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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After	By : ElizabethStump Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 90306 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 64
- 65
- 66
“And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After”

Chapter Sixty-Four

"Come Away With Me"

Disclaimer: (Sung to the song “When I'm Sixty-four”)

When I began this really long fic
Many years ago
Will you still be reading my disclaimers
Rowling owns this, that you all know
If I'd been writing ‘til quarter to three
Would you still get bored?
Will you still read me, will you still review me
Disclaimer sixty-four...

============

Having Ron gone was actually quite a relief to Hermione. She found she could come home after work at a reasonable time and not fear dealing with him, either with a fight or his sexual demands. The fighting had been less as of late, but they still battled.

Even facing a quiet and desolate flat was preferable to having him there.

Maybe this three-week business trip was just the thing Hermione needed to test if she was truly mentally ready to deal with the possibility of divorce. If at the end of three weeks she dreaded his return more than welcomed it, that was surely a sign that it was time to ask for one. And even if he didn't grant it, based on her recent readings, she could still obtain one without his permission. She just had to make sure she didn't get pregnant – at least not with Ron's child.

Her book on wizarding marriage and divorce covered the socially delicate issue of impregnation by someone other than the husband for the first child, in which the marriage was still not magically binding until husband and wife had produced a child between them, thus making the marriage inescapable. It was a matter of shared blood through children that cemented the magical bond that was the key issue to remember.

Knowing now that Molly had pressured Ron into marrying Hermione, and connived Harry into proposing to Ginny, she better understood Molly's insistence to bind their failing marriages with children, ensuring they everyone would be miserably stuck with each other, unhappily ever after. There was the possibility of living apart and separate lives, but the marriage was a magical contract set literally until death do they part.

As much as she was certain she wasn't pregnant, she was still looking forward to her cycle starting, though she hoped it would not come until after her weekend with Severus. Hermione had packed a few vials of A Little Witch's Best Friend to help with her cramps, just in case.

After picking up the car, she affixed the short blond wig to her head, looking into the rear view mirror in order to be sure she’d tucked away all the telltale signs of her brunette locks. It was a cheap wig, but it would do the job to partially conceal her identity. With sticking charms in place to hold the wig during the drive, given that Hermione had rented a convertible so that they could both enjoy the wind on their faces as if they were flying on brooms, imparting a sense of freedom. For the finishing touches, to not arouse too much suspicion with her disguise, she also tied a scarf around her head, as she had seen done by other women to keep the windblown look to a minimum when driving a convertable; once they were on the open road, she would remove the wig but keep the scarf. A large pair of sunglasses finished her disguise.

Checking the weather reports, she was pleased that there would be no chance of rain until late Sunday. It would be easier to drive around if she didn't have to stop and pull up the car’s top, since the model she got did not have an automatic top.

They had arranged for Hermione to pick Severus up five blocks from Diagon Alley in front of a hotel, so he would blend in among everyone else getting in and out of cars. She had given Severus a black wool fedora she’d picked up for him and his own pair of sunglasses Thursday night. He had a large black Muggle-style overcoat he still had from his spy days when he needed to go about with Muggles and blend in. instead of sticking out in his usual cloak. It was from the early 1980s, and it still fit him. It was vintage, which was the cool look among Muggles, making him appear to be stylish instead of off and dated.

As she pulled up, Severus threw his own bag into the back seat and hopped in. With a squeal of the tires, Hermione took off, driving as if she was maneuvering the Knight Bus.

Severus didn't seem to mind her style of driving, unlike her mothers’ reaction to her driving techniques. Once out on the M11, Hermione drove around the same speed as the other drivers. She didn't want to draw unwanted attention to herself on the open road, despite how aggressive her driving style was in the city.

Pulling off his hat and glasses on the open road, Severus let the wind fly through his hair, reveling in the feeling he had missed so much. With the Death Eater Decree, he was not barred from flying a broom, but taking a broom with you through a Floo was damned inconvenient and awkward. Portkeys were a pain to procure last minute for a quick afternoon of flying, not to mention he would be heavily scrutinized considering his status as a former Death Eater and the decree, and his Apparition license was revoked. Taking the train via Muggle methods to some place where he could fly unobserved by Muggles was nigh impossible. Short of being on a broom himself, this – driving in an open convertible at high speed – was the closest thing he’d felt to flying in ages, especially since he sold his broom for money after the Death Eater Decree, before he began working for Miss Brown. He would have to thank Hermione for this wonderful suggestion of a drive, since it momentarily made him forget his troubles.

After a couple hours, they reached Norwich. Neither was ready to stop for lunch quite yet, so they decided to let the road take them wherever they fancied, taking turns on roundabouts in directions towards the coast. Once they reached Great Yarmouth, they turned north and drove up the small back roads, passing through Caister-On-Sea, Hemsby, and finally stopping for lunch at a pub in Horsey. Hermione promised him this weekend was her treat and she would take care of everything, since she was the one with Muggle money and a credit card. This made it a sort of early present, since he would be gone by the time Christmas and his birthday rolled around.

Severus still felt a bit odd letting a witch pay for a meal, since it was the custom of the more old-fashioned mindset of the wizarding world that paying was a wizard's duty. Still, this was the Muggle world, and they were a bit more liberated when it came to such customs.

Hermione had a hot cup of tea and Severus had a pint of ale with their lunch. The menu offered classic pub fare, plus a few international dishes and, to Severus' dismay, burgers as well; Severus enjoyed the steak pie, and Hermione tucked into some bangers and mash. It was quite surreal to dine together with others around, since they were used to eating alone in Severus' flat with no one to observe, much less notice them.

During their lunch, the waitress asked if they were there to observe the seals, as the females had come back recently to birth their pups. After some directions, they drove over near where the rookery was to observe a bit of wildlife. They hadn't planned it, and they took the opportunity as it presented itself.

They stood next to each other, hand in hand, watching one pregnant seal lope along the sand, while another nursed a pup. It was still early in the season and only a couple pups had been born so far. Had Hermione's and Severus' relationship been like a normal one, the scene before them might have been a salvo to begin talking about their feelings about children or a life together, but theirs was anything but a normal relationship.

Once their curiosity was satisfied and they had their fill of watching wildlife and walking about the chilly windblown coast, they headed back to the car to continue their meandering drive about the Norfolk Broads, continuing northwards.

It was already dark and Hermione had not arranged accommodations ahead of time, given they had no real plan of where they wanted to go or end up. As they drove into Weybourne, they stopped at yet another pub for dinner.

After ordering, Hermione asked the waitress, who just also happened to be the pub owner, if there were any places locally they could stay the night.

"Hang on a second, dearie. Let me check," she said as she walked back around the bar picked up the phone and made a few calls.

"I found a spot round the corner, ensuite and all for £65 a night. Will you just be needing one night?" the pub owner asked, her hand over the receiver of the phone as she called out to them across the small pub.

"Yes, one night will be perfect," Hermione assured her.

"Right, and your name?"

"Granger."

Severus gave Hermione a look, and she said quietly so as not to be overheard by others, "It's the name on my credit card and license."

"Right, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," the pub owner said into the phone before hanging up and coming back over with a pint for Severus and a half pint for Hermione.

Neither of them commented on the pub owner’s assumption that they were married. They figured it was because Hermione was wearing her wedding ring and the pub owner assumed Severus was her husband, given how chummy they were together as a couple.
As they supped in the dimly lit pub, they talked. No one was sitting next to them at the moment, and they used quiet voices to avoid being overheard. They discussed some of the work they had been doing recently, and the ways they could improve the edible body paint. There was some discussion over the latest Potions journal Hermione had read, but Severus had not gotten around to reading it yet. They talked about some of the new regulations that would be going into effect with the new year regarding the importation of certain goods. Severus told Hermione a little more about his time at Hogwarts as a student and some of the changes between when he attended and when she was a student, giving her a little recent historical perspective.

Hermione was glad Severus did not ask about her maiden name on her credit card and license. No one knew of the “escape box” she kept secret from Harry and even her husband.

Once dinner was over, they drove to the bed and breakfast a few hundred yards down a side road from the A149, the “Coast Road” they’d used to drive into town.

Checking in, the bed and breakfast owner took down information from Hermione's driver’s license and charged her card. Her parents would get a statement at their address, and Hermione would owl them money to cover the bill. She rarely used her credit card, and she was sure she would get questions the next time she saw them about her weekend get-away and if the place was nice.

The owner invited "the Grangers" to the parlor for sherry and board games, which they politely declined.

The owner sighed and merely said, "Ah, newlyweds."

Hermione and Severus didn't think they acted overly affectionate with each other in public, and they were not, but something about the way they leaned towards each other or gazed at each other must have led the pub and bed and breakfast owners to assume otherwise.

Severus surveyed their accommodations for the night, pulling out his wand and doing a sweep of the room. Years of being a spy meant old habits died hard.

Bags on the floor, curtains drawn and door locked, Severus stood behind Hermione and rubbed her arms tenderly. Away from their habitual environs, it felt like they had all the time in the world. Hermione had no husband waiting for her at home, Severus had no obligations that weekend either.

"Thank you," he whispered into her hair.

"So I guess this wasn't such a terrible idea then," she tried to lightly joke, but it came out as more of a whisper, the air tense with the realization they were out for a romantic weekend together like normal lovers.

"Almost as perfect as you," Severus murmured sweetly into her hair.

"I'm a fairly flawed individual, as you are well aware, so that doesn't say much," she admitted demurely.

"You're perfect for me," he confessed before bending his head down and gently kissing the side of her neck.

Hermione craned her neck to let Severus trail his mouth slowly along her skin. Her heart felt like it would burst with love for Severus for his admission.

Severus' hands slid over her sweater before grabbing the hem of it to pull over her head.

As her sweater was carelessly discarded on the floor, Hermione turned around and began to kiss Severus back, pulling at his clothes, leisurely undoing his belt, buttons, and various clasps.

Once disrobed, Hermione crawled onto the bed only to discover that the bed squeaked, and comically so. Bouncing up and down on the bed a few times, to hear the springs and brass bed frame protest against the movement of the mattress, Hermione burst into fits of giggles.

Seeing her sitting there nude and laughing, Severus said, "So you think that's funny?"

Hermione began laughing even more, caught in the jovial mood.

Jumping onto the bed, Severus said with a waggle of his brows, "Then I'll give you something to really laugh about." He pushed her backwards on the bed and began to ravish her, their legs trying to find a comfortable position in which to intertwine.

All the movement made the bed lightly rock and squeak even more, which made Hermione burst once more into gales of laughter, reminded of the corny notion of bedsprings creaking because of couples having sex.

Reaching down, Severus found Hermione's ticklish spots and began to poke and prod at those areas. This made her squeal and begin to scamper away from him, which was hard considering Severus had her pinned down to the bed with his body and weight.

"You think that's funny?" he asked as he continued to tickle her. "Do you?"

Hermione was out of breath, begging for him to stop, the bed continuing with its voluminous protests.

Relenting, Severus stopped. As he lay atop of Hermione, both panting, he thought he'd never seen anything lovelier. Hermione's hair spread all around her, her cheeks flush, eyes bright and smiling up at him, laughter ebbing from her lips.

Hermione couldn't hold back any longer. Seeing him gaze at her with such adoration, she said, "I love you, Severus."

As much as she had feared saying those words, given their arrangement, she felt it was time to say them, not wanting him to leave England without hearing them from her lips.

He had longed to hear them, but never expected she would ever say it. His mouth came crashing down upon hers, and suddenly a swift fever of want overtook them both.

Hermione moved her legs and Severus quickly settled himself between them.

Her hands grabbed at his shoulders, as his hand skated down between her legs to check to see if she was wet and ready for him since she hadn't taken the lubrication potion yet. She was more than ready.

Braced on one elbow above her, he positioned himself above her.

Lovingly, he stroked the hair out of Hermione's face and breathlessly confessed, his own eyes shining bright with a rare vulnerability, "And I love you," before sinking himself into her.

Hermione's back arched and she screamed in pleasure. With her hands reaching for the brass bed rails above her head, she moved her legs up higher until they were over his shoulders.

She began chanting his name over and over again as he began to drive into her. The bed began squeaking in a loud rhythmic pattern like a metronome, each protest of the springs signaling each time he sunk himself into her deeply.

As his thrusts became more powerful, the headboard began making contact with the wall behind it, thumping in time to Severus' movements.

Overwhelmed with the love she felt for Severus, their confessions, and his passionate lovemaking, Hermione eventually began to orgasm, screaming even more hoarsely. Severus began ramming himself even harder into her, the bed making a loud thump-thump-thump noise though neither cared at that point if the rest of the bed and breakfast heard. Everyone assumed they were newlyweds anyway, and making love is what newlyweds did.

Just as her orgasm waned he came, collapsing on top of her, his body damp with a light sweat. He moved his hips languidly, each successive thrust with less force in time with each spurt of his seed into her, each movement accentuated with a gentle sigh of release until he was spent.

Hermione brought down her legs to rest over the backs of his thighs.

Tenderly, she stroked his hair and back as he continued to pant breathlessly onto her shoulder and the pillow beneath her head.

"And I love you too," she said softly.

Severus, still inside of her, though his erection began to wane, lifted his head up and looked at her in awe. Despite his past and his own lengthy list of faults and imperfections, she still loved him. He’d strongly suspected she loved him, and maybe even deep down in his heart he already knew. But to hear her say it to him, they had crossed a line that both had silently agreed to not cross, back at the beginning of their relationship. And once he heard her confession, there was little point in him not admitting he felt the same way for her as well.

Laying himself down next to Hermione, he watched as she curled up next to him, her head on his chest, a finger playing with his patch of black chest hair.

Eventually Hermione needed to excuse herself to take care of bodily needs, to avoid a bladder infection. As she returned to the bedroom, Severus was there reclining on his side, his head propped up on one hand, the blanket down far enough that his chest and stomach were exposed.

She stopped and admired him on the bed. Severus may not have been considered attractive by most women, but he was certainly very handsome to Hermione, looking like some raven-haired sex god awaiting her in their bed. At that moment, she could not think of a more handsome man.

Before crawling back into bed with Severus, Hermione pulled her wand out of the pile of clothes on the floor, handing Severus his in the process from his own discarded clothes, and cast a charm to silence the bed from making any further noise. She then cast a Cushioning Charm between the headboard and wall so there would be no more banging against the wall.

As they sat up in bed next to each other, their fingers intertwined, the pads of Severus’ fingers tracing the tops of her knuckles, he said, "When I leave, come away with me."

He had thought about this over the course of the day, having never felt so at peace in so long, all because of Hermione and her love. He’d sworn to Draco over the past several months, since she had entered his life, that Hermione was not coming along when they escaped, even when Draco pointed out the changes in Severus that he noticed. Today had changed his heart and plans, though recent revelations about Lavender and Hermione's husband were also a factor.

"What?" Hermione said, stunned at his offer, sitting up straighter in bed and turning to face Severus.

"Really. What is keeping you here in England and not joining me abroad?" he asked.

"Well, for starters, I'm still married."

"And so is Ginny, yet the day we leave she intends to end her marriage with the return of her wedding ring and the incantation, as indicated in your book. Even your husband, he only married you due to pressure from his mother. You've said for months how you felt the death of your relationship was approaching, and that you were never in love with him either. Even the old Roma woman predicted the end of your marriage by the end of the year," he recounted.

Flustered, Hermione countered, "But what of my Potions apprenticeship?"

"I'll train you. We've already proven to work well together," the Potions master insisted, as he tried to snuggle up next to her as a show of affection, but was hindered by her scooting away from him to look him in the face and continue on with their argument.

"I can't!" she insisted.

"Why?" he demanded to know, his brow beginning to furrow, a feeling of rejection creeping into his heart.

"Because that old Roma woman said if I had the chance to leave with you, I should go with you, but that if I don't go with you, I would see you again," she blurted out. She had hoped never to have to tell him that part of her fortune.

"You never mentioned she said that," Severus said, feeling affronted she had neglected to disclose that to him. That last bit of the fortune also indicated that his escape was certain, and would have saved him weeks of worrying about the fluxweed.

"Because I don't want to let the Fates determine my destiny in some predetermined course of events that I have no control over. You have said yourself how you have felt like you have had little control over your own life. I would think you would understand the desire to fight against being forced into a situation that was not of your choosing," she said hotly, feeling angry at the world that it had robbed her of many choices in life so far.

"Besides," she continued peremptorily, "I want to stay behind and fight to clear your and Draco's names."

"This again?" he sighed with exasperation, knowing it was going to be yet another battle based on her tone.

"Yes, this again," she insisted, irritated he was dismissing her desire to continue pursuing this yet again. "There must be something, somewhere, somehow your name can be cleared. You and Draco have not exactly had any support from anyone in this matter. Everyone is already willing to assume the worst, and that is what they have already done."

Severus turned to face away from Hermione, feeling his own anger at the world bubble up in his chest.

Continuing on, Hermione added with certainty, "I know you're innocent, Severus, but I also know you had nothing to do with Dumbledore's death or the attack on Hogwarts, and that you were true to the Order and Dumbledore to the end, as was Draco. You have not had access to resources nor the ability to look objectively into possible sources for your exoneration."

"And short of Dumbledore's will magically popping up years later, just how do you plan to do that?" Severus snorted derisively, feeling bitter and no longer blissful. "Even if you ask his portrait at Hogwarts, he doesn't know. The Ministry asked his portrait and it was clueless as to Dumbledore's will's whereabouts. The portrait is only an echo of the great wizard that once was." Severus was suddenly missing his old mentor very much. Even the mental apparitions of Albus in his flat had not been much as of late.

"I don't know, Severus, which is why I want to apply myself towards establishing your innocence," she insisted.

Innocence was such the perfect word for the moment. Earlier in the week, shortly after Ginny began stewing the lacewing flies, Severus did as promised and confessed to Draco the history about his wife, Gabrielle, and his part in her death; she’d been pregnant when she was killed after trying to convince Death Eater wives about the fallacies of pure-blood propaganda. Draco had insisted that Severus tell Hermione, but Severus refused. Though given that he had just asked her to come with him, it might be necessary if she were to truly comprehend the man she would be running away with. The secret would eventually come out in time, which might cause her to leave him, horrified by his past actions. Draco insisted in honesty. Perhaps telling her would only harden her resolve to stay and reconsider seeking to clear his name, given his crimes.

This was not the time for disclosure. This was supposed to be a perfect weekend away with Hermione before she had her own litany of horrific truths to face regarding her husband and Miss Brown on Monday. Severus wanted to let her have some peace and quiet, and here they were already fighting.

"I'm not exactly innocent," he merely said.

"I know," she acknowledged. "And if you ever choose to tell me about why you became a Death Eater or not, it still doesn't change the fact that I love the man you are right now, here with me. I know you have made choices you regret, but that doesn't change the fact that I have fallen for the man you have become."

Severus wasn't sure Hermione could ever forgive him for what he had done regarding his wife; He hadn't even forgiven himself after all these years. He wasn't even sure he could even confess the whole tale to her before he left. It was hard enough to disclose everything to Draco. Draco had been under threat by his own father and the cold stare of The Dark Lord in order to accept the Dark Mark against his will and carry out his own set of atrocities in order to stay alive, even when playing spy for Dumbledore. Draco understood, but Severus doubted Hermione could, with her soul still filled with light and all that was good in the world. Severus didn't think Hermione could comprehend why he did what he did, despite all his reasons and excuses.

Sliding up behind Severus, who sat facing away from her, his legs hanging over the edge of the bed to hide his face, she said, "I want you to go, Severus. I want you to be free, and you deserve to be. But how can you be truly free if you must flee and never be able to come back of your own free will, if you chose to do so without facing a Dementor's Kiss if everything that you're accused of is not proven wrong? That's not free, that is running away. You deserve to be free, Severus. I want you to be truly free to go anywhere in the world of your own free will, without persecution. But no matter what, I will stay here and fight for you, until you are."

He couldn't love her any more at that moment if he tried. Despite her love for him, she did not ask him to stay, but to go. She believed in him. She was willing to fight for him when no one else still living would. Dumbledore fought for him, but had also used him for his own ends in the war. Hermione was doing this out of love for him, with no expectation of any benefit other than knowing he would one day be free, even potentially facing ridicule from those she would argue against. She was the only one who would ever selflessly fight for him, and it humbled him.

Hermione's hand stroked his back, an act of comfort as she sensed the conflict roiling within him. Severus leaned into her touch, eventually reclining against her, with her hands softly stroking his hair with tender affection. He had his cheek pressed to her breast while listening to the beating of her heart.

"I love you, Severus. And I always will for the rest of my life," she assured him.

Severus knew she meant every word she said, the sounds of her beating heart echoing her words, but he wondered if he did confess his sins to her, whether Hermione would still mean those words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sunday morning they stayed in bed making love, after deciding their limited time together was more precious than some mediocre Continental breakfast, tinned fruit, or overcooked rubbery eggs. Check-out was at eleven, and they wanted to make the most of their mini-holiday. Breakfast could have been fabulous as well, but they still would not have cared.

As they drove back towards London, taking the scenic route to delay their return, they held hands across the center console. Eventually it began to drizzle – earlier in the day than originally forecast – and Severus helped Hermione pull the convertible’s top up, avoiding using their wands to prevent drawing attention to themselves.

Passing through Cambridge, she told Severus that if it was sunny, she might have pulled off so they could go punting on the Cam, having a romantic afternoon repast of wine, fruit, cheese, and crackers, even if it was a bit chilly outside. But it was raining and the chance to be recognized was too great, to their regret.

Both were comfortable with the silence as they drove homeward, but Hermione, out of curiosity, turned the radio on to know what Muggle pop and rock sounded like as of late. Severus found a classical station they both agreed was much more pleasant, considering the present restful state of their minds.

After a leisurely lunch at some restaurant in Buntingford, they got caught in Sunday afternoon traffic as they approached London. The lovers did not prolong their goodbye or give each other a kiss as she dropped him off back in front of the hotel where she had picked him up in front of the day before. There was no need to risk them kissing in London where witches and wizards abounded, even though Hermione had put her wig back on and Severus was sporting his new hat.

Once the rental car was returned, she went back home to her empty flat to find Maxwell, her parents’ owl, waiting for her with a note tied to its leg.

-------

Hermione,

Your Aunt Christine is in the hospital and we think she might lose the baby. We are at the local hospital. Come when you can.

Love,

Mum

-------

Looking over the note, she did not see a date.

"Did you come here today?" she asked the bird.

The owl turned to face away from Hermione as a sign that he had been waiting longer.

"Yesterday?"

The owl hooted as a sign of affirmation.

"Shit."

After giving Maxwell a big bowl of owl treats, since Ron had taken Pig with him for his trip, she changed quickly and dropped off her bag before grabbing a handful of Floo powder and heading over to her parents’ house.

Her father was the only one at home when she arrived. Rushing into his embrace, she quickly apologized, "I was away this weekend and I just got home to see Maxwell waiting for me. How is she?"

To Hermione's dismay, she learned that her Aunt Christine had already lost her baby. She had been almost five months along and was still at the hospital recovering.

Father and daughter got in the car and drove over to the hospital.

During the short drive over it struck Hermione that this was probably the blood relative the old Roma woman was referring to in her fortune. Hermione wondered though, since the child had not been carried to term, if that truly was the blood relative to die as foretold. There was still the slight possibility of another blood relative dying over the next four months.

Weighing the possibility of her father dying or her Aunt Christine losing her child, Hermione realized that she would gladly deal with her aunt's loss rather than face the death of her father. She knew it was a bit selfish and cold to be thankful for such a thing, but she was not willing to part with her father, even though that unborn child had its whole life ahead and would never live to see it.

"I wish I could have done something," Hermione said, feeling helpless. "Unfortunately, even if I had come back in time, there are still laws regarding the use of magic on Muggles, even close blood relations, that would have prevented me from helping."

Hermione regretted lying to her mother months ago that she could use a Potion to help a Muggle who was an immediate family member. In the aftermath of Marge's death, she had spoken in haste and grief. Using magic to heal a Muggle, even if they were immediate family resulted in a lengthy trip to Azkaban and possibly having one's wand snapped. It was the sort of offense that might cause some to seek sanctuary if they felt they were unjustly persecuted for trying to save the ones they loved most dearly.

"I know," Wallace Granger said, patting her hand in sympathy. His daughter had explained to him and Wendy how she could not use magic on Muggles, after initially saying she could in a moment when she’d felt helpless despite all the magic coursing through her veins.

Even though her parents understood, it didn't lessen the feeling of helplessness that consumed her. She felt like she was a bystander in many of the events of her life as of late, all things beyond her control. As much as she understood she could not have changed anything, even if she could have a hand in steering events, there was not much that would have changed anyway in the end.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Hermione showed up at Severus' flat, she looked like she had been up most of the night, which she confirmed that she had. Upon recounting the last twenty-four hours or so since she’d dropped him off, Severus could only give her comfort with a supportive hug and some kind words.

If he could have delayed the news Hermione was to receive tonight by a day in order to lessened the quickness of such blows, he would have. As it was, Miss Brown would be waiting for both of them that evening.

Severus served up a diner that would be light on her stomach, as such news that she was about to be given would certainly upset her digestion.

After dinner, Hermione begged off doing any Potions work, to which Severus informed her he was taking her to meet Lavender. She assumed it was to discuss wages, start dates and such, but something in Severus' subdued bearing gave her pause.

Arriving by Floo, they took the lift up to the top floor where the offices were. It did not escape Hermione's attention that there were only house-elves she saw, even though she knew that Lavender, Severus, and Malfoy were the only humans at the company.

Rapping upon the office door, Severus and Hermione were bid to enter.

Severus noticed that not only did Miss Brown have a fresh tea service ready, along with post-supper nibbles and desserts, but that there was a decanter of strong spirits and three glasses ready and waiting. Not in all his years of working for Miss Brown and all the bombs, bits of bad news and unreasonable requests had Miss Brown ever offered him distilled liquor in order to soften the blow – except when getting him to sign the contract to work for her.

Lavender rose from behind her desk. She gestured with her hand for Hermione to take a seat and offered tea, which Hermione accepted.

Once again in Lavender's presence, Hermione felt under-dressed and dowdy. And given the rather trying previous night, she was looking much worse for wear, sporting dark circles and bags under her eyes.

"Thank you for coming tonight, Hermione," Miss Brown began, as Severus continued to stand, refusing to take a seat. He stood there glowering at Miss Brown from behind Hermione, his arms folded across his chest.

Hermione was still upset at this witch for setting her husband up with Zabini, but held her tongue. She knew she had to be professional and put such matters behind her. It wasn't Lavender's fault that Ron was bisexual and had needs to be filled, though she resented the fact that this witch across the desk from her had provided them.

Lavender continued on. "Since you are Albert Dobmeir's new apprentice, there are some things we need to clear up before you begin. First is pay."

Hermione nodded in agreement, since even she wasn't sure how much she was going to make, given that private apprenticeships don't pay and most businesses don't pay apprentices anything.

"I was thinking along the lines of 3,500 Galleons a year," Lavender began, but stopped when Severus cleared his throat.

"Sorry, I meant 4,000 Galleons a year, which is more than what you're currently earning," she corrected herself.

Hermione noticed what Severus did. She was glad she had him to help negotiate her salary, though there was little to negotiate since it was more than she was already earning at the Ministry, which was only 3,000 Galleons per annum.

Already she knew that it would still not be as much as her and Ron's salaries combined when he was still working at the pub and being paid a paltry sum as second-string Keeper. However, given that she would be leaving Ron, there would be fewer expenses, mostly the food bill and broom care, so she could scrape by on that.

"And then there is the matter of royalties," Lavender continued.

Hermione almost forgot about that and thought that those would certainly help make up the difference of her and Ron's old combined income. She set her tea cup down on the edge of Lavender's desk in front of her.

Lavender continued with her discussion, "I was informed that because of your ingenuity that the price of Ashwinder eggs has dropped in price, solely due to your new testing methods. I'm using my connections at the Ministry to incorporate your methods into the new testing procedure policy."

A small bit of pride rippled through Hermione, knowing she was the sole cause of that.

"And," the blonde witch went on, "there are the brewers kettles you suggested and the other potions you have helped Severus develop, including a part in the edible body paint." Lavender glanced up at Severus and gave him a pointed glare. She added a little dig by volunteering, "Another project that seemed to have completely escaped his otherwise immense talent to solve until you helped him."

As much as Hermione wanted to turn around and gauge Severus' face, she kept her face forward, giving her future employer all her attention.

After Lavender cleared her throat, she said, "And then there is the matter regarding a misunderstanding."

Hermione wasn't sure what was misunderstood, but continued to remain quiet and would learn soon enough.

"It has come to my attention," Lavender began, but stopped to take a sip of tea, "that you believe that I set your husband, Ron, up with Blaise Zabini."

Hermione sudden felt her cheeks go hot, and her ears begin to burn. A white hot flush spread throughout her chest. Hermione was sure there was no misunderstanding about seeing her husband descend the stairs from Zabini's apartment.

"Ron was not shagging Zabini upstairs in his apartment."

Now Hermione was thoroughly confused, for there was only one flat above Severus' and that belonged to the particular wizard.

"Ron was on the roof with me," Lavender admitted.

A wave of numbness swept through Hermione. What was once a building rage inside of her fell away into an overload of all her senses. Her body felt numb, it seemed the room had darkened, and her hearing had suddenly diminished as her mind raced to process what Lavender just said.

"As a matter of fact, Ron and I have been having an affair since May of 2000," Lavender added.

Searching her mind, which was now overloaded by so many emotions, all of them passionately intense, Hermione flipped through the calendar of her mind and recalled that it was about a month after Harry and Ginny's wedding, which was when she and Ron had that big fight and he was gone for about a week. Now she knew where Ron was when he left her and he said he was at a "friend's" house. Hermione finally understood why Lavender dropped her fees for Hermione to see Severus, as the blonde was fucking Hermione’s own husband and probably felt guilty about it.

Had Hermione's arms and legs not felt as if they were made of lead, she would have leapt up and soundly backhanded Lavender across that now pale and drawn face. The blonde’s lips were set in a grim line, staring at Hermione with an equal mixture of shame and defiance. Hermione could have hexed her, but kept her hand still.

Suddenly, Hermione remembered Severus was standing behind her, and she understood why his demeanor was so grim that night. The light dinner, and the soft sympathetic look on his face when he greeted her even before she’d told him about her aunt.

Turning around to face him, she asked accusingly, "You knew?"

"I only just discovered this myself Wednesday night."

"Why didn't you tell me Thursday?" Hermione asked with exasperation.

"Because I did not want the knowledge that Miss Brown has been committing adultery with your husband for so long to mar what should have been and was a perfect weekend. I thought that since it had been going on for so long, ninety-six more hours would make no difference at all," he explained.

"Adultery?" Lavender challenged, her voice rising into a shriek. "You two have been going at it since summer and you hypocritically accuse me of adultery?"

"Because you bribed me with money to first see her, but with an ultimate goal of hoping that she would leave her husband for me so that you could snatch up Weasley for your own without a fight," he hissed at his boss. "Is that not the ultimate goal you had in mind when you arranged for us to meet each other at first, Miss Brown?"

"I hoped that Hermione could help you procure ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion so you could escape, or did you forget that?" she countered hotly.

Hermione sat between the two watching them as one would a tennis match, a volley of angry words thrown at the other. She chose to remain silent for the time being to see what other things Lavender had been scheming.

"And yet you don't deny the fact that an alternative purpose was to draw Hermione away from her own husband so you could have him for yourself."

"Well, she was pretty fucking miserable with Ron when I met her, and she seems to be pretty happy seeing you, so I don't see the harm in that!" Lavender screamed. "Or do you not care about Hermione's happiness and you're just more concerned over the fact that I manipulated you two to be together – more than the fact you're both in love with each other, and happier for it."

"I never said anything about love," Severus snarled back at her, finally challenging her correct observations about their emotional attachment for one another.

"Puh-leese! It's plain as fucking day you two are deeply in love with one another. And considering how Hermione was never in love with Ron, nor Ron with her – and was pushed into marriage by his mother – what difference does it make?" she threw back at him mockingly.

Hermione could not stand it any longer, talking about her as if she wasn't there, and stood up. "Because Ron was my husband!" Mrs. Weasley shouted.

"'Was' or 'is?' Interesting choice of words, Hermione," the blonde witch pointed out smugly.

Even Hermione had missed that Freudian slip, having already decided that she would ask Ron for a divorce when he returned. She didn't need to wait the three weeks, she already knew. Stunned at the realization of her own words, Hermione sunk back into her seat.

Lavender admitted, "Yes, I put you two together in hopes that Hermione could provide the Polyjuice ingredients. Yes, I was hoping you two would fall in love and Hermione would leave with Severus, leaving Ron for me alone. Yes, I admit to it all, but it still doesn't deny the fact that Ron and I are deeply in love. You should know the only reason he hasn't asked Hermione for a divorce long ago is the fear of facing his mother, who bullied him into proposing to Hermione in the first place. There is also his worry that Hermione would not be able to take care of herself on her salary alone, should he leave her. But given that she'll have an apprenticeship – with pay, I might add – plus royalties, and free boarding at your flat, Severus, once you leave, if she chooses, then she will not perish in penury as Ron feared.

"He felt some noble Gryffindor obligation to look after you, even though he's not in love with you, Hermione. And as much as I have begged and pleaded with him to leave you over the years, I also admire him for standing by you and not abandoning you like I wish he had."

Had Hermione had a heavier dinner, she surely would have thrown it up by now. She was glad for Severus' thoughtfulness on that small detail, which was the only thing she could think of despite everything she had just heard.

Hermione felt like fine china held too tightly; the cracks were beginning to show and she would fracture into a thousand pieces at any moment.

"And if you choose now to rescind your apprenticeship and reject my offer of employment, I completely understand," Lavender said in closing.

'If you have the opportunity to leave with your lover, do so. But if you do not leave with him, you will see him again in the future,' the fortuneteller's words rang in Hermione's mind. It seemed so clear now, she finally understood.

If Hermione stayed behind, she would see Severus again, meaning that it was most likely she would clear his name, as once he reached sanctuary he would be untouchable, as long as he remained within the boundaries of said sanctuary. Severus was careful and she knew he would not be caught and brought back to England otherwise, unless he came back willingly as a free man. If anything, this firmed her resolve not to go with Severus, but stay behind. This meant that she would have to accept her apprenticeship with Dobmeir, which meant working under the witch who stole her husband. But what was there to steal if Ron's heart was never hers to begin with?

Lavender had admitted Ron would have left her years ago if it wasn't for his mother and worrying about Hermione making ends meet. And now she had already decided to ask for a divorce herself. There was nothing left to decide, she had already made her choice.

"I'm staying and keeping my apprenticeship. I'll agree to work for you, and you can have Ron. You're right. 'Was' shows that I had already made up my mind to ask Ron for a divorce. And you can have him on the condition that you come with Ron and me when we break the news to Molly about the divorce – and that Ron will be marrying you instead," Hermione dictated. "You two do want to get married. Am I right?"

"Yes," Lavender replied, looking now even paler, the color having drained from her cheeks once more.

Hermione looked to Severus, then back to Lavender. There was something else, she could tell from the exchange of glances. Since everything was being put down on the table, she didn't want to be left in the dark about anything else.

"What?" the brunette witch asked with little patience, as she noticed Severus give Lavender a knowing smirk.

"Shall I tell her or you?" Severus asked, an amused lilt in his voice.

Lavender waved her hands, indicating Severus could have the distinct pleasure.

"Your mother-in-law, Molly Weasley," he began, "has been visiting me for the past ten weeks for tea and a sympathetic ear."

Horrified, Hermione's face fell in disgust. "You don't mean..."

"Merlin, NO!" Severus assured her. "There is no amount of money in the world for me to even..." he trailed off with his body shuddering slightly at the repulsive thought.

"Thank GOD!" Hermione sighed with relief before turning back to Lavender. "But how could you, knowing that...?" She let out an unladylike snort to try and convey the very messy circumstances of everyone involved.

"I didn't want to!" Lavender protested, throwing her hands up. "She cornered me. She had heard from some friends about how I had wizards in my employ who lend a kind ear, and she forced me into it. I couldn't say no since she implied she knew people who would make my life difficult if I didn't comply."

Hermione sat back, feeling as her mind would explode with everything that had been revealed. Her tea sat there cold and forsaken. Even the slice of Victoria sponge that had caught Hermione's eye when she first entered the room was forgotten.

Severus was also contemplating if this was the right time to inform Hermione that Calpurnia Fudge was responsible for her inability to land an apprenticeship until now, but decided against telling her. There wasn't ever a good time before to tell her about Fudge's wife since he and Miss Brown were able to eventually subvert her plans. The opportunities he did have to tell her, Severus didn't want to upset Hermione since there were seemingly far more pressing matters that she was currently facing, including the death of her marriage, and now the events of the past twenty-four hours. As she was about to begin her apprenticeship, he saw little need to tell her. There was little chance for Calpurnia Fudge to learn of Hermione's apprenticeship.

Then there was the possibility of telling Hermione. His lover had a hidden revenge streak that, should she seek to take on Calpurnia Fudge, even Hermione's cleverness would be tested to its limit should she square off against the older witch. Given how soon he would be leaving, he would not be around to provide her counsel on how to out-master a formidable chess player and someone who epitomized the House of Slytherin where cunning was concerned. No, it was best, for Hermione's sake, not to tell her about Calpurnia.

"You know," Hermione began in a surprisingly calm and amused voice, "When we announce to Molly that Ron and I are getting a divorce and that you two will be getting married instead, you can always use this to blackmail her should she object. Having Arthur discover his wife had been paying to cry on another wizard's shoulder for sympathy and support would not sit well with him."

Hermione liked Arthur, but if Molly had engaged in manipulation of her, Ron, Harry, Ginny, Draco, Lavender and who know who else, then Hermione was willing to use that knowledge to their advantage.

"Once you marry Ron, she'll be harping on you about providing her with grandchildren," Hermione warned her in addition.

"I'm already well aware of that, having heard from Ron for a long time."

Hermione realized she couldn't stop Ron from seeing anyone once she divorced him, but for the fact that she had been suffering a terrible marriage with him all this time under some false pretenses – and a shoddy facade that had already fallen away when he was in love with someone else – didn't stop it from smarting. Her pride was deeply wounded.

Hermione Floo’ed directly home from the Lovely Lavender headquarters, energized solely from the knowledge she would finally get to pen her resignation letter to Madam Dushka, which was the only bright spot in her entire evening. She would begin work as Dobmier's new apprentice starting two weeks from that day.

The Ministry had a policy of one-week’s notice, but Hermione decided to be kind for the sake of Trevor Spawn. She would surely help in finding her replacement during the last remaining weeks of her tenure there in the Department of Standards & Regulations. She didn't want Trevor to catch the brunt of Madam Dushka's wrath since he had made a valiant effort to come up to speed on testing Potion ingredients and had done a good job of it.

Just as she began to undress for bed, she noted her menstrual cycle had already begun. This would surely clear the way for a quick and easy divorce with Ron.

============

A/N: mywitch, on LiveJournal, has created a lovely and sensual piece of fan art for me of Hermione and Severus making the bed go thump-thump-thump at the bed & breakfast. It's so very NOT SAFE FOR WORK as it shows nude bodies entangled in a sexual act and a peek at genitalia and hint of penetration, so I'd rate this a solid NC-17. mywitch did the same drawing with three different color tones: warm, cool and gray. You can view them all here: http://atdlhea-betz.tumblr.com/post/142574530115/braced-on-one-elbow-above-her-he-positioned

Much thanks and applause to my wonderful betas, Hope and JuneW, for the talents in making my drivel more readable.

You can learn more about the seal rookeries of Horsey here: http://friendsofhorseyseals.co.uk/

Title for this chapter inspired by Norah Jones' song, “Come Away With Me.”

Dislaimer inspired by the chapter number mixed with lyrics by The Beatles song, “When I'm Sixty-Four,” written by Paul McCartney, John Lennon. Copyright: Sony/ATV Tunes LLC.

Oh, and the bedsprings squeaking scene? I wrote this scene about two months before the show “Outlander” had a similar scene with Claire and Frank in Inverness at the bed & breakfast, so I did not borrow it from them, though it seems to be a favorite type of scene to write.
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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After