Back To Me

A Nudge

The next day, Hermione was scheduled to have lunch in London with her mother. Ron had the day off, so she wouldn’t be meeting Severus today, and she tried to ignore the ache her body felt on these days. It was with a heavy heart that she stood in front of the door to her house, ready to face a quiet evening with her husband. She used to find these nights quite pleasant, but ever since Severus had come back into her life, she realized how completely mundane they were. She took a deep breath and walked inside.


The house seemed oddly quiet. She walked down the hall to the kitchen, calling for Ron. No answer came. When she reached the kitchen, she noticed a piece of parchment taped to the refigerator. Her heart began to pound wildly as she recognized Severus’ familiar scrawl on the official Hogwarts stationery. Her honey colored eyes scanned the letter. She felt her stomach turn as she read.


Mr. and Mrs. Weasley,


I wish to inform you of your daughter’s progress in my N.E.W.T level potions class. I am quite pleased to note that her marks are outstanding, and I would like to further explore the idea of independent study for her in the potions field.

Miss Weasley has shown a marked interest in pursuing a career in potions, and therefore I am asking for your expressed consent to give her private lessons weekly, and a university level advanced independent study.

I invite you to consider this opportunity as it is not one I have extended very often in the past. Thank the gods the girl doesn’t have her father’s rash arrogance, or you wouldn’t be receiving this letter at all.

Mrs. Weasley, I implore you to schedule another parent-teacher conference with me. I have several ideas for your daughter’s end of year project, some of which, if completed successfully, would guarantee her an apprenticeship with either myself or another of Britain’s most esteemed potions masters.

I’ll furnish the refreshments this time if you just bring your eager mind.


Respectfully,

Severus S. Snape


Her cheeks flushed as she stared at the parchment. It was obvious Ron had read this, but where was he? As if in answer to her question, she heard a voice behind her.


“Another parent-teacher conference?” he asked her, his voice cold.


“Ron, come on, don’t be ridiculous,” Hermione said, feeling her cheeks flush just the same.


“When were you planning to tell me that he was back at Hogwarts and that you were going around for bloody tea?” he spat at her.


“I simply thought that perhaps you would be happier not knowing,” Hermione said honestly.


“You’ve been shagging him, haven’t you,” Ron asked her, his eyes steeled.


“That’s completely preposterous,” Hermione said, face burning. “Honestly, Ronald, have you no trust at all?”


“Not when it comes to that foul git, I don’t,” Ron seethed. “You have, haven’t you?”


“Do you really think that he would be sending you letters informing you of our meetings if I were?” Hermione asked, guilt beginning to crumble her defenses.


“I think that’s exactly what he would do,” Ron shouted. “In fact I am shocked he didn’t write ‘Ps. Your tart of a wife left her knickers here so I’ve had the house elves clean and press them and they’re enclosed!”


Hermione felt her hand collide with the side of Ron’s face.


“How dare you speak to me that way,” she screamed at him, face ablaze with anger.


Ron’s face fell.


“I know. You’re right, Love. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you that. Even thinking about that man gets me so angry I could kill someone,” Ron said through gritted teeth, clenching his fists.


“You just have to learn to keep your cool is all,” Hermione said, turning to leave the room.


“I don’t want you going up there anymore, Hermione. I don’t want you to see that man ever again,” Ron said quietly.


“Ronald, let’s be rational. He’s extended a very generous opportunity for Rose. I can’t just not see him. I mean, you work such long hours, it’s not like you can go,” Hermione said, squashing that idea before he could even so much as suggest it.


“Then we will turn his offer down. Rose can take normal classes like all the other students. We didn’t get any special treatment while we were there, and we turned out just fine, Love,” Ron said.


“That is out of the question,” Hermione said, her face growing hot again. “Rose has more potential than the both of us had combined, and I will not see it wasted just because you can’t keep your head on straight.”


Ron sighed in defeat.


“Ginny floo called you about an hour ago, aked if you would come to the Burrow and help James with his potions homework. Apparently the kids are home for the weekend,” Ron said.


Hermione nodded in acknowledgement.


“Where are you going to be?” she asked him, as she readied to leave for the Burrow.


“I have some business to take care of,” Ron said distractedly. “Loose ends on a case and that.”


Hermione eyed him suspiciously but did not say anything. She’d had a close enough call.


“Alright, well will you be home for dinner then?” she asked him.


Ron cleared his throat.


“I uh, I wouldn’t count on it,” he said, not meeting her gaze. “I told Harry and some of the other guys I would meet them for wizard chess and Firewhisky, and you know that when I get too pissed I usually stay over there to avoid apparation mishaps.”


Hermione nodded.


“Well if you come to the Burrow before I am finished helping James I’ll see you then,” Hermione said, as she dropped some powder onto the crackling flames.


“Yeah, maybe,” Ron said, walking out the back door to apparate away.


As Hermione stepped through the green flames, she was almost knocked to the ground by her niece.


“Miney, Miney, Miney!” four year old Lily screeched, covering her aunt with kisses.


“Lily,” Ginny chastised, fighting back a giggle.


“Sorry, Mum,” Lily said, shoulders hunched and face scrunched up in a sour expression.


Both women burst out laughing.


Lily grinned, realizing she was off the hook and then scuttled off to play with her cat, Leonidas.


“I still can’t believe you’ve got three,” Hermione said, giving Ginny a smile.


“Soon to be four,” Ginny corrected her.


Hermione’s eyes widened as Ginny rubbed a hand across her slightly protruding belly.


“Oh Gin! Congratulations!” Hermione squealed, throwing her arms around her sister-in-law’s neck.


“It’s another girl, so we’ll have two of each, and I think after that, I’m done,” Ginny said, grinning.


“Oh have you thought of a name yet?” Hermione asked her, eyes sparkling.


“Well, all our children are named for war heroes, all of which were important to Harry, and of course myself by association, so I thought we would keep within that same vein. We have decided to name the baby Nymphadora,” Ginny said, her eyes misty, and her voice filled with reverence.


“I think that would be lovely,” Hermione said, taking her hand.


“What about you?” Ginny said, positively glowing. “You look radiant! Are you pregnant?”


“ME? Oh, no,” Hermione said, stumbling over the words.


She had checked that several times over the last few weeks, paranoid, even though both she and Severus used contraceptive patches. She had had her one child, and as far as she was concerned, one was enough.


“Well then, let’s have it,” Ginny said, grinning knowingly. “What’s got you so glowy?”


“I dunno, skin cream?” Hermione said.


Ginny eyed her suspiciously but said nothing.


“So, where’s James?” Hermione asked, rubbing her hands together. It was time to focus on something else.


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


Severus wiped his nose down with the healing potion. Bloody git trying to come into his office and tell him what to do? It was preposterous. He might have gotten one good punch in, but he liked to think he had left Weasley the worse for wear. He was pulled from his thoughts by a soft knock at his door.


He crossed the threshold to open it, ready to hex anyone in to the next century. He was pleasantly surprised to find Hermione standing at the door.


She threw her arms around his neck, and he enveloped her in a warm embrace. Then he was taken aback when she pulled away and slugged him across the arm.


“I can’t believe the stunt you pulled sending that letter. It was absolutely---what on earth happened to your nose?” she asked him, staring at his purpled bruised nose.


Your imbecile husband paid me a little visit,” Severus said snarkily. “He warned me to stay away from you.”


“Well I can’t say you didn’t deserve it,” Hermione said, guilt apparent in her eyes nonetheless. “Anyway, what were you thinking?”


“If you think this looks bad, you should see him,” Severus said, smirking. “He got a black eye in addition to the nose.”


“You still didn’t answer my question,” Hermione persisted. “Why did you send that letter?”


“Because, Love,” Severus began, eyes washing over her. “I thought perhaps you needed a gentle nudge.”


“There is a difference between a nudge and a catapult,” Hermione said, looking at him in what she hoped was a scary expression.


Severus burst out laughing. Hermione, realizing how ridiculous she must look, followed suit, and the two of them laughed for several minutes before Severus pulled her close and began to whisper naughty things in her ear, thus absolving him.


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


“Ron what happened to you?” Harry asked as Ron settled himself at the chess table.


“Bloody git Snape that’s what,” Ron said bitterly. “I told him not to come near Hermione, and we threw punches. If you think this is bad, you shouldn’t look at him,” Ron said.


“What are you talking about? What’s all this about Snape?” Harry said, confused.


“Didn’t the kids tell you?” Ron asked him incredulously. “He’s back teaching at Hogwarts.”


They heard the clatter of a bowl and turned around to see a white faced Ginny staring at them.


“What’s the matter Darling?” Harry asked, rising to his wife’s side.


“Nothing,” Ginny said, clearing her throat.


She bent to pick up the bowl.


“Darling, I really don’t think you ought to be bending so much in your condition,” Harry said, grabbing her by the elbow.


“What’s he mean your ‘condition?’” Ron asked, looking confused.


“Oh,” Harry said beaming, “she’s pregnant.”


The room erupted into congratulations, and the subject of Hermione and Severus was forgotten by all, save for one. Ginny now knew why Hermione had been so radiant, and she planned to have a little chat with her sister-in-law, and quite soon.


A/N: Thank you all so much for the kind reviews. I’m sorry I didn’t clarify that this was an affair fic. I know I should have put up the warning for that, but I knew if I did, then it would spoil the surprise, which I didn’t want to do. We are reaching the end of my stocked chapters, so the updates might come just a tad slower now that I am actually writing it rather than cutting and pasting…This story is approaching its end, too, it will be no more than ten chapters, and maybe less if I can wrap it up earlier. Keep the reviews coming, though, they feed my hungry muse!