Happy Christmas Severus Snape: A Challenge Fic

A Christmas Miracle
By: Snapes_Goddess



Challenge The holidays are upon us and what better way to celebrate then with some holiday romance and cheer!!! The challenge is simple.....The holidays must be involved in some way!! (Now how easy is that??) =) This story is obviously DM/HG but I am also posting it under LM/HG.....so the pairing is really your choice! I look forward to reading your submissions!!! Merry Christmas All!!!! Love, LadyBlueEyes


Since she didn’t have her SS/HG ready and I do she asked me to post the challenge…so here you go! Hop to it all!!!!



For LadyBlueEyes Holiday fic Challenge…….




The Kingdom –(heaven for the magically inclined)


Remus Lupin stood before The Panel and waited for a response. The Panel consisted of Merlin, Circe, Nimue and Morganna Le Fey, they ultimately decided the fate of every witch and wizard that crossed over, determining whether or not they would be admitted to The Kingdom. It had been over ten years since he had crossed over, ten years of living in paradise with family and friends. There was only one thing preventing him from enjoying it fully, he missed Sirius. When he crossed into the Veil he was transported into a ‘limbo’ where the passing of time meant nothing, there was nothing, it was simply a void where he existed without any form of consciousness.


Remus finally gathered enough courage to petition The Panel to retrieve Sirius and consider him for entrance to The Kingdom. They were torn, while Sirius had been essentially a good man he was a hedonist, a blasphemer and had a tendency to rebel. Those personality traits led to a rather long list of sins for which Sirius had to atone.


“Why do you seek his admittance, Lupin? You are such opposites.” Circe asked, eyeing him curiously.

“For all his faults he was always a good friend to me, Madame. I miss his company and would have him rewarded for his service to wizard kind during the war.” Remus kept his eyes downcast, knowing that it would be considered an insult should he look The Panel in the eye.

“Fetch him from the Veil; I am of a mind to speak with your Sirius Black.” Merlin ordered. Two centaurs rushed to do his bidding. Remus Lupin was a good man without question. He was quiet, studious and honorable. If he thought Black deserving then perhaps he was. It didn’t take very long for the centaurs to return, Sirius Black between them with a confused expression on his face. As soon as he saw Remus he rushed forward and pulled the other man into his arms, laughing and embracing him tightly.


“I hate to break up your reunion but, Sirius Black, please step forward and present yourself to The Panel.” Nimue demanded. Sirius stepped back from his friend and approached the high dais where the four sat upon gilded thrones.

“Who are you?” He asked suspiciously.


“Sirius, watch your tone. This is essentially the gate to heaven and these are the gatekeepers, Merlin, Nimue, Circe and Morgana, you have been pulled from the veil so they may decide your fate.” Remus said, his hand on his friend’s shoulder.


“Decide my fate? I am confused.”

“The night in the Department of Mysteries, your cousin cast the killing curse and you fell through the Veil, it has been thirteen years, Sirius. I fell during the war, along with many others.” He said softly.


“Harry?” His expression turned worried.

“Alive and well, married to the Weasley girl with a small family.” Remus smiled softly. “I have missed you, mate, I petitioned The Panel for your admittance into The Kingdom.”


“Is that so?” Sirius turned to The Panel. He scanned the four of them arrogantly, boldly and actually had the nerve to wink at Morganna. “So am I worthy?”

“You are an arrogant cad!” Morganna snapped. “How dare you address us so boldly? You were a spoiled, ungrateful creature in life clean up until you went to prison, and when you got out you indulged yourself at every opportunity with drink and loose women! You were a bully, taking pleasure at the expense of others. What makes you think you deserve admittance into The Kingdom?”

“My devilish good looks?” He smirked.

“Enough! Do not provoke her wrath, Sirius Black; she can be vengeful when she is crossed.” Merlin said as he stroked the length of his beard. “I think that perhaps you should be set a task. If you succeed in your task then you shall have admittance.”


“What sort of task?”

“You will right a great wrong from your life. You played a vital part in the misery of another’s life; you will correct the damage you have done.” Nimue smiled.

“And who is it I am supposed to have wronged so grievously?” He asked.

“Severus Snape. You are to bring the greatest happiness he has ever known into his life by Christmas, do this and you will live out eternity in paradise, fail and you return to the void of the veil.” Circe said, grinning smugly.


“Snivellus? He is incapable of happiness! He has never been happy, even as a child! This task is impossible!” Sirius complained.

“A large part of the reason he is unhappy is because of you. You and James Potter tormented him mercilessly; your actions pushed him towards those evil people and led him into a life of misery. You will make it right or you shall not have your peace.” Morganna snapped, she found him irritating.

“And just how am I supposed to accomplish this impossible feat?” He asked.

“Severus Snape works with the woman who is his one true love. She is destined to thaw his icy heart and bring him pure joy for all his remaining days. The problem is they are both too stubborn to see it.” Merlin said, rolling his eyes. “You are going to find a way to make them see.”


“And who is this woman? Surely she must be a Saint among witches if she is destined for Snape.” Sirius snorted.


“Hermione Granger.” Morganna smirked when Sirius and Remus both gasped simultaneously.

“You can’t be serious! Hermione is just a child!” Remus protested.

“You can not possible pair that brilliant, sweet girl with that snarling old bat!” Sirius looked horrified at the thought.

“She is not a child, she is coming up on her thirtieth natal day and she IS his.” Circe said. “Now, it is the first day of December, you have until Christmas to make them see what is right in front of them. Lupin, you will go with him to assist and to keep an eye on him and make sure he stays on mission.”

“But….” Sirius started to protest but Merlin interrupted.

“Good luck to you, gentlemen.” With a smile and a lazy flick of his hand Remus and Sirius were sucked into a swirling vortex and deposited on the grounds of Hogwarts.


~Observations~


It didn’t take long for Remus and Sirius to realize that they couldn’t be seen, not even by the school ghosts. They wasted a small amount of time wandering around the school while Remus told him the story of the war and Voldemort’s demise. He was disappointed to have missed out on the victory but very proud of his godson. As the day passed on they moved their conversation from the past back onto the task at hand.

“So what do you know of them?” Sirius asked as they moved through the halls.

“Severus was seriously wounded in the war, bitten by Voldemort’s familiar he nearly died. He resumed his position as Headmaster of the school when he recovered and was found to be innocent. Hermione eventually became the school librarian when Madame Pince retired.” They moved up the winding staircase that led to the Headmaster’s office and down the hall to the large wooden door.

“Do you have any ideas as to how he might feel about Hermione?” Sirius asked as they passed through the door and into the office where Severus was chastising students.

“He protected her, challenged her, he respected her though she annoyed him. I couldn’t begin to tell you what their interactions are like now.” Remus said, his head tilted to the side. It appeared that Snape was enjoying himself as he tore into the two boys.

“How do you know so much?” Sirius asked.

“We are allowed to check in from time to time on those we love.” He said softly. “It is nice in the Kingdom, Sirius. It is a peaceful and happy place where every thing you want is provided.”

“That is wonderful, Remus, but if I can not find a way to make Snape and Hermione notice each other I am doomed to return to the veil.” He said, watching the two students flee the office as quickly as possible while Severus smirked in pure sadistic delight. “Sadistic bastard.” He muttered.

“Well, obviously he hasn’t changed much.” Remus said. “Maybe we should go have a look at Hermione.”

They left the headmaster’s office and went to the library. It was certainly more organized than they had ever seen it, the restricted section updated with better security measures and the books all neatly situated on the shelves. She stood in the center of the library between the tables with her head bent over a book and a soft smile on her lips.

“It’s actually painful to see her all grown up.” Sirius said as he pressed his hand against his stomach.

“She is quite lovely, isn’t she?” Remus smiled as he watched her, her pretty amber eyes bright as she absorbed whatever knowledge the book in her hands contained, her soft lips moist and slightly parted as she smiled. Her neck was bared as she pulled all of her curly brown hair to one side. Even in her robes he could tell that she had a nice shape to her, she was a beautiful woman, how could Snape not have noticed that?

“I see her nose is still stuck in a book.” Sirius said. “Alright, Remus, we don’t have very long to make this happen. Let’s get to work.”



~Sound The Alarm~

The spell on the Restricted Section of the library were set to alert both Hermione and the Headmaster if a student attempted to breach the security without authorization. So it was that at three in the morning the spell was activated and the noise rang out in their respective bedchambers. As expected both of them made their way hurriedly to the library meeting up outside of the restricted sections wrought iron door.

“Did you catch the student responsible?” Severus asked as he approached her. Hermione tilted her head to the side, wondering how it was that he was fully dressed at 3AM. Did he sleep fully clothed?

“No, the gate isn’t open and I do not detect anyone in the library either.” She said, looking around in confusion. What had set off the alarms?

”They’re here, now what?” Remus asked, watching Severus and Hermione scan the library.


“Why is he wearing clothes and not pajamas?” Sirius asked, frowning at Severus.


“He’s an insomniac, has been for a very long time, maybe he hadn’t been to bed yet, or maybe he used a spell to dress himself when the alarms went off…why does it matter?” Remus asked.


“It just makes it easier if they are already dressed for bed. At least she is in her nightclothes.” Sirius pondered Hermione for a moment, noting that she was wearing a plush robe over her nightgown.

“We aren’t trying to get them in bed together, Sirius; we just need for them to notice each other.”


“And how do you think we are going to do that? By making him want to take her to bed, that’s how!” Sirius said stepping closer to Hermione, with a sly grin he focused his energy and reached for the loosely knotted sash at her waist. Slowly, carefully, he began to tug one of the ends.


“Perhaps there is a fault with your wards?” Severus scanned the dimly lit library for hidden youth but saw nothing.


“There is nothing wrong with my wards thank you very much. Something tripped them up. Perhaps one of the student’s familiars?” She suggested.

“I don’t see any.” He turned towards her and his back went rigid immediately. Her robe was gaping, the sash having come loose. He could see the mauve colored satin gown edged in cream lace that she wore beneath it. It clung to her breasts, pebbled nipples strained against the material in the cold castle air. When had she gotten breasts? She was just a girl! Slowly his eyes raked over her. Ok, so maybe she wasn’t just a girl, she was very clearly a woman.


“Well, as long as there are no students poking about where they shouldn’t it doesn’t really matter.” She said, looking over at him. She noticed him staring and glanced down to her open dressing gown. With a gasp when hurriedly retied the sash. “If you will excuse me, Sir, I think I will go back to bed.” She was blushing when their eyes met.

“Yes, you do that, be careful when you reset your wards, I do not wish to be disturbed again for no reason.” Severus frowned at her and then turned on his heel and walked away. She stared after him, shaking her head as she pulled the lapels of her robe more tightly together. Would she ever understand him?

”Well, that was a bit anti-climactic.” Remus said as he watched Hermione reset the wards and then hurry back to her rooms.

“Well I didn’t expect them to fall into bed together; I just wanted them to think about the idea.” Sirius said.

“And instead he pretty much called her incompetent and walked away.” Remus frowned in the direction where Snape had disappeared.

“No, he looked at her; he took a nice long look at her alright.” Sirius laughed. “He liked what he saw too.”



~Damsel In Distress

”This isn’t going to work.” Remus said grumpily as he watched Sirius cast a spell over the two giant nutcrackers flanking the doors to the great hall.

“Of course it will.” Sirius said, smiling at his handy work. He may have been in limbo for over a decade but he could still wield magic with the rest of them. “Now we just stand back and watch.”

“Someone could get hurt, Sirius.” Remus said, leaning back against the wall.

“Will you stop worrying for once in your life…erm death….just stop worrying about it!”


Hermione locked the library door and slowly began her usual rounds before lights out. She walked through the main corridor, shooing dawdling students back to their dormitories and making sure that all was well. When the passage was clear she headed for the great hall to make sure no one lingered in study hall. As she crossed the threshold she heard a strange creaking sound then suddenly found herself trapped in the vise of a large set of wooden arms.

“What in the hell is going on? FINITE INCANTATUM!” Whatever magic was used on the holiday decorations didn’t respond and no matter how she fought and wriggled there was no way for her to free herself. No doubt it was some naughty student pulling a “Weasley” with a practical joke. With a resigned sigh she relaxed and waited for the prankster to show themselves, get their laugh and let her go. The student did not show their face; however, the Headmaster came around the corner and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her.


“Ms. Granger, what are you doing?” He snapped, his brow furrowed. Why was he angry with her? She hadn’t done anything wrong.

“A student playing a practical joke before break is all.” She said. “However, I think perhaps you frightened them off and now I am stuck here.”

“Bloody Weasley twins and their blasted legacy!” He grumbled as he withdrew his wand and walked towards her only to be stopped when the other animated nutcracker stepped forward, his wooden sword pointed directly at Severus’s throat. Neither of the ‘things’ spoke but the one holding Hermione tightened its grip enough that she cried out. “What in the…” How could a student cast a spell as complicated as this? Why would a student make the animated nutcrackers violent?

“Is that thing challenging you?” She squeaked as the wooden arms gripped her tighter.

“Whoever is responsible for this is going to very lucky if I don’t expel them!” He snapped, moving into a dueling stance. General spells did nothing to deter the giant wooden carving. No matter what he threw at it, it just kept coming towards him its bottom jaw clacking open and closed in some strange lip sync to an unheard tune. Stupefy didn’t work, disarming spells failed and given that it wasn’t a living creature no torture or killing spell was going to work either. Finally he went with a simple fireball and set the thing on fire. He only had a moment to smirk in victory before the other one threw Hermione aside sending her sliding across the floor and into a stone wall before coming for him, giant wooden fists raised and ready to engage. Once more a fireball dispatched from the tip of his wand and the nutcracker fell.

Shaking his head in annoyance and disgust, Severus went to where Hermione struggled to sit up, her hand clutching her temple. He knelt down beside her reached out to push her hair back so he could examine the goose egg beginning to form on her temple.

“Are you alright?” He asked. She sat up and swayed as a wave of dizziness washed over her.


“I feel kind of sick.” She said. “I hit my head harder than I thought.”

“Let’s get you to the hospital wing.” He said, helping her to her feet. Her knees buckled and Severus groaned as he swept her into his arms.

“Did you have to groan when you did that? I’m not that heavy.” She grumped, closing her eyes to fight the spinning world as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’m not used to carting my staff around the castle, so forgive me. Not to mention that I just engaged in the strangest duel I have ever heard of. Now, stop talking and relax until I get you to Poppy then I am going to see if I can find the person responsible for this idiocy.” He said as he carried her off.

”I told you! I told you someone would get hurt and look what happened! Hermione is being carried off to the hospital!” Remus said angrily as he worried about the girl.


“She has a head bump, Remus, quit your whining! Besides, it got her into his arms, now didn’t it?”



The Incredible Shrinking Cupboard


Severus was moving quickly down the halls, his robes billowing out behind him. A message had arrived on his desk that there were students raiding the supply closet. He kept the school on a very tight budget and rationed supplies. If students wished to doodle or send idiotic love notes between them then they could bloody well provide their own parchment and ink!

Sure enough when he reached the end of the hall the cupboard door was open slightly. He slowed his step, moving silently as he slipped inside the large cupboard intending to catch the little thief by surprise. However, what he found was not a thief but the school librarian.


“Oh, hello Professor Snape.” She said softly.

“Ms. Granger….I was told there were students raiding the supplies.” He looked around but nothing seemed to be unusually low in supply.

“I haven’t seen anyone; most of the students are packing to go home for Holiday Break.” She was nervous and didn’t understand why. He wouldn’t harm her; she knew she was safe with him, but he was rather intimidating, more so in close confines.

“Are you…are you leaving for the holidays as well?” He wasn’t sure why he asked, he never had before, never really gave a damn one way or the other what teachers did on their time off. For some reason he couldn’t stop himself from asking her. Maybe it was because she looked so festive in her black skirt and red silk blouse with the little holly buttons.

“No, the Weasleys are going on a trip and Harry is going too so I will be alone this Christmas.” She said. “Are you?”

“There is no one aside from a few cousins I have no contact with. I too will be here for Christmas.” His words were punctuated by the slamming of the door. Both of them turned to stare at the broken handle at the same time. “Why wasn’t I informed that the door handle was broken?”

“I didn’t…I don’t remember it being broken.” She was certain that the door was sound when she came in.

Severus tried the door but with the handle broken he couldn’t open it.

“Ms. Granger, I think you may be an accident attraction.” He frowned.

“I should probably be offended by that but I am beginning to wonder the same thing. Although, these things only seem to happen when you are around.” She pointed out.

“If I didn’t know he was dead I would think Dumbledore was up to his old ways.” Severus muttered. The mumbled words no sooner passed his lips and the room shook, the walls slowly moving in on them. “Oh Bloody hell!”

“You shouldn’t swear.” Hermione said as she moved towards the center of the room as the room closed in on them.

“My language is the least of our worries.” He growled as they were forced closer and closer by the encroaching walls and shelving. “The walls are closing in on us!”

“I can see that!” She snapped, shelving hitting her in the back and shoving her forward as the same was happening to him until they were shoved together in the center of the room. The walls immediately stopped moving and the two of them were pressed full length against each other. “Well, this is strange.” She said, her dead pan tone comical to the wizard, his lips actually twitched in amusement.


“It appears that someone wanted us closer.” He looked down at the woman who was now plastered to the front of him. She had her hands braced on the shelves to either side of her which caused her lapels to pull open and revealed more than a little of her cleavage. Severus suddenly found himself very interested in the tiny holly buttons.

“I don’t understand this, why would anyone be trying to throw us together?” She tried to move back away from him but there was nowhere to go.

“Has Minerva been trying to set you up?” Severus asked curiously. The nosey old bint had been tossing witches at him for years convinced that the right woman would ‘sweeten’ him up. She was as meddlesome as Albus when it came to matchmaking.

“Off and on for a few years now. No offense Sir, but I don’t think she would be trying to get us together.” Hermione said, biting her lip. He certainly did smell good, she thought as the faint, spicy scent of him registered.

“You are probably right, why would she want her most favored pupil paired with a man hated by everyone.” He said darkly.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that! It’s just…don’t you think we are a bit…unlikely?” She laughed nervously; the thought of it didn’t seem so terrible if she was honest.

“I never gave it any thought.” Not before now at any rate. “We should try to shift, if we can get your back to the door then perhaps I can get my leg up and kick it open.” They attempted to move, sliding along the shelving but it was difficult in the tight space.


“Here, put your arms around me.” She said, taking his hands and putting them around her waist. “Now, I’m going to hold your shoulders…like a dance, so we can turn.” She pushed herself even tighter against him, her cheeks flushing furiously as they slowly turned with great difficulty. Severus’s heart was racing; it had been so very long since he had held a woman against him. He could feel the plump softness of her breasts against his chest and the sweet curve of her waist beneath his hands. He needed to get out of the cupboard before he embarrassed himself and offended her with an erection. When they were in position he managed to get his leg up but there wasn’t enough room for him to put any real strength behind it when he kicked. Unfortunately it caused the door to move in more, Hermione’s back pressed against it and Severus pressed against her. Their noses were touching, their breaths mingling as they stood in the tight confines in confusion.

“That didn’t work out nearly as well as I had hoped.” Severus said quietly, his palms flat against the door above her shoulders.

“What are we going to do?” She asked breathlessly, her hands still resting on his shoulders. She licked her lips, the tip of her tongue coming dangerously close to his lips. He felt a stirring below the belt and knew he wasn’t going to be able to hide his reaction.


“I don’t know, it’s too dangerous to try and use a spell in such close confines.” He swallowed hard, his eyes resting on the soft lower lip glistening in the dim torchlight of the cupboard.

“It is very close in here…and warm.” She said dumbly, her eyes slowly closing.

“Yes…very warm….” He leaned closer, his lips almost touching hers and then the door opened and they fell through, landing with a thud on the stone floor.

“What are you two doing in the supply cupboard?” Minerva shouted at them, her eyes wide with shock as they lay entwined at her feet.

“We were trapped. The door is broken and someone cast a spell making the walls close in on us.” Severus groused as he pushed to his feet and helped Hermione to hers.

“There is nothing wrong with the door and that room looks perfectly normal to me.” Minerva said with a smug grin as Severus and Hermione glanced over their shoulders to the supply cupboard now returned to its normal state.



“It wasn’t like that a moment ago!” Hermione protested, her cheeks flushing. Now it looked as though she and Severus were having a tryst in the supply cupboard.

“Of course it was.” Minerva smirked as she turned and walked away. Leaving Severus and Hermione in the uncomfortable silence.

”Damn it! They almost kissed! Did you see that?” Remus asked excitedly.


“I did…it’s bloody nauseating.” Sirius said from their perch on the top shelf of the cupboard. “Damn Minerva and her meddling!”



~Without Interference~


The next week was a jumble of strange incidences, all of them involving Severus and Hermione. They tripped and fell into each others arms in the corridor. They somehow managed to find their robes sewn together. They were bound together with Christmas ribbon and at one point locked in the astronomy tower, a famous snogging spot at Hogwarts. More than one little witch or wizard was created in that tower over the years. Still the two resisted every chance they were given.

It was late on Christmas Eve and Sirius was leaning against the wall in the great hall staring at the Christmas tree.

“Giving up?” Remus asked, coming to stand beside him.

“We’ve tried everything, Remus. I am not looking forward to returning to the veil.” Sirius sighed. Remus leaned back against the wall next to him and sighed, he didn’t want to lose his friend. If only they could get a miracle before midnight.


The door to the hall opened and Hermione walked inside carrying a small box in her hand. The staff entrance opened at the same time and Severus entered, also carrying a small gift. They met in front of the tree, both of them looking awkward and embarrassed.

“Happy Christmas, Professor Snape.” Hermione said softly as she passed the box to him.

“Happy Christmas, Ms.Granger. I thought that since we were the only ones left…” he handed her the brightly colored gift bag with a bit more force than he intended.

“I was thinking the same thing.” She said, reaching inside the bag and withdrawing a rare text on Charms dated four centuries ago. “Oh…this is wonderful!” Severus opened his gift and found a beautifully carved marble mortar and pestle.

“Thank you…Hermione.” Her name felt good…right on his lips. She looked up and smiled then tugged her bottom lip between her teeth.


“You are welcome, Severus.” She said softly. “I keep waiting for something to happen.”
Severus knew she meant another accident, but he took the opportunity presented. He had thought about her non-stop for weeks. He wanted her in a way he had never wanted another and despite a dozen or more arguments that he had come up with against it he couldn’t stop himself from moving towards her.

“Then let me end your waiting.” He whispered as he stepped forward and tunneled one hand into her hair and laid the other at the small of her back. He pulled her close and covered her mouth with his. She was stunned for just a second and then she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. It was electric, warm, wet and so deep that it brought tears to her eyes and made Severus shudder. It was the first kiss of a couple destined for true love.



The Panel


Sirius and Remus had but a moment to stare in astonishment as their mission came together before they were sucked through a portal and dropped unceremoniously before the panel.

“You succeeded in your mission, Black. Congratulations.” Merlin said smiling.

“But I did nothing! They did it on their own.” He said shaking his head.

“They wouldn’t have had you not encouraged them with your rather amusing antics. You forced them into contact, forced interaction and made them see, without you they would still be apart.” Merlin said. “For that you are welcomed into The Kingdom, Sirius Black.”

“But….how does it end?” Sirius asked.

“Why do you care? You completed the task and got your eternity in paradise.” Morganna asked snidely. She really did not care for the arrogant wizard.

“I just wonder what a happy Snape is like.” He said.

“Then close your eyes.” Nimue said, rising from the dais and floating to the ground before him. She placed her hand on his forehead and let him see into the future…..


Hermione stood in the doorway to the headmaster’s office, a smile on her face as she watched Severus as he sat in the middle of the floor with a tiny cauldron and their two year old son, Thaddeus. Bubbles exploded from the little copper pot and he clapped his hands and cheered as his father smiled on. Severus looked up and saw her watching them, her hand resting on the soft curve of her belly.


“Hello, Beautiful.” He said his hard eyes softening at the sight of her.


“Brewing bubble potion I see.” She said.


“Mummy! Bubbles!” Thaddeus exclaimed, swatting at the bubbles still floating up from the cauldron.


“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the sorting, Headmaster Snape?” She asked.


“I always have time for my boy.” He said, getting to his feet and going to her. “I always have time for my family, Madam Snape.” He laid his hand on her belly and kissed her gently. It was very clear that he and his family were very, very happy.

“Thank you for showing me.” Sirius said quietly. The Panel all stood and a set of glimmering white doors opened.

“Welcome to the Kingdom, Sirius Black.” With his friend at his side and a warm feeling in his heart, Sirius stepped through the doors and into paradise with a peaceful soul for his part in the Christmas miracle.



HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!