Three days had passed since the couple arrived back from their India day trip. Hermione had enjoyed it thoroughly, and she was amazed to see how much respect Y/N was given.

Y/N had taken her to see the family of Yetis he had befriended on his first stay with Lord Dhalsim, and although Y/N was oblivious, Hermione had noticed the snuck glances, the prostrated bows, the whispers of "Prophesied One" as they passed by pilgrims of the complex. She wasn't aware how they knew of Y/N's identity, nor why a prophecy related to Britain triggered so much respect overseas. She hypothesised there was much more to this prophecy than the couple were aware of.

She had resisted, with great difficulty, doing her summer assignments for the month Y/N was away, and they had spent the last three days completing them together. Dean and Penny's library was quite extensive, as was the one contained in Y/N's pouch, but any books that were needed were quickly retrieved by Y/N apparating to Flourish and Blotts. This was heaven for Hermione. She loved more than anything studying and working with Y/N.

—~—

Hermione awoke Saturday morning greeted by the delicious smell of breakfast, again. She opened her eyes to see Y/N stood with a breakfast tray in one hand and a bunch of flowers in the other. Her eyes watered as she sat and the tray of Eggs Benedict and Yorkshire tea was placed in front of her, the roses handed to her with a gentle kiss.

"Baby, Thank you so much" Hermione smiled with still watering eyes.

"No problem my darling. I love you, Hermione. Enjoy your breakfast, I've got to give Penny hers, then you get ready for the day ahead. Got some surprises" Y/N spoke with a cheeky grin, Hermione squealing inadvertently out of excitement.

Y/N took Penny her breakfast much to her delight as well. Dean had already left for Gringotts, despite it being Saturday. As Y/N was cooking he had mumbled and left. He had been strange the last few days since Y/N had arrived, unusually quiet. Penny had told Y/N and Hermione that he was under a lot of pressure at work. Y/N let it lie.

Hermione brought out her breakfast tray, kissing Y/N and thanking him for the delicious breakfast. No sooner did Hermione finish than Penny was out saying the same thing. Y/N smiled sheepishly, feeling uncomfortable with all the praise, and changed the subject:

"So are we still going to those places today, Pens?" he asked. Penny smiled:

"Yes we are, we'll leave in half an hour ok."

"Sounds good" Y/N smiled.

The two teenagers had headed back to their room to get ready and were reentering the living area when Hermione spoke to her boyfriend, running out of patience for the surprises. She asked:

"So where are we going love?"

"Second place is to Sev's house" Y/N answered cryptically.

"We're going to Severus's house?" Hermione asked with a smile. She loved how close her boyfriend was to the usually doer Potions Master. They had such a strong, paternal, genuine father-son bond. She couldn't imagine anything breaking it.

"We are" Y/N smiled "Sev's wants to catch up with Penny and he's going to start on Alchemy with me. I was wondering if you wanted to sit in? I know you're not doing it as a subject but you love learning."

Hermione smiled and got a little teary eyed at her boyfriend.

"Right then you just... one, you know me so well, and two, you have never once made me feel different or less for wanting to learn and study. You've never made me feel.... anything but a princess. It's why I love you so much!"

Y/N wrapped his arms round Hermione tightly as he kissed her head. "That's cos you are a princess 'Mione. I wish you could see what I see, cos you are incredible in every conceivable way. I love you so much baby."

"I love you too." She smiled and kissed him as they heard Penny sniffling from across the room.

"Sorry" Penny laughed through tears. "You two are just so adorable."

Y/N rolled his eyes at Penny and chuckled:

"You have been so emotional lately Pens. You're not pregnant are you?"

Y/N laughed at his own statement. Penny didn't react and Y/N slowly turned serious.

"Wait you're not...are you?" Hermione swore she could see Y/N's eyes light up.

"No. At least not yet" Penny smiled.

"Wait, are you guys trying?" Y/N asked with a big smile.

"Well. We're not trying and we're not not trying if that makes sense" Penny blushed as she spoke.

Hermione nodded before laughing at Y/N's reaction. It was a cross between a look of shock and a look of confusion.

"Wait. You're... what?"

"You are such a boy, Y/N" Hermione giggled and Penny laughed and agreed.

"Well I'd hope so since I'm your BOY-friend, missy" he smiled giving Hermione a quick peck.

"So... no baby then?" He turned and asked Penny, still unsure by what she meant.

"Oh for... I think what Penny means is that her and Dean aren't trying to get pregnant but they aren't using protection either" Hermione giggled as she explained the logic to Y/N.

"Oh" Y/N answered before his face scrunched up. "Ugh.... Alright let's change the subject please."

Penny mocked being offended. "Excuse me, we are married you know"

"You're like my mum Penny. I don't want to think about that."

A look of fear came across Y/N's face as he realised what he said.

"Oh um I mean that... I just mean... sorry"

Before he could finish his sentence Penny had bolted across the room and wrapped him up in a giant hug. Tears had erupted down her cheeks.

"It's ok Y/N. I feel the same way. I really do".

Y/N hugged her back. They stood in the embrace before Y/N said quietly:

"Thanks Penny. You mean everything to me. You were the first person I ever trusted in my life. Like the very first one."

She smiled pulling back from the hug before realising what he said.

"What about Dean, and Molly and Arthur?"

"Well Lyra always used to tell me that Dean, Arthur and Molly knew about the beatings, and that they didn't want to talk about it because they hated me so much. That Dean only pretended to like me when he came back from Hogwarts. I believed her. She was my..."

Y/N steadied himself:

"... my mother, and the only person who I had in my life apart from when Dean came back or I went to the Weasleys. I still remember when I met you, she left the house refusing to meet a Muggleborn. I knew I would pay for it afterwards but I didn't mind. You were so sweet and kind, and your eyes just made me feel safe. I'd never felt that before, apart from when our House Elves would heal me. So yeah, I trusted you from that moment, Penny."

Y/N smiled but faltered when he saw both Penny and Hermione in tears.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to upset you both"

"You didn't Y/N, you didn't" Penny said as she hugged him again before moving so Hermione could.

Hermione wrapped her arms around her boyfriends neck, she didn't speak, she just held him.

A couple of minutes passed before Hermione finally released the hold. Y/N wiped the tears from her eyes.

"You ok sweetheart?" He asked tenderly.

She nodded as she smiled at him.

"Yes love, it's just thinking about you being abused like that. It just hurts, you know" she said sadly.

"Sorry baby I won't mention it again" Y/N said, guilt showing in his bright green eyes.

"No it's not that Y/N" Hermione started to speak guiltily but was cut off with a quick peck.

"I know" He smiled at her. He turned and asked with a smile.

"We ready to go Penny?"

She nodded and they headed out of the apartment and down to her car.

—~—

The trio had driven happily for half an hour before they arrived at their first destination. Hermione's eyes lit up.

"This was the surprise Y/N?" she asked excitedly, looking at the muggle bookstore in front of them. Y/N smiled:

"Yeah. I had to pick up a couple of things so I knew you wouldn't mind coming here. Grab anything you want, my treat."

He smiled again at his girlfriend as she wrapped her arms around him and stood on her tippy toes to give him a kiss. She quickly ran off to the romance section and Y/N turned to his sister in law.

"So now I know where to take Hermione on our first proper date" he chuckled. Penny slapped his arm and pointed her forefinger at him:

"No" she barked sternly.

"I'm kidding I'm kidding!" Y/N chuckled: "I've got something else planned anyway."

Y/N walked off to the section he needed, Classics, and found his two books after about a minute. He grabbed them and took them to a seat not too far from the counter and, like a good boyfriend, patiently waited for his girl.

Twenty minutes passed and his hunter instincts started to kick in- he got a little concerned and went searching, on edge, ready to unsheathe his wand or pull out his cursed blade at a moment's notice. He was greatly relieved to find Hermione in the same romance section he had previously left her in.

"You ok baby? I was getting worried" he said with a chuckle.

"Sorry love. I just couldn't decide which one to get. All three of these look good."

Y/N smirked and raised an eyebrow at the same time as he looked at the soppy romance novels in her hands. He had noticed it was only recently Hermione had began reading these kinds of books. He couldn't imagine why- he couldn't think of a worse thing to read, but he was glad Hermione was excited for them. He answered:

"Oh that's an easy choice baby, pass them here and I'll show you."

He smiled at her before turning with the three books in hand and heading towards the counter.

"Baby you can't, it's too much" Hermione said semi loudly as she chased after her boyfriend. She was stopped in her tracks though as he turned around quickly and surprised her with a kiss.

"Nothing's too much for my beautiful girl" he smiled again before turning and heading to the counter.

Hermione stood there smiling before hearing an old lady speak:

"It's not often these days you find a young man who is sweet like that. You hold onto him dear."

Hermione returned the elderly ladies smile and replied: "I intend to ma'am."

She walked over to the counter in time to see Y/N hand the clerk a £50 note.

"Keep the change mate" Y/N said as he took the bag of books and gently grabbed Hermione's hand. He lifted it and softly kissed it before adding:

"C'mon babe, Penny's in the car."

They got to the car and Y/N handed the bag to Hermione in the backseat.

"In case you want to get started babe, it's a bit of a drive to Sev's house."

"It still sometimes surprises me to hear you call him that. I'm so glad you have each other though" Hermione giggled, Penny agreeing from the driver's seat.

"Yeah, he's a great man. This is top secret Penny, but Dad made him my godfather, in secret, when they were in the Order together. He asked me last year if I wanted him to be and I said of course. It... it's really good, feels like I have a..."

Y/N's voice trailed off and he looked out the window. Hermione rubbed his shoulder from behind and he lifted her hand and kissed it.

Hermione smiled and opened the bag of books to start reading, pulling out the two books Y/N had bought.

"The Prince and The Art of War, both by Niccolo Machiavelli. These are the books you needed?" She asked puzzled.

"Yeah. Jacob wanted me to read them both. Said I would need to start learning tactics and underhanded thinking for the war that's coming."

Penny shook her head and muttered: "I still think he's being paranoid."

Y/N retorted with a firm, but not aggressive, tone:

"Grandad told me about it. He said he has had visions as well. It's coming Penny. Hopefully we still have a couple of years, but it's coming"

"Well, in light of that cheerful topic I'm going to start my romance novels" Hermione giggled from the backseat, causing both occupants of the car to laugh.

It was about an hours drive to Severus's small South London home. It was surprisingly cosy inside, and Snape was very pleasant in greeting the three of them.

"How has your summer been Y/N? Ms. Granger?" He asked as they headed into a room he had set aside to teach the students.

"It was very quiet until Y/N got back sir, just a lot of reading to prepare for the coming school year" Hermione answered him.

"As studious as ever Ms. Granger. I only wish the students in my house followed your example."

He turned to Y/N.

"I hope Jacob didn't torture you too badly Y/N?" His voice had a lot more concern and warmth in it than most Hogwarts students would believe possible. Hermione smiled as Y/N replied:

"Actually, Jacob only taught me one spell sir, the majority of the time I was away was spent... with my grandfather."

Snape grew a look of shock on his face.

"Truly? Albus allowed it?"

Y/N nodded.

"Yes. It was different to how I imagined it.. more intense. I spent most of the first day throwing in his face that this beautiful girl here was my soul mate, and a Muggleborn, and I wouldn't hesitate to kill any of his precious pure bloods to keep her or her family safe."

Snape's eyes widened at Y/N's words. Hermione sat stoically, attempting to not react to Y/N's words.

"The Gellert Grindelwald.. you spoke to him like that?" Snape asked in genuine shock.

"I did" Y/N smirked.

"How did he react?" Snape asked with concern.

"Honestly not in any way I'd imagined he would have. He smiled at me."

Snape's jaw dropped.

"He said he was proud of me for being so strong in my beliefs. That after all the years of isolation he had realised how wrong he had been, how sorry he was for all the people he hurt, but most of all how saddened he was. That he wasn't there to be a grandfather to Jacob, Dean or myself. Especially after hearing of my...uh ... upbringing."

"So he was kind to you then?" Snape asked seemingly relieved.

"Oh no, he still kicked the crap out of me. But I learned a lot."

"Like what?" He asked.

"Of all your students Sev, who would you least like to walk in here right now?"

Hermione was extremely confused by his answer.

"Draco."

Severus smiled at the look on Hermione's face and asked:

"You were expecting Harry perhaps, Ms. Granger?"

Hermione nodded at him.

"With Potter I can be honest with my feelings for him. I have to pretend to like Draco. It's exhausting."

Hermione laughed out loud before putting a hand on her mouth.

"Sorry sir, wasn't expecting that."

Sev smiled warmly at her and replied: "Quite alright, Ms. Granger."

What neither of them had noticed as they talked was the appearance of Draco in front of them.

"Unbelievable. Wait til my father hears about this!"

Snape's eyes widened. Hermione was in a laughing mess at the accuracy of Y/N's imitation.

Y/N transfigurated back to himself.

"Human transfiguration, Y/N. Now that is impressive."

"Thank you, Sev. I can only hold it for a few minutes, but it's a start."

—~—

The three had started their lesson. Professor Snape introduced them to the seven basic operations of Alchemy: Calcination, Dissolution, Separation, Conjunction, Fermentation, Distillation and Coagulation; and what Y/N would be learning about each operation in the coming school year. It took nearly two hours to cover.

"Now you have that information you can begin your preliminary reading. I took the liberty of purchasing each of you a copy of the books I want you to read for the subject. Again I know you won't be taking it this year Ms. Granger but I hope you will consider it as a NEWT option in a few years. You two are the only students I would consider allowing into the class."

Hermione was blown away by his kindness. She stammered her reply:

"Thank you so much sir... I would be honoured to. Thank you".

Severus smiled at his godson's girlfriend.

"Thanks a lot Severus. It means a lot it really does" Y/N smiled at his godfather.

"I also have something else for you Y/N. You remember of course your heroic actions at the end of first year, when you vanquished Quirrell."

"Of course sir" Y/N said, slightly confused.

"Shortly after that the Philosopher's Stone was destroyed to keep it from falling into the Dark Lords clutches. Earlier this year Nicholas Flamel ran out of his supply and he and his wife passed away."

Y/N sighed. He wished he had been able to say goodbye to the Flamels. To have been at their funeral. He replied in a tone of genuine hurt:

"I'm truly saddened to hear that sir, they were incredible intellects, and even better people."

Sev nodded.

"Well, they were very good friends of your father, and they thought extremely highly of you. They left this to you."

Snape handed Y/N a large brown leather bound book. It had a golden gilded image of a Phoenix on it's cover.

Y/N was stunned as he muttered:

"Sir this is..."

"The accumulation of Nicholas Flamel's lifes work. All his discoveries, recipes, ideas, essays. It is the only copy in existence. The Ministry's of both Britain and France were desperate to get their hands on it, but it mysteriously disappeared shortly before his death. I was asked to give it to you with a warning. Keep it secret. Keep it safe.... and you better start learning medieval French."

Y/N was speechless. He carefully placed the book, along with his and Hermione's alchemy textbooks, in his Moke pouch and stood and shook Snape's hand before they hugged:

"Thank you for the lesson sir, and the textbooks."

Snape nodded. Hermione walked up to Snape and hugged him. He was taken aback but gently placed a single hand on Hermione's back.

"I know for appearances we need to keep our distance at Hogwarts sir, but I am truly grateful my boyfriend has someone like you. He really respects and cares for you sir, like a father."

The teens didn't realise that  later that day Snape would shed tears at those words.

Penny had finished raiding Snape's store cupboard and the four had an enjoyable cup of tea before the three left to go home.

"That was a fantastic day girls" Y/N smiled as they arrived home, still on a high from spending time with Severus, and the paternal bond he felt with his Godfather. It was feeling he was desperate to feel and so was on a natural high as the car pulled into the underground car park of the apartment building he and Penny called home.

"It definitely was" Hermione smiled at her boyfriend as she cuddled into him.