a/n: Ah! You guys, I am so so so sorry. I got caught up in midterm madness (hey y'all, I passed that Physical Science exam)... and then starting the new semester... and of course there is Oklahoma... it's grand... Please don't kill me... please? I'm giving you some romance. And Draco and Harry are coming for a visit. r/r!
Warning! Includes mild slash and strong language. You have been warned.
* For Hermione (and all of the other professors), Christmas Eve was bliss. For the first time since the beginning of the term, the school was almost deserted. Lunch was a peaceful meal in front of the merrily crackling staff room fire, followed by an afternoon in the silent sanctuary of the library. At 6:30 in the evening, Hermione realized that there were actually other people in the school and scurried down to the Great Hall. As she slipped into her usual seat beside Severus, she heard voices in the entranceway. The headmaster, always astute in his senses glanced up from his steak and kidney pie and, winking at Hermione, disappeared.
"What the..." Hermione said, confused, "I thought you couldn't apparate or disapparate inside the school?"
Minerva McGonagal laughed, "That wasn't apparition dear. That was Albus." A murmur of chuckling rippled around Hermione, who turned to Severus for further explanation.
"I don't know, Hermione. The headmaster is a mysterious entity," Severus placated her, returning to his meal. The other teachers also grew silent as three male voices became distinguishable.
"The trip was fine Headmaster. Its nice to be away from London."
"Don't let him fool you, Professor. If I hadn't forced him he would never have left work again."
"Now gentlemen..."
"This is all Hermione's bad influence on you, Harry. Mark my words."
"Shut it Draco, I'm not that bad."
"So you say."
"You're the one who married me."
"This is true."
"Gentlemen..."
"Its alright Professor," Hermione had left her seat and was opening the great door with a smirk on her face, "I'll take it from here."
"Mione, my Mione!" The tall black haired man who had appeared in the doorway shouted, flinging his arms around Hermione. Harry Potter was certainly no longer the short, scrawny boy of his school days. He was strong from 6 years of being an auror, his hair had grown long enough to be contained in a queue at the back of his neck, and his thick round glasses had been replaced by muggle contacts that showed off his emerald eyes.
"Budge up Potter," an amicable voice from behind Harry said, "I want a turn to greet the great Professor." Harry moved aside to reveal Draco Malfoy. His blond hair (kept reasonably short) flopped around his head as he embraced Hermione affectionately. Draco was still as skinny as he had ever been and was shorter than Harry (although taller than Hermione. Then again, many people were).
Stepping back from Draco's hug, Hermione grinned at her two old friends, "Draco, darling, you're tan! Whatever happened to the great white ferret? And Harry my love, you're looking grand. Finally put some weight on, did you?"
"Shut up, Hermione," Both men said in unison, linking her arms on either side to escort her up to the large round table the few remaining teachers and students used during the holidays. Dumbledore, who had already reseated himself beside Minerva, quickly conjured two more chairs. One plopped down between Remus and Dumbledore and the other found its way to the other side of Severus. All of the teachers laughed as Harry and Draco took their stereotypical seats beside their former mentors.
* Christmas Eve dinner had been a merry affair, filled with reminiscing and wizard crackers. Finally, fully sated from mounds of delicious food, Hermione, Harry, and Draco retired to the room the latter two were occupying during the holiday. Hermione perched herself in a deep arm chair opposite the four poster bed where Draco lounged. Harry dropped to the floor, completing the triangle and grinned up at Hermione above him, "So Mione... How's professor hood treating you?"
"Its wonderful. Its amazing how much students now parallel us when we were here. For instance, I've got a toe-headed little brat in my third year class who reminds me of you, Dray,"
"Hermione!" Draco sat upright and sniffled dramatically, "I thought you cared!"
"I'm only joking. But he is a lot like you were at the time."
"What about me, Mione?" Harry asked eagerly, "Anyone like me at all?"
"Oh sure, of course. I've got a girl, just like you. A fifth year. Its uncanny, really." Hermione said easily.
"And..." Harry trailed off, "What about Ron?"
The room seemed to stand in stasis for a moment. "Yes..." Hermione said, "Only she's not a jack ass."
"Do we have to discuss this," Draco slid from the bed and slipped his arm around Harry, "Let's talk about anything else. Let's talk about Hermione's sex life."
"Draco!" Harry said, feigning shock.
"Shut it Potter, you want to know too," Draco said, "So tell us Mione."
"Honestly, how would you like it if I asked you two about your sex life," Hermione smirked amicably.
"You wouldn't need to ask, darling. You already know," Draco laughed.
"I forgot..." Hermione said, "Seventh year was interesting, wasn't it?"
"Sooooo...?"
"Draco, what the hell do you think? Do you really think I'm sleeping with anyone from around here?"
"I don't know Hermione, some of those seventh year guys are pretty hot..." Draco trailed off at a glare from Harry, "Not as hot as you love. But really Hermione, there is always Hogsmeade. You could go in to the Three Broomsticks and pick up practically anyone."
"Not likely, I don't have that much free time."
"Alright then, one of the teachers!"
"Who?" Harry interjected, "Dumbledore's too old-"
"-And he's married to Minerva McGonagal." Hermione commented wryly.
"Alright then, Remus is like your uncle, and the rest are all women." Harry finished.
"Whoever said she was straight?" Draco asked.
"I did" Hermione stated, laughing.
"Anyone Harry," Draco said, "You've forgotten Severus."
"What about him? I thought we could pretty much put him in the out pile without consideration."
"Who said that? You said that. Not Mione." Both men turned to look up at Hermione, who had tucked her legs under her body and was staring off into the distance, avoiding their eyes.
"Hermione..." Harry said, bringing her back into reality.
"Oh, sorry." Hermione blushed looking back down at the two men in front of her.
Draco stared into her brown eyes and smirked, "Oh my God she's in love with him."
"What!" Hermione and Harry started at the same time.
"Don't try to deny it, Hermione. You've just proved my point."
Harry stood up and perched on the arm of Hermione's chair, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "Mione?"
"We're really close friends, is all."
"Right, and I'm the king of France," Harry said, staring at her unblinkingly.
"Vraiment? J'ai pensé que tu etais l'homme d'Angleterre. Tu es Francais!" Draco rattled off sarcastically, moving to the other arm of Hermione's chair.
"Shut the fuck up Draco. Hermione...?"
"Ok, ok! Hermione stood up abruptly, and began pacing around the room, "So maybe I'm in love with him. So what? I can't do anything about it. We're friends, Harry, he doesn't want a fucking relationship with me."
"How do you know that?" Draco asked, quieted by Hermione's outburst.
"Because I know Severus Snape." Hermione groaned in frustration.
"So do I, and I'd wager money that he's just as in love with you, only he'd never admit to himself, much less to anyone else," Draco said, standing and moving to Hermione's side, "Listen book-worm, leave it to me. I'll have a talk with him. Heart to heart, and all that shit." Draco hurried to the door, before Hermione could stop him and swept off to the dungeons, leaving Harry to a somewhat shell-shocked Hermione Granger.
* Severus Snape was staring silently into his fire, a glass of brandy forgotten beside him, when a heavy knock came at the door. Murmuring a password he waved whomever it was inside without leaving his chair. Draco, used to Severus' "hospitality" came in quickly and quietly. Before joining his mentor in front of the hearth, he poured himself a drink, the thick amber fluid flowing strong and clear into the glass. He would need it for this conversation, he knew. Taking his glass, he moved to the chair opposite Severus and settled himself peacefully.
"Enjoying your stay, Draco?" Snape asked from the depths of his chair.
"Naturally, Severus. Its good to be back here again," Draco stared at his glass thoughtfully, "And of course, seeing Hermione again is lovely."
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Yes, I've left Harry with her. They were keen to reminisce about the dream team and you know me and my Slytherin soul; there is only so much Gryffindor camaraderie I can take."
"Being married to Harry Potter must be difficult then," Severus smirked at his former student.
"Its worth it Severus. Haven't you ever considered it?" Draco asked, innocently.
"Marrying Harry Potter? No, I'm quite sure you have the monopoly on that market," Snape shot back caustically.
"Don't be a fool Severus. You know I mean marriage in general. Does wonders for the soul, you know."
"You've been around Gryffindors far too long. Marriage is certainly not for me Draco. I saw what it did to my own parents... Why am I even discussing this with you?"
Ignoring the last clause, Draco started up again, "But what about Harry and me? And Dumbledore and McGonagall? Its not evil, Severus. Its really not."
"I'll ask you again the purpose of this conversation." Severus said, refusing to acknowledge Draco's point.
"There isn't one. Only I saw the way you looked at a certain Charms professor tonight. You couldn't keep your eyes off of her. Why?" Draco wheedled.
"Don't start Draco Malfoy. She and I are friends, nothing more. I will do nothing to jeopardize that, or her happiness." Severus said, thinking he had ended the conversation.
Draco rose and began to pace pensively. Finally, he grinned and turned to Severus, "You're scared, aren't you?"
"What?"
"You heard me. You think that you'll hurt her because of who you are. You're so scared of letting her get any closer to you than she is already, that you can't even see what's true." Draco accused.
"And what is true, Draco?" Severus asked, a trace of the snarky professor sounding in his voice.
"You have no idea that she's in love with you, too." That stunned Severus into silence. Draco finished his brandy and left the glass by the crystal bottle, swishing dramatically from the room.
* Christmas dawned a bright and beautiful winter morning. Both Hermione and Severus had risen to find a note from the other, explaining that they would receive their gift from the other later that evening. Hermione, having made quick work of the other gifts she found at the edge of her bed, hurried down to the Great Hall, dressed in deep red robes with a green ribbon at the end of a long braid. Hurrying to the table and the seductive scent of Christmas breakfast, she slipped into her seat beside Severus who smiled (more apprehensively than normal) and nodded to show that he had received her note. Breakfast was a quite meal, with all of the remaining students choosing to stay in their dormitories and rapture in their new possessions. Draco and Harry had arrived late for breakfast, still laughing about their gifts. Draco awarded Hermione a kiss on the cheek and profuse thanks for the candles, while Harry sent her a raised eyebrow and a small laugh with his thanks.
The rest of the day was a pleasant combination of pleasant conversation with the rest of the staff, Harry, and Draco, and an hour or two of stolen time in the library where she immersed herself for her traditional holiday re-reading of Hogwarts, A History. Dinner was a rather merry affair, filled with the cheerful reminiscing of the students and staff alike. Finally, as the first few stars began to come out on the enchanted ceiling, Hermione and Severus remained the only two people in the hall. Touching her pocket to feel the shrunken object she had placed there, Hermione stood up. Her male counterpart extended an arm to her and the two walked through the halls in amicable silence. Reaching Severus' chambers, he murmured the password and guided her to her accustomed place in the chair opposite his own by the fire.
Hermione reached shyly into her pocket and produced the shrunken gift, which with the aid of her wand she quickly restored to its normal state. The merrily wrapped gift (in Gryffindor red with a bow of Slytherin silver) was slender and rectangular. Severus smirked, "I should have known that you would get me a book. I've got Most Potente Potions already, Hermione."
"I think you'll find this more interesting then that," Hermione smiled, levitating the package into his lap, "Go on, then."
Severus picked up the package and moved his potion maker's fingers to slit open the festive paper. Gently, he pulled the wrapping and bow away depositing them on the floor. Turning his attention back to the book, he seemed shocked. The for the first time in his life, the potions master was stunned for words, "Hermione..."
"Its the first published work on the relationship between potions and charms, circa 1589 CE by Flamel."
"Its too much, Hermione. Honestly..."
"I thought maybe you could rethink your 'foolish wand-waving' speech a bit," Hermione smiled, pleased at his reaction, "Make an amendment to it, or something."
Looking her deeply in the eye (in a way Hermione found thrilling) Severus raised his wand and quietly said, "Accio," and caught the slender white box that zoomed into his hand, "This is certainly a difficult act to follow, but I hope you'll enjoy this."
Reaching out to take the levitating box, Hermione sat back and looked her question to Severus. Finding no hint or clue in his onyx eyes she carefully lifted the lid of the box and gasped. Glancing up to see the giver, she was shocked to find him not there. Instead, she felt a hand come over her shoulder and take a dangling silver pendant from the box she held. "It was my mother's," the deep voice said, as he began to fasten the pendant around her neck, "And her mother's before her. It is a charm said to bring peace to those who wear it. Being married to my father, my mother never really experienced the affects... But it is for you now."
Hermione stood from her chair, and threw her arms around his neck in silent gratitude. Gently, Severus found his hands stroking her back and hair. After several moments of silent embrace, the two pulled back and looked at each other. When onyx eyes met deep brown, Severus knew he could no longer resist. Moving slowly, he gently pressed his lips onto hers.
Before she fell asleep that night, Hermione reminded herself to thank Draco Malfoy, whatever he had done.
**
a/n: fini! No they did not sleep together, get it out of your dirty little minds. I hope this very long chapter can begin to make up for being neglectful. Next time, Harry-and-Draco hang out with Hermione-and-Severus and we get in to some fun Ron bashing. Probably. I think. You never know.