Hermione woke groggily mid-morning, noting that the sun was already high when she finally swung her feet out of bed. Crookshanks was in his favored spot at the foot of her bed, attending to his morning ablutions and serving as a reminder that she should see to her own. She glanced down at her arm and noted that, while she still felt a dull and throbbing ache, the letters themselves seemed to have diminished somewhat as she slept. She stepped into the shower feeling lighter than she had in ages.

✿HG/SS✿

Severus did not wake feeling rested or cheerful. His late night chat with his apprentice had done nothing for his own nightmares, and he found himself chased by cursed memories of his own past until he'd finally given sleeping up as a bad job and gone about his morning. I had taken a raft of tea brewed strong enough to stand a spoon in to render him functional, and still his mind would not focus.

He understood his nightmares and knew why they haunted him. Nearly two decades of crawling through the shit with Voldemort and his merry band of madmen had been enough to seed his subconscious for ten lifetimes. He thought it unfair that Hermione should be similarly afflicted when she was so young. No doubt Potter and the youngest Weasley boy were also affected. It was enough to cause the need for some serious brooding.

When Snape and Dumbledore's joint efforts had presented a method to not only cure a rotting hand but remove its lingering curse, they'd understood that the action of healing the Order's figurehead and strategic mastermind would simultaneously end Severus' career as a double agent. There was no way for Dumbledore to continue living and for Severus to continue spying in a form that was even remotely safe. Albus had hastily concocted a plan to undo Tom Riddle's fine plans for the year, managing to recruit Draco as spy in his godfather's stead. Albus, genius that he was, had managed to bring Narcissa into the fold as well, and convince her that Severus had satisfied the first clause of the Unbreakable Vow to a point where Narcissa and the Headmaster had manage to release him from its remaining clauses even without the presence of the original bonder.

This was patently untrue, of course. Draco had been in greater danger as a spy than he had been as the human embodiment of Lucius' punishment, but Narcissa had agreed. Shattering the vow had caused a brief bout of illness the like of which Severus had never before experienced. He'd felt as though every fibre of his being were being slow-roasted over an open flame, but after a few hours he had, at long last, been freed from the vow, from the pull of two masters, and from the constant threat of discovery. After a summer spent as his own personal guinea pig, he'd managed to remove the side-effects of the dark mark, if not the mark itself and finally concentrate his efforts more fully onto what Dumbledore had declared a "last stand" at the castle: namely the creation of a potion to remove a witch or wizard's magic.

Of course, he'd also spend a not inconsiderable amount of time patching up and supporting his godson as well. Draco was ordered to act the double agent, seeming to spy on the Headmaster and his godfather alike while actually informing them on the teenage Death Eaters in Hogwarts' midst, and as a result he suffered occasional bouts of cruciatus during his infrequent visits with the Dark Lord and, more commonly, the bruises and indignities associated with living amongst testosterone-driven fledgling junior Death Eaters.

It had been utter insanity. Watching Draco suffer what should have been his fate caused the nightmares to return ten-fold. Not that he slept much that year; his research had taken him into the wee hours most nights. Nevertheless, what little sleep Severus did get was tainted by blood-filled horrors and screaming apparitions that continued to haunt him to this day. He knew Draco, too, suffered night terrors that would frighten the most hardened of men. Severus had already decided to turn his research skills toward creating a serum that would allow the unconscious mind to dream - as this was necessary for the brain to process and learn from each day's events - but to allow the dreamer to step back from they're nocturnal experiences in order to process safely. He thought a calming draught that incorporated the charms that made the pensieve work might be worth exploring.

He shook his head to clear it. That was a task for another day. In the immediate, he needed to finish the Wolfsbane so that it could be flooed to Remus. Assuming Hermione arrived in time to commence the process before moonrise.

As if summoned, a knock at his laboratory door heralded his apprentice's arrival. He flicked his wand toward it to allow her entrance. "And what time do you call this?" he asked, thoroughly grouchy from the morning's brooding session.

Hermione barely refrained from rolling her eyes at his surliness. Gods help her, she was pretty sure she was getting used to it. "Late morning. You did say to sleep in. I'm sorry if I took advantage."

He sighed. "No matter. We've work to finish. I need you to blend four ounces of newt eyes with the powdered canary feather we prepared yesterday. I cannot take the potion out of stasis until that is ready as it needs to be added immediately."

She nodded and moved toward the ingredients cabinet to follow his directions.

They worked through lunch and dinner, pausing to summon sandwiches from the kitchens as they blended, poured, powdered, and sliced ingredients, adding them to the simmering cauldron one by one. Hermione wiped sweat from her brow in the steamy laboratory. "I'm beginning to see why Wolfsbane is so devilishly difficult to procure. I've never seen such an involved potion."

Her mentor smirked while pouring chameleon blood into the silvery-grey sludge at the bottom of the cauldron. "Get used to it. You'll be brewing this on your own by start of term. By winter break, I expect we'll turn our attentions to your individual research."

Hermione looked up, surprised. "So soon?"

"Your journeyman apprenticeship requires that you complete an individualized research project. You have only two years to accomplish that, so it's best you start quickly."

"And what will you be doing?"

"Supervising," he snarked. "I also have a mind to start a new project incorporating a sleeping draft, a calming potion, and pensieve charms. To alleviate night terrors for those affected by the war."

Hermione gave him a look of interest, hoping he'd expand on his statment. When he didn't, she made a mental note to ask later. Turning her attention back to the simmering cauldron, she asked, "Just the dried ironweed now, right?"

"Yes. Then we leave it simmering for three days as the new moon passes. You can deliver this batch to Remus yourself, if you like. It will be done by the weekend."

Her smile brightened. "That would be great. I haven't seen Teddy since coming back to Hogwarts. It'll be nice to get away for the day, maybe have lunch with Tonks if she's not too busy."

"That would be acceptable. You've not left the castle or grounds for some time, so you may take the weekend if you wish."

"I do wish," Hermione said, handing Severus the bitter leaves. "Thanks."

Severus merely nodded, incorporating the crushed leaves with fourteen deft anti-clockwise stirs. He placed a lid on the cauldron and turned the flame beneath it to its lowest level.

"Now we wait."

✿HG/SS✿

"Hermione, come in, come in!" Tonks opened the door wide to let her young friend through the front door of the Lupin family's small cottage.

"Mmmma!" came a shout from the kitchen, followed by a bang. "Brrrrapa!" This was quickly followed by a squelching splat.

Hermione shot a look toward the back of the house. "Should we - "

"No, Teddy!" said a chuckling voice from the kitchen. "Bananas go in the mouth, if you please."

Tonks smiled wearily and guided Hermione toward the sitting room. "Remus is on lunch duty today. Thank Merlin. Teddy started exhibiting his magic a few days ago and now every meal is a lesson in the aerodynamics of various bits of food." She paused and glanced over her shoulder. "Oranges make tumble well, we've discovered, but mashed bananas make a more satisfying sound when they hit the floor. They look even better smeared in Remus' hair!"

Hermione swallowed a giggle with an accidental snort, then caught the twinkle in Tonks' eye. It only took a few minute before both women were in stitches.

"I heard that, you disloyal woman!" Remus called from the kitchen. "Just for that you get to put him down for his n - a - p!"

Tonks guffawed. "Worth it!" she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "So love, tell me how things are at Hogwarts. Snape isn't working you too hard, is he?"

"Oh, Hogwarts is the same as it ever was. They gave me a lovely set of rooms and Severus hasn't been too bad. A bit grouchy, but he's oddly approachable now that the war's over."

"Severus, is it?" Tonks asked.

"Well, yes. He treats me as sort of a junior colleague. I mean, he's training me - it's hard work, but I'm learning so much. But I'm also technically his employee, you know? I'm brewing for his potions business."

Tonks huffed. "Well, that seems like a misuse of your apprenticeship if I ever heard it!"

"Oh, no! It's a separate contract and the Headmaster knows about it. It's all above board. And I'm paid for it. Pretty well, actually. He's been very generous when it comes right down to it. I'm earning enough to buy some of the pricier ingredients I was hoping for to make cosmetics for Christmas presents this year. I thought it might be a fun change from the usual stuff from Flourish and Blotts or Honeyduke's."

"Everyone needs a hobby, I suppose, but better you than me," Tonks muttered.

Hermione smirked. "You'll be thanking me when you get lovely things to pour in your bath come Christmas."

It was at this moment that Remus returned to the room. "Tag, you're in," he said to his wife with a broad grin. "Oh, and he got into an avocado. Have fun getting that out of his hair."

"I was saving that for my sandwich."

Remus shrugged. "Your B.L.A.T. will just be a B.L.T. today, love. Go on, before he levitates himself out of his highchair."

"Teddy, love! Tub time. I have a rubber ducky with your name on it - oh Gods, what is that in your hair?" Tonks said as she bustled into the kitchen.

Hermione giggled a bit. "Do I get to see Teddy before I leave?"

Remus plopped down into Tonks' chair with a long sigh. "Wait until he's had his bath. There something crusted all over him from breakfast. I'm not entirely sure what. How is one child this exhausting?"

"They say it takes a village...perhaps it's because you need ten sets of eyes on him at once."

He rolled his eyes heavenward at that. "Even with Dromeda helping out a couple days a week, it's insanity. I don't know what we're going to do when the next comes along."

Hermione grinned to see her former teacher, now her friend, harried over nappies and mushed bananas rather than dark lords and final battles. "Planning ahead already, Remus?"

"Sort of," he muttered. "We um…well, Dora's. You know."

Her eyes popped wide. "Really? Really! Oh my goodness, Remus, that's wonderful news!" Hermione leapt out of her chair to throw herself at the scruffy man. "I'm so happy for you. And so quickly!"

"Yes, well. Apparently the uh...lycanthropy mutation alters...stuff. I'll need to have a word with Severus, actually." He blushed as he scratched his head. "Dora's thrilled, of course. I mean, so'm I. We just hadn't expected it to happen quite so soon."

"Well I'm happy for you both. Honestly, Remus, you make such wonderful parents. And you know that I'll come help whenever I can, and that Molly and Ginny and the boys will too. And I'm sure Harry wants to spend more time with his godson," she said with a little quirk of the lips. "It'll work out."

"I know it will. Did I tell you they've offered me a position at the Ministry?"

"No! When?"

"Just last week. I was going to write, but then you said you'd be coming by to visit today. I thought I'd save the news 'til then." He shot her a proud look. "They want me to serve as a specialist in the DMLE. I'll be an Auror, officially, but with a specialization in magical creatures. Working to track rogue werewolves and vampires, mostly."

"Wow. That's pretty impressive. And clever of them to hire a werewolf to track werewolves. Will you and Tonks get to work together?"

"For a few months, yes. She's on desk duty for the next eight months, so she'll be my research partner. She's right grumpy about it too."

"So would you be if you were trapped behind a mountain of paperwork when you could be doing what you're trained to do in the field." Tonks chimed in, entering while carrying their freshly washed son. "Let's sit with your Auntie 'Mione, Teddy," she said, unceremoniously plunking her son in Hermione's lap. His hair, currently a violent purple, began to twist itself into corkscrews as he reached out to tug at one of Hermione's wild curls.

"Congratulations all the same," she said. "Remus said you're expecting again."

"We are. A bit sooner than anticipated, but we're happy regardless," Tonks said, tracing a hand over her trim stomach. "I suppose it'll be nice for Teddy to have a sibling close to his own age."

"Well, Bill and Charlie have about the same age difference as your two will between them. They're best friends, even with Charlie off in Bulgaria nine months of the year," Remus pointed out.

"I know love," Tonks replied. "I'm just annoyed to be stuck behind a desk for the next eight. 'Mione, you know anything about the werewolf mutation zapping contraceptive potions dead? Because I checked mine and it wasn't out of date." Hermione shot a glance toward a blushing Remus. "What? It's not like she won't be helping to brew whatever solution Snape comes up with."

Remus glanced toward Hermione. "I'm sorry if this is embarrassing for you, Hermione."

She waved a hand at him in dismissal. "She's right, you know. I help Severus with most of the brewing now and I'm here partly on business anyway." She reached into her bag and pulled out the freshly brewed Wolfsbane potion for Remus and placed it on the coffee table. "In fact, I helped him brew your Wolfsbane. Well, prepped the ingredients mostly, but I was there the entire time. He said I'll be brewing it for you by the time term starts."

"Goodness, he is bringing you along fast. Thank him for this for me, please," Remus said, taking the potion and placing it in the small breakfront in the dining room where curious hands wouldn't find it.

"He is. It's only been a few weeks, but I've already brewed through the entire healing list for the infirmary. I'll start rarer potions this week." Hermione turned back to Tonks. "I'll mention the problem with contraceptives for you. Perhaps we can come up with a solution by the time you're in need of it again," she said with an encouraging smile.

"Thanks," Tonks said.

"So any word yet on whether it's a boy or a girl?"

Remus shook his head. "No, we're seeing the healer next week. Dora's convinced it's another boy, but I'm hoping for a girl this time."

"I don't really mind one way or the other as long as they're healthy," Tonks corrected him. "Which reminds me, Snape brewed my prenatal potions last time 'round. Think he could do it again?"

Hermione bounced Teddy on her knee as he babbled at her in baby talk. "If he can't, I will. In fact, if you don't mind I'd like to ask him if I can do it." She looked up at Remus and Tonks hopefully.

"I can't think of anyone I trust more." Tonks said.

✿HG/SS✿

Hermione apparated to Hogsmeade with a light heart and a lighter pocketbook. She'd stopped by her parents' house to ensure all was in order (it was), and had decided to pop into one of her favorite odds and ends stores before returning to Hogwarts. She'd found a couple little things for Ron and Neville - including a white noise machine that she was fairly sure she could rig to run on magic for Neville, since Ron's snores were notoriously supersonic - but she was most proud of what she'd found for Severus. She just needed to figure out how to get it to him.

"Hermione!" a voice shouted from behind her as she appeared outside the Hogwarts gates.

"Neville! Where're you off to?" she asked.

"Meeting up with Ron at the Three Broomsticks. Want to join us?"

"Oh, I don't want to be an awkward third on your date."

He made a pshing noise at her in dismissal. "It isn't a date. We're having a drink. Come on, I know he's been wanting to see you." He sent her a pleading look that she could only think to describe as 'puppy dog eyes.' It made Neville's already affable demeanor completely adorabe; Ron was going to be in some serious trouble.

"Alright, if you're sure I'm not intruding. Just, I dunno. Send me a sign or something if you want me to leave the two of you alone."

"Fair enough. How about I use a code phrase?"

Hermione laughed. "Very secret agent. Alright double-oh-snake-slayer. What's the phrase?"

"Mmmm. Something along the lines of 'Hey, Hermione, do you mind if Ron and I go off on our own for awhile?' Think that'll work?" Neville snarked.

"You'd be a horrible spy. Stick to killing reptiles, Longbottom. I'm afraid you're wasted in MI6."

"In what?"

"Muggle thing. A bit link the Unspeakables but...you know what? Nevermind," she said with a little laugh.

Neville rolled his eyes as he opened the door of the Three Broomsticks for her. "Right then. First round's on me. Ron!" he said, waving at the redhead near the back of the smokey room.

"Hey Neville," he said, rising and giving his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. "And who is this lovely lady you've brought with you? Wait, she looks familiar…"

"Oh shut it and give me a hug, you great oaf," Hermione said, wrinkling her nose. "Neville assured me I wouldn't busting up your date if I joined you for a drink, so here I am."

"Nah. I'm glad you did," Ron said, running a hand down her hair, then giving her shoulder a squeeze and guiding her into the booth. "I missed that face. Yeah, that one. Where you look at me like I'm missing a few brain cells. Almost like home, that face."

Neville ignored the byplay as he looked through the seasonal ales list in front of him, well used to Ron and Hermione's banter. "That pumpkin lager sounds awful. Awful thing to do to a gourd. I'm for the Henpecked Stout. What about you two?"

"Same, thanks Nev," Ron said.

Hermione glanced at the list and quickly found a sweeter beer that she knew she liked. "Um. I'll do the Hippogriff Kriek, if you don't mind."

"Fancy. Right then, I'll just let Rosmerta know. Back in a tick."

Ron turned toward Hermione as Neville moved toward the bar. "So what've you been up to? I've been here days now and haven't seen hide nor hair of you."

Hermione shrugged, fiddling with her purse strap. "Down in the dungeons, mostly. Severus has me brewing nearly every day. This is my first weekend off in a month."

"The git's not working you too hard, is he?"

"No, nothing like that. I mean, we both work hard. We've been brewing Wolfsbane all week, and that was a lot of preparation and time. But he's treating me well and I'm learning a lot. It's good, Ron. Honestly."

He nodded. "What's he like when he's not teaching a class?"

"Well, he's still snarky, but it's more playful, I guess. He plays little pranks on me, kind of like Fred and George do. Not in the lab, but elsewhere. I fell asleep in his sitting room while we were waiting for one stage of brewing to finish and he woke me up by playing metal at me!"

Ron shot her an odd look. "Why would you play medals?"

She rolled her eyes. "Not medals. Metal. Heavy metal music. It's a muggle thing. Kind of like the Weird Sisters, but louder. And with more guitars. You'd like it."

"So Snape has decent taste in music," Ron said ponderously as Neville returned to the booth. "Weird."

"Yeah. He's nice. Well, he's nice to me, at least. I like working with him. And," she glanced up to include Neville in the conversation, "he healed my scar a few nights ago."

"The one from Bellatrix?" Neville asked anxiously.

"Yeah. It opened during a night terror a few nights ago. My house elf woke him and he got Dumbledore to let him into my rooms. They managed to wake me and he drew out the curse from her blade." She rolled back her sleeve to show them the half-healed scars. "It's looking loads better already, and he said it should fade some more. It was causing the night terrors." She shot a look at Ron, knowing that he was well aware of her screaming, bleeding episodes late at night.

"Damn," Ron breathed. "That's really great, 'Mione. I'm glad he could help you. Seems strange for him not to be a complete git."

"I told you, Ron. He's been good. He's been very patient with me in my private potions lessons," Neville chimed in. "We spend more time on theory now, so I understand a lot of the reasons behind what I'm doing. And he doesn't breathe down my neck. I haven't melted a single cauldron since we started as apprentices." He said it with no small amount of pride.

Hermione grinned. "He mentioned that the other day in the lab. He said you'd be a passable brewer if it killed him. He's really committed to making sure you and I understand each other's specialities, since they're so closely intertwined."

"Makes sense," Neville said, nodding.

"Anyway, enough about our stuff. What gossip do you have from the outside world?" Hermione asked.

"Not much, really. Oh, except Mum caught Harry and Ginny in a bit of a compromising situation , if you know what I mean," Ron said with a smirk.

"Oh no! You don't mean - "

"Nah, they weren't doing it. On the way there, though. I believe Mum got an eyeful of parts of Gin that she hasn't seen since before she went off to Hogwarts. She near screamed the house down. It's alright now, though. Harry sent her an enormous bouquet of flowers and a card basically letting her know that his 'intentions are honorable'. Mum quieted down after that."

Hermione and Neville glanced at one another in mutual horror. "I can't imagine. What'd your dad do?"

"Said they were both adults and that he trusted them to act responsibly, but asked that they respect his house and not engage in those activities under his roof til they're married. He was right reasonable about it if you ask me."

"Maybe Harry should've sent him flowers," Neville joked. "Speaking of which, Hermione, another bouquet came for you at lunch. There were a couple rare ones in it that Severus and Pomona squabbled over. I think they ended up splitting them."

Hermione sighed, pulling a tiny notebook and biro out of her robes and enlarging them. "DId you see what they were?" she asked.

"Albino Hawkweed and a Sea Poison Tree bloom. Don't know how he got the bloom to stay open, since their nocturnal," Neville said with no small amount of interest.

Hermione scribbled the flowers and the date down in her notebook. "Any other flowers of note?"

"No. The rest as nullified boxwood and hydrangea. Both white. Nothing special."

Hermione wrote those down as well and snapped the notebook shut as their beers were served. She smiled her thanks to Rosmerta before responding. "Probably doesn't mean anything, but I'll look it up when we get back."

"What's all this now?" asked Ron.

"Oh, just some wackadoodle fanboy sending me bouquets of flower. Harmless really, but we've been entertaining ourselves by trying to puzzle it out in the language of flowers. So far it's gibberish, though."

"Someone's managed to get flowers past the Hogwarts wards?" he asked.

Hermione nodded, taking a swallow of her beer, rolling the tart sweetness around her mouth. "Minerva's letting them through, though she's screening the rest of the mail. Like I said, they've been harmless. And every few days he includes a rare flower that someone can make use of. No note?" she asked Neville.

"Not this time."

"But that's weird, isn't it?" Ron continued. "I mean, most of those nutters quit after a few letters."

"This one hasn't. If it gets out of hand I'll let Remus know. You know he'd got a new job at the DMLE, right?"

"Yeah. I saw him and Teddy at Mum and Dad's before I moved out here. Merlin knows he's qualified."

"It's a good thing too." She lowered her voice. "It's not public knowledge yet, but Tonks is expecting."

"Already?" asked Ron. "You'd think she was a Weasley."

"Isn't the Weasley clan a relation of the Black family?" Hermione asked.

"All the pureblood families are related, Hermione. Technically Tonks is my third cousin, once removed. I think," Neville said, taking a healthy swallow of his own beer.

Ron nodded. "Yeah. Second cousin here." He lifted the beer to take a sip and paused. "Are they okay? With the baby, I mean."

Hermione nodded. "A little surprised that it happened so quickly, but happy by and large. I think Remus is worried about how they're going to handle two when Teddy is such a handful."

"He is that," Ron snorted.

They passed another hour - and another round - catching up on gossip with the rest of the Order before Hermione finally made her excuses to leave. She hugged Ron and sent Neville a cheeky wave before making her way, only a trifle unsteadily, down Hogsmeade High Street and toward the castle. It was oddly deserted for a summer night; the only sounds Hermione could hear were crickets singing and the tree branches of the Forbidden Forest rustling in the distance. She was approaching the bend that would lead her toward the gates when the street lamps around her blacked out as if doused in water. Hermione gasped and fumbled for her wand.

She felt something brush by her sleeve and tug at her hair as she extricated her wand from her sleeve and near-shouted Lumos Maxima as soon as she had it in her hand. There was no one near her. With a shudder she walked her way toward the gates, quickly slipping through them and into the relative safety of the school grounds.

It wasn't until she was brushing her hair as she readied herself for bed that night that she noticed the jagged end of a hastily cut curl near her face.