When Tonks returned to Hogwarts on Monday with a ring on her finger, a bright smile on her face and towing a werewolf behind her, Severus couldn't stop his smirk. When he met with Hermione a few days later, she prattled on and on about it.
"Oh, professor, isn't it romantic?" she gushed. "Tonks said that it was just them and her parents. They paid a minister marry them on the spot. She said she wished everyone could have been there, but they were just too excited to get married."
The potions master chuckled but let her continue. They had such little time left. He could feel it in his bones and just wanted to enjoy their easy companionship while he still could. "I didn't even know they liked each other," the girl continued. "Did you?" she asked.
"Yes, I was " he replied allowing himself to be brought into the conversation.
"Really?" Hermione asked surprised. Severus arched a brow at her in answer. "For how long? Harry thought she was in love with Sirius, and that's why her patronus changed. Have you seen it?"
The wizard thought back to Draco bleeding out on the flooded bathroom floor, and the large wolf that Tonks had sent to find Pomphrey. "Yes, I've seen it," he replied evenly. "You do realize that Sirius was Miss Tonk's cousin. While the Black's have a long and extensive history of inbreeding, those two did not participate in it."
The witch wrinkled her nose. "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. So, when did you learn about them?" she asked again.
"I suspected for a while, but Miss Tonks confirmed it before Christmas break," he answered.
The young woman sighed wistfully. "I'm glad they found each other," she mused.
Severus smiled over to the girl. "As am I," he replied. "Draco asked if I would arrange for the two of you to meet while he's mending. Would you like to see him?" he asked.
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Yes!," she exclaimed. "I'd love to see for myself that he's alright. The last time I saw him….." she trailed off as she too remembered the boy bleeding on the floor.
"Then I'll arrange it," he concluded. He glanced over to the clock and sighed. "It seems that we are out of time tonight, Miss Granger. You still need to make it to your dorm before curfew."
"Oh, sorry, Professor. I lost track of the time," she said.
"As did I, Miss Granger. Now off with you. I'll let you know when I've arranged your meeting," he said.
The witch gathered her belongings and bid the potions master good night.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
The following evening, Snape escorted a disillusioned Granger to the hospital wing. Once inside, the wizard made for Pomphrey's office to keep her busy, while Hermione met with Draco. He'd given her fifteen minutes. He'd then go to check on Malfoy for himself and collect the girl before he left.
As predicted, Poppy invited him in for a cup of tea. "So, what brings you here tonight?" she asked as she placed his cup in front of him.
"I'm here to check on Draco. Has he been tolerable today?" the potions master drawled.
"Yes, yes, he's tolerable but only just. I swear if he doesn't stop trying to sneak out of bed, I will tie the fool boy to it," she replied.
Snape sighed. "I'll talk to him."
"See that you do, Severus, or I will throttle the boy. Godson or not," the witch groused.
Pomphrey chatted on until Snape saw that his fifteen minutes was blessedly up. He set his cup on the desk and rose. "Your quite right Poppy, and I shall be sure to brew more pepper up for the infirmary. Now, I must go admonish Draco before it get's too late."
"Of course, of course," she said, shooing him away as she put a nip of firewhiskey in her tea.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
Snape approached Draco's bed passing through a privacy spell when he opened the curtains. He heard the children laugh at something Hermione had said, and it made his heart ache just a bit. They both turned to him when he entered, but he just sat in the bedside chair gesturing for them to continue. To his utter delight, they did. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes just listening to them talk of nothing. Hermione told stories from the classes he'd missed and of Tonks and Remus's unexpected wedding.
Curious, Draco asked the witch more about his cousin and the man she married. Hermione eventually dragged Snape into the conversation since he'd known the couple the longest. It was, all in all, a surprisingly pleasurable experience. So much so, that his 15-minute visit had run almost an hour.
He was startled that he so clearly lost track of the time. He stood up, "Miss Granger, we must be off. It's getting late." The witch nodded and disillusioned herself once more.
"Come on, Sev," Draco whined. "You aren't going to send the kids to bed without a bedtime story, are you?" They heard Hermione's disembodied giggle.
"Miss Granger," Severus called out. "Please be so kind as to wait for me next to the door. I'd like to have a word with Draco, here."
They heard the witch sing as she left, "You're in trouble." The potions master chuckled despite himself. Cheeky girl.
Once he was sure she was gone he turned back to Draco. "Madam Pomphrey says you're still causing her trouble," he started. The boy rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. "Now you listen here, that woman stitched you back together, literally!" he growled. "And I will not have you driving her to distraction." His face softened then. "She's worried sick about you. It's just in her nature. Please don't give her any more grief."
Draco had the courtesy to look ashamed. "I'm sorry, Sev. I'm just losing my mind in here. I won't give her any more grief, I promise."
The potions master took a deep breath. "See that you don't, and it would do you well to offer Madam Pomphrey your apologies as well."
The blond nodded his head in agreement. "Thank you for bringing Hermione. It…it helped, I think."
"I'm glad," Snape responded. "So, she's doing well with your project alone?"
"Yeah, she…she's a wonder," he answered.
The other wizard chuckled. "That she is. Is there anything I can do to help?" he offered once more.
Draco frowned. "No, no nothing I can think of. Well, maybe, maybe you could bring Hermione to see me again. It really does help," he finished, giving Snape the same pleading look that he'd been using since he was a toddler.
"I'll see what I can do," he hedged, but the boy seemed content with that. "Now get some rest," he said as he departed.
He strode quickly through the hospital wing. Only pausing briefly in front of the door to ensure Hermione was with him; they exited together.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
They developed a pattern over the next few weeks. Every couple of days, the potions master would escort Hermione into the infirmary and allow her to visit Draco, while he had tea with Poppy. It was a routine that he discovered he quite liked. While he was a private man, lately he'd enjoyed the company of others. Well, some others, not all others.
For example, he sometimes rather liked the company of Kingsley and Tonks. They were a nice sort to get a pint with. He'd even come to tolerate Lupin's presence. He liked Minerva well enough. She had always been kind to him, house rivalries aside. He would sometimes indulge her in a game of exploding snap. She said he was the only one she trusted not to tell of how undignified she was whilst playing said game. And then there was Albus….
No, wait, he couldn't think of him. Not now. It still hurt too much. It hurt like the old man was already gone. For all his manipulations, he was kind to him when there was absolutely no reason to be. He'd given him a home, a job, a career, not the one he wanted, but perhaps the one he needed at the time. No, best not think of that at all.
He quite liked Miss Granger. Such a clever girl. She always rose to a challenge and was fiercely loyal. Her trust in him was humbling, and he truly enjoyed her company. Despite her age she could hold an intelligent conversation, and he liked the glimpses of normality she gave him. He even found he liked listening to Granger and Draco squabbling. Then of course there were the Malfoys. They had all been good friends since their school days, and he'd literally watched Draco grow up.
And there was Poppy. He'd always had a soft spot for the older witch. Probably because she had such a soft spot for him. He'd seen her enough during his childhood due to either the condition he returned to school in or due to the cruelty of others once he arrived. She just seemed to get attached. She was kind to him and gentle with him when he was injured. She fussed over him just enough and knew when to leave him to himself. He'd very much started to look forward to having tea with her.
He'd miss it when it was over. He'd miss all of it. He'd still have contact with the Malfoys at least, but they were under as much scrutiny as he was. It wouldn't be the same. Nothing would be the same after Albus was gone.
He shook his head from such depressing thoughts. He had plans to take Hermione to see Draco, and he needed to leave if he hoped to meet her on the way.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
Severus accepted a nip of whiskey in his tea and settled in for a nice chat with Poppy. She filled him in on the latest gossip from Hogsmead and around the school. "Young Mister Malfoy has been popular this week," the witch said.
"Has he?" Snape asked although not terribly surprised. The boy did tend to collect hangers on.
"Indeed," Pomphrey replied. "Even saw Miss Tonks, or Mrs Lupin now, sneak in. She thought I wouldn't recognize her. As if I could forget the girl!" she exclaimed. "She was in here about as often as you. Clumsy little thing. As soon as I saw a strange man walking from the boy's bed, well I knew something wasn't right. I was about to pull out my wand when the man trips and almost falls over a chair." She let out a great laugh. "No one else falls like that girl. I didn't say anything, mind you, but I did give her a look to say I wasn't fooled," the woman concluded. The potions master added a chuckle to Pomphrey's laugh.
The witch sighed and wiped her eyes. "Oh course, she could have been here half a dozen times before that," she admitted with a smile. She reached over and pat Snape hand. "Don't worry, dear I've not mentioned this to anyone else. I'm no fool. Mister Malfoy seeing his disowned cousin could make some people quite angry."
"Thank you, Poppy," Snape responded with genuine gratitude.
"Of course, besides whoever it is you're bring in to visit him has done wonders. The boy has been much more well behaved since they've been coming and practically cheerful after a visit," she said as she reached for her tea.
Severus's insides went cold. "Pardon," he said softly.
The witch looked up and gave him a sly smile. "Now Severus," she mock scolded him. "You are certainly not the first head of house to sneak in a student to see a friend or sweetheart. Although, it is you're first time. Of course, I'm not surprised. What with the boy being your godson…"
"Forgive me, Poppy," Snape interrupted. "But I must be leaving. You just reminded me that I promised to visit the Lupins this evening. I'd better be off before it gets too late."
"You'd better hurry, my boy. You don't want to be too late indeed. They are newlyweds, you know," the woman laughed as she saw him out of her office.
Severus quickly made his way to Draco's bed. He opened the curtains so as not to reveal Hermione. "Miss Granger, disillusion yourself. We must leave at once," he said immediately and the girl quickly obeyed.
"Sev, what the hell? " Draco whined.
Snape turned on the boy. "I have no time for your attitude, Draco. It's not safe. I'll speak with you later." The other wizard still had a confused expression as the potions master and his other student hurried from the room.
As they passed the first major intersection in the hall he whispered, "I'm going dock 100 house points from the next Gryffindor I see."
He felt Hermione's presence fade as she reacted to their code phrase. She was to leave and establish her alibi. It was part of the rules he'd put in place before he allowed her to visit Draco. She knew what to do.
He regrated the end of visits, but it wasn't safe now that Pomphrey suspected Draco had a mystery visitor. Nothing could tie the two together. Not when there was so much at stake. At least he could console himself with the knowledge that Draco would be out of the infirmary soon.