Chapter 6.
'I don't know why you're worried,' said Mrs Granger, 'Draco's been coming here for almost 4 years and she's been over to Mr Snape's place many a time.
'Yes, but she was just two lanes away at that time. How much do we know about this Snape character anyway? He seems suspicious. How many grown men would willing spend time with two exhausting ten-year olds?' whispered Mr Granger.
They both peered surreptitiously into the sitting room and watched as Hermione playing mother, offered a tea cup to Professor Snape and waited eagerly as he took a sip. A wide smile stretched across her face when after a while Professor Snape nodded at her. She quickly lifted the plate of biscuits off the table and held it up to him. Draco who was in the process of selecting a biscuit for himself, frowned and sat back with a huff.
In the kitchen Hermione's mother giggled. 'Dear, you're being ridiculous. Mr Snape is a perfectly fine individual. He may be a bit of an introvert but I think you're more upset about no longer being Hermione's most favourite person.'
'You'd think our daughter's first crush would be the golden-haired lad her own age instead of a grouchy ill tempered...'. Mr Granger stopped as his wife wacked him on his arm and glared at him.
'You be nice now,' she said 'or else I'll show you just how grouchy and ill tempered I can be.' She walked into the sitting room, Mr Granger following with a plate of scones.
She sat down and turned to Professor Snape. 'How long will this trip take?'.
'Probably half a day, or sooner if they do not BEHAVE,' he barked the last word out.
The adults in the room turned to look at the two children who had been fighting for the last chocolate scone. Draco having won, went on to bite one end, his triumphant expression flagging when Hermione reached over and squashed the remaining bit onto Draco's face.
The two children settled down at Professor Snape's words. Draco hurriedly wiping off his face as Hermione turned to the adults and plaintively pleaded 'Oh no, please, we will be good. Please let me go with them.'
Hermione's father inwardly smiled. Despite his disgruntled words earlier he was privately very pleased with present company, if only for the happiness they brought his daughter. Hermione had always been a serious little girl. When they moved up here from London, he could see how unhappy Hermione was in the first few months. He had a suspicion she was being bullied by the neighbourhood kids but Hermione remained mute on the subject despite his many enquiries. She had spent almost all her time indoors and even for a girl who liked her books it was a lonely life.
In school, though her work was exemplary, her teachers were worried about her poor social skills. He was very often called to the school, other kids complaining that Hermione had destroyed their personal effects or in one strange incident colouring a classmate's hair a glaring shade of green, all the while Hermione stood tearfully denying it.
They were contemplating visiting a child psychologist when suddenly everything changed. His daughter started smiling more, the incidents in school reduced, more surprisingly she started spending almost all her time after school outside. He wished to thank whoever it was who turned Hermione into his little girl again and did not know quite what to say when one evening he turned up at their doorstep with neatly pressed clothes, perfectly coiffed hair and manners that were more at home meeting the royal family than your friend's parents. Over the years, possibly due to Hermione's influence, the little lordling let go of that strict decorum and now sat in their sitting room with his hair messily falling over his forehead and his cheeks smudged with chocolate.
If meeting Draco was strange, it was nothing compared to his first encounter with the lad's godfather. He still couldn't understand how his daughter enjoyed spending time with the taciturn man. Most children would be wary of someone like him, but no, not his daughter. He once asked Hermione why she liked Mr Snape so much. She replied in a way that she was shocked that anyone wouldn't like him. 'He's so smart dad, he knows so many things and he's very funny'. (Here Hermione's father chocked a little). She then became silent and after awhile in a quiet voice said 'And his eyes looked like mine before I met Draco.' Hermione's father felt an acute pain pierce his chest at this. He hugged his daughter close and whispered, 'Then I'm glad that he has you and Draco, poppet.' They never spoke about it again.
A/N: Its been ages since I have updated but my laptop stopped working and as usual, I was too lazy to go get it fixed. I know my chapters are short. I'll try writing longer ones or maybe update sooner. Please do review. I'm trying to improve my writing so any help would be well…helpful.