THC
Hufflepuff
DADA Professor
Round 8, Year 8
Drabble
Words: 684
Prompt: (First Line) There's nothing quite like the first snow of the season.
A/N Thank you to all of my wonderful teammates, without whom I wouldn't have been able to write this story.
There's nothing quite like the first snow of the season. Hermione's favorite thing to do was sit in a hidden window seat, wrapped up in a blanket, and drink hot tea during the first snow. She relished the silence and peace she found there. Instead of bringing her books to study like she usually did, she just relished the beauty before her.
Of all the years she had attended Hogwarts, no one had ever found her hiding in the window seat. There had been a few close calls, but she always managed to keep herself hidden. So, now that she was a teacher, she loved the window seat even more.
Hermione also enjoyed watching the people from the window. Many times she had seen students walking hand in hand across the snowy yard, and they always seemed to have giant smiles on their faces. She understood completely; winter and snow were her two favorite things in the entire world.
Today, Hermione was wrapped up in her coziest blanket and drinking hot chai tea as she watched the students down below. There wasn't much going on since most of the students had left the day before for the winter holidays.
Nothing out of the ordinary seemed to be happening. Just the usual students walking and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Until she saw her boyfriend and headmaster, Severus Snape, stop just beneath the window. And he wasn't alone. No, he was with Ronald Weasley, her ex-fiance.
Hermione wished more than anything that she had one of the twins' Extendable Ears with her. Instead, she cracked the window open and listened as best she could to the conversation Severus was having with Ron.
"—scared you're going to mess this up," Ron said.
"I am not scared," Severus stated harshly. "I am just not sure that Christmastime is the right time to do this."
Do what? Hermione wondered.
"It's better to get it over with quickly so that you don't psych yourself out," Ron said.
"That is why I am coming to you. You have experience with this."
Is he breaking up with me? Hermione asked herself.
Severus hadn't been acting quite like his usual self as of late, but she didn't think it had anything to do with their relationship. Until now.
Not wanting to hear any more of their conversation, Hermione closed the window and buried her head in her hands as she cried. The first snow of the season had failed her.
Severus knew exactly where to find his girlfriend when the first snow of the season occurred. He hadn't let on to it, but he had known about her secret window spot since her first year at Hogwarts. Every year, he would quietly observe her as she contentedly observed the beauty displayed before her.
This year, though, things were different. He was planning on changing both of their lives. For the better, he hoped. That's why he'd contacted the insufferable Weasley twit.
Severus hated interrupting his girlfriend's quiet time in the window, but they were going to be late for dinner in the Great Hall. He pulled back the curtain, and he was beyond surprised and dismayed to find Hermione crying.
He stood there for a moment before sitting down beside her. "What's wrong, my love?" he asked quietly.
Hermione looked up at him, tears still streaming from her cheeks. "Are you breaking up with me?"
Severus blinked. He had no clue how that idea popped into her mind, nor how he was supposed to respond. "No. What gave you that idea?"
"I heard you talking with Ron," she stated simply.
Severus groaned. "You misunderstood the conversation."
"Then what were you two talking about?"
Severus knew it was now or never. He got down on one knee and pulled out a ring box from the pocket of his robes. "We were discussing this. Hermione Jean Granger, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"
Hermione's hands flew to her mouth to stifle her gasp. "Yes! A thousand times, yes!" She flung herself into his arms, and he happily caught her.