Christmas at the Burrow

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Chapter 28 – Christmas at the Burrow

Nearly every holiday for the past four years, Hermione Granger had been with the Weasleys. She loved her parents; however, her world was not their world, and her ways were not their ways. The distance between them grew more prominent after the war. It was difficult for the Grangers to see their daughter as a war veteran. So, she did not have high hopes for them to understand her choice of a future husband.

Naturally, her parents wanted her to themselves for the holidays, but she explained to them that this was a very special Christmas for Severus. This would be his first Christmas with his son. It had been confusing and difficult for her mum and dad to understand the relationship between Severus and Harry. Nevertheless, they understood that a sixteen-year separation won over a four-year separation, and they wished Harry their best with his “Dad.”

It was strange for Severus, as well. He had acquired a witch and had been reunited with his son. It was far too an emotional setting to remain comfortable and at ease. Severus was not used to the hustle and bustle of the Burrow. He remained quite silent and subdued for most of the meal. Afterwards, Harry invited Severus for a walk, and Hermione was happy for the two of them to have some time alone. It also was a perfect time for the witches to gather and gossip about Hermione’s new relationship.

The Lupins, along with Andromeda Tonks, came over for dessert. Tonks declared she wasn’t going to miss this for the world! The wizards rolled their eyes as they were shooed out of the dining room. George pulled out his trusty Extendable Ears so they could hear as well. That was all except Ron, who declared just knowing Hermione had shagged Snape was enough for him to lose a perfectly good dinner!

***

Hermione sat around the dinner table with Tonks, Andromeda, Ginny, Molly, Lavender, and Fleur, drinking tea.

“Right then, ladies! I call the Witches’ Circle to order!” declared Tonks importantly as she banged her fist to bring everyone to order.

“We are gathered here today to officially induct Hermione into the Witches’ Circle! We are all having active relations with our significant others. Sorry, Molly, I know you’re not happy about your two youngest having pre-marital sex, but I’m sure soon all shall be remedied,” she said smoothly.

“Today, I have no comment!” Molly answered graciously. “This is all about our Hermione. Now what is that on your wrist?” she said pointedly.

Hermione looked at her Christmas present from Severus and stared at it with admiration.

They all lean in closely to look at the ruby bracelet and stared earnestly at the young witch until Hermione burst into a fit of laughter. They all laughed with her—it was far too hilarious!

***

Outside, George was giving the play-by-play. “Blimey, there’ll all laughing!” he said, confused.

Arthur shook his head sadly. Lupin was just confused. “That can’t be good,” he said worriedly.

“You think?” said Bill sarcastically as he turned to look at Lupin sitting next to him on the couch.

“Oy! They’re talkin’!” hissed George as he waved his hands to quiet them down.

***

“Well,” said Ginny as she wiped the laughing tears from her eyes, “we have to start somewhere. Who wants to ask the first question?”

“Oooh, me!” said Tonks saucily as she rubbed her hands together. “I’ve always wanted to know if Snape is hung—really hung!”

More laughter and giggles came from the women.

***

“Tonks wants to know how hung Snape is—they’re laughing!” George said. He shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. “Poor sod!”

***

Hermione took a deep breath. “Well, I didn’t have a tape measure on me, mind you. Also, I was a virgin, so I have nothing to compare it to, really,” she said apologetically.

“There you are!” said Molly with a flourish of her wand. There on the table was a conjured tape measure.”

“That’s just scary!” whispered Ginny.

Hermione took it and screwed up her eyes, trying to remember. I think about 24 or 25 centimeters,” she said as she contemplated it. “Yes, I’m positive, in between there.”

She looked at the shocked and pale faces around her.

“What?”

***

“Bugger me sideways!” George whispered.

“What?” asked the men all at once.

“Snape’s hung. I mean, really hung!”

“How ‘hung?’” asked Ron worriedly.

“She said either 24 or 25 centimeters. I think they may have all fainted!” George exclaimed with a smirk. He could smirk, he was just as blessed!

Lupin sighed. “George, I don’t care about the ruddy details. I just want to know if Severus is going to get hexed or not when he and Harry get back! So, I want to know things such as, is she crying? Has she been traumatized? Happy as can be? Everything satisfactory? Understand?” he said irritably.

“Alright then, don’t get your knickers in a twist!” George shot back.

***

“Hermione,” said Ginny with a genuine look of concern on her face. “Are you serious? If he’s like—you know—are you okay?”

She laughed. “Of course, silly! I’m sleeping with a Potions master. He’s got anything a girl could need for aches and pains!”

They all giggled.

“So, eez ‘e good?” asked Fleur.

“Yes,” Hermione said, knowing she was blushing.

“Was he able to make you orgasm?” asked Andromeda seriously. “That’s VERY important!”

Hermione smiled. “More than once,” she whispered.

“Oh, you are blessed!” exclaimed Lavender. “Not many virgins I know can say that about their first time!”

“It was lovely,” Hermione said, her eyes shining. She told them all about the wine and the fire, how gentle he was, and then how passionate. “It was perfect. We talked and shared things, you know, private things, and he held me, and was patient, and—”

“I can’t believe this is Professor Snape you’re talking about!” Lavender exclaimed.

“I know!” Ginny said in awe. “I guess it’s true what they say about the quiet ones.”

“I beg to differ,” interjected Tonks. “Snape is not quiet. He just bides his time until the perfect moment when he can unleash his snarkiness!”

***

“They’re laughing a lot!” reported George.

“Poor Severus,” said Arthur sadly. “Hasn’t got a chance, does he? Bless him!”

***

“All right, Hermione,” said Molly seriously. “Oral sex. How is his viewpoint on it? Is it mutual or only for him? And if he reciprocates, is he good at it?”

Hermione thought about it and said, “He is very interested in at least doing it to me, he didn’t say a word about wanting me to do it to him, but honestly the subject never arose. We were far too intrigued with intercourse to go exploring.”

“Zat eez good. ‘E eez a caring lover, et zeems, oui?” commented Fleur.

“Quite right,” agreed Andromeda. The women were nodding and smiling. Ginny knew that Hermione was far too private to indulge any further. She leaned over and kissed her friend on the cheek.

“I’m so happy for you, Hermione! All the best in your future with Professor Snape,” she said warmly.

“Here, here!” chimed the rest.

***

“Ah, it’s alright then, lads!” said George with a grin. “They are all happy as a Thestral with raw meat!”

“Ugh, nice!” said Ron with a grimace.

Arthur and Lupin sighed. “Good job, Severus!” said Arthur as he raised his glass of firewhiskey to toast the absent wizard. “We can all rest easy tonight!”

***

Harry and Severus took the time to Apparate to Godric’s Hollow. “I wanted to come with you to her grave,” explained Severus as they entered the cemetery. “I know you were here before, and well, I thought it would be good to face this together.”

Harry walked with Severus to where James and Lily rested. “It’s so strange. I was here almost a year ago to the day!” said Harry. “I never knew before, but the date on her headstone is wrong!”

“Not anymore,” said Severus. He took his wand and changed the date of Lily’s date from October 31, 1981 to June 4, 1982.

Harry put his arm around his father. “Mum,” Harry said. “I want you to know I forgive you for leaving us. I know now that you were sick and thought you were doing the right thing for me. I love you for all that you sacrificed. Things didn’t work out the way that you had hoped, but I stopped Voldemort, and Severus had been there the whole time, helping me, and taking care of me even when I hadn’t even known it. He’s become a real dad to me now, and I promise I will do what you asked. I met a wonderful witch. She has red hair like you, but brown eyes. She’s pretty feisty with the Bat-Bogey Hex and can cast a Reducto Curse like no one else! She’s the one. Her name is Ginny. I promise, I’ll give you grandbabies, and Severus here will be a brilliant granddad.”

Harry stepped to the side and knelt down to talk to James. “Dad, I hope you aren’t disappointed in me. I know you never liked Severus, but he’s a great man and has been there for me. I would like to think you would have looked down and understood that he tried his best to make me tough so I could do what needed to be done. I really care about him. He’s my dad too, now. I hope you can accept that. I wish I could have known you, but Sirius told me a lot about you, and I have Remus to remind me and tell me things. He and Severus are practically best friends, if you can believe it! I’ll always love you, Dad.”

He got up from James’ graveside, brushing off the snow from his pants. He was grateful that Severus had given him his space. Now it was time to return the same courtesy.

Severus knelt at Lily’s grave. “I barely remember burying you. It was all so clandestine and strange. Harry is a wonderful young man. Still a bit headstrong, typical Gryffindor, but he’s getting better as he gets older. Ginny will be a good wife to him. He’s right about her hexing. She’s a regular spitfire, just like you, Lily.

“We had dreams, didn’t we? So many dreams, but that was all there was to it. I really hated you for a long time, Lily. It took me years to realize that. I sure made life miserable for a lot of other women and myself because of my anger. I don’t think I shall ever understand why you did it, why you left us, but I can understand that you never could have been happy with me. You wanted to be with Potter. Well, he’s your husband. I can understand that now.

“I met someone. Well, not ‘just’ met—rather she is one of Harry’s best friends and a student of mine. She’s very unique and special. Her name is Hermione. I love her, and she loves me. She loves me the way I had always hoped you would and, then after you died, someone would but never happened. I can scarcely believe she has loved me for so long, she’s so young. It was Lupin and Harry that got me to see the light. I’m going to marry her, Lily, and I’m finally going to have the life I always wanted and never felt I deserved.

“Harry was taken from me, Lily. I didn’t get to raise him. I wanted to, well, anyway, he’s grown, and we’re starting over. He calls me ‘Dad’ now. It’s rather nice. I’ll make sure to look after the grandchildren, Lily. Even if he names one of them James!”

He glanced over at James’ Potter’s grave and said, “Well, you old bastard, I think the boy turned out alright. Even if he has your unfortunate face! He’s a damn good flier, I’m sure you’re happy about that. I’m sure you and Black are having a right good time laughing and causing all kinds of hell wherever you are. I’ll try not to be such a prick when recounting our past to the grandchildren. Just don’t expect me to wax poetic about the great ‘Marauders.’ I’ll leave that to Remus.”

“Lily, I forgive you for hurting me. You hurt me badly, but I forgive you, and I can release you now. I have to let you go, so I can give all of me to Hermione. Yet, there will always be a place in my heart that will remember all what you gave me. I’m sorry you had been in so much pain, but having Harry was the best thing—the greatest gift. Everything was taken away in the end, nothing ended up how we planned. Yet the love remained. I never stopped loving Harry, caring about him. I wanted to. I had wanted to forget him and the life we had, but I couldn’t. He’s my son, and I’ll always love him. So, I suppose I should thank you at least for giving me the honor of experiencing that kind of relationship. I don’t know if Hermione and I will have babies. I hope so, I would like to. I just know that if I had not had the experience I had with Harry, I wouldn’t be able to have the fortitude to do it now. Bye, Lily, and thank you for Harry.”

Severus stood up, and he turned towards Harry.

“Are you ready, Dad?” Harry called to him.

“I am,” he said solemnly.

***

They returned back to the Burrow, and Severus couldn’t help but notice the silly giggles and covert glances between the witches around him. He sat after Miss Weasley graciously took his cloak from him while Fleur made a fuss over getting him a comfortable place on the sofa. Then, Miss Brown gave him a hot cup of cocoa with a loving smile. Miss Brown had never, ever smiled at him. He could scarcely remember her remotely looking at him! Andromeda Tonks gave him a throw for his legs in case he was cold. Severus was confused by all of the estrogen floating around him.

Mrs. Weasley came in with a nice, thick slice of cake for him. He was going to refuse when Lupin gave him a discreet kick in the leg. He accepted it, and when she had left—when all the witches had left—he turned to face the wizards who were sniggering behind their papers and books.

“Lupin, what the hell is this?” he demanded suspiciously. “Never in all my life have I been fawned over by a group of witches! Not that it isn’t pleasant, but it is rather unsettling.”

“I told you, Severus,” replied Lupin as he casually flipped though the Daily Prophet. “Hermione has just been through her inquisition about your ‘abilities.’ I daresay you passed with flying colors! Besides, I would think you’d appreciate being ‘fawned over.’ Lord knows you’ve not had a lot of experiences with that,” he said with a smirk on his face.

Severus turned ghostly white. “You mean you were actually being truthful? They dared!” he bellowed.

“Now, Severus,” said Arthur. “It’s tradition. Especially since Hermione is a Muggle-born. For centuries, wizards have treated witches horribly! This is now their way of making sure one of their own is not being ill-used and abused.”

“Still there was a lot of laughing going on,” said George viciously.

Severus was halfway to hexing the boy when Hermione came in with Tonks.

“Wotcher, Snape!”

“Nymphadora,” he ground out angrily.

“Oh, George, “ Hermione said innocently, “your mum would like a word with you, if you don’t mind?” She smiled sweetly at him.

Ron gave a snort.

“I take it we missed something important?” asked Harry as he sat down.

“No,” said Lupin. “Hermione has officially joined the Witches’ Circle, and Severus passed the inquisition.”

“Ah, alright then!” Harry said as he settled down in a chair to rest.

Snape looked at all the calm faces around him. “Please tell me this is some colossal joke!” he fumed.

“No, Severus,” said Bill. “You must have really impressed them. I can’t remember the last time Andromeda did anything for us lads!”

“Ahem,” said Lupin. “I was given a lovely cup of tea, if you’ve forgotten.”

“Oh, that doesn’t count, old man! You were marrying her daughter!”

“Well, at any rate, I do think Severus made quite the impression,” teased Lupin.

“Yeah, I didn’t get cake!” grumbled Ron.

“Perhaps you weren’t deserving, son,” replied Arthur nonchalantly.

Harry busted out laughing.

“Hose down, Harry!” Ron said as he turned a furious shade of scarlet.

“You’re just still mad that I got fed grapes!” Harry announced smugly.

That got Snape’s attention. “Who fed you grapes?” he asked.

“Tonks. She said she was right proud of me. I knew better though. I knew if I didn’t do right by Ginny, my bollocks would be up for grabs!” he said as he fairly shuddered.

“I find this entire conversation quite lewd and disturbing!” snapped the Potions master. “Arthur, how can you stand knowing your daughter is engaging in sexual congress so blatantly in front of you!”

“Because Harry proposed last night,” he said with a smile.

“Mr. Weasley!” said Harry, visibly upset. He walked over to Snape. “I’m sorry,” Harry whispered. “I was going to tell you privately later.” He shot a peevish look at his future father-in-law.

“Is the witch with child?” Severus asked abruptly.

Harry was taken aback. “No, not that I am aware.”

“Just why have you decided to marry Miss Weasley?” he asked sharply. “Not that I object, of course. Miss Weasley is a wonderful catch.”

Severus could see Arthur sit up straighter in his chair proudly.

“Blimey, he is acting like a dad!” whispered Ron to Bill.

“Sir, I love her. She’s the only witch for me,” Harry said stoutly.

Snape was undeterred. “How will you be supporting her and any children that might come along?”

“I am in Auror Training and have been quite frugal over the years with the money left by my father’s side of the family. I have quite the nest egg set aside to buy a house. We want to settle in Hogsmeade, and I’ll Floo to work in the morning to the Ministry from there. Ginny will be trying her hand with one of the professional Quidditch teams whilst I’m in training. We’ll not have the most traditional marriages to start with, but eventually, we will settle in and start having those grandbabies my mum wanted so badly.”

“Humph!” Snape replied. “I assume that Arthur read you the riot act?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

Snape looked at his son with one of his infamous glares. “Know that if I ever hear of you mistreating, neglecting your duties as a husband, or ever striking her, you will have more than just the Weasleys to deal with!” he said imperiously. “No son of mine shall be a shiftless ne’er-do-well!”

“I won’t let you down, sir.” Harry grinned.

“I’m sure of that, Harry. However, I still plan to keep my eye on you. Congratulations,” he said as he offered his hand. Harry shook it happily. Snape stood and clapped a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Now, if you will excuse me, I shall congratulate my future daughter-in-law.”

He stepped into the kitchen and went directly to Ginny. She was chatting animatedly and cleaning furiously at the sink. The other women hushed and quickly slipped away when they realized Professor Snape wanted to speak with her. His eyes were warm and moist. Ginny dried her hands and faced him.

“Ginerva—Ginny,” he said softly. “I would like to see the ring my boy gave you.”

“Oh!” she exclaimed. It was a modest diamond ring. Not flashy, but not cheap. He stared at it for a long time whilst holding her hand. He began to speak as he caressed her hand in his.

“Please, respect the power you have over him,” he whispered. His voice was strained and sad. “Never lie to him, love him with all your being. Please, do not break his heart by keeping secrets you think might be for his own good. There never should be secrets! Never!” He looked into her eyes, and she embraced him.

She released him and took his hands in hers. “I’ve loved Harry Potter ever since I was a ten-year-old girl. There was never anyone really. I had to walk away from him so he could really take me seriously. Now, he’s mine, and I’ll never let him go!” she said passionately. “I know you can appreciate the depth of my love and loyalty for him.”

He kissed her on the forehead. “Thank you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “And I do understand, Ginny. I really do.”

He turned, and Hermione was there standing with a smile just for him. “Let’s go, Severus. My parents want to meet you,” she said happily.