A/N: Big thanks to all reviewers and to AvidReaderAlso who helped me finally decide on Baby Boy Snape's name!

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Inside the courtroom was similarly crammed with all manner of witches and wizards as the hall outside, though this gathering fell silent when the double doors at the back of the room swung open and Severus was brought through to the witness stand. Harry led Hermione, holding her loosely by the wrist, to some empty seats towards the back of the gallery. Hermione didn't recognise anyone sat around her, and thought how cruel it was of people, strangers, to make this into such a spectacle; something to entertain them in their otherwise mundane lives; something they could go home and gossip about with their friends and family.

But it isn't some salacious fiction, Hermione thought bitterly, it's our lives. And as she sat, squashed between Harry and plump wizard who sweated in the heat, she silently cursed every single one of them before focusing her attention on what the Chief Warlock, who had risen to speak, was saying.

'The purpose of this hearing is to determine how the defendant, Mr. Snape, wishes to plea to the charge of the murder of Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore on the thirtieth of June, 1997, and any appropriate action which needs to be taken as a result of said plea. Will the defendant please rise.'

Severus got his feet, struggling just a little. In the exhilaration of the meeting outside, Hermione had not quite realised the toll Azkaban had clearly had on him. He was thin as a rail, his eyes sunken, the light behind them dwindling; his hair had grown long and shabby, and his skin was layered in grime. Usually so well put together and a stickler for cleanliness, it was most unsettling to see what he had been reduced to.

'Please state your full name and date of birth,' the Chief Warlock requested.

'Severus Tobias Snape. Ninth of January, 1960.'

'Mr. Snape, as aforementioned, you have been charged with the murder of Albus Dumbledore in June of 1997. How do you plea? Guilty or not guilty.'

Severus hung his head slightly so his hair curtained his face. Hermione watched him intently as he deliberated with himself. At length he said, 'not guilty,' in a small but determined voice. A ripple of indistinct murmurs travelled through the gallery, sounding in equal measure disappointed and relieved. Hermione was amongst the latter as she released the breath she had not realised she was holding. Harry squeezed her hand and issued her a small smile which she returned weakly, the gravity of the task in hand; of arguing that Severus was not guilty of murder when he had undoubtedly killed Dumbledore, suddenly dawning on her.

'Silence in the courtroom!' the Chief Warlock ordered, rapping his gavel down thrice onto the sound block in front of him. 'Silence!' and with that the whispers and titters in the gallery began to subside. The Chief Warlock gave them a disdainful look before continuing. 'Very well, Mr. Snape, your plea of "not guilty" has been noted and as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot I declare today that a trial will be held at the earliest opportunity to provide the chance for you to prove the truth of it. A date for said trial will be set in due course. As per precedence I order that you remain-'

The Chief Warlock was interrupted by a loud cough in the gallery. Hermione, along with every other head in the room, turned to Harry who was sat with his hand covering his mouth but not a hint of an apology in his eyes. Instead he was glaring pointedly at the Chief Warlock, clearly trying to make him remember the conversation they had recently had. For a long moment the Chief Warlock merely stared back and then looked away, apparently relenting, albeit reluctantly.

'Until the trial,' he began again, addressing the entire courtroom once more, 'I order that Mr. Snape be put under house arrest… though his wand will remain in our custody! Court dismissed,' he concluded briskly, casting Harry one final look of disapproval before turning and sweeping out of the room, his plum-coloured robes billowing behind him, to more sounds of jumbled dismay and agreement from the crowd.

'I have a feeling I may just have used the very last dregs of my "influence,"' Harry said, grinning widely as he made to stand. 'Well, come on then!' he said, tugging at Hermione's arm to stir her into action. Currently she was sat staring at where the Chief Warlock had been stood, not quite sure she believed what she had been hearing. 'Hermione, come on!' Harry urged once more, 'let's go get him!'

~oOo~

They left the courtroom ahead of the crowds, practically running through back-corridors and stairways that only the staff would have known about. Harry leading the way, Hermione followed in an elated daze, finding herself slightly out of breath with exhilaration when they halted in front of a door marked "defendant's waiting room." Harry knocked sharply on it and it was pulled open a moment later by the Chief Warlock himself.

'Potter,' he bemoaned, looking reluctant to allow them to enter. Harry took a step forwards; it could have almost been threatening if he hadn't worn such an amiable expression, forced as it was. Begrudgingly the Chief Warlock open the door and allowed them in.

'As he is no longer your prisoner,' Harry said to the Azkaban guards, espying Severus as soon as they entered, his arms still behind his back, 'you have no right to keep his hands bound.'

The guards looked between Harry and the Chief Warlock, who nodded curtly in acquiesce. The first guard, indistinct as they were, withdrew his wand and cancelled the charm that held Severus' hands behind his back.

'We're just finalising the paperwork. Mr. Snape has agreed to the conditions of his release, he just needs to sign the contract,' the Chief Warlock explained, holding out a quill to Severus who paused in rubbing his sore wrists to take it. 'On the line here,' the Chief Warlock instructed, jabbing at the parchment impatiently with a stubby forefinger. Once Severus had signed it, the contract was magically duplicated and one handed over to him. 'You have one hour to get back to your house, after that, you don't leave it,' the Chief Warlock reiterated forcefully one last time. 'I bid you all a good day,' he then added, heading for the door. Once he reached it, hand outstretched to the doorknob he turned back to Harry. 'When you have a moment, Potter, a word in my office if you will,' and with that he was gone, the guards shuffling reluctantly after him.

'Oh dear, I think I might be in bother,' Harry said, running a hand through his hair. 'I…' He paused as Hermione took a few steps towards Severus and then faltered; her vision blurring with unspilled tears and an uncertain expression on her face. Severus took a few steps towards her also, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder before apparently thinking better of it and dropping his arm back to his side. 'I… I'll leave you to it,' Harry said, his brow furrowed at the scene before him. Both Hermione and Severus turned to look at him and Hermione considered how strange it must be for him to see his old friend and ex-Potions Master like this. 'I'll call by the house in a few days,' he suggested, 'see how you're getting on.'

'Thanks Harry,' Hermione managed to say without her voice cracking.

'My pleasure,' he assured her, and then turned to the door when Severus spoke, stopping him in his tracks.

'Potter,' he said, and though his tone wasn't particularly kindly it was not his customary tone for addressing Harry; neither reminiscent of the menace he had used as a teacher, nor the sultry loathing he had maintained in the years since. 'I… would like to thank you as well. For everything,' he continued, each word seemingly a struggle for him. He gave Harry a long, serious look until the younger wizard slowly nodded his acceptance.

'You'll be OK?' Harry asked Hermione.

She glanced up at Severus, whose expression was stoney, and then back at Harry. 'I'll be fine. See you soon.' Harry nodded again and turned to leave the room.

Hermione and Severus watched the door close behind him and then turned to one another again. Severus took another tentative step towards her and reached out a hand to stroke her curls with the backs of his fingers. He closed his eyes as he did this, as though remembering something from long ago that had stirred overwhelming emotions. Hermione reached up and took his hand in hers, gently holding it to her lips and kissing it softly.

'Take me home,' he whispered, holding her gaze for a long moment. She nodded silently and, still clutching his hand, led him out of the Ministry. The crowd outside The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was, if possible, thicker than it had been on their way in and though initially those gathered appeared to have forgotten their purpose for being there, the moment Severus and Hermione stepped out of the court and into the hall they were reminded; clambering and jostling one another to get their exclusives. It took fifteen minutes of repeated insistence that they had "no comment" before the pair made their way to the Atrium, out into Muggle London, and to a safe Apparition point where they disappeared with a crack.

'We have twenty minutes before you have to be in the house,' Hermione said once they'd landed by the canal in Cokeworth. For all it's industrialisation, Cokeworth had certain charm in the golden light of the setting summer sun. 'I thought you might enjoy the walk back.'

Severus nodded that he would and silently they made their way to Spinner's End.

~oOo~

He followed her through the door of the house a little hesitantly, though he had never been so glad to see this place in all his life. It was warm and familiar and Hermione's decorating had made it almost homely, not that there was much opportunity to enjoy it at the moment, for no sooner had they hung their travelling cloaks on the rack than Mr. and Mrs. Granger had joined them in the narrow hallway, each issuing Severus a dubious appraisal, their eyes flitting from the top of his greasy head to the bottom of his scuffed shoes.

Hermione glanced between Severus and her parents. 'Mum, dad,' she said, a little nervously, 'this is Severus.'

They continued to stare at him, apparently mesmerised, for just a fraction of a moment longer and then Mr. Granger seemed to come to his senses and stepped forward with his hand outstretched. Severus shook it tentatively.

'Severus,' Mr. Granger said, 'it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Hermione's told us a lot about you!'

Severus looked at Hermione completely aghast, dreading to think how her description of him would have seemed to her parents. My old Potions professor… twenty years older than me… fugitive… got me up the duff… he's in prison at the moment… Their young, intelligent daughter lumbered with an absolutely waster like him. He also imagined what he might say if his own daughter brought home a man of similar standing in a few years. He didn't think he would be shaking his hand, that's for sure. But Hermione was smiling innocently at him, apparently amused by his discomfort.

'I wish we were meeting under better circumstances,' Mrs. Granger then said, also shaking Severus' hand.

'Me too,' he agreed, though he was struggling to muster much enthusiasm. If he was honest he wanted them to leave. He wanted to be alone with Hermione for a little while.

'It must have been dreadful for you, locked up in that place when you've done nothing wrong,' Mrs. Granger was saying, but her husband was quick to shush her.

'Let's leave them be now, Georgia. I'm sure the man doesn't need an inquisition at this hour,' he said.

'Oh, yes, sorry!' she apologised, as though she had quite forgotten herself and as though this was a common occurrence. 'The babies are asleep. They've been good as gold!' she continued, turning her attentions back to Hermione and handing her a baby monitor. Severus glanced nervously up to the top of the stairs. There was the other reason he wanted the Grangers to leave. The babies, his babies, were asleep up there, incomprehensible as that sounded.

'Thanks for watching them,' Hermione said, kissing each of her parents on the cheeks and giving them a small hug as they put on their coats ready to leave.

'Any time, Mione!' her dad replied, 'I mean it! If you need anything, you call us, alright?'

'Yes dad,' Hermione responded with a small sigh.

'You too Severus,' Georgia added. It was a kind gesture, the sort of thing he'd seen happen to other people, and he was not sure of the correct response so he settled for smiling weakly, hoping they would mistake his rudeness for lethargy. Then suddenly she lay her hand on his forearm, 'I think you should know, Severus, that Hermione has told us nothing but wonderful things about you. None of this trial business is ideal, I can't pretend this is what I would have chosen for my daughter and I think we have a lot to talk about, but I want to thank you for making her happy these past few years,' she said, meeting his gaze with an earnest expression, 'and of course, thank you for our grandchildren,' she added, beaming at him. Hermione had the same smile.

'You… you're welcome,' he said, wishing he had the wherewithal to act a little more graciously, but he was exhausted and overwhelmed and was sure he had just heard one of the babies stir on the monitor, which had unsettled something in his abdomen again.

'Bye you two!' Hermione said suddenly. She sounded cheerful still but there was a persistent edge to her tone.

'Yes, come on,' Mr. Granger said, directing his wife out of the front door. 'We'll see you later.'

~oOo~

Bolting the door locked behind her parents, Hermione finally turned to Severus. She looked him up and down and then lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He stumbled slightly as he caught her, but held her firm.

'Why are you crying?' he asked, frowning down at her as she relinquished her hold of him.

'They're happy tears,' she assured him as he wiped them away with a coarse thumb. Then she sighed and took his hand. 'Welcome home, Severus! I can't believe you're really here,' she added, pulling him down into a sound kiss. Her lips felt momentarily uncanny, but they were soon in rhythm with one another again, and the familiarity of her feel and taste settled his nerves. But then she broke away all too soon and looked up at him with her big, hopeful eyes. 'Are you ready to meet your children?' she asked, taking his hand and giving it a firm squeeze.

'Urm…' he glanced at the top of the stairs skeptically.

'I'm sure they'd like to meet you,' she offered, tugging his hand gently in the direction of the stairs. He relented with just a little hesitancy and traipsed up after her.

The children's bedroom was illuminated by the warm glow of a nightlight. With it's occupants now settled in it had a cosier, more homely feel than when Severus had first decorated it.

'This is Erin,' Hermione whispered, leaning over crib and stroking their daughter's soft curls. 'Erin Georgia Snape.'

Severus placed his hands on the side of the crib and stared down at the tiny figure sleeping within. She was Hermione all over, from her little button nose to her rosy cheeks, and Severus felt his heart swell.

'Are you OK?' Hermione asked, looking up at him with a concerned frown.

Severus realised he had forgotten to breath for a little while and inhaled deeply. 'Yes, I… Erin… she's…' he trailed off, he didn't think he had the vocabulary to do the child justice.

'Yes?'

He looked at Hermione who was smiling now, apparently amused, once again, by his flustered state. 'Perfect,' he answered finally, in little more than a whisper.

'Yes, she is,' Hermione agreed, 'and your son is equally so,' she continued, moving over to the other cot. Severus took a few steps in the same direction, suffering a slight ache in his heart as he tore his gaze away from Erin. 'Isaac Severus Snape,' Hermione announced, gesturing towards the black haired boy, 'and he looks just like you,' she added, placing her hand over Severus'. Isaac was slightly smaller than his sister, undoubtedly had his father's complexion, and a mass of fine black hair topped his little head. It was perhaps too early to say whether he had inherited the Prince nose, though Severus certainly hoped not.

'Isaac Severus Snape,' Severus said, turning to Hermione slightly aghast, 'poor little bugger!'

'I thought it was nice!' she replied defensively but still with a small smile.

Severus smiled back and looked between the two sleeping babies. 'I'm so sorry I've not been here,' he said in a whisper.

'You haven't been able to be here,' she corrected him, taking a step closer and running her hands up his arms to rest on his slumped shoulders. 'Everyone's been really great though, they're all rallied round. My parents, Minerva, Neville, Harry, the Weasleys even-'

'Weasleys? Even Ronald?' Severus interrupted, his gaze snapping up from the floor.

'Not so much, but we've… talked. Maybe there's a chance we can be friends,' she said, looking off into the middle-distance solemnly.

Severus sighed, too tired to care about Ron Weasley for the moment. 'Let's go to bed,' he suggested.

'Oh… after having the babies I'm not really ready for… that yet,' she said, chewing her bottom lip.

Severus smiled tiredly. 'I need to sleep,' he said softly, 'and I'd prefer if you were with me while I did it.'

Her blushed cheeks were just evident in the dim light and with a small smile she took his hand and led him to their room where they changed and fell into bed.

'I'm grateful that you're home,' Hermione whispered as they lay in the darkness. 'What are you grateful for?'

He wondered tonight whether he ought to say the answer that he always truly wanted to say. Her, that he was grateful for her. But something prevented him. Perhaps the tenuousness of it all. The thought that it might not last; might be taken from him in the very next moment. As though voicing it might curse it. So he settled on something safer. 'Same,' he said tiredly, and with that they fell asleep together, Hermione clinging to Severus practically for dear life.

~oOo~

He was alone when he woke the next morning, a thin strip of early summer sun spilling across the bed through the gap in the curtains. It took him a moment to remember where he was, and why he hadn't awoken to the sight of grey stone walls. He stretched his long limbs, savouring the luxury of the cotton sheets and smiling as the smell of a cooked breakfast wafted through the house to greet him. Ignoring the protestations of his aching body, he swung his legs out of the bed and, pulling on an old sweater, which hung a little looser on his thin frame, made his way downstairs. As he passed the living room door a Moses basket caught his attention and he ambled cautiously over to it to see the twins sleeping peacefully, side-by-side within.

'Morning,' Hermione whispered, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist.

'When do I get to see them awake?' he asked, nodding his head in the direction of the babies as he placed his hands over where Hermione's met on his stomach.

'You just missed them this morning, I'm afraid. But they never sleep for too long, let me tell you! You might just have time for some breakfast. It's ready.'

Severus nodded and reluctantly tore his gaze away from the twins before following Hermione into the kitchen. She'd prepared quite a feast, a magnificent full English, the likes of which Severus could only dream of whilst forcing down his gruel in Azkaban.

'Are you trying to fatten me up?' he said, his mouth already full of bacon.

'Quite frankly, yes,' she replied with a small chuckle, 'you're all skin and bones after being in that place!'

'Well, I'm not complaining,' he replied, 'this is delicious!'

'Good,' she said, and then proceeded to eat her own breakfast whilst never tearing her eyes away from Severus.

'Can you stop staring?' he asked, after a moment, his eyebrow raised, lips twitching into a smirk.

'I just can't believe you're here!' she said, shaking her head incredulously for emphasis.

'Mmm,' he murmured, choosing to smile rather than say what was actually on his mind; that his being here might be short lived, and instead they fell into a companionable silence until they were disturbed by a rapping on the window. A large Eagle Owl was tapping its talon impatiently against the glass, evidently important correspondence tied to its leg, which Severus got up presently and retrieved.

'For you,' he said, handing the letter to Hermione with one hand and shooing the bird away with the other. He watched her read the letter through a good three times, her expression growing ever more consternated as she did so, and when he couldn't bear it any longer he spoke again. 'What is it?' he asked, frowning across their now abandoned breakfast at her.

'They… they want me to give evidence at the trial,' she said, chewing her bottom lip as she looked up at him finally.

'Oh, well surely that's a good thing?' he replied, 'you can tell them how wonderful I am.'

'For the prosecution,' she clarified. Severus stopped what he was doing, his spoonful of baked beans hovering half way between his plate and his mouth. 'They're going to ask me what you were like… before, aren't they?'

He nodded slowly, 'I imagine so, yes,' he said, 'and you just need to tell them the truth.'

'But…'

'You tell them the truth, Hermione,' he emphasised imploringly. 'You tell them precisely what a complete bastard I was.'

She opened her mouth to protest again but Severus silenced her with a stern look. 'Just when I was thinking things were starting to look up,' she said miserably, pushing her unfinished plate of food away from her.

Me too, Severus wanted to say, but stopped himself. He remained acutely aware that he was on borrowed time and had determined not to waste it being maudlin. He was saved by a stirring in the next room, the soft whimper of one of the twins. 'Finally,' he said, not allowing his nerves to better his enthusiasm. 'I want to hold them,' he told her and the sight of her smile as he said it was almost enough to make him believe that everything was going to be alright.