Christmas Magic (Snamione) **COMPLETED**

Chapter 2 - A Blast From The Past

Severus Snape rarely passed pleasantries with people. He was not one for idle chit chat or nonsensical conversation. He lived a life on his own, minding his own business and attending to his beloved potions and that was just how he liked it.

The war had left him scarred - not just physically where even today his skin was puckered and streaked silver on both his chest and back - but mentally, his thoughts often turning as black as the night, his sleep often broken by nightmares of times past. He needed no one and no one needed him.

Or so he thought until this morning when a rather vicious tawny owl had dropped a missive onto his window ledge asking for his attendance at Hogwarts over the Christmas period.

His first reaction was to say no of course. Why on earth would he wish to return to the place that had been where he was bullied mercilessly as a child and later used as a mere puppet in the ultimate power struggle of Albus Dumbledore and Tom Riddle? The castle and the people in it held no fond memories. He had been exonerated of all wrong doing after The Battle, and indeed was financially rewarded for his none too small part in Riddle's demise but no amount of monetary recompense would make up for trauma he suffered before, during and after.

And yet here he was, sat in The Three Broomsticks, with a small hold-all by his side, mentally preparing himself to take the final walk up the winding path to the castle. You're easily bought, Severus, you bloody fool. He'd said to himself with a sneer. Minerva's promise of allowing him to use the gardens and greenhouses for the procurement of whatever herbs or potion ingredients he needed for the next six months had been too much of an offer to turn down, and she'd bloody well known that all along!

He drained the remnants of his firewhiskey and placed the glass back on the bar. Turning his collar up to the snow that had started to fall again he picked up hide bag and made for the door.

Stepping outside the cold hit him and he stopped to withdraw his wand and cast a warming charm and tighten his woollen scarf around his neck. That done he turned to make up the hill towards the school, just as a body came round the corner and collided with him.

"Ooof!" He let out the involuntary sound and grabbed hold of the subject of his collision. "Watch where you're going!" He sneered.

Hermione Granger looked up with some indignation. "Well why don't YOU look where you're going!" She snapped, pulling away from his grasp then instantly regretting it as the ice under her feet held no adhesion and she had to grab him once more to stop herself falling. "You just turned and walked right into me!"

Severus looked down at the small young lady who was desperately trying to regain her balance. She looked incredibly familiar and he was certain it had been ten long years since their paths had last crossed.

"Miss Granger?"

"Professor Snape?"

"Miss Granger, do stand still for a moment and try to stop sliding all over the place and step to your left... no your LEFT Miss Granger." He raised his eyes skyward "And stand on the grass. This path is sheet ice. Stand there and I will melt the path ice to the road at least." He withdrew his wand and muttered an incantation and the ice on the path instantly disappeared.

Hermione feeling rather indignant, did what he asked. That bloody man. I've not seen him for a decade and he's still treating me like a ruddy child!

After the ice receded, Severus turned back to the small witch who stood on the grass beside him. "There. It's cleared" he spoke, without one hint of emotion in his voice, just as Hermione remembered.

"Thank you" she replied, trying not to sound sarcastic. "I was going into The Broomsticks for a drink" she said, then kicking herself at the banality of the comment.

"Really? Well then don't let me stop you."

"I won't"' she replied tartly and grabbing her bag pushed past him and into the wooden framed inn. Severus watched her go. Even quite well hidden under her warm winter travelling cloak he could see she was still as petite as she had always been, yet she seemed to have matured and grown into her looks. Hermione Granger was now a beautiful young witch.

Pushing all thoughts of her to the back of his mind Severus started to trudge through the snow to where the castle stood magnificent, silhouetted against the night sky. Walking up to the gates he stood for a few moments, reliving the time a decade ago when so many fell where he stood. He felt tears pricking his eyes and not wishing to give in to emotion, took a deep breath and swallowed hard. He turned, startled when a small hand touched his arm.

"Are you ok Professor?"

"Granger?" He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes and blew his nose. "I.... I am fine. Please remove your hand from my arm immediately." He looked down at her as if her touch was burning his  skin.

Hermione sighed to herself and withdrew her hand. She could only begin to imagine how he was feeling; she was feeling a little emotional herself.

"Is this your first time back Professor?"

"Yes" he rasped "And I wish to all hell I hadn't agreed to come back to this Merlin forsaken place!" And with that he strode away from her and through the gates without even looking back, leaving her all alone in the snow.

So Severus Snape is back at Hogwarts too. Great. Fabulous. Just bloody fabulous.

Hermione shook her head slightly and picking up her bag followed him through the gates.

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An House Elf was waiting for Hermione when she arrived inside the castle. She looked around in awe at the newly rebuilt school. The last time she'd been here it lay in near ruins, completely unrecognisable from the the opulence and majesty of the building standing today. She was led through the long corridors to a completely new part of the castle and to a door with a large brass plaque with the words 'M. McGonagall - HEADMISTRESS' embossed in elegant lettering. Hermione knocked.

The door opened and Hermione went in. Minerva McGonagall with her Pince Nez on her nose and her hair in a tight bun, stood and walked around her desk to greet the young witch. "Hermione Granger!" She said with delight, clapping her hands together and then pulling her into a warm embrace. "It's so very good to see you. Thank you for coming. It's been far too long. Here, let me look at you." She held Hermione out at arms lengths and appeared to scrutinise every part of her.

"Hello Headmistress" Replied Hermione smiling at Minerva's enthusiastic welcome. "It's nice to see you too." She wanted to say it's good to be back, but she wasn't yet sure if it was. Only time would tell.

A small cough alerted Hermione that they weren't alone in the room.

"Hermione, do you remember Professor Snape?" She made a dramatic sweep of her arm towards Severus who was looking bored sat on the arm of a long red Chesterfield.

"Er... yes" replied Hermione "We ran into each other earlier." She caught Severus' eye and smirked a little. His face was as emotionless as ever.

"Oh good....good!" Continued Minerva, I shall have Missy show you to your suite and get yourselves settled in. You are next door to each other with a joined lounge area. The House Elves have laid on some drinks and supper, so have a chat and get to know each other better and I shall see you both again in the morning.