1.
The Granger's family car pulled up to a dreary brick house with the words "funeral home" in brass lettering on the side. The engine stopped as the doors opened and everyone climbed out, except Hermione. She sat alone in the car; starring at the building.
Draco turned and poked his head back in the car. Kneeling down he asked, "you doing alright, hun?"
Hermione looked up and him, her brown eyes glistening with tears. She nodded, although Draco clearly didn't find this believable.
Crouching back into the car, "I'm here for you." Biting her bottom lip Hermione looked up at her boyfriend. "I won't leave your side today, Hermione."
She nodded as Draco stepped back out of the car. Draco looked down at her and smiled as he held his hand out to help her out of the car. Hermione stood and took a deep breath; Draco gave her hand a squeeze and they walked towards the funeral home together.
2.
Hermione lay in her bed that evening, after escaping away from all her relatives that remained downstairs in her home. She began remembering all the events of the day; replaying the viewing of her father's body in her mind over and over. Looking back, Hermione remembered how her legs trembled as she stood before the open casket and Draco held her hand tightly as Snape wrapped his arm around her. Hermione was still shocked at the amount of comfort Snape provided.
Rolling over in her bed, Hermione heard the voices of her relatives rising through the floorboards. She didn't want to be with them. Shutting her eyes Hermione drifted to sleep; she hadn't slept much since she learned of her father's passing.
3.
"Get out! Come visit with your family, you brat!"
Hermione woke abruptly as her mother rapped on her bedroom door loudly. Sitting up in her bed, she noticed her black dress was now very wrinkly, another thing her mother would surly yell about. Stretching, she pulled herself off her bed as she heard her mother's heels walking away from her door. Walking to the door Hermione noticed herself in the mirror, her hair lay flat against her head, and her eyes were bloodshot. She tried to smile to herself, but couldn't. Turning to the door Hermione placed her hand on the handle and pushed it open.
The voices of Hermione's relatives downstairs were much louder now, making Hermione not want to venture to them even more. She sighed, and then did the unexpected. Instead of walking towards the voices, she turned down another part of the hallway—to her parent's bedroom.
Turning the knob of the master bedroom Hermione was instantly greeted with the aroma of her father's cologne. A pit formed in her stomach and Hermione's knees went weak. She stumbled over to the bed and sat down, tears forming again in her eyes.
Hermione slid herself off the bed and landed with a thud on the floor, her back against the bedside. Pulling her legs to her chest Hermione noticed she wasn't alone, she'd forgotten to shut the door behind her and Severus Snape was looking down upon her.
"Oh Miss Granger…" Snape spoke softly as he joined Hermione on the floor, wrapping his arms around her as Hermione snuggled her face into the front of his robes.
4.
When Hermione pulled away from her professor's chest, a great deal of time had passed. With her puffy face and bloodshot eyes she looked up into Snape's cold and dark eyes, something that wasn't so difficult anymore; for now they shared a bond. Hermione Granger was connected to Severus Snape and they both knew that.
Hermione wiped her eyes with the palm of her hand as Snape began to stand up. Snape reached out a hand to pull her up. As Snape pulled her up, Hermione noticed something, an envelope on her father's bedside table. It was practically hidden behind a large picture frame that held their family portrait.
Snape noticed the look on Hermione's face, "what is it?"
Hermione didn't answer but she reached out and pulled the envelope towards her. Gazing down at it she saw her name scribbled across the front—in her father's handwriting.
"Would you like me to leave?" Snape asked.
Hermione shook her head and sat down on the bed, Snape did the same. Why had her father written her a letter? And when was it written? Gliding her finger through the paper she broke the seal and pulled out a letter:
Hermione,
I cannot begin to apologize for my actions over the summer. I couldn't live knowing what I did to you and all that I put you through. Yet, I wish for you to feel no guilt or responsibly for my choice of death, for that is your mother's fault.
Last summer, at the end of your school term your mother and I were getting ready, to pick you up at King's Crossing, when her mobile rang. I answered and it was a man with an American accent. Hermione, she is planning on leaving in the upcoming spring for the states, to live with this man and his family.
Selfishly, I choice to take my life; I did not want to live through the embarrassment of everyone realizing her affair. It is better for everyone if I am gone. Now your mother can be in her new relationship with no threat to her name for having an affair. People will merely think she has moved on.
You are the brightest child I could have asked for. I hope you exceed in all of your dreams and Hogwarts. Goodbye, Hermione.
Love you,
Dad
Snape was also reading this letter over her shoulder. Hermione looked up and Snape, with an expression that surprised him—anger.
"What about me?" Hermione shrilled. "Mum leaves and he's gone. How can I even go to Hogwarts if my mum is in the states? I'll surly have to move there. And in the letter it said he has a family, how am I going to explain being a witch to some American muggle family?"
Snape heard panic rising in her voice interrupted her fretfulness.
"Miss Granger, I've been meaning to ask you about an apprenticeship and Hogwarts, for potions."
Hermione looked and him quizzically. "Professor Snape, no you don't have to."
"This has been a thought of Professor Dumbledore's for many months." Snape lied. "We would begin as soon as we return to Hogwarts, and it will last as long as I see necessary, and that could be throughout the summer."
The corners of Hermione's mouth tweaked up in the slightest smile.
"Hermione, you are by far the best potions student Hogwarts has seen since I was a student."
Hermione gave a small giggle at this statement, but the two of them were soon interrupted.
5.
"You stupid, useless girl, I told you to come down stairs and hour ago!" Mrs. Granger had entered the room.
Quickly, Hermione chucked the letter and envelope into Snape's hands, who then hid them in his robes; Mrs. Granger did not even notice. Storming towards the bed she grabbed Hermione by the wrist and pulled her to the door. Snape instantly stood up.
"And what is one of your freaks doing in my bedroom?" Mrs. Granger spat, her face close to Hermione's.
Hermione didn't know what to say, and before Snape could begin to explain himself, Mrs. Granger took a hand and slapped it loudly across Hermione's cheek. "You completely ruined that dress. The cleaners won't even be able to get those wrinkles out!"
"Ma'am, please, that isn't necessary. Hermione did no wrong." Snape pleaded.
"Excuse me! Who are you to come to my home and judge me?" With this being said Mrs. Granger flung Hermione with all the strength she had. Hermione landed painfully against the wall and slid down to a heap on the floor, unconscious.
Furious Snape opened his mouth to speak, to protect Hermione, but Mrs. Granger spoke first, "You don't know what it's like having a daughter the ruins your life. You can have her. I never want to see that useless girl again."
Snape looked at Mrs. Granger with absolute loathsome feelings.
Mrs. Granger turned to leave the room, "oh, and would you mind telling her I'm moving to the states soon. And I don't plan to have her come along."
Sighing, Snape nodded his head. It was pointless to argue with this woman, who had now left the room. Rushing to Hermione's side he began to inspect her injuries, nothing serious. She would wake up when necessary.
Quickly, Snape went downstairs and told the rest of the Hogwarts students to floo back to the school; Hermione would meet them there the next day, without any argument they disappeared in a mass of green flames while Snape distracted Hermione's muggle relatives from noticing.
Rushing back upstairs he picked Hermione up, Snape held her in his arms; with a small pop, the two instantly vanished. Snape held her tightly as she apparated alongside him to the edge of Hogwarts grounds.
6.
Upon their arrival Snape placed a Disillusionment Charm on himself and Hermione, he felt a cold sensation drip down his back as they became invisible. The sun was setting as he swiftly glided across the lawn, careful to avoid bumping into any wandering students. Within minutes Snape was safely inside his office, shutting and locking the door behind him.
Moving through his office Snape entered another section, his private quarters. Standing in a room of green bedding and dark wooden furniture Snape moved to the bed and lay Hermione down gently. He gazed his eyes down to look at her when he noticed that she still had the Disillusionment Charm placed on her. With a swift movement of his wand Snape removed their invisibly as he muttered the incantation.
Night was now falling; however, that wasn't noticeable since they were already in the dark dungeons. Snape began to worry about Hermione. She still hadn't stirred. He walked towards his bed where Hermione lay. Running a hand through her hair Snape felt the large lump on the side of her head where she collided with the wall. Rage rose inside Snape—how could her mother do this to Hermione?
Using his wand he raised Hermione into the air, conjured her clothes into pajamas and then pulled the covers down then lowered her into the open bed. Snape took a deep breath as he pulled the covers up to Hermione's chin. Snape knew if he had been fortunate enough to have a child he would have never mistreated it. Shaking his head Snape conjured a large armchair, where he would spend the night. He sat down in his chair, his eyelids already feeling heavy. Snape's last thought before falling asleep was, "if she were my daughter I would treat her as though she was a queen."