A few weeks had gone by since the quidditch match; it was now the end of summer. Abby was doing much better. Although, she did have her days where she was extremely moody and depressed, but that was to be expected. Severus had also let her return to working at Fred and George's shop two days a week.
Hermione was walking up from the lab when Abby came barreling through the floo, from the shop.
"Where's my dad", Abby said excitedly, as she grabbed Hermione by the arm.
"In the lab. Is something wrong, do you need me to get him?"
"No, no, I need your help with something", Abby said pulling her away from the basement door and into the sitting room.
"Did you get into some kind of trouble", Hermione asked as she sat on the couch next to Abby.
Abby grinned, "No, not at all. But what kind of mood is my dad in."
"We just finished a few potions so he's in a good mood, but tired. Why do you ask?"
"Well, Jordan Chambers asked me to go to dinner with him at The Leaky Cauldron."
Hermione noticed Abby was giddy and almost glowing with delight.
"Is it a date?"
"Yes, that's why I need your help. I don't know if dad will let me go", Abby said trying to contain her excitement.
Hermione wasn't sure why, but she started to get excited too. Maybe it was because Abby finally had something to be excited about, who knew?
"Don't you worry about your father; I'll take care of him. What are you going to wear?"
Abby's face dropped, "I don't know, I hadn't thought about it. Oh no! I don't know if I have anything to wear at all."
"Don't worry about it, if you don't have anything I can transfigure something."
Hermione and Abby were all giggles discussing Abby's date with Jordan.
"What are you two all giddy about", Severus said raising an eyebrow as he walked into the sitting room.
Both girls looked at him and started giggling.
"Just go upstairs and start going through your clothes, I will speak with your dad", Hermione whispered as Severus gave them an odd look.
Abby ran upstairs, doing her best not to laugh as Severus eyed her.
"And what was that all about", Severus questioned.
"Come, sit", Hermione said patting the couch next to her.
Severus sat down suspiciously, waiting for Hermione to speak.
"Wouldn't it be nice for the two of us to spend the evening alone together, perhaps go out to dinner", Hermione asked snuggling into Severus' side.
He thought for a moment, "It would, but", cocking an eyebrow, "What are you and Abby up too?"
"Well, I want you to keep an open mind. And remember, Abby needs all the friends she can get since she will be new at Hogwarts this term."
"And.."
"Jordan Chambers wants her to go to dinner with him at The Leaky Cauldron tonight."
"A date?"
"Mmhmm"
Severus made a face.
"Now Severus, you know this will be good for Abby. Not only will it help her when she gets to Hogwarts, but she needs to have some fun before the summer ends. Besides, it gives us the night to ourselves, and we could go to dinner too."
Severus smirked, "We can go to The Leaky Cauldron."
"We most certainly cannot. We can go to Hogshead, The Three Broomsticks, or somewhere in muggle London. Abby has been fairing pretty well with all that's happened, I think this will help her along."
"I know", Severus said sighing, "Let me go up and speak to her and set some ground rules for this date."
Hermione squealed, kissed Severus, and ran up the stairs to Abby.
"I can't believe its August already", Hermione said flipping through her menu.
"I know, we will be back teaching dunderheads before we know it", Severus replied before taking a drink of his rum.
"I think this year will be different though, especially with Abby being at Hogwarts. And, it should lead to be more entertaining, seeing as we are now officially a couple."
Severus smirked, "Yes, I suppose we will be sneaking around like a couple of 7th years. It shall be interesting to see how long it takes for the students to figure out we're dating, I can't wait to see their faces."
Severus and Hermione had decided to stick with their separate chambers for now. Usually the only staff that had shared chambers were married. It also gave them room to work, but they still planned to spend the nights together.
"Wait until they find out Abby is your child. I must say the sorting ceremony should prove to be quite interesting this year."
"Yes, especially when the sorting hat calls out Gryffindor", Severus said calling the waiter over.
"I think I'm going to go to bed", Hermione said untangling herself from Severus, and getting off the couch.
"You do look exhausted."
"Yes well if you would learn to sleep through a night, and not wake me at odd hours with your roaming hands."
"You like it and you know it."
Hermione grinned and bent down and kissed him.
"I'm going to wait up for Abby, she should be home soon. I will make sure not to wake you tonight."
Hermione smiled and kissed him again, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Love", Severus said as she was retreating upstairs.
Hermione almost tripped up the stairs, what did he just say?
About an hour later, Abby arrived by floo. Severus was sitting on the couch drinking a glass of fire whiskey.
"Why are you still up", Abby said smirking.
"I was waiting for you."
Abby sat down next to Severus and cuddled into his side.
"So, how was it", Severus said rubbing her back.
"You really want to know?"
"Well, spare me all the teenage angst details."
Abby smirked, "You could just ask your two spies what they thought."
"I don't believe I know what you're talking about."
"Come off it dad. I spotted Uncle Draco as soon as he walked into The Leaky Cauldron. Once he and Ron started drinking, they weren't exactly hard to miss."
"Idiots, I knew I should have asked Lucius to do it."
Abby swatted at Severus, then she took his glass and took a swig of it. She immediately spit the whiskey all over the floor.
"I thought you were drinking tea", Abby said glaring at Severus while he laughed.
"I guess you should have asked first. Hermione has learned not to drink my drinks either."
"Where is Hermione?"
"She went to bed."
"Is Hermione sick or something, she's been looking exhausted lately."
"No, she's not sick, just not getting enough sleep."
Abby made a face, "On that note I'm going to bed."
Albus and Hermione had come up with the idea of having a going back to Hogwarts party, the night before they were all to depart. It had been decided to have it at Severus' beach house, seeing how it was the perfect symbol of summer.
"So Potter, I hear you managed to impregnate your wife again", Severus said smirking.
Harry grinned, "Yes, and when is it you're going to impregnate Hermione? We have a running bet about when you will get her pregnant and married."
Severus glared, "We haven't even been dating that long."
"Come of it, Severus. You two may have only been officially and intimately a couple since the beginning of summer, but you two have been together since Hermione started teaching at Hogwarts."
"I must agree Severus. Once you and Hermione started working together on potions, the first term she worked at Hogwarts, you were inseparable during the school years", Albus said happily.
"And Potter, from what I hear they go at it all the time. So, I'm sure I will win the pregnancy bet", Lucius said grinning.
"You're in on this too", Severus said glaring.
Lucius nodded, "I say Hermione will be pregnant by October"
"I say December", Harry added.
"I said the end of August, and I believe Abby said the same", Albus said, eyes twinkling.
"Why is Abby voting on this?! And that means Hermione would have to be pregnant now!", Severus howled and stalked out of the room, leaving all the men laughing.
Severus walked into the sitting room, where all the women were. They all looked at him and immediately started giggling, with Hermione right in the middle of their conversation. This only led Severus to believe they were discussing the bet as well.
Severus huffed and walked into the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
"What's wrong", Hermione said coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm sure you are aware of the bet by now", Severus said turning around and wrapping her in his arms.
Hermione grinned, "Well I did place a bet."
Severus narrowed his eyes and glared at her.
"Oh come on Severus, it's just for fun."
"What month did you bet on", He said, face softening.
"I'm not telling you."
"Oh really." Severus bent close to her ear and started nibbling on it, "I think I can get it out of you", he said in the silkiest voice.
Hermione's breath hitched, and she pulled Severus into a searing kiss.
"Like I said before", Harry said smirking as he walked into the room with Abby, Albus, Draco, and Ron, "It will be no time before Hermione has your child."
"At the rate their going, they will have five before I finish Hogwarts", Abby said smirking.
Severus pulled out his wand and sent a hex Abby's way, but she deflected it. The only thing was, Abby didn't have a wand in hand or said a word.
Severus smirked; he finally caught her in the act of using wandless, verb less magic. All the others stared at Abby, amazed at what she had just done.
"I've been meaning to ask you about that", Severus said still smirking.
"I don't know what you're talking about", Abby said nonchalantly and then glided out of the room, Severus Snape style.
Everyone laughed, including Severus.
"It's scary how much she's like you, Severus", Ron snickered.
Everyone had finally left Severus' house around midnight. Hermione was already fast asleep and Severus was just about asleep too when he felt someone crawl in bed behind him. He turned slightly and saw it was Abby, her bloodshot eyes made it obvious she had been crying.
"What's wrong", Severus said rolling over and pulling her into his chest.
"I was just thinking about mum. She won't be here to send me off to school this year."
"I know love", Severus said softly and tightening his grip around her.
"I'm nervous about tomorrow, about Hogwarts. I don't know any of the kids there except Jordan."
"It will be alright. I will be there, so will Hermione, your grandparents, and just about everyone you have meet this summer. I'm sure Jordan will introduce to his friends on the train tomorrow. Your house mates will accept you, and with quidditch try outs in two days you will have new friends in no time."
"I know, I'm glad you will be there, it will make it easier", Abby said and snuggled as close as she could to Severus, "Can I sleep in here tonight?"
"Of course, but I have something to ask you. How long have you been able to do wandless and verb less magic?"
Severus could feel Abby smile against his chest. "Since I was nine", she said right before falling asleep.
After taking Abby to the train station the next morning, Severus and Hermione packed their things and apparated to Hogwarts.
"After I unpack, I will be down to your chambers", Hermione said before they split into separate directions.
"Ok love, I will be waiting", Severus said and softly kissed her, before walking off towards the dungeons.
Hermione was getting giddy again; this was the second time Severus had called her love.
Severus sat at the staff table, in between Albus and Hermione. He looked up and down the table, and couldn't believe he was working with a bunch of bloody Gryffindor's. There was
Potter, well both potters were in the castle but Ginny wasn't a teacher, Weasley, Longbottom, Lupin, and Hermione. Draco was also thrown in there, although he was a Slytherin, he still fit nicely with the golden trio. Severus watched Hermione for a moment; she was having a conversation with Remus, who was on the other side of her. He couldn't get over that this beautiful women was with him, and she seemed to be falling just as deep for him as he was for her. Severus was positive he was in love with her; there was no other explanation for the way he felt.
Severus was brought out of thought by the doors of the Great Hall opening and McGonagall walking toward the front of the Great Hall. Abby was walking beside her and the first years were walking behind them. Severus flashed Abby a smile and she grinned.
Albus stood up and the entire hall went silent, "Welcome, welcome, It is time for our annual sorting ceremony. This year we have a new student, she is a native of Britain, but has been attending school in America. So, she will be out first to be sorted."
"Snape, Abigail", McGonagall called.
The entire hall erupted in whispers. Albus stood back up.
"Oh yes, I forgot to mention, she is the daughter of your potions master, Severus Snape."
He seemed the whole student body sucked in a breath and erupted into loud whispers. Severus and Abby were both smirking. The staff that knew about Abby were grinning.
The students went silent when McGonagall placed the sorting hat on Abby's head.
"Ahh, another Snape. I never thought I'd get to sort another one of you. You have the brains and bravery of your father along with the courage and passion for learning from your mother. But, where to put you." The sorting hat seemed to be going over the houses in his mind. "With that fiery red hair that resembles a Weasley, you must be a GRYFFINDOR."
The entire hall went silent again, until the Gryffindor table erupted in applause. Abby turned and smiled at Severus, and then went and sat down next to Jordan at the Gryffindor table.
"Hey Severus", Harry called from down the table; "The quidditch cup is going to look amazing above the Gryffindor fire place!"
After the sorting ceremony and the welcome back fest, Harry pulled Abby aside in the Gryffindor common room.
"Abby I have something for you; think of it as a welcome to Hogwarts gift. Just wait until you get into your dorm to open it. Keep it in good shape and return it to me after you graduate in a few years."
"Ok, thanks Harry, Erm I mean Professor."
Harry grinned and walked out of the common room. Once Abby got into her dorm, and all the other girls were in bed, she opened the present Harry gave her.
The card read:
Abby,
We just wanted to welcome you to Hogwarts; we know these next couple of years will be loads of fun. Hopefully you will get as much use out of this as we did. Welcome to our big family!
Harry, Hermione, Ron, Uncle Draco
Underneath the card was Harry's invisibility cloak.
-Review please!!