Chapter 13 – Gossip

Hermione sat next to Severus on his sofa. They both had a book in hand and read peacefully. This was the first night that Hermione would stay overnight in his quarters and though their relationship steadied with every day, she didn't expect any intimate physical activities. Which was fine, really. It was amazing that he let her into his personal space – his bed above all – and that their life together could be this comfortable. However, they had decided that it was better if no one knew Hermione was here with him – they didn't want students and staff to endlessly gossip about them... So, whenever Hermione wanted to leave the dungeons (to sneak into the library for example) she simply used Harry's Invisibility Cloak which she had borrowed for the weekend.

Hermione just thought how much this still felt like a dream when the flames in the fireplace turned green and Headmistress McGonagall entered.

"Severus, I need to talk to you," she said sternly. Then she saw Hermione and stopped abruptly.

"How about some notice before you come?" Severus growled.

"What's going on?" McGonagall wanted to know. "Hermione, dear, what are you doing here?" She saw her hand intertwined with Severus'. "Are you and he...?" She sounded appalled.

Hermione sighed – it was no use to lie. "Yes, we are," she replied firmly.

McGonagall opened her mouth, closed it again before she was finally able to speak. "But how? I mean this is most unorthodox!"

"Oh, please, Minerva!" Severus stood up angrily. "She's not my student anymore."

"But she was! And the age difference..."

Hermione stood up, too. "We are both adults and there is nothing wrong with our age difference."

McGonagall looked at her favourite student. "I see," she then said. "Still. Next time I wish to be informed when you are here. This is my school after all, and I ought to know who's in it!" And she turned around and left through the Floo again, her errand apparently forgotten.

Severus sighed. "I won't hear the end of it."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said and snaked her arms around his waist.

He held her against him. "At least it's out now, isn't it?" He kissed her nose. "Shall we read some more?"

"Yes, please," she smiled, and they continued to be comfortable with each other.

The next day, Hermione decided that it was idiotic to hide in the dungeons the whole day, so she went to the Great Hall for lunch.

"Don't worry, Severus," she told him when he objected. "In case Minerva hasn't told everyone about us, yet, I will arrive separately from you and merely tell the teachers I came to visit them."

Severus was still apprehensive but didn't deny her the wish to be part of the Great Hall once more.

So at lunch she went first; he would follow fifteen minutes later.

Hermione was glad to walk through the stony corridors of Hogwarts once more and her heart swelled with joy when she entered the Great Hall. It was beautiful in the midday sunlight and the food smelled divine. With a smile she made her way to the teachers' table.

The students turned their heads around to look at her which wasn't uncommon because she was no student here anymore – and the famous war heroine Hermione Granger.

But then the whispers started.

"Is that her?"

"Oh my, she's younger than I thought."

"Do you think she's actually... shagging him?"

"Gross! It's Snape we're talking about!"

Hermione looked around uneasy, but people avoided her gaze. She arrived at the teachers' table and her smile vanished completely. Minerva hadn't already told the whole castle about her and Severus, hadn't she? She wasn't some kind of gossip aunt.

It was the Headmistress herself who stood up to meet her.

"Hermione, this is not my fault," she said at once though she looked troubled.

Hermione noticed the newspaper in her hand and realised that the students had also a copy of the Daily Prophet in front of them. Dreading the words Hermione held up her hand.

Minerva gave her the newspaper reluctantly.

Hermione opened it and found a picture of herself and Severus on the front page. They were sitting on a bench in a park, she was laughing, he was smiling, both holding hands. The headline read: The Real Reason for Hermione Granger's Good Grades Revealed, by Rita Skeeter.

"You got to be kidding me," Hermione mumbled and read the article hurriedly. It seemed Rita had finally registered as an Animagus and was out there again. In her beetle form she had found Hermione and Severus in their favourite park and now found the perfect revenge. The whole article was bashing them: that she, Hermione, had never been more than a teacher's pet, a swot, which now explained why her NEWTs, especially in Potions, were spectacularly high. Severus's part was worse since Rita reminded everyone of his dark past and hoped that he hadn't drugged Hermione with a love potion to get her to be with him.

It was one of the nastiest articles Rita had ever written.

Hermione let down the newspaper in anger. "This is not true!" she told Minerva who nodded.

"I know. I know. But it's possible that many others might be susceptible to this nonsense."

Hermione sighed and looked around. Most faces stared at her, some curious, most disgusted. It had been clear from the beginning that their relationship wouldn't be easily accepted, but she had never wanted the world to know of it, just her friends and family – and they would understand eventually or at least tolerate it. But the world? The world was cruel and unforgiving. Hermione was sure that she could live with constant accusations or advice against her partner, but Severus had to teach in this school.

At that moment the man came into the Great Hall and every whisper stopped at once which made him frown. He quickly made his way to the teachers' table where Minerva and Hermione waited for him. Wordlessly Hermione handed him the newspaper and he quickly read the article. When he looked up, his face was paler than usual, and she saw fear in his eyes.

She wasn't sure what she could say. She wasn't even sure if this was reason enough for him to break up with her. She opened her mouth but closed it again.

In the background, the students waited for their reaction.

Then something changed in Severus' eyes: a new determination arose. He stepped closer to her and mumbled: "Let them die of gossiping. We belong together." And then he kissed her right in front of everybody.

Hermione heard the students gasp but she didn't care. Hearing these words from Severus was the greatest gift he could give her, for it meant that he was finally truly in this relationship and willing to overcome any obstacle with her.

Then the unthinkable happened: the teachers started to applaud and hoot with joy.

Hermione and Severus broke apart and looked at them surprised.

"Congratulations!" Professor Flitwick shouted with a huge grin on his face.

"I knew you'd be perfect for each other!" Professor Sprout added.

Then slowly the students started to relax as well and some Slytherins and Gryffindor even started to clap as well.

Hermione beamed at Severus who squeezed her hand and she was sure that they could handle anything.

AN: I know the reaction of the staff is a bit too optimistic, but I love positive outcomes and Hermione and Severus have struggled a lot already :)