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“You’re coming tonight, right?” Hermione asked him.
Severus frowned. “As if I have a choice.”
“Oh, come on. Molly invited you personally. You have to come.”
He huffed. “Why she cares is beyond me.”
“She wants all her family to be together, even those who are just friends.”
Severus smirked. “She is fond of me for some reason.”
“We should head over together. Meet you in the Entrance Hall at six?” Hermione asked.
“Fine,” he ground out.
Hermione grinned at him happily. “You’ll have fun! It’s a Christmas party.”
“Whatever you say.”
Severus headed to his classroom wondering why he’d agreed to go to the Weasley’s party. He could have found a good reason to duck out, but he wouldn’t. Basically, he’d do anything for Hermione, and she wanted him to go so then he would go.
He sighed. He’d gone and fallen in love with her. More fool him. She seemed very happy with her ginger-haired menace. But he found he could deny her nothing. Beautiful, brilliant, and fierce. She was everything.
Everything he could never have.
Severus shook his head. He hadn’t been this maudlin in a long time. Perhaps it was the holidays. Everyone was overly ecstatic with Christmas almost here. It was disgusting.
He frowned as he approached his classroom. His holidays were never happy. Hard as he tried, he couldn’t remember a happy Christmas. He figured this Christmas would be much the same.
Entering the classroom, he slammed the door behind him and glowered at the students.
“Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four.”
ooo
There was a knock on Severus’ door. He moved over and opened it to find Hermione there. She just about took his breath away. She was in a lovely red robe with fuzzy white cuffs. The white trim went along the hem of the skirt as well.
“You didn’t tell me you were dressing as Mrs. Claus,” he quipped as he opened the door wider for her to enter.
She smiled at him. “And you didn’t tell me you were going to wear something other than black. You look very fine in these robes, Severus.”
He pinked at her praise. He’d carefully selected these dark hunter-green robes for the party–pretty much for her. He was pleased that she liked them.
“Well, Mrs. Claus, you look lovely as well.”
Hermione laughed. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he huffed. “Let’s go.”
He stepped out of his quarters and offered his arm to her. She blushed and took it. They headed to the stairs and up.
“I thought for sure you’d want to Apparate from your room.”
He smirked. “The later we get there, the less time we have to stay.”
Hermione chuckled at that.
“Besides, I am happy to walk you to the gates.”
“Thank you.” She beamed at him. “You seem to be in a good mood.”
He shrugged. “There’s no point in scowling all night, although I did contemplate doing just that.”
“Of course you did,” she said with a laugh.
“I don’t want people to think I’m nice.”
Hermione shook her head at him. “Oh, they’d never think that!”
He smirked at her. “Then I’m doing my job well.”
After a few minutes, they were through the gates. Severus turned to Hermione. “Ready?”
She nodded.
He spun them around, and they appeared in front of the Burrow. Hermione knocked. The door opened magically, and they entered. Severus released her arm as they did.
They were immediately attacked by Molly. She gave Hermione a bear hug first, then turned to hug Severus. He frowned at her, but she ignored him, pulling him into her arms and squeezing him until he could barely breathe.
“So glad you’re here, Severus!” she cried as she pulled away from him. “Both of you come in.”
“Where’s Ron?” Hermione asked Molly.
“He’s around here somewhere!” Molly said as she looked around absently. “Well, you’ll find him,” she continued. With a flip of her hand, she disappeared into the kitchen.
Before Hermione had a chance to look for him, Harry came up and hugged her. He nodded at Snape.
“Glad you’re here,” he said to Hermione. “I’ve missed you.”
She smiled at him. “I’ve missed you too. How are you?”
“Good! Everything’s been really good.”
“How’s Ginny?”
“She’s great. Enjoying playing with the Harpies. I wish she were home more, though.”
“Yeah, that must be hard. Is she here tonight?”
“Yes, she’s in the kitchen helping Molly.”
“Lovely, I’ll say hi to her later. Have you seen Ron?”
“Erm… he was off in the corner chatting with Lavender.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll go find him then,” Hermione said as she moved away from him.
Severus watched her head into the next room. He followed her, noticing Weasley in a discussion with Lavender Brown. He thought it odd the way the ginger was looking at her–almost hungrily.
Hermione went up to Ron and placed her hand on his arm.
“Hi, Ron.”
Ron glanced at her. “Oh, hi,” he said. He then turned back to Lavender and continued discussing whatever was being discussed. Hermione frowned and dropped her hand.
Severus was puzzled at the interchange. Bloody fool, Weasley. What was he doing? He didn’t even know what a treasure he had with Hermione.
Turning from them, he went over and started chatting with Arthur.
“How is work at the Ministry?” he asked.
“Oh, Severus, so good you could come. It’s quite good. With Kingsley as Minister, things are much calmer in every division. He’s working to make laws that are fair to all.”
“Sounds marvelous. I didn’t think the Ministry would ever change.”
“I know what you mean,” Arthur replied with a grin. “He really wants to revolutionize our government.”
“Brilliant.”
They conversed for a while about their jobs. George came around with a tray of drinks, offering them to Arthur and Severus. They each took one. Severus brought the festive punch glass up to his nose and sniffed the drink. One could never be too careful when a Weasley was involved with drink making. He smelled nothing. The punch seemed clean.
He noticed Arthur had already taken a large swig of the punch as he tried some from his own cup. His eyes grew wide as the drink settled within him. It had been laced with Veritaserum.
Severus slammed up his Occlumency walls so he didn’t say anything he would regret. Arthur had no such defense for the tainted punch. Molly wandered up at that point.
“How’s everything, love?” she asked.
He frowned. “Must you make those mince pies every year?”
She looked at him curiously. “They’re your favorite!”
“Ugh, they’re foul. I just tell you they’re my favorite so as not to hurt your feelings.”
Molly’s mouth dropped open. “Well, why did you decide to bring it up now?”
Severus backed off slowly as Arthur tried to defend himself, but the truth serum just kept getting him in more trouble. Turning from the hosts, he placed his punch cup on the table and went in search of George. He found him in the kitchen, filling more punch glasses.
“Weasley, why did you lace that with Veritaserum?”
“Oh, I didn’t do it. I saw Percy pour something into this. I thought it might be a babbling potion or maybe a laughing potion, but once I tried it, I knew it was Veritaserum.”
Severus looked at him crossly. “Then why are you passing it out?”
George shrugged. “Seemed like it might make for an interesting evening. Besides, some of us need some loosening up, and others need to be more truthful.”
“What are you on about?”
George looked over at Percy, who was deep in discussion with his wife Audrey. His gaze returned to Severus. “Percy knows Ron is cheating on Hermione. He caught him snogging Lavender a couple of weeks ago. He told him to tell Hermione, but he doesn’t think he has. He just wants the truth to come out.”
“So, you poison everyone?”
He shrugged. “Percy isn’t one to plan well, but this will be effective.” He looked down at the cups. “Besides, it’s not poison. It’s just something that loosens tongues.”
Severus huffed and turned from George. He went to go find Hermione to let her know that the punch was laced and not to drink it, but as he neared her, he saw her already drinking some. She turned to Ron, who was still deep in conversation with the Brown girl. Severus came up behind Hermione as she began to speak.
“Ron, you’ve been ignoring me all night. What’s going on?”
Ron turned to her. He looked like he was trying to not speak, but he couldn’t help himself. Bugger probably already downed a full punch glass of the party serum.
“I’m sick of you. I’m with Lavender now. You’re a frigid bitch, and I was going to break it off with you after the holidays.” He got a hard look in his eye. “No time like the present, I guess.”
Hermione looked stunned. She looked between Lavender and Ron. “How long have you been cheating on me?”
‘True love isn’t cheating, ‘Mione. We’ve been together for a month now.”
Hermione frowned at him. Her wand was out, and she’d thrown the hex at him before he even registered that she had cast a spell. He yelped as the hex knocked him to the floor. Curling up in a ball, he moaned in agony.
Hermione bent over him, her wand in his face.
“You can have her.”
Ron snarled at her. “You’ll never find anyone better than me.”
Hermione laughed. “You’re a poor excuse for a lover. Besides, I’ve been in love with Severus for a while now. I was only seeing you because he is unattainable. I won’t miss you or your jealousy, Ronald Weasley.”
She straightened and turned to move away from him. It was then that her eyes grew wide as she saw Severus standing behind her.
“Oh God,” she muttered. She looked into Severus' eyes and bit her lip. Raising her wand, she simply Apparated away. Severus stared after her, dumbfounded.
“Figures she loves you,” Weasley said as he got up off the floor. “No wonder she wouldn’t put out.”
Severus’ wand was drawn immediately. “Do not speak about her like that.”
“Shut up, you bloody git.”
The hex came quickly, and Weasley found himself on the floor again. Severus loomed over him as Lavender stooped down and started examining him carefully.
“You don’t deserve her, you wretched excuse for a man.” He turned to Lavender. “Watch yourself with this one. If he’s willing to cheat once, he’ll do it again.”
With that, Severus also spun and Apparated away, leaving the rest of the partygoers to enjoy the truthfulness of the party punch. As he left, he heard several loud conversations happening. He was glad to be done with all of it.
ooo
He appeared on the grounds, but she wasn’t there. She must have already entered the building. He debated Apparating right to her room or trying to follow her, catching her if she hadn’t gotten there yet.
Knowing Hermione, she had probably run to her room. He decided to Apparate directly there. He used a quick spell at her door to ensure she was in her quarters before knocking. After a minute and no answer, he knocked again.
Nothing.
“Hermione?” he called through the door as he knocked again a bit louder.
Still nothing.
“Hermione, I know you’re in there. Please open the door.”
Silence.
“Hermione Granger, open this door now!”
Even his strongest teaching voice did not move her to let him in. He cleared his throat.
“Please open the door. I want to discuss this with you, but we will both be embarrassed if I am forced to scream it through a closed door.”
He waited a bit, and she finally opened the door, looking small and vulnerable.
He stopped himself from embracing her and giving her comfort right then and there. “May I come in?”
She didn’t say anything, but stepped back, opening the door to let him through. He passed by her and turned around as she closed the door behind him. She turned to him and immediately looked to the floor.
“You love me,” he said finally.
She closed her eyes and nodded. “Please, don’t avoid me. I treasure our friendship and don’t want it to end because I do.”
“I drank the punch too, Hermione. I’ve been Occluding since I realized it was laced with Veritaserum. Maybe you should ask me something. I have dropped my shields and will be truthful.”
Her eyes met his, and she studied him carefully. Finally, she asked her question.
“Will this ruin our friendship?”
“No.”
She seemed curious about his reply, but said nothing.
“Ask,” he urged her.
“Why won’t it affect our friendship? Won’t you be reluctant to spend time with me?” she sighed and looked away.
“No, Hermione, I will still want to spend time with you. You see, I have been in love with you for ages,” he said, feeling relieved that his secret was finally out.
“Severus…” she gasped.
“I am. I love you just as you love me. You said I was unattainable. I thought you were the one who was unattainable because of your relationship with Weasley and the fact that it seemed impossible that you could feel anything but friendship for me.”
She took a step toward him, searching his face. “You’re such a solitary man. I didn’t think that you wanted a relationship of any kind. I mean… Harry’s mum…”
His arms came up, and he grasped her. “Merlin, Hermione, all I have thought of for the last year is you! You’re beautiful and brilliant, and… everything I value in a woman. I am not in love with Lily, nor have I been for a long time. But I couldn’t help falling in love with you.” He searched her face before continuing. “I doubted that your friendship was anything more than just… friendship. Like you, I didn’t want to ruin that friendship with words of love. I feared you’d avoid me at all costs after that.”
“Merlin, I can’t believe this,” Hermione murmured.
“Neither can I.”
Hermione reached up and pulled his head down. Her lips pressed against his. She kissed him lovingly. Her tongue begged for entrance. He was surprised, but opened up to her and reveled in her adoration. She pulled back quickly.
“You are in love with me,” she said breathlessly.
“I am.”
She looked joyous. He smiled at her, and she did the same, lighting up his world like never before. Leaning in, he captured her lips and groaned as they once again were connected and showed their passion for one another.
They broke off the kiss, and he rested her forehead against hers.
“How long?” she asked.
“How long what?”
“Have you loved me?”
He let the Veritaserum coursing through his veins give him the courage to tell her everything. Smirking slightly, he began, “It seems like forever, but I think it started a couple of years ago when you stood up for that Slytherin student who was being bullied by the Gryffindors.”
“Oh, they made me furious.”
“That’s the thing, Hermione. No one ever gets furious when the Slytherins are at the receiving end of hexes or bullying. No one but you. I marveled at your fairness and we started to talk more. I found the more we talked, the more I wanted to find out more about you. You’re… you don’t understand how wonderful you are.”
“Am I?” she whispered.
“Yes, of course.”
She looked down. “Ron always makes me feel like a burden. Like some nag who won't let him have any fun.”
He gently grasped her chin and tilted her head back up so he could look into her eyes. “You are not a nag, and Weasley is an idiot. Do you believe me?”
She searched his eyes then finally spoke. “I want to, it’s just that…”
“Tell me.”
“Ron is convinced that he’s the only one who would deal with me. He’s said it almost for as long as I can remember.”
“I’m going to flay him alive the next time I see him,” Severus muttered.
“He’s not worth it, Severus. He’s foul.”
“Then why do you believe him? He’s just trying to make himself feel more important. You… you are wonderful. Brilliant, caring, dedicated, funny. You could have any man you wanted.”
“You really think so?” Hermione asked him.
“Of course, Hermione.” He kissed her softly. “If I have to, I will spend the rest of my life making sure you know that and believe that about yourself.”
“You would want to do that?” she asked in wonderment.
He nodded. “Do you believe me?”
She studied him carefully. “Yes, I do.”
“Good. After all, I’ve taken Veritaserum,” he said with a grin. “You are wonderful and should always know that.”
“You’re wonderful too.”
“I am just tolerable, and I know it.”
“Severus…” she said as she looked into his eyes. “You have felt inferior about yourself for too long. You are a marvelous man. I see how loyal you are. I love that about you. And down below all that crustiness is someone who just wants to be appreciated. I appreciate you.”
He moved into her and captured her lips again. “Kissing you is like heaven,” he said. Pulling back, he scowled. “This Veritaserum is annoying.”
Hermione laughed. “You can keep showering me with compliments. I like it.”
“Well, then…” He squeezed her. “Having you in my arms feels so right, Hermione. Like we were made for each other.”
She nodded. “I feel that way too.” She embraced him and laid her head on his chest. “I never thought this would be possible, and I’ve never been happier to be wrong.”
He squeezed her. “Me too.” Pulling back, he looked down at her. “Thanks for convincing me to go to that blasted party.”
Hermione laughed. “I guess we need to thank someone for lacing the punch, hmm?”
“George said it was Percy.”
“I’ll send him an owl in the morning.”
Severus leaned in and captured her lips again, keeping her from saying anything more. She squeaked a little with his onslaught before she opened up and enjoyed him to the fullest.
And they lived TOGETHER happily ever after.
The End