"We accept the love we think we deserve."

― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

September 19th, 2011

She awoke that morning to several overnight deliveries. It appeared Krema had left them all at her vanity, mostly small parcels with cards attached. She decided to open the cards first, reaching for the one that had her son's neat handwriting etched across the envelope.

Dear Mum,

Thank you for being the best Mum ever. I'm glad we live at Hogwarts with Professor Snape and Katherine now.

You're the coolest,

Love, Henry

She collected and kept together her son's letters, which were what carried her through her most difficult days. Folding the sweet note back and tucking it into the manila envelope, she untied the small parcel it had been attached to. Nearly snorting, she realised her son had written out an arithmantic equation he had done regarding her love life on a miniature chalkboard. His calculations showed she would fall in love again. It was a simple equation that a young student of arithmancy would be able to calculate but was not specific in any sense of the word. Of course, she would fall in love again one day. Laughing to herself, she set the chalkboard against her mirror, smiling fondly at it. Her son wanted to see her happy, she knew, but she truly was at this point in her life. Teaching had been a foray she was not sure she would enjoy particularly, but she now realised it was absolutely rewarding.

Her background impressed her students, which made her job all the easier, having already received the respect without really earning it. But her goal in that first month with them was to prove she was capable of teaching them what they needed to know regarding the subject. Thus far, she had succeeded.

And alongside it all, she found the quiet companionship of Severus Snape. She often invaded his office during their free hours, which just so happened to fall together several times throughout the week. She would mark papers, tossing one to him every now and then to ask his opinion. He would roll his eyes and give it low marks just for being impossible to parse. She enjoyed these moments in her week. The one time she had tried marking essays in their shared living space, he had vanished them out of sight. Affronted, they had argued before he finally convinced her that she shouldn't let her job interfere with her personal time.

Taking this to heart, she instead found herself interfering with his work time in order to grade papers. He called her a nuisance, but she knew he liked her company. They had fallen into an easy sort of banter, having been in even closer quarters than when they were neighbours in Cokeworth.

And she grew increasingly aware of her emerging feelings for the man. She couldn't ignore them. Suddenly connecting her thoughts, she thought: Henry. Could he see she held an interest in Severus? Could Katherine? That would explain his gift to her, she wondered silently.

Then suddenly, she came to a terrifying thought: What if Severus could tell she liked him?

Embarrassed, she shook herself. She wasn't parading about like a besotted schoolgirl. He couldn't suspect she held feelings for him… Could he?

Deciding to contemplate the matter later, she continued to open her gifts.

Unfortunately, removing Severus from her mind was challenging, especially after the gift she opened from him was a first edition of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, with annotations from the original owner spread throughout the margins. It was lovely.

She did indeed feel like a besotted schoolgirl after this.

Severus approached the gargoyle guarding Minerva's office to meet with her. It was supposed to be their biweekly meeting regarding anything that needed to be discussed regarding the status and goings-on within the castle. Given the unusual peacetime in the wizarding world, they typically had little to report or concern themselves over. Hence, it simply ended up being a few drinks and banter with an old friend.

The passwords were still silly in honour of the late Albus, much to Severus' dismay. He muttered, "Pumpkin pasties," and the gargoyle began to turn, revealing the opening. Climbing the steps, he entered the familiar office.

He and Minerva were not always as close; his initial hiring by Albus came with a staunch dislike of his existence within the castle by nearly every member of the staff. Minerva was different, though. She viewed him with caution but was never overtly unkind to him. A few years into teaching, he found out that she had been close with his mother while they were in school. Both of them were members of the Gobstone's Club. After graduation, they had grown apart because of his mother's fall from wizarding society after marrying a muggle. Minerva had nearly mirrored this when she was briefly engaged to a muggle herself but had apparently decided her destiny lay with remaining entrenched in the wizarding world. Her past was complicated, as was his. It led to an unconventional but pleasant and lasting friendship.

"There you are. I was getting started without you." She held up a goblet and proferred him one as well. He took it and sat across from her as she spoke again.

"Anything we need to discuss?"

Shaking his head slightly, he handed her a list of the status of points as they currently stood, along with this, a list of detentions to be had throughout the week as assigned by all professors. She quickly glanced at this information and nodded.

"Good, then let's chat. I have a rather pressing question that I simply have to ask despite it being none of my business at all," she said, taking a quick gulp from her goblet before leaning back in her chair, eyeing him appraisingly.

"If you know it is none of your business, what makes you think I will indulge you?" he wryly responded.

"To sate the curiosity of an elderly woman, of course," she simpered as though the answer to the question she held would cure her of ageing and all its accompanying changes.

"Fine. Let's have it, and we will see."

Her mischievous smile should have clued him in on the nature of her question.

"What sort of relationship are you and Miss Granger involved in, dear Severus?"

He processed the question. Considered it. And had no answer.

"What?"

She cackled at him, sending him further into his confusion. "Come now, Severus. I can tell there's something there. I'm just not sure what…"

Shaking his head, he said, "We are friends, Minerva."

She shook her head in the same way he just had. "No, Severus. You and I are friends. You two… there's more there."

Processing this, he then considered the nature of his relationship with Hermione Granger. He knew he had feelings for her, and clearly, Minerva suspected it; otherwise, they would not be having this conversation. The problem was, if Minerva guessed it, then perhaps Hermione herself suspected it.

"Severus, are you alright? I didn't mean to upset you, dear." Her tone changed somewhat from jest to sincerity, but he knew she did not mean her question maliciously.

"I'm fine. I think I'm still… processing what our relationship is. I believe we truly are just friends, but I admit, I do find her…" he paused, unsure what to say.

Minerva now sat up, her expression one of sympathy.

"Oh, my dear Severus. Are you in love with the girl?" her lips twisted into a small smile, her eyes softly watching him.

"Woman. She's a woman—my former student. I can't," he began, but Minerva cut her off.

"She is your equal, Severus. She has not been your student for a very long time."

"Regardless, I don't see how she or anyone would see it as appropriate if they knew how I felt. And this is all irrelevant because she could never reciprocate what it is I am feeling. No woman ever has nor will, and I am at peace with that." He said the final words with a finality that he felt with his life: romance was simply never meant for a man like him.

Minerva stood and walked around her desk, sitting a hand atop his shoulder. "Severus, there is nothing inappropriate about love. Albus knew that all too well. You are and always have been deserving of love, romantic or otherwise. I love you. You're one of my dearest friends, and I trust your ability to discern that your relationship with Hermione is wholly appropriate."

He sat silently. Feeling the sincerity in her words, he still could not bring himself to agree with the facts. He was accustomed to being denied love in all parts of his life. Starting with his own family, his parents never cared for him as parents should. A parent should care for their child the way in which he cared for his daughter. His first friend, Lily, had loved him for a time, but he eventually proved himself incapable of being loved because of his actions. And he deserved that treatment.

Albus showed him love as if he were his father. But Severus never deserved it. He betrayed Lily to a heartless killer that he swore loyalty to because he wanted to belong somewhere. His misplaced feelings resulted in the biggest regret of his life.

But Katherine.

Katherine loved her father unconditionally, he knew. But she did not know him, truly. He had always feared she would distance herself from him when she grew old enough to hear of his history and just how he came to be a large part of history - all because of contempt and fear.

He was not deserving of any of the love that had ever been given to him.

Why would Hermione Granger be any different? This was all hypothetical; the woman obviously saw him as nothing more than a friend to pass the time grading papers and discussing their children's lives.

It was too much for him to contemplate. Standing suddenly, he swept out of the room without another word, leaving Minerva standing with her mouth pursed and a sad look in her eyes.

September 21st, 2011

Severus Snape's Daughter - Shocking Revelations

Dearest readers, this esteemed author has uncovered the most profound information after interviewing a prominent figure within the ministry itself.

Gareth Greengrass offered his thoughts regarding the placement of Severus Snape as the most recently appointed Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As anyone would expect, it was not one of confidence.

"Clearly, Minerva McGonagall is losing her touch with age, as a man with such weak character should not be running a school, much less fathering a child alone," Gareth was quoted saying in response to Snape's new position, alongside his unfortunate hiring of the Defense Against Dark Arts position.

With the mention of Snape's daughter, I went on to question him about his knowledge of her parentage, and he revealed the most astounding of information. Katherine Snape is the child of Draco Malfoy's now-deceased sister-in-law, Daphne Greengrass. Given Gareth's own familial connection, we discussed the nature of his relationship with the child.

"She is quite lovely, a shy child of around ten who likely is very confused at living with a man the likes of Snape. I have only met her at her mother's funeral, and she seemed quite upset."

This author can only wonder if the child was upset because she was stuck with the man, Severus Snape, raising her as his own. We attempted to reach out to both Draco and Astoria Malfoy for comment, but they refused. They were complicit in the child's continued care by Snape, as Draco himself is a former Death Eater in connection with both his parents. The judgement made here was obviously clouded by a need to raise the child with malicious ideals rather than honourable ones, which the Greengrass family would have done so wonderfully.

Given this revelation, one must wonder about the nature of Severus Snape's relationship with his former student, Daphne Greengrass, if he fathered her child. Curious minds would like to know the level of appropriateness in his placement around children once more, given the history here.

The final discussion that Gareth Greengrass and I had regarded the presumed parentage of Katherine - Gareth has ensured me and, with that, the general public, that he will be pushing for custody of the child once the proper paperwork has been filed.

More to follow, my beloved readers,

Rita Skeeter, Head Correspondent to the Daily Prophet

Hermione read the prophet that morning because it was handed to her surreptitiously by Minerva, Severus' seat empty between them.

Crumpling it as she finished it, she stood and looked at Minerva for confirmation she should leave.

"Go find him. I will ensure both your classes are covered." Minerva was clearly worried.

Hermione all but ran to the door behind the head table that led to the hidden passageways to the professor's quarters. She hadn't seen Severus that morning but had assumed he'd had an early start. She confirmed the children were safely in their beds before leaving, knowing that Krema would give them their breakfast whenever they awoke.

"Severus?" she called into their living space the second she stepped in. No answer.

Walking to the hall that was opposite the hall that had her and Henry's rooms, she went directly to Severus' quarters, not even bothering to knock. But he wasn't there. Turning, she wondered if he had gone to talk to Draco or perhaps to confront Gareth at the ministry. Had it been her, she would have immediately. Hell, she had half a mind to apparate there now and hex him into oblivion, the utter bastard.

Turning back down the hall, she realised she should check on the children to ensure they were safe before she tried Draco or the Ministry.

As she passed Katherine's door, she noticed it was already ajar. She knew she had shut it after she left that morning…

Pushing it further open revealed a sight that made her sigh in relief. Severus.

He was looking upon his sleeping daughter in consternation as though his placement there would ensure she would never disappear.

"Severus." She whispered, and he turned to look at her. He had been crying, she could tell.

Approaching him, she grabbed his hand, and he allowed it with a little pull. The man was distraught, but his placement here would not help matters.

"Come, she will still be here when she wakes. I'll send Krema in to watch over her. Okay?" he nodded, standing to follow her. As they entered the hall, she left the door cracked and spoke the elf's name, "Krema?"

A moment later, she appeared by their sides, "Master and Mistress Granger-Snape, what can Krema do for you?"

Hermione ignored the name, a gentle ache tugging at her heart.

"Krema, could you or another house elf please watch over Katherine for us? We just need a constant eye on her. No one should enter her rooms except for one of us or Henry."

The elf nodded, confirming that she understood the instructions, "Of course. Krema will do so herself."

Hermione waited until the elf had ushered herself into the room and turned to look at Severus, his eyes bloodshot. Initially, she considered taking him to the living room but wasn't sure what she would say to Henry when he awoke. Deciding privacy would be best, she tugged at his hand, still gripped tightly in her own and took him to his own quarters.

His room mirrored her own, but the colour scheme was a bit darker. She led him to his bed and sat. He followed suit.

"Severus, no one is going to take Katherine from you." She was confident. Gareth was all talk and no action; what she knew of him was that he would make a terrible father.

"How do you know?" his voice cracked as he spoke.

Sighing at the poor, broken man next to her, she turned her entire body to face him, cupping his face with one of her hands.

"Gareth is a terrible man and incapable of doing anything of substance. I can promise you he will not gain any ground in what he is attempting to do. If anything, this will finally reveal what sort of man he is. Rita Skeeter may have a large audience, but the wizarding world at large dislikes her. The prophet keeps her around because readers love the resulting gossip that comes from her articles. It keeps their sales high."

He didn't seem to accept all of this.

"The ministry could revoke my adoption of her though, couldn't they?" his words quiet, his fear evident.

"They could if you were doing something wrong, Severus. You have done nothing wrong. The claim about Daphne was… atrociously untrue. They have no backing for it. And you have evidence to prove this, as does the ministry. Gareth obviously doesn't know this. Or if he does, he's just doing this to gain press. The man is an idiot, Severus. I knew him well when I worked with him."

Slowly, he nodded, her words finally sinking in. "Right… I do have proof of that." He said nothing else for a time. She wasn't sure what more she could do. Honestly, all she could think of at the moment was how much she wanted to kiss him.

But she wouldn't. It wasn't the right time. And she was sure it would not be welcome on his part. They were just friends.

"I'll owl Harry and have him do a quick interview with Luna to combat the media surrounding this. We will stamp it quickly. Harry's words always carry more weight," she said, not really giving him the option to deny the help.

"Thank you, Hermione."

Finally, she dropped her hand from his face, looking at him sincerely.

"Of course, Severus."