As Hermione flopped down onto the bed in her hotel room and switched on the TV, she congratulated herself on her self-control. Not once had she asked about anything personal, although she was insanely curious as to the mother of Snape's daughter and about the child as well. She was surprised at how open he had been with her but saw it as an uneasy truce. He obviously wanted news from home but was not willing to go back. Hermione smiled as she realised he had treated her like an adult, not the insufferable know-all he had once considered him to be.

She admitted to herself that she had really no idea what the man had been like outside of the classroom. Her only knowledge of him had come from Harry, who had despised him and from Albus who had trusted him. She was more inclined to believe Albus. Harry had been a child, a very angry child, when Albus had insisted on extra lessons with Snape. Snape certainly looked different now, he had cut his long hair off and it was greying at the edges, it made him look more open, though that could have been the look in his eyes. He had been dressed tonight in a dark blue shirt and jeans, nothing like the formal suit he always wore at Hogwarts. But the biggest change was in his posture, he wasn't defensive, he was able to smile and laugh. She couldn't quite remember him as anything other than the stereotypical villain, she accepted that all her memories of him were from when she was very young, and she had been scared of him then.

She drifted off to sleep promising herself she'd get more answers in the morning.

Snape arrived at the hotel just after 9am, he explained that he had dropped his daughter off at school before coming to see her, he then asked if she wanted to take a walk down to the lake. Hermione readily agreed and after finding a warm coat and scarf they set off down the hill. Hermione waited for him to speak and after a few minutes he said to her, "I'm sure there's a lot of things you want to ask me Hermione. I'm sure you're curious about far more than we discussed last night."

"Well, yes I am, but I was restraining myself. I didn't want to frighten you away with all of my questions. I can be rather persistent you know?"

"Trust me Hermione, I know just how persistent you can be!"

She smiled up at him, "I'm really sorry about that. I had a few confidence issues that I needed to work through. I'm over the worst of my hand waving these days."

"You drove me mad you know?" He glared at her, but she could see amusement in his eyes.

"Oh yes, I know, and I think we both know you weren't the only one!" She giggled and then stopped and turned serious eyes towards him. "Can you tell me about your daughter? I promise the information will go no further, not even to Albus if you don't want me to say anything."

"I'd appreciate your discretion Hermione, I need to keep her safe. "They started walking and he continued speaking. "From what you told me last night it appears I would be more welcome in Britain than I thought, but there are still sympathisers of the Dark Lord around. Merlin only knows what they would do to Jane to get at me.

"I told you last night that I went to South America. I spent a lot of time in Argentina and while I was there I befriended two English ex-pats, Simon and Elizabeth Jacobson. They were farmers and loved it, I mean really loved the country, the people, the culture, everything. I think they knew who I really was but they didn't say anything. After I had been there for three years Elizabeth got pregnant with her first child. They were so excited and happy and when they asked me to be a godfather I agreed immediately. I have no family Hermione and these two people were willing to let me be a part of theirs. I agreed of course, and a few months later Elizabeth bore a beautiful little girl. They named her Jane and adored her, she lit up any room she was in."

"Jane," Hermione whispered.

Snape took a deep breath and continued, "they asked me to watch her one day while they went to the airport to pick up Elizabeth's mother. They never came home. They were in a car crash just a few miles from home. Elizabeth and her mother died instantly, Simon never woke up from the coma he was in. Jane was just five months old and I had been named guardian in their will. I never knew that they had done that, but I loved Jane from the moment she was born. I went to see Simon in the hospital and vowed to him that I would keep her safe and love her like a father. Simon was not able to reply but I hope he heard me, he died a few days after that. Jane is my daughter now and I'm all the parent she has ever known."

Hermione had tears rolling down her cheeks, "the poor girl, that's so sad. You must miss you friends too."

"I do miss them, although I see them every day in Jane's face and mannerisms, it's uncanny how like them she is. She inherited the farm of course, I put a manager on it and it's running well. She's making a lot of money for a six-year-old. She gets it all when she turns 21, but now I have the privilege of looking after her. I never thought I would have a child and I thank god that I met Elizabeth and Simon. My business partner Jamie is Simon's cousin and his only relative, he came over to help after the crash. He knew I had no family either and when Simon died he invited me to New Zealand. Jane and I have been here for five years." He turned and glared out over the lake, "it's home."

Hermione did the first thing that came into her mind, she turned to Snape, put her arms around him and held him tight. "Thank you. Thank you for sharing that with me Seb." He froze but slowly his arms came up around her and he hugged her back. They stayed that way for a while as the weak winters sun warmed them and the breeze tugged at their hair, and then so softly it could have been her imagination he whispered back, "thank you for listening."

Author's note: Thanks so much Natsuyori, azulkan2, Snapecharmer, Barb8, RaveNClaWGeniuS, whitehound, SangoSnape, TierraL, starlightdreamer052000, Ruler of Destiny, HRInuyashaFan16, Piper Of Locksley, musicswordgirl, snapesoulmate, whitehound, Nur1984 and TheLollipopGuild for your feedback and reviews. I really appreciate it!

Comments? Please let me know how I can improve my story, or just tell me what you think.