~Sunday

They met down in the foyer at 10 to floo over to Harry's.

'Blimey, Mione can't you give notice when you're going bring the greasy dungeon bat over!' Ron yelled as he picked himself up off the floor.

'RONALD WEASLEY what have I told you about calling Professor Snape that! One more time and I will find the soap and wash your mouth out! Do you hear me?' she screamed across the kitchen. 'Welcome Professor.'

'Please everyone call me Severus as I am no longer your teacher and hopefully we will become friends.'

'Not likely!' Ron spat.

'I heard that, where is the soap?' Molly screeched, as Ron sunk down in his chair. Hermione went to help fix brunch, well more like take instructions from Molly.

'How can I help, Molly?' he stood next to her looking for directions and hoping to build trust with her.

She pulled him outside, 'What are your intentions with our Hermione?'

'To give her the best life possible if she will have me?'

'Ok don't make me jinx you, I did take care of Bellatrix, so you will be no problem!'

'Yes ma'am, you have my word.' holding hands up in surrender, as she nodded and turned to go back in.

'Fine, can you put these on the table.' earning him a smile from Hermione. 'Thank you Severus, you're more help than these boys.'

'Suck up.' Ron whispered just loud enough for Severus to hear.

'Yes, but I have the blessing of your mother and Hermione's eyes, what do you have?' he whispered back. Remembering Ron crush on Hermione. Ron just scowled.

Bruch was fun, a few snide remarks from Ron, but all in all fun, bantering between an old professor and his past students. Talk of past pranks and misdeeds and the comment well it's too late to punish us now came up often. Severus rose to start clearing plates as talk of the quidditch match started.

'No Severus the boys can do it as they didn't help earlier.' Molly chided.

'No let the boys go play the meal was delicious it is the least I can do. Go boys!' he spoke in his class room voice.

'Thanks mate!' the twins and Harry said in unison. Ron stomped out.

'Hey, let me give you a hand.' as Hermione scraped the plates and stacked them up. 'By hand?'

'Yes there is something calming about washing dishes the muggle way.' He said in his baritone voice. They had everything wash, dried and stacked in no time. They went out to watch the match it was fun. Severus would heckle them any chance he could. On one break Ron pulled Hermione to the side.

'Why are you being so friendly to the greasy dungeon bat, Mione, everything he has done he's a death eater for merlin baggy pants.'

'Ronald Weasley just because I won't date you doesn't mean I can't date him! I have to get married, he has been way nicer in the last two days than Lucius Malfoy was in the whole week in his company. I'm sorry I have always thought he was handsome, I have had the chance to talk to him since the war and he has shown me remorse for everything he has done, so I forgive him. If you can't believe that I might just be happy to one not have to marry Malfoy or Yaxley but to marry someone who might just like me enough to make life bearable. Do you think this is easy for him? So if you can't accept him I guess we will have nothing more to say to each other and I will stop coming over here on Sundays from now on.' She turned to return to the crowd.

'Mione, please, I'm sorry.' Ron spoke on deaf ears. Severus had heard the whole conversation. He used this time to get back in the hallway near the loo. She did like him? So would winning her from Malfoy be easy? He couldn't provide the riches he had but was love enough for her.

'Sorry guys I have a headache, so bye for now see you all soon.' getting hugs from all but Ron.

'Are you ready?' as she grabbed his arm to leave, they apparated to Malfoy manor front gate, and walked home.

'Are you ok? Mione?'

'Um, yes just Ron being a prat, he might be your only enemy all the others seem to give their blessings for us to date, but just the same I don't really need him in my life anyways.'

'Hey don't say that, you spent how many months searching horcruxes? He is just blind to a school yard crush, he has Lavender now so I don't know why he is still wishing on you. He will see one day that hopefully I can make you happy and that he has a beautiful, to him, lady in his life.' with that Hermione laughed.

'Yea, One day maybe...' as she put her hand in Severus's, as they walked into the house. 'So what sounds good for dinner?'

'Well we had a big brunch how about some sandwiches?' as he pulled her into the kitchen and open the icebox, grabbing the lunchmeat and bread out of the bread box. 'Can you find the crisps?' pointing to the pantry.

'How did I not see you here all last week?'

'Well, when I saw you last Saturday, I stayed up in my wing as not to disturb you two, hoping you might be a good match for Lucius. You have enough chutzpah to set him straight.'

'Well I guess you know last week wasn't all sunshine and roses. Did you talk to him before he left for Paris?'

'Well he just said he would be proud to have you as a wife.'

'Sev is that really want he said? Please tell me the truth, I can handle it.' she said with desperation in her voice.

'Yes why? Did he hurt you?' with fear in his voice.

'No only if a kiss on the cheek five time counts as abuse.' with a half grin. 'I shouldn't be talking but if he told you I would be a fine wife then. I can tell you he is oblivious to the world around him. I spent most of my day knitting with Tinky! A quick dinner and back to work, the only reason he took me to Paris was because he felt bad, I blew up on him, saying I needed more time, less money to satisfy me. We had a picnic down by the pond…. a table set up with a full lunch, not a basket and blanket pond side, a full lunch with china and silverware. I made pizza one night the look of horror crossed his face that he would have to eat with his hands, that one was fun though. But he spent most of last week working and after you said everybody was given time off to date it just infuriated me, and I just hope our week goes much better.'

'Well can I call you Mione? I like it?'

'Yes, I would like it too.'

'Mione I can't give you riches. I make enough to pay for a house and bills from my hero's reward, and my royalties from books and potions but whatever I have would be yours. I can only hope I have enough love for you that is if you truly want to be with this old greasy dungeon bat. I would love the chance to love the Gryffindor Princess with everything I have. I know this is too soon but I have never felt so comfortable with anyone. So I am truly sorry if I am chasing you off but I just felt you need to know my feeling. Oh merlins here I go rambling on to you. Merlins you have me tied in knots.' He looked down to his hands wringing them like a worried house elf.

'Severus Tobias Snape.' He looked up in disbelief. 'Yes I know your whole given name. I remembered it from the awards ceremony. I have and along with hundreds of the other school girls had a crush on you! Yes me, had a crush on you, as long as you promise to be true to yourself, true to me and tolerate my friends we might just work out. Yes I agree this is fast but it feels right. From the first day you found the books for me, all of the talking we did Saturday night, to the calm feeling I get when I'm around you. No I'm not happy about yours and Ron's snarky remarks but he deserved them and I will look the other way but you set everyone else at Grimmauld Place at ease.' she reached over to hug him. 'Yes the Gryffindor Princess want's to date the old greasy dungeon bat.' Severus kissed the crook of her neck her gave a small groan, he pushed her away.

'Well we all signed a contract to maintain your virtue until you choose your perfect mate so the next few weeks we will spend time getting to know each other.

'Well if it goes like last week I can sit in the library with you and he would probably never notice. Do we need the full 2 months?'

'I don't know, I will ask when I'm at work tomorrow. I do have to work late Tuesday and Thursday all the rest are half days. I'm sorry but those are the long brew days, and if I could change them I would.' looking sorry to leave her by herself for the afternoon.

'Severus I don't mind really, as long as when you come home a 5 you are home to spend time with me. I know you will have to work at home sometimes but can I be in the same room as you? You don't need to talk to me just being in the same room is enough. The last week being totally ignored hurt I was no better than the painting on the wall. One evening he was go engrossed in his paper it was two hours before he noticed I was there and it was only when Harpy announced dinner did he notice me.'

'I am so sorry Mione he can be a self-centered prat some times. He'll realize he screwed up after its all over.' as he hugged Hermione again. 'Are you ready to eat now?'

'Yes.' as she grabbed the sandwiches they had made and Severus grabbed the chips and butterbeers. They went to the living room and sat on the sofa. Hermione turned to sit side ways and tucked her toes under Severus's leg and began to eat. She noticed the look on his face and not sure how to read it. 'Is this ok?' as she wiggled her toes under his leg.

With a big sigh, 'Yes it is just fine.' as he rubbed the back of her calf with a smile on his face.

'Good this is how I like to sit in the evenings while I knit and you work!' she stated with a sly grin on her face.

'Well if I must put up with the torture every night. I guess I will have to learn to live with it, it will be my penance for all of the detentions I gave out.' in his surliest tone but with a big smile on his face. Merlin how was he gonna keep this one from getting away, this was pure bliss. Hermione just wiggled her toes and giggled. At 9 he escorted to her room this time and gave her a kiss on the cheek and the crook of her neck. 'Well I must leave before I break my contract and get us both in trouble, will I see you at breakfast?' thinking she enjoyed the lie in's she had been known to do.

'You leave just before 8 right?' he nodded 'Well I might have a good enough reason to be up that early.' she kissed him on the cheek and closed her door.