Years Later

A/N: Finally going to have a little more time to write. Thanks for reading; please review!

"You wanted to see me, Uncle Sev?"

Severus rolled his eyes at the ridiculous title he'd insisted Harry not use, to Sirius' great enjoyment. "Excuse me?"

Thirteen-year-old Harry rolled his eyes impatiently. "Professor Snape. Honestly, I don't see why you agreed to teach. You were doing just fine brewing on your own," Harry said, looking around the office Severus had only just occupied at the start of the school year a few months before.

Severus' lips twisted wryly. "Dumbledore made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Also, it allows me to keep a closer eye on you and Draco. No one would guess you two have known each other for years by the way you bicker. Impudent brats," he answered fluidly, piercing Harry with a stern look. "Dumbledore would like to speak to you tomorrow night. I believe it concerns the connection you seem to share with Voldemort through that scar. Have you had any nightmares lately?"

Harry bit his lip, then nodded. "He—I saw him kill my parents last night," Harry admitted in a small voice, his eyes slightly wet. Severus felt a pang, and reached into a drawer and pulled a small vial out, handing it to the quivering boy.

"It's Dreamless Sleep potion. Keep practising your Occlumency—this is not a form of cheating the nightmares. You must learn to block him out," Severus warned. "And, if you please, let Hermione know that it wouldn't kill her to have dinner with me every once in a while."

Harry smiled slightly. "Uncle Sev, you should know it's not cool to eat with your parents when you can eat with your friends. Besides, she usually only stays in the Great Hall for about fifteen minutes before running off to the library again. Tell Aunt Anna I said hi," Harry added, leaving the office.

Severus sighed and sat back, feeling a small headache coming on as he glanced at the stack of essays on his desk waiting to be graded. He sighed and graded them quickly, anxious to get back to Spinner's End and see Anna.

An hour later the essays were graded and Severus Flooed back home, where Anna had dinner waiting. She smiled widely at him, her hand on her swelling stomach. He kissed her lovingly, wrapping his arms around the pregnant woman.

"He kicked today," she announced, her face aglow. "I really think he might be a football player—Hermione's kicks were mere taps compared to this little boy's!"

Severus smiled slightly, the skin around his eyes crinkling just enough to let Anna know it was genuine. "If that keeps him away from Quidditch, so be it—I've nearly had heart attacks watching Potter play; I don't think I could watch if it were my own son," he answered, kneading her shoulders lightly as she groaned in pleasure.

Anna continued to chatter on as she set the table, insisting on doing so alone. Severus looked around his childhood home, still amazed at the changes the years had brought. Anna had loved the 

Transfiguration of the old wallpaper and carpet, but had insisted on refinishing the salvagable wooden furniture herself and looking through Muggle magazines for the different styles of furniture she wanted Severus to Transfigure the threadbare couches to. The once-gloomy place was light and airy, yet timeless enough to satisfy Severus' tastes without a flowery print in sight.

The evening passed quietly, just as Severus preferred, until the fireplace he was contemplatively gazing into roared higher and turned green. Anna flinched in surprise, still unused to what she viewed as odd communication. Severus straightened his robes as Dumbledore's head appeared in the fire, looking grim.

"I'm so sorry to trouble you, Severus, but there has been an… incident. I believe you would rather deal with this one yourself," Dumbledore said regretfully, nodding a greeting to Anna.

Severus sighed and stood, pulling on his outer robe and promising Anna he'd be home soon as he stepped into Dumbledore's office through the Floo.

Two pairs of guilty eyes stared back across the desk, and Severus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Professor Sprout found them walking around the third floor," Dumbledore said. "If you would rather move to your office, I understand."

Severus' lips tightened and he nodded sharply to the Headmaster, stalking out of the office rapidly, listening to make sure the two students followed. After a silent trip to his office, he directed the students to two uncomfortable-looking wooden chairs in front of his desk, sitting behind it heavily. "Who's first?" he said, eyeing the students.

"It's my fault, Unc—Professor," Harry answered contritely, staring at his knees. "I found a room that Hermione said wasn't in Hogwarts, A History and we wanted to explore it. I figured I'd be safer with Hermione there because she knows Defense better than I do."

Hermione tugged on her frizzed locks, biting her quivering lip. "Sorry," she whispered.

Severus was intruiged. "You found a room? What was in it?"

Harry shrugged. "It looked like a room of random items. I was trying to—er, I was trying to hide my Fanged Frisbee when I found it," he answered.

Suspecting Harry meant the Room of Requirement, he stood and said, "Show me."

Amazed they weren't in much trouble, the students stood and scurried off to the third floor corridor, followed by their Potions professor.