Oh my, ye people!

Your comments and messages are just... I have no words! You are the most supportive people ever! You can't believe how happy you make me every day!

I haven't written much today, but I am a few chapters ahead still, so I decided to post chapter 15 already! I really need to catch up now though!

Personally, I love this chapter. Not very much is happening here, but it's simply one of those necessary "Sev and Mione are having some quality time" chapters. I love writing those. *swoon*

Gods, you cannot believe how happy you make me with all your comments. There are so many people reading this fic now and I am just hjzfrgwouncwvunwv going crazy. THANK YOU ALL SOOOOO MUCH!

Now, enjoy chapter 15, let me know what you think and do all stay safe and healthy and as lovely as you are! You can drop me DMs anytime if you want to have a chat! I'd love to get to know ye all a bit! I feel like you're the best people in my live with all your supportive comments *sending you lots of love* xxx

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BREATHLESS - NICK CAVE

Severus and Hermione landed on the top step of Grimmauld Place. She held his hand and when he tried to let go of her, she squeezed it slightly. The simple gesture doubled his self-confidence and before she could even raise her hand, he knocked on the door himself.

Hermione tightened her grip around his fingers once more but let go of him as soon as the door opened. Harry greeted her with a smile and then looked at Severus.

"Snape."

"Potter."

The two men considered one another for a moment, and then Harry said: "Good to see you."

He offered Severus his hand and he took it. The younger man had a surprisingly kind look in his eyes and invited them both in. Severus made Hermione go first and followed her down the corridor.

"Just go into the kitchen", Potter said from behind him.

Grimmauld Place looked nothing like Severus remembered it. The corridor was bright and welcoming, coats where hanging along the wall and shoes were lined up on the floor. He looked up the staircase, noticing that the dark wood had gone, and the handrail and wall panelling were now made of a light wood, possibly birch. It seemed like there was sunlight coming from upstairs and he wondered how much they had changed the upper floors.

"I am surprised you got rid of Walburga Black", he said.

"There is nothing Hermione can't do", Harry answered, and Severus nodded understandingly.

When he entered the kitchen behind Hermione, he couldn't believe how inviting it looked. There was no resemblance to what Severus knew. It was also very bright, as they had expanded the room with a conservatory. A cooking island took up most of one side of the room and the familiar old, large wooden table stood in the conservatory, surrounded by random chairs. The only other thing he recognised was the fireplace at the left upon entering the room.

"Just sit down…", Hermione said quietly to Harry. "I'll set up tea."

Severus followed Potter to the dining table and felt oddly at ease sitting down at one table together. He looked out into the garden and saw a swing, a slide and multiple small brooms lying around. A collection of wellies was lined up just outside the back door.

"Hermione told me you have a family now", he said to Harry.

Harry smiled and nodded. "Three kids and a lovely but scary wife."

"I remember Miss Weasley", Severus said. "Boys? Girls?"

"Two boys and the youngest is a girl."

They sat in silence and it wasn't uncomfortable, but they were both clearly relieved when Hermione joined them and started talking.

"Right, let's start, shall we?", she said and pulled out a notebook and one of those clicking muggle pens that annoyed Severus so much.

"Harry was thinking that I should talk to Minerva, before we inform anybody at the ministry. However, I think there are two main things to think about. Firstly, we need to establish whether you want to pursue a life in England independent of Minerva's verdict. Secondly - and this is where the two of you will be talking to one another -", she said, pointing at them both with her pen, "we need to define what Harry can do in either case at the ministry."

There was something about Hermione, that made both men love her equally in this moment. She had the ability to just cut to the chase and get things done efficiently and effectively.

Severus noticed that Harry looked cautiously at her, either to determine whether she had finished speaking, or because he was afraid of interrupting her. Severus liked her approach. His brain worked similarly to hers, and he was relieved that he could simply switch on the analytical part of his mind to get through this conversation.

"If it is possible, I would like to be able to walk down the street as a free man, have a residence, and be able to come and go as I please, impartial of Minerva's decision", he said.

"All of these things are possible at this point", Harry explained. "You might be a dead man, but you are a free dead man. I don't know if Hermione mentioned it, but you have been cleared of all charges. Wizarding law does not differentiate between dead and alive, oddly enough, and the verdict is irreversible. You can come and go as you please, you can walk up and down Diagon Alley all day and eat an ice cream at Florean Fortescue's if you wish to do so. Although that might freak out some people…"

Harry looked a bit uneasy himself at the mental image of Severus eating ice cream; his face was as easily deciphered as Hermione's.

"Taking up residence is theoretically no problem", he continued, but sounded a bit worried. "I am afraid we will need to open up a new vault at Gringotts for you. After your presumed death, your Gringotts vault has been closed. I take the blame entirely", he said sincerely. "I've recommended to use your fortune to rebuild the potions lab at Hogwarts after the war."

"Oh, goodness. I completely forgot to tell you", Hermione exclaimed, raising both her hands to her face."

"You will of course be reimbursed", Harry said immediately, sounding rather worried.

Severus just shook his head. "No need, Potter. It was a surprisingly intelligent thing to do."

Harry looked clearly relieved and an excited smile appeared on Hermione's face.

"The new potions lab is extraordinary. You will absolutely love it!", she said.

He just raised an eyebrow at her. She seemed to be so sure he was going to Hogwarts, he didn't want to damp her spirits, although he wasn't that convinced himself.

Harry turned his attention to Severus again.

"I would recommend that as soon as Hermione has talked to Minerva, we get started on setting you up again, there is quite a lot to do. If you should get that job at Hogwarts, you'll need a residence in England and a vault. Am I right in assuming that there is no family line that would still own a vault?"

Severus nodded. "That is correct."

"I need to talk to someone then about how to set it up. It might be possible to handle it like a new vault for a muggle-born citizen, but I could be wrong. One never knows what those goblins want. If you agree, I will talk to Bill Weasley on your behalf, once you have officially returned. He will know how to deal with the bank."

Severus nodded again.

"Harry?"

They all turned their heads when they heard Ginny's voice from upstairs.

"I'll go", Hermione said and immediately jumped up. "I'm coming upstairs, Gin!"

"Minnie!", a young boy cheered, just before she closed the door behind her.

Harry subconsciously smiled and Severus felt a weird sensation at this simple expression. It must have been his son, and Severus felt like he experienced a tiny fraction of what it must feel like to hear your child's voice just by looking at Potter's face. And ridiculously enough he felt happy for the man. And the boy.

"What would you like me to tell Kingsley?", Harry asked.

"I assume it is not an option to simply inform him of my return", Severus said coolly, covering up his sentimental thoughts.

"Technically, it is. But I wouldn't recommend it."

"And why is that?", he sneered, although he didn't really mean it.

"The publicity around your return will inevitably be massive, and I hope you agree that Kingsley would better be informed by a reliable source, before reading the crap the Prophet will most certainly publish", Potter explained. "He will want to know why and how you are back. I am friends with him and we work closely together. I can and will not deny him an answer."

Severus face was expressionless as he was thinking about Harry's words.

"I can just tell him, what I know from Hermione. You don't know how you survived, you woke up in your house and decided to go undercover abroad, because you were concerned about the war's outcome and your position in it", Harry proposed.

"You can tell him I survived because I have been taking a snake venom antidote for months", Severus explained.

Harry nodded. "If you agree, I will make sure your return is not made public until we have Minerva's decision. If she gives you the job it's better to have the gossip about your return and appointment all at once and be done with it, rather than providing Skeeter with two headlines to write about."

"That sounds sensible", Severus agreed. "I appreciate your help."

"Consider it a favour returned."

They sat at the table in silence for a few moments before Harry got up. "I'll get Hermione."

"Potter?"

He turned around, but Severus didn't speak for a while, thinking about how he could say what he wanted to say.

"Thank you for not letting me die alone."

Harry was obviously surprised at this statement and looked at him seriously for a moment, before answering: "Thank you for not letting me die at all."

"You didn't know that then", Severus said brusquely.

"Doesn't matter."

"It does", he insisted. "Suck up your Gryffindor honour and accept a well-earned thank you."

Harry contemplated Severus for a while but nodded eventually.

"Anytime."

Harry accompanied Hermione and Severus to the front door when they left. Before he closed the door, Severus said: "Age doesn't become you, Potter. I think you left some of your arrogance behind."

Harry looked at him coolly for a second before answering: "You used to be a better bully, Snape."

As soon as the door closed behind them, Hermione started pestering him.

"What was that about?", she asked stunned.

Severus walked down the steps onto the street, feigning complete ignorance.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

Hermione huffed incredulously and they walked down the street towards the Tube station in silent togetherness.

"Actually, I have an idea", she said when they arrived. "Let's not take the Tube here. I hope you don't mind walking a bit further."

"Not at all, Minnie." Severus drawled.

She laughed at him, and it sounded like golden bells ringing.

"James calls me that", she explained. "They all usually call me Mione, but he can't say that."

"James?"

"Harry's eldest boy."

"How imaginative", he sneered. "I guess I don't even want to know the other children's names."

"Their second child is called Albus, and the youngest is a girl called Lilly."

He snorted inelegantly. "I presume Miss Weasley – excuse me", he corrected himself, "- Mrs Potter had no say in the choice of names."

"Actually, she did propose two of the three names", Hermione explained. "But let's talk about this another time."

She looked a little bit uneasy, but he couldn't work out why.

They had talked the whole time, and Severus was too busy listening to Hermione and watching her every move, to register where they had gone to.

"King's Cross?", he asked surprised as they walked around the corner.

She just shrugged her shoulders. "It's much more convenient to get the Tube from here to go home", she explained casually.

He looked as composed as ever when they entered the station, but inwardly he was excited like a little eleven-year-old boy.

How did she do it? He had been walking the streets of London with her, thinking he was the happiest man alive and she just came up with something to exceed again.

They went onto the Victoria line southwards. It was rather busy, and they stood close together holding onto the same handrail.

He watched her, how she tightened her grip around the handrail, how she readjusted the handle of her bag on her shoulder, how she mustered the people around her. She caught him staring at her and just smiled in return.

He had been questioning his luck so much over the past days, had been wondering when the blow would come that would cause him to lose her. But at the moment he didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to enjoy her. Her company, her presence, her appearance, just her.

When they stopped at Oxford Circus, he remembered something.

"Let's get off here", he said and jumped of the Tube.

Caught by surprise, Hermione nearly didn't manage to get off in time.

"We're miles from where we want to be", she explained, trying to keep up with him in the crowd.

"I know", he simply replied.

He didn't see how she smiled, being happy about how carefree he was.

They walked down Oxford Street, it was busy, and she hooked her arm into his to make sure she wouldn't lose him. The gesture nearly made his heart explode and he felt like the proudest and luckiest man alive. He instinctively walked with his back straighter, his head held higher, and he couldn't stop a twitching in the corner of his mouth that nearly made him smile like an idiot.

They took the corner at Tottenham Court Road onto Charing Cross Road and Hermione thought for a moment he wanted to go to Diagon Alley. However, they continued on to the Seven Dials roundabout. He opened up the door to a coffeeshop to let her in first. It was extremely busy, and it took a while before they were served.

"Two black coffees, one with two sugars, take-away please", he ordered and paid for them, completely ignoring Hermione who insisted on getting her own.

He shoved the cup of coffee into her hand and said: "I know how you like your coffee, so just shut up and drink it please."

"I have a reusable cup, I don't like plastic cups", she complained as they left the shop.

"They're paper cups."

"That doesn't matter", she persisted.

"Fine, order your own coffee the next time", he growled.

"Thank you anyway", she said sheepishly.

They didn't say anymore, but naturally the tension dissolved. How could he possibly be in a bad mood, when he had just ticked off an item of his bucket list: having a cup of coffee with Hermione from his favourite coffeeshop in Covent Garden.

Severus blamed the difficulty of apparition between England and France for the fact that he stayed another two days at Hermione's flat. They were sat on each of their respective sofas in the living room reading, when he asked her: "What are your plans for New Year?"

"Nothing, really", she said.

"I don't believe you."

"I thought we could get a take-away and watch the fireworks from upstairs. I have a really good view of London from my bedroom window."

"So, you are telling me that for the last ten years you have been watching the fireworks from your bedroom window all by yourself", he sneered. "If that is so, I feel incredibly sorry for you."

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny."

She put her book down and pursed her lips.

"What do you usually do?", he asked her.

"Well, I usually celebrate with my friends, but nothing's come together this year", she explained. "Harry and Ginny decided to stay at home with the kids. They invited me, but I think I'd rather stay here with you, if you want to."

"You should go and celebrate with them", he said.

"No", she sighed. "The kids don't make it to midnight yet. They're a married couple and they haven't had some time alone for a long time", she picked her book back up. "I believe they probably have better things to do, than entertain me all evening."

Severus thought about her comment just a tiny bit too much, imagining what he would want to do with her on New Year's Eve, if they were a couple.

"Fine, but I'll warn you", he said quietly, to hide how thick his voice had become after those stray thoughts. "I haven't been making it to midnight either for the past four years."

"Don't worry", she said casually. "I'll make sure you will."

His imagination sparked at her comment. Pictures of her lying next to him and of his fingers wandering across her body flashed in front of his inner eye. He had to pull up all his occlumency shields to maintain a blank facial expression. Fixing his gaze on his book, he never saw the curious heat in Hermione's eyes, as she looked at him over the rim of her own book.

Severus had convinced Hermione to cook together rather than get a take-away, so New Year's Eve found them arguing harmlessly in the kitchen.

"Well, all you've ever done is brainlessly follow instructions in your potion books instead of trying to get an understanding of what you're doing", he snapped at her.

"Brainlessly follow…?" She was so outraged that she couldn't even finish her sentence. "You go on and do it then!", she ordered, arms akimbo.

"I'm just saying, if this were a potion, you couldn't just half the amount of ingredients for half the amount of potion."

"Well, the last time I checked it wasn't a potion. Let me check again", she said saucily and lifted the lid of the pot to look into it. "Oh, surprise! It's a f-…reaking curry!"

He crossed his arms across his chest and raised his eyebrows.

"You curse like a twelve-year old", he sneered.

"I try not to curse at all", she responded sniffly.

"Liar!"

She crossed her arms too. "Excuse-moi?"

"I heard you curse mightily", he said a wicked grin appearing on his lips.

"And when would that have been?", she asked, instinctively raising her nose in defence.

"When you violated all those innocent cauldrons."

She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.

"You're gaping like a fish", he jibed at her.

She gasped quietly, and some horribly rude words were on the tip of her tongue but saying them out loud would have defiled her current efforts.

"Say it", he teased her, the sardonic grin on his face growing broader and broader.

"Oh, just get out", she snapped and turned her attention to the curry.

"My, my", he teased her mercilessly. "I can hear those naughty words so loudly in your head."

She stared at him with her eyes wide open. "You wouldn't…"

"I don't even need to", he drawled. "Your thoughts are written across your face."

She just turned away and ignored him.

"Proper Miss Know-it-all minding her P's and Q's."

"Will you just get out now, you…", she growled at him but couldn't stop her lips from twitching into a smile, which only motivated him more.

"Ah!", he exclaimed, pointing at her mouth. "I saw that lip trembling. I think it wants to say something!"

"Just leave me alone now!", she said and couldn't quite hide a laugh.

"Say. It."

She crossed her arms and leaned against the counter. "Fuck you."

His face went blank. "Merlin, you're no fun. That was too easy", he said sounding bored.

"Get out, you… stupid… maddening… evil… man!"

She slapped her tea towel at him with every single word and he backed off, laughing heartily.

She stared at him, mesmerised by the sound of his rich, genuine and beautiful laugh. He didn't notice, as he simply turned around and fled into the living room. She stood in the doorway looking after him, the sound still ringing in her ears. A warm feeling crept into the pit of her stomach. Not once had she heard him laugh and all she wanted to do now, was to make sure he would laugh like that every day for the rest of his life.

They ate in the kitchen and Hermione forced Severus to tell her after nearly every second bite that the food was delicious, extraordinary, scrumptious and mouth-watering despite being made precisely as stated in her cooking book.

"What did you do to get rid of Walburga Black's portrait?", he asked her as they were washing up.

"Oh, it worked very much like the theory about charms and curses I told you about", she said. "Everybody had always approached it like a charm that needed a counter charm. However, it was structured more like a curse. It was rather easy once I had worked it out."

"Didn't you say charms are structured similarly to curses?", he asked. "When they approached the Homorphus charm like a transfiguration, you claimed it needed to be treated as a charm because its needs to work as a counter curse."

"Yes", she said. "That's right. The thing with the portrait was, that she's kind of done it the other way around. She's applied a curse, that was structured like a charm, probably because she was so good at black magic. So, I had to find a counter curse, structured like a charm. With the Homorphus charm it's the other way around and - …"

She stopped talking mid-sentence and stared at him. "You're brilliant..."

She dropped the plate she was holding into the sink and stormed out of the kitchen. Severus looked after her with a raised eyebrow and simply flicked his wand to finish the washing up before following her.

When he walked down the hall, she just came out of the guestroom-office with a bunch of papers and books and went into the living room. She spread out all the notes around her on the sofa.

"I have been working on the Homorphus charm trying to make it a charm with the algorithm of a counter curse. But werewolfery is a curse", she mumbled. "How stupid I am. And I have known it this whole time."

She looked at Severus. "When I worked on the portrait, I discovered that curses and charms are very much alike, practically the same. However, when creating a new charm, its effectivity depends on the basic structure you build it on. I don't need a charm structured like a counter curse. I need to create a counter curse structured like a charm."

Hermione could see that Severus understood what she was saying, but he couldn't really give much input. It was not his mastery, and this was a rather advanced project.

She started going through her notes, scratching out things, adding things, magically drawing up new arithmantic equations and recalculating wand movements. She read through a book about incantations, when her eyelids grew heavy and at half past eleven, she dozed off.

Hermione woke up, and the first thing her eyes focused on was Severus's profile in the moonlight. He was lying on the other sofa, one arm resting on his tummy and one arm tucked under his head. He looked peaceful and the outline of his face reminded her of a Roman statue. His hair looked a little bit wild, as his bun had become loose whilst he had been sleeping.

She wanted to touch him, run her finger over the bridge of his nose and down his neck. She wondered if he wore a glamour charm, because she never saw any scars where Nagini had bitten him. She looked at his hand on his tummy, rising and falling steadily with his breath. He had large, elegant hands and she wondered what they felt like. She wanted to take them into her hands and kiss them, place them on her skin and kiss his lips.

Suddenly she jolted up and gasped. She had missed midnight.

Severus immediately jumped off the sofa and cast an intense Protego charm around them. His eyes pierced through the darkness and found hers.

"I fell asleep!", she wailed.

He looked at her in disbelief and fell back onto the sofa.

"You can't be serious", he moaned.

"It's bad luck sleeping into the New Year!"

"Are you kidding?", he growled. "I remember you ran out of Professor Trelawney's classroom because you considered her soothsaying and omen-predicting as humbug."

"That's completely different!", she explained. "This is muggle psychology. Your whole year will be like you started it."

"Well, I started my year perfectly decent", he sighed, lying back down. "I was reading your doctoral thesis that I found over there", he pointed at her bookshelf, "and I was trying to finish one sentence in between each of your snores. At midnight I wished you a Happy New Year and then I made myself a cup of tea."

He put his arm back under his head and closed his eyes. "Please go back to sleep."