Chapter 57: In Keeping With Appearances
{A/N: Here's Another Update...late post, My Apologies for the delays; there was work and a new birth in the family taking up my attention.}
My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Snape's Potions Classroom, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Relief flooded Hermione Granger as she entered the potions class to find that Snape had already been inside. He took a few moments to look through the stacks of parchment that had been on his desk that had piled since his absence. The groans and grumbles that echoed just outside the room when the students got wind of "The Dreaded Potions Professor" had been quite loud and Snape by the looks of it seemed quite amused by them. Hermione had not been so amused but noting the look he gave her had thought better than to attempt to come to his defense even when it came to Harry being the loudest of all whom had objected to a lecture from Snape. Ron had, been more interested in what they would be having for lunch and everything seemed to settle back into the ususal state of normalcy. Her best friend and Ron had no clue about the changes that occured with their young friend's life and had not in the least been inclined to ask. There had been no outward appearance to showcase her level of growth but she had carried herself with a more mature attitude if that had been at all possible if only to impress her lackluster husband.
Snape ignored her much as he always had when tending to class and showed as little regard for her as possible. Though Hermione had been quite upset by it, she knew the rules and that he had already instructed her on how their relationship would be outside of his quarters. It was however difficult to pretend that she hadn't spent the previous night in his arms well away from the prying eyes of her fellow students and friends.
The hours passed making Snape just as anxious to get class over with as his students. He had a report to give to the Headmaster and other plans to see to pertaining to his role in this upcoming war and much to his own dread, he would no doubt be summoned once again by the despot in a bid to gauge his status in the revived Death Eater Ranks. Mistrust and revoltion had been familiar territory for Severus Snape, as he had known very little of anything else in his young life.
Still he despite his best efforts to appear otherwise, had been quite fond of affection especially when it came from his young wife. He watched her from afar despite never approaching her even in the slightest notion. Draco had always got the feeling that Granger had somehow been revolting to the Potions Professor and found it amusing to watch her squirm whenever he humiliated her in front of the rest of the class.
Snape seemed content this day to return to his desk and fiddle with his stack of parchments as he continued to ignore the occasional glances of his rather anxious young wife while she attempted to pretend that this day had been just like any other. He had a full list of things to get done and couldn't hardly devote any more time to indulging his whims. They were after all in the midst of a second wizarding war and in an effort to minimise casualties, they needed to be better prepared.
This time around, the burden of getting information to the opposing faction while trying to stay alive had been quite the challenge.
Hermione being his wife this time around had been a significant change and for the first time since the first war, Severus Snape found himself with everything to lose, despite his best efforts to obtain nothing in which that could be lost this go round.
As the ringing of the bell signaled the need for his dismissal, Snape had been eager to get back to work if only to get his mind off the longing he needed to focus and that was proving to be much more difficult than he had anticipated. Being with Hermione had changed him in a much more profound way and the steps he took to conceal this fact had been the difference between life and death as it were.
Hermione gathered her books after stealing one more glance at her Potions Professor husband.
Ron and Harry had not seemed to suspect a thing given their usual preference for getting as far away from the dungeons as possible when Snape dismissed class. With a whimsical sigh, Hermione headed out after them unsure of what to make of her conflicting feelings as the urge to lag behind and possibly steal a kiss or two from the dour wizard whom had captivated both her attention and her body in such a profound manner that she hardly knew what to make of it.
She knew the dangers of course, and that she should keep her distance.
Still the memories of their shared moments had been quite inviting even as he breezed passed them to make his way toward the Headmaster's office to give his report on the events that lead to his disappearance for a few days and subsequent injuries afterward.
"Off he goes." remarked Ron glaring in Snape's direction as his black robes billowed in the distance.
"As rude and self absorbed a git as any." added Harry as he two watched Snape disappear down the corridor without a word.
Hermione sighed pressing her books into her chest as she turned her attention to making it to their next class on time. She'd made up her mind to attempt to sort out her feelings at a later date if only to keep her mind on her studies for the time being.
"Come on." she said getting the attention of her wayward friends. "We're going to be late for Charms class if we don't hurry."
A few unsavory grunts and groans from both Harry and Ron signaling their disdain for having to rush to get to class despite the grace period had been what remained of their less than kind conversation about the Potions Professor and that was quite alright with Hermione.