Fire and the Dragon

A/N: Yeah, the ministry of magic sucks. I must say that since I am writing a lovey Severus in the image of my snarky husband, some people may not understand. My husband has the power to calm me and have me floating by his mere kiss and presence. She is still angry. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews. Thanks for reading. The relationship picks up a bit after the holidays...still no good smut for a few chapters. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, happy winter to those who do not!











Ch. 15 Christmas



Harry was helping Hermione decorate her rooms for Christmas. Severus was upstairs making sure all the students who were leaving got on the Hogwarts express and out of his hair for a couple of weeks.



Hermione had been ranting for nearly 3 hours now about the ministry hearing. “All I am saying, Harry, is that I still do not see the need to have all of those people view the memory with me. It was humiliating.”



Harry sighed; he too had questioned his superiors and even Kingsley about why they had put Hermione through that, and the Weasley family as well. He had gone too far with that one; the head of the auror department had suspended him without pay for a month for insubordination.



“Hermione, we’ve been through this same conversation about a dozen times already.” He whined. She was bouncing on her toes, attempting to hang an ornament on a high branch of the tree she had asked Harry to bring in.



“It just makes me even more angry. Nothing is making sense anymore..ugh, Harry, would you mind?” she asked as she held the ornament out for him to take. He chuckled as he hung it where she designated.



He watched as she sat down in the floor to organize the remaining decorations. Harry was quite worried about his friend. Every since the hearing, he had seen so much anger in her. She was trying to hide it, but Harry could see it in her eyes.



In fact, he thought, the only time she didn’t seem to be angry was when Snape was near her. He was what started her entire decorating escapade in the first place. She wanted to surprise him with a proper Christmas morning.



Harry closed his fist in frustration, why was she confiding in that greasy bat? Was he not her best friend now? He had to find a way to help her work through this anger with everyone.



He looked at his watch and jumped up, “Hey, Hermione, I’ve gotta run. Ginny needs me home to help her with our tree. I’ll see you later. Are you going to be alright here, alone?”



She stood up and gave him a quick hug. “I’ll be fine, thanks for helping me today Harry.” She walked him to the door and returned to her decorating. Being alone gave her too much time to think while she hung garland.



“Damn ministry.” She thought to herself. “Freaking Ronald.” She began to mumble under her breath about the whole ordeal.



On his way out of Hogwarts, Harry passed Snape. He gave his old professor a curt nod and asked him for a word.



“What is it Mr. Potter? Was 7 years here not long enough to torment me?” Severus sneered at the son of his dead rival. What could the chit want?



Harry’s hand twitched towards his wand, but he kept his composure. “This is about Hermione, Snape. For some reason she trusts you more than she trusts me at the moment.”



Severus could see how much it pained the boy to be coming to him about Hermione. This small satisfaction allowed him to give Potter his full attention.



Harry saw the smug look on the man’s face and nearly lost it. Thinking of his friend, he took a calming breath and continued. “Look, Hermione is hiding her anger, but I can see she is still pretty pissed about everything. I am worried if she keeps holding it in, she is going to break.”



Severus was inwardly shocked at the boy’s observation, he too, however, had become worried about the girl. “What am I to do about it? If she wants help, she need only ask the boy-who-saved-something.”



Giving a resigned look, Harry revealed why he had really needed to talk to Snape. “Professor, she trusts you, I am asking you to please help her channel this anger before she turns into something she will hate.”



In that moment, for the first time, Severus saw Lily peering at him from behind those eyes. He had been hearing Hermione at night with nightmares; perhaps he could help the girl.



“Very Well, Mr. Potter.” He sighed. “I shall…attend” he smirked at the boy, “to your friend, if only to get a moments peace.”



Harry bade his goodbye and disappeared from the castle. Severus made his way to the dungeons. He knocked on the door in the bathroom that led to Hermione’s room. Since the trial, she had not allowed him in, and though he would never admit it aloud, he missed the time they shared.



She opened the door and said she would meet him in the hallway. “Ms. Granger, this will only take a moment of your time. I prefer to stay where we are.” Hermione looked around, “You wish to discuss something with me, in the bathroom?” she could not help the smirk that found its way to her face.



Severus just wanted to say this and be on his way, he had a staff meeting to attend. “It is my desire, Ms. Granger, that you begin to learn Occlumency with me after the holidays.” Hermione looked troubled, “But sir, why? Am I in danger from anyone?”



“No, however, you are still being plagued with nightmares and Mr. Potter has expressed concern at your repressed anger. Occlumency, when used appropriately, shall help rid you of the nightmares and should curb your anger.”



Hermione was furious. “Harry came to YOU about a problem he has with ME?” how dare he, he was supposed to be her friend. She made to close herself back in her room and distress. Severus, however, placed his foot in the door before she could close it.



“I will discuss more specifics with you at a later time. For now, Hermione, I am inviting you to come with me every morning for my stroll about the castle grounds.” Hermione accepted, grumpily. Ohhh, Harry was going to get a lashing when she saw him again. She closed her door as Severus couldn’t help but smile. He was hoping the exercise would help her spend some anger. It had certainly helped him.



Christmas morning, to Severus, was just like any other morning of the year. So he was surprised when there was a rapping at his door early in the morning. He groaned, this had better be important.



He opened the door to the hall only to find it empty. He turned back to his room, confused, only to find Hermione smiling at him from the bathroom. He rolled his eyes. “To what to I owe the displeasure of being disturbed so early?”



Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him through the bathroom into her rooms. She had been feeling a bit better lately since Severus made her go jogging with him most mornings. He was a patient exercise partner, never pushing her too hard. She grinned at the expression on his face when he saw her rooms.



It looked like a nymph had come to her rooms and thrown up Christmas everywhere. He looked at her bewildered. “Happy Christmas, Severus.” She smiled warmly. “Come on, let’s open our presents.”



He highly doubted that someone would send him a gift, but he followed her anyway. Her top half disappeared under the tree, her backside wiggling invitingly. ‘ugh, stop that man.’ He scolded himself.



When she reemerged, she had no less than 5 gifts in her arms. Severus helped her to her feet as she seemed to be struggling. He was shocked when she dumped them all in his arms. Even more shocked when he saw that they were all for him.



She giggled and sat down on the floor. She began to open the ones addressed to her. She was given lots of new books, a few on pregnancy and parenting, from the Weasley’s, Professor McGonnagal, and Harry and Ginny.



Severus was surprised at the gifts he received. He received a new quill with everlasting red ink and a new journal from the Weasley clan, Minerva had graced him with a joke book (at which he scoffed.), he got to the gift from Potter and hesitated…what could the little brat have come up with.



In the tiny box was a picture of Lily Evans! He dropped the packaging and looked at the girl in the photograph. She was smiling and waving, her red hair blowing slightly. Severus felt a tug at his gut, a year ago this picture would have brought a different range of emotions. He realized that at some point in the previous months, he had moved on from his childhood love. Though he still cherished the picture.



There was one gift left, it was from Hermione. From the weight and shape of the package, it guessed it was a book. He opened it, feeling Hermione’s eyes boring into him. ‘Potions Throughout History’ adorned the worn cover.



He looked up at the girl, “I have been searching for this book for years, Hermione, how did you…” he began. She smiled and said she had her secrets but was glad he liked it. Then Severus surprised her by using his wand to summon a wrapped package from his room.



Her eyes lit up as she opened it, there at least 10 books miniaturized in this package! Books on occlumency, potions, charms, many she had never seen before. She put the box aside and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you.” She whispered to him.



She glanced above them, a cluster of mistletoe was hanging directly above Severus. He followed her gaze, how did the little witch manage to do that? He lowered his head to look at her, only to come face to face with her big brown eyes.



Their lips were millimeters apart; it would only take a small movement to partake in this small Christmas tradition. He knew she would have to be the one to instigate it. He didn’t have to wait long before feeling her warm lips brush against his.



She tasted of vanilla and strawberry. Her warm breath was nearly unbearable to his logic. They both stood. “Happy Christmas, Severus.” She said when they parted. He leaned in for another kiss before breaking away.



The look of hurt on her face was not missed by him. “Hermione, as much as I would love to return your affection, if I kiss you now, I may never stop.” She could see the emotion in his eyes. “Why would you have to stop?” she said in a whisper.



It took all of his control not to ravage her mouth then and there. He gently pushed her against the wall and merely placed his face beside hers. “Hermione, you are not ready.” She looked ready to protest.



He held his hand up, never moving his face from hers. “Just now, your heart rate jumped exceedingly high, and it had nothing to do with desire.” She could feel her eyes filling with tears.



He moved away slightly, took her hand and kissed the top of it, “So for the moment, I will leave you to get dressed, and will do the same. Happy Christmas, Hermione.”



She bid him the same and they agreed to meet in an hour to continue the day, “for the day is still young.” He had told her before sweeping from her rooms, leaving Hermione confused and with a pounding heart.