Chapter Text
Severus lay in bed alone, looking at the ceiling and smiling like a fool as he thought back on all that had happened in his life.
Hermione sent a Patronus to Minerva as soon as her parents agreed to return and be questioned by the Minister of Magic. She thought it could be improper to disturb her boss with a Patronus, especially when it was nothing life-threatening. This is why she asked Minerva to send him an owl asking where and what time he wished to meet with her parents. Her anxiety had made her think of taking them first thing Monday morning to the Ministry, but then she thought better of that decision and asked Minerva for the favor. Just to be sure she wouldn’t be rude and obvious by acting on impulse.
Shacklebolt had thought it better for Hermione to take her parents to the Ministry after all. It would be interesting for him to have witnesses to the fact he was investigating this matter and not sweeping it under the rug, should the accuser wish to make it public and scandalous. Hermione was not opposed to the idea at all and on Monday morning, she and Severus were escorting curious and amazed Grangers through the Ministry Atrium. They were also a little dizzy due to the way entry to the Ministry was done but walked looking up nonetheless, awestruck at everything they laid their eyes on.
Both were superb at the interview. Severus predicted well that the Minister would go easy on them, especially being muggles, so they stuck to the half-truth that they went to Australia because a business opportunity had emerged and were not aware of the danger their daughter was in since she had omitted many important details of her years at school, and from the 4th year on, the chunks omitted had been increasingly larger. Shacklebolt accepted that. The muggle couple seemed well, they were not charmed in any way – he made sure of that – and they were not confused. If they had been obliviated in any way, this state of mind would not be possible, Shacklebolt argued to himself. And There were no ways to reverse an obliviation – not any known to the Ministry, at least – so Ronald had in fact lied. That was the conclusion the Minister had come to.
After her parents were done with the questioning, a press conference was called, with Hermione's consent. In addition to safeguarding himself and her from further accusations, the presence of her parents in the Ministry was good press to wash away any crooked ideas past administrations could have left in any wizards. As Shacklebolt spoke to the press, explained the accusations made and how they were looked into, in addition to making a speech about the importance of collaboration with muggles and respect for muggleborns, Hermione stood beside him, grinning as she imagined how pissed off Ronald would be seeing this in the papers the following day.
That he was. Furious. His last card up the sleeve had inexplicably gone wrong, so wrong for him. How was that possible? Had Hermione lied to him, to gain his pity? He wouldn't put it past her. Maybe her parents were fine all along and she lied to get him to feel sorry for her and maybe be with her because of it. But now, his only option for revenge seemed to be attacking Snape somehow. That hadn't worked before and would definitely not work with him being put on leave from work. Maybe when he got back.
Though Sharklebolt had mentioned no names, Ronald’s friends and family were aware it had been his doing once they read the news. That made them resume contact with him only to scold him. Then he was shunned again. One more reason why he couldn't attack the disgusting couple. And then, the most horrible news yet reached him. He was fired from the Auror Department with the possibility of trying out again in five years only, under the condition he submit himself to psychological testing more thorough than what was usually the norm for the job. He had to stay at the Burrow and hear his parents' nagging. They also demanded he find something to do, like an apprenticeship, and his life plans of basking in his fame and past achievements went downhill from there.
Severus… well, Severus was happy, finally He could say that now. He knew what it meant. He saw Hermione happy because everything was working out for her. She had kept her job, she had her parents back… So everything was working out for him. He only needed one more thing. One more thing for him to be fully happy.
In the following week after returning from Australia, Hermione and Severus had some peace. Things were settling, all issues resolved, her parents back to Australia to take care of things there before moving back to England. Severus had been extremely pleased albeit a little surprised with the fact Mr. Granger had given his daughter's hand to him. The older man had been baffled for a moment, but them shook Severus' hand.
"You changed up the order of events, but I am glad to know you are a truly decent fellow and willing to take care of my daughter."
So now, with her father’s permission and things falling back into place in their lives, he wanted to take that step as soon as possible.
Severus had planned on taking Hermione out for a romantic dinner and proposing there. Hermione agreed to dinner that night before leaving for work, but when she got home, her will to go out had decreased significantly due to the day she had had and the sickness the pregnancy had caused.
"Oh... you look so handsome," she said with regret and tired when she saw him all dressed up in a black muggle suit – no tie, top buttons undone. "It makes me feel bad that I'm not up for it tonight." She pouted.
"Do you think if you lie down a bit you'll get more excited to go?" he asked hopefully, holding her hands after she caressed his chest clad in fine black fabric.
She looked very sorry. "Can you put your nice suit neatly away so we can try tomorrow? I’ll cook something for you now. But if it was too much trouble to make reservations and stuff, we can go."
He caressed her cheek down to her chin and smiled. "Go lie down a bit. I’ll whip something up for us and I'll come get you when it’s done, okay Lovely?"
She nodded. "Thank you, Severus. I love you. You’re so good to me."
"Love you too, babe." He pecked her lips and sent her up the stairs.
Severus then took his suit jacket off and went to work preparing a quick salad with grilled chicken and baked potatoes. Magic made the preparation of that – and a few other things – quicker. Once everything was ready, he climbed the steps two at a time to call her. He was fully dressed again, with his suit jacket back on.
Hermione had fallen asleep, still in the dress she had gone to work in. It was very muggle and quite dress-up, precisely because the intention was to go out for dinner.
"Lovely," he whispered close to her ear as he caressed her arm. "Wake up." He kissed her cheek and she stirred, smiling. "Come have dinner."
She woke up and he lead her down the stairs to their living room. She was amazed at how he had pushed the sofa and coffee table back and produced the romantic ambiance of a restaurant. There was a table for two in the middle of the room, all set for their meal. The room was dark but for the strings of fairy lights that were hung wall to wall and the fire that had been lit in the hearth. There was soft romantic music playing from the small radio that was always kept in the kitchen.
"Oh, Severus! It's beautiful! What is the occasion after all?"
He shrugged. "Celebrating my love for you," he said pulling out a chair for her to sit.
She blushed, shy at the comment. "You’re so perfect. So good to me."
"Far from it. But I will always try to deserve you."
He served her dinner, and he had even put together an impromptu dessert. After they had eaten, he asked her to dance to the rock ballad that flowed from the radio. She gladly accepted.
"I wanted to take you out to dinner because I wanted tonight to be perfect" he said after they had been swaying for a while in each other's arms.
"It is perfect. Every night with you is perfect. And this is quite the setup you arranged here. I don't know why, maybe the fairy lights, it reminds me of our Christmas together right here, on this floor. I loved it. I loved the thoughtful gift, I loved sleeping beside you for the first time and seeing you wake up disheveled… I was already so in love with you, even if I was clueless about it." She smiled. "The truth is all I need is to be with you, just the two of us, like this, and it will be perfect."
Severus smiled. "I'm so glad you said that. Because I cannot wait any longer to do this." He swirled her around in time to the song and when she finished the 360 turn to face him once more, he was on bended knee, holding a little velvet box with a gorgeous square cut diamond ring.
"Severus!" She exclaimed and took her hands to cover her mouth.
"Hermione Jean Granger. Love of my life. Woman of my dreams, who has made me immensely happy ever since you stepped foot in my house. I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you've made me. Marry me?"
Hermione tried to speak but only a happy shriek came out of her lips. She then nodded and knelt to kiss Severus’ lips before he had even gotten the chance to place the ring on her finger. That night they spent on the floor of that living room, just like on Christmas, except this time, they had incredible sex using the sofa as support.
The wedding was arranged fast, so it could happen before her stomach started growing, especially because they wanted to get married in Church. It was a small wedding, just for her parents and their few friends – professors from Hogwarts and Potter and friends minus Ronald, of course. They were married in the Church in their neighborhood, where she now understood God gave her the sign she had been asking for all those months ago. Severus' sign was given when she walked down the aisle escorted by her father. She looked heavenly in a white dress that hugged her body all the way down and had beading all over it. She smiled so widely the white in her teeth out shone her dress. There was no fear or doubts in her features, only pure joy, trust, excitement. There, he was sure he would have her for life, he just needed to be himself and not fuck up. And he knew he wouldn’t do that. His love for her would not allow it. He would beg and grovel for forgiveness whenever she saw fit and humiliate himself like he never had before to regain her trust and love back if he ever lost it for a moment. The beauty of it all was that at the same time he would do all this with no shame, he knew she would never ask it of him.
Now he lay there in bed, in the Australian heat, in the house her parents had kept for vacationing and renting out for tourists, smiling at the ceiling, thinking about all the times he had had in the last couple of years. He knew in his heart he would never have known happiness if Hermione Granger (now Snape) hadn't been forced into his house the day she had her heart broken by the dimwitted redhead. Odd to think he had not only Minerva, but that imbecile to thank for his happiness.
The door to the room suddenly opened and a toddler stumbled in. "Dada, pool," he said as he bumped into the bed and tried in vain to pull himself up. Severus smiled and lifted his son up into his arms. "Pool? We’ve been in the pool all day."
The child giggled. "Yeah. Again!”
Severus laughed. "No. It's nighttime. We’ll go a little more tomorrow, okay? You need to be in bed now."
"Bed with dada and mama."
"No. You're a big boy. You need to go to your own bed. Help Daddy out. He needs some alone time with Mummy."
The toddler smiled, pointing at Severus’ nose.
"Adrian! Adrian!" Mrs. Granger’s voice was echoing from down the hall.
"Did you run away from grandma?" Severus asked with a smile. Adrian smiled mischievously. "Did you run away from grandma?" He asked more playfully, tickling his tummy. Adrian laughed.
"Adrian!" Mrs. Granger called more desperately but hushed, trying to not disturb her son-in-law and daughter.
"I think I found what you are looking for!" Severus called, still tickling his son, who laughed louder and louder, kicking his onesie-covered legs.
"Oh thank God!" She said as she turned into the room. "I thought you could be hurt somewhere."
"Don’t worry too much, Mrs. Granger. I think your grandson has some tricks up his sleeve." He kissed Adrian's cheek.
"Oh, I well remember. Hermione had some of those and since I knew nothing of it at the time, I thought I was going crazy." She smiled. "You want to come with grandma? Let daddy rest for a while, yes?" She reached out her arms and Severus handed his whiskey-eyed black-haired son to his mother-in-law. The toddler went willingly.
"Wave daddy goodnight," Mrs. Granger said, and as Adrian did just that, he waved over a teddy bear of his that sat on a chair in the corner of the room. It hit Mrs. Granger in the face before falling to Adrian’s arms
"Son! Careful! Focus."
"Well… isn't that handy?” Mrs. Granger said looking at the grandson and smiling. “Let's get you sleeping before something harder hits grandma’s forehead. Grandpa is waiting to read to you.
"Yaay!" Adrian clapped and the teddy hovered for a little moment so he could do it. His grandma reached for it and held it before it fell and she needed to bend over with him in her arms.
"Goodnight, daddy," Mrs. Granger encouraged as she walked out with her grandson in her arms. She closed the door behind her.
Severus didn't have much longer to bask in his bliss alone before his wife came fresh out of the bathroom. She crawled in bed next to him and kissed his lips.
"Did I hear Adrian?"
"Yes. He got away from your mother."
"I should go help her." She started to pull away from her husband but he held her against him.
"She's got it. Stay here with me, witch."
She smiled and cuddled close to him again. "I was in the shower thinking..."
"About me, I hope. Did you start having fun without me?" He smirked.
She smacked his chest gently. "I was thinking... We shouldn’t move. I know you don’t really like it there, but we have so many good memories there. We started our life together there. That should carry more weight than what happened there when you were younger."
"Thanks for calling me old," Severus joked. "But we've talked about this, Lovely. I love it there. You made me love it there. But we cannot raise two kids there." He caressed her belly, slightly swollen already. "There is no spare room for that there."
Hermione pouted. "You're right. I know."
"Just think of all the firsts we will have in our new home." He lowered his voice to a rumble. "And I promise I will make every single time just as special as our first."
She smiled and stretched to reach his lips with hers and kiss them passionately.
Two days later they were back from vacation and in Spinner’s End. There were boxes everywhere as they had been slowly getting ready to move closer to her parents for the support with the children and for more space. The money they had won with their Orders of Merlin plus the reserve from all the years he had done nothing but teach and live in Hogwarts made for a very generous down payment. The rest would easily fit into their monthly budget.
Hermione was excited to be home and expertly put Adrian to sleep in his little crib in his little room that had been hers two and a half years ago. When Severus came out of the shower, she was waiting for him in black lingerie, lying in bed.
"Hey," she smiled mischievously. Then, as if she didn’t know what she was doing, she spread her legs to entice him. "Did you have a nice shower?" Despite her already protuberant belly, she was very confident because her lingerie still fit without rolling down and because, of course, Severus always made her feel marvelous.
"Yes, but I bet I'm about to get dirty again, and I love it," he smirked as he pulled the towel around his waist off and walked over to her like a feline ready to pounce its pray.
He fit himself in between her legs and growled as he felt her sex hot against his. He then claimed her smiling lips. His hand expertly pulled the strap of her bra off, his lips traveling from hers down her jawline to her neck. His cock grew harder against her sex as she hooked her legs behind him and her knickers shifted, exposing one side of her smooth labia. She grew more excited as well, her breathing hitching.
"Severus?"
"Hmm," he mumbled, pulling the cup of her bra down and circling her nipple with his tongue, not caring that it leaked a bit.
"Promise me something?"
"Anything. My life."
"We won't get rid of this place."
"And when did you win the lottery?"
"I'm serious. We'll rent it out. And when we get old..."
"I'm already old."
"This rock-hard cock nestled against my pussy begs to differ," she whispered naughtily.
He growled and pulled the crotch of her knickers aside to tease her more directly with his fingers. She moaned.
"You were saying?" He drawled.
Panting a bit more she continued her train of thought as he continued teasing.
"When it’s just us two again... we’ll come back... to our little place on Spinner’s End."
He smiled, touched at how sentimental his little witch was. "Okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Anything to keep you happy, my love."
"I love you," she said, starting to gently roll her hips against his hand.
"We better stop having so much fun with... this." He sank his finger into her and she mewled. "Or it will take longer for it to be just us two again." He smirked.
"Don't you dare stop," she ordered and pulled his lips to meet hers.