A/N: PLEASE review. Its my creative energy.
Chapter 21: Snakes & Lions
Severus awoke on Christmas morning to the delicious scent of sausage and pancakes. He pulled on his long black pajama pants and robe before heading into the kitchen to see Hermione standing at the stove in a small, black teddy nightgown. Making his way over, Severus kissed her cheek and put his arms around her waist.
Hermione jumped and smiled, turning in his arms. She stood on her toes to kiss him gently. "Happy Christmas," she said before kissing him again.
"Happy Christmas, Hermione."
"I've made breakfast..." she added.
Severus smiled and nodded. "I see that. It smells divine," he said. "You know...you didn't have to do that. Christmas brunch is in two hours."
Hermione smiled. "I know, but I wanted to," she said. "Go sit, dear."
Severus obeyed and sat at the table, allowing Hermione to serve him breakfast. They ate quickly, conversing quietly. "Hermione, that meal was, truly, delicious."
Hermione blushed and looked down. "Thank you," she said, standing. She put the dishes in the sink; she would finish cleaning them later. Taking his hand, Hermione pulled Severus up and led him to the small sitting room. "I have a surprise for you," she said. She had put a small tree up, several small packages beneath the tree. There were two from Harry and Ron for Hermione and few for Severus from Minerva, Albus, and Lucius Malfoy.
She waved her wand at the small fireplace, a warm fire igniting immediately. She smiled and pushed Severus into the large armchair next to the tree. She handed him the gift from Minerva. It looked to be a card, but Severus opened it to reveal a reasonably sized open tab for the Apothecary in Hogsmeade. It would be enough for many new ingredients.
Hermione smiled. "How lovely...we can go in a few days and claim it." She handed him the gift from Albus, which he took.
"You open one, Hermione," Severus suggested, placing his gift in his lap.
Hermione smiled and nodded, pulling out the gift from Ron. There were two gifts within the package, a scarf made by Mrs. Weasley with and H on it. The second made Hermione flush and curse Ron quietly. A set of lingerie. She tried to push it back into the box, but Severus took her hand. "Every year since fourth, he's been doing this," she sighed.
Severus chuckled and examined the lingerie. "I'm sure we'll find something to do with them at some point..."
Hermione blushed and pulled them from his hand, tossing them back into the box. "Open that one," she motioned to the box in his lap. It turned out to be a large box of sweets, and Severus rolled his eyes.
Hermione opened the package from Harry and smiled. Three books: A muggle novel, a potions book, and a book on the secrets of the Hogwarts castle.
Severus smiled at her delight and opened his final gift from Lucius. It was a Kama Sutra book. He flushed and placed the gift with the sweets from Albus before Hermione could notice.
Hermione had jumped up and ran off so Severus used the time to accio the gifts he had gotten Hermione.
The girl returned with three levitating boxes. "Hermione...you didn't need to get me anything..."
Hermione sat on his lap and shook her head, kissing him gently. "Don't say anything, please...just open them."
Severus sighed and opened the smallest one. It was a set of rare potions ingredients. "Hermione...these must have cost-"
"No! Stop...please, just enjoy them," she pleaded. She pushed a small box into his hands as he lifted a box from beside the chair and over to her. Hermione smiled and opened the box. It was a professional starter set of potion making materials. "Oh, Severus! Its wonderful!"
Severus smiled and opened the small box, smiling when he saw the cufflinks. They were a pair of hunter green snakes in the shape of "S"'s, his initials. "Wow. Hermione, I love them," he said, kissing her gently.
Hermione smiled broadly and opened the envelope he handed her. A pass to use the restricted section of the library as she pleased. Her eyes went wide. "This is wonderful!" she exclaimed.
Severus smiled and handed her a long, thin box. Her eyes lit up upon seeing a gorgeous emerald pennant on a silver chain. "Severus..." she said, knowing the necklace had to be extremely expensive.
Severus smiled. "There is a charm on it that will let me know if you are ever in harm's way," he informed her while helping her put it on.
"I love it..." she said, kissing him gently. "Thank you so much..." She bit her lip. "I have one more for you," she said, gently sliding a box next to the chair after he sat back down.
Severus opened it slowly, retracting his hand momentarily when a playful black paw reached out to bat at his hand as he opened the box. Severus pulled the tiny back kitten from the box, its blue eyes staring up at the Potions Master.
Hermione smiled. "His name is Leo," she said, worried about his reaction.
Severus looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "Like the lion?" he asked.
Hermione nodded, biting her lip. "I-if you don't like him-"
Severus kissed her gently. "He's wonderful."
Hermione smiled and pulled the small kitten from Severus's arms. "You like him?"
Severus nodded. "His coloring is appropriate...even if his name is not," he teased.
"Y-you can change it..."
"I'm teasing. I love it."
Hermione smiled as she watched Severus set up bowls and a litter box for the kitten. She put the small animal down, and it bounded clumsily over to Severus, rubbing its tiny body against his leg.
"We should go to brunch," Severus said, scooping Leo up. He waved his wand, and they were both in appropriate attire. Taking her hand and still cradling the kitten in his arm, Severus led her to the Great Hall. Hermione attempted to pull her hand away, but Severus held tightly to it. "A relationship such as ours is not illegal or against school rules. You are of age. It is frowned upon, but they can do nothing about it. If you do not wish to make people aware, we will not. However, I am ready to let people know. And letting a small group of people know will prepare us for everyone else's return."
"Relationship?" Hermione asked. She had assumed they were together, but he had never specifically said it.
Severus faltered slightly. "I'm sorry, Hermione...I just assumed," he stammered, letting go of her hand.
Hermione grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "No, I want to be with you. To be committed to you..."
Severus smiled. "Well, that settles it then..."
Hermione smiled broadly and kissed him. She stroked the kitten's hand with her free hand and walked into the Great Hall, hand in hand with Severus.
The group at the Head Table stopped eating, looking up at them. Hermione blushed and began to balk, but Severus's confidence encouraged her. They sat next to each other after Severus let the kitten down to romp around the Great Hall, and Hermione did not miss the exchange of glances and smiles between Albus and Minerva. "Happy Christmas, my boy...Miss Granger." He smiled as the cat played with his shoe strings. "Who is this?" he asked, picking the kitten up.
"Leo...my new familiar. Hermione gifted him to me," Severus said, smiling.
"He is a beauty..." Albus said as the kitten batted at his beard. "Well, everyone..." the wise man added when he noticed the students gawking at Severus and Hermione in disbelief. "Tuck in."
A/N: There it is. I know I promised some steamy stuff, but this took over and pretty much wrote itself. Next chapter: Steaminess and Voldemort shows up...