AN: Thanks for all the support and lovely reviews! I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.

"Okay I'm invited for lunch at the Burrow today. Do you want to come with me?" Hermione asked on a Sunday morning holding Elena, who was in a grumpy mood, while Severus was making some tea.

"No, thank you," he said as if she had offended him somehow.

"Well don't then, I'll see you later. Good bye, sweetie," she kissed Elena's head and handed her to her dad.

"Don't you dare tell them I'm staying with you or that I'm a father. It's none of their business, " he growled.

"Well you are both in such a lovely mood today? It's a shame I have got to leave. Maybe it would help if you would go outside once in a while. It has been a week," Hermione said and left without waiting for an answer.

She arrived at the Burrow and smiled at the crooked building, that was her second home, her second family. When she stepped inside the smell of food wavered around her nose. She went right to the kitchen.

"Hello Molly!"

"Hermione! You came! I'm glad, we haven't seen you in ages. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine thank you. I brought you some elf wine. Thank you for inviting me."

"Oh don't be so formal dear. Thanks for the wine. The others are in the garden playing Quidditch."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't have expected anything different," she said and went to the garden.

"Hermione!" Ginny who saw her first squealed and came flying towards her, easily hopping of her broom and engaging her in a hug.

"I haven't seen you in ages."

"It's nice to be here," Hermione admitted.

"Hermione!" Ron and Harry exclaimed in unison, both pulling her into a hug at the same.

"Oi boys, you're squashing me," she laughed.

"You know what?" Ginny asked, excitedly jumping up and down.

"What?"

"Ron has a girlfriend."

"Really Ron, I'm so happy for you," Hermione squealed hugging him again, "Who is she? Do I know her?"

"It's Katie Bell," Ron mumbled his ears bright red, clearly embarrassed by his sister's outburst.

Ginny hopped on her broom, flying circles above their heads she sang, "Katie and Ron sitting up a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g…"

"Oi Harry get your girlfriend under control," Ron hollered but couldn't supress a grin.

"You seem happy Ron! I'm happy for you," she smiled.

"So you are not mad at me?" he said somewhat insecure.

"No why would I?"

"Because of us?"

"Ron there was never really an 'us'."

"I know but we shared this one kiss."

"I know and it was a very special kiss, a kiss during the Battle of Hogwarts. It will always hold a special place in my heart, as do you, but we've moved on and that's good. I'm happy for you and now show me if you've learned any new tricks, like this Gablonski Feint."

"Wronski Feint!" several voices hollered from their brooms.

Hermione laughed, it felt like in old times.

Lunch at the Burrow was as always very loud and merry. Harry and Ron were talking about their Auror training, making everybody laugh, telling them about a duel session, that Harry ended up with hair growing out of his armpits for half an hour, before somebody found a counter curse. Ginny sat there shuddering with disgust. Hermione burst into laughter looking at her friend.

Arthur who was sitting next to Hermione said, "You seem really happy today, Hermione."

"Dad is right Hermione. I haven't seen you this relaxed and smiling that much in a long, long time," Ron said, "Is there anybody special in your life?"

"No there isn't," but she couldn't help a slight blush creeping over her face, due to the lie she just told them. Even if there was nothing going on with Severus, she had to admit in this one week he and Elena stayed at her place she already had grown quite attached to them. And so both of them were special people to her, if not necessarily in the way Ron had suggested it.

"Ah I don't believe you," Harry grinned. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Leave her alone. A woman has to have her secrets, " Molly winked at her.

"I'm just glad you are so happy, "Arthur said and hugged her with one arm.

When she came home in the evening, after an afternoon filled with laughter and happiness, Severus had prepared some sandwiches for them.

"I'm sorry I was so grumpy. And so I thought we could meet at Ottery St. Catchpole after you finish work tomorrow and just go for a walk."

"I'd like that."

"You have a light now at your bed. I hope you like it," Severus said.

"Let me have a look," Hermione said climbing up the ladder to her high sleeper bed. Hermione burst into laughter at the side of a bright pink bedside lamp.

"Oh and you made me a small bookshelf. Thanks."

"Look up, "Severus said from the living room.

"Why?"

"Just look up." "

Wow, Severus!" she gazed up in amazement, since part of her ceiling had been enchanted, showing a darkening sky, with one star already sparkling on it.

"Thank you so much."

"Well my life might be a mess, but I still have my magic," he mumbled.

It was ten past four the next day, when Severus was waiting in front of the bookstore, looking at the shop window, with Elena in her pram.

"Hi! Did you have a good day?" Hermione said stepping out of the bookstore.

"Yes, and I have to admit, it's nice being outside again."

They were walking past a couple of shop windows and Hermione talked about her day. When they left the main square and turned a corner they nearly bumped into a familiar red head. Severus inwardly groaned.

"Hermione! I didn't think I would see you again so soon ," Ginny smiled hugging her, when suddenly she realised who the man was standing beside her.

"Professor Snape! Um … hello!"

"Miss Weasley," he slightly bowed his head. Suddenly Elena started crying and Severus lifted her out of the pram, cooing in her ear to sooth her.

Ginny looked back and forth between Hermione and Severus and assuming Hermione was the baby's mother, but not daring to ask, just said, "She is cute. May I hold her please?"

Severus raised an eyebrow, prompting Hermione to say, "Come on Severus. She is not going to drop her."

Severus sighed, placing Elena in her arms, saying, "Careful. You have to support her head."

Unfortunately they didn't pay attention to their surroundings, otherwise they would have noticed four men coming towards them.

"Well, well, well! Look who we found the traitor of the century, the mudblood and the blood traitor bitch. Looks like Snape and the mudblood have a baby together," came the silky voice of Lucius Malfoy.

While Hermione stepped in front of Ginny holding Elena, Severus looked at Ginny and she felt him pushing in her mind, yelling inside her head, "KEEP HER SAFE! GO!"

And Ginny with Elena on her arm was gone with a quiet 'pop'.