I picked up a small plate and went through the spread, choosing the potatoes, a slice of roast, and some asparagus. He tucked in as well, neither of us saying a word. I refused to look at him as my mind still replayed our moment in the bedroom. No doubt my face was still flushed as I shifted uncomfortably in my damp knickers. Though I was usually good at compartmentalizing things, I couldn't have put this thought out of my head to save my life. What was this? Why was he so difficult one moment then pitching my insides into the fire next? It was maddening really. If it was not for the fact that I did not know how to respond, I would have asked how he could do it. How could his face and tone be so impassive then turn to honey? I was still mulling all of this together when he finally spoke.

"Miss Gran-," I looked at him and he seemed to catch himself. "Hermione." He settled on that again. "I have been a spy since before you were born. As I am sure you can imagine, keeping calm would be the only way I could survive."

"How did you know?" I asked, annoyed.

"You are the Gryffindor princess. Your thoughts are all over your face. It is one of the many things we will need to work on. You cannot be able to keep such freedom when you will have to meet the Dark Lord." My blood froze in my veins. The panic was obvious to him and he rolled his eyes. "I will be coaching and teaching you long before you have to meet him. He knows it will have to be a certain time before he calls to meet you. We have time." I was no longer hungry at the prospect and put my half full plate on the table. Before I could ask, my previous glass of scotch was filled and put in my hand.

"Thank you." I murmured and sat back. He waited a few moments, watching me.

"What were you expecting after our ceremony?" He posed it as if he had been meaning to ask. I glanced at him before looking at the hearth.

"Honestly, I had not made any expectations other then the outline of the ceremony and consummation. I did not know what to think beyond that."

"Yet you planned your ensemble rather prodigiously." I turned to see he had a smirk on his face as he sipped his scotch.

"Despite the...situation, I am your wife. Tonight I am not your student, nor a child. You may not want to make this as easy as possible on me, but I was trying to do so for you. I prepared myself like a wife should, seeing as the only way out of this will be death. You are sacrificing your reputation as well as your name in this farce. The least I could do was present myself tonight as something more than a fumbling teenager." Little good it did me, I thought. I looked away from him again, not wanting to bring my own wounded pride back into things now that we were talking civilly. He mulled that over a bit.

"I apologize for...being...difficult before. It will take time for me to adjust to...the situation." My shock at his statement could not have been more plain as I gaped at him. Severus fucking Snape just bloody apologized to me. He wasn't looking at me, thankfully, as I mimicked a trout. Instead, he seemed to be contemplating further. "I will endeavor to be your husband here in my-our rooms." I had recovered before his eyes met mine.

"Thank you. It will be a learning process for the both of us." He nodded before turning to his book. Like me, he probably needed to process things before we talked further.

"You may peruse my library, though I will say that whatever you move must be returned back to its place." My elation could not be contained as I thanked him and rushed to his shelves, browsing until I picked a particularly interesting book on arithmancy. He snorted at my choice but went back to his own reading, becoming just as engrossed in his text as me in mine.

"Hermione, you should probably change into your uniform. The feast will be starting in thirty minutes. I'm sure your classmates have started filing in." I was so caught up in the peacefulness of reading that I had forgotten where I was. He stood, glanced at me with a nod now that he had my attention, then went into the room, presumably to change. I gave him some time, formulating my story of lies so I could relate it to Harry and Ron. I had just put my book back when he came out in his teaching robes. I gulped but said nothing as I passed by him, reminding myself that outside these chambers, he was Professor Snape and I was Miss Granger. As I took out my uniform, I thought about my wedding undergarments that were placed neatly on the side of my trunk. He would have to see me come from the floo in my uniform. But I would be returning from the feast to my wedding night, as Mrs. Snape. Again, the thought of trying to make this better for the both of us came bubbling to the top. He did apologize and said he would try and make this work between us in these chambers. Without thinking too much further on it, I took off my plain bra and knickers and put my wedding set back on, stockings included. I doubted anyone else would notice my undergarments from under my uniform. I undid the rose braids but added them to my updo so I could keep a semblance of my previous look. By the time I had come out, he was already gone, most likely not wanting it to seem suspicious if we walked in together. I left the rooms and walked the dungeons uneasily. Even though the Slytherins weren't in the corridors yet, I still felt apprehensive about being down here by myself. How long would it take them to find out that I was married to their head of house? Did they already know? I imagine Snape had to tell Voldemort that I had not only accepted his "proposal" but when the wedding would take place. The thought made me nauseous. I was at the large double doors before I knew it. I could hear eager first years coming up the stairs from the entrance hall and pushed through, not wanting to spoil the effects of coming to the dining hall for the first time.

Ron and Harry were already sitting, a place saved next to Harry. They were both in a heated debate with Seamus, all of them glancing back suspiciously at the Slytherin table. As my eyes followed their path, I noticed that several of the Slytherin occupants were looking at me with smug grins on their faces. Ah, so they already knew. My stomach churned but I turned away from them and walked to the seat next to Harry with my head up. Merlin knew it was hard though.

"Mione!" Ron shouted though I was right across from him.

"Hello Ron," I smiled and elbowed Harry in greeting. I had opened my mouth to ask about their summers when the first years came in, led by Professor McGonagall. All four tables went quiet as the younger group shuffled in, whispering in their nervousness. It was hard to engage the entirety of dinner, but I did my best. Finally, Dumbledore got up, made his way to his golden podium, and waited for our attention.

"The very best of evenings to you! First off, please join me in welcoming the newest member of our staff, Horace Slughorn." Everyone clapped politely as the elder man stood up to receive his welcome. Dumbledore continued, explaining why everyone had had their things searched upon arrival. As he spoke, several students shifted in their seats, uncomfortable where the talk was going. Most of them were Slytherin. When the speech finally ended and we were dismissed, I exchanged worried looks with Ron. Harry was silent and brooding, lost in thought as he walked with Ron ahead of me. I was so focused on Harry, I didn't see that Draco had sidled up to me until he spoke.

"Congratulations Madame Snape. How fitting that your wedding night falls on our first night back to Hogwarts." I panicked and looked around to see if anyone had heard him. No one seemed to notice but when I went to retort to Malfoy to mind his own business, he had disappeared. Merlin knew that Severus was going to have to say his piece to the Slytherins tonight and hopefully it would never get mentioned again. I was numb though, knowing that the whole of Slytherin's up class were clued in on my marriage today. How fitting that the only people who knew would be less then supportive while those closest to me had to remain in the dark. I sat next to Ron, Harry, and Ginny on the red couch in the common room for about an hour, trying to act normal as my heart rate began to increase. I would be having to floo to my new chambers soon. While listening to Ron talk to Harry about quidditch, I finally got up enough nerve to excuse myself to bed. Both boys said goodnight and I thought I was in the clear while I walked up the tower to the prefects room when I felt a tug on my robes. I turned to see Ginny smiling at me coyly.

"Who did you wear the stockings and corset for?" Instant fear gripped me. How the hell did she notice? "Mione, I've known you since I was 11. I've known how a normal bra makes your boobs look and I've only ever known you to wear the required socks at school." Blast her for her observations.

"I just..." I stammered at first, trying to grasp for a reason. "No one that you know, Gin." I finally said, giving a half truth. She didn't know Severus really.

"So you're going to be secretive about it, huh? Alright, I'll let it go for now. But I hope you'll tell me soon. Otherwise, I'll have to try and find out for myself." She winked at me before turning and heading back to the common room. Just what I need, a snoop, I thought as I took a full breath finally. I can deal with Ginny later. Let me focus on tonight first. I shut my door and warded it, making sure it wouldn't open no matter who was on the other end. Looking at the hearth, my mouth suddenly went dry. I was about to have sex with my teacher tonight. For all my blustering to Snape about coming to tonight as an adult and not his student, my mind had a hard time remembering that now. We were in the bloody school for Merlin's sake. I closed my eyes and brought back the memory of Snape's words as he had pulled me to him when he had seen me in my wedding undergarments. I allowed the arousal to wash over me again, and used that to take the steps into the fire and floo to my new chambers.

As I came through, I noticed that the Severus was back in his chair, without his teaching robes, reading. He glanced up at me, grimacing, before going back to his book. I could imagine the thoughts in his head as he had seen me in my student robes. I took a deep breath and undid the clasp of my outer robe. He wasn't watching, which helped. I closed my eyes as I started to undo the buttons on my shirt. When I opened them again, Snape was now watching me, his face blank. I let the shirt fall to the floor and reached to undo the side clasp of my skirt, kicking off my shoes as it slid down. Then I took two steps away from the pile, presenting myself to my husband in the same white outfit that he had come in on earlier that day. Though his face remained stoic, his eyes roamed me in my entirety. He set his book on the table next to him and stood. I was dwarfed next to his height, having to crane my neck up to look at him as he stood so close to me, I could have embraced him if I wasn't so scared. He then reached for me, picking me up bridal style and walked us to the bedroom. Though being a Gryffindor meant being brave, I couldn't muster it now. All I could feel was terror. My heart rate was erratic and my nerve endings were on edge. I tried to recall all the articles and text I had read about getting through your first time, but my mind was empty.

Severus set me on the bed gently. His hands shook as he moved to undo the first three buttons on his shirt. I felt better knowing he was just as nervous as I. Again, I thought about how his hands had gripped me while he spoke of what he would have done to me if I had been any other woman in this outfit. Tonight, I was another woman. Tonight, I would be another woman for him. Grabbing onto that thought, I pulled an ounce of courage from deep within me and reached my hands out to help him undo the rest of his shirt. I kept my eyes on the buttons, feeling his breathing stop then restart. After his shirt was completely open, I pushed it off of his shoulders and began working on his belt, not looking at the exposed flesh yet. I could look later. Right now, I had a mission. I was loosening the buttons of his trousers when he took my hands gently in his. I looked up at him then, noticing he was staring at me intently.

"Let us wait a moment." He whispered. I wanted to frown in frustration, but kept my face blank and nodded. He beckoned me to move back onto the bed and I did so. He then sat next to me, laying himself out and motioning for me to do the same. He put his arm over my waist and pulled me closer to his chest. I could feel his heat through the silk material of my corset. I hadn't realized I had started trembling until his hand came to rub my shoulder and arm. His eyes did not leave mine as he tried to soothe me. "That's it," he murmured as his hand moved from my arm to my waist again. "We will take this slow." I closed my eyes and nodded my understanding. My eyes popped open again when I felt his lips brush mine. He was still looking at me, gauging me. I closed them again and leaned forward, touching my lips to his again. He took that as a sign to continue, and Merlin did he. He kissed me softly at first but when I felt his tongue swipe across my bottom lip, I gasped and he moved closer to kiss me fully. Mercifully, the heat that had generated between us before was back, helping me to reach for him and become an active participant in the kissing. Who would have guessed that the bat of the dungeons was a good kisser? His hand had stayed on my lower back at first, but now that I was wrapping my tongue up with his, his hand moved down to my hip then thigh, pulling it until it rested on his hip. My own hands moved to his his bare shoulders, pulling him closer. I felt ridges and rough skin in certain places but refused to quit the pace we were going at just to see what they were. We were silent as we kissed, but when he moved to start sucking on my neck and the tender spot behind my ear, I let out a breathy moan and gripped his hip with my thigh tighter, bringing the proof of his arousal against my own.

Hearing his breath catch at my actions emboldened me. I pulled him closer to me still, his head moving down until I felt him sucking and nipping at the tops of my breasts.

"Oooh," I breathed out as he pulled the corset down, his tongue searching for my left nipple. He sucked it into his mouth hard and I jackknifed in his hands. He chuckled darkly against my skin and I could barely breathe as I tried to direct his head back to my nipple. "Please," I whispered as he tried to evade me.

"Please, what?" He asked. I could actually hear his smirk in his voice as I let out a sexually frustrated breath.

"More."

"More what?" I opened my eyes and glared at him. "How can I give you what you want Mrs. Snape, if you aren't specific?" I could have smacked him. He wanted me to talk dirty and I had no idea how to word it without seeming like a complete fool.

"Suck on me more." I tried. That seemed to appease him as he bent back down and took the opposite nipple into his mouth and sucked, hard.

"Mmmm, yes." I rubbed my core against him harder as he worked my right breast, shame at my brazen actions gone. I felt his hands working at the back of my corset, undoing the strings that had kept it on me. When he had it finally loose enough, he pulled it off and replaced the material with the span of his hands. They moved from the bottom of my stomach, up my rib cage, and up to my breasts, cupping them as he moved between them with his mouth, sucking, nipping, and licking. "Oh, fuck!" I cried out as he bit down hard on my left breast, sending pleasure through my nerve endings down to my core. My hands went to his hair and pushed him harder against me.

"Such language." He chuckled again, pushing me onto my back. "Let us see if I can make you use more." His lips went back to my breast as his hand moved further down my stomach, his fingers playing with the hem of my panties. I went to reach for his hand but he bit my nipple in response. "Let me enjoy this Madame Snape." I closed my eyes as he began to rub my clit through the silk material. My breathing was so labored, I could barely get air. But honestly, how important was breathing at this moment?

-Thank you for your patience guys during my hiatus. It's been a long road since the first chapter. I will be much better about posting chapters. Always appreciate the reviews and support. XOXO