Author's Note: Yes, I'm terrible. Slow at posting chapters. I'm sorry. Merry Christmas!

Chapter 35: Godfather, Godsons, and a Damned Good Question

Hermione was just pouring hot water into the teapot for Severus and herself when there was another crack of Apparition. She thought it was Draco until she heard Harry's exclaimation.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Honestly!" Hermione shouted, hoping to stop Harry from either going defensive or effusive, or from pursuing that particular train of thought. "Doesn't anyone knock anymore?"

"Apparently not," came the dry reply.

"Harry, do you want tea?"

"Er—Yes?"

"Then you need to come give me a hand," Hermione called firmly, feeling a bit panicked. Harry showing up now was terrible, horrible timing. Severus had been right. How was she to explain what he was doing here? What, was she going to say 'Oh, hi, Harry, he's been staying here and I didn't tell you'?

Harry wandered into the kitchen. He looked concerned and tired, she noted.

"Hey," he said in a low voice. "Sorry I didn't tell you he was back sooner, I meant to—I mean, it must have been a bit of a shock..."

"You're telling me," Hermione said, remembering how he'd startled her by Apparating into her living room.

Harry gave her a tight grin as she shoved two mugs at him and picked up the teapot. "You know, you could just Levitate those, right?"

"And leave you two to get into an argument? No, thank you, I like my house standing," she said firmly.

Hermione led the way back to the sitting room, where Severus was sitting and looking very much like the professor she remembered and very less like the man she had been cohabiting with. It was actually more than a little disconcerting: all he needed was to sneer and take points off Gryffindor.

She and Harry took seats of their own, and she poured the tea into each of their mugs, then her own after a quick charm on it. She never was able to drink tea without a little backwash of biscuit crumbs.

Harry and Severus availed themselves of milk and sugar, then they all sat there.

And sat there.

And sat a little more.

Harry slurped his tea.

Hermione took a sip.

Severus merely held his mug in two hands, looking slightly worn.

And they sat there.

"Well," Hermione said brightly. "This is awkward. How's Ginny, Harry? And the rest of the Weasleys? Any word from Ron about Lavender?"

Severus snorted and she glared at him as Harry fidgeted uneasily.

"She woke up, apparently. Lavender, I mean. The Weasleys are hanging on. Grieving. Ginny's...better. More responsive, but I think she's going through the motions more than anything else."

"That's an improvement, though, right? From what you said before, I'm worried about her. Depression can be really difficult."

"Yeah."

Severus rolled his eyes. "I would rather not listen to your inane attempts at conversation: if you absolutely must continue, I'm going to leave."

Hermione shot him a look and Harry clutched his mug. "No! Don't! I mean..." He flushed, making his scar stand out white. "I wanted to speak to you."

His eyes darted at Hermione, and Severus sighed, frustrated. "You may speak plainly in front of your friend. You're going to tell her as soon as you can anyway."

"Right. Sorry. Er," Harry hesitated, clearly not knowing where to start.

"Gather your thoughts, then speak," Severus said, snapping only slightly. Hermione gave him an exasperated look that Harry missed, clearly annoyed with his behaviour. He supposed he couldn't blame her, given the time they had spent together, but it wouldn't do for Harry Potter to realise more was amiss than it was.

"I saw your memories," Harry said finally. "Which I'm sure you knew and intended."

Severus nodded. Hermione took another sandwich quarter out of reflex.

"Well, I had...questions. I didn't understand the gap between, erm, Godric's Hollow and Hogwarts." Harry flushed uncomfortably. "So I sort of...borrowed the Pensieve without asking and managed to pull a few memories of my own."

Severus merely stared at the boy. Habit, more than anything, kept him from volunteering any information.

Harry dug into his jeans pocket and pulled out a little figurine. Hermione peered at it: a knight.

"I'm surprised you managed to pull the memory," Severus said finally.

Harry grimaced. "If it hadn't been for the dementors dragging it up every time they're near, I wouldn't have been able to. But I'd needed to know if what you gave me was real. And it was."

"Obviously."

Hermione found herself growing uncomfortable with the two dancing around each other. "What reason would he have to lie to you, Harry? At that moment, especially?"

Both men looked at her and she huffed. "Honestly. Both of you need to start talking to each other before I lock you both in here."

"You'd do it, too," Harry said ruefully. He ran a hand through his messy hair and met Severus's eyes. "You're my godfather."

"Yes." Hermione blinked in surprise.

The admission seemed to undo whatever had been keeping Harry's temper corked. "Why didn't you tell me?" he shouted. "Why didn't you include that memory? You bastard! You could have—"

Harry's words went away as Severus flicked his hand at him lazily. "Potter, hush. I have had a taxing morning and I have no intention of being yelled at by you of all people." He looked down his nose at the boy, who quieted. "The reason I did not inform you was because I could not. The Dark Lord had a direct link to your mind, you little idiot. I had enough difficulty hiding the bloody bond from him—I assume I will have to explain that to you, as well. As for why not the memory, think! You were about to traipse off to your death, to a castle full of dying and wounded. It was kinder to leave my loss as that as a hated professor."

"Makes sense to me," Hermione said. "You didn't know I was going to help you."

The very corners of his eyes crinkled. "And I am very glad you did."

Harry waved his arms frantically and Severus lifted the charm. "Are you finished shouting liking a tot denied a sweetie?"

Hermione nearly giggled at that. "Sweetie" was not a word she had associated with him.

"Yes," Harry said sullenly. He huffed out a breath. "I understand your reasoning, but you could have said something, left something..."

"It could have been discovered," Hermione said. "Even with me, he buried the memories so no one could access them. I didn't even know they were there."

Harry nodded and he sagged. "Alright."

"I know you don't like things being kept from you," she began wryly, "but I don't believe it was done so malevolently in this case...or done to have you parade off to your death like Dumbledore."

Severus scowled at that. "Remind me to sneak back into Hogwarts and burn his portrait, if you would."

Hermione gasped. "You wouldn't!"

"I'd let him leave it first, provided he could get out fast enough," Severus said, one corner of his mouth lifting.

Harry laughed. "I'd almost help."

Hermione beamed to see them getting along, more or less, and took another sandwich.

Hermione carried the third pot of tea to the sitting room, rather pleased with how the evening was going. Harry hadn't asked why Snape was there again, and Severus was willingly telling Harry about Lily Potter.

It was a miracle, and she suppressed the urge to check outside for flying pigs. Maybe she'd transfigure one on a whim later.

Severus's voice was starting to get a bit raspy when there was a crack outside. Hermione's eyes went wide and met Severus's, but he revealed nothing, instead continuing with a story of Lily in Potions class and a terrible mishap involving Bubotuber Pus.

The door swung open and Draco started at the sight of the three together. "Er, hello."

Hermione paled.

Harry lost his easy camaraderie and swung his gaze to Hermione. "Why does he know where you live when it's protected?"

"I can explain," she said weakly.