Author Note: I own nothing recognizable in this story. Other than things you don't recognize everything belongs to the great J.K Rowling. Well this is still just a little more stuff about them.

Landing softly on my feet just outside of the gates that showed not only the edge of the schools but also the apparition limit. Taking a deep breath I glanced up at the school. The old building looked almost like it used to before the war and the destruction that had befallen it. The magic in the building had slowly over the year it had been closed had fixed itself, with a bit of help from some of the teachers. Though it still had a few places that needed to be fixed it was ready to be reopened.

I walked slowly up the beaten path and glanced around. It was moments like this that made me think back to when I was a student. I had loved to be here on the grounds during summer, my mother would come to visit Albus and Minerva and I would wander the grounds. Those times helped me in school when James and his gang would decide I was the perfect target. I shook my head it was time to let old problems go.

Getting up to the school I slid in the doors and nodded hello to the bloody baron as I slipped down towards my rooms. The dungeons had been one of the last places fixed so until recently I hadn't been able to fix up my classroom the way I wanted to. "Kindle, can you come here." I called out as I dropped the supplies I had bought at the apothecary onto my desk The only other thing in the desk were a few cupboards and my own desk. As I was appraising the room a very small house elf popped in next to me, making me jump slightly. "Kindle, can you please see if I can get 8 tables in here before tomorrow as well as the cauldrons from the room next door. You know my normal set up right?" I asked the small timid elf.

"Oh yes. Yes Kindle does. She will get some help and have your room all set up." The small elf said as she bounced from one foot to the other. She was by far the most timid of the elves and occasionally I am sure she was even afraid of her own popping when she would go to and fro.

With the setup of my room done I turned my attention to the store room. I had everything sent down by house elf from what could be salvage from Slughorn's room adding that with the stuff I had been buying over the summer I finally had a storeroom like I kept. I was slightly anal about how to store things, I called myself cautious others called me OCD. The more dangerous ingredients were higher up and the common one I kept on lower shelves. Then I organized them alphabetically.

I cleaned and stocked my classroom with a final glance over the room I slide easily out of the room the door closing with a small clink behind me. I strolled the little way to my set of rooms and was just about to collapse onto the couch for a nap when I saw a few bags sitting in the middle of my living room.

Snape,

I am sorry that these are probably going to get there before me. I hope that you don't mind Albus said we could send things as soon as we got our assignments. See you tomorrow, I can't wait to meet Emerence. Oh speaking of that there is a small present for both you and her in the black bag.

Hermione Granger

Chuckling I grabbed the bags, the elves had set them right in the middle of my floor where Emerence normally played. She had apologized for three bags, not including the present that had been sitting on my table. But upon picking them up I realized why. They were very heavy, books no doubt knowing her. I carefully carried them to the empty room just down the hall from my own and placed them in front of the three bookcases against one hall.

Once that was done I headed back to my own room and plopped myself into bed and noxed my lights. I was so tired I was asleep almost before my head was on my black cased pillow.

I don't know how long I was asleep but by the time I woke up I felt much more rested, much like I always did when Minerva took Emerence for the day. Slipping out of the bed I slid over to my dresser and pulled out a new pair of jeans and plain gray T-shirt. I had sweated up a storm in my sleep for some reason, maybe something in my dream had caused it.

I slipped my jeans down and tossed them into a basket on the other side of the dresser. Next I pulled my shirt off and tossed it in as well. As I did so I caught a glimpse of myself in my mirror and I turned to face it. All I was in was a pair of black boxer so everything else could be seen. I had begun working out after I was released from the hospital and it was showing, my muscles stood out just enough to give me a sinewy look. On one shoulder you could see the top of a tattoo that covered the whole back of my shoulder. This was the newest piece of artwork I had and it still would twinge at times. Shaking my head I pulled my shirt over my head and yanked my pants up buttoning them as I exited the room.

I walked the quiet hallways towards the dining hall, I had glanced at my clock and realized if I didn't hurry I was going to miss dinner. Stepping in the first thing I noticed was a dark haired woman sitting in my chair Emerence sitting happily in her lap. I grinned as she noticed me and motioned for me to come hug her. So I slipped quietly between the student tables that had miraculously, as always, appeared in one afternoon.

"Mom it is so good to see you. I hope Emerence was good today." I said as I hugged my mother and took Emerence, who once she had saw me had started reaching for me. I nuzzled the top of my daughters head as I pulled one of the new seats over to my mother.

"Oh Severus she is always good. I am just happy I get to spend time with Em and Minerva of course. She mentioned that you all were getting apprentices." My mother said as she raised her glass to her lips her own black eyes warm as they met mine. After all we had been through when I was younger she and I had a very close relationship. Glancing down she silently handed me a bottle. Grinning I took it and offered it to Emerence and she latched on hungrily.

"We are I met with mine today to tell her about Emerence so she wouldn't be surprised tomorrow when she gets here." I growled playfully, both to the amusement of my mother and the other teachers around. The food appeared in front of us and I glanced down slowly smiling. Emerence's head was slowly dropping as she grew sleepier and sleepier.

"Sorry about that Sev she refused to lay down for a nap today." Minerva said as she hastily got up and transfigured a crib which she placed next to me. "Seems like she is going through an only daddy can make me sleep stage." She added as I placed her in the crib watching her for a moment to make sure she remained asleep.

Turning back to the large wooden table I filled a plateful of food for myself. Glancing down I noticing it was filled with soft foods, something left over from my few months of recovery after Nagini's attack. Glancing around me I finally let out a sigh. "So what former students will be gracing our table this year?" I asked softly hoping it wasn't going to be a Golden Trio.

Albus turned to me and chuckled softly. "Don't worry Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley will not be here. But Mr. Longbottom is working with Pomona. Mr. Malfoy is working with Minerva and Miss. Weasley has been accept a year early to work with Filius." He said ticking off names I never would understand how he was able to remember so much information without trying.

I nodded and chuckled at the fact that he knew me so well. Granger I could deal with, I always had appreciated her more than the other two- not to mention she did save my life-, at least for long periods of time. Though it seemed as If the apprentices were overwhelmingly Gryffindor I guess it could be worse.

"So I took your cub and you took my snake Minerva?" I asked playfully a grin forming slowly over both of our faces. It was no surprise our top students in our houses would do something of the sort.

"Well your Snake was very excited to be working with me as I assume my cub was happy with you." Minerva said laugh at the nicknames for our houses members. Though I couldn't remember a time these nicknames were around Minerva occasionally joked she could, I still don't know if she was joking or not.

I was still amazed at the connection between the teachers around me. There were many times that I felt a little awkward, being the youngest member- other than the times Lupin was working here- would do that to you. Most of them, save Sylibus, had been my own teachers and mentors when I was a student. But despite that we all worked well together the other teachers lovingly picking on me. Even more so the people around me were my family and I would lay my life down for them and I knew they would do the same for me and my daughter.

We all sat in comfortable silence, this being broken by the occasional noise of one of the teachers asking for something, this was the last time till next summer that we would be able to not only eat in silence but without worry for students. Not to mention this time tomorrow four new people would be sat amongst us. Tomorrow the journey begins, and as I looked behind me Emerence made a small sigh as she cuddled deeper into the blankets around her, tomorrow was the day she would become known. What have I gotten myself into?

"Emma daddy really needs to start getting ready for his new apprentice to get here." I muttered softly the next afternoon. I was currently settled into my armchair as Emerence used my knees to help herself stand up her big eyes staring me down. She had been dropping to her butt and pulling herself up for almost an hour since her nap. Every time I would try to stand up her clear eyes would start to fill with tears.

Finally I decided it had to be done. It was almost 3 and that was when Granger was supposed to arrive and I was still dressed in just the black night pants I had pulled on groggily at about three in the morning. I felt slightly nervous having her come. But I assume that is just from the fact she would be the first new person to meet Emerence since I had returned to the school. With a flick of my wrist I had the fluffy stuffed wolf from my mother in hand and I placed it beside Emerence and with another flick I had a protective barrier around the small place where she would play while I got dressed.

"Now you stay here and play with your puppy." I said with a smile as I patted her soft black hair my fingers running though it a bit as I did. I glanced over to the couch and my smile grew a little more.

"Hello Ares, will you watch Emma while I am getting dressed?" I said with a chuckle to the very large black cat that was currently stretched out his amber eyes open just slits till I stood up and Emerence started to whimper. Almost as if on cue Ares was up his tail flicking playfully as he leapt down and nuzzled my daughter. The cat and she had been together since Emerence came to live with me. Ares was around 4 and I had no plans of ever giving him up so I had been very relieved when he had started to care for Emerence.

I grinned as her attention was drawn by the cat and I slipped from the room. Once in my own room I pulled out a pair of black jeans and a gray shirt and quickly pulled them on as I heard a light knock on the door. I walked out of the room and picked up Emerence, who had pulled herself up to look at the door, and head to the door. With one last look at my rooms I pulled open the door.

"Are you always just on time? It is exactly three o'clock. Come in through Emma is rowdy and want down." I said with a small smile as I moved to usher her in. Emerence was staring critically at Granger.

Once inside I placed Emerence back onto the floor and replaced the spell once more. Granger followed me quietly taking everything in. Of course I knew that would happen. The walls in my living room were a light gray and very dark furniture, dark wood tables and bookcases as well as leather couches and chairs.

"Wow these rooms are huge." Granger finally said after looking around herself for a moment. I chuckled and settled into my normal wing backed chair.

"Well we do tend to spend almost the entire year here. They did add a room for the apprentices, I will show yours in a second. But I thought I would go ahead and explain where everything is first." I said offering my hand out to Granger.

"First is my room. The door next to that is Emerence's room," I started pointing out the two doors that were on the other side of the living room both were dark oak doors. Leading her down the hall a bit "This door here is to your room across for you is the bathroom. I rarely use this one as I have one off of my own room so you have free run of it. And the large archway off of the living room leads to my kitchen. Everything should be labeled but if you can't find anything just ask." I said standing in front of her room.

"So you're giving me free run of your home professor. That doesn't seem like you." She said her voice very clear and light not accusing like I had assumed it would be.

"I am not the ass you all thought I was in school Miss. Granger. This is your home now to, at least for the two years of your apprenticeship. It is only fair that you have a free run of the place. On another note I am no longer your professor so you may call me Severus or Snape whatever you prefer." I muttered softly pushing open the door behind me. "Your stuff should all be in there. You can change everything to your liking. Just be dressed in your apprentice robes and meet me in the living room in about an hour or so for the welcoming feast."

I walked back to the living room as I watched Granger stare at my back for a moment and then turn into her new room. "Well Emerence what do you think?" I asked my daughter as I dropped onto the couch. Emerence turned and gurgled something to me as she tossed her stuffed wolf around, the thing kept coming back every time she threw it. Shaking my head I watched her play for a while longer till a smell came from her and I wrinkled my nose.

With a chuckle scooped her up and tossing her up lightly we walked to her room. Dropping her onto her changing table I grabbed another diaper and some wet wipes and quickly cleaned her up. Then grabbing her brand new emerald green dress and Diaper cover I got her ready for her first meeting with my students.

A knock on the door caused me to jump a little turning around I noticed Granger, looking perfect in her robe. Under the thick apprentice robes she was wearing what looked to be a custom fit silver and orange dress shirt and a pair of black pants, these colors fitting better than the normal red she wore.

"Do you need any help Pro- Severus?" She asked as she tugged at her shirt making it tighten more and I dropped my eyes and pretended to become engrossed in Emerence.

"Can you just watch Em for me while I go change? I already changed her and she should be ready to go. Her toys are in the living room I shouldn't be long." I said as I picked Emerence up and offered her to Granger, who looked startled for a moment and then took her with a smile crossing her face.

After making sure Emerence wasn't going to cry I quickly slipped into my rooms where I opened my closet and started pulling out things. Starting with a pair of my new black pants, though I was already in black jeans I felt like I needed to wear something more formal for the night, then a white shirt and a black vest. The last thing I pulled out was my black formal teaching robes, though I had bought several new thinner ones I felt I should wear this one for some reason.

I slowly dressed watching myself. My long thin fingers easily buttoning the many small buttons on my vest and the arms of my white shirt. Then I tugged my robes on sighing softly at the old me standing in front of me. I ran a hand though my hair and smiled at myself for a moment. The hair showed I wasn't the same as I used to be. Finally I turned and left my room ready for whatever lay in front of me and my daughter.

Author Note: I am need of a Beta so anyone willing just say so. So I lied about the students coming in but this chapter took a turn I didn't think it was going to. But here you go.