#7 ~ The Ghost and Lady Snape

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 18 ~ Oysters and Other Obstacles


Severus and Hermione spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the astral plane and the information they had learned from Peeves. Severus had also darkened the Potions Lab and shown Hermione the potion they would be taking. She gasped when Severus told her the ingredients that went into the brewing of the potion.

“So deadly,” she breathed, staring at the potion glowing within the blue bottle.

“Only if the brewer doesn’t know what he is doing,” reassured Severus, “I assure you, the potion is safe, Hermione.”

“You’ve made this before?” she asked him.

“Yes, in small amounts for a group of witches and wizards into spiritualism and exploration of the spirit realm,” he replied. “They stopped requesting it after they lost two members to the realm.”

“I see,” Hermione said, gulping a little.

Severus looked at her. “I have no intentions on losing you, Hermione. I am hoping that the two of us will have a connection in the astral plane as well. We are bound by love…possibly there will be a spiritual reflection of that which will tie us together. If not, we will stay close to each other. Don’t worry, my love,” he said, drawing her into an embrace.

Hermione held on to her husband, finding solace in the strength of his arms wrapped around her. She pressed her head against his chest, and listened to his steady heartbeat. She was always comforted by that reassuring thump. Severus held her gently, thinking that this might be one of the last times he would do so. His embrace tightened, and he immersed himself in her warmth, scent and softness. After a few moments, they released each other. Severus’ eyes were gentle, but heated as he looked at his wife, and Hermione felt a throb of desire as she looked at him. But they needed to eat.

Before he could say anything to break her resolve, Hermione said, “Let’s go to supper, Severus.”

Severus looked a little disappointed, but offered his wife his arm without comment. Supper wouldn’t take too long. They left the lab, and headed for the Great Hall.

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Marcus was already at supper. He was indulging in lobster tonight, and had three of them piled on his platter, along with a bowl of clarified butter.

“Might as well treat myself,” he said as he ripped off one of the shellfish’s tails. Down the table a bit, Flitwick watched the blond wizard with interest, licking his small lips as the steaming white meat of the lobster tail was removed and dipped lavishly in butter. Minerva looked at him warningly. The Charms Professor’s eyes returned to his plate of fish and chips. He sighed.

“You can always order lobster tomorrow,” Minerva said soothingly.

“Yes, but…I’m sure Marcus wouldn’t mind sharing a small bit. He has several, you know,” Flitwick said to Minerva. On the other side of Flitwick, Madame Hooch made a lowing sound, like a cow mooing. Flitwick’s whole head turned bright red.

“Rolanda!” Minerva said severely, while hiding a smirk.

Madame Hooch smiled wickedly and returned to her meal without comment. The moo had said it all. After this audio reference to the bull testicles Marcus had given him last time he asked to taste his food, Flitwick didn’t mention lobsters for the rest of the meal.

Severus and Hermione entered the Great Hall through the staff entrance. After greeting the rest of the staff, they took their seats, Severus drawing out Hermione’s chair and settling her in, before joining her.

Down at the other end of the table, Marcus mouthed something. Before Severus could utter a word as to what he wanted for supper, a plate of two dozen oysters on the half-shell, complete with lemon and horseradish appeared in front of him. He looked at it, surprised, then glanced down the table at a smirking Marcus. A plate of figs appeared in front of Hermione.

Hermione looked down at her husband’s plate, then her own, then shot a narrowed eyed glare down the table at Marcus, who returned her glare with an evil little smile, and a gesture to eat. Hermione pointedly pushed the figs away. She turned to Severus, who, to her chagrin, was preparing the oysters for consumption.

“Are you really going to eat those?” she asked him. She would have had her hands disapprovingly on her hips if she had been standing. Severus looked at his wife.

“I happen to like oysters,” he replied, slurping one down and chewing with an expression of pure bliss on his face, before snorting a bit of fire out of his nose. That horseradish was hot!

“But, but Marcus sent those down here with the explicit idea of …” Hermione began.

“Increasing my libido?” Severus finished for her, giving her an absolutely wicked look. Hermione blushed as he continued, “I hardly need help with that. I could easily be devouring you right now, wife, instead of these oysters. But I see no reason to waste them.” He slurped down another.

The rest of the staff were exchanging knowing looks as they surreptiously watched the Potions Master consuming the oysters with gusto. This made Hermione blush even more. She ordered her own meal of steak and potatoes, with green beans. She had a feeling she needed something more substantial than salad tonight as her husband polished off several more oysters in quick succession, looking at her out the corner of his eyes every time he sucked one down. Then he ordered one more dozen and a carafe of Sauvignon Blanc to wash them down with.

Severus rarely had wine with his supper unless it was some sort of special occasion, and certainly not more than a glass. Hermione eyed her husband as she cut into her steak. He was certainly enjoying those oysters. Marcus was openly grinning at the end of the table as he ate his lobster and watched the Potions Master tuck into the oysters and wine. The headboard would definitely be rocking tonight. Marcus thought about his own situation. This could well be his last night on earth. He decided to check his collection of addresses, and see if he couldn’t track down one of the women he’d met at the club for a farewell-to-the-world fuck. Why should Snape get all the action?

Severus finished the last oyster and dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. He leaned back in his seat looking sated. Hermione finished most of her food, leaving a bit of steak and green beans on her plate. She drank the last bit of pumpkin juice and looked at Severus. At this moment, Marcus rose and walked by them. He actually patted the Potions Master on his shoulder as he passed. Severus was in such a good mood after his oysters and wine, he barely scowled at the contact. Hermione felt a little betrayed. Marcus was still the enemy as far as she was concerned. Her husband’s acceptance of the oysters and the shoulder pat didn’t sit well with her at all. She rose from the table.

“I’m finished eating, Severus,” she said tightly. Severus rose and offered her his arm. She simply walked out, leaving him looking a bit confused. He followed her into the hall. Hermione set off at a brisk pace towards the dungeon, but Severus easily kept up with his long strides. She didn’t speak to him, her mouth drawn in a thin line, similar to Minerva’s tightlipped expression when she didn’t approve of something. Severus looked down at his wife, wondering about her mood. He figured they could discuss it when they returned to their rooms.

When they arrived at the Potions office, Hermione removed the wards and walked in, went straight to the bookcase and let herself into his study. She disappeared into the bedroom. Severus put the wards back up and followed, closing the bookshelf and walking through the study. He entered the bedroom and didn’t see Hermione. He looked around, and focused on the door to the bathroom, which was closed. He figured she was freshening up.

Severus sat down on the bed, removed his boots, and began to undress. He didn’t hear any activity in the loo. He removed all of his clothes, with the exception of his boxers, then walked over to the bathroom door and knocked lightly.

“Hermione?” he called. There was no answer. He rapped again. “Hermione!” he called a little loud. There was still no reply. He sighed. She had locked herself in. He tried the door.

“Hermione, open the door,” he said, rattling the handle.

Hermione was standing on the other side of the door, her arms folded across her chest, scowling.

“No,” she said shortly.

Severus grimaced. This was not the time for her to be acting like this. It was their last night together before battling Alistar. It could well be their last night together, period. He wanted her gasping in his arms, not locked behind the loo door.

“Hermione, come out. Whatever’s wrong we can talk about it,” he said.

“No,” she said stubbornly.

Severus was getting mad now. “Either you open this door, or I’ll open it myself,” he growled.

Hermione pulled out her wand and muttered a ward. Severus heard her.

“You little minx!” he said, rattling the door handle.

Hermione moved away from the door, and leaned on the sink, facing it.

“Hermione, it’s our last night together. Please, come out,” Severus said, trying to coax her before he did something rash.

“Sure, then it will be me, you and Marcus in the bed,” she said bitterly.

“What in the world are you talking about, Hermione?” Severus said, completely at a loss now.

“Letting Marcus control our love life!” she replied angrily, “You listen to everything he says. I might as well be fucking him!”

Despite the ward Hermione put up, Severus kicked the door in. He walked over to the sink, a dangerous look in his eyes, and grabbed Hermione by her wrists, shaking her hard.

“I can’t believe you said that,” Severus said in a low voice, “how could you say something like that, Hermione?”

She blinked up at her husband, her eyes filling with tears.

“Every time he says something about us…you seem to just go along with it. It’s like it’s not us, Severus. He’s too involved. Today, the headboard comment, the oysters, the pat on your shoulder…”

Severus sighed. “Come on,” he said, pulling her gently into the bedroom and setting her down on the bed and sitting beside her. He took her hand in his own, caressing it.

“Hermione, don’t you see that Marcus is playing mind games? He purposely says things to push our buttons. You can’t let him get to you that way. Yes, he gets out of line, but that’s to be expected. He is crass, rude and boorish. And most likely, jealous. He’s never had what we have, Hermione. He doesn’t understand it. Many people mock what they don’t understand.”

Remember, he failed to come between us. Marcus doesn’t seem to be the kind of man that takes failure well. Sometimes I look at him and see that he would like nothing better than to have another go at me, to see who is the better man. He’s witnessed us, Hermione, seen how passionate we are with each other. He couldn’t come between us one way, so he vocalizes things to try to make us uncomfortable. As I said, a mind game.’

Severus leaned toward his wife, meeting her eyes and wiping the tears from the corners of them.

“He isn’t influencing me, Hermione,” he said softly. “I make love to you because I want to. Yes, he sent me the oysters, and yes, oysters are supposed to be an aphrodisiac. I ate them because I like them, not because I was following his directives. I’m going to make love to you tonight, because I love you and I want to be as close to you as humanly possible, and yes, to strengthen our bond of love, but that is always my purpose behind loving you. I don’t need the threat of Alistar to want you, or Marcus encouraging me. We’ve been at this a long time, my Lady. My hunger for you hasn’t decreased in all the years we’ve been together. If anything, it’s gotten stronger over the years.”

Severus pulled Hermione closer and wrapped his arm around her. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Marcus is purposely ribbing us with his innuendos. He did it when he was pursuing you, remember? The terrible things he said? And remember how badly he made you feel? It wasn’t true, but it affected you, made you doubt us. It also opened the way for me to make you my wife. He has no hold on us, my love. None on me, and none on the way I feel about you. I don’t want you thinking he does. We are in a difficult situation, and our emotions are running high. Now is not the time to pull away from me, Hermione. We can’t allow outside forces to come between us. I love you. I loved you long before Marcus came on the scene, and will love you long after he has left Hogwarts. It is you and I, always my love.”

He kissed her forehead.

“I’m sorry, Severus,” Hermione said, kissing his neck gently.

“I’m sorry too, my wife,” Severus responded, nuzzling her hair, “but we have to remember we need Marcus. He is less of an enemy than Alistar. And in his crude way, he makes sense a lot of the time. He wants us to be as strong as possible, in order to aid him. His current interest in our sex life falls in the realm of self-preservation. That he is forced to count on us as much as we must count on him has to rankle…so he throws things at us to make us uncomfortable and derives pleasure whenever we react to him. He focuses on upsetting you more than me, knowing it is easier to get a rise out of you. The best way to deal with Marcus, Hermione, is to just let him talk. No matter how much he makes us want to beat him to a quivering pulp.”

“Or punch him in the face,” Hermione said a little wistfully.

Severus chuckled. “That too,” he replied, squeezing her a little.

Hermione looked up at Severus, her eyes curious.

“So, are the oysters really aphrodisiacs?’ she asked him.

Severus sat very still as if trying to determine an increased libido. After a few moments he said, “I’m not sure. We’ll have to test me and see.” He leered at her.

Hermione laughed, stood up, and started unbuttoning her robes.

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A/N: Okay, I’m in a quandary. Do you want lemons, or do you want to skip that and go right to them drinking the potion and heading for the astral plane. And if you want lemons, do you want me to include Marcus’ night on the prowl? Let me know. I\'m not going to work on the next chapter until I get enough responses to know what to do next, so please review.