The Rules of Engagement

.

Jealousy
~~~~~~~

“Good morning, Ginny.” Hermione said, slipping into her seat across from the red head. Ginny had been sitting with her elbow on the table, her chin resting in her hand and her eyes closed. Her brown eyes shot open at Hermione’s greeting.

“Morning.” She said quickly. Hermione frowned.

“Were you up late studying again ?” The Head Girl asked. The younger girl stifled a yawn.

“Yeah. Something like that.”

“Ginny . . . . . I would be the last one to discourage studying, but you can overdue.” Hermione said. Ginny’s mouth opened slightly, then she shook her head in mock shock.

“Now I know I have slipped into some fairy realm. Hermione Granger just told me I study too much.” Then the red head giggled and Hermione joined in.

“Honestly. Am I that bad ?”

“Ask the boys, when they get here.” The two began eating breakfast. Ron, Neville, Dean and Harry finally plunked down into their seats. As was their custom, after a brief greeting the Gryffindors set about eating.

Hermione finished quickly and looked up in time to see Severus going through the faculty door. She gathered her things and quickly made her way out of the hall to have a word with him before classes began for the day. Seeing him about to descend the stairs to the dungeons, she called out.

“Sev . . . . Professor Snape ?” He froze, with one foot on the landing and one on the stairs. His expression appeared annoyed at first, then changed to neutral when he saw who was calling to him.

Hermione walked up to him and noticed with him standing on the stair and her on the landing, they were the same height. For some reason this made her grin. The grin widened at the curious glint in her fiancé’s eyes.

“Good morning.” She said, to which he merely nodded. “I just had a quick question.”

“Yes.” He said, quirking an eyebrow when she paused.

“One of the names on your list. I don’t recognize it. ‘R. Gallager’.”

“Gallagher, the ‘g’ is silent. Surely with all your trips to Hogsmeade you have met Madam Rosmerta?”

Oh. Hermione had never known the barkeeps last name. The rather pretty barkeep all the boys talked about. Her eyes narrowed as she look at the dark man.

“You want to invite Madam Rosmerta to our marriage ceremony ?”

“You asked me for a list of the people I wished to invite.” Severus said sharply, clearly getting annoyed. “If you do not wish her to be there, then drop the name.”

“No . . .” She said. He was right, she had asked and he had every right to invite whomever he wanted. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I just didn’t know you knew Madam Rosmerta that well.”

“I have been an Professor here for some years.” He snapped.

“Yes . . . . . of course. I just needed to know the name, so I could address the invitation.”

“How many are on the final list ?” Severus asked with a sigh.

“I don’t have a final list yet, but I would say under fifty.”

“Fifty !!” He burst out, his eye popping out of his head.

“I said ‘under fifty’. You see why I don’t want Wubby to have to prepare everything.”

“I cannot even think of fifty people I can stand to be around, much less have them at my house for my wedding !” He snapped.

“Severus, it is my wedding as well. You wanted me to take care of it and I am.”

“Inviting the whole bloody planet ?”

“If . . .” Hermione emphasized haughtily. “you will remember correctly, I asked you for your help and you refused.” She turned to walk away.

“Hermione !” Severus said loudly, his voice bouncing off the stone walls and echoing down the stairs, making her pause. He grasped her shoulder and spun her to face him. He stepped in close, towering over her. Hermione’s breath caught in her throat as his dark eyes danced over her face. It wasn’t until he got that sneer on his face that she found the power to move. Pulling her arm out of his grasp, she turned to stalk away, but only got two steps before running into the purple voluminous robes of the Headmaster.

“Good morning, Professor Snape, Miss Granger. Is everything in order ?” Dumbledore looked from one to the other of them. Hermione noticed Severus had come to stand beside her in front of the Headmaster.

“Everything is fine, Headmaster.” Severus said, but she could hear the tightness in his voice. Hermione shot him an angry glare, but stayed silent.

“Good, because I want to make one thing perfectly clear to the both of you. I understand the . . . rarity , of your situation and I am willing to make some allowances because of it. But I will remind you both that this is a establishment of learning. Your arguments are to be held behind closed doors, not in the public thoroughfares. Do I make myself clear ?” Dumbledore stared over his spectacles at both of them. Hermione had never felt so thoroughly chastised by the Headmaster before. But it was then that she could see they had drawn quite a crowd of students coming out of the Great Hall.

“I expected more decorum, from both of you.” Dumbledore said.

“I’m sorry, Professor Dumbledore. It won’t happen again.” Hermione said, ignoring the almost tangible tenseness of the man beside her.

“Rest assured, Headmaster, it will not happen again.” The Potions Master said with a slight bow of his head, then he grasped her elbow and lead her down the stairs to his office. Hermione did not get a chance to protest as Severus plopped her down in a chair in front of his desk. He leaned on the desk with his arms crossed glaring down at her.

“I have told you before about arguing with me.” He said.

“I did not start the argument. You’re the one that went off like an exploding cauldron. Besides, why not ?”

“Pardon ?”

“Why am I not to argue with you ?” She snapped back. The dark man stared at her a moment, then he reached down and moved the flaps of his long coat aside to reveal the large bulge in the front of his trousers. Hermione’s breath caught in her throat and all else left her mind as she realized he was excited. She could not meet his eyes again until after he had dropped his clothing back in place.

“Why ?” She said, shaking her head slightly. “Why in Merlin’s name would fighting with me excite you ?”

Severus looked her over, his dark eyes paying particular attention to the swell of her breasts and her lips. “You have no notion of how beautiful you are when you are angry.”

“Leave it to you to find that arousing.” She said, beginning to stand up.

“Do not get up.” He said quickly. Hermione looked at him with a furrowed brow. “I am taxing what little restraint I have in your presence now.”

There was a heavy pause as Hermione processed that statement. She was still a bit miffed, but how do you stay mad at a man you tells you you\'re beautiful when angry ? “It’s hard for me too, you know.” She said softly. He looked her over, his eyes openly curious. “I should go. I don’t want to be late for class. That would give the gossips far too much to talk about.” She rose and turned towards the door.

“About the list ?” Hermione looked at him from the door when he spoke. “You may handle it as you see fit. In all of this mess, I at least want you to have the ceremony the way you desire. I will make a conscious effort to . . . . . grumble less.”

Hermione grinned. “Thanks.” She went out the door and made the long trek to class.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~

Hermione and Ron went into the Head Girl’s room so Hermione could put her books away after potions class. The class had gone well, though many students were disappointed there were no further fireworks between the Potions Master and his bride-to-be. Severus had conducted himself as usual, with no inkling of the tension between them, or at least Hermione felt tense around the dark man. The image of his inflated passion straining in his trousers had been popping up in her mind over and over throughout the day.

“Nice of Snape to move Malfoy. Didn’t know he had it in him. Now you two can talk a couple times a week. Don’t know how Neville feels about having him there though. What with Malfoy being a bender and all.” Ron said, making himself comfortable on the couch and putting his feet on the table. Hermione knocked his feet down going past him.

“Neville is not as prejudiced as you. He seems fine with it.” She sat down next to the red head. “Besides, what difference does it make to you if Draco is gay ?”

“You’re a girl, Sweet. You can’t possibly understand.”

“Really ? Some people have told I’m not as dumb as I look. Try me.” She crossed her arms and waited for his answer. Ron sat up straighter at ‘that look’, as he called it.

“It’s just . . . . well, the idea . . .of touching another man . . . . it gives me a case of the creepy crawlies, you know.” He said with a shiver.

“Really ?”

“Well yeah.” Ron said quickly.

“Do you love Harry ?”

“What ?”

“It’s a simple question. Do you love Harry ?”

“Yeah, of course, but that doesn’t mean I want to bugger him.” He said with distaste. Hermione laughed at the look on his face.

“Yet you hug Harry and touch him in other ways. The difference is in whom Draco chooses to love. He isn’t after you, Ron. Believe me.” She said and watched as the red head’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times.

“And . . . what’s wrong with me then ?” Ron said looking thoroughly insulted, making Hermione laugh.

“Nothing. You’re gorgeous. The epitome of the Gryffindor stud. Come on, let’s go to the common room.” She got up and Ron followed.

The common room was fairly full this time of day as students from all years waited to go down to dinner. Ron and Hermione stopped to talk with Seamus and Colin by the hearth. Hermione looked over and saw Ginny sitting at a table on the far side of the room. Harry was standing on the other side of the table, his hands supporting him as he leaned over to talk with the youngest Weasley. They appeared deep in conversation.

“ . . didn’t he, Mione.” She turned back and found Colin looking at her expectantly.

“Sorry ?”

“I said Professor Snape was giving you an awful time of it this morning.” The blonde said, his eyes wide. Hermione grimaced internally. Colin was the resident Gryffindor gossip. No sense feeding him dirt to spread around.

“Not really. We were just discussing arrangements for the wedding.” Hermione said. Colin, who was obviously disappointed, made his excuses and went off to his dorm.

“Cheeky little bugger, at times.” Seamus said sympathetically, then moved off to sit with Lavender. Ron sat in one of the overstuffed chairs in front of the fire and Hermione sat on the arm. They rested comfortably until a shout from the other side of the room startled them.

“I told you NO !!” Harry shouted as he slapped his open hand down on the table, before stalking up the stairs to the boys dormitory. Ginny looked crushed. Her brown eyes darted around the room at the people watching her. Her hand wen her her mouth and she dissolved into tears running from the room and out the portrait hole. Hermione got up to follow her, but Ron stopped her.

“This looks like it might be best handled by family.” He said. Hermione nodded.

“I’ll go up and check on Harry, then.”

Ron went out and Hermione went up the stairs. The door to the seventh year boys dorm was open, so she went right in and closed the door behind her. Harry was lying on his bed, his arms crossed tightly. He glanced at Hermione as she walked over to the bed.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” The raven haired boy snapped. Not the least bit phased, Hermione kicked off her shoes and crawled up on the bed to lie beside Harry. He glared for a moment, then with a sigh, unclenched his arms and allowed her to put her head on his chest and draped an arm around her back. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“This isn’t going to work this time, Mione. I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“I didn’t ask.” Hermione said, followed by another long pause.

“How’s Ginny ?”

“She left the common room crying. Ron went after her.” She said and felt him tense beside her, but he didn’t say anything else. After a while, he began to play with the hand Hermione had laying on his chest. He turned it up examining her ring.

“I thought wizards didn’t give engagement rings.” Harry said softly.

“It’s a family heirloom. It belonged to Severus’ mother.”

Harry set her hand down and sighed deeply again. “Please tell me it’s working out for you.” Hermione could hear the worry in his voice.

“You know . . . . . . I think it will. I like Severus, Harry.” She said, feeling his hold on her tighten. Seeming to catch the vibe of something going on with him she added, “Worrying about your birthday?”

“Not . . . . really.”

“I’m sure you will have a lot of choices. Everyone knows who you are.” She said.

“But nobody knows ‘me’.” Harry whined. Hermione lifted her head to look down into his eyes.

“I do.” He brought a hand up to her cheek and watched her with a curiously dreamy gaze.

“Sometimes . . . . . . . sometimes I wish you had taken me up on my offer.”

“Harry.” She said softly with a blush threatening to bloom on her cheeks. He laughed gently.

“I don’t mean I’m after you or anything. I . . . . . I just cannot help but wonder what it would be like to ‘be’, that way, with a friend.”

“Did I tell you Draco offered to take my virginity ?” She said, not being able to think of anything else. Harry gasped.

“He didn’t !”

“He did. Quite put out when I told him he was too late.” Hermione said with a laugh. Harry sat up then.

“He . . what ? You mean . . . . When ? You never told us.”

“You never told me who your first time was with.”

“That’s because . . . . .” He blushed, casting his eyes down. “I haven’t . . . . not yet.”

“Oh.” Hermione said, followed by an uncomfortable pause.

“Maybe I should just do it. Damn little else I’ll get to choose in my life.”

“Harry, you’ve waited for a reason. I’ve seen girls throwing themselves at you, so I know it’s not lack of opportunity.” Hermione said gently. Harry looked down at his hands.

“I’m afraid.”

“You’re afraid of sex ?”

“No, not sex. I’m . . . . . afraid I won’t live up to the image.” He sighed. “The ‘Great Harry Potter’ image. Any girl will expect me to be an expert in the sack, but I don’t know anything. At least you . . . . . . . . . you know me, the good and the bad. I wouldn’t have to pretend with you.”

“You’ll find her, Harry.”

“Yeah ? And what if I find her after I’m married ?” The beaten look on Harry’s face struck Hermione to the heart. She was so angry with the Ministry for messing up their lives.

“Oh . . . I hate this bloody law !!”

“ I thought you said it was working out ?”

“Well . . . yes. but . . . . . .”

“Do you think anything would have happened between you and the Professor if it hadn’t been for the law ?”

Hermione paused. Would they have come together on their own. Not likely. “I don’t think so.”

Harry laid down again and drew her down to lay with him. “Do you think . . . . you and Rose maybe ?”

It was Hermione’s turn to sigh. “I like Rose, but I don’t think I’m the wife he’s looking for.” They were quiet for a time, each thinking their own thoughts.

“Is this what you and Ginny were talking about ?” She finally asked.

“What ? No.” Harry said with a la Aft After that they snuggled together comfortably on the bed and fell asleep. They didn’t stir until a voice roused them sometime later.

“Harry. Hermione. Get up. You’ve nearly missed dinner.” Ron’s voice called from the doorway. Hermione opened her eyes and saw him coming towards them. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she felt Harry sit up.

“How’s Ginny ?” Harry asked.

“You know, I should be roughing you up for making my sister cry, mate.” Ron said, though he didn’t sound angry.

“I didn’t mean to make her cry.” Harry said quietly.

“Yeah, well . . . she made me promise not to. Or more like threatened to hex my dangly bits.” Ron said. Hermione stifled the giggle that threatened to erupt, imagining just how well Ginny could handle her brothers and especially Ron.

“I don’t feel like going down to the Great Hall. You want to join me in my room for some dinner, Harry ?” Hermione asked. The dark haired boy nodded his head, then went out the door.

“Ginny isn’t talking either ?” She asked the red head.

“No.” Ron said, looking worried. “You don’t think something’s going on with them, do you ?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Harry seems worried about the marriage law. I better go. I’ll let you know if I get anything else out of him.” Hermione patted Ron on the arm and went down to her room to join Harry.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus was anxious. Why wasn’t she at dinner ? Was she still angry with him ? Hermione had not seemed any different in class. So what had happened ? The only thing that kept him from panicking was the fact Potter was missing from dinner as well and Weasley did not appear distressed by their absence. Plus he had been busy babysitting Lupin. No matter how well the wolf tried to hide it, his increasing weakness was becoming apparent.

“Why don’t you just go find her ?” Severus turned to look at the fair haired man beside him.

“Pardon ?”

“Hermione. You’ve been scowling at the Gryffindor table the whole meal and I can smell your apprehension. Just go find her. I’m sure everything is alright.” Lupin said, pushing his still half full plate away from him. Severus looked at the plate, then at the man and frowned at both.

“I really can’t eat anymore. Honestly ! You’re worse than Poppy.” Lupin tried to laugh, but it turned into a cough.

“I will walk you to your rooms, then go by Hermione’s. She is most likely there.” The Potions Master said and the DADA Professor nodded his agreement.

Walking up to Gryffindor tower, Severus noticed the werewolf was moving slower. The dark man slowed his pace so the other man would not have to strain himself to keep up. When Lupin was comfortably situated in his lodgings, Severus made the short walk to the Head Girl’s room.

‘I feel like a fool.’ he told himself. He was anxious and didn’t know why. Surely Hermione was not angry with him still. She had smiled on her way out of his office this morning and again as she left his classroom earlier . ‘Just knock, you git.’, that helpful voice in his head said. So he did. It felt like he was standing there an awfully long time. He was about to knock again, when Hermione opened the door mid laugh. Laugh ? Who was in there with her ?

“Severus ?” Hermione stood looking at him with wide eyes.

“May I come in ?” He asked impatiently. She stood aside and let him walk in. His previous question was answered, when he saw Potter sitting at her desk.

“Mr. Potter.” Severus said, as if making a find.

“Snape.” The boy said, looking at him curiously. Hermione came to stand between them.

Severus’ eyes flicked from one Gryffindor to the other, noting the boys unbuttoned and rumpled shirt, and Hermione’s tousled hair.

“Am I disturbing you ?” The dark man asked tightly. Hermione looked at him with a frown, then shook her head.

“No. We missed dinner in the hall.” She said, indicating the food on her desk.

“I have just come from dinner and wondered why you did not attended.”

“We fell asleep.” Harry offered through his mouthful of pie. Severus glared at the two of them waiting for an explanation. When none came he raised an eyebrow at his intended.

“Ron woke us up.” Harry said.

That snapped Severus’ attention back to the raven haired youth. “Where were you ?” He demanded.

“We were just up in my dorm.” The youth said. He saw Hermione cringe.

“What were you doing in your bed with my fiancé, Potter ?” Severus snarled. The boy appeared to be just catching on to what he said. Harry stood up and come around the desk facing the dark man.

“Look Snape, if she turned me down when I offered to sleep with her before, why would you think anything was going on now ?” Hermione let out an audible groan and covered her face with her hand.

“WHAT ?” Severus shouted. “When did this happen ?”

“No, Severus . . . .it isn’t . . . . . . Harry, can you go ?” Hermione said trying to usher the boy out of the door.

“NO ! Do stay Potter. I would not want to interrupt young lovers just because one happens to be my bride to be.” Severus shouted, then headed for the door. “Make sure you pull out, Potter. I do not wish to raise any of your bastards !”

“Severus ! Please.” Hermione gasped behind him, but at the moment he was literally seeing red and knew he had to leave before he loosed his wrath on the both of them.

Slamming the door behind him, Severus strode purposefully down the stairs and out of the castle. The desperate need to be away from them and for a stiff drink sent him to Hogsmeade.

The evening air was cool, very cool since he had been so angry Severus never thought of getting his outer cloak. But he hardly noticed the cold, his purposeful strides taking him quickly to his destination. Luckily, the crowd in the Three Broomsticks was light as it was a Thursday night. He settled into his customary seat at the end of the bar.

“Severus, so good to see you.” A familiar female voice chirped from behind the bar.

“Firewhiskey.” He grumbled. The older woman looked at him cautiously.

“Millie, get the Professor a Firewhiskey. I’ll be right back.” Rosmerta sauntered over to a table close by with their drinks. The plain frumpy looking new barmaid, Millie, set a glass of amber liquid in front of him and moved away as if he might bite her.

Severus picked up the drink and downed it in one large gulp, the burn of the liquid in his mouth and down his throat being exactly what he needed. He pushed the glass towards the barmaid again and watched as she refilled it. He was about to empty the glass again, when a hand was placed overtop of the glass preventing him from picking it up. Shooting the owner of the hand an icy glare, he was met with a smirk and light chuckle.

“Rough day teaching, Severus ?” Rosmerta asked, slipping onto the stool beside him. The dark man let out a snort and pulled his glass out from under the red tipped fingers and drank half of liquid.

“So if not teaching, what are you trying to forget ?” The woman was persistent, always had been and she knew him better than he wanted to admit.

Severus sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair and down his neck. “I really do not want to discuss it, Rosie.” He lifted his glass again, emptying it a second time and pushing it over again for a refill.

Rosmerta put a stop to the whiskey and drew his troubles out of him, as she always did, with a mixture of persistence and patience. Rosie had been a good friend over the years and at times a bit more.

“You’re in love with this girl.” She said happily.

He sighed, then wished he had another whiskey in front of him. “I fear, I am.” To which the older woman let out a hearty laugh.

“Severus, this is wonderful. Now stop being an ass and get back up to the castle and apologize.” He was about to protest. “You’rong ong in your assumptions and you know it.”

Severus nodded, knowing he had been a fool. When he turned to look at Rosie again, she leaned forward and kissed him chastely on the lips.

“Congratulations.” She said, but when she pulled back, Severus had a clear view of the fiery look in the brunette’s eyes who was standing by the door. He mumbled an excuse to Rosmerta and walked over to face his intended.

“Herm . . . .” Was all he got out before he was slapped squarely across the cheek. He was so shock, he merely stood there as she barreled out the door.

“Go after her, you fool !” Rosie chirped merrily from behind the bar.

Severus rushed out onto the quiet moon filled street. Hermione’s figure was quickly stalking towards the castle.

“Hermione !” He called. When she didn’t slow her pace, he ran after her calling her name again. He came to a halt within a few paces of her and demanded she stop. She did, but did not turn around.

“You will explain yourself !” The dark man snarled. Hermione spun around and by the look on her face, Severus was relieved she had not pulled her wand.

“EXPLAIN MYSELF !! You accuse Harry and I of . . . . . Then you run down here to that . . . . harlot and you want me to explain MYSELF ?!?” She then spun and continued on her path.

“You are out of the castle past curfew.” He walked behind her, but kept his distance. Finally, he had had enough. “You will stop or I shall cast a body bind on you.”

This time when she turned, her wand was drawn. “I would like to see you try.” She spat out coldly.

“You would draw your wand on a Professor ?”

“I wasn’t drawing it on a Professor. I was drawing it on my fiancé.”

“I suppose I deserve that.” Severus said. He was gratified to see a look of astonishment on her face. “I can admit when I am wrong. But you are also wrong. Rosmerta is not a harlot, she is an old friend.”

Hermione slowly dropped her wand hand, so he braved taking a few steps closer to her. “Why was she kissing you then ?”

“She was congratulating me on our engagement.”

“Oh.” The young Gryffindor said, then began walking slowly. Severus walked alongside her.

“So . . . . you weren’t going to sleep with her ?”

“No.”

“But . . . . you have slept with her in the past ?” She asked. After a pause he answered.

“Yes.” He said, feeling now it was best to be completely honest. She looked at him, her features oddly lit by the almost full moon, but he couldn’t read her expression.

“I asked you if you had a girlfriend, you told me you didn’t.”

“I do not. Rosie helped me through some bad times when I first came to teach here. We have not been intimate in a good many years.” Severus said, but Hermione only nodded thoughtfully. They walked in silence for several minutes.

“Did it have to do with Aubrey MacCowan ?” Severus’ steps faltered and he stopped, Hermione stopped beside him. “The bad times, that Madam Rosmerta helped you through.”

Severus took a deep breath. This was the time to tell her, he couldn’t wait any longer. “Yes, it was.” He started walking again, slowly. Hermione fell into step and listened in silence as he told her about the love of his youth, her subsequent death and the guilt that he still felt to this day.

“So that was when Dumbledore asked you to become a spy for the Order.” Hermione stated.

“Yes.” After along pause, she spoke again.

“She should have stood by you.”

“Aubrey was young.”

“She was my age. If she loved you, she should have tried to save you.”

“Aubrey also felt pressure from her family. He father was a leading and loud opponent to the Dark Lord’s plans. Once I was marked, she felt I was lost to her. Perhaps I was.”

“You did the right thing in the end, that’s what matters.” Hermione said. He just let out a noncommittal ‘Mmmm’.

When they reached the front gates, Hermione stopped and stepped into his embrace. Severus hugged her close. She stepped back from him and took his hand as they walked to the castle.

“You do realize what an ass you were to Harry ?” She said, once they were inside the castle.

“Why did you not tell me about his offer ?”

Hermione sighed. “Harry was desperate for me to accept your petition. He was somehow under the impression I might be afraid to have sex with you, so he offered to give me a baby, if I would marry you.”

Severus stopped in his tracks, outside of the doors to the Great Hall. “Are you ?”

“Am I what . . . . afraid to sleep with you ?” She laughed. “Severus, I’d go back to your rooms now, if you’d let me.”

“I will keep that in mind.” He said with a smirk. He lead her up to her room in Gryffindor tower. She opened the door and pulled him in with her, not asking if he wanted to stay.

Severus made a quick scan of the room looking for the ginger colored menace, but the beast was nowhere in sight. He settled onto the couch. Hermione joined him after removing her cloak.

“Do not think you have gotten off so easily this evening. I am still very much upset with you.” Severus said looking down into her youthful face. She lifted a brow at him. “What if Lucius had seen you leave the castle ? For that matter, why did you leave the castle ?”

“I went down to the dungeons looking for you, but youen’ten’t there. I thought you might be looking in on Remus, so I checked there. He suggested that you might have gone to the Three Broomsticks.”

“Lupin sent you out on your own at this time of night ?”

“No, of course not. He said I should go back to my room and wait to talk with you tomorrow, after you had time to cool down. I borrowed Harry’s k. Mk. Malfoy would not have seen me.”

“Unless, he happened to be in the pub at the time.” Severus pointed out.

“Then wouldn’t it look appropriate for me to come drag my fiancé back home ?” She said with a grin. He cupped her jaw with his hand and let his thumb caress her soft skin.

“Please do not take this lightly. I do not want you taking risks.” ioneione let her head fall into his touch.

“I won’t do it again as long as you don’t make me come looking for you.” They regarded each other for a few moments. “Thank you . . . . . . for telling me about Aubrey. It must have been difficult for you.”

Severus dropped his hand back into his lap. “I think it was harder not telling you. I feel . . . . . . unburdened for the first time in a long while.”

“Good.” She said, picking his hand up and holding it in her own. Reluctantly, he pulled back his hand and stood up.

“I should say good night.” He said. Hermione stood also, walking him to the door. He leaned down and kiss her soft pliant mouth. Before he could get carried away, Severus left her room to make his way to the dungeons.

##########################################################

*~~ AUTHOR’S CORNER ~~*

Blessings and salutations to all of you die hard reviewers. I wanted to take the time to say a deep heartfelt thanks to you all. Your comments and thoughts are very important to me. I have become such a review ho ;)

Stop by Potterotica Universe and drop us a line. Stop by the poll section and get your vote in.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Potterotica_all/


Hugs and passionate kisses to all (boy will I be busy !)

Glinda




.