My Double Agent

Chapter 7 ~ Severus's Birthday

It was Thursday evening, January 9th. During Severus's class, Hermione made sure to act like a smart ass so she would get detention. She snuck out of the house while everyone was busy, she wore a knee length black dress with straps, a red cardigan, black shoes, and her engagement ring around her neck. She held her books and a surprise gift in her arms, she knocks on his chambers. Severus opens the door to see Hermione and smiles at her, "Come in."

"Thank you." She walks in and the door closes behind them. Severus puts a silencing charm on his door and turns to Hermione who sets her books down and takes off her cardigan, "Sit down and close your eyes."

"Hermio-"

"Noooo, do it."

Severus sighs and sits down in his chair then closes his eyes, "Ok now what?"

Hermione walks up behind him and puts her right hand in front of his eyes, "No peeking."

Severus opened his eyes a bit to see her hand and sighs, "You're too smart for me darling."

Hermione giggles, "Here."

Severus reaches over and grabs what feels like a tiny box, "Oh? What is this?"

"You think I wasn't going to celebrate your birthday?" 

Hermione kisses his cheek and moves her hand, "Ta-da! Just something small."

Severus smiles up at her an opens the box to find a picture frame of them dancing and twirling, "How did you..."

"I used my memory."

Severus smiles and puts the picture on his desk facing towards his chair. He then walks up to Hermione and hugs her, "It's wonderful, Thank you."

Hermione hugs him back, "You're welcome." 

Severus kisses her on the forehead, "So what's with all the books?"

"Well since I'm serving 'detention' I thought we could read by the fire."

Severus smiles and nods, "Sounds like a great idea." 

Hermione grabs some pillows and starts to pile them on the floor while Severus stokes the fire and prepares some tea. After the pillows are set up perfectly Hermione takes her shoes off and sets them to the side, she then walks into the kitchen, up behind Severus, "Shall we have cake with our tea? I mean it's your birthday."

He sighed, "37. I can't believe it already."

"I can't believe it myself; you look 24."

"Oh, ha."

She smiles up at him and Severus turns his concentration back to the tea, "16 years working at Hogwarts."

"Really?" Hermione can't help but realize she was only 1, "So you started at 21?"

He nodded, "I did."

"Did you always want to teach here?"

Severus's shoulders sag at the question, he knew why he started, but he didn't know if he was ready to tell his future wife about his love for Lily. Hermione puts a hand on his shoulder realizing she must have struck a nerve, "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. You can explain your life to me at your own pace."

He smiles at her, "Thank you. That means a lot."

"Now." Hermione pulls out her wand, " What about those cakes?"

Severus laughed, "Sure, But no singing Happy Birthday."

"Deal." With a wave of her wand a plate with mini cakes on them appeared, she put her want a way and grabbed the plate setting them on the floor next to her cozy little book nook. Severus soon brought over the tea set and sat on the ground. Hermione sat next to him and snuggles up next to him. Crookshanks curled up next to them. They grabbed their own books and began reading. They got so into their reading, they lost track of time. Severus looked up at a clock, "Is it... Hermione it's almost midnight." 

"What?!" Hermione leans up, saving her place in her book. 

"We need to sneak you back to your house somehow."

"Knowing Ginny, she'll be sitting on the couch waiting for me." 

"Damn."

They both stood up and he started pacing, soon there was a knock on the door. Severus and Hermione froze and looked at the door. Severus removes the silence charm from his door and clears his throat, "Hello?"

"Severus, my dear friend."

They both sighed in relief at Dumbledore's voice. Severus let him in closing the door behind him. Dumbledore smiled at him then smiled at Hermione, "I thought you might have been here for his birthday."

"Sorry Dumbledore, we lost track of time."

He nods and chuckles when he notices their little set up in front of the fireplace. He turns and gives Severus a look who sighs, "Albus... we were just reading."

Dumbledore lets out a belly laugh, "Well, what about Ms. Granger here? It's now Midnight and she is not back in her house."

"We realized the issue."

"Luckily, I have a plan.", he turned to Hermione, "Since I gifted you those books, "he winked, "I should only thank you for reading them to me after your detention." 

Hermione smiles, "Thank you."

"I'll walk you back."

Hermione nods and grabs her things and put her cardigan back on. She gives Severus a hug and kiss on the cheek before leaving with Dumbledore. They walk up to the fat lady, and she looked at Hermione, "Oh we've been worried about you, But I see you were with the headmaster, so I guess you get a free pass." She opens up to Harry and Ginny on the other side ready to lecture her. But before they could speak, they look at Dumbledore. He turns to Hermione and smiles, "Thank you for reading to me Ms. Granger, I do apologize for loosing track of time."

"Don't worry about it Professor, I wasn't paying attention either."

They share a laugh, "Well good night then." He nods at Harry before walking away. Hermione walks in moving past Harry and Ginny who follow her. Harry cleared his throat, "You read to Dumbledore now?"

"He's an old man Harry, many old people love to be read too."

Harry thought for a second but then nodded, "Yeah, that's weird."

They all share a laugh before heading their separate ways to go to sleep.

The next day the snow was falling heavily, so almost everyone was bundled up. During breakfast everyone was shocked and surprised to see Severus walking around with his beanie and scarf he got for Christmas. Hermione smiled when she saw him wearing her gifts. She blushed as she continued to eat her French toast. Ron starts giggling, "Where the bloody hell did he get those?"

Harry nodded, "I don't think I've ever seen Snape with a scarf, especially not a beanie."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "It's a cold day."

Ron looked at Lavender, who always sat next to him, then looked back to Hermione, "Ok and?"

"And he's not allowed to own a scarf and beanie?"

"Name one other winter you saw him wear them."

Hermione was about to speak, when she realized he was right. Hermione then shook her head, "He is getting older. Maybe he's getting colder?"

"Can someone who is so cold-hearted be any colder?" He and Harry starts to laugh at the joke. 

Hermione holds her tongue, knowing if she spoke it would look bad. She just got Harry to stop accusing her of being friends with Severus, she just smiled and continued eating. They don't even know him, and they think they have a right to judge him that way. It fumed her to her core. She looks behind Ron and Lavender to see Draco, who also seemed bundled up. He was eating some simple hot cereal. His friends around him were goofing off, while he stared at his food downed. Hermione frowned. Draco looked up and there eyes met. She mouthed to him, "Library later?" He then shrugged and nodded. Hermione enjoyed meeting up with Draco in the library, they just sit and talk. She considered him one of her best friends now. They told each other everything. Hermione continued to eat when she looked up and noticed Ginny and Harry flirting, 'about time', she thought to herself. She's been waiting for them to finally click. She looks up to Severus who looks at her and nods, she smiles at him, knowing she is lucky to be marrying him.