Hey everyone, I know it's been a while, but I'll keep on finishing this story (only a few chapters left). Have fun!

Chapter 16 – Hermione's Parents

"Will you please relax," Severus said.

"Sorry," Hermione replied, deliberately unfolding her tight fists. "I'm just nervous."

"Well, think about how I feel."

They were on their way to the Grangers' house, having apparated to the little park a few streets away.

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just, I've never brought a boyfriend home, let alone someone 20 years older."

"I thought you didn't mind the age difference?"

"I don't, but I'm not so sure about my parents. At least I've already told them about you."

"To soften the blow?"

"Something like that," Hermione sighed.

"What did you tell them exactly?"

"That you were my teacher, 20 years older, and fought with me in the War."

"Nothing about my…murky past?"

She shook her head. "That's not who you are now, so I didn't think it's relevant."

"But now they think I'm some kind of hero."

"You are." She grinned at him.

"And you've never said anything negative about me?" He raised his eyebrows. "Not even when you were still in school?"

"Well," she blushed. "There might have been a few letters where I complained about you. But that was years ago, and you had been rather mean to me."

Severus grimaced. "I hope your father isn't the kind of man to hold a grudge?"

"Obviously, no one is good enough for his little girl," she rolled her eyes, "but he has to come to terms with that. Here we are." She went on the path to the house which lay cosily in the snow when she noticed that Severus had stopped.

"And if they don't approve of me?"

She went back to him and took his hand. "That wouldn't change my mind about you. Just making family gatherings a lot more difficult." She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Don't worry, it'll be alright."

Still holding his hand, she went to the door and rang the bell.

A moment later a woman with bushy hair, though not as bushy as Hermione's, opened the door and gave out a shriek of joy. "Oh, my dear girl," she said as she almost crushed her daughter in a hug.

"It's good to see you too, mum," Hermione laughed.

Mr Granger came to the door. "You can't blame us," he said and hugged her as well. "We hardly see you anymore."

"Just much to do for university."

Severus cleared his throat.

"Mum, Dad," Hermione said proudly. "This is Severus Snape. My boyfriend." She was glad her voice didn't quiver, but she couldn't hide her blush.

There was a moment of awkward silence before Severus stepped forward with his hand outstretched. "It's nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting me."

Hermione turned to him astounded – she had never seen him so polite!

Mrs Granger was the first to unfreeze. "Of course," she said warmly and shook his hand.

"Welcome," Mr Granger added when he shook Severus' hand, but it seemed forced.

"Why are we still standing in the cold!" Mrs Granger suddenly exclaimed and stepped aside. "Come in, come in."

Hermione and Severus entered the comfortable hall, put their shoes on the shelf and their coats on the hanger before they followed Hermione's parents into the living room which consisted of a typical middle-class room with a sofa, two armchairs, a television, a coffee table, and a chimney in which a soothing fire burned. As the armchairs were favourites of Mr and Mrs Granger, Hermione steered Severus towards the couch.

While they drank tea and ate biscuits, Hermione told her parents all about her life at university and what interesting topics she was allowed to study.

Severus was mostly excluded from this conversation, but he didn't mind. He loved listening to Hermione's passionate tales.

"But now," Mrs Granger announced when Hermione seemed to have finished her report. "Tell us more about how you two met. Well," she quickly added, "I know you met in school, but um…"

"Yes, we met in school, obviously," Hermione started to tell with ease, "and while working together, we became friends. And then I asked him out."

"Just like that?" Mrs Granger was surprised.

Hermione nodded with a grin. "Just like that."

"Very brave," Mr Granger commented and the pride in his voice was clear.

"And then we started to date, and it went well," Hermione said and smiled at Severus who returned a nod. He still had the feeling of being tested by her parents.

"Well, Professor Snape, you have been teaching in Hogwarts for quite a while, haven't you?" Mrs Granger tried to make small talk.

Hermione closed her eyes in embarrassment – there was nothing worse than when your parents started to speak to your boyfriend formerly...

But Severus answered calmly: "Yes, almost two decades. And please call me Severus."

"And do you like teaching?" Mr Granger asked, his face still hard.

Hermione was glad that her father at least pretended to show interest in Severus, but she dreaded the answer to this question.

"It can be quite tedious sometimes, having to teach the same lessons every year, but every once in a while, a student comes along and you realise what you're doing is worth it." He smiled at Hermione whose eyes started to shine brightly. He had never complimented her like that.

"I've heard you like reading, Severus," Mrs Granger said. "After tea, Hermione can show you our library if you like."

"Then I'll finally know how you became such a bookworm," Severus said to Hermione affectionately.

Hermione blushed lightly but smiled. Overall, this was going better than expected.

After they had drunk their tea, Hermione and Severus went upstairs to the library. On their way, Hermione murmured to him: "I didn't know you could be this polite and friendly!"

He smirked at her. "Only because I choose to be uncivil most of the time, doesn't mean I don't know how to be civil when it's important. Remember I'm a Slytherin and the Head of House above all – good manners are greatly valued in our house."

"I'm glad," she smiled.

The library was a medium-big room with shelves full of books along the walls. In the middle of the room, there was a desk, and a sofa stood before one of the windows.

"It's beautiful," Severus said sincerely. "If I had such a library as a child, I would have also done nothing else than reading."

They stayed a while, Hermione showing Severus all her favourite books, until Mrs Granger called them to dinner.

She had roasted a turkey and it smelled divine.

"Mum, you're the best cook ever," Hermione said which made her mother smile.

When they all sat around the wonderfully decorated dinner table, Mr Granger proposed a toast: "To our family. And to additions to our family." He nodded to Severus but still didn't smile.

They all clinked their glasses and drank. Conversation during dinner was mostly about the life of the Grangers and more tales from university though this time Hermione tried to include Severus in the conversation by asking for his opinion or pleading with him to tell a certain anecdote that she enjoyed him telling.

Severus obliged though everything he said was cautious as if he feared to offend accidentally. Hermione hoped that with more visits he would become more at ease.

After dessert, Mr Granger suddenly stood up. "Severus, a word please."

"Dad, please," Hermione said.

"No, I'm afraid this has to be."

Severus gave Hermione an uneasy look but stood up and followed her father into the living room.

"I hope he won't scare him away," Hermione told her mum and looked at the closed door.

"I'm sure, he's just trying to find out his intentions."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm an adult and we're not living in the 19th century."

"You know your father: he always worries too much about you."

"I know," Hermione sighed and waited for the men to return, hopefully in a good mood.

In the living room, Severus awaited Mr Granger's wrath, but the man only turned to him and said: "I can see that you and my daughter are close."

"We are."

"But naturally I'm also worried about her."

Severus nodded. Wasn't it a good sign if a father worried about the well-being of his daughter? His own father would have never cared...

"And since you are her former teacher and much older than her, I am worried even more."

"Understandable. The issues that worry you are the same issues that made me question this whole relationship in the beginning, and sometimes even today. I am without a doubt much older than her even if she doesn't care and I am carrying a lot of baggage with me. But I'm also committed to this relationship. When she asked me out, I spent days figuring out if I should even consider it, but the truth is that your daughter is simply… wonderful. She is kind and intelligent and seems to like me for who I am which to me is a miracle. I would never hurt her."

Mr Granger stared at him for a moment, then finally a smile replaced the hard lines on his face. "Good. Thank you for your honesty, that is everything I wanted to hear."

Relieved because he had the feeling, he had passed the test, Severus also smiled. "I will never take her for granted."

Mr Granger nodded, then the two men returned to the dining room.

Hermione gave Severus a worried look which melted away when Severus nodded at her.

"Everything is alright," he told her quietly when he sat down again.

She sighed in relief and put her head on his shoulder.