AN: Thanks for all your support!
I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.
On Christmas morning Hermione woke up with a smile on her face, the thought of Luke still hurt a bit, but she pushed it aside and quickly jumped into the shower. Letting the warm water caress her body it took her longer than she anticipated. When she was ready to go she snatched a couple of presents from her desk and made her way to the dungeons.
She knocked at the door and Neville opened giving her a hug and said, "Merry Christmas Hermione!"
"Merry Christmas Neville!"
She put her presents under the Christmas tree in one of the corners of the room, when Severus entered the room with Elena sitting on his hip.
"Merry Christmas you two," Hermione smiled.
Severus slowly walked over to her gently kissed her cheek and said, "Merry Christmas, Hermione!"
"So shall we start with breakfast? Trinky!" Severus called out, making the small elf appear with a quiet 'pop'.
"Merry Christmas, Trinky!" Hermione said, making Severus and Neville grin.
"Merry Christmas!" Trinky slightly bowed.
"What can Trinky get you all for breakfast?" the elf smiled.
"Can I ask you a favour Trinky, can you make me a plate like 'Headmaster Snape's special dessert', just all with breakfast things?"
"Certainly Miss!"
"I would like that too," Severus said.
"Me too," Neville smiled, "Sounds interesting."
"Trinky will be back in a minute," the elf said.
"Can you believe there are no students around this Christmas?" Hermione said, after Trinky had left.
"Well the majority will be back by New Year's eve for the ball," Severus sighed.
"But still a couple of days without them. I can sleep long. No rounds in the evening. Eating in my own quarters all the time. What a freedom."
Neville burst into laughter.
Trinky came back with three plates and said, "Here you go, 'Professor Granger's breakfast deal'."
"That looks delicious Hermione. Good choice," Neville smiled and started eating.
For several minutes there was only the noises of three people eating heard.
"Hey did she just roll herself around," Hermione squealed excitedly pointing to Elena.
Severus beamed, "She did it once about a month ago and then didn't do it for the next three weeks, but a week ago she started it again and is doing it now all the time. Aren't you sweetheart," he cooed the last part, picked her up and sat her on his lap.
Elena grabbed Severus's fork and starting waving around with it.
"Honey, you're going to take someone's eye out," Severus said and gently took the fork away from her.
Elena started screaming, making Severus wince slightly and Neville grin.
"Would you like to have my spoon instead?" Hermione asked.
Elena stopped screaming, snatched the spoon and gave Hermione her biggest smile.
"Wow! I think my ears are bleeding," Neville chuckled.
"Wait until she is in her terrible twos," Severus said dryly, but affectionately kissed the top of Elena's head.
"Do you want me to take her until you've finished," Hermione asked.
"Yes please, thank you."
"By the way I wouldn't have thought you are so much into Christmas."
"I'm not, but I have got Elena now, so I have to decorate and it's just a small tree." Severus grumbled.
"And stockings," Neville said.
"Oh yes, but there are only three. There is no stocking for you," Hermione said looking to the fire place, where two red and gold stockings with Neville's and Hermione's names and a green and silver one with Elena's name on it were hanging.
"Why would I fill a stocking for myself. That's just stupid, isn't it?"
Severus looked at them challenging.
"My grandmother always does," Neville smiled.
"My mum always did too," Hermione whispered a stray tear running down her cheek.
She forced a smile, wiped away the tear and said, "Three stockings just won't do."
Hermione conjured another green and silver stocking with Severus' name on it and whispered something in Neville's ear.
"We will be back in ten minutes, if you'll excuse us," Neville said and snatched Severus' new stocking off the hook.
Hermione handed Elena back to Severus and his former students left his quarters giggling and whispering, leaving Severus shaking his head, but he couldn't and actually didn't want to supress the warm feeling that spread through him. It seemed that, he had friends, real friends. Not somebody who just used him or was only seeking his own advantage, like so many of his former so-called friends did.
He couldn't stop smiling and when they came back, hanging the stocking, that they obviously filled, back on its hook, he pulled them both into a bear hug, prompting Neville to say coughing, "Can't breathe mate."
Hermione sat down next to Elena on the floor, Neville sat on the other side of the baby and all three of them looked up to Severus expectantly.
"What? You expect me to be the master of ceremony," he said astonished.
The two Gryffindors nodded.
"Oh, great! The former death eater hosting a Christmas breakfast. What was I thinking?" he huffed.
"Well let's see …. First of all you three have to move closer to the Christmas Tree and … well music …" Severus flicked his wand and some Christmas Carols played softly in the background and then he lighted the candles on the Christmas tree. Elena's eyes were wide, seeing all the sparkly things and the candles on the tree. Severus sat down next to Hermione on the floor and lifted Elena in his lap.
"That's nice. Thank you for inviting us," Hermione said and a strangled sob escaped her lips.
"I'm really sorry, but I miss my parents so much," she mumbled.
Neville scooted closer and caught her in an embrace, holding on to her tightly. Severus' heart broke when he saw the woman he was falling for so devastated and he gently rested his forehead on her back, while Elena on Severus lap, found Hermione's curls and started playing with them, when suddenly she pulled on them.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry, hang on I'll free you from her deathly grip," Severus said and entangled her.
"I think it's time for presents," Hermione wiped away her tears and got up.
She got two presents from under the tree, knelt down in front of Elena, who was sitting in Severus lap and said, "Well these are for you. Merry Christmas, Elena!"
Hermione bent down and kissed her cheek.
"Thanks Hermione that's very sweet of you."
He carefully opened the larger present and laughed, "Isn't she a bit too young for them?"
"I know, but I couldn't resist, they are so much cooler than muggle bricks. First of all they have nicer colours and they have all that sparkly stuff and moving bits on them and obviously she loves them," Hermione laughed watching Elena, who had grabbed a brick and started chewing on it.
The second present Hermione gave to Elena was a Muggle children's book.
"Wow that's really cool. These plastic corners are for chewing aren't they. It's a shame they don't sell them in our bookstores," Severus said,
"Your very first book, Elena, isn't that great?"
Neville conjured a present from his pocket and enlarged it saying, "Look that's from me Elena, I hope you like it. Merry Christmas!"
He smiled and clumsily stroked her cheek.
"You know that wasn't necessary, " Severus said.
"But I wanted to."
"Thanks Neville!"
"Oh that's really cute," Hermione squealed a bit girlish at the sight of Severus revealing a green and silver scarf and mittens and a green hat with a silver snake on it, for Elena.
"As nice as this was, I have to go. I wish I wouldn't have to," Neville mumbled the last bit.
"Where do you have to go to?" Hermione asked.
Neville didn't dare say anything, because of Hermione parents.
"He is going to visit his parents," Severus said carefully.
"Oh! But you haven't opened your presents yet," Hermione said like a little girl.
"I know, but I promised them I would come after breakfast, not that they would notice if it would be later," Neville said with hanging shoulders and a sad and insecure expression on his face.
"Would you like me to come with you Neville?" Severus offered.
"No. Yes. I don't know. Would you do that for me?"
"We could all go," Hermione suggested.
"They won't allow babies in the hospital as visitors," Neville said.
"Well we'll see about that, won't we?" Hermione huffed.
"Right you just need to mention the name 'Luke', when we are at the reception and she will explode all over them," Severus chuckled.
Hermione gave him a nasty glare.
"Are you sure you want to come with me?"
"Sure, we'll spend some time with you and your parents. But I have to be back here in two hours for Elena's nap."
"That's fine. I'll just quickly get their presents," Neville beamed and hurried out of the room.
"It must be really difficult for him! I think he is realising that it's his turn to take on the responsibility for his parents now. I hope you don't mind," Severus said.
"No I don't mind. I like that you're so thoughtful." Hermione lightly touched his arm, sending shivers through his body.
AN: So next up: Christmas with Neville's parents!