"Now?" She questioned, and colour suffused her cheeks even as her wide eyes met his.

He smirked at her, which softened into a smile when he took in her hands softly running through the boy's hair.

"Now though... perhaps I may accept him after all".


Christmas came and went and was spent in relative bliss from Severus's point of view at least. It was as pleasant as it could possibly be, with one person still convalescing in a hospital bed at least. Yet it far outweighed any Christmas that Severus had endured until this point in his life. He found that in addition to having an improved reputation and relationship with the student body as a whole, now that he was no longer a spy, but that his interpersonal relationships with the other staff were improving as well. It seemed that they'd taken a step back and re-assessed him after the fallout of the Chimaera attack, and now that he was both more present and more approachable, people liked what they found. If they took him with a pinch of salt at least, he was after all, still himself.

His new Christmas gifts, which had been bought under Hermione's orders, also helped build bridges. He actually found himself in receipt of many letters thanking him for his thoughtful gifts, and wishing him well for the holiday season. He was also dumbfounded to discover that he'd made it onto a number of people's Christmas card lists too, as a few of them began to stockpile in his office, though it was nothing compared to the number that littered the walls of Hermione's hospital room, even with the notable lack of Gryffindors.

He received them all with his usual scowl, and a gruff note of thanks. But the number of hand-made cards he received from young snakes, made with the skills they had learnt earlier in the year when preparing gifts for Hermione...those? Those he carefully saved.

oOo

"I've decided to sit my NEWTS early" She'd told him on Christmas Eve, and he turned to her with surprised interest. "Is that so?" He asked with feigned indifference, though she saw right through it, as she smiled tiredly at him.

"I love the work, I do, but I'm just so tired of dumb-ing myself down for my classes. Trying to compress my ideas and thoughts into two feet of parchment, when I just want to know more, study more... I didn't realise until I was sat here, how much I was ahead as it were. I don't want you to think that I'm being entitled or full of myself, but the work it's just...it's so..."

"Beneath you" He finished for her, and she offered him a tired smile in responce, glad that he understood.

"Yes...does that make me self absorbed for thinking that?" She asked and he shook his head in responce.

"No, it means you're finally starting to recognise your own self worth. Stop trying to fit inside the lines someone else has set, and make your own path. It's good" He answered her in all honesty and her grateful and relieved smile was worth the uncharacteristic optimism from the stern man.

"Thank You. " she said in all seriousness, and he merely inclined his head.

"Do you know what you would like to do, if you were to test out early?" He asked with interest and she nodded her head in responce as she answered.

"Being here in this bed was almost a blessing in one way, Ron and Harry had always been so dead set on becoming aurors but I had always felt so directionless. But I've really enjoyed doing all the grading-" He snorted in ill humour and she whacked his arm before she continued. "- And having the ducklings here, baby and the others... I think I'd like to teach. But teach what I don't know, it's all so interesting."

"Why not float, teach it all?" He asked in all seriousness and she laughed. "Ok, I'm proud of my ability to multitask, but I'm not that good" she laughingly answered and he merely smirked in responce to her humour.

"I'm serious. You should apply to be a Floating Professor, it's about time Hogwarts had one"

"A what?" She asked in confusion and he embellished on his answer

"Durmstrang, Ilvamory and Beauxbatons each have what they call a 'Floating Professor'. They're a multi-skilled member of staff that have no set subject or teaching schedule and instead cover extra work and grading from a number of classes, along with covering any classes should a usual teacher fall ill or be absent. They run study clubs and groups for various subjects and In addition they're usually partaking of their own private research into a multitude of subjects and/or apprenticing in multiple subjects."

She was wrapt with attention as he carried on his description

"It's a highly respected role, and a huge boon for a school to have one... though is extremely tough position to fill as the staff member is always a graduate from said school and has to be more than proficient in a number of areas, not just one or two...But it's a great asset for the school to have one, as any research and breakthroughs that professor does in their private study also reflects positively on the school as they are always both graduates and employees of that very same school."

He paused to take a sip of his tea before continuing.

"Myself, Minerva and the other heads have been pestering Albus for years to hire someone, though until now nobody has ever proved proficient enough to fill the position. Don't get me wrong, there are many talented graduates that have passed through these halls over the years that would make excellent professors in certain subjects, but finding someone who could adequately teach NEWTs level classes in four or more subjects? Near impossible. Though I have to admit, you're a shoe-in for the position, as you have already been brought up in regards to being a potential candidate for the role."

"Really?" She asked shyly and he smirked at her preening as he answered.

"Indeed. Myself and Minerva both had you pinned for the role by your second year, though it was with some degree of disappointment as though we'd agreed you'd make an ideal candidate, we'd both believed you'd want something...different."

The way he finished his statement, it was clear to read between the lines.

"You both thought that wherever Harry and Ron went, I'd follow" She said and there was no accusation in her tone, though a little resignation.

He hesitated for a moment before answering in the positive.

"Yes, we had both considered that you would perhaps fall into a ministry position. None of us considered that you would become an auror , though there was a whisper among some of that staff that had you ended up in the ministry, that the unspeakables may have poached you. Myself and Filius had wanted to take you aside and show you some better options than becoming a ministry lackey, something more fitting to your talents, though Albus and Minerva wanted you to "follow your heart" make your own decisions"

"Well, I'm glad it didn't come to that, and I'm grateful because truth be told, before all this I probably would have followed them, and probably ended up in some dead end desk job in the ministry. Thank You, anyway, for believing in me"

They were quite for a time, before she spoke again.

"Severus, what are Hogwart's restrictions about personal relationships between staff members?"

He looked at her carefully and she didn't meet his eyes, so he waited until she did.

"Providing the Staff members are both of age, and one is not directly answerable to the other, then there are none"

"Oh." She answered, then after a moment. "Good."

Then it was his turn to preen.


Christmas was unlike any other he could recall. They'd had a Christmas dinner in her room, just the 3 of them. Apart from the occasional pop in from Coral to ensure that all their needs were being met. Though house elves themselves had no religion as such, and did not follow in the holidays of their masters, other than catering to their needs, Severus had, with the help of Hermione, arranged a gift of sorts for Coral.

The elf arrived with his roughly dyed black teatowel, and he was presented with the wrapped gift from Severus. Upon opening the gift he'd began to sob outright at the sight of the fabric until Severus had interrupted him.

"They are clothes, but I am not giving you clothes Coral" He'd spoken and his tone was firm but not harsh.

"If theys not being clothes for Coral, then what is they being given coral for?" He asked and Severus gestured for him to open them further which he did, revealing the small black outfit within. It was a simple black toga style outfit with detailed stitching and had serpents embroidered upon it.

"It's your new uniform Coral" Hermione spoke warmly and the elfs eyes widened at the implication.

"Uniform?" Coral asked with barely concealed glee. "I's to wear uniform?"

"Indeed. You shall no longer wear the teatowel baring the crest of Hogwarts, and will instead wear this black uniform. As of right now, your are no longer just a Hogwarts elf, but you are the official house elf for the Head of Slytherin House, so you must dress the part. You will cater to all my needs as both Potions Professor and Head of House, including watching out for my snakes and all those dear to me. You may also consider it a trial. If in a years time we are both happy with the situation, you will then be offered the chance to formally bond to the Snape Line and become my personal elf, if it is your desire"

"Oh yes masters of potion sir, it is Corals very wish that this be happening" The elf had sobbed out and Severus had hidden his smile with a smirk. "Be off with you then elf, await my calling on you and tell the master elf that your are now the head elf of Slytherin house, and all elf made duties and decisions that pertain to my house are to go through you."

"Oh yes master Snape, yes I be doing this right away" and with a final sob he was gone.

oOo

Hermione had adored her surprise gift from Severus and Baby, and Severus in turn had been suitably moved by hers and Baby's for him. A new dragonhide bound journal, which had numerous potion bottles and ingredients upon the cover that have lovingly and painstakingly been etched by hand.

"We thought that now you're no longer spying, that you might have more time to work on personal projects and other Potion Master-y things you haven't been able to do over the years, and that a new journal to record your notes and findings in would be just the ticket"

He was suitably moved by the gesture, though tried not to show how much the gift meant to him, especially when Hermione continued with.

"...And it comes with assistants when you need them, free of charge" She said as she ruffled the boys hair and he gave Severus a small smile, which in the spirit of Christmas he returned.

"Thank You... both of you... more perfect gifts, I could not have asked for" The emotion was thick in his voice, and the quick drink of tea did little to hide the shine of tears in his eyes.

Hermione had offered both of them one of her truffles, which in the interest of good manners they had accepted one each, then declined any further, they were her treats after all.

The day was spent in idle chatter and warm companionship, each had received books as gift from the others and a times a comfortable silence would fill the air as all 3 relaxed in pleasant company and journeyed into the books they had been given.

A few straggling members of staff or students would pop in for a moment or so to offer well wishes, but for the longest part of the day it was just the three of them and the occasional appearance from Coral, sporting his new uniform with pride.

When the darkness of the night began to creep closer and the yawns became more frequent, than infrequent, Severus was about to call it a day when he looked up to the sight of both Hermione and Jacob, asleep upon the bed. Each had one hand around the other, and one holding tightly onto a book, even in sleep.

Slowly, so as not to disturb Hermione, who had looked so tired of late, he gently placed Jacob's book upon the side table as he lifted the boy by hand. He was altogether not prepared when the sleepy boy turned in his arms, wrapping his arms around his neck and resting his head upon his chest in sleep. The implicit trust in the action, rocking him to his very core.

"Severus... alright?" the soft whisper came from the bed as Hermione looked at him blearily, where he had frozen, rooted to the spot.

"Fine" He whispered "Go back to sleep"

A murmured ascent was his reply, as she once again laid into the pillows and made a soft noise of contentment, though he couldn't be sure if he wasn't dreaming when a soft voice mumbled "G'night, luv" into the darkness, though he knew at least he wasn't dreaming, when he responded to it in kind.