Disclaimer: All publicly recognisable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.

The house was filled with the hum of voices, and the sound of cooing – a sound that had become very familiar over the past few weeks.

Severus lounged in the armchair in their sitting room, staring at the lounge across from him where Harry Potter was holding his child as Luna Lovegood looked on with a mystified smile. If anyone had told him ten years ago that he would voluntarily be hosting a Potter in his home, he would have had them carted off to St. Mungo's for psychiatric evaluation. But there he was, and there they were, and it was all very normal and pleasant.

'I made lemonade!' Hermione announced as she walked into the room brandishing a tray with a jug of said beverage and tall glasses stacked onto it.

Severus was up and out of the armchair in seconds, lifting the tray out of his wife's hands and placing it on the coffee table. She complained of back ache – a holdover from her pregnancy – but refused to make any changes to prevent or lessen the pain. And so he had taken it upon himself to attempt to ease the burden whenever he was able. He wasn't sure why she hadn't just used a levitation spell on the tray in the first place – motherhood had left her a little scattered and forgetful, so every now and then she would do things the Muggle way instead of utilising her skills as a witch.

'I'd love a glass,' Harry said with a wide grin. 'It's so humid, you'd think it was already summer.'

'It's only a few days away, you know,' Hermione said with a chuckle. 'It's not as though weather is set in stone either – the season doesn't necessarily start on the first of the month – there is always a transition period between seasons.'

Severus smirked. She could still be a know-it-all at times, but it only made her more endearing. Sometimes it was nice to see hints of the young woman he had known all those years ago. It had taken quite some time, but Severus had come to terms with the age gap between them – he had thought it was so large – but she had proven to him early on that numbers didn't matter – their life experiences, interests and compatibility trumped all of his concerns.

'Lemonade would be lovely,' Luna said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

'Sit, love,' he told his wife.

She frowned. 'But that's your seat.'

He shook his head firmly. 'I will summon another. Please sit.'

She rolled her eyes at him, but chose not to argue this time. Satisfied, he poured the glasses and set out coasters on the table before summoning a chair from the dining room and pulling it up beside the armchair Hermione had sunk into.

'When do you head back to work, Severus?' Harry asked as Luna scooped Iris out of his arms to hold so he could drink from his glass.

'Monday,' he answered, frowning. He couldn't believe how quickly the time had gone. In just four days he would be back teaching, and his daughter would be almost a month old.

'I gather you aren't exactly thrilled about this,' Harry said with a smirk.

'What gave that away?'

The younger man shrugged, turning his attention back to the baby in his fiancé's arms. 'She is so pretty,' he mused. 'She looks so much like you, Severus.'

His eyebrows shot up into his hairline. 'I certainly hope not,' he said, looking over at Hermione. 'I am rather hoping she will take after her mother.'

Hermione reached over and batted his arm with a frown creasing lines between her brows. 'Don't say that,' she chastened him lightly. 'He thinks that he doesn't have any features worth passing on, but he has conveniently forgotten how awkward looking I was as a pre-teen.'

Severus felt himself bristle a little under the scrutiny of the other three adults in the room. 'Yes, well. Most are lucky to only have to suffer through a few years of awkwardness as they come into their teens. Mine followed me well into adulthood.'

'We're going to have words about this later,' Hermione informed him, her voice carrying a warning tone.

He shot her a quelling look before glancing up to see that Harry and Luna both had amused expressions. He sighed internally. They might have been two of the people closest to them, but he was still ill at ease with emotional demonstrations in front of others despite the number of years they had already been together. However, Harry had many more years of experience with his wife and her stubbornness, and he could detect a hint of sympathy coming from the younger man.

'So,' Hermione began, changing the topic to his relief. 'Are you two starting to feel the excitement yet?'

She was, of course, referring to the upcoming nuptials of the couple before them. In a little over a month they would be getting married right in the middle of the summer. He wasn't certain, but he had a feeling they had done so deliberately to make it easier on the Hogwarts staff who were to attend – himself included. He often liked to forget that he was going to be in the wedding party, standing beside Harry as his best man. The pair had settled on a Muggle-style wedding ceremony, much to his dismay. Severus wouldn't have even enjoyed his own wedding if it weren't for the fact that Hermione would be his wife by the end of it.

'Work has kept us much occupied,' Luna answered with a grin. 'This is why we need you, Hermione.'

He saw the blush creep up his wife's neck and fill her cheeks with colour.

'I don't know about need, but I am at your disposal if there is anything you need me to chase up for you,' she offered.

'I'll owl you a list,' the younger woman said with a grateful smile.

The rest of the afternoon was spent sipping lemonade, chatting about the wedding, and fawning over Iris. There was a while where Hermione left the room to nurse her, mindful of having company over. Nobody would have minded her staying, but she actually enjoyed the peaceful moments alone to bond with her daughter, so he was hardly going to take that away from her. Some two hours later, Harry and Luna departed for their home so that they were well rested for the next day when their next issue of the Quibbler launched for the week.

Severus settled Iris into the crib downstairs so that he could watch over her while Hermione had a short nap upstairs as she had been up with their child all night with a small fever. She wasn't sick, but she had been concerned and wanted to be available to care for her at a moments' notice. He was a little worried about the amount of sleep that she was getting – he was averaging three to four hours a night, and she was getting even less than that. He was determined to help her find a better pattern before the weekend was over and he was back at work.

He turned his attention to the book in his hand, and gazed fondly over at the sleeping little angel nearby. Even if he never slept another wink, he would not regret bringing her little life into the world with the woman he loved.

The summer heat made the castle stifling, and every single window in the place had been thrown open wide to allow for some air flow.

Severus was fortunate that in the dungeons it was a little cooler, so regulating heat was simpler. It was cooler down there year-round in his classroom, which offset the extra heat generated by the cauldrons. Not enough to stop his lank hair from becoming oily though. He had taken to tying his longer locks back now that he wore the length past his shoulders, which stopped it from looking quite so bad.

He had been back to teaching for a week, and he already missed the peacefulness of his home and spending time with his wife and daughter. Most nights when he had returned home, they were already tucked up in bed together asleep. It wasn't all bad though. He would pick up his daughter and feed her a bottle of formula, and put her in the cradle beside their bed before he curled around Hermione to sleep. He loved pushing his legs up behind her and pressing kisses to the back of her neck before sleep would claim him.

He wouldn't stir when she got up with Iris through the night. Severus did miss getting to spend time talking to her – but they were nearly always tired these days.

Staring out at the silent classroom, he watched as his third-year Slytherin-Hufflepuff class worked on their potions practical for the day. They were brewing Babbling Beverage that day, and at the end of the class, each of the students would test their own brew before him after he had a chance to inspect a small sample vial of the potion. He did not envy whoever had them for their next lesson for the day – the potion lasted for up to an hour.

That afternoon he had a free period, and he fully intended to spend the time brewing in his own lab to begin the restocking of the infirmary for Poppy. Between teaching, patrols, his Head of House and Deputy Headmaster duties, marking, and brewing, he barely had any time to himself. He was heavily considering relinquishing his role as the Head of Slytherin because he didn't live on the school grounds. He rather thought Septima Vector might be up to the job, and he resolved to speak to Minerva about it soon.

Glancing up at the class once more, he noted the time and stood from his desk, coming around to stand in front of it before addressing them.

'You all have five minutes left to complete your potions, and should be coming up to the final step of brewing if you have been diligently following the instructions,' he announced. 'Once complete, I expect you to decant one vial of your potion and bring it up to me for assessment.'

He heard a soft murmur through the room as some of his students began to panic, and smirked a little. Even without any threats, the students were fearful of him. Though these days, they largely feared him passing judgement on their work. He was the hardest professor in the entire school to please, and he prided himself on it. He walked around the room, glancing over shoulders into the cauldrons, with varying results forthcoming. There were already some definite fails, and those students would luckily be saved from having to taste their brew – he didn't want any of them poisoned by their own incompetence.

'Your time is now up,' he said abruptly, moving back to sit behind his desk. 'Form a single file once you have decanted your brew.'

Two thirds of the students ended up having to drink their brews, and the rest of them were silent as they trudged out of the dungeons, having failed their potions practical. Before the war, the success rate was much lower, due to his teaching style at the time. There had naturally been a marked improvement once he was able to teach as he desired. He waved a hand in the direction of the door and it snapped shut. He had a free period for the last one of that day, and fully intended to spend it catching up on brewing for the infirmary. By the time dinner was approaching, he had finished brewing more Pepper-up potion, and had the base for Blood Replenishing potion ready to complete the following day.

He warded his classroom and his lab on his way up to the Great Hall, and once inside, took his seat at the high table beside Minerva.

'How were your classes today, my dear?' Minerva asked him, as she piled food onto her plate.

Severus bristled a little under her affectionate address. 'My classes were fine, the students were passable, and I got some brewing done for the infirmary,' he answered, listing off the events of the day.

'Oh Severus, you are so droll,' she said with a dry chuckle.

He frowned and ignored her as he piled food onto his plate. 'Minerva, I do not have the luxury of time in this period of my life, so forgive me if I am not the most companionable conversationalist,' he snapped.

He felt a hand on his arm a moment later and glanced over at Minerva. 'Shall we have a chat sometime soon?' she asked, her tone softened.

'Perhaps,' he answered quietly.

'How is Hermione?' she asked, concerned.

'She is tired,' he said truthfully. They both were. Parenting was hard.

'I should go see her soon,' Minerva mused. 'Iris is quite the favourite here. I'd love to see them both.'

'I'll tell Hermione to send word when she is going to be home for a visit,' he told her.

Minerva nodded and removed her hand from him, returning her focus to her food. She didn't try to ply him with conversation – nor did Poppy on his other side. She was good at sensing his moods, and often avoided trying to push his buttons during those instances. He gratefully consumed his meal silently, listening to the conversations swirling around him while he contemplated what was left of his day. He still had patrols that evening before he could return home.

As dinner came to a close, he stood up from the table so he could head to the dungeons before prowling the halls to catch the students out of bed past curfew. He was stopped, however, by a hand on his arm, the Headmistress once again invading his personal space.

'Can I help you, Minerva?' he asked.

'Yes, you can actually,' she said with a small smile. 'Take the rest of the night off, dear. Go home to your wife and child and leave patrolling the halls to me. I could use the exercise and frankly, it will catch the children off-guard.'

'You don't have to do this,' he told her.

'I want to,' she said firmly. 'Let me do this for you. I can see how tired you are, and I am certain you aren't getting close to the amount of sleep you need. Take care of your wife – she would probably appreciate having you home early for once.'

He paused, wanting to argue that he had duties to the school, but the tired part of his brain that missed Hermione won out and he nodded. 'Thank you,' he said quietly.

'You're very welcome, dear,' she said with motherly affection. 'Now off with you.'

He nodded and turned on his heel and was out of the hall in moments, his long legs carrying him swiftly down to the dungeons. He made it to his quarters and soon had floo powder in his hand and was calling out his destination and stepping through the fireplace in his sitting room at home. He shrugged out of his teaching robes, hanging them on the hooks by the front door before silently stalking through the house, looking for Hermione.

When he did not find her on the ground level, he mounted the stairs two at a time until he was on the upstairs landing. Making his way towards the bedroom, he became immediately concerned when he heard soft sniffling sounds coming from within. Frowning slightly, he walked in and what he saw broke his heart into tiny pieces. Iris was asleep, tucked into her crib soundly, and Hermione was curled up in the armchair near the window, her cheeks pink and streaked with tears, and her eyes red-rimmed from crying.

She looked up at him, eyes widening in surprise. 'Severus?' she said weakly.

He was over by her side in seconds, dropping to his knees before her and grasping both of her hands with his. 'Are you well?' he asked, pressing his lips to her fingers.

She hung her head forward, looking down and refusing to meet his eyes. 'I'm sorry,' she said with a small sob.

'Love, you have nothing to be sorry for,' he said insistently, his concern growing. 'Tell me what has distressed you to this extreme.'

'I can't do it,' she told him, defeat in her voice. 'I'm not cut out for this. I don't have what it takes to be a mother. Iris – and you – deserve so much better.'

He raised his brows in disbelief. 'What on earth are you talking about?' he said, incredulous. 'Hermione you are a wonderful mother. If anything, I am the one at fault here. I have left you with too much to bear on your own this past week. I'm sorry I have not been a good husband or father.'

She let out a loud, gasping sob, and his arms were filled with her as she shuddered, and cries wracked her tiny frame. He pushed himself to stand without breaking contact with her, scooping her up into his arms before sitting on the armchair with her gathered up in his lap. He gently rocked her, rubbing his hand over her back in a comforting gesture, murmuring softly into her ear to soothe her. After a few minutes, she seemed to calm down, and her body ceased to tremble quite so much. He summoned a tissue box with his free hand, and pressed it into Hermione's grasp. She accepted it with a grateful, if watery, smile.

He watched silently as she wiped her tears and blew her nose, using up quite a few tissues. Once she was done trying to compose herself, she wordlessly banished the used tissues to the bin, and turned to finally look Severus in the eye.

'What brought this on?' he asked gently.

'I'm just so tired, and I've barely seen you all week,' she admitted shyly. 'I've missed you, and I just feel like I am not doing my best. I just don't want Iris to end up a mess because her own mother has utterly failed her.'

Severus shook his head vehemently. 'You are no failure, Hermione,' he said seriously. 'As I said earlier, the blame lies with me. I have been so preoccupied at the school this week, I have neglected you both shamefully.'

'You have duties though,' she argued.

'I also have a duty to you and our daughter, and I have failed at keeping up my end of the bargain,' he said in a tone that brooked no argument. 'We knew there would be an adjustment period, but it has become apparent to me that I will need to make some changes in order to see you more. I've missed you too, my love. I enjoy talking to you, and I have been deprived of your company in a way that I am not comfortable with continuing.'

'What are you going to do?' she asked.

'I will meet with Minerva, and ask to be relieved of my duties as Head of Slytherin,' he said seriously. 'I could do without the extra stress and time spent at the castle on top of being her Deputy. And I know for a fact she'd rather lose me as Head of House than lose me as her deputy.'

Hermione nodded sadly, her eyes tearing up again. 'I hate that you feel like you have to do this for us,' she said, pouting.

He shook his head. 'This is no great sacrifice,' he told her. 'You and Iris are far more important to me – you are too important to me. I would quit this job today if it would make you happy.'

It was her turn to shake her head and snigger. 'Hell would freeze over before I'd even think of taking you away from Minerva and the school.'

He chuckled and held her tight, burying his face into her hair and kissing her behind the ear. She let out a soft sigh, and he smiled at the sound. At least he had managed to stop the flow of tears for a little while at least. He felt like an arse – he had been so wrapped up at the school he had managed to neglect his wonderful wife and leave her to essentially fend for herself.

'I promise I will work harder to be worthy of you both,' he vowed.

'We will both work hard,' she said, cupping his cheek gently, and surging upwards to close the gap between their lips in a soft kiss.

He closed his eyes and savoured this kiss – it was the first one they had exchanged in a week, and he had also missed supping from Hermione's wonderfully soft, plump little petals. He returned her kiss with a little more fervour, but soon broke away as Iris stirred and began to softly cry for a little attention. Hermione slid off his lap and moved over to pick her up. He was on his feet in seconds and immediately reached past her and lifted their crying infant into his arms, holding her so her head was on his shoulder and he rubbed her little back in a soothing and gentle manner.

The bright smile his wife gave him then, made all of the stress just melt away like ice in the middle of a hot summer day.

Cooling charms were just not going to cut it that summer – the weather was almost visible, casting a strange mirage across the ground from the humidity and heat.

Severus sighed heavily and unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt, rolling the sleeves up to his elbows and unbuttoning the collar as well. The windows of the house had all been thrown open, and many charms had been cast to try and give some relief. But they would only go so far. He was tempted to jump into a cold shower, but he was at home alone, watching over Iris. She had been upset all day too – uncomfortably hot and miserable, and unable to stay asleep for long stretches of time.

Hermione was in London with Luna Lovegood that day, running a few errands related to the Potter wedding, and taking her to her final dress fitting at the bridal shop. Severus had just been relieved that they hadn't asked him to go along with them and Iris. However hot it was at home, he certainly preferred it to shopping in Muggle London. He knew his wife was not one for shopping either, but she was a bit of a swot when it came to planning, so she was in her element escorting the bride around on wedding duties.

He looked up at the clock on the mantle and saw that it was nearing four in the afternoon. As sunset approached, he was hoping the heat would dissipate some with it. Severus also anticipated that the two women would be returning home from their trip soon. Putting down the book he was struggling to focus on, he swiped his arm across his damp forehead, slicking back the hair that had come loose from the elastic holding the majority of it off his face. He walked over to the crib and saw that Iris was stirring from sleep yet again.

He plucked her out, holding her against him and walking with her upstairs. They both needed to get cool, so he decided a shower would be necessary.

He placed her on the bed and undress first himself, and then her, and carried her into the shower, casting a Bubblehead charm over her before stepping into the cold spray of the water. She gurgled cheerfully in the water – his daughter loved her bath time, and would kick her legs in excitement every time. She flapped her arms around, her little fists pounding gently into his chest and shoulder as her legs kicked. She was a lot like her mother already, and he loved it.

He chuckled at her antics, swiping the gentle baby soap from the side of the bathtub and with a washcloth, made sure she was squeaky clean before rinsing her off under the spray, holding her very carefully. Once she was suds-free, he turned off the faucet and cast a drying charm on them both and tucking a towel around his waist. He prioritised re-dressing Iris and walked to the baby room, efficiently dressing her in a diaper and a little sleeveless dress covered in sunflowers that Hermione insisted was 'just darling on her'. He rolled his eyes and snorted a laugh, carrying her back to their bedroom and placing her in the crib there so he could dress once more. He selected some comfortable lightweight trousers, and a fresh white shirt which he immediately rolled the sleeves on.

Once he was satisfied they were both refreshed, he lifted Iris into his arms and made his way down to the sitting room once more. As he approached the doorway to the sitting room, he heard the Floo come to life and Hermione stepped through, closely followed by Luna. He smiled when he saw her, and she beamed at the sight of him with their daughter in his arms.

'Don't you two look good,' she gushed, walking over to him and craning up to kiss him on the cheek swiftly.

He ducked his head a little to receive the kiss, and allowed her to take their daughter from him. 'We just got clean,' he said wryly. 'She's probably a little peckish now.'

Hermione nodded, and moved over to the lounge and draped a shawl around her shoulders before settling Iris to latch on for her afternoon feed. Luna joined her there, smiling from their domestic exchange, no doubt.

'Was your trip to London a success?' he asked, perching in the armchair.

Luna nodded enthusiastically. 'It all went smashingly,' she answered. 'The dress fits perfectly, all of the other organisational bits are taken care of, and I think everything is going to go splendidly in a few weeks' time.'

Severus nodded. Luna and Harry's wedding was roughly three weeks away, and after that he and Hermione would be taking Iris to Sydney to visit with her parents before the summer break was over. The last few weeks of the school term had been busy, but Severus had managed to find a way to balance his work and home life a little better so that he was able to better support Hermione after the night he had come home to find her upset.

Septima Vector had indeed taken over the Slytherin Head of House role, and with one less thing on his plate, he was able to go home after dinner and spend time being a father and husband, and only had to be at the castle every other weekend. He had been grateful to Minerva for being so accommodating, but she had waved him off and demanded that he make good use of the time. And he had done his best to take advantage of the break she had given him.

'Anything Hermione has had a hand in organising will no doubt go off without a hitch,' he said, returning his attention to the conversation.

Hermione's cheeks flushed red at his praise. 'It's nothing, really,' she said quietly.

'Don't be modest, Hermione,' Luna told her. 'You have no idea how much Harry and I appreciate all of the work you have put in for us!'

Severus smirked as she glowed bright red in her embarrassment. His wife was far too humble for her own good sometimes. 'Accept the praise, my dear, or we shall continue to badger with it,' he said, sitting back in the armchair smugly.

Hermione huffed, and shifted her clothing back into place, removing the shawl as Iris was finished with feeding. She lifted the baby up to her shoulder and firmly patted her on the back until she emitted a tiny belch. Smiling, Hermione sat back with Iris still propped up on her shoulder so that she could look around a little – she was going to be a very busy and curious child as she got older, and they weren't sure who was more to blame.

'When was the last time you both had a night off together, just the two of you?' Luna asked, breaking the silence.

'Since before my parents came here for Iris's birth,' Hermione answered.

'Why don't Harry and I take Iris for the night so you two can catch up on some sleep and have some alone time?' the younger woman offered with a smile.

Severus looked up at her in surprise. 'That is an unnecessarily kind offer,' he said quietly.

She waved him off. 'It'd be our pleasure,' she said with a smile. 'I'd love to take care of my goddaughter for the night.'

He sat and stared for a moment, before looking over to Hermione who seemed uncertain but not unwilling. 'Okay?'

His wife nodded, turning back to her friend. 'We would appreciate it,' she said gratefully.

Iris was still young, but certainly old enough to spend the night with their friends. Harry and Luna were responsible and loved their daughter as though she was their own.

'I'll pack you a bag,' he said, standing up from his seat.

Luna beamed at them. Severus left the room and was soon up in the nursery summoning clothes and diapers, and toys for the baby bag. He walked back downstairs and to the kitchen, placing bottles and a small container of formula and a couple of bottles of preserved breast milk into the pockets. Hermione would sometimes express her milk supply to have some on hand for when she wasn't up for breastfeeding, and to keep the supply somewhat steady. She had decided from the start she would try to feed their daughter as the primary source until she was roughly six months old.

When he returned to the sitting room with everything they needed in tow, Hermione was carefully arranging their daughter in the baby carrier they'd placed some protective enchantments on for travel. Luna took the bag from him and smirked at him, and Severus realised that he probably looked concerned and tried to relax his frown. Joining his wife, they peered into the carrier and he leaned forward to kiss the top of Iris's head.

'Goodbye my little love,' he murmured quietly. 'We'll see you in the morning.'

When he pulled back, he could see both women were looking at him with goofy smiles. He rolled his eyes and stepped aside for his wife to bid goodbye to their daughter. Soon Luna was piled up with everything and had the baby carried firmly held against her. She stepped into the green flames of the floo, and soon the new parents stood side-by-side and simply stared at the spot where their daughter had been just moments before.

'Do you think it gets easier with time?' Hermione asked, breaking the silence.

'I think it might get harder,' he said wryly.

'Let's go upstairs,' she said, turning towards him and grasping one of his large hands.

'I'm not tired, wife,' he grumbled.

'Who said anything about sleeping?' she teased, placing a hand on his chest to steady herself and leaning up to press a kiss to his surprised lips.

Severus thought to himself, as his lovely young wife led him up to their bedroom, that he just might be able to get used to people babysitting his daughter, if it meant he was able to make love to his wife again.

To be continued.

A/N - Big love to my beta Aurora_Borealis3406.