Author Note: I own nothing recognizable in this story. Other than things you don't recognize everything belongs to the great J.K Rowling. We finally get to see a bit of Hermione in this chapter. Don't worry we will get to know what has been up since the war with the Trio soon.
Stepping out of the flames I brushed my jeans off and glanced around me. The whole street was crowded with current students and their families getting the last things on their list, much like I myself was. I also had to make a short stop at the Leaky Cauldron.
As I wandered down the stone street towards the large white building that held all the money for the wizarding world. Though the streets were filled with so many people no one stayed in my way long. My scowl, though sorely out of use this summer, seemed to be working just as well as it used to. But as I was jostled around I automatically went to cover the spot where Emerence would be if I had brought her with me. By doing that I felt a pang of sadness as I slowly dropped my hand.
I strolled up the smooth marble steps and passed oak doors that reminded me of the ones at Hogwarts. I merely held up a key to one of the goblins and he stepped off of his podium and beckoned me to follow him. The security at Gringotts had returned to the security I remembered as a child and coming here with my mother.
A short and very nauseating ride later I was standing in front of my own vault. Though I had the key to the Prince vault I refused to use it. I wasn't going to spend my mother's money no matter how many times she offered. So turning the key I pulled open the door. Though not as full as some of the vaults there was a good amount of coins in the room. I had my salary automatically placed here as well as any of the money I made off of the potions I had patented. Along one of the walls there were a few Prince Family heirlooms that my mother had gave to me for Emerence once she was older. After brushing my hand over them softly I grabbed a pouchful of Gallons, Sickles and, Knuts. Then went out for the horrible ride back up to the street. Strolling down Knockturn Alley was no longer something that only dark wizards did but even now most people didn't bring their children here. Much like I would never bring Emerence down here. Even now there were a few shady people standing around and I had only just turned off the much brighter Diagon Alley.
"For 34 sickles I can make your dreams come true." A gnarled tooth witch quite a few years old than myself said as she came up and grabbed at my black T-shirt her long fingernails digging into the flesh on my chest for a moment as she tried to pull me closer. This was the kind of people I didn't want around my daughter.
"How about you just take your hands off me while you still have them." I snarled as I narrowed my eyes and pulled out my wand and pressed it against her dirty neck. "Move on."
The woman obviously realizing I was not worth the trouble moved on to await the next unaccompanied male that happened to walk past her. Rolling my eyes I turned into 'Malice Posions' and closed the door behind me. I was here for my own ingredients as it was one of the few places to sell a few of the more volatile ingredients that I used in some of my contract potions.
The Owner of the shop was a hunchbacked older woman who never spoke to anyone, I had started to believe that she was a mute, but instead would gesture to her notepad to show you how much to pay. I dropped the correct amount of coins and added in a few extra sickles, though she never spoke she knew her ingredients and we had a slight bond because of it. With a nod I was out of the building and nearly sprinted to get out of the alleyway. Though I knew quite a few people down there I never felt particularly comfortable being there for any amount of time. Looking down at the simple black banded watch I noticed that I had about an hour before I had to meet the person I had been assigned for my apprentice. Which had been a new thing that Albus had instituted this year.
With a brisk step I started towards Flourish and Blotts to see if they had gotten any new books since my last visit. Stepping in I took a deep breath and for the first time since getting into Diagon alley I felt better about being alone. It is never easy to shop for books with a fussy baby with you. I headed straight for the potion section to see if there were anything new.
After what felt like to little time I left the shop a few books shrunk and placed in my pockets for a bit of light reading when Emerence was asleep. With a bit of a bounce in my step I headed off towards the Leaky Cauldron to meet my apprentice for the year. How bad could it be?
Upon entering the dark and slightly damp place I felt my stomach twist and then drop. There was no way Albus would never do this. Sitting in the small booth in the back of the restaurant was the curly haired member of the Golden Trio. I almost turned around and left, Granger was engrossed in the menu and hadn't noticed me yet, telling Albus I was refusing to take an apprentice. Shaking my head I let out and sigh and bent over the table causing Granger to glance up in surprise. Her eyes traveled over my face for a moment, my new look obviously confusing her, until her eyes landed on my throat.
"Professor Snape- I didn't know you were teaching still." She said with a start her eyes still moving to glance over me. I knew why of course; since the war I had slowly started changing my appearance. Starting with my lank gross hair and teeth. With a simple haircut and a whitening spell I had greatly changed my looks. My clothing style had also taken a change, though still mostly black I had added in a few other dark colors.
"Miss. Granger if you would stop your staring I would be much obliged. Now I see that you have already gotten a drink may I sit?" I asked softly my voice like silk, finally after much practice I was able to talk like myself again. After Granger nodded I settled my tall and lanky form into the seat across from her and grabbed myself a menu. This was going to be the first meal in a while that I could eat in peace, or as much as I could with Granger here.
"So you are my Mentor. I mean I knew I was going to be apprenticing with the Potion teacher but no one ever mentioned that you came back to the position after the war. " Granger babbled for a moment her menu long forgotten as she stared at me. I only caught glimpses as I stared at my menu.
"Well it took some considering but Hogwarts has always been my home. It tends to draw one back like that. But before you go accepting this job we have to go over a few details. Those not pertaining solely to the job at hand." I muttered as I caught sight of the waitress coming over to take our order. I sat silently as Granger ordered a soup and some sandwich and then I carefully told the staring waitress my own order of food, much more than Granger ordered but I was starving. With a final once over the woman skittered away. I was still not used to the attention I was getting with my new look.
"What kind of things would make me not want to work with one of the best potion Masters in England, sir?" Granger asked obviously her mind was on the job she was offered to even notice the annoying waitress.
"Well as you know An apprentice tends to live in the same quarters as their teacher. So anyone or anything living with said teacher would also live with the apprentice." I said keeping well away from the fact of who I had living with me. Granger sat silent for a moment and though it has only been about ten minutes between us ordering and now the waitress returned with our food. I busied myself with eating so I wouldn't have to meet her eye.
"If you have a pet or a wife or something it is alright as long as I can bring my cat sir. I am not going to cause problems so if I can't I just need notice so I can find a place for crooks." Granger said after she contemplated for a moment. I let out a sigh of relief and glanced up.
"No, no, It is nothing like that. I just I- it may be best that I show you a picture," I said softly as I sat up a bit to pull out my muggle wallet along with the muggle picture of Emerence, I handed it over to her. "This is my Daughter Emerence Ciel Snape, her mother left and I am all that she has." I said unable to keep the warmth coming as I looked over the small picture of her.
Granger smiled and took the picture. "She look a lot like you. But I have a question why would you having a daughter stop me from wanting the job. I find the fact that you are not only working but being a full time dad as well very admirable professor." She said looking up from the picture to meet my gaze with a smile.
I shrugged my shoulders. "For one you now not only have to live with the bat of the Dungeon but now you have to live with his child. She is mostly a quiet baby If that has you concerned." I muttered softly venom coming out as I spat the nickname I had been given out.
Granger didn't say anything just handed me her papers saying that she had accepted the position. "I would love to work with you professor. And I am sure Emerence and I may one day may become friends." She finally said.
After a bit longer of us conversing mostly about potions and all who had come back to Hogwarts now that it was open again we both stood up. I dropped the money for the food and offered my arm out to Granger. We walked in a silence for a moment till we got to the apparition point and I turned towards her for a moment.
"Thank you Gr- Hermione." I said and then before she could answer I turned on my heels and was on my way back to Hogwarts.
Author Note: Here you go Chapter Two. I am need of a Beta so anyone willing just say so. But in other things we are starting to delve deeper into our deep dark Snape's life. This marks the last of the boring stuff as starting in the next chapter we move on to school time. Whatever will the kids think of Snapes' daughter. Well you have just have to wait and find out.