Chapter 96: A Somber Arrival
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
{"One more kiss could be the best thing...Or one more lie could be the worst...And all these thoughts are never resting...And you're not something I deserve...In my head there's only you now...This world falls on me...In this world there's real and make believe...And this seems real to me...And you love me, but you don't know who I am...I'm torn between this life I lead and where I stand...And you love me, but you don't know who I am...So let me go, let me go..."} Let Me GO, 3Doors Down
The Outskirts Of The Forbidden Forest, Scotland, Wizarding World...
Silence passed between Severus Snape and Hermione Granger as they landed on the outskirts of The Forbidden Forest. The vacation of sorts that they'd spent elsewhere was at an end and life as they knew of it before was only going to become crowded by the onset of the second wizarding war. Hermione kept her engagement ring on using a glamour charm to disguise it as they touched down into the darkness of the forest. The last thing she needed was more prodding from her friends about her marriage and the bouts of Ron's apparent jealousy due to her already being married. Snape didn't seem to mind, he'd never been one for public displays of affection even when hidden via the vast corridors of Hogwarts. He seemed to ease back into his dour professor persona as if it were a mere flick of a switch. Just as they neared the end of the forest and the onset of Hogwarts Grounds, Snape quickly pulled Hermione back one last time. He said nothing for a while before leaning down to capture her lips in one final kiss before letting her go and venturing back toward the dungeons while she headed off toward Gryffindor tower. Snape's apparent mood soured significantly once he reached the grounds and something of a scowl filed across his sallow pale face. If Harry or Ron were hanging about they'd be none the wiser as Hermione scrambled back to the common room hoping she didn't run into Filch given the late hour. Snape was kind enough to actually give her an assignment before they parted of course making her excuse for being absent for two days valid for anyone that asked.
Their time together although brief, was well spent as she'd felt even closer to her husband than before despite the mounting pressure and apparent danger that loomed before them.
Hermione had not forgotten her husband's warning and knew instinctively that he'd be quite busy in the coming days and that whatever Harry had planned for her would keep her on her toes as far as this war was concerned. Of course she never truly knew just how much she had to worry as The Headmaster's folly was unknown to her and the odds of success with his impending doom were slim to none.
Blissfully avoiding her friends and Filch alike, Hermione Granger managed to make it back to Gryffindor Tower and settled in before anyone had discovered she'd been back. Snape on the other hand knew all too well where he was needed and expected both his apparent leash holders to weigh in on his recent return.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The Girls Dormitories ,Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts Castle, Scotland, Wizarding World...
Hermione heaved a sigh of relief as she found herself lying back on her bed staring up at the ceiling. She'd been exhausted from all the excitement and the trip but it was well worth spending some quality time with her husband. Staring at her hand, she recalled the ring she wore that he'd given her back at the garden café. She hadn't expected to be proposed to, let alone by him in that moment and it truly caught her off guard. The pleasantness of the gesture only endeared the dour wizard to her all the more as she attempted to make sense of everything he'd been capable of. Still this ring was a definite sign that their marriage was no longer an arrangement via The Headmaster in a bid to keep her safe. His affection for her had been quite genuine and only seemed to intensify her for him. When they first got married, if someone would have told her that not only would her Potions Master prove himself to be a particularly satisfying partner in bed but a loving one in general she might have laughed herself into a fit. Those first few moments of their marriage seemed to pale in comparison to the present and she had still been amazed by them.
"Back already?" said the whispered voice of a very wide awake Ginny Weasley as her sly smile was lit up via the moonlight.
Ginny being the only friend Hermione had that knew the truth of her affection for their Potions Master was something of a welcome change. She seemed to be rooting for them in a sense even if no one else had been.
"Yes." whispered Hermione unable to stop smiling as she thought back to her time with Snape. "As a matter of fact we've just returned."
Ginny was quite happy for her friend and it appeared the time she spent with Snape was beneficial.
"I want to hear all about it tomorrow after class." insisted Ginny never one to miss out a girl to girl chat.
Hermione sighed sleepily before drifting off into a contented slumber. She thought of her husband and briefly the desire to once more share a bed with him returned before dreams of the previous adventure before hand took hold.
"Severus..." she whispered as she gave in to slumber wondering for a mere fraction of a second if he'd been thinking about her too.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
The Front Room, Snape's Quarters, The Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Flickering orange flames lapped at the now blackened log that was set ablaze via Severus Snape's wand when he entered his private quarters. It didn't take him long before he had settled back into his domain before he made his way over toward the makeshift bar and poured himself a glass of firewhiskey. There was a lot on his mind as of late, his young wife included as he paced back n forth knowing what awaited him once the time came. Thinking back to his trip with his wife, he had seen a good deal of possibilities for them had this war not taken precedence over their respective lives. He had loved her. A shocking thing in it of itself, but it was true none the less. The weary Potions Master made his way over toward his favorite arm chair content to sit by the fire and enjoy his last fleeting moments of peace that lingered from the time he spent with his wife. if these were the last few moments he could get, he'd take them as he knew far too well what lied ahead.
"Hermione..." said Snape as his own weariness from the previous days events got the better of him and he found himself falling asleep in his chair clutching a half full glass of firewhiskey.