Disclaimer-J.K. Rowling owns the HP world

Severus Snape was just informed another Order member had been brutally assaulted while walking in Diagon Alley with her daughter. The woman was Emmeline Vance, his fiance that he hadn't seen in four years due to the war. Their last night together consisted of them arguing about him being spy, his distance, and her unable to understand. He never knew Emmeline was pregnant, even though if he did, at that time he couldn't have done anything between clearing his name and trying to help assist in the arrest of the remaining Death Eaters. Now he stands at the funeral of Emmeline Vance, dressed in his usual black attire, his unusually oily locks pulled into a ponytail, in the corner of his eye he could see a little girl with long curly dark chestnut hair, hazel eyes, wearing a grey sundress with a black trench coat and dark grey flats. He watched as she sobbed for the mother that cared for her, loved her, probably read to her every night; that she'll soon realize is never coming back; in her hands held a white rose and a storybook. She walked up to the coffin the same time he did; then laid the items on the coffin, as he pulled out an old photo of Emmeline and him, it was during their sixth year, they were laying by the Black Lake,books askew on the picnic blanket with wide grins on both of their faces. The little girl furrowed her deep chestnut brows slowly trying to piece together how this strange has a picture of her mother.

As Severus began to walk towards Regulus Black, a childhood friend, and fellow ex-Death Eater, the young child dashed to snag on his trench coat; "you knew my mommy?" she asked in awe.

He quickly turned and crouched down to her level charcoal eyes meeting hazel eyes, "yes, she was a very dear friend of mine and I cared for her deeply," he answered in a deep voice filled with sorrow. The more he looked at this petite child his brain began slowly putting together who this child probably belonged to but he would have to cast the correct spell to be sure.

"Well, do you know who my daddy is? Mommy, always said he had to go away to keep us safe from the bad people and after that he'll come back and we could be a happy family. But he hasn't come back yet," she mumbled choosing to look at wet grass instead of him.

Instead of answering right away Severus silently cast the DNA revealing spell, both pairs and the other around watched as her liege was put on display starting with her paternal side, within minutes it appeared biological father: Severus Snape. His eyes slowly met Regulus Black's, Helen Vance, Emmeline's mother; and the eyes of the Order. The field was filled with confusion, tears, and anger throughout everyone's face. Severus looked into the innocent face of this young child and confessed, " My dear, it appears that I am your father."

"Where have you been? Were you fighting off the crazy Snakeman? That's what mommy always said, and she was never wrong," the little girl rambled with a look of confusion stamped on her face.

"I-I apologize for not being there, the Snakeman has passed, and I was tying up some loose ends. I'll be there now little one, just be patient with me," he sincerely answered back standing back up and offering the little girl his hand, who took then proceeded to tug him in the direction of Mrs. Vance. The closer they got Hermine took off and ran directly into her grandmother's arms and burrowed her face in her grandmother's neck to protect her from the confusion she was surrounded in.

Helen Vance has known Severus Snape since her daughter first introduced them after their first year at Hogwarts. He was an incredibly shy boy, with a mope of unruly oily black hair, who often looked like he had just been scarred by his boggart; who her daughter was head over heels for. Her Emme would often talk, write, and later send Patronus messages all about this unusual young man with the giant crooked nose. It didn't surprise her when Emmeline told her when they began to date, not even when Severus Snape asked her late husband her Emmeline's hand in marriage, it did shock her though when Emmeline was pregnant and alone. Later, she found out the truth concerning the young man who stole her daughter's heart, he made a terrible mistake, that would affect his life and others around him. In Helen's mind, Severus Snape was a lonely, dumb eighteen-year-old boy who in his mind had lost his best friend, who just wanted to protect her one last time.

The difference between a normal fresh Hogwarts graduate and his is the fact his 'whoops' had a domino effect that caused him to lose four years with the love of his life and a daughter he wasn't aware of. She once promised her daughter that if anything happened to Little Hermione Jean, she will be to her protect and raise her along with Severus Snape as long as he was alive, mentally stable, and had a home. Not house of that haunted him like Spinners End. A home, that was full of warm, somewhere Hermione could grow up in. Sadly, she didn't think this time would come only a month after her husband had a horrendous reaction to a new potion to help his high blood pressure.

"Severus Snape, how are you feeling dear?" she asked as he finally caught up to her, offering him a motherly concerned gaze.

"Honestly Mrs. Vance, I am not sure how to feel. This has been an eventful evening," he shyly answered looking at the little girl who clung to her grandmother.

"Honey, I want you to understand I'll be there for you as well. I am aware that you probably didn't know Hermione didn't exist due to your other obligations. I am not ready to just hand my grandbaby over to be in your full care Severus, I won't sugarcoat that," she told the young man with dark caters on his pale face.

"I-I understand that ma'am. To be honest I am not sure I even have a home ready for her, or even myself. I have been staying with Reg in his flat in south London, sleeping on his couch. Trying to save enough money to buy a home in Ottery St Catchpole," he mumbled.

"You will move out of his flat and stay with me until you can afford to do so. What are you currently doing for work outside of the Order business?" she questioned.

"I currently brew potions for Madam Pomfrey to help supply her for the Hogwarts infirmary, while working part-time at the Leaky as a waiter. I can't stay with you, Mrs. Vance! I don't want to impose and while I won't have enough to pay you back," he murmured.

"Severus, you are staying with me rent-free end of discussion. During your stay will be able to start to build a relationship with your daughter, save money, while allowing yourself to be cared for and nurtured. Too many years you have gone without my sweet quiet child. Emme told me about the abuse your father did to you and about how much your mother feared to even cuddle you if he was near. She also said often that you were a scared little boy trying to dig yourself out of a hole that never ended. Honey, you were a baby when this war started and even four years other after the war you are still a baby at the age of twenty-three, now you hold more scars mental and physical. Now, you also another obstacle to face, being a daddy, anyone can be a father but it takes a man to be a daddy. Do understand me, Severus Tobias Snape?"

"I do. Did she tell you everything?"

"She told me everything, and unless you want to discuss it we will, if not that's ok," she assured him grabbing his right hand.

"I-if you're sure about this then let's go for it. When do you want me to move in?"

"After all the guest leave," she said while beginning to usher people from outside into her family home where Bootie, the family house-elf, was preparing all of Emmeline's favorites. Once everyone was in the cottage Emily went upstairs to lay Hermione down for as she had passed out laying in her arms during her discussion with Severus. The poor little girl was about to go through a whirlwind of changes. Hermione, was a lot like her father when it came to change or just getting outside of her comfort zone. She was a shy girl who due to being born prematurely is very small for her age even though she is only four she is often wearing the same clothes Emmeline, had bought when she was just two years old. Even though she is small in size, she makes up for it in intelligence, Hermione is already capable of reading some princess fairytales on her own, even she has a habit of doing from memory.

"Gran-gran," Hermione mumbled in her sleep as she was laid down on Emmeline's bed.

"Pebble, go back to sleep sweetie," she whispered, as the little girl's eyes began to close again.

While Helen was getting Hermione settled upstairs, Severus was standing by the fireplace taking in all the pictures of his ex-fiance and their daughter. His favorite so far was the one that had Emmeline holding Hermione in the hammock outside reading the little girl Peter Pan. Hermione was looking at her mother giggling instead of the book, while Emmeline just kissed her little bowtie on the top of her chocolate mane anything the picture moved. He wished Emmeline was still alive so Hermione could have more memories of her mother, and so they could finally get married or at least repair their relationship before it was too late. Now the last memory he has of them is their fight which ended in him leaving to go on a mission and her tossing the ring she would later be buried wearing. He just hopes that he can live up to being a perfect daddy to Hermione, he wants to be more than just a father. He just doesn't know how to. As he was standing there getting lost in his thoughts Regulus walked up beside him and tapped on his shoulder.

"You gonna be alright mate?"

"Reg, I will be in time. It's just a lot. It's almost too much to take in at once. The only woman that loved me for me has been murdered, we have a daughter who saw it all, and on top of that, I have to grow up. I have to stop living in a constant pity party," he ranted.

"Mate, it is a lot but you have me there to help. I don't know much about children or anything but with the pity party thing I can help shut it down. Look at like this Sev, the war is over, our names are clear, and we have more opportunities to help better ourselves depending on what we decide to do. Emmeline's mother is going to help right?" Regulus wondered.

"Yes, she said she'll help with Hermione, and she plans to allow me to stay with her rent-free," he confirmed.

"Well then keep your head up," Regulus said slapping him on the back heading outside to take a smoke.

After a little while, Helen came back downstairs then began to serve out all the delicious food to the Order, after everyone ate all of them decided to floo home through her fireplace. Severus helped Bootie clean up the dishes, then retired to the guest room for the rest of the night with hopes of tomorrow being the start of a new beginning.

A/N: Hello, I am officially back. After taking four-year hiatus. I plan to mainly focus on Severus and Hermione building a strong relationship, the ships for both are currently unknown. I will be editing a lot of my other stories on here over the period.