The sight of a completely confused Severus Snape was not something Lucius Malfoy had expected after Mitsy had come to notify him of his friend's arrival. In fact, as far as he could remember, even the so-called Marauders were not able to upset him to such an extent.

- What's going on, Severus? - he heard his wife's voice before he could process what he wanted to say to the man standing in front of them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lucius saw his wife's worried gaze. Narcissa has always had a soft spot for the dark-haired Potions Master. She still treated him like a boy who needed her protection.

- You allowed me to arrange for Hermione Granger and your son to get closer to each other. - Severus swallowed as if he didn't know if he was going to go on. - I gave them a potion to help build a family tree. I knew Draco was proficient at him. So I figured he might be able to help Miss Granger. However, I did not expect such results.

Lucius knew he shouldn't have asked, but the lack of knowledge ate him. - Who's her father? Draco sent us a letter saying that this girl is being raised by his stepfather. Not the father. Perhaps this is the solution to the mystery of why, despite her origins, she is so adept at magic.

The younger man looked into his friend's eyes and replied in one simple sentence. - I, I am her father.

xxx

This day was different than usual. Jean Granger went to open their dentist's office herself. She did not practice herself anymore, but she continued to deal with administration. She created a place where over 15 people work. A small, intimate group in which everyone argues and everyone knows. Therefore, no one was surprised by the owl that brought her the letter. Hermione's mother calmed down when on the envelope, instead of Professor McGonagall's neat handwriting, she saw the still uneven letters of her daughter. This meant that her baby was still safe.

- What about the Young? We missed her. - said her assistant Leta Prewett.

- I do not know yet. I didn't open the letter. - she continued breaking the seal on the envelope - have you ever wondered what it would be like to go to Hogwarts?

The red-haired girl looked at her employer with horror. - Are you crazy? Would I be around my aunt who never got the idea to see what was going on with her cousin? I was lucky that you can also have home education at home. At MACUSA, I only had to show up for exams. It is enough for me. Thanks to this, I had time for a muggle high school.

Jean looked at the girl. She met her when, while walking with Reg, he had an attack of random magic. She was fascinated by the fact that she found someone similar to herself.

- What does our little Hermione write? - Leta asked again.

The woman read the letter quickly, not believing what she saw. She sighed and silently placed the letter on her desk. - I knew it would happen one day, but I didn't know it would happen so soon. I never thought Severus would find out about her from anyone other than me.

She did not even realize how the girl's small body pressed into her chair and how she was hugged by it. Better now than later. It's been three years since he first saw her ... This man has a right to know.

- I know he has. However ... There is someone else who shouldn't know this. - She looked into pure blue eyes and asked - And you thought to show yourself to your aunt and cousins? - Seeing the doubts on the face of Leta, she corrected herself - to your cousins. Hermione said it was a happy bunch.

- You know, I thought ... But since I found out that despite the promuggle attitude of the Weasleys, my aunt didn't even think to contact my father ... It hurts. For now, my family is in you, Hermione and Regulus. It was you who stood with me when my father died.

xxx

He was concerned. A Gryffindor girl shouldn't be near Slytherin. Hermione Granger should not be in a happy relationship with Draco Malfoy, even if the rumors about their kindness in the name of the greater good were correct. Higher good also something to me. These two children do not even understand what is behind this statement. For these two students it was a greater good not to ruin their school records, and for him? Raising valuable wizards in isolation from the values behind which Slytherin stands. Because it is not only bigotry but also attachment to tradition. Rituals of passage, living in harmony with magic ... He couldn't let that happen.

xxx

Her gaze was as blank as it always was when she was worried about something. His late arrival could not be the reason for this. He has long had information in his wallet who to contact in the event of an accident. So he looked at Leta, indicating to her that it would be good if she pawned them alone for a moment.

- What's going on, sweetheart? - he asked, hiding her in his arms and stroking her neck soothingly. - You were much more cheerful in the morning.

The woman looked at him. He could see her eyes were wet, and that meant only one thing. She was holding back her tears.

- Nothing special. The emotions just elude me. Hermione wrote to me that Severus had found out about his paternity. She wrote that she did not know how he reacted yet. They will to talk somewhere more private later.

- Then why are you crying? - he asked with concern for his friend and wife.

- I was hoping that she would find out after you appeared in our daughter's life. You will officially appear in her life.

He looked at her again, wondering how to tell her that his disclosure might be dangerous right now. How to explain that he would like to go to Gringotts, accept the family inheritance and give everything to his daughter. He knew that after his disappearance, Sirius was the next candidate, but he was too closely associated with Dumbledore. He didn't want to be on the dark side anymore, but he didn't trust the light side anymore. And Hermione is to be secured. As the head of the family, even a minor will have to consent to everything they plan for her.

xxx

Narcissa sat down in the nearest chair. - How is that? Are you her father? - Her voice was trembling with nervousness.

- Don't be so surprised. Rather, it should be me. - Severus replied and his entire body posture returned to what they were used to. - You don't even know what a shock it was for me when I saw my name on her parchment. And although Draco was with me, apparently only for me, this information was a surprise. I didn't even know that she was not raised by her biological father. Usually this information appears in students' personal files.

Lord Malfoy, trying to keep a cool head, interrupted his friend. - The plan is still valid. Not for the safety of my family, but for the safety of our family. Our relationship is complicated but I treat you like a brother. She is your daughter, so she is our family too. Draco will do the right thing. I know he has liked Miss Granger for a long time. You don't even know how much we've heard about her in the last two years. I prefer not to even imagine how the director would use it if he knew all the facts.

Narcissa looked at her husband in a new light. She never thought he would say the words. Only somewhere in the back of her head appeared the thought that he was driven not only by loyalty. Severus Snape was the wizard they feared. Even in spite of the ties imposed on him not only by the Dark Lord but also by the leader of the Light Side. If someone could break his bonds, he would be an unbeatable force.

- But then they will have to see each other secretly. I can't let Albus rummage through her biography. They will only be visible in my class. They work very unanimously. In addition, the current pairing arrangement really worked and for the first time in many years there was no catastrophe.

xxx

She was walking hesitantly towards the place where she usually sat with Ron and Harry. She missed them, but she had no intention of begging them for friendship. She did not want to beg them for friendship. After she sat down, she started laying out the meal with the intention of eating it in the dormitory. She had no strength for another meal, eaten alone. In total, the dormitory will also be alone, but there is nothing worse than loneliness between people.

- Hermione, we need to talk. - Harry's voice broke her out of her contemplation.

- Tonight. - she told.

Ron looked at her as if he expected her to explain something to them. - You said the same yesterday.

- I'm tired. I don't want to argue before the next class.

Ron smiled and prodded Harry before he could speak. - I'd like to apologize to you. I still do not fully understand why you said about the broom, so I am not sorry for you. I'm sorry that despite the friendship we share, I let it take so long before we saw you just cared for Harry.

xxx

After their friend returned to the castle, the two spouses went to the tea lounge. They both walked in silence, still digesting what was happening in their lives lately.

- Would you guess it's him? - she asked.

- You want him in your family? - He answered.

Narcissa grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her in one efficient movement. - You always wanted him to be our family.

- As my brother and not as my son's father-in-law. - he growled in a fury that surprised even himself.

The woman reached her hand to his face and said in a calm voice. - Let's give them a chance to get to know each other better. Let us cherish their friendship. If something more is born between them, it's good if not, although Draco will have a friend who sees Draco in him and not his fortune.

- You're right, honey. As always, you are right. - he said kissing his wife on the forehead.

xxx

Chapter shorter than usual. Hope you still like the story anyway. Regards Katie Krum.