Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Different Kind of Magic--UNDERGOING EDIT	By : Remarkable Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 20908 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the Harry Potter fandom and its contents. I do not. I make no money from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 27
- 28
- 29
Of course, all things Harry Potter belong to the omnipotent J.K. Rowling and the gang, not I. Only she is rolling in the quid, and I, the lowly serf, eat the scraps.

As the reviews roll in, I soak them up like a piggy in slop and work harder to get the chapters out faster for your reading pleasure. No warnings in this chapter except one tiny bit of Snapy-ness. You'll see what I mean.

Chapter 28- The Burrow
Hermione didn�t know what hit her. As soon as the door opened to the Burrow, she was assaulted by a tangle of red hair, tears and noise. Something spicy wafted out of the bustling kitchen and a big fluffy dog came out of nowhere, bowling her over.

�Oof!� Hermione uttered an undignified grunt as her arse contacted the ground.

�Damn you Jiggers! Get off her! Go lay down!� Molly Weasley smacked the playful hound on the rear as it bounced away.

�Sorry about that, Hermione! She just gets real excited when we have company.�

Remus helped her up and swatted her bottom affectionately. �Off you go. I�ve got to get back to the castle.� He studied the back of her hair for a moment before beginning to turn away.

Hermione spun around, wrapping her arms around his neck. �Don�t go, Remus! Please say you�ll stay for awhile!�

The tall man wrapped his arms around the young woman and gave her a light hug. �What�s this? You�re not missing old Lupin already now, are you?�

Hermione let go and leaned back in his grasp, giving him her biggest puppy dog eyes.

Remus furrowed his brow slightly. �Don�t look at me like that! You know I have classes to prepare for tomorrow.�

She gave him a knowing smile. �Yes, and a pretty young witch to say goodnight to, as I recall.�

Remus ducked his head. �Yes, and that too.�

�Goodnight then.�

�Goodnight Hermione! Goodnight Molly, Arthur! Give Teddy a kiss from his ole� Papa!�

Arthur waved out the door at his old friend over his wife�s shoulder. �Don�t be a stranger! Stop by for supper sometime!�

�Will do, Arthur!�

They all waved as Lupin Apparated with a �pop�.

�Come in, come in Hermione, it�s so wonderful to have you here with us! It�ll be just like old times!� Hugs and a few tears ensued on behalf of the women and even Arthur seemed a little misty-eyed at having Hermione back at the Burrow. The matron of the Weasleys ushered her in and made sure Hermione was sat at the table in front of a large plate.

A lovely dinner commenced. Hermione was positive she was going to die of good food. She hadn�t seen so much culinary goodness since the last time she was here. It seemed a lifetime ago. Halfway through the meal, Severus showed up with Minerva. Everyone stood up and greeted the Headmistress politely and Arthur shook hands with the Professor.

�Won�t you two join us? There�s plenty to go around!� Arthur gesticulated around the table, indicating several empty places and enough food to feed a small army.

Severus folded his arms and shook his head in refusal. �As lovely as Molly�s cooking is, I must refrain. If you will excuse me.� He leveled a long look at Hermione before he turned on heel, moving quickly up the stairs.

Molly exchanged looks with her husband and Minerva before following him up to the bedroom she had prepared for him.

Arthur glanced up the stairs, leaning in to speak quietly with Minerva. �You mentioned he was out of sorts. Has there been any change in his behavior since you�ve brought him back into the fold?�

The tight lipped headmistress shook her head to the negative. �He�s been nothing but a thorn in my side from the moment he stepped foot at Hogwarts. Severus is just as demanding, stubborn and grouchy as he ever has been. The only positive in his life seems to be Miss Granger.�

Hermione paused around a bite of vegetables when she heard her name mentioned, but decided to pretend to ignore them and continue eating. She figured they were probably talking about Severus anyway.

Arthur�s eyes went round momentarily. The way Minerva had said the last sentence and her disapproving glance at Hermione gave him the impression of something more than above board going on. No one had filled him in on anything untoward about Severus and Hermione. Uncomfortable about asking, but feeling the need to know about any impending drama, he not so subtly darted a glance at Hermione and asked Minerva, �Are you implying that her and Severus� they� well, what I mean is-?�

Minerva�s lips thinned out so far they looked like pale rubber bands stretched across her face. �In a manner of speaking, they are, if you catch my meaning.�

�Oh. Oh! Yes, alright then.� The light bulb finally went off in Arthur�s head, and he cleared his throat noisily, starting a new topic of conversation just as Molly came back downstairs, hauling a bundle of baby in each arm. Minerva cooed and cuddled each one before taking off, and Hermione was introduced to the twins.

The rest of the meal was filled with lively chatter, catching her up on all the news. The new Weasley twins, Abigail (Abby) and Arthur Jr. (they called him Jammy) were the most adorable babies Hermione had ever seen. She held each of them in turn, feeling a slight twinge of jealousy when she had to give them back to Molly for their feeding.

�You know I will help you with whatever you need, Molly. As long as this is my home, you can count on me to help with the twins, cook, clean or do whatever else you need.�

Arthur and Molly beamed at their charge. Arthur told her, �Hermione, you have always been like a daughter to us. Our home is always open to you or Harry if you ever need it. We�re just thankful you�re back in the fold.�

Another tearful embrace ensued and there came a knock at the door. It was more like a pounding. Arthur flung it open and in stepped Hagrid. �Hermione! Arthur! Molly! How�s me �lil babes doin�? �Aye, I brought �yer trunk and Professor Snape�s as well. Minerva tells me ye� be stayin� here for a bit.�

Hermione felt fat tears rolling down her face as she tearfully embraced the half giant. �Oh Hagrid, I�ve missed you so much!�

Meaty arms dwarfed her small frame, and a rumble that was meant to be soothing vibrated her entire body. �Ah, lass. Don� ye cry now. There be plen�y of ole� Hagrid to go �round. If ya have need, feel free to look me up now an agin. Merlin knows I missed ye too, �ermione.�

Molly scolded the two sniffing people in the kitchen. �Don�t be getting me started you big lout! I�ve had enough tears for one day, what with the babies and all. If you want to stay, there is plenty of food left over from supper.�

Hagrid gave one last bone crunching squeeze to Hermione before letting her go. �Nah Molly, I best be getting� back, me ducks need feedin� an I gots some de-gnoming ta� do �roun back of me hut. Fang �taint as fast as he used �ter be.�

�I�ll come visit Hagrid, I promise!

He gave a nod and ducked back out the door.

A chorus of, �Bye Hagrid!� and �Thank you!� followed him outside.

Molly handed off the twins to Arthur and showed Hermione up to her room. They sat and talked for over an hour. Molly told her how much all they missed Fred since he had passed away. With great sadness, she recounted the death of their son Charlie in a training accident while studying dragons in Romania.

Ron had quit the Ministry as an Auror when things started turning dodgy after the war was over. Harry and Ron had gotten into a huge row over it. Harry felt Ron was chasing a lost cause and ruining his chances at a good career. Ron had felt Harry was blind to the truth and stupid for staying where he was. They hadn�t spoken since then, and Molly said Ron was still very bitter about the loss of contact from both of his best friends. Ron had left to go study under Charlie, but after his death, ended up apprenticing with the same bloke that Charlie had been under. He hadn�t been back home since then.

Harry and Ginny had broken off their engagement. They were both so busy with their work, neither felt it a good time to start a family. Harry was under tremendous pressure from the Ministry to perform low-end jobs like guarding Gringott�s or patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade, working extremely long hours to boot. Everyone felt it was beneath him, but in his own way, Harry was able to keep tabs on random things that cropped up around the countryside that others may have missed. He�d turned up some valuable information for the Order over the past year. Molly confided that as bitter as Ron was over Harry continuing to work for the Ministry, it had worked out for the best up to the current moment.

Bill still worked as a curse-breaker at Gringott�s but rarely made it home these days. Percy worked under Shacklebolt, although he was nothing more than a glorified secretary. Since things had turned sour, he had disowned the family following a huge row with his parents over loyalty and duty. He felt they were traitors for not standing behind the Ministry one hundred percent and verbally flayed them for distrusting what was reported in the papers. It had felt like most of their family had gone.

Ginny had gone into business with her brother George after Fred passed away and had really helped the business take off. Those were the only two that still lived at home, when they weren�t putting in long hours at the store like they had today. Weekends were the busiest days of the week, of course. George had a lovely girlfriend that worked with Arthur and popped in every so often for a visit.

Everyone was amazed at the headpiece Filius had crafted for Hermione. It was disconcerting, at first, to hear her voice when her mouth wasn�t moving, but was easy to overlook once you got talking to her. Molly helped her unpack as they chatted. Hermione yawned and stretched, finally feeling the excitement of the day wearing on her. She thanked Molly and decided to turn in.

As Molly disappeared down the stairs, Hermione heard a noise coming from the adjoining bedroom. It sounded like someone was singing, but the voice was so low, she couldn�t quite make out the words. She smiled to herself, trying to imagine Professor Snape singing. Nah, he probably had on the Wizarding Wireless and fallen asleep listening to it.

Leaving him to it, Hermione went back to her room, dressed for bed and fell into a deep, dreamless, restful sleep.

She woke when the sun was high in the sky. The Muggle alarm clock told her it was almost noon. Quickly freshening herself and tying her hair back, Hermione bounded down the stairs. Molly instantly put a hot stew in front of her, making her sit and eat it until every last bit was gone. Then came the grand tour of the new and improved Burrow.

The main doorway opened into the kitchen, which was attached to a cozy sitting room with a roaring fire and comfortable furniture. A hallway led to the living room which was easily as large as the main floor of the old house by itself. The formal dining room was off that (which they rarely used), down another hall to the conservatory, a sun room (for knitting of course) and the main floor nursery. There was a large, fully equipped loo on either side of the main floor and Arthur�s study next to the best and most wonderful room of all; the Library.

Hermione was in absolute heaven. Rows upon rows of books stretched up to the ceiling, stuffed to the gills with every color imaginable. Shelves, racks, bins and boxes were stacked with books. A low-set table next to another fireplace (attached to the Floo network, as was the one in the kitchen) took center place. Several wide, deep couches were offset by a settee and leather recliner. It was the sort of place Hermione could get lost in for hours, days even.

�Molly, you do realize I am going to re-organize this entire room during my stay, don�t you?�

Molly Weasley laughed. �Yes dear, I was actually hoping and praying you would say that. It�s in a right state and I haven�t the time to go through all these blasted books, what with the twins and all.�

The second story was all bedrooms. Arthur and Molly kept the babies in their parents room for the time being. A separate, second nursery was half finished next Arthur and Molly�s bedroom. Then came Ginny�s, George�s, Teddy�s, two empty bedrooms, Severus�s and then Hermione�s, which was right at the top of the staircase. The master bedroom had its own loo and there was a shared loo between every two bedrooms with a lock on either side for privacy. It was beautiful. Molly had great taste in interior design and she had decorated simply but tastefully. Hermione felt right at home.

At tea time, Hermione knocked on the Professor�s door. His trunk was still sitting outside it and no one had seen nor heard from him since his arrival the previous night.

She knocked. �Professor, are you in there?� She waited.

Knock knock knock. �Severus! Are you awake?� Pause.

Hermione ran downstairs. �Can I borrow your wand, Molly?�

�Sure dear, just put it back on the table when you�re done with it.�

�I will.�

Back up the stairs she went.

�Alohamora.� The door swung open. He was sat directly across from where she stood, slumped in a chair with a bottle of Firewhiskey in his hand. His head had fallen forward onto his chest. He had passed out in his travelling clothes, never having even bothered to remove his cloak.

�Oh, Severus.�

She shut the door behind her and walked over to him, kneeling in front of the chair. Hermione shook him gently. �Severus, wake up. It�s me. Come on, wake up!�

Bleary red eyes slowly appeared behind his disgustingly greasy hair. �What do you want, Granger?�

She ignored the gnarly use of her surname. �You passed out in the chair. You need to take a Sobering Draught, have a hot shower and come down to dinner. This is no way to spend your first day at the Burrow.�

�I will decide what I need, Miss Granger. Shut the door on your way out and do not disturb me again.�

�Severus, stop acting like this. Remember who you�re talking to. Hermione. We made love yesterday and had a good laugh over everyone�s reaction, remember?�

He did remember. It pained him to remember. Now, she had a new life, old friends and a purpose. He had nothing save heartache and sorrow. Her happiness sliced into his bitterness like a sour taste in his mouth. The greasy git would only serve to bring her down. He couldn�t bear having her so near. He needed to drive her away from him.

�Leave me.�

�But-�

�Get out.�

�Severus.�

�Get. Out. Now.�

�Severus.�

�I�m warning you Hermione.�

She took a step back. �I think you should-�

�I told you to get the fuck out of here! Now go!� He stood quickly and raised the bottle over his head, taking aim to throw it at her.

Hermoine shrieked and bolted from the room, startled when she heard the glass splinter on the door just as she closed it behind her.

�What crawled up his butt and died.�

Hermione informed Molly that Severus was sulking and to leave him be. She helped set the table and watched the twins while Molly cooked.

�Where�s Teddy?�

�Lupin�s boy? Ginny�s been taking him to work with her. He loves trying out the new products and has even helped them make a few new ones. He�s quite the talented little lad.�

�Where were Ginny, Teddy and George last night?�

�They stay overnight at the shop on weekends. It�s easier to keep an eye on the store and they get the most out of their business that way. Everyone will be home tonight for dinner.�

It was, indeed, a full house. Arthur chatted animatedly about his work as an inventor, explaining all the fascinating new devices they were testing. Hermione could see where George, Fred and Ginny had gotten the knack. George�s girlfriend was a pretty little witch with dark hair. She was very much the opposite of him, only speaking when spoken to. Her name was Violet, and her and George exchanged many a sly glance throughout the meal.

Ginny had been absolutely ecstatic to see Hermione. Their embrace was the most tearful one yet, and buckets of tears were shed before the pair finally settled down enough to eat. Molly and Arthur were surprised anyone could get a word in edgewise while Hermione relayed a heavily edited version of her time at the Manor, and the parts she remembered about their dramatic escape. Hermione whispered to Ginny about her involvement with Severus, and the other girl gave an excited squeal, making Hermione promise to tell her all about it.

Little Teddy was a little firecracker. He was such a cute little boy. Teddy had just turned four and had his father�s hair and nose but his mother�s eyes and mouth. The spunk was definitely all Tonks; the mischievous, but gentle nature, was Lupin through and through. Hermione and Teddy were fast friends from day one, and he followed her around wherever she went when Ginny was at work in the days that followed.

When the house had quieted down that evening, Hermione and Ginny sat with Teddy in the library and read to him for an hour before he fell asleep on the redhead�s lap. Hermione carried him up to bed and tucked him in, her friend smiling softly in the doorway, extremely pleased with the events of the evening.

�Goodnight Teddy. Your mommy and daddy wish they were here to kiss you goodnight, so I will do it for them.� She kissed his cheek and went back to her own room to spend some time catching up in private with her younger friend. Hermione told her a little bit about her budding romance with Severus, and Ginny amazed Hermione with the fact that she had taken her N.E.W.T.�s early so she could work with George and bring in more money to support the family. Even after the harried events of the past year, Hermione hardly felt as if a day had passed since she�d last stepped through the Weasley�s door. Except for Severus� perplexing tantrum, everything seemed to be falling into place.

�Yes, I am definitely going to be happy here.�
- 27
- 28
- 29
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Different Kind of Magic--UNDERGOING EDIT