A/N: Okay.. I'm gonna finish this fic before I start posting any other new ones I'm working on.. sighs PLUS I'm helping Damon Blade with his fics. Anyway, enough of excuses.. .lol. At least I did update!!
Severus stared down from his perch at the Staff Table. Hermione's spot between the red haired weasel and Potter was vacant, and a stab of guilt shot through his stomach, he knew he was the cause of her absence. A warm hand rested on his knee under the table, reassuring him that someone was there to help him shoulder the burden of being a father for the first time if not in years. Closing his eyes, Severus sent a silent prayer to whomever was listening: help his Hermione.
Elyot wandered around the Great Hall, chattering childishly with whomever he could find, preferring to bother and follow around Draco, much to Severus's amusement. The boy's older cousin put up with the boy only because Severus's dark glares as well as Severi's prompted him to do so. He wasn't thinking of being a hero to the boy.. of course not, Draco thought with a sniff as he helped the boy up on the seat at the Slytherin table.
Holly Malfoy chuckled quietly at her grandson, watching him preen under the attentions of his older cousin, Draco. The little boy was a good influence, making the young man become less like a cold statue like his mother, Narcissa. A small flicker of sadness brushed past Holly's soft brown eyes, her heart was weeping for the poor woman, a prisoner in her very own home, unable to be true to her own self. Sighing, Holly shook her head and returned to her meal, making sure she had ate a complete and balanced meal before she left to go up to her classes.
Alin sighed and shook her head. Her husband's family was being so stupid and mule-headed. She really did hate the Snape and Malfoy bloodlines, so much pride in them. Throwing down her napkin, she rose and glided over to Draco, a small smile on her lips. "Draco, thank you for minding Elyot for me. I appreciate it." Alin said with a smile as she picked up her little boy and dropped a kiss on Draco's head before gliding off to go find Hermione, it was about time someone beat some sense in the girl... figuratively, of course, Alin thought with a slight shiver, her eyes flickering to her father-in-law, whose eyes were closed and face grim, devoid of any soft emotions. She was glad that Severi had been raised in a better home than his own fater had been raised, she had heard stories from her daddy about the Snapes and Malfoys, and how aristocriatic and screwed up those families were. Purebloods, Alin thought with a shake of her head as she mounted the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, Elyot babbling happily in her ear about his Grandma Me-Me and how she had turned into a cat last night for him, and Grandma L'ly chasing Grandpa Sev'us when he turned into a bird.
"Mm-hmm, Elyot.. what fun." Alin said, mentally vowing never to allow her parents nor her parents in law to babysit Elyot ever again, they were too much entertainment, and the boy would have too much fun. Putting down Elyot in the middle of the Gryffindor common room, she left the boy with Dobby to watch him as she knocked gently on Hermione's door, asking for the girl. Hermione answered a moment later, her voice muffled.
"Hermione, it's Alin. Alin Dumbledore. Can I come in? I'm worried about you." Alin said softly as she poked her head in and the rest of her body followed a moment later, sitting down on Hermione's bed, softly stroking the girl's back as the girl laid still, swaddled in a bundle of blankets. "What do you want?"
"Just being here for you, if you have any questions. I know Severus and Holly are hard people to talk to. You should be glad theyre not your in-laws." Alin said with a small laugh, arching her eyebrow at Hermione, as she turned over to look up at Alin, her eyes red and swollen. "It.. it's just too much."
"I know, honey. At least your dad isn't Albus Dumbledore. It could have been worse." Alin said with a lilt to her voice. "Your mom and dad love you. In their own twisted way, they're trying to do their best for you. Your dad.. he was really horrible to you, I've heard stories.. but do you know why?"
"No... " Hermione sniffled, sitting up and pulling a blanket around her. "Why? Why couldn't he just tell me straight out in my first year?"
"Voldemort. He was trying to protect you. And look.. he did a great job. You're alive, Head Girl, the most intelligent woman in the school." Alin said with a smile. "Severi's actually jealous, did you know? You got to see him, live with him, while he grew up seeing Severus on the weekends and during holiday. You got the good end of the stick." Alin said with a sigh. "Look, Hermione... your parents arent all sugar and spice, but.. they're good parents. Just-- just take it as it is."
"I'll try." Hermione whispered as she nodded at Alin, hugging Alin tightly. "Thank you."
"Now, ready to get something to eat, hm? Don't worry if your dad--Snape-- is still a git. It's the way he deals with things." Alin added as an afterthought as she handed Hermione her school robes. Hermione slipped them on over her wrinkled uniform, and nodded. A few well-used spells later, Hermione was neat and clean for her classes, walking down with Elyot and Alin, her head held high and eyes sparkling, ready for a new chapter in her life, no matter how snarky her father may be, or how odd her family was.... it was as if she belonged for once. No longer a mudblood nor a Know It All, she was simply.... Hermione.
And how she liked that.
A/N: sorry for the loooong update.. sighs real life sucks sometimes. u.u midterms coming up.. aagh! But I did learn my lesson about writing fanfics.. next fanfic I put up will be COMPLETE instead of a WIP.. you have my word. ;;; now please ... do read/revieew. I love those, and it does help my writing. Love y'all readers/reviewers!!!!
Severus stared down from his perch at the Staff Table. Hermione's spot between the red haired weasel and Potter was vacant, and a stab of guilt shot through his stomach, he knew he was the cause of her absence. A warm hand rested on his knee under the table, reassuring him that someone was there to help him shoulder the burden of being a father for the first time if not in years. Closing his eyes, Severus sent a silent prayer to whomever was listening: help his Hermione.
Elyot wandered around the Great Hall, chattering childishly with whomever he could find, preferring to bother and follow around Draco, much to Severus's amusement. The boy's older cousin put up with the boy only because Severus's dark glares as well as Severi's prompted him to do so. He wasn't thinking of being a hero to the boy.. of course not, Draco thought with a sniff as he helped the boy up on the seat at the Slytherin table.
Holly Malfoy chuckled quietly at her grandson, watching him preen under the attentions of his older cousin, Draco. The little boy was a good influence, making the young man become less like a cold statue like his mother, Narcissa. A small flicker of sadness brushed past Holly's soft brown eyes, her heart was weeping for the poor woman, a prisoner in her very own home, unable to be true to her own self. Sighing, Holly shook her head and returned to her meal, making sure she had ate a complete and balanced meal before she left to go up to her classes.
Alin sighed and shook her head. Her husband's family was being so stupid and mule-headed. She really did hate the Snape and Malfoy bloodlines, so much pride in them. Throwing down her napkin, she rose and glided over to Draco, a small smile on her lips. "Draco, thank you for minding Elyot for me. I appreciate it." Alin said with a smile as she picked up her little boy and dropped a kiss on Draco's head before gliding off to go find Hermione, it was about time someone beat some sense in the girl... figuratively, of course, Alin thought with a slight shiver, her eyes flickering to her father-in-law, whose eyes were closed and face grim, devoid of any soft emotions. She was glad that Severi had been raised in a better home than his own fater had been raised, she had heard stories from her daddy about the Snapes and Malfoys, and how aristocriatic and screwed up those families were. Purebloods, Alin thought with a shake of her head as she mounted the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, Elyot babbling happily in her ear about his Grandma Me-Me and how she had turned into a cat last night for him, and Grandma L'ly chasing Grandpa Sev'us when he turned into a bird.
"Mm-hmm, Elyot.. what fun." Alin said, mentally vowing never to allow her parents nor her parents in law to babysit Elyot ever again, they were too much entertainment, and the boy would have too much fun. Putting down Elyot in the middle of the Gryffindor common room, she left the boy with Dobby to watch him as she knocked gently on Hermione's door, asking for the girl. Hermione answered a moment later, her voice muffled.
"Hermione, it's Alin. Alin Dumbledore. Can I come in? I'm worried about you." Alin said softly as she poked her head in and the rest of her body followed a moment later, sitting down on Hermione's bed, softly stroking the girl's back as the girl laid still, swaddled in a bundle of blankets. "What do you want?"
"Just being here for you, if you have any questions. I know Severus and Holly are hard people to talk to. You should be glad theyre not your in-laws." Alin said with a small laugh, arching her eyebrow at Hermione, as she turned over to look up at Alin, her eyes red and swollen. "It.. it's just too much."
"I know, honey. At least your dad isn't Albus Dumbledore. It could have been worse." Alin said with a lilt to her voice. "Your mom and dad love you. In their own twisted way, they're trying to do their best for you. Your dad.. he was really horrible to you, I've heard stories.. but do you know why?"
"No... " Hermione sniffled, sitting up and pulling a blanket around her. "Why? Why couldn't he just tell me straight out in my first year?"
"Voldemort. He was trying to protect you. And look.. he did a great job. You're alive, Head Girl, the most intelligent woman in the school." Alin said with a smile. "Severi's actually jealous, did you know? You got to see him, live with him, while he grew up seeing Severus on the weekends and during holiday. You got the good end of the stick." Alin said with a sigh. "Look, Hermione... your parents arent all sugar and spice, but.. they're good parents. Just-- just take it as it is."
"I'll try." Hermione whispered as she nodded at Alin, hugging Alin tightly. "Thank you."
"Now, ready to get something to eat, hm? Don't worry if your dad--Snape-- is still a git. It's the way he deals with things." Alin added as an afterthought as she handed Hermione her school robes. Hermione slipped them on over her wrinkled uniform, and nodded. A few well-used spells later, Hermione was neat and clean for her classes, walking down with Elyot and Alin, her head held high and eyes sparkling, ready for a new chapter in her life, no matter how snarky her father may be, or how odd her family was.... it was as if she belonged for once. No longer a mudblood nor a Know It All, she was simply.... Hermione.
And how she liked that.
A/N: sorry for the loooong update.. sighs real life sucks sometimes. u.u midterms coming up.. aagh! But I did learn my lesson about writing fanfics.. next fanfic I put up will be COMPLETE instead of a WIP.. you have my word. ;;; now please ... do read/revieew. I love those, and it does help my writing. Love y'all readers/reviewers!!!!