Okay, here's another one! It isn't the best quality, and doesn't really have a lot of meaning to it, but oh well. You get to see part of Ginny and Neville's life. Oh, and I have to say this... GOOD GOLLY!! You guys are so AMAZING!! Like almost every day after I posted that last chapter, I had like 5-10 reviews waiting for me! And (this is my most amazing news) I'm almost at 100 reviews for this story! I've never had 100 reviews for any of my writing before!! I love you guys!!

As always, None of this is mine! I'm just a college student doing something other than homework :)

Later that night, after everyone had had dinner, Ginny ambushed Hermione alone to learn about what changed between her friend and former potions professor. "Last I knew you didn't get along at all."

"Last time I wrote you, we didn't. Last week he began acting strangely." She moved her eyes from the girls playing on the floor to their husbands across the room. Surprisingly they were talking to each other. Neville wasn't stuttering and Severus wasn't scowling. "Usually when he has nothing to do, he'd find an excuse to leave, but now he's always around. Even when he's just grading papers he'll sit with us." She explained the situation with Draco briefly, but wasn't sure how to broach the subject about Harry. "Then I had a visitor the other day."

"Who? It wasn't that prat-brother of mine, was it?"

"No, it was Harry," she said slowly.

"Oh." Ginny's eyebrows knit together. "I thought it would hurt more when he came back. But it doesn't. I'm happy with Neville." She glanced over at her husband and smiled happily at the sight. Two-year old Danielle—Danny—clumsily walked to her father and tugged sharply on his robes. Neville lifted the girl into his arms without breaking conversation with Severus. The girl seemed to think it was nap time because as soon as she was in her father's arms, her head flopped onto his shoulder and was asleep within minutes.

Hermione touched her arm, "I'm glad." She followed Ginny's gaze and smiled. "He seems to be wonderful with the girls."

"He is. The shy, clumsy boy we knew in school is almost gone. Sometimes it's a little sad, but he's my Neville just the same." She forced herself to look away from Neville and looked back to Hermione, "What did Harry want?"

Hermione snorted. "He called Essie Ann Snape spawn and proceeded to propose to me."

"He did? That's so typical of him."

"I hope after he's been in the world for a while, he'll grow up. Anyways, I agreed to go to dinner with Harry to catch up but before I left Severus said in a round-about way he loved me."

"Oh, Hermione!" she exclaimed, but was quickly shushed by Hermione. They looked over to their husbands. Severus and Neville were looking at their wives confused, but Severus' raised eye-brow showed his amusement. "He really said that."

"Well, not exactly. He said he lost Lily to one Potter and he wasn't going to lose me to another. He's never loved any woman besides Lily."

Tears formed in Ginny's eyes as she clasped Hermione's hand. "Hermione, I'm so happy for you. I'm so glad things worked out between you and Severus."



Seeing Ginny's tears caused Hermione to start crying as well. "Stupid hormones," she sniffed.

"I agree," Ginny sniffed. "How far along are you?"

"Almost four weeks."

"Oh, Hermione, that's wonderful!"

For reasons unknown, both women were unable to talk due to the amount of tears coursing down their cheeks.

"Da," six-year old Alice patiently waited for a break in her father's conversation before tugging on her father's robes. "Mum and Aunt 'Mione are crying!"

The wizards looked to their wives to find them, indeed, frantically wiping their eyes while crying. They made their way to them. "Hermione?" Severus put a concerned hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine, Severus. Ginny and I were just reminiscing and our hormones got to the best of us," she covered his hand with hers as she smiled up at him.

Ginny glanced over at the girls and found all but Alice, who was still at her father's side, asleep. Little Draco was even asleep next to Essie Ann. "We better get our girls to bed."

Hermione stood with Ginny, their hands still clasped. "When do you think you'll be able to visit again?"

"Oh!" Ginny and Neville shared a smile. "We didn't tell you. The reason we're here is because Neville's taken an apprenticeship with Professor Sprout."

Hermione smiled at Neville. "Congratulations, Neville."

"Thank you. By next school year, I'll be Hogwarts' Herbology professor." He adjusted the child in his arms before continuing, "Because of the apprenticeship, we have rooms here at Hogwarts. You and Ginny can be with each other all day now."

Unable to say how happy she was, Hermione pulled Ginny into another hug.

"I fear we must cut this short, or else their tears will never stop," Severus said unsmilingly to his future coworker.

Neville smiled nervously, but agreed non-the-less. He helped Ginny rouse their sleeping children and left with promises of more get-togethers.

Severus offered to put Essie Ann to bed so Hermione could compose herself. She was sitting against the headboard in his room with an occasional sniffle by the time he returned. She 

watched him lovingly while he changed into his nightclothes for a while before whispering, "Thank you."

Startled by the break of silence, he looked at her. "For what?"

"For dealing with Longbottoms," she laughed lightly.

Severus slipped into bed next to her and obliged when she motioned him to wrap his arms around her. "I'll regret this at a later date, but he isn't the same caldron melting boy he was during his Hogwarts years."

She laughed again into his chest. "I won't tell anyone."

They enjoyed the comfortable silence that fell over them. "I'm glad they're moving here."

"Really?" Hermione looked up at him surprised. Saying Neville was an okay person was a shock enough, but saying he was happy he's going to be a neighbor?

"You'll have someone to talk to during the days now. I've been thinking about how lonely you must be all day with only Esther for company." He looked up at the ceiling as he talked, not meeting her gaze.

"As much as I love Essie Ann, it can be hard without any adult company as well."

"I was thinking, now that the Longbottoms are here, they might consider watching Essie Ann for a few days."

Hermione didn't need him to explain anymore. "I'll ask Ginny tomorrow?"

Severus smiled and kissed her, "Good-night."

"Good-night, love." She shifted to a more comfortable position before falling asleep.

Hope all is well! :)