Author's Note: Thank you for the overwhelming requests to continue. I'll write a few additional chapters, concluding with the wedding. For those who asked about a sequel... I'm thinking about it! I don't have any ideas for one, yet... but would really like to do one. Also, for the Remus/Elizabeth fans... I have started their story, titled "Learning to Live Again". The prologue and chapter 1 are up now if you'd like to read it. It will start off following the same timeline as this story, but will continue past what I have written for Sev/Hermione.

Thank you to all of my readers! All questions, comments, and constructive criticism are welcome if you would like to leave a review.

Enjoy!

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

*****

If it were up to them, they would have stayed there all night, making love under the stars, but they knew that they had to return to their son. Slowly, they made their way back to the castle, stopping every few minutes to share a tender kiss. Whether they had conceived a child or not that evening, they were both ready to start a new life together. When they entered the castle, Severus had his arm around Hermione and she was nestled close to his side.

"Lovely evening, isn't it?" they heard somebody call.

Severus smirked... he should have known that Albus would be waiting for them. Hermione smiled as Severus answered with a simple, "Good evening, Albus!" as they continued walking towards the dungeons. They didn't see his face, but they could sense that his eyes were twinkling even brighter than usual as he watched them walk away.

When they entered Hermione's quarters, Remus smiled knowingly at both of them. As he rose to his feet, he looked back and forth between the two of them, "Have a nice stroll?" Hermione reached out to him and embraced him without answering. "You're glowing, Hermione..." he whispered into her ear. Severus cleared his throat a moment later, looking intensely at Remus as Hermione backed away, her face flushed. A moment later, without a single word, he extended his hand to a bemused Remus, who grasped it in a firm handshake.

"Er... well then... I should be going," Remus stammered, "Oh... Samuel is sleeping," he added before he walked towards the door. He paused one more time to call to Hermione, "I assume you will be needing to visit with your mother tomorrow?" he asked with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Hermione couldn't help but smile as she nodded, "Yes... I definitely need to see my mother tomorrow."

"Very well," he nodded at each of them, "Good night Hermione... Severus."

After he walked out, Hermione turned to Severus who pulled her tightly to him, "How does he know?" she laughed.

Severus chuckled as he shrugged his shoulders, "He must be taking lessons from Albus."

He reached to tangle his fingers in her hair, leaning her head back as he bent forward to catch her soft lips in a gentle kiss, he pulled away and let his forehead come to rest against hers. Hermione could feel his warm breath on her face as he whispered, "Tell me I'm not dreaming..."

"If this is a dream, then I never want to wake up," she rasped before leading him over to the bed.

*****

The next day, they spent a lazy morning in bed. Between making love nearly all night, and rising early to bring Samuel in to cuddle with them early that morning, neither of them was in the mood to get out of bed that morning. Luckily, it was the weekend, and the students still had another day of break before they returned to finish the school year, so Severus had no duties to attend to. Even after Samuel returned to his room for a nap, they remained lying in each other's arms. Every so often, Severus would reach his hand over to caress Hermione's abdomen, a far away expression on his face. She had never seen him look that way before.

"You really want this, don't you?" she asked as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"More than anything!" he replied adamantly.

"Mmm... me too..." she replied sleepily. She closed her eyes as a smile played across her lips.

He chuckled, "Well then... we'll just have to keep trying."

"Sounds nice..." she murmured. They lay there in silence for a while before Hermione spoke again, "Severus..."

"Yes, love?"

Hermione smiled at the endearment. It was something she never would have thought Severus capable of... but it seemed to sound so right coming from his lips, and she would never tire of hearing it.

"I want Samuel to be a Snape."

Severus crooked an eyebrow, "Isn't he?"

She laughed, "Of course he is... but not in name."

"Oh," Severus replied. He thought about it a moment before it sunk in, "Oh! You want to change his name?"

Hermione nodded, "I should have done it in the first place... but I didn't know then how you felt about having a child... I didn't want to assume..."

"I understand, Hermione," he kissed her temple.

"Would it please you?" she asked.

"More than you could ever know," he rasped as he buried his head in her hair.

They lay there in silence for a while before Hermione spoke up again, "Severus..."

"What is it, love?" he murmured sleepily.

"He should be baptized. I should have done it a long time ago... but everything was so confusing before."

"I hadn't thought of it," he sighed, "But you are probably right. And it would be the perfect time to change his surname."

"And we need to name a Godfather," Hermione continued.

"Remus?" he asked. He knew it was who Hermione would want, but hadn't anticipated her reaction. She burst into tears as she buried her head into his chest and nodded. He reached up to stroke her hair as he asked, "Hermione?"

"I just..." she choked into his shoulder, "I just didn't expect you to be so... agreeable!"

He chuckled, "Is it a problem?"

She laughed through her tears, "No... no. It's just that... I'm so happy..."

"And if I suggested having him baptized on our wedding day, would it be...?" he didn't get to finish as Hermione reached up to pull his lips to hers.

"It would be perfect," she whispered.

*****

It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon for a walk to the cottage. Neither of them knew what Elizabeth's reaction would be, but judging by Remus' behavior the previous evening, Hermione had a feeling that her mother would be happy for them. Severus had hoped so, too. He was quite fond of Elizabeth, as she had accepted him and treated him like part of the family almost from the start. Nevertheless, he was nervous. Accepting him as the father of her grandchild was one thing, accepting him as a son-in-law was quite another. He didn't know what to expect.

They knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Knowing that her mother enjoyed spending time in the fresh air, Hermione led Severus around to the back of the house to see if she was outside. What they saw caused Hermione to gasp.

Her mother was sitting on Remus' lap on the porch swing, kissing him tenderly. They were both oblivious to the arrival of Hermione and Severus.

Severus turned to Hermione to gauge her reaction, relieved to see her break out in one of her most brilliant smiles. A moment later, he cleared his throat, announcing their presence. Elizabeth blushed as she pulled away from Remus and turned to face Hermione.

"Er... oh! Hermione! Severus! I didn't know you were here!" Elizabeth spoke nervously as she eased herself to her feet.

"Obviously not," Hermione replied in amusement, trying to supress her laughter. She was truly happy to see the two of them together, and she stepped forward to embrace her mother. "Mum... I have the most wonderful news."

Hermione looked at Remus, and he smiled encouragingly as he nodded to her.

"Severus and I..." she paused as she saw her mother's eyes growing wider, "Mum... we're getting married!"

Elizabeth looked shocked for a moment. Quickly, she composed herself and stepped forward to embrace her daughter once again. "Oh... Hermione..."

As she stepped back, Hermione could see approval shining through her mother's tears. Remus winked at Hermione as he stepped behind Elizabeth to put his arm around her, kissing her on the temple as he whispered, "I told you they would work things out."

"You did?" Hermione asked.

"We've been wondering, since Valentine's Day, when you'd get around to it!" Elizabeth laughed as she stepped forward to embrace Severus. "You're a good man, Severus Snape. I have always known that you would make my daughter happy."

"Always, Mum?" Hermione asked.

Elizabeth chuckled, "Well... at least since my visit over Valentine's Day. I could see it in your eyes then, Hermione. And yours too, Severus."

Hermione laughed as she saw the color rising in Severus' cheeks. It wasn't often that somebody could make the man blush.

Elizabeth reached out to take her grandson into her arms. As she relieved Severus of his son, Remus stepped forward to firmly shake his hand, "Congratulations, Severus."

"Remus..." Severus hesitated a moment, "Can I have a word?"

Hermione looked on in confusion as Remus and Severus stepped aside for a few moments. She tried to observe unobtrusively, but couldn't make out a word they were saying. It all became clear to her a moment later as she saw Remus smile as he heartily clapped Severus on the back.

*****

Severus had pulled Remus aside. For once in his life, he had a favor to ask of the werewolf, and didn't know how to ask him.

"Remus, I know we've had our differences in the past, and though I may not have said so in so many words lately... I appreciate all that you have done for Hermione and Samuel," he paused for a moment, "Would you consider standing up with me at my wedding?"

Remus was taken aback for a moment, "You want me... to be your best man?"

"I'd be honored if you would consider," Severus replied.

"And I'd be honored to accept, Severus!" Remus smiled as he reached out and clapped Severus on the back. He looked over to the women, who were trying not to be obvious about their eavesdropping, "Does Hermione know?"

"I suspect she does now," Severus smirked, "However, we should go tell her. She has something important to ask you, herself."

Remus furrowed his brow, "She does?"

"Indeed," Severus nodded as he led Remus back to where Elizabeth and Hermione were fussing over Samuel.

Severus stepped behind Hermione and snaked an arm around her waist, "I've found my best man," he whispered into her ear, "Now it's your turn to ask him the other question."

Hermione smiled in approval. She hadn't known, or expected, that Severus would ask Remus to stand up with him... but she was thrilled with his choice. She kissed him on the cheek before she turned to Remus and smiled nervously.

"Remus... you know how I feel about you... and I know how you feel about Samuel," she paused and looked at Elizabeth, who looked as though she knew what was coming, "We've decided to have him baptized on our wedding day, and it would mean the world to me... to US... if you would be his Godfather."

If Remus had been shocked by Severus request, he was absolutely in floored by Hermione's. His jaw dropped as he was obviously having trouble finding his voice.

"Samuel's... Godfather? Me...?"

"Who else, Remus? There is nobody I'd rather have than you! You are... everything..." she choked as her eyes welled with tears, "you mean so much to me... to US..." Giving up on finding the right words, Hermione flung herself forward into Remus' arms. He had trouble fighting his own tears as he hugged her back.

"Is that a 'Yes'?" Hermione whispered.

"How could I possibly say no?" he replied as he stepped back and looked her in the eye, "I'd be honored, Hermione."

*****

They all retreated inside the cottage for a cup of tea, and discussed wedding plans. Hermione and Severus both agreed that late June would suit them both fine. For Severus, it meant that school would be out for the year. For Hermione, it meant that Harry and Ron would be home from their training. She would not get married without her two best friends in attendance. She laughed and playfully punched Severus on the shoulder as he sneered and suggested putting them both in dresses so they could be her bridesmaids. No... she had already decided that her mother would be her matron of honor, and her mother had tearfully accepted.

As Hermione and Severus were preparing to leave, Elizabeth approached them. "Severus... may I have a word with you?"

"Certainly, Elizabeth," he replied, as he looked at Hermione in confusion. Hermione simply shrugged her shoulders... she hadn't a clue what her mother could have wanted.

Severus followed Elizabeth into the living room, where she asked him to wait for a moment. When she returned, she had a small parcel in her hand. As she gently unwrapped it, she turned to him, "Severus... this belonged to Hermione's father. It has been passed down through generations of Granger men for years. I always knew that he would one day give it to the man his daughter would marry, to one day be passed down to his grandson." She reached out and placed the pocket watch into his hand, "I want you to have this, Severus. Keep it until it's time to pass it on to Samuel."

He was speechless... nobody had ever shown him a kindness like this woman. He looked up at her as he stammered, "Elizabeth... I... don't know if I should..."

"He would have wanted you to have it, Severus. That, I know for sure," she reached out and closed his fingers around the timepiece, "If you can't take it for you, then take it for Samuel."

Severus nodded solemnly, before reaching out and embracing the woman. He had never impulsively done so before, and had even felt awkward returning her hugs of greeting in the past... but this time, he clutched her tightly, kissing her on the cheek as he backed away.

"Welcome to the family," Elizabeth smiled at him.