Author's Notes: Thank you to all of my readers and reviewers! Also, welcome new readers! All questions, comments, and constructive criticism are welcome if you would like to leave a review!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters and places from the books in the series are copyright JK Rowling. They are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.
*****
Chapter 2
"Why haven't you decorated the tree?" Severus asked after Remus and Elizabeth left the room a little while later.
"We were waiting for you," Hermione smiled sadly, "As I told you on Samuel's birthday, I want it to be a family tradition. It wouldn't have been the same without you!"
Severus looked at Samuel, who he was holding in his arms, as he asked, "Well, son? What do you think?"
Samuel babbled incoherantly in response to Severus' question.
"Very well," Severus smiled as he pulled his wand.
"Not with magic!" Hermione chastised him.
"Fairy lights, Hermione..." he smirked as he waved his wand. Samuel giggled at the sight of hundreds of twinkling fairies that now adorned the tree.
"Oh," Hermione giggled before she turned to open the box of ornaments that she had pulled out the other day. Smiling, she handed one to Severus, who allowed Samuel to grasp it in his tiny hand as he assisted him in hanging it on one of the highest branches. One after another, they hung each ornament on the tree as Samuel clapped his hands in delight. When they were finished, Severus handed the child to Hermione as he reached to place a bright star on the top of the tree. He turned and took his wife and son into his arms.
"Well...? he asked.
"Perfect," Hermione replied with a content sigh as she turned to lean into his arms. He embraced her gently, with Samuel firmly nestled between them. It would have been the picture of the perfect family, if not for the melancholy aura surrounding them... Severus would be leaving within the hour.
*****
Hermione was still on edge every moment of every day that Severus and Remus were away, never knowing what to expect. She took comfort in her son and her mother, and they all hoped that the whole situation would come to an end, soon.
Christmas was fast approaching, and Hermione tried to make the best of the holidays for her son's sake. But every time she looked at their tree, she was reminded of what was missing in her life while Severus was away. She could see Severus standing there with Samuel in his arms as he assisted him in hanging his first Christmas ornaments. She smiled as she remembered her son's delighted giggles as his father conjured the fairy lights.
Hermione tried to put on a brave face for Samuel... she didn't want him to have memories of her sitting around and crying in front of the Christmas tree.
She couldn't even go Christmas shopping, as it was deemed unsafe for her and Elizabeth to leave the school grounds. They poured over owl-order catalogues trying to find the perfect presents for their loved ones, but it just wasn't the same as exploring the shops in Hogsmeade.
Trying to take her mind off of the situation, Hermione immersed herself in her research. Every night, she would find herself sitting in front of the fireplace pouring over textbooks and notes, smiling as she worked out new theories. She could almost imagine Severus' voice as he encouraged her, and his look of pride as he praised her work.
When she closed her books for the night, she would come crashing back to reality. Severus was not there, and she could not be certain that he would return safely.
*****
The night that the men returned after their second attempt to track down the elusive Lucius Malfoy, Hermione awoke to find Severus pacing their quarters.
"Severus...?" she called out to him.
When he turned to face her, she could see the dark shadows around his eyes.
"Severus, what's wrong?"
Severus smiled sadly as he approached her. He reached down and gently brushed a few stray hairs off of her face as he whispered, "Go back to sleep, Hermione."
"I'll never sleep if you don't come back to bed," she sighed, "Please, Severus... tell me what's wrong."
"I can't..." he turned away.
"You can tell me anything," she replied.
"No... it's not that. I can't sleep," he sighed, "I haven't since this all began."
"Why not?" she asked as she patted his side of the bed, indicating her wish for him to come back to her side.
Severus groaned in frustration as he lay down beside her and pulled her into his embrace, his hand sliding down to caress the swell of their unborn child. Smiling as he felt a sharp movement, he slipped further down the bed to press his cheek to her womb, whispering, "I can't wait to meet you, little one."
Hermione smiled as her hands began to stroke Severus' silky black hair, soothing him to sleep as he remained laying there with his cheek pressed to her abdomen, before drifting back to sleep herself.
Nearly an hour later, Hermione was startled awake by a paniced shout and the frantic movements of her husband as he jolted out of bed and pulled his wand. Whirling around, his eyes darted back and forth around the room before the haze cleared and he realized where he was.
"Severus! What's wrong?" Hermione's voice was a mixture of concern and confusion.
Severus ran his fingers over his eyes as he muttered, "Go back to sleep, Hermione."
"No Severus... I'll never get to sleep if you don't tell me..."
He crawled back into bed and clutched her tightly, "Every time I close my eyes, I see... terrible things."
"Nightmares?"
He nodded as he buried his face in her hair.
"Tell me about them."
"No," he whipered hoarsely, "It will only frighten you..."
"What frightens me, Severus," Hermione pulled away to look into his eyes, "is seeing you like this." She had never seen him look so helpless... so vulnerable. His fearless mask had slipped, and it scared her.
He reached up and stroked her hair, his eyes searching her face as if he was trying to commit every detail of her to memory, "I'm haunted by... things from my past," he sighed, "You wouldn't believe the attrocities that I have witnessed. The punishments Voldemort ordered to be carried out on traitors... and their families."
"But Voldemort is dead!" Hermione cried.
"And Malfoy is not. And he was the worst of them all. The things he is capable of..." he broke off as Hermione pulled him into her arms.
"You dream of him... doing those things... to me..." Hermione felt him shudder in her embrace as she continued, "and to our children?"
"I won't let him hurt you!" he growled in frustration.
"He can't hurt us as long as we are at Hogwarts, Severus!"
"I can't keep you prisoner here forever, Hermione. Do you understand now why it is so important for me to stop him?"
A tear slipped from Hermione's eyes as she nodded, and Severus continued, "Even if it means that I will..." he broke off as Hermione interrupted.
"Don't say it, Severus! I know the risk involved, but I refuse to allow you to think that you must sacrifice yourself for me!" She pulled away from him as she tilted her head to kiss him tenderly. Severus reached up to her and curled his fingers tightly into her hair as he deepend the kiss, "I love you," he whispered against her lips as he clutched her protectively, holding her as she leaned her head into his shoulder and cried herself to sleep.
*****
Severus and Remus set out the next day for one final search before returning to Hogwarts to spend a few days at home for Christmas. They remained ready to go at a moment's notice, in case they received any intelligence from their contacts... but none ever came. It seemed as though Malfoy had disappeared without a trace. But they knew he was out there, and they wouldn't rest until they knew that he was put away for good.
Hermione and Severus spent Christmas Eve curled contently in each other's arms on the sofa, basking in the warmth of the fire for hours before retiring to bed. Hermione had hoped that the peaceful aura surrounding them for the holiday would help Severus to relax into a dreamless sleep, but once again he spent the night pacing until Hermione convinced him to return to bed, if only to lay there and hold her all night.
Christmas morning, Hermione awoke to the sounds of Severus and Samuel in the nursery. Samuel was cooing delightedly as Severus' deep voice greeted him, "Merry Christmas, my son!"
Hermione smiled as she eased herself out of bed and pulled on her dressing gown. She hadn't even made it across the room when Severus emerged with Samuel in his arms. "Mummummm...." the child squealed as he reached his arms out to her. Hermione smiled as she took him in her arms and kissed him, "Merry Christmas, Samuel!" She led him to the tree and set him on the floor to explore the pile of beautifully wrapped gifts underneath. He squealed as he grabbed one and began to tug at the colorful gift wrap, as Hermione wearily sat down on the sofa.
Severus stepped up behind Hermione, and leaned over to kiss her neck as he murmured, "Merry Christmas, love..."
She turned and gently captured his lips with her own, "Merry Christmas, Severus." Just then, Samuel pushed himself up to his feet, and tottered a few steps around the tree to reachfor more gifts.
Hermione gasped as Severus chuckled deeply, "Look at that! My son is walking!" He hurried over to scoop Samuel into his arms and placed a firm kiss to his forehead, "What a wonderful Christmas present you have given me, Samuel!"
"The best..." Hermione sighed as she stepped up beside them and put her arm around Severus, who leaned in to place a kiss on her brow.
"I have something for you..." he whispered as he reached in to the pocket of his robe and pulled out a small velvet box.
"Oh!" Hermione gasped as she slowly opened the box to reveal a delicate pendant. It was a brilliant blue topaz mounted in an etched platinum setting that matched their wedding bands. "Samuel's birthstone!"
He nodded, "Do you like it?"
A tear slipped from her eye as she placed it in his hand, "Put it on for me?" she asked as she turned around and swept her hair out of the way.
"I have something for you, as well," she smiled nervously as she reached to retrieve the one gift that she had placed out of Samuel's reach, and handed it to Severus. She sat on the sofa, nervously watching him as he slowly unwrapped the gift and carefully removed the lid from the box. He pulled out the small book inside, and his eyes glittered as he began leafing through the pages. It was a pocket sized scrapbook, filled with pictures of their son, of the two of them on their wedding day, and even some family photos taken as recent as Samuel's first birthday.
"I didn't know what to get you..." she began to explain, "and I couldn't get out to go shopping..."
"It's wonderful!" he replied hoarsely as he leaned in and kissed her, "Now I can have you and Samuel with me wherever I go..."
They spent most of the day in their quarters, content to sit and watch their son tear through his gifts. They laughed as he seemed to take more interest in shredding the colorful papers rather than what was inside. Remus and Elizabeth joined them a while later, and they all tried to push thoughts of Lucius Malfoy out of their minds... if only for that day.
*****
Severus had arranged for their Christmas dinner to be served to them in their quarters. Though the professors were usually required to attend the Feast in the Great Hall, no students had remained at the school this holiday and Albus had approved of them having a quiet family dinner. When the house elves arrived to serve them, Remus and Elizabeth excused themselves.
"Aren't you staying, Mum?"
Elizabeth laughed, "I'm sorry, dear. I have a date tonight."
"Really?" Hermione looked at her suspiciously, "Where are you going?"
Remus cut in, "That, Hermione, is a surprise!"
After they left, Hermione looked at Severus, who was wearing a satisfied smirk.
"Severus Snape! Why do I get the feeling that you are hiding something from me?"
"I know nothing, Hermione," Severus shrugged his shoulders, trying unsuccessfully to look oblivious. "Only, Remus accompanied me when I purchased your gift, and he didn't come out of the jewelers' until much later than I did..."
*****
After they had eaten their dinner and lay Samuel down for bed, Severus and Hermione once again spent an evening curled up in front of the fire. Hermione was beginning to nod off on his shoulder when there was a gentle knock on the door. Severus groaned as he eased himself out from under her and walked to the door. Hermione rose to her feet, and was just stepping up behind him as he opened the door, only to find Remus and Elizabeth had returned.
Remus was smiling as he stood there with his arm around the woman, who began to cry when she saw Hermione.
"Mum? What's wrong?" Hermione asked in concern as Elizabeth rushed inside and pulled her into her arms.
"Nothing is wrong, Hermione," Elizabeth sniffed as she backed away. Looking at Remus, she continued, "Everything is... just right," she rasped as she reached out and grabbed his hand.
Hermione stepped closer to Severus, who reached out and put an arm around her as he leaned in and whispered, "I think now would be the time to congratulate your mother."
Elizabeth laughed and nodded her head, beaming a smile at her daughter, "Hermione... Remus and I..."
Hermione cut her off with a squeal as she noticed the ring sparkling on her mother's finger, "Mum!" She stepped forward and grabbed Elizabeth's hand, "Are you...?" she gasped, looking back and forth between her mother and Remus.
"We are!" Remus smiled at her as Hermione threw herself into his arms and sobbed.
"Are you OK with this?" he whispered into her ear.
"Am I OK with it?" she asked in disbelief, "Remus... I have spent months wondering if you would ever get around to it!"
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters and places from the books in the series are copyright JK Rowling. They are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.
*****
Chapter 2
"Why haven't you decorated the tree?" Severus asked after Remus and Elizabeth left the room a little while later.
"We were waiting for you," Hermione smiled sadly, "As I told you on Samuel's birthday, I want it to be a family tradition. It wouldn't have been the same without you!"
Severus looked at Samuel, who he was holding in his arms, as he asked, "Well, son? What do you think?"
Samuel babbled incoherantly in response to Severus' question.
"Very well," Severus smiled as he pulled his wand.
"Not with magic!" Hermione chastised him.
"Fairy lights, Hermione..." he smirked as he waved his wand. Samuel giggled at the sight of hundreds of twinkling fairies that now adorned the tree.
"Oh," Hermione giggled before she turned to open the box of ornaments that she had pulled out the other day. Smiling, she handed one to Severus, who allowed Samuel to grasp it in his tiny hand as he assisted him in hanging it on one of the highest branches. One after another, they hung each ornament on the tree as Samuel clapped his hands in delight. When they were finished, Severus handed the child to Hermione as he reached to place a bright star on the top of the tree. He turned and took his wife and son into his arms.
"Well...? he asked.
"Perfect," Hermione replied with a content sigh as she turned to lean into his arms. He embraced her gently, with Samuel firmly nestled between them. It would have been the picture of the perfect family, if not for the melancholy aura surrounding them... Severus would be leaving within the hour.
*****
Hermione was still on edge every moment of every day that Severus and Remus were away, never knowing what to expect. She took comfort in her son and her mother, and they all hoped that the whole situation would come to an end, soon.
Christmas was fast approaching, and Hermione tried to make the best of the holidays for her son's sake. But every time she looked at their tree, she was reminded of what was missing in her life while Severus was away. She could see Severus standing there with Samuel in his arms as he assisted him in hanging his first Christmas ornaments. She smiled as she remembered her son's delighted giggles as his father conjured the fairy lights.
Hermione tried to put on a brave face for Samuel... she didn't want him to have memories of her sitting around and crying in front of the Christmas tree.
She couldn't even go Christmas shopping, as it was deemed unsafe for her and Elizabeth to leave the school grounds. They poured over owl-order catalogues trying to find the perfect presents for their loved ones, but it just wasn't the same as exploring the shops in Hogsmeade.
Trying to take her mind off of the situation, Hermione immersed herself in her research. Every night, she would find herself sitting in front of the fireplace pouring over textbooks and notes, smiling as she worked out new theories. She could almost imagine Severus' voice as he encouraged her, and his look of pride as he praised her work.
When she closed her books for the night, she would come crashing back to reality. Severus was not there, and she could not be certain that he would return safely.
*****
The night that the men returned after their second attempt to track down the elusive Lucius Malfoy, Hermione awoke to find Severus pacing their quarters.
"Severus...?" she called out to him.
When he turned to face her, she could see the dark shadows around his eyes.
"Severus, what's wrong?"
Severus smiled sadly as he approached her. He reached down and gently brushed a few stray hairs off of her face as he whispered, "Go back to sleep, Hermione."
"I'll never sleep if you don't come back to bed," she sighed, "Please, Severus... tell me what's wrong."
"I can't..." he turned away.
"You can tell me anything," she replied.
"No... it's not that. I can't sleep," he sighed, "I haven't since this all began."
"Why not?" she asked as she patted his side of the bed, indicating her wish for him to come back to her side.
Severus groaned in frustration as he lay down beside her and pulled her into his embrace, his hand sliding down to caress the swell of their unborn child. Smiling as he felt a sharp movement, he slipped further down the bed to press his cheek to her womb, whispering, "I can't wait to meet you, little one."
Hermione smiled as her hands began to stroke Severus' silky black hair, soothing him to sleep as he remained laying there with his cheek pressed to her abdomen, before drifting back to sleep herself.
Nearly an hour later, Hermione was startled awake by a paniced shout and the frantic movements of her husband as he jolted out of bed and pulled his wand. Whirling around, his eyes darted back and forth around the room before the haze cleared and he realized where he was.
"Severus! What's wrong?" Hermione's voice was a mixture of concern and confusion.
Severus ran his fingers over his eyes as he muttered, "Go back to sleep, Hermione."
"No Severus... I'll never get to sleep if you don't tell me..."
He crawled back into bed and clutched her tightly, "Every time I close my eyes, I see... terrible things."
"Nightmares?"
He nodded as he buried his face in her hair.
"Tell me about them."
"No," he whipered hoarsely, "It will only frighten you..."
"What frightens me, Severus," Hermione pulled away to look into his eyes, "is seeing you like this." She had never seen him look so helpless... so vulnerable. His fearless mask had slipped, and it scared her.
He reached up and stroked her hair, his eyes searching her face as if he was trying to commit every detail of her to memory, "I'm haunted by... things from my past," he sighed, "You wouldn't believe the attrocities that I have witnessed. The punishments Voldemort ordered to be carried out on traitors... and their families."
"But Voldemort is dead!" Hermione cried.
"And Malfoy is not. And he was the worst of them all. The things he is capable of..." he broke off as Hermione pulled him into her arms.
"You dream of him... doing those things... to me..." Hermione felt him shudder in her embrace as she continued, "and to our children?"
"I won't let him hurt you!" he growled in frustration.
"He can't hurt us as long as we are at Hogwarts, Severus!"
"I can't keep you prisoner here forever, Hermione. Do you understand now why it is so important for me to stop him?"
A tear slipped from Hermione's eyes as she nodded, and Severus continued, "Even if it means that I will..." he broke off as Hermione interrupted.
"Don't say it, Severus! I know the risk involved, but I refuse to allow you to think that you must sacrifice yourself for me!" She pulled away from him as she tilted her head to kiss him tenderly. Severus reached up to her and curled his fingers tightly into her hair as he deepend the kiss, "I love you," he whispered against her lips as he clutched her protectively, holding her as she leaned her head into his shoulder and cried herself to sleep.
*****
Severus and Remus set out the next day for one final search before returning to Hogwarts to spend a few days at home for Christmas. They remained ready to go at a moment's notice, in case they received any intelligence from their contacts... but none ever came. It seemed as though Malfoy had disappeared without a trace. But they knew he was out there, and they wouldn't rest until they knew that he was put away for good.
Hermione and Severus spent Christmas Eve curled contently in each other's arms on the sofa, basking in the warmth of the fire for hours before retiring to bed. Hermione had hoped that the peaceful aura surrounding them for the holiday would help Severus to relax into a dreamless sleep, but once again he spent the night pacing until Hermione convinced him to return to bed, if only to lay there and hold her all night.
Christmas morning, Hermione awoke to the sounds of Severus and Samuel in the nursery. Samuel was cooing delightedly as Severus' deep voice greeted him, "Merry Christmas, my son!"
Hermione smiled as she eased herself out of bed and pulled on her dressing gown. She hadn't even made it across the room when Severus emerged with Samuel in his arms. "Mummummm...." the child squealed as he reached his arms out to her. Hermione smiled as she took him in her arms and kissed him, "Merry Christmas, Samuel!" She led him to the tree and set him on the floor to explore the pile of beautifully wrapped gifts underneath. He squealed as he grabbed one and began to tug at the colorful gift wrap, as Hermione wearily sat down on the sofa.
Severus stepped up behind Hermione, and leaned over to kiss her neck as he murmured, "Merry Christmas, love..."
She turned and gently captured his lips with her own, "Merry Christmas, Severus." Just then, Samuel pushed himself up to his feet, and tottered a few steps around the tree to reachfor more gifts.
Hermione gasped as Severus chuckled deeply, "Look at that! My son is walking!" He hurried over to scoop Samuel into his arms and placed a firm kiss to his forehead, "What a wonderful Christmas present you have given me, Samuel!"
"The best..." Hermione sighed as she stepped up beside them and put her arm around Severus, who leaned in to place a kiss on her brow.
"I have something for you..." he whispered as he reached in to the pocket of his robe and pulled out a small velvet box.
"Oh!" Hermione gasped as she slowly opened the box to reveal a delicate pendant. It was a brilliant blue topaz mounted in an etched platinum setting that matched their wedding bands. "Samuel's birthstone!"
He nodded, "Do you like it?"
A tear slipped from her eye as she placed it in his hand, "Put it on for me?" she asked as she turned around and swept her hair out of the way.
"I have something for you, as well," she smiled nervously as she reached to retrieve the one gift that she had placed out of Samuel's reach, and handed it to Severus. She sat on the sofa, nervously watching him as he slowly unwrapped the gift and carefully removed the lid from the box. He pulled out the small book inside, and his eyes glittered as he began leafing through the pages. It was a pocket sized scrapbook, filled with pictures of their son, of the two of them on their wedding day, and even some family photos taken as recent as Samuel's first birthday.
"I didn't know what to get you..." she began to explain, "and I couldn't get out to go shopping..."
"It's wonderful!" he replied hoarsely as he leaned in and kissed her, "Now I can have you and Samuel with me wherever I go..."
They spent most of the day in their quarters, content to sit and watch their son tear through his gifts. They laughed as he seemed to take more interest in shredding the colorful papers rather than what was inside. Remus and Elizabeth joined them a while later, and they all tried to push thoughts of Lucius Malfoy out of their minds... if only for that day.
*****
Severus had arranged for their Christmas dinner to be served to them in their quarters. Though the professors were usually required to attend the Feast in the Great Hall, no students had remained at the school this holiday and Albus had approved of them having a quiet family dinner. When the house elves arrived to serve them, Remus and Elizabeth excused themselves.
"Aren't you staying, Mum?"
Elizabeth laughed, "I'm sorry, dear. I have a date tonight."
"Really?" Hermione looked at her suspiciously, "Where are you going?"
Remus cut in, "That, Hermione, is a surprise!"
After they left, Hermione looked at Severus, who was wearing a satisfied smirk.
"Severus Snape! Why do I get the feeling that you are hiding something from me?"
"I know nothing, Hermione," Severus shrugged his shoulders, trying unsuccessfully to look oblivious. "Only, Remus accompanied me when I purchased your gift, and he didn't come out of the jewelers' until much later than I did..."
*****
After they had eaten their dinner and lay Samuel down for bed, Severus and Hermione once again spent an evening curled up in front of the fire. Hermione was beginning to nod off on his shoulder when there was a gentle knock on the door. Severus groaned as he eased himself out from under her and walked to the door. Hermione rose to her feet, and was just stepping up behind him as he opened the door, only to find Remus and Elizabeth had returned.
Remus was smiling as he stood there with his arm around the woman, who began to cry when she saw Hermione.
"Mum? What's wrong?" Hermione asked in concern as Elizabeth rushed inside and pulled her into her arms.
"Nothing is wrong, Hermione," Elizabeth sniffed as she backed away. Looking at Remus, she continued, "Everything is... just right," she rasped as she reached out and grabbed his hand.
Hermione stepped closer to Severus, who reached out and put an arm around her as he leaned in and whispered, "I think now would be the time to congratulate your mother."
Elizabeth laughed and nodded her head, beaming a smile at her daughter, "Hermione... Remus and I..."
Hermione cut her off with a squeal as she noticed the ring sparkling on her mother's finger, "Mum!" She stepped forward and grabbed Elizabeth's hand, "Are you...?" she gasped, looking back and forth between her mother and Remus.
"We are!" Remus smiled at her as Hermione threw herself into his arms and sobbed.
"Are you OK with this?" he whispered into her ear.
"Am I OK with it?" she asked in disbelief, "Remus... I have spent months wondering if you would ever get around to it!"