As she took her seat near the end of the table, Hermione watched with a smile as the new round of first years entered the Great Hall with wonder on their tiny faces. She listened as the deputy headmaster, Severus Snape, called each first year up and placed the sorting hat on their heads. The image made her smirk. After all these years he was still foreboding and mysterious and it was evident that his reputation was still known and feared in the eyes of each new student that approached him. He was permanently fixed with a sneer, the corners of his lips lifting only slightly as a new student was sorted into Slytherin.

When the last student was sorted Severus vanished the stool and sent the old sorting hat back to his perch in the headmistresses office before moving back to his seat at the end of the table. He paused momentarily seeing Hermione in the chair next to his own but continued forward without any further hesitation after a moment. When he was seated he became hyperaware of the young Professor beside him. He'd known she'd finally accepted Minerva's offer to take over teaching transfiguration but he had expected her to sit where Minerva used to. Not by him. Although she did show up after the other professors had seated so it made sense that hers was the only one available. When Minevra introduced her she stood and gave a polite wave before sitting back down, smirking at the Gryffindor table as they hollered and cheered. Severus clapped politely with the others in the hall but didn't miss how Minerva had introduced her as Professor Granger despite her marriage to the youngest Weasley boy.

Food appeared on the tables and Hermione started on her plate.

"I saved you a seat," Remus spoke from beside her with a wink.

"Thank you," she leaned over and embraced him. "I had a little trouble getting out of the flat." Severus noted Remus's frown. "Where's Teddy?" Hermione inquired before taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.

"He's with Sirius, I'm picking him up after I check in on the tower and our new additions." They spoke for a while before she asked about his plans for the moon, "I actually wanted to talk to you about that. Pads normally picks him up but I was wondering if you might watch him on those evenings." He said it as if he was ashamed to ask and Hermione grinned.

"I would love nothing more, he is my godson after all."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. Will he be at breakfast?"

"Yes. He normally eats breakfast and dinner with us. He spends the day at the primary school in Hogsmeade."

Their conversation died slowly from there and Hermione found herself watching the students. When Remus left the table he gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek and issued her an open invitation to come see Teddy whenever she wished.

Hermione was still smiling when a low baritone voice pulled her attention, "Welcome back Mrs. Weasley."

"Granger-Weasley but I go by Granger," Hermione gave him a weak smile. "Thank you, Professor."

Snape arched a brow at her, "Why keep your maiden name?"

Hermione looked shocked at his question but shrugged, "I couldn't part with it after my parents died."

"Not even for Mr. Weasley?"

"Not even for Ronald," she chuckled. The corners of his mouth lifted at the sound before he gave a slight nod. "Good evening Professor Snape. It was a pleasure to see and speak with you again." He mumbled his reply as she left the table.

The next morning Hermione entered the Great Hall from the staff entrance but before she could make it to the table a small body collided with her legs. "Aunt Mini!"

"Hello little wolf," she scooped him up and held him to her tightly as she walked up towards the table. Wandlessly she pulled out her chair and sat down in her seat from the evening before between Remus and Severus. "How did you sleep?"

Remus winked at her as she settled Teddy onto her lap and took Teddy's small plate from him. She listened as he told her about his night with Sirius, getting ice cream at Florean Fortescue's, going to Florish and Blott's, and eventually drinking cocoa once he was back in his fathers rooms.

"It was soo good Mini!"

"I bet, you Lupins love your chocolate," Severus snorted beside her and she smiled kindly at him before biting her lip to swallow a snicker. "Good morning Professor."

"Good morning," he nodded at her, the corners of his mouth still turned up slightly.

"Uncle Sev you know my Aunt Mini?"

Hermione looked shocked but decided not to say anything. She must not have been good at hiding her surprise because Remus was laughing beside her.

"I do Ted. I taught your Aunt Mini."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Like you taught Uncle Harry?"

Severus nodded and Teddy was placated enough to return to his breakfast. Keeping her left hand on his hip she kept him steady while wandlessly buttering her toast before ripping pieces from it. When she took a drink of her pumpkin juice she spit it back in the goblet quickly, coughing and conjuring herself water to wash down the taste. Then she noticed Teddy pealing with laughter and Remus trying not to look at her and it clicked in her head. A smile worked its way onto her lips she turned on the boy in her arms.

"Little wolf," she turned him to face her, he was still laughing, "Did you mess with my pumpkin juice?" He sat up straighter in her lap and squared his shoulders before nodding. "I see. Did daddy help with that?" He nodded again and Remus raised his hands in surrender behind him. "Did Uncle Pads have anything to do with it?" Teddy's smirked grew wider. "That's a yes," she began tickling him incessantly.

"Mini! Stop...Can't..." Teddy tried around laughter.

"Beg, little wolf. Beg."

"Ne..ver..."

"Oh then I will keep going," she laughed.

Mumbling a tickling charm she removed her hand and went back to her breakfast with a smirk on her face. She raised a brow as Remus who was pretending to look appalled while his son continued laughing but grabbed onto her robes to try and smother them as he shook his head weakly. Hermione went about her breakfast until Teddy whimpered behind a laugh.

"Beg," she sang as she took a drink of water. "I'd hate for you to have to go to school like this. All. Day."

"Please Mini! Please!" She released the charm and he sagged into her still laughing. "It was worth it."

"You sound too much like your Uncle Pads, love. Don't listen to him too much because I do much worse to him when he picks on me. I kept that charm on him for 2 days before he gave in and came crawling to me, begging for it to stop. I love you more than Uncle Paddy but I will not hesitate to do the same to you next time little wolf."

Remus stood up, grin still permanently fixed on his face, "It's true Ted. Your Aunt Mini and Uncle Pads have been going back and forth for years. Come on, we need to get you to school. Say your goodbyes."

"Bye Aunt Mini," he lunged into the curls and hugged her tightly. When he pulled away he looked to the man beside her, "Bye Uncle Sev." He planted a sloppy kiss on Hermione's cheek and took off after his father while Hermione chuckled and wiped her cheek off.

She shook her head. "I'm going to kill Sirius for corrupting my boy," Hermione mumbled.

"Black has a way of doing that."

"Between him and the twins, Ted is going to be a menace when he's in school," she sighed turned back to the table fully. "My sweet boy. I'll kill Sirius the first time he gets into serious trouble."

The corners of Severus's lips perked up, "You'll have to get in line." Hermione snorted into her water.

"Or we can do it together," Hermione offered as she wiped her mouth with her napkin. "I have been their prank target for the past 4 years, not to mention all the times before, during the war. That plus Teddy is my godson."

"Four years? Amateur," Severus turned to her slowly, a sneer on his face as she giggled. But Hermione saw the corners of his lips were still up, "Together it is then."

Hermione smirked and turned back to her food. "I didn't know he called you Uncle Sev?"

"I didn't know you were his godmother," he quipped back.

Hermione chuckled again as she stood up, "Have a good day Sev."

Severus snorted and stood as well, "And you Mini."

They walked out the staff enterence and Hermione turned to him just before they went in separate directions, "Professor?" Severus stopped, looking at her with a hint of shock behind his eyes. Hermione smiled, "Do you think anyone would believe me if I told them you had a sense of humor?"

"Probably not," Severus smirked at her. Then he pulled his mask of indifference on, arched a brow and walked down towards the dungeons leaving Hermione biting her lip to keep from laughing.

"How interesting," she commented to herself.

As she was leaving the castle for family dinner at the Burrow Hermione collided with a tall, hard body just as she rounded a corner. She lost her balance and was braced for impact with the ground for it to never come. Instead a pair of hands gripped her arms and kept her upright. Righting herself Hermione mumbled apologies before the person in question spoke and she finally looked up.

"Malfoy?"

Students walking around them slowed to stare at their professor and the tall white blonde man towering over her.

"Granger."

They stared menacingly at one another for a few moments before Hermione cracked a smile. One which Malfoy reciprocated. "Draco," she laughed throwing her arms around his neck. He chuckled and hugged her back.

"How are you Mia? You look good." He held her at arms length and let his gaze rake over her body.

"Stop it," she laughed. "It's been a long day," she huffed running her hand through her curls. "Where is my favorite Malfoy? Is he here?"

"I thought we established I am right here." Draco pretended to be hurt when Hermione swatted his shoulder. "He is with Severus. I came to drop off one of his orders from the apothecary and left Scorpius with him while I went to speak with the Headmistress about the quidditch pitch."

Hermione laughed. "Of course you did. With all the money you and Harry keep throwing at it..," she shook her head and let the comment fade. "I have a little extra time, may I see him?"

"You'd willingly go into the serpents nest?"

"For my favorite Malfoy? Absolutely."

He offered his arm and guided them towards the dungeons when she took it. The walk was short but Draco filled her in on his mothers health on the way but when they passed the potions classroom Hermione frowned up at him. "You think he kept him in his drafty classroom?" Draco smirked before stopping in front of an empty wall and mumbling a password. When it slid open he moved his hand telling her to go ahead.

"These are Snape's private chambers. I don't think this is appropriate."

"He won't mind. Well he might but," he pushed her in, "it's too late now."

The room was similar to her own but decorated in deep greens and browns, giving the entire room an earthy feel that made Hermione feel like melting into it. The kitchenette was off to the immediate left with dark mahogany wood cabinets and dark marble counters. There was an artificial window looking over the forbidden forest above a small dining room table. The living space off to her right however was what truly drew her eye. It was engulfed in a warm glow from the fire. There was a dark brown suede couch flanked by a brown chaise and dark green, well loved, wingback chair. They all sat in front of the raging hearth separated only by a coffee table the same color as the cabinets in the small kitchenette. The entire living area was filled with bookshelves that lined the walls and Hermione found herself with her fingers brushing the air above the bindings before she realized she'd moved.

"Mrs. Granger."

Hermione jumped a foot as she spun around with a shriek. Draco laughed from his seat at the kitchen island but Hermione's gaze stopped on Severus. His usual frock coat, cravat, and teaching robes were no where to be seen. Instead he was just in his pressed trousers and a button down shirt, the first few buttons were undone and she could see whisps of black chest hair poking out. His black hair was hanging around his shoulders although slightly tussled and he had a squirming toddler in his arms whose hair was equally tussled with a red cheek. They were sleeping, the thought made her want to smile. Their banter in the mornings had become a regular occurrence over the past weeks and it left her light hearted each time. She was beginning to feel guilty about it but found herself unable to completely understand it.

"Professor, apologies, Draco shoved me in here. I didn't want to intrude, I was going to wait outside but-"

"Mia, you're rambling."

Scorpius rubbed the sleep from his eyes and actually saw her. "Mi!"

She huffed and threw Draco a rude hand gesture before walking towards Severus and the toddler in his arms. "There's my favorite Malfoy," she cooed, the boy giggled happily and stretched his arms out to her as she approached, his fists still wrapped in black hair. She took him from the dark man easily but the boy refused to let go of Severus's hair. "Come on my serpent, let go of Sev's hair," she uncurled his fingers from the raven locks and let them fall back to shoulder, not noticing the amused look Severus had as he watched her.

"Sev?" Draco snickered from the kitchen.

"Tell daddy to shove off," Hermione cooed to Scorpius as she swayed with him towards the kitchen while he laughed. "I needed him to let Snape's hair go. Your son has a mean grip Drake and I think Snape likes his hair attached to his head."

Severus snorted following behind her towards the stove as he ran his hands through his hair and pulled it back with a tie. The effect was wonderful, Hermione had to tear her eyes away.

Scorpius wound his hands in her curls as she walked over to the counter Draco was perched at. "Gods Drake, he's gotten so big," she mused as he smiled up at her from where she'd seated him on the counter. "I've missed you love. Even if you're turning into a miniature of your dad."

"Da!" Scorpius shrieked pointing to Draco around fistfuls of her hair.

"Yes, that's daddy love. You can't help your looks," she grinned while sweeping his white blonde hair from his eyes, "but you better behave better than your daddy."

"I am right here Granger."

"I know," she smirked at him, "That doesn't mean its not true. He's practically your miniature. We can only hope he doesn't have your temper."

"My temper is not that bad."

Severus scoffed, "You were worse as a toddler." Hermione grinned when he addressed her, leaned against the counter opposite them, "He used to set the curtains on fire if Cissy tried to get him to eat his sprouts."

Draco scowled at them as Hermione laughed. "Give me my son if all you're going to do is tease your second favorite Malfoy."

"Who said you were second?" Hermione smirked. Scorpius pulled her curls and she yelped. "Little serpent," she warned pulling her hair from his grip but had to fight a grin when he shrieked her name again.

"I'm not even second?! There are only three of us!"

Hermione nodded, "And you are third my dear Drake. Mother is second." Draco scoffed and tried to pout. "You're one of my favorite Slytherins though," she amended as she pulled Scorpius from the counter and started to dance in a small circle with him. "But you'll be my favorite in a few years won't you little man? You are definitely a Slytherin in the making." She hissed like a snake with a swivel of her head and Scorpius mimicked her before giggling.

"That is something I never thought I would hear the Gryffindor Princess admit."

"As she stands in the serpents nest with the King and Prince of Slytherin." Hermione laughed and she heard Severus snort behind her. "No one will believe you though," she sang over her shoulder towards the two men watching her with smirks, still dancing with Scorpius. "Publically I will try and sway him to be a lion." When she snarled like a lion he erupted in squeals of laughter before trying to copy her. "That's it love, I'll make a lion out of you yet." When she said lion he snarled again and she shot Draco a blinding grin over her shoulder.

"You will not corrupt my son Granger."

She turned to face him, "Would you love him any less if he became the Gryffindor Prince instead of taking up your mantle in Sytherin?" Draco narrowed his eyes at her, "I didn't think so. Now I need to go," she twirled Scorpius around once more making him squeal, "I was on my way to dinner at the Burrow when you ran into me." Hermione kissed his forehead and moved back to the kitchenette.

The boy whined when she tried to set him down and Hermione shot a pleading look at Draco who merely sipped his tea but made no move to help.

"You ran into me, still as clumsy as ever, I'm glad some things never change. Is dinner at the Burrow why you look so ravishing? Very Slytherin by the way, very fitting for an intimate soiree into the serpents nest."

"Enough of that," she shook her head with a small smile. For dinner she'd decided on a simple dark green maxi dress that brushed the floor, paired with black ballet shoes with a casual set of black robes for the travel. Her dress had the thinnest of straps keeping it from slipping down her body although it was form fitting enough that she knew it wouldn't. "Drake, I mean it, help me. I need to meet Ron at the flat before dinner and it's poor manners to be late for your own birthday dinner."

Draco scoffed and stayed put. "I forgot about your birthday, I have your gift at the Manor. It's likely Mother got you something as well. Now, if you truly wanted my help mentioning Weasel was definitely not how to get it. You know I hate him and still think you should leave him."

"He's my husband Drake," Hermione warned, leaning her cheek on Scorpius's head.

"He's an arse."

"Drake.."

"He is Mia! Even before last year." Hermione winced and clutched Scorpius a tad bit tighter. "You aren't happy, anyone with eyes can see that."

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath before moving towards Severus. He started cooing to Scorpius, trying to coax him into releasing her neck while she rubbed the toddlers back and peppered kissed on the side of his face.

"Go with Sev, love."

He released her slowly but eventually Hermione gave up and let Severus take control, listening to his silky baritone she closed her eyes momentarily letting it resonate within her. Soon enough her neck was free and she opened her eyes to see Severus smirking at her with Scorpius in his grip, the toddler watching her closely with glazed eyes.

"Don't worry my serpent, I'll see you soon," she leaned in and kissed his forehead. When she stood upright she noticed how close she was to Severus and took a quick step back with a gasp.

"Sorry.." She turned to Draco and leaned forward, her palms on the counter between them, the place where he knew her scar was pulling Draco's attention momentarily. "You don't know my marriage Drake-"

"Mia, you helped me after Astoria and for that I am forever in your debt. Which makes me feel obligated to try and pry you from that oaf you call a husband. You have told me enough and I saw plenty after Rose," Hermione winced again and turned to looked a Scorpius. "I know and I'm sorry but it's true. He doesn't deserve you, he never has. You're not matched on any level and I'm surprised you even married him, which I have told you before. One of these days you'll see it."

Scorpius was back to playing with Severus's hair and she fixated on that as Draco continued talking. Her eyes had began to blur at the mention of Rose but she followed the strands of hair Scorpius held to Severus's face. She settled there and took in his sharp chin and long nose with interest. He is rather handsome. When she met his eyes hers widened seeing him watching her in return. His obsidian eyes boring into her. The longer they held eye contact calmer she became, the tears leaving her eyes, her breathing steadying, her heart speeding up.

A cough pulled her attention back to Draco who was watching them with peculiar look on his face. After a moment he grinned, "I mean it Mia. Now go on to your dinner. Happy Birthday, I am sorry I forgot.. I come every few weeks with Severus's ingredients, I can let you know when we come and you can meet us here and spend some time with Scorp."

"No, I don't want to impose. I shouldn't even be in here as I wasn't properly invited. Although I appreciate the hospitality," she nodded back to Severus. "Good afternoon gentlemen. Goodbye love." She nuzzled Scorpius's nose when he turned to face her and he squealed with laughter. Giving Drake a kiss on the cheek she quickly left Severus's chambers and started up the halls towards her own rooms, Draco's words ringing in her ears. Her heart still pounding from her silent exchange with Severus.

Meanwhile Draco sat at the counter watching his godfather play with his son with a smug look on his face. Severus felt his eyes on him and finally gave in a looked up. Draco smirked and leaned back in his chair, "Granger?" Severus rolled his eyes and looked back down at the toddler. "She's married you know."

"Obviously."

"I have a feeling she won't be for long," Draco mused picking up his tea, smiling at his son as he reached for him. "She seemed very comfortable with you."

"We work together Draco."

"In your chambers?"

Severus rolled his eyes again, "I watched you push her in here, she did not come in willingly. Scorpius is the only reason she was so calm being in here, the serpents nest, as she put it."

"I said that when I walked her down here, she was turning it around on me." Draco smirked, "You almost sound upset she wasn't comfortable in here. Don't worry Sev," he said it in a soft voice, mimicking Hermione, "she was in awe of your chambers and books until you spooked her. She relaxed after that and I don't think it was only because of Scorp."

Severus waved his free hand in dismissal before moving towards the couch. "She is married Draco. End of story."