"We have to involve Albus," Minerva spoke into the silence.
Closing his eyes, he wondered if there was any other way before reluctantly coming to the conclusion that there wasn't, so he nodded.
He heard Minverva stand, opening his eyes he watched her walk to the floor again, both children silent and pale. After Minerva left, Hermione lifted her head slightly, reducing the tightness of her hold on him.
"Father?"
"Yes?"
"Is the diary responsible for the Chamber of Secrets reopening?"
He sighed, it seemed improbable but it was the best guess he had.
"I do not know. It's likely however if it is, that someone had to be helping it. Diaries are not known for their ability to write on walls."
"Someone is helping it? Because they want to?"
"I do not know." He sighed again, feeling the weight of the new information on him, hoping that Albus had some answers because he most definitely did not.
"Sir, can a Horcrux make someone do something they don't want to do?"
"Honestly Mr Potter, I do not know. There is very little research into the magic involved in Horcruxes, mainly because most people are too horrified that one may exist to experiment with one. And truly, if you've made a Horcrux, you are unlikely to be willing to discuss it with other people and far less likely to hand it over to be experimented on ."
He watched Potter sigh and deflate slightly. His floo reactivating punctured the silence as Minerva and then Albus walked through.
"I understand there is a situation, my boy?" Albus settled himself on the sofa next to Potter glancing at Severus before turning to the children. "Miss Granger, Harry, I didn't expect to find you both still here. I'm sure Minerva will escort you back to your common room."
His daughter pulled away to glance up at him, waiting on him to object, clearly not impressed with that plan. Minerva beat him to it.
"Actually Albus, I think the children deserve somewhat of an explanation. It has been a trying evening, some more time before they join their classmates may help put them at ease."
"Really Minerva, I must insist. This is not a conversation for children and should things be as I suspect, we will need to revisit Severus' relationship with Miss Granger, which is ultimately a discussion for the adults."
Severus felt his daughter stiffen next to him as he saw Minerva gape at the Headmaster as if she'd never seen him before. Even bloody Potter was looking at the man like he'd lost his mind.
"Revisit Severus' relationship with Miss Granger, Albus?" he heard Minerva ask incredulously. "Whatever do you mean?"
It was almost like he was having an out of body experience as he felt himself disengage from Hermione without waiting to hear Albus' answer as he stood and walked over to the floo, aware of Hermione's wide eyes on him as he moved.
He called out for Malfoy Manor, arriving in the floo room and dispatching an elf to find Lucius who arrived looking perplexed.
"Severus. Is everything alright? Is Draco…."
"Draco is fine. I need you to return with me to Hogwarts in your capacity as a school governor." He bit out as he watched Lucius' eyebrows rise sharply.
"Severus, what is going on?"
"Albus has decided it would be in Miss Granger's best interests if I was not involved in her life. I need to know if he can enforce it." He forced the panic he felt at the thought back down behind his shields.
Lucius looked at him incredulously. "Why?"
"There was information brought to my attention today that is… troubling. Albus has had to be involved. He was unimpressed when Hermione's parentage first came out due to her connection to Harry Potter and mine to the Dark Lord. I believe this is just an excuse to justify the outcome he is pushing for."
Lucius sighed. "Very well. Remember that you are her father, Severus. Of course, the old man cannot force you to be uninvolved."
Severus only just stopped his shoulders visibly slumping in his relief.
They returned to find Minerva sitting between both children, glaring at the Headmaster who was looking serenely around the room. He looked up when the floo activated.
"Really, Severus?"
"I felt the need to have an official witness to whatever transpires during the course of this conversation." he bit out, heading to sit next to his daughter, wrapping his arm around her in reassurance, feeling her relax slightly as she sunk into the embrace.
"It's time the children left. I must insist. Miss Granger, you will be informed of the outcome of the conversation regarding your relationship with Professor Snape however please know, that we are only thinking of you. Unpleasant decisions must be made in the interests of safety."
"No. You get no say in this Albus. My relationship with my daughter is none of your concern." he felt the panic he'd shoved down resurfacing alongside anger at the Headmaster's utter disregard for anyone's feelings but his own. Like they were all just pawns, there to do his bidding. Lucius was right, he was her father, and Albus was just her Headmaster, he had no power in the situation, despite how he framed things.
"Oh, but it is Severus. Given your….connections, and Miss Granger's link to Harry. It is very much my concern."
"That is quite enough Albus!" He didn't think he'd ever seen Minerva so enraged.
"Headmaster, might I remind you that one form will reinstate Severus as Hermione's magical guardian? A form I am happy to ensure makes it to the correct Ministry department. Personally. Questions will be asked Albus, as to why you didn't insist on it immediately, why you chose to remain the girl's guardian in this world when you knew she had links elsewhere. I imagine that questions may also be raised as to why you are Harry Potter's magical guardian when he also has other options. Augusta Longbottom, for instance." Lucius managed to silence the Headmaster's posturing without raising his voice as Albus turned to stare at the man as if he couldn't believe anyone had the audacity to question his decisions.
"There will be no more talk of reassessing my relationship with my daughter, am I clear?" His voice was low and tightly controlled, even as he felt his magic snapping, begging to be let loose, the panic he felt at the thought of her being taken from him almost overwhelming as it fought against his shields.
Albus looked around the room shrewdly. "It will need to be discussed, Severus."
"Not by you. If we choose to discuss it in your presence, you will listen. You will offer advice only when asked or so help me, old man, I will be forced to make decisions that you will not like." he barked, barely holding on to his temper. There was an uncomfortable silence before Lucius spoke.
"Now. Is someone going to explain to me what started this?" he asked when it became clear that Albus had no idea how to respond to that, he had the gall to look faintly amused.
Hermione glanced at Harry who shrugged.
"I need you to promise me that what we say won't leave the room unless we say it can, Uncle Lucius."
He watched as Potter and Dumbledore startled at her address. Lucius looked calculating, before whatever internal debate he'd been having ceased and he dipped his head in acquiescence.
"Very well, Hermione."
"I am serious, Uncle Lucius. If this gets out and I find it came from you there will be no forgiveness. I will cut contact and leave you to explain it to Aunt Cissa." she said, her voice hard.
He felt a flicker of pride as he watched Lucius blanche slightly before he cleared his throat.
"You have my word, Hermione."
She nodded. "Good. We found this diary in the girl's bathroom, it showed us a memory. Father and Professor McGonagall have come to the conclusion it's a Horcrux."
The twitch was minute but he saw it. That fleeting panic that flashed across Lucius' eyes. He recognised that damn diary.
"Are you sure?" There was almost a wobble to Lucius' voice, noticeable only to those who knew him well.
Hermione glanced at him, waiting on his input.
"It is the only thing that makes sense."
"I see, Severus. That is….most unusual. To whom do you believe it belongs?"
"Voldemort, Lucius, we believe it belongs to Voldemort."
He watched as Lucius sat down heavily in an armchair.
"I see. Is this his only one do you think?"
Fuck he hadn't even considered there being more. Had Dumbledore just twitched? Oh, bloody fuck there were more. How many fucking more? He wanted to take his daughter and run. No fucking wonder the man was insane. Multiple fucking Horcruxes. How long had Albus known?
"Albus?"
"I'm sorry my boy, I have no idea."
Minerva looked at Albus shrewdly. "Guess."
"Really Minerva, how could I possibly know?"
"Albus, if you do not stop this nonsense I will tell Fudge about the debacle with the Philosopher's stone." she threatened, her face set in a hard mask.
"Minerva! You would not!"
"Yes! Yes, I would because you know something and you're not sharing! Again! I will not allow a repeat of the first war, Albus!" she shouted, her fear impacting her usual control.
He watched as Dumbledore deflated slightly.
"I believe he has made more." Albus admitted finally.
"How many Albus?"
"Potentially seven."
Seven? Fucking seven? Dear gods. What the fuck were they meant to do with that information?
"Do you know what they are, Albus?"
"No." He sighed looking older than Severus had ever seen him. "I have suspicions about some but…." he trailed away with a shrug.
"Tomorrow. Tomorrow old man you are going to sit down with us both and share your suspicions. We are going to find these monstrosities and we are going to destroy them, am I clear, Albus?" Minerva demanded.
"Yes, Minerva." All fight going out of him in the face of Minerva's fury. Severus wondered briefly when the last time was that anyone had spoken to the Great Albus Dumbledore like that. Clearly, it needed to happen more often.
"Good. Miss Granger, I suspect you require a conversation with your Father. Mr Potter, while I am aware you will wish to discuss this with Miss Granger, it can wait until the morning. I will escort you to your common room."
Harry looked to be close to arguing before he saw Hermione glance between Severus and Lucius and clearly wondered what he had missed.
"Are you going to explain your reaction, old friend?"
Severus' voice was dangerous, there was no way Lucius hadn't caught it. He watched as Lucius gazed at Hermione, regret etched on his face. It was disconcerting. He hadn't been aware that Lucius knew how to regret anything.
"I didn't know what it was," He whispered.
"You are responsible for it being in the school, Lucius?"
"Yes." Lucius looked wretched, his eyes never leaving Hermione "I swear I didn't know. I just wanted her to be caught with it, it was obviously Dark. I thought someone would pick up on it and he'd be humiliated."
"You gave it to whom?"
"Arthur Weasley's daughter."
He watched Hermione's eyes go wide as she realised the implications of what had just been said, before she turned to Lucius.
"How could you? She's eleven! Whatever you think of her father, she is an eleven year old girl!" He should probably stop her shouting at her honorary Uncle, but he couldn't bring himself to. And really, did he want to be in the firing line of his daughter's wrath? Lucius had brought this on himself, he could deal with the consequences.
"Please, I know it was wrong. Hermione, please. I am so sorry. I never meant for this to happen."
"No, you just meant for Mr Weasley to be investigated, potentially lose his job. Then what? They have seven children! Did you think of that when you were trying to humiliate him?"
"I... no. No, I did not. And I should have. Hermione, please. Your propensity for forgiveness is well known, I am begging you."
"No." Her face was pale but Lucius' was paler as he visibly recoiled as if she'd hit him. " I'm not saying not ever but not just now. I….I am ashamed to be related to you."
Severus watched his friend's face crumble as his daughter turned from him and walked into his bedroom, away from her honorary Uncle.
"Ella was always my favourite cousin, you know." he heard Lucius whisper, his eyes trained on the door Hermione had just disappeared through.
He looked down at Lucius, pity mingling with exasperation and disgust.
"Yes."
"She looks so very like her. She has her fire. But it's your loyalty, your strong sense of morality that appears to be her driving force. I never want to see her look at me like that again, Severus."
"Then I suggest you are prepared to change, old friend. She will not tolerate your pettiness nor will she tolerate most of your views. Maybe I should bring you to meet the Dr's Granger."
Lucius blanched before collecting himself. "If that is the price of her forgiveness."
Severus struggled to contain his shock.
After seeing Lucius to the floo he went in search of his daughter. He found her sound asleep on his bed, tear tracks marking her face and sighed. Levitating her gently, he pulled the duvet down and lowered her in, covering her as he brushed the hair from her face. He hadn't expected to love her. He admitted to himself that he'd been horrified when he'd seen those results on the parchment but getting to know her over the last few months had been mind-blowing. He wanted to give her the world, this girl of his, who loved fiercely, believed in the underdog and who deserved nothing less than the very best of everything. She was the very best thing in his life and if it meant they were hunting Horcruxes until the day he died, he'd do it. He'd do it to keep her safe.
The Dark Lord would expect to be given her, a daughter of a pureblooded House and a loyal follower. He'd expect her to fall into line, join his ranks or marry into them. And she wouldn't, this righteous girl of his, she'd die first but he'd be damned if he let her. He intended to protect her with everything he had, Albus' wishes be damned. He wasn't Albus' spy, he wasn't doing this to honour Lily's memory anymore. He was her father and she was more important than all of it. And if in the end it killed him, he'd meet death gladly as long as she was safe. He felt the truth of that promise, as he silently vowed to give his life for hers should she require it, burn as it settled in his soul, like well-aged whisky, warming him from within.