Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Minerva McGonagall, newest Headmistress of Hogwarts, opened up her paper and read the headline.

Albus Dumbledore sworn in as Minister of Magic.

Today was the official swearing-in ceremony for Albus Dumbledore. He took on the position of Minister in the wake of the death of Lucius Malfoy. His first act as Minister was to repeal all of the intrusive laws that Minister Malfoy had instituted during his short reign. All labor camps have been dissolved, and the extra taxes that have been plaguing our world have been repealed. To celebrate this glorious new day, a parade with the Minister as guest of honor made its way down Diagon Alley. Onlookers cheered their new leader as the older wizard waved jovially to all, throwing lemon drops at the vast crowd as he passed by. This reporter can assure you that the Wizarding world is breathing a collective sigh of relief in the hopes that life will return to normal once again.

Minerva smiled to herself. She was happy for Albus. He'd make a fine leader and enact fair laws. Pondering upon the last lines of the article, she wondered exactly what normal life in the Wizarding world was.

oooOOOooo

Severus knocked on Hermione's door and heard her yell for him to come in. He entered her room and found her lying on the couch. She immediately sprang up from the couch and went to him, surrounding him in a hug.

"It's about time you got here, "she told him.

He smiled down at her. "I just saw you at breakfast fifteen minutes ago."

"Look, Mister, if you think I'm going to let you out of my sight for as long as 15 minutes after you went and died on me, you have another thing coming."

Severus smiled down at her and traced her lips with his finger. "Do you have that book I loaned you?" he asked her.

"Oh, I left it on my dresser. Go ahead and get it."

Severus untangled himself from her embrace and went into the bedroom to retrieve the book. He heard a knock on the door as he picked up the large text he had asked her to read. It was an advanced Potions book that would help her prepare for her becoming a Potions Mistress.

From the other room, he heard Hermione exclaim Ronald Weasley's first name. Severus put the book back down and went to the doorway, hiding himself so he could see what Ron wanted without being found out. Being a spy for so long had its advantages. He peered out of the crack in the door and into the other room, seeing Hermione embrace Ron.

oooOOOooo

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed again. "It's so good to see you! It's been so long! I'm glad you came by." She pulled him into the room and sat him down on the sofa while she sat in the chair across from him. "I caught the play-by-play of your Cannons game on the wireless the other day. You were brilliant! I'm so glad you've found something you truly love."

Ron gave her a wide grin. "Thanks," he gushed. "We sure killed the Firebolts. I think that was our best game of the season."

"Oh, Ron, you were wonderful! I couldn't stop being proud of you."

Ron beamed at her. "Thanks, Hermione. I'm glad you caught the game."

"So, tell me what's going on with you? It seems like we haven't seen each other in ages!" Hermione gushed. She was so pleased to see her old friend, especially after not laying eyes on him for months now.

"Well, you know how it is. Girls are always falling all over me. It's really tough being a big Quidditch star. I don't think the Cannons could have done anything this season without me. After every game, I'm swarmed by beautiful women. I don't think I've had a night at home in six months!"

Hermione frowned. This wasn't the Ron she was used to. The old Ron wasn't so full of himself and his abilities. Neither was he a womanizer. She remembered all of the horrid things Severus and Harry had said about him. She had found it hard to believe, but now here was the proof in front of her.

"The team really depends on me. They are constantly telling me how they couldn't ever have become as popular without me for their Keeper!"

Hermione nodded, looking a bit wistful. No matter what Ron was doing in her past, he had usually placed what she had been doing above what had been important to him, especially after not seeing her for a while.

"By the way, I heard you had your hands full toppling Malfoy from power," Ron said with a bit of concern.

Hermione nodded, thankful that he had stopped bragging and had gotten around to asking how she was. "Yes, thankfully all went as planned, and no one on our side was hurt permanently."

"Ginny told me you killed Malfoy?"

She nodded again frowning. "It wasn't my finest hour, Ron, but I did what had to be done."

Ron looked at her seriously. "Hermione, I came to talk about something with you."

Hermione raised her eyebrows in question. "You know you can speak to me about anything, Ron," she told him.

"Ginny said that Severus and you are dating."

Hermione considered Ron before answering. "That's right."

oooOOOooo

From Severus' hiding place, he could see the both of them clearly. He saw a flicker of concern cross Hermione's face at Ron's statement.

"Why, Hermione?" Ron asked with a look of disgust on his face.

She looked confused. "What do you mean, why?"

Ron leaned back on the couch. "I know you were devastated by our breakup and that you're on the rebound, but Severus? He's so old and ugly."

Hermione looked at Ron furiously. "Ron, he is neither old nor ugly. What are you trying to say?"

"Look, Hermione, I know you don't get many offers from men. If it hadn't been for me, you'd probably have been alone for all those years. You know, you're kind of plain... Still, why would you throw your life away on Severus?"

Severus groaned within himself. The boy knew not what he had begun.

Hermione's eyebrows knit together in fury.

"And I suppose you have a better offer for me, then?" Hermione snapped.

Ron brightened considerably. "Of course I do. I want us to get back together. I'll take care of you, Hermione! I know you. Severus doesn't know you like I do. We've been friends forever, and we have history together. I'll make sure you never spend your life alone. I'll treat you right."

"Ron, you would do that for me?" Hermione asked as her hands clasped and came up to her chest in mock gratitude.

"Of course I would, Hermione. We make a great team."

Severus shook his head. The boy was a total dunderhead, if he didn't see what was going to come.

"Oh, Ron!" she exclaimed as she rose from her seat and approached him. "I can't believe that you would be so kind as to take someone as plain as me back, especially with all of those girls chasing you! I'm sure they're much prettier than I am."

"Well, yes, of course they are..."

"You are really sacrificing yourself for me," she continued, ignoring his comment. "Here I thought I would die old and alone, but you're here to rescue me!"

"Aww, Hermione, it's not that much of a sacrifice. We're used to one another. It seems like a natural progression."

"Of course," Hermione said with a flash in her eyes to which Ron was oblivious.

Ron grinned as Hermione came to the couch, but his grin disappeared as she threw herself on top of him and pinned him down on it. Her wand pointed into his cheek. Her mock glee faded away, and a look of fury filled her face as she regarded Ron.

"You know, I don't know why I wasted my time with you for three years, Ronald Weasley, but I can assure you that the best thing I ever did was to get rid of you. You are a self absorbed, jealous, twit who knows nothing about me. You have never treated me right, and I doubt that you would start now. You expect me to return to you so you can accuse me of bedding anyone I look at? Forget it. I would never put myself in such a position again. You will never abuse me the way you did before, is that clear? You can take your offer and shove it. And if I ever hear you say anything against Severus again, I'll hex your tongue right out of your mouth. Is that clear?" She emphasized her question with a sharp poke of her wand into Ron's cheek.

Severus winced at the lashing she had given him, but inwardly, he cheered her. Ron was a twit and deserved everything she had said.

Ron replied in a squeaky voice, "Yes."

She poked him further. "I couldn't hear you."

"Yes, Hermione," he squeaked.

Hermione withdrew her wand and slowly got off of Ron's shaking figure. Severus felt it was time to make his presence known and walked out of the bedroom. Ron's eyes bulged as he saw Severus emerge from the room and head his way. Severus came up to Ron and grabbed him by his robes. He picked him up and dragged him to the door. He walked out into the hall with Ron and pushed him up against the wall.

"Listen, Weasley, I put up with your abuse of Hermione while she dated you because I didn't want to hurt her, but I swear to you, if you ever say anything that upsets her again, I will hex more than your tongue off. Do you understand?"

Ron's voice was even higher when he answered Severus, if that was possible. "Yes, Severus."

"It would be best if you just stayed away from us," Severus said emphatically as he let go of Ron's robes with a look of disgust. "Now get out of here!"

Ron didn't say another word. He spun around and quickly walked down the corridor, trying to save some face by not making a run for it. Severus watched him go, a sneer on his face at his once friend, who now seemed like the stupidest man alive. He turned and went back into Hermione's room and closed the door. He saw her staring out the window with her arms folded and went up to her. She stared pensively out the window.

"Are you all right?" he asked tentatively.

She nodded but said nothing.

"You were magnificent as always, love."

A single tear fell down her cheek. Severus drew her to him and put his arms around her. She pushed away from him and turned to the window again.

"Hermione?" he asked quizzically.

"Am I really that plain, Severus?"

He looked at her in shock. Of all the things Ron had said, she had chosen to believe the biggest lie of all. He was so angry he almost turned and sought Weasley out to kill him, but he knew that would not solve Hermione's sudden self-doubt.

"Hermione, you are beautiful. I wonder every day why someone as lovely as you would want to be around me."

More tears flowed down her face, but she gave Severus a grateful look and a wan smile. "It's like he never grew up in this timeline!" she cried. "He acts as juvenile as he did in our fifth year!"

Hermione tightened her grip on her arms and squeezed herself in exasperation.

"Ugh! Why does he make me so mad?" she cried in exasperation. "How can a few words from him make every positive thing I think about myself just vanish? He has had the ability to make me feel like nothing for as long as I can remember! With only a few words from him, I feel inferior and ugly." Hermione looked down and sniffed. "He's done it since we first met, but he had calmed down in my timeline. He hadn't said anything hurtful in so long, I just didn't expect him to be so thoughtless."

Severus hugged her again, and she did not pull away. "He is a fool, Hermione. A stupid fool."

"The night of the Yule Ball, Ron ruined my entire evening. I didn't have you to encourage me to return to the dance, I just went back to my room and cried myself to sleep. I had been so excited that Viktor had asked me. Ron hadn't believed that I had a date." She imitated Ron's voice, "No one would ask out Hermione, she's too plain. She's just lying about having a date. You'll see, Harry, the poor thing will be at the ball all by herself" she said bitterly. "Then when he saw me with Viktor, he proceeded to berate me for going with him because he was so jealous, he couldn't see straight."

"You were so beautiful that night, I dreamed about you for weeks," Severus divulged.

Hermione looked at him with her mouth agape. "You did?"

He smiled at her and wiped the remaining tears from her face. "Unlike Mr. Weasley, I can appreciate a beautiful woman when I see her."

Hermione's shoulders sagged. "I'm being foolish, aren't I?" she asked him.

"Hermione, he hurt you, do not berate yourself even more by your reaction. But do not let him convince you of a lie. You are hardly plain, Hermione Granger."

Hermione remembered saying the very same words to him a long time ago. She smiled up at him. Severus kissed her on the forehead as she closed her eyes, reveling in his touch and kiss.

"I should have gone ahead and hexed him anyway," Hermione said. "It always made me feel better when I did that in the past."

"Did you make a habit out of hexing Ron?"

"Just a couple of times, when he was completely unbearable."

"I remember when you attacked him with a flock of birds. Did you do that in your timeline too?" Severus asked.

Hermione pulled back a little and gave him a small smile. "Of course I did."

"Do you want me to go after him and hex him for you? Perhaps I could give him a pig's tail or maybe a donkey's head."

Hermione laughed finally, picturing Ron with the head of a donkey. "It might be an improvement," she remarked.

Severus laughed as well. Suddenly, the grin fell from his face, and he looked deeply into Hermione's eyes. "Hermione, don't let him bother you. He is a self centered prat. One day he will find a vapid woman who thinks he is a god. He will marry her and live his life happily being told how wonderful he is. You, however, will have a better life with someone who appreciates not only your stunning good looks, but your amazing mind and talents."

oooOOOooo

Hermione smiled gently at Severus. How could Ron even try to say that he understood her better than the man before her now? Severus understood everything about her and went out of his way to make her happy. Ron never went out of his way to do anything or make anyone but himself happy.

Her smile widened before she kissed Severus on the cheek.

"I'm glad he came by," she said finally.

Severus looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

"He gave me the opportunity to see how wonderful you are, once again. He said he understood me, but it's obvious he doesn't. You, however, appreciate me as I am. I don't think I'll ever get over just how lucky I am to have you. You are the most amazing man I have ever met, and I love the respect you have for me."

"Oh, well, in that case, perhaps he should come by more often," Severus joked and pulled her into an embrace.

His intense kiss melted away any lingering thought of Ronald Weasley. All there was for Hermione was the man in her arms. He gave her a love that no other man could ever come close to offering her. Ron who? was her final, coherent thought before she became lost in the man before her. His kisses carried her away. She could think of nowhere else she'd rather be than right here within the arms of Severus Snape.

A/N: Next up: A slight disagreement.

Severus probably should have gone ahead and hexed Ron, but his concern was for Hermione. I'm sure Ron will get exactly what Severus predicted... and he'll love it... but Severus and Hermione will have the better love and relationship.