Late One Night

Disclaimer: I do not own incredibly much, but by now you should know what is and isn't mine. I also own Trinny Jacobs, one of Remus's nieces – she is a new fifth year and Hermione doesn't really like her much.

Thank yous: Viki, Mistress Vamp, Lucian, Sarahamanda, iamtherealmaverick, ThouandI, PPP, brunette89, pickyvick, bookluva629, Fallen Angel of Hell, Eleonora1, lotrobsession, Remusgrl01, Sairiniakilania, Goddess of Gorgeousness, and Jo-AnnMarie, SevviesMistress, and yoblossom.

ThouandI: I almost made up for the long delay? If I get this chapter out sooner will I have fully made up for the lack of updating?

Eleonora1: Why don't we just settle with us both being evil bastards? :-P

I have been bullied into adding a new character (by a very daft mutt) called Aiden Michael Turner, because well…I don't know…I can't stand up for myself :-D He has a secret (surprise surprise), and it isn't exactly important to the overall plot but it'll add a new sub-plot at least.

These new students are both going into Gryffindor by the way, it would make them a bit more significant being in the same House as Hermione. Also, why would Hermione waste her time teasing a cousin in a different House? It would be much easier teasing one in the same House as herself.

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Chapter 20: Duties

It was late the night of August 31st, and all was not well in Snape manor. The Lupins had left and with Remus also being absent, Severus and Hermione had been at each other's necks for nearly a week now. They did not lose an opportunity to argue (they had a lot to argue about as it turned out) and this evening was definitely no exception.

"Its because I'm a girl, isn't it?"

"What?" Severus turned back to his daughter incredulously.

Hermione folded her arms and glared at the man, "If I had been a boy we would not be having this argument right now. You probably wouldn't care what I did or whom I was going out with. You definitely would not be this bloody protective either, can't you just it out for a while?"

Severus's eyes were narrowed, not as much as they would be if he were talking with someone he loathed, but enough to show that he wasn't taking this conversation too well. "You are my daughter, Hermione, you cannot just expect me to stop trying to protect you because you want a break. Even if you had been a son, I would still be this way," Hermione snorted. "Maybe not to this extent, but perhaps you will understand where I'm coming from when you have children of your own."

Hermione mouthed silently for a moment, she was at a loss for words for once, Severus had never spoken like that with her before. "…Maybe so, but I'm not your little girl anymore, throw some of this protectiveness Maria's way because I can look after myself…she needs it more."

…

Meanwhile at Twelve Grimmauld Place Sirius was sitting on his bed, back against the headboard and staring off into space. He was worried, Harry had barely spoken to him since he had told the boy about his father being back, Remus was off on a life-threatening mission, and now James was even weaker because he had contracted a summer flu. Not to mention he was missing Lucius.

The dark haired man was snapped out of his reverie when his bedroom door opened and closed quietly, through the dim light Sirius saw the slim blond figure of the man that he had been desperately missing, "Luce…what are you doing here?"

Lucius raised an eyebrow; "I missed you too."

Sirius smiled a little, "Sorry, I just wasn't expecting many visitors now that Rem's gone."

Lucius moved further into the room, he rested his cane against a chair and removed his robes and draped them over the back of the chair, conscious all the while of Sirius watching him. "I'm sure I could make an effort to keep you company more often," Sirius smiled a little. "Or permanently if Dumbledore gets his own way."

Sirius frowned, "What do you mean?"

Lucius sat down at the foot of Sirius's bed, and for the first time Sirius noticed just how stiffly the blond was moving, "Let's just say His Lordship is doubting my allegiance."

Sirius sighed, he got to his knees and crawled across the bed to Lucius's side "He hurt you again, didn't he?"

Lucius leaned back on his elbows and tipped his head back, "Its nothing I'm not used too, Sirius."

……

It was nearly one in the morning of September first now and Hermione was sitting in the middle of her bed, steaming over the arguments she had been having with her father. She didn't want to argue with him but it was true that they both had a lot to vent about, they couldn't argue with Remus and Maria didn't deserve suffering their tempers, so it was each other that had to suffer. A lot of the time they could have good, rational, intellectual debates with each other, but recently they had just been full-blown vicious arguments and they both gave as good as they got.

But as she sat there brooding, she was starting to feel quite guilty. Severus really didn't deserve it, he was stressed out and worried sick about Remus, Maria wasn't doing too well with only one parent around either, and now Hermione was acting up and just making it worse. She glanced down at the crack under her bedroom door and saw that there was light coming in under it, which could only mean that Severus was still wide awake. Hermione got up off her bed and headed out of her bedroom, she was going to apologise. She didn't want to start school on bad terms with the potions master, she knew he would only make lessons even more hellish for her than usual, that and she was feeling very guilty now.

After spending about five minutes searching for her father, Hermione finally found him in the library searching the shelves for something to read. Without saying a word she went over to the dark haired man, wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her head against his chest, much like a young child would when they were feeling down. "I'm sorry."

Severus sighed and draped his arms around his eldest daughter, "For?"

Hermione frowned a little; she should have expected that, as if he didn't already know. Although Remus always questioned her about why she was sorry if she said it, so she figured it was something Severus had picked up from the werewolf. "…For being such a bitch, as you so kindly put it, and I didn't mean the things I said…well, I didn't mean most of them…"

"Nor did I, for the most part," replied Severus finally.

Hermione pulled away from him a little bit so that she could see his face, "Can we forgive and forget, or not? Cause…I'd like too."

Severus frowned a little, as he studied her face for a few moments before nodding, "I guess we can," he pressed a kiss to his daughter's head. "You are still grounded though."

Hermione sighed, "I figured as much. Even still, can I ask a favour?"

Severus leaned against the bookcase, "Within reason, I suppose."

"Can you not harm Draco at school this year? Please?" asked Hermione hopefully. "I would rather like him to remain in one piece."

"I'll think about it," replied Severus, he wasn't fond at all of his daughter's sudden huge interest in the opposite sex, especially when that aspect of the opposite sex was a Malfoy. "You go and get some sleep, you have an early start."

Hermione nodded, "Okay… Night."

"Goodnight."

………

It was lunchtime on the Hogwarts Express and Hermione was back in a compartment with her friends after she and Draco had had their chat with the prefects about patrolling the train and what was to be expected when they arrived at school for the feast.

"I'm so hungry," said Ginny upon entering the compartment, she flopped down on the seat next to Hermione and took a couple of chocolate frogs off her friend. "You don't mind, do you?"

"Yes," Hermione grinned. "No, go ahead."

Ginny tore into the first chocolate frog box as she started speaking again, "So Mione, going to have fun working so close with Master Malfoy this year?"

Hermione snorted, "Yeah, I don't see why not," she noticed the scowling looks she was getting from Harry and Ron. "What? Dray and I are friends, you know that, it should be fun."

"Hey, where's your dad, anyway?" asked Ginny raising her eyebrows at the brown haired girl. "Back at…you know where, we heard that he's left."

"He's gone on a mission for Dumbledore," replied Hermione frowning a little, "I don't know where and I don't know why, he wouldn't tell me, and dad hasn't bothered to enlighten me yet either."

"Fair enough. Oh you know, I heard we were going to be having another new teacher this year."

"All the positions are filled, aren't they?" replied Harry curiously, ever since Lockhart had taught at Hogwarts he had been a bit dubious about new appointments, as they usually ended up having some dark secret or they were evil, or working for the Ministry.

Hermione shrugged, "Maybe someone left, I guess we'll find out at the feast anyway. It's definitely not the Defense position that is empty though, I know that much."

…

On the day of the Start of Term feast, Severus didn't usually turn up at Hogwarts until about an hour before the feast, but today he thought it would be best if he turned up earlier. He was so tired, and if he stayed at home any longer he knew he would fall asleep and he would probably not turn up until the next day, at least if he fell asleep in his quarters someone could easily come and get him. He had arrived about an hour ago his luggage shrunk down and Maria clinging to him, her little arms around his neck were almost throttling him.

Minerva had commented on the fact that he looked half dead and after their usual taunting of each other, she had been kind enough to take Maria off his hands for a few hours so that he could catch up on some much needed sleep. After he had given his daughter over to the Deputy Headmistress, Severus went down to his quarters, emptied his pockets of shrunken luggage and resized it before collapsing on the bed.

The potions master lay on his four-poster bed staring up at the Slytherin green canopy above him, still fully clothed, for about five minutes before his eyelids started to droop. Before he did fall asleep though, his last fully coherent thought was that he needed to find out where abouts Remus was right now from Dumbledore. But finally he did fall asleep with an image of Remus planted firmly on the front of his sleep-deprived mind.

"Severus Snape, you complete and utter bastard," said Remus as soon as he entered his lover's office at Hogwarts.

"Got past the delightful Dolores Umbridge, I see," commented Severus as he practically ignored Remus's insult and continued marking some essays. "And what pray tell did I do to warrant such a charming endearment, may I ask?"

Remus clicked his tongue irritably, "What's this I hear about you and Sirius nearly killing each other during the Christmas break?"

Severus snorted quietly, "Just a little disagreement, nothing more."

Remus narrowed his eyes slightly, "Over what? Harry's Occlumency?"

"Something of the sort, yes."

"You don't give a rat's arse, do you?" replied Remus folding his arms over his chest.

"Interesting choice of words."

"You are an infuriating git, you know that?"

Severus settled back in his chair and smirked at Remus, "You knew that long before you hopped into bed with me."

"I was young and naïve."

Severus quirked his eyebrows, "You're thirty six, Remus, you can't still be that naïve."

Remus growled quietly, "Perhaps not, but I've made a lot of mistakes in my life."

"Remus, do shut up," Severus got to his feet and went around the desk, thoroughly enjoying the effect that he was having on the werewolf.

"You can't tell me to-" Remus's indignant reply was cut short when Severus grabbed him by the front of his robes and crushed their lips together, effectively stopping anything else Remus may have said. The brown haired man tried to struggle away for a few moments, feebly smacking Severus on a shoulder before he gave in and succumbed to the insistent mouth moving against his own.

Severus finally broke the kiss, a hand still clutching the front of Remus's robes, "What was that you were saying?"

Remus appeared to be a little dazed by the turn of events, and his anger seemed to have been forgotten, "…I don't know…"

"Good," Severus wrapped his arms around the werewolf's waist and kissed him again…

KNOCK. KNOCK.

Severus groaned and rolled over on the bed, why did the best parts of his dreams always have to be interrupted by some inconsiderate idiot? It was probably McGonagall or Dumbledore…or even that Lupin twit, either way he didn't want to speak with any of them right now, he wanted to sleep.

The drowsy professor forced himself to his feet and he stumbled blearily out of his bedroom and to the door of his quarters, upon opening the door he was met with the amused face of the 'Lupin twit'. "What the hell do you want, Lupin?"

Romulus smirked, "Are you always this charming?" Severus gave him the glare that he used to make first years cry. "Sorry. Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know that Remus is perfectly well and safe, he is in Romania and he is yet to find the colony over there."

Severus blinked, his mind was very hazy and he was barely registering what Romulus was saying, "Right… Is that all?"

Romulus nodded slowly, he was looking a tiny bit concerned now, "Severus, are you feeling all right?"

"Nothing uninterrupted sleep won't fix," replied Severus, "Now if you don't mind, I would like to get back to that."

"Okay, see you later."

After Severus had closed the door sharply in his face, Romulus sighed and left the potion master's part of the castle. He thought that that man seriously needed some help, or maybe he just wasn't cut out for single parenting, although the Lupin-Snape kids were practically little angels compared to some.

…

After he had rudely gotten rid of Lupin, though he was certain that the man didn't expect anything else, Severus collapsed on his couch, he really couldn't be bothered making it to his bedroom. He didn't think he had lacked that much sleep, but he was just so exhausted right now, maybe he was dying or something, or coming down with some nasty illness…

……

"Ah, sanctuary!" cried Ginny as soon as she and Hermione entered the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts that evening. "I missed this place, I really did."

Hermione laughed, "Yeah, freedom from my family at last…well…most of them," she added upon spotting her cousin Trinny with a group of fifth year girls who she seemed to have made friends with already. "I am so hungry…"

"Granger!"

Hermione turned around to see Professor McGonagall coming towards her, "Hello, Professor."

"Good evening," said McGonagall courteously. "Granger, you and Mr. Malfoy are to come to the staffroom after the feast is over… No need to look so worried, it is just a briefing on your Head Student duties."

Hermione nodded, "Okay then."

……

Severus had his head resting on his hand at the staff table, he was still half-asleep and he had been rudely awakened by a loud hammering on his door, which had caused him to fall off the couch. He was only half listening to the Sorting; there was a rather small influx of first years this year, plus two new fifth years that had been transferred from Beauxbatons. Severus heard his House's name called seven times by the Sorting Hat, so there weren't many little brats for him to pick on in his own House this year.

The Potions master was aware that he was getting a few strange looks from the students and some of the staff, mainly because he was usually so alert at the feasts. He cast a quick glance over at the Gryffindor Table and saw Hermione frowning at him in a way that was very reminiscent of Remus. He soon averted his gaze and glanced down at the table in boredom and drowsiness, not even bothering to listen to Dumbledore start of term speech. It wasn't like he needed to listen anyway, the staff were always retold everything after the feast during their annual start of term meeting with the Head Students. He silently groaned as it hit him, the power of taking ample points and Head Prefect detentions were now in the hands of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. There would be no end to the amount of students complaining about unfair treatment, he didn't want to think about what Hermione would do this own students, not to mention what Draco would do to everyone else. It was usually the teachers that had to take the Head Prefect detentions, so they would have to suffer like the students.

What ever had possessed Dumbledore to give two of the most power hungry students in the school their wish? Though now that Severus thought about it, he couldn't recall Hermione being overly happy about getting the position in the summer, when she became a Prefect she was ecstatic but upon becoming Head Girl she just shrugged and casually mentioned it during breakfast the day she got the letter. It was very unlike her, but then she had taken quite an attitude change over the last year or so.

…

Down at the Gryffindor table, a lot of people were crowding around the new students to ask where they were from, why they transferred, who their parents were, and the like. Hermione rolled her eyes and prayed that Trinny wasn't stupid enough to go against her orders and mention that they were related. The new boy, Aiden, however, seemed to be quite the shy one. He seemed very soft-spoken and didn't really make eye contact when someone spoke to him. Trinny on the other hand, was being very loud and very animated, and throwing goggle-eyed looks at Harry every now and then.

Harry was looking quite irritated at this unwanted attention, though he was quite irritable about a lot of things at the moment and Hermione felt sure it was all to do with him not being informed earlier about his father being alive. She couldn't blame him really; she felt she would have liked to have known about it straight away if it was one of her parents.

"You all right, Harry?"

Harry looked up from his food to see Hermione watching him curiously, "Yeah…I guess so. Just dreading starting classes tomorrow, that's all."

Hermione frowned a little, "I think you should go and talk to him, Harry."

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Talk to whom?"

"You know exactly whom I mean," replied Hermione pointedly, she hadn't planned on letting onto Harry that she knew about his father but it seemed to be getting him really down. "He's probably aching to speak with you."

Harry narrowed his eyes a little, "How did you know about it?"

Hermione sighed, "I'll tell you later, okay? When I've finished in the staffroom with Draco."

"Fine."

……

It was just after nine now and Draco and Hermione had just arrived at the staffroom. Unlike Draco who seemed quite cool and calm about this, Hermione was rather nervous about this, it felt quite weird to be invited into the staffroom for meetings with the teachers and practically be treated like an equal by them all. Well, all of them except for the charming Potions master, but that was to be expected.

The two teenagers were in the staffroom for nearly an hour being told everything they needed to know about their new positions of minor power. They were told that they could now deduct points and give detentions (with good reasons, anyway), they had to organise the Prefect rosters; they were to watch over and protect the new first years, and they were to attend staff meetings once a month with any complaints that the other students had. On top of that, the two of them had to get up extra early tomorrow morning to welcome the new teacher, Professor Wright (who was to teach Arithmancy), to the school because he had not yet arrived.

All in all, it seemed that the two of them really had their work cut out for them this year. They were also supposed to report anything overly suspicious to their Heads of Houses and Dumbledore.

The only good thing about being the Head Students was that they now had their very own shared common room and private dormitories if they so chose to use them. Severus of course, wasn't too happy about this because both Hermione and Draco expressed great interest in this.

"Headmaster, I must disagree about allowing these two within the same living space for the year."

"Oh don't be such a prude, dad."

……

After the horrendously boring staff meeting, Severus retreated to his quarters with Maria. He put his daughter to bed, with half-true promises that she would be able to see daddy again soon, which was honestly breaking his heart because he had no idea when or if they would be able to see Remus again. After that, he stripped his clothes off, climbed into bed and promptly fell asleep.

…

In the mean time, Harry had sneaked up to the Hogwarts Infirmary under his invisibility cloak to see his father. He quietly entered the vast infirmary, making sure that Madame Pomfrey didn't hear him, he then crept over to the only closed off bed in the infirmary and moved through the curtains. There, on the bed was the rather pale form of James Potter, seeing his father very alive and only a few feet away from him caused Harry to gasp rather loudly.

"Who's there?"

Harry chewed his bottom lip as he saw his father slowly sit up. What should he do? He didn't know whether he should reveal himself or not, but this was as good a chance as any to say 'hi dad' wasn't it? It was then that he saw James reach for his wand on the bedside table, and Harry made his decision. He let the hood of the Invisibility Cloak fall off his head, "Hi…dad…"

James's hazel eyes widened slightly at seeing his son materialise out what seemed like mid-air, "Harry…."

To Be Continued…

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A/N: Hehe, you probably all hate me now, don't you? I've given you a lot of cliffhangers in the last few days.

Next Chapter: How did the meeting between Harry and James go? Draco/Hermione action. Who is Aiden Turner? Some of Professor Wright. Contact with Remus is lost. Harry finds out about Lucius and Sirius's relationship. Some other stuff when I think of it.