A/n Thank you for being so patient with this next chapter, I am now happily married and have more time to write without worrying or planning a wedding.

"Morning Daddy" Hermione greeted Severus in her usual way by kissing him on the cheek as he sat at the dining table with the Daily Prophet in hand.
"Good morning Hermione. Can I request how your sleep was?" Hermione couldn't help but let out a chuckle, sometimes Severus would revert to his old himself around her and talk formal and 'proper' with a stiff rod up his backside.

"Not too bad, the nightmares didn't recur until late morning which is a first. They usually come around early morning" Severus smiled gently at Hermione progress so far. It had been a full week of her return, safe and sound at home and he refused to let her out of her sight … or mind, not that she knew he was in her mind. He tried to tell himself it was not invasion of her privacy but him looking out for his daughter's well-being.

Severus looked up from his newspaper with a frown, Hermione's facial expression copying his.
"Are you expecting someone?" Hermione shook her head
"Are you?" Severus with drew his wand and made his way to open the door looking through the muggle spy looker in the door happened to be a god send. Breathing out a deep sigh he hadn't realised he was holding he opened the door and let the Healer in.

"Good Morning Master Snape, I am hear to see Hermione" Severus took her coat and hat and called Hermione into the hallway.
"Healer Matthews?" Hermione rubbed the sleep from her eyes and closed the kitchen door behind herself.
"I have just come for a small evaluation my dear, nothing to be scared about, shall we?" Hermione showed the Healer into the designated room and closed the door.

Every evening at 6.30pm Healer Andrea Matthews would usually come and do a special home visit to check on Hermione's progress and then Hermione would spend an hour or so talking -via floo- with Draco up in her room. Each medical visit Severus would show the two lady's into the study –the only sound proof room in the house- and then stay seated outside of the door with a book in his hand. Although it could be questioned as to whether or not he read more than a paragraph without his mind wondering elsewhere. It unnerved him slightly that Hermione was alone in a soundproof room with a complete stranger.

He wanted to be there for her just in case something went wrong and Hermione was in need of a hug. He knew how the head Healers worked. Oh how he knew how the bastards worked.

** Flashback **

A young Severus Snape of 13 jogged up the spiral staircase into Professor Albus Dumbledore's office. Beating on the door three times with his knuckles he waited a few seconds before he heard a gruff response.

"Enter Severus" Came the Headmasters reply from within the room.

"You wanted to see me Headmaster" Dumbledore motioned with his hand for Severus to take a seat.
"I did my boy" Severus glanced at the male also in the room, hovering in the shadows behind the Professor.

"This is Healer Webb, the ministry has sent him to do an annual report on your health" Severus's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"I have not been sick this year though Professor" Dumbledore sighed and tweaked his beard, wondering how to phrase this appropriately.

"When you returned home last Summer I believe you witnessed something no boy your age should have to see, Healer Webb want's to ask a few questions before he will be on his way" Severus knew Dumbledore was hinting at Healer to be quick and to not waste anybody's time.

"Do you understand?" Severus meekly nodded his head and turned his attention on the healer.
"I will just preform a gentle spell my boy" The Healer approached Severus and lifted his wand to his forehead.
"Legilimens" The Healer whispered as Severus watched from a third person view of his nightmare.

"Stoooop!" A pained woman's voice screamed in pain within the kitchen as another resounding crack was heard.
Severus hovered in the hallway in quite the dilemma. If he tried to save his mother he would be beaten by his Father, if he was caught hovering in the doorway he would be beaten by his Father and when his Father approached him in the evening he would beat him.

Any way Severus though about it all ended in the same result. Him being beaten by his Father, it wouldn't be the first time. Oh no Tobias Snape had been coming home drunk and beating his family ever since Severus could remember. Of course Eileen Snape would try and take the beating for her son and scream at him to run free.

"Come here you little shit" Tobias slurred from the kitchen.
"I know you are there, I can here you god damn breathing" Severus carefully entered the kitchen automatically looking around for his Mother.
Tobias was unbuckling his belt when Severus saw her lifeless body lying in her own blood on the tiled floor.

"I have seen enough" The Healer tuned out of the young boy's mind and took a seat next to him.
"What happened to your Father Severus?"
"I don't know" he replied almost instantly.
"Your Father was reported missing to the muggle police and I think you know where he is" Severus scoffed and looked around the room.

"Why don't you use Legilimency and find out? Or would you rather I write to your superior and inform them of you not following the correct procedure when dealing with a delicate minor?"
Yes. Severus knew the laws and rules of Healers and there patients, he had wanted to become one in his first year at Hogwarts, well that was until he realised he brew better and more efficient potions than his own potions teacher.

"Listen here you little shit you better not be trying blackmail me" The Healer raised an eyebrow in Severus's direction.
"Robert" Dumbledore intervened with a warning tone in his voice.
"Oh dear, being a naughty boy haven't you Robert? What would Mary say of your late night cinema visits with Kirsty?" Severus tip toed out of the Healers mind just in time to dodge the grown man throwing a punch at him.

"Severus return to your dorm please my boy" Dumbledore kept his wand in the throat of the petrified Healer.
"Of course Headmaster, good evening" With a sly smile plastered on his face the young boy left the office to be greeted by his older friends.

"Did it work Sev? Was you able to creep into someone's mind?" His friends had been eager to ask him all day since their practice in the room of requirement the evening before. Having friends in higher years came in handy when learn new things. At such a young age Severus was successful at casting a patronus and performing Legilimency without a grown man knowing.

"No but think I have got a Healer fired from his post Lucius" A young Lucius Malfoy patted his friend on the back as they descended down the corridor immersing with the rest of the school.
"Cissy, have you decided whether or not you're coming with me to the winter ball?" By the court yard stood a group of older girls Severus didn't really know. Narcissa Black looked down her nose at the Malfoy heir, flicked her blonde locks over her shoulders and walked off without a word.

"You can't keep pestering the girl" Severus muttered as he watched the three Black sisters walk away, keeping an intriguing eye on Andromeda.
"She can't keep refusing my efforts for too much longer; my father has the marriage contract to prove it" A sly smirk graced the younger Malfoy's features.

** End Flashback **

"Are you comfortable sitting their Daddy?" Severus glanced up at Hermione smiling down at him.
"Has she finished already?" Hermione nodded her head, Healer Matthews had turned up in the morning out of the blue.
"apparently they have to do a surprise visit once or twice to make sure patients are not lying about their progress"

"How did it go?" He asked as he rose to his full height.
"Well, Healer Matthews will return on Friday … she thinks I have made great progress" Hermione knew she had made progress burying her old nightmares, but to hear it from a professional was more rewarding then just knowing.

"Fantastic, I propose we go to a restaurant for supper to celebrate" Hermione smiled apologetically as she reached for her coat, hat, gloves and scarf.
"Silly Daddy, I told you I am meeting with an Aunt on my Mother's side who thinks my cousin is a Witch"
"Well I shall join you" Severus announced as he grabbed his own coat.

"Why does your Aunt think she has a magical child?" Severus asked as Hermione placed her mittens on.
"She didn't really say, just that she had a little inkling and would I mind going over for a quick look"
Severus held onto Hermione's sleeve as she produced to side apparating their destination.

Opening his eyes at the destination Severus blinked in surprise at what was in front of him, it was a beautiful sight, the house was built nicely with a Victorian edge to it. Under the sun, it gleamed a deep blue, with pale ivory running along the edges outlining the house. The house in general, gave a feeling of calm aura or maybe that was Hermione's wards correctly surrounding the property.

It had three floors in total; windows popped out of every direction, but didn't -amazingly- make it look odd. Lastly, indentations of small figures were carved into a surrounding line outside the attic window.

"Hermione you're here at last … and you bring a guest" A tall slim woman appraised silently as she greeted Hermione with a hug.
"This is Professor Snape, Severus this is my Aunt Monica" Severus felt slightly put out that she hadn't introduced him as her Father but he could understand as such if the woman was a relative, it would be too much to explain.

"Come, come inside Madison is looking forward to see you" They followed the homely looking woman into the even more homely looking house.
"Madison, Hermione is here sweetheart" Walking into the living room Severus chuckled and whispered into his daughter's ear.

"I think she is definitely a witch" Hermione swatted at his arm and walked over to her cousin. Every electrical item in the room was floating from their given place as high up in the air as their leads would allow.
"Hello Madison" Madison looked up from her drawing and smiled.
"You came" Hermione nodded and looked down at the girls drawing.
"You like witches?" Hermione asked somewhat surprised at how easy this may turn out.

"I do, Mummy read me the tale about Snow White and I liked the Stepmother" Hermione smiled as she plonked herself onto the carpet and crossed her legs.
"Do you know how you're doing this?" she motioned –with a finger- to the floating objects around the room.

"No, I didn't know it was me" As soon as the little girls concentration had broken from drawing everything dropped back into place with quite a loud bang. The little girl almost looked heartbroken at what she had done.
"Child's magic is based on emotions mostly" Severus whispered quietly to Monica.

"I'm a witch" Hermione stated proudly as she made fire appear in the palm of her hands. Madison's eyes widened in surprise and in awe.
"Do you think I could be a witch like you Hermione?" Hermione nodded her head.
"But only a select few are chosen so we have to keep this a secret or other people won't believe us will they?" Madison furiously shook her head.
"Good girl" Hermione appraised.

"Now when you are a 11 you will not be going to the local high school with the rest of your friends, you will be invited to a special boarding school ..."
"That's ok … I don't have many friends Hermione. They are simply intimidated by my intellect" Hermione smiled at her little cousin, she could sympathise about having no friends, Hermione herself went all through junior school with no friends.

"Did you go to this boarding school Hermione?" Monica asked from the doorway.
"She did and she has been named the brightest witch of her age" Severus told her Aunt proudly.
"I brought you a few books to look at over the holidays … ok?" Madison nodded her head and eagerly took the books from Hermione.

They spent the next hour explaining a few things to Monica and more simpler things to Madison, well as well as her 10 year old brain could understand.
"We must be going Aunt Monica" Hermione kissed her Cousin first in goodbye before being embraced tightly by her Aunt.
"Don't you dare be a stranger for so long again young Lady, I need you just as much as Madison does"

Hermione smiled as she wrapped her arms around her Aunt, she remembered how much of a fizzle her Mother had gotten into without the help of anyone magical to guide her through the process of Hermione becoming a witch and just about to go to a magical school.
"I wouldn't dream of it Aunt Mon, Madison will need help and guidance over the next few years and I will be here to help"

"And you will be here also will you Professor?" Monica asked of Severus.
"I would say so, yes" Severus nodded his head in a gesture of goodbye before holding onto Hermione again as they side-apparated back to Spinners end.

"That was an adventurous evening I must say" Hermione chuckled slightly as she made her way to the kitchen to get the brews on the go and butter up a few scones.
"I think that is the understatement of the century" Hermione called from the kitchen to Severus into the living room. No doubt setting up the fire and changing into his cosy slippers.

"Draco's owl just dropped this off for you" Severus came into the Kitchen, taking over with the coffee making duty as he let Hermione open the letter.

"Dear Hermione,
I thought it would be best to give you some space this week that is why I have not come around or invited you over to the Manor. I have booked a table for two tomorrow at a quiet but quaint little restaurant I think you might enjoy. If you agree I will pick you up around 4.30pm … if you do not want to maybe I can still come and see you? Send Enro with your reply.
Forever yours

Draco Lucius Malfoy"

Hermione could almost picture him sitting at his desk nervously writing the letter; not picturing how many screwed up pieces of parchments would be in his bin.

"Draco asks if I can accompany him on a date tomorrow evening" Severus looked at her with a blank face.
"Do you want to?" Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"I have not seen him all week and it hurts my chest, is that the mating pull?" Severus nodded his head.

"It may get worse, if it is weak for you then it must be tenfold for him" Hermione cringed at the thought and scribbled down a reply that she would be delighted to go for a meal.