Chapter 34: Holiday Fun
"Good morning," Hermione said sitting down in the open seat next to Susan. "How are you feeling Hannah?" She asked her friend who was on Susan's other side.
"I feel fine, in fact I feel guilty for not feeling that bad. I haven't talked to my cousin since I started at Hogwarts and her two sons were jerks, a lot like how Harry describes his uncle and cousin." She told them and they suddenly understood.
"I think you get to open the first present then," Harry told her. She received a pair of fuzzy pink bunny slippers. She laughed as she toed off her ratty old slippers and put them on. Gabrielle was shocked to see naughty/risqué underpants with a note to have fun once she was married. Draco was grinning at her gift as he opened his pair of new Quidditch gloves; Ron got a pair as well. Colin got a tripod while Dennis got a paint brush set. Arthur was grinning as he examined every item of the desk set he got, it had a stapler, tape dispenser, paperclip holder and pen and pencil set. Susan was speechless once again as she opened the pearl bracelet. Severus was very happy with his potions vials and Harry laughed as he saw the collection of muggle movies for him to watch. Hermione was thrilled with her phoenix feather quill set and Neville was last to open his gift which was a pair of impenetrable dragon hide gloves for use in the greenhouse.
"You all seem to have such fun together," Hermione's mum told her as they all separated after eating.
"Our group keeps growing but also becomes more intimate all the time," she told her. "Just call for Winky if you need anything and she can get it for you or find me." She then hurried off to hang out with her friends. Harry was acting very clingy and both he and Severus didn't want to let her out of their sight. "I'm not going to disappear on you guys." She said to them with a smile.
"You almost did 'Moine and it terrified us," Harry told her as they sat down in the drawing room. "We can't help but want to keep watch over you when just last night we thought we had lost you. You can't imagine what we felt when we thought you were dead, I never thought anything could be worse than Sirius."
Hermione and Ginny sat on either side of him and hugged him. "I love you Harry," she told him. "You are like the brother I never had. I know it would have been hard for you to loose me but you need to know that I will always be with you, even if something bad happens to me. I need you to promise that you will be strong for me if something happens to me or to one of our friends."
"I'll try," Harry told her. "But it's so hard to imagine life without you since you're the first family I ever had."
"There is way too much bonding going on in here," Fred said from the doorway hoping to break up the somber mood. "I think we should play the game!"
Half an hour later they had their game group lounging around the drawing room with the door warded against 'no fun adults' as George called them. "Come on, Charlie you get to start."
"Well, this one is tough," Charlie told them before reading, "If the room was on fire and you could only safe one person in it, who would you save and why? I guess I would save Ginny because she is my baby sister and I have the highest hopes for her."
Bill said he would save Fleur and she reciprocated. Gabrielle and Draco would save each other. Severus said he would save Hermione because after almost loosing her once he didn't want to have to go through that again. Hermione took the safe answer by saying Harry since he was the only one that mattered to the war. Unfortunately the little ball started humming and she answered, "I don't know who I'd save. In fact I'd probably end up dying trying to save too many people!" They all laughed when the ball was quiet as that was a true answer.
Harry blushed as he said Ginny and she grinned and answered him. Ron and Susan, Hannah and Justin and Neville and Luna all answered each other. Remus surprised them by answering Harry and Tonks answered Harry as well. Kingsley answered Tonks since they were good friends. Colin and Dennis answered each other. Angelina and Alicia answered each other as well as Katie and Lee and Fred and George answering each other as well.
Bill was next and his question was simple, what is your favorite color. Bill answered red, Fleur and Gabrielle silver, Draco green, Severus black, Hermione cream, Harry green, Ginny purple, Ron blue, Susan and Hannah pink, Justin yellow, Neville red, Luna orange, Remus yellow, Tonks hot pink, Kingsley white, Colin red, Dennis blue, Angelina and Alicia yellow, Katie purple and Lee, Fred and George blue.
Fleur's was also an easy question, what is your favorite or lucky number. Gabrielle had them each say what color underwear they were wearing. Draco smirked as they had to play ring around the rosie, he enjoyed the idea of watching everyone play a muggle children's game. Severus was nervous once again as it was his turn, "What is the worst mistake you ever made? Well that would be easy, taking the dark mark."
Hermione said hers was using cat hair in the polyjuice potion, Harry said his was not going to one of the teachers before they rushed after Sirius. Ginny said hers was ever writing in the diary. Ron said his was telling Harry they should take the car to school. Susan said hers was not telling Ron sooner how she felt. Hannah, Justin, Neville and Luna's were all school related. Remus said he should have never trusted Peter while Tonks and Kingsley were both work related. Colin and Dennis both said theirs was not having a strong enough patronus. The twins, Lee and their girls all had small mistakes. Charlie said his was not asking Hermione out the moment he heard she and Ron broke up. Bill said his was waiting so long to ask Fleur to marry him. Fleur said hers was not saving herself for her true love. Gabrielle said hers was not fighting her parents about starting school on time. Draco said trusting his father when he was younger.
Hermione laughed as she read hers, who do you think is the best kisser in the room. "That's actually an easy answer, its Severus by far." Harry answered Ginny but she answered Severus. Ron said Hermione while Susan scowled at him but then answered Draco. Hannah also said Draco while Justin said Hermione along with Neville. Luna answered Severus. Remus answered Hermione and Tonks said Severus. Kingsley said Fleur. Colin and Dennis both answered Hermione. Angie, Alicia and Katie all answered Severus after having see the photo of him and Hermione and talking to the other girls. Lee, Fred, George, Charlie and Bill all answered Hermione. While Fleur and Gabrielle both answered Severus. Draco was shaking his head as he answered Gabrielle not comprehending how all the women thought so highly of kissing Severus. Severus was the last to answer and he smiled slightly at her before answering Hermione.
Harry's question was what one thing you most want for Christmas. Harry shrugged and answered that he wanted his auror qualification papers as he had finished his training. Ginny said she wanted her own potions lab so she could brew whenever she felt so inclined. Ron said he wanted to play Quidditch with everyone here over the holiday. Susan looked very nervous about the answer she was going to be forced to give. "Come on hun, it can't be that bad, it's just a Christmas present." Ron told her with a smile.
"Just promise not to over react, you know that just because I say its what I want that I don't actually expect to get it," she said still nervous. He nodded and she said, "An engagement ring." Most of the girls smiled and understand her nervousness and the guys look sympathetically towards Ron who was smiling like the cat that got the cream. Susan had to admit that wasn't the reaction she was expecting.
Hannah wondered what Ron was up to as he normally would have flew off the handle at something like that. She turned to Justin with a shy smile, amused when he gulped hoping she wouldn't want the same thing. "I want a promise ring for Christmas. I don't expect an engagement anytime soon; I just want to know that I'm worth waiting for." Justin looked relieved and stated that he wants new clothes.
Neville said he wants his own greenhouse and Harry spoke up. "Hey Nev, what do you call that thing you've been spending all your time in?"
"Um, your greenhouse?" Neville said unsure, surprised Harry would consider something in his house to be Neville's.
"Mate that greenhouse has been yours since we found it. I would never know how to keep it up and really I have no use for it. It's yours as long as you want it." Harry told him and was pleased with the grin he received from his friend in thanks.
Luna wants a new cloak and Remus a new trunk. Tonks was seriously considering using the alternate dare but knew Remus would get it out of her eventually anyway. "I think I need to use the same warning that Susan did. I may want something but that doesn't mean that I think I can have it." She took a deep breath and looked straight at Remus as she answered, "I want to have a baby." The entire room fell silent as they watched for Remus' response.
"You want to have my child?" He asked her surprised. He knew they loved each other and that they were still plenty young to have a child he just never expected her to want one. He leaned over and took her in his arms and kissed her deeply, to the sighs of many of the girls in the room. "That would make me very blessed but we should wait until this war is over and it's safe to have one." She smiled and kissed him again.
Kingsley spoke up, "I don't want anything as profound as that. I only want a new dress cloak." They all laughed as the tension in the room returned to its playful state.
Colin wanted a new camera and Dennis a new easel. Both Angelina and Alicia want jewelry while Katie also wants a promise ring. Lee was still in shock from what Katie wanted and barely squeaked out that he wants new boots. Fred and George both want new clothes while Charlie wants a pet since he now has a place to have one. Bill wants a new earring and Fleur and Gabrielle both want jewelry. Draco wants his own house so he can escape his mother. Severus sighed almost wistfully and said he wants a first edition Moste Potente Potions book to replace the copy he damaged as it was the gem of his collection. Hermione couldn't help but grin as he said that and Ginny had to hold in her giggles.
"I also want the same first edition book Severus said as well as either a first or at least an early edition of Hogwarts a History." Hermione told them as Ron rolled his eyes.
Ginny smiled at her question. 'Do you believe you have a soul mate?' Most of them said no, in fact the only ones who said yes were Ginny, Harry, Dennis, Hermione and surprisingly Severus.
Ron had everyone singing muggle Christmas carols. Susan asked what everyone's greatest fear was. Actually her question was, "If a boggart came at you which shape would it take?" This question required a lot of thought for most of them. She finally answered that it would be a vampire. Hannah said she was terribly claustrophobic so it would be a dark and small space. Justin said his was of mermaids ever since he saw what they really looked like in 4th year. Neville said his was his parents dying while Luna said hers was giants, full grown ones. Remus said his greatest fear is hurting someone while in his werewolf form. Tonks' is being stuck in one form. Kingsley said his fear is of fire, being burned alive. Colin said his fear is large snakes after being petrified and Dennis said his was of trolls. Angelina said hers is of vampires and Alicia of banshees. Katie looked apologetically at Remus and said her greatest fear is of werewolves. Lee said his was of being buried alive. Fred and George both said their greatest fear was loosing the other one as being a twin it would be like a piece of them was missing. Charlie said his greatest fear was dying alone. Bill said his was anything happening to Fleur. Fleur said she is now afraid of drowning after the tri-wizard tournament. Gabrielle said her greatest fear is Draco being forced to become a death eater. Draco said his greatest fear is that Gabrielle will be killed when he refuses to become a death eater. Severus said his greatest fear is Voldemort winning the war. Hermione's greatest fear was any of her friends dying. Harry looked at all of them and said his greatest fear is Voldemort getting a hold of Ginny because he wouldn't care what happened to him or the consequences as he would do anything to keep her safe. Ginny bawled as she wrapped her arms around Harry and said that was her fear as well, that she never wanted to be used as a pawn against him. Ron just quietly said spiders and they all laughed that at least Ron was still the same.
Charlie stretched from his chair. "I think we should play something more livelily. Maybe something that takes wit or physical activity. I say we need a group game so we can play guys versus gals." They all agreed that the game had gotten to the point where they needed a break from the probing questions and that the dares were not taking their minds off the answers they had given.
"How about charades or pictionary?" Justin suggested. "They are fun group games and easy to play. They should also be easy to convert to the wizarding world."
At seeing everyone's blank look Hermione explained the two games. "So which one should we play so that we can start making up ideas?" Everyone decided that they could draw better than they could act so they decided on pictionary. Hermione conjured a very large pad of paper on an easel and markers in various colors for them to use. She also transfigured her watch into a time keeper. They would each draw for 30 seconds and they would get one point for each correct answer. At the end of the time the opposing team can guess what their last drawing had been and score and additional 2 points. Team captains monitored what was being drawn so no one could cheat. No magic allowed!
The guys had to go first since they had more people (15 guys to 11 gals). Bill took a paper out of the basket of them hanging off the easel and picked up a marker. Hermione started the timer and he began to draw. He had drawn a hard one to start with, Cornelius Fudge. He finally had to use the colored markers and made a stick figure wearing purple clothes and a green bowler hat. "Fudge! It's Cornelius Fudge!" Ron yelled out and they moved on to the next picture that was a snake but time ran out when all Bill had was a squiggly line. Tonks jokingly guessed snake and Bill groaned because the girls got 2 points for that taking them ahead because Fudge was hard to draw!
Hermione was first and had Hogwarts. She grabbed a marker and drew a castle and they were guessing all kinds of castles until she finished drawing a book inside and Gabrielle yelled Hogwarts. Her next one was the stupefy charm and she drew to stick figures one pointing a wand one half falling down. Hannah guessed it as soon as she drew a red line between the two. She was reaching for a new one when the time sounded and she smiled and they took their two points. (Score Guys: 1, Girls: 4)
Charlie was next and he had Hippogriff and was a surprisingly good artist and they guessed fairly quickly, his next one was the Ministry of Magic. He drew an attempt at an elevator then moved on to try and draw a fountain. Kingsley yelled it out just as time ran out, much to Charlie's relief.
Ginny was next for the girls and she grinned as she got Bat Boggey Hex. She drew a stick figure with a bat on its face and Tonks guessed it immediately. Her next one was Severus Snape. She drew another stick figure and then drew oversized black robes on it making the girls guess dementors. She then drew a cauldron and Hermione yelled out that it was Snape and they laughed as it was right! She got Harry Potter next and drew a lightning bolt and then a head around it. Luna guessed Harry right as time ran out making the score Guys: 3, Gals 7.
Severus was next and was upset they were loosing when they had more people. He got dungeons and quickly drew a long hallway and some caldrons and Draco yelled out the answer. His next one was the 3 broomsticks so he quickly drew 3 brooms in a row and Neville answered. The next one was the killing curse and he glared at the pad as he did the same drawing as Hermione for stupefy only with a green line. Harry gasped and whispered the answer right as time ran out.
Gabrielle was up and got the Room of Requirement. She drew a square and put some couches in it and they guessed it was a room. She drew Hogwarts and started showing the floors and put and arrow to the 7th floor. Time was running out so she drew a blank box in the form of a hallway and drew lines back and forth before the wall and then drew a door. "Room of Requirement!" Angelina yelled just as the time ran out, they were very close to not getting that. (Score: Guys: 6, Gals: 8)
Harry was next and scared of drawing. His first one was phoenix so he drew a bird with long tail feathers and then a tongue of fire and then a pile of ashes then a bird. Severus guessed the right answer. His next one was the Burrow and he quickly drew a lopsided house with lots of floors and then a car in the air over the house before George yelled out the answer and time ran out.
Susan got St. Mungos and it took the entire time again for them to get the answer. The score was Guys 8 and Gals 9. Ron was next and had to draw Voldemort and was at a loss as to what to do. He ended up drawing a stick figure with a big head and drew on red eyes and Harry finally called out the answer. Hannah was next and got a sphinx and had an even harder time than Ron but finally Katie figured it out leaving the score Guys 9 and Gals 10.
Fred took the whole time drawing a niffler and finally Lee guessed it. Luna had to draw the leaky caldron and then the patronus spell. She was happy when the score moved to Guys 10 and Gals 12.
George took the entire time drawing Peeves. Tonks also took the whole time drawing headquarters. Justin had a hard time with Malfoy Manor and no one on his team guessed but Gabrielle guessed correctly. Angelina was a horrible artist and no one on either team guessed the shrinking spell. Score: Guys 11, Gals 15.
Neville did alright with Blast-Ended Skrewts but it took their whole time. Alicia wasn't any better with Gryffindor Tower so the score was Guys 12, Gals 16.
Colin was next with Hogsmead and lumos. Katie took a long time just for them to guess owl taking the score to Guys 14, Gals 17. It was the last round so the guys obviously picked Dennis to draw since they had to get at least 3 to stay in the game. He quickly got through cat and wingardium leviosa and Albus Dumbledore to tie the game and just as time was running out Harry realized what he was drawing and yelled out "Dobby, it's Dobby the house elf!" It took the score to Guys 18, Gals 17. The girls had Fleur left to draw, to win she would have to get at least one and hope the guys didn't guess what she had left.
They quickly guessed the great hall and then Hagrid's hut before being completely thrown by having to try and draw a thestral when she had never seen one. She drew a horse and then an eyeball that she crossed out hoping they would guess that it meant couldn't see. Time ran out and the girls all groaned looking to the guys who had their heads together discussing their answer. The score at the moment was Guys 18, Gals 19 but if the guys guessed right it would take them to 20 and they would win!
Bill finally spoke up, "We have decided that that is a thestral." Fleur cussed in French and they all realized that the guys had just won.
"I get it now, the crossed out eye means you can't see it." Hermione said to Fleur who needed cheering up. "I would imagine drawing something you have never seen would be tough. But be glad that you can't see them for I'm afraid by the end of this war everyone in this room will be able to."
The next morning was the last of the smaller gifts for the secret Santas. Everyone was in a festive mood as it was Christmas Eve and the house was fully decorated thanks to Dobby, Winky and Professor Flitwick. Everyone's gifts were sitting in the middle of the table waiting to be handed out. Hermione had been back and forth all day over which gift to give Severus first. Sure the book was more expensive and what he wanted the most but the snake was such an important gift as well. She finally decided to give him the snake so she would have her owner and he could pick out a name for her. Hermione liked the name Jade but didn't want to influence Severus and would be happy with whatever he named her.
Harry and Charlie each got a dragon hide wallet and belt set, Charlie's was brown and Harry's was black. Hermione, Draco and Ginny each got a set of potions vials with their initials engraved upon them. Molly received a set of beautiful hair combs and Arthur was jumping around after opening a stack of muggle board games. Even Moody was getting into the holiday spirit and put on his new cloak with multiple hidden pockets, perfect for a paranoid auror. Luna was happy with a pair of bright green leather boots and Neville was caressing his never solid silver trowel. Dennis and Colin each got initialed cases for their painting and camera supplies. Susan was blown over by the matching necklace to the bracelet and earrings she received earlier. Gabrielle was once again embarrassed yet pleased by the luxurious cream colored silk nightgown and matching robe and slippers.
Hermione was nervous as Severus was the last to reach for his gift. He was curious why there were holes poked into the wrapping until he took off the paper and saw the pet carrier. It was a supple black leather case and he could tell the lining was satin but he wondered just what kind of pet fit in it. He hadn't had a familiar in almost 20 years and he still missed her. His mother hadn't allowed him to take her to school with him so she gave her away and he never saw her since.
Hermione watched as he cautiously opened the carrier and gasped, his eyes wide with rarely seen emotions. "Jade," he whispered lovingly and the little serpant willingly crawled up his arm to lay around his shoulder with her head next to his ear hissing a soothing litany. "Where did you come from Jade? I haven't seen you in 20 years and I searched all over for you after Hogwarts."
Everyone watched in fascination as their stoic potions master was almost moved to tears at finding his familiar again. "When I left for Hogwarts my mother said a snake was not an appropriate familiar for a school so she took her away. She gave her to some pet shop and I never saw her again. After school I looked all over for her in hopes that she had been taken in by another family and I could get her back." He told everyone the story and Hermione and Draco just stared at each other in awe that the cute little snake they had found was indeed the perfect familiar for Snape.
What only Harry and Severus knew was that the comforting hissing of the snake was not just soothing sounds but words. Jade told him how she was moved from one pet store to another for years until a nice old muggle bought him for her grandson. She escaped from the boy who liked to throw her around and ended up in the yard of a young muggle couple who took care of her for a few years until the wife became pregnant and they told her she would have to find a new home once the baby was born. She was in a park one day when a pretty red haired lady came by with her very young son in a pram. The boy looked at her and giggled and said hello in snake language. She stowed away in the pram and kept watch over the young wizard. His parents were killed a few months later and so she stayed watching over him as the muggles he was forced to live with were awful to him. He finally never came back over a year ago and she decided to try and find a new place to live. She was caught by a wizard and placed into the pet shop where she said she hissed and snapped at anyone who looked interested in her.
Harry was in awe that the little snake had spent so many years watching out for him. He reached over and stroked her glittering scales. "He's a good boy Sev, troubled but good." Jade told her master who had never revealed to anyone that he was a parselmouth and wasn't going to start now. "Your girl was easy to smell," she continued. "She wanted a pet for you and I knew I could finally get back to you. I missed you Sev."
"I want to thank whoever brought Jade back to me. I missed her and she will be the perfect mascot for Slytherin house." He told his secret Santa even though he had a very good idea who it was now.
Hermione was smiling during her meal that her gift had been so perfect. He seemed so happy to have Jade back with him. She was still unsure how she knew the pretty snake's name. "She's gorgeous Severus," Hermione commented across the table trying to act like she hadn't seen her before.
"First she calls me lovely, now I'm gorgeous. Such a nice girl you have Sev." Jade said as she didn't realize that no one was supposed to know until tomorrow who the gifts were from. Severus and Harry both looked at Hermione wondering how she came to find Jade. Severus excused himself quickly up to his lab so he could speak with Jade.
He sat down on his sofa and let Jade coil up in his lap. "Can you tell me why you keep referring to Hermione as my girl and how you knew she would bring you to me?"
"She smells of you," she told him cryptically. "I smelled your scent and then heard her speak that someone would like me. She cooed lovingly to me and was so gentle with me unlike everyone else. Then the white haired boy mentioned that I would be perfect for him and I could sense that I would find you again."
"You could hear her speak to you?" Severus asked confused. Jade could usually only understand purebloods. For some reason when half bloods or muggle borns spoke snakes didn't understand but they could hear the purebloods. Of course the wizard couldn't hear them back unless they were a parselmouth.
"Yes, clear as you." She told him and he smiled. They had practiced for years so that he wouldn't accidentally speak parselmouth when he talked to her. He would speak in English and she could understand. That was how he kept his secret for so long. It had served its purpose a few times in the dark lords circle as he would tell Nagini something and he would understand.
They were all gathered again for lunch in the dining room, even the Grangers. Mrs. Granger was walking behind Severus when she spotted Jade and stopped dead in her tracks. "Jade?" She asked in a whisper and watched as both Snape and his snake spun to look at her. She had figured that she would never see the beautiful little snake again after she turned her away when Hermione was born.
Severus stared in wonder at Mrs. Granger. "May I ask how you knew her name?"
"That's what I used to call a snake that lived in our garden for a few years before Hermione was born. We couldn't take care of her anymore with the baby and she left." Mrs. Granger told him.
"So you're the muggle couple she lived with for a few years then," Harry commented out loud. "It really is a small world. She goes from Severus to you to me and finally back to Severus. Funny to think we all know each other as well."
"What do you mean Harry?" Hermione asked him.
"Jade told how she came to be back with Severus and I listened. I am a parselmouth." He told her teasingly.
"So this is our little friend Jade then?" Mr. Granger asked stroking the snake's scales. "I'm glad to see you have finally found a good master." He said as she hissed a 'thanks' which startled Severus who thought she couldn't understand muggles.
Hermione ventured up to the lab later that afternoon to talk to Severus without anyone around. She also wanted to see Jade again; the little snake had grown on her. "Severus are you here?" She called out from the sitting room as she wandered over to the door to his bedroom to knock. She noticed that the door was open and the door opened farther as she knocked upon it. Severus had just gotten out of the shower and was wearing naught but a fluffy black towel around his waist. Hermione sucked in her breath at the sight of him almost unclothed. She had seen hints of his chiseled chest and toned body but the sight of him almost bare and still glistening with moisture was enough to render her speechless. Jade was curled around one of the posters of his bed and watched the girls' expression at his attire and hissed out an amused laugh that drew Severus' attention to the startled woman at the door.
"Hermione?" He said startled as he reached for his dressing gown to cover himself more.
"I'm sorry Severus, I just came by to talk and I didn't realize. I knocked and the door opened, I'm really very sorry." She told him unable to keep her eyes off his chest that was peaking through the loosed robe.
Severus was very aware of the look she was sending him and didn't know what to think. Women had never been attracted to him in the past and yet multiple times Hermione has revealed that she found at least his body attractive. He hadn't used a glamour at all on his body when he went under the disguise of Snake and she had liked it then. "It's alright Hermione," he said approaching her still unmoving frame. "I wanted to speak with you as well to thank you for Jade. This is the best Christmas gift I have ever received."
"Is she why they called you Snake?" She asked him looking into his eyes and forgetting that he was still mostly undressed in front of her.
"Partially, but my tattoo is of her," he told her as he retrieved his wand from the dresser. "Would you like to see it?" He asked and she nodded. She knew it was on his shoulder and covered with a glamour and that even he hadn't looked at it in years. He removed the glamour and there was a perfect replica of Jade. She couldn't help herself and reached out to touch the miniature snake on his shoulder blade. He had to take deep breaths and remind himself that she was his student over and over again as her scent filled him and her soft fingers caressed his skin where no woman had ever touched so gently. He wasn't sure how he had missed how close the two of them had become. He had assumed it was because of their great friendship but as he felt her fingers on his bare skin he knew he was in over his head. He was falling in love with her.
Jade realized that he was fighting to control both his body and his emotions and decided to help him. She slipped onto the floor and over to the pair. She placed her head on Hermione's ankle and she stopped touching the snake on his shoulder to stoop and pick up the real thing. "What do you think Jade? Is it a good enough likeness? You'll have to have Severus tell you about how he tricked me into thinking he was a man by the name of Snake." She was stroking Jade gently under her head.
"Your girl sure knows the right spot to touch to undo us completely," Jade hissed softly making Severus turn to look at her going limp in Hermione's arms.
"Take Jade into the sitting room and I'll join you momentarily," he told her as he went to his wardrobe to get dressed for the evening.
"Oh Jade I hope he's not upset about me seeing him in his bath towel." Hermione fretted, "I still can't believe what a body he has hiding under all those layers he wears. It's such a waste to hide something so superior." Jade's only response was to kiss her cheek with a tickle of her tongue.
Severus sat beside her on the couch with his arm draped casually behind her so they could both play with Jade. "How long do magical snakes live?" Hermione asked curiously since he had Jade as a small child.
"As long if not longer than their masters," he told her. "She will live at least until I die and then longer if there is someone else she considers worthy to be her master. A magical snake can live for over a thousand years, that's why Slytherin's basilisk in the chamber of secrets was alive so long."
They talked for quite a while longer, neither one noticing how Hermione ended up leaning into his shoulder and his hand played with her curls. They were discussing new potions theories and if any of those ideas would aid them in their research. Now that Gabrielle had determined a spell to take down Voldemort and they had the cure to Imperio they were 2/3 of the way ready for the final battle. The players were being trained and most were as ready as they could be, they just needed the crucio cure and their side would have every advantage necessary.
The Granger's decided to have their family Christmas that evening to keep with tradition since they were interrupted before. Winky was making Hermione's favorite meal so Nana went looking for her wayward Granddaughter. The house was splitting up into families to spend quality time together for one evening. The professors and some of the order members were having an impromptu party in the kitchen and everyone else had headed towards their wings of the house. Nana was told by the Weasley clan to check the potions lab if she couldn't find Hermione so that was where she was headed.
They were talking and bouncing ideas off of each other when she saw them across the room. They hadn't noticed her entry and she smiled. Her granddaughter was leaning casually against him and his arm had draped around her. She could tell that neither of them was aware of the position they were in due to the intensity of their discussion. Jade was the first one to notice the lady at the door. She slipped out of Hermione's lap and headed over to great the visitor. "My Lady," Jade hissed in greeting bowing her little head.
"Could you fetch my lovely granddaughter for me please Jade?" She asked although it was not longer needed as the two had noticed her presence. They had also noticed the position they sat in and Hermione was blushing furiously and Severus was hoping not to get told off by her Nana.
"Madame Granger," Severus said in greeting with a nod of his head. He was wondering at the salutation that Jade had given her of 'my lady.' Although she was a nice snake she wasn't necessarily polite and it stumped him.
"Nana, would you like a tour of the lab?" Hermione asked her once her face had calmed.
"No my dear we are about to be late to supper," she said and Hermione gasped and looked at the clock to see that she had indeed been talking to Severus for over 2 hours. "Happy Christmas Eve Professor Snape."
"Please call me Severus madam," he said with a bow of his head.
"Then you shall have to call me Emily," she said with a smile as she herded Hermione towards the door.
"Happy Christmas Eve Emily and Hermione," Severus said as he headed back to his room to freshen up before going to find the party Albus mentioned.