Outside the Potions Classroom

Outside the Potions Classroom










Chapter Fifteen


The Christmas season fell upon Hogwarts quickly. Winter had crept up on the castle early one November night, revealing itself one morning when everyone awoke to find the area covered in a blanket of snow. The snow was soft and light and brought everyone out to play – Severus was constantly deducting points from students for starting snowball fights, being late for class citing “snow day” as a reason, and leaving wet mittens by steaming cauldrons. “For Merlin’s sake, are you wizards? Use a drying charm!” was becoming a mantra.

But, in spite of it all, Severus found himself appreciating the barren beauty of winter – because Hadrian loved it. It only rained in London, and even on the coldest of days, the snow became slush. Hadrian took great delight discovering Snape Manor would in fact be just as much of a winder wonderland as Hogwarts – only the grounds wouldn’t have been marred by hordes of other overenthusiastic children. They would be virgin snowscapes for him to shape. “Will you play in the snow with me, Dad?” Hadrian asked.

“We’ll see,” Severus said.

He had made all the preparations to ready Snape Manor for the holiday excursion. He had the main rooms aired out, cleaned and assembled as well as three bedrooms and their adjoining baths set up. Only two house elves stayed there, Hilty and Flit, who he often felt had more ownership of the house than he ever could. They were, however, excited at the prospect of the newest heir’s coming. They weren’t however excited at the prospect of a Muggleborn Hermione being in attendance. The fact the Snape name was no longer pure in their eyes wasn’t enough to make them use poor manners – but they would keep their distance from the S.P.E.W. founder.

Hermione, on her part, seemed to be very cooperative about everything. He expected a strict schedule of events from her, mapping all the days to make the most of all their time, but he was relieved to find out that she had relaxed her hyper-organizational skills over the years. She was agreeable to let him plan the entire thing, provided they visit her parents for Christmas Eve dinner, and stop at the Burrow on Boxing Day. He tried to warn her about his mother, and the fact they would in fact have to visit her Christmas day all together, but she stopped him. “You always expect the worst, Severus. It will be all right,” she had informed him upon their last meeting. They had met to discuss Hadrian’s winter semester grades, which were exemplary except for Charms. “Now why on earth would our son have a problem with foolish wand waving?” she pondered sarcastically. “Could it be that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?”

He had scowled at her. “I am excellent at Charms.”

“Ahem, now you are.” Hermione had reminded him.

During that meeting, he realized, most of the discomfort and awkwardness seemed forgotten. Dare he believe it, but it was almost as if they had never separated – and this was their lives eleven years in the future.

But thoughts like this were pointless and pitiful. Not to mention taxing on his sanity.

Classes ended on December 23rd, a Friday, and neither Severus nor Hadrian was more thankful. They spent that evening at Hogwarts to avoid getting lost in the shuffle of students intent on getting home right away. They Apparated to Hermione’s home the next evening.

After greetings were exchanged, Hermione looked Severus warily up and down and asked bluntly, “Are you going to wear that?”

He was offended. He had donned his second most elegant black dress robes for the occasion, and taken great care to ensure they were free of lint and potions odors. He had even pulled his freshly washed hair back to reveal more of his face. He frowned. “Yes, I was. Is there a problem?”

Hermione gestured to hers and Hadrian’s attire. “I believe you are forgetting that my parents are Muggles,” she said. “And the fact you look positively frightening.”

He scowled at her, turning to check his appearance in the mirror. “I do not look frightening.”

“Well actually, you look rather dashing and mysterious,” she admitted. “But again, they are Muggles, and unaccustomed to a wizard’s attire. Even when I was younger, most of my robes were worn over Muggle clothes. You already come across as intimidating, I would just like it if it was…softened…for their benefit.”

“Hermione,” he said. “I am not here to make your parents more comfortable. The situation shall be awkward enough. Do they even know I am apart of Hadrian’s life? Could they accept that fact?”

“Gran and Gramps know. Gramps encouraged me to seek you out.” Hadrian was perched on the front stairs, watching them from between the barristers with an odd smile upon his face. “I want to see what you would look like if you were a Muggle, Dad. Please?”

He sighed. One word could break him so completely it was almost laughable. “Fine then,” he said, taking out his wand.

“No.” Hermione placed a gentle hand on his. “Allow me.” With a flick of her wrist she transfigured his outer robes into a long wool coat. Underneath, she had transformed his starched shirt and trousers into a comfortable, but somewhat agreeable gray suit with a green tie. He lifted the tie up for inspection and found his initials embodied.

“Show off,” he smirked.

“Now Hadrian, if you continue to study and work hard you will undoubtedly meet and master my Transfiguration skills,” she commented. “And it will make clothes shopping a thing of the past.” She winked at him knowingly and checked her own reflection in the mirror. She was wearing makeup, he noted, but it was only a light touch. She had pulled her hair back revealing her neck and shoulders, and was wearing a simple maroon dress that wrapped around her and tied in the back.

“Aren’t you going to be cold dressed like that?” Severus asked although he was appreciating her figure in it.

“Warming charm,” she smiled. “Hadrian, did you brush your hair this morning?”

Hadrian moaned, head flopping forward in annoyance. Apparently he had better things to do. “Oh Mum! I forgot, okay? I’ll go do it now.” He stomped upstairs in a hurry, slamming an upstairs door on the way.

“My goodness, he wanted his hair to be long, you would think he’d take care of it!” she groaned, brushing her hands down her dress to remove any extra lint. “How do your clothes stay so immaculate? I’m always covered with something!”

“Lint-free charm,” he mimicked. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard of it, being that you are something of an expert.”

“Well I had to let you try to redeem yourself,” she answered, and he swore he saw a familiar sparkle in her eye.

“I appreciate the thoughtfulness on your part. How very noble.” He saw her smile as she pulled her jacket on over the dress. It slowly dawned on him… were they flirting?

Hadrian reappeared a moment later; his unruly curls somewhat smoothed down. “Okay, I’m ready.” He noticed the smile on his mother’s face and hugged her again. “You look really pretty tonight, Mum.”

She blushed at his praise. “Thank you, baby. If I don’t say so, you don’t look so bad either.” Hermione pulled on her leather gloves and shifted her glance between them both. “Are we ready gentlemen?”

“Are we Apparating? Taking the floo?” Severus asked.

Hermione shook her head. “My parents live a block away. We are going to walk.” She opened the door and everyone stepped out in a row. She locked it behind her and they started down the street, Hadrian ahead of his parents, telling his father all about the fun times and good food he had at Gramps and Gran’s house. Severus only heard half of what was said, he was too busy noticing how attractive Hermione was. He couldn’t help himself from stealing glances at her as they walked, and in those five brief minutes, he could have sworn she had stolen her fair share as well.

The Grangers had a similar home, literally twelve houses away. Hadrian burst through the door and into the awaiting arms of his grandmother, an older woman he recognized immediately. Still full of vitality and beauty, Dr. Sarah Granger’s eyes were filled with familiar warmth as they entered the warm house. “It’s about time we finally met the man who gave us our beloved Grandson. Welcome, Severus. It is all right that I call you that, isn’t it?” The woman hugged him. He couldn’t believe it, even as he felt her arms around him. Hermione only smiled, but it was sad in a way. When he caught her eye, she quickly moved into the other room.

“Certainly,” he allowed, although first names would never be allowed in his own house, or his own parents. He had better remember to tell Hermione that. “What a lovely home you have here. Thank you for inviting me.” Severus had never been one for small talk, and he hoped it wasn’t sounding too forced.

“Why thank you! Let me take your coats. Would you care for a toddy? There’s such a chill in the air today. I swear it will snow soon,” Sarah Granger prattled on as he removed his coat. “Why don’t you join David, my husband, in the lounge? He’s been assembling a toy train he got for Hadrian, but I swear he’s having so much fun he might have to go out a get another one for the lad! Dinner is almost ready.” The woman grabbed jackets and quickly went on her way.

Severus felt strange standing in the Granger’s home. He wondered what it would have been like to be here eleven years ago, asking for permission…

“Hello, Severus,” on the floor with Hadrian perched beside him sat an older man with eyes similar to Hermione’s, only nearly hidden behind thick eyeglasses. “I would shake your hand, but I seem to be covered in paste! I must look quite the idiot right now.” He chuckled, but didn’t move from the train set he was setting up. He was sitting outside the circular track, checking out the bottom of the engine. “I don’t know how this works, but I’ll be damned if I let a toy get the best of me!” He set the engine upon the track and picked up the remote. “Blast! It didn’t start. And yes, Hermy, I checked the batteries this time.”

Hermione held up the instructions. “It says you need all the pieces linked in order for it to work,” she read. “It also shows that this toy’s assembly requires adult supervision.”

“Let me see, Gramps!” Hadrian insisted.

Severus watched them fiddle with the engine for three minutes before he whipped his wand out and started the train whirling down the track.

David Granger looked impressed and embarrassed. “I guess that would have saved me a lot of time, wouldn’t it have?”

Severus frowned. “I’m a wizard. Magic is the cause and solution to all problems.”

David laughed. “Hermy said you were quick, I like that.”

Severus wondered what else “Hermy” had said about him, when Sarah Granger called everyone to the table. Hadrian scrambled first, and Hermione helped her father off the ground, claiming he was too old to stand up quickly anymore. He followed them into the dining room, where the table was laden with delicious smelling food. The first course was already laid out: tomato and basil soup sprinkled with mozzarella. “Every Christmas eve we have Italian food. It’s a Granger family tradition. The soup is a secret recipe, passed down from my great grandmother. One day I will tell Hermione, and then one day she will tell Hadrian. That is of course, if she doesn’t ruin it.” Sarah commented with amusement.

“Mum,” Hermione groaned, and Severus was reminded of his son earlier. “So I can’t cook like you can, big deal.”

“Don’t worry, we know where your true brilliance lies, dear.” Her mother smiled and watched Severus take a sip of his soup. “So, how old are you, Severus?”

He nearly choked on his soup. “I shall be fifty this January.” Somehow he could almost imagine a proverbial red flag wave down and signal the start to question/answer time at the Granger household. Maybe he should have been warned. He flashed a wary look at Hermione, who pretended to ignore him. Hadrian was smiling. He was too excited having his father meet his grandparents to note this uneasiness.

“Fifty! I never would have guessed. I would have given you thirty-eight at the latest. What do you say, David?”

David Granger shrugged. “Forty tops.”

“In the wizarding world magic tends to shorten the aging process. Wizards typically live until their mid hundreds, while most mug…people tend to live until their eighties,” Severus answered.

“Do you have a big family?” Sarah asked.

“Mum, Severus probably doesn’t want to be questioned to death all night,” Hermione finally spoke in his defence. He gently nudged her foot with his own. About bloody time, he wanted to say.

“Don’t worry Dad, Gran does a really good Riddler impression,” Hadrian added. Severus recognized the term from a Muggle comic book his son had showed him.

“Oh, you can’t let curiousity kill that cat! That’s what I always told our Hermione. So, do you?” Sarah pushed on, smiling.

Severus cleared his throat. “My father died when I was in school, but my mother is still alive. We will be visiting her tomorrow. I do not have any other family, I was an only child, like Hadrian and Hermione.”

“Oh! You poor dear. We tried to have other children, but after spending twelve years trying to have Hermione, we knew it wasn’t meant to be. I always wished she could have had siblings. My sister Anne was a terrible beast to grow up with when I was younger, but she and I are best friends now. I could only hope Hadrian could be so lucky.”

At this, Hermione and Severus paled considerably. The word subtle must not have been included in her dictionary. Severus wondered why she didn’t just say what she thought; “When are you going to finally marry my daughter and give me more grandkids, you deadbeat?”

Sarah pressed on. “So, do you enjoy teaching? Have you always wanted to be a teacher?”


The question/answer period lasted through the main dish, chicken parmigiana, and into their salads and finally dessert, a delectible panna cotta. When tea was poured, milk for Hadrian, even David was insistent. “Have you finished grilling him, love? Poor bloke must think you’re completely bonkers.”

Sarah Granger feigned innocence. “You cannot blame me for being curious, can you? He is our Hadrian’s father. Hermione kept him away long enough.”

At this, Hermione put her cup down with a clatter. “Mom. I think we don’t need to establish that, yes; I have made mistakes in my life and jumped to some unnecessary conclusions. I am living with the choices I had to make everyday, and would appreciate if you just spit it out, rather than dance around the surface.”

“Why did you let Hermione go?” Hermione must have inherited her boldness from her mother. “Hermione already explained to us the circumstances involving what happened in the Potions Classroom, but she said she was in love. My baby can be naive, but she isn’t stupid. How could you have just let it end the way it did? Didn’t you want to go after her?”

An eerie silence came over the table. David was the first to speak. “Anyone want anymore tea? I think I could use another one. Maybe some more dessert to go with it. How about you Hadrian?”

“I was a fool not to have gone after Hermione, but I felt she was the one walking away from me, not the other way around. My pride got the best of me, as it did for Hermione,” he said simply. “We are quite similar in that aspect.”

Silence again. This wasn’t what anyone had expected.

“Um, I’ll have more dessert,” Hadrian said finally, breaking the tension in the room.

“Well then,” Sarah’s eyebrows lowered. “It seems then you two may need some more time to discuss this. Dare I say there is still romance in the air?”

Severus started to tune her out after that comment. The last thing he wanted was for her to start calling him son-in-law and creating false hope for Hadrian. Granted, every time he was near Hermione he felt an almost forgotten spark, but one doesn’t change the past so easily, or walk away from it.

The rest of the evening went smoothly once he tuned Sarah’s prattling off. He noticed that while Hermione had inherited her looks and audacity from her mother, thankfully the rest of her was more in tune with her father’s calmer manner. They retired to the lounge again, where they “trimmed the tree.” Severus had never decorated a Christmas tree before, and while he thought it was strange to be decorating it so carefully only to toss the tree twelve days later, he enjoyed himself. Hadrian was so excited to show him ornaments he or his mother had made, and then afterwards, equally excited to take out every photo album and show him the Granger history. Severus was thankful they were Muggle photographs; it would have taken twice as long had they been magic pictures.

It was late when they left the Granger house. Hadrian had fallen asleep as they were talking around the fire. Severus carried Hadrian back to Hermione’s, and was thankful he was small for his age. When they left, Sarah had hugged him again, told him to come back soon, and David had laughed, stating why would he even want to. Severus smiled, despite the stress of the evening, he had to admit he had a good time and he thanked them both. Once Hermione said her goodbyes, they headed towards her home.

“I’m so sorry, Severus. I never would have expected it would have been so…intense,” She sighed. “Thank you for putting up with them.”

Severus shrugged. “They weren’t that horrible. And at least now I can understand why you are the way you are. I honestly had an agreeable time.”

“Good,” she smiled, and it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

They headed back to her home in silence, intent on gathering Hermione and Hadrian’s things before they retired to Snape Manor. Hermione shrunk their belongings and put them into her coat pocket. “I’m ready. I hope Apparating all of us won’t be too difficult. You must be tired, I know I am.” She punctuated her sentence with a yawn.

“I can manage,” he said, bringing her close. “Let’s go home.”

He hadn’t meant it like that, he wanted to say, “Let’s go to my home” but she didn’t correct him.

They Apparated off her front step. The street was dark this late at night, but it had started to snow. Big, wet snowflakes kept landing on her face, on her eyelashes and she stuck out her tongue to catch one. It may have been the simplest of all things, but at that time, in that place, with her beside him and Hadrian sleeping soundly on his arms…he found himself feeling more content and relaxed than he had ever known.



AN: So much more fluff. It won’t always be like this, I swear, but I’m in a coddling sort of mood. Thanks Ash, for going over this. Your input is wonderful, and I think everyone needs to thank her especially for keeping this story going. And another round of applause for you reviewers. You guys make my day.


Up next: Enter Mrs. Snape. Poor Hermione and Hadrian. Christmas continues….