Battle Scars

Hermione awoke the next morning, disoriented. Her eyes stung a little, and she recalled the events of the previous night. She rolled over. His side of the bed was cold, and she realized that two unnaturally exuberant babies had not roused her, as was the usual circumstance.

She leapt up and raced to the nursery. It was empty and quiet. Rubbing her aching temples, still sore from hours of tears, she walked into the kitchen. Severus sat at the table, the babies eagerly drinking sippy cups of pumpkin juice in their high chairs. They chattered animatedly to each other, although what was being said was unintelligible to anyone but them.

“My-mee, my-mee!” they chanted, further chafing her achy head.

“Good morning, darling,” Severus said, not looking up from the Daily Prophet.

“Why aren’t you in class today?” She looked at him quizzically

“Urgent meeting in London, Dumbledore got Grubbly-Plank to cover all my classes. I have to leave soon, but I wanted to let you have a bit of a lie-in for a change.” He looked at her and smiled, but it was strained. Hermione stared back, incredulous that he planned to take off to London for another day. Something was definitely up.

This further served to irritate her, because she was counting on him to take on much of the childcare duties in the summer. Hermione had three classes left until she received her Bachelors degree in Transfiguration. Minerva had kindly worked with Hermione’s university to allow her to study under the seasoned Transfiguration authority, and she was able to learn at her leisure for many of her credits. These last three, however, had to be fulfilled in person at school. Luckily for her, she had the opportunity to complete them all in a condensed summer session. She also couldn’t be absent more than twice.

“Well, if that’s all, I have to be off,” he said, and kissed the children tenderly. “Be good for Mommy- Daddy will be back soon,” and he kissermiormione- another dispassionate forehead kiss.

“Wait! Give me five minutes. I have to... wax my bikini line. I’ll be a minute.” He sighed, but didn’t argue. Her suspicions were further raised, as Severus usually didn’t hold with being delayed, particularly not at the last minute. It was almost as if he didn’t want to upset her.

She ran to the bathroom and formulated a plan. Hagrid was off today, and would love to watch the twins, she knew. Severus had an invisibility cloak, so it was just the matter of how to find him.

“Sorry, Severus. I’m out of wax.” Hermione looked at him, feigning disappointment. She pulled a long, narrow list from her pocket. “Do you think you can nip out to Boots after your meeting for me? I need more wax and some other things like that.” She handed him her hastily compiled list.

“Sure, love.” He hated muggle London, and he grimaced.

“Don’t lose it. Make sure you don’t lose it.” He left, and she ran over to Hagrid’s with the twins. He was glad to have them, as she predicted, and she raced back. If he was having an affair, and there was an ugly confrontation, at least she was going to look good.

Hermione hastily bathed, brushed and flossed, and dressed. She donned a sexy little black a-line skirt, a fitted t-shirt, and some round toe black heels. She wound her hair into a loose chignon, and fixed her makeup. As she walked to the edge of the grounds, her stomach churned. She had a sinking feeling she was not going to like what she saw today.