When she dried herself off she charmed her hair into an intricate braided design, pinned to the nape of her neck, a few tendrils falling here and there framing her face. She dressed herself in jeans, a black tank top, and a red jumper before reentering the bedroom and finding it empty. Severus was no where in sight but the bedroom door was slightly ajar. Hermione used her wand to secure her new clip to her hair while she clasped her necklace around her neck. She pulled her brown boots over her jeans before starting down the stairs.
Severus was behind the counter making pancakes, dressed in casual clothes where she'd expected him in his usual working clothes. He smiled at her from across the kitchen, "You should eat something."
"Do we have blueberries?" He nodded as she came to sit on the bar stool. "Can you add some to mine please?"
"Of course," he replied summoning the berries. She watched him work, unable to keep the smile off her face as she did. He was meticulous and methodical as always, even though he was just making pancakes. "I didn't want to make too many, just enough to tide you over until we got to the Burrow."
She went from looking at his hands to his face, "We?"
"That's what I said," he chuckled.
"You're coming with me?"
He looked at her, "Unless you'd prefer I didn't."
"No, I'd love to have you come but I want you to be comfortable." She dropped his gaze, "Being surrounded by Weasley's isn't very quiet and Ron may be there."
"All the more reason for me to come, should you want me there." Hermione looked at him again and he sighed, "Last time he was near you he demanded you get rid of o-your baby," her eyebrow quirked at his stumble and the slight tint that touched his cheeks, "I'd rather be there if you need me. Plus they're your family."
In that moment Hermione wanted nothing more than to reach across the counter and kiss him again but forced herself to stay in her spot, a smile touching her eyes.
"You're amazing," she said instead, looking him right in the eyes as she did. His lips quirked up as he passed her the pancakes he'd made her.
He ate his leaning on the counter, looking up at her occasionally and smiling seeing her thoroughly enjoying her food. When she got up and started the dishes Severus smiled seeing his mothers hair clip secured in her hair, accentuating the design she'd chosen for her hair.
"You look beautiful," he spoke in her ear as he put his plate in the water in front of her. His heart shuttered when she smiled over her shoulder.
"Does it look alright?"
Severus assumed she was talking about the clip and smirked, "Yes. It looks like it belongs there."
He kissed her neck before moving to dry the dishes as she finished them. He did not miss how she shivered at his touch or how his own body reacted to her. When she'd kissed him that morning he hadn't been expecting it but he made himself reach for her when she started to retreat from the bed least she think it was unwanted. His heart hadn't calmed until he'd left the bed and gotten dressed. When she'd entered the kitchen it took all his will power not to pull her into his arms and kiss her again.
Hermione was drying her hands as he finished drying the last dish, her hip propped against the sink, towel in her hands. She passed it to him when he put the plate back in the cabinet and smiled at him, "Are you ready for an afternoon in the lions den?"
Severus smirked but shrugged casually, "Well you brave the serpents nest all the time." He became slightly more serious, "How will your fellow lions fare seeing their princess marked by Slytherins?" He nodded to her hair while pointing at her neck.
She took the towel from him, folded it and draped it on the sink. "They'll just have to get over it," she smiled. "Apparate or floo?"
"Floo is probably still safest."
Hermione smirked, "You're probably right. I wouldn't want to ruin your shoes." She summoned her bag while he chuckled. "If you're uncomfortable, you don't have to stay for my sake. I can handle my family."
"I'll be fine."
"The twins will not hold back," she warned. "Neither will Sirius."
He grinned putting his hand on her arm as she began to worry her sleeve, "Don't worry about me, love. I promise to be on my best behavior and not hex them." Her eyes lightened and she laughed as he'd hoped and he didn't resist the urge to place another light kiss on her lips. Hermione stepped into the kiss and prolonged it for another minute before separating from him and grabbing floo powder. "The Burrow," she called and was enveloped in green flames leaving him behind her with a genuine smile.
"Hermione!" Ginny called before she even stepped out of the floo. "How was your night?" she asked wiggling her eyebrows. Hermione blushed furiously just as the floo ignited again and Severus stepped into the room behind her. "Oh Severus, I'm glad you could make it! Mum, Mione is here and she brought a date!"
Hermione pressed her lips together and winced turning to look at Severus who only winked at her.
"A date?" she heard George call from the stairs.
"Our Mione brought a date!" Fred continued not a second later.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to him but he pulled her a bit closer and kissed her temple before releasing her.
Ginny was stunned by the affection shared between the two but hadn't been able to keep the grin off her face seeing how their old professors hands rested on her best friends hips when he came through the floo or how much more relaxed Hermione became when she leaned into him. The twins came toppling down the stairs and didn't seem effected seeing Severus behind Hermione, they just ran up to her and thrust her into their arms.
"Mione, you look-"
"Absolutely lovely!"
"How is our little nephew?"
"Or niece," Ginny added slightly peeved.
Hermione giggled but tapped their shoulders when she started to get dizzy, "The baby is fine but I can't say the same for its mother if you don't put her on the ground." They set her down immediately and she grinned. "Where is everyone else?"
"Here," she was answered by Remus who was grinning ear to ear. Teddy came bounding around the doorframe and plowed into Hermione's legs, "Aunt Mini! You've gotten bigger!"
Everyone laughed even as he burrowed into her stomach, his hands cupping his mouth as he greeted the baby.
"A bit," she smirked.
Another squeal had her looking up in time to see a small blonde head running at her, "Mini!"
"Victorie, love, you've gotten so big," she scooped the girl up.
"I miss you Mini," the girl giggled.
"And I you love. Have you been good for mummy and daddy?" The girl nodded vigorously and Hermione smiled. She noticed Severus had drifted over to the couch talking to Remus and Arthur and her smile brightened. Setting down Victorie she allowed the kids to pull her into the kitchen where she was greeted by Bill and Fleur, the later gushing over her belly before Molly squeezed her way past and took Hermione into her arms.
"Hermione, dear, you look lovely. Very well rested," the matron smirked at her, "I hear Severus is with you."
"He is," Hermione smiled.
"Then I am glad he came." She looked serious all of a sudden, "Is he treating you properly?"
Hermione chuckled, "Yes. He's been an absolute gentlemen." Molly gave her a knowing look seeing the affection in Hermione's eyes and couldn't keep from smiling herself.
"Good, you both deserve it," Molly proclaimed giving her a kiss on the cheek and returning to lunch.
The back door opened suddenly and Sirius strutted in. Seeing her a mischievous grin broke out across his face and he scooped her up into his arms bridal style.
"Now Kitten, you shouldn't be on your feet. Isn't Severus taking care of you?" Hermione flushed while Bill, Fleur and Molly all chuckled. "No matter, lets go set you down." He walked her through the kitchen and into the living room before she could protest. With her still in his arms he plopped down in an arm chair, "There you are, Kitten."
"Sirius Black, let me go," she frowned at him.
"You need to stay off your feet my dear Kitten," he grinned looking over in Severus's direction and his voice became teasingly exasperated, "I guess I'll just have to be the one to do it."
Severus shook his head, his lips quirked up minutely as Hermione looked over at him worried. "I trust she knows her limits Black."
Hermione flushed bright red while Sirius let out a hoot of laughter.
Harry walked down the stairs and smirked seeing Hermione's discomfort. "Oh let her up, you mutt."
Sirius pretended to look offended but grinned and lifted her up. Hermione thumped his head as she stood then scowled at those around the room who did nothing to help her.
"Traitors," she sighed walking over to Harry. He hugged her tightly before dropping to his knees, saying hello to the baby just like Teddy. Hermione chuckled and shared a smirk with Ginny before he stood and she went to sit beside Severus on the couch. He was talking to the twins about something and Hermione's heart warmed seeing him chuckle and smile with them.
Teddy crawled onto the couch beside her and settled half in her lap when Remus engaged her. "Do you know what the baby is yet?"
"No," Hermione shook her head running her hand through Teddy's hair. "Poppy will check when we get back to school."
"Do you have names picked out yet?" Ginny asked suddenly excited.
"No," she sighed. "But when I do I think I'll keep them to myself until it's here."
Ginny looked mildly upset and Harry put his arm around her with a chuckle.
"What about the godparents, Kitten?"
"Not you mutt," she smirked earning a mischievous grin from Sirius in return, "But those I think I have figured out."
"Oh," George suddenly peeked an interest, "and who might they be?"
"You'll know when they do," she chuckled leaning against Severus's shoulder, his hand coming to rest on her leg. They didn't notice their closeness having gotten used to it but the others in the room did and they all grinned. Harry, Remus, and George all passed coins to Sirius, which Hermione caught and shook her head at their antics.
When Molly called for lunch, Severus helped her up and chuckled when her stomach growled angrily.
"Pancakes were a good idea," he whispered in her ear as they approached the table.
He pulled out her seat and helped ease her into it before taking the one beside her. Once everyone was seated Molly levitated the food to the table and everyone began plating. Severus and Hermione working in tandem filling their plates, just as they did when Dotty brought them big dinners. No one said anything as they watched them but they were all pleased to see the differences in the pair of them. A fair few of them couldn't believe it when Harry and Ginny gave an updated report from the ball the night prior but seeing Severus let Hermione take more mash potatoes off his plate with nothing but a grin, they no longer harbored any doubt.
Hermione helped Molly clean dishes while everyone else retired to the living room to wait for more presents. Just as they finished Molly skirted off to the stairs and returned with a few knitting needles and green and silver yarn. Hermione stilled drying dishes, quirked an eyebrow in question which Molly answered after setting her needles to work at an alarming speed.
"If he's to be part of the family, Severus deserves his own sweeter."
Hermione's eyes began to water and she immediately wrapped her arms around the matriarch who was chuckling in her arms.
"It should be done soon, don't tell anyone I cheated on his," she winked at her. "Go sit with everyone, I'll be there once it's done."
Hermione nodded and collected herself before walking into the living room again.
She smiled seeing him back on the couch, playing wizards chess with Sirius of all people. Hermione walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder before sitting on the floor with Teddy, Victoire, and the twins. Hermione noticed a green present appear with the others under the tree and bit back a smile as Molly entered the room.
Deciding it was time Hermione decided to move to give the kids room to pull out the presents.
All the adults had one present each, everyone but Severus knew they were the usual family sweaters and no one said anything as Teddy handed Severus his gift, "Here Uncle Sev."
When he opened the box and extracted the green knit sweater Hermione couldn't help but smile as his lips quirked up and he looked at her. She held up her own red sweater embossed with a gold 'H' and he chuckled, holding up his with and embossed silver 'S'. Looking around the room her noticed almost all the adults slipping on red and gold sweaters and remembered seeing the Weasley kids in similar ones every holiday season. Hermione undid the buttons of her jumper before peeling it off and pulling on her own sweater. Severus took the hint and pulled his on too. It fit perfectly, albeit a bit itchy but he felt a sense of contentment settle over him as he did.
"Family tradition," Hermione whispered to him.
He looked at her and his grip on her leg tightened minutely. "I'm happy to be included."
"I cried when Molly mentioned it," she admitted and he leaned over to kiss her temple. Those in the room who saw froze momentarily before continuing to watch Victorie and Teddy open their multitude of presents.
By the time Molly retreated back to the kitchen for dinner preparations Hermione was tucked comfortably into Severus's shoulder with his arm around her back, his hand resting on her hip, fingers touching the side of her belly. Someone started the old record player Hermione gifted Arthur years before and Hermione found herself smiling as she relaxed further against Severus. Her legs crossed in front of her, her hand on his knee with his arm moving up over her shoulders.
"Mini sing!"
"No little wolf," she chuckled to Teddy. "Aunt Mini is too sober to sing tonight." He pouted, giving her his best puppy dog eyes until she relented. "What song my boy?" she asked leaning forward.
In response he ran over to the record and Sirius put on the one he pointed to throwing a smirk in Hermione's direction. As the tune began Hermione chuckled and let Sirius pull her up away from Severus who watched her intently. He twirled her around making her giggle before she began to sing and she scooped up Teddy in the process. Together they sang 'Baby It's Cold Outside' while she held and danced with Teddy and Sirius did the same with Victorie, who couldn't stop giggling.
Severus watched her sway and twirl in circles as she sang in tandem with one of his childhood nemesis's and couldn't help the light heartedness he was feeling. She was stunning, even in Gryffindor colors. Each time she gave him her back, he saw the hair clip and his smirk grew fractionally.
"They do this every year," Harry spoke as he sat in the chair beside the couch. Severus titled his head to indicate he was listening but kept his eyes trained on Hermione as she danced. Harry smirked but continued, "She is hopeless to deny Teddy once he uses the puppy dog eyes. But she doesn't really mind."
Severus heard the affection in the boys voice and finally looked at him.
But Harry's eyes were on his best friend and godson.
"She used to sing to him as a baby. I used to hear her through the walls at Grimmuald, I think we all could," he chuckled to himself, "I'd be lying if I said Teddy was the only one she soothed those nights. Teddy really latched onto it though, he asks her to sing every chance he gets, holidays, birthdays, even a few times when he's just tired or sick."
"Draco says she used to sing to Scorpius too," Severus remarked looking back at his witch.
Harry nodded in his peripherals, "She has an attachment to Scorpius that rivals even that of her attachment to Teddy so I don't doubt it."
They were both quiet for a while as the song ended and the watched Hermione pepper Teddy with kisses before setting him down. Sirius set down Victorie and she ran into Hermione's arms, giggling and blushing dark pink after Sirius kissed her cheek. Hermione tucked the girl into her side and pretended to admonish Sirius making both kids laugh when Sirius pouted.
"She is going to be an amazing mother," Harry commented.
"Yes," Severus replied, "she is."
The huskiness in his tone had Harry smirking again as he watched his old professor closely.
Hermione whispered to the kids and they immediately ran at Sirius, attacking his sides. She smirked at she regained her stature but when she swayed Severus was almost up but sat back seeing one of the twins step up to her and guide her back to her seat next to him.
"Thank you Georgie," she whispered, planting a kiss on his cheek before he dove to the ground and took her spot playing with the kids. Hermione leaned against Severus as she had before, her stomach growling softly.
"Hungry, love?"
"Ugh always," she sighed into his shoulder making him chuckle.
When Molly called for dinner Severus once more helped her up, this time keeping a hand on her back just incase. Dinner was much like lunch but filled with even more laughter and conversation. Hermione felt overwhelmed with how much happiness she was feeling just having Severus at her side, with her family. He was even wearing his sweater, just as everyone else was, and he did so without complaint or grimace. In the middle of dinner the floo activating caught everyone's attention and when Charlie emerged there was an eruption of chaos as everyone got up for their hugs. Hermione stayed back, not wanting to be jostled around in the chaos but when the small crowd dissipated, she stood and his eyes lit up seeing her.
"Little Mione?" he grinned coming over to her and wrapping his long arms around her. "How is my other little sister?" he asked.
Hermione sighed, "Tired. Always tired or hungry." He chuckled and let his hand touch her stomach wearily. "You ready to be an uncle again?" she giggled.
He kissed her forehead and moved into an empty seat as she sat down in her own. "Absolutely. The more you lot have the less mum will pester me about my own."
Molly countered him quickly making everyone laugh and Hermione leaned back into Severus. When dinner was over she scooped up Teddy again and moved into the living room with Severus by her side only to get stuck just inside the living room when she hit a invisible barrier.
"What the-?"
Looking up she saw a mistletoe above them and bit her lip before looking at Severus who rolled his eyes with subtle mirth. Hermione kissed Teddy's cheek and set him down, he ran right out of the barrier but after testing it she found it still solid around them.
Turning she sent a scowl at Sirius and Remus who were snickering behind their tumblers, the rest of the room pretending not to be covertly watching them.
"I'm sorry," she groaned tuning back to Severus, "They did this on purpose."
Her breath caught in her throat as he put his hands on her hips, "Don't apologize, little witch. You can always get them back but first," he pulled her closer so she was just an inch away from him, "we need to get out of the barrier."
"You don't mind?" she asked wrapping her arms around his neck.
"No," he chuckled, "I welcome the opportunity to kiss you again, I wish it were on my own terms but I don't mind in the slightest.," he grazed a hand along her jaw.
Hermione's eyebrow quirked up as she smiled and pressed herself to him. His right arm stayed around her waist with his left on her face as he dipped down and closed the space between them. She felt her knees start to give in, if it hadn't been for her arms around his neck and his around her waist she might have crumbled. No longer caring about their audience, they remained locked together, moving in perfect sync until Teddy yelped excitedly and ran over to Sirius.
"I told you Uncle Pads!"
Hermione broke away from Severus with a light hearted laugh, her head thrown back, her arms still wrapped around him. Severus shift them a step past where the barrier was and smirked when she looked at him. He planted another light kiss on her lips before releasing her and moving with her towards the couch. She narrowed her eyes at Sirius who shrugged and mouthed 'you're welcome'.
No one asked any questions, they just went about as they had before, as if nothing different had happened. But Hermione's heart had yet to calm and it spiked with every stroke of Severus's fingers on her side.
Towards the end of the night the back door slammed open and everyone listened to a slur of curses and bangs. Hermione looked down at Teddy, curled up in her lap and kissed his forehead before shrinking into the cushion and Severus's shoulder.
"What are you doing here?" Ron slurred coming into the living room. He was holding onto the doorframe, pointing a shaking finger at Hermione. "And why do you have your arm around my wife?" he snarled at Severus.
Severus's arm tightened around her and she almost smiled, instead she put her hand on his leg and squeezed. Looking at her ex-husband she sighed, "This is my family too Ron and I am not your wife."
"Come on mate, lets get you to bed," Harry spoke softly, approaching Ron as if he were a frightened animal.
"You," Ron pointed at Harry, "Don't touch me. You punched me."
"You offended Hermione," Harry counted smoothly, "at my wedding. I have a right to protect my sister."
Ron snorted, "But she's not your sister! She's not anyone's sister! She's not part of this family anymore."
"Go to bed Ron," George spat.
"You're sloppy," Fred continued.
Ron ignored them and looked at Hermione. "Why are you here My-ownie?"
Hermione gave him a sad smile, "This is my family too Ron," she repeated.
"Nope! You left me!"
"You left me first."
Ginny stepped between Hermione and Ron, "She is still apart of this family. She will always be apart of this family."
"How? Harry's my best friend, he's been coming here since he was eleven and he married you." He spun unsteadily and pointed at Sirius, "And you're his godfather. Remus," he pointed towards him, "is your best friend which makes you family. Ted too. But her," he spun again and wobbled, "She's an orphan," Hermione flinched, "Her mum and dad died because she sent them away and she has no other ties to anyone here."
"You're wrong," Sirius growled, "Hermione is just as much apart of this family as Harry, Remus or I. Her divorcing you doesn't change that."
But Ron continued without noticing, "And what is the dungeon bat doing here?" Hermione's grip on his leg tightened, her nails digging into his trousers hard enough that he thought he may have marks but Severus smirked at the possessiveness behind the action.
Ron looked like he was trying to focus but stood but and hollered, "Why is he in a Christmas sweater? Where is my sweater?"
The twins stifled laughter behind their brother as Ron looked at his mother with sad eyes.
"Yours is still under the tree dear, you didn't show up for presents."
"I'm sorry," he cried, going limp in his mother unexpecting arms.
The twins didn't try to keep it in this time, they leaned into one another between hoots of laugher while Charlie heaved his youngest brother over his shoulder and carried him up the stairs and away from everyone.
"And with that," Remus coughed, "I think it's time for us to head home." He stood up and crouched before Hermione who carefully passed him Teddy as to not wake him. She stood and gave him a kiss on the cheek before kissing Teddy's hair. Sirius wrapped her in a hug and she did the same. Harry and Ginny were the next to announce their departure and Hermione and Severus left just after.
In Severus's living room Hermione let out a deep sigh and walked into the kitchen. She stared at the kettle until it whistled but vanished the contents after a second thought and looked up at Severus who was watching her carefully.
"I'm sorry, I didn't even think, did you want some tea?"
He shook his head, "No, I'm alright. Are you?"
Hermione seemed to consider her question before shrugging, "Just tired." Severus didn't look like he believed her so she sighed and continued, "It's something Ron said. I can't get it out of my head. My parents."
"You sent them away before the war."
"I did. They died in a car accident just after settling in Australia though. I didn't find out until I went to retrieve their memories."
"He should not have brought them up."
"No, he shouldn't have. But he did and I realized I haven't thought about them in weeks..Not even in light of the holiday and," she smiled at him, "this was my mothers favorite holiday. Normally it's impossible for me not to think of them during this time." She looked around the room and chuckled, "She'd have loved this house too. And my father would have loved you. He was fascinated by everything magical but potions...he just couldn't wrap his head around potions."
Severus smirked hearing her. She missed them but being with him had kept her from thinking of them and that thought made him exceedingly happy.
"I would have loved to meet them."
She smiled at him, meeting his eyes. "Are you ready for bed?" His heart skipped a beat as he nodded. He waited for her at the foot of the stairs and followed behind her with a hand on her back. She entered his room as she always did, walking over to the bedside table. There she conjuring a jewelry tray before taking off her necklace while using magic to remove her hair clip from her hair. When she set it in the conjured tray she pealed off her new sweater and set it in the drawer beside her pajama's. Without thinking about it she took off her jeans and stepped into her pajama shorts before folding her jeans and banishing them into her beaded bag.
Hermione sat on the bed and began pulling pins from her hair as Severus walked past into the bathroom. He was bare chested with is usual plaid sleeping pants but she couldn't keep her eyes off him as she worked on her hair. When it was free of the pins she shook it loose and decided to change her top while he was in the bathroom. Standing up she pulled off her tank top and faced the bed before undoing her bra and pulling on his shirt from the night before. Banishing her discarded clothes as she had her jeans, Hermione set her beaded bag on the nightstand just as she saw Severus in the doorway to the bathroom, his head quirked to the side.
"Your back.." he struggled. He'd seen one when unzipping her dress but this was his first time seeing the full effect.
"Whipping hex," she shrugged.
He approached her as if afraid to spook her, "When?"
"At the Manor." His eyebrows lifted, "Bellatrix cast them silently while she cut me with her cursed blade. So Drake doesn't know and I'd prefer if it stayed that way."
Im scarred too, rang in his ears again.
She mistook his silence for possible disgust. "Do they bother you?"
Severus frowned, "No. Why would they?"
"Your face.." her brows scrunched together in concentration, "I can't tell what you're thinking."
He smirked suddenly and stepped forward to kiss the spot between her eyebrows, "I was thinking about your words to me, 'I'm scarred too'," his hands settled on her hips while hers came to rest on his chest.
"Ah," she smiled, "I am. Would you like to see the others? I've seen yours, it's only fair." He started to shake his head but she continued anyway, "I don't mind showing you." Grabbing his left hand she put it under her borrowed shirt, stopping on her hip. His fingers traced the claw marks making her shiver, "Greyback."
Looking down he lifted the shirt enough to see the marks he was touching, Hermione bit back her smile and lifted the shirt to her breasts. His eyes widened as he took in the damage across her abdomen.
"Slicing hexes," she supplied when he touched them, "They're not too bad, I got clipped by a stray hex during the battle."
His eyes softened as she watched him finally noticed her bare stomach.
When his hand splayed on the side of it she grinned, "Baby."
He snorted but kept his hand on her belly. Taking his other hand she moved it to under where her shirt was scrunched up, just under her left breast, she pressed two fingers against her scar, "Dolohov, it mirrors on my back." Hermione shivered as his fingers slid down the jagged scar to stop at her right hip, just above her claw marks. "Do they bother you?"
"Not at all," he whispered.
"Yours don't bother me either," she let her shirt fall back in place as she touched his torso. "They show what you went through. What you fought for. Just like mine do."
His hand pressed slightly more firmly into her belly, "I'm not a good man Hermione. I've done things I'm not proud of and you would never look at me the same again if you knew. You wouldn't want me near you or this baby and you definitely would not be comfortable alone with me."
Her own hand pressed harder into his sternum. "I don't believe that. I know you had to do despicable things but I also know you never enjoyed it. You did them because you had to to survive and fulfil your mission. I've done things too, things I am not proud of and while they may not compare to what you were forced to do, I know I had no choice but to do them in order to save our world. As for wanting to be near you, I do. And as for my child, I do want you there too," she blushed furiously, "and I have never been more comfortable around a man as I am with you." She leaned in, her forehead pressing against his chest, "I can't really explain it beyond that Severus."
"Me either," he chuckled. "But I...I am happy you came to stay with me Hermione. That you trust me enough to sleep beside me. I am cherishing every moment I get with you, that way when you change your mind I can have them to look back on."
Hermione looked up at him and smiled. "Why would I change my mind? You are an amazing man Severus. And I would be mad to let you slip through my fingers." His eyebrows quirked up just as her hand came to rest on his cheek. "Do you want me?" she asked in a small voice.
"Yes," he answered without hesitation.
"I want you."
"You shouldn't."
She smirked, "But I do. Are you going to push me away?"
"Absolutely not," he breathed. "I think we both know we're in too deep for me to even attempt to push you way."
"Then lets figure this," she motioned between them, "out together. Slowly, if you want, or all at once. Whichever works best for us. But I want to explore this with you."
Severus let out a shuttered breath and she felt him slump down, "Come to bed, little witch."
He kissed her lightly, "I still need to finish the bathroom and you have a study to continue raiding." Hermione laughed but crawled into the bed as he walked around to his side and did the same.
They fell asleep quickly, wrapped in each others arms, both unable to keep from smiling as a sense of peace enveloped them.