A/N: I was spurred on to write another part to this, though I hadn't intended to. It's helped shoot down writer's block though, so thanks for the reviews- they made my day. A note to duj is below, if you are reading this.

Severus sighed as the sound of high-pitched wailing broke out on the floor above him. Placing the book back down on his desk, he set up the stairs for the fourth time that night.

Annika lay on her back in the cot, soft toy Kneazle accompanying her. Seeing her father standing in the doorway, she began to scream again.

Unsure of what to do, Severus came over to the cot and stood looking over it.

"Silence," he commanded.

For a few seconds, Annika obeyed, her wide dark eyes staring up at her father. Then she opened her mouth again.

Severus folded his arms. "I know precisely what you are up to. Just because your mother allows you to get away with this, doesn't mean I will. You are going to close your eyes and allow me to finish my reading in peace. Understand?"

Annika either didn't understand or, plainly, just didn't care. Her face screwed up and reddening, she continued to cry.

Seeing the approach he used to apply to his students obviously wasn't working, Severus reached down and patted her gently on the head. Seizing an opportunity, Annika wrapped a tiny fist one of his fingers and held on, hard. After trying to get her to release him unsuccessfully, Severus tentatively placed one arm under her back and slowly scooped her up. Awkwardly holding her to his chest and supporting her head, he realised that she'd let go of his finger.

Annika lay there contentedly, head on his shoulder, making the odd snuffling sound before she fell completely quiet. Glad that she had finally fallen asleep, but afraid to put her down yet, Severus walked slowly over to the window of the nursery. It looked out over the fields behind their isolated home. Snow gently fell on the tall oak outside the window. Absent-mindedly, he stroked her head. She had the beginnings of her mother's hair; dark chestnut and springing up in every direction.

Turning from the glass, he lifted Annika up slightly and studied her face. The girl's breathing was steady, and her eyes firmly closed. Gently, he lowered her down into the cradle. On a whim, he bent down to kiss her on the forehead.

"Goodnight Anna."

"Should I be jealous?"

Severus whirled around. Hermione stood in the doorway, a weary smile on her face.

"What happened to calling her by 'her proper name'?" she asked teasingly. After naming her for his mother, Severus insisted that she should always be called 'Annika', never 'Anna', as Hermione persisted on doing.

"What are you talking about?" replied Severus neutrally, avoiding her eyes.

"You just…" Hermione shook her head. "Oh, never mind. You managed to get her to sleep?"

Severus nodded, glancing down at the slumbering child. He looked at his wife.

"You look tired."

Hermione nodded as they left the room, closing the door behind them. She reached for his hand "I didn't think the business at the bank would take so long. The amount of forms they make you sign for an extra account…" She stifled a yawn as they walked down the stairs. "I could kill for a cup of tea."

"Done," Severus promised.

Severus didn't betray his amusement as the Gryffindor Head Girl paced in frustration before his desk.

"But I've spent so much time revising every other year, how could I miss out the 1940 Gringotts Crash?" Hermione wailed. "I'll open that paper and it'll be the most important question, you watch."

"Miss Granger…your N.E.W.Ts don't start for another two months."

She glared at him. "Yes, but that's not the point! It'll completely upset my whole revision schedule."

"Need I remind you that you've been revising since the summer? The other students are only just coming to the realisation that N.E.W.Ts are just eight weeks away."

"So?"

"So, I feel you are being rather overdramatic."

Hermione stopped, placing her hands on the desk. "Do you think I care what you think?"

"You should."

"Well, I don't."

"What if I take points for speaking so impertinently to a teacher?" said Severus warningly. He rose from his seat.

Hermione snorted, leaning further over the desk. "You haven't taken points from me in months."

"Ten points from Gryffindor," Severus smirked.

Hermione scowled at him. "Typical way for you to end an argument. What's wrong, run out of sarcasm today?"

"I believe I just displayed that I have not."

Hermione suddenly smirked herself. She muttered something. Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, I think you've gone soft."

Severus loomed over the desk with all the danger signs of a Lethifold. Hermione refused to step back.

"I advise you take that back," he said sharply.

She shook her head, the defiant grin still on her face. "No."

"Miss Granger, just because I do not cast barbed words upon you anymore, does not mean that-"

"Why?" she asked abruptly. Her expression changed, her eyes fixed on him and his answer.

Severus's eyes were on the desk. "Why what?"

"Why don't you try to insult me at every turn anymore?" she said slowly. Her voice was quiet. Severus realised just how close they were over the desk, both leaning forward to make their point.

He met her eyes, intending to send her away, but as he opened his mouth, he stopped. "I-"

Hermione shivered. His black eyes were rooted firmly to hers and she could no longer decipher the message in them.

Severus himself was having trouble in ripping his eyes away from her chestnut ones, unwilling to back down.

Seconds later, as if a mutual decision had been made, both lunged forward over the desk. As his lips met hers, Hermione felt sparks shooting through her. She responded eagerly, her tongue dancing against his.

Seeing the desk as an obstruction between them, Severus moved around the desk without breaking the kiss. He backed her into the wall, attacking her mouth more fiercely. Her hands twisted in his hair.

At the feeling of his hands dropping below her shoulders, Hermione forced herself to pull away. Her breathing heavy, she spoke.

"I…er…have homework to do," she said softly.

Composing himself, Severus nodded. "I see."

Straightening her ruffled hair, Hermione went towards the door. As she reached it, she turned. Not meeting his eyes, she said in a whisper, "I don't think I'll have any…homework…tomorrow night."

Her cheeks tinged pink, she grasped the door handle and left, the door shutting with a soft click.

She smiled and sank down on the couch in the living room. Severus went to the kitchen and quickly filled the teapot and took out a mug.

He closed his eyes temporarily as he heard a loud cry from upstairs. Hearing Hermione, got up from her seat, he left the kitchen.

"Sit down," he instructed. "I'll see to her."

Hermione shook her head. "That's okay, I'll only be a minute."

"Hermione-"

His wife lifted her chin defiantly. "I'm fine." She made to go past him, but Severus blocked her way.

"Sev-"

Refusing to listen, Severus scooped her up and took her to the couch, where he set her firmly down.

"You've been running yourself ragged since she was born. Don't argue with me- I want you to have at least one good night's sleep." His tone brooked no room for refusal. As Hermione gave in tiredly, he turned to go up the stairs.

Hermione grabbed his hand, pulling him back around. Reaching up to hug him tightly, she kissed him softly. "This is exactly why I married you."

"The only reason?" Severus answered with a smirk.

Her expression was identical to his own. "If you hurry up with Anna, I'll give you another one."

Severus again ascended the steps. No wonder Hermione had lost weight recently; all this running up and down stairs should qualify as a sport. They really should think of moving the cot downstairs.

As he reached the nursery door, he realised that Annika had only cried out once. The room was now silent. Curious, Severus gently pushed the door open. He gaped at what he saw inside.

Annika still lay on her back, but was gurgling happily. The toy Kneazle however, hovered above the cot, moving in small circles. Severus stared at his baby daughter in wonder. Her black eyes, which she had inherited from him, were fixed firmly on the teddy.

Without making a sound, Severus closed the door again. He was amazed. Young witches and wizards never displayed any signs of their magic until they were at least a few years old. He suddenly smirked, remembering it was his daughter. If Hogwarts thought they'd seen the last of him, they were wrong. An outright grin on his face, Severus set off down the stairs again. He opened his mouth but then closed it as he arrived in the living room.

Hermione lay slumped on the couch, head flopped and sleeping soundly. An expression of complete peace was painted on her face. Severus sat down next to her, gently moving her head to rest on his shoulder. He moved a lock of hair from her face. For once, she'd taken his advice and rested. He'd hated seeing her so exhausted lately. Sometimes he missed the woman he'd first fallen in love with, but this…this was even better. She'd given him so much in a few short years. She'd given him a daughter.

"Thank you," he whispered, closing his own eyes.

In her sleep, Hermione smiled.

Duj: First of all, I live in the UK and am aware of those regulations. Generally I believe that it is unethical for a teacher/student relationship to take place, especially in high school, but I'm not someone who has ever been put in that position and don't think my opinion is that qualified regarding that situation. The age of consent in the UK is 16. Secondly, Hogwarts isn't a 'high school' as such. Sixth and seventh year encompasses college years here. I have no idea where you live, since you didn't leave an e-mail, so sorry if I am pointing out the obvious.

'Coming of age' in the Wizarding world, according to OotP is when a witch or wizard turns 17. By this time, Hermione would be at least 17, if not 18. (HP-Lexicon was not working for me to check accurately.) I am not arguing that their relationship would be unethical, but I do protest against it being called 'statutory rape.' In the UK, if a woman consents to sex with someone after her 16th birthday, it is not rape.

If this is an issue for you, I apologise for causing offence, but I recommend you stop reading HGSS fanfiction that takes place during Hermione's school years.

I assume you read the whole thing, so thank you for taking the time to read.

DistinctVagueness