Chapter7: growing up

Grandma min had announced that in a week's time there would be a dance I had spent the next few days trying to figure out who to ask one night when Hermione and I were having dinner with Dad. Hermione had brought up that she had already been asked and said yes.

"Do I know this person?" Dad asked her trying and failing to be discreet.

"Yes, he's very nice we meet in the library."

"Aww is he a geek like you?"

"And have you found a date to the ball yet?"

"I plan to ask someone !"

"Ohh who is it?"

"None of your business miss nosey."

"Okay children please settle down ." dad said, "now Hermione this boy I would like to meet him before you go to the ball ."

"Uh no uncle Sev Why?" she whined

"Well, your reluctance to even tell me this boy's name makes it seem as though I should meet him before letting you go off almost all night with him ."

"It's a victor."

"Victor, " I said slowly "as in victor Krum?"

Hermione nodded "Harry, go to your room please."

"Why do I have to leave ?"

"NOW!" I left quickly knowing Hermione was in some kind of trouble.

Hermione's pov

'Now I'm gonna die' I watched as Harry left before Uncle Severus turned back towards me taking the seat next to me where Harry had been . "now correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Victor Krum is 17 years old and you have just turned 14 and you wish to go out with this young man ….No...just no ."

"Why not?"

"Because he is three almost four years older than you !"

"So it's just a dance ."

"Hermione he is much older than you and it would be inappropriate."

"Well he asked me and I already said yes."

"Well, I know for a fact your father wouldn't approve of this ."

"MY FATHER ISN'T HERE THOUGH IS HE ! " with that Hermione ran out of the quarters slamming the door on her way out. Severus sighed as the door to the bedroom opened . "dad is everything okay?"

"Yes Harry, it'll be fine, please tell me you're not taking some older girl to the ball ."

"No I planned to ask Cho Chang out but she already has a date so Ron and I are going with the Patil twins ."

"Oh thank Merlin, I'm going to try and find your cousin. Leave a note if you head back to the tower otherwise I expect you in bed when I come back ."

"Yes sir " with that Severus left.

Severus pov

I walked around the halls after checking the astronomy tower and she wasn't there. I was about to leave to check outside when I heard a voice from behind me call out "Severus?" I turned around

"Hello, mother."

"Sev your not on guard tonight where are you going dear."

"I'm trying to find Hermione. She ran off tonight during dinner after we had a small row and now I don't know where she is. Have you seen her ?"

"No I haven't ...may I ask what it is the two of you were fighting over ?"

"Viktor Krum "

"Excuse me i ...Severus I don't understand ."

" he asked her to the Yule ball and I think it's inappropriate for her to attend with the likes of ...him."

"Why is that ?"

"Why? ...mother he is nearly four years older than her !"

" Ah, so age matters Severus you are aware your father is nearly 40 years older than me ."

"I ...yes but the two of you are adults and she's so young and then when I brought up Remus she ran off ."

"Remus but he's not even here ."

"That's the problem she misses him and as much as I love her I'm not her father."

"Severus go to my office please I will bring Hermione back. I think she requires a woman's help ."

Severus nodded before heading off, Minerva used a point me spell and was surprised to find it leading further into the castle and to the defense against the dark arts classroom carefully she opened the door and saw that a light was on in the office smiling sadly she walked up the stairs and peeked in seeing her granddaughter had made a mess of the office and was curled up crying in the corner. She magically cleaned the office and gently placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder. The girl jumped looking up; she cried a bit more when she saw who it was. "Hello dear I've heard you've had a rough night ."

"Are you mad at me too?"

"Mad? ...no worried is more like it . how about we head to my office Sev is there and we can talk and maybe have some warm coca ."

"...with marshmallows ."

Minerva laughed as she hugged her granddaughter "sure love all the marshmallows you want ."

They both headed back to Minerva's office where Severus was he Immediately hugged his niece when she entered "Hermione Thank merlin you're alright, I'm sorry about tonight ."

"No Uncle sev I'm sorry I shouldn't have run out ...or screamed at you In truth, I'm not mad at you."

"I know and I'm sorry about that too."

"Huh, what do you mean ?"

"Your dad we all miss him but I imagine it's hard for you seeing as how you and Harry have only been back with us for less than two years and already your fathers went on a mission through its for a good cause it doesn't make it any easier and I know I'm not a great substitute."

"That's not true I think you great I just it's stupid but what if dad doesn't want me anymore ?"

Severus hugged her again . " oh hon no If there's one thing I know about my brother it's that he loves you so much ."

"He's never here though it's like he doesn't care! "

"I know it's complicated and I probably shouldn't tell you this but sooner or later I may have to depart for a short amount of time ."

"Will you be around for the holiday ."

"Oh yes dear no I'm not going anywhere right now but being part of the light and a spy is dangerous and can call me away for sometimes days maybe even weeks ."

"Are you really mad about victor?"

"Honestly I don't think anyone is good enough to take you to the ball but I talked with mother and she believes that it's not my place as long as he is kind and behaves like a gentleman and you behave like a lady then I guess there's no problem with it mother also said she would take you to dress shopping in a few days probably tomorrow."

Hermione rested her head on her uncle's shoulder, the adrenaline and anger had left her; she now felt herself grow tired as she fought to keep her eyes open. Minerva had come back in with the hot chocolates and couldn't help but coo at the sight Severus turned to his mother as he scooped up Hermione and held her "I think I'm gonna take her back down to my quarters to sleep ill talk with you tomorrow mother goodnight ." Minerva nodded whispering goodnight as the duo left once Severus got back down to his quarters he noticed Harry had passed out on the couch hair still wet from his shower and no blanket only his PJs he sighed as he went into the teens shared room lying Hermione down on the bed and tucking her in before going and doing the same for his son though he knows the two are growing up for tonight he'll imagine their still those bright eyes 12-year-olds he met only a few years ago.