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Chapter 7

"Well, it seems we needn't worry about a substitute for potions any more," commented Minerva dryly. 

He scowled at her at which she just said: "I'm glad that being an infant didn't change your rather unappealing mannerisms such as scowling at everything and everyone. You should try smiling a bit more often, Sev." 

She went over to him; her stern expression broke somewhat, and she smiled at him, embracing him in a hug worthy of a mother's. He scowled a bit more at that but the corners of his mouth turned upwards, and he returned the older witch's hug, though a bit less enthusiastically. 

"I'm just glad that is over now," he said turning to his student.

"I guess this is the moment for me to say thank you, Miss Granger, and make no mistake, were it someone else who was seeing... things... they would barely be alive by now, and I wouldn't have swallowed that potion if it were a dunderhead who brewed it." He stuck out his hand to her waiting for her to shake it, but she just stared at it in disbelief. She blinked up at him waiting for a sarcastic comment, but again it never came. 

Reluctantly she shook his hand pleasantly surprised to find it warm and rather soft to the touch despite it being slightly calloused due to his always working on potions and chopping ingredients. His hands were nothing like everything people were saying them to be. They were neither slimy and sticky nor sweaty and cold. It kind of threw her off guard. Without looking into his eyes she turned from him and went to fetch Harry. 

With a quick "Goodnight, professors." she left the big office, a blush creeping on her cheeks.

"Severus, I'm so glad that we have you back. I wouldn't want Slughorn prancing around again and now there is no need for him to come back. However, I really need to ask a big favour of you. I'm sure you will not like it, but it is very important." She looked at him his expression already suspicious.

"I need you to help Miss Granger and the others with their baby friends. They really have their hands full, and I don't want them to succumb to nervous breakdowns just yet. Could you please do that for me, Severus? For an old witch like me?" He stared at her, his incredibly dark eyes fixed on her in disbelief. He didn't answer her, but he kept on staring. After a while, he cleared his throat. "You want me to watch some hormonal teenagers and help them with their friends-turned-babies? You've got to be kidding me, Minerva. And here I was, thinking that the one who gave me such tasks was gone, but it seems as though his portrait really is a bad influence on you," he all but growled.

"Fine, what would I have to do?" he asked already acknowledging the fact that he couldn't deny this woman anything, she was like a second mother to him, and he loved her just as much. Her face lit up. 

"Miss Parkinson will be home tomorrow morning, just like Mister Weasley. There would be three kids left. I thought that maybe Mister Longbottom could watch Mister Zabini together with Miss Greengrass and you and Miss Granger would care for Misters Potter and Malfoy. She is more capable of caring for a child, but she needs help and to put it quite frankly I'm really concerned about her health, mental just as well as physical. I'd like you to have a watchful eye on her, Severus. Can you do it, please?" 

He sighed but nodded his head curtly once. "Fine. I guess I better get down there again and start being the babysitters' babysitter" 

He smirked at her and made to stand just like the woman opposite him.

"Thank you so much, Severus. Could you tell them to bring Miss Parkinson and Mister Weasley to my office as soon as possible?" she smiled and embraced him again. 

He scoffed and turned to walk away.

With billowing robes, he made his entrance into the 8th years' common room. "Professor, what brings you here?" exclaimed Hermione looking up from her tome on dark and dangerous potions. "I was sent by the headmistress. Miss Parkinson and Mister Weasley are to be brought to her office as soon as possible. Furthermore, she assigned Mister Malfoy to your care, and I am to help you all." She stared at him from her sitting position on the comfortable couch, a finger marking the page she was on.

"You know, it's not polite to stare at people," he said, amused with an annoyed edge to his voice after a while. She looked at him flabbergasted before answering. "Well, sorry Sir. It's just that I didn't expect the headmistress to act that fast. You don't have to be here, Sir. I do think that we will somehow manage to watch the three little monsters without you having to be around us dunderheads for longer than necessary," said Hermione, getting up to convey the message to Neville and Astoria. Her professor sat down on the couch once she was out of sight, more than a little annoyed with his student.

Some minutes later Neville and Astoria left their common room with Pansy and Ron. Meanwhile, Hermione came to fetch her book she was reading earlier to find her professor reading it. "I thought you'd already left, Sir." Her small voice drifted to him, and he looked up at her standing in front of him. "And why would I do that, Miss Granger?" "I already told you. You needn't be around us students longer than you absolutely have to. We will manage on our own." He closed the book, careful to place a bookmark where she'd left it a few minutes ago. He sighed and motioned for her to sit down next to him.

"I told you that the headmistress wishes me to help you and I do think a little help is in order after you had to care for me. Adding to that I'd say that the biggest dunderheads are either gone or babies save for Mister Longbottom though. There are others whose company I'd loathe way more than yours. Now, where are the little pests you spoke about earlier?" He smirked, standing before her and holding out his hand to help her stand. She gratefully took it, saying: "Well, thank you for that, Sir. They currently are in my room. I guess I should go and see how they're doing." With that, she turned, and he followed her up the stairs.