Severus sighed in relief when he finally got the students back into the castle. Chaperoning the little sods was fucking exhausting. Why couldn't they just behave like reasonable human beings? Why did they need to be constantly pushing boundaries? Or at the very least why couldn't they be bloody discreet? Contrary to popular belief, he did not enjoy stopping their more amorous activities. Oh he liked removing points, he got some joy out of their inevitable embarrassment but the actual interrupting of activities they had no business doing in public or at school? No. He fucking hated it. He wouldn't be able to look Mr Moore in the eye ever again without seeing those lurid green boxers with their ridiculous little hearts. It was traumatic! Maybe he could bill the boy for his next mind healer session. That was fair, wasn't it? He wanted someone to obliviate him, so surely it was the least the boy could do?

Now, though, all he had to do was get through the feast, and he could have that drink he'd been promising himself all day. He deserved it. He'd been traumatised and still, no one had been hexed and given that Hermione had kissed Theodore Nott in fucking public, that was nothing short of miraculous. It was on the cheek but still…

"Grandmother!" Hermione shouted, making him wince as he spotted Annalise pulling her in for a hug, before doing the same to Harry. He was going to have to speak to her, wasn't he? He didn't want to. She was responsible for an awful lot of his migraines, infuriating woman.

"Severus," Annalise smirked.

"Annalise," he sighed, "You're early."

"I am," she agreed, "My grandchildren were going to show me their common room. I've never been in Gryffindor tower before. Although Merlin knows Septimus Weasley tried very hard to change that."

Severus grimaced, "Lovely," he drawled. "I shall expect you in my rooms before the feast…otherwise, I fear what nonsense your grandmother can coax you into. And Hermione…for the love of Merlin forgive the dog, he's pathetic."

"Fine," she sighed, "I'm still annoyed at him though."

"We know, but…he is just a dog."

"A highly intelligent dog who understands what he's doing!"

He held up his hands placatingly, "But still a dog."

She looked immensely put out for a moment, "Fine," she agreed with a sigh.

"Wonderful," Annalise smiled, "now that's sorted, shall we go and see this very red common room?"

Half an hour later, he heard a knock on the door. Steeling himself for what was to come, he called for them to enter, almost rolling his eyes at the way the dog's head perked up. Pathetic creature.

Harry was the first to reach him, scratching behind his ears apologetically. "She's still pretty annoyed, mate," he murmured as the dog's body drooped and Hermione looked torn between guilt and annoyance.

She huffed, running a hand over his head, "I'm still not happy with you," she warned, "We told you to bring the rat to us, you could have herded Ron to Father, you know, and had him check." Thanatos whined, making her sigh. "Fine," she muttered, jumping when he barked loudly, making her topple onto the sofa. He was up beside her in moments, his head on her lap and Harry laughed. "Ridiculous puppy," she murmured as she ran her hand over his head.

From the door Annalise looked stunned, "I wasn't expecting…" she trailed off looking at Thanatos in amazement. "Well, he's rather large isn't he?"

Severus snorted, "I'm not convinced he isn't part bloody horse." he muttered. "Do have a seat."

"Why thank you," Annalise beamed. "We had such a delightful chat with the Weasley twins. Their mother is against my involvement of course but I don't intend to let that deter me. Cressida Prewett was a small-minded gossip, it's hardly a surprise her daughter is the same. I'd have expected better from Cedrella Black's son but children don't always turn out the way you hope. And really, the boys' inventions are quite remarkable. I gather you and my grandchildren are responsible for the glittering zoo currently residing in my daughter's house?"

"Ah…I wouldn't like to say," he murmured

"No, I imagine you wouldn't. Although Thoros appears quite taken with his chickens. Loofah appears to have accepted them. It would be amusing if it was so strange. Are you truly sure about young Mr Nott, dear?"

Hermione flushed, "For just now," she murmured.

"Very well." Annalise nodded before turning to Harry, "And you, dear?"

"Oh, I have no feelings for ah…young Mr nott." he cheeked.

Annalise snorted as Hermione hit him, muttering, "I should hope not."

"But another young Mr something?" Harry gaped, making her roll her eyes, "Honestly, darling you are not subtle. Now, my great nephew, I presume?"

Harry turned scarlet. "No…I …no."

Annalise arched a brow at him, "If you say so dear. Of course, we do have some contacts at other schools. The Durmstrang boys tend to be delightful, physical activity features heavily in their curriculum. Wonderful results. The Beauxbatons boys tend to be…lighter, charms of course are Beaxbaton's speciality. Nothing wrong with either, of course, although if you happen to have a type….."

"No," Harry rasped, sounding strangled.

Annalise hummed, "Well do let me know if you change your mind, we could make some introductions. You too dearest," Hermione nodded, attempting not to laugh at the look on Harry's face.

"What have you been up to Grandmother?" she asked instead, as Harry shot her a grateful look.

"Oh this and that, Simon's business takes us all over the place." she hesitated, "He would like to see you again."

"No," Severus growled before she could say anything.

"Severus," Annalise chided. "He…Simon is a difficult man. As you are no doubt aware, we should never have married. We are not well suited. However, despite his faults, he…bitterly regrets his decisions with Elladora and realised, rather belatedly, that he is making similar ones with you. You do not have to dearest, but, if you are unwilling to meet him, he has requested permission to write."

"Oh." Hermione murmured, "I…I guess that he could." she agreed finally.

"I shall let him know."

"What caused his epiphany?" Severus glowered. Nothing good was coming of this, was it? Why couldn't things just be bloody peaceful. Just for a little bit?

"Seeing Hermione at the Malfoy ball." she sighed, "He is many things but deliberately cruel is not one of them. Stubborn, pigheaded and convinced he is always right, yes. He is old-fashioned, dearest and stuck in his ways. Perhaps, for you he might try not to be, I do not know. You do not have to agree to anything you do not wish to, and you do not need to continue if he makes you uncomfortable."

"But you think I should give him a chance?" Hermione surmised.

"I think that it wouldn't be the worst idea." her grandmother conceded. "Now, I understand there is a feast, so will you escort your old Grandmother, young man?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "You're hardly old, Grandmother."

Annalise scoffed, "I'm no longer young" she replied wryly.

"Which surely means your old enough to know better," Severus replied pointedly

"Ah but also old enough not to care," she grinned.

He harrumphed but didn't reply. She did not need the encouragement.

The look on Albus' face when he spotted Annalise was almost worth having her there, corrupting the children. There was a healthy dose of fear, which only grew more pronounced when Annalise smiled sweetly at him. It was all he could do not to laugh. "Go and sit down," he commanded, looking at Harry and Hermione. "There is a seat next to the headmaster with your grandmother's name on it…or I assume there will be very shortly."

Both of them stifled a laugh, "Try not to poison him, Grandmother. Somehow I don't feel Azkaban would suit you."

"Don't be absurd, dearest. I'd at least wait until I was out of the castle and prevent suspicion being on me."

"That's not as reassuring as you seem to believe Grandmother," Hermione replied sardonically.

After seeing the children seated, Severus escorted Annalise to the top table attempting to ignore a smirking Minerva. "You don't mind if I add a small chair in here, do you, Albus?" Annalise smiled sweetly, moving to stand behind him.

"I…ah..no?"

Severus almost laughed at the look of terror on his face as Annalise conjured a chair and sat down.

"She's going to kill him off," Remus muttered. "I can see the headline now, Albus Dumbledore dies of massive stress-induced heart attack at Halloween feast after woman sits next to him."

"Bit of a mouthful," Severus quipped, "Surely they'd go with something like Murderous Matriarchs: the woman are taking over. Of course, underneath would be the announcement that Minerva had been made headmistress so must be involved in the plot."

Remus and Minerva laughed, "if only it were so easy," she joked, making Pomona choke on her wine.

"It could be," the other witch muttered, "I'm sure I've something in the greenhouses that could mimic a heart attack."

"Arent Hufflepuff's meant to be… non-violent?" Remus spluttered.

"I don't remember ever hearing that in the hats song," Pomona mused, making the rest of them laugh.

Minerva reached over to pat his arm, "It's time you realised that the Hufflepuffs are the ones you need to watch."

Remus paled, "But…but…they all seem so nice!"

The sound of laughter coming from one end of the top table startled the students. Several of them turned to watch with shock clear on their faces.

"You think they'd have accepted that we're human by now," Remus muttered.

"I don't think students ever accept their teachers are human," Pomona replied, waving at a couple of second years who squeaked in alarm before turning back to their dinner.

"Did you have fun, Grandmother?" Hermione checked when the feast was over.

"I did," Annalise smirked, "I had a wonderful time. Albus on the other hand…"

"He looks a bit green," Harry commented.

"Ah, I might have…in the spirit of Halloween, you understand, had a conversation with Filius and Augusta about the many ways you can murder someone. It was enlightening, Filius in particular is delightfully imaginative."

The children gaped at her as Severus laughed, "I can imagine," he murmured. "Now, you two say goodbye to your grandmother and off to bed before she can give you any ideas for your future murder plots."

They rolled their eyes as they wrapped Annalise in a hug, "Goodnight Grandmother. Will we see you at Christmas?"

"You're not staying here?"

Hermione shot Severus a look, "We'll be here for some of the holidays but not all, Narcissa is hosting a winter ball and wants the children there. I imagine Christmas will be at home."

"Then I wouldn't miss it." Annalise beamed, "Have you invited the twins?"

"I believe she was going to."

"Wonderful, I can't wait to see that."

"We're introducing them to Thoros right?" Harry checked with a devious little grin that made Severus instantly proud.

"Of course." Hermione's answering grin was vicious, reminding him of Narcissa. It was both a terrifying and pleasing thought. "We need some entertainment."

Severus choked on a laugh, "Just do not derail your aunt's ball, she'll murder you slowly."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "What do you take us for, Father?"

"See what you've done?" He groaned at Annalise.

"A job well done," she agreed. He couldn't argue.

Two days later Minerva caught him. "Did you think I was going to forget that you haven't given me that list, Severus?"

List? What fucking list? What was she going on about? Fuck she was looking at him expectantly. Clearly, he was meant to know what she was talking about. List…right…he ransacked his brain, list for….for. Oh fuck, he had been hoping she would forget. "The sports clubs?" he sighed.

"The sports clubs," she nodded. "Well?"

"I shall discuss it with Lupin today."

"Good boy." she nodded and swept away with a satisfied little smile.

"What am I? I fucking dog?" he muttered, startling a firstie that was clearly lost. "Mr Smith, where are you meant to be?"

"Ah…charms…Sir, Professor Snape."

He sighed, "Then might I suggest turning round and going back up that staircase?"

"Oh," the boy looked momentarily flummoxed. For fucks sake.

"Milly," he muttered, waiting on the elf.

"Yous bes wanting Milly?"

"Can you escort Mr Smith to charms, please? He is lost."

"Oh! Yes, come alongs young sir. Milly bes taking you." With wide eyes, Mr Smith followed the elf leaving him to hunt for the wolf.

"Minerva wants that bloody list," Severus growled in greeting, making Remus' eyebrows hit his hairline.

"Hello to you too Severus," he murmured, closing his book. "I assume you wish to organise it now?"

"I like my balls attached to my body."

Remus snorted," Fine." he agreed with a wry smile, "I'm rather fond of mine remaining where they are too. What were you thinking?"

"Running. Football, perhaps rugby?"

Remus hummed, "Dance? Gymnastics?"

"Can you teach those?" he asked pointedly.

"No" Remus grimaced, "Can you teach rugby?"

"No." Severus conceded.

"Wonderful, could we…look at tutors?"

"Wizarding tutors?" Severus shot back.

"For fucks sake," Remus muttered, "It should not be this difficult."

"No," Severus agreed, "Yet it is. Swimming?"

"Right, "Remus nodded decisively, "Swimming, track running, football, could we transfigure bikes?"

"Yes," Severus nodded, "we could."

"Then let's go with that, if uptake is as popular as I think it's going to be, we can maybe take an ad out in the prophet? Surely some muggleborn or halfbloods are capable of teaching a sport?"

Severus nodded, "Who's telling Minerva we need a pool?"

"Oh, look at the time, I have class!" Remus called, practically bolting from the room.

"Coward!" Severus called after him.

"Right my girl, I thought we could pause what we are currently doing and focus on the wolfsbane."

Hermione's eyes went wide, "Ok." she agreed hesitantly.

"I want you to set up two cauldrons. We'll brew the standard potion in the first and an experimental one in the second. Now, what are we changing first?"

I…I…want to recombine the aconite, chamomile and hawthorn, don't I?" she asked, not sounding sure.

"We can try," he agreed.

"You don't think it will work?"

"I think that changing a potion is challenging and is unlikely to work the first time. We have no idea of the quantities we need, or the correct ratios or even the correct number and direction of stirs."

"Oh," she whispered, looking quite frankly terrified.

"It will be fine." he soothed, "No one said the process would be quick. Now, what ratio?"

"Their ratio in basilisk venom was 5:2:3, aconite: hawthorn: chamomile."

"And that's where you're starting?"

"Yes," she nodded decisively.

"When are you adding it?"

"The same time as usual to begin with?"

"Good. Change only one thing at a time. What else?"

"Keep the stirs the same unless it's obvious that it's wrong?" she ventured.

"What would make it obvious?" he probed, wishing she would relax. She was only bloody fourteen. No one expected her to get this bloody right. Other than her clearly. He had no idea why she couldn't see how sodding impressive it was that they were even discussing this. Perhaps he needed another chat with Andy about addressing her unrealistic expectations of herself.

"Oh, colour, texture, smoke?"

"Good, let's begin the base."

She nodded as she got to work crushing moonstone and chopping dittany to add to the cauldron.

Two hours later, the bases were done. "Now, add the aconite and powdered silver as normal," Severus instructed, motioning to the first cauldron. "And your mix and silver to the second"

Hermione moved cautiously, dropping in the ingredients and stirring. Ten minutes later they had a blue lump in the experimental potion.

Severus smiled at her ruefully, "We'll try again tomorrow," he commiserated as her head thunked onto his chest.

"Why is it so frustrating, Father?" she groaned.

"Because it is." he shrugged, "Come on, let's tidy up, you've been hovering over a cauldron long enough. What's next?"

Hermione remained silent, clearly thinking as she began cleaning down the lab. "Adding the silver and the concoction separately?"

He hummed, "Very well. Tomorrow then. We'll need to set the original out in the moonlight tomorrow night. Which is going in first?"

"Oh…ah, concoction?"

Why?" he was curious, that wasn't the answer he could have given. Then again. He'd have played with the temperature before separating the ingredients, not that he'd tell her that. This was her experiment.

"Because the silver acts as a binder, if I add that first, the aconite might not fuse with the potion." he paused, she wasn't wrong. He wasn't sure she was right either but it was a reasonable explanation.

"Very well. Are you staying?"

She shook her head, "I have so much homework." she groaned.

He snorted, "Away with you then. I'll see you tomorrow."

She returned the next day with something nearing excited anticipation and he had to smother a smile. When was the last time he had felt that way about brewing?

"Right then, base first," he commanded.

He watched her as she worked, seeing his hand in the way she moved about the lab and handled the ingredients. It wasn't often he saw himself in her, but here, in this environment, she was very much his child.

"Why are you smiling?" she queried, looking suspicious, catching him watching her. Fuck how did he put that into words?

He shrugged, "I was just thinking how at home you look here." It wasn't a lie.

She hummed, turning back to her task. "I'm ready to add the mix now."

He nodded, moving closer in case something unexpected happened. "Go on then."

Taking a deep breath, she lowered the heat and dumped the liquid in. The potion spat at them, both of them holding their breath as she stirred frantically, counting the turns.

"Counterclockwise," he commanded as the potion began to change colour.

Obeying him she changed direction. "Will you add the silver?"

He nodded, sprinkling it in, watching as she slowed her movements and began stirring in a figure of eight.

"Why?" he asked

She shrugged, "I…I don't know. Muggle bakers sometimes use it to incorporate ingredients. It just….I…it felt right."

He hummed, trying to hide his shock. No one stirred potions like that, but it was changing colour, the blue smoke was rising in spirals as it should. He watched as she took it off the heat and removed the rod.

"I…can we put them in the moonlight now?"

"Yes," he agreed.

"How do we test this?" she asked hesitantly.

"I think that's a conversation for Saul." he replied reluctantly, "I'd rather not poison someone."

"Will you contact him?" she asked fidgeting. "It might not be right but it's not the mess last nights was."

"True. I'll owl him. If it works the same as the other one, it'll need to cure for a week in the moonlight but presumably, we can compare them at any stage."

She nodded, already moving to tidy up. "Do you think it'll work?"

"I don't know, but you said yourself, it's not the mess from last night. You did well, my girl." She nodded, not looking convinced. "Hermione, Even if this is not the final result, it is still impressive. It often takes years to modify potions."

She sighed, "I don't like not getting things right."

He smirked, dragging a reluctant smile from her. "I'd never have noticed," he replied wryly.

Oh, thank Merlin, Severus." Poppy muttered as he strode into the hospital wing, already annoyed that his plans were being interrupted. He had a book with his name on it and an evening of peace ahead of him. And yet. Poppy wasn't usually so frazzled.

He frowned, "What is it?"

"One of your students was hurt in class. They could make it…difficult for Hagrid."

For fucks sake, what the fuck had the man done now? And why was he being summoned to deal with it?

"Which student?"

"Miss Parkinson insulted a hippogriff." Poppy explained, "She's fine but…."

She's going milk it for all she's worth?" he suggested. Poppy sent him a wry smile but didn't comment. Fucking wonderful.

"Miss Parkinson," he greeted, pulling back the curtain.

"Professor." she nodded, watching him warily.

"What happened?"

"The beast just reared up! I didn't do anything!"

"Other than insult it," another voice sounded from behind him. Pansy flushed.

"Miss Parkinson, is that true?"

"Yes," she sighed, quelling under Draco's glare. "I didn't think it would do anything."

"Were you not warned, Miss Parkinson?"

"Yes," she muttered reluctantly.

"Then for the love of Merlin do as you're damn told!" he scolded, "Ten points from Slytherin for being an idiot! I expect better!"

Pansy gaped. "But Professor!"

"And detention tomorrow, with Professor Hagrid. Perhaps you'll learn to listen."

At that he swept out of the room, ignoring Pansy's disbelief and Poppy's smirk. Fucking little sods making his life more difficult. Why did they have to couldn't they just fucking listen? He was not dealing with Peregrine sodding Parkinson if he could avoid it. Bloody arsehole of a man that he was.

Three weeks later found Hermione almost pulling her hair out, Saul watching her with amusement.

"It's not funny Uncle Saul!" she whined, "I don't know why it's not working!"

"It is working, Hermione." he soothed, "The potion you made should make the healing from the transformation easier, we're going to move to human trials next full moon."

"It's not enough!" she protested.

"What are you expecting it to do, darling girl?" he asked, sensing her nearing hysteria and deciding to tread carefully.

"I don't know!" she wailed. "What happened to the anti-ageing properties of hawthorn? Weren't they meant to help with the years lycanthropy takes off? And the calming effects? They should be stronger than the trials are showing, so should the healing!"

Saul sighed, "We both know that lycanthropes have shorter lives due to more than transformations. However, why don't we look at changing the ratio again? You've upped it haven't you?"

"Yes, four parts aconite to five of camomile and three of hawthorn." she agreed.

"So, can we adjust the hawthorn and keep the other benefits?"

Hermione paused, clearly mulling that over. "What…what if we didn't use the venom components?" she asked slowly.

Saul froze, "Go on."

"We've been using them because they were previously combined but what if we're not getting all the benefits because they're not the real thing?"

He nodded slowly, "All you can do is try it."

Hermione sighed, reaching for yet another cauldron as Saul fetched the ingredients from the store cupboard.

Severus watched, noting the tension in every line of his daughter's body. She really did hate not getting it right. Silently he vowed to do something fun with her next week, even if this attempt didn't work as she hoped. Perhaps he could rope Harry into coming swimming with them, Minerva's pool was a thing of beauty, and thankfully no one had drowned yet. Although Filius giving swimming instructions was quite possibly the funniest thing he'd ever seen, second only to Pomona on a bicycle; the man's swimming cap looked like a throwback from the fifties. It had flowers on it for Merlin's sake!

Still, the muggle sports had been a massive hit, the pool especially, to the point Minerva was considering setting up another couple and as such, they had placed an ad in the Prophet without Albus' say so. He'd been livid when he'd found out. Although, it gave him something to focus on other than his children so perhaps that was a win.

Mr Potter,

I have looked into your request, the earliest we could look at adoption is January. Please let me know if this is something you wish to discuss further.

Cora MacKillop

Ms MacKillop,

How do we go about arranging this?

Harry Potter.

Mr Potter,

There is paperwork that requires signatures. I am due for another visit, I can bring it with me?

Cora MacKillop

Ms MacKillop

Please, but…can you not mention it to Severus? Hermione and I will explain why during your visit.

Harry

Mr Potter,

Consider me intrigued. I shall see you next week. Professor Snape has been notified of my visit but not that we have been corresponding.

Cora MacKillop.

Just a wee note to thank you all for your patience. I know my uploading schedule has been a wee bit sporadic recently. Unfortunately that's unlikely to change as I've just restarted my degree so free time is becoming scarce. Nothing will ever be abandoned, it just might take me a wee bit longer than anticipated.