It took them longer than they thought , and it was late when they finally sat down to their takeaway.

After they'd eaten their food , at Hermione's insistence they saved the leftovers for her to eat cold in the morning.

Severus had a spare room , but it was currently empty and being used for storage.

Taking her around in the chair , he gave her the "Grand Tour" of the small house.

Downstairs consisted of a kitchen and Living room/library (as most of the walls were covered in books) , the basement was where he had his potions lab , upstairs there was the master bedroom , spare bedroom and bathroom and then an attic space that he currently wasn't using.

" I have not changed the house since I have lived here" He admitted. "It holds no sentimentality to me, if anything I would like to see it changed , though I had no idea where to begin and it seemed pointless to go to the effort when I was the only one to see it"

He gestured to the fading wallpaper and tried to mask his embarrassment.

"The bones of the house are good , but the cosmetics need improving..." Looking once more at the ancient wallpaper , that had not been changed since his childhood , he added "...it definitely needs a woman's touch"

Make it yours, make it ours, make it a place you and cub would want to stay forever - was what he wanted to say but daren't


He showed her the spare room last of all.

"I thought that we would finish this room first , before doing the rest of the house " He gestured to the inside of the room , and she looked around as best as she could from her chair.

"The items in here are not important , and I have plenty of storage space in the attic for them"

Wiping the dust of one of the boxes with his hand , he quickly added.

"I will work on emptying this room tomorrow, then when it is clear we can have a look at some ideas you like once this internet is installed , once we decorate it to your taste we can shop for whatever furniture and essentials cub will need , before we start on the rest of the house"

"I can transfigure furniture..." she started but he waved her off.

"Nonsense ,buying real furniture is always the better option , lest an accidental finite in the wrong place turn your bed back into a matchbox" he said dryly and she chuckled.

Pleased with his plan, he turned to look at her only to frown at the worried look on her face as she bit her lip and looked around the room.

"What's wrong ? " he asked gently as she looked at him sadly.

"Severus...I know you keep saying it's only money...but you're talking about changing your whole house for me and cub, not to mention you must have spent £500 already just at the supermarket in one day...I'm not worth costing you all this money and time and effort.." She was getting wound up and tears were running down her face by the time he reached her.

She looked down ashamed, and buried her face in her hands to hide her tears.

He dropped to his knees in front of her.

"Hermione, please look at me "

She shook her head and refused to look at him , so he simply knelt beside her and stroked her back soothingly.

Even though she was trying her best not to look at him , as shame ran through her , it seems cub had other ideas , as soon as Severus was close enough for Cub to hear his voice , the baby started to kick emphatically leaving Hermione no choice but to remove her hands from her face to cup her swollen belly with a gasp.

Severus chuckled , and she glared at him despite her tears. "See, even Cub is on my side"

She couldn't help but huff out a laugh at that , and he placed a hand on her belly after looking to see if it was alright.

Deciding that the only way he was going to get through to her was action , he made up a plan in his head , but first he needed to see to his witch.

His witch ?

Offering her is hanky, she smiled in gratitude and dabbed at her eyes.

"I'm sorry" She whispered sadly.

"Don't be, you cannot help your hormones and it has been a long and tiring day, both mentally and physically...You are over tired and need to go to bed"

Nodding in acceptance she handed him his hanky back and he wheeled her out of the room and towards the bathroom, via the bedroom to pick up her nightclothes.

He chose not to say anything, when she picked up a pair of the new pyjama bottoms , but matched them with his slytherin jumper she'd worn the night before.

Once she had finished her ablutions, he returned her to the bedroom and took his own items into the bathroom while he ministered to his own needs.

Knocking on the door before he walked into the bedroom , he came in to find her laid on her side facing the bathroom.

"Hey" She whispered as he walked in, and he responded in kind.

"Is there anything you need?" he asked and she shook her head no.

"I shall leave you to your sleep then" He spoke softly , but she caught his arm before he could leave.

"Severus ? Could you...I mean...would you stay again? and just...hold me ?... Please"

He wanted to shout his thanks to the gods , but simply nodded and answered "Of course"

She lifted the quilt for him to get in , and he shot a nox at the lights , leaving just one small candle giving enough light for one to find their way to the bathroom door without stumbling.

Getting into his side of the bed , he was thrilled beyond measure when she backed closer to him until they were spooning.

"Is this alright ?" She asked over her shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her in responce. "More than"

Her arms came down to support her belly , and he found his mimicking her actions. His much larger hands and arms cupped her own and her belly , supporting them both.

There was a kick from Cub when the baby felt Severus' presence.

She chuckled. "I appear to be brooding the president of the Severus Snape fan club"

He smiled into her hair and stroked his hand across her belly , delighting in the movement he got in return.

He felt the flutter of emotion reach him , and found himself responding with his magic, instinctively providing strength and magic to them both.

It was such a natural reaction , to share his magic and strength with this witch and this small life within her , that he hadn't even realised he'd done in ... let alone that he was doing it without her permission.

She gasped when she realised what he was doing , and he instantly moved his hands back contrite. "Apologies Hermione , I should have asked before I interacted with your child , it was very intrusive of me " He was kicking himself when she grabbed her hand and moved it back , to where cub was protesting rather obviously at his abrupt departure.

"Severus , you're welcome to do anything you wish with Cub , I trust you , I was just suprised , and please don't think I only invited you here tonight because I wanted you to..."

Her words cut off with a gasp when he put both hands on her belly and she felt warmth flood her body as he offered them his strength. Cub kicked along happily , and both Hermione and Severus could feel the contentment through their bonds with the babe.

" I wanted too...I want to..." He whispered and she nodded and smiled as he continued to share his magic and strength with the small life inside her.

Severus closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her hair , and luxuriated in the feel of utter contentment coming from the babe under his hands... who had ever felt so happy just to feel his presence before ? had he ever been so accepted and wanted ?

Holding both lives in his arms , he smiled and allowed sleep to take him.


" I need to attend Gringotts, and the Muggle Bank, would you be willing to accompany me ?" He asked over breakfast the next day , and she'd looked at him wide eyed.

"Muggle Bank & Gringotts ?" She asked questioningly .

"Indeed... I would like to have you added to both my account in the wizarding and muggle world , so that you can have access to funds should you ever require them when I am not there "

"I won't spend your money Severus..." She started but he held up a hand to stop her , and began his rehearsed plan , he needed to get her to go along with this so he could prove his point about money.

"What if I am away from home , and requested for you to make a certain meal for me on my return ? If you did not have a specific ingredient , you would not even be able to access my muggle funds , to...let's say go to the corner shop to buy a loaf of bread without my presence , it seems a ridiculous notion therefore the only logical approach would be to have you added on to my accounts, I am not asking you to spend my money but I want the option there in case you need to access funds for something for me when I am not around"

She seemed to ponder that for a moment before acquiescing to his request, and he fought a smirk of victory.

Stage one Complete.


Stage two went alright.

Though the Muggle bank account was the easiest to get her added on to , and he fought a pang of longing when given his new bank card with both of their names on it , he'd failed at trying to get her to 'accidentally' see the balance of the account.

She'd been too polite of course to chance a sneaky look at the statement he took from the machine , or the printed copy he requested for his files, both of which he'd ensured to hold at such an angle she would've been able to read it if she wanted to.

Goddamn Gryffindors.

Oh well, he'd just have to make his point at Gringotts.


She'd become extremely nervous when they prepared to travel to Diagon Alley, on the verge of a panic attack , until he'd placed his arms around her and asked her what was wrong.

"I haven't been out in public for months , I don't know what's going to happen... If Ronald has said or done... I don't..."

He pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around her , casting a subtle notice me not on her as he went.

"I do not usually read the prophet , but I shall apply for a subscription for you , so that you may keep abreast of current issues , in the meantime please trust that I will keep you safe"

Soothed by the feel and scent of his cloak around her , and slightly jaw dropped at the site of his trim figure in just his frock coat , she nodded to him.

He thought of another question , and decided to ask as it had been plaguing his mind since her arrival.

"Your wand...do we need to take you to see Ollivander ?"

Her eyes filled with tears which she blinked back , then nodded softly.

They decided to do Ollivanders first , and flood directly there.

"Ah Miss Granger, Master Snape , so pleased to see you both , I was wondering when you would be here Miss Granger"

The old man smiled at her and she returned it .

"Very sad indeed the loss of your wand , vinewood and unicorn hair wasn't it ?"

She nodded sadly and he gave her a sympathetic look.

"I feel it when every one of my children is hurt or broken " He said gesturing to the wall of wands behind him.

"But if you're here to buy a new wand I'm afraid I cannot help you"

Both her and Severus started in Suprise.

Ollivander had never turned anyone down for a wand as far as they knew, even death eaters and Tom Riddle himself had gotten their wands there.

Hermione gasped and her eyes filled with tears as she stepped back into Severus' comforting presence , who scowled at the wandmaker who had slighted the girl.

"Oh no, my dear girl you misunderstand" The man walked around to place a soothing hand on her arm and lead her to the nearest chair.

"I cannot sell you a wand , as it would be practically impossible to find a new wand that would accept the magic of both you and the child growing within you."

Hermione let out a relieved breath at that , as all the fears of Ron having poisoned the world against her began to evaporate.

"No, you have two completely different magical signatures you see, and though your original wand would have continued to work for you through your confinement , a new wand will not choose you whilst you're pregnant and carrying two magical signatures... you will have to wait until the child is born for a new wand to accept you"

Severus and Hermione nodded in understanding and Hermione held on to Severus's Proffered hand, when a sudden thought made him pause.

"But despite her having two magical signatures, my wand allowed Hermione to use it?" He stated , remembering her casting the patronus that summoned Narcissa to his home.

The wand-maker had simply smiled a knowing smile at the man.

"Yes , it did indeed didn't it?"


They flood directly from Ollivanders to Gringotts , as they'd both wanted to avoid the crowds of Diagon Alley.

The goblins cared not for the potions master adding a former student to his account , as long as all the paperwork was filed correctly.

Once they were done , he'd requested to visit his vault as he believed he'd left a certain book in there.

Due to Hermione's pregnancy , they used the lift to access the vaults instead of the mine cart .

The lift which was enchanted to travel in any direction with a goblin steering it , was a fancy thing made out of gold and when severus had seen it the first time as a child , it had reminded him of the elevator in Charlie and the chocolate factory. A thought which he now whispered into Hermione's ear and made her giggle.

He puffed his chest out in male pride as she laughed and leant into his side.

The goblin opened his vault and he asked Hermione to help him locate the book , it was too rare to risk damaging it by summoning it with an accio, and two sets of eyes would save time after all. In truth , the book was a second copy of one he already had at home , but he just needed a way to get her into his vault .

She'd of course been happy to help, and had stepped into his vault with the single minded determination of a Gryffindor on the hunt , when she'd stopped in the doorway , eyes froze in shock.

Gold and Galleons were piled from floor to ceiling in the massive vault, that went back farther than she could see, it was easily 3 times the size of Harry's vault and much more furnished.

She gaped and hadn't moved from the spot she was in .

"How..." she started then stopped at his chuckle.

Snapping her mouth shut she covered her mouth with her hand and gasped.

"I'm sorry that's so rude" She said .

"It's alright" He said , still chuckling and pointed to a large section of gold.

"Dumbledore left me almost everything in his will, apart from somethings he left for the school, Potter and Minerva"

He gestured to one wall.

"Family money for being the last male of the Prince line "

Then Another wall of galleons

"Potions work and contracts with St. Mungos, Hogwarts and the Ministry"

And another pile of gold.

"Order of Merlin 1st class cash sum"

She looked around dumbfounded and he smiled.

"So as you can see Hermione, It is of no concern if we splurge and buy the good toilet roll instead of the supermarket own brand ones" She blushed at the reminder of the disagreement they'd had about her penny pinching in the supermarket and he chuckled at her embarrassment.

He moved over to her and wrapped and arm around her , pulling her into a one armed hugged.

She pressed her face into his chest and chuckled in embarrassment.

"I've been a food haven't I ? " She said softly and he nodded. "I did try to explain" He said with a smirk and she smiled sadly against his chest.

"I just feel terrible Severus , I feel like I'm taking advantage"

"You have asked nothing from me ,that I have not already offered , and if you will not take my financial assistance for yourself then at least allow me to provide for Cub" he spoke with emphasis and she nodded against him.

"I Promise" She whispered.

He kissed her head with a smile

Mission accomplished.