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Chapter 2

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Part 3

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Fortunately, they were all British, so a few cups of strong tea helped get tempers under control and calmed down the Grangers a bit. They were still obviously wary of the situation. Still, they no longer looked ready to run for the hills without looking back, which was a nice improvement.

"Hogwarts was supposed to be safe," Dr. Granger eventually accused.

"Minerva, you are the Deputy Headmistress and have been doing your best to manage Albus for years. I'll leave you to field this question," Severus shamelessly threw Minnie under the Knight Bus again. After all, Minerva was supposed to be intelligent and level-headed. If anyone should have put their foot down when Dumbledore went up to his latest shenanigans, it should have been her.

"Our Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the situation as we speak," Minnie deflected. "I can assure you, Dr. Granger, that no dangerous creature should be able to just walk on Hogwarts' grounds, much less enter the castle itself."

"The troll was a distraction, obviously," Severus drawled.

Minnie gave him the stink eye before addressing the Granger women again. Severus was sure he wouldn't be getting access to her stash anytime soon, which was a pity.

"The Headmaster decided to hide a powerful magical object at school," Minnie reluctantly admitted. Hogwarts is one of the best-protected locations in our world and not a place such an object should be," Minerva lowered her gaze. It might have worked if no one knew the item was there."

"Then Albus all but announced its general location at the welcoming feast at the start of the year," Snape sneered. His counterpart might have agreed that using Hogwarts as bait for Voldemort's weakened existence might be worth the risk. He might be a hypocrite. However, Severus wouldn't put up with such plans when his children were at school.

It didn't say flattering things about him that Snape might have seriously considered the option if the few people he genuinely cared about didn't attend Hogwarts then.

"Why is that man still Headmaster of your school?" Dr. Granger demanded. She narrowed her eyes at the professors. "Is he using it as bait?! At school?! Or is he simply insane?!"

If that woman was a witch, Severus would be concerned that her glare might set them on fire.

"Albus is…" Minnie trailed off. "Complicated," she concluded.

"He's supposed to be a great wizard!" Hermione's indignation and fuzzy anger made her look like an angry kitten.

"Is there anything in your world that isn't complicated?!" Dr. Granger's temper was again fraying. Now, her glower was a match for Cissa's best, too, which was most impressive.

"Great and powerful? That he is," Severus agreed. "And that's the problem. In the magical world in general, not just Magical Britain, raw magical power matters in a way personal power hasn't mattered in your world in a very long time, Dr. Granger. Generally, governments in the muggle world have a monopoly of power over their citizens. A single person can't stand alone against law enforcement, much less military. Individuals can be dangerous and cause incidents and terror. However, they can't contest the power a government can bring to bear. That is not so in the magical world. Magic is might in the most literal sense, and not all witches and wizards are equal in power, or aptitude to learn. Since the mid-forties, Albus Dumbledore has been acknowledged as the world's most powerful and accomplished wizard. His political power came as a consequence and acknowledgment of the raw personal power he has."

That revelation was another reason Dr. Granger was unhappy with the magical world. Unsurprisingly, she wasn't pleased with what followed.

"That means, when Albus makes mistakes, they can be far-reaching. There are very few people who can change his mind when he has decided on something," Minnie pointed out. "At the same time, his raw power and reputation make Hogwarts the safest school in all of the magical world as long as Albus is the Headmaster. No one would dare openly attack the school itself or the students attending it as long as that is the case. Even at the height of the war that ended in eighty-one, Hogwarts was safe because Albus was there. For all his faults, this hasn't changed."

It was clear that these explanations, no matter how truthful, didn't reassure Dr. Granger very much.

"What does all that mean for Hermione and her safety?" Dr. Granger asked. "And don't you dare tell me it's complicated!"

Minnie chuckled. "You can field this one, Severus," she declared, primly sipping her tea.

"Being recognized as my daughter, Hermione will have vastly better legal protection. Her social standing would increase tremendously in school and the magical world as a whole. There is also the little fact that most students in Hogwarts are terrified of me, offering her another layer of protection. I am painfully aware that members of my House haven't made her stay at the school pleasant. That is something I will be addressing," Snape explained.

Dr. Granger glanced at Hermione, who stiffened at Severus' last words before her eyes narrowed dangerously at him.

"Was my daughter bullied again? If so, why wasn't it addressed before?"

"That is a very long story," Snape sighed. "It would be better discussed in length during another meeting, perhaps tomorrow evening or Sunday."

"Severus was a spy during the war. That has put him in an awkward position ever since," Minnie elaborated. "While I don't like Hogwarts being involved in politics in such a way, that is to some extent impossible to avoid because most children of the people who matter politically in our world attend our school. Our oversight is the Board of Governors, which has been divided for decades, ensuring that no major reforms can happen, for either better or worse."

"That will be changing shortly," Severus noted, gaining everyone's undivided attention. "Lucius owes me. He will be changing his tune. Cissa will ensure he behaves, and I can assure you, she'll be taking my godson in hand."

"Severus, thats…"

"My relationship with the Malfoys is also worth a very long conversation. Let us say I wasn't the only one who hid their true nature and the power at their fingertips," He smiled knowingly.

"Lucius? Really?" Minnie didn't look convinced.

"Cissa, actually. She's been among the most powerful witches in Magical Britain or the continent for years now. Like me, she lacked the knowledge and experience to properly use her power, ensuring the Malfoys had no choice but to fall in line during the war."

"Does either of you care to explain?" Dr. Granger requested.

"Like I said, properly covering this topic is worth a different conversation. Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy are relevant right now because I am considering them for Hermione's godparents. Their protection and patronage would greatly increase her security and standing in most circles of our society," Severus told them.

"Not in Gryffindor, it won't," Minnie countered.

"Draco will be changing his tune, that much I can assure you," Severus reminded her.

"Draco Malfoy?" Hermione exclaimed. "He's been nothing but an awful prat!"

"Precisely. Draco's mother hasn't been thrilled with his behavior. The same is true for Lucius. They wanted him to befriend Mr. Potter on the train and introduce him to the magical world. Instead, my godson has been doing his best to antagonize Mr. Potter and his friends for the past two months. Draco won't be enjoying his Yule break."

Hermione huffed at that, looking unconvinced.

"Does being someone's godparent mean more than in our world?" Dr. Granger shrewdly inquired.

"If it is done by taking the proper vows and filling in the right documentation with Gringotts and the Ministry, it ensures that the godparents in question would do their best to care for and protect their godchildren. They would be bound through magic to do so. Sadly, as long as Lucius was parroting the pureblood party line, there wasn't much I could do to rein in my godson."

"Severus, what makes you think that Lucius Malfoy, of all people, will change his tune?" Minerva wisely sounded incredulous at the very idea.

"What makes you think that either Cissa or I are going to give him a choice in the matter? I can assure you that Lucius will be a changed man very soon."

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Part 4

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Minnie looked a bit faint at Severus' latest revelation. It was also clear that neither Dr. Granger nor Hermione was convinced that the Malfoys were turning another page. Snape pondered what to do about it for a few moments before making a decision.

"If it would reassure you, I will offer you a secret that I believe only two people alive are aware of," Severus smiled crookedly. What he was about to say was technically true as of last night. "One of Narcissa's best friends at Hogwarts was Lily. For obvious reasons, they had to keep their friendship hidden, especially after Andromeda's spectacular escapade."

"Narcissa Black and Lily Evans?!" Minnie exclaimed.

"Yes, them," Severus nodded in confirmation. If it hadn't been for those two witches, and to a much lesser extent Lucius, Snape knew he would have been lost under Riddle's influence. While that wasn't the case in this world, no one left could object to his narrative. Merlin, Cissa, and he could offer memories to confirm what he just said.

"Can we have some context here?" Dr. Granger asked.

"The escapades of the Blacks would require a whole evening and more than a few drinks to cover any details, and they are kind of relevant," Severus pointed out.

"Then I would require you to meet me and my husband each evening over the weekend, and we would love to have Hermione for dinner. My husband would like to see our daughter is all right and in one piece after I make sure we are both on the same page."

"I think that might be possible," Severus raised an eyebrow at Minnie.

"As the Deputy Headmistress, I have no objection. We'll speak with Albus tonight and do our best to set him to rights," Minerva promised.

"I intend to keep you and your husband up to date about what is happening with Hermione, and I do hope she will write home," Snape looked at his daughter. "Ms. Granger, perhaps you would like a post owl as a practical belated birthday present?" Severus inquired.

"Like Hedwig? I would like that!" the little witch beamed at the offer.

"Who or what is Hedwig?" Dr. Granger asked suspiciously.

"That's Mr. Potter's distinct snow owl. We use them to carry mail and small packages," Minerva explained.

"Ah, yes. Hermione's admittance letter mentioned something about that," Dr. Granger noted.

"I will be meeting the Malfoys tonight, and if practical, I'll ensure they become Hermione's magic-bound godparents by the end of the weekend," Severus promised.

Dr. Granger gave Hermione another tight hug but didn't object.

=DL=

Apparating to one of Diagon's Apparition points made Hermione green and ready to lose her tea again. Severus held his daughter's fuzzy hair out of the way in case her stomach decided to be particularly vicious in its rebellion until she relaxed and ceased looking Slytherin green.

"I am never getting used to that," Hermione grouched.

"Apparition is an experience one has to get accustomed to. It is much easier to endure when doing it alone, or if you are the one side-along Apparating someone, instead of being Apparated," Severus explained.

"That doesn't make me feel any better!" Hermione pointed out.

"We are taking the floor back to Hogwarts," Severus promised. "It is easier to endure."

"Why are all magical ways of travel so unpleasant?!" Hermione demanded.

"That's the price for swift and convenient travel," Severus pointed out, guiding his daughter towards the Eeylops Owl Emporium. If she could grouch this well, she had reasonably recovered from Apparating.

Once again, people got out of Severus' way as soon as they recognized him. Some were his former students, while others knew his reputation as a Death Eater and supposedly not sufficiently repentant spy. Minerva walked behind father and daughter, no doubt gathering fuel for Hogwart's gossip network, which she would utilize as soon as it became publicly known that Snape was Hermione's father. Well, that and more information to needle him with when he went to drain her whisky stash dry.

Severus wisely manoeuvred his daughter so he was between her and Diagon's premier bookshop. By now, it was widely known across Hogwarts that Hermione devoured books like starving Ronald Weasley destroyed food. Letting her lose into a bookshop would likely require him to levitate her out of the place. Severus decided that throwing his daughter at one of the more exclusive bookshops in Magical Britain would be best left for special occasions or when he undoubtedly had to get back into his daughter's good graces. Likely after she knew reasonably well what he did during the war.

It rapidly became clear that Hermione wasn't an owl person. She looked critically at the various birds in their cages, which, in turn, paid her no attention. The owls either kept sleeping or glared owlishly at everything that moved. In the end, Severus picked up a large Eagle Owl, which is better for Hermione's parents to send her packages with. In hindsight, Snape decided the bird might make a better peace offer for the Doctors Granger than a belated birthday gift for Hermione.

Besides, he had missed many birthdays he had to make up for. Perhaps tomorrow, he should revisit the alley and check if Hermione's infernal half-kneazle familiar was around in this world as well? Yeah, that might be a good idea. Or even better…

"I see you aren't particularly fond of owls, Hermione," Severus hedged.

His daughter looked between the regal bird in its cage and Snape, then shrugged. "It's a nice bird?"

"You are not an owl person then. Hermes here is now your parent's owl, so they can send you letters," Severus decided.

Hermione's face came to life at that. Severus' dark heart warmed up at the first warm, genuine smile his daughter sent his way in this brand-new world. He mentally congratulated himself for making a sound decision. "Perhaps we might visit the Menagerie to see if you would like a pet? If you are lucky, you might even find yourself a familiar," Snape suggested.

He almost missed Minerva's approving smile. There was no missing Hermione's wide grin, much less her shining eyes.

The Magical Menagerie was a cramped, stinking place chock full of cages holding all kinds of magical and mundane creatures. Hermione didn't care. For the second time that Severus could remember, his daughter made a beeline through the shop, paying no attention to the many critters irritated by her passage. She headed deep into the building as if pulled towards its back, where a ginger menace waited stuck into a sizeable enchanted cage.

"Careful there! That thing is a menace!" The salesman's gruff warning fell on deaf ears.

Hermione pressed her face against the bars, and to Severus' utter lack of surprise, the ugly monster inside head-butted his daughter before purring like a motorbike's engine. Hermione's delighted laughter made up for all the inevitable headaches and orange fur in Severus' future.

"We are taking that cat," Snape decreed.

"We are?!" Hermione squealed, silencing half the beasts in the Menagerie and making the rest hiss, roar, and bark in response.

"You are!?" There was no mistaking the shock and relief in the salesman's voice.

"Yes. The cat, a cat carrier, food for the cat, and whatever accessories are needed to take care of it," Severus ordered.

"Mrowl!" Crookshanks declared, giving his permission to be taken away by his new human and pampered.