A/N:
This story has over one hundred (as in 100) followers. OMG!
Thanks Bri892 for prereading and editing!
Chapter 11: Mother, Career Woman, & Girlfriend
Hermione cherished the time spent with Sabrina. They explored the castle and grounds, shopped in Muggle and Wizarding villages and alternated tea with Minerva, Poppy and Hagrid. Mother and daughter grew inseparable. Summer was coming up and Hermione wondered how their days would differ with Snape not teaching all day.
In the fall, Sabrina would start Junior Kindergarten at the Hogsmeade School for Magical Children. How would Hermione fill her days? She needed to get a job. Yes, she thought, I will get back to work. I will have been recovered from my coma for over four months by then so the employers won't worry about hiring a sickly worker. She couldn't just accept a position from her Charms professor because she can break a few wards. She decided to use the summer months to work on her CV and then make a decision on Professor Flitwick's offer.
It had been over a month since she had woken from the coma, and Hermione was frustrated again. After putting Sabrina to bed, Hermione fire called Ginny. "I am so bored!"
"Come over for post dinner drinkies," Ginny invited her.
Hermione popped out of the floo at Harry & Ginny's house to find their living room in disarray. Harry was moving furniture by hand as Ginny used her wand to siphon dust off of spotless floor.
Grimmauld Place was a bright and cheerful home. The wood floors, door frames and chair rails gleamed, having been restored to their original state. The furniture had all been replaced and the walls had a fresh coat of paint. Not a hideous tapestry or faded wallpaper in sight.
"Hermione, can I get you a firewhiskey?" Harry asked as he filled himself a generous glass.
"No, Harry, but a glass of elf wine will be fine." Hermione took over moving the furniture.
At Ginny's direction, the living room was cleaned and rearranged. "Not so bored now, are you?"
Hermione filled her friends in on her frustrations. "One minute, I am a determined career witch and the next, I'm co-parenting a three year old with my old potions professor. I love Sabrina and I love spending time with her but it's all so sudden for me. I am happy and overwhelmed, and yet somehow I am bored."
"How is Snape treating you?" Harry asked.
"Professor Snape is fine, a perfect gentleman. He has never said a single negative word to me. He encourages me to be her mum and never second guesses anything I say to her. He's even gone so far as to tell me to go out and enjoy life." Hermione sighed, "how am I supposed to be frustrated when he's been so kind?"
Ginny patted her hand, "Doesn't this take the cake? You are unfulfilled but you can't say anything because he's doing all the right stuff."
"You need a life outside of Sabrina. You need to date and get a job. It's that simple." Harry interjected.
Ginny and Hermione immediately bombarded him with throw pillows.
~~~~O-O~~~~
After a tour of the new nursery, they returned to the living room. Harry brought out an odd assortment of snacks and refreshed their drinks.
"Anyway, did you know that Snape dates quite a bit? Has he mentioned his girlfriend?" Ginny asked Hermione.
Taken by surprise, Hermione took a minute before she answered, "No, I thought he was a living a solitary life and raising Sabrina. He hasn't mentioned a girlfriend and he hasn't gone out at night or weekends except for rounds."
"After the war, he dated casually but stopped after Sabrina was born. Last year, he met a woman from Greece. He's been serious about her but he never introduced her to Sabrina. He canceled his last trip to visit her after you recovered." Harry chattered away not noticing how uneasy Hermione was looking.
Ginny jumped in, "It wasn't because of you. They have been cooling off for awhile. She isn't willing to move to Scotland for the school year even though he offered to summer in Greece each year. She had never met Sabrina and this last trip, he was supposed to introduce her as a friend. I think your recovery bought him some time to think it over."
"So, I have a question for you guys," Hermione started, "Snape looks so different, between his short hair and his straight teeth. How did that happen? I wouldn't believe it's him had it not been for the smirks and sneers. I keep getting startled when I see him."
Ginny leaned forwards and grabbed the bowl of salt and vinegar potato crisps, "Between Fleur and your mother, he didn't stand a chance."
Harry laughed, "About a year ago, Snape was dropping off Sabrina for a sleepover your parent's house. Fleur looked up at him and started speed talking in French. Then she reached up and grabbed his chin and started studying his face. We were so shocked. I still replay that scene in my mind."
Ginny filled in the rest of the story,"I believe that she was never all that intimidated by him because she didn't have history with him. Fleur had explained in her beautiful French accent that his cheekbones and square jaw needed to be featured. She linked her arm with his and led him to your parent's bathroom for a haircut. When he came out, the women all ooohed and aaahed; Sabrina clapped for him and said he was pretty. He corrected her, "Men are not pretty. Men are handsome," and he's not his hair grow out since."
Hermione found herself giggling at the very idea. "I wish I could have seen that. Wish we had access to Dumbledore's pensieve. Now, tell me what my mother did to his teeth. There is no way he wore braces."
"Your mum is worse than you! You could always convince Ron and I to skip Quidditch to study for tests that were months away; she can convince Snape to fix his teeth. When they started getting along, Snape would ask questions about what was involved in dentistry. She talked about the importance of healthy teeth to a person's all around health. Your dad talked about how cosmetic dentistry was the future and the large profit margins. Snape even visited their office a few times to learn about teeth whitening. He made several potions to emulate the whitening process and tested them on himself. Your mum examined him several times to check if he had ruined his teeth during testing. He's put the teeth whitening potion on the market and people are going crazy over it. He can't keep it in stock."
Ginny yawned and excused herself. She had a hard time standing up from the couch so Harry stood and pulled her up. Grumbling about her center of gravity, Ginny went upstairs.
Harry continued on with the story, "Snape also learned about braces and decided to try widening the space between his teeth. Your parents have tons of x-rays of him throughout the process. Eventually, his teeth were straightened and fit into his mouth perfectly but his teeth were still sharp in some areas. Your mum got him drunk and your dad filed his teeth. I wish I had seen that."
Hermione laughed so hard that she snorted; embarrassed she covered her face with her hands.
"Mione, I am so happy to have you back. Things are getting easier for you, right?" Harry's eyes sparkled with happiness.
Smiling at him, "It's easier every day. I do wish everyone would stop treating me as if I was ill. I need to do more, be more. I am not just coma girl, Sabrina's mum, the chosen one's side kick, you know?"
"Promise not to hit me again? You need to date and get a job. It's that simple." Harry exclaimed as he hid his face behind a throw pillow.
~~~~O-O~~~~
Returning home, Hermione headed for the kitchen. She knew she couldn't sleep with her mind buzzing with ideas. She started warming the milk for hot cocoa as she muttered to herself. "It's simple; get a job and get a boyfriend."
"Am I interrupting your conversation with the stove?" Snape asked from the doorway.
Laughing, Hermione offered him a cup of cocoa. Snape declined but reached around her to start the tea kettle.
"Harry says my problems are simple. I must get a job and a boyfriend and all will be well."
Snape studied her face for a moment, "You are the brightest witch of your generation. I'm sure you could accomplish both by mid-morning tomorrow."
"Hardy Har-Har! A 'to do list' is what I need," Hermione replied. "I must research potential jobs and cross reference by industry job growth."
A flurry of parchments, post it notes and pens floated through the doorway to the small kitchen table. As Snape watched, Hermione sat down with her cocoa and produced list after list. He recalled her detailed essays filled with far more information than was required. He felt sorry for whomever would be her employer; they would not know what had hit them.