He woke the next morning feeling disorientated. This wasn't his bed. Where the fuck was he? As he slowly became more aware he realised he was in his living room, the transfigured sofa taking up more space than normal.

He felt, rather than saw eyes watching him as he sat up warily, wand slowly drawn from under his pillow until he noticed Hermione sat opposite him, her legs drawn to her chest, her face still pale. This morning was not going to be pleasant, he realised, swinging his legs round and standing to transfigure the sofa back into a sofa.

"Come here." he sighed as he sat back down grunting slightly as she threw herself at him, burrowing into his side as he wrapped his arms around her, truly appreciating, for quite possibly the first time, how very young she was. How much she'd had to deal with this year.

"It's going to be alright, Hermione."

She sobbed into his chest as he tightened an arm around her, stroking her curls as he attempted to get her to calm down.

"How?" she finally got out "How will it be alright? There are people in the infirmary, a monster on the loose, a monster no one knows what it is or how it works because of Uncle Lucius. Because he was so petty that he wanted to humiliate another wizard through an eleven year old and didn't bother to think of the consequences. And more than that, we've just found out that you-know-who isn't actually dead, I mean we guessed after last year but now we know it's definitely true and currently, he's unkillable. And Harry…." she began crying harder again making her words unintelligible.

"I know, sweetheart, I know" he soothed, wondering how the fuck this was ever going to be alright.

It had to be though, there was no other option as far as he was concerned. Because the Dark Lord was insane and would therefore need to be dealt with. Because he had a sinking suspicion that at some point Harry bloody Potter would have to be involved. Because where that boy went, his daughter would follow. The thought of her being anywhere near the monster the Dark Lord had become in the end made him feel physically sick and he pulled her closer to him as if he could protect her as long as she stayed in his arms.

They had breakfast in his quarters, it was a silent affair, both of them lost in their own thoughts as they picked at the food in front of them.

"How do I forgive him for this?" She asked finally, looking at him with wide, worried eyes that made his heart hurt.

"I do not know, Hermione. It is not a decision I can make for you sweetheart. For what it is worth, last night affected him in a way I have never seen anything affect him. He regrets what he did. It does not make it right but maybe it is a place to begin. He told me he would visit your parents if you felt it necessary."

She looked surprised at that, he noted.

"Uncle Lucius said he'd visit my muggle parents?"

"Yes. He did."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Will you arrange it for the summer? I...I think I'd like to see how he handles that before I make any decisions."

"If that is your wish."

"I need to speak to Harry." she sighed heavily. "I'm going to have to speak to Draco too aren't I?"

He smiled gently, an expression he never thought would grace his face. "Probably, sweetheart. He won't like it if he hears it from someone else."

"Father? Is someone going to check on Ginny?"

He froze as he silently admitted to himself that the thought hadn't crossed his mind in the wake of the other revelations of last night. He would have to figure out a way to do it without alerting anyone else. Despite his anger at the man, he had no urge to see Lucius hauled off to Azkaban for being a prejudiced idiot. He realised it was a line he may have to revisit should anything worse happen, but for just now, no one had died, as long as it stayed that way, as long as Miss Weasley was alright, he could justify his questionable decision.

"Yes, I will ensure the girl is looked over."

"Could she have been the one opening the chamber?"

"Yes," he replied reluctantly. "However if she was I do not imagine she would be doing it willingly."

She sighed as she nodded. "Father?"

"Yes, Hermione."

"Why doesn't Professor Dumbledore want me to see you?"

Fuck. How the fuck was he meant to answer that?

"I….the Headmaster has many reasons, Hermione. I will not lie to you but I also cannot tell you everything just now."

"Will you? Eventually?" she asked in a small voice.

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Yes. Eventually."

He hoped she wouldn't hate him when he did.

"Father?"

"Hermione?" he quirked an eyebrow at her and she had the grace to blush.

"Can he make you not see me?"

"What? No! No, Hermione, he cannot. I….I was going to ask, and I understand if you do not wish it but….the form, Lucius mentioned. I could send it to the Ministry. It would….it would make me your legal guardian in this world and….it would recognise you as my Heir."

"So you would officially be my father?" she asked, looking at him quizzically as if his heart wasn't hammering out of his chest and he wasn't ten seconds away from a complete breakdown. Fuck he had no idea what he'd do if she refused. He was worried it would break his heart.

"Yes. I mean it, Hermione, I do understand if you don't want that. I can understand you not wishing everyone to know that we are related." And he could, as much as it pained him to admit it. He could understand her not wanting to admit to being the daughter of the bat of the dungeons but fuck he really really hoped that she would.

She looked at him in surprise. "Do you not want anyone to know?" she said carefully.

"What? Hermione, no! Of course, I want people to know."

"Then why are you saying it like that?"

"Because I had assumed it would make your life harder to be publicly linked to me."

She rolled her eyes at him. "I don't care what people think. Fill out the form, Father. The important people already know and are fine with it."

"I….you're sure, Hermione? You have to be sure. Once it's done I cannot take it back. Should the Dark Lord come back, Hermione, you must understand that it puts you in a terrible position."

She smiled at him gently as if she understood his desperation more than he did as she moved to sit next to him, wrapping an arm around his middle, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I never expected to say this but I love you, Father. Fill out the form, we'll figure everything else out when we have to."

He wasn't crying. He wasn't. It was dusty in the dungeons, that was all. Fuck.

"I love you too sweetheart."

He was glad she had the kindness not to comment on how choked he sounded as she burrowed closer.

He sat in Dumbledore's office later that day having escorted Hermione back to her common room, more than a little reluctant to let her go. Minerva was stony faced as she glared at Albus over his desk.

The hours since he'd last seen the Headmaster had not been kind. The man looked old, tired and shaken as he stared sightlessly at the diary in front of him as if it could give him all the answers they sought.

Clearing his throat, Severus noted with some amusement that they both jumped.

"Are we going to begin? I was under the impression there was still a monster on the loose?"

Albus sighed. "I don't know what you would like me to tell you."

"How about the truth, Albus?" Minerva replied caustically. "We'll start with the easy questions, why is it you are so determined that Severus should not have a relationship with Miss Granger?"

He watched the Headmaster twitch. Not an easy question then. That filled him with dread. What was the man up to? And why was his daughter caught up in it?

"You are aware of the prophecy?" Albus began slowly, weighing his words carefully. "Harry is the only person who can destroy Voldemort."

Minerva was pale. "That does not mean he has to do it alone, Albus!"

"No, Minerva. It does not."

Severus felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice over him. Albus could not be implying what he thought he was. They were children! All of them were children but one of them belonged to him. His child. Expected to be in the thick of the Dark Lord's downfall because of who she was friends with?

He had no illusions that she would not fight, but hearing the implication that the Headmaster was planning for it to be so left him struggling to contain his anger. There were adults, actual fucking adults who could help, not other fucking children. Not his child.

"Tell me, Albus, that you are not planning on having my daughter stand next to Potter in this fight?" His voice was colder than he'd ever heard it as he fought to contain the magic that desperately wanted unleashed to punish the Headmaster for viewing his daughter's life as so fucking insignificant. She was a pawn as far as he was concerned. Well, fuck that.

"She will stand next to him regardless, Severus."

"And that will be her choice but tell me you are not planning to orchestrate it to be so. Tell me you are not using children, fucking children Albus like game pieces."

He saw the moment Minerva understood what she'd missed before, the woman's eyes going hard in her fury.

"Answer him, Albus." she spat, her accent thicker as she lost some of her usual poise.

"Miss Granger is uncommonly intelligent and appears to have a way of keeping Harry out of too much mischief. He will need her to succeed." the headmaster answered.

"She is not his keeper!" Severus roared standing abruptly as he slammed his hands down on the Headmaster's desk, finally losing his temper. "She does not exist solely to help Harry bloody Potter fulfil his destiny. She's a fucking person, Albus. She's thirteen bloody years old. A child! My child! You will not….." he stopped as abruptly as he had started, breathing heavily as he fought to get himself back under control. "You are the Headmaster of the school she attends, nothing more. You will stay away from my daughter Albus, you will not include her in any of the fucking horrendous things you are planning. Fuck you old man. You are not omniscient! This is not a fucking dictatorship! You want my help, you'll cease this fucking arseholery, sitting in this office thinking only you deserve to know everything while using people to suit your whims. Not her, Albus. You do not get to use her."

Minerva slowly extended a hand across the space between their seats as he sat down heavily, reaching for his hand, squeezing it slightly as she stared the Headmaster down. He had never seen her look at Albus like that in all the years he'd known them both. The man was gaping at him in shock as if he'd never seen him before.

"You love her," Albus said finally, as if the concept was foreign.

"Yes," he replied shortly. "I love her. My loyalty will be to her Albus. Always. Be very careful with how you proceed."

Albus stared at him for a long time as if he couldn't fit the pieces together anymore.

"Now, what do you know?" Minerva broke the silence, her eyes narrowed on the Headmaster. He looked at her for several painful moments before seeming to slump.

"I have reason to believe he discussed this with Horace Slughorn. I believe he was aiming for seven, although I am unsure as to whether he managed it." Albus sighed. "You understand this is just conjecture?"

"Yes. You've already said something of the sort." Minerva answered scathingly. "What else?"

"I was unaware of the diary, I believe that he may have turned the ring he wore into one. There were discussions many years ago about a witch by the name of Hepzibah Smith. Two objects belonging to the founders went missing after her death, Tom Riddle was known to have visited while working for Borgin and Burkes. It is possible he used them. I have no idea what the others are likely to be if they exist."

"Do you know where to find them?"

"No. Again, I have some suspicions. He is related to the Gaunts through his mother's line. They had a house in Little Hangleton, it is where I would start. Maybe something linked to the orphanage, I am unsure. The only other place he had a link to is here and I cannot imagine not having come across something before now, although, of course, it is possible. Other than that, maybe he left some with his followers. If he didn't explain their purpose, I can understand how one may have made its way here. The diary, after all, had to have come from somewhere."

Severus fought the urge to squirm at that. It would be fine. He was capable of not reacting, although Albus was watching him intently. It was bloody uncomfortable.

"Do we have a plan?" Severus asked instead, pushing the discomfort away.

"I propose we look at the Gaunt shack, ask the elves to do a sweep of Hogwarts and search the orphanage," Minerva answered promptly. "Once of course, we figure out what creature is petrifying the students." She turned a hard eye on Dumbledore. "Do you have any ideas?"

Albus sighed. "There are very few things that can petrify. The basilisk, a gorgon and there are spells. Advanced spells that I do not imagine a student being able to cast. A student possessed by the Dark Lord, however? It must be considered a possibility."

"Right, then start eliminating options." Minerva was watching the Headmaster again, her face almost daring him to argue. "The fact that Mr Potter is hearing voices would indicate a basilisk, therefore you will reach out to the Unspeakables and you will get them to send an expert. I assume they have some way of tracking creatures? If not, we will make a new plan. I expect the unspeakable in this office this time tomorrow, Albus. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Minerva." Albus sighed, defeated.

"Good. The students will remain in their dormitories until this is concluded." Minerva stood as she spoke. "I have supported you for many years, Albus but I am currently ashamed to have done so. If I so much as hear a whisper of you withholding information, or manipulating the children in this school I will go to the Ministry with my concerns. People, Albus, are not just things for you to play with on a whim. Your treatment of Mr Potter, Miss Granger and of Severus is truly appalling and it ends. Now."

She didn't give Albus a chance to respond as she swept out of the room in a dramatic exit that quite frankly he was jealous of. He walked out behind her, aware not to billow too much or it would look like he was copying her. He'd be extracting a glass of her really good scotch for that little display. Damn woman stealing his tricks!