Hermione and Severus used their free afternoon to just relax and cuddle on the couch in front of the fireplace where a crackling fire was warming the dungeon quarters.

"It's so silent," said Hermione, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

"I know, Hermione. I would have never thought that there would come a day when I would be missing the presence of children, let alone of Potter's son."

Severus hugged her even closer to his side and kissed the top of her head as she closed her eyes, remembering young Draco and Harry running around in these rooms.

"I told Minerva that I will be taking over potions next school year and that you will take Defense against the Dark Arts," said Hermione quite a while later, breaking the silence again.

"And what did she say?"

"She's alright with that and until then, we are free to choose who is taking which class of potions. That way the both of us only must work half as much, and it is not that big of a problem should one of us get sick," answered Hermione truthfully.

After thinking for some time, Severus answered: "Just like I thought. I don't think there will be any problems the next half year concerning the covering of potions lessons. Yet there is something else that I wanted to talk about with you."

His tone was serious and that kind of scared Hermione. Her mind was spinning as she thought about all the bad things that could be coming her way. She gulped before turning a bit to fully face him.

"I just want to talk about how we will go from here," said Severus.

"Great question, if only I knew an answer," replied Hermione, being quite confused.

"Well, this must be a first, mustn't it?" chuckled Severus, staring straight into the flames of the crackling fire.

Hermione saw that he was really trying to think of something judging by the determined look on his face.

"Honestly, I have no idea."

Hermione let go of his hand in favour of taking his face into her hands and turning his head so that he looked directly at her.

Her warm brown eyes looked straight into his dark ones which could be both, warm and filled with love, passion or mirth, while other times they were as cold as ice.

"I love you, Severus. I have for a while now, and it seems that with each passing day I love you more. Every time you show me a new facet of yourself I fall more in love with you. Especially the time with Harry and Draco showed me a side of you that I would have never guessed you had. I never thought you to be that fatherly type of person but trust me, it does suit you. I'd be proud and honoured to spend time with you, to stay your friend and maybe become more with the time passing."

Her words made his heart beat faster. He had, after all, expected her to leave as soon as the kids were grown-ups again. He also had no idea what it was that she saw in him to make her say that she loved him - he was still as snarky as they come and his unpleasant personality was in place, and he was most definitely not a sight for sore eyes. A woman like her could have anyone she wanted and here she sat confessing her love for him. 

"You know that I don't just say things without actually meaning them, not since the incident that changed my life and made it as miserable as it was before you came back to school this summer?"

It wasn't really a question, but he hoped that she wouldn't protest.

"Of course, I do, Severus. I can't remember you ever not acting or talking like you don't mean anything," answered Hermione truthfully, now slightly scared of what he was going to say.

"I love you, too. I started falling for you when I realized that you were not making any difference between caring for Harry and for me - even though I was your dreaded potions professor who insulted you at every chance I got, while Harry is your best friend. It showed me the human side behind the bookworm who always knew the answers to my questions. From then on, I couldn't help but fall more and more in love with you. The only thing I don't understand is why you choose me of all the gits in this world to give your affections to? I never did anything nice for you and yet you are more than forgiving."

"I forgave you for all the things you said when Harry told me about the memories you gave him. Back then I realized that you were never given a choice and that you, more than any other person, deserved a second chance after all you had done to keep Harry and all of us students safe. I am glad I got to know you, Severus, and I would love to stay here with you, keep things the way they were, even without the two troublemakers around."

"Who would I be to refuse. You are always welcome here," smiled Severus before he bent down to place a soft kiss on her forehead. "Although I'd be interested in knowing who else knows about those times because of him."

"No one, he told only me. The others know only the necessary details to have them free you of any charges that might have come your way. He knows that you are a man who values his privacy at all times."

+++++

A few hours later, the two of them were getting ready to go to the small party Harry had invited them to. Hermione was already dressed in a nice dark blue cocktail dress while Severus was still unsure what to wear.

"Please, just don't wear your teaching robes and that trademark billowing cloak of yours, okay?" said Hermione who was growing impatient as the minutes went by.

"Fine," huffed Severus.

He came out three minutes later only dressed in black slacks, a dark grey button-down shirt and heavily polished black dress shoes.

"And what was so difficult choosing this style? I don't only mean choosing it now but also all these past years? It suits you and your personality so much better than those copious layers of clothing that make you look so much older than you are.

He just shrugged, took her hand in his and guided her the short way down the corridor to the eighth years' common room.

They entered through the portrait and stepped further into the spacious room.

"Hermione, Professor. I'm so glad that you came, we all are," greeted Harry as the others nodded in agreement.