Standard Disclaimers Apply
A/N: * is scene I stole from the Gilmore Girls episode Sid and Nancy. Oh and once again today's technology advancement is available in the 90's because even though I lived in the 90's I don't remember when this or that came out and I don't feel like researching when Apple became something big and computers made everything easier for us. And yes the "Muggle" devices work in Severus and Hermione's house because they aren't in a magical community or surrounded by a lot of magical energy. Don't forget to review it keeps the chapters coming and a wonderful shout out to: Themarshalwoman09 for helping me with the writing, and Just look in the mirror for betaing.
Chapter 10
*"You are hilarious!" Hermione yelled as she sat up in the middle of the bed, glaring at the alarm clock that was on the mantel. She swung her legs out of bed and shuffled to the mantel, hiking the thin strap of her tank top up onto her shoulder as she made her way down to the kitchen stairs. "Okay, see, last night, when I said to you, 'No matter what, make sure I get up at seven,' what I actually meant was, 'Make sure I have the option of getting up at seven in case when seven comes, I actually wanna get up,' which – as it happened – I didn't," she informed him as she pulled the coffee mug from the cabinet as he stood at the stove cooking her breakfast.
"Done," he said, coming up behind her and taking the clean cup only to replace it with the filled coffee cup.
"Morning, Mummy," Lexie said from her chair beside Dessa.
"Morning, sweeties," Hermione said, moving over to where they were and kissing both girls on the top of their heads.
"What are your plans for the day," Severus asked, setting a plate of pancakes and sausage down on the table.
"You are going to laugh at me, but I had a crazy idea about three this morning," Hermione said.
"Any idea at three in the morning is crazy," Severus said, helping Lexie with her plate.
"I want you to go see if the Malfoys can come over, especially Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said as Severus took a sip of his coffee.
Severus started choking at her announcement. Coughing to clear his throat, he looked at her. "You want me to invite Narcissa over here," Severus repeated.
"Yes, hear me out first," Hermione said.
"I'm listening." Severus sat down.
"Mrs. Malfoy is used to living this way, whereas I'm still trying to figure it all out. I don't want to ask your mum or grandmother for help because…well, let's face it, I don't want to look like the stupid Muggleborn. So I figured I'd have Mrs. Malfoy do a walkthrough of the house and tell me where and what I'm lacking in or whatever, and add it all to my lists. I'll get more information from her than what Ranulf was able to give me last night about weekly meetings and put it all too good use before I invite your family and mine over to see the house…"
"Ok, but only on one condition," Severus said.
"What?"
"One, you take Narcissa shopping with you around the Wizarding world; she knows all the best shops fit for royalty, secondly…." Severus started.
"You said only on one condition," Hermione pointed out.
"I lied, there's a second condition," Severus said with a smirk.
"Don't mention our titles."
"No, I highly suggest you do. Secondly, I suggest you have her help you pick out some robes and such for the formal bull crap we are obligated to attend," Severus said.
"I can agree to those terms, and although I despise the Malfoys, she was the only one I could think of to help me that would be bluntly honest," Hermione admitted.
"I'll go as soon as breakfast is over," Severus said.
"Thank you," Hermione said smiling.
The morning post arrived with the Daily Prophet, Severus let the owl in before sitting back down to read the paper. "Damn it," he cursed.
"What," Hermione asked as he showed her the front page.
Their marriage had made the front page news along with Severus being a Dumbledore and heir to the Prince throne, by some unknown source in the Ministry. Of course Rita Skeeter had portrayed Hermione as the gold-digging witch by bringing up her supposed relationship with Harry and Ron and her relationship with Victor Krum.
"You should warn Kingsley to keep an eye out for any beetles," Hermione huffed out angrily.
"Why do you say that," Severus asked.
"Skeeter is an unregistered animagus, I kept her locked in a jar for almost a year during the Triwizard Tournament."
"I'll take care of Skeeter, don't worry. Well, I better get going if I'm going to ask Narcissa for that favor," Severus said, standing up.
"I better warn Harry and Ron," Hermione said, unplugging her mobile from the charger and dialing Harry's number.
****S&H****
"You want me to do what," Narcissa asked tonelessly.
"Hermione wants you to come and do a walk-through of the house telling her what needs improving and getting her ready…" Severus said as Narcissa held up a hand.
"I heard you the first time, Severus, I just can't believe it."
"I have to agree with Cissy on this, Severus," Lucius said. "That girl was tortured in our house in front of us," Lucius said. "We may not have tortured her personally, but we did nothing to interfere either."
"I know that, and I understand why you didn't, even if you had known, you couldn't have risked it. She's offering you an olive branch, and I sincerely hope you will take it not for your own sakes, but for mine. I don't want to run interference every time my best friends and wife are in the same room together."
"Severus, we aren't stupid enough to turn down the offer; it is just the thing to help put the Malfoy name back where it was," Lucius said.
"Then shall we," Severus said, not caring if it helped Lucius and Narcissa with their social standing. It just meant he had at least somebody interesting to converse with at the boring functions he'd have to attend as Duke of Strathpeffer.
****S&H****
"Good grief, Severus, those are hideous," Narcissa scoffed once they were in front of the front door.
"What," Severus asked.
"Those," Narcissa said, pointing at the lion and serpent wood carvings.
"I'm glad you agree, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said, meeting them at the front door. "Thank goodness they are only temporary," Hermione said. "There's a list of animals to choose from for the crest, and also a list of the books that need to be rated in your office," Hermione said.
"Lucius can help," Severus said with a smile. "Where's the girls," he asked, concerned.
"Lexie is watching a movie in her room and Dessa is in her walker," Hermione said just as there was a clatter behind her. "Correction, Dessa is picking flowers," Hermione said, turning around. "Oh, Dessa," Hermione turned to see Dessa trying to grab the roses that had fallen off the foyer table. A simple flick of her wand had the vase repaired and the roses back in the vase.
"Who's this little one," Narcissa asked.
"This is Iridessa, Dessa for short," Hermione said proudly.
"She's very beautiful, looks like my daughter, Lyra," Narcissa said.
"Thank you," Hermione said.
"Severus explained you wanted my assistance on how a proper lady of a manor would act and to get the house ready for a house warming party," Narcissa said.
"Yes, I'm not sure about the party though," Hermione said.
"Very well," Narcissa said. "Do you have something to take notes on," she asked.
"Yes," Hermione said, indicating her dictation pen and pad floating off to her right.
"Good," Narcissa said. "First, those carvings must go; too much house rivalry," she said.
"The family crest will go there once he picks the animal, though I'm highly leaning towards the silver wolf with green eyes on a red and black tartan with the motto: verum ut temetipsum1.
"Done," Severus said, propelling Dessa and her walker into his office and jerking Lucius inside behind Dessa. "Have fun," he quipped, shutting his door.
"Now that we are alone," Hermione said with a smile and shake of her head. "Do you want to start upstairs or downstairs?"
"I say upstairs and work our way down, ending in your office," Narcissa said. "Now about you answering the door when we arrived," Narcissa started as they slowly climbed up the stairs. "A lady never answers the door; your footman should do that or your butler," Narcissa said.
"Which one?" Hermione asked. "I have both."
"In that case, normally your footman answers the door, and your butler announces your guest, " Narcissa said,
Not wanting to record every word they said, Hermione took the pen and paper and took the notes on Narcissa's comments and suggestions herself.
They worked their way through the third floor guestrooms, adding little touches to make them feel homier. Continuing on their tour, they made their way from the third floor to the second floor using the stairs leading down to the kitchen on the main floor. Narcissa called them the servant stairs, but Hermione called them the kitchen stairs because they started or ended depending on if you were going up or down in the kitchen.
"What were you planning for this room?" Narcissa asked, looking at the bare loft.
"I really hadn't made up my mind," Hermione said. "I thought a sitting room, perhaps," Hermione added.
"Perhaps," Narcissa said as she walked down the hall, checking the bedrooms.
When they made it to Lexie's room, they both stood in the doorway quietly watching Lexie practice for her upcoming recital.
"That was wonderful, sweetie," Hermione clapped along with a stunned Narcissa.
"Thank you, Mummy," Lexie said. "May I go out to my garden now," Lexie asked.
"Yes, just change into your play clothes," Hermione said as her and Narcissa walked back out of the room.
"Severus failed to mention that you already had children," Narcissa said as they continued on down the hall looking at Hermione, trying to recall if she had ever heard it mentioned that Hermione had been pregnant.
"Oh, well, um...Lexie isn't my biological daughter; she's Severus's. Only Dessa is my biological daughter," Hermione clarified, looking at Narcissa, who was confused. "Alexandria, or Lexie as we call her for short is eight years old. Her mother is some girl named Emma that Severus was involved with a few years ago.
"Severus never said a word about it! Although I do know from Lucius that he and Emma split up because Severus wanted children and Emma didn't," Narcissa said looking hurt for just a moment of not knowing.
"I'm surprised you didn't know about Lexie," Hermione said as they walked along the half hallway to the master suite.
"Why are you surprised that Severus wouldn't have said anything to me," Narcissa asked.
"Severus named you and Lord Malfoy Lexie's godparents," Hermione said.
****S&H****
"So you and Granger," Lucius said, smirking.
"If you can't say anything nice, don't say it," Severus warned sternly.
"I wasn't." Lucius said. "I can't say that I am too surprised. You always did like the intelligent ones, but I'm surprised because of her age," Lucius commented.
"She may only be eighteen, but she acts as if she's thirty," Severus said.
"Yes, kind of like Charity," Lucius said, bringing up Severus's little liaison with Charity Burbage.
"We stopped that liaison, as you call it, ten years ago, and the Dark Lord didn't help matters any," Severus said.
"Yes, and that whole Emma Burton debacle certainly didn't help matters either," Lucius said firmly.
"Leave Emma out of this," Severus said.
"Oh, no, my friend. Emma Burton was ten times worse than Veronica."
"I couldn't agree with you more, but at least Veronica wanted her daughter," Severus commented.
"Don't tell me Emma had an abortion," Lucius said, staring at his friend in horror.
"No, but my bank account was fifty thousand galleons lighter thanks to her," Severus said.
"I'm not sure I understand," Lucius said, confused.
"Emma sold me our daughter," Severus said.
"Sold you, your daughter," Lucius stammered. "Severus, you realize any child she gave you is probably not yours right," Lucius said, remembering how Emma had left Severus some nine years ago, and any baby of Severus would have to be at least eight or nine years old by now.
"She's eight, so trust me when I say I'm fairly certain Lexie's mine," Severus said.
"She's eight," Lucius said as understanding washed over him. "You did with your daughter as I did with Lyra, didn't you," Lucius said.
"Pretty much," Severus said. "Only difference is where Lyra had Veronica to take care of her, Emma didn't even offer; she just left so I asked my mother to take care of Lexie once he was back."
"I think somebody is trying to escape," Lucius said, pointing a finger at Dessa who was trying to use her walker to get back out into the foyer.
"Damnit," Severus huffed, getting up to get Dessa. "I forgot how fast these little buggers move," Severus said, picking Dessa up.
"Yeah, but they are so worth all of the trouble they cause," Lucius said.
****S&H****
"You need a mirror in the entrance corridor for guests to check their appearance," Narcissa said. "No guest should cross that line." She said pointed to the imaginary line between the two walls that led into the foyer. "Only after they have been invited and announced should they ever cross."
"And if they do," Hermione asked.
"You can invoke the hospitality clause as Lady of Manor," Narcissa said. "Simply meaning you may go to their house and do the same," Narcissa explained.
"What's down this way," Narcissa asked.
"A half bath and the library," Hermione answered. "Now the library is needing cataloging due to the kids and some inappropriate Dark Arts text at their level," Hermione explained as Narcissa opened the door to the half bath.
"A small pottery plant in the corner for decoration, artificial or real, doesn't matter," Narcissa said. "I suggested artificial ivy to go with burgundy walls," she added before closing the door, only to open the library door. "A couple lounge pillows for the children's reading section, a safeguard age blocking charm on the ladder and the floors with the advanced texts," Narcissa said.
"How," Hermione asked.
"How old is your daughter," Narcissa asked.
"She's ten months, and Lexie is eight," Hermione said.
"What floors are Lexie allowed access to," Narcissa asked.
"At least the ground floor and the first floor as well, I think," Hermione said.
"Watch," Narcissa said, doing a figure eight pattern, then seven circles and aiming her wand at the fourth, third and second floor. She repeated the same motions for the first floor, only circling her wand one time before pointing at first floor while saying the incantation. "There they are safe guarded," Narcissa said.
"Thank you," Hermione admitted gratefully.
"Who was you decorator?" Narcissa asked as they walked back out into the foyer.
"That would be me," Hermione said.
"Really well so far. You've done an excellent job," Narcissa complimented.
"You don't think I should have done a pastel-blue for the walls instead of the celeste-blue," Hermione questioned.
"No," Narcissa said, walking into the laundry and mudroom. "Very neat, organized," she commented as she continued on her way to the solarium. "Some more greenery, though it's designed lovely."
"I took the idea from Severus's grandmother, only hers was lavender and black," Hermione said.
"It's lovely," Narcissa said softly. "Nice view of the garden and pool," Narcissa said as she walked towards the living room. "More seating, just a few more chairs," she stated.
They continued on throughout the house and did a tour of the gardens, the guest house, in-law suite, and the pool house loft. When they finished, they walked into Hermione's office.
"It's very beautiful; you just need some more personal touches here and there like a few pictures, rugs, and things of that nature," Narcissa said.
"I'll add them to my shopping list," Hermione said, scribbling down notes. "Since you're Lady of Malfoy Manner, do you mind if I ask you a few questions about running the household." Hermione asked as Narcissa sat down on of the chintz chairs.
"No, of course not," Narcissa said in a friendly tone.
"Well, my first question," Hermione started off timidly, "is how do I do it? I know weekly meetings, keeping track of expenditures, giving the Heads of staff an allowance, creating menus and such, and inspections, but I'm not exactly sure what all that implies," Hermione said softly, feeling very stupid.
"Hermione, relax, it's perfectly all right for you not to know or have a routine down yet. You just started your household and you've never worked with elves before outside of Hogwarts," Narcissa pointed out.
"True, but I want…no, I need to know in order to find the balance," Hermione said.
"Don't worry, I'll help you or instruct you," Narcissa said, smiling softly. "Now, where to start," Narcissa said thoughtfully. "We'll start with ledgers, expenditures, allowances," Narcissa said. "Now with you being an intelligent witch, I don't have to explain every detail as to what they mean," Narcissa said, causing Hermione to laugh.
"No, I know the meaning and the concept to a certain point," Hermione said with a snicker.
"Ok, your ledgers are just your record books," Narcissa said.
"How do you do it," Hermione asked.
"Sanrey," Narcissa called out.
"Yes, Mistress," the house elf asked.
"Fetch my household ledgers," Narcissa said. "All of them," she added before Sanrey had a chance to pop out and reappear holding the books. "You may go," Narcissa said to the house elf. "You might be able to get a better idea if you look over them," Narcissa said, handing them over to Hermione.
Hermione looked them over closely. "It all seems pretty straight-forward," Hermione said after studying Narcissa's ledgers. "I have just a few questions," Hermione said.
"Ask," Narcissa said.
"What do you do a menu ledger for? Why do you break down your meals as to how many ears of corn you serve to how many diner rolls are made?"
"It's just for my benefit," Narcissa said. "It's my way of doing inventory," she explained.
"So basically, I don't have to break the meals down like you did with breakfast, lunch and supper," Hermione said.
"Yes," Narcissa said. "You can do one weekly, or biweekly, but just remember the golden rule of thumb; for every four have a seven stacked to go," Narcissa said.
"Meaning?" Hermione questioned.
"Meaning, for every four course meal have a seven course prepared with the same four courses so if an important unexpected guest shows up you are prepared," Narcissa said.
"A good rule to have if you are in my position, but are we saying a seven course meal for the Minister of Magic or someone of equal importance?" Hermione inquired.
"Say the Queen or King gets seven or someone of equal importance, I think our new Minister would settle happily for a four course meal. And every gala should always have seven courses," Narcissa said.
****S&H****
"Yes, and at least this time I have the chance to do it right. Not only do I get to watch Dessa grow up and experience all the things with her that I never really had the chance to with Lexie, but I also get to experience those things with the woman I love," Severus said, holding Dessa who grabbed his nose.
"Yes, that makes all the difference in the world," Lucius agreed, watching his friend play with his daughter.
"If you had it to do over again, would you do anything differently," Severus asked curiously, kissing Dessa's hand.
"I do not regret being Lyra's father if that is what you mean, but I do regret the fact that I was not truly in love with her mother and the fact that our affair caused Cissy such hurt. I suppose if I had to say that I would have done anything differently it would be that I would have told Cissy about Lyra and Veronica sooner so that it wouldn't have come as such a shock to her when Veronica was ill and Lyra was so suddenly thrust upon her to care for," Lucius said.
"Yes, but at least she was willing. I have to say given the fact that she had already suffered such loss of her own with the miscarriages, I was surprised that she so openly welcomed Lyra into your home and her heart," Severus said, once again feeling how lucky he was that Hermione had accepted Lexie.
"As was I, but Lyra is what brought us back together. I'm not saying that it happened overnight, but as we bonded over that precious little girl, that was the beginning of our marital bliss. It had been months since Cissy had let me touch her in the way a man touches a woman...since before the last miscarriage," Lucius admitted.
"Yes, but seeing as how your marriage started as an arrangement, I can see how that could have transpired," Severus pointed out.
****S&H****
"Might I make another suggestion," Narcissa asked, eyeing Hermione over carefully.
"Yes, please," Hermione said, looking at the clock.
"Perhaps we could go shopping this afternoon after lunch?" Narcissa asked.
"Oh, well...I don't know," Hermione said.
"We could start shopping for some of those little extra touches I suggested," Narcissa started.
"I wouldn't want to impose. I'm sure you must have other things you would rather be doing besides shopping for things for my home," Hermione said, smiling sweetly.
"Nonsense. It's the perfect excuse to go shopping and that is something I would rather do any day," Narcissa said.
"Well, Severus did suggest that maybe you could help me pick out some formal robes for some of the more important occasions," Hermione said. "My taste aren't exactly for formal wear," she admitted.
"Then it's settled. We are going shopping," Narcissa said, smiling.
"Thank you," Hermione said.
"No thanks are necessary," Narcissa returned.
"But I'm going to warn you now, I most likely will be popping over into the Muggle Strathpeffer and London," Hermione warned.
"If that's the case, I vote we go shopping in Muggle London tomorrow, I can make all the necessary arrangements for us to shop," Narcissa said.
"Very well, we'll do the high class shopping on Monday and today we'll do the middle and low class shopping," Hermione said.
"Lunch is served, Mistress," Rolf said, popping into the office.
"Thank you, Rolf, I'll tell Master Snape myself, but have Tana fetch Lexie from her garden," Hermione said firmly.
"See you know what you're doing," Narcissa said proudly.
"Thank you," Hermione said.
****S&H****
"Are you saying that your marriage didn't start as an arrangement," Lucius asked, surprised.
"On the surface maybe, but I think we both knew that we had feelings for each other that would eventually lead us to something more," Severus said with a smirk.
"I couldn't agree more," Hermione said, smiling lovingly at Severus and Dessa.
"How long have you been standing there," Severus asked.
"Long enough. Lunch is ready if you boys want to join us," Hermione said.
"Where's Narcissa," Lucius asked.
"She's making arrangements for our shopping trip to Muggle London tomorrow," Hermione said.
"You're shopping with Cissy in Muggle London tomorrow," Lucius stated rather than asked. "I wish you luck," Lucius said.
"Why," Hermione asked curiously.
"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, but there is a reason Narcissa is considered the Queen of shopping," Lucius said.
"We are going to take the girls with us," Hermione said.
"That's fine, but you know...Lucius and I can watch the girls if you like while you go shopping," Severus offered.
"No, that's ok. They need to get out and socialize. Besides I really want to take Lexie along. This way she knows that I value her opinion on things. And it just wouldn't be fair if Lexie got to go and Dessa didn't," Hermione said.
"Dessa isn't old enough to know the difference," Severus pointed out as they sat down at the kitchen table.
"But I would know," Hermione said. "And this way, if I find a cute outfit for Dessa, I can hold it up to her to see if it's going to fit," Hermione said.
"Our visit to Westfield is all set up," Narcissa said, joining them from Hermione's office. "We leave at eight sharp," she added.
"But the mall doesn't open until ten," Hermione said.
"I took care of it," Narcissa said smilingly, leaving Hermione to wonder how they were shopping.
****S&H****
Strathpeffer didn't have much in the way of shops. It was just run-of-the mill tourist attraction shops and a local grocery store to get by until you could go to the bigger cities.
Squireton Square was like Hogsmeade made over, and minus the Hog's Head, but the Boar's nest was just the equivalent of the Hog's Head. They drove back to the house with only a few purchases from the Fair Trade store in Strathpeffer. They drove the thirty-two minutes to Inverness, to go ASDA where she easily got most of the items on her grocery, household, and miscellaneous lists. She did pick Dessa up a new outfit, and shoes and she couldn't get one girl something and not the other, so she picked up a new pink leotard for Lexie and new pink ballet shoes.
When they arrived back home, Hermione let the house-elves carry everything into the house and put it away. "Ranulf, where is Severus," Hermione asked.
"He's out playing billiards with Lord Malfoy," Ranulf answered.
"Thank you, Ranulf," Hermione said. "Tana, can you put Dessa down for her nap," Hermione asked, handing the almost asleep Dessa over to Tana. "Lexie," Hermione said looking around for Lexie but not seeing her. "Where'd she go," Hermione asked.
"Her garden to introduce 'Cissy' to her other dolls," Narcissa answered.
"Oh," Hermione said. "Ailith," Hermione called.
"Yes, Mistress," Ailith said.
"Leave the pot roast out; we'll have it for supper with carrots, onions and potatoes and gravy," Hermione said.
"Yes, Mistress," Ailith said, smiling proudly.
"Now let's go find our husbands," Hermione said.
****S&H****
"We need to do this more often," Lucius said as he hung his pool stick back up in the rack.
"Yeah, next time we ought to have Pius and Reg join us," Severus said.
"Yeah," Lucius agreed. "Since you're married now, are you still going to meet up for drinks on Thursday," Lucius asked.
"I may be married, but then so are you, but Hermione isn't going to care if I stop in the Hog's Head for a few pints," Severus said.
"I know I'm married, but it used to piss Narcissa off to where…let's just say her ways of revenge were anything but pleasurable," Lucius said.
"Hermione isn't like that," Severus said.
"You say that now, my friend, but at some point all wives resort to using sex as a means to either get what they want or to punish you," Lucius said. "Just make sure you have permission before you go," Lucius said.
"I repeat, Hermione isn't like that," Severus said firmly.
"Hermione isn't like what," Hermione asked, walking into the pool house.
"Go on, Severus, tell her how you don't need permission to go out Thursday night," Lucius said cheekily.
"He doesn't need my permission to go out," Hermione said. "If he wants to go out Thursday night, he can," Hermione said.
"Hermione, you do realize that they are going out drinking Thursday night, right?" Narcissa asked.
"Don't Apparate drunk. Call home and I'll come get you," Hermione said firmly.
"I don't believe it," Lucius said, looking at Hermione as if her head was going to explode at any second.
"What don't you believe," Narcissa asked.
"Granger," Lucius said.
"What about me don't you believe exactly," Hermione asked, looking at Lucius.
"You playing the sweet understanding wife, that's what," Lucius said seriously. "It has to be an act. I'd be willing to bet that if Cissy and I weren't here, you would be acting the complete opposite of the way you are now," Lucius said, looking to Severus.
"Then for your sake, it's a good thing you didn't make that bet," Hermione said, smirking.
"Alright, you two, that's enough," Severus said with a smirk on his face as he wrapped an arm around Hermione. "Lucius, I will see you Thursday night and don't forget it's your turn to pay."
"Diablo's Star at seven o'clock," Lucius said.
"I'll be there," Severus said, exasperated.
"Goodbye, Severus, Hermione," Narcissa said softly.
"Goodbye, Narcissa," Severus said.
"Goodbye, Narcissa," Hermione said, having already been instructed to call her Narcissa. "Thanks again for the shopping trip," Hermione said.
"No problem whatsoever," Narcissa said sweetly.
"The girls and I enjoyed it tremendously," Hermione admitted fondly.
"As did I. Well, I'm afraid we must be going, but we'll do it again on Monday," Narcissa said.
"I can't wait," Hermione said before Narcissa wrapped her arm around her husband's waist and they apparated away in a thunderous clap.
"Now see," Severus said, turning Hermione around to face him.
"See what," Hermione asked as he lifted her up and sat her down on the pool table.
"You said yourself that you had a good time," Severus pointed out.
"Yes, Narcissa isn't all that bad once you get to know her, but her husband..." Hermione said, running her hands up his chest only to rest them on his shoulders.
"Is my best friend," Severus reminded her.
"I know, and that's the only reason I didn't hex him. Imagine him thinking I would try and stop you from doing something you want to do," Hermione grumbled.
"I know; just ignore him," Severus said softly.
"Good idea because I have other things I'd much rather be doing," Hermione murmured, letting one hand slide behind his neck and pull him closer.
"And what would that be, Madam Snape," Severus smirked as he stepped in between her legs and leaned forward.
"Being snogged senseless by my husband," Hermione said, closing the distance between their mouths with a demanding kiss.
****S&H****
After supper, Hermione cleaned up the kitchen while Severus took the girls into the living room. Hermione knew she should be working on setting up her account books and menus, but for once in life she decided to put her work off until later in order to watch a movie with her family.
So there they all sat curled up together on the couch watching Faerie Tale Theater's Beauty and the Beast. Hermione was trying not to laugh at Lexie covering her eyes with Severus's hands when the Beast first appeared. By the time the movie was over, Dessa was fast asleep against Severus's chest beside her sister who was about half asleep along with Severus. Hermione quietly snuck off the couch and grabbed her muggle camera and snapped a picture of the three. The clicking sound of the camera caused Severus to stir.
"You better cast a silencing charm on the magical camera." Severus said, not opening his eyes.
"The Muggle one worked just fine, but you could hear a bloody pin drop a mile away," Hermione said.
Severus smirked as he opened his eyes. "You take Dessa, and I'll carry Lexie up," he said.
Hermione laid her camera down on the coffee table and moved over to pick Dessa up, as Severus scooped Lexie up into his arms and stood up with her.
They tucked Lexie into bed first before tucking Dessa into bed.
Hermione was about to go back downstairs to work on her books when Severus grabbed her hand and pulled her into their room.
"Worry about them tomorrow," he said, kissing her temple as he cast a wandless non- verbal divesto, leaving them both completely bare. Then before Hermione could say anything, he had them both dressed in their night clothes.
"Severus," Hermione gasped out as he picked her up and tucked her into bed.
"Shush," Severus said, curling into her back until they were spooned together. "Let's just sleep for now." He buried his face in her hair as he pulled her closer, before drifting back off to sleep.
1 verum ut temetipsum- to thy own self be true