Chapter 13: Australia: Part 1

Too soon, Hermione found herself back in her apartment. The weekend was over, and she had classes the next morning. She went to get her writing materials and her mother's letter. But try as she might, she couldn't find it. She nearly crawled under the bed, thinking it had blown out from under her letter from Minerva, but she didn't find it.

She finally shrugged. It had to have fallen someplace. She had the envelope and the address, so she dismissed it from her thoughts and sat down to write her mother. She and Severus had decided to Portkey to Australia on December 23. They would visit for a few days, do some traveling, and leave Australia the day after New Year's. As long as they had a lot of private time, she would be happy. Hogwarts resumed on January 3. They had laughed as they made their plans, and neither of them had voiced any reservations about how the visit would go. Would there be reconciliation and acceptance? Or would the relationship between Hermione and her parents be totally severed?

*****

Hermione threw herself into the last project of the year; she worked almost 18 hours a day on the potion she was creating. Her paper was written after many nights of research and preparation. There were times when she'd come from her shower to get something...a brush, a hair tie, or a garment...only to find it gone. She thought she was losing it. She chalked it up to the disaster her rooms were in and overwork, making her forgetful. She counted the hours until she finally handed in the paper and her potion samples.

She used her wand to put everything away, stuffing it into drawers and pushing it under the bed. Severus only planned to be in her apartment for a few minutes. She'd packed last night and prepared herself for Severus, doing all those things she usually didn't have time for.

This morning she'd made herself sleep late and had gotten up for a quick shower and to dress carefully for him. She had transfigured a spoon into a new hairbrush and was brushing her hair when there was a knock. She ran and opened the door.

"Severus," she cried, throwing her arms around him.

He caught her up and held her to him, "Hermione." He breathed in the scent of her.

They backed into the room, and the door shut behind them as they kissed. She finally stepped back and he smiled. "You're beautiful." She was dressed a bit conservatively but still ravishing. He knew the conservative part was for her parents' sake.

She brushed a curl off to the side of her face and glanced nervously at her bag. "I suppose we'd best get going. The Portkey will leave in eight minutes.

She moved away to get her bag, and Severus caught an odd scent that was somehow familiar. "Has anyone else been here?" he asked.

"No, I don't think so. Maybe the super came in to fix that pipe in the bathroom. I haven't paid attention."

Severus nodded. He grabbed her bag from her and shrank it and added it to the coat pocket where his was. She grabbed his hand, and they left the flat and went quickly down the hall the stairs and out the front door. They ran down the street to the Apparation point and Apparated to a hillside outside the city. A tin can sat before them. Hand-in-hand, they stooped to touch it. It whisked them away seconds later.

They landed on a small beach with lots of rocky formations around them to shield them from being seen. A small opening led them to a low cliff with stone steps. When they climbed them, they found themselves on a street lined with houses and small gardens.

Hermione held Severus hand tightly; she was so nervous that she was literally shaking.

"Hermione, they are your parents, and they love you. If they didn't want to see you, they wouldn't have asked you to come and bring me."

"But they don't know it's you," she said.

He leaned close and said, "Well, if you haven't noticed, I'm a bit tense as well. I know this might be hard for them. But I will do my utmost to show them how much I love you." He kissed her gently and turned her so they could look out over the ocean.

"It's an incredible color, isn't it?" she said.

"Yes," he answered quietly, letting the sound and motion of the water calm them.

Finally, Hermione drew a map out of her pocket, and they followed it up several streets. A huge U-shaped curved cul-de-sac greeted them, and they counted the houses and checked the number. "Sixth house on the right," Hermione read. "It has a white picket fence, and it's white with yellow around the windows."

They walked up and stood before the gate. It had a nice cheery look and flowers under the front windows. A wisp of lace curtain could be seen on the edges of the windows. Severus grabbed the gate and pulled it open and stepped back so she could walk past him. He heard her take a shaky deep breath, and he sucked in one himself, praying that they would react like she was the prodigal son returning home. He did not have to wait any longer.

The door was flung open, and a small lady with blonde hair with wisps of gray at her temples came out crying, "Hermione!" She drew Hermione into a hug, and Severus saw that both women had tears running down their faces.

Severus was shocked to see that she looked like an older Hermione...maybe late 50s. She was still beautiful. He hoped that his Hermione would look that way when they were old and graying.

A man came out more slowly. His steel gray hair was thinning, and his eyes were moist with unshed tears. He greeted Severus with a nod. A crease of confused recognition passed over his face. Then he turned his eyes on Hermione.

Hermione released her mother and cried, "Dad!"

The older man enveloped her in a firm strong hug. "Baby," he whispered.

Severus watched this all play out as he stood several feet away, not sure what to do.

Hermione finally broke away from her dad and grabbed her mother's hand, still clinging to her dad's hand. She turned them toward him.

"Mother, Dad, this is my fiancé, Severus Snape. Severus, these are my parents, June and Paxton Granger."

Hermione's parents looked at him, taking in his age first, and then his name seemed to register. "Isn't he the man who helped Harry and you? The spy?" her dad asked. The man stepped forward to shake his hand. "Welcome to Australia, Severus."

Severus felt himself let out a deep breath he'd been holding; that had not been the first thing he'd expected out of her father's mouth. Severus said, "Thank you, it's good to meet you, sir, ma'am."

Hermione stared at her father; she hadn't expected that either. "Yes, Dad. He was the man who was a spy and helped us so much even though we didn't realize that for so long."

Hermione's mom was now smiling at him and reaching her hand out. "Pleased to meet you, Severus. Please, why don't we go inside? I've made tea."

Hermione let go of her parents and came to him, slipping her arm around his waist and guiding him to follow her parents. She had a huge smile on her face, and Severus leaned to plant a kiss on her forehead. "I told you it would be alright," he whispered. But secretly he said a thank you prayer.

The house was homey and modern. It was an open design: The living room, dining room and kitchen were separated only by space and furniture. It was sunny and bright. There was a staircase up to a second floor and a hall toward the back of the house.

Hermione's mom led them to sliding glass doors in the dining area, and they went out onto a small patio that had a table and chairs. The garden housed many flowers and trees. Hermione's mom fussed about them, motioning to chairs and busying herself with pouring the tea and offering them chocolate biscuits.

Hermione's dad seemed to just be studying Severus with that curious look. He finally asked, "Weren't you Hermione's Potions teacher?"

Severus said, "Yes, sir, I was. But this relationship began after Hermione left school." They had agreed long ago to tell no one about the lap sitting or the kiss that last night at Hogwarts.

Hermione broke in to explain, "Actually, Daddy, I initiated it. I came to him the last night at Hogwarts to ask him for a recommendation for a Potions master to take me on as an apprentice. He offered to teach me himself once I finished the university. Professor Snape had no idea I wanted more from him, and I didn't either that night at first. It was magical..." She left her voice trail off.

Hermione's dad looked at them for a full, rapid, heart-beating minute and then nodded. "I see. Is it your practice to succumb to your students' desires?" His eyes were stern, and his voice was guarded.

"Hardly, Mr. Granger. Your daughter is very persuasive. For most of my life, because of my duplicity, I wasn't able to have a relationship with anyone. You might say this relationship caught me by surprise as much as it did you and Mrs. Granger. But as I have come to know your daughter, I find that I love her very much, and I will take very good care of her."

Mr. Granger glanced at his wife, and somehow a message passed between them, though Severus couldn't see a signal. Then Mr. Granger smiled. Then he winked at Hermione and said, "My daughter has always been apt at getting what she wants. She has great courage." He reached out to give Hermione's hand a squeeze. Then he looked back at Severus. "Welcome to our family, Severus."

Everyone at the table relaxed. Severus saw Hermione's mom sag with relief. And he realized that no matter who Hermione had come home with, June Granger had forbidden him to mess it up. But he'd wanted to make them squirm. Severus could respect that. He grinned at Hermione as she beamed up at him and hugged him. Severus said, "Thank you, sir."

"Well, June and I want to repair the rift we have had with Hermione," he tried to explain.

Severus said, "Then you might wish to address her directly, sir. For your information, it's unlikely you would be alive today if Hermione had not taken the actions that she did. If you would like, I would be more than happy to take a walk and let you speak in private."

Hermione had taken his hand and was clinging to it for dear life.

Paxton Granger nodded, still looking at Severus. "You would know, I suppose."

Severus sighed and squeezed Hermione's hand. Obviously Paxton Granger was not as ready to forgive and forget as June was.

He decided not to take it as a criticism because he very much wanted to defuse this visit as much as possible for Hermione's sake.

"Yes, Paxton, I would know. I served under two difficult taskmasters for a long time. One handed out physical torture for his own pleasure. The other expected me to take that torture and not complain for the good of the cause. I shielded Mr. Potter...and by association your daughter...from a number of serious threats on their lives. I did what I had to do. It very nearly cost me my life." His hand went to his throat, and he could feel the scars beneath his collar. He supposed some of them showed because he saw Mr. Granger's eyes narrow. Severus turned to smile down at Hermione. "I would do it all again for your daughter. She's quite forgiving and loving. I assume she learned that through your teaching and demonstrations of love as she grew up." He could feel Hermione's hand trembling in his.

Paxton nodded. "I am sorry, Hermione. It's been more difficult for me to accept mind alterations than it has been for your mom. I love you, I do, and I ask you both to have patience with me." He glanced at his wife. "We both really want you to enjoy this time with us, and I will try very hard to contain my feelings."

Hermione said, "Please, Daddy, tell me what you feel. Let's get it out and discuss it all. I can tell you more about how it was, and Severus can tell you what he knew to be happening from inside Riddle's camp."

Hermione's mother's eyes where full of tears. Her hopes for a good visit seemed to be ruined. But she didn't say anything.

They sat for three hours till the sun started to wane and discussed. At times there were loud voices. At other times there were tears, but Severus held his temper by shear force of will, using a few of the tricks he'd learned during the war. He would not be the cause of Hermione running out of this home. He knew if she did, she wouldn't come back. It was time to fix the situation. So with great patience and care, he told the Grangers what life was like back then and what Hermione had faced. He tried hard not to tell them too much about what he had been forced to do when he was a Death Eater. He didn't want to revisit those memories himself.

As the hours passed, Paxton Granger got quieter and quieter and just listened to the stories Hermione and Severus told him. As non-magic-folk some of the things they heard seemed almost like fantasy. Their worlds were separated by a huge gulf. But they could not deny the scars on Severus' neck or the things that had seemed to come from nowhere and attack the Muggle world.

They moved into the house as the evening stretched into the later hours. Paxton finally seemed to sag with exhaustion and, Severus thought, resignation and understanding.

He looked at Hermione and held out his arms. She flew into them, and he cradled her on his lap. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm an old fool. You were right to do what you did," he soothed her as she cried.

Severus watched, slowly breathing out a sigh of relief. Perhaps this vacation could be salvaged. He felt fingers on his hand, and he looked into June Granger's eyes as she said, "Thank you, Severus."

He turned his hand and squeezed the older woman's hand. "You're quite welcome. I would do anything for Hermione."

Since they were all exhausted from a day of emotional upheaval, they ate a quick dinner in near silence and then June said, "Let me show you to your rooms."

Severus caught Hermione's eye and mouthed, "Rooms."

Hermione shrugged, her eyes begging him to not say anything.

He told Paxton goodnight and followed Hermione up the stairs.

June said, "Paxton's and my room is downstairs, so you will have the upper floor to yourselves. There are three rooms up here. She indicated the first one and said, "This one has a large bathroom. The other two have a bathroom two doors down."

"Mum, why did you get such a big house?" Hermione asked, peeking into the first room.

"Well, we had to have a house big enough for you and the grandchildren we hope to one day have visit, didn't we?" she said with a warm smile.

Hermione blinked back tears. "I thought you and Daddy had left me behind when you left England."

June stepped up and hugged her daughter again. "I know, I'm sorry. He was so angry and forbid me to see you. I knew it would take some time, and I did work on him. I'm sorry. I should have written to you. We've all made a lot of mistakes."

Hermione said, "I'm here now, Mum, and I think it's going to be fine. I understand what I did was bad. But I would do anything for you and Dad."

She hugged Hermione again. "I know, dear." She got a bit closer and whispered, "Now, I know you two sleep together, and I know you know a spell to soundproof this floor. Where you sleep is no concern of mine, Severus, but at least make the other room look like you stayed in it in case Paxton decides to help me clean up afterwards." She grinned and squeezed their hands and then retreated down the stairs.

Hermione sagged against Severus and put her arms about his neck. "Thank you, Severus. You were amazing today."

"I love you," was all he said. He guided her into the bigger room and used his wand to lock and ward the door. "Let's take a quick shower and get you to bed. I think you've had more than enough for today." He could see she was running on reserves that where about to give out.

He guided her into the bathroom. They found, to their delight, that there was a large Jacuzzi tub and a big shower. He helped her undress, and then he undressed quickly and stepped it to the warm shower. He washed her quickly as she stood drained, hanging on to his shoulder as he stooped to wash her feet. Afterwards, he barely dried her off because she was already falling asleep on the edge of the bed. He smiled down at her and picked her up and put her into the bed. He crawled in behind her, and she snuggled back against him, spooning herself against him.

Lisa, thank you so much for all the beta work you do for me. I couldn't do it with out you.