Author note: Hello everyone, only a two-month wait for this one… whoops! I hope you've all had a wonderful holiday and got some well-deserved rest from the craziness of this year! Can you believe it's only two days till 2021? Madness! Anyway, enjoy!

S L x

Hermione looked around at the room; she had grown so accustomed to in the last month and let herself hope that nothing would change when school started again. She would still spend her afternoons drinking tea and having remarkable conversations with the person she had grown to care so deeply about.

She told herself it was ridiculous. This, in the muggle world, would cause a scandal if an ex-professor was dating one of his students, he would lose all credibility, and Hermione would be highly judged. But this, this was the wizarding world, and no such laws or prejudice belonged here.

But there was also the slight fact that Remus was not dating one of his ex-students. Hermione just wanted him too.

She let her eyes wander over to the man currently opening the window to let the warm end of summer breeze in, and she found herself completely transfixed on him. Although faint scars littered his lower arms and across his face, he was still a remarkable, attractive man. Looking older than Professor Snape, but still with the eyes of a young man, and a smile, which could even turn the sourest of people happy. His eyes were warm and comforting. Looking into them, Hermione felt like she was home.

"I just can't believe this is my last year here; it's gone so quick, but yet at the same time, I feel like I've spent my whole life in this castle."

"All the important bits, maybe?" Remus said, letting his gaze wander away from the window to her.

"Maybe. Feels weird though, with all that's going on right now, just to start a school year as if everything is normal." Hermione shrugged.

"I don't think anything has ever been normal with you at this school. Not since you've chosen Harry as a friend."

"This feels normal," Hermione replied simply. This was her perfect normal.

Remus slightly smiled at her. "And yet, you're talking to a werewolf." He grinned harder, warm eyes dancing.

"Our kind of normal." Hermione smiled back before taking a small sip of her tea.

Remus chuckled and glanced at the clock above the fireplace. The Weasleys would be here soon. Which also meant the full moon would be here too. It was the first time he would transform back at Hogwarts again. The shrieking shack was prepared, and Severus had brewed his potion for him. But still, Remus wanted this all to go smoothly. He didn't want to give the parents any reason why he shouldn't be allowed to be the librarian for Hogwarts.

He wanted to stay here, it was his home as much as his childhood one, and now, looking over at Hermione, he had more than one reason to stay.

He adored the women sitting in front of him, he longed for their chats, he so enjoyed seeing her every day, and yet he knew nothing would ever come from it. She deserved so much more than an older werewolf who was the librarian at a school.

"What time do you have to leave?" Hermione asked him, noticing his glance towards the clock.

"5, just to be on the safe side, take my potion, and make everything comfortable for me." Remus laughed. "Of course, Moony will appreciate it when he's trying to escape the shack."

Hermione laughed softly, but still worry crept into her feelings. "Would you like me to walk down with you?" She asked.

Remus looked slightly horrified at the near thought of that. "No. I don't want you anywhere near me, but thank you." He honestly didn't. The last time she had been near him on the night of the full moon, he had almost killed her, along with Harry, Ron, Severus, and nearly even Sirius. His heart hurt for a second, thinking about his dear friend who had tried so hard to save him from becoming a beast that night.

"I just don't like the idea of you being alone."

"I'm fine; it's been like this for as long as I can remember." Remus smiled back at her.

"I don't just mean tonight."

"Look, Hermione I-"

Hermione's face looked horrified as she heard the knock on the door.

"No." She heard herself say as Remus slowly lifted himself off of the sofa to answer the door. At Remus' questioning look back at her, she realized that her 'no' had been said out loud. "What were you about to say?" She asked, smiling slightly.

"Wasn't important." He smiled back at her gently and went to answer the door.

Hermione had never been more irritated to see Harry standing at the door. She was desperate to know what Remus was about to say and was annoyed at Harry, who had interrupted even though he had no idea what he had just interrupted. Hermione longed for her private time with Remus; she loved talking to him; he really was the only normal in her life right now. With Harry spending more and more time with Professor Snape, this led to Ron sulking more as his friend didn't want to spend every waking moment of every day with him.

Now glancing at the clock herself, she realised that Harry was only there so they could walk down to see the Weasleys together. All anger immediately disappeared.

After Harry had a quick chat with her and Remus, it was time for the two to leave. They both said their goodbyes and headed down the corridor to meet the Weasleys.

"Where's Snape?" Ron snapped, seeing Harry and Hermione walk up the hall.

The two shared a quick look. Both were confused at the anger in Ron's voice.

"He's meeting us for lunch later," Harry answered, with a look of confusion on his face. He was tempted to ask Ron why he has even asked him that.

"Just weird to see you without him, is all."

Harry's eyebrows raised. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked defensively.

"I mean, you spend a lot of time with him. I've barely seen you at all in the last few days!" Ron paused, "well over a week, if I'm honest."

Harry felt rage soar through him. "Well, would you rather we get on or we can't be in the same room together. Honestly, Ron, I thought you'd be happy that I wasn't completely miserable," he shouted back.

"We are Harry; I don't think Ron means it like that!" Hermione suddenly spoke, trying to fix this before it turned into a full-blown argument right before the Weasleys came.

"No, I did. It's weird." Ron declared.

"Ron!" Hermione gasped at her friend, begging him to be quiet.

Harry just continued to stare at him. "No, if he wants to speak, then go ahead." He announced.

Ron was quiet for a long second, and for one moment, Hermione thought this fight might have been over before it even started. She knew Ron was upset that Harry hadn't seen him much, but it was just because this was new and something different for Harry. Hermione knew that, once he settled down properly, he would be back to spending every evening in the common room with the two of them, eating meals with them, and life would go on as usual.

She knew Harry liked Professor Snape, maybe even cared for him, but there was no way Harry had any more feelings than that, She was sure of it, and there would be absolutely no way that Snape would ever grow feelings for Harry. Ron was just upset that Harry may have found a new friend.

"I just miss playing quidditch, eating with my friends, relaxing in the common room. That's all. I didn't mean it as an insult to your marriage." Ron paused. "Fake marriage." Ron chuckled.

Harry didn't laugh back. Yes, it was fake, but it definitely wasn't as bad as he had expected, nowhere near, and the scary thing was the fact that he didn't even mind being married anymore. Not much had changed, and he had just found a better, friendlier side of his otherwise nasty professor. He rather enjoyed marriage, his marriage, which was more a friendship. But still, Harry liked it.

"No one is ever going to replace you, Ron, not now, not in a real marriage. But, I feel I should tell you that I do like spending time with him, and if you find that weird, then that's just something you're going to have to live with." Harry said confidently.

"Just don't forget your real friends."

With that, the conversation was over.

Hermione looked between the two of them and sighed. She thought the whole thing was ridiculous. Ron was lonely, and he just didn't want to admit it. Harry was spending time with Professor Snape, she with Remus, it left Ron without them, without anyone.

Watching Ron now reminded Hermione of how he reacted with Lavender in their previous year. He had neglected Harry and herself to spend time with her for months, and yet, no matter how annoying Lavender was, she and Harry still gave him space and time he needed to spend with her. They knew it wouldn't last, but like every relationship, it was something new and exciting. Ron just didn't like being on the opposite end. Even though there was no relationship between her and Remus, she told herself forcefully, or Harry and her potions professor came to think of it. Not a real relationship anyway.

"Let's just have a nice day." Hermione smiled, squeezing Ron's arm gently and looking out over the grounds to see if she could see the Weasleys yet.

"I just miss you, mate, that's all." Ron half-smiled at Harry before turning to look where Hermione was looking.

"Me too, sorry." Harry half-smiled back.

Hermione rolled her eyes before putting her hands around both of them.

"Now you've both kissed and made up, let's just leave it now." She smiled brighter while Ron tried to shrug her arm off his shoulder, but considering his height, it didn't take much effort. "There they are!" She exclaimed, waving frantically at the figures in the distance.

She threw her arms around Ginny as Ron hugged his mother, and Harry shook Arthurs's hand. Behind them were two very familiar figures making Minerva's hair turn even whiter than usual.

"Fred! George! I thought I told you not to come," Ron laughed, while his two brothers ruffled Harry's hair.

"We couldn't miss saying hello to our favorite professor," Fred started, smiling widely at Professor McGonagall, who looked as if she had already had enough of the two.

"And we wanted to see how Harry was surviving with a marriage to another one," George stated, his mouth twitching to a laugh, which Fred mimicked.

"Oh, stop it, the two of you!" Molly shouted at the two, "Harry, my dear, how are you?" She said, wrapping Harry in a hug, which he assumed would stop his breathing.

"I'm fine, really. I'm just so happy to see you again." He smiled brightly at Molly as she held his arm in a comforting manner.

"I suggest we all head inside, or you'll all burn to crisps in this weather," McGonagall said, leading the Weasley family in through the front doors of Hogwarts.

All greetings had been made, and Hermione and Ginny walked ahead, whispering frantically about something Harry couldn't quite hear. No doubt about Ginny's newest relationship with someone.

Fred and George spoke happily to Ron behind Harry, while McGonagall watched the twins with both eyes to make sure they did not plant anything in the castle.

"So how is everything, my dear?" Molly said, holding onto Harry's arm as they walked down the corridor together, with Arthur on the other side of Harry. "Do tell us all, Minerva said Severus is joining us for lunch later, so I'm taking that as a good sign." Molly smiled brightly at Harry. Arthur walked the other side of Harry, listening intently to his answer.

Harry smiled back at Molly. "Actually, things are fine. We're getting on surprisingly well." Harry shrugged and looked towards Arthur.

Arthur opened his mouth to say something in return, but the sound of Molly gleefully clapping her hands together silenced him.

"Oh, I told you, Arthur, didn't I. I said they would get on just fine. I don't know how anyone wouldn't get on with you, my dear. Severus isn't so bad when you get to know him, isn't that right, Arthur?" Molly spoke cheerily, looking to Arthur for confirmation.

Arthur smiled back at his wife, then looked down at Harry. "I've always admired Severus, and although he would most definitely not have been my first choice in a marriage for you, I think we all agree at least you'll be safe. He will protect you with his life."

Molly clung harder to Harry's arm as they all trotted down the corridor to the great hall doors. The castle was alive with chatter and laughter.

Minerva opened the doors to the great hall, and as the group walked in, they saw Albus and Severus standing near the front. Their conversation quickly ended as Albus turned to face the group with open arms.

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, how good it is to see you again." He spoke loud, striding forwards to meet the rest of the family, Severus falling inline right next to him.

Harry was only aware of Mrs. Weasley letting go of his arm when he saw Severus' face in horror as she ran towards him to hug him.

"You're family now, come on, Severus." She roared as she pulled him in. As Severus was almost a foot taller than Molly, the scene looked somewhat comedic to the onlookers.

Harry and Ron glanced at each other and snuffed a laugh as they watched their potions professor be half suffocated by Mrs. Weasley.

"Molly," Severus said curtly, after putting some difference between the two. "Arthur," Severus said, shaking the man's hand.

"Severus." Arthur said back, "You look well."

Severus did look well, the most well he had looked in years. He had put it down to the fact that he wasn't worried about being tortured or killed every night by the dark lord. His hair, longer than usual, looked cleaner and more well kept, again since he had time to wash and look after himself, as he wasn't being called for different spy or death eater meetings every night. He was eating better, so he had gone from being underweight and skinny to someone who looked physically fit and healthy. Although he had never been one to have massive muscles, his arms were nicely toned, and he looked broader in the shoulders. And as for sleep, he had slept better in the past month than he ever had, except his first night with Harry. But now, he slept peacefully, hardly ever being disturbed by nightmares or his wrongdoings of the past. Truthfully Severus looked the best he had a very long time, and he felt it too. Not that anyone would ever know.

"Marriage must agree with you." Molly laughed. Harry's eyes widened. He loved Mrs. Weasley to death, she was the closest thing to a mum he had, but at that precise moment, he prayed to Merlin she would stop talking.

Severus glanced at Harry, took in one look at his facial expression, and almost smiled. "Thank you, but I would hardly call this marriage a conventional one." He nodded slowly at Harry.

Molly smiled softly back and lowered her voice. "Well, whatever it is, it suits you." She smiled warmly at him again before turning to greet Albus.

Harry caught Severus' eye and chucked, while Severus looked rather taken back, he just shook his head peacefully and let himself be led into a conversation with Arthur.

Harry watched him for a few seconds before Fred and George pulled him away.

"So, how is it, Harry? Really?" Fred began.

"Yeah, has he been trying out any potions on you?" George followed, making Fred laugh.

Harry chuckled. "Would you believe me if I said it's going fine? Honesty, we are getting on well. I've had no potions tried out on me so far, but maybe when school starts again, we'll see."

They all laughed in response.

"Nah, we're only joking." George began.

"He's not a bad git. Was very helpful with us when we first started the joke shop, wasn't he George?" Fred reminisced, looking at his twin for confirmation.

Harry's eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean?" He asked inquisitively.

George raised an eyebrow. "He didn't say?" At Harry's shake of his head, George continued. "Too be honest, we didn't tell anyone either, but when we first started making all of our joke potions, we needed a professional to make sure everything had been brewed correctly, make sure no one's face was going to get blown up or something." George told Harry.

"We sent him every prototype for our potions, must have been what? 15 of them?" Fred asked his twin.

"At least!" Exclaimed George. "He made sure every one of them was safe and sellable. Couldn't have done it without him." George smiled.

Harry looked between the twins and the man still engaged in a deep conversation with Arthur. He had been married to this man for a month; why hadn't he brought it up? They had discussed the Weasley's many times.

"Suppose he didn't want to seem too kind, eh?" Fred laughed.

"Yeah." Harry laughed, a smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Merlin forbid he would want people to know that." Harry chuckled once more.

The hall was buzzing with friendly chatter as people moved from group to group, talking to one another. Harry had managed to avoid Severus for the time being, due to Ron's words earlier. He didn't want to feel guilty for wanting to spend time with him, but yet that's precisely how Ron had made him feel.

He would see Severus every day for the next 11 months. Today was for the Weasleys.

Lunch was served, and everyone sat down at the table. The spread that laid in front of them was huge—steaming roast chicken, with a mountain of potatoes, a whole greengrocer of vegetables, and the most gigantic Yorkshire puddings Harry had ever seen. The gravy boats were passed around, and everyone dug into the lunch. Harry could imagine Christmas being very much like the dinner he had before him now. He wondered briefly if he would be allowed to go to the Burrow at Christmas like he had the past few years, or if Christmas would be spent at Hogwarts this year with Severus. Maybe Severus could come to the burrow with him?

Pushing his thoughts aside and telling himself Christmas was four months away from now, he dug into his food.

Harry had sat down between Hermione and Ron with Molly and Arthur opposite Ginny opposite Hermione, the twins next to the two girls, with Severus and Albus at the end. Harry watched the twins chatter to Severus in their usual playful antics and couldn't help the little smile that reached across his mouth.

He hoped Christmas would be very much like this.

"How is dear Remus?" Molly asked the table as she popped some more roast potatoes on her plate. "Wonderful about his new position here at Hogwarts Albus, such a wonderful idea!" Molly exclaimed, smiling widely.

Albus smiled brightly "You know, I thought so too, Molly." he agreed.

"Must be time for him to settle down soon, find a nice girl." Molly wondered out loud.

Hermione suddenly dropped her fork, while Ginny fought hard to keep the wide grin off her face, but failed miserably.

Harry glanced at her. "You alright?" he asked.

"Just slipped out of my hand," Hermione replied, shooting Ginny a glare, which did nothing to calm the rapidly spreading grin.

"Well, I don't think he'll do that." Severus said from across the table. Harry looked at him, and before he even had a chance to say something, Hermione had already spoken.

"Why do you say that?" She questioned her professor, with more stance than usual.

"Well," Severus began. Harry sat up straighter on the bench, ready to jump in at any moment if he heard Severus being unkind about Remus. They had had this conversation in the hallway weeks ago, and he didn't fancy a repeat of it. "He will not be allowed to marry and won't be allowed, children. He has much fewer wizard rights than the rest of us."

"Why does that matter? Anyone would be lucky to have Remus." Hermione spoke again.

"Of course, I'm not denying that I'm saying chances are, he probably wouldn't want to find anyone in fear of letting them down when the time came. I'm sure Lupin would love to find someone, but then he risks the chance of being completely in love with someone and never giving them what they want." Severus shrugged his shoulder very slightly.

"But what if someone didn't care about that? Surely then it wouldn't matter?" Hermione pushed gently. Still aware she was talking to her professor.

Severus tilted his head to the side. "You'll find it hard to find a wizard who doesn't want to have an heir, especially in the pureblood families, and with marriage in the wizarding world, it raises your status. You join houses through marriage."

"Well how about a muggle-born?" Severus raised his eyebrow at Hermione's question. "No, not me, but any muggle-born? They don't care about heirs or joining houses, at least not all of them."

"Maybe so, but why take the risk. Why potentially hurt someone you love." Arthur said suddenly, taking the conversation away from Severus. "Remus is a wonderful man; I don't think he would want to promise something he was incapable of giving." he said softly.

Hermione sighed gently, while Ginny smiled sympathetically at her.

"You said about houses joining?" Harry said, steering the conversation away from Remus, "So are our houses now joined?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Severus replied sharply, noticing this was the first time Harry had spoken to him since the Weasleys had arrived.

"Any advantages from that?" Harry questioned.

"For me." Severus chuckled darkly, while the Weasleys just looked shocked that Harry had even asked such a thing. At the look of confusion on Harry's face, Severus continued. "My name began with me; my father was a muggle, so my mother destroyed her pureblood family name by taking his. My name has begun with me and will most likely die with me."

"Die?" Harry asked.

"I'm not planning on having children." He said simply in response. Harry felt his face flare-up but just listened intently to Severus continue. "The Potter's are an ancient, respected bloodline. By marrying into your family, I automatically raised my status."

"But you didn't take my last name… Did you?" Harry asked. Ron laughed out loud at that idea, but one glance from Molly shut him up immediately.

"No, and I don't intend to, considering we are both males, we are not required to take a name unless we choose. In any normal marriage of this status, they would take your name." Severus smirked slightly. "But I don't want to be a Potter, and quite frankly, I'm too stubborn to change my name." Harry smiled back at him.

"Finally he admits it!" Harry exclaimed to the table. The table laughed in response, while Molly kept a close eye on the two men. Their relationship certainly had changed; even a blind man could see it. The admiration that Harry showed to Severus was genuinely remarkable, and Severus, Severus was like a different person. Molly was very much intrigued by how this would all end up. She hoped she would be allowed to see them at Christmas to see how much their relationship had changed.

The few hours the Weasleys spent at Hogwarts was beautiful and calming. A truly welcome tonic for everyone.

The four waved them goodbye before setting off for Gryffindor tower, Harry telling Severus he would be back later.

Severus barely acknowledged it with a nod of his head before he too departed back to the rooms he shared with the young man. Harry watched him go, then ran up to catch with the two Weasleys and Hermione, who had their trunks floating above their heads to follow them.

"I can't believe you're not living in the Gryffindor tower anymore, Harry!" Ginny exclaimed once Harry had caught up with the four. "It's too bad you can't spend your last year with the rest of us up there."

"He'll be up here all the time!" Ron exclaimed, looking back at Harry to confirm what he had just said. "He doesn't want to be locked up with Snape all year; he'll go insane!" Ron laughed, failing to notice that no one was sharing the laughter with him.

"Leave it, Ron. He's not that bad." Ginny smiled back at Harry softly before standing still at the Gryffindor tower entrance.

Harry smiled softly back to her before all four of them trudged inside, Harry watching the door close behind him. This room strangely didn't feel like home anymore.

Author note:

Concerning Molly, Arthur, and Severus, although I'm not really keeping anything in 'canon' past book 6 (I may throw in a few things, but on the whole, not really.) As Severus didn't kill Dumbledore, Molly, Arthur, and Severus are closer than in the books. In my mind, they've been at order meetings together and planned together, probably spending a relatively large amount of time together, so they know how trustworthy and reliable he is. After Albus announcing he was a spy, I imagine the respect they had for him doubled, Hence why Molly openly and quickly accepted him into the family. I hope that makes sense. I love Molly Weasley as a character, and I just feel she would be open and happy to anyone who made Harry happy, no matter who that was.

In regards to Severus' appearance, he is a healthy 36-year-old man. In my honest opinion, any man in their early/mid-thirties, as long as they have a healthy lifestyle, is in the absolute prime of their life, so although I adore Alan Rickman as Snape, that's not the image I'm going for here!

I hope you all enjoyed it!

S L x