Author's Note
Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!
Thank you all so much for being part of this journey and sticking with this story all the way until the end. When I originally came up with the idea for this, it wasn't going to be anything more than a few chapters of smut, and an excuse for Severus and Hermione to have a bit of fun during the war. Somehow, it morphed into something more very quickly, and hopefully you have enjoyed getting to discover the true relationship they developed over time.
My intention is to write one final outtake chapter that will be Severus's perspective of a scene or chapter from this story. If there is one in particular you would like to see done, please leave a review and let me know which one you'd like me to write. I'll try to have it done in the next couple weeks.
I'm not J.K. Rowling, so I don't own anything.
Ch 37: When Reality is Better than the Fairytale
"Stop worrying, Sev. Neville's promised to look out for her," Hermione promised, leaning against Severus's side and hiding her smile when she noticed the way her words made him scowl.
They'd just entered Platform nine and three quarters, and steam was blowing from the giant scarlet train, billowing through the crowded station and making it difficult to see as they made their way towards a group of their friends. In front of them, a dark, curly head bobbed as she pushed a cart laden with a heavy trunk, packed with far more books than any one child should possibly read in a year, and a golden masked owl.
"I should have taken Minerva up on her offer to resume the headmaster post when she retired," he muttered darkly, though he quickly schooled his expression when Athena looked back at them, a large grin splitting her face. Their daughter was the spitting image of Hermione, though her hair was the inky color of her father's.
Severus had been shocked when his former colleague had made the offer, never having dreamed of returning to the school after everything that had happened there. It hadn't even taken him a day to consider the offer before he'd declined it, as Hermione had known he would. Since he'd begun working at the Ministry, he'd finally found satisfaction in his work, and he thrived under the constant challenges he found there. Not to mention, he appreciated being home more so he could be there for his own daughter rather than devoting all of his time to caring for others' children instead.
"Bet you're regretting how you treated him for all those years, aren't you?" Hermione asked knowingly.
"He needed toughening up," Severus said succinctly, justifying his former actions.
Hermione snorted, and raised a single brow in mimicry of her husband, then asked, "Does Athena?"
"I'll kill anyone who dares treat her poorly," he growled menacingly.
Hermione rolled her eyes, but leaned up to kiss Severus's cheek, patting his chest consolingly. He loved their daughter fiercely, and tried to spoil her every chance he had. She was constantly on guard to keep him from making her as entitled as Draco had once been. Though he'd mellowed out considerably after the war. He never even complained about the fact his own son had become best mates with Harry's son, Albus Severus.
Her husband loved rubbing that particular name in Ron's face.
"It'll get easier," Harry ventured, having overheard Severus's last comment.
"Don't let him fool you. He's cried the last three years when James, and last year, Al, left," Ginny announced, ratting her husband out.
"Traitor," Harry accused, wrapping an arm around Ginny's waist. "Want some help, Lily?"
"No, thanks. We've got it. Right, Athena?"
"Yep!" she chirped, grabbing one side of Lily Potter's trunk while the tiny redhead grabbed the other end. The two struggled for a minute, then finally managed to get it loaded into an empty compartment.
When they returned for Athena's, Severus lasted no more than a minute watching them heave and huff over the luggage before he spoke up, asking, "Are you sure you don't need any help?"
"Jamie! Oi, Al, get over here and get this," Lily commanded, planting her hands on her hips as she ordered her older brothers around. The older Potter boys were nowhere to be seen, however. Probably, they were already getting into some mischief.
A chuckle sounded and a young man with turquoise hair appeared, offering, "I've got it. I just saw your brothers. They were busy with Louis and Scorpius."
"Teddy!" Lily squealed, throwing her arms around her godbrother's waist. "Did you come to see me off?"
"You and the rest of the family," he said, using his wand to guide Athena's trunk into the spot beside Lily's.
Teddy had graduated a few years earlier, but he still came every year to see his four younger brothers and god siblings off, even when it meant traveling across the world to do so. He'd taken a position writing for the Quibbler under Luna Lovegood, and spent most of his time on assignment looking for elusive magical creatures around the world.
"Thanks," Athena said shyly, blushing faintly.
"Bloody hell," Severus grumbled, earning an elbow in his side from Hermione.
It annoyed Severus to no end that his daughter had a giant crush on Teddy Lupin and had for years. The last thing he wanted was for her to get involved with a Lupin. Though Hermione privately wondered if he'd be just as horrified if Athena ever fancied Jamie or Al. Probably. Luckily, Athena was eleven years Teddy's junior and only just starting Hogwarts herself, so he didn't need to worry about anything happening there for a good long while, if ever.
It had caused a big enough scandal within the family when Teddy had briefly dated Victorie Weasley a few years ago. They'd not even lasted a year before calling it quits. Apparently, writing and traveling wasn't the sort of life Victorie wanted, though the two had managed to stay friends afterwards.
"Where are your parents, Teddy?" Harry asked, glancing about in search of Ron, Tonks, and their four boys, three of which would be attending Hogwarts this year.
"They were right behind me. Silas was upset about not being old enough to go," Teddy answered, reaching over to ruffle Athena's hair as Lily still clung to him. The whistle sounded, warning everyone that the train was about to depart. "Though if they don't hurry up, they'll miss it."
"We'd never miss the train, right, Harry? We're right on time," Ron joked, herding his brood of boys forward. Tonks ambled up a little behind them, their youngest, Silas, pouting beside her.
Harry, Ron, and Teddy each helped one of Ron and Tonk's boys stash their trunks on the train while the rest said their goodbyes.
"What if I hate it or no one likes me?" Athena asked suddenly, her face buried against Severus's chest where he'd squated down to embrace her.
"You won't hate it. You're going to have adventures and make friends, and everyone will see how clever you are – just don't go showing off too much," he advised, patting her head.
"Was it like that for you?" she asked timidly.
For weeks, Hermione had been trying to get Athena to open up about her fears of going to Hogwarts, but she'd stubbornly refused to admit to any. She insisted she'd be fine and that she was thrilled to be going, likely because that was how Lily felt. Now, she was finally ready to face her fears, and of course she wanted Severus to assuage them. She was such a daddy's girl.
"No, but you're just like your mum, which means you'll have no trouble winning everyone over," Severus said sincerely, truly believing that no one would dare dislike his wife. It was a far cry from his opinion of her while she'd attended Hogwarts.
Hermione was about to weigh in, but given how uncertain Athena looked, she couldn't bring herself to correct Severus's assurances. Because he was right – Athena was just like Hermione – to the point that she'd probably annoy half the school with her know-it-all attitude before she managed to find a good group of friends outside of Lily and their tight knit circle.
"Really?"
"She wouldn't be so brilliant and famous if she couldn't," Severus said easily, and she felt pride swell in her chest at hearing him refer to her as brilliant. He regularly called her that these days, but she'd never tire of hearing him say it. Not after how hard she'd worked to make him believe it. Then he let a hint of his Slytherin side out. "Besides, you've already got friends. Just stick with them, and you'll be extraordinary. No one would dare mess with one of Potter's kids or one of their friends. If they do, let me know and I'll make sure they serve detention for a month pickling salamander eyes."
"I love you, dad," Athena chuckled, knowing he wasn't teasing in the least.
"I love you too," he said softly, the words flowing freely from him, something Hermione never thought she'd see.
"We'll write every day," Hermione promised, getting one last hug of her own before Lily dragged Athena onto the train.
"Dinner at our place? Now that we're all kid-free?" Harry suggested, tipping his head back so the others wouldn't see the tears his glasses did nothing to hide. As though they didn't all hear the rough catch in his voice that gave him away.
"Only if we're invited too," Ron said, winking at Tonks. "Teddy's already agreed to watch his brother – thanks again for that. Merlin, it's nice having one already grown."
Hermione couldn't hide her snort. For as much as Ron talked about wanting a break, he was a family man through and through. He'd never regretted leaving the adventurous life of an Auror to work at the joke shop. How could he when he mostly worked from home where he also took care of Teddy, Jensen, Levi, Devlin and Silas? He'd probably have tried for another, despite his protests growing up with such a large family, but Tonks had insisted they were done.
"Thank Merlin," Tonks and Severus said at the same time. Severus was more than ready to be done with having young witches and wizards running wild through the house for a bit. Tonks was probably ready for some peace and quiet too after having all five boys home for summer break.
Hermione and the others all waved to the kids as the train pulled out of the station. A pang stabbed her chest, and she rubbed the spot, grateful when Severus pulled her close, sensing her sadness at saying goodbye to her baby girl, who wasn't such a baby anymore.
Sighing, Hermione turned to see that her husband was still staring after where the train had vanished from sight. The others, now joined by Bill, Fleur, George, Angelina, Draco and Astoria, had all moved on to making arrangements for the night and quizzing Teddy about his work since he was leaving again in the morning.
"Sev?"
"Come on," he murmured, running the tip of his nose along the column of her neck and making her shiver in response.
"Admit it, you messed up the potion on purpose," Hermione prompted, much as she had many times over the years.
"Never," he said, though the corners of his lips had turned up. It was the same response he always gave when they played this game.
They'd agreed not to have any children of their own, but as she began watching Harry's and Ron's kids more and more often. She'd been so certain she'd never want any when they'd first made the decision, but Severus had been right that she'd eventually change her mind. And he'd apparently warmed to the idea of having one of his own too, though he steadfastly refused to admit as much. Instead, he'd simply feigned surprise when she'd discovered she was pregnant one day only a couple weeks after Ginny had announced she was pregnant with Lily. His only comment had been, "Perhaps if we're occupied with our child, your friends will stop invading our house and treating us like free babysitters."
"So much for never lying to me," Hermione huffed, shaking her head.
"Refusing to answer is not the same as lying," he insisted smoothly.
"Thank you for our daughter," she replied, infusing the words with all of the love she felt for the man who had been brave enough to open his heart to her and determined enough to survive and give her a wonderful life.
"I believe it is I who should be thanking you. You've given me more joy and happiness than I could ever dream of being worthy of. I love you, Granger," he said thickly.
"It's Snape," she corrected, offering him a coy smile as she finished, "Minister Snape, to be precise."
"So it is, my brilliant wife," he agreed.
Final Author's Note
Thanks again for reading this story! Please let me know what you think, what Severus chapter you want to see written, and any ideas you have for a different Severus/Hermione story or a Sirius/Hermione story – I'm trying to come up with an idea that hasn't already been done before, but I'm not having much luck.