Hermione and Draco joined the welcoming feast, parting ways to go to their separate tables. Draco watched as McGonagall brought out the sorting hat and placed it on its stool. He looked over the first years seeing the looks of amazement on the muggle-born students and the looks of excitement and boredom on the pureblood students. A sudden hush fell over the hall as the sorting hat began his song. Draco wondered what it would be this year. He didn't have long to find out, for the sorting hat started to sing.
A division in houses is what causes wars.
Unity in all is what we need the most.
Should you be in the house of the wise
The house of the humble
The house of the bold
Or the house of the cunning.
You'll put me on your head and I'll decide where you belong.
For I'm the sorting hat and that's just what I do.
So step right up and take your turn.
Let the previous years past serve as a reminder to all
Whether you be Gryffindor or Slytherin
Let us all get along.
Let this be the year that unity rings true.
With that, the hat stopped singing. Even the sorting hat is pushing unity this year. Draco thought. McGonagall started calling up the first years in alphabetical order, as always. Starting out with Amber, Joshua who became the first Ravenclaw of the night, moving on through the list with Gilfrey, Hannah becoming a Hufflepuff. A sudden clamor came over the great hall with even McGonagall dropping the list as Snape, Tobias was called to be sorted. Draco looked over at the boy and he could tell the distinct resemblance to his late godfather. Draco wondered why his godfather had never mentioned the boy to him. He was feeling quite insulted actually. Tobias was a lanky boy with short, spiky raven black hair, amber brown eyes, and the famous dungeon bats big nose. He was dressed in dragon hide boots as would be expected from a potion master's son or relative. The normal hogwarts robe which would have the house crest once he was sorted.
The hall was still filled with whispers and confusion. Tobias was beginning to get embarrassed. Draco felt for the boy and in a move, quite unlike him, he stood and made his way to the boy. "Come on," he told the boy, leading him to the stool and putting the hat on his head as the hall fell silent once again. "Hmmmmmm" the hat pondered. "Where to put you? Not Gryffindor surely," it muttered to itself. "Ravenclaw maybe? Too much like your father for Hufflepuff," the hat decided. Chuckling at the wave of shock from Tobias. "Boy, I can tell everything about you. Your greatest fears, your desires and of course your relatives by just what's in your head," the hat explained to him. Ten minutes went by and then twenty and yet a decision was still not made. Whispers were starting back up excitedly as Tobias was truly a hat stall beating out Minerva herself. After what seemed like years the hat's mouth opened up and shouted "Slytherin!" "Your father was a hero boy, you'll make him proud," the hat said to Tobias. Tobias stood up and was led to the Slytherin table by Draco. An explosion of applause was met at this decision from not only Slytherin but Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and to his great surprise, even Gryffindor.
As the noise died down, McGonagall seemed to have regained her senses and began calling out the remaining names. With Willoby, Damien being sorted into Gryffindor and Zamberny, Kelly became the last to be sorted into Hufflepuff. Zamberny sat down with the Hufflepuffs and as usual food appeared. Plates were filled and eaten, McGonagall demanded the student's attention as she gave the start of term feast. Draco, who had heard the rules and regulations many times before tuned it out in favor of watching Granger. The students were released to go to their common rooms and Hermione drifted to Draco. They stood back and watched the prefects corral the first years and keep order with the older students.
As the last students filed out with their prefects, Draco turned to Hermione. "I suppose we should go check out our new lodgings," he uttered. They walked through the castle stopping at a portrait of a stout witch named Daisy Dodderidge. She was known as the first landlady to the Leaky Cauldron. "Password, Lovelies," she asked cheerfully. "Severus Snape," Draco muttered. Daisy swung forward to allow them entrance. Draco surveyed his surroundings. There was a living area that connected to the kitchen and a bathroom off to the side. A set of swirling wooden stairs that led up to what Draco assumed to be the bedrooms. Draco walked up the staircase and noticed both of the doors to the room has their occupants name on them. Draco Malfoy was emblazoned on the door to the left while Hermione Granger was engraved on the right. He opened the door with his name on it and stepped inside, The room was rather plain with the only furniture being a queen sized bed, a mahogany desk, and an oak dresser. At the end of the bed, Draco saw his trunk. Somethings never change, he thought. He walked back out and offered Hermione a good night before heading to bed.
When Draco woke up the next morning, Hermione was already gone, so Draco had the bathroom to himself. He grabbed his clothes and took a shower, afterward he made his way to the great hall for breakfast. He sat down at his usual seat at the slytherin table and began loading his plate with breakfast. McGonagall was passing out the schedules for the trimester when the morning owls flew in. Draco wasn't expecting anything, so when a strange owl delivered him a letter he was surprised. He was even more surprised when the same owl dropped a similar letter off to Hermione. The letter was from a law firm. He opened it wondering why he was getting letters from a law firm when, as far as he was aware, he hadn't done anything to warrant attention.
Dear Mister Malfoy,
Your presence is requested at Greyling Law for the reading of the last will of Severus Tobias Snape. Your appointment is at 11 am sharp on September 7th. Please bring with you; your wand as the form of identification, I have already arranged travel for you and a Miss Hermione Granger from Hogwarts to here. Please see your Headmistress by 10:45 to use her fireplace to floo here.
Hope to find you well,
Dennis Froghorn.
Draco was confused. He understood why his godfather would have wanted him present but why Granger? As far as he was aware, they hadn't been close, nor had they particularly liked each other. Granted, he'd never heard Hermione refer to Severus as the greasy dungeon bat like most of the Gryffindors did but still. However, knowing his godfather, there was a reason. Severus Snape never did anything without reason. He looked over at Hermione and noticed the look of confusion on her face as well. Draco had a lot of questions but he guessed he would just have to wait and find out.
Hermione read over the letter from Mr. Froghorn again. She couldn't figure out what Severus Snape would have willed her. Dumbledore she had ununderstood. He'd left her a book with answers but the war was over, so there was nothing left to figure out.
The week up to the appointment flew by and next thing Hermione knew, she was standing in McGonagall's office with Draco Malfoy getting ready to floo to Greyling Law. Hermione looked over to Draco. "Ready?" she asked.
Draco smirked, "Unlike you Gryffindors, I am never not ready Granger." Before she could become offended Draco gave her a genuine smile, it knocked her breath away and made her heart flutter. Hermione stepped forward grabbing some of the powder out of the cat jar the headmistress had above the fireplace and clearly spoke "Greyling Law" before stepping into the blue flames and being whirled away.
She stepped out of the fireplace into an immaculate office. The floors were a black and white checkered marble, there were four cement pillars in each corner of the walls. They were each carved into a hero from the war and Hermione found herself staring at a pillar of herself, Harry, Ron, and Severus. Each with an amazing likeness. Hermione's pillar was in a stance of protectiveness while the rest were in a stance of attack. The rest of the room was just as amazing with soft white walls and a smell of parchment.
"Merlin's beard Granger! Another statue of you!" Draco's amused voice drug her out of her amazement. Not bothering to reply she walked up to the secretary. "Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger here to see Mr. Froghorn. We have an appointment," she informed the brunette secretary with the nameplate that told them her name was Anne.
"Ah, of course. Just through those doors. Mr. Froghorn is expecting you," Anne said politely waving at a set of doors.
Feeling a bit nervous, Hermione looked back at Draco who must have understood how she was feeling as he took the liberty of threading his fingers through hers. "Let's get this over with," he drawled. He pushed the doors open and walked in. A short, fat, balding man with wiry spectacles and brown eyes greeted them. "Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, I presume," he said in a high squeaky voice that reminded Hermione of someone who inhaled helium from a balloon.
"The one and only," Draco shot back sarcastically. His mask of emotionless void already back on his face. She couldn't read him but he had yet to let go of her hand. He dragged her over to a chair that was set in front of Mr. Froghorn's desk and waited for her to sit, abruptly letting go of her hand. Hermione already missed the warmth of his touch. Draco stood behind the chair with his arms crossed in a stance on what can only be described as protective. Hermione was shocked at the pissing contest that Draco was playing.
"Shall we get to business then?" Draco asked icily. He knew he was being an arse, but he hadn't like the way this creepy little man's eyes had lingered on Hermione when they walked in or the way he had glared at their hands being linked. He didn't know why he'd grabbed her hand but it had felt right. He felt protective of her and had no idea why. Draco uncrossed his arms and pushed his sleeves up so his dark mark was on display, grasping the chair's back. He smirked when Froghorn's eyes widened. He didn't normally show off his mark. He hated it, yet it did come with a few perks and scaring idiots seemed to be one of them.
"Y-yes," Froghorn all but squeaked. "As you are aware, Severus Snape has named you as his beneficiaries. I have here his will and a recording to be played to you," he said as he pushed play on a device and Severus Snape's voice echoed through the room.
"Draco, Hermione. No doubt you are surprised that you are sitting here. Well, (probably) not you Draco. There are a few things I need to tell you. Firstly, Tobias Snape is indeed my son. His mother was a muggle that got caught during The Dark Lord's reign. However, she was given to me as punishment for not doing something quickly enough. She bore a great resemblance to Lily Potter. The Dark Lord meant for me to rape her I'm sure, yet I could never do that. However, the more time we spent together the more the little twit fell for me, not understanding no matter how often I told her I was incapable of caring for her. The one time I let guard down after a particularly rough night of the dark lord's orders, she ended up pregnant much to Voldemort's delight. I had only meant to use her to numb my emotions and why shouldn't I. I had thought then she was willingly giving herself to me. As soon as Tobias was born she was killed, brutally in front of me. I had made it seem like Tobias had been stillborn and had a private nurse take him, making it worth her while until now. Now I leave the guardianship of my son to you two. Draco and Hermione I know you don't owe me anything but I ask this of you as my last wish. Please take care of my son."
Hermione and Draco looked at each other in complete shock before the recording continued.
"I have made all the arrangements for you to raise him. There is a vault for Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger for the cost of raising him. I am leaving you both the Prince family mansion so you will have a place to raise him. Should you so choose? Unfortunately for Miss Granger, the mansion has house elves that would not hesitate to hex her for any sort of SPEW efforts," his voice was saying and Hermione could hear him sniggering. She smiled fondly.
"Draco, I hope you have grown into the man I always knew you could be and are out of your father's influence. I will only say this once. I am proud of you no matter what," and Snape's voice faltered here for a moment before continuing "and I have always loved you."
Hermione looked at Draco and she could see him struggling to keep his mask in place, but she felt his hands move to her shoulders and they were shaking. She moved her hand up to his and silently grasped it, letting him know she was here for him. She felt him squeeze her hand gently.
The recording continued. "Miss Granger. Hermione. The little know it all and bane of my existence since you were eleven. I hope you have come to your senses by now about the Weasley boy. He is not worthy of you. You deserve someone who values you. In the mansion, you will find a pensive it is filled with a few memories you should know about. You should go in alone, however, make sure someone is there afterward, for the memories will shock you. Draco, I expect you to take care of her should her idiot friends fail.
As for my son, Mr. Froghorn has a vial of memories for him when you two decide he can handle them. Make no mistake. I did not care for his mother but I love my son." The recording ended.
Hermione was silently crying now and Draco had a mask of indifference on, yet his eyes had hardened as he looked at Mr. Froghorn. Absently, his fingers were trailing through Hermione's hair in a comforting way. Draco pulled out a monogrammed handkerchief with his free hand and handed it to Hermione who gave him a watery smile.
"So, you expect us to drop out of our final year at Hogwarts and raise Tobias do you?" Draco accused in a low tone.
"No," Mr. Froghorn's voice squeaked rising higher. "The boy will be taken care of until you graduate. You can always say no. Froghorn's brown eyes found Draco's grey ones and were challenging him.
"You dare presume I would leave the son of my godfather and carry on with life like he doesn't exist. I have no choice in this. There was never a choice once I learned of his existence. I would have fought whoever else had I not been chosen. I owe Severus my life. I will not turn my back on his son nor disobey his last wish," Draco growled in a deadly low voice, his grey eyes flashing with anger.
Draco's voice and eyes softened when he looked at Hermione. "I will understand if you choose not to do this, but I have to," he told her.
"There is no other choice for me as well, we all owe him so much. We will get through this together Draco," Hermione murmured.
"If you two have agreed, please bring your wands up and sign the parchment," Froghorn advised. Unfolding a scroll and bringing out a small silver dagger. Draco walked up first. "Repeat after me" Froghorn commanded. "I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, swear to take on guardianship of Tobias Severus Snape until such time that I am either incapable or he turns of age." Draco echoed the words and his wand shot out a thin silver rope that wrapped around his wrist. "Now take this dagger and make a small cut on your palm Once you have done that press it to the parchment please," Mr. Froghorn declared. Draco took the dagger, made a small cut and pressed his hand to the parchment. The silver cord warmed up, turned golden and disappeared. Draco muttered a spell and healed his hand as he waited for Hermione to walk up.
"I, Hermione Jean Granger do so swear to take on guardianship of Tobias Severus Snape until such time that I am incapable or he turns of age," Hermione swore. The same silver cord wrapped around her wrist as she handed Draco the dagger. "Please, I have issues with daggers" she pleaded. Draco nodded in understanding and took her hand in his and carefully made a small cut on her hand as he watched her face. Her eyes had closed the moment he nodded. She made a hiss when the blade cut her skin but nothing else as she pressed her hand to the parchment and the cord turned golden and disappeared. Draco healed her hand for her.
"At of the end of this school year you will be granted full guardianship, however, should the need arise for a parent during the school year it shall be referred to you. You will also be granted access to the Prince Mansion immediately and access to the vault as needed. It was a pleasure meeting you, you may use my floo to return to Hogwarts," Mr. Froghorn informed them.
Hermione nodded her thanks and drug Draco over to the fireplace. Grabbing the floo powder she returned to Hogwarts with Draco walking out behind her.