I don't own Harry Potter
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Chapter 60
Severus woke up from a very nice dream. Hermione wore that yellow dress, the one with the small white flowers. She ran in a field and her skirt moved up. Hermione smiled and slowly opened her dress. He moaned and tried to touch one of her perky tits. He was about to close his hand around it when he received a pillow to the face.
"Wake up. We have to board the train." Evan Rosier said as he walked away.
"Fuck you. I'm fucking staying." He shouted as he tried to recover the dream.
Lestrange snorted, "he's an orphan with nowhere else to go. Where did you think he was going?"
Severus rolled his eyes. These fucking boys were so predictable.
"Fuck off Batsy." Severus said. He knew Rabastan hated the nickname. Severus called him that to spite him. It was what Bella used to call him in that other lifetime and he hated it then, just as much.
"How many times do I have to tell you to not call me that?" The boy tried to lunge at him but Severus moved and cackled when the boy tried to hex him.
"Pathetic, can't even hex a half asleep half breed." Severus taunted and moved away to the loo.
"Bloody mudblood." The boy yelled after him. Severus shook his head. Rabastan would learn not to fuck with him soon enough.
He frowned when he looked at his erection. "Just a few more weeks." He muttered as he conjured an image of Hermione, a memory, really. She was in the bath, glistening with sudsy water. He tugged at his cock and thought about her arse and that small mole by her right hip. He would bite her there and then make his way lower while she moaned his name and tugged at his hair. She always loved when he teased her.
He thought of the ways he would have her. Hermione was firm on her new attitude towards underage sex. She would not budge. They were to be seventeen before they engaged in proper sex as she put it. Severus had the hormones of a teenager. He would finger her, ask her to blow him, which she said she would once he turned seventeen. Hermione said she would not corrupt him. Severus whispered filthy things. She loved when he talked dirty to her but she would not let him rub his cock against her naked entrance. He promised things, offered her favors, study sessions even to be friendly to Black and yet his frizzy haired love refused.
He needed to be patient and wait a little longer. He finally thought of her open cunt and how tight she would feel against him. She always did, she felt tighter to his fingers now.
Severus imagined her moaning and grabbing the nape of his neck while he bucked into her and came all over the shower tiles.
He washed off and then brushed his teeth. Severus washed his face and walked out the loo. All of his dorm mates went home for the holidays. Severus and Hermione would spend it in the castle until Christmas Eve. Minerva and Tom would take them to Minerva's parents for Christmas dinner and then they would travel to London until they resumed school. Severus asked to stay in the castle but his petition was met by two glares, one from Hermione and another from Tom. He shrugged and accepted his fate.
He walked out to the Great Hall and found that he was almost late for the last of breakfast. He missed Winky, she would give him food at all hours of the day. The house elf was repurposed to Tom who agreed that she should take care of Hammersmith. Bapsy was getting on and Mopsy took care of her. Someone needed to mind Hammersmith.
Severus saw as Narcissa approached the table. She was ready to go. "You should come with us." She said with a smile. Regulus and her were going to Germany to spend time with dear Bellatrix. Black was also invited but he refused. He would stay to make Potter and Lupin company.
"I cannot. My uncle is having me and Hermione partake in his Yuletide traditions." Severus shoveled some food.
"How dull." Regulus replied, "well at least you'll have company you enjoy."
Narcissa rolled her eyes, "I'll have you know that Delphini is better now. She does not bite people anymore."
"What the hell is a Delphini?" Sev asked as he ate some eggs.
"My niece, she is five and adorable." Cissy preened.
Regulus snorted, "she's a bloody menace is what she is. I almost want to stay with Siri."
Narcissa frowned, "aunt Walburga said you have to come. Siri upset her enough this time."
"And once again, I am to pick the pieces." Regulus retorted.
"You should tell him sometime." Cissy replied with big blue eyes.
Regulus nodded, "of course. He barely speaks to me, thinks our whole family is despicable but he will listen to me. Grow up Narcissa."
Severus frowned. He despised the Black family drama. They were all so self-centered. He continued to eat his food and drowned the noise around him.
"Your girlfriends are not here yet." Regulus said as he stood up.
Severus frowned, "I have one girlfriend. Hermione Granger. Lily is only a friend." He said once again.
Regulus rolled his eyes. "I'll see you next year mate. Take care." He said and punched him on the arm.
Severus cursed at him and received a kiss and a hug from Narcissa. He knew that Lucius was invited to Germany this year. They wanted Cissy to get used to him. Narcissa would of course marry him soon enough.
The Slytherin table emptied within ten minutes. He was the only one in his year staying. Magnolia and her sister left the night before. Her grandfather died the previous eve.
Hermione was nowhere in sight. He scanned the table for Lily but she was not there either. He saw Potter, Black and Lupin chatting. Lupin was staying then. The girls came down. Lily carried her trunk with her. She said her goodbyes to the marauders and then came to his table. She sat by him and hugged him.
"I will not see when we come back." Lily planted a big kiss on his cheek and hugged him tight. "I will miss you." She said gently. It was a special Christmas in their other lifetime. It was the last one before she stopped speaking to him.
"I wish I could stay for him." Lily whispered.
"We spoke of this. You have to go. Tuney will bring Vernon for dinner. He will try to touch your leg. You have to make sure that Tuney sees it. She needs to understand that he is not good, not even for her." Severus replied.
Lily frowned, "Tuney is my sister."
Severus rolled his eyes. "She is a cow."
Lily punched him on the arm. "I hate it when you're mean."
Severus arched an eyebrow, "your love for me is undying. You told me so."
Lily laughed and kissed him once more. He hugged her one last time.
Severus smiled and kissed her cheek, "go before Potter tries to curse me. See you around Lils." He said and waved away.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him when he grinned to her direction. She knew he loved to make Potter jealous. Potter could have killed him on the spot.
Hermione stood up and went to him. "Come on. We're going to the library."
"Why?" He asked as she dragged him away from his third serving of mash and bangers.
"We have to study for Arithmancy." She said and chattered.
"Hermione, we don't have to." He stopped and brought her closer. "We can go to the room of requirement and you can give me my Christmas present earlier." He looked into her eyes and tried to convince her.
"I think not." It was not Hermione's voice. It was Tom.
Severus frowned at him, "why are you here?"
Tom smiled, "it's nice to see you too." He said and walked with them. "I am taking you and Minnie home. Change of plans, the McGonagalls decided to spend Yule with Robert and his family. They are going to France, some treat or something. Isobel is quite excited and Robert cannot help but follow along."
Hermione frowned, "does Minerva know?" She asked as they walked to her office.
Tom nodded, "to be honest Minnie was not looking forward to explaining you two. We were also afraid Isobel may recognize you two. She's sharp that one."
Severus was sent to pack. Hermione was packed and ready to go since the night before.
"Goody Two Shoes." He muttered.
Hermione stuck out his tongue and grabbed Tom's arm. "You must tell me all about the Ministry." He heard her say.
Severus walked to the dungeons and found Black and Potter near the staircases. They had the marauder's map. It was strange how the timelines converged. Hermione had it in her possession only a few years ago. It disappeared when the boys created it back.
"Funny seeing you here Snape." Black began.
"Sod off." He muttered and avoided them. Potter hexed him first. Severus took care to move away quickly and aim his wand at Black. He cursed him with a levicorpus while avoiding a rictumsempra from Potter.
"Expelliarmus." Severus said lazily and caught Potter's wand.
"You don't learn do you?" He said and threw the wand toward the other corridor.
He picked up his pace and left them running behind him. He apparated to the dungeons. Severus packed all of his things and apparated to Minerva's office.
"You have to stop doing that." Minerva admonished, "Albus could have been here."
"Calm down." Severus replied.
"Well, we are all here. We're traveling for Christmas." Tom said with a smile.
Hermione grinned. She knew where they were going. "Where?"
"Alexandria." Tom finished. Minerva and Severus were not super thrilled.
"If we must go." Severus said sullenly.
Hermione frowned but remained quiet. "This is all so exciting. We'll get to see the libraries once more. Remember when we took you? Oh we had so much fun."
Minerva smiled then. She was also a know it all at heart, the biggest out of the four of them.
"Fantastic. We'll board a portkey to Cairo and do some sightseeing as well." Tom sounded happy. He was excited for the trip.
Severus got to the Floo first. They were to go to Hammersmith and then board the portkey to Cairo. They landed in time.
"Go explore. Come back by nightfall. We'll stay at this hotel." Tom gave them a parchment and some local currency. "Minerva and I have some adventures of our own." Minerva laughed and kissed Tom soundly.
"You two are revolting." Severus sneered.
Hermione dragged him away. They walked around the markets and bought some trinkets.
"They fight all the time." Hermione said as they sat to eat some ice cream.
Severus frowned, "they need this trip. They also need for you to stop being so immature."
"I am nothing but civil." Severus said while licking his lemon ice cone.
Hermione laughed. She looked beautiful. He told her so. "Thank you. Now about them. Haven't you seen the way he looks all the time? Minerva is always sour. She used to smile much more. They are not having sex. Honestly Sev, you were a spy for years."
Severus almost spat his ice cream, "I am not remotely interested in our son's sex life."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "you two are quite similar. You are very squeamish about sex."
Severus arched an eyebrow, "I am not, I can prove it." He wiggled his eyebrows and looked at her jean skirt.
Hermione blushed, "I meant that you are not open about healthy sex and other people. Tom is the same. At least, his head is out of his arse now. Let them enjoy each other. Tom is under a lot of stress and Minerva feels neglected. I am surprised we are here for the ride. I would have made us stay in the castle. It could be because you cannot keep away from the marauders. I think Minerva is afraid you would accidentally hurt them."
"It wouldn't be accidental." Severus said plainly.
"You have to behave otherwise your birthday surprise will be less than satisfactory." Hermione narrowed his eyes.
"Are you bargaining with sex?" Severus asked her openly.
"I am. You behave otherwise you will remain a 17-year-old virgin." She teased.
Severus frowned, "you and I are not virgins."
Hermione smirked, "technically we are. We are back to our teenage old bodies."
He looked at her and his eyes opened widely, "fuck me."
"I will not if you keep this up. You need to be your pleasant and mature self. Do not instigate or antagonize them. Accept that he is the adult now." Hermione begged him.
"I cleaned up after that boy. I am his father." Severus said quickly.
"Oh sweetheart, we'll always be but now he sees us as two teenagers and frankly you are proving him right. Just be nice." She grabbed his hand and kissed it.
Severus nodded, "fine but only because you are offering me sex."
They slept in three rooms. He had to admit he liked the libraries and the fact that Tom was much more relaxed and let him and Hermione be much more independent that they ever were in England.
They spent Christmas Day near Alexandria in one of the Prince houses. Severus woke up to his usual erection. How he fucking wished it was his birthday.
He took care of it in the shower as usual and then met Minerva and Tom in the living room. They had a Christmas tree decorated. Tom had Minerva on his lap and his hands inside Minerva's robe.
"Dear Merlin." Severus yelled and turned away. Tom laughed. "Vengeance is sweet." He said.
Severus frowned, "Minerva make yourself decent. Have you no shame." He yelled. Hermione laughed and so did the two adults.
"Simmer down. I shared a home with you two. You went at it all the time." Tom laughed once more.
"Come and open your presents." He said.
Severus frowned but went by the tree. He received a silver potion knife from Minerva. Tom gifted him a set of books about Roman Emperors. He smiled.
"I thought you would like them." Tom offered.
"I do. Thank you very much."
Hermione gave him records. All of his favorites. "You'll need to find a way to play them." The room of requirement acted weirdly the last time he tried to play music there.
Severus missed music. "I will. Thank you Hermione." He needed to find a way. It was hard when he was young. The abundance of magic interfered with stereos and turntables to work but he would find a way. Lily gave him pictures of them, not only them two but the three of them.
"She is truly talented." Minerva remarked. "I am surprised as to how well she took to you both."
Hermione nodded, "Lily is brilliant."
"She seems a little standoffish now. She usually greeted me with a smile. The girl barely acknowledged me the other day when I retrieved you." Tom said off handedly.
"Well she is a teenager now. I have seen the sweetest children turn into sullen creatures at the drop of a hat." Minerva pointed out.
Severus rolled his eyes. The rest of them opened their gifts and were happy with their presents. Hermione squealed and kissed him soundly when he gave her the medium parcel. "It took me months to find him." Severus said when she opened the box. Getting him to Alexandria was also a bit of a hassle but so worth it when she opened it up. He knew she missed Atria. The cat died seven years ago.
He tracked him down at the menagerie for months. Hermione told him about the blasted cat for years. He remembered seeing him once. The cat was ugly but little Ms. Granger loved it. It was only a matter of calculation; Severus knew that the cat would be born soon. Half kneazles lived long lives too, not seventy years like full kneazles and her blasted cat looked adult when young Granger got it.
Severus grinned when she opened the box and took out the tiny ginger furball. "He is seven weeks old."
Hermione cried. "Crookshanks." She squealed happily and held the tiny feline to her chest. "Oh Severus you are the most wonderful, loving, thoughtful and handsomest man," She jumped to him and kissed his face all over.
The adults were perplexed, "It is surely a lovely kneazle." Minerva began.
"Oh Crooksy is a half kneazle. He is not just any regular pet. This is Crookshanks." She made a face to it and tickled its belly.
"Mummy has missed you so much." She said and Crookshanks looked at her adorably. He meowed and nuzzled her neck.
Severus nodded. "Yes he is. I tracked him down."
"How did you?" Hermione looked at him with a huge smile.
"You've only talked about him for the past forty some years. I figured this would be the decade he would be born in. You had your books from third year. I noticed a receipt. You used it as a bookmark. It had his name, birthdate. I met with the menagerie shop keeper. I asked him to let me know of any half kneazles like Crookshanks and there he was." Severus explained.
Hermione kissed him once again. "Oh Sev. I love you so much." She said and grinned once more.
Tom and Minerva smiled. "How wonderful." Minerva clapped and laughed. Tom kissed her nose.
They had a pleasant day and the evening was filled with laughter. It felt good to talk to Tom without him having to leave on an urgent Ministry matter.
"You had to see it Tom. I thought I was going to kill him. Severus managed to hex Potter and Pettigrew. Black however got him and made his hair turn yellow. Severus in turn made Black's nose disappear and then tried to sew his mouth. The boy could have died."
Severus chuckled. "Black is an arse. He deserved it."
Hermione nodded, "Minerva, you have to admit. He did deserve it."
Tom asked, "what did the boy do?"
"He had two sixth year boys drink a love potion and chase after Severus. Those boys almost sexually harassed him." Hermione said. The boys were very embarrassed, no more than Severus who tried to rebuke their advances very politely.
Tom laughed uproariously. Severus frowned and then laughed when he remembered Blacks' utter humiliation and near suffocation. Severus managed to perform a temporary but powerful spell that no one could remove. Sirius had to stay with his mouth open and no nose for two weeks before the spell wore off.
He had detention for three weeks but it was worth it.
Tom turned forty-nine on a very sunny Egyptian day. Severus woke up early and Tom had coffee ready.
Severus smiled and approached him. He had not reached his full height yet. He would not do so for another seven or eight months. It was lucky that Tom was seated. "I still get to do this." He said and bumped his head with his. "Happy Birthday Tom." The older man smiled.
"Thank you." He said and smiled happily.
They went to the pyramids and spent the day tanning and laughing. They had their picture taken by a local. Severus wore shades and so did Minerva. Tom and Hermione wore toothy grins.
Severus gifted him with a book about muggle computers "fascinating." He said that night when he perused it. Hermione gave him and a set of golden quills. "Thank you. They are truly beautiful. I'll use them every day." They were not privy to Minerva's gift.
Severus had a thought that it was something sexual in nature given the noises he heard the late that night. One of them slipped up with the silencing charm. Severus waved his wand around to soundproof his room.
Severus and Tom had a nice conversation just before traveling back to the United Kingdom. It was late that night. Hermione and Minerva were to spend the night at some retreat with women only.
They talked about the football season and then Tom said what was on his mind. "Minerva tells me that you are cozy with Ms. Evans."
Severus smiled and sipped his drink. "We are friends."
"That is your friend. The one you were in love with." Tom stated openly.
"She is. I was in love with her, before I met your mother. Lily is my best friend." Severus replied just as openly.
"Minerva is my best friend. I thought mum was your best friend." Tom sometimes slipped.
"Minerva also happens to be the woman you are in love with, your life partner. Lily is my best friend and I am hers. It is different. I assure you, I am not in love with Lily. I love her. I truly do but I do not desire her, I am not in love with her. I love one Hermione Granger or Snape whichever you prefer."
"Does mum know? Minnie tells me things. I don't want Hermione to hurt." Tom explained. It went back to that. Hermione was to be protected at all costs.
"Of course she is aware. I would never play or betray her trust. Tom, Hermione is my life. I love her to the point of killing. I would die and kill for her. I lived after Lily died. I would not live if my Hermione would ever to leave my side." Severus said openly and without shame. "My love for Hermione is more powerful than anything I have ever felt for Lily. Hermione and I have built our love for over forty years. Our bond is stronger than anything I would ever dare to build with Lils. Hermione knows that, believe me she does."
Tom nodded, "I don't want Hermione to ever hurt."
"Never under our watch remember?" Severus referred to their long ago conversations.
"Never hurt those who are weaker. Real men don't hurt women or children." Tom replied dutifully.
They stayed quiet for a while.
"We sometimes hurt those whom we love." Tom said with a sad smile.
Severus nodded, "we do but you and I. We are lucky, Hermione and Minerva are the type of women that you fix things with. You always fix things. It's not worth it to be upset or proud. Nothing is worth letting them go."
Tom chuckled, "I would never let Minnie go but I think I'm losing her."
Severus shook his head, "she is in love with you."
"I love her like the first time. I know she loves me. The ministry, I have so much on my plate. She accused me of not being present." Tom said bitterly.
"You are not present. This is the most time you have spent with her in months. The ministry dinners and affairs do not count." Severus said.
"I thought you understood what is at stake." Tom frowned.
"I do. Do you know why Albus is so alone?" Severus asked.
"I've heard the rumors." Tom said while frowning. "What does bloody Dumbledore have to do with all of this?"
"Everything. Albus is the most vivid example of power and how harmful it could be. He is perhaps the most powerful wizard of our time and yet he is alone. I have learned that it matters little to be all that mighty when you are lonely. Albus is not only alone, he is lonely. Think wisely Tom. I have no doubt that you will be Minister of Magic but perhaps the timing isn't right just yet. Let go and work with Minnie. She is your partner, not your secretary or the minder of your affairs." He said and then finished his beer. He left Tom to think about his actions and future.