November 3rd, 1993
—S—
Severus Snape felt old.
He was stiff, injuries from his youth causing his body to ache because of the dampness of Scotland. Plus, there was the stress of having had a mass murderer so very near the dorm of the boy he swore to watch over and protect, and his own beloved off-spring.
And it was that off-spring that was causing him to feel exceptionally old, for he did not feel within in his soul far enough down life's path to be the father of a teenager.
He could no fathom his little girl was thirteen years old today.
Severus was not the type to be maudlin. He did not sit in his desk chair and stare at the top of her curly head as it was bent over a cauldron and think of her days as a babe. He did loathe how much she was like her mother in that she was far too mature for her age, though he doubted his having told her about what he did helped with that any. And he did miss the days when she was small, brave and wise, but quite cunning. Her five-year-old self brewing a simple first year potion with only minimal assistance from himself, or her first solo flight on a real broom at six when Hermione was too busy with toddler Leo to have realized what he was doing. It had been a down the line, fifty-fifty chance between what two houses she was likely to be sorted in, both he and his wife agreeing that there were no other options, and no way to tell for sure. She could easily have them nearly convinced she hadn't eaten the cookies on the plate despite crumbs on her face, and yet was willing to dive head long into something that would give Draco paused.
And here she was, thirteen, in a red and gold tie, still brave, wise, cunning, but no longer small. There would be boys trying to court her now, in just three years they would need to discuss what she wanted to do after Hogwarts. There were talks of possibly having a revival of the Tri-Wizard tournament next year, and with it a Yule Ball for the first time in fifteen years. She would be a year too young to go on her own, but she'd likely be asked even if it were merely by a student from another school as a way of showing some disgusting form of unity.
"Professor Snape," He daughter's voice brought him out of his revere, and he realized he had gotten a bit maudlin, after all. She was handing him a bottle of her completed potion, the first in her class, as always.
"Thank you, Miss Snape." He said as he collected her bottle and set in the wire basket with the others. She'd been brewing sleeping draught since she was nine, he already knew it would be perfect.
Standing abruptly, he swept the room, inspecting the contents of her classmate's cauldrons.
It was the ill looking shade of green in one young Slytherin male's that had him pause. Green meant that the lavender hadn't been put in at the right time, and it was nearing too late to mend. Severus looked from the cauldron, to the boy, then followed the boys half-glazed gaze right to ….
He snatched the boy's book from the table top and boxed him on the ears with it.
"Ow," The boy whinged, rubbing his ear as the class gave a quiet, unsure giggle.
"Pay attention, Mr Devon, or you will find that instead of a Sleeping Draught, you merely have creating a disgusting, foul smelling potion that would likely put in you a coma from poisoning. Either way, you will be taking a sample of it tonight before bed. Hope you will merely find yourself well rested in the morning rather than haunting the common room.
He swept away, noticing another Slytherin and the Creevy boy both suddenly springing into action. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Idiots, the lot of them. If they really thought he'd actually allow them to drink poison than at least he knew his momentary, wistful remembrance was not about to ruin his reputation. It would make them ill, of course, and wish they'd followed instructions, but nothing fatal.
He sighed to himself, realizing that one of his greatest fears as a father of a pretty girl was already starting. At the same moment, he felt his right knee buckle.
Old. He felt way, way too old.
November 6th, 1993
—A—
"Rory," Draco greeted as he came up beside her in the Quidditch stands. He glanced around her, taking in those who were watching the match with her. "Luna, Weasley, Granger, Weasel." He said with a grin, and while the girls were amused, Ron glared. "Where's Longbottom? Don't you typically find him hanging around you lot? Or does Weasel prefer the girl chat?"
"Bugger off, Malfoy," Ron retorted. "Slither away, now."
"Don't be rude." Ginny chided before leaning behind Rory. Draco smirked. "Neville is off with Seamus and Dean in the main Gryffindor stands. We wanted to watch with Luna, so…."
"Third wheeling, is he?" Draco commented, making a face as if he was impressed by the idea before adjusting his cloak to better shield him from the storm.
"Whaddya mean, third wheel?" Ron asked before getting distracted by the game.
"And exactly what are you doing over here, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, having so little interest in the game aside from Harry playing that she honestly seemed to find the prospect of talking to Draco appealing.
"I gave Crabbe and Goyle the slip. Thought a change of scenery would do me good, not to mention the level of intelligent conversation. Well, when I don't factor in Weasel."
Ron flipped him off, but was caught up with quaffles and points to really give it proper feeling.
There was silence in the stands for a moment, and as the Weasley siblings shifted closer to the rail to watch the action, Hermione shifted away from her spot between them and weaved behind Rory to stand next to Draco.
He was watching the seekers, following their paths as they zigged and zagged in the air above.
"I want to know something," Hermione asked him.
"Not surprising." Draco retorted, keeping his eyes on the sky.
"What are you doing? I get being nice to Rory, you grew up with her. I even understand being kind to Luna and Ginny as they are her friends. But why are you being nice to me? And Harry. You haven't said a rotten thing about either of us all week."
At this, Draco looked at her, sizing her up. He glanced briefly at Rory, but the movement was so swift that Hermione would likely have missed it.
"I was informed my opinions and beliefs may need a re-evaluation. You and Potter were the people I was told to hate, as was Weasel. So far, the latter has been about what I expected, but aside from that I believe there may be something off to what I've been told."
"About purebloods being superior?"
"Among other things." Draco conceded. "I can't say I won't mock Potter or you if the situation seems to call for it. People are watching, I need to maintain a certain image. But the words I will use will be chosen more wisely. I've thrown around terms and insults in the past that are too vulgar to be repeated. I disgust myself with the way I was using them." He sniffed, turning his attention fully back to the game. "Where the blazes did Potter and Diggory go?"
"Oh, bloody hell!" Ron gasped out, and Aurora put her attention back on the game in time to watch Harry fall lifeless from the clouds with no broom beneath him.
She noted a half dozen teachers, her Dad and Aunt Min among them, throwing their hands out in time with Dumbledore. They had all shouted something, and as they did, Harry stopped with a mighty jerk before slowly being lowered to the ground.
"What happened?" Ginny asked.
"Dementors." Hermione said, looking up and pointing to the sky.
The shadows of them high above could just be made out through the rain storm. A chill ran down Aurora's spin, and she not Luna putting an arm around Ginny as she shuddered.
"Tell Potter I'm sorry." Draco said.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Because I believe I'm going to need to make fun of him for this." He said with great regret, and Aurora got the distinct feeling that the change in the wind wasn't merely caused by the Dementors moving further away from the school.
December 6th, 1993
"Hello, Rory." Aunt Minnie greeted her warmly as she closed the door. A beat later, she was wrapped in the older woman's arms. "I see you all the time, and yet I never get to spend much time with you. I think I saw more of your mother in a personal capacity when she was a student."
"Something tells me that life at Hogwarts wasn't quite as eventful in the seventies." Rory replied with a cheeky grin, earning a chuckle from her great aunt.
"Perhaps in a different sort of way. Now, what has brought you to darken my doorstep as opposed to your father's?" Her smile faltered, and worry came over. Despite being alone in her office, Aunt Min lowered her voice. "He told me you know. Is there something you want to discuss? I doubt many have, but he and I have noticed Draco Malfoy hanging around you and Miss Weasley, and Miss Lovegood as of late. Including when you're near Mr Potter and, well."
Aurora shifted about, unsure how to ask. "Well, there is something I want to discuss. And it does have to do with Draco and the lot of us, but it's not in relation to … that. Not really. Maybe a bit in the greater repercussion stand point, but hardly anything …."
"Rory." Aunt Min cut her off, a softness to her stern scowl that gave away the tender affection she'd always had when her niece rambled.
"Right. So, Draco came to you today to say he was staying for the Christmas Hols. Dad may or may not have hinted that he is essentially the only Slytherin not going home, except for a few seventh years who he says never causes trouble. So, I was wondering, in the spirit of Christmas, and House Unity, and maybe trashing the notion of Slytherin baddies, perhaps Draco could find himself in Gryffindor tower for the break?"
She hadn't realized until the end of her speech that she'd barely breathed through it.
Aunt Min looked thoughtful, a bit put out, and yet extremely intrigued. She gestured for Aurora to sit, and then took her own seat on the other side of the desk. She folded her hands on the top, looking more interested in the stack of papers than her niece, though Aurora knew better. She also knew that this was not the time to talk, so she patiently waited for her aunt to come to a conclusion.
"Rory, the argument you put forth is a noble one. Admittedly, no Gryffindor during my tenor ever asked me if a student from another house could stay within the tower. It is a wonderful suggestion, and because I know you as I do, I also know it comes from an honest want for inclusion. But, I cannot simply house a student from another house. However," Here she gave a cat like grin. "If Mr Malfoy were to find himself in the tower after curfew, and his Head of House is not demanding he need be in his proper dormitory, the house elves may find need to place an additional bed in the tower for him to stay in with the other third year boys. After all, in the spirit of the holiday, we can't allow Mr Filch to catch him, can we?"
December 18th, 1993
As Aurora came around the corner near the hunched witch, she was brought up short by a sight that would surely have Argus cursing: the Weasley twins snickering. She moved slowly, quietly, glancing about to ensure no other students were coming, and then attempted to sneak up behind them. She was her father's daughter, after all, and if he was a spy ….
"What are you two doing?" She asked, though neither twin seemed particularly worried that she'd caught them.
"Giving a good friend some valuable information," Fred replied.
"To which he will sure to repay us for." George added.
"He had better." They nodded to one another, sobering as much as the mischief makers could.
"And you're missing out on Hogsmeade to do this?" She arched a brow.
"Bit scary when you do that." Fred pointed at it.
"Look like your father." George nodded.
"Only not as beak like."
"Or greasy."
"No offense." They said together.
Aurora shook her head and crossed her arms.
"And what you doing up here?" Fred asked.
"I was looking for Luna," Aurora admitted. "Gin has to catch up on some homework for potions, and I was bored. I asked a few Ravenclaws if she was in the tower, but she wasn't. Sometimes I find her just wandering about."
"Bored, are you?" George asked.
"Anyone else up there bored to tears?" Fred followed.
"Why?" Aurora asked slowly. "What did you have in mind?"
—A—
The wind was cold, biting, but exhilarating. The quaffle tucked under her left arm, right hand gripping her broom, she zipped off toward the opposite goal posts where Colin Creevy was practically shaking on his broom. She doubted he wanted to be anything like Harry at the moment, her coming toward him with the twins zipping up behind her.
They couldn't play with all the balls. Her father, when asked if this little game of quidditch could be allowed, would not permit the use of a snitch or the bludgers. He didn't want the game to last forever, doubting anyone among them could catch the little gold ball (and he did include her in that. He was a realist), and he also didn't want to have to answer to Poppy as to why there were broken bones to attend with when no quidditch match was scheduled.
He watched from the stands, along with Professor Lupin, though she was sure both were more concerned with the papers they'd brought with them to mark, the end of term being the following day.
It was quite amusing how the twins had managed to round up a good number of second years who happened to have brooms, and then went around and asked the other houses if there were any youngings wanting to play a game, and yet were too scared to ask one of the only available teachers to be allowed to use the pitch and balls. Seven Gryffindors, two Hufflepuffs, three Ravenclaws, and two Slytherins, and the only one who dared to ask was the Potion's Master's daughter, and she didn't chalk that up to bravery.
Still, despite his (put on) snarl, grumbling about wasting time and the lot, he permitted the use of the quaffles. Professor Lupin, who'd wandered down toward her Dad's office just as they were having the conversation, suggest transfiguring a couple of items into soft rubber balls that could be charmed to act like bludgers. Her Dad sneered at that but did it anyway.
They rounded up a Hufflepuff fourth year they didn't go to the village to act like a snitch. He had to be tagged three times in order for it to count as a win.
So far, he'd only been tagged once. By the girls. It was the twins who insisted on a battle of the sexes.
"Bludger's coming your way." She heard Fred warn in a teasing manner.
"You aren't going to get me with it." She'd called back, keeping her eyes on Colin as he weaved about, unsure where to go.
She shifted her arm, gave the quaffle a mighty toss, and watched as sailed past Colin and one of the Slytherin boys who wanted to try and catch it. A moment later, the soft, springy ball bounced against the back of her head. Turning, she'd seen Fred give her a cheeky grin and a wink before turning back around and following his brother.
She shifted, unease and something else making her want to crawl out of her skin in the best way possible. She hated it.
"Rory!" Ginny, who'd rushed to finish her homework at the talk of a game, called to her from above her head. "What're you doing!? You can't let the boys catch up! We're only up seventy points. No, make that sixty."
"Right, sorry." She called back, darting off to try and get the quaffle back from the pour little Ravenclaw who had no idea his twin sister was about to hit a pink, soft rubber ball toward him.
December 25th, 1975
—S—
They walked through the thin forest on the edge of the property of Nan McGonagall's home, pinky fingers linked. The house was too full for either his or Hermione's liking, and the talk centered too much around babies. Two of the oldest McGonagall grandchildren announced their expecting arrivals, and Delia's was still a fawned over and celebrated thing. The fact that either she or Bob had gladly told the entire family that his suggestion to change the potion may have been the reason for their success was obvious, and Severus was quite done with being patted on the back for pointing out the obvious.
So, when it was clear that no one was going to miss them, all involved with one thing or another baby, he and Hermione left the house.
It was lightly snowing, the ground covered and the trees lightly dusted. The sun was cutting through the clouds for once, and alone as they were, Severus was almost willing to call the whole scene romantic.
"We haven't really had a chance to talk since the train," She'd said when the house was growing small in the distance.
No, they hadn't had a chance to talk, even then. But he wouldn't trade having her fall asleep against him, in his arms, for anything. No one had ever trusted him like that, and he wasn't sure anyone else would.
"Was there something you wished to discuss?" he asked, not allowing his nerves to show.
There were so many things she may want to discuss. As in, perhaps, she no longer wished to have the physical intimacy they reached during that night to be repeated. It may have been nothing more than kisses, but perhaps she was caught up in the night, in the wonder of it all, and fell prey to hormones as many a teenager had been known to do. Maybe she feared the idiots, and what they would do in retaliation for all that took place.
"Well," She said, stepping away from him and turning to her back was resting against a thick, slightly curved tree. "If I'm to be honest, I'd like to know your thoughts."
"On?"
"Us."
"Us?" He didn't want to assume he knew what she meant by that.
Hermione wrung her fingers and chewed her lip, and he had to stop himself from taking her hands and kissing her senseless to stop the nervous habit. "You see, I mean. I know you said you were hoping for further dates, and, well, there were kisses. Lots of kisses. But I suppose, I wanted to know where we stood." She paused, likely wondering if he was paying attention.
As it was, Severus had been distracted, forcing himself to look away lest he spring himself on her when it wasn't wanted. He heard everything she'd said, but what was growing on the tree just feet above her head caught his eye, and the topic had him wonder if tradition would be acceptable.
"I mean," She continued. "Are we merely friends who are experimenting in the usual way that teenagers do? Or are we more?"
"More," Severus replied.
"Yes, as in, are we -"
"No, the answer was more. So long as you are agreeable, Hermione Granger, I wish to court you." He pulled his eyes away from the plant and locked them on her wide, surprised brown eyes. "I will not adhere to the tradition that dictates doing so would end in marriage. It's archaic, really. I would never want to hold you to a promise you made when we didn't know how this would go. But, in all other aspects …."
"Every school event, every Hogsmeade weekend, is automatically you and me. And if one or the other is invited somewhere requiring a guest," She replied.
"Yes."
"Then I am very much agreeable." She beamed. "Though I'd have been happy just knowing we were more than friends."
Severus smirked and stepped closer to her, putting one hand on the tree beside her head. "There is another thing about a courtship, or whatever term you wish to use, that is an absolute guarantee."
"And what would that be?" Hermione asked.
"I am the only one who gets to kiss you under that." He said, tilting his chin and bringing her attention to the mistletoe she unwittingly went under.
She looked up, blushed, and gave a sort of elated giggle. Reaching for his cloak, she took the lapels in her fists and pulled him closer. He tried to keep distance between them, but eventually it became very hard to maintain any form a space with his arm propped on the trunk. He relaxed his arm, allowing his body to fall closer, and found Hermione's arms going around his neck, bringing him closer still. Slowly, tentatively, Severus allowed his hands to slide down the trunk and land on Hermione's hips. She responded by putting her fingers in his hair.
Logically he knew they had only been somewhat together for two days, that there was no way anything was going to happen or should happen. But logic was being pushed aside by teenage hormones and was very quickly silencing all other thoughts and reasons.
Hermione took a small breath, her mouth remained open just a bit, and he couldn't resist.
She pulled him a bit closer when his tongue lightly touched on hers, a noise coming from the back of her throat.
They sprung apart in an instant at the sound of twig snapping, Hermione not having anywhere else to go but around the tree. Severus had his wand in hand, no magic outside of Hogwarts be damned, and had it trained on the area where the noise came from.
A bunny hopped out and froze, nose twitching and its head darting about, looking for the danger.
Severus relaxed, and a beat later, Hermione was giggling nervously as he sheathed his wand.
"I suppose it could have been worse," Severus said as he moved a step toward her and reached for her hand. "It may have been Bob, or one of the other McGonagalls. Then we'd never hear the end of it, as I'm fairly certain they are just waiting to catch some hint as to where the ball has taken us."
"I suspect Minerva already has a guess, but it being quite nice as to not reveal too much," Hermione agreed as she took his hand.
"So, we will not show anything," He said, ensuring his face gave away none of the amusement the idea of sneaking around like a proper teenager was giving him. "Merely remain mysteriously unreadable for the next few hours until we can get back to the school."
"Agreed." Hermione said with a nod, and they continued making their way around the property. "And when we're back at school, we'll be on our best behavior. Honestly, snogging in alcoves is ridiculous. Not to mention hardly the place for privacy as everyone knows about them."
"I agree." Severus nodded, his lips twitching with the urge to smirk. That sofa in the lab was ridiculously comfortable, and if Moody left them in the room of requirement to meditate, well, he certainly found a form of inner peace.
January 9th, 1976
—H—
There was a sense of deja vu as Hermione stood outside the Great Hall after finishing her breakfast, impatiently waiting for Severus to come out. She wanted to meet up with him before breakfast but found Lily had somehow beat her to it. He didn't look thrilled by their ginger friend following him up from the dungeons, the glower he wore until he'd seen her reminiscent of his older self. And it only softened a tiny bit when she smiled at him.
That was actually the main reason she was waiting, worried that she'd somehow made him angry or upset.
She couldn't imagine how, but she didn't want to chance it. And when she noticed he'd gotten owl mail, that just made her more nervous.
He emerged with a group of the younger Slytherins, Sirius' younger brother and his mates, and they waved Severus off as they headed toward the stairs, leaving just he and she alone in the corridor. He turned in her direction, as he would need to for Runes, and gave her a near smile as he came toward her.
She put her arms around his neck as he got closer, pulling him in for a hug that he returned instantly. "Happy birthday," She said, placing a kiss just under his jaw as she gave a slight tug on the hairs of at the nape of his neck. He tightened his hold fractionally.
"Thank you. Thus far, it has been truly happy indeed." He said, pulling back to gaze at her. His smile faded to something thoughtful the moment their eyes met, and then there was a slight bit of distaste. "Well, except for, when informed there was a Gryffindor waiting for me in the dungeon corridor, I didn't find you on the other side."
"I'm sorry." She said instantly. "I wanted to meet you, and I did notice Lily was gone when I woke. But I had thought she'd just gone to the prefect's bathroom."
"Yes, well, after recent events, she was at least safe being down there. Aside from that, there was absolutely nothing about the experience that gave me even a modicum of joy."
The reminder of too recent events and everything that surrounded them loosened her smile, bringing to mind the war that was silently being waged outside the walls of Hogwarts, and was only going to get worse.
Donovan Mucilber was expelled, though did not lose his wand. At some point during the Yule Ball, he and a few of the other Syltherins had left the dungeons in search of a laugh. Mary McDonald had apparently wound up the source of their humor. A compulsion charm was placed on her in the worst way, and while no one would say what she was made to do, she looked a mess when it was all over with. Since Mucilber was the one caught out in the compromising position, he was the one given the strongest punishment. His friend Avery, as well as a few other sixth year Slytherins, were suspended and only permitted to return to the school under heavy restrictions.
Severus had informed she and Lily the evening of their first day back while he worked on improving the recipe for blood replenishing potion, having heard the details in the common room. Dumbledore had given a very brief summary and had followed it with a stern warning about malicious magic in the school and the consequences of such. She hadn't missed the disappointed gaze he'd shot the marauders.
Well, the marauders minus one.
There was an influx of noise from the Great Hall that had she and Severus parting, and as Severus stepped out of her line of sight, she caught Lily and Remus coming toward them.
"Lily has informed me it is your birthday. Many happy returns." Remus said with a smile.
"Spare me." Severus sneered. "I'm older, not much more than that."
"Sixteen, Sev!" Lily exclaimed.
"Yes," He said. "Though technically will not truly be such until six this evening."
Lily sighed, huffed, and shook her head with a grin as she stomped off past the lot of them toward her class.
"Not one for birthdays, Severus?" Remus asked.
Severus slipped his hand into Hermione's, one of the only displays of public affection they allowed anyone to really witness blatantly. "No more than I am for any other day, to be honest. It's merely easy to get Lily in a huff; she feels everyone should want attention and such on the day marking their birth."
"Yes," Remus smiled, "I do recall that."
They didn't say anything else on their way to class, nor did they discuss anything aside from the work during. Severus walked Hermione (and Remus by proximity) the side door leading out to the green houses for Herbology, and that was the last she saw of her boyfriend until lunch.
He'd been the one waiting outside the Great Hall this time, and while Lily and Remus had followed Hermione toward him, he didn't seem terribly perturbed by it. He looked Remus up and down, sizing him up.
"If where I'm about to take you ever gets invaded by your little friends, know that I will find a way to do absolute terrible things to you after I've relocated everything, are we clear?"
Remus frowned. "Yes?"
Severus nodded, shifted his bag, and took Hermione's hand. He guided her and led the other two up to his abandoned classroom, avoiding Madam Pomfrey's hospital wing entrance.
Remus had paused in the doorway, momentarily stunned as he looked around the room. Lily went over to the sofa and immediately plopped down, patting the spot next to her with a smile at Severus.
"Don't gape," Severus said over his shoulder to Remus before pulling out his wand and transfiguring a chair into a second sofa. He then plopped down in it, looking expectantly at Hermione. Before she moved, Lily had leaped across the space and sat next to him.
"Oh, this is much more comfy than the other one." She said as she wiggled into the corner a bit more. "Did you bring lunch?" She asked Severus as she folded her hands on her lap.
Instead of arguing, Hermione moved to the other sofa, dragging it closer so she could keep some form of proximity to Severus.
He surprised her, and really, she didn't know why it had, by getting up and moving to sit beside her the moment she sat down.
"Yes, I did." He said as he began to pull sandwiches wrapped in paper from his satchel.
"So why the impromptu lunch away?" Hermione asked him, her knee bumping his as they adjusted their seating position.
Severus looked to Remus for a long moment. "I received a letter from my mother this morning." He started, turning back to Hermione. "She sends her warmest regards, by the way, and says you looked lovely at the ball."
Hermione blinked. "You sent her a photograph?" She asked in disbelief.
"No, I sent it to my grandmother." He replied before taking a bite of his sandwich, likely knowing his pause in explanation would drive her spare. "The letter from my mother was twofold, one clearly having been sent by partial muggle means, the other having traveled far faster by owl only. The first, slower to come one simply said, 'don't go home.' If it was meant to be for Christmas Hols, it was moot, for I've never gone home for the holidays. However, the second has led me to believe it was a general warning. My grandfather, Severus Prince, had passed away."
"I'm sorry for your loss." Remus said, Lily nodding.
Severus waved it off. "I didn't know him, he having disowned my mother and never acknowledging my birth. But his passing was a blessing for my mother, as it allowed my Grandmother to welcome her back home." He turned to Hermione, meeting her eye. There was such pride in his black eyes, as well as joy, and relief. "She left Tobias. My mother waited until he was blackout drunk, packed everything of value to her and myself, and left him and Spinner's End all together. She never has to go back."
Hermione's sharp intake of breath was all the warning he had before she launched herself at him, holding him tight and laughing with him as he gripped her tight.
"I'm so happy for her, for you." She said into his shoulder.
"I don't understand." Remus said.
"Does this mean you aren't going to be around during the summer?" Lily's voice was the one that ended the mirth.
Slipping apart, Hermione and Severus both looked to the slightly petulant ginger who stared at Severus and ignored a very puzzled Remus.
"Yes," Severus replied. "Though I doubt I would have been around at all unless Tobias had ended up in prison once more."
"Who is Tobias?" Remus asked Hermione.
"His father." She replied.
"Oh," Remus said, nodding. In a near chilled tone, he added, "I can understand that sort of joy, then."
Severus shot Remus an intrigued glare before returning his focus to Lily.
"So, you're just going to leave me, then? Alone with Tuney."
"Don't start." Severus said sharply.
Lily turned away, facing the wall and pressing her cheek into her own hand.
Remus cleared his throat. "We should consider heading toward Defense." He said, getting to his feet. "I hear Professor Moody is much less tolerable in the afternoons."
Nothing more was said as they all got up and left the room, and Hermione wondered why Lily had acted so selfish.
—S—
He decided to wait for her on the sofa, facing the door, going over the letter in his hand once more.
Dear Mr S. Snape,
After reviewing both your academic commentary in regards to the Fertility Potion, as well as your essay on improvements in both technique and quality of the basic pain relief, we wish to inform you that your work has been accepted into our periodical: Potion 's quarterly. Your commentary will be featured in the spring edition, your essay for the summer.
We thank you again for your interest and look forward to seeing more entries from you in the future.
Sincerely,
-L. Hicklepunk, Editor
P.S. - Severus, Robert and I have filled out the forms and have placed a patent in your name on the new recipe.
He hadn't lied to Hermione about the letter from his mother, nor the contents. But they were two of four, the third being the one in his hand, the fourth being one from Bob and Delia, wishing him a happy birthday. He imagined the patent registration fee was likely meant to be a gift, and he'd already written and owled his sincere gratitude.
But this letter was everything, this letter was his golden ticket to being able to gain his apprenticeship with a master. He may even be asked by one or two, if he were lucky enough. He'd duplicated it a half dozen times and hid them away in his trunk, but the was the original.
He was just about to reread the short missive once more when the door opened briefly and closed promptly.
There she was, his Hermione. His. The letter in his hand, the smile on this girl's face, he'd never had luck like this in his life, and he was partially terrified of the moment when the other shoe dropped.
"I feel awful not giving you your present earlier in the day." She said in way of greeting, coming around and joining him on the sofa with a small, slim box.
He eyed it suspiciously. "I expect nothing, and you bloody well know it."
She smirked, "Well, I would have gotten you something anyway, and you bloody well know that." She said as she handed him the box. He dropped his letter in his lap to take the box in hand.
"Not another sweater?" He raised his brow and allowed a crooked smile just to see the way she blushed for it.
"You like that sweater." She grumbled.
He did. She'd given him an expensive feeling black, soft sweater. Warm, and one of the nicest things he'd ever owned, he wore it whenever it was appropriate. Most of the Christmas Hols was spent with that sweater on his person or near him. It was certainly better than the quill and ink set he'd gifted her, and he had immediately vowed to gift better at the nearest opportunity.
He'd forgotten she'd have the chance to give him something else so soon.
He pulled on the deep green ribbon that held the lid on to the black box, and his heart stuttered when he'd read Rowl and Sidney's Fine Instruments embossed in silver on the top. He took a moment to take in the magnificent sight and braced himself for what might be a terrible joke. Removing the cover, his breath was taken away.
A pure copper stirring rod. It was not one of the most expensive pieces of equipment she could have bought, but it was top of the line, and worth more galleons than she ever should have parted with. He ran his fingers over it, back and forth along the length, when he felt a flaw near the top of the handle end. Rolling the rod with his fingertips revealed S. Snape engraved on the surface, slightly blackened.
"Do you like it?" Hermione asked tentatively. "I know I got you ingredients last year, and it nearly seems like I can't think of anything else you may want, but …."
"I am … speechless." He said, putting the cover back on the box and setting it on the nearby table. He shifted toward Hermione and took her hands in his. "It matters little to me what the gift is, I feel privileged to have even entered your thoughts enough for you to go through any effort. But that is … much more than I deserve."
"I'll be the judge of that." She said with a touch of superiority. She smirked, but it faded as she spotted the letter on his lap. "Is that from your mother?" She asked.
"No, it was what I was going to share with you, and perhaps Lily, this afternoon had Lupin not followed us." He said, handing it to Hermione for her to read.
He found it annoyingly adorable that her lips moved silently as she read the letter, and he was charmed by the way her eyes lit up even though she couldn't pull her eyes away from the letter until each word was read.
"Severus!" She gasped joyfully. "I'm … this is amazing. I'm so proud!" She said grabbing his shoulders and half pulling him and half propelling herself until her warm, soft lips were pressed against his for a brief moment. "Admittedly, I'm also a little jealous, but mostly proud." She'd said, and he chuckled as he put his hands on her waist.
"You will do great things as well, I'm sure. Perhaps not as quickly, or with as much brilliance."
He chuckled again, deep in his throat, as she used his tactic of kissing to end any talking on him.
And soon the simple kiss became an outright snog.
Oh, he loved snogging, though he'd never admit it to anyone but the girl in his arms. Since Christmas they'd done so nearly every day, though this first week back to the routine of school had certainly caused the sessions to be much, much shorter.
He felt Hermione pull on his shoulders, and he followed her, only realizing half way down that they were far from upright. But since she was doing the leading, and he was willing to follow here where ever she wished to go, he was merely careful to keep as much of his weight off her as possible. She shifted her hands so that one was around his neck, and the other rested on his back, holding him exactly where he wanted to be. As it always did when he was with her, time slowed and sped at once. It was though they'd been snogging for hours, and yet when his hips accidentally shifted and caused her to moan softly, they'd barely been at it five minutes.
Something primal in him awakened, and he forced it to shut up and get behind his occlumency shields. He was not an animal, and he did not want to be quick to jump at the first opportunity like he'd witnessed too many young men do.
Growing up in Cokeworth gave Severus a sex education from an age in which most should still consider babies to have spontaneously formed inside a womb. He remembered seeing a couple about the age he was now rutting in the alley on his way home from school. It was a morbid fascination that had him half watching, not quite understanding what was happening. His mother had explained it, and so he had known how that girl had gotten what most children perceived as fat, and then suddenly was a mother herself. Most of the boys he'd gone to school with had lost their virginity before their third year of secondary, and many were already fathers.
Hogwarts was much the same in some ways, though magic helped with the possible consequences. He knew he was considered behind the other boys in his year in that respect, but he had no desire to conform.
Well, he did. But it wasn't as though he was going to rush things with the one girl he felt actually understood him. The one person he was terrified of losing.
His hips flexed just as hers seemed to, and her whimper stopped him, allowing him to take a moment and clear his head. To get blood flowing back to his brain where it belonged.
"I'm … I'm not …." Hermione panted.
"Nor am I," He clarified.
"Good. I mean, the chemical cocktail of hormones and endorphins are certainly trying to make a persuasive argument to go ahead, and I certainly care for you a great deal in the emotional respect. Certainly, enough that, were we to do … that, I wouldn't regret it and it would be a valued and cherished moment, but …."
"Hermione," Severus half huffed, half panted. "I'm in agreement. No need to explain."
"Well," She blushed. "I wasn't exactly objecting to what was happening. It was quite pleasant, actually, and I admit I would like to continue doing that. But, when it comes to … engaging in …."
He smiled as she stammered. "I'll keep my hands out of your skirt if you keep them out of my trousers until such a time where we are both ready to explore that aspect of our relationship." He said confidently. Just hope you last long enough to get to that stage, that pessimistic voice in his head grumbled, but he took that and shoved it farther behind his shields than the caveman urge.
"Good." Hermione sighed. "Now, shall we resume the snogging, or are you planning on … no, that would sound completely wrong given our conversation."
"What were you going to say?" He asked, too curious and with too little blood in his brain to stop him from keeping it in.
Her blush deepened. "Planning on playing … with your rod."
Severus took a moment to process what she'd said before throwing his head back and roaring with laughter. She giggled beneath him before laughing outright herself, and when they settled, he stroked her cheek before kissing her again. And then the snogging resumed.
He wanted to experiment with the rod, he knew the perfect potion in which to test it on, too. But he had so little time with Hermione like this and would likely not find time with her again in this capacity for a while, that he said "sod it" to himself and allowed what was really the best thing he could have gotten for his birthday to carry on.
Her leg snaked around his, keeping their bodies pressed together in a pleasant way. She made soft mewling noises in her throat that were going to drive him spare and stay in his dreams that night. His fingers were grazing her ribs, happily coaxing more pleasant sounds from her, when a tickle in the back of his mind told him he ought to move away. Physically still engaged, he tried to reason with so little cognitive processing why he should pull away from his Hermione.
The door opening made it click as to why.
"Sev! I brought - Oh! Oh, my, well." Lily stammered.
He didn't exactly scramble to get off of Hermione and seeing as how they weren't precisely doing something too unseemly, he felt no need to be embarrassed. Not to mention it amused him that Hermione seemed more annoyed than flustered by the interruption.
Lily cleared her throat. "I didn't mean to intrude." She ground out. "I thought I would bring Sev his gift. Also thought he'd be brewing."
Severus glanced at the clock on the wall. An hour. They'd been entwined for roughly an hour, which was longer than any session they had during the Hols.
He cleared his throat, "I will be, in a moment."
"Distracted?" Lily asked in a sickly-sweet voice that dripped with disdain. He caught the glare she flashed Hermione, though he wasn't sure if he was meant to. But why did it happen in the first place?
"Momentarily." He said. "I meant to merely thank Hermione for my gift. My gratitude got out of hand."
"Oh, that wasn't your gift?" She said, gesturing to the sofa.
"We're sorry you had to see that," Hermione said, straightening out her top and skirt before standing. It hadn't occurred to him that she was so disheveled, and he wished he'd had a chance to actually appreciate the state. "It is as Severus said, we merely got out of hand."
Lily scoffed, and Severus glared.
"Do not think for one moment that you can claim any sort of moral high ground. Your escapades last year with a Ravenclaw seventh year are not secret." Severus said, noting Hermione's eyes going wide. "Just because it didn't get back to Gryffindor tower doesn't mean that no one knows. I believe it was a Slytherin prefect who caught you and he in the west corridor?"
Lily gapped like a fish. "He told you?" She managed to get out.
Severus shrugged. "The story was told with a few choice words that don't bare repeating."
Lily had the decency to blush and look at her feet. "Well, enough comparing experiences. I did, after all, come bearing a gift. And cake, though I don't think it's big enough to split three ways." She said, gesturing with the small bag dangling from her fingers and the cake resting in her palm.
"It's fine," Hermione said as she returned to the sofa. "I don't have much of a sweet tooth, anyway, more for you two."
Lily seemed pleased by this, though Severus didn't understand why. He took a seat on the sofa, and then had to budge up to make room for Lily as she leapt to sit next to him.
They spent the rest of their time, until Lily had to leave for rounds, making stilted conversation. Lily's gift of a journal was thoughtful and useful and placed next to the stirring rod which earned a bitter compliment from the ginger. Being polite, Severus stood with her when she rose to attend her duties and was caught off guard by a full-on embrace in which Lily had not bestowed upon him ever. It was awkward, her having not released him even after a brief pat on her back.
She pulled back and blatantly kissed his cheek. "Happy birthday, Sev!" She said, then turned and skipped to the door without so much as a 'see you later' for Hermione.
"What in the bloody hell was that?" He asked when the door was closed, furiously rubbing his cheek to remove the uncomfortable sensation of her mouth on him.
"I believe she thinks I'm a slag and that all it took to get your attention was physical affection." Hermione said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "What did she get caught doing with a Ravenclaw seventh year?"
"The sum of it was that Lily wasn't precisely standing, nor fully clothed. And considering said same seventh year Ravenclaw was found bound with antlers a few days later, I highly doubt it was kept as quiet as she seems to think."
"I hadn't heard of it." Hermione countered, crossing her arms and titling her chin.
"It was around exams, I'm surprised you had attention to spare for anything but notes. You likely sat in the room while it was openly discussed and had been none the wiser." He said as he threw himself on the sofa. He watched her face change from thoughtful to concern, her teeth digging in to her kiss swollen lips. "What is it?" He asked softly.
"Is that why you lost interest in her? She was a touch promiscuous and was willing to meet with boys outside her house, just not with you?"
Severus quickly weighed the possible cons to revealing a small bit of truth to Hermione and knew that perhaps it was worth the chance of looking a fool.
"By the time I was made aware of Lily's explorations, I had well lost my interest in her. By then, I was already trying to figure out how to … mask what I felt for you."
"Why?" Hermione asked. "Why mask it? I certainly wasn't."
Severus gave a tiny grin. "The best mask of all, for I had a hard time believing it would ever be possible."
She smiled contentedly, then snuggled up against him before summoning her arithmancy text to read the next chapter.
Severus took a moment to marvel at her. A small part of him still worried that whatever Lily was up to might end up breaking him off from the best thing that had ever happened to him. But that worry paled in comparison to the way Hermione reacted. Her lack of cattiness, her failing to fall for the bait, made her even more attractive than he already found her. She could have easily lashed out in jealousy, Merlin knows he had and likely would if the tables were somehow turned, but she didn't.
Was it possible to fall deeper in love with someone? He was willing to find out. Though maybe not tonight, he had a new potion to analyze if he wanted to test out his new birthday gift. And if Hermione thought Severus would leave this slight bubble of contentedness, she'd be wrong.
December 25th, 1993
-A-
"Rory!" Aurora heard Draco's voice from the boy's dormitory, and she glanced to Hermione and Ginny. "Get up here."
She rose from her chair, hearing the girls follow her as she made her way up to the dormitory.
Draco had made a bit of a nuisance of himself in the best way possible. It had driven Ron mad, his being so present since the students left for the holidays.
It started with surprising the trio by tagging along with them, Aurora, Ginny, and Luna down to Hagrid's hut. When the gentle half giant had allowed them in, and told them why he was so upset, he surprised everyone by apologizing for his part in the mess. He had since dedicated himself to assisting in putting together Buckbeak's defense, including a written statement taking the blame for the hippogriff's actions.
"I doubt father would allow it," he had confessed when Hermione read it over for him, but he merely shrugged and continued aiding her with the legal books.
And since then he had spent every night in the Gryffindor tower, conveniently staying past curfew when it would be a terrible idea to try and wander the halls. Rumor was that Filch was waiting right outside the portrait for Draco's emergence.
When she and the girls entered the dormitory, the boys were still in their pajamas, some of their gifts still not open, and a fire bolt resting in Harry's lap.
"Blimey!" Ginny gasped out.
"That's impressive." Aurora admitted, a pang of envy in her heart as she knew there was no way her mother would ever allow such a broom to enter their home unless her father snuck it in.
"Have any idea who might gift Potter this?" Draco added, a hint of jealousy in his tone.
"Why would I know?" She asked, only to have the idea enter a moment later. "There is no way it's who you're thinking."
"Positive?" He asked.
"Why would Rory know?" Harry asked, caressing the handle mindlessly.
"It wasn't, Draco." Aurora insisted.
"So, you have no idea who sent you a broom like that?" Hermione asked. "It's supposed to be quite good, isn't it?"
Draco eyed her suspiciously. "The best." He said.
"Harry, can I have a go? After you of course." Ron asked a bit too eagerly, and then trying far too hard to appear calm.
"I don't think anyone should ride that broom yet," Hermione said immediately.
"It's not that cold out," Ginny protested, eyeing the broom like she eyed Harry the year before. "And the snow will actually add more cushion."
"Granger's right." Draco said, causing the entire room to fall silent, the rest of them turning to the sole Slytherin in the lion's den. Draco shrugged, then looked to the confused and put out Harry. "You don't know who it's from. What's more, it's not as though you haven't been bucked off a broom before. Some might find that suspicious but most may just think you don't know how to handle anything with speed."
"That was Quirrell." Harry retorted, looking down at his broom and frowning. "So, you think someone may have jinxed it?"
Draco shrugged, appearing to look bored as he glanced at his own pile of presents.
"He just doesn't want to have to fly against you in the next match." Ron grumbled.
"Potter will need more than a new broom to beat me." Draco shot back, and Aurora caught the smirk Harry tried to hide. "But before he goes for a spin on that thing, someone ought to look it over."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Malfoy." Hermione said, glancing at the door as Crookshanks came sauntering in. "We should turn it in to McGonagall."
"Or Professor Snape," Draco offered.
"Right, 'cause it's not gonna come back worse or anything." Ron countered as Crookshanks weaved his way between his mistress's legs, then Rory's, rubbing himself up against her before stopping and starring at Ron.
"He's not going to do anything, your git." Aurora snapped.
"Right, says you." Ron said before noting Crookshanks with a sneer. "Bloody evil thing. Get him out of here, Hermione." He said just as Crookshanks started hissing at Scabbers on Ron's shoulder.
Pandemonium ensued. Crookshanks dove for Ron, which caused the ginger numpty to try and kick the half-kneazle and wound up nearly breaking his toe on Harry's trunk. Something fell, tumbling out a pair of old, awful socks when the trunk tipped. It made an awful noise that had everyone in the room frozen, hairs raised and ears covered.
"I forgot about that," Harry said as he picked up whatever it was and stuffed it back into the socks. He righted his trunk, and piled everything back in.
"What the bloody hell was it?" Aurora asked as the deafening silence took the place of the piercing shrill.
"It's a sneakoscope," Ron said as though she should have known. "Let's you know when someone is untrustworthy." He said, giving Draco a pointed glare.
"I'm the most trustworthy person in this room." He countered.
"You?" Ron snorted.
"Slytherin's are not liars or cheats. We have better means of getting what we want." Draco said with a haughty air.
"Right," Harry said as he finished packing away the last of the trunks contents. "Well, if Hermione and Malfoy both think it might be jinxed, we'll take it to McGonagall. Sorry, Rory, but while I don't think your Dad would actually put a jinx on it, I wouldn't put it past him for holding on to it well past our next match with Slytherin."
"I already told you, Potter." Malfoy said as Harry grabbed the broom and started to lead the lot of them out the room. "You're going to need more than a fast broom."
"Dream on, Malfoy." Harry said, flashing the blonde a grin over his shoulder.
Aurora said nothing when she saw the faint blush color Draco's cheeks, and if anyone else saw it, they kept quiet as well.
Did I forget to mention that side pairing? Oops
Thanks to all the readers, favoriters, followers, and reviewers. AthenaMiddleFiddle, BlueWater5, duj, AlexaSixT, TheShipperOfTheCrystalBallroom, LFA, HGranger89, Shorty653, argqyn2365, kittiesfrompluto, worrywart, Guest, kyttikat777, TheGirlWhoWaited, and Spriggan! Thank you all for leaving word, as always.
Lily is still a pest for a bit. Just a bit. She's stubborn.
Until next update.