A/N: I am so glad that you all like this story. I'm glad to see some familiar names in the reviews (I love my loyal fans) as well as some new ones (hope you guys stick around ;) Someone asked if Emma knows that Severus is her father. No, but she will find out in the next chapter so stick around to see that :D Um… as for my other two stories that are up (Boundaries 2 and In Another Life) I have not abandoned them nor are they done. I just have a MAJOR case of writers block as well as lack of time to sit and write. The end of the school year is insane. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to focus more. Ok I'll stop blabbing on and let you read chapter two.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own anything to do with Harry Potter. I just borrowed Severus from Mrs. Rowling. Whether I return him or not has yet to be decided ;) (BTW I'm only posting this once so don't sue)

Chapter 2: Lunch With A Friend

"So does he know yet?" Harry asked Hermione as they sat on a bench in the garden. Hermione shook her head.

"So what are you going to do? Just send her to Hogwarts for him to figure it out on his own?"

"What am I supposed to do? Just say, 'Severus, Professor Snape, just thought I would tell you that the reason I left with no explanation is because I was pregnant with your child. And by the way she's coming to Hogwarts this year.' I can't just flat out tell him. I took his child away from him. He might never forgive me for that."

"He's going to figure it out sooner or later Hermione. She may have your eyes and hair but other than that she's the spinning image of him."

"I know. I could have Dumbledore tell him for me. I'm not good with things like this. The only reason I told you is because I knew you were suspicious. Everyone else has no idea that he's her father."

"That's not exactly true."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I sort of told Ginny," Harry said quietly.

"You what!"

"I had to Hermione. She knew when Emma was little that she looks like Snape. I couldn't lie to her any more. She's my wife."

"When did you tell her?"

"About five years ago."

"Five years!" Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself.

"And you can't have Dumbledore tell him," Harry said.

"And why not?"

"Because she's not Dumbledore's child. She's yours…and Snape's. So you need to tell him." Hermione sighed. She knew he was right.

"How am I supposed to tell him?"

"I don't know; write him a letter or something. You'll figure it out."

"Can Emma stay here for a little while?"

Yes, of course. Do you need anything?" She shook her head. She stood up and hugged him.

"Thank you for everything. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been so understanding."

"You're welcome." They went back inside.

"Hello mum," Emma said as she and Hailey were cleaning up the mess in the kitchen.

"Would you like to stay here and play with Hailey for a little while?"

"That would be great, can I?" Hermione nodded and smiled. She walked over to Ginny and pulled her into a long hug.

"I'm so sorry Gin."

"For what?"

"For not telling you about her father."

"It's ok Hermione."

"No it's not. You are my best friend and I didn't have the courage to tell you the truth. Some Gryffindor I am." Ginny smiled.

"It's ok."

"I'll be back later to pick up Emma. Thanks again for watching her," Hermione told Harry. She said goodbye to everyone and gave Emma a kiss on the cheek and left. She apparated to her house and collapsed on the couch.

"Accio photo album," she said and a black leather photo album came flying into her hand from the bookshelf. She opened it and smiled at the picture on the first page. It was her sitting on the hospital bed holding Emma for the first time. The Hermione in the picture kept smiling and waving at the camera. There were pictures of birthdays and sleepovers; pictures of Emma as she was growing up. Hermione felt a tear fall on her cheek as she turned to the last page. There was only one picture on this page but it was not of Emma. It was of Hermione and Severus. It was the only picture she had of the two of them together. He was standing behind her with his arms around her waist. She kept looking up at him and smiling and every once in a while he would pull her into a kiss. Hermione had no idea how she was supposed to tell the man she had hurt, the man she loved that he had a daughter. She grabbed a piece of paper and a quill and began to write.

Dear Severus,

I know you must be very confused to receive a letter from me. After all, it has been eleven years since I left. You can trust me when I say it is as hard for me to write this letter as it must be for you to read it. I am writing to you because I have an urgent matter I must discuss with you. I know you are probably very busy getting ready for the new school year seeing as it starts in just a few weeks, but we need to meet before then. Please respond with a time and place and I will be there. It is very important.

Sincerely,

Hermione

Severus set the letter down on his desk. Hermione was right; he was very confused. Even if it might be awkward, he still wanted to see her again. This might be his only chance to find out what happened. He only wrote a few words on a piece of paper before addressing it to Hermione. He attached it to his owl and watched it fly away.

The owl flew into Hermione's room and dropped the letter on her stomach. She sat up in bed and opened it.

Next Saturday, The Leaky Cauldron

One O'clock pm

That was all that was written but Hermione recognized his handwriting immediately. Today was Thursday. She had nine days to figure out what she would say to him.

Saturday came all too fast for Hermione. She and Emma were meeting Harry, Ginny and Hailey in London. Harry and Ginny were taking the girls shopping for their school supplies in Diagon Alley while Hermione went to meet Severus. Hermione kissed Emma on the cheek and said goodbye to the group.

"You can do it Hermione. You'll be fine," Harry told her. She nodded and took the door handle to the Leaky Cauldron. She took a deep breath and walked in. She looked around the room and then at the clock when she didn't see him. 12:45 She was early. She took a seat at a table in the corner and ordered a butterbeer while she waited. She sat for about ten minutes staring at the table, thinking about what she had gotten herself into. She didn't even notice when he sat down across from her.

"Hermione." She looked up when she heard his smooth, silky voice. He looked the same as he had eleven years ago. He stared at her waiting for an answer but she didn't know what to say. He ordered a drink and looked back at Hermione.

"So what is this urgent matter you must discuss with me?" he asked. She sensed the hurt in his voice. Was he still angry with her?

"You've probably been wondering what happened that day eleven years ago." He nodded taking a sip of his drink. She continued.

"Well something happened to me. Something big. And I thought that if you found out, you wouldn't want to be with me any more."

"What happened?" She hated how calm he sounded. How could he be calm when she felt like she might explode? She took a deep breath.

"I was…pregnant." There she had said it. He swallowed hard. Obviously he had not been expecting this.

"You were pregnant?" She nodded.

"Yes. I left because I…we were going to have a baby. I figured that you wouldn't want a child and I couldn't face you, so I ran."

"And you did have it, didn't you?"

"Yes. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Boy or girl?"

"Girl. She just turned eleven and her name is Emma." He couldn't believe it. Severus, Head of Slytherin, old bat of the dungeons, had a daughter.

"How far along were you when you left?"

"Four months. She was born two months early."

"Is she…ok?"

"Yes. She's perfectly healthy." She smiled at how he was already concerned about Emma.

"So why now? Why did you decide to finally tell me that I am a father?" There was the hurt again.

"Well I wanted to tell you in person rather than have you find out on your own."

"How would I have found out?"

"Because she's going to Hogwarts this year. And because I knew that as soon as you saw her, you would figure it out. She looks just like you." He didn't know what to say so she continued.

"I tried to run from you; to get away from you, but every time I look at that little girl, all I see is you." They sat in silence for a moment.

"Severus, I just wanted to apo…" but he cut her off.

"I should be going. Thank you for finally telling me." He put his hand on top of hers and got up. Tears silently ran down her face as she watched him leave. She closed her eyes and sat there for a moment. All of a sudden she felt small arms wrap around her neck. She immediately reached her hands up to wipe her eyes.

"Mum, what's wrong? You're crying," Emma said as Harry, Ginny, and Hailey came over to them.

"Nothing's wrong Em, I just had something in my eye. That's all." Emma hugged Hermione and sat where Severus had been moments ago.

"So did you see your friend?" Emma asked.

"Who?"

"Uncle Harry said you were meeting an old friend for lunch."

"Oh yes. But tell me about your shopping trip. How broke are Harry and Ginny now?"

"We didn't spend that much. But it was so cool. Uncle Harry bought me this stationary set with my initials on it." Hermione smiled.

"Why don't you and Hailey go wait outside and we'll be out in a minute." Emma nodded and she and Hailey went outside.

"How much did you spend on Emma?" Hermione asked as she reached for her purse. Ginny grabbed her hand.

"You don't owe us anything Hermione. You've been through enough today," Ginny said and walked out after hugging Hermione.

"Are you all right Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. It went better than I expected. He didn't seem angry. He just seemed upset that I kept her away from him for so long."

"Let's go. He'll get to spend the whole school year with her, so don't worry." Hermione forced a smile.

"You still love him don't you?" Harry asked as they were leaving.

"Yes, I guess I do."