AN:/ Hello! I hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know what you think! Sorry if there's any major mistakes in this chapter, I'm looking over it with tired eyes, but I will be fixing everything when this story is complete! Thank you to everyone who reviewed.

Enjoy!

Chapter 25: Dad Jokes.

I can do this, Hermione told herself as they gathered up their things and headed towards the fireplace. Severus and I are going out shopping for Erik's birthday.

Harry jumped at the opportunity to babysit when Severus asked, so they were taking Erik to Grimmauld Place to play with James for an hour or so. Afterwards, they would be joining them for dinner, Ron will be there as well as Sam. Hermione wished to meet the man who had been a key element in solving the mystery surrounding herself. I will try to talk to Harry and Ron again, but Severus will be with me this time for support.

She had calmed down after last night and her mind was much clearer. Severus woke her from a nightmare again, and they both moved around each other in the kitchen to make breakfast.

Something had changed between them, she felt more relaxed, and he was no longer on edge. He gave me a genuine smile for the first time in a while; he even blushed when I kissed his cheek after breakfast.

Erik stretched out his arms and Severus picked him up. She smiled when he rested his head on Severus' shoulder, then they made their way into the flames. They soon arrived at Grimmauld Place and Erik's eyes widened when they stepped out.

"That was fun, Daddy," He laughed.

"Hi," Harry smiled at them.

"Hello," Hermione replied with a gentle smile. "Thank you for agreeing to watch him."

"Anytime. James is really looking forward to it," Erik wiggled out of Severus' arms and ran over to James who was sat on the rug in front of the fire.

"You left these at 'ogwarts," James handed Erik the stones he had collected. Erik beamed at him then the pair started to chat while playing with James' toys.

"Will you be back for dinner?" Harry asked.

"Yes, if everything goes to plan," Hermione said, and she took Severus' hand. "Bye Erik."

"Bye Mummy and Daddy," He didn't look back at them and continued to play with James.

They soon left Grimmauld Place behind them and arrived at Diagon Alley. Severus' grip tightened on her hand, and they walked closely together. She wasn't sure what they should get Erik for his birthday because he would be happy with anything.

I want him to have a surprise

"What do you have in mind for him?" Severus asked.

She glanced up at him. "Something he won't expect will be good, but I'm not sure what would catch him off guard...do you have any ideas?"

"I do actually," He smirked.

"What?"

"Well, we have a week or so until his birthday, and I think by then he'll want to start sleeping in his own room," He explained and her eyes widened slightly. "We could decorate the spare room for him."

"Oh…" She whispered, and he swallowed hard.

"Is that OK?" He asked cautiously.

"Y-Yes...I...it will be weird to not have him there," Tears started to fall from her eyes and Severus pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. She inhaled sharply then wrapped her arms around his waist.

"He'll be fine," Severus said by her ear. "Shall we find him some toys first?"

Hermione nodded her head, and they made their way around all the shops. Severus seemed more eager than her, and she smiled at the smitten look on his face; it reminded her that they were moving on from their past.

After an hour of browsing, they travelled to Hogsmeade so Hermione could have a look at her bookshop. She tensed as they approached her boarded-up shop. Hermione remembered a man from the Ministry kept visiting her cursed-self to get her to sign the papers to sell the place, but she could never do it. I love this place too much, and I'm glad that Severus never sold it.

Hermione looked at the shop opposite hers. "Do you mind if I go and say hello to Vincent?" She moved towards the deserted shop and Severus' eyes widened. "Vincent," She knocked on the door, when no reply came, she moved to the dusty window. "Oh…"

"Hermione," Severus walked over and placed his hand on her back. She turned to look at him with a frown.

"What is it?"

"The man who owned this place died," There was no way he could sugar coat it for her, and his heart ached at the broken look on her face.

"Died? H-How?"

"Hermione, I'm sorry...he tried to tell me something was wrong, but Lucius had him killed," He explained. "They took him into custody after he kept showing up at the gates of Hogwarts. Lucius' pet Auror murdered him, but it looked like suicide so no one questioned it."

She wiped away her stray tears then nodded her head. "OK, I guess...well…" She sighed. "Let's have a look inside the bookshop."

Hermione moved past him, and he unlocked the door for her. They stepped inside the dusty shop, and she glanced around sadly. He saw many emotions cross her face, and he hoped that they would be able to fix this place soon; she needed something to keep herself busy.

"It's just how I left it," She walked over to the front desk and curled her lip at the sight of the mouldy teacup.

Severus came to her side for moral support, and she smiled at him. Her eyes landed on a far bookshelf, and she disappeared behind it, then returned with the scarf she had been knitting for him.

"I was making this for you," She sniffled. "You kept complaining about the cold, so I thought it would be a nice present."

"You and I both know I wouldn't have worn it," Hermione burst out laughing then placed it on the front desk.

"I have something else to give you," She reached underneath the desk and retrieved a small box with a bow on. He eyed her carefully as she took the lid off and pulled out a corny Muggle mug. Severus remembered from one of their previous arguments that she had mentioned buying it for him as a way to reveal her pregnancy. "I suppose you can still have it."

"This mug is the only corny present you're allowed to buy me —the next thing you know, I'll be telling dad jokes and wearing jumpers you've knitted," They both laughed, then Hermione leaned over the counter and kissed him.

"I think you'd look rather good in one of my jumpers," She whispered, and he rolled his eyes.

...

"Mummy look what James did to my stone!" He pounced on them before they could get out of the fireplace properly. "It has our names on it, so I gotta' keep it!" Hermione took the stone from him and saw both of their names—-well it was useless lines that didn't say anything—but the joyous look on her son's face made her chuckle.

"Do you want me to look after it until we get home?" She asked, and he nodded his head. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes I did," He raced off to rejoin James.

Harry and Draco approached them, and they made their way into the kitchen. The table was set for dinner, and the food suddenly appeared. Hermione gnawed on her bottom lip; she didn't want to argue anymore, but her frustration always came out that way. Hopefully, Severus will be able to keep me calm.

"Dinner's ready," Harry called out to the boys, and they ran into the room. James and Erik sat next to each other, and Hermione took her seat next to Severus.

"Where's Ron and Sam?"

"Right here sweetcheeks," Sam sauntered into the kitchen and Hermione heard Severus grumble something under his breath. "It's a pleasure to meet you," He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it, Severus immediately batted his hand away with a glare.

"I believe I have you to thank for everything," She said, and he sat down next to her.

"Dear, don't bother with your thanks. I'll always be around to help out my dark horse," He winked at Severus which made Hermione laugh. "He's a keeper."

"What's a dark horse Daddy?" Erik asked.

"Don't listen to anything he says, son."

"OK," Erik covered his ears to block out the sound of Sam's voice. Hermione hit Severus' arm gently, then told Erik to lower his hands.

They settled into comfortable chatter and ate dinner. Sam wowed her with his dramatic stories, but when he mentioned the brothel he visited, she had to scold him because Erik and James started asking questions about it.

Ron and Harry tried to include her in every conversation, and she replied eagerly. Everything moved along smoothly, then it was time for Sam to leave. He tried to kiss Severus' cheek before he left, but the tip of a wand soon jabbed his side, and he left quickly. Draco offered to watch over the boys while they talked for a while.

"Did you get everything you needed?" Harry asked.

"Yes. We've got plans to decorate the spare bedroom for Erik, so he can sleep in his own room," Hermione took the cup of tea Severus offered her. "Also, we went to my bookshop to see what condition it was in."

"And is everything well?" Ron shifted uncomfortably.

Hermione knew this conversation would be difficult to get through, especially with Severus glaring at them every time they spoke. She sipped her tea and hoped for the best.

"It will have to be decorated again before I can think about re-opening," She said. "Thank you again for watching over Erik."

"He's a polite boy," Harry smiled. "You can tell that he's your son."

"I should hope so," She grinned back at him, then Ron scratched the side of his head. "I'd like it if you came around for dinner on Erik's birthday."

"Yes!" Harry exclaimed, then nudged Ron's side. "We'll be there."

"Good."

An awkward silence fell, and after a few minutes past Severus grumbled and got to his feet. "This has been the most tedious conversation I've witnessed in my lifetime. Will you either hug, so we can go home, or reschedule this for another time."

Hermione rolled her eyes at his impatience, but she was thankful for his forwardness. Harry and Ron walked around the table and embraced her. They hugged for a while, and they would've stayed that way longer had Severus not pulled her away and ushered her from the room.

"I'll see you again soon," Hermione said over Severus' shoulder. "I have to go put Severus to bed before he gets even more grumpy."

"Shut it, woman," He muttered with a smirk.

Hermione picked Erik up, and they made their way home. Erik chatted with them about everything he did, and they listened intently until he talked himself to sleep. They lay him in the middle of their bed and returned downstairs to relax in front of the fire.