So I just transferred all of my stories onto my brand new Darth Vader flash drive, I am so happy right now.
Hermione sat in the library the next morning, hidden in her usual spot as she appeared to read a book about the basics of mind magic, something easily found in the library or a bookshop. In truth the title was charmed on to disguise a much more advanced and slightly dark book on legilimency with a copyright from the nineteen eighties. She believed it would help her with her lessons with Severus but all it did was stress her out as she imagined being the victim of some painful invasion. It all sounded so much worse than when Severus did it. Severus cared if he injured her or not and Hermione was prepared, few others would give her those luxuries.
She had been studying all night and caught only a few hours of sleep before waking early this morning to continue her studies. The stress and weariness must have been clear on her face when Professor McGonagall walked by. "Miss Jean," she called startling the younger witch. "Miss Jean have you slept at all last night?"
"Yes," Hermione said unconvincingly with a yawn.
The Professor gave her pupil a sympathetic look and came to sit next to her. "I don't like the situation you've been put in…"
"I chose to do this," Hermione protested.
"I know but listen to what I have to say, no interruptions." She paused for Hermione's nod of understanding. "You have been through so much these past few months; I can't even begin to imagine what you were going through before. You are far too young to have this amount of stress placed on you. Your shoulders are not strong enough to carry this burden alone and you don't have to. I won't try to convince you to hide in a safe house but I will ask you to promise me this, don't allow this to consume your every thought. Take the time to relax and be a normal teen before you are thrown into the thick of things."
"But I am not normal," Hermione interrupted, "and I can't pretend either. Normal teens complain about their parents, fight with their siblings, or spend time with friends. I have no family, few friends, and the only thing I have in common with the other students is homework which I am fairly sure is not considered relaxing."
"But if you don't take the time to relax you will become overwhelmed with stress. You need to be strong for the coming challenges and stress will only weaken you. Besides I heard you say few friends, not none. Why can't you be with them?"
"Remus is gone and rarely available while he is here due to his choice of friends. And Severus… well I'm sure you see the problems there."
"Your time with Mr. Snape does not need to be limited to training sessions. Come, you need a break in your routine," the elder witch said as she stood up.
"Where to?"
"The village, dress warmly and meet me by the front entrance in fifteen minutes. We are going Christmas shopping."
XXXXXXX
Fifteen minutes later found Hermione wrapped up warmly in her winter robes by the front entrance watching her Transfiguration professor's approach.
"Professor, am I allowed to even go to Hogsmeade? There's no trip scheduled, besides I have no money or anyone to shop for, I spent what spending money I had on my dress."
"Miss Jean, you are eighteen and are being accompanied by myself. You have plenty of people to shop for and as for money, don't concern yourself about it. The school has funds for these situations."
"Professor I couldn't possible take money I don't need."
"I told you not to concern yourself," McGonagall insisted as she led the way through the snow to the carriage. It was a plain looking carriage made interesting by the skeletal horse with fiery red eyes that drew it.
"It is not right, that money is for people who need it, deserve it."
"My dear if anyone deserves the money it is you." That was the last thing said as they made themselves comfortable in the carriage. The ride was silent as Hermione gazed out the window and shivered in the crisp cold weather. As they entered the village McGonagall spoke again, "We'll go to the bookstore, Honeyduke's, and any other store you'd like to enter. We will also have lunch in the Three Broomsticks."
"Severus and I meet after lunch, he'll surely wonder where I am."
"No more talk relating to that subject, remember we are here to take your mind off of that. You can send a note to Mr. Snape when we return, you won't be too late unless you are extremely fond of shopping?"
Hermione shook her head, "No I don't think I am."
XXXXXXX
It was her second time-that she remembered-outside of the castle. The first had been on a Hogsmeade weekend and the place was filled with rambunctious students, now it was quiet and sleepy. Winter had covered the village with a new blanket of snow as if it were tucking the village into bed. The carriage stopped by the entrance and the two witches exited. As they headed to their first stop Hermione paused by the magnificent yet spooky creature that had brought them here. She raised a hand cautiously and the equine creature nuzzled against it sending shivers up her arm.
Hermione turned as she heard McGonagall mumble something that sounded like 'of course you can' but pretended to ignore it as she followed the woman into Honeyduke's. The trip was relatively quick as both witches bought some lemon drops for the Headmaster and Hermione bought fudge for herself and some candy for Lily and the marauders. Candy canes for Lily, James, and Sirius, chocolate for Remus, and some very cheap jelly rats for Pettigrew. She didn't want to buy anything for the last person but didn't want to stir the pot with the marauders any time soon. She would like the truce to last at least a few days into the new term. That was just about everyone on her short list of people in need of Christmas presents, only McGonagall and Severus were left. But she couldn't buy something for her teacher while she was there paying for everything. And for Severus? What on earth would he even like? She guessed a few of the extra candy canes could go to him but that did not seem like enough.
No, Severus was probably her closest friend maybe even closer than Remus but he didn't seem like the type that wanted a present. He'd find a way to make it look like charity or some way to make him owe her something. But not getting a present would make her feel like a horrible person and confirm Severus' low self-esteem. A bad present wouldn't help anything either. So she needed to find a really good, no great present for Severus Snape. Shit.
"You look like you are thinking about something very hard," Professor McGonagall commented.
"I am, what on Earth does one buy for a rude, anti-social, git of a Slytherin?"
McGonagall laughed, "I think Mr. Snape will be pleasantly surprised by anything you give him." The two went to the bookstore next where Hermione became lost in wonder. She found plenty she would love to buy when she had her own money but nothing that she could buy for Severus. She searched for what felt like forever but nothing seemed right.
"I give up!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Why are some people so difficult to shop for?"
"Now, don't think about it too hard. Come let's go to lunch and after we'll see if there is anything you can think of," McGonagall suggested. Hermione nodded and followed her professor out after the elder witch purchased a couple of books that Hermione didn't catch the titles of. The walk to the popular establishment was filled with pensive thoughts on Hermione's side and slight amusement on McGonagall's. The Three Broomsticks was filled with the village's lunch crowd but there were still tables for incoming patrons to occupy. McGonagall and Hermione found one by a window and claimed it. Soon after butter beer was ordered along with a couple of servings of fish and chips. "What kind of gift are you trying to get for Mr. Snape?"
"I'm not sure," Hermione admitted, "Something good but I don't know where to start. A potions book seems too obvious, like I put no effort into it and I can't get him anything related to the Dark Arts except a book. I can't think of anything else he likes."
"Really? You can't think of anything else? Have you done anything not related to those two subjects?"
"Homework and …" Hermione suddenly had a brilliant idea but she could never spend that much money.
"You look like you had something there," McGonagall urged.
"We went flying a couple of times, his broom is old but I can't afford to buy a new one and I won't ask you to."
McGonagall thought for a moment, as the drinks came she spoke her thoughts. "I won't pay for a new broom but I could give you a loan to buy one."
Hermione's smile was huge.
XXXXXXX
Severus had received a note at lunch from a school owl that said Hermione would not be able to attend training immediately after lunch and that he should wait for her. He was irritated by it, what made her think she could slack off? Only sickness was a good excuse but he couldn't think of anything that would allow her to come a little late.
Now he was pacing the room wondering where she was. He had started by meditating and practicing occlumency but after a while he just had to get up and move.
He had been in there for an hour when Hermione finally walked in. She was panting as if she had run up and shrugged of her snow dusted robes. "Sorry, McGonagall had me come with her to Hogsmeade to run some errands."
"Why would she do that?" Severus snapped.
"She thought it would help me relax, take my mind off of everything."
Severus snorted, "I didn't think she would be one to believe in 'shopping therapy,' not that your mind needs to be anywhere else anyway. You should stay concentrated."
"I realize this," Hermione defended, "but I also realize that there should be a balance." Honestly she was late once-granted it was only the second meeting-he could lay off. She was beginning to wonder if she should have just bought a potions book.
"We've wasted enough time," the Slytherin declared as he went to stand on the platform, "hurry up."
XXXXXXX
The next few days passed in a monotonous manner, reading in the mornings, training in the afternoons and evenings. Sometimes they would go late into the night before realizing the time and had to sneak back to their dorms. Occlumency exercising continued and occasionally Hermione would be allowed to try her luck at getting past Severus' shields and failed each time. No progress was made in retrieving Hermione's memories and Hermione was somehow able to hide her gift from him. Severus caught on that there was a gift but assumed that it would be a socially demanded card and maybe a piece of candy. Not wanting to be rude Severus was able to procure some chocolates for her and a generic card.
Christmas Eve was a festive event, somewhat. They had a feast, not quite as large as the one they would have tomorrow but still substantial. Mistletoe began to pop up but only a weak one caught anyone which resulted in Dumbledore giving McGonagall a peck on the cheek.
When Severus woke the next morning he expected to find the box and card from Hermione and nothing else. The first things he saw were a card and a couple of candy canes on his nightstand but a long wrapped object by his bed caught his attention. He picked it up and after checking for any spells-using gifts to deliver practical jokes was not unheard of-he began to tear of the green and gold wrapping paper. His efforts revealed an ebony black broom. It wasn't the fastest or the newest but his far more than he could ever afford. It was beautiful and quite frankly put his current broom to shame. If she were a Slytherin he would believe that she wanted something form him but he had seen her mind and knew she was genuine.
Severus quickly grabbed the card and read:
Merry Christmas! I hope you realize how difficult you are to shop for. Hope you enjoy it.
~Hermione
And all he bought her was whatever box of chocolates he could find.
XXXXXXX
Hermione looked outside one of the castle's large windows and saw a small black dot flying over the quidditch field. She had a suspicion that it was Severus enjoying his gift and she hoped she was right. She had been pleasantly surprised to find various small gifts from Lily and the marauders, a couple of books from Remus and McGonagall, and even a box of chocolates from Severus from whom she expected nothing. She like many in the castle slept through/skipped breakfast in anticipation of the large feast to come at dinner but after last night's dinner Hermione still wasn't sure that skipping even two meals would allow her to be hungry enough for tonight. She was seriously thinking about skipping lunch even as she walked down only to be distracted by the sight of the flyer that she watched now.
Suddenly the flyer made to land and Hermione resumed her trek down to the Great Hall.
Severus was indeed the spot outside. He was at a loss at what to do after receiving such a gift and decided to test it out before facing Hermione when he would have to say thanks and apologize for his pathetic gift. The candy canes would have been enough, Lily had never gotten anything more than that for him and his parents, well… gifts cost money that his father didn't have to spend on them even if he had wanted to.
The broom was fantastic and Severus was performing maneuvers that he never could on his old broom. The ride was smooth, the turns tight, and his speed tripled.
But now it was time for lunch and he would be expected to be there and have to face Hermione. He felt bad, it was an odd and unique feeling that he had never experienced before, he felt bad for not buying a satisfactory gift. He put his new broom by his old one and placed anti-theft/tampering wards before heading to the Great Hall.
It was much warmer inside than out so he shed his ratty winter robes as he headed towards the small of food. Lunch was small today and people were comparing their gifts. Everyone including the Slytherins gathered together at their tables, everyone except Hermione. She was already there, sitting by herself when Severus entered. She looked up at him and gave him a beaming smile that he didn't deserve, did she expect more? Surely not, she was too intelligent to think that he would go to great lengths for a present. Severus returned her smile with a small one of his own before sitting down to his meal. He ate quickly and left intending to go flying some more. He was half way to the exit when Hermione caught up to him.
"Severus!" He turned to see her come by his side. "Merry Christmas Severus, did you like your gift? I wasn't sure what you would want…"
"I like my gift very much," Severus said hesitantly, "thank you. I was about to go out flying again."
"Oh well then I'll leave you to it, and thank you for the chocolates."
"Wait," Severus said, stopping her before she got too far, "Come fly with me, it's the least I could especially after my rather lackluster gift."
"Nonsense, I loved it but if you insist I'll come fly with you."
The two teens went outside after Hermione accioed her winter robes and entered the broom shed. Severus undid his wards and gingerly picked up his new broom as Hermione reached for one of the guest brooms. Her hand was stopped by Severus' voice, "What are you doing?"
"We are going flying aren't we?"
"Yes but you are coming with me this time," Severus explained before exiting the shed. Outside he held out the broom for Hermione to mount before he climbed on behind her and began his ascent. Hours passed as Severus showed off causing Hermione a couple of near heart attacks. She would have been furious at him had he not been so happy, he even laughed a few times. She had never heard him laugh before, chuckle once yes and even some fake laughs but this real and genuine. While his laughter may be at her expense she savored it realizing he may not laugh again for a very long time. She did, however, slap him very hard when pulled a wronsky feint. It was short and not very steep but still slap worthy.
They only came in when they had to for the Christmas feast. There was one table for everyone to sit at and the two seventh years sat down next to each other in the last two seats. After Dumbledore's speech a vast array of food appeared and everyone ate until they risked becoming ill. Everything went off without a hitch until afterwards. Hermione and Severus left the Great Hall talking about some potion or other when Hermione froze still.
"Something wrong?" Severus asked, looking up and down the hall to see nothing and no one.
Hermione pointed upwards and Severus' eyes followed the finger up. "I thought those things were restricted to the Great Hall." Hermione said as she glared at the offending piece of mistletoe.
The two looked down from the enchanted piece of decoration and looked at each other. A fierce blush overcame Hermione's face and Severus fought to keep one from appearing on his own. Before he could say anything Hermione got onto her tiptoes and gave Severus a quick kiss. The mistletoe disappeared and both teens said their goodnights and left for their dorms.
XXXXXXX
The kiss was never spoken of and the two returned to their routine of reading and training. It was three days after Christmas when the two were going at it on the dueling platform. They were becoming more aggressive in their duels, at this point every spell was either dodged or blocked. The duel was going very well and Severus was pleased with her progress until the inevitable happened. They had both been injured before during their duels, it was only expected hence the medical corner in the room but this time was different. This time Hermione was hit hard in the ribs by a piece of debris from a blasting hex. It knocked the wind out of her and threw her down to the ground where she hit her head. When Severus rushed to her side to check her injuries she was unconscious. She was still unconscious as Severus carried her to the infirmary.
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