Part III

Four months later, May 2002

The houses Spinner's End 40 and 42 were fairly sparkling, to wizarding eyes at least. The Muggle world would only see a carefully kept but still slightly shabby facade, but witches and wizards wandered in awe through the shiny lab in the former Singh house, nursed their drinks in the Potion master's impressive library or milled about in the garden. The temporary Apparition spot at the foot of the garden released one after another: the Malfoys, the Longbottom-Abbots, the Scamanders and numerous Hogwarts professors and alumni. Mr and Mrs Granger arrived via car, a new Skoda with lots of electronics on board. Seeing Arthur and George Weasley eyeing the car with interest, Wendell asked their host to put protective spells on it.

---

Severus Snape had enough experience with soirees, but his first own one made him nervous. Not that anyone would be able to tell of course. Mrs Longbottom, née Abbot, had first put the idea into his head, offering a special price for the catering for a party to show off the finished lab and remodelled house. Severus' first impulse was to scoff at the thought.

Having slept over it, he didn't find the idea preposterous anymore, and after a run along the riverbanks, still decrepit but not as bad as they used to be, he thought, What the fuck? Why not throw a party and celebrate?

The closest he had ever come to such an event were cocoa and a muffin with a candle, courtesy of Mrs Evans, on his thirteenth birthday. His father further convinced him with, "We have a lot to celebrate, Severus, we really do!"

And indeed they had. Not in his wildest dreams would the Potions master have imagined something like his current life. The best scenario he could have come up with was living the solitary life of a shunned murderer, paying for his porridge with illicit brews sold in Knockturn Alley.

As he had invited most of the Weasleys, it would have been a noticeable slight if he excluded Ronald. Putting Harry Potter on the guest list was a given. The young man might still not be Severus' favourite person, but he had a lot of clout in the wizarding world besides being related by marriage to the Weasleys. And he was not completely insufferable any more. And his and Ronald's attendance would guarantee that Hermione would come, too. Her parents had been doubtful of her attendance due to the relish with which she had taken on her new responsibilities. To be on the safe side he had invited Aloysius as well.

---

Aloysius Greengrass did not mind that he was indebted to Severus Snape for having pointed him towards Miss Granger, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours was the Slytherin lifestyle after all. He was grateful for having finally found an employee who complemented his approach to research perfectly, someone on whom he could rely to 99 % (100 would have been too much). Only sometimes the department Head worried that Ms Granger might overdo it, what with keeping even longer hours than himself. Therefore, he was relieved to see her at Snape's housewarming party, relaxed and chatting with friends.

---

Hannah Longbottom sidled up to Severus Snape to inform him that the buffet would be ready in half an hour, reminding him that now would be the perfect moment for a speech, or speeches. The man – while content with how the party had gone so far – hadn't planned any speeches. Unfortunately, Mrs Weasley had overheard Hannah and was already clinking a spoon to her glass, starting a chorus of "Speech, speech!"

Severus, feeling uncomfortable with being put on the spot so, beckoned his father over, internally chastising himself for not having prepared for such a moment. Thankfully, Kingsley Shacklebolt, newly elected Minister of Magic, realised the former spy's predicament and dove in. "I will be brief. Even though, we have many fine and capable Aurors..." There he sent a smirk in Harry's direction. "I would always choose Severus to fight with. Not that I expect any such necessity to arise in both our lifetimes again." Kingsley lifted his glass. "Severus, the time of peace we now live in would not have been possible without you, may you enjoy it to the fullest! Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glass to their host, who had not relaxed enough to enjoy the accolades. In a moment of surprising perspicacity, Harry Potter took up where the minister had left off. "Severus, I stand by my words that you are the bravest man I've ever known. In the meantime I have learned that you are impossible to beat at poker. Cheers!"

More clinking glasses could be heard among the laughter Harry's statement had produced, and Draco Malfoy's muttered, "Idiot! Who would play poker with a Master Occlumens?"

Lucius Malfoy shushed his son and took the stand himself. "Severus, I am honoured to be your friend. On behalf of my family and myself, I cannot be grateful enough for all you have done for us. It is the Slytherin way never to show a weakness, but in this case I will gladly concede that you saw years before me the error of the way I led you down and acted accordingly. May the blessings of Merlin and Nimue always be with you!"

Hermione saw how moved Severus was by Malfoy's public honouring of his person, how proudly Tobias Snape was looking at his son. She briefly contemplated adding a short speech of her own but then decided not to.

At last the Potions master found his voice again and thanked them all for being here before inviting them to the buffet. Hermione, not very hungry, wanted to avoid the first rush and took her glass and wandered through the sparsely lit garden. The swing on the apple tree made her smile. She wondered whether a previous owner left it, as she could picture neither Snape installing a swing for their own use, although it was big enough for adults to sit on. Testing its stability first, she sat down on it. The speeches had been a reminder of how close Severus had come to dying, and the realisation of how much she would miss him were he not in her life came as a shock. Hermione cast her memory back over their last few meetings. If she dared to explore her newfound feelings – was there a chance of them being reciprocated? She felt that she could read and understand the Potions master much better than ever, but how much did she really know about the man, not the teacher or comrade-in-arms? He had certainly enjoyed her being flustered by his very casual dress during building works, but did that indicate interest in her as a woman?

The object of said musings interrupted her. It was too dark to see the expression of his face.

"Hello Severus, would you rather be alone for a while?"

"No, it's all right." He looked distinctively uncertain.

"A bit overwhelming, isn't it?"

Reaching a decision, he answered, "I have come far, considering my history. And I know that I will rebuff people who mean well if I act on my instincts and try to keep them at arm's length. Only sometimes it is a bit too much."

Briefly touching his shoulder, she picked up her glass from the ground. "I will leave you to the swing and the stars for a while."

"Thank you."

---

As the evening grew later, Hermione was in for some surprises. Thankfully, she had brought her magical camera. The pictures would make a wonderful present for Severus at a later date: Molly and Narcissa doing the Twist, Draco and Harry arm-wrestling, Tobias and her mum dancing, Severus and Aloysius in an earnest discussion that brought spots of colour to their cheeks, Lucius trying to understand a mobile phone ...

Severus had re-joined them after three quarters of an hour and had asked her to dance. It was a boogie-woogie – Tobias at the decks – and Hermione had to concentrate on the steps too much to talk, but at the end her partner had briefly drawn her into a hug. She was resolved to ask him to dinner, to thank him for pointing her into the right direction job-wise. They could talk then.

---

A week later they did talk at length, only leaving the restaurant when the waiter was starting to put up chairs. Neither of the couple was adept at current dating-rules and therefore their first kiss came about without much fuss, but was thoroughly enjoyable nevertheless. It didn't muddle their brains too much to briefly reassure themselves that yes, both wanted more than a dalliance. Further details were not necessary at this point.

Their next meeting was for an early breakfast on Saturday because they wanted to visit an antiquities market where Severus had already found some things for the house and even the odd magical item like stirrers or glass balls. They were barely beyond the first stalls when it started to rain heavily. As everyone was running for cover, they could not find a place to Apparate safely before they were completely drenched. Tobias was entertaining the former headmistress of Summerview Primary, therefore they went to Hermione's little flat.

Even her largest t-shirt did not cover Severus' navel, and as her tracksuit bottoms did not reach his mid-calf, he opted for a bath towel, sarong style.

Hermione had thought or rather daydreamed a lot about the possible course of their relationship, but when he emerged from the bathroom thus, all rationale went down the drain.

They came together in a heated kiss, mapping each other's bodies with trembling hands, relishing in the smell of summer rain on their skin. Only briefly did she think about silencing spells when his lips closed around her nipple.

---

Severus was an extraordinary man, but not in every aspect of his life. So he fell asleep, like an ordinary man, after a mutually satisfying conclusion to their frantic lovemaking.

He woke up half an hour later, however, to the sight of Hermione sitting against the headboard, knees drawn up and a frown on her face. Caressing her toes gently, he enquired, "Hermione, what is the matter?"

She sighed. "We did not talk enough about-" Here she gestured between her and Severus. "I did not think it through!"

Severus made an attempt at levity. "Isn't that the point of it, not to think?"

"I have only just started in a job I really love!"

Mentally cursing Ron Weasley, he went on to reassure her.

"What do you expect now? That I chain you to the kitchen and keep you pregnant the next twenty years?"

A brief smile appeared on her face, yet her eyes became suspiciously shiny. "You must think me a world-class dunderhead, but I can't help..."

Tugging on her arm, he managed to get her to lay down again, stiff as a board.

"Now tell me what is bothering you, and I promise not to distract you."

"You do distract me, by looking like you do, by smelling like you do. And your voice is even more devastating when gravelly with sleep."

"Stop this flattery, or I'll strut around like Lucius' prize peacock."

Her story, however, surprised him. Behind Hermione's bossiness quite a lot of insecurity remained. It turned out that every serious relationship of hers had turned sour when the men in question – Ronald Weasley and, surprise there, Theodore Nott - would not understand her need of having a fulfilling career. It may well be that at the root of their expectations was that they were pure-bloods and had no idea of the Muggle concept of working mothers. The few flings left her emotionally unsatisfied.

"Severus, you have come far. You are a war-hero, the foremost Potions master in Britain and possibly Europe; you have a beautiful home with a terrific library. To me, it seems only a family is missing. And I am not sure I am ready for that."

He drew her closer but kept his touches innocuous. "You are right. My life is better than I ever expected it to be. And for that I am thankful every day anew. As for a family: I am grateful I mended fences with my father, and I carefully nurture the relationships I have, now that I can enjoy them as I wish and not as my two masters dictated. I rather think the first morning after is too early to talk about children, but if we will have some one day, it will be a mutual decision, and we will care for them both. Or maybe I will do more as I work from home. Tobias will want to help as well. And now stop wriggling in that manner, or I can't keep my promise."

A very relieved Hermione wriggled a lot more, naturally.

---

Severus' library lost its ordered look when Hermione, along with 19,583 books, moved in six months later.

---

One year later

Severus Snape sighed contentedly. After the first few months, his life had turned out pretty good after the war, but since he was in a relationship with Hermione Granger, it was bloody fantastic. Never in his life could he have imagined waking up like this. Nose buried in her impossible hair, he let his hand glide up her hip, waiting for a telltale sigh. Sometimes on these Sunday mornings, she would sleepily turn on her back, and he would bury his face between her thighs. When she was more alert, she would press herself back towards Severus, rub her neck against the stubble on his chin and enjoy his attentions to her breasts before he entered her from behind.

Today was one of the latter Sundays. He let his hand slide up further, caressing the sensitive skin on the side of her breasts. She moaned quietly and pressed her bottom against his erection. They mostly slept in the nude now, although it had taken a few months for Hermione to get comfortable with this state. Severus' fingers ghosted over her right nipple, then he cupped her breast, relishing in its heaviness. Heaviness? He stopped his ministrations and thought about this. His lover pressed herself against his hand, but it did not react.

"Hermione, your breast..."

That woke her up instantly. "What is it? Did you feel a knot?"

"What? No! Witches can't get breast cancer."

Sitting bare-chested against the headboard, she looked at him with big eyes. Severus cupped both her breasts, taking in their heaviness and also the darkened aureoles. "Love, about your menses..."

"I am due tomorrow."

"You didn't miss the monthly potion, did you?"

"No. But it was the last bottle, the one right at the back of the cupboard."

Oh, well. Severus quickly did some calculations in his head. The last few weeks he had been very busy with work. That may have been the reason why Hermione hadn't bothered him with brewing her contraception potion, not when one bottle was still left. He remembered brewing that potion two years ago when he had first thought about dating. The potion's shelf life was six months, but neither colour nor taste changed at this time. Which accounted for Hermione never noticing anything wrong. "Love, that potion was out of date. I think we might be pregnant."

Hermione looked startled, for sure, but not in a bad way. Stroking over her breasts, she answered, "They have been tender for a few days, but I did not think anything amiss. Is it too early for the charm?"

"Let's find out."

She scooted down the bed, laying flat on her back. Severus drew a deep breath and cast the charm. A very faint green circle appeared over her stomach. "I might have a book that would tell us more."

"No. I once heard Molly telling Lavender that a faint circle meant that one has conceived but that the magics of mother and child have not yet recognised each other. Which means that things can still go wrong."

He drew her in an embrace. Partially to give her time to voice her own opinion, partly to hide his suspiciously moist eyes from her. For a moment the image of his lover, swollen with their child had inspired a fierce longing he had not expected. Yes, he interacted with his friends' children, sometimes even entertained some what-if musings, but never felt the urge to approach the question. Now the possibility played havoc with his emotions and Hermione's as well, it seemed.

"Severus, what do you think? Will we manage?"

He kept his face averted. "I think I would not have thought of having children for a while, but right now the thought of a child, our child, growing inside you makes me very happy."

Hermione's answering smile made him relax. "I am too. It comes as a surprise, for sure, but I think I am ready; we are ready."

---

Hannah Longbottom was a tad surprised to receive another order for catering for a Snape soiree, but knew why when Hermione, green in the face, dashed for the loo while talking about the dishes. Severus swore her to secrecy, which she kept, of course, being a businesswoman and generally a nice person. The Potions master's Slytherin friends also guessed the reason for the invitation long before Severus clinked a spoon against a glass, having taken in the glow Hermione radiated and her avoidance of prosecco.

"Dear friends, we have invited you all tonight to celebrate with us. Hermione and I have been married today. Please raise your glasses with me to my wife!"

Ronald Weasley's guffaw was loudest, and the yelp he emitted, when his wife, the former Miss Brown, elbowed him was scarcely quieter, but all the others joined in the congratulations. And Molly Weasley needed about five minutes to figure out the immediate reason for the surprise wedding. Mrs Granger, despite having raised her daughter as a modern woman, needed a while to overcome her disappointment of not planning an elaborate wedding, complete with masses of white tulle and a huge cake. Hermione resigned herself to expect a very lavish baby-shower.

---

As Severus knew far more embarrassing secrets about Lucius than the other way round, the Malfoy pater familias was the only one who was told that Britain's most prominent Potions master would owe his first child to a potions mishap. After nearly falling from the settee with laughing, Lucius managed to pronounce, "I guess that's magic's way of getting her wish. The way you two would have analysed and thought about having children you would have been too old for it to happen."

---

Hephzibah Eileen Snape would have been the most over-educated child in Britain if not for her granddad Toby and her brothers Simon Tobias and Jeremy Lucius, who were born two and four years later. With three children under five, Hermione and Severus both cut down their work-load to about three days a week and still were glad to have help from Tobias and his partner, Miss Sophie Havisham, the former Headmistress of Summerview Primary. They were indeed ready for a family, but fifteen years later, they were equally ready for some time alone again, after sending Jeremy off to Hogwarts.

The End