Chapter 12: Discovery

Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to JKR. I make no money from this.

A/N: Many thanks to my awesome beta, Southern_Witch_69!

Harry sat in the box seats that Auror Rossi had gotten for Aurors at the World Cup away from the rest. He'd had no intentions of even attending, but at the last minute thought better of it. He refused to let Cho Chang, or even Ginny Weasley...Wood, keep him from one of his favorite things.

He watched the other Aurors sitting around, excitement filling the stands. Cho was sitting by one of the top Aurors; he couldn't remember his name, and she purposely ignored Harry. That was fine. What bothered Harry was her blatant flirtation, obviously done for the benefit of bothering him. It was working, but damn if she'd know it.

All conversations stopped as the wives and significant others entered the box. Harry's gaze locked with Ginny's, and for a moment all else faded away...it was just him and her together in the box.

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you here today."

"I don't doubt it," he told Ginny as he looked at Cho several moments before turning his eyes back to Ginny.

Ginny looked over her shoulder to see what her ex was staring at so intently, and her eyes widened. She started to greet Cho, but Cho scowled and looked away. Seeming confused, Ginny sat by Harry.

"How have you been?" she asked him quietly as she laid her hand on his arm, not even realizing that the players were being introduced and the game was about to begin.

Harry jerked his arm away, glaring at her with disgust. "Do not touch me."

Ginny jerked away, tears filling her eyes. "Don't touch you? What rubbish is this? You hate me that much then?"

Shaking with rage that wasn't all directed at Ginny, but she was convenient, Harry told her, "You have some nerve, Wood, you know that? First you ruin my life," he looked down at her left ring finger and then back up at her, revolted, "then you want to come here and act as if nothing major has happened? Let me tell you, lady, you really take the cauldron cake!"

Ginny jumped out of her seat then, oblivious that the game had started or that everyone around them was listening intently to everything she and Harry were saying. "I'M SORRY! Okay? I'm sorry! Forgive me for having a few doubts and not being perfect."

Harry stood then as well. "You're sorry? Sorry? Gee, Harry," he mimicked in a sing-song voice, "I've had a couple of doubts and totally changed the direction of your life without even giving you any warning, WHATSOEVER, taken the only family you've ever known away from you, but, hey, let bygones be bygones, eh? I'm happily married and have it all, but you just go right along on your merry little way." He looked her up and down with disgust. "Thanks, but no thanks."

"That's not fair, Harry. I never..."

"Let me tell you what I've discovered, Gin. Life is very seldom fair." Harry went to leave the box and accidentally shoved Ginny back, causing her to loose her footing and fall on her arse.

He stopped immediately. "Oh, God, Gin. I didn't mean for that to happen!" He held out his hand to help her up, but she only shook her head. She stared to speak, but was suddenly interrupted.

"POTTER!" Oliver yelled as he'd completely left his post by the goals and had flown over to the box. "Get the hell away from my wife...NOW!"

Harry lurched around and glared at Oliver as Ginny quickly stood, wiping the dirt off the back of her bottom, her face reddened from anger mixed with embarrassment. "Don't you have a Cup to win, Wood?"

"Wood!" his coach cried out. "Get back to your post! THIS INSTANT."

Ignoring his coach, Oliver turned to his wife. "All right, Gin?" Ginny simply nodded, unable to speak at first.

Clearing her throat, she finally said, "Please go back to the game. They've scored three times since you've left. Please," she begged when he seemed reluctant to go. "I'm just fine. I promise."

When her husband reluctantly left, Ginny looked at Harry. "Harry," she quietly said. "This isn't the place for such a conversation, but I want to say this to you. I love you. I've loved you since I was ten, and I will always love you. My family will always consider you a part of our family, and Mum would be devastated to hear you say otherwise.

"But, if you're honest, you will admit, at least to yourself, that you did not love me like a husband should love a wife. You love me like a sister, Harry. Did you think that I couldn't tell?"

Harry slumped back in his seat, deflated. Truth be told, he was angrier with Cho and that situation than with Ginny. And though he hated to admit it, Ginny was right. "I suppose I've just been with you and your family for so long, I just expected certain things. Being with you, for me, was a given. But though I did love you, you're right, at the end, it was more like a sister."

Ginny hastily wiped a tear from her cheek. "I don't want you to hate me now or avoid my family because of me. I would even be willing to make sure I'm not there when you want to visit if you let me know in advance. They all love you, Harry, and miss you terribly."

Harry felt ashamed. "Merlin, Ginny! That's really not necessary. I can be such an arse!" He grinned. "Well, you were sort of an arse, too, you know. You should have talked to me rather than doing that idiotic charm, but I understand the part that tainted wine played in everything. I don't hate you; I couldn't. It's just so hard for me, seeing you with him." He nodded towards Oliver, who seemed to be blocking the other team while keeping his eye on Harry and Ginny at the same time.

Ginny sighed. "I know. If the situation was reversed, I would hate it, too." She absently looked down at her ring. "Nothing has turned out the way we've expected, has it? But, Harry, sometimes change is good, right?" she asked hopefully.

Harry turned to look at Cho then, just remembering she'd been there to witness everything, to find her staring at him with her arms folded and a murderous look in her eyes. "Right. And sometimes, change kicks you right between the eyes."

Ginny looked back at Cho, who was glaring at Harry, when she suddenly heard "...has caught the Snitch just as Wood blocks yet another goal! HARPIES WIN THE WORLD CUP!"

~*~

Ron felt miserable. They'd made it to Ireland to find cold, rainy weather. He had automatically assumed they'd be staying at the wizarding hotel there, but no, they were camping in a very secluded area.

The tent Luna had brought for them was big enough, he supposed, but he'd not been prepared for camping out. After months of the same with Harry and Hermione...whom he refused to think about...he'd had his fill for awhile.

"Luna, the hotel is not that far from here. Why do we need to set camp?"

"I've told you! First of all, it saves money, and secondly, there are other things besides the one flower that we can get while we're here that is only available in Ireland. It makes more sense and saves more time to be here in the thick of it. The way you go on, one would think you'd never been camping before."

"That's just it. I have many times, and I'm rather sick of it."

Luna glared at her husband. "Ron, I'm tired of your complaining. Listen, why don't you just go on back home? It's obvious you don't really want to be here with me," she said as she averted her eyes from him. "It really shouldn't take any longer than a week, and you'll have some alone time without me underfoot."

Ron's heart sank, and he felt slight panic. "No, it's fine. I can tough it out a week. I brought a project to work on while you're busy. I'm sorry about the complaints, Luna, truly. I'm just really tired of camping."

Luna smiled at him so brilliantly that he couldn't help smiling back. She placed her hand on top of his and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Ronald. If you like, I can help you with your project later. A few of us are going hiking in a few moments to look at some of the different flora here."

"Who are these few?"

Luna shook her head. "Yes, Stanly is coming. You've really got to get over that. I honestly don't want Stanly. I thought it would be completely obvious to you by now who I truly want. What more can I do or say to you to reassure you about that?"

Ron's face reddened in anger mixed with embarrassment. "You know, Hermione used to say the same thing...that it was me she truly wanted. But, as you very well know, it wasn't. So, forgive me if I seem a little leery right now. Besides, I don't need reassurance from you because you only have to stay the year with me, and then after, well, we'll both be free."

"What exactly are you saying to me?" Luna demanded.

"I'm saying that while I do find you attractive...I always have...don't expect me to give over my heart. You remind me of her some, you know. Not in looks, mind, but you're definitely brilliant, just as she is. You and I, we have much more things in common and all that, but I'm not the sort of bloke to come home and discuss journals and such with you."

Folding her arms defensively across her chest, Luna asked, "When have I ever asked you to? The difference is, I know the things we do and don't have in common, and I don't try to change the things that we don't. If you've already decided not to open up to me or trust me, then what are you doing here?"

Ron threw his hands in the air. "You need me here! That man..."

"ENOUGH!" Luna yelled, surprising her husband into silence. "Stanly is just an excuse, and we both know it. We've been married almost three months now, and it seems I can't break through your shell. You don't even want me to. I can't tell if it's because you're truly still in love with Hermione or if it's because you truly have no feelings for me in that regard.

"Either way, I grow tired of it all. I can't be the one always giving in and making the sacrifices here." She pounded her chest. "Regardless of what you may think, I do have a heart, and it can be broken. I know that all of this happened because of me, and perhaps that causes you to hate me, I dunno. But, I will say this. I won't go on like this much longer."

"I have made sacrifices! Are you mad? I've had to sacrifice my entire life! I had to with no choice on the matter. I had to give up the woman I love and marry someone I didn't. You can't just expect me to welcome you or this situation with open arms, Luna. It's not fair."

"I am talking about the sacrifices in this relationship! I don't have time to talk about this anymore; they're waiting on me. I didn't mean to get into it in the first place. Not here anyway. Just... just think about everything and what you want." Luna sniffled, wiping her eyes.

Ron stood. "I'll go hiking with you."

Luna none too gently shoved him back. "No, you won't. I don't want you there, Ron. I need time away from you."

Ron was confused because he was hurt by her rejection. Shaking his head, he said, "This is what I mean. Exactly what I was talking about. Hermione often needed the same. So, you just go on your little hiking trip. You're obviously just fine without me."

Luna softened then. "No, I'm not. I'm independent; a person like me has had to be. But, I'll never be 'just fine' without you."

"A person like you?"

Luna laughed. "Do you honestly think I don't know what people have said, and still say, actually, about me? Do you think that I'm deaf? 'Looney Luna' is just one of the nicer things I've been called. I know all of that. But for some reason, I thought you were different. Or different when it comes to me at least. We did start out as friends." She lowered he eyes as if she didn't want him to see. "Hopefully, we can end friends." Luna ran out of the tent before Ron could answer her.

He rubbed the ache in his chest, but it wouldn't leave. Against his will, he was starting to have deep feelings for his wife, no matter how he fought against them. The question was, what did he want to do about them?

~*~

Hermione and Severus walked into the ballroom that the Ministry of Magic used for special events. It was the only place big enough to hold the Malfoy-Parkinson wedding reception.

Severus bent down to whisper into his wife's ear, "You look very becoming in your new robes."

"Thank you," she said, smiling nervously. "You never said anything before we left, and I wasn't certain you approved." This was their first outing as a married couple, and Hermione wanted to make a good impression.

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Do you need my approval for your wardrobe?"

"No! It's just that these are your friends, Severus, not mine, and I wanted to be sure you thought I looked all right."

"I see. Yes, I think you look lovely," he told her in reassuring tones.

Hermione was surprised that when they entered the room, a man took Severus' invitation and formally announced them to the room at large. It seemed so... old fashioned, but then, a lot of things in the Wizarding world did to Hermione.

Her husband led her inside and procured a drink for them both. Just as Hermione started to look about the room to see who was in attendance, she heard Lucius Malfoy's drawl. "Severus, old chap! Good to see you. Come, there are a few friends here you haven't spoken to in a while." Turning to Hermione, Lucius said, "You will excuse us, won't you, dear?" Without waiting for her reply, Lucius dragged Severus off and left Hermione standing alone.

Leaning down to whisper to Severus, Lucius told him, "No need to thank me. I knew you would want me to rescue you as soon as possible."

"Actually, Lucius, I..."

"Severus, darling! There you are!" Narcissa happily greeted him. "We're so happy you could join us! It's a shame you couldn't get away from your... little wife for a bit, but not to worry. We shall keep you occupied."

"Really, Narcissa. That's hardly necessary," Severus told her, exasperated.

"Nonsense! It must be rather droll, living with her day in and day out."

"You'd be surprised. She's really quite interesting actually. I'm starting to enjoy her. She's quite the conversationalist."

Lucius chuckled. "Conversation is not what I would be having with a new wife. But I see your dilemma; you have to do something to pass the time with the girl."

Just then a friend of Narcissa's approached. "Cissy! The wedding was absolutely adorable! Your son made such a handsome groom, did he not?"

"Naturally," Narcissa agreed. "Severus, I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Madeleine. Madeleine, meet Severus Snape."

"Aah, the illustrious Severus Snape." Madeleine held out her hand. "I'm so pleased to meet you at last. Cissy has told me so much about you."

"Illustrious? Not at all," Severus assured. Taking her hand, he gently shook it. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Isn't she absolutely delicious, Severus? If you had only listened to me, you may have been dating Madeleine, possibly even happily married by now, and then you never would have been forced into an absurd marriage to some Mudblood!"

Turning to her friend, Narcissa explained, "Severus is not married now by choice, but was forced into it due to his wife performing the Plight Charm. Can you imagine? Well," she waved a hand in the air, "it's of little significance. He only has to stay with her for a year. After that, you two can get to know each other better. If you want to wait, that is," she said, now addressing Severus.

Severus turned a stony glare to Lucius, then Narcissa. "Let me make myself perfectly clear. I will not have you speak of my wife, or my marriage in such a way again. I do not want nor need you meddling in my affairs. Now, if you cannot speak to me with respect, or of my wife with respect, let me know, and I shall rid myself of your presence. I won't have Hermione mocked." He wasn't positive, but Severus thought he saw a hint of approval in Madeleine's eyes.

"Now see here!" Lucius said, face reddened with fury. "How dare you speak to Narcissa that way?"

"How dare she speak to me that way?"

Laying a hand on her husband's arm, Narcissa said, "I apologize, Severus. It was not my intention to offend you. Let's have no more talk of such matters." Changing the subject, she said, "Madeleine teaches Charms at the Wizarding school in France."

"Indeed?" Severus asked with fake interest. As Madeleine began to speak of her job, Severus' eyes wondered the room looking for his wife.

***

Hermione wandered over to the refreshment table. There weren't any people at the reception that she was well acquainted with. She knew a lot of people there, but had never really associated with them during her time at Hogwarts.

"Well, well, well," said Pansy Parkinson, now Malfoy. "Look what the kneazle drug in, Draco! If it isn't Hermione Granger."

"Snape," Hermione automatically corrected. "It's Hermione Snape now."

Draco laughed. "For this year anyway. Don't expect that to last."

Hermione looked him up and down. "What do you know about it? You know nothing of Severus and me or of our marriage."

"I know he was dining at Malfoy Manor when he received the Ministry letter informing him that he would have to marry the likes of you. I've never seen him so furious. What do you say, Pans?"

"Absolutely furious." Pansy looked around the room and zeroed in, smiling evilly. "Likely because Narcissa was going to introduce him to one of her best friends, Madeleine." The new Mrs. Malfoy nodded towards Severus and Madeleine talking together. "She teaches Charms in France. Comparing you to her, naturally, he would be livid. Now he has to wait a whole year."

"Not necessarily, love," Draco said maliciously. "Why wait? He could get to know her now, then when his year with Granger is up, he can move on to better... purer things."

Pansy laughed and clapped as if Draco had cured lycanthropy. "Oh, better. Your mum will likely help things along there."

Hermione slammed her drink down on the table, suddenly feeling nauseous. "How dare you? You loathsome, evil ferret! You know nothing about my husband or our marriage. I won't stand here and listen to this rubbish any longer!"

"You don't have to listen to us," Draco said with a gleam in his eye that should've warned her. "Just turn around and look at your husband."

Against her better judgment, Hermione turned and looked. Her heart fell. Severus looked to be quite enthralled with Narcissa Malfoy's very beautiful friend. Without a backwards glance, Hermione started walking towards the foursome. She stilled when she heard:

"...Severus is not married now by choice, but was forced into it due to his wife performing the Plight Charm. Can you imagine? Well, it's of little significance. He only has to stay with her for a year. After that, you two can get to know each other better. If you want to wait, that is..."

Hermione bent slightly and placed her hand on her stomach, trying to quell the nausea and ache she simultaneously felt. It's true! He's just spending the time required with me, then moving on to someone better! Running outside, she quickly Disapparated back to Hogwarts without so much as a 'goodbye' to her husband.

***

"Excuse me, won't you, Madeleine? I need to find my wife," Severus told her. Narcissa and Lucius had left them to 'see to their guests,' but Severus knew it was only a ploy to leave him alone with Madeleine.

"Not at all, Severus. And, for what it's worth, I had no idea Cissy was going to do that... you know... Introduce me in such a way. I'd not heard of your recent marriage."

"Think nothing of it. I'm well aware of Narcissa and her ways. Have a pleasant evening."

Severus circled the room with no sign of his wife. Walking up to offer his congratulations to the bride and groom, he shook Draco's hand and briefly hugged Pansy. "Have either of you seen my wife, per chance?"

"Oh, Granger left about an hour ago," Pansy gleefully informed him.

"What do you mean she left? Why would she leave? Was she sick?"

"We just gave her a little dose of reality," Draco proudly said. "We saw you conversing with Madeleine. Quite a step up, eh, Professor?"

Severus narrowed his eyes only a fraction, but the newly-weds knew him well enough to realize they'd just made some sort of mistake. "Step up? What ever do you mean by that, Draco?"

"Well, Mum said that you would be very pleased to finally meet Madeleine after spending these past three months with Granger. She said how horrid it's been for you and all. I just assumed that you'd spoken with my parents about it."

"No, I have not. And Hermione's last name is Snape. In the future, I would advise you to remember that."

Severus left the reception full of fury. True, he'd not spoken to the Malfoys, or anyone really, since he'd married Hermione, and he was furious about having to wed her at first, but now... Well, now things had changed. And if they wanted to remain friends, they'd have to adjust.

He quickly Apparated home and went in search of his wife. "Hermione?" he called out once he'd entered their quarters.

"In here," she answered.

Severus spotted her sitting in front of the fire, drinking a glass of wine. "Are you all right?"

Ignoring his question, she had one of her own. "Finally tore yourself away from your paramour? I've been here a little over an hour. When did you even notice I'd left?"

"Paramour? Hermione, that's ridiculous!"

Hermione jumped up out of the chair and spun around to face her husband. "You left me there! You just walked away and left me!"

"I did nothing of the kind!" he defended himself. "It's quite common for married people to mingle separately," he told her, forgetting his concern for her in his defense of himself.

"True, if there are people there that both the husband and wife are both acquainted with!"

"You knew almost everyone there!"

"Knowing and associating with...or hell, even liking...are two different things!"

"YOU WANTED TO GO!"

"TO BE WITH YOU! As your wife," she whispered the last part. "It was our first social as a married couple. Obviously, it'll be our last."

"What are you on about? Why our last?"

"I heard her! I heard what Narcissa Malfoy said about our marriage to that woman you had hanging all over you. I noticed you didn't seem to mind that one bit either!"

"I refuse to dignify that with an answer."

"Naturally. What would one say to his wife after cavorting with another woman? Right in front of her, no less."

"You're being foolish, Hermione, and I've had enough."

She couldn't stop the tears from falling. "Enough?"

"Of this preposterous conversation. Dry your tears," he said roughly. "There is no need for all of that."

"I'm emotional! I cry when I'm happy, sad, or mad! Don't try to change the subject. You are in the wrong here!"

"I most certainly am not. I am going to retire now. Stay here and blubber all night if that makes you feel better."

Her eyes widened in shock, and she shook her head. "You truly don't see how walking off from me, leaving me alone with people who've hated me all of my life, and spending time with some other woman was wrong?"

"No. You're an adult now, no longer in Hogwarts. I thought that by now you'd have ended your petty little grudges."

"Me?" she asked in disbelief. "Perhaps you should talk to your prized ferret. And what of you? You hated Harry from day one because of some grudge you had against his father!"

"Ferret?" Severus shook his head as if disappointed in her. "That's just what I mean, Hermione. And as far as my grudge goes, it was not quite the same, wouldn't you agree? Stay here if you want to wallow, I'm for bed"

"Go then! I don't really care what you do!" she lied.

Once she heard the door to their bedchamber shut, Hermione turned to the fire, placed her face in her hands, and sobbed. She only stopped and stiffened several minutes later when she felt her husband's arms come around her.

He whispered into her ear, "Please, forgive me."

She shivered, but didn't speak.

"I'm not used to having a wife, and I wasn't thinking when I walked away from you with Lucius." It was as close to admitting that he was wrong as he would say.

Hermione didn't trust herself to speak, so she simply nodded.

"Come, let's get some rest. It's been a trying day."

Still not speaking, she simply took her husband's offered hand and walked with him into the bedchamber. He quickly rid them of their clothes and got into bed with her, holding her close only. He wanted her to understand she was worth something to him, something more than just sex.

He gently kissed her lips and said, "Good night."

"Night," she murmured as she drifted to sleep.

A/N: Looks like each of our couples have some thinking to do, eh?