Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Severus got up from his chair and walked over to his 'secret' bookshelf door. He only wiped the smirk off his face when he opened the door. It wouldn't do to let Hermione off that lightly, which would be the case if she knew he was merely amused.

Hermione was sitting on the bottom of the stairs, staring up at him with wide eyes. She dropped her hands down to her lap, babbling apologetically as soon as her mouth was unobstructed.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop! I meant to Apparate into your sitting room, but got my Destination a bit wrong. Then you started talking to Harry and it was too late to come out, and..."

"Why don't we discuss this in a more comfortable setting, hmm?" He extended a hand to pull her to her feet. She took it hesitantly, as if afraid that he would bite. And promptly staggered into him as soon as she was on her feet.

Severus steadied her before helping her to a chair. She had already been punished by the discomfort her eavesdropping had resulted in. Typical Muggle-born mistake...and that was no snobbery: any witch brought up in a magical household would have used a Cushioning Charm to prevent pins and needles.

He poured her the requested cup of tea, pushing it into her hands. It shook, almost spilling hot tea in her lap.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. He meant to let her off...though not too lightly, not scare her. He cast a non-verbal charm, cooling the tea to drinking temperature. At least that way, if she spilt it, she wouldn't be scalded.

"I'm not going to bite your head off, Hermione. Drink."

She took a small sip and opened her mouth to speak.

He raised a hand. "Not another word until that cup is empty." Severus steepled his fingers. "I am inclined to believe that you did not intend to eavesdrop. For one thing, I doubt that you knew Potter was coming. For another, it would not be like you to endanger your friendly relations with me. As such, I forgive you for eavesdropping."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, the tension in her shoulders relaxing.

"But do not do it again." He fixed her with a warning glower. "You will not find me so forgiving if you do, even inadvertently. I would much rather you show yourself. Do you think I will not share with you what I share with Potter?"

He retrieved his own cup, the contents now cooled to optimum temperature.

"I won't do it again, I promise." Hermione gulped down the last of her tea. "How did you know I was there? I mean, I know I wasn't quiet enough."

"You were quiet enough for Potter not to notice you, Auror that he is supposed to be. I, on the other hand, was aware of your presence from the moment you Apparated within my wards. They only allow either you or me to do so, and in your case, I am still notified."

"Sir...Severus, why did you let me eavesdrop?"

"For your own sake. Potter would have come to some, how shall we say, unfortunate conclusions if he saw you apparently emerge from upstairs." And it had allowed him to kill two birds with one stone. Potter had wanted to know about Lily. Hermione, with her infernal curiosity, was sure to ask about her, too. It was painful enough to talk about Lily once...

Although... it had been a relief, somehow. A weight off his mind. It was the reason why he'd given Potter permission to come again. That and the boy wasn't as obnoxious as Severus had believed. Furthermore, he did owe Potter. And consummate Slytherin that he was, it could be useful to be on friendly terms with the influential person the boy was growing up to be.

Last but not least, continued exposure to him would hopefully get Potter over his case of hero worship. While it lasted, it was amusing to think of James Potter's reaction. His childhood tormentor must be turning in his grave...

Hermione waved a hand across his vision, attracting his attention. How mortifying. For a man who prided himself on his observation skills, being lost in thought was no excuse.

"I went to St Mungo's today, as you suggested." From Hermione's half-amused, half-annoyed tone, she was repeating something she'd already said. "I came here to tell you that..."

If that was so, surely her thoughts would have been centred on him? Why had she Apparated behind his... Ahah! Fortunate for him that she had the ulterior motive of perusing his books, else she'd have landed on top of him. Severus surreptitiously looked her up and down. Hmm... on second thoughts, not so fortunate. Weasley was a lucky man.

"...And to thank you. You were right. Turns out that if I hadn't been seen to within six months, I'd have suffered from some rather nasty things later on in life. Early dementia, for one." She shuddered.

"You're welcome," Severus murmured. The thought of such a fine mind being lost was... unthinkable. "My invitation still stands. You are welcome at any time." Perhaps it would be an idea to warn her not to disturb his sleep without a wand in hand, but she was a sensible lass overall. Potter, on the other hand, could use that warning.

Hermione seemed to take that as a hint to leave. "It is getting late. I should go. Ron will be worried." She looked shifty. "If he's not too angry to feel anything else," she added sotto voce.

"Trouble in paradise?" Severus murmured.

"Not exactly. I kind of left him to face his mother on his own. He asked me to fetch Ginny, but... I didn't. If he didn't suffer Molly Weasley's wrath, it had nothing to do with me." She cleared her throat. "And I didn't tell him where I was going, let alone why."

"You had better put Mr Weasley's mind at ease, then." Severus crossed to the nearest bookshelf. He ran a finger over the titles and withdrew a slim volume...he found that he didn't mind the prospect of her company again sooner rather than later. "Here. Bring it back the next time you come."

Hermione looked at the title, then back up at him as she hugged the book to herself. "I will! Thanks." She bounded to her feet and leaned up to give him a peck on the cheek. "Bye!"

It was a while after she Disapparated that he lowered his fingers from his cheek, still staring at where she had last stood. Such enthusiasm for a rare book...

Hermione was wasted on Weasley.

*

Months passed. Summer turned to autumn, and with it, Hermione's visits were curtailed as she returned to Hogwarts for her final year. She did still visit Severus whenever she could, and she had more freedom to do so than typical seventh years.

Minerva McGonagall, once she had been granted access, sometimes accompanied Hermione, whether to act as some sort of chaperone or as an expression of remorse for believing the worst of him. She also came alone to offer him his job back. Not as Headmaster, the School Governors would never allow that, celebrated war hero though he may be. His choice of Defence or Potions, Head of Slytherin again if he wanted it, plus Deputy Headmastership.

Tempting. But together with his new lease of life after near death at Nagini's fangs, Severus had choices open before him that he'd never had, even before he became a Death Eater. With his Order of Merlin stipend, he had no need to work. He could pursue his interests, although he would need some sort of funding if those interests involved expensive materials, like potions research could. Perhaps Potter would be interested?

Potter was. He virtually gave Severus the key to his Gringotts vault, with full freedom to research potions regardless of the cost. He was a more regular visitor than Hermione, so much so that Severus had to invite himself over to the Malfoys every now and then just to escape the near daily bombardment of Potter's head in his fireplace.

Conversation with Potter also revolved around other things than Lily. Although merely average at Potions, Potter expressed a genuine interest in how Severus was progressing in his research. Not that he could actually contribute any ideas like Hermione could.

As time passed, Potter was growing increasingly dependent on him, coming to him for advice before he went to anyone else. Severus looked forward to when Hermione would leave Hogwarts. Hopefully Potter would go to her sometimes, leaving him in peace. And it would be nice to see more of her...

For now, though, Potter seemed to regard Severus as his very own personal Agony Aunt. With Ginny Weasley at Hogwarts, his relations with her were increasingly strained. The same went for his friendship with Ron Weasley, who kept running into trouble at the Aurory.

Without access to help from Hermione, Weasley apparently couldn't cope as an Auror. Potter was doing his best to assist his floundering friend, but that made the quality of his own work plummet.

Severus had to resist the impulse to advise Potter to ditch Weasley. Instead, he told him to use his free time to study the manual all other Aurors used in their training. Potter was enough of a natural Auror to manage without; Weasley was another matter. All Potter could do was set an example, and in the process help Weasley train.

His advice came too late. The Aurory gave Weasley an 'honourable discharge' after his luck ran out and he bungled an attempt to capture a rogue Death Eater. His fame by association with Potter was the only reason he was not fired outright.

George Weasley stepped in, offering Ron a job as an equal partner in the family joke shop. According to Potter, so long as his former job (and Potter's current job) was not mentioned, all was fine in their friendship.

By the start of December, Potter was comfortable enough with Severus to risk moving onto more familiar terms: Sev. Once more, Severus painfully regretted his careless choice of memories at the time of his encounter with Nagini. He should never have let Lily call him that, either. At least he'd made it crystal clear to Potter, at wand point, no less, that this foolishness was not to be repeated.

Pity it didn't put Potter off visiting... That said, Severus had to admit to himself that he had grown almost accustomed to the boy. He was... tolerable. When he didn't have the cheek to overstep his bounds.

Severus had intended to spend Christmas with the Malfoys, but Potter rose to the occasion and invited him to Christmas dinner at Grimmauld Place, where the Weasleys and their adopted family (Potter and Hermione) were celebrating. Quite what Potter had done to persuade Molly not to hold it at the Burrow was a mystery. It became clear as it transpired that Potter, afraid of losing his precious Ginny, had proposed. The prospect of another marriage to plan gave him Molly's ear.

Potter had either sought someone else's advice, or had followed his own counsel. Instead of being a relief, that stung Severus. The reckless boy needed someone to tone that tendency down. If that someone was Severus, so be it.

Hermione didn't seem entirely comfortable with the news either. She did her duty as a friend and congratulated them, but Severus could tell that something was bothering her. Unfortunately he had no chance to talk to her alone, and to use Legilimency on her would be unforgivable. He'd have to ask her when she next visited.

Perhaps, like him, she thought that it was not a good idea to marry so young. Hopefully Potter would be persuaded to make it a long engagement. And maybe Severus would be able to sneak him contraception unawares... The idea of Potter-Weasley hybrids was the stuff of nightmares. There could only be one Lily, after all, while the likes of James Potter were all too common.

Unfortunately there would be children. Weasleys were infamously fertile, and Healers would be able to reverse any interference Severus could do. Unless he sterilised Potter, and then there would be a smoking gun. It would not be sensible to do that to an Auror.

At least the bombshell of the engagement meant that the Weasleys were too distracted to resent Severus's presence. Most of them ignored him, thankfully including George. The stark reminder of the accidental collateral damage Severus had inflicted would have had him squirming, if not for his self control.

All in all, it was an informative meal, with the food as good as expected from Molly. That said, it was still uncomfortable. Severus was glad to return to the solitude Spinner's End. Peace and quiet, at least until Potter Flooed within the hour to belatedly seek his approval. It was easier to obtain forgiveness than permission, but Potter seemed to fail to grasp that he didn't need Severus's permission.

"Even if I was your father you would not need my permission, Potter. And before you get any doxy-brained ideas, I am not."

In retrospect, he really should have taken Potter's sentimental declaration of "I wish you were!" seriously.

Instead, after talking some sense into Potter, who agreed that a long engagement was a good idea, Severus let the matter slide to the back of his mind, after ascertaining that Hermione's thoughts were the same. Life continued, the routine of research, experiments and visits from certain persistent Gryffindors interrupted by dealing with the backlog of fan mail when it burst out of the room Wormtail had used, where Severus had stored it.

At first Severus succumbed to curiosity and examined them. There were marriage proposals, wizarding photographs of scantily clad women (some the age of Dumbledore, making him want to poke his eyes out with his wand) who wanted to show him what true love was. Those were doubtless thanks to Harry Bigmouth Potter, as everyone knew of his unrequited love for Lily. He put those delusions where they belonged: in the fireplace.

After that, his hate mail was refreshing. He dealt with that instantly, rather than letting it pile up and present a fire risk due to stray exploding Howlers. It also let him know that his paranoia for his own and Hermione's safety was for a reason, as some contained rather more serious mischief than undiluted Bubotuber pus and Howlers.

Potter's nuptials were dragged back to the forefront of Severus's mind shortly after the school year ended, and Hermione could once again visit as regularly as Potter.

*

"...It just seems too fast. They have the rest of their lives ahead of them; why the rush to tie the knot?"

At first, Severus had wondered why Hermione was repeating a conversation they had shortly after Christmas. Then he stiffened. "What?"

"Didn't Harry tell you? They've changed their mind about the long engagement. Or rather, Molly changed Ginny's mind, and she changed Harry's mind."

Just when he thought the boy was capable of reason and independent thought, or at least took Severus's advice seriously! But then Miss Weasley did have means of controlling Potter that Severus did not care to gain...

"Molly's doing, you say? It could be that she doesn't want to risk anyone stealing Potter. He is the most eligible bachelor."

"But anyone can see that Harry's as mad for Ginny as she is for him!"

"There are such things as love potions."

Hermione looked concerned. "After Harry, you're next on the Witch Weekly's Most Eligible Bachelors." She hastened to add: "I don't read it; Molly sent Ron a clipping of the list, he's number four after Neville."

That was... touching. She seemed more concerned for him than she did for Potter. "There's no risk for me. All fan mail is incinerated now. I only see owl post from approved sources." With the exception of hate mail, but that would only worry her. "In addition, if anyone managed to slip me a love potion, I would deserve the consequences. I am a potions master."

He shot her a mischievous look. "Your Weasley, on the other hand, should watch out. He has a history of falling foul of love potions."

Hermione snorted. "If he took in anything he learned as an Auror, he should know not to eat or drink anything from an unknown source. This being Ron, though, I'd better watch out for him. Fond of his food, that one."

"You should take care, too. And not just of food. Books can be laced with potions as well, and they are hardly a secret weakness."

"As long as I stick to your books until the fuss dies down, I should be fine." She smiled warmly at him and casually laid her hand on top of his.

Such touches had become more and more common. Severus had thought that they were the same sort of friendly touches she graced any of her friends with, only to observe that she didn't touch anyone at Christmas. Except for Weasley, and the same way she touched Severus. Casual, seemingly platonic touches. Yet she didn't touch Potter that way. Or anyone else but her boyfriend. And him.

Was she even aware of it? He doubted it. He suspected the only reason she hadn't touched him at Christmas was that she hadn't been seated anywhere near him. Just as well, or all hell would have broken loose. Weasley was infamous for his jealous streak.

If her body language was any indicator, it seemed Hermione felt more than friendship for him. Even though she had made no romantic moves beyond that impulsive kiss. Perhaps all that held her back was her loyalty to Weasley, as it had then?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Hermione's voice interrupted his musings.

"In the wizarding world, the term is 'Knut'," he absently corrected her, searching for something other than the truth to tell her.

Her fingers tapped impatiently on the back of his hand. "That's ducking the issue. I know you, Severus, and when you're this quiet, it tends to mean you're plotting something. So come on, out with it."

Somehow he doubted 'Stealing you from Weasley' would be a good answer. He blinked, blindsided. Where had that come from?! His mind went blank. That left him with either telling Hermione the truth or the laughable lie that he hadn't been thinking.

The whoosh from the fireplace of Potter arriving...unannounced as usual...saved him.

"I thought you'd be here, Hermione. Ron's looking for you."

Hermione nodded. As she rose to leave, she squeezed Severus's hand as she said her farewells. If she was not tied to Weasley, would she have kissed him instead?

He mentally shook himself. She was Weasley's. Even if the prat didn't deserve her, she was loyal. She would not leave him, and besides, even if she did, Severus's heart still beat for Lily. Didn't it? He was disturbed that the thought of Lily no longer squeezed his heart. When had that happened? Had talking to Potter of her released her hold on him?

"...Severus? Say something!"

Damn! He was slipping. Severus usually had no problem listening and thinking of something different at the same time. It was all Hermione's fault! The discovery that he desired her...He couldn't adapt to such a complete paradigm shift that quickly. He would have to focus on the here and now. Coming to terms with his internal turmoil would have to wait until later.

"Severus, are you in there?" Potter snapped his fingers in front of his face.

"Yes," he snapped. "Continue."

"So will you do it? Please?"

"Better start from the beginning," Severus muttered, his cheeks burning at the admission that he hadn't been paying attention. Better to suffer the blow to his pride than to agree to something unknown.

"I talked to Ginny after she'd finished school, about making it a long engagement, you know? Well, we decided that we might as well get married sooner rather than later. This way I'll be able to live with Ginny, and not create a scandal."

Severus wondered whether it would do any good to inform Potter that he could marry a goat and no one would bat an eyelid. The boy was the wizarding world's darling, after all. If anything, everyone would want to follow his example. Perhaps that was the tack to take here?

"Do you know what a role model is, Potter?"

"It's what a father should be for his children."

That took Severus aback. "Correct," he said shortly. The less he was reminded of Tobias Snape the better. "It is also what you are for almost every member of the wizarding world. Do you really want to set an example for those in less stable relationships that marrying young is a good idea?"

"I have thought about that, actually. I'm not the only role model around. I talked to Hermione, and she's definitely not going to marry young." Potter frowned. "Although I'm not sure Ron knows about that."

Severus slumped in his chair. His slim hope that Potter could be dissuaded was slipping through his fingers like smoke. "And wizarding kind tend to marry young. Too young."

"Maybe that's the case for some people, but this is what I want. A family. Is that too much to ask?"

So was that what Miss Weasley had done? Put forward the argument that this was Potter's reward? It was all the more effective for being what was doubtless such a long-held wish. Potter was an orphan. He would have wanted a real family since before he knew what the need was.

"If that is what you want, who am I to tell you to do differently?" Severus wondered if there was a polite way to say 'don't come crying to me when in ten years you discover you're married for life to a hag'. Probably not.

"I do want your blessing for this. All the more so because I'd..." Potter gulped audibly, a sign of nervousness at odds with the determination in his gaze. "...I'd like you to stand in as father of the groom when I marry Ginny."

Severus stared at blankly Potter until he recovered his wits. He realised that his jaw was open and closed it with a snap. "You want me to what?" There was a chance that he had misheard, surely?

"Stand in as my father during the ceremony." Green eyes looked pleadingly at him, the effect barely hindered by glasses. "Please?"

So much for hoping that his ears had deceived him. Severus didn't do weddings, for Merlin's sake! Except... maybe now Lily's hold on his heart had weakened, perhaps that was a poor reason to refuse Potter?

But as far as Severus knew, the planning of the wedding was usually the realm of the bride, not the groom. As such, would refusing actually offend Potter? But why would Miss Weasley want Severus at her wedding? There was no love lost there between them.

Come to that, was Miss Weasley really so tactless as to choose a ceremony requiring the groom's parents when Potter was an orphan? How to question that, though, without casting aspersions on the bride? Not mentioning her was probably safest.

"I am hardly an expert on wedding ceremonies, but even I know that there are many different sorts. Why use one where family is a key part?"

"We decided that we want to involve our family when we marry," Potter said, with the rote performance of a line he'd memorised. Either he'd practiced what he was going to say before coming, or it was Miss Weasley's decision. "Hermione's already agreed to stand in as my sibling. But we need a parent for me to make the ceremony binding."

Hermione hadn't mentioned that earlier, an unusual oversight for her. Unless Potter failed to tell her who else would be involved?

"Why me?" Severus asked plaintively. Surely Potter had plenty of other candidates to choose from. Granted, considerably less choice over the years, after Black and Lupin among others were killed.

"Well, you are the last of my parents' schoolmates still alive that I know. And you loved my mother. You could have been my father if not for James!" Severus winced. Potter certainly did not pull his punches. "I'd be honoured to call you my father, even if it's just for my wedding. Please?"

It was flattering that Potter thought him a worthy replacement. James Potter must be rolling in his grave... with that thought in mind, and those beseeching green eyes fixed on him, Severus found the words "Very well," slipping through his lips.

Potter clapped him on the shoulder, beaming at him. "Thank you so much! I knew I could count on you! I'll go and tell Ginny the good news!" He vanished in a flash of green fire.

Severus blinked, staring at the space Potter had occupied, the words 'The Burrow!' still ringing in his ears.

"I'm sure she will be thrilled," he murmured.

A peck at the window alerted him to the arrival of an owl (unaffected by the Fidelius Charm, although any tracing spells would be deactivated as soon as they passed the bounds of his home). Severus recognised the owl as the European eagle owl that brought the most interesting specimens of hate mail.

The sensible thing to do would be to send the raptor off with tail feathers on fire, but that package it carried was sure to contain some fascinating curses...

Severus had his hand on the window latch when a chill ran down his spine. Potter's wedding and his role in it would be no secret. Other people than Weasleys would be similarly 'delighted' by the news.

And there was the survival rate of Harry Potter's father figures to consider. Or rather, mortality rate, as the boy had worked through quite a few, and using a variety of methods...

'Let's see... it was death by Voldemort, death by a glorified curtain, death by me, death by Dolohov...'

'Fuck.' In giving in to Potter's pleas, Severus had just painted an enormous target on his back.

'And death by Potter, knowing my luck.'

*

AN: Many thanks to Kribu, Septentrion and JunoMagic for betaing.