Chapter 10: Progress and Christmas

Dumbledore spoke to both Snape and Hermione; both felt they were being chastised like naughty children. This grated on both of them for different reasons; Snape, because he was an adult and Hermione because she was only acting on Dumbledore's orders. She said as much to him.

"I remember what I said Miss Granger. However Minerva is panicking. Lay off Severus for a while; see how much progress you can make when you behave like civilized adults."

So a ceasefire was called. Admittedly one with all the stability off a house of cards, but it was a truce none the less. Both had agreed to leave their differences behind and concentrate on the work.

In the strained atmosphere a grudging respect grew on both sides. They had settled into a routine when working together. They would work on separate sections, then swap notes and check them; stopping to discuss points of interest or possible mistakes. Snape refrained from making snide comments at Hermione's mistakes and she refrained from gloating over his. Both were intelligent, meticulous workers and the project progressed slowly but steadily.

Christmas came and Hermione remained at the castle while Harry and Ron went to the burrow. They weren't happy at leaving her behind but they had got used to her dedication to her potions project and knew she wouldn't be happy prised away from her work for two weeks.

"Hermione just promise us you'll have some rest over the holidays." Harry insisted on the last day. "Remus wants you to join him Christmas day, so promise you will."

"Okay Harry I will, I promise. It will be lovely to spend it with Remus. And Tonks is coming as well. I haven't seen her in ages."

On Christmas morning Hermione awoke to an empty dormitory. As she sat up she spotted the pile of presents at the end of her bed. She crawled across the duvet and picked up the first one, unwrapping it she found a woollen jumper from Mrs Weasley. It was green with a bottle of potion on the front. There was a note with it.

Hermione,

Merry Christmas love. Kingsley told us about your work with Severus,

Arthur will go you into the Department of Mysteries any time you need. Good luck with the project and with Severus.

All our love,

Molly and Arthur.

P.S. Percy, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny and Harry send their love.

Next was Harry's present, a new copy of Moste Potente Potions. As she flicked through it she noticed Harry had written over and around some of the recipes.

Hermione, I got rid of the book at the end of last year as I'd promised, however I copied down some of the changes Snape had made to the recipes. I've rewritten them into the book for you. Maybe another time you can get Snape to fill in the bits that are missing.

Harry.

Ron sent her a box of canary creams.

See if you can slip the old bat one if he winds you up.

He wrote. She laughed as she imagined Snape spontaneously turning into a yellow bird.

Her parents sent her a smart set of silk robes in an unfortunate shade of green. She couldn't blame them they knew nothing of the colour's Slytherin significance, only that the colour suited her.

'Oh well, it'll give Snape a surprise at breakfast' she thought and scrambled off the bed to put them on. They were a good fit and a nice style. Not as fancy as dress robes but elegant and suitable for day time special occasions like Christmas.

Turning back to the bed she spotted another package in plain brown paper.

Carefully she opened it. It was a stack of old parchment with a note on top.

Miss Granger,

The headmistress suggested I get you a Christmas present. This was all I could think of. It is just a loan; please return it when you have read it. It is the unedited manuscript for Hogwarts, a History. Enjoy your break.

S.S.

Hermione was gobsmacked. The note had been terse and as snarky as the man ever was. But the present! Granted it was only a loan but the fact he trusted her with something so precious from his own collection. Wow!

Looking at her watch she saw she had twenty minutes until breakfast. She dived under the bed and pulled out a green box with a sliver ribbon. Two weeks ago she had bought Severus a Christmas present but Hermione had chickened out of sending it. She would give it him in person, at breakfast, instead.

Looking at her watch she scrambled to get her hair into some semblance of order and rushed down to the great hall with the present.

"Hermione!" She turned just in time to see Tonks envelop her in a hug. "Oh thank you. You've cheered Remus up so much. You've given him hope. You'll have to tell us how it's going, how's working with Severus?"

"Occasionally hell, sometimes fun, constantly challenging, totally maddening and the best thing I've ever done."

"Really?"

"Yes. I know Snape can be an arse hole, and most of the time he is, but he's so clever. I'm constantly learning from him and he keeps surprising me. Like today; he sends me a present."

"Severus Snape sent a Christmas present?"

"I know! He says in the note that Professor McGonagall made him send one, but it's not just a new book or some chocolates. He's lent me the original draft of Hogwarts, a History."

"Bloody Hell!"

"I know."

"So is that why the Gryffindor head girl is wearing Slytherin green robes?"

"No. these were a present from my parents. I've got him this though." She held up the present. "Have you seen Professor Snape this morning?"

"No I haven't, so what have you got him?"

She was prevented from answering as Remus bounded up to Tonks, kissed her and swung her round in the air. He then hugged Hermione and swung her round too.

"Merry Christmas Hermione."

"Merry Christmas Remus." Said Hermione, laughing.

They sat down at breakfast all on one table, after eating Remus spoke to Hermione.

"Now you're coming back with me and Tonks, we're going for a walk in the snow before lunch."

"I've just got to go down to the dungeons…"

"No I promised Harry." Interrupted Remus. "No work today."

"I'm not going to work." Slightly embarrassed she elaborated. "I'm going to give Professor Snape his Christmas present."

"You got Severus a present?"

"He gave her one." Said Tonks.

"Really?"

"Yes he's lent her a manuscript…" Tonks explained the present and motioned with her hand for Hermione to go. She needed no further encouragement and snuck off to the dungeons.

Nerves welled up as she reached the door to his private quarters. She'd already checked the classroom and Snape's office. Taking a deep breath she knocked.

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That morning, when Snape had woken up, there were two presents at the bottom of his bed. A bar of Honeydukes' chocolate from Remus and a pair of socks from Albus. The man was just a painting but he was still sending socks. It was a pitiful haul. Dobby the house elf would have received more presents. Severus decided to stay in his rooms until lunch and wallow in self pity.

Two hours later, as he was drinking coffee and reviewing the notes he and Hermione had made the day before, he heard a knock at the door.

'Minerva.' He thought. 'Here to enquire why I didn't attend breakfast.' Needless to say he was quite surprised to see Hermione Granger dressed up to the nines in his own house colours.

He looked her up and down and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm surprised Minerva let you out wearing that colour."

Hermione blushed. "My parents bought me them, they don't understand what connotations this colour has."

"Indeed."

"May I come in?"

Reluctantly he stepped back and allowed her access.

"I wanted to thank you for the present. It's the most interesting gift I've ever received."

"Minerva said I ought…"

"I know but you didn't have to. So thank you." She held out her present for him. "This is for you."

"Miss Granger there was no need to get me something merely because I lent you a manuscript."

"Does the box look like I jus grabbed something of my own to give you?" She asked exasperated. "I got this especially for you." She shoved it at him.

Awkwardly he took it from her and unwrapped it. She smiled, he looked nervous.

He noticed and mentally shook himself. 'For Heaven's sake, get a grip of your self it's only a bloody present.' Sliding the box out of its paper he removed the lid. Involuntarily he gasped. Inside was a quill; a dark green feather, with silver filigree down the cartilage spine, the nib was solid silver and the underside was engraved with a message.

For happiness and success. Merry Christmas Severus, from Hermione.

"Miss Granger." He said looking up at her. She was staring at the floor looking really nervous.

"I'm sorry I used your first name but it didn't seem right not to on a Christmas present." She burst out in a torrent of speech.

"Miss Granger." She looked up. "This is one of the nicest gifts I have ever received." He seemed to have difficulty saying the next words. "Thank you."

She beamed at him. "You're welcome." She thought about something. "I'm going on a walk in the grounds with Remus and Tonks, would you join us?"

He almost seemed to smile at her. "No, thank you. I'm going to review yesterday's progress." He gestured to the notes. "But I will join you after lunch; I want us both to update Minerva and Remus."

She smiled again. "Okay I'll see you at lunch." She hesitated then shrugged. 'What the hell, it's Christmas.' She thought. Hermione closed the two steps between her and Severus and hugged him. "Merry Christmas Severus." She kissed him on the cheek and ran out of the room.

Severus Snape stood there in shock staring at the door. A girl had shown him affection and given him a Christmas present which she had bough specifically for him. This had never happened before and the situation wasn't quite sinking in.

Unobserved in the shadows at the back of the room a portrait of an old man with blue eyes started to get ideas.

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That afternoon, after dinner in the great hall, Hermione sat in Remus' sitting room with Tonks, Remus, Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore (Who was visiting the landscape over the fireplace.) Kingsley Shacklebolt and Molly and Arthur Weasley who had flooed in from the Burrow.

She was sat on a wooden chair opposite the others, nervously her feet. An empty chair was next to her waiting for Severus Snape to show up.

'Will he come?' She thought. Her mind panicking. 'Did I overstep the mark again? Maybe I really embarrassed him.' Her thoughts were interrupted by the man in question sweeping through the doorway.

"Good afternoon Severus." Greeted Professor McGonagall.

"Good afternoon Minerva." He replied, then looking at the others. "Remus, Nymphadora, Molly, Arthur, Albus, Hermione."

Hermione blushed under his gaze. Something Minerva didn't spot as she was too slapping Remus on the back. He had choked on his eggnog at the sound of Snape using a student's fist name.

"Good afternoon Severus." Hermione replied, looking him straight in the eye and trying not to grin. "Shall we get on?"

"Certainly. If everyone is ready?" He glared round the room as everyone stopped whispering and settled down.

"Severus do you want to explain your theories?" Asked Dumbledore seeing if Snape would address Hermione by her first name again or whether it was just a fluke. The manipulation worked.

"I think Hermione should explain. She found the evidence."

Hermione went on to explain the book and the information she found in it. Snape explained how they proposed to get Sirius out and the problems with the present potions. Then haltingly, finding it difficult to explain in terms everyone would understand, they described how far they had got with the recipe.

"So you see," finished off Hermione, "we're still only halfway through writing the formula. Once it's finished it needs to be made and we need to devise some way of testing it. Even then it is highly unlikely we will succeed first time and we will need to refine it. I couldn't possibly predict how long that will take."

"Is there no way you could spend more time on it?" Asked Molly Weasley.

"Absolutely not!" Said Minerva sharply. "Both of them are already spending every spare waking hour, and many that should be spent sleeping, working on this. It took the combined efforts of both Harry and Remus to prise Hermione out of the dungeons for today."

"The students already think they're living together."

"Thank you Remus. I'm sure Severus and Hermione are well acquainted with the rumours."

Snape and Hermione's faces told a different story.

"Oh, well, we thought you knew. Erm… Okay… Well, members of Slytherin have spied Miss Granger leaving your quarters at all hours and they naturally assumed…"

Severus looked at Hermione. Her face was a deeper shade of red than he had ever seen it.

"I shall endeavour to correct them." He said coldly and swept out of the room carrying a pile of notes.

"Well he didn't seem too bothered about that." Piped up Tonks.

"Are you joking?" Asked Hermione. The others turned to look at her, their expressions questioning how she could tell what he had been thinking. "He forgot the book." She motioned to the journal he had brought with him. "Severus wouldn't forget this if he wasn't upset." She picked it up and stood. "I'll take it back to the dungeons."

Hermione exited. As the door closed behind her the others heard her curse. "Bloody Slytherins!"

"Okay." Molly nearly shouted. "What in the name of Merlin is going on between those two? Minerva McGonagall are you condoning a teacher/student relationship?"

"Molly!" Called Dumbledore from his picture frame. "Minerva would do nothing of the sort. There is no inappropriate relationship between Hermione and Severus. In fact as of now I doubt there is an appropriate one either. They have to work together as equals; with that amount of time spent together it would be understandable if they became closer."

"Albus Dumbledore your eyes are twinkling. That's a sure sign you're plotting something and I demand to know what."

"Very well. I feel Hermione is the perfect person to shake Severus up a bit. He's been wallowing in self pity recently and I don't like it."

"And how is Hermione meant to achieve this?"

"Minerva has removed his right to deduct house points."

"And what difference does that make?"

"Molly," Minerva explained, "for the first time in Severus' life someone as smart as he is has come along and is answering back, Hermione can match him sarcastic comment for sarcastic comment. If that doesn't shake some life back into him I don't know what will."

Thinking it through Molly began to grin. "Hermione will certainly give him a run for his money."

"Just what the boy needs." Smiled Dumbledore.

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For the second time that day Hermione stood at the door to Snape's rooms. She knocked and after a short delay he answered.

"You forgot the book."

"Oh." He reached out, took it and moved to close the door.

"Severus are you okay?"

"I am quite well Miss Granger." She looked at him like he had struck her. "It would seem our informal behaviour is making us a point of ridicule in the school. Continuing it would only resort in more gossip."

With tears of hurt stinging her eyes she looked up at him. "If I had to name any member of staff who I thought would adjust his behaviour due to idle gossip, yours would have been the last name I would ever have thought of. Have a Merry Christmas Professor Snape."

She managed to cram all the icy formality she could muster into the three syllables of 'Professor'. Hermione then turned and walked regally out of the dungeons, her head held high. Once out of the stairway she burst into tears and ran sobbing to the dormitory.

At the end of Gryffindor corridor Remus spotted her rush past him and in fury retraced her steps.

He blasted the wards off Severus' door and entered; his wand pointing at Severus' chest.

"What did you do to her? Tell me or so help me God I'll finish the job Sirius started."

Severus scooted backwards up to the wall. Putting as much distance between him and Remus as possible. In anger Lupin's eyes had turned the yellow of the wolf and Snape had no doubt he was referring to the incident at school with the tunnel to the shrieking shack. With his wand on the other side of the room Severus was scared.

"Nothing. I didn't touch her, I won't touch her. I told her we would have to be more formal what with the students gossiping."

Remus knew Snape was not lying and lowered his wand. His eyes turning back to their usual colour.

"Severus you're a bloody idiot. For once fate throws you a good deal, a lifeline and you throw it back over tittle tattle you could stop with one of your trademark glares. I was starting to think Sirius was wrong about you, now I'm not so sure."

"There are strict guidelines governing the behaviour between teachers and students."

"Bollocks! You're just scared she might actually like you."

"Why the hell should she like me?"

"Right now I have no idea. But I saw her running into Gryffindor sobbing her heart out."

"Well it's best she doesn't get the wrong idea."

Remus turned to leave, seeing he was getting nowhere. "You're a cold man Severus. I hope you get Sirius back soon, maybe he'll cheer Hermione up." With that he left.

Severus was left staring at the door yet again.

"Bollocks!" He yelled. He picked up the bar of chocolate from Remus and flung it at the door.