Outside the Potions Classroom

Outside the Potions Classroom



Chapter Twenty

Her lips were rather soft and tasted like the raspberry cordial she was sipping earlier. He had almost forgotten what her lips were like. Almost. It was, after all, impossible to forget a kiss like hers, full of passion and longing.

Of course, he wanted to deepen it. He wanted to sweep her off her feet and take her away, to some destination unknown, occupied by a rather large bed with silk sheets and have his way with her. He was a man after all, and after years of purgatory he wanted to relish and savor his taste of heaven. A taste was not enough, and it would never be enough. He had been ravenous for too long, with too little to sate him.

Yet he was forgetting one very crucial detail. They were not alone. In fact, they had a room full of people silenced and staring. He could only imagine what they were all thinking.

Hermione pulled away first, rather sharply, her crimson blush flowing down her neck and out her ears. “All right, show’s over!” she barked at their audience, stepping back.

She didn’t look him in the eye when she ran over to rejoin Potter and Weasley. The staring stopped, and the chatter recommenced. In the span of thirteen seconds, it was as if it had never happened.

Only it had. His lips were tingling in revelation.

He tried not to dwell on it as he rejoined Arthur Weasley and Lupin in conversation. He refused to let it dominate his mind and ruin his evening. He was going to attempt to have a good time, if only for Hadrian’s sake.

He didn’t have to try too hard thankfully. He found much to talk about with the old Order members, and Molly was a fantastic cook. He found himself indulging in seconds and thirds of the hors d'oeuvres and working his way from tea to spiced butter rum.

He had found himself by the fire, smoking muggle cigars with Kingsley well into the evening. Despite initial misgivings, he found he was actually having an agreeable time. While he was obviously displeased by the fact everyone here had known about his son before he had, he found he was still welcomed with open arms. It was an unexpected delight to discover that all the suffering he had endured to bring down the Dark Lord was for something. He had the respect and admiration of most of the people in the room, even though he had never said a kind word to most of them (Neville had made a brief appearance and disappeared upon seeing the feared Potions master) or made any attempt prior to befriend anyone here.

“Excuse me, Professor, a word?”

Severus turned to discover that it was the man-boy wonder tapping at his shoulder, a rather concerned expression on his face. “Potter,” he addressed him sharply, not thinking himself drunk enough to tolerate the Auror.

Kingsley didn’t give him a chance. He rose to his feet. “I’ll give you a minute alone,” the bald man insisted, smiling.

Potter slid into the seat before him and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “What’s going on?”

Severus folded his arms across his chest. “Nothing concerning you, Potter.” He didn’t even need to ask, the question was as thick as the man before him. Harry would have been a blind fool not to see the kiss.

“I accept the fact that you and Hermione had an affair. I accept the fact you are Hadrian’s father. I accept the fact you are and will forever more be apart of his life…but I will not accept you ruining Hermione’s life again.” Harry’s tone was firm, resolute.

“Have you not realized it takes two people to ruin a relationship, Potter?” Severus cocked an eyebrow. “Or do you have designs for her yourself?”

“I love Hermione,” Harry admitted with conviction. “I always have and always will. I offered my name to protect her and Hadrian, I suggested marriage, and she refused me. Why? Because she was stuck on the notion that she still loved you. Loved whatever it was she saw in you. I accepted her choice, as I always do. I stood by her. That is what you do when you love someone more than you love yourself. You stay.”

“I really don’t see-”

“No, you wouldn’t.” Harry interrupted. Had this been at Hogwarts, he would have deducted a thousand house points and given him a year of detentions with Filch and Mrs. Norris. “I was there and you weren’t. Now you are back into the lives of the people I love and are pretending to play happy family. What do you really want, Snape?”

“He probably wants a chance for happiness, as we all do, Harry James Potter.” The voice broke the rising anger of the moment and caused both men to shift gazes to the watchful eyes of Ginny Weasley. In the firelight, her red hair was aflame and her face glowed with womanly wisdom. She was a sight to behold, and even Severus noticed how Potter’s eyes glazed over upon seeing her.

It was suddenly quite clear why Harry was so insistent for him to stay away from Hermione and Hadrian…the poor young man was only projecting his own feelings of inadequacy. He was playing savior once again, letting his hero complex win over. Severus understood that Ginny wasn’t married, recalled rumors of her disinterest in any admirer…and it was quite easy to see why. She was still in love with Potter.

It was easy to spot another fool in love, when you understood the feeling well.

Ginny leaned against the back of Harry’s chair, her focus on Severus. “Hermione wanted you to know she Apparated back to Snape Manor, Hadrian wasn’t feeling well.”

Severus stood. “Thank you, Miss Weasley.” He finished his drink and the last drag of his cigar. “Potter, you and I are more alike than I would have ever anticipated. Only the years have taught me that while noble virtue is its own reward, misery enjoys company far better. There is no pretending to play a happy family, I adore my son and if his mother will have me, I will not let her go again. Life is a very long journey we aren’t meant to travel alone, and I hope Miss Weasley is able to convince you of that fact." He extended his hand, which Potter took, and shook slowly. He then shook Ginny’s.

“Happy Christmas, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley,” He nodded to each and with a crack, he Apparated home.


The house was quiet and dimly lit. As he reached the top of the stairs, Hadrian’s bedroom door opened and Hermione emerged, a tired expression evident on her pretty features.

“Good, you received my message.”

He nodded. “What’s wrong with Hadrian?”

Hermione sighed. “He and the other children decided to have a Chocolate Frog eating contest,” She couldn’t help but smirk. “I don’t think I need to tell you that no one won.”

Severus chuckled. “I heard the Weasley grandchildren fared no better than Hadrian as well. At least it’s a lesson he will not forget.”

Hermione smiled and nodded. “Speaking of forgetting…”

Not the kiss, Severus thought, I don’t want to forget it. Not the kiss.

“The kiss,” she continued.

“I don’t want to forget it,” he blurted out rather awkwardly. It didn’t even sound like his voice when he said it. He hesitated and played the words over in his mind. Was that more desperate than he intended?

“Me either,” Hermione confirmed, exhaling the breath she seemed to have been holding for far too long. “Blimey, thank Merlin you agree! I don’t think my heart would have taken it!” She giggled nervously, her shoulders shaking.

She looked up and finally met his steel stare. He could see the emotions running through her eyes, the windows to her very soul, her surprise turned to anticipation, which became apprehension, and even desire. He looked into their amber depths and he remembered.

His memories, for the most part, were quite bleak. His life had revolved around pain, doubt, and anguish, then became fooled and manipulated by the Deatheaters’s and Voldemort’s promises of retribution and glory. The murky waters turned to seas of blood and misery when Severus had come back to Dumbledore, seeking true absolution for his sins. The path to forgiveness had not been easy. He had lived his life on the edge of a knife, only to be given a fighting chance by an asinine group of Gryffindors featuring Harry Potter.

Potter had ended his life of servitude and espionage, and for that, he was grateful. Only what life did he have left after? Nothing. He had absolutely nothing to show for the first part of his existence besides a body and mind scarred. Any spark of hope had been lost in the process.

So he had settled into a routine of being comfortably numb. The absence of pain and hatred also meant no joy and love, but at the time, no emotion seemed preferable. He had seen and experienced the very worst of life, only to move onto living no life at all. For a man often noted for his brilliance, he could be as foolish as the rest of them.

And here before him now, before it was too later or maybe too soon after, stood his chance for living a real life, one with love and hope and true happiness. Along with it would come the hard road of trust, grief, anguish, and sorrow, but it was the price of Pandora’s box, and he was ready.

His arms came around her of their own accord. She didn’t resist, instead she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Severus. I…” He felt her lips stutter against his chest. Words had escaped her.

They were not necessary. He was a master Legilimen, after all.

“Let’s go to bed,” he answered, kissing her temple.

Her hand found his as she led them into his bedroom, and closed the door. “It’s not going to be easy, you realize.”

“Of course,” He brushed his hand along her jaw, his thumb against her lips.

“I’m not quitting my job,” she warned.

“We’ll connect your work to my floo.”

“I’m not selling my house.”

“You don’t have too, but it might be more agreeable to live here. This place has been vacant for far to long.”

“I’m-”

He silenced her with a kiss. The second after twelve years apart, longer than their kiss under the mistletoe, deeper without eyes watching. It was like coming home after so long.