Draco was in the sitting room waiting for his mother to get back. He wondered why she didn't follow him and his father when they left, but he didn't have to wait long to find out as Narcissa popped in a few minutes later. She sunk down onto a chair and stared into the fire.

"Well, that went well," he said sarcastically. Narcissa sent him a withering look.

"Draco, please."

"What? That was a disaster. Why did you lag behind?"

"I stayed to ask Mr. Potter to talk to Cassiopeia for me. They are obviously close."

"You... what?" Draco exclaimed. She shot him a look that just broke his heart. He moved to kneel in front of her.

"What do you want me to do, Draco? She's my daughter! I'm willing to put aside differences if it just gets me my daughter back!" she cried, as tears started to roll down her face.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I shouldn't have yelled."

"It's fine, Draco. I just didn't know what else to do. Where's your father?" she asked. Draco turned away.

"He stormed away and has locked himself up in wherever it is he always goes when Cassi is brought up."

Narcissa sighed heavily, tinged with sadness.

"Of course. I really wish–," she started to say when the door banged open and Severus Snape walked in.

"Oh good, here you are. Where's Lucius, Narcissa? We were supposed to have a meeting, and I can't find him anywhere in this monstrosity you call a house," Severus remarked. He looked over and saw Narcissa's tear streaked face. "What happened? What is it?"

"Oh, Severus!" she exclaimed as she got up and threw herself at him. Draco looked over and had to suppress a chuckle at the horrified look on Severus's face.

"What in the world? Calm yourself woman! Tell me what's going on," he said as he awkwardly patted her on the back. He was able to maneuver her back into the chair and off of his person.

"We found her, Severus. We found her, and she hates us!" she wailed.

Severus repressed the urge to roll his eyes.

"Found who exactly?"

"Cassiopeia. We found her," Narcissa answered. Severus looked at her in shock. He glanced over at Draco, who nodded his head in agreement.

"But Lucius told me she was dead. He seemed so sure. Where is she?"

"Oh that's the best part," Draco sneered. "She was with Potter." Severus whirled around to face Draco with a look of disbelief on his face.

"Potter? She was at Grimmauld Place?"

"Grimmauld Place? Oh my, is that where Mr. Potter lives? I didn't even recognize it. Although I guess that makes sense. He was Sirius's godson, wasn't he?" Narcissa rambled.

Draco could see the cogs working in Severus's brain as he processed what he heard. He thought he heard him whisper 'Potter' as he continued to think.

"Oh gods," Severus whispered as he realized just who Cassiopeia most likely was.

"What is it, Severus?"

"I think I might be able to help you."

"Really?" Narcissa looked hopefully for the first time since returning to the Manor.

"Possibly. I make no promises, but I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, Severus. You have no idea what this means to me."

"Well, she is my goddaughter after all. I'll let you know," he said as he strode out of the room, robes billowing behind him.

Harry still stood at the bottom of the stairs, wondering what he should do. He knew that Hermione would probably want to be alone, however he wasn't sure she should be alone. Finding out you were adopted would be a big adjustment for anyone. Finding out you were adopted and, oh by the way, the Malfoys just happen to be your birth parents? Well that is another thing entirely. He shuddered at the thought of having Malfoy as a brother. Talk about a complete disaster. Just as he decided to go risk Hermione's wrath by bothering her, he heard a knock at the front door.

"Just when I thought my day couldn't possibly get worse," he muttered when he saw who was standing there.

"And I am just as happy to see you as well, Potter."

"By all means, come on in."

"Where is she?"

"Where is who?"

"Don't play dumb, Potter."

Harry sighed. "She's upstairs. I assume you know?"

"Yes. I just came from the Manor. I'm going to go to talk to her."

"Good luck," Harry snorted.

Severus disliked having to deal with Potter. While they were on much better terms than they were before the war they would never be friends, no matter how hard Hermione tried to push them together. As he climbed up the stairs to head to her room, Severus thought back on just how he became close to the little Gryffindor. It was her quick thinking that saved his life after that damned snake ravaged his neck and throat. She had apparently packed every potion she thought they might need at some point. Since she knew Voldemort liked to use his snake as a weapon, she had antivenin and blood replenishing potion. To this day, she still would not tell him how she managed to get her hands on the antivenin for Nagini. He ended up in a magical coma for 3 weeks as he healed. When he finally woke up, she was there holding his hand, fast asleep in the chair next to his bed. He ripped his hand away, which woke her up, and proceeded to act like his usual self, a complete bastard. She refused to leave, however, and was able to worm her way into his life and heart.

To say he was surprised over this new development would be an understatement, he was positively shocked. If he was this shocked, he could only imagine how Hermione would be feeling right now. Standing in front of her door, he tried to wrap his head around exactly what he was going to say. He raised his hand and rapped lightly on her door.

"Not now, Harry, please."

"I'm horribly insulted that you have mistaken me for that dunderhead."

He heard some rustling before her door was flung open, and he got his first look at his goddaughter. The two of them just stood there for a moment. He thought she was gorgeous and looked just like Narcissa. She did, however, still look slightly like she did before, if you squinted and knew her previous appearance well. He wasn't surprised that it hadn't dawned on any of the Malfoys that they were looking at Hermione Granger. She looked calm, the only sign of distress on her blank face was a bit of red around her eyes.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you, Severus, because I am, but what are you doing here?"

"May I come in?"

She moved aside to let him pass. He sat down on the window seat that he knew was her favorite. It was a nice bow window, and she had put built in bookshelves on the sides. It was completely her. She followed him and sat down next to him.

"They asked you to come, didn't they?"

"No. It was my idea. They may not have put it together yet, but as soon as Draco said where they found you, I knew it had to be you."

"If you are here to convince me to see them, you can take your snarky arse right back out of here."

Severus raised an eyebrow. This was unlike her.

"Hermione, you know Draco is my godson, right?"

"Of course I do. Everyone knows that given how much he ran his mouth in school."

"Well knowing that, who, exactly, do you think is your godfather?"

Her head shot up at his statement, and she gave him a look of disbelief. He swallowed the urge to laugh.

"You are my godfather?"

"I am. I'm not here to convince you to do anything you don't want to do. I've often wondered over the years if you were okay, if you were safe. I came to see you and perhaps give you some things to think about."

"I'm listening."

A/N: Edited 10/2014 with my awesome beta, erbkaiser. Please read and review!