It was New Year's Eve, and Hermione couldn't be more happy about the upcoming year, she could just feel it was going to be a good year. She knew that there was still a lot of work to be done, but she was happy. She felt for the first time since forever, secure. Even though she didn't see the boys as often, they were writing and keeping up. She can now openly talk about her relationship with Severus Snape, and she has found time here and there to try to better organize herself for the upcoming semester.
She had to admit she had nervous energy; they were soon to go to her parents home, hand and hand. She wasn't sure what she had done to convince Severus it was a good idea to go to her parent's house for the event. Hermione thinks it had to do with the bottle of Elf wine they were drinking, a gift from Hagrid. It gave her the nerves to ask and gave him the confidence to say yes.
Hermione intended to stay a few days with her parents but hadn't talked much to Severus about the arrangements. She packed her beaded bag, grabbed Crookshanks in her arms, and walked down the hall to Severus's rooms. Crookshanks purred as soon as he saw the man and wiggled out of Hermione's arms to greet him. Hermione couldn't help but giggle. Severus looked down at the cat, and back up at her. He was visibly nervous.
"You ready Sev?" Hermione asked.
He only nodded his head in reply. Once again Hermione apparated them both into her backyard with the tall fence and the one-story houses all around no one would see them coming. Hermione knocked on the back door, leaving Severus where he stood. He quickly thought to follow her as the door opened and Crookshanks ran inside. Her mom greeted her warmly with a broad smile and a big hug; her dad was peering out from afar, walking towards the door as well. Severus didn't think of what to do or say.
Hermione's mother made the first move. "Severus, it's good to see you again, and she stuck out her hand. Severus quickly shook it.
"It's good to see you as well," Severus said.
He wasn't sure how this would go. He was nervous, but anytime Hermione was near just touching his arm, his hand, she grounded him, and allowed him to stay calm. The two couples talked on various things, from potions to dentistry. Hermione groaned when her father went on for over 2 minutes on about the newest way to match tooth color when doing a filling. Hermione reminded her parents that a TV was a rarity for Severus as they suggested watching a movie.
Hermione grabbed "The Fifth Element" something she could tell her parents had picked up recently planning to watch. She hadn't heard of it but popped it in the VCR and pressed play.
Once again Severus was watching the movie, stuck in another world. An odd futuristic world that he couldn't believe at first, but as the film progressed he felt trapped in its space watching the story being told waiting for the next part to come. After the movie was over, he concluded that it was a wonder muggles got anything done, because he could do this all day.
It wasn't like he had never seen a movie or a TV show, but his parent's had very little money, and the very old black and white TV they had was nowhere near what the Grangers had in their living room. Of course on the rare occasion, they would go to the movies, but Severus was more caught up with what would happen when he got home to enjoy the video playing.
After the movie had ended, it was close to dinner time. The pizza was ordered, and Hermione took a moment to drop off her things in her room. She had Severus follow her up the steps. He knew the way of course, glad to see the door was actually there this time. Hermione turned the handle. Severus had never really looked in her room last time he hadn't cared at that point. But as he looked around it was almost funny, the lavender walls, the pictures of her, Ron and Harry, and the little kids Barbie blanket made him uncomfortable.
Hermione could feel the tension the room was causing. She looked in his eyes and looked again around the room.
"This was a lifetime ago," she said, as she sat on her bed, touched the Barbie Blanket, her parents had never cleaned up her room from the time her and Severus had been in, not that she expected them too and not that it was dirty or unorganized, but the fact it never changed gave her an odd feeling.
She looked around and quickly said a few spells. Her Barbie blanket turned plain sage green. Her Lavender walls turned a royal blue. She pulled out some more recent pictures, and put a sticking charm on the back, placing a few new ones around the wall. She turned her rug blue to match the wall and looked around. It had taken her less than 10 minutes, but it felt like a whole new place. Severus smiled at her and looked around. 'Was this where he was staying tonight?'he Thought to himself they hadn't discussed anything at all. It wasn't like him not to know the plan, and once again his stomach was slightly upset. He dare not to say his thoughts. He followed Hermione back down the steps and waited for the pizza.
As the clock was about to ring in the New Year, Hermione and Severus gathered with her parents outside. It was freezing cold, but they could see the fireworks from the local park, and this had been the Granger tradition for as long as she could remember. She could hear the neighbors gasping, and children laughing or crying at the loud noise. She held Severus close and kissed him, keeping a tight grip on him hoping never to let go. Her parents were in front of them oblivious to Hermione and Severus's affection. Hermione stared up at the bright lights watching the beauty of the sparks would never get old.
When the last burst of light and loud boom stopped, they turned back into the warm home.
"Goodnight Hermione, Severus," her mother said as she walked straight towards the steps.
Her dad just walked by, grabbed a bottle of champagne out of the fridge and set it on the counter. He smiled at the 2 of them and without saying a word went up the steps.
Hermione looked over at Severus with a smile grabbed the bottle, and with a wave of her wand, the cork popped. Hermione went to the glassware cupboard she grabbed to flutes and poured them both a drink. She knew precisely where she was supposed to pour it to, but filled the glasses to the top.
"To a Happy, Healthy and safe new year," Hermione said.
Severus was quick to clink the glasses together and drink to that. The small flutes allowed quick work of the drink, and both Severus and Hermione soon finished the bottle. It was enough to keep them buzzed and made Hermione a bit giggly. Severus started to relax. He was excited in knowing the giggly girl was his, and at that moment he couldn't comprehend how they had gotten here. How he had a beautiful young witch to call his own. He couldn't believe that she was his future. It was a lot at once to take in.
Hermione never thought of the sleeping situation, it should be no different they always slept together, but being in her childhood room, made it feel awkward. She felt like even though all they were doing was sleeping that she would be in trouble to have "a boy in her room." She laughed at the thought and pulled Severus through her bedroom door. She quickly closed and locked the door and said a variety of spells and a charm to make the bed a bit bigger. Hermione looked around realizing they were both fully dressed and neither in night close. She was still buzzed and smiled widely looking at Severus when she started removing her clothing. Severus looked at her in awestruck as she lifted her shirt and then her jeans leaving her in only a thin bra that was almost shear, a deep rose color, he was for certain he could make out the outline of her nipples. She had on matching underwear, that showed the curves of her butt that he had only seen briefly.
Hermione sobered up a bit by the time she looked up to see if Severus's face had approved. The last time he had seen her in so little was in Australia. She was a bit fearful of being so exposed in front of him. Severus looked longingly at her body. Hermione smiled at his look. She walked over closer to him and signaled for him to hug her. She felt the rush when his bare hands touched the skin on her back. She was instantly on fire. Of course, they had kissed and touched, but this was different. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol talking or just the long overdue yearning she has had for him, but this felt so good.
Severus was surprised at Hermione's show, and though they hadn't discussed it, he wasn't sure how much longer he could wait before having her. He had calmed himself down he wasn't as afraid as what he had been in the beginning months of their relationship. He felt her bare skin and immediately pulled her closer to him. He was still fully clothed and felt overly dressed for the occasion. Hermione seemed to know without him saying a word because her hands were pulling up his shirt and he was allowing this to happen.
'A New Year, a new man' he thought to himself, as he pulled the rest of the shirt off of him. Hermione and Severus were now touching more skin to skin than they ever had before, and Severus was embarrassing himself as he thought that this alone was enough to set him off. They both roamed each other's chests and backs, Severus every once in a while putting his hands just in the band of her bra. Hermione wasn't complaining and knew they were both breathing heavy between touching and kissing and grabbing. She couldn't even ask for anything more, because this is the most Severus has ever given of himself, and she silently let him take the lead.
Hermione wasn't sure how they got like this, but they were both only in their underwear, laying on her charmed childhood bed. Her head was still buzzing, the alcohol buzz was replaced with a sexual buzz a while ago, but she can't say for how long. It felt like hours though she knew it couldn't have been. Severus Snape was kissing and touching her all over. Hermione couldn't help but stick her chest out the closer his hands got to her breasts. She couldn't stop the moans as his hand tickled her waistline, and when she found herself on top of Severus Snape, she couldn't help but push her hips hard down on to his still fully covered penis. She didn't want to think how quickly she had come undone as soon as he touched her breasts the first few times this evening. She was happy he hadn't shied away from this she was on cloud nine.
Severus was happy that he didn't stop her when he thought too, the feelings from this women was too much for him to handle. She was too much for him, and he loved every minute of it. He wasn't sure when Hermione had pinned him to the bed, but he wasn't complaining and was shocked when her hips pressed down into his. He couldn't complain this was all too fast, and too slow at once. But he knew Hermione and knew that she wasn't having sex with him tonight, which also allowed him to enjoy the time more. They were both planners; she would most definitely talk to him about taking that next step. But this step, it was a massive step in the relationship, he had no complaints.
The next morning Hermione was wrapped up in Severus's arms her skin still touching his and even though they didn't have sex, she could smell him and herself, and looked around the room. He was still asleep, and it was still dark out. His skin was on hers, and she drifted back to sleep.
Morning came, and Hermione felt the warmth around her pull away. He was already fully dressed, and in her evident sobriety, she felt the need to stay under the covers, even though she knew it was silly.
"Hey I know we never talked about this, but I am staying here a few days, I know it might be awkward but I would really like you to spend that time here with me," Hermione said hoping he would stay.
Severus just looked at the witch, 'even barely woken she is thinking about something.' Severus thought.
"Hermione, you know I am not the most comfortable here, but I will stay tonight, but must get back to Hogwarts first thing in the morning.
Hermione smiled, and with that allowed herself to get out of bed. Hermione quickly dressed, and Severus took this as his queue to go to the bathroom. Hermione was down the steps first her parents sitting at the table, her father reading the newspaper and her mother pouring tea. She smiled up at them, instantly a cup with hot tea was in her face, and she smiled at the smell of the Earl Grey blend. She sipped the hot drink as she listened to her father go over the daily news articles, only pointing out the interesting ones. Severus made his way down as her father got to the sports section.
Both Hermione's parents glared at him but didn't say a word. Both Hermione and Severus noticed but sipped their tea silently. Her father continued with the headlines.
It was nice to just be in the muggle world, Hermione washed dishes, she sat at the piano and played horribly, she had gone without any practice in so long she hit quite a number of wrong notes, dreading the noise of the wrong note every time she hit it. Her father spoke of the dental practice, her mother talked about the local book club. They stayed on safe subjects for the most part. Severus stayed quiet throughout the day just attempting to peak into lives of the Granger household.
The day went by fast, dinner was done, Hermione's parents were going over inventory and billing for the dental office, and She and Severus were both reading the potions journal that came out right before Christmas, each was talking making notes and laughing at a few of the articles. It was nice, it was homey, and most of all Severus and Hermione felt at ease.
Darkness fell, and Severus felt like he had a lot to do at Hogwarts. They both went upstairs a few moments after Hermione's parents. Hermione quickly changed into warm pajamas, and Severus did the same. She smiled at him hugged him and cuddled with him as they fell asleep.
Morning came, and Hermione hugged Severus goodbye and with a small pop he was back at the castle. She sighed and went back into the kitchen. She had made the tea, her parents still not downstairs for the morning. She looked around, really looked around. She missed this place. She missed home. She missed her parents. She missed her time of innocence in these walls. She wasn't sure when she got old enough to leave this place, after all, she was only 12 when she left home. She was smart but knew nothing of her magical world. She longed to have that time back, the time she had lost to Hogwarts it had separated her from her parents. She loved them dearly but never felt as if she knew them. She missed something she never really had, a meaningful relationship with her parents.
She jumped when the teapot whistled and quickly pulled it off the stove. She had put in a jasmine tea for this morning something she knew her father was fond of. She grabbed the sugar cubes and set them on the table. She searched cupboard for bread and found eggs and bacon in the fridge. She knew the 2 would be down shortly and started making breakfast.
When her parents sat down, they were shocked to see a full meal presented to them. Hermione sat and ate as her parents followed suit and for a brief moment it seemed normal. They talked about her job, she told the story of various kids in the school. She spoke of her friends, and she lightly touched on the subject of Severus. She didn't want to stir anything up, her parents seemed fine with the pairing, but she had a sense that they weren't 100% comfortable with the fact and she couldn't blame them. It was nice to have a conversation with her parents once again.
The days past at the Granger home and Hermione felt that her bond with her parents had indeed been restored. She was packing her stuff in her bag when her mom came into her room. She could tell her mom had wanted to say something, so she stopped and sat quietly on the bed.
"Are you sure this what you want, Hermione?" Her mother asked.
Hermione could only nod, not knowing "What" this was exactly referring too.
"I know that things change, but when you were 10 all you wanted to do was get into Oxford and be Vet, and then you got this letter in the mail when you were 12, and I wasn't even sure what to say. We send you to this boarding school, thinking you were going to learn the same things I did as a child, but you know all this stuff I can't even begin to understand. When you stopped coming home for the summer, I thought I had lost you. Then this war broke out, and you're a War Hero! At 18 my baby is a War Hero, you saved so many lives, and I had no idea. I always dreamed you would come back from that school and you would go to Oxford, and you would go be a vet and learn about all kinds of animals. You would open a shop in town, and so many people would come to you, and I would be so proud. Please, don't think I'm not proud of you but I can't ever understand what it is you do."
Hermione looked at her with her brown eyes big, understanding exactly what her mother was saying. How could her mom even begin to understand?
"Mom I just want you to know that this is definitely what I want, right now anyway. If I could wish for anything, it would be for you and dad to understand exactly how my life is, what's happened since I was 12, but the stories I tell sound so ridiculous, and to be honest sometimes I think I make things sound more than what they are. I hate with every fiber of my being I am a War Hero; it should have never happened. It should have never been Me and Ron and Harry out there fighting. It's because people hear what they want to hear, and see what they want to see. The magical world is no different as far as that goes. Just trust that I am happy, and if one day I'm not happy anymore, I will always come back home." Hermione said.
This seemed to put her mother at ease, and she hugged her daughter tightly. Hermione was so happy to have her family back. She missed them so much while at Hogwarts and she missed them, even more, when they were in Australia. Hermione turned from her mother quickly, so she didn't see her reddened cheeks and bloodshot eyes. She finished packing and walked downstairs. She hugged her father goodbye.
"I'll see you soon honey, don't forget to write." Her father said. Hermione nodded and walked out the back door. She went to the back door, walked into the yard and apparated to the gates of the school. Once she finally got inside, she breathed a sigh of relief. If her parent's house was her home Hogwarts was her refuge. She walked down the hallway only hearing her shoes tapping on the floor.
With only a day before the students were coming back, Hermione was Severus's room reading while leaning on Severus as he did the same. She was much more sure of herself this semester. She had combined some of the less-attended tutorings so it went from 5 days a week to only 3 evenings a week. Even though the 1st years were still learning, they weren't as freaked out by toad eyes. They weren't going to get trapped by the staircase as often, and for the most part, they all seemed like a good group of kids. Minerva had asked Hermione to take on more of a role during her Charms classes and even hinted at retiring from the class to have more time to herself and still carry on as headmaster.
Hermione thought about the prospect of being a charms teacher. She wasn't upset at the idea, but she wasn't sure how she could be so commanding of the older students, especially ones she went to school with herself. She looked over at Severus though thinking he had pretty much done the same. Of course, he had done an apprenticeship for his potions, so he didn't start teaching until he was about 21. She looked at the man lost in the book, knowing he had no idea of her thoughts.
Hermione smiled and thought to herself, just one more reason to admire him. She tried to get back to her book, but Severus took all her attention and thoughts. She began daydreaming about the future.
She saw herself in the Charms room showing students not only what she learned, but what she had created, she pushed the students to try new things. She could picture all kinds of new charms but also pictured children who couldn't even do an essential charm. She saw herself enjoying dinner in the great hall and walking hand and hand with Severus to their room. Hermione smiled at the thought and snuggled up to Severus as her daydream played in her mind.