Author's Notes: Yes well...since it's been FOREVER I'll wait until the end to put any notes and let you read first...
Disclaimer: You know the drill, I don't own it.
Chapter Thirty
Hermione heard footsteps in the infirmary and knew someone was heading her way. She sighed in relief as the curtain pulled back and Severus poked his head through.
"Thank goodness you're here!" she exclaimed.
"That eager for my presence?" he asked, an amused smirk gracing his lips.
"It's Christmas morning and I'm bored! No one is supposed to be bored on Christmas unless it's because they're waiting for dinner to cook!" she replied, crossing her arms with a huff.
"Well, then you should be pleased that I have already been given the all clear from Poppy to retrieve you and escort you to breakfast." He told her. "As long as you take it easy today of course."
"Shower first." She said quickly. "I'll be quick I promise." She made to head to the infirmary shower room before she heard him clearing his throat.
"There is a staff bathroom just down the hall." He pointed out.
"I knew that." Hermione said defensively, snatching her cloak from his hands and making her way out of the infirmary. She paused outside the bathroom door and turned to face him sheepishly. "Come with me?"
"You've been released from the infirmary and we are expected at breakfast." He replied flatly.
"That didn't sound like a no to me." The young witch grinned, before grabbing his hand and tugging him into the bathroom after her.
"That is a very bad idea." He told her, as she pulled off her cloak and then began to undo his.
"That still wasn't a no, Severus." She pointed out.
"Perhaps we could revisit that idea at a later date." He hedged. "As intriguing as the idea is, Poppy will undoubtedly skin us both alive if you do not make it to breakfast."
Ignoring his protests he soon found the young witches lips assaulting his own in the most enticing manor. He had never felt better in his life than when he woke up this morning. Physically he was in better health than he had been for years and was full of energy, mentally he was finally something akin to happy. He didn't want to jinx it of course, it was still far too early to be losing his head completely.
This young woman had bewitched him, she may as well have cast a bombarda on him with the way she had flung herself forcefully into his life, pushing her caring on him until he had no choice but to notice it and notice her. He wasn't naïve, he had had very little affection in his years and her genuine consideration for him had won him over very quickly. He had given up on pushing her away now, he couldn't deny that he loved her…not now.
Instead he allowed her to undress him, then proceeded to worship her skin as they stepped into the showers.
"I trust you're feeling better?" he asked as she ground her hips against him.
"Never felt better." She gasped out as his hands reached for her hips and lifted her against the wall, bringing them into a much more intimate position. He entered her swiftly, they wasted no time in bucking and writhing together until their pace grew erratic and one after they groaned their release.
"Ah, Severus, Hermione; how nice of you to join us for breakfast." Minerva greeted them as they entered the hall. "We were waiting for you to start."
"I'm very sorry Minerva but I really wanted a shower before breakfast and since I didn't know I was released until Severus came to get me a moment ago I was naturally going to be late." She smiled at the older witch. "Of course Severus didn't dare turn up to breakfast without me since Poppy released me on the condition that I had a decent breakfast and I think he may be slightly scared of her you know. Merry Christmas everyone!" She didn't bother to look back at the dark wizard who was undoubtedly scowling behind her.
Hermione made her way over to the head table, smiling brightly at the decorations on the way. They made her feel happier than they did the last time she saw them for some reason...probably because she felt happier in herself this morning. In fact she felt better than she had in years.
"Merry Christmas dear, I do hope you're feeling better." Minerva replied, as she stood and hugged the younger witch, narrowing her eyes at the dark wizard next to her as she released her. "Come on Severus; don't make me petrify you to hug you." She chided leaning over and hugging the uncomfortable looking wizard. Hermione laughed at his face and greeted the other staff, hugging Poppy and thanking her for helping last night.
"You can leave me be to eat my breakfast now." Severus told the headmistress. To his horror Minerva's gaze was fixed on his neck, where his scar no longer was.
"I do believe Severus young man, that we are overdue a chat." She told him. "I believe you and your apprentice have been keeping a great deal from me."
"As soon as she receives her Master's certificate, she will no longer be my apprentice, so I hardly think the title is necessary." He replied evasively.
"Don't play coy with me." Minerva retorted. "You and Hermione have been dancing around each other all year and now miraculously she appears in the castle overnight and you both look as if you've drank a vial of phoenix tears."
Hermione made her way back to them as they all took their seats. The staff that were in the castle had all waited for her to start breakfast so that they could celebrate Christmas together. The students had been allowed breakfast in their common rooms so that they could open their presents around their trees.
The post arrived as usual and Hermione was greeted with a larger pile than she normally received. Letters and cards from her former classmates, members of the Order and auror's alike. She opened Molly's letter nervously, she had just ran out on Christmas with them with no more than a few shouted words at a half asleep Ginny.
'Hermione
Ginny told me where you went; the boys were quite worried, I hope this means you've made a choice. I wish you great happiness for Christmas Day and please know that yours and Severus' invitation to spend Christmas with us is still open as always. Merry Christmas dear.'
"Problem?" Severus asked, noticing her sigh of relief.
"Well...I sort of left in a hurry last night and didn't really explain anything further than that I was going to Hogwarts..." she admitted sheepishly. "But Molly isn't mad; she wants us to know that we're both still welcome to join them at any time."
"Feel free." He snorted in disgust at the notion of spending Christmas day surrounded by Weasley's.
"I won't be going today. I'll owl her later and tell her that I'll stop by tomorrow." Hermione replied.
"You're sure you want to miss Christmas with your companions?" he asked, as usual his voice gave nothing away but Hermione wasn't fooled anymore. Severus Snape didn't ask a question that he didn't want an answer to.
"I told you that I was sure. I'm spending Christmas with you; you aren't getting rid of me Severus, so just give up the act right now." She told him firmly, not even taking notice of the other staff at the table that had overheard them.
"Here, here!" Filius cheered. "Minerva looks like you win the pot!"
"Excuse me?!" Severus asked in horror, glaring at the headmistress.
"You see we had a running bet going as to whether you two were interested in each other and whether Hermione would be Gryffindor enough to win you over or whether you'd mess it all up and send the poor dear away." Minerva explained smugly. "Of course, you did send her away but despite learning a few Slytherin traits from you, she is still a Gryffindor. I knew she'd be stubborn enough to make you give in in the end."
"How long have there been bets going on?" Hermione asked, her face heating up in embarrassment.
"Since Professor Gilwing left us rather suddenly." Poppy chuckled. "Anyone could see Severus hated the man."
"That opinion was formed within moments of meeting him I assure you and nothing to do with Miss Granger's relationship to him." Severus barked. "Now, if we're quite done with breakfast, I think I've had about all the Christmas cheer I can stomach." With that he stood to leave.
"Good luck dear." Filius told her consolingly.
"Oh I'm pretty used to it by now." She shrugged. "He's always worse when he's on the spot or uncomfortable. He'll be fine later."
"Hermione my dear, I can't believe you didn't tell me sooner." Minerva chided softly. "I'm so happy for you both."
"It wasn't so much keeping it a secret, it just wasn't something I was ever sure was going to happen." She sort of shrugged. Her next words were quieter to make sure that the older witch was the only one listening. "I really had no plans to fall in love with him you know, never have I done a more idiotic thing in my life." Minerva chuckled slightly while she privately mused that she had also never been so grateful to have been an idiot. They didn't need to know all the mushy details, Severus wouldn't appreciate her romanticising the whole thing in front of everyone.
"I hope you don't even think of leaving breakfast to follow him just yet dear, I want to see that food gone before you leave this hall." Poppy spoke up, having noticed her far off gaze and gesturing with a fork to Hermione's breakfast. "So, now what are we going to find to gamble and gossip about?"
"Oh I don't know…they haven't gotten married yet, there's children to think about…" Rolanda replied with a small smile.
"I wouldn't hold your breath on either of those happening that soon. You might want to pick something more immediate to bet over." Hermione snorted. "There'll be a nice new apprentice every year you know, I'm sure that will bring you some more entertainment."
"Yes, and you can get in on the betting for those!" Rolanda piped up cheerily.
"I think I shall leave that to you more experienced gamblers." Hermione replied before looking at her finished breakfast. "I think I shall retreat back to the dungeons now." The table erupted in laughter again.
"Oh Minerva, Severus truly has ruined her for the rest of us now!" Rolanda snorted.
"No…I'm afraid Hermione has always been rather moral." The headmistress replied, watching one of her favourite Gryffindor's make a hasty departure from the table. "Just a little less inclined to go to the dungeons."
Author's Notes: So again, I'm sorry it's taken so long and this is obviously a bit of a filler chapter, not as exciting I know but I have a couple of ideas on where it's going now…not many more chapters left before the end though I don't think. I'm not promising regular updates because I'm basically just working on ALL of my unfinished stories and writing whichever one I'm in the mood for as I go.
Huge thanks go to my beta JenJenSon for getting this back to me at about 1AM (when I was asleep) almost straight after I sent it to her!