Chapter 35

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1995, December

[Christmas Special]

Dimitry did come back with some warm oatmeal and bread that Heidi had prepared for Hermione. He set the tray on the floor next to the pile of blankets. For the first time in a long time, he wore the mask she first had met him in.

It alarmed her.

He hadn't worn the face in so long that it came as a shock now as that it was directed at her. It disturbed her that he used it now. But she knew she deserved it. She had hurt him too.

She slid off Severus's lap carefully and beckoned Dimitry down. She didn't trust herself to stand up quite yet so she had no other choice. He stood there for a full minute, eyes changing from chilling blue to sky blue she was used to but also one she hadn't wanted to fully acknowledge till now. He was letting her know that by just using his gaze. Severus didn't move but he did push the tray back, making room for the other man in her life.

But that man didn't make any other move as he sat down. He just stared at her. Hermione felt like a child under his gaze. She sighed overly so and sat halfway across his lap. The position was a whole lot different than the one that she had been in earlier. This one felt a whole lot different but it was one that she had felt before when she had spent time with her father before entering a world that they didn't belong in.

It was like having a father in each world. One that had nurtured her as an infant and the other one that had taken the hardened teenage girl to the woman she was still becoming.

"Yes. That is one way to think about it. Even after realizing the way I felt towards you, I never once thought of forcing you to become aware of them until you were ready. So I will tell you now. I see you as somebody special. Somebody that would almost destroy me emotionally if you were to die. To lose you would take a chunk out of me just like if I were to ever lose Adrian. Like if you were one of mine. Zeph's and mine. Regardless of how late in life we have found you. We think of you as one of our own blood. Maybe not born but grown within. That is why I'm putting my foot down now."

What? She drew back, brows forwarding in shock. She had a feeling she wouldn't like what she was going to hear next.

Her emotions must have gotten through to Dimitry for he drew himself up and stared down his nose at her. "You won't be doing anything. Nothing at all until the break is over. Other than lab work or homework. We can train if you wish. But you have to step back. Give yourself a break. If you don't, I'm not opposed to using drastic measures if you fight me on this."

Hermione drew back in affront and would have turned to her lover but before she could turn her incredulous eyes on him, he spoke up. His own voice agreeing to the madness that had just come from the male in front of her. "He has the right to do that since before he left, your parents asked Dimitry to protect you. That if you were to ever find out about his request that you would probably react this way. Charles had said that you would do so since it was the same way you reacted the many times he lay the law down with you."

Those words made her sit back and it only caused her to slowly start sliding off his leg. She stared at him, nonplussed. Dismay and complete disbelief crowded her mind. Neither man spoke out loud but she knew that they were talking to each other voicelessly. It only sparked her anger.

Yet, for some reason, under all of her emotions, she felt immensely pleased. The blue-eyed man in front of her was the cause of it. She felt so damn happy at the moment. She didn't have to figure out why since she had always known. It was because out all the things she had done so far, this one was the thing that she had been wanting to hear yet it meant the most since it came directly from the man that was in all but blood her father. Her feeling and thoughts must have shown up on her face because said man drew back in weariness.

"What?" he asked cautiously. She shook her head but he did too. "No, you have to tell me what because I don't fancy being thrown, daughter or not, you won't get away with doing it a second time."

The absurdity of the conversation forced an unladylike laugh to escape her and she ended up leaning back on Severus lap as both men watched her with growing concern for her mental well being. She shook her head twice and would have spoken but Gabe opened the door and showed her that her two favorite boys were here as well. She lost it again and was watched by all before she finally began to calm down. As she lay on her back on the floor, she stared up at Dimitry and was treated to a fatherly pat on the head.

"She has finally lost it. I figured she would eventually. Mad witch." Dimitry announced as he pulled her hair lightly, humour taking over his much darker feelings from before.

Severus wasn't smiling but she felt his amusement echoing through their open bond. One that she wished she had never shut.

She shook her head and spent the next thirty minutes eating and staring at the fire as she lay with her back to Severus's chest. Who just held her gently. Dimitry watched her eat everything he had brought her. It wasn't until her body began making its own demands that she found herself alone in the loo.

Once taking care of everything, she stood in front of the sink and stared at her reflection. She was wearing her own skin. It also brought to her attention the length her hair now reached. It was at her waist, the curls gentle unlike what they had been years ago as a child. They looked healthy.

Her skin, still a bit tan, glowed under the magical lights that surrounding the bathroom. Her face had lost all the baby fat at this point. Nothing of the girl she had once been was left. Not even her eyes, which had changed colour and had to be covered in concealment charms all the time. She decided not to hide while she was in the Villa.

There was no point.

Xenophilias knew who she was. Heidi and Gabe did too. Everybody knew her. Sort of.

Walking out of the bathroom, she saw that the men had left the room. Probably to give her some time alone. She smiled ruefully and changed into some loose dark pants and pulled on a thick wool sweater that had a short turtleneck. She slid on some slippers and headed out of the room. She noticed the slight decorations that somebody had hung up on the walls.

The first person she saw as Luna. She was wearing an oversized shirt in blue with neon green tights under. She was standing at the end of the hallway, her fingers holding a wishbone. It was already broken. Hermione came to her side as the voices of the others floated to her.

"Who did you break that with, Luna?"

"Them. It was something that they asked of me. Isn't it pretty." Luna said, her voice soothing to Hermione's ears.

Seeing no point in lying, she shrugged. "It looks dry."

Luna looked up, mirth showing clearing across her face as she played with the two pieces of bone. "Of course you're right. I see that you used my wish. Good, it's never good to hold such things for too long."

Hermione would have moved on but Luna suddenly placed a hand on Hermione's arm. She turned to look at her in question. Luna had lost the smile and now stared at her seriously. "Don't lose focus and don't forget, it will happen again. Just hold on to him, he will keep you here, with us."

Having already thought of that but accepting the solemn warning, she nodded and walked off towards the others. She knew it would happen again. But she wouldn't let it destroy what she had with Severus.

She spent the next couple of hours with everybody. She made plans with Heidi to go shopping for Christmas gifts and when it was midday, she was pulled aside briefly by Dimitry who had to leave. He told her he was being called away and would be back later.

It wasn't until Marcus and Malfoy came in carrying a tree that Hermione pulled away from everybody just as her notebook flared with a message. She stepped into her office and pulled it out. It was from Amelia.

Smith,

We have taken everything we could from Picket. He has given us a lot of information and we have taken Lucius Malfoy in for questioning. He tried to slip a word with Fudge but wasn't allowed to unless it was with Kingsley and Percy as well as me. We pulled Pius from any and all positions he is working with and it will be handled between Adrian Pucey and Percy. I have been asked to oversee the whole case with the help of Dumbledore and Kingsley. How do you wish us to proceed?

The door to the study opened and closed behind her. But she already knew who it was. She set the notebook down and stared down at it. "Even if I want to step back, it looks like I can't. At least not for too long. I will keep the promise I made to Dimitry but only in the way I can. This is one situation I have to pay attention to."

Severus came up behind her and stared down at the note. He pulled her close and rested his head against hers. "We know that. He knew that even before he asked you. As long as it doesn't hurt you, we will permit it. At least until the break is over. It's only a week. What are you going to tell her?"

"Well, it's all going according to plan, more or less that is so I suppose I'll tell her to pull everything she can from Lucius. Or at least whatever she can. Which raises an important question. How will Riddle react?" she inquired. But she already knew the answer. Lucius was almost as equal to Severus in Riddle's eyes. Lucius going down wasn't something Riddle had ever imagined. But that only drew attention to Narcissa and her son. Not to mention the unborn life that Hermione had vowed to protect.

She moved out from his embrace and walked around the table to sit at her desk and began writing back to Amelia.

Amelia,

Let them do as they please. Take all the information you can but most likely I will already know most of what he hoards. Stick to the plan and keep Moody and Dumbledore busy. Having Lucius in their clutches will entertain them for a bit. Have Percy publically befriend Adrian. They must show a united front. I will contact you again later with more details.

o0o

Grabbing a muffin, she sat down on one of the stools that fit the counter and watched the others talking and laughing in the living room.

It was a little past seven and Dimitry still wasn't back. Severus had gone to the basement to make something with Malfoy. Luna was standing in front of the fireplace showing her father something she cradled in her hands.

Heidi was adding a few finishing touches to the tree and Gabe was standing beside her, teasing her about how ugly the tree was.

Her boys were standing behind her as they argued over who would get the last chocolate muffin. She was about to call out to them when she felt the pull of the wards. She was at the door before any of them realized she had knocked over the stool. Opening the door, she gazed out into the frosty night. Dimitry was marching up to the Villa with Theo.

Both wore their Death Eater robes but neither had their mask insight. She stepped aside as Dimitry brushed past her, after giving her a tight-lipped smile, and then it was Theo. He looked dog tired but uninjured. He nodded at her politely but she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. The others in the room were staring at them silently. Severus was just stepping into the living room with Malfoy bringing the rear.

"What is it, Dimitry?" she asked, arms folded across her chest. She knew it was important.

"Riddle has lost it. At least he did at first. He killed Macnair a few hours ago but even before that, he was already unhappy about losing Greyback. He tortured Cane and Mashh but they both held up to their stories. Now with Lucius being taken, he has lost it. Killed a few of his own and would have tortured us as well but left just as fast as his temper had snapped. He is on his way to kill the Cattermoles and Fletchley families. He is going to send his own message to whoever is messing around with his power. He suspects that Macnair and the twins were given something that would kill them if he ever entered their minds. So, he plans to send his own message. Tonight."

There was a choice to make. Tonight, one family would die. That was for certain. It all depended on which family he got to first. Hermione ignored the looks she was receiving, everybody was waiting on her decision so she turned to Heidi. "You're up. Go to Dumbledore and arrive right before Severus does."

Heidi nodded firmly in understanding. Hermione pulled out her wand and changed her appearance and stepped outside, making sure the snow and forest was her only backdrop and played out the scene so that when Dumbledore read Heidi's mind, something that Heidi wouldn't suspect him of doing, of course, he would find the message.

Once they were done, Hermione dropped the enchantments and went back inside after watching Heidi leave. Gabe walked up to her and kissed her cheek and went out, following Heidi as her shadow.

Next up was her love, he was already pulling on his cold persona and was shrugging on his robes. She kissed his lips gently and didn't speak a word. He already knew what he was going to do. She watched him leave as well. She closed the door and turned to find the others. Dimitry was standing with his son and Marcus. Theo was by Luna and Malfoy. Xeno was nowhere in sight. Hermione walked to the back of the room and into the hallway. She left the door to her study open as she walked in.

She was standing by the window when Adrian walked in. He loomed over her as he stared out the window. It was quiet for a few minutes and when he did speak, it was to joke about her height. She elbowed him and turned to face him. He stared down at her and pulled at a strand of hair. "I'll be pretty busy soon," he commented in a bored tone.

"Of course. You will be working right under Amelia and alongside Percy."

"The Weasel Pants."

"Be nice."

"I will be as long as he doesn't act like a total prat."

"Watch their back. They only know how to play nice. Well, maybe not Amelia but certainly Percy."

"Bloody good old prat."

"Adrian!"

They laughed and it drew Dimitry and Marcus into the study. Hermione wandered over to the desk and pulled out a piece of paper from the top pile. She handed it to Adrian and watched him read it carefully.

"Memorize it and burn it afterward. Follow the instructions. We will lead them on a chase as well. I have other things to do while they are on my 'tail'. Amelia already knows about most of it as well as Percy but there a few things that they don't know. They don't need to at this stage."

Adrian sat down on the window couch to read the paper. Hermione stared up at Dimitry. He was rubbing his nose and staring carefully at her. She was used to it but she still said what in a prissy tone. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "You know that Riddle will be going after Amelia now that she is basically the only other person in power with good standing and basically next in line to be Minister."

"Yes. I figured that out when I first approached her. That is why I'm going to misdirect his attention to me. Or at least the idea of me as somebody that needs to be taken out before any more damage is done. But we have a fail-safe ready for Amelia but I don't think we will have to use it. She is too valuable in the eyes of Dumbledore so he will probably talk to her about protection. Not that Percy will allow anything to happen to her. He is bunking at her place but if need be, they will move to a place that is unplottable."

Dimitry sat down on one of the armchairs near Adrian and nodded but made no further comment. Marcus stared at Adrian. He had been staring at him for quite some time now and Hermione waited until Marcus turned towards her to ask about Slughorn.

Marcus shrugged. "He expects to see me as soon as the holidays are over. I will be taking the express so that I arrive at Hogwarts with you."

McGonagall already knew about this part of the plan. It was a fail-safe as well. Because there were only a few people she trusted with-

Hermione lost that train of thought as she noticed another incoming message. She flipped the notebook open and was a bit surprised to see that it was from Sirius. Remus hadn't given her a chance to speak to him about what had happened back at the cottage but he was keeping track of Cane and Mashh for her.

He also knew to fill in Sirius and Harry about important things. She read his note carefully. It was basically a reminder to visit them for Christmas. It would be held at the Weasley's place with some extra people invited. Probably the Order as well. But Severus wouldn't be there. He never attended such gatherings and it wasn't like he would now...

But she had to go. Harry would be anxious to speak with her. She missed him as well. She wrote back, letting him that she would be visiting them Christmas day.

Hours later, Severus returned. Heidi still wasn't back nor Gabriel and it was the first people he mentioned as he used magic to clean his robes of snow. "They were asked to stay behind for a bit longer so that Dumbledore could speak more closely to them. Moody wanted to as well but Amelia called him away. Dumbledore also wants me to let Riddle know about the warning so that he is also played by whoever is pulling all the strings. At this point, they will push Potter back and focus on you."

"I don't care what Dumbledore thinks he's doing. Because he doesn't. He doesn't know about all of the other Horcruxes. But he will. Before we go back to Hogwarts." she remarked as she gazed her boys. They were in the kitchen again. They were supposed to be making them some coffee but they just stood there, staring at the coffee pot. She would have smiled but saved it for later as she turned from them and headed back to her study. Everybody else had gone to bed already. Theodore was bunking with Malfoy while her boys planned to head back to the manor but only to bunk there but not tonight. They would be staying in the living room for the night.

She pushed the door to her study open and led Severus inside. She walked over to the loveseat by the bookshelves and waited for him to sit in it before sliding on top of him.

"You will tell Dumbledore that you suspect that Nagini is a Horcrux. It will lead him on a new chase. Especially once Heidi begins to hand him the Horcruxes I have destroyed thus far. While he is busy with that I will have-"

Whatever she would have said was lost when a ball of pale blue light, a patronus, hurled inside and Dimitry's voice filled the study room.

"Riddle has killed Rufus Scrimgeour. He has laid his body on the steps of Amelia's old residence. He has killed the Cattermole family as well and sent their bodies to the Ministry. Don't go to any of the places I just mentioned. Every place is being watched. I'm okay. But I can't leave at the moment. We are okay."

Hermione sat up and would have done the exact thing Dimitry had said not to do. But Severus grabbed hold of her waist and forced her to stay still. He shook his head as she turned to stare down at him in fury.

"Don't. Riddle is trying to draw you out in the open. I will go instead and keep you informed of anything that happens. Plus, I think Heidi and Gabriel just arrived. Go check on them. Leave the rest to me."

Not wanting to argue with him, she did just that. She let him go with a full wet kiss and met Heidi in the kitchen. Gabriel was making some tea for Heidi. Hermione sat down just as the front door closed behind Severus.

Heidi looked up at her with a calm look while Gabe rattled on about useless things. Hermione knew that by taking care of Heidi in his own way would calm him down. Just like most men in her life too. Adrian and Marcus came in, both carrying empty cups. Both of them stopped when they saw the couple and raised an eyebrow in her direction. Hermione shrugged and waited for Gabe to finish before informing them of what had happened.

Heidi crossed her arms but kept the cup of tea in her hand as she spoke to Hermione. "I was telling Dumbledore that I needed to head out when he received word of the murders. The whole family was killed. Only the Fletchley family was spared. Several people in the Atrium swore they saw a man in dark robes and red eyes drop the bodies and stare them down before vanishing into thin air. Dumbledore left soon after. I was escorted out by a red-headed man. I made sure to leave no trace behind."

Hermione leaned forward and stared unwaveringly at Heidi. "I have a new task for you. It will bring you closer to your daughter of course as well as to those in the Order. But you will have McGonagall, Remus, Sirius, and even the twins on your side. Harry doesn't know but I'll have Remus fill him in on that."

Gabe stilled but didn't comment. Heidi straightened her back and cocked her head. "What do you need of me?"

"I want you to give Dumbledore a Horcrux. Well, actually, the item that had housed a piece of Riddle's soul."

o0o

The potion set with steel claws was the one she was going to get. As well as a holster that was made from dragon skin.

That concluded all of her purchases.

Heidi, on the other hand, was still buying Adalene more stuff. It was understandable. They couldn't be around her as much, so they had the tendency to buy her many things. Gabe had split from them earlier but now found them, no package in sight but they knew he had gotten his stuff from the smug smirk on his face.

They had changed their appearances so that they passed as a family. Hermione being the younger sister of Heidi in case somebody asked. Made up names were easy. But they had nothing to worry about. Everybody was either too distracted by their own shopping or they were clustered in groups talking about the events that had just taken place. Whispers of Fudge losing support left and right or his attempts to hide the fact that HE was back.

It was also the only way she could distract herself from going after Dimitry and Zeph.

Hermione walked out of the shop with Gabe and Heidi minutes later.

Done with shopping, they left Diagon Alley and were back at the Villa minutes later. Hermione dumped all of her stuff in her room and changed into some comfortable clothes.

She was pulling on her shirt when the door opened. There was only one person would dare enter her room without knocking, aside from Severus.

With Dimitry being the exception when he was pissed.

Adrian.

He had lines of worry and strain on his face. He didn't have to tell her what was wrong. She hurriedly walked around him and made her way to the living room. She wasn't surprised to see Severus, she had heard his voice, but it was Zeph who surprised her.

Hermione gasped as rage shot up her bloodstream but she tried to strangle it as she noted every bruise and quiver that told her exactly what had happened to Zeph while locked away in Malfoy Manor.

Severus was already out of the room, strides sharp, as he went for healing supplies and potions.

Hermione rushed over to Zeph but the woman shook her head and motioned behind her. Hermione switched her attention to Dimitry. He was slumped forward, holding his side as he shot her a dazed grin that was lined with pain. Heidi was already at his side, running her wand over the wound. Severus swept by her once again and kneeled down to set his box of potions on the floor. Hermione fisted her hands and closed her eyes as she reigned in the urge to find Riddle and gut him.

"Hermione."

Severus's voice soothed her rage but only slightly.

For the next thirty minutes, they took care of them. Xeno helped them by making cups of herbal teas while Luna laid out blankets and pillows. Adrian patrolled with Marcus in case Zeph and Dimitry had been followed.

Hermione checked Dimitry even though Severus had worked on him. It was just to get a peace of mind. And because her rage made her fingers unsteady. She needed to keep busy. Dimitry saw through it and grabbed both her hands. His gaze held hers as he spoke in a quiet voice through their connection.

"Don't act rashly. This is nothing. We will get our turn when the time comes."

"I know."

She knew. Really she did.

But her heart was in control after being shut out, it didn't want to be silenced ever again. He understood. She stepped back and called Adrian in the same way she had spoken to his father.

Their father.

"Adrian. Come see them. They're okay."

"But are you okay?" Concern and worry tinted those words.

"I will be."

Dimitry cleared his throat to speak once Adrian stepped back but Hermione was now looking at Zeph, who for once wasn't smiling and was instead tucked under one of his arms. Hermione hurt knowing that Zeph had been injured. Hermione was also in rage over the fact that she couldn't return the damage to the person responsible. She noted every wound and vowed to kill whoever had touched her. It only riled her up, even more, just thinking about it. Hermione would find out who it was if they didn't tell her. Dimitry must have known she would demand to know who had done it for he gave her one name.

"Thorfinn Rowle." The name rang across her mind. Cold rage made her see blood red.

Zeph looked up at her in that second and shook her head gently. Right. Control. Hermione took a deep breath and settled behind Severus. He reached back and pulled her forward so that she was draped across his back. She inhaled his scent just as Dimitry began to speak.

"Riddle summoned those that were not already present. He tortured people that stood in his way or so much as looked at him wrong. He ripped apart a lot of minds to find the 'rats'."

"What was he looking for?" Luna asked as she stood by the window. She was drawing symbols with her fingers that made no sense to Hermione. Luna had asked to stay. To hear what had happened. Theo and Malfoy had asked the same. Hermione saw no reason not to include them. They now stood beside her, face tight with tension.

Eyes still lined with pain centered on Hermione. "He was looking for Hermione of course. Well, not her but whoever the third person was. He was trying to find clues. Too bad he didn't call the wolves. Nobody knows about you except those that are in this room, at least Death Eaters who do know about you are in this room. He only tortured me because he wanted to give me a taste of what failure felt like since I have been moved up a rank. I am to take Malfoy's position. But he hasn't forgotten of the Malfoy family completely."

"He has tasked you with the prophecy," Severus stated. Hermione squeezed his shoulder. She had immediately thought of that too.

Dimitry nodded. "I have a small amount of time to get it."

"I'll take care of it for you," Hermione said.

All eyes were suddenly on her. She smiled eerily and shrugged her shoulders in answer to their silent question. She motioned with her hand for Dimitry to finish.

"We were told not to come back unless he called us. He even told Narcissa to leave. She is staying at the Manor right now. We would have brought her here but we don't know when he will call for us or come looking for her. He knows she is with us."

Malfoy snapped to attention at that. He quickly turned to stare at Severus. "I have to stay with her," he said tightly, expression filled with anger and concern.

"I agree, Draco. You will go back with Dimitry and Zeph. Stay with them until it's time to go back to Hogwarts." Severus replied.

Hermione squeezed his arm once more and slipped out from behind him. She left them in the living room and went to their room. It took her a few minutes but when she was done, she came out with two packages.

Almost everybody was standing when she came back to the living room. Xeno was nowhere in sight but Luna was with Theo in the kitchen. Heidi and Gabe must have been outside on patrol since she didn't see them. She passed the others and cornered Malfoy by the door. He drew back gingerly when she thrust out the two packages.

"This is from us. The big one is yours, the smaller one for your mother. Don't open them until Christmas morning."

"Uh...okay." Malfoy briefly met her eyes before turning to his godfather. Hermione drew back and turned just as Zeph came up to her. With no hesitation, she hugged her slender form. Zeph returned the hug with a kiss on her cheek.

Comforting her when Hermione was the one that should have been doing the comforting. Zeph must have figured out what she was thinking because she chuckled. "I was hurt physically. I should have known that you would react terribly. But not this bad."

"Chuckle all you want Zeph. But rest assured that he will pay for what he did. Can I know why he hit you?"

Zeph pulled back to fix her pale eyes on her. "But not at the cost of your soul. Dimitry hurt him already."

Hermione turned her head away, breaking eye contact. "But he didn't kill him."

Dimitry's voice held a cold threat that told her everything and more. "Not yet."

That satisfied her rage. But barely.

Zeph only huffed and threw her hands up. "I'm surrounded by bloodthirsty people."

Severus raised an eyebrow and with a sarcastic tone replied in kind. "You would react the same way if any of them had hurt any of yours."

That Zeph didn't deny it spoke volumes. Hermione shook her head and reminded them to come by on Christmas morning. They agreed to drop by for a bit. They didn't want to leave Narcissa for too long.

She watched them leave and stayed standing out in the frigid cold. Severus didn't leave her side. Just stood by her side. She shivered as a breeze brought bits of snow onto the porch. He opened his arms and she silently stepped into his embrace. Warmth chased the shivers away. Breathing in his scent she raised her head when he finally spoke up. He finally asked her about what he had been thinking about since the night she had returned.

"Do you regret killing for the first time?"

"It wasn't my first one. The Carrow twins were. I gave them something that would lead to their death. But this was my first kill by my own hand. I can't say that I enjoyed it. But I did play Judge, Jury, and Executioner all at the same time. Maybe because of the way I see it or maybe because I knew I would one day have to make it such a decision, it easier to bear. But I do think that even if I kill once more...Well when I do, it won't get easier. If anything, it will probably get harder."

"Yes. But you won't be alone."

"I know."

o0o

Hermione washed her cup and dried it. She was the first one up. It was Christmas so she had wanted to get up early to make everybody coffee or tea. Leaving the tray to the side, she moved over to the sink once more. She started out the window, the sun was barely creeping up over the trees.

She had already laid out the gifts she had bought under the tree. It would almost be time now since she could already hear many of them getting up and using the loo. She picked up the tray filled with cups and cookies that Heidi had made the day before, she headed out.

Just as she was setting the tray on the large coffee table in the middle of the living room, Severus walked in. He was already dressed for the day. Every item of clothing a single colour. Black. And he looked dashing in it. He wasn't wearing his bat robes, as she liked to call them, so he was only wearing a classic casual suit that she had given him a year ago. If it had been any other man wearing that so early in the morning she would have thought of them as stiff-necked old men. Like Lucius Malfoy. Or even Lockhart.

Severus only scoffed at that. She hadn't been hiding her thoughts.

"Am I wrong, though?"

The corners of his lips kicked up at the corners. "You have a bright mind but at times...is rubbish."

"Oh? Is that so?"

She made a rude juvenile gesture that surprised a chuckle out of him. She simpered and turned to the Christmas tree and with surprise, noticed the perfectly wrapped little black box nestled in the higher branches. It hadn't been there when she had laid out her gifts earlier.

Severus casually reached for it after sauntering over to her side. Hermione frowned and was about to tell him to put it back when he handed it to her. What? She raised in an eyebrow in question. He sighed and reached for her hand and left it there. She didn't close her fist around it.

"This is from me."

Oh. OH. It took her a second to understand and she flushed. He smirked at that. She grinned and began to open it. This up close to it she could see that it wasn't a simple as she had first thought. Leather was the outside shell. It was also the right size for a ring…

Severus went down to one knee. He reached for the box and opened it. Nestled in the center of the velvet pillow, was a black diamond ring...

Hermione stared at him. It was all she could do as he stared up at her, face expressionless yet their bond told her everything she needed to know. Everything he felt was brilliantly clear and oh so bittersweet. It calmed her racing heart. It gave her a breath of fresh air as he began to speak out loud.

"Now isn't the time for this. But it also makes it the right time. I have had this ring since the day you decided to be mine. Now I wish for you to wear it. Marry me, Hermione Jean Granger."

Hermione held her breath for a few seconds and released it with a huge smile on her face. "Of course I will. I have to make an honest man out of you. It's my rightful duty."

Light words but only because she was filled with so much love. Love for the man that reached for her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. It felt right. He stood up slowly and stared down at their joined hands. Something powerful moved across his eyes and he smiled. She drew him down and gave him a generous kiss that made her want to crawl back into bed with him. She would have jumped up and wrapped her legs around him but clapping filled the room in seconds.

A lot of clapping.

Hermione drew her lips from his and turned her head without letting go of his neck. And with shock, realized that Zeph and Dimitry were standing there. Along with everybody else. Zeph was tearing up while Dimitry clapped rather sharply. Severus lowered her smoothly to the floor but still held her tightly as he faced the cheering crowd.

He was drawn away from her by the men as they congratulated him and Zeph pulled her aside so that Heidi and Luna could look at her ring.

All the while, Hermione kept eye contact with him and shared her complete happiness with him. Both knowing that even without the ring, they belonged to each other.

Forever.

...o0o0o0o0o...

Happy Holidays!

Vanee

Editing 8/11/19