Beta: Ms. Marauder-Cullen

Unexpected Family

Severus had returned to Hogwarts before the term began. He truly didn't want to return, because his life would go back to hell. He knew Hermione's world would be crushed, once she entered the Great Hall. In addition, he also knew that she only had until 11:59 to comply with the Marriage Law on September first. He didn't want another man to raise his son or be with the woman that he had given his heart to.

Severus sat under the shade tree starring out across the Black Lake. He missed Hermione and Tobby. It terrified him that once Hermione entered the doors she would know he'd lied to her. He didn't mean for it to go so far. He didn't mean to fall in love with Hermione Granger. Then he held Tobby for the first time and that was magic. Making love to her was magic. Severus wasn't the bastard of Hogwarts. He was her Sebastian. He was able to be himself; that was magic. He had made friends with John and Harry and even had friends around town. He even played poker every Thursday with John and his friends.

Albus walked over to Severus and sat down next to him. He had noticed the young man hadn't moved from the same spot, since he had returned two hours ago. Minerva quietly joined the men. She too was concerned for the young man. The couple only knew that he had bought a house and returned to get his belongings. He wouldn't tell them where he lived. They assumed he wanted his privacy and they understood his reasons.

Albus broke the silence and said, "Severus what's the matter?"

He didn't answer. He had been called Sebastian for so long he'd nearly forgotten his first name.

"Severus. Severus. Severus." Minerva said shaking him slightly. "Severus Sebastian Snape!"

Severus turned his head and jumped at the sight of Albus and Minerva. Albus chuckled slightly because the Potions Master was normally on his guard at all times.

"What's matter dear?" she asked.

Severus looked back out at the Black Lake. "I didn't mean for it to go so far. I didn't mean to fall in love with her. It just happened."

"With who my boy?" Albus asked with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Hermione." Severus whispered and quietly told them his story. The couple listened carefully. "I didn't want to leave them. She will never forgive me. Harry will kick my ass to hell and back, and I'll let him do it. I'll deserve it for hurting my Angel and my Tobby." He said and left the couple and walked down the small path to a spring not far inside the Forrest.

"Oh Albus, what are we going to do? We cannot let Hermione marry another man. He loves her!" she told her husband of 52 years.

"We'll think of something. We must keep his family…our family in tack. Our godson has every right to be happy." Albus told her and they walked back to the castle.

****

Hermione and Harry, who carried Tobby in the baby carrier, boarded the Hogwarts Express for their final year. The students and parents looked at the couple. Draco met the couple in the last compartment. He smiled at his 'nephew' and gently took him out of the carrier. They settled in for the long journey to Hogwarts.

The other students stopped and looked in the compartment. The perfect know-it-all Gryffindor Princess had a bastard child. They were stunned that the Headmaster allowed the witch back into the school. They knew that no one would want her now that she had a child. The marriage law would come into play.

Harry rose from his seat next to Draco, shut the door, and closed the curtain. He sat back down in his seat. "The nerve of some people." he growled under his breath. He pulled out a baby book and quietly read to Tobby.

Draco knew Hermione was upset. She didn't want to leave Sebastian. He prepared himself for her shock. She was going to be hurt.

The Hogwarts Express slowly pulled into Hogsmeade Station. The students slowly made their way off the train. Harry, Draco, and Hermione got into one of the carriage to the castle. She pulled the blanket a little tighter over Tobby. She looked up at the castle as it came into view. She inhaled a shaky breath when it rolled to a stop. The small 'family' got out of the carriage. Harry took the baby carrier from Hermione and Draco helped her off the carriage.

****

The Great Hall was filled with the inhabitance of the castle. They waited for Professor McGonagall to bring in the first years to be sorted into their houses. Severus sat at the end of the head table, watching the Gryffindor table. He saw that Harry and Hermione sat at the far end of the table away from the other students. He sneered at the other students that stared at his child and the woman he loved. The whispers around the hall were enough to drive anyone mad, but it was about his son and Hermione and it angered him to no end.

"And here comes the rumors love." whispered Harry, who was holding Tobby. "The Weasel's will be the worst about spreading the rumors."

"I know." Hermione said quietly, looking at her son.

The students chatter ended when the Great Hall doors opened and Professor McGonagall entered followed by scared and awed first years. She stopped in front of a stool and an old ragged hat. She called out students names and they were sorted into their houses.

Hermione looked up at the high table and was shocked at whom she saw that sat at the end in the Potions Master's chair. It was Sebastian Prince. It couldn't be. It couldn't be the same person. Severus Snape was a heartless, cruel bastard that loved making the students lives hell.

Severus saw the hurt and anger in her bright brown eyes. He sighed heavily and looked at his son in Harry's arms. He turned away not able to see the hurt. He looked up at Hermione from time to time and saw her not eating. It had him concerned. He was unable to eat. The pain they both felt hurt them far worse than he ever knew.

Hermione stood up from the table and took Tobby from the carrier. Harry told her he would bring the carrier to their dorm after he finished eating. She nodded and left the Great Hall with the student's whispers behind her.

Severus excused himself from the table. He left the Great Hall through the staff entrance. He quickly went after Hermione down the corridor.

"Hermione," he called, "wait. Please."

She stopped and turned around and hissed, "You lying bastard!" The slap she landed on his cheek echoed throughout the empty corridor. Severus slowly turned his head, ignoring the painful sting on his left cheek. "You-you lied to me!"

He shook his head and said, "No, I didn't lie to you. My name is Severus Sebastian Prince-Snape. Prince was my mother's maiden name. I just wanted to get to know you."

Hermione held Tobby close as tears streamed down her face. "Dumbledore told you. You came to take Tobby away from me. Didn't you?"

Harry, Draco, Albus and Minerva ran into the corridor and stopped in their tracks. They were too late to help Hermione understand Severus's actions. They could only watch the two lovers fight out the pain and lying that occurred over the summer.

"I would never take Tobby away from you. Damn it Hermione! I didn't mean for it to go so far. I just wanted to see you and Tobby. I just wanted to hold my son." he told her sincerely.

"I gave you everything! All I am!" the tears streamed harder, "I gave you my heart!"

Severus stepped closer to Hermione. "And you think I didn't give you mine in return? I gave you everything too Hermione." he said gently.

She shook her head. "How do I know you're not lying to me again?"

"You'll just have to trust me."

Hermione laughed at the statement. He had lied to her and he wanted her to trust him. "Trust you. Are you mad?"

"I will not see another man have you or raise my son!" he said forcefully.

The students slowly began to file out of the Great Hall. They stopped in their tracks. The Potions Master stood across Hermione. She held her son close. They looked at the baby and back at Professor Snape. Those that saw the resemblance quickly pieced the puzzle together. The child Hermione was holding was the professor's baby.

"I told you when we first met that I've always wanted a family. And here it is before me. I will not let anything come and take that away from me, Hermione. You are not the only one that was hurt. I was hurt as well." he told her, stepping closer and gently running his long fingers through Tobby's hair. "You don't have to forgive me Hermione. I'm not asking you to. I just won't see another man raise Tobby."

Hermione looked for any type of lie in his black eyes but saw none. He had let his normal cold mask fall and she closed her eyes as more tears fell. "I…I need time to think about this. I just need time."

Severus stepped back from Hermione and nodded his head. He gently touched the ends of her curls. "I understand but you have until 11:59 for the papers to be into the Ministry." he gently kissed Tobby on the forehead and whispered, "Good night baby boy." he stepped back and saw the students and said coldly, "Get to your towers now!" He swept past Hermione to the dungeons.

Hermione looked after Severus as he vanished from sight, his robes billowing in his wake. The students pasted Hermione and stared at her. The Slytherins were shocked that the Gryffindor Princess had their Head of House's child. Some gave her small smiles. Pansy being one that smiled, to Hermione's surprise. Draco and Harry walked over to Hermione and they made their way to the family chambers that Dumbledore had setup for her and Harry.

****

Severus stood in front of the fireplace; his hands rested on the mantle, his glass of fire whiskey in front of him. He closed his eyes and prayed that Hermione would sign the papers, so that the Ministry wouldn't take away his family. He couldn't bare it if that happened. He loved them too much to let them go. He would fight until he had them. Severus quickly jumped back when the flames turned green and Lucius stepped into the chamber.

"Sebastian what has happened? The distress wards had gone off in the manor. It hadn't been this strong since the Dark Lord had returned." Luicus said worryingly and sat down in a vacant armchair near the fireplace.

Severus sat down across from Lucius and quietly explained what had happened over the summer. The blonde was stunned at what he was hearing. Severus had a son and had fallen for Hermione Granger. He had a family.

"Then you must keep your family in tack Sebastian." Lucius told him.

"Oh I intend to do anything and everything in my power to do so."

Lucius leaned forward and squeezed Severus shoulder. He stayed a bit longer, reassuring him that she would make the right choice and left the way he entered an hour and half ago.

Harry, Draco, and Hermione spent the time in the family common room discussing the pros and cons of marrying Severus Sebastian Snape. The boys had told her that Tobby would have his father that he had gown used to seeing around his mother and grown to trust. It was also magic that bounded father and child. It would be hard to be around him, but he was also hurting from his actions. Draco had informed her that the man she had fallen in love with was Sebastian and not Severus. He had shown his true self with her and Tobby.

"Love, do you really want another man to be with you and raise Tobby?" asked Draco.

Hermione brushed away a fallen tear and shook her head. "He hurt me so bad."

Harry moved over to the couch and sat down next to his best friend. "Mya listen. Would have you given Severus Snape a chance? The man that made your life a living hell here at Hogwarts? The man that had to…well-"

"No." she whispered.

"Now do you understand his actions?" Harry said gently. Hermione nodded her head.

Hermione took a deep breath and looked up when the clock chimed 11:00. She got up from the couch and asked the boys if they would watch Tobby. They nodded and watched her leave through the portrait hole. Draco and Harry smiled at each other. It would be hard at first, but the pain would die down over time.

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Special thanks to:

Ms. Marauder-Cullen for her wonderful betaing. She's great. Than to my wonderful readers and your great reviews!!

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