DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. Hats off to J.K. Rowling.

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A/N: I owe everyone an apology for the first posting of Chapter 27. I used my mobile phone and I didn't know it would appear like that. And thank you gabyram, sholla & Autumn for the heads-up.

So this will be my last post before I go on my vacation. Will be back on Monday. I hope you'll enjoy this.

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CHAPTER 28: Draco's Best Friend

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December 2010

"Happy Birthday, Champ!" Draco clapped is hand on Savelius's shoulder and handed him a parcel. "Got something for you."

"Thank you, Godfather!" he said with a smile. "Hey, listen, I still got a lot of questions. Can we speak in the porch?" he whispered.

Draco glanced at the living room. Severus, who's now sporting a front-curtained hair style, is sitting on the couch, leaning over the chess board on the coffee table. Draco smirked at the changes on his former Head of House and Potions Master. His hair is no longer black but salt and pepper; he's wearing square-shaped reading glasses, brown jacket and corduroy trousers. On the other side of the coffee table was Hermione, sitting on the floor. She's wearing a jumper and pair of jeans.

"Checkmate," Hermione smirked at her husband.

Severus smiled and reached over the table to crash his lips on his wife's. "You're good at Muggle chess," he muttered.

"Because it's not barbaric," she smiled and stood up to join her husband on the couch. They snuggled together.

"Uncle Draco?"

Draco broke his gaze off the lovers and turned to his godson. They stood side by side, leaning on the railings of the porch. "I know you have lots of questions. I'm ready to give you the answers."

"What happened after I left?" he asked.

"The same events your mum and I told you... I turned to Dumbledore and became a spy for the Order. I became friends with Hermione secretly. Your father needed a Potions assistant, mostly for the Order. Dumbledore chose Hermione for the job because she's already gained Severus's trust. It's because of Eileen Snape, except that this time, they remember you traveling back. Dumbledore also chose Hermione because he knows she'll never abandon Harry. Harry needs someone who's skilled at potions and healing... Your parents fell in love, but of course they were not intimate. They just have this mutual understanding; completely aware of each other's feelings. The battle at the Ministry still happened, except that Black was alive."

"Because of Teddy's warning," he stated.

Draco nodded. "Indeed. Severus took care of Hermione after the battle and they sent their parents into hiding."

"Did he still... you know, completed your task?" Savelius asked silently.

"Yes. He did. He became headmaster and she went on the run with Potter and Weasley."

"In my original timeline, you were... in love... with her," he said slowly.

Draco nodded. "Yes, I am aware."

"How?" Savelius quirked up an eyebrow.

"Before I sent you there, I stored my memories and wrote on a journal. I view the memories from time to time and read the journal, too," he explained. "But if you're wondering if I'm still in love with my best friend, the answer is no."

"Because Dad is here," he remarked.

Draco nodded. "Yes... In your original timeline, I proposed to her thrice because of your father's absence. We've been friends since I was fifteen and I became their Secret-Keeper. When Severus... left, I insisted of taking care of her. It doesn't matter whether your school crush-slash-best-friend is pregnant with another man's child, if you really love her."

"Do you mean... when you were in school—"

"I already have feelings for her, yes. She's an infuriating know-it-all, but the more I told myself to hate her, the more I thought about her. She's one of the reasons why I turned to Dumbledore. I cannot bear to see her suffer in my own hands one day, when I become like my father. But I could tell she's in love with someone else in fifth year. I kept my feelings to myself, until a year after Severus was gone."

"You proposed to her thrice," he muttered.

"First, when you turned one. Second, when you turned five. And third, when you turned eleven, before you got your Hogwarts letter," he said. "Because I never loved anyone else. I only have my eyes for her... and for you. I wanted to be the father you never had, but for your mother, it's always been him." There was no bitterness in Draco's tone because in this timeline, he loves Hermione as a friend. He accepted long ago that he's just a friend to her- more like Potter and Weasley. Severus Snape was the love of her life, no one else.

"Dinner is ready," Hermione announced as she approach the two wizards on the porch. She turned to Draco. "I hope you're hungry."

Draco smirked. "Starving."

"What do the house-elves feed you at Hogwarts?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Come on, then. Neville and Hannah just arrived."

"Uncle Neville?" Savelius asked with enthusiasm. Then, he ran into the dining hall.

"It's as if they don't see each other every day at school," she frowned.

Draco shrugged. "Well, your son is fond both of his second godfather and Herbology."

"And you said he's adept at Potions, too," Hermione said, looking pleased.

"You shouldn't be surprised. His father is a Potions Master. He's been exposed to Severus's laboratory in the basement since eight."

Hermione chuckled. "Well, Potions and Herbology are good combination. But you know what? Never in my Hogwarts years had I imagined you, Draco Malfoy, getting along with Neville Longbottom. You prefer him more than Harry and Ron."

Draco scowled. "Please, Granger, spare me from your sentimentality. And there wouldn't be a timeline or universe where I will be best mates with Potter and Weasley. At least Neville is not a complete prat. And he's a loyal friend to you."

"That's why you like Neville," she muttered. "He's loyal."

"Yeah. Well, he never turned his back on you. He defended you against Potter when your two idiot best friends couldn't accept your relationship with Severus and friendship with me. Neville never judged you, or me, or Severus," he said casually.

"All right," she sighed. "But I must warn you, the Potters and the Weasleys are here."

"Because Harry and Ron are Savelius's honorary uncles," he stated plainly.

"Oh, stop it, Draco!" Hermione yanked him by the arm. "You know, for Savelius, you're still the best." And Draco smirked.

They met Severus at the living room. "I was about to get you," he said at the two of them. "Savelius is very much excited to get over with dinner so he can give his new Firebolt a try."

Hermione turned to Draco and glared at him. "You. Brought him. A new. Broom?" she asked, dangerously.

Draco's ears turned red while Severus leaned by the door frame and chuckled. "Well, that's what he wants," Draco reasoned.

"No. He doesn't like flying that much," Hermione answered back. "You're spoiling my son rotten!"

"Well, I'm his godfather. It's my job." Draco smirked. "Oh, stop nagging at me, Granger. Your son knows what he wants."

"Mum, please," Savelius peeked from the door frame of the dining room. "Don't be mad... Teddy encouraged me to be athletic. He said that I shouldn't hide behind the books all the time, so... I told Uncle Draco that I want to join the Slytherin Quidditch Team next year."

"Good decision, son," Severus said, ruffling Savelius's hair. "At least, your hair won't be greasy—you won't be brewing all the time." And the people in the dining hall chuckled.

"'Mione, come on," Ron interjected. "Let your son experience the best game in the world!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm tired of wizards talking about Quidditch!"

Severus wrapped an arm around her tiny waist. "I don't like Quidditch."

"And neither I," Neville said from behind, grinning.

"See?" Severus whispered to her ear, pacifying his wife. "Not all wizards in your life like that game."

Hermione giggled feeling her husband's breath on her ear. "Stop it, love. You know I'm ticklish," she whispered back.

"Oi! You two! It's time to eat! We're starving," Harry called from the dining table.

Severus pulled away gently, but did not remove his hand from Hermione's waist. He grinned at the people in the hall as he led his wife to a chair.

"I'm still not used to a grinning Professor Snape," Hannah Abbot told her fiance. Hannah and Neville started dating a year ago, when the Hufflepuff became the new Hogwarts Matron. It's Hannah's second time at the Snape residence and she's still walking on tiptoes when Severus is around.

"I am no longer a professor, Miss Abbot," Severus reminded her gently. "Would you prefer your Potions Professor who takes pleasure in taking house points?"

"Of course not, Mr. Snape," Hannah replied. "Er, I'm still adjusting."

"Believe me, it took me two years to adjust," Neville told her while filling his plate with pasta. "If I'm not Savelius's godfather, I doubt I'd come here often."

"But Uncle Sev," Teddy interrupted, "Harry said that Professor Longbottom is your favourite student," he said with pure innocence.

The adults in the room roared with laughter- Hermione, Draco, Hannah, Remus, Tonks, Harry, Ginny, Ron and his wife Lavender. Neville's pace turned pink and Severus smirked. Savelius and teddy looked at each other with curiosity.

"I wasn't," Neville said, looking at Teddy.

"Oh, you children don't have any idea how our Professor Snape loved to taunt Mr. Longbottom," Hermione stated with pure amusement.

"During my first year of teaching at Hogwarts, Severus warned me that Neville will only do well in my class if Hermione is hissing against his ear," Remus told his son.

"And Neville's Boggart!" Ron exclaimed and laughed. "Do you remember?"

"It's not anymore the form of my Boggart," Neville said proudly.

"What's you're Boggart Uncle Nev?" Savelius asked with curiosity.

Before Neville could answer, Savelius jumped out of his chair when he heard, "Professor Snape!" from his mother, Uncle Draco, Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron. And they roared with laughter again.

"So, Mr. Longbottom," Severus said in a professor-like manner.

"Uh-oh!" Ginny muttered. "The snarky professor is back."

"What is the new form of your Boggart?" Severus asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"I'd rather not tell you," Neville replied casually. "But I assure you, it's no longer you."

Severus smirked. "Good."

The dinner went on, with cheerful conversations, catching up about each one's work and of course, laughter. Savelius went flying with Draco, Harry and Teddy after dinner to try his new Firebolt. Turns out, Teddy also got one from Draco as an early Christmas gift.

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~~SSHG~~

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"I feel so tired," Hermione mumbled against the pillow. "I don't know how I will manage Savelius's birthday dinner every year without Andromeda and Molly."

"Then we'll eat out," her husband replied while getting dressed; he just finished taking a shower.

"Yeah. Probably," she replied sleepily.

Severus crawled on the bed beside her and noticed the white t-shirt she's wearing. "Witch, that's mine," he said sternly, pointing at the shirt.

"No. Mine," she replied. "You gave this to me."

Severus moved closer and pulled her against his chest. Hermione snuggled to him happily. "I gave it to you years ago."

"Before my sixth year," she added. "You said, I could wear this if I miss you."

"And, do you miss me at this moment?" he asked in a professor tone.

"No. But it's still mine, so I can wear it whenever I want. Besides, I don't have sleep shirts anymore. They're in the laundry... and you haven't washed out clothes yet."

Since they go married and moved in the cottage Hermione inherited from Professor Dumbledore, the couple assigned each other household chores. Hermione cooks, Severus does the laundry. They help each other cleaning the house. But most of the chores fall on Severus as he's only working at home as an author of several potions books. Hermione's at work in the Ministry most of the time.

"Apologies, Madam Snape," he said politely and she snorted. "I was busy working on my research the past four days. I want it done before we leave for Australia tomorrow." Every year, Hermione, Severus and Savelius spend their Christmas in Australia with William and Jean Granger and Eileen Snape. The couple's parents decided to stay there for good. Hermione and Severus considered settling down there, but Hermione wasn't ready to leave Britain, especially that she was offered a good job at the ministry. Severus enjoyed working at home and he won't mind moving to Australia. But he decided to stay where Hermione wants to.

"Apology accepted," she murmured against the crook of his neck. She brushed her lips to his neck and he started to run his hands to her body. "Love, I can't."

Severus paused. "Do you mean that Aunt Flow visited you?"

She giggled. "Yeah. Sorry."

He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. "I can wait."

"Of course, you can!" she said a bit loudly. "You've waited for me for two years."

"I'm a patient man, my dear. If I had waited for two bloody years before I can finally have you, then I could definitely wait until Aunt Flow ends her visit."

"And with that, thank you."

"You're welcome. Always. Time to sleep, then."

"Yes. Good night, love," she whispered against his chest.

"Good night, dear."
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~~SSHG~~

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Year 1996, Hermione's Sixth Year

Severus heard the cupboard door creaked open. He dropped his quill and waited for Hermione to find him. She's the only person who can come to his private quarters though the cupboard. Then, he heard footsteps and sobbing. Hermione went inside his office and indeed, she is crying.

Severus stood from the chair and walked towards her. She immediately threw herself to him and he held her tightly, stroking her back. Hermione melted into him; he could feel her weight against his thin frame. He placed his other hand behind her knees and carried her to his private living room. He locked the main door wandlessly and wordlessly. He sat on the couch with Hermione on his lap.

"Tell me, what happened?" he asked softly.

Hermione slowly stopped crying and played with the collar of his frock coat. She did not meet his eyes; she's staring at his neck. "I'm tired," she muttered.

"Of schoolwork?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

Hermione shook her head. "Naturally," he said. "I doubt you will get tired of it. So, is it Potter and Weasley?"

More tears fell from her eyes. So, the answer is yes, he thought. "What have they done this time?"

"Harry beat me in Potions and Ron's got a girlfriend," she said bitterly, toying with his collar.

Severus felt a pang of jealousy. He scowled. "You're upset because Weasley's got a girlfriend," he asked slowly.

"It's not what you think," she said.

"Enlighten me, then," he said calmly and leaned his back on the couch, pulling Hermione to his chest. "How on earth would Potter beat you in Potions? That dunderhead friend of yours never successfully brewed a single potion last year."

"He's using your book," she said quietly.

Severus stopped stroking Hermione's spine. "Which book?"

"The book of the Half-Blood Prince," she said bitterly.

"How did he-"

"Slughorn," Hermione cut him off. "I mean, he wasn't expecting that he'll take the subject this year, knowing that you won't accept students with Exceed Expectation in O.W.L.s. But Professor Slughorn does. He lent Harry and Ron the books from your old classroom cupboard. Harry got your book," she explained flatly.

"And you're upset because?"

"It's not fair!" Hermione exclaimed and pulled away from him. "He's cheating!" She attempted to stand up, but Severus caught her by the waist and pulled her closer.

"How do you know I didn't cheat in my sixth year?" he asked.

Hermione frowned and faced him. "I think you experimented. You gave me your old journals. You must've discovered a different procedure to brew those potions and wrote them on your text book."

Severus chuckled. "You really are my bright witch." He kissed her forehead to pacify her, but it didn't work. "So, do you want me to take my book back from Potter?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. I want him to surrender it voluntarily..."

"Don't worry. You're still brilliant than him. The book will not be helpful to him all the time," he assured her. "However, I worry about Potter; he might use my spells."

Hermione snorted. "I take it, you invented a few, written the blank page of the book?"

"Yes. Why?"

"He's already tested one on Ron."

"Which spell?"

"Levicorpus," she replied.

Severus scowled. "Like father, like son," he spat.

Hermione pulled away to face him. "James Potter used that spell?"

"Yes. He used it to me. That's the scene Potter saw in the Pensieve last year."

Hermione rested her body against his chest again. "He can really be an arrogant prat sometimes," she muttered.

"And what's this thing with Weasley?"

"He's another prat," she spat. "He caught Ginny and Dean Thomas snogging and they had a heated argument. Ginny told his brother to his face that he's just upset 'cause he's never been kissed. Harry kissed Cho and I-"

"You what?" he asked in a dangerous tone.

"I snogged with Viktor," she replied hesitantly.

"Krum? The boy from Durmstrang?"

"Exactly. Anyway, that was just one time, during the Yule Ball."

"So why are you upset with Weasley?"

"Because," she said and sniffed. "He doesn't have the nerve to ask me or tell me about his feelings. One day, he was angry and wouldn't speak to me, and then next, he's eating Lavender's face... Does he think I'd be jealous? Does he think that I'll go after him, just because he's now snogging someone?"

"What an idiot," he commented.

"Precisely."

"But, what if he asked you on a date... or told you about his feelings?" he asked slowly.

"I'll tell him that I love him as a friend... and that, I already gave my heart to someone," she answered promptly.

He smirked and kissed the top of her head. "Good answer. Now, would you like me to read to you, or would you like to join the party at your House?"

"Celebrate that Slytherin lost the match?" she teased. "No, I'd mope here with you."

Severus tickled her by her armpit and she squeaked. "Is that what you do when someone teases you about your House losing the match?"

"Oh no," he said with pure amusement. "I scowl and throw words at them, proving that I really am the snarky professor and greasy git."

"I'm a Gryffindor. How come I don't get the same treatment?"

Severus held her by the shoulders and pulled her away from his body so that their eyes could meet. "Because you, my dear, are special," he whispered and kissed her forehead. In return, she gave him a tight embrace.

"Thank you, Sev," she emotionally whispered against his ear. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."

"I should be the one to say that."

"Shut up. I don't want to hear more of that," she warned. "Read to me... again."

"As you wish, my dear."