Chapter Six

"Professor?"

"Hmm?"

"What is Draco up to now?"

Severus was in an old, battered chair, nestled in a little corner of the staff lounge. It was late midday and he had come in here for a bit of afternoon light, something not found in his dungeon chambers. And perhaps for a bit of company, not that he would admit it. Solitude was still his preferred state, but a bit of intellectual conversation on occasion was tolerable.

This particular afternoon found only Hermione in the large room with him. She had come in with a few oversized tomes from the library detailing some ancient fact or another about Hogwarts that she was happily noting in her notebook. They were laid out on the table nearest to his chair, ostensibly to take advantage of the large westerly facing windows. Her back was to him and the mostly ignored each other in what was proving to be a pleasant afternoon.

Until she asked about Draco. Severus was always a bit tense when it came to his involvement with the boy.

"Are you so daft that you have forgotten my name? My, my, Hermione, I thought the resident know-it-all never forgot anything, if your behavior in my class was anything to go by."

Hermione's hackles rose, but she wasn't going to rise to the bait. She had seen enough of her professor lately to know when he was just trying to put her off the scent.

"A thousand apologies, Severus," she told him without turning around. "How has Draco been?"

"And why would you care to know?" Snape's voice dripped with derision. It was clear exactly what his opinion was of the Trio and his Slytherins. Forced to protect them since their first day of school, he didn't stop protecting them once they left.

At the callous sound of her almost-friend, Hermione turned around and sat backward in her chair, crossing her arms over the back rest. "I'm curious because I care. I won't lie to you and tell you I'm a fan of his father, but the last year has shown me a little bit about what Draco's life was like. I don't envy him his past, and I was just wondering if he is doing okay."

"Draco has…not been well," Severus told her simply, feeling that she was telling him the truth, as she always seemed to do. "Lucius was sentenced to Azkaban, as you know. Draco has felt the loss."

Hermione thought back to all of Draco's posturing from the first time he saw Harry on the train. In truth she had thought a lot about him lately. Had it all been to impress the stern elder Malfoy? Lucius had led a life walking a fine line between bringing prestige and demise to his family. What had he demanded from Draco in return? His mother doted on her son and was clearly affectionate, but it's possible Draco had never held that same connection with his father.

In fact, the coin currently in Hermione's pocket told her much the same. It was from their sixth year at Hogwarts, and it was a solid gold Galleon. The passion he had felt at the time it was cast was strong —all Draco wanted was to be accepted by his father. Was the need still as poignant? Had they ever reconciled?

"How does he get along with Lucius?" she asked. "I imagine their relationship was strained as Draco grew up, if his behavior is anything to go by. Were they able to make amends once the Dark Lord was gone?"

Severus shook his head. "No. There was never time for it. By the time the bodies were cleared away and buried, Lucius was in jail. Draco seldom writes, from what I gather from my own correspondence with Lucius. We were never exactly friends but he does care about his son, in his own way. Perhaps in a few years, once he has been released, he will be able to start fresh with Draco."

"If it isn't too late," Hermione said softly.

She turned back to her own research, her mind only half on the subject as she pondered how it felt to be estranged from a parent.

~~HGSS~~

The paper beneath her hands was heavy, a fine grain in light cream. Her Muggle ink pen was in her hand, the black ink waiting her command. But she had never written a letter like this one and was uncertain where to begin.

The issue with Draco and Lucius wouldn't leave Hermione be. Several other coins were on her mind to be fulfilled but whenever she reached into her bag, this was the first one she grabbed. Almost as if it was calling to her. She obviously couldn't go see Mr. Malfoy and it didn't feel right just showing up on Draco's doorstep so she decided to draft a letter to Lucius.

Dear Mr. Malfoy,

I realize I'm probably the last person from whom you'd expect to receive a letter from…

Hermione wrote her heart out into the letter, asking Lucius to talk to his son. She explained that she had heard that the two were never able to reconcile after the war, and that Draco missed his father. Was there any way that he would be willing to forgive his son for not being like his father? She told him that she had long forgiven Draco for his part in what happened and wished only for his happiness.

She hoped he didn't take her letter as too forward and dismiss it. Admittedly at first, she hadn't thought much about her former classmate with everything else happening, but once she'd had the time to sit down and think over his course of action over the years, it was easy to see his motivation. He'd had few options at his disposal and for all he was an arrogant prat, he really could have done much worse. He was not able to kill the Headmaster, and he didn't give up Harry when he had the opportunity. There seemed to be more bark than bite, and if gaining acceptance from his father bought bring him some happiness, then perhaps he would be free to focus on making a new name for himself instead of trying to follow in the old footprints.

Hermione went about her normal business while she waited for the owl to return. Who knew how long it took for a letter to be received and returned when the correspondent was in Azkaban? For all she knew, he was only allowed post on certain days and she might be waiting a while.

Her work re-editing uHogwarts – A History/u was as close to a dream job as she could imagine. Free reign to wander Hogwarts, spend as much time in the library as she chose, and formally suggest all the edits she had questioned for years. On top of that, she could personally oversee the addition of the Second Wizarding War so that it was as accurately portrayed as possible.

She was so caught up her work that the owl from Minerva was almost an unwelcome distraction, but she pulled herself away shortly to have tea with her mentor.

When she arrived and got settled with a cup, Minerva pulled a worn leather book from her desk drawer and set it in front of Hermione. It was obviously very old and had been quite neglected. The gold gilded letters were chipped on the weathered tan calf skin.

Being a Godmother was all the letters said.

"There hasn't been a godmother at Hogwarts, oh, at least since before my time. I don't know how much of this book is true and how much is just handed down tales like the fairy tales you heard in the Muggle world. You know since learning that you are a witch, that some of the stories you heard in your youth have a kernel of truth that was distorted when it crossed from our world to yours. As far as being a Godmother, I'm not sure what's fact and what's legend."

Hermione slid the book in front of her and opened the cover carefully. There was an table of contents indicating that the book would tell her about traditions, Godmothering history, becoming a Godmother, practices and more.

"What do you know about it? Are Godmothers strictly at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, the tingle in her fingers making her itch to grab the book and sequester herself in a quiet corner But there was wisdom in researching all of available sources and for her, that included Minerva.

"There is only one Godmother per fountain, as far as I'm aware. I believe there are three fountains. One here, one in a shrine in China, and the other in the Everglades in the States. There is rumor of one in South America, but I don't think it's been confirmed. There isn't always someone for each fountain, however. Only when the right person is born and several centuries can pass between them. In the past, Godmothers would focus on a single person or a handful of people as more of a mentor, but now some attempt to grant as many wishes as they can, more like benevolent aunts with their magic."

"Are they always women?" Hermione asked.

Minerva nodded. "Always. And the holder of the mirror is always male."

"Who is the current owner of the mirror?" Hermione asked but Minerva didn't know its whereabouts after Harry discovered it. She didn't even know if it had been Dumbledore's in the first place.

"So, always women and always magic but there isn't always a Godmother?" Hermione questioned, and Minerva nodded.

Minerva refilled their tea but before she could continue, an owl flew through the window. She held out her hand to receive him but he went to Hermione instead, leg outstretched. Hermione took the parchment and realized it was from Azkaban. Lucius apparently didn't have paper because his letter was penned on the back of hers. Minerva was clearly curious but Hermione just quietly pocketed the letter and told the woman it was from a friend.

Minerva cleared her throat and continued. "A Godmother is born, but they aren't always realized. A girl is born with the potential. Perhaps she has some latent abilities. Things have a tendency to work out for her, or she is extra powerful. Obviously that combined with your natural precocious tendencies made you the top of your class," she told her with a smile making Hermione blush. "But according to the book, a girl has to find the fountain and that doesn't always happen. And you have to be mature enough to be accepted."

Hermione nodded. "Which explains why I never found the fountain before. I was too young."

"It was probably the experiences of the war that made you into the person needed to be a Godmother. Who knows if you ever would have realized the potential had you not returned."

Hermione flipped through a few pages of the book, glancing at the illuminated illustrations. It seemed as though she didn't get a choice over the Godmother thing. And she wasn't sure where the fairy part fit in. Was she even a Fairy Godmother or just a Godmother? Hopefully the book would have more answers.

She thanked Minerva for the tea, who in turn thanked her again for finding her grandmother's recipe.

Back down in her room, she settled in and opened the letter from Lucius. She wondered if he was just out of stock of writing materials or wasn't allowed them to begin with. Thankfully, she had left plenty of space on the backside of her letter for him to write on.

"Miss Granger," began his simple salutation. He went on to commend her "Gryffindor tendencies" for plucking up the courage to write him. It was true he hadn't been able to speak to his son and that communication with him had been stilted at best. It seemed it hadn't really occurred to him that the reason Draco hadn't written was because he was intimidated or felt as though his father wouldn't want to hear from him.

Was it really that much of a shock that Draco would feel as though he was a disappointment? Hermione wondered. But perhaps sometimes one needs someone on the outside to see things to which one is blinded. Lucius had been under a lot of pressure, what with his social status and trying to cater to a psychopath, Hermione thought wryly. Nothing but his own choices, but maybe he had been so busy protecting his son, he forgot to connect with him. Hopefully, this would give them both a second chance.

She read through the letter a second time. Lucius said that he would reach out to Draco and that hopefully Draco had someone he could rely on until Lucius was out of prison. Hermione wondered if Severus would be willing to talk to him, but she wasn't sure how close he was with the former student. Perhaps she would ask if given the chance. The salutation at the end, however, made her giggle and vow to search Severus out straightaway.

"Severus?" she called as she neared where she knew his rooms were located. "Severus?"

She heard a clatter behind the door that led to his personal rooms and lab. After a sharp knock, a harried Severus opened the door to find the little minx standing there, waving a letter in his face.

"Can I help you, Hermione? Attempting to decipher the poor grammar of your friends and need some assistance?" he inquired, his response laced with sarcasm.

Hermione elbowed her way past him, leaving a surprised Severus to watch the pretty young woman make herself at home. "Have you spoke to Lucius lately?" she asked.

"I haven't had any correspondence from him lately, no," he answered but Hermione was too quick for him.

"Ah, ah. I asked if you have spoken to Lucius lately, not if he has spoken to you."

"You've been spending too much time with Slytherins," he grumbled.

"Only you," she told him.

Cheeky. "Yes, I've written to him recently. Why do you ask?"

"Well," she said, crossing her legs in his favorite chair, "I just received an answer back to the letter I wrote to him."

"And?"

"And he tells me that there is no reason for the two of us to tag team him. That we have enough tenacity individually to force a captive man to follow our bidding and that to gang up on him is just cruel. What do you suppose he means?" she asked with false innocence. "I certainly haven't orchestrated anything with you."

Blast Lucius and his inability to keep his mouth shut. And blast Lucius and his ability to see straight through to things that were other people's business. Severus was honest enough with himself to admit that perhaps Hermione wasn't the pesky wench he thought she was. In fact, it was possible she was becoming more than tolerable. Her unwavering support and cheerful chatter were dangerous to man like himself.

He found he was giving more consideration to the things she told him, whether it was about the state of affairs with Draco, or whether it was that the lamb was excellent that evening. Trust was beginning to form between them in their fragile friendship, though he doubted he knew just what plan she was fostering, and that was probably better for them both.

When she had broached the subject of Lucius and Draco, he felt it a part of his duty as the boy's Head of House to write his father, even if the boy was not technically a part of the school any longer. It was hard to just stop protecting and caring about someone who had needed so much attention in the past. Draco had needed as much of him as Harry had, and for much the same reason. Both boys had a penchant for finding themselves in trouble. He implored Lucius to tell Draco just how much his son meant to him and to take his second chance at being a father. He made sure to let him know there wasn't exactly anything else pressing on his plate at the moment. He hadn't received a letter back yet. It seemed as though Hermione ranked higher than he did. Probably because Lucius knew Severus would be mum about it, and Hermione would have to tease him. Could Lucius ferret out his feelings from just a simple coincidence?

"Perhaps great minds just think alike, Severus?"

"Not bloody likely," Severus said, in a foul mood at the thought that his little secret was now uncovered. There was no way he could have known that the chit would write a letter to Lucius, her tormentor, over a boy that was merely her classmate and an utter git to her while in school.

Surely, Lucius would see that as well.

"Well, I think it's fair to say we both have pretty staggering minds and we did both come to the next logical step so I think you're going to have to concede defeat. Come, let's walk up to the Great Hall. The Wellington has been smelling fantastic all afternoon and it's about time for dinner."

With a scowl, Severus grabbed his robe and followed her out the door.

A few days later, Hermione noticed the shiny Galleon with Draco's name was gone.