A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 59 ~ A Couple of Discussions

After they all recovered from the revelation that Hermione was going to be involved with Professor Snape, Rose, Hugo and Hermione spent the rest of the day at the Burrow, Hugo enthusiastically telling his grandmother and grandfather about Rod taking Rose to the dance.

Hermione glanced over at Rose as Hugo spilled his guts about how great Rod could dance. Her daughter looked a bit red as she listened. Molly hopped right on the details wagon.

”Rod Dormers is the young wizard who saved you, isn’t he Rose?” the witch asked her granddaughter.

Rose reddened a little more.

”Yes, he is,” Rose replied as Hermione smiled a little. It seemed Rose liked Rod.

“Where is his family from?” Molly asked.

”Rod doesn’t have a family. He’s an orphan,” Hugo informed her.

Molly looked horrified.

”No family? What does he do on the holidays and during the summer?” she asked, her voice going a bit higher.

Both Rose and Hugo shrugged.

”I don’t know. I think he just stays at Hogwarts,” Hugo replied.

”Oh my word. That’s terrible,” Molly said, her eyes glistening. “Maybe we should bring him here for Christmas, Arthur. He did save Rose and it’s just terrible that he’s left alone in that big empty castle for the holidays.”

Molly was reactive, but had a heart as big as all of Britain.

“I’ll ask him!” Hugo offered with a big smile, then looked at his sister, “Wouldn’t that be great, Rose? Rod spending Christmas with us?”

Rose wasn’t sure that Rod would accept the invitation. He didn’t know their family and might feel out of place. But she couldn’t tell Hugo that.

“Yeah, Hugo, it would,” she replied.

“And we could give him presents. I bet he hasn’t gotten presents before,” Hugo continued happily.

Now both Molly’s and Hermione’s eyes teared up a bit. Arthur frowned slightly.

”Surely he’s gotten presents before, from his friends,” the wizard said.

Rose looked sober.

”I don’t think so, granddad. Rod was kind of an outcast. He didn’t have any friends really. He had to work in order to stay at Hogwarts, wore really shabby robes and he used to clean the stables. People teased him and looked down on him because of that. Plus he was in Slytherin house, so that didn’t help. Actually, he just got a working wand this year,” Rose informed them, “He couldn’t even really do magic that great.”

”But you should see him now,” Hugo said, “He’s so fast it’s scary.”

“It sounds like the boy has had a hard and rather lonely life,” Arthur said sympathetically, “I think we should invite him here for the holidays, Molly.”

Hermione said nothing, but her heart really went out to Rod. But what the Weasleys were planning could be overwhelming to him.

But if he did agree to come, he might have the best Christmas of his life and that was a heartwarming thought.

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When Winston and James arrived at the Room of Requirement the next evening, they found a very wet and sweaty Rod waiting for them. He was so soaked his blonde hair was plastered to his head and his white wifebeater shirt was stuck to his body. Both boys studied him.

”Rod, why are you sweating?” James asked as he set up the wizarding wireless radio.

Rod picked up a towel off of one of the chairs and wiped himself off. Then he picked up his wand and scourgified himself so as to start out fresh.

”I came a little early to practice a few moves,” he replied shortly.

Actually he had been there for two hours. Winston eyed him.

”The way you look, they must be some moves,” he said with a smile.

Rod shrugged.

“Maybe. I’ve got to work on them more,” he said as James fiddled through several stations before finding one he liked.

In their dance routine there was a break where each of them were to individually freestyle dance and show their skills. Rod wanted to be sure he could keep up with the two Gryffindors. They had shown him some of their moves and he was learning the routine, but he needed some moves of his own that he didn’t copy from them. He had to show some originality.

James walked up to him.

”How can you practice without music?” he asked Rod.

”I just imagine it in my head,” the wizard replied. He didn’t own a wireless. It would be nice if he did.

”I’ll loan you a wireless, Rodman,” Winston offered. “I have three of them.”

Rod smiled.

”Thanks Winston,” he said gratefully.

”No problem,” Winston said, returning the smile.

”All right. All right. You two can get a room later. Now let’s line up and get started,” James said, moving into position. They all listened to the music, catching the rhythm.

”One. Two. Three!”

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Hermione returned the children to Hogwarts. She had revealed she would be serving as a chaperone for the dance.

Both Hugo and Rose scowled. They loved their mum, but they didn’t want her fawning all over them in front of their friends or watching them like a hippogriff guarding her foals.

”Mum, you have to stay out of the way,” Rose said to her mother pleadingly.

”Yeah. And no fixing my tie or straightening my robes or trying to comb my hair in front of everybody,” Hugo said, pouting a bit at the thought of it.

”I’ll chain myself to the punch table,” Hermione said, smiling as they walked across Hogwarts grounds. “But seriously, I won’t bother either of you. Believe it or not, I was young once too. Parents are not cool.”

“You’re cool, mum. Just not so much at dances though,” Hugo said to her consolingly.

Hermione arched an eyebrow at her son. He meant well.

They made it to the castle, Hermione kissing them some distance away so they wouldn’t accidentally be seen getting mothered by their peers. She watched her son and daughter enter the school, Hugo giving her a final wave before pulling the door closed behind them.

Hermione sighed, then headed for the gates and the site.

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Snape had left the wards down for Hermione. He was no longer in hiding after all and no one could enter the worksite unauthorized. In addition, there were no fields to protect and his house was undetectable, so not as much vigilance was needed at this point, although he did instruct Eli to inform him when Hermione returned so he could put the protections back up as well as pop in on her to find out how her visit with her family went.

The wizard was sketching a layout for the southern field when Eli winked in.

”The Miss has returns,” the elf announced.

”Thank you, Eli,” Snape said.

Eli frowned at him slightly. The Potions master rarely thanked him for anything in the past. He was getting soft. It was because of the witch of course.

“You is welcome, Master,” the elf replied, winking out as Severus rose from his desk, put on his winter cloak and disapparated to the site. He saw a thin sliver of light for a moment as the door to the site closed. Hermione had just entered.

He pulled out his wand and cast the complicated spell that protected the area, then strode over to the site and entered the building, the female voice announcing him and alerting Hermione. He idly thought he might have to do something about that in the near future.

He was sure there were going to be times he wanted to creep up on her.

He was just about to knock on the door when it was opened and Hermione looked up at him.

”Hello Severus,” she said, stepping aside and letting the wizard in.

”Good evening, Hermione. I see you survived the fray,” Snape replied, gliding in and turning to face her.

The sexual tension of the morning was gone. Hermione seemed distracted and slightly disturbed. Snape sat down on the sofa, not feeling it the time to kiss the witch.

“It did go well, didn’t it?” he asked, concern in his voice.

Hermione started and blinked at him.

”Oh yes. Yes. Well, Molly wasn’t too thrilled, but Hugo stood up for me. He’s so sweet, and Rose accepts it, though I can’t say she’s too thrilled either,” Hermione said, sitting down next to him.

“That’s to be expected,” Snape replied, “She may feel I will attempt to replace her father and resent that possibility.”

“I explained to them that no one could replace their father,” she said softly, “I think they understood that.”

”It will still take time,” Snape said, “Of course I will take an interest in their welfare, but I will not overstep my bounds.”

Hermione nodded, but she still looked distracted.

”Something else is bothering you,” he said to Hermione, who sighed.

”It’s Rod Dormers. Rose was telling me about how he’s lived and Molly wants to invite him to the Burrow for Christmas holiday,” Hermione said, “And give him gifts and so forth. But you know, I’m concerned about that. Rod doesn’t have much of his own and if they do that, I think it will ultimately make him feel bad, because he won’t have any gifts to give them in return. I know gift-giving isn’t supposed to be reciprocal but he’s going to want to participate as well,” she said, “I’m afraid he will feel awful.”

”More than likely he won’t go,” Snape said, “It would be too stressful for him. He is just going to his first dance and that’s a large step for the boy. Mr. Dormers seems the cautious sort to me. He doesn’t rush in. He also doesn’t want to be pitied. They’ll make him feel like a charity case instead of welcomed if they act in such a manner.”

Hermione sighed again.

“I just feel so bad for him, Severus. You know he spent all his holidays and summers alone at Hogwarts? He had no friends and no family. Rose thinks he’s never received a Christmas present since coming to the school. I have no idea how it was before for him, but it’s so sad. What does he do for money?” she said.

“He has no money,” Snape replied, “Yet. But that will be rectified after graduation when he is employed.”

”Still, it’s sad,” she said softly, her eyes glistening.

Snape studied the witch. She was really concerned about the boy. It was a rather dismal situation.

“He does have the dance to look forward to,” the wizard said in an attempt to bring at least one positive aspect to the forefront.

Hermione brightened a bit.

”Hugo said Rod is a very talented dancer. A natural,” she replied, “Oh, and speaking of the dance . . . I’ve been asked to be a chaperone.”

Severus arched an eyebrow at her.

“Yet another poor soul roped into the impossible task of protecting the virtue of the collective student body,” he said, shaking his head. “You don’t stand a chance of doing it. There has never been a dance where the punch wasn’t spiked and at least five witches had to be given a Morning After potion,” he said, remembering all the dances he had to chaperone at Hogwarts. As vigilant as he was, even he was unable to keep the punch pristine.

“Well, maybe if I had a bit of help,” Hermione said to him with a little smile.

”Help?” Snape repeated.

”Yes. Help. I can bring a guest,” she said, grinning at him. “Will you go with me to the Christmas dance, Severus?”

Snape blinked at her. The Christmas dance at Hogwarts? No. He couldn’t do it.

Hermione saw the reluctance in his face and suddenly pantomimed opening a book and flipping through the pages. She stopped and pretended to read the text out loud, running a finger across thin air.

“Courtship 101,” the witch said, “If you intend to successfully woo a witch, NEVER turn down an invitation.”

Snape knew when he was being blackmailed. Well there was no reason to try to argue. Hermione had him by the balls, quite literally.

”Fine. I will go,” he conceded, “But I warn you . . . the first idiot that asks me for an autograph is going to have an extra appendage growing out of the side of his or her head.”

”You’re just full of the Christmas spirit, aren’t you?” Hermione said, shaking her head.

”To overflowing,” he replied sarcastically.

”Well, thank you for agreeing to go,” she said to him with a smile.

Suddenly, Hermione leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the lips. It was quick, but sweet and the first time she initiated contact. Snape looked at her, his dark eyes immediately heating up.

”Uh oh,” Hermione thought, then yawned exaggeratedly.

”I’m totally exhausted,” the witch said.

“Quite suddenly as well,” the wizard purred, knowing this was the witch’s way of running interference and making him leave before things got out of hand.

But she did have a long day and to be honest, if they did indulge themselves at best, they wouldn’t stop and at worst, he’d be wanking off again. As delicious as the first possibility was, again . . . it was too soon.

The wizard stood up.

”Get your rest, witch,” Snape said, pulling Hermione to her feet, “You have work tomorrow. I’m hoping you can make a few advances before the Christmas holidays set in. You have two weeks off.”

”Yes, I know,” Hermione said, walking the wizard toward the door.

Snape wanted to know how she intended to spend those two weeks but figured she would tell him eventually. He hoped at least part of it would be here on the site.

With him.

He opened the door and stepped out, turning toward her.

”May I have a good night kiss?” he asked her silkily.

In answer, Hermione puckered.

Snape studied her face for a moment, then leaned and kissed her gently. Once again Hermione felt that honey sensation and was glad the wizard was on the other side of the door. He pulled away and their eyes met, both heated.

”Good night, Hermione,” the wizard said softly.

”Good night, Severus. Sleep tight,” she replied.

Snape snorted.

”You can be sure I will,” he said darkly.

The tightness would be in the general area of his loins.

Hermione blushed.

”Good night,” she said again, closing the door on the wizard.

Snape stood there for a moment, then let out a sigh and turned, exiting the site and returning home.

He made himself a firewhiskey and thought about Hermione’s concern for Rod. She was a very caring witch, and a mother. The boy’s situation did distress her.

Hm.

Maybe he’d contact Bartleby tomorrow.

He had an idea.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.