Disclaimer: I am still poor and I still don't own any thing HP related :/

Authors note: Sorry this one took so long, I've been in the middle of moving and my beta was unable to go through this one but I am going to post it anyway so I apologize for any mistakes. Hope you enjoy!

*********** 3 Days prior************

Professor Dumbledore was sitting in his office tweedling his thumbs and staring at the clock just above his fireplace. It was half past 8 in the morning and the headmaster seemed to be waiting for someone. Sure enough moments later the fireplace burst into flame and out stalked a very upset potions master.

"Albus what is the meaning of this!" Severus Snape slammed a piece of yellowing parchment on the old desk.

Albus reached out and carefully took the letter from the angry man. Severus sat across from the headmaster tapping his foot in annoyance. That feeling doubled as soon as he saw the headmasters twinkling eyes hover over the top of the letter, a smile spread across the ancient face. Severus scowled and ripped the letter from the old mans hands.

"You've known this whole time, haven't you?" Severus hissed.

"Yes, Severus I have"

Snape took a deep breath and with shaking fists asked a final question. "You won't tell me who she is will you?" Dumbledore simply shook his head that annoying twinkle still in his eye. Severus turned on his heel and swiftly left the office.

Stupid, meddling old fool!

Now here he stood, facing a girl he had known since she was 11. Never once would he have guessed that she was there under his nose all these years. Damn Albus! He could have known her sooner! The war had been over for 11 years by the time she started school.

Severus tore himself away from that train of thought. After all what would have happened when the war started up again? In any case he just noticed that the girl was still staring at him in shock. Then guilt started build up in his heart as he remembered every cruel word, every unfair judgment, and every punishment administered. He had unknowingly bullied his own daughter for almost the entirety of her school days. Although he had done all those things to protect the secret of his role as spy, he still felt like the worst father in the world.

Hermione was now sitting back down, and Severus realized he was looking like quite a dunderhead as he had not moved since stepping into the room. He crossed the room and took the seat farthest from the girl who was now attempting to sip from her tea. He couldn't think of the words to say in this situation.

In his line of work this would normally be very dangerous but Severus just stalled.

Why is he just staring at me? Hermione sat sipping on her tea trying to sort through her own thoughts and his stare was rather distracting. Hermione didn't have many positive things to say about Professor Snape. He had always been cruel and unfair to her and her friends while growing up. Sure, she knew he was a spy for the order but that didn't change the fact that he once joined the Death Eaters of his own free will. At some point in his life he believed the awful things that Voldemort and his lackeys were spewing about people like her.

Then she realized, she wasn't a muggleborn. As soon as she realized this it was like a small piece of her broke. She had always tried so hard to prove that she could be the best because she was muggleborn and felt she had something to prove to her peers. Now suddenly that part of her was gone. Sure she was still the brightest witch of her age, but somehow it just didn't feel the same way. Like it was less significant.

Both parties just sat like that, each lost in their own thoughts for quite some time. It would have seemed out of place had it been anyone but these two. They were both analytical by nature, and both preferred to think things through before saying something rash. Severus however was the first to break the silence.

"How do you wish to proceed with this Ms. Granger?"

Hermione was taken aback by the distance in his voice and actions. His face showed no emotion and he was stock still as he seemed to stare through her. But even though he had been so cold and she knew she should be upset with him but only one question had been running through her mind since the minute he walked in.

"Professor, who was my mother?"

Snape was surprised at the question, although he really should have suspected it she was the direct to the point type. Just like someone else he knew. It pained him to think about her mother. Her death had been very hard on him. She was the reason he had switched sides during the war.

"Her name was Olivia Bones."

"As in Susan Bones?" Hermione blurted out rather loudly.

"Yes, your mother was her aunt." Severus glanced toward Hermione trying to read her facial expression. Susan was a sweet girl, she did not know of her relation to the bat of the dungeons as her family refused to even acknowledge that he existed. Which he did not blame them for in the least.

Hermione just nodded her head. Then after a moment looked up. "How did she die?"

This time she saw his shields slip. Just for a moment but she saw it; pain, and regret.

"She was protecting you and your brother." His face once again as smooth as marble.

Hermione could tell there was something he was holding back but she didn't dare push it that far. She nodded again and they fell into another silence. Hermione shifted in her seat uncomfortably. This was not how she expected this meeting to go. She didn't exactly expect a tearful reunion or anything but now, knowing her father was in fact Professor Snape, knew that there would be no open affections. He was a guarded man. In fact there were points in her life where she even doubted a man like him could ever love at all. But that quick flash of emotion just a moment ago proved her wrong. He loved her mother and that for Hermione was comforting.

Deciding to change the subject, Hermione suddenly perked up again.

"So I have a brother then?"

"Yes, his name is Emerson, He graduated from Durmstrang 2 years ago."

"Will I get to meet him?" Hermione asked after a moment.

Snape arched his brow noticing that she had not asked about Durmstrang as he had suspected she would. He sat there for a moment thinking about the answer. He had not yet told his son about his sister yet. He to make sure that they were in a place where they could not be over heard. These were dangerous times, one has to be careful.

"I think I could arrange that." Snape watched as Hermione openly smiled for the first time since he had walked in this room and some of his wall started to crumble. He had always respected the girl for her intellect although she had no sense of self restraint. In fact she was one of the few students that he was actually proud to call his.

Now, seeing her smile finally made the reality of this situation really sink in and for the first time in a long time Severus' heart strings were being pulled at. He wanted nothing more than to hug this wonderful young woman. But his years of being a spy kept him seated. Emotions were dangerous things to display openly in his line of work.

Hermione was sitting back in her chair, she had a lot to think about. He was very vague on some of his answers. What was he hiding? Although it is Snape we're talking about maybe he's just secretive by nature.

They were once again sitting in an awkward silence when Snape seemed to suddenly realize something.

"When you were an infant I placed a charm on you to change your appearance, would you like me to lift it?" He actually was quite curious to see her true looks, whether or not she decided to keep them was her choice. But he would still like to see it.

Hermione was nervous but allowed the professor to lift the charm after she made him promise she could change it back. Snape of course agreed. He took out hi wand and with a simple incantation waived his wand over her head and then tapped gently in the middle of her head.

It was a pleasant sort of tingle that was running through her body. She could feel the changes being made. She felt herself rise in height maybe an inch or so, she watched as her hands became more slender and her fingers slightly longer.

When the tingling stopped and she looked around the room for a mirror she noticed her professors face. He was openly staring at her with shock clearly written across his face. After he noticed she was looking however he quickly fixed himself and was once again impassive.

Severus conjured a mirror on the other side of the room and motioned for her to take a look. Taking a deep breath Hermione stepped in front of it and looked at her true self for the first time. All in all it wasn't as bad as she was expecting. She would have thought that the changes would have been more drastic. However all the changes were very slight except for a select few. Her hair was now black but it held the same amount of curl as before. Which actually relieved Hermione, her frizzy hair was sort of her identifier.

Her cheekbones were slightly more pronounced and she seemed just a tad bit paler than normal. Although her eyes had stayed the same, cinnamon brown that they had always been. She had to let out a sigh of relief that her noes was also the same. She did not want to have that awful hook noes that Snape did.

She was indeed slightly taller than before but nothing too noticeable. Overall she was pleased with the look.

"You look like your mother." It was barely a whisper but Hermione heard it. Severus pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Hermione. She gently took it from him and found that it was a photograph.

The woman in the picture was obviously her mother. The same eyes, the same wild hair, only her hair was a medium blonde rather than black. She had perfect porcelain skin and her eyes sparkled lovingly as she smiled and waived at Hermione. She was sitting on a swing in what looked like midwinter weather, she had gloves and a soft blue scarf that was blowing in the breeze. She looked so happy and carefree just sitting there.

Hermione began to feel tears creep up on her again as she looked at the photo. She wished with all her heart that she could have known this woman. Just by this picture she could tell that this was a good loving woman and it broke Hermione's heart that she had perished so young. Hermione carefully handed the picture back to professor Snape but he stopped her.

"I want you to keep it, I have others."

Hermione graciously accepted the gift and tucked it safely inside her purse. She felt the tears overfill in her eyes this truly was a wonderful gift. She couldn't help herself, she flung her arms around the professors neck and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you." She whispered as she held on to him.

Severus unsure of how he felt about this latest development stood there for a moment frozen but he then slowly wrapped his arms around her and gave in to the hug holding her tightly. Severus may seem to be a cold and distant man but when it came to his children there was nothing he wouldn't do for them. He promised himself that from this day forward he had a new priority, and her name was Hermione.