Troublesome Misconceptions

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Troublesome Misconceptions

~H~

Hermione walked up the steps with Ginny after breakfast, feeling a little better than when she arrived. Harry, who had gone to the Ministry with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, had finally departed for St Mungo's to help in the newly added childrens' ward. Ron had gone off sulking somewhere. When Ginny had told him that they were just going up to her room to have some girl talk, he'd tried to follow them up stairs until Ginny threatened to curse him. Finally, after a rousing row of innuendos, Hermione suggested Ron go fly over to Luna's and see if she and Neville would come over. He'd mumbled, but went up his room to collect his broom and walked down the stairs, still grumbling.

"Sometimes I can hardly wait to move out on my own. Only I won't be on my own exactly, will I?" Ginny asked, giggling. "I'll be living with Harry. He's talking about having us move into Grimmauld Place, and believe it or not, Kreacher is thrilled! He's even cleaned up all the rooms, and Harry said I could repaint the master suite in any color I choose as long as I don't pick pink." She laughed again. "It's going to be strange when we all have our own places, isn't it?"

Oh, Circe! Move in to Snape's house... Does he even have a house? He's living at Malfoy manor now.... "That's not something I want to think about right now, Gin," Hermione stated, suddenly feeling nervous. Will he expect me to live with him?

Ginny looked at her from over her shoulder. "Why ever not? Oh. Is Snape's place terrible? I mean he's lived at the castle for so long, well, most of the year when he's teaching. It may just be neglect..."

Hermione shrugged. "I haven't seen his place. I have no idea what it looks like." Hermione pushed open the door, turning to look at her friend.

"You don't – but you just said downstairs... Where did... I mean did he take you to an inn?" Ginny asked, stunned.

"No, worse." Ginny gave Hermione a questioning look as Hermione stepped into Ginny's room. "I told you our first night was here," she said softly, pointing in the direction of the back garden.

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, rather romantic considering..."

"Last night he took me to Malfoy manor," Hermione said, ushering Ginny inside quickly.

"NO! Really? Malfoy manor! I thought," Ginny said as she closed the door, "he'd take you to his house!"

"Please, Gin, not so loud, I just... I didn't want to say anything, not in front of everybody. I'm still trying to look at the silver lining in all this." Hermione walked over and fell onto her bed, leaning against the wall.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny asked, walking over to sit down next to her.

"It's not like in the dreams," Hermione replied, fighting back a sense of longing. "He's not as... it's not as good."

"It was exactly the same as in my dreams with Harry – well, except for the tips you gave me," Ginny said as Hermione bit her lip. "They really helped by the way. I've even got Harry to let me – top him. Does it hurt? Is that the problem?"

Hermione forced herself to smile. "No, not last night, not as much, that part feels pretty much the same, I think. It's him. He's like he was in school, but not... I don't know. I expected..." she replied. "I was hoping he'd be like in the dreams – but he isn't."

"It's supposed to be. Things are supposed to be the same." Ginny looked at her friend, concerned. "It is Severus we are talking about though, isn't it? Oh, if I'm going back to school to finish my N.E.W.T.s, I'd better not get used to calling him Severus, huh?" she asked, grinning.

Hermione looked up and smiled. "So, you still intend on attending, even considering that you'll be a married woman by the time school starts? I'm glad you're going back, even if you and Harry can get your way about it and marry this summer," she said. "We may even be dorm mates. I signed up to return. Minerva asked if... Do you think Severus will try and stop me?" Hermione asked, worried. "We've not discussed – we've not discussed anything. Well, that part is just like the dream. No talking. No questions. Just shagging."

"You're kidding? Really?" Ginny's mouth dropped open. "I suppose it will take the two of you a bit more time to get acquainted with each other as husband and wife," Ginny said as she squeezed Hermione's hand. "I'm sorry, Hermione, I don't mean to sound insensitive. But really, this spell always makes a good match. The reason it was abandoned was because girls who cast the spell couldn't predict who they would be matched up with, and often the wizard turned out to be... um... really unexpected. Parents would become furious, and well, you can imagine."

"You mean they turned out to be Muggle-born?" she asked.

"Well, yes, or they were from the wrong families: families that didn't get along, feuding families, wrong social standing, poor, wrong political associations... and yes, wrong blood lineage. On the other hand, there are many times where the spell made an unusual match that turned out grand, like Luna's mum. Aunt Muriel was raving once about her parents making her and her sister cast the spell, and it worked out well. Course Aunt Muriel's on her third wizard," Ginny said, trying to cheer her up.

Hermione sighed and rubbed her arms as if cold. "But can you see Severus as my true love? My wand mate? I can see where we have some things in common, but he's so cold and condescending and snarly... Gin, he's not the caring, gentle lover that came to me in the dreams. I try to please him and do what he expects, but I just feel... used. Part of me still thinks something went wrong."

"Hermione, what you told me about when he came to you, the way he just appeared, walked into the water, grabbed you and kissed you... sounds exactly like the way it's supposed to happen," Ginny said. "There are stories, witchtales that stem from the Moon-Song Spell. Romantic stories. Oh, I remember a story about a witch whose father locked her in a tower because the Moon-Song Spell matched her to the son of a man her father hated..."

"How did that one end?" Hermione asked crossing her legs, watching Ginny.

"Fought trolls, scaled a castle, slayed Graphorns and dragons, fought an army of knights and climbed the tower stairs to his true love," Ginny replied smiling. "How else?"

"I cannot see Severus doing that for me," Hermione said with a heavy sigh.

"Believe me he would have, if my brothers would've had any warning of what we'd done," Ginny said, giggling. "Ah, Hermione, don't worry. I know it's Severus Snape, but really, the spell wouldn't have matched you if you were not compatible. He'll come around and things will be fine. Look at Neville and Luna, they're matched and they're happy."

Hermione started to laugh. "Oh, yeah, there is a great comparison. Severus and Neville, never were two more opposite wizards ever made. I cannot see Severus nervously trying to ask me if I was sure I wanted him or not, then fumble with my buttons and trip over his trainers... No, Severus just pulls me to him, kisses me as if it's assumed, and makes love to me. Believe me, Severus and Neville are truly different."

Ginny shrugged. "So what are you going to do?"

Hermione looked out the window wondering the same thing. "Wait until I get his owl and hope for the best. What else can I do? He's now my husband, isn't he?"

"Well, Bonded mate at least," Ginny said sympathetically. "Hermione, just give him time. He's probably just angry and coming to terms with this, too. I have to believe that it will work out. You'll see – it will."

Hermione nodded, wanting to believe. "So when Luna gets here, what do you want to do? Any other spells you think we should try for fun?" she asked sarcastically.

"We could always try brewing a potion or transfigure something?" Ginny proposed, laughing.

Hermione glared at her and then started laughing, too. "Transfiguration – it's safer."

Unbeknownst to the girls, a large beetle had been resting on the windowsill listening to every word. With a flicker of its hard elytra, the beetle exposed its flight wings and took off, nearly missing the boy that hovered on his broom just below the window.

*

Hermione checked her face and hair and then slipped from the loo just as Harry opened the door. "Hermione?"

"No wor-riess, Harry, I'm done in there," Hermione slurred, carelessly brushing against him as she passed him into the hallway. She'd had too much of the champagne punch George had made to celebrate the anniversary of the day he and Fred opened up shop.

George almost didn't want to celebrate the night, but Lee'd talked him into a quiet party with just close friends and his brothers and so he'd relented. Hermione had no idea George was so popular or had so many close friends. George's small flat had been engorged earlier to accommodate the guests, but the flat was packed with well-wishers and friends. So far the party had been fairly low-key. Songs were being sung using a karaoke machine Lee had dug up somewhere. Canary Creams were being passed around on platters along with Twittering Chews that made the eater sound like a songbird. Earlier George had made a presentation to Harry as he repaid the loan, which of course Harry had refused, but George pressed upon him anyway. Hermione knew that Harry considered the Galleons blood money, won because Tom 'Voldemort' Riddle had killed Cedric Diggory. To fend off any hurt feelings, Hermione had suggested he lend the money to Neville as a start up on a nursery. Harry liked the idea and stashed the Galleons in his coat pocket with a grin. The party had been fun, but Hermione was feeling a little snockered and knew she should head back to the Burrow, but really didn't feel like going.

"Are you having a good time?" George asked, handing her another glass.

"Spiffing! I should get you to gives me some of this for my tomorrow night," she replied, sipping on the tangy drink. "It'll makes a sourpuss friendlier."

"If you want, sure, I'll send some home with you, although as a true friend, I shouldn't let you leave." George tipped his glass, watching her with a wicked grin. "Hermione, you're snockered. Do you want to sleep it off here? If not, I've also got rooms reserved at the Leaky Cauldron, too, you know."

Hermione leaned unsteadily, and George reached out to support her, smiling. "No, I've a husband now, I can't be sleeping with you," she stated,

George wrapped his arm around her waist. "I've heard about that. Severus Snape? Talk about a spell going wrong!"

"No kidding," Ron said, leaning on the wall across from them.

Hermione looked up, surprised to see him standing there. "You're telling me! I thought it would be you. Make the potion, say a rhyme, sip the tea, take a bath, and everything would be confirmed... But no – I get Severus Snape."

"Is it that bad?" George asked, looking at Hermione with concern. Her eyes started to fill with tears and George guided her to Fred's old room. "Hermione, what happened? I thought you and Snape... Ginny seems so assured it'll work out all right. I admit when I'd first heard about the Bonding I thought that he did something to you, you know – a potion or something. I mean, the last I'd heard you and Ron were finally a couple – then I read that a Bonding Spell has bound you and Snape, and Ginny tells me you girls did the Moon-Song Curse. What happened?"

"They did do the Moon-Song Curse," Ron spoke up as he closed the door. "Ginny was matched up with Harry, and Luna with Neville, and..."

"And I'm now Bonded with Severus... Only he doesn't like me," Hermione confessed. She finished off her glass, nearly falling backward as she put her head back to drink the last drop.

"Whoa," George gasped, grabbing her before she fell and helped her sit on the bed.

Hermione shook her head. "No, George, I shouldn't be in bed with you, 'cause everyone knows the temper of my... my... husband." She looked up at him. "He calls me insufferable, you know?"

George ran his hand trough his hair. "Yeah, I know that magically aligned unions can go through a rough period, but usually the couples work things out, and in the end they generally turn out well."

"Well, we may be the first wizard couple ever to refute that misconception." She covered her face with her hands. The room was tipping and her nose felt fuzzy.

"Okay, look the party is going to rage on for a while, and you look like you could use a bit of peace and quiet," George suggested, still squatting down in front of her. "Take off your shoes and lie down. No one will bother you, I can make sure of that." He slipped off one of her dress pumps, looking at the Muggle shoe with a grin, then removed the other. "If you fall asleep, don't worry about it. I'll take you out for breakfast tomorrow and we'll talk, all right?" He smiled as Hermione nodded and lay down. He pulled a blanket up over her legs and stood to go.

"Right, then, I'll just sit with her a while," Ron said softly. "Don't really feel like going back out there just yet, anyway."

"Ron?"

"I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" George asked.

"Just want to be here for her," Ron replied. "We've been friends forever you know."

Hermione wasn't sure when George left the room, before or after the light dimmed, but she reopened her eyes as Ron sat down on the bed beside her. "I would have married you, you know."

"Yeah, Ron, I know you would have." He was right; in fact she knew he would still marry her.

He laid his hand on her shoulder. "I'd have treated you better, been right proud be your husband." He began to absent-mindedly twirl a curl of her hair around his finger.

"I know you would have," she replied, her drunken mind enjoying the feel of his fingers in her hair.

"I wouldn't make you cry," he said with softly spoken remorse.

Hermione sat up. "You can't promise me that; all we do is argue and fight."

Ron wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. "I think you do know how things would be. We'd fight occasionally and I'd eventually tell you you were right or you'd tell me it didn't matter, and we'd kiss and make up."

Her tears were flowing now; she couldn't hold them back, and she threw her arms around his neck. "I really did think the spell would simply confirm that you were my match," she said, burying her face in his neck.

"Shhhh." He stroked her head and then tipped her face up to look at her. "It can't be all that bad?"

"He was so gentle in the dreams, so passionate, and it was so good..." she started to say, wanting him to understand how things were supposed to be.

Ron looked at her, obviously confused. "But you said he treated you bad."

"Not bad, distant, not as caring, not as giving or... It just kind of happened so quickly," she mumbled. She looked into his blue eyes, which now looked quite dark in the nearly dark bedroom. For a moment, she could almost think his eyes were as dark as Snape's, that his lips were as thin, and that his shoulder-length, wavy hair was as black. She closed her eyes as she remembered the way the dream Snape used to cup her face before he kissed her, how Snape would pull her to him, so aroused and desirous for her it made her heart ache. She felt him reach out and brush her hair from her face, his warm hand cupping her cheek. Hermione leaned her face into his palm, and he leaned forward, hesitantly brushing his lips against hers. The soft sensual kiss befuddled her drunken mind even more, and she kissed him back, needing his passionate reassurance.

"Hermione," Ron breathed softly and she gasped. Ron obviously took her gasp to mean acceptance and deepened his kiss, pushing Hermione back into the bed, lying down practically on top of her as he groped her breast.

"Ron, no, stop, no," she gasped out between kisses, trying to push him away.

"Hermione, you know I love you," Ron pleaded, trying to kiss her again and make her submit to him.

"I'm married. Everyone tells me that is what this magical Bonding is," she was saying as she struggled to sit up, "practically married!"

"You deserve better," he said softly.

"I'm Bonded to Snape," she said as she tried sliding away while pushing at the same time. "Ron, stop! I can't!"

"You don't love him, you love me," he said, leaning over her.

"Hey, Bro, what are you doing?" George asked, coming into the room.

"Apparently nothing," Ron said, getting up.

"Are you daft?" George asked, gobsmacked. "You do know that her Bonded mate is Severus Snape?"

"Yeah, I'm very well aware, thank you," Ron snapped angrily. "But she doesn't love him – she loves me."

"I'm still here you know," Hermione said from the bed. The room was tipping again and her felt dizzy.

"No, you're not – you're his," Ron spat at her. "If you were here, you would be with me – not loyal to him! He doesn't even like you!"

"Ron, that's not fair," she pleaded with him.

"No, it's not," Ron said as he stormed from the room, slamming the bedroom door.

George walked over and sat on the bed, holding a steaming mug in his hand. "He's mad, Hermione. He still loves you."

"I know, but it doesn't matter anymore," she said remorsefully. Tears welled up in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. "And he's right, you know, he doesn't."

George rubbed her arm reassuringly. "Here, drink this. It's Hangover Potion with some Sleep Potion added in. At least you can sleep this off, and tomorrow I'll be here if you need me."

Hermione took the mug staring at the potion inside. "I can't sleep with you, either, George," she said as she took a sip.

"I have my own bedroom, Hermione," he replied with a laugh. "It's across the hall. You can sleep here in Fred's old room, and I promise, this time you will not be disturbed. Now drink up." He waited until she finished the potions and pulled the blanket back over her as Hermione lay down. She was drowsy and dizzy, falling asleep before George closed and warded the door.

~S~

Severus paced outside the Burrow, hidden by the lilac bush next to Molly's garden gate. He'd sent his Patronus up to Hermione twice, and she still hadn't come down to him or shown her face in the window. He was getting inpatient. He stormed deeper into the trees and Apparated to Grimmauld Place, but the house was completely dark. Growling, Severus Apparated back to the Burrow and was just about to go up and knock on the door when Potter and Miss Weasley arrived on the drive. Severus waited until they were close enough and cast a silent Imperius at the girl, giving her the instruction to come back outside once Potter had either left or had gone to bed. Both were obviously drunk as they staggered into the house, Potter tickling Miss Weasley and whispering something in her ear that made her giggle. Severus quickly amended his instruction, "Come back outside to me."

He waited.

The door finally opened, and Miss Weasley walked out into the back garden and over to the garden gate. "Where is Hermione?" Severus asked, trying to control his annoyance.

"She's still at the party," Ginny answered vaguely.

He scowled. This is the problem with the Imperius, no direct answers. You have to dig to get the information you want. "What party?"

Ginny looked up at him with a blank expression. "My brother, George's."

Severus controlled the urge to hex her. "And where exactly is that?"

"In his flat," she answered dully.

Terrific. "Which is where, exactly?" he asked, trying to drag the information he needed from her.

"Above his shop, 93A Diagon Alley," she replied.

"Pick some lilacs and go to bed," Severus said, slipping from view of the girl. No point in rousing suspicions. Merlin knows, Potter is overly curious and suspicious.

Ginny picked a handful of lilac and turned to go back to the house. Just before she got to the door, Severus released the Imperius, smirking, as Ginny turned around, confused, looked at the lilacs in her hand, shrugged and walked inside.

He turned and walked into the apple orchard and Apparated to the Apparation point in Diagon Alley, drawing his hood up to try and conceal his identity. The street was empty except for two revelers walking down the street, obviously drunk. He walked confidently down the street, looking for the Weasley boy's shop cautiously, careful to not attract attention. The shop with its garish window display and neon sign was easy to find, the entrance to the flat apparently not. He scowled as he realized the primary entrance to the flat might be from inside the shop itself, and after business hours, there were numerous wards and alarms to prevent thievery so that access was denied him.

Severus looked up. He knew she was still in Weasley's apartment, he could feel it, and it irritated him even more. The windows were dark, showing no hint as to which window he should aim at. Taking a chance, he aimed his Patronus at the flat and watched the silver doe fly up into the window. Seconds passed and the doe returned. Half an hour later, Hermione still remained elusive. Swearing, Severus paced, stared at the flat again, and then Disapparated, unconcerned about the noise echoing in the street, setting off the Apparation-Proximity alarms.

Back at the manor, Severus was in a fit of rage, breaking the mirror in his room, and then repairing it twice.

Lucius strolled in, his long, sleek hair slightly windswept from running, yet he was trying to portray a casual indifference. "I'm to assume things didn't go well?" he asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Severus snarled and then turned to face him, forcefully controlling his temper. "No, things didn't go well."

Lucius nodded. "There is always tomorrow," he said smoothly. "In the meantime, Narcissa asked me to ask you to not destroy the house."

Severus lowered his head, although his hands still remained clenched tightly. "Tell Narcissa that I'm sorry. I'll try to control my temper better." He looked up, startled to see Lucius smiling. "All right, she wasn't where I told her to be. She went to a party and I... didn't like it."

Lucius nodded again. "Understood. I've some old statues you could blast, if you feel the need, down by the pond. I find blowing up marble to be quite stress-relieving."

"Actually the mirror was quite sufficient, thank you," Severus stated, already starting to feel calmer. "Be sure to tell Narcissa that the mirror is repaired."

"Night cap? Possibly a nice three hundred-year-old brandy?" Lucius offered.

Severus shook his head. "Maybe tomorrow. In my frame of mind, alcohol would not be a good idea. Maybe I'll go for a walk."

Lucius turned, stopping at the door. "The side path down to the pond is lovely this time of night. Just repair the marble busts before you come back to the house."

"Good night, Lucius."

"Good night, Severus."

~R~

Meanwhile back at the Burrow, Ron lay on his bed, arms crossed, fuming over Hermione's rejection. To make matters worse, Harry was still in Ginny's room, and he knew that they were not doing astronomy charting. He heard the stairs squeak and rose, slipping to the door, wondering why Ginny didn't skip the third step. He saw his sister hurry down the stairs and quietly followed her. He was stunned to see Ginny run outside barefoot, wearing her dressing robe.

Ginny ran around the house, heading for the back garden, and Ron quickly turned to go to Charlie's old room to see where his sister was going. He'd just made it to the window as Ginny came to a halt in front to the garden gate, leading to the apple orchard. A tall, dark figure stood next to his mum's lilac bush, talking to Ginny. Ginny was standing still, almost rigid, as the man seemed to pace slightly as if agitated. Suddenly the figure stepped two inches too far into the light, and Ron recognized the dark shape. Snape. Snape's looking for Hermione! Snape came here to get her... Ron stepped away from the window, his irritation at the situation turning to hatred. If it weren't for that git, Hermione would still be my girl. If he'd just go away and leave her, she would come back to me – I know it, he thought as he returned to his room.

Ron heard the door open, and Ginny came up the stairs holding a bouquet of lilacs in her hand. "What did Snape want?" he snapped at her.

"Ron! What are you on about?" she replied, confused.

"He was at the garden gate, next to the lilac bush," Ron said angrily. "I saw him. You were talking to him, Gin."

Ginny shook her head. "I wasn't talking to anyone, Ron. I wanted lilacs..."

"Liar. You're covering for him. Well, it won't work. I saw you and him, and I know," Ron said as he stomped off for his bed.

Mr. Weasley poked his head out of his bedroom door. "It's all right, Dad," Ginny said, turning to her dad. "Ron's still mad because of something that happened at George's party, and I think it has something to do with the Bonding between Snape and Hermione. I'm going to bed."

"Okay, Ginny," Mr. Weasley said, watching her walk up the stairs. "Good night, dear."

~ T B C ~>

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