Chapter 28: First Family Holidays

Hermione was upset when Severus told her that he would be leaving on February fifteenth for a mission, she didn't want a repeat of the last mission, and she expressed that to Minerva one day while they graded on one of their morning off periods.

"I just don't understand Minerva, what does Severus have that some of the other higher ranking death eaters don't have, what makes him so special?"

"I don't know Hermione, but Severus is doing this for us; for Albus and me, for you, your unborn children, for those that we have lost, and for Harry. He has felt that most of the deaths that occurred when he first rebelled against Albus and I caused those deaths and he has forever been trying to make it right."

"He knows that we don't blame him," Hermione argued, "That we have forgiven him."

"But he has to forgive himself Hermione, forgiveness doesn't matter to him if he doesn't make it right."

"I just don't want a repeat of the last mission."

"Neither do I dear."

"I suppose I could be grateful that the Dark Lord said that he could leave after Valentine's Day."

"See there you go, thinking on the positive side." Hermione smiled at her mentor.

"I am glad that I will have my students to distract me."

"Are you going to take over Severus's younger classes?"

"Yes, all but his NEWT level class, Albus has agreed that he is going to invite an old friend in to do that."

"Ah yes, Slughorn, I remember him saying something about that. I can't say that I have missed working with him."

"Why?"

"He just had a very vociferous opinion type of personality; he never knew when to shut his mouth."

"So he's the Trelawney of potions."

"That would be the perfect way to describe him," came a voice from the door.

"Severus what have I said about that?"

"Sorry Minerva but Albus sent me to make sure that you both come to lunch."

"It's not…" Hermione looked at her watch, "Well I guess it is lunch, shall we take a break Minerva?"

"I suppose, I don't want to deal with a cranky husband, because I missed a meal."

"Me neither, oh wait, he's always that way while around students." Both women laughed as Severus made a face of protest.

"I am not 'cranky,' I am aggravated by stupidity."

"Then why are you a teacher?" Minerva asked.

"You know I love the art of potions."

"This is true."

"If you two are done, I would like to escort you to lunch."

"Very well Professor Snape." Minerva said.

He opened the door for the women and offered his wife his arm, "May I Madam Snape?" Hermione smiled and took his arm, as they walked, she did something that she had never done before; she laid her head on his arm as they walked down the deserted halls. Minerva noticed and a small smile crept upon her face.

"What?" Severus asked.

"Nothing, you both just remind me of two other professors that are in love."

"Mom, that's gross."

"Gross? That's a new one."

"I think he was referring to you and Albus, Minerva."

"I know he was but I have just never heard him say the word 'gross' before."

"I do have a large range of vocabulary Minerva."

"Yes and I usually hear the extremely big words of that vocabulary." Hermione giggled as Severus shrugged. The trio entered the entrance hall and straightened their faces so that all the students saw were the strict looks of the three strictest professors. Despite the strict looks, the students were still shocked at their professors linked arms; it wasn't often that the student's saw an act of affection from their potion's professor.

Severus noticed the reaction and decided to have a little bit of fun with his students. He led his wife up to the head table where he mimicked Albus and pulled out his wife's chair and helped her sit. She offered him a smile as he took his own seat to her right. He noticed that most of his students were looking at him. He inwardly smiled and leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek while she was filling her plate with mashed potatoes. She looked at him and she gave him a small embarrassed smile, she knew that he wasn't one for public display of attention; when she looked at him, she knew what he was doing, and he was having a little fun with the student body. She had to suppress a giggle at his actions, she knew he loved to joke around, but in all honesty she was shocked by his new demeanor around his students. She looked at Minerva and smirked at her, Minerva returned her smirk with a loving smile, and Albus's eyes twinkled at the amusement.

Severus made sure to hold Hermione's hand under the table like he always did and rub small circles on the back of her hand. At the end of Dinner he pulled her out of her chair and offered her his arm to their quarters, there was only one more week of classes before break left so they enjoyed messing with their students to add humor to their day.

Break had finally started and Hermione and Severus stayed with Minerva and Albus at the castle for a few days after the majority of the students had gone home. Of course after those few days were over, Hermione and Severus traveled to Malfoy manor where they were due to meet her family for a few pre holiday fun days. She entered the house and was instantly greeted by her mother and father who enveloped her into large hugs before allowing her to greet the rest of her family. Bella, Narcissa, Hermione and Pansy went to Diagon Alley and got the decorations they still needed while the boys stayed and did the 'heavy' labor. When the women returned, the tree was up, the house was decorated with the exterior lights and the large table was set. While they were grateful, the men were shooed from the room so that the women could add their touch to the house.

Three hours later, they were finished; the banisters were decorated with artificial pine strips intertwined with lights, the tree was festively colored and had an angel on the top of the tree, there were random wreaths evenly spaced throughout the rooms, Naricssa had charmed the candles to turn red with a green flame, Hermione and Pansy had decorated a gingerbread house that was the center piece on the coffee table, Bella had arranged a few red candles that had a normal flame in a foam base with poinsettias, tinsel and mistletoe at the base. A few Santa's had been charmed to fly around the room at random. Hermione had gone to the Granger home and grabbed a few of the decorations that she adored most as a child; she grabbed a reindeer that had folding legs that looked like a stiff rag doll, her tabby cat ornament that her grandparents had gotten her after her first year of Hogwarts, and an yarn angel that her great grandmother had made her when she was little, that sat upon the mantle right in the center. The family's stalking hung on the fire place with couples closer together then the rest and because there were so many, they actually went down the side of the fire place.

The men came back into the room and were awe struck by the girls work on the room, they gave the girls their compliments and then they decided to go out to dinner as a family to a muggle restaurant. The few days of fun flew by and Christmas Eve was upon them, of course Christmas Eve was the day to dress up and enjoy the day with family and then Christmas was the day to wear Pajamas and relax.

So Hermione and Bella had spent a mother daughter day in Diagon alley the day before and bought new dresses for Christmas Eve dinner. Hermione decided on a deep red dress that sat just below her knees, with straps that came and sat on the edge of her shoulders and sleeves that were three quarters long and fitting, just like the dress. She bought matching heels and accessories and she decided to wear her hair in a reasonably delicate French twist. Bella wore hers in a delicate half up- half down hair do , to complete her look she wore a deep blue dress that was full length and but was more form fitting rather than a ball gown but it had a similar top to Hermione's, she too had complimenting accessories. Narcissa had decided on a purple gown that made her hair stand out with more blonde rather than a white while Pansy wore a dark grey gown that was similar to Hermione's but it was a long sleeve gown instead of three quarters.

Two hours before Dinner, Minerva and Albus joined the family for chit chat. Albus was in his red dress robes that reminded Hermione of Santa, while Minerva wore her favorite color, green. Her dress was simple in the fact that it looked like a sun dress except for the material, it seemed to be a satin with a family crest locket with a green stone in the middle to add the perfect accessory to her outfit. The other men wore black dress robes to compliment their women's outfits.

Soon dinner was served and the family enjoyed chatting more about the Malfoy's and the Lestrange's days at school then what was really going on in the world. Hermione enjoyed hearing what was being said and she could tell that a lot of what her parents went through at school was similar to what she and the boys went through. Eventually dinner ended and everyone adjourned to the sitting room where they sat and talked about Hermione and how she was holding up in married life, eventually though, Hermione ran out of things to say while avoiding the topic of her miscarriage and decided to retire a tad early. After she went to bed, the conversations continued.

"So Severus, how is she really holding up?" Bella asked.

"She seems to through herself into her work even more then before but I am working on talking with her when she is upset."

"Talking, is that what they are calling it now a days?" Draco teased.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, watch your tongue!" Narcissa exclaimed.

"Sorry."

"Yes Draco we do talk, it's what adults do." Draco blushed deeply at the comment and then excused himself.

"So she is dealing, but what about you?" Rudolphus asked.

"I am supportive of her and I am stricter in the classroom, but I worry more about her, she still blames herself, I think."

"Well let's just be sensitive enough not to bring it up this holiday shall we?" Narcissa suggested.

Eventually the rest of the family joined Hermione in their own bedrooms; Severus quietly entered their room, changed and crawled under the covers with his wife. She moaned and cuddled closer to him when he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"You looked beautiful tonight my love."

"Thank you, you looked very handsome yourself."

"Thank you."

"What else did you all talk about?"

"You?"

"Not bad things I hope."

"No just how you are dealing with your life."

"You mean the baby."

"Yes." He hugged her with his arm pulling her closer to him.

Hermione turned to him and looked at his eyes, "I am fine Severus, I have come to terms with what happened and…"

"Hermione, no one is doubting that, but your mother is just worried so let it be, it wasn't anything bad, we aren't sending you off to St. Margo's for psychiatric treatment or anything so just relax."

"I'll try."

"And I know that you will be a wonderful mother when we have a little one of our own." Her eyes teared up at his comment and he smiled and answered her unvoiced question, "Really Hermione, I don't say things I don't mean." He leaned over and kissed her passionately before laying down next to her once again.

"I love you Severus."

"I love you too my love."

They awoke the next day in hopes of opening wonderful gifts and they did. Everyone got exactly what they wanted and needed so there were many tears of love and joy in the morning, much to Severus's dismay. Hermione really teared up at the photo album of her growing up that she gave her parents for Christmas. The rest of the day was spent outside since it was so sunny out and Hermione got in a few snowball fights with Draco and Albus as the day went on. However, around five in the afternoon, the family went upstairs and enjoyed a few warm drinks before each going their separate ways. Hermione couldn't remember a happier Christmas.

Soon the holiday was over and Hermione and Severus had to return to the school to prepare for the upcoming semester. Thankfully the rest of January flew by and Hermione got to enjoy her first valentines' day with her husband.

Severus had decided that instead of chaperoning the annual dance, He and Hermione were going to spend the evening together. He apperated them to Italy where they enjoyed an authentic meal, a quiet walk on the streets and then he apperated her to a secluded beach of the coast of Scotland, where the snogged for a good half an hour, simply listening to the sounds of the waves crashing upon the sandy beach. Around ten o'clock, he apperated them back to Hogwarts and he escorted her back to their rooms, where he showed his wife how much he really loved her, and how much he would miss her when he was on his mission that he would leave for tomorrow.

Hermione awoke to a half empty bed, and then she remembered, he had to leave today for his mission. She wanted to cry, he didn't even say goodbye. But then something caught her eye, a single red rose was laying on his pillow, with a note attached to it:

To My Love,

I am sorry that I didn't wake you to say goodbye, you looked so at peace as you slept and I didn't have the heart to wake you. Know that I love you and I will come home to you. Please leave a light in the window for me, so I know that you thought of me every day as I will be thinking of you. Smile for me just once as you read this letter will you? Also please watch out for Minerva and Albus for we both know that they will be worried sick as well. I will write often.

All My Love, Severus

PS, I left a surprise for you out in the living room.

Hermione indeed smiled at the letter and then hurriedly grabbed her robe before entering her sitting room. There were seven vases full of two dozen white roses randomly strewn throughout the room each with a note,

The roses are charmed to stay alive until I come home; there is one for every hour of the day, every day that I will be thinking of you.

Hermione smiled before smiling them, she then went and got ready for her day, and she showered and dressed before heading to the great hall. She greeted Albus and Minerva with a bright smile; she sat down next to them and relayed the events of the morning with them. Minerva smiled at the romantic Severus that she never knew existed. She and Hermione conducted classes as if nothing was out of place, but Hermione left for a few periods to go teach Severus' first, second, third, and fourth year potions, Slughorn had insisted on taking the upper divisions since they had testing to do by May. Hermione had no objections, the smell of the potions made her miss her husband.