Chapter 29

Hermione stood when Scorpius dashed past her. His face was red from crying, but there was a smile on his face and lightness to his features she hadn't seen before. The frown that had always been there was gone.

Hermione looked up at Severus hopefully as he came from his office. He had a smile on his face, and he took her in his arms and held her close.

"I think we finally got through to him," he murmured, and he then told her a bit of the memory he had shown Scorpius.

Hermione held him close, thankful that the memory viewing might be at an end. She had seen the stress it had put on Severus. She could see a streak of silver in his hair. She wondered if he had noticed it.

"I'm happy for you, Severus. I know this has been hard on you."

Taking her hand, he said, "Let's go eat."

They left the classroom and headed for dinner. The halls were alive with students walking in the same direction, and they caught sight of Albus and Scorpius ahead talking animatedly.

Hermione squeezed his hand. "It looks like we have created some friends."

Severus nodded, thinking about what Harry might say. Harry hadn't been thrilled about his son being partnered with a Malfoy, but he had told them he trusted their judgment and knew the wizarding world would only work with all branches of wizards working together. There were still houses at Hogwart's, but the students intermingled more now and often sat at different tables. The separation was mostly for the Quidditch games.

Hermione watched Severus wolf down great amounts of food and was relieved that he had his appetite back. He hadn't been eating much since the lessons with Scorpius had started. She noticed Scorpius was actually sitting with Albus at the Gryffindor table. Their heads were together as they scribbled away on a piece of parchment and stuffed food into their mouths.

"I think you'd best announce the contest tomorrow before Albus and Scorpius tell. The other students may call foul if they realize they have a head start," Hermione told Severus.

He nodded between bites of food. "I'm sure you're right, my dear. Sorry, I am just famished tonight."

"Is food all you want?" she asked with a devilish glint in her eye as she trailed a finger over his hand.

He stopped eating and stared into her eyes. Seeing desire there, he suddenly was more than ready to be done with his meal.

"I have an insatiable appetite when it come to you, my dear," he whispered, wishing he could nuzzle her neck and give her a kiss.

"I have reserved the prefects' bathroom for us tonight," she informed him. One of her hands under the table was sliding up his leg, getting closer and closer.

"Hermione," he hissed. "Please, if you don't cease, we may have to wait until the room clears."

She laughed aloud and everyone at the staff table looked their way.

Severus blushed furiously.

Minerva gave them a stern look that said, "Behave."

Poppy was watching with a fond smile. She was happy to see the change in Severus tonight. She hadn't had much time to talk to him, but she had known of his plan to help Scorpius.

Mortified, Severus took Hermione by the hand and as they stood, murmmering, "Good night, everyone. Hermione and I have work to do."

He saw that no one believed them as they made their way out of the room and had no doubt the students would also be talking about them. He realized as they stepped into the hall, and he planted a steamy kiss on Hermione, that it didn't matter in the least. He didn't care what people thought. They were, after all, newlyweds.

"What time did you reserve it for?" he asked impatiently.

She grinned at him. "I think we could go now. Everyone else is eating." She took his hand, and they hurried through the hall and up a few flights of stairs.

They entered the room and gazed at the bathtub. It was more like an indoor swimming pool. Severus locked and warded the door. It was, by far, one of the nicest bathrooms in the castle. Its many faucets, rich gold fixtures, and stained glass windows made it sheer heaven.

They didn't really talk but stripped and slipped into the warm water. Hermione swam a few laps just to warm herself up. Severus watched her appreciatively. A glimpse of a breast here or buttock there made the view especially pleasurable.

He dove under the water and caught her. She laughed as he captured her against his chest. She let him tease her lips with his before she slipped away again.

She was so like a girl at these times. She loved teasing him and loved to see the smile play across his face. He was so unlike the man she'd know as a child, yet he had barely aged from that time. She was thankful that she'd caught up physically and mentally with him.

"Hermione, come here," he called, cricking a finger at her.

She laughed, swimming to the other side of the bath. "Catch me if you can." She dodged him as he lunged across the bath. She let him chase her for a while as she bounced, swam, and dove away from him.

When the frown on his face began to grow, she swept up under the water, vanishing, and came up before him. She flung herself in his arms and bathed his face with kisses.

"You little minx." He kissed her until she was gasping for breath, and she let herself sag against him with pleasure.

"Severus, I love you so much. I wake each morning, and when I realize I'm not dreaming and you're really there beside me, I just thank God. I can't imagine life without you." She smoothed back his wet hair from his face. She could feel he was hard against her stomach. She slipped her hand down to caress him.

"Hermione," he groaned, "I can't imagine my life without you either." His fingers were caressing her breasts.

She urged him to the side of the pool and slapped her hand on the edge. "Sit up here, please."

He looked at her curiously and did as she bid him.

Hermione got her wand from the side of the pool where her clothes lay. She warmed the spot where he was sitting and placed a warming charm around him.

His eyes were enormous as she stood before him in the water and ran her hands up his legs and knees. She took the thick shaft in her hands and teased him until he was rock hard. She then bent and ran her tongue over the head.

"Oh Merlin, Hermione, that feels amazing." He caressed her hair as she took him deeper into her mouth and began to bob back and forth. He buried his hands in her hair and gently guided her back and forth.

Hermione heard his breath get short, and then he pushed her back and slipped into the water. Lifting her, he guided her to place her legs around his waist.

He let her down over his thick shaft, and she threw her head back as he wrapped his hands around her legs and gripped her thighs. She placed her hands on his shoulders to help raise and lower herself onto the thick shaft, and they began the age old dance of bringing each other to fulfillment. Their cries echoed through the cavernous room. Hermione slumped down against him, burying her face in his neck as he cradled her in his arms.

"You are amazing, my beautiful wife," he said, kissing her again. Then, resting back on one of the sitting areas, he just held her and let the warm water sooth them both.

Later they made love again, conjuring a thick pad to lie on at the waters edge. They dressed each other and then walked slowly back to their rooms.

*****

The next day, Hermione and Severus laid out the plans for the contest to all their fifth-year students. They told them they would have to work in pairs. They needed to write up their theory for a potion, explain what it was supposed to do, and create and execute the potion. Reports were due in four weeks. Potions would be brewed in class the week after.

Hermione concluded, "You will make appointments for practice on your potions after school. There will be a schedule set up depending on how many students are participating. Sixth and seventh years will also join in on this project. Theories will be due by the end of the week. You will need to make a list of the equipment and the ingredients you will need for your potion. Professor Snape will be in his office after dinner for one hour every night so you can ask questions. He has vast knowledge of potion making and will be able to explain the properties of the ingredients. I would ask that you make very sure your ingredients do not have any volatile properties. I think we've had enough explosions for one year."

The students laughed uneasily. No one wanted to see either of his or her teacher's hurt, including Scorpius. Her words had made him duck down a bit and get red. He knew he had to talk to her. He had not yet apologized, and he was dreading the task he knew was necessary.

Class was out a few minutes later, and he waited till every one left and then came forward. "Madam Snape, may I speak to you?"

Hermione looked up from her desk. Severus, who had been putting a cauldron on a shelf, looked toward the boy as well.

Hermione stood and waved the boy forward. "Of course, Scorpius, come forward. You may sit if you like." She waved at the chair in front of her desk.

Scorpius came but stood before her. "Madam Snape, I want to apologize for my actions. I was wrong. My grandfather was wrong. I thought he was right. I thought he loved me, but I was mistaken."

Hermione said, "Your grandfather does love you, Scorpius. He's just messed up, now. He cannot get over the past. It has poisoned his soul."

Scorpius nodded. "I will never try to harm you again. You have my word."

Hermione came and held out her arms, and the boy threw his arms around her and cried.

Severus watched from the side; his own tears blurred his view.

Hermione looked over Scorpius' head and smiled through her own tears as she stroked the boy's hair. "You go on to your next class, Scorpius. If you want to talk more, please come back. My door will be open to you anytime."

Scorpius backed away, taking a swipe at his face with his sleeve. He smiled and then turned and nodded to Severus before hurrying from the room.

Severus came to Hermione, who was trying to dab at her own tears.

"You okay?" he asked as he took her into his arms to give her a tight hug.

"Yes, I think it's alright now," she said, accepting a kiss before pushing him away. "I don't want to have students catching us snogging in the classroom."

Severus nodded, his eyes twinkling with some extracurricular thoughts as he glanced toward her (his old) desk.

She blushed a bit, guessing his thoughts. "You keep that thought in your head, dear. Now go off and do your rounds. I can hear the students coming."

He gave her a smirk and a peck on the forehead and headed off.

*****

Severus stopped into the infirmary to see what Poppy was up to and found her making a list of potions that needed restocking.

"Severus, it's about time you stopped by," she said a bit annoyed. "I know you're a newlywed, but you have time on your rounds for a visit now and then."

"Sorry, mom," he said, giving the older woman a kiss on the cheek.

She looked up at him. "Are you really going to continue to call me mom?" she asked.

"Do you mind? There's no one alive that deserves that title, in my life, more than you."

She giggled nervously. "I'd like that, Severus."

He gave her a hug. "I see you have a new list for me. Is there anything complicated?" he asked with hope in his voice.

"Skele-Gro, some liver purifier... I wouldn't mind having some Acromantula antidote. I know Hagrid still goes in to visit Aragog's children, but they seem less and less accommodating. I can't talk him out of going."

"I would need a sample of the poison," he told her.

She smiled and got a small vial from the shelf. "I thought you might." I asked Hagrid to get some the last time he was there. It's only a few weeks old and should be well preserved. I put a stasis charm on it."

Severus held the little bottle up and eyed the inky black contents; he resisted the shudder that wanted to run through his body. He didn't like spiders much either, but he'd never told anyone that. Being a spy, and therefore an actor, he was able to control his body's reactions to likes and dislikes.

"Did you know Minerva offered me her position when she retires at the end of the year?" he asked her, changing the subject.

"Yes, she mentioned it. She's happy that Filius stepped down and let you take the job. She knew she was asking a lot of him. This new job will help you feel better about yourself."

Severus stared at her a moment. She'd seen his weakness in not being able to adjust to having less of a job than Hermione. "You know me well," he admitted. "I think Hermione is relieved as well. I should be happy for her accomplishments, and I am very proud of her, but it's hard to walk out of 'my' room everyday and leave her to teach what should be my classes."

Poppy reached out to squeeze his hand. "Maybe one of the other classes will open up after a time and you can teach before Minerva leaves. Why don't you contact St. Mungo's and see if they need your expertise. You could use my lab if you like any time."

Severus bowed to her wisdom. "Alright, I will. I do need something to keep me busy when Hermione's grading papers or working with students. I will have a little more to do now with the contest." He told her about the contest and his tutoring after school.

"That's a wonderful idea, Severus. We do have some very smart children, and who knows what they might come up with. Please let me know if I can be of help."

Severus nodded. "I'd best get on with my rounds. If was nice to see you, Poppy. Thanks for the talk."

"Severus, I'm here most of the time. Come by anytime. This weekend is my weekend off. Why don't you and Hermione come for dinner on Saturday at the cottage. You can spend the night and relax a bit. I have friends I can visit to give you some private time. We need to talk about the wedding."

Severus smiled. "I'd like that, but I'll have to check with Hermione. With the contest commencing, we may need to be close by. Oh, Hermione thought the Easter week would be a good time for the wedding, here at Hogwarts. The weather should be good, and we can do it out in the garden. That should give you at least a start to come up with decoration ideas."

Poppy rubbed her hands together with relish, and her eyes glowed. "It will at that." She then asked seriously, "Are you sure Hermione's okay with me helping. I don't want to overstep my bounds and be a meddling mother-in-law."

Severus gave her a rare all-out laugh. "She welcomes your help. I don't think you will ever fit the bill of a meddling mother-in-law."

Poppy looked at him with amazement. "Severus, it's wonderful to hear you laugh...even to see you smile so much. Marriage agrees with you. Now go on with you and get to work, son." She handed him her list.

He grinned, took the list, and stuffed it in his robe pocket. He liked the sound of 'son' coming from her mouth. "I'm off."

Poppy watched as he walked away with a light step. He'd slunk around...slithering in and out of rooms, barely looking at anyone...ever since she could remember. Severus Snape in love was a joy to behold. She turned back to her work.

Please leave a review. It's a writer's only thanks.

Lisa, thank you so much for the beta work you do for me.

Angela and Becky, I appreciate your feedback and comments.