Chapter 15- The Epilogue

Hermione rose early to go make breakfast for the children. "Severus!" she yelled. She nudged him in the ribs to wake him up.

"Kindly refrain from doing that dear," said Severus.

He got up and headed for the bathroom as she headed out to the kitchen. She made toast, eggs, and bacon for the kids. She always let her children stay the night in their chambers on Sunday nights, and eat breakfast with them on Monday mornings. It was a tradition she'd started with her oldest child when he was nervous about starting at Hogwarts.

She started preparing the tea when her youngest daughter, Emma, walked out from her room saying, "Mum, can I skip lessons today, I don't feel good."

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "You don't feel well, and no, you look well enough for class."

Emma groaned and grabbed a piece of bacon before going back to get dressed. Geez, Hermione though to herself, twelve years old and already she wants to skip classes. It's only her second year! Her two other children came out for breakfast mostly dressed.

"Sev, did you brush your teeth?" Hermione asked her oldest child of fourteen.

Sev said, "Not yet mum I don't want my breakfast to taste like toothpaste!"

Hermione laughed and asked her middle daughter, "Are you excited for your fourteenth birthday?"

"Oh yes mum!" Jean exclaimed, "I love telling Sev's friend's we're the same age for a few months!"

Hermione giggled and turned to give them plates of food. They ate and jabbed at each other for ten minutes until Hermione finally told them to get going to classes. Emma came out dressed just as they were leaving complaining and grumbling the entire way. She took a piece of toast and followed her sibling's path out the door. Severus came out to see her sour look as she closed the door.

"Doesn't want to go to class I take it." Severus said.

"Nope, she said she wasn't feeling well although, she looks fine." Hermione sighed.

Severus kissed her and said, "Minerva said we could take that weekend trip to the lake. She said she'd even watch the kids Sunday night if we wanted to stay a bit late." He suggestively raised his eyebrows at her.

She smiled and said, "That sounds great, but I'd like to be back in time for Sunday night goodnights to the kids."

He nodded his agreement and started to head for the door.

Hermione grabbed his arm to hold him back and said, "Severus, I love you."

He turned around and kissed her saying, "You know I love you, I always will. Now witch let's go before we are late!"

He slapped her arse and ran out of their quarters ahead of her leaving her laughing in the kitchen. She cleared the kitchen with a spell and pulled her teaching robes on. She had never quite imagined her life would turn out this way but she couldn't have imagined a better way. She loved her husband, her children, her friends, and her job. She ran down the hall to get to her classroom before the students started arriving.

She made it just in time and laughed as one of her students said, "Professor Snape, you shouldn't run, you are old!"

"Hey now, I'm not old, you're just younger that's all," Hermione said as she led them into the classroom.

She looked around the room at the eager faces and began her lesson. In the back of her mind she thought about her three children and her husband.

"Now ," said Professor Snape," open your books to page 476 and start reading!"