Chapter 12: A suprise Visit to Hogsmeade

Returning to school, respectively, was difficult for both of them. Hermione was left at her flat with tears running down her face. Severus, having escorted Hermione home the night before, had to blink the tears away when he Apparated to Hogsmeade. He used the walk to Hogwarts to get his emotions under control.

The days ahead were filled with a lot of activity as the students arrived. Severus, with his newly added duties helping Minerva, buried himself in his work so he would fall into bed at night exhausted and not dwell on the ache in his heart at having to sleep alone. He worked hard at pushing the loneliness deep into his heart as he mentally counted off the days until Christmas break. The computers had proved to be a technical and spell nightmare, and they'd had to give up on them.

Hermione buried herself in her class schoolwork. With the extra theory class, she often found herself working late into the night. On Sundays, she slept most the day when she could, trying to catch up on the lost sleep. Yet she often found herself in the lab on Sunday afternoon and into the night as she tested those new theories

They wrote a few letters and managed a few calls. The days passed one by one, and the time finally came for them to make plans for the holidays.

Hermione came in late one night, dropped her coat by the door, and stooped down to pick up a letter one of the doormen had slipped under her door. She froze when she saw her mother's handwriting. She hadn't heard from her parents in quite some time. They had decided to go back to Australia after last year's visit. They'd found the life they had there much better. Their relationship was nearly non-existent.

She slumped into the nearest chair and with trembling fingers opened the letter.

Dear Hermione,

Mom and Dad

Hermione was shocked when a tear fell onto the letter and distorted the word love. She watched the ink run down the page.

They wanted to see her, but this would seriously compromise her time with Severus...and she needed to be with him as much as possible during the holidays. Would he go with her? She could not go alone and not see him, and she couldn't say no to this olive branch her parents were extending. Having Severus had helped soothe the raw emotions she had toward them. It had helped her to ignore the pain of their rejection and live a reasonably full life. It had been more than ten months since she'd last seen them. When they'd written to tell her they were going back to Australia permanently, she'd assumed they meant to leave her behind for good. She had resigned herself to concentrating on school and Severus and had pushed the emotions deep inside, totally ignoring their existence. After all, it had been her fault. She couldn't blame them.

She finally got up, laid the letter on the bedside table, and crawled fully dressed into her bed and pulled the covers over her head. She cried herself to sleep. By the end of the week, she'd chewed her nails until her fingers where bloody. On Friday night, she knew she would have to see Severus and ask him if he would go with her. Would he be willing to change the plans he'd hinted at in his last letter? She Apparated to Diagon Alley and sent an owl to Headmistress McGonagall asking if she could come to Hogwarts on Saturday. After the owl left, she returned to her apartment. It was still three weeks till the holiday; but she knew if she was going to be able to concentrate on her work, she would have talk to Severus soon.

Several tense hours later, an owl was pecking at her window. She ran and let the owl in and took the letter from its beak. She gave it a piece of her morning biscuit, and it flew away. She turned the envelope over and broke the wax seal.

Hermione,

Minerva

Hermione clutched the letter to her chest. She was going to see Severus. She smiled at Minerva's last two lines. It made her happy to see him happy, as well. She found her heart was pounding with excitement and anxiety at the same time. She tossed the letter on top of her mother's and ran to bathe and pack.

She Apparated to Hogsmeade about 11:30 and went into The Three Broomsticks and got the back booth. None of the students had arrived, for which she was grateful. She really hadn't wanted anyone to recognize her and come to talk. She felt a slight brushing against her leg and looked down to see a large tabby rubbing against her leg. It winked at her and went to stand behind a potted plant.

Hermione chuckled and whispered, "Hello, Minerva. Thank you for letting me come."

The cat gave a soft meow in reply.

It wasn't long before the room started to fill up with students and instructors. Hermione hid in the shadows of the booth and sipped her butterbeer a bit nervously, whishing she'd ordered a fire whiskey to calm her nerves.

Severus had really never lost his temper with her, but she also knew he hated surprises in front of an audience. She was just about ready to get up and take her coat and go outside to head him off when the door darkened and there he stood. She watched as he surveyed the room, looking for the customer that had some mysterious package for Minerva.

He ventured further into the room, a nasty scowl on his face. He asked the bartender, "Professor McGonagall asked me to pick up a package here. Do you know anything about it?"

The bartender shrugged. "Sorry, Professor Snape. I wasn't told ena...thing." He turned and went back to his work.

Severus ventured further into the room, and Hermione stood, her heart beating against her chest. Her "Severus" came out in a strangled whisper.

His head whipped in her direction, and she saw his mouth fall open. "Hermione?" he mouthed. Then he was running toward her. He picked her up as she threw her arms around his neck, swinging her around as his lips descended onto hers. He kissed her so thoroughly that she sagged in his arms, and he had to support her.

Suddenly Severus realized the room of at least a hundred people was dead silent. He froze and then drew back, looking around as Hermione sagged against him.

He saw shock and disbelief on many faces and a few amused smiles. He looked back into Hermione's face and saw her fear. He knew this could go two ways: He could duck his head and leave her standing there or just get it over with. The public would have had to find out about them sooner or later.

He spied Minerva hiding behind the plant and gave her a withering glare that promised retribution. Inside he felt relieved. He stood up a bit straighter and pulled Hermione against him, feeling that she'd finally recovered her legs.

"Well," he said, clearing his voice, "Perhaps you would like to join me in a drink to my beautiful fiancée. Barkeep, a drink for everyone."

The room erupted into pandemonium. Everyone was talking at once about the amazing revelation.

Severus looked down and asked, "Hermione, what are you doing here?" He held her tightly against him as if he was afraid she would vanish.

"I needed to see you. Something's come up," she said, encouraged that he wasn't frowning at her for having to reveal their relationship in this very public place.

"Are you okay?" he asked, looking her over as if he would be able to see what the problem was.

"I'm fine. I just need to talk to you about vacation...." Her words trailed off as drinks were stuffed into their hands and a sea of faces pressed close.

A voice behind them commanded silence, and the whole room ceased talking.

Hermione turned to see Professor McGonagall back in human form and holding her glass up. "I wish it known that I was aware of this relationship, which started after Hermione left school. I want to wish Professor Snape and his fiancée the very best."

She raised her glass. There was a clinking of at least 100 glasses, and then they all drank.

"Now go on back to your own entertainment, and leave these two in peace."

The students sighed, and they backed away. Headmistress McGonagall was not one to cross. Nor was Professor Snape.

Severus guided Hermione back into the booth from which she'd come and slid in beside her. He glared at McGonagall, who had slid into the opposite seat, and said, "Minerva, you could have warned me."

She grinned at him. "That wouldn't have been as much fun. I'm an old woman, Severus. We have to get our fun when we can."

"Well, this will be in the papers by tomorrow," he said distastefully.

Hermione gasped. "Harry!"

"Indeed," he said. "I'd hoped we could avoid his reaction until after you finished this year."

"Me, too," Hermione said, staring down at her ruined hands.

Severus glanced down and saw the sore fingers and chewed nails. "Hermione, what's wrong?" Concern clouded his voice.

Minerva handed over a key. "It's for a room upstairs. Go around to the side entrance, and Rosmerta will let you in."

Severus took the key and said, "Thank you, Minerva. Can you keep the crowds from following?"

Minerva said, "Of course. Disillusion yourselves outside the door, and I will bar the way." She got up and headed for the door.

Severus nodded. Worried, he grabbed Hermione's hand and they followed her. They ignored the questions and comments as they made their way through the long room, and then they slipped out the door into the winter sunlight.

Severus gave a twitch of his hand, and Hermione felt the spell of Disillusionment Charm cover them. She gripped his hand tightly, and they slipped around the side of the building. Rosmerta stood holding a door open. When she felt them brush past her, she closed it.

"Come," she said, guiding them through a long, dark, wood-paneled hall. She stopped before the regular stairs and pushed a panel on the wall. A door slid open, and a smaller set of stairs greeted them. "It's a secluded apartment. Stay as long as you wish."

Severus let the spell go and he said, "Thank you, Rosmerta," as he pulled Hermione quickly up the stairs. The door slid closed silently behind them. There was a small landing at the top of the stairs, and a thick wooden door was on the other side. Severus slipped the key in the lock, pushing the door open. After they went through it, he shoved it closed with a bang and locked and warded it.

He turned to Hermione, who was looking rather ashamed. "Please tell me what's wrong. You're scaring me."

Tears leaked from her eyes and ran down her face. "I'm sorry. I handled this all wrong. I wanted to surprise you, and I didn't realize it would only compound our problems."

"What problems?" He picked her up and carried her to the bed and laid her down, crawling in with her. They usually did their best talking in bed. Once they were settled among the pillows and he was holding her tightly against him, he demanded, "Tell me."

She took a ragged breath. "My mother wants me to come to Australia for Christmas."

Severus took the news with dread. He needed to spend time with her. And he knew it was the same for her. Could they take months more of separation?

"Oh," he said flatly. He took a deep breath and said, "You must go, Hermione. They may not ask again."

"I know, but you had plans. I don't want to disappoint you, Severus," she cried.

He held her against him. His heart nearly stopped. He was terribly disappointed, but they would somehow make it. And after this year, she wouldn't have to leave him ever again.

"They want you to come, too. I hate to ask you to meet them when things aren't right with them." She buried her face against his frock coat.

Severus felt his heart rate increase. "They want me to come?" Suddenly, he felt so relieved he didn't care where they were as long as they spent time together.

"Yes." Her voice still had dread in it.

He pulled her up across his chest so he could peer into her face. "Hermione, I don't care where we are as long as we have some time together."

He saw relief flood her face, and her mouth covered his in a hungry kiss. Pulling back, she sniffed. "I'm so afraid to face them again. They were so angry with me."

"I know, but they want you to come, and they want to meet me. That's a good sign," he said. "Are you afraid they will be so shocked over our relationship that you will lose them again?"

She nodded. "Severus, we must make them see how happy we are together. They just have to accept you. My future is you, and no one will change my mind on that." Her face reflected her fear but also her determination.

"I can see why you're so...what is the term you use?...freaked out. But, Hermione, never be afraid to talk to me. I will always do what's best for you."

She laid her cheek against his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I do need to let go of my fears. I just don't want to be faced with your anger ever again. It nearly undid me when I was a child."

Severus felt heartsick; he knew her fear was valid. He'd been horrid to her when she was his student. It was a miracle that she was in love with him, and he had no idea how to take her fears away. He could do nothing but love her and hope one day she would let the past go completely. He knew he sometimes was afraid something would take this happiness away. He understood her fear of seeing her parents. She wanted their love so badly. She wanted them to forgive her for stealing their memories and their choices. He knew he could endanger this chance by just being who he was. He suddenly realized she'd fallen asleep. She must have been emotionally exhausted.

He summoned the blanket and covered them and let himself sleep, too. He had been running on pure force of will lately.

*****

Tiny kisses against his eyelids woke him, and he stared up into Hermione's eyes. They were so close they were all he could focus on. The corners wrinkled a bit as she smiled down at him. "You're way overdressed, Severus." He was glad she didn't apologize for falling asleep.

"I am?" he said. A smile creased his eyes. He could feel her fingers already working the buttons on his badly creased frock coat.

Somehow she had got about 10 buttons open and a few on his shirt. She pressed a kiss to his warm flesh at the base of his neck.

"Hmm, that's nice," he said as his arms encircled her. One slid over her back and one eased down to squeeze her bum. "I've missed you so much."

"Probably not as much as I did you," she said, continuing to peel button after button from its hole.

He gave her another squeeze. "These Muggle jeans might as well be made of steel. You should wear more skirts; they can be lifted away from desired body parts."

Hermione giggled, crawling off of him. "This will be faster if we undress ourselves."

"Yes, it will be," he drawled sexily, "but maybe not as much fun." He got off the bed and started to pull at his own buttons rather quickly.

"We can save the fun for later, Severus. We have all night and a good deal of tomorrow. I want you now!"

He laughed. "Always, my wanton girl. It's one of the many reasons I love you." He peeled his coat and shirt off and then started to work at his belt." He stood letting his pants fall to the ground.

She was already pulling her jeans down over her legs. "I never get enough of you, Severus." She reached up to release her bra, and he stepped up and unhooked it for her as he pulled her close to kiss her.

He picked her up and laid her on the bed. She wore only sexy lace panties in pale green.

"Nice color," he said as he pushed his boxers down and crawled in beside her.

Hermione surrendered herself to his touch. His fingers slowly slid over her breasts, and then his lips sucked and teased them. He kissed a trail over them and then down her stomach. She laughed when he took the band of her panties by his teeth and pulled them down over her legs.

She urged him up, and he covered her body with his. She caressed him as they kissed over and over.

His hands ignited her passion. She opened herself to him, and he finally pressed into her, sheathing himself in her fiery warmth.

She urged him to move, and he did, pounding into her with need. She clung to him, pressing against him with equal strength and desire until they climaxed, sending them both over the edge of sanity. They clutched each other as their breathing slowed.

"Severus," she breathed, "it only gets better." She sucked in air to help her calm her beating heart.

"Yes, it does." He slid to the side, drawing her tightly against him. After a bit, he said, "I don't think I would have survived the next three weeks. Minerva was about to give me the boot."

Hermione giggled. "Actually she wanted me to meet you at The Three Broomsticks so she could watch the reunion. She said she loves to see you happy."

Severus caressed her breast. "She said that?"

"She loves you, you know?" Hermione said as she ran her hands over his chest.

"I know. She's like my great aunt. We've been through a lot over the years. She's never been afraid to tell me like it is. Sometimes it was hard to hear, but I always listened. She's not afraid of me. I respect that."

"I'm not really afraid either; it's more that I hate disappointing you. I know you wanted to be alone with me. I know you already made plans."

"Plans can be changed, Hermione. Your parents are important."

"Thank you." She hugged him tighter. "Severus, have you ever been to Australia?"

"No. Have you?" he asked, his hand sliding down over her stomach.

"No, it will be an adventure for both of us." She fell silent as he slipped his fingers into her moist warmth.