AN; Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Hermione had never experienced the walk of shame. Today was the closest she'd ever come. Despite her guilt and desire to admit what had occurred, her mind was racing with half-baked explanations and unsatisfactory answers. Somehow, she needed to explain to Ron why she had vanished after a night of passionate love making, and why she was wearing another man's shirt. Oh, and she needed to explain why she was with a man he despised. How could she begin explaining ay of this though? She had no idea why she kept waking up in Snape's bed. He was just as much at a loss for an explanation, a fact he'd made more than clear. Sure, she could hope it never happened again, but how could she be certain? Last night she was certain she'd wake up with Ron. Why were her mornings spent with Snape?
She was the one who kept coming to his bed. Did that mean she had a sleep apparation problem? If so, did she need to see a healer? How could she begin to explain any of this to anyone? Worse, if she went to a healer, how long before Rita "accidentally" stumbled across her medical file and let all of Wizarding Britain know about her condition and the scandalous implications it entailed?
Upon entering the apartment, she took off Snape's shirt and threw it into the laundry basket. She said a silent prayer of thanks that Ron didn't do any chores. At least there wasn't any chance of him finding Snape's shirt, though there were bound to be questions as to where she'd disappeared.
"'Mione?"
Her body ran cold as she heard his footsteps approach.
"Where did you go?" There was no hostility in the voice, only genuine curiosity.
She turned around. Ron stared at her, moistening his lips. For the first time, she felt exposed before him, naked in every shameful way, much more so than she had at any other time in their relationship.
"Did you go out to get me some coffee and scones?" His eyes gleamed.
"Uh, yes," she drawled. "I went to Little Ritchie's, but it was closed. I think the oven was having issues or something. It should be resolved soon though."
"That's a shame it wasn't working. I wish you could've gotten me something," He examined her. "Uh, why are you naked?"
"When I was walking there, I stepped over a pothole and fell into a puddle. It ruined my clothes, so I had to change before my meeting with the campaign strategists."
"That explains why your hair's a mess too."
She frowned.
"What? It looks like you just woke up."
"I thought you said my hair was captivating when I woke up."
"It is, but it's also a mess which sometimes suffocates me. I mean, there's bushy hair, and there's what you have. Your hair is a rat's nest, and we both know it."
She scowled.
"Oh don't give me that look. We both know I'm right. Anyway, you have to get it cleaned up for the meeting," he replied. "If your hair was perfect, you wouldn't need to fix it up so much, or put so many products in it."
"I suppose you have a point there." She sighed.
"Anyway, I'm sorry you couldn't get me any food. I guess I'll have some cereal." He turned around.
"Wait," she drawled. "Did you even notice I was gone?"
"Of course I did," he huffed. "I'm not blind. I couldn't see you when I woke up, so I knew you were gone."
"When did you wake up?"
"About seven."
"Oh," she dug her foot into the brown carpet. "And you weren't worried about me?"
"No," he shrugged. "I figured you left me to do something important. Plus, I figured you were going to give me something when you came back, which is always nice."
She stared at him, words escaping her. Him not worrying about her should've been a sign of trust. He knew she'd come back, and was convinced she'd always be by his side. That should've been touching, endearing. Yet the way he said it almost made it seem like he felt nothing but apathy towards her, or that he'd just taken for granted that she'd be by his side. Was he too trusting, or too apathetic to her existence?
"Anyway, you have to take a shower, and I have to get to work. Can't let the boss get anymore mad at me than he is." Ron grinned.
"No, we can't have that," she answered in a softer voice.
Ron whistled as he strolled down the hallway. Hermione looked at the ground. She was naked, and Ron didn't see her. Everything about her was exposed, and he saw none of it.
How could a person who loved her the way he did not care that she wasn't waking up next to him?
Severus scowled as he took his place at the head table. Once again, he needed three cups of tea, and would be lucky if he got two. Somehow, his mornings were getting interrupted. That bushy haired know-it-all was finding a way into his bedroom, and needed to be stopped before she dragged him into a scandal.
It was inevitable that there would be publicity around her midnight escapades, assuming they were ever discovered. His silence was necessary if she wanted to keep her campaign alive. If only she'd had more money! The migraines which would come with her presence far exceeded the measly twenty-thousand galleons he was owed for his silence. Still, if she came through for him he could leave this dead-end job and begin his own apothecary. The thought of leaving was enough to cause his lips to twitch upwards.
Good could come of this if he played his cards correctly. He just needed to be dealt the right hand.
"Did you have another complication this morning?" Neville asked as a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon appeared before Severus.
"Much to my chagrin, yes," Severus waited until his cup of black tea appeared before picking at his food.
"Do you need me to grow or harvest anything to resolve your complication?" Neville asked.
"I highly doubt anything you can do can resolve it."
"Are you certain?"
"I'm positive." Severus took a sip of tea.
Neville lean in and whispered. "If it's something too personal, we can talk after you finish teaching for the day. There's no shame in admitting you need a little help."
"A little help with what?" He hissed.
"You know," Neville pointed to Snape's abdomen. "You may need help, being, well, regular. There's no shame in asking for a little help down there."
"Oh it's nothing like that," Severus snapped.
"Are you certain?" Neville paled.
"I'm positive," Severus snapped. "If it was, I'm more than taking care of it myself. I am a potions master after all."
"So your complication is nothing physical I could help you with?"
"No," Severus grumbled. "There is nothing physically wrong with me. I'm as healthy as I have ever been."
"Okay," Neville swallowed. "But if you need any medical help…"
"I'm more than capable of brewing my own potions. If for some reason I cannot, I am capable of polyjuicing myself to look like you and going to an apothecary where nobody knows our names."
"Okay then."
Severus took a bite of his bacon, his snarl deepening. Gryffindors were finding a way to sour his morning, and not a single student had entered his classroom yet. What other annoyances must he endure?
"Severus," Minerva began from beside him. "I was beginning to fear you would not join us."
"I apologize for my tardiness. There was a situation which needed tending to," he answered.
"Is it resolved?" She asked.
"For the moment, yes."
"Do I want to know what that means?"
"No."
"If it affects the school…"
"I will tell you about it if it ever interferes with my ability to teach. Otherwise, I can take care of myself."
She gave a look before nodding. "Being late to breakfast doesn't affect your job duties, at least not as far as your behavior in the classroom is concerned. So long as you can make it to classes I'll leave you to handle whatever your situation is."
"Thank you." He took a bite of scrambled eggs.
"In the meantime, you missed last night's staff meeting."
"Don't remind me," he growled.
She held up her hand. "I'm aware of why you missed, and I have accepted it. Nobody will ever convince you to leave you dungeons past five. Still, I wonder if your complication inhibited Neville from meeting with you to give you the copy of our minutes."
"No, I didn't have time to see him," Neville cut in. "My carotid cacti is on the verge of blooming. I had to make sure last night wasn't that night. The flowers from it are too valuable and rare of potions ingredients to neglect."
"Did they bloom?" Severus asked before taking another sip of tea.
"No, but I think that will occur tomorrow night," he couldn't hide the gleam in his eyes. "All the signs that it will flower are there, if only I show patience."
"Indeed," Severus replied.
"Cacti aside," Minerva continued, "Hogsmeade weekend is this Saturday."
"Thank Merlin. I need a day to catch up on grading." Snape took a bite of bacon.
"There will be no time for grading. You're going to be supervising it along with Neville and Elena."
"What?" Severus barked.
"Don't be so surprised," she continued, unaffected by his outburst. "We needed a third chaperone, and nobody else volunteered."
"I didn't volunteer either," he retorted.
"I know, but you cannot always stay holed up in your dungeons all weekend."
"I can and I will."
"Don't be a petulant child about this. It's been quite some time since you've last done a Hogsmeade weekend. You need to supervise at least a couple of weekends a year in order to quell the rumors that you don't pull your own weight around here."
"I deduct more house points than anyone else. Isn't keeping the dunderheads in line more than pulling my own weight?"
"No, it is not."
He snorted.
"It will do you some good to get out amongst people. It can't be healthy for you to spend all your free time drowning in books."
"As I just explained to Neville, I am quite happy with my books." He took a sip of his tea. "Also, I went to Draco's wedding. That is more than enough socialization for the month."
"Yes, and I read all about it. I believe the section on you said something to the extent of, 'recluse Severus Snape leaves dungeons to see his godson marry. Will we see more of him?'"
"The answer would be no," he grumbled.
"Severus," Minerva furrowed her eyebrows. "You are chaperoning a Hogsmeade weekend and that is final."
"And if I refuse?"
"The you won't get a single bubblegum jellybean for this rest of the year."
"You wouldn't dare," he hissed.
"I can and I will," she answered. "The new owner of Honeydukes is a dear family friend. He will ensure you don't get a single one for the rest of the school year."
He hummed. Sure, Honeydukes had the best bubblegum jellybeans, but they weren't the only ones in existence. He'd first had one as a boy from a muggle candy store. Those were always available.
"I also know the charms that will alert me if muggle candy gets on the premises," her voice was matter of fact. "I'm not afraid to confiscate bubblegum jellybeans to make a point."
He bit back the diatribe he'd intended to throw her way.
"Don't worry," Neville began. "I'll make sure the students aren't too rambunctious."
"You have about as much control over them as I do over whether or not the sun rises," he hissed.
"If he can't keep them in line, I can."
Severus glanced up at Elena, who winked at him. Minerva smiled with a twinkle in his eyes reminiscent of the one Dumbeldore had when a plan was working.
He suppressed a groan.
The day everyone from the Gryffindor house forgot he existed and left him alone could not happen soon enough.