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The Reckoning	By : Snapeoutofit Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 21947 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: All characters and settings are the creation of JK Rowling. I own nothing of Harry Potter and make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-One
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 14-Fourteen
- 15-Fifteen
- 16-Sixteen
- 17-Seventeen
- 18-Eighteen
- 19-Nineteen
- 20-Twenty
- 21-Twenty One
- 22-Twenty Two
- 23-Twenty Three
- 24-Twenty Four
- 25-Twenty Five
- 26-Twenty Six
- 27-Twenty Seven
- 28-Twenty Eight
- 29-Twenty Nine
- 30-Thirty
- 31-Thirty One
- 32-Thirty Two
- 33-Thirty Three
- 34-Thirty Four
- 31
- 32
- 33
Commencement came and went, the students had all gone for the summer Holiday, and Hermione was finishing the tedious task of shrinking her belongings in order to transport them back to her and Severus’ home in London.
She was excited to leave Hogwarts for a few weeks. She was excited to have a break from teaching. She was excited to dedicate some attention to herself, her husband, and her baby.
The ring that sat perched on her left ring finger still felt heavy despite its modest size. Severus and Hermione had decided to elope without any hesitation. They didn’t have much discussion about it. Hermione and Severus had their support system at school, but neither had any family outside of the makeshift one they had built over the years. Neither felt a religious ceremony was necessary. Neither liked the idea of being the center of attention.
Severus contacted a justice who lived in London and asked him to officiate their marriage. Since the justice was a muggle born wizard, he understood the legal process in both the wizarding world and the muggle world. He filed Severus and Hermione’s marriage with both the Ministry of Magic and the City of London, since it was where they owned their home. With little fuss, their commitment to one another had been sealed.
There was a fuss made, however, when they returned home that evening as a newly married couple. It was a Saturday and, rather than returning to Hogwarts, they went to the house on the outskirts of London. Severus barely gave the door a chance to swing close before taking Hermione into his arms. They spent the evening only playing attention to one another; wrapped tightly in their blankets and sheets. Naked limbs snaked around one another as their bodies remained in constant contact. There bodies merged into one, and while Severus rocked his hips against her’s, her silken sheath coated his shaft and they fell into intense, rhythmic lovemaking that lasted through the night.
When they went back to Hogwarts the next morning, they weren’t surprised that the staff was disappointed by their elopement. Ultimately, however, no one was surprised. Poppy invited Minerva, and they still arranged a feast in the couple’s honor despite being asked not to do so. A modest announcement was made at dinner and celebratory libations were flowing well into the night. Severus and Hermione escaped their own party with little notice.
Unfortunately, the exuberance of the celebration promptly wore away Monday morning when a story ran in The Daily Prophet stating that their marriage was filed with The Ministry.
“Hogwarts Headmaster Weds Former Student” the headline read. That was enough in and of itself to make Severus stew with anger. Sure, she had been a former student, but he snapped a quill in two at the disrespect towards Hermione. She was one of the most remarkable witches to have ever lived. He was livid as he read the opening line.

“Hermione Granger, Potion’s Professor at Hogwarts, member of The Golden Trio, and widely regarded as the smartest witch of our age has wed Hogwarts’ Headmaster and reformed dark artist Severus Snape in a surprise elopement.”
Severus chewed his cheek and fought the urge to upend his desk. Instead, he crinkled the paper into a tight ball and removed the wide candle from a pedestal at the corner of his desk. He placed the wad of newspaper on top of the pedestal and, with an impressive bit of wandless magic, set the paper to light. It burned slowly and dark smoke filled the room.
He watched the smoke dance momentarily before returning to his writing. Moments later, Hermione entered the office. He glanced up at her from beneath heavy eyes as she sniffed the air in the room.
“What is that?” She asked as she sat in the chair across from him.
“The Daily Prophet,” he grumbled without looking up.
Hermione sighed. She had read the full article. She reached out to take his hand but he pulled it away. He looked at her and she felt the seething anger he was trying to suppress. He swallowed hard and tried to compose himself, but ultimately when he spoke his voice was thick with rage.
“The first thing they recognize is your status as a former student!? Then...then... casually call me a reformed dark artist!” His angry voice shook the room. “What the fuck does that even mean, Hermione? Reformed dark artist.” He punctuated the sentence with the sound of disgust.
“It means The Daily Prophet is continuing to do what it has always done,” Hermione said calmly as she tried to take his hand again. This time he allowed it. “They know that hardly anyone buys that paper anymore. They sensationalize.”
Severus took a deep breath and caressed her knuckle in return. He was still trembling with rage, but her presence calmed him, albeit only slightly.
“Yes, you’re right,” he replied. The burning paper had now turned to ash. Only the scent lingered. “It just makes me so bloody furious...”
“As it should. It’s It’s atrocious” Hermione interjected. “But they won’t stop. They’ll go under grasping at whatever straws they can...”
Severus pulled his hand away and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Hermione could feel the tension emanating from his body. He wanted to say something, and she could tell he was choosing his words very carefully. He glanced at the swell of her belly beneath her sweater from a long moment. When he spoke it was through gritted teeth.
“When news of the pregnancy hits, Hermione, what will they say then?” He stared at her for a moment, then the anger in his voice was rising again. “I’ll tell you, what they’ll say, ‘Former Student Pregnant by Hogwarts’ Headmaster’ or possibly ‘Hogwarts’ Golden Girl Pregnant by Reformed Dark Artist’. Or maybe more simply, ‘The Real Reason Behind The Headmaster’s Elopement’.”
Hermione could see that he was seething and she felt as if she was going to cry. She choked back the tears that threatened to escape her. She wanted to say something, but no words came to her. He was right. This was going to be a mess. She tried to wipe one tear away without him noticing.
Severus suddenly stood up from his desk and stormed to the window. He looked out on the quiet grounds. Everything was still since the students had all gone home. The peace outside his window certainly did not reflect the feelings of pure hatred and raw anger warring within him. He heard a quiet sniffle that drew his attention back to Hermione. He turned around to face her.
Leaning against the window, he thought momentarily before he spoke. “Whatever they write is bullshit, and we can ignore it, but ultimately The Daily Prophet will make everything harder for us. I think we need to release a statement.”
“To The Daily Prophet!? Severus, no, we agreed to never give that paper the attention it seeks. Besides it isn’t anyone’s God damn business!” She shot up from her chair in angry shock.
“No, no,” he said calmly as he walked towards her. He rubbed her shoulders gently. “We will release a statement another way. Maybe to The Quibbler.”
“The Quibbler doesn’t care what’s going on with us.”
“Precisely. Which will make the writers at The Daily Prophet more angry than anything I can think of. We take the so-called story away from them before they have a chance to write any more filth,” he explained and a wicked smile spread across Hermione’s face.
“I’ll owl Luna,” she said. Luna had been running The Quibbler for years at this point and Hermione knew she would understand the predicament her and Severus were in. Even though Luna’s readers weren’t much interested in The Headmaster’s personal affairs, she would publish a short piece to help her friend and knock The Daily Prophet down a few more pegs in the process.
Severus nodded and kissed Hermione’s head gently. He unbuttoned the lightweight cardigan that hung loosely on her frame and was concealing her slight belly. His nimble fingers quickly twisted each button from its hole and let the material separate. He cupped the small bump of her abdomen and caressed it through the thin material of her shirt.
Hermione closed her eyes and enjoyed the contact.
“I can’t wait to be home with you,” she whispered.
He nearly purred in response as he touched her. “Yes, lets go home.”
- 31
- 32
- 33
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The Reckoning