Bloodbound

Embarrassment

WONDERFUL THANKS TO L'VANNA WHO BETAED THIS THIS CHAPTER FOR ME! AND ALSO FOR HER WONDERFUL SUGGESTIONS AS WELL!

Hermione looked at Ron, willing him to speak. She could feel Severus’ eyes burning into her and she knew he was about to enter her mind, to eavesdrop on the conversation.


“I find it interesting we’re allowed to touch you again without our skin feeling like someone has burned it. Does that mean I’m allowed to have a private conversation with you again?” Ron asked, sarcasm laced in his sulky voice.


“Yes, I am now permitted to speak with you in private,” Hermione began to say.


“You mean I can talk to my best friend again without worrying about that greasy, foul and loathsome git?” Ron asked her, his voice rising.

“Watch your mouth, Ronald,” Hermione said coolly.

That would do, thought Snape as he practically ran to the Gryffindor table where the trio sat.

“Mr. Weasley,” he spat at the boy. “Do not think for one second that you can hide anything from me! You are now being permitted to be alone with her, but do not even begin to presume that I have graciously allowed this! I merely lifted these rules because I trust her, not for you! Now if you will please STOP HARASSING MY WIFE!!!” Snape bellowed, rage burning in his black velvet eyes.


Ron cowered, looking dumbstruck. He did not think he had been shouting that loudly. How on earth could Snape have heard him? Suddenly, as if in answer to his question, Snape’s silky voice entered his mind.


“Are you really so daft as to have forgotten my skill in the art of legilimency?” He sputtered, where only Ron could hear him. Ron’s blood ran cold. There were so many things he wanted to say to Hermione, but he most certainly did not want this sod being able to hear any of it.


Just when Hermione thought she would like to shrink to the size of a crumb on the table, Wiggles came hobbling through the Great Hall carrying Sarah, who was screaming murderously.


“Wiggles is sorry mistress,” the elf gasped, clearly winded from carrying the baby. “Young mistress Sarah is not to be made happy!” she practically wailed, in the voice of someone who clearly believed themselves to be a failure.


Hermione felt her face burn as every eye was upon her. First her husband had lost his temper, and about her to Ron, which would certainly spark a whole new round of rumors, but Sarah was brought to her as well, and so far as she knew, only Ron and Harry knew about Sarah. She began to cry softly, from being overwhelmed when she felt herself being scooped up by someone and carried away.


She knew Severus had lifted her up and carried her back to the dungeons, but getting there had been a complete blur, and Sarah’s screams continued to penetrate the walls of the great school until Severus had placed them both on the bed, and helped Hermione to give her breast to the infant. Hermione looked at him, unable to read his expression, and a bit too overwhelmed to enter his mind.


Severus watched her carefully. He hadn’t seen her cry since the very beginning of all of this. He knew that she must be afraid of further alienation from her peers because of Sarah. He had never expected Wiggles to disrupt them in the Great Hall like that, and he would have to make sure it did not happen again. Sarah was to remain hidden, unless Hermione her self carried her to a populated area of the school. Severus was strict, but he still had a great deal of love and respect for his young bride. He too was feeling embarrassed about losing his temper with that Weasley. He pried into her mind for a moment, for nothing else but to know her thoughts.


Severus could hear his own voice booming, and could hear the countless whispers that ensued. He supposed that perhaps few knew of the previous electricity Hermione had shared with Weasley. Now he understood why that would embarrass her, if for nothing else but to be accused of adultery. He could imagine being married to a teacher would also be jest worthy, and he felt a minor pang of guilt at their haste.


“Don’t feel, guilty, sir,” Hermione whispered. Severus didn’t even feel the familiar tug of her entering his mind. “We had to marry when we did. No matter the consequences here. I continued to need your close guidance, and short of me leaving the manor, and your presence until a more ‘appropriate’ time, it was not safe for us to wait. We would have endangered our lives, and for what? Me to have aged a couple of years? That’s completely ridiculous when we both know this marriage was meant to happen,” she said softly.


“I will speak with Wiggles. Sarah does not need to be under the public eye unless you choose to bring her there. You are her mother now, Hermione, and” He stopped when he saw the expression on her face. “What is it?” He asked her.


“I just, well I never, um” she gave a nervous chuckle, “I guess hearing you refer to me as her mother really threw me off. I suppose I never really viewed it that way, but I suppose in essence you are correct”


“Did we not discuss children?” Snape asked, truly incredulous at the idea he could have forgotten such an important topic.


“Well no, actually. You had mentioned a children requirement, sometime before the wedding, but we never discussed if I would have any, or how many,” she replied.


“We are to have no less than five children, Hermione.” He said, not looking at her.


“Five?? Does Sarah count as one?” she asked him, half joking.



“Well, no, actually. But you are only seventeen. We have plenty of time to discuss when the next one shall come along, and frankly, I am really in no rush. Sarah still needs you like this for another four months or so,” he said, in a rush, hoping she would remain calm.


“Wow, sir. Five children,” she breathed, not even looking at him.



“I am going to have to ask you not to call me sir in private like this, dear. It is quite disconcerting to me,”



“Oh, uh sorry, si- I mean um, Severus,” she practically squeaked.



Severus conjured a crib and levitated the now sleeping Sarah into it.


“I know this has been a difficult day for you,” he whispered, leaning into her. “I cannot pretend to know exactly how difficult. But I do love you, I want to love you. If you should let me.”




“I love you, too. I suppose that even though I knew this would be difficult, I never anticipated it to be this difficult,” she said softly, looking into his eyes. Severus tipped her chin up and kissed her lightly.



“We never got the chance to eat anything,” Severus said. With a wave of his wand, he conjured some food. Hermione was impressed. The most she had ever seen a teacher conjure was a plate of sandwiches. On a silver platter before them was salmon en croute, steamed vegetables with rice, and raspberry cheesecake. Beside the platter was a bucket with ice and a bottle of vintage cabernet sauvignon, that Hermione recognized to be worth four hundred pounds. “Just because we are not eating in the Great Hall does not mean we must eat something horrible,” Severus said, noting the expression on her face.



“I must admit, I am thoroughly impressed,” Hermione said, still eyeing the platter. Severus smirked. He had hoped for such a reaction. The two began to fill their plates, and Severus poured them each a glass of the wine.


The pair ate mostly in silence, and were halfway through before Hermione spoke.

“I never really thanked you for what you did for me up there. I didn’t expect Ron to shout at me like that. I suppose this is hard on him as well, well hopefully before more than now, although I think you may have scared him senseless,” Hermione said, half laughing.

“I am sorry it had to happen that way in the Great Hall, in front of all of your classmates, and of course, my colleagues. I could not simply sit by and allow him to speak to you that way. You are my wife, and I demand that you are respected as I am respected. I know my rules can be harsh, but I must confess the main reason for that is that I want you to develop a strong sense of discipline. Hermione your powers are likely to outstrip my own, but without infinite discipline, you shall never be able to control them, and hone them to their maximum potential. It is a method I use on all of my students, and I do not mean to seem as harsh with you. I know that you thought I hated you during your first four years of education, but it was quite the contrary. I knew what you could be capable of, and are still capable of, and I intend to guide you as best as I can, so that you may reach your full potential,” He finished. There was a look of sheer gratitude on Hermione’s face. Her reached across the platter and kissed her softly


When he settled back into his seat he noticed they had cleaned their plates. With a wave of his wand, he removed the dishes.


“Would you like a hot bath?” He asked her, thinking that a hot bath was the perfect way to relax.


“That would be lovely,” she replied, a smile playing on her lips. Severus summoned Wiggles, who took Sarah to the nursery that had been conjured for her near the kitchen where the house elves stayed. He headed to the large bathroom in their chambers and began to prepare an elaborate bath.


The scent of jasmine and lavender permeated the room and the bubbles and steam were quite inviting. The two disrobed and climbed into the steaming tub. Severus pulled Hermione to him, and the two relaxed in the water for what seemed like an hour. Severus stepped out of the tub and helped Hermione out as well. With a wave of his wand, the two were dried and readied for bed.


They climbed into their massive four poster bed and Severus wrapped his arms around Hermione, breathing in the smell of her freshly washed hair.


“Good night, Dearest,” He whispered


“Good night, love,” she breathed back as she snuggled into him. The two fell asleep rather quickly, entangled in each other.