And late on this one as Gwendolyn wrote me into a corner. But she does like to interfere...
Again, a little transition-y, but chapter ten will be all SSHG goodness. Promise. :)
The riot of Great Hall at breakfast washed over her as Hermione picked her way up the aisle to her usual space on the cramped benches. Harry was already there, laying waste to bacon sandwiches.
She plopped down onto the bench opposite him and picked up her mug of tea. This was her last full day as a student. Her NEWTs were behind her. The last NEWT had completed only the day before…and her head was still spinning from it. From all of it. From it all being over.
They broke up the next afternoon for Christmas holidays, and it all felt quite…surreal. She glanced back at the high doors to the hall and her teeth found her bottom lip. Beyond surreal.
Hermione turned her right hand, the light from the golden candles throwing warmth across her skin. A prickle, nothing more, still touched her skin. Like a push of magic that seemed to slip, to play over her knuckles. It was all in her imagination. But her heart. Her heart was a wild hammering thing in her chest—
Owls swooped in, diving with skill between the candles and releasing their letters. One slapped onto the table before her and she recognised her mother's hideous scrawl.
"Morning, Hermione."
Harry picked up his mug and smiled. At least he could chew and swallow before speaking. Hermione's gaze slid to the far end of the table where Ron and Lavender were close enough to begin wearing each other as a second skin. A smile tugged at her mouth. Hermione didn't doubt Lavender was playing the long game. She'd run Ron to ground in the end.
Hermione picked up her letter and slid her thumbnail through the seal.
Harry frowned at it, turning his head. "Your mother's handwriting is terrible."
She smirked at him. "Completely deliberate." She deciphered the last lines and folded it over again. It was not one to be read in front of her friend.
Harry frowned as Ginny and Luna burst into the Great Hall, his expression growing confused as Ginny plonked herself down on the Ravenclaw table and began the Weasley tradition of clearing away all food within arm's reach. "Ginny and Luna are very close all of a sudden."
Hermione shook her head. "Harry, they're going out."
"To where?"
Why didn't she have a thick book to whack him with? "Not where. With each other."
Harry simply stared, watching the two young woman sharing breakfast. Gleaming, wild blonde hair tucked close to vivid red. He blinked, took off his glasses, cleaned them, and blinked a few more times. "That was unexpected."
Hermione laughed. Had he not noticed Ginny's smiles, the little touches, Luna's glow when Ginny was near? The fact that they were always together? Obviously not. "Not really."
He put his glasses back and tore his attention away from them and back to her. "Oh, all right."
Hermione had to break into his daze. "What are you doing for Christmas, Harry?" She lifted an eyebrow. "I know you're at the Burrow, and hosting something at Grimmauld Place…but do you have any spare time?"
Harry's eyes narrowed on her with suspicion. "What are you up to?"
She flicked a discreet muffliato around them and leant forward, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I heard a rumour that a certain blond slytherin will be at Granger Hall between Christmas and New Year. Should you wish to –I don't know— drop in to visit one of your best friends, perhaps you could meet him?"
Harry's cheeks pinked. It was rather sweet. He looked down. "I don't…"
"Don't miss your chance, Harry." She shook her head. "Don't make that mistake."
He slid a glance to Ron putting people off their breakfast at the far end of the table. "He'd still have you back, you know."
Her friend really was quite obtuse, but she couldn't hold that against him. "I know. But Ron and I have very different life plans." She smirked at him. "And you are not going to distract me with questions about him." Her eyes narrowed and she took pride in the nervous heat suddenly suffusing his face. She could still badger Harry. "Your decision, Mr Potter?"
"You spend too much time with Snape. You really do."
Her mouth twitched, but she didn't point out that Severus had been too busy for their Sunday teas. Had been since the half term.
A wizard-born baby had reacted badly to the spell that had confirmed his lack of magic and Severus was spending every spare moment he could battling to save the little mite's life. And he'd refused her help. She couldn't be distracted from her NEWTs at such a late stage, he'd argued.
Hermione stroked the paper in her robe pocket. She hoped her mother's letter had positive news on Joshua.
"That is also not an answer."
"Fine. Let me know which day, and I will…happen to visit."
Hermione reached across the table and patted his hand. "Now was that so difficult?"
Harry huffed a laugh and she finite'd the muffling spell. "You are a scary woman, Hermione Granger."
She snorted. "Wait till you meet my mother."
"And it seems I will." He pushed himself away from the table, snagging another two sandwiches for the journey to Transfiguration classroom. "Coming?"
"Already sat my NEWTs remember?" Hermione smirked at him. "No more lessons for me."
"So you're going to slob about?"
"Absolutely."
Harry grinned and shook his head. "See you at lunch, Hermione." His grin faded and he lifted his shoulders. His mouth twitched into a brief, embarrassed smile. "And thank you."
She flicked her fingers at him. "Go. And practice being charming."
Harry grinned and rand his fingers through his already wild hair. "Yeah. Right."
And then he was gone, striding from the hall, oblivious and messy haired as always.
With no one else to disturb her, she pulled out a letter and spelled it so that no one could read the contents but her. She frowned at the scrawl, littered with inkstains and crossings out. Her mother was reaching new heights in illegibility. She hardly needed the spell at all.
My darling girl.
Something was written in cramped letters below the greeting and down the margins and Hermione had to twist and turn the paper to read it.
Severus has delivered Joshua to us no more than ten minutes ago. Hail and healthy. He is completely discharged from St Mungo's. And completely ours. Your father cried. Silly, adorable man.
Hermione pressed her lips together and surreptitiously wiped at her eyes, taking away her own tears. She let out a long, cleansing breath.
I've edited this due to our good news. And if you say you've hardly noticed the difference, I will tell Pil to deny you his special lemon meringue pie. Which would be a great loss indeed. Consider yourself warned, young lady… *narrow-eyed Mother-glare right here*
Hermione, with a grin, righted the paper and began the letter proper. There were great swirls of lines and jagged scratchings and inkblots, no doubt crossing through her concern about Joshua.
…so, I know this has been a difficult time. For both of you. But wait. And trust that everything will work out.
Severus Snape is the best of men. Or wizards. No, actually, I think I'll stick with men. More of them, and he still beats them. All of them. With perhaps, the exception of your father. I think he's quite good too.
Don't give up hope, my lovely girl. You'll have everything you want. I promise you.
Love Mum, and Dad, who is mooching about somewhere with Pil looking for a Christmas tree.
Hermione closed her eyes. Was this more of her mother's handy work? The not so subtle push. And Hermione wanted to believe. She glanced at the doors again, the memory of meeting Severus just beyond them still swirling around in her thoughts.
He'd been wearing his travelling cloak, ready for his daily trip to St Mungo's to help with Joshua. Tall and straight, his features stark in the cold winter light. But still her heart pattered and there was heat in her face. She'd missed their time together, but he had his duty to the baby and she, as he'd rightly pointed out, had her NEWTs.
Severus drew her from the doors and the stream of nosy children, to a quiet corner. He took her hand, her right one, and her breath stopped. Warm. His fingers were warm and callused and simply…overwhelming against her skin. His thumb drew across her knuckles, and he watched the slow slide, caught, she hoped in the touch as much as she was…
"Hermione." His voice was low and his gaze met hers. Quiet. Confident. "I do not have the time right now." He let out a long breath and his mouth pursed into such a kissable shape she almost swayed into him. "I have not had the time for weeks to meet with you. I have missed that."
She swallowed, her mouth dry and nodded as she murmured, "Me too."
The barest smile lifted his lips. "Then please, come to me tonight. Seven o'clock. There is much I have to tell you."
Her heart turned over and around in her chest and dizzied her thoughts. Gods, she didn't want this to be about her apprenticeship. Or gossip about the new staff at the Hall. The words escaped her before she could stop them. "Can I have a hint?"
"Impatient girl," he murmured, a low, delicious rumble than ran a shiver down to her toes.
He brought her hand to his mouth and brushed smooth, warm lips against the curve of her knuckles. Light. Quick. The action of a moment. But Hermione's world tilted, forever changed.
"Until tonight."
Then he was gone, out into the freezing December morning.
Hermione folded up her letter and tucked it away. She ran her thumb over her knuckles, the touch reminding her of his kiss. So slight a thing. But her heart swelled with it.
And she dared to hope.
Let me know what you think! :)
