Remember

CHAPTER 8: A Surprise Holiday









Severus was already in the water by the time Hermione arrived at the hot spring. He had taken to wearing trunks when he swam since she joined him every morning, despite not being invited to do so. Not that it mattered, she was a witch who took what she wanted, and she didn’t wait for an invitation.







He watched her undress slowly, revealing her curvy little body in the black bathing suit. He had watched her do it every morning for a month without being affected by it, until that morning. Things were different now that he had held that body tight against him and kissed her lips.







She smiled shyly as she stepped into the heated water and swam towards him. She bit her lower lip, still red and slightly swollen from the marathon kissing session of the night before, and stared at him nervously. Did he regret kissing her? Had the interruption and subsequent altercation made him believe she was more trouble than she was worth?







“Good morning, Severus.” She said quietly, treading water.









“Good morning.” He said.









“How did you sleep?” She asked, feeling like an idiot as soon as the words passed her lips.









“Not well, I kept thinking about you.” He answered softly.









“Oh, thank goodness.” She sighed before launching herself against him. He was thankful that his feet were planted firmly on the stony bottom or they both would have gone under. She wrapped her arms around his neck and immediately pressed her lips to his. He didn’t hesitate to respond this time, opening his mouth and allowing her the freedom to invade and taste to her hearts content.







Severus held her close, her thinly clad curves pressed into his nearly naked form. Her legs came up and over his hips and he grunted softly into her mouth, his hands sliding down her back to cup her bum.







“I was afraid you would reject me this morning.” She whispered, kissing him again softly. “I was afraid that those idiots completely ruined our first kiss.”







“No, they didn’t ruin it….it was....more than memorable.” He said, closing his eyes as she smoothed his wet hair back from his face. “You will be one of the few good memories I take with me when I leave this school.”







Hermione pulled back and looked into his eyes, her own filling slightly with tears. She pressed her forehead against his, her hands cupping the back of his head.







“That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, Severus. Thank you.” She closed her eyes and lost herself in his kiss once more.







************************







Severus and Hermione sat in the main hall at the very back, away from the rest of the student body as they ate their lunch. They sat side by side talking quietly for the duration of their meal before getting up and walking through the halls.





“What are you doing for the holiday break?” Severus asked her.







“I’ll be staying here.” She said sadly. “My friends haven’t even been born yet, and my family has no idea that I even exist.” She would miss them all. “What are you doing?”









“I’m going home, my mother is all alone and I couldn’t tell her no.” He said softly.







“Where is your father?” She asked as they climbed the stairs.









“Who knows, drunk most likely and shacked up with his latest whore.” Severus sneered. He walked her to the common room door and she reached out to run her hand over his arm comfortingly.







“I’m sorry.” She said softly.







“If she wasn’t alone….I would stay here with you.” He said.









“That’s alright, Snape, I’ll be here over the holidays….I’ll look out for her.” Peter said, slithering into their conversation.









“Peter….where did you come from?” Hermione asked, moving closer to Severus.









“Oh, I have a talent for moving about undetected.” He snickered.









“Like a rat?” Hermione asked, one brow lifted. Peter’s eyes narrowed, no one aside from his friends knew that he was an animagus. “You seem to have several vermin like tendencies.”









“Well, we have two weeks for you to learn all about my….tendencies. We are the only ones left behind I am afraid.” He said, his eyes slowly traveling over her body.







“Hermione, please go inside and pack a bag, you will be going home with me for the Christmas break.” Severus said, staring menacingly at Peter.









“Severus, you don’t have to do that….” Hermione was looking up at him in amazement.







“Go pack your bag, I will wait here. I would very much like for you to meet my mother, she will love you.” He nudged her towards the door and she smiled brightly as she ran inside. “I will say this once and only once, Pettigrew. Stay away from Hermione.”







“Who are you to say who can and can not talk to her? You aren’t her boyfriend; you are just someone she feels sorry for.” Pettigrew sneered.







“You are very wrong, Peter. She is important to me, I will protect her from anyone who means her harm. You have been warned, I’d advise you not to cross me on this.” Severus said darkly.









“Don’t threaten me, Snape. I know people; important people who can make you pay.” Peter hissed smugly.







“I don’t need other people to make you suffer, Peter, I can use spells that will leave no trace of your existence if you push me.” Severus reclined casually against the wall. “Stay away from what is mine.”









*********************







Hermione raced up the stairs and into the girl’s dormitory. She was thrilled to be invited home with Severus. Peter’s persistence was paying off as it continually pushed her into Severus’s company. His protectiveness made her feel warm inside and her stomach fluttered. She was completely smitten with him and she wasn’t ashamed to admit it.





She didn’t want to think about what would happen when it came time for her to leave. She would miss him, but his memories of her would be removed by Dumbledore and he would have no recollection of the strange little witch who forced herself into his life.





She shook off the melancholy thoughts and made her way towards her bed, bypassing Lily Evans and her group of friends as they talked about what they were going to do over break. Hermione opened her trunk and pulled out a bag, hastily shoving jeans, shirts, underwear and nightgowns inside. She tossed her toiletry bag inside and zipped it up before reaching for her cloak.







“Going home?” Lily asked, stepping up to the end of Hermione’s bed.







“Um, no, I am going to stay with a friend for break.” Hermione said, debating on what she should say. Lily was flanked by two other girls who were giving her dirty looks.







“But you don’t have any friends….only Sev.” Lily said, tilting her head to the side. “You know he is only with you to try and get back into my good graces.”







“Think what you like, Lily. I’m sorry it bothers you so much to see him involved with someone else.” Hermione said. Lily stood up straighter, her face red.







“Severus Snape is a dark wizard, Hermione, he is dangerous and he is volatile. He will hurt you in the end, it is best for you to walk away from him now before he gets the chance.” She said. Hermione looked at her curiously and realized that Lily really did believe what she was saying, and though she was being snotty about it, she thought she was doing the right thing.







“Lily, you made a choice to end your friendship with him and that is fine; it was your choice to make. But I will not turn my back on him. Yes, he is dark, he possesses knowledge of a dangerous nature but he has never harmed me or you or anyone else for that matter. He needed you. James and Sirius bullied him and belittled him and when he needed someone to lean on, someone to be there for him, you walked away.” Hermione said softly.







“He called me mudblood, he was hanging around with those older boys all the time, they were evil, horrible young men, Hermione, and you weren’t here to see that.” Lily said.









“Lily, I have been called mudblood on more than one occasion, it is only a word and it holds only as much power as you allow it to. No doubt he was angry and upset when he said it, perhaps as a result of his maltreatment by James and Sirius.” The guilty expression on her face told Hermione that she had hit the nail on the head. “He needed you and you betrayed him. He is a good man. Honest, intelligent, chivalrous and he has love in him to give. Yes, he is dark, rude, snarky and antisocial but a true friend could see past that.”







“You looked more than friendly last night.” One of the girls snickered.







“That is none of your business.” Hermione said.







“How could you do it? Kiss him I mean…..he’s not handsome….he’s so pale, thin and his hair is awful.” The other girl shuddered visibly.









“It was easy actually, he is a good kisser and he smells fantastic. He is pale but then so are a lot of people. He is thin but well muscled and his hair is like ebony silk to touch, not greasy at all, just lank.” Hermione said tersely at the nosy little witch. “Now, if you will excuse me, he is waiting for me.”







“You are going home with him for the holidays?” Lilly asked, her eyes wide with shock.









“Yes, I am.” Hermione answered.











“To Spinner’s End? To his house?” She asked incredulously.









“Yes, is there a problem, Lily?” Hermione asked, growing frustrated with the other girl.









“But….I was friends with him for nearly ten years and I never met his parents….never went to his house….” She said softly. “He must care for you a great deal, Hermione.”







“I hope so, because I care a great deal for him.” Hermione said as she shrugged into her cloak and grabbed her bag, leaving the trio of girls watching after her in amazement.





~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*





Wow, you guys are amazing! I really am in awe at how well this is being received, I fully expected to get negative reactions to my portrayal of the marauders yet it seems to be the favorite aspect of the story!!! I am so glad you are enjoying this, it was something that had me all over the emotional spectrum while writing, I was angry and weepy and laughing LOL. Yes, it is complete and you will get at least a chapter a day. I do not hold chapters for ransom LOL and I try not to tease LMAO. I have a list of pet peeves for fan fics I try to avoid 1)holding chapters ransom for reviews 2) abandoned fics 3) fics left for months unfinished …..I go out of my way to avoid falling into these myself.





Littleoldme – I am doing wonderfully hon, I just got really busy for a bit and it took me longer to crank out a fic than usual.







Twinsie - yup, shes ballsy alright, but I always imagined she would be







LadyVoldemort87 – now I can torment you with hints on the next fic LMAO







Jullsy - I recently began posting on Granger Enchanted as well







Utopia – Yes, Im back! And a tad LESS busy thankfully. I too am fascinated by the psychological aspect of touch, really interesting studies about how it affects children were done in orphanages all throughout Europe that were amazing. I am glad to make you think, it is always fun to read your reviews because I know you are going to lead me into a discussion about the subtle nuances of at least one characters thinking LOL







Lady of Clunn – 3 kids is insane as far as being busy but I wouldn’t trade it. It is the older ones now and all their activities that has me swamped. Writing original fiction is very time consuming but fan fics are a wonderful format for playing with plot ideas and getting instant feedback.









SO…..on to more Mione and Sev…..a little angst, a few limes….