Chapter Fifteen: Fantasy and Reality

Disclaimer: They aren't mine, unfortunately. But I will put them back unharmed and with smiles on their faces!

Chapter Fifteen: Fantasy and Reality

"Quiet!" Severus Snape's voice boomed above the chatter of the few students who had foolishly remained unaware of his arrival. "Now that I have your attention, I suggest you start behaving like the near adults you are purported to be, instead of witless buffoons, and get on with the task on the blackboard."

"Whew. What's wrong with him today, Hermione? Have you got him on rations?" asked Ron with a wink.

"Not bloody likely; the man is insatiable."

"Are you okay, Hermione? He's not too... demanding, is he?" Harry frowned his consternation.

"Oh, no. I'm not complaining, Harry. Just pleasantly surprised."

"Er... good. Hey, that's Burn Paste. We did that in our first year. Why are we brewing it again today?"

"Good point, Harry. Shall I ask Severus?" Hermione offered.

"Rather you than me."

"Coward!"

"Just not stupid, Hermione. He's your husband. At least, if you offend him by questioning his assignment, you can kiss and make up later." Harry grinned at her rolled eyes.

"You could always try that approach, you know. Perhaps he might ditch Hermione and run away with you to a tropical island, far, far away," Ron suggested.

"Ron! That's so..." Harry shuddered, his vocabulary having failed him in the face of the visual images he was experiencing.

Ron just grinned, unrepentant, and headed for the store cupboard as Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes, dear?" The Potions master spoke without thinking, flushing a little as one or two titters escaped from the back of the room. A glare sent in the direction of the foolish few re-established his authority in seconds.

"I was just wondering why we were brewing a first-year potion." Hermione sent her own fierce glare at her classmates as her blush at the unwitting endearment faded.

"I'd expected you would ask that," he replied in a suspiciously mild tone. "The brewing of standard Burn Paste, as you all should know, is not difficult. Any idiot with a cauldron and a few ingredients can produce something usable. The preparation of ingredients, timing of additions, and number of stirs is flexible. However, today you will be brewing a top quality Burn Paste. This will require all your attention to each process and precise timing. Any result less than perfect will be discarded, and no marks will be awarded. Is that understood, Mr Weasley?"

The class collectively nodded their answer to his question, confident in their ability to gain top marks for the lesson. Hermione alone frowned, her suspicions on full alert at the slight glint of mischief in her husband's eye. Whilst it would require close attention to brew the quality of Burn Paste Severus was expecting, there was virtually no chance of disaster, even from significant errors. He was up to something.

As she gathered the few ingredients needed, Hermione watched Severus gliding around the classroom, robes parting with each step to reveal the black trousers beneath. A breath of disappointment ghosted from her lips as she met his eyes with a rueful smile. The twitch at the corner of his mouth revealed he had known exactly which direction her thoughts had taken her at the announcement of the day's assignment.

Hermione shook her head in silent disapproval of her own wayward imagination and began chopping and pulverising. Banishing thoughts of the lithe body beneath the daunting, black robes of the man she had married, she concentrated on her brewing.

Suddenly, he was behind her and leaning over her shoulder to inspect her work.

"You do realise I assign the seventh years this particular task every year, Madam Snape," he murmured in her ear. "Do try and concentrate on your task, dear."

Determined to prove she could produce a perfect potion, no matter what distraction her lascivious fantasies provided, Hermione bit her lip and continued to brew, trying to avoid meeting the eyes of the smirking wizard prowling the classroom.

"Are you okay, Hermione? You look all hot and bothered." Harry's rare flash of perspicacity was not particularly welcomed by his friend.

"No, no problem. Things were just running a little hot, is all. I've got them under control now."

"But this potion is brewed at a low temperature, Hermione. Even Ron knows that."

"Well, if you must know, I was imagining Severus naked. Any further questions?"

"Eww, wash your mind out! Whatever happened to the nice witch we used to know who never talked about sex?"

Hermione simply smiled. Sometimes the truth worked as well as fiction.

Her friend shook his head in confusion and retreated to his desk to tend to his own brew.

"Finally! I thought class was never going to end!" Hermione complained as she watched the last of the students file out of the room.

"I can't think why you were so impatient, vixen," the professor drawled as he ensured the door was both locked and warded.

"Oh, I think you have a fairly good idea, husband mine," she replied as she circled him slowly.

"Is that right? And I suppose you expect me to do something about it?" He teased her with a smile, leaning back against his desk as if merely discussing the weather.

"No. I don't believe so. I'm quite capable of dealing with the situation myself."

Severus noticed the predatory gleam in her eye just a little too late.

Lunch was well under way before the well-sated couple made their way past the Gryffindor table.

"Oh, for goodness sake. Show a little discretion, you two!" Ginny scolded as she surveyed their tousled hair, rumpled clothing, and smug grins. With a flick of her wand they were straightened and tidied to her satisfaction.

"Oh... thanks, Gin," whispered Hermione as she sat on the bench beside the redhead.

"Indeed. Thank you, Miss Weasley." Severus strode to the staff table, self-possession undisturbed by the sighs of the older girls he passed, who had just seen their Potions professor in an entirely new light – relaxed, smiling, and clearly well shagged.

"Do you think the novelty will wear off soon, Hermione?" Ginny enquired.

"Pardon?" Hermione's brain hadn't quite returned to full function after her recent activity.

"The need to have sex at every opportunity. It wouldn't be so bad if you weren't so damned obvious about it!" she complained.

"We were obvious?"

"Hermione, Snape does not make a habit of arriving at lunch all rumpled and cheerful. Even the little kids know what you were up to," Ron explained, using smallish words for easy assimilation.

"He's going to get another lecture from Professor McGonagall. S'all his own fault anyway; I told him not to do it," she muttered.

"Do what, Hermione?" asked Harry.

"Trust me, mate. I don't think we want to know," Ron interrupted.

Hermione's blush was all the confirmation they needed.

"Looks like he is in trouble," Ginny commented.

"But not for long," Hermione added as a roar of laughter from the staff table startled nearby students. "I wonder what on earth he told them. Not the truth, I'll bet."

"He probably told them you jumped him on the way out of the classroom," Ginny observed.

"Probably. I wouldn't put it past him. Although, it is partly true." Hermione smiled as she reached for some food.

"Severus Snape. I never thought I would see the day when I had to reprimand you for showing less than perfect decorum..."

"Oh, leave him alone, Minerva. The lad's a newlywed. Let him have his fun," Rolanda Hooch interrupted with a grin. "We're just all jealous because he's getting some action. Merlin knows I could do with a good shag. Anyone interested?" she asked, winking at the younger, male staff members.

"I see... I see... a man..." Sybill Trelawney trailed off, cheeks as red as the wine in her glass.

"I see Sybill is having one of her insightful moments again. Next, she will be predicting your death, Hooch. I'd check your broom next time you go for a joy ride with that Vibrating Charm." Severus lifted his glass to the gaping Flying instructor amidst the laughter of their colleagues.

"How did you know?" she squeaked.

"I didn't. But I do now."

"Bloody Slytherin bastard. I hope your cock falls off from overuse!"

"Rolanda! Language!" scolded the headmistress, between snorts.

Severus started eating, having satisfactorily displaced Minerva's disapproval onto Hooch. Life as a married man was not as intolerable as he had expected.

Ginny Weasley smiled as Severus approached her in the corridor after her Charms class.

"Good morning, Professor Snape."

"Good morning, Miss Weasley. May I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course," she replied, following him into a nearby, empty classroom. "How can I help you?"

"Ginevra, I find myself in a quandary. I need some advice, and you are the only person who I believe can help." His voice was unusually quiet, and she had to strain to hear.

"That's what friends are for, sir. Please, tell me what I can do." She reached out and touched the hand resting on the desk beside her.

He glanced at her and smiled his gratitude. "As you are aware, Sunday is Valentine's Day. I have never previously had occasion to participate in the rather ludicrous behaviour I am surrounded with on that particular day, but now I have a wife... I don't know... Will she...? What should I...?" He trailed off, embarrassment stealing his coherence.

Ginny squeezed his hand. "You want to know how Hermione feels about Valentine's Day? What she would expect?"

His mute nod confirmed her words.

"I know previously Hermione has been, like you, somewhat disdainful of Valentine's Day and all that goes with it. However, I can't tell you what she would expect of you now. I know she would hate all the heart and flowers and what she calls soppy stuff, but some token of your feelings would not hurt. You have told her, haven't you, sir?"

Shaking his head, Severus looked away, reluctant to meet the penetrating gaze of the redheaded young woman before him.

"Oh, professor! Whyever not?"

"It's too soon. I need to know she feels the same. I didn't want to risk..."

"Rejection? Don't be daft. She had plenty of opportunities to change her mind about marrying you, and did she? No. Ever wonder why?"

Ginny smiled at the bemused expression on Severus's face. Even intelligent, powerful wizards like Snape needed things spelled out to them occasionally. "Now, get yourself off to Hogsmeade and find something your wife will treasure. It doesn't need to be expensive, just thoughtful."

"Thank you, Ginev... Ginny. You are a true friend."

"Oh, come here, you great lummox." Ginny wrapped her arms around Severus's waist and hugged him tight. "Now, go. Make me proud."

Several hours later, Severus gazed thoughtfully at the small, silver-wrapped package on his desk. Now, all he needed was a suitable opportunity to give it to the woman who was rapidly becoming all he needed and wanted. As he heard her enter the outer door to his office, he tucked the gift away into a drawer in his writing desk, reasonably sure she was unlikely to look there.

"Hi. Are you ready for dinner?" Hermione asked, then perched herself on her husband's knee and proceeded to kiss him senseless.

When he surfaced for air, he managed to gasp, "Are you sure you're hungry? Because I can think of something else I'd rather be doing than joining a few hundred noisy, hormonally-challenged adolescents for dinner."

"Mmmm. So can I, but if we don't show up, those hormonally-challenged adolescents will know exactly what we are doing."

"Let them. I find I don't care any more," he drawled as he dragged his lips over the soft skin above her collarbone.

"What? Let them confirm their suspicions that Severus Snape is actually human? I don't think so. Come on, husband, up you get." Hermione stood and pulled his hand.

"I'm already up, and it's your fault, witch. What are you going to do about it?" he growled.

"Nothing... yet. Just think of how much you will enjoy yourself later. Delayed gratification can be a good thing."

"Cruel-hearted wench. All right then. Dinner it is."

Hermione laughed as the dour Potions professor actually pouted. Kissing him once more, she led him away to the Great Hall.

A/N: Thanks to ladyinthecloak, the best beta in the world!