Sorry for the delay, I've had my head underwater with work these past few days!


Though it sounded like a lie, the truth was that Severus felt comfortably settled in after the first two days. He had thought that it would be awkward after the novelty set off, and while there indeed were plenty of awkward moments, they were more humorous than uncomfortable. He found that the boys poked fun of him very often, and once he managed to not let that hurt his ego, it became a good way to bond.

Except for the occasions in which the three spoke of smart devices and fancy technology, it was easy to forget that they were from a different time.

Then there was Hermione. Her endless love for each of her children was… inspiring. Sure, he had no doubt that the Weasley matriarch loved her own spawns just as much, but he hadn't been able to truly see it day by day, hour by hour, enough for it to seem natural and not sickly-sweet.

It was fair to say that Severus Snape was in a good place.

Presently, he was setting up one of the few empty rooms left into a lab for himself. Though it had been two days since he brought all his belongings over from Spinner's End, he hadn't gotten to any of it yet. First on the counter was the set that Hermione had gifted him last Christmas. It still embarrassed him to recall his rude reaction to the thoughtful gift. Thankfully, those days were long gone. It suddenly came to his attention that he was no longer alone. He looked up.

"Dad?"

It was Bryan. The boy looked like he had something to say, so Severus gestured for him to sit, though he realized belatedly that there were no chairs. With a flick, one of his old cauldrons became a seat. Bryan gratefully sat.

"How are you doing?"

"Surely you didn't come here to ask how I was doing. Talk."

"Saw right through me." Bryan smiled tightly and looked away. "But really, how comfortable are you with this?"

Severus frowned. Was that really what had the boy all nervous? His comfort? "I'm more than good. Why do you ask?"

"Erm, it's just that… I kind of wanted and thought that… it was time to tell Lia more about my background. She already—yeah, you know the situation. What do you think?"

"What does your mother say?"

Bryan shrugged. "I didn't ask her. Much of it hinged on whether you'd be comfortable with an outsider knowing things about you that only we do."

There was a silence as Severus thought his answer over. While he didn't totally like the idea of bringing a stranger into the fold, he had to consider it from Bryan's perspective. It couldn't have been easy for him, pretending to have a whole different backstory. And Lia seemed like a nice enough girl, didn't she? She had every right to pressure Bryan into opening up about certain things—things she deserved to know if they were to be together—but she'd remained respectful and allowed much of Bryan's life to remain in the dark to her. He could feel the moment his mind relented—it was the same moment he put his son's wishes ahead of his own.

"I'm surprised that it's taken you this long, if I'm being honest. That witch of yours makes your life too easy."

"So that's..?"

"Invite her here if you must. I've seen those brooding looks of yours and I'm anxious for them to stop."

Immediately, a smile appeared on Bryan's face. "Thanks, Dad!" He got up to leave, making it so that Severus had to speak to his retreating back.

"You better not have already done that!"

He received no response. Predictable.


"Now, remember what I said about my father."

"He'll try to be tough but he's actually a soft soul inside," Severus recited. "Yes, you've said."

"And my mother?"

"She's the one to look out for."

"Good. And—"

"I know, I know, change the topic to the boys if it gets awkward." Honestly. As if he'd resort to that. He wasn't a subject-changing coward.

Hermione had walked over to the staircase. "Boys! How long does it take to change into a presentable shirt?" She received muffled shouts in protest as they one-by-one skidded down.

"Alright. You know the drill." They apparated to suburban Oxford, with Severus and Hermione side-alonging Roman and Johnny, respectively. As always, they landed in the backyard. Hermione pulled open the door and let her whole family in, spotting Jean and John chatting at the table. The sound of the backdoor sliding open had both of them turning.

"Hello, dear! And oh—there he is!"

"He is right here, Mu—"

"Severus Snape. How do you do?"

Hermione groaned but decided to sit back. She looked behind her to see the boys suppressing their amusement. Well. At least they weren't stressed as she was.

"I'm good, Mrs. Granger."

"Wonderful! Well, why don't we three have a chat. Hermione, I don't know if you saw on the way in, but I left some nice snacks out on the patio."

Hermione rolled her eyes but beckoned for the kids to follow her out, getting the point.

When the door finally slid closed, Jean fixed her future son-in-law with an unreadable expression. Severus snuck a quick glance at John, who was twiddling his thumbs, obviously waiting for his wife to speak.

"My daughter loves you."

He hadn't expected that. A threat, maybe, but not this. "And I am grateful for it." He wanted to kick himself for it immediately after. Grateful? Ugh.

"She has felt that way for a long time, which, as unfathomable as it is to me, I have come to accept. Can you do the same for her?"

"Love her? I already do. As for a long time—time will tell, but I for one am ready to spend the rest of my days with your daughter."

"Excellent! Now—"

"John, I haven't finished yet."

Severus observed the dynamic with interest—Hermione's father didn't cower, rather, he simply backed down with what seemed to be practiced amusement.

"If you break her heart, your precious wand waving won't be able to protect you from me."

He highly doubted that, but he nodded nonetheless.

"Great! Welcome to the family." Immediately, Jean's visage changed to be warm and friendly. "Has Hermione told you about the 'family' gathering in the states next month?" She made air-quotes around the word 'family,' which Severus found amusing.

"No, Mrs. Granger. She hasn't."

"Oh, feel free to call me Jean. And I'll tell you about it. Let Hermione think I'm still grilling you."

Severus looked out to window to see Hermione sipping on a glass of water that her mother had likely left out for her. Though she looked as relaxed as could be, he knew better from the way her eyes were tight around the corners.

"And that," Jean interrupted, also glancing at her daughter, "is only a taste of the stress she's given me all these years."


John was the one to go out the back and tell his daughter that she could come back in. His wink reassured her that all was well inside. By the look of things, Severus and Jean would get along alright—while they weren't chatting animatedly, they seemed to be engaged in comfortable conversation. Upon seeing them, Jean turned and ushered them over.

"He's up for the South Carolina trip," she announced.

Hermione just shrugged, not seeing the significance. "Sure, I guess? I didn't care either way."

Jean made a face. "Bryan, Johnny, Roman? I've got biscuits in the oven, though I'm sure you can smell them by now. Help yourself."

While the three trudged over, John leaned into Hermione. "Can I borrow Severus for the afternoon? Your mother has commandeered him thus far, and I'd like to—"

"Let me guess, take him on a fishing trip at the lake?"

"Yes, actually."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You did exactly that last time you met him. Sure, go ahead. If he behaves anything like he did before, it'll be good for you both."

"Grandpa, can I go dig through the garage?"

They both turned to see Johnny looking back at them. "It's just that you always have cool tools and stuff. Everything else is so outdated—the phone, the telly—so I figured I'd look through the things that always stay the same."

"Go ahead." Privately, he whispered to Hermione, "I still can't get over having grands. If only I knew years ago that all it took to amuse them was my old wrenches and hammers."

Both Johnny and Bryan headed in that direction, but Roman came toward Hermione and took a seat next to her.

"Would your old room by any chance still be here and in the way you left it? All the times we've been here and I've never thought to go upstairs."

Hermione tipped her head toward her father, knowing he'd be better able to answer that.

"Of course her room is still here, but we've cleaned much of it out so it's much less personal now. Was there something you wanted to see, young man?"

"Her books, mainly."

"Definitely your kid," John remarked. Behind them, Jean had also snorted.

"They're not in her room anymore, but we've got most of what we didn't donate to the local library up in the attic. I can show you."

"Great!" Roman automatically rose from his seat.

"I didn't mean now, but I suppose that could work too. Severus, can you come with? There are quite a few boxes we kept, and I'd appreciate the help of your arms." Almost reluctantly, Jean got up as well and gestured for the two of them to follow her. That left Hermione alone with her father.

"So, motherhood."

"It's nothing new, Dad. I've been a mum for over eighteen years now."

"I know. It's still…" He waved his hands around, not finding the words for it. "I haven't seen you all that much either since we got back from down under. Just last summer, the winter holidays, and now. You didn't even tell us that they were yours until just before you left for school. You're still my little girl to me, but that doesn't mean that my heart hasn't already made room for three new members."

"Soon to be four," Hermione softly added.

"Soon to be four," he echoed. "Really going for the big family? Your mother and I always regretted not having more. You spend your whole life working, putting your career first, and then one day you retire and realize that you could always have managed." His wistful tone left no doubt as to who the 'you' he referred to meant.

"It always seems easier once you get past it, Dad. I wouldn't be so hard on yourself. I rather liked being an only child."

"And yet…?"

"I often think that I'm good at taking what is given to me. By that I mean that, had I not been an only child, I believe I would have liked that as well."

"I see."

"None of that has to do with wanting a big family. My conditions were different from yours and Mum's. After the war, Severus and I both longed to retreat and settle down. He never truly had friends, and mine had disappointed me. At the time, I didn't think I'd want more than one or two. They just grow on you, y'know? There was also the fact that I worked at my own bookshop where I made the rules, so childcare was never a problem. Though Severus was teaching, he had several breaks throughout the day and was frequently home with us. I haven't mentioned it before, but all of those reasons paled in comparison to the fact that we began experiencing problems conceiving after Bryan. You know what they say—when you can't have something, you want it even more."

"I understand, sweetie."

"And when you have a husband like Severus who just slides right into the role of fatherhood on the snap of a finger, well, that's awkward, but pardon me for wanting to have his babies."

"You sure you want to be telling me this before I go on a one-on-one fishing trip with him?"

They both laughed. That was how Jean and Severus found them when they returned, presumably from the attic. Sans Roman.

"We lost him up there," Jean stated. "First he found your Boxcar Children set and wouldn't put it down, and then he somehow spotted The Family Under the Bridge while he was reading something else and now he's a goner. If he's anything like you, good luck getting him to eat his meals going forward."

"Boxcar Children? He's read most of them already. I had those in stock at my bookshop."

"As if you read all of those only once."

"Point."

The four adults shared a moment of silence, with Hermione reaching over and touching Severus's hand. John got up suddenly and sifted through the fridge, cursing softly when he didn't find what he was looking for.

"You finished the wine last week," Jean supplied helpfully. "It's much too early for it, anyway."

"Drat. I was feeling the parents' night out sort of vibe and thought that a drink could enhance that." At Severus's look, he coughed slightly. "Just seven percent. I'm not an alcoholic or anything."

"I never thought anything of the sort."

Not finding the wine, John went ahead and poured everyone glasses of water. "Good thing, too. How would you have driven to the lake afterwards?"

"I would've asked Severus to do it, of course."

Notwithstanding the fact that he couldn't drive, Severus didn't point out that if wine was offered, he likely would've partook himself. He took a sip of water, looking around to see if anyone would speak. There were some clanging noises coming from the far side of the house.

"I'll just go check on the two boys who aren't safely hunched over books in the attic," Hermione said suddenly, also hearing the sounds.

"Don't be surprised if Severus and I are off when you get back!"

That caused Hermione to turn around in surprise. "So soon?"

John beckoned for his daughter to come closer so he could speak with only her hearing. "I've had the poles and gear all loaded into the car since before you got here."

Hermione snorted. "Of course, Dad. Of course." She walked over to Severus and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. "I have no idea how long you'll be gone, but I'll see you when you get back." Without further ado, she made her way to the garage, though Bryan and Johnny were nowhere to be seen. The garage door, however, was open, so she went out that way. So engrossed was she in looking for them that she didn't see the lady headed her way.

"Hermione? Is that you?"

She turned. "Mrs. Lancashire? Yes, it's me, and I haven't seen you in ages!"

The woman smiled tightly, which confused Hermione. "Look, I'd love to catch up, but I was about to call the coppers for you. There's two lads trying to get into your house through a second-story window."

"What?" She was about to back up so she could get a good look at the whole of the house when she quickly turned back to her neighbor. "Please, don't call the police. I have a feeling I know who they are."

Taking a few more steps, she finally saw the extended ladder resting against the side of the house. Looking up, she could see that Bryan was seated on the roof while Johnny was nearly there. As the latter's back was turned, it was Bryan who spotted her. "Mum, look, it's a ladder! I've never used one of these in real life!"

She blinked. Was that possible? Ladders were such mundane things… but then again, she couldn't recall ever being on one herself, either.

"Did the lad just call you 'mum'?" That reminded her that they had an audience.

She thought fast. "Embarrassingly enough, yes. Those are my friends from school. I've got, erm, sort of a reputation for babying them."

"Those are your friends? Bizarre friends you've got."

"Boys," Hermione muttered apologetically, as if that explained everything.

"Well, I'm glad I didn't call the police. I'll just leave you to it, then." The woman fixed Hermione with a disapproving look. "Don't let them lead you astray, girl. I know you're a respectful child. I'd hate to think those friends of yours could turn you into someone who think it's okay to climb good folk's roofs."

Hermione held her breath as Mrs. Lancashire returned to her home across the street.

"Get down here," she hissed. "What were you two thinking?"

"It's a ladder," Johnny repeated. "Can I get one for my birthday? You know, the one in three weeks?"

"I know when your birthday is. And no, I'm not getting you a bloody ladder. Can you two come down?"

"Can you come up?"

"Eh?"

"It's a good view. I want to stay longer, so if I'm not coming down and you're not leaving, you'll have to come up."

Hermione sighed loudly but began making her way up the ladder. "What happened to listening to me?"

No one answered her until she made it to the top and sat beside her two older boys, who both smirked at her.

"I always listen to you, Mum," Bryan said innocently, waiting until she was seated to talk. "If you had said no when I told you to come up, that would've been it. As it stands, you chose to make your way up. Thanks!"

"Go on then, thank me for playing right into your hands." Once again, she received no verbal answer. Hermione was surprised to find that the height didn't make her too terribly nervous—rather, she was feeling peaceful as she sat with two of her boys and stared out into the quiet, suburban neighborhood of her childhood. From their vantage point, they could spot the car rolling out and driving away. Johnny waved furiously, causing Severus to roll down the windows in shock as he stared at the three of them. Hermione could only shrug, and she was overwhelmed with raucous laughter the moment the car disappeared from sight.

"Dad's expression," Johnny choked out. "He sure wasn't expecting to see us up here."


Severus had been worried about the drive, but it had surprisingly only been fifteen minutes. John had spent most of that time aptly asking about his driving experience, and when he'd answered that he had none, the older man spent the rest of the short trip explaining the various knobs and buttons on the car as well as going through different traffic rules on the road as they came up. Clearly, he was waiting for the actual trip to discuss anything more personal.

As they parked and unloaded the car, Severus almost offered to levitate the fishing gear but thought better of it. Would that make him think he was lazy? Incapable? Surely he was overthinking, but to be safe, he kept his mouth shut.

"I gather we're not taking a boat?" There had obviously been no boat in the car, and he didn't see any rental offices nearby.

"Not today. I'm going to set up by the lakeside." It was a short walk to get to the open part of the wooded area that allowed them access to the lake. John squinted at the waters and nodded to himself.

"Hermione says you've gone once?"

"The boys took me a couple months ago in the sea outside our home. By no means does that make me an expert."

"Ah, sea fishing. Here." John handed a hook to Severus.

"I hadn't realized you were so into fishing. Why haven't you taken advantage of the sea right outside your daughter's doorstep, if you don't mind me asking?"

"It's simply, really. I've got this right outside my own doorstep. I'm also a tad phobic of the ocean. Almost drowned when I was a boy, you see. This right here? The waters are calm enough for me." He cast out, and Severus followed suit, feeling extremely awkward. With the boys, he had felt mostly comfortable even when they were running circles around him; now, he was completely out of his depths and even worse, this was with Hermione's father.

"You watch football?"

"No," Severus answered without hesitation. "I never liked it as a child, and I didn't think about it again my adult years when it was never relevant. Although…" He hesitated. "I did go to a game in April, but I didn't pay much attention to it." To be honest, he couldn't even remember which two teams were playing, though he could vaguely recall the colours they wore.

"Tough. It's been an amazing year for my team. United, naturally. It's a shame I won't be able to spout off too hard on you without getting annoying. At least all three of Hermione's boys follow it, yeah?" It took him a second to realize what he'd said, and he gently corrected himself. "Your boys too, of course."

"Indeed."

John had just started to say something when Severus finally voiced his thought aloud. "I suspect that their upbringing was much more muggle than that of typical wizarding children, especially based on how Hermione tells me they were able to venture out in the open frequently and even attend games. Perhaps I warmed to the concept of football in their time." He was surprised to hear John chortle.

"I'm not going to judge you if you don't like football. Well, that's not strictly true, but it won't be in a nasty way." He winked. "You don't have to defend yourself. I'm just trying to understand who you are."

Severus gave a slight nod.

"It might help you to know that Hermione has told me very little, so it's not going to be a cross-examination."

"Alright."

"How old are you, Severus?"

Already sounds like a cross-examination, he thought. "Thirty-nine."

"Hm. I'm forty-five. I've no need of a son, especially now that the three of them could easily be. A mate, though? I'm not opposed to that."

"A mate that happens to be sleeping with your daughter," Severus deadpanned, trying to make sure that John knew what he was talking about. Maybe John just needed a dose of reality? He watched as the man winced.

"Just don't remind me how young she is. That won't help."

"She's nineteen. No matter how old she feels—"

"Are you trying to make me hate you? No wonder you haven't got many friends."

Severus shut up real quick.

"All I'm saying is, she loves you more than life itself, and if that's how it's going to be, I'd be a fool not to build a relationship with the man who knocked me off my place in her heart. And cut the crap about her being too young for you. Maybe that was true in that former life of hers, but have you even spoken to her? Some days, she feels older than me. She was mature to begin with, and now…? It would feel like abuse if she paired off when someone her own age."

Severus had nothing to say to that.

"When do I get to welcome you to the family officially?"

For all his composure, Severus almost dropped his rod. "Officially?" Of course he understood the meaning, but he couldn't find anything else to say and needed to buy himself some time.

"I may be jumping the gun here, and I understand you've only thought of her as someone other than your student for less than a year. Still, I'm looking at this from my little girl's perspective, and as her father, I for one would like to see some security. You get me?"

"Yes, sir." He hated how that sir just slipped out. By the looks of it, John was a combination of uncomfortable and pleased.

"None of that. Friends, remember?"

"Yes."

"So?"

Severus nervously rubbed his hands together before stilling, not wanting the other man to see his unease. "I have thought about it."

"But?"

"I haven't gotten around to it. It is, as you said, quite soon."

"She clearly doesn't think it's too soon, given that she's happy to give me my fourth grandchild now."

Against his better judgement, Severus blushed. If that wasn't proof that they were intimate, nothing was.

"I'm by no means a traditionalist, but that tells me that you also didn't think it was too soon for activities typically reserved after marriage."

Fuck. The man sure wasn't afraid of being awkward. Severus had no bloody idea what to say to that.

"I'm not pressuring you, no," John said suddenly. "Please don't think that. I'm just giving you my blessing, in case you were too shy to ask first." And just like that, with no warning, he changed topics. "If your little girl is anything like Hermione, you'll have a breeze. Not the first year though, obviously."

Severus had barely a second to clear his expression of disbelief at the sudden subject change to manage a sensical response. "I look forward to all of it." His legs were feeling sore from standing and from… something else. "You don't mind, do you?" Severus had pulled out his wand. At John's shake of his head, he transfigured two stray branches into camping seats, offering one to the older man first.

"Fish not doing that well," John muttered. "It's like they're encouraging us to talk more and focus less on them."

Severus was fairly sure that the point of the trip was to talk with fishing as a pretense, but he didn't say anything.

"How is it, raising boys? I wouldn't know—escaped that one."

"I believe it would be unfair of me to answer that question; I haven't truly had a hand in raising them. Perhaps, after Eloise… From the months I've known them, though, it has been quite a rewarding experience."

There was some silence, upon which Severus focused his thoughts on fishing. He knew that he'd apparently loved the activity, but it just wasn't coming to him currently. Yes, it was a later-in-life thing, but he couldn't imagine enjoying throwing the line out and reeling on repeat as much as the boys described. Maybe it was the fact that he wasn't completely relaxed. Yes. Had to be that.

He reeled in his line, chanced a glance at John, and threw it back out.


Fun fact, as I was proofreading this chapter and got to the ladder bit, two men quite literally walked by me carrying a ladder.

HermioneSnape1983: I think you misunderstood - when Severus said "she means that you three can leave my family alone," the point was that he was pushing Ron's buttons with his use of my. Notwithstanding the fact that I mentioned that he knows a tad bit of German at this point, he didn't need to know what Hermione said to her boys in German at all to formulate that response, especially as she had just said, in English, "I would invite you to stay, but it's not my place to do so."