Child of Hogwarts

Disclaimer : I don't own any of the characters (though I wish I did). Only the general plotline.

Summary : For years there has been stories of 'The Child of Hogwarts'. People assumed it was Harry or any child who found Hogwarts more home than their own. Until Hermione was borne.

Note : If you don't like Ron Bashing this isn't the story for you. I warn you it's not going to be pretty for him. And it'll have a few other matches you may not like if you don't like things going beyond the normal. Such as.. ss/HG , HP/DM , GW/RL , LL/VK

Chapter One : The birth of Hermione

It was 8 months before the death of Lily and James Potter, already Severus had begun to realize the lies he had been told, the mistakes he'd made. Their son was set to be born within 2 months, the happy mother having told the Order the good news that evening. How it tore at his heart. That is, until the surprise of both James and Lily having asked him to secretly be their sons second Godfather incase anything happened to Sirius. Lily had had another one of her bad feelings and decided to reinstate a seldom used old school rite. James surprisingly enough had grudgingly agreed that Severus was the best choice to protect him. He'd left the meeting, feeling as if he'd just signed a third life away that he hadn't even known he'd had available. Shaking his head, and knowing that it wouldn't even come up unless something happened to the stupid mutt Sirius, the Potions Professor made himself head back to home, to his dungeons under the castle of Hogwarts.

Listed as the youngest Professor in Hogwarts History, he had been there as Potions Professor as he studied for his mastery through owl correspondance in the evenings. Not that he needed the information or lessons he was sent, he could have done them with his eyes closed. But he had to pretend, as he did with every aspect of his life if he wanted to become a Master.

As Severus was just starting to get comfortable, sitting back in his chair with a cup of brandy warming in his hand. His black eyes closing as he let the warmth of his fire, a sudden ripple of magic rocked through the dungeons and then straight up through the ceiling. Followed by the sound of a screech that suspiciously sounded like it was coming from Fawkes, Dumbledores phoenix.

Sitting up rather quickly, Severus immediately grabbed his wand, beginning to move it in a quick movement. "Obs-" His words were cut off, as the flames in his fireplace turned green and he heard the Headmasters voice cut through, "Severus, come to potions room nineteen, next to the abandoned torture section." Snapping closed before he could even think of responding.

Grunting in irritation, the potions master ran to the door, swinging it open and closed in less than a second. His long legged stride carrying into the darker regions of the dungeons that the students couldn't even see, let alone get into. Some of the areas having been set with charms and spells to keep anyone but those who were recognized staff out of them.

As his running carried him into the area called for by Dumbledore, he found himself with a site he didn't know what to make of. One of the cleaner walls of Hogwards had been at some point lined around the bottom with feathers of various birds, as well as clean hay and raw wool, giving it a very next like look. Hanging from the wall, as if it were part of Hogwarts itself looked to be, for all intents and purposes a very round, almost feminine stomache. While hovering above the phenonmena and trilling soothingly was Fawkes, his wings stretched wide, and flames of red and blue that seemed to give off only small bits of heat were being sent into the round holder.

"Albus, what am I ... looking at? Is this a.. " Trailing off as those black eyes just kept widening. Unable to help himself, he found himself following an instinct to reach out and touch the stomache. Feeling what felt like a babies foot press in against his palm for a moment before pulling back again.

"Severus, I've done spell after spell, and I don't know how it's possible, but Hogwarts is about to give birth. And apparently, Fawkes is the father. I haven't ever heard of this happening before have you?" Asked the old man with a wide eyed look through his halfmoon specticles that gave him an almost comically owlish gaze.

For a long while Snape was quiet, brushing his thumb over that stomache, in an almost soothing gesture before then blinking, "OH dear circe. Yes you have Albus." Pulling his hand back as if one of the flames had licked at his fingers. Before looking to the old man. "Albus. The Child of Hogwarts. It was said in one of those stories that we tell our kids that it happened a long time ago back when Hogwarts was first built. That so much magic had been put into her, that she truely ended up sentient, and to give the magical community someone they needed at the time, she gave birth to a son. To help lead them."

Nodding slowly, the rather rumple-haired Headmaster seems to think a long moment, "There's only one difference between now and then. All the spells I ran said that Hogwarts is giving birth. To a girl."

It was at that moment that there was a sudden shaking of the entire building. As if somehow, or for some reason the building itself was convulsing. At the same time Fawkes, singing grew loud and then a blinding flash turned the room white, leaving them both to blink wildly until the stars finally left their eyes and had regiven them the ability to see. The relief was almost palatable in the air around them, as the softest crying sound suddenly erupted where Fawkes had landed. Staring down at a rather clean looking, and yet still very newborn little baby girl. Her mousy brown hair was in tufts about the top of her head and obviously going to be curly as it already seemed to stick out everywhere. Her eyes were the most amazing thing about her though. They were a cinnamon brown in color with flecks of amber in them that seemed to shimmer like hints of living flame. ~Hermione~ Came a whisper on the air.

Jumping at the sound of the softly crying child, Albus stood back and watched, as his normally dour faced Potions Professor had knelt down into that small nest and was wrapping the newborn child in his now removed teaching robes. Transforming them into a deep chocolate brown color almost on instinct and lifting her to his chest. The sparks between the two of them may not have been noticable by others, but they made Albus gasp and then that annoyingly bright twinkle show in his old blue eyes as the infant and teacher stared and cooed at each other.

It took a long moment before Severus looked up and cleared his throat. "Did you hear that? Hogwarts named her daughter. Hermione. Albus where should we put her? She can't be found out about." His dark bushy eyebrows curling downwards. "If the Dark Lord finds out about her, he'll take her, and keep her to control when she's older. I can't let that happen." His dark voice showing a hint of uncharacteristic gruffness.

"Mmmmmm, yes. How about your godparents Severus? Didn't you tell me the Grangers were supposed to be getting back home tonight after being abroad for the last 7 months? Lilian hasn't been able to conceive, she might take this on without so much as a second thought if you talked to her. You know that a magical child might be just what's needed to remind her and her husband that even if they aren't the strongest of magical folk they're still a part of this world. And I'm sure they'd be fine parents." Intoned the old man thoughtfully as he kept studying the young man in front of him.

Staying silent for a long moment, Snape seemed to mull this over, having heard so many times of Lilian's wish that she could have a child to love of her very own. Maybe the old man was right after all. Giving a quiet nod, he said, "Tell Minerva I won't be able to make the chess game tonight. And ... if possible, keep what happened, between you, me, and her. I don't trust anyone else to keep their mouths quiet. I'll be back sometime tomorrow so cancel my Potions class, I'm sure the students won't mind." He sneered faintly though his gaze had once again been taken in by the infant.

It took almost 30 minutes for the Headmaster to get Severus to get his head on straight enough to go and see the house-elves in making sure the child was well clothed, as well as fed before taking her to the Grangers. Not looking forward to having to explain all of this to his wife, but in this case he just had a feeling that she should probably be prepared.

To his word, Severus got the two eldest house elves to help him with the baby girl after having made sure they'd given oathes of silence as well. To say that they were happy to help was an understatement, the squalling sobs that came when he told them he had to take the little one to her new family only quieted when he said she'd be back in 11 years to go to school there.

After sending out a Patronus of a black panther to the Grangers house, and telling them he was on his way, he bundled up his burdeon as well as all the things the elves had gotten to send along and went to catch the nightbus to the Grangers home. It took about an hour before he arrived and when he stepped down and went to the front door there was a moment of pause. He'd end up seeing the child rather regularly if he put her here, but at least he could protect her this way. A moment later a sharp knock was given, and when the door opened, a rather serious looking Severus looked down into the round face of his godmother, and into her chocolate brown eyes. "Mum. I need your help." He said before disappearing into the house, with the door closing behind him.