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Hermione,
Can I have Rose this weekend? It's been ages since she was over. I'm not going to let her get hurt this time, I promise. Teddy is spending the weekend with Harry and Gin, we thought maybe the kids could have a "camp out" in the library Friday at Grimmauld Place.
Ron

Mr. Weasley,
Hermione is currently occupied brewing a special order, and asked me to respond on her behalf, as she felt it shouldn't wait. We will drop Rose off by tea Friday afternoon. She will be sent under the strictest impression that you will not withhold a serious injury for five hours again, should such an injury occur.
S. Snape

Hermione,
I don't appreciate your bat of a boyfriend threatening me when you have him write your letters. See you Friday.
Ron

Ginny,
Please don't let your brother or Harry put Rose on a broom this weekend, she's still terrified of them after her fall in June. Are we still planning for Christmas at Grimmauld this year?
Hermione

"Are you sure you don't mind dropping Rose off, Severus? I can always take this delivery afterwards." Hermione asked for the seventh time in less than fifteen minutes.

"I'm sure, my dear. That Wolfsbane needs to be delivered on time, Ronald can hardly bother me," he assured her again, helping Rose with the buttons on her winter coat.

Christmas was only a few days off and he'd once again been invited to join the Weasleys and Potters, this year at the latter's home. He was proud that Rose - and by extension, George - had kept his secret, though every now and then he'd catch the girl eyeing her mother suspiciously, as though debating whether to say something or not. He was convinced she'd be the first Weasley not to be placed in Gryffindor - he couldn't wait to see the stroke that would cause her father.

"Alright, if you're sure…"

"I am." He picked up Rose's weekend bag.

Hermione huffed and smiled at him, "Okay, okay, I get it. Be good for your father Rose, and have fun with Teddy and Albus. I'll see you on Sunday."

"Bye, momma, I'll be good." Rose hugged her mother, then reached for Severus' hand. The shop door had hardly shut behind them when she spoke again, "Are you going to ask this weekend?"

He raised one eyebrow at the girl.

"You're carrying the little box again, in your waistcoat pocket." She explained, pointing in his general direction, "Are you?"

"I've considered it," he told her honestly and tightened his grip on her, "Hold on tight now."

He waited for the answering squeeze to his hand before Apparating them away.

They landed in a copse of trees in the park across from Weasley's house and Rose obediently held his hand all the way up to the door; he released her to knock, and crouched, balancing on the balls of his feet, to hug her when she held her arms out to him.

They were mid-embrace when Weasley opened the door, "Hey, Rosie; where's Hermione?"

Ever since Rose's broom accident in June, they'd managed to keep a stilted, but civil acquaintance with each other as their paths crossed often enough since he'd become seriously involved with Hermione. "She had a batch of Wolfsbane to deliver, so I am here in her stead."

"Hi daddy, can we have hot chocolate before we go to Uncle Harry's?"

"Sure, why not? Come on then, kid, let's not keep Mister Snape from his business."

"Yes daddy. Bye Mister Severus," Rose smiled.

Severus patted down her curls and passed her bag to Weasley, "Good-bye Rose, I'll see you at Grimmauld for Christmas."

"Hello Severus," Hermione smiled, breezing into her apartment just over an hour later, unwinding her scarf.

"Marry me, Hermione," he said very casually, lowering his book slightly and watching her carefully to see if she'd notice or if she'd remain in babble mode as she usually did at the end of her work day.

Babble mode continued full tilt while she shed her outer layers, "How was the drop off? I hope Ron behaved himself, he can be so difficult sometimes. Anyways, you'll never believe who I ran into on my way back from my delivery - Luna Lovegood! Apparently she and Neville started seeing each other this past summer - about time he stopped dragging his feet too, I couldn't believe he never said anything to her after the Battle when- What did you just say?!"

Severus smiled, closed his book and set it aside. "Marry me," he repeated.

"That's what I thought you said!" She squeaked, "Um, I don't know what to say."

"Yes or no are the generally accepted responses. Occasionally tears and hugs are involved, to my understanding."

She swatted at his arm and sank onto the couch beside him, "Git. And yes, I will marry you."

He reached into his pocket, "Then this is yours, I believe."

Hermione cooed over the ring in the little black box, creamy pearls set against a rose gold band. "Oh this is lovely, Severus."

"It was my mother's; the rest of my parents' wedding set was sold off to pay for my father's rum, but I'm sure we'll find something to suit." He slipped the ring onto her finger, the charm he'd added after retrieving it from Gringotts shrinking the band to fit.

"Does Rose know?" she asked after several moments silent contemplation.

Severus chuckled, "She and George have known since July; whether the rest of the Weasleys know, I cannot say."

"Severus Snape, you sneak! How did you get Rose to keep it a secret for so long?"

"She's no Gryffindor, that's how, and we may have had a serious talk about surprises after she spilled the beans to her uncle."

"She's a Weasley, I find it hard to believe that she could be anything but."

He settled an arm around her shoulders and played with the loose curls his fingers could reach, "I've seen enough Sorting Ceremonies to know she'll be a Ravenclaw or a Slytherin, depending on whether she grows into her cunning or not."

Hermione laughed, "I almost hope she will, if only to see Ronald faint."

"I dearly hope so."

"You'll spoil her terribly - she'll undoubtedly become the Princess of Slytherin."

Severus clutched his chest in mock affront, "You wound me madam. I shall remain a perfectly unbiased Head of House."

She giggled, "Until she snuggles up to you begging for more difficult classwork."

"She does seem quite promising in Potions," he agreed, "Though I attribute that to her lucking out and inheriting her brains from her mother's gene pool. Don't think I didn't know it was you brewing Polyjuice in your second year."

"Well did you know that it was me who set you on fire my first year?" Hermione challenged, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Was it now? I always wondered, although Seamus Finnigan would have been my first suspect, what with his penchant for blowing things up."

"Ha! Yes, we were so sure it was you doing all the sneaky things that year that Quirrell completely blindsided us. Did you know?"

Severus shook his head, "I suspected he was a follower, but any knowledge of the Dark Arts taints a person, it was hard to discern that from active Dark Magic, never mind that my knowledge of Death Eater activity at that time was minimal, being otherwise occupied in the school."

"Severus," she said, her tone implying a subject change was imminent. "Will this be your first Christmas break away from the castle?"

"In a very long time, yes, but there are things I need to see to this year, never mind Christmas at the Potters." At her questioning look, he explained, "I've been meaning to sell Spinner's End since before the War ended. There are too many years of bad memories there for me to ever hope to replace them all with good ones. I've just been putting it off; I hope to have the paperwork started before the school term resumes."

"You're welcome to use the attic here if you need somewhere to store things; I've talked to Mister Appleborne about remodeling it up there, since this seems as good a place as any for Rose and I to make our home, I just haven't had time or inspiration." She grew thoughtful, "Although, I suppose if we're going to be married, that's something we'll have to discuss."

Severus squeezed her shoulders, "I wouldn't mind making our home here, in time. Call me old fashioned, but I'd prefer it if we were settled before living under the same roof."

Hermione scrunched her nose, "To that effect, unless you object, I'd rather skip the tedium of the ceremony and just go down to the Ministry - perhaps with Rose in tow. I've jumped through the hoops once, and ended up a divorced single mother for my troubles."

"I've absolutely no objections, my dear. Simply name the day."

"Even today? I mean really, we knew from day one that we'd work out, thanks to our hair and that glow - I'm still wondering when that will stop - the last year has been formality, getting to know each other properly."

Severus chuckled, "Even today, though I have a feeling Rose would be heartbroken if we didn't include her."

"How about Christmas Eve day then? Molly's letter this morning said Charlie was going to be a day late getting home, so we won't be celebrating until Christmas Day."

"As you wish, my dear."

They arrived separately at Grimmauld Place on Christmas Day, Hermione and Rose heading over shortly after breakfast while Severus headed to Spinner's End to continue packing up his belongings. Packing his books had consumed him more than he meant for it to, so it was nearly six when he let himself into the former headquarters of The Order of the Phoenix. Harry and Ginny had done an impressive job breathing life back into the house, he observed, shedding his scarf and cloak. The sound of laughter and conversation drew him further into the house to the library turned living room. Rose was the first to spot him.

"Papa!" She cried, promptly abandoning her cousins and their toys on the floor to race across the room for a hug. It hadn't taken the girl long between her return home Sunday and Tuesday morning for her to decide on her new endearment, which in his opinion, suited him perfectly. "You're late, papa," she admonished.

"Yes, I know, Rose. I got distracted."

"I know I live in Romania, but did I miss a wedding or something?" Charlie asked.

"Surprise?" Hermione smiled indulgently.

Unsurprisingly, Molly and Ginny were the first to assault them with hugs and congratulations. "We didn't even know you were engaged, when did all this happen?" The latter demanded of her friend.

"Friday and yesterday?"

Molly pushed away from the hug she'd trapped him in, "Oh, Severus," she admonished, though she was smiling.

"What, Molly? Thanks to your son," he shot a look at the unrepentant looking one-eared wonder across the room, "We knew it would be a good match and neither of us wanted a big fuss made."

"You're welcome!" Weasley grinned, the expression actually reaching his eyes.

He was surprised the subject was actually left until dinner when Arthur asked, "So will you girls be moving to Spinner's End or will Severus be moving to the apothecary?"

"The latter," Hermione responded, "Severus is actually in the process of selling his house and we're planning to remodel the attic this summer after the school year is over."

"Oh, and George," Severus added suddenly, "If you were wondering for your research, the glow finally stopped once we were married."