AN: Thank you all for the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

Hermione and Severus watched as the owl flew into the night sky, a folded parchment tied to its right leg. Once it disappeared into the falling snow, she stepped away from the window.

"How soon do you think they'll get back to me?" She asked.

"I couldn't say," he answered. "Your research is of the utmost importance, and in an area which has been getting quite a bit of attention as of late. Still, you are a relative unknown in academic circles, which could make some less than willing to give your experiment priority."

"I never thought anyone wouldn't know me." Hermione laughed as she crashed onto the couch.

"They know your non-academic achievements, but academically they have not seen the brilliant witch I have come to know."

She blushed. "Thank you."

"You shouldn't be so grateful for honesty." He sat on the couch's armrest.

"Perhaps, but you're saying things I've always wanted to hear from you. Once you'd died I'd given up on ever hearing them."

"It's a good thing I was given a second chance to tell you the truth then."

The fireplace erupted.

"Indeed."

"Hermione?"

She sat up. He turned bleached white.

"Granger, Are you there?"

She looked at him.

"Go, answer it." He gestured towards the fireplace.

"I'm coming!" She rushed over to the fireplace and poked her head inside.

"There you are!" A voice all too familiar to Severus called.

"Sorry, I was just in the middle of something when you called."

"I didn't catch you at a bad time, did I?" The voice was less playful than it had been.

"No, I was just finishing a letter."

"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt anything. I only wanted to see how you were doing given everything that happened last weekend."

"I'm doing just fine, although," she gave her guest a mischievous grin. "I would feel better if there were two little ones in front of me though."

The man on the other end laughed. "I'm sure they'd love to see you too."

"Where are they?"

Severus' glow became yellow and intensified. He never thought he'd hear the man on the other end genuine laugh again.

"Right now they're in bed. They exhausted themselves after our trip to London, although they have some postcards they'd like to give you from the Muggle Museum of Technology."

"I'd love to see them."

"Oh no." He laughed again. "They want to give you them in person, and Scorpius insists upon writing his name on the postcard itself."

"Scorpius can write?"

"No, he scribbles. Still, if he makes a few markings on the paper he calls it a signature. He sees he writes like a 'cewebridy.'"

She giggled. "That boy is a mess."

"Indeed he is." Draco exhaled.

Hermione glanced back and met Severus' eyes. She pointed to the fireplace. He nodded.

"Draco, would you like to come in for a spot of tea?"

"If you put firewhiskey in it I'm more than happy to come."

"Deal." She backed away from the fireplace.

Draco stumbled into her home and brushed the soot from his robes.

Severus' glow brightened. The person before him was no longer a frightened little boy with the world on his shoulders, but a relaxed man who was confident in facing the world. His smile and eyes were bright, as if a war had never happened. He was not a selfish boy, but a caring man who loved his family.

Had Severus been able to shed a tear, he would have done so.

Draco stopped brushing himself off and glanced around.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Draco paled.

"You looked like you were searching for something."

"I wasn't searching for anything. It's just." He shook his head. "It's nothing."

"If you aren't feeling well, just say so. You don't need to stay."

"No, I'm fine, There's just this feeling I have," Draco sighed.

"What would that be?"

"Don't worry about it." Draco's grin returned.

"What brings you here anyway?" She asked.

"I wanted to see how you were doing given everything that's happened with Ron and the media."

"I'm doing better than expected." She strolled towards the kitchen.

"Did you get wasted like you said you would when you heard that Ron got engaged?"

"Actually I didn't."

"Good! I was worried there for a minute."

"No, I've decided that booze would do nothing in a time like this."

"You're right, it wouldn't solve anything. It would just…"

Draco stopped at the edge of his sofa. He turned and met Severus' eyes.

Severus' glow pulsated. He had always hoped that Draco would survive and thrive after the war. It was clear he had done both. Seeing the person he was now brought on so many emotions, many of which Severus could not express even to himself.

"I was actually too busy with my research and cooking lessons to think about getting drunk," she continued.

"In other words, Dante distracted you from feeling anything unpleasant." Draco strolled into the kitchen.

"I will admit that Dante was a pleasant distraction." She began to make the tea.

"Did he come tonight?"

"Yes."

"Where is he? I'd love to introduce myself."

"He left awhile back."

"He did?"

Severus glided into the kitchen and stood where he could get a good view of his godson.

"Pity, I would have loved to meet him," the blond man continued.

"I don't know if that will be possible given how shy he is."

"He can't be too shy to meet me."

"Trust me, he really can't be seen by anyone." Hermione reached up into a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of firewhiskey.

"Why not? Is he a spy or something?"

Severus' glow turned a warm yellow.

"Something like that."

"Is he some kind of secret agent?"

"He's, well he's someone who likes to keep to himself anyway."

"So he's not a publicity whore?"

"No."

"I think I like him already." Draco mused. "He's just the kind of person I'd love you to introduce me to."

Severus' glow turned blue. Dante is desperate to meet you, if only he was allowed to do so.

"Perhaps someday you'll meet him," she replied.

"If he makes you happy, I'd love to meet him soon rather than later."

"We'll see."

"Speaking of happy though, you don't need to pretend with me." Draco's voice lowered. "How do you really feel?"

"Not the way I thought I'd feel if I'm honest," she replied.

"Do you feel worse or better than you thought you'd be."

"I'm at peace with what's occurred."

"Good." Draco exhaled. "I felt so awful when I read the news in London. I knew you needed a friend but I didn't want to interrupt our family vacation. Ginevra and I had been planning it for months, and I knew Potter would step in to help you."

Severus' glow grew softer as his lips curled up. It was difficult to envision Draco being this considerate when he'd been a teenager. It was nice to know he was a good friend in addition to a good husband and father.

"Harry did see me in my office on Monday afternoon and gave me some takeout. He would've come sooner, but I was with my parents all day Sunday."

"So you had support."

"More or less."

"I'm still sorry I couldn't be here sooner."

"No, you were with your family, exactly where you needed to be."

The teapot hissed.

"I can get the cups." Draco began.

"Thank you." She removed the teapot from the burner.

"How is your father doing?"

"He's a live wire as always." Hermione chuckled. "You wouldn't know he's had two heart attacks except for the fact he goes to bed a half hour earlier"

"I hope he recovers as much as he can soon."

"There's hope for him anyway."

"Oh?" He poured a bit of firewhiskey into his cup.

"Yes," Hermione poured tea into her cup. "I'm working on a potion to cure the weakness in his heart."

"You took up brewing again?"

"I did." She poured tea into his cup.

"How is it going?"

"I think I have a promising prototype. I just sent it into a research center to see if they'll approve it for testing."

"I see." Draco whispered before lowering his head and staring at a spot on the ground.

"Are you feeling well?"

"I am." He relaxed. "I feel more well than I have in years, which is the oddest feeling."

"What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath. "Do you promise not to laugh or be frightened by what I tell you?"

"I promise."

His voice was so quiet she almost didn't hear him. "I feel Uncle Severus in this room."

Severus' glow was a warm yellow.

"I've never felt that before." Draco took a shaky breath. "For years, I tried to feel him, hoping for some sign that he was at peace. I couldn't find one. After a few years I gave up feeling anything and tried to allow the dead to remain dead. Now though, the room is so warm, and I know he's with me."

Severus drew closer to Draco.

"I don't know why I feel him now, but I've felt his presence from the moment I entered. It's like he's finally at peace, like he's finally happy and able to watch over me."

"Trust me," Hermione looked at Severus. His lips curled up. "He's happy."

"I hope so." Draco took a sip of his tea. "I only wish I could say something to him and know he could hear me."

"If you could say one thing to him," she asked. "What would you say?"

"I was just musing aloud, not trying to get into a deep conversation."

"It's an interesting topic. I'd love to hear more on what you would say to him."

"Oh no." The blond raised his hand. "This visit was about you, not me."

"I know, and I'm asking you a question. What would you say to him if you knew he was in the room right now?"

"I didn't mean to hijack this conversation, especially with all you're going through."

"I'm fine, but I would like to know what you'd say."

"Okay." Draco set the cup on the counter. "I'd ask him if he's proud of me."

"Why would you think he isn't proud of you?"

"Because he gave his life for me. I'm the reason he died. Everything that happened is my fault." Draco choked.

"How could you ever think that?"

"He died because Voldemort thought he had the Elder Wand." Draco sniffed. "Uncle Severus must have known I had control of it though. Still, he never even presented it as a possibility. Hell, Voldemort wouldn't have even suspected him of having the wand if he hadn't killed Dumbledore because he didn't want me to do it. He died protecting me. If it wasn't for me, he'd be alive. It's my fault."

"It wasn't your fault," Severus cut in. "None of it was your fault."

"It wasn't your fault." Hermione rubbed his arm. "If Severus was here he'd tell you that."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "When did you start calling him Severus?"

"Uh, Professor Snape." She blushed. "If Professor Snape was here he'd tell you this wasn't your fault."

"I'm not sure of that."

"I know that for a fact. In my heart of hearts, I know he doesn't blame you for what happened."

"I wish I shared your confidence." He bowed his head.

"Why don't you?"

"I thought for years he was upset with me," Draco's voice cracked. "I couldn't feel him with me, so I thought he was mad at me for what happened."

"I was never upset with you," Severus replied. "I would have given you a sign if I could've. I love you."

"I don't know why Professor Snape didn't give you your sign before tonight," she set her cup beside Draco's. "Still, he loves you. He loved you in life, and that love never died."

"Did I make him proud though? Does he think I made the most of my life?"

"You make me proud." Severus' glow was like that of the morning star. "Every day I am proud to call you my godson."

"You have made him so proud." Hermione embraced him. "He is proud to be your godfather."

"I hope so." Draco shed a tear.

Severus put his hand against his godson's back.

"I feel him." Draco shook. "I feel him, and I miss him. I miss him so much."

"I know you do." Hermione squeezed him tighter.

"I didn't mean to make this about him. I did want to hear about you."

She hushed him. "You're allowed to miss him and talk about your emotions."

Draco broke down and cried, unaware that Severus was standing over him, wishing he could do more other than offer his presence.