A/N: Okay this is like my 4th time trying to upload this, so I'm tired of the Author notes. This is the epilogue. Thank you for your support. Love Always- Bookworm

After a long nine months, Hermione gave birth to a girl, Aila, that Severus insisted would be the smartest and most beautiful witch to live. They, as a couple, had appointed Draco and Neville as godfathers. They took the position quite seriously, going so far as to take her to their classes every now and then when Severus was having a rather busy day at the shop. More than once, they had both asked Severus and Hermione if they were going to get married, Hermione only ever shrugged, and Severus would only ever raise a single eyebrow.

"Do you want to marry me?" Severus had once asked softly as they stood over their daughter, admiring her as she slept.

"Is that a proposal?" Hermione asked, letting out a soft chuckle as she looked up at him.

"Do you want it to be?" He asked, smirking.

"If that's something you want… we could." Hermione shrugged, gazing back down at their child. "But I don't really see the point. We live together, we have her. What more do we need?" She whispered, reaching out and lightly touching Aila on her cheek.

"You'll be content, not being married?" Severus had asked.

"Severus, I'm more than content." She smiled at him as he nodded.

That had been the end of the conversation, though the next school year she had started going by 'Professor Snape'. She thought it funny, that she was continuing on the legacy of Snape potion masters teaching at Hogwarts. Students that had heard of the previous Snape always came into her class looking apprehensive, only to look relieved to find a woman instead of the man they had heard of. By the time they left her class, she was pleased to hear the mutterings of how strict she had been. She personally thought that only the strict professors ever left any sort of impression on their students.

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At eleven, Aila had already been helping her father in the shop for two years. She had frequented Hogwarts far more than anyone under eleven should be, and had owned her own wand for over a year. Severus and Hermione had considered schooling her at home, but had ultimately decided against it when Minerva, Draco, and Neville had all threatened to leave their posts if she didn't attend Hogwarts.

They had been unsure about Aila staying at the castle, she was the daughter of Severus Snape after all, and undoubtedly would be bullied because of it. However, she bargained with her parents, and was allowed to stay at the castle as long as she came home for dinner on Sunday evenings.

She had quickly been placed in Slytherin, much to the disappointment of the Headmistress and one of her godfathers. She thrived at Hogwarts, becoming the top student in her class in a matter of weeks. Much like both of her parents, she hated flying, and preferred studying in the library on days there was a match.

She remained the only child of Severus Snape and Hermione Granger, claiming that the world wouldn't be able to handle two of their children. In reality, her mother was unable to have any more children. Hermione had almost died giving birth to Aila, and Severus had made the decision that she be sterilized. Luckily, Hermione was understanding, and counted them lucky that Aila had been born.

At Seventeen, she was working almost full time in her father's shop after school. Severus' clientele had grown exponentially, he was now brewing for multiple hospitals, across many different countries, on top of individual orders. She had inherited her father's raw talent for brewing, on top of her mother's brain. She was a force to be reckoned with, inside and outside of Hogwarts.

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Losing Minerva had been one of the most difficult things the Snapes had ever been through. Severus had just turned 80, and though he had always been a quiet man, he didn't speak to anyone but Hermione and their daughter for almost a year. Aila had all but taken over the shop, and her own children now attended Hogwarts. Hermione was given the job of Headmistress, the potions professor vacancy was given to a wizard from Greece who reminded Hermione of her stoic not-husband.

Severus had moved into the castle with Hermione years ago, giving their small home to their daughter and her own family. Though Hermione had insisted that all of their books be moved from the house to her private library in the castle.

Ten more years had gone by until Hermione had to face the reality that Severus would not always be by her side. He had gone to France for some ingredients when a bout of dragonpox swept through the country. Hermione wasn't even able to hug him when he came back home, he had noticed the greenish hue to his skin and the small purple marks that littered his skin, and insisted that she fetch all of his important documents so that he could go over them while at the hospital.

He passed away after a long week, surrounded by his family that had continued to grow over the years. Aila had sobbed for hours, while her mother comforted her softly. Hermione had insisted on a small memorial service, only allowing their closest friends and family. Severus had always been a private man, she wasn't about to allow anyone to encroach on that. In fact, Draco and Neville were the only ones allowed that weren't blood related to Severus. They had never announced their relationship, but Hermione smiled when she caught them holding hands at Severus' funeral.

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Hermione, through Severus' will, was given Prince Potions. She retired from Hogwarts, and took over running the business alongside her family. The Snape's were all gifted with exceptional potion brewing skills, and many of them worked at the shop at one time or another. Even Aila's husband helped, though he was more adept at herbology than anything else.

With Hermione's help, Prince Potions opened another shop in Diagon Alley, one of her grandchildren running it. She never became close friends with the Potter's or Weasley's again, though every once in a while they would pop by the shop in Hogsmeade to see how she was.

She lived almost another century without Severus, before a bad potion leaving her bed bound and very ill. She had lived a long, full life. Though her family begged for her to hold on longer, she was nearing two hundred and only wanted to be with Severus again.

"Mum… please don't leave me." Aila had begged her, tears flowing from her black eyes and onto her wrinkled cheeks. Her wildly curly black hair was more grey than the inky color that she had gotten from her father.

"Darling…" Hermione sighed, touching her daughter's cheek gently. "I'm ready."

"Mum… I'll miss you."

"You'll be fine… We had a long life together, love." Hermione told her, smiling. She struggled for breath slightly, and she took a minute to try to take a deep breath.

"Tell me again." Aila whispered, holding Hermione's hand to her cheek.

"Tell you what?" Hermione asked, closing her eyes and smiling at her daughter's answer.

"You and dad… tell me again how you fell in love." Aila requested.

"Of course. Severus had been my professor…." She took a long breath before she continued. "I didn't love him then, of course. I didn't love him until after Voldemort." She said. Aila waited patiently by her side as she told the story again, probably for the hundredth time. She could recite it in her sleep, backwards, she could tell the story without thinking. As she finished the story of herself and Severus, she drew her last breath.

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"Took you long enough, witch." For the first time in a very long time, Hermione heard Severus' voice. She smiled at the man in front of her, and he smirked back at her.

"I'm so sorry Severus, had to make sure that the children would be alright." She told him, striding forward and grasping his face between her hands. She idly noticed that her hands were now wrinkle-free, and she realized that the Severus in front of her wasn't the elderly man that had died in front of her, but the Young man that she had fallen for all those years ago.

"I'm glad you're home." Severus said gently.

"I missed you." She told him. "You left me far too early."

"I'm sorry, love. I never meant to go so soon." He apologized, leaning his cheeks into her palms.

"Never leave me again." She told him, leaning forward for a kiss.

"I never have to." Severus informed her, pulling her close and pressing his lips to hers.