A/N: Thanks Bri892 for your guidance.

Readers - I have a challenge for you. In a later chapter, they go for ice cream and I need help coming up with crazy concoctions / flavors. I have come up with bubble gum ice cream (which was my favorite as a kid) but it's too tame. Let me know if you have any ideas.

Chapter 29: First Day of School

Sabrina flitted about their quarters with tights flying behind her like a cape. She yelled at Severus about her school bag, at Hermione about her hair and ran back into her bedroom for her missing shoes.

"Sabrina Jane Snape! You stop running and shouting this instant!"

Severus lifted his Daily Prophet higher, covering his smile.

"This is not funny, Severus! I cannot get her to calm down." Hermione lamented.

He placed his newspaper on the dining table and took a sip of his tea. His soft but firm voice called "Sabrina."

The four year old stopped in her tracks, dropping her shoes and tights. She turned and apologized to her father.

He admonished the girl, "Please ask for assistance politely and do not run in the house."

Hermione was still grumbling under her breath as they stood at the door. Sabrina was fed, washed up, and ready for school. She was in her favorite dress with her hair in a princess braid (that only Mummy can do). Her knapsack was on and her lunchbox in hand. She was ready to face her first day of school.

"I still don't understand why she doesn't listen to me. I even shouted at her, Severus, I shouted and she ignored me."

Shrugging his shoulders, Severus whispered into Hermione's ear, his warm breath caressing the side of her face and neck, "I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper little girls from running about and screaming."

Laughing, Hermione shoved him out of the door and their little family headed on the long walk to Hogsmeade.

~~~~O-O~~~~

It was September and life was officially busy. Sabrina was at her first day of school, Severus was preparing the final lesson plans with Blaise (students arriving by train that evening) and Hermione was back at Techno-Wiz for a production meeting.

Seamus had bold plans for production and distribution of the media player. The team was more cautious, offering a small first run with a handful of distributors. They decided to do a medium run through two distributors; ensuring exclusivity. If this was a success, they would increase distribution but still limit the amount of media players.

They were hopeful the success of the player would improve the investors confidence. The mobile phone project had stalled before testing as cell towers were never installed in wizarding areas of the U.K. Unlike America, the wizarding communities were pretty isolated outside of London. Investors could not see the value of building cell towers so their mobile devices would work.

With Theo's hands shaking from the numerous cups of coffee he had consumed and Justin's head banging repeatedly on the meeting table, Seamus ended the three hour meeting.

Hermione was gathering her materials as Vanessa approached. "Hermione, I truly enjoyed movie night in your home on Saturday. Your Severus is such a gentleman. You have such a delightful family."

She patted Hermione's arm and returned to her office.

"My Severus, my Severus," Hermione thought. "Vanessa wasn't interested in pursuing him; she thought that we were are couple, a real family."

~~~~O-O~~~~

Hermione met Severus at the front step of The Hogsmeade School for Magical Children. He would be able to visit with them for about an hour before beginning his duties to Hogwarts and Slytherin House.

"I have a feeling it's going to be a long walk home." He intones.

The school doors open and older students rush out. Eventually, the younger students are escorted out with their teachers. Sabrina jumps up and down while standing in line with her class.

When she was finally dismissed, she flew into Severus' arms. "I wasn't a dunderhead, Daddy. Miss Stacy said I was a model student."

Sabrina pushed herself out of his arms and wrapped herself around Hermione. "And I know all the letters and numbers so they let me read. Rosie had a different lunchbox. And Teddy didn't even say Hi to me. He only talked to his friends. And Victoria patted my head like I was a puppy. And Miss Isobel singed a new song."

The walk home was filled with Sabrina singing or jabbering on.

Hermione stepped closer to Severus and whispered, "Perhaps Junior Kindergarten was a bad idea."

~~~~O-O~~~~

"Well, how did it go? How are the ickle firsties?" Hermione asked as she passed Severus a double serving of firewhiskey.

Severus took a long pull of his drink before handing the glass back, "Can you top me off again?"

Hermione snorted and poured him another measure of firewhiskey. They sat down together and he filled her in on the Sorting Ceremony, homesick children and lost pets.

"Then two of the sixth year boys, Pucey and Thomas, got into a fist fight over a Hufflepuff and the prefects couldn't pull them apart. I had Blaise change their room assignments while I fire called their parents."

As they talked and laughed, Hermione wished they were sitting together rather than in chairs facing each other. She longed to sit on the couch with cuddled up with him, feeling his chest rise and fall with each breath. Hermione closed her eyes and banished her thoughts.

"It's been a long day. I'm turning in."

"Good night, Hermione."

She got up and headed to the hallway, pausing for a moment, she turned to look back at him. He sat still, his hands steepled together, lost in thought. Sighing, she continued to her room.

Severus remained awake another two hours after Hermione went to bed. He enjoyed time with her. He loved when she laughed and how she scrunched up her face when she was frustrated. He found her hilarious when she yelled and shouted. He loved watching her interactions with Sabrina. He loved how much she embraced being a mother, a mother to his child. He loved their arguments and discussions. He especially loved it when she turned to him for sympathy or advice. He loved her.

No matter how logically he approached this, he was not able to stamp down his feelings.

Sighing, he got up and went to bed feeling conflicted and hopeless.