DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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A/N: Thank you so much, my wonderful readers, for the 500+ reviews! You all make me so happy! This is my fic with the highest number of reviews and to think it's not even nearing the finish line!

For those of you who have read my very first SevMione fic, Savelius, I've got good news! I'm going to edit it (work on the grammar) and write an Epilogue which focuses on Savelius's career as an Unspeakable!

Again, thank you so much for inspiring me to write more!

I would love to meet you. If you're on IG and would like to reach out, I'm: at missushufflepuff .

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Chapter 45:

August 10-11, 1995

(the present)

"Hermione!"

Hermione was pulled into a hug by a female redhead as soon as she got out of the fireplace. "Mum asked me to stay awake because you're coming!"

Hermione hugged her young, teen female friend. With her thirty-something body, she was taller than her. "Of course, I wouldn't miss your birthday."

Ginny pulled back and gave her a questioning look. She just smiled and handed her a present wrapped in green and yellow paper. "It's ten minutes before midnight. But here, happy birthday!"

Ginny turned to the other witch in the room, Mrs Weasley, who just gave her an encouraging smile. Ginny turned to her again and accepted the gift. "Oh, Hermione, you didn't have to. But thanks!"

Hermione smiled and patted Ginny's head in a sisterly manner. She sat at the table across from Mrs Weasley. "Open it."

Ginny sat beside her at the table and tore the gift wrap, then the gift box. She found a complete set of fourth-year textbooks and a green and yellow jersey shirt with 'Holyhead Harpies' imprinted at the back. Then, Ginny saw the front. "Oh, Hermione! Are these..."

"Their signatures, yeah," she grinned. "It's a limited edition, I found earlier in Diagon Alley today -"

But she was cut off because Ginny pulled her to a hug. She was crying. "These must've cost you an arm and a leg, Hermione."

Hermione chuckled. "Don't worry, I didn't ask my parents or Severus for money," she said.

Ginny pulled away again and looked at her. "But, the textbooks are..."

"I... Well, Sev and I shared a vault many years ago, when he was just an Apprentice, and I was a Trainee Healer at St Mungo's Hospital. My money remained untouched and he made a withdrawal for me today," she explained.

"Oh, Hermione, dear..." came Mrs Weasleys' voice. "You don't have to buy Ginny those textbooks."

Hermione reached for Mrs Weasley's hand on the table. "It's fine, Mrs Weasley. I've watched some memories from Leo's timeline, and I saw us sharing wonderful moments. Ginny's even the godmother of Leo, and my wedding took place at the Burrow. We're a family, and I hope it will continue that way."

Mr Weasley released her hand just to approach her and hug her tightly. "Of course, my dear girl!" the older woman exclaimed. "We'll be here for you, Leo, and Severus. I will be Leo's nana, even here!"

Hermione returned the hug. "Thanks, Mrs Weasley."

"And we're a happy family," grinned Ginny when Hermione and Mrs Weasley released each other. "The only problem is the prat my mum insists as my brother. You know, the one named Ronald."

"Ginevra!" scolded Mrs Weasley.

Hermione just smiled. "Well, I hope he would take things well once he learned everything..."

"Oh, dear. He is my son and I know him well," said Mrs Weasley. "It's best if we keep him in the dark for now and just tell him about you and Severus and Leo after the war."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "But he will be furious..."

"Don't worry about that. He can blame me. Tell him I all forbade you from telling him anything. Given his temper, surely Arthur will agree with me," said Mrs Weasley with assurance.

"Speaking of Mr Weasley," she said, "where is he? And Remus and Sirius?"

"Oh, they're drinking upstairs, in the library," replied Mrs Weasley.

She turned to Ginny. "I need a word with my two old friends, Gin. Wanna come?"

Ginny grinned. "Sure! But only if you tell them I'm a better friend than them," she sniggered.

"Sure! Just to wind Sirius up," she chuckled.

"Be careful when you go upstairs, Hermione. Harry, Ron, or the twins might get up to go to the loo," reminded Mrs Weasley.

"Yes, Mrs Weasley!"

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"Hey, Gin, that's not water!" Hermione swatted her friend's hand when the redhead reached for another canned Butterbeer.

It was an hour after she arrived at Grimmauld Place. So far, Harry, Ron, and the twins have not woken up and nobody caught her on her way to the library. Mr Weasley had retired to bed after thanking her for Ginny's presents. Sirius and Remus were not yet tipsy as they were only drinking Elf-made wine lightly. They offered Hermione a glass of wine and Ginny canned Butterbeer.

"It's my birthday!" her redhead friend reasoned.

"Nope. That's enough," she told her sternly.

Sirius laughed. "Come on, kitten, don't be a mother goose."

She glared at Sirius. "Don't call me that! And someone here has to be a responsible adult, so Ginny, no. Go to bed."

Ginny whined.

"Enough, young lady. Two cans of Butterbeer should be enough. The adults are going to talk, now go."

Ginny whined even more but got up and left the room.

"Happy birthday, Ginevra!" called Remus on her way out.

"Sleep well, spitfire!" called Sirius.

When Ginny left, Hermione turned to her friends again. "Siri, I need a favour."

Sirius broke into peals of laughter. "So you sent your best friend just to ask me for a favour. I'm hurt, Hermy."

"Don't be daft, it's for Harry's safety," she said tersely.

"What is it?"

"And Sirius turned serious!" laughed Remus.

"Did you watch the Pensieve memories Dumbledore gave you?" she asked.

"The day of the Battle at the Department of Mysteries. Yes," he replied somberly.

"We did watch it twice, Hermy," Remus informed her.

"Harry has this tendency to stick his nose to where it doesn't belong... And that's why Harry, Ron, and I end up doing dangerous things. This year, I hope Harry would focus on his Occlumency and studies, and later on, the would-be Dumbledore's Army. So, I guess you have to get the map from him."

"And give it to you instead?" he asked with a naughty smile.

Hermione shook her head. "No. You don't have to give it to me. You can just keep it, you know. To check if Harry's alone, and then you can communicate via the mirror. It's just that... I'm worried he would see me at the headmaster's or Sev's offices, or wandering around, waiting for Sev to return from Voldemort's summons."

Sirius nodded in understanding. "But I still think it'd be better for you to have it."

"No, I don't want to have it with Harry around. I don't want to lie to him about the map."

"How about we give it to Severus, instead?" suggested Remus. "We can tell Harry that we're giving it to an Order member."

Sirius turned to Remus. "Good point! But... we have to fix it. The map insults Snape, you know."

Hermione snorted. "'Cause, you thought he was a real git and a real Death Eater."

"Well, you didn't tell me, so it's your fault," Sirius countered.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You still haven't forgiven me for that?"

Sirius grinned. "Just winding you up. All right, we'll talk to Harry. I'm sure we can convince him to give up the map."

She smiled sincerely. "Thanks, Siri. Sev will be surprised if you hand him the map."

Sirius gave her a reluctant look.

"Oh, come on! He's my future husband and you're my best friends. At least, be civil to one another."

"As long as he lessens his insults," commented Remus.

"Oh, don't worry about it," she replied confidently.

"Guess Snape will stop being a snarky bastard now that he'll get laid more often," laughed Sirius, causing Hermione to throw a book at him.

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August 15, 1995

(the present)

Hermione's sleep was disturbed due to Sev's kisses all over her face and upper body and his hands caressing her hair and thighs.

Her eyes were still closed, but she smiled. She knew it was Severus and not some random wizard who broke into their house because of his smell and how he touched her.

"Let me see those beautiful brown eyes, dear," he whispered, licking the shell of her ear. She shuddered but laughed when she opened her eyes.

"Hi," she greeted when their eyes met. Her hands found their way to his neck. "How's your day?"

"Fine," he replied, pulling up her pyjama shirt to pepper kisses on her stomach.

Too bad, Hermione was lying on the sofa in their sitting room, she could not open her legs wider. She fell asleep waiting for him.

Sev continued kissing upwards until his mouth found one of her now-erect nipples. She inhaled deeply. "Oh, god... I love you."

"It's Severus, dear," he chuckled and then went to her other breast. She loved it when he licked her in a circular motion.

"Sev, I love you," she said again.

"I love you more," he replied promptly and his mouth claimed her lips. After a lingering kiss, Sev pulled away. "I did something good today." He sounded proud.

Hermione looked at him curiously, but with a smile. "What?" Then, she realized that Sev was kneeling on the floor. She sat up and pulled him to sit beside her.

Sev wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "The Dark Lord was pleased with my news. Told him what Albus said - that Potter was locked in Grimmauld Place, and Albus was too busy guessing what the Dark Lord's next move would be, and finally, finding a new Defence teacher. The half-blood bastard laughed and I was spared from his wrath. He told me to return to Hogwarts and prepare for the coming term."

Hermione sighed in relief and she placed her hands on his shoulders. "I'm glad you came out unscathed. And then, what happened?"

"It's all thanks to Leo, really. We have an idea what's in for us this year. Albus can focus on something else, like destroying Horcruxes without dying." He kissed her forehead. "And after the meeting, I went to Grimmauld Place. You wouldn't believe what happened."

She gave him a quizzical look. "What?"

"Black spoke to me kindly and gave me the Marauders' Map."

"And? What did you say?"

Sev smirked. "I thanked him."

"No harsh words? No hexing each other? No insults?" she asked.

Severus smiled and shook her head. "None of those. Just two grown-up wizards, trying to be civil with each other for the sake of Hermione Puckle."

She grinned and kissed his lips. "Thank you."

"You make me very happy, my dear," he told her sincerely after their kiss. "You and Leo are my world. Thank you."

"Oh, don't mention it," she faked a dismissive tone and laughed.

"What did I ever to do deserve you?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.

"You befriended a lonely girl back in 1969. You became her first-ever true friend."

"I wish Leo would find a love like ours, someday."

"Yeah, maybe one of the Weasleys or Potter girls," she said just to tease him.

Severus frowned. "If Potter would have a daughter named Lily, and Leo courted her, I will oppose that."

She laughed. "Lily Snape. Sounds fine, don't you think?"

Severus gave her a dangerous look. "You'll pay for that, witch!" And then he picked her up like a sack of potatoes and ran towards their bedroom upstairs.

But Hermione was giggling uncharacteristically. The worst thing Sev could do to make her pay was to tease her and pin her on the bed without entering her even if she begged for it.