Affairs of the Mind

A/N - Thank you to Ariel for your beta skills for this chapter.

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Hermione could not believe her eyes. The man she had known to kill Albus Dumbledore, the man that helped her and her friends through the war against Voldemort, the man who swore to protect Harry for love of his mother, the man who died like so many others at the hand of the Dark Lord – was now stood before her alive, standing tall and proud.


“Merlin’s Beard!” Hermione gasped, but before she could say anything else, Severus Snape cut in.


“Before you open your mouth again, Miss Granger, with what I’m sure will be a hundred of your ridiculous questions-”


“It’s Mrs Weasley, actually,” Hermione said sharply.


She didn’t know why she corrected him as she was sure to receive, if possible, even more mean comments to her, as he was usually worse to Ron.


“Mrs Weasley, well, well, well ... Mrs Weasley, indeed,” Snape half sniggered half growled his words. “How do you feel keeping secrets from your new husband at this early stage in your marriage?” Snape paused starring at Hermione.


Hermione didn’t say anything for a moment, she was gobsmacked. Snape’s eyes looked more alive than Hermione could ever recall, they blazed like flames, if she didn’t know any better she could have mistaken the loathness for lust.


“How dare you!” Hermione raged.


“Now, Severus, do not mock Hermione. She is doing us a great favour. Do not forget that,” Said Scrimgeour firmly.


“Forgive me.” said Snape in a toneless manner and without making eye contact, Snape walked past Hermione and sat on the old leather couch in Scrimgeour’s office. The Minister held out his arm pointing Hermione to sit next to Snape on the couch while he took the oversized arm chair which matched the maroon leather of the couch.


“I shall let Severus tell his story. A small whiskey before we begin?”


Scrimgeour looked from Snape to Hermione with a smile upon his face, looking for nods or some kind of acknowledgement. Hermione looked astounded. As Scrimgeour was clinking some glasses behind her Snape took a deep breath and stared at Hermione, gradually dropping his eyes from hers, slowly taking in her appearance. He was looking over her erect nipples as they were showing against her shirt, as she had intended with that bra she wore, which she was now regretting. Glancing down to her skirt and once again attention was brought to the top of her stockings. Hermione could feel the tension in the room building, but she had no idea why. I’m married and I’m half his age! Stop it! She thought. She just couldn’t take her eyes off of him.


When Scrimgeour came back with the whiskey Snape broke his attention away from her and began his story.


“On the night I ... died-”, he started only to be interrupted straight away, which by the look on his face, infuriated him.


“But-”, Hermione began to be interrupted herself.


“But nothing, Mrs Weasley. I did indeed die, however I am a potions master, or have you forgotten me already Hermione?” Without waiting for a reply Snape continued. “Minerva McGonagall found me dead, she also happened to find a potion in my pocket that was there for such an occasion and poured it down my throat. That potion restarted my heart. It has taken me nearly three years to fully recover. When I was back to consciousness, I awoke to Minerva and the Minister standing over me. It seems Dumbledore had one last request of me before I met my death. Of this request you do not need to know. I would like you to help me nevertheless.” He took a gulp from his glass, finishing the whiskey in one go. “Will you help me Hermione?” His tone softened at these words.


Hermione had never heard him sound so genuine. She looked deep into his eyes.


“I will Sir, but surely if I am to help you, I’ll need to know everything, won’t I, sir?”


“There is no need for you to call me ‘Sir’ now Hermione; I am no longer your teacher. And yes. You will know one day but for now you have quite enough information to mull over,” He rose to refill his glass and started writing on a bit of parchment. Hermione was dumbstruck. With all this new information and another request of Dumbledore’s ... what could that be? Then without thinking first she blurted, “Do the Malfoy’s have anything to do with this? After all they do know you’re alive don’t they?”


“The Malfoy’s do not concern you!” Snape spat angrily.


Obviously, Hermione stepped too far. However, now she knew that the Malfoy’s had something to do with well... something. She just didn't know how.


Hermione heard the Ministry clock strike twelve, Ron suddenly popped into her head.


“Err...Minister, Snape, is there anything you need me to complete today? Just I was planning on getting back to Ron early this afternoon.” She suddenly regretted asking as there were obviously things she needed to do before leaving.


Snape chuckled under his breath, “For an intelligent girl Hermione, you seem quite dim. My apologies to your husband, but you have something more important to do now.”


Hermione was just about to protest but stopped herself as she knew it would be no use. “Right, well let’s make a start then,” Hermione said begrudgingly.


“That’s the spirit girl!” Said Scrimgeour.


“Take me to your office then, Hermione,” Said Snape.


And they left. Hermione was confused. Her new husband all alone on his first day of marriage, and all the while his wife is with a dead man with whom her husband disliked very much. Even after it was splashed all over the Daily Prophet how Snape was a ‘dead’ war hero and awarded an Order of Merlin for his efforts against Voldemort, Ron still called him a "Greasy Git." Hermione had felt sorry for him, saw him in a different light; she now knew his off-putting exterior, his frightening snarl, his awful comments, they were, are, a cover up for this deeply emotional man. Confined as his emotions are he used anger and hurt to hide his true nature and character. Hermione knew this now. She finally had knowledge back on her side again.


They were walking from the Minister’s office, both covered with a Disillusionment Charm, cast deftly by Snape. They walked into the elevator and down to the fourth floor. They moved quickly into her small, empty office. Snape followed Hermione, keeping close to her for the charm to work over both of them.


Once they were safely inside her office, Snape slammed the door shut. Hermione turned to face him. They simply stood taking in each others appearances. Hermione’s heart fluttered, she could feel her nipples become erect and press against her shirt. She was hot. She had no idea why she felt like this in his ‘new’ presence. But he was here, in her office and she was very aware of that. She was indeed very much alone with Severus Snape.