Sabrina Snape was running around her new playroom excited about all the new toys she had. She had so many dollies, stuffies, and even a slide. She grabbed Hoppy and quickly climbed up the ladder to her slide grinning from ear to ear. She said to Hoppy, "You go first." She pushed Hoppy down the slide and watched her stuffed animal fly off the slide. She giggled excitedly and followed her bunny. She landed at the end of the slide and picked up Hoppy.
She looked curiously over through the window and saw a strange man talking to her mommy. She can tell by the way he was looking at her that he wasn't being nice. He was glaring at her mommy, and she heard him yelling at her. She started getting scared. She gripped her bunny tightly to her chest. Before she got too worried, she saw her daddy come out from the back room. He stood next to mommy and yelled back at him. She watched as the man left the store. She felt tears sting her eyes and she cautiously went to the door. She opened the door and said, "Mommy is everything alright? I heard yelling and I got scared." Her mommy and daddy looked over at her. Her mommy was first to act, and she went over to her.
Hermione picked up her daughter and gave her a warm hug. "It's okay Sabrina. Everything is fine."
Sabrina looked up at her mother doubtfully. "But mommy he was yelling at you. He was so mean." Hermione wiped Sabrina's tears away with her thumb.
"Don't cry Sabrina. Mommy is okay. Sev- I mean daddy yelled at him and got him to leave."
Sabrina smiled at her daddy and said, "Thank you daddy!"
Severus walked over and joined Hermione and his daughter. He hugged both of them closely and said, "I will always protect the both of you. Now let us continue on working on our potions Hermione." Hermione nodded. She bent down and put Sabrina back down to the floor. Sabrina ran back to her playroom feeling satisfied that the man will not return to bother her mommy or daddy.
Hermione and Severus returned to the backroom. Hermione leaned against the wall still a bit distraught by what occurred. "Fowl git," she muttered to herself. After everything she done for them, she still had a hard time accepting the fact that her friends wanted nothing to do with her. She shook her head and pushed herself off the wall and headed back to her potion. She lifted the stasis charm and continued chopping and adding the ingredients.
Severus looked over at Hermione while he worked on his own potion. He was furious by the way Potter treated her. "Hermione I am sorry about Potter. He is a dunderhead." He knew nothing he would say would make it better, but he truly cared for her. He wanted to protect her and Sabrina from any harm.
Hermione looked up and weakly smiled at Severus. "Thank you, Severus, for protecting me. I don't know what else I can do. I tried so hard to fix my relationship with Harry and Ron, but they won't hear it. Ron brainwashed Harry into hating me. I hid my pregnancy for about 3 months before telling them. I was getting bigger, and I knew I couldn't hide it anymore. Never did I thought they would abandon me. I sat down in the living room with them, and I told them that I was expecting. Ron was the first to get upset with me. He started yelling and saying I was a whore. Harry stood up with him and said how could I do that? You were supposed to be faithful to Ron. They didn't let me explain myself. They told me to get out. I thought they were just mad, but every time I tried to come back or send an owl, they would treat me the same way. They even had Ginny and Molly on their side. Molly believes I betrayed her son and slept around. Ginny thinks I hurt her brother and doesn't want anything to do with me."
Tears started falling down her face. She looked away from him feeling embarrassed that she started crying in front of him. "Sorry Severus. I shouldn't put this all on you."
Severus felt his anger still simmering for the way Potter treated Hermione. "Hermione don't waste your tears on them. They are not worth it." Severus honestly felt bad for her. Just like him, she was left alone to fend for herself. He promised himself right then and there he was going to take care of her and their child. He continued on talking to her trying to get her to feel better. "Hermione you have your child. She is worth more than those two dunderheads combined. Hermione you have…" He stopped for a second and took a deep breath. "Hermione you have me. I will take care of you. I will provide for you. You don't need them."
Hermione stared at him with her mouth open. She was honestly shocked at his words. This time she felt happy tears fill her eyes. She quickly filled the space between them and wrapped her arms around him. Severus hesitated but quickly recovered. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. They stood there for a few minutes basking in each other's warm embrace. Hermione was first to let go. She returned to her potion and continued the rest of the morning working on it with a smile on her face.
A few hours later Severus put down his stirring rod and said, "I think it's time we take a break for lunch. Does the café down the street sound good?" He wiped the sweat from his brow and walked over the sink. He scrubbed his hands clean and walked over to Hermione who was still stirring her potion. After a minute went by, she finally put down her stirring rod and looked up at Severus.
She smiled at him warmly. "Yes, let's go get some lunch." They both put stasis charms on their cauldrons and left the backroom in search of their daughter. They peeked through the window and saw her sitting on the floor playing with one of her dollies.
Severus opened the door and called, "Sabrina! It's time for lunch sweetie." Sabrina came running out of the room and bounced up and down in front of her daddy with a big grin. Sabrina reached out and grabbed her daddy's hand. Severus looked down at their conjoined hands. He marveled at how little her hand was in his. He gripped it tightly in his and led the way out of the shop. Once Hermione was out of the shop, Severus put up the wards and made sure the store was locked up before they left. After he was satisfied, he walked down the sidewalk toward the café.
Sabrina grinned as she gripped her daddy's hand. "Daddy what does your home look like?" she asked curiously. She pictured a home covered in black and she started giggling. She imagined a big kitchen and a warm living room big enough for her mommy and me.
Severus smiled down at his child. "Well Sabrina, my home isn't very big, but I love it. It has all the things I need."
Sabrina wasn't satisfied with that answer. "What is your favorite part of it?" She was honestly very curious of her daddy's home. She wished one day to go there.
Severus thought of his home with a sense of pride. He took good care of it, and it was much better than his old home at Spinner's End. "My favorite part is my library. I have bookshelves full of book."
Sabrina's eyes widened. "Are there any magical books? Mommy has some magical books at home, and I love how the pictures move across the page."
"Yes of course magical books. I also have regular books as well. They aren't as exciting, but they are nice to read at times." Severus found his daughter's excitement amusing. He turned towards Hermione and said, "I see her love for books and knowledge comes from you, Hermione."
Hermione blushed and swelled with pride. "Well of course, Severus. She loves to look at picture books. She isn't exactly ready yet to read, but maybe in a year or so she will be."
They finally were in front of the café. Severus held the door for Hermione, and they walked up to the counter. The lady in front of the podium smiled at them and said, "How many?"
Severus said, "3 please and is it possible we can have a booth near the window?" The lady led them to a red booth with a wooden table in front of it.
Sabrina shouted, "I want to sit next to Daddy this time!" The other people in the café stared at them while Sabrina continued on excitedly next to her father. Severus sat down and pulled Sabrina next to him.
"Satisfied?" Severus questioned Sabrina. Sabrina nodded happily. They sat together in the booth quietly until their server arrived. The server set down 2 menus and a kid's coloring page along with a pack of crayons.
"Hello my name is Angie and I will be your server today. What will you be having to drink?" the server said with a warm smile.
Severus looked up from his menu and said, "Tea please." He looked back at his menu looking over the many options they had to eat.
Hermione looked at Angie and said, "I would like a water please and for the girl a cup of milk." Angie smiled at the happy family and walked away from the table.
Sabrina gripped her red crayon as she colored the fire truck. "Look daddy! It's a firetruck! They are so loud."
Hermione smiled at her child lovingly. "Sabrina what do you want to eat? They have spaghetti, grilled cheese, or chicken fingers." Sabrina looked up from her coloring page in thought.
"Grilled cheese mommy!" she declared.
Hermione nodded and continued looking at her menu in thought. She thought about what Severus said about his home. She craved to read the books in his library. Maybe she would let them visit sometime. Hermione got lost in thought and was startled when Angie returned with their drinks.
Angie said, "Sorry about that dear. I didn't mean to startle you. Are you all ready to order?"
Hermione was first to order. "I would like the French onion soup with a side of bread and Sabrina would like the kid's grilled cheese." She closed the menu and handed it to Angie.
Angie turned to Severus waiting for him to order. Severus cleared his throat and said, "I would like the grilled chicken sandwich and a side salad." He also closed his menu and handed it to Angie.
Angie smiled and commented, "You three make a nice family." She turned and walked away with a pleasant smile on her face. Hermione blushed at the server's words.
Sabrina said, "Mommy we are a happy family!" She hugged Severus close to her.
