Chapter 2

"Severus? I didn't know you would be here!" A little girl called out as he approached the church altar.

"Hello, Lily." A seven year old Severus said quietly.

"My mum says choir is good to build confidence, but really I think she just drags me along so that Petunia and I can do something together. I don't know, I mean she is the one that can sing, not me." Lily said in an overly enthusiastic voice.

"I think you have a nice voice." Severus barely whispered.

"Are you trying out for one of the solos? Mum said there are four solos, they usually give the two harder ones to the older children. Maybe Petunia will get a solo?"

"I don't know, my dad makes me come. Says it's what good "catholic" boys do. Like he even knows what that is. I don't even know what I am." Severus sneered.

"Now Severus, your dad is just having a hard time since your mum…" Lily stopped thinking it best not take the conversation further. Although Severus knew what she wanted to say. Since his mum up and left him and his father last year.

"Gather round children, today we will have auditions for the solos in the Christmas program. There are opportunities for both boys and girls, so don't fret. Additionally, we have added some speaking parts as the narrator of the nativity story." The church children's choir director tutted.

"Shall we have the girls go first?" Her assistant said.

Severus remembered that Petunia audaciously wanted to go first. Lily was right, she was a good singer. She would most likely get the first solo. Then another older girl who couldn't quite hold a tune, as well as her younger sister. Then Lily volunteered. Severus listened intently, her voice was quiet but gentle. Definitely not as strong as Petunia's but still soft and pretty as well.

As much as he hated to admit it, Severus did like to sing. He found it calming, and something that took his mind off how bad things always were at home.

Last night for example, he found no food in the house, and when he had asked his father for something to eat, he told him that he was an ungrateful freak of a boy who didn't need to eat.

As he sat waiting his turn his stomach turned in knots and he felt rather ill. He wished he would have saved that extra cucumber sandwich that Mrs. Evans had offered him a few days ago when he ate at the park with them.

"Severus, hey, Severus." Lily whispered at him.

"What?" Severus said looking up, trying not to attract attention to them.

"Here…" Lily handed him a beef pasty.

"No, I'm ok." He tried to wave off the food.

"I can hear your stomach louder than that poor boy auditioning, just take it." Lily said, putting it in his hand.

"Thanks…" He said softly and embarrassed.

"Severus Snape. You want to have a go?" The choir director shouted over the lull of talking children.

Severus quickly swallowed the rest of the pasty and wiped his hands on his oversized trousers. "Good luck!" Lily smiled.

"Yes, ma'ma" He said pushing his lanky boney body off the church floor. He made his way up to the front of the crowd. He heard two of the older girls snickering at him as he made his way up front and whispering (although later once he really knew what he was he realized he had merely heard their thoughts rather than what they were truly speaking out loud) "Look at his hair! Did he even comb it?" He scowled and tried to push down his hair with his hands making it even greasier.

"Children! Children, quiet down it's Severerus' turn. Go ahead Severus." The assistant said as she got the children to quiet down.

Severus closed his eyes and imagined the words in his head and started singing.

What child is this, who, laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste, haste to bring him laud

The babe, the son of Mary

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh

Come, peasant, king, to own him

The King of kings salvation brings

Let loving hearts enthrone him

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste, haste to bring him laud

The babe, the son of Mary

The girls who were laughing before falling silent. The whole church grew silent. This was the first time Severus sang alone. He was usually just singing whatever they gave him in the chorus. He heard the choir director "Wow, I didn't see that coming from him, I wonder if we could get him to look a bit nicer, not sure if we could give him the solo."

Severus quickly went and took his seat again, hoping that he wouldn't be called out again. Lily smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up.

Severus woke from his dream with a jolt, as he heard the CRACK of someone apparating. Where was he? What bloody time was it and why did it smell of pine and lavender?

"Harry? Ginny? I hope I am not too early, but I thought since we all had the day off, we should get an early start to set up anything for the Christmas party? Ginny, I ran into your mum, Ginny, at Diagon Alley last night and she asked if I wanted to stop by and give you some of this fruitcake, I'll put it in the kitchen, shall I?." Severus heard a somewhat familiar voice.

Unsure if he should apparate he looked in the mirror and he was a disheveled mess. 'Oh gods, what to do, the bathroom was across the hall, could he get there without alerting her to his presence? He was still feeling the effects of being immobilized last night along with all his other long lasting war injuries.

"Harry? Ginny?" The woman called out again. The house was silent. Severus decided his best chance was to get to the bathroom to become presentable and then apparate. He quickly grabbed his clothes and hobbled across the hall. Alerted to the sound, the woman approached the stairs.

"Who's there?" She sounded a bit more on edge now. She slowly climbed the stairs. Severus now in the bathroom performed some wordless magic on his hair and put on his clothes as fast as he could just as a hand was turning the door on the bathroom. Slowly the bathroom door came open.

"GRANGER?!" Snape snapped startled as he was doing up some of his last buttons.

"WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL! WHO ARE YOU? WHERE IS HARRY AND GINNY, IF YOU HURT THEM I SWEAR!" Hermione Granger was holding him at wand point up against the shower, Severus trying very hard not to lose his balance and fall into the tub.

"Ms. Granger, I…There is a misunderstanding, it was snowing last night and I spent the night. I am not sure where Mr. and Mrs. Potter are, I thought they went to bed as well. I swear to you." Severus said rather quickly, looking her in the eyes.

"Professor? It can't be." Hermione whispered, her eyes scrunching up in disbelief.

"You may call me Severus, I am no longer your professor. Is it Ms. Granger still I presume, or did you marry the Weasley boy?" Severus said, trying to push his way from the bathtub.

"Look, I know you think me dead, up until last night so did Mr. and Mrs. Potter, but I came to speak to Potter and it was a mistake and I am just trying to go away again, so if you could kindly lower your wand I will leave." Severus said, trying to get her to ease off him.

"But how?" She said still in disbelief.

"I am part vampire blood." Severus stated knowing for her that is all he would have to say. Suddenly Hermione's body relaxed, and she crossed her arms taking her wand from him.

"I had my suspicions, but when you never came back around after the war was over, I figured maybe I was wrong." Hermione said, sounding very much to Severus like the know it all he had taught in school. She really was one of the brightest witches of her age, Severus thought.

"Where are Harry and Ginny? I do hope everything is alright, the baby isn't due for another 4 weeks or so." Hermione said leaving the bathroom to go to Harry's bedroom.

"As I said Ms. Granger, it was snowing, and I found myself spending the night last night. I don't really remember what happened after I went to sleep." Severus said, finishing buttoning his black robes.

As Hermione went to open Harry and Ginny's bedroom door, an owl flew in from the window startling her and causing Severus to crick his neck.

"An owl, maybe it's from Harry or Ginny?" Hermione said as she motioned for the bird to come to her with the parchment. Hermione slowly took the parchment off the bird's leg and gave it a little pet.

Dear Hermione,

Sorry we are not home; Ginny went into labor last night and we are at St. Mungos. No baby yet but will let you know when he or she arrives. Ginny is doing well. If you happen to see our guest, please don't hex him. He has been through a lot like all of us. Help yourself to anything you need. If it isn't too much trouble Hermione, can you please help cancel tonight's Christmas party. Thanks. Love, Harry

"Looks like the baby is coming! How exciting. I do hope it is ok, 36 weeks is a little early but I think she or he should be ok." Hermione was verbally processing out loud while Severus was trying to plan his escape.

"Yes, well, I should be going." Severus said.

"Are you hungry? I can make you something, I am not that great in the kitchen but I can make a mean beef pasty." She said as she smiled. Severus, slightly taken aback to his dream last night, wasn't sure what to say. Why was she acting like he was her friend? He was always so horrible to her as her professor. He didn't deserve the kindness.

"No Ms. Granger." Severus said as his stomach growled in a very inappropriate moment.

"Call me Hermione, please, and no I did not marry Ron." Hermione said rather curtly, circling round to his question in the bathroom..

"Come, you're hungry, I'm hungry, let's eat. I have questions." Hermione said, walking down to the kitchen.

"Ms… Hermione, again thank you for the offer but I should go." Severus hissed, why were Gryffindors so damm persistent. He followed her into the kitchen.

"Sir. you were a very valuable member of the Order, which no one knew until the end. You have been apparently hiding for 3 years and no one has been able to find you. I thought it was suspicious when we couldn't find your body, nor did a portrait of you show up in the Headmaster's office." Hermione stated very matter of factly.

"As I told Potter last night, I am no hero, nor do I deserve anything. I just want to go home and be left alone. It was a mistake to come here." Severus said, but suddenly Hermione Granger was reaching up to get a glass down and she started shaking violently that she dropped the glass and it shattered.

Severus startled, ran over, and grabbed her before she hit the floor.

"Granger?! Are you…" Severus said worriedly as he sat her against the kitchen cabinets.

"I'm fine.." Hermione said as she opened her eyes and rolled away from Severus.

'Oh gods, that was embarrassing.' She thought to herself, but Severus was reading her mind. Neither of them talked for a few moments. Severus knew speaking of it would not make things any better.

"Sorry, I don't have them very often anymore but sometimes it still happens." Hermione said eventually. Severus knew that what she had just experienced was an effect of being subjected to the cruciatus curse. Severus remained silent, realizing once again that he wasn't the only one still in pain, whether it be physical or emotional.

After Hermione determined the attack was over, she slowly out of habit moved her hands and reached over to grab a piece of glass off the floor but accidentally cut herself.

"Ouch." She said, withdrawing her hand. She had cut it across her palm. She applied pressure and turned her head away into the cabinets.

"Here, let me." Severus said in a softer tone Hermione wasn't used to hearing from her former professor, taking her hand in his. She moved her head back towards him, while he said a quick healing spell and magic'ed the glass away all simultaneously.

'You really are a great wizard. I always held out hope that you were still alive.' Hermione thought as she looked in his dark eyes. Taken slightly aback from her thoughts Severus took his hand away rather quickly. She reminded him of how Lily used to think of him, soft and gentle.

"Are you still hungry?" Severus asked quietly.

"Yes, but maybe I should stick with cereal." Hermione smiled.

"How about I retrieve it this time, hmm?" Severus said, getting his boney body off the floor.