Author's Note
Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!
Only one more chapter to go. It's already written, but I need to double check it, so it should be up early next week!
I'm not J.K. Rowling, so I don't own anything.
Ch 36: A Brighter Future, It's All About the Little Moments
"What is that doing here?" Severus demanded, joining her after his last class of the day. She'd only just returned to their rooms herself.
"This is Teddy, not a that," she supplied tartly, rolling her eyes at Severus as she bounced the cooing one-year-old on her hip.
"That doesn't explain why a Lupin is in my home," Severus pressed, crossing his arms as he glared at the turquoise-haired boy reaching for him, his pudgy fingers opening and closing around empty air when Severus refused to advance and give the boy what he sought.
Hermione paused to consider his words. Final exams were coming up and she knew Severus was anxious about how the students would perform. Not to mention the stress he was under from packing up and moving out from his primary home for the last nearly two decades. His reluctance to host the boy could be nothing more than him needing a break. Or, more likely, he was holding on to some lingering animosity towards Remus, which was currently rearing its ugly head.
"I'm watching him – in our home," Hermione corrected smartly, ducking her head and nuzzling the babe she held. Teddy squealed and snagged one of her curls, tugging painfully on the strand, though Hermione valiantly ignored the stinging tears his action brought to her eyes.
"Why?" Severus demanded, lips twisting in disgust as he watched.
"Tonks got a lead on Greyback so she and Ron are running that down, and Andy is sick," Hermione explained, tipping her head back, except Teddy only followed the movement, his other hand tangling in a different curl that he pulled as well. She felt a bit like a horse with a sadistic novice at the reins.
Her husband sighed, finally reaching over to free the strands Teddy was steadily wrenching from her scalp. "Potter? He is the boy's godfather. Doesn't he normally watch him when this happens?"
"Yes, but he currently has his hands full remodeling Grimmauld Place before Ginny graduates and moves in with him, so I offered," Hermione said sweetly, offering her most innocent expression, particularly when she'd known Severus would have flat out refused if she'd brought the subject up beforehand. That was precisely why she'd made all the arrangements behind her husband's back – as he was now coming to understand. "I believe he said something about the place being a bit of a safety hazard."
"I did not offer," Severus said stiffly, staring at Teddy as though he was one of Hagrid's mutant pets, liable to turn feral without a lick of warning.
"Ah, yes, but these are the joys of marriage – what's mine is yours and all that," Hermione said easily, leaning in to brush a chaste kiss against Severus's unyielding mouth.
Sighing, she went to lean back, ready for the storm he'd probably – justifiable – unleash on her, but he caught her around the waist and pulled her back in for a proper kiss before she got too far away.
"I notice you only pull that card when it benefits you," he said, nipping her bottom lip.
"As though you're not manipulative yourself," she countered, lightly bumping her nose to his. "I did learn from the master."
"So long as you acknowledge my superiority," Severus said, resignation settling into every line of his rigid stance.
Hermione took advantage of his changing mood, and handed the young wizard over, knowing Teddy's infectious personality would win Severus over. She had to hide her laughter at his horrified expression – a look that immediately peeked Teddy's interest.
The little boy's features slowly morphed as he studied Severus, his nose growing just a tad too long and his eyes and hair darkening to the purest ebony. The sight made her stomach flip in a not altogether pleasant way.
"Are you still taking the potion?" Severus asked carefully, a new tension making him edgy and appearing ready to bolt like a spooked rabbit.
She frowned, needing an extra second to follow his logic. When she caught up, she discovered her mouth was abruptly parched and she felt rather panicky herself.
"Considering you brew it for me every month, you know I am," she finally answered after swallowing the dry saw dust coating the inside of her mouth.
"We never discussed the possibility of children," Severus remarked, leveling her with the directness of his fathomless gaze.
He was correct. The topic had never before come up, and Hermione didn't particularly wish to have it right then either. The very thought of being a mum made a cold sweat break out on the back of her neck, and she felt clammy and itchy all over. She was only just finding her feet at the Ministry. There was so much she wanted to do and accomplish. She wasn't yet twenty. The path ahead of her seemed endless, and she couldn't imagine reaching her goals if her attention was split. A mental picture of Mrs. Weasley doing countless loads of wash during the few times she managed to escape the confines of the kitchen left her shuddering and reeling in the opposite direction.
Did she want children? No. Certainly not anytime soon, and honestly she couldn't picture a time when that would change for her. Particularly not with Severus as her partner in the venture. He was leaving teaching to escape the drone of children, not to go and then have one constantly underfoot. It'd be a nightmare for him.
"Hermione?" Severus prodded. "Talk to me. Why haven't you brought the matter up. You have never shied away from any other topic."
"I honestly never thought about it, but even if I had, I'd have assumed it was unnecessary. I'm perfectly aware that you don't wish to have any," she answered, refocusing on her husband. He looked so relieved by her words that she probably would have changed her mind if she had wanted them.
"Does that bother you?" he asked, his concern a nearly tangible caress against her skin.
Apparently, he would have tried to change his mind as well. If that's what she'd wanted, he'd have given her an entire Quidditch team's worth of children. His selflessness where her feelings were concerned made her love him more than ever.
"Not particularly," she said honestly. "I want a career. I have goals that I'm not sure I can devote myself to if I have a child that I'd have to divide my time with. That doesn't sound fair. Besides, I sort of like having you to myself."
"I don't want you to regret being with me," Severus said bluntly, determined to have everything out in the open.
"Impossible. I love you, Sev," Hermione said, frowning as he jerked the boy away from his side, holding him under the armpits as he glared, a look of revolt twisting his features.
It took a second before Hermione saw the source – a wet spot near his abdomen. Teddy had peed on Severus. How was that even possible? She swore she'd put the diaper on just as Andy had shown her!
"And I hardly think we're missing out on anything. Is this how you want to spend your days?" Hermione said, plucking the unwanted burden from Severus and biting back her laughter as he went to work removing his soiled shirt.
"I know I don't," he answered sharply, but she still heard when he grumbled, "You say you don't now."
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it," Hermione argued, laying Teddy down on the sofa and summoning his diaper bag to change him.
"Good. Better you get your fix or whatever this is with your friends' brats," Severus said, stalking towards their bedroom. She could hear him muttering about rabbits and soon being overrun with Potter and Weasley urchins as he walked away.
An inordinate amount of time passed before Severus finally reemerged, and when he did, she cautiously asked, "Can you watch him while I prepare his dinner?"
"You best let me if you don't desire to make the boy starve," Severus said, steering clear of Teddy. "You can keep the foul thing."
"Oi! I take offense to that. It's not exactly a challenge to heat up a bottle," she said, waving one of the little baggies with the Stasis Charm on it to keep the breast milk inside it fresh. Teddy was eating solid foods as well, but Andy had fed him just before Hermione arrived, so a bottle should be fine until morning.
Severus's jaw dropped before he spoke. "Is that from…."
"Tonks? Yes," Hermione said, thoroughly amused by his discomfort. Though honestly, she shouldn't be surprised. Severus was always surrounded by students. He rarely interacted with anyone outside of the castle, and probably hadn't spent any time with nursing witches before. "You've been sheltered away in this school for far too long if this bothers you."
He didn't comment, just settled himself on the sofa and watched her as she set Teddy on the floor by one of his toys and began preparing the bottle. She had to pry the corner of the large, blue plastic block out of the tiny wizard's mouth by the time she was finished. The sight of the drool made her wince, but she ignored it, particularly when she noticed Severus smirking, and replaced the toy with the bottle before Teddy had a chance to protest.
"He's quieter than I expected," Severus remarked, studying the boy.
"Tonks says he takes more after Lupin than he does her," Hermione said, shrugging one shoulder as she knelt down. Teddy immediately climbed into her lap, steadily slurping from his bottle as he did.
"I never forgave him…for the past, for his part in my miserable school years," Severus admitted, opening up on the one topic he was still insanely prickly about.
"Do you still hate him?"
"Yes," he answered flatly, not hesitating or skirting the truth.
She didn't bother pointing out that there was no point. Lupin was dead. Nothing could come from hating him. But that was the thing, emotions weren't rational.
"Do you think he'll be like Potter?"
"Well, Harry is his godfather, so he'll probably be a strong influence on…oh, you mean different from his father. There's a lot to be said for nature versus nurture – Draco is a prime example – so I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Hermione said carefully, unable to picture the small boy she held ever growing up to be someone that would intentionally bully others.
Teddy fussed as he finished the bottle, but smiled soon enough when she swapped it for the block he immediately began gumming again.
"I might love you, Hermione, but don't expect me to get up with him in the middle of the night. You brought him here, so he's your responsibility," Severus said, a silent request for nothing more to be said on the matter of the Marauders.
Hermione had never told him about the last conversation she ever had with Lupin, and there didn't seem to be any reason to bring it up now either. Though she still wished they could have had the chance to become friends after the war like he very slowly was with Harry. Then again, perhaps it was easier for Severus to let go of his grudge with Harry than it would have been with Lupin. Less history and pain.
"If you insist, Severus," she said softly, knowing there was no way he'd not keep her company if she was awake in the middle of the night. He'd take advantage of any opportunity he could to wear her out – all in the name of helping her fall back asleep, of course. And she'd be more than eager to participate.
"How soon will the sale be finalized?" Severus asked, speaking to a pretty blonde woman. Hermione frowned, not recognizing the woman that stood in her kitchen. From the looks of her, the lady was a Muggle, and she was abruptly glad she'd Flooed into the living room rather than Apparated in front of the unexpected guest.
"Probably a month. The buyer is highly motivated, and I must say they know they're getting a bargain," the woman answered, frowning and lightly touching her forehead as she added, "I still don't know how I ever let you talk me into listing this place so undervalued."
At last the words penetrated the confusion surrounding Hermione, and she asked, "Severus?"
"The house sold today," he said simply, stunning her.
Hermione felt as though the floor had dropped out from beneath her as she silently fumed, ignoring the Muggle's attempts to engage her in the discussion while she and Severus hammered out all of the details. They'd never even talked about selling the place, but he'd taken it upon himself to go ahead and get rid of their home – and only mere months after they'd left Hogwarts and put a bit of effort into redecorating.
"You sold our house," she said darkly the second the front door closed behind the realtor. She'd never bothered to catch the woman's name.
"Yes," Severus said, ignoring the irritated daggers she was metaphorically throwing at him for his high-handed decision.
She was positively seething at his obliviousness. He'd behaved similarly a few times since the war ended, and somehow he was always baffled by her outrage when it happened. Mentally, she reminded herself that he was still adjusting to being only one half of a partnership, and not the only one impacted by his choices, but it only helped her reign in her temper a smidge. After all, they'd been married for nearly three years. He should be better about communicating by now.
"Without discussing it with me first," she elaborated through gritted teeth, praying for even a small measure of elusive patience to prevent her from exploding on the man she loved. Hopefully, the reminder was all he'd need to figure out how royally he'd screwed up.
"Yes," he said again, apparently unaware or at least unconcerned about the dangerous water he was wading through.
"And you don't see the problem with that?" she demanded shrilly, the brunt of her outrage slipping the tight leash.
"No, I don't."
"Severus!"
"We can't keep living here, Hermione. Or I should say I won't keep living here."
"If you had a problem, why didn't you say something? You're supposed to talk to me when you're struggling."
"It was my childhood home," he said, straightening as he faced her. "I refuse to dwell on the past when both the present and future more than make up for it. Therefore there's nothing to discuss, or at least there won't be once we're gone from here."
With those honest, heartfelt words, she felt her anger dissipating like so much fog on a sunny morning. They'd discussed his history enough for her to know all of the difficult and devastating moments, and she understood his struggle to let go of it. That part of his life had scarred over. There were no more festering wounds, but facing reminders daily probably threatened to tear them open once again.
Guilt had her worrying her lip as she realized she'd not noticed his discomfort. But how could she? There wasn't time given the number of hours she'd been spending at the Ministry lately. She was trying to get three different laws passed as quickly as possible to improve the circumstances of part-magical creatures. They'd been discriminated against for long enough. She hated the idea of it continuing for any length of time when it was within her power to do something about it. So many were counting on her, and she'd taken up the cause with a fervor that often had Severus bringing her dinner in the office just so he could be sure she didn't forget to eat.
She'd been so caught up in her crusade that she'd neglected her relationship, and Severus had allowed her to because he knew how much it meant to her.
Balance. She'd have to work harder on finding a way to juggle the responsibilities she'd taken upon herself and the man before her.
"Severus –"
"But mostly, it was the very last place I can imagine residing in with you. Our lives will be happy – this place was tainted by my father and memories of the war, and I will not have those reminders destroying us before we even have a chance," he explained, citing the very conclusions she'd come to herself about why he'd acted as he had.
"Our relationship isn't as fragile as all that, Sev," she countered, moving to place a hand over his heart. His joined hers, their fingers twining as though they were puzzle pieces.
"I need a fresh start for us," he admitted, sighing before he grumbled, "besides, your friends don't feel comfortable here, and there's no room for Teddy or any of the miniature Potter brats that will inevitably show up in the future."
"Are you volunteering to babysit more often?"
"Hff. I'm merely resigning myself to the inevitable."
"Of course."
A year ago she would have said those were the very reasons he would have voiced for wanting to stay there. But a lot had changed. While she couldn't exactly say he enjoyed her friends' company, he never sought to avoid them when they visited. His frequent barbs had also lost a bit of their sharp edge when he bantered with them as well. Occasionally, he'd even chuckle when Ron or Harry was brave enough to lob one back.
"Also, don't call Harry and Ginny's future kids brats – you've no idea what they'll be like considering they don't exist yet."
"I believe history sides with me in this case."
"Regardless, that is incredibly sweet of you to want my friends to feel welcome. But I must ask, am I to be included in deciding where we will live?"
"Of course," he said simply, as though she were absurd to think otherwise.
"Of course," she echoed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
"Is this a bad time to mention I made dinner reservations for us tonight?" Severus injected smoothly, steering the conversation in a new direction now that he was sure he'd skirted her ire.
"Dinner reservations?"
How had he guessed she'd choose tonight to finally leave the office at a decent hour when she hadn't for weeks? Probably, he'd have just gone and dragged her out if she hadn't. Or he'd known all along that she'd get mad about the house, and dinner when a preemptive apology strategy.
"I believe one would call it a date," he said snarkily.
"You want to take me on a date?"
"I was hoping we could make it a more regular occurrence now that I don't have to patrol corridors for misbehaving youths in the evenings anymore," he said, and beneath her palm, she felt his heart race faster.
"I was just thinking we should do that more often," Hermione said, going up on her toes to kiss him. "I haven't been meaning to put work first so much lately. I honestly lost track of myself, but I'll do better."
"Have you become a Legilimens without my knowledge, wife?" he asked, sliding an arm around her waist to keep her close.
That was it. Neither were much for apologies with the other. Somehow, simply understanding the other's feelings and motivations was enough. It worked for them.
"Will there be dancing?" she inquired, treading her fingers into his silky dark locks and lightly scratching the back of his neck.
"If you wish to," he agreed, making her eyes go wide with surprise. Severus smirked, stating, "Luna mentioned you enjoy it, so I am open to the possibility."
"Why?"
"Because I love you, and I want to make you happy," he said frankly.
"What about what you want?"
"I want to see you smile, and know I was the one to make it happen."
"You do. You make me happy everyday, Sev," Hermione breathed, sealing her lips to his. Her heart raced and her head lightened until it spun from lack of oxygen. It felt as though she could survive on the taste and feel of Severus alone.
His chest rose and fell harshly when they finally parted and he raspily asked, "Even when you wish to throttle me?"
"Not then," Hermione huffed, knowing it was true. "But later, when you have me naked afterwards, I'm very happy."
"I know," he said arrogantly.
The heat of his hands scorched her as they inched suggestively along her sides, gliding a searing path that burrowed through her and straight to her core. Her breath quickened when just the tips of his fingers grazed the underside of her breasts. With each light pass she felt a flaming cord twang within her until her heart felt as though it resided solely in her clit.
"Severus," she breathed, his name a mere exhale. A plea. He leaned into her at the sound, and she felt the press of his solid erection against her middle. "Have you a different sort of dancing in mind?"
Hermione teasingly flicked the button of his trousers and grinned at the feel of his sharp inhale when his chest brushed her own. In a flash, his hands were cupping her bum, giving it a far too brief squeeze before they migrated up to a more respectable position at her waist.
"Why, Hermione, whatever could you be suggesting?" he drawled, shifting back and composing his features into a mask of cool indifference that he'd long since mastered – at least if you didn't notice the liquid heat in his intense onyx eyes. Those were a dead giveaway that the mask was merely an illusion."
"Sev, stop teasing," she whined, grabbing his bum this time and pulling him back against her again.
"Tell me what you want," he ordered, pupils fully swallowing the near-inky irises.
"I want your mouth and hands on me," she instructed, wanting so much more, wanting everything.
Years of marriage, and she still couldn't get enough of him. She was addicted and quite content with the knowledge.
"Like this?" he inquired, palming her breasts gently, his thumbs brushing her rapidly hardening nipples.
"More," Hermione gasped, arching her back to increase the pressure.
With a swiftness that made her head spin, Severus whipped her sweater off and tugged the cups of her bra down until her breasts spilled out to give her what she wanted. Each of her nipples were caught between his fingers and he tugged, shifting the digits to pinch and roll the buds. Pleasure arched through her, directly to her core with a rush of heat and need.
Her hands acted on autopilot, following a familiar route as she unfastened the seemingly endless row of buttons on his shirt. The way the straps of her bra pinned her arms made it harder, but she couldn't be bothered to fully remove it. She was too caught up in the promise of Severus.
The tangy musk of his salty skin filled her nose as her lips traced a cord in his neck. The flutter of his rapid pulse flashed against her and the hard ridges of his abdomen twitched and flexed when her fingers grazed the newly exposed skin. His strength and vitality entranced her, beckoning her to explore and worship the honed body that had taught her everything she'd ever learned about satisfaction and bliss.
"I want to feel you swelling inside me. I want your tongue driving me wild," Hermione continued, feeling her wits scatter and leaving her unable to ask for more when his nail scratched roughly over the tender peak of her left nipple. "Oh!" she cried, tugging the lobe of his ear with her teeth.
"Will you scream my name when I make you come?" Severus asked lowly, dipping his head to whisper the words in her ear before sucking at her own thundering pulse.
Hermione's head fell back with a moan, "Mhh, I'll call you anything you want if you'll just do it already."
"Mine. Tell me you're mine. Tell me you love me. Tell me –"
"I'm yours. No one else's. There is no one in the world that could ever complete me as you do," she interrupted, knowing how much he relished hearing her say such things after being denied such affection and devotion previously. "I love you, Sev, all of you, and I always will."
Greedily, he claimed her mouth, plunging his tongue deep inside. It was a seal of her vow and a wordless reminder that the same was true in reverse.
Hastily, their remaining clothes were shed and they sank to the floor. It was soft and plush, more like a mattress than the thin, decorative rug it actually was, so Severus must have already cast a silent Cushioning Charm. Beneath her seeking hands, Hermione felt the muscles in his back and shoulders ripple as he rose to hover over her and slowly inch down her body, trailing kisses in his wake.
When he reached her breasts, still his favorite part of her anatomy, he paused to lavish attention, sucking each rosy bud into a tightly pebbled peak. Her hips undulated, rubbing her throbbing center against his stomach needily. Anticipation had her gasping and moaning, her muscles clenching around nothing as they longed for Severus's mouth or cock. Anything to relieve the mounting tension.
After an eternity, and a playful swipe of his tongue to her bellybutton that her jerking and giggling, the scalding, wet heat of his lips surrounded her pulsing clit. Her eyes instantly rolled and her eyelids fluttered at the contact she'd desperately craved. The tiny bundle of nerves was so sensitive that it wouldn't take much. And he knew precisely what would take her over the edge.
The pad of his tongue lapped and skirted, making unpredictable patterns that made her squirm and twist. Her legs hooked around his trim waist and her heels dug into his bum, anything to anchor her to Severus and the world. He was the steady rock in the hurricane raging around her, unyielding and steadfast.
Forever.
He was her forever.
Sparks and shivers cascaded through her, lighting her up and rippling outwards like a brilliant starburst. But Severus didn't relent. He kept licking and teasing her, his fingers joining in to draw out her pleasure as they traced her slick entrance and dipped to stroke her quivering channel.
Tighter and tighter the spring of desire coiled in her middle. She sensed it preparing to release for a second time as her fingers wound in Severus's hair, tugging insistently.
"Wait, please. I want…hmmm…to feel you inside me. I…uh…need you," she begged, shaking her head to clear the hazy a smidge. As much as she loved what he was doing, she knew it'd feel even better with him filling her completely, and she wanted him to join her.
"Hhm, yes," he growled, prowling up her body with the grace and wildness of a panther on the hunt.
Without preamble, he thrust into her, sinking in all the way to the hilt and fusing their bodies into one. That was all it took to free the spring and have her muscles clenching around him. Waves of sizzling bliss ignited in her veins and her limbs came apart at the seams. Fireworks of lights danced behind her eyelids, a riot of stunning color and glittering joy.
Sanity returned to her slowly, and with it the feeling of Severus shallowly rocking into her, helping to draw out her orgasm for as long as possible. So much for waiting to have him reach that pinnacle with her.
Eager to take him to the same heights she'd just flown to, Hermione shifted, and Severus let her roll them until she was sitting astride him. The new position gave him a view she knew would thoroughly arouse him when her breasts swayed while she rode him.
Steadily, she worked him over, up and down, rolling her hips and squeezing him within her until she wrung shuddering groans that were anything but stoic. If the world could see Severus like this, they'd never have believed he could successfully hide a thing from Voldemort. Luckily, only she would ever be privileged enough to witness him so vulnerable.
Her nails had just scored thin red lines down his torso when he abruptly sat up, catching her wrists and pinning them to the small of her back. The action caused her chest to jut out against his, the spare, coarse hairs tickling her nipples teasingly.
Hermione captured his lips, their tongues dueling as their hips joining in quick, sharp jerks. Pleasure had her inner walls constricting around him again just as he called, "'Mine...mine…my, Hermione."
Harsh breaths mingled as he spilled into her, the pair collapsing back in a tangle of sweaty limbs, Severus holding her tight, the staccato pounding of his heart echoing in her ear.
"We missed our reservation," Severus remarked while she traced abstract patterns across his chest a while later.
"And dancing," she lamented, having genuinely desired the experience.
"Stand up," he instructed, helping her up before setting to pulling his trousers back on.
"I thought you weren't a prude," Hermione teased, sliding her finger along the top then flicking the open button as she had earlier.
Severus groaned as he caught her hand, squeezing it warningly. "One doesn't dance in the nude," he said authoritatively. Knowing she was about to comment, he added, "Besides, you have enough trouble keeping your hands off me. We wouldn't get through a single song if I didn't."
"As if you don't have the same problem." Hermione planted her hands on her hips and mimicked his habit of raising a single eyebrow. Just as she'd guessed, his gaze darted to her exposed chest. They may have just indulged in each other, but that never stopped either from wanting the other again. And again.
"Why would I bother trying? You are perfection," he said sincerely. The raw truth left her feeling like the sexiest witch in the world.
When he offered her his Slytherin green shirt, she took it, but hadn't gotten more than three buttons fastened before he pulled her into his arms.
"Ah! Sev, there's no music!" she giggled, feeling a rush of excitement as he lifted and spun her in a hurried circle.
"Of course there is," he whispered into her ear.
Hermione laughed even harder at his ridiculousness. But then actual music filled the room. It wasn't so much dancing as whirling and swaying, but her enjoyment of it had her feeling like she downed an entire bottle of champagne in one go. His confident grace hinted that he'd be phenomenal if they ever really danced, but this was wonderful for now. Another time she'd put him to the test.
She had no idea how long it was before her sides ached from laughing, and she was so dizzy and happy that she collapsed onto the sofa with him by her side.
"You truly are a Slytherin gift – my gift," Severus said, rolling her beneath him and nuzzling her neck.
"Gifts are meant to be unwrapped," Hermione reminded him, and her husband needed no further encouragement.
In the end, they'd moved to a Muggle community north of Dover because Severus didn't want to see random witches and wizards when he went into town. It took them nearly four months to get the house set up exactly how they wanted it. Mostly because the library was positively massive, and they each had their own area within it to work from home or relax with a book.
Their new home also had a guest room, as Severus had eluded to, for Teddy and any other children that might come along in the future. Despite being a Lupin, Teddy had really grown on Severus in the three years since his first stay with them.
It was sometimes hard to believe how much time had passed since the war ended or how happy she was. Her life really was incredible.
And so were Harry and Ginny's if the looks on their faces were anything to go by when she answered the door to greet them.
"How was the honeymoon?" Hermione asked coyly, trying valiantly to mask her grin when Harry flushed. As if their living together for years prior to the wedding hadn't already clued everybody in on their active sex life.
"Marvelous!" Ginny gushed, making Harry blush an even deeper scarlet. "I still can't believe the Harpies actually agreed to letting me have three weeks off training for it."
"You're the best talent they've had in years. They were afraid you'd switch teams if they'd refused," Harry remarked, clearly meaning the compliment.
"You say the sweetest things," Ginny said, giving him a quick peek on the cheek that had him ducking his head to hide a pleased smile. "Anyway, we saw Ron one night."
"Are he and Tonks still in Croatia looking for Dolohov?" Hermione asked, surprised. Originally, they'd only intended to pass through on their way to Kosovo where the former Death Eater had last been sighted.
"They're still in Croatia, but I don't know how much looking they're getting done," Harry said meaningfully, nodding and smiling at Severus when her husband appeared beside her.
"What do you mean?" Hermione demanded, worried that something had happened to her friend. He was in such a good place – finally.
"It's a bit hard to look with their tongues down each other's throats," Ginny said bluntly, lips twisting into a grimace as they used to when she'd witness Ron devouring Lavender in the common room.
"Oh!"
"What did –"
"Don't say it," Hermione warned, knowing Severus was going to seek her forfeit once their guests left. She never should have bet against him, but she honestly hadn't expected either to ever move past their respective losses, despite the passing years.
"I wouldn't dream of saying 'I told you so'," he said smoothly, smirking openly.
"You guessed?" Harry asked him, mouth agape.
"They spend all of their time together. It was bound to happen eventually," Severus said dryly, shrugging casually. She knew he honestly didn't care which of her friends was dating whom. He was solely focused on the fact he'd correctly called it. "Surely, even you, Harry, noticed your best mate had begun fancying the witch?"
"Been a bit preoccupied with the wedding, honestly. You got any of that one drink of yours I liked last time, Severus?" Harry asked, following Severus to the table they usually set drinks and snacks on when their friends visited, which happened at least twice a week these days.
Severus had recently begun brewing unique cocktails because he missed dabbling with potions and finding new ways to improve recipes. Though initially it had been an accident when he'd agreed to try to fix one of George's products, but had inadvertently made a delicious mixer that went rather well with Firewhiskey.
"How long have they been seeing each other?" Hermione asked, wondering what had triggered the change and unwilling to drop the subject until she'd learned all of the details. They'd been working together as Aurors for years without anything happening, so something must have changed.
"Not sure, but I think it was at our wedding. They were both pretty sloshed," Ginny said, snickering slightly. Hermione had forgotten, but the redhead was right.
"Do you think it'll last after Ron starts working with George?" Hermione asked, worrying her bottom lip.
Just before the wedding Ron had announced that he was through with being an Auror. Most of the remaining Death Eaters had been rounded up, and he was ready to pursue a different career. He'd finally managed to exercise his demons and was quitting at the end of the month – after a vacation, apparently. George had immediately offered him a position at the joke shop, and Ron had seemed pretty excited to start designing a line of Quidditch themed pranks.
"I hope so. He adores Teddy, and they could both do with a bit of happiness," Harry said optimistically.
"To happiness," Severus agreed, raising his glass.
The rich, fragrant scent of orange blossoms, sunflowers and freesia filled her nose as she entered her office, having arrived earlier than nearly everyone just as she usually did. Investigating the elaborate arrangement, she discovered there was no note, but they were all of her very favorite flowers. Clearly, they were from Severus. She frowned, wondering what the occasion was. Their eighth anniversary had already passed the month prior.
"Have you heard the news yet?" Kingsley asked, peeking his bald head around her doorframe as he passed by.
"Oh, Minister, good morning," Hermione said distractedly, curious how Severus had already discovered something involving her when he'd not gotten to work any earlier. When had he found time to arrange for flowers?
"Quite. Congratulations, Hermione. Well done. Got a meeting or I'd stick around to discuss the changes," he said, hurrying off before she could request specifics or respond at all.
"Congrats, Snape," Draco Malfoy said, striding towards her. "Severus just messaged that I'm invited to the celebration this weekend."
"You're the second person today talking about something I have yet to discover," Hermione mused, wondering at what point Draco had become a regular figure in her life that naturally was included in family and friend celebrations.
"Word is you're on the fast track to becoming the youngest Minister of Magic ever, what with your new promotion to Deputy Head of Magical Law Enforcement," Draco informed her, his trademark, taunting smirk no longer annoying her as it once did.
"The house-elf laws are going to pass?" she gasped, knowing her promotion had been contingent on that act. The vote was still a week away, but if word was already out that the promotion was hers, then she must have garnered enough support for it to be a guarantee.
"Mum talked a few of her friends on the Wizengamot into siding with you," Draco announced smugly, carelessly shrugging one shoulder.
"Remind me to invite her to dinner next week," Hermione said, amazed Narissa of all witches would champion her cause.
"As if you didn't badger me into helping," he huffed.
"I didn't badger you! I simply pointed out all the reasons I was right and how you, and the families your mum knows are wrong," Hermione said primly, pursing her lips.
"Hmph. As though there's a difference between the two," he teased, nudging her shoulder lightly. "Who knew PUKE would ever catch on?"
"It was S.P.E.W.," said an amused, and wonderfully familiar drawl at the same time she said the same, automatically correcting Draco as she often had to correct everyone in Hogwarts.
"You knew about that?" she gasped, taking in the proud smile her husband wore as he stared at her.
"Of course," Severus replied smoothly.
"Thanks for the flowers," she said, not bothering to ask how he knew before her or why he had not mentioned it at home. She'd married a spy, after all.
"I figured Harry and Ron would steal you for lunch so it was the only way I'd beat them to the punch today."
"You're welcome to join," she offered, "you know they wouldn't mind." Nothing bothered Ron these days. Nothing had since his marriage to Tonks and subsequent official adoption of Teddy.
"It's fine. We can celebrate tonight – privately."
Hermione felt her smile grow at the mention of Harry. She was rather hoping Harry would be sharing his own news before too long. Ginny had been looking rather green at the Burrow on Sunday and Mrs. Weasley had clucked over her extra. If her suspicions were correct, she'd have the opportunity to fuss over a new little one here before too long, a prospect she enjoyed rather more than she expected.
"Here's to a better future," Hermione said happily, looping her arms around Severus's neck.
"You've already ensured it's better, but I'm honored to be part of this journey with you," he answered, bending to seal his lips to hers in a not altogether work-friendly kiss.