Chapter Thirteen

Adventures in Hogsmeade

By Nikita du Levine

The streets of Hogsmeade were practically bursting with people, the dissonance of laughter with crying babies and shouting women would usually have caused Severus to grimace and race in the other direction. However, today was a new day. Autumn flourished at every corner, with the crumbling of leaves and the highlights of oranges and yellows in the leaves above.

Searching the shops, Severus realized he had no idea what to get his wife. With a shrug, he stalked down towards Flourish and Botts with a smirk upon his face. Books, the containers of knowledge, always were the best. The mohagany shelves set of the wonders of the establishment. Suddenly, the hairs upon his neck stood to attention when he heard one voice.

"Bloody Hell, you callTHIS a bookshop...You have to be kidding me."

Slowly turning, dreading this encounter he looked into the deep chocolate eyes of the tall woman facing him. Her eyes seemed to chuckle as she took him in, flipping her dark brown locks behind her in annoyance. She stalked over.

"Why, Severus...what a suprise! To see someone of your delightfull contenance admiring the mediocracy of a bookshop. Now, don't just stare at me and leave me thinking you don't know me."

He slowly stepped towards her, " Oh I do delight in such company, why last time I believe it ended with a hex," he watched her smile at the memory, " Well Ari, since you are in the area of Hogsmeade may I assume Stefan is with you?"

She smiled, "For some reason, your dear brother wanted to give you a bit of time before we had you throw out the welcome mat. I have no clue why, but I do have a habit of jumping in and finding everything I want in a situation." With this, she flicked her hand around the shop, the ring upon her hand glittering in the light. "The material hear is not what I need, do tell me a good library...Sevie."

He frowned at the nickname, "Hogwarts," he muttered and with all the strength he could muster exited the shop and apparated to Saint Mungo's.

Hermione smiled down at little Zach, he was nestled to her front as she read to him from one of his favorite books, Curious George Goes to the Circus. With each line his eyes lit up moe and more and his smile more and more beckoning . Feeling another appearance she looked up, at the door stood Severus. He was smiling and seeing her eyes upon him gave her a wink.

"Hey Zach," he called out, "Remember when we asked you to move in and live with us?"

"When you'd be ..adopted?" Zach questioned.

Hermione smiled, "No Zach, when we adopted you." Seeing his eyes light up once more she pulled him in for another hug, "Well Zach, seems like we've adopted you and now we can be a family."

Zach hooted in joy, and looked at the door suddenly disturbed by a man in the doorway.

Severus stood up and walked over to the door, while Hermione was completely clueless as to who this man was.

After a sudden moment, the man and Severus were enveloping one another in a hug.

TBC