Disclaimer: I do not own, or ever will, the Harry Potter Universe so wonderfully created by J K Rowling. Please do not sue; I highly doubt I could afford it. Thanks to all that reviewed, I am amazed at how many of you didn't give up on me. Thanks again!

Chapter 14:Tea For Two

"Hermione, would you like some tea?" Hermione heard as her door slowly creaked open. She opened her eyes briefly, hoping it was Severus who was talking and then shut them as Remus's dark brows presented themselves upon closer inspection.

"Yes, that would be nice. You have been quite kind." She drew a deep breath and then sat up straight, her eyes travelled leisurely from Remus's hazel orbs to her sleeping daughter's tiny form. Immediately, her eyes filled with tears of such happiness and she stood, pain trickling through her legs, walking to her daughters side.

"Sidney, you are a perfect angel." She whispered, lifting her daughter's form from the bassinet and laying her across her shoulder. The rocking chair seemed the best place to sit, so she walked stiffly over to the chair and sat gently on the padded the surface. Her eyes hadn't stopped crying and she felt so much in just seeing the eyes of her child, the last remaining morsel of her husband.

"Your father would have loved you dearly, Sidney. He would've bought you everything and anything you wanted and never worried that you were spoiled. Your Papa would've given you more than I can, but I will try, I promise." Hermione leaned down and brushed her lips slowly across Sidney's forehead.

"What a lovely picture you two make. It seems only yesterday you were raising your hand in my Defence against the Dark Arts class, only yesterday." Remus remarked cautiously opening her door and setting the tea beside her bed.

"May I hold her?" He asked, coming to her side. Hermione smiled, wiped her eyes and lifted Sidney slightly above her face and watched as Remus took the small bundle in his large, but frail arms. If she squinted and rubbed her eyes, for an ephemeral moment, she could imagine Wallace holding his daughter. It was then that she vowed to take Sidney with her to Wallace's grave, for introductions and reflection.

"I am sorry I was so cold with you earlier, Remus, it was a very confusing morning." Sidney whimpered a bit and Remus turned back to Hermione, arms out-stretched and ready to hand off the tiny girl.

"Whenever Severus is involved, it can become confusing. In fact, this is for you, Ronald dropped it by before he and Sallie left for the rest of their honeymoon." Hermione looked down at the yellowed envelope and sighed. It would be one of two things: a letter of good or a letter of denial. She rather didn't want to read it at all.

"Thank you, again." Hermione said, taking the letter and setting it on her bedside table.

"Kingsley will take over in one half-hour and then Bill Weasley in the morning." He bowed and walked with kindness from the room. If there were a teacher she respected as much as McGonagall and Dumbledore, it was Remus J. Lupin.

Hours later after Sidney was fed and resting again, Hermione brought her bassinet into the bathroom with her so she could have a bath. She was utterly thankful to the medi witches at Osgood's for their extemporary talents at healing charms, she hardly felt any discomfort at all aside from minor pains in her legs. The water felt pleasing against her skin and once she was perfectly wrinkled, she dried off and returned to her bedroom, Sidney in tow.

"Let's read our letter from Master Snape, hmmm Sidney?" Hermione nestled Sidney close to her chest and slowly tore the seal of Severus' letter.

"Hermione, I do hope both you and Sidney are well. The first shift I am to administer is tomorrow evening and I wanted to confirm that the arrangement was still agreeable. If at all possible, I would like to call upon you tomorrow before the evening shift to make amends for the indiscretion that occurred this morning. Please send reply via my owl, Tiburon, who will be waiting once the seal of this letter has been broken.

Yours, etc.

Master Severus Snape."

Hermione smiled inwardly and hoped that whatever he had felt or she had misunderstood would be solved. She hadn't really understood how much she cared for Severus until she saw his face after Sidney was born. It had been blank and fathomless, yet so full of eagerness and determination that she felt that he must care for her as well. Immediately, she placed Sidney in her basinet and walked to her desk to pen a letter.

"Severus, Thank you for inquiring as to Sidney and my health, we are both well thank you. Please do come for tea tomorrow around eleven, Sidney and I will be expecting you.

Yours affectionately, HJS"

Hermione sealed the letter and went to her window where Tiburon was waiting to take her letter back to Severus. She smiled awkwardly towards Severus' home and sighed, wondering just exactly what she might be getting herself into by letting him come to tea, for endeavouring to admit her feelings to him. She looked at Sidney's face once more and then lay still on her bed, thinking how odd she felt not to have a child inside of her any longer. It was an eerie stillness, like learning to sleep without Wallace.

"Do you need help down the stairs?" Hermione looked up as Bill Weasley yelled from the bottom of the stairs, she laughed a bit. Sometimes the Weasley boys were so naïve.

"That's fine, Bill, I can manage it." She took the first couple steps and then the others in stride; it wasn't as though she was learning to walk again. Sidney never stirred on her first trip into the kitchen. Hermione placed her bassinet on the kitchen table and then proceeded to make tea. It was almost eleven and she wanted everything to be some semblance of perfect.

"Do come in, Professor." Hermione heard Bill say as a harsh knock came upon her front door. She smoothed her robes and caught her reflection for a second in the mirror above her wind stand and gasped. Her hair was in soft, short ringlets around her face, completely devoid of frizz of any kind. Her eyes weren't puffy or red, they were a deep hazelnut, and full of colours she'd never seen before.

"Good morning, Severus." Hermione said assuredly and motioned that he take a seat next to her at the table. She bowed a bit and smiled as he came to sit across from her. Sidney cooed slightly next to Hermione and in an instant, Hermione's eye turned to hers. She wanted so much for Severus to be kind to her again.

"Good morning, Hermione and Sidney." Severus whispered, his face full of anguish and sadness. He rested his hands on her table and tapped slightly against it, nervously. Hermione had never seen him so ill at ease.

"Would you like some tea?" She asked him, standing to grab the cups and saucers from the cupboard and then the teapot.

"Yes, that would be satisfactory." Once the words left his lips, he regretted them. He sounded disinterested in her cordiality.

"Sidney slept for four hours straight last night. I read that most infants keep their parents up for a great deal of time adjusting, but I guess she isn't going to be cranky." Hermione said, bringing the teapot to the table and pouring his cup. As she poured her own, a bit of water splashed out at her in her haste and she quickly set the teapot down.

"I seem to have a problem with boiling water." She gushed with embarrassment. She wanted nothing more than to have the awkward setting reversed and had a chance to redo the entire thing.

"No mustard this time I hope." He quipped. Her eyes flashed to his momentarily angry and then relieved to see he was trying to be comedic. She waved her wand over the burned area and then sat back across from him, scrutinizing his every move. He hadn't commented on her hair, her appearance, or on Sidney's changes. Hermione could see such a change in her daughter's appearance over night.

"Is Harrison staying with you?" She asked, sipping her tea and then moving her eyes over to Sidney.

"Yes."

"I wanted to go ahead and start evaluating Atticus before summer, do you think he would be able to come by sometime this week?" Hermione put her cup on her saucer and winced as the porcelain clinked against the saucer.

"I am sure we can manage the time frame." He replied, finishing his tea in one gulp. Hadn't he written something about wanting to make amends for his behaviour at the hospital, she wondered? Sidney began to snivel from her bassinet, causing Hermione's attention to be diverted once more from his uneasiness. He watched her lean over the bassinet, he hair cascading around the baby's tiny form. Instantly, he noticed her hair had taken a very fine, silky sheen and her skin a lustrous tone, so different from the tone she'd had the previous day.

"You look radiant." He stated, coming to her side over Sidney's bassinet. She blushed, offered Sidney a pacifier and waited to see if she was still unhappy. Severus' breath was warm on her neck as they stood over the newborn and for once, Hermione wanted nothing more than to be exactly as they were, admiring such a superb child.

"I hadn't noticed my hair until just now in the mirror. I've read that sometimes women experience changes in their physical appearance once they give birth, but I rather thought nothing could get worse." She retorted, mentally smacking herself hoping he didn't take her comment for more than it was. She turned slightly to meet his eyes and saw only admiration in them and for an instant wondered if he could ever care for her as much as she was coming to care for him.

"It was lovely before, it's just tame now." He laughed, bringing a hand to the mass and running his fingers throughout. Hermione averted her eyes for a second or to and then met his again and saw that his face was merely centimetres from hers. His scent intoxicated her, it was sage and sandalwood in one illuminating whiff and she lost her thoughts.

"I am sorry I hurt you so, Hermione. I only wanted your safety and when you wouldn't leave with me, I became so aggravated. You do not understand the danger you are still in and I won't let you put yourself in harm's way once more, or Sidney's for that matter." His voice pleaded with her and for once, Hermione believed that he was entirely sincere.

"I wish I hadn't overreacted. There was a moment, when we were first out of the hospital when you looked at me with a look I attributed to disgust and I couldn't help it if you felt so poorly of me."

"I only wanted to leave and quickly. I could never find any disgust in you, Hermione." He rolled the word disgust off of his tongue as if it were the most vile curse in the English language and then, his hands found themselves around her face, stroking her tears away. He'd truly come to care for her, as he hadn't for anyone in many years.

"I feel …" Hermione started, but her words were lost on his lips as they met hers. She felt his hands go through her hair and then onto her shoulders, pulling her body closer to his and rubbing the peak of her back in small circles. Her legs became weak and her eyes watered even more so as he hugged her tightly, releasing himself from their kiss and pulling her entirely against his body. She could feel his passion, his need for their closeness. It wasn't sexual, it wasn't animal, and it was human. Severus needed her touch, her humanity. She didn't want to move or say anything; afraid of breaking whatever connection they had formed. Instead of saying anything, Hermione brought her hand to his eyes and traced the outline of his face, the smoothness of his skin, the softness of his lips. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time.

"I am sorry I behaved so immaturely, I was so afraid you had been disgusted with me and Sidney's birth. I didn't want to lose you, I know it's selfish and aside from being neighbours and associated for so long, I don't actually know you very well. I didn't want to lose the chance of getting to know you better, to kiss you like we just did." Hermione whispered against his chest as her head came to rest subtly under his chin. She had never been so forward in her life and hoped that he wouldn't reject her now, now that she had admitted her feelings to him.

"I can't say that I'll never disappoint you again, but I will endeavour not to. I would like to know you better as well, and Sidney too. I feel, felt, and honoured to witness her birth and to hopefully be of some assistance and comfort to you." Hermione lifted her head and consumed him in another kiss before pulling away and sipping her tea. She didn't want to seem desperate or too forward, she wanted Severus to know she cared for him without making him feel obligated to return her affection.

"Would you like another cup?"

"Yes, and a biscuit as well." He took his seat across from her and although he didn't smile or hint at his happiness, for the first time in twenty-one years, he was content. Hermione poured their tea and sat across from him, the cup resting gently on her lips where a smile had remained. In her heart, she wondered if she could ever care for someone the way she had for her husband, the man she had created her daughter with and yet in her mind, she didn't want to question anything. If there was one universal fact about Severus Snape, it was that he was entirely unpredictable and for once in her life, she wanted to be unpredictable too.

"Mum? Mum are you in the kitchen" Hermione heard from behind her.

"Henry, we're in here." She called back, gulping her tea and standing to meet him as he walked through the door. She was stunned to see him; all that she remembered when he'd left for school was different.

"You've changed so much." She whispered as her arms engulfed him in a breathtaking hug.

"Only gotten taller Mum. How are you, Master Snape? Where is my sister" Severus fidgeted with the length of his napkin and sighed, hoping Henry wouldn't be odd about his being alone with his mother.

"She's over there in the bassinet." Hermione followed him to the bassinet and watched as his eyes lit up in joy. "Did Headmaster Dumbledore sanction this little visit"

"Of course, Mr. Lupin collected me a while ago. She has Dad's eyes." Henry remarked, lifting the tiny form of his sister and cradling her tightly in his growing arms. When his face finally met Hermione's again, Hermione saw tears bristling on the surface of his eyes and rushed to him.

"What's wrong, Henry" She asked in a hushed tone, smoothing the sandy blonde hair from his face.

"She won't ever know him like I did. She won't have memories like I do. Dad trying to put up the Christmas lights on our house without magic, and then falling off the roof. Making breakfast in bed, eggs and kippers in syrup. Taking us to Quidditch games and reading me books, every night no matter how tired he was." He stopped and handed Sidney to Hermione before taking a seat next to Severus at the breakfast table.

"Then you'll have to tell her about him, Henry. That's what big brothers are for, to teach and help their siblings." Hermione stroked her daughters back and then placed her back in the pink and purple bassinet.

"Can we visit him soon" Henry's voice was low and melancholy, yet his eyes seemed refreshed now that he'd had a good cry.

"Of course, dear, I was planning on taking Sidney sometime, we'll go soon." Hermione patted his shoulders and met Severus's eye, surprisingly he didn't look as uncomfortable as Hermione thought he would.

"Let's eat some lunch, what would you two like" Hermione asked walking to the icebox to retrieve some left over roast and potatoes. Her eyes travelled to Severus's once more and smiled, she could finally openly smile at him without fear of being inappropriate or that her affections would be misconstrued.

"Why don't you sit down, Mum, I can make something. Michael and I had to help the house elves make lunch one day as punishment." She laughed at his comment and took a seat next to Severus at the table.

"I don't whether I should be angry or pleased, Henry Stuart." Her laughed surprised both Severus and Henry as neither expected so much happiness from her. When Henry was busy in the kitchen preparing lunch, Hermione placed her hand gently atop Severus's and sighed.

"I am sorry is that was uncomfortable." She whispered.

"It was personal, not uncomfortable. And before you venture to the resting, you must make sure to have an auror or better with you, nothing is secure as of yet."

"Thank you, Severus, I will make sure to head your words." She laughed again and then looked over at her tiny daughter whose eyes fluttered open suddenly at her mother's laugh. It felt complete in the kitchen for the first time in many months, Hermione felt secure in knowing that no one could intrude on their momentary sanctuary.

"We can go tomorrow if you'd like, Henry." Hermione called out.

"Okay, Mum." Henry placed the plated of food in front of them and then washed his hands for his own meal of noodles and mozzarella.

"Thank you, Henry." Severus watched the young man nod in reply and then dig into his own food, disregarding the rules of social etiquette. He sighed, that would be something that he would help Hermione work on.

"Well boys, Sidney and I are going to have a bath and lie down." Hermione announced after they'd finished lunch.

"I will return at eight p.m." Severus replied, watching Hermione lift Sidney from the bassinet. She nodded and walked with Sidney away from the kitchen to the stairs.

"Thank you, again for coming today Severus." Hermione let her fingers fall slightly over his and then climbed the stairs. She was growing more tired by the minute and wanted nothing more than a warm bath and long nap.

Author's note: This is a transitional chapter, sorry it's short, but if I didn't end it here, it wouldn't fit with the rest of the story. I will have more up later.

AN 2-2-05 I re-did this chapter to fix errors and such. Thanks to those who have reviewed and sorry for the poor grammer and spelling.

Makalanie Astral : I know it's about time… 

Becky Benson: Glad you came over to read it. I have actually been working on it for a year. I had it all written and then my computer ate it, so I am slowly re-writing the end. I won't give away the ending, but it will be a happy one.

Crissy: thanks a lot, I am glad you like it.

Kate: I strive to make Hermione seem more mature and Severus more free from the life he led while she was a student. It's hard though, because I do see him as a severe person.

Azulkan2: There will be more soon, I promise.

Moldanubikum: Thanks for sticking around!

Anarane Anwamane: Thanks again for your reviews

KdarkMaiden: I actually didn't think about it until you brought it up. That's interesting. I must have done it subconsciously.

Annabel: I posted more and sorry for the wait. It's the same story for everyone, I know school and such. I am doing my master's right now, so I don't have a great deal of time. But more will be posted.