A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long. I have been SUPER busy with school. Thank god its almost done. Hope I still have some fans out there.

Chapter 4: What's Your Plan?

Hermione headed to the Gryffindor tower to talk to Emma. She was stopped though when she realized that she didn't know the password. She decided to check the library since Emma was her daughter. Hermione looked in and sighed in relief when she saw Emma sitting in the corner. She walked over and sat across from Emma.

"Can I talk to you Emma?" Hermione pleaded. Emma didn't say anything but continued to read her book.

"I'm sorry honey. I thought I was doing the right thing. In fact I just told him about you e few weeks ago."

"Why did you do it," Emma asked quietly without looking up.

"Because I thought he wouldn't want you." Emma looked up. "I did it to protect you."

'But you could have told me before I got here. At least then I would have had time to get used to it. But now I'm just thrown into this situation." Hermione looked down at the table. After a few moments Emma spoke.

"I'm sorry mum. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that." Hermione looked up and smiled.

"Come here," Hermione said holding her arms out. Emma went over to her and gave her a hug.

"It's ok Emma. Both you and your father were right about everything."

"My father…I have a father."

"Yes, and don't listen to anything people tell you about him. You should get to know him yourself."

"So I guess you'll be leaving now won't you?"

"Not unless you want me to. Dumbledore has offered to let me stay a while."

"Good. I'm going to need you here at least for a little while."

"All right I'll stay but only for a little while."

"I should go to class. It is my first day after all." Hermione nodded and smiled as Emma left the library. Hermione stood up and left. She walked down the corridor to the dungeons hoping that Severus' room was still where it used to be. She knocked on the door and smiled when he opened it. She walked in and looked around.

"Thank you for letting me stay. You didn't have to."

"I know but I wanted to. Is everything all right with Emma?"

"Yeah. She's fine but she wants me to stay for a while."

"You can stay as long as you like." Hermione blushed. Severus showed her to her room but had to leave to go teach. Hermione collapsed on the bed and sighed. She smiled when she thought about what had almost happened in Dumbledore's office.

Severus sat at his desk watching his class of 5th year students. He had assigned them bookwork so that he wouldn't have to do anything. Now he was staring at the photo album Hermione had given him. He opened the book and smiled. Hermione and Emma looked so happy in the pictures. He got through half of the pictures but had to close the book because it was too hard to look at. Besides it was time for his class to leave. He dismissed them and watched as his next class came in. When he looked around, he saw Emma taking a seat next to that Potter girl. The class quickly became quiet and he stood up.

"My name is Professor Snape and this is beginners Potions. I will not tolerate any horseplay, note passing, or talking out of turn in my class. Today you are going to have a quiz to determine what level each of you is on. You will have an hour to complete it and place it on my desk. It will not benefit anyone to cheat. Get started." He waved his wand and tests appeared in front of the students.

"Miss Granger I would like to speak to you outside for a moment." Emma ignored all of the whispering from the students and followed Severus outside.

"Emma, I know you've been through a lot this morning and if you don't feel up to something, just let me know."

"Ok. I'm sorry about the way I acted earlier. I was just really confused and angry."

"It's all right. Did your mother tell you that she's staying here for a while?"

"Yes, but now that I think of it she didn't tell me where."

"She's staying with me." Emma raised her eyebrows and gave Severus a smirk that would rival his own.

"As per Dumbledore's instructions," he added quickly.

"Uh-huh sure. You know dad…Professor Snape…Severus?"

"Severus is fine for know."

"Right. You know Severus, I may only be eleven, but I am my mother's daughter and from what I hear you're pretty smart as well so you can't hide things from me. I can read people like a book." She grinned and walked back into class leaving him there stunned. The Slytherin in her was showing.

After class Emma had a free period so she hid from people's view outside of Severus' classroom. When he left she followed him and watched him go into his rooms. She wanted to see what her mother acted like around Severus when they were alone. Just as the door was shutting, Emma slipped inside and pulled Harry's old invisibility cloak over her which she had hidden in her bag. Hailey had let her borrow it. Emma had gotten it just after she had found out about her father incase she needed to be alone. She watched Severus disappear into a room so she followed him. She saw Hermione curled up on the large bed. Severus pulled the blankets over her and brushed the hair out of her face. Emma followed him back out into the living room. He made a cup of coffee and sat on the couch. He opened a black book and sat there looking at it. A few minutes later Hermione came out of the bedroom yawning.

"Did you have a nice nap?" Severus asked while she was mid-yawn.

"Sorry, I guess everything that's happened today just tired me out."

"Don't be sorry. It's your room for as long as you're here. There's coffee in the kitchen if you would like some."

"Thanks." Hermione went into the kitchen and came back with a cup of coffee. She took a sip and sat across from Severus.

"What that you're looking at?" she asked.

"It's the photo album you brought."

"Oh," Hermione said as she got up and sat next to Severus. They looked together and every once and a while she would tell him a story about Emma that went with the picture. Emma had to try not to laugh at some of the memories.

"It looks like she's had a good life so far," Severus said towards the end of the book.

"I hope so. I would do anything for her."

"I would have too, had I known." Hermione looked at the floor.

"I'm really sorry Severus. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I want to Hermione, but you took my child away from me. I don't know."

"I understand."

"Maybe I'll be able to forgive you. But it will take time Hermione."

"I know." Emma left quietly but neither noticed the door open or close. Emma walked back to the Gryffindor common room and sat on the couch. She needed to find a way to get her parents back together. Then maybe someday she could have a normal family.

"Hey Emma, what's wrong?" Hailey said as she sat down next to Emma.

"Well you know how that kid said I looked like Professor Snape?"

"Yeah…"

"Well he's my father." Hailey's jaw dropped and Emma nodded.

"My mother just told me this morning."

"So that's why he wanted to talk to you during Potions?"

"Yeah. But I need your help. My mother still loves him, I can tell, and I think he might still love her too. I want to get them back together."

"Aww that's so sweet Em. So what's your plan?"

A/N: I was originally going to have Severus kiss Hermione in this chapter but I decided that it should wait and now it gives Emma a chance to be cunning and sneaky lol.