Chapter 18
DADA Bedchamber
Delphi and Stefan slept together on his king-size four-poster bed. His arm wrapped around her shoulders as she snuggled into his left side. Resting her head on his chest, she listened to his heart beating. Slowly recovering from lovemaking thrills, she tenderly kissed the square in the middle. Stefan lazily plays with her long, curly hair between his fingers.
"You did excellently today, love," Stefan said.
"I don't think I did too badly myself. However, I'm still pissed that Snape survived her coma AND that damn fall. We must work double time now that Stone is out of the picture."
"She seems to have her mother's ability to survive weird and uncanny accidents and live to tell the tale. That won't last long; I promise you that." He chuckled. Thinking about ideas on how to skin that annoying eleven-year-old alive.
"Aren't you planning to teach her to become an animagus?" Stefan asked.
"Indeed. Next Friday, I'm supposed to meet with her after curfew in my office."
"That should be fun. However, doing that will gain Amelia's trust. The more time you spend with the Twirp, the more she trusts you. By default, the easier it will be to lure her in. Her mother and father."
"Agreed. Although the next few weeks of extra time will drive me mad, it'll be worth it seeing Severus in pain, watching his family die in front of him."
"My question is, should we let him live and have him suffer emotional trauma?"
"I don't see why not Stefan; he did that to us." Stefan kissed the top of her head.
"It'll all work out. In due time."
Severus' Dream:
December 26th, 1998
He's following Hermione in the forest of Dean after being informed that Ronald Weasley abandoned them in the forest; he makes an excuse that he needed a rare ingredient for a potion he is working on. The Carrow's bought it. Absolutely livid at the fact that Potter and Hermione have one working wand after that fiasco with that damned snake. It irritated him to no end. He spots the tent, casting his patronus and luring Potter away to grab the sword. Once he knew Potter was out of the way, he closed the distance between him and the tent. Walking toward the entrance, he lifts the flap and sees Hermione sitting at the table listening to the beat-up radio.
"Hermione?" Severus called out. Her head popped up; he could tell she was crying. Once it registered that he was here, Hermione hurriedly stood up and flung herself into Severus' arms.
"SEVERUS!" Tears sprung down her cheeks, and he could feel them landing in his neck. Pulling her in tightly, breathing in her scent.
"I intend to kill Weasley the next time I see him." Hermione grabbed both sides of his face and kissed him hard. Savoring his lips with hers.
"I-I don't want you to. I need you with me after all this is over."
"I need you to understand that I may not live to see the end of the—"
"NO! Don't you dare say that? Don't you dare! After everything we've been through, you and I will escape this hell hole alive. So help me, Merlin." She cried. Severus clung to her like a small child who finds his mother after being lost in a crowded mall. Her optimism astounds him.
"I dumped the sword in the lake; Potter follows my patronus as we speak." Changing the subject.
"He….He left! Without saying anything! Following a random patronus, not knowing who it is! Does he NOT know how dangerous that is?! He—left me." Hermione felt numb. After Ron left, she felt empty and afraid of abandonment.
"He'll be back. I promise you that. He needs that sword to break the Horcrux." He noticed she was wearing the locket.
"Take that thing off right now!" He demanded. Hermione clutched the necklace in her hand.
"We needed it to remain secure."
"That thing has dark magic and changes your personality."
"As you said…Harry will be back momentarily. I can't leave it unattended or let it get lost."
"You're a witch, aren't you, Hermione? If, by some strange occurrence, it gets lost in the next thirty minutes, you can 'Accio' the damn thing. I will not allow the woman I love to carry such a dark artifact on her person. Do I make myself clear?" His black eyes bore into her brown ones, full of concern for her safety.
"Fine." She pulled the necklace off and placed it at the end of the table.
"How did you get away from the castle?" she asked, returning to her love.
"I told the Carrow's that I needed a rare ingredient. I should return in a few days."
"They're complete imbeciles; they are."
"Indeed they are."
"Thank you for coming, Severus. I've missed you." She whispered in his ear.
"As did I. When you wrote me about Weasley's departure and that damn attack from Bagshot, I knew it was time to give Potter the sword."
"I'm glad you did."
"Again… I'm going to kill Weasley." Severus remarked.
"Don't… he's not worth going to Azkaban for. Besides, Karma will bite him in the arse one day." Severus chuckled at that. A bright glow shone in the tent. Turning his head, he saw his patrons waiting for him.
"I believe that's my cue to leave. Potter successfully retrieved the sword; he should be back any moment." He looked at her lovingly. She flung her arms around him.
"So soon?" She sighed.
"I'm afraid so."
"Be safe, Severus. I love you." She kissed him.
"I love you too. Be careful." Giving her one last kiss he apparated out of the tent.
End of Dream
Severus awoke suddenly. He hadn't thought about that time in the forest for years. Weasley's abandonment nearly kills Hermione and Potter. He sat up slowly, not to wake his wife. He glanced down at her sleeping form. Thinking back on how it all started. The apprenticeship, Dumbledore's meddling. He didn't know how much he longed for a friend back then until she pushed herself into his life. He didn't really have much say in it. Back then, he was determined to do everything himself: all of Poppy's orders, potions for the Dark Lord, and keeping his stock filled, plus orders from order members and death eaters alike. Between that and teaching, he didn't want to show signs of struggling to keep up. But now, he wouldn't trade that for the world. He didn't know it then, but now he can't fathom being without his family. Why did he dream of that? Was it because she spoke of Ronald during the match? Crystal Weasley is an exceptional young witch, taking more after her mother than her father. Her grades alone prove that much. One of the first Weasley's not to be sorted into Gryffindor. His mouth almost dropped to the floor when that sorting hat shouted Ravenclaw—still clapping respectfully, as did Hermione, her wide grin broadcast to the student body.
"Love?" He heard Hermione whisper beside him. Bringing him out of his train of thought. Gazing at his wife, he smiled.
"I'm alright, dear. Just woke up from a dream."
"What did you dream about?" Hermione asked.
"Always the inquisitive one. I dreamed of when you and Potter were in the forest of Dean and how Weasley abandoned you because he missed his mother's cooking and couldn't bear the thought of living off rat meat. Although come to think of it, he probably thought he was eating one of Pettigrew's cousins or another diseased family member." Hermione couldn't help but chuckle. Her husband sure has a dry sense of humor. Enfolding her hand into his, she kissed his knuckles.
"I don't blame him for leaving. I blame that damn locket. That he had every right to worry about his family, listening to that beat-up radio and hoping he didn't hear any of his family members' names on the death toll worried him tremendously. He returned, though."
"Only after getting a stomach full of Molly Weasley's home cooking. And yet…he didn't even bring you or Potter a morsel." He scoffed.
"It's in the past now, love. He returned and helped destroy the locket. He also saved me from Lestrange. Remember that fiasco?" Severus blinked. Unintentionally, he looked at Hermione's forearm, where that blasted slur still itched in her skin; luckily, it faded over the years, and with a bit of magic to cover it up, it was almost forgotten.
"Yes, well. Be that as it may. I wish Longbottom had traveled with you rather than him. At least he had the balls to chop off Nagini's head at the right time. He could have even been more useful. And if you ever repeat that to him, help me, Merlin." Hermione laughed full-throttle at that point. Scooting over to embrace her husband, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Enough reminiscing about the past. We only have a few more hours left of peaceful sleep." Hermione kissed him before laying her head on his chest and drifting off to sleep.
November 22, 2018
Thursday
The Great Hall was bustling with the sound of clinking silverware and chatter as students filled their plates with bacon, eggs, and toast. Severus and Hermione sat next to each other at the long wooden table, their plates full of food. Suddenly, the peaceful ambiance was disrupted by a flurry of wings and hoots. Owls of all shapes and sizes swooped down from the rafters, bearing packages and letters in their beaks. Hermione's eyes followed a magnificent barn owl as it gracefully landed on the back of her chair. The owl extended its leg, and a letter was attached to it. Hermione gingerly took the letter from the owl's leg and opened it, her curiosity piqued as to who it was from.
"Looks like someone received some mail," Severus said. Hermione, lifting the parchment and unfolding it, read the contents of the letter:
"Dear Hermione and Severus,
Mum is hosting her Christmas dinner on the 25th, extending an invitation for you and the kids. We would love to have you at the burrow this year. Dad's been asking about Alex and the possibility of playing some Christmas music on his piano. Harry and I miss you, and you as well, Severus. (Hermione chuckled at that) It'll be great to be together again. It's been so long since the 'Golden Trio' been in the same room together. And I miss my best friend. You don't have to bring anything, just yourselves, well…maybe leave some of Severus' bah-humbugness at home? Haha. I'm just kidding; it wouldn't be the same without his snarkiness.
Love Always,
Ginny Potter
Severus asked, "So, what's the update from Ginerva?"
Hermione teased him, "Why do you want to know, you nosy bugger?" They both chuckled before she continued:
"Ginny has invited us and the kids to the Burrow for Christmas dinner. And Arthur would like Alex to play Christmas songs on the piano." Hermione said with a big smile.
Severus raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"
Hermione giggled, "Yeah, and she also told me to tell you to leave your 'bah-humbug' attitude at home."
Severus rolled his eyes playfully, "She knows my acting skills are terrible. I am a natural Mr. Scrooge."
Hermione burst out laughing, "Don't worry, she was just kidding. We all know Christmas wouldn't be the same without your bubbly personality."
Severus grinned, "Of course!" Hermione couldn't help but feel grateful for the man she loves.
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving all! Its another short chappie, but I hope you all like it! Enjoy this time with your families and let me know what you think!