Just to make it up for those of you, who rather skipped the last chapter :-)
Only 3 more chapters to go...
And also I apologise to anyone feeling offended by my try to transliterate a French accent.
18 Sanctuary skills
05/05/2000
"Severus," she shouted up the stairs, "I'm off now, I'm too late already. Laters!" At that she heard the addressed man walking fast the corridor upstairs into her direction and she smilingly waited for him to arrive.
"Uh, not gone, yet," he stated on coming to a halt right in front of her.
"Impressive deduction, Sherlock," she teased and continued with a raised eyebrow, "I gather that we owe the slip of you stating the very obvious to your mental preparation for the house full of Gryffindors you're privileged to enjoy today?" she asked with a bright grin, while she was fumbling with his button tab.
"Impudent woman," he said with feigned outrage.
"There! Again. Merlin, maybe it's me? Maybe I'm rubbing off on you," she countered but didn't manage to keep her face straight and fell forward against Severus' chest. "I can't have that, you know that, don't you? I adore the Slytherin in you," she added in a chuckle. "We should better spend some time apart to make sure you can reunite with your inner Slytherin."
"I was allured down here by the illusion that you had seen to that already," he said with feigned disappointment.
"How Slytherin of me," she teased, while peeking up at him under long lashes. "Now I'm very uncertain if our five hour separation will suffice to make-up the damage done," Hermione added thoughtfully with widened eyes and a very challenging look.
It took Severus some effort not to drag her upstairs and back to bed. And to lift that irritating glamour. He was so used to her real face in private that it felt simply wrong to see her like this, as if she had the need to hide herself from him.
"I'm willing to take that risk," he answered velvety.
In this moment Hermione couldn't resist any longer. Grabbing his button tap she got on tiptoes and kissed him impulsively, which Severus returned with the same devotion, his hands entwined in her no longer tamed hair.
.o.O.o.
All those voices! From outside it was impossible to believe that they were able to understand each other at all. They sounded like a human beehive. The only two non-redheads sat in something like companionable silence on a blanket in a 20m distance from the kitchen window of the Burrow and simply listened. Well, it was actually impossible not to listen. Hermione didn't know how the French woman had felt about her before Severus had intervened. She still did not know what he had actually done, a serious sermon very likely, but whatever it was, it had not only vindicated her, but also mysteriously added to his credit, since he had also been invited to the spring feast at the Burrow today – kindly so. Fleur's greeting had been French, thus physical and hard to judge in terms of feelings.
"How is your sister doing," Hermione asked in order to get an idea of the other woman's attitude towards her.
"Oh, she eez fine, 'ermione, she likes eet een Beauxbaton and eez een love for ze first time viz one of her classmates who apparently eez ze best-looking man ze vorld haz ever zeen," Fleur answered smilingly. "I sometimes vish, I could be 15 again and enjoy love in peaceful times. Zat must be vonderful. No ozer vorries zan homevork and a boy," she added.
"Man," Hermione corrected and the two women chuckled at that. "I totally agree with you. But then we wouldn't be who we are now: Two 20-something-year olds sounding like 60-year olds- at the least," she tried to lighten the mood again.
"'Ermione-, I'm very happy zat you are back again," she said honestly.
Hermione thought about how to answer to that, but then decided that keeping her mouth shut in school to keep quietude was enough.
"I had neither left nor had anything else been my decision," Hermione answered matter-of-factly.
Fleur turned to look at her.
"I know zat. But I don't agree viz ze last part. You made ze final decision- and I'm very happy zat it made you come back."
This came unexpected and took Hermione completely by surprise, as there was more thinking involved than she had expected Fleur to waste on it.
"Thank you, it means a lot to me."
Hermione and Harry, Ginny, Bill, Charlie, George and Arthur were, as far as possible, back to their old closeness, which was especially heartwarming with regard to George and Hermione could not be more thankful for this. Molly and Ron, however, were still reserved, although pretending not to be. However, their acting skills were kind of lacking. Whatever the reason was for Fleur, but for Hermione they both were the real reason to sit outside now and not so much the noise the bunch of them produced or the memories. This had never been her home and she was very sensitive to feeling undesired. Thus, the decision to stay out of their way while the family reunited.
"Vhat do you zink, shall ve arrange ze bows to ze chairs and arrange ze table decorations?" Fleur asked and gestured towards the pavilion, which had been placed close to the field-line.
Hermione questioningly lifted an eyebrow. "Ahem, bows? Really? That doesn't strike me very- Molly."
Fleur laughed at that. "Zhat's her interpretation of French spring decorations," she quietly explained.
Their wands ready they both walked laughingly to the pavilion to get to work and make Molly's French spring dream come true.
Shortly before the first "real" guests arrived, they had managed to finish it all. Thanks to the trust of the Weasley matriarch in her daughter-in-law's sense of decoration and Fleur's taste combined with the charming mentioning of some minor ideas on decoration items in general, sizes, color shades and a purposeful reference to Paris every now and then, the whole arrangement was in the best of taste.
.o.O.o.
As usual in the wizarding world the guests arrived on the exact time set on the invitation and not around the time and thus there suddenly was a real throng of people gathered on the green between the house and the pavilion. Harry had used the chance to sneak over to Hermione, glad to escape Molly's nervous commands of whatever semi-important thing had to be done now again.
"You don't seem very inclined to join in to the greetings," he said.
"In contrast to you, huh?" she countered. "But unlike you, Golden Boy, I'm not missed in this scenario- and I think we can trust Molly to recognize her only black-haired son to be missing within, say-, three minutes?" Hermione said chuckling.
Harry encircled her waist with his left arm and turned to look at her.
"Home-base, sanctuary, please-," he stopped short, when he recognized her relaxation vanish. They had hugged her very often in their good old times, but now it suddenly stung and she tensed.
"Sorry 'Mione. It just felt- I just felt like it, sorry, I should-," he stumbled over his words.
Hermione patted his encircling hand.
"It's okay. I just didn't expect it. I mostly still feel out of place and I'm not used to displays of affection. I mean, not that this was news to you. That's why I used to need you to cuddle me," she said now smiling again.
As suddenly as the sting had come, it had vanished and now it felt right again, maybe due to Harry's honest distress at her reaction. She glanced over to the guests and witnessed the second in which Molly recognized them in their proximity and the look she shot her was not amiable.
"But we shouldn't overdo it for Molly's and Ginny's sake. You had been able to pull the best-friend card before, but that's no longer going to work," Hermione added.
"'Mione, I deeply hope this will change back again- that you'll be able to trust me fully again one day," Harry said hoarsely and half-pleadingly.
"I wish I could promise that, but although forgiven the damage is nevertheless done. This needs time and effort. On both sides-," she swallowed hard and Harry hugged her fiercely to his chest, breathing hard himself, "but I am willing to invest both," she finished and hugged him back, suddenly realizing how much she still missed him, their trust and closeness that had once meant the difference between being a housemate to everyone and a friend to someone. Merlin, bring it back one day, she prayed silently.
"Is Mal- Draco still there for you?" Harry asked her.
Hermione nodded.
"When he is not busy with Louis, that is," she smiled now again and Harry snickered at that.
"Merlin, yes, they were infatuated with each other. Didn't wear off, huh?"
"Puh, quite the contrary if possible at all. I haven't heard of him since he went to France. If I didn't know Louis parents were present, I think I'd have arranged for someone to make sure they at least take a break for sipping water every now and then."
Now they both laughed heartily and did not recognize the two approaching seniors.
"Obviously fully reunited they are back to their well-known best-form and jump right into it," a snide voice commented, "Molly, I think they head-started the late night-part of the party," he added.
Hermione and Harry turned to face them, but instead of letting go of her, Harry simply returned to encircling her shoulders. Both Severus and Molly looked slightly distressed. Although Hermione wondered if Harry could indeed read that in his face, too.
"Yes, we're finally fully reunited and it's good to see you here tonight Snape. Arthur has asked me to buy some Fireball cinnamon whisky in Muggle London for you and I hope it'll be to your liking," Harry greeted the Potions master, who was apparently caught off guard by this revelation and the familiarity.
"I shall let you know," Severus offered, hoping his deliberately calm tone wouldn't betray the upheaval resulting from Potter still half-hugging Hermione.
"I feared you would," Harry said twinkling, "I had to rely on the opinion of a 25-year old and even if he were an alcoholic, he can only have so much experience. So maybe you shouldn't hold out too much hope for a life-changing event."
"Wow! You're an advertising genius," Hermione teased with suppressed laughter. "Until a moment ago, I was indeed tempted to taste it-."
"Enough now children, Harry, you need to help George with the barbecue and Hermione help Fleur with the aperitifs," Molly ordered sternly, "if you would, dears," she added in a try to even out her harshness.
"Immediately, Ma'am," Harry answered, before addressing Hermione. "Thank you for the talk," he pegged her on the cheek. "And please improve your sanctuary skills," he begged with feigned despair, when Molly took his arm and dragged him to the terrace, which earned him a laugh, before she turned her attention to the gloomy man in front of her.
"Good evening, Severus," she greeted him warmly.
"I see the time apart was sufficient for you to go roaring back into Gryffindor mode," he said.
"My inner Slytherin was totally outnumbered for a couple of hours. Can I rely on you now to have its back?" she asked appeasing. She really did not fancy dealing with a jealous Severus now.
He assessed her intently trying to find traces of a bad conscience, a hidden truth, but she was all airily and had greeted him with the smile he had come to think of to be reserved for him only. Maybe he got delusional now.
Hermione approached him. "I hate that I have to postpone snuggling up to you to kiss away tenderly whatever is clouding your mood now," she softly said.
"'Ermione! Pleaze, 'elp me. Molly eez over ze top. I need a break, I know you 'ave vorked all afternoon az vell, but pleaze, I need to zit for a zecond," Fleur begged her all the while nodding at Severus.
"Oh, Fleur, I'm so sorry, I should have come earlier-, ahem, you do remember Severus Snape, Hogwart's Potions master?" Hermione asked Fleur.
"Of courze I do. Nice to zee you again, profezor," she addressed Severus, who nodded politely at the beautiful young woman. "Eet'z okay 'Ermione. Ginny and I zaw you finally fully reunite wiz 'Arry and didn't vant to eenterfere, but now-."
Hermione felt incredibly relieved by Fleur's words. It was just Molly then. Well, that was something at least. She looked at Severus, whose features had softened a bit now, too.
"Severus, I think we're in need of your spy talents. Could you hide Fleur from Molly for half an hour or so and make sure, she gets a drink?" Hermione asked him and saw Molly approaching behind them. "Okay, the boss is coming. I'll go distract her," she said and nodded at them both. "Better run and hide now. She likely won't refrain from making you work too, Severus," Hermione added with a bright grin and squeezed his arm shortly before hurrying towards Molly, turning her around and walking her back to the pavilion.
.o.O.o.
After Fleur, Severus and Arthur had finished their second whiskey, Ginny and Hermione joined them with a platter some meat, vegetables and sweet potatoes in the living room where they were openly hiding.
"We are quitting," Ginny exclaimed and gestured with an empty glass towards Severus to fill it with whatever the rest of them had. Funnily enough she obviously didn't dread her Potions master enough to communicate like this. Severus, however, glanced questioningly at Arthur before pouring a small amount into it.
"Puh! Be more generous with 'Mione. She needs it after old Bagster just had two goes at her," she advised Severus and started to giggle.
Hermione joined in and nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes, double for me, please," she agreed.
"What for, Granger?" George asked from behind.
She turned around and saw him next to Harry and Bill, who had obviously run, too, but before she could answer, Ginny went on.
"Old Bagster had smacked her ass and asked her when the 'inexpressively beautiful French fairy' would finally return. His words, not mine."
Hermione and Ginny chuckled conspiringly.
"What? But he lives, right?" Harry asked appalled.
"But only because he knows how to tame, ahem, charm, the female beast. Ginny omitted to mention that he complimented me for my impressive curves before asking for you," Hermione elaborated the picture looking at Fleur.
Harry was obviously irritated.
"He didn't also have a go on you, too, Gin?"
"How am I supposed to feel about this question, Hermione?"
"Given that a party is supposed to be fun, I should say going for flattered by his concern about your well-being would be least troublesome," Hermione deadpanned. "Uh, don't forget a fitting facial expression."
George and Ginny laughed at this and they clinked glasses. Arthur, Severus and Harry seemed to have somewhat mixed feelings. Harry now came to sit into Ginny's armchair as well.
"Don't even start," he exclaimed, "please."
This earned him laughter again, but also a sweet kiss from Ginny.
"Don't worry! That goes for you, too dad! The red hair is quite a caution label for guests in this house," she added airily and raised her glass at Hermione, who had now gotten hers from Severus.
She went over to Severus, but stopped before making the mistake of settling herself into his armchair just like Harry had just done with Ginny. When their eyes had met, she had seen the disturbance and silent question in his eyes despite his otherwise straight face. It was obvious that two men touching her within one hour was quite a lot for him to endure. Instead she sat down on the comfy rug between his armchair and the hearth.
"Oi, here you are. Why wasn't I invited? Or saved at least?" Ron asked. "McGonagall kept on advising me to revise properly for the NEWTS. She even came up with a proper plan. At a party, honestly." He shook his head.
The rest laughed at his truly distressed demeanor, while Severus only arched his eyebrow at him. Bill handed Ron his whisky.
"Better stay with the cool kids now, little one."
"Uh, that explains Percy's stay in the Pavilion with the Ministry staff" George weighed-in.
At 8 pm, as planned by Molly, the music started and Arthur immediately got to his feet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to have the opening dance with my wife now and would like to kindly invite you to join me on the dance floor," he stated with his best official intonation.
His offspring looked flabbergasted and then collectively started to snicker.
"How long did it take you to learn that by heart? Had mom it written down for you?" George asked under his breath. It was good to see that he was back to his former cheeky self.
Arthur straightened himself and all fell silent.
"The whole morning- and- yes," he answered drily and the kids collectively snickered again.
Arthur headed for the dance floor to find his wife, Bill and Harry both led their girls into the same direction, while George and Charles hurried to find their girlfriends outside. Hermione, Ron and Severus were a bit slower and when Hermione got up the two men followed her example and they went outside. Suddenly Ron cleared his throat.
"This leaves you and me to dance, doesn't it?" he asked her plainly. Hermione came to a halt.
"I'm willing to interpret this as a kind invitation," she said chidingly before adding more kindly, "and I'd like to dance with you, Ron, but I gladly owe Severus a dance."
Both men had surprise written all over their faces now.
"Ahem, did you bet? And lose?" Ron asked in confusion.
Hermione was once again shocked by his bluntness and amused by his surprise that she chose Severus over him.
"I never bet if you care to remember and if I ever started, I wouldn't do with him. I'd like to at least have a chance to win. I said I gladly owe him. I therefore like to think that it's certainly a win-win-situation," she stated airily without any intention of clearing his confusion. "And you, Ron, should go over to Parvati and ask her before she stares a hole in the back of your head," she twinkled at Ron.
Hermione turned to Severus, who had folded his arms and either was not confused or simply hid it.
"Would you like to dance with me, Severus?" she asked politely.
The dark man offered her his arm and they walked to the dance floor together. He took the lead perfectly and was an impressively skilled dancer. This felt heavenly and she had to concentrate to not get carried away regarding their proximity.
"You gladly owe me?" he asked her in a low voice.
"A dance, exactly. I admit dance is a substitute for using semi-private moments presenting themselves. And I admit it is self-serving- I wanted some physical compensation for not having been able to snuggle up to you as Harry did with Ginny," Hermione added.
"Yes, Potter is in the lead of snuggling with women tonight," he returned stung.
"Care to rephrase what you just said? There wouldn't be harm done by conceding every now and then or even addressing the topic at hand, Severus," she said.
He simply kept on dancing without replying.
"There is not enough Gryffindor rubbing off, I see. I daresay you're jealous, although I don't really know why. There is no need whatsoever," she said insistent and her hand came to lie on his chest now, "Remember our nights? I want only you."
"Why are you not jealous?" Severus asked after some seconds of gathering himself. He struggled with feeling exposed.
"Pardon?"
"You let me hide with- the French fairy."
"Do you really wish to discuss this here, Severus? I know you're not a party person, I'm neither, but I am quite sure this is not the place to do so."
The second song was a slow waltz and demanded a closer style, into which he pulled her without hesitation and Hermione took it as a concession. Her head was at his shoulder now and they were surely watched by some other guests.
"I totally trust your feelings for me, because of the way you look at me and because we have this kind of talk. And I mean at all. That's why I have no problem leaving you alone with the most beautiful woman at this party, or probably Britain. Is that enough for you?" she asked.
Something along that line was the answer he had hoped for and he relaxed a bit. Some part of him had feared an expression of disbelief on why a beauty like Fleur should be even contemplating to put up with him. That was idiotic of course since the woman, who just confessed to only wanting him, was undoubtedly the secondary beauty at this party as long as the glamour feigned smooth skin. Severus hoped he would be able to wrap his head around his luck and hold himself in check before he would have annoyed her away.
"I am, because you are not only smart and witty, but unjustly also very beautiful and twenty years my junior, while I am just- me. It was enough and more than I had hoped for. It'll have sunk in one day," he conceded lowly voiced. Her thumb now stroked his back. She could not quite believe that he really had just made such a concession.
"You are not just you. And this is the reason why I'm willing to repeat this conversation over and over again till it has sunk in one day. But I'm at a loss at what we do about your delusions. You know I'm wearing glamour, right?"
"Have you known me for sweet talking? You look gorgeous today, the glamour simply smoothes your skin, the rest is you. Although I find it irritating and am looking forward to see the genuine you later."
Hermione decided not to care about the other guests anymore. Student-teacher relationships were not officially prohibited and she was an adult. Thus, she gave slightly in to her temptation and let her head rest at his collarbone. Severus thumb stroked her softly and they danced as if they were alone.
.o.O.o.
"Harry, go get Snape!"
"What? No! What good would his snarky gloominess do now?"
"Harry, go and fetch him. Hermione needs him now and he would want to be here either," Bill said strictly. "And we should make sure, he doesn't get close to Mom now-," he added.
"How do you know?" Hermione asked hoarsely.
"I know it's hard to believe when used to Ron, but the rest of us are actually quite observant," he chuckled a bit. "He stared daggers at old Bagster on the dance floor, his best teacher stare, I swear and well-, I've seen you dancing."
"Yes, zhat vas quite a giveaway," Fleur chuckled, too now, "you looked very content during ze zlow waltz."
"I think you two are the biggest surprise today. I'm glad you're here now," Hermione said and after two deep breaths to tame a cramp, she added, "and thank you for having my back. Thank you-."
"Nah, don't mention it. I had underestimated the whole situation and obviously still do," he gazed at Fleur, "we both did, I think, but we're far away and on visits here, there were other topics to discuss. We don't visit order meetings either, so your issue kind of fell through our filter. Honestly, I think they avoided mentioning you, when we were around, because I never blamed or judged you."
"It's alright. It would have been nice to know, but we were never friends, so there was no need to communicate on that level," Hermione weighed in.
"Vell, conzider uz friends now, eef you vant, Hermione," Fleur said warmly and squeezed her hand.
"What is the meaning of this- conspiracy?" Severus voice interrupted them harshly. "Potter, decided to be deliberately mysterious about-," he stopped midsentence at the sight of Hermione's wand in the grass.
Then everything went very fast: he Accioed it wordlessly and grabbed it midair without looking while he swirled over to her obviously stiff form on the bench and came to kneel before her.
"How much not alright are you?" he asked with his velvety voice.
One hand clasped her hands that lay folded in her lap and the other one brushing some stray curls behind her ear. His presence immediately made her feel safer.
"I won't go purring tonight," she answered cryptically.
"My sleep is safe. What a relief," he exclaimed but his smile did not quite catch his eyes.
"I wouldn't go that far maybe," she managed under her breath and started to shake now.
Bill and Fleur had moved aside at Severus' purposeful arrival. They stared at the scene unfolding before them with some kind of awe. Harry, however, was rather gaping. He had obviously not been observant enough on the dance floor. Admittedly, the feared Potions master kneeling in front of a student was quite a sight.
"Are you feeling sick?" he asked gently.
Hermione realized with some surprise that she did not and shook her head. Severus swung one leg over the bench and sat down facing her. Immediately he hugged her close to his chest. She let her head rest on his collarbone and closed her eyes, indulging into his warmth.
"That's something then," he mused while brushing her hair back from her face once more.
He felt like killing someone, preferably the one responsible for this scenario. She had been perfectly fine and enjoying herself and something must have gone incredibly wrong since she had been separated from her wand on his arrival. Clever Potter not having said anything before they had gotten here.
"Now, Bill, would you care to-," was as far as Severus came.
"Yo, Mom is taken care of by Dad and Ginny. Merlin, the girl is bloody scary when furious. She-, what's going on here?-" Ron was officially shocked at the sight of them, "Bloody hell, what is he- what are they doing?" he asked bluntly and with something aching to disgust.
"I suggest you watch your tongue, Mr. Weasley. Trust me I am not in the mood to deal with your verbal incontinence," he growled menacingly, then turned his gaze to Bill again, "What exactly did I miss here?" he asked.
"I recognized something regarding Hermione and she showed me what we both share- discreetly of course. Mom followed us in the firm belief of having to save my marriage from this shameless snapper-"
"Hussy. Shameless hussy," Hermione corrected.
Severus inhaled sharply.
Harry sat down into the grass in front of her.
"Right. She disarmed Hermione and went on about Harry and that she shouldn't-," Bill took a breath," she shouldn't dare taking another one of her kids- though she meant stealing."
"Uh, that's why Ginny is having such a go at her, righto," Harry mused aloud, putting one hand on her knee.
"She didn't physically harm you, did she?" Severus asked with a voice that only barely concealed his anger.
"No, she didn't. Bill came to stand between us and Fleur disarmed her. And I just feel a bit overwhelmed at her unexpected rage and the insane accusation," Hermione clarified, "I'm sorry for spoiling everyone's mood now, but I tend to have these panic attacks with cramping muscles since the- war, but they usually subside quite fast these days. You should maybe go and check on Molly. I think she needs her family."
Nobody made any attempt to move.
"What do you share with Bill?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Scars," she simply replied.
"But yours are on your belly. That's not the same as the face." Ron immediately said and made Bill snap.
"Ronald Weasley! Are you completely out of your mind now? Severus had warned you about your verbal incontinence. You better keep your mouth shut until you've thought properly about what is going to leave it," Bill got to his feet and Ron a couple of steps back, "And this is not a competition. If it were, you'd not participate and Hermione would have won. Trust me," he added nearly shouting now.
"I'm sorry. Really, 'Mione, sorry," he stumbled, but she simply ignored him.
Harry ignored them all but kept his gaze on Hermione, well, the part of her face that was visible at all in the dusk and behind Severus' protectively stroking hand. Harry wondered if he recognized his intimate touching of her, while everyone was watching.
"May I- would you show them to me, too?" he asked shyly.
"As soon as Severus takes his hand away, you can see them. My glamour is down now," she answered, but Severus did not seem inclined to play along. Hermione could not see him glaring daggers at Ron to ensure an appropriate reaction, or at least not a completely inappropriate one.
"Severus-," she softly tried again.
Hermione willed her arm to cooperate and very slowly moved her hand up to his. Happy that this attack seemed to vanish fast she gently clutched his hand to put it down into her lap.
Harry sat motionless and examined her intently with a mixture of academic interest and compassion. There was no need to check out Ron, he would surely gape if his sharp gasp was anything to go by.
Harry moved closer, nearly touching Severus' thigh now.
"Does it hurt?"
"Hardly. But there are a lot more everywhere else. They do a lot actually, but that's because they were all inflicted by differing curses, thus- well, that's it."
"Wow, your glamour is perfect," Harry suddenly blurted in awe and while everyone else looked surprised, Hermione chuckled.
"I know. With the right incentive, anything is possible; even a nearly undetectable glamour."
"Thank you, 'Mione, this means a lot to me," Harry said with honesty in his voice.
She started to feel her muscles relax and knew the attack was nearly completely over.
"I'm getting better and should be fine in about ten minutes or so. Maybe you lot should go now and look after Molly."
Severus tightened, but got his hand stroked by her thumb.
Bill took Fleur's hand and tucked at Ron's shoulder.
"Come on, we'll see what's going on and if there is a body to be taken care of, yet," he commanded, "I'll be back to let you know. Are you coming, Harry?" he added.
When they were on their own, Severus kissed her head and Hermione brought his hand to her mouth and kissed his knuckles softly.
"Thank you for flashing into action- the way you did."
"There's only one way," he said and when she beamed up at him, he closed the distance between them and they kissed affectionately.
"And I would have found the way on my own, had you worn a certain ring-," he added.
Hermione simply nodded.
"Whenever you are ready to go home-," he said.
"I want to talk to Molly before. Although I don't really know about what or how. She seems to need professional help. It's a bit obsessive."
"She'll apologize. Just wait what she offers and work from there," Severus said and she nodded, "Come on, now, but be warned, I cannot promise to not snap the neck of He-Who-Is-Too-Stupid-To-Shut-It. Let's get it over with. I want to take you home."
Halfway back to the house, Bill approached them.
"Mum is perturbed, I'd say."
"I'd like to say goodbye anyway. Bill, she needs help. This is obsessive."
"She does. We all know."
"Severus, would you mind waiting outside?"
"Yes."
Hermione took a deep breath and walked inside the house, straight through the kitchen into the living room, where there was an icy mood. Arthur held Molly, who sat next to him on the sofa and her children were spread over the room. There was silence, which seemed to deepen when Hermione entered. She fought the suddenly occurring urge to flee.
"I'd like to have a word with Molly," she said astonishingly steadily voiced, "under four eyes," she added, being glad that Minerva was not in here, but kept the party running. The siblings slowly got up and left the room, Arthur however remained motionless and simply looked apologetic at the young woman.
"You may as well stay of course. As far as I'm concerned," Hermione said and sat down in one of the armchairs opposite to the older couple. From the corner of her eye, she saw Severus standing where he did on entering the room. It was lovely to know that both men refused to leave them alone.
"And I stay no matter anyone's opinion on this," Severus simply said.
Now not only Arthur but also Molly looked up and at the dark man. She knew Severus respected Molly, but the Weasleys both realized that he stayed out of concern for Hermione.
"Molly, I'm going to leave as soon as our conversation is over. I knew, no, I felt, that neither you nor Ron had forgiven me what happened, but simply played along, because the others did. This is why I didn't pick you up on the offer to stay here over the holidays. For your and my sake and peace of mind. I appreciated your offer, though. It showed that you tried and I believe you really did," Hermione assessed the woman and Molly cried and avoided her gaze, "You can be ensured that I won't bother you here again. So no more stress for you from this side. I never intended to harm anyone, and in fact only wanted to save all your lives to be victorious. Also, I never offered anything lightly, but, as far as I'm able to say, always judged by what I overheard from their talks during my stay and the knowledge I had of our plans. And if you could just now try to see it as this and just for now let go of all hatred and please listen to me, when I beg you to get help. For your sake and your family's. They are worrying about your condition. They love you so much and need their strong and settled mother and wife back," she finished.
Molly did not look up, but clung to Arthur, who blinked tears away. There was silence and after a minute, it was obvious that Molly was in no condition to make apologies or talk at all, so Hermione got to her feet, "I wish you luck, Molly, from the bottom of my heart. Goodbye and thank you for the party," she greeted and sadly smiling at Arthur, she worded a silent thank you, which he returned and then made her way outside. Severus came to stand behind her again, but still remained silent. It was hard to suppress the wish to just grab her and Apparate home.
The question if she should bid everyone goodbye was answered by the approaching throng of redheads. They all looked sympathetic, even Ron. She thanked Bill and Fleur for their effort and found herself in a firm hug from Bill and a softer, but equally heartfelt one from Fleur, who insisted on staying in contact, which Hermione gladly returned. Finally, Severus lost his patience in all of today's turmoil, "I'm calling it a day now and shall accompany you home. Good night," he said dismissively and putting a hand on her back, he maneuvered her away from the Weasleys.
Harry insisted on walking them to the Apparition place.
"May I visit you before the term starts again, just for a talk and tea- or whatever?" he asked awkwardly.
"I'd love that," Hermione said with a bright smile, but then remembered her living conditions, "ahem, we'll find a place to do so, I'm sure," she added, sounding equally awkward now.
Severus was again lost for patience and although it pained him to admit, he was not half as annoyed by the dark-haired man today as he had expected to be. He had been absolutely supportive tonight.
"Potter, come tomorrow between 2 and 3pm to Spinner's End in Manchester. You'll have the house to yourself for the day," he offered and the two youngsters looked at him wide-eyed. When Hermione looked at Harry, she interpreted his silence as confusion about what Severus' offer implied.
"I'm staying with Severus over the holidays," she informed Harry, who simply nodded, "I somehow gathered as much. I don't know what to say," he admitted.
"Then stick to silence before something stupid forces me to take my invitation back and load Hermione's wrath on me," the older man snarled.
"Thank you, sir, I really like to take you up on your offer and appreciate your generosity," he immediately said stiffly and made Hermione laugh at his formality.
"No, I mean it," he ensured.
"I know, I know. It's just the day taking its toll and I'm a bit crazy right now, but happy that you really mean it-, despite having been menaced by him," she nodded towards Severus before turning to him, "who forgot to mention that there are nice cafés into which we could retreat had he decided to recline his offer."
Smiling at them both, she hugged Harry goodbye, "Till tomorrow."
"I'm so looking forward to it," Harry said and looking at Severus, added, "Thank you."
When they were alone, Severus snuggled her up and without further ado Apparated them home. On their arrival, he refused to let go, just like she did and so they just stood in the hall at the foot of the stairs.
"You were too nice to her. Too understanding, too- too you," he whispered into her hair.
"I wanted to get away from her. She had really scared me, like Minerva once did. Okay a bit less. Molly was less creepy, but yet. And everything I said was true. And I don't need a faked apology just because decency demands it," she returned. Severus finger lifted her chin and he kissed her passionately.
"Bed?" he asked against her lips.
"Oh yes, but I'd like a shower before," she answered huskily.
"Or rather a bath?"
"Hmm, I've never told you, but I'm picky when it comes to those. They need to fulfill certain requirements," she answered.
"And I thought this day couldn't get any weirder than inviting Potter for tea. Keep talking."
"It can. It's three requirements actually: lavender-scented bath salt, bubbles and-- a man. But not just any man and this is the very tricky part, because it has to be a very certain man. He's currently Potions master at Hogwarts,"
"Hmm. Let's hope he's not off for holidays with a student, not just any student, but a very certain one- slightly crazy. How about going upstairs and while you get the water running I'll check on your required bath- ingredients?"
She chuckled at that and kissed him longingly before turning around to go upstairs. "And that's why it has to be this one man precisely."