#6 ~ A Matter of Matrimony

Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR (except Marcus Delaluci). All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 15 ~ The Serpent and Lioness Make a Date


The next few weeks found Hermione and Severus somewhat at odds. After her dismissal from his rooms, Hermione gave him space. They continued to work together, and Severus was polite, but distant. There seemed to be something heavy weighing him down. There were times she turned and caught him looking at her with a longing in his eyes, and she thought, “this is it, he’s going to open up” but then he would turn and continue with whatever he was doing.

There were also electric moments when their hands would accidentally meet, both reaching for the same object. Hermione would always feel a slight burn wherever his touch fell. His black eyes would meet hers for just a moment, then he would withdraw his hand and gesture she should take whatever it was the contact was made over. He rarely spoke at all, unless it were in relation to their work. Hermione found she missed him, the old him, greatly…flaws and all. If it wasn’t for Marcus she would be despondent all the time.

The wizard was proving to be quite a good friend. He was always there with a joke or funny observation when she was out of sorts. He could draw her out in conversation, and she found that although he wasn’t an intellectual, he had a general knowledge of many things and opinions that were quite interesting. They could talk for hours, mostly arguing. And there were the times when Hermione didn’t feel like talking at all, and he would sit beside her and just share her silence, his hand resting on hers comfortingly. He could bring a smile to her face when nothing else could, and drive away her worried thoughts like feathers in a strong wind. He was kind to her, when she needed kindness. And he listened, when she shared her woes about Severus, declining to comment. Only nodding his head in understanding and letting her spill her heart.

Sometimes Severus would see them together, and hesitate. Hermione almost hoped he would come over and rail possessively and drag her away. But he always walked away. She had almost given up hope when one day she was walking to her office and suddenly, he was there, blocking her way. She looked up at him. His eyes were soft and searching her face as if trying to refresh his memories of her.

“Hermione, would you have dinner with me tonight, in my rooms?’ he asked her.

Hermione hesitated. Marcus had talked her into going flying tonight, declaring that the only way she’d ever really be comfortable on a broom was to keep at it. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, offering up reason after reason why flying was important. She finally capitulated. But, this was the first attempt Severus had made in trying to connect with her. This was more important than flying with Marcus. He’d just have to be disappointed. But he was a friend. He’d understand. Hermione accepted his invitation.

Severus visibly released a breath he’d been holding and gave a relieved smile. A genuine smile, not his usual smirk. It made him look years younger. And the weight he was carrying around with him seemed to lift.

“Good. I’ll see you at seven then?” he asked, looking into her amber eyes.

“Yes. At seven,” Hermione replied.

They stood there awkwardly for a moment, each not really knowing what to do to seal their date. Finally, Severus gave her a rather stiff little bow, and strode away. He had wanted to kiss her hand, but wasn’t sure if she would accept that. She had wanted him to kiss her, at least on the cheek, but obviously he didn’t think it appropriate. Hermione continued on to the Spells lab, a little skip in her walk.

When she arrived in her office, she threw some powder in the floo and connected to Marcus’ office. Hermione knew his schedule by heart, he was most likely there.

“Marcus?” she called through the fireplace.

“Hey Hermione!” his voice came through the floo brightly, “what’s going on?”

“Listen, I have to cancel our flying tonight. I’m having dinner with Severus,” she said, the happiness she felt evident in her voice.

There was a long silence from the other side of the floo.

“Marcus?” she called, worriedly.

“I’m here,” he said, sounding a bit deflated, “well, all right then. We can do it another time.”

There was another long pause.

“Marcus, are you okay?” she asked, concerned now.

“I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried about. What if he goes into another one of his rages? Or worse, tries to get you to do something that you don’t really want to do?” he said.

“Don’t worry, Marcus. I don’t think he’ll do that, or try anything. I think he’s finally ready to talk,” she said soothingly.

“All right,” Marcus replied, not sounding convinced. “But if you need me, you call me, you hear? I’ll be at your side so fast you’ll think I apparated.”

Hermione smiled, “Thank you, Marcus. You’re a good friend.”

She closed the floo connection.

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Marcus was livid, and his office in a shambles. How could that little bitch fall for this?

“She’s so fucking stupid to be a brain,” he muttered under his breath as he hexed a glass globe that had managed to survive the carnage up to this point. It shattered with such force, the shards were powdered.

He was pissed. He had expended so much time and energy getting close to her, listening to her dry theories, talking about shit he had absolutely no interest in, and hearing her drone on and on about how she didn’t understand Severus’ actions. He had never spent so much time trying to get pussy in all his life. Now this. That bastard Snape had been planning this all along. To get to her by backing away, then offering her the bone of his company. He hoped that was the only bone he was going to offer. If he fucked her, Marcus would be back to square one. He knew Hermione was horny too. Many times he had walked up on her and seen it in her eyes. He was half hoping that she would tell him how she was feeling, and give him the opportunity to try and seduce her. But she hadn’t. She was so stuck on Severus.

He was starting to think that he might just have to take her by force, and obliviate her afterwards. He wasn’t looking forward to doing that, simply because she was a lethal fighter. They had sparred a few times. He could overcome her, but it took a surprising amount of effort. She knew how to use her size to her advantage and managed to slip out of almost every hold he threw on her. If he attacked her, she’d fight and fight hard. He’d have to do some major damage to stop her, and even if she were obliviated, the resulting bruises would start an inquiry. He wanted to put bruises on her where they wouldn’t easily be seen. Like her thighs, breasts and ass, for example.

What Marcus failed to realize was that he now occupied almost the same space as Harry and Ron in Hermione’s world. She never had girlfriends really. She found their constant chatter about men, and clothes, and men, and hairstyles, and men, and the latest hot nail color, and men, boring. She always gravitated to males. Her father had been a strong influence on her, and she looked to male companionship. She had learned early that men and women could be friends. Her initial interest in him had petered out as she became more familiar with him. His innuendos met only with smiles now, or a sisterly punch in the arm. He had just did his job too good. She felt he was like a brother, and let’s face it, you don’t fuck your brother. If he tried to kiss her at this point, she would probably react like she had with Ron. A no go.

Severus had seen this happening, being familiar with her relationship with the undynamic duo. It brought him no end of relief. This was why he backed off, and gave her time with Marcus, so he would slide deeper and deeper into the world of Hermione’s friendship. It was a better protection than he could ever provide for her. Of course, he knew Marcus was no friend, but at least he wouldn’t be able to put the moves on Hermione, she seeing him as almost a family member. Severus’ only concern was that the wizard might become frustrated and try to take what Hermione had no intentions on offering. If that were the case, Marcus could kiss his Eradicator ass good-bye.

Still, Marcus was out of options for now. He could only wait and see how this played out. Even if Snape managed to get her back in his bed, Marcus would still be an integral part of her life at Hogwarts. She was the kind of bonehead loyalist who wouldn’t abandon someone she considered her friend, especially at someone else’s behest. And Severus wouldn’t want to rock the boat. He didn’t think Severus would attempt to reveal his true motives to Hermione. She wouldn’t believe him, especially after how close they’d grown, and he had only treated her with respect. To tell her sweet Marcus had a dastardly plan to violate her would only cause an even greater divide between the two lovers. So, there was still hope.

Marcus looked around the shambles of his office. He still had self-control issues. He sighed, took out his wand and started repairing everything. This was going to take some time.

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A/N: Poor, poor Marcus. He\'s just too good at being a friend. lol. hmmm dinner should be good, eh? Please review.