Chapter two: Introductions
The playful conversation starts
Counter all your quick remarks
Like passing notes in secrecy
When the light subsided, Hermione found herself in an empty office- the portraits looking at her strangely. She sagged into a chair with a heavy sigh, happy she didn't have an Albus Dumbledore to explain herself to just yet. She knew she had to find Minerva, but needed to stop and think for a moment. Her heart pounded and she breathed deeply. Okay, now she was okay. Now she could proceed. Th gargoyle statue exclaimed in surprise when she left the office, but she ignored it. It was strange, that the castle didn't seem any different than when she attended Hogwarts. She briefly wondered if it had even worked.
She heard footsteps and hid in a passageway she remembered from the Marauders Map. Their voices indicated Minerva and Professor Flitwick, that they were headed to Hogsmeade. Hermione fiddled with her ring and took a deep breath, she seemed to be doing this a lot lately, and stepped out.
"Professors?" They both turned to her in bewilderment, but she didn't give either of them any time before she shoved the letter at Minerva. "Wait! Just read this, please. It will explain everything, I promise."
Minerva regarded her with her signature calculating eyes, but took the letter anyway. Professor Flitwick sputtered indignantly. "Child! How in Merlin's name did you get in here? Who are you?"
She never took her eyes off Transfiguration professor, whose lips had pursed so thin they seemed nonexistent. When finished she folded it along its creases and tucked it in her robes.
"Filius, this is my goddaughter. It seems she will be staying here with me for the remainder of the summer before attending come September."
Hermione held her hand out to the Charms professor, remembering the name her father wrote in his journal. She loved angel names, and thinking of Snape as her father. It made her chest feel warm. "Ariel Mason." He took her hand with a suspicious squeak and shook it, glancing at his colleague questioningly.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Mason. I look forward to having you in my class."
"Ariel, please, professor. And likewise."
Minerva placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled apologetically at him. "I am sorry, Filius. It seems we will have to postpone Hogsmeade. I need to see that Ariel here gets settled, and she must be exhausted."
"Of course."
_~~~
"Alright, what do you need, Miss Granger? What can I do for you to help my son?"
Hermione gasped and felt lightheaded. "Your son? Severus Snape is your son? No, his mothers name was Eileen. Eileen Corrine Prince. You would have told me that before I came here, surely."
Minerva gave a small smile. "During his second year, I noticed terrible things about his home life. I had been watching him and was intrigued. He's such a sweet boy, but terribly guarded and insecure. Albus helped me to adopt him. I love him as if I gave birth to him myself and if you are here to save him then I will help to the best of my ability. Do you know him well?"
"He was my Potions professor. I don't think anyone really knew him too well, he was a very private person who painted himself a villain to everyone. I spent eight years thinking he hated me."
Minerva pursed her lips again. "Why are you here then?"
"After the war it was found we were all wrong about him. Well, I always doubted his git persona, but I was the only one. He's a hero. And- he's my father."
Suddenly she was trapped in a chokehold embrace. "He has children? A wife? Oh!"
"Not exactly. It's just me, and I only found out yesterday. My mother died a long time ago." Hermione held out the first letter she read from him as her father. Minerva read it with tears in her eyes.
"Well, that makes you my granddaughter doesn't it?" She took Hermione's hands in hers. "Tell me all about yourself. I want to hear everything, my dear."
They talked for hours as she told her newfound grandmother about her Muggle family and Snape's necessary animosity towards her and her friends- as well as all the times he saved her life. Minerva told her in turn about her father and the kind of person he really was to those he was close to. They ate dinner over their conversation and by the end of it, Hermione couldn't keep the yawn out of her voice.
"Well, dear. It is time, I believe, for me to retire for the evening. I have two guestrooms, one is for Severus and the other is for you to decorate to your liking. He never comes here anymore, now I suppose I know why. I just wish he would come to me."
"He is probably just ashamed and doesn't want to hurt or disappoint you." Minerva laid a hand on her cheek and smiled sadly.
_~~~
The number 7 Spinners End she'd gone to just a few days before looked just like this one. The only difference was the one in front of her seemed newer and less dreary from the outside. He wasn't there. Where could he be? Minerva had told her this was the first year he didn't stay at Hogwarts. What if something happened to him?
She followed a Point Me spell don a block or two to an old oak tree, but he was nowhere to be seen. Hermione collapsed in the grass on her back looking at the sky. It was uncharacteristically sunny for the area, not a dark cloud in the sky. She let out a frustrated groan that turned into a yell and fiddled with her ring. She sat up and reached into her bag up to the elbow and pulled out Severus' journal to read the next entry. She had to stop mentally referring to him as her father if she was going to try and befriend him, lest her tongue slip in conversation. It still made her heart jump at the thought she found him. Or, he found her.
_~~~
September 19th1991
Today is my daughter's twelfth birthday.
Halloween 1991
Fucking Quirrell and his goddamn troll. I know it was him. He's after Potter and after tonight, by extension, my daughter. I won't let that happen. I don't believe for a moment she went looking for it herself, as she wasn't at supper when the panic arose. However, her lie did seem to ingratiate her into Potter and Weasley's friendship. As little my opinion of the two of them is, I'm happy for her. I was getting worried. She's amazing in my class, and Mother told me she's just as dedicated in her other subjects as well. I remembered Ariel, and now I know she was quoting my first speech in her first class. My Know-It-All. Anytime I hear her name I feel this complete surge of pride. I'm just so happy she's okay.
November 3rd1991
She set my robes on fire today. Just as Ariel said she would. It worked, breaking both my and Quirrell's concentration. I hate that they suspect me, but Albus says it is for the best. I'm not sure he understands though.
Christmas 1991
I sent her a gift, a book wrapped in yellow wrapping paper with white flowers and a ribbon- with no note. It was a book called Animal Farm, a favorite of Ariel's. Now, I am drinking my second glass of Firewhiskey- nursing this one after gulping down the first. Part of me wishes I didn't know, but I'm too happy I have her in my life to wish that with too much conviction.
_~~~
A sob escaped her when she read that one and there was a soft thump! She looked up with tear tracks to see a young Severus Snape who'd jumped down from the tree. His hair was still black, though less greasy than she was used to, but his eyes were brown. More than brown, like a particularly bright piece of amber. Just like hers.
"Hello," she croaked.
He sneered at her greeting, but instead of it scaring her, it made her inexplicably happy to see. She wanted to hug him. He looked at her oddly, then her arm. "Where did you get that?"
Hermione glanced down at her 'Mudblood' scar Bellatrix had given her at Malfoy Manor. She'd forgotten all about it and Minerva had yet to notice. She wasn't ashamed of it. It happened. Nothing she could do about it now. She and Draco had become friends, and she suspected he and Ginny were more than. She made her peace with his parents during the trials after the war. She accepted things.
"Well?" He asked again impatiently. She knew he'd already taken the Dark Mark and regretted it. Maybe she could convince him to go to Dumbledore. Or at least Minerva.
"A particularly vindictive, and at the time angry, witch. Where did you get yours?" She asked casually, nodding toward his sleeve covered left arm. He had yet to learn Occlumency so his face was strangely open and she watched surprise and then panic briefly register before he tried to look neutral.
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
Hermione nodded, expecting this answer, and stood up brushing off her absurd bellbottoms. "If you say so. I'm Ariel Mason."
She was careful to extend her right hand to shake, afraid he'd refuse if she tried the left. She was surprised he was still here, and to be honest so was he. He should have left as soon as he saw her scar, but instead he took her outstretched hand with much hesitation. "Severus Snape."
"Pleasure." Severus looked at the journal, but she was quick to shove it in her bag. He was secretly impressed she could do the Undetectable Extension Charm. It was one he had been working on lately in private.
"Hogwarts?"
"Yes, I'm going to attend my last year there. What House are you in?"
"Slytherin."
He was going to make her work for it wasn't he? "Excellent! I'm to be in Gryffindor; my godmother is the Head of House. It would be nice to have a friend there."
A strange haunted look crossed his face before he sneered. "Then I suggest you start by finding one." He went to leave, probably to confront Minerva, but she stopped him.
"What's your favorite color?"
"What?" His tone would have made anyone else step down.
"I want to be your friend, and what better way to start than by learning your favorite color? Mine's yellow."
Severus hesitated, wanting desperately a friend who demanded nothing more of him than his favorite color. And she claimed to be his godsister, which both hindered and intrigued him. But she was a Gryffindor, and down that way lay madness. Still, he felt like he needed to. Ariel, was it? Like an angel. "Red," he whispered so soft she almost didn't catch it. "My favorite color is red." Then he walked away hurriedly.
"I'll see you on the train then." She called after him, unsure if he even heard.
He did.
_~~~
It was the week before school that she and Minerva finally made it to Diagon Alley. As expected, Severus had promptly sent his mother a letter concerning Hermione's story- which was confirmed and there was no word after that.
Most of the shops were exactly the same as in her time. They went to Madame Malkins first for her robes and then to get her books, which were almost the same list as when she went with Ginny and Luna to get their books. Hermione and Minerva stopped in the Leaky Cauldron for lunch where she saw Tom, who was still the owner. Minerva was already remarkably fond of and protective of her granddaughter- an odd sensation with Severus only in his seventh year just now.
"Minnie!" Hermione watched the other woman purse her lips in a way she recognized and feared. A group of boys walked over, one of which threw an arm over Minerva's shoulder. Hermione took a sharp intake of breath at the face of a young, handsome Sirius Black. She felt guilt seep through at the memory of that face going blank as he drifted through the Veil. This was the carefree Marauder she only knew from old photographs. Remus heard her heart skip a beat, but didn't smell any pheromones. It seemed like sorrow and his attention was caught. Then he really looked at her, and Moony howled. Mate. Mate. Mate. Mate
"Mister Black, I suggest you remove your arm from my person." It then struck Hermione how much her father used Minerva's class and teaching habits as inspiration for his own.
"Oh, don't be like that, Minnie." He caught sight of Hermione and winked. "And who's this beauty?"
Minerva pulled away from Sirius and growled. "That is my goddaughter, and you'd do well to stay away from her!" She stood and lay a few galleons on the table.
"Actually Minerva, I still need an owl. How about you go on ahead, I shouldn't be too long."
"Don't worry, professor, I will attempt to make sure they behave themselves." Hermione looked up at the younger Remus and blushed at the memory of kissing the older one. He had less scars on his face than she was used to, seemed happier too. Remus' blue eyes locked with hers and something clicked. His eyes flashed with the whiskey of Moony's before he looked away.
"Thank you, Mr. Lupin. If you're sure, dear?" Hermione nodded, and watched Minerva leave. Remus held his hand out to shake.
"Remus Lupin, and these prats are James and Sirius. I apologize in advance." James really did look just like Harry. She wished he were here with her.
"Ariel Mason." Sirius propped his arm on her shoulder as he did Minerva.
"Pretty name for a pretty bird, eh?" He winked and Moony growled, but she ignored it. She smiled and batted her eyes, catching the fall of Remus' face.
"Sirius, right?" She placed her hands on his chest with a step closer.
"That's right."
She hummed and whispered sensually, "Perfect name for a right dog." Hermione pushed past him dismissively and turned. "Are you coming, Remus?"
He and James, that she was very pointedly not looking at, where laughing at Sirius' shocked facial expression. He sobered and gave her a semi-familiar tender smile. On anyone else she might be inclined to call it- love. She laughed at herself. Remus rushed to her side and offered her an arm, that she took very contently.
_~~~
They entered the Owl Emporium and started looking around. He gave he a lopsided smile. "So," he said, "Ariel. Professor McGonagall is your godmother? What's that like?"
She shrugged, unsure of how to answer. "She's amazing. I've been staying with her at the castle this summer before my seventh year."
"Yeah? Have you been Sorted yet?"
"Gryffindor, and yourself?"
"The same. What's your favorite color?"
She stopped at the cage of a snowy owl that looked remarkably like Hedwig and looked up at him in appreciation for the irony. "What did you say?"
"Your favorite color. I find it the best way to create friendship. Mine is blue, like the sky just after nightfall."
Hermione smiled and Remus felt lightheaded. "Yellow, like honey or custard."
"That's a pretty ring." He told her. Boyfriend, he thought bitterly. "I don't think I've seen anything like it before."
She looked down at it and he watched her closely. Hermione took a breath. "My father gave it to me," was all she said. There was a story there, he decided, but he didn't want to scare her off by being nosy. He was just happy it was only her father.
"That one!" She ran to a small, ridiculously cute gray owl. He thought it seemed a little small, but said nothing as she grabbed its cage to take it to the shop boy.
"What are you going to name him?" Remus asked her.
"Hmm, Ierathel." The owl hooted softly and tried to nuzzle her through the cage.
"Ierathel?"
"Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent."
"Psalm 140, right? I have a thing for quotes I suppose." She smiled and he continued. "Hey, what do you say we go to Fortesque's? You and me."
"That sounds wonderful."
_~~~
It was easy. They'd just met and he was completely captivated by this new girl who had just entered his pitiful life. He wanted to be close to her, which was why he'd suggested Fortesque's. He told himself it wasn't a date. They didn't even know each other, but he felt like they did and Moony was entirely too happy with the idea. It felt right, so as they walked he very nonchalantly interlocked their fingers and mentally rejoiced when she didn't pull away.
"Triple chocolate espresso with caramel?" She asked, already knowing it was his favorite.
"How did you know?"
She shrugged with a coy smile at her lips. "Call it a gift." Hermione came back with a double scoop of cheesecake ice cream and his.
"What's your favorite book?" She asked before taking a bite and moaning almost scandalously. His jaw dropped and he forgot how to breathe watching her lips covered in ice cream. He snapped out of it.
"Sorry, I'm not used to being asked about my literary preferences."
"Do you have literary preferences?"
"Preferences, yes. Single favorite? I can never decide, but depending on my health and time of year sees what I read at that moment. Lately I've been fond of Jules Verne. Have you read him?"
"Mmmhmm, in fact you," Hermione stopped herself, "you remind me of the person who introduced me to his work."
"Then what are your literary preferences, Ariel Mason?" He couldn't stop wanting to say her name, fake as it sounded. People tend to grow into their names, and hers didn't suit her.
"I suppose I always enjoy Renaissance novels, like Machiavelli or Dante."
"It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both."
"Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are." She countered. They went on like this until their ice cream was melted and forgotten at the bottom of their bowls.
"I'm looking forward to seeing you at Hogwarts next week," she said as they left. "Silly as that may sound."
"Not silly." He whispered. A cat patronus interrupted them and spoke in Minerva's voice.
"Just checking to make sure everything's alright. It's been hours."
Hermione sighed. "I suppose I should go before she sends a search party."
"I guess I'll see you on the train then? Hopefully?"
"Definitely."
SO, Minerva being his adopted mother was a huge surprise to me. I was writing it and it just kind of came out. I personally like it. Let me know what you guys think about the first meetings with Severus and Remus! Love always, Skye
