All the way IIII: Change

Hermione was glad that Severus was busy marking papers. After breakfast, she had left him in his office and gone to the bedroom, trying to find something to tie her hair up with, when she had noticed something on the bed.

Now, she stared at the rose. Carefully, she picked up the folded piece of parchment that was next to it.

Nice husband.

Drawing her wand, Hermione sent the flower and the note up in flames. She brushed the ashes onto the floor and left the room.

At lunch, Hermione told Severus to go and get something to eat, while she finished his marking. She was half way through the pile of second year essays, when the door to the office opened. Her hand was beginning to ache; Severus could finish the rest of the marking.

She didn't look up, "You took your time."

"What, were you waiting for me?"

Hermione's head jerked up sharply, "Get out."

Gary smiled as he came further into the room, looking around at the slimy things in jars. Too soon, he was standing in front of her desk.

"He's... interesting." He said.

"Who?" She said, going back to her marking.

"You know who; Talk, dark and 'I’m so scary'. Did you get my present?" When Hermione ignored him, he reached down and pulled the quill from her hand, "He's nothing special, you know. I don't know what you're doing with him."

Hermione glared, stood up and walked passed him, plucking her quill from his fingers as she went, "Don't talk about my husband like that! Next time you do I’ll kill you, resurrect you, chop your head off, put it on a stick, cut the rest of you up into little pieces, burn you and then... find a way to kill you all over again! Do. You. Understand?" She held the door open for him, "Now get OUT!"

Smirking, Gary walked forwards, but stopped and turned to her, just outside the door, "You either very loyal or very stupid."

Hermione slammed the door in his face.

""""""""""""""""""""

At dinner, Severus made sure he was between Swan and Hermione. He didn't want them to have any unnecessary communication.

The Charms Professor kept leaning forwards and glancing passed Severus, in obvious movements. He was trying to make Severus angry and it was working.

He wanted to go, but he didn't want to leave Hermione here with bird boy.

Swan left before they did, so Severus was reasonably happy. When Hermione was finished, they went back down to the Dungeons. Trying to think of a way to keep Gary Swan away from Hermione, Severus sat down on the sofa.

""""""""""""""""""""

Hermione went into the bedroom to get ready for her shower, when once again she noticed something on the bed, and this time she nearly fainted.

A whole bunch of roses.

She moaned and picked them up, looking for a note. This time there wasn't one.

"What's that?"

Hermione whirled around, the flowers still in her hand, "These... Oh... They're..." She cleared her throat, "They're for Lily. It's her birthday next week and I thought I’d send some flowers early, seeing as I always forget. I'm just going to send them now." She brushed past her husband and out of the bedroom, "I'll be back in a minute."

Hermione left the dungeons and went straight to the Charms office. She didn't even bother knocking, she just strode straight in.

As Gary looked up, Hermione slammed the roses down on his desk, "This has gone too far."

He stood up and rounded the desk, until he was standing next to her, his hip leaning against the wood of the table. He shrugged, "I thought all women like flowers."

Hermione took a deep, meant-to-be-calming breath, "Thank you... for the flowers, but this has to stop now. You're a nice guy, but I love Severus. That's why he's my husband. I'm asking you nicely, please leave me alone."

Gary put a far-too-firm hand on her shoulder, "How many other people have you 'loved'? None, I bet. So, how do you know that what you feel is real love, if you've never experimented?"

She pushed his hand from her shoulder with some effort and looked at him, bewildered, "Why won't you get the message? Leave. Me. Alone. Do you want me to spell it out, or are you illiterate as well?"

"Only with you." He laughed.

Hermione didn't know what to do. Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? What did she have to do to make him realize that she wanted him to go away?

She let out a frustrated growl, and left the room. To her total disbelief, he followed.

"Where are you going?" He asked, catching up with her.

"Away from you and your delusions!" She snapped.

"I'm not delusional," He told her, "Just optimistic."

Hermione stopped and turned around, "Then go and be optimistic else where! I don't want you to speak to me ever again!"

"Why don't you just give me a try?" He said, shrugging, "You never know, you might like it."

"I won't!" Hermione snapped loudly, "Now, go a-!"

Gary lunged at her, pinning her to the wall of the corridor, planting his mouth on hers, his slimy tongue pushing against hers. Hermione pushed at his shoulders moaning in protest, but he wasn't budging. She bit down hard, but he just yelped, still not moving.

Hermione started to panic, pushing harder at him. Any one could come along! But, even worse than just anyone, Severus might...

Oh shit.

Too late.

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Eileen squealed and squeezed her eyes closed, hiding her face in Sirius' shoulder.

Sirius laughed, "I can't believe you're scared of this!"

"I can't believe you like this!" She muttered, peeking out at the film on the TV. A blonde woman on the screen screamed, causing Eileen to scream and hide again.

Sirius put his arm around her, still laughing slightly, "Don't worry, she doesn't get killed."

Eileen looked up at the TV again. It was a blood bath, "Sirius, you are really disturbed!"

He smiled down at her, "I know."

Eileen got up, "I'm going to bed. You can stay and watch this on your own. Just don't come crying to me when you have nightmares."

"Good Night." he said absently.

Eileen went to her bedroom and put her nightdress on. She tied her hair up and took her earrings out, placing them on her bedside table. She turned around and screamed. The killer from the film was standing at the bottom of the bed. Eileen picked up a pillow and threw it at him. The man ducked down and Sirius came up, laughing.

"SIRIUS!" She screeched, "THAT WAS NOT FUNNY!"

"Aw," He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her, "Did I scare you?"

"Yes!" She scowled, laying her head on his chest, "Now I’m going to have nightmares! You're gonna have to stay up all night with me, you know that!"

"I was counting on it."