Hello I don't own anything Harry Potter related

Chapter one: The Meeting

There was a knock at the office door "Enter" came the voice of the ancient wizard sitting behind a great desk. A man walked in with dark curtains of hair and matching black robes.

"You wanted to see me Headmaster," the younger man said in a low voice.

The older man leaned back in his chair and said "Yes, I wished to speak to you about the rapidly approaching term. There is a girl beginning Hogwarts this year, and I want you to keep an eye on her,"

"Who is she, Albus, golden-boy's daughter?" Severus said with a sneer.

"No, Harry's daughter is much too young to begin school," Albus chuckled and continued, "Her name is Acacia. You will find that she is rather special,"

There was another knock at the office door. A stern looking witch in emerald robes with graying hair entered with a girl at her side. She lead the girl to the seat next to Severus. She had dark eyes with hair to match.

"Severus, this is Acacia. . . Snape" Albus said slowly watching for Severus's reaction.

Severus's eyes widened for a moment as he looked down at the girl, then he regained his composure quickly and turned his head to the Headmaster.

"How is this possible?" he asked barely above a whisper.

"You recall Miss Granger do you not?" Albus asked quietly.

"Yes, what about. . ." Severus trailed off. He suddenly realized that the girl sitting next to him was the product of one drunken New Year's Eve many years ago, eleven years to be exact. His mind began racing. Why had she not told him? Why hadn't anyone told him? Surely Harry and Ron knew. Possibly even Remus and Sirius. His mind was having trouble understanding that his friends had not shared this with him. Severus suddenly felt the familiar stab of betrayal. This was a better kept secret than his double agent work during the war.

"Why am I finding out now?" he asked slowly, attempting to keep in all of the emotions he was experiencing at the moment.

"As she is starting school this year it would have been difficult to keep a secret seeing as I gave her your last name," came a voice from behind Severus. He turned to see who had spoken, although he was sure he knew who it was. Hermione Granger strode to the group around the desk that included her daughter.

Severus stood as she came closer.

"Miss Granger," Severus said looking Hermione in the eye.

"Professor," she nodded at the dark man.

An awkward silence fell over the room. Severus and Hermione looked at each other, black eyes boring into chocolate ones, while their daughter looked at both of her parents.

"Mummy, is he my father?" the girl spoke for the first time. Acacia had never met her father until a few short moments ago, when Minerva had guided her to him. She felt slightly awkward. Was that how she was supposed to feel? Was she supposed to shy away from her father? Maybe she would try to be a little warmer in the future.

Both of her parents turned their attention to their daughter.

Hermione walked to her crouching slightly to her daughters eye line and smoothed her hair.

Finally she whispered her response, "Yes," Hermione stood and looked at Severus, "Professor Snape could I speak to you, alone?"

"Of course," he said masking his confusion and motioning to the office door.

Hermione sauntered to the door followed by Severus. They strode down the spiral staircase in silence. When they reached the corridor, Hermione spun around on her heel to face Severus. They stood in silence until Severus broke it.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked looking into her brown eyes again.

"You had gone through so much pain and suffering. I…I didn't want to burden you," she whispered looking at the stone floor, "You had just been acquitted and I didn't want to trouble you with such a thing," she finished, looking up at Severus, tears threatening to fall.

Severus looked at the woman he had always known to be strong. She was now in pieces as a result of her predicament.

"After all I'd been through, I would have seen a child as a blessing," he said softening his expression slightly.

"I just thought I was doing what was best for everyone," she responded, her eyes drying slowly.

"She's just like you. She has your eyes, your hair, and, of course, your intellect," she whispered her eyes dry and full of pride.

Severus felt an emotion he was unfamiliar with run through him, pride? He had to admit, the girl did resemble him remarkably. The girl? She was obviously not just another girl. He would have to eventually call her by her name.

"Why have you brought her, when the beginning of term is so far away, despite the Headmaster's desire for it to be different?" he asked, attempting a subject change.

"That's the other reason I wanted to talk to you alone. I have to leave the country for work, and I know that you've only just met her but I thought it would be a good chance for you to get to know each other. I would completely understand if you declined," she explained with less confidence than he was used to hearing in her voice.

Severus thought to himself for a moment. She was right it would be a good chance to get to know his…daughter…before school started. He was apparently taking longer to ponder the situation than he thought, because Hermione's features had fallen.

"I agree, that is a good idea, however she will have to stay here," he said motioning to walls around them.

Hermione was obviously surprised, as her eyebrows almost disappeared into her hair.

"Really? You'll take her? Get to know her?" she exclaimed in excitement, but she began to apologize at the sight of the expression on his face. "I'm sorry it's just, I thought I was setting myself up for disappointment,"

"Do you really think me so cruel? She is my daughter and seeing as I've missed the first eleven years of her life I don not intend on missing anymore," he stated with another rush of pride. He had done many horrible things in his life, but he could never rebuke his own child, whether he had just met her or not.

With that, the two went back to the Headmaster's office to make the arrangements for the remainder of the summer.

A/N: hey thanks for reading! I hope you liked it! It's my first story so if you have any suggestions please share them with me and review please! Eat Ramen and read FanFic!