The Truth About Hermione Granger

Saturday came quickly for Hermione and as she headed to the Great Hall for breakfast, she met up with Draco Malfoy and his two friends, Crabbe and Goyle. "Good morning, Miss Snape," said Draco cheerily.

"It's not Snape, yet, Draco," she answered. "Not until my father can have it changed in court. Besides, I'm not entirely sure I want it changed."

"Of course you do," said Draco. Crabbe snickered behind him and received an elbow in the stomach for it. "It's your rightful name, isn't it?"

"Perhaps," she answered, trying to walk past them. "But it would seem so disloyal to my parents."

"Your father is Severus Snape," said Draco pointedly, blocking her way. "What's so disloyal about changing your name to Snape?"

Hermione sighed and gave Draco an exasperated look. "I meant my adoptive parents, Malfoy," she said. "Now let me past. I've got to get to breakfast and then meet Snape."

He gave her one last smug grin before stepping aside to let her pass.

As soon as she'd finished her breakfast, she searched the head table for Professor Snape, but did not see him. Oh, well, she was up earlier than usual and not many people were here yet, anyway. Perhaps he hadn't made it here yet.

"Good morning, Hermione."

"Oh!" said Hermione, jumping up and spinning around to see her father standing behind her. "Good morning Professor. I didn't see you."

"I was finishing a very important potion this morning," he said. "You've had your breakfast?"

"Yes, sir," she answered.

"Very well, then," he said, slipping an arm around her shoulders and steering her out of the Hall. "Then let's get going."

Neither of them said anything until they were in Hogsmeade. Snape then asked her what she would like to do first and Hermione told him she wanted to head to The Cutting Wand, a hair solon. She'd always wanted to do something with this mop of hers, but had never had the courage to do it.

"Well, then," said Snape, smiling down at her. "Let's go."

The next thing Hermione knew, a young witch was zapping her head with several different spells that were meant to tame her hair. Next, a pair of scissors zipped around, trimming her hair to one length. Finally, the witch turned her around to see her reflection.

Hermione could hardly believe her eyes. Her hair was no longer bushy and wild, but it was straight, hung just past her shoulders and parted on the left side. "I love it!" she exclaimed, turning her head from side to side.

"It does look rather nice," said Snape, admiring his daughter yet again.

Snape paid the beautician and the two set out once more. This time, Snape took her to a robe shop and bought her two brand new black work robes and a new dress robe. This one was made of deep green velvet and was a little form fitting so it showed off her curves nicely. He said that it brought out the slight red tints in her hair. Finally, they made their way to The Three Broomsticks for lunch. This is where Snape surprised Hermione once more.

"I have been thinking over the past few days, Hermione," he sighed. "And I have decided that taking custody of you would be terribly unfair to you. You see, I have a very singular position and well, it could put you in danger."

"What do you mean?" she asked, suddenly a bit worried. "You don't want me?"

His face fell. "Oh, I do want you," he said, laying one hand on her cheek. "But I am afraid for your life! So much would be expected of you as my daughter and I fear that you may not be up to any of it. I wish I could explain it all to you, my darling daughter, but I cannot."

"Look, daddy," she said, taking his hand away from her face and holding it on top of the table. "I know that you're a-" She stopped herself before finishing her sentence, aware that people may be listening. "I know about your past and about what you do now. I mean what you really do. Not just the potions teacher, but the OTHER job you have."

Snape's eyes widened at this and he jerked his hand away. "Exactly what do you know?" he asked.

"I know about the undercover work you do for certain people in certain high places," she said suggestively. "And, I also know the things that shall be expected of me if I am revealed as your daughter. I've done a lot of thinking as well, and at first, I didn't think it was such a good idea, but you know, now I'm thinking that it could be used to our advantage. Then, you wouldn't be alone."

"But do you KNOW the things you'll be subjected to?" he hissed.

"Yes," she answered. "And I'm counting on them. I may have been put in Gryffindor, but that's only because the sorting hat didn't know I'm a pureblooded witch! I've more ambition than any Slytherin alive and I've got the marks to prove it! How many other students do you know who do extra reading just so they will know more? How many of your students bother to do all of their homework plus some extra to boost their grades a bit? How many students would listen so well and take so many notes that they make the connection between Charms and Transfiguration so they can do one final project for both classes and get perfect scores in each? Even better, how many of your students have invented a potion?"

Snape nodded slowly. "Talent in a Bottle was a huge success," he said. "Especially with those simple charms you invented to go with it. Who knew you could have a symphony in your living room with a bit of Flubberworm oil, dragon's blood and a simple charm?"

"Just open the bottle and listen!" she said, grinning from ear to ear.

"How much did you get for the recipe?" he asked.

"A few million, I forget," she said. "Anyway, I'm saving it all so I can go to University after school."

"Still, Hermione," he said, leaning forward. "I can't let You-Know-Who get his hands on you, no matter how badly you want to help me!"

"So, you would selfishly keep me away from you, thus destroying my chances at greatness?" she accused, feigning anger.

He studied her for a long time, but then smiled weakly at her. "I suppose you're right," he said. "And we'll have to have some long talks about this, Hermione, but if you still want to live with me, I suppose I'll go to the Muggle courts and get custody of you."

"Good," said Hermione as the young waitress set their lunches in front of them. "That's exactly as it should be."

"You do realize that you'll have to do some Dark Arts studies and even practice a few of them?" he asked her as soon as the waitress had left the table. "You-Know-Who may even want to make you part of his inner circle. You'll be the only girl among them, you know."

"The only girl, huh?" said Hermione. "Not necessarily a bad thing. I'll have all those boys to choose from!"

Snape snorted. "Not one of them's any good," he said roughly. "Except maybe Malfoy." Suddenly, his head snapped up and he stared at her wide-eyed. "You didn't hear that!" he hissed, pointing a finger in her face.

"Oh, come now, daddy," she said, pushing his finger down. "If I knew about you, did you really think I didn't know about the Malfoys? Or the Crabbes, Goyles and Notts for that matter?"

"You know about all of them?" he asked, surprised.

"Harry knew, so of course he told me," she replied.

He just stared at her. "You really ARE something else, you know," he said finally.

Hermione just grinned and went back to her lunch. Snape was turning out to be an all right father after all!