Holly Malfoy looked at Dumbledore with wide brown eyes in shock. The Headmaster absolutely refused to allow them to use his office to tell Hermione the news.
"But why, Albus? You're pratically her grandfather!"
"I don't want to put the girl in dire straits. The grangers have died at the hands of Death Eaters. Tell me, which is more traumatic, having a spy for a father, or having a Malfoy for a mother?" Albus said with raised eyebrows. "You do know the ill feeling she harbours to Malfoys."
"I'm not a legal Malfoy, Albus. I'm the bastard daughter of a Malfoy. I never liked Lucius, he's too stupid to be a half-brother, preening in that mirror of his and parading around with that idiot cane of his. I only took the Malfoy name for the protection it provided, Albus. Without that, I would be a half-muggle and driven right out of Slytherin the moment I arrived in the dormitories."
"Holly, calm down.. MISS MALFOY!" Dumbledore shouted, leaning up from his seat. "I forbid you to tell Miss Granger-- it will more likely cause a breakdown." "Albus, you prat.. Hermione's a Snape, not a Granger- she's made of tough stuff. Just like her Papa." Holly said with an arch of her eyebrow, and put down her trump card. "Plus.. this is small potatoes compared to what Severus has done for YOU and the order in the past seventeen or more years. You denied us our family, Albus... now, please, please give us our family back. Be the good grandpa you are for Elyot, for Alin... for Severus."
Sighing sadly, Albus slowly nodded. The girl had been taking lessons from Minerva or Alin in guilt.. and he was in a corner. He couldnt' deny them what they wished... so be it. "All right, but dont tell her in my office.. take her to the room of requirement."
"Oh, thank you! thank you, Albus!" Holly sobbed, hugging Albus tightly and running off to make the arrangements. Albus leaned back in his chair and glanced at a Pensieve, shimmering with memories. Slowly, he took the Pensieve and looked into it, diving into the good memories he had of the family, searching for a reason to be happy about all of this...
Severi Snape was walking down the corridor with Elyot in his arms, chatting quietly about the boy's visit with Grandpa and the upcoming Yule ball, he was to be a chaperone, and he was explaining to Elyot what a ball was when he was confronted by a sparkling Holly Malfoy.
"Seve, go to the Room of Requirement with Alin and Elyot. We're telling Hermione tonight."
"Tonight? but..."
"Seve, how many times have you wanted to meet your sister when you were little? Honey, this is your chance to really ... have her back. Your wishes came true. Remember when you blew out your five candles on your cake and looked up at me... asking for Hermione."
"I hate you, Mother. You know how to tug at my heartsrings now that I'm a father. Very well.. I'll go fetch Alin and meet you. Just don't traumatize her. She's going through a hard time right now." Severi slowly blinked, he was talking to empty air, Holly had run down the corridor as soon as he had said yes. Sighing, he turned around and went to the Room of Requirement, his little boy asking about 'mione.
Professor Snape swept down on the Trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, his face set in a fierce mask of annoyance. "Ten points from Potter and Weasley-- for breathing and disturbing a professor. Miss Granger-- you come with me. I have something to discuss with you." Severus said in a low and dangerous voice, his eyes shooting icy daggers at the two boys next to Hermione. Hermione nodded, and followed Severus up to where the Room of Requirement was.. and the door was open. Frowning, Hermione wondered what they needed in there... and her eyes widened when she entered the room. It was full of couches, and had a table full of food, and a crib for Elyot, who was dozing in it, having his noonday nap. Alin and Severi were sitting on a loveseat, looking through a photo album of some sort. Holly Malfoy was curled up in a chair, drinking a cup of tea. "I've brought her, Holly."
"Oh! wonderful... " Holly exclaimed, smiling up at Severus from her chair. "Hermione, why don't you have a seat.. make yourself at home, dear." the woman gestured to an comfy empty armchair. Nodding, the teenager took a seat in a purple armchair near Severi, who was holding Alin in his arms and watching Holly and Severus with guarded intrest, the couple moving to sit on a comfy black loveseat. "Now, why dont you look around a bit and tell me what you see?" Holly said softly, allowing the girl to absorb the information at her own pace. She had already taken a look around, the walls were decorated with the wizarding photos of the past, taken in 1970's hogwarts. There was a photo of Holly Malfoy and Lily Potter, both girls outfitted in school uniforms, one girl's stomach slightly rounded with child, and the two girls couldnt have been more than sixteen. Another was of Severus and Lucius, both staring down at a child Severi, the small boy about seven, and Draco at his side, a small scowling four year old, holding Lucius's hand while Severus merely stood next to Severi.
"Oh... I.. I realized that Severi was your son, Professor Snape-- but.. but what does that have to do with me?" Hermione asked, not wanting to realize the enormity of her situation. Holly nodded at Alin, who handed Hermione the photo album she had held in her hands earlier. Hermione took the hint and opened the first page, and ended up staring down at a birth certificate for Samuel Severi Snape, born on May 3, 1977 in the hospital wing of Hogwarts School. Hermione frowned and glanced up at Snape. "You.. you were only sixteen, sir." Snape scowled and gestured for Hermione to turn the page, his eyes hooded and devoid of emotion. Hermione swallowed and nodded, turning the page and staring down a a second birth certificate for a baby girl, Hermione Jane Snape, born on September 19, 1979 in the Hogwarts Infirmary. Hermione stared down at the document in shock. Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall had signed the paper, along with Poppy Pomfrey, Severus Snape, and Holly Malfoy.
A long moment of silence filled the room, all of the older occupants struck with slight discomfort as they watched Hermione leaf through the photo album, taking in each photo with almost an detatched curiosity. All of a sudden, she rose and ran out of the room, her face white and her eyes wide.
"I'm guessing that went well?" Severi asked, as Alin jabbed him in the ribs sharply, the young man yelping loudly and waking up Elyot. Groaning, Severus shook his head and leaned back, sighing. Holly frowned and narrowed her eyes, stubbornly going after Hermione. That girl did need a good talking to, Holly thought as she seeked out Hermione, finding the girl in the Anstronomy tower, sitting on the windowstill, her knees up to her chin, looking out at the moon, tears streaking her cheeks.
"Hermione?".....
"I don't want to put the girl in dire straits. The grangers have died at the hands of Death Eaters. Tell me, which is more traumatic, having a spy for a father, or having a Malfoy for a mother?" Albus said with raised eyebrows. "You do know the ill feeling she harbours to Malfoys."
"I'm not a legal Malfoy, Albus. I'm the bastard daughter of a Malfoy. I never liked Lucius, he's too stupid to be a half-brother, preening in that mirror of his and parading around with that idiot cane of his. I only took the Malfoy name for the protection it provided, Albus. Without that, I would be a half-muggle and driven right out of Slytherin the moment I arrived in the dormitories."
"Holly, calm down.. MISS MALFOY!" Dumbledore shouted, leaning up from his seat. "I forbid you to tell Miss Granger-- it will more likely cause a breakdown." "Albus, you prat.. Hermione's a Snape, not a Granger- she's made of tough stuff. Just like her Papa." Holly said with an arch of her eyebrow, and put down her trump card. "Plus.. this is small potatoes compared to what Severus has done for YOU and the order in the past seventeen or more years. You denied us our family, Albus... now, please, please give us our family back. Be the good grandpa you are for Elyot, for Alin... for Severus."
Sighing sadly, Albus slowly nodded. The girl had been taking lessons from Minerva or Alin in guilt.. and he was in a corner. He couldnt' deny them what they wished... so be it. "All right, but dont tell her in my office.. take her to the room of requirement."
"Oh, thank you! thank you, Albus!" Holly sobbed, hugging Albus tightly and running off to make the arrangements. Albus leaned back in his chair and glanced at a Pensieve, shimmering with memories. Slowly, he took the Pensieve and looked into it, diving into the good memories he had of the family, searching for a reason to be happy about all of this...
Severi Snape was walking down the corridor with Elyot in his arms, chatting quietly about the boy's visit with Grandpa and the upcoming Yule ball, he was to be a chaperone, and he was explaining to Elyot what a ball was when he was confronted by a sparkling Holly Malfoy.
"Seve, go to the Room of Requirement with Alin and Elyot. We're telling Hermione tonight."
"Tonight? but..."
"Seve, how many times have you wanted to meet your sister when you were little? Honey, this is your chance to really ... have her back. Your wishes came true. Remember when you blew out your five candles on your cake and looked up at me... asking for Hermione."
"I hate you, Mother. You know how to tug at my heartsrings now that I'm a father. Very well.. I'll go fetch Alin and meet you. Just don't traumatize her. She's going through a hard time right now." Severi slowly blinked, he was talking to empty air, Holly had run down the corridor as soon as he had said yes. Sighing, he turned around and went to the Room of Requirement, his little boy asking about 'mione.
Professor Snape swept down on the Trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, his face set in a fierce mask of annoyance. "Ten points from Potter and Weasley-- for breathing and disturbing a professor. Miss Granger-- you come with me. I have something to discuss with you." Severus said in a low and dangerous voice, his eyes shooting icy daggers at the two boys next to Hermione. Hermione nodded, and followed Severus up to where the Room of Requirement was.. and the door was open. Frowning, Hermione wondered what they needed in there... and her eyes widened when she entered the room. It was full of couches, and had a table full of food, and a crib for Elyot, who was dozing in it, having his noonday nap. Alin and Severi were sitting on a loveseat, looking through a photo album of some sort. Holly Malfoy was curled up in a chair, drinking a cup of tea. "I've brought her, Holly."
"Oh! wonderful... " Holly exclaimed, smiling up at Severus from her chair. "Hermione, why don't you have a seat.. make yourself at home, dear." the woman gestured to an comfy empty armchair. Nodding, the teenager took a seat in a purple armchair near Severi, who was holding Alin in his arms and watching Holly and Severus with guarded intrest, the couple moving to sit on a comfy black loveseat. "Now, why dont you look around a bit and tell me what you see?" Holly said softly, allowing the girl to absorb the information at her own pace. She had already taken a look around, the walls were decorated with the wizarding photos of the past, taken in 1970's hogwarts. There was a photo of Holly Malfoy and Lily Potter, both girls outfitted in school uniforms, one girl's stomach slightly rounded with child, and the two girls couldnt have been more than sixteen. Another was of Severus and Lucius, both staring down at a child Severi, the small boy about seven, and Draco at his side, a small scowling four year old, holding Lucius's hand while Severus merely stood next to Severi.
"Oh... I.. I realized that Severi was your son, Professor Snape-- but.. but what does that have to do with me?" Hermione asked, not wanting to realize the enormity of her situation. Holly nodded at Alin, who handed Hermione the photo album she had held in her hands earlier. Hermione took the hint and opened the first page, and ended up staring down at a birth certificate for Samuel Severi Snape, born on May 3, 1977 in the hospital wing of Hogwarts School. Hermione frowned and glanced up at Snape. "You.. you were only sixteen, sir." Snape scowled and gestured for Hermione to turn the page, his eyes hooded and devoid of emotion. Hermione swallowed and nodded, turning the page and staring down a a second birth certificate for a baby girl, Hermione Jane Snape, born on September 19, 1979 in the Hogwarts Infirmary. Hermione stared down at the document in shock. Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall had signed the paper, along with Poppy Pomfrey, Severus Snape, and Holly Malfoy.
A long moment of silence filled the room, all of the older occupants struck with slight discomfort as they watched Hermione leaf through the photo album, taking in each photo with almost an detatched curiosity. All of a sudden, she rose and ran out of the room, her face white and her eyes wide.
"I'm guessing that went well?" Severi asked, as Alin jabbed him in the ribs sharply, the young man yelping loudly and waking up Elyot. Groaning, Severus shook his head and leaned back, sighing. Holly frowned and narrowed her eyes, stubbornly going after Hermione. That girl did need a good talking to, Holly thought as she seeked out Hermione, finding the girl in the Anstronomy tower, sitting on the windowstill, her knees up to her chin, looking out at the moon, tears streaking her cheeks.
"Hermione?".....