The Serpent and the Lioness

Chapter 60

"Can I come downstairs yet?"

"Not yet!"

Hermione puffed out her cheeks and slowly moved away from the upstairs landing. She had woken late with Severus already up and about. A note with her favorite blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee, telling her to stay upstairs, waiting for her on her bedside table. She could hear him moving around downstairs and it had peeked her curiosity.

He'd been completely different since the nights they had spent apart. It was starting to get a bit worrisome. It wasn't that Hermione didn't appreciate everything thing he was doing for her, it was just that it felt so out of character for him to do so. It was like he was purposely going out of his way at every step to make her happy. It left her conflicted.

On the one hand, she felt loved and appreciated. While on the other she felt as though she wasn't doing nearly enough to reciprocate the feeling. He had so deftly picked out all the little things she enjoyed but she still had such a small list of things that he enjoyed.

She felt as though she were running him ragged. Like he was trying to make up for something she had long since forgiven him for. The balance between them felt off, but she found she was too afraid to tell him that he was doing too much, that she didn't need nor want all that he was doing for her. Although he seemed to slowly be enjoying what made her happy, he was subsequently leaving out time to do the things he truly enjoyed.

The imbalance was going to end today. With a smart nod of her chin Hermione retreated into their bedroom. She dressed quickly enough, choosing his most favorite of her outfits: thigh tight black slacks with a flare at the calf, a silver camisole and a deep burgundy button-up blouse with a flared collar. It was modest but it showed off all the right places. She left her hair down but pinned back one side of her face with two silver decorative bobby pins.

Just as she was putting in the conditioner to keep her hair from frizzing out, she heard him coming up the stairs. She smiled at herself in the vanity and waited for him to come to her. When he came around into their room she stood slowly stepping out of their bathroom. A calm collected look to mask her worried heart.

Severus had chosen to forgo his coat for the day, leaving him in a neatly tucked in soft ocean blue long sleeve button-up, a gift from Hermione during one of her small shopping trips. A black silk lined vest, another gift, and black slacks adorned with a silver buckled belt.

He had chosen carefully that morning. It had been a week since their romp in the snow and his body was just now starting to feel proper again. He could tell he'd done a good job by the heavy look in Hermione's eyes as she came to meet him halfway. Her hand ran up the side of his heavily accented waist before she pressed closer, wrapping her arms lazily behind.

"Silk looks good on you."

Severus leaned down to her silent request for a kiss,"You can come downstairs now." His voice was soft and he was sure if he didn't peek her curiosity he was about to lose more than a few layers of clothing.

Hermione jumped back like a spring. He took her hand before she could run off and slowed her to a fast walk, following behind her. Hermione heeded his speed and calmly took the stairs. When she reached the bottom she couldn't help but look for anything amiss, nothing immediately jumped out at her and she turned her head to him with confusion. A hidden smile was her only clue as he pulled her gently along towards the living room.