AN: Thanks so much for reviewing, putting this on alert, favoriting, and of course reading! It means a lot to me! Here's another requested song!
I don't own Harry Potter or Silent Night, which belongs to Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber.
Severus scowled as Orion awoke with a wail in the next room. Hermione's footsteps sped to the nursery to comfort their son with soothing, muffled tones. Severus stared back down at the parchment, wondering why he was even bothering with this project.
Because Minerva asked him, Severus thought with distaste.
Most years, Headmistress Minerva wrote the annual Christmas speech. This year, however, she had been called away on a family emergency, leaving Severus to write and deliver said speech. He smirked as he imagined the students' reactions to his version of holiday cheer. They'd probably fall catatonic in shock…
Orion's cry once again interrupted his thoughts. Severus threw down his quill, leaving a splotch of ink on the clean paper. He stood up and made his way to the kitchen. Maybe a full stomach would prompt some sort of inspiration.
As he strolled down the hall, Hermione called from the nursery, "Severus?"
He stopped, sighed, and answered back, "Yes?"
"How's the speech going?" she asked.
"Fine," he responded crossly.
There was a pause before Hermione murmured. "I'm sorry. I'm really trying to calm him down! I have no idea why he's so fussy tonight!"
"I'm sure he'll fall back asleep eventually," Severus answered, his voice betraying his irritation.
Orion began to wail again, causing Hermione to sigh in frustration. Severus continued on towards the kitchen, making a mental note to whip up a batch of headache potion. Merlin knew he and Hermione would need it before the evening was over.
Severus opened the icebox and gathered supplies for a rather generous sandwich. Biting into the culinary masterpiece with great satisfaction, his thoughts returned to the upcoming speech. Every year, Minerva would say something about the spirit of Christmas and how its best qualities should extend throughout the year. If Severus was honest with himself, those speeches bored him, although Hermione seemed to hang on every word. Severus tried to write something along that train of thought but his efforts fell miserably flat. Something was missing, but Severus couldn't put his finger on it.
He finished his last bite of sandwich, and was disappointed to find his inspiration still lacking. Maybe some fresh air would help. He quickly scribbled a note for Hermione and left the dungeons.
Outside, Severus felt the chilly air pierce his heavy robes. Snow wafted lazily from above, the few flakes that settled on his person melting upon contact. Suddenly, he became aware of a vast stillness… silence… and profound peace. For the first time that day, his lips curled into a contented smile.
Before long, the combination of chill and damp forced him to seek the warmth of the fireplace waiting for him back inside. He shook his head and trudged up the hill, bracing himself for Orion's noisy tantrum. What he found upon his arrival, however, was blissful silence; both reassuring and a bit unnerving in its contrast to the din he had left behind only minutes before.
Severus peered into Orion's room to find Hermione sitting in a rocking chair, cradling a bundle of blankets in her arms. In the glow of the candlelight her expression was soft… serene… nearly beatific. She looked up, her brown eyes glistening in triumph. "I finally convinced him to sleep," she whispered.
"How?" Severus asked as he crept closer.
"I just rocked him," Hermione answered. "He settled down and was out like a candle within minutes. Where were you?"
"Outside, looking for inspiration," he whispered as he peeked down at his son.
"Did you find any?" Hermione asked.
"Some," he answered. "But I think I found the rest of it right here."
"How?" Hermione asked.
Severus kissed her on the cheek. "Family," he answered. "Hogwarts is a family. That's my speech."
"Brilliant," she answered.
Orion squirmed in her arms, then nestled back into a peaceful slumber. Hermione and Severus watched in awe and no small amount of relief. "I love you," Severus whispered.
"I love you too," Hermione whispered back.
Severus gave her a parting kiss before creeping out of the room to finish his speech.
