All characters and settings belong to J K Rowling (except for a few of my own additions)

Chapter Two

"Oh my god, Albus," came the voice of Professor McGonagall. "Thank goodness Hermione didn't have to witness this."

"Would you have rather me not know about this Professor?" came the voice of Hermione barely above a whisper. At these words all three professors jumped not expecting her to be there and in the position she was in.

Hermione lifted her head and for the first time that night took her eyes off her mother. It was then that she finally saw everyone who was there. Standing in the door frame was Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Severus Snape.

As her face traveled across all of her professor's faces, Hermione stopped suddenly when her eyes fell upon Snape. She saw something she had never seen before in his eyes. Could it be fear, sorrow, pain, loss, or possibly even understanding?

SNAPES POV

He looked upon her as she brought her head up to examine them all. Her face was tear streaked, even though no tears seemed to be spilling out of her eyes. Blood stained her cheeks and her clothes as well leaving them crimson forever. The hair surrounding her face was matted and caked with blood. When seeing all this he felt a bond being formed between them that she would never know of if he had anything to do with it.

All of a sudden memories rushed back into his head. Memories that had been buried for more than twenty year s came rushing in and for once he could not escape them.

FLASHBACK

"NO DAD YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME HERE ALONE!"

END FLASHBACK

HERMIONES POV

"Hermione dear we need to get you out of here. Your life may be in danger if they decide to come and finish the rest of the Granger line of," said McGonagall in an almost pleading voice.

"No I'm not going anywhere, and I hope they do come back. When they do I'll be ready and they're going to regret ever coming into this house," replied Hermione with such venom that it made McGonagall step back in caution.

"Hermione I understand how you feel but we must keep you safe," came Albus' voice for the first time all night.

"I said I am staying here! I'm not leaving my mother. She needs me!" screamed Hermione hysterically.

"She's dead Granger, let her go," came Snape's voice from the door frame. "Now whether you stay and die or come with us that's your choice, personally I think you should look into the first option."

" Severus!" scolded McGonagall. "She is coming with us! There are no choices in this matter. We must keep her safe!"

"Minerva is right and the faster we move the better. Hermione if you don't move freely will have to move you ourselves," said Albus in an end of discussion tone.

"I said I am not leaving."

Albus turned his head toward Snape and nodded. Snape strode across the room, not caring about all the blood he was stepping in and stopped a couple of feet away from Hermione.

"Last chance Miss Granger, get up now and come with us or I'll carry you out with us. Either way you're coming with us," said Snape icily.

"You wouldn't dare!" snapped Hermione.

As soon as those words left her mouth Snape bent down and lifted her off the ground. He threw her over his shoulder and walked out of the Granger home.

"NOOOO! Let me go!" screamed Hermione as she kicked her legs and banged on his back with her fists. "Please just let me go! She needs me! I can save her! I need to save her!"

Severus set her down on her own feet but still had a firm grip on her shoulders. "She's dead Hermione, you can't save her! There's nothing you can do!"

With those words Hermione's world came crashing down around her. She stopped fighting as her legs gave out and Severus had to hold her up. Then she did something he hadn't seen her do in front of him for a long time. She broke down crying for what seemed like hours until she passed out in his arms.

The next thing Hermione remembered was waking up in a strange room. She sat up to get a better look of her room but immediately stopped moving as memories of the previous night rushed back into her head. She sat there staring at nothing while pictures of last night ran through her head. The blood on the walls. The blood on her mother. The blood on her own hands. She stayed just staring at her hands for at least an hour, until a knock on the door snapped her out of her nightmare.

Looking around on her bed, she found a white silk robe with a rose print on it. After pulling the robe on she threw back the lace curtains around her bed. For the first time she saw where she was.

It was a circular room with windows from floor to ceiling covered with emerald drapes. The floor was wooden with an authentic Persian rug laid in the center. Across from the bed was a beautifully crafted marble fireplace with matching antique chairs placed in front of it facing a portrait of two people above the mantel.

Forgetting the knock at her door Hermione glided over to the portrait and stared at it unblinkingly, as if the portrait itself had called to her.

The portrait was of a young man and woman. They looked like they may have been in their early thirties. Hermione lifted her hand and ran the tips of her fingers across the woman's face and then the man's. For some reason she couldn't take her hand or eyes off of him. She didn't know whether it was the jet black hair, sparkling teeth, or the look of pure happiness in his eyes that kept her own eyes glued to his face. These were her most feared teacher's parents. This was Mr. And Mrs. Snape.

All of a sudden there was a loud crack and then the door to the room fell to the floor with a deafening crash. Hermione jumped and whirled around only to find her potions master in the doorframe.

"Do you not like to answer doors when people are knocking on them Miss Granger?"

"Sorry sir, I didn't hear you," she lied, not wanting to admit she had been distracted by the image of his father.

"I just wanted to inform you that breakfast will be served promptly in one hours time. My house elf, Singes, will be here to escort you to the dining hall. I highly advise you to stay in your room until that time. This is a big manor Miss Granger and I will not come in search of you if you find yourself lost. I shall see you in an hour."

And with a muttered word of "Reparo" the door was fixed and Severus was gone.

Hermione couldn't understand how Mr. Snape could father a child so unemotional and cold hearted. Where fire stood in his father's eyes, stood only emptiness and a hatred for something or someone she knew not of.

Hermione found the door to her bathroom next to the closet that was full of a variety of beautiful, silk dress robes. She quickly showered and picked out a set of light pink dress robe with belle sleeves and a low neckline. She applied a thin layer of makeup she found in the bottom drawer of the cabinet. Looking in the mirror she felt satisfied with her look and was about to turn away from the mirror when a memory of her mother floated into her head.

FLASHBACK 10 YEARS EARLIER

Seven-year-old Hermione stood beside her mother watching Mrs. Granger get ready to go to a business dinner. She watched as her mother applied mascara to her eyelashes in two even strokes.

"Mom I wanna get dressed up and put on makeup just like you and go to balls and fancy dinners," sighed Hermione dreamily.

"You will someday love. You'll have the most beautiful gowns to wear and makeup to match. You'll be the belle of the ball."

END FLASHBACK

The image of her mother faded from the mirror and was once again replaced with her own reflection. As a tear slid down her cheek Hermione left the bathroom. Glancing at the clock, she noticed she had a half an hour longer before Singes would arrive to escort her to breakfast.

Hermione tip toed to the door and pressed her ear against it. Hearing nothing, she opened it a little and peered out. Noticing that no one was around, Hermione stepped out into the corridor.

'How big could the place actually be? I'm sure I'll be able to find my way back,'

And with that thought she started walking down the right corridor not knowing exactly what she was looking for or expecting what she would find.

hey guys thanks for your reviews! Special thanks to Riz-chan whose review was the very first one I got  I'm going to try and update sooner than it took me to write this chapter cuz I wont be going on vacation or anything but I cant promise any thing with out knowing my school schedule yet. Thanks again for your reviews and please send more

stephanie