Fame and Misfortune

Summary -- Severus and Hermione go to Hogsmeade.

Chapter Fourteen –

Gazing into the sea of students, Hermione pushed her breakfast of eggs Benedict around on her plate. “Where are they?” she mumbled under her breath. Without Allison and William, she couldn’t cast the Fidelius Charm.

“Who?” Severus asked softly.

Hermione jumped. “Uh, no one,” she stammered, shoving a piece of toast into her mouth and looking down at her plate. She could feel his scrutiny and schooled her features.

It had been two days since their dinner – two nights since their passion had almost been unleashed. That was the night they had found out exactly what Lockhart was capable of. Miriam Strout, the former Healer-In-Charge of the Janus Thickey Ward, was dead. All the evidence of her murder pointed to Lockhart. Apparently, Strout had been helping the man who had made Hermione’s life a living hell ever since Hermione had woken up at St. Mungo’s.

She had spent the last two nights by herself, consoling herself with thoughts of wringing Lockhart’s neck when she caught up with him. Once she dealt with him, she would…

Well, she didn’t know what she was going to do.

Her main focus ever since she’d left Hogwarts had been her career. Now, she had Severus to consider. Or did she?

Two nights ago, she had lain in bed, waiting for him to open the door and continue from where they had left off. But he never had.

It was for the best anyway. She needed to stay focused on the plan. She needed to find Lockhart before he tried to get to Severus.

A harried-looking pair of students rushed to the Ravenclaw table and sat down. Giving William and Allison a slight nod, Hermione smiled nervously. Today, she and Severus would go into Hogsmeade. Naturally, with the increased threat, her husband had tried to cancel the outing. But Hermione wouldn’t hear of it.

Everything was ready. She’d asked William to be her Secret Keeper. Allison would be there to invoke the bond between the Secret Keeper and Hermione. It had taken some convincing, but Hermione had finally been able to convince the two Ravenclaws that they would not be expelled for doing magic off school grounds.

Besides, they would be in the Shrieking Shack. Were they really off grounds there?

Hermione gave a sidelong glance at her husband. He was drinking his coffee and glaring at the students. He would not be pleased when he discovered her duplicity. Yes, she had taken the wizard’s oath. But, she had already figured out a way around it.

--

He had barely slept in two days. What sleep he did get was fragmented and of such poor quality, it did not merit mention. He had slept on the sofa, drawing on reserves he was unaware he possessed. The impulse to claim Hermione grew worse each day.

But he did not want their first time to be tainted with fear. No matter how brave a front Hermione exhibited, she could not hide her fear. He was more fearful for his wife, now more than ever.

After all, Lockhart was more a threat now than ever.

He and Potter had agreed. Lockhart’s magical abilities were expanding. When the bastard had had Hermione before, he had been delusional, going on about how he was the one responsible for vanquishing the Dark Lord.

The former Hogwarts’ professor had wanted to kill Severus. Severus had seen the hatred in his eyes – hatred that he could have harnessed to cast the Killing Curse. Instead, Hermione’s captor had Obliviated her. He shuddered in remembrance.

“I can’t –” Lockhart huffed, his spittle landing on Hermione’s cheek. “I just can’t do it, my love. I can’t kill him, yet. I don’t know how!”

Hermione squeaked and shook her head, tears spilling onto her cheeks. The look of terror in her eyes still haunted his dreams.

His wand still pressing against Hermione’s head, Lockhart glared at Snape. “I may not be able to kill you, but I can ease her suffering.”

Lockhart must have learned. He must have learned to tap into that hatred – the one thing truly needed to cast the Killing Curse.

She was protected within these walls – her jail (as she referred to it now). If it weren’t for the fact that Hogsmeade was crawling with Aurors, Severus would have never agreed to their trip into Hogsmeade. He could not deny his wife this simple pleasure.

--

Hermione waited near the Whomping Willow for her two accomplices. Everything they needed to cast the Fidelius Charm was already in the tunnel that led from the Whomping Willow to the Shrieking Shack. Sensing someone was near, the tree swung its branches in the hope it would strike someone. She needed to stun the tree to let her two Ravenclaw helpers into the tunnel.

“Please hurry,” she murmured as she watched the first groups of students hurry toward Hogsmeade. She didn’t know how much time she would be able to buy until Severus came looking for her.

“Hurry, William,” a girl’s voice instructed softly. “We can’t be late.”

This was it – the second to the last piece of the puzzle. Hermione just needed to get her Secret Keeper in place. Then she would go find her husband.

--

Patiently, Severus waited, ignoring the cold wind around him. He paced the length of the courtyard and paid no mind to the gathering throngs of students as they walked by.

“Oh,” a startled voice gasped as its owner collided with Severus. Grabbing Sybill Trelawney before she fell on her arse, he helped her right her shawl on her shoulders. She squinted at her preserver and smiled up at him.

“Ah, Severus! Good morning,” the seer greeted him cheerily. She peered over his shoulder as if she could actually see past him. “Where is your other half?”

“Excuse me?” Severus asked as he backed away from her.

“Madam Snape,” Trelawney inquired. “Where is your wife?”

“She’ll be along shortly,” he snapped, not wanting to talk to Hogwarts’ “fair-weather-predictor.” Anyone could see the snow was getting ready to turn into sleet.

Trelawney studied him silently.

“What!” Severus barked, annoyed by her unwavering gaze.

“I had begun to give up hope,” Sybill sighed wistfully. “I had begun to give up hope that you and your other half would ever find one another,” she muttered absentmindedly. “After all, you’ve managed to find one another before.”

Severus rolled his eyes. Sybill was babbling about past lives and karma. She must be drunk. Leaning forward a little, he sniffed.

Yes! She was definitely pissed.

“I must admit that I don’t recall such an age difference between the two lovers before,” Sybill chattered excitedly. “Of course age does not matter. The ebb and flow of the other souls surround yours and Madam Snape’s. When I first met Hermione, I thought it preposterous that you would ever date a student. ”

He watched the seer walk away as she mumbled to herself.

It was true then. Albus had alluded to the possibility that Severus and Hermione were bound together before the invocation of ancient magic. He knew Sybill’s assessment was true. The compulsion to bind her to him had been irresistible.

Like Albus, Severus did not believe in reincarnation. But he couldn’t help but ponder the possibility of eternity with Hermione.

Lost in thought, he didn’t hear his wife walk up behind him.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” she apologized breathlessly as she looped her hand through his arm. “There was a student who needed some assistance in the Infirmary.”

Severus smiled down at her and she averted her gaze. “We can postpone –”

“No, no!” she said, tugging on his arm. “I really want to go to Scrivenshaft\'s for a new quill.”

He did not move.

“What is it?” Hermione asked softly. “Is something wrong?”

“You were in Scrivenshaft’s when Lockhart spirited you away,” he murmured in chilling remembrance.

Giving his arm a gentle squeeze, his wife smiled at him. “Even Lockhart isn’t stupid enough to try the same thing twice.”

“That’s just it, Hermione,” replied Severus. “Lockhart isn’t stupid. He’s dangerous.”

“I know,” she sighed, leaning into him and pressing her lips against his.

He hadn’t touched her since their dinner date. He hadn’t had the time. He had spent the last two nights double-checking the wards. Yielding to her soft exploration, Severus moaned and fought the urge to crush her to him.

Much to his disappointment, his wife ended the kiss and pulled him toward the village.

--

They walked into Hogsmeade Village in companionable silence, the knot of dread twisting in Hermione’s gut. Silently, she prayed Severus would be able to forgive her once everyone was safe again. After all, she was doing this for him, right?

Hermione shuddered, the flurries of snow falling round them as they made their way to the quill shop. Severus was tense. Truth be told, so was she. She just wanted to explore her relationship with Severus.

Kicking the mud off their boots, they walked into Scrivenshaft’s. Hermione picked up a peacock quill and pretended to study it. “I know he’s dangerous,” she said, continuing their earlier conversation. “That’s why we need to let the Aurors do their jobs.”

“Agreed,” answered Severus as he moved behind her. “Should you feel the need to protect everyone you love and go after him yourself, don’t. Potter is competent and will apprehend Lockhart soon.”

Hermione put the peacock quill down and turned around. “I don’t believe it,” she gasped in mock surprise. “You just complimented Harry.”

Her husband smirked. “I suppose I did. I only hope he lives up to it.”

“And there’s the rub,” Hermione feigned exasperation.

Severus chuckled, his laughter jolting her back to reality. How was it this man had the power to destroy her focus? Turning toward the shop owner’s wares, Hermione inspected other quills. “The same goes for you, you know. Promise me you won’t go after Lockhart.”

Grabbing her shoulders, he turned her to face him. Long fingers pressed under her chin and she couldn’t help but look into his intense eyes, a sense of desperation clawing in the pit of her stomach. She needed to stay focused on the plan.

--

His wife licked her lips, luring him to the lush flesh like a siren calling a sailor to his death. He was a weak man. If it weren’t bad manners, he would shag Hermione right here. His desire for her bordered on painful. As if a magnet drew him, Severus kissed her, a mere whisper of his lips across hers. “I am neither a man of honor nor principles and cannot promise you that,” he murmured silkily. “Unless, of course, you would make the same promise to me.”

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. Resting her head on his shoulder, she gave him a gentle squeeze, and then pulled away. “I need to go to the loo,” she whispered.

--

Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, Hermione stared at her reflection in the mirror. Unlike the mirror in Severus’ bedchambers, this mirror wasn’t enchanted. She almost wished it were enchanted. Even though she didn’t need to hear how asinine her plan was, she wouldn’t mind some kind of input. Her husband was on the other side of the door, waiting for her. Hopefully, when this was all over, Severus would forgive her.

“I’m doing this for him…for us,” she affirmed, cringing as she tried to justify her actions. Not only was she lying to Severus, she was involving two students in her mad scheme. William and Allison had been reluctant to break school rules, but had agreed to help her after she had begged and pleaded. No longer willing to wallow in self-doubt and guilt, Hermione took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves.

Closing her eyes, she Apparated. Within seconds, the dark, dusty air of the Shrieking Shack surrounded her and she coughed. There was hardly any light in the corridor as all the windows were boarded.

“William?” called Hermione. “Allison?” Starting up the stairs, she unsheathed her wand.

“We’re up here,” William yelled down the stairs from one of the bedrooms.

She was at the top of the stairs now, the hollow feeling in her chest growing. Opening the door to the third bedroom, she gave the two students a nervous smile and stopped. They were terrified, the expressions on their faces frozen in fear. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Their gaze flitted behind her and she looked over her shoulder. A black shadow moved and the door crept shut slowly as if she were watching a scene from a Muggle horror movie. A pale, angular face emerged from the shadows and Hermione gripped her wand tighter.

Oh Gods! What had she done? Before she could hurl a hex at the man who couldn’t possibly be her husband, one word was uttered.

“Phoenix.”

The password sent shivers up her spine and the hollow feeling in her chest felt as though it would burst at any moment.

Severus’ eyes narrowed on the two students as he looked past Hermione. “Fifty points from Ravenclaw…each,” her husband said, his inflection neutral, yet furious. “Go back to the school straight away. You shall serve detention for the next two weeks with Mr. Filch.”

Her accomplices bowed their heads and walked past her, William murmuring a quiet “sorry” on his way out. All the supplies and books to perform the charm were scattered on the floor.

She watched helplessly as her Secret Keeper abandoned her. So many emotions warred within her – regret, anger, and fear…

“Don’t you think you were a little harsh on them…Severus?” she asked, her voice trailed off as courage deserted her. Her husband looked dangerously angry. She knelt in front of the pile of books and supplies on the dirty floor and started rearranging them. She would do anything so as not to meet Severus’ cold, furious gaze.

Her husband made no reply.

“How did you know?” she asked softly.

Severus said nothing. Instead, he continued glaring at her with his scowl firmly in place.

She could shoulder his stinging wit, but his silent treatment was unbearable. “I did not break the wizard’s oath,” she stated firmly. “I promised not to leave Hogwarts without a proper chaperone. There wasn’t anything implied that said I had to stay with the chaperone.”

There was still no reply.

“William and Allison were only trying to help.” Pointing her wand at the stack of books, she shrank them and put them in her pocket. “You were a bit harsh, don’t you think?” she asked, fishing for a response to ease her growing guilt.

Severus remained quiet.

Her anger boiled over. The problem with said anger was that she didn’t know who to direct it – herself, her husband, or Gilderoy Lockhart. “I wanted to cast the Fidelius Charm. I needed to go into hiding to find that sick arse! I can’t stay at Hogwarts,” she argued, standing and finally looking him in the eyes. She tried to force him to see reason. “The students are in danger. The staff is in danger… You’re in danger.” The last sentence was barely a whisper.

Realizing you’re hopelessly in love with someone is a traumatic process. Having the epiphany in the middle of an argument with that person who wasn’t even speaking to her was even worse. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” whispered Hermione, bowing her head and staring at her chest.

Grasping her shoulders, Severus coaxed Hermione to look at him. “Regardless of your good intentions, your actions violated the spirit of the promise, which is now null and void. As for the house points, you know students are not permitted to perform magic off school grounds, Madam Snape. Do you not think it imprudent, much less dangerous that you involved two students in this asinine scheme?”

Hermione cringed, the use of her married name fluttering dangerously close to hope that Severus would forgive her.

“I would have taken points from Gryffindor if I could have,” her husband chastised. “Just because you, Potter, and Weasley saw fit to break the rules every time you saw fit does not make it right.

“Though noble, your intentions are unwarranted,” Severus stated, his voice stern, as if he were giving a lecture. “Hogwarts survived decades under threat of Voldemort. Surely its walls can protect you against the likes of Gilderoy Lockhart. As far as how I found out about this scheme… The enchanted mirror in our bedchamber is a Mirror of Truth, not a mirror of secrets. Should --”

“So we are to hide in Hogwarts all our lives,” Hermione huffed irritably, making a quick mental note to toss a towel over that blasted mirror whenever she was getting dressed. “What about my family and friends? Should we move them in, as well? They are in danger too. He could use them to get to me. My parents are Muggles, Severus. They won’t be able to fight him off.”

Feeling tears well in her eyes, she stared at her shoes.

--

Sighing, Severus pulled Hermione against him, cradling her head against his chest. He stroked her hair as she sniffled against his chest.

Hermione shivered, extinguished his anger. His wife skated on a dangerous edge, one that longed for freedom, a freedom that was impossible as long as Lockhart was on the loose. No matter how much he wished to please her, he just couldn’t risk her safety.

“You must understand, Hermione. If anything were to happen to you…” His voice softened. “I could never forgive myself.”

Moist brown eyes gazed into his. “I’m sorry,” she whispered shakily and licked her lips.

The temptation to kiss her was irresistible, but he was able to temper his natural response. Brushing his lips across hers, Severus retreated. “The Aurors are probably looking for us. We should go back to the village.”

His wife nodded in agreement and looped her arm through his.

Pulling her closer, they Apparated to the front door of Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop.

“There they are!” a young wizard in Auror robes shouted excitedly.

Instinctively, Severus pushed Hermione behind him. Only when he saw Potter round the corner, did Severus relax.

“’Mione!” Harry yelled.

Moving out of the way, jealousy speared through him as Harry embraced Hermione. The expression on his wife’s face was so sorrowful, it made him ache.

“I was so worried,” Harry murmured against her silken curls. “Where were you?”

Hermione pulled away and grimaced with embarrassment. Watching his wife struggle to explain herself, Severus wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her against him. “My wife needed some time alone.”

Harry murmured something under his breath and glared at Severus. “And you couldn’t see fit to let us know? Do you realize –”

“I don’t need to explain myself to you,” Snape snapped. “My wife –”

“Stop it!” Hermione planted herself between her husband and her friend. Turning toward Harry, she murmured an apology. Grasping his arm, she tugged. “We should be going.”

She sounded dejected and tired, as if her effervescent spirit had dwindled under the strain of recent events. Tugging her in the opposite direction, Severus stared at Harry pointedly. “I trust you and your colleagues to provide security while my wife and I take tea at Madam Puddifoot\'s.”

“Madam Puddifoot’s!” Potter and his wife exclaimed simultaneously.

Even though he was cringing inwardly at the thought of stepping foot in that obscenely romantic establishment, Severus couldn’t contain his smirk of satisfaction. Gently, he placed a finger under Hermione’s chin and pushed it up, effectively closing her gaping mouth, and glanced at Harry. “You should close your mouth before you swallow a fly, Potter.”

*****

A/N – As always, I would like to thank my beta readers, Kathy Rose and Larilee. They have suffered through all the twists and turns long enough.

Next chapter has lemons. So pucker up!