An Unusual Solution

Severus took his new wife of a week to an Italian restaurant. He had a love of Italian food and was glad when she said she enjoyed it as well. The were seated and the wine poured when he spoke.



“I’d like to talk to you about something.” He told her.



“What’s that?” she asked paying close attention since he spoke in a serious tone.



“My parents didn’t have a strong marriage. They did nothing but fight. When I came home after fifth year at Hogwarts they were sleeping in separate bedrooms. He was self centered and she was jealous and easily angered. It didn’t make for a good combination. The fact that neither of them talked to each other made it worse.”



“That’s sad. They stayed together even when they had no marriage.” She asked.



“Yes, they just stayed miserable. I didn’t have a good example of how to treat women and it was a process of trial and error in my life, that had taken me several years to learn. There are some things that I believe in though that my previous relationships had trouble with.”



“Like what?”



“I think trust is very important. When I ask something, its not that I want to know everything about you, even thought I want to know a lot, its just because I want you to trust me. Please don’t ever lie. I can handle avoidance better then lies.”



“I would never lie to you. Why do you think I came to you Severus, because I knew you would never lie to me. I cold never repay that with a lie.”



“Thank you. Don’t fight with me. Talk to me. I don’t like fights, I grew up with them.”



“I grew up with parents who talk through problems. I don’t like fights either.” She told him calmly.



Their food arrived and as they ate Severus spoke again. “Is there anything you need from me?”



“Yes, as a matter of fact. My ex‘s never took my feelings into consideration. They didn’t care about how something might affect me, and just assumed I would understand.” She said looking at her plate.



“Can you be more specific?” He asked. He wasn’t going to refuse her, but he wanted to know what she meant.



“Marc used to take ex girlfriends to lunch and dinner all the time. I don’t mind a friendly lunch. Me Ron and Harry have one whenever everyone’s schedule works out, but to me dinners with former lovers is inappropriate. He would dress up and be gone for hours. I mentioned going with him once and he looked at me strange. When I told him it hurt my feelings, he said it was just dinner and I was overreacting. It may have been just dinner, but it didn’t seem like it to me. He just ignored how I felt.” She looked over at him and found him watching her, but couldn’t make out his expression. “It may seem insecure of me and I have no excuse for that, but all I ask if that you think about how something might affect me and think about that before acting.”



“That’s not going to be a problem. I will always make sure I think of you first.” He said.



“Really?” She asked looking hopeful.



“A marriage is a marriage. We may have done this to avoid something but we still did it. My father never talk to my mother about anything, and I will not be like him in any way.” He said reaching out and taking her hand. ‘I think we’ve been able to talk to each other so far don’t you think?”



She smiled at the conversation they had after sex. “Yes I think we can.” They continued eating but her curiosity got the best of her. “Have you taken out your ex’s before?”



“The one I mentioned that I still talk to. When she’s in town we usually had dinner, but I wont be doing that anymore. Now that I know how you would feel about it, I wont agree.”



“Maybe if I knew nothing would happen, I wouldn’t mind.” She ventured.



“No, it’s not worth it.” He said firmly.



“Is dinner all that happened?” She asked suddenly curious.



“There were times when she did come home with me. It was when she wasn’t seeing anyone and I wasn’t seeing anyone.” He explained.



“So you took care of each other?” She asked.



‘Yes, we did.” He watched her face. “It wont happen.” He told her.



“I know.” She smiled at him and he knew she was telling the truth.



“If anything is questionable I will speak with you. Just listen to me and talk with me, don’t jump to conclusions. I’ve never been married before so you will have to work with me.”



“I will.” She told him. “I like this and I am somewhat reluctant to leave it.” She said. He grinned at her and leaned over to kiss her cheek.



After dinner they walked along the small town, taking the path along a forest. Severus loved nature and walking along forests and lakes and glens always made him feel peaceful.



Hermione felt wonderful, with his jacket around her shoulders and his arm holding her close. Suddenly his arm tightened. “Merlin.” He breathed out.



“What is it?” She asked following his gaze to the ground. “Severus, it’s land dwelling pond moss.” She moved with him to look closer. The dry leaves in bright green were a dead giveaway.



“Hermione, apparate to the house and get the sample kit.” He told her. She cracked away and in just a few moments returned with a wooden handled tray that held several bottles in various sized as well as tweezers and mini shears and several other tools.



Kneeling on the ground with her husband, they gathered the whole growth, filling the bottles with their collection. Hermione rose and looked at the bottle. She looked over at Severus who began chuckling. “What’s so funny?”



“I have never known a woman to get her lovely dress and toes covered in dirt gathering plant samples.” He said.



She looked down at her dress and toes and true enough, she looked as if she had been playing in the garden. “Well, dinner was over and it was too good an opportunity to pass up. These are rare and make a valuable potion ingredient.” Severus just laughed harder. “What is it now?”



“I’m just remembering an argument with my first girlfriend. She had yelled something, I forget what, but I do know what I came back with ‘I’m going to marry the first girl I meet who doesn’t care about her clothes.’.”



Hermione joined in his laughter and together they apparated home. After she had her shower, he spent time kisses the body parts that she didn’t mind getting dirty in the name of potion making.