Chapter three:
The welcoming feast has finally ended. The prefects guided the first years to their perspective houses. Professors scattered to their offices or bed chambers to prepare for the next day. The elves took care of the cleaning of the Great Hall. Hermione and Severus Snape finally made their way to their own bed chambers.
Leaving her robes on her chair, she went to the restroom to take a shower, while Severus studied over his schedule for tomorrow. It only took him maybe five minutes before preparing for bed. While Hermione is still in the shower, he decided to spread some rose pedals around their bedroom. Making a pathway leading to the bed and making a heart shape mixed with red and white on top of their bed. With a flick of his wrist, candles appeared around the perimeter of the bedroom, and light piano music playing in the background. He, himself prepared for bed.
"Severus?" Hermione called out as she tied the string of her bright red robe. Stepping out of the bathroom into their bedroom, she watched her husband in his Slytherin green silk pajama pants and intently stared at his muscular bare chest. Underneath all those layers of robes that he wears, he is incredibly strong in stature.
"Severus?" She called again, closing the gap between them, with a gentle hand, she placed it lovingly over his shoulder.
"How do you feel Hermione?" Severus turned around, embracing her. Smelling his scent as she closes her eyes, resting her head upon his chest.
"I am feeling marvelous, love. In this moment, with you, just…us." She replied. Breathing in her scent, of fresh Almond and vanilla, kissed the top of her head.
"It's been a while." She said, nuzzling the crease in his neck, planting butterfly kisses.
"Mmhmm. Let's make tonight count." Severus whispered. Hermione gently moved her hand over to his scars on his chest, carefully examining each one, placing more loving kisses.
"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked.
"Better now that I'm with you, alone." He answered.
"You've turned into such a romantic." Severus laughed.
"I've been getting plenty of lessons, again—because of you. Until you—I never considered myself a romantic… not even close." Hermione chuckled.
"Oh, believe me, I know." She kissed him lovingly, he returned with fervor. Caressing the side of her face, taking this moment like it could be the last.
"Severus?"
"Yes, love?"
"Make love to me?"
"Always." With more need, his kisses become more powerful, the need to become closer to each other grows stronger. He pulls the string from Hermione's bath robe, gliding off, showing her bare skin. Hermione wraps her arms around his neck carefully as to not hurt his wound. Their bodies hit the bed, hands caressing each other with much need of further contact. Severus' upper body is hovering over hers, his eyes moved over to her bare-naked chest, watching it rise and fall.
"You are so beautiful." Severus grinned broadly.
"After all these years?" She smiled.
"Forever and Always." Kissing her again. His hands moving over to her side, further down to her bum. Making each moment count.
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10:30pm
It's past curfew, and Amelia is having a hard time falling asleep. Tossing and turning she can't seem to get comfortable. She did place a silencing charm so the other students around her so would not be disturbed and vice-versa. She is excited to start her first day at school. Over on her nightstand, there is a photo of her and her family from a couple of years ago, around Christmas time. She was about seven, and Alex was about ten. That was when he received his first piano, she received an Elvis Presley blanket from 'Santa Clause." A year before Alex started his first year. She still has the Elvis blanket and is currently keeping her warm as she's starring at this picture.
The memory of the photo brought her tears. Although she knows that her family is in the castle, it still seemed like they're far away. She knows her parents need some time alone, to be together. She thought that the sorting hat took forever to decide where to put her. She was gob smacked at the fact that she—A SNAPE! Be placed in…Hufflepuff. "I think my father would disown me if that happened. Which it wouldn't.'
She looked over to her clock again; 11:00pm. Time is rushing past her; sleep is apparently not going to happen. Sitting up in her bed, she grabs her DADA textbook and her wand. Slipping out of bed to head down to the common room. 'It's peaceful down here, away from everyone.' She lit up a candle that is placed on the desk, once she sat down, she opened her textbook: "Chapter one: Hands on-Defense tactics."
'Defense tactics? Why would we need hands on defense? Bought to find out!' She read chapters one and two. As time went on, her eyes grew heavy. Looking over to the grandfather clock, the big hand struck midnight.
"I really need to get some sleep."
"That you do." A male voice echoed behind her. Turning around she sees Scorpius Malfoy, in his silky green robes with a white teacup in his hands.
"You should also be asleep Scorpius" Amelia smiled tiredly. His normally slick back, shiny blonde hair is scuffled up. 'Definitely bed hair.' She thought.
"I know—but I can't sleep, never could on the first night back from summer holiday." Scorpius took a seat next to her. He's a fourth year Slytherin, same grade as Alex.
"Are you okay?" He asked her.
"I'm a bit nervous. I miss mum and dad."
"You know where they are."
"I know—but I'm trying to be a big girl. I don't need to crawl to mum and dad every time I'm scared or nervous or homesick, they need time alone too." Amelia stated.
"What are you scared for?" He questioned. Listening to every word she's saying.
"I'm worried about tomorrow. I have DADA, first thing with the new Professor."
"Professor Perrot? He seems cool." His eyes darted over to her textbook.
"Is that what you're studying now?"
"Yes, I want to make a good impression."
"Well, let me tell you—my father told me stories that Aunt Hermione was very much of a hand waiver, she was known as the 'Know-it-all'."
"Yes, I am aware of that—dad always said that it drove him mad." Scorpius chuckled at that.
"Well—it's obviously okay to answer—but try not to answer every question or speak out of turn. Aunt 'Mione was famous for cutting her professors off in mid-sentence." Laughing again.
"So, really, only speak when spoken too, got it." Scorpius nudged her playfully after her response.
"You're going to be just fine Amelia, don't stress yourself out."
"I'm trying not to."
"Now—if you really need too—imagine your professors naked. That'll get rid of the nerves." Amelia burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth as to not be too loud.
"You do realize that two of my professors are my parents, right?" She grinned. Scorpius eyes widened. He stood up from his chair.
"Well, on that note—we need to get some sleep, Snape. Before the sun comes up. Here—take this." Scorpius hands her a small vial of sleep potion.
"It's a very mild sleep potion, has melatonin in it which is non-addicting." Scorpius adds. Amelia picked it up, to examen it.
"You're not trying to poison me are you, Malfoy?"
"No, never." He smiled again.
"Good night, Scorpius, thank you again."
"Don't mention it." He said before making his way back up to the boy's dormitory.
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Just outside the Gryffindor common room, a young girl skulks down the staircase. It is very hard for the young redhead to keep her tears at bay. Trying to find her way to the Headmasters' and Deputy Headmistress' office, but she wasn't paying attention on the where she was going, going up to the stairwell, the stairwell shifted. Losing her footing, she stumbles, just a couple of steps but it felt like she was going to tumble all the way. She stops before the last couple of steps, her tears becoming uncontrollable. Holding her knees close to her chest, tears just pouring down her face.
"Lily?" A young man inquires. Walking down the staircase, he stopped beside her, kneeling.
"Lily? What's wrong?" Sam Longbottom asked again. He's a Ravenclaw prefect, tonight he oversees making rounds, making sure the hallways are cleared and students are in for the night. Lily Potter, a first year Gryffindor, looked up at the tall boy kneeling beside her.
"I-I miss mummy." Lily sobs. Sam wraps an arm around her shoulders bringing her close.
"I know she misses you too. But everything is going to be okay. You have me, Aunt 'Mione and Uncle Severus' here. You are not alone my dear." Sam consoled.
"I was looking for Aunt 'Mione." She whimpers.
"Well, I'm not Aunt 'Mione, but I'm here with you now, I hope that you'll accept my help, Lily. Our families are close friends, and we act as though we are all one big family. Yes?"
"Y-yes—but I want Aunt 'Mione!" She exclaimed.
"How bout this—I can stay with you until you fall asleep, we can see her tomorrow morning before breakfast, or after when she has time, how does that sound?" Lily's tears seem to lighten up. She leans her head on Sam's shoulders and started sucking her thumb.
"When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom—Let it be." Same began singing. He has a very low baritone voice, soothing to Lily's ear.
"Let it be—Let it be—Let it be—Let it be, speaking words of wisdom, let it be." It wasn't long after, her sobs stopped completely, with heavy eye's she fell asleep at the sound of his voice. He checked his watch: 1:00am. It wouldn't be long until the sun would come up. Gently picking her up in a cradle position, trying his best not to wake her up, he carried her back to the Gryffindor common room. Slipping on his pajama's, he slid into bed finally able to get some shut eye.
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5:45am
The alarm beside Hermione's bed went off, waking her from her slumber. Hitting the button to put it on snooze for five minutes, she rolls over, watching her husband sleeping peacefully next to her. Watching his chest rise and fall, she scootches over laying an arm over his abdomen, leaning her head next to his shoulder.
"Good morning." Severus mumbled. Taking his arm that Hermione is laying on, he pulled her closer to him. With his free hand, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Good morning love, did you sleep well?" She moaned as he rubbed the middle of her back in gentle circular motions.
"Marvelous. It feels good being back at Hogwarts, like our second home." The alarm went off again as she turned over to turn it off.
"More like our home is our second home." Severus joked.
"We need to start getting ready. I'll start the coffee." Hermione kissed his cheek. Swinging her legs over, placing them firmly on the ground she made her way into the kitchen. Severus headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. It didn't take him long, when he did finish getting dressed, he entered the kitchen to find Hermione's back is turned. Washing some dishes from last night, smelling the coffee, he sneaks up behind her. Wrapping both arms around her waist and pulling her closer to him.
"You look beautiful this morning, my love." Leaning his head to the crease of her neck, giving her butterfly kisses.
"Mmmh-this early? I feel like I've been hit by a bus but thank you." She moaned from his touch.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"My head is a little fuzzy but feeling alright otherwise." She answered.
"I have a headache relief potion for you if you would like it." He offered; concern written on his face.
"I'm going to tough it out, you know me, I'm not a fan of taking any sort of medication for every single minor injury, or headaches."
"Hmmhm, okay then. Thank you for the coffee." Severus kissed the back of her head, completely changing the subject. Grabbing a clean mug, he pours himself a cup of joe.
"Ah—black—just like my soul." Taking a sip.
"Oh—stop it! Your soul is not black. You—have a heart of a lion!" She joked. Severus choked a little.
"I highly doubt that—you offend me my lady!" He said in a mocked tone.
"On that note, it's time for breakfast." She kisses him gently on the lips, taking the last few sips of her coffee before placing her cup in the sink.
"Very well, I have to grab my notebook from my office, I'll be right there."