DISCLAIMER: The rightful ownership of Harry Potter and all its characters belong to the incredible J.K. Rowling.

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CHAPTER 1: Acceptance

If there's one thing Severus Snape hated, it was the feeling of anxiety.

The man himself was no stranger to such an emotion. His wretched father, may he burn in hell for all eternity, instilled upon his son a deep sense of fear and agitation the moment he could walk. Severus couldn't remember a time where he wasn't walking on egg shells around the old drunk, who would beat up his own flesh and blood for even looking at him funny.

His father, unfortunately, wasn't the only problem. Severus couldn't remember a time where he wasn't shoving his large nose inside a book as he jotted down notes after notes for his exams at Hogwarts. So fearful was Slytherin's student of failing, he would spend an ungodly amount of whatever free time he had studying. The fear of becoming a dead loss like his father ran hard within the lad. Severus was determined not to become a failure like him or his mother.

And yet, in spite of all his dangerous successes, Severus Snape once again could not curb the deep sense of apprehension curdling within the pits of his stomach, for in just a few precious moments, he would be making one of the most important announcements in his life.

"Severus," Twenty six-year-old Hermione Granger chided next to him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Will you stop fidgeting and just relax? Everything's going to be fine."

The former Potions Master at Hogwarts glanced down at his beloved intended. "You don't know that," he said, his deep voice full of regret.

"Trust me," his silly know-it-all smiled in reassurance.

She rapped her knuckles thrice upon the door belonging to one of London's many flats, and a part of Severus couldn't help but hope that the owners of such simple housing were indisposed for the day. Such hopes were wasted, however, when the door all but flew open to reveal a middle-aged man with brown curls and a woman who was the spitting image of Hermione, minus the tamed blonde hair and slender frame.

"Hermione!" Jean Granger greeted, sliding her arms around her child. "It's so good to see you."

Hermione wrapped her mother in a warm embrace. "It's good to see you too, Mum." She released the woman, her eyes shining as she moved on to the next parent. "Dad."

John Granger did not hesitate to enfold his daughter within his arms. "Hey, sweetheart." He kissed the top of her head. "Welcome home."

Severus could not help but feel a tad bit awkward despite the touching scene before him, and took a step forward. "Mr. Granger." He held out his hand. "Severus Snape. We met once several years back in Brisbane."

Mr. Granger eyed the tall dark fellow with a skeptical look before grasping his hand. "Oh, yes, I remember." He gave it a firm shake. "The Potions Master from Hogwarts. You were with my daughter when...," his voice trailed off.

Severus nodded, his gaze shifting to the older woman attached to Hermione's side. "Mrs. Granger," he tipped his head.

"We have some news we wanted to share with you in person," Hermione began, stepping to stand beside him. "Big news."

Mr. Granger exchanged a look with his wife. "Well then," his brown eyes lingered on their entwined gloved hands, "let's talk about it in the sitting room, shall we? Any longer outside in this weather and we'll all catch our deaths."

Hermione and Severus were then ushered into the sitting room, where Mrs. Granger began serving them steaming cups of tea and biscuits. "So," Mr. Granger began after a while, setting his cup aside, "What news does my daughter and her acquaintance wish to share with us on such a fine wintery day as this one?"

Severus, for all his elegance, could only open and close his mouth as he tried to figure out the right words to say.

"Well, you see." Hermione placed a comforting hand on his leg. "Severus is more than just an acquaintance. He's... we fell in love. It... it was all so unexpected, at first. Now we've come to a point in our lives where we just can't live without the other."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Granger exchanged looks with each other. "I... see." Mr. Granger said, his tone apprehensive.

Severus then took Hermione's left hand within his own large ones, his fingers gently pulling the glove she wore off to expose the sizable diamond ring she wore on her third finger.

Mrs. Granger gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. "Oh, my goodness.."

"Mrs. Granger, Mr. Granger." Severus began. "I will not fault you for having your doubts since you know next to nothing about me, but believe me when I say this - there's not a thing in this world that I wouldn't do for your daughter. I want to marry her." His gaze dropped. "With your blessing, of course."

Silence, followed by even more lingering silence, until...

Mr. Granger suddenly stood up, startling the three of them, and without a word or glance, walked straight into the kitchen.

Hermione squeezed her fiancé's hand. "Go to him," she whispered.

Severus gulped, but stood up and did exactly what she instructed him to do nonetheless. He pushed open the door to the small yet homey space that was the Granger's kitchen. Hermione's father had his back to him from the stovetop, his hands spread atop its flat surface. Severus took a hesitant step forward. "Mr. Granger?"

"Do you love her?"

Severus blinked.

Mr. Granger turned around, his gaze fierce and steady. "Do you love her?" he repeated.

Severus swallowed, hard. "Yes," he answered, his voice deep with conviction. "With everything that I am."

"And how long have you loved her?"

A pause. "A while."

"She's too young for you."

"She's a responsible adult, capable of make her own choices."

"Truly?" The man's smile was anything but friendly. "How do I know that you won't wake up and abandon her for one day? How do I know that you didn't seduce her for your own selfish needs? How long, exactly, has this infatuation with my daughter been going on, Severus? Since her adolescent years?"

Severus flinched at the biting accusation the man was throwing at him, and was quick to calm his rising agitation down. The man was only trying to look out for his only child and he would not allow his anger to get the best of him. Not this time. "I have never looked upon your daughter in such a way while she attended Hogwarts as my student."

"And yet here you are in my house, flashing an engagement ring upon her hand before you even bothered to ask me for my permission."

"I'm asking you now." Severus clenched his fists. "You and your wife mean everything to Hermione, and her happiness means everything to me. Your consent in this would mean the world to her."

"So you say," said Mr. Granger. "And if I don't bestow you my blessing?"

"I...," Severus faltered, but only for a split second. "Then I would wait until I gained your trust, however long that would take."

Mr. Granger frowned. "Somehow I doubt that."

"For Hermione, it's worth it. Believe me when I say this, Mr. Granger - I'm a patient man. I can wait."

Mr. Granger studied the austere man before him. Tall and lanky, his long hair fell in somewhat greasy strands around his sallow face and shoulders, and his obsession with black was not unnoticeable in his unusual style of clothing. And good Lord, the nose that this man sported! And it didn't help that he was in dire need of braces. His teeth were absolutely appalling. For the life of him, Mr. Granger couldn't figure out exactly what it was that his daughter saw within this man... until now.

With a sigh, he turned around, his arms crossing. "If you hurt her..."

"I would rather die first." Severus spoke the truth.

"But you've tormented her and her friends for years, yes?" Mr. Granger pressed. "Hermione's told us much about the infamous Potions Master of Hogwarts. You even made her cry once in her fourth year, if I recall."

Severus hung his head. "I've done things I'm not proud of," he murmured, "terrible things that will never stop haunting me. However," he looked up, his gaze steadfast and strong. "I do not regret loving your daughter. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I want nothing more than to make her happy in return, as my wife."

"Hmm." Mr. Granger came and stood before his daughter's disgruntled fiance, who was easily a couple heads taller than himself. "You're making it very hard for me to loathe you, Severus Snape. Getting romantically involved with a girl nearly half your age, despite humiliating her in front of the school only years before. And yet," his eyes softened, "in spite of all your past flaws, you selflessly brought Hermione back to us, and vice versa.

"I never got a chance to thank you for that, Severus. I'm counting on you not to fail her as a husband."

Mr. Granger held out a hand, much to the younger man's surprise. "Go on now," he smirked, "before I change my mind."

Slowly, Severus grasped the man's hand in a firm grip. "Thank you." His voice became somewhat hoarse. "I won't fail."

Mr. Granger smiled. "If she's learned to love and accept you, I don't see why we cannot do the same."

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