AN:Thanks for all your reviews and your support.

Pour Chris: Merci beaucoup pour ton 'review'. Sorry my french is really bad.

I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.

They next days were awful for Hermione. Since Severus ignored her and hardly spoke to her, she felt lonelier than ever. Her birthday she spent teaching and reading in the library. It was the evening before the Saturday they had agreed to go to the cinema, when Severus was sitting in the living room reading a book. Hermione stormed in, dressed up in a short black dress and her hair tamed in soft curls.

"That's not how this relationship is going to work," she yelled, "I don't like people who sulk like a four year old. Grow up! You are 41 years old. I had to deal with a sulking Ron more than enough. It's not how I pictured the rest of my life. Otherwise I would have married Ron. I'm in love with you and nobody else. Think about it, you moron. I'm going out with Harry and Ron to have some fun. Oh and by the way, when were you thinking of telling me that the Wizengamot is only waiting for a good reason to throw you into Azkaban and that's why they paroled Rowle into your custody. Why are you keeping things like that from me? So I don't worry? IT IS MY BLOODY RIGHT TO WORRY ABOUT YOU, YOU IDIOT. I'M YOUR FIANCÉE."

She turned around storming towards the door.

"Hermione wait!" Severus said getting up, but she already had left their quarters slamming the door violently.

Hermione arrived at the pub she was meeting Harry and Ron for some drinks. When she entered the muggle establishment a lot of heads turned. She looked stunning in her black dress, walking over to her friends. Harry and Ron were sitting at a table, looking bewildered at this new, very interesting Hermione.

"Hiya guys, so what are we having for drinks?"

"Um … er... butterbeer … I mean beer," Ron stammered.

"Well that won't do tonight," she said walking over to the bar ordering two whiskeys. One she downed on the spot, one she took back to the table. Harry and Ron watched her with their mouth open.

"What? I wanna have fun tonight. And hell I'm gonna have fun tonight," she said and made her way to the jukebox, looking for an interesting song.

When she found one, she threw in some money and a moment later she was swaying her hips to the song, still holding on to her glass taking a sip from time to time. Like moths to a flame single guys were drawn to the tiny dance floor, which was crammed into a corner of the pub.

Watching that unusual scenario Harry asked, "Do you think we should rescue her, before this all gets out of hand."

Ron sighed, "I guess we have to, otherwise the dungeon bat is going to tears us to shreds."

They went over to the dancefloor and while Harry awkwardly danced his way to Hermione through the crowd of men dancing around her, snaking his arms around her waist, Ron was just waiting as a backup. Instantly Hermione relaxed into Harry's body and the other men mistaking that intimate gestures as the one of lovers, not as what it was, a touch between two friends who had known each other for years and were as close as siblings, backed away.

"Come one Hermione, sweetie, tell us what happened. You are very un-you," Harry whispered in her ear, causing the last single men to retreat to their tables.

Harry ushered her back to their table with Ron close behind.

"Severus is an idiot," she said downing the rest of the amber liquid.

"We know that, but what happened," Ron inquired.

"He is unreasonably jealous and I don't want to talk about it," she said and went to order another drink.

"By the way I have got something for you Ron and please don't make a fuss about it. Somebody gave it to me and it's used anyway," she handed over a small bag.

"You just have to enlarge it," she grinned a bit stupidly.

Ron glanced in the bag, gasped and handed it over to Harry, who raised an eyebrow in surprise and handed it back.

"How… Who … How did you get it? It's a hardly used firebolt," Ron whispered partly in awe and partly because he didn't want any muggles to overhear their conversation.

"I know it is Ron and it's yours. I got it fair and square and I didn't have to pay for it, so I'll give it to you because you always wanted to have a proper broom. Enjoy!"

Ron beamed and kissed her cheek.

"So boys what's up with you? Tell me some new funny stories about your training. Oh I had to deal with one of your colleagues who kept referring to me as Madame. Moron!"

"That was Combs, he is a bit old-fashioned and weird, but very good at his job," Harry snickered.

The three friends spent a fun night laughing about old and new stories and in the end Hermione, who had a lot to drink, told them what had happened between fits of giggles, before she collapsed with her head on the table.

It was about fifteen minutes later, when Severus heard a knock on his door, which clearly didn't come from a hand, but rather from someone knocking with his foot. He gathered his wand from the coffee table and opened the door, finding Ron Weasley standing with his legs apart holding a passed out Hermione in his arms.

Severus put his wand in his pocket and Ron gently placed Hermione in his arms, quietly saying, "Next time take better care of your girl, idiot." Before he turned around and went away.

Severus stood in the door for another minute before he realised what had actually happened. Then he closed the door with his foot and carried Hermione to their bed. He gently tucked her into bed, placed a bucket in front of the bed just in case and got ready for bed himself.

Once he climbed into bed he softly stroked Hermione's cheek and whispered, "I've been such an idiot."

"Yes you have," Hermione mumbled in her sleep, the smell of alcohol wavering around his nose.

Came next morning Hermione woke up with a pounding headache. The light coming from the window hurt her eyes and she slowly sat up, when actually she wanted to pull the pillow over her head and not deal with anybody, especially not her fiancé. But it was too late, the door opened and in came Severus carrying a little silver tray with a small vase holding a dark red rose and a small flask with, what looked like a hangover potion. Hermione had to supress a grin.

"I'm sorry Madame, that I behaved like an idiot and I hope you can forgive me."

"So you did listen to what I told you that day at Diagon Alley?"

"I did and I found it hilarious that he called you Madame," Severus chuckled.

Hermione gulped down the potion, her headache ebbing away immediately and she felt more rested than before. She looked at Severus and couldn't help a tear escaping her eye and running down her cheek.

"You hurt me Severus. You hurt me badly," she said. Severus swallowed hard, his bad conscience gnawing at him. He scooted closer and gathered Hermione in his arms and holding her, while she was sobbing into the crook of his neck. He rubbed soothing circles on her back until her crying subsided.

"I'm really sorry. It's just I don't know, when I saw you with him, I thought I might lose you."

"But that's ridiculous."

"Is it? He is your age. He is good looking, don't you think?"

"I guess. I just never saw him that way. He was just some guy. And by the way I think you are good looking."

Severus snorted.

"I really do. You are not a gorgeous Hollywood actor, but you are handsome, especially since your hair is shorter now and not hiding half of your face," she said tenderly caressing his face with her hand, causing him to sigh and snuggle his cheek in her palm.

"I was more jealous about Rowle than about Bell, because he had the one thing that distinguished me from Bell."

"What was that?"

"The bad boy image," Severus mumbled a bit embarrassed.

Hermione chuckled and then said, "There is so much more to you than the bad boy. And I love you because you are so much more than only a bad boy. You are intelligent, brave, handsome, loving, tender … Don't make me say it all."

He gave her a crooked smile.

"I'm really sorry about being such an idiot. I promise not to sulk, but to talk to you instead next time. And I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about the Wizengamot trying to throw me into Azkaban. First I thought you would figure it out yourself and when I realised you hadn't, I thought better not to worry you."

"But Severus I'm your fiancée and don't you think it's easier for me if they do throw you into prison that I'm pre...prepared," she stuttered and suddenly threw herself back into his arms sobbing violently.

"Shh my girl, it's not going to happen. And if they find a reason, I know now I have a couple of friends, who care enough for me to try and get me out of there and I know you will be there for me all the time."

"Severus I'm scared. I'm so scared. The prisoners all hate you. They will do terrible things to you."

"I know. But for now, please let's have a nice day. I'm not imprisoned yet and it's not to say it's ever gonna happen. So please let me make you breakfast and have a lovely birthday and please let's pretend, I didn't really not wish you a happy birthday on your actual birthday, because I was a sulking misbehaved prat."

Hermione grinned through her tears, kissed him lightly and said, "It's forgotten."

"Oh before I forget Elena has got something for you. Let me get her, she is playing in her room."

He came back a minute later carrying a dripping wet Elena at arms-length.

"Well she was playing, but obviously not in her room. She stuffed toilet paper down the toilet, didn't you sweetheart? I thought it a bit suspicious that it was so quiet."

Hermione giggled, "Come on I quickly rinse her off, to get all the yucky toilet water off and then I'll dress her. You can make breakfast in the meantime."

"Good, I'll call you two when I'm ready."

Hermione got Elena and herself ready for breakfast and then they snuggled together reading a book, since Severus was still occupied with breakfast. Ten minutes later Severus opened the door to Elena's room, finding his girls sitting together giggling over something they found in a book. He had to swallow hard and blink several times, since tears were threatening to fall. The former death eater couldn't believe how lucky he was. Three years ago he was a miserable loner, who didn't think he would survive the next couple of months and there he was now with a fiancée and a daughter, who both loved him. He quickly wiped over his eyes and cleared his throat.

"Breakfast is ready," he announced. The breakfast table was loaded with everything you could wish for, even a small chocolate cake.

"Flipsy made it for me," Severus said apologetically and pointed to the cake.

"Breakfast looks delicious. Thanks Severus."

Severus held out the chair for her and while sitting down she pinched a grape from the bowl of fruit and popped it in her mouth, when she suddenly felt a small hand on her arm. Elena held out a piece of parchment.

"Fow you," she said with a shy smile.

"Wow that's for me, sweetie? Did you draw it all by yourself?"

Elena smiled proudly and nodded.

"I-an id," she said pointing to the scrawl.

"You draw the giant squid. Wow, I'm impressed. It's beautiful. I think it needs a frame and then we could hang it up in the living room. What do you think?"

But Elena was already playing with some of her toys again. Hermione grinned and said, "Aaw, she is so cute."

"You are too, my girl," Severus mumbled in her ear and placed two presents in front of her.

"Happy Birthday, Hermione!"

"Thanks Severus." She opened the smaller present first and revealed a dainty silver bookmark in form of an otter.

"Wow Severus, it's beautiful. Thank you so much," she said looking at the delicate gift in her hand.

"Your Patronus is an otter right?"

"Yes it is, well it was the last time I saw it. Expecto Patronum!" A merry otter broke from her wand and swam around the room.

"I noticed that you always use some old piece of paper or parchment that you find lying around. So I thought it's time for a proper book mark," he said taking her hand lightly kissing it.

"I love it, thank you. Wow this other one is rather heavy," she said weighing it in her hands. She carefully removed the black and silver wrapping paper and produced a boxed set of books.

"It's a collected set of Victor Hugo's novels. I know you always said you wanted to read some of his work, but never had the chance to do so."

"It's a beautiful edition," she said taking out one of the books and her hand skimming over the leather bound book with gilt edge.

"Thank you so much, my love. These are so thoughtful gifts," she said and leaned closer to him kissing him affectionately.

He sighed inwardly in relieve, that she didn't hold his idiotic behaviour against him.

"Let's have breakfast," she smiled.

After a relaxed day they spent with taking Elena to a huge muggle playground in London and having a picnic in one of London's parks they left Elena with Neville and were on their way to the cinema.

"Do you think it was wise to leave our daughter with Neville? As much as I appreciate him as a friend, I'm not too sure he knows what he is doing. He looked a bit lost," Severus mumbled.

"He'll be fine. He loves Elena and she adores him, even if he is a bit clumsy with her. And Hannah will be there in an hour, she has a couple of nieces and nephews already, so she will be fine with Elena, don't worry," Hermione reassuringly patted his arm.

When they arrived at the cinema they looked at the program together.

"So what do you want to see?"

"Well it's your first time at the cinema, so we should see a film for boys," she said not looking at him, but investigating the film posters.

"Boys," he asked one of his eyebrows shooting right up towards his hairline.

"Trust me it's your first time. You'll be like a little boy. We should see the new James Bond. I don't care about it really, but I'm sure you like it."

"But it's your birthday, shouldn't we watch something you like," he objected.

"Exactly it's my birthday so I get to decide. Come on now!"

"Let me at least pay," he grumbled.

"That you can do … if you have enough quid on you," she snickered remembering the time they went to the stationery shop.

"Oh ha ha, little Miss Funny," Severus growled.

Once he purchased the tickets Hermione pulled him towards the snack kiosk.

"So we should buy a wide variety of snacks, so next time we know what's your favourite cinema snack," she smiled at him.

"We won't know what's my favourite cinema snack, but we will know what I will look like throwing up," he said sarcastically, looking at the huge pile of treats Hermione had bought.

"Oh shut up you," she playfully elbowed him in his ribs, nearly dropping a pack of sour worms.

Since they were a little late, they missed all of the commercials and trailers and just sat down when the film started. Hermione was sitting to Severus right side, which turned out to be good, since in the first fifteen minutes she had to put her hand reassuringly on his a couple of times, as it seemed to be twitching towards his wand on several occasions. After realising that nothing would happen to him personally, Severus relaxed and – like Hermione had predicted – he followed the film like a little boy, wide eyes glued to the screen the whole time.

Once the closing credits were flickering across the big screen, Severus turned to Hermione and with an exhilarated look on his face he whispered, "That was amazing. I loved it. We should see another one."

"What about Elena," she asked.

"She'll be fine with Neville," he said, causing her to chuckle. Hermione chose a film of her liking this time, which turned out to be a low budget film, with a more interesting story, but less action. Severus sat cuddled to Hermione, his head resting on her shoulder he followed the film, as attentive as the other one.

Two hours later they were back at Hogwarts with Elena tucked safely in her bed and the kitchen table loaded with the snacks they brought back from the cinema.

"I can't believe how much there is left?"

"I can't believe you didn't eat anything?"

"Well excuse me, but I was a bit occupied with the films. By the way I loved them both. We have to go to the cinema again soon."

"I'm glad you liked it so much. But now we don't know what your favourite cinema snack is. Well we have to find out next time. Anyway I'm going for a swim," she said.

"You what? Didn't you just tell me a couple of days ago you didn't have a bathing costume?"

She walked away from him, hips swaying, looking over her shoulder and winking at him cockily she said, "Don't you think those are a bit overrated."

And gone she was through the terrace door.

"I couldn't agree more," he mumbled and while walking after her, he kicked off his shoes and pulled his shirt over his head. Once he stepped outside, she was already standing on the small landing about to dive in, her clothes in a heap next to her. Severus had to steady his breath, looking at the beautiful young woman who gave him a naughty wink and dove in.

"I must be dreaming. And soon I will be woken up by my dark mark throbbing on my arm," he murmured, quickly cast a notice-me-not and a warming charm on himself, took off the rest of his clothes, took a run and dove in next to her.

Coming up for air again, he immediately swam towards her. His lips found hers and his tongue begged for entrance, softly swiping across her bottom lip, making her sigh softly and open her mouth …

"It's good to see you happy again Hermione," Ron said to Hermione with a disapproving sideways look to Severus, who just rolled his eyes.

"I behaved like an idiot, but I apologised. Are you happy now," Severus growled towards the redhead.

"Immensely, hearing you referring to yourself as an idiot, really made my day. Listen to me dungeon bat, if you hurt her once more, I won't be that kind to you anymore," Ron hissed.

"Really? What are you going to do to me?" Severus and Ron stood only a few inches apart staring into each other's eyes, with gritted teeth and clenched fists.

"Boys stop it now. You are being ridiculous. Ron it's their relationship you don't have a word in it and Severus you have to understand Ron and Hermione are like siblings, so he is very protective of her," Arthur pushed himself between his son and his son's former teacher.

Hermione giggled.

"And what exactly are you giggling Hermione at. Why didn't you try to get them apart," Arthur glared at her.

"I just wanted to see who would start to tear the other one to shreds," she replied not being able to keep a straight face.

"Well you are in luck, it's your birthday lunch today cheeky Miss," he said affectionately gathering her in his arms and kissing her forehead.

"Happy Birthday, Hermione!"

"Thanks Arthur," she smiled.

The lunch turned out to be fun, even Severus joining in the laughter from time to time. After they had the birthday cake in the shape of a book, Hermione went upstairs with Ginny for some girl talk, while George, Angelina, Ron and Katie went outside for a game of Quidditch. Harry was talking to Arthur about some ministry stuff, while Molly was floating the dirty dishes to the kitchen.

Severus entered the kitchen and cleared his throat, causing Molly to turn around and Harry and Arthur look at him.

"I'm glad I can speak to you in private. I know you are like Hermione's parents, now that she lost her own. You know I asked Hermione to marry me…"

"I should really go," Harry mumbled sensing which direction the conversation was headed to.

"Please Harry stay, you are like her brother," Severus gave him a small smile.

"I guess I should have asked you before, but I forgot. So I'm asking you now. Are you content, that I asked Hermione for her hand in marriage?"

By now Molly had tears in her eyes and hurried over to pull Severus in a hug.

"I couldn't have asked for a better husband for our girl," Arthur smiled and shook his hand.

"Just don't hurt her, otherwise I'll have Ron finally tear you to shreds," Harry grumbled.

"HARRY!" Molly yelled.

Harry just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'm sure you would do the same."

"I have to agree with Harry on that one," Severus said, making him grin.