Narcissa eyed her son across the table, not at all sure what to make of this situation. Her estranged sister sat to her left, the muggleborn who had been tortured by her insane and now deceased sister sat across from her next to her son. Her irreverent cousin sat at the head of the table with his werewolf husband to his left with a look of unholy glee on his face, the bloody boy who lived, the bain of her husband's existence sat on her right and stranger than all of that, a de-aged Severus Snape swung his legs in his seat and called the aforementioned muggleborn Mummy. And he now had curls. And was smiling. She wasn't at all convinced that she hadn't developed the Black family madness.

Severus' eyes narrowed on the two new people invading his home, watching them closely.

"It's one thing to hear it," Andromeda murmured, her eyes never leaving the boy, "But to see it…."

Hermione hummed, running a hand over his curls. "I imagine we'll all get used to it. Eventually."

Andromeda laughed, "Perhaps." she acknowledged before looking back at Severus, "You have a cousin who is very much looking forward to meeting you. She knows your Uncle Charlie well."

Severus immediately lost his suspicious look, "Does she work with dragons too?"

"Thankfully not," Andromeda retorted, "Although she's an Auror which is arguably worse."

"What's an Auror?"

"Dora's a bit like a police officer," Hermione supplied, "But with magic."

"Oh." he mused, tilting his head to the side. "Is she cooler than Uncle Ron?"

Draco choked, "Weasley cannot be your favourite Uncle!" he protested.

"Uncle Charlie's the best," Severus corrected quickly, "But Uncle Draco, Uncle Ron flew a car!"

Draco groaned as Narcissa blinked as if clearing her mind of fog, "Uncle Draco?"

"Uncle Draco's mummy's cousin." Severys piped up making her still.

"Pardon?" she asked carefully, her eyes automatically going to Sirius for an explanation.

"Didn't Draco mention, Cissa?" Sirius grinned, "Remus and I adopted Hermione, she's the new Black Heir."

She choked on the sip of tea she'd taken, "Pardon?"

"Adopted." Sirius smiled smugly, pointing at Hermione, "It was a girl."

"I see," she murmured faintly.

Andromeda's grin matched Sirius' "You'll have to excuse Auntie Cissa, she's a bit…stunted."

"What's that mean?" Severus demanded.

"She's ah…she needs to meet lots of new people and get some new ideas." Andromeda settled on.

"Interesting ideas?" he checked before looking at Narcissa, "Auntie Cissa you boring now?"

Harry snorted as even Remus had to hide his smile behind his cup.

"I most certainly am not, young man!" Narcissa retorted, looking so offended even Draco looked amused.

"Ok," he muttered, looking unconvinced.

"Severus, don't be rude," Hermione chided.

"Sorry Mummy," he muttered, "what's wrong with her old ideas?"

"Everyone needs to decide if the things they think are worth thinking or need to change," Hermione tried, wondering how the hell she even began to explain this to a three year old before deciding that you really just didn't.

"How do you do that?" he demanded, "I just think things!"

"Dear god," she muttered, "You just have to decide."

"Like if I want more cake I can decide not to?" he checked, eyeing the cake still on the table.

"Yes.

"Who wouldn't want more cake?" his face scrunched in a frown as if the idea was unthinkable.

Hermione groaned, "For the love of magic. Maybe cake makes someone poorly?"

"Oh." he seemed to contemplate that, "That would be very sad."

Andromeda snorted, "Oh I think I'm going to like you like this," she murmured.

"Yes…well…I. " Narcissa blew out a breath, "I do hope you'll let my son visit, Sirius."

"As long as he has a chaperone it's allowed," Sirius shrugged, "what were your terms?"

"I'm allowed out only with Andromeda and limited to once a week. I am not allowed in the vicinity of anyone who was a known sympathiser or who bears the dark mark. Draco is the exception. I am to complete some sort of community service for the next five years which apparently doesn't count as me being allowed out of the house."

"Did they say what?" Sirius looked amused

"No. They will let me know in due course." she hesitated, "It is not a term I have heard before and I confess that I wasn't paying as much attention to their explanation as I should have been."

Remus hummed, "It means doing something to help the community, so cleaning up littered areas, rebuilding perhaps, working with charities, there's quite a lot of options. Draco's sentence included it too. He's going to be working with Hermione in the orphanage she's looking into setting up.``

"I see." Narcissa murmured.

"Perhaps if you think about your talents Mrs Malfoy," Hermione offered, "we could suggest something that plays to your strengths to Kings."

Narcissa stared at her. "I…I don't know." she stammered finally, looking slightly lost.

"You like children, Cissa." Andromeda reminded her, "You were always best at throwing an event, we'll need some to raise funds."

"Oh, I…"

Hermione sighed, seeing immediately where this was going. Her eyes met Sirius' with resignation, anticipating his pointed nod before it came, "We're going to need all the help we can get organising an orphanage." she murmured, "Perhaps you can help?"

"Oh! Oh, I could!" Narcissa agreed, clutching the idea like the lifeline she was more than aware it was.

"I'll speak to Kings," Harry murmured.

"Mummy?" Severus whined, fidgeting in his seat." I go now?""

Hermione arched a brow, "To where?"

"My lego!" he cried.

Her mouth quirked into a smile against her will, "Go on then."

He didn't need telling twice, as he scrambled from the table and barrelled out of the room.

"Why don't we join him, " Hermione voiced, looking pointedly at Andromeda. Catching her meaning the other woman nodded.

"Good idea, especially if he's to be left with me shortly. Harry, Remus, you'll come and explain this Lego to me? I don't believe Dora ever had any."

"Of course," Remus nodded, standing abruptly.

"Subtle, cousin," Draco teased.

"Do you want time with your mother or not, Malfoy?" she retorted.

He inclined his head in acknowledgement before watching them leave the room, allowing his mother to fuss over him when they were finally alone, or as alone as they could be with a giant dog snoozing at their feet.


10th June 1998

"I think we're done here," Neville gasped, setting the last block into place, sweat pouring down his face.

"Oh thank all the gods,'' Hermione muttered, pulling her own sweaty curls back into a haphazard ponytail. "Why in the name of Merlin does the castle insist on fighting us so much?"

"Who knows? "Harry muttered, "This would go a lot quicker if it didn't though."

"I think Minerva theorised that it was still in battle mode," Neville offered, "That the magic needs time to settle back down and stop being so defensive."

"Did she really?" Hermione whispered, as if to herself, a slight spark appearing in her eyes that made them all instantly roll their eyes.

"Right, lunch now, before we lose Mya to books," Dean commanded, "And then we've earned at least half an hour in the grounds. Fancy a game of football, kid?"

Severus blinked up at Dean, pausing in trying to cram his cars into the bag all at once. "Football?"

"Mya!" he gasped, whirling to look at Hermione.

"What?" she demanded, helping her impatient son, "I don't play.

"We'll be sorting that," he muttered, "Stick with Uncle Dean, kiddo and we'll have you a pro in no time."

Hermione shook her head fondly. "Merlin help us. How many things do you think he can break if we let him loose with a football at home?"

"We could take him to number 12?" Harry suggested, with a suddenly wide grin, "Let old Wally meet the new line of succession."

Hermione turned to look at him wide-eyed before she laughed, "Oh sweet Merlin, can you imagine?"

"Yes!" Harry crowed, "Yes I can. Please, say we can? Please, please, please?"

"Maybe at the weekend," she allowed, with a badly concealed smirk.

"I'm not sure who Wally is, but can we please get lunch so I can teach your kid the beauty that is football!" Dean interrupted.

"Lead the way." she gestured to the door, a small smile forming as she watched Dean take Severus' hand, explaining the finer points of the game as they walked.


Blaise found them in the grounds after lunch, wondering if he was brave enough to approach. He had taken Neville and Dean's words to heart and had backed off while he got his head straight. He had slowly been working at integrating himself with Severus but if he was honest, It had taken until now to come to a definite decision. He'd watched the witch for years and kid or no kid, he wanted to give this a shot. So he was here, wondering how the name of Salazar one won over a miniature Severus Snape to the point he'd be allowed to court his mother. He'd have laughed at how fucking absurd that thought sounded if he hadn't been so terrified he was going to balls it all up. He'd owled his mother for fucks sake! His mother who, despite him remaining incredibly vague, had sent him a howler that was just her laughing at him before her actual advice appeared two days later. Attempting to remember exactly what that advice was, he took a breath and walked towards them.

"I'm a bit scared to ask what they're doing," he murmured into her ear from behind, making her jump.

"Jesus Christ Zabini!" she shouted, finally noticing his hands held up in supplication as he bit back a wince at the wand jammed under his chin. In hindsight, startling a war veteran was monumentally stupid.

"Apologies, Granger." he murmured, "I wasn't thinking."

"Clearly," she muttered, finally removing her wand. "What did you want?"

"I asked what they're doing?"

"Oh." she looked momentarily surprised, "Dean's teaching Severus and I suppose Neville how to play football."

"And that's…." he prompted.

"A game," she snorted, "Played with two teams of traditionally eleven people although five or seven is acceptable in a non-professional setting. The aim is to get the ball into the opponent's goal."

"One ball?" he checked.

"Yes. Just one."

"AH." he nodded, attempting to look as if that made sense. The amused look on her face indicated he wasn't successful. "Is that why Thomas has Severus and Longbottom kicking balls at Potter?"

"Yup. Ball in the net, or in this case between those two jumpers equals a goal." she agreed, a slightly indulgent smile on her face as she watched her son. Harry, bless him, pretended to miss, allowing the ball to slowly roll in. Severus' giggles as Dean hoisted him onto his shoulders before running in circles shouting goal! made several heads turn.

"And that…is ah…traditional too?"

"A goal celebration? Absolutely." she agreed.

"Right," he muttered. "I ah…how is being a mother going?"

Brown eyes narrowed as they pinned him in place. Whatever she was looking for she appeared to find, accepting the question was genuine. "It's an adjustment." she finally admitted. "He's surprisingly an easy child. Clingy. But we'll work on that, it's rather understandable given the circumstances. I might change my answer the first time he truly pushes back but for just now, it's tiring but not anywhere near as much as I thought it would be."

Blaise hummed, "That's surprising given who he was."

"He just wants to be loved," she all but whispered.

Blaise blew out a breath remembering the man the small boy had been. "I can believe that," he murmured, sitting down on the grass to watch. Several minutes later she joined him.


29th June 1998

.

"You and Zabini seem to be getting on." Dean arched a brow at Hermione over the desk they were repairing.

Willing down her blush, she shrugged. "He's…not entirely what I expected."

"Uhuh. Based on that look, in a good way." he teased.

"I don't really know what to make of him," she muttered.

"Oh?"

"What's he doing, Dean?" she demanded.

"I mean if you want my honest opinion, he's trying to seduce you."

"Don't be absurd," she scoffed.

"My," he sighed, "He goes out of his way to talk to you and Severus. He willingly played football with us last week. He tolerates your brother and your fathers. He's…helpful and around and…tell me who currently has Severus?"

"Neville." she shot back.

He stared back at her unimpressed, until she capitulated. "Fine. Neville and Blaise."

"Uhih. We both know he doesn't need to be there, he's trying to win over your kid."

"Oh," she muttered.

"How is this a surprise?"

"Well I just assumed I was seeing more than there was!" she protested.

"Mya," he whined. "I know Harry has already had this conversation with you. How are you so stupid when you're so smart?" he jumped when she hit him with a stinging jinx. "I'm not taking it back," he warned.

Hermione sighed. "I'm not…no one other than Viktor was ever interested."

"Well, that's complete rubbish." Dean scoffed, "You were just too distracted attempting to keep Harry alive to notice."

"Oh." she frowned. "That's…are you sure?"

Dean laughed, "Yes! Mclaggan for all he was an utter arsehole, was genuinely interested, Anthony Goldstein was interested. There was a bit when Neville was interested."

"Neville!" she yelped.

"Oh, he got over it when he realised you were clueless." Dean waved her off. "Now let's see there were definitely a few Puffs over the years, more than a few Claws oh, and Lee Jordan!"

"Lee Jordan! Don't be bloody absurd."

Dean turned to look at her with genuine amusement. "I promise. He heard about Skeeter and then you started working with Harry for the D.A. He was smitten for ages."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "If you say so."

"I do," he smirked. "Now Zabini. What are you going to do about it?"

She let out an irritated sigh. "Nothing."

"Why?"

"Because I have a three-year-old son!" she exclaimed.

"And?" Dean prompted calmly.

"And? Dean, come on! Who the hell wants to be responsible for someone else's kid at our age?"

"You apparently." He retorted. Before he softened his tone, "Mya, don't write him off. Or even if you do write him off for whatever reason, don't write everyone off. You deserve to be happy too and you're allowed to be more than Severus' mum."

She sighed, dropping her head onto his shoulder, "When did you get so wise," she murmured.

He snorted, "I'll have you know I've always been wise.

"Sure you have," she scoffed.

"I was wise enough to stop Seamus blowing us all up on a regular basis." he retorted.

Hermione huffed out a laugh, "I'll give you that." she agreed. "Now let's get this done. I'm still not convinced Neville in a room with Severus is wise."

"Probably not," Dean laughed, "But honestly, Mya, he's three, what's the worst he can do?"

Hermione lifted her head to look at him in horror, "I might not have been a parent for long but Good Godric Dean you never, ever utter words like that about a kid because that's when things tend to go spectacularly wrong."

"Oops?" Dean offered with a smirk.


Hermione found Neville doubled over laughing as Blaise was berated by Severus, hands on hips, scowl firmly in place. He looked remarkably cowed given that Severus was only three.

"Do I want to ask?" she asked hesitantly.

"Mummy!" Severus squealed, abandoning torturing his babysitters to run to her. "Mummy tell Mr Zabini that Uncle Charlie's the coolest."

Hermione paused, "Why was it up for debate?"

"I asked if he'd ever been on a broom," Zabini muttered, still wide eyes focused on Severus. "I wouldn't have if I'd realised."

Hermione bit back a snort, hiding her face in her son's wild hair. "Ah." she managed. "He's a bit protective of his time with Charlie, especially as he's going back to Romania."

"Soon, Mummy," Severus whispered, his bottom lip wobbling.

"Yes I know, sweetheart but we're going to visit him in October and he's coming back for Christmas and he's going to try and squeeze in a visit for Uncle Harry's birthday."

Severus pouted, "Uncle Charlie can look after dragons here."

"Severus, we've talked about this, so unless you want to convince Kings to open a reserve…."

"Mr very Important Minister?" he checked, interrupting her.

"That's him," Hermione agreed.

"We go and see him now, Mummy?"

Neville snorted, "Only your kid."

Severus glowered, "Mr. Very Important minister said he's not brave enough to tell mummy what to do." he informed him imperiously.

"I believe that," Blaise muttered, earning an eye roll from Hermione.

"Mummy and Grandpa are going to see him soon, you can ask Grandpa to ask him then," she soothed.

"I will," Severus muttered darkly.

With an amused look, Hermione decided to ignore the threat she heard in his voice, "Did you have fun with Mr Zabini and Uncle Neville?"

"Yes," he admitted grudgingly. "But Uncle Dean is better."

Dean preened, "Good lad. It's the football isn't it?"

"And the pogs," he informed him seriously.

Dean laughed, as Blaise looked at him questioningly, "Pogs?"

"It's a game, Mr Zabini!" Severus exclaimed, losing some of his ire in his excitement "Uncle Harry's going to take me for new ones, he promised."

"Did he now?" Hermione asked.

"Yes! On…on…" he scrunched up his brow. "Tuesday?"

"Saturday." Neville corrected gently.

"Saturday," Severus nodded. "And he said he'd take me to Fortescue's Mummy. No girls allowed."

Hermione snorted, "No girls allowed?" she queried.

"Nope! Boys only! Uncle Ron's coming too!"

"Oh my! Well if Uncle Ron's coming, it's definitely boys only," she laughed.

"It is. You can play with Auntie Ginny," he informed her imperiously.

Both Neville and Dean choked on a laugh. "Or," Blaise smiled winningly. "You could always come and play with me, Granger."

"No," Severus scowled as Hermione flushed.

"Severus," she warned.

"But Auntie Ginny wanted to…" he frowned, clearly trying to remember. "Something with cocks mummy."

The room went still. "Pardon?" Blaise squeaked.

"Something with cocks, Mr Zabini." Severus informed him impatiently, "Auntie Ginny said she's never had one and Mummy's had lots."

"Oh…Oh sweet Merlin," Dean choked before he began to howl, Hermione joining him a minute later.

"Do I want to ask?" Sirius murmured, sticking his head around the door and spotting a wide-eyed Blaise Zabini staring at his daughter as if he'd never seen her before. His daughter who was clutching her stomach and laughing so hard she was crying with Dean next to her.

"I think Severus might have overheard a conversation he wasn't supposed to?" Neville ventured looking unsure. Surprising him, Hermione and Dean laughed harder.

"Oh god, please make it stop." Dean gasped, trying to calm himself down.

"I feel like we've missed the joke." Blaise hedged.

"Oh sweet Jesus," Hermione blew out a breath, the grin still splitting her face. "Auntie Ginny wants a cocktail, sweetheart. It's a drink."

"That's what I said!" Severus protested.

Sirius looked at them. "I assume that is not what he said." he grinned.

"Not quite," Neville snorted, "Bloody hell."

Sirius gave a huff of laughter, "I can imagine. When are you and Gin going for cocktails? I'll warn Draco. If I remember correctly, you two are ridiculous drunks"

"No idea. We've not picked a day and we are not!"

"Kitten…you both cried reading about that Kneazle that saved his family from a fire in the Prophet last time you were drunk. We thought something awful had happened. And then you spent half an hour each telling Harry you loved him but assuring him it was in very different ways. The boy was terrified. I have no idea how Draco slept through it."

Hermione pouted, "We weren't that bad."

"You absolutely were," Sirius contradicted cheerfully. "Now, can we go home? It looks like you're done and from what Minnie was saying there's not a lot left to do. She reckons another week will do it."

"Fine," Hermione sighed, "But we were not ridiculous."

Sirius snorted but did not correct her again as she took Severus' hand, calling out her goodbyes.