Chapter 101: A Rather Uneventful Summer

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

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

Hermione's Bedroom, The Granger Residence, Muggle World...

Following the end of term, Hermione Jean Granger Snape had seen less and less of her husband over the coming months. She didn't doubt that with school officially out on break before the next term that Severus would be utilized quite a bit via his numerous obligations to two demanding masters, the despot especially. When term ended Harry had been more inclined to sulk about the end of Sirius Black's life and the service for him was held and over rather quickly considering his body had fallen into the death veil. Ron had not known how to comfort Harry in his time of need and neither had Hermione for that matter. The moments they had spent together on the Hogwarts Express were filled with heavy silence and quiet reflection. Even then Hermione found herself wondering where her husband was and how he was faring with his apparent best friend having been humiliated and arrested via the Ministry Of Magic. From the looks of a furious Draco Malfoy there was quite a chance he'd been none too pleased as new swept the school about the aftermath of the battle. Adult hood for a great many of the students was already a daunting experience, but it seemed the more the years rolled on, something they never imagined would take precedence over their respective lives had finally reared it's ugly snake face and the horrors unleashed still left people in anguish. In the days of their misspent youth, the adults harbored the secrets of the first war with the despot and rightly so, not a single one of the students riding the train to and from Hogwarts castle would have ever gotten a pure moment from childhood otherwise.

Once more Hermione's thoughts traveled back to her husband.

He'd been right as usual about what it meant to have finally grown up, and the horrors that were previously hidden. She couldn't imagine what he must have gone through and she was grateful that he cared enough to still be able to ensure the safety of everyone no matter their background. Despite his attitude, Hermione was grateful that her husband had taken extra care to look after her best friend. It was clear that the only reason the Order of Phoenix arrived when they did was due to Severus' untimely intervention. Still, she had hoped he'd faired better than everyone else. After she awoke in the infirmary she had not seen him, not even at the end of the year feast. Dumbledore didn't seem in the least surprised as everyone now knew he'd taken an active means in securing Harry Potter's protection.

It was a matter of time before the despot set his sights on the Headmaster, as Dumbledore had been the true power between him and the boy.

Hermione seemed to understand that Snape had come to the same conclusion more so than she even realized.

Her thoughts drifted back to that strange last night she spent on their vacation of sorts.

He had warned her to be weary of the future.

Did he know about Sirius or did the despot have something else horrible planned?

So many thoughts clouded her already overactive mind and Hermione found herself shaken from them via a knock on her bedroom door.

It took her a moment to recognize her mother had stopped by, curious as to what had been taking her so long to come down to dinner.

Jean Granger seemed quite concerned about her daughter as of late, remarking about her fast approaching the time she'd be out of Hogwarts permanently.

"Sixteen already." she remarked looking over her only child and daughter with a smile. "It seems like yesterday you were setting the furniture on fire and we were freaking out trying to understand how you used magical abilities."

Hermione smiled, she had not yet had the time to tell her parents about her marriage, let alone that she'd been married to her Potions Professor. Even worse, she had not told them anything about the changes in the wizarding world since the return of Voldemort. Sirius Black's death had come to mind once more and she was shaken to her very core. Jean must have noticed but said nothing as she knew all too well that her daughter wouldn't tell her anything about the wizarding world that didn't include friendships and academics.

Hermione climbed out of bed and ventured toward the door following her mother down to dinner. It was on their trip down the stairs that her mother had taken notice of the ring on her daughter's finger.

"That's some piece of jewelry." said Jean seemingly impressed. "One of your little friends give it to you, I've been wondering about you three for quite some time."

"No, mom Ronald and Harry are just friends." replied Hermione suddenly very defensive.

"Then where'd you get that ring, looks much too expensive for something you just threw on for fashion purposes." replied Jean as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

Hermione's cheeks turned red as she attempted to suppress the memory of Severus Snape proposing to her and the events that followed.

"Look at your cheeks." said Jean with a smile. "If that doesn't spell a boy gave it to you I don't know what does."

"What?" asked John Granger looking up from the table. "What boy?, Herms?"

"Just some boy at school." replied Jean before Hermione could protest.

"Which one, the red head or the Potter boy?" asked John as if trying to decipher which would be worse for his daughter in his mind.

"Neither." replied Hermione at last.

"What about that Viktor Krum?" asked John recalling his daughter going to the ball with the Qudditch star.

"Not him either." replied Hermione finding herself repulsed by the idea.

"But it is a boy at school." said Jean with a smile.

She'd waited so long for her daughter to become interested in something other than a book for a change.

Hermione sat down at the dinner table not wishing to discuss her personal life with her parents.

"His name's Sebastian." she replied as if exhausted by her parents' constant guessing. "Sebastian Prince."

Of course they had not known that her husband's name was Severus Sebastian Snape and that he was indeed a member of The Prince wizarding family but it was enough to end the painstaking guessing game.

"So..." said Jean taking a seat at the table as well. "What's he like?"

Hermione sighed looking down at the ring she had forgotten to charm which lead to this discussion in the first place.

She wondered if her husband's summer was as uneventful as hers had been and if he missed her as much as she missed him.