A/N: I would like to apologize to Salazar'sHalfbloodPrincess for stealing her story. I want to assure everyone that that was not my intention. Again I am very sorry about what I have done and I hope this doesn't effect how you guys perceive me as a writer. So, all credit for this story goes to Salazar'sHalfbloodPrincess.
Severus knocked loudly on the door of a stately looking house, waiting for someone to answer his angery pounding. He had much better things to do today, and he didn't much appreciate having to start his day paying an impromptu visit to a muggle family whose daughter he didn't particularly care for. Had he had nothing to gain from this inconvenience, he sure as hell would not be standing here on the stoop belonging to one of the Golden Trio at nine in the morning. He was contemplating letting himself in when the thick door finally opened.
"Professor Snape?!" Granger squeaked, her voice raising several octaves despite the fact that she was whispering. "What are you doing here?"
Severus stared down at the twelve year-old, wondering why her face was so heavily painted and questioned why she seemed so fearful of him. Granted he was intimidating at timdes, but he never evoked raw terror into any of his students save a handful or so.
"I'd rather not have a conversation of a magical matter on the doorstep Miss Granger." Severus said dryly, wondering why she seemed so anxious as to hide the lefgt side of her face with her hair.
"How rude of me!" Granger scolded herself angrily, opening the door wider and gesturing for him to make his way inside. "Please, come in."
Severus nodded graciously and stepped into a very clean foyer, feeling relief as cold air washed the unpleasantness of outside.
"If you follow me Sir, I can get you something to drink." Granger offered quietly, seemingly fearful to make any sound whatsoever.
"Very well, lead the way."
She nodded, still hiding her face by looking at the ground, and quietly stalked off. With great disapproval Severus realized she was still in her pajamas; a very distasteful pink gown that rested several inches above the knees. With great disgust, he realized it was a sleeping gown meant for a much younger child. Wasn't the girl smart enough to dress herself without such disasterous results? She led him into the kitchen, and guestured for him to take a small table with four chairs. He obliged , settleing into the breakfast nook, as the smell of bacon reached his nose and the music of Bach filled the large kitchen.
"Would you like something to drink, Professor?" Granger asked softly, turning the radio off.
Severus frowned slightly as the music stopped but nodded, "Coffee." It was most likely the only thing that would keep him from committing a felony should he encounter any more irritations this morning.
He nodded gratefully when she placed a cup of steaming, black coffee in front of hi, unable to help but notice the light bruising on her left wrist. He scrawled, sipping the hot drink as he tried to come up with a reasonable excuse for those types of marks on her body. Perhaps she had been pulled out of the way of an oncoming bus? But that didn't seem like the insufferable-know-it-all to Severus, nor did the unanswered letter. Something was not right and Severus' curiosity demanded he figure out just what was wrong with this situation.
"Miss Granger, if you'd kindly wake your parents so we can discuss your attendance at school?"
"My attendance?!" Granger's face blanched. "I haven't been expelled have I?"
"Miss Granger- did you not receive the letter I sent you?" He clarified. "I sent you letter requesting your presence at an advanced level of schooling I teach during the summer-" Severus was cut off by a rather brawny man stumbling into the kitchen, the sent of liquor wafting after him as he clumsily wrapped beefy arms around Granger who stiffened considerably at his approach. With unease, Severus noticed that the hands were starting to drift lower and lower to where the hug had become greatly inappropriate. He felt like a pervert just watching.
"I love it when you wear that dress I got you." The drunk man slurred, his lips very close to the girls ear.
"Mr. Granger," Severus's drawl was laced with venom as he fingered the wand sticking out of the pocket of his muggle trousers. "What are you doing?"
The large man quickly jerked away from Granger as if she had suddenly been engulfed in flames, and backed up several feet until he slammed into the counter. He was clearly bewildered and terrified, and he crossed his legs in a futile attempt to hide his inappropriate arousal.
"I was just saying hello to my niece is all." The man insisted quickly, fidgeting nervously under Severus' glare. "We're very close."
"That was a very friendly hello."
The man gapped like a fish, searching for answers before looking at his niece for assistance. "Hermione- who did you say this was?"
"This is Professor Snape, he teaches at Hogwarts, Tom."
"Oh." Tom looked extremely nervous now, and cast a glance at the window nervously as if he expected he'd have to make a quick get away. "Any reason in particular you've come?"
"I've come to speak to the girls parents. If you would be so kind as to fetch them, I can-"
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Severus cringed as the fire detector was set off by the now-charred bacon that had been left unattended for far to long. His eye helplessly twitched as it wailed, there were truly few sounds as grating as that of those damn machines, and ruefully thought banshees could take lessons on ear-puncturing from the damnable objects. As Granger rushed over to salvage the burnt food, Tom glared angrily and raised his hand in her direction before stopping himself. With one last sneer at his niece he opted, instead, to do something productive by climbing on the counter and silencing the shrieking by jabbing a button on the fire detector.
"Stupid girl, cant hold a conversation and cook at the same time!" Tom muttered under his breath as he climbed off the counter, looking as if Granger had just committed a crime against his person.
"Perhaps she'd been able to look after your precious food had you not been grouping her." Severus suggested, moving towards the girl laying an arm around her shoulders as he led her to the chair he had just occupied, as she began to shake. Was the girl really afraid that her uncle would hit her.
"I don't know where you come from, but where I come from a women knows how to cook." Tom growled, flopping down right as a man and women hurried to the kitchen.
"I told you not to wake us up!" The man scolded sharply. "That isn't a hard order to follow, is it?!"
"And look at this," The woman wrinkled her nose up, "You've burnt the food."
"Mom, Dad- I'm sorry. I got distracted-" Granger said from the chair but stopped when her father grabbed her wrist.
"And what did I tell you about getting distracted?!" Mr. Granger growled, shaking his daughter. "We already know you're stupid, but even a spastic can pay attention to a simple task!"
"It's only a little burnt," Granger interjected, trying to pull away. "I can fix it."
Severus stepped closer from behind the chair Granger was in when her father grabbed her other wrist and cleared his throat loudly. Mr. Granger released Hermione almost as quickly as Tom had and, as a result, Hermione was forced out of the chair and would have been hurt if Severus hadn't caught her. He helped her back in her chair as she sent him a grateful smile.
"Jean, Francis- this is Professor Snape, he came to have a chat with you." Tom clarified.
"A chat?" Jean asked, sounding very worried. "Hermione, have you offered this man a drink?!" She demanded, looking crossly at her daughter.
"She gave me coffee, thank you." Severus stated firmly, seeing Hermione flinch at her mother's tone. The longer he stayed the more questions he got rather than answered.
"Mr. Snape, what are you here to discuss?" Francis asked, trying to do damage control by acting like a concerned parent.
"Hermione's doing well in school isn't she?" Jean demanded, leveling her daughter with a sharp look.
"She better be." Francis muttered quietly before awarding Severus with a fake smile.
Severus growled, but stayed behind Hermione's chair, he didn't want to subject the girl to her parents anger. He could tolerate Jean, but his patience with the Granger brothers were wearing thin.
"Hermione!" Tom barked. "Let the man have a seat and come over here." He ordered, patting his lap.
"That's hardly necessary, I'm perfectly fine standing." Severus drawled.
"She can sit on her Uncle's lap!" Francis argued. "She's only twelve, a little girl yet." He purred, making Severus' stomach turn yet again that morning.
Hermione sucked in a breath as she got up and stiffly lowered herself on her Uncle's lap, biting her lip when he wrapped his meaty arms around her waist. As he sat down, Severus almost hexed the pedophile right then and there, before reminding himself that it would only get him sent to Azkaban.
"Now, what is this all about?" Jean asked, an impatient tone in her sickly sweet voice.
"Five days ago I had a letter sent here, inviting your daughter to participate in a summer program for advanced learning. I specifically requested a reply to be sent no latter than yesterday, regardless of the decision to allow you child to participate or not."
"Really Sir? You'll let me in your program?" Granger had a small smile on her face. This was good. If he was going to help her than he needed to get her parents to agree.
"Yes, you are an exceedingly bright student and I do believe it's time for some diversity in my program. I think you'll be an excellent addition to my group of students." He noticed her smile increase some more. "But I must warn you. It's made up of only Slytherins, so you'll have a hard time getting accepted by your peers, understand?"
"Yes Sir, I understand. You wont regret it."
"He wont regret it," Francis said simply, "Because you're not going."
Hermione's face fell. "But-"
"I said no, didn't I?!" Francis barked sharply.
"You're hardly home as it is." Tom added, his hands tightening around her possessively.
"This is a valuable time to further your daughters education." Severus protested, hoping he could convince them to let their daughter go. If he had told anyone what he was doing, they might think he had gone crazy. One would never expect him to stand up for Gryffindor's Golden Girl, yet he understood. He knew what she was experiencing and he was ashamed that he missed the signs this past year.
"She needs to spend more time at home." Jean insisted. "Don't you think we miss her?"
Severus wanted to say no, he didn't think they missed her when she was gone, but decided that it would only be determinable to his plans.
"School only goes from 7 to 5." Severus clarified. "You'll still have plenty of time to spend with you daughter."
"Only 7 to 5?" Francis questioned, starting to warm up to the idea.
"Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday are off and Sundays are until 9."
That's not to bad." Jean nodded. "She'll still have plenty of time to do her chores."
"How much will this all cost?" Francis demanded. "If it's alright with you, I'll like to pay you now."
"I can go?" Hermione looked hopeful.
"As long as you behave." Jean demanded, acting as if Hermione were not one of the most anal students when it came to following rules.
"Tuition is 15,000 pounds for the entire summer and, of course, you are required to supply the materials on this list."
Severus handed Jean the list and rose from his seat, he didn't want to leave the girl but he couldn't do anything. At least... not yet. "School starts Monday, Miss Granger. Don not be late." Severus left the kitchen and headed towards the door. He didn't realize the Francis had followed him until he placed a hand on his shoulder. Looking at the man with great disdain he replied,
"What?"
"If you ever want to have fun with the little bint, let me know. I'm sure we can come to some agreement, with you being her Professor and all." Francis smirked and walked back to the kitchen, leaving behind a stunned and rather pissed off Severus.
