25th July 1998
"What you doing, Mummy?" Severus watched her curiously as she rounded up various supplies.
"Oh, Auntie Ginny and Auntie Lavender are coming to visit. We're going to…do some girly things."
"Oh." Severus screwed up his nose, making her laugh. "What things?
"Never you mind, a little horror," she teased, bopping him on the nose. "It's all boring, grown-up stuff."
"So no cars, Mummy?" he checked. "No Lego?"
"None." Hermione sighed exaggeratedly. "I told you, we're all very boring."
He nodded solemnly, "It sounds boring," he agreed, looking disappointed.
"It is. Which is why you should let Grandpa read your story tonight."
"Grandad!" he corrected quickly.
"Oh?"
"He does voices!" Severus explained like she should already know, "Grandpa doesn't."
"Oh dear!" Hermione exclaimed dramatically, trying not to laugh at the disgruntled look on his face, "Maybe we should make Grandad teach him?"
Severus looked at her consideringly, his head tilted to the side as he tried to decide whether it was a good idea or not before he bounced suddenly on his feet, "Yes!" he shouted, "I go and tell him!"
With a laugh, Hermione followed him out, watching as he scrambled up onto a slightly startled Remus' knee. "We teach Grandpa voices Grandad!"
Remus blinked, his eyes darting to Hermione for an explanation. "Apparently when you read to him you do character voices, Sirius doesn't."
"Ah," Remus nodded in understanding. "That might be difficult," he answered seriously, his eyes showing a hint of mischief as Sirius appeared behind Hermione in the doorway, "I'm afraid Grandpa has no imagination. And he's getting old…it's hard to teach old people new things."
"What?" Sirius yelped, "I'm not old! I'm thirty-eight!"
"Then you do voices, Grandpa!" Severus exclaimed like it was the obvious answer.
"Voices?"
"When you read," Hermione laughed.
Sirius's eyes narrowed on Remus, "I'll have you know Grandpa is the best at voices," he declared grandly, "Say goodnight to your Mummy and Grandpa will show old Grandad how it's done."
"You're absurd," Hermione sighed, "Absolutely absurd."
"You love us anyway, Kitten," he reminded her as the floo roared.
"Mya! This house is bloody huge, where are you! Oh!"
"Why are you standing in the floo room?" Ginny demanded.
"Because I don't know where I'm going!" Susan whined.
"Are we meeting in here?" Lavender asked, sounding confused.
"Oh for the love of Merlin," Hermione muttered, silently marvelling that all three of her friends had made it on time. Clearly, they were more desperate to get out of their own houses than she'd realised.
"Who's that Mummy?" Severus frowned, looking at her warily.
"Auntie Gin, Auntie Lavender and Auntie Susan, you've not met her yet….but here she is now."
"Sweet mother of magic," Susan breathed the moment she stepped into the room, her eyes remaining on Severus for several beats before they flew to Hermione. "I know we all needed time to process and we've been really shit at catching up while we all learned to cope but I swear to all the gods, you're never being left on your own again! Hermione, we leave you alone for five minutes and now you have a kid! A real life little person who you are responsible for turning into a functioning human being."
"Yes I'd noticed," Hermione agreed.
"No, but…but he's real."
"Um. Yup. Noticed that too."
"Mummy" Severus whispered loudly, holding his hands out until she picked him up.
"Don't be frightened of Auntie Susan, she's just a bit…" Hermione floundered for a moment.
"Surprised?" Lavender offered.
"Surprised," Hermione agreed. "Because she hasn't met you yet."
"Oh." he held out his hand shyly, "I Severus."
"Oh you are adorable," Susan cooed, shaking his hand seriously, "I'm apparently your Auntie Susan."
"And now it's time for bed!" Sirius reminded him, he pouted, squinting down at his fingers before holding up five.
"Five minutes?" he asked and silently, Hermione vowed to hex Draco for teaching him that because it was bloody adorable and they had a hard enough time saying no to him.
"Fine," she sighed, "Five minutes but that's it. And if Uncle Draco appears he's on story duty.
Severus shook his head as Susan silently mouthed, "Uncle Draco" to herself, "No mummy," he whined, "He doesn't do the voices!"
"Oh dear," Hermione sighed exaggeratedly, settling down on the sofa with him on her lap., "Looks like Grandad going to have to teach classes."
Severus giggled, looking hopefully at his new trio of aunts, "You do voices?"
"I can absolutely do voices," Susan agreed, "Come sit beside your Auntie Susan."
A slightly unsure look passed over Severus' face before he scrambled off Hermione's knee, darting off for a book. Handing over the tiger who came to tea shyly, he checked Hermione was where he had left her before climbing up to sit beside Susan, who as promised, gave all the characters distinct voices.
Once she was done, he moved to curl up on Hermione's knee, finally giving in to the sleepiness that had become apparent halfway through the story. She allowed it, stroking a hand over his head as he sunk further into sleep.
"I never thought I'd say it about Professor Snape but he is beyond cute," Susan muttered before she hit Hermione's arm. "However! I really dislike finding out about him from Neville!"
Hermione grimaced, "Sorry," she murmured, "It's been…."
"Really fucking strange?" Ginny offered.
"Pretty much," Hermione sighed. "I don't think I knew what way was up for ages."
They all nodded, "Me either. The rebuild helped but I think I needed….time away from people to just process," Susan murmured.
"Or hide at home." Ginny agreed.
"Well, I for one have had enough solitude," Lavender retorted. "Hospital is bloody boring so you'd all better be on your way out of this isolation phase you've had going on."
"Yes boss," Ginny cheeked "And I think…honestly that I am. Fred's home. Mum is still mental but it's definitely time to get out of the house."
Lavender arched a brow at Hermione," Yes, yes. I feel…more human. And I wasn't totally isolated!"
"No, you were being whisked off to Spain by our new favourite Slytherin." Lavender taunted.
Susan blinked, "Draco Malfoy took you to Spain?"
Hermione swivelled to gape at her, "What?"
"Well…uncle Draco…and….how many other bloody Slytherins are you hiding?"
Hermione stared for several seconds before she began to laugh, "Oh sweet Merlin."
"Cousin, your cackling is distracting, if you could tone it down," a voice drawled from the doorway.
"Cousin?" Susan demanded and Draco froze
"Fuck," he swore, "I forgot your coven was congregating tonight."
"Oh hell," Hermione breathed out, calming herself down. "Susan, did you read any of the owls I sent?"
"Yes!"
"Then you know Draco is living here!"
"Yes," she nodded, "But…."
"And you know that Sirius and Remus adopted me and that Draco's mother was a Black."
"Right," Susan nodded, "Which explains the cousin. So what other Slytherin?"
"Is this about Blaise, Cousin?" Draco teased. "Your last date seemed to go well. Paris, wasn't it? No mothers on that one,"
"I swear to Godric Malfoy, you frequently make me question whether I need to hit you again." she muttered as Lavender screeched "Paris!" so loudly that Severus stirred and she had to shush him.
"Now, please, bugger off. Actually, if you could make yourself useful and put Severus to bed, I might be persuaded not to let Gin wake you to interrogate you when we're drunk. I'm sure Sirius warned you what we were like that time." she batted her eyelashes exaggeratedly. "Of course, I could just ask Winky to take her straight to you."
Draco paled, "I never had you down as a sadist Cousin," he muttered, reaching for Severus.
"Ah Malfoy, you've still so much to learn about me." she grinned.
"Should I warn Blaise that you're secretly kinky?" he asked dryly.
"What makes you think it's a secret?"
"And that is where I leave," he muttered. "There are some things I never want or need to know."
"I feel like I've been given something," Susan mumbled, "Malfoy was polite."
Hermione shrugged, "He's…getting there." she admitted, "I don't hate him as much as I feel I should."
Susan waved her off, "We'll come back to that. I notice you only promised not to send Gin to interrogate your new cousin." Hermione snorted but didn't reply. Susan sent her a knowing look before continuing, "Blaise Zabini?"
"Ugh," Hermione groaned at Lavender's cackle. "He's…I don't really know what he is. But he's trying. He's taking Severus when I go to speak with the Minister next week."
"Seriously?" Ginny breathed.
"Ugh, yes. Neville suggested it. Said it'll show him the realities of life with a three year old."
"Wow." Ginny muttered, "I almost wish I could watch."
There were mirrored grins around the room, "Right, cocktails," Lavender demanded, "And then I want to know everything."
Several hours later, three of them were well past tipsy, Hermione was just exhausted. "We can go visit Malfoy now, right?" Susan slurred.
"Winky! Take Susan to Malfoy please," Hermione asked, her eyes closed. She briefly wondered if she should at least feel a little guilty before reminding herself that he'd been a hateful little shit for the majority of their school years and that Susan was relatively harmless.
Five minutes later, Draco thundered down the stairs, "Call her off!" he demanded as Susan staggered in behind him, giggling, reaching for his head.
"I only asked if it was real! It's so soft Mya! Stroke it!"
"Do not!" Draco barked, looking terrified as Ginny approached,
"It is!" Ginny agreed, running her fingers through Draco's hair "Who knew?"
"Hermione, Hermione please!" he begged, "Call them off."
"Problems?" Harry asked, looking amused.
"Potter! They keep touching me!"
"But his hair is so soft Harry!" Ginny pouted, "My hair is not that soft."
"Ok love, but maybe stop stroking Malfoy?" he suggested, bodily prying Ginny off of him to deposit her on the sofa.
"I wonder if he's cuddly," Susan mused
"No!" Draco yelped, "Not cuddly, not cuddly at all!"
"Shame," Susan sighed, dropping her head to his shoulder.
"Gods, someone please make them stop!" he begged piteously.
"Come on Sue," Harry coaxed, "You won't respect him in the morning if he lets you snuggle."
Draco frowned, "I don't know whether to take offence to that or not," he muttered, letting out a sigh of relief as Susan wandered back over to the sofa, all but collapsing on it.
"Are they always like this?"
"No," Harry laughed, "Not always. They can, and do, manage to drink without ending up like this, just every now and then…."
"I'm going to request wards on my room next time," he muttered.
"Don't pretend you didn't enjoy the attention Malfoy." Harry teased.
"My hair! They were touching my hair!"
Harry snorted, running an eye over the room, "And they're out."
"They're going to have massively sore heads in the morning,"
"And necks if we don't move them," Harry agreed, "Right. Levetate Hermione would you, I'll do Gin."
"To where? And what if she wakes up and hexes me?"
"She won't," Harry laughed, "trust me. Put her on her bed, if nothing else she won't wake up feeling like she's broken her neck."
With a sigh, Draco moved to comply, muttering about ridiculous drunks as he went.
26th July 1998.
Two sheepish, hungover witches, slouched at the breakfast table the next morning. "I can't quite remember but I think I owe you an apology Malfoy," Susan muttered.
He snorted, sliding a vial of hangover potion over to her. "I'll live. Just…never threaten to cuddle me again."
"Oh Gods," Susan groaned, flushing with embarrassment.
"I'm not apologising," Ginny muttered, accepting her own vial, "I want all your hair care secrets. It was so bloody soft!"
"I'm surprised you can remember," Hermione laughed, wandering in with a still-sleepy Severus on her hip.
"How are you not hungover?" Ginny whined.
"Because I have a three year old and stopped drinking several hours before you?"
She bit back a smile when Ginny huffed, "Lavender still asleep?" Susan checked, watching avidly as Winky and Kreacher began putting plates down on the table.
"Out cold." Hermione agreed, putting Severus on the bench so she could sort his breakfast, ignoring his disgruntled whine. "She was never one for mornings."
"I remember. What are your plans for today?"
"We're meeting Dean and Seamus," Hermione replied, wrapping an arm around Severus to steady him when he attempted to burrow back into her side, clearly not awake enough to consider breakfast. "They wanted to take Severus to a local football match. Feel free to join us, it's not ticketed, it's just the juniors."
"I'll agree," Susan nodded, piling food onto her plate with a happy sigh "But I understood none of that."
Hermione shrugged," You will soon."
"I'm having a day with Harry, " Ginny yawned. "Although I think I might have a nap first"
"Glad I'm so interesting," Harry teased, sitting down next to her "Sore head?"
"Not now," she allowed," waggling the vial. "Next time I think I'll have less."
"If you could '' Draco muttered.
"Is this when we remind you of Harry and Neville's birthday party here?" Hermione smiled sweetly.
Draco froze, looking back at her in horror. "Do you all hate me"? he whined, looking supremely put out when they just laughed at him.
30th July 1998.
"If Potter's birthday isn't until tomorrow, why is the party today?" Blaise queried, not at all sure how he felt being surrounded by Gryffindors and both her bloody fathers who kept occasionally sending warning glares his way.
"Because Neville's is today, there's no way it will still be happening past midnight so this way they both got a party on their actual birthday," Hermione shrugged, eyeing the mixers thoughtfully.
"Clever," he mused, "Um…what are you doing?"
"Trying to decide what I want," she replied distractedly before selecting several bottles.
Blaise watched with fascination as she filled a jug with various substances before pouring herself a glass, "And that is?"
"Oh! A drumstick."
"A what?"
Rolling her eyes she handed him the glass. "It's a…very sweet," he setted on. "And it doesn't taste anything like chicken."
"No taste," she muttered sadly, trying not to laugh at him. "And it's not meant to taste like chicken! Who'd want to drink something like that? A drumstick is also a muggle sweetie. They're yummy."
"Of course it is," he agreed, shaking his head at her. "What have you done with your miniature shadow this evening?"
"Uncle Charlie has him for a sleepover at Aunty Andies. Which means he'll put him to bed then come here."
Blaise snorted. "I see. He really loves that man."
"Indeed he does," she smirked, "Jealous?"
"Yes." he replied immediately, "We both know I need to win him over."
"Do you?" she asked blandly.
"Granger." he whined in response, watching her drink the ridiculously pink thing in her hand, "I'm beginning to think you're playing with me."
Hermione snorted, "I'm never alone, as if I've had the chance." she scoffed.
He froze, running that through his head before shutting it down quickly. They were in bloody public after all. "That was a terrible insinuation," he replied finally.
Hermione shrugged, "Fair enough."
He gaped at her as she walked away, finding herself pulled into a conversation with Dean and Neville.
"Why does Zabini look like he's never seen people before?" Dean checked.
"I don't think he's particularly comfortable."
"And yet you left him alone?"
"Well…he's…bugging my happiness."
"Bugging your happiness?" Dean repeated flatly.
"Yes."
"In what way?
"You're going to think I'm an idiot," she groaned.
"I don't think anyone could accuse you of that love."
"He is very, very strictly adhering to those courting rituals Sirius drilled me in."
"Ok," Dean replied slowly as Neville let out a genuine peal of laughter.
"So no touching other than the arm, chaperones, all very prober and above bored?" he checked with a grin.
"Yes! Arsehole."
"Ah…Mya love, it's sort of how it's done in our circles.
"I know!" she muttered, "But how on earth can we know if we're compatible if I can't even kiss him properly! I will not live with shit sex for the rest of my life because of antiquated courting rituals!"
"Zabini's shit in bed?" Harry checked, a look of unholy glee travelling across his face. "
"Jesus wept, where did you come from?'' Hermione demanded. "And I wouldn't bloody know, would I?"
"What?" he frowned, "But it's been…."
"Yes well, hence the archaic expectations," she snarked.
"Well fuck." Harry muttered. "Do you actually stick to them?"
Neville shrugged, "Some. I mean. I'm meant to."
"Says the man quite clearly shagging Hannah Abbott," Hermione muttered petulantly as Neville turned pink
"How the hell did you know that?"
"Because you're not discrete?"
"Fuck." he hissed. "Right. Let's hope that doesn't get back to Gran she'll have a betrothal agreement written in under an hour."
"Well that's horrifying, but back to Zabii, and I can't believe I'm staying this…just..do it."
"What?"
"Well given the way he bloody looks at you I don't think he's going to refuse if you just kiss the man. You can work out the rest from there."
"Oh yes, me, Blaise and Winky. Damn it! I'm being unfair aren't I?" Wisely none of them commented as she continued, "Even if he did take the bloody initiative she'd never let him do anything more than a kiss on the bloody cheek."
"Well... I forgot about Winky.'' Harry replied sheepishly before he shrugged, "Maybe he's not sure enough of what you're thinking to consider facing her wrath? Winkys too busy making sure we're all right to watch you tonight." he nodded at the tiny elf looking like she was in her element acquiring food and drinks for anyone who looked even remotely like they needed it. "At this rate, we'll all be pissed within an hour and it'll be her fault. So...and I can't quite believe I'm saying this...maybe take advantage of that? Show the poor man in no uncertain terms that yore...unopposed to a little bit more than cheek kissing?"
"You make an interesting point." she mused, a contemplative look on her face.
Harry tried not to notice when a couple of hours later he spotted a rumpled but grinning Zabini standing talking to Malfoy, his arm firmly anchored around Hermione's waist. With a shudder, he focused on what Ron was saying, he did not need to know.
