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

I couldn't have done it without you

Severus headed up the broad driveway to the Manor and stopped in front of the big wooden door, staring at the heavy silver doorknocker, representing a snake, for several minutes before he eventually knocked. The lady of the house opened the door herself.

"Severus! What are you doing here?" she asked surprised.

"Well, that wasn't the polite Malfoy way to greet your guest was it," he chuckled.

"Sorry Severus! I'm just surprised to see you here. You haven't been here in ages. You only ever come, when I invite you and insist and make sure you actually show up" Narcissa said.

"Well, may I come in now," he growled.

"By all means, come in!"

He stepped inside.

"Why are you opening the door yourself anyway?"

"Care a guess?"

"I don't know, since the Wizengamot took all your money for restoring Hogwarts and helping the people in that war, maybe they also took away your house elves, for I don't know … to somewhere they were more needed, than in a household with only one person."

"Wow, that's correct, you haven't been a spy for nothing."

"How is Draco doing?"

"He is finally coming to terms with his father's death," she said, blinking away some tears.

"Well understandable that it takes him so long since Lucius didn't die of natural causes. I can't believe they sought revenge for not being quite as loyal as in the beginning. You were hosting Voldemort, that should have been enough for them. Nobody of them knew how that must have felt."

Narcissa gave him a weak smile, "Would you like some tea, Severus?"

"Have you maybe got something stronger?"

"Wow so a talk with something stronger than tea. You've got me hooked," she said pouring them both some fire whiskey. He took the offered glass and turned his back on Narcissa, staring out of the tall window, of the drawing room, over the garden, which once was Narcissa's pride, but now looked run down.

"Do you remember that one night?" Severus voice was hardly above a whisper.

"How could I ever forget, that was one of the most awful nights I had during the first war," she answered, coming up to the window and standing next to him and staring outside like he did.

Severus slowly caught his breath, "I don't know how to begin… Well… Here it goes. I met this woman; she is very nice. I like her. The war has been hard on her too and she has her own burden to bear. I don't even know if she feels something similar for me, but if she does, I've no idea how this is supposed to work. Every time she touches me, I feel uncomfortable, and she will notice it, well she already did. How am I supposed to explain?"

"Severus you might have to tell her the truth." Severus face paled, he started shivering and hid his face in his hands. A strangled sob escaped his lips.

"May I embrace you," Narcissa asked and when he nodded, she slowly and very carefully engaged him in a hug.

"Shh, Severus. Come on let's sit down."

She ushered him to a leather sofa and when they sat down, she put an arm around his shoulder, and he leaned his head to hers.

"Look, I think it comes down to this. First of all, you need to see if she likes you back in the same way. There is no rush, take your time. And if she feels the same way, just take one small step after the other. I really hope she feels the same as you. You really deserve some happiness in your life, Severus."

"Thanks, Narcissa," he said quietly.

"Do you want to stay for dinner? I could cook some pasta."

Severus chuckled.

"Okay you have to help me. But I would love to have some company."

"Well alright then. So, tell me how you've been?"

"I'm thinking of selling the Manor," she said while they made their way to the kitchen.

"Really? How come?" he asked.

"Well for one it's too big for only me, moreover there too many memories connected to this place, some happy but also sad and mainly terrifying and vile."

Tonks sighed. It had been an awful day at work, and she knew she couldn't just go home, take a long bath and relax. Teddy was waiting at Molly's for her to pick him up and she still needed to go to Diagon Alley to get a book from Flourishs and Blotts and get some food for dinner. She apparated to the Burrow and was greeted by Victoire and Teddy running around like crazy.

"Hi Tonks," Molly laughed, "I'm not quite sure what they are playing, but they've been running around like lunatics for half an hour now."

She hugged Tonks, "How was your day at work?"

"Abysmal," Tonks replied.

"How are you otherwise, we didn't have time to catch up in the morning?"

Tonks smiled, "I'm fine."

"Wow, I haven't seen this smile in a long time. Who is he?"

"WHAT? How did you …," her voice trailed off.

"Well, it's easy, since work was awful, what else is there that would you make you smile like that, when Teddy was with me the whole day," Molly smiled.

"Okay right there is somebody. But I don't know what it is, and I don't even know if he thinks the same and there is always Remus," she sighed.

"Don't you think Remus would be happy for you finding somebody," Molly asked.

"Maybe!"

"Remus was one of the sweetest and most caring men I knew, I'm sure he wants you to be happy."

"I guess depending on who it would be with," Tonks sighed.

"Well, who would there be Remus wouldn't approve of. I couldn't think of any… Maybe I can. Oh! OH! No!"

Molly's eyes grew wide. Tonks had her face buried in her hands, nodding.

"Severus," Molly whispered and then chuckled, "I have to admit he is quite fit."

"MOLLY!"

"Sorry, more important things to discuss. Look, I wouldn't worry too much for now. You don't even know if he feels the same way. Take it slowly and I'm sure you'll find out, if it's the right thing to do."

Tonks nodded, "Please don't tell anybody about it."

"I won't."

"Thanks again for taking Teddy twice a week, that helps me a lot."

"You don't have to thank me every time you pick him up. I'm glad I can help you."

"TEDDY! Come on sweetie, we need to get going. I still need to go to Diagon Alley and pick up some groceries."

"I don't want to go home Mummy, I'm staying here," Teddy said running away from her. Tonks rolled her eyes knowing it would be one of these evenings.

A couple of minutes later she apparated to Diagon Alley with a screaming and flailing Teddy in her arms.

"I HATE YOU!" he screamed for everybody to hear. She put him down and he just flopped to the ground, screaming, kicking and hitting the floor with his small fists. By now Tonks had a pounding headache, she closed her eyes and felt tears building up. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder,

"May I?"

She looked in Severus' dark eyes, her heart skipping a beat and nodded. Severus crouched down.

"Hello Teddy, my old friend," he said, prompting Teddy to raise his head and look up pouting.

"Is your mum giving you a hard time? I know mums can be really stubborn."

"Yes," Teddy replied and sat up.

"I have an offer to make, but first of all you have to tell me what your favourite dish is."

"Spaghetti with meatballs," he sniffled.

"I tell you what. We'll let your mum go and do her boring grown-up stuff and you and I go back to my place and cook Spaghetti with meatballs together for dinner and she can join us later and eat with us."

"Really?"

"Really come on my friend. Oh, and on our way, we should have a look through the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies. There is a new race broom out."

"Uncle Harry told me about it. It's the Lightning 5000. It's cool he said," Teddy said eagerly.

"That it is," Severus chuckled. "Meet us in an hour at my place," he said over his shoulder to Tonks, winking at her.

When she knocked at the door to the apothecary, she felt better except for the headache, which was still there. But she had picked up the book she needed, got some groceries for the next few days, dropped everything off at home and still had twenty minutes to sit down to enjoy a coffee in peace and quiet.

"Hi, you look better," he smiled at her.

"I am, but I still have got a headache."

He went around the counter of his shop rummaged through the cabinet and threw a tiny bottle over his shoulder in her direction, "That will help."

Tonks failed catching the bottle and it smashed on the floor.

"Great thinking," Tonks muttered sarcastically, "Throw a potion to the clumsiest witch of the century for her to catch it. That will be a safe catch for sure."

Severus turned around and roared with laughter, handing her another potion.

"I'm sorry I didn't think about that," he chuckled and in a more serious tone he added, "because I think there is much more to you, than your clumsiness."

"Thanks Severus," she smiled.

"Come on let's go upstairs, Teddy will be waiting."

"Mummy!" Teddy exclaimed throwing himself in her arms.

"Look we made spaghetti with meatballs. I helped a lot."

"I couldn't have done it without you, mate" Severus said ruffling the boy's hair.

"It looks delicious!"

They spent an enjoyable meal with Teddy on his best behaviour. After his last bite Teddy leaned back in his seat, went really quiet and suddenly fell asleep.

"That explains his grumpy mood earlier. He must have been really tired. I wonder what he did the whole day, that he is so worn out," she whispered.

"Do you want me to put him on my bed? It might be a bit more comfortable," he whispered back.

She nodded.

He carefully picked him up, "He is adorable. So clever and funny."

"He is. Most of the times," she replied slumping down on the sofa.

"You have saved my day, Severus. Thank you," she said when Severus came back from his bedroom.

"No problem, I had fun. I guess though, it's not as much fun if you have to be there all the time. Can I indulge you with some chocolate?"

"Always. May I ask you something?"

"Please do."

"Why are you so nice to me? I never thought of you as a people person. You always seemed to be a loner to me."

"I am, but that doesn't mean I can't spend time with somebody I like."

"You like me?"

"I do. And actually, I wanted to ask you something," he swallowed hard. "May I take you out to dinner?"

"As in a date?" she asked.

He slowly nodded.

"I know you might turn me down. It might be too early after Remus' death and I'm not the easiest person to be around. But I always had a soft spot for you, and I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. Well, it could but anyway. I'm sorry, I'm rambling."

"I think I would like to go on a date with you."

"You think?"

"I'm not sure. I mean I do want to, because I like you too. But I … Remus …" she stammered.

"I understand. There is no pressure."

She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them again, she said, "I would like to go on a date with you Severus Snape."

Her answer made him smile.

AN: I hope you enjoyed it!