Hey! Thanks for all the reviews! Many gave me things to think of, I will take them into consideration. Most were disappointed with Hermione's reaction (Sorry.) I hope her reaction this chapter helps a little.
(p.s Casy13...Your review made me giggle...So thanks!)
Disclaimer: Not mine. Pfft, I would be proper rich if that was the case.
Several days had passed, the excitement that crackled in the air from the Christmas period dulled and the December lull caused the habitants to quieten down as they waited for the New year celebrations.
Hermione thought constantly of the conversation that had taken place on Christmas day and the more she thought about it, the more she felt guilty for acting so childishly. She couldn't fathom why she would act so callously towards Russ. He had laid his soul bare, opening himself up to rejection and she had thrown it back into his face.
He hadn't returned since and she didn't blame him.
She still couldn't believe how much her parents had lied to her. They had rewritten an entire chapter of their lives to ensure that she didn't find out who Russ was to her.
However, the more she thought through the situation and the explanation Russ had given, she couldn't remain angry with any of them. Russ had been punished enough by not being there for his daughter, watching another man raise her as his own. Her mum and dad, both had lied to her but it was for her own safety - Who was she to judge them on that.
She wished she didn't see it from their point of view so easily, so quickly. It only intensified the guilt that was curling and moving in her stomach as she thought of her behaviour a few days prior.
It seemed like she had a massive apology to give Russ when she saw him next.
She sat at the Headquarters table, absentmindedly stirring a cup of tea slowly with a teaspoon thinking how to make it up to Russ. She briefly thought about giving him a small present, showing him how sincere her apology was but she didn't think he would appreciate the thought. He didn't seem the kind of man whose forgiveness could be brought.
"Well, well, Well Granger. I didn't think you were ever without your bodyguard!" An oily voice spoke from the doorway.
Hermione looked up and frowned deeply as she saw Sirius leaning against the doorway of the kitchen, blocking her only exit. She regretted coming down to the kitchen now. She had managed to avoid Sirius since his vile reaction to her the previous summer and it seems he had finally found her alone. Everyone else had gone to the burrow to play Quidditch for a couple of hours leaving only herself and Sirius in the house.
No one thought much of Hermione declining to go with the group, thinking she was catching up reading and homework and she wasn't inclined to correct them. She was still thinking through her situation with Russ and she couldn't be around the Weasleys' and their noisiness. She needed a clear head. She regretted it now, she wasn't in the right state of mind to listen to his insults.
"Good evening Sirius. Everyone has gone to play a little bit of Quidditch at the Burrow, they should be back soon." She said, forcing a small smile upon her lips. Remind him that there are others in the house, that might remind him to be on his best behaviour.
She had avoided being left alone in the presence of Sirius since the summer. Something had changed in the kindly, humorous man in regards of how he treated her. She didn't understand what had changed but ever since she had become connected to Russ, Sirius had treated her with distain.
She eyed him warily as he stood watching her, something in his eye causing a fear to spark in her chest. A malicious smirk and the dead look in his eye as he looked at her caused her to stand up and move to the other side of the kitchen, busying herself by washing some of the mugs that had been placed in the sink. Her back facing him though her ears were listening keenly for any movement. Her hands shook faintly as she reminded herself that he wouldn't hurt her.
"You know Granger, its' been a while since I've trusted you. Anyone who's connected to Snape must have some darkness within them. Everyone says we should trust you - that a muggleborn would never join the Dark Lord but Love makes you do strange things. Dumbledore keeps saying that he trusts you, that you would never betray Harry but I don't think we should take that chance. That we should destroy the danger before it magnifies." Sirius said with a sneer, walking slowly towards her.
Hermione swallowed her fear and turned around to face him, leaning against the sink. "I don't know what you're talking about Sirius." She said with a whisper, her eyes flickering around his face.
Another jolt of dread shooting down her spine as she saw the madness residing within his eyes. Solitary life and Azkaban had affected him more deeply than many of them realised.
In his madness riddled mind, he seemed sure that Hermione had betrayed the Order and Harry. She couldn't think of any other reason behind his belief that she was on the side of the Dark Lord than his own madness.
"We all know that you will betray him. You can't fight destiny and you're fated to betray the light." He hissed as he walked towards her, stepping closer and closer until they stood only inches away.
She always thought he wouldn't hurt her, that his morals would not allow him to hurt a child and that he still cared enough for her not to cause her pain. It appeared that she was wrong. Her eyes darted to the table where her wand lay, mocking her for her stupidness and naivety at leaving herself defenceless.
"You and him are too close, I think you wouldn't think twice in throwing Harry to the Wolves as long as you were with Snape. I wouldn't put it past him to be in a relationship with you, to keep you under his control. You might be young but once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater. He never had any morals so I think he wouldn't think twice in having sex with a student." Sirius said maliciously, his eyes taking a hard edge.
Hermione didn't know what caused her to do it but her hand flew up and smacked him against his cheek. Her jaw locked with anger and her eyes blazing as she stared him in the eye. She soon realised her mistake as she saw the fury and hate come to life in his eyes as he stared down at her.
He gripped her wrist, his hold becoming tighter and tighter as he looked at her. Hermione wondered if he was thinking what to do with her as he watched her so intently. Her eyes were wide with terror, waiting for what he would do. His hand still gripped her wrist, the hold she was sure would bruise but at the moment she hoped it would be the only injury.
"Sirius...Please..." She whispered.
"You should have thought of that before you deceived Harry." He growled, ignoring Hermione's wide eyed look of confusion.
"Unhand her Black." A Furious, steady voice came from across the kitchen.
Hermione let out a soft sigh as she looked over Sirius's shoulder to see Severus looking towards the pair, his wand pointing at Sirius's back and a murderous expression on his face. "If you don't let her go I will not be held responsible for my actions. Let. Her. Go."
Sirius looked over his shoulder at Severus and a wide insane smile graced his lips. "Afraid I might taint her? That she will want me more and leave your bed...I can imagine she would be good at keeping me warm..."
Hermione looked at Severus, looking between the pair, hating to watch the two fight and not know what to do. She had to admit that Sirius was rather stupid for antagonizing Severus when it was obviously feeling murderous.
She didn't have time to blink when a flash of red flew towards Sirius, causing him to collapse onto the floor.
Hermione looked down at the body on the floor then back up to look into Severus's eyes. His chest was heaving in an attempt to control his fury, his black eyes burning with violence and strands of his hair covered his face. She had never seen him look so dangerous, out of control than in that moment.
"How did you know to come?" She asked in a small voice, looking back at Sirius who was out cold on the floor. By the time she knew that she was at risk, it was too late to get help.
The silence seemed to stretch, briefly looking up she noticed that Russ had closed his eyes, breathing deeply to calm himself down. It seemed that he was more angry and panicked than she had suspected. He finally opened his eyes, looking at her with a small frown.
"It was a rather nasty shock to have my bracelet burn while in a staff meeting. It seems your necklace recognised the danger, even if you didn't. How on earth did you manage to get yourself in this situation? And for goodness sake step away from the Mutt." He said with a snarl.
Hermione winced internally and thought to herself, 'still a little bit angry then'
Hermione stepped over Sirius gingerly and moved cautiously towards Russ. His eyes were still blazing with the threat of violence though he had finally collected his composure even if he still looked more stiffer than normal.
"Come. I'm taking you back to Hogwarts, you'll stay with me in my quarters until school starts once more. I will not leave you in this house with this madman anymore." He turned and walked towards the hallway, not giving Hermione much chance to disagree or protest. "You will go pack and get that vermin of a cat of yours. I will meet you in the living room in 15 minutes." He turned into the living room, leaving Hermione opened mouthed once more in indignation.
She paused for a moment before rolling her eyes, there was no point in fighting it. She might as well go pack.
Thirty minutes later, Hermione walked into the living room dragging her trunk and a disgruntled Crookshanks in his carry basket.
He opened his mouth, Hermione was sure it was to be some cutting remark about time keeping when she quickly said, "Sorry it took so long. Crookshanks didn't want to get into his carry case so he kept hiding under the bed. Its rather difficult to get a cat when he's so adverse to the idea."
He nodded the once before stepping forwards, tapping her trunk with his wand causing it to shrink. "Come along then Miss Granger." He said formally, still unable to meet her in the eye now he knew she was safe.
"Russ." She said in a whisper, grabbing his arm as he passed. "I'm sorry about how I reacted at Christmas. I know I reacted harshly, so out of character but it was too much for me. It was my first Christmas without my parents and I was only just coming to terms with mum and dad keeping your history together a secret but then you just blurt out you're my dad. It was too much and I took it out on you. I am sorry Russ, you know I care for you, it's just I never expected that to come to light."
Severus looked down to the hand lying gently on his arm and sighed faintly, "Miss Granger. I understand why you reacted as such. You might not like it but you are still a child, emotions are difficult to control when you're younger and you lost control of yours. There is no need to apologise; it was a bit of a bombshell. Now come along before we are swamped by red heads asking why the Mutt is unconscious in the kitchen."
They walked side by side to stand in front of the house before apparating away to Hogwarts.
A quick walk down to the dungeons left Hermione gasping for breath as Russ and herself came to a stop outside a still statue of a suite of armour. Severus drew himself up, ignoring the gasping breathes of Hermione as he whispered, "la lumière est dans mon cœur".
The suit of armour nodded the once to the pair before stepping aside to allow them entrance to the plain wooden door behind it.
The room she had entered wasn't anything like she imagined. It was as dark as expected, they were in the dungeons after all but it was the colours that were expected. She was ashamed to admit that she assumed that the colour black would be the main colour of the room but she was completely wrong. The floor was stone but soft brown rugs covered large areas of the floor to help warm the place up, there were warm dark brown leather sofas that were itching to be sat on.
It was a book reader's dream room to say the least with the amount of books piled on the shelves around the room. She looked over the fire place where a small fire was burning away when she noticed the painting she had gotten him for Christmas had been put pride of place above it. After the hysterics of Christmas, she had completely forgotten about the painting.
"I hope its to your taste?" Russ said in a condescending tone, bringing her back to reality.
"Russ its lovely." She said with a soft smile, "but such bad manners of a host, one is simply gasping for a cuppa." She said in her best London accent imitation.
Severus rolled his eyes before walking towards the small kitchenette for the professors to make drinks or snacks in dire need. "I thought you knew by now, you're no longer a guest but my daughter. Shouldn't you be making your old man a drink?"
Once more, Severus left the room before she could answer back with a reply.
The days passed and Hermione and Severus fell into a routine. Hermione sat in- well she supposed her bedroom. Severus had offered her his spare room for as long as she needed it.
She sat at her desk, going over the final details of her transfiguration essay when she sat back to look around her little room once more.
On her little princess size bed lay Crookshanks, who had finally forgiven her for forcibly moving him from Headquarters and had taken up his territory on her bed. The room was a soft blue on three walls and a dull white on the main wall, it didn't sound very exciting but to Hermione it was perfect.
She hadn't really spoken to Harry and Ron since she left Headquarters so abruptly. Apart from the panicked patronus from Mrs Weasley asking if Severus had seen Hermione after returning to an unconscious Sirius and empty house, they hadn't been in contact since.
It had been decided that it was probably best not to tell the Headmaster what had caused Hermione to leave so quickly. Severus had wanted to tell the Headmaster how Sirius had almost attacked her but after Hermione had convinced him that alienating Harry was something she didn't want, both had remained quiet.
Their story simply was that Hermione was missing her parents and Severus was looking after her.
She was unsure what was happening between her and Russ. Since his parting shot about being her father, it hadn't been brought up again. They spent the evenings together, talking about his past adventures with her parents and reading some of the books he had in his collection.
It was nice, she finally felt at home for the first time since the summer.
He was still grumpy and she definitely didn't speak to him before he had his morning cup of tea and shower. The man was a monster without his morning shot of caffeine.
However, he acted warmer with her. She wasn't implying that he was now as cute as a kitten, he still had his claws but she managed to ignore those times, continuing her task until he was in a better mood.
It was easy to think of his as just her Godfather. It was too confusing to think that he was her dad.
"Miss Granger!" Shouted a voice from the front room, bringing her out of thoughts. Sighing heavily, she got up and walked into the room, looking around for the source of the voice.
"Down here Miss Granger." A feminine voice said from the fireplace. "I was wondering if you could join me in the infirmary."
Hermione looked down to see Madam Pomfrey head floating in the fireplace. The image still unsettled Hermione greatly after many years in the muggle world of her parents telling her how unsafe fire was.
"Madam Pomfrey, I'm not allowed to leave the dungeons without Professor Snape's permission...I don't know where he is at the moment. When he gets back, I will come right to you."
"No need to worry Miss Granger, Professor Snape is here with me. Just come through the Floo." Shortly after, her head disappeared from the fireplace.
Hermione furrowed her brow but with a deep breath she grabbed some floo powder, threw it into the fire and clearly said out loud, "Hogwarts Infirmary."
She stepped out into the infirmary and let out a breath when she saw the school nurse wasn't lying and Severus was in the infirmary as well.
She was still confused to what would need her attention, she smiled softly to the pair. "Good Afternoon Madam, Professor. Hope you are both well?"
"We are Miss Granger, now will you tell me what is so wrong that you dragged me from my duties and Granger from her homework?" Severus said with a long suffering sigh. "I don't have time for an ageing nurse to bother me for gossip."
He didn't expect the unused bed pan to hit him at the side of the head, clanging loudly as it hit his skull and then the floor.
"What the hell Poppy?" He said, clutching the side of his head, bringing his hand down to see blood covering his hand.
Hermione rushed forward, stepping between Severus and Poppy. She moved her hand to rest upon her wand, unsure what was happening. She wasn't allowed to use her wand against a teacher but It was so unlike Pomfrey to attack anyone, maybe she was under the Imperius.
"Step aside Miss Granger. We will get you out of your situation as soon as possible. I don't know how he did it, but it was obviously cohesion of a magical kind. Don't you worry!" Poppy said, her hair a mess and her eyes wild.
"And you!" She said, pointing at Severus and throwing another unused bedpan towards him which luckily Severus saw coming towards him, "You're a sick, sick man!"
Hermione looked between the pair, perplexed to what was happening. Had the woman finally gone mad? She watched with a detached manner as she watched Poppy throw more and more equipment at Severus, who was throwing his arms up to protect his head. There was nothing she could do, Russ could defend himself if he wanted to, she would leave him to sort it out.
When she stepped away from the situation, it really was quite funny to watch.
"Poppy – OW- What in God's name – OW for the love of Pete!- What is wrong with you woman?" He paused for a brief moment before growling, "Ow! Will you stop throwing things at me and tell me what is wrong with you? Sniffing too much bleach or something?"
"Don't pretend you don't know!" Shouted Poppy.
"I'm not pretending! Just tell me and stop throwing things!" bellowed Severus back, slowly moving backwards as an enraged Poppy stepped forward, gaining more weapons in her assault.
"You married Miss Granger! Or should I call her Mrs Snape." Poppy snarled.
"Oh please don't call me that." Gagged Hermione from across the room.
Severus gave Poppy a look of pure disgust before he hissed, "I believe you should start from the beginning Poppy."
Poppy looked at him, her eyes burning with rage as she hissed, "the school records automatically update every time something changes in the circumstances of students and teachers alike. Its important for me to know so I can be sure to give the students the proper care when they come back to school." She turned to look at Hermione, pity in her eye, "I'm sorry we didn't protect you better."
Hermione looked at Poppy, still confused. "I'm not quite sure what you're talking about. What did you need to protect me from?"
"Your marriage to Severus of course!" Poppy said with disbelief, "He must have groomed you well for you to believe its alright."
Hermione spluttered, shaking her head vehemently. "But we're not!"
"Miss Granger there is no need to hide anymore. This sick, sick man will go to prison for what he did to you." Poppy said crossing the ward to no doubt offer her comfort.
A low chilling voice whispered, shaking with barely concealed rage. "Its nice to see what you really think of me Poppy. I didn't know you thought me to be a Paedophile. Now tell me why you think this?"
Poppy looked over to him, her eyes clearing as she began to think that she might have over reacted, jumped to the wrong confusion. "I was looking through the updated files, I haven't had chance to look through them until now. Little Thomas Miscal of Hufflepuff had a bad case of sludge eyes, nasty case. And I saw..." She trailed off.
"Yes? You saw what?" growled Severus.
"Hermione's surname has changed, its now Snape I assumed..." Poppy said with uncertainty.
"You jumped to the wrong conclusion because you think me to be evil? A death eater with no morals? I didn't think you thought me be so low! I thought you at least respected me!" hissed Severus. "She isn't my wife. SHE'S MY DAUGHTER!"
The silence seemed to grow and become tense in the infirmary, Poppy looking between the pair before letting out a shuddering breathe. "Severus i'm-"
"I don't want to hear it Poppy. Just tell me...Will anyone else notice the changes to Miss Granger's status?" Severus said, his voice finally devoid of emotion as he swallowed his anger.
Poppy looked to the ground as she tried to regain her ability to talk, swallowing the burning shame that was lodged in her throat. She couldn't understand why she automatically thought the worse of Severus. She had known the lad since he was 11 years old, she knew he wasn't evil or interested in children. But when she saw his name attached to Hermione's, her anger raged as she thought of how he used his position of power to use the poor girl. In her defence, she would have never have guessed that she was his daughter.
"it's unlikely that anyone would notice. The school records would update but the Headmaster doesn't check them until the end of the year, too many other duties." Poppy said, unable to look them in the eye. "I won't tell anyone, don't worry Severus."
"Good. If this gets out, I will know its because of you. I will not allow Hermione to get into trouble and if this gets out, it will only bring her more danger. I will stop at nothing...Do you understand?" Severus said, towering over Poppy, his eyes dangerous and his voice tinged with promise.
Poppy nodded, unable to look away.
"Come Hermione. You only have a few days to finish your homework." Severus said sweeping out of the infirmary, Hermione running after him. She certainly was doing a lot of running while she was with Severus, one of his strides was worth two of hers.
As they neared their quarters, Hermione couldn't take the silence any longer and whispered, conscious of the walls having ears. "Why do you think the records changed?"
"I can only assume when I announced...that at Christmas...Magic took hold. I claimed you as a Snape." Severus said, looking straight ahead towards their quarters. As they reached it, he turned his head slightly to look down at her, a small smile graced his lips as he whispered, "After you Miss Snape."
Bit of drama and a bit of humour. The image of a bed pan hitting Snapes head made me giggle snort. Hope it does the same to you...Review please? (Shamelessly begging...Can't help it. :P )