It was a beautiful wintry day at the Scotland Highlands. At the valley where our beloved Hogwarts was, the snow was falling tranquilly and that made for a stunning view; the centuries old castle, wrapped in falling snowflakes and soft, snowy grounds seemed like it has come right out from a fairy-tale.
Inside, the castle was decorated for the Yuletide season. The greeneries were adorning the staircases and you could see fairy lights in them. Inside the Great Hall were the customary five Christmas trees, decorated by all staff, except one Severus Snape, Potions Master and Slytherin Head of House.
Severus Snape was currently in his rooms, nursing a glass of fire-whisky and starring into the fire. "Severus, darling, are you alright?" came a soft enquiry from the doorway of the bedroom. The voice belonged to Hermione Granger, woman that Severus dearly loved but thought he didn't deserve, as everything else, for that matter.
What a crippled old murderer like him deserved? - Only death, or at the lack of it, a lifetime sentence in Azkaban, while Dementors were slowly sucking his shattered soul.
He didn't deserve this young woman, who had a life full of achievements before her and shouldn't waste it on him.
These were the thoughts Severus was having while sitting there and he hasn't realised that tears were streaming down his face, nor that Hermione has come behind him, until she put her arms around him and nuzzled her cheek against his own. He leaned into the caress, hating himself for not being able to resist it and let her have her life back.
"Love, we should head to the Great Hall for dinner. But if you don't want to, it's okay." Severus sighed and looked sideways at her. "Hermione…" he said with a pained expression. "You should go and have a life. Happy life. Don't waste it on me. Please."
Hermione made her way around the chair he was sitting in and came before him, leaning down over him and kissing his lips lightly. "You know, my happy life is here, with you. Without you, there is no happiness for me. I am very lucky that YOU want me in your life. I am not wasting anything on you, I am having the time of my life when we are together and you know 've had this conversation many times and you shouldn't ever think anything along those lines ever again.
Severus Snape, I am the happiest being in the world when you just look at me and I can see that you do want me, that you love me as much as I do you and you can't persuade me to think otherwise.
We will fight your demons together and beat them. I love you, Severus. Nothing can change that. I will stand by you forever and be happy for just being there.
So, don't ever again think that I would be better off without you! Is that clear?" she finished with a stern look on her face.
Severus was left speechless and just pulled her onto his lap and hugged her tightly. "I love you so much, Hermione. I will try my best to overcome this, only for you. You don't deserve a depressed man to accompany your entire life. You are a saint, do you know that?"
-"I am just a woman who loves you, dear."
She then kissed him passionately and started unbuttoning his coat, elated that Severus has seemingly made some progress. "Love, we're going to be late if you continue doing that. And Minerva would then have my head off for keeping you chained here and not letting you have a social life. But I promise, after dinner, I am all yours." He finished with a smirk and Hermione smiled. "That's my Severus! Let's go, love."
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