A week had passed since Severus had returned and tonight he and Hermoine were going out with Harry and Ginny for dinner in Diagon Alley. While he knew he would hate the stares he would get, he wanted to get it over with. Draco had recommended a newly opened restaurant. Il Meridiano, Draco had told him, placed a high emphasis on privacy, and once the two couples entered the restaurant there would be no chance of press seeing them.

He had just reached the bottom of the stairs when two pops of Apparation sounded in the front garden. Opening the door, he saw the two Potter's walking towards him. Harry was dressed in a black suit, and Ginny in a tight fitting, emerald green cocktail dress. Severus raised an eyebrow at the small bump between her hips but said nothing.

"Good Evening, sir," Harry said, shaking his hand before dropping it to sit on Ginny's stomach. "We figured tonight would be as good a night as any to announce that we're expecting."

"You're pregnant?!"

Snape hadn't heard Hermione come down the stairs, and her screech of excitement made his eardrums vibrate.

"Sixteen weeks today." Ginny beamed at her friend before she was pulled into a tight hug.

"Congratulations, Harry," Severus said as he watched the two girls hug and talk about… well whatever it is women talk about when they find out one of them is pregnant.

The women turned to him and his breath caught at the sight of Hermione. She had tamed her wild curls into long, loose waves. While he could tell she was wearing makeup, it was light and looked natural. She was wearing a steel grey satin dress that flared slightly from her hips before ending a few inches above her knees.

"Wow, 'Mi. You look…" Harry seemed to lose his ability to speak.

"You look beautiful, Hermione." Severus agreed, suddenly feeling that being seen in public and photographed wouldn't be too bad with her at his side.

"You do look great, 'Mi. I love that color on you." Ginny motioned for her to turn in a circle. "After I have this baby, I want to borrow it."

"Ginny, you are too tall for this dress," Hermoine said. "It would stop a good six inches above your knees."

"I don't mind that." Harry had regained his ability to speak. "Ginny has great legs, might as well show them off. You do look beautiful Hermoine."

"Thank you." A dark blush had spread across her cheeks and Severus couldn't help thinking that she looked even better with it. "So, our reservations are in about a half hour. I told Parvati that we would be leaving the Leaky around seven so we should probably get going. She said she would have a photographer there, so be prepared for the flash."

"What did you tell her, 'Mi?" Ginny asked.

"Just that she would see something she wouldn't want to miss. Severus and I already figured we would talk to her for a minute and tell her the story we came up with. Once people see the flash from the pictures, they may start to come over so we will want to be quick to avoid it. Everyone ready?"

Harry and Ginny walked outside, but Severus hesitated for a moment before following them. He wanted to wrap the woman beside him in his arms and tell the Potters to go to dinner without them while he worked on getting her out of that dress. Knowing that wasn't really an option, he used his Slytherin skills to get the next best thing.

"Hermione, I remember the Apparition point, but just in case. Do you mind taking me via side-along?" Internally he smirked at his cleverness.

"Of course, Severus." Hermione smiled sweetly at him before wrapping her arms around his waist.


Arriving in the alley two buildings away from the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione kept her arms wrapped around Severus. She had been pleased when he asked her to side-along him. The sight of him in his well fitted Muggle suit was enough to make her knees go weak. Now that he no longer had oily hair, his black locks looked soft and well loved. He had pulled it back into a low queue, and reminded her of the period dramas she liked to watch as a child.

"You smell amazing, Severus." Hermione said. "I've never noticed you wearing cologne before." She leaned in, smelling him.

"That is because I don't wear any. It can interfere with the potions," Severus told her. "What you are smelling is the new soap I created yesterday. I am glad the scent is pleasing to you."

Severus couldn't help but feel happy. Hermione only had floral smelling soap in her house, and he had tried a few combinations before finding a mixture he liked best.

Stepping back from her, he offered her his arm to escort her. He didn't want to release her from them embrace they were in, but figured the Potters would come looking for them if they didn't get a move on.

"I didn't know you made your own soap. Is it difficult?" Hermione asked. She had never thought about making her own skincare before.

"It is a simple process. The hardest part is finding ingredients that work together and still smell nice."

"Who smells nice?" They had reached Ginny and Harry and the pregnant lady was eyeing their linked arms.

"Severus does. He was just telling me he makes his own soap." Hermione started to laugh as Ginny moved towards Severus and sniffed at him.

"That's lovely," Ginny said. "You could make a killing selling that."

Severus thought about what she said as they made their was into the pub, trying to move as quickly as possible through it. The Wizarding world in England really only sold unscented soap and a couple of shampoo scents. If he started a line of hygiene products that worked well and smelled good, he probably could 'make a killing'. Something to think about.

"That is a great idea," Severus told her. "Thank you, Mrs Potter."

"You will call me Ginny, or Gin. Never Mrs Potter, or Ginerva." She glared at him with mirth in her eyes.

"As you wish, Ginny."

They had made it through the Leaky without anyone stopping them and they were now in the courtyard behind it. Harry pulled out his wand before turning to look at them.

"Is everyone ready?" Harry asked.

At their nods of approval, he counted three bricks up and two over before tapping it with his wand. The hole in the bricks started to expand.


Tightening her grip on Severus' arm, Hermione took a step forward. They had made it about five steps before she heard someone gasp 'holy fuck'. Looking up at Severus, they grinned at each other before a flash of a camera blinded them.

"Hermione? Professor Snape?"

Glancing around, Hermione saw Parvati standing next to her photographer standing with her mouth open and quill poised over her notebook.

"Hello, Miss Patil," Snape said, nodding to her.

"But you're dead," Parvati said.

"Obviously, I am not dead," he drawled, emphasizing every syllable.

Hermione giggled and Parvati's eyes snapped to hers. "Hermione, I owe you. Big time," she said, straightening her shoulders, Parvating tightened her grip on her quill. "So, Professor, we all thought you were dead. You even had a funeral. Where have you been?"

"As you are aware, the body, which was assumed to be me, was cremated within hours of the end of the battle." Severus said, going through the story they had agreed on earlier. "Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley were in the room when they thought I was attacked by Voldemort's snake, Nagini. What they really saw was me faking my own death with Muggle makeup covering up a pouch of blood I had spell-o-tapped to my neck. As soon as I had given Harry my memories, I fell to the floor as if dead.

"When they left the room, I took a piece of wood from the floor and transfigured it to look like myself. Not knowing who would win the war, I wanted to make sure Voldemort and his followers would think I was dead. In the haste to hold funerals for all the brave people who died that day, no one examined my body close enough to notice it wasn't actually me.

"I fled the country, taking refuge in a friend's home in Iceland for the last six years. I was living wholly in the Muggle world, cut off from all magical contact. I did not know who had even won the war. Not knowing that Harry had revealed my true alliance during the Final Battle, I didn't think I would be welcomed here, either way.

"It wasn't until my friend, who's home I was living in without his knowledge, had a house elf who told him. He wrote to me asking me to come home and meet his young son. I reached out to Minister Shacklebolt who spoke to me about coming back. I arrived in the country late last week."

"Whose house were you staying in?" Parvati asked as she flipped her long hair over her shoulder.

"Draco Malfoy." He continued at her shocked expression. "I am his godfather and we had worked out a plan to use his house if either of us were in mortal peril during the war."

"And what do you plan on doing now that you are back in England?" Parvati's quill was racing across her notepad.

"I have started working on an improved version of Wolfsbane potion. I hoping to help the many people attacked by Greyback live a normal life again."

"I notice you are here with Hermione Granger. Are the two of you dating? How did you reconnected?"

Severus hesitated, they hadn't talked about this. He looked down at Hermione and she gave his arm a squeeze and smiled.

"We reconnected through our mutual friendship with the Minister," Severus said. "And, as you can see, we are on a date. In fact, we need to be on our way so we don't miss our reservation."

Hopefully she's okay with me telling everyone we're on a date. We never discussed it.

"Before you leave, Hermione, how do you feel about Professor Snape being back in England?" Parvati asked, turning her attention to Hermione.

"I am happy that I have been able to reconnect with someone I admire so much," Hermione said. "And while I am looking forward to his work with potions and how it will improve the lives of everyone in Britain, right now I am mostly looking forward to enjoying our date."

"Thank you for your time, Professor, Hermione." Parvati was just going to turn to leave when she noticed Harry and Ginny behind them. "Ginny, are you expecting?"

A flash from the photographer blinded them again. Ginny placed her hand on her small bump and smiled. "Harry and I will welcome our first child in five months."

"Harry, how are you feeling about impending fatherhood?"

"I am over the moon," Harry replied. "Ginny and I have been looking forward to starting a family for a while and we can't wait to meet our newest addition."

"And now the two of you are off to dinner with Professor Snape and Hermione?"

"We are. We are thrilled that Severus is back in the country and we are able to spend time together."


Leaving Parvati and the blinding flash of her photographer behind, they made their way into the restaurant. Upon entering, they were greeted by a young man who spoke to them as he showed them to their room.

"You'll notice all the doors off this hallway," he explained. "Each one leads to a different area so our guests can dine in private. We offer intimate rooms for small groups as well as large groups. Our largest room can accommodate a hundred people. Our owner, who will come in to greet you, wanted each person who entered to feel at ease. He knows how frustrating it can be when you are worried about who will overhear you, or if the press are watching."

Opening the door, he led them into a small room that had a circular table surrounded by four chairs. He allowed Harry and Severus to seat the two ladies, and stopped beside Hermione.

"Miss Granger, this note was left for you."

Taking the note from him, she opened it.

Hermione,

All the house elves are rescues from abusive households or they applied and were hired to work here. They are all paid for their work and they are happy. Please don't try to free them as they are already free.

Draco

She turned to the young man who was just placing a napkin on Ginny's lap. "This mentions house elves?"

"Figures Draco would warn you."

Everyone turned as Blaise Zabini walked into their room, ushering the young man from it. Draco must have told him the publically approved story about Severus because he did not look surprised to see him.

"Hello, everyone," Blaise greeted them. "Thank you for coming to my restaurant."

"I was not aware you owned it," Severus said, reaching out to shake his hand. "I am pleased to see you are doing something productive with your life, Blaise. I always assumed you would be a playboy."

"That was only fun for the first five years, sir." Blaise told him, smiling.

Hermione watched the interaction between Severus and his old student. Once again she was amazed at the ease he seemed to have with people like Draco and Blaise. She had always assumed Snape had been as rude and standoffish with his Slytherins as he had been with the rest of the school.

"Since Draco has already warned Hermione, let me tell you how our service works here," Blaise said. "We employ a group of rescued house elves from here in Britain, as well as Italy. They will come in and take your orders, serve the food, and get you anything you need.

"I decided to employ elves after watching one of my stepfathers abusing his elves. When I talked to the elf, she said even if he freed her, she would stay because she had nowhere to go. This elf, who works in the kitchens here, made the best Italian food. So I got the bastard my mother had married drunk and convinced him to set all his elves free. Now, they all work here.

"By employing them, not only did I get to help the elves that needed it, I also get to ensure my guests eat in a private setting with no humans eavesdropping. Do you have any questions?" Blaise looked around.

"That is such a great thing you are doing, Blaise," Hermione said, beaming at him.

Harry chuckled. "Better watch out Severus, Blaise's love of house elves might lure your date away."

"Well, in order to save your date, sir, I will be on my way." Blaise shook hands with all of them. "Thank you again for coming in. I hope you enjoy your dinner. Have one of the elves find me if you need anything from me."


Hermione was stuffed. Il Meridiano served all the Italian dishes family style, and the four of them had consumed about three families worth of food and wine. The had just finished the best tiramisu Hermione had ever tasted.

"I am pretty sure my baby bump doubled while we were here," Ginny moaned as she rubbed her belly.

"I have never had food that good," Harry said, rubbing his stomach as well.

Hermione nodded. "I agree, Harry. I think is my favourite place now. Did you like it, Severus?"

"It was better than the food I had when I went to Italy for a potions convention. I had no idea risotto could taste like that," he answered.

Coffee and the check appeared on the table in front of them. Hermoine found it interesting how sometimes the elves would appear in the room, but other times they would just magic the food onto the table. It was like they could tell when the guests wanted to have privacy.

Harry tapped his wand to the bill before anyone else could look at it. "Since we still haven't sorted out your vault, and I did give a lot of your money away to charity, the least I could do was pay for dinner."

"As long as you authorised that charge from your vault and not mine, Harry," Severus said, causing the two men to laugh.

"So," Ginny asked. "Does Ron know the truth about your return Severus?"

Ron was currently playing quidditch for the Chudley Cannons. He had made the team four years ago after being a reserve player for two. Right now the team was on a world tour. He had left at the beginning of July and would be gone for most of the next year.

"I am not sure what he was told," Severus said, looking to Hermione for an answer.

"We only told him the public story. Since he wasn't at the funeral, we didn't see the point in telling him the truth." Hermione sipped her espresso before continuing. "We sent him a letter earlier in the week."

Harry and Hermione had attended the funeral for Severus, but even after hearing the truth about Snape, Ron still did not want to go. He didn't feel that helping Harry because he was obsessed with his mum was a good enough reason to forgive him for years of 'being a git'. Severus' funeral had been a very small affair. The only people that had attended were Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, and Poppy Pomfrey. Even though the entire Malfoy family was on house arrest, Draco and Narcissa were also able to attend, with Kingsley as their personal escort. The Ministry would not allow Lucius to attend. They felt that he was a flight risk, even with Auror escort.

On Wednesday, they had met with everyone from the funeral to tell them the truth of his return and give them the option of obliviation or Unbreakable Vow. Hermione had cried when she watched Severus be greeted warmly by his old coworkers and friends. The sweetest reunion had been watching the always composed Narcissa Malfoy sob into his chest. That night he had explained how close his friendship was with the Malfoy matriarch. Hermione finally knew why he was willing to take the Vow to protect Draco in sixth year.

"Are you ready to head home?" Severus asked, placing his hand on Hermione's knee. Butterflies came to life in her stomach at his casual touch.

"I am," she told him. Servus stood, pulling her chair out for her. "Thank you, Severus."

An elf silently appeared to open the door for the four of them. "There is an Apparition point in the lobby you may use."

Severus thought for a moment before talking to the elf. "Thank you, sir. I think we will leave through the front door."

Nodding, the elf hurried ahead of them to open the door onto the street.

"Severus, you don't want to use the Apparition point in here?" Hermione asked. "It would be easier."

She couldn't understand why he didn't want to use it. They had already talked to the press, so they didn't need to be seen again.

"Blaise just opened this place. If we leave through the front, it might give him some publicity. I am sure he could use it." Severus shrugged.

He knew what he had seemed to the outside world, but the truth was, he loved his little snakes and would do anything he could to help them. That applied while he was their Head of House, as well as when they left Hogwarts.

Ginny agreed with him. "I want to come back here, so I am happy letting people know it is here. He can't stay open if no one knows about it."

The elf opened the door, and they were instantly bombarded with camera flashes. From what Severus could tell, every publication in Britain had someone outside waiting for them. He felt Hermione grasp his arm as they started to walk out. Reaching over, he placed his free hand on top of hers.

Questions were being thrown at the four of them and he could hear Harry and Ginny answering a few. Severus assumed they must have gotten used to this kind of reaction from people when they went out. He spotted Ms Patil in front of them and decided to answer a couple of her questions.

"How was dinner, Professor?" Parvati asked.

"It was lovely, thank you," Severus answered. "Mr Zabini has created a wonderful restaurant. We will be returning."

"And how was it having dinner with the Potters?"

"Mr and Mrs Potter where great dinner companions."

"And how was your date with Hermione? Will you going on more dates with her? Are you Britain's new power couple?"

Severus turned to look at Hermione and smiled at her. "My date with Hermoine was just as good as the food. I am not sure about being a power couple, but I hope there are more dates."

Hermione had a grin on her face, and answered Parvati as the reporter repeated her question. "I had a wonderful time, and I am looking forward to more nights like this. But it is late and we must be going home. Thank you for your time, Parvati."

As they walked away, they could hear Parvati yelling. "Wait, are you two going home together?"