A/N: Hey guys… don't worry, I didn't just disappear like that. I am a little busy with my studies at the moment as I have got big exams coming up, but all shall be better in three weeks' time. Tomorrow is Alan's death anniversary and I have been difficultly coping with it. It's always a difficult day for me as he was someone who gave me the courage to go on with my life when I felt down… So this chapter is dedicated in his memory.

Hope you'll like it.

J1974

Chapter 2

Hermione took Noxia out of the travelling cot and brought her to the living room. She knew Noxia was hungry and after having cuddled with the infant for a short while, she unbuttoned her shirt and gave her breast for Noxia to latch on. As soon as she saw Noxia relax, she felt a sense of calmness wash over her body. Noxia was now safe and no one would harm her ever again.

"Hermione… Where are you?" Severus asked from upstairs.

"I'm in the living room with Noxia." She replied softly as she saw her daughter dozing to sleep.

"I raised new wards onto her bedroom. I was also thinking we could call Wilky to come and watch over her while she sleeps if you want?" Severus told her as he sat down into the sofa opposite her.

"About that… I was thinking that maybe Noxia could come and sleep for a little while in our bedroom. It'll help with her magic levels and I'd be more reassured. You know I trust Wilky. I really do, but the second Noxia's out of my sight, I feel like I am suffocating. I know it seems childish…" Hermione said, looking at Noxia who was finishing eating.

"Herms, I don't mind at all if she sleeps with us until we go back to Hogwarts. Why don't you finish up with Noxia while I bring her cot to our bedroom? Then you can bring her up and we'll all get a good night sleep. Alright?" He asked her softly seeing his daughter was now fast asleep.

"Thank you love. I'll just try not waking her up." Hermione said looking at her child with star filled eyes.

Severus stood up and went for the second time this night in the nursery. He levitated the cot they had bought in Hogsmeade and placed it next to their armchairs in the corner of the bedroom. There, Hermione would be able to feed Noxia comfortably without having to get out of the warm confines of the bedroom.

He placed a small number of large logs and lighted the fire to warm the room up. He knew that Hermione hated when a room wasn't warm in the winter as she loved walking bare feet inside the house. Furthermore, he didn't want her to get cold and become sick. After making sure everything was in place, he went back downstairs and saw Hermione was now carrying Noxia to their bedroom.

"Herms, I've finished setting her crib up. Just go and put her to sleep. She looks absolutely exhausted. I'll be right up." Severus said before placing a light kiss on top of her forehead.

He saw Hermione disappear into the bedroom and he made his way to the kitchen. He flicked his wand and a few seconds later, pots and ingredients were flying out of the cupboards and preparing themselves into a nice meal for the both of them.

Thirty minutes later, he went back upstairs with a tray with two plates of spaghettis. He knew that she loved a good plate of spaghettis from time to time and she hadn't eaten them since a very long time. When he entered the room, he saw that Hermione was patiently waiting for him a large Charms volume was opened and she was reading it with great focus.

"Hermione. I made you a plate of spaghettis. I hope you'll like it" He whispered to her, not wanting to wake Noxia up.

"Oh love, you didn't have to. I love you. I really completely, utterly love you" Hermione said. Severus could see the happiness on Hermione's face and he smiled along with her, happy he had been able to make his wife smile today.

"I love you too my sweet Hermione Jean Snape. I love you too… Now eat up, it's getting colder by the second." Severus whispered in her ear.

"You didn't use my spell. Severus. I am disappointed…" Hermione said with a small pout.

"I didn't use it only because I knew you would eat that plate quickly. I know how much you like spaghetti's" Severus said placing both his hands onto the armrests of her chair.

"Severus Snape you are very intelligent." Hermione remarked, approaching her face from his.

"You aren't too much of a dunderhead either love." Severus said, his voice getting more and more suave by the instant.

"Sev…" She began, but her voice died down when Severus placed his lips on hers. "Please Severus. I'm tired. Maybe tomorrow. I'm just so freaking tired and Noxia's just next to us. I don't want to disturb her sleep. Please." Hermione begged before giving him another kiss.

"Tomorrow witch. Tomorrow. You're mine and mine only." Severus whispered seductively into her ear before pecking her lips.

"Tomorrow my handsome husband. Come now. Let me try that dish of spaghetti" Hermione said looking at the tray still hovering behind him.

He took one of the two plates lying onto the tray and gave it to Hermione. She waited for him to be settled into the armchair opposite her before taking her fork and twisting a small amount of pasta around it. The moment she put it in her mouth, she hummed in delight. It was simply the best spaghetti dish she had ever had in her eighteen years of life.

"Wow Severus. This was delicious. You might get a reward quicker than expected." Hermione told him as she watched him finish his plate.

When they both finished their plates, Severus tapped their plates with his wand and they went on their own accord downstairs. He saw that Hermione was half asleep inside the armchair and decided that she needed a bath. He went to the bathroom and opened the taps at the right temperature before dropping some salts in the hot water.

When he came back into the bedroom, Hermione was fully asleep. He disrobed himself and then woke Hermione up.

"Hang on to me love." Severus whispered not wanting to be too brusque with her.

Hermione let her arms wrap themselves around his neck and he lifted her as though she weighed nothing more than a leaf. He helped her take her clothes off before getting her into the bed. He went behind her in the bath and massaged her shoulders lightly. Bringing some water onto her to soothe the accumulated tension.

"Thank you so much love. You're a great help. Really" Hermione whispered. Her eyelids getting heavier and heavier as his massages travelled down south.

"My pleasure darling. Just relax for now." Severus murmured into the crook of her neck. Making his point by punctuating his words with a few kisses.

Thirty minutes later, they got out of the water and went to Noxia's crib she was a little agitated in her sleep, so Hermione took her in her arms. Severus brought his two girls into their bed and after having made sure Hermione had settled nicely with Noxia in their bed. He went to his side of the bed and cradled the both of them in his arms.

The little family woke up on the stroke of 7 a.m. They had all slept very well and Severus found it quite good not for Hermione not to have to get out of bed to feed their daughter. When Noxia was finally changed and fed. They got out of bed and headed downstairs.

Hermione placed Noxia in a small bed in the living room where they could watch her from the kitchen. They then began preparing breakfast. Severus doing the major part of the cooking while Hermione was watching him mixing the ingredients into a bowl expertly.

Suddenly, a large owl landed onto the window seal. It was a large white owl, with two black bordered eyes. Hermione opened the window and the owl soar through the room before landing onto Tweedle's perch in the foyer. She went after the owl and took the letter it was holding into its beak.

"Thanks. You must be Dobby. Don't worry, you can stay here for a short while. Tweedle has gone chasing. He won't be back before quite some time." Hermione informed the bird, petting it's head lightly.

She opened the piece of parchment, and the spiky uneven writing of her friend confirmed her predictions.

Dear Hermione and Professor Snape,

I do hope all is well now and Noxia is already getting better. I am writing to you in the matter of Christmas' Eve dinner. I talked with the Weasleys and they would be delighted to come to the Clearing. I didn't tell them what happened yesterday. I thought it had to be your news to share, or not.

See you tonight,

Harry.

P.S: Molly gave me the list of all the people who were invited to attend Christmas at the Burrow. I know you're not in the best of terms with Ron. But maybe you could give it a shot, I think once he sees Noxia he'll change.

Christmas 1998

Molly
Arthur
Ron
Rose
Severus
Hermione
Noxia
Ginny
Harry
Teddy (Tonk's and Remus son, Harry's godson)
Fleur
Bill
Lucas (Bill's and Fleur's son)
George
Angelina
Charlie
Percy

Hermione looked at the list. She had already seen those types of list Mrs. Weasley did for every Christmas since she had married Mr. Weasley. Some of them had been framed and put up on top of the chimney or in the stairs leading up the different levels of their quirky house. The fact that Fred's name was missing from the list made her eyes fill up with tears. The Weasleys had foregone the worst possible tragedy for a family, and that made her realise how lucky she had been to still have Severus and Noxia by her side.

She returned to the kitchen and gave the letter and list to Severus who was just finishing placing the food into the plates on the kitchen's counter. She looked at him while he read throughout the list and gave it back to Hermione with a bit of a concern look on his face.

"Hermione. You're sure you're alright with Ron being here?" Severus asked as though he knew exactly what bothered her.

"Yeah. The Weasleys are already doing us the favour of coming over. I don't want them to be separated for Christmas, especially with… you know… Fred not being here… and Tonks and Remus" Hermione began on the brinks of tears.

"Oh Hermione. Come here. I'm so sorry." Severus said, as he stroked her hair comfortingly while she sobbed onto his chest. "Let it out love. Let it all out. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. I promise you, everything is going to be alright." Severus finished calming her down and they both began to eat their breakfast.

Once they had finished their breakfast, Hermione took Noxia upstairs to clean her up. She loved those moments spent with her daughter. She would install Noxia into her bath seat and play with her while washing her. Severus wrote a reply to Harry and sent it via Dobby.

He was worried for tonight and knew that it could go either way. Ron could be a total dunderhead or act as a civilized person and finally be grateful for all Hermione had done for him. Even if the chances were extremely slim, he wanted it to work. He went to his office and got his stationery equipment.

To the discretion of Mr. Ronald Weasley,

Mr. Weasley, I was writing to you to ask a favour from you. I know you do not like me, and I think even despise me, but this letter is not about me, it is about Hermione. Tonight we will be having Christmas Eve's dinner together at The Clearing (our holiday house). I would be forever thankful if you acted as a civilized person and didn't make it hard onto Hermione by making a scene. She is still deeply hurt by your actions at our wedding, more about the shame you inflicted upon your family. I do hope I have made myself completely clear because I will not have you hurt my wife nor my child in any ways. Because if you do, I promise you that you will regret it.

Sincerely yours,

Severus Tobias Snape

Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.