Happy Christmas Severus Snape: A Challenge Fic

The Characters belong to J.K.R., the inspiration to Granger Enchanted, but the plot is mine. I receive no money for this work.



Albus\'s Christmas Gift





Sleigh bells ring

Are you listening

In the lane

Snow is glistening

A beautiful sight

We\'re happy tonight

Walking in a winter wonderland.





Harry had used the Hallows to bring back Headmaster Dumbledore. He spent hours looking for the Resurrection Stone and finally found it. He would not have done so, but Albus asked him to do this so he could complete some unfinished business. He would not tell Harry all of it, but some pertained to him. Albus did not take over as Headmaster. This was a chance to right some wrongs and try to repair some damage. He did enjoy visiting with Minerva and all of the surviving Hogwarts staff. Even Severus, the bitterly cranky Potions master.





Severus, knowing he held the Elder Wand and not being the master of it, was prepared for his demise, and decided he wanted to live. He took anti-venom for Voldemort\'s snake as well as healing, blood clotting and pain potions that would render him unconscious and cause him to appear dead. He did what he had to do to live.

He may have loved Lilly Evans, but he finally accepted her time was over, and he wanted to live to a ripe old age, if for no other reason than to torment students and see what he could discover in the lucrative Potions field. He had a nice chunk of savings as he was no spendthrift. Food, lodgings, materials for students were all supplied by Hogwarts. He invested his money in the Muggle world in a nice financial portfolio with low, medium and some higher risk investments. He was finally financially comfortable.





Gone away is the bluebird

Here to stay is a new bird

He sings a love song

As we go along

Walking in a winter wonderland





Hermione Granger was finally at the stage of her education that she was able to apprentice at Hogwarts. She was very happy to return to her home. Her parents were so happy in Australia that she didn\'t have the heart to bring them back to England. Besides their home had been totally destroyed in a Death Eater attack, and her parents were declared dead by the Muggle world. She visited as often as she could, but they thought she was a cousin who was just discovered. Hermione missed her parents terribly, but loved them enough to let them live their lives in peace. She sold their dental practice, collected their insurance and set up half of her \'inheritance\' into funds that would keep her parents very comfortable in their old age. She also was a recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class. She still had more money than she would ever need.





Ron had broken up with Hermione, and she was a bit blue from it, but finally accepted they were way too different to live together as husband and wife. She loved his family as her own and often visited. Molly couldn\'t have been kinder even if she wished Hermione was truly her daughter.





Harry and Ginny had married as was expected. They were so happy. Harry used his money to rebuild his parents\' old home in Godric\'s Hallow. He left the graffiti as a testimony to his mission to defeat Voldemort. He, as well as many other Order members, were given an Order of Merlin First Class and the money that went with it, enough to live very comfortably. Kingsley Shacklebolt was now the Minister of Magic, so much of the corruption was being weeded out with a vengeance.





Harry now worked as an Auror simply because he wanted to be busy. Ron was his partner and they really enjoyed working together.





In the meadow we can build a snowman

Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He\'ll say: Are you married?

We\'ll say: No, man

But you can do the job

When you\'re in town





Hermione was met at the gate of Hogwarts by Professor Snape. He was much more relaxed than when he had served as a spy. His posture was less imposing even if he was still strict with his students. Of course a Potions class had to be kept under control. Students could very easily get hurt from fumes, exploding cauldrons and improperly made potions.





Professor Snape informed Hermione that now she was a staff member she could call him by his first name, as well as all of the other staff. That must have been the warmest comment she had ever received from him.





Hermione and Severus chatted as they walked to the castle; Hermione slipped and would have fallen if not for Severus steadying her by the elbow. She blushed and thanked him for saving her from a nasty fall. She did not mention the electric-like tingle she felt.





They finally arrived at Hogwarts. Hermione was warmly greeted by her former professors and now colleagues. They were just in time for lunch, so everyone headed for the Great Hall. The elves created a wonderful feast for the staff. The students were gone, so it was a relaxing meal and a wonderful chance to get caught up with all of the news. McGonagall was not surprised Hermione was top of her class and due to graduate in the spring.





Dumbledore was very cheery in his red and green robes trimmed with gold, his beard a silvery white, his eyes twinkling merrily.

Severus watched Hermione from under his heavily lidded eyes. Gone was the brash know-it-all Gryffindor with the wild hair and waving hand. Instead, a young woman who had lost her family and survived a major war with Voldemort sat across from him. She was a beautiful, accomplished, frighteningly intelligent and fiercely loyal woman now. He was entertained with her conversation with Professors Vector and McGonagall. She was still the darling of Gryffindor, and Severus wished she had been sorted all those years ago into Slytherin House. He mused on the fates as it were, and never noticed Dumbledore give him a most annoying, twinkling smile.





The luncheon was finally over and general chitchat reigned supreme when Dumbledore informed the staff that Harry would be arriving at the school at any time. Severus was annoyed that \'the boy who lived to conquer Voldemort and was still a pain in the ass\' would be arriving. He knew that Minerva had issued an invitation for Harry to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, but Hermione was taking that position, so what was the boy wonder coming to Hogwarts for?





Well, Harry arrived and he was positively gushed over which, of course, annoyed the living hell out of Severus, but he realized the boy was the very reason he was finally free. His welcome was as cool and polite as only the Potions Master could be, so of course the boy who continued to be a pest hugged him \'just to wish him a very happy Holiday Season\'. The good news, in Severus\'s opinion, was the fact that the boy was going to the Ministry of Magic with Albus. He ignored the rest of the conversation until he heard that they were going to the Department of Mysteries. That was where that mutt, Sirius Black, had fallen behind the veil.

Harry was jumping for joy all of a sudden, which boded ill for Severus. Recalling his spying years, he quickly gathered the information he had missed, using Legilimency on those present. They were so excited not one of them noticed.





Severus groaned, it turned out that before Albus died he figured out how to get Sirius back to this plane. Merlin, he thought, where are my headache potions and a bottle of fire whiskey? Hermione had a silly grin and was loudly, along with the other staff, wishing Harry and Dumbledore the best of luck as they used the Floo Powder and disappeared from the Great Hall.





Later on We\'ll conspire

As we dream by the fire

To face unafraid

The plans that we\'ve made

Walking in a winter wonderland





Severus in a shocking display of friendliness invited Miss Granger to his room for a drink. Hermione, accepted. Really, she was thrilled. She had fallen hopelessly in love with Severus before the war really got bad. After the supposed murder of Albus Dumbledore she thought it was hopeless, besides he was twenty years her senior. That was not much in the wizarding world, but as an ex-student Hermione felt she had no chance what so ever. Better a tentative friendship with dignity, than to be laughed at.





The dungeons were cold and clammy, Hermione shivered. Severus arrived at a portrait of Salazar Slytherin, mumbled a password and the door opened. His room was nothing Hermione expected. There was a huge fireplace the heat it generated made the rooms comfortably warm. He had a beautiful marble stone floor of a silvery grey with black veins. A magic window let in light and a accurate view of the weather outside. The view was lovely; she could see the lake frozen near the shore, a blanket of white on the ground and flakes of snow falling. The walls were shades of grey, blue and a complimentary cream. The room soothed frazzled nerves.





Severus arrived with their drinks; he had firewhiskey and presented her with a heady blackberry brandy made by elves. She tried the brandy; it was so delicious, sweet, and heady and warmed her quickly. She almost spit the brandy out when Severus removed his famed cloak. He was now dressed in a white, starched shirt; black slacks and his black dragon hide boots. Gods he was sexy, built like a runner and now that he was not playing spy his hair was clean, shiny and silky looking. Even his teeth were considerably brighter. Severus invited her to sit and they had the most pleasant conversation on the latest Potion techniques. He was secretly thrilled she kept up with his art.





They both sat near the fire, and as usual, Severus was plotting. However, instead of thinking of ways to take points he was plotting to keep Hermione a part of his life. He really needed to talk to Albus!





Meanwhile Harry and Dumbledore were at the Ministry of Magic, Albus used his considerable influence to get into the Department of Mysteries. He conjured a large rope, tied it around his waist and began chanting with some very unusual and complicated wand moments. When he was done, he told Harry to hold the other end of the rope and stepped through the veil. Harry was worried and nervous. The tension of the rope varied from slack to being almost impossible to hold. Harry grimly held on at these times. Thirty minutes passed, then with a great thud Albus reappeared holding onto Sirius! Harry was shocked and elated! The plan worked! He greeted his lost Godfather with a wordless cry of affection and a hug that could crush ribs. He looked the same after six years of being beyond this plane.





Harry sobbed with joy; at last, he had a family member who knew his parents. Albus watched the reunion with a twinkle in his eye. His job was already halfway done. One of two people he had wronged he made reparation to. Next was Severus, he spent much of his life as a spy working for the light at the cost of his own happiness.





Albus returned to Hogwarts alone as Harry had a lot of catching up to do with Sirius. He was not surprised to see Severus was waiting his arrival. He had a feeling he knew that it was about a grown up Gryffindor who was teach Defence Against the Dark Arts as well.

Albus casually invited Severus to his rooms for tea. When they arrived, a house elf appeared with tea, biscuits, cream, lemon and sugar. Severus, of course, talked about everything but Hermione at first; up to and including Sirius\'s (although he referred to him as \'the mutt\') well-being.





"Albus," Severus said, "I\'ve been thinking. You are the closest thing I have to a parent. I had nightmares for years about what was done on the Tower. I know it had to be done, but I have missed you and regretted your loss all this time." Ah, Albus thought, we are getting to a deeper level of conversation.





Instead Albus spoke. "We were at war Severus, peace costs a great deal. You were acting under regrettable orders and did what had to be done. There is nothing to regret, you were a fine soldier." Albus abruptly changed the subject to something much closer to the heart.





"Hermione has grown up quite nicely, don\'t you think Severus?"





Severus had a flash of guilt go across his face. "She is tolerable Albus. Much more so than she was as a student." Albus knew Severus had feelings for the girl, but he had to fight his way through feeling of inadequacy, a dark past, and a less than stellar childhood. Ordinarily Albus would continue dancing around the issue with Severus, but his time was no longer unlimited; so he went for a very direct approach.





"You do know Severus, she had a crush on you in Sixth- year."





"That may be, I cannot fathom the teen aged girls\' mind. Even if it were true it was hopeless, and now I am the infamous Death Eater turned spy, and Killer of the great Albus Dumbledore. Needless to say no woman would want to be saddled with me."





"Unless I am mistaken, you are now an acquitted man and have received the Order of Merlin, first class?" He posed it as a question simply so Severus would be forced to admit it.



"You know it is true Albus, but I am older than Hermione and ugly to boot."





"The Muggles have a saying Severus, \'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder\'. Go to her before it is too late and you have another regret."





"Albus, I shall take my leave as I have things to do." Severus swept out of the room with much too think about.





In the meadow we can build a snowman

And pretend that he\'s a circus clown

We\'ll have lots of fun with mister snowman

Until the alligators knock him down.





Severus did what he did best when confronted with emotions he didn\'t know how to handle. He sulked and brewed potions. He was annoyed when he heard a knock on the door, he knew it wasn\'t a student since it was Winter Break so he kept his voice slightly less sarcastic when he said "Come in!". He was deep in his brewing process and when he looked up Hermione was there. She looked nervous. Slightly less gruff than usual Severus asked her what she needed.





"Professor, I mean Severus, Minerva told me how beautifully Hogsmeade was decorated. I was wondering, I mean, if you have time, we could go and see this evening. Perhaps do a bit of shopping together?"





Severus looked at her as if she had grown two heads. True he had not gone shopping for the token gifts that the staff exchanged each year, but why would she invite him along? "Miss Granger, Hermione, are you asking me out?"





"Oh, no sir, well kind of I guess, if you want to. We can have dinner and a drink at the Three Broomsticks. I mean if you have the time, Sir." She was looking at his shoes by this point, her face a comely shade of red. Albus must have been right, damn his eyes. This brave, charming woman asked him out! He did not know what to make of it and was silent for a minute.





"I understand sir if you don\'t want to go with me. I\'m sure you have better things to do." The poor girl looked mortified and was about to leave. He couldn\'t let that happen. His dream could come true; he let too much pass him by so Hermione must not be allowed to leave.





"Hermione," his voice slightly rusty and unsure, "I would be honored to escort you to Hogsmeade." For a moment her face glowed with happiness, then a slightly more guarded expression appeared.

Rather than see the glow fade away Severus said, "How about we leave here at six pm. We can enjoy a late supper, enjoy the festivities and do our shopping together."





"I would like that very much Severus. I\'ll see you at six." She almost floated out of the room, which seemed almost empty without her presence. Severus sighed, cleaned up his station and put his potion under a Stasis Charm. He needed to make himself respectable looking.





When it snows

Ain\'t it thrilling

Though your nose gets a chilling

We\'ll frolic and play

The Eskimo way

Walking in a winter wonderland

Walking in a winter wonderland

Walking in a winter wonderland





By six pm Severus was a nervous wreck. He was half afraid she changed her mind. When she finally arrived, she looked like a Christmas Angel. Her robes were a deep burgundy, her cloak a forest green trimmed in silver. Her hair flowed down her back like a mountain spring all soft and shiny. She took his breath away.

He was going to suggest Apparating, but he really wanted to spend time with her. There was a light snow falling around them giving a magical feel to the night. The walk was so pleasant chatting about everything and anything. When they arrived, they had hot cider to warm themselves. They shopped, oohed and ahhed over the decorations, which were creative and beautiful. The town was rebuilt better than ever and the shopkeepers appeared to be in competition one who\'s decorations were the most stunning.





They separated only when it was time to buy gifts for each other. Hermione purchased a set of unbreakable jars containing very precious, rare potions ingredients. Severus bought an engagement ring with rubies, emeralds and diamonds in the hopes he could give it to her one day, and a very old, rare edition of Hogwarts, A History.





They continued to dinner, Severus found a quiet out of the way table. He expressed a desire to go out again sometime when Hermione blushed. Severus was afraid she did not enjoy herself and was about to tell her it was not necessary; when she interrupted.

"Severus, didn\'t you know? You are my Christmas wish." Her eyes were bright as both of them noticed a sprig of mistletoe had appeared above them. The new couple leaned together across the table for their very first kiss. It was sweet, intoxicating and demanding all at the same time.





Back at Hogwarts, Albus had a merry twinkle in his eye. Minerva and he were sharing a pot of tea laced with brandy.

He made his plans to say goodbye after the couple made a very important announcement. He expected it Christmas Day. Then he would be off to the next great adventure with no regrets. His job was done and he could rest in peace.





Author\'s notes: This story was written for the Granger Enchanted Christmas Exchange and never quite got done in time for the challange. The idea of Albus coming back from the dead to right wrongs is based off the story The Christmas Carol. The song Winter Wonderland is also not my creation. Words and music are by Felix Benard and Dick Smith. Many thanks to my beta Coley Terrific who pinched hit for me. I appreciate all the efforts she went to. I would also like to Thank Robin B. as she encouraged me to do this challange!



Please review as it\'s the only pay we authors gain from J.K.R.\'s world.



Merry Christmas Everyone!