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 17
Saturday, January 9, 1999
The staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry entered the staffroom with smiles and cheerful greetings. This had been the first school year in ages without the looming shadow of war hanging over them. And they gathered around the staffroom table eager to take on the last semester of the school year.
"I believe that's all for today's meeting," Dumbledore said. "Unless there is something I missed? Anyone with any questions, concerns?"
Suddenly, the Deputy Headmistress stood. "There is just one more important matter we need to attend to before we leave," she said. "Hermione?"
Hermione Granger smiled, stood up, and dashed from the room. Moments later, she returned bearing a large, wooden box. She stepped beside Severus, and leaning around him, she set it on the table in front of him. Tapping the top, she enlarged it until it nearly filled the table.
Severus leaned back in his chair, ostensibly to give her more room, but he was really inhaling her perfume. The scent of English roses cascaded over him. He tilted his head up at her. "What's this?" he asked, his voice deep.
"Happy Birthday, Severus," she replied. Leaning further over him, she tapped the box again, removing the lid and revealing a large platter of cupcakes, biscuits, and punch.
His mouth dropped open. "For me?" he asked, looking around the table in surprise. He'd never had a birthday celebration before.
"For you," Hermione declared. "Everyone," she explained, "can help themselves." She returned to her place opposite him.
"I don't know what to say," Severus admitted, stunned. "This is highly irregular," he pretended to complain. "I thought I'd made it clear that I preferred not to celebrate my birthday."
"We told her, Severus," Horace Slughorn declared. "But she insisted." He popped a large biscuit in this mouth. "Planned the whole thing herself."
"I suppose I must say, 'Thank you'," Snape said coolly. Know how grateful I am, he begged Hermione silently. He bit into a cupcake. Holding his hand over his mouth, he added, "I am forced to admit it's delicious."
"Oh, Albus," Pomona called out. She leaned away from Filius with whom she was sharing a plate of biscuits. "I don't know which House Elves you put in charge of purchasing Christmas gifts for the children this year, but they are to be commended."
"Hmm? What's that?" the Headmaster asked.
"I'd like you to give a special 'thank you' to whichever house elves chose the student gifts for Misses Miller and Smith. The girls simply adored the sweaters and Muggle denim trousers that 'Father Christmas' gave them."
"I must agree," Minerva agreed. "Mr. Corbel is so proud of his new potions kit! His parents were unable to furnish him with one at the beginning of the year, and he's been using a poor, second-hand set. It's like the elves knew exactly what he wanted!"
"That must explain the noises from the Slytherin dormitories," Horace muttered around a bit of cupcake. "I thought there was a riot."
"That was Aurora and I," Septima Vector explained. "I was allowed temporary entrance to the Slytherin common room." She winked at her friend.
"It seems that 'Father Christmas' brought the Carrow twins, Flora and Hestia, a whole host of Muggle board games," Aurora explained. "We've been joining the girls in the evenings and staying up late playing."
"Sorry!" Septima yelled out. She and Aurora dissolved into gales of laughter.
"In the past," Fiilus added, swallowing a sip of punch, "the elves always brought nice but generic presents. This year, though, they seem to have outdone themselves. Every gift seems almost hand-picked for each child. I must say that Mr. Bennet hasn't stopped reading that Dictionary of Magical Medical Maladies." He chuckled.
"I don't think I've heard of this," Horace said. "What's this about?"
"Every year for the past twenty years or so," Pomona explained, "our Hogwarts' Father Christmas makes sure that every student who remains over the holidays receives a gift."
"Regardless of House," Filius added, "every student, whose parents are financially struggling, awakes on Christmas morning to find a gift from Father Christmas."
"Not just students either," Minerva put in. "I know for a fact that Argus receives a Christmas gift every year."
Dumbledore frowned as he set his cup of punch firmly back onto the tray. "I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea what you're all on about," he said, shaking the cake crumbs from his beard. "Neither I nor the House Elves have ever sent gifts to any student or staff at this school. The budget doesn't allow for such."
"You mean you've been doing this on your own?" Filius asked. "Out of the goodness of your own heart and your own pocket?"
"Albus, you should have said something! I know every one of us on staff would have been more than happy to pitch in a few galleons," Poppy Pomfrey insisted.
"I'm sure you would have," the Headmaster replied blandly, "but I can assure you that I had nothing to do with this. In fact, this is the first I've heard of it."
"Minerva?" Pomona asked in confusion. "Only the Headmaster and the Heads of House have the authority to enter the dormitories. I know it wasn't Filius or me."
Minerva shook her head slowly, and all eyes turned towards the former Headmaster.
"Severus?" Dumbledore said gently. He leaned heavily against the back in his chair. "And just how long has this been going on?"
The Hogwarts professor in question had always been tight lipped, but he suddenly became very interested in his nails. He even refused to look up.
"Severus, I asked you a question."
"One which I am not required to answer."
Dumbledore tried another approach. "Filius, Pomona, do either of you remember when the first 'mystery' gifts began showing up?"
"At least for the past twenty years," Pomona added.
"More like seventeen," Filius put in. He squinted at Snape, nodding his head knowingly. "About the length of time, Severus has been here."
Shrugging with indifference, the Defense teacher looked the Headmaster in the eye and lied. "I know nothing about this," he drawled. "What I do know, however, is that I have brewing to do." He stood, paused, and turned to Hermione. "Again, I should thank you for your remembering my birthday, but you should not have done so. Goodnight." Then, with a swirl of his robes, he quietly left from the room.
Hermione frowned. "Excuse me," she muttered. And she was out the door after him like a shot.
"Professor!" Hermione called out, hurrying as fast as she could. "Professor Snape!" He paused, so she knew he'd heard her. "Please wait!"
He stopped and slowly turned, waiting for her, and when she reached him, he ushered her into an empty classroom. "What do you want, Hermione?" he asked with resignation.
"It was you," she said. "You bought the presents when we met in Diagon Alley and in London, and that's what you were doing Christmas Eve. You weren't simply patrolling."
He stared at her and shrugged. "And?"
"I want to know why," she told him.
"Because I know what it's like to grow up with nothing," he said simply.
There was a long silence between them.
"And that's why you seem to hate your birthday, isn't it?" Hermione guessed. "You were passed by so often that you just got used to it."
"It's hard to miss something you never had," he replied softly. He paused before adding, "Hermione, I do want to thank you, properly, I mean, for the party."
She smiled. "I know it wasn't much as parties go, but I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Severus snorted. "Hermione, it was the only party I've ever had." He laughed. "Don't look so shocked. At Christmas time mum would take me to the thrift shop and get me a jacket or gloves if we had the money."
Hermione reached out and touched his arm. "Severus, I-"
He raised an eyebrow in irritation. "Do not feel sorry for me."
"I'm not," she protested. "I just don't know why you try to hide your good deeds."
"Pointing them out would also point out the fact that the students and their families were having financial difficulties," he explained. "I would not embarrass them. Believe it or not, I do not hate children. Not all of them. Not all of the time."
Hermione laughed. "I think you might actually like them. Some of them. Some of the time." He's smiling. That's better. "Seriously, I think you'd make a good father."
He tilted his head. "There was a time when I would have agreed with you," he told her. "I once wanted a wife and children, a home." He paused and swallowed. You can tell her. She'll understand.
"I imagined myself married to Lily," he added. "I created a wondrous dream inside my head. There would be a quiet wedding in a small chapel. Nothing extravagant, just ourselves, the minister, and a few witnesses."
"In the dream we were to have two, maybe three, children. Lily and I would have our own business selling potions. We could work at home, taking turns to watch the children. There would be family dinners and game nights." He stopped. "I have found that more often than not, things do not go as wished."
"But there's no reason to give up those dreams," she told him. "You just need to find the right person." She ignored his scoffing laugh. "Severus, don't sell yourself short. You're intelligent, brave, honest, loyal, and kind. Any woman would count herself blessed to catch you."
"Thank you, Hermione, for saying that," he told her, "but I'm slowly learning to be content with what I have. Lily – I've finally come to realize that she was not what I thought her to be."
"Well, that's good, Severus," she told him earnestly. "That means you're finally able to get over her, to let go. Soon you'll be ready to find that special someone."
"I do hope you're right." Severus held her gaze for a moment. "I've come to realize that it's not what you have in your life that's important but who you have in your life." He smiled at her.
Suddenly, she smiled at him. "You know, Severus," she said, "the more I get to know about you, the more I want to know."