Chapter 1
You fasten your braid to your head, looking at your reflection in the bedroom mirror once more. You wear a simple black dress, your new professor’s robes over your dress, still undone and showing your clothes underneath. Nova stands in her crib behind you, her small hands gripping onto the bars as she looks at you with her wide, green eyes.
“Are we ready to go?” You ask her, smiling as you turn to face her.
She smiles back, reaching up to you as you step up to the crib, and you pick her up fluidly. You take a deep breath as you look back into the mirror, adjusting her black curls and straightening the small green bow on the top of her head.
“Severus?” You call down the hall. “Are you ready?”
He walks into the room a moment later, his robes almost identical to yours, his dark eyes smiling down at you as he nods.
“Yes.” He answers, running his fingertips along Nova’s cheek gently. “You look lovely, very professional.” He tells you, winking as he taps his finger against the tip of your nose.
You laugh anxiously, stepping closer to lean your head against his chest.
“Are you nervous love?” He asks quietly, wrapping his arm around your shoulders.
You nod, looking up at him, and he smiles down at you softly.
“Don’t be.” He murmurs. “You’ll be brilliant.”
You smile back at him, and he squeezes you gently before stepping away, going to your bags and pulling out his wand. He murmurs a spell under his breath, sending the bags to Hogwarts ahead of you. He turns back to you and Nova, smiling as he steps closer.
“Ready?” He asks.
You nod, holding your baby tighter to your chest as you lace Severus’ fingers between your own. You hold your breath as the rush of disapparation envelops you, and when you open your eyes again, you find yourself on the grass outside the boundaries of Hogwarts.
Your heart beats faster as you look at the castle, the warm feeling of home bubbling in your chest as Severus squeezes your hand and leads you toward the main entrance. Older students who came back early mill about the courtyard, soaking up the rest of the late summer sun before they’re bound to study sessions within the building.
A few students look as you pass by, their eyes falling to your hand in Severus’ before trailing to Nova’s face. You have the sudden urge to tuck her into your robes, hiding her from view from anyone who might dare to judge her.
Relax darling. Severus whispers into your mind. They’re just curious.
You nod, smiling shyly at the students as you lean slightly closer to Severus. He leads you into the hall, making a clear path to the dungeons to the Potion’s classroom. You turn the corner, and almost run directly into Professor McGonagall.
“Oh!” She exclaims, looking between you and Severus. “Mr. and Mrs. Professor Snape.” She says with a coy smile.
You smile back, having always been fond of her kind disposition. Severus smiles too, and you both greet her warmly.
“And who might this be?” She says softly, ducking down slightly to be eye-level with Nova.
Nova clings to your chest, her bright eyes scanning over this stranger’s face as they look at each other.
“This is Nova.” You tell McGonagall, shifting slightly to coax the baby’s face forward gently.
Professor McGonagall smiles, putting her hand out to Nova slowly.
“What a beautiful name for such a beautiful little girl.” She says, her voice still gentle and soft.
Nova leans forward slowly, setting her hand in McGonagall’s and wrapping it around two of her fingers. She then smiles at her, showing her two small teeth in her baby smile.
Professor McGonagall laughs, shaking her hand gently before brushing her fingers through her soft curls once, gently.
“She’s lovely.” She says, looking between you and Severus. “Congratulations.”
You thank her, and she says goodbye to Nova before carefully pulling her fingers away and walking down the hall. You smile at Severus as you continue your path down the hall, finally pushing over the heavy door to the Potion’s classroom.
Severus lights a fire in the fireplace as you look around, setting Nova down on the ground. She crawls around, pulling herself up on a stool as she looks around.
“Kind of odd isn’t it?” Severus asks, stepping up behind you and setting his hands on your hips as he rests his chin on your shoulder.
“What is?” You ask, keeping an eye on the baby as you cover his hands with yours.
He nuzzles his face into the crook of your neck, pressing his lips against your skin.
“We first met here, around this time two years ago.” He murmurs, his deep voice sending a chill across your skin. “And now our daughter is playing here.”
You nod, laughing quietly.
“It is rather odd.” You answer. “But also rather perfect.”
He nods against your shoulder, his hair brushing against your collarbone. Nova turns to look at you, crawling over and pulling herself up by the skirt of your dress. You bend down, lifting her up and turning to face Severus.
“Want to take her up to the apartment?” Severus asks, looking down at the baby in your arms. “She looks due for a nap.”
You nod, and he extinguishes the fire in the hearth with a flick of his wrist. You step into the fireplace beside him, using the Floo Powder to teleport yourselves up into the apartment above the classroom.
Your bags are sitting at the foot of the bed, along with a new crib in the corner of the room below the stained-glass window. You sit in the rocking chair, holding Nova close to your chest and rocking her softly as Severus quietly unpacks the bags, putting your things away in the room.
You watch him, admiring how far you’ve come since the first night you spent with him in this room. He catches your gaze, raising his eyebrows at you.
I love you. You push to him, standing up slowly as you set Nova in the crib, covering her with a blanket.
He walks over to you, wrapping you in a tight hug and pressing a kiss against your hair.
“I love you.” He whispers back. “I’m excited to be back here with you.”
You nod, smiling up at him as you do. You help him unpack the rest of the bags, hanging the clothes in the wardrobe as he puts things away in the chest of drawers. The sun beams through the stained-glass, sending shattered colors across the blankets on the bed.
Severus comes beside you, taking your hand and leading you to the bed before gently pushing you down against the comforter.
“What are you doing?” You whisper, looking up at him as he climbs onto the bed over you.
He puts a long, slender finger against your lips as he smiles down at you.
“Shh.” He whispers back. “The baby is sleeping.”
You laugh quietly, wrapping your legs around his waist as he leans down to kiss you gently. Your hands rest on his shoulders as his sit on the bed on either side of your head. The kiss deepens, and your fingers twist into his long, dark hair, pulling him closer.
Suddenly, you feel a different presence growing nearer. You pull away, looking up at Severus. He feels it too, standing up and straightening his robes as you sit up on the bed, repositioning your braid on your head.
“Dumbledore.” He murmurs to you, turning his attention to the fireplace.
You nod, and the green flames explode in the hearth a moment later. Dumbledore waves a hand in front of his face as he steps into the room, clearing the smoke and soot from the air around him.
“Hello Professors.” He says with a kind smile, his eyes darting to the crib in the corner. “And little one.”
Severus greets him warmly, leading him to the crib and showing him the sleeping baby within. Dumbledore smiles wider, his eyes sparkling as he looks down at her.
“Congratulations Severus.” He says quietly, setting a hand on Severus’ back. “I’m truly happy for you.”
“Thank you Professor.” Severus replies, smiling back at him sheepishly.
They walk back over to you, and you stand up to be on their level.
“I just wanted to make sure my newest Professor had all she needed to start this week.” Dumbledore says, looking at you with a wink.
You smile back at him, nodding.
“I think so.” You reply. “Thank you for hiring me on.”
He nods back, bowing his head slightly.
“Of course, (Y/N).” He says kindly. “I’m honored to have a powerful and wise witch like you on my staff this year.”
Dumbledore stays for a few minutes more before disappearing back through the fireplace, but not before inviting us to a faculty dinner later this evening.
As he disappears, you turn to Severus with a sly smile.
“I sensed him before you.” You say, smirking at him.
He rolls his eyes walking back over to you.
“I was a bit distracted, if you remember.” He mutters, resting his hands on your hips.
You laugh quietly, lacing your fingers together behind his head as you look up at him.
“Or you’re losing your touch, old man.” You reply, and his eyebrows raise.
Am I? He murmurs in your mind, rushing you with a flood of images, enough to make your cheeks flood with pink heat.
He laughs lowly, lifting you up and bringing you back to the bed, laying you down gently before kissing you again.