Chapter 22: Christmas Break
It had finally arrived; the last class of the day, his students would be going home in about an hour. He really actually hated the holiday itself but he loved spending time with the family and he really needed to get away from Umbridge or he might just kill her. He was to escort Hermione, Blaise and Draco to the manor that evening and then he was to attend the Order meeting at Grimwald Place, it wasn't his ideal thought of a first day of break but he didn't really have a choice. The trio of students entered his personal quarters around four packed and ready. He grabbed his bag and had decided it was time to leave. He turned to go out the door with the students in tow and almost made it out of the school but the Toad caught them.
"Professor Snape, where are you taking these students?"
"Home, Professor Umbridge."
"Well shouldn't they be riding the train, like everyone else?"
"They would be if it weren't upon Lucius' insistence that I take them there myself."
"Well if this is for Lucius, I would expect this for Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zambini, but I don't see a need for you to take Miss Granger." Umbridge reached for Hermione but Severus stepped in her way.
"Dolores, I have no intention of hexing you, but if you lay a hand on her, I will."
"Severus what has gotten into you?"
"She's my student and I am taking her home."
"She can ride the train like the others and you may take the boys." Dolores actually got a hold of Hermione's arm and pulled her away from the group.
"DOLORAS!" came boomed a voice, they turned to an angry looking Professor Dumbledore followed by Professor McGonagall. "Unhand Miss Malfoy at once!"
"Miss Malfoy?"
"Yes, she's my …"
"Draco, shut up!" Severus said.
"She's your what?"
"Personal relation." Blaise filled in calmly.
"Oh really?"
"Yes now, I hate to be disrespectful, but can I have my arm back, I'm losing feeling in my fingers." Hermione smiled sweetly at the woman that held her back and she just looked at her.
"Hm, Lucius never mentioned…"
"For good reason," Severus said.
"Dolores please release Miss Malfoy." Minerva said a little too firmly.
Hermione was released and she moved back over to the group that she was jerked from as Umbridge walked away.
"Are you alright?" Severus asked.
"Yeah, stupid toad."
"You're bruising," Blaise noticed.
"How tight was she holding you?" Minerva asked as Draco turned her arm over for inspection, looking over his shoulder.
"No tighter then Ron I imagine, I've always bruised easily." Hermione said as if it meant nothing. "Can we go now; I really want to see Mother."
"Of course," Minerva said putting a smile on her face, "You all travel safe now."
"We will," the students said joyfully. Draco turned to the others and said, "Bet you I can beat you to the apparition point!" and he was gone.
"I'll take that bet," Blaise shouted as he chased after him. Hermione shook her head and just stood with the three professors.
"May we walk with you to the gate?" Dumbledore asked. "I mean, it is in my best interest, and my students to be sure that they get off safe." He inclined his head indicating that he felt that Umbridge was still somewhere in ear shot.
"Of course, headmaster." Snape said and the four were gone from the entrance hall and onto the path that lead to the gates.
Hermione noticed the boys running around off of the path in the deep white snow. "Come on Mia," they kept calling, she kept shaking her head, she wasn't in for getting pelted with snow just yet. Too bad for her, when the group got closer to the boys, she was pelted with snowballs. "HEY!" she said.
The boys looked innocent as she said this, "Are you ok Mia?" Draco asked.
Hermione pursed her lips and grabbed her wand, "I am so going to get you." She ran after the boys and when they saw her coming toward them, they panicked and ran, she had been running though so she was in shape and she caught up to them and she jumped her brother causing him to fall into the snow underneath her. However, Blaise was still free so when she looked up she saw him bending over and making a snowball; she squeaked and ran back to Severus where she hid behind him. Just in time too, the snow ball Hit Severus and splashed Minerva and Dumbledore. Hermione stifled a giggle as Severus ran after the boys and chased them around, "Christmas is going to be very interesting indeed." She thought.
"Ah Hermione, you have to wait until presents, I recall a few paper wars when it's all said and done."
"Really?"
"Yes, it's quite entertaining."
"Will you both be joining us at all?'
"I will join you at Malfoy manor and escort you to Headquarters, and I believe that is where Albus will join us."
"Great, I don't think I have ever been this excited for the holiday."
"Well, your first Christmas with this family is one that you won't forget."
"Good. Come on guys we are going to be late!" Hermione shouted at them.
"AW Man," the boys whined, "Coming MOM." The group gathered around Severus and they apperated to the manor; Hermione and Draco raced to the door and almost collided with the Minister.
"Oh excuse us Minister," Draco said.
"Ah, young Mr. Malfoy, and Miss Granger, yes?"
"Yes sir."
"What are you all up to?"
"School just got out sir."
"Ah, Mr. Zambini, I didn't see you there, well that's good, Miss Granger, I trust you are on your way home?"
"She is home," Draco said a bit defensively.
"It's ok Drake, you have to remember that not everyone knows," Hermione said putting a comforting hand upon her brother's shoulder.
"Ah children you are home."
"Daddy," Hermione ran to her Father.
"Hi Mia," Lucius said hugging her. "Minister I believe that you have met my daughter Hermione?"
To say the minister was stunned was an understatement, he openly gapped at the young lady next to Lucius, he never would have guessed that Lucius would have a daughter.
Narcissa broke his train of thought, "Severus, thank you so much for bringing the children, I really appreciate it."
"You and your daughter Narcissa," he sighed, "Really, I would do anything for family."
"Of course, well please stay for dinner."
"I should get going," The minister said.
"Of course Minister, thank you so much for stopping by."
"Of course, will your children be joining us for our annual Christmas celebration?"
"I don't know, Children, would you be up for a ball?"
"A ball, Balls still exist?"
"Duh Hermione where have you been…."
Hermione glared at her brother, "I don't know Draco, where have I been?"
"Never mind."
"MHum." Hermione pursed her lips. "Can we go Daddy Please?"
Lucius laughed, "Well Minister, I believe that you can expect to see my family there."
"Wonderful, have a wonderful rest of your day."
"You too," the group said in unison when they were alone Severus spoke.
"I really should be going."
"None sense, you brought the kids here and I will not let you leave here on an empty stomach." Narcissa said.
"But the meeting…"
"Isn't for another five hours," Lucius said, "You can stay for dinner."
"Alright, since there is no getting out of it." He smirked at Hermione who smiled back at him.
An hour and a half later, the group was seated at the table which was covered in food.
"Mom, can we go with you all tonight."
"No."
"Why?" Hermione asked, "I've been to headquarters before."
"What?"
"It was over the summer, it's where I went under the orders of the Headmaster."
"That is not fair."
"Cry me a river Draco."
"Bite me."
"When, where and how hard."
"Kids, behave."
"Yes Mother." The dinner was once again pleasant and everyone was content.
"I must say that it is nice to be away from that toad." Blaise said.
"Blaise," Narcissa warned.
"Here, Here," Hermione and Draco raised their glasses and drank from them.
"Draco, Hermione," Narcissa said, "Behave, I will not ask again."
"Mother you don't understand, she wasn't going to let Hermione leave with us, she grabbed her and left a bruise on her arm like Weasel did." Draco said.
"HEY!"
"What?"
"Ginny is a Weasley and so are the twins, quit calling them that."
"I have made a point that I will not call your friends that."
"I said knock it off."
"Fine, gosh you are so bossy."
"Shut up." And she quit and turned to Severus, "Severus can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"What are you doing this summer?"
"I don't know why?"
"Well I was wondering if we could maybe do some extra studying in the area of Potions, maybe I could help you restack the hospital wing."
"I would be alright with that, as long as you aren't expecting house points or anything," He smirked, "If it's alright with your parents of course."
"Really, Mom Daddy please?"
"I don't see a problem with it." Narcissa said.
"Me neither, as long as you get all your school work done," Lucius said.
"Father, she is going to have it all done on the train back, are you kidding?"
"Maybe you should fallow her lead?" Narcissa said.
"No we're good."
"I thought so." Narcissa smiled at her boys. "Hermione, we need to go get you a gown tomorrow too, so just be ready."
"Oh good another shopping trip," Hermione said.
Everyone dug into their food again and then they finally decided that the kids could go with them to the meeting as long as there was no fighting with Ron, the boys were reluctant but agreed. Soon it was time to go and Hermione apperated with her mother while Blaise was with Severus and Draco went with Lucius. When they arrived, the adults entered the kitchen while Hermione led the way up to landing where the twins, Ginny Harry, and Ron were standing.
"Hey," Harry whispered.
"Hey," Hermione whispered back, "Do we have the ears?"
"Ears?" Draco and Blaise said a bit too loudly.
"SHHH." Hermione shushed loudly, "Yes a twin invention, shut up and we might hear what's going on."
"I'm surprised that your family let you come," Ron whispered harshly before walking away.
"Prick," Fred said, "Just like Percy," George agreed.
"Guys shut it, the meeting is starting," Ginny said. They listened intently as the ear picked up everything that they were talking about behind those closed doors.
"Now that the minister knows, it's only a matter of time before everyone, at the ministry, including Umbridge, knows and then word gets back to the Dark Lord, then she'll be in trouble." Lucius noted.
"She is already in trouble for being Potter's friend Malfoy." Moody said.
"No he's right, this puts her as priority, and he can kidnap her and torture her to get back at Lucius' treachery."
"Thank you Severus for putting that image in my head of what he could do to my daughter." Narcissa's voice said coldly.
"Sorry Narcissa but the best way to get to those that turn on him is through their families," Tonks said.
"So what do we do?" Molly asked.
"Should she go into hiding?" Arthur suggested.
"No he will find her." Lucius admitted.
"She could stay with us." Minerva suggested.
"And have he coming into the school looking for her?" Sirius said, "Why don't we just tie up both her and Harry and take them to him right now?"
"Black quit over exaggerating and shut up." Severus said.
"Well Snivillus, thank you for volunteering for sending my godson to his grave and his best friend too."
"Enough," Dumbledore said. "Hermione and Harry will be fine for the time being, Hermione will not go into hiding, she will not stay with her godmother and we sure as Hell will not send her straight into his lair."
The group of kids looked at each other worried what Dumbledore would say about Hermione's situation.
"No I think that having someone with her at all times would be best, someone that has good defense experience, Tonks would you be willing?"
"Sure, Hermione's a sweet enough girl; it would be a shame to lose her."
"Ok if we could get shifts so that we all get enough sleep, it could work," Minerva suggested.
"I could take a shift or two," Kingsley suggested.
"And as long as she is in class, the teachers could keep an eye on her," Severus suggested.
"That's true." Minerva agreed.
"Then it's settled, when Hermione is in one of her classes, she will be over seen by a professor, when she is in the library or goes out to Hogmeade she will be with accompanied by one of us," Albus confirmed.
"Agreed." The group said.
The conversations drifted to the problems at Hogwarts, the recent attacks, and the possibilities of the final battle. When it was over, the group of kids reeled up the ear and waited to be called down to the kitchen for the dessert that Molly always had for them after late meetings. Once they were all seated around the table Hermione noticed that Severus was gone but Minerva, Dumbledore, Shackelbolt, Tonks, Moody, Remus, and of course Molly and Arthur were still there.
"So Hermione, your mother tells me that you are going to be brewing with Severus this summer," Minerva said.
"Yes, well that day that we went out with Mother and I was waiting for you in Severus' classroom, I just felt very content with brewing and a few weeks ago I got the idea."
"Good for you dear."
"Thank you." Hermione smiled.
"Gryffindor suck up!" Blaise said in a high pitch voice.
"Hey," The Weasley kids said, Hermione took a roll in front of and hucked it at her god-brother.
"Shut your mouth."
"What are ya gonna do about it Gryffindor Princess?"
"This," Hermione stood and Blaise ran out of the room, where the door slammed loudly behind him and caused the painting of Hermione and Draco's grandmother to start wailing. Hermione and the twins shared a knowing smile at each other as she retook her seat. "Sucker."
"He walked right into that one," Ginny said.
"And break has only just started." Hermione said with a laugh.
"Hermione, that wasn't very nice," Narcissa said going to get her mother's portrait to quiet her down.
"It was brilliant Hermione," Sirius said.
"Sirius don't encourage her, I want her to stay sweet." Molly said going to help Narcissa.
"Hermione, you just declared war." Draco said tending to the food on his plate.
"Bring it." Hermione said cockily.