***Hello there everyone! Yesterday I had a hell of a day and I am very sorry for not updating sooner. I hope you like this chapter! Thank you to all of you for reading my story!
The next morning Hermione woke up earlier than usual and went to make breakfast. While she was setting up the table one word was playing again and again in her mind 'love'. Severus Snape had used the word love while writing to her. She didn't know if she was getting paranoid but she felt like he meant the word. The only thing she could do was to just wait until lunch. She knew that they were going to talk a lot today but it was totally something they had to do. She shook her mind off of these thoughts and continued to making breakfast. Half an hour later her parents came down
''Good morning sweetheart! Why up so early?'' Jean asked Hermione after she kissed her head
''Good morning guys! No idea mum.'' Hermione said and smiled to her parents. No matter what, she knew that with them she always had a home to stay and a shoulder to cry.
''That smells wonderful cupcake!'' Said John and smiled at his daughter.
''Thank you daddy! Ah mum, I almost forgot. Professor Snape will come for lunch around 3 if it's okay with you.'' Hermione said and looked at her plate.
''It's fine dear. Are you okay with that sweetheart? ''Jean asked her daughter when she saw the look at her face.
''I have to do this mum. He is my father after all. He is my family. I have to give him that chance. That's what you and daddy taught me. Everyone deserves a second chance.'' Said Hermione feeling better now for talking with her parents about meeting Snape properly this time.
''That's my girl'' Said John and kissed his daughter at her head. He was very proud of her every minute of the day.
Later Hermione was at her room getting ready for the lunch. Suddenly a knock was heard from the door.
''Come in'' Hermione said and pulled her hair up to a ponytail.
''You are ready sweetheart? It's nearly 3!'' Jean said to her daughter
''Yes mum, I am coming in a few minutes.'' Hermione said and Jean left. Hermione was putting her ballerina shoes when the bell rang. She took a deep breath and left her room. When she arrived at the top of the stairs she looked down and saw Severus. He looked up and the two locked eyes. Hermione felt frozen. But after a few minutes something like air made her walk down the stairs and stand in front of Severus. He was smiling at her. He was giving her a real smile. But she saw it. She saw the guilty, the hurt and the pain behind his eyes. She felt like she could read him like an open book. That scared her a little. She couldn't form a word but to her relief Snape talked first.
''Hello Hermione'' He said with a small smile to his lips.
''Hello professor'' Hermione said but she immediately understood her fault in calling him professor when his face took a look of pain.
Jean to ease the tension said ''Hello professor Snape. Please come in'' and gave him a small smile
''Thank you for the invitation Mrs. Granger, it was very generous of your side. But please call me Severus'' Said Severus and gave her a small smile
''Then I insist to call me Jean.'' Said Jean and the three of them walked towards the dining room.
''I am glad to meet you professor Snape.'' Said John and the two shook hands
''The pleasure is all mine Mr. Granger. Please call me Severus.'' He said and looked at the man who had raised his daughter. He could easily see now from where Hermione had learned all these manners and he was happy to know that these people loved his daughter.
''Only if you call me John'' John said and smiled
''Very well John.'' Severus said and returned the smile
''Let's sit to the table'' Jean said and everyone sat down.
An awkward silence fell upon them until Hermione cleared her voice. She knew that she had to say something. ''Professor, how are things back at Hogwarts?''
''Everything's fine. A few changes although will come this year but everything else is on its rightful place.'' Severus said and looked at his daughter with eyes full of love.
''That's beautiful to here. We always want some changes to our lives.'' Hermione said and everyone smiled.
They ate lunch with few talks here and there. After that someone called John at his phone and said that they needed their help. Jean and John said their goodbyes to Severus and left him with Hermione to talk.
No one knew what to say to the other one. Finally Severus packed every bid of courage he had and went and kneeled in front of Hermione. That startled her but she didn't move. Severus seeing this, took a deep breath and said ''I probably can't very well understand the pain you are in but I can surely see it in your eyes. I want you to please listen to me without interrupting.'' With a nod from Hermione he continued ''Well let me start for the beginning. I met your mother when I was going at Hogwarts. I was in my fifth year when she started her first year. She was a Gryffindor and for some reason she started to talk to me and I started to enjoy her presence. We had a very strong friendship in the start. But after two years we fell in love. She made me feel loved again after so many years of pain.'' He took a deep breath but he was afraid to look at her and he continued ''We got married two years later after her graduation. After that I was accepted as a professor at Hogwarts and she decided to stay with me there. She got pregnant months later. We were very happy. Everything was great for those nine months of her pregnancy. But shortly after you were born the Dark lord gained more power and the prophesy was made. Voldemort learned about it and wanted to kill Harry. Your mother and the Potters, meaning James and Lily were great friends and when she learned that the Dark Lord was after them she was heartbroken. We talked about the danger you were in because of me. We decided that it was probably for the best if you were raised by someone else and not by us. For that reason we left you in an orphanage. A muggle orphanage for us to be sure that no one would know about you.'' He stopped again. He surprisingly had tears fill his eyes. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened them again because he felt Hermione hands holding his. He looked up and he saw tears rolling down his daughter face. He gently wiped them away and gave her a small smile which Hermione returned. She nodded at him and he continued. ''We put a glamour charm to you to change and become like the parents who were going to adopt you. Few months later after the downfall of the Dark lord, Dolohov and few others learned that I had a wife and a daughter. Although they thought that your mother was pregnant with you. They didn't know that you were already born. I wasn't fast enough. They arrived at our house when I was away. I loved her I really did. I still love her. I always wanted to have a family and Emily gave me what I wanted. She accepted me for what I was. She didn't care. She loved me too. I arrived too late to our house. They- they-'' He stopped. He couldn't continue. The tears were rolling rapidly down his cheeks. He didn't care that someone was seeing him cry because that someone was his daughter, his angel.
Hermione squeezed his hands ''It's okay, take your time'' she whispered at him.
He looked at her and wiped his tears. He took another deep breath and continued ''I am sorry for my break down. I don't do it often. But I am okay now thank you.'' He went to open his mouth again but Hermione stopped him.
''Don't say anything else. I think I understand what you are going to say. You don't need to hurt anymore. I have understood everything.'' She said and looked at him. Severus smiled at her.
''Can I hug you?'' He asked her and when she nodded Severus wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. ''Thank you Hermione, for everything my girl'' He said and kissed her head
''Can I ask you one thing please?'' She said to him with worry in her eyes
''Yes Hermione you can'' He answered her with his own worry fill his heart. He was afraid of the question because it could mean the loss of his daughter.
''Are you a death eater?'' The question he was feared. He froze. He didn't know what to answer. If he told her the truth, whould she want to see him again? But if he said to her lies one day the truth would hurt more. He took a moment to answer but in the end he said ''Yes I am'' and he stood up and went towards the door. He touched the knob and went to open the door.
''Where are you going?'' Hermione asked him with a frown
''I am leaving. I presume that you don't want to see me again.'' He said with an irony like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
''Then you presume wrong.'' Hermione told him angry
''You don't hate me for being one of the people who killed your mother?'' He asked her while walking towards her
''No I don't because you are not one of them. You may have his mark but I don't think that you work for him exactly. I may be 16 years old but I have some brains and I can understand when Dumbledore says that I have to put two and two together to understand. Besides I don't think that he would let a death eater around Harry Potter's best friend. Am I right?'' Hermione told him with a smirk. A smirk only a true Slytherin could have.
He smiled at her ''You are just like your mother'' He said but he was taken aback from Hermione's sudden movement.
''Thank you! Thank you!'' she whispered at him
He wrapped his hands around her ''What are you thanking me for?'' He asked her with a frown
She laughed ''Because you said that I am like mum.'' She explained to him
''If I have as a thank you gift a hug from you then I will tell you that every minute of the day'' He said to her and both laughed. When they calmed down Severus turned to Hermione. ''Thank you for accepting me Hermione.''
She smiled at him ''You are a part of me. I can't exactly walk away because I am going to break my heart. You are my dad no matter what.'' She said to him and she widened her eyes at his shocked state. ''What's wrong?'' She asked
''You called me dad, didn't you?'' Severus whispered
''Yes I did'' She said feeling that she had made a mistake. He fears left her when Severus hugged her tight.
''Thank you'' he whispered to her and kissed her head
The two of them sat together for the remaining of the evening at the sofa. A little later the Granger's returned home and were shocked from what they saw. At their sofa Hermione and Severus were sleeping together with Severus arm placed at Hermione's shoulder like he was a barrier between her and the danger. Jean and John smiled at each other and left for their room.
*** Please leave a review! Thank you so much!
arabellagrace: Thank you for your time! Well he is her father after all
austinsmom: Thank you! You will have to wait and see. Harry and Ron won't learn quickly about this situation sorry!
Leena evram: Thank you so much dear!
dutch potterfan : Oh thank you so much! I am really glad that you like reading the story!
peachx89 : Thank you! I hope that you liked this one as well!
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***Don't forget that you're reviews gives me strength to keep going! Until we meet again!