It was a bit odd that Cassie had to carry her belongings through the front door of Severus's house by hand rather than by magic.
Severus had to remind her several times to keep her wand stuffed safely in her pocket as they worked. More than once, she caught herself starting to flick her wrist before stopping, muttering under her breath to herself like a crazed woman as they wrestled her heavy trunk up the front steps.
"One side at a time," Severus instructed, gripping one handle.
"I know."
"You nearly dropped it."
"I was distracted."
"By what?"
"By the fact that you're bossing me around."
He gave her a flat look. "Lift." With a groan, Cassie hoisted her end of the trunk. Together, they maneuvered it through the front door, trying not to scrape the walls of the narrow entryway as Cassie nearly lost her grip.
The neighborhood wasn't accustomed to magic, Severus had warned her, and neither of them wanted to attract unnecessary attention.
It felt strange to deliberately restrain herself from using magic for something so mundane. At Hogwarts, at Malfoy Manor, at the Burrow, magic was so deeply woven into everyday life that Cassie scarcely thought about it. Here, she had to remember that even a floating trunk might attract the wrong sort of attention.
Oddly enough, though, she didn't mind. She wasn't upset about moving onto a street populated entirely by Muggles. On the contrary, Cassie was rather looking forward to it. She had never lived anywhere she could be anonymous.
For most of her life, people had known exactly who she was before she ever introduced herself. They knew her surname. They knew her parents. There were always whispers, wary glances, curious stares, or people suddenly becoming much more polite than they otherwise would. Some people even groveled.
Here, she was simply another young woman moving into a house. Passersby would have no idea who she was. That thought alone loosened something inside her.
It was so much better than the suspicious side glances, the glares, or the uncomfortable attempts to ingratiate themselves with her because of her name. No one on this street cared that she was a Black. No one knew she was Lord Voldemort's daughter or that she had spent much of her childhood with the Malfoys.
She was just Cassie. And for perhaps the first time in her life, that felt glorious.
Cokeworth wasn't exactly charming. Rows of nearly identical brick houses lined the streets, most of them built for practicality rather than beauty. The river bordering the town was perpetually dirty, the old mill had long since fallen into disuse, and several pubs seemed to take up more of the residents' time and money than they probably ought to. Cassie had visited Spinner's End a few times over the years, so none of this was particularly surprising.
But she had also learned, through her somewhat vagabond upbringing, that a home's appearance had little to do with the love that might reside inside it.
Malfoy Manor had been magnificent. It had towering ceilings, polished floors, expensive furnishings, priceless objects, and enough rooms to get lost in. It had also rarely felt like home.
The Burrow, on the other hand, was crooked, crowded, noisy, and perpetually one strong gust of wind away from collapse. And yet every time Cassie thought of it, she thought of laughter and warmth. She thought of belonging. Perhaps Spinner's End could become something like that, too.
Cassie didn't have much to move, since she was used to transporting what she needed between Hogwarts, the manor, and the Burrow. Within a relatively short time, the last of her belongings had been brought inside.
They had barely been outside long enough for Cassie to begin wondering whether they ought to take a break when a little boy wandered over from farther down the street. He couldn't have been more than six or seven.
He stopped a few feet away and looked at them with enormous brown eyes. "Hi, Mister Snape," he said softly.
"Hello, Todd," Severus replied. His voice was low and gentle. Cassie looked at the boy more closely.
His clothes were slightly too large for him, his brown shaggy hair badly in need of a trim and probably a wash, and something generally haggard about his appearance made Cassie's heart ache.
"Are you home for the summer?" Todd asked.
"Yes."
"Oh," said Todd. The boy's attention shifted to Cassie. He stared at her for several moments, clearly trying to work out who she was. Cassie glanced at Severus, hoping he would introduce them, but he seemed content to let the boy puzzle it out himself. "Is this your niece?" Todd finally asked.
Cassie laughed softly. "No, I'm not his niece." She crouched slightly to get closer to his level. "I'm Cassie. I'm going to be staying here with Mister Snape. Do you live close by?"
Todd nodded, pointing down the street. "I live there. With my mum and dad and little sister." Cassie learned that his sister was three years old, that his favorite food was toast with jam, and that he had a dog named Buster who wasn't really his dog because his dad said so.
Eventually, Todd remembered that his parents had no idea he'd left their front garden. "I should go," he announced.
"Probably," Severus agreed. Todd turned to leave, but Severus stopped him. "Wait." He reached into his pocket and produced a piece of taffy, holding it out to the boy.
Todd's entire face brightened. "Thanks, Mister Snape!"
"Don't tell your mother," said the Potions Master.
Todd grinned, then raced back down the street. Cassie watched him go, then slowly turned toward Severus. "You had that in your pocket just for him, didn't you?"
Severus gave her an annoyed side glance. "Don't."
"I think that's absolutely adorable."
"I suppose you're going to tease me relentlessly about it," he intoned. She followed him into the house.
"I would do no such thing, Mister Snape."
He gave her a look that plainly told her he didn't believe a word. Cassie giggled. She flicked her wrist and her trunk rose obediently from the floor.
"We've been inside for two seconds, and you're already using magic," he said, glancing sideways at her. She sighed dramatically and lowered it.
"You're no fun."
"I have been telling you that for years," he deadpanned. He turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Cassie grinned and followed him. "Do you know the family well?"
"The boy's mother, Andrea, acts as my caretaker during the school year," he explained. "She comes in every month or so to clean and make certain nothing is leaking. She charges a small fee."
Cassie glanced out the window. "Well, by the looks of him, they could probably use the money."
Severus looked up from the pile of newspapers he had begun sorting through. "Most people in this neighborhood could," he said flatly. "It has been that way since I was a child."
Cassie went quiet. There it was. The reminder that this wasn't simply the house where Severus lived during school holidays. This was where he had grown up. Every room contained some version of the boy he had once been.
She knew better than to press him. Severus didn't like discussing his childhood, and Cassie had learned that sometimes the best way to love him was to allow silence rather than demand answers. Still, she couldn't help imagining him as a child here.
A small Severus Snape walking these same streets. Living in these same rooms. Growing up surrounded by the same poverty and unhappiness he'd once told her very little about.
"Yes, well," she said lightly, "we'll just have to make sure we give Todd lots of candy this summer." Severus looked at her for a moment. Then the corner of his mouth twitched.
Andrea had done a fair job keeping the house in order, and Cassie was pleased to see that it was cleaner than she had expected. She carried her clothing upstairs and began sorting through it, eventually finding space for everything in the master bedroom. The queen-sized bed was neatly made, although the quilt covering it had clearly seen better days. The curtains weren't much better.
Cassie looked around. It was unmistakably Severus's room. Dark, practical, and entirely lacking in unnecessary decoration. Which, naturally, meant she'd have to change it.
Taking out her wand, she spent several minutes altering the colors of the curtains, bedspread, and pillows. When she finished, the room was still recognizably Severus's, but the green and silver gave it a little more life.
"Green and silver." Severus stood in the doorway, looking amused. "I would have thought you would have wanted to do away with Slytherin colors."
"I'm just slowly easing my way out of Hogwarts and into the real world." She turned toward him with a smile. "I'll be changing it to bubblegum pink next week."
"That is the day I'll be moving to the basement," he said. She laughed as he came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. Cassie leaned back against him. The simple contact still had the power to make her entire body relax. She closed her eyes.
They were home. Not worrying about who might see them. Not stealing moments between classes or waiting until everyone else had gone to bed. Home. Together.
"Feels strange," she murmured.
"What does?"
"Not having to hide." Then she ducked out of his arms and backed toward the newly decorated bed, an impish expression spreading across her face as she appealed to his appetite for her.
Severus watched her intently. She grinned. He pursued her without further warning, and Cassie squealed as he caught her and pushed her playfully backward onto the mattress.
Their laughter quickly faded into kisses and touches. The familiar closeness they had shared countless times before. And yet it felt freer now. They had survived the school year. And, more importantly, they had walked into this house together and decided that it was theirs.
They had discussed at length when and how they would tell people about their relationship. Neither wanted a grand announcement. Especially not now. Cassie had only just graduated, and anyone learning about their relationship could easily assume that it had begun while she was still a student.
But her birthday was only a few days away, and she was going to the Burrow to celebrate. She wanted Severus there.
At first, he had been adamantly opposed. It was too soon. It would raise questions. The Weasleys were his students, and more importantly, he didn't want to spend an afternoon surrounded by them.
Cassie had listened. Then she'd put her foot down. Eventually, after considerable argument, Severus had reluctantly agreed.
As the days passed, Cassie could tell the upcoming visit weighed on him. He was quieter than usual. More thoughtful. He spent longer periods staring into his books without turning the pages.
She didn't mention it. She knew pointing out his nervousness would only make matters worse. So they spent their days settling into their new routine instead.
They organized the house, cooked meals together, and read beside the fireplace in the evenings. Sometimes they simply sat together in comfortable silence.
Cassie did her best not to mention the Burrow. She didn't want to give him an excuse to change his mind. She wanted the most important person in her life beside her when she went to see the family she loved.
Finally, her birthday arrived. Cassie was practically vibrating with excitement. "Should we bring wine?" Severus asked. Cassie was pulling on a pair of jeans. She glanced over at him.
He wore his usual black robes. Apparently, wearing ordinary Muggle clothing around his students, even outside school, was simply too informal for him to tolerate.
"That sounds like a fabulous idea," she said. She was secretly delighted that he was thinking about what to bring. Or he intended to drink enough to survive the afternoon, but she would accept either explanation.
Severus disappeared into the storeroom and returned with a bottle. "Ready?"
Cassie smiled. "Absolutely."
They Apparated onto the dirt road leading to the Burrow. The moment Cassie saw the crooked house in the distance, her heart lifted. She smiled brightly as they approached.
The familiar tall, leaning structure rose above the surrounding landscape, multiple chimneys sprouting from its uneven roof. Fat chickens pecked around the yard, and the windows glowed warmly in the afternoon light.
Cassie felt the tension inside her ease. She had been away too long. Before she even crossed the threshold, she knew her soul had been overdue for a visit.
"Cassie! Happy birthday!" Molly's voice rang through the house. Then came the hugs.
Cassie was pulled from one person to another, surrounded by familiar voices and laughter. She felt warmhearted and grateful all at once, so much so that she had to blink rapidly to keep tears from forming. Then she remembered her companion.
She looked toward the door. Severus was still standing there with the bottle of wine in both hands.
"Oi, what's he doing here?" Fred's voice cut through the room. Everyone turned. Severus's presence had apparently gone unnoticed amid the chaos of Cassie's arrival.
The room fell silent as Arthur gently set Cassie back on her feet. "He's here as my guest," Cassie said firmly. She walked back toward Severus, making it clear that she wasn't about to leave him standing alone.
The Head of Slytherin cleared his throat. "Mrs. Weasley, we've brought wine." He extended the bottle.
Molly accepted it with a slightly bewildered but pleasant smile. "Oh, that's very kind of you, Professor Snape." She examined the label. "I'll open it straight away." With a wave of her wand, several wine glasses floated down from the cupboards.
"Is that elf-made wine?" Arthur asked, apparently determined to make conversation.
"Yes. From my own stores."
"Ah. Very good," Arthur replied with a smile. "Well, the more the merrier, I always say. Ted and Andromeda should be arriving soon, I expect."
The room slowly began to breathe again. Molly shooed Fred, George, and Ron outside, firmly insisting that they tend to the chickens before their rude remarks became any less subtle.
Cassie gave Severus an apologetic look. He merely raised his glass. She couldn't tell whether that meant it was fine or I am going to murder someone. Probably both.
Andromeda and Ted arrived while Cassie, Ginny, and Molly were in the kitchen preparing food. Another round of enthusiastic greetings followed. Severus was in the sitting room with Percy and Arthur, and Ted soon joined them.
Cassie glanced toward the doorway several times while she helped Molly with lunch. She hoped everyone was being cordial even though she knew Severus could handle himself. That didn't mean she wanted to watch him endure an afternoon of subtle interrogation.
When the feast was finally ready, everyone gathered around the large table. Cassie tried to maneuver herself toward Severus. Ginny promptly sat on one side of her while Molly took the other. Ginny giggled. Severus ended up between Andromeda and George at the other end of the table.
At least he had a full glass of wine. Cassie took some comfort in that.
"Oh, my dear," Molly whispered suddenly. Cassie turned toward the Weasley matriarch. "Is that really what you're wearing today?"
Cassie looked down at herself. A purple cardigan and jeans. She looked around uncertainly, then asked, "What?"
But Molly was already engrossed in conversation with Andromeda.
Cassie blinked. Apparently she would never understand mothers.
She turned back to Ginny. "So, are you excited about starting Hogwarts?" she asked, and Ginny nodded enthusiastically. "Professor Snape teaches Potions," she said, nodding toward the end of the table where he sat.
Ginny glanced nervously toward Severus, who was eating quietly. She nodded once.
"You just have the unfortunate luck of meeting him early," George quipped. Cassie shot him a look.
"That's quite enough," Molly said sharply. Fred and George exchanged glances. Cassie knew what that meant. Their mother's warning had done absolutely nothing.
"You know," Ted said, "I never properly thanked you for looking after Cassie after everything that happened in Hogsmeade."
"I don't think any of us did," Andromeda added. "We really do owe you our gratitude, Professor Snape."
Severus immediately looked uncomfortable. "I don't think her birthday meal is an appropriate time to discuss it."
"Why not?" Arthur asked. "All the children here know that not everything is sunshine and daisies simply because we're having a birthday meal." He lifted his glass. "Let's raise a toast to Professor Snape for what he did for Cassie."
Cassie beamed. The adults raised their glasses, and even the children followed suit with their cups of pumpkin juice. Severus looked absolutely miserable.
"To Professor Snape," said Arthur.
"To Professor Snape," everyone echoed.
Severus's eyes met Cassie's across the table. A faint warning flickered in them. She smiled innocently.
The conversation moved on and, for a while, everything went remarkably well. Cassie caught up with Ginny. Ron told her about his plans to practice Quidditch during the summer. Percy even ventured into a discussion about next year's classes with Severus. Eventually, the food disappeared, and everyone moved outside.
The children took turns flying around the yard, racing one another and tossing a Quaffle back and forth. Then Fred and George brought out a Bludger and their bats.
Cassie watched suspiciously. "Don't," she said quietly. Even she didn't know if it was a warning or a plea.
"We're not doing anything," Fred said. He and his twin grinned.
Cassie kept watching them. After a few minutes, one of them sent the Bludger hurtling toward Severus, who stood beside the chicken coop speaking with Molly. Cassie's wand was in her hand before she consciously reached for it.
The Bludger abruptly changed direction and shot back toward the twins.
Molly gasped. "Fred!"
"Sorry, Mum!"
"George!"
"Wasn't me!"
Cassie narrowed her eyes. The twins laughed when they noticed.
From then on, they seemed determined to ruin the afternoon. They whispered together and exchanged telltale mischievous looks. Cassie knew those expressions far too well. She should have realized then that something was coming, but she simply hadn't anticipated how quickly it would happen.
Severus sat quietly with a cup of tea when his expression suddenly changed. Cassie looked over just as he stood abruptly. He made it outside before he began vomiting.
"Sev!" Cassie hurried after him. Behind her came the unmistakable sound of Fred and George laughing. She stopped and slowly turned. "You didn't." Neither twin answered. "You put something in his tea?"
Fred shrugged. "Seriously, Cassie—"
"Why would you bring him—" continued George.
"Of all the Hogwarts professors—"
"Here?"
Cassie's jaw dropped. "You actually did. You dosed him with your vomiting solution!"
"It was only a little—" started George.
Cassie glared at them. "It's my birthday, you assholes! Can't you leave it alone for one day?"
Molly was already rushing inside toward the medicine cupboard. "Arthur!" she yelled.
"I'll handle them," said Arthur with a sigh.
Ginny appeared with a cold cloth, looking terrified. Cassie took it from her.
Severus was doubled over, his breathing ragged as he continued retching.
She crouched beside him and pressed the cloth to his clammy forehead. "I'm so sorry, Sev."
He tried to answer. Instead, he began vomiting again. Cassie's glare toward the house could have melted stone.
Fred's voice called from the doorway. "Well, it's not like he can give us detention now!"
"No," Arthur replied angrily from behind him, "but I can ground you for a month!"
Cassie looked toward the twins. "Like you didn't earn every single detention he gave you!"
"That's not the point!" George wandered farther into the yard despite Arthur's warning. "Why are you calling him 'Sev'?"
"Because he's my boyfriend, you imbecile!" Cassie snapped.
Silence. Complete, stunned silence. Cassie froze. Oh, well. There it was. That wasn't how she had intended to tell them. Not remotely.
She looked around. Everyone was staring. Molly stood frozen with a vial in her hand. Arthur was slack-jawed. Ted's eyebrows had shot upward. Andromeda looked like she was fighting desperately not to smile.
Ron's mouth hung open as his ears burned bright red. "Sick!" he declared.
Cassie rolled her eyes. "Thank you for your contribution, Ron."
Molly finally seemed to remember how to move. She hurried toward Cassie and handed her the antidote. Then she stopped abruptly. "Charlie!"
Cassie's stomach dropped as she looked toward the driveway. Sure enough, Charlie was approaching the house with a bouquet of tulips in his hands.
"Oh, fuck," Cassie muttered.
Severus, still looking ill, followed her gaze. "Oh, this is lovely," he groaned. Then he began vomiting again.
Cassie closed her eyes. This was going spectacularly. It was, however, exactly the sort of chaos one could expect at the Burrow.
Once she managed to get the antidote into Severus and the vomiting finally stopped, Cassie used her wand to clean him up and helped him back inside. Molly and Arthur banished all their children—including a thoroughly confused Charlie—to the upstairs.
Eventually, the adults gathered in the sitting room. Cassie and Severus sat together on one side. Molly and Arthur occupied the opposite couch, while Andromeda and Ted stood behind them.
For several seconds, no one spoke. Arthur finally cleared his throat. "So." Cassie waited for him to continue. "You two are..." He waved vaguely between them. "Are, uh—"
"Dating," Cassie confirmed.
Arthur nodded. "I see."
Molly simply stared. Cassie took a breath. "That's not exactly how we wanted to tell you."
Andromeda's lips twitched. "That's one way to do it."
"Fred and George have a knack for making things theatrical," said Cassie. She glanced toward Severus. He looked exhausted. Not angry, exactly. Just drained.
Ted crossed his arms. "I don't know if it's the best idea—"
"Ted," Andromeda interrupted gently, "she isn't asking our permission." And Merlin knows we didn't ask my family's opinion when we got together."
Ted sighed. "I know."
Arthur smiled at Cassie. "Andromeda is right. Cassie is perfectly capable of making her own decisions." He turned toward Severus. "As far as I am concerned, you're welcome here at any time. Our children's opinions be damned."
Cassie's face softened. "Thank you." She reached over and squeezed Severus's hand. "That means a lot."
Severus looked toward Arthur. "That is gracious of you, Mr. Weasley."
Ted noticed their hands, and his expression tightened slightly. Severus pulled his hand away from Cassie's.
Molly finally spoke. "Oh, dear. I'm so sorry, Cassie. If I'd known, I never would have encouraged Charlie to come."
"Nonsense." Cassie stood and crossed the room to hug her. "This is his home."
"But I told him to come back and win you over," Molly admitted sheepishly. "He's home for the next two days. He had to beg his instructor to get a Portkey from Romania and everything. Oh, I should have listened to Percy. He told me not to meddle."
Cassie sighed. She looked toward Severus. She didn't technically need his permission, but she wanted his approval. She wanted him to know that Charlie's presence didn't diminish what she felt for him.
Severus's expression was difficult to read. Cassie knew him well enough to understand what was beneath the stoicism. He was uncomfortable. Jealous, perhaps. Exhausted.
Finally, he said simply, "Go."
Cassie's face softened. She took his hand and pressed a quick kiss to it. Then she left to fetch Charlie. Everyone else remained in the house to give them privacy while they were outside.
"My brothers and sister told me some interesting gossip while I was upstairs," Charlie started.
Cassie groaned. "Ron?"
"Particularly Ron. He seemed horrified."
"Of course," Cassie smiled. "Is that your way of asking whether I'm with Severus?"
Charlie looked at her. "Are you really dating him, Green Pea?"
"Yes." She said it firmly. "We're very happy."
Charlie seemed to struggle with that. "But..." He shook his head. "How?"
Cassie raised an eyebrow. "How what? That's a rather vague question."
"But he's so old!"
Cassie scoffed. "He's thirty-two, Charlie. Not your grandfather."
"He's so unpleasant!" Charlie continued. "Does he ever smile?"
"He's not unpleasant with me."
"Joke?"
"Occasionally."
"Does he—"
"Charlie." Cassie sighed. "I didn't come out here so you could interrogate me about my relationship." She nudged his arm. "How have you been?"
"I'm fine."
Cassie barked out a laugh. "You're terrible at lying. You're covered in burns." She had noticed them almost immediately. Old scars marked his arms and newer red burns stood out against his skin. He had also lost a significant amount of weight since leaving for Romania, though his limbs had gained considerable muscle. His hair was shaggier. His face carried more stubble. Something about him felt harder and more rugged now.
"You work with dragons every day," she continued. "You probably get scorched, bitten, thrown across fields, and nearly eaten regularly, and your answer is fine."
Charlie laughed. Then he began talking. He told her about his training and the dragons he'd encountered. The near misses. The handlers who had taught him and the dragons he liked best.
Cassie listened, fascinated. It was wonderful to talk with him again. Their letters over the past year had been sporadic and awkward, reduced to brief updates whenever either of them had the time. Now they were together again, and it felt like no time had passed.
Eventually, their conversation shifted. "Tonks told me in her last letter that Fudge is blocking your chances to do Auror training," Charlie ventured gently.
Cassie sighed. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Because he can."
Charlie frowned. "That's not a reason."
"It's the only one I've got." They had reached the edge of the yard now, near the swampy patch where the children liked hunting for toads.
"So what are you going to do?" he asked.
"There's nothing to do."
"You're just going to let him stop you?"
Cassie looked at him. "He's got the final say."
"But Cass, you've got so much potential." Cassie looked toward the garden. A pair of gnomes were wrestling over a pebble. One punched the other squarely in the face, and Cassie giggled. Charlie stared at her. "Are you listening?"
Her smile faded. "Dumbledore has a plan."
Charlie sat beside her. "What kind of plan?"
"He's working out the details, but he wants to send me to Brazil for a couple of years. There's an advanced dueling program affiliated with Castelobruxo. An old friend of Dumbledore's runs it."
"And you're going? Just like that?"
"It's not exactly just like that." She sighed. "It's a lot to take in."
"Does Professor Snape think you should go?"
"He's encouraged it."
Charlie nodded slowly. "But you don't sound convinced."
Cassie stared across the garden. "Do you remember that day in the Forbidden Forest?"
Charlie stared at her. "The centaurs."
She told him everything. Her second meeting with Firenze. The prophecy Trelawney had made. The pieces of information that had gradually begun fitting together. Charlie listened without interruption. When she finished, he looked at her with an expression that was far more serious than before. "So," he ventured, "Dumbledore wants you trained because he thinks there's going to be another war."
Cassie swallowed. "Yeah. No escaping the reality of it now, is there?"
They stayed there a while longer. Eventually, evening settled over the Burrow. Cassie knew Severus had probably reached his maximum capacity for social interaction hours ago.
She and Charlie went back inside. Arthur and Molly were discussing Bill's adventures in Egypt. Severus was quietly watching Ron and Percy's chess match. Cassie had to suppress a laugh when Ron slowly turned his head and narrowed his eyes at Severus, as if checking that the Potions Master wasn't doing anything suspicious.
"Ron," Cassie said. He immediately looked back at the chessboard.
Eventually, Cassie announced that she and Severus would be leaving. Hugs and well wishes followed. Cassie was relieved to see Charlie settle onto the couch between Fred and George. He had returned to the Burrow for her, but now he had an evening to spend with his family.
Andromeda and Ted left at the same time. The four of them walked down the dirt drive together. Andromeda was warm in her goodbye. Ted, however, remained wary. He gave Severus a firm handshake and an even firmer look before he and Andromeda Apparated away.
Severus sighed. "Your uncle seemed to like me until he learned we were together."
"He's protective."
"He asked me what sort of salary I make as a Hogwarts professor while you were outside."
Cassie snorted. "He did not."
"He most certainly did," he said quietly. "He also asked what my intentions were with you."
Cassie burst out laughing. "What did you tell him?"
"Fortunately, Arthur interrupted."
"Thank Merlin."
They reappeared in Cokesworth with a loud crack. Then they walked toward the little house on Spinner's End.
"At least one of my paternal figures kept a level head about us," Cassie mused as they crossed the threshold.
Severus sat down on the threadbare couch. "Regardless, I don't appreciate being made to feel like a damn teenager."
Cassie smiled. "Well, there you have it. You thought dating me meant you'd get to avoid awkward family dynamics."
"Please." He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "You bring nothing but awkward family dynamics."
Cassie laughed. She settled beside him and rested her head against his chest. She had meant to show her appreciation for everything he'd endured that afternoon differently. But now that they were home, the quiet felt better.
They had all summer. They had a home now, a place where they didn't have to steal moments. For tonight, they could simply hold each other.
Severus wrapped one arm around her and pulled her closer. Cassie felt herself becoming warm and sleepy. His steady breathing was more relaxing to her than any warm, honey-flavored elixir.
She thought about the day and about the future that seemed to be rushing toward her faster than she could prepare for it. And beneath all it was the simplest thing. She was home with him.
Cassie had almost drifted off when she heard Severus's equally tired voice above her. "Happy birthday, Cassie." She smiled against his chest. "I love you."
Her eyes closed. "I love you, too."