Suffolk Manor

Thanks to Madbrilliant for the beta-ing of yet another chapter!

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Chapter 7 – Suffolk Manor

As they packed their things in companionable silence into the bags set out on the bed, Hermione glanced out the window. The snow was falling thick outside and she smiled. Although it had only been two days since Severus had abducted her from their own wedding reception, she felt as though those two days had been two of the most brilliant days of her life. They had not gotten out of that bed, except to entertain each other with the luxury of bathing, for the entire time. And now, well, she was just eager to get on with their honeymoon in their Suffolk Manor.

Two strong arms came around her waist the moment after she zipped her bag closed. "Are you ready to leave yet, love?" Severus murmured, nuzzling his nose into her neck.

She smiled and leaned her head back against his shoulder, turning her head just enough to plant a small kiss to the hollow at the base of his throat. "Of course I am. Do you want to leave so soon or would you prefer to crawl back in to bed for a few hours?" she purred, sliding her fingers loosely through his hair.

He chuckled and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I think we should get going. I have plans to discuss with you, and we really shouldn't be late," he said silkily.

"Oh, all right," she huffed, flicking her wand at her bag and shrinking it to a size that would fit snugly into the pocket of her copper-colored day-robes.

"Good," he said, doing the same to his.

Severus wrapped his arms around Hermione and kissed her soundly before Apparating them away to their manor in Suffolk. They arrived at a massive wrought iron gate, much the same as the ones at Hogwarts save for the winged boars. Instead, these ones were topped with griffins standing proudly with their wings outstretched and eyes glinting, even if they were only marble.

Hermione gasped in amazement. "Severus, this place is remarkable!" she said as the gates opened for them. She looked around at the snow-covered English countryside and sighed in awe. It was beautiful. "Why have we never been here before?"

"This house is far too big. Some house-elves stay here and keep everything in fully functional order so that when we chose to come here, everything will be perfect. That includes the guest rooms," he added, smiling. "The other estates are run in much the same way."

Hermione mouthed a "Wow" as they walked together through the snow along what would have been seen as a long drive in the fairer seasons. Soon after, she could see the roofline of the house just beyond them and after a few more minutes of walking, Hermione stood next to her husband, openly gaping at a house that similarly resembled the Snape Manor on Spinner's End, except on a much larger scale.

"See something you like?" Severus asked, leaning to rest his chin on her shoulder and wrap his arms around her.

Hermione nodded mutely and allowed him to release her only to grasp her hand and tug her towards the front steps up to the entry door. He opened it and ushered her in first, making sure that he took her coat and hung it up with his. She peered around the Entrance Hall and felt like gasping again, but held it in. It was grand and decorated in varied shades of cream, with a silver chandelier with crystal droplets hanging from it. Whoever decorated the hall had very good taste indeed, Hermione thought.

Severus grasped her hand firmly in his once more and pulled her along with him gently. "Let's go see the whole manor before we sit down and have our discussion," he suggested.

Hermione nodded and he led the way. They viewed the whole of the first floor, which was mainly the kitchens towards the back of the house, the Grand Ballroom, the Dinning Hall, and the parlor. The Dinning Hall and parlor were carpeted with a delicately colored oriental carpet while the Ballroom and kitchens were polished hardwood. Everything smelled clean and natural.

Next was the second floor, on which he made her close her eyes before they entered the only room on that floor that was not a guest bedroom or his personal office. When Hermione opened her eyes she nearly fainted from the shock. She collapsed backwards into Severus' arms when she was faced with the most amazing library she had ever seen. It was an almost exact replica of the amazing library she had seen in an animated version of Beauty and the Beast when she was younger, even down to the very last ladder. There were staircases and the space of two floors dedicated to the sheer walls of books.

"This is the grandest library out of all of them," he whispered into her ear. "My favorite one and this is the reason why we came to Suffolk instead of Oxford."

"Oh my, Severus this is absolutely amazing!" she exclaimed when she had found her voice.

"Indeed. The rest of the house is very much that same, just guest rooms and, of course, our own room on the fourth floor, but we will most definitely be able to acquaint ourselves with that later," he purred, leading her towards a lounge nearby a roaring fireplace. "For now, I would like to have our discussion."

Hermione nodded. "Good, I've been meaning to ask you about that."

He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his strong arms around her. "I was wondering what you would like to have occur around Christmas," he said carefully.

"What do you mean?" she asked curiously.

"I mean, my dear, how would you like to celebrate it? Would you like it if we had guests?" he offered, although that was not the end of it.

"Are you planning on inviting people to stay with us for Christmas?" she asked quietly, looking into his eyes with silent adoration.

"I was thinking of something slightly more elaborate than that, wife," he answered.

"Like?"

"Like, perhaps a Christmas Ball in our manor to celebrate the season as well as hold our first "occasion" as husband and wife," he answered smoothly.

Hermione's eyes lit up with an excitement that he usually only saw as she read a book. "Are you serious? You want to do this? You're actually comfortable with the prospect of hosting lots of people and having a party?"

He nodded and chuckled. "I only ever hated parties because there was never the woman I loved there to enjoy it with. You're here now and I will enjoy any time I spend with you," he said, chortling again at the surprised look he got from Hermione.

"Oh, Severus, I love you!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck and claiming his lips with her own in an open-mouthed kiss.

"I know," he replied cheekily when she broke away.

She swatted him on the shoulder playfully and kissed him on the tip of his nose lightly. "So, who shall we invite?"

"Well, I suppose Albus and Minerva are a given and I assume the rest of the faculty at Hogwarts wouldn't be out of the question. Although, I do believe we spend quite enough time with them and their inane conversations there, let alone be subjected to them on my holiday," he said with all of his usual snarkiness.

Hermione laughed and admonished him lightly. "I will insist that the Potters come and the Weasleys too," she reminded him. "And I suppose that the rest of the old Order had better be on the list."

As she said that, Severus summoned a sheet of paper and a quill and wrote all of the names they had mentioned so far. After about an hour, they had a carefully deliberated list of exactly who would be attending, including Hermione's parents, and settled to just rest against each other as they made plans. They were to have just over two hundred guests and found that they had more than enough rooms to accommodate them for a few days.

"What date shall we have them arrive on?" she asked quietly.

"Shall we have the arrival date on the twenty-fourth and the Ball on Christmas day? Of course, they will have to stay at least one more night after that, as well," he suggested seriously.

"That sounds perfect, husband mine," she said, kissing his thin lips gently.

"And how does dinner in an hour sound to you?" he asked, shifting her off his lap to stand.

"It sounds like we have just enough time to take a bath," she said with a suggestive smile.

Severus could only smirk at his bold little Gryffindor. He held her hand and together they exited the library. It was going to be a wonderful Christmas...