A/N: Shout out to Amarenima Redwood and RhodaBush for their suggestions.
Thanks to Bri892 for being a rockin beta!
Chapter 38: House Points
Despite moving forward in their relationship, Hermione rebuffed all of Severus' attempts to discuss courting. On the fourth day of significant drops in Gryffindor house points, Minerva finally asked Hermione to tea.
"How are Sabrina and Severus, dear?" she asked.
Hermione smiled, "Sabrina is thriving. She adores school though most of the work is below her levels." She paused in thought on the second portion of the question, "Severus is brooding a bit, though."
Minerva made a soft sound as she poured the tea.
"Ah, I see what he means." Hermione muttered under her breath, thinking of Severus' "bloody woman" comment.
"So Minerva, what can you tell me about courting?"
They spent the afternoon discussing the wizard world and the old ways. Intrigued, Hermione was itching to go to the Hogwarts library for more research but she had to pick up Sabrina from school.
~~~~O-O~~~~
That night, Hermione was able to get Diana and Ron to watch Sabrina. She met Severus at the door with a kiss. He glanced around and didn't see Sabrina. Hermione met his questioning look. "I wanted to speak with you so I asked Diana to take Sabrina overnight."
Feeling a little guilty, Hermione took a breath and exhaled slowly, "I spoke with Minerva today, and did a little research in your study after I picked up Sabrina. Although I do not care of the methods of courting, your intentions, your commitment means the world to me."
Standing on her tip toes, she kissed him again before stammering, "I think, I mean, um, I feel that we."
Severus stopped her with a finger to her lips, "You are agreeable to being courted but you object to the concept?"
"Um, well, yes."
He bent his knees and scooped her off her feet, "Then I shall endeavour to make this terribly antiquated and sexist process as painless as possible."
Severus carried her bridal style off to his bedroom.
~~~~O-O~~~~
Hermione and Severus took several days off of work to meet with the Gringotts Goblins and Ministry Unspeakables. Finally, it was determined a drop of Sabrina's blood and two scans would be enough to determine and ensure the Prince family line.
It was time to take Sabrina out of school and into London for the tests. The little girl was quite cross with her parents.
"I am going to miss gymnastics AND a chapter from Magic Tree House," she informed them while stamping her foot.
Severus picked her up into his arms, "This is an important appointment, Little One. We would not ask you to miss school for trivial matters."
Hermione rolled her eyes behind them, "And you have already read Magic Tree House three times."
He let Sabrina down and admonished Hermione with a look.
"Sabrina, I apologize that you will be missing school today. I will be more than happy to read you the chapter you will miss. How about pigtails today? You can wear your new hair ties," said Hermione
The little girl ran off to find the hair ties and her parents sighed in relief.
~~~~O-O~~~~
They started the day by strolling along Diagon Alley, window shopping and chatting. The early crowds were hurrying along, not taking much notice of the family. One or two people pointed and whispered but no one approached them.
They had negotiated with the goblins to allow the Unspeakables to meet and perform their scans at Gringotts so they wouldn't have to drag Sabrina to the bowels of the ministry.
Hermione and Severus exchanged a glance before entering the golden doors of Gringotts; they each remembered their first trip into the bank, their first encounters with goblins. Sabrina's eyes were big as she took in the sights. She curtsied to the first goblin she saw drawing a startled gasp from several of them.
Severus stepped ahead and nodded to their representative, Zebulon . They were directed to a room nearby.
The small goblin stood only a centimeter or so taller than Sabrina, "Welcome, I am Zebulon."
The little girl curtsied again, "May your gold always find it's rightful home, Zebulon. I am Sabrina Jane Snape."
"Such a well mannered child."
"Did you teach her about goblin customs?" Hermione whispered to Severus.
A quick shake of his head, Severus indicated he hadn't.
Sabrina bounced on her feet, "Uncle Bill has a book on goblins."
"The Unspeakables will be invited in after we are through with the inheritance documents." Zebulon told them.
They were escorted to a gilded table with ornate chairs. Sabrina climbed into Severus' lap and the goblin produced a rolled parchment out of thin air. A wave of his hand unfurled the document filled with minute writing.
"Sabrina Jane Snape, place your finger on the parchment below your father's name."
Severus lifted her up and anchored her around the waist as she stretched over the tabletop. She placed her finger below Severus Tobias Prince Snape.
Zebulon chanted in Gobbledegook and swirls of gold dust danced around the parchment and Sabrina's hand. A drop of blood seeped into the parchment and the gold dust concentrated into a strand before dissipating into the parchment.
Sabrina sat back in her father's lap and clapped her hands.
The goblin made a sweeping motion with his long fingered hands and the parchment rolled up before disappearing. "I shall summon the Unspeakables now. You may remain here."
Hermione reached out and grasped Severus' hand. "Well, that was something else."
~~~~O-O~~~~
"I did not like those dunderheads." Sabrina told her parents as they strolled down to Florean Fortescue's ice cream shop.
After the third person asked for an autograph, Severus cast a Notice Me Not spell on his family. He couldn't wait to be away from Diagon Alley and the general public.
"Who would have thought that Sabrina would prefer goblins to unspeakables?" Hermione laughed, "Come on, Little One. I want to see if they have bubble gum ice cream."
"That is inane and illogical. Putting bubble gum in ice cream." He muttered.
He sat down at a tiny bistro table with three spindly little chairs. The Unspeakables had been annoying and he didn't blame Sabrina for disliking them. They huddled together whispering, they didn't address anyone in the room and started scanning his daughter without so much as a courtesy. Hermione had steadied his arm as he moved to hex the one scanning Sabrina.
Huffing, he watched as Hermione carried Sabrina on her hip as they taste tested the crazy flavors like Firecrab Fistfight and Ash and Smoke. He supposed he should feel grateful, Sabrina was the child of a strong spirit bond and a Prince to boot.
He felt his frustrations float away as his girls joined him at the table with their sugary concoctions and a bowl of chocolate birthday cake with sprinkles ice cream for him.