Snape's Return-Ch21

(Epilogue)

3 years later…

Severus quickly jogged up the steps out of the dungeons on his way to the Great Hall, angry at himself for allowing his experiment to run longer than expected. He was now late for the end of year feast and Severus Snape was never late. He stopped at the main doors into the Great Hall to compose himself before shoving them open and striding down the aisle in a flurry of black robes. He scowled a bit at some of the students that were staring at him before he looked up at the professor's table and saw Hermione with Grace. He smiled and the students that had been starting at him grimaced, shivered and turned back around, they never could get used to seeing him smile, it was creepy. Severus quickly moved to his seat next to Hermione and kissed her cheek before swooping up his little girl, at three years old, Grace was the spitting image of her father, long, curly black hair, midnight eyes and an intelligence to rival a first year. The little girl giggled at her father and nestled her head into his shoulder, while Severus thanked every god there was for the miracle his life had been given. In the three years that had passed, they had moved into their home in Hogsmeade the week after the baby came and they had married the week before classes began in the Fall. It had been a very busy year for them but it soon settled into a happy household with their floo connected to Hogwarts so Severus could travel to work each day and Hermione could pop in with Grace to visit when she wanted. All in all it had been a happy joining and Severus couldn't be happier.

"Severus, what are you thinking about with that smile on your face? You are scaring the students again!" Hermione said, laughing a bit.

Severus looked at her and said, "Always thinking of you, my love, and our wonderful little family."

Hermione wasn't sure she would ever get used to him being so gentle and sweet with her or with Grace, it was disconcerting sometimes but she knew that with love and support, people could change. A prime example of that was sitting on her other side, Draco conversing lightly with Harry over the latest prank he had pulled on his father. Hermione wasn't sure what her life would have been like without those two men, and Ron of course, when he was around; she had had such a busy life and it was about to get busier. She had yet to tell Severus her little secret but she would before the night was up, of course Draco had already found out because his fiancé had spilled the beans about Hermione's visit to St. Mungo's earlier that week. There were some advantages being friends with a Healer that could squeeze you into an appointment but it backfired when that friend was currently engaged to your best friend. Healer Faith Jones, sister of Gwenog Jones, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team, had been introduced to Draco when Grace had bumped her head while staying the weekend at the Malfoys and he had apparated them straight to emergency at St. Mungo's. It was quite amusing to see how protective the boys were of little Grace and she wondered if they would be as protective of her next child, Hermione thought, 'what am I thinking? Of course they will be. How silly of me.'

Draco turned to Hermione and smirked before saying, "So, bookworm, any new experiments you working on?"

Hermione glared at him before answering, "Actually, ferret, there is just one very important experiment I am working on but if you keep talking about it I will hex your bits off so you can't do any experiments of your own!"

Draco glowered for a moment before leaning over and kissing her cheek, then he turned back to Harry with a laugh and comment about how scary she was when she was angry. Hermione decided that perhaps it was the right time to mention her little 'experiment' to Severus before Draco decided to let loose her secret in some random bout of word vomit he seemed privy to these days. Hermione watched Severus play with Grace and talk with Minerva before she tapped him on the shoulder and waited for him to turn to her.

Severus stopped talking and turned to look at Hermione before asking, "Is something wrong?"

Hermione smiled wanly before saying, "Well, not exactly, I just wanted to ask you if you were happy the school year was over?"

Severus looked confused for a moment before replying, "Yes, I am happy to be able to spend more time at home with you and Grace, why?"

Hermione laughed a little unsteadily before saying, "What if it wasn't just you and me and Grace at home anymore, and would you be upset?"

Severus decidedly looked more confused than ever before asking, "Is someone coming for a visit this summer? What exactly are you trying to tell me, luv?"

Hermione summoned up that Gryffindor courage once again and Severus leaned back, deciding he didn't want to rile her if there was something bothering her. He sat in awe of her strength and beauty and waited to hear what she had to say to him, willing his heartbeat to stay steady.

Hermione took a deep breath before answering, "Not exactly, Severus. There will be someone coming to live with us…in about eight months."

She waited to hear and see his reaction but instead got an armful of her husband and daughter, as he crushed her in his long arms and buried his face in her neck. She smiled at Minerva over his shoulder and when Minerva pointed to Grace and then held up two fingers, Hermione nodded and Minerva grinned excitedly. Severus could not have picked a better godmother/grandmother for Grace and the woman doted on her whenever she got the chance. The professors at Hogwarts had embraced the little family and it seemed the world was a big, happy place for most everyone these days. Hermione's and Severus' family had grown to include so many people and it seemed to only be getting bigger, the world couldn't be brighter for the Snapes and Hermione was at last happily married with a family of her own.

Draco turned and smiled at the happy family, wondering if someone had shown him the future all those years ago if he would have believed them…nah, he probably would have hexed them. He smiled at Harry and then looked down the table to where his parents were sitting, chatting with Arthur and Molly Weasley, what ways the world had changed… and he, for one, was exceedingly thankful for it.