Chapter Text
Hearts and Cauldrons Secret Santa 2025!!!
For the amazing Awsaya/ aread
Prompts tags, vibes used and inspired by:
Post-War Hurt/Comfort
(Look I know they were art prompts but they fed my inspiration brain)
Autumnal Cuddling (make it just hugging season)
Late-night meeting at the Astronomy Tower
Lighthouse
Fic prompt #1: During her first major holiday coupled up with Snape, Hermione introduces him to her parents (some drama would be a bonus lol)
Fic prompt #2: Snape and Hermione are the only ones who agree to work (at the Ministry or elsewhere) during Christmas Eve/another holiday
Word count: 4602
Prologue
Every story has its hero. Every story has the person they focus on. In some cases, it's Harry Potter. In some other cases, it's Harriette Potter.
Sometimes Harry ends up with Ginny. Sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes Harriette is bested by Draco Malfoy. Other times… strangely… Peeves.
Every story however has another character too. The one you wonder… what if. In some cases it can be anyone and everyone. In our case… there are two. Severus Snape and Hermione Granger. The pair of pairs and the match made in heaven.
Sometimes, there was a late meeting in the Astronomy Tower followed by cuddles and a stroll in the moonlight. Secret night meetings, sneaking around the castle. The Eighth Years returned to Hogwarts and there is a lot of pining going around.
Sometimes that is the truth. Other times, Dumbledore is at fault. (When isn't he?) And other times, there are meddling friends like Harry or Harriette or Draco and Peeves. Sometimes… people get pushed together by circumstances beyond their control… And yet, it's still up to them to figure things out.
Sometimes it's all of the above. Multiple people, multiple situations.
This story…. is about those sometimes. The one where coming together is a choice that has to be repeated day to day. It's a subconscious one. They wake up, they choose each other and then they face the world.
The question is: how is the world responding?
Part 1
The Hogwarts grounds were eerily silent. It was a perfect September night. The first two weeks of school had gone by very fast. For the first time, there was a settlement of peace above the castle.
One would almost not believe that there had been so much blood shed, so many lives lost just the past May.
Hogwarts had reopened after a long summer filled with repairs. Students and teachers alike, alongside parents and other volunteers, had worked tirelessly so a new school year could begin come September first. Walls were rebuilt, the bridges put back together stone by stone. Gryffindor Tower was restored and so was Ravenclaw’s.
The Astronomy Tower, out of all, had remained unchanged. In the havoc of 2nd of May 1998, only it had remained intact. Many speculated it was the soul of Albus Dumbledore which kept the Death Eaters away. Others were convinced it was just a natural aversion to avoid the place and since no one was there to fight, no one went to destroy it.
Hermione believed a certain poltergeist who had revealed itself to be way more than he seemed had everything to do with it.
“I don't think I should be reminding you that you are still in fact subject to a curfew, Miss Granger,” a voice woke her up from her musings.
Hermione wondered how come she hadn't felt him appear next to her. Usually her instincts were sharp as a razor. Years later, she'd realise it would be because of how safe he made her feel. It was like an extension of her very soul had been wrapped in warmth and handed over a hot chocolate.
“I'm sorry, Prof-Headmaster Snape,” she stuttered. “I couldn't sleep.”
“Considering the only reason I am Headmaster is because Minerva is very stubborn, I do not mind and quite appreciate you using ‘Professor’.”
Hermione snorted. Stubborn was gracious. Her Head of House had refused to even return to Hogwarts unless Severus Snape was ‘proper’ Headmaster.
“Besides,” he continued, “I owe you my life, Miss Granger. I do not know why you chose so, but I appreciate it nonetheless. Should you call me Severus, I shall allow it.”
Hermione grinned. He had sung the opposite tune right after she'd carried him out of the Shrieking Shack to the infirmary.
He handed her a mug. It was tea.
“I couldn't sleep either. Last year this time, we had our first term staff meeting and it was one of the most horrendous meetings I've had to attend. It felt more torturous than all my Death Eater meetings.”
She accepted the mug and moved closer to the railing of the tower. “It couldn't have been easy with everyone in the room either hating or despising you.”
Severus shook his head. “I knew I had a long year ahead of me.”
Hermione watched over the grounds as the moon washed her light over; the different coloured trees making it a beautiful reflection across.
“It seemed rather anticlimactic that in the end, it was Peeves that stopped Voldemort.”
He had to fight the instinct to hiss and grab his left arm. Those days were long gone.
She placed a hand over his own. “I'm sorry.”
“Don't be. I'm slowly learning to live a free life.”
Hermione moved closer, so close in fact that their bodies were touching. He didn't push her away, in fact, he seemed to be leaning in.
"Maybe it was anticlimactic, Miss Granger, but the image of the Dark Lord in a bright pink tutu dancing himself to death is one that will generate many patroni in my lifetime.”
She chuckled. “Oh yes, definitely. That and a bunch of Death Eaters doing ballet and twisting in the most painful ways for them was the cherry on cake. I am glad he intervened when he intervened.” Her eyes glazed over the Black Lake. “Even if I wish he could have done something sooner if he is as powerful as it seems.”
“I think it was all for your friend's benefit.”
Hermione nodded. “Harry has a strong hold over Peeves. I am unsure how the friendship happened, but I am grateful it did. It won us the war.”
“Indeed.”
Severus sighed and looked at her. Hermione could tell he was preparing to be the teacher he still was and not the friend she'd made over the summer, bonding over the construction of the school and amazed at how much time she'd gotten out of the Time-Turner. Finding out she would have been legal to drink in the United States before finishing her sixth year had been quite a shock for the Potions Master. She'd had to swear to him to never overuse and misuse a Time-Turner like that. Hermione never quite had the heart to tell him that they'd destroyed all the Time-Turners… or that she'd already used hers two more times from the time he'd learned of her misuse and the time he'd asked her to never do it again. Years later, he found out of course, but what could he do about it?
Together they watched the grounds, and listened through the music of the night. Severus wrapped an arm around Hermione and she leaned into him. If they closed their eyes, they could still see the fire that had been set off in the grass, the main gates being blasted open and the door broken laying at the bottom of the Black Lake.
That was the first late night meeting of many. Over half of them were spent as ever growing friends. The rest of them… were spent in ever growing denial of feelings.
…
Eight months later, it was the Northern Lights that they had managed to watch together. The silence that had resigned the first few months back at Hogwarts had slowly changed. Life had gone back into the castle. The silence that had been there now was more comfortable. Familiar. It wasn't daunting. There were still ghosts and memories that probably would never fade for some of them, but this silence was a good one.
Although, tonight wasn't quiet. Several other students had gone out on the grounds to take pictures. Special allowance from the Headmaster.
Hermione leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her.
“Are you sure you don't want to remain at Hogwarts?” she asked him. “Just because I'm leaving…”
He shook his head. “I've had this plan long before. I only stayed because, as you know, Minerva was stubborn. I think working at the Ministry will be a good change of pace. I have given a lot to this school. I think it's time to give some time to myself. I will have time to brew for St Mungo's and even do some custom online orders.”
She nodded and nudged him with her head. “London is also much closer to Cambridge.”
“Indeed. I would miss our meetings too much if I was up here.”
She grasped his hand with her own. “Me too.”
Interlude (2 years later)
“Harry! I am telling you I will destroy the world if I have to keep watching this PINING! IT'S been YEARS! We have to do something!”
Harry sighed. Peeves was right. It was excruciatingly painful and also awkward to be in the same room with two people who clearly wanted each other and who were being so obtuse about it.
“What do you want us to do? These two seem to be married to their work! I feel like even if we bribe Kingsley or the head of the Department of Mysteries-who by the way, I have no idea who they are- we have no chance to get them in a romantic setting!”
Peeves grinned and Harry suddenly was scared. “What if we use their work against them? They are investigating ghosts at the moment. It just so happens… I have great ghost connections.”
Harry was sure that the glint in Peeves’ eyes spelled trouble but couldn't help and agree anyway.
“So what's the plan?”
“There's this… lighthouse… They could be chasing ghosts… but catching feelings…”
“Shine a reflector upon their hearts?”
“Exactly that!”
Part 2
Six months later
Hermione looked around the office. It was empty, with the exception of Severus. It was quite peaceful, although their colleagues were never trouble. The Department of Mysteries had by far the best employees. However, there was something special about the quietness of the place.
“Do you think we're workaholics?” she asked him all of a sudden.
Severus snorted. “Hermione, we are the only ones who agreed to work on Boxing Day in the whole department.”
“But you have time sensitive potions! And I have my reports….”
He arched an eyebrow. “And are they time sensitive reports?”
She sighed. “No.”
“I think you know that just as well for my potions I do not have to be here all day.”
Hermione sighed again. “But we will be.”
“Because we are workaholics, Hermione. We love work.”
As much as she wanted to disagree, unfortunately he was right. She'd always found comfort in her work, she'd always been the overachiever. While Hermione knew she didn't have anything to prove to anyone anymore, she genuinely just enjoyed working. It was soothing. For Severus it was the same. Working on his potions had kept his sanity during the war when he'd been pulled into two different directions under two different masters and especially once Dumbledore had become an incredibly obnoxious painting.
He grasped her hand. “We are getting better. We refused to work Christmas and New Year's this year.”
Hermione squeezed it in return and had to abstain from snorting.
“Only because my cousins are there. I dread New Year's Eve because I haven't seen them in forever and they always made fun of me.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean they always make fun of you?”
She stood up and grabbed some files to put on the shelves next to her desk. He stood as well, leaning on the doorway and kept his eyes on her. “Hermione?”
She sighed.
“I was the ugly duckling. I was the teacher's pet. Then remaining alive became a full time job for me. Learning things for the Dark Lord's return was a full time job. I was also a student at Hogwarts. Which they don't know about. They are so infuriating, that despite my age they remain grating and insulting. I tried initially to understand them since I couldn't tell them about the war or anything magical. But then as my usage of the Time-Turner grew I could no longer even remotely relate to them nor my peers here. They were teenagers and I was slowly growing away from them and even when we were of similar ages I couldn't relate to them as they didn't understand how I viewed things. Throughout the years, all they knew was my little buck teeth and my wild hair. They knew I was the one without a boyfriend. I didn't have time for those. Magical or Muggle. It wasn't safe to go out clubbing and frankly,” she said, looking him straight in the eyes, “there has been no one I was truly interested in until you.”
Severus blushed but held her gaze. “You've never been the ugly duckling.”
She shook her head. “Remember my teeth? My hair?”
He came closer to her then and taking the files out of her hand he set them on the table. He then grasped her chin and forced her to look him straight in the eyes.
“I remember and you are gorgeous now as you were lovely back then.”
“You told me you see no difference when my teeth were basically a small elephant in size!”
Severus shook his head. “I meant you were still beautiful, Miss Granger. I was trying to be… nice.”
Hermione had to stifle a laugh. “That might have been the worst way. Punishing Malfoy would have been better.”
“Who's to say I didn't?”
She arched an eyebrow. “You did?”
“He scrubbed floors for two weeks under the pretence that he shouldn't have let himself be caught.”
“Wow, no wonder he was so miserable afterwards.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“I didn't do it for you,” he said. “I was completely baffled by your response and in fact I got annoyed that my attempt of niceness seemed to fall flat. No, I punished him because he was shaming Slytherin by letting Moody or I guess better said Crouch see.”
Hermione shook her head. “You're impossible.”
Leaning over, she kissed him. It never failed to make her wonder how much at home she felt with him. Her heart had known the truth ever since that night on the Astronomy Tower, but she couldn't believe that she'd needed Peeves of all people to push her to be with the man of her dreams.
He deepened the kiss, backing her up against the wall when the door opened and the two of them broke apart.
Unspeakable Charles Rover, the Head of the Department of Mysteries popped his head in.
“Was I interrupting anything?”
They broke apart faster than if the Dark Lord himself would have entered the room.
Hermione turned red in the face while Severus, with all his years of spying just tinged slightly pink. You could barely see it, and yet he's fully blushed when she'd told him she'd been interested in no one but him.
“No, Sir,” she answered, and turned to straighten the files in the shelves.
Rover chuckled. “It could be worse. I was wondering when you two both offered to work today if I needed to set up some anti teenage charms in here.”
Severus squinted and she could tell he was offended.
“Charles, we're not teenagers! And frankly doing it at work is not our top priority! Work is!” she exclaimed and Severus nodded in agreement.
“Well, you didn't let me finish! I thought about it and then I realised who I am thinking about! Workaholic number one and Workaholic number two!”
Hermione faced palmed. “Just because we value work…”
Charles shrugged. “If the shoe fits.”
“Just the same though, I have a new case for you. You have to go to the Lighthouse near the Old Man of Stoer: Fjords Al Solas.”
“That's…” Severus started.
“A magical one,” Hermione finished.
“Yes, that is correct. There's been some strange reports coming in. Of light and shadows and it could be ghosts, it could be something else. There is no one in the Glasgow office because they're closed up till after New Year's. So it's up to you two.”
He handed over a file to Severus. “This is what we have so far. “
“Is this another setup a way to get us out of the office?” Hermione questioned.
“No I promise you it is not. Also the last setup is what brought you two together so don't throw that complaint at me! I know you liked it and I know it was the best lighthouse experience of your life. However, unfortunately this one is legit. There's multiple sightings of ghosts of other strange things happening and multiple reports have come in, some even at the same time in the last twenty-four hours. If you weren't working today I would have probably asked you to come in as a matter of urgency. But you two agreed.”
Severus was perusing the file but Hermione looked straight at Charles.
“You are also working! Can't point this finger at us only.”
“I am only working because I am the boss and I have a lot of reports to finish before the first departmental meeting of the new year in two weeks and I'm going on holiday for New Year's so I have to stay in and finish you too however this …was optional.”
“It was?” Severus asked but both he and Hermione knew that indeed it was.
“Yeah it was optional, it's Boxing Day! We don't have anything urgent to be in the office for- well, this, but I could have called someone if needed. Your potions who need like maybe twenty minutes of work.You didn't need to be in but coincidentally now it's too late. Now you do need to be here, you need to investigate and good job on being here because there is a high chance that you two would be the ones I would call to deal with a report like this.”
After he left, Hermione burst out laughing.
“Stop it!” Severus said but she could tell he was fighting laughter too.
“He said he was going to call us.” She chuckled. “On possible ghost reports.”
He smiled. “Who you gonna call?”
Nearly choking with laughter, Hermione managed “Ghostbusters!”
Severus went to get his coat and brought hers too. “I guess that's us.”
However, when they got there they realised it was actual ghosts that were causing the issues. But rather the Muggle repelling charms had fallen. It was a magical lighthouse so the light was reflected all across the sky and every being in the light reflected as dancing shadows all across the water. The light was actually so strong it was reaching far across the ocean and could be seen from high above in the sky.
Hermione walked around the beach taking in the sight. The lighthouse was gorgeous and emitting the most warm and welcoming light. The sea was singing to them it seemed and the waves were crashing against the dock in an almost hypnotic rhythm.
“We'll need to notify DMLA. This isn't a Department of Mysteries matter,” Hermione stated looking around. If it was a smaller scale place they could have attempted to place back the charms themselves but this was huge. They could never do it and it would never hold.
Severus nodded.
“It's weird how different this is from the one Peeves had us stranded in,” she said.
“That was a Muggle one. He made it so it seemed magical. But this one is Magical. It was built this way by the Fae and the Wizards and Witches of Scotland as a permanent way to give hope and show that life is beautiful.”
He was looking at her with such intensity when he said ‘beautiful’ that she would have fallen in love with him again if her heart didn't love him fully already.
“Life is beautiful,” she agreed and then winked at him and ran down the pier. Slowly, she got off and walked across the beach, taking her shoes off. The sand felt cold under her feet.
“Come on, let's go for a swim!” Hermione called out and she could see him reluctantly follow.
She took off her robes and ran across into the ocean. The waves seemed to be welcoming her, lulling her in.
Severus quickly followed, and she grinned. She loved seeing him shirtless. The water wasn't cold. Where the light had touched it, the water felt like a summer time swim.
“You should come with me for New Year's!”
He gaped at her. “What?”
“Severus, you're the one you know. It's been plenty enough time for me to know this. It's high time for you to meet my parents officially. Besides, I know you were planning to go to the office, but work isn't everything,” she said and swam towards him and hugged him, wrapping her legs around him. She kissed his neck. “So what do you say?”
“I couldn't possibly refuse.”
“Amazing, it is a slight costume party.”
“What?”
Part 3
It turned out that it was a full-blown masquerade. Hermione sighed. She knew her parents were excited and happy to be finally back in England. Australia had been nice, but London was their home. She knew they'd be devastated when she'd presented her plan for them to have their memory erased and move across the world in order to be safe.
She'd told them so much about him, but they'd only been back about three of the six months Severus and Hermione had officially been a couple. She had been a bit overzealous and afraid when she had the memory charms so she'd put them on a timer of nearly five years. She could forgive them for inviting everyone to what she'd thought would just be a family reunion, not that she had wanted one of those in the first place either.
There hadn't been a proper time yet to introduce her boyfriend to them and now in hindsight she didn't think the party was the best moment either but she was very glad Severus was the one walking with her as she was dressed as Aminta from Phantom of the Opera and Severus was dressed as Othello from Shakespeare. A bit anticlimactic but they loved both costumes.
She was even more glad that she was secure in their relationship because the moment they stepped inside her parents’ house her cousins were all over her man. He ignored them with no grace and made faces every time they came closer.
“I like him,” her father said, looking at Severus who once again looked like he'd smelled a bad thing when cousin Wren had come next to him, flirting and biting her lips.
Hermione grinned. “I'm glad to hear you say that Dad.”
“Did he really need to dress up as Othello, though?” her mother asked and Hermione had to stifle a laugh. Her mother's beef with Othello had started with a bad grade in the sixth form.
“I suggested it,” Hermione said, trying not to smile.
“Of course you did,” her mum muttered but Hermione could tell she did in fact like him too, which was great. It was a relief that all her friends and now family seemed to be on board with him.
Although looking at Wren, Deanne, and Ammer, it seemed there could be such a thing as too on board.
“I think I could have met your parents without having your cousins following me! I do not understand the appeal but also I have turned them down multiple times already. Why would they keep trying?”
She placed a hand on his chest. “Trust me, the appeal is there, very much so. But they're doing it to hurt me. They cannot comprehend you choosing me.”
“They're daft bints,” he said and grasped her face and kissed her. She could tell by their disgusted faces that they saw.
As the night went on, Severus never even left her side. And as midnight came, he backed her into a corner and kissed her senseless as the clock struck twelve. A new day, a new year had started. Hermione grinned. She wouldn't mind starting every day and every year like this.
However, the next five minutes could be avoided at all costs.
“Ugh! Why does it have to be you?” Wren shouted behind them.
Slowly, Severus turned and Hermione looked at her quizzically.
“I'm sorry?”
“You think you're fancy and whatnot, but you will always be the ugly duckling!”
Hermione had to physically block Severus from going after her. Thankfully her parents came to the rescue.
“Wren, when you were invited you were told that attacking or mocking our daughter would have you escorted out. We're not here for your drama. Apologise and leave.”
Wren just huffed and left, but Hermione didn't expect any less. She sent a grateful smile to her parents and then she turned to kiss Severus.
“It's alright,” she murmured against his lips.
“It's not,” he argued, but he let go and led her to the dance floor where all the couples who had kissed had gathered for the first dance of the year.
As they twirled around, he took her outside in the garden and the next thing she knew, they were Apparating away.
When she opened her eyes, they were on the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts. It was decorated with lights and flowers. There were petals all over the floor and the sound of the ocean could be heard in the background.
She turned all over taking it all in. It was beautiful. Hermione turned to question him.
“Severus, what is this?”
She didn't expect to find him on one knee in front of her, a tiny box with a shiny ring in his hand.
Hermione gasped. “Severus…”
“Hermione Jean Granger. I've known you for a very long time and I admit I have found you aggravating for over half of those years.”
She chuckled.
“I was even upset you saved my life thinking you took away my once chance at peace. I was determined to wither away and die in the infirmary but you kept me going. I think somehow, your resilience has turned my disdain into respect.
“Right here, on this tower was the first time I considered friendship. Both of us couldn't sleep. I remember you leaning into me and I thought how perfect that seemed. How much I wanted to never let go.
“I do owe Peeves a lot. Night after night for three years I couldn't bring myself to bring the idea forward. What if it ruined the friendship? Now I know it could have never done so. You're the other half of my soul. It may have been just six months but I've been certain you're the one for the past three years. My heart feels you feel it too. If I am wrong I am willing to wait. But if I am not…
“Hermione, would you do me the greatest honour of marrying me?”
She bit back tears and nodded, launching herself at him. “Yes, yes, yes. You're not wrong at all. You're the one my heart needs to feel whole.”
Everywhere around, spirits cheered.
Epilogue
Sometimes, things go our way
Light shines upon dark
Love triumphs
The story has a happy end.
Sometimes it is the other way around
And we mourn the lost ones into the ground
Sometimes what it was obvious it's not and sometimes
Instead of waiting
People going in headstrong first
That may be a story for another time
But just know our heroes
Are married in another life
And in another life
And in another
Soulmates call soulmates
Sometimes
Life allows them to find each other.