Chapter 72: The Aspect Of Advantage

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

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

The Commons, Cokeworth England, Muggle World...

Fed up with Ron's constant glaring at her due to his newfound knowledge of her being a married witch, Hermione had been all too delighted to venture away from the confines of 12 Grimmauld Place and out into the open air. With the knowledge of her marriage at the forefront of everyone's minds, it was generally assumed that she had business with her husband...and just as Severus Snape had predicted it did not surprise anyone that she found the need to venture out from the manor at certain times of the day. Begrudgingly, she had to admit that Ginny's attempt at poking her nose into her private affairs was quite useful given how clingy Ron and Harry had been before hand. Still, she was rather uncomfortable with the idea of anyone believing she and Viktor Krum of all people were married. She knew that Severus simply went along with the rumors in a bid to move about without Harry or any of her friends finding out about them being together but it always felt disingenuous to allow anyone to believe she'd been with anyone other than her husband, her true husband...Severus Snape. It unnerved her to have to play "pretend" when faced with the many questions and accusations from her so called friends and it had not been easy to endure the snide remarks from Ron about her romantic interests either. Turning her attention to more pleasant things, she began to put what happened due to Ginny Weasley's meddling behind her and focused entirely on her plans for the evening with her husband.

She knew him quite well by now, his slow subtle strides when ever he emerged from the shadows of whatever corner he'd been lurking in. She could feel his eyes move over her body and the ample amount of desire he attempted to mask with quiet patience. Hermione had been slightly amused in her own right via his cool exterior knowing that once he had gotten her alone and the two of them had been devoid of their respective clothing that subtly coolness would be done away with and in it's place a passion unlike anything she'd ever known before, not that she'd been an expert in these matters. At the moment she knew his game, a classic rendition of cat and mouse where he'd stroll behind her focused on her movements ready to pounce at any given opportunity.

He'd been as bad as Crookshanks when he wanted something. Poised and to the point.

Hermione's amusement had been short lived as she felt the familiar sensation of her rather eager husband's arms wrap around her in much the same manner they always had when he'd reached his limit with the thrill of chase.

"And just...where do you think you are going...Mrs. Snape?" he asked pulling her into his embrace and capturing her lips in a heated kiss just as he turned her to face him.

"Oh it's Mrs. Snape now is it git?" she asked with an arched brow as she pulled back from him.

The flicker of desire from behind his obsidian eyes only seemed to intensify in the wake of her feigned defiance.

"Such a brave little lioness." he replied not taking his eyes off her. "Perhaps you are a credit to your house."

"Was that a compliment Mr. Snape or are you just trying to lay on the charm?" asked Hermione still amused but not willing to give an inch in this exchange.

"We serpents are naturally charming, didn't you know?" asked Snape with something of a wicked grin before offering her his hand as they proceeded down the darkened street together.

Hermione seemed to be at ease spending time with him despite the ordeal from the previous night. It was strange that he'd been amusing at all given how temperamental he'd been when she found him that night. A stark contrast from the man escorting her to his home had been the near on monster that wanted nothing more than to hurt and humiliate her before.

She couldn't imagine what it had been like for him before. Night after night having to pretend to be apart of that dark and dangerous world only to return each morning and carry on as if none of it ever happened.

"You think too much witch." said Snape knowing full well where her mind had gone. "Let it be...at least for tonight...I intend to make up for my lack of grace in terms of that night."

Hermione sighed.

She knew he felt terrible about the things he said to her and even how much he loathed himself for having said them.

They reached Spinner's End in record time and then the residence of Severus Snape shortly after that. The walk had been a silent one as once more awkwardness set in. Snape's apparent shame due to his behavior and nearly attacking his wife returned and she did her best to keep her slowly creeping fears at bay.

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The Snape Residence, Spinner's End, Cokeworth England, Muggle World...

The stench of dust and ash filled the air as Snape opened the front door to his childhood home. He had dreaded coming back to this place time and time again, opting to remain at Hogwarts during the holiday if he had not been formally invited to Malfoy Manor. The echoes of his most painful memories seemed to seep from the very walls even now as he moved about ensuring Hermione could enter and that the cobwebs would be cleared. He spent little to no time keeping the place up but didn't want to disappoint his wife. He'd made up his mind when she made the request that he'd venture anywhere she'd want to go if only to spend as much time with her as possible.

Although not ideal, it was a Potter and Weasley free zone.

Hermione sensed a bit of tension in him and commented accordingly.

"This place holds a lot of bad memories for you, doesn't it?" she asked.

Snape did his best to quickly make the sitting room bearable before lighting the fireplace.

"Why do you ask?" he replied still fiddling with the logs amid the newly lit flames.

"You seem tense." replied Hermione still observing him.

"It's always been like that for me when coming to this place." admitted Snape still fiddling with the newly lit log. "That's Tobias' influence of course...sometimes I forget that he's no longer among the living."

"Tobias?" asked Hermione inquisitive as always.

"The Muggle bastard that sired me." replied Snape in something of an embittered tone. "Or at least that's what I am lead to believe anyway."

Hermione watched Snape move about the room toward the makeshift bar that contained his choice brand of firewhiskey.

"If he'd been alive he would have had a heart attack about me bringing a girl home, would have possibly keeled over if he knew I had a wife." continued Snape as he poured himself a drink and downed it in seconds.

"I'm sorry." said Hermione regretting this trek down memory lane.

"Don't be...I've got quite a few good memories in this place due to you." replied Snape downing another glass before approaching her. "About the other night...?"

Hermione swiftly walked over toward him and put a finger to his lips.

"I know you didn't mean it." she said softly. "And that's why you are going to make it up to me."

Snape nodded in agreement as her hand traveled from his face to his own now empty pale hand as she swiftly pulled her wand casting a quick silencing charm and locking up for the night. The Potions Master knew all too well that she had considered it a personal challenge to make a few more good memories in this formerly wretched place.