Chapter 15

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thanks to June for the beta work.

Chapter 15

Hermione’s first week of teaching had been both exhilarating and chaotic. Her relationship with Severus was becoming stronger and stronger. She started helping him with the new Wolfsbane Potion he was developing, as well as spending most of her nights in his bed. However, she found that teaching the first years was akin to being hung by your toes and being dipped in hot oil; it was excruciating. At the end of her first week, she found herself apologizing to Severus for everything she had ever done during her first year as a student. She now understood why he was always on edge with them, seeing as she had several students who resembled Neville Longbottom in the same room.

She decided to visit her parents that first weekend, and returned to her quarters with Crookshanks in tow. When Severus came to her room that evening, he was greeted by a large orange cat that needed a severe attitude adjustment.

“I see the cat has arrived,” he said as he walked into her quarters. Crooks stood in the middle of the living room staring him down, as if by staring at him the man would disappear. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not going anywhere,” he said as he stared back at the cat.

Hermione laughed and immediately wrapped her arms around his waist for a tight hug.

“He loves his new home. Don’t you, Crooks?” she said as she turned to look at him. Crookshanks gave a bored meow and walked away.

“I can see he is bursting with excitement,” Severus said as he looked down at Hermione.

“I wonder if I should introduce him to Osiris,” she wondered aloud.

“I’m sure they will meet each other eventually,” said Severus as he walked to the small bar she had set up in the corner of the living room.

“I just don’t want Crooks attacking him,” said Hermione in a worried tone.

Severus poured himself a brandy and chuckled. “Don’t worry about Osiris. I’m sure he will have no trouble with your cat. Remember, Hermione, he is still a wizard after all.”

Hermione knew Crookshanks could be very territorial. The fact that he was trying to get rid of Severus just moments ago, with his own form of intimidation, proved that her familiar had already staked his claims on her quarters, and he had barely even been there an hour. However, knowing Osiris was still a wizard, and had probably dealt with far worse than a cat, she felt perhaps she was worrying for nothing.

Two months had passed quickly, and Hermione finally received a letter from Harry and Ron. They had finished their training assignment and were now home for several weeks. She wrote them a quick note, asking them to meet her for lunch at the Three Broomsticks that coming Saturday. It had been so long since she had seen her friends, and she wanted to tell them how happy she was. She knew Harry would take the news of her new relationship with Severus well; it was Ron she was worried about.

She sent the letter back with Hedwig, knowing Harry would send her a reply before the end of the day. At dinner that evening, Hedwig flew into the Great Hall and dropped a letter next to her plate. She quickly picked it up, as Severus looked at her, wondering who it was from, before he remembered that the owl that dropped the letter belonged to Harry.

“It’s from Harry. I asked him and Ron to meet me for lunch this weekend.” Severus rolled his eyes as she began to read silently:

Hermione:

Harry

“So what does Potter have to say?” asked Severus, not really caring, but knowing he should at least act like he did. They were her friends after all, and now that he and Hermione were together he knew he would have to put up with the two dolts.

“I have a date with two men this Sunday. What do you think about that?” she asked, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.

“I say, how will you have time to do that and also see Potter and Weasley?” He continued to eat his dinner unaffected. He had formed a sort of truce with Harry during the years, but could not, for all the wands in Ollivander's, stomach Ron. However, Severus did not like the idea of her going out without them. He knew it was silly to be jealous, but he didn’t want other men thinking she was available. They had not had an opportunity to get away from Hogwarts since the school year began; therefore he had not been able to parade her on his arm in public. It was not that he wanted her to look like a trophy, but he merely wanted to let other men know that she was taken, and she was his.

As he finished his dinner, he devised a plan to follow her into Hogsmeade. During his years as a Death Eater, he often used different spells to disguise his appearance or become invisible. He could do either of those two things, to watch her and her friends. If anyone got the bright idea of approaching her, he would make sure they walked away with a little less spring in their step, and a few less teeth in their mouth.

They finished dinner, and then went to his private lab. The base for the Wolfsbane Potion had been made, and this evening he needed to add the new components that would hopefully make the improvement he theorized would give it the potency needed to improve its shelf life, as well as shorten the dosage frequency. It would take several weeks before it was finished, and would need a few more ingredients added in certain intervals, but he was confident it would work.

Sunday morning Hermione woke up early to get ready for her lunch date with Harry and Ron. She had slept in her own room the prior evening. Severus slept in on Sundays, so she slept in her own bed in order to not disturb him in the morning. To her surprise he hadn’t complained about the arrangement. Of course he had shagged her senseless before she left his rooms, so she thought he was probably too tired to argue. What she didn’t know was Severus wanted to make sure she was unaware of his plans to follow her into Hogsmeade.

As noon drew near, Severus began to get ready.

“Are you going out? I thought you were working on that potion today?” asked Osiris from his spot atop the fireplace mantle.

“I need to get some things at the Apothecary,” said Severus as he put on his traveling cloak.

“How convenient. Isn’t Hermione going out to meet those friends of hers near there?”

“I don’t know where she is meeting them,” Severus said in a clipped tone.

“You’re going to follow her, aren’t you?” asked Osiris.

Severus sighed and turned to him. “I am not going to follow her. I couldn’t care less if she wants to waste her afternoon with those two dimwits. Well, one dimwit at least. Potter is no longer as irritating as Weasley. I’ll see you later.” He turned and walked out the door.

Osiris flew to the window and waited. First he saw Hermione leaving the castle and walk to the gates, then Apparate out of sight. No sooner had she disappeared than he saw Severus coming out as well, and taking the same path. He shook his head.

“What are you up to, cousin?” He had a bad feeling about this.

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

Yes, I know, Seveurs should trust her more. But, he doesn't have too much relationship experience. Besides, Slytherins aren't know for their trust in others.