Hermione was sitting in the living room reading one of Severus's books while Severus cooked dinner for them. Hermione was surprised when Severus told her he can cook. She didn't picture the dark wizard working in the kitchen, but she guessed it was similar to potions with following a recipe. While she read, Sabrina was busying herself with playing with Hoppy on the floor. Sabrina kept her promise that she wouldn't touch any of the books. Hermione tried to concentrate but her mind wandered back to their earlier conversation about school. She wasn't sure what she was going to do now that she accepted that she had feelings for him. Everything about him excited her. His voice, his hands, the numerous buttons on his coat, all of it just left her wanting more from him. Her mind replayed the image of them shagging on the desk.
While Hermione was reminiscing, Severus was in the kitchen cooking a delicious meal. In the oven was his home-made baked lasagna and garlic bread. While the food was cooking, he started working on tonight's dessert. He had just the perfect recipe that didn't require him to bake. He was going to make a no-bake Oreo cheesecake. He opened the door to the fridge and took out the butter and some cream cheese. He then turned towards the cupboard. In there, he took out the cookies, sugar, vanilla, and some heavy whipping cream. He set the ingredients down on the counter and began to work on the delicious dessert. He started off by making the crust. He started crushing the Oreos. After making sure all the cookies were crushed, he combined them with some butter and put them into a pan. He placed the pan into the fridge for later. He then began working on the filling for the cake. He took out a large bowl and began beating the cream cheese. He waited until it was light and fluffy before adding the next ingredient. Once he was sure it was ready, he began pouring some sugar, vanilla, and even more crushed cookies that he saved from earlier. He then added the heavy whipping cream and mixed it until it was perfect. He took out the crust and poured the mixture on top of it. He spread it evenly across the crust and returned it to the fridge. He cleaned up the mess he made with a quick flick of the wand, and he heard the timer to the oven begin to go off. He put on an oven mitt and took out the pan of lasagna along with the mouthwatering garlic bread. He couldn't wait to sit down and indulge in the meal he just made.
Severus walked out of the kitchen and entered the living room where he saw Sabrina sitting on the floor and Hermione curled up on the couch. "Dinner is ready!" Sabrina was quick to get up and bring Hoppy with her, but Hermione didn't hear him. Her mind was still too deep in thought to notice he even was in the room. "Hermione, hello?" Severus called to her with amusement. He approached the chair and put a hand on her shoulder.
Hermione jumped in alarm at the sudden feeling of a hand on her shoulder. She looked up into Severus's eyes and a red blush stained her cheeks. "S-Sorry, Severus. I didn't hear you," she stuttered. She was so embarrassed. Get a grip, Hermione. She stood up from the chair and headed into the kitchen with her head down in mortification. Now is not the time to fantasize, she scolded herself. You are just here for a nice meal that is all.
Once they were seated with a plate of steaming hot food in front of them, Severus was the first to speak. "Sorry for startling you earlier. What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing!" she shouted across the table. Way to go, Hermione. If he wasn't suspicious of your actions earlier, he sure will be now. "I mean nothing, Severus. What do you mean? I was just thinking about the book." She stared down at the food and winced at the bad lie she just uttered.
Severus scowled at her. "You never were very good at lying," he grumbled. He picked up his fork and stuffed the food in his mouth as he looked at her suspiciously. He hated when she lied to him. He honestly didn't care what she was thinking about. He was just surprised that he startled her so much.
Sabrina was chewing on her garlic bread but the look on her Daddy's face made her drop the food back on her plate. "What's wrong, Daddy?" She rubbed his hand gently with hers.
Severus's face softened by his daughter's words and gentle touch. "Yes, Sabrina. Everything is fine." He continued eating his food wondering what Hermione could've possibly been thinking about. Why would she react that way? It's like I caught her sneaking into my potion's closet back at Hogwarts or something. Whatever it was must've been embarrassing. Maybe I should just leave it alone.
The rest of the dinner was very awkward. The three didn't speak and they focused on the food that was in front of them. When there was nothing left on her plate, Hermione stared at Severus with a bashful look. "I am sorry, Severus for my behavior earlier. I shouldn't have lied. I just don't want to share my thoughts right now." She hoped they could just leave it at that. She couldn't bear the thought of him rejecting her feelings.
Severus nodded in understanding. He wasn't going to force her to share. "Thank you, Hermione. I won't force you to share your thoughts if you don't want to."
Once dinner was over, Severus took out his wand and cleaned the mess he made. The pan he used was squeaky clean and was placed inside the wooden drawer. The dishes all levitated back into the cabinet and so did the forks they used. Sabrina stared in awe at the use of magic. After everything was put away, Severus took out his delicious dessert from the fridge. He cut everyone up a slice and they sat and chatted at the dinner table. The awkward moment was soon forgotten and once dessert was over, Hermione didn't want to leave. Severus, all though he wouldn't admit it allowed, he too didn't want her to go. He enjoyed her company. Severus's thoughts started to wander on its own. It is far too lonely in this house and maybe sometime in the future she could stay. He shook his head to clear his mind. Stop it! It's been three years. There is no way she would want you. His insecurities started to creep up inside of him. No one ever wanted him in school and even as an adult he was unwanted. One night of passion does not mean anything. "Were you wanting to head home?" Severus asked cautiously.
Hermione took a deep breath. Where is your Gryffindor courage, Hermione? Come on just ask him. She looked over at the clock on the mantle. "It's only seven, Severus. Can I stay just a bit longer and read?" She smiled at him softly. She knew she had her own books at home. She also could easily just borrow the book, but she didn't want to leave his warm and cozy home.
Sabrina bounced up to Severus with a big silly grin on her face. "Yes, can we, Daddy?" She grabbed his hand tightly in hers and started jumping up and down. "Please please please?" She pleaded with her big brown eyes.
Severus chuckled at his child's anticks. "Yes, you can stay, but I don't have any toys here, Sabrina," he cautioned softly.
"That's okay, Daddy. Do you have any books I can look at?" she asked curiously.
Severus looked over at his many bookcases deep in thought. "I don't have a book for you, but I can show you some pictures if you like."
Sabrina nodded eagerly at him. "Can I sit in your lap while you show me them?" she asked him gently.
"Of course, little one." He picked her up in his arms and carried her to his bookshelf. He grabbed a small picture album and sat down in his armchair. He placed Sabrina on his lap and opened the album for her to see. Hermione smiled at the two of them. She returned to the vacated couch where her book lay. She grabbed the book off the couch and picked up where she left off.
Severus opened the picture album and showed Sabrina the first picture. "Unfortunately, Sabrina, the pictures don't move in this one, but I think you'll like it. This one has pictures of my family and I." As much as he hated his parents, he couldn't throw the album away and now that Sabrina was here, he wanted to show her where she came from. The first picture was of Severus as a baby.
"Is that you, Daddy?" Sabrina whispered as she stared at the photo. The picture showed a baby with a scowl on its face and a full head of black hair.
"Yep, that's me. I was just one month old there." He continued to the next picture. This one showed him just a wee bit older but this time his mother Eileen Snape and his father Tobias Snape were in the picture with him. His mother was holding him in her arms while Tobias glared at the camera. "This Sabrina is your grandparents. On the left was my mother, Eileen Snape, and on the right was my father, Tobias Snape."
"Daddy why does your dad look so mean?" she asked as she stared at the penetrating black eyes of her grandfather. "He doesn't seem very happy."
"That's because he wasn't, Sabrina. As I said earlier, he was not a nice man. Let's move on to the next picture, shall we?" He turned the picture and this time he was way older. In the picture Severus was about five years old and wearing a school uniform with a couple of holes in them. "This was my first day of primary school. I was five years old here."
"Did you like going to school, Daddy?" Sabrina asked.
"At times I did, but after a while I did not like going to school. The first few years were fine but then the kids at the school started bullying me about my clothes," Severus whispered. He didn't like sharing his personal life, but he knew this was his daughter. She should know more about him and as much as he didn't like remembering it, he would grin and bear it for her.
Sabrina put a finger to her mouth in thought. "What does bully mean, Daddy?" She never heard that word before.
Severus hugged Sabrina and said, "Sorry cherub, it's when someone is being mean to you. They made fun of the holes in my clothes. My parents didn't have a lot of money. The clothes I had weren't very good and even when I got holes in them or they were dirty they wouldn't buy me any new ones, so I had to keep wearing them." Severus turned the page and swallowed hard at the picture. This was the only picture he ever had of his once best friend Lily Evans. "In this picture Sabrina I am now nine years old. I already started secretly learning about magic. I would sometimes sneak my mother's wand from her and do magic in the house. Now this was a picture that my mother took in my kitchen. My dad wasn't home at the time, so she allowed me to bring a friend over. This picture was a friend I had that lived just a few miles away. Her name was Lily Evans."
Hermione still had her nose buried inside her book until she heard the name Lily Evans. She looked up from her book and looked over at Severus and her daughter. She stood up from the couch and crept over to their armchair. Her curiosity got the best of her. When she reached the armchair, she too looked down at the photo. She bit her lip as she stared at the smiling picture. Lily had an arm wrapped around Severus's waist while Severus had an arm wrapped around her shoulder. They were grinning from ear to ear. She swallowed thickly. She's not alive anymore, Hermione. It's not fair to be jealous of an innocent picture. As much as she told herself this, she couldn't stop the feeling of jealousy that consumed her. She was, in fact, his first love and Hermione felt like she could never be her equal. She was so pretty. Her beautiful red hair and sparkling green eyes. How could I a bushy haired, bucked-tooth woman match up to that? Instead of voicing her insecurities aloud she instead said, "Why have you never showed Harry this picture?"
"Why should I let that idiotic boy see this?" Severus snapped angrily. "It's my picture." He oddly felt very attached to that picture. It was the only thing he had left of her, and he wasn't going to let that insolent boy take it from him.
She was taken aback by his anger. She honestly felt like she was back at school again. "I'm sorry, Professor Snape. I was just asking because I thought Harry would like to see his mother as a child," she blurted aloud in fear.
"Do not call me Professor Snape. I am no longer your professor. Besides, Harry seen enough of her as a child in the memories I shared," he roared. He was having a hard time controlling his anger. Control your emotions, Severus. She didn't mean any harm by asking. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to be so cross. The picture means a lot to me, and I didn't want to share it with anyone. I only showed Sabrina because I want her to know about me."
"I understand, Severus. Please continue. I am sorry I interrupted." She tried to turn away and return to her book, but Severus pulled her back by her hand.
"Don't apologize for that, Hermione. You are allowed to be a part of my life just like she is. She is a part of us, and we need to work this out together," Severus said softly. All anger he felt was gone and he honestly felt a bit upset and embarrassed by his actions. He didn't want Sabrina to see all that. He wasn't the same person as he once was. Sabrina stared at her Daddy with tears in her eyes. She never seen him get so mad before and it honestly scared her. She hugged him tightly hoping her hug would make him not angry anymore. Sabrina's hug made Severus feel even more guilty. He hugged her tightly to him and whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry, cherub. I didn't mean to get so upset. Please don't cry." He kissed her temple as he continued to hold her.
Sabrina relished in her daddy's hug. "Are you still mad, Daddy?"
"No, Sabrina. I wasn't thinking. The picture shows a friend of mine who sadly isn't here anymore, and it brought back a lot of emotions for Daddy. I hope I didn't scare you," he muttered against her cheek.
Sabrina nodded and pulled away from the hug. "I am sorry, Daddy. I hope you find a new friend to spend time with."
Severus looked up at Hermione and said slyly, "I think I have, Sabrina."
