The Heiress

Chapter 7

Dining with Severus and his family.

Well, this is comfy, Hermione thought sarcastically, as the only sound during supper was the clinking of silverware against china. Justine was sitting next to her aunt, forcing Hermione to give up her position as the child's favorite for at least one night. Severus did not look at his sister, his daughter, nor Hermione, as he was fixated on his plate and the task of cleaning it.

"I'm getting married, Severus," Hélène announced, dropping her silverware unto the plate with a loud "clank". Severus looked up from his task, and raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so? I suppose it's to that wooden-headed Mr. Larkin. I commend you on your taste in men," he replied sarcastically, as only he could. Hélène sighed in exasperation.

"You hated all my boyfriends, and Teddy is brilliant! Just because he's not magical, JUST because he's a muggle…he's brilliant, Severus, in the muggle way."

"It's beyond me why you'd want to throw yourself into that world…"

"I'm NOT becoming a muggle! Teddy wants to live with me in the wizarding world!"

Hermione pretended not to pay attention to this family quarrel, she noticed that Justine was riveted.

"Bully for him," Severus stated, returning to his meal. There was another period of silence. Hélène threw her silverware down once more in exasperation after a while.

"Do you mind? That's expensive Hélène…"

"Will you at least come to the wedding?"

"Of course."

"…I was thinking…of having it here…if that's okay with you."

Severus appeared to really be thinking about it. He glanced at his daughter, who dared to nod her approval, he glanced at Hermione, who was still pretending not to listen.

"Fine. No more of this subject, I'd like to have the rest of this experience conducted in silence." And it was.

After supper, Hermione was invited to stroll around the grounds with Severus. She accepted, jumping at the chance to get to know her former teacher better.

"Hélène spilled the family secrets, didn't she?" Severus asked, as Hermione struggled to keep up with his long strides.

"She did, Professor."

"I thought as much, Hélène has never been one for secrecy, never has been."

"I'm sorry about all the things that you had to go through."

"Do not apologize, that is all over with."

After that the walk was conducted in companionable silence. Severus broke it once again as they were at the front door of Hermione's home.

"I must thank you for taking care of my daughter, I can imagine what a trial she is."

"Not at all, Professor, she's not a genius, but she's a very respectful girl, you're quite lucky."

"Am I indeed?"

"Yes, I would love to have a daughter like Justine…she loves you very much, Professor, you needn't push her away like you do."

"The way I treat my child is my business, Miss Granger, I have my reasons."

"I know you do. Hélène told me."

"No doubt…but don't listen to everything she says, maybe I just can't stand the sight of the child."

"I find that very hard to believe."

"Do you now?"

"Yes…you care for her…you are capable of caring for people."

"I was not aware of that, Miss Granger."

"Don't be sarcastic with me, Professor."

"Miss Granger, I am no longer your professor. Although I would not care for being referred to as "Severus", I must ask that you drop that ridiculous title."

"Mr. Snape, is it?"

"If you wish it, it is."

"Well, Mr. Snape, I'm afraid I must return to my suitors, lest they get restless."

"Very well, goodnight Miss Granger."

He could've been knocked over with a feather when she leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. Without saying a word, she returned to her home, and he was left at her door in shock.

"And that's that," he mumbled, heading back home.

"Hermione, are you sure I can't have a Quidditch pitch?" Ron asked, as Hermione entered the house, blushing over what she had just done.

"Whatever you want, Ron, put them to work if you must," she replied, the "them" referring to the suitors.

"Lovely! I'll put them to work tomorrow!" Ron exclaimed, embracing Hermione quickly, and running upstairs to his room.

Hermione retired to her rooms for the night, and spent quite a few hours reading in her little library. She could faintly hear the sounds of Ron, Harry, and Neville taunting the suitors, so she put a silencing charm on the room. She didn't know how much longer she could stand living in a house packed with boys, some of them wanting to marry her for her money. She went out of her way to avoid the suitors, and they tried to avoid her. The house was probably getting to them, as they were stuck in it. She was glad that she wasn't confined to the home, and that her choices weren't limited to the travesties that had come knocking on her door.

She wasn't going to be forced into marrying anyone, just for the sake of letting them out of her house. While their suffering would be over, hers would just be beginning. A life without love didn't seem very appealing. They would unfortunately just have to wait…Hermione wasn't in any sort of hurry, as selfish as she thought that was.

She thought about her decision to kiss Severus good-night. It wasn't even a real kiss, nor did it mean anything. Hélène's story had just affected her, that was all. She merely felt sorry for him. The fact that he had the ability to care for another human being endeared him to her immensely. Who would have thought? He had always seemed to cold and aloof. She doubted many people knew about his family.

His decision to distance himself from his daughter made sense when she thought of his role as a spy against Lord Voldemort. If he had been found out, or slipped up, his affection for his daughter would've been known, and she could've been killed. His appearance of disgust for Justine may very well have saved her life.

For the next few weeks, Hermione amused herself by helping Hélène with plans for the wedding that, apparently, wasn't too far away. There was a sizable ballroom in Severus's home, and Hermione went over design schemes with Hélène, they both allowed Justine to help, although she seemed content to spend time after lessons at Hermione's home, playing Ron's shadow.

One particular day, Justine was watching her aunt and her governess working over a floor plan, when she asked quite suddenly,

"Will you both come to my wedding?" Hélène and Hermione looked at her in surprise.

"And just who are you getting married to?" Hermione asked playfully.

"Ronald Weasley, if he'll have me. I figure he'll have to wait until I'm twelve to ask me." Hélène and Hermione exchanged looks of amusement, both trying hard not to laugh.

"I suspect he will have to wait," Hermione replied.

"Make him wait until you're thirteen though, dearie," said Hélène.

"Okay. He doesn't even know he's in love with me yet, though. I hope he figures it out soon…maybe when I get breasts." There was no holding back the giggles after that. Hermione even snorted a little. Justine just looked confused.

"Darling, why don't you go out and play, maybe the boys will play pirates with you again," Hermione suggested. Justine brightened up at that. She loved it when Hermione's roommates played pirates with her. She was the captain, always. Harry dubbed her "Jill Pigeon", and she called him "Heartless Harry" the cabin boy. Ron was "Red Ronald" her first mate, Neville was "Noxious Neville" the skipper…and they told her the suitors didn't get special names, so she made them the men in charge of cleaning the ship's fifty dirty toilets. The ship being one of the suitor's carriages.

"I can't believe she said that," Hermione commented, once Justine was gone.

"It's her first crush, enjoy it, I find it all rather adorable. I was the same way about Lucius Malfoy when he used to come around here…that was before I knew what a bastard he was of course."

"Do you think Severus will ever like your Teddy?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, I'm sure someday he will just ignore him…for now he amuses himself with giving carefully veiled insults to Teddy anytime he sees him."

"That sounds like him alright."

"I don't understand why you don't call my brother "Severus" when he is around."

"That's because I'm his employee, it's respectful for me to call him Mr. Snape."

"I see. I also see how he looks at you sometime, when he's actually around?"

"How?"

"I don't know," Hélène replied playfully.

"What you're suggesting is completely ridiculous."

"We'll see."

"I mean it, Hélène. There are no feelings between the likes of me and the likes of him."

Hélène just smiled knowingly at this, and they returned to their planning.

End of Chapter