Warning

This story is not suitable for readers under the age of sixteen. It contains sexual content, including some non-consensual, and may offend some readers. If this subject is offensive to you, please do not read this story.

Chapter 29 – At the Star and Spell

Christmas Day had been a miserable event for Hermione. She had woken early, and lain staring at the ceiling, painfully trying to close her mind against thoughts of Severus, until she had heard others stirring. By the time everyone had arrived on Christmas morning – for only a handful stayed over on Christmas Eve – it was a full house. There were eighteen people in all – herself and her parents, three aunts, each with husbands and children in tow (ranging from three years to seventeen), a bachelor uncle, and one extremely ancient 'aunt' whose relationship to the family Hermione had never quite figured out.

She had played along with the whole present-opening scene, smiling as she received extra copies of books she had read many years ago, and useless ornaments 'to brighten up your room at school, Dear'. The only exception to this, other than the presents from Ron and Harry, which she had already opened upstairs, was the gift from her parents – a small leather-bound book, with her name embossed in gold onto the red cover. The pages were blank, and the clasp could only be opened with a small key.

After opening presents, she had made her excuses and retreated to her room for several hours. Writing the letter to Severus had been painful but therapeutic, and she felt better for it. Summoning an owl, she had made special arrangements for its delivery. She had to make sure it reached him that day, even though she had no clue where the scroll would be going. Not needing to know an address – only an addressee – was a definite advantage of owl post over the muggle variety!

It was Aunt Rose who had noticed her prolonged absence from the commotion downstairs, and had taken it into her head to determine the cause of Hermione's melancholy attitude.

"I'm worried about you, my dear," she said, concerned. "You just don't seem yourself!"

Eventually, Hermione had decided that telling her half the truth – that she had had a disagreement with her boyfriend immediately before Christmas – would suffice. Instead, this made things worse, as Aunt Rose was determined to keep her busy, to prevent her from dwelling on such things. Once Hermione had sent the letter, though, there was nothing she could do but wait, so her aunt's distractions were, in a sense, welcome.

Her parents had also been included in the 'white lie' about her boyfriend. They, too, had seemed concerned about her, and knowledge of a boyfriend seemed to pacify them a little. Since Hermione's leaving to go to Hogwarts, she had been allowed a large amount of freedom about her movements. She was an independently-minded young woman, and it had always seemed to Hermione that her parents refused to challenge her on the basis that they were unsure whether they would win or drive her away. She felt sorry for them, in a way – she was their only daughter, and they clearly felt out of their depth in knowing how to handle her transformation from a gifted and precocious child to a young witch with magical abilities of which they had no understanding. She knew that they cared deeply – but they expressed this by respecting her ability, as did Dumbledore, to make her own decisions.

It was many hours later that Hermione, in the middle of a game of cards with some cousins, received a reply to her owl. She felt it drop, unseen, into her pocket, and pulled out an envelope bearing the words 'Miss Hermione Granger'.

Stepping away from the table, she pulled it open and read the short note carefully.

Hermione,

I am in "The Star and Spell" between the bookstore and the butcher's on the main street. Please come to me.

Severus.

Giving her parents a brief explanation that her earlier letter had been replied to, she told them that she had to go out to meet him. They didn't look happy at the idea, but accepted it, though insisted on knowing where she was going. There was a brief moment of worry, when Aunt Rose, listening in on the conversation, insisted that there was no such pub as The Star and Spell in the village, but seemed impressed with Hermione's explanation that, unless a muggle knew exactly where it was, and was specifically looking for it, it would go unnoticed. In keeping with wizarding laws about involving muggles in their world, only a few people in Hermione's family, including her Aunt Rose, knew about her magical abilities.

Wrapping her witches cloak about her, she set off into the evening.

The Star and Spell was a small, quiet pub, with clientele that seemed equally happy in either muggle or wizarding world. Stepping inside, Hermione would not even have noticed that it was a magical haven, if not for the owl sitting sleepily on the bar, next to a smiling and waving photograph of the landlord. Other than that, she might have mistaken the place for a regular muggle establishment.

She glanced around at the few occupants as she entered, not seeing Severus. "I'm looking for ..." she began, addressing the landlord, but she did not need to continue. At the far end of the room, previously hidden from sight by the curving bar, Severus Snape stood at the sound of her voice.

For a moment, Hermione stared at her lover, then rushed forward into his arms. "Severus," she whispered. "I'm so glad you're here!"

Severus clearly wanted to talk, but Hermione had more immediate demands. Placing a finger on his lips, she pulled him towards her, kissing him feverishly and making him respond by wrapping his arms around her. Only when she felt him draw her close did she feel that all was well, and gradually released him.

For a long time they said nothing, but, sinking into the secluded corner seats, held each other. Eventually, his hand reached round to her chin, turning her towards him and drawing her lips up to his. He kissed her, then stood, returning from the bar with two Butterbeers, whispering, "We need to talk!"

They talked. Severus could not quite bring himself to tell Hermione all the things on his mind – he would deal with his issues gradually, rather than burdening her with them all at once – but he made sure she knew why he had left so suddenly, and that his only concerns were for her.

"I'm worried about us, Hermione," he told her, "but it feels so right that we're together again."

She had been sitting with her head resting on his shoulder, but now she sat up and reached for her cloak, drawing a package from a pocket. It was wrapped in gray paper, with a silver bow, and she handed it to him with a soft "Merry Christmas, Severus."

He took it with a gentle smile and pulled at the ribbon. The wrapping fell open to reveal a book – black, with silver lettering on the cover. The title on the cover and spine read simply "For Severus". He opened it, and thumbed through the pages. On every sheet, in Hermione's neat hand, were poems and quotes from all kinds of different sources, both magical and muggle. He read the inscription on the first page aloud – "To my darling Severus, with all my love, Hermione."

"They're all things that seemed relevant to us," she smiled. "I've been writing them down for weeks."

Severus seemed to be lost for words. He closed his hands around the book, and stared at the lettering on the front, gently stroking it with his thumb. Dark eyes turned to her with love, and she kissed him. "I thought you'd like it!"

Reaching into his robes, Severus presented her with her own gift. Eagerly, she pulled open the wrappings to find a small blue box. As it lay in her palm, it opened of its own accord, and inside was the most beautiful and unusual pendant that Hermione had ever seen. It was in the shape of a potion bottle – the type that Severus used – made of gold, but with a diamond set in the top, as a stopper. The gold chain was fine, and she picked it up, allowing the pendant to dangle in front of her. Severus' fingers reached out to take it from her hand, and she turned her back to him so he could place it over her head and fasten the clasp at the back.

Again, she took it in her hand, and studied it. "Severus, the diamond is glowing!"

He smiled. "It will glow whenever we are together, my darling." As she gazed at it, she felt tears begin to prick at her eyes, and turned them towards his. Looking into those dark, expressive eyes, that she had once thought so cold, she kissed him, knowing that everything was right with the world.

With all of her attention focused on the man she loved, she did not notice as her parents walked hesitantly into the pub, and looked around for them. Their lips only parted once her parents had moved silently round the end of the bar, and stood facing them as they kissed.

"Hermione!"

Hermione stood at the sound of her mother's voice. Severus was a little more hesitant, rising slowly to his feet at her side. For a second, Hermione seemed to see the scene through her parents' eyes, seeing a strange man kissing their daughter. Oh, no. From their point of view, this probably did not look good.

Severus wore his customary black – not his teaching robes, but still clearly those of a wizard. He was not overly tall, but standing next to her, there was a considerable difference in their heights, which probably made the difference in their ages more apparent. Although he was younger than either of her parents, it was only by a few years, and his stern face and demeanor probably made him seem older to them than he really was. In a classroom, Professor Snape had always had a tremendous 'presence', and this was clear, even in such a different situation as this. Students, including Hermione, had always found him intimidating and, although her parents had a totally different perspective, particularly in the current situation, she suspected that they found him just as much so. They had had very little contact with wizards, and to a couple of muggles, this dark figure must be a menacing sight.

They stared at him, and he gazed levelly back, his stance straight, and his head high. Hermione was used to his manner, but to her parents, he almost certainly seemed proud and aloof – maybe even disdainful of their lack of magic.

Her father finally spoke. "Is this the – boyfriend – you were telling us about, Hermione?"

Oh, God. This was not a good situation. How should she introduce him? Professor Snape? My Potions Master?

"This is Severus," she finally settled on. "Severus Snape. Erm – my parents."

It was such an awkward situation. So formal in the introductions, but with all parties cautious of the others, and no smiles or pleasantries exchanged. Severus twitched, as though beginning to offer his hand, but drew back quickly, and reached for Hermione's fingers instead, behind the folds of his robes.

When he spoke, it was with a soft voice, gentler than she had expected. "I apologize for you finding out like this. It must be rather a shock."

Hermione's father furrowed his brow in puzzlement. "I've heard that name before – but not in the context of a 'boyfriend'. We assumed it must be Harry. We didn't think anyone would mind us coming to say hello." He looked down, noticing the hands clasped together, then his eyes suddenly snapped back to Severus. "Snape – as in 'Professor' Snape?"

Severus bowed his head in acknowledgement. "Indeed."

Now Hermione's mother stepped in. "But – wasn't that the teacher you always used to hate?"

Hermione glanced up at her lover, who raised an eyebrow – the only indication of a slight amusement on his otherwise unreadable features. Gallows humour, it seemed to her, but she couldn't help remembering that Harry had used the same words.

"Erm... yes, but, it's a little different now," she stammered.

Her mother's eyes were stunned, hurt and angry. "So I see," she said, thinly.

There was a slight pause, then Hermione's father removed his hat and coat, dropping them on a seat in the corner. "Well, I suppose we'd better stick around and find out more about this." His voice was grim, but he seemed to be trying to stay calm and civil, for which Hermione was very grateful. Her mother, on the other hand, was looking hostilely at Severus as she followed her husband's example and sat down.

Hermione tried to lighten the tension a little. "Well, if we're going to talk, let's get some drinks." Severus half stood, but Hermione's father was already on his feet, and went to the bar, still close enough to be part of the conversation, but leaving his wife facing the lovers. She was very direct about her feelings.

"I'm disgusted that a teacher would act this way," she said, speaking directly to Severus. "You are in a position of trust and respect, and the fact that you would abuse that trust is appalling." She turned to Hermione. "Is this an example of the standard of behavior in your magic world?"

Severus spoke up. "I didn't intend for this to happen, Mrs. Granger," he told her, defensively. "Neither of us did."

This did nothing to calm her. "What did you do to her?" she demanded. "You must have put her under some... spell!"

"Mum!"

Severus used words that he thought would flatter his love's mother, but Hermione cringed as he spoke, knowing that they would make matters worse. "Your daughter would not be particularly susceptible to that kind of spell, Mrs. Granger, even if I wanted to try," he informed her. "She is a remarkably accomplished witch."

Hermione's parents had always respected her decision to embrace her magic and make it her way of life. At first, they had even been encouraging and supportive, but for the last few years, although they would never actively discourage her, she knew that they were not comfortable with it. Their first real encounter with a wizard was with Arthur Weasley, whom they had liked very much and found to be extremely friendly, if a little overbearing with his persistent demands for information on lawnmowers and central heating. They had then witnessed a public brawl with an extremely unpleasant wizard, and had had to face a terrifying giant by the name of Haggard, or something. Since then, their daughter had been petrified, associated with murderers and werewolves, ridden dangerous flying beasts, almost drowned for some ridiculous game, and that was even before the events of the previous year, which they could barely even think about. Their faith in their daughter's new world had grown less and less, now reaching the point where, Hermione knew, Severus' description of her as an accomplished witch would not be appreciated.

"How old are you, Professor?" Hermione's father had now returned to the table, and addressed Severus sternly.

It suddenly occurred to Hermione that she had never asked him this. It had never seemed important. How old was he? He must be the same age as Harry's parents, so ...

"I'm thirty-seven," he replied. "I know that there's a big age gap between us, but it really doesn't seem to matter to either of us."

Hermione's mother was quite clear on her opinion on this point. "You're far too old for her," she said, as though there could be no other view on the matter. "You should be ashamed of yourself. She's only just gone seventeen."

Severus turned to Hermione. "When was your birthday?" With the realization that they had never discussed it, she also remembered that her own age was something of a complicated matter.

Both at the same time, Hermione said, "February", while her mother said "September."

Now Severus was extremely confused. "I didn't realize I'd asked a difficult question!" he said, puzzled.

"It's not difficult at all," snapped the older woman. She turned to her daughter. "You were born in September, therefore your birthday is September. There's nothing to discuss." Her husband's expression showed that this was a long-running debate, and he sighed resignedly.

Turning to Severus, Hermione explained. "It was a time turner – I used it in my third year to take extra classes," she said. "I clocked up seven extra months that year, so I'm seven months older than I should be." Her mother said nothing, but quietly fumed at this. "Instead of turning seventeen in September, I had already lived for seventeen years by February. It means that I'll be eighteen in a couple of months."

Severus stroked his chin, pensively, as he considered this. "I had no idea."

Unfortunately, Hermione's mother picked up on this, and turned it against him. "So you were carrying on with a student who you thought was... what?... sixteen?"

His response was calm. "As I said, Mrs. Granger, our ages really don't matter to us."

Once again, Hermione's father spoke up. "How can the school allow this?"

Severus sighed. "The Headmaster knows," he said quietly, "and two of Hermione's friends, but that's all." He paused, wondering what their reaction would be about Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore does not approve of this, by any means, but he does accept it, and has agreed not to interfere."

Hermione's mother was outraged. "The headteacher of a school can accept this kind of behavior from a teacher?" she asked incredulously. "It is a disgrace that this could be allowed in a school!"

The argument seemed to continue, from Hermione's point of view, for hours, focusing around the age gap and the fact that Severus was her teacher. Hermione was glad that her parents did not know the full story – of Severus' dark past, and his involvement with the events the previous year – that would have made things ten times worse. Severus controlled his temper but was resentful and defensive. Her father was concerned but quiet – seemingly resigned to accept the inevitable – but her mother was antagonistic and openly hostile. She would never be able to accept Severus, Hermione knew, and it was pointless ever to try to get any kind of peace between them. The best that she could hope for was – as Dumbledore had so succinctly described the relationship between Severus and Sirius – a lack of open hostility. But even that did not look promising right now, although she was relieved to note that Severus was trying his best.

Eventually, Hermione felt that she had to put a stop to things. "Look, it's late," she said. "Aunt Rose and everyone else will be wondering where we've all got to."

But what should she do? It was either back to her aunt's place, where Severus would most definitely not be welcome, or leave now, and go with Severus. She took a deep breath and made her decision. "I think it's best if I go back to Hogwarts, tonight," she said.

Snape looked at her in surprise, but she silenced him with a glance. She could hardly tell them that she was going off to his house in the wilderness for the rest of the holidays!

They all stood. Snape clearly felt that there was one thing he needed to say before they could all part for the night. "Mrs. Granger. – Mr. Granger – I know that this has been a strange night, and that your daughter's relationship with me must have been a shock to you, but please understand one thing. I love your daughter with all my heart. There is nothing more important to me than she. Whatever you think of me – that much you cannot challenge."

Hermione watched her parents' reactions carefully. Her father seemed surprised, but accepting, while her mother tensed at the words – skeptical and mistrusting. Both reactions were as expected, but Hermione could not help but feel that it was just one more nail in the coffin of her relationship with her parents. She caught herself as the thought entered her mind, and berated herself for it. For more than five years, she had spent most of her life away from her parents. Her world had changed, while theirs, her influence aside, had not. It was inevitable that they would drift apart, but it was crucial that she did not allow this to become a rift. Nothing should separate her from them permanently. They were her parents, and she loved them dearly.

As her parents left the pub, she hung back to speak to Severus alone. "I'll pack up my things and be back in about an hour," she told him. "I didn't mean it about Hogwarts, by the way. I want to see your home!"

Briefly, he kissed her and released her, and she set off after her parents. More than anything, she wanted to settle into Severus' arms and sleep. This had been a long night!

It was slightly less than an hour later when Hermione, disgruntled and annoyed, arrived back at the Star and Spell, her small case in hand.

She kissed Severus, fiercely, then muttered, "Let's go."