted everything above board and none of the sweeping under the carpet as Albus often did for his greater good. From what Severus had been told on his return to the castle it wasn't good but it wasn't terrible. Some students would need to be interviewed but Pomona and Minerva were going to be their adult representatives in that process. Tonks had volunteered to be one of the interviewers. Severus was starting to think that the school really should have an official MLE Officer based there rather than the quasi arrangement they had now thanks to Tonks being the wife of Remus.

It turned out Marcus Turner was a peeping tom and had set up a system that allowed him to view both sexes of students in their bathroom. The tom had kept memories and put them into pictures, which he had as a card collection. The junior healers had to look after the man as Poppy didn't trust herself not to castrate him with a piece of rusty blunt iron when she heard about the card collection. Fortunately Turner was transferred to the secure wing at St Mungo's fairly quickly after the completion of the interviews.

Hermione had slept all through the drama the night before and again in the morning. By the time lunch arrived Severus was quiet relieved to see Hermione looking so refreshed. She was sitting with Poppy and Pomona. He knew the moment Hermione heard about the drama of last night. Severus could feel her gaze upon him. Turning he looked at her giving her small facial movements which reflected his disappointment of the situation. She gave him a small wry smile that gave him some hope that the day was going to get better but all he could see was more administration tasks filling every minute of his day.

Headmaster Snape was going to hold an emergency staff meeting tonight as they would all need to be on the same page to cover the reorganisation of the teaching load and deal with the fall out that Turner created for the school.

oOoOo

After a long afternoon dealing with administration and some more administration Severus went looking for Hermione in her apartment only to find she was not answering. She could be out or sleeping before dinner so Severus left and took himself of for a walk down by the lake to help blow some of the cobwebs out of his tired mind. Severus had walked about a third of the way round the boathouse on the lakefront when he saw her. She was sitting on a large rock overlooking the lake looking very much like the window in the prefects' bathroom and the famous Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen.

Stopping still Severus Snape detected that Hermione hadn't notice him standing there so intense was her observation of the lake. The young witch sighed and turned to look landwards and it was then he saw her eyes light up with joy. Hermione really did like him the next question was she as attracted as he was to her. Severus knew she kissed him the night before but since then he had been doubting himself. Was it just a kiss of a good friend? Did she want more? Did she feel more than friendship for him?

"Hello there" she said to him breaking into his round of self doubting thoughts.

"Good afternoon Hermione" he responded. Severus could not think of anything to say he just felt like a stuttering idiot.

"I hope it has been a good afternoon for you Severus after hearing Pomona's news at lunchtime" she replied as she slid herself down the rock face to where she had left her wheel chair.

"It has been better than this morning but all in all we really haven't got too much to complain about. At least we haven't got Dolores Umbridge do her High Inquisitor act going on," the Headmaster advised Hermione while coming over to catch her at the bottom of the rock.

"Oh that was a pretty dark time here in the school. The majority of the staff trusts you and support you. so don't worry. We will all pull together and help cover any gaps you need us to" advised Hermione before turning in his supporting arms to seat herself in her wheelchair. Hermione captured Severus hand and gave him a gentle squeeze. "It will be Ok" she reassured him.

"I hope so," Severus whispered to her before looking at his half hunters watch. "We should go in it is time for dinner and I have to be there as Headmaster".

"Well duty first then".

oOoOo

The entrance of Miss Granger and the Headmaster coming into the Great Hall for dinner together was noted by some but not by many. Minerva McGonagall looked on at the pair and thought that the pair is such a good match. They both had the same sort of intellect, driven, hardworking, and many would be surprised that Severus was probably just as kind as Hermione. Severus Snape did not openly show his kindness like Hermione was known for but he had repeatedly done things not only his own students in Slytherin but also for those in other houses. Often without thanks or even the individual's awareness of who to thank for his generosity.

Since Severus had woken up after the Battle last year Minerva had been working on repairing the breech in their friendship that his whole mercy killing of Albus had caused. At the time she couldn't believe she had been so deluded by Severus as a double agent and blamed herself for his betrayal of Albus. Now with knowledge and twenty twenty hindsight she was still feeling guilty for not believing in his loyalty to the Order of Phoenix and the defeat of Lord Voldemort. Yes they were almost back on as long term friends again but Minerva knew she had to tread lightly especially in any mention of Hermione.

oOoOo

The emergency staff meeting covered the reshuffle and the staff all briefed on the official line in relation to the Marcus Turner matter. The trial was likely to be held in the next two weeks and hopefully none of the students would be called as witnesses. The OWLs and NEWTs examinations for the normal day students and those who were taking a slower paced evening classes were over the next two weeks so the scandal could not come at a worse time.

Since they were all there Severus added some administration matters to the agenda. Performance reviews needed to be done in the next two weeks so staff members were asked to organise an appointment time with Minerva. This year both the Deputy and the Headmaster were doing the reviews with the individual staff member. The last agenda item was an announcement reminding everyone to put their leave notices in and what plans they had for the Summer break. Explaining that of course he would need an idea of peoples plans, as they needed to cover student letters and shopping trips. The next staff meeting was set for two weeks time as an all day staff development day on the Sunday.

oOoOo

The almost couple were both franticly busy thanks with the end of year workload but they started to get into the routine of having a morning tea coffee together in the library's chill zone at 10:30am each day. It had started on the first Monday of the exam weeks. Severus had a busy morning greeting the examiners then going into the MLE Headquarters to be briefed about what was happening with Turner. Severus had arrived back in the school in the entrance foyer floo fireplace and thought he would stop by to see what Hermione was up to. The Headmaster found Ms Granger in the chill out zone where he joined her for a coffee.

Severus Snape had survived doing her performance review with Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick present. Filius was officially there so he could experience the process from the other side before he helped the Headmaster do Minerva's review but Minerva knew it was really so he could sign off on Hermione's review without anyone saying that there was a chance of unfair bias for the witch.

If they were actively pursuing their relationship they were being very very discreet thought Minerva. They only thing she knew about was the sweet coffee habit they had gotten into each day in the Library. It was not an open declaration of that they were in relationship. Minerva thought she really aught to have an afternoon tea with Narcissa to see if the woman had any good gossip about what was going on between the two of them. Someone had to have some gossip for her.

oOoOo

After seeing the last of the examiners off the grounds on the last Friday afternoon of the examination fortnight all Severus wanted to do was sit and have a quiet fire whiskey but no for his sins he had to put his game face on. After dinner this evening was the Annual Board of Governors meeting and this included his very own staff performance review as an agenda item. Some of the Governors would be staying in the school for the rest of the weekend hoping to get a feel for the new layout, developments, staff and to assess the plans for the next phase of development he wanted to implement.

This last month of the school year was always one of the most stressful but he had made it even harder for himself by falling for Hermione. They had barely had 10 minutes together in peace each day. It was never in private it was always in the library. Oh how Severus counted down to the routine coffee break. If anything he couldn't believe was how hard he was falling for her but did Hermione feel the same. Looking at his half hunter Severus saw that there was time for him to go for a swim and float some of his stress away before dinner. If he was more relaxed may be he wouldn't snap the head off a School Governor when they asked him the obligatory imbecilic questions. It is really not the best course of action to antagonise the Board. So some time in the pool and maybe even a sit for a while in the sauna.

oOoOo

Severus had survived the Board of Governors meeting and it seemed that they were really pleased with his first year of new post war administration. The former spy hadn't really eaten much at dinner as his stomach had been doing tumble turns thanks to his anxiousness about the meeting. This weekend would be a little bit make or break for him and the implementation of the next phases for the development of the Education provision at Hogwarts. Slipping down to the kitchens Severus Snape found that there were a couple of house elves already looking after someone else having a very late night snack. It was Hermione. He knew it had to be a chocolate fix for her. Her she was with a large serving a chocolate mousse and she seemed to be deliriously happy after taking just one spoonful by his observation of her dessert.

"Snapey hows can we help you? Would you like something?" inquired Sammi.

"What is easy for you?" responded Severus before sitting down next to Hermione the kitchen diner bench table where she was seated. "Is that good?" he asked Hermione. She held out a spoonful to him so he could taste it. When he went to take the spoonful she moved it and snapped it up herself. She was teasing him. After swallowing her mouthful she released a rippling laugh that just enchanted him. Severus felt his heart leap in his chest when he came to the scary conclusion "I am in love with her".

Watching his reactions to her swallowing of the previously offered spoonful saw Hermione start to laugh at his puppy eyed disappointed look. Then his look changed. His eyes seemed to bore right into her those inky pools of blackness seemed to be darker and she felt like he was pulling her towards him. It was the same look he had given her back in January when he opened her gift on his birthday. It made her breathe hitch in her throat.

Suddenly Severus was leaning down and kissing her passionately there was nothing gentle about this kiss. There was desire, longing and a challenge given to Hermione by Severus. To Hermione she felt like she was flame and her heart was beating so fast that she was going to explode. They broke apart when finally oxygen starvation caused them to stop for air. Both of them were panting. Looking at Hermione, Severus licked his lips he could taste the mousse.

There was a slightly annoyed house elf demanding a reply "Snapey do you want some of the mousse or something different?"

"Umm Sammi can I please have a serving of chocolate mousse like Miss Mia has. Sorry about that I was a little distracted," apologised Severus Snape to one of the Kitchen Helper elves.

"Just a little… distracted he says" muttered Hermione before taking her third spoonful of the delicious chocolate mousse.

The pair of them sat and ate their mousses giving each other furtive glances. Blushing when they caught each other watching themselves. They had finished their bowls and sipping on their warmed milk when Severus carefully put his drink on the table and turned to Hermione. Noticing that he had put his glass down and moved towards her, Hermione did the same. Reaching out Severus captured both her small gentle hands in his own.

The silence was a little unnerving for Hermione. "Severus what is it?" she asked.

"It is too soon isn't it?" he asked.

"Too soon for what" she questioned.

"I love you Hermione. I was just thinking you would probably be thinking it was too soon for me to ask you to marry me?" he said.

"Yes" was her reply before gnawing at her lip.