a/n: Hey peeps! Here it is... the moment we've all been waiting for... the sequel to "Crushed 'till Now"! It will include: the mysterious girl, some of Sev's history, the wedding, and finally some Christmas cheer. If you haven't read Crushed 'till Now, I would suggest you do before you start this one, it will be confusing without some back knowledge. :-)
Thanks to my beta – Gethsemane – who, for the second fic in a row, is putting up with my punctuation errors. Thank you sooooooooooo much!
Please r/r. Flames will be used to toast my toast. Enjoy!
*
Severus Snape sat alone in his private office – adjoined with Hermione's – doing some extremely tedious paper work. He had officially been co-headmaster of Hogwarts for three months, twenty-eight days, sixteen hours, and thirty minutes. It was 4:30 PM on November 30, 2002. In two hours, he would troop down the huge marble staircase for dinner. First, however, was his daily meeting with Hermione. In fact, he could hear her rustling about next-door all ready. Probably organizing her notes so they'd actually have time for themselves. Either that, or she's trying to dig her way out of 5,000 bridal magazines. Severus chuckled quietly. His fiancée had been bombarded by offers of help in planning her wedding by not only all of the female staff members, but her mother, her friends from her school days at Hogwarts, her enemies from her school days at Hogwarts, current students, house-elves, and people she had never met before who had somehow heard that the headmasters of Hogwarts had recently become engaged. The spread of the news had been so drastic that they could hardly take a walk in Hogsmeade anymore without a dozen Daily Prophet reporters popping out of nowhere to congratulate them, offer their "expert" advice, and harass them for details.
*
Hermione lounged on the leather couch in her office staring up at the small circular window high on the wall. She was so tired; all she wanted was a long nap. There was so much to do: five tons of paperwork, patrolling the halls, putting on a good face for the general public, exploding howlers, not to mention planning her own wedding. After Severus had proposed to her last month, they had agreed that they both wanted a small wedding as soon as possible. Their friends and family had different plans for them, however. Her mother was constantly going on about halls for the reception while all of her friends were taken with the idea of a multiple hour ceremony using every religious, muggle, and wizarding tradition known to man. Maybe just a quick nap... Severus won't mind me being a bit late. Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by a gigantic yawn as she nodded silently off to sleep.
*
It was an hour later when Severus realized Hermione was late. Well I know we're both preoccupied... Maybe she's still working. I'll check her office. Severus rose smoothly from his low desk chair and walked to the door that joined their offices. Murmuring the password on an undertone ("Oddsbodikins!") he passed through the door. A fast survey of the room told him that she was not working at her desk. Upon closer look, however, he noticed a dark shape draped over the arm of her sofa in her sunny sitting corner. "Hermione!" Severus rushed to her side and felt for her pulse desperately. Sure enough, the strong beating pounded gently beneath his fingers. Gently he shook her awake, murmuring her name softly. Moments later, her heavy lashes fluttered open and she smiled up at him and yawned,
"That was a delicious nap. I needed that. Oh sorry Sev." She giggled looking up at the red spot where she had hit his cheek as she stretched her arms over her head. Looking preoccupied she glanced at the watch on her wrist. "Oh damn! I'm sorry; I never meant to sleep for an hour. Now we only have an hour to wade through all the crap that's happened today. Eergh!"
Severus smiled gently and pinned Hermione's furiously flailing arms down at her sides. He chuckled and muttered, "Don't worry about it love. I have no problem with cutting this meeting short today. Now what horrors are plaguing Hogwarts today?"
Hermione groaned and sat up on the sofa, tucking herself into the curve of her fiancé's arm, "The fifth year Slytherin Tranfiguation class managed to turn Malfoy into a ferret, Remus' third year Hufflepuffs managed to be scared of a boggart, Peeve's has been harassing the house-elves again, my mother owled me, I'm tired, and the girl arrives tomorrow."
For a month, Severus and Hermione had managed to forget the impending arrival of "the girl", a nine year old muggle born who was being forced to start Hogwarts early and against her parents' and her own will. But now, like it or not, the girl would arrive tomorrow in the escort of the Minister of Magic: Ron Weasley. It had been Ron who insisted the girl begin her magical education now. He was so blinded by her magical capabilities that he had been blind to the obvious negative points of his decision. Severus sighed with the reminder of what he so vehemently disapproved of, but handed Hermione a thick stack of parchment and said, "This arrived today. Her name, birth date, etcetera etcetera." Hermione took the paper from his outstretched hand and threw it, almost violently, down on the study table beside her.
"Remind me to kill Ron Weasley as soon as possible." Hermione spit the name of the man who had once been her best friend. His few years as Minister of Magic had transformed him into someone didn't want to know: an arrogant, smirking man who lorded over the entire wizarding world with a know-it-air, so much stronger than the one Hermione herself possessed.
"Now Hermione, love, isn't murder (or perhaps fratricide in this case, Ron had been like her brother for almost 12 years) a bit strong?" Severus said. As much as he hated the minister (he knew he would turn out like this back when he was a first year, a bad breed those Weasley's) he hated to see Hermione, the girl who had been his best friend for 12 years hating him so outspokenly. (a/n: this is set 6 years after Hogwarts. I assume Hermione, Ron, and Harry remained friend throughout Hogwarts and until Hermione became co-Headmistress of Hogwarts. 7 + 5 = 12) "Come on now. You said your self that the only thing we can do for awhile is watch and wait. Please be calm. Please?"
"I guess. I hate this though. I really do!" Hermione sighed and looked at her hand. Carefully rotating her engagement ring, she looked into Severus's raven eyes and murmured, "What would Albus have done?" Severus looked over at the floor length window on the other side of the room. He seemed lost in either grief or thought. "Sev?" Hermione said quietly, trying to bring him back to the real world.
"Come here for a moment Hermione" He took her small hand in his large one and led her to the window. Gesturing to the grounds, bustling with students, he said, "Albus worked for most of his life to make this school what it is today Hermione. He loved Hogwarts, and always refused for it to be a place of punishment, or a reform school. Often, when the ministry would find witches and wizards who had dropped out of school, they would ask him to see to it that they were immediately instated in Hogwarts. He never would do it. He never would let attending Hogwarts be a method of punishment or a convenient drop spot for the ministry. Albus would have done just what you want to do Hermione. Taken the girl in and helped her as much as he could. Maybe he would have helped her to escape from the ministry." Severus looked into her amber flecked eyes brimming with tears. Silently, he gathered her into his arms and let her weep.
*
Later that night, Severus and Hermione sat together in the staff room. They were alone, as the other professors were busy with enrichment classes now offered in the evening to students at Hogwarts who wished extra credit and thing of that nature. The letter from the ministry lay on the table before them. Hermione reached her arm out and pulled the letter toward her. Working swiftly, she pulled on the flap of the envelope and unfolded the sheet of plain white paper. Looking cautiously at Severus, she read aloud:
Professors Severus Snape and Hermione Granger:
The Ministry of Magic has informed my wife and myself that we must write to you immediately to give you any and all information on our daughter that we may deem necessary. We both honestly do not wish her to attend Hogwarts, but seemingly we have no choice in the matter. Our daughter, Kalie Andrews, is nine years old. Her birthday is January 5. She has a good behavior record in her previous school as well as at home. She is a quiet, sensitive girl; Kalie is often slow to warm to new people and surroundings. According to the Ministry, her strange behaviors are a result of her "superior magical abilities".
We will miss her terribly. Please, if you are permitted, send us reports of her progress. We understand that she will not be permitted to write to us; we are therefore praying that you will act as a go-between.
Cordially,
Frank AndrewsHermione made eye contact with Severus. Quietly she reached for a piece of parchment and a quill. With few words, they managed to draft a small note to the Andrews family
Mr. and Mrs. Andrews:
We are appalled by the Ministries actions toward your family. Hogwarts has never encouraged the forceful taking of a child from his or her home: especially when they are not of magical descent. We are happy to convey messages between you and your daughter. In fact, we are going to do everything we can to ensure that if your daughter is unhappy she is returned to you. It will do you well to know that the current Minister of Magic, Ronald Weasley, has a very stubborn temperament, but can be weakened by several things. We hope that your family will soon be reunited.
You may write to your daughter in care of either of us, and we will be happy to see that you are in contact with some regularity. May your family soon be reunited.
Most sincerely,
Hermione Granger and Severus Snape
*
The next morning was a crisp and cheerful December day. Birds of all kinds flew over the ground, singing cheerful songs of late autumn. The day was indeed a mockery of the feeling felt by Severus and Hermione. Both had risen and breakfasted early in order to prepare for Kalie's arrival. Severus would not have to teach that day in order to help Hermione settle the girl. It had already been arranged that the girl would be sorted privately and would meet her teachers during lunch hour instead of having to face the entire school. Every preparation thus being settled, Hermione and Severus had naught to do but stand outside the massive doors of the school and wait for the delivery of their new ward. Soon enough, the creaking rumblings of a horseless carriage interrupted the bird song. It pulled to a close proximity to the front of the school, where it stopped jerkily. Hermione winced as Ron stepped out in to the autumn sun. He squinted up at the two of them standing on the steps of the school, but both refused to meet his eye. Swearing under his breath, he turned and saw the petit girl beside him to the ground. He pointed to her professors on the steps and motioned some house-elves who were waiting to bring her things inside over, clearly showing his intention not to speak to either of the headmasters. The young girl walked slowly up the steep steps, watching her feet as if thoroughly fascinated by them. Soon she reached the top and met the gaze of Hermione and Severus, "Kalie Andrews, sir and miss. Are you professors Snape and Granger? That man said I was to seek them out immediately, and..." The little girl trailed off. Hermione walked over to her and acknowledged that she was indeed Professor Granger and wouldn't the young girl come inside and have something hot to drink? Severus followed at a distance, studying the girl. She was an inkling of a thing, with thin brown hair and enormous brown eyes. The eyes are the most interesting things about her, Severus thought, so big, they almost fill the entire eye socket. So full of sadness and fear. Heaven knows that she is no Slytherin. Hufflepuff material, or even Ravenclaw perhaps. I doubt it will be Gryffindor; she looks as if one scary face may finish her off.
Hermione guided the little girl into the small chamber off the Great Hall. She sat her quietly on a stool and beckoned for a house-elf to bring tea. Standing back, she peered curiously at the girl. Those eyes of hers are truly remarkable. They seem to know everything. I feel as if I've seen something like them before, but where? Where?
a/n: That's all for now folks! Sorry to end on a suspenseful note, but I'm in the midst of writers block now. Ugh. Anyway, I hope y'all like! Now r/r please!