Much thanks to my editor, Gwen McCormick, and to my dear friend DUJ. All mistakes are mine. Obviously, I am not JKR and am making nothing from this.

The Course of True Love

Chapter 16

Friday, December 25, 1998

Hermione stood at the entrance to Ravenclaw tower, watching Severus quietly backing out of the door. "Severus?" she called out quietly. "I know it's late-

He whirled around in alarm. "Hermione." He paused, his robes settling around him. "It's well after midnight. You should be asleep." He moved away from her, heading towards the dungeon.

Hermione frowned and hurried to catch up with him. "I just got back."

"I am aware of that," he replied crisply, "however, Minerva is not. I lied and told her you were back hours ago."

She bit her lip. "Thank you for covering for me. It won't happen again. I promise." He nodded a reply but did not slow his steps for her. "Um, Severus, what were you doing in Ravenclaw tower?" she asked as she jogged along.

"Patrolling," he replied. "Just because it's Christmas Eve does not mean the staff should be lax in their duties."

She snorted. "Severus, everyone else in this castle is asleep, waiting for Father Christmas." The only answer she received was the sound of their footsteps on the stone floors. "Couldn't you sleep?"

"I am well, thank you," he returned. His words kept time with his steps. "You should be in bed, too. Good night."

"Wait," she insisted, hurrying after him. "It's Christmas day."

"I am aware of the date, Hermione," he replied.

"Well, could you stop a moment-"

But he didn't. If anything, he seemed to increase the speed of his steps. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Severus, did I do something to upset you, anger you?" She was almost running to keep up.

"No," he replied.

"I give up," she muttered. She stood still watching him walk down another flight of stairs picking up speed as he went. Oh, no, you don't, Hermione, she told herself. You will not give up on Severus.

Five minutes later, she was at his office door. "All right," she told him, as she barged in, "you're going to give me five minutes of your time." She sat down to catch her breath.

A moment of surprise lit his face before he hid it away. "Five minutes should be sufficient." Reaching into a fold of his robe, he pulled out a small box and set it on the desk in front of her. "Merry Christmas, Hermione." Then, he retreated behind his desk and sat down.

"Oh!" Quickly but carefully, she unwrapped the present, being sure to set the bow aside. "Oh, Severus, you shouldn't have!"

It was The Wizard of Oz charm bracelet she had admired when they were shopping in London. "Severus," she said, "I love it!" She removed the bracelet from the box and fastened it around her wrist. "But there's something written the back of the charms." She held each of the five charms up and turned them over. "There's. No. Place. Like.-"

"Don't!" He leaned forward and grabbed the last charm, covering her hand with his. "It's a portkey, triggered by the words."

"What?"

"It's a real charm bracelet," he informed her. "I had unlimited use keyed into it, and it's based on the phrase 'There's no place like home.' If you say that phrase while wearing it, you'll portkey to Sydney."

Her mouth dropped open.

"Something you need, something you want, something you can read, and something you can wear."

"Thank you. It's perfect," she told him. Her voice was low and brimming with emotion, and for several long minutes she was unable to say more. She used the silence to set her gift to him on the desk. Clearing her throat, she told him, "I was trying to find you to give you this."

Severus looked wide eyed back and forth between her and the box. "I didn't expect this." He looked terribly ill at ease. "I never-" But he shut his mouth and lifted the lid to find a thick book. "Thank you, Hermione," he said. "You know my fondness for books. I can't wait to-"

"It's not just any book, Severus," she told him. "It's a baby book. Your baby book."

Confusion swam over his features as he carefully opened the cover and glanced down at the title page. Severus Tobias Snape, January 9, 1960. He froze, staring at the words and pictures. "This, this is my, my birth announcement, and this photo – these are my parents and grandmother when, when-" He looked up at her, his eyes filling with tears, and he wasn't sure if he loved her or hated her for bringing up these feelings.

"While I was working on Spinner's End, I found an old shoe box full of photos and clippings," she explained gently.

His hands shook as he turned the page, his eyes drinking in the black and white photos and hand-written details. His grandmother's handwriting, his mother's. Even his father's words, telling of the fierce pride he had in his newborn son.

"Your grandmother had started a baby memory book for you, and your parents must have added to it. I just sorted it all, put in chronological order, and –"

Severus gave a bitter-sweet laugh. They did love me, he thought. Once, before Grandmother died and in despair father became a drunk, they loved me! He ran the tips of his fingers over a lock of his baby hair.

"Your hair is still baby fine and just a black," Hermione told him. She paused and bit her lip. "Severus, you aren't upset with me, are you?"

His eyes flew to hers. "No!" His smooth voice was harsh with emotion. "Hermione, this is – this is the best gift anyone has ever given me." He gestured to the memory book. "Grandmother died when I was a little boy, and my father never got over it. He drank himself and us into the poor house and –"

Severus stopped, seeming to remember who he was, and he forced himself to control. "Thank you, Hermione."

"You're welcome, Severus," she replied softly. She stood up, tears brimming in her eyes. "Good night." She paused at the door, but he didn't notice. He was engrossed in the book.

"Hello, everyone," Hermione said, breathing hard, "sorry I'm late."

"I'm glad you're here," Ron said. He planted a big kiss on her temple. "Merry Christmas, Hermione! Come on, let's go up to Ginny's room. I hid your gift up there."

The four of them rushed up the stairs and settled down on Ginny's bed. "Okay, ladies first," Ginny said, handing Hermione a gift. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you too, Ginny," Hermione replied. "Oh, Ginny, this is so nice. A magical organizer!"

Ginny explained, "It will color-code and cross reference items automatically."

"That ought to come in handy while we're planning the wedding!" Ron added. "I'm thinking this summer would be the perfect time."

"Speaking of perfect," Ginny put in. "Thank you so much for the blouse! It's exactly the right shade of green and not too frilly but not too plain either!"

"Here," Harry said, handing Hermione an envelope. "It's a gift certificate for Flourish and Blotts."

"Thank you, Harry," she told him. "And, for you."

"A Holyhead Harpies jersey," he said. "Ron, look at this! It's been signed!"

"And for you, Ron." She held out a large box.

Ron grinned and pulled open the box. "Thank you, 'mione," he said. "It's a, a set of Muggle robes?"

"Yes, a suit," she told him. "You can't go wrong with a good black suit, and the shirt is a royal blue to match your eyes."

"Hey, that's pretty. Is it new?" Ginny asked, reaching out to touch Hermione's charm bracelet.

"The Wizard of Oz?" Harry asked.

"That's right, and it's called a charm bracelet," Hermione explained. "And it's really charmed. It's a portkey, so I can visit my parents."

"That's clever," Harry pronounced, "really clever. Did Minerva give you that?"

"No, Severus did-"

"Ooooh, Severus?" Ginny teased her with mock shock.

"Yeah," Ron muttered, "I get pretty sick of hearing her harping on and on about Severus, too." Ron rubbed his jaw, thinking. "And I don't think I like the idea of another man giving my fiancé fancy jewelry, and I don't think a lady ought to accept expensive jewelry either unless-"

"Don't even finish that sentence, Ron," Harry warned. "That's Hermione you're talking about."

"And it's not like you've given her a ring or anything," Ginny pointed out.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Ron said with a sigh. "C'mon, now, don't cry." He took her into his arms and hugged her. "Look." He pushed her gently back and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Look, what I got you for Christmas." He turned her around to face Ginny's closet.

"Ta da!" Ron yanked open Ginny's closet. "It's a broom," he said cheerfully. "The latest model."

Hermione began to say, "It's a broom. Thank you, Ron."

But Ginny quickly interrupted. "Is that a broom or a bus?" Ginny asked with disgust. "Really, Ron, how big do you think Hermione is?"

Turning around, he explained tenderly to Hermione, "It's the safest one on the market," he told her proudly. "I wanted to make sure you and our kids had a safe way to travel." He stepped to the side and wound his arm around her waist.

Hermione sighed and smiled. She turned and kissed him. "It's a very thoughtful gift. Thank you, Ron."

"Yeah, well, only the best for us," Ron told her with a shrug. "Now, let's sit down and do some planning." He opened her new plan book, turned it around, and handed it to her.

"All right," she agreed. "Ginny, do you have a quill and ink I could use?"

Summer," he said. "I want to get married this summer."

"June's traditional," Ginny remarked, handing Hermione the quill and inkwell. She dropped onto her bed next to her friend.

Hermione tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I don't know if my apprenticeship will be finished by then," she said, crossing her legs beneath her and settling the materials in place.

Harry suggested, "You can always go back to Hogwarts and finish up after."

"That's a great idea, Harry," Ron agreed. "I want Twilfitt and Tattings to make our robes. My beautiful bride to going to have a gorgeous white dress with layers and layers of ruffles and lace."

"You think we can get a baker to make the wedding cake to match the dress?" Ginny asked sarcastically. "Really, Ron, it's customary for the bride to choose her own dress, you know."

"I want a something simple," Hermione insisted. "Ivory satin."

"Pearls would be perfect with that," Ginny added with enthusiasm.

"If 'mione wants pearls," Ron said, "she'll get pearls, but, to tell you the truth, pearls are kind of small, you know? I want my bride to wear something glamorous."

"I don't need anything glizty," Hermione insisted. "I keep telling you. I just want something simple. Just family and friends – let's keep this small."

"But you deserve a big wedding. I'm thinking of something large and formal. Do you think Professor Dumbledore would officiate? Or maybe Kingsley!" He grinned at her. "Wouldn't that be brilliant? To say we were married by the Minister of Magic!"

"You're not listening," Hermione said. "I want a quiet, simple affair."

"No," Ron insisted, "that won't do! We are genuine war heroes!" He gestured around the room. "The public will expect a show." He stood up and began pacing the small room. "Come to think of it, I think Dumbledore would make a better officiant. Harry, what do you think?"

"Excuse me!" Hermione exploded. "But this is my wedding! Shouldn't you ask me what I think?"

"Okay," Ron said slowly, "would you prefer Kingsley or Professor Dumbledore?"

"Neither," she replied. "Ron, I don't want our wedding to turn into some kind of circus. I want a quiet, little wedding in a small, little church."

Ron frowned until Ginny threw a pillow at him. "Okay," he said, "we'll have to compromise."

"I know you want a big affair, but I don't," Hermione said quietly. "A small ceremony with only family and friends. I won't budge on that."

He frowned. "All right, but I want formal dress, and Dumbledore to preside, not some Muggle guy, and it'll be at the Ministry-"

"No." Her lips tightened. "A small country church."

"We'll need a big church if we both have twelve attendants."

"Twelve? That's ridiculous!" she exclaimed. "One each."

He shook his head vehemently. "Only one? Which of my brothers do I leave out? Or do you want me to leave Harry out?"

"Are you two sure you want to get married?" Ginny asked. "I mean, to each other?" She looked at Harry. "All they do is argue."

"Just forget the wedding then," Hermione declared. She stood up and snapped the planner closed.

Ron inhaled and stepped back. "All right, I see you're upset. Let's just relax." He tried to sound reasonable, using the tactics he'd learned at the Auror's Department in 'Calming the Suspect' class. He smiled and held out his hands, palms up. "Let's go back. Large church, small ceremony, Dumbledore, six attendants – five, no, three, three attendants."

Ginny, Minerva, Hermione thought. I can find two attendants, not three. Too bad I can't ask Severus to be the third. Right now, he's the best friend I have. She sighed and nodded. "Okay, three."

Ron smiled. "See, that wasn't so hard." He pulled her into a hug and rested his chin on the top of her head.

Hermione hugged him back. Then, she stood on tiptoes to kiss him. "Harry, Ginny, Merry Christmas. Ron, I'll see you as soon as I-"

"You aren't going?" Ron asked, frowning.

"It's nearly 8:00, Ron," she told him. "I'm supposed to be back by 8:00, and I promised Severus I wouldn't be late."

His frown deepened. "You promised Severus, huh?"

"Well, I got back late from Sydney last night, and he covered for me," she retorted. "So, yes, I promised my friend that I wouldn't be late again. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No," Ron told her, "I guess I don't." But the look on his face was mutinous as he helped her gather her Christmas gifts.