Summary: The school year nears its end.

A/C: Only one more chapter after this one! Thanks for sticking with this story.

Chapter 23

Severus knocked on Jonathan's classroom door. The man looked up and grinned at his friend.

"Come in, Severus! This is a nice surprise."

Severus entered and sat on the edge of Jonathan's desk as he folded his arms. "How are things with Draco?"

Jonathan grinned happily. "Marvelous. We've been seeing each other every weekend."

"And he's treating you well?"

Jonathan shrugged. "Yes. What are you on about?"

"Draco is much like his father. He wants things his way and gets snippy when things don't go as he'd like. I just want to make sure he's not being a prima donna."

Jonathan chuckled. "He tried to be once. I set him straight. I told him that this was a partnership, not a dictatorship," Jonathan shrugged. "He seemed duly chastised. Hasn't been an issue since."

Severus smirked. "Looks like he's met his match, then."

Jonathan nodded. "I think so." He grinned at Severus.

"I'm happy you two are working out. He needs someone who trusts him, and you need someone who will care for you and make you feel appreciated."

"You won't get an argument out of me on that one." Jonathan was silent for a minute. "Thanks for that, Severus. I'm impressed that you noticed any of that about me."

"Spy."

Jonathan laughed. "Here I thought I was so sneaky, hiding myself from everyone."

"You do a good job. I have just noticed some things occasionally. Like when I got together with Hermione."

Jonathan's eyes shot up to Severus'. "You knew. Did Hermione tell you?"

Severus shook his head. "I actually only had an inkling. You had a duality about you when it came to us for a couple of weeks. I wondered if you had been attracted to Hermione, then I noticed you looking at me… wistfully."

"I…"

"Jonathan, I was incredibly flattered."

The other man looked down and blushed.

"I was," Severus reiterated. "I'm sorry we didn't work out."

"Like I told Hermione, I was over the moon that you two were together. My two best friends. It's rather brilliant."

"Few would think that if they were attracted to one of the pair."

"Our friendship is important to me, Severus. I didn't want us to be awkward or anything so I just worked through it."

"And found my handsome godson to ease your pain."

Jonathan smirked. "He certainly gave me someone to think about."

"Did you tell him about me?"

"I did. I think he laughed for five minutes straight."

Severus arched a brow. "He's lucky he's not around, or he'd be hexed."

Jonathan laughed. "He did admit that you're pretty handsome now that you're not forty-something."

"Thirty-eight," Severus ground out, causing Jonathan to laugh heartier.

"Well, you two are good for one another," Severus admitted. "Despite him being a giant arse, I'm happy for you."

"I'll let him know you said that."

"You do that," Severus said with a smirk. "I didn't just come here to gossip about your man. I wanted to ask a favor."

Jonathan sat back and looked at Severus. "Anything."

"As the year ends, I'm planning for the future. I'm negotiating with Dervish and Banges to start up a potions business with them, and I want to find a place to live in Hogsmeade. Somewhere that Hermione would want to live with me."

"Shouldn't you be house hunting with her, then?"

"Possibly, but what I'd like would be to find something that I know she'll love and have it be a surprise and a symbol of my devotion to her."

"Sly dog."

Severus gave a quick nod. "You know her well. I was wondering if you could come as a second set of eyes to help me find something that she and I would both enjoy."

Jonathan grinned. "Absolutely. When?"

"I have an appointment with a realtor in half an hour. Would you have time to come with me?"

"I'm free for the rest of the day. You probably knew that before you came in, didn't you?"

"I do try to plan ahead as best I can."

Jonathan rose. "Let's go, then!"

They excited his classroom and made their way down to the exit of the school.

"So, what kind of home are you looking for?" Jonathan asked.

"I'm not exactly sure. A house, not a flat. It would be nice to have space for a lab somewhere… a couple bedrooms."

"The homes in Hogsmeade are all pretty similar. Do you like the style of those houses?"

He shrugged. "They seem fine. I want to live close to Hogwarts so Hermione can travel here without any issue."

"There are Floos, you know."

Severus gave him a withering look. "Yes, I've heard of those. I thought about living elsewhere, but I don't want Hermione to feel isolated from the school. If we live in Hogsmeade, she's close and can get to the school in a hurry if she needs to."

"Have you asked her where she'd want to live?"

"I haven't told her anything. Like I said, I want it to be a surprise."

"Have you at least hinted to make sure she won't hate living in Hogsmeade?"

Severus guffawed. "Somewhat. I've determined that she likes the town, so I think she'd be happy there."

"You should make the house unplottable."

Severus sighed. "I know. I was hoping that with the war over, we may be able to just have a normal house, but after the Weasley incident, I think it would be best for both of us to make it Unplottable."

"Unfortunate, but prudent," Jonathan commiserated. "What about location? Do you want to be right on High Street?"

"Merlin, no. I'd like to be off on my own if I had my choice, but I don't think there's a house that's off on its own."

"How about the Shrieking Shack."

"Ha, bloody Ha."

Jonathan threw his head back and laughed. "Yeah, probably not the place you're looking for."

"I only have bad memories of that damned house."

"Understandable. Let's see what is available in town, then."

ooo

They'd looked at several homes, all with positives and negatives. The realtor had brought them to one final home. They were both staring up at the house.

"I like that this area is somewhat isolated from the hustle and bustle of the main downtown area and neighborhoods," Severus said.

"Yes, and the fact that it's the last house on the row and there's nothing else around is a plus for you, Severus. It definitely gives that privacy you were looking for," Jonathan agreed.

"It's got three bedrooms upstairs and a large finished room in the basement," the realtor said.

They walked through the house without the realtor, winding up in the basement when they were done. Severus walked around the large room.

"This would make an excellent lab," he muttered. Turning to Jonathan, he arched a brow.

"What do you think? Would Hermione like this place?"

"I think she'd like this one the best of all the ones we've seen. The built-in bookcases in the library are beautiful. I think you both will enjoy that."

"The library room is exquisite and incredibly large. We can house all our books and extend it as we like without worrying that we won't have space."

"The three bedrooms are a plus too. Lots of room to grow." He waggled his eyebrows at Severus.

Severus snorted. "Let's not jump the gun, okay? She needs to agree to live with me first."

"Well, she's living with you already, isn't she?"

Severus blushed. "Not officially. That's a big step."

He gave Severus an incredulous look. "Surely, you know she'll want this."

Severus shrugged. Jonathan came up to him and looked at him with determination. "She loves you!"

"She does. I guess I'm just waiting for her to realize there are better men out there."

Jonathan put his hand on Severus' shoulder. "Stop it now. Of all the women I know, Hermione Granger knows her mind better than any of them."

"Yes, but…"

"Severus."

Severus' eyes drew up to Jonathan's. "She could have anyone."

"She wants you."

"What if she grows tired of me?"

"Have you always had this inferiority complex, Severus?"

"Women don't find me appealing, Jonathan. I don't even know why Hermione did in the first place. She's beautiful and… what if someone comes along that's so much better than me?"

"Don't you get it? All she sees is you. She loves you; she wants you. No one else matters. That's obvious from the way she acts."

Severus closed his eyes and sighed. Finally, he nodded. "You're right, of course. Thank you. I don't know why I get worried about things like this, but I do. It's just hard to imagine my life being happy for any length of time."

Jonathan clapped him on the back. "You've got a new lease on life, remember? You're not that harsh professor who has to keep secrets and be a spy any longer. You deserve happiness, Severus, and I assure you, you've found it with Hermione."

Severus' eyes had opened wide at the clap on his back. He smirked at Jonathan "Thanks. I appreciate your candor."

"Anytime, mate. That's what friends are for. Now, should we buy this place or what?"

Severus looked around. "Let's."

ooo

The owls burst into the Great Hall carrying all sorts of items for everyone. The birds responsible for delivering the Prophet were first in while the others dropped packages and letters after. Hermione opened her newspaper and gasped. The front page headline was about Ron.

Weasley Sentenced to Azkaban

She quickly read the article as Severus scanned it over her shoulder. "Two years," he muttered.

"That's a long time."

"Not long enough."

Hermione looked at him. "I don't know. Some Death Eaters got off without any time in Azkaban if they were proven to be Imperiused."

"That was only for those who were proven to not have killed or tortured anyone."

"That's true," she acquiesced.

"You're upset," Severus stated.

"I don't know what I am. I'm relieved, but in my heart, I feel so bad for him. He has been my friend since first-year. It's hard to see a friend in a downward spiral that results in such a punishment."

"Your compassion is something I truly love about you, but he did horrible things to you."

"I know. It's an adequate punishment."

He searched her eyes. "You want to visit him before he's taken to Azkaban, don't you?"

She looked down at the paper, looking at the picture of Ron in chains before the Wizengamot. He looked miserable. But that didn't negate what he'd done. She looked back at Severus.

"I thought I might, but to be honest, I don't. I don't think I ever want to associate with him again."

Severus reached out and squeezed her hand affectionately. "What he did was foul. I understand how you feel."

She gave a clipped nod.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get out of here."

She rose after him and followed him out of the Hall. He led her to an out-of-the-way corridor and stopped, embracing her and holding her near. "I'm sorry this happened, love. I'm sorry that he destroyed your friendship by his actions."

She sniffed but held back her tears. "Seeing that article stirred everything up again. Just when I thought I'd put it totally behind me."

"Do you want to set another appointment with Counselor Barton?"

"Maybe. Let me sit with this for a bit and if these feelings don't go away again, I will."

Severus pulled back a little and cradled her cheek in his hand. "You have every right to feel like this, Hermione. What he did… It was foul and wrong. People who claim to be your friend should never take advantage like that."

She gasped. "I know, but I thought I'd taken care of these feelings."

"I'm sure Barton will tell you that these things don't just disappear overnight. It makes sense that it would stir all those memories and feelings up again. What can I do for you, love?"

"Would you just hold me here for a bit?"

"Of course." He pulled her to him and surrounded her in an embrace. He held her there for a long time. "He should have gotten twenty years," he murmured as he held her.

"Do you think he'll seek me out when he's free?" she said as she stiffened in his arms.

"He won't be able to find you. We'll make sure of that."

"But I love spending time with the Weasleys and Harry. How will I escape being involved in a group setting?"

"We don't have to attend any get-together that involves him, Hermione. Arthur and Molly will understand. So will Potter. If you want to see them, we'll arrange to do it when Ronald isn't there. If you don't want to see him, you won't see him. I'll make sure of that."

She relaxed into him immediately. "I love how you make me feel so safe and protected." She grasped him even harder. "Thank you, Severus. I love you."

"I love you, too, and I am here for you whenever you need me."

He wished he could make her forget the whole incident, but he knew that bad memories never truly left. He just wanted her to be happy and not mourn her fool of a friend.

Looking up at him, she leaned in and met his lips. Her kiss was tender and loving and gave him hope that she'd be okay.