Chapter 14
They put their coats of and went to the entryway and apparated to her parents front door. Hermione knocked on the door still holding his hand. Charlotte opened the door and hugged them both ushering them in out of the cold. Hermione took their coats and hung them on the pug in the hall there then followed them into the living room to the fireplace and joined Severus on the loveseat across from her parents.
"So how have your holidays been?" Charlotte asked trying to break the ice.
"Companionable with the exception of the wedding that we had to attend." Severus said.
"Actually, I can not remember a Christmas since I first went to Hogwarts that has been as peaceful as this one with the exception of the wedding that we attended." Hermione said as she rubbed the back of his hand.
"How is the weather up there in the countryside?" George asked.
"Snowing. But there is about a foot of new snow on the ground. The manor is beautiful this time of year." Severus said.
"We have spent several hours walking the grounds there. The lake is frozen over and all of the icicles are beautiful. But I can't wait to see it all in the summer months." Hermione said.
"What about you all? How have you been since you were at the castle?" Severus asked.
"The practice is busy as always but it has been quiet around here."
"I am sure." Hermione said.
"Did Professor McGonagall stop asking about your relationship?" Charlotte asked.
"Well, she did. We had a rather interesting conversation the day of the trail and she realized why we were doing what we were doing. I don't think that she put us together but she still watches us both very carefully. We barely got to speak at the service. Someone always had one of us cornered in a conversation." Hermione said.
"It will get better soon. We only have one more party to go to then the new law comes out and everything will be revealed." Severus said.
"What of the bet between the other professors?" George asked.
"Oh well, I won the first two and I let Remus win the next two. But neither of us could actually put my name on the actual person part of it. No one else so far has changed their bets to me because the believed the line that I fed them about me marrying my business partner." Severus said.
"Um, Severus, I did not know that they were betting on me. Minerva, Panoma, and Poppy have a bet on you. They all thought that you married some Slytherin prude your age. They let me in on the bet and I said you married some young leggy blonde that was half your age. They all laughed at me and said that I had to be dreaming. "Then Flitwick said that it made some since that you were hiding me because I was either much younger than you or I was not of your house and you did not think that everyone would approve of the match." Hermione said trying to keep a straight face about the whole thing then Severus started laughing at them.
"Minerva caught me after the trail and asked me if the reason that I had hired the solicitor was to keep you out of my money. She said that it would make since if I did if you were some young woman and had agreed to the whole deal to spend my money. I laughed at her and said that I had hired the solicitor because I wanted to protect us from the press once our marriage was made public. I did not want you to get hurt in it all."
"Severus, I don't mean to pry but how wealthy exactly are you?" George asked.
"Hermione and could live off of the interest that my residuals are producing and never have to work another day in our lives. I could do the same for the both of you and still not make a dent in each months interest. I patented a line of personal hygiene products just after I got my potions master and I have been living off of the residuals ever since. I work because I wanted something to do with my free time and teaching gives me the time to travel and things that I never got to do as a child."
"Well, how about we open the presents that we have left under the tree then we can sit down and eat." Charlotte said.
"Mum, let me." Hermione said waving her hand and two gifts landed in every ones lap.
"I never tire from seeing you do that." Charlotte said.
Hermione had been given a new muggle suit of clothes from her mum and a leather bound book titled Hogwarts a History. Severus and Hermione knew that it was the newest edition. Severus opened his and found a new set of cuff links and a tie clip each bearing a snake from George and a rather nice leather bound journal that he knew must have been to replace the one that he had just finished filling. Charlotte had gotten a set of CDs from Hermione and perfume from Severus that she really did like. George got a set of DVDs from Hermione and a rather nice bottle of muggle whiskey that he liked to drink from Severus. He was thoroughly impressed by the date on the bottle.
Charlotte had prepared a non tradition al feast of roast potatoes and gravy with other vegetables and fresh rolls. Severus sliced the roast for George on request and they all tucked into the meal. They all chatted about different things over the course of the next half hour or so then Hermione and Severus heard the Floo alarm. Hermione got up and said "I'll get it." Severus disillusioned himself and followed her into the living room.
Hermione saw Harry's head coming out of the flames and she said, "Hi Harry."
"Do you mind if we come through, we have your Christmas presents." He said.
"I guess." Hermione said as she felt Severus put his hands on her shoulders. Hermione knew her rings were visible but she did not care. She knew that they would have to get used to the idea some time or another.
Harry, Ron and Ginny came through the flames each carrying packages. When Hermione accepted the package from Harry, he noticed the rings.
"Hermione congratulations. When did you get married?" Harry asked.
"A few days ago. We wanted a very small ceremony so we eloped." She said keeping it casual.
"Where is he? Can we meet him?" Ron asked.
"He's at the manor preparing. My parents are coming back with me later to spend boxing day with us. And as for meeting him, you have met him already." She said.
"Who is he?" Ron said.
"That is a surprise. You shall have to wait and see. We will both be there for the party on the second. Yours and Neville's wedding gifts will be coming with us then. Did you all get yours?" Hermione said.
"Yes and will you at least give us a hint?" Harry asked.
"No. But the answer will be shocking." Hermione said.
"Oh stay away from mum when you see her next or you will be smothered." Ginny said.
"I will. Did you like your wedding presents?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. We liked them all. We are leaving tomorrow for Hawaii and will be back the morning of New Years Eve. Can you believe Snape gave the trip to us?" Harry said.
"That's Professor Snape to you and no I still can't believe it." Hermione said feeling the gentle pressure of Severus rubbing her shoulder blades.
"Read the profit Neville and Luna were married Thursday at the ministry and his Gram put a rather nice ad in the paper for them today." Ginny said.
"I will when I get back to the manor." Hermione said.
"Remus and Tonks said to tell your husband hello for them and they said to make sure that he comes on the second." Ginny said.
"He said he would be there." Hermione said.
"We have to go. Bye Hermione." Harry said. Ginny waved at her and Ron gave her a goofy grin then they all left back through the floo.
Severus waited till the fire returned to the rich yellow orange glow before he removed the charm. "That went better than I expected.' Severus said as he spun around and kissed her soundly.
Charlotte and George were watching the whole exchange and smiled at their children as they had begun calling them even though Severus was almost their age. They snuck back in the dining room to let them have some peace.
Hermione shrunk the packages and put them in her coat pocket so she could open them later. Before she took Severus hand and they returned to the dining room where Charlotte and George were putting everything away. Charlotte and George were smiling as they put the food away.
"So we take it that your friends took the news better than you planned." George said.
"The married part they are fine with it is going to be the Professor part that they might not handle so well." Hermione said.
"I am sure that what ever happens that they will come around." Charlotte said as she hugged Hermione.
"Ginny seems to be okay with the whole thing. I am sure that Harry might come around to it with her help." George said.
"It is Ron and Neville that I am worried about." Severus said.
"Me too." Hermione said. "Mum dad, I am going to take Severus up to my bedroom. I want to pack some of my library up there to take with me for my office."
"Take your time." Charlotte said, knowing that Hermione just wanted to be comforted by Severus with some privacy.
Severus followed her up the stairs into a pale purple bedroom with one wall that was nothing but bookshelves. He shut the door behind him and pulled her close. She didn't cry but Severus knew that she wanted to. He rubbed her back and kissed her forehead.
"It will be okay." Severus said.
"I don't want them to hate me or you for this."
"They will be okay with this eventually they will see how happy you are and be happy for us."
"I hope so." She said almost in tears.
"Do you regret us?" he asked
Hermione looked up to him and knew that he was serious. "No. I how could I. You are the best thing that has come into my life. I have not been happier since you have been with me." She pulled him close to her and didn't let go.
"As long as you are happy with your decision then it does not matter what they think or say about us. They have nothing to do with us. What is between us is deeper than what they have with you and if they can not accept us then they are not truly your friends." He said trying to reassure her of his love and commitment to her.
"Severus I love you. I just wish that they could see what I see in you."
"I am trying to show them. That is why I got them the trips. I had hoped that they could see that there was another side of me other than the one that most of them have seen for six years. I hope that they realize that I did what I had to so I could survive each day. I hoped that with all of the letters and things that they saw you receive everyday that I was trying to right by you." He said before he kissed her. It was gentle and only showed the love that he felt for her there was no rush or lust in it.
Hermione stood there a little longer before she had composed herself enough that she could complete the other task that she had set out to do. Get her non muggle books for her office.
"Do you mind helping me gather all of the non muggle books? I want to put them in my office so there is actually something on my shelves."
He nodded and took a sheet of parchment from the top of her desk and transfigured it into a small box. Together they began pulling her books from the shelves and putting them in the box. The box kept expanding on the inside as they put more and more books into it. They removed about forty five books in total before they were finished.
Severus charmed the box to be feather light then picked it up off the floor and helped her up. He kissed her again then led her out to the living room where her parents were sitting on the sofa drinking Christmas punch and listening to Christmas carols.
"Would you care to join us in some Christmas punch?" George asked.
Severus looked to her telling her it was her choice then she looked at them and nodded.
Charlotte motioned for them to sit and handed them each a glass. Severus sat down in the crook of the love seat and let Hermione nestle up beside him on his shoulder and chest. She kicked her shoes off and tucked her feet up beside her. Severus snaked his free arm around her shoulder and stroked her arm. They all sat there in companionable silence listening to the music and enjoying the punch.
After a short time, Hermione fell asleep and Severus took her home. She never woke up when he apparated her home and laid down beside her on their bed and joined her in a lengthy nap.
AN: i hope you all like this chapter. There will be just a few more till I am finished with it. I would like to tell you about the other new story I have out called A Secret Admirer. I will edit it in a few days but, if I get enough reviews asking for a sequel then I will oblige since I have been thinking about it for the last few days. Please enjoy it.
a new author