All the way

After an exciting visit to Hagrid, the half-giant, Lily trotted back up to the castle with her auntie Minerva in toe. She loved the pretty castle that her mother had told her about. But she wasn\'t going to see her mother again. She didn\'t know why, but that’s what her Grandmother had said. She liked her father; he was fun. She also like her Auntie \'Mione; she was brilliant and Lily wanted to be just like her.

Lily liked her uncle Sev, even though she had just met him; he seemed funny and \'Mione liked him. She hadn\'t seen much of her uncle Ron, he was really angry the last time she had seen him. Auntie Minerva was like her Grandmother, old and kind.

Minerva took her hand and they went back down the dark halls to a place under the castle. Lily wasn\'t scared though, she was the daughter of Harry Potter.

They walked into her Auntie \'Mione’s rooms. Lily caught a glimpse of her aunt and uncle on the sofa hugging and kissing -not a normal kiss, it was strange- before Minerva\'s hand covered her eyes.

She heard her older auntie clear her throat. After a few minutes, the hand over her eyes was lifted and she turned to see her Auntie Minerva leaving.

Lily felt left out. Severus was taking her auntie away. Lily ran over to \'Mione and she was lifted up onto her hip.

\"Did you have a good time dove?\" \'Mione asked. Lily liked the pet name, \'dove\' that her aunt gave her.

\"I love Hagrid!\" Lily told her, \"He\'s got big pumpkins!\"

Her auntie giggled, \"Now, I need to know what time you go to bed.\"

\"I don\'t,\" Lily joked, \"I stay up all night!\"

\"Really,\" \'Mione gasped, \"Wow, I wish I could do that!\"

Lily was happy that she could do something that her new hero could not. It made her feel important.

\"You can!\" Lily beamed as she looked over to Severus, \"Both of you can stay up with me! Please!\"

Her aunt looked over to her uncle, smiling, \"What do you say uncle Sev? Wanna play sleep over?\"

Her uncle chuckled, \"You can\'t have an Aunt with out an Uncle.\"

\"That means yes.\" \'Mione whispered in her ear. Lily laughed.

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

Severus Snape going to a sleep over with a four year old Potter offspring was a ridiculous thought, but it was happening. They had eaten dinner in the Great Hall and now he was watching Hermione and Lily lying on the floor in front of the fire. Hermione was telling her stories of when she was a student and Lily was listening intently.

Every so often Hermione would look up and their eyes would meet. She would smile a mesmerizing smile and Severus would smile slightly back. It was like a connection.

Some times, when she came to an exciting bit in a story, Hermione would stand up and act it out, using exaggerated movements. Lily seemed as entranced by Hermione as he was; the young girl would stand up and try to copy her actions.

As Severus watched their interactions, he could so easily picture Hermione playing with their own child like that. That’s what his dreams were made of. He wondered what Hermione would say if she knew his dreams of having a family with her.

The hours passed and as it neared midnight Lily curled up in Hermione arms. Hermione sat on the floor with her back against his legs and Lily between hers. Hermione stroked Lily\'s hair and Severus stroked Hermiones. Soon Lily was asleep, but she kept a tight grip on Hermiones arm.

\"Severus,\" Hermione whispered as she tried to move with out waking the child, \"Can you give me a hand, please?\"

\"Yes, of course.\" Severus said softly. He stood and picked up Lily as Hermione rose and stretched. She took the young child from him and carried her into her bedroom.

Severus followed and watched from the door way as Hermione tucked Lily into bed. The girl murmured something and turned on her back. Hermione sat on the edge of the bed and petted her hair until she went still.

Silently, Severus and Hermione left the room. Hermione yawned and rubbed her eyes. Severus put his arms around her waist.

\"I take it that you\'re sleeping with me tonight.\" He smirked at her.

\"Don\'t I sleep with you every night?\" She giggled.

\"Yes, but this time it’s in my rooms.\" He said as they walked to his bedroom.

Hermione transfigured one of her socks into a night dress and slipped it on while Severus got changed in the bathroom. Next to the day he was let into the Order and the day that he was let out of Azkaban, this was the best day of his life.

He had woken up with Hermione, realized that he wanted a family with Hermione, met the most adorable little girl, made love to Hermione and had the happiest evening that he could remember.

He exited the bathroom and walked into the bedroom. Hermione was sitting on the edge of his bed, fixing her hair in a pony tail. Severus got in the other side of the bed and pulled Hermione down on her back. Her up-side-down face smiled up at him and then she crawled into bed beside him. Severus pulled her close, sniffing her jasmine smell in.

\"Good night Severus.\" She muttered sleepily.

\"Good night pet.\" He whispered as he felt her breathing even out. He held her for a while until sleep took him as well.

Severus awoke with a start. Some one was screaming. Hermione was already out of bed and he could make out her form opening the door. Quickly, he followed her out into his living room and then into hers, turning the lights on as he went. Hermione led him to her bedroom where the screaming was coming from.

Hermione waved her wand as they entered the room and turned the lights on. Lily was sitting up in Hermiones bed, tears streaming down her small cheeks.

Hermione ran over to the scared girl and gathered her into her arms, rocking them gently. Hermione whispered calming words to Lily and in record time the young child was calm again, holding on to Hermione tightly.

\"Sshh... It\'s alright, I’m here... you\'re safe...\" Hermione told her. When she was just sniffling, Hermione asked, \"What happened?\"

\"I-I-I... had... a... a bad dream...\" Lily explained.

\"Oh, dove, it wasn\'t real.\" Hermione smiled kindly and turned to Severus, patting part of the bed beside her, \"Tell us about it.\"

Severus walked over and sat next to Hermione, putting his arms around her waist and his head on her shoulder. If he had to listen, at least he could be comfortable.

\"A man... was chasing me a-and... I got stuck in a hole... but he didn\'t get me... I woke up,\" Lily explained, \"Don\'t leave me!\" She wailed as she threw her arms around Hermione waist, over his.

\"I won\'t,\" Hermione told the scared girl, \"I\'m not going any where.\"

\"And what about me?\" Severus whispered in her ear.

\"You can go back to your own bed, or you can share with us.\" She told him quietly.

\"Ok,\" He scowled, \"But you\'re in the middle.\"

Hermione removed herself from both of their grasps and Lily got back into bed. Hermione crawled in next to Lily and Severus got in, on the other side of Hermione. Much to Severus displeasure, Hermione turned towards Lily and hugged the girl. Severus moved his chest up against Hermiones back, rested his head on her shoulder and put his hand possessively on her hip.

\"Good night.\" Lily said sleepily.

\"Good night Lily. Night Severus.\" Hermione turned her head and planted a kiss on his temple.

\"Night you two.\" Severus mumbled contentedly as sleep came to him once again.

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

The next few days went quickly for Hermione. Her time was taken up by looking after Lily and not neglecting Severus; he some times got jealous when she spent too much time with Lily.

He was coping with Lily spectacularly, Hermione thought. She had expected him to be snarky and snappy with her because she was Harry\'s daughter, but he wasn\'t. Some times he sneered at her behind her back, but nothing terrible.

Hermione heard nothing from Harry or Ron and she started to get worried that Ron would never see sense. Severus would say that Ron was an idiot if he could not see that Hermione was the best thing in his miserable life; she would just smile.

Severus was so sweet some times... well, all of the time. He would tell her nearly every minute how special she was to him. She would tell him back, but every time he said some thing so nice she would choke up.

After the first night, Lily had learned to sleep on her own, so Hermione slept with Severus, in his bed. They didn\'t do any thing, only slept, but he would pull her close and hold her tight. She felt safe with him.

But today, the kids were coming back to Hogwarts. Minerva had taken Lily out some where and Hermione was getting ready to go and see Ginny before her work started. She finished getting dressed in some jeans and a simple white blouse and left her rooms. Severus was sitting in the corner of her sofa.

\"Where are you going again?\" He asked.

\"Weren\'t you listening earlier?\" Hermione mock frowned as she put on her coat.

\"No.\" Was his blunt reply.

Hermione laughed, \"Ginny, I’m going to see Ginny while I still have time.\"

\"Tell me when you\'re ready then.\" He got to his feet.

\"What? Are you coming?\" She looked up at him.

\"You didn\'t think you were going with out me, did you?\" He smirked as they walked to her door.

\"I just thought you might want to do some thing more constructive than listen to me and Ginny gossip on your last free day.\" Hermione said. They moved through the dungeons and into the entrance hall.

\"You\'re right, I do want to do some thing more constructive, but you\'re going out,\" He put his arm around her waist as they walked out into the air and headed towards the school gates, \"If I have to go to the Burrow to spend my last free day with you then so be it.\"

Hermione smiled as they walked out of the school gates. Before she could apperate herself, Severus pulled her tight to him and they disappeared.

They reappeared outside the Weasleys house. Hermione stepped out of Severus\' arms and walked to the front door. She knocked once and walked in. Ginny poked her head around the kitchen door and smiled.

\"Hermione! Professor!\" She turned back to the living room, \"Mom, Hermione and Professor Snape are here!\" She turned back to them, “Come in, every ones here.\"

Hermione and Severus walked through to the living room. Hermione smiled. Remus, Tonks, Harry, Fred, George and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were sitting in various chairs about the room.

\"Oh Hermione!\" Tonks jumped up.

\"\'Dora,\" Remus said quietly, \"be careful.\"

Tonks huffed and walked over to Hermione. They hugged and when they pulled away, Hermione could see that Tonks was glowing.

\"Hermione, I’m so happy!\" She beamed, \"I\'m -I mean we\'re- going to have a baby!\"

Hermione squealed and hugged her again. She was so happy for them; if any one deserved a child it was Remus, he would be a great father. Hermione pulled away from Tonks and went over to Remus, who was standing up as well. He was looking happier than Hermione could ever remember. She hugged him tight.

\"Congratulations,\" She whispered to him.

\"Thanks.\" he beamed as they let go of one another. Suddenly, some one picked Hermione up from behind. Shouts of \'Fred!\' and \'George!\' rang through the room, as no one could tell which one was picking her up.

\"Hermione!\" The twin yelled as he twirled her around, \"We haven\'t seen you for ages!\" The other twin came to join them as Hermione was set on her feet.

\"Mom told us about what you did -\" One started.

\"For him -\" The other pointed to Severus.

\"And we wanted to say -\"

\"That we think you are very brave -\"

\"To trust him -\"

\"But very stupid -\"

\"Because now -\"

\"You have inflicted him on both of our -\"

\"Daughters!\" they grinned together. Hermione Smiled; Fred and George both had daughters and tonight they would be going to Hogwarts for the first time.

\"Fred! George!\" Mrs. Weasley scowled, \"leave the poor girl alone, she\'s only just got here. Take a seat, both of you.\"

Hermione went and sat on one of the sofa\'s, next to Harry, Ginny, Fred and George. Severus went and sat by the others.

Harry Smiled at her, \"How’s Lily doing?\"

\"Fine, Minerva\'s taken her out. She loves Hagrid and,\" She dropped her voice, \"She is really taken with Severus. She calls him Uncle Sev.\"

Harry burst out laughing, \"She... oh my... and he... lets her...\"

\"Sshh,\" Hermione put her hand over his mouth. The other had stopped their conversations to stare at them, \"Shut up!\" She hissed.

\"Sorry,\" He gasped, \"I never thought... that\'s so funny! He didn\'t snap at her, did he?\" Harry turned serious.

\"No, he actually let her.\" Hermione said softly.

\"So,\" Harry spoke in hushed tones, \"what is it between you then? Friends? What?\"

\"Oh, we\'re friends.\" Hermione told him as she shifted in her seat.

\"Its just,\" He looked around to see if any one was listening and then bent close to her ear, \"Ginny said that you seem more like... you know... lovers...\" Hermione sighed, she couldn\'t lie to him, but she didn\'t know what to say. She kept quiet. Harry whispered to her again, \"Well? Are you? I won\'t be angry, you can tell me. I\'ll keep quiet.\"

\"Yes,\" Hermione breathed. Harry was silent for a moment and she feared that he was angry.

\"Wow... well, I should have known, really. You do tend to get attached to people. Oh well I... wait... Was it him? That gave you that love bite?\" Hermione nodded slowly. \"Gods... I don\'t know what to say, except be careful. Don\'t rush into any thing; just remember that he might not feel the same way as you feel about him. Not every man is truthful when he wants a good shag and he is a Slytherin.\"

\"Oh Harry, \"She hugged him, \"thank you for understanding. I will be careful.\" She pulled away, \"Have you had any luck with Ron?\"

Harry shook his head glumly, \"No, he keeps drinking and drinking. He rants on about how he has your best interests at heart and how Snape will break you, blah blah blah... I think this will take some time. Mrs. Weasley said that she will take Lily, if you can\'t cope when you start teaching.\"

\"No, I’ll be able to cope. I\'m only teaching first and Second years, and I have Severus and Minerva to help me. Severus was quite upset that he wouldn\'t get to scare the younger one shitless.\"

Harry smiled. They sat in a comfortable silence and listened to the low buzz of the others talking. Hermione looked around. Ginny was talking excitedly with Fred and George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were chatting about babies with Tonks, and Remus and Severus were speaking in hushed tones with their heads together.

Severus looked up and caught her eye. They stared at each other and Hermione smiled. His eyes dark eyes sparkled like black diamonds. After what seemed like ages, Hermione realized that Harry was talking to her and looked away.

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

\"You really like her don\'t you.\" Severus heard from the man beside him. Even though Hermione had turned away, he had kept staring at her. Now he looked back to Remus.

\"Excuse me?\"

\"I said,\" He smiled slightly; \"You really like her.\"

\"Of course I don\'t.\" Severus snapped.

\"Oh, alright, then you won\'t mind helping me and Harry in a little plan we have.\" Remus said calmly.

\"Oh, and what is that.\" Severus asked, his voice not showing how much curiosity he felt.

\"We want to get our Hermione married off -\" He started, but Severus cut in.

\"Now you listen here, wolfy,\" He hissed so that no one else could hear, \"Firstly she is mine! And secondly, she is marrying no one -\" He stopped when Remus started to chuckle.

\"Oh dear,\" he wiped the tears from his eyes, \"Oh dear, oh dear. You really do have it bad.\"

\"What on earth are you on about?\" Severus frowned.

\"You say you don\'t like Hermione, yet you don\'t want her to marry any one else, you won\'t let her out of your sight and you refer to her as yours. I must say, you are being rather obvious about it all.\"

\"About what? What am I being obvious about?\" Severus asked perplexed.

\"Honestly,\" Remus sighed and leaned closer to whisper, \"Your love for her is as obvious as the nose on your face.\"

Severus ignored the bit about his nose, \"Me... love her...\" He looked over to her and said in a soft voice, \"That’s ridiculous...\"

\"I know how you feel,\" Remus said quietly, \"I see my \'Dora in the same way. Hermione makes you feel warm inside, doesn\'t she? Like you would kill for her, die for her? And you\'re scared that she\'ll find some one who can give her more,\" He seemed to go into a trance, \"And if any thing happened to her you\'d never be able to live properly again. That’s called love.\"

They sat in silence. Severus watched Hermione laugh and joke with the others.

Molly made a roast dinner for her family, Tonks and Potter. For some reason, Remus wasn\'t eating. Severus and Hermione didn\'t eat because of the feast that night. As they sat down to eat, Hermione said good byes for both of them and the flooed back to her rooms.

He stepped into her living room and a second later, Hermione followed. He watched as she stretched and swept the soot from her. He followed her into her bedroom.

Several sets of black teaching robes were set out on her bed. Hermione picked one up and held it against her.

\"Hmm,\" She looked in the mirror on the wall, \"They should fit. I don\'t like the color much though.\" She turned and smiled at him, \"Black might suit you, but not me.\"

She fished in her pocket for her wand and when she found it, she murmured a few words. Two of the robes turned an emerald green, one turned a dark red, one turned a pastel pink and one a pastel blue.

\"There,\" She nodded, \"lovely.\"

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Severus followed Hermione out into her living room. She opened her front door and Lily ran in, attaching herself to Hermiones leg. Minerva followed her.

\"I trust you found your robes.\" She said.

\"Yes, but a few color changes were in order.\" Hermione said as she lifted Lily up.

\"Did you have a good time?\" The Headmistress asked.

\"You\'ll never guess what!\" Hermione beamed, \"Tonks has only gone and got pregnant!\"

\"Oh! That’s brilliant for them, they both deserve it.\" She clapped and turned to leave, \"Severus, you know what time you need to be in the great hall. Take Lily down to Hagrids before, he will look after her until after the feast.\"

\"See you later.\" Hermione called as Minerva left. She looked kindly at Lily, \"Where did you go?\"

\"We went to a village called Hogsmeade! I saw a great big sweetie shop and Auntie Minerva brought me loads!\" The little girl gushed.

\"Oh wow!\" Hermione smiled, \"Did you have a good time?\"

\"Yeah! It was great!\"

\"Good,\" Hermione put her down and turned to Severus, \"Can you look after her while I get ready?\"

\"Of course -\" Severus had only just said the word when Lily ran at him.

\"Yay! Uncle Sev!\" She threw her arms around his waist. As Hermione passed him to go to her bedroom, she whispered.

\"Take her for a long walk down to Hagrids; we only have an hour until the feast, then come and meet back here.\"

He watched as she sauntered off and then led Lily out of the dungeons.

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

Hermione put on a black V-neck top and a long black skirt that swayed wonderfully when she walked. Then she slipped on some black pumps and pulled on her emerald green teaching robes. She twirled in front of her mirror. Yes, she looked quite presentable. She had just finished fixing her hair in a bun, when she saw Severus slip into her room.

His mirrored reflection slid up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist.

\"So,\" She asked, \"How do I look?\"

\"Lovely, Professor Granger.\" He purred in her ear, making her shiver.

\"We should be going.\"

He scowled, \"I suppose so.\" Hermione slipped out of his arms and they made their way up to the feast.

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

Patricia Molly Weasley stood next to her cousin, Andromeda. She was the daughter of Fred and Angelina Weasley. She had red hair and freckles; a typical Weasley, like her cousin. As a new first year she was nervous. Her father had said that she had to wrestle a troll. She wasn\'t scared, just apprehensive.

Andromeda nudged her.

\"What do you want Annie?\" She whispered. Her cousin pointed. A stern looking witch was talking. Patricia couldn\'t be bothered to listen; she would find out what they had to do soon enough.

They were led into the Great Hall. It was magnificent, with four tables and a magical ceiling.

\"Wow Pat!\" Annie hissed from behind her. She looked up at the teachers table. Sure enough, she could see her Uncle Remus, aunt Hermione and Severus Snape.

Her dad had told her all about Snape. He had said that it’s a laugh to provoke him, but never to get caught. He had said to tell a poltergeist called Peeves that she was the daughter of Fred Weasley ands that she was there to help him in his crusade against every thing sensible. She was looking forward to that; she and Annie liked causing trouble.

\"Weasley, Andromeda.\" The stern witch called.

\"Good luck.\" Patricia whispered even though she knew that they would get into Gryffindor.

\"GRYFFINDOR!\" The old hat shouts at once. Annie skipped down to the Gryffindor table where their other various cousins sat.

\"Weasley, Patricia.\"

Patricia Ran up to the hat and sat on the stool.

\"Oh Gods,\" A voice in her head groaned, \"another Weasley... GRYFFINDOR!\"

Patricia joined Annie at the Gryffindor table. She looked up to the teachers. Hermione was smiling at them. She winked and then leaned over to speak to Snape. Patricia had a feeling that she was going to love being at Hogwarts.

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

Hermione was glad that Remus was back as the DADA Professor. Severus on the other hand, had frowned when Minerva had announced it. Hermione smiled down on the students as the prefects took them to the common rooms.

She got up and went down to the Gryffindor table, where Pat and Annie were waving to her. They ran over and hugged her around the middle.

\"How are you two doing?\" She asked.

\"Brilliant!\" Annie giggled.

\"Wonderful!\" Pat laughed.

\"Absolutely spiffing!\" They shouted as they threw their arms in the air.

\"So what classes are you looking forward to doing?” Hermione smiled.

\"Yours of course!\" They said together.

\"Although we do want to have Snape for a lesson.\" Pat said.

\"Yeah,\" Annie carried on innocently, \"You couldn\'t accidentally fall ill after our first lesson and request that he takes our classes, could you?\"

They batted their eyelids. Hermione had to give it to them; they were a definite credit to their fathers.

\"I\'ll see what I can do, but you will regret asking me that.\" Hermione warned.

\"No we won\'t.\" They chorused.

\"We think he is so cool!\" Annie clapped her hands together.

\"Yeah we can\'t wait to try our new prank out on Sn...\" Suddenly, they both went very white and Pat started stuttering. They were staring off over Hermiones shoulder, \"Sn-Sn... Snuffles, yeah that’s it! Snuffles.\"

\"Indeed,\" Sneered a voice that made Hermione bite her lip to stop from laughing. The girls looked both scared and in awe.

\"I\'m sure you\'d love to teach some more Weasleys, wouldn\'t you Professor Snape?\" Hermione said with out turning around.

\"More Weasleys? Merlin you breed like rabbits!\" Hermione gave a rather unlady like snort as she tried to hold in her laughter.

Hermione hugged each of the girls, \"You better go, or he might find a reason to give you a detention.\" She told them quietly.

They smiled at her and scurried off. She turned to Severus and let her laughter out. He just stood there and smirked as she doubled over, gasping, one hand holding her stomach and the other gripped onto Severus\' sleeve for support. Finally she stood up, taking deep breaths.

\"Are you quite finished?\" He asked.

\"Yes...\"She straightened her robes, \"I better go and get Lily.\"

\"We better go and get Lily. You aren\'t going out in the dark on your own.\" He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her towards the doors.

\"I\'m only going down to Hagrids for Gods sake!\" Hermione shook her head, \"You should go to bed and get ready for your classes tomorrow -\" At that moment, an idea hit her, \"Hey, if I let you take me down to get Lily, will you do me a favor?\"

\"Any thing for you.\" He said softly.

\"You know, I’ve always thought that the speech that you gave in my first year was brilliant... and Pat and Annie really want you to teach them.\" She looked up at him innocently, \"Ands I know how much love to scare the first years...\"

\"Get to the point Hermione.\" He smirked.

\"Would you mind taking the first, first year classes? There\'s Gryffindor and Slytherin after breakfast and Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff after lunch. I would be eternally grateful...\"

Severus sighed, \"For any one else? No. For you?... Every time.\"

Hermione stopped and stood on her tip toes to place a kiss on his jaw.

\"Thanks,\" She whispered, \"You\'re my savior, you really are.\"