A/N: Okay deer readers, we're skipping ahead a few months. I think you'll be able to figure out where we are, but I didn't want anyone to feel lost.
Severus Snape stood awkwardly to the side of the room. He didn't enjoy parties with only adults in attendance, let alone ones where children were present. But, as Draco's godfather and without the excuse of a mandatory potions conference that year, he was strong-armed into attendance. Narcissa Malfoy could be scary when she so chose.
At least he didn't stand out the most, even if he kept from the action. That honour belonged to a couple that were clearly muggles. Severus hadn't seen them at any of the birthday parties he had been to. He wondered what they were doing there.
Oddly enough to him, they seemed to be more at ease with the whole wizarding birthday party situation than he was. He wondered exactly how muggles had come to be invited to the birthday party of the scion of one of the most powerful pureblood families in Britain.
He didn't dare ask. It would be presumptuous of him to demand that sort of information from his hosts. And he wasn't quite comfortable talking to muggles under any circumstances. His questions would only make things worse.
Instead he stood awkwardly by the refreshment table, picking at a plate of sandwiches. He got his wish to talk when someone came over.
"I always forget how much energy those kids have," the man muttered.
"I have to say that I'm relieved that it's no longer boundless by the time they're eleven," Severus agreed.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met. John Granger," he said.
"Severus Snape."
"I hope you haven't been to any of these parties for a while," John said. "I would hate to think that I've been horribly rude in not remembering you."
Severus shook his head. "I don't have any children of my own, so I try to avoid these gatherings as much as possible."
"Then what's your relation to Draco?"
It didn't escape Severus' notice that John had called him Draco. Not Master Malfoy. They were closer to the Malfoy family than he had previously thought.
"I'm Draco's godfather."
John's jaw dropped before he quickly regained his composure. Most of it anyways. "You're Uncle Sev? Draco talks about you all the time."
Severus thought for a moment. He had always been strict with Draco. All his experiences with first years had extinguished any leniency he once might have possessed with children around cauldrons. Unfortunately for those close to him, it had spilled over into his personal life as well.
As far as Severus knew, Draco didn't mind that his godfather liked peace and quiet and order to be kept. Draco seemed to enjoy being around his "Uncle Sev" and looked forward to their meetings.
"What's your relation to Draco?" Severus turned the question back to John.
John smiled. "Now that's a question. I'm not really sure what the right term is. My daughter, Hermione, is Draco's best friend.
He wasn't sure exactly how much they were supposed to reveal to people. Last year Mrs. Greengrass had been complaining to Helena that Astoria was no longer making as much progress for betrothal talks as she had hoped. And Helena had no clue what to say to that. John was feeling just as lost in that moment.
Severus served himself some punch so that his scowl would be less obvious. The Malfoy scion best friends with a muggle? What was the world coming to?
"I'm surprised that such a thing happened," Severus drawled. "The Malfoys have always been a family of incredibly discriminating tastes."
John shrugged. "Well, Lucius and Draco love rugby so I don't think that I'm allowed to complain too much. We watch a match just about every other weekend."
Severus choked on his punch. Lucius Malfoy not only enjoying a sport where muggles beat each other up, but loving it enough to watch it? Things had certainly changed. Perhaps he should have taken Narcissa up on one of her many invitations to catch up.
"How did they meet?" Severus asked. "Draco and Hermione."
"You really should ask my wife. She was there. The first time they met, she thought that Draco was imaginary. I'm still not sure why she agreed to go back to the train station the second time. But I guess I'm glad she did."
On the one hand, he was glad that it had led to a friendship with the Malfoys. He knew that if things had gone differently, the Malfoys wouldn't have even entertained the thought of meeting the Grangers much less being friends with them. And it was wonderful to have horizons expanded.
On the other hand, he wasn't glad about the implications of betrothal. Especially at such a young age. Lucius had explained that the magic wouldn't have bound them if they were incompatible. That didn't ease his conscious much.
Severus frowned. If Mrs. Granger had thought Draco was imaginary, it was likely that he was under a spell. And if Hermione had seen him, talked with him, that meant that she was magical. His heart skipped a beat. A muggleborn.
"So how often do Draco and Hermione see each other?" Severus asked.
"At least once a week. Narcissa and Helena organize something during the week. And then Lucius and I are responsible if things happen on weekends. I've been helping Draco learn to play rugby. He's joined a youth club in our neighbourhood."
"And is Hermione doing anything sports related?" Severus asked. He couldn't imagine that Lucius had let Draco play rugby. At least not without something in return.
John nodded. "She's learning how to play quidditch. Narcissa says that she and Draco could probably take on the Gryffindor quidditch team by themselves. Provided that they don't have a decent seeker."
"Is she a keeper or something?"
Typically, a keeper and a chaser could hold off another team well enough if they were talented enough. And he knew that Draco was a wonderful chaser. It was one of the things the boy sometimes couldn't stop talking about.
"Chaser. Same as Draco. They are pretty amazing to watch," John said. "I envy you. If they make it onto the Slytherin team, you'll get to see them play all the time."
"What makes you so sure she'll be in Slytherin?" Severus said.
"Talk to her sometime. I'm sure she'll convince you."
A relatively short girl with the biggest curliest hair Severus had ever seen wandered over to them. "Dad, who's this?"
"This is Draco's Uncle Sev."
"Oh," she curtsied as best she could in the shorts she was wearing. "It's nice to meet you. Draco's said so many wonderful things about you. Like that you teach at Hogwarts. Potions he said."
"That's right."
"I'm looking forward to being in your class. I have to go tell Draco you're here."
She dashed off before Severus could tell her that he already had plans to meet Draco once the party was over. He sighed into his punch, trying not to let his frustration show.
"She's definitely something," John said.
"That she is."
A/N: So we meet Severus Snape here. Hope no one's totally upset with my characterization of him. He's been trying to deal with his life, and really doesn't like children. As one of my sisters says "children under five are fine. Children five to seventeen are demons." I'm not sure I totally agree with her. But she's pretty adamant about it. (And she's the one who wants to be a teacher. Go figure.) Hope you guys enjoy.