Chapter6: Lost Before but Better Found

The summer holidays were coming to an end and the children at Grimmauld Place needed to buy their school stationery and equipment. Tabitha and Sabrina decided to join Remus, Tonks, Molly and Severus who were asked by Dumbledore to accompany the children to their trip to Diagon Alley. Sirius too decided to join them making the excuse of trying on his new collar and making sure of whether it worked or not. The group reached Diagon Alley, and quickly retrieved money from Gringgott's. Tabby and Rina used the account their mothers had set up for them for the first time. It was infinitely larger than Harry's inheritance. Tabby's chocolate eyes had sparkled in delight.

"Alright people I believe we should split up. Tabitha and Padfoot can go with Hermione and Ginny and pick up the books needed from Flourish and Blotts, Tonks and Remus could go with Fred and George to Madam Maulkin's robe store and pick up their new school robes and keep a clear eye on them, Severus and Sabrina could go with Harry and Ron and get all the potions equipment that is required," completed Molly as Severus and Remus groaned while Sirius barked happily.

Tabby bent down and kissed Padfoot's head making sure the hold on the chain leash she had was strong enough to appear the dog was indeed a dog. Sabrina dropped her head in her hands. Ron looked a little sadden as Ginny and Hermione quickly followed Tabitha. Harry smirked noticing the look. Tabitha was quickly turning into Ron's new Fluer Delacour.

At Flourish and blots........

As soon as Hermione and Ginny entered the store; Sirius and Tabitha tagging behind them a little slower, they were confronted by Draco Malfoy and his body guards.

"Hey look its Ms. Know- it- all mudblood with her blood traitor friend from the jungle," smirked Draco as Ginny hissed and Hermione looked down tearfully.

"Apparently Mr. Malfoy is unaware of certain public manners. Shame seeing he's supposed to be pureblooded," said Tabitha entering the store strengthening her hold on a growling Padfoot who she was trying to control. The dog definitely did not like the boy and his cronies.

"Who is this mudblood, is she your aunt?" Draco asked Hermione. He knew the woman wasn't British but she had a certain air of purebloodness in her. He found her beautiful and only if Draco had paid attention in divination he would know that her aura wasn't calm at all.

"Now, now Draco play nice. You do not want to hurt the sentiments of your new Care of Magical Creatures Professor and Minerva McGonagall's niece now do you?" Said Lucius Malfoy coming into the front.

Draco blinked gobsmacked at the woman who had gotten the dog to sit by her and straightened back up flicking her hair over her shoulder. "McGonagall? That old....she's you're Aunt!?" Draco blinked catching his mouth.

Lucius extended his hand and lifted hers to his lips to kiss it. Padfoot growled but a light tap on his head by Tabby and he smartly quieted.

"I knew the name was familiar when Minerva brought it forward. I don't suppose you remember though do you Ms. Haley Reynolds champion duelist of America? Tell me Ms. Reynolds how it feels to change from mudblood to pureblood in just one night without any effort at all?" sneered Lucius.

"Tell me Lucius does it still hurt to know you lost to me when I was but sixteen? Did it hurt to know the mudblood that kicked your arse was also a pureblood?" asked Tabitha madly.

"I must warn you Ms. Tabitha Haley Reynolds that you are now a part of staff and staff do not speak to the governors like that," said Lucius smirking in her face.

It was then Tabitha snapped! Unlike her cousin who was easy to anger Tabby kept a firm and tight hold on her temper. It hardly ever showed but Lucius had stupidly hit her last nerve. A low growl exuded from her very form and she pounced on Lucius knocking him to the ground. Padfoot pounced on Draco getting in a few good scratches and bites to the boy before Hermione caught him by the collar; while it took Ginny several minutes before she pulled Tabitha off. Tabby had a bruised hand while Lucius Malfoy had a black eye, a few broken fingers, and some writing on his face that said 'Let me pass, I lost to a mudblood.'

"You'll pay for this. You and that stupid dog," said Lucius as he and his son apparated out of Diagon Alley.

At Madam Maulkin's robe shop.....

"Well we've got your robes now were next guys?" asked Tonks turning to smile at Fred and George. Her smile faded seeing that they were not anywhere in the shop and she rushed towards Remus who was paying for the robes and chatting with Madam Maulkin.

At the potions store.......

"So you play quidditch?" Harry asked Sabrina.

"Use to for the Indian team left when I became an auror. Tabby did at her schools as well."

"What's your favorite team?" asked Ron.

"I favor the Cannons. Always have and always will even if they lose all their games," said Sabrina.

"Why?" asked Ron suspiciously.

"Well because the seeker, what's his name? Oh yeah Charles Jackson is way too hot," she said dreamily as Severus cleared his throat.

"Sirius said he was at school with him," Said Ron happily.

"Charles Jackson was nothing more than the school loser at that time. He got his fame because his father is the manager of the team. He was a Hufflepuff. It's no wonder he cannot play Quidditch, " said Snape ruining the moment as they exited the shop.

"No that's not true I dated Charles for a month. He was really cute if you ask Me," said Sabrina defending Charles.

"I am sure you'd make a brilliant couple, what an exquisite choice you have made Ms. Smith," Snape grunted.

"Well he was a good person, better than you I'd say. It's no wonder you don't have a girlfriend; I mean what are you like 30, 29 you should be married by now but noooo… I am Severus big headed Snape I don't need a woman I am fine with my potions bottles and 3 million cats that I have stored in my dark dungeons," said Sabrina annoyingly.

Harry and Ron started laughing. Snape gave them his best death glare trying to make them stop but the boys couldn't control it and they fell to the floor laughing.

Snape just made a face and walked towards Flourish and Blotts.

At Flourish and Blotts a flushed Molly, angry Remus, sad Tonks, and worried Hermione and Ginny were standing in a group. Tabitha was standing not far off; again lost in thought while Sirius was running from here to there stopping to sniff the air in between.

Severus turned to Sabrina raising an eyebrow wondering what had happened to degrade every one's mood.

"What happened?" asked Sabrina and Harry together breaking everyone out of their trance.

"Fred and George have disappeared to Merlin knows where?" said Tabitha. Her tone was worried and yet Sabrina noticed her eyes glinted in a peculiar way.

"We tried searching but…Diagon Alley is so vast," stammered Tonks.

"Then lets split up! Sirius and Tabitha can go towards the entrance and look in every shop, Remus and Tonks will go towards Gringotts, Molly will stay here with the kids in case they come back, and Severus.....Severus you will come with me to Knockturn Alley," said Sabrina jumping into auror mode. All of them nodded and left for their destinations.

"If they are found in Knockturn Alley, mum's going to kill them," said Ron and Ginny together.

Inside Knockturn Alley......

"Walk close to me Smith," said Severus gripping her hand in his.

"I'm an auror I can take care of myself. Thank you very much," said Sabrina crossly.

"This is not some Indian street you can go wildly running into! Since you are a lone lady it is not my esteemed pleasure ...but duty to protect you, so walk close." said Severus turning Sabrina to look at him.

She made a face at him.

"Yes, Smith for some wild mysterious reason I do care," said Severus holding her close. He knew the reason so well he had never felt this way even with Lily. He was a level above in love with Sabrina than he had been with Lily.

Sabrina felt her cheeks go warm with a soft red blush knowing that he cared for her. It made her feel wanted and special; and she herself couldn't deny the feelings that she had developed for him.

They separated and continued walking. They were passing a bar when.....

Severus hissed and pulled Sabrina towards him indicating danger. She too knew that they were being followed by a gang of no good goons.

Suddenly he shifted and swiftly pulled her into an opening with him. They were now standing in a dark alleyway that separated two shops. The alleyway was extremely small and their bodies were so close together they were almost touching. Severus shifted his hand to remove his wand from his pocket grazing Sabrina's bosom accidentally. He blushed and apologized as he could see a deep blush creeping into Sabrina's cheeks as well. If they weren't in danger at that moment he would have scooped her up and kissed her. But they were in trouble and he had to control his urge; which he could very well.

"Where did that princess and that bat go?" asked one drunkard.

"Check there," said the other drunkard.

Just as the man was going to check the alleyway Severus made a split decision and swiftly moved towards Sabrina gathering her into his arms and kissing her lips softly.

"Carry on mate," laughed the drunkards and left Severus and Sabrina alone in the already abandoned lane.

As soon as they left Severus backed out waiting for his so very evident slap that he would be receiving for his cheap but life saving move. She looked gorgeous he thought her eyes were slowly fluttering open with a small nervous frown on her face. She looked worriedly at him thinking he didn't like her the way that she liked him.

"You kiss me first, and then you stop. What are you trying to communicate to Me?" said Sabrina with tears in her dark eyes looking into his tearfully but he knew she was trying to read his mind. He broke contact as she let tears fall to the ground just as he lifted her chin to look in her eyes.

"Don't waste them they're priceless," he said wiping the remaining tears from her face.

She still frowned at him.

"I thought you wouldn't appreciate the gesture. I mean why in the world would someone as pretty as you like a big greasy git like me?" He said sadly.

"I am not that pretty," she said blushing.

"You are too Me," he said caressing her cheek and brushing her lips with his finger.

"Don't tease me like that," she whined.

"Trust me I am having too much fun in the process," said Severus chuckling.

"May I?" he asked for her permission to kiss her lips which he was looking at so longingly.

She nodded.

He first kissed her forehead, then grazed her lips, and then he stopped nervously but she lent forward for more. He smiled and kissed her with all the feelings that he was hiding for her and she was pushed up against the wall with her hand in his hair. She happily noted it wasn't actually greasy at all. His hands were restlessly rubbing her back when they suddenly heard a bark and someone calling out for them. He broke the kiss and rested his head on her forehead with his nose touched hers and he cringed slightly thinking she would hate this part of his face.

"Don't worry Sev that's one thing I really like about you," said Sabrina kissing his nose lightly as they walked out to meet Tabitha. She informed them that she and Sirius had almost given up hope when they found Fred and George in some deserted joke shop in some deserted lane near the Leaky Cauldron. Now she said Molly Weasley was holding her sons ears and yelling threateningly to cut off their ears and make extendable ears out of them as Arthur Weasley looked on and shook his head.

"I feel rather sorry for them. Have we interrupted something?" Tabitha asked with a knowing look.

"Stay out of our heads Tabby," Sabrina stated leaving Knockturn Alley. Tabitha smiled at Padfoot as she saw the two holding hands.

"Furball my love I believe Rina and Severus have finally agreed on something," Tabitha laughed. Padfoot barked happily rubbing against Tabitha's leg as they joined the others.

The next week on the 1st of September the group going to Hogwarts were seated in the same compartment apart from Sev and Rina . Feeling the need to check on them Tabitha left the compartment and found the Potions Master and her beloved cousin snuggled into each other in a deserted compartment at the very end of the train. She guessed they had probably been snogging before she went in.

Sabrina quickly jumped off Severus onto her seat.

"Oh No I'm sorry! But please do carry on.... its nice to know that you two have finally released your sexual tension," said Tabitha in her usually wise voice. She stood holding the door open.

"But before I leave you two alone I wish to ask you something Severus."

"Yes of course." said Severus suddenly getting very serious.

"It's about Aunt and Albus. Do you think they have something between them... I mean aren't they more like a couple? At least that's what Rina and I noticed especially when he looks at her," Tabitha explained.

"Of course they are ..I mean even though they are ignorant or probably just very afraid of their feelings for each other they do love each other quiet deeply," said Severus smirking.

"Perfect then will you help us get them together then?" asked Tabitha.

"Of course but truthfully it will be much better with some company," Said Severus hearing loud barking.

Suddenly a big brown and white dog ran towards Tabitha and jumped onto her skirt licking her cheek. She laughed and kissed the dog's nose as she walked back towards her compartment. She greeted some Hufflepuff girls on her way and her dog happily barked beside her making the Hufflepuffs giggle.

"They make a good couple don't they?" asked Sabrina looking at Severus.

"I guess they do, but so do we," said Severus snogging her full-on once more. Any student who would have seen Severus at that moment would have died of shock. Severus Snape snogging and showing his true side which was full of energy, love and joy was incomprehensible to the students.

The train halted at Hogwarts and both cousins were excited and ready to face their new life with the new family they now had. Both wondering how they would stop Umbridge from foiling their plan to get their aunt and Albus together; along with stopping all the other horrors they knew this year would hold. They did know the Harry Potter books after all!