A/N This story is my own plot but using the characters of J K Rowling.
This story is going to contain some OOC moments but its how I'm imagining it.
Also, the first couple of chapters have been tweaked and updated to fit with the new plot that the bunny brought to me with the help of my new Beta Gingerzrule so please give the first 3 chapters a reread.
Chapter two.
Severus woke early. Today was the day. It was going to be a long day. He hoped he would be able to cope. He had a plan. A well laid and good timed plan, but as he knew well, children don't always stick to plans. So today was his first test at being flexible and reasonable. He didn't expect Hermione to give him any problems but he also understood that this was a big and exciting day for her. He made his way to the great hall for breakfast. Minerva would be there. He didn't know many things about being a parent but he already knew that he wasn't going to let this little girl down. It had suddenly hit him last night that he wasn't prepared at all. He reached the great hall in minutes. As hoped Minerva was already seated. During the holidays, there were no rules surrounding professors and when or where they ate. Summer was always Severus' favourite holiday. The only kids around were the professor's children. No one to bother him, it scared him how nervous he was about the fact that it was all about to change.
"Hello Severus" Minerva greets cheerfully but an underlying tone of tiredness.
"Hello" He responded softly. He wondered if Albus had told her about Hermione.
"How are you? You look like you haven't slept again" she says concerned. Severus nodded, he saw this woman as his mother, and he wasn't surprised she could read him.
"I didn't sleep much last night honestly. I was a bit preoccupied." He says.
"Why's that?" Minerva questioned.
"My Hermione is coming today." He says softly. Minerva smiles, she was excited for Severus.
"When does she come?" Minerva asks chuckling.
"I'm going to pick her up after breakfast." Severus answers. "I plan to take her shopping straight away. I haven't furnished her room yet" he tells Minerva.
"Would you like some advice? Or do you have specific questions?" Minerva replies. She knows how Severus' mind works; she didn't want to overload him.
"What essentials do you think I need to buy today? I know what I think..?"
"What do you think?" The deputy head asks the professor that she saw as her son. Severus pulled some parchment out of his pocket.
"Her bed and a chest of drawers. A bookcase and a desk and most defiantly a chair. Some bedding. Once I have seen what she has packed. I'll know what else we will need to buy today." Severus says.
Minerva nods in response. "In my experience, the muggle care system isn't great at making sure kids have clothes that fit." She says softly. "When I got Amelia last year, she had about three sets of clothes that fit her properly. She had no toiletries of her own and food was a big issue for her."
"What issues surround food?" Severus asks her.
"Lia always took really small portions, eventually she opened up and told me that food was rationed at her care home because of how many kids there were there." Minerva said.
Severus nods. "I'll deal with that if it becomes an issue and if she can tell me about it." He responds, "Can I ask you something?" he says, and Minerva notices his sudden nervousness.
"Of course." She replies.
"I want Hermione to have a positive female role model. Someone she can talk to about girly things. Would you min…"
"Of course, laddie." Minerva's Scottish came out when she got excited. "You know I count you as family. Your little lass can be my first grandchild." Minerva interrupts excitedly. Severus smiles.
"I'll bring her to meet you tonight. Shall we have dinner?" He asks. Minerva nods.
"I'll be bringing Lia if that is ok? My others are with friends, but Amelia wanted to stay and start her summer reading list." Minerva chuckles. "She is such a Ravenclaw."
Severus nodded. "That's acceptable. The three broomsticks? 6pm?" he asks.
Minerva smiles "that'll be perfect."
Severus looks at his watch "I best be going. We will see you later." Severus heads towards his room to make his final checks.
Hermione woke up really early. She got washed and dressed quickly. So far, she had four bags fully packed. 2 were full of clothes that properly fit or that nearly did. They were a bit small but they would do. She had all her books she wanted together but that bag was really heavy and she didn't know what form of transport Severus had.
Hermione really struggled to sleep that previous night. There were things that really upset her and she didn't always know how to deal with them. She had very few possessions of her own. She even shared bathroom products with the other girls and therefore couldn't pack anything like shampoo or even soap.
At 10am, there was a knock on Hermione's bedroom door. She went and opened it. Severus stood there.
"Hello Hermione." He says softly smiling at the young girl.
"Hi" she replied nervously. Unsure what to call the man. Both of the families who had tried with her previously were very particular about what they were to be called and Hermione didn't want to make the mistake again. She didn't want to be rude and call him by his first name but she also didn't know if she was comfortable enough to call him dad.
"Can I come in?" he asks softly. Hermione turns and lets him in. "What have you got packed all ready?" He asks.
"4. Two of them are full of clothes." She starts slowly. Severus interrupts her gently, remembering what Minerva had said over breakfast. "Do they all fit you properly little one?" Hermione shakes her head sadly in response. "How many do?" Severus inquires.
"Half of this bag" Hermione says quietly. Severus can feel the nervousness within the girl. He sits on the floor close to where she was stood, firstly to bring his size down to similar to her so she wasn't scared. Secondly to try and show Hermione a different side to Severus. A side not many other people had seen, normally anywhere else Severus would have demanded a chair, but knowing his young girl currently didn't have one, he didn't want to embarrass her more then she probably already felt.
"Can we separate them? So that I can see what you have?" He asks. Hermione sits opposite him. Undoing the knot, she tied in one of the bags, she pulled out a small carrier bag.
"This bag of stuff fit properly." She says, suddenly her nerves get the better of her. "Can I ask you something?"
"of course." Severus replies.
"What do I call you? I know that your name is Severus, but that seems rude to call you it. However, I don't know if I could call you dad…." She says really nervous. "Yet" she adds quietly. Severus smiles at the young girl in front of him.
"You may call me whatever you want to little one. I don't mind. Obviously once you start at Hogwarts. You have to refer to me as Professor Snape or sir whilst we are in class or in public. However in the holidays and if we are in private you may call me anything you want to. Is that ok?" Severus says softly.
"Yes Severus." She responds gigging at the use of his name. "I like it when you call me little one." She adds happily and Severus smiles.
"I'm glad." Severus says.
"Now. We are going to leave the clothes that don't fit you." Severus says sternly but not meanly and Hermione nods softly. "What else do you have to take?" He asks calmly.
"My books, but I was slightly worried about bringing them all." Hermione says honestly.
"Why little one?" He asks frowning.
"The bag containing them…. It's heavy. I didn't know how we would get to Hogwarts. So, I didn't know if I could bring a heavy bag." Hermione explains but explains it quietly.
"May I see the bag?" he responded. She struggled to move the bag closer to him. Using his wandless magic skills as he wasn't sure if she was ready for wand use, he quickly cast the levitation charm, the bag quickly rises out of Hermione's hands. Hermione sits back on her heels and her jaw drops in amazement. Severus accio'd the bag towards him and then cast the feather light charm so that the bag was more manageable. The final charm he cast was a shrinking charm so he could fit the bag of book in his pocket.
"Wow!" Hermione says excitedly. "So, you can cast magic without a wand? I read that is a skill that's really rare!" Severus smiles.
After Hermione explained what was in her backpack, she looked up at him curiously.
"Severus?" she said softly.
"Yes?" He replied.
"What's the plan for today?" She asks thoughtfully. "I like having plans and routines." She added.
"The plan? Once we are done here, I would like to take these bags back to Hogwarts and after an early and light lunch, I would like to go shopping for the furniture for your room, get you some new clothes and if we have time maybe get your wand today. Also tonight, we have dinner plans with someone very important." He informs his child.
"Who?" She asks.
"Another Hogwarts professor and her child. The professor is a women that I admire very much. I see her like a mother figure. In my eyes, she will be your grandmother, she is very excited to meet you." He says.
"What's her name? What does she teach?" Hermione asks eagerly.
"Transfiguration. Her name is Minerva, but I'm sure that she will introduce herself and let you know how she wishes to be addressed." He tells her and Hermione smiles in response. "She has a daughter a year older then you. Minerva has adopted her as I have you. Her name is Amelia, I think she refers to herself as Lia. You will meet her tonight as well." Hermione nods.
"What other family do you have? Do they know about me?" she asks and Severus sighs internally.
"I'm afraid little one, that in the way of biological family, I like you have none. I have Minerva who is my substitute mother. My best friend is practically my brother, to the extent that we refer to each other as brothers. His son is my godson. My brother isn't aware you yet. My plan was to introduce you to him and his family tomorrow." Severus answers honestly.
"Ok. What will I call your brother?" Hermione asks nervously. Severus notices her nervousness surrounding people and their names and wants to investigate further but not until he thinks Hermione is settled.
"Hopefully you'll feel comfortable enough to call him uncle one day, but I'm sure we can come up with something that will make you both comfortable."
She nods in response. Obviously calmed by his answer. "How much longer do you need here Hermione?" he asks. She looks around the room that she has occupied since her arrival at the care home. All her family stuff was packed up and her room looked as barren as it did when she occupied it and when she first received it.
"I think I'm done. Everything is packed." Hermione replied. Severus nodded.
"Shall we head off now then?" he asks.
"OK" Hermione replied. "Severus…." She says after a minute or two of silence.
"Yes." He responded whilst shrinking her other bags to fit in his pocket.
"Thank you." She whispers. He looks at her confused. "Thank you for wanting me. For taking the time to help me. No one ever cared about me. Every birthday, every Christmas I made the same wish. Every night I prayed. I wished and prayed that somebody, somewhere would see me and think 'wow this girl would make my family complete.' So, thank you for making my wish come true. I had begun to give up hope. I'm glad I didn't." Hermione says. Severus kneels so he is the same height as his child.
"I'm glad I found you. I promise that my life is dedicated to making yours as good as can be. I never ever thought I'd be a father but the minute I met you, I knew I needed you. I need you in my life. I knew I could give you everything you deserved. All the love I have I want to give to you." He replied, when he looked at Hermione, she was crying. "Why are you crying little one?" he asks.
"They are happy tears." She said whilst wiping her tears away. "No one ever said that I'm important before." She rushes forward and envelopes Severus in a hug. The force of the hug sent Severus back, he held onto her tightly. "I love you." She whispers into his chest. "I'm glad that you're my adoptive daddy." She whispers.
"I'm happy that I can make you happy little one" he responds, his heart pained by her statement but filled with joy over her reaction to him. He couldn't wait to introduce her to Minerva. He couldn't wait to take her shopping, he had so much money saved up and couldn't wait to spoil her.
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