A/N: Great news (sarcasm), I just came back from the hospital: I made a few of my veins to pop/tear. Don't know what's going to happen :/ But who cares, because I would rather write out the Fifth Day of Christmas! :) Please tell me what you guys think about the story- how it's being developed because I'd love to get suggestions, etc. Not a lot of people have been reviewing lately; makes me a bit worried. Anyways enjoy the Fifth Day of Christmas: Severus got to decorate a Christmas tree properly :D
You know I often wish that there was a machine that could read my mind and write out the stories onto my computer screen... so tired to be writing out the story. :(
Sound of someone rapping on the door caused Severus groan into the pillow.
Outside the door, he could hear Hermione's voice, "Can I come in?" ...Ughhh...Come on brain, function so that I can answer the damn question.
Severus buried his head beneath and decided to ignore her question. He frowned when he heard the door scraping on the ground. The floor creaking told him that Hermione had snuck into the room.
"Sev?"
"Severus?"
Hermione held back a laughter when she saw Severus's head buried under the pillow. She crouched next to the bed and asked, "Are you awake?"
Severus opened one of his eyes and mumbled, "No."
Hermione smacked his arm, "Liar, you responded. You're awake." He lazily opened both of his eyes. Bloody hell. Give me a break. An actual break.
He growled, "I never said you were allowed you to enter my room."
Hermione snorted. Did Granger just snort at me?
Hermione confidently retorted, "Technically, this is my room since my family owns the house."
Severus slowly dragged out his head and glared at the cheeky Gryffindor, but his visage soon softened as Hermione laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" he looked down at the girl.
He was about to shut his eyes again until Granger climbed onto the bed. In response, the hair on his neck immediately stood up and he retracted backwards into the pillows. Bloody hell, what the hell is she doing on top of the same bed with me?! Severus desperately tried to squirm away from his student.
"What in Merlin's fat arse are you doing?!" he loudly whispered.
Hermione's hands reached for his head and Severus quickly evaded her hands by pulling his head back- bam! Shit! Severus wrapped his head with his hands and hissed at the headboard.
"What are you doing?" Hermione laughed. No. What are you doing?! This better be a fucked up dream- wait no. I NEVER want to have any dream with Granger in it.
Without thinking he forcibly grabbed her hands together while pushing her backwards and huffed, "Enough. What are you doing?"
Severus looked down at Hermione who was also shocked by his abrupt action. He frowned before relaxing from the sudden adrenaline rush and looked down at Hermione.
She laughed, "I only wanted to fix your hair- you've got the craziest bed hair. You've got cowlicks. Pfft, you look like a rocker."
Okay fine, I borrowed a dog's last name, but I refuse to have anyone groom or touch my head.
Severus glared down at the impudent, young girl.
Once she stopped laughing and fixed her focus, Hermione's face was flushed and she whispered, "Umm...Sev...erus? You're shirtless and pantless again- only in your boxers again..."
He smiled mischievously as he kept her pinned down. Maybe I should teach her a lesson about jumping in the same bed as me... after all I AM a professor.
"Yeah, I'm practically buck naked. You already knew how I prefer to sleep, but you still decided to jump aboard onto the bed with me. Any healthy boys or men will misunderstand your behaviour Granger," Severus pushed the strands off her ear with his index finger and whispered.
Hermione could feel her ear burning, her heart throbbing, her breath shortening- she had no idea why her body was reacting this way and wasn't interested to know. She'd stay in control of her body. The young witch closed her eyes, controlled her breaths, and opened her eyes.
She returned a wicked smile, "You know if you don't get off me now, I'll tickle you."
He raised his eyes at the defiant Gryffindor and held back a laughter; it was the first time anyone had threatened to tickle him. Granger is insane if she thinks she will tickle me. It has to be a bluff.
Severus smiled smugly and remained in position just to tease Granger just a bit longer. His eyes widened when Hermione began to tickle his tummy. HOLY SHIT, she wasn't kidding.
The Slytherin rolled off the Gryffindor while smashing his head onto the bed frame. He groaned and laughed at the same as Hermione's relentless tickle attacks. She was running her fingers on his stomach, ribs, armpit like a pianist's fingers playing a beautiful melody. The energetic lioness pounced on her friend and said, "Serves you right, Severus Black!."
Severus couldn't deny the laughter and the smile creeping across his face.
"I swear, Hermione Granger, you are the craziest witch I've ever met," Hermione tilted her head, and he whispered, "and you're proving to be the most dangerous witch too. If you're able to make me laugh like this, you should be able to make anyone laugh."
She asked, "What'd you just say?"
Severus stuck his tongue out, "I said this isn't a bad angle either."
Hermione smacked his on the chest and Severus warned her, "You know I'll get you back for that tickling attack later." They both stared at each other and burst into laughter.
They were both smiling until they heard Hermione's father utter, "Oh my God."
Severus watched Hermione's father shout, "HONNEEYY!" upside down before noticing that Hermione had been mounting him. Damn. Oh fuck. Shit. This totally does not look right. Bloody hell. Since when was Granger in the cowgirl position?!
Hermione's father stormed into the room and shouted, "What are you kids doing?!"
Severus held back a smirk and said, "I was sleeping then your daughter attacked me on the bed. Then we both fell out of bed." This lie is totally not going to work.
Then Hermione smacked him, "It's not my fault that you sleep like a hibernating bear! I called your name outside and beside your bed!"
They both held back a laughter while watching Mr. Granger press the bridge of his nose, "Hold on a second. So you kids weren't doing anything...?" Holy shit this lie is working!
Severus turned his head innocently and asked, "Doing anything? Do what?"
Hermione also blinked innocently while watching her father stutter, "Um...you know...um. Hermione please get off your friend. It's nothing."
Mr. Granger scratched his head nervously and answered, "I'll go get your mother."
They both turned their head and guffawed
He muttered, "We are so dead."
She asked, "Do you regret it?"
Severus was surprised by his own honest answer, "No." I wouldn't even regret it if Minerva was here...
Hermione dismounted Severus and left his room quietly with a smile. Severus quickly wore a black sweater and jeans. Then he saw the gloves that Hermione had knit for him in his luggage. He smiled meekly before strapping them onto his hands. They're so warm.
Seriously, what the hell happened to me earlier? I haven't laughed that hard since- a decade ago? I can't believe that I don't regret my own action. Shit, I don't know if what I'm doing is right or wrong...what the hell. This whole mission is screwing me over.
He shook his head and combed his hair with his hands before going downstairs. He wasn't surprised to find Hermione having a quiet talk with her mother in the kitchen. However, he did not expect Mr. Granger to call him over, "Um. Severus, why don't we go for a drive?"
Severus blinked and repeated the word, "Drive?" What bloody drive?
Mr. Granger fidgeted uncomfortably, "I though we should have a man to man talk." I don't think so. I'm a grown man and I don't know you. I refuse to have a man to man talk with you.
Severus begrudgingly stared at the man with a stoic expression when Mr. Granger tossed him a jacket.
He sighed once he realized that Mr. Granger was equally stubborn as his daughter. Severus hissed as he dragged his feet outside into the cold. Damn centaur shit, it's freezing!
Severus eagerly jumped into Mr. Granger's car to avoid the gnawing cold. The two men quietly drove away from the house. They sat uncomfortably in the car.
"So...um Severus."
"..."
"So you know what happened earlier in your room?" Bloody Merlin, I'm a grown man. Do I need to hear this?
"..."
"I know as a guy, you can get the urge to touch girls. It's perfectly normal around your age, but ummm."
"I did NOT touch your daughter. I was sleeping peacefully until she pounced me in bed."
"Yes, that wasn't your fault. My wife is talking to Hermione right now about it." Kill me. I'd rather deal with Minerva's temper than have this discussion. That's be ten times better.
"..."
"I heard from Hermione that you don't have parents. I'm sorry about that, but I thought you might need this talk since you don't have a father to talk about this kind of things."
Okay. First, my old man was a fucking drunk. We never talked. Second, I already learned everything what happens between the sheets from Lucius when I was in first year...and I've got enough experience since I became a Death Eater and a double agent. DON'T NEED THIS TALK.
"So what I'm trying to say is-"
"I promise that I won't shag your daughter so could you please drop this topic." My job is only to befriend your daughter not shag her. Minerva would slaughter me... and I'm way older than Granger- I don't see her that way... I think. Fuck. What am I thinking?
"Okay."
The atmosphere in the car continued to be tense until Severus asked, "Where are you taking me? You better not be taking to my funeral." Because, a muggle can never kill me. Worst idea for you to try killing me.
Hermione's father laughed, "No. I'm not even that mad about earlier, just really shocked. Never expected that to happen. You guys are far too young for that kind of stuff." Your daughter is. I'm not.
"So where are we going?" he asked again.
"Our family has a tradition. I select and cut the family Christmas tree. Thought I'd take you with me for you know, male bonding," smiled Mr. Granger.
The car came to a stop and they both got off the vehicle. Severus was surprised when Mr. Granger took out the axe from the car trunk. I am willing to bet that Granger's father was going to slaughter me with that if I haven't said that I wouldn't shag his daughter.
They walked around to select a Christmas tree. "Have you ever decorated a Christmas tree?" Mr. Granger asked.
"Yeah, but it was really shitty." Severus murmured.
Mr. Granger grinned, "Well you get to choose the Christmas tree this year!" I'd be extremely happy if I was an actual child.
Severus wondered around until he found a medium sized tree. He pressed his hand against the tree and looked at it.
"You like that one?" Mr. Granger remarked and Severus nodded his head in reply.
"Well here you go," Hermione's father passed him the axe. This man is insane as his daughter if he thinks I'm going to do any physical labour.
Severus's attention flew between the sharp, but heavy tool and Mr. Granger. He offered a charming smile to the man, "Mr. Granger, could you possibly leave me for a few minutes?"
Mr. Granger asked with a puzzled look, "Why?" I'm about to do something illegal, that's why. If I use magic in front of you, I'm signing my ticket to Azkaban.
The wizard sighed and just glared at the man, "Could you please leave?" There I said the magic word muggle, now leave!
The confused man scratched his head before shrugging as he left. Once Severus was certain that Mr. Granger left, he faced the fir tree.
He spoke aloud, "Like hell, as if I'm spending hours to chop this thing over." The Slytherin brandished his wand and checked that there weren't any muggles.
"Sectumsempra." An invisible sword shot out of his wand and hacked the tree down with a single stroke. And this is why, it's good to be a wizard. No physical tasks for me.
Severus chanted, "Incarcerous." Ropes quickly bound the tree tightly and he shouted, "Mr. Granger, let's go home now!" NO MORE FREEZING WEATHER FOR ME!
When Mr. Granger returned, he was stupefied to find the tree, not only cut, but bound neatly as well. He raised an eyebrow, "How'd you do that?"
The Slytherin slyly smiled, "Magic."
Mr. Granger laughed boisterously, "Now you're making me feel jealous for being...uh... what was the word that you folks use again?"
Severus snorted, "Muggle."
Mr. Granger snapped his fingers at the word and asked, "So would you like pull the tree to the car?" Are you kidding me? No.
Severus snorted again, "I cut the tree and bound it together, so it'd be only fair that you pulled it."
Mr. Granger joked, "There aren't any handy spells to drag the tree over?"
Severus chuckled and shook his head.
After they strapped the tree to the car, they drove back home and Mr. Granger hauled the tree inside the house.
Hermione laughed at Severus who looked extremely displeased by the weather and brought a towel over.
"Welcome home," smiled Hermione and attempted to dry Severus's soaked hair. Hmm, it feels nice to hear that.
He evaded the towel and glared at Granger defiantly, "No one, touches my head like a dog."
Hermione pouted with the towel in her hands, "Please?" ...What's with that face?
Severus sighed before lowering his head for Granger who eagerly began to rub the towel all over his head. This is embarrassing as hell.
When she finished drying her friend's hair, she laughed, "Pfft. Your hair is so fluffy now!"
Severus glared and sighed, "Yeah I know. This is why I hate drying my hair with towels."
Mr. Granger coughed to gain their attention, "Sweetie, your friend selected our Christmas tree this year."
"You did?" she asked with rosy cheeks.
"Yeah." Severus shook his head furiously to make his hair less fluffy. They carefully undid the tree and Hermione grinned, "It's a beautiful tree! I can't wait for mum to come home later! We can start decorating the tree together."
When the sun set and Mrs. Granger returned home from work, she brought out the ornaments. At the beginning Severus quietly read books while Hermione and her family gleefully decorated the tree.
"Come on Sev," Hermione took the book out of his hands and pulled him off the chair. Severus quietly followed Hermione towards the Christmas tree. She passed a few ornaments for him to hang up on the tree. He noticed the tree become brighter with the glistening, colourful ornaments.
"Are we done?" he asked.
"Of course not! We need to put up the star at the top!" Hermione scolded him for forgetting the most important decoration. She smiled and held onto the large, gold star.
"Forgive me," Severus rolled his eyes at the young Gryffindor. He crossed his arm to watch Hermione complete the Christmas tree, but she turned around at him.
"What?" he asked.
"I can't reach the top," Hermione pointed out the problem. So what do you want me to do about it, you stupid girl?
"Pick me up?" Hermione asked. Severus gawked down at Granger due to her ridiculous demand.
"No," Severus retorted.
"Please?" Hermione pleaded.
"No." Severus smiled while shaking his head.
Hermione glared at Severus before smiling, "If you don't pick me up, I'll tell everybody at school about this morning!" Severus's eyes widened and the hair on his neck prickled. Is Hermione Granger threatening me? ME? Severus Snape? Why this little bratty Gryffindor princess! Wait. If she does tell this to the school- shit I'll ruin my reputation! I'll become the laughing stock among the staff and Minerva will hex me for sexual assault.
Severus's jaw dropped and glared at Hermione who was extremely pleased by his reaction. He whispered swear word under his breath before raising Granger above him.
"Wait, that's my job!" argued Mr. Granger and Mrs. Granger kissed her husband on the cheek. Mr. Granger continued to sulk because he didn't get to pick up his daughter.
While Hermione was fixing the star in its position, Severus got a wicked idea.
"Hermione, are you done with the star?" he asked.
Hermione replied, "Yup! You can put me down now."
The Slytherin smiled mischievously before dropping Hermione on his shoulder. His arms coiled behind Granger's legs and back. Hermione screamed and smacked his head while Severus spun Granger around rapidly.
"Let me down!" Hermione screamed and laughed at the same time.
"Okay," Severus smiled and dropped Granger on the couch. The moment she landed on the sofa, he wrapped one of his arms around Granger's neck and began giving her a wicked noogie which messed Hermione's hair.
She was astounded by his sudden attack and playfulness. She was mesmerized by his laughter, because it was a rare sight.
Severus smirked, "I told you I'd get my revenge this morning."
Hermione asked, "You're happy now?"
He thought about the question. Surprisingly yes. Tired, but surprisingly happy. It must be the end of the world.
Realizing how tired he was, he climbed upstairs and whirled around to find the lion cub following him.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Following you." she answered.
"No, you're not. I'm going to bed," he remarked.
"Oh..." Hermione paused.
"Yeah, tell your father that today was...fun," Severus turned around to enter his room.
Hermione nodded before going back downstairs, but stopped when Severus called out, "Hey Granger. Don't attack me again when I'm sleeping."
The witch's face glowed a dark shade of red, because she remembered the conversation with her mother from the morning.
"I won't," whispered Granger.
Severus chuckled before shutting the door. He threw his clothes off and relaxed on the bed.
Good Merlin, I'm doing so many new things whenever I'm with Granger...I swear that I'm going to go insane sooner or later if I keep sticking around her.
Severus pressed his head into the pillow and fell asleep quickly due to the fatigue.
Hope you guys enjoyed the new chapter. Please review! Just wondering, are you guys bored with the Christmas stories? Tell me what you guys would like to read! Thanks. Cheers. :)