Hermione pays her Debt

Unknown to Hermione, Minerva had given Severus the day off. He had left the Dungeons at his usual time, and to all intents and purposes it would have seemed to her that nothing was different. However, once he had seen her leave the Dungeons for her first class, he slipped back into their quarters and flooed to Diagon Alley. He was quick, in one shop and then another, coming out each time with bags, boxes and packages of various sizes. In one particular store, he took his time when talking with the shopkeeper, making sure his purchases were just what he was looking for. He smiled as he left the shop, then realised time was getting on and Apparated back to Hogwarts.



When he reached the bedroom, he spent time gathering together everything they would need for the weekend. Emptying out his shopping bags, he lifted each item carefully, packing some things into a holdall, and some into a reinforced box with a tight-fitting lid. Once he was sure he had remembered everything, he shrunk everything and put them in his sock drawer, knowing Hermione never went into it. He had an hour before Hermione would come back through the door, time enough to visit Minerva and update her on everything.



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Later that evening, Severus was agitated and trying his hardest not to show it. Unfortunately, Hermione knew him well enough by now, and was watching him surreptitiously over the top of her book.



‘Severus, what is wrong with you?’ she asked him, a little irritated by his pacing.



He looked at her, his face tense and pale. ‘Nothing, why?’



‘Number one,’ Hermione lifted her finger, ‘you’re pacing, number two, you look as white as a sheet, and number three, the pulse in your jaw is jumping like mad. What is it?’



Severus smiled at her and shook his head a little, ‘Hard day, I suppose. The dunderheads do not get any easier,’ he smiled at her.



Hermione knew he was being untruthful, and frowned at him, placing her book on the arm of her chair.



‘I’ll get you a drink,’ she stood and looked at him from the corner of her eye, noticing him start to pace again, and then, to her total amazement, he started to nibble at one of his fingernails. She poured him a large Firewhisky and took it over to him.



‘Severus, please talk to me. You never bite your nails. Are you nervous about something?’ she placed her hand on his, as he held the crystal tumbler tightly.



Severus gazed at her and his eyes softened, ‘You’re beautiful, my love,’ he bent his head and kissed her, ‘and you are right. I am a little distracted. I apologise.’



‘It might help to talk about it,’ she smiled warmly at him.



Severus sighed and his shoulders slumped. ‘It’s tomorrow,’ he admitted to her, taking a long sip of his drink.



‘Tomorrow? Saturday? Oh, this thing you want me to do,’ she furrowed her brow again, thinking.



Severus nodded and folded himself slowly into his armchair.



‘What is it? Is it dangerous?’ Hermione asked him, sitting back in her chair and facing him.



Severus looked at her and chuckled, a deep laugh that bounced around the walls.



‘It could be dangerous, yes. For me, not you, I think,’ he smiled at her. ‘It will be fine, I’m just preoccupied, and that’s all.’



‘We could always do it another time, if it’s bothering you,’ Hermione lifted her book and opened it at her marked page.



Severus looked at her thoughtfully as her head disappeared behind the pages, and smiled.







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a/n: Just a warning, this is a short Fic, so please dont be disappointed if it ends before you want it to!!!