Hermione set aside the stack of papers she had just finished grading and set down her quill. She looked up in surprise when someone entered the room. "Draco?" she asked, surprised that he had come to her classroom.
She had started calling him by his first name as soon as he became a teacher at the school. Even if it was temporary, she had accepted Minerva's desire for the staff to be on personal, first name terms, and it had actually been rather easy for her. He had also adapted Minerva's idea and started calling Hermione by her first name. She knew from experience how awkward it had been at first for him to call the people who had once been his professors by their first names, but they seemed to accept it rather quickly and he followed their example. Harry and Ron still called him Malfoy and of their friends from school only Hermione and Neville referred to him by his first name. Ginny didn't even seem to mind so much when she had to start calling him Professor Malfoy.
Draco stood where he was, in the doorway, and didn't enter the room. "I stopped in to say thank you, again, and goodbye."
Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. "Will you stop that? Thank you. I need to be thanking you, not the other way around."
He grimaced at her, glaring, but it was only halfhearted.
"You're leaving?" she asked when he said nothing.
He nodded and his face cleared for a moment before he gave a genuine grimace. "Slughorn's been back a few days and doesn't need me to teach anymore, I've apologized to you and to the school, and thanked you as well. I did what I came for—and more—and now my mother won't let up about how I need to get home."
Hermione nodded. He tensed when she stood up and walked over to him. She held out her hand and he shook it. "Thanks," they said at the same time. Hermione grinned at him and he gave a nervous smile.
"Give your mum my best," Hermione said as he started to turn towards the door.
He nodded to her, something glinting in his eyes, and said, "I'll do that."
Hermione glared at him, though he knew it was fake. "Now go on, get out of here, Malfoy."
He raised his eyebrows and turned around, smirking as he threw over his shoulder, "Have fun staying locked up in a classroom all day, Granger," before he disappeared through the door.
She walked back to her desk and sat down, smiling to herself. It was strange, to be pretending with Draco Malfoy that they were back in school and they loathed one another. Stranger even simply because she was pretending anything with Draco Malfoy.
She looked up again when more people came into the classroom, but this time it was a group of students. Smiling brightly at them, she waited until they had all found their seats and taken out their books, and she started the class.
It had been two weeks since Madam Pomfrey had finally let her out of her room to teach again and actually participate in the goings on of the outside world, and three weeks since she'd woken after nearly losing her life. It was a month since Rookwood's attack on the school and his death. She and the students were equally happy that she was fully recovered, and though they did love their headmistress, she was still their favorite, especially now that they had nearly lost her. The Slytherin students seemed undecided; they wanted to hate her still for making Severus love her, but they also wanted to like her because she was the nicest teacher and she gave out less homework and really connected with them as best she could.
Just as spending time with Severus had made her capable of seeing the true meanings behind his and Draco's behavior, she now understood the Slytherin students' behavior much better as well. She did truly connect with them, and just as well as she did with the other three houses. And then there had been war within Slytherin house when Hermione returned to her position as transfiguration teacher and Draco was still teaching defense against the dark arts. Students had taken sides, and the ones who still liked Hermione better were considered traitors to their house, as the rest of them chose Draco as their favorite. The discord had grown so strong among the Slytherins that whoever was patrolling the dungeon at night could simply stand outside of the entrance to the Slytherin common room and wait for a couple of them to sneak out in order to duel or fight over which teacher was better.
Draco and Hermione had happened to both be walking the dungeon one night to be sure all of the students were in bed where they belonged and eventually both found themselves waiting outside the entrance to the Slytherin common room. A whole group of students had come out under disillusionment charms, but their many feet and hoarse whispers had given them away immediately. Hermione and Draco had both been under disillusionment charms themselves, and the students didn't know that their teachers were there until the two of them used the counter charm and unveiled nearly twenty Slytherin students, who ranged in age everywhere from first years to seventh years. The teachers had also unveiled each other without meaning to, and had started in surprise at one another's presence, but then shared a smirk over the now-visible students caught between them.
Some of the students had been outraged to find that Draco had turned against them and when he gave them all detention for sneaking out, they were furious with him. Others were even angrier at Hermione because she was a Gryffindor and she dared to take away a great number of points from their house. She took only a few points from the house because of each student's misdemeanor, but all together they added up to a larger number than the students would have liked to hear. The students who didn't care about house points or detention, however, were furious because they found Draco and Hermione working together against them. The two sides of their argument had joined against them, and they were paying for it. The students who liked Hermione were mildly annoyed at their reduction of house points and assigning of detention, but didn't mind so much and took great pleasure in seeing the pained or angry expressions of their fellow students at the sight of Hermione and Draco working together.
The students had been sent back to their common room and Hermione and Draco had gone their separate ways without a word to each other, though they had nodded before they turned away and shared a smirk over their victory.
When classes were over for the day Hermione put all of the homework and papers into her desk drawer. She could grade those later. She made her way to the Great Hall and arrived early, before most of the students came. She stood around and talked to Neville until the students and the rest of the staff entered the hall. They all found their seats and Minerva stood up to address the students. There would be a trip to Hogsmeade the following day, as it was a Saturday, and the last one before Christmas, which was only a week away.
When the headmistress sat down, the meal began and Neville started talking about what he thought he should get for Luna. Hermione was more than willing to share what she thought her friend would like, but it took some consideration, as Luna was quite different than anyone either of them had ever met. This Christmas was going to be different for Hermione. Most of the students were going home for the holiday and she could go back to the Burrow to celebrate with the Weasleys if she wanted to. But part of her wanted to stay and see what things would be like from a teacher's perspective. She also wanted to stay with Severus and celebrate with him, but she wondered if the man even knew how to celebrate.
Neville was going home to stay with his Gran and he was going to visit his parents on Christmas day. Hermione thought that she would want to visit her parents as well. She hadn't seen them since her last fight with Ron, after she had saved Draco, and wanted to go and tell them about everything that had happened with Rookwood and since then.
Neville started talking to Pomona and Hermione turned to glance at Severus. She was surprised to find him watching her. She raised her eyebrows at him and he rolled his eyes. She had caught him looking at her on more occasions than ever before, sometimes just staring. It was the oddest thing, and she couldn't understand why he would behave so.
She didn't realize just how much of an effect their experience in the Chamber of Secrets had actually had on him. There was no longer a mad dark wizard running amuck and trying to kill her, but he hadn't yet completely recovered from the shock of seeing her dead. Of course, she hadn't really been dead, just barely holding on. But he had been so completely convinced that night that she was gone and he had lost her, had failed to protect her. He was still moving back to the regular world from the dark, nightmarish one he had entered when he thought her life had ended.
He looked at her differently now. There was no one—not even Lily—who had ever done this to him. Of course, had Lily actually turned out to be alive after he'd lamented her death, she would probably have captivated him as Hermione did now. There was a simple explanation, really; the belief that the woman next to him was dead had been engrained into his very soul, carved into him so deeply that her survival was some miracle, some unbelievable thing that seemed impossible, and yet her she was still sitting beside him at that very moment.
Knowing that Hermione was in the school with him, knowing that she was safe and happy, it wasn't enough anymore. He had to be positive that she was well at all hours. He saw only one way to bring about a life where she was with him at all times, but would she care for the idea at all? Would she flinch or cringe if he suggested it? Or would she run into his arms and smile and tell him she wanted nothing more than what he had just proposed?
Severus stared into her eyes, searching for the answer to his question there. But she gave none. Instead, she was asking what was the matter with him because he was staring again. He looked back to his plate of food, frowning.
Hermione continued to look at him, concerned now. There had been something in his eyes, an unasked question. Some unspoken inquiry that she couldn't decipher. He turned and looked at her suddenly. She blinked in surprise but waited. He asked, "Will you be going to stay with Weasley and her family"—Hermione knew he was speaking of Ginny rather than Ron as her link to the Weasleys—"for the holiday or remaining here?"
Hermione looked into his eyes. There was that unspoken query within them again, but she was still unable to understand it so she ignored it and answered the question he had actually asked instead. "I'm not sure yet, but I probably will go to the Burrow. And I think I'll visit my parents on Christmas day." She raised her eyebrows at him and said, "And I suppose you'll be staying here at the school?"
He smirked at her, which answered her question. The questioning look was still in his eyes, but he looked away and she tried to forget about it because it was bothering her.
When the meal was over, the students began leaving the Great Hall. Hermione was surprised to see Ginny making her way in the direction of the staff table. She rose to meet her friend and the redhead tossed her hair over her shoulder and grinned at her. "Mum's asked if you'll come spend Christmas with us?"
Hermione smiled at her. She glanced over at Severus, who was standing beside Filius. The charms teacher was talking to the potions master, but Severus was watching Hermione and apparently not hearing a word of what the small man was saying. Hermione looked back to Ginny and nodded. "Yes. I'd love to."
Ginny giggled and Hermione tilted her head to the side. "What is it?"
Ginny smiled. "Ron's going to panic."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Why would he do that?"
Ginny gave her an incredulous look. "Come on, you know the answer to that!"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think I do."
"He's totally jealous!" she lowered her voice, "of Snape, I mean. He can't believe he lost you to, well . . ." she looked past Hermione to Severus and bit her lip, "to that."
Hermione laughed. "Oh, yes, that makes sense."
Ginny nodded. "Hey, can we talk?"
Hermione raised her eyebrows again but nodded and looked around the Great Hall. All of the students had left and only a few of the staff—including Severus—remained. Then she linked arms with Ginny and they left the hall as if they were both students. They went to Hermione's office and sat in the comfortable chairs, talking for several hours. They even talked for a while about Neville and Luna. Apparently Neville was planning on visiting his girlfriend at her home after he saw his parents at Saint Mungo's.
When they were both yawning they decided it was time for bed. Then they stood up and linked arms again. Hermione walked with Ginny to Gryffindor tower, and they stopped in front of the portrait that was the secret entrance. The fat lady barely opened her eyes, yawning and looking annoyed. She didn't seem to see Hermione standing there as well. "Don't you know girl, you aren't supposed to be out of bed this late at night."
Hermione smiled up at the fat lady in spite of herself and said, "No need to worry over the students; I needed to speak to her about studies."
The fat lady glanced at Hermione and nodded. Ginny said the password and the portrait swung forward. She turned around and hugged Hermione, who hugged her back. "Will you go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" the younger witch asked.
Hermione nodded. "I think so."
Grinning as they parted ways, Ginny climbed through the entrance in the wall and Hermione turned her back on the portrait as it swung closed. As she walked away, she heard the fat lady mumble after her, "I remember when you were just a tiny girl, a student. Thinking you're something big because you've got the title 'Professor' is ridiculous, really . . ."
Hermione shook her head and made her way to the dungeons. Mrs. Norris came padding silently along a corridor and the caretaker was following her. Filch raised his lantern to look ahead of him and started to open his mouth and yell about students being out of bed, but Hermione shushed him by talking first. "Argus, it's just me."
He looked taken aback. "Who?"
Hermione stepped into the circle of light from the lantern and smiled at him kindly. Part of her felt terribly sorry for him, because he was a squib, but part of her also disliked him greatly because he'd never been kind to students and he didn't truly have their wellbeing as a priority. He just liked catching students in acts of disobedience, though why he enjoyed it she would never understand. "It's me. Hermione," she said.
He looked her up and down. "Oh." Then he narrowed his eyes. "You aren't someone polyjuiced to look like, uh . . . you?"
She was amused by his question, but kept a serious face. "No."
He still looked suspicious. "You're sure?"
Hermione smiled lightly. "Quite sure."
He grunted and moved on along the hall without another word. Hermione turned her back on him and didn't look back. She knew these halls and corridors well enough to walk through them with her eyes closed, so she didn't mind walking in the dark. She was to the staircase to the dungeon when she caught sight of a tall figure standing at the bottom, even darker than the shadows around her. Taking out her wand, she held it out in front of her and said, "Lumos," lighting her way as she went down the stairs. She was sure that it wasn't anyone to worry about, whoever was there. And she was right.
Severus blinked in annoyance when she came closer and the light from her wand started to hurt his eyes. She saw it was him and stopped the glowing spell, tucking her wand away in her robes again. They waited for their eyes to adjust to the dim corridor again before she turned and looked at him. "Severus," she said in greeting.
"Hermione."
"What are you doing?"
"I am standing here. What did you think I was doing?" he asked, and though she couldn't see his face well in the darkness, she knew he was smirking at her.
"That isn't what I meant," she answered. She smirked back at him through the darkness at his dry humor.
Now she was sure he was rolling his eyes at her.
"Were you . . . waiting for me?" she asked.
"Hmm, stating the obvious, are we?" he asked in return.
She smiled at him through the darkness and took his arm. They walked back to the teachers' lounge together and he walked her to her door. There was no one else in the lounge, and he pulled her into his arms. She hadn't had much time to be near him since she had left her rooms and gotten back to her regular life as a teacher, and it was the first time in weeks that he had embraced her. The way that he held her to him was desperate, wanting, as if he never wanted to let her go again. She buried her face in his chest, surprised by how forward and unafraid he was. Then again, the realized he'd been acting much less awkward and nervous since the incident in the Chamber of Secrets. It was as if he was afraid that any moment he had with her might be his last and as a result he didn't hold back in fear of showing his love anymore.
Hermione looked up into his face, biting her lip. He was holding her so close she could scarcely breathe. But she didn't mind in the least. He took one of his arms from around her, loosening his grip on her so she could breathe again. He brushed the hair out of her eyes and leaned down, pressing his lips against hers. She wondered what had gotten into him, why he was acting this way. That look was in his eyes again, but she still failed to understand. He pulled her in once more and set his chin on the top of her head, and she pressed her face into his chest again.
How long they stood there that way, neither knew, but it was as if they were in some timeless world all their own when they were together. At last, Severus felt Hermione sigh and feared that she would fall asleep in his arms. Not that he would mind, but she shouldn't be so tired that she was falling asleep on him. He let her go, placing a soft kiss on her temple and stepping back. He watched her turn and enter her rooms, closing the door behind her. Then he walked to his own door, staring for a few moments at the doe carved into it before he entered.
Neither of them had looked at the carving on Hermione's door, though if they had, both would have been quite surprised.
Hermione changed into her pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed with Crookshanks sitting beside her. His tail twitched and he looked restless. Wondering if he had perhaps become tired of prowling her rooms with nothing to do, she snatched her wand from the bedside table and looked down at him, an idea forming in her mind. "Want someone to play with?" she asked the cat, who looked back, his green eyes staring at her steadily.
She pointed her wand and thought about Severus on his knees, crying and clinging to her hands as he admitted that he loved her. It was a bittersweet memory, yes, but it was happy as well as sad, and the happiness stored in it was enough for the spell she wanted. She held the image of the memory in her mind and whispered, "Expecto Patronum."
She nearly fell off of her bed in surprise at the silver animal that burst out of wand rather than her otter. Crookshanks didn't seem half as surprised as she was, though. He jumped off of the bed and chased the animal around the room, and they frolicked together, one of them physical and furry and orange, the other wispy and misty and silver.
Hermione turned around and watched them as they moved around the room, and when they entered the study and went out of sight she rose from her bed and walked around the frame that separated her bedroom from where they'd gone so she could see them. She stared, wide-eyed. The two animals continued to frolic and play, bounding around together. Crookshanks seemed most pleased with his new friend. Hermione continued to stare. She watched them until Crookshanks was tired from running and jumping around, and he jumped on the back of the couch and curled up there, watching his silver friend as it stopped in the middle of the room and turned to look at Hermione.
They stared at each other, Hermione and her patronus, for a few seconds. Then it moved, bounding towards her suddenly.
"Severus," she whispered as her silver doe leapt over her head and vanished, dissipating into nothingness.
I hope you enjoyed reading this one. I definitely had some fun writing it. I know it's short, but I'm going to start working on the next right away, and I might even have it up later today! Maybe. This was kind of just a shorter one because the next one will be longer and have some rather nice surprises in it. Hopefully you will enjoy that one as well!
Note: Some of you have made comments about Severus and how I've described him from Hermione's point of view (she is surprised at how he is in rather good shape for being nearly 40). I would like to clear up that this story is based completely off of the books, not the movies. While Alan Rickman portrayed Severus Snape very well in the films, he was in his 60's when they finished filming the last one. The Severus in the books and in this story is only in his 30's, so he doesn't look quite as old as the Severus in the movies. Also, JK Rowling described him as being taller and thin, extremely pale, and with greasy hair. In the movies, Alan Rickman was tall, but he wasn't as thin as I picture the Severus in the books being. The Severus in my story is also paler than the movie Severus, and he actually has- or had, before his love for Hermione- greasy hair. JK Rowling also wrote the later books (after Alan Rickman had been cast as Severus) with Alan's voice as Severus' in her mind. While I do think that Alan's voice and his way of speaking with pauses and in a monotone are what the Severus in the books would have sounded like, I think that their appearances would differ a bit.
Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me so far and I can hardly wait to get some of the coming chapters on here because I'm sure you'll love them! I have some interesting things planned for Severus' and Hermione's future! Please review if you have a moment! All my love! ~Taelr