Chapter 48: Mistress of Charms

The Defense Against The Dark Arts Classroom, Hogwarts...

Edward had been cooing happily when Snape came carrying the boy into his father's classroom. Lupin looked up from his desk with a wide grin spread across his face. It appeared that Snape had been in a black mood but Edward seemed content. The werewolf couldn't help but needle the Potions Professor a little bit. Edward smiled placing a saliva soaked finger into Snape's face as he continued to coo happily in his godfather's arms. Though Lupin would never tell the man out loud, Snape seemed to have a way with children that not even he had been aware of.

"Will you stop that!" said Snape annoyed. "I have no desire to have your slimy finger on my face."

Edward laughed.

"Daddy Snape!" he said happily. "Daddy Snape make a funny."

Lupin laughed watching the two of them.

Snape walked over and pried the younger Lupin off him and promptly handed him to his father. He made a show of dusting off his robes from whatever child germs had tainted them. This only caused both Lupin's to laugh even more.

"I see nothing funny here." said Snape sounding bitter. "Your brat has caused me more than enough trouble today."

Lupin played with his son a bit before looking up at Snape.

"Trouble?" he asked looking at Edward who smiled sweetly at him. "Edward, no way."

Snape narrowed his eyes at the werewolf.

Lupin burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry Severus but you're just always so fun to mess with." he said. "What did Teddy do?"

"Besides run a muck while you were busy playing making paper air planes?" asked Snape. "I had to chase him all across the corridors once again and ran into Hermione Granger along the way...then the boy proceeded to call me Daddy making the witch look at me strangely, and then if that had not been bad enough the little terror decided to imply that I wanted her as my wife!"

Lupin looked down at Edward.

"Teddy, is this true?" he asked in a stern voice.

"Mommy Snape!" said Edward. "Daddy Snape!"

Lupin tried his best to keep a lid on his laughter in case Snape blew a gasket.

"I'll have a talk with him Severus." he said.

Snape glared rather icily at the werewolf.

"Like your "talks" haven't encouraged the boy enough." he said.

Lupin arched an eyebrow at him.

"I beg your pardon." he said as if wounded.

"You meddlesome Gryffindor." said Snape accusingly.

"Severus, would you mind telling me what it is you are accusing me of?" asked Lupin.

"Don't play dumb Lupin, you lack the subtlety that is associated with my house." said Snape. "It's obvious you have been coaching the boy to meddle in things that are none of his concern nor yours might I add."

Lupin simply shrugged.

"Severus did it ever occur to you that just once something is not some set conspiracy against you?" he asked.

Snape scoffed.

"Lupin, no where in Slytherin house does it say that I would have the trait for being an idiot." he replied. "Meddling and being a Gryffindor seem to go hand in hand when it comes to you lot."

"And paranoia and being a Slytherin go hand in hand with you lot." countered Lupin. "I feel a bit sorry for you...going through life believing everyone is out to get you."

Snape rolled his eyes seeing this as a lost cause.

"You will stop your meddling Lupin." he said. "You and your terror wolf-pup."

Edward laughed at this.

"Puppy." he said. "Daddy Snape Puppy."

With that and Lupin's chuckle Snape took off leaving a trail of billowing robes behind him. Once he was sure the Slytherin was out of ear shot the werewolf leaned down and kissed his son on the forehead.

"Pay no attention to Daddy Snape, Teddy...He wouldn't know what was good for him if it fell down and landed in his lap." said Lupin in a sly tone. "That is why we have to work extra hard at not getting caught."

Edward smiled at his father.

"Daddy Snape loves Mommy Snape." he said.

"That's right." replied Lupin. "He loves her very much which is why we have to help him see that...even if he kills us."

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The Corridors, Hogwarts...

Hermione couldn't get over being addressed as "Mommy Snape" by Remus Lupin's little boy. He had been so sure of himself that it was impossible to call it as he was confused. She had no idea why the boy would think she was Snape's wife but it caught her totally by surprise. She had not seen the man in five years and for the first time since her graduation he seemed to be different. The bushy haired Gryffindor witch formerly of Gryffindor house had not been in her thoughts long as Neville Longbottom came strolling up to her with a wide grin spread across his face.

"I heard you were back." he said happily as he pulled her into a brotherly embrace. "It's so good to see you."

Hermione laughed getting a look at the future Professor in the making before her. He was wearing the equivalent of a Muggle Professor's sweater vest with an odd diamond pattern in Gryffindor colors of course, an almost burgundy color with yellow diamonds. He smiled with confidence as she looked him over. Although his hair had been neat it still had some length. His dark eyes had been bright with excitement at her arrival and whatever it was that he had been working on before he ran into her. He towered above her but his height had been nothing compared to that of Professor Snape.

"Couldn't stay away either huh?" she asked.

"You could say that." replied Neville with another smile.

Hermione affectionately tussled his hair as if they were merely brother and sister all these years.

"Hey come on do you know how long it takes me to get it this neat?" he asked ducking from her hands.

Hermione laughed.

"So I hear your our new Charms Professor." he said.

"On a temporary basis." she said. "But yes I've come to fill the void left by Professor Flitwick when he retired."

Neville nodded.

"Well, I hope you do decide to stick around." he said. "I could use some one from my year here, with Lupin and Snape being the other younger Professors here I feel a bit outnumbered."

Hermione laughed.

"I'm serious." replied Neville.

"Really I thought you were Neville." said Hermione.

Neville shook his head.

"Good to see you have a sense of humor." he said pleasantly. "Believe me with all the old foggys around here you are definitely going to need it."

"How's being Professor Sprout's assistant?" asked Hermione.

"About as fun as being Charms Professor." replied Neville. "Except I don't have to teach...what did Snape call us..."dunderheads."

Hermione laughed at the impersonation of Snape as he said his usual word for his less than savory students.

"He called me an "insufferable know-it-all"...You, Harry and Ron had the privilege of being known as "dunderheads."

Neville laughed.

"True." he said. "You did have your very own nickname."

"So how's it been working with him?" asked Hermione.

"He's not a bad guy once you get to know him." replied Neville. "He might surprise you."

Hermione didn't doubt that.

Neville looked at his watch.

"Sorry Mione, I have to go...mandrakes to harvest." he said.

"Take care Neville." said Hermione. "See you at dinner."

"Likewise." called Neville as he made a dash for the green house.

Hermione smiled after him. It had been good to see Neville again. Their lives bad been so busy that they hardly had time to get together as of late aside from Albus Severus' birthday parties. He had really grown up. It was impressive to see that being the reason of Voldemort's destruction when he killed Nagini with the sword of Gryffindor had not gone to his head. The again slaying Voldemort himself had not seemed to have gone to Harry's head.

Shaking her head Hermione continued on toward Professor McGonagall's office. it had been five year since she had seen her Transfigurations Professor and former Head of house, the last time being at her graduation.

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Professor McGonagall's office, Hogwarts...

Minerva McGonagall had been looking over a few parchments concerning the attendance of her new 1st year class. She had barely heard the soft knock at her office door but none the less being a cat had it's perks and she was able to pick-up the sound even before her human hearing took notice. She had not looked up from her parchment.

"Enter." she said.

The door to McGonagall's office opened and Hermione Granger stepped inside.

"Professor McGonagall?" said Hermione feeling like a 12 year old girl again.

Minerva looked up from her desk as an endearing smile filed across her normally stern face.

"Hermione." she said happily getting up from her seat. "My dear look how you've grown."

Hermione smiled back as her former Head of House's arms wrapped around her in a motherly embrace.

"I know." she said. "Nothing seems to have changed around here thought."

Minerva chuckled at that.

"I suppose not." she said letting the younger witch breath.

Hermione had not been surprised with how little Professor McGonagall seemed to change over the past five years.

"So." said Minerva McGonagall. "You are to be our new Charms Professor."

Hermione nodded.

"I managed to get my degree in Spells over the past five years." she said with a smile.

"No doubt it will serve you well." said Minerva. "Come let me show you to your quarters."

Hermione followed Minerva as she ventured over to the floo and tossed in some powder. The younger witch watched flames became emerald and McGonagall called out the destination.

"Hermione Granger's Quarters." she had said.

The two Gryffindor witches stepped through the flames.

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Hermione Granger's Quarters, Hogwarts...

When Hermione stepped into what would be her home for the next year or so she had been utterly stunned. It was a very large area complete with a front room, a loo, what appeared to be a private library, a lab of some sort (possibly for practicing spells), and a very big bedroom. Her jaw had dropped at the amount of elegant décor and comfortable furniture that had filled the place. It was as decadent as a pricey Muggle hotel. Her bedroom had cherry wood flooring with white furniture, especially her white four-poster bed with red silk sheets, plush white pillows with red cases and a large golden comforter. Her library was stocked with a few books but left room for a great deal more should she desire to collect them. The front room had been decorated with Gryffindor esque, décor including a lion fur rug. It had not been of a real lion of course but it was still enough to give Professor Snape a fit should he ever be so inclined to venture into her rooms.

"It's beautiful." said Hermione looking around.

Minerva smiled.

"That it is." she replied. "I suppose I should let you get settled."

Hermione smiled politely at her.

"Remember dinner is in the great hall unless you feel the need to dine alone then the house elves will attend to you." said Minerva. "You have your own floo now and your set up with the floo network here so you should be able to reach your quarters from most places...It's so good to have you back after all these years."

"It's good to be back after all these years." replied Hermione.

"Good luck with your first class." said Minerva. "We won't have much time to talk once things really get moving but It is good to see another Gryffindor has come home to Hogwarts...perhaps this year we can give that sly Severus a run for his money this year for the house cup...blasted man's won every year since you all graduated."

Hermione smiled.

Some things never change.

Minerva took her leave back through the floo.

Finding herself alone, Hermione made her way into her bedroom with thoughts of Severus Snape on her mind. She lied across her bed recalling seeing him again for the first time in five years. He had not seemed to age a day since she last saw him, despite it being common knowledge that he would have to be about 44 years of age. In wizarding terms he was still quite a young man compared to most and a young Professor if ever she saw one here at Hogwarts.

The bushy haired Gryffindor witch sighed thinking back to little Edward Lupin.

"Mommy Snape." she said with an amused smile.

As if.