Title: Dictionary Definition
Chapter Title: Answers
Disclaimer: If you seriously think I own them, then you need to get checked out by a doctor. I don't even own the computer I am typing on.
Rating: T (Some Mild Language)
Summery: Legitimate adj. 5. Born to legally married parents. Bastard n. 1.An illegitimate child. –adj. 1. Born of unwed parents. (HGSS) (Not HBP compatible)
Author's Note: All definitions are from the Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary. Reviews are greatly appreciated.
She paces back and forth between Station Nine and Ten. She knows the train will be on time and she's in the right spot but she hasn't seen Emilia in almost four months and already it has gotten the best of her. She watches as the first few students trickle out of the pillar. Their parents greet them warmly but all she can do is concentrate on that pillar. A wide smile breaks out across her face when her daughter comes through. "Emilia," she yells as she pushes past the other parents and travelers around her. She rushes up to her daughter and grabs her up into a tight bear-hug.
"Hi Mom," the younger Ms. Granger says.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're home! I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Mom." But the warmth of seeing her mom isn't evident in her voice. Hermione pushes her away slightly.
"Is something wrong, 'Milia?" She shakes her head no. "Alright. Well, I guess we better get you home." She takes the cart holding her daughter's trunk and starts to push it towards the exit. "How is school?"
"Fine." Emilia mumbles as they reach the car. She helps her mother hoist the trunk into the car and climbs into the front passenger seat.
After driving down the road for a few minutes Hermione asks again, "Emilia, are you sure you are okay?"
"Who's my father?" Hermione groans on the inside. Her daughter's been gone for almost four months and this is the first thing she asks.
"Emilia now is not an appropriate time," she says, her eyes never leaving the road.
"Then when will there one. When I'm fifteen? When I'm thirty? When I'm eighty?" Her daughter says as she glares at her mother.
"Emilia…"
"No Mom! I need to know! Why can't you just tell me?"
"Because I'm trying to protect you! Why don't you understand that?"
"Why can't I just know his name?"
"Because I can't tell you."
"Is that because you don't know?"
"Excuse me? Emilia Paige Granger, who in Merlin's name gave you that idea?"
"Nobody," Emilia mumbles.
" No, I know you. Who gave you that idea?"
"Professor Snape," she mumbles as she look away.
"He had no right Emilia. I know who your father is. Trust me I know."
"Then way won't you tell me?"
"Because I don't want to be disappointed when he doesn't turn out to be who you want him to be. He can't be the father you've dreamed of."
"But you never gave him a chance!"
"Please Emilia. Can't you just drop this?"
"No! I just want to know who he is!"
"No! And that the end of this discussion!" She says as she stops the car in the driveway. Emilia jumps out of the car and runs into the house. She picks up a startled Crookshanks and straight to her room.
"Emilia…"She can hear her mother's pleading voice behind her but she shuts the door and locks it.
"Do you know who my daddy is, Crooks?"
Sometimes he wonders what he did to make her leave. Because obviously is had to be his fault. After all, he is the greasy git. And sometimes he wonders why she hates him so much. One minute she loves him and the minute she's taking her NEWTs early to get as far away as possible from him. Her latest letter gave no clues as to what he did. Only that she detest him so and he should stay the hell away from her daughter. He had expected this for quite sometime. Eventually she would have kids and they would wind up here at Hogwarts. It was a fact of life.
As though it is a natural reflex he reaches for the Firewhiskey. In a way it has become a natural reflex. Every time someone mentions her name or he thinks about her, he pours himself a glass. And then another. And another until he's so drunk he's not sure who he is. Let alone the lover he lost.
When her daughter arrived he escaped back to his drunken world. Free of Hermione and free of Emilia. He had gone back to Snape Manor so he could get rip-roaring drunk and be distraught in peace. He doesn't cry. His father had taught him that much. He just gets distraught. Besides, he would never cry over her.
But sometimes he wonders what he did.
The squeaking sound could be heard throughout the room and she froze in fear. If her mother knew she was snooping through her drawers she would be grounded until next year's Winter Break. She reaches into the cabinet and grabs a few of the file folder from their place in the sliding drawer. The folder held nothing of importance to her and she put them back.
"You won't find anything in there," her mother's soft voice announced.
"Mom…"
The owl's pecking awakes him from his drunken slumber and he tries the wave it away but it just continues with its pecking. He sits up in his bed and snatches the package from it. "Alright, I'm up. Are you happy now?
The bird hoots and flies off. He rips off the wrapping and a new quill falls to the floor. He stares at the book as he puts the jar of ink on the table. He opens the cover to see if there is the name of the person that sent but all he finds are empty pages staring back at him. He starts to close the book when writing appears on the pages.
Severus Snape, right? He stares at the writing and watches as more appear. Well aren't you going to write back?
He snatches the quill of the floor and uncorks the bottle of ink supplied by the mysterious sender. He dips his quill in and scratches, Yes, I'm Severus Snape into the roughly.
No need to push so hard. I am a very old book.
…
Well, aren't you gong to apologize?
No.
You're going to be difficult, aren't you? You did nothing wrong.
Excuse me?
She choose to leave.
Who are you talking about?
Hermione Granger
How do you know this?
I know everything Severus.
Oh, really? How do you make Blood Replenishing Draught?
Severus, I don't think my ability with potions can truly show you that I know everything. Besides, she called you Sevie when you were alone.
How do you know that?
I told you. I know everything.
She must have told you.
No. She tells me nothing.
Then why are you talking to me.
Because you need answers.
No, I don't. I could care less about Ms. Granger.
I find that hard to believe. Besides, you aren't the only one who needs answers.
Then help them.
But I want to help you.
I don't need your help.
Emilia was born in December.
So? What's that got to do with anything?
………
Fine. Be that way. You're probably just a fragment of my imagination.
He slams the book shut and throws it onto the nightstand. Emilia was born in December. How is that suppose to help him?