Work Text:
Learning To Fly
“Professor Granger” called out the headmistress as she spotted the Professor she was seeking walking smartly towards the staffroom.
“Headmistress?” Hermione said as she turned on the spot and waited for the elderly witch to catch up to her.
“Thanks for waiting,” Minerva smiled, pleased to have one of her favourite Professor’s back working for her again. “I have a request to ask and I know it will give you more work…”
Hermione sighed, she had heard the gossip and had a feeling she knew what the headmistress was about to ask of her.
Headmistress McGonagall explained to her the situation and that they were one Professor short and could she take up the slack, until the replacement arrived.
Hermione felt she was caught between the devil and a hard place and did not like to refuse, especially since she had sought the vacant post of Muggle studies Professor at short notice and had practically begged Minerva for the job as she hated working for the Ministry in London.
The headmistress turned away, hiding her grin of satisfaction.
Hermione on hearing she had obtained the job as Muggle Studies Professor had stated she owed her a favour. Minerva had just called it in.
+++
How in the hell was she going to do madam Hootche’s job? She had thankfully only been allocated the first years but since the last wizarding war the school had grown and the school’s roll had increased. Her Muggle studies classes timetable had given her a double free period each afternoon. That was no longer free but now allocated to her teaching the new students how to fly.
Madam Hootch had been instructing students at Hogwarts for generations. She had been a great tutor and Quidditch player but she had had an accident the previous month and going by the gossip it was putting her back out while participating in another very different form of ‘riding’.
Hermione’s first instinct was to contact Harry for advice but swiftly dismissed it as he would crack up laughing and would not put it past him to inform Ron and it scared her that both would turn up and watch. She decided to research in the Hogwarts library instead.
+++
Now here she was out on the practise grounds with a group of first year students. All new to Hogwarts and expecting her to know what the ruddy hell she was doing.
She remembered her own first flying lesson and decided to take the Hootch approach, firm and act knowledgeable about the subject and ignore the students who were able to do it instantly and pay attention to the less able students instead.
She was amazed how well it went. Some students managed to get their brooms to go ‘UP’ instantly while other Muggle borns struggled. She remembered her own struggles and approached each in turn.
“Up!”
The command was repeated by every single student. the series of Up’s were heard around the grounds, some sounding smug, others sounding frustrated.
Hermione let them practise for five minutes before helping some students.
“Hello, what’s your name?” She asked a small student clearly frustrated at her lack of success.
“Christine Dickinson,” she sniffed and added, “its not working Professor, I’m useless.”
“Miss Dickinson, this is new to you.”. Hermione said and smiled,”It may take time. Take a deep breath, relax, that’s good, now try it again, don’t shout, think where your magic is coming from and breathe, yes, that’s it, try again…”
The young witch smiled as her broom moved up and then dropped back down after leaving the ground for about an inch. Her third attempt had the broom wobble parallel to her nose.
“I’ve done it Miss, I’ve done it!” the witch shrieked with delight and watched her broom plummet back to the ground. She tried it once more and as her confidence grew the broom became more stable.
“Excellent Miss Dickinson, 5 points to Slytherin.”
She handed out house points that first day and felt proud of what her students had achieved and also gave herself a mental pat on the back too. She had used wandless magic to assist a few students. She had wished that Madam Hootch had done the same for her. She knew that it would have helped boost her own confidence and belief in her own magic at that young age.
+++
When she entered the staffroom heading for the teapot, her face turned beat red as her fellow professors began clapping.
“Well done Professor Granger,” called out Professor Flitwick.
“Yes, bravo Hermione,” smiled Madam Sprout.
She had not been aware of anyone watching her teaching flying lessons, but clearly many Professors had sneakily watched.
One professor had missed the show, deciding to bide their time as they knew that Professor Granger was no expert when it came to flying a broom.
+++
It was towards the end of her first week teaching flying lessons when she finally became unstuck. She had scoured the library for all of the books relating to flying and Quidditch books and was at her wits end.
She hated broomflight. Her school broomstick had hated her. She had equally despised it in turn. As an adult the loathing of flying on a wooden pole with twigs at one end still gave her the heebie geebies. She felt sick at the thought of riding a broom in front of anyone, let alone a group of Firsties.
She had shown them all how to care and maintain their broomsticks in her last couple of lessons and had heard some of the students complaining about not being allowed to fly free yet. She had even to give out a detention that she hoped would not come back to bite her on the bum.
+++
Severus Snape, Deputy Headmaster, had been busy instructing his fifth years in Potions on the first Monday of the new school year so only heard second hand on how well Professor Granger had managed teaching the first years how to fly.
Clearly if the rumour mill was to be believed she had done remarkably well. He knew when Granger had been at school, her skills on a broom were nigh on diabolical.
He had not got a second to himself to think upon the witch until his final class of the day had passed through his doors on the Friday afternoon. He had the final period of teaching Potions free and decided to head out onto the grounds to get a breath of fresh air and to take a look for himself how Professor Granger was getting along.
All appeared to be going well as he watched from a distance the students all being shown how to care for their broomsticks. He remained incognito with a vanishing and a Notice Me Not spell so he did not disrupt the Professor’s concentration.
Students had their broomsticks on tables that had been set up along the sidelines of the practise grounds. Some students were eagerly cleaning and polishing with a cloth...
On closer inspection he became aware that a knot of students had just moved across and surrounded their tutor. some clearly looked disgruntled. He moved up closer, to listen in.
“No Mr. Scott, we will not be flying today…yes, perhaps next week Miss Bell… I said, no, Mr Weasley “.
Severus raised his eyebrows at the young Weasley who was being rather rude to his professor and his rude and crude gesture at her had not gone unnoticed by the Professor either.
“Twenty points from Gryffindor Weasley, I saw those two gestures and you will report to Mr. Filch tonight at 8pm for detention. I believe he has some graffiti that needs scrubbing.”
He would need to keep an eye on the young lad who seemed to be as obnoxious as his father. The bell rang indicating that the school week was ended for the students .
“Do not leave without your brooms or cleaning toolkits,” called out Professor Granger and she growled low in her throat and pointed at Weasley, who was about to stalk off leaving his table in a mess.
Severus was close to the disrespectful boy and took action.
Weasley tripped and fell spectacularly onto his face into a rather muddy puddle that seemed to appear out of nowhere.. His broomstick meanwhile flew out of his hand and was sent up into the air to finally fall back down and strike him just as he raised his head.
Hermione hid a smirk behind her hand as she called out for Mr Scott to help his friend tidy up.
He then turned away with a rare smile and set off at a fast pace to reach the Headmistresses office in time for their Friday afternoon meeting that usually consisted of tea and Ginger Newt biscuits, his absolute favourite things.
+++
Minerva somehow knew he had been watching Hermione teach the firsties.
“Well, how do you think Hermione has been doing?”
He was fain to respond in the way she wanted so side tracked.
“I have heard her Muggle Studies classes are going well. The students evidently like her, enjoy her classes and…”
“No laddie, what about the firsties?”
Severus dropped his head to lean across the tea table to select a slice of chocolate cake and placed it onto his side plate, then hesitated before he added two chocolate covered newt’s, thus hiding his grin from her.
“They seem to also be enjoying Hogwarts, a couple of students have already been given detention.”
He had his arm smacked hard and his plate began to fall, but managed to stop them splattering over the tartan carpet with magic.
“Severus,” glared Minerva as she shouted his name, “stop all this bloody nonsense. You know what I am meaning, so stop all of this waffling. How is Hermione getting on teaching the flying class?”
“I have only witnessed her teaching them to clean and maintain their broomsticks. I fear some students are becoming disruptive and I overheard a few ask about when they were being allowed to fly.”
Severus rolled his eyes as he bit into his cake and then sipped at his tea. He knew she was up to something, it of course would include him, it usually did.
“Yes, I have heard a few of them complain to their other Professors and perhaps you could find someone to help her with that?”
And there we have it, he thought. He looked directly across at her. “What are you up to you old cat, I can tell you already have it all planned out and whatever it is you need me - am I correct?”
Of course he was correct. She wanted him to write to Professor Granger anonymously suggesting that she ask Teddy Lupin, Head boy and Gryffindor Quidditch Captain to take the firsties that were able to fly for her on the last lesson of each day.
“What do I get out of this? This undercover thing never works out, you should know this from how I was treated by Dumbledork and Old Mouldie.”
Minerva spluttered her tea as she laughed, she waved him away. “It’ll be fine, it will give her the help she needs to teach the Muggle born students about flying.”
He agreed in the end and refused to allow her to see the letter when he created it.
“Never mind I’ll see it later, knowing Hermione she will want to show it to me.”
Severus shook his head and gave up, he would never win at Minerva’s games. Instead he tucked into more cake and tea.
Then she added, “By the way, I think you should visit the Matron, stuffing your gob like that, you’d think you had worms.”
Having been a double agent for years Severus knew a few spells to put Granger off his tracks when creating his note to her. He ensured it was untraceable. He also sent another unidentifiable note to be left in the Head Boys pigeon hole.
+++
That weekend Hermione had received an anonymous note instructing her that a particular student could help her. The writing had been disguised. She had cast every single spell and charm she knew but still could not find the note’s creator.
She was desperate so took the advice given, she had followed the notes suggestion and contacted the student mentioned and was delighted that he was free to assist her.
She also received a Howler from Ron about his oldest son being picked on by her and dared to mention that she was still a hard hearted bitch. It was dust in seconds and did not stoop down to his level to even reply. It was not his first Howler to her and no doubt it won’t be the last.
+++
The SecondWeek
Hermione led her first years out onto the practice field, split the class into two and then introduced the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain Edward Lupin to them all. She had sworn Teddy to secrecy.
The training went well with those who could ride being taught by Teddy. Hermione concentrated on the others who could barely get their brooms up off the ground. She was gentle giving instruction, remaining calm even under harsh circumstances.
It was on Thursday when Hermione realised she had gone beyond anything she knew even with the first years who had only just now managed to get their brooms to go up and down on command. She knew her next step was to show them how to mount their brooms.
Hermione had her broom out and had mounted it, her confidence was a complete false mask, she had not even got off the ground but her students were concentrating on every single word she gave them.
She sat astride her feet in the broom stirrups and managed to hover a couple of feet off the ground. She was using non verbal spells to keep her in place.
“Now class, mount your brooms but keep your feet on the ground.”
Her eager students did as she directed, only one or two going off balance and having to repeat mounting time and time again before they too managed to hover. Most had managed to retain their balance with their tip toes
“Well done,” she praised, “five points to everyone.”
“Now, be careful, do not move but try to balance and then put your feet up into the stirrups.”
Hermione felt a spit of rain, it had clouded over. Some students hovered very nicely, she thought.
A couple still struggled but to her amazement every single student was now balancing on their brooms with their feet in their stirrups.
A couple of larger spots of rain began to fall.
Hermione was delighted. Only a slight wobble from a few but all had been perfect.
“Well done everyone, the next step I will show you….”
Hermione was never more thankful for the heavy downfall that had her cancelling class as they all scurried indoors out of the rain.
“Oh Miss that was great,” yelled Miss Dickinson.
“Yeah,” agreed Miss Penny.
“Oh can we fly properly tomorrow Professor Granger?” Asked Mister Wilson, who wore a huge smile.
“Yes, as long as it is not raining. I do not wish you to get wet for your first ride on a broomstick!”
Teddy entered with her other half of her class, all dripping wet, but happy to learn that the others were preparing to fly.
Her students were all talking excitedly as they each headed to their Dorms to pack away their brooms.
“You are doing great,” smiled Teddy as he halted for a moment and sent her a cheeky wink. She after all was an adopted Auntie to him. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” She replied and watched him run up the stairs and she sighed hoping it would rain, or even snow tomorrow.
+++
The Deputy head had rolled his eyes at Hermione’s teaching methods, especially as she was using her own spells and other charms to keep her own body balanced. and expecting the first years. to keep their own equilibrium without magical assistance.
He was more than happy when the rain began to fall. He was dry while Granger had clearly forgotten about the umbrella charm. Her bloody broom was some old threadbare ancient twig goodness knows where she had dug it out from, no wonder she had used magic to stay on the ratty thing.
Hermione ate very little at dinner. She was up to date with her teaching Muggle Studies, well all apart from her teaching flying Lessons. She felt sick and it did not go unnoticed that she barely ate. When she entered her office, she noticed a note that had been slid under her door. The scrawl looked familiar and opened it to find more advice.
“Professor Granger
If you need riding lessons I could provide them but first you need to trust yourself. You did well today but tomorrow you will need to show your students how to fly.”
Hermione had paled even further at the thought of the following day. She had used a lot of her own magic to keep herself upright on the bloody broomstick. She hated the uncomfortable ruddy thing. Why anyone could enjoy flying she never knew. .
+++
Hermione woke early to the sound of lashing wind and rain on the window of her tower bedroom. She was not entirely sure if she was still dreaming or just half awake. She shot up out of bed - she was really awake.
She whooped with delight and performed her own happy dance around her bedroom and then sang in the shower at the top of her voice. She was beaming with joy as she bounded down the stairs towards breakfast and forced herself to put on a forlorn face at having to cancel the flying lesson for the first years that day.
Minerva made the announcement at breakfast and said if the weather cleared in the afternoon, that Professor Granger could perhaps resume the lesson.
Hermione was praying that the rain would continue all day. She was happy at lunch to hear the Headmistress announce to all that all flying was to be cancelled for all students, including Quidditch as another big storm was on its way with hurricane force winds. She managed to hide her smile with her hand but one Professor did notice.
+++
While out on his rounds later that same evening, Severus spotted someone slinking down the staircase and out into a private courtyard. He knew this area could be only reached by Professors and followed. He watched from the shadows, he had not been noticed.
He was losing his will to live let alone watch as Hermione Granger tried to speed around the courtyard. She was lumpy going up and down like a roller coaster barely a couple of feet off from the ground, she was well and truly stuffed if the weather turned fair. He used silent magic to discover what charms and protections she was using to keep herself upright and was shocked. The witch needed help and not just from stupid anonymous notes.
+++
Hermione got up early on Saturday morning to practise her flying in secret. She had missed breakfast deliberately as she knew she could not do this on a full stomach. She had magical charms in place to keep her on the broomstick but slowly she removed them but not all yet.
“Sit up straight, you are curled over that broom like a bloody flobber worm!” Barked a voice from behind her.
Hermione jumped with fright but recognised the voice instantly and forgot she was a witch but thankfully Severus Snape had not forgotten he was a wizard.
She landed on her arse with a bounce. The cushioning charm he had cast had saved her from a very embarrassing accident.
“What the hell?” Hermione shot out, wiping her damp hair away from her face. She had not realised she was so wet.
“You fly like a firstie.” He stated his face blank and with no sign of humour.
“I know I am not at my best riding a broom.” She sent him a glare , “I am trying!”
“Really?” He did raise his eyebrows and appeared to have trouble maintaining a straight face.
Hermione turned her back on him, ignoring him completely or as much as she could and lifted off again and wobbled, her flight ungainly.
“Put the bloody thing between your legs and grip it with your thighs, have you never ridden before?”. He bellowed over at her from his stance from the doorway of the private courtyard..
Hermione could not stop the flush that spread throughout her body at his words, her face beat red AND lost her concentration and began to fall. She landed on the flagstones and bounced.
Severus had seen her face redden at his words and knew by the way she reacted she was going to fall again. He knew that the bouncing charm he cast would break her fall once more. He thought she would thank him as she got up onto her feet but instead she stormed up to him and slapped his face hard.
“What was that for?”. He asked as he glared at her and felt the heat from her palm print on his face.
“You put me off my flying with your insult and now my broom is in pieces.”
Severus rolled his eyes and shook his head then turned away from her and headed out of the courtyard and then yelled back at her. “Granger, my office now!”
+++
Hermione only then realised she had struck a fellow teacher, who just happened to be the Assistant headmaster and he could sack her on the spot. She followed in his wake. She did not speed up after him when he disappeared from view, she knew where to go. She was sure she would lose her job over this, she had tried her best. She had loved teaching at Hogwarts again, even teaching flying had not been so bad. She knew she was no broom instructor. She knew that Professor Snape was quite correct, she was useless on a broom.
His office door stood wide open. She entered. He stood with his back to her. She stood not sure if to close his door or not. It closed on its own. She gulped, unsure whether to speak or to sit or to just do neither and stand like a student in trouble, although she was a professor and an adult. She knew she could lose her job in the next moment. What happened next not only shocked her but made her smile inside.
He turned around and asked.
“Do you trust me?”
Then the light dawned on who had been trying to help her with the notes. Her eyes widened as she put the pieces together.
“It was You who sent Teddy to help. You sent me the notes too? thank you!”
He nodded.
She stared up at him, her eyes steady and clear as she replied truthfully to his original question. “Yes assistant headmaster, I trust you and I have always trusted you, Severus Tobias Snape.”
He nodded, “I have always tried to keep you safe.”
Hermione felt her throat go dry and had to gulp hard not to allow tears to form in her eyes or for the thudding in her heart to be heard.
“I know,” she whispered. “You kept me safe and alive so many times, too many to mention. Even when you were left dying you still….”. Her voice broke. With tears threatening, she added after she took in a big breath. “Thank you. I am sorry for slapping you earlier. I was frustrated with my ineptitude on a broom. I am ruddy useless and need all the help I can get.”
That was when she saw his lips quiver as he gulped hard then he openly smiled at her for the very first time.
“Thank youProfessor Granger, may I call you Hermione? He asked with a tilt of his face and a rise of his eyebrows, along with another smile.”
Hermione beamed back at him and responded, her cheeks flaming pink, “Yes please do call me Hermione and may I call you severus, in private of course.”
“Yes, you may call me by my first name in private and also in front of the Headmistress too.”. He smirked, “I’d like to see her face when you do that for the first time.”
“As shall I,” responded Hermione with a cheeky grin. "I showed your notes to Minerva, I can't help but wonder if this was her idea?"
"Yes, it was her idea to send the notes but I wanted to help you but did not wish to let her know it."
"Does she know you have seen me trying to fly using my broomstick?" She pointed her hand back towards the door.
"No, this is between you and I."
"Good!Can we keep it this way please as I do need your help."
He noticed how pale she had become and knew there was more to her anxiousness.
"What is going on?" Severus asked as he had got a feeling something else was causing the witch to be so emotional.
"I had a few howlers over this last week, I destroyed them all but ..." Her face crumpled.
He gave her a gentle shake and asked, "who?". she shook her head. ""Let me guess Weasley, the one that you gave the body swerve to after the war, now he is annoyed with you that his brat got detention after his foul mouth and hand gestures directed at you?"
She was shocked then began to laugh and nodded. He has threatened to come to the school next week when he returns home."
"He will never be able to access Hogwarts grounds without my permission."
“I will teach you to fly Hermione if you will permit me?”
“I need all the help I can get, yes please.”
+++
Hermione had assumed when she agreed to meet Severus after lunch for her first lesson from him in flying that it would be out of doors, but she was wrong. She had followed him up a set of stairs unfamiliar to her. He had explained that the castle had many secrets, only known to the headmaster. He had trusted her with this one. He opened a door to reveal an outdoors area with grass with two broomsticks leaning up against a bench.
“Thank you,” she whispered as she touched the wall with her fingers as if giving an apology. She knew where she was and understood that the castle and Severus trusted her with this secret.
The flying lesson was unlike any she had ever had before. He had tested her for balance and had her ride a muggle bicycle.
He had rolled his eyes at her struggles and took the bike from her and nimbly ridden it around the grassy area doing wheelies and other things much to her amazement.
He transformed the bike into a tandem. Hermione found it much easier. She found that it helped her get her balance. Then he moved to the bench and picked up a large broomstick.
“I thought this broom would be required. It was a broomstick built for two. This time he sat behind her and she in front. He helped her to place her hands in the. correct position and she had blushed when he had from behind adjusted her feet and knees.
He was in charge at first gently moving the broomstick and giving her instructions of what to do and how her body could move the broom up, down, left, right forward and back.
His close proximity to her own body did not go unnoticed and she had tried not to think about it too much.
Subsequent lessons on the Sunday had her take more control and soon she was on a broom riding on her own. He rode alongside her reaching across to adjust her body position. She had got used to his touch.
Severus had not flown so much in a while and was impressed on how swiftly Hermione had picked up his instruction. She had been scared to fly but his tandem style of direction had worked. It had made him uncomfortable at first being so close to the witch but soon he would adjust her limbs without any embarrassment.
They had been together for most of the weekend, eating as well as flying. He had been surprised at how they had conversed easily and still felt saddened he had not been able to offer her the post of Potions Mistress after her successful apprenticeship with him twelve years before. It had been the Ministry who had put pay to that.
He waved at her to fly down to the ground. She brought her broom down to land gently with her smiling warmly back at him.
“Now, off you go, up and fly on your own. I’ll stay here and watch and then we will call it a day.”
“By myself?”
“Yes, you have been flying on your own for the last hour or so.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really!”. He shook his head at her and smiled. “I have been shadowing you and I have not had to adjust anything for this last lesson. You have been concentrating so hard that you barely noticed I was flying behind you.”
Hermione bit her lip, nodded at him and took off on her broom. To say he was proud of her was an understatement.
He called out instructions for her to move faster. She did. then he held his breath as she hurtled at speed down towards him and he had to duck as she flew past him and heard her cackling with laughter.. She swooped and dived then he held his breath as he froze realising what she was about to do. He had shown her how he could loop the loop on a broom. She had attempted it but had given up earlier in the day. His heart was in his mouth. That trick was not for the beginner.
He had done it only to show off to her. She had called him ‘Impressive’. He was glad he had been flying alone as his body had reacted and was unsure if she would find that impressive.
He watched as she not only looped the loop once but twice in succession. She whooped with delight, his face was pale as ice when she landed and bounded up to him. She froze as she saw the look on his face. She had seen that scared look on his face before. She shivered with fear something was wrong.
She moved in slowly, worried.
“Severus, what is wrong?”. She touched his hand and took it in hers. He was cold as ice to the touch. she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. To her surprise he returned the hug just as fiercely and felt him shake.
“You could have killed yourself,” he whispered into her ear, his voice all of a quiver.
He had been afraid for her. She knew the trick was dangerous but had never given it a thought until now.
“I am so sorry Severus,” she lifted her face up and placed her cheek up against his. She kissed him softly and apologised again. “I was stupid to do that trick without warning you first.”
“You could have got yourself killed.” He squeezed her hard and gave her a quick shake then kissed her soundly.
“I won’t do it again.” She kissed him back and added, “unless I inform you first or you are with me.”
“Good.” He kissed her again
Oblivious, the couple were unaware that the room of requirement had changed its setting.
When they finally broke free and realised it was a cosy bedroom complete with a large four poster bed they began to laugh.
“Do you think the room is trying to tell us something?” Hermione asked, blushing deeply.
“No, it’s the Castle, I’m sure of it.” They both each were given a shove by the Castle itself towards the bed.
“Well,” Hermione said, ”what do you think?”. She wiggled her fingers at Severus and he took his hand in hers and then tugged her up against him for another searing kiss.
“I’m game!” He scooped her up in his arms and headed for the bed. The lights changed in the room to a more romantic one as they both landed on the soft bed and continued with their kissing and fondling both in full agreement to follow the Castles wishes.
+++
The following afternoon saw a confident Hermione Granger teach her First years how to fly. She had no charms but had ensured all of her students had a safe space to fall but thankfully none ever did.
Hermione was invited to tea with the Headmistress on the Friday afternoon, and had enjoyed making Minerva spit out her tea as she and Severus chatted back and forth politely calling each other by their first names.
As Hermione rose to leave, Severus saw her to the door as he had a few items to discuss with Minerva.
“I’ll see you later?” Hermione asked.
“Yes,” he leaned towards her and kissed her on the cheek, “I will see you later this evening.”
Hermione noticed that the headmistress did not react to the simple kiss so instead grabbed at the lapels of Severus’s teaching robes and dragged him down for a long delicious snog that made her toes curl. That got the reaction she wished and left the office beaming.
Severus stood his back to Minerva as he brought his body back to some composure. His face was still red as he turned back and headed for his seat.
Minerva beamed at him and then began to cackle.
“About bloody time my laddie.”
“What?”
“You and Hermione, about bloody time you got together properly. If the Ministry hadn’t meddled….”
“You are happy for us then?”
Minerva stood up and grabbed him into a hug.
“I always wanted you to be happy.”
“Good!”
Severus smiled and watched as Minerva used her magic to deliver two good sized tumblers of Malt whisky into their hands.
“I hope you two will be happy, Slainte!”
“Thanks, cheers.”
+++
Ron Weasley never got past the gates of Hogwarts and when he tried to reach Hermione Granger with Owl posts all were returned unopened and marked undeliverable. He sent another howler to her at the end of his son’s first year at Hogwarts as he got a bad report and he blamed Hermione. The howler returned marked undeliverable and name not known. The howler then burst open in front of Ron cascading glitter that made him itch all over for weeks.
Hermione Granger had secretly married Severus Snape shortly after the end of the school year in Hogwarts Castle. The wedding itself took place inside its beautifully decorated Room of Requirement with a sparse number of guests sworn to secrecy.
Officially she was now Mrs Hermione Snape but she and Severus chose to keep using her maiden name of Granger while working. she had a new post to move to of Potions Mistress and had gladly given up Muggle Studies and Broom Teaching in the new school year to two new professors.
+++