A Hogsmede Surprise

Chapter 5: A Hogsmede Surprise

Hermione woke late Saturday morning to the smell of bacon. She shook her head and pulled her bed curtain back.

The wispy white drapes that decorated her window were already pulled back, and cheerful sunlight spilled into the room. A breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, and pumpkin juice were sitting on a small lap table next to the bed. A scroll tied with a silver ribbon sat next to her breakfast.

Hermione levitated the tray with a wave of her wand. She now kept it in a small red pouch tied to one of the posts of her bed. Crookshanks sniffed at the tray momentarily before Hermione shooed him away.

She took a sip of pumpkin juice and reached for the scroll.

Hermione,

Severus

Hermione shrugged and looked at a clock sitting on a small table near her bed. It was almost eleven o'clock. She wondered when he planned on leaving. She quickly ate her late breakfast and went into her bathroom.

She submerged herself into her tub and began washing her hair. She spent some time soaking in luxurious privacy before she rose and dried off before covering her body in sweet scented lotion.

Her hair was twisted up in a towel and she was choosing her clothing for the day when there was a soft knock at her door.

"Emicoatus," she called out, hoping the word would work as well as the pressure panel.

Severus walked into her chambers and looked at her.

Hermione's hair was bound and hidden within a white fluffy towel. Her cheeks were flushed pink from her bath and her eyes were shining. Her white, terry cloth robe stopped mid-calf and her legs and feet were bare.

Severus was instantly reminded of young Weasley's comment earlier, but quickly pushed it from his mind. He swallowed hard.

"You got my scroll?" Severus said hesitantly.

"I'm almost ready to go," said Hermione. "I just need to get dressed."

"I wasn't planning to go until after lunch," said Severus, frowning. He was surprised she was ready to go so soon.

Crookshanks jumped off the bed and began winding his way around Severus' legs. He purred loudly.

"I don't think so," Severus said sternly to the cat. "You get to stay here."

Crookshanks seemed to understand Severus. He stalked off, seemingly annoyed.

"I'll be ready when you are," Hermione said.

Severus gave her a sharp nod and left her chambers.

-+-+-

"It's not even a Hogsmede weekend!" complained Ron. He consoled himself with taking a second helping of apple crisp.

"I know," said Hermione, trying not to beam. She hadn't been hungry, but had climbed up to the Great Hall for lunch so she could talk to her friends before going to Hogsmede.

"Bring us back sweets," said Harry with a grin.

"I will," promised Hermione.

"And the new book on Bulgarian Defense Strategies," said Ron, fishing in his robes for money.

"Never thought you'd ask me to pick up a book for you," Hermione said, pocketing his coins.

"Pygmy Puff Treats for Arnold!" Ginny added excitedly as she passed Hermione a few coins of her own. Hermione nodded and grinned.

"We'll need that book to win the cup from Ravenclaw," said Ron to Harry, shrugging.

"Just have a good time," Harry said to Hermione, ignoring Ron.

"I'm sure I will," said Hermione, smiling.

-+-+-

Hermione walked through the door Severus was holding open for her and looked around at the contents of Flourish and Blotts' bookstore. She quickly selected the book Ron had asked her to get for him from a display of books on Quidditch.

"What on Earth is that for?" Severus asked, eyebrows furrowed. "You cheer on your friends, certainly, but I got the distinct impression flying and sports weren't strong points of yours."

"It's for Ron and Harry," Hermione said hotly.

Severus snorted. "It's going to take more than that to beat Ravenclaw."

"What makes you say that?" Hermione asked, picking up a book about Egyptian Hexes.

"Connie Watkins' grandfather used to be the coach for the Hornets," said Severus bitterly. "I looked into her family after the game."

"Well, let them think they have a chance," said Hermione, shrugging. "It's better than hearing them whine about it. Is Connie the replacement girl?"

"Yes," said Severus picking up a book of Russian history and tucking it under his arm.

"Hello, Severus," a smooth voice said behind them. Hermione and Severus turned to see Lucius Malfoy standing behind them. "And Madam Snape, what a delightful surprise."

"Lucius," said Snape, nodding curtly at him.

Hermione felt her lip curl, and she tried to force her face into a more neutral expression.

"Congratulations on your marriage," said Malfoy smoothly. "I would have congratulated you sooner, of course, had you decided to stay at your own reception long enough to receive your guests, but I suppose you had to run." Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "How like you Severus."

"I thought a couple was allowed a bit of privacy on their wedding night," Hermione snapped.

Lucius looked at Hermione with mild surprise.

To his horror, Severus felt his cheeks going pink.

"It seems I may have misjudged you," Malfoy said to Severus with a raised eyebrow and a sneer. "It only makes sense you would retire early. It was a school night, after all."

Hermione felt her cheeks flame with anger. She tasted copper as she bit her tongue to stay silent.

"Arachne sprechen!" Snape snapped his wand out of the sleeve of his robes and pointed it at Malfoy.

Lucius pulled his wand and opened his mouth to speak a spell of his own, Hermione suspected, but instead a cascade of spiders fell out of his mouth.

They scrabbled over his waistcoat and down the front of his trousers. He leaped back in surprise, then glared at Severus.

"Watch your tongue when you're in the presence of a lady," said Severus in a low dangerous tone.

Lucius glared at the pair of them for a moment before he stalked off.

"What was that?" Hermione asked, trying not to look as giddy as she felt.

"It will wear off in a few hours," said Severus, apparently satisfied. "Until then, he won't be able to speak ill of anyone."

"That could be a handy little spell," Hermione mused to herself, trying to recall the movements he made with his wand when he uttered the incantation.

"Don't even think about it," Severus warned sharply. His voice dipped down low, and he stepped closer to her so no one could overhear him. "I won't hesitate to take house points from you, even if we are to appear to be familiar."

"Yes, sir," Hermione squeaked.

She'd just have to teach Ginny and let nature take its course.

-+-+-

"Wow," said Harry, impressed. "That would have been something to see!"

Harry was sitting in an overstuffed chair in the Gryffindor common room. Ron and Hermione were sitting in chairs nearby. There was an assortment of sweets spread in front of them on a low table.

"Do you remember how to do it?" Ron asked excitedly.

"No," Hermione lied. "It happened too quickly."

"Oh, hey!" She grabbed her new backpack: a sturdy, black bag with reinforced straps and large silver buckles. She reached into it, past beyond where her hand should have stopped. "I got your book."

"Where'd you get the bag?" Ron asked abruptly.

"Severus got it for me in Hogsmeade," said Hermione, handing Ron the Quidditch book he had asked for.

"Severus?" asked Ron sharply. "Getting a bit chummy, are we?"

"Ron," warned Harry.

"It's just a question," Ron snapped.

"Whether we like it or not, this marriage may last awhile," said Hermione quietly as she rustled through her bag of sweets. "This really is the sensible thing to do."

Ron was silent while he thought for a moment.

"Are you going to petition for an annulment in six months?" Ron asked.

"Probably not," Hermione said. Ron looked at her in shock.

"Oh, come on, Ron," Hermione said exasperatedly. "What if I got put in the hands of a Death Eater? By that time I'll be in the Order."

"One of us can petition for you," said Ron, meaning any of the Gryffindor boys.

"That doesn't mean anything," said Hermione quietly. "Percy pulled some strings so I'd get a choice this time, but there's no guarantee I'll get a choice next time. They could place me with anyone."

"She's right, Ron," said Harry as Ron opened his mouth to protest.

Ron closed his mouth and shook his head. He threw an unopened Chocolate Frog back on the table and retreated up the stairs to the boys' dorm.

"It's a bit difficult for him," said Harry apologetically.

"I know," said Hermione. "But it's not that easy on me either."

"I know," said Harry, getting up and putting an arm around her. "Probably isn't all that easy on old Snape, either," he added as an afterthought.

"He's been very generous," said Hermione, wiping tears away before they fell. "I have the coolest bathroom in the world."

Harry laughed. "Well, I'll have to see it sometime. Just make sure he's in class so I don't get punished for traipsing through a teachers quarters."

"OK," said Hermione squeezing him back. "I just wish Ron would stop punishing me for not suffering enough. It's like he wants me to be completely miserable because I didn't end up paired off with him."

Harry rose and went back to his chair. "I don't know what to tell you. He'll eventually have to get over it, but I'll try to talk to him."

Hermione nodded in agreement, but suddenly felt very tired. She said her goodbyes and made her way back down to the dungeons.

-+-+-

When Hermione got back to her quarters, she found Severus asleep on the couch under a pile of scrolls and an orange pile of hair.

Hermione smiled and whistled softly. Crookshanks popped his head out of the pile and yawned widely.

"Bed, Crookshanks," Hermione whispered.

As the large ginger cat rose to his feet, a few scrolls fluttered to the floor.

Hermione cringed, but Severus didn't wake.

She waved her wand at him and the scrolls gathered themselves up and settled into a neat pile on the coffee table. She approached his chambers and stared down the door.

She had never seen the inside of his personal area, and decided she didn't want to challenge any wards he could have on the door.

She covered Severus with a grey blanket she spotted on the large chair that sat in front of the large window overlooking the lake.

He shifted slightly as the blanket settled on him, but stopped moving in a moment. His head tilted back and a lock of raven hair lay across his forehead. His face was relaxed in sleep and Hermione stopped for a moment to look at him.

Severus was her husband.

What was that even supposed to mean to her?

He wasn't unattractive, he was intelligent, and it could have been far worse as far as partners went.

She had enjoyed their day together. They had browsed bookstores and potion ingredient shops. She hadn't seen Severus pay for anything, but watched him sign off invoices wherever they made a purchase. Maybe it was a form of Wizarding credit she didn't know about.

She realized she was staring at him and finally tiptoed into her chambers to sleep with Crookshanks.

-+-+-

Hermione woke to a loud tapping at her window. She opened her eyes and went to her window to see a large eagle owl perched on the head of the gargoyle outside of her window. He was tethered to a fairly large package that, for certain, was under a hovering charm. He had a tube strapped to his back with clips.

Hermione opened the window, looking at him with confused expression as he flew in and dropped his delivery on her unmade bed before soaring to the ceiling and settling on a perch she had not noticed before.

"Are you lost, pretty boy?" she asked as she reached out for the invoice attached to the package:

To: Madam Snape

Paid In Full: Snape Estate

Hermione paled as she looked at the stack of books in front of her.

The fungi book alone was 50 Galleons. The Biography of Merlin was 'price upon request.'

She looked at the eagle owl, who was purring contentedly. He seemed to be going nowhere.

"Did Severus buy these?" Hermione stared in confusion.

The owl hooted sharply and puffed his feathers out.

"Well then," she said, slightly taken aback. Where had they come from?

Hermione looked at Crookshanks who was staring at the owl intently.

"Crookshanks?" Hermione said in a wavering voice. Crookshanks didn't move.

Hermione decided it was best to get help.

She opened the door to her chambers and walked into the common area she shared with Severus.

It was empty.

She tentatively walked to Severus' door and knocked quietly. When she got no response, she knocked a little more firmly.

Hermione was about to knock a third time when she heard a soft scraping behind the door and it opened.

"Bit early, isn't it?" asked Severus sleepily, wiping his face with his hand. He was still wearing his clothing from last night, although he was rumpled and he needed a shave. He took in the sight of her in her white cotton nightgown and blinked hard.

"Tell that to the owl in my bedroom," said Hermione, shrugging. "Did you order any books?"

"What?" asked Severus, peering over her shoulder with eyes not yet adjusted to the light, as if he could see into her rooms from where he was. Hermione stepped out of his way as he walked past her and into her rooms.

His eyes first fell on the opened package on the bed.

"Is this what it brought?" asked Severus, frowning slightly. He picked up the invoice and groaned.

"Yes," Hermione said. "Obviously there's been a mistake."

"There's been no mistake," said Severus sullenly. His eyes wandered the room and fell on the owl near the ceiling. His eyes narrowed.

"Good morning, father," he sighed resignedly.