Author's Note: Warning... this chapter is almost pure fluff from beginning to end. I do hope that the near-absence of angst in this chapter is not to disappointing... never fear, Snarky Snape will make another appearance again soon.

Thank you again to all of you who have read and/or reviewed my story! As always, all questions, comments, and constructive criticism are welcome if you'd like to leave a review.

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the books in the series are copyright JK Rowling, and are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.

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Chapter 16 ~ "Coming Home"

Hermione made her way to the hospital wing alone with Samuel, as Albus and Severus had called the rest of the staff for a meeting to inform the other professors of Hermione's decision to stay at Hogwarts.

Madame Pomfrey once again made quite a fuss over Samuel as she examined him.

She proclaimed him to be in perfect health as she praised Hermione, "He's growing so quickly, Hermione! You're obviously doing something right."

"Then why do I feel like I'm doing everything wrong," Hermione frowned.

Poppy raised an eyebrow, and Hermione began to explain, "Samuel hardly sleeps, and he cries all the time now, and nothing I do for him seems to be enough. Yet, when Severus was visiting last evening, all he had to do was pick him up, and Samuel went right to sleep!"

"And through the night, and this afternoon, Remus was around to help, and Samuel hardly cried at all! Why? Why am I not good enough for him anymore?"

"Hermione, you look exhausted. Have you been taking care of yourself?" Poppy frowned.

"I don't have time for myself!" Hermione cried.

"I'm afraid that's the problem. If you aren't taking care of yourself..." she broke off as Hermione interrupted.

"How can I when he is constantly demanding my attention?"

"You have to make time," Poppy shook her head and continued softly, "Hermione, babies are very perceptive of feelings, and I'm afraid that Samuel is picking up on your emotions. If you're tense, he senses that, and it's not doing him any good."

"But..."

"No buts, Hermione! Merlin, child! It won't hurt you to let him cry for five minutes while you grab a bite to eat, or take a shower. Nap when he naps, and when his colic gets to be too much for you, you need to give yourself a timeout! If you don't allow yourself to get some rest, you won't be doing Samuel any favors!"

Realizing that she could not win an argument with Madame Pomfrey, Hermione sighed in resignation, "I'll try."

"Good. Now, when things start to become overwhelming, don't be afraid to ask for help," Poppy patted her on the shoulder, "I'm afraid that you've got a bit of the "baby blues", and it could very well turn into a full blown bout of depression if you're not careful," she chastised.

Hermione nodded, and Poppy flashed her a reassuring smile, "Now, why don't you lie down here and get some rest. I'll watch your son until Severus comes to fetch you."

Poppy ushered Hermione into a bed at the end of the room and pulled the curtains closed around her. Within minutes, Hermione had fallen into a deep sleep.

*****

Severus entered the infirmary nearly an hour later and found Madame Pomfrey sitting with Samuel asleep in her arms.

"Where's..." Poppy shushed him before he could finish his question, and pointed to the closed curtains that were pulled around a bed at the end of the room.

"She's getting some much needed rest," she whispered.

Severus took the empty seat next to Poppy and replied with a sigh, "It's about time."

"Severus, has Hermione decided to stay?" Poppy asked.

Severus nodded, "Indeed, she has. She will be taking the quarters next to mine. Albus is making the arrangements as we speak."

"I'm glad... for both of you," Poppy smiled, "Severus, please make sure that Hermione takes care of herself! I have just had a long talk with her about it, but I know how stubbornly independant the girl can be."

"That, she is," Severus smirked, "but I will do what I can to see that she follows your advice. I tried to tell her the same, but she may take it into consideration a bit more seriously coming from you."

"Everything will be fine, Severus. I'm sure, now that you will be available to help with Samuel."

Severus didn't reply, but couldn't hide the smile that was tugging at the corner of his mouth as he looked over at his son. Just then, the curtains around Hermione's bed parted, and she came out, rubbing her eyes wearily.

"How long have I been asleep?" she asked, her eyes darting to Samuel, full of concern.

"Just about an hour, dear," Poppy replied, continuing as she saw the look of concern on Hermione's face, "and don't go feeling guilty about it, either!" she chastised. "Your son is in capable hands."

Hermione averted her eyes as she blushed at this, missing Severus' smirk at the hand that Poppy had taken with Hermione.

"Hermione, I believe that your quarters should be ready by now," he told her as he rose from his chair and relieved Poppy of his son.

"So soon? Oh! I need to get back to the cottage and pack!" Hermione began to fret.

"Not tonight, Hermione. You heard what Madame Pomfrey told you, you need to take it easy. Your basic needs will be taken care of until we can send for your personal effects. Now, if you will please follow me," Severus gestured with one hand as he headed towards the door.

*****

As Severus escorted Hermione and Samuel to the dungeons, Hermione suddenly started feeling nervous, wondering how her new living arrangements would work out for all three of them. Would Severus soon tire of her presence? Would he really want to spend his days working with her, if he had to also spend his evenings living next door to her? She hoped that Severus could not hear her heart thumping as it tried to burst out of her chest.

As they reached the door to her quarters, she finally looked up at him and smiled nervously. He returned the smile, and swept the door open in front of her, gesturing for her to enter ahead of him.

When she walked into the room, she gasped in surprise. Wide eyed, she took in her new surroundings. Directly in front of her was a splendid stone fireplace surrounded by bookshelves. Off to either side, in front of the shelves, sat two wingback chairs, and facing the fireplace was a soft leather sofa, a long narrow table situated behind it. She looked to the left to see a magnificent oak four-poster bed, draped with curtains of crimson toile shot with gold silk, and a shimmering coverlet of the same colors. The bedding looked so luxuriously soft and inviting that Hermione could hardly hold herself back from curling up on the bed right then and there. On the left side of the bed were an oak dressing table and wardrobe, and to the right side she saw a coordinating rocking chair and cradle. Behind that was the door that she thought might lead to her own bathroom. Severus urged her to look to the other side of the room, where situated in one corner she saw a splendid hand-carved oak desk, beside which was another wingback chair. In the other corner of the room was a small oak breakfast table with two chairs. Near the center of that wall was yet another door, and this one she assumed led to what would be Samuel's room.

The room, being situated in the dungeons, was windowless... but the soft glow eminating from the candles and the roaring fire gave the room a ethereal warmth that she never would have expected from a dungeon room.

"Severus..." she opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't find the words. In response to her reaction, Severus smiled as he took her by the elbow and guided her through the door on the left side of the room, showing her the small, but inviting bathroom, which was furnished with a deep claw-foot bathtub. The bathroom also had a small shower stall, but Hermione barely spared it a glance as she closed her eyes and envisioned herself sinking into that bathtub amid a cloud of luxurious bubbles.

Severus cleared his throat, and Hermione whirled around to find him standing in the doorway with a bemused expression on his face, she flashed an embarassed smile at him as she let him lead her back into the main room, and across to the other door which, as she had guessed earlier, led to Samuel's room.

This room was quite a bit smaller, but nonetheless magnificent. It contained another, smaller fireplace surrounded by shelves, a single plush armchair off to the side in one corner, and a rocking chair in the other. A carved-oak crib was along the wall to the left, and a small sofa on the right. The room was decorated in soft shades of sage green and buttercream, the cribbing of soft cotton. It was exactly the sort of room that Hermione had always dreamed of for her son, but thought she could never give him.

"I do hope the decor is to your liking," spoke a quiet voice behind her. She had never heard Severus speak so softly before.

She whirled around and smiled brilliantly at him, "It's... It's... magnificent! Too much, really," she blushed, "You shouldn't have..."

"Hermione, Samuel is my son. He will want for nothing, so long as I am around to provide for him," Severus shrugged his shoulders as he tried to explain.

"Well, then... I understand, and I do appreciate it, Severus. But, my quarters..." Hermione began, but Severus interrupted.

"Though they have been vacant as long as I can recall, your quarters were already furnished. The room just needed a good thorough cleaning, and some new bedding. The only other things we brought in were the rocking chair and the cradle... and they are the very same ones that you were using in the cottage."

"Mine? But how?"

Severus shrugged again, "It does not matter how, Hermione. Suffice it to say, the Headmaster arranged for them to be delivered. Your clothing and Samuel's have also been brought here, and you can return to pack whatever personal effects that may remain at the cottage later. Next weekend, perhaps."

Severus walked over to another doorway that Hermione hadn't noticed, "This is the entrance to my quarters. If you ever need me, just knock."

Hermione nodded hesitantly, and Severus took her gently by the shoulders and tried to look into her eyes, "When it comes to my son, don't ever hesitate to come to me if you need me. Remember what Madame Pomfrey told you. Please, don't be afraid to ask for help." He gently lifted her chin with the palm of his hand as she tried to look down, "I mean that, Hermione. If you need me... for anything at all... I'm right next door."

"I don't ever again want to find you in the kind of state you were in last night, Hermione," he said softly, but firmly.

She smiled sheepishly and turned her head, looking back towards her own room. Severus could almost read her thoughts. "It's about time you do something nice for yourself, Hermione. If you'd like a bath, I would be glad to put Samuel to bed. Please, take as much time as you need."

"Thank you, Severus," she replied in a whisper before she handed Samuel to him and retreated to her room.

When she reached the bathroom, she closed the door behind her, leaned back against it and smiled.

Living next door to Severus would not be so bad after all.