Hey guys new update.
I hope you guys like this chapter. Its a Severus/Hermione mix
Tell me what you guys think. Which characters you'd like to see more of whether it be Minerva/Hermione, Albus/Hermione or Hagrid/Hermione (I know there's not much of those out so I'll definitely write one in this story).
Chapter 17: A fitting Guardian
Severus was nervous.
No, not nervous; Anxious.
He gulped not knowing what to do.
It was his first day at playing babysitter to Hermione. Babysitter to a child; in her human form. Not bear. He clasped his sweaty palms taking a breathe and trying to remain as stoic as possible. It was his first day as guardian. Her guardian.
He didn't know the first thing about children nor how to raise them and Hermione was even made harder. She wasn't a normal child; she wasn't a normal witch. She was something different. A lot different. What if she had a nightmare when she took a nap. He didn't know how to comfort her. He'd be begging Minerva to come back.
No!
No, that would mean that he was incompetent at taking care of a measly child. That would also mean Severus would have to admit that Minerva won.
No, no it wouldn't come to that.
He cleared his desk of papers before moving into his quarters. The first thing he needed to do was make it child safe. That meant a barrier around the fire at the least.
What else?
There were a few sharp corners around the large quarters. A few dark magic books that were hexed. He'd have to move them either into a locked cabinet or higher onto the upper shelves given Hermione's obsession with books. Next, maybe the kitchen. Knives for sure. Though, he figured the girl was smart enough not to touch any of that.
The only thing that was left was his private potions lab which held a storage of volatile potions. Yes, that door was definitely going to have to keep locked. At least until Hermione was a teenager. He wondered what that would be like. If she'd even enjoy potions for that matter. She did enjoy learning about it but doing it was another ball game and Hermione seemed like the theoretical type. Still though, there were child potions sets that he could get Hermione for her birthday. Whenever that was.
Right, what was next?
Severus inspected his bachelor pad of a home.
As every student in every house could expect, Severus had nothing but green and black as an ongoing theme. It was a similar feel to his office. It was an open planned layout. Opposite the front door, there were three couches; dark leather green of course with a green rug with the symbol of Slytherin house in between the two and a black coffee table sitting on top of large rug. A large fire place was against the right wall that made the couches look even more so comforting as the fires light flickered against the green furniture. Behind the couch opposite the fireplace, was a black, eight drawer dresser. Further back was another large desk, similar to the one in his office but more tidier with a shelve of alcohol behind it. Ah, that's what he needed to get rid of. Well, move.
To the right of the desk was a door, leading into his bedroom. Severus had a rather large bedroom with a king sized bed dressed in black sheets and black pillows. He had his own en suite as well which was an added bonus from being head of house. The door adjacent to his bedroom door was his private potions lab.
He rubbed his chin, he'd need to ask permission to have an extension to his quarters put in for Hermione. He was sure that Albus would grant it. He could have it just adjacent to the fire place. He wondered if Hermione would like the black and green look in her quarters. Likely not. He wondered if his set-up looked too eerily like a basement. Dark, cold.
Heck, the bloody walls were black, grey stone. He might as well hang shackles too them.
Oh shit!
Please hope to Merlin that she doesn't associate her imprisonment with his quarters. He couldn't imagine other colour in his rooms.
No, no the girl was not going to win this, Severus crossed his arms. She would have to simply live with his rooms and that was that.
To the left of the room was a medium size kitchen. It had black wooden cabinets with black marble bench tops with silver lightening type marble running through it. He had a microwave, stove and coffee machine which only worked through magic considering that he couldn't plug in any of his bloody electrics. Opposite his kitchen was the kitchen island that had three black and silver swivel chairs at the counter. Opposite the swivel chairs was a ebony dinner table seating six persons. Not that Severus really used it much. He usually ate at the island or his desk in order to avoid people. He supposed with the girl he would be having family dinners with Albus, Minerva and Hermione.
The rest of the room was filled with bookshelves and some paintings. Muggle only. He didn't like the magical ones in his rooms. Especially portraits. Salzar Slytherine could guard his door but nothing more. He refused to have someone bloody spying on him.
That, that was going to be a foreign affair.
'Knock, knock'
Severus ran his hands through his hair before turning around to his front door.
"Come in" He said in a mono tone to keep his cool. Minerva immediately entered carrying a red and gold Gryffindore blanket in her arms and holding Hermione's hand in the other. He inspected the girl watching her as she rubbed her tired eyes. He could see the dark rings just under her eye lids and wondered what had happened.
"She isn't sleeping well at night time," Minerva answered reading the question right off Severus' lips.
She threw the blanket on the closest couch before turning to Hermione, bending down and cradeling her face, "Now I will be back later this evening. I want you to take at least two naps okay. One at eleven and another at three. If you get hungry, tired or needing the bathroom you need to tell Severus"
She then turned to the man whose eyes were wide at the woman's franticness.
"Severus," She breathed out. "Make sure Hermione sticks to those times. She needs her medication before she sleeps if that helps. Hermione likes roast for lunch with yorkshire puddings before she goes to sleep. Make sure to add the her nutrient draught into her juice. She likes pumpkin juice and-"
"Yes, fine Minerva. Anything else to stop you incessant praddling" Severus bit sharply earning him a glare from the older woman.
"Yes, Hermione requires a tablespoon of dreamless sleep prior to her naps. She is currently experiencing nightmares and I don't wish for her to be reminded"
'of her past!' Severus didn't need to finish off that sentence to know what it meant.
She kissed the girls forehead as the girls small hands wrapped around her teddy bear anxious about leaving Minerva's side. Severus rolled his eyes as Minerva told her to be a good girl before hugging the girl one last time and leaving.
"About time" He muttered, closing the door behind her. He took a breathe before leaning against the door frame and watching the girl as she made her way around the room hesitant and cautious of anything that may jump out.
He sighed, "Nothing in this room will harm you. You're free to explore where ever you'd like except the room with the door closest to my living quarters"
She eyed him curiously looking for an explanation.
"It's where I brew my potions for the infirmary" She smiled at him knowing that he had helped heal her. Severus sat down on the couch and watched as she inspected the rest of the room, including his bedroom and bathroom. After 10minutes she came and stood beside him. He arched his eyebrow wondering what she'd want. He thought back to her file, thinking of what it may be.
Minerva said something about Hermione being extremely hesitant to ask for anything.
He looked into her eyes trying to read her thoughts, figuring he could teach her how to ask for things later.
'May I please have a book and can I sit down on the couch?'
Her tiny voice was clear and not met with difficulties.
Severus agreed to her askings and stood up, flicking his wand and reshuffling all the books so the most dangerous were at the top and the least dangerous were at the bottom.
"You are allowed to choose any book from the bottom shelf to read. You are not allowed to read anything from the top shelf as those dangerous, understand?"
She nodded and ran to the book shelf before collapsing to her knees and hurriedly choosing a book before Severus could disagree. Severus picked out a book for himself and sat down deciding it was time to rest and relax for a bit whilst he adjusted to the girl's presence. She came back to him, grabbing the blanket before climbing onto the couch and curling up beside him like Bear used to do. He was shocked at first but slowly relaxed into it as she rested her head on his upper arm and began to read the book in her lap.
Yes, this was fine.
They had read for over three hours before Severus checked the time. five to eleven. By now, Hermione had practically ended up with her head in his lap and half her body covered by the Gryffindore blanket. Her eyes were fluttering to stay awake and he knew she needed to be put down for a nap.
He gave her a nudge before informing her that it was time for her to eat something before having a one hour nap. She didn't argue, knowing it was for her own good.
Severus stood up placing his book down on the coffee table before grabbing a mug out of the cupboard and making her a hot chocolate. He then poured a hunger drought, nutrition drought and a dreamless sleep drought into the hot chocolate before stirring it. He removed two protein bars from his cupboard hoping they'd be enough to satisfy the girl. He then returned back into the room to find Hermione fluffing one of the pillows. He concluded that Hermione wanted to remain in the same room as him as she had not taken to his quarters to sleep. He placed the three items on the coffee table before telling her to eat as much as she could and drink the whole cup. She happily replied, taking two hands and gulping the drink down before eating.
"Thank you, Sev-wus" She muttered as she took bites of the nut and almond bar.
"Severus" He corrected.
"Sev-er-rus" She smiled joyfully at him.
Close enough!
He sat down beside her and watched as she picked up her pillow and placed it against Severus' thigh before grabbing the blanket and her teddy. Severus watched as her eyes fluttered closed. After a minute of waiting, thinking she was asleep he wrapped the blanket around her more, making sure her toes were covered and that she was warm.
He noticed the smile that spread across her cheeks.
He couldn't help but smile back. This was the most satisfied he had felt in years.
However, all that seemed to change when Hermione had next awoke. Her breathing was harsh and her beating heart wouldn't stop thudding in her chest. She was scared, the dark haired man could tell. He grabbed her and pulled her into his chest before rubbing her arms and trying to awaken her.
She shrieked, tears streaming down her face as she turned and sobbed into Severus' chest. He was shocked at her comfort with him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in. He sighed taking a look around the room; his place really looked like a dungeon.
He gulped at the thought of having to change it.
He took back what he said before; he really needed to do something about this place.
"Hush child. Everything is alright" He told her, wanting to take the pain away. He stared down at her miserably thinking about all the times he had been beaten and scared by his father. How many times he had cried, how many nightmares he had suffered.
He brushed his fingers through the girls hair, hushing her again so her crying turned into sobs.
He licked his lips, adamant about his role in his guardianship of her.
He was going to make sure she never suffered again.
Not by anyone.
He was hers to protect.
She began to settle down after another twenty minutes after he had decided to figure out what colours would be appropriate to change his walls to not make them so...well dark.
He rubbed her back one last time before pulling her chin up.
"Are you alright dear?"
He stared down into her beautiful tear filled eyes. She sniffed, nodding her head.
"I-I'm Swo-"
"Don't apologies" He stopped her.
"Don't ever apologies. You've done nothing wrong"
She gulped as he rubbed her cheeks, wiping her tears away.
"That's better now how about another hot chocolate and we can do what ever you'd like too"
She sniffed again, smiling up at him.
He wrapped his arm around her and picked her up taking her up taking her to the kitchen.
Maybe green wall paper and black leather couches?
He placed her down on top of the island bench in the kitchen before passing her a tissue to wipe her face and blow her nose.
"Good girl" He placed a pan of milk over the stove before getting out the ingredients and removing her potions from the high shelf. She watched as he removed a mug and began to organise her potions.
She smiled grateful as he took care of her. He removed the milk from the pan and poured it into the mug before leaving it to cool down.
"What would you like to do after you've had lunch?" Severus asked curiously hoping the girl had some hobbies other than pretending to be an animal all day long.
Hermione swing her legs knowing exactly what she wanted to do.
Minerva hummed happily as she came to pick her daughter up. She was hopeful that the two had a good evening together and at least bonded over something. Perhaps books. It was more than likely books.
She knocked before opening the door and walking in to find the dark haired man sitting down at a small table and chairs. Her eyebrow arched in curiosity as she watched Hermione laugh and smile happily as she poured Severus a fake cup of tea.
"Ooch, I wish I had a camera" She hackled like a witch, seeing her perfect daughter happily sipping her pretend tea.
Severus gritted his teeth in anger before standing up.
"Don't you dare, Minerva" He growled at the bloody woman. Hermione glanced up at her new uncle unhappily before grabbing his shirt.
"But Se-er-wus you haven't fini-sst your tea" She held the transfigured, plastic tea pot in front of him. He sighed, rolling his eyes and sitting down and pretending to finish off the invisible tea.
She chuckled as Hermione smiled further, happy that Severus was playing with her.
Minerva wiped a tear from her cheek, laughing happily before noticing something different about the room. It was green and the couches...they were black?
"Severus, did you. Did you redecorate?"
He rolled his eyes before watching pouring Hermione a cup of tea, entertaining her wants.
"I did. I thought it be necessary to have a change of scenery. Do you have a problem with that Tabby?"
She scratched her chin thinking as to why he would change it before her eyes flicked over to Hermione. Severus never changed anything. He was a bleak person and knew that he wasn't the type to change anything.
Not unless; Hermione?
Oh!
It all made sense now. His rooms did look like dungeons...but now. Maybe slightly less dungeony.
It was good.
It was nice.
It looked at least somewhat homely.
"It looks nice. I'm sure Hermione approves?" She more questioned to Hermione. He looked over to his side to see the girl nodding happily. Much better, her second nap of the day in Severus' rooms was much better slept with her not waking up to night terrors.
Yes, Severus' rooms were definitely looking better now than before. They really didn't remind her of the cold damp dungeons. She had still slept next to Severus, tucked up under her blanket and sucking her thumb as she dribbled on his leg. He didn't mind as such, it was nice to have someone who cared about him unconditionally without trying to gain something from or blackmail him. Someone who was at least, somewhat dependent on him. Someone who needed to protection.
Yes, Hermione was perhaps what he had been looking for a for a while now.
Someone he could trust.
Tabby smiled down at her daughter seeing her run up to her. She smirked before bending down and scooping her up into a hug.
"I hope you both had a good day?"
They both nodded before Minerva eskimoed the girls nose causing her to giggle.
"I'm so glad that you two are getting along. Will you be joining us tomorrow?"
He arched his eyebrow before looking over to her.
"What's happening tomorrow?"
"We'll need to get Hermione some new clothing?"
"And why is Albus not joining you instead?"
"He's unfortunately conducting some work with the ministry tomorrow in regards to the recent drug outbreak that had occurred. You'll be taking his place in his stead" She smiled before taking Hermione's blanket and teddy bear and wishing him a good evening.
He sighed as he sat back on his couch and stared at his rooms. Green walls. Green, not dungeon like walls.
Maybe it was a good change.
Albus sighed as he scowered the Grangers reports.
He had visited the morgue earlier that day to find some strange somewhat strange news. He had asked the doctor to present Mr and Mrs Grangers body to be examined. Unsurprisingly, they were still in the morgue and no plans had been made surrounding their funeral. Supposibly, the decision had been left up to Hermione's guardian but he never bothered to do anything about it. So instead, they had ended up in the morgue. The brown haired, black eyed doctor in his late thirties was pleased about the prospect of Albus attending to the burial plans on behalf of the girl. He said his condolences before opening up both the refrigerators and pulling both the trays and Mr and Mrs Granger.
"They still look as fresh as the day they arrived here" The doctor stated eerily as he rubbed his 5 o'clock shave.
Albus hummed as he inspected the two corpses littered with small cuts and injuries from the car crash. It was not surprising that Mrs Granger seemed to have the worst of the marks. Drivers typically try to steer away from their side of the impact. As a result, there passengers usually end up with the brunt of the force.
In the background the doctor stood patiently before checking his watch. He really needed to get back to his piles and piles of reports, "Is there anything else you need?".
Albus turned back to him to see the anxious man ready to move off.
"May I just have a minute with them alone?" He asked kindly. The man agreed, saying he'd only need 10minutes and left. Albus waved his hand over Mr Grangers body feeling something out of the ordinary. A charm. A strong one. A very strong one likely haven been made by a very powerful wizard. He waved his wand over the body and was shocked at the findings. It wasn't Mr Grangers body. No, no this was not Mr Grangers body at all, rather...
Death Eaters!
He was shocked at the unidentified man's insignia on his arm seeing the same tattoo Severus wore. He gasped taking a step back in shock. This DeathEaters arms were covered in more severe marks than the woman. Rather, he had rope bruises all along his wrists, thighs and ankles from the front he could see that some of his teeth were also missing, likely knocked out. He also had a gaping wound across his chest, like a beast had ripped into it and tried to rip him to pieces.
This couldn't be real. Albus stumbled back. He knew there was more to the story then what he had been led to believe. The question was whether Hermione knew of her fathers abilities. Of course, that would explain her powers but this. This was incomprehensible. What had happened?
"You okay in there?" He hear the doctor call out. Albus quickly thought on his feet and created an illusion charm on the body before turning back to the man.
"Yes, everythings fine" Albus called back before wiping his head of sweat.
The doctor came in smiling happily at the man before passing him the report. "This is Mr and Mrs Grangers coronary reports. As you can see Mrs Granger died of a head injury and internal bleeding whilst Mr Granger was already suffering from internal bleeding hours prior to the car crash. I concluded that it was likely that a Hemorrhage in Mr Grangers brain occurred causing a Hemorrhagic stroke to occur and render Mr Granger unconscious which led to the crash that killed both him and his wife as well as two other men driving in another vehicle. My thoughts are that both vehicles had ran into each other, however it is at this stage just a theory" The doctor informed the older man as he took the file.
"I suppose it was sheer luck that the girl was not with them otherwise she wouldn't be here today"
"Thank you, Dr Chao" Albus smiled before leaving.
So, it was likely that Mr Granger was still in fact alive and well compared to his dear departed wife. He had left his only child alone in the world to fight for herself in an effort to either escape from this reality or...he was in fact kidnapped.
He tapped his fingers on the desk wondering whether or not to inform his wife. He knew now that he couldn't go through the court system to arrange a secret trial for Jack Granger now that it was likely Hermione would have to testify. And if David Granger was really in trouble then this could lead straight back to Hermione, putting her in even more trouble then what had already occurred.
He sighed, he had no choice.
