Remember

CHAPTER 10: Meeting Mummy







Severus Snape and Hermione Granger looked a bit…disheveled… as they passed their schoolmates while leaving the train. Severus’s hair was mussed and his clothes were wrinkled. Hermione’s hair, well one couldn’t really tell if it was mussed or not since it was always a bit of a mess, but the swollen, red condition of her lips gave away their recent activities like a neon sign.









Classmates were growing fascinated by the sight of Severus with the exchange student. More than one had passed by their car and caught a glimpse of the two of them making out heatedly on the bench seat. No one had ever considered Severus the type to lose his head over a witch, but it seemed he was as susceptible as anyone else when it came to matters of the heart and passion.









He was protective of the witch and kept her hand in his as he led her from the train. Sirius Black was leaning against the ticket booth watching them curiously. He would admit to being somewhat stunned at the way Snape was responding the witch. Severus was notoriously unresponsive and unemotional, and Sirius would know, he had been tormenting the boy since first year.









Since that odd little witch had shown up he had been more responsive, his reactions less passive. In fact, Sirius could see barely restrained aggression in the young man’s eyes when the taunting was turned on Hermione. Severus kept her shielded when she came near them, putting himself between her and The Marauders despite the fact that the little witch could quite clearly hold her own and had no fear of them. In fact, she seemed to be in possession of an unusual degree of personal information regarding them. Was she perhaps blessed with the sight?









“What are you doing?” James asked as he approached Sirius after saying goodbye to Lily and her sour faced sister at the entrance to platform 9 ¾. “Good grief why is everyone so interested in those two? I caught Lily watching them earlier.”











“It is just….well it is strange don’t you think?” Sirius asked, tilting his head slightly as he watched the couple walking hand in hand. “I mean, Snivellous has had nothing to do with anyone at the school other than Lily since Lucius and his gang graduated…then this witch shows up and he is almost never without her. Do you think she is a dark witch?”







“More like a daft witch if you ask me. Why else would she be so smitten with him? He actually cares for her I think…they were snuggling if you can believe that, Severus Snape was snuggling with a girl in their cubicle.” James said, giving his body and exaggerated shiver. “Oh, Lily wants us to back off; she threatened to chuck me if we didn’t.”









“Are you going to?” Sirius asked, raising one brow questioningly.









“No…but I will have to be a bit sneakier about it.” He laughed. “Ever think we were sorted into the wrong house?”







“Sometimes we are rather Slytherin aren’t we?” Sirius said. “Why do you suppose he is taking her with him into the office?” He asked standing up and walking across the platform to peer through the windows.







“He is taking her home with him for the Christmas Hols.” James said. “Why are you so interested, you don’t fancy the girl do you? It’s bad enough that Peter is panting after her.”







“She’s a bit too small and curvy for my tastes, I like my women long and willowy and preferably blonde.” Sirius chuckled. “There is something strange about her…she seems to know things she shouldn’t….I’m beginning to think the reason she and Snivellous are so hot an item has something to do with the dark arts.”









“Maybe she really likes him. And maybe he actually likes her.” James said, wondering why he was the only one who could care less who Severus Snape was cavorting with.









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Severus pulled Hermione with him into the small platform office and waited while several others used the floo to travel home from the station. He turned to Hermione and furrowed his brow slightly.







“Hermione, my family is not wealthy….our home…it’s not grand or…” She cut him off by placing her finger against his lips.







“I don’t care. If I am with you it will seem like the grandest palace.” She smiled. Severus shook his head, a small grin/smirk lifting the corner of his mouth.







“You really are a strange little witch.” He said, grunting softly when she smacked a kiss to his lips. “You need to stop that before you get us into trouble.” He said. They had spent the last hour snogging like mad in their cubicle on the train and he still longed for the taste of her. It was strange for him, desiring a witch who wanted him back yet wanted nothing from him. She was not with him in hopes of getting closer to Lucius, or Lucius’s rather dark friend, she was with him because she wanted to be and that baffled and thrilled him to no end.







Their turn came and he stepped into the hearth. He instructed her to grab the floo powder while he carried their bags, his in his hand and hers draped over his shoulder while he held tight to her waist with his other hand. With a wink she tossed it at their feet while he called out Snape House, Spinner’s End. With a whoosh and a swirl of green flames they were sucked into a swirling vortex and deposited into the large fireplace of his family home.







He stepped out into the family room, not surprised to find it empty. He looked back over his shoulder to see her still standing in the hearth, a shy expression on her face.







“You decide to be demure now?” He asked, almost smiling.







“I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your mum; I want her to like me.” She whispered, poking her head out and looking around nervously.









“She’s most likely in the kitchen.” He said, reaching for her hand after he tossed their bags onto the sofa. “Come on.” He pulled her along behind him as they made their way through the small house. It was a cozy little house, the furnishings simple and plain. She saw a few photographs settled on tables and shelves, some of Severus as a toddler and one of a small, sour faced little baby with a shocking head full of black hair.







He pushed open a two way door that led into the kitchen and pulled her through it. She saw a woman sitting near the window with a cup of tea staring into the backyard as the snow fell softly. She had dark hair, pulled tightly back into a bun at the nape of her neck. Her face was pale and angular and her expression fairly vacant. She was dressed in a pair of black slacks and a black jumper, completely unadorned by jewelry.







Severus released Hermione’s hand and approached his mother slowly, reaching out to lay his hand gently on her shoulder. She flinched before looking up to see her son standing just behind her. Her features softened somewhat, a small smile gracing thin lips that didn’t seem to smile often enough.







“Hello, Inky, welcome home.” She said softly. Severus winced at the childhood nickname his mother had given him because of his hair and eyes.







“Hello, Mum. Did you get my owl?” He asked before he noticed the missive lying on the table in front of her.







“I did, you said you were bringing a friend home for the break…where is he?” She asked.







“Well…” Severus walked back to Hermione and took her hand, pulling her closer to meet his mother. “Mum, this is Hermione Granger.” He said softly. “Hermione, this is my mother, Eileen Snape.”







“Oh….not a he then…” Eileen said, a somewhat stunned expression on her face. “So is this your…um…girlfriend?”









“Uh, yeah, she is.” Severus said, squeezing Hermione’s hand reassuringly.









“Hello, Hermione, it is a pleasure to meet you.” She said, standing and extending her hand. Hermione took it gently, noting how cold the woman’s hands were as she enfolded Hermione’s hand in both of hers. “I’m sorry, I assumed that he was bringing a male schoolmate home, I had no idea he had a girlfriend.”







“It is a pleasure to meet you as well Madame Snape. I hope I will not be in the way, Severus just didn’t want me to be alone over the holidays.” She said softly, noting that Severus had his mother’s eyes.









“You are more than welcome here, Hermione. Call me Eileen, please. It is nice to finally meet one of his friends; he has never brought any home before.” She said, looking over at Severus who was staring at Hermione with such a tender expression she had to catch her breath. “What of your family? Do they not expect you home for the holidays?”





“No ma’am, I have no family to speak of.” Hermione said quietly.









“Well, we are happy to have you here.” Eileen said. “Let me show you to the room where you will be staying.”







Eileen made her way slowly through the house, looking back to see Severus gathering up their bags, brushing his hand over her shoulder as he nudged her towards the stairs. They followed her up the narrow stairway that opened onto a short hall. She pushed open a door at the end and stood back for Hermione to enter.







The room was small with a cream painted wrought iron bed covered in a soft green quilt. A cream colored bureau and nightstand were the only other items in the room. The furniture was old, and the paint chipped but it was lovely just the same. Severus set her bag on the bed and turned towards her.







“I hope this will be comfortable for you.” Eileen said from the door.







“It is lovely, ma’am, and thank you for your hospitality.” Hermione replied.









“I will leave you to get settled then.” She said with a soft smile as she backed out of the room. She moved to close the door, then thought better of it and pushed it back open halfway before she disappeared down the hall.







“My room is across the hall.” He said softly.







“Are you hoping I will stop by?” She asked, smiling at him. He actually flushed, his fingertips gliding up and down her arms.











“I just wanted you to know where to find me, if you needed me.” He said.











“I seem to have a talent for finding you, you have certainly complained enough about me showing up wherever you are.” She said.











“I don’t mind so much.” His voice was barely a whisper, his touch feather light.









“Your mum is nice.” She said, stepping closer and laying her hands on his waist.







“She is having a good day it seems.” He said, sliding his hand along the side of her throat. “I don’t think she trusts me in here with you, she was going to close the door but changed her mind at the last moment. Odd, I have never even commented on a woman around my mother so I wonder what made her think me intent on seduction.”







“Should she trust us alone in a bedroom?” Hermione asked breathlessly, their lips brushing lightly.









“I don’t think this a safe conversation for us to be having. It makes me think about things I shouldn’t.” He said, kissing her softly. “I need to go to my room and put my things away.”







“Afraid I will seduce you?” She asked, her fingers digging into his waist.









“Wouldn’t take much.” He chuckled. “I’m nineteen, Hermione, breathe in my direction and you can consider me seduced.” The cocky little witch blew softly against his lips. “You play with fire, witch.” He growled, backing away from her, his black eyes glittering as he stared at her.







“Do you really have to go?” She pouted. His eyes narrowed and he turned on his heel and fled her room, quickly making his way across the hall and slamming his own door behind him with a thud before he took things further than he meant to.









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Alrighty…so to answer some questions before I slip off to work today….





Docjen – I am glad you reviewed hon, and thank you very much for being a loyal reader :) I appreciate it!







Slytherin Princess – Thank you !!!!!!!!!!! Peter is really EWWW….LOL







Utopia – Ok, truth is I had to make them 19, I had to take creative licensing with that part just to satisfy my own morality LOL. I admit I write Post Hogwarts Primarily because I can get easily “icked” by writing them in school unless they are at least 18 (the age you are considered an adult in the US). Now the Marauders will continue to play a small role in the background, but the story is primarily to focus on the relationship between Mione and Sev…though look for a little something “special” between the two of them a few chapters down the road, something special for you :)







LadyVoldemort87 – You know its coming!







Luciusdreamer – as a matter of fact, I just began a Lucius fic of my own and am working on one, slowly as we both have very busy lives, with another author that I believe is going to knock everyone’s socks off when we manage to complete it! But, if it helps…Lucius pops up briefly in a little bit in this story LOL









AnyaGreyback – a lovesick Severus doesn’t bother me, providing he is still his usual, bastard self LMAO….it is that attitude that makes him hot. So while I have no issue with him being wildly in love, passionate and even tender….it must all be entwined with snarky, rude and aloof. When it comes to writing Sev as a father though I always imagine him as perfectly capable of looking the other way with his children, letting them get by with things he would never allow a student too…indulgent and fiercely protective of them.