I know it's so very fluffy. But everything else is so crappy in the world right now -esp the UK- I wish to bask in fluff. So here it is...
Hermione stepped out of Severus' embrace. The relative warm of a Kentish winter wrapped around her, but still she shivered. She smiled up at him. Something tight and nervous. Her time at Hogwarts as one its pupils had ended. In the new year, she would return as Septima Vector's apprentice…and the Headmaster's fiancée.
It still seemed completely wild. Totally—
"Hermione." Severus' voice was smooth and sure and he cupped her cold cheek. She leant into his touch and willed herself to breathe. His touch —his affection— was addictive. "Everything will be fine. Your father will bluster. And frown. And glare. And mutter. Your mother will inappropriately explode…but it will all be fine."
She grinned. "Also the bind is fixed." Her grin sharpened into a smirk. "I have you now, Severus Snape."
"Indeed you do."
His voice was a velvet rumble, warming through her. So right and wanted, she was already stretching up onto her toes to meet his dipping mouth—
The crack of an appearing elf broke them apart. "Tori is to be telling The Snape and Miss, that everyone is in the West Room." And with a stare and a bow, she cracked away again.
"The Snape." Hermione slid her hand into his and squeezed his gloved fingers. She tugged him towards the main doors. "The elves adore you."
"I'm sure it will be very interesting as they work out what to call you in the summer."
Hermione blinked up at him as he opened the door and ushered her into the warmth of the entrance hall. What would they call her? What would she call herself? With Ron, she didn't want to get lost in being yet another Mrs Weasley... But with Severus-
"Whatever name you want for yourself is your decision, Hermione. Snape is a difficult name to wear."
His mouth tugged down at the corner, his gaze shuttering and she wanted to smooth it away. And with a start, she realised she could. She was allowed. So she did, tracing warm fingers over his cheek. She smiled and stepped in close. Her decision was easy.
"Our children will wear it. I will wear it. With pride, Severus."
She squeaked at the sudden tight hug that swept her into his arms. He buried his face against her escaping hair and seemed to breathe her in. Gods, it was a little moment of bliss to be held so tightly. By him. His scent, his warmth, his wanting her, all of it wrapped around her. It was Christmas come early—
A cough broke them apart. Hermione groaned. It was their day to be interrupted it seemed and she reluctantly unwrapped herself from his delicious hold…and reddened.
Her mother was grinning at her, a smile wider than a deranged clabbert. And her father…her father was a rather interesting shade of puce. So much for breaking it to them with ease and calmness.
Severus' hand found hers, offering his strength and support. "Good afternoon," his voice was smooth and rich, "and I believe we have some news to share."
Her mother squealed and a snort of laughter escaped Hermione.
"This is not in any way funny!" Her father gritted his teeth. "I trusted you with my daughter, Severus. Is this what you wizards do? Groom the best for yourselves? Is it?"
Severus stiffened at her side, even as Hermione's own anger boiled. A moment later, her palm was stinging and she was being pulled back from slapping her father into strong, safe arms. She buried her face against Severus' frockcoat and fought down the hard ache in her chest, caught in her need to sob out her anger and frustration.
That her father could think that. Could say that. When he knew Severus. Knew how hard he worked to keep everyone safe…
"Sh-h-h…" Severus' warm breath brushed against her ear. "He didn't mean it. You're his little girl. I would be proud to call myself half as good a father as yours is, Hermione." The curve of a smile touched her skin. "And can you imagine how I will be should some vacuous male approach me with designs on my daughter?"
Hermione hiccoughed a laugh against his chest. "Our poor, boyfriend-less girls."
"Indeed."
"Hermione…?"
Severus drew back and Hermione reluctantly turned to her father. His hair was sticking up, raked by his fingers, and his cheeks were now the mottled pink of embarrassment rather than anger. Though the sharper red of her palm and finger print against his cheek made her wince.
"Sorry, Dad."
"Me too."
And she was enveloped in another hug, this time by her dad and the pain in her chest fading to nothing. She stepped back and looked to her mother, who still had the flush of a no doubt 'stern word' on her face and neck. But it still wasn't over. That they were a couple had been understood. That they were betrothed had not.
"You should know…" Severus stepped up behind Hermione and took her hand. He gave a comforting squeeze. "We've made plans. For the summer. Permanent plans."
Severus drew her to him. "We have entered into a magical betrothal bond and will marry in the summer."
Her father's jaw dropped. "Christ, you're not messing about are you? Either of you."
Gwendolyn smacked his arm and grinned at them. She clapped her hands. "Excellent. About time."
"Gwen…" Edward's voice was strangled.
She slid her husband a dark look. "I married you within three weeks of meeting you." She lifted an eyebrow. "You are nineteen years older than me. I was still at university. You were one of my supervising clinicians at the Dental Hospital…" Her mouth pursed. Need I go on?"
Edward scrubbed his hands over his face and muttered, "Bloody Collier women." He narrowed his eyes on Severus. "Merlin help you, that's all I can say." He turned on his heel. "I need tea."
And he was gone.
Hermione winced. "Should I…?"
"I will deal with him." Gwendolyn suddenly grinned and hugged both of them, hard. Severus grunted. "Congratulations! As I said, about time." Sharp eyes fixed them both. "Now who can I tell? And how soon? Have you fixed a date? Will you get married at the school? Or here?"
Severus' mouth brushed her ear. "Now I see where you get it from."
Hermione hushed him. "We want it kept quiet for now. We both have others to tell first."
Gwendolyn pulled a face and huffed out a breath. She grabbed Hermione's hand. "Then come and meet Joshua! Did I mention how good he smells?"
Laughing, Hermione allowed herself to be dragged away, with an eye-rolling Severus in her wake.
Hermione found Severus in the little snug he favoured in the eastern wing of the Hall. Lamps lit the darkened space, washing over book-lined walls filled with her father's love of science fiction and her mother's devotion to crime and spies. This was their hideaway too. Hints of Christmas, tinsel and holly sprigs, ornaments she recognised from her childhood decorated the shelves and mantle.
The fire snapped and spat, curls of grey smoke twisting between the bright flames, the sweet scent of hickory mixing with the smell of books and furniture polish.
Severus lounged in one of the two wingback chairs, his toes toasting on the fender and his nose in an Agatha Christie. Hermione smiled. She did so love to see this private man. A secret only she was privy too.
Dark eyes fixed on her over the top of the book. He lifted an eyebrow. "Yes, Hermione?"
Her belly did a little flip-curl of pleasure. There was a dark undercurrent, a teasing, a promise in his look, in that simple question. Was it bad that she wanted to fling herself at him? Straddle him… That seat was quite wide. She was certain, it'd be easy—
"Impure thoughts…" Severus shook his head. "Such a naughty girl."
Heat flashed through Hermione, quick and unexpected and a gasp broke from her. It'd felt as if a sun had burst through her flesh and zapped her legs to jelly. Gods… What…what was that? Had his words…? Had they done that? His delicious voice and the hope, the desire of him saying…what? The thought bubbled up that he could simply talk her into an orgasm… And that idea flashed yet more heat into her face.
Severus raised an eyebrow and his dark eyes were hot and wicked. "I see." He put his book to the side. "Did you hunt me down for a reason, Hermione?"
"I…" She flopped into the opposite chair and pressed her hands to her knees to stop her wringing them together. Her reaction had thrown her. And she had to wait until the summer… No, back to the reason she'd looked for him. "We, didn't talk much yesterday."
"No, we didn't, did we?"
Oh that wasn't helping. That smirk and his sitting back in his chair, devilishly smug. And they hadn't talked. Not even a little. Severus had escorted her back to Gryffindor Tower, mussed and very thoroughly kissed at nine.
Hermione pulled her shrunken binder from her pocket, waved her wand over it and let its weight settle on her lap. In idle moments, since the half term she had overhauled it, with the –then vain— hope of planning it for Severus. She had a whole new list of names. Ron had been totally eradicated. That had been a pleasure in itself.
Severus had lifted both eyebrows.
"I like to plan."
"I can see that."
Her fingers pressed against the thick card of the binder and her nerves stretched and pinched. "Is it too much? This is who I am, Severus. I will plan to the minute. If no one stops me, to the second. I would like…"
Her eyes fixed on the cover, seeing the familiar pits and scrapes. It had been with her so long. Since Fourth Year. Building up paged after page with knowledge and hope. It and her apprenticeship scroll had kept her sane in that so-hated bloody tent.
Now she was putting it all before the man she loved. The man who would father the children for whom she ached.
She willed out the words. Severus knew she wanted children. Had agreed… "I would like to have seven children."
His silence washed over her.
Silence. He was silent. Did that mean…? Was it too much? Was the five he had always known about his limit? Had she ballsed everything up…? Again?
"Hermione."
Severus stretched out to put his long, warm fingers over hers. She looked up and her heart turned over at the warmth, the affection, the love in his endlessly dark eyes.
"Whatever is in there…I want. Understand that. All of it. And," a slow smiled lifted his lips, "that I am honoured."
Hermione bit her lip and sniffed, determined not to cry all over him again that day. "I'm going to hug you again. In fact, I'm going to sit on your lap and kiss you till dinner. If that suits?"
Severus sat back and patted his leg. "Oh, it does indeed."
He grunted as his arms were suddenly filled with his little, kissing witch.
Pil popped into the little snug, quiet and quick.
Mistress Gwendolyn liked him nice and quiet in the Hall so as not to disturb the sweet little wizard-born. And so as not to be giving her a…myocardial infarction. Whatever that was.
But then he'd always been told that muggles, even parents of famous muggle-borns, had a language all to themselves. He would live with it. He was very proud to be Granger Hall elf.
With a squeak, Pil covered his eyes and vanished back to the kitchen.
Yes, he had to be learning that he must now cover his eyes when he was seeing to fetch The Snape and The Snape's Miss to his new masters.
Let me know what you think! :)
