I KNOW I'M LATE! I'M SO SORRY! I've just been super busy!

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I hope this chapter will suffice :)

As the days passed, Severus' chambers became more and more decorated, making it look as if Christmas itself had blown up in his living courters. Severus would never admit how much he despised the thought of Christmas because it made Hermione extremely happy, happier than he could ever remember seeing her. Every time her eyes drifted across the decorations she had put up, she was radiant. He was even willing to put up with the singing Christmas ornaments for her, and that was saying a lot.

One night she came out of their bedroom with what looked like a pile of yarn.

"What are you doing with that?" he asked with a sigh, pulling his glasses from his face.

"I was going to go to the kitchens to give the elves them for Christmas," she said, eyeing him, waiting for his disapproval of the idea.

"Can't you do this tomorrow?"

"But I just finished the last one," she said with a slight pout.

Severus knew that he couldn't ignore that look.

"Very well, we'll go now," he mumbled.

"You're going too?" she asked, her eyes brimming with excitement that she was desperately trying to conceal.

"Well you didn't think I'd let you go walking around the school alone, did you?"

"No, I guess not,"

A few minutes later they were walking through the cold corridors silently. Each time they passed a suit of armor, it began to sing Christmas Carols, which highly amused Hermione. A sudden small white light darted at them, and Hermione's eyes grew wide.

"Oh, a Snow Fairy, aren't they beautiful?" she asked as the fairy sprinkled the air with glitter.

"All of this will be gone by tomorrow morning," Severus muttered while brushing some glitter from his black robes.

"Why?" Hermione asked looking as if someone had run over her cat.

"The Carrows do not like holidays, they feel it gives people hope, and that's the one thing they're trying to crush from everyone in this school,"

"Then why are the hallways decorated now?" Hermione asked, looking at the lights that danced on the ceiling above them.

He gave a small chuckle as they turned down another corridor.

"Minerva and her sneaky band of Gryffindors redecorate every night,"

"Every single night?" Hermione asked in awe.

"The Carrows will wake tomorrow and instantly sweep the school and destroy all of this, but at night, Minerva gathers the students in Gryffindor Tower and they go through each hallway and redecorate,"

"That is…wonderful," she said, with a glimmer of triumph in her eyes. "You know all of this yet you don't stop them?"

"Why should I? It's not against the rules, and it makes Minerva happy that she has not totally given up yet. The students look up to her, all of the Houses see her as the one last thing this school has. If she gives up, the school gives up,"

Hermione pulled to a stop and stared at him with so much emotion in her eyes that he had to look away.

"What?" he asked.

"I don't think I can even begin to tell you how amazing you are,"

Severus lowered his gaze to the floor, too embarrassed to look her in the face.

"I wish the rest of the world could see you how I do, like this. I'm just happy that I get to see it,"

Severus could feel his heart pounding in his chest and the sudden heat in his face.

"Can you imagine what it would be like if the entire school knew you hated the Carrows also?" Hermione said mischievously.

Severus risked a glance at her face, and she smiled gently at him before continuing their journey to the kitchen. Silently he fell into step beside her. She didn't seem to understand the force behind the words she had just spoken to him…and that he knew for a fact they were probably the nicest thing anyone had ever said to him before. They didn't speak another word the entire way to the kitchen. When they stepped through the door, all of the elves instantly saw Severus and froze what they were doing.

"Mistress Hermione!" came Dobby's squeaky voice.

"Hello Dobby, how are you?" she asked happily.

"Very well Mistress, very well," Dobby said with a bow.

"That's good, well, I brought you all Christmas gifts," Hermione said kneeling and separating the piles of small clothes on the floor.

Dobby instantly began clapping his hands and sorting through the piles. The rest of the elves stood still with wide eyes.

"Come on, they're all for you,"

Severus realized that they were all looking to him for approval, and he gave them a single nod. Instantly the elves swarmed the piles and Hermione watched them with a smile on her face. Soon, the elves were running around with socks on their ears while some traded clothes with the others.

"They're wearing socks on their ears," Severus mumbled to her quietly.

"Yes, but they're happy,"

A few minutes later, Severus and Hermione were seated at a table, watching the small creatures dance around in circles, singing happy songs. Hermione clapped along with them and cheered them on. Severus surveyed the scene, noticing the warmth that seemed to fill the room and consume everything in it.

Eventually the clock struck midnight, and Severus noticed Hermione yawning frequently.

"We should go now," he said.

Hermione nodded and stood from her seat, stretching her arms above her head. The elves immediately rushed at her, handing her cookies and other goodies.

"Thank you," she said with a smile before slipping out of the kitchen with Severus.

Silently he studied her as they made their way back to dungeons. Twirling, humming, and singing to her heart's content. That night he watched her sleep soundly, a small smile playing on her lips.

The days slipped by slowly, lazily for the two, but relatively happy. Severus forced himself to appear happy, for her sake, but he was anything but. He spent most of his time talking to Dumbledore's portrait.

"Harry will be at Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve, you know what you must do,"

"There has to be another way," Severus said for the hundredth time.

"There is no other way,"

The more excited Hermione became over Christmas, the more turmoil Severus was feeling. Nothing seemed to bother her, and he was glad that she would be allowed a few more days of peace.

On Christmas Eve, Severus sent Hermione to Minerva's office for the entire day. He couldn't stand the thought of looking at her the entire day. As night fell, Severus found Hermione's beaded bag and packed up all of her belongings before placing the bag beside her travel cloak. Then, Severus sent his Patronus to Minerva, ordering Hermione back to the room. He pulled on his travel cloak and stared at the clock for a few minutes, until the door opened. The instant she entered the room, he turned his eyes away.

"Put your travel cloak on and take your bag," he said.

"Where are we going?"'

"I can't tell you,"

Hermione quickly did as he asked and was ready beside the door.

"Oh! I almost forgot," she said darting to the bookcase and grabbing a package wrapped with green Christmas tree paper.

His eyes automatically followed her movements as she placed it beneath the tree.

"Ok, I'm ready," she said cheerily.

When she reached his side, he immediately took her hand and Apparated to Godric's Hollow. Severus didn't even wait a moment before he was pulling her down the street, through the lightly falling snow.

"Isn't it gorgeous here?" Hermione sighed, holding his hand lightly with a smile on her face.

All Severus could think about was the last time he was here. Never would this place hold a happy memory for him. This place would always be the place where he lost the two most important women in his life.

Due to the fact Severus had walked through this graveyard more times than he'd care to admit, he had no trouble finding the place where Potter would be. He pulled Hermione behind a small building a few feet away from the tombstone he'd stared at for hours each time he came.

"Severus, what are we doing here?" Hermione asked.

"Just wait,"

The minutes ticked by, and Severus' eyes kept straining to the woman beside him, causing him to think how beautiful she looked with flakes of snow in her hair. Finally, he heard something, and he peered around the building finding two figures standing in the spot he usually occupied. Severus took her hand and pulled her out into the open, and he knew she was curious about the two figures.

"Go and look,"

Hermione studied him for a few moments before slowing releasing his hand and heading warily towards the two figures. Severus watched quietly as he heard words spoken, a cry come from her lips, and the single embrace of the Golden Trio. Severus approached the scene soon after. Wonder Boy was telling Hermione all that had been going on in their lives, but came to a stop upon seeing Severus.

"You brought him?" Potter snapped.

"Severus brought me here tonight," Hermione said offering him a heart-stopping smile.

Potter studied the man for a moment before turning his eyes back to his best friend.

"Hermione, we haven't gotten anything new in months, we need you," he begged.

Severus felt his heart jump into his throat as his hands suddenly went cold.

"Harry, I can't just pick up and leave. I'd be breaking dozens of promises I've made to people,"

"Hermione, if you don't come with us and help us, I'm afraid that we're going to lose this war,"

"I can't, Harry, it's-"

"Go with them," Severus choked out.

"What!" the three cried at the same time.

"They need you," Severus said, looking at Hermione only.

"But so do you!"

"Their need is much greater than my own,"

"What about his threats?" she pushed.

"I've already informed him of the fact that you will be absent for an extended period of time, he is well aware,"

A silence fell over the four, and Severus could never remember his heart ever beating as fast as it was in that single moment.

"Harry, Ron, can I please have a moment alone?" Hermione spit out from between her teeth while keeping her eyes trained solely on Severus.

"Sure," Potter replied after a moment of hesitation.

Hermione watched as they moved far enough away before turning her burning gaze on Severus.

"Why?" she snapped. "Why are you shoving me away?"

"The Dark Lord already said that he is going to kill you if you do not procure more information for him to use,"

"So you're just going to throw me out?"

"I'm trying to save your life," he hissed.

"And what about your own life?"

"That is of little importance,"

"I beg to differ!" she cried taking a large step towards him. "Severus, you don't have to do this, we can get more information a different way,"

"Don't make this harder than it has to be," he muttered lowering his gaze so his hair shielded his eyes.

"I'm not making this harder; I just want to know why!"

After a moment of silence, he heard her sudden intake of breath.

"How long have you been planning this?" she asked.

"A while," he said in a defeated tone.

"Couldn't you have said something to me? Anything?"

"And have you do what?" he asked, raising his fiery eyes to hers. "Try and talk me out of it? Find another way? No, this needs to happen,"

"No it doesn't! I can't just-just leave you! I…I can't do that,"

"You'll be back with your friends, you'll be happy,"

"I'm happy where I am right now,"

Severus stared into her eyes, watching them tear up in seconds before those tears were slowing streaming down her face.

"I don't want to go," she choked out.

In an instant he pulled her into his arms, allowing her to sob violently for a few moments. Each ragged breath, and each sniffle tore Severus to pieces. She was going to hate him forever after this, he knew, and he knew that this would be the last chance for him to say goodbye to her.

"This shouldn't be happening, not today of all days. And tomorrow is our anniversary!" Hermione whispered into his chest.

"I know," he whispered, pulling her tight the moment the word 'anniversary' passed her lips.

One year ago Hermione was still in school, barely a woman, and so totally innocent. Severus immediately thought about the hallway at Grimmauld Place where they had shared their first kiss…before he disappeared for months. The same thing would he happening again.

Hermione lifted her head, staring at him with a tear streaked face. Instinctively his fingers wiped away the moisture as he studied her fierce eyes. Severus never desired something so much than he did in that single moment in time.

Without hesitation, he passionately claimed her lips with his own. Hermione instantly wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer to her as his arms possessively claimed her waist. Neither cared that her friends were still within seeing distance, all they cared about was the fact that this may be the last time they saw each other alive.

Severus pulled her so tightly against his own body that her feet were no longer touching the snowy terrain. Hermione eagerly battled his own lips for dominance, but he easily won. Their lips spread, as they intimately explored each other's mouths in the middle of the graveyard.

Severus was sure that his heart was going to explode in his chest as he claimed her as his own. He never knew he could feel this way for another human being. At this moment, Severus allowed himself to admit that he had never even felt this way about Lily.

Hermione was the sole reason he got out of bed in the morning, the one reason he still kept up his façade. She meant more to him than anyone in his life, and here he was, saying goodbye and practically handing her away.

Severus broke away, but Hermione wasn't ready to let go. She eagerly kissed him back with a mumbled 'Don't stop', and Severus was ready to comply with her wish. He pulled her as close as their bodies would allow, both gasping for breath and clinging to each other for dear life. Eventually they were forced apart to breathe, but neither released the other. Severus lowered her feet back to the ground, but Hermione wouldn't release him from her grip.

"Hermione," Severus breathed against her cheek.

He felt her arms tighten around his neck and Severus brushed his lips across her cheek.

"You have to go,"

Her arms loosened from around his neck, and her hands found their way to his travel cloak, where they immediately locked on. Severus peered into her face, though she wouldn't meet his eyes. With a sigh he felt her hands fall from his body. Without thinking, Severus took her face in his hands and pressed his lips gently to hers. When he pulled away, he brushed her tears away.

"Everything is going to be fine," he murmured quietly.

Hermione stared into his eyes and gave him a gentle nod. Severus took a step away from her, bringing them back to reality. Time seemed to stop at that moment as silence filled the air. The pair looked at one another; the flakes fell silently around them as their breath turned to mist before their eyes.

Severus knew that there was only one more thing to do. Keeping his face hard, and his feeling suppressed deeply in his body, he turned on the spot, throwing up snow in the process. The last thing he heard was the heart wrenching sob before he was pulled through space.

When Severus reappeared in his living room, he made no move to catch himself before falling to the cold ground. He felt like all of the energy he had had left his body. The thought of not moving from the ground ever again was a very appealing one. Severus forced breath into his body, feeling like his lungs were collapsing on themselves.

What had he done? He just placed her in the care of the two most sought after wizards of all time. Where was the logic in that? He needed to do it, for her sake. Now, Severus would tell the Dark Lord that Hermione was officially in the process of retrieving more information for his cause and would be absent for a while.

Severus rolled over onto his back to stare at the gloomy ceiling. He couldn't remember feeling this bad…ever. For once Severus wished he was a selfish person. Instead, he just handed her off to her friends because they needed her more than he.

His eyes strayed to the Christmas tree stuffed in the corner of the room. She had spent hours decorating that stupid tree, but she was incredibly happy while doing so. Suddenly he found the package she had placed there before they left. It seemed so long ago. Pulling himself up, he walked to the tree and gingerly picked the cheery object up. A gingerbread man sticker indicated that the package was for him. Taking a seat on the sofa, he placed the object in his lap and simply stared at the paper which seemed to be mocking him. Should he open it? Should he just leave it? Ignore it like it was never there? The minutes ticked by and finally Severus turned the package over and began tearing the paper away.

He held in his hand a metal frame and upon closer inspection he found that behind the glass was their marriage license. On the frame, their names were engraved along with the date of their marriage. A piece of white paper fluttered from the frame, and Severus picked it up and immediately recognized her handwriting.

I found this in your desk and thought I'd give it a proper showcase. Merry Christmas.

Severus tossed everything aside and darted to his liquor cabinet, digging out the strongest stuff he owned. Without missing a beat, he filled and swallowed two glasses. A few minutes later he was in the bathroom, retching violently.

The liquor upset his stomach, but Severus was sure he was just being sick from his own deplorable behavior. He loathed his very existence, more so than he ever had before. Severus made his way, weakly, back to the living room, grabbing the bottle on his way back to the couch. Propping up their marriage certificate, Severus drank the hours away, never looking at anything but their signatures scrawled at the bottom of the paper.

Severus recalled the fight he had with Dumbledore that night about his insane plan. One, he was absolutely NOT going to marry his own STUDENT, let alone send her to Dark Lord. But, he lost, like he always did. He remembered glaring at the girl who wouldn't settle her eyes on his face for anything in the world. Severus recalled that even though he was beyond furious, he was impressed with the way she was handling the situation. Regardless, he was adamant that she was far too young to be taking on such responsibilities, especially for Potter.

Without knowing it, Severus warmed up to the situation. She wasn't difficult to deal with or live with. He even started to enjoy her company. Severus would readily tell anyone that he was happy with their situation. He was happy with her. Granted she was stubborn and a bloody Gryffindor, but those facts faded into the background of their lives.

Stretched out across the couch, eyes locked on the most important paper in his life, and a bottle resting on the floor beside the couch, with teary eyes Severus finally allowed himself to think the very words he had forced from his own mind.

He, Severus Snape, was in love with Hermione Granger.

No.

He, Severus Snape, was in love with his wife, Hermione Snape.