Home for the Holidays

Chapter Two

Severus hated this curse more than anything in the world. Every one of the nerves that brought pain was open and charged to maximum. His head hurt and he couldn't breath. Then the pain stopped growing and began to lessen, the curse had been stopped. He had never been more grateful in his life, but whatever was happening around his was muffled and distorted - the curse was still reacting in his body, nothing was working right yet.

His head hurt so badly, but his muscles were still tense from the curse. It had been some time since he last suffered the Cruciatus. Adding on that he hadn't expected nor prepared for it, Severus felt as if he had been hit with it for the first time. And then it was hard to breath.

Severus sat up and caught his breath. He instantly felt better, but heard Poppy screaming at him. "Severus! Don't you do this! Not now! Hermione needs you!"

Turning around he saw his own body on the cot. He had died. His heart broke as Poppy tired in vain to revive him. Albus was holding a sniffling Minerva nearby. Funny he himself thought that the woman hated him.

Walking over he could hear them, but obviously they could not see him - so why bother talking to them?

"Albus, what can we do?"

Dumbledore looked as if he had just been told that the Dark Lord was back. He closed his empty eyes and sighed hard - the man had always been a second father to him. "I don't know Minerva. For once, I haven't any idea how to make the lives around me better."

Severus was in shock. "Don't worry about me, Albus. I'm finally going to get what I deserve. Just take care of Hermione for me. Help her live for me, so even in the darkest purgatory I find myself I will have that one joy - that she is living on. Don't let her kill herself."

For a time he left the room and walked around the hall. Hermione was pacing. Her friends watched between her and the doors with worried hope. His own parents were sitting close together.

His mother was barely holding herself from breaking down. His father on the other hand was wearing an emotionless mask. Even if this had not been the father who planted him in his mother's womb, he was the father Severus always wanted to become.

Severus began listening to the different conversations, and was stunned by how many students he had been sure hated him in truth respected and understood why he was so harsh in class. To be honest many things amazed him that moment. The sheer number of students, both past and present, who had come to hope he would survive. The fact that his Slytherins were mingling with the other houses - including Gryffindor. And that even Peeves was there with the castle ghosts waiting for some news.

Neville Longbottom wished he had been better at controlling his fear enough to do the potions performance he always did at home. That stunned Severus. The boy did potions at home, and successfully it would seem.

Then Albus and Minerva came into the hall with Poppy. In a heartbeat Severus was at his fiancée's side. He saw in Hermione's face that her hope and fire was gone just from looking at the faces of the three adults. When she closed her eyes, he knew she would be following him into death all too soon.

"Is he gone?" Her voice gave away the pain and ache in her beautiful Gryffindor heart.

When Albus nodded, the hall filling with tears, sobs, and prayers for his forgiveness and safe journey to the next life shocked Severus.

He followed Albus and Hermione into the infirmary, and listened as Poppy explained what had happened to him. His heart had given out? That was why he couldn't breath before.

Hermione had said nothing through it all. She took a breath and fought with her voice it sounded. "Can I have time alone with him … please?"

Minerva talked about giving Hermione time to mourn and future engagements and freedom. But Severus could see it in his love, she was going to take care of it all herself. He felt the wards and charm seal the room, and then saw his only love break down into sobs.

Severus watched as she pulled back the sheet and climbed into the bed next to his body, as they had done earlier. Only now he was dead, and she was making plans to join him. For a time she wept on his still chest. Severus wanted to comfort her so badly. He wanted to climb back in his body and breath for her, but he didn't know how to do it.

Severus began to wonder what their lives could have been like.

It would have been torment when she went on to the University, but they would have weekends together and maybe even breaks. He remembered how she told the other three of her group that she wanted to become a teacher. She might have come back to Hogwarts to teach.

It made him smile thinking about that. That day she would be announced as one of the new Professors. He would have been so proud of her.

Then he thought about children. The children they could have had together. He imagined having a boy and a girl their first pregnancy - not far into their marriage. He imagined their angels, how the two would have looked (neither inheriting his nose thankfully). And then he imagined the day the two would have been sorted into their houses - Gryffindor and Slytherin.

Somehow all of this set his heart at peace. He smiled on his still sobbing love. "I'll be waiting for you, Hermione. I just have to say my goodbyes first."

But, when he started to leave, Severus found himself in a void - for lack of a better term. He was alone and there was no light, so this had to be his hell. Taken from the light of his only love and placed in black emptiness. But, Severus didn't complain. This was too good for him in his mind.

After all of the pain and grief he caused, all the people he murdered … he deserved hell. His only wish was to see his love go to Heaven where she belonged. To watch his Hermione become the angel she was to him. He would gladly take the torment that awaited him.

But the void wasn't all blackness, there was a thick gray fog edging the space on either side of him. People that reminded him of those who populate Knockturn Alley came out and tried to entice him into the fog. Yet, something held Severus in the center as he walked on. Seemingly drawn on by some force he couldn't explain.

Then he saw someone enshrouded with light coming towards him. He could see it was a woman, but he could make out the face. "Hermione? Is that you?"

"No Severus Snape, I'm not Hermione Granger." That voice was so familiar! "I couldn't come to you until you set yourself free of this place, Severus. This is where choices and reflections are made. You chose your love, and it was the love for Hermione Granger that sent a beacon to lead me to you. Come with me, for there is much ahead of you."

Then she took his hand and led him on through a tunnel he had not noticed before to this warm light that enveloped him like his Hermione's embrace. Severus felt such peace and love; it was as if he was home. Only then was he able to see who had rescued him from the void. "Lilly Potter?"

"Hello Severus."

"You saved me after all I have done?"

Lily smiled as she hugged him. "Severus you turned around and became a spy for the Order. Then you not only protected my son, but also kept him from letting his fame turn him into everything you hated about my husband. Then you let yourself fall in love. Hermione is a beautiful young woman and proud to be yours."

"If only things had been different." Severus sighed. He wanted to go back, marry his love, have children of his own, grow old, and then come back to this place - when he had done more to make up for his shameful past.

"Severus you have been forgiven for a long time now. You need to forgive yourself. There are others who also need to talk to you."

From somewhere in the light before him, Severus saw James Potter and Sirius Black come to him. Yet he couldn't find it in his heart to hate them. "Potter, Black."

"It's this place Severus. Only love is here." Sirius explained.

James walked over and shook Severus' hand. "I'm sorry for our past Severus. I have wished time and again that I could undo the past, but look at what that made you into. You heard the others … your students. You saw how deeply Hermione loves you. My son also deeply respects and admires you."

Sirius smiled. "Yeah. Do you realize how much it took for him to ask to stand in for you against Draco Malfoy? He was terrified you would reject him because of me and James. And felt like the highest regarded Gryffindor in the history of Hogwarts."

"He is such, Black. After all, I have seen his acts - even if he is as foolish as a Gryffindor most times." Severus pointed out.

Black and both Potters chuckled heartily at this. Then came forward many more people - his victims. To Severus' shock they all forgave him and asked him to forgive himself. Severus felt almost pulled to tears.

Then he met with his loves parents. His would have been mother-in-law was smiling, but her husband was not. Rodger Granger came up to him first.

"Why are you here and not with Hermione?"

Severus explained what happened, but Rodger shook his head. "You can go back, but you keep thinking that you are to go to hell!"

"Because it is where I belong!" Severus shouted, before mumbling something.

Rodger still looked angry. "I couldn't hear you."

"I said that this is for the best. Hermione doesn't need me polluting her name. Besides I'm nearly your age before …" Severus tried to reason, but Rodger countered him. "Do you think I care about the age difference? All I cared about was who would treat my baby right and how she felt. I heard from her friends that she was deeply in love with you. And I saw you looking at her, I saw the love in your eyes that was only there when she was."

"I couldn't save her from the challenges!" Severus knew this was where he belonged. Dead, where Hermione was safe from his name.

Rodger glared, "You fought of multiple spells to keep her safe, and swallowed your foolish pride to have Harry and Ron protect her for you. I'd say you did a fine job saving her."

"I don't deserve her." Severus felt like he wasn't going to win.

Rodger knew he wouldn't. "If that were true, I wouldn't have asked you to take care of my baby. I remember us fighting before."

Severus did remember it. How the man was going to pull Hermione out of the Wizarding world all together. That would have meant Severus would never see her again. So he pointed out that this was her world and culture, a part of her she wouldn't want to give up. For two hours the men had fought back and forth - until …

Rodger smirked. "Until you finally admitted that you loved her. Then I knew you would willingly give your life for hers. Then I signed the paper and laid it for you to sign son."

Severus felt so stunned. Then he felt his mother-in-law, Melinda, hug him. "We believed it then and still do. But we are not the only ones who believe you are a good man. Look."

She pointed in the light. It cleared and there was a dark curly haired girl, maybe five or six years of age, in a white dress jumping rope by herself. "One, two buckle my shoe. Three, four …"

She stopped and seemed to be having trouble with the rhyme. Again she began to jump. "One, two buckle my shoe. Three, four …"

Severus shook his head with a rare smile on his face. "It's shut the door."

"Thank you daddy." But before she could jump further, she gasped and beamed like Hermione would. "Daddy! Bubby, hurry! Daddy's here!"

She ran over to Severus who dropped to pull her into his arm. And then above he heard another voice ring out. "Daddy's here? On my way!"

A boy who looked to be the same age as the girl dropped on a broom, clutching a snitch in his hand. Throwing the broom and snitch to the side, he barreled to take the space in Severus' other arm. "Daddy!"

"A boy and a girl? My children?" Severus was stunned for a moment then gripped both children tight to his chest. "My precious children!"

"If you're here daddy, will we be born?" His son asked of him.

Severus was stunned. He would never hold these babies if he didn't go back … Hermione was going to … his eyes widened in horror. "No son. That is why I need you two to stay here until it is time for you two to come to your mother and I."

"But I want to go with you daddy." His daughter pouted so much like his wife. Oh how beautiful both children were (thankfully, neither had his nose).

Severus gave them both a kiss. And then handed them both to their grandparents. "The two of you will be following soon. But if I don't go, your mother will end her life. We love you both too much to every let that happen."

Lily, James, and Sirius all came forward. James smiled. "We'll take you back."

"Besides we have a dream to walk into." Lily smiled as she took both James' and Severus' arm.

Sirius smirked. "Hope it is a good one."

The next thing Severus remembered was feeling as if he was shot through all he had went through before back into his aching body.

And aching it was! His lungs hurt as he took in a breath and he groaned as the last of the curse echoed in his muscles. Poppy had been wrong, because he still had some of the spell in his body.

The sheet was ripped from his face. One word burst from his mouth loud and clear – "Hermione!"

Poppy was just getting ready to prepare the body for the funeral pyre when she saw his legs move! Then she heard a groan, a retching gasp of air, and saw his body thrashed more.

Was he? Oh, he just had to be!

She ripped the sheet away to find he was alive! Then she heard one word shouted out. She had to get Hermione here and fast.

Turning she thought how she couldn't leave her patient. And then the little house elf showed up! Dobby had been seeing to everyone's needs, and had come by to see if he was needed in the hospital wing.

"Dobby, go get Hermione! Tell her that Severus is alive and calling out for her!"

Dobby nodded and vanished. A blink later he was standing outside of the girl's bathroom. As hard as he could he pounded on the door. "Miss. Hermione! Miss. Hermione! It's Professor Snape Miss! He's yelling for you!"

"Dobby, Severus is dead." Hermione sighed.

She wanted so to die and be with her husband. But she hadn't the Gryffindor courage to use the razor. Then came Harry's voice through the door?

"Hermione! Don't do it! Severus is coming back to you!"

Dobby's voice muttered through next. "Harry Potter, sir. Professor Snape is alive. Dobby hear him call for Miss. Hermione, sir. Madame Poppy send Dobby to bring Miss. Hermione to the hospital wing, sir."

Hermione was scared to kill herself and scared to hope. But, what if Severus had come back to her? It would be better than risking herself going to hell for eternity. Still did she dare go back to see that corpse?

Harry knew and understood the plan before. He didn't agree to it, but he wouldn't stop her either. Then there was a heavy panting at the door followed by a hard pounding … and his voice? "Hermione! Don't do it! Please open the door! It's me, Severus! Hermione!"

She flung the door open with eyes wide in hope, fear, and shock. An instant later she had Severus out of the arms of her best friend (who had caught him to keep the man from falling to the ground) and wrapped tightly in her own embrace. His heaven on earth was this sweetest feeling.

"Severus!" Hermione sobbed into his neck.

That was the last thing that he knew. Severus blacked out in her arms. She rocked with his limp body in her arms. "Severus, please don't leave me again!"

Harry check and found a strong pulse. He was so thankful his parents and godfather had interceded. "It's ok 'Mione. He's just out of it. He woke up and when you didn't show up fast enough, he apparated here. He just needs to rest."

"He's with me?"

Harry smiled at how his friend was crying with joy for a change; it was a great holiday season at last. "Happy Christmas, Hermione."

"Now it is, Harry. Thank you for everything. Happy Christmas." Hermione sobbed out as she held a still unconscious Potions Master.

Harry smiled, "Yeah, like you said, it is now."

When Severus groaned, Harry looked at Dobby who was silently watching. "Dobby, please go get Madam Pomfrey."

"Yes, Harry Potter sir." With a snap of his fingers disappeared in a puff a smoke.

"I was too scared of going to hell to cut my wrists, Harry. That was all that made it possible for you two to stop me. Oh, Harry … I almost gave up my life and still have so much to live for!" Hermione whimpered.

Another groan got their attention. Severus was slightly awake. "Hermione?"

"I'm here love. You and Harry stopped me. Please open your eyes for me."

Slowly his eyes did just that. Hermione smiled and then kissed his lips. Severus smiled and relaxed in her arms. His eyes were serious for a moment. "Marry me love?"

Hermione smiled as tears fell down her cheeks. "You don't have to ask love. We're already engaged."

"I want to ask you properly. I want it because we want it." Severus' voice showed how intensely he felt.

"Yes then, my love. I will marry you." Hermione smiled and then kissed his lips.

Madam Pomfrey came in and checked her patient as Harry left to report everything to the adults.

After several hours, it was nearly time for breakfast. Hermione, knowing that her fiancé would not rest well in the hospital, got help from Dumbledore to let Severus sleep in her bed. She felt so safe and peaceful lying beside her future husband. He had slept through the last of the night, and she stayed right by him. Not long after the sun rose, she woke to the pleasant sight of a calm and peaceful face of Severus Snape.

She sat up and brushed her fingers down his cheek gently. His skin was so soft. Then she combed her fingers through his bangs so the hair was out of his face. His hair wasn't greasy; it was soft and so fine.

This was the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Hermione was happy because this was also the man she loved with all her heart. The one who didn't give her praise for nothing, the one who protected her and her friends, and the man who was brilliant and wise. He had made bad choices once, but had learned from them. He would give her all he had in his power to give. But unlike all the other offers, he only asked for her love and her to honor him and the vows they would soon make.

A knock on the door broke into the peace of the moment. Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Minerva came in. Hermione smiled, "hi."

"How are the two of you, Miss. Granger?"

Smiling, Hermione half expected that question from her head of house. "We're fine, Professor. No nightmares and no problems."

Ron smirked. "Well guess you're going to find out if your man is a morning person or not."

"Would you like a week of detention, Mr. Weasley?" Severus growled out as he wrapped his arm around Hermione's belly without opening his eyes.

Hermione blushed and chuckled, enjoying the feel of him claiming her so early. "Severus!"

The others chuckled at how pale Ron was turning. Harry sighed. "We came in to see if the two of you are going to have breakfast in the Great Hall or here."

Looking down on her love, Hermione enjoyed the feel of him possessing her as Severus was. In his way, he was showing her that he wasn't going to allow anyone to take her from him. "Do you feel strong enough for the Great Hall, Severus?"

He smirked slightly at the sound of his name tumbling over her kissable lips. "Wherever you wish to eat, Hermione."

"That isn't what I asked, Severus. We can eat here if you are still tired." Hermione worried that he would push himself too far.

Severus sighed and looked up her without removing his arm. "If we eat here before long everyone in this castle will be in these rooms with Poppy and Albus right along side Minerva leading the mass."

Hermione chuckled, making him feel ages younger. He had succeeded in making her truly happy again. Both had been feeling the absence of and longing for family, since he cut himself off from his to save them from even harsher discriminations because of his past. Now they were a family for one another. Severus only prayed that he could make her happy most of the years they would have left them.

When she snuggled down so that they were eye to eye, pulled her tighter to himself. It was a feeling he wasn't ready to let go of. He opened his eyes to looking into hers – finding soft pools of brown that shimmered with adoration, longing, joy, and life. With a smirk for a split second, he claimed her lips and was pleased when she returned his kiss with all he was giving her.

Then a groan filled the air from Ron Weasley. "Do you two have to do that in front of us?"

Hermione purred in contest as Severus broke their kiss. Both smirked with a sneaky look in their eyes. "Dear shall I make that detention with Flitch?"

With a purr, Hermione snuggled closer to her future husband. "Better make it two weeks then."

Ron groaned. "First, Professor you are a bad influence on her. And Hermione, don't encourage him, please!"

"Part of my job now, Ron." Hermione grinned and kissed her future husband's lips.

Severus was happy to lay there holding this woman. But his colleague had her mind set. Minerva glared hard for a moment, thought their was a sparkle in her eyes that was similar to her own husband's. "Five minute you two – no more than that. Otherwise I contact Poppy with your plans."

Hermione groaned. "Was she like this when you went to school here?"

"Actually, she has pacified in the past few years."

That gained him another round of his fiancé's beautiful laughter. Minerva huffed. "Four minutes and fifty seconds now."

Once the others left them alone, Severus rolled over and covered Hermione with his body. To his joy she smiled and wrapped her legs around his hips. He pulled her up onto his thighs as they both chuckled. Obviously he was feeling much better. "Tonight Hermione."

"Promise?"

Severus smirked and nodded.

Um, shall I leave it here? Or would everyone want to see the wedding? Comments please.