Chapter 1:
Adopted. Orphan. Everything changed when Jean Granger sat Hermione down on her 17th birthday.
Her mother was in tears when she asked her to the kitchen for a chat. Pouring the tea, Jean took a deep breath. Taking the moment to calm herself before she began the talk she'd been dreading since the morning the adoption went through.
"Hermione, my love. Today you are a grown woman by my culture and your own. So my time is up. I've been waiting for the right time to tell you about all of this, but I've chickened out so very many times."
"Mum, whatever it is, it can't be that bad? Truly I'm sure nothing will change." Hermione tried to reassure her mother with a warm smile.
"Okay, Mia. Two days before you were born, I met a lovely young woman. Her name was Rose. She was very distressed and I had to help. So I invited her into our home and treated her injuries. See, she had cuts and bruises all over and I asked her if it was a domestic abuse issue. She told me firmly that her husband was a good man. That he had never once raised a hand to her in anger or otherwise. Then, I noticed she was pregnant."
Hermione's eyes widened a bit, and her brilliant mind started to unravel the story.
"She told me the most alarming story. All about a world of magic and a war where people were killing each other because of their status, like that war in the States. She said her husband was on the wrong side and it was too late to get out. She was so afraid for his life but more so for the baby she carried."
"As the night wore on, I noticed that she would stretch her back at odd moments during the conversation. After the third time I began tracking the time between and realized that she had gone into the early stages of labor."
Jean took a breath and a drink of her cooling tea before continuing. "She had an awful time of it. Delivery can be so hard for some. 16 hours and 42 minutes. And all the while her magic was flaring everywhere. I did everything I could, but she was so very weak after giving birth. She had just enough time to write a letter to her lovely daughter and linked a charm from the baby to the letter. The charm, she told me, was a glamour of sorts. One that would only lift if her daughter was to read the letter. She begged me to love her like a mother. And to always be there for her."
"What do you mean, Mum?" Hermione asked with a tremor in her voice.
"Rose's daughter, her name is Hermione Jean."
"So, I'm not your daughter?"
"Never, ever say that. I couldn't love you more than I already do. You may not be my genetics, but you are my daughter. Now. I think it's long past time for you to know the words your other mother held on to give you."
Jean handed her adopted daughter the letter, with a smile and reassuring pat on the hand.
Hermione turned the letter over in her hands. Noting the lines of what would have been a graceful hand, very similar to her own. 'To my lovely Hermione'. She could feel the tug of magic on the envelope as she tore it open. Then there was a shimmer across her body and she could feel the comforting weight of her hair was lessened, significantly. She filed that away for later examination as she took out the letter to read.
'Hermione,
I will never get to know you. And for that I am so very sorry. Know that I love you. More than anything I have ever loved. More than my parents, my sisters, or even your father.
I could feel how powerful your were as you were growing. You will do great things. I hope the family I have found for you will be a happy one. Your father, though I know he would have been a great one, was terrified of fatherhood. His was not so good a role model. And with me gone, I fear he will be too far gone with grief to stop his dark thoughts. The darkness has such a claim on him. He is a good man. If you do get the chance remind him that for me.
I know you will have gone to Hogwarts. Make us proud. Though I know you have. Logic is your friend, my daughter. Not all is as it seems with the Headmaster. He has done... nevermind. Just keep your wits about you.
It is my dearest wish that you have somehow come to know your family, even if they are just friends. I love you my Hermione. Little Mia...
Your Mother,
Rose Helen Snape (Nee Evans)
With a trembling hand Hermione laid the letter on the table and looked into the stunned and silent face of the mother she had for the last seventeen years.
"Your hair, dearest. It will take some getting used to. The eyes as well. but everything else is much as it was. Maybe a bit paler than you were but that could just be shock." She gave a wry smile as she handed her daughter a compact.
Hermione looked at her reflection and gasped at the colour of her eyes. Now so very similar to that of her best friend. Her mind rolling over the letter on the table. "Evans... She was an Evans..." She mumbled as she looked over her hair. No longer falling in a riotous curls. Simple, soft waves of onyx black hair, longer than she remembered her hair being. Silky smooth and much more fitting to her bone structure.
"You do look lovely, Mia. I wish you could've been able to grow into your features like this." A sad sigh issued and Hermione put the compact down.
"It doesn't matter. You are still my mother. I will always love you." The fierce lioness within springing foward to hug her adoptive mother.
"And yet.. You need to find out who your family is, yes? I know you well my daughter."
"I think I know who they are already. It will be a very interesting year."
"Yes, I imagine so." Her mother nodded sagely.
"I need to contact Professor McGonagall."
Two days later, Hermione sat in the little cafe three blocks away from her home. Watching out the windows for her favorite professor to come around the corner. She knew it would be a shock for anyone to see her now that knew her growing. She was so different looking it will take some getting used to. She was still trying to wrap her own head around all of this and absently ran her fingers over the letter again. She had already memorized the contents. No need to look them over again. She was Hermione Jean Snape, and her mother was Harry's aunt. Now she just had to convince the rest of the world of these facts.
The door to the cafe opened and Minerva walked in. She scanned the little restaurant, and seemed puzzled. Hermione straightened her shoulders and waved the professor over.
"Good gracious! I didn't recognize you! That is a very interesting choice in a summer change, Miss Granger. What prompted this?" Minerva said kindly as she sat opposite Hermione in the cafe.
"Well, to be completely honest this was not a decision on my part. I believe this letter will explain." Hermione said softly as she passed the letter to her favorite professor.
She watch as the head of her house quickly read the contents. Surprise and worry chasing across her features as she read followed by shock widening her eyes as she came to end of the letter, before quickly reading it again.
"Sweet Circe!" Minerva exclaimed before looking over the student she long thought of as a surrogate daughter. "Dear girl! Are you... Is there anything you need of me?"
"I am not sure how to process, to tell you the truth. Firstly I would like to know the legitimacy of this document. Then I guess I need to speak with bith Harry and Professor Snape. Though I'm not sure which should come first. Perhaps Harry. He should know... if it is truth, he should know he does have family that cares about him."
"I confess I didn't know that Rose stayed with Professor Snape. This is quite a stunning revelation. I do know of a legacy spell to show one's parentage. Would you like me to cast it?"
"That would make things much simpler, yes."
"Very well. But not here. Let's go to Hogsmeade. I have a summer cottage there and we can do this in private."
"Thank you, so very much. I didn't know who else to go to with this."
"Think nothing of it, my dear."
They left the cafe and Minerva side-alonged Hermione to the little village outside of Hogwarts. They walked in a comfortable silence through the mostly empty streets to the transfiguration professor's little cottage.
"Here we are then. My little escape." Minerva said with a smile.
"Thank you. This is such a lovely little home." Hermione answered as they settled into the kitchen with a nice warm cup of tea.
"It is a simple spell, all we need is an unblemished piece of parchment and a droplet of your blood. Then all I have to is cast the spell and you will have your answer."
"Alright, then. That sounds easy enough." Hermione laughed nervously.
"Not to worry dear girl, it changes nothing."
"On the contrary, Professor, this changes everything." A sad lilt to her voice.
Minerva fetched the tools she would need before sitting beside Hermione. Taking her hand gently, she used the athame to prick the young girls fingers allowing two drops to fall on the parchment on opposite edges.
"Parentes Revelare."
Each droplet spread out spelling a name. The droplet on the right was the simple signature that was found at the bottom of her letter. The name to the left, the familiar spiky scrawl of Severus Snape, proof he was her father.
Hermione looked from the parchment to the tear-filled eyes of her professor.
"Okay. So what do we do now?" she asked with a confidence she didn't entirely feel.
"Harry, I'm afraid, is out of reach at the moment. However, the other party you wished to speak with could be broght here?" Minerva answered gently.
"Yes. I suppose I should get to know my father. Though I already know he hates me."
"Hush now, child, he doesn't know you! Not truly. And I am sure that once he does... Well once he has proof before him that he cannot refute, he will wish to know you. I was there when he lost your mother. He was a very broken man. I confess I didn't know she was with child at the time. Now you go wash up for our guest, he will be prompt as always and you should look your best. First door on the left up the stair, my dear."
"Thank you, again for all of this, Professor."
"When we are not at Hogwarts, do call me Minerva, or Minnie. And think nothing on it, poppet."
Hermione quickly went to the stairs and locked the door to the loo behind her.
Minerva sent Severus Snape an urgent Patronus and waited the rushing of the Floo.
Five minutes, that felt like an eternity to Hermione, and she had made herself the most presentable version of herself she could. Still very unacustomed to hair that obeyed her wishes, she was shocked to see it had remained in place. She opened the loo door and stood at the top of the stairs as she heard her professors talking.
"And what, exactly, was so important it couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Severus Snape's baritone sounded, though most of the bite out of his tone.
"I have recently, as of an hour ago, been informed of some very troubling and yet joyous news." Minerva responded.
"Indeed?" The curiosity plain in the Potion Master's voice.
"Yes. It is a rather sensitive subject however. One that will require you to take a seat and suspend your disbelief."
"Only if there is something stronger in this cottage than tea, Minerva. That is our standard arrangement." He said with a soft chuckle.
"Of course. Have a seat."
The soft clinking of glasses could be heard and then the two professors sat in the living room, near the fireplace. Hermione remained at the top of the stairs unseen by the new arrival.
"Well. There is no use stalling here. I have come to understand, and yes I know this will be a difficult discussion, but it cannot be avoided. Your Rose, before her disappearance and certainly untimely death, was with child?"
Severus coughed as he was drinking his whiskey. "I beg your pardon?!" Outrage and grief clear in his tone.
"Now, lad, you have nothing to hide from me. I am merely telling you that I have become away of this fact." Her tone leaving no room for argument on his part.
"What does any of that matter now?" Harsh bitterness making his words sharper than they need be.
"It matters a great deal. You did know, then?"
"Of course I knew! What are you getting at woman! Spit it out!" Severus' temper flaring out making his magic tingle in the air.
"I have, as I said, an hour ago been informed that though poor Rose did indeed pass, your daughter did not." Minerva said softly.
"My...?" Severus sat in stunned silence. "Are you quite certain this is not some ploy for favor from some power thinking to use me further?" Anger coloring his words once more.
"The proof is irrefutable. I cast the charm myself. And there is the matter of a letter left to the child in her mother's hand."
"May I?" Severus' tone becoming completely unreadable.
"Of course."
A slight shuffling of parchment could be heard. Then the breaking of several glas bottles as Severus' magic flared out in his grief.
"Who is she? Where is she? I must.. I need... Min?" Severus' voice broke on a sob as he ran his finger over the love of his life's name once more, before looking around the sitting room, thinking the girl hiding in plain sight.
"You know her, but there was a charm attached to the letter you hold, she looks much different now to the girl you have watched and taught." Minerva said gently.
"She is a student? At Hogwarts? How could I have not known her?" He questioned.
"As I said, she looks much different now. She is here. Do you want to see her?" Minerva cautiously asked.
"More than I have ever wanted to see a single person." Severus' voice broke again.
"Come on back down, dear girl." Minerva rose her voice to be heard completely up the stairs.
Hermione took a deep breath, shook herself, then gathered every shred of her Gryffindor courage and marched quietly down the stairs. Head held high, but eyes downcast. Afraid to see the rejection she knew would be there. She knew the moment he saw her. There was a quick intake of breath, before the the rustling of robes could be heard. She stopped moving and watched the end of the sitting room rug, until long black teaching robes and dragonhide boots could be seen.
"Hermione?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "Mia?" The name breaking on a sob as Hermione looked up and he locked eyes with the girl. Eyes so very close to his lost Rose's.
"Professor Snape. I am so very sorry this upheaval has been caused by me." Hermione's proper manners forcing her to apologize as he stared in a mix of grief and wonder.
"No." He said the word final and somewhat crushing.
"No?" Hermione's lip trembled a little as she questioned.
"You will not apologize for things out of your control. You will not be a mouse or doormat any longer. And you will not address me as 'Professor Snape' unless in front of other students on school grounds." His voice held strength and authority to which she immediately responded.
"Yes, sir?" The lilt of her question leaving it obvious she was unsure what to call him.
"I'll take whatever I can get as for that. Now, please sit. I'm sure Minerva could fetch us some tea and we could have a discussion on where we go from here." The gentleness of his tone quite taking her by surprise so she merely nodded and followed him to the sofa.