Kings Cross Station was as busy as ever, and Severus was amused at how much time they had to spare. Nearly half and hour to find a good cabin. He carried her bag and his owl, which he named Thanatos, after the Grim Reaper of peaceful deaths in Greek Mythology. Bethany carried her owl, named after Thanatos' brother, Hypnos, God of Sleep, as they had been brother owls.

"I can't wait to see the country side again!" Bethany exclaimed as they reached the barrior of platforms nine and ten.

"It has been a while, hasn't it?" Severus peered down at the woman next to him. She looked up at him and pecked his cheek with a smiling kiss and skipped through the barrier.

Behind them was the Weasley family and Harry, dumbstruck at what they had just witnessed, as Severus passed through the barrier after her, chuckling like a teenage boy again.

"Was... was that my sister Bethany?" Mrs. Weasley looked to her youngest son, Ron, who was pink in the ears.

"Yeah. Hermione and I ran into them just yesterday. Weirded me out." he answered.

"I thought they were just friends," Harry commented, and all the others looked at him. "Well, over the summer, she's been caring for him all this time. I just figured they were old friends, and left it alone."

"So Aunt Timble's been at Hogwarts?" Ginny arched a brow.

"Yeah, she helped loads while cleaning it up. She's been a Godsend for Filch. Even helped him find Mrs. Norris." Harry shrugged.

"She does love cats, even if they are evil incarnate," Ron muttered, passing through the barrier.

"I'll see you all on the holidays, alright?" Harry followed after Ron. Ginny was through right after him.

"I don't believe she got Snape to wear muggle clothes," Mrs. Weasley mused, then went off to her beloved husband at the Burrow.

Severus and Bethany picked a good sized cabin on the fifth car of the Hogwarts Express. They sat side by side, with Bethany next to the window. After all, if there were any misbehaving students, Severus would have to be the one to punish them. Bethany stuck a finger through the bars of Hypnos' cage, tickling him under his beak, and Hypnos cooed in delight. She giggled at his reaction, which brought a smile to Snape's face. It melted away when he caught sight of Harry, Ron, and Ginny entering the neighboring cabin, with Hermione following after a few moments. He sighed in his mind. It wasn't as if they would have the car to themselves, after all. It stands to reason that Potter and pals would show up in this one. He was determined not to ruin it, though.

The train gave out the all aboard, and Severus observed with Bethany out the window, as parents and younger siblings waved goodbye to their children. He never thought himself able to consider the possibility of one day being one of those parents. Pushing the thought away, Severus turned his vision to Bethany, who was stretching out in her seat. He grimaced when several pops were heard from her joints.

"That is much better," Bethany sighed, and looked to Severus. "So what are you teaching now?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts," Severus replied. "And you?"

"Muggle Studies on every Tuesday and Wednesday, along with Transfiguration." Bethany answered easily. "McGonagall is taking over as Headmistress, right?"

"Yes, she and I agreed that was best. I hadn't found it as gratifying as teaching." Snape nodded. "You know, I had forgotten that you were related to the Weasleys."

"Ah, yes. It has been a while since I've seen them. Bill and Fluer's wedding was a year ago. My sister Molly keeps saying if I'll see them for Christmas. I suppose I should be there for her sooner, though. Fred and George's birthday will be coming up, and since George is gone, I need to be there to help." she heaved a sigh. "I'll miss him. Even when he was little he could always make me laugh."

Tears starting to well up in her eyes, Bethany gave a small sniffle. Severus wrapped his arms around her.

"Now listen here. I'll not have you crying. Today is a good day, and I'm sure your

nephew would want you to laugh, always. That's what he did while he lived, and that's what he'd want after he has passed." he rocked her gently, and her shoulders stopped shaking.

"Y-you're right. How silly of me. It's not even his birthday yet. A few months to go before I can break down." her sniffles subsided, and Severus kissed the rest away.

Never before had he been so... romantic or passionate, or even caring. But here he was, Severus Snape, kissing away a woman's tears and loving her with all his heart. It just took a VERY near death experience to get there. He changed the subject of conversation to hobbies, and he was surprised to hear that she liked to cook and bake, as well as paint. Pretty soon, hours had flown by. The sweets cart rolled up, and a woman knocked on the cabin door.

"Anything from the sweet cart, dearies?" the older woman asked. Bethany leapt up and took out a few sickles.

"Any Pumpkin Patsies?" she asked. She was handed five of the sweets, and she returned to the cabin. Severus arched a brow at her. "What?" she blushed. "It's a weakness of mine. Muggle sweets aren't as good."

She offered one to him, but he refused it. "I've not a taste for them." He had a much better liking for watching her enjoy her surroundings.

"You've got to be kidding!" Neville Longbottom gasped. "Professor Snape?"

"On the train," Harry answered.

"In Muggle clothing," Ginny added.

"With OUR Aunt Timble!" Ron threw his arms in the air. "All lovey- dovey!"

"Oh man. I'm SO sorry, Ron." Neville gave him his condolences.

"I don't want to hear from an Uncle Snape!" his voice became shrill, and Hermione shushed him.

"They ARE in the next cabin over, you know." she reminded him.

"Come on, we're almost to the school. Let's get our robes on."

When the Hogwarts Express stopped, Severus and Bethany gathered the few things they brought with them, and picked up their owls, Thanatos and Hypnos. After they had everything in order, they stepped off the train and onto the platform outside Hogsmeade.

"Snape?" a gruff familiar voice called, and Severus froze, then spun on his heels. He was still in Muggle clothing.

"Yes?" he said with a sneer. No reason to waste niceness with people he wasn't in love with.

"Blimey! I thought tha' was you!" Hagrid clapped a large hand on Severus' back, almost knocking him over. Bethany giggled. "Oh, hello!" Hagrid greeted her. "Who migh' yeh be?"

"I am Professor Bethany Timble, the new Transfiguration and Muggle Studies teacher. I guess I haven't seen you, since I've been so focused on the castle itself and not the grounds." she shook his enormous hand. "A pleasure to meet you."

"Well, the both o' yeh better hurry and apparate to the school gates. Don't want ter miss the banquet, after all." Hagrid gave her a wink, and as she giggled, Snape took her hand, and they dissaparated with a pop.

Hagrid's smile disappeared with them. "Doesn't deserve her," he muttered. "First years!"