Author Note: I own nothing recognizable in this story. Other than things you don't recognize everything belongs to the great J.K Rowling. Well this is still just a little more stuff about them. I apologize for the long delay. I have been going through some severe Anxiety issues that I needed to fix before anything else. But anyway here is the next chapter.
The next morning I woke up startled, this was all because I was woken up by my alarm rather than Emerence. Rubbing at my eyes I slide out from between my sheets- okay maybe hurriedly jumped out- and walked into Emerence's room.
At first I thought I was still asleep and had merely dreamed I had woken up. Granger was standing next to the crib. Her mouth was moving but I couldn't hear what she was saying from where I was standing. Emerence, though quiet the day before was shoving her toys at Granger making little noises as she did so. It made me chuckle for a moment as I rested my head against the doorframe and watched for a few more seconds. Clearing my throat I stood up to my full height.
"Oh Severus, sorry I happened to hear Emerence start moving around. So I came to see what was wrong. I- I changed her I hope that's okay." Granger said turning to me her eyes growing wide. Emerence also heard my voice and started to reach out to me so I crossed the room in a few quick strides.
"Oh, it is fine. I hope she wasn't a problem she sometimes wakes up grumpy. But come on I'll make breakfast and then I can show you around the office." I said with a grin as Emerence babbled to me a bit her eyes going from me to Granger.
Granger passed Emerence to me as she exited the room and I chuckled turning softly on my heels. I started down after Granger my larger strides quickly overcoming her much smaller steps. Slowing my stride I fell in step with her easily.
"What is your favorite breakfast?" I asked as I bounced Emerence softly in my arms as we turned into my kitchen.
I glanced around the room and then to Granger. Most of the teacher's quarters had a small kitchen area but I had extended mine back when I got the rooms. Over time I had modified it into a much more modern and sleek place with pale baby blue walls.
"I never took you for a light color person." Granger said as she looked around the room and settled into a stool at the counter as she looked around. I chuckled and pulled Emerence's high chair over and placed her in it. "Oh sorry really anything I will just eat whatever you make" She added her brown eyes growing wide with realization.
"Waffle's and sausage it is." I said as I turned and pulled open my fridge pulling out a few things and placing them beside me. I moved quickly and efficiently, like an elaborate dance. Every now and then I would glance over at the two others in my kitchen. Emerence was working hard at picking up, and flinging her baby cereal, and Granger was watching me with amazement.
I quickly started cooking things and turned to look at Granger again. I was amazed at the change that had come of her, though much less noticeable than my own, her hair was curly though shorter as well as styled into something fit more for an adult than a child. Shaking my head I turned back and flipped some of the food.
"I changed the color cause after being surrounded by so much dark I decided I needed a little light in my life." I said with a shrug as I moved the food to the plates and placed one in front of Granger as I pulled out a bottle for Emerence. "Dig in I hope it is good."
I settled into the open seat in between Granger and Emerence and picked up the bottle and offered it to Emerence. She willingly took it and I pulled my plate to myself and slowly started to as mannerly as possible shove the food into my face.
"She seems to be a really good baby." Granger said as she watched Emerence abandon the bottle and resume tossing her cereal. I chuckled and nodded my head as I waved my hand towards the high chair, a simple charm covering it so that the cereal stayed around the high chair.
"She is, my mother says I was the same way. But she is mostly being good because you're new. She has a sneaky side." I said with a small smile on my face as I kept eating my food. Granger laughed a very pretty laugh and I caught myself laughing along with her.
About twenty minutes later everyone was ready to go. It had only taken me about ten minutes to get Emerence to settle long enough for me to dress her. Her new thing was scooting away from me whenever I would turn my back to get a new outfit. She thought it was funny and would giggle uncontrollably."Okay first thing first is we are going to drop Em off with Minerva then I can show you my well now our office." I muttered as I walked out of Emerence's room with her on my hip. Today she was dressed in a dark blue tufted onesie that had moving stars on it.
Hermione gave me a quizzical look for a moment and then looked at Emerence. "McGonagall watches her?" She asked her eyebrows going up in surprise. I held in a laugh at how shocked that one movement made her face and instead leaned down to pick up her bag.
"Yes she and Albus are like another set of grandparents to Em. I spent a lot of time with them as children because they and my mother were very close. Minerva has offered to watch Em when Albus and my mother cannot." I said as I pushed the door open and ushered Granger out.
The hall way was noisier as the students were wandering around and catching up with friends that they hadn't seen over the summer. The whole school just felt brighter, I assume that everyone feels safer with he-who-must-not-be-named gone, and the students were able to be students again. I kept my eyes straight forwards trying to not notice students first look at Emerence and then drag their eyes to the scars that just showed above my collar. The occasional students would say hello to Granger and she would reply cheerfully to them.
"Students are still avoiding you it seems Se- Severus." She said stumbling over my name her teeth assaulting her lip just like when she was trying to figure out a hard problem. I just nodded I didn't feel like telling her I highly doubted that students would ever not be wary of me. I rubbed at my throat and sighed- it didn't hurt but I felt bothered by all the staring.
We couldn't get to Minerva's office soon enough. A large oak door was the only thing that stood between me and getting back to my dungeon where I could be mostly alone. I pushed the door open and nodded hello towards Minerva who was setting up a play area for Emerence.
"A little late Severus I was worried something came up." She said as she came over towards us and smiled at Granger. "Hermione it's so good to see you. We must have tea once Severus lets you go long enough to breathe". She added as she embraced Granger and then turned to get Emerence out of my arms. She gave an unhappy cry as she tried to get back to me for a moment till she saw the toys in her play area.
"Thank you for watching her Minnie. I am going to step out seeing as she is engrossed in her toys." I said as I moved to slip out of the door pulling Granger out with me. It actually hurt a bit on my chest to leave her, that feeling would never go away I knew it. I shook my head and ushered back down the hallway.
"After you this is your first test. Find the rooms." I said with a small chuckle. Granger looked at me and narrowed her eyes. This was the Granger I knew so well. She was always so determined. With a burning fire in her eyes Granger was off down the hallway her curly hair bouncing to and fro as she picked up speed. I followed chuckling all the way
"See I knew where it was the whole time." Granger said as she stood in front of the door to our set of rooms that determined look back on her face.
I couldn't help myself I broke out in to a fit of laughter. "That is only after you stopped at every other door in this corridor. This one had to be the right one." I said between the laughs which caused her face to grow red and she dropped her head. "It is okay though it takes some getting used to it I promise." I added as I slid past her and opened the door.
Granger followed me in and I pointed to a door almost directly next to it, this has as most thing appeared when we were gone. I didn't need to say anything the words on the door said it all, on it in bold black letters were office door."That is exactly what it says it is. Though this is the first time I have seen it with Office written on it." I muttered as I pushed it open.
My office had been only slightly changed. The room was now bigger, still it was smaller than the living room I did most of my grading in. My black oak desk was still in its normal place with all of my trinkets from around the world travels. A bookcase was filled with the books that used to litter my office. On the left side was a second desk, this one slightly smaller and obviously new as it had nothing other than a few quills and rolls of parchment on it. A book case stood next to this one as walls in the room were a deep emerald green and for the time being were bare and clean. The house elves outdid themselves this year as they actually tried to make my office look nice and clean, no doubt it wouldn't stay this way for long at all-well at least one side wouldn't.
"This is the office. You can use it as you please. I tend to only really use this during class hours. It is much easier to grade essays on the couch in comfort. But starting next week you will be getting half of the classes to grade, with me watching at first. Sounds simple enough right? Anyways you can do whatever you want with your side." I waved her towards her side as I pulled out a few lists and promptly stuck them up on the walls beside my desk.
"Sir why are you so different now? I mean I understand a small change but you are acting almost like a completely different person." Granger said watching me with unwavering eyes. The brains of the golden trio really was one to show her Gryffindor courage at all times. I really liked that about her, that unwavering courage only made her more interesting.
I sighed and rested back on my desk. I wanted to be eye level with Granger when I talked. "What you don't understand Hermione was my plan was never to survive the war. All my plans ended in me dying for Potters cause. Dying for the greater good. When I didn't I was lost. My whole life- let me rephrase that- my life as deatheater was planned. I for some reason wanted to keep some sense of normalcy in that life. Andi was that I planned to propose but by the time I was well she was gone. All that was left was an innocent child who knew nothing of my old self, the fake me. I realized with Andi's leaving and Emerence's arrival into my life, much like my living through the war, was a sign I could return to the old me. So because of that I have and I have slowly realized that is exactly what I needed." I slowly spoke my onyx eyes never once leaving Granger's brown ones even as I got up and moved towards her.
We were both silent for a moment something hung in the air a feeling if understanding and trust and it made me let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding in. Finally it was out in the open, to someone I never knew I would tell but out none the less. Better yet she seemed to understand. Almost as if on cue she reached out and slowly wrapped her arms around me. A hug a genuine hug, with no hidden meanings. I melted into it and hugged her back for a moment and then pulled back.
"Well now that feeling time is over. Perhaps we start working on assignments for the students." I say trying to shake the tug at my heart and mind. I strolled over to my desk and rummage around in the drawers, not that I needed to I just needed to clear my mind for a moment.
This year was getting more and more complicated as the days passed and it really hadn't even started. I have no idea what was getting into me. More to the point did I like what was happening because of it. Either way the most important thing first, my daughter and then the students.
Author Note: Wow I know this is super delayed and kind of all over the place. But boy am I proud of it. Anyways next chapter should encompass the first day of classes and some more Emerence. Though with this chapter I kind of wanted more interaction between Severus and Hermione. Review Review pleassee. They really help boost my spirit and criticism is wonderful. Oh and idea are great to. Is there something you want to see? Not see? Well go ahead and tell me and I will see if it can happen.