III

Disclaimer: The characters all belong to Ms. Rowling and her shareholders, however, special credit goes to President Bush and his speech writers. I blatantly stole and adapted a portion of his 2004 State of the Union address for the Minister's speech. Anything else you don't recognize is probably mine, however.

III.

Hermione stood near the top of the dungeon stairs looking across the entrance to the Great Hall, which was positively teeming with students. It seemed as if everyone in the castle was there. She wished her stomach would stop protesting because then she could just go hide in the library until it was time for class.

Her stomach chose that moment to make a particularly loud groan.

Sighing, she trudged up the last step and crossed the empty Entrance Hall. She was perversely glad that the enchanted ceiling was stormy and gray, as it suited her mood far better than a sunny day would have. As luck would have it, though, the moment she entered the room the clouds drifted apart, and a ray of sun lit upon her standing in the doorway.

"As if I needed a grand entrance," she muttered, trying to keep the irritation out of her face as gradually everyone in the hall turned to watch her progress.

What had been a dull roar quieted down so that the whispering Slytherins had to lower their voices even further. Hermione was surprised they weren't taunting her yet, and, looking over, was surprised to see them regarding her warily. All of them, not just the first years. Looking around to the other House tables, she noticed that all of the students' faces were a mixture of awe, fear and, in the case of the Gryffindor table, glee. Quickening her pace slightly, she made her way over to an empty spot beside Harry, still aware that everyone was watching her.

"Morning," she muttered quietly to her friends as she sat down. She could hear the whispers starting all around her, not confined to the Slytherin table anymore, as her friends greeted her back.

"So you survived, then?" Seamus asked rather loudly. "There was a pool going on whether we'd see you again. Alive, that is."

Hermione scowled at Seamus, but noticed the rest of the hall was paying close attention. "Well, as you can see, I'm still hale and hearty. Though I am rather hungry."

Harry and Ginny blushed along with Hermione as several people laughed loudly, and a few catcalls were thrown her way. Hermione closed her eyes in mortification and wondered if she would ever regain the ability to keep her mouth shut. The less she said, the better.

"So did Snape survive?" Seamus continued incorrigibly. Hermione looked up at the staff table and realized suddenly why everyone had been staring at her so intently. She wondered what was going through their minds, positive that it wouldn't be the truth. Her first thought was that Severus was going to be upset about this turn of events, but then, he had to have considered it a possibility when he strode up that aisle. Maybe he hadn't been simply teasing her when he started walking away.

"So did he?" Seamus asked again. Hermione realized she'd been staring blankly at Snape's empty spot and immediately turned to focus on Seamus.

She shook her head disdainfully and said, loudly enough that the entire hall could hear, "Of course he's alive." Lowering her voice slightly, she added, "He's just resting."

Half the boys within hearing range started choking on their pumpkin juice. Hermione realized a bit late how that must have sounded. She quickly amended, "Madam Pomfrey ordered him to take it easy."

Silence descended on the Gryffindor table as everyone turned to stare at her, some with forks halfway to their open mouths. Then Neville started laughing, and everyone turned to their neighbor to discuss the new gossip. Soon, the exaggerated news that Professor Snape had been placed on "bed rest," thanks to the Head Girl, had spread throughout the hall. Hermione noticed that she was getting a lot more looks from the male population than she ever had before.

Closing her eyes once more, Hermione determined to never say a word in public again. There was always too much collateral damage. Thinking about how Severus would react, she shoved her breakfast to the side and hid her face in her arms. The day just kept getting better and better!

"Cheer up, Hermione," she heard Harry say, as she was patted on the back. "At least people now know there's more to you than schoolwork."

She raised her head to glare at the Boy Wonder. "I liked my relative obscurity, thanks! And how do you think Severus is going to take this view?"

Harry shrugged. "Well, really, he should be pleased. I mean, he's now the envy of half the school population." Hermione raised her eyebrow at the same time as Ginny, making Harry back away slightly. "I'm just saying that's how it's going to play out."

Hermione looked around the hall again, and, sure enough, she noticed boys kept looking in her direction.

"Well," Hermione said with a sigh, "he may now be envied, but this is Snape we're talking about! He's so contrary that you have to insult him before he accepts a compliment."

"Oh, really?" Ginny said, leaning forward with an interested look. "Do tell."

"No! I'm not going to talk about Severus. I have to live with the man, and I want to make that as easy for me as possible."

Ginny held up her hands. "All right, no need to get huffy! I wasn't really expecting you to say anything. I'll admit I am curious about him, but I would never invade your privacy. You know that!"

Hermione nodded, taking a sip from her pumpkin juice. Just as she was about to explain her bad mood to Ginny, the morning owls came swooping in. A large barn owl dropped the morning edition of the Daily Prophet in Hermione's arms, narrowly missing her plate of eggs.

"I'm sorry," she said as she reflexively opened the paper. "It's just been a bad morning so far, and I don't really expect it to get much better, especially with everyone still reacting to--" She cut off as her eyes skimmed the headline.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, sensing the mood shifting yet again.

With a grim face, Hermione started reading the article aloud, not bothering to keep her voice down.

"The Ministry passes the Equality Reform Act in a bold move to improve relations between differing factions of the Wizarding population."

"So they passed it then?" Harry asked, looking grim as he loaded his spoon.

Ginny snorted. "I should have known they'd know how to sugarcoat bile. Do they manage to gloss over the nastier bits?"

"Yes," Hermione said, responding to both Harry and Ginny's observations. "Listen: 'Last night in an unparalleled display of diplomacy, the Ministry passed a striking new law designed to ease the tension between purebloods and those of Muggle descent. In the past, the differing backgrounds have resulted in occurrences of public disagreement--'"

Hermione cut off as Harry snorted into his porridge. "That's one way to describe Voldemort's uprising, I suppose."

Hermione smiled tightly in acknowledgment, but her attention was still on the article, her face a mixture of revulsion and awe.

"What else do they say?" Ginny asked tentatively.

"The Minister gave a press conference this morning, and they've given the transcript of his speech," Hermione said, trying not to sound as ill as she felt.

Ginny, seeing her turn slightly green, grabbed the paper from her hands and skimmed it for herself.

"Really, it's a decent example of political doublespeak," she said, though she too looked as if she'd swallowed a slug.

Hermione glanced up at Ginny and noticed that half the table was looking at the three of them.

"Well, what does it say?" Harry asked, trying to see the article around Ginny's arms.

"Well, here's what our lovely Minister has to say on this lovely new day," Ginny continued, loud enough for the onlookers to hear.

"As we gather today, hundreds of witches and wizards across the world are celebrating our recent success in the war on the Death Eaters. Hope has been brought to the oppressed, and we've delivered justice to the violent and made Britain and the Wizarding world more secure. However, the battle against prejudice and violence against those of non-magical antecedents continues unabated."

Hermione and Harry snorted in unison.

"Each day, Aurors are tracking rogue Death Eater threats; arithmantists are examining Portkey usage; the men and women of our new Department for Protection and Equitable Treatment are patrolling our treatises and papers. And their vigilance is protecting the Wizarding world.

Wizards are proving once again to be the best people in the world. The Wizarding society is growing stronger."

"I suppose that's to engender the purebloods' pride," Hermione cut in. Ginny shot her a grin that was identical to her twin brothers' smiles.

"Today, members of the Wizengamot can take pride in the great works of compassion and reform that skeptics had thought impossible. You're raising the standards for Hogwarts, and you are giving our Squibs more status and equality in the great world we've forged."

"Ooh, has Filch seen this yet?" Seamus said, looking around the room with exaggerated zeal. A few people sniggered, but they quickly quieted as Ginny continued.

"We have faced serious challenges together, and now we face a choice: We can go forward with confidence and resolve, or we can turn back to the dangerous illusion that rogue Death Eaters are not plotting and Muggleborn haters are no threat to us. We can press on with societal growth and reforms in equality and integration, or we can turn back to old policies and old divisions."

"I don't see what's so bad about that," Neville said. "It's not like reform isn't needed."

"Yes, but what kind of reform do they really have in mind, Neville?" Hermione retorted.

"It is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting --and false."

"And you're not the one who faced Voldemort, you bag of stink sap," Harry muttered under his breath.

"The prejudice has continued. The ideals of the Death Eater continues to plague and mar the civilized world. And by our will and courage, this danger will be defeated.

"Inside Britain, where the war began, we must continue to give our Aurors and Department of Protection and Equitable Treatment personnel every tool they need to defend us. And one of those essential tools is the new Equality Reform Act, which allows those of Muggle descent to better share privileges the purebloods have enjoyed throughout the ages."

"Which privileges are they talking about, anyway?" Hermione said, looking at Ginny as if for an answer. The other girl shrugged.

"The Equality Reform Act is designed to ease the tension of transition by making concessions to both sides. It was agreed that those who suffered persecution under pureblood extremists will be compensated by society with certain rights denied them throughout the last few years. Under this law, Muggleborns and half-bloods will be able to raise their families without fear of prejudice in the Wizarding world. Those of non-magical antecedents will be honored for helping make the Wizarding world stronger than ever by raising the next generation of witches and wizards much as their ancestors did.

"The children to come will never need to know prejudice as they will all be raised to know their magical roots. They will be steeped in the histories of both the Muggle and the magical world as they grow up with pureblood privilege.

"As a society, we will secure new friendships and become stronger for our new bonds. We will defeat the prejudice of the past and become stronger for the efforts we've made. We will raise our children without fear of misplaced loyalties, for we will only need to be loyal to ourselves.

"The responsibility of the future is upon us, and we are forging our path with the promise of equality."

By the time Ginny finished, everyone within range was silent, hanging on every word. The younger children were looking confused at the sudden mood shift.

"Hmm. Notice he didn't mention anything about powers being stripped or--"

"Oh, but he did, Harry!" Hermione protested. "'Those of non-magical antecedents will be honored for helping make the world stronger than ever by raising the next generation of witches and wizards much as their ancestors did.' Why else do you think he brought up Muggle ancestry?"

"They can't be saying what you think they're saying. That would be mad!" Neville interjected. "The whole of the Wizarding world would object."

"The whole world?" Ginny asked, looking pointedly at the Slytherin table. "I can think of a few people who might want to control how the next generation is brought up, can't you?"

Neville nodded but looked skeptical.

"Neville, the reason I married Professor Snape was because Lucius Malfoy had his eye on me. We don't have proof, but we suspect Malfoy is behind this law. I would much rather be forced to marry someone I respect than that lizard."

"You knew about this beforehand?" Lavender asked, looking frightened. "You didn't say anything!"

"We weren't allowed to," Ginny said, startling a few people. "What, did you really believe Harry and I were allowed to get married as a reward for services rendered?"

"But why were you let in... Why weren't we all told?" Lavender continued, starting to look a bit panicked.

"Because we were counted as the prime targets," Hermione replied. "It was assumed that if the bill became law, we would be the ones to receive marriage contracts before anything could be done to rescind the law."

"So you're all safely married, but what about the rest of us?" Parvati exclaimed.

"Relax. Neville was right. The majority of the people will see this as the asinine attempt to gain power it is and will revolt. I'd be surprised if the law isn't overturned before the year is out. All you have to do is keep a low profile and you'll be fine," Harry said with a smile, which was only partly returned.

"So, okay, that explains why you married Snape, but that doesn't explain why you shagged him to the point of passing out," Seamus said possibly a little louder than he intended, as he flushed slightly when the hall erupted into a cacophony of laughter, shrieks and catcalls.

"I never said he passed out, nor did I imply it was sex that did it. That was your own dirty mind coming to its own conclusion!" Hermione huffed, far more embarrassed than she wanted to be.

Seamus' eyes grew big, and his lips started twitching convulsively. "You didn't hex him, did you?" he half shouted over the din, which suddenly quieted. The entire hall turned their way.

Hermione, very aware of everyone's eyes on her, swallowed, and shook her head.

"Can you even imagine me hexing a teacher, let alone Professor Snape?" she asked, determined not to catch Harry's eye. Seamus shook his head slowly, but he continued to stare at her with a growing look of awe.

Rolling her eyes, Hermione gathered her books. She hadn't had much to eat, but all she wanted was to get out of the spotlight that seemed to be trained on her in the hall.

"I need to get out of here," she muttered to Harry and Ginny, who both nodded in fervent agreement. They all gathered their things and stood up in unison.

"And now," Ginny intoned to the watching crowd, "we make our grand exit. Be sure to follow all gossip protocols and wait until we're ten steps from the door before raising your voices."

A few snickers met Ginny's speech, but Hermione barely noticed, all her attention was on how to get through the day and then survive the night.

XXX

By the time lunch was being served, Hermione wanted nothing more than to curl up beside Moaning Myrtle's toilet. At least there she'd only be pestered by the weepy ghost. However much she wanted to avoid the student populace, she wanted to avoid Snape's quarters even more. It wasn't that she was afraid of how Severus would take everything, even with him being an utterly miserable git when sick; it was how the student population would view her retreat. It had been made clear many times that morning how all the boys' perceptions of her had changed during breakfast. A few of the leers she received between classes had made her look down to see if she was still clothed.

Therefore, she was greatly relieved when Ginny pulled her out of the queue for lunch and herded her into a quiet passage on the fourth floor. Ginny gestured to a niche, and they settled in for the lunch hour.

"I thought you might be a little tired of the talk," Ginny said as she produced a cold chicken sandwich from her book bag. Seeing Hermione's bemused expression, Ginny went on. "I bopped down to the kitchen first. No offense, but I figured it would be better to go before catching you. I think the elves secretly play "pin the wart on the witch" with your image."

Hermione knew Ginny was joking, but she wasn't sure how to react to the jibe. She stayed silent.

"I didn't mean that, you know," Ginny said after a moment. Hermione looked up to find Ginny looking at her with a serious expression. "I'm sure the elves have forgiven and forgotten your efforts to save them from themselves."

Hermione smirked. "Considering Dobby is the only elf who doesn't shriek and Disapparate when he sees me? I have my doubts on that front."

Ginny dutifully laughed. "Well, in that case, I'm doubly glad I went to the kitchens before getting you. I never would have been able to find the chocolate mousse with all the elves Disapparating away."

Hermione's eyes widened at the mention of the dessert. "You didn't."

"I did," Ginny said, reaching into her bag and produced a bowl of chocolate heaven. Hermione's peeved expression melted away as Ginny handed her one of the spoons. Closing her eyes to savor the first bite, she sighed as the chocolate dissolved on her tongue.

"You," Hermione said, taking another spoonful and raising it to Ginny in a toast, "are my very best friend."

Ginny rolled her eyes and said, "Cupboard love."

"No, seriously. Harry never would have thought of this. I mean, yes, he'd be there behind me, awkwardly patting my back in sympathy, but he wouldn't ever be able to think of something so obvious."

"You're right there. I love him dearly, but..."

"Exactly. He means well, but..."

The girls looked at each other and rolled their eyes in unison, giggling as they did so.

"So how about Severus?" Ginny asked. Then seeing the warning glance Hermione sent, she explained. "Would he have thought of something like this?"

Hermione backed down with a sigh. "Probably not, but I really don't know. It's not like we've had a lot of time to get to know each other yet. We've hardly had one evening. I have no idea how well he knows me, and I'm sort of scared to find out."

"Why?"

"Because... Well, I'm pretty sure he loves me." I hope he does, she added internally. "He said he developed feelings for me since Ron died. But... how long has he loved me, really? I mean, can a person go from loathing to loving in so short a span of time? And if not, then what sort of man have I married?"

Ginny inspected her spoon carefully for any remaining specks of the pudding, thinking carefully.

"Would you prefer him to have fallen in love with you knowing nothing about you but your grades and looks or knowing something about your personality beyond the books?"

"I don't know. In theory, I'd like him to love me for who I actually am, but in reality, how could he get to know me without, well..." Hermione shook her head resolutely. "Never mind. He is my husband now, full stop. All I can hope for is that he won't come to hate me if I never return his sentiments."

"Is he that bad?" Ginny asked, frowning.

Hermione looked up, slightly shocked at the question. "What? No, he's... It's just... I..." She wanted to tell Ginny what Madam Pomfrey had said. She wanted Ginny to reassure her that she was being silly to believe that Severus Snape, Slytherin Extraordinaire, would do something so selfless (and stupid) as to marry her to fulfill a nonexistent life debt. But that niggle of doubt kept her from saying anything for fear Ginny might agree with the nurse.

"I understand. Really, I do. I just hope that you do give him, and yourself, a chance."

"I am. It's just that, well..." Hermione faded out, weighing her words carefully. "Last night Severus was sick. That's why he was ordered to rest. He was really very ill, and, well, he's not a very nice person when he's sick."

Ginny snorted, then started coughing, trying to keep from laughing. "You say that as if he's nice when healthy! But come on, you can't judge him from one night when he was sick. That's like judging him based on his teaching record."

"And that's all I know about him, really. Just as all he knows about me, presumably, is based on my student record. Yes, we know a few more little details than we did a week ago, but on the whole, we're starting as teacher and student. Not exactly the kind of relationship I wanted."

"So you regret marrying him?"

"No! No, that's not it at all. It's just the reality of everything is sinking in, and then breakfast made everything so much worse... and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this situation. I'm trying to justify to myself taking this route when it wasn't offered to Lavender, Parvati and the rest of them. What if they get petitioned before the law is overturned? They could have been forewarned and found better alternatives."

Ginny looked at Hermione sharply, as if examining her for parasites. When she continued, Hermione asked, "What? Do I have something in my hair?"

"No, I'm looking for signs of Polyjuice. You obviously aren't Hermione Granger. She would see how stupid that statement was before it left her lips."

Hermione frowned and opened her mouth to protest, but Ginny cut her off.

"You didn't take the easy route, Hermione. You didn't have an easy route to take. It was either scale the cliff face with Snape, Remus or some other wizard, or jump off the cliff with Malfoy. You didn't have the option of waiting like Lavender and the rest probably do."

"But--"

"But nothing. Your life is shitty right now, but at least you've got a husband who loves you, even if he is a sourpuss. It could be ten times worse, and that's not even considering Malfoy as an option."

Hermione sighed in frustration. "I know that, but... Do you have any idea how he's going to react to the rumors going around now? I don't. I can imagine how Professor Snape would handle the situation very well, but not Severus. The fact that I know Professor Snape better than my husband is scaring the living daylights out of me now that the adrenaline is tapering off."

"Think of this as an early learning experience?" Ginny said unhelpfully, shrugging her shoulders. Hermione rolled her eyes and settled back down to eating her mousse. They sat there in companionable silence for a few minutes before Ginny cast a Muffliato and asked the question that had been nagging at her since breakfast.

"So, how is he, anyway?"

Hermione looked up distractedly. "Come again?"

"How was he?"

"He had chickenpox. He should be feeling much better by now, though."

Ginny raised her eyebrows at that, but she shook her head. "I didn't mean that. I meant--"

"Do you honestly think I'm going to answer that question?" Hermione interrupted hastily.

Ginny shrugged. "It was worth a try. Being your bestest friend ever, I thought you'd tell me something."

Hermione laughed, and soon the girls were giggling together, subject dropped, while they polished off the last of the chocolate mousse.

XXX

Dinner couldn't come fast enough in Hermione's mind. She could feel everybody's eyes on her, even if they were keeping their voices down here in the library. She hadn't been quite so lucky in class. By the end of Arithmancy, Professor Vector was openly glaring at her as if she were willfully making everyone stare at her and whisper. It was very frustrating; it wasn't as if she welcomed the attention, and it annoyed her as much as it did the teachers. Of course, she hoped that was why the professor had been glaring. Hermione didn't want to contemplate having to deal with two jealous women for the rest of the year. Especially not the teacher of her favorite subject.

She also did not want to think of how many possible lovers Severus had taken among the staff. She almost wished that she could revert back to seeing Severus as only a teacher, a sexless human whose only purpose for being was to educate. Almost. She felt a smirk tug on her lips as she thought about the previous night. There were definite advantages to knowing Severus was not a sexless being.

Looking up, she noticed some of the students were leaving for dinner. She shoved her textbooks back in her bag and joined them, anxious to not be the last person in the hall again.

Adjusting her pack on her shoulder once more, she heaved a sigh of relief, seeing only a smattering of people in the Great Hall. She instinctively looked up at the staff table, but only Dumbledore and McGonagall were there. She couldn't decide whether it would be better for Severus to miss this meal or not.

She took her place at the Gryffindor table and helped herself to the food that started appearing. There seemed to be no reason to prolong another meal. Besides, she was getting curious about Severus' health. The twenty-four hours was nearly up.

Before long, the hall had filled up. Harry and Ginny had split up, for once, to sit on either side of her, and she was immensely grateful for the buffer. If anything, the leers were getting worse. She had no idea how to counteract such behavior, but she decided ignoring it was probably the best option at that point.

Suddenly, the noise in the hall dropped. Looking up, Hermione saw everyone watching the staff table, specifically the man in black who had just walked in. He still didn't look healthy and was moving almost sluggishly for him. The teachers he walked by were greeting him happily, although he only nodded curtly, as was his style.

Feeling like someone was watching her, Hermione shifted her attention to Professor Vector and caught the witch giving her a sour look before quickly shifting her attention back to her meal. Hermione closed her eyes, inwardly groaning at the prospect of dealing with a jealous nurse and teacher for three more months.

The babble of the hall soon rose again, but Hermione failed to notice the increase of glances she was receiving. She was concentrating on finishing her meal so she could escape. Before she made much progress, however, Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder. Looking around, she found three Ravenclaw boys she recognized from Quidditch, leering at her unpleasantly. Hermione felt the tension level of all the Gryffindors around her go up.

"So, Granger, or I suppose it's Snape now, isn't it? I see your husband is still alive, but he doesn't look very well, does he? To me he looks rather peaky."

Hermione felt Harry go for his wand, but she put a restraining hand on him. This was her fight. Well, hers and Severus', but he had made clear that she could fight all their battles for them.

"And what business is it of yours how Professor Snape looks?"

The boys laughed unpleasantly. "Is that what you call him? Granted he isn't really the type for a pet name, now is he?"

She gritted her teeth. "Whether I call him Severus, Sugar, or Rabid Bunny of Love is none of your business. In fact, is there any business you do have here?"

Everyone in the area had choked slightly at her last choice of name, but the boys standing before her recovered quickly.

"Well, considering how old your Rabid Bunny of Love is and how he looks after just one night with you, maybe you need someone--"

"Or maybe more than one someone," another boy cut in.

"A little younger and stronger with a little more... endurance."

Hermione, Harry, Ginny and half the seventh year Gryffindors were standing and aiming their wands at the three boys in no time flat. The leader barely blinked, though the others looked a little nervous.

Still looking smug, the leader said, "Well, if you ever change your mind..." He turned away and came nose to very large nose with none other than Snape himself.

The boy lost a little of his confidence at that point.

"Mr. Jacobs," Snape drawled casually, making the boys wonder if he had overheard anything "I was musing earlier today about the more impressive students at the school." The boys relaxed slightly. "Your name, I'm afraid, didn't come to mind immediately, but maybe I have underestimated you." Jacobs looked as if he couldn't decide if he should be worried or pleased. Snape didn't make the decision easy for him. He backed away a step and fingered his chin thoughtfully. "Tonight you have exhibited an extraordinary sense of decorum, coming to give my wife congratulations on our marriage." Jacobs relaxed slightly and started to grin in an almost charming manner. Snape took the opportunity to smile back indulgently. "I hear that not everybody has been so thoughtful as you've been tonight. You really should be commended for such... tact."

Hermione felt Harry about to speak up, but she quickly grabbed his arm to hold him back. She didn't know exactly how Severus was going to eviscerate the jerk, but she knew interfering at this point would be a bad idea.

Snape relaxed his shoulders slightly and appealed to the boy with an air of camaraderie. "In fact, I was wondering if you might help me with something." At this Jacobs did let his guard down and positively preened. "I was wondering if you would tell me why you thought it a good idea to come over here and proposition my wife in front of not only me, but the entire school?" Snape's tone had turned dangerous, and he advanced on the boy menacingly. It didn't take long for Jacobs to realize he was in very serious trouble.

"S-sir?"

Snape's voice had become a whisper so quiet Hermione could barely hear him. "Do you think me stupid, boy?"

Jacobs eyes went wide, and he shook his head tentatively.

"With words, boy!" Snape barked loudly, making half the people around jump.

"N-no, s-sir."

"Do you think I'm blind?" Snape asked, once again barely audible in the silent hall.

The boy shook his head again, looking about ready to pee himself.

"Were you aware that the woman you were so kindly offering your services to was married?" Jacobs nodded minutely. "To me?" A cowering nod followed.

Snape backed up and crossed his arms, looking at Jacobs and his cohorts with utter disgust. "Ten points from Ravenclaw," he paused long enough for all the Gryffindors, though especially Harry, to tense in objection before adding, "for each word said to me, and twenty more for each word you said to my wife." Snape sneered nastily. "I suppose for your House's sake, I'll be generous, though, and only make it one thousand points from Ravenclaw."

The boys nearly fainted, then Jacobs did the silliest thing Hermione could imagine. He looked up to the staff table for support from Professor Flitwick, Professor Dumbledore, Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Vector, Hooch, or any of them. Professor Flitwick simply looked at them very disappointedly. "Twenty more points for being so stupid as to imagine you'd receive help from your Head of House. You're a Ravenclaw. You should know better." The boys wilted visibly, but they remained where they were until Snape shot them a look that very clearly said, 'Get out now while the going is good.'

Hermione felt a smug look taking over her face, realizing that having Snape for a husband might have some benefits besides the sex. Then he turned to face her.

He looked murderous.

"As for you," he said, still barely audible, "I expected better from you than to willfully and maliciously spread rumors. A hundred points from Gryffindor, and a detention which we will discuss in my office right NOW!"

He stepped back and stood there in his domineering pose, glaring at her. She felt her face redden; she was both embarrassed and furious that Severus was treating her like this. It would have been bad enough in private, but in the Great Hall for everybody to witness it was damn near unforgivable.

She opened her mouth to speak, but she stopped as he raised an eyebrow mockingly. She knew then that if she said anything, he would have no compunctions about verbally lacerating her in front of everybody, their marriage be damned. It made her stomach sink to confirm he thought so little of her.

Screwing her mouth shut and clenching her jaw, she bent down to pick up her bag. She felt Harry stiffen at her capitulation, but thankfully he stayed silent, probably due to Ginny. When she stood up, she found herself looking at the receding image of her husband as he walked to the doors in his usual stiff manner.

She was tempted for a moment to sit back down and ignore his demand, but she knew that would only make things worse. Everyone would stare at her like they were doing now, and as it was, it was very uncomfortable.

Without a word to her friends, she raised her chin and followed Snape with as much dignity as she could. The hall was silent as everyone watched her take the long walk; even the teachers were watching her. She kept her head high and expression closed. There was no need for everyone to see how angry she was, nor make this a public battle.

Once the door to the Great Hall closed behind her, however, she looked around and didn't see him. She stopped her progress and mulishly leant against the wall. If he had assumed she would follow his unfair orders without a thought, he was seriously mistaken.

After a minute, she heard his sharp footsteps coming from the dungeon stairway. When his head appeared, she noted with some satisfaction that he was furious.

He stood by the stairway and beckoned her with a finger, which she looked at pointedly, then met his eyes and raised her eyebrow curiously.

"Hermione," he hissed dangerously, "when I ask you to do something, you are to do it. Now come to my office."

"No," she said raising her chin a little further in defiance.

"What?" he snarled and started toward her.

"If you ask me to do something, then I might choose to comply, but as it is, you are ordering me around, and I respectfully refuse."

Snape's face paled with rage. "Respectfully refuse, madam?

Hermione nodded, jaw still clenched. "Yes, although if you make an issue of it, I imagine it won't be respectful for much longer."

"At this point, you have surrendered your right of refusal. Now come!" he said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her forward with a jolt. It took only a moment before Hermione found her balance and her wand.

"Incendio!" Hermione shouted aiming her wand at Snape's sleeve. He dragged her forward two more steps before he felt the fire reach his skin. Letting go of Hermione with a yelp, he quickly extinguished the flames, and then he turned to her with his wand drawn, snarling with rage. Hermione was prepared though and already had her wand aimed at him. She felt as angry as he looked.

"How dare you hex me?" he whispered angrily.

"How dare you treat me like that?" she replied.

"Deserving respectful treatment went out the window when you started those completely unacceptable rumors!"

"Why would I start ANY rumors about you, me, or us? Not only do I have to deal with you, but I have to live in this school, too!"

Snape opened his mouth to reply when he was cut off by a voice by the front doors.

"Severus, Hermione. The two of you are settling into married life swimmingly, I see."

"Stay out of this!" Snape and Hermione shouted in unison. Neither bothered looking at Lucius, as they were still busy glaring furiously at each other.

"No, I'm afraid I must interrupt. After all, Severus, if you harm my intended, I will be extremely displeased. As it is, I find it quite rude how you stole not only my idea, but my bride."

"I won't even pretend to understand the twisted way your mind has been working lately," Snape spat at Hermione, going back to their argument and ignoring Lucius. "You've made it clear enough that..." He shut his mouth with a snap, cutting off what he was going to say. "You've made it perfectly clear in the last week that your senses have gone on vacation. For all I know, this is your way of ensuring you emerge from this scandal unscathed."

"Severus, I expected better from you. Especially after all the years of support and understanding I sent your way," Lucius drawled, anger starting to filter through his calm facade; his fingers were tapping the head of his cane.

"Unscathed?" Hermione said, astonished. "Unscathed? Do you have any idea how demeaning it is to walk down the halls feeling like every bloody boy in the school is undressing me with their eyes? And how the hell would starting rumors about myself help me stay unscathed?"

Lucius started pacing on the outskirts of their argument, tapping his cane on the floor in annoyance. "Severus, I am very disappointed in you, and--"

"Not now, Lucius," Snape snapped. "Your respect doesn't suffer," he continued to Hermione.

"You really do have a twisted definition of respect if you think that's what the students are feeling toward me right now! Any real respect I had earned was shot to hell when you made me look like an errant first year in there!" she yelled, pointing toward the Great Hall.

"Severus, I am trying to speak with you," Lucius snarled.

"And I am trying to understand how she can defend hexing me?" Snape shouted, still looking at Hermione.

Slipping his right hand into his pocket, Lucius growled, "Sev--"

"I am your WIFE! I am not your student. I am not a house-elf. I am not someone you can push around and intimidate. How you behaved in there disrespected me on a basic level, and I will not stand for that! You will treat me as an equal, or I will leave you!"

Lucius brought his wand out and aimed it in Snape's direction. "Severus, will you kindly shut the harpy up so I can kill--"

"STUPEFY!" Snape and Hermione shouted in unison, pointing their wands in Lucius' direction without taking their eyes off each other. The spells hit him squarely in the chest, the force of which threw him back several feet. He landed awkwardly at the doors of the Great Hall, narrowly missing the feet of Professor McGonagall.

Hermione and Severus lowered their wands and looked at each other a moment longer, realization of what they had been doing, and where, sinking in. Slowly, as one, they turned to look in the direction of the Great Hall.

Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall stood in front of the doors to the Great Hall in exactly the same angry pose with exactly the same powerful energy crackling off them. Their mouths were both turned down in identical scowls.

"Professor Snape!" McGonagall exclaimed after what seemed to be an eternity. "I am appalled, shocked and appalled, by your utter lack of decorum! I have not been so ashamed of you since you took that Mark!" Hermione saw Snape wince slightly at McGonagall's tone and felt a small wave of sympathy for him. McGonagall was almost as scary as Dumbledore when angry.

"And you, Mrs. Snape! Mrs. Snape, I expect you to look at me when I'm talking to you!" Not recognizing her married name, it took Hermione a moment to register that McGonagall was talking to her.

"Sorry, Professor, and, er, it's Ms. Granger. I'm not changing my name."

"What?" Snape exclaimed.

At that moment, Dumbledore started coughing, and Hermione heard him hurriedly disappear into the small room beside the hall. McGonagall, meanwhile, just stood there looking between Hermione and Severus. Her face was inscrutable, but Hermione felt the disapproval emanating off her.

She looked back at her husband. "I said I'm not changing my name. I like it. I see no reason to change it," she said, raising her chin defiantly. She was almost amused by the shocked and outraged look on Snape's face, but she was too angry to care about his feelings on the matter. She had not gotten married to give up her independence, quite the opposite, and he knew it.

A snort brought both of their attention back to McGonagall who still stood there, but was having a hard time keeping her composure.

"Whatever be your names, I strongly suggest that next time you argue, you do it somewhere you won't collect an audience!" Professor McGonagall then squared her shoulders and left as quickly as she could while levitating Lucius' unconscious body toward the infirmary. Hermione thought she heard another snort from her, but by then her attention was on the mass of students staring at them. Some were on the stairs, some were peeking out of corridors, but most were crowded around the doors of the Great Hall, which had been thrown open at some point without her noticing. All of the students were staring at her.

Hermione had known breakfast would be bad. She had known everyone would be looking and gawking at her. She had known they would talk, and there would be rumors. But this, this was mortifying.

"Madam Sn-- Ms. Granger, may I suggest we continue our dialogue elsewhere?" Snape's cold voice broke through her embarrassed haze, and suddenly the expressions of all the students hit her. They were looking at her with complete awe. For some reason, she found this hilarious and quickly suppressed a giggle. She turned to face Snape and found him giving her the hardest glare she'd ever seen, which only added to her humor.

Stifling her giggles, she smoothed her features out and said, "Now, Severus, dear, this really isn't the best time to make me laugh. I thought we had serious matters to discuss."

She felt the tension in the air rise as everybody held their breath, waiting for Snape's reaction. Snape stood there looking at her. The glare hadn't receded, but there was something else as well. Something she didn't recognize. She waited for a few heartbeats, then raised her eyebrow just slightly.

The collective gasp from the crowd could barely be heard over Severus' laugh. They watched in amazement as he took a bemused Hermione by the hand and led her off into the dungeons, his chuckles echoing through the corridors.

Severus was still chuckling when they reached the entrance to their rooms and still holding Hermione's hand. She was shocked silent by his behavior; he had never shown his humorous side to the students before. Even the headmaster didn't know of him laughing much. However, Hermione couldn't figure out for the life of her what he found funny about the situation or even her flippant response.

She followed along passively, trying to figure out everything, including what she was feeling. She was still really angry at him embarrassing her in the Great Hall like that, but his laughter was calming her down a little, reminding her that Severus wasn't a complete bastard. On top of that, she was berating herself; she should have seen the outburst coming. She should have foreseen everyone's reaction since breakfast. She realized now that she should have paid attention to her instincts and stayed out of sight. It might have saved her and Severus both a lot of humiliation.

Severus' laughter faded slightly when they arrived at the door, and as he whispered the password, something in the tone of his voice made her realize how mortifying the situation must be for him. Her anger faded quite a bit as she put herself in his shoes.

Not that he was going to get away with treating her like that.

She felt him leading her forward again, and as she came through the door, she decided she might as well be the first to apologize; it had been partially her fault, after all.

He released her hand as soon as they entered their chambers and turned to close the door.

"Severus, I--" The words died in her throat when he turned to face her again. All the laughter was gone from his face, replaced by white rage.

"Yes, darling wife?" he asked in a tone that sent cold shivers down her back. "You were going to say something?" He took a step forward, and she instinctively backed up. "Perhaps you were going to tell me how you aren't to blame for the rude and lascivious things being said about us." He took another step toward her, and she shrank back further, becoming frightened of his anger. "Perhaps you were going to accuse me of marrying you just to shame you as you so richly deserve!" She tried to retreat further as he stepped forward again, but she found herself against the wall. She swallowed nervously as he put his arms on either side of her body, effectively pinning her in place, then leaned in. "Perhaps you were going to tell me why the fuck you married me if you think so little of me."

She swallowed again and shook her head in what was little more than a shiver, then flinched as he pounded his fist against the wall beside her ear. "God damn it, Hermione!" he cried, then shoved himself away from her to start pacing the room, shooting her dark looks every few steps.

"How could you do that to me?" She started to protest as her heart rate normalized, but he held up his hand. "How could you be so naïve as to give them a chance? I thought you had a brain in that head of yours!"

"What was I to do?" Hermione asked, exasperated. "Avoid them for the entire day and let their imaginations really run away with them? If I had, they would be talking about how you have me chained to the bed, doing anything from whipping to raping me! I admit that I made a couple of bad decisions in the words I used this morning, but what was I to do, stay silent?"

"YES!" he roared forcefully. "You were to go to the hall for breakfast, sit there, look pretty, healthy, and blithe, and say absolutely nothing. Then they would talk, yes, but after a while, they wouldn't have anything to go on, so they would lose interest! With your few ill-chosen words, you have effectively guaranteed the entire school population will talk about us for the rest of the fucking year!"

Hermione closed her eyes as she accepted the truth of what he was saying. The extent of her stupidity crashed down on her; she was thoroughly ashamed of herself. She felt him still staring at her angrily, and suddenly her knees started shaking under her weight. She slid to the floor gracelessly and rested her head on her knees.

"Hermione--"

She held up her hand to him, feeling as though she would break if he berated her further at that moment. He sighed, and then she heard the slight scrunch of the sofa as he sat down.

Taking a deep breath, she looked up. He was sitting on the couch in nearly the same position she was in: leaning forward and resting his head in his hands, tugging on his hair.

"Severus, I'm sorry I've created a monster of this mess. I wasn't thinking. I was flustered and nervous, and you know how my mouth runs off when I'm nervous." She exhaled shakily. "I really am sorry I've made this situation worse, but you have to admit that them thinking me a sex goddess is better than a lot of things they could think. At least this way you're the envy of all the boys."

Snape snorted mirthlessly and shook his head and looked up at her hollowly. "What good is it to be the envy of schoolboys when I don't have the respect of my wife?"

"Severus, I--" she stopped, not knowing what to say.

He snorted again. "Of course words fail you now," Hermione barely heard him mutter. They sat there silently for what seemed like hours, each in their own world of thoughts.

"Do you really think I don't respect you?" Hermione finally said, breaking the silence. He looked up at her slowly.

"I haven't seen any evidence of it beyond the token respect given to all authority figures. I foolishly led myself to believe that you were different from the other students because you did show at least a modicum of interest and admiration." He snorted yet again and then said dully, "I suppose I should apologize for putting you in such an untenable situation. If I hadn't believed in you, I never would have offered my hand."

Hermione drew in a breath as if she'd been slapped and blinked rapidly to try and ward off the tears forming. She looked down again, wanting to hide her tears of shame from Severus.

She sat there for a moment, trying to manage her emotions. Finally, in a small voice, she asked, "Why did you offer to marry me?" and looked up.

He raised his head and stared at her wordlessly. There was something in his look that was forbidding, but she pressed on anyway.

"I need to know if you married me out of an obligation. I... I just need to know."

He continued staring at her for a few more moments, and she steeled herself not to squirm under his gaze. "And what if I did? Would knowing my motivation help you deal with this situation in a more respectable manner? Would the knowledge make you more mature?"

She bristled at his tone. "It very well might, as at least then I could be secure in the truth of the matter. Right now I feel like I'm being pulled five different directions, three of them by you. Last night you went from making me feel like a goddess in your eyes to a helpless little girl who can't do anything right. Then today you go out of your way to make me look, feel, and act like a stupid first year." Hermione sniffed, hating the fact that she was becoming emotional. She wanted so much to be mature, cool and logical; bursting into tears would not help that image. "I need to know how you see me so I can at least define your expectations of me and react accordingly."

Snape's eyes were glittering strangely as he responded, "Why do you think I offered?"

"Don't try that trick again, Severus. I need to know your side. I need you to trust me on this."

His face contorted into a hard sneer. "Trust you? You tell me I need to trust you on this topic? Why should I do so? My question is as valid as yours, or are you going to accuse me of not respecting you again?"

Hermione felt affronted. "I'm not going to accuse you of anything right now. I want to know where you're coming from before making any more judgments."

"And why don't you trust me on this? My question relates to this problem as much as yours, if not more. And frankly, I think you have shown remarkably little trust in me so far. Far less than I've shown in you."

"Trusting my life in your hands isn't enough?" Hermione huffed.

"Not when I'm your last resort."

Both of them were breathing hard in their ire as they tried to stare the other down. Slowly, the context of Snape's words were placed in Hermione's mind, and she promptly blanched.

"You heard everything?" Snape almost smiled as he nodded languidly, though the expression was far from pleasant. "Well, then, you see why I need to know the truth."

"And do you not see why I need your answer first? Or am I to simply trust you blindly in the face of everything, your words included?"

Hermione looked away, clenching her jaw. She knew he deserved an answer, but she didn't want to give it, as much for his sake as hers. Finally, when she couldn't bear the feeling of his eyes boring through her any longer, she yielded.

"I don't know. When I married you, I wanted to, and did, believe that you loved me. I thought that was the only logical answer to your actions. But before that, and since Madam Pomfrey's attack last night, I couldn't see why you would try to save me if it didn't involve a life debt or such. I hope your reason was you loved me."

"But you believe?"

Hermione clenched her eyes closed, forcing a thin stream of tears to flow down her cheeks. She whispered, "I don't know."

"You mean that you don't know whether I view you as a desirable woman or an annoying child? You don't know whether I love you or can barely stand you? You honestly believe I'm capable of being your suitor simply to appease my sense of honor?"

Hermione, eyes still closed, nodded. A second later, a crash snapped her eyes open, and she saw Severus standing with his back toward her, panting. The tea service lay shattered against the far wall, presumably where he threw it.

After a minute, his breathing evened out, and she heard him speak, though his voice was barely audible.

"If that is what you believe, then I should be honored you deigned to even consider me." He turned around, and although his mask was back in place, he couldn't conceal the fury radiating from his eyes.

"If you hold such high esteem of my character as to believe that I, the heartless git of the dungeons, could willingly give up my peace and solitary existence for the sake of honoring a debt, then I should take my hat off to you and bow," he said acidly, then mockingly acted out his words.

"Stop it, Severus," Hermione half pleaded, half demanded.

"Stop?" he asked, walking toward her. "Stop what? Stop telling you how indebted I should feel for your dubious attentions? Stop offering you the respect you so little deserve?" He stood towering over her, and then in one smooth motion, he grabbed her hands, pulled her up from where she'd been sitting, and pressed her tightly against himself. "Or perhaps you mean I should stop talking," he said menacingly, then stooped to kiss her roughly, holding her arms as he ravaged her mouth. This kiss held none of the desire she had felt with previous kisses, none of the love. This was pure, unadulterated malice, and she felt ill from it.

Rallying herself, she forcefully pushed Severus away from her and watched as he calmly wiped his mouth. Though tears of anger and humiliation were blurring her vision, she could still make out the smug look on his face, the dark triumph in his eyes.

Before he knew what was happening, she had slapped his cheek as hard as she could, then was out the door, not daring to wait for any reaction he might have.

---

Avery's Notes: Another day down (mostly). The next chapter covers the rest of Monday, then it's on to the last day before the week from Hell is over.

Thanks go to my lovely beta SW_69, though any mistakes you see are mine.

Southern's Notes: I am chewing on my nails over here. Yikes! Bring on the next chapter!