Together for a Purpose

A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter! It was a little emotional to write. Please read and review! Thanks to my beta, MadBrilliant.

***

"Rosie?"

"Severus? Come back here," the woman called.

Severus walked into a sitting room that was connected to the shop through a door.

"So, you still live in the back of your shop?" he asked.

"Yes, I've done quite well for myself. I could live more opulently, but I like my little life with my clients. They trust me, and I care for each one that comes in my shop. Although, I must say since the war ended business has been low."

"Yes, it is strange how our world is so archaic compared to the Muggle world," Severus mused as he sat down in a cozy chair by the fire.

"And yet, how many Death Eaters' wives have come into my store? I have served them more than any other kind of witch. The purer the blood, the stranger the taste for the obscene...just like Muggles. And they professed to think they were better, pah!" she exclaimed.

Severus smiled at her knowingly.

"I'm glad you are alive, Severus. You were the only decent wizard in the whole tribe of that madman!" she said as she smiled at him.

"Thank you, I appreciate that. I also appreciate how you helped me during the war when I needed a quick escape, a hiding place. I should have paid my respects sooner. I have to say I was most impressed and intrigued when my wife told me she had come here to purchase lingerie from you," Severus replied.

"Tell me, Severus, was I right?" She smiled smugly at him as she leaned forward to anticipate his answer.

"Your gift is intact. You haven't lost your edge," he offered.

Rosie leaned back into her chair and studied the wizard across from her. "You are a gentleman, Severus. Either out of shyness, inexperience, or because of what you've been forced to see. I was very happy to meet your wife. She is a good girl. She will become a good wife for you."

Severus frowned, "Rosie, she is a good wife. I love her very much."

"I know, Severus. I know you try to make her happy. She wants to make you happy as well, but she's young and feels very insecure. She needs to talk about it. But she won't because she feels ashamed," she said sadly.

Severus stood up. He felt embarrassed by her frankness. "Thank you, Rosie. I appreciate you watching over Hermione."

"Of course, Severus, you are like a son to me. Promise me you will speak with your wife," she pleaded as she clasped her hands together as she looked up at him.

"Rosie," he said sternly. "She is my wife and you are breaching a private issue. Her happiness means a lot to me. Please do not interfere," he warned.

"Fine, Severus!" She raised her hands in surrender. "You young people think you have all the answers to love and living. You remember that the fates spared you both, and now you have been brought together for a purpose larger than only yourselves. Nonetheless, even those who must be strong for others still need to tend to their own garden. You are a husband, Severus. I trust you to be smart enough to understand what that word means!" she said with a glaring eye.

He stood there silently, weighing her words. Rosie had been a bulwark during many a dark day after Albus' death. She always had a way to understand and see past the immediacy of the problem. He would take her words to heart.

"I will speak with her, Rosie," he answered softly.

"Good! Now, go and be happy with your bride!" she said as she shooed him out of her house.

***

Morning came with a splitting headache that made Hermione feel like her skull had been split open. Severus was there with a potion and some water. He helped her drink it all down and let her rest for another hour. She woke again refreshed and clear-headed.

Today was the day they had all been working hard towards! A new day and a new era of Hogwarts was beginning! Last minute plans were being finished, and the Charms teacher, Madam Snape, charmed the candles to hover overhead the coming students. She kept remembering dear Professor Flitwick. She hoped she would do him proud.

As Deputy Headmistress, she was in charge of greeting the new first years and getting them Sorted in their houses. She watched as the first years came in the boats, led by Stanley Shunpike. She felt the tears slip down her cheeks as she remembered the beloved Hagrid eight years ago when he had said "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" She recalled fondly going to his hut and trying to eat his horrible rock cakes! She remembered the day Ron's spell backfired and they were in his hut as he was vomiting slugs. Hagrid was such a comfort that day. He had always thought she was special. She had thought he was too.

She dried her eyes and fixed her pointed hat on her head. She wanted to do Professor McGonagall proud. There would be no nonsense, no messing about. Hers would be the first impression of a Hogwarts professor. She would not let the ones who came before her down.

As she waited alone at the top of the stairs, she caught the poltergeist, Peeves, out of the corner of her eye. She saw him with a water balloon, and she fixed her hands on her hips.

"PEEVES!" she screeched. "What the hell is this?"

"Oh! Good evening, Deputy Headmistress. Peevsy just wants to have some fun with the ickle firsties!" he said with syrupy sweetness.

"Peeves," she ground out. "You do one thing...you make a mockery of this, and I swear, I shall sic the Bloody Baron on you!" she hollered. "Now go away!"

"In a snit! Such a fussbudget! McGonagall used to enjoy my little romps, even if she had to put on a sour puss!" he exclaimed. He went to go away quietly, but Hermione wasn't going to be fooled. She had her wand at the ready. He turned around suddenly and hurled the water balloon at her.

She flicked her wand with a non-verbal Protego and the balloon burst into bits, water splashing everywhere before it could hit her. Peeves gave her an extra-loud raspberry as he took off. Soon, Hermione looked over the banister and watched the "ickle firsties" make their way through the watery mess. One unfortunate lad slipped and fell. Hermione was still a ways off from detection and found she had to suppress an urge to laugh. She looked up and Peeves was smiling at her only his head was peeking out from around the corner.

She should have hexed him, the naughty thing! Instead, she decided to let the moment be.

"Welcome back, Peeves."

With a raucous laugh, he floated away. Hermione steadied herself as she faced her first group of first years. The first class of students who would never experience the feeling of dread and war that had colored her life since the first day she stepped into this castle. All they would know of Harry Potter and Voldemort would be through schoolbooks.

***

One by one, they came to be Sorted. They were fresh-faced and young, full of happiness and hope. No one stood out, save for one. Colleen Creevey. She looked so much like her brother, Colin, who had perished. She was sorted into Gryffindor, and Hermione saw her older brother Dennis wrap his arm around her protectively as she sat next to him.

She sat as her husband welcomed them back to Hogwarts. She could not help but notice the huge emptiness of the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. The Slytherin table was packed full, but the smug expressions they normally wore had been wiped clean off. Hermione was glad. They should be ashamed they did not join their classmates in the battle.

She barely registered what Severus was saying. She was just ready for this day to end and to have them all safely tucked away in their beds, but she knew there would be questions and tears back in the common room.

***

Hermione returned to her chambers and found her husband waiting for her. She took off her clothes and slipped into bed. Severus kissed her passionately. He ran his hand down the length of her, finally lowering his mouth between her legs. Hermione arched her back and gave in to the sensations she was feeling. She came fast and hard. Severus rose up and held her close to him as he hovered over her.

"Tell me, Hermione," he whispered.

"W-what?" she asked softly.

She looked into his eyes. He looked so passionate and lustful; it was almost overwhelming.

"Tell me what is hurting you so much?" he prodded.

"Now?"

"Yes, now," he urged. "Do you like making love with me?"

"Yes, it feels good...most of the time," she replied shyly.

"Hermione, what is it?" he asked. He was sitting on his knees, his hands on his parted thighs. She raked her eyes over him. His body was flushed and his erection was looking painful. She grabbed a part of the sheet and covered herself.

"When you do that," she began nervously.

"Do what?" he asked, looking confused.

"It's fine, and then I feel this urge to pee and it makes me feel uncomfortable. Then I get tense and just want it to be over," she whispered.

"Hermione, a lot of women feel that when their g-spot is stimulated," he said in his lecture voice. "You do know about the g-spot, do you not?" he asked impatiently.

"Yes! Of course I do. You needn't be so snappish about it though!" she retorted, offended by his insensitivity.

"Hermione, I apologize for my tone. What if you just ignored the feeling and went with it?" he suggested.

She looked at him in horror. "What? Urinate on the bed? On you? I don't think so! That is disgusting!"

"Hermione, you will not urinate! Good Lord, woman! Didn't your mother...well, no, of course not! Didn't your Gryffindor schoolmates talk about these things? Isn't that what girls do?" he blurted out, exasperated with the entire discussion.

Hermione felt the tears well up at the mention of her mum and her friends.

"I'm no longer in the mood, Severus," she whispered as she turned away to slip under the covers.

"Well, that's just fucking perfect!" he roared. He got up to go cool off. But he couldn't help himself. "I have absolutely no idea why you insist on behaving like a silly, little girl! Even if you did end up urinating on me, it wouldn't be the end of the world!"

Hermione sat up and looked at him in shock.

He continued. "I know what this is about! Do not concern yourself, Madam. I shall not bring my affections where they aren't wanted. You can keep your prudish ways, wife. I won't touch you again!"

Hermione was hurt. She was more hurt than she could comprehend. She lay on her right side and cried. She was so confused. Now he was going to find someone else. There were probably hundreds of witches who weren't defective that would love the chance to shag the Headmaster of Hogwarts. The thought of him in the arms of another woman broke her heart. She sobbed hysterically, not knowing her husband was watching in confusion and concern.

He waited until she had sobbed herself to sleep before he carried on into the bathroom. Why on earth should she react so? He had to get to the bottom of this!