A/N: Thanks Bri892 for being a super beta!

Chapter 42: Pink Poodles

Excited at the prospect of a holiday, Sabrina was up early. She stopped by her mother's room and found it empty. She checked the kitchen and that too was empty. Sabrina headed down the hall to her father's room. She found her parents sleeping, her father's arms holding her mother to his chest.

"Wake up! Wake Up! It's time to go to France. I am going to speak French all day. Bonjour! Oh La La, Papa. Excusez-moi, Mere? Do you want croissants? Wake up!"

Hermione's face turned red as she realized Sabrina had caught them in bed together. Except that one time they had fallen asleep on the couch, they had been so good about going back to their own rooms. She glanced at Severus; he had two bright pink spots on the tops of his cheeks.

"Oui, ma petite. Croissants for breakfast sounds tres jolie." Hermione answered as Sabrina climbed on top of the bed and pushed her way in between her parents.

"Tres means a lot. What is jolie?"

"Nice. I was saying very nice. Why don't you call in our order for croissants and I'll meet you in the kitchen." Hermione slipped her hands under the covers and rooted around for her pants.

Sabrina crossed her arms and huffed, "And I won't get in trouble this time?"

"You will not get in trouble because you have permission. Mummy and I will meet you after we brush our teeth." Severus told her as he held the covers over his body, lifting her from the middle of the bed to the floor.

Hermione wiggled under the covers trying to get her pants back on as Sabrina raced from the room. Severus climbed out of bed nude with Hermione's eyes firmly locked on his backside.

~~~~O-O~~~~

The Granger / Snape family spent the two days of their holiday in the French countryside. Severus attended meetings at the magical school while Sabrina and Hermione explored the small town. Sabrina was not impressed with much as she declared that it looks just like Hogsmeade but the people spoke French. She was quite upset that the country wasn't filled with poodles and Eiffel Towers.

"Daddy, can we go to Paris now?"

In the late afternoon, Severus returned to the inn and joined them in the bedroom. He sat down heavily and Sabrina clambered into his lap.

"Please, Daddy! I hafta see a poodle." She begged her father.

Hermione handed Severus a glass of wine, "I am guessing their potions professor is not up to par."

"I think my fifth years would do a better job teaching potions. I made my recommendations and provided them curriculums for beginner, intermediate and advanced courses." Severus sipped at his wine; the lines on his face relaxing. "I've done all I can here!"

"Shall we head to Paris in the morning?"

Sabrina bounced excitedly, "Ooooh la la, Papa! Poodles! We can see poodles."

Severus lifted Sabrina off of his lap and set her on the ground, "What is this obsession with poodles?"

"It's in a children's book. Apparently, in France the poodles are pink and every other phrase is Oooh La La."

"Well, that's going to be a problem, eh?" He stood and helped Hermione pack, "Well, what do you ladies say to going to Paris tonight? We can have dinner and see the city lights."

Sabrina cheered as Hermione set her gaze on Severus. Standing tall, his shoulders squared as he held Sabrina's hands as she danced around him. She closed her eyes trying to memorize this moment, commit it to her memory. "Merlin, I love him." she thought.

Hermione moved around the room using her wand to gathering items and fold them neatly into their luggage.

Within minutes, they were packed and in the lobby of the small inn. Severus and Sabrina stood next to the fireplace waiting for Hermione to finish her conversation with the owner.

"Now, now? Do we get to see the Eiffel Tower and poodles and Madeline's house and the…" Sabrina was interrupted as Hermione picked her up.

Hermione whispered in hushed tones in the little girl's ear about fiction and nonfiction. With a small sniffle, Sabrina announced that it would be okay if there weren't pink poodles in Paris.

Severus decided that a shopping trip was in order. He would need to find a toy store and purchase a poodle toy and apply a simple color change charm.

The family climbed into the fireplace and Severus announced the name of their hotel as he dropped the floo powder. Within moments they were in Paris.

~~~~O-O~~~~