Freddie awoke the next morning still wrapped in Snape's warm embrace. She was confused at first by the smell of food that had woken her up.
"Did you bring me breakfast in bed?" she asked groggily, her face still buried in his chest.
"Not me. I believe Miss Leroux is downstairs cooking."
"Oo," she said, sitting up instantly. "I hope she's as good a cook as her mother. Laura makes amazing breakfast."
"Wait," Snape said and pulled her back down to kiss her thoroughly. The kiss left her breathless and flushed and he smirked when he let her go. "Now you may go."
"What about you? Are you coming downstairs?" she asked as she got up and got dressed.
"I'll probably have breakfast at Hogwarts," he said, sounding mildly uncomfortable.
"Oh come on, Severus. You don't have to be scared of Ada."
"I'm not scared of her," he said stiffly. "I'm just unused to having a teenage girl in my house."
"One you're not sleeping with at least," she said teasingly and he scowled at her. "Just come have breakfast with us. You can leave after that."
"Fine," he said begrundingly and slid out of bed to get dressed.
They went downstairs together to find Ada standing at the stove cooking eggs. Lunette the owl was perched on the open windowsil, looking out, and Ziggy was sitting by Ada's feet, waiting to see if she was going to drop anything.
"Good morning Freddie – oh!" Ada said, glancing over her shoulder and her cheeks flushed slightly. "Good morning Professor Snape."
"Miss Leroux," Snape greeted and Freddie rolled her eyes at the both of them.
"You can say Ada and you can say Severus, it won't kill you," she said bracingly.
"Would you like some tea Severus?" Ada said hesitantly.
"No thank you, I prefer to make it myself."
"Yeah even I'm not allowed to make his tea," Freddie told her with a grin. "Can I help with breakfast?"
"It's almost done, just finishing up the eggs. You can set the table if you like," Ada told her.
Freddie got dishes from the cupboard and began setting the table for 3 people. She watched from the corner of her eye as Snape stood rather stiffly at the counter near Ada, using his wand to carefully heat his teapot. When he was finished he retrieved two teacups from the cabinet then hesitated.
"Would you like a cup Miss... Ada?" he asked and Freddie couldn't help but smirk at him. He cut his eyes at her, then looked back to Ada who was taking the eggs off the burner.
"Oh, yes please. Merci. Your tea-making skills are legendary," Ada answered with a grin and a wink at Freddie.
Freddie helped Ada carry the eggs, bacon, sausage and toast over to the table, then the girls sat while Snape poured their tea before taking his own seat. Freddie didn't miss the slight grimace on Snape's face as Ada spooned sugar into her tea.
"C'est vraiment délicieux," Ada said after she'd taken a sip, her green eyes sparkling.
She should try it without sugaring it to death, said Snape's voice in her mind and Freddie chuckled, taking a drink of her own tea.
"Is that...hibiscus? And lemon?" Ada asked after savoring the flavor.
"It is," Snape confirmed with a slight nod of his head.
"Which blend is it? Freddie told me you have hundreds of them."
"Not hundreds," Freddie protested. "Dozens at least."
"Brew #47," Snape answered quietly.
"That's what he always drinks for breakfast," Freddie informed her friend. "Well, almost always."
"I wouldn't mind trying more of your tea blends, Severus. I have always preffered coffee, but you make very good tea."
"Thank you," Snape said, the corners of his mouth twitching in a smile. "And thank you for breakfast."
"It's really good," Freddie said through a mouthful of sausage.
"Maman taught me to cook, but only the Muggle way," Ada said, seeming pleased. "I have always wanted to try cooking the wizarding way, but maman said magic and cooking shouldn't mix."
"Ridiculous," Snape muttered under his breath and both girls looked at him. "...If you want to cook with magic, you should. Winifred has a number of wizarding cookbooks. She can teach you."
"Yeah I had to teach myself when I first came here," Freddie told her. "I'd never had to cook for myself before. It was actually sort of fun to learn, kinda like potions in a way. I could definitely teach you."
"I'd like that a lot," Ada said brightly. "Maybe I could finally learn to bake bread if I used magic. My bread never turns out like maman's."
"Laura makes the best bread," Freddie said wistfully, thinking of her holidays spent with Ada's family. "I think about it all the time."
"She'll be pleased to hear that," Ada chuckled. "I'll be sure and tell her in my next letter. Perhaps she'll send you some back."
"That would be amazing."
The three finished breakfast quickly after that and Snape stood up from the table, checking his watch.
"I should return to the castle. Thank you again for breakfast, Ada," he said with a nod to her.
"You're quite welcome. Thank you for letting me stay here."
"Certainly. Winifred," he said, then hesitated awkwardly. "I will see you later."
He Disapparated with a pop and Freddie looked at the spot where he'd disappeared with some amusement. No doubt he'd wanted to embrace her or kiss her goodbye, but felt uncomfortable doing so in front of her friend. She chuckled softly, shaking her head, and turned to help Ada clear the table.