Chapter 86: A Level Of Contention
{A/N: Here's Another Update...Late Post}
My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Bedroom Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons ,Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Blazing orange from the nearly faint glow of the fireplace continued to illuminate the front room of Severus Snape's private quarters as Hermione Jean Granger began to stir from her slumber following the events of the previous night. The darkness of the dungeons had been quite alarming on occasion as she'd been well use to awakening with the sun shining brightly upon her face. Here in this darkened space it had been as if she'd awakened in a different world. In a sense she had, given the nature of her secretive relationship with her Potions Professor husband. Their very lives depended upon the secrecy that surrounded a good many things here at Hogwarts and one never knew when the despot had eyes and ears among the students and other staff capable of seeing through even the briefest of confidences. For the most part, the initial plan for their marriage had worked out. Voldemort had been appeased and Snape had not gotten into too much trouble for the marriage just as the Headmaster predicted but the one thing Dumbledore had not counted on was the development of genuine feelings blossoming between his illustrious spy and one of his most brilliant and impressive students. Her contributions to Harry Potter's survival had been quite surprising in the beginning and invaluable as of late. Protecting her was indeed the priority in the beginning. Hermione managed to open her eyes feeling once and for all that she'd been alone in bed with Snape long gone, proof being the side of the bed in which he slept had been quite cold in the wake of his absence.
Unsure where he had gotten off to, Hermione found herself braving the chill of the dungeons as well as the darkness in a bid to find him. As she moved closer toward the door, she took note of the sound of voices coming from the front room as well as the faint glow of orange from the fireplace. One voice she recognized immediately to have belonged to her husband and he'd been greatly upset about something. It had only taken a few moments for her to identify the secondary voice as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
"You have no choice in this matter Severus." said Dumbledore in a stern tone. "Should you choose to walk away the very ones you care for will suffer dire consequences...can you honestly say that you could live with their deaths on your conscience?
Snape seemed quite agitated.
"Don't you dare bring that up in my face." he growled.
"All I am asking for is your assistance one last time." began Dumbledore.
"Fuck you." growled Snape not in the least in the mood for the elder wizard's mind games. "You know very well what you are asking of me!"
"Think of the boy." urged Dumbledore. "You've been in his life ever since he'd been a babe."
Snape seemed to be highly distressed for a few moments before he ultimately gave in.
"Rot in hell old man." he said meeting Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes.
Hermione Granger-Snape managed to make it out of the room in time to see the swirling of strange magic around them both just before Snape pulled his hand away. Their talk had apparently been over as Dumbledore seemed rather pleased with himself. Snape stood shirtless and with a vastly annoyed expression filed across his pale face before both wizards turned their collective attention to the young witch whom had exited the bedroom.
"Professor Dumbledore?" she said unsure of what she stumbled upon.
"Hello, Miss Granger." said the old man the brief flash of rage from Snape not going unnoticed when he referred to the young witch via her maiden name. "It is a pleasure to see you up and about...but won't Minerva be missing you in the tower?"
Snape did his best not to hex the old man right there.
"I was spending some time with my wife, as you well know." he replied in an embittered tone.
Dumbledore smiled before turning his attention to other matters. He had been content to leave of course, now that he had gotten what he'd wanted. Hermione found their behavior to be quite strange, but understood there was some things that neither man would discuss with her due to the nature of their relationship and the on going war.
When the headmaster took his leave, Snape couldn't seem to have gotten rid of him soon enough.
"Are you alright?" asked Hermione noting the apparent strain his new assignment was causing him.
"I'm fine." replied Snape making his over toward the nearby bar.
"Severus given the current situation, wouldn't it be wiser to have a clear mind for your assignment?" asked Hermione with an arched brow.
Snape sighed and made his way over toward the green sofa crashing down on it as if he cared not about how childish he'd look in doing so. Hermione suppressed a giggle and made her way over toward him. She'd been rather curious about the swirling magic and the apparent deal he had made with the Headmaster.
The dour Potions Master knew all too well what thoughts were moving about in her young mind.
"Let it go." he said aloud. "It is not for you to know...least of all this soon."
"The two of you looked to be quite serious...whatever it is...does it have anything to do with Harry?" she asked unable to resist prying as she made her way toward him.
"It's always about Potter." growled Snape once more in annoyance. "Now, let it go!"
Hermione knew better than to keep pushing lest she risk setting him off and ruin what had been left of their evening together.
Snape surprised her despite his demeanor by pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her as he continued to sit on the sofa.
An all too familiar silence filled the room and the two of them seemed to be content being warmed via the crackling fire. The scent of herbs and fresh earth had been unmistakable, the very staple of Snape's potions work and a few pleasant memories that belonged specifically to Hermione. This moment in time had been added to the already impressive list causing Snape to hold her still. He knew all too well that moments like this were fleeting and that there was no guarantee that once his mission had been carried out, she'd be less inclined to share much of anything with him least of all any old memories.