Following the unveiling of Severus' secret, Hermione had stayed with him, helping him renovate the whole house to her best abilities for which he was very grateful, even though his plans did not really work out the way he wanted them to.

However, he was relieved that things would be easier between him and Hermione from then on.
His secret had indeed put a big damper on their relationship and for that, he was really sorry, but he hoped things would only turn out to the better now that he did not have to hide anything from her any longer.

The weeks came and went and Hermione was already preparing boxes filled with her belongings to move them one by one to their new house in Hogsmeade. It was nearing the end of December by the time they started to really leave the chambers they had been sharing for over a year behind.

Outside the weather got colder every day and despite that, Hermione went outside to take a walk every afternoon, often joined by Severus if he was not otherwise needed.

It was a cold Saturday morning when Hermione started putting her most precious belongings into a box, labelling it carefully, while Severus was busy packing their clothes into their respective boxes. They had just returned from an early breakfast in the Great Hall so that they could use as much time of this day as possible to reach their goals for that day, namely moving their belongings to their little house in Hogsmeade the muggle way per Hermione's request.

Just when Hermione was finished and wanted to go and help Severus packing in the bedroom there was a knock on the door.

"I'll see who it is," said Hermione leaving him behind.

In front of the door  Hermione had just opened, there stood a rather large group of people she knew just too well.

"Harry, Draco, Nev- what are you all doing here?" was her perplexed question.

"We're here to help you and Snape, of course," answered a voice she knew just too well. A certain tall redhead took a step forward out of the shadows.

"That is still Professor Snape to you, Mr Weasley," said the former potions master of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry in a dry tone from behind Hermione.

"Why that? Even Harry gets to call yo-"

"Mister Potter or rather Harry managed to graduate from Hogwarts, with better results than I had expected I might add and this is what makes the difference between him and you," remarked Severus, who still did not like him.

"And still we're both going to be aurors. I-"

"Ronald, just shut up. This is an argument you're never going to win because he's right. Now, can we start the real work or shall we stand here until we're older than Nicolas Flamel?"

The younger redhead interrupted her brother's complaining before he'd make a fool out of himself as per his usual.

As amusing as Severus found Ronald Weasley trying to justify his not coming back to Hogwarts after being normal again like Pansy Parkinson did, he had to agree with young Ginny Weasley, and so he showed them all in and started to give everyone an individual task.

At around five in the afternoon, Hermione and Severus stood in the empty room that had been a living room until just a few hours prior. Now, all it was was a room with a stone floor and a big fireplace.

"I guess that this is the end of an era for you now, isn't it?" asked Hermione breaking the silence.

"Yes, I have been living in these chambers since 1980 - I spent all my adult life here at Hogwarts. But actually, I'm not sad about leaving this place. It's the start of my new life. A life with a beautiful woman by my side and my child and I really am looking forward to that. I cannot wait for what's to come," said Severus smiling at her before putting his hand on her growing belly and kissing her forehead softly.

"Shall we?" asked Hermione,  turning to leave a few silent seconds later.

He nodded in return, the last box in his hands. Before closing the door behind himself for the last time, he turned back and with wandless magic, he turned off the lights. Leaving here felt as if he was leaving a part of himself behind. Stepping away he heaved a deep breath, feeling somewhat liberated.

"Come, love. Let's go home."

The next days were used to get comfortable in the house Minerva gave them, right after teaching of course.

In the evenings they would sit down in front of their fireplace cuddling, reading a book, just like they used to do. Sometimes Hermione would ask him to read to her which often resulted in her falling asleep soon after he started. Whenever he felt that she was asleep he would look down at her and her rapidly growing baby bump, before picking her up and carrying her to their bedroom upstairs, thinking how lucky he was to be given a second chance at life with her by his side.