AN: I apologise sincerely for taking so long to update. School has been hell! I apologise even further if this chapter is a little off and out of character, I will fix it up when I get a chance. Thank you to all you patient people. Much love to you all. Remember, if you have any ideas, PM me and I will try my hardest to include them!

An hour later and Annaliese was still shaking with fear in Severus' arms, her hands clutching tightly at the front of his shirt as she whimpered softly. Her cries had only just become a whimper when Severus placed his hand soothingly on her back, rubbing it with gentle care as his eyes darted around the room, looking for more safety hazards.

A boggart in my house? Nagini is my worst fear? Merlin. What in the world has happened to me?

Severus started thinking of all the possibilities, ways to make his daughter's room safer than a vault at Gringotts, but was soon interrupted by a small pair of hands playing with his hair, twisting it, twirling it, weaving it until he turned and looked at Annaliese with a curious expression. The look on her face surprised him when he looked at her; she was giving him a stern glare, one that would rival his own glare. Her tear stained face looking completely adorable as she frowned, as if daring him to move away and tell her not to play with his hair.

She was beginning to grow on him, weaving herself into his heart. Although Severus was blind to this, it was crystal clear to anybody that looked in from the outside.

A sharp knock at the front door broke Annaliese's glare as she slid down from her father's lap, ran out of her room and straight towards the front door, leaving Severus trailing along behind her. He wasn't expecting anyone... Was he? Opening the door, he snarled in distaste as he saw a bushy brown mass of hair and heard his daughter squeal with glee.

Great, the Granger chit is here.

"Hello Professor!" Hermione smiled in a bright cheery tone, much too cheery for Severus' taste, but Annaliese seemed to love it. She had a cheeky little grin on her face as Hermione tickled the young girl's sides, earning a wild cackle of happiness. Lifting the girl into her arms she walked inside, handing her bag and coat to Severus as he closed the door, bewildered, after her.

"Have you set up Anna's room yet?" she asked, looking up from her spot where she was knelt on the floor picking his daughter up in her arms.
"Yes." He ground out, wondering whether she had the right to ask something like that. It sure sounded as if she was demanding that Annaliese's bedroom had been decorated and finished.
"May I see it?" She asked eagerly, looking at the girl in her arms with an adoring smile.
"No." He said shortly, slightly wary of the Boggart.
"Why?" Hermione asked, demanding to know why she couldn't see her Goddaughter's bedroom. Her foot stomped on the floor like a child and Severus had to refrain from smirking.
"Because it is my house, and there are certain rooms I will allow my guests to enter. Bedrooms are not one of them." He allows a small, snide smirk to cross his features before turning and walking into the living room, leaving Hermione to follow with Annaliese giggling in her arms.

Hermione had been there for two hours now, playing with her goddaughter, tickling her until giggles were exploding from her tiny body as she turned bright red from laughter. She was an exhausted little munchkin by the time Hermione had finished playing and now they sat on the couch while the older girl read a book.

"And Pooh said, 'There is a rumbly in my tumbly!'" Hermione whispered softly as she watched Annaliese's big blue-black eyes fall closed softly. She let out a tiny sigh as she stood up and lifted the tiny girl in her arms, gently cradling her to her body as she walked into the kitchen to where Severus was sitting at the table reading a newspaper and drinking what she assumed to be coffee.

"You should never assume, Miss Granger. It is hot chocolate." He murmured, not looking up from his paper.
Clearing her throat a little, Hermione felt a blush rising in her cheeks. "Uh, Anna is asleep sir. Shall I put her to bed?"
"Yes, thank you." He muttered softly, trying not to turn around to look at his daughter asleep in Hermione's arms.

Hermione turned softly and walked down the passageway, stifling a gasp when she opened the door to Annaliese's bedroom. She was completely surprised by what her bedroom looked like, expecting dark or boring colours, not something that would suit a little girl. Walking over to the bed, she pulled the duvet back gently and laid the girl down on it. She tried to pull away, but Annaliese had her fingers wound into Hermione's top, not wanting to let her go. With a small sigh, Hermione crossed her fingers that Severus wouldn't be mad at her if she were to lay down with his daughter for a little while. The bed did look warm and inviting, and she was awfully tired. Sighing a little, Hermione put her head on the pillow next to Annaliese's and watched the young girl sleep peacefully in her arms.

Granger is taking a while. Maybe she went home. She is probably inspecting the bedroom, the nosy chit. Severus grumbled to himself while he stalked down the passageway and into his daughter's room. There on the bed was Hermione Granger and his daughter fast asleep, cuddled up to one-another. The sight made Severus' heart melt, as he stood in the doorway admiring the way the little girl and her godmother were cuddled so perfectly together. As if sensing that someone was watching them Hermione's eyes opened sleepily, taking in her surroundings, and then realising where she was and what she was doing, popped open wide.
"Professor Snape... I am so sorry. Annaliese was holding my shirt, so I just–" Hermione was stopped by Severus putting his hand up.
"I understand." He said shortly, turning abruptly and stalking back to the kitchen, leaving a baffled Hermione.

When he sat back down at the table, Severus let out a soft sigh. What the hell was he doing? Why did he just stand there and watch them sleeping? Hermione was an undeniably beautiful witch, but she was annoying, demanding and a know-it-all. Even if Annaliese did adore her, she wouldn't have any interest in him so he needed to keep a safe distance just in case his 'mini Severus' decided that Hermione Know-It-All Granger was a good suitor to play 'hide the sausage' with.

Merlin, when did I get so soft and mushy? Harden up Snape!