Chapter 79: A Girl to Girl Chat

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

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

The Girls Dormitories ,Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

The return to Hogwarts had been a bitter sweet ordeal, while she missed being at school and tending to her studies, she knew that there was less of a chance for her to spend time alone with Severus. The many prying eyes from student and staff plus his responsibility as Head of Slytherin house saw to much of his time being occupied once more. Hermione managed to finished unpacking her things and collapse onto her bed before the inevitable intrusion of life in the form of her roommate Ginny Weasley came crashing through the door. Her friend had been excited about returning to school and the ramifications of her crush on Harry James Potter as well as the other boys that were clamoring for her attention. Hermione was content with the affections of just one man despite their mutual schedules not truly permitting them to spend much time together. Ginny made her way over to Hermione, crashing onto the bed in true girlish fashion with her excitement barely contained. Hermione had not been enthusiastic nor had she wanted company but it was a shared dorm.

"Finally back at Hogwarts." she declared with a smile. "It's strange having so many boys to choose from."

"I wouldn't know." replied Hermione. "There is only my husband for me."

"True." said Ginny. "I didn't say anything in front of Ron or Harry...but how long have you been married to Professor Snape?"

Hermione had been caught off guard by her friend's deduction. All this time she believed that Ginny thought she was seeing Viktor Krum.

"I don't..." she began.

Ginny smiled.

"Oh come off it Hermione, I've seen the way you look at him." she said teasing her roommate. "It's not a coincidence that Viktor and Snape have similar attributes and that both are older than you."

"How long have you known?" she asked in a hurried whisper.

"You've been disappearing out of the tower for months now ever since you came of age and Snape just so happens to be around quite a bit where you are concerned." said Ginny. "Not to mention your relentless crush on him since that duel and my first year against Lockhart...you know the other teacher you had a crush on with heroic attributes."

"Alright...alright just...don't say anything it's enough that you know about us." said Hermione not wishing to discuss her foolish folly in having a crush on one of the most despicable people in the wizarding world.

Ginny seemed rather pleased with herself.

"So...I bet Snape's good in the sack...isn't he all that brooding and pent up rage has to go somewhere." she teased further.

Hermione's cheeks turned red.

"I will not be discussing my husband with you in that manner." she said attempting to control the conversation. "He is still a teacher after all, yours and mine."

"I'll take that as a yes then." said Ginny bursting into a fit of giggles. "I've heard stories of many Slytherin girls gossiping about him for years...never saw the appeal at first until well puberty and what not."

"Ginny." said Hermione lying back on the bed with a pillow covering her face.

"Alright, alright...I can see that you're obviously not willing to share any details...but it was fascinating to see you two getting cozy in the kitchen." she said. "Good thing Harry and Ron were more interested in chocolate frogs than breakfast that day."

Hermione sighed. She had not anticipated anyone finding out her secret and the fact that it had been Ginny made it all the more annoying. She'd still been for all intents and purposes a teenage girl full of gossip and crude humor. It made Hermione feel uncomfortable to even speak of her relationship with anyone let alone her childish friend.

"It's okay." said Ginny sensing her worry. "I would never say anything to put you two in danger or you at odds with Harry."

"Harry's never going to understand." said Hermione. "He's got it in for Severus and has since the day they met."

Ginny smiled when her friend referred to their Potions Professor via his given name. While it was strange to take in at first, she understood Hermione's specific tastes. Snape was her prince charming since they were younger and with the marriage law decree and her needing to be protected from the other death eaters he'd been the perfect choice. The problem was that no one expected the two of them to actually fall for one another, least of all Headmaster Dumbledore.

"Harry will come around eventually." Ginny assured her. "It's your happiness that concerns me, and it seems like you've actually found it with Snape."

Hermione couldn't hide her emotions at the thought of what they shared alone. Her friend saw right through her and given her track record for dating it made a bit of sense.

"I love him Ginny." the amber eyed witch confessed to her friend, it was like she'd been holding in this secret for a great many years. "And surprisingly enough he loves me in return."

"Well if you're happy then I'm happy." replied Ginny with a smile. "Now there is just the matter of what to do when Ron and Harry find out."

"I've been dreading the day anyone found out." admitted Hermione. "Having to constantly defend my relationship isn't something I saw myself needing to do when I originally thought of what it would be like to be married."

"I don't think anyone does, really." said the red head witch. "It's just you found your way to loving a contemptible git in the middle of a wizarding war and being best friends with the bloke whom out right hates him."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Ginny." said Hermione making her way toward the nearby window. "I know he can be rather guarded...but to me he's really sweet and kind and I don't have to worry about whither or not I can trust him in the company of other witches."

"Viktor?" said Ginny getting it.

"Precisely." replied Hermione with a sigh. "Being with Severus is better than I've ever dreamed it would be...even with not being able to spend as much time with him as I would like to."

"The issue of war." agreed Ginny. "I feel the same about Harry...he's so preoccupied it's maddening...but this war is definitely beginning to take a toll on all of us...it's like we've been fighting it forever."

"Most of our lives if you count the adults and Harry." replied Hermione. "Give him some time...he'll come around to expressing his feelings for you...right now he's more concerned with surviving "you know who."

Ginny sighed this time seemingly pleased to have had this talk with her dearest friend.

"I'll be rooting for you and Snape." she said with a smile.

"And I for you and Harry." replied Hermione returning her smile.

As it turned out, Ginerva Weasley had matured more than Hermione and everyone else ever realized.