Hermione sighed in her sleep, a peaceful smile on her lips. Molly Weasley nodded to herself, quietly shutting the door, and walking down to the kitchen. Ron looked up as she entered, his honest face creased in concern for his friend.

'How is she?'

His mother leant against the wall, looking astounded.

'Whatever that Snape did, it worked a treat,' she told him. 'She's sleeping peacefully, and with a smile on her face. No more nightmares.'

Ron looked relieved.

'Good. She deserves a good sleep after all this.'

'Who does?' asked Ginny, stepping out of the fireplace with Neville in tow.

Since the Yule Ball, Ginny had been subtly working on Neville's affections, and had finally succeeded in getting him to ask her out. They were now a couple, a state that had improved Neville's confidence no end. Ron grinned at his little sister.

'Hermione,' he told her. 'Hallo, Neville.'

Neville grinned back at Ron, sitting down beside Ginny.

'Did Professor Snape's potion work?' he asked.

Ron nodded, laughing as Ginny snorted into her tea. She'd bet the twins that it wouldn't, and now owed them each ten Galleons.

'I told you not to doubt him, Ginny,' Neville told her, laughing as she turned furious eyes on him.

Despite all outward appearances, Neville actually got on quite well with Snape, having pushed himself to the limit to get good grades in his OWLs and NEWTs. He respected the Potions Master, and in return, Snape had written a glowing reference for him when he'd applied to Myrddin's (Merlin's) College in Wales. Neville had been accepted and was certain that it was all down to Snape.

'You should have known better, Gin,' Ron added, ducking as she flung a fist in his direction. 'If Hermione trusted him, I sure as hell wasn't going to argue.'

'Language, Ron,' she warned, her brown eyes flashing dangerously.

She swung for him again, missing and getting Neville instead, as her father walked in.

'What's going on here, then?' he asked cheerily. 'Hallo, Neville.'

'Hallo, Mr Weasley,' Neville said, grinning as he rubbed his ear.

Ron gave a yell and fell backwards off his chair, Ginny on top of him as they both struggled to land blows on one another. Arthur ignored them, stepping over the pair to kiss his wife.

'Afternoon, dear. How's Hermione?'

Molly smiled fondly, absently flicking water from the sink over her two youngest. Ron and Ginny jumped as the tepid water hit them, yelping as they crashed sideways into the floor again.

'She's fine,' Molly told her husband. 'She's been asleep all day. Why do you ask? Arthur?'

Arthur was watching his children struggle with one another, with Neville as an amused bystander. He jumped as his wife tapped him with her wand.

'Hmm? Oh, Dumbledore came by this morning to ask how she was,' he said. 'He's still trying to get Fudge to recognise that You-Know-Who is really gone.'

'Well, Fudge never believed him that the Dark Lord was back, let alone ready for action,' Molly said cruelly. 'All those attacks and the stupid man never did anything.'

She sighed, blinking back tears as she thought of her son, Bill, who had been killed by Death-Eaters a few years before. Arthur wrapped an arm about her shoulders.

'Well, it's all over now, love,' he assured her. 'Dumbledore's got everything in hand.'

Molly pulled herself together.

'Why doesn't that surprise me?' she said with an amused smile.

Finally fed up of the fighting in her kitchen, she levitated a saucepan of cold water over Ron and Ginny. They stopped fighting immediately, both looking up at it fearfully. Molly made sure she had their full attention, then tipped it over them. Amid the shrieks of shock, Neville roared with laughter, turning and running out into the garden at the sight of two Weasley glares aimed in his direction.

As Molly cleared up the mess she'd made, Hermione wandered into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. She smiled at Arthur, who nodded cheerfully and exclaimed over her Muggle jeans and t-shirt, making her laugh. He'd never really got over his fascination with all things Muggle. Molly shooed him away.

'How are you feeling, Hermione, love?'

'Fine, really rested,' Hermione told her, scratching her head. 'Any chance of some coffee?'

'Of course,' Molly said. 'You know where everything is, just make yourself at home.'

With a grateful grin, Hermione produced her wand and rummaged about for a mug.

'I heard Neville laughing, so is it safe to assume they're all outside?' she asked, listening to the shouts coming from the garden.

'All but two,' Molly said, glancing up at the family clock. As far as Hermione could tell, only one hand was pointing to 'travelling', the others all at 'home'.

'Charlie's coming home today, and he's bringing his girlfriend,' she explained, seeing the confusion on Hermione's face. 'And Percy should be tearing himself away from work to come and see his old mother. He's only in his bedroom, for Pete's sake.'

Hermione laughed.

'You're not old, Molly,' she protested, sipping from her mug.

'Oooh, I am,' Molly said, glad to hear her laugh. She bent herself over and hobbled about the kitchen, drawing more laughter from the girl.

'Mum, what are you doing?'

Molly straightened up instantly on hearing the voice, and turned to greet her son as he stepped out of the fire place. Charlie grinned down at Hermione, ruffling her hair because he knew she hated it.

'Hallo, Herm. Where's Ron?'

She shrugged.

'Follow the shouting,' she suggested, and Charlie laughed.

Just then, the fireplace spat out another figure, a young woman with golden hair. She smiled shyly at Molly and Hermione. Molly elbowed her son out of the way.

'You must be Laura, I'm Molly, Charlie's mum, 'she said, planting a kiss on Laura's cheek. 'That's Arthur, my husband -'

The twins suddenly catapulted through the kitchen, laughing loudly, chased by Percy, who was wearing a badge that had 'Head of Twerps International' emblazoned on it. Hermione laughed, unable to stop herself as Molly glared after them.

'The twins were Fred and George, followed closely by Percy,' she explained to the bemused Laura. She held out her hand. 'I'm Hermione, don't panic, I'm not related. Ron's in the garden with Ginny and Neville, who is also not related.'

Laura gave her a relieved grin, obviously unprepared to meet so many of one family. Charlie kissed her forehead, smiling at her nerves. Slightly jealous, Hermione turned back to her coffee, fighting the feeling that she should be doing that with Snape.

Two hours later, Charlie and Neville were engaged in a lively discussion about dragons and herbs; for some bizarre reason, Arthur was hanging upside down from one of the trees as the twins tried to get him down; Percy was closeted in his room trying to finish a report on the dangers of trying to fly on a Muggle Hoover; and Ron was playing wizard chess with Ginny. Hermione was in the kitchen with Laura, helping Molly make dinner.

'So, Laura, how did you meet Charlie?' Molly said, stirring furiously.

'Charlie didn't tell you?'

'Oh, of course he did, but he's a man. I want the details,' she grinned at Laura's startled expression.

The dragon-keeper exchanged a glance with Hermione, who hid a smile and went back to the potatoes she was peeling. From the look on her face, Hermione guessed that Charlie hadn't told Laura anything about his family, leaving her to cope on her own. She leant over.

'She's like this all the time,' she murmured. 'Just tell her the story, and she'll leave you alone for a bit.'

'How long?' Laura whispered back, revealing the fact that her own sense of humour wasn't that different from the Weasleys'.

'About five minutes,' Hermione muttered, giggling under the frown that Molly aimed in her direction. Laura smothered her own laugh and obliged the older woman with her story.

'Now, all Charlie said was that you offered to help him with some dragon,' Molly said. 'It's so much more satisfying having details.'

Hermione choked on her laughter. She hadn't laughed so much for weeks.

'How's Norbert?' she asked, remembering the dragon that she, Ron and Harry had smuggled out of Hogwarts to Charlie during their first year. It turned out that he was a girl, for a start.

'She's fine,' Laura told her, poking the chicken with her wand as if to make sure it was dead. 'She misses Hagrid something chronic, though.'

She then let out a small shriek as her wand squeaked and turned into a rubber frog. Molly took one look, and drew in a deep breath.

'FRED! GEORGE! GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW!'

The twins appeared at the window. Molly waved the frog at them.

'What is this?'

'It's a frog, mum,' one of the boys answered.

'I know it's a frog,' she told him. 'Why did Laura's wand turn into it, is what I would like to know.'

Laura, having recovered from her shock, began to laugh quietly, joined by Hermione, as they watched the twins wriggle out of any punishment for planting a fake wand, that they were supposed to have destroyed years ago, in the kitchen. Eventually, they produced Laura's wand, proving it really was hers before presenting it to her with a flourish. She tried valiantly to hide her smile, exchanging a look with Hermione. The younger girl patted her hand.

'You're going to fit in just fine,' she assured her, laughing.

*~*~*

Snape rubbed his eyes, tired from a day of cataloguing his new supplies. It had taken twice as long as usual, since every time he paused in his task, he was caught up again in the memory of Hermione cradled against him, sobbing helplessly into his shoulder. She'd been so brave to take the step he'd offered her, reliving such dreadful experiences, and then to turn to him for comfort . . . Snape could hardly believe it.

Every time he closed his eyes, he was confronted with an image of her sobbing over the Pensieve, steadfastly continuing onwards in her task. If he concentrated, he could hear her cries as she relived the terror of her ordeal. He could feel her pressed trustingly into his body, holding him close for comfort.

Snarling at his own weakness, he shook himself, locking the door to his supply cupboard and setting the wards, out of habit. It wasn't as if there were any students around to try and break in, not for another two weeks at least. A knock on his door echoed through the empty dungeon.

'Come,' he called, not inclined to open the door himself.

The Headmaster shuffled inside, looking highly amused at something or other. He smiled at Snape, ignoring the frosty reception.

'Good evening, Severus,' Dumbledore said airily, glancing about the dungeon. 'Still no sunlight, I see.'

Snape frowned, he wasn't in the mood for this.

'What do you want, Albus?' he snapped, rubbing his temples.

Dumbledore took one look at him and decided not to wind him up any further.

'I received a letter from Avalon Uni this morning,' he told the Potions Master, who looked decidedly uninterested, 'concerning Hermione Granger.'

Snape's headache abruptly vanished at her name. What would the university be doing writing to Dumbledore? Hermione was supposed to find her own apprenticeship, at least, that was the impression she'd given him.

'I am told that there is no point in Hermione taking the three-year course since she knows pretty much all of the syllabus already,' Dumbledore continued, seemingly oblivious to Snape's sudden revival. 'They have suggested that she attempt to find a Master to undertake an apprenticeship for a year.'

'I am aware of that,' Snape said smoothly. 'Hermione told me as much herself. What has this to do with Hogwarts?'

Dumbledore suppressed his amusement at his friend's carefully disinterested drawl.

'Well, you see, knowing that she had applied there, I wrote to them myself asking that they make her application as easy as possible since she's been through quite a tough few weeks.'

Snape felt his heart soften towards the Headmaster, for being so thoughtful for his Hermione. Then, he berated himself silently. She wasn't his Hermione at all.

'They've suggested that I find a Master to offer the apprenticeship to her,' Dumbledore finished. 'They quite clearly meant you, Severus.'

Snape felt his heart slam within his chest. An entire year in Hermione's company, an entire year to win her over. It was more than he could have hoped for. Not wanting Dumbledore to think him too eager, he thought it over for a while.

'What is your opinion, Albus?'

'I feel that Hermione has more to benefit from learning in a familiar environment than an unfamiliar one. She is aware of your . . . temperament, and has been known to weather it without injury. I would heartily recommend it. That is, if you are prepared to give a year of your time to her.'

Oh, Albus, you old fool, Snape thought, I would willingly give up my lifetime to her, and you know it.

'I agree,' he said. 'I will apprentice Hermione.'

Dumbledore smiled triumphantly, shaking his hand with enthusiasm.

'Will you tell her, or shall I?' he asked.

Snape scowled at him.

'I think I can be trusted to offer my own mastership by myself, Albus,' he snarled, ignoring the amused grin that spread across the older wizard's face.

Dumbledore rose, pleased with his evening's work, and left Snape to his thoughts. At least he would have brought them together, he thought. From then on, they're on their own.