Chapter Six: Going Public

Chapter Six: Going Public

Hermione was woken very early on Wednesday morning by an insistent pounding on her door. Leaping out of bed, she threw the door open, ready to give her unwelcome visitor a piece of her mind.

"What the...?" Her complaint died in her throat as she was pushed back into the room and the door closed and locked with a Silencing charm applied.

Snape stood before her, eyes wide, taking in her appearance. Her favourite nightwear was not at all glamorous, but the low-slung, purple pyjama pants and the thin, old T-shirt left an expanse of bare skin at her waist and did nothing to conceal the effect of the chilly morning air on her nipples. He swallowed hard as he turned his back. "Perhaps... you should put some more clothes on." His voice was unusually husky.

"Turn around," she ordered.

As he complied she stood, hands on hips, and regarded her fiancé. "Does my attire displease you, Severus? What did you expect me to be wearing at this time of the morning? Severus... my face is up here."

His cheeks stained pink as he tore his gaze from her breasts and met her eyes. "We need to talk, and, as attractive as your... er... attributes may be, your attire is scarcely appropriate for entertaining your professor in your bedroom."

She grinned as she threw on her robes, noting his barely concealed sigh of relief. The professor was human after all. "My fiancé, who invited himself into my bedroom. What is so urgent you need to wake me at this ungodly hour anyway?" she complained.

"This." He scowled and tossed her the paper he had brought with him. "Front page. Again."

"How did you get the Daily Prophet so early?" she asked, absently patting the bed beside her in invitation.

He sat, keeping a respectable distance away from her. "Never mind why I have it so early; just be thankful we have time to prepare."

Unrolling the paper, her jaw dropped as she found large pictures of herself and Snape gracing the front page.

WAR HEROINE MAKES THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR HER COMMUNITY

Other couples recently betrothed under the new Law include the captain of the Chudley Cannons, Oliver Wood, and Andrina Bell; Stanley Shunpike and Maisie Higginbottom...

"Just great! Once again, the Daily Prophet has to ruin my life!" Hermione flopped back on the bed and wailed, "Why can't they just mind their own fucking business?" In her frustration, she failed to see the cloak of rejection settle over the man beside her.

"Our business is their business, Miss Granger. Unfortunately, we will have the entire school discussing it within half an hour. I suggest you put that prodigious brain to deciding exactly how you are going to explain the fact of your impending marriage to your classmates. I have little faith they will use their brains before they engage their mouths in disapproval."

His body was turned from hers, and the cold, dispassionate tone in which he spoke was unsettling. Suddenly, she realised how he must have interpreted her outburst. Reaching out to take his hand, she pulled him down to lie beside her across the bed. Tenderness met stoic denial as her fingers caressed his shuttered face.

"Severus. Look at me. I was angry at the reporters from the Prophet thinking they had the right to announce our betrothal before we did. Petitioning for you may have been an impulsive decision, but I do not regret it. I don't expect marriage to you will be easy, but good things never come without hard work, and I am prepared to make the effort. Are you?"

He stared at her intently as if to ascertain the truth behind her words. Finally, he relaxed and nodded. "Yes. I may be an ill-tempered bastard, but I am prepared to try and meet your expectations."

"My only expectation is that you allow yourself to explore the potential of our relationship, Severus. Tell me when I say or do something that hurts or irritates you. I barely know the man behind Professor Snape, as you barely know the woman behind the student's robes. I don't know if we can live together in harmony, but I know communication is important."

"I am not skilled at interpersonal relationships. You may have noticed."

Hermione snorted. "I would never have known. Still, there's a first time for everything."

Her reminder of his other area of inexperience brought another flush to his cheeks. "So. How would you like to handle breakfast?"

"Avoid it altogether?" she suggested hopefully. "OK. I know that would just make things worse. I propose we enter the Great Hall together and act as if there is no great secret. The less they have to speculate over, the sooner they will move on to other, juicier items of gossip."

"Once again, you impress me, witch. I agree. Give them nothing." His rarely seen smile was a brief reminder of the man beneath the shell of surliness.

"So, I impressed you before. When was that?" She moved a little closer.

"Stop fishing for compliments. Your night attire was certainly impressive." Snape's smirk and raised eyebrow sent shivers down her spine as he closed the gap and for the first time initiated a kiss. His lips were firm but supple and as his curious tongue sought entrance to her mouth she ran her fingers through his fine, black hair, revelling in the feel of it. Not greasy at all, just limp and lacking body, but the intimacy of the action overcame aesthetic concerns. He was likewise tangling his hands in her profusion of curls as if fulfilling a long held fantasy.

Hermione brought her hands to his throat and began the task of unfastening the buttons she found there. The smooth skin she finally discovered felt like silk, and the crisp hairs that grew more thickly on his lower abdomen were promise of further delights. Hands slipped under her robes to explore the soft curves hidden only by the thin cotton of her T-shirt. Fingers found nipples that hardened under their ministrations to tight, aching peaks matched by the promising bulge pressing against her inner thigh. Seconds stretched to minutes, punctuated only by soft moans and heavy breathing. Finally, as one of her hands cupped his length through his pants, he gasped and pulled away.

"No. We should not be doing this." He sat up and started buttoning his shirt and robes.

"Why not? We will be married in a few days anyway."

"Exactly. We can wait that long. It does not seem right to pre-empt the formalities when they are so close, especially when you are still my student."

"Oh, Severus. Sometimes, you are positively Victorian. I will still be your student after we are married, even though you will no longer be marking my work."

"You don't need to remind me. The thought of you sitting there in the classroom in your school uniform after we have... I've never entertained those sorts of thoughts about a student. It's inappropriate and unprofessional and..."

"Necessary. At least we know there is something in which we are likely to be compatible. Do you really care what people think, Severus? Those who know you will understand you had no choice. As I am to blame for the problem coming to the notice of the Ministry, I suspect a lot of people will see our marriage as poetic justice. Let's prove them all wrong!" She smiled and kissed him once more. "Give me a few minutes to dress, and then we can head to breakfast." Gathering up her clothes for the day, she slipped out of the door to the bathroom.

Snape paced to and fro across her bedroom while he waited, subconsciously noting the profusion of books and parchment on every surface. They were alike in so many ways, and yet their differences loomed as an insurmountable barrier. Regret for his recent loss of control ate at his conscience and stiffened his resolve to behave appropriately, despite the temptation of a young, attractive, and apparently willing fiancée. Reluctantly, he admitted to himself his developing desire to make the forced marriage work.

"Ready?" she asked as she re-entered the room.

"As ready as I ever will be," he muttered, then fell to silence as his lips were claimed once again. After several moments of blissfully avoiding reality, he drew back to catch the brief wink and nod of her head in the direction of the common room beyond the open door. There stood Neville Longbottom and Lavender Brown, eyes popping and mouths agape.

"Oh, do close your mouths, you will attract flies," drawled Hermione as she took Snape by the hand and led him towards the door.

All the professor could manage was a hastily applied sneer and a raised eyebrow, which seemed sufficient, as the two Gryffindors disappeared into their respective rooms with the alacrity of doxies avoiding a broom.

"See. No secret. Worked like a charm," Hermione told him with a smug grin.

"Scared them senseless, you mean. I hope you do not intend to repeat that performance before the entire school?" he snarled, face paling at the possibility.

"Don't be daft. That would be overkill. Lavender will make sure everyone knows by the end of the day. Trust me. We just need to arrive together and appear civil. You can manage civil, I presume?"

"Contrary to popular belief, I can behave appropriately when it is necessary. However, if you do anything to undermine my authority again, Gryffindor's house points will no doubt suffer," he threatened.

"Oh, tosh. I'm not scared of you – I know your weak spot," Hermione replied as they walked down the corridor side-by-side followed by curious glances.

"And what would that be, Miss Granger?"

She leaned closer and whispered, "Nipples." A satisfying flush stole onto his cheeks as she smirked.

As they approached the doors of the Great Hall, the din from within was evident.

"Sounds like the post has arrived. Miss Granger?" Severus held out his arm for his fiancée.

She nodded politely as she placed her hand on his forearm. "Time to meet our public."

The wave of silence rolled back into the Hall as they entered, with several inattentive students suffering bruised limbs from the warnings of their peers. All eyes stared at the oddly matched couple walking slowly across the room to the Gryffindor table.

"Miss Granger," Snape repeated as he raised her hand to his lips for a chaste salutation.

"Severus," she replied with a twinkle rivalling the late headmaster's in her eye.

The Potions professor rolled his eyes as he straightened to face the student population. "As you are all no doubt aware, Miss Granger and I are now betrothed." He glared at the multitude of faces around him, some pale and sickened, some red-cheeked, some grinning. "I will expect you all to treat my fiancée with the respect she deserves, or you will have me to answer to. That is all." He stalked off to the staff table, not noticing the proud smile that followed his progress.

"Hermione! How could you? That greasy git!" demanded Ron as soon as the excited hubbub resumed.

"That greasy git will be my husband in a few days, Ronald. I suggest you watch your tone. As to how could I? It had to be done, and I don't regret it. Other than that, it is none of your business." She softened at the bewilderment in his blue eyes. "Come on, Ron. I couldn't leave him to the sort of witches that had petitioned for him, and believe it or not, he is growing on me. Be a good sport and wish us well."

"Well, I think Hermione is bloody marvellous," chimed in Ginny. "Just think of the benefits of Snape... you know... getting lucky on a regular basis. Surely it will improve his mood."

Hermione slapped her friend's arm. "Thanks for that vote of confidence, Gin. I'm sure someone here needed to hear that." She grinned at the green look on Harry's face.

"No. I did not need that mental image. Someone pinch me and tell me it's all a very scary dream," he pleaded. Somehow his casual observation two days earlier had proven to be true, and it was rather disconcerting.

"I'm sure I wasn't dreaming when I saw those two snogging as they came out of her bedroom this morning," added Lavender with unwarranted glee.

"Oi! Now that is just uncalled for, Lav," scolded Ron.

"I'm afraid I saw it too, Ron." Neville still looked rather pale. "I'm sorry, Hermione, but you were kissing him right in front of us."

"So I was. I guess I'd better marry him and make an honest wizard out of him, then."

"Women!" Ron gave up and attacked his breakfast. Food was always good, despite the circumstances.

"So, what was it like?" whispered Ginny once the boys had retired into the haven of a Hogwarts cooked breakfast.

"What was what like?"

"Snogging Snape. Was he any good?"

"All I can say is he's a fast learner."

"That good, huh?"

"Bloody fantastic!" Hermione's smile told the redhead all she needed.

"He was in your bedroom. Did you...?" she murmured.

"No. More's the pity. Oh, he showed a definite interest, but turned all noble and self-sacrificing at the last moment."

"Interest?"

"A large amount of interest." Hermione giggled at Ginny's wide-eyed glance at the top table.

"You lucky witch!"

Later that evening, Snape was a model of propriety as they shared tea and conversation in an attempt to get to know one another.

"So, Miss Granger. Your parents did not return from Australia. Is that likely to be a problem with regard to our marriage?" he asked, all cool civility and good intentions.

"No. I don't need their consent to marry, and in the circumstances I think it would be better to visit them in person later, after it has become a fait accompli. There is not enough time to visit them and explain the situation before Saturday. They may not approve initially, but they are good people, and I'm sure they will understand eventually," she replied after a little thought. "Do you have any family to consider?"

"Only some distant aunts on my mother's side. My parents died many years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that." She smiled her sympathy.

"Don't be. I wasn't." Snape's brusque tone contrasted with the unnatural politeness he had shown since she had arrived.

Hermione shelved the topic of his parents carefully, unwilling to break the fragile détente they were sharing. "We will need witnesses at the ceremony. I would like to ask Ginny Weasley, if that is all right with you. She has been very supportive over the last few weeks."

"Miss Weasley would be acceptable. An improvement on her reckless brother and boyfriend. I shall ask Filius to stand as my witness."

"Not Lucius Malfoy? I thought you two were friends."

"Lucius and I have little in common these days. He spends most of his time with his business interests, recouping his losses from his Death Eater days. Even Narcissa complains he is rarely home."

Hermione toyed with her tea as the realisation of how few friends Snape really had hit home. Placing her cup on the side table, she curled her legs up onto the sofa they shared and leaned her head against the quiet man beside her. One arm managed to find its way behind his back, and the other lay across his thighs.

"Miss Granger. What exactly are you doing?" he hissed as his body tensed.

"Shh. I'm snuggling. Engaged couples do that, you know. Just relax. I promise your virtue is safe tonight," she murmured into his side.

"Snuggling, indeed," he growled, but little by little the tension drained from his body until his arm was draped around her shoulders and his eyes half closed.

Looking up, Hermione felt a surge of protectiveness beating at her chest for the man she was to marry. Someone needed to care. Someone needed to teach this hard-to-reach, emotionally insecure man to expect more.

Baby steps, Hermione. Baby steps.

Prompt: 1. Something Old. The Marriage Law Challenge. Many thanks to karelia for the beta.