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A Snape/Hermione fic.
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Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Harry Potter - if I did, Snape, Dobby, Hedwig, Moody, Lupin, Tonks, Sirius and Fred would not be dead. In this story, they're not.
Hell, in practically all my stories they won't be dead!
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A/N: Well, I didn't want to keep you guys waiting too long. Here's the sequel to "Going Home". I don't know how many chapters it will be; I'm thinking 5 or so, but considering I meant to end the last one at 20 and wound up with 28, you never know!
This picks up almost 5 years after the ending of "Going Home", on Samantha's first official day at Hogwarts.
If you haven't read my other fic yet, you might want to give it a gander, or some things will be unclear/surprising.
Anywhoo, let's get on with it, shall we?
I hope you guys like this one, I know I'll love writing it.
As always, please read and review, I live for feedback!
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Timeline:
Hermione's birthday: September 19th, 1979
Harry and Ginny's wedding: January 23rd, 1998
Samantha's Birthday: June 13th, 1998
Hermione's arrival at Hogwarts to begin teaching Muggle Studies: August 20th, 2001
Hermione becomes a Potions Mistress: July 15th, 2003
Hermione and Severus's wedding: December 24th, 2004
Sylas's Birthday: May 21st, 2005
Sarine's Birthday: October 7th, 2006
Hermione completes training, and becomes Transfiguration instructor: August 18th, 2008
Samantha's first day at Hogwarts: September 1st, 2009
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Sitting in her seat at the High Table in the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hermione Snape watched her daughter practically bouncing with excitement, waiting for her name to be called. She'd been waiting for this day for 8 years, and now she was stuck waiting behind the Delwitts and Fransterns of the lot. But, for as excited and impatient as her 11-year old daughter was, Hermione was impressed that she hadn't just shoved her way through and clapped the old, worn Sorting Hat atop her brown, braided curls.
Samantha Ginevra Molly Granger-Snape was the spitting image of her mother. It was like looking into a mirror that traveled back in time. The freckles Hermione had hoped would fade over time were still ever-present, but time had lessened her dislike of them. Samantha's chocolate-brown eyes were bubbling with excitement, something that was easily spotted from the High Table.
With a smile, Hermione reached for her husband's hand under the table. They'd been together so long that she knew he would have accepted her hand above the table, where all could see, but he would be uncomfortable and sour about people witnessing such a display of affection. In all the time they'd been together, he'd only truly show open, unabashed emotion and affection on three occasions: their wedding, the birth of their son, Sylas Arthur Harold Snape, and the birth of their daughter, Sarine Fleur Eileen Snape. Snape had pouted briefly about Hermione choosing to include Harry in their son's name, but seeing as he was named the boy's godfather, he couldn't complain too long. They had long ago put aside their differences. Hermione wouldn't come right out and tell her husband, but Harry was beginning to see Severus as a great friend and mentor.
The High Table itself had been magically extended, allowing for Hermione and Severus's children. She had given up the Muggle Studies post to take over Minerva's position as Transfiguration instructor. With her status as a Potions mistress, she often helped Severus prepare his potions, and even worked alongside him in their laboratory when he was working on a new creation. With her insatiable thirst for knowledge, along with a renewed desire to further her education, she had taken Minerva's offer to complete a year-long training course so that she could take over her classes for her. The older woman wanted to devote more time to her students as a whole, and she couldn't do that properly while maintaining her status as instructor.
"Samantha Granger-Snape!" Remus Lupin - the Deputy Headmaster - called out with a subtle smile on his handsome face.
Samantha darted forward, clambering onto the stool and pulling the old hat down on top of her head.
Outwardly, Hermione knew that whatever House her daughter was sorted into, it would be perfect for her. Secretly, she was wishing for Gryffindor. It was where her heart had lain for so long, and it would be nice to continue to tradition with her daughter. That being said, Hermione knew that Severus was betting on Slytherin. Her charming daughter definitely had some traits akin to Slytherin - cunning, sneaky, clever ... she was not a bad child by any stretch, but she certainly knew how to get what she wanted when she put her mind to it. She had her younger brother wrapped right around her finger.
Sylas absolutely idolized his older sister, though he was very much a "Daddy's boy". Sylas loved the chemistry set that Uncle Harry had bought him for his fourth birthday in May, and Severus had upgraded on it by getting him his own small cauldron and some basic Potions ingredients. He was only allowed to use the set when Severus was there to assist and supervise, which made it even more exciting for Sylas when they got together to do their "experiments". Hermione loved seeing the two of them together. He looked so much like his father, there was no doubting that he was Severus Snape's boy: perfectly pale skin, accentuated by long, silky locks of raven-black hair. It was straight, just like his father's, though not as long. He was tall for his age, and a bit on the lanky side as well. His nose wasn't quite as "protruded" as Severus's, though they were still similar. Hermione knew he would grow to be handsome, despite his father's protests that he should have gotten his mother's looks.
Sarine was a wonderful combination of the both of them. She'd gotten Severus's pale skin and dark hair, but Hermione's brown eyes and small nose. Her hair was a mass of wild curls, and she had that curious look about her that exuded Severus and Hermione's quest for knowledge. She would be three in a short month.
Hermione could hardly believe the time was passing so swiftly. It seemed as though it were only yesterday that she was arriving at Hogwarts through the Floo, with three-year old Samantha at her side, and no idea what life would have in store for her. She'd arrived at Hogwarts a single mother, and was now a happily married mother of three.
Hermione smiled back down at her oldest daughter as she somewhat-patiently waited for the Sorting Hat to make its decision.
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"A Granger and a Snape, hmm? There's an interesting combination," the Sorting Hat spoke, its voice flowing down to the squirming girl. "Where to put you ... where, indeed."
Samantha's body bounced in the seat, anxious for the hat to make its decision. She knew that her parents would be happy wherever she ended up, but she couldn't choose between Gryffindor and Slytherin. She wanted both. She wanted her mother's lion heart, but also wanted her father's cunning silver tongue. She wished there was a way to be sorted into both houses. She knew the reputation that Slytherin held, but she also knew that it wasn't all bad. Her father was a Slytherin, and he was the best man she knew.
"The best of both worlds, eh?" the Hat commented, making Samantha imagine a pensive old man debating what his next chess move would be. "A Slytherin and a Gryffindor? It's never been done. A novel idea, though. I think I have just the spot for you," the Hat told her. "You'll be the first to show them that there's a little bit of all the houses in each witch and wizard that comes through this school. Ready? Then you'd better be in ... SLYTHERIN!"
Samantha watched the crowd around them gasp and/or applaud. She vowed internally to be the best Slytherin she could be, but also keep true to her mother's Gryffindor heart. Grinning widely and hoping that her mother wasn't too disappointed, Samantha pulled the hat off of her head, whispered a rushed "thanks!" and then trotted towards the Slytherin table.
Professor Lupin watched her with an amazed expression on his face, stumbling his words a bit as he moved on to the next name on the list.
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Hermione tried very hard not to pout as she peered into her daughter's now empty room, leaning against the door frame. Sylas was sitting on the couch with one of Severus's Potions subscriptions, and Sarine was rubbing Crookshanks's belly affectionately, giggling whenever the large, orange cat would let out a purr of contentment.
Severus sidled up behind her, placing an arm around her waist and dropping his chin onto the top of her head. "Missing her already?"
Hermione nodded. Her previous daughter had spent nights away from her in her life, but her room had never been so bare. All that was left was the naked bed and an empty dresser. All of her other belongings had been sent to her new dormitory.
Severus sighed, pressing his lips briefly against her hair. "She'll be fine. I'm sure she'll be nice and comfortable in her warm, Slytherin bed." He couldn't resist the smirk that formed on his lips.
Hermione elbowed him in the gut. "I thought we promised there would be no gloating, no matter whose House she was placed in?"
Severus only grinned wider. "Well, you know us Slytherins ... we can't resist a good gloat."
Hermione rolled her eyes, dodging his weak attempt at a cheek-kiss and skittering away into the living room. "Sylas, Sweetie, promise me you'll never be such a brat as your father."
Sylas only watched in wonder as the man in question scooped his mother up in his arms and mercilessly tickled her sides for the comment, until she was pleading to be released, tears streaming down her laughing face.
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Samantha lay in her bed that night, her arms folded above her head as she listened to the sounds of the sleeping girls around her. She couldn't believe it had finally begun - her own Hogwarts adventure. She'd grown up in this castle, knew her way around it better than most of the 7th years. She was well prepared for her first year as a student - her mother and father told her she could probably take her finals and gain early admission into 2nd year if she wanted to, but Samantha had declined. As easy as this school year would be, she didn't want to miss a single moment of her 7 years as a student at Hogwarts. She wanted it to last.
She just knew it was going to be one amazing adventure.
Rolling over in her bed with a smile on her face, Samantha silently recited the first passage of Hogwarts: a History to put herself to sleep, her eyes resting on the snake bracelet her father had given her years before.
Tomorrow was the first day of the rest of her life. Falling asleep in the safety of her room, Samantha Granger-Snape never could have imagined that her life was truly about to change - but not in the way she had hoped for.
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End of chapter one.
Well, what did you guys think of this start? Like it, hate it?
I'm going to try and balance the Samantha bits with the Severus/Hermione bits, and the other family bits. I don't want this story to be Samantha-centric, but we'll see how it goes.
Reviews are appreciated, flame if you must, but constructive criticism is much more useful.
Until next time ...!