Song Of The Guardians

Changes

"You're terrible Andy," Jenna said laughing. "Why are you baiting him?"

"I'm not," Andy said, but he couldn't help laughing. "I was being a good friend."

Jenna looked at her sisters, seeing that they weren't buying it. They were sitting under a tree by the lake, enjoying the cool autumn air. Caroline rested her head against the tree and gave Andy a stern look. "You were being nosy," she retorted. "Severus and Hermione haven't been together for long. Let them go at their own pace. And it's fine if they don't want children."

Andy frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "Please," he snorted, rolling his eyes. "We've all had to watch their weird emotional foreplay for a year."

"Gross," Sam said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

"Please don't use the word 'foreplay' when talking about Snape," Jenna said with a shudder.

"I was just planting the idea," Andy insisted. "Hermione may not be ready to admit it, but the alarm on that girls biological clock is about to go off. You should have seen her with James last night. It was adorable." He grinned at the memory. "I'd hate for their relationship to go south because Severus feels like he's being pressured to have kids."

"So why the hell did you suggest it?" Sam asked.

"He had to consider the possibility," Andy said, looking out over the water. "I just wanted to get him thinking about it. I think he'll be ok with it if he can get used to the idea."

Sam snorted with laughter. "You're an idiot," she chortled. She smirked when she spotted Severus crossing the lawn toward them.

"Hello Severus," Caroline said cheerfully. "Are you finished with your classes?"

"Yes," Severus replied with obvious relief.

"Where's Hermione?" Jenna asked, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand as she looked up at him.

"She has another class," Severus said dismissively. "Then she will be marking essays. While she is occupied, I require Andy's assistance."

Andy blinked in surprise but swiftly rose with a nod. He waved to the Sirens and followed Severus across the lawn toward the gates of Hogwarts.

"That was abrupt," Jenna said. "I wonder what that's all about."

"I don't know, but did you notice how tired Snape looked?" Sam asked. She sounded more amused than concerned. She sobered slightly at Caroline's disapproving frown. "Maybe Snape plans to punish Andy for being annoying yesterday."

"I thought I said not to talk about foreplay in reference to Snape," Jenna said with a smirk. Sam and Caroline burst into a fit of giggles.

Hermione stacked all of the graded essays on her desk, relieved to be finished. She stretched languidly, glad to give her cramped muscles a break. The quiet was suddenly disturbed by someone pounding at her door. "Come in," she called out warily.

A second year Gryffindor opened the door and stepped in, looking anxious. "Professor Snape sent me to get you," she said timidly.

Hermione smiled kindly, knowing that Severus had probably frightened the girl. "Thank you Anna," she said standing up. "Where is he?"

"Out on the grounds near the gate," Anna replied. "He wants you to come quickly."

Hermione frowned in concern. "Thank you," she said. "You can be on your way." The young girl nodded and left the room swiftly. Hermione thought for a moment, wondering what Severus needed her for. It wasn't like him to send a student to fetch her.