AN: Hi everyone, I have a few things to mention but if you can't be bothered to read my ramblings by all means skip to the good stuff. That's what you're here for after all :)
1. Firstly, please allow me to apologise profusely for the lateness of this chapter. I said it was going to be up on Monday and it's now Wednesday so I'm really sorry for keeping you waiting. My lateness is caused by a number of reasons. One being that my mum surprised us with a trip to the Harry Potter studios on Sunday so we got back later than expected and another reason being that it took me ages to write this chapter because there's quite a few conversations that I wanted to get in. So I am very sorry but hopefully this nice long chapter will make you forgive me.
2. Secondly, I told you previously that I wasn't going to save Sirius, purely because it didn't fit in with my original plan for the story. However, I have since decided that Sirius won't have died at the ministry - purely because it's more convenient for me, the writer :) So for now Sirius lives, though I don't make any promises that he will stay that way, he may not even make it to the sequel - sorry!
Ok, I think that's everything I wanted to mention, thank you for all the reviews, favourites and follows and enjoy the latest instalment of ATBLU, where everyone finds out...
"Hermione! You're awake." Hermione's quiet breakfast was interrupted by Ron and Harry rushing into the hospital wing.
"We've been so worried about you. You've been unconscious for ages." Ron continued as he and Harry plopped themselves unceremoniously onto the bed, either side of Hermione.
"Yeah, I only woke up this morning, but I'm feeling fine." Hermione smiled back, looking at each of her best friends in turn. Ron looked as content as ever as he casually stole a piece of toast from Hermione's abandoned breakfast plate. Harry, however, looked tired and subdued.
"I'm really sorry, Hermione." He said earnestly. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't been tricked by Voldemort and forced you all to come with me to the Ministry, you'd never have been cursed." Harry's expression was painted with the guilt he felt at being the indirect cause of his friend's injury.
"Don't be ridiculous, Harry. This isn't your fault." Hermione replied seriously. "You're not the first person to be tricked by Voldemort, and we tried everything we could to check before we went. Besides, you didn't force us to go. If anything, we forced you to take us with you." She concluded firmly.
"Yeah, mate." Ron piped up. "We already told you, we won't let you face all this alone."
Harry nodded, filled with emotion at his friends' unwavering pledge of support. When he did speak, it was in a strained but determined voice. "There's something I need to tell you guys."
Both Ron and Hermione looked at him expectantly and made encouraging gestures for him to continue.
"The prophecy we found – the one Voldemort wanted – it was a prophecy about me and him. After we left the Ministry, Dumbledore finally told me what he knew about it." Hermione listened keenly as Harry continued, having heard nothing since waking up about what had happened after she was hit in the battle.
Harry took a calming breath. "I suppose it only confirmed what we already knew, really. That it's down to me and him in the end. One of us had got to kill the other. 'Neither can live while the other survives.'" He quoted from the prophecy.
The trio were quiet for a long time, though the silence was neither awkward nor uncomfortable. It was instead a pensive and thoughtful quiet; a calmness that reflected the inevitability of this revelation.
Finally, Hermione broke the silence. "We'll stand beside you, Harry. You won't be alone in this. We'll be there when you need us and we'll fight for what's right."
Harry looked to Ron for concurrence and found the red-head nodding his agreement vigorously.
"Thanks guys. I honestly don't think I would have made it this far if it wasn't for you two." Harry said with heartfelt sincerity.
Ron shrugged casually. "That's what friends are for."
For another few minutes they talked about more trivial things; things which could be discussed by any average group of magical teenagers, and then Ron and Harry were telling Hermione about everything that had happened while she was unconscious and the three were soon laughing about Umbridge's spectacular fall from grace.
Finally, Ron asked, "So 'Mione, when d'you think Madam Pomfrey will let you out?"
"I'm not sure. I was hoping she would let me out today so I could get back to classes, but she seemed pretty reluctant." Hermione said, showing every bit of disappointment she felt at being denied school work.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Jeez, Hermione, anyone else would love the excuse to get out of classes."
"Well I'm not everyone and I actually happen to enjoy going to classes." Hermione said pointedly. "Especially since a certain evil professor has been removed from the school." The others laughed heartily and agreed that it certainly made the prospect of returning to lessons much more pleasant.
"Speaking of evil professors," Harry then said seriously. "Snape wouldn't let us see you at all while you were unconscious."
Hermione stayed quiet and looked down at her hands nervously.
"Yeah, the greasy git went completely mental at us every time we tried to visit." Ron added.
Harry noticed Hermione's apprehensive expression and eyed her suspiciously. "Hermione, what's going on with you and Snape?"
Hermione looked up, wide eyed and anxious, but said nothing.
"There is something isn't there? You've been acting weird around each other all year. What aren't you telling us?" Harry pressed.
Hermione nodded slowly. "There is something, yes." She began hesitantly, unsure where to begin. "Harry, I told you before that I discovered something during the summer holidays…" She paused to see Harry nodding warily. "Well, what I discovered is that Snape is my…my biological father."
Tears filled her eyes as she spoke her secret aloud for the first time, terrified that her first true friends would reject her for this aspect of life beyond her control. She looked between the two boys in front of her. Ron was gaping like a fish and Harry sat perfectly still.
"Bloody hell!" Ron was the first to break the silence but managed no more than the expletive expression of his shock.
"You've known all year? And you didn't tell us?" Harry spoke quietly, his face showing clearly his sense of betrayal.
"I'm sorry." Hermione said tearfully. "I thought that if I just ignored it, then it would go away; that nobody would ever know and I could go on living as normal."
"But you didn't. You changed this year." Harry said softly.
"I know. I couldn't help it, but I craved his approval. And yet, whenever he showed any kind of care towards me, I resented him for it."
"So, does he know now?" Ron asked, his forehead creased in a thoughtful frown.
She nodded. "I had to use Legilimency in Umbridge's office to tell him what we thought about Sirius, but I couldn't Occlude what I didn't want him to see at the same time."
The two boys nodded in understanding and silence reigned again for a few more moments.
"So, what now?" Harry asked.
"I'm not really sure." Hermione answered truthfully. "We spoke this morning. He was…nice. Don't get me wrong." She said hastily at their disbelieving faces. "He was still a snarky git. But, he seemed to genuinely want things to work out between us." She sighed heavily. "I honestly don't know what happens next. I mean, I already have a dad and this whole thing will have to be kept secret because of the war anyway."
"Hermione," Harry began earnestly. "You're my friend and I'll support you no matter what, but, I don't care what Dumbledore says, I don't trust Snape."
"I know, Harry." Hermione sighed. "Look, I really don't think Snape is on their side, but that doesn't mean I trust him either. All I ask is that you guys try not to antagonize things with him. Please, for me?"
The boys agreed with a minimal degree of reluctance. Ron scooted closer and threw an arm around Hermione's shoulders. "We'll be here for you 'Mione, whatever you need. And if the big bat of the dungeons ever hurts you, you can count on us to hex him into oblivion." He said with a grin.
Hermione chuckled. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
"Ah, Miss Granger, you're up." Albus Dumbledore glided into the room with a beaming smile.
Hermione smiled warmly back. "Good morning, Professor Dumbledore."
"How are you feeling?"
"Well enough to go to lessons." Hermione answered hopefully.
The headmaster chuckled. "I'm sure. Unfortunately, I think we'll have to wait for Madam Pomfrey's approval for that, or else both our heads will roll!"
Hermione shrugged. "It was worth a try."
"Of course." The old man said jovially, pulling up a chair. "Now, I was wondering if I might have a little chat with you Miss Granger?"
"Well it doesn't look as if I'm going anywhere does it?" Hermione said rather bluntly, but waved her hand for the headmaster to begin nonetheless.
"I hear you spoke to Professor Snape in the early hours of this morning?"
Hermione nodded. "I take it he's told you everything then." She asked in response.
"Yes, he did. He was rather agitated, you see, when he found that you were no longer at Hogwarts and it appeared that you had gone to the Ministry to fight Deatheaters."
Hermione nodded again in understanding. "Yeah, he did seem pretty stressed this morning."
Albus chuckled softly. "I think, had you seen him when you returned to the school unconscious, you would agree that 'pretty stressed' is rather an understatement."
"He was really that worried about me?"
"Of course. He was terrified of losing you." Dumbledore said gravely.
"But he hates me."
"Nonsense!" Contradicted Dumbledore. "Professor Snape has always respected your intelligence, your diligence and your courage, even if he didn't always show it. And I can guarantee that he now feels terrible about every time he treated you poorly. I'm sure he'll be back here with you just as soon as he gets his lessons covered."
Hermione frowned thoughtfully but didn't say anything more.
"Hermione, is this why you never said anything about what you had discovered? Because you thought, Professor Snape didn't care about you?"
"That was a big part of it, I guess." She replied honestly. "There was also a fair bit of denial. I mean, how can we be related? We're nothing alike!"
"Perhaps not in looks." Albus said wisely. "But in other things I think there is a great deal that you and Professor Snape share. You are both highly academic and studious. You both have a sharp tongue, if I may say so, and you're both incredibly loyal to those you care about. You also possess a few mannerisms that I believe may have been inherited from your biological father."
Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow and Albus laughed heartily as his point was proven.
"There is another thing, Miss Granger." Albus continued when his laughter had subsided. "It is of great importance that your relationship with Professor Snape remains a secret."
"I've already told Ron and Harry, Sir."
"Of course, I wouldn't expect you to keep this from them, and there will also be a few select Order members that are told, including Professor McGonagall, for security reasons. But beyond that, it is imperative, for the safety of you both, that no one knows the truth."
"I understand, Professor. There's no one else I would want to tell anyway."
Dumbledore looked as if he was going to say something else, but at that moment the hospital wing doors opened and Professor Sprout strolled into the room, followed by a worried looking Mr and Mrs Granger.
"Miss Granger's parents are here Professor Dumbledore." The plump witch informed, gesturing to the muggles who stood feeling very out of place.
"Ah, excellent." Dumbledore clapped his hands together jovially, but then appeared to pause as he turned to Hermione. "I assume you're ok with this?"
"Yes." She assured. "I think we need to talk anyway."
Dumbledore nodded and left with Professor Sprout, allowing the family to have some time alone.
"Oh Hermione, what's happened to you?" Her mum asked in a motherly tone as they took up seats beside her bed.
"Oh um…it's nothing really. I just reacted badly to a spell." Hermione said, unsure of what she could say without making her parents hysterical.
Her dad frowned in concern. "The headmaster said in his letter that it was something to do with this Voldemort fellow again."
"Yeah, well, there was a bit of a fight, but it's all over now." Hermione reassured quickly.
Hermione's parents looked rather unconvinced by this but decided that further investigations could wait until they were more assured of Hermione's good health.
"So they can treat you properly here, can they?" Jean Granger asked. "You don't need to go to a proper hospital or anything?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, mum, it's –" She stopped short as the door to the hospital wing opened and she caught sight of Professor Snape, who walked a good three paces into the room before he realised that Hermione had company.
Suddenly seeing Hermione's mother, Severus froze, looking rapidly between Hermione's panicked stricken face and that of her mother. Jean Granger, following Hermione's gaze looked around to the entrance way where a new man had appeared and then gasped.
"My God…" She whispered in shock.
Her reaction snapped Severus out of his trance and he managed to force words from his throat. "Er...sorry…you have company…I'll come back later." He stumbled over the words but turned sharply on his heel and exited the room gracefully, leaving the awkward tension behind him.
Hermione turned to her mother, who was still staring open mouthed at the door through which Snape had just exited.
"Mum?" Hermione tried to gain her attention but her mother continued to look towards the open door.
"He…he can't be…" Hermione's mother turned wide eyed towards her daughter's troubled face. "My God, you know, don't you?"
Hermione nodded slowly.
"Oh Hermione. I'm so sorry." Her mother whispered.
"What? What's going on?" Mr Granger looked between his wife and daughter in confusion.
Hermione looked towards her father and spoke sombrely, "I found out that you're not my biological father." Her dad said nothing, so she continued. "I read mum's old diary and then I left because I was angry at you both for lying to me about it."
"Oh Hermione." Mr Granger said, his voice filled with regret. "We never meant for you to find out that way. I'm really sorry we didn't tell you the truth sooner." He picked up his daughter's hand and held it in his own. "But you have to believe me when I say that it never made a difference to me. As far as I'm concerned you are my daughter and I will always love you as such."
"I know Dad. I love you too."
"I don't understand how he's here?" Hermione's mother questioned.
"He's a teacher here, Mum. The man you met was a wizard. Your 'Severus' is my Professor Severus Snape." Hermione explained softly.
"So you know him?" Mr Granger clarified.
"Yep. Professor Snape has been teaching me potions for 5 years without knowing that he was teaching his own daughter."
"Have you told him?"
Hermione nodded. "It all came out, just before the fight broke out. We've only spoken once since." She said hesitantly, unsure how her parents would feel about this new third parent.
"Hermione," Her dad spoke gently, seeing his daughter's discomfort. "You can have as much or as little to do with him as you like. If you want to have a relationship with your biological father, then we'll support you completely."
Hermione heaved a big sigh of relief that her parents were being so supportive; it at least solved one problem if her parents were happy with however she chose to go forward.
"Thanks Dad. And just so you know, no matter what happens with me and Snape, you'll always be my Dad."
Mr Granger beamed with happiness and pulled his daughter into his arms, holding her tight to his chest, reluctant to ever let his little girl go even though she had just shown that she had the heart and mind of a woman.
Having fled the hospital wing hastily, Severus eventually found a bench against a wall a few corridors away that he dropped heavily onto. He placed his head in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees, praying that no student would disturb his solitude.
He must have stayed that way for nearly an hour, thinking about everything and nothing, until he heard voices approaching. He didn't look up, recognising that the voices weren't child-like, but as he heard them round the corner, the voices stopped. A second later they restarted but this time only in hushed tones, presumably to prevent Severus from hearing their discussion. He heard footsteps walk away and assumed that they had both left, but was startled a second later when a woman appeared in front of him.
He looked up and saw the same amber eyes that had come to mean so much in the last few days. The woman before him was an almost exact replica of Hermione, from the curve of her jaw to her button nose. She was roughly the same height as Hermione, though he knew the girl was yet to stop growing, and they shared the same unruly locks, though this woman had contained hers in some sort of clip at the back of her neck.
"May I join you, Severus?" The woman asked politely and he merely nodded his assent.
Now she sat, Severus looked closer at her face and noticed that there were subtle differences between this woman and her daughter. Her lips were too plump to be Hermione's and her cheekbones weren't as high. Still, the differences weren't so great that a stranger would hesitate to assume they were mother and daughter if they were walking down the street and Severus noted that the woman before him held herself with a composure that he had often seen Hermione exhibit previously.
"How are you feeling?" Jean Granger asked kindly.
Severus, surprised by her question, only frowned in confusion.
"I mean, I can imagine that it would be quite a shock to learn that you have a 16 year old daughter, and to find out that she's someone you've been teaching, and then for that daughter to end up unconscious all in the space of a few days." She gave a small smile.
Severus chuckled slightly. "Yes it's certainly been a shock."
Jean reached out at tapped him reassuringly on his knee. "Don't worry. Once you get over the shock you'll see that it's not so bad getting an unexpected daughter when that daughter is Hermione."
He looked up to see her face beaming with motherly pride. "Yeah, I think I'm starting to get that."
"Anyway," Mrs Granger said briskly. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about you not knowing about Hermione. I would have contacted you if I had any way of doing so. I mean, I didn't even know your surname!"
"It's fine." Said Severus genuinely. "I know there's no way you could have found me. We both knew it was a one-time thing. And I'm sorry that I wasn't more careful and that you ended up being pregnant and alone."
"Oh, don't worry about it." Jean replied sincerely. "It takes two to tango and besides, you never have to apologise to me for doing something that led to me getting Hermione, she's the best thing that's ever happened to me. And then I found Michael, my husband, anyway, so I wasn't alone for long and he's always treated Hermione as his own."
Severus decided to ignore the twinge in his chest that came from knowing that another man took his place as Hermione's father, and instead chose to concentrate on the fact that she had someone who loved and protected her when he wasn't there.
"You did a good job raising her." Severus said honestly. "She's a good kid. Intelligent too."
Mrs Granger gave a wide smile once again. "Thank you, though she must get her intelligence from you. Michael and I may be dentists but we're certainly not as bright as Hermione is."
Jean touched his arm gently. "You'll be a good parent too, Severus."
Severus looked at her disbelievingly. "How could you possibly know?"
"Because you care about her. I can tell." She replied resolutely. "Besides, I think having a magical parent is just what Hermione needs right now."
Severus frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not naïve to the fact that there is a lot Michael and I will never understand about this world. We've always been supportive about Hermione being a witch, but it's hard to be a good parent when you don't understand half of what your child says."
Severus nodded understandingly as Jean continued. "The first time I visited Hogwarts was when Hermione was in second year, and it was the most terrifying experience I've ever had. My only daughter was lying unconscious and I didn't have a clue what was going on. Objects were moving, seemingly by themselves, and the portraits on the walls were talking to us like it was perfectly normal."
"I imagine that would have been quite alarming." Severus said sympathetically.
"You have no idea. What I'm saying is, there is a whole massive chunk of Hermione's life that we have no clue about. And I'm not stupid; I know there's more stuff going on here than Hermione tells us. I think she plays down a lot of what's happened to her here because she doesn't want us to worry and most of the time there's nothing we can do but except her explanation of stuff. So, I think it's a good thing that Hermione finally has someone who is looking out for her in this part of her world."
Severus looked at the mother of his child with a troubled expression. "I'm not sure I'm the best person to be able to keep her safe." He said, thinking of his dangerous role as a spy for the Order.
"Severus, do you love her?" Jean asked simply.
"Yes." He replied without hesitation
"Then I trust that you're the best person to keep Hermione safe." She smiled with the same warmth that Hermione had obviously inherited. "Trust me."
AN: Ok folks, that's it for today. I have one more chapter to go (and possibly an epilogue depending on how it fits with the next chapter) which will probably be up on Friday. Thank you for reading and please feel free to review (they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside ;) ) Bye! x