Chapter 44: An Air Of Reluctance

{A/N: Here's Another Update..}

My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

The Bedroom, Severus Snape's Private Quarters, The Dungeon Corridors, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Reluctance, set the overall tone of the evening as Hermione Granger-Snape found her self looking up at the ceiling of her Potions Professor husband's private quarters. She had not wished to part from him, given the amount of progress they had made since the previous night in terms of admitting their mutual feelings for one another and that their current relationship had gone past mere physical attraction brought on via the situation as well as their lack of sexual experience before hand. It was as if they had both been teenagers discovering the world as adults for the very first time. Such had been true for Hermione of course but Snape was another matter. She couldn't truly figure him out even when she believed she had gotten close to it. One moment he'd been an abrasive arse hellbent on making her as miserable as possible for having the gall to choose him to be her husband and the next he'd been just as clueless about his emerging emotions as any teenage boy she'd ever known despite his age and profession.

Severus Snape for his part had been quite baffled by his latest encounter with the young witch. She had managed to get him to admit his feelings for her beyond sexual gratification, he had not expected her to be so bold, nor did he expect her to want something more with him. He knew no good could come of indulging her romanticized fantasies but he had nothing else to look forward to. His days had been filled with constant vigilance over the boy Harry Potter and his own godson Draco Malfoy as well as balancing his duties as Head Of Slytherin. His nights were either filled with rampant torture session courtesy of the dark lord or Dumbledore's incessant prattling about the war and what he should do to ensure Potter's safety.

Between lessons and service to two overbearing self appointed masters, Snape had nothing to look forward to aside from endless suffering with the upcoming war and the possibility of being targeted from either side given their natural inclination to hate him. Being with Hermione had been fleeting moments of contemplation where, for the first time in his life, Severus Snape wished for something more than shouldering the weighted secrets that plagued him morning, noon, and night.

She had not known it, but she'd been his reason to get out of bed every morning ever since they'd been wed. The years of service had taken their toll and he wanted nothing more to do with either side, wishing perhaps for the small mercy of being excluded completely when the fighting began. He knew it would never happen, he'd given up hope to living out the remainder of his existence in peace a long time ago. Still, the young woman wrapped firmly around him in bed had presented him with a small measure of happiness, even if she had not known the extent of it.

Hermione seemed to notice he'd been in contemplation for quite some time and took it upon herself to shake him from his thoughts.

"Something on your mind?" she said casually.

"Just you witch." he replied resting his back against the pillows he'd returned to his bed after their latest encounter.

"Good thoughts I hope." she said rather nervously, she had not wanted to rethink his feelings for her.

"Indeed they were." he replied as he scooped her into his waiting arms and brought her lips close to his.

She took the initiative and kissed him rather passionately before turning her attention to the matter of their daily routine.

"I have to get back before anyone comes looking for me." said Hermione not at all looking forward to parting with her husband.

Snape seemed to be just as disappointed as she had been to part given their recent admissions to each other.

"Remember what I told you." he said in something of a reflective tone. "Behind closed doors, I am for all intents and purposes your husband..."

"Elsewhere, you are my Potions Professor...and I am your student." she replied making it clear that she understood his terms even now.

"Good." he said pleased that she not only recalled his words but offered no means of protest.

Their relationship was dangerous enough without undue complications.

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Later...

Hermione sighed before giving her husband one final kiss and climbing off the bed. His dark gaze shifted toward her as she moved about the room collecting her scattered attire and redressing as the muggle's did, showing her reluctance to leave indefinitely, but knowing full well that she had little choice in the matter lest her continued absence bring about suspicion. Snape had not been looking forward to being alone either as he too climbed out of bed and wrapped his arms around the smiling young witch whom had managed to swiftly captivate his formerly icy heart.

"Severus, I've got to get dressed." she said with something of a school girl giggle the moment she felt him behind her, feeling up her youthful body with his questing rough calloused hands. "I've got to make it back before Harry start's asking questions."

"I know...and I've got some patrolling to do." he replied while softly kissing her neck as she continued to dress despite his attempted distraction. "The old man expects me to be making my rounds."

Hermione turned to face the normally dour wizard stroking his pale cheek with her free hand.

"I wish I could stay." she said honestly.

"So do I." replied Snape meeting her gaze once more before capturing her lips in quick kiss before stepping away and allowing her to finish getting dressed before doing the same.

Once the both of them had been spelled clean and redressed, they made their shared journey to the front door. Hermione knew to be careful on her way out of the dungeons and Snape knew to start his rounds after checking in on the Slytherin students. Their parting had been rather bittersweet as Hermione noted that the moment the door opened, her clueless, sweet, and loving Severus had been hidden away long before the Potions Master stepped outside it giving way to the emotionless git everyone had known.

He had not even looked in her direction before he parted focused on his duties as Head Of Slytherin once again. As for Hermione, she had managed to reached the main corridor without being spotted and journeyed to the library in relative peace.