Disclaimer: All the characters and the plot that you recognize belong to J.K. Rowling...anything you do not recognize is my own...
A/N: This is my late response to the Adoption Act challenge on WIKTT. This is my first challenge response, so please r/r and tell me what you like/don't like, etc.
Chapter 4:
Hermione and the three girls walked into the Great Hall and took a seat at the Head's Table where extra seats had been placed to accommodate the adopted children. She smiled and nodded at Albus who was talking with Ian. She sat down with Daniela and Sierra on her right and Janey on her left. Sierra helped fill Daniela's plate while Hermione helped fill Janey's plate.
Severus Snape walked into the Great Hall and the first thing he noticed was Hermione at the Head's table with the three girls, two of which were supposed to be his children. He groaned and walked towards Albus while trying not to make eye contact with Hermione. Albus looked up once he reached him and said briefly, "Severus, meet me in my office in one hour's time." Severus nodded, looked towards Hermione and caught Sierra's gaze and she didn't look happy. He gave her a nod and turned on his heel and walked out.
Sierra Vance glared at Professor Snape with all her might, but was a little surprised when he nodded at her direction before leaving. Looking back later, she was unsure of why she did what she did next, but she stood up and ran after Professor Snape, meeting up with him outside of the Great Hall.
"Professor Snape," she said quickly.
He turned to look at her and gave a small sneer.
"Please, Professor, I know you don't want children, but maybe you could at least be our father in name only? I'm sure Hermione wouldn't mind caring for us over vacations. They would only allow her to have one child because she is just 21 and single. Daniela has never known her father and she just wants a family. Can't you please help us?"
"Miss. Vance, why would you ever want me as you father? You've seen how I am in class, you'd be better off without a father at all instead of me."
"But Professor, I know that you're hard on us in class but it's because you don't want us fooling around and possibly blowing stuff up, but both Daniela and me need a father. Please, at least in name," Sierra pleaded and without thinking she threw her arms around his waist.
Severus looked shocked and carefully just patted her on the back. He never cared for children, but maybe he could try this, after all he owed it to their parents, who gave their lives for the light side.
"Very well, Miss. Vance or should I say Miss. Snape? I will try to let this work. We will all have to make sacrifices though, do I make myself clear?" He asked in a commanding tone.
"Yes sir, oh thank you sir," Sierra said with a giant smile.
"Now run along and bring your sister down to my office and we will go over some ground rules."
She smiled and ran back into the Great Hall. After watching her walk off, he called, "You can come out now, Miss. Granger."
Very quietly, Hermione came out from the shadows and asked, "Now was that so hard?"
Severus replied, "Yes," but a smirk was seen playing on his lips. Hermione offered to allow Daniela to continue staying in her rooms, but Severus just replied, "Nonsense, Miss. Granger, she will stay in my rooms, but I cannot be watching her all the time. She will need to stay with you when I am busy, is that clear?"
Hermione answered, "Yes, of course, I understand, Professor. Now good day."
Severus just watched her walk away and shook his head. She was still the "know-it-all Gryffindor"; some things would never change.
Sierra Vance ran into where her younger sister was still eating breakfast with Janey. Surprisingly Hermione was not in sight. Sierra sat back down to her breakfast and leaned over and said, "Dani, hurry up and eat, Professor Snape would like to talk to us soon."
"That mean guy from last night? I don't wanna see him," Daniela responded with a frightened look.
"It's ok, Dani, he's going to be our father now, but we need to talk to him first."
"Ok, Sera, but can Hermione still be our mother?" she asked, using the nickname she had for Sierra from when she couldn't pronounce her older sister's name.
"I don't know about that, but hurry up and finish eating," Sierra responded turning back to her food as Hermione reentered the Great Hall.
As soon as Sierra and Daniela had finished eating they said good bye to Hermione and Janey and promised to meet them in the day care rooms when they were done with Snape. They made their way down to his office and knocked on the door. As soon as he replied "Enter," they walked in to see him pacing in front of his desk.
"Miss. Sierra, Miss. Daniela, please sit down," he greeted them, nodding towards the couch to the right side of the room. Sierra looked around and was not at all surprised to see the room decorated in black and dark greens. It did not really look like a place for someone to be able to work in and she believed that all his other rooms would be decorated similarly.
"Now, I am not a man that likes children very much and I had not planned on ever having children. I had a miserable childhood and I was afraid that I would turn out to be the same as my father was. I do believe that I owe your parents as they gave their lives to help us win the war and I believe that we may be able to reach an agreement."
"Now there are a few rules that must be put into place. First off, I will not put up with foolish behavior or acting up. This especially applies to you Miss. Daniela as you will be living here full time. Do not expect me to spoil you and I will not allow you to act as a spoiled brat. Same goes for you Miss. Sierra, although you will not be staying here, I expect you to behave yourself at all times with the same respect and dignity any Snape should have."
"Secondly, I will be adding two extra rooms here. One is for each of you and you will be allowed to decorate as you want. Miss. Daniela, you will be staying with me each night unless I give you permission otherwise. During the day, you will be in the daycare center with Miss. Granger. Miss. Sierra, you will be staying in your dormitories for the most part, but I will give you free access to my rooms down here as long as you don't bring all your friends around without my permission. My personal bedroom will be off-limits to both of you unless I am there with you."
"Lastly, as I am uncomfortable with you calling me 'dad' at the moment, I would like you to just call me 'Severus' for now, but I expect you to still show me the same respect in class and continue to call me 'Professor Snape' in class and in front of the other students. Now, do you have any questions?"
Sierra spoke up and said, "Please, sir, will you just call us Daniela and Sierra?"
"If you wish," he replied with a small nod and was quite shocked when Daniela threw herself into his arms. He put his arm around her shoulders and patted her back uncomfortably. Finally, she lifted herself out of his grasp and he visibly relaxed. She sat back down next to Sierra and smiled up at Severus.
"Now, both of you, I believe you promised to help Miss. Granger. Well, run along while I fix up the rooms and I will see you at dinner," he said with a sneer and he practically shoved them out the door.
Sierra smiled while leaving, knowing that under his tough interior, cold Professor Snape was starting to warm up to the two of them. She hoped eventually he could be a real father to them.
A/N: Sorry it has taken so long to post...hopefully I can post the next chapter soon! Leave me nice reviews!!