A/N: Oh my lovely reviewers! I appreciate all of your reviews, comments and questions. I am trying really hard not to comment on plot or give anything away. I will respond to mmanjari14's review - Um whoops! I totally forgot that Percy existed. Let's just say Percy is estranged from the family.

Thanks to Bri892 for pre-reading and editing.

Chapter 17: Welcome to Motherhood

Standing in the doorway of Sabrina's room, Hermione watched as Severus braided Sabrina's hair. Funny how he went from Snape to Severus in her mind over the last few weeks.

"Will you be here for dinner this evening? I'd like to go over the schedule with you." Hermione asked him.

"Hold still, please," He pleaded with Sabrina as she tried to walk over to her mother while her hair was still in his hands. "I am expected in the Great Hall for dinner however I do not have rounds this evening."

"Great, we can review the schedule after dinner." Hermione picked up Sabrina and hugged her tight.

"I don't want to go to Nana Molly's. I wanna stay with Mummy!"

Hermione headed to the dining room with Severus following behind her. She reassured Sabrina that she would pick her up right after nap and they would spend the afternoon together.

Hermione settled cranky Sabrina at the table for breakfast. She glanced up at Severus with a confused look.

"It's separation anxiety." Severus spoke in a soft voice as not to be overheard.

Severus left immediately after breakfast for his first potions class of the day. Hermione started gathering Sabrina's sweater and Hippo as Sabrina wrapped herself around her leg.

When demanding and whining didn't work on her mother, Sabrina started to cry. Hermione tried everything she knew from being stern to making outlandish promises to crying herself.

With both of them in tears, Hermione marched into the floo. Molly reached in pulled Hermione and Sabrina out of the fireplace and into her arms. "There, there."

Molly gently removed Sabrina's arms from Hermione's neck. "Julianna and Robbie are here. They would like to play in the garden with you. Would you like to go see them or wait here for Rosie to arrive?"

Ignoring the sobs, Molly kept talking to Sabrina. "Today, we are going to go on an adventure. Your Uncle Ron thinks he found a fairy ring near the pond. We will be looking for fairies and toadstools."

Sabrina wiped her eyes, "a real Fairy ring?"

The floo behind them lit up with Fleur and Rose came running out. "Sabrina! We get to look for fairies today!"

The little girls hugged and jabbered excitedly.

Fleur was surprised to see Hermione's tear streaked face. Molly gave her a look and ushered the girls from the room.

"Come sit with me," Fleur guided Hermione to the couch and sat with her.

"She is breaking my heart. How am I supposed to leave her every day?" Hermione asked, "I do want to spend the day with her but I need to work. I have to work; it's like the air to me. But how can I do this to her? She needs me."

"Sabrina does need you. She needs her mother but that does not mean you must spend every moment of the day with her. She needs to spend time with other children, she needs nursery school and she needs a happy mother. You would not be happy if you didn't work, research and study." said Fleur with her accent weaving through her words.

Molly returned and sat on the other side of Hermione. Grasping Hermione's hands, she gave a little squeeze. "This is normal behavior. Sabrina is going through separation anxiety. She just got you back and doesn't want to be away from you."

"Yes, this will only last a short time." Fleur smiled, "For the both of you."

"Let's start with short time periods and a few days a week." Molly continued, "I'll bet this will pass in just a few days."

Wiping her face, Hermione tried to smile at Fleur and Molly. "This is just so hard. I feel like if I make a mistake, I will ruin my relationship with her or scar her for the rest of her life."

Fleur threw her head back and laughed, "Oh Hermione, it's official. You have become a mother."

Entering the small schoolroom (off the kitchen), Hermione found the children sitting at a short table playing with small figurines. They were arguing over who would find the Fairy ring first.

Hermione knelt down next the Sabrina, "I have to go to work now but I will return for you after lunch. I am proud of you."

Sabrina hugged her tightly, "Can't you stay with me and find fairy rings?"

"I can't today. You need to stay here and learn everything about fairy rings. And when I pick you up, will you please tell me everything you learned? You will be the expert in Fairy rings."

"YES!" She exclaimed. Smiling, Sabrina let her go and turned to her friends, "Bye Mummy!"

~~~~O-O~~~~

Hermione returned home to freshen up and change into her business dress robes. She gathered her research materials and flooed over to Seamus' home office.

The magically enlarged office had a long work table that stretched along the length of the two other walls held cluttered shelves filled with electronic components. There was nothing along the glass wall that looked over pretty garden.

Seated at round conference table in the middle of the room were Seamus Finnigan, Justin Finch Fletchley and a pleasant looking woman. Hermione surmised that it was Vanessa Lewis.

Hearing the floo behind her, Hermione stepped to the side as Theodore Nott arrived.

Everyone stood for handshakes and introductions: Nice to meet you; Please call me Theo; All the way from America….

Starting the meeting, Seamus reviewed the business plan, expectations and budgets. They spent the morning drafting requirements, goals, and schedules. The group agreed to half day meetings for three days a week until the office building was completed.

Justin and Vanessa were both meticulous with details as they explained electronics for Hermione and Theo. She felt a rush as they began outlining the media player and the mobile phone.

"I will see you tomorrow." Hermione called as she headed to the floo with her arms full of books.

Her head was bursting with incomplete thoughts and half baked ideas. She wanted to sit and jot down notes before she lost her train of thought. A quick glance at the clock, she had just enough time to write a list before she had to pick up Sabrina. "It's going to be hard to balance all these responsibilities." She muttered under her breath.

~~~~O-O~~~~

The afternoon and early evening flew by. Hermione had collected a happy little girl from the Burrow, tackled nap time, revised her notes and played long and complicated game of fairies vs. gnomes. Thankful for house elves, Hermione ordered a simple meal to share at their indoor picnic.

Severus arrived after dinner to find his living room filled twinkling lights and two girls dancing around toadstools. Stunned, he stood there silently until Hermione noticed him.

"Sir, we were…" Hermione stammered.

Sabrina ran to him and jumped up and down until he picked her up. "We're fairies, Daddy!"

"I can see that!" Severus smirked at Hermione; her face getting redder by the second.

After cleaning up and transfiguring the toadstools back into couch cushions, Hermione led Sabrina to the bathroom for a bath.

Hermione wrestled her into pajamas and having her hair combed before leaning back against the bathroom wall.

Severus had changed out of his teaching robes and joined them in Sabrina's bedroom.

"How about we give Mummy a break and I read to you tonight?"

"No, I want Mummy to do it!" Sabrina lashed out her father.

Severus flinched at his daughters harsh tone; a flash of sadness came across his face. He blinked and his expression was neutral again.

"Sabrina, that was very rude. You need to apologize to Daddy." Hermione scolded.

Sabrina looked up at the adults and burst into tears. "I sorry, Daddy," She cried and hugged his long legs.

Sighing, Severus picked her up and held her tightly. "There are better methods of expressing yourself, Little One."

He passed the girl to Hermione and headed out of the room.

"I'll be right out," Hermione called after him.

~~~~O-O~~~~

Hermione stopped in her room to grab her planner before joining Severus in the living room. He was slumped in the arm chair, nursing a fire whiskey.

"You look how I feel," She muttered as she poured herself a glass, adding a splash of water.

Not bothering to respond, Severus took a long pull of his drink and closed his eyes.

"Molly says that if we increase the amount of time Sabrina is away from me slowly, she will get over the separation anxiety. I picked her up after lunch today. I'll do that for the rest of the week and then pick her up after her nap next week."

After another sip, Severus sat up straight, "Good. Shall we review the schedule?"

Opening her planner, she pointed out the days she needed to go into the "office." They marked Hermione's work and apprenticeship schedule. Severus' summer schedule was simpler; he just needed some time to plan for the upcoming school year and lab time for his potions. With his flexible summer, he would spend much of summer with Sabrina.

"What about travel? Do you normally take a summer holiday? Also, you haven't been out socially; I hope you take advantage of me being here. You can go out anytime you like..." Hermione started to stammer, "Not that you need my permission; I just mean that I will be happy to stay with Sabrina if you would like to visit your girlfriend."

Smiling at Hermione's red face, he said "I appreciate your offer. Perhaps I will take advantage of our arrangement.I don't usually get an opportunity for social visits during the school year."

Closing her planner, Hermione pulled her legs up into the chair. "Will you tell me about your girlfriend? Do you visit with her often? Does she know Sabrina? Will you want to go on holiday with her?"

"My relationship has recently ended. Sabrina never met her." Severus answered neutrally,

She glanced at his face to be sure he wasn't upset, "I am sorry. I hadn't realized. How are you doing?"

Quirking an eyebrow, he said, "Miss Granger, are you trying to discuss my breakup? Is this girl talk?"

"Well, would you want to discuss it? Are you okay?" She asked determined not to blush.

"Do I appear unwell?"

Holding his gaze steady, Hermione saw his eyes sparkling, his mouth tight as if he was holding back a smile. She didn't look away until he spoke again.

"Alexandra and I enjoyed our time together. At this point, we are not pursuing a romantic relationship."

She smirked at him, mouthing the word "romantic."

His mouth relaxed into a half smile, "Would you prefer 'shagging like bunnies?"

A startled laugh erupted from her. She laughed louder and louder as she clutched her arms around herself. "Severus Snape - shagging like bunnies."

He joined in the laughter for a moment, before excusing himself, "Good evening, Hermione."