Chapter three
The Characters and Story of Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling. :) Anything you recognise belongs to her.
This story will kind of follow OoTP but there will be some differences but the major events may still occur. So this story is AU.
Thanks to those who left me reviews! It made me smile. :)
Dawn and Hermione Granger sat quietly side by side at the kitchen table, Hermione's head leaning on her mother's shoulder looking blankly into the distance. She missed times like these when she was sitting in her dormitory at Hogwarts when the quiet of the castle was bearing down on her.
Her eyes began to droop as the kitchen's warmth began to make her feel drowsy, her eyes becoming heavy as the day's events began to catch up with her.
The kitchen had always been a place of comfort and good memories to Hermione. A small smile graced her lips as she remembered the good times that had passed while she was sat at this table. The little things like sat at the table talking to her mother about family gossip over a cup of tea or laughing with her father as he tried, and failed to tell her a joke he had heard at work.
Her eyes fell shut as she remembered the last big event that had occurred at this table almost five years ago. When the letter arrived announcing she had been accepted into Hogwarts it had been like any other day, they had all been sat around the table nibbling on toast and slurping their tea when the letter landed on the mat. It was such an ordinary arrival for a letter that would change the whole course of her life. She sat confused as she read the letter over and over again before looking at her parents who were giving her such broad grins that she couldn't help but return it. They were soon lost in planning when they were going to go to Diagon Alley, with Hermione reading out what was needed for all first year students.
Thinking back on the memory, her parents had accepted her being a witch quite easily. She hadn't questioned it at the time thinking they were just being supported. Their reactions had been completely different to what other muggleborn's had received from their parents, reactions varying between disbelief to anger before they had finally accepted it. Maybe the Professor had given them some prior warning of her being a witch to soften the blow for when the letter turned up on the mat.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her mum quietly murmured to her, "I know Sev can be quite a prickly person to encounter." She must have envisaged Hermione incredulous expression as she paused and then snorted when realising how much she had underestimated Sev's sarcasm and temper. "Okay, he can be more than prickly but you must remember sweetheart that you can always, I mean always trust him."
Dawn looked over to Severus for a moment, who was still in deep conversation with her Husband before turning her attention back to Hermione. "He will always have my trust and if you ever doubt your own instincts, use mine instead."
Dawn looked at Hermione with a look of stubbornness which was very similar to the expression that Harry and Ron had seen on Hermione when they were arguing with her over her fierce loyalty towards those they doubted deserved it. Like the professor. Rob had often joked that it was the only expression he ever saw on Hermione during her terrible twos.
Hermione watched her mum with a look of confusion before slowly nodding, not understanding the importance of her agreement.
Dawn sighed and her shoulders relaxed as the fight she had been anticipating never occurred. She smiled towards her only daughter, her eyes flitting across Hermione's face as though not really believing she was sat safe in the kitchen. She had never thought you could feel such dread and pain but when she realised Hermione was missing, she thought her heart was going to break. She couldn't feel that pain again, it would only be worse if…Well it wasn't worth thinking about but she didn't think she would survive the pain.
Dawn smile as she looked at Hermione's confused expression, "I'm guessing you're rather confused about this entire situation?" She didn't bother waiting for the nod, she knew her daughter well enough.
"The day Rob and I met Sev was almost 19 years ago in 1970. It was a cold winter's day, which we later found out was Sev's birthday." She paused and laughed out loud as a few good memories popped to the forefront of some of his following birthdays. It was the only day he would drink so some of the shenanigans they undertook the following years never failed to put a smile on her face. The one with the pink ribbons and that poor donkey…she snorted before turning back to Hermione who was looking at her mother with a half smile.
"He was such a mean, twisted young man but his dark sense of humour could always make me laugh. And him and your father could argue for hours, most of the time I could leave and they wouldn't notice, they were that engrossed."
She paused slightly and sighed, "I will start from the beginning. Well me and your father both went to St Georges university as you know for our Dentistry degree as you know?"
Hermione nodded thought Dawn now seemed to be lost in her memories. "At the same time Sev was studying potions aiming to get to his current Potion's master level. He was located a few streets away at a local apothecary which when he pointed it out to us it looked like a run down warehouse. He mentioned something about being muggles and that our minds couldn't possibly comprehend delights such as magic." She said with a laugh.
Hermione opened her mouth about to ask her mother questions about the professor's apprenticeship when Dawn simply raised her hand and shook her head.
"You will have to ask him, I don't know the details." She paused as she tried to remember where she was in her history.
"We met him brooding in a pub not far from the university, The Prancing Prawn I think it was and what a dingy little pub it was. Your father decided to sit next to him, citing he looked to content sitting quietly but I always thought your father did it because Sev looked lonely, lost in dark thoughts."
Dawn paused again and then laughed at the memory; she seemed to forget her daughter was in rapt attention sat beside her. Dawn and Rob never discussed their university life, it was always stories about their lives after Hermione was born.
"Your father talked to Sev nonstop for an hour and half about anything and everything from dentistry procedures to Led Zeppelin. Suddenly Sev just seem snap, not able to take anymore and glared at your father, growling 'if you insist on blabbering nonsense in an idiotic manner at least have the decency to buy me a pint. I need to be drunk to put up with this.'" Dawn laughed, "He never did get any nicer but me, him and your father became good friends."
"Your father and Sev insulted each other and me and Sev used to…well talk." She smiled and spoke softly. "He's one of my best friends. He was there for me at my darkest hour." She waved away the worried looked Hermione was giving her and gave her a small smile.
"Another thing you will have to ask Sev Darling." She took a gulp of cold tea, wincing slightly at the horrid surprise of it being cold before continuing.
"Years passed and we became pregnant with you. He was ever so nervous and protective of you, even in the womb. We often joked it was like he was the expectant father." She laughed before sobering, "We now know that it was because he knew the evils out in the world. When you were born we asked him to be your godfather, he was so happy that we had asked him. So proud someone had trusted him with something as precious as you. He maintained that he would be the best godfather you could ever ask for and you couldn't ask for a better one. You might not have seen him the last 13 years but he has always protected you."
She looked over to Hermione whose mouth had fallen open slightly at the announcement of who her godfather was. She had known it was possible when she came into the kitchen to see him there but…well she had forgotten the significance of him being in the kitchen when people had started talking.
Dawn smiled slightly at her expression, lightly placing her hand on Hermione's cheek. She looked deep into her mums eyes, enjoying the love that had always been present in the Dark Hazel eyes. "I know it's a shock sweetheart but he was and is highly protective over you. As a child he loved you ever so much, always on his hands and knees playing with you. Your favourite was to play horsey with him which wasn't good for his back but he would always do it for you. And you would play peek a boo for hours with him." She paused as tears filled her eyes, "I always thought he loved you as if you were his own. I know he had treated you horrid my love but it has always been a mask. To protect you."
Hermione leaned back into her chair, her mind going a mile a minute as she tried to process what had been said. Her parents knew professor Snape. Or Sev as he was known to them. They were very good friends. He was her Godfather. He protected her.
Hermione rubbed her eyes as the day's events leaned heavily on her mind. Gosh she was tired.
She looked back up to her mother as she tiredly said, "mum? Why are you telling me these things now?"
"Perhaps I can explain miss Granger." A silky voice pronounced from across the table.
Hermione jumped slightly before looking across the table to see the professor and her father had joined them at the table and had sat down.
"I was not called here by your parents to help look for you." He said in a quiet voice, so much so that Hermione had to lean forward slightly. "The Dark Lord was celebrating with his inner circle because one of Potter's little friends had been left unprotected by the Headmaster and had sent some of his deatheaters to…" He paused slightly before sneering, "Dispose of you. When I arrived here and you were missing I believed them to have accomplished their mission."
Hermione nodded, she always knew what being Harry's friend entailed. Voldemort finally being back, her life was in more danger. She couldn't imagine Harry taking her or Ron's death well, probably rushing in prematurely to fight a fight he couldn't possibly win taking the wizarding kind's hope with him. He was the boy who lived, he was the symbol that all witch's and wizards needed in dark times without him, the fight would be lost.
Rob spoke up for the first time, "Hermione. Me and your mum have always had an agreement with Sev." He paused, swallowing a lump in his throat. "If there ever a time when we couldn't protect you…" he shook his head, no longer able to continue.
Hermione looked between her parents, both had tears rolling down their cheeks. She hadn't noticed the atmosphere in the room change from the elation to the despair she was now seeing on her parents faces. She looked over to the professor who was sat opposite her, looking stoic as ever. "Professor?" She said in a whisper.
"Call him Sev Sweetheart. He needs someone to," Her mum said with a small sob before moving over to sit beside rob, clutching his hand tightly.
Hermione looked over to the professor once more, "S- Sev?" He nodded minutely; you could never fight Dawn when she announced something.
"Miss Granger. Your parents are trying to tell that when you were younger, it was decided that if it was ever needed your guardianship would be transferred to me. Because of tonight's events, your parents have decided that this plan will be put into place." He said in a matter of fact tone, his eyes were blank though his shoulders seemed tense.
"But why would it need to be transferred?" She said looking between her parents. "You're my parents, your present and of fit mind. There is no need to transfer." Her eyes were wide, her breathing erratic as her mind tried to push away the conclusion it had come to.
The three adults were silent as they watched Hermione shaking her head slowly, not believing what they were trying to say.
Hermione looked at her parents, tears filling her wide hazel eyes, "you're getting rid of me? It's finally gotten too much." She said in a whisper, her heart breaking.
"No sweetheart!" Dawn cried with vehemence, "It's no longer safe for you or us! Sev has agreed for you to stay with him. He will protect you a lot better than we ever could."
Hermione looked at Sev who had remained quiet, his eyes looking down towards the table, his shoulders seemed to droop under the pressure been placed upon them. 'This must be as difficult for him as it is for me, he's having a teenage girl dumped upon him.' The rogue thought popped into Hermione's mind.
Hermione looked back at her parents, standing abruptly, her chair scraping along the red clay floor tiles. She briefly acknowledged that the professor had also stood up.
"NO! I will not go with him! I want to stay in a world where you are my parents! He might be my Godfather but…" she paused, folding her arms around her stomach trying to hold back the ache she was beginning to feel. "He doesn't love me like you. You're the only ones in the world who love me unconditionally." She choked back a laugh as tears streamed down her face.
"Even Harry and Ron abandon me when it comes to some things, they took the side of a broomstick over me!"
Hermione's breathing became heavier and faster as she looked over to her parents. She was panicking as she thought about being taken away from her parents. She could deal with being in Hogwarts but not to see them in the holidays. They couldn't do that to her. She watched as her mother came over, hugging her tightly before pushing her out slightly, hands holding onto her upper arms and looking into her eyes.
"Remember what I told you Hermione. Trust. Trust me when I say he will stand by you when no one else will."
Hermione looked deep into her mum's eyes and saw only love and deep resolve. She couldn't fight them if this was what they decided, they obviously felt this was the right decision even if Hermione fought until she was blue in the face. Hermione simply nodded and looked over to Severus. He stood broad and tall, rather out of place in the warm kitchen.
His face remained blank as he looked over to Rob and Dawn Granger. "Could you step over there please?"
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked with a frown. " I thought we were just going to go to Hogwarts. What spell are you putting on them?"
"I thought you understood Miss Granger. Did your 'brilliant' mind not have the ability to understand the simplest of plans or has Mr Potter's arrogance and idiocy been rubbing off on you the last five years?"
"SEV!" Two voices ran out in anger.
Severus said nothing but lowered his head ever so slightly.
"Sweetheart, for this plan to work we will have to forget you and Sev. I'm sorry this wasn't explained well but we won't be allowed to know you." Dawn said with a frown. "But we will see you at the end of the war. Safe and Sound."
A sob escaped Hermione before she simply nodding, the fight had gone from her. Her parents hugged her tightly, both telling her they loved her before standing in front of the kitchen sink. She simply stared at her parents, silent tears running down her cheeks.
She didn't notice when the professor had come to stand beside her but she felt heat radiate from him before realising how close he stood next to her. As she looked down she noticed the proximity between the two of them as they stood side by side, arms barely touching one another. She couldn't help but wonder if this was the Professors way of comfort.
No empty words of comfort or false assurance that all will be okay.
Just the silent, brooding man, who wouldn't leave her if he could help it. Hermione realised why her mother trusted him so much now.
She watched as Severus slowly raised his ebony wand, pointing it towards Dawn and Rob Granger. He stared at them silently. His hand seemed to shake ever so slightly but his face showed no emotion.
His eyes never left Dawn, his eyes filled with an indefinable emotion, a pained expression on his face as he looked for assurance before whispering, "I'm sorry old Friends."
He spoke an incantation and Hermione watched as a silvery grey mist moved slowly towards her parents, circling them slowly before entering their eyes. She watched as their eyes turned blank, staring as Hermione and Severus as if they were Strangers. Robert and Dawn Granger no longer existed.