"It was Hermione's wish to attend and here we are. I am not one to decline her a wish that I can fulfil this easily."

He glanced sideways at her while a smile tugged at his mouth. Hermione pressed his hand reassuringly and beamed up at him.

"Anyway, I believe it's time you said what you wanted to say, Harry," intervened Draco from behind the green-eyed young wizard.

"Right, grab a drink of your choice and then just sit down on the couch - or anywhere you'd like, okay?" said Harry obviously quite a bit nervous.

Once Hermione and Severus had both grabbed a butterbeer and sat down on one of the plush couches, Harry stood up from where he sat in an equally plush armchair.

"Alright, uhm- I would like to say a few things as to why Draco and I organized this little gathering today. Well, for one we want to celebrate that we are all ourselves again - which is great. 

However, a much bigger reason for us was wanting to thank Astoria, Neville, Hermione and Professor Snape who took very good care of us the last months. We know that it was far from easy having to care for us, but we appreciate it all the more. We know that this probably isn't the best way to say, "thank you" but it's all we could come up with in this short time."

"It is just right, Harry. This is something that tells me and us that you really mean that 'thank you'," said Severus, holding up his glass of butterbeer. "This isn't what I'd usually drink after a toast, but it will do for now. Here's to everything being back to normal again and to newfound friendships I guess."

Severus looked around the room at each of his students.

"Here's to friendship and love," said Hermione looking at Severus as she said her toast. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry and Draco smiling at each other as they repeated her toast before drinking.

Hermione smiled to herself as she took a sip of her butterbeer.

A bit later that evening, Harry took Severus away for a few minutes, wanting to talk to him in private for a bit.

"Harry, what is up?" asked Severus as he found himself standing next to the son of James Potter in a small secluded area of the common room.

"Nothing, really. I just wanted to thank you for all that you have done for me. I don't only mean the last months but nearly my entire life. You were putting yourself in so much danger to save me of all people. You were the one who always protected me, and I cast you as the villain all along. When I realized what was really going on it was nearly too late. I am truly sorry, Professor, for everything," said Harry all the while looking at the black-haired man who acted as some sort of father figure the past months.

"It was meant to be this way. You believing me to be the villain in this was part of Albus' plan all along, and it all worked out in the end, didn't it?" answered Severus, unsure how to approach this discussion.

"Still, I made your life a living hell just like my father did. I know that you only showed me that one small part of that time in your past where you and my mother had that argument, but I figured that my father did more than that. When you gave me those memories everything started to make sense, I realized why you acted the way you did, and I didn't know how to repay you. 

I mean, we all thought you were dead until you reappeared at the start of this term. You know, when he was finally gone for good, I returned to the shack to try and save you, but you were gone, only the puddle of your blood was there, and I thought that maybe some remaining death eaters had taken your body. 

I tried to have them hang a portrait of you in the headmaster's office, but they wouldn't let me - and now I know why."

Severus didn't know how to answer this, so they stood there, neither of them saying anything.

"You know, I never really had a father. I can't remember anything of my time with my parents other than the night my mother died for me. My uncle wasn't really someone one could call a loving person and he and my cousin made sure that I know that I was not one of them. These past months were a privilege for me. I had the feeling of finally having someone who truly cared for me, who helped me when I so desperately needed help. 

Funny how life works sometimes. I found someone I could call a father figure and Hermione found the person she wants to spend her life with and to think that it all was due to you surprising everyone by simply praising someone," said Harry.

At that, both men shared a hearty laugh, which earned them Hermione's attention who was talking to Draco and Neville. The young brown-haired witch smiled over at him, seemingly more than pleased that they had a civilized dialogue before she turned to face Neville again.

"What about Hagrid? He always looked out for you without wanting to gain anything from it."

"Yes, he did, but still I didn't really feel he was something like a father to me. A good friend, yes, I can agree with that, but nothing more."

"I feel honoured, Potter," smiled Severus, before drinking the last of his butterbeer, averting his eyes towards the young woman he came with.

"I think it's getting rather late and unlike you and your friends, Hermione and I will be working tomorrow," smirked the older of the two black-haired men.

"Sure," answered Harry, already wanting to walk over towards his friends.

"Should you ever want to know more about your parents, you know where my quarters are. My door is open," said Severus, now a rather serious but not unfriendly expression on his face.

Harry stood there, half turned to walk ahead, shocked. He had never thought that Severus would ever want to talk about Lily Evans and James Potter willingly, least of all to him of all people. The young man didn't know what to say as Severus smiled briefly at him while walking towards Hermione.

As if he had forgotten something very important, he turned around again, already a few feet away from Harry.

"And Potter, there's no need to call me Sir or Professor, at least when we're outside the classroom."

Wearing a satisfied smirk on his face he walked over to whisper into Hermione's ear, leaving the young man even more shocked than before. To say Harry was speechless was an understatement. He recalled that lesson in their sixth year all too well.

Hermione and Severus bid them all goodbye and walked to their quarters, retiring for the night.