Hermione awoke to find herself in a different bed and in a different room to where she usually woke up. Another difference was the arm that was wrapped tightly around her and the steady breathing of another. She turned around and looked into the sleeping face of Severus Snape.
"I thought I'd told you before not to stare at me when I sleep," Severus murmured after a few minutes.
"You're just too handsome," Hermione whispered. He hadn't made her jump at all; she was expecting him to say that. She used to stare at him when they were together the first time.
"Go back to sleep, darling," he muttered. So she did. She snuggled into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her protectively and they went back to sleep.
oOoOo
When Severus and Hermione work up in the morning, fully rested, they both walked hand in hand up to Minerva's office for two reasons: to get their daughter back and for a favour.
As Hermione and Severus had walked back up to the castle the night before, Severus had asked Hermione to move in with him. Hermione had argued saying they should stay in her room because that was where Vienna was used to but Severus had told her that Vienna was used to moving. She couldn't disagree.
That was the favour they were asking Minerva, make Severus' rooms a little bigger to fit their daughter and so that there was enough room in his private library for all of Hermione's books as well.
After Minerva had let the couple in she didn't need them to say anything. She saw their happy expressions and their hands linked, and simply said:
"Severus, you're rooms will be altered for you, congratulations."
"Thank you Minerva," Hermione replied and smiled.
"I shall go get your daughter," Minerva said.
Severus took his hand from Hermione and slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek and Hermione leaned into him embrace. Unknown to them Vienna and Minerva were already back.
"You're back together?" Vienna cried.
"Yes we are," Hermione replied and smiled. "Come on honey."
They all said their goodbyes and the Snapes and Hermione went down to the dungeons.
oOoOo
As soon as they stepped in everything looked a little different. Each room was just a little bigger and there was a new corridor leading to a new bedroom with an en-suite.
"I'll show her around," Severus muttered to Hermione. Hermione nodded but she was too busying looking at a letter on the desk.
Miss Hermione Granger
It was her mother's handwriting.
She quickly picked up the letter and opened it. She walked over to the sofa, sat down and the read the letter.
Dearest Hermione,
We are so thrilled that you are back in England. I hope this is going to be permanent.
We have both missed you so much. Your father also wants to say congratulations on finally dumping the sawdust brain man.
Indeed you are crazy dear, but otherwise you wouldn't be you. We would like to see you very soon. Even though your father and I have missed both you and Vienna like crazy, I think it would be best if she didn't come with you.
We are going on holiday for a month though, so we shall have to meet after that. We are going skiing; we doubted that you wanted to come. We're back on the last Monday of August. We're looking forward to seeing you.
Lots of love,
Mum and Dad
When Hermione finished the letter she sighed.
"What's wrong, darling?" Severus asked making his way back in and sat beside her on the sofa, sliding his arm around her shoulders.
"My parents want to see me," she replied.
Severus kissed her head sweetly, "It'll be okay. Vienna told me that you'd argued with them."
"I'll tell you about that later," Hermione promised.
She stood up and replied to the letter.
Mum and Dad,
Okay. I'm really busy at the moment, so why don't we make it the last Thursday of August, then I am ready for the kids to arrive. I am working at Hogwarts now, the new Transfiguration professor. Viktor and I are most definitely over. Vienna sends her love.
Love Hermione.
oOoOo
Hermione was glad that they were going on holiday; it gave her a month's time to brace herself for meeting them. She had finally got round to telling Severus about the argument about what Viktor had said and he only had one thing to say.
"Well I know I won't be saying that."
Hermione was flattered, she knew that he wanted to marry her but he hadn't popped the question to her again since when he'd told her in the hospital wing.
oOoOo
On the morning that Hermione was going to her parents she had to run quickly to the bathroom and throw up. Severus followed her through straight away to hold her hair back.
"Is everything alright?" He asked her soothingly stroking her cheek.
"Yes, I'll check with Madam Pomfrey before I go," Hermione replied and leaned into him for support.
She didn't bother going back to bed; she needed to get some more planning done before she went to her parents.
oOoOo
As Hermione walked up to her parent's house after Apparating from Hogwarts she tried to think positive, Severus had said he was a Patronus away if need be.
Hermione had the meeting with Madam Pomfrey in her head. Why hadn't they been careful? How was he going to react? How was she going to tell him? She just didn't know.
Before she realised it, she had already knocked on her parent's door.
"HERMIONE!" Her mother cried as she made her way over the threshold.
"It's good to see you," Hermione replied and embraced her parents.
The first hour was a little awkward, her parents, Mark and Helena wanted to know everything that had happened since they had last met. So Hermione told them. In return her parents told her about what they had been up to. They had gone back to Australia to visit again and they said that they had made it official that they were going to go skiing everything because it was what they enjoyed the most.
Hermione had brought many pictures of her travels and Mark and Helena got to see their granddaughter grow up in the pictures.
"My goodness Hermione, she's beautiful," Helena said and beamed.
The more they talked the easier it became until Mark hard something he wanted to say.
"Hermione, I want to meet Severus."
"Dad, don't. We've been through enough, I don't want you scaring him away," Hermione said as she held back tears. "I love him."
Helena joined in, "He doesn't mean it like that darling; we just want to meet him."
"Fine, I will write to you when we can make it. I need to go; I have something to tell Severus."
"Goodbye darling," Helena said and after Hermione had hugged her parents she Apparated home.
oOoOo
It was late when Hermione finally got in and she went straight to her rooms. Vienna was fast asleep in bed but Severus was still reading though he was in their room.
"How did it go?" He asked when she slipped in bed beside him.
"Fine and by the way, they want to meet you," she replied and snuggled into his chest. After a moment she whispered, "Severus, I have something to tell you."
"Yes?"
"I'm pregnant."
