First of all, I have to admit that I am not a native speaker, so there might be a few mistakes, but if you were so kind as to write me a message to tell me of them, I would immediately correct them.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joanne K. Rowling, and I don't earn my money with these stories.
Just a little idea that pooped into my mind, enjoy :)
Keeping you warm
The small chapel was freezing, which was not surprising, given that the heating didn't work. Though it was noon, the clouds were such a dark grey that it almost seemed like nightfall. Hermione wished to make a fire or at least cast a Lumos, but they couldn't risk being seen. This might be one of their most important missions, yet.
Voldemort was rumoured to meet his Death Eaters on Boxing Day in a graveyard. But which one was unclear. So, it was the Order's job to find out and finally finish this whole debacle. Hermione's graduation from Hogwarts had been over half a year ago. Originally, she had planned to study at the Magical University in Edinburgh and then probably join the Ministry to improve the lives of house elves, werewolves and other creatures society had no interest in. But with Voldemort still causing trouble all over Britain, Hermione, Harry, and Ron had decided to join the Order and help full time until the Dark Lord was finally gone. Hopefully, the final battle was close. Though she dreaded it since not everyone would survive, she wanted all of this to be over so that she could start her life!
"Soup?"
She turned towards Snape and nodded. In silence she took the bowl from him and in silence they ate, sitting on a church bench in the front row.
It was her luck that she had been paired up with Snape. To be on a long stakeout in the cold was bad enough but to do it with a bitter, taciturn, former professor was even worse. At least he knew how to fight – and how to boil soup. Maybe this was her chance to finally get to know him better.
"What do you think how much time it'll take the Death Eaters to show up?" Hermione asked when the silence started to bore her.
"This assumes that they are preparing the Dark Lord's meeting", Snape replied. "It is also possible that they will just appear out of nowhere."
"Which would give us no advantage."
"No."
When they had eaten their soup, Hermione started to stretch and run on the spot.
"What in Merlin's beard are you doing there?"
"Trying to keep warm," she replied without stopping. "Since we can't use magic, what else can I do?"
He didn't answer.
When she felt warmer, she sat down on the bench again. It felt wrong to misuse this chapel for their work, but there was no other sensible option.
Hermione took out the book she had brought and started to read but it didn't work. She read the words but couldn't make sense of the sentences, her ears trying to hear the crack of an apparition. With a sigh, she put the book down again and looked up.
Snape stood at one of the coloured windows and looked outside onto the graveyard.
She went to stand next to him, both basked in a green light now.
For some time, they stared outside onto the snowy graveyard.
"Why did you join them?" The question had left her mouth without her permission, but she didn't regret it. For some time she had been pondering about Snape and what had made him the way he was.
He stared at her for a moment before his gaze drifted outside again. "Why do you want to know?" he asked emotionless.
She shrugged. "I always wanted to know."
He gave her a strange look and remained silent. Just as she wanted to give up waiting for an answer, he spoke. "It was like a dream come true. When I graduated from Hogwarts, I had nothing except my degree. My parents had died years ago, and I had only a small heritage. Then Lucius told me of a powerful man who was interested in my potion brewing abilities and offered me a scholarship. I agreed at once and started studying in London under a strict but brilliant potions professor." He smiled and stared ahead, seeing something in his inner eye.
"When did you realise what you had signed up for?"
"Very soon." He grimaced. "There was a gathering in Malfoy Manner, the first time I saw the Dark Lord. He spoke with me, and I told him how grateful I was. We were interrupted by two Death Eaters dragging in a man. They said he was a traitor, the man denied that. The Dark Lord raised his hand, and everyone was quiet. Then he looked into the man's mind and declared him indeed a traitor. 'He's yours,' he told his followers and they started torturing the man. It was hours before the Dark Lord finally killed him."
"And that was the moment you wanted to leave?"
Snape sighed. "No."
She tried not to look shocked or hurt or judgemental, but the look he gave her told her she wasn't good at hiding her emotions.
"I had learned from infancy that magical blood was worth more than Muggle blood," he tried to explain. "My mother taught me this, my father was the perfect example, and Slytherin House solidified my believes. Of course, I was never bloodthirsty, but I also didn't mind. Being a Death Eater brought me glory and acceptance and I had craved nothing more."
She nodded, trying to accept. "So what changed?"
He hesitated a second. "He killed my best friend… I had begged him to spare her but, in the end, he killed her anyway. She was too important."
"Was she someone from the Order?" Who else was important enough to be killed by Voldemort himself?
He nodded, gulped, and then revealed: "Lily Potter."
Hermione couldn't hide her surprise. "You and Harry's mother were best friends?!"
He nodded.
"Then why do you hate Harry so much?"
"It's complicated."
Hermione needed a moment to absorb this information. Calm again, she asked: "What happened then?"
"I joined the Order and became Dumbledore's spy."
"And have been regretting being a Death Eater ever since," she said.
Though it was not a question, he nodded anyway.
For a while they just stared outside.
"Do you think you will die in this war?" she asked finally in a detached voice.
"Yes."
"And do you mind?"
"No."
That didn't sound believable, so Hermione said: "It's obvious that you don't like teaching. But you love Potions and could have a wonderful researching future ahead of you."
He snorted but smiled. "I forgot what an optimist you can be. You even wanted to free House Elves!"
She laughed good-heartedly. Then she said sincerely: "Everyone deserves the best life they can have."
He snorted but still smiled. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," she replied.
In the night the temperatures started to be unbearable. They still couldn't light a fire and warming charms only worked when the person was awake. They had brought blankets, of course, but they weren't enough.
Hermione lay on the hard floor with the cold creeping through the blanket on her back and turned from one side to the other, but nothing felt warmer. She rubbed her hands together, but her fingers stayed cold. Finally, she couldn't hide her teeth shattering.
Suddenly she felt Snape, who was lying a few metres away, coming closer, until his body pressed against her back.
"What are you doing?" she asked and tried not to sound panicked.
"Keeping you warm," he replied, his warm breath on her ear.
She wanted to complain but it actually worked, and she let him.
"It would be better to share the blankets," he said.
And to be naked, she thought but complied with the blankets.
Now she lay with her head at his chest and his arms circled her. It should have felt strange at best, intrusive at worst, but it didn't. He was warm and soft and smelled nice. She felt safe.
It wasn't long before she was fast asleep.
The next morning, she awoke in confusion when lay in his arms. But she was warm and felt comforted.
His even breathing indicated that he was still asleep.
She moved her head so that she could look at his face.
He looked peaceful, his worry lines straightened. A decade younger.
She carefully lifted her hand and stroked his cheek. It was soft with some stubble of his morning beard.
With the first contact, he awoke with a start and stared at her.
She continued to caress his cheek as if she had done it a million times before, still fascinated.
He let her, his body tense, staring at her intently.
And then Hermione did something they both had never thought possible: she lifted her head closer to his and gently put her lips on his. She could feel his sudden intake of breath and it made her smile, pressing her lips harder against his before stopping to look into his eyes.
They were wide in shock. "Why did you do that?"
She shrugged and whispered: "I wanted to."
He blinked. "Are you – are you in love with me?"
She shook her head. She liked him, but until a few moments ago she didn't even have a crush.
"Attracted?" he wondered which made her smile.
"Probably."
He frowned. "Why would you?"
"Why wouldn't I?" She started to strike through his soft hair while speaking.
"It doesn't make any sense."
"It doesn't have to."
"But," he started but she put her fingers on his mouth.
"It's quite possible that we'll die soon," she told him matter-of-factly. "Right now, I want to kiss you again. Let's just enjoy it and we can talk about it later, okay?"
He slowly nodded.
She smiled at him, then kissed him.
It started as a slow peaceful kiss that brought bliss to them. Soon, however, this bliss turned to excitement and their kiss deepened. Without thinking about it her hands started to strike through his hair while his rubbed her back.
The sound of an apparition broke them apart and both their eyes were full of fear.
Snape was on his feet in an instant, gesturing Hermione to be quiet. Slowly he crept to the next window and looked onto the graveyard.
"It's them," he whispered after watching for a moment.
Hermione took one deep breath, then nodded and started her task. She and Snape quickly packed their things together. He then activated the portkey, they both held onto the old plastic bottle and the next moment they disappeared without a sound.
They arrived in Grimmauld Place in the hallway.
Snape made one step towards the kitchen but Hermione's hand on his arm stopped him. He looked at her, waiting for her words.
She didn't know how to say what she was feeling. She wanted him to know that she cared for him, but that they had more important issues right now. And that she wanted him to be safe. She opened her mouth and closed it again.
"I know," he then said and gave her a half-smile.
She returned the smile, gave him one last kiss, and went into the kitchen.
The battle lasted shorter than anticipated. The Order had Voldemort and his Death Eaters surrounded on the graveyard and when the moment was opportune, they attacked. It seemed they had indeed the element of surprise and half the Death Eaters had fallen by the time they were ready to fight back.
They hadn't talked about it but as if on instinct Hermione and Snape stayed close together. Without having trained much together, they soon realised they were an excellent team, and it was a good feeling to have someone watching your back you trust. But then Voldemort himself joined the fight and chaos fell over the graveyard. Soon Hermione was separated from Snape. Defending her life and that of her friends she countered endless spells and stunned as many Death Eaters as she could.
Suddenly a bright beam on her right distracted her, a spell hit her in the chest and her eyes closed before she hit the ground.
When she opened her eyes again, her head hurt so much that she closed them again at once.
"Hermione?" someone said in a hushed voice. "Are you awake?"
She knew that voice and wanted to see his face. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw Harry.
"Hey," she croaked, and he grinned.
"Hey," he smiled. He had a cut on his left eyebrow and looked exhausted.
"What happened?"
"We won," he said, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I killed Voldemort."
"That's good, I guess."
"Still doesn't feel right."
Hermione tried to lift her hand to touch his in compassion, but the movement hurt, and she hissed.
"Don't move," he told her. "You were hit with a concentrated Crucio. Your muscles are still sore. At least that's what Madame Pomfrey said."
She tried to remember the pain, but it had been instantly dark. Maybe that was for the better. "How are the others?"
Harry sighed. "Most are fine, just a few minor injuries like my lovely cut here."
Hermione didn't smile at his humour. "But?"
"Remus lost a leg, Fred an eye, Molly is still unconscious and Moody…" He didn't have to speak.
Hermione pushed through the pain to take his hand and squeezed it. "What about Snape?" she then asked fearing the answer.
Harry frowned but answered: "He got hit with a nasty Stinging hex. He's over there." He pointed to a bed on the other side of the room.
Hermione tried to lift her head to see him, but it hurt too much. "Is he going to be alright?"
"I think so."
"Good," she smiled, then fell back to sleep.
The next time she awoke, it was night. She looked around but was alone. Slowly she lifted one arm and found the pain bearable. Carefully she started to sit up. When the dizziness subsided, she slowly made her way to the other side of the Hospital Wing, wincing in pain, where only one bed was taken.
He looked pale, worse than usual, and in sleep more vulnerable than she could ever imagine. A decade younger.
She carefully sat down on the side of his bed and after a few minutes of looking at him, she took his hand. She was glad that it was warm. When she started striking her thumb over his palm, he woke up.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," he croaked back.
"How are you feeling?"
He groaned. "Like I've been electrocuted."
She chuckled.
"How are you?" he asked.
She shrugged which made her wince. "Sore."
When he raised an eyebrow, she blushed. "Not like that," she mumbled.
He carefully took her hand. "I'm glad you're okay."
She smiled. "Me too."
For a moment they revelled in the stillness of the night. It was finally peaceful.
"What now?" she then whispered and tried to hide her worries. She wanted to be with him, but she could understand if their moment in the chapel was only due to the possibility of dying soon.
Snape gulped, then asked formerly: "Would you like to have dinner with me?"
Hermione beamed and chuckled, full of glee. "Very much," she said and hugged him.
When she felt his arms around her, everything finally fit.
THE END.