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The Potters had come over for the evening. As young James Potter played upstairs with the three Snape girls, Ginny and Hermione chatted in the kitchen.

The remaining 'men' of the family had settled down in the lounge to prepare for their Wizard Chess battle. Harry Potter and Severus Snape may not like each other, but since the war, they both held a grudging respect for the other.

The Boy Who Had Won The War sat on the left, his elbows resting on his knees as he leaned forward, eyes intent on the pieces lining up on the board before him. The Spy Who Changed History held the exact same posture opposite on the right. Physical differences aside, the only other difference between the players was the fact that Severus had a little body standing in the gap of his knees.

Delidyr Severus Snape – known as Del to his family – intently watched his father make his first move. His look never changed as his Uncle Harry responded. The four year old was enamoured with books and chess. His nose was perpetually in a book and he could watch a chess game for hours – magic or not.

When Severus and Harry entered Game 3 – the deciding match after a win each – their respective wives poked their heads into the lounge room. As a group of girls dashed between the two women, Hermione Snape spoke. 'Del, time for bed.'

Severus had been swiftly kissed and abandoned by his three daughters – one a spitting image of himself, but thankfully minus the nose, the other two spitting images of each other, apart from their hair colour – when his only son had turned his head up with a plea. 'No Dad!' he begged. 'I want to stay.'

Severus shifted his eyes toward Hermione who was standing in the doorway, Ginny having moved into the room to allow Harry to kiss their yawning son just like his adoptive cousins had. Raising an eyebrow, he posed a wordless question, nodding his head slightly in Del's direction.

His young wife sighed. 'Fine. You can stay until you fall asleep.' She raised her finger in warning. 'No later.'

Del bounced up and down in his victory, pushing off his father's knees in his excitement. He hit his father's chin as he turned to his mother. 'Thank you Mummy!'

'You'll have to be thankful for a lot more if you don't get back down here,' growled Severus, rubbing his chin.

Del looked up with an 'oops' and placed a kiss to his father's sore spot. 'All better now,' he said in a very Hermione-like tone. 'Now back to the game.'

Severus smirked as he made his move and they continued their game.

It was a long game. They'd just passed the time of both games put together when Del began to do his toilet dance, shifting from foot to foot, his hands clasped together, squeezing even as his eyes never left the board. 'Del, move it,' ordered Severus.

'But I'll miss the game,' protested Del.

'Well hurry up then,' responded Severus shortly, moving his knight three spaces forward and one to the right.

Del did a runner from between his father's legs, intent on the toilet. He spun on the spot when he reached the door, turning back with a worried look on his young face, looking so much like his mother. 'Dad – I'll be back.'

Severus just waved him on, his hand flapping to keep him moving. Looking up from the board, he saw his opponent struggling to contain his laughter. 'What are you laughing about Potter?' he sneered.

'Nothing,' answered Harry merrily. 'Just noticing the effect your children have on you.' He moved his last pawn to the left. 'And you on them.'

Severus raised his eyebrow, but declined from responding as he considered his move.

Del returned quickly, pushing back his father's knee to stand between them once again. Severus kept his eye on the board, but lifted his arm and drew his son close to him as Harry made his move.

Twenty minutes later the game was still going strong and sleep was beginning to creep upon young Snape. Harry watched in amusement as Del began to fall sideways onto his father's arm, only to shake himself awake and stand again.

After he fell onto Snape for the fourth time in five minutes, Severus wrapped his arm around Del and pulled him up onto his lap. 'Daddy, I'm ... I'm not sleepy,' protested Del with a yawn, even as he snuggled closer.

'Sure son,' said Severus as Del leaned back and rested his head against his father's shoulder, watching the game from his new perch. Within ten minutes the game was over – a win to Harry. Not that Del was awake to see it. He had his hand firmly fisted in his father's shirt as he slept, mouth dropping open.

Severus had a few choice words to say about his loss, but mindful of possible young ears, kept the worst of them to himself as he stood up from his chair, an arm holding Del in place.

Harry headed for the kitchen to find his wife and friend as Severus headed upstairs to put his son to bed. Undressing his barely conscious child and dressing him in his pyjamas, he slipped him under the covers before checking on his siblings.

All four Snapes out like a light, he headed downstairs to find Hermione and her pregnant friend finishing off their cups of tea, Potter absent from the room. When Harry returned with the sleeping James on his shoulder, it was only a matter of minutes before farewells were exchanged and the Potters left.

Watching them walk down the path, Severus stood behind his waving wife. Once their visitors were out of sight, Severus brushed Hermione's hair from her neck and kissed the exposed skin.

Hermione moaned as he continued. He turned her, pulling her flush against his body, the arousal of both evident. He pressed his lips to hers, deepening the kiss as he backed her up against the doorframe. 'Remind me again why we entertain the Potters?' he growled against her lips.

'You're just jealous that Harry beat you,' responded the breathless woman before him.

'I did not lose to The Boy That Lived Again and Again thank you very much,' Severus retorted. 'He caught me at a bad time.'

'Whatever you say dear,' said Hermione in a condescendingly as Severus dragged her into the house and shut the door. 'Do I sense impertinence wife?'

'From me? Oh why never husband,' Hermione innocently replied, batting her eyelashes. 'Why ever would you think so?'

'I think we'll take this discussion elsewhere,' suggested Severus. 'Perhaps where less thinking is required.'

Backing away from her husband's body, Hermione reached down and caressed her husband's apparent arousal as she passed him by, dashing for the stairs.

As Severus Snape followed his wife up the steps in a more dignified, but no less swift, manner they weren't to know that this scene of domestic bliss was soon to be shattered.

Next Chapter: Severus Snape receives news.