The Healing

CHAPTER FIVE


Severus, though he loathed admitting it, quite enjoyed his time in the cabin. He was steadily regaining the weight he had dropped during his convalescence thanks to the amazing meals she prepared for him everyday. His strength and stamina were returning as well thanks to the daily walks they took along the shore and into the woods when the weather was nice.

She didn’t hover, or constantly talk at him. Frequently they simply sat for hours engrossed in their books, or watching movies on the television. They decorated a small tree with some ornaments and lights that Hagrid had brought at Hermione’s request, and she hung stockings from the mantle. He could tell she was missing her friends, and her family. So he told Hagrid where he could find some galleons in his rooms at Hogwarts and made arrangements for him to purchase a couple of small gifts for her.

Over the first few weeks of December she had spent much of her time making gifts for her friends that Hagrid took with him to deliver. On his last visit before Christmas he brought gifts for the two of them. Severus couldn’t deny the odd feeling of excitement; he had never celebrated Christmas before.

He felt himself becoming attached, enjoying their isolated little life together. And that terrified him, more than anything else he had ever done in his life. It was pleasant, and so easy to wake up with her every morning, and go to bed with her every night. Even now, as he stood by the window watching the snow fall, he could hear her singing carols softly as she sat in the middle of the bed and wrapped a gift. It should have annoyed him, would have in the past, but he found the soft sound comforting. What was going to happen when he went back to life alone?


“Severus?” She called from the kitchen area. He looked up, and to his surprise, she was standing by the table with a chocolate cake, covered in sparking candles.

“What is this?” He asked, looking down at the festive dessert.

“Happy birthday.” She said softly. “Make a wish, and blow out your candles.”

“You baked me a cake?” He looked at her in amazement. He closed his eyes for a moment, and then blew the candles out. She clapped her hands and began pulling the candles from the chocolate frosting. She cut the cake, and joined him at the table, sliding a package wrapped in silver paper with a green ribbon in front of him.

“This is for you.” She said as she began to eat her cake, watching him as he turned the package over in his hands.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You might consider opening it first.” She laughed softly.

He tugged on the ribbon and slowly opened the package. He stared at the gift for a long moment, the lump in his throat preventing him from saying anything. It was a silver frame engraved with tiny dragons, and the photo inside was of Severus standing beside Dumbledore as they welcomed students into the great hall. Dumbledore was smiling, eyes twinkling as he waved merrily. Severus was rolling his eyes and looking exceedingly bored beside him.

“Hagrid found the photo in Dumbledore’s things, and he made a copy for me. I know you respected him, that he was your friend.” Hermione said softly.

“Thank you, it is a wonderful gift.” He said, setting the frame up on the table.

“You are very welcome.” Hermione leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek. “Happy birthday Severus.”



On Christmas morning, it snowed heavily. Hermione and Severus rolled out of bed and she made breakfast while he stoked the fire and cleared the snow from the porch. The enjoyed their meal and when she was finished with her washing up, she pulled the stockings from the mantle and tossed Severus’s into his lap.

“It’s full of candies.” He said, pulling several different kinds of sweets from the stocking.

“Yup, someone thinks you need sweetening up.” She said with a teasing wink. She reached under the tree and pulled out a small box. “Here, this is from the Weasley family.” He opened the red box and withdrew a long, too long, black and silver knitted scarf.

“Oh, wow! It’s only two colors!” Hermione said, in shock. She opened her own box from the wizarding family to find an equally long, but multicolored scarf. Severus looked at her and smiled.

“I am thankful she thought about my personal tastes when she opted to make it for me.” Hermione passed him another gift, from Harry this time. He was more than a little surprised by the journal, bound in fine leather with his name embossed in gold on the bottom.

“Wow, that is a beautiful book!” Hermione said.

“Why would he give me something like this?” He pushed the front of the book open and saw a photograph of the most recent members of the order and a simply scrawled Thank You written underneath. He was very touched by the gift. Hermione was holding two magic books and a leather sleeve for her wand, her gifts from Harry. “I believe those two gifts are for you.” He said, pointing to the small packages off to the side.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” She said with a soft smile.

“It’s nothing compared to what you have done for me.” H watched as she opened the smallest of the boxes and withdrew the silver locket. It was engraved with the Gryffindor coat of arms. She pulled open the little heart and smiled a the photo of she and her friends. No doubt he had gotten in from Hagrid as it was taken in his hut right after Ron had finished vomiting slugs. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and climbed from the floor into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Thank you, it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever owned.” She said softly against his ear. He laid his hand awkwardly against her back, praying that she wouldn’t stay on his lap much longer, his sanity couldn’t take it. She gave him one last squeeze and slid back to her seat on the floor. Her other gift was a rare potions book that she had once asked him about and could not find.

“Okay, here, these are for you.” She pulled a large box from beneath the tree, that had a smaller box on top. He fumbled with the large package for a moment before balancing it across his knees. He opened the small box first, and withdrew a soft pair of black leather gloves. He set them on the arm of the chair and opened the big box. He pulled out a soft, woolen cloak with a high, stiff collar. On the collar were tiny, hand embroidered serpents in silver thread. It had a silver frog closure at the throat and the Slytherin crest on the left side.

“You did this didn’t you?” He asked, running his fingers over the embroidery.

“Yes, I had Hagrid bring me the material. He couldn’t find your cloak when he got your things, so I made the cloak while you were sleeping, and did the embroidery over the last several weeks.” She smiled, proud of her work.

“I have never owned anything so nice.” He said. “Thank you.”

“You are very welcome. Happy Christmas Severus.”

“Happy Christmas Hermione.”

****Okay, its sappy I know, but I made myself sad when I wrote him as having never had a birthday or Christmas celebration, so I had to put it in there.....so forgive, me....because Christmas day may be over....but the night is yet to come. :P