A/N: Welcome to my new story. It's not perfect by any means but I'm slowly getting to grips again with my writing and it's always nice to share. It's obviously non-canon, OOC characters and a Hermione and Severus pairing. There is NO student-teacher relationship so please leave the 'this pairing is disgusting comments' off the reviews. If you don't like the pairing, then why did you click it?

Rant over, enjoy the story :)

Worst Kept Secret.

Chapter One.

As he fought against the brutal rain and gushing winds, Lucius couldn't help but mentally curse his lawyer for making him come out in such weather, especially when most modes of transport were restricted and he had to resort to muggle means and walking. This had better be bloody important, he thought to himself as he finally reached his solicitors offices. Letting himself in – when it became apparent the attractive but useless receptionist had already gone home – Lucius was in an even fouler mood when he finally knocked on the door and let himself into an office he knew almost as well as his own.

"Ah, Lucius. Thank you for coming out on such short notice," Horatio Cromwell greeted his old friend and client, shaking his hand far too enthusiastically, immediately alerting Lucius that something was seriously bothering the older man.

"What's so important that you needed me to come out so late?" Lucius asked, getting straight to business as he shook out his wet robes, eager to get home to his wife and young son, Draco. When there wasn't an immediate response Lucius looked up to see Horatio frowning, his hands knotted above his protruding belly as he actively avoided Lucius sharp grey eyes. "Horatio?" Lucius said, his own brows drawing together as various scenario ran through his head.

"There's someone that I think you should meet," he said making his way to the door and motioning for someone outside to come in. Seconds later the receptionist Lucius thought had gone home entered the office, followed by another small figure.

Frowning in confusion as to why he was being introduced to a young child, Lucius looked over towards his lawyer but before he could open his mouth to ask who the child was, Horatio blurted out "She's you daughter."

"Excuse me?" Lucius asked dumbfounded. Looking over to the little girl, Lucius observed her for a second before looking away. "How is she mine? She's could be anyone's," he said.

"She isn't Lucius, I've checked the grandmother's story as well as her DNA, she's definitely yours my friend," Horatio told him. "Look at her Lucius, look closely and you can see that she's your daughter. We'll leave you alone for a moment," Horatio said motioning for the receptionist to leave, following after her and closing the door to his office behind him, leaving father and daughter alone for the first time.

Doubting that what Horatio said was true, Lucius leaned against his lawyers' desk and rubbed his eyes before eventually looking over at the little girl who still stood next to the door. He watched curiously as she hugged a soft pink rabbit soft toy, her small fingers playing with its ears as she kept her head lowered. As though she sensed she was being watched the little girl shyly looked up and when she did, Lucius finally began to believe that she was indeed his daughter.

With her bushy brown hair and slightly too wide mouth, Lucius knew that from a brief look he never would think she was his, but when he looked closely he began to see some familiar aspects. She had a small button nose that reminded him of his mother and grandmother, but it was her eyes that really caught his attention. They were a similar oval shape to that of his son's, but instead of soft grey, they were a warm brown colour, but with the occasional fleck of grey mixed in making her eyes appear to dance in the dim light of the lawyer's office, even though Lucius could see they were slightly red rimmed, indicating she had recently been crying.

With a resigned sigh Lucius pushed himself off the desk and made his way towards the door, frowning when he noticed how the child seemed to flinch slightly when as he got closer. "Horatio, I think we need to have a chat about this little girl" Lucius said to the man hovering on the other side of the door. "Now tell me, exactly who this is," he said as the other man entered the room and took his place behind is desk.

"It's a long story Lucius, I think we're going to need this," Horatio said opening his desk draw and pulling out a bottle of Ogden's finest firewhiskey and pouring them both a glass. "Now, allow me to formally introduce you. This little lady is Hermione Granger."

Narcissa Malfoy smiled happily as she watched her young son play with his most prized possession – a soft plush purple dragon he'd affectionately named Bobbitt – when she heard the floo network open up, signally the return of her husband. Their son had apparently also heard it and was racing out the door to meet his father, trailing his dragon behind him by his tail causing Narcissa to chuckle slightly, knowing he'd most likely have a tantrum later on at how dirty his toy was. When Narcissa arrived in the sitting room however her smile quickly vanished when she saw her husband had a little girl in his arms instead of their son who was staring up at him and the child with wide eyes.

Gently stroking his son's hair as he moved Lucius passed his wife with barely a glance before heading upstairs towards their son's bedroom. Curiously, mother and son followed him up there and watched as Lucius gently tucked the little girl into the bed he'd conjured up, tucking her in and making sure her soft rabbit was snuggled in next to her. Turning round he then beckoned to his son to come closer and after whispering in his ear he then proceeded to tuck Draco into bed as well, softly kissing his forehead before he made his out the room and into the room he shared with his wife.

Moments later, after she too had wished Draco a good night, Narcissa joined Lucius and watched as he made his way towards the small drinks cabinet that stood at the far corner of their room and poured himself a large portion of brandy. When I became apparent that he wasn't going to start talking any time soon though, Narcissa finally asked, "Who is that little girl?"

Finishing his drink Lucius looked over at his wife and felt disgust at what he was about to tell her. "Her name's Hermione Granger and she's my daughter," he told her, moving quickly towards his wife when he saw her wobble at the news. Gently leading her towards the bed he sat her down and brought her over a large drink. When she finished that and her hands no longer shook, he sat the glass aside and sat next to his wife and started to explain.

"She was born a couple of months before Draco, I had no idea her mother was even with child, I hadn't seen since the night we were together, but she died two months ago and Hermione was taken in by her grandmother. She died three days ago and left instructions for Hermione to be sent to me. I'm named on her birth certificate as her father, and Cromwell ran tests to confirm to see if it was true and it is. I'm her father," Lucius told his wife, hating himself for hurting her in such a way.

"Who was her mother?" Narcissa asked unable to help herself.

"She worked in the ministry, the secretary to some wizenagamot member, I don't really remember," Lucius told her. "I can't even remember how we ended up that way," he admitted. "It wasn't long before we found out we were having Draco, when we wouldn't talk to each other for days at a time, our duties were weighing heavy on our minds and she was just a distraction," he added, knowing what she was about to ask before she asked it.

Narcissa nodded and closed her eyes. She remembered the time that Lucius was talking about. They had been married for two years and she'd recently gone through her fifth miscarriage and they were both beginning to feel the strain and pressure of continuing the Malfoy bloodline. One of the only things that got her through that tough time was her unwavering love for her husband, to find out that he had been unfaithful was devastating. "Will you keep her?" she finally asked.

"I haven't decided yet," Lucius admitted. "She'll stay a couple of nights just while I look into things and then I'll decide" he told her before standing and making his way to their ensuite, leaving Narcissa to absorb all he had revealed. When he came out he saw their bedroom was empty. Believing his wife wanted to spend the night elsewhere he made his way towards the bed when he caught the sound of soft words gently spoken from across the hall.

Making his way towards the children's room when the voice was coming from he saw his wife sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, her long finger's gently stroking Hermione's bushy hair from her face as she watched the young girl sleep. "I don't care what Lucius wants, you're staying right here with us little one. We'll raise you and love you and cherish you, I promise," she whispered before bending down and gently kissing Hermione head, the little girl sighing softly in her sleep a small smile playing about her lips at the feel.

When Narcissa stood and saw her husband stood in the doorway with a surprised look on his face she quickly but quietly made her way towards him. "I don't care who's her mother is, she's yours and we are not getting rid of her," she told him in a fierce whisper, pushing past him and back towards their room. When Lucius tried to enter it however she held her hand up stopping him. "I said we're keeping her, that doesn't mean I'm not still pissed at you. You can sleep somewhere else for the time being," she informed him before closing the door in his face.

Sighing, Lucius turned and made his way down the hall towards one of their spare bedrooms, "Bloody woman" he muttered to himself as he slid beneath the cold sheets resigned in the knowledge that he wouldn't be getting a lot of sleep for the foreseeable future.