Slughorn's Office. Night. FLASH! A camera pops, revealing Harry smiling with Slughorn before a photographer. The ceiling and walls are draped with hangings of emerald, crimson and gold, so the room feels like a tent... or the inside of a gift box. It is loud and packed with people.
Harry watches Slughorn make a beeline across the room, along the way nodding to the twins, who have apparently come with each other. His gaze rises, and finds Hermione peeking out. He moves off.
"What're you doing?" Hermione yelps, turns, pulls Harry behind the hanging. Her hair is slightly askew, her lipstick a bit blurry. "And what's happened to you?"
She breather. "Hm? Oh, I've just escaped. I mean, left Cormac. Under the mistletoe".
"Cormac! That's who you invited!"
Breathe again. "Like I say. Snape. Well, I didn't see him around here. He says he will be here for me". Harry nods, his eye on Cormac whom he has searched for Hermione.
"Dragon tartar?" They turn, find a waiter peeking in, tray in hand.
"No thank you".
"Just as well. They give one horribly bad breath".
She grabbed the tray. "On second thought maybe it'll keep Cormac at bay. Oh no, here he comes!" Hermione pops two of the Dragon blobs into her mouth, shoves the tray in Harry's hand and flits away.
Snape, looking bored, stands on the periphery of a conversation, when he sees Hermione exit one side of the hanging and Cormac enter the other.
"I think she went to powder her nose". Harry looks past Cormac's shoulder, out past the hanging and sees Slughorn laughing with a guest. Cormac plucks a dragon blob off the tray in Harry's hand, pops it.
"Slippery little minx, your friend. Likes to work her mouth too, doesn't she? Yak yak yak. What is this I'm eating, by the way?"
"Dragon balls".
As Cormac's face freezes, Harry starts to head toward Slughorn when the hanging is swept aside, Snape. "What's going on back here?"
Cormac spews raw dragon all over Snape's shoes. Snape surveys the damage, then his eyes rise darkly.
"You've just bought yourself a month's detention, McLaggen". McLaggen dashes off. Harry follows. "Not so quick, Potter".
"I think I should rejoin the party, sir. My date..."
"... can surely survive your absence for another minute or two. Besides, I only wish to convey a message".
"A message...?"
"From Professor Dumbledore. He asked that I give you his best and that he hopes you enjoy your holiday. You see, he's traveling and won't return until term resumes".
"Traveling? Where?" Snape merely stares at Harry silently, briefly then Snape about to exit, Harry stops him. "I can see you with my friend, very intimate". he gets closer to him, whispers. "We two never get along, Professor. But Hermione is my friend, I hope you will look after her no matter what. I know you love her, Professor. I admit she loves you too".
Snape eyed him. Harry spoke back. "If you hurt her.. I will not forgive you, Professor!"
"Is that a threat, Potter?" Harry nods, Snape leaned closer to him. "She's my everything. I never felt so happier in my life. I promise you I will love her, protect her no matter what". taking Harry's gaze with him, to Slughorn once again, wildly gesturing with a full glass of wine.
"Take your hands off me, you filthy squib!"
A frown takes Slughorn's face and he turns toward the source of the commotion, exiting Harry's view.
Harry emerges from the hanging, and finds Malfoy in Filch's rough grip. "Professor Slughorn, sir! I've just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party".
"Okay, okay, I was gate-crashing. Happy?"
"I'll escort him out". Draco's eyes shift, regarding Snape. He shrugs free of Filch.
Draco meets his dark eye in anger. "Certainly... Professor".
Dark Corridor. Moments later in the darkness. Voices are heard. "Maybe I did hex that Bell girl. Maybe I didn't. What's it to you?"
Two silhouettes come into view Malfoy, slumped against the wall in lazy insolence, and Snape. "I swore to protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow!"
"I don't need protection. I was chosen for this! Out of all others. Me! And I won't fail him".
"You're afraid, Draco. You attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious. Let me assist you".
"No! I was chosen. This is my moment!"
Snape banged Malfoy's back body on the wall again. Grit his teeth. "I don't care about your moment. All I have to do is to protect you as your mother wished. I have to sacrifice and betray the woman I love for you".
Draco eyes wider. He never knew Snape had loved someone. "I love her, and she is my obsession. If you dare disobey my order. I kill you before the Dark Lord's will".
He stares into Draco's eyes. "Like I say. Let me assist you". Malfoy exits. Then Snape. Harry is revealed in an adjacent alcove. He's heard it all.
Snape walked through the corridor and found Hermione sitting on top of the staircase, rubbing her feet. Her feet are sore wearing high heels to the party. She didn't notice him, and suddenly she felt someone scooped her in the arm.
It was Snape.
"What are you doing, someone will see us". struggling between his grip, until they arrive at the dungeons. Snape waved his wand as the door opened, the door shut behind with silence charm and protection.
He put her down on bed. Hermione stares at him. "Professor..." Snape walked to the shelves then back to her.
"Drink this". he handed her the same vial she drank before. "How's your feel after drinking that drink I gave you before?"
"I feel rougher".
Snape smirking, both share their passionate kiss. "My love.." he muttered.
"Spend your holiday with me. I want you to meet someone". His kiss lurked down to her neck, then between her breasts.
Hermione forced her head yanking it back, she accidently letting out her moan.
"My love.. so so love.. your beautiful stunned me tonight".
He pushed her down flat on the bed, positioning himself between her legs as he claimed her lips again. For a moment, Snape found her panties under her skirt. He pulled her panties down her legs as he did the same to himself.
He didn't wait longer, looking thick and swollen. Snape thrust inside her. The room filled with their moans. Snape sucked her neck.
Mine.. forever mine.. my love.. my insufferable know it all.
Spinner's End. Day. Christmas morning. Snape and Hermione arrive through Snape's floo. They came out from the fireplace, Hermione dusted her clothes then she dusted Snape robes.
This is her first time having Christmas with Snape's.
She never was in Spinner's End the entire of her life. Believe it or not, Hermione Granger spent her holidays with him.
"That's nice.. really".
"This is where I lived". he kissed her knuckles. "I want you to meet someone". Snape searches for his mother, Eileen. But she was nowhere to be seen. "I will show you my room".
Hermione nods. "Great. Then I sleep on the sofa. Is that alright". she patted the sofa. "Lovely".
"No. You will sleep with me in my room". he about to kiss her, Eileen bursting. "Happy Christmas, mother. I brought you someone I like to..." before he could finish his word. Eileen marches toward Hermione and gives her a big hug with a kiss on her cheek. "This is Miss Granger. Hermione".
Eileen studied her face. "Hermione. You're so beautiful my dear I wonder why my Severus never stops talking about you child". She smiled. "You are here. Finally to meet you. Eileen Snape''.
"He didn't tell me that I'm gonna meet his mother". her jaw dropped. She actually meets Snape's mother.
"Of course. My Severus never says anything about his family. My dear.. my Severus so lucky to have you. I don't care if you're his student or not".
Snape cleared his throat. Eileen drags Hermione to the kitchen. "Are you hungry my dear?"
"Always..." as her eyes caught by Snape. Smirking, then walking to his room. "I will help you decorate the tree if you want, Eileen".
Eileen smiled. "Please.. call me mum. You and Severus are together now". she blushed. "So, Hermione? did you two..." Hermione knows what she means. "It's okay. I know this is your privacy alone with my Severus. How is it?"
"Mother.." She turned to look over her shoulder. Snape standing at the kitchen frame. "You make Miss Granger blushed". he pointed at Hermione's face. "We two have a wonderful time if you ask. But not to worry no one will find out".
Eileen smiled with a nod, and she spoke again.
"I suddenly thought how nice to see my future grandchildren running around here". Snape and Hermione look up, eyes meet. Eileen noticed. "Something is wrong with what I say".
"Too early mother. Miss Granger and myself haven't thought about that. I don't know if Miss Granger did think about it".
Eileen reached her hand. "Please do think about it my dear. I'm not forcing but if you can.." her eyes on Snape. "Severus is our only child, me and Tobias have in our family. We both fought often. Severus' father he.. Mr. Potter accidently saw Severus memories during an Occlumency lesson last year about You-Know-Who trying to connect with Mr. Potter mind".
"I understand... mother".
Snape eyes shoot up to her. Did she call Eileen mother? Hermione reaches her hand.
"You don't have too. Harry didn't tell me but I know something.." her eyes on Snape. "About my Professor's past life. What is past, we don't need to remember it. It's hurt".
She smiled. "Let me decorate the tree. Can you help me, Professor. Without wand please". he nodded.
"Sure. As you wish for my love".
Later in the evening. Snape, Hermione and Eileen went to the park. Eileen sits under the tree watching Snape and Hermione throw snowballs at each other.
She never see Snape was so happy like this, all she know Snape life was so miserable, abusive father, mentally he torture both Snape and herself.
She didn't notice Snape took a seat beside her as Hermione build a snowman alone. "Mother?" He laid his hand on her lap.
"Severus?" he waited. "Please take care of Hermione no matter what you do, protect her. Voldemort is out there, and you are part of his followers. I don't wish to see her hurt because of your mistake". She turned to him. "Promise me that, Severus".
He nods. "Even after my death. I'll always protect her". sighs and spoke back. "I love Hermione so much, mother. True, Lily couldn't love me.. Hermione can. I didn't see her as Lily. All I see is who she was. My Hermione. I do want her to bear my child. I do want to feel how becoming a father and Hermione's is the mother. I won't be like my father, and I won't treat my child like he did to me".
"No one asks, Severus. I made my mistake marrying him, with blessing.. you're born. Your birth is my new life and hope. I'm sorry I didn't try to protect you when you were a boy, we fought so much that I forget about my own son. Until you receive your first letter to Hogwarts and now here you are. A professor in Hogwarts and you met Hermione. You choose her and she's the gift for you".
She smiles in tears, reaching his hand. "I just want to see you happy, Severus. Hermione is your light, the path you should follow. Not the dark one". her eyes up to Hermione. "That's the cutest snowman I have ever seen in my life".
"Our life is full of magic and tricks, mother. She built the snowman with her own hand". he watched Hermione smiling at him. He smiled at her back. "Beautiful isn't it?"
"Beautiful isn't she?" Eileen turns to Snape. "Both are beautiful".
Late at night. After dinner, and talk. Snape and Hermione went to bed. Eileen already sleep on the sofa. Didn't bother to wake her up.
Inside Snape's room. The couple share another passionate kiss. This time.. it was rougher than before. Snape never let the chance go as he thrust deeply inside her. Silence charm protects the room from Eileen's hearing, not wanting her hearing them inside. Making out.
It feels so good. Hermione let her moan as she reached her limits. He followed her after. Both panting, still.. Snape won't stop thrusting inside her.
Her legs spread wide open just for Snape. Conceived a child they never expected to exist on Christmas night.
A miracle. Baby of Severus Snape and Hermione Granger.