Eighteen

SW69 says: I have had a series of issues that has kept me away (starting with laptop death and corrupt files and ending with graduate school studying and everything in between). Needless to say, here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: Not my characters. No Galleons being made.

Hermione took in her reflection in the mirror. She looked unlike anything she'd ever imagined she would on her wedding night. The service had been quite plain, and the entire time she'd expected Ron to come crashing in and demanding she leave with him. Had part of her wanted that? If not, why did she feel a little let down that it hadn't happened? Of course she knew her decision to marry Severus Snape had been quickly made, but she did feel, deep down, that it was the right one. No expectations beyond what they've already talked about. No disappointment if there would be no children...not by him anyway. She just wanted to have a life like that family she'd seen that day when everything had clicked into place. It wouldn't be with Ron, but it could be.

"But they had love, didn't they?" Tears welled in her eyes as she voiced this. She and Severus did not have love. It was doubtful they ever would. Not in a marriage of convenience. He wanted to be rid of the pesky law and have a companion... and sex. She couldn't forget the last. He'd specifically stated he wanted it and not occasionally. Would he be asking for his husbandly rights on this night? She couldn't be sure. They'd had dinner with her parents and Harry after the ceremony. She'd talked to her mum and dad for a little while, making plans for the next day, while Harry had whisked Severus away to talk privately. She would certainly find out what that had been about. Something had seemed a little strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

She wondered what would happen next. Would she come out of the bath to find Severus lying in bed awaiting her presence? If so, she could guarantee that he expected her to consummate their vows. And she would. She wasn't quite ready. Not yet, but she would do it because it was what they'd agreed on. She hoped he'd let her get accustomed to him a little first. They hadn't even kissed at the end of their binding. He'd simply taken her hand and pressed his lips first on the back of her hand, then on her wrist, and then, after turning her hand over, he'd placed one on her palm. Each press of his lips had sent a small tingle through her. They were simple gestures of affection, nothing overly sensual, and yet, they were enough to show her that there could be a connection with him. She'd just have to let it happen and not fight it.

Fluffing her hair and straightening her long nightgown, she sucked in a deep breath. It was time to meet her fate. She opened the door slowly. The bedroom was empty, but there was a pleasant fire in the grate. Severus had moved his belongings into the room. She could see his cloak lying over the back of the chaise near the hearth. Hermione straightened herself and went to the bed to lie down and wait for her husband.

My husband. Visions of his glittering, dark eyes, the tilt of his lips as he smirked, the way his hair fell, layered and flattering about his face and shoulders, the strength in his stance... So many things women should appreciate about a man. So many things women had probably appreciated about him already. How many women? Would he find her lacking, as she'd only been with one man before him? Well, sort of. There was a bit of fooling around with another... but no penetration. Suddenly nervous, she pulled the duvet up to her neck and closed her eyes tightly.

Had Severus and Harry's mum been lovers? She doubted it, but why would he have held on to her memory for so long without having completely experienced her? Hermione felt a twinge of jealousy, though unwarranted. She had no right to ask for his feelings, especially since she had none and would unlikely ever develop anything like she'd felt for Ron, but doubt suddenly niggled her mind. What if she did fall in love with him? What if their bargain would one day be a source of misery? At this, she gave a light chuckle. Like that will ever happen, she thought in momentary merriment. The smile slowly faded as she settled into an exhausted sleep.

The next thing Hermione was aware of was sunlight warming her face. She opened her eyes and immediately squinted. "What..." She bolted upright and looked around the room. Severus was not there. The fire in the grate burned low but had been tended to. A glance next to her showed that the bed had been slept in. Why hadn't he awakened her? Had he tried? A check of her person showed nothing amiss.

Confusion set in. Last night she'd practically gone to bed dreading what might be expected of her, yet this morning she was offended nothing had happened. What if he'd come in, looked her over, and found her undesirable? No. She knew that wasn't the case. "I'm being ridiculous," she said aloud. The truth was that Severus knew she needed time, and being a man of restraint and one who apparently respected her, he'd decided to give her time to adjust. She smiled and hurried to get dressed.

When Hermione exited the bedroom, her breath caught in her throat. Severus was across the room placing a steaming plate of breakfast sausages on an already set table. The light shining in through the window encased him and made him appear to be glowing. He was so very attractive. When he looked at her with a small smile, she replied with a large grin. "This smells delicious and looks... quite inviting."

"I thought we might start this first day off properly," he said as he pulled out a chair. "I'm sure you'll be busy with your parents for much of the day. You'll need something in your stomach."

Hermione took her seat and waited for him to do the same before speaking. "I want to thank you, Severus."

"For?"

"I... just all of it."

He gazed at her for a moment and then nodded. "We'll need an adjustment period. Both of us will."

Her cheeks colored slightly as she began to busy herself with breakfast. Now and then she'd peek over at him, taking in his unrushed munching as he browsed through the morning's news. How different this man...her husband...was when compared to Ron.

Ron. Unwanted feelings of guilt and longing rose up in her chest, causing her heart to stammer. How would he handle this? How would she? What had Harry and Severus spoken about the night before? Why couldn't she stop this nonsense? Pushing away her doubt, she took a sip of juice. As she did so, her eyes met Severus' gaze.

"Is something amiss?" he asked softly.

"No. No, it's not. I just..." She shrugged. "It's different."

He seemed to stiffen. "Indeed?"

"I don't mean in a bad way. As you said, we'll have to adjust." She tried to reassure him with a smile. "I don't regret it, Severus."

"Nor I," was his quiet reply as he hid behind the newspaper.

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Severus was no fool. He could read her well enough to know that she had doubts. In fact, she seemed to waffle back and forth from determined resolve to pondering if she'd made a mistake. He would do what he must to put her at ease to ensure she wouldn't change her mind. As hard as it had been to lie next to her most of the night and not touch her (at least not in the ways he longed to), he'd done so because he knew to push her would ruin everything. He'd not lose her, not when she'd so willingly accepted their arrangement. Lucius had been correct. Having a wife definitely had its merits.

Hiding behind his newspaper and not reading a single word of it, he closed his eyes and remembered the heat of her body, the soft curve of her bum, as he'd pressed himself against her. The tickle of her tousled hair hadn't bothered him in the least as he'd leaned close to first inhale its flowery scent and then closer to rub his nose along the side of her throat just below her earlobe. He shifted in his seat as, once again, the thought of tracing her ear with this tongue, tasting her, turned him on. Who would have thought Hermione Granger might ever be someone he thought of as desirable? Yet, here she was. His wife no less. And soon... very soon, he would know all of her...every detail, every curve, every secret.

Mine , he thought with fierce want and pride. She was no Lily, certainly not, but she would not be left wanting of companionship or become sexually frustrated. He would see to that. Yes, their arrangement would work well for both their benefits. He sneered as he thought of the Ministry. How dare they think to force him into anything! Didn't they realize what he'd done for them? No matter. He felt as though he'd delivered them a blow in return, for his wife was one of their brightest employees, beloved by the Wizarding world at large. Perhaps they'd done him a favor in the end, eh?

Those thoughts brought him back to the conversation he'd had with Potter. Internally, he groaned. What a pesky bugger! However, the boy was quite clever and had even deduced what had happened with the Grangers. What had been more shocking was that he'd agreed not to say anything and had even said it had been worth it to see how happy it had made Hermione. For now, Potter was an ally. The boy...young man...would make certain that Weasley stayed out of the way while Severus made certain Hermione and her family could rebuild their relationship. The price of putting up with his occasional presence and perhaps speaking to him about his mother and his wretched father now and again would be a small price to pay. The next thing Severus had to worry about was the return to England.

He wanted very much to get Hermione moved into Spinner's End as quickly as possible. He wanted her where he could be sure Weasley...or any other nosey do gooder...couldn't interfere with their lives. He knew there would be a time when they would be invited over to Malfoy Manor. He'd have to approach that subject cautiously. After all, she'd nearly lost her life there. However, if she expected him to suffer Potter in their home, then he expected her to do the same with his friends. Eventually. He meant what he said about giving her time.

Although, as he thought about the way her nightgown had slid upward to reveal one delectable length of leg that he'd been unable to keep his hand from running along its smoothness, he hoped some things might not take as much time as others.

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Samantha ran her fingers through Ron's hair in an attempt to wake him. She'd never imagined he could be so emotional, so intense. He'd been trying to break things off with her, ranting about his ex-girlfriend and how he'd been a right selfish prick. He'd admitted that he'd started to fall for her and wanted the kind of life she could provide for him, but walking away from Hermione had been harder than he'd thought. He was jealous of her decision to move on.

In her mind, it was definitely disappointing to know she was not his first choice, but if Hermione had run off to be married, and to bloody Severus Snape, she would no longer be an issue. Not truly. Ron would need time to move on, but he'd admitted that he did care for Samantha. He did want her. That had been enough for her. Now that everything was out in the open, they could start again, and this time she knew exactly what was needed to help him get on with it. She smiled as she remembered him asking her to leave. She'd forcefully pulled his face to hers for an intense kiss. His shock melted away, then his despair. When she saw he appeared numb and didn't know what to do, she'd whispered, "I think I want you to fuck me right now. Hard." His eyes had widened, and he'd hungrily pushed her against the wall, ripping at her clothes. That had been the first time. The second time had been less intense but just as fulfilling. Hermione Granger would soon be a chapter in his past.

SW: Hope you liked this. More to come.