XXVII

Important AN: Here it is – the last chapter. I will save most of my rambling and thanks for the author's note at the end of the epilogue. Here I would like to remind you that this tale is a continuation of "Marry A Choice." Actions that took place in that story are crucial to this chapter in particular. If it's been a long time since you've read MAC (it has been for me!), I suggest (with gritted teeth) that you review the last two chapters of that tale to refresh your memory before venturing further.

Without further ado, Chapter XXVII:

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Hermione was three-quarters of her way through her dinner when Teddy walked into the room. Seeing her, he changed his course and had the temerity to sit down beside her when she patted the bench. The few Gryffindors who had already shown up for dinner looked at him askance, but seeing Hermione's cheerful reception, they didn't dare to say anything.

"So," Teddy asked, "was it a mistake or malice?"

Hermione looked at him, trying to think what he could be talking about until it clicked: Vector.

"I don't know. I haven't managed to talk with her yet."

Teddy gave her a disapproving scowl, but she forestalled any comments that might be coming by raising her hand. "I am going to talk with her. I am. It's just today has been rather eventful."

"One of which was Vector..."

"More important things."

"Things more important than your grades?" Teddy looked skeptical, though his smile was full of humor.

She swatted him on the arm. "Yes. There are things that matter more than grades, you know."

He gasped. "Name one."

Hermione smiled innocently. "I'll name three. Life, death and the consequences of marriage."

He dropped his mocking role as confusion took over. He looked up at the staff table, saw Snape, then back at her, mystified. Hermione smiled and started counting. She'd only reached four when he blanched.

"You're not..."

"No!" she said, cutting him off before he said something she would regret. She added much more quietly, "I'm not."

He wilted in relief, then grimaced and looked embarrassed. Wanting to ease his discomfort, she said, "Fortunately, Severus and I are on the same page there. We'd rather wait a while, get to know each other a bit more before doing anything drastic like that."

Teddy tried smiling, though it looked rather sickly. When he'd regained enough composure, he asked, "Who is... oh."

Hermione nodded. "Yeah. It was a bit of a shock. Found out today."

"What was a shock?" Seamus asked, sitting down across from them, keeping a distrustful eye on Teddy.

"Hermione's grade in Arithmancy," Teddy said without hesitation. "Vector apparently has something against Hermione, and today the grades proved it beyond a doubt."

Seamus suppressed a snort, then widened his eyes. "That is shocking, innit? And here I thought you were talking about Ginny being preggers."

Hermione snorted into her pumpkin juice while Teddy looked put out. "You knew?"

Seamus snorted. "Mate, everyone knows by now. You should have heard Harry..."

Teddy sighed mournfully and shook his head while Hermione patted his back consolingly. "It was a good bit of subterfuge, Teddy. Really, it was."

He shook his head again. "I should know better than to waste my talents on Gryffindors."

Seamus looked up at that, the distrustful look back on his face. Hermione just laughed and said, "Yes. Your talents will only get you into trouble around here."

Teddy sniffed disdainfully. "Well, then. I will take that as my cue to go where my talents are appreciated. Needed, even." He stood up. "However, before I go, may I offer you one piece of advice?" Hermione nodded, smiling up at him cheerfully. "Go talk to Vector while she's still up at the staff table. It might be a bit rude, but talking to her there, in front of Professors Dumbledore and Snape, will make it impossible for her to ignore you."

Hermione nodded again, no longer smiling. "That's a sound strategy. Thanks."

Teddy snorted. "No need to sound as if I'm sending you to your death. You're the one with the awesome powers, remember."

Hermione chuckled. "Right. Thank you, Teddy."

Teddy gave a courtly bow, then left for his own table. Before he was five steps away, Seamus said, "What, you mean that was true? That bit about you getting a bad grade?"

Hermione laughed despite herself. "Yes, Seamus, it is true. But it isn't the first time I've been bad at something, so you needn't look so scandalized."

"Yeah, you were pants at Divination, weren't you? And flying. And..."

"Yes, Seamus."

Seamus grinned at her before going back to his food, leaving Hermione free to finish her supper. A few bites later, she was done. Taking a big breath to steel herself, she got up and made her way to the staff table.

The teachers didn't pay her much mind until she veered away from Severus' side of the table. She nodded to each teacher she passed, but kept the corner of her eye on Vector the entire time. When she saw Vector move as if to get up, she hurried forward.

"Excuse me, Professor Vector, I was wondering if I could speak with you for just a moment?"

If she hadn't been used to observing Severus, Hermione would never have noticed the slight sagging of Vector's shoulders. As it was, it was fairly obvious that the witch was struggling not to show her panic.

"This is... I'm in the middle of..." She sighed, obviously resigned to the fact that she couldn't avoid Hermione without her credibility suffering, or worse. "I'll be done here in a few minutes. Shall I meet you at my office?"

Hermione pitied the professor, but knew an escape plan when she heard one.

"Oh, that's okay. There's no need for you to go to all that trouble. If I may, I'll just walk with you wherever you might be going."

Vector pursed her lips, but nodded. "Fine. I'll fetch you when I'm done."

Hermione smiled, though perhaps a bit too brightly to be polite, and turned back to the Gryffindor table. If Vector left without at least approaching her, she would raise questions amongst the staff as to why she was avoiding Hermione. As it was, Hermione's breach of protocol was probably enough to get those who might be curious wondering. It more or less was guaranteed that Vector would talk to her tonight.

She sat back down across from Seamus and watched the staff table. She tried not to watch Vector too obviously, but knew she had failed when on flicking her eyes away from the witch, Severus gave her a smirk. Hermione rolled her eyes, but became more circumspect, earning an approving nod from Severus the next time she looked at him.

Not surprisingly, Professor Vector took her time, chatting with the Defense teacher over a third cup of tea. When he finally left the table, fifteen minutes later, Hermione saw Vector look down at her teacup and sigh. The cup must have been empty, as it was only a few seconds afterwards that she got up and looked around for Hermione.

Hermione smiled and waved discreetly. Vector nodded and indicated she should meet her as she walked out, but Hermione was already out of her seat. They met in the center aisle and walked out together without attracting any attention other than Severus' and Teddy's watchful gazes.

Once they were beyond the Entrance Hall, Vector turned into the first empty classroom. Hermione followed, hand on her wand just in case.

"You wished to speak to me?" Vector asked facing Hermione, her back rigidly straight.

"Yes. I would like to know why I received a 'D' on my essay."

"I thought I was quite clear in class. It didn't meet my requirements."

"I reviewed the assignment and the essay I turned in. Pardon me for exhibiting hubris, but I know that my essay met and exceeded your requirements, ma'am."

Vector glared at Hermione with all of her might. If Hermione hadn't been used to Severus' foul moods, she might have been intimidated, but as it was, she merely stood straighter and glared back.

Vector eventually huffed and looked toward a wall with a moldering poster hanging askew. "I cannot remember the specifics of what was wrong, but there were serious flaws in your argument."

"Then why didn't you mention them? Point them out so that I would know?"

"If you can't accept my teaching style--"

"But it's not your teaching style! It's Snape's teaching style, and it's horrible! I've always admired you as a teacher. I offered him the respect due to authority, and I now love and respect Severus as a person, but his teaching is horrible and unfair and... and so far beneath you."

Vector looked at her, rather stunned and hurt looking, shaking her head. "How could you throw yourself away on him?"

"Excuse me?"

"You're far too good for Snape! You're a good, honorable, kind, intelligent and beautiful young woman. All he's got going for him is that he's powerful and knows a good deal when it falls in his lap!"

"That's not fair! Severus is a good and honorable man, and I am flattered at his attention! Besides which, you highly underestimate him, and I expect that all of the traits you listed for me could apply to him! Well, except maybe kind, and he's certainly not beauti..." Hermione faded out as she realized what exactly Vector had said. A look at Vector's flushed face confirmed it.

"Oh. This isn't about Severus at all, is it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Vector said coldly, not looking at her.

Hermione briefly closed her eyes, trying to think above the bitter disappointment.

"Should I withdraw from the course?" she asked softly.

Vector did look up at that, piercing Hermione with sharp eyes. She held her gaze for several seconds before sighing sadly and looking down.

"It would seem counterproductive to withdraw from something you obviously love."

"I do love it," Hermione admitted, knowing they were talking about more than just Arithmancy, "but... I won't tolerate abuse, Professor Vector. Not from anyone. If circumstances have made it impossible for you to offer me the basic respect due to a student..."

Vector regarded her carefully, no hint of her private feelings on display other than her rigid posture. She held her silence, though, making Hermione uncomfortable. Finally, she said, "I will review your essay again. Have it on my desk before first class tomorrow morning."

Hermione blinked. "Thank you."

"If that is all?"

Hermione bit her lip to keep it from wobbling and nodded. Vector turned and walked out of the classroom, leaving Hermione wondering what the hell had just happened. She circled around for a place to sit and collapsed in a nearby desk, overwhelmed.

Closing her eyes, she leaned forward, resting her head against her propped up hands. Her heart ached as if Professor Vector had betrayed her, even as her vanity gloated at inspiring such feelings in someone like Professor Vector. She also wondered, with a sinking feeling, whether her grades had been fair before she married Severus.

All the emotions roiling inside her made her want to throw up. She groaned.

"I know you value your grades highly, but I promise you, it isn't the end of the world."

Hermione jerked up to find Severus there smirking at her. She groaned again and put her face in her arms on the desk. A warm hand on her back made her jump slightly, but she quickly relaxed into his gentle rubbing.

"Is it as bad as all that?" He had the temerity to sound amused.

"She loves me," Hermione muttered into her arms.

"Pardon me?" Severus said, still sounding amused.

Hermione sat up and sniffed, looking at him. "She fancies me. She thinks I'm wasting myself on you."

Severus looked at her rather stunned for a moment before he recollected himself and said, "Ah. How completely unprofessional of her."

Hermione laughed despite herself, though she couldn't find it within herself to relax. "Quite."

He smirked down at her before conjuring a chair facing her. "That begs the question, though, why are you so bothered by this? Is it because she's a witch?"

Hermione shook her head slowly. "No. I don't think so, anyway. I just... I liked her so much, Severus. She was my favorite teacher until I married you. I thought... I thought she liked and respected me for my work, not... not because of her hormones."

Severus snorted. "My dear, if it's any consolation, I doubt her hormones would have taken notice of you if you hadn't been as brilliant as you are. Even hormones can be discerning."

She chuckled again, though quickly sank back into her posture of despair.

"It's so disappointing, though. She's supposed to be my teacher, not human and fallible."

Severus quirked a brow at her. "And what am I?"

She blushed. "You're different."

"Oh?" He sounded amused, though his face was disconcertingly blank.

"You're... To be honest..." She paused, but he motioned for her to continue. She took a deep breath. "I hate your teaching method. Yes, there are very few accidents, and somehow the majority of us manage to scrape an OWL in Potions, but you enjoy terrorizing and bullying us. You enjoy abusing the power differential. The only way I was able to put up with your classes was to search for reasons behind your attitude. As a result, I had seen you more as a fallible human than as a teacher and have done so for a very long time."

She bit her lip as she looked at him, but his only reaction was to quirk his eyebrows up a bit more.

"You pitied me?"

She shook her head, smiling wryly. "No. I disliked you too much to pity you."

He snorted a bit, though he didn't look particularly happy.

She reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. "You did master the bastard persona quite admirably."

"You're so kind."

Hermione sighed. "Severus..."

"What? I should receive the compliment in the manner it was intended?"

"You yourself have said you're not nice, and you have asked me to be honest with you. Well, the honest truth is that I thought you were horrible." Severus withdrew his hand and stood up, but Hermione continued. "THOUGHT, Severus. Thought! I now know better."

Severus stood facing away from her, but didn't move to retreat further.

Hermione took a deep breath and let it out. "Since we got married, you have shown me the private side of yourself, and I am humbled, Severus. Humbled that you care enough and trust me enough to let me see past the bastard persona you've erected. You aren't a nice person, and I seriously doubt you ever will be. I will never approve of your teaching methods, nor respect them. But that is not to say that I don't respect you, because I do. Wholeheartedly. And I trust you, too. Otherwise I would never have told you that I used to think you were horrible." She took another trembling breath. Severus still hadn't turned around, though, and suddenly she was overcome with fury.

Standing up, she said, "But if you can't see that I do respect you, that I do trust you, then screw you. I am not going to constantly defend myself. Not to you, not to Vector, not to anyone! If you're going to assume that everything I say is said maliciously, then you can just go fuck yourself!"

Severus turned around slowly, and Hermione braced herself for his retaliation, even as she blinked back her tears.

"I should fuck myself, should I?" he purred. She tensed, waiting for the explosion. He rubbed his chin and gazed at her thoughtfully, putting her off-guard. "While it might be enjoyable, I don't see how it would help in this situation."

Hermione's lips twitched as she looked at him, sensing he wasn't angry after all. "Well, it is known to reduce tension."

"But I'm not the one who's tense right now. Maybe you should take your own advice and go fuck yourself?"

Hermione laughed, delighted at the turn the conversation was taking. That was one of the things she loved about him, that he could surprise her with such simple acts of understanding.

"I love you," she said, still laughing.

The change in his demeanor was shocking. He went from teasing to thunderous in less than a second. He stood rigid, but she could sense his desire to strike.

"This is how you repay my trust?" Severus said in his deadly quiet voice. "This is how you show your respect?" Suddenly, he thrust his arm out to the side and blasted a hole in the stone wall. Rubble flew everywhere, and Hermione brought up her arm to shield herself.

But Severus wasn't done.

"You..." He shook his head violently, then waved his wand again at the same wall. Another large hole appeared, blasting the rocks to smithereens.

"You cow! You heartless cunt!"

Hermione gasped and staggered back half a step, trying, all the while, to figure out why he was so upset. She was so bewildered that she didn't notice him approaching her until he was almost within arm's reach.

She moved before he could grab her, instinct guiding her steps around and away from him. She made her way to the door, flinching as another hole in the wall was made and she was pelted with the gravel.

As she wrenched the door open, she caught a glimpse of Severus staring after her, his face distorted with rage and loathing. He raised his wand, but she was through the door before she could tell where he was going to aim it.

She ran as hard as she could, fear making her blind to her surroundings. She ran until she was stopped by a pair of arms, twirling her around. She fought off the hold as hard as she could, but was stilled by a spell and a gentle, familiar voice murmuring, "Hermione, calm down! Calm down! It's all right. I'm not going to hurt you."

Hermione gulped and blinked until she could see the blurry form of Teddy standing there next to her. He was looking at her with concern that only increased as she burst into relieved tears.

He released the binding spell, and she relaxed into his arms, sobbing. He tightened his hold on her again, but this time in comfort rather than restraint. Hermione let him hold her, letting his embrace leech the fear from her mind and body.

After what seemed to be ages, she drew in a shuddering breath and pushed herself away from him. He hesitated for a second before releasing her, but kept his hands on her arms.

"What happened? Why are you bleeding?"

Hermione looked up at that. He conjured a handkerchief and wiped her cheek. Sure enough, when he presented it to her, there were tiny smears of blood on the white cotton.

She let out a shuddering breath, shaking her head in disbelief. "He blew up. He... he hexed the wall, and I guess the shards..." She shook her head again and tried to restrain the urge to cry.

Teddy drew her into another hug, and she wrapped her arms around him, hanging on as if for dear life. They remained that way for a few moments until Teddy drew back. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders while she wiped her face with the handkerchief, and she wasn't aware they were walking until he removed his arm and guided her to sit down on a transfigured sofa.

She was dully surprised, but the heartache was so severe that she spent most of her attention on restraining herself from breaking down completely. It wasn't until Teddy placed a hand on her arm that she remembered he was there.

She looked up and briefly glanced around, noting they were in the Restricted Section of the library. Teddy had considerately put up a Do-Not-Notice Charm as well as a fairly advanced privacy ward. No one would stumble upon them accidentally.

"What happened, Hermione?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know! One minute we were talking and joking, and then he suddenly went into full rage mode. And I don't understand why." She choked back another sob and took a moment to regain her equilibrium.

"I know Snape is a little on the unpredictable side, but surely there must have been some spark that set him off."

"The only thing I can think of is that I said, 'I love you.'" She laughed mockingly. "If that is the reason, I don't understand it at all. I mean, I'm pretty sure he loves me. I'm positive, in fact. The way he looks at me and touches me... even the way he talks to me, most of the time, says he loves me more than those three words could. So, why should it make him angry that I love him back? Is he so damaged that he can't accept my love, or is this just another way of manipulating me? I don't understand! Do you?"

She looked to Teddy, who seemed almost as emotionally torn as she felt.

He shook his head. "No. He should be thrilled."

Hermione huffed and shook her head. "Yes, but this is Severus we're talking about. He doesn't do 'should.' He has to be perverse in all things. Maybe that's it. Maybe he loved me as long as I didn't love him. Maybe he didn't want a happy marriage after all. Maybe he just thought it was impossible that I could love him and so set his heart on me, and now that the impossible has come to pass, he's feeling threatened by the reality of living life outside a fantasy?"

Teddy opened his mouth to say something but shut it again when she shook her head impatiently. "No, I don't really think any of that's the case. I just... I don't know how to deal with a man who responds so unpredictably. I mean, I love him. He loves me. It should be simple and happy and wonderful, shouldn't it? But instead it's this horrible mess of nastiness and fighting and fear. I don't know what to do, Teddy. I just don't know."

"It could be worse," he said slowly. "You could be in love with someone you're not married to."

Hermione looked at him blankly, marveling that he should empathize with her so strongly, judging by his sad, yearning expression. And then everything fell into place with a clunk.

"Oh, Teddy."

He smiled bitterly. "I must say I want to hex Snape for hurting you." His eyes took on a dreamy quality as he paused, looking up at the rafters. "And, you know, if I accidentally overdid it, and he died, you'd be free and..." He stopped, his gaze soft and sad as he looked down at her again. "But that wouldn't make you happy, would it?"

Hermione's chest contracted as she watched the hope fade from her friend's face as she shook her head no.

He smiled that bitter smile again and shrugged. Something about that made all of Hermione's defenses collapse, and she burst into tears.

"Oh, my lady!" Teddy cried as he gathered her into his arms. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Just forget it. I didn't mean... Just forget it."

Hermione cried harder as she heard his voice go hoarse with tears of his own. She held onto him, hiding her face in his chest as everything that could have been washed over her, enticing her. But the fact of the matter was that her heart already belonged to another.

"It's not fair," she whispered hoarsely into Teddy's shoulder. "I could have been so happy with you."

Teddy hugged her tighter for a long moment before sighing, "I wish I could be the one to make you happy now." He then released her, pushing her away.

She wiped the tears from her face with the palms of her hands before Teddy conjured her another handkerchief. She gave him a shaky smile of thanks as she wiped her eyes, cheeks and nose. Once she was reasonably clean, she held the handkerchief in her hands, examining it rather than the person in front of her.

Teddy didn't speak, leaving her to work out her thoughts and emotions in peace. Unfortunately, her overriding emotion at that moment was hopelessness.

"We could have had a happy life together," she murmured dejectedly, "but instead..." She gestured blindly, not willing to say out loud what she felt.

"Don't think that," Teddy said softly. "You'll make up. You'll be happy again." He paused for a beat, then added in a lighter tone, "But, you know, if Snape spurns you again, come find me, and we'll run off to Majorca together. You wouldn't even need to feel bad because he would have to be insane to do so."

She laughed hollowly and leaned into the sofa's corner. She tilted her head back against the bookcase beyond and rolled it side to side, closing her eyes as she did so.

"I don't know what to do, Teddy. The first fight we had was painful. He knew just what to say to hurt me. The second fight was even worse. And the third... And now... The fights just keep getting more and more painful." She hiccupped and sniffed as tears started falling again. "The longer we know each other, the deeper we cut into each other when we're angry. This last time, it felt like he was shredding my soul."

She sniffed again and wiped her nose with the kerchief. She took a deep breath and let it out before admitting, "It feels like I'm getting torn apart."

"For me as well."

Hermione's eyes shot open to find Severus sitting where Teddy had been. He was looking at her through his impassive mask, though she could tell he was still very upset.

She started to look around for Teddy, but Severus said, "He left for his common room. May I suggest we follow his example and find somewhere more private for this discussion?"

Hermione bit her lip to keep it from quivering. "Will you promise to keep your temper in check?"

He nodded sharply. She nodded faintly in turn and took his hand when he offered it, though she dropped it once she was on her feet.

They walked out of the Restricted Section separated by two paces. Hermione wanted to duck her head and scurry through the rest of the library but knew that she would only attract more attention if she did so. So she kept her head high and her shoulders straight. There was only one onlooker, however: Teddy was watching them closely as they strode through the library. She offered him a thin smile, but had to look away for fear she would start crying again.

As it was, when she turned her attention to her path, she found Severus already standing by the doors, watching her closely.

Her heart sank, knowing that it would not help soothe his mood. On thinking over things, she was sure he suspected how Teddy felt. If he suspected her of reciprocating or even just encouraging such feelings...

She passed through the door quietly, nodding her appreciation of his holding the door for her.

Their walk was a silent one, and she was somewhat surprised when they ended up in her room, rather than his. She supposed it was because it was closer, being only three floors away, but she still thought it strange that he would cede the familiar ground to her.

As soon as he closed the door behind himself, she turned and glared at him. He grimaced.

"Are you all right?" he asked, looking her over, his eyes lingering on the cheek Teddy had wiped.

"I'll survive," she answered curtly.

They looked at each other in stubborn silence, neither willing to make the first move. Finally, Snape rolled his eyes and took a step forward. He stopped when Hermione flinched backward.

"Hermione..."

"You terrified me down there."

"Yes, and I apologize. But... you must understand that mocking me on such an important matter is beyond cruel. It's heartless."

"What? How was I mocking you?"

Severus' face darkened, though his voice was controlled when he spoke. "You threw my feelings in my face." He laughed girlishly and quoted in insipid falsetto, "Gee, I love you."

Hermione gaped at him, horrified. "Severus, I didn't... It wasn't meant to be mocking. Spontaneous, maybe, but never mocking."

He looked at her sharply and asked, "How can you be so cavalier about those words?"

"I wasn't being cavalier at all, Severus. I might not have planned to say it, but that doesn't mean that's not how I feel. I love you. If I didn't, your words wouldn't be nearly so hurtful. They might strike at my ego, but not my soul."

Before she'd finished speaking, he'd crossed the room and gathered her into his arms. She struggled at first, wanting to have her say, but his warmth and care was so inviting that she relented and embraced him back.

"You need to stop assuming that I want to hurt you," Hermione said after a minute or so. He nodded, his chin rubbing the top of her head.

"It's difficult. I am trying, but... Old habits die hard."

"Because I'm a Gryffindor?"

"Yes. And a former student. And..." He sighed. "There are many reasons in my past for me to be distrustful. I am trying, however, to convince myself and my habits that you are the exception to the rule. Because I do know that you won't intentionally hurt me." He sighed again, but this time almost happily. "I do know that."

Hermione heard and felt the implied, "I wouldn't love you otherwise," and hugged him closer. She then tilted her head up, inviting him to kiss her. He accepted her invitation with fervor, devouring her mouth with all the emotional charge of their earlier fight. She returned his kiss with equal passion, battling him for control.

Not one to give up, Severus grabbed her by the hips, lifted her up and then turned and pinned her against the wall. She squeezed her thighs around his hips and moaned as he groped them. He continued to ravish her mouth, moaning with her as they rubbed against each other more and more urgently. Hermione broke away from his mouth to pant a spell into his ear, and they both gasped as their clothes disappeared.

He took a shuddering breath and looked into her eyes as his hands went from her breast down, down, down till he was holding her quim open for his cock.

She looked back at him and held her breath as he entered her, releasing it all in a deep moan as their hips finally came together.

They stared into each other's eyes, panting, relishing the feel of the other in and around them. They held still, both trying to contain their passion, both trying to remain in control.

And then the dam broke.

He lunged for her mouth and she pulled him into the kiss, her hands locked in his hair as he drove into her. She pushed against the wall and into him, and he pushed right back. Faster and faster they fought in tandem, feeling the tension rise in waves until suddenly, it burst over them.

He came first, rearing back his head with an inarticulate cry as his hips continued pounding against her, desperate to get further in. She followed almost instantly, feeling his power, his love, his passion overwhelm her until nothing remained but her pleasure.

When it finally passed, they were left leaning against the wall, breathless and shaky.

"Fuck," Severus murmured half in awe and half in warning.

Hermione felt him trembling beneath her, so she unwrapped herself from him, slipping down to touch the floor. Once she was standing on her own, however, she felt how much she was shaking.

"You can say that again." She leaned against the wall.

He chuckled and leaned into her body, nuzzling her neck. "Shall we adjourn to a more horizontal location?"

She smiled. "As long as it's the bed. I don't think my back could take the floor so soon after the wall."

He nipped her neck playfully and then withdrew. Taking her hand, he pulled her along to the bedroom where they collapsed onto the bed. Neither felt much like moving, though after cooling down for a few minutes, they found themselves curled around each other.

They laid there drowsing in their bliss till Hermione started to shiver. Severus got up, retrieved his wand and did a nifty spell that tucked her in without her moving. She smiled lazily at him and stretched out her hand in invitation, but he shook his head.

"The headmaster awaits."

She pouted sleepily, but nodded in understanding. "Come back soon, please."

He smiled at her and then leaned down to kiss her. "Werewolves couldn't keep me away."

She smiled at him, though by the time she heard the Floo activate, her eyes had shut and sleep was fast approaching. Right before sleep took her in its arms, she smiled lazily at how right Teddy had been. Happily ever after was a possibility after all.

XXX

She woke up hours later, feeling refreshed and sated. She stretched lazily and then opened her eyes to look for Severus, as he wasn't in the bed with her. She turned her head and saw him sitting a few feet away, looking at her coolly.

"Going to join me?" she asked, extending her hand again.

He shook his head. "No. I don't think that would be fair to you in light of my recent decision."

Hermione felt her blood go cold. "Decision? What are you talking about?"

Severus stood up and banished the chair he'd conjured.

"After a most enlightening discussion with Albus, I have decided it would be best that our marriage exist only on paper. If you should wish for a companion, I suggest you ask Mr. Nott."

Hermione laughed. "I didn't know your humor went this way, but good joke."

"I am not joking."

Hermione's smile faded as she read her husband's face. He was serious. Deadly serious. "But... What?"

"It is very apparent that Mr. Nott cares for you, and he seems unlikely to attack you or tear you apart as I am wont to do. He is obviously the better choice for you, and seeing as I deprived you of that choice at the beginning, I feel it necessary to make reparations at this time."

Hermione stared at him in dismay. "Severus... what do you mean by this?"

"It is very simple, Hermione," he said through gritted teeth. "I want a separation."

Hermione stared at him, completely dumbfounded. It was a long minute before words came to her.

"Severus, a couple of hours ago you seemed happy enough to be with me... Thrilled, even. I need you to tell me what brought this on. There must be a miscommunication in there somewhere, and I'm sure we can work everything out if we talk this through."

"A miscommunication? Do you really think I'd leave you because of a simple miscommunication? I attacked you, Hermione!" He stood there, breathing hard, but visibly reined himself in.

"I've assaulted you. I've played with you, and I've preyed on you. By your own admission, it is tearing you apart. I am tearing you apart, and I refuse to do so anymore. You will go with Mr. Nott and be happier for it. He loves you."

Hermione's breath left her in a whoosh, and she was unable to recover it. She sat there panting, trying not to hyperventilate until she was able to speak, although she couldn't help the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She needed to say something – anything – to keep Severus from leaving her.

"What if I don't want to go with Teddy? What if I want to stay with you?"

"Don't be a fool, Hermione."

She tossed off the bed covers and stood up before him, completely nude.

"Are you saying you don't love me?"

He said nothing but looked away, defeated and depressed. She refused to let him shy away from her, though, and walked around him till he had to face her. He looked pained, but didn't turn away again.

"Do you or do you not love me, Severus Snape?"

He clenched his jaw, but didn't answer.

"Severus, I am not letting you leave until you answer the question. Do. You. Love. Me?"

His voice was hoarse when he ground out, "Does it matter one way or the other?"

"Yes, God damn it! I love you, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let another man I love throw away a life with me if I can help it!"

Snape paused at that, but quickly rejoined, "Well, it shouldn't matter! What good does it do for me to admit that you own my heart, that your essence is stamped upon every cell in my body? It does not matter that I will love you to my dying day because in the meantime, I am DESTROYING you!"

The air was heavy after that, but Hermione shook her head, crying.

"You idiot. Not only are you underestimating me again but you're also deliberately misinterpreting me. Our fights tear me apart, not you. You put me back together again, just as I try to mend you. You make me stronger, Severus, not weaker."

"But don't you see, Hermione?" Snape confessed quietly, almost in tears himself. "We fight. That's what we do. And those fights are destroying me, too."

She shook her head again, wiping away her tears. "Then we avoid fighting. I don't want to hurt you, you don't want to hurt me. So as long as we love each other, I don't see why we can't work around that problem."

He laughed despairingly and collapsed onto the bed, his head in his hands.

"Were it that simple, my dear. We can't do anything without arguing. The only way we could avoid fighting is if we never saw each other, which brings me back to my original point."

Hermione looked at him, concern churning in her gut. "Are you saying arguing and fighting are the same thing, Severus? Because to me they aren't. Arguing is simply a heated discussion, whereas fights... fights are where we shunt reason to the side just to hurt each other. But if you don't like arguing... I'll," she swallowed, "I'll agree with you that we should separate."

He looked up at her with hope.

"You enjoy our arguments?"

She laughed wetly and nodded vigorously. "Of course I do. Do you think I'd instigate them if I didn't?"

He got up off the bed and approached Hermione, wrapping his arms around her. "I thought... I thought you didn't like them. I..."

"You see? You were ready to toss me aside based on a simple misunderstanding."

"I was trying to be noble."

"Leave that to the Gryffindors, why don't you."

He didn't laugh, though. He let out a breath and softly said, "But you would be happy with Nott. I heard you."

She looked at him, really looked at him, and then shook her head, searching for the right words. "If it had been Teddy I had married, we would be happy. But it wasn't Teddy I married, and leaving you to be with him wouldn't make me happy at all. It would make me miserable."

She bit her lip and looked down, examining his buttons before looking back up at him with a watery smile. "If you leave me, I won't go with Teddy. I won't go with anyone because I will still be married to you. I will always choose you because I will still love you."

She sniffled and then pulled him forward so she could snuggle into his chest. His arms enfolded her without hesitation, wrapping her with warmth and love. He nuzzled the top of her head with his cheek for a moment before drawing away. She looked up with wary eyes, but he smiled down at her.

"You do realize that if this is your idea of marital bliss, it leaves something to be desired, don't you?"

She choked on a laugh. "Yes, dear."

He huffed out a laugh himself and then bent down to kiss her. She kissed him back, convinced that she had, indeed, married her choice.

FINIS