A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Sci fi September

People become human mood rings: they get implants that make them change colour along with their mood.

Word Count: 771

Severus stared at his wife and shook his head. She was sitting at the kitchen table staring at a computer screen. Her skin was a pale shade of green. Severus thanked Merlin that the implant made him able to see people's moods. Sick was apparently a mood, at least for Hermione.

"You're green, you should be in bed," he stated. She raised her head and glanced at him.

"It's the lights, Sev. I'm not sick, and I'm fed up with you using this stupid mood implant thing to tell me what I'm feeling," she argued as she tried typing up another note on the computer. Severus glanced at the screen. He could see she was trying to work on typing up a report about the newest faster than light travel system she was helping develop. He smiled, thinking about how brilliant she was and how lucky he was, most of the time, that she was his.

"You misspelled that, and reversed the letters on that one, you're sick, Hermione. Why don't you just go back to bed, take a day off, and sleep this cold off? I have some Pepper Up if you want one, but sleep is best."

"It's allergies, I always get allergies at season change, remember?"

"No, you always get a cold at season change. I know you're lying to me because you've gone blue."

"What did I say about using the mood implant on me, Severus?"

"That it isn't something I can turn on and off. It wasn't my choice to get it, unfortunately all professors are forced into it to help detect threats to the classroom."

"And what could would I see if I had it? Jet black? I'm going to guess your mood is always black of some shade?" Hermione muttered. Severus laughed.

"I've been told it's usually purple actually, except the moment you walked into my classroom the day you turned of age."

"And what color was it then?" Hermione asked, having lost all pretense of trying to get her work done. Severus smirked.

"I'll tell you, but only if you get yourself in bed and rest until you're a more healthy looking color."

"Oh, you want to play at that game then," she muttered. She looked at the screen in front of her and realized he was right. She'd mistyped about the words and was fairly certain her research was not about feathered thestrals... stupid autocorrect. That was the last time she let Luna borrow her computer. She was about to argue some more but was overtaken by a coughing fit. Severus wordlessly handed her a cup of hot tea. She glared at him, but he could tell it was little more than an act.

"I'll have you know, I'm undefeated at this game," Severus stated. "Especially when I'm playing against you and your fever," he added. Hermione did have an affinity to come down with same cold every year around this time. Every year, Severus managed to get her to finally concede and go back to bed. Last year, he'd managed to bribe her with new books. Then they'd had to buy another set of bookshelves.

"Fine, you win this round," she grumbled, standing up and walking to their bedroom. She took the tea with her, taking little sips as she walked. Severus followed to make sure she didn't randomly decide to change her mind and try to go back to work. Once she was finally in the bed, he tucked her in and sat on the edge.

"What color were you when I turned of age?" she asked, looking into his dark eyes.

"According to everyone who had the implant, I was pink – bright pink."

"And what emotion does pink symbolize again?" Hermione asked, despite knowing the answer. She wanted to hear Severus say it.

"Love, pink means love. The brighter the shade... the stronger the feeling," he admitted. Hermione giggled as she laid back against the pillows.

"You love me, you love me," she sang softly as Severus kissed her feverish forehead.

"I do love you, Hermione and that is why you're confined to this bed until your fever breaks," he stated. She glared at him through half open eyelids before murmuring she loved him too and falling asleep.