Disclamer. if you recognise it i dont own it. so :P
This is has not been beta'd, message me if you want the honor or if you spot something I can fix and you are nice about it, otherwise i really dont wanna hear about my horrid spelling, I can tell you know I failed english class since 6th grade (not really sure how i graduated, but i did).
Six years in Absence
Severus Snape was having a bad day, not that any day had by him was particularly good for sometime now but today took the cake. It was the last day of term which at one point was his favorite time of year: No more dunderhead children, no more explosions, no more coworkers. It was also a darker day for him for the past few years.
He made his way back to his rooms scowling. The bubbly students didn't seem to notice as much as they used to. Thinking to himself he had to admit that this was possibly the reason for his mood, the lack of fear. He stormed into his apartment and over to the liquor cabinet. He grabbed a bottle of fire whiskey and a cup, pouring himself a nice large cup of the stuff.
His whole body shuttered as he took the first drink. He couldn't believe that it had been six years already, it felt as if it were yesterday. Sure it was six years since the fall of Voldemort but that wasn't what he had on his mind. Six years ago today she ended it.
**Flashback**
Severus was in his classroom getting things in order for next year, thinking of what he hoped would happen with his life. Voldemort was finally dead for good and now he could move on with his life. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't hear the door open.
"Severus..." said a voice filled with sadness, "we need to talk."
Startled Severus looked up. After a moment of silence between them he realized that she was waiting for him to reply.
"OK, so, talk." On the outside his voice and face betrayed nothing but the calmness he always showed but inside he was scared as soon as he heard her utter the for most dreaded words that one person in a relationship can say to the other.
"Sev, its just right now we both want different things from this relationship, and I want- no need, commitment. I know you aren't looking for that right now and I realized I don't like the secrecy anymore. I used to love the romance behind that but now I have to hide how I feel from everyone and I wont do that anymore." she sighed, pushing a brown curl away from her eyes. "I cant see you after today. I need more then your willing to give, I'm sorry but this is goodbye."
After saying this she walked up and kissed his cheek before leaving, getting ready for her graduation.
Slowly recovering from shock Severus' hand went into his pocket and took out a small simple black box, opening it, revealing a small but elegant engagement ring.
**End Flashback**
After he finished his glass of fire whiskey, he went to his room and sat on the bed, contemplating. He opened the side table drawer and pulled out the same shoe box he pulled out every year. It was filled with pictures and newspaper clippings, along with a lone dry flower and of course the small black box that held the ring.
It was safe to say that he didn't get over his feelings. After a few minutes of looking over the content of the shoe boxes he gathered it all up and put it away, collapsing on his bed, falling fast asleep.
The next morning he went to breakfast (after a much needed hangover potion). The first breakfast after term was also the time to turn in resignations, talk about possible replacements, propose next years head boy and girl, etc.
Slowly picking at his food Severus listened about how Madam Prince wanted to retire as did Madam Pomfry. Other then that there was the ever present Defense Against the Dark Arts position to fill... again. The only difference about this year is that there was no discussion about the DADA position. Albus just told everyone that the new professor will be there sometime later that day.
As Severus was leaving the hall something small and human ran straight into his legs. The child had longish black hair that was wavy. He also had chocolate eyes and pale skin.
"Sage, Must you run about? You never know-" At this the woman who must be the child's mother ceased her scolding. He could feel her eyes on him and he looked up at her. As their eyes met it felt as if he were hit by a ton of bricks. She was back. Her hair long brown and curly, her robes hugging her curves, her eyes, the same shade as the little boys, staring at him in shock.
"Hermione" he breathed, eying her once more hearing a breathy "Severus" in reply. Just then a man with messy, black hair and bright green eyes came up and wrapped his arms around Hermione. He looked between the two of them and the child, then sighed. "What has he done now?" He asked, snapping everyone out of their thoughts. Hermione smiled and said.
"Oh nothing Harry, we were just getting reacquainted with the professor. Isn't that right Professor Snape?"
Severus snorted at this. "Yeah, if you call having some spawn running into me is getting reacquainted then sure." Harry rolled his eyes at Snape, then speaking to the child.
"Sage, what have I told you about running? You could have tripped and hurt yourself your someone else. Your lucky it was just Professor Snape. Now apologize right now."
"Sorry Mister Professor Sir." the brown eyed boy said.
Just then Severus noticed a little girl hiding behind Hermione's legs as she stuck her head out to tease her brother "ha ha you got in twuble by both mommy and daddy"
Sage promptly stuck his tongue out at her.
Severus looked back at the parents and made eye contact with Harry. "Mister Potter, had I known that you and your spawn would be here I would have made it a point to stay in my rooms." He then looked into Hermione's eyes "Ah Miss Granger. A pleasant surprise. I must admit I have never had a more knowledgeable and intriguing student since you have left. A pity really." At this he smirked a knowing smirk and she blushed lightly.
"Really Professor Snape, you know that Harry and I got married. I am no longer Miss Granger. You may call me Hermione thou, we are colleges now. I agree that it is a pity that students aren't as excited about learning as I was and still am but I believe if everyone was that enthusiastic you would lose your fun of tormenting the students, am I right?"
That piece of information shocked Severus. *colleagues? Oh she must mean that potter here is the new Defense professor. How fantastic* he thought sarcastically.
"You will always be Miss Granger to me. If I am to call you Hermione then I insist you call me Severus, and I believe you are right. Although I wouldn't have to scare the children if they could figure out that potions are dangerous and not something to be messed with lightly. Well it seems the library will never be empty now that the Gryffindor know-it-all is back." Severus replied still smirking using his nickname for her from years past.
"Hey now no need to resort to name calling here Snape." Harry interjected.
Albus chose this moment to come up to the bunch. "Ah Harry, Hermione how are you? And who is this?" he asked seeing Sage. Remembering the manners his mother taught him Sage formally introduced himself.
"Hi mister. My name is Sage Thomas Granger-Potter"
not to be out done by her brother the little girl came out and said "and I'm Selena Lilly Granger-Potter, ow do you do?" all the adults laughed and Albus replied "since I know you names I shall give you mine. I'm Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore, but you may call me Albus or Dumbledore."
Tired of watching this exchange Severus maneuvered his way around everyone.
"As much as I love talking to you all I must get going. It was a pleasure to see you again Hermione. Albus, I will see you later. Mr. Potter."
After that he turned swiftly making his way to the dungeons lost in though.
-Hermione's–P-O-V-
Watching him stalk away like that brought back memories. She knew coming back would be bad but it was truly time.
**Flashback**
Nervously she held onto the home pregnancy test. All she had to do was drink the potion and wait for her stomach to glow white, blue or pink.
"Hermione, you know whatever happens, you still have me." Harry said.
Hermione had slept with harry one night about a month before. That night they were both drinking and reminiscing on the past. Talking about all the trouble they had gotten into in previous years. Laughing about Ron and his new girlfriend, whom he was with now. Both of them excited and scared about the war. The final battle was coming and they both knew it. Comforting each other about the fear of fighting. Now the fighting was over, and she was late.
Harry bought her the test and vowed to be there for her if she had conceived. What he didn't know was that Hermione had been seeing Severus for the past few months.
She drank the potion with a grimace at the taste and stared at her stomach. After about a minute her stomach started to glow, a soft lavender. She quickly snatched up the instructions and read. With a tear in her eye she looked up at Harry and breathed one word. "Twins"
At that moment she knew what she had to do; she stood up, excused herself and went to look for Severus.
**End Flashback**
Hermione came back to reality, meeting the questioning gazes of the twins and Harry, and a knowing look from Albus.
Blushing Hermione asked Albus "OK, so where are we staying? I would like to unpack before lunch."
Albus smiled and started to lead the family to their quarters, chatting with the kids, Hermione and Harry hung back a little, just out of ear shot.
"What was that all about back there Hermione? Why in the hell was Snape being nice to you?" He demanded.
"I don't know what your talking about Harry. Maybe unlike some people I don't provoke him, and I never have. Understandably he has to be harsh with his classes but now we are co-workers he has no reason to be like that with me. Maybe if you tried to be nice he would be nice to you to."
"Don't give me that bullish-"
At that moment they were interrupted by Albus.
"Here we are. Just let me know how you like it, the password is 'poly-juice'. I figured you would like the reference. Feel free to change the password to whatever."
"Thank you for everything Professor Dumbledore" Harry said, Albus cut him off. "I am no longer your professor, call me Albus."
Hermione laughed "That is going to take some getting used to."
As Albus walked off, the family went threw the portrait hole. Inside was covered in beautiful deep reds and brilliant golds, a lot like the Gryffindor common room. With mahogany furniture and a warm fire place the rooms felt like home already.
As the kids talked about how they wanted their rooms to look Harry was talking to Hermione.
"Seriously Hermione. What was that about? That man has never been nice to anyone, let alone a person who was never in Slytherin."
"Harry, the man almost died. Maybe he matured a bit since the last time you've seen him."
Harry thought about this and remembered that near fatal experiences have been known to change people, it just seemed so unlike the Snape he remembered that it was hard to imagine.
"Maybe your right. He might have changed."
