"You, sit," the Headmistress said, directing Hermione toward a chair. Then she thrust her finger toward Severus. "You, talk. What, exactly, were Percy Weasley and Harry Potter doing in the Castle? And it better have something to do with why you disappeared from the ball last night."
Severus raised a sardonic eyebrow and shot a glance toward a shrugging Hermione. He'd known that the wards would have notified Minerva of the unscheduled visitors' presence, but he had no idea she'd be quiet this curious. "It would seem that you've already worked that out for yourself, Min," he said, sinking into the chair next to Hermione's.
"Did Percy convince Kingsley to reopen the investigation into your attack?" she pressed, her voice sounding hopeful.
Severus sighed. So much for adding two and two, I suppose . "No, Min," he replied softly. "The investigation will remain closed because my attacker - and, for that matter, Hermione's attacker - confessed last night. After attacking Hermione. Again."
"In an attempt to repair the compulsion spell that drove me toward Ronald," Hermione chimed in.
Minerva sat in her desk chair with a thump. "Percy."
Hermione and Severus nodded.
"I assume he'd left because of his wife - "
"He did. It was a girl. They've named her Thalia," Hermione responded. "Harry placed a trace on Percy's wand - illegally, so please don't mention it to Kingsley just yet - so that he could attend the birth. Then we met with them both this morning. Kingsley knows now and Percy will be leaving the Minister's staff to work with us researching the reversal and repair of memory charms."
Minerva sat up at this. "Don't tell me you're leaving Hogwarts!" she exclaimed.
"Calm yourself, Min," Severus said. "Neither of us has any intention of leaving. Hermione's Arithmantic consultancy will be redirected into the research group. I will become a Potions consultant for the purpose. Others will be hired and our work will take place outside of our duties to Hogwarts."
Hermione reached forward and placed her hand over her friend and mentor's. "I wouldn't do that to you, Minerva. If I leave, I will give you ample notice, help you find my replacement, and stay to help train them. I won't leave you in a lurch. You have my promise on that."
The Headmistress flipped her hand over to give Hermione's a soft squeeze, silently nodding her thanks. "I'll have to floo Molly and congratulate on her new grandchild. This is the fifth?"
"Sixth," Hermione corrected. "And hardly the last. Ginny is due any day, Ronald's wife is due soon, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Fleur is pregnant with her third." She slanted a glance toward Severus. "She was avoiding champagne last night."
Severus snorted. The Weasleys were nothing if not prolific. It would seem that he would have a new passel of Weasleys to teach in a few years time.
Minerva waved a hand as if to clear the air. "That's of no matter at the moment. Tell me about Percy. And your memories. Did he reverse the spell?" she asked Severus.
"He did. The memories return if I attempt to recall them. I suspect that several extended meditation sessions will be necessary to clear the cobwebs, as it were," he intoned. "As for Mr. Weasley, Hermione has convinced me that seeking retribution through legal channels would serve as nothing more than revenge. A highly public revenge, at that. The method Percival used to restore my memories was...unusual. It seems a better idea to use his skills and combine them with our own to help others." He glanced at his lover as she took his hand. "Namely, such research may help to completely restore the Grangers' memories."
Hermione smiled at him before returning her attention to Minerva. "And Lockhart's. If we're lucky, the Longbottoms' too, assuming we can sort past the noise from the cruciatus."
"Goodness. That is ambitious. But how will you manage it? You're already dealing with full course loads, your animagus class, the upcoming survival exercise, the dueling club -"
"The dueling club?" they responded in tandem.
"Oh, yes. Didn't Filius mention that there will be another demonstration this spring? Several war alumni will be traveling to the castle to participate, including Misters Potter and Weasley. Ronald, I mean," she said. "Filius thought it would tie in well with the upcoming survival exercise."
Severus considered this. "It would, actually. I'll speak to Filius about it further after the holiday break." He glanced at the carriage clock on the table behind Minerva and rose. "Now if you'll excuse me, Min, it's Christmas Eve. Hermione and I were going to stretch our legs before celebrating."
Minerva smiled at her old friend as he offered his hand to Hermione. "Go on with you then. Have a Happy Christmas, both of you."
They'd retired early after Severus had spent the majority of the afternoon meditating in an attempt to force his memories to resurface. It was a frustrating process, remembering what he didn't know was in his head. He found the most effective technique was to build on one of the pensieve memories that Hermione had shown him; the 'restored' memories added layers and nuance that hadn't been there before and allowed him to build out either end of the recollection. However, the technique was limiting. For all that Hermione had been a near-constant presence in his life before Percival had hexed him, she was not there for every moment of every day.
Perhaps most frustrating was his partial success in recalling his own thoughts and emotions in association with each event. Sometimes he succeeded - he grinned to himself when recalling how utterly besotted he'd been when he and Hermione had first become intimate - but often times the emotion hovered, just out of reach.
It was hard not to want the return of all his memories, all his feelings at once. He could only hope that time would help to heal the gaping mental wound that the middle-Weasley had left in his consciousness.
He awoke early on Christmas morning when Hermione warm, round bottom pressed against his erection in the most enticing fashion. He moved his hips slightly in response and was rewarded with a purring sigh from his bedmate.
"G'morning," she mumbled into the pillow.
"Good morning, love," he said in her ear, please at the little shiver his voice elicited. Languidly, he ran a hand over her hip and the slight roundness of her stomach before skimming up, over her ribs, and toward her breast. "Happy Christmas, Hermione," he said with a smile in his voice as he gently tweaked a nipple.
She wriggled her bum against his cock as her body began to respond to his increasingly enticing ministrations. "Father Christmas never left this in my stocking before," she said with a little chuckle.
"Mmm, I should hope not." He pressed his lips to her neck and slid his hand back down her body and toward her core, which was already wet and waiting for him. "And have you been a good girl this year, Hermione?"
"Yeeeess," she breathed, parting her legs and rolling onto her back to allow his fingers better access. "Oh, so very good."
"You're on my list, Miss Granger."
"Which one?" she moaned.
Severus shot her a wicked grin as his face slid beneath the covers. "All of them."
Much, much later that morning, they turned their attentions toward the pile of gifts at the foot of the bed. Severus was surprised to see that the pile was fairly sizeable. "Your friends have been generous this year," he commented.
"I suspect many of those are for you, love," Hermione responded with a smirk. "You're Britain's Dark Hero Returned. I'm sure people are showing their love now you're back."
"Hm." He swung his legs out of the bed and pulled on his sleep pants before padding toward the gifts and distributing them. Hermione had been right - a number of them were for him.
When they each had their pile next to them on the bed, they took turns opening and commenting on their gifts. Harry had sent both of them beautiful journals of leather-bound fine parchment for use in their research endeavors. Severus received a bottle of Tullibardine Sherry Cask from Minerva and beautifully wrought arm sheath for his wand from Filius. Slughorn had sent a box of crystallized ginger, and Sybill, bless her, had sent him a pair of wooly socks with crystal balls knitted into them. The Longbottoms had sent a planter with bulbs under stasis with instructions to remove the spell and watch them bloom. He vowed to do so after breakfast and coffee. Molly Weasley had even sent a bumper box of fudge and mince pies - a personal favorite.
Hermione received little gifts from a number of her friends, including a planter identical to his. "We should put them on either side of the balcony in the summer," she commented. "I think these might be iris bulbs." Molly had sent her the annual Weasley sweater in a beautiful shade of teal. Severus was surprised when Hermione opened a package from her former fiancé and a slip of parchment fell out. The box contained what appeared to be a hand-held foe glass. The note, however, was somewhat revelatory. Hermione read it with a little frown on her face before handing it to Severus.
P & P came to stay for Christmas with baby T. Caught Per. trying to remove a compuls. spl. from me. Tied him down and made him tell all. We need to talk. Will floo at two. Pls. answer.
Severus furrowed his brow and stared at the short missive. "Mr. Weasley is a succinct as always. I do believe his writing has degenerated still further since his days at Hogwarts. If that was possible."
"What do you think I should do?" Hermione asked, biting her lower lip.
Severus shrugged. "That's entirely up to you."
She took the strip of paper back from him and stared at it another moment. "I'll answer the floo. I want to hear about things from his end. Will you stay with me?"
"Of course. I'd be rather interested to hear the tale myself. If I recall, your former fiancé throws a mean hex and has a short fuse. I rather suspect Percival did not come out on the better end of that encounter."
"Hm. Perhaps." Hermione shook her hair back and reached under her side of the bed. "Before the mood is completely spoilt," she said, handing him a box wrapped in silver paper with a bright green ribbon tied 'round it.
Severus made quick work of the wrapping and pulled out a brilliantly embroidered set of black teaching robes. The embroidery appeared to be interlocked and overlapping branches in shades of dark green with ravens peeking out from between some of the branches. It was a work of art. "This is stunning. Wherever did you find this?"
"I had it made for you. Narcissa helped me find someone to do the embroidery, and she worked from my descriptions. I know you don't wear as much black these days, but...I rather miss seeing you billow through the hallways," she admitted with a slight blush.
"These are very fine, Hermione. I love them." He leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to her cheek before reaching into his nightstand drawer and withdrawing her gift - a small box wrapped in burgundy paper and affixed with a bright gold bow. "This is for you. Happy Christmas, love."
Hermione took the box from his hand and shot him a bashful little look before ripping the paper off as eagerly as a twelve year old. When she opened it she let out a soft sigh. "Oh, they're lovely, Severus." She reached in and pulled out a pair of earring set in the same green-toned electrum. The cloudy citrine and black opal had made for a beautiful pair of drop earrings to match her torq. Severus was pleased to see that she immediately put them in her ears, then dashed to the mirror to see how they looked.
"Severus, you have the most exquisite taste."
"I'm pleased you like them," he said with a crooked little smile. "I don't believe I ever gave you jewelry. Before, I mean."
"No. Do you remember what you Christmas gift to me was that year? I can tell you I still have it," she said, testing his memories to see if that one had returned.
He closed his eyes and concentrated. "Can you tell me - did we celebrate at my home?"
"We opened presents there, then went to the Burrow for dinner."
"Alright. Let me try." Severus concentrated on the image of his couch, then where he assumed a Christmas tree would have to go. The corner by the stairs was really the only place that would accommodate a tree. Without thinking, he began to narrate the recollections forming in his mind. "You insisted on a tree, even knowing that I detest them. Your cat tried to climb the bloody thing, so we had to charm it to repel the beast. There was an argument over tinsel, which I won. We exchanged books that year. You gave me the collected works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I gave you...hm. Potions in Motion . An apprentice-level text. My own copy, I believe? Complete with all the scribbles of an over-active mind," he finished, opening his eyes.
Hermione's smile was brilliant. "Yes. You have it."
His own smile was somewhat more subdued. "It's all there. It's just retrieving it that's a bit of a problem. Perhaps in our research with the Weasley-waste we can explore a method to stimulate recall more effectively."
She nodded thoughtfully. "It's not a bad idea. There are several paths our research can take, I think." She gave Severus a quick peck on the tip of his nose (ignoring the roll of his eyes that followed) and scampered off to the bathroom. "I'm going to have a shower," she called. "Why don't you sort breakfast, then join me?"
The smile broadened. That sounded like a fine idea indeed.
"Hello Ronald." Hermione kept her tone crisp and business-like as she addressed the head in the fire.
" 'Mione. Thanks for taking my floo. Uh, hello there Snape." The redhead gave an awkward bob of his head in greeting. "Do you, uh, mind if I come through?"
Hermione shot a quick look to Severus, who merely shrugged in reply. "That's fine."
Ron quickly stepped through the floo and Severus could clearly see the results of a sleepless night spelled across the younger man's face. Hermione seated herself and Severus sank down next to her, placing his arm on the back of the sofa behind her. The casually possessive act did not go unnoticed, but no one remarked on it. "What did you wish to speak about, Ronald? Surely your wife and the rest of your family will be missing you today?" Hermione asked politely, though there was no hint of warmth in her voice.
Ron plopped down in the armchair without invitation. "I told them I was going for a walk, then apparated home to floo you. It's important. Percy. I - well, my note explained it. He compulsed me. And you, apparently."
"Yes." Hermione waited for Ron to continue, but seemed unsurprised at his loss for words. "He placed a compulsion spell on both of us in order to bring us together. He also attacked, then obliviated Severus and banished him from Britain for nearly seven years."
Severus watched as Weasley paled. "He what?" the man gasped. "I just - he only told me - Oh Gods." He turned wide and wretched eyes on his former Potions professor. "He attacked you?"
Severus nodded. "He did. Quite successfully. On multiple occasions."
"I came because I wanted to apologize for the compulsion. For...for how I treated you, Hermione. All of it. But this…" he trailed off, at a loss.
"Perhaps it would be best if we explained the situation in its entirety, Mr. Weasley," Severus interjected.
"Yes. Please."
A half hour later, Severus was somewhat gratified to see the Weasley temper was still in fine form as Ronald stomped back and forth in front of the fireplace. "I cannot fucking believe he did this! The compulsion was bad enough - you and I knew we didn't belong together, 'Mione, from that first kiss - but this! Attacking Severus fucking Snape! The obliviating him? Just to break you up? It makes no sense! Is he insane?" He'd raked his fingers through his hair multiple times throughout Severus and Hermione's story and now looked as though he'd walked through one of the Hogwarts ghosts. The carrot-colored hair stood on end, clashing horribly with the nearly puce shade of the boy's face. "I'll fucking kill him!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You'll do no such thing, Ronald. We're going to be working with him. Because as horrible and as stupid as his actions were, your idiot brother seems to have stumbled upon the only known method to reversing obliviation in its entirety. We need his help to develop a permanent cure."
Ron stopped in his tracks, slanting a look at Hermione. "Your parents."
She nodded shortly. "Yes."
"Well it's the least he can fucking do. I still think you're letting him off too lightly, though," he growled, throwing himself back into the armchair.
"As much as it pains me to do so, Mr. Weasley, I am inclined to agree. But what would you have us do? Press charges? Your brother would end up in Azkaban and, as much as he might deserve it, I respect your parents too much to take another son from them."
"Big of you," Ron stated. "I've never liked you Snape, but even I can admit that what you're doing is more generous than Perce deserves. So I'll thank you for it."
Severus inclined his head. "Well, that's certainly more than your brother did."
Ron nodded again, sadly this time, then turned his head back to Hermione. " 'Mione...I owe you so many apologies that I don't even know where to begin. I'm so sorry. For lots of things, but most especially for cheating on you. We may not have belonged together, but there's no excuse for how I behaved, compulsion or no compulsion. And I lost one of the best friends I'll ever had. Can you ever forgive me?"
Hermione regarded her former lover for a long time before speaking. "I don't know if I can, Ron," she finally said softly. "Are you happy with your Prunella?" she bit the name off.
"I am. I know what she seems like to you lot, but I do love her. She's...we fit, you know?" he replied.
Hermione gave him a small smile. "Yes," she said, glancing at Severus. "I know what that's like. I don't know if I can forgive you, Ron. You hurt me horribly, but worse you damaged my self-confidence. We've been through so much together over the years. For you to do that was simply shattering."
"I know," he said in a near whisper.
"But I'm going to try. Because before we dated, before we were engaged, before Severus, you and I were friends. So I'm going to try. But I need something from you, too."
"Anything," he said. "I'll do anything in my power to make it up to you."
"You can't make it up to me, Ronald. I'm going to try to forgive, but don't think for a moment that I'm going to forget. All I want is for you to get your wife to stop crowing every time I see her at a Ministry function. It's damned annoying and, honestly? She's bloody welcome to you." Hermione crossed her arms and leaned back against the sofa, staring Ron straight in the face.
Ron stood decisively. "I'll take care of it. Thank you. For trying."
"You're welcome. I do want you to be happy, Ron. But I wouldn't expect me to become bosom buddies with your wife any time soon."
He laughed a little at that. "Right. Okay, I need to head back to the Burrow before they send out a search party. And possibly find my brother and strangle him."
"Give my love to your family, Ron," Hermione said, rising to give him an awkward hug. "Except Percy. You can tell him to fuck himself sideways while you're strangling him."
Ron gripped her a little tighter before releasing her from the hug, then glanced at Severus over her head. "Watch yourself with this one, Snape. She's brilliant, but scary."
Severus met the younger man's gaze impassively. "I am well aware. Please give my regards to your family, Mr. Weasley, as well as my own wishes for your brother to bugger himself on a splintered tree trunk in the near future. Oh, and thank your mother for the pies. They're a particular favorite."
Ron grinned and grabbed a handful of floo powder before stepping into the hearth. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "the more I see you two together, the more I think you were meant for each other all along." Without waiting for a response, he threw the powder into the grate and shouted "The Burrow" before spinning out of sight.
Hermione turned to face Severus, a little smirk on her face. "My thoughts exactly. Come on love. Let's find Minerva and open that bottle of scotch she gave you. She'd never forgive us if we didn't share some of that Christmas cheer with her."
Severus grinned in return. "I wonder if Mohinder likes mince pies?"