Into the Great Wide World

Thanks to my beta, Nakhash Mekashefah, the anal-retentive one.

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Snape was taking inventory of his books and packing them in boxes. He couldn't use a shrinking charm on them individually, as he wasn't sure how long it would be until he would be unpacking them again, and having the charm wear off after a few weeks in a box would be a disaster. He would shrink the boxes along with the contents when they were ready to move. The empty shelves looked odd; it had been many years since he'd had open shelf space. Bookshelves, he would have to find a house with bookshelves or obtain them on their furniture shopping expedition.

Hermione entered the room and looked around curiously.

"And how did your Charms test go?" he asked, levitating another stack of books into a box.

"I think I passed," she said, a worried expression crossing her face.

Severus suppressed the urge to snort in disdain. Of course she'd passed.

"There was an extra credit question at the end, and I think I got that one perfectly, but I may have missed a few questions in the practical testing of Charms. I just hope I did well on the Arithmancy."

"I'm sure you did," Severus said as he arranged the books within the box to fit in a space-efficient manner.

"So you're getting ready to move already?" she asked.

"Yes, I don't see the need to wait. The Headmaster should be reading my resignation notice at this time. I'm packing away the things I won't have immediate need for, so when the time comes to move, there will be less work involved. Your last day of NEWT's is tomorrow, so you should probably begin packing your things at that time, as well."

"We still don't have a place to stay," she said.

"No, but we will soon enough. I have another list of places I thought we could look at Saturday, that is, if you're still convinced you'd like a Muggle home?"

"Yes, I really do want a Muggle place. Thanks for being reasonable about that...I didn't expect you would be."

"Personally, the idea of not living on a wizarding village street is a good one to me. As long as we are in a remote location, I've no objections to your having Muggle conveniences...that is, if you will be more discerning about the kind of information you look for on that interweb."

"Internet," she corrected. "And yes, I'll be more discerning about that in the future."

"Good," he said, closing the twelfth box of books and placing it on the wall of boxes he was slowly making behind the sofa.

"Severus...there was another murder this morning."

Severus looked over to Hermione; she seemed concerned. "Was it anyone you knew of from the group?" he asked. He remembered how drained she'd seemed after the husband of a member of the support group had been murdered.

"No, it wasn't. There was a full story in the paper from the widow...she was rather happy about it, actually. She'll be having a baby in a few months, too." Hermione ran a hand through her thick hair and walked over to the couch and sat heavily. "Wouldn't it be better to stay at Hogwarts, at least until they catch the person?"

"You plan on going into warding, correct?" he asked.

"Yes. I still haven't heard back from any of the places I've sent applications to..."

"You only started that last week, I am confident you will find employment soon after your NEWT results are available. At any rate, I am also skilled with wards and was a spy for a number of years around some very dangerous people, as you should know. I'm confident that between the wards the two of us put up around our residence, there should be no need to worry." Severus strode around the couch to look at her. "I'm rather surprised you're so worried about this. One would think all the women affected by the Marriage Law would be more than happy to get out of unwanted marriages." He went to the liquor cabinet, poured a glass of what was now Hermione's blackberry cordial, noting the bottle was halfway gone. He took it to her and sat beside her, sipping his own firewhisky.

"How could you say that? It might not be good to get forced into a marriage, but I don't think anyone, at least in the support group, would want their husbands killed, even if they aren't getting along really well."

"I think, Hermione, that you are too trusting in the innate goodness you believe people have, most especially concerning people you like or trust in some way. You like to think everyone is as nobly intentioned as you are. You will save yourself quite a lot of trouble if you take the outlook that everyone is out to take what they can from you, and defend yourself accordingly." He hoped she would get over this overly trusting nature she had with too many people. Still, she was young; she had many years in which to gain that kind of scepticism.

About that time, a knock came at the door, not Hermione's. Severus scowled and rose to go see who it was. He wasn't surprised to see Headmaster Dumbledore standing there. "Headmaster," he intoned, nodding. "What brings you to visit this evening?" he asked, knowing quite well why the Headmaster was there.

"Severus, may I come in?" Dumbledore said softly, his blue eyes seeming to look deeply into him.

"Yes," he said, standing aside and averting his eyes, "might I offer you a drink?" he asked. Usually, he didn't bother offering a drink, but now that his freedom from Hogwarts was finally approaching, he was feeling magnanimous. He turned after closing the door to see the Headmaster taking a close look at the empty wall of bookshelves and the stack of boxes behind the couch.

"Good evening, Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said to him, smiling.

"Ahh, Hermione," he said, and walked around to sit on one of the wingback chairs. Severus noticed him look pointedly at the glass Hermione held in her hand. "I do believe alcohol consumption by students on school property is against school rules," he said.

"I...um," Hermione stammered.

"Headmaster, surely you can't think to apply that to Hermione," Severus said, moving to sit across from Dumbledore. "Hermione, don't put that glass away. You've been drinking in our quarters since before we were married, and you shall continue to do so," he said in a hard tone. How dare Dumbledore come into his quarters and think to tell his wife what she could and could not drink. "Now, Headmaster, you wished to speak with me?"

"Ahh, yes, Severus. Hermione, if you will excuse us please," he said, turning to Hermione a moment. She started to get up to leave.

"Hermione may remain where she is," he snapped. He glanced sharply over to Hermione, who was already rising from the couch.

"It's okay, I don't mind leaving," she said.

"No, it is most certainly not 'okay'. Sit down; you've just as much entitlement to remain here as I do." He turned back to the Headmaster as Hermione settled gingerly back onto the edge of the couch, looking uncertainly between him and the Headmaster. "Anything you have to say, you may do so in her presence. As I assume you've come regarding my resignation, that is a matter that should not require her to leave, as the matter is settled as far as I am concerned."

"Well then, Severus, even if you consider the matter settled, I've come to ask you to reconsider your resignation," Dumbledore stated, intertwining his fingers over one knee. Severus caught his quick eye movement as he glanced at Hermione, then back to him with an amused expression.

"No." Severus would not reconsider.

"That is a shame, for the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor has just handed in his resignation, owing to the fact he will be moving to Lithuania to be with his family. I thought that perhaps now that Voldemort is gone for good, you would do well in that position."

Severus gripped the arms of his chair tightly. The Dark Arts job, the one he'd applied for every year for seventeen years only to be turned down, and now, he was being offered the position when he had finally decided to retire from teaching. He looked at the Headmaster, wishing to take that beard of his and use it to wrap around his neck and choke him with it.

"It would be a shame to see you leave. But since Hermione is here, as well, I've come to offer her a job, too. Hermione, we have an opening for an assistant Arithmancy professor. Professor Vector is hard-pressed, what with her new job as Head of Slytherin, and she could use some assistance in tutoring. I spoke with her earlier and she would be open to having you as her assistant," the Headmaster said cheerfully to Hermione. "And," he continued, turning back to Severus, "if Hermione took a position here at Hogwarts, you both would be able to remain here. After all, with the murderer targeting the men who were married under the Marriage Law – at least so far as we can tell at this time – it would be safer for both of you to stay."

Now he's offering a job to Hermione? When will his meddling cease? Snape thought angrily. He glanced over to Hermione, who was staring at the Headmaster's genial smile with a stunned, but excited expression.

"You're offering me a job here, Headmaster?" she asked after a moment, her voice higher than usual, almost a squeaking quality.

"If you'll have it, yes, I am," he assured her with a kind smile. "However, if you do not want that job, I will still serve as a reference for any other position you might choose to take."

"I...well, I'm not sure what to say," she said, then glanced to Severus, bit her lip, then back to the Headmaster. "I'd need some time to think about it."

"I hope you do take the job, we would love to have you on the staff. And Severus, I really do think it would be for the best if you consider the Dark Arts position. Even if you aren't Head of Slytherin any longer, that is no reason for you to feel ashamed in remaining here. We know, at least, that it was through no fault of your own...rather, misfortunate happenstance."

"Thank you, Headmaster, for your offers," Severus bit out through clenched teeth. He could feel his cheek beginning to twitch, and he asserted control over his features, attempting to calm himself. He wasn't at all thankful for Dumbledore's offer to Hermione, though.

"Well then, I'll leave you to consider it, Hermione. And Severus, if you should choose to take this post - and I know how much you want it - I, for one, would welcome you both to remain here indefinitely." He smiled, and then stood. Severus stood stiffly, as well, and crossed the room, opening the door.

"Headmaster, according to my calculations, I am to receive a partial stipend from the years I've worked here..."

"Yes, yes, of course, Severus." Dumbledore nodded, and gave him an understanding glance as he exited.

"Bloody interfering bastard!" he exclaimed, walking back to his chair after he'd closed the door. He turned to Hermione, who was looking rather nervous. "Oh, don't look like that," he growled. "I knew he liked to interfere, but that was just beyond..." he trailed off with a groan. "Seventeen years...seventeen years I've applied for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, and for seventeen years I've been rejected. The only reason he offered was because I plan on leaving. So, are you considering it?" he demanded to know, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared at Hermione. He wasn't sure which was the worse offence by Dumbledore...offering him the Dark Arts job or offering Hermione a position as an assistant Arithmancy teacher.

"Well...um...it's a surprising offer," she managed to say.

"He wouldn't have done that if it hadn't been for my resignation," Severus told her. "He wants to keep us here...keep us under his thumb."

"Aren't you being just a bit paranoid here?" she asked him.

"You wouldn't say that if you knew Dumbledore as I do," he hissed. "I'm not sure why he wants us here, but it can only be because there is something he wants one of us, likely me, to do for him. I'm finished. I've paid my debt to him. I shall continue working for the Order, but I am finished with teaching."

"Why do you think he wants something from you? Why can't he just be offering you the job because now that Voldemort is gone, you won't be in a bad position?" Hermione reasoned.

Severus scowled as he wondered if he should tell Hermione all about the time Headmaster Dumbledore had asked him to keep the secret of Lupin's lycanthropy, how Sirius Black had nearly killed him, how Dumbledore had ignored the constant bullying he had experienced at the hands of James Potter and Sirius Black. He knew that Potter would have told her all about what he'd seen in his Pensieve three years previously...he decided she knew enough.

"I know him, Hermione," he said lowly. "At one time, I would have taken this offer of his, but not now." No, now he wanted to be in a position to make his own decisions about how he spent his time, to get away from the halls of Hogwarts, which still seemed haunted with old memories...memories he tried not to dwell on. He wondered if, once in a new and fresh setting, the scourges of his past at Hogwarts might be more easily forgotten.

Severus stood and walked towards his desk, retrieving the catalogues for housing. He returned to sit beside Hermione, rather than his separate chair. He wanted to distract his thoughts from unpleasant matters, and Hermione's flesh did that well enough. He stroked her thigh through her robes as he held the catalogue in front of her. "This one looks promising; we should look at this one first, Saturday morning."

"In other words, you're not going to talk about it?"

"I would rather not dwell on the unpleasantness of the past. Most especially," he murmured, leaning down to brush his lips against her neck, "when there are much more pleasant matters to attend to."

"Why do I feel like we're still just strangers who just shag a lot? Severus...I'd really like it if you would talk to me about these things; I won't go out and tell anyone, you know."

Severus lifted his eyes to look into hers. He was irritated that she would say that, having already told her he had shared more with her than he had with any other woman previously. He had told her much more than he would have if he thought she couldn't be trusted with what he said. But now was not the time he wanted to get into a long discussion.

"Talk is overrated," he said simply, turning his attention back to her fragrant skin for several moments, chuckling in triumph when she reached up to clutch at his shoulder, gasping his name, before he tore himself away to discuss their future living arrangements.

Later, he felt accomplished at the fact that he had been able to suggest a dwelling of lesser expense without revealing to her his financial situation. He didn't have to lie, for it was a fact that through magic they would be able to make much more of a smaller, less expensive house. And as they wouldn't have a child for several years at least, he had reminded her, there was little need for a larger home. While he was not destitute, he was wary about using the savings he did have on unneeded things. Between the small stipend he would receive from Hogwarts and his savings, he estimated he had six months before things were truly worrisome.

And so it was, the following weekend they went to tour homes for lease. Hermione sneezed intermittently from the dust in the long-abandoned dwelling as they walked through the three levels of the house, which was the fourth on their list for the day. They had stirred up quite a bit of dust in the large main room. The previous three houses had been wrong for various reasons, but they had spent quite a bit of time looking around in this one. There was a fireplace opposite the front door in the living room, and directly behind the fireplace wall was the kitchen. The wall to the right had a full case of bookshelves. They weren't built with exacting craftsmanship as the shelves in their quarters at Hogwarts were, but they were functional and sturdy.

"This is satisfactory. Wouldn't you agree?" Severus asked her. It fit all his criteria. There was a cellar, room for a decent potions supply garden, and it was secluded.

Hermione turned to him, sneezing again. "I...ah...it needs some work." She had an unsettled expression on her face.

"Yes, it does. But the location is good. The cellar is adequate for my needs. You can make use of the second bedroom for whatever you need, and it has bookshelves." Hermione followed his gaze to the single full wall of bookshelves. He seemed more optimistic than she about it. They were a dirty, putrid yellow, and a bad paint job at that. The yellow paint continued in the living room and into the kitchen. There was a small dining area open to the living room at the far end of the kitchen, which had a window facing the west.

"I want to look upstairs again," Hermione said. She turned and started up the dusty, creaky stairs, wondering just how old the building was. It appeared the house had once been a barn, converted for human dwelling some years after original construction. She noticed the phone cords were run above the baseboards, fastened to the walls, rather than run inside the walls. The wallpaper in the stairwell was peeling, and it was obvious children had once lived here; crayon marked the lower walls. There was a large window, which let plenty of light into the stairway at the landing. Hermione paused to peer out through the large ash tree, which crowded the window. She could see enough through the branches to note that the back garden was overgrown terribly. Trees grew thickly about a hundred feet from the house.

Hermione reminded herself that everything she didn't like about it so far was superficial: lots of dust, ugly wallpaper and paint. The garden needed lots of work. Those things could easily be fixed, and so she worked on imagining the walls painted a better colour...a light crème or maybe lavender in places to lighten it up. It seemed a dark and dingy house, but she also noticed that was probably from the terribly overgrown hedge outside the ground floor and the very dirty windows. The windows were actually fairly large and well placed. She couldn't help but think her parents would have thought it a shabby dwelling; however, it was in better shape than the Weasleys' home, and there was no ghoul in the attic, at least (Severus had cast several spells to detect ghosts and ghouls upon their arrival in the house). It was slightly larger than their quarters at Hogwarts with the kitchen and dining areas, though the bedrooms were smaller.

The door directly opposite the stairwell was to the smaller of the two bedrooms. Having her own room at this point seemed a bit silly to Hermione, but she decided it would be good to set it up as a guest room. Despite the fact she knew Severus might chafe at the idea of overnight guests, she knew if she put her foot down about it, he wouldn't refuse her on something like that. The door to the left of the stairwell was to the washroom, which smelled of musty old mildew (another thing which could be easily remedied); an old-fashioned claw-footed tub was within, nothing nearly so nice as their bathtub back at Hogwarts. But once again, judicious application of magic could fix that. The landing was something of a room in itself, approximately eight by eight feet square; there would be room for a settee against the wall.

The other door to the left of the stairs was to a largish 'L' shaped bedroom, the corner of which had the chimney for the fireplace downstairs jutting into the room slightly. There were two windows on the west wall, which a bed would fit between. The smaller end of the 'L' had a window-seat overlooking the front garden to the east.

"I believe," she heard Severus's voice behind her, "the beams are structurally sound."

Hermione turned around, startled to see Severus looking up at the wood beams of the ceiling. "I didn't hear you...you scared me," she gasped. She had the bad feeling that someone would show up and discover them.

"Did I?" he asked, smirking. He advanced on her slowly. Hermione smiled back and suppressed a laugh at his controlled stride and his superior smirk, as if he thought he had her cornered.

"Well, we aren't exactly supposed to be here...this is technically trespassing...the owners could come here at any time."

"It is not as if we're here to destroy property. And if this is the house we decide on, I am sure the owner would be happy to have new tenants. Besides, it doesn't look as if anyone visits here often. Now, as I was saying...these beams are structurally sound..." he looked up, and Hermione followed his gaze to the ceiling, so that when he reached out and grabbed her, she was unprepared. "Yes, strong beams by which to suspend a struggling young woman," he said silkily, looking back down at her.

"Don't you ever think about anything else?" she asked, attempting to give him a long-suffering sigh, but her giggle when he tweaked a nipple ruined the effect she was going for.

"Certainly, I do all the time," he murmured, his lips moving against hers. Hermione sighed and bit his lower lip lightly before he pulled away. "But as I told you the other evening, I'd rather focus on more pleasant thoughts and pursuits."

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione's elbows rested on the dusty window seat, as Severus stood poised to follow those pleasant pursuits. His fingers stroked her clitoris at a maddeningly slow pace, and he chuckled at her attempts to move her hips to capture his cock within her. Hermione threw her head up, eyes still closed. "Severus...please..." she groaned. He finally decided to stop teasing her and sheathed himself in her body, picking up a steady, but still slow pace.

Hermione opened her eyes, not really focusing on the large wheat fields, which dominated the landscape on one side, or the large pasture on the other side of the dirt road...on which she could see a Land Rover, a trail of dust being kicked up along the road. It was coming towards the house; the only house for what seemed like miles around.

"Shit! Severus! Stop...someone's coming!" she exclaimed, moving to stand and twist away from his grip. He stopped a moment, but continued to firmly grasp her hips.

"We have several more moments, at least," he replied; then plunged back into her. Hermione forgot her protests for the next few moments, but when he withdrew, she reached down quickly and pulled her jeans up, hastily fastening them, ignoring her shaking legs.

"We have to get out of here!" she said, glancing back out the window, where two people were exiting the now-parked Land Rover in front of the house.

"And I thought you were going to specialise in wards. Come now, Hermione...this is a perfect opportunity to test out a simple anti-Muggle ward."

"Severus, we aren't even supposed to be here! We're trespassing and shagging in someone's house!" she hissed, waving her arms for emphasis.

Severus was fastening his trousers, seemingly unfazed by the approaching Muggles. "Withdraw your wand and place a Muggle-repelling ward on the stairway," he instructed in a firm tone.

Hermione's eyes widened when she heard the squeak of hinges and voices below. "Remove your wand," Severus instructed again, moving behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Or I shall use a Confundus Charm."

"Severus, you can't..." Hermione whispered, removing her wand. "Let's just get out of here."

"A simple Confundus Charm would cover that we shouldn't be here, and we can proceed to negotiate a lease rate," Severus reasoned. "It wouldn't hurt them, Hermione. If you'd rather I not..." a creak was heard as the people began to ascend the stairs, "...then you have just enough time to cast a ward. But it would be quite a hassle to find the opportunity to get in touch with them again," he whispered. Hermione felt him move, and then his arm came up, wand in hand, pointing at the doorway.

Her heart pounded as she listened to the voices below. She felt this was wrong, but still...the steps creaked as they progressed to their hiding place; they would be discovered in a moment. She withdrew her wand, quickly recalling the steps to a ward, which would cause them to remember they had to be someplace else. But then she hesitated, realising that if they were going to get this house...and she could agree that it would be a decent enough house once it was cleaned up, it would be a lot more hassle without a telephone...then the suspicion when they showed up without a car to 'officially' tour the house...

"Okay, Severus...do it," she said, just as the Muggles came to the top of the stairs and turned into the bedroom where Snape and Hermione were standing.

"Hey! What're you doing in my house?" a tall man demanded loudly as they entered far enough to see into the part of the room they stood in. He paused, taking in the two of them, and a lady stepped out from behind him.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, echoing the man. Hermione's stomach felt as if it were in her feet. "We're calling the police!" she yelled.

"Confundus!" Snape said, flicking his wand. Blue light shot out and enveloped them a moment. "Put your wand away," he whispered quickly to Hermione. She did so, watching as the two Muggles blinked in confusion, then slowly focused on them. The man started to open his mouth to speak, but then Severus stepped forward, extending his right hand.

"Yes, thank you for the tour. We find this house satisfactory," Severus said. The tall man frowned at him, looked to his wife, and then accepted Severus's hand, shaking it. "I'm glad you also see the need to lower the asking price for the lease, as we are ready to sign a contract immediately. Isn't that right, dear?" he asked, turning to look at Hermione, smiling.

Dear? She looked at him a moment, seeing he wanted her to play along. "Um...yes, that's right, we like the house. We'll take it," she agreed.

"I'm...I'm glad to hear that, then," the man said slowly, looking confused. "I...have you seen the cellar?"

"No, we haven't toured the cellar yet."

Hermione's stomach churned as Severus handled the discussion with the landlords. She smiled at the lady, who apologised, after they had returned from the cellar, for forgetting their names. They 're-introduced' themselves, causing Hermione to feel even guiltier about the scenario. She very nearly protested when Severus very deftly manoeuvred the man, Mr Thompson, to drop the monthly letting rate by more than a hundred-fifty pounds and later to drop the required deposit and first two months rent in lieu of performing the repairs the home needed.

By the time they Apparated back to Hogwarts, Severus having had to cast another Confundus charm upon them to cover the fact they were in a remote location without a car, Hermione felt nearly sick.

"Severus, that wasn't right..." she muttered as they walked back to the castle.

"We've saved them quite a lot of work, Hermione. I did nothing unfair; they wanted to let the house, and they now have tenants who will also perform repairs that would have been very costly."

"You took advantage of them...they didn't have a chance..."

"Hermione, had I truly wanted to, I could have had them believing the house was ours, within minutes, without ever having to pay for it. I did nothing outside the usual haggling, which occurs over a house to lease. If you're going to get like this over every encounter with Muggles, I don't want to hear about it."

"My parents are Muggles, if you've forgotten!" Hermione exclaimed as they entered their quarters. "I can't believe just how callous you can be...and what's worse is it's not just you...almost everyone is like this about Muggles. It's okay to run around stirring up or wiping out their memories and influencing their decisions because it's convenient, or they saw something they shouldn't have!"

Severus spun around to give a retort, but scowled at her instead. "I will not be drawn into a fruitless argument with you," he snapped.

"Fine!" Hermione snapped back. She watched in irritation as he huffily moved to his chair and sat heavily. Not wanting to stick around with him, as she thought his company wouldn't be enjoyable and she needed to check in at Gryffindor Tower at any rate, she left their quarters.

It was almost a surreal feeling, which descended as she walked through the portrait hole. She would be leaving Hogwarts soon, and looking around at what had been her home for the better part of seven years just seemed so final.

She had considered Dumbledore's offer and had decided against it. It really would be best to leave. She didn't want to go through another year of students whispering about her involvement with the Potions master and what they might get up to in the dungeons. She also knew they would think she got the job only because of him, and she thought if she did take the job, they wouldn't be too far off in assuming that. And so Hermione would be leaving behind the centre of magical learning and going, of all places, to a Muggle house with her husband, the most feared teacher at Hogwarts. Memories flooded back as she made a check of the girls' dormitories, then sat in the common room where many students were sitting together, laughing and talking. She felt rather left out. She snapped back to the present as Harry walked in and flopped down on the worn, red couch beside her.

"I got a letter from Kingsley," he began without preamble. "He said I'll get into the Auror training programme with no problems. He wanted to know how things were going between you and Snape."

"Did he? Tell him things are fine," she said.

Harry looked back down at the letter sadly. "I'm still not sure I really understand why you chose Snape over Kingsley..."

"Harry...don't start that again," Hermione groaned. "I thought you were over it." And really, the last thing she wanted to think about was how things might be going had she married someone else. It was best to focus on those good things she did have in her life. Just because Kingsley was nice and seemed like he would have been more fun - even a gentleman - didn't mean it really would have been any better. And aside from Severus sometimes being difficult (like today), she supposed they got on well enough.

"I know...I know...I'm sorry," he sighed. He rose from the couch and, without looking back at her, trudged towards the stairs to the boys' dorms.

*****

The support group meetings were becoming a chore. She didn't get anything out of them...and even though she could sympathise with many of them...well, their problems and complaints, for the most part, seemed petty and silly. None of them had had to marry their teacher, at least. Most of them had actually married friends or friendly acquaintances.

She also knew that, while she may have started the group, if it hadn't been for Treva's expertise, it would have quickly spiralled out of control. Even with Treva, the meetings still tended towards the more vocal members using it for a whinge-fest, and Hermione didn't think she could have kept that under control, while still keeping members coming back.

"You've been rather quiet at these meetings, Hermione," Treva noted when Hermione moved to start cleaning up after the group had left.

"Well, you know...not much to talk about, really. I started this to help out the other people."

"Maybe you did, and it really is helping some of the others out, but have you actually gotten anything out of this?"

"Well...you were very helpful when it came to the questioning...that was a real surprise."

"I'm glad I could help. When Gregory asked me to, it turned out being a very good thing."

"Did anything come of the questioning of the others?" Hermione asked.

"I personally have fifteen cases to follow up. With four couples, I took immediate action. We're not publishing the results in the Prophet, especially with the murders going on. Personally, I think we should publish a public list of all the men who have done terrible things to their wives because of this damned law," Treva said through clenched teeth. "At least then, whoever it is would get to the ones who really deserved it."

She frowned a moment, then refocused on Hermione. "I get the feeling you're only still doing this because you feel obligated to. If you don't really want to keep it up, I don't mind handling this myself. Actually, Gregory is thinking of making this a paid position since I've got the schooling for it. He's working on a bill to give some kind of damage compensation to all the Muggle-born victims of the law, too."

"You really wouldn't mind?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, you're very good at a lot of things, but I don't think it's news to you that you really don't enjoy this," Treva said with a smile.

"You're right; sometimes I'd just like to tell everyone to stop with the whinging already," she admitted.

"I want to do that sometimes, too. Believe it or not, there was actually a class dealing with just that scenario at university. To bad we can't just spank them all when they get annoying, really," Treva said with a smirk.

Hermione laughed. "I can't believe you...oh, that's terrible!" she gasped between the laughter. "But I do need to get busy on finding a job once I'm away from Hogwarts."

"Then don't worry about it...I'll handle it. You've got other things you need to focus on, and if you want, you can always come back to it later."

"Well...if you really don't mind...okay, thanks. I'll keep in touch." She smiled at Treva, feeling as if a load had been lifted from her. Hermione's walk back to Hogwarts seemed easier, too.

*****

After NEWT's were officially over, they still had classes to attend, but these had consisted of lectures on how they would likely apply each subject in the real world of the workplace. Professor Binns, however, simply droned on with another History of Magic session as if it was no different than any other lesson time.

Graduation Night finally came at the end of June. The students had packed their belongings and were ready to head for home on the Hogwarts Express the following day. Harry would be staying with the Weasleys before entering Auror training.

Hermione had packed her things, too, and rather than going home to her parents this year, would be moving into a home of her own...well, her and Severus's home. As she sat in the Great Hall for the evening Graduation ceremony, watching as each seventh year student was called forward and given a gift by their Head of House, she found herself apprehensive, yet excited about the future. The Professors were all seated upon the raised dais in the Great Hall, and the graduating class sat below. Professor McGonagall called each of their names in succession, and the student called would rise and take his or her diploma. Each Head of House was also giving out small gifts to those of their graduating students, as well.

"Hermione Snape," McGonagall called as Justin Finch-Fletchley descended from the dais and took his seat. Hermione stood and walked towards Professor Dumbledore, who smiled warmly as he extended her graduation scroll. Professor McGonagall took a small wooden box and gave it to her.

Once seated, she was vaguely aware of the other students going to receive their scrolls, and she joined in with the applause. Her box wouldn't open when she tried it, so she held it in her lap through the remainder of the ceremony.

When she returned to the dungeons, Severus was already there, seated in his usual chair, having not remained afterwards to speak with his former students. He looked up as she walked in and raised a phial to show her.

"Shoot, I forgot about that..."

"Yes, let us be glad that I am observant of these things," he muttered back to her. Hermione crossed the room and took the phial from him, drinking her contraceptive potion quickly, then sat down across from him, studying the box Professor McGonagall had given her.

"We have much to accomplish in the coming weeks. I've informed the Headmaster we shall be moving in two weeks time. We will need...furniture," he muttered, scowling.

"What about all this?" Hermione asked, looking around the room.

"It came with the job. These chairs are mine, at least," he said, indicating the green leather wingback chairs, "and most of the items in my workroom are mine. Everything else belongs to Hogwarts for teachers' use while in residence."

"Oh, I see..."

Hermione examined the box again, and found it was a puzzle box, which opened after several minutes of fiddling. She found inside a set of earrings. They were medium studs which seemed to have very tiny gold pinwheels inside a crystal sphere. She smiled and placed the earrings back into the box.

Hermione wrote a letter to her parents that evening, letting them know she needed to come by and pick up her bedroom furniture. It would do until they could buy their own, and then could be moved to the second bedroom for guest use. After she sent her letter via one of the Hogwarts owls, she realised they would need their own owl, too. Severus hadn't exactly come out and said money was tight, but by piecing together the various things he'd mentioned, she gathered that he might not be as financially secure as she'd previously thought him to be.

*****

"When we get all this done and get moved in, it'll be great to have a housewarming party," Hermione said as she carefully used her wand to remove the layers of paint and years' worth of grime from the bookshelves in the living room.

"I do not care for parties," Severus muttered back to her. He was directing four paintbrushes with a dark wood stain onto the bare wood that Hermione was leaving behind, with flicks of his wand.

"Severus, I want a housewarming party. If this really is to be my house as much as yours, then I will have a party. You don't have to help with it, you don't even have to come, but I will have a party."

Severus said nothing for several moments, only continued staining the shelves. "I wish to understand why it is that you become so defensive on so many things. Have I not allowed you to do as you wish in anything outside those things I've required of you? In comparison to some, I've been extremely accommodating."

"Where on earth do you get your examples for comparison?" Hermione asked, probably a little more loudly than she meant to.

"The same place most people do, their parents. But after meeting your parents, I can understand how you would have a very different idea on things."

"So what were your parents like, then?"

"Very different from yours," he muttered vaguely.

"That doesn't explain much."

"My parents had a marriage that seemed fairly typical amongst the few people they associated with. My father was very harsh."

If he thought his father was harsh, then he must have been far beyond harsh if Severus thought himself to be accommodating.

By the end of that day, they had made much progress, and Hermione stood at the front door, surveying their work. The floor was now free of dust and grime; the bookshelves looked nice, though the walls were still that putrid, ugly yellow. The fireplace had been swept out, and she and Severus had decided upon a communication-only Floo Network connection, for security reasons. The kitchen had been scoured, the falling wallpaper torn off, the bathroom sanitised, and the wood floors left gleaming throughout the house. The only major thing left to do was to paint. Hermione wanted to use a number of colours, but decided to wait until they could get settled in. For now, at least, it looked clean and bright.

Everything was packed, and all they had to do was move; however, the house would be very empty until they could get more furniture. Hermione went outside and went to the back of the house, thinking they should put in a back door, too. But the ground floor was small, so another door wouldn't really be needed, she supposed. Severus was standing, arms crossed, looking over the back garden.

"You ready to get back soon? I'm exhausted," Hermione said as she approached him.

"Yes, momentarily. I believe the back garden will receive enough sunlight for the potions ingredients I wish to plant here." He looked around, turning to look up at the house. "Do you find it satisfactory?" he asked. He knew her childhood home wasn't exactly a large, sprawling manor, but it was nice, larger than this one, and most certainly in much better condition. He wanted to be able to get a larger home, but had presented it in a practical way that a small home would be better.

"Yes...it'll get better. I hope to do a lot of improvements. I want to paint the inside soon."

"No pink," he said shortly. "No purple, either," he added.

"I think I can manage that." Lavender, at least a light shade, isn't really purple... she thought.

*****

St Mungo's was busy. Hermione was visiting along with Harry and the rest of the Weasleys' who had invited her. She had asked Severus if he wanted to go, too, just to try to be inclusive, but he'd only snapped something about not wanting to socialise with her friends and to watch out for trouble, and had then turned back to shrinking boxes. She'd told him she would be back in two days and that she would be gathering some things from her parents' house and taking them directly to their house on Monday, and had then left with Harry to Apparate to the Burrow without another word. Harry would be starting Auror training the first of August, so she wanted to spend time with him while she could.

Bill Weasley was in hospital, having been injured deep in the labyrinth of caves under Gringotts bank. He was expected to make a full recovery, but Molly Weasley wasn't one to leave one of her children, even if he was very much an adult, in hospital without 'proper' food. And so she carried with her a picnic basket filled with mince pies, sandwiches and other things that would 'do for a few days'. Hermione thought it would feed ten people for as many days.

"Here we are," Mrs Weasley said as they came to the last door on the fifth floor.

Hermione heard dramatic organ music playing as they walked into the Spell Damage ward, and a deep, American accented voice asking:"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men...". Looking to one side, she saw there was a Wizarding Wireless radio on the nurse's desk, which the nurse reached for, turning a knob and lowering the volume as she looked up at them.

"Hello, are you here to see someone?" the stern looking nurse asked, eyeing the crowd of Weasleys. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Harry.

"Yes," Molly answered. "My son Bill, right over here." Bill saw them come in and waved to them.

"I need everyone to sign in here, please," the nurse said, tapping a book on her desk. Hermione waited for the others to sign in first, and then signed her name on the bottom of the list of visitors.

"Hermione Snape? Formerly Granger?" the nurse asked upon seeing her name.

"Yes, ma'am."

"I've heard about that support group of yours; a good thing you're doing, that is," she said approvingly, looking Hermione directly in the eye with a discerning gaze.

"Thanks...it's not much..." she trailed off, shrugging. "Actually, Treva Bulstrode is handling that now."

"Oh, but it is, it truly is. I've had a few women in here since that horrid law was passed...ones even less lucky than the rest of you. Gives 'em hope, it does, knowing about it, even if they can't go. You're doing a good thing, you and your friend are," she repeated solidly.

Hermione nodded self-consciously then moved along with the Weasleys. She hadn't seen Bill since the previous summer while staying at Grimmauld Place for several weeks. His wife, Fleur, had turned out to not be nearly as snooty as Hermione had previously thought her to be.

"Yes, Mum...they're feeding me well, but of course, I do love your pies," Bill was saying as Hermione neared his bed. His arm was in a sling, and his head was bandaged, but he still wore a smile. "I'll be out of here in no time, I'm sure."

"You need to rest, Bill. Oh, that job of yours is so dangerous sometimes, makes me worry."

"So was it a big explosion?" Ron asked brightly.

"It wasn't an explosion, Ron," Bill responded. "I miscalculated on a ward, and it set off the booby trap...curses flew in every direction. Good thing I erected the Shield Charm just in time, though..." He chuckled, flashing them all a grin as Mrs Weasley looked faint and shook her head.

"Hermione! Good to see you again! Oh, my supervisor from the bank came by earlier today. I got your application, but haven't been able to look it over, just a little hung-up here and all. I wanted to get with you soon to test you for the position. Officially, I'd have to wait for your NEWT's results, but for you that's just a formality. If you'd like the job, it's yours."

"Wonderful! That's great, Bill, thanks so much. So you'd be my boss, then?"

"Immediate supervisor, yes. You'd still interview with my goblin supervisor before hiring, but that shouldn't be a problem at all; she pretty much goes with whatever I suggest."

"Congratulations, Hermione," Harry said, putting an arm around her shoulders and squeezing. The rest of the Weasleys chimed in with their congratulations, as well. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried about a job. Gringotts, while not her first choice, did seem like an exciting position.

The nurse finally shooed them out after about an hour, saying the patient needed rest. She had a good time visiting with the Weasleys and slept in the spare bed in Ginny's room, glad to have time to spend with her friend.

Monday, Hermione Apparated to the backyard of her parents' home, unlocking the backdoor with an 'Alohomora' and entering quietly. Her parents were at work, but she quickly wrote a note to let them know she'd taken her furniture and would be back to visit soon. She was surprised when she got up to her old room to find a note from her mother, telling her to look in the cellar for anything else they needed.

It took only a few minutes to shrink her furniture - the bed, dresser with mirror, chest of drawers and bookshelf - to doll-house size then she Apparated directly to the larger bedroom of their new home and placed the furniture in the appropriate places, enlarging them. Her old white furniture set seemed out of place and strange, compared to the mahogany furniture she'd grown used to.

She heard thumping from below and went downstairs to the cellar, where she found Severus arranging a few long tables, cauldrons, and his shelf of potions ingredients.

"I trust your stay at the Weasleys was pleasant enough?" he asked when he saw her enter.

"Yes, and I've got a lead on a job too. Talked to Bill Weasley, he said they only needed my official NEWT's results and they could probably hire me. I just hope I did well..."

"You did, I am sure of it."

"I've put my old furniture in the bedroom; I'm glad you're here, since I wanted to see if you'd like to look over some other things. My mum said to take my pick of the stuff in the cellar; they've got some old furniture we can use until we can get our own."

"I am finished here, so we can go ahead."

Amidst the boxes and other old junk in her parents' cellar, they found a table to use for the dining room, along with four chairs in need of repair. There was an old bench Hermione wanted to put upstairs in the landing/hallway area. With a coat of paint, it would be nice. She even found some landscape paintings and some other picture frames that had long ago been relegated to the basement.

Towards the afternoon, they took their freshly shrunken findings upstairs, where the aroma of food filled the air, just as Jane and Frank Granger entered their home.

"Mum, Dad, I found your note; thanks for this stuff, it'll help out a lot."

Severus nodded to the Grangers, feeling uncomfortable. He'd hoped to be out of there long before they got home.

"We needed to get rid of that stuff anyway. Your father planned to do something with the cellar when we bought this house, but it just seems to be a place to accumulate junk. Hello, Severus, how have you been?"

"Well enough."

"Oh, there are some more things I've got for you, Hermione; come upstairs." Hermione and her mother went upstairs, leaving Severus and Frank standing in the living room. It was an uncomfortable silence, and Severus wondered if he should speak first.

"Hermione tells us your new house is in Lincolnshire," Frank said.

"Yes, it is between Tattershall and Sleaford. Hermione preferred a Muggle dwelling."

"Good of you to give her that," Frank said stiffly. "I trust you shall be providing for her well enough in the future?" the balding man asked him firmly.

Despite the fact that the man was a Muggle, Snape was fully aware he could make things difficult if he thought he wasn't treating Hermione well.

"Of course," Severus said, equally stiffly.

"One would think that a man of your years and position would have no trouble getting furniture."

What is taking Hermione so long? Severus was starting to wish he had simply told Hermione to transfigure furniture. It wouldn't last, and the charms would need to be re-done frequently, but surely it would have saved them the indignity of taking her parents' cast-offs. "I will, of course, be purchasing furniture in the near future. As I'm sure you are aware, there are many expenses associated with obtaining a new residence. It seems prudent to prepare for more pressing needs first, as well as to assure the basic expenses will be covered."

"Right," Frank said, giving a curt nod. "So you have a new job, yet?"

"I will be making potions to order for several apothecaries, as well as individual orders. I am confident this will bring adequate income."

Severus was relieved when Hermione and her mother returned from the first floor. She carried a cardboard shoebox with her.

"Will the two of you stay for dinner?" Jane asked. "I've had a roast in the slow-cooker all day."

"Sounds good, Mum, we only had to get these things back to the house tonight, so we've got time."

Severus wished she hadn't said that. He knew, too, if he protested it would only make him look as if he was being inconsiderate of Hermione and her family. All through the meal, Hermione and her mother chatted amiably while Severus managed to maintain a stiff discourse with her father. It hadn't seemed this awkward over the Christmas holiday; he wondered what had changed. However, towards the end of the meal, over ice cream, Frank seemed to warm up to him.

"I was rather worried when Hermione wrote us with the news you wouldn't be teaching any longer. Made it sound as if you wouldn't have much," Frank told him lowly as Hermione was discussing her job prospects with her mother in the kitchen, who was trying to understand just what a ward-setter actually did.

"You need not be concerned for Hermione's welfare. I do take my duties seriously."

*****

It was a week later, mid-July, that Hermione sat on the front stoop, looking out over their new front garden and the wheat field, which dominated the landscape. Trees were in the distance in a meandering path. The owner had mentioned a stream that was behind the house where the trees thickened.

Almost everything had been moved in and most things arranged. The living room was still very bare, containing only the two wingback chairs. The bookshelves were filled with both their book collections. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn't had dinner yet, and they didn't have any food in the house. Severus had gone back to Hogwarts for one more trip, telling her to remain and rest. A full day of Shrinking Charms, Engorging Charms, Levitation, Apparating several times, and just figuring out a place for everything had been exhausting.

Hermione looked down at her NEWTs results with a smile. The owl had arrived earlier that day. Severus had responded to her exclamations of delight with a gruff "I knew you would do well." She had achieved nine NEWTs, and had achieved 'Exceeds Expectations' in History of Magic, Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy.

The house cast a long shadow over the front garden, and the sky in the east was darkening; she could see Venus, and then Jupiter, shining first in the waning light. Severus Apparated with a loud 'crack' only ten feet from the house with a paper bag in his hand. He handed her the bag after he had removed a gyro and sat beside her on the front stoop. Hermione transfigured a twig into a water goblet then filled it with water with another incantation.

They still had the wards to cast, as well, but as tired as she was, she thought it would be best to wait for the following day. She pulled her gyro from the bag and bit into the warm meat. When they finished, Hermione stood, as did Severus.

"I was wondering," Hermione said, looking towards Severus with a teasing smile, "if wizards had the same tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold...you didn't do that when we got married. I thought, now that we have our own house, well..."

He raised an eyebrow at her, then smirked and withdrew his wand. Hermione's eyes widened as he muttered a spell and ropes shot out from his wand, quickly wrapping around her torso and knees. Just as she was about to unbalance, Severus bent over and hefted Hermione over his shoulder, an arm holding her legs firmly.

"This isn't what I meant!" she shrieked.

"Well, I am carrying you over the threshold," he retorted with a chuckle as he entered their new home and then climbed the stairs. "And I shall carry you to bed, where I shall ravish you without mercy."

"But aren't you tired from all the work today?" she asked, slightly strained from hanging upside down over his shoulder, as he turned into the bedroom.

"I believe I shall manage, and I trust you might as well." Hermione's breath escaped with an 'oomph' as he tossed her onto the bed. She rolled over to look up at Severus, who was eying her hungrily as he unbuttoned his shirt.

"I'll scream," she warned, trying not to laugh.

"Scream all you wish, for no one can hear you," he purred as he moved onto the bed. "Not a soul for miles around," he whispered in her ear. "Perfect, isn't it?" He pulled back up, looking her in the eye, brushing her hair back from her face with one hand.

Severus waited for her answer, watching her lips, then moving his gaze down over her bound body. Finally, a home of his own, and a wife of his own tied up in bed with him.

"I like it." She smiled at him, and Severus lowered himself upon her, unbuttoning her jeans and pushing them down as far as he could, what with her knees tied together as they were. He kissed her deeply, feeling utterly at peace, forgetting for the moment the expenses which had been weighing heavily on his mind, the murderer who had killed yet another victim the previous night unbeknownst to Hermione, who hadn't had time that morning to read the Prophet. He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, rubbing his thumb against the soft skin over her cheekbone, then pulling away and sucking softly on her lower lip. He watched her face as she smiled at him; saw the arousal in her eyes, delighting when she arched to grind up against his hips. So willing, his Hermione, so resilient, so delightful.

"Will you scream now?" he whispered, running a hand over her body, teasingly skimming his fingernails across the gentle swell of her hip.

"Mmmm," she groaned, thrusting her hips up, attempting to guide his hand where she wanted it. "Don't suppose it'd to me any good..." she admitted. Severus chuckled and moved his hand to where Hermione obviously wanted it, gently nibbling at her nipple through her clothing, before pulling back, pushing her bound legs up to rest on one of his shoulders. She squeezed him as he thrust into her, catching a rhythm quickly with him, using her ankles on his shoulder to pull herself up against him.

He gripped her thighs tightly as he climaxed after Hermione had, then he pushed her legs to the side, lying down behind her, pulling her to his body.

"Severus...can you untie me now?" she asked when he felt nearly ready to drift off to sleep.

"I think I like you like this," he replied lowly, tugging on the ropes around her torso.

"I've gotta pee!"

"I suppose I could let you go," he muttered, grabbing his wand from his trousers on the floor and using it to banish the ropes he'd conjured to tie her with, then watched with a smile as she clambered out of bed and headed for the loo, nearly tripping on her way. His head fell back onto the pillow, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of complete freedom he couldn't remember ever feeling before in his life. After he graduated, he'd joined Voldemort. Once he began spying, he'd felt as if under Dumbledore's thumb, and that feeling had never truly left him, until now.

Much later that night, Severus awoke to a sound he hadn't heard while sleeping in many years: rain. He readjusted his position and was nearly back to sleep, when suddenly there was a cold, wet 'splat' on his temple. He looked up to the ceiling, which was a mistake, as the next 'splat' landed directly in his right eye. He rolled over, grabbed his wand from the floor beside the bed, and pointed it at the ceiling, muttering a water-repelling charm. He draped his arm back over Hermione's waist, with another chore added to the list of things to be done.