A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read and left a review! Some still want to string Kingsley up by his short and curlies, but it seems most have begrudgingly come to a grumbling acceptance that the Minister isn't a complete arsehole. This is good - I didn't envision him as having been intentionally cruel, but as a busy someone who did what they thought was enough, and nothing more.

I think just one more chapter, and then I'll leave them be to get on with life.

-13-

Hermione startled awake at the howl of the wind as it slammed into the side of the cottage. Peeking at the window across from her, she sighed upon seeing little else but the white of a blizzard. Deciding it was the perfect day to stay snuggled in bed, she pulled the blankets higher and reached beside her for Severus. When her hand only met with cool sheets, she frowned and rolled over to find that she was alone in bed.

"Severus?" she whispered, glancing about the room. There was no sign of him. His outer robes had been thrown upon the chair the night before, but they were gone now. Anxiety settled in her stomach as she called out for him once more. When there was no response, she threw off the covers and climbed out of bed. Though she threw on her robe, she wasted no time searching for her slippers before stepping out into the quiet hallway.

Knocking on the bathroom door yielded no reply, and upon opening it, she found the room to be empty.

The witch wrapped her arms about her waist as she moved onto Brendan's room, where the door stood ajar. Pushing it open a bit further, she peeked into the room to see her son fast asleep. Spotting one of his blankets on the floor, she picked it up and tucked it in around him. The boy hardly stirred as she fixed a few strands of his hair that were wildly out of place.

As the window rattled with the storm, Hermione looked up to watch the snow streak past the glass. The Muggle meteorologist had forecast a blizzard for the day after Brendan's birthday, but that day as well as the next had been relatively clear. Clear enough to allow for flying, even.

A horrible thought entered her head, spurring the witch to glance quickly about the floor. Her son's room was always in a bit of chaotic state, but she attempted to compare the current mess to what it had been on his birthday. If it were different, it meant that she had not imagined the past two days. Severus coming back from the dead was incredibly fantastic, and she was beginning to fear that it had all been an elaborate dream.

Unable to recall where any of his toys had been, the woman blinked away the stinging of her eyes and left the room. Her eyes swept over the living room as she descended the stairs, but found no telling evidence of her returned love. Her ears could discern nothing beyond the roar of the wind, the ticking of the clock beside her, and the rapid beating of her heart.

The kitchen revealed no further clues as to his whereabouts, nor did the powder room beneath the stairs, nor did the tiny bedroom at the back of the house that served as her office. Realizing that she and Brendan were alone in the house, Hermione slowly sank into the loveseat in her office and stared blankly at the over-stuffed bookshelf across from her.

Had he left? Or had she just dreamt it all? Was it even possible to dream all of that? She had many times had extremely detailed nightmares, especially in the year after the War, but this was different. This had felt so real with sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, emotions… how could she have imagined all of those? And if she had not imagined it, where had he gone? He promised not to leave her, not to leave them.

Tears welled up in her eyes as Hermione leaned forward and held her face in her hands. She had felt so happy, so complete, and she did not wish to let go of that feeling. She wanted Brendan to have his father; she wanted to fall asleep every night and wake up every morning with Severus beside her; she wanted her little family to be whole.

A swishing noise caused her head to snap up, and she looked to the door as she considered whether or not it had been the Floo activating. When no one called out and there were no sounds of footsteps, she realized that it had only been the wind. With a sad sigh, she stood up and moved to the window. For several minutes, she stared out at the storm and wondered how long it would take to relieve the terrible ache in her chest.

Hearing a cupboard door close, the witch took in a deep breath and made her way toward the kitchen to make sure Brendan was standing on a chair and not the counter top. Upon crossing the threshold of the kitchen, however, her breath caught in her throat and her heart began pounding rapidly.

It was not her son who had been fetching a cup from the cupboard, but his father.

"Severus?" she gasped.

Teacup in hand, the wizard turned around and lifted an eyebrow at her tone. "Yes?"

Her lips trembled as she failed to find words, and her feet kicked in instead. Before she realized she was even moving, Hermione had thrown herself into his chest.

Snape grunted in surprise at the impact that knocked the cup out of his hand. As it smashed into a dozen and a half pieces on the floor, his boot slid on a puddle of melted snow. Grabbing onto the counter with one hand, he wrapped his other arm tightly around her waist and slowed their descent to the linoleum as much as possible. When they were safely on the floor, he let go of the counter and focused fully on the sobbing witch in his arms.

"Hermione? Whatever is the matter?"

It took several long seconds for her to hiccup out an intelligible response. "You were… I woke up… and… you weren't… there."

The wizard grimaced and pressed his nose into her wild hair. "I'm sorry."

"You weren't anywhere! I looked… everywhere… and you… were g-gone."

"I am sorry," he repeated. "You were sleeping so soundly, and I thought I would be back before you woke."

"I thought…" Hermione shook her head sadly. "I thought maybe I had dreamt it all… and that… that you weren't real."

"It isn't a dream, I promise," Severus replied, wiping her tears away with his thumb. "I did not mean to upset you at all. I should have waited to go. I wasn't thinking."

She took in a deep breath to calm herself and looked up at him. "Where did you go?"

He gestured at a bag that had been placed on one of the dining chairs. "The Leaky Cauldron, to collect my things and settle my tab. I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep, so I thought it would be easier to navigate through Diagon Alley before the Prophet heralded my return. I didn't think I would be gone more than an hour, but I wasn't expecting the storm. I don't know this area very well yet, so I didn't want to risk apparating in the middle of a blizzard. I Flooed in from Grimmauld Place."

"Oh," she whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for panicking."

The man chuckled softly. "There is no need for you to apologize. I should have thought enough to leave a note at least."

"That would have been better," Hermione agreed. "Did you get everything you needed?"

He nodded. "For now, at least. Eventually, I'd like to determine the state of my house, but that can wait."

"Oh, I didn't even think about –"

"It's alright." Snape shifted slightly to allow his leg to straighten. "If it hasn't collapsed in on itself in the past seven years, it isn't likely to do so in the next week or so. And if it has… good riddance."

"I never bothered to check on it," she whispered glumly.

With a shake of his head, he squeezed her arm. "I never bothered to tell you its location."

"True," Hermione smirked, running her hand over his traveling cloak. "Severus, if you would rather live there—"

"Absolutely not. That building is not suitable for raising a family. It wasn't even when I was a child. I would not wish to expose either you or Brendan to it." He glanced about the kitchen. "This is where I would rather be."

Grinning, the witch closed her eyes and slipped her arms around his neck. "Well, this is where I would rather be."

Severus snorted softly and held her in silence for several minutes. Eventually, he cleared his throat. "There was another reason I went to London."

"I suppose you need clothes?"

He shook his head. "I purchased enough of those a few days ago while I was meandering about Diagon Alley, hoping to catch a glimpse of you."

"Oh," the witch mumbled. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize."

"Sorry." When he sighed at her reply, she giggled and adjusted herself against him. "Anyway, what was your other reason?"

The wizard removed one arm from her person and reached into one of his pockets. "I wanted to access my vault because there was something there I want you to have."

Hermione sat up straight, looking first to him and then to the small drawstring bag in his hand. His fingers deftly undid the knot in the string, and he then poured out its contents into the palm of his hand.

"I realize that sitting on the kitchen floor in a puddle of snow water is not the ideal setting for this, but I am hoping that the 'coming back from the dead' bit might earn me a bit of redemption." He took in a deep breath and then held the ring between them. "For the past seven years – well, eight years in all honesty – I have spent every day wishing that I could be with you. In all of that time, I thought it could only ever be a fantasy. I didn't expect to live; I didn't expect to be loved; I didn't expect to be a father; and I didn't expect to be a husband. Because of you, I've been able to accomplish the first three, and I would greatly appreciate it, Hermione, if you would allow me to accomplish the last."

"Are you…" Her teary eyes locked onto his. "You're asking me to marry you?"

A nervous smile settled onto his face as Severus nodded. "Would you… be willing… t-to be my wife?"

As he stumbled over the question, Hermione giggled quietly and wiped at her eyes. Without hesitating, she pushed forward and pressed her lips against his. "Yes… dear god, yes… I would marry you… right now… if I could!"

When she finally stopped kissing him between speaking, the man slipped the ring onto her finger. As it magically readjusted to fit her, he cleared his throat. "If you would prefer, I can look for something better."

The woman gazed down at the cluster of pearls shaped like a flower and flanked by a trio of tiny emeralds on either side. With a bright smile, she shook her head. "It's perfect."

"My mother received it on her seventeenth birthday," he explained. "It was passed down by her mother's line. If I recall, it belonged first to my four-times great grandmother."

"I love it." Looking away from the ring, Hermione lifted her hand to his jaw and leaned in to kiss him once more. "And I love you."

"And I, you," Severus murmured against her lips before deepening the kiss. As she sank against him, his hand slipped inside her satin robe and moved down her back to cup her arse. She moaned in response and pressed herself even closer to his chest.

"Mum? Dad?"

"Mmmshit," the witch whispered as she immediately detached from his mouth. As his hand retreated from her bottom, she spun in her seat to look to the doorway where Brendan stood, sleepily rubbing his eyes.

While her fiancé leaned back against the cupboard, Hermione cleared her throat. "Yes, baby?"

"What're you doing?"

"I, erm… we were, erm…" She glanced helplessly at Severus, who merely shrugged, and then back at her son. "Erm, your father asked me to marry him."

The boy's eyes widened as he jumped toward the table. "You're getting married?!"

Hermione smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, we –"

"Stop!"

Brendan froze mid-step as both he and his mother startled.

"There's broken glass on the floor," Snape explained when they both looked to him in surprise. "You could cut your feet."

"Oh!" His son quickly checked the bottom of both bare feet and then tiptoed to the nearest chair.

"Glass?" Hermione questioned, glancing down at the floor and noticing the broken teacup for the first time.

"I was just about to make tea when you… ambushed me."

Her cheeks grew warm with embarrassment, and she opened her mouth to apologize only to have him press his finger to her lips.

"I meant it, you know. I don't want any more apologies."

She giggled nervously and then made a motion to stand. "I suppose I should clean that up since I broke it. It looks too broken to fix."

"No." Severus grabbed her about the waist and slipped his other arm beneath her knees. Groaning, he slowly maneuvered to his feet and turned to set her bottom on the countertop. "Since I am the only one with shoes on at the moment, I will clean it up. Where do you keep your broom?"

"In that closet over there, Daddy!" Brendan cried cheerfully as he all but climbed on the table to point out the closet door. After his father thanked him and had started sweeping up the debris, the boy sank back onto the chair and looked to his mother. "You and Daddy are really getting married?"

Hermione laughed as she pulled her eyes away from her fiancé. "Yes, we really are."

"But when?"

"Well, I don't yet –"

"Soon," Snape replied, looking up from the dustpan.

"How soon?"

"As soon as we can schedule it with the Ministry," she answered.

"Oh." The boy paused for a moment of contemplation. "Can I come?"

His mother smiled at him. "Of course you can! We wouldn't think of doing it without you."

"Can Teddy come?"

"Sure."

"And Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny?"

"Yes, I –"

"And Granma Molly and Grandpa Thur?"

"Yes."

"And James? And Tori? And Domni?"

"Let's just say that anyone who wants to be there can be there," Hermione stated quickly, holding up a hand to stave off the next volley of questions.

Severus snorted as he dumped the broken glass in the rubbish bin. "Within reason."

"Within reason," she agreed. "May I get down now?"

The wizard made a show of scanning the floor for any stray shards before coming to stand in front of her. Setting the broom aside, he placed one hand on either side of her and cocked his head. "What incentive do I have to let you down?"

Arching one eyebrow, she folded her arms to her chest. "Well, I don't think I can file all the necessary forms for the Ministry from here, so you can't marry me until you do."

"Long term, I agree this is not a viable option," he murmured, "but you have yet to convince me regarding the short term."

"Is that so?" the witch retorted. After a moment's reflection, she slipped her arms about his neck and leaned toward his ear to whisper, "It would be nigh impossible for me to accomplish certain things up here, so if I suddenly get the urge to, for instance, put my mouth on that magnificent cock of yours, whatever will I do?"

Severus swallowed slowly as her hot breath tickled his ear. As soon as she finished whispering, he scooped her up from the counter and smoothly deposited her back on her feet. "I would not wish to suspend any pleasure of yours, Madam."

"I thought not," Hermione smirked. Reaching up on her tiptoes, she gave him a quick kiss.

"Are you guys gonna make another baby?"

An unattractive noise of surprise escaped both of his parents as they broke apart and gaped at him.

"What?" his mother gasped. "What do you mean?"

"I dunno," Brendan shrugged. "Tori just said that when people get married, they kiss lots, and then make a baby."

Snape let out a deep breath and rubbed his face, while Hermione turned toward him to mutter, "I swear I'm going to kill Bill."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," he sneered, pulling out a chair from the table.

Rolling her eyes, the witch crouched down beside the chair and smoothed her hand over her child's hair. "Perhaps someday we will. If we do, it doesn't mean we will love you any less. It just means we would love you both with all of our hearts, okay?"

"Okay," Brendan nodded before donning a serious expression. "But I hope you do, Mum."

"You do?"

"Uh-huh. I'm older than Tori, and she already has a sister and a brother!"

His mother fought to contain her laughter. "Alright, then. For now, though… we're more than happy to spend our time… tickling you!"

"Ahhh! Mu-u-u-u-um! N-n-not fair!"

"Life isn't fair!" she declared, continuing to run her fingers over his sides. After a moment, she stopped and wrapped her arms around him. "Did you see outside?"

"It's all snowy!"

"It is, indeed," Hermione agreed. "It's too stormy to play outside, though. You'll have to play inside today."

Brendan gave a small nod as he pulled away from her. "Can we play a game?"

"It's time for breakfast."

"But after breakfast?"

The witch sighed as she stood. "What game did you have in mind?"

"Oh! The one Uncle Ron gave me for Christmas? Please!"

Hermione glanced over her shoulder to see Severus looking rather apprehensive. Smirking, she turned back to her son. "If you ask nicely, perhaps your father would show you how to play."

The boy excitedly slipped off of his chair and ducked around the end of the table to stand beside the tall wizard's chair. "Daddy? Do you know how to play Wizard Chest?"

Snape frowned slightly before opening his mouth to reply negatively.

His fiancée quickly cleared her throat. "He means Wizard's Chess."

"Yeah!" the boy nodded, leaning his elbow against the man's leg.

"Ah," his father grunted. "In that case, yes. I do know how to play chess."

"Can you play better than Uncle Ron?"

Severus snorted. "I should hope so."

"Really?!" his son exclaimed. "Can you show me? Mum says she isn't any good at it."

"I find that rather surprising," the man murmured, glancing at her curiously. "But I am willing to teach you how to play if you wish to learn."

"Yes!" Brendan spun quickly on his heel. "I'm gonna go find it, Mum."

As their child happily dashed out of the room, Snape crossed his arms and raised one eyebrow. "You mean to tell me that the Brightest Witch of the Age cannot play chess?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It isn't that I can't play chess. I know how to. I just… I don't like Wizard's Chess. I still have nightmares about being trapped on a giant chess board, having to carefully plan my steps just to get to the loo without having my head lobbed off."

Wincing, he pushed out of his chair. "Minerva's enchantment for the Philosopher's Stone."

"Right in one," she sighed, moving over to the counter to pull a loaf of bread out from the breadbox.

The wizard moved to stand behind her and rubbed his hands along her arms. "I apologize for teasing you. It is entirely understandable that you would dislike the game."

Nodding, she placed bread in the toaster before turning to rest her head against his chest. "We got into so much trouble at Hogwarts."

"Now, there's an understatement," he snorted.

"We could have died so many times," the witch continued. "I just can't… I worry….I mean, there's still five and a half years until he goes, but…"

"I know," Severus whispered, wrapping his arms around her. "I would take comfort, though, in the fact that Minerva is in charge instead of Albus. She has always been much more safety conscious in her approaches, and now no one will override her concerns. That being said, you can be certain that I will be having a tête-à-tête with the Headmistress regarding student security before I allow my children to attend."

"Thank you," Hermione murmured. A moment later, she looked up at him. "Children? So you would like to have more?"

"I believe I would, yes," he replied with a small smile. "Besides, even if I felt otherwise, it may already prove to be a moot point."

"What do you mean?"

"Unless you're on a potion, we didn't utilize any contraceptive measures."

"Well, someone seems a bit confident in their ability to sprog me up in one go," she teased.

"I managed it once already, haven't I?"

"Oh, stuff it!" she snorted, smacking his arm. "I shouldn't actually be ovulating right now, so the likelihood isn't as high as you seem to think it."

Snape shrugged and pressed his lips to the side of her head. "Nevertheless, I wouldn't mind."

Blinking quickly, she turned in his arms. "You really wouldn't?"

"No," he murmured. "Unless you would?"

"No." Hermione shook her head, ignoring the toast. Slipping her arms around his neck, she tilted her head. "We could just, erm, continue to take our chances."

"We could," he agreed, smirking.

Happy tears formed in her eyes as she pulled his head down for a kiss.

"Found it!" Brendan called.

With a small sigh, the woman pulled back and turned to peer around her fiancé. "Not in here, please. Set it up in the sitting room, if you will."

Emitting a dramatic puff of air, their son turned around and carried the box back through the doorway.

Shaking her head briefly, Hermione returned her eyes to the tall wizard in front of her. "We could also wait if you'd rather more time to settle in before we… further rock the cradle, so to speak. I'm only twenty-five. Molly informs me I have at least that many more years of fertility."

The wizard snorted. "That may be, but as our son so helpfully pointed out yesterday, I am already forty-five. Forgive me, but I have no wish to be traipsing about Diagon Alley for school supplies when I'm seventy."

"Fair enough." Grinning, the witch spun back to continue making breakfast. Pausing in the midst of buttering a piece of toast, she glanced back at him. "That being said, I expect that we will make our vows before I go into labor this time. One child out of wedlock is my limit."

Severus sighed before kissing her neck. "Agreed."