Disclaimer:- I neither own nor own anything from this story. My plot is my own but the world of Harry Potter is the intellectual property of JK Rowling and associates.

oOo

A/N:- Thank you to you all for your reviews and alerts for the last chapter, all were appreciated. Time has slipped by quickly on me, but here is the next instalment, which is still being posted without a beta. So I'm sorry for anything I've not caught in my revisions before publishing. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Four – A New Beginning

Sitting at the kitchen table with Severus and Toby, Hermione had no trouble conjuring her little patronus otter to send off the message to Luna telling her that there had been a development and could they meet another time instead. Then she'd focused on little Toby as he gasped and she saw wonder in his dark eyes, her patronus seemed to register it too, and gave him quick snuggle before shooting off to deliver her message.

Moments later Luna's hare patronus hopped through the wall, answering that she'd lost track of time and that was fine, and Toby gasped again and turned to Severus. "Can everyone do that?" he asked.

"Most people," Severus answered. "But not everyone can manifest what's called a corporal patronus," he stated, but then added to his statement, remembering that he was speaking to a five year old. "A corporal patronus is a fully formed animal like your mother's, many people can only conjure a beam of light," he watched Toby smile, and then he said to Hermione, "That happy little creature of yours is becoming more and more catlike."

This made Hermione laugh merrily. "I guess she's assimilating to yours," she said.

Toby's eyes went wide. "Can you as well?" he asked Severus.

Smiling, Severus produced his slinky feline that resembled a small panther, and watched as it walked over to Toby and head butted his leg.

"Wow!" the little boy cried happily, and getting off his chair he looked to Severus before grasping the wispy creature around the neck and hugging it. Then he turned his still wide eyes to his elder. "When will I be able to do that?"

I was a teenager before I could produce a patronus, and I believe that your mother was too," Severus answered, noting Hermione nodding in agreement. He'd been shocked the first time he'd produced his patronus after the war and had found his doe was gone, but it also made him happy too, to know that he'd set that portion of his life to rest finally.

Toby looked disappointed at Severus' words, and the feline disappeared off into mist moments later, but Severus encouraged his boy up onto his knee. "Little man, you are only five, and your magical core needs to strengthen before you can perform feats of magic that adults can perform, do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

"Yes, Da," Toby replied.

This almost brought Severus undone completely, as he realised that this little boy remembered what he'd called his own father all those years ago, and now thought of him in the same terms, and he swear to himself that unlike his own father that he would be worthy of the term father.

Hermione saw him faltering, and she watched as Severus pulled little Toby into a tight, protective hug. She knew that the one thing that Severus had always wanted from his own parents when he'd been Toby's age was simply love, and that this must be a very emotional moment for him.

So, knowing that their little boy had inadvertently hit a nerve of some kind, Hermione offered comfort. Getting up and coming around the table to them, she wrapped her arms around both of them from behind Severus. "It's okay, love, we're all safe and in our own home," she murmured softly to her normally stoic partner.

Taking a deep breath, Severus got his emotion under control, and turned watery dark eyes to her. "Thank you, I suppose this process is going to be strewn with moments like that," and he gave her a smile and kissed her.

xox

All this bonding over afternoon tea was followed by a tour of the house, and the afternoon slipped away into early evening, and as this all happened Hermione's mind had been deep in thought. After all, she and Severus had committed themselves to one another, but she was not certain what form that would take yet, although she hoped that it would be of the marriage variety. They'd also just had a five year old son who'd seemingly appeared out of nowhere, how was that to be dealt with? There were so many questions and uncertainties, she wanted Toby to have a normal life, but she wondered if people would accept him without too many questions.

The Weasley family had always been her allies, and they would be a great place to start to integrate their son into their circle of friends, but then her mind thought of Ron. In his idiocy, he'd actually done her a huge favour, he'd cemented her relationship with Severus and provided her with an opportunity she never thought that she'd have, motherhood. Even if she hadn't been pregnant and had a baby, and they were also things that she'd love to experience, especially to provide Severus with more children, but even if that still seemed out of her reach she now had a son who she'd do absolutely anything for, and she sighed.

She did not know that Severus had been picking up on her thoughts all afternoon, and he hadn't been peeking into her mind. When she was deep in thought, and it often happened with Hermione, her thoughts just seemed to leaking out to him. It was because he had such an affinity with her, and also because he was a legilimens. As he watched her now, he considered that this should have told him more than it had about how they were destined before today, but he'd always been too caught up in her presence to register something like that.

The vein of her thoughts made him wonder about the nature of the reason why she could not have children. She didn't often speak about it, but he suspected from the few things that she had said that her cycle had simply stopped somewhere in the last year of the war, and now he wondered if it could have been curse damage that might be reversible. Much work had also been done since the war to solve such problems, and perhaps it was time to revisit the situation to see if she could be helped.

As he thought, Severus was wandering around his potions garden, and he smiled as he glanced up at the window of the room where Hermione and Toby currently were. His witch had just spent the last hour settling their little boy into a room that was his exclusively, and Severus had left them to it to bond over the experience. He reflected on the fact that at the age of five, life had still been bearable for him with his parents, he hadn't displayed magic yet, and his father had still been employed.

Even up until he'd been about nine when his father had been laid off things had been okay, not brilliant, but tolerable. It was only after that when the beatings had started and his mother had gone into a shell never to come out again. As he thought about it he sat on the stone seat that was surrounded by lavender, and he became lost in memory.

Severus was drawn from his thoughts by Hermione quietly approaching him, and he looked up to see her brow creased with concern. "What is it?" he asked, as soon as she arrived in front of him.

Her lip slipped between her teeth. "Toby loves his room, I've left Twizzle up there with him, because I wanted to speak with you privately."

Looking up at her as he gave her a smile, and his happiness simply started expressing itself. "You're the perfect person to show him what I missed out on growing up."

Hermione threaded her hand through his hair and asked, "What about you? I've wanted to show you how I feel for the longest time."

"Toby is more important," Severus declared soberly, closing his eyes in bliss at her caressing touch.

"I beg to different," Hermione told him softly. "You are just as important to me as each other for different reasons, love."

"So you say," he replied.

"Yes, so I say," she affirmed. "And I will love and cherish you both as long as I live," Hermione avowed.

Severus examined her face for a moment, before pulling a velvet ring box from his pocket. "Then there is something that I wish to ask you… I know that this has been something of a whirlwind, but we have a child to think about now… and would you accept this?" he asked, extending his hand.

Her eyes lit up. "If that's an engagement ring, then yes, I will gladly accept it."

"Well, it's a good thing that it is an engagement ring," he chuckled, and he stood and then sank to one knee. He looked up at her with a softness in his eyes that made her choke up. "Hermione will you accept me as your husband?"

She swallowed down her emotion and she cried, "Yes, Severus, yes I will," and she offered her hand to accept the ring.

Once the ring—a very pretty antique looking ring with diamonds and emeralds—was situated on her finger and it had sized itself there upon, she pulled him into her embrace, allowing him to snuggle into her warmth. It was very apparent to her that this man needed her comfort as much as his younger self did. However, in a not so innocent maternal way, but still allowing him to feel comfort from her.

She also hoped that later tonight would see him putting up strong silencing charms as they—to put it bluntly—danced a very passionate horizontal tango, together with any vertical manoeuvres they wished to partake in too. She very much longed to discover if her fantasies lived up to reality, and as she stood there holding him whilst he was still down on one knee, she whispered a spell that undid some of her blouse buttons.

She heard him chuckle softly and he snuggled closer, his mouth nuzzling between her breasts as he rose from his kneeling position and sat on the stone bench again, pulling her down to straddle his lap as his mouth started adoring her. Throwing her head back she moaned softly as he started trailing kisses from her cleavage, up the column of her throat, and along her jaw to her mouth. It felt so good, and made a strong throb start pulsing between her legs, but it wasn't long and they heard Toby thundering down the stairs with little Twizzle calling after him worriedly.

They reluctantly parted and Severus murmured. "I have specific plans for you once our boy is sound asleep tonight, my witch," and he rested his forehead on hers, whispering the counter-spell to close her buttons and then exhaling a long breath that sounded just as frustrated as hers as he gently deposited her beside him on the seat.

"We're out here, Toby," Severus called, and then said to Hermione, "What is it that you wished to speak to me about?"

"Well, I'm feeling a bit guilty about Ron," she said quietly, "And well, in his own idiotic way he's actually given me everything I could have wanted," and she grimaced. "Do you think I should perhaps lift the hexes I put on him?"

Severus smirked. "No! The boy is a bloody menace," and he pulled her into his lap, resting his head on her breast. "But that's just my opinion."

"He has brought our situation into focus for us though… Hasn't he?"

Snorting, Severus barked a laugh. "I do not believe that was his intention."

"No, but it has worked out rather nicely," she replied, as Toby charged out the kitchen door with the elf following him. He was grinning and carefree, just as a five-year-old should be, and he was definitely too fast for the elderly elf trailing after him.

"Be slowing down, Master Toby," Twizzle called breathlessly.

Hermione rose and allowed Severus to get up, he caught his little double as the boy careered into them, and he swung him around in the air. "Do you like your new room, my boy?"

"Oh, Da, it's great," he enthused.

"I'm glad to hear it," he replied, before changing the subject and saying, "Now, we're going to visit a family with a big baby in it."

"Severus!" Hermione scolded, swatting his arm playfully.

The Potions Master arched an eyebrow. "Well, it's true," he complained, "And in more ways than the obvious," and just like that, there he was her stoic wizard, with a completely dead-pan expression on his face.

She laughed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. So, we better get this fixed," and she sighed. She was expecting Molly at least to be upset with her, even though she knew that the twins thought that it was hilarious, and even Harry had chortled softly when he'd Floo-called after the event to get the full story. She'd also heard Ginny in the background losing it hysterically over it all as she'd spoken to Harry.

It was of course Ron's own fault, he should have learned by now not to do stupid things, and especially not to do them where she or Severus were, but alas, she didn't think that he ever would learn that particular lesson, so she squared her shoulders and prepared to meet Molly's displease.

xox

As Severus apparated his family to the perimeter of the Burrow's wards, Hermione also wondered if it was cheating taking Toby with them, as he was likely to take everyone's mind off Ron. Then there was her sparkling engagement ring as well, and she hoped that they'd be met amicably.

The last few days had been very hectic for Hermione, and as they crossed the threshold of the Weasley's property she suddenly remembered that today was Sunday, and therefore family dinner evening. Of course, both she and Severus had a standing invitation to come to Sunday dinner any time they wanted to, but perhaps today was not the day to do it. "Oh, it's Sunday, isn't it?" she muttered, more to herself than anyone.

"Mm," Severus agreed, watching children whizzing everywhere whilst adults sat with drinks and watched them from the porch.

Ginny was the first one to spot them. "Hermione!" she yelled, waving, and then she clapped eyes on Toby, and she was heading straight for them. "Oh, my Merlin, aren't you adorable," she said, offering Toby her hand. "You'll be about the same age as Albie, won't you?" and then her eyes rose to Severus'. "Hello, professor, it's good to see you. Is this your son, sir?" she asked, confusion evident on her face. "He's a beautiful child," and she smiled at Toby shyly putting his head on Severus' shoulder.

Hermione and Severus shared a look, and the Gryffindor witch, answered, "Toby is ours, yes… It's a long story that has a great deal to do with Ronald's current state as I explained the reasons to Harry for."

"Ah, yes, I see," Ginny replied, her brow furrowing now in complete confusion.

"I'll explain it all to you in a bit, but I need to straighten something out with your mum and Ronald, is she in the kitchen?" Hermione asked.

"Umm, yeah, I suppose so… Do you want me to come with you?"

"Is she angry with me?" Hermione asked.

"A bit, but we've told her what happened… Well, what we understood of it," Ginny replied, as Harry came over.

"Hello, you guys," he said, smiling at Toby. "So it's true, you've finally worked out how to make a Snape doppelganger," he cackled.

"Oh, ha, ha, very funny," Hermione replied. "Everyone's a comedian."

"Mm, indeed," Severus added, giving Harry a withering stare.

Hermione defused any situation that may have developed between the two wizards who essentially got on these days, but still bristled one another on occasion, by grabbing Severus' hand and starting off towards the kitchen. As they did they both heard Ginny slap Harry and call him a git, but then the kitchen door was in sight, and Hermione nervously tightened her grip on Severus' hand.

As they made it to the door, Severus—who would have normally allowed Hermione to go first—handed her Toby. "Make sure she sees both our son and the engagement ring first and you'll be fine," he whispered, and after knocking, he entered the kitchen before them.

"Severus," Arthur greeted genially, making Molly look around.

"Hello, Severus," she said before her gaze fell on Hermione and Toby. "Oh my, and who are you?" she asked.

"This is Toby, and he is partially the reason Ron is… umm… indisposed. Something that I've decided that I should rectify," Hermione admitted. "I do not know what you've been told Mister and Mrs Weasley, but Ron spilt a phial of a random concoction he'd created on Severus when we were at a meeting with Fred and George the day before yesterday, and well, to cut a long story short, now we have a son who was created in the aftermath, a son whom we both very much want. As unexpected as it is, Ron has given me two things that I never thought I'd ever have," and she glanced at Severus. "A life partner," and she held her hand out and wiggled it for them to see the ring, "and a child. So I think that perhaps I better fix the damage I did to him in my displeasure at what he did to Severus," Hermione explained.

"I see," Molly said, blinking confusedly, her gaze still on little Toby. Finally she looked at Hermione, and she cried, "Oh, you're engaged too," and she rushed forward. "Congratulations, and she shook Severus' hand and pulled Hermione, along with Toby, into a hug. Arthur followed her, shaking Severus' hand and placing a kiss on Hermione's forehead.

"You make a wonderful couple, this will be great," Arthur enthused, and they all chatted happily for a few moments before Molly spoke again.

"Ron's up in his room, he's too embarrassed to come down."

"Oh!" Hermione gasped. "I'm sorry, but he turned Severus into a child."

"Yet Severus is now here with you," Molly put in.

"Yes, I said it was complicated, and I do not understand what happened either, but I'm very pleased it did. Hence the reason…" but her words trailed off.

"We're very pleased that you've gained something out of it, and you all must stay for dinner," Arthur offered.

"Oh we wouldn't want to intrude," Hermione said, nervously glancing up the stairs.

Finally Molly seemed to gain her senses back and she reinforced her husband's words. "We think of you both as part of our family, and magical disagreements often happen. The important thing is that you're here to fix it."

Hermione smiled, but exhaled a long breath and looked up at Severus.

"Would you like me to come with you?" he inquired, as she handed him Toby.

"N-No," she stuttered. "I did this, I need to fix it. Besides, Ron is not known for his consideration, and I do not want Toby to hear his ranting.

"That is a good point," Severus conceded. "Then we will wait here for you," and he turned to Molly. "If that is acceptable to you, Molly?"

"Perfectly," the redhead said, handing Toby one of the sweets she always had in her apron pocket for her grand kids.

"How about I come up with you, kiddo?" Arthur said, watching his wife becoming besotted over their newest addition.

Hermione was also watching it, but after a quick look to Severus, she said, "Thank you, Mister Weasley, I'd appreciate that," her lip slipping between her teeth. She set her shoulders and relinquished Severus' hand, which she'd grasped again as soon as he'd taken Toby from her, and with one more glance at him she followed Arthur up the rickety stairs.

Over the years, both Hermione and Severus had often been to dinners at the Burrow during school holidays, but it had been years since she'd been in the upstairs sections. Nothing much had changed, although, she thought that there were more room now, which in itself seemed to defy logic, as the house was already toppling. However, she guessed that magic, along with the sheer will of Molly Weasley were indomitable forces.

They stopped at Ron's room, he was the only one of the children who still lived at home, and Arthur called, "Ron, Hermione wants to see you."

"I don't want to see her," came the muffled, and very pouty response.

"That's perfectly fine with me," Hermione said through gritted teeth. "You can remain like you are then," and she turned around to leave.

"Ron be reasonable, Hermione is here to end the hex… You do not want to remain in nappies with a dummy forever, do you?"

The door snapped open, and Ron appeared. "Well!" he said expectantly.

Hermione stopped at the end of the corridor, and she turned and shoot the required spells at Ron. The nappy and the dummy instantly disappeared and he was standing there dressed normally again, but she immediately turned back towards the stairs and left scowling at his attitude.

Arthur was not pleased. "Hermione came here with good intentions and you were very rude to her."

"She turned me into a big baby," Ron screamed.

"And you turned the man she loved into a small child," Arthur replied.

This brought Ron up short. "She loves… Snape?" he questioned.

Arthur sighed. "Merlin, Ron, the pair of them have been inseparable for years, we all knew they were meant to be together."

Ron walked back into his bedroom and flopped down on his bed. "She loves Snape," he muttered. "It's unbelievable."

"Well, I'm sorry, son, but it's true, and now they have a young child between them."

"'Mione had a kid when Snape… When?" he demanded.

Arthur came in and sat beside his son. "As I understand it, the boy was the result of the potion you spilt on Severus," he explained.

"What! How the fu… hell…" Ron started, but a voice in the doorway cut into his words.

"Because of your meddling with two potions that were not even from a creditable source, nor that you possessed the understanding to experiment with in the first place," Severus stated. You created a potion capable of asexual fragmentation," he explained further.

"I what?" Ron gasped.

"Just so," the Potions master said smirking. "Weasley, you were always useless in a potions lab, and I advise you to stay well away from the disused and disgustingly kept one owned by your brothers," and he sneered at the boy as he said it, but with some self-control he managed to add, "However, in this circumstance the products of your meddling have been very advantageous…"

"You mean worth money?" Ron crowed, cutting in.

Arthur spluttered, "Ronald!" in disgust at him, and it was a near thing, but Severus managed to remain calm.

"No, I do not. It is likely that your results will never be able to be replicated again, as you merely slapped ingredients together without knowledge or skill from two entirely different potions. I meant that your results have been advantageous to me personally, and I came up to thank you for your blunder," Severus stated politely, and then turned on his heel and left.

This left Ron very flustered. "Did he… did he just t-thank me?" he asked his father.

Arthur chuckled. "Yes, son, I believe he did," he replied with a smile, and looking at the door to where the Potions Master had been moments before, he added, "Oh, I sense that your mother is going to be very happy."

"Why?" Ron spluttered.

"There'll be a wedding to organise," Arthur answered, and then getting up he said. "Come down when you're ready, I should imagine dinner is almost on the table."

"That's good because I'm starving," Ron announced, and hurried off out the door ahead of his father.

Arthur chuckled again as he levered himself up off Ron's bed and shut the bedroom door behind him as he walked out of the room.

xox

Hermione, Severus and Toby, did stay for dinner that evening at the Burrow, and Molly asked Arthur to organise champagne for a before dinner toast. Luckily they had a few bottles over from their most recent family wedding, Percy had finally married his sweetheart last year.

So, when all the adults had a glass, she announced, "Congratulations to Hermione and Severus on their engagement," and at this point the garden erupted into excitement and hugs, with Hermione proudly showing off her ring.

Cutting everyone off in his excitement, Arthur declared, "To your happiness," and everyone answered and drank again.

Hermione and Severus were very flustered, but also very pleased that the Weasleys and Potters were happy for them. However, they became even more proud as slowly, little Toby started talking to children his own age. Albus Potter was the first child to approach him encouraged by his mother.

"Toby is the same age as you, Albie," she said, as they were all sitting on the porch again. "You'll both be going to Hogwarts together."

"Brilliant," the little Potter cried. "Let's play."

Toby looked to Severus. "Stay where we can see you, but you may explore with Albus if you wish," the Potions master answered.

Toby grinned and turned to his new friend. "Da said its okay," and the two of them shot off into the yard full of children.

Soon Toby was being accepted by all the enthusiastic Weasleys and Potters and he even happily sat at the children's table as they all ate dinner. As per usual, Molly had cooked for any unexpected visitors too, so there was plenty to go around.

Around eight o'clock, however, the youngest of the children were starting to climb into their parent's laps. At only two—and being the youngest grandchild—little Lily-Luna Potter was already sound asleep on Harry's shoulder.

Soon after Hermione noticed this, Toby arrived in front of her and climbed into her lap. "Are you tired, my little man," she said, gently.

"Yes, Mummy," he murmured drowsily.

It sent a thrill through Hermione's heart every time he called her mummy, and she smiled at Severus.

"Then it looks like it might be time for us to depart," the Potions master said.

"Yes, we should get going too," Ginny added in, noting Albus in Molly's lap, and James leaning up next to his father trying not to look tired.

Hearing all of this Molly rose and handed Albus to Ginny. "Then I will see you all soon, loves," she said.

"Thank you for dinner, Mum," Ginny replied, giving her mother a one-armed hug.

"Yes, brilliant dinner," Harry put in. He always loved family occasions like this.

"Agreed," Severus added. "Thank you for inviting us."

"You must make it a more regular thing," Molly told them, a hand each on Severus' and Hermione's arm.

They looked at one another, and smiled. "Thank you," Hermione said. "We've got to weigh up our options yet, but it might turn out that we're not teaching at Hogwarts anymore. We'll have to see."

"Just know that you're always welcome here… Where are you living?" Molly asked.

"Godrick's Hollow, in the old Dumbledore place," Severus answered.

"Oh, how lovely," Molly enthused. "Let me know if you need any help with settling in, won't you. So, you're only three doors up from Ginny and Harry," she added.

"Indeed," Severus replied. "Well, we'll see you all soon."

Hermione hugged Molly, and added her thanks and they walked out towards the apparition point.

"Now, there's something I'd forgotten," Severus murmured as they walked.

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"Harry bloody Potter living down the hill," he whispered.

This made Hermione laugh merrily. "Could have been worse," she commented.

"Mm," he agreed. "I guess it could have been," and he gather Hermione and the very sleepy Toby closer and apparated the three of them home.