Chapter 4
WARNING: There is an animal death in this chapter. Some parts of it are important, however if you do not want to read it PM me and I can tell you the necessary details. It is not a gory death, it is a quick euthanasia.
Professor Snape and Hermione both landed in the same house that has been home to Hermione's dreams for weeks. She was about to ask him if he recognized the house, but a squeal of laughter interrupted her. He put his hand up and watched the door. They were stood in the backyard and watched as a small Saskia, probably about 3, ran outside in just Cowgirl boots and a diaper.
Snape chuckled and watched her, when a familiar man- Severus Snape- ran out as well, chasing her. He sweeps her up in his arms and carries her to the fence at the back yard. He opened the gate and walked through, Hermione and Real Snape following closely behind. Snape quickly walks ahead and watches as Dream Snape dresses Saskia in little shorts and a shirt.
Saskia rushed into the barn, quickly coming back out with a halter and lead rope in her hands.
"Come on daddy!" She yelled out as her little legs rushed to a small pasture. Dream Snape opened the gate and Saskia walked through. "Paisley!" She called out. A small bay pony cantered up from the other side of the field after hearing the little girls call.
Saskia patted the pony's neck and Dream Snape helped her put the halter on. She led the pony inside and groomed it, and afterwards Dream Snape tacked her up in a western saddle and bridle. He helped her get on after giving her a helmet, and he led her around the field for a bit.
"Daddy I wanna go by myself now!" Saskia called out. Dream Snape unclipped the lead rope from the bit and watched as Saskia on the small pony walked around the field. She nudged it into a trot, calling "Faster Paisley!" and ran right up to Dream Snape who clipped the rope back on and led her back to the barn. Real Snape grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled them back into his quarters.
Hermione, now more confused than ever, looks to Snape.
"That explains who Paisley is, that adorable little Connemara pony. But why is her name on my back? And why is there a RIP next to it?" Hermione asked.
Severus replaced the memory and pulled out another one, sighing deeply.
"This is why…" He mumbled, pouring it into the pensieve.
They both went back and were transported to the barn they were in previously. However, this one had a now 6 or7 year old Saskia cuddled up in Dream Snape's arms, bawling her eyes out and screaming. Real Snape shook his head sadly, really not wanting to relive this moment. Paisley, the Connemara pony from before, was lying on the ground.
There was a vet hovering over her, but he lifted himself up and let out a deep breath.
"There is nothing I can do." The vet claimed.
"Do it. Don't let her suffer." Dream Snape told the man. The vet nodded and opened a bag. He pulled out a vial and a needle. He extracted some liquid from the vial into the needle, and then injected it into Paisleys neck. The pony stopped shuddering and looked over at the little girl, who was crying but watching the pony nonetheless. Paisley stopped moving and the vet patted her neck. He packed his things away and stood up.
He walked over to Dream Snape and said "No Charge" after looking at Saskia, who was clutching her father's shirt crying again.
"Doc…Tell me. Was it colic?" Dream Snape asked. The vet nodded and apologized for their loss, then left.
"Let Corrie take her, mate." A new voice said. Hermione recognized the man as a younger Remus Lupin. He picked Saskia up and brought her to Corrie, who Hermione just realized was standing to the side in the entrance to the barn. Corrie brought the little girl inside while the two men set to work.
"Let's get her onto the flat bed. Poor Saskia already picked the burial spot. The entrance to the trails." Dream Snape told Lupin. They both rolled up their sleeves and began hoisting the pony onto the flatbed trailer. After somehow managing to get her on there, the men climbed into Dream Snap's truck and drove to the woods behind the property.
There they pulled out shovels and began digging. A couple hours later they had a large hole dug, and they hoisted themselves out of it. They carefully dragged Paisley off the trailer and rolled her into the hole. When she hit them bottom, she released a last sigh.
"She looks sp peaceful. Maybe when she's older, you can tell Saskia about that. You did the right thing, mate. She never would have survived the night." Lupin tried comforting his grieving friend.
The two quickly covered the hole and Severus planted Saskias favorite flowers, Daisies, around the edge. The two men said a final goodbye to the pony and returned to the truck. They drove back to the house, where Dream Snape found Saskia with a red, puffy, tear-stained face. Corrie was holding her, rocking her quietly. She had tears running down her face as well.
Hermione and Severus quickly returned. Hermione was bawling her eyes out.
"That is so bloody sad… Professor, why on earth would you show that to me?!" She cried out.
Snape wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair as she cried. "I am so sorry…"
Hermione pulled away, wiping her tears. She was very confused.
"Sorry for what? Why are you showing me these memories?" She got out.
"Hermione, what I am about to suggest is farfetched and I already know an argument will ensue. However I can't go on thinking 'What if…' anymore. Hermione, I believe you are my Saskia." He got out after many hesitations.
Hermione just stared at him, and then chuckled.
"Impossible."
"VERY possible!" He argued back.
"Professor, I am not your daughter! My parents are dentists! My parents are muggles! I am a muggle-born witch!"
"Maybe something happened, and they are not really your parents!" He yelled.
"Are you insinuating that I am ADOPTED Professor?! How dare you!"
"If the shoe fits!" He yelled right back
Hermione took a deep breath. She was tired of fighting, and she had a massive headache. She decided to listen to his reasons why he thought that she was his daughter.
"Professor, I am Hermione Jane Granger. How could I be your daughter, Saskia?"
"My Saskia was kidnapped just before her seventh birthday. Her mother and I searched every single day but found no trace of her. She was very studious, just as you are, and was reading large books that some adults can't even read by the age of 5. You have a mark on your back of my daughter's deceased horse. And finally, you are having –"
"Strange dreams about your family…" Hermione whispered out.
"Are they dreams, Hermione? Or memories?" Snape mumbled.
Hermione sat there, stunned. She decided to throw in every theory possible.
"But professor, all my childhood memories involve the Grangers." She reasoned.
"People can change others memories Hermione. It's a simple use of Ligilimens and Oculumens."
"But my parents have the same memories as I do."
"Again, just simply changing the minds of everybody involved."
"And your daughter, she was kidnapped you say?"
Snape sucked in a breath, but replied. "Yes. The day before her seventh birthday."
Hermione nodded. "Professor… Is it possible for a person to remove the false memories?"
"Yes, but a skilled Ligilimens or Oculumens is needed."
"Could you try to remove false memories on me? If they are still there afterwards, then that means I am not your daughter. But if they are gone, then I am your daughter. Sound easy enough?"
Snape nodded. He dove into her mind and found many memories of her childhood. He cast a wordless spell and he watched as each scene literally cracked and shattered, revealing similar memories to the ones Hermione had been seeing in her dreams.
Snape pulled back out. "It is you…. Oh my Saskia…"
Hermione looked at him and teared up. "Daddy?"
He looked choked up, and nodded, his Adams apple bobbing slowly.
"Daddy!" Hermione screamed out.
She ran into his arm and they held each other. After a moment they transferred to a couch where she crawled up in his lap and cuddled him.
"Your child hood memories have returned, however any memories after age seven still remain. So technically the Grangers are still your parents, or guardians. Hermione nodded and yawned. "Alright go on, get to bed. We will talk tomorrow after class." Hermione nodded and trudged off to her tower. She ignored everybody who was in the common room and went straight to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
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Hermione's routine the next morning was typical; she woke up, stretched, took a shower, brushed her teeth, got dressed, and used the new product she bought in her hair, gathered her books, and left the room.
"I told you that stuff would look great if you used it all the time!" Ginny said, catching up to her and stroking her hair.
"It does indeed work wonders." Hermione giggled, feeling the hair as well.
The two girls began eating and were just getting to wondering about Harry and Ron when the rest of their small group trudged in. They all sat and ate, Ginny immediately involving herself in Parvarti and Lavenders talk about the newest issue of some magazine. Owls began flying in and dropping letters and care packages to students and professors. An owl flew in front of Hermione and she untied the letter from its leg.
"Stay there." She told it. She never got letters so if she needed to send a reply she wanted to do it immediately. She gave it a sausage to nibble on while she read. She broke the seal and began reading.
My dearest daughter,
I was preparing for my day when I realized, you may not want anything said about our relationship. I understand, as I am not the most liked person in the castle. Far from it due to my reputation. I am not ashamed of having you as a daughter, however I do not want the students causing problems for you and excluding you from things just because of who your father is.
Please write back with your thoughts.
Sincerely, your Father.
Hermione glanced at the Head Table and saw Snape in a heated discussion with the DADA professor. She gave the owl an absentminded stroke and pulled out parchment and a quill. She wrote out a letter in reply.
Father,
I think that is a good idea, Not that I am ashamed of you either. If I may, I'd like to request a time to speak with you again? We can talk after potions, perhaps?
Also, I believe my friends are very open minded, may I tell just the closest few?
Love,
Your amazing, perfect daughter ;)
She tied the note to its leg and whispered near its head, because who knows where owl's ears are, "Take this to Professor Snape, but leave the castle for a bit first so nobody suspects a thing. Return to the castle to deliver the letter about a minute after you leave."
The owl stared at her and hooted. It took off and she resumed eating. About a minute later the owl came back and flew to the Head Table, landing cautiously in front of the dark man. He looked confused and untied the note, shooing the bird away. The owl hooted and flew away in a huff. Unfolding it, he read the contents and smirked at the ending. He chuckled a bit and shook his head before continuing his meal.
Back down at the Gryffindor table, the girls had stopped talking and were staring at the Potions Professor in amazement.
"What could have possibly been in that letter to make him smile?!" Ginny whispered incredulously.
"Maybe it's a woman." Parvarti mused.
"Snape? Having a lover? Ew!" Ginny squealed.
"No wait, she may be on to something! He smiled at the letter, he LAUGHED at whatever was inside, and he's STILL smiling! It has to be a woman." Lavender explained.
Hermione giggled at the thought and Lavender took it as her agreeing."See? Even 'Mione thinks so! THAT is saying something!"
Hermione busted into full blown guffaws at that, drawing the attention of nearby students and a few teachers who had never seen the girl act this way.
"Who knows Lav, you might just be right." Hermione said when she finished laughing. "But we should get to class." She quickly said, standing up. Oh how she wished to tell them it was she who sent the letter.
The others reluctantly sighed and stood up, walking out of the Hall whispering about the letter. Hermione looked at the Head Table, to her father specifically, and saw him give a small nod. She smiled back and quickly left, chasing after the others.
After Charms and Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, Hermione met the other girls in the common room. There was nobody else there so she decided to tell them about Snape. Neville walked in just as she opened her mouth and she sighed out.
"Good, it's you. Sit down I need to tell you guys something." Hermione said seriously.
"'Mione, Luna's with me, is that ok?" Neville nervously asked as the Ravenclaw stepped inside the portrait.
"Yes, I want her to hear as well." Everybody sat down and looked at their friend.
Hermione took a deep breath. "I'm not sure if any of you noticed; as I tried to hide it, but I haven't been getting any sleep lately and the reason why has also been affecting me in class. It is why I had that accident in Potions." She nodded towards Neville, who had tried to save her.
"Yeah, you've been so tired lately. I just thought it was all the years of an overly full schedule finally catching up to you." Lavender said. Ginny and Parvarti nodded along with her.
"I thought it was Higglyspunks. They make one remember things they do not want to, and it keeps them from sleeping at night." Luna said in reply. The other girls giggled.
"Well, actually I had been having these dreams. I thought they were visions or something along those lines, however, I was recently informed they are actually suppressed memories of mine from my childhood. I am adopted. I was kidnapped as a young girl and placed into a Muggle family-The Grangers- and both my and the family's memories were altered, placing false memories in our heads. Well today I found out who my biological Father is, and he is actually the one who went in my mind and destroyed those false memories."
They all looked at her, dumbstruck. Luna was the first to recover.
"So go on then, who's your father?"
"Professor Snape."
She was met with stares. Neville looked terrified and she quickly remedied that.
"Neville, the only reason he has been so cruel all these years is because not only was his daughter stolen at a very young age, but his wife- my mother- died. Now he is naturally a sarcastic man but I have a feeling he will be lightening up on the cold old ways. Especially towards my friends."
Neville breathed out a sigh of relief at this. "Thanks 'Mione." She smiled at him and Luna stood up and hugged her. "I am glad you found each other, maybe he can finally begin getting rid of the Arconites that were stuffed in his chest."
Hermione didn't even bother asking what they were, she was just glad they were taking it so well.
She should have knocked on wood.
"SNAPE?!" Ginny hissed.
"That old greasy git?! HE is your father?! You look nothing like him! I can't believe you would turn traitor, of ALL people, YOU Hermione, you betrayed us." She seethed out. The other two girls nodded with her, obviously not being able to come up with their own thoughts.
The three girls stood and stormed out, and only then did Hermione realize what just happened.
"Oh my god… She is going to tell EVERYBODY! Snape and I JUST talked about this this morning! Oh my god… He is going to hate me…"
"My dear, I could never hate you. Although you're pressing your luck as you are approximately 10 minutes late to my class." A voice sounded behind her. Neville looked like he was going to pee his pants and Luna waved at him. "Hello Professor."
Severus nodded his head towards her in greeting. "Do you not have a class as well, Miss Lovegood?"
"No, Sir. I have two free periods. I suppose I should get going. Ah yes, I see the Arconites are already beginning to clear out. See Hermione, I told you." She said lightly, prancing out of the room. Snape looked at the remaining two Gryffindor questioningly, but Hermione giggled and shook her head. Then she realized what he told her.
"TEN MINUTES LATE?! HOW DID THAT EVEN HAPPEN?! Oh Merlin, I'm doomed. I am never going to finish my potion on time!" She rushed out, yanking her bag off the ground. "Detention tonight, Miss Granger." He replied sternly.
"I would have thought yesterday's discovery would have made me a Miss Snape. Come Neville you're late as well." Hermione glared at her father.
"We will talk about that in your detention, let's go Mr. Longbottom."
They all began walking to the classroom. Draco snickered with Blaise when they walked in. Professor Snape whacked him on the head with a scroll that suddenly appeared. Both boys muttered and turned around, going back to their ingredients.
Halfway through the class Neville looked up to ask Hermione a question about a certain stage in the potion that was coming up. However, instead of words only a gasp escaped his lips. Hermione looked up. "Yes, Neville?"
"'M-M-Mione! You… Your hair! Your face! Y-You!" He stuttered out.
"What on earth are you going on about?" She questioned.
"A mirror!" Neville said loudly, earning a couple glances, which quickly turned into blown out stares.
Feeling awkward, Hermione conjured a mirror. She looked at Neville before looking in the mirror and she shrieked.
"Miss Granger! First you're late to my class, then you interrupt?!" Snape said without looking up from his papers.
Outraged at his lack of interest after his daughter screamed, she stormed up. "LOOK AT ME!" she shouted.
Obviously not expecting an outburst like that he looked up only to do a double take.
Hermione did not look like Hermione anymore. She had more of a fuller figure and was a couple inches taller. Her hair was no longer a bush or even a tamed bush, but straight with a slight wave in it and long, hanging to her knees. Her hair was also no longer brown but a beach blonde. (AN: Yes I said BEACH blonde not BLEACH. Bleach blonde is a super light color while BEACH blonde is a darker blonde with sun bleach streaks in it. Also on the topic, the waviness to her hair is like what straight hair gets at the beach. The salt water gives it a slight wave.)
Her eyes were no longer brown but a near pitch black. Her face was thinner and more defined, with high cheek bones. Her chest filled out more, straining against her buttoned shirt. Her skirt was now shorter than usual as her extra height was almost all in her legs.
All in all, Hermione Granger looked like a completely different woman.
"Hermione… What… Was it another potions accident?"
Hermione shook her head no, tears springing up in her eyes. She lowered her voice.
"Daddy what's wrong with me…?" Snape's eyes softened completely and he led her to a side door.
"My quarters are in there; wait for me on the couch." She nodded and quickly trudged through.
He closed the door and turned back to the class. "Back to work!" He barked. "Longbottom, as your partner seems to not be able to consistently be here for class without something happening you will not be penalized. Your detention tonight is revoked." Neville widened his eyes and nodded quickly.
"Will she be ok?" He asked. Snape pinched his nose as students began piling their vials on his desk and picking up a parchment with their homework on it before leaving. "Yes, I believe she should be fine. I will be sure to tell her to reassure you when she comes back. Off you go" He told the young man.
Neville scurried off and Snape walked to his quarters to see just what the hell happened to his daughter.
There you have it, I soothed you all from one cliffhanger with another.
Was this an acceptable length? If so I have much to add to my plot plans... I need to begin adding more to the story outline if I am going to continue writing without having to stop for a while to think of new things to write. I appreciate all of your reviews and messages, the reader is every writers personal support group and having people review is what tells us that people actually like our stories!
So go on, what did you think? Was that a good way to break the news to Hermione? Was that a good way to break the news to her friends? As you can see there is no Blaise yet, as he shows up next chapter.
Next chapter: What is wrong with Hermione? The Hogwarts population now knows of Snape and Hermione's relationship. Blaise and Draco show up, perfect timing!
