He had 12 minutes to complete his new years resolution. Why had he left it so late?
Because he was scared, that’s why.
He knew he’d be rejected and he’d rather live in the mythical, bat shit crazy world of dreaming than accept that he was an ugly old man who would and could not possibly be accepted by the woman he had given his heart to. What a fool.
Clinging to the shred of hope that her invitation to the Burrow was not given in pity he arrived with 5 minutes to spare and found himself immediately bombarded by red headed idiots with the matriarch making it her personal mission to endanger her own life in the pursuit of fattening him up.
“Severus! You came, oh my dear I am so pleased. Would you like a pasty? You’re looking a little a little peaky, to be sure I must in-”.
“Molly, lovely to see you. Please move”.
Offended she began to open her mouth when her hand was gently squeezed by her husband. Turning she saw him stood there with tears in his eyes and a watery smile gracing his lips.
“Arthur?” she questioned.
“Molly my dear. I believe our Severus has finally come to his senses, let’s go and see” he said excitedly, folding her hand into his and guiding her into the living room where the majority of their guests had coalesced.
“Granger?” Snape called, looking about the room in earnest.
When he received no response he found the closest thing to Hermione and grabbed Harry by the collar towards him who despite the manhandling greeting him with an upbeat
“Hello Professor! How are you? So pleased you-”
“Oh do be quiet Potter, I am no longer your Professor and I am here for one reason and one reason only” he said in a voice so still that Harry was struggling to hear him.
“Right, yes, ok” Harry garbled, clearly confused “what can I do for you Snape?”
Letting go of Harry more roughly than he intended Snape suddenly became overwhelmed with guilt and in a fit of chivalry swiped his hands over Harry’s chest and shoulders muttering an apology about “man handling.” Once done he asked “Where’s Granger?”
Eye’s narrowing in suspicion Harry asked “What’s it to you?’
“Well you dunderheaded little nitwit, it has occurred to me that I’ve gone and bloody fallen in love with her and I need to tell her of my recent discovery.”
“Recent?” Harry laughed. “We’ve all known for ages” he said still chuckling and patting Snape on the arm lightly.
Snape stood still trying to hide the shock that his feelings for Hermione were apparently a little more obvious than he had realised.
“Right, well…is she here?”
“Sir..sorry..Snape, yes she’s here. She’s outside sat on a bench looking over the garden. That’s her usual haunt. If you hurt her..”
“Ha! Going to defend her honour Potter?” Snape sneered.
Laughing again Harry chuckled “nahhh, she’ll kick your arse all by herself. Looks like we’ll be spending more time together in the near future Severus”.
Rolling his eyes Snape moved towards the outside door with a backwards hand wave and a “yess, yes Potter, I’m sure we shall be bosom buddies soon enough”.
Pushing the door open Snape was pleased to find himself in the fresh air. Looking down to his left he saw his favourite person in the world and although she wasn’t aware of this yet he hoped she soon would be.
Hearing the door close behind him she looked up with a smile immediately spreading over her face when she saw who her unexpected visitor was.
“Severus! I didn’t think you were coming?” She asked, still smiling.
Inside the countdown had begun.
He purposefully strode towards her.
5..4..3
He took her face into his hands watching her pupils dilate and her eyes glance to his lips..
2…1.
“Happy New Year Hermione” he whispered softly before pulling her closer and kissing her tenderly on the lips.
“About time” muttered Mr Weasley from the window, drawing the curtains closed to give the new couple some well deserved privacy.