Power of the Quill

The Power of the Quill.

Chapter 11. Meet the parents

A half an hour later, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny stood on the front steps that lead to Hogwarts' main entrance. Carriages came and went as they shuttled students back and forth to Hogsmeade. The three of them waited anxiously for their parents to arrive.

"What time are they supposed to get here?" Ron asked nervously.

"For the third time, Ron - 8:3O," Ginny answered.

"Did your mum say anything about the attack on Pansy when you owled her, Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Uh...no," Ron said with a guilty look on his face.

"Ron, you did owl Mum and tell her that Pansy was attacked, didn't you?" Ginny asked.

"I was going to, but Thursday night I sent Pig after some Quidditch gear catalogs. He didn't get back till late last night. She was arriving in less than twelve hours by then; I figured it could wait until she got here," he sheepishly answered.

"YOU STUPID TWIT!" Ginny shouted as she raised the heel of her right foot, slamming it down on the front of Ron's left shoe.

"OOWWWW!" he cried as he began to hobble on his right foot. "What the hell did you do that for?" he asked, giving Ginny a very angry look.

"You brainless moron, Mum going to kill us when she gets here," Ginny heatedly said.

"If it was so bloody important to tell her, why didn't you owl her yourself?" Ron asked as he leaned down to massage the toes on his left foot.

"I would have if I'd known you were going to be such a chicken about it," Ginny answered irritably.

Just then a carriage pulled up to the front of Hogwarts' steps. The carriage door swung open and out stepped Mrs. Weasley dressed in deep burgundy robes. Following Mrs. Weasley out of the carriage was Hermione's father. Using her husband's hand for support, Hermione's mother exited last.

Her dad was wearing a simple gray suit and tie with a set of black loafers on his feet. Her mother was wearing a long, dark-green skirt and a coal-grey turtleneck jumper. She had her hair up in a tight bun with a loose set of curls framing her face.

"Good Lord," her father said, as he took off his derby and looked up at Hogwarts. Her parents had been to Hogwarts once before in her second year. Since they had arrived by floo last time, they had never seen the castle from the outside. "Hello, Pumpkin," he said, as Hermione came down the steps to greet him.

"Hi dad, how was the trip?" Hermione asked with a smile.

"As well as can be expected for spending six hours straight on a nineteenth century steam train," he answered. "My bloody cell stopped working as soon as I set foot on that train."

"All Muggle devices stop working around magical places, Dad. It would be very bad for the Wizarding World if Muggles could record and videotape things," she told her father.

"Hermione, dear, just how many students live here?" her mother asked as she looked up at the massive castle.

"A little over five hundred students, plus the staff, and the house-elves," she answered.

"The house-what?" her father asked.

"House-elves, they're kind of like servants. They do all the cooking and cleaning; except when someone gets detention, then a student has to do some of the cleaning, too," she answered.

"Do they have a dental plan?" her father asked.

"I don't think so, Dad," she told him.

"They probably just use magic, don't they? You know, just one of these wizards could put me and the rest of my colleagues out of business for good," her father said.

"So Hermione, where is this man the Ministry says you have to wed?" her mother asked.

"Yes, where is this bloke that thinks he's going to steal my daughter away from her family. Molly told me he's a right tosser, he is," her father said.

"I said no such thing, Thomas," Mrs. Weasley corrected. "I simply said that Severus Snape isn't well-known for his interpersonal skills."

"I think the word you used was 'arsehole', Molly," Mr. Granger said.

"Thomas!" Hermione's mother said to her father with a scowl. "Molly would never say such a thing."

"You both had a few sherries in you at the time, Jan. I doubt either of you can recall just what you said Wednesday evening," Mr. Granger said.

"Professor Snape will meet us in the Headmaster's office at 9:00," Hermione finally answered.

"Ron, where is Miss Parkinson?" Molly asked. "I'm anxious the meet my first daughter-in-law."

"Uh, she's in the infirmary at the moment," Ron awkwardly answered.

"Has she fallen ill?" his mother asked.

"No, not really," Ron said uneasily.

"Some of her fellow Slytherins decided they didn't like the idea of having a Muggle-born witch in their house," Ginny told her mother.

"I see," Molly said, disappointment evident in her tone. "Just how bad is it?"

Hermione, Ron, and Ginny just looked at one another. Most of the color had gone from their faces. Each one hoped that one of the others would answer Mrs. Weasley.

"I take it, it was a bit more that a simple school prank," Molly said.

"I think maybe Madam Pomfrey can explain her condition the best," Hermione said. She really didn't want to discuss what happened to Pansy in front of her parents.

"Very well. There is no time like the present. Ron, lead the way to the hospital wing," Mrs. Weasley ordered. Both of Hermione's parents followed Mrs. Weasley up the steps.

"We don't have to go with them to the infirmary," Hermione told her mother as she walked next to her.

"I don't mind," her mother said. "I'm a bit curious as to what Molly's daughter-in-law will look like. Molly has already invited me to the wedding; I might as well meet the bride." Hermione could only give her mother a nervous look.

A few minutes later, they all arrived at the infirmary. When they entered, Hermione was glad to see that both Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were there with Madam Pomfrey. As they made their way down the long rows of beds, Hermione noticed that Pansy was still sitting on the side of the same bed, just staring at the one next to her. Hermione wondered if she had moved at all in the past day.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Dumbledore said as he greeted them.

"Hello again, Headmaster," Hermione's father said as he shook Dumbledore's hand. "It seems that we only get to meet under unpleasant circumstances; I believe Hermione was petrified the last time we were here." There was definitely a hint of anger in her father's statement. Dumbledore just continued to smile but the normal twinkle in his eyes was gone.

"Molly, you are looking very lovely this morning," Dumbledore said to Mrs. Weasley.

"Albus, why was I not informed about an attack on my soon to be daughter-in-law?" Mrs. Weasley asked, sounding very annoyed.

Her question quickly wiped the smile from Dumbledore's face. He turned to Professor McGonagall and said, "Minerva, would you be so kind as to show the Grangers to my office. I wish to speak privately with the Weasleys for a moment. Miss Granger and I will join you shortly."

"You don't want me to go with them?" Hermione asked.

"No, Mrs. Weasley may have some questions for you about Thursday evening," the Headmaster answered.

No one said anything until Professor McGonagall had escorted Hermione's parents out of the infirmary. "Well Albus, I'm waiting for an answer," Mrs. Weasley said, clearly irritated by the delays.

"The reason I chose not to inform you, Molly, is that we are trying to keep out any Ministry involvement in this matter. I wouldn't put it passed Cornelius Fudge to intercept a school owl traveling from Hogwarts to the Burrow," the Headmaster told her.

"And what about you two?" Molly asked angrily as she turned to face her two children. "Why did neither of you tell me about what happened to Miss Parkinson?"

"We didn't want old Fudge to find out either, Mum," Ron quickly answered.

"Yeah, better safe than sorry," Ginny nervously said to her mother. Molly just narrowed her eyes at the two.

"Just how bad was it, Poppy?" Molly asked as she turned to face Madam Pomfrey.

With a look of sadness in her eyes, Madam Pomfrey said, "I'm afraid it was very bad, Molly. Do you remember the Muggle-born, Margaret Tattlebone?" Pomfrey asked.

"Yes, she was the young witch that Frank Longbottom found murdered nearly twenty years ago," Molly answered.

"Miss Parkinson was found in nearly the same condition. Fortunately, no one used a Killing Curse on her. She was found just in time by your daughter and Miss Granger," Pomfrey told her.

"Then she was not just simply attacked?" Molly asked as she looked sadly at the figure sitting motionlessly on the bed.

"No, I'm afraid not. And it would appear that this was her first," Poppy sorrowfully answered. Molly just closed her eyes and shook her head. Hermione could see tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

"Albus, will these nightmares ever end?" Molly dejectedly asked the Headmaster.

"One day, Molly, one day," he answered.

"Have her parents been informed?" Molly asked.

"Her parents refuse to have any involvement with their former daughter. They had themselves removed as her legal guardians and had the adoption annulled," Dumbledore told her.

"Surely her mother would respond if she were to hear what has happened?" Molly asked.

"I owled Martha Parkinson personally, explaining everything," Madam Pomfrey said. "She returned my letter unopened with a very rude suggestion as to what I could do with any further correspondence regarding Miss Parkinson."

"Who have you had staying with her since the attack?" Molly asked the Headmaster.

"Well, her old friends and family were out of the question. Mostly it has been members of the staff that have stopped in and checked on her. Yesterday, Miss Granger stopped by for a few minutes," Dumbledore answered.

"Are you telling me that, with the exception of brief visits by the staff and Hermione, this child has just sat here for the last two days with no one to talk to?" Molly angrily asked.

"Uhm...well," the Headmaster stammered. This was the first time Hermione had ever seen Dumbledore at a loss for words. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley could even intimidate a hundred and sixty year old wizard.

"Albus Dumbledore, you should be ashamed of yourself. It's not like we've never seen this situation before. Having her just sit there and wallow in her own self-pity and fear is the worst thing you can do," Molly yelled, scolding the Headmaster. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were shocked. They have never heard anyone talk to Dumbledore that way.

Without waiting for Dumbledore's rebuttal, Mrs. Weasley walked straight over to Pansy's bed and sat down next to her. She tried to place an arm around her shoulders but Pansy quickly pulled away. Not to be denied, Molly grabbed hold of Pansy and, with surprisingly little effort, pulled her up onto her lap. Molly was only a witch of average size but, apparently, raising seven Weasleys has given her amazing strength. Pansy was still squirming when Molly placed a hand on her head and brought Pansy to her bosom. As soon as Pansy's head rested on Molly's chest, she suddenly broke down and started to cry. Loudly sobbing, Pansy grasped on to Mrs. Weasley with both hands as if her life depended on it.

"There, there, child. It's going to be all right. You have family with you now," Mrs. Weasley said as she stroked Pansy's hair with a soothing hand.

"Mummy," Pansy desperately cried as she pressed her head into Mrs. Weasley.

Hermione's own tears began to flow at hearing Pansy's plea. She felt so foolish when she thought about the distance she had kept between herself and Pansy yesterday. Hermione wondered if she would have gotten a similar reaction if she had had the courage to comfort Pansy as Mrs. Weasley was doing now. Hermione could see that Ginny had fresh tears as well. Looking over at Ron, Hermione could tell by his watery eyes that he was waging a losing battle with his emotions.

"Albus, I want you to gather all of Pansy's things. She will be leaving with me when I return to the Burrow," Molly told the Headmaster.

"Do you think that is wise, Molly?" Dumbledore asked.

"It seems quite apparent to me that she is not safe here. She needs to be somewhere where she can feel safe again, a place with someone to care for her," Molly answered. "If the Ministry asks, just tell them she came with me to plan her wedding."

Dumbledore reached into his robe pocket and withdrew Pansy's gold bunny bracelet, then handed it to Mrs. Weasley.

"What's this?" Molly asked.

"All her possessions, I'm afraid," Dumbledore gloomily answered. "Apparently her fellow housemates destroyed everything she had, including her wand. She was left with just the clothes on her back. Those were badly damaged and had to be cut from her after the attack. I sent an owl to Ollivander's for a replacement wand. He informed me that he's currently out of eight-inch willow wands with griffin's hair cores. He suggested that we bring Miss Parkinson to his shop so she can be refitted for another wand."

"I see," Molly said, looking at the gold bracelet in her hand. "Ginny, please bring me a set of your clothes for Pansy to borrow. I'll owl you some replacements once I return home."

"Sure thing, Mum," Ginny said as she wiped her nose and headed out of the infirmary.

"Albus, when she is ready, I will personally take Pansy to Diagon Alley for a new wand," Molly told the Headmaster. Pansy's sobs grew fainter as Mrs. Weasley gently rocked her in her lap as if she were comforting a toddler that just skinned her knee. Somehow, the scene before her made Hermione wish to see her own mother again, right away.

Sensing this, Dumbledore leaned over and said, "Perhaps it would be best if we were to give Miss Parkinson and the Weasleys some privacy. We have a meeting to attend; it would be best not to keep Professor Snape or your parents waiting." Hermione agreed and followed Dumbledore out of the infirmary.

............................................................................................................

When Hermione entered Dumbledore's office, she found her mother standing in front of the portraits of all the previous Headmasters with Professor McGonagall at her side explaining something to her. Hermione's father was standing in front of Fawkes's perch, trying to feed him what looked like a piece of a breakfast biscuit. "Pauly want a cracker? Come on, say it you ruddy bird. Pauly want a cracker?" her father said as he pushed the piece of biscuit at Fawkes's beak. Hermione could tell by the way Fawkes had his feathers raised on the top of his head that he wasn't enjoying her dad's attention.

"Daddy, that's a Phoenix, not a parrot. It doesn't talk and it only eats red meat," she told him.

"Red meat, aye," her father said as he gave the bird a curious look. "He likes mice, rats, and the sporadic garden snake, does he, Pumpkin?"

"Fawkes has a bit more of a substantial appetite than that," Dumbledore said as he entered the room. "Pigs, goats, sheep, and the occasional mule if he had a busy day." After listening to Dumbledore, her father quickly withdrew his hand from the vicinity of Fawkes's beak. Stepping back, he now eyed the beautiful creature with some suspicion.

Dumbledore crossed his office until he stood next to the large fireplace. Pushing in on a secret panel, the Headmaster opened a door that was revealed. "Minerva, could you inform Severus that the Grangers are here and wish to speak with him. Please tell him to meet us in my parlor," Dumbledore said to Professor McGonagall.

"Of course, Albus," McGonagall said as she headed out of the Headmaster's office. Hermione and her parents followed Dumbledore into the parlor. The room was the same size as the office. An identical fireplace was in the wall just opposite the one in the next room but without all the clutter and whirling gadgets. The room had four comfortable-looking leather sitting-chairs in it. Along one wall, just under a large window looking out over the lake, was a large leather sofa - big enough for even Dumbledore to stretch out on.

The thing that caught Hermione's attention most was the set of bookcases on the far wall. She quickly approached the one on the left. Hermione couldn't recognize a single volume. She could tell that they were all magical texts and, from the looks of them, they were very old. The second bookcase held nothing but journals. When Hermione read the names on them, she realized that they were the private journals of all Hogwarts' past Headmasters. On the very top shelf were four journals all by themselves - Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin were written on the bindings.

"Headmaster, are these the private journals of the Founders?" Hermione excitedly asked.

"Yes; well, copies at least," Dumbledore answered.

Hermione let her curiosity get the better of her; without thinking, she reached up for the journal marked 'Godric Gryffindor'. As soon as her fingertips touched the journal's spine a large jolt of electricity shot through her arm. "Owww!" she cried as she shook her hand in pain.

"Careful, Miss Granger. I afraid you'll have to be Headmaster of Hogwarts if you wish to read any of the books in this room," Dumbledore said with a bit of a smirk.

"A bloody vulture in your office and booby-trapped books in here. You really should consider marking these things with warnings, Headmaster," her father suggested.

The fireplace suddenly erupted in green flames; a second later Professor Snape entered the room from the fire. Hermione's mother let out a small cry at the sudden, unexpected appearance of the dark man. Hermione noticed that Snape appeared to be in an even fouler mood than was typical for him. Snape eyed everyone in the room with a suspicious glare.

"Severus, I would like you to meet Hermione's parents. This is Thomas and Janet Granger," Dumbledore introduced. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, this is Professor Severus Snape, our Potions Master here at Hogwarts."

"This can't possibly be the man your Ministry wants my Hermione to marry," her father said as he gave Snape a distrustful look. "He's at least my age."

Snape crossed his arms over his chest and gave Mr. Granger an angry scowl. "I'm thirty-six years old. According to Miss Granger's biography in the marriage contract, you are forty-five years of age. There is almost a decade's difference between us," Snape impatiently informed her father.

"You look nearly fifty," her dad spat back at Snape. "You're as pale as a ghost; do you ever venture outside this castle?" Snape didn't answer; he just continued to glare at Mr. Granger.

"Thomas, try to remain civil," Hermione's mother said to her father.

"Jan, please, just look at him," her father said. "He looks like some kind of comic book villain. All he needs is a handlebar mustache and he'll be ready to start tying damsels in distress to railroad tracks."

Ignoring her father's insult, Snape turned to Dumbledore and said, "Headmaster, I really don't have time for this foolishness."

"Be patient, Severus. We are here to help Mr. and Mrs. Granger understand the current situation their daughter is in," Dumbledore told Snape.

"Understand? This is bloody lunacy; forcing children to get married. It's like something out of the Dark Ages," Hermione's father angrily stated.

"Mr. Granger, I understand your frustration. This law was conceived with the best of intentions but it is currently being used by the Ministry against anyone they consider a threat. They're trying to use it as a form of control," Dumbledore told her father.

"And just what has this man done to become a target of your Ministry?" Mr. Granger asked, giving Snape another suspicious look.

"I am not the Ministry's target. Your daughter is," Snape told her father.

"That's ridiculous," her father said. "What could a fifteen year old girl possibly do to get the Ministry's ire?"

"It's a bit complicated, I'm afraid," Dumbledore said. "The short answer is that, last summer, Hermione and a few of her friends caused the Minister of Magic ,Cornelius Fudge, a great deal of embarrassment when they proved him wrong in a very public way. I believe that is the reason why she and the rest of her friends are being affected by this law."

"This is outrageous and I won't stand for it," Mr. Granger angrily said. "My wife and I are perfectly willing to pack up our practice and take our daughter to another country. I can be a dentist in California just as easy as I can in London. The taxes in the States are cheaper, as well."

"Daddy, you can't do that," Hermione told her father.

"Of course we can, Pumpkin," he said to her. "You know your Mother and I will do anything to keep you safe."

"No, I mean it won't work," Hermione said. "If you leave, the Ministry will just arrest someone else. Like Grandma and Grandpa or Uncle Steve and Aunt Maggie."

"They wouldn't dare," her mother furiously said. "We should take this to our Member of Parliament."

"If you do that, Madam, you would most likely lose a lot more than just your daughter," Snape said to Mrs. Granger.

"What do you mean?" she asked Snape.

"The Wizarding World cherishes its secrecy above all other things. If you try to involve the Muggle authorities in this, the Ministry will be forced to act. They would Obliviate the memories of anyone you spoke to. They might even remove all memories of your daughter from your own minds. To you, it would be as if she never existed."

"You can't be serious?" Her father asked.

"Severus is quite correct. The Ministry has done far worse to silence a problem from the Muggle authorities," Dumbledore informed them. "You must understand that Severus is a victim of this law as well. He has no more choice in this than Hermione has. But, I can assure you, he is a decent and responsible man. I've known him all his life; believe me when I tell you that he will willingly give his life to protect your daughter."

"How can you say that? He doesn't even appear to like her," Hermione's mother asked.

"Severus knows how special your daughter is and what she means to the Wizarding World." Snape interrupted Dumbledore with a loud snort. The Headmaster just gave the younger wizard a stern look over his glasses before he continued. "We will be wasting our time and our effort to try and fight this law, now. What we need to concentrate on is how to make this situation work for the best. Getting to know one another in a civilized way is a good start."

"It just so difficult to accept. You're asking us to place our only child in the hands of a complete stranger," Mrs. Granger said to Dumbledore.

"That is precisely my point. You need to know who Severus is before you can learn to trust him. The Ministry is not our only concern in this matter. Dark forces in the Wizarding World will most certainly take an interest in these Muggle-born marriages. Severus is quite adept at dealing with both the Ministry and Dark Wizards. There is no one more qualified to keep Hermione from harm than he," Dumbledore stated.

"Severus, can I have a word?" Dumbledore asked. Snape walked to the Headmaster. With their backs turned to everyone, they began to whisper. After several minutes of fiercely whispering at each other, Snape said, "Fine!" in an angrily raised voice. He then reached into his robe and handed something to Dumbledore.

After taking the object from Snape, Dumbledore turned and said, "Now that you have been introduced, I will give you some privacy to get to know one another better.

"Hermione, may I have a word?" the Headmaster asked as he approached her.

"Of course, Professor," she answered. As soon as Dumbledore reached her she asked, "You're not going to leave us alone with him, are you?"

"Don't worry my dear; I have his wand," Dumbledore said as he patted his breast pocket.

"He gave you his wand?" she asked, sounding very surprised.

"Yes, but under one condition," Dumbledore said as he held out his hand.

"You're kidding?" she asked, looking up at the old wizard.

"I'm afraid not, Miss Granger. If you remember, it was you who first pulled a wand the last time," Dumbledore said. Reluctantly, Hermione reached into her robe and pulled out her wand, handing it to the Headmaster.

"If anyone requires my assistance, I'll be in my office," Dumbledore said as he slipped out of the room.

For what seemed like an eternity, no one in the room spoke. Finally, Hermione's mother began, "So, tell us a little about yourself, Mr. Snape?"

"Mum, call him Professor," Hermione quickly said to her mother.

"Sorry - Professor Snape," she corrected.

"Just what, precisely, is it you wish to know?" Snape asked.

"Why don't you tell us just where it is that you plan to live once you have taken our daughter's hand in marriage?" Hermione's father irritably asked.

"As Head of Slytherin, I have ample quarters within the castle; large enough for a small family," Snape dispassionately answered.

"What about when school is not in session; where do you live then? Do you own a home of your own?" her mother asked.

"I normally spend my summers at Hogwarts. My family does own an estate, but due to complications after my parents' deaths, it is currently unavailable," Snape answered.

"Currently unavailable, what's that suppose to mean? Is your family estate in debt?" her father asked.

"No, it is not," Snape said, sounding insulted. "The problem is magical not financial."

"Speaking of finances, just how much do you make working as a schoolteacher?" her father asked. "I hope it's enough to support a young mother and newborn child."

"My salary should be quite adequate for our needs. Since Muggle currency differs from our own, I won't bore you with the details," Snape answered in a condescending tone.

"Different currency, indeed. You people probably trade in goatskins and animal body parts," her father mockingly said. "Tell me, Professor Snape, have you ever been married before?"

"No."

"Then how are we to know that you are capable of treating our daughter with the respect that she deserves?" her father asked.

"I will treat Miss Granger with the respect she earns and that is all," Snape said angrily.

"Just what's that suppose to mean," her father spat back angrily.

"What it means is, your offspring is typically an insolent, disrespectful little brat. I can only assume it was her loose Muggle upbringing that made her that way," Snape stated maliciously.

With rage on his face, her father approached Snape. He was only five-foot nine and, at six-foot two, Snape seemed to tower over him. Hermione didn't fear for her father's safety. He had been an amateur boxer in college and still had a strong, lean body. She knew he could hold his own in a physical fight with most men.

"Listen you black-covered sack of codswallop. If I ever again hear you speak of my daughter in such a manner, I'll knock you right on your pasty arse," her father threatened through his clenched teeth. Snape simply returned her father's threat with an evil looking smirk. Hermione knew things weren't looking too good.

"You don't really think I'll take the threat of some lowly pest of a Muggle seriously, do you. The vermin that scamper through these halls late at night are more fearsome than the likes of you," Snape said, ridiculing Mr. Granger.

"Listen up, Dracula," her father said in a challenging voice. "I'm about one step away from teaching you the lesson of a lifetime. Insult my daughter again and you're going to learn all about pain; and if there's one thing we dentists know, it's pain."

Snape's evil smirk only grew larger at hearing her father's words. Hermione suspected that Snape had taken the attack on Pansy a lot harder than he let on. If he were looking for someone to take out his frustration on, her father was giving him the perfect opportunity.

"You shouldn't be so concerned about your daughter, Muggle. After all, in couple of weeks she'll be all mine to do with as I please. On our wedding night she will be calling me 'Daddy'. Mmm Mmm, I can't wait to get me a piece of that Pumpkin pie," Snape said with a perverted look of pleasure on his face.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!!" her father screamed, as he threw a lighting fast punch at Snape, striking him dead in the nose. Snape staggered back, grabbing his nose in pain. Her father quickly took up his old boxing stance in front of Snape. Not waiting for him to recover, Mr. Granger threw a left hook to Snape's body. Snape winced in pain as he took the shot to his liver.

"Thomas, stop this," Hermione's mother shouted, as she raced over to the dueling pair. Snape, now with a face full of rage, decided to strike back at his attacker. He threw a hard straight right of his own at Mr. Granger. But, with his quicker reflexes and boxer training, Hermione's dad was easily able to duck the punch.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Granger, who was standing directly behind her husband at the time, wasn't so lucky. She took Snape's punch right in the left eye. Fortunately, his punch was almost at its full extension when it made contact and only staggered Mrs. Granger.

"MUM! Hermione shouted anxiously after seeing her mother get hit. Hearing the sound of his daughter's voice caused Mr. Granger to take his eyes off Snape for a brief second. Severus quickly exploited the other man's mistake by throwing a vicious left hook of his own. His blow struck Mr. Granger in the right temple, staggering the man. Snape quickly followed it up with a body shot of his own. Mr. Granger rapidly recovered and threw a striking set of jabs at Snape's face.

The two warriors continued to throw punches as they began to circle each other in the small room. Looking for the knockout blow, Mr. Granger threw a jarring straight left. Unfortunately, a knockout is just what he got. Snape was able to duck the powerful blow, which was very bad news for Mrs. Granger who was now standing at his back with one hand over her left eye. Mr. Granger was unable to stop himself before his punch solidly hit his wife in the right eye.

Janet Granger fell backwards, landing firmly on her bum. "MUM!" Hermione cried once again, as she raced to her mother's side.

Snape, realizing that he wasn't about to beat the faster, smaller man in a fisticuffs match, took advantage of his now shocked adversary and grabbed hold of him in a bear hug. Mr. Granger violently shook and squirmed trying to get out of Snape's powerful grasp.

As the two men struggled in one corner of the room, Hermione checked to see if her mother was ok. "Are you all right, Mum?" she asked, as she tried to help her mother to her feet. Hermione could see that she had a nice sized mouse growing under her left eye. Her right eye was already starting to swell shut. "I'm ok," her mother said weakly, as she tried to shake off the cobwebs.

Snape finally deciding to use his longer reach to his advantage. He released his bear hug on Mr. Granger and suddenly shoved one arm between Granger's legs and the other over the man's right shoulder. He quickly scooped the smaller man up and prepared to body slam him in the middle of the room.

Realizing the danger he was in while hanging upside-down in the Professor's grasp, Mr. Granger wrapped his arms tightly around the top of Snape's left leg. Snape desperately tried to shake the man loose so that he could properly throw him to the ground.

Seeing the peril that her husband was in, Mrs. Granger reached over and picked up her purse that was sitting on the sofa. She then raced over and leapt straight up onto Snape's back. "LET GO OF MY HUSBAND, YOU BLOODY BASTARD!!!" she screamed, as she began to strike Snape in the side of his head with her purse. Snape struggled to keep balanced as he now had the weight of two extra people to deal with.

Deciding to go on the offensive, Mr. Granger sank his teeth into Snape's left thigh. "AAAAWWW!!" Snape screamed in pain. Finally, Snape's legs gave out and all three crashed to the ground in a pile of twisted limbs. While her dad and Snape fiercely grappled on the floor with each other, Hermione's mother continued to strike Snape in the head with her purse.

Apparently having heard the loud scream and the following crash, Dumbledore suddenly burst into the room. "Petrificus Totalus," the Headmaster shouted, as he pointed his wand at the flailing mass on the floor. All three of their bodies instantly straightened stiff as boards.

Hermione felt foolish that she hadn't thought to call the Headmaster sooner. She wondered if a perverted part of her hadn't really wanted to see her father kick the crap out of Snape.

Dumbledore stepped over Hermione's mother and looked down at the petrified Snape. "Severus, I'm surprised at you. These people are going to be the grandparents of your first child," Dumbledore disappointedly said to the man lying stiff on the floor.

"I'll name the child's first bowel movement after them if that will make you happy. Now release me," Snape demanded.

Ignoring Snape, Dumbledore pointed his wand at Hermione's mother and said, "Finite Incantatem." Hermione reached down and helped her mother to her feet. "Miss Granger, will you please take your mother to see Madam Pomfrey. I wish to have a private conversation with your father and Professor Snape," Dumbledore said, shooting a look of disdain at the two men on the floor.

"Yes, Professor. I'm really sorry about this," Hermione said regretfully.

"No need to apologize, Miss Granger. As I said to you before, it's best not to keep things too bottled up," the Headmaster told her.

"Thank you, sir," she said, as she led her mother to the door. Just before leaving the parlor, Hermione turned and took one last look at the two men on the floor. Snape had received some considerable damage to his face from the hands of her father. He had one black eye and both his mouth and nose were bleeding. Her father didn't look much better. He had a nasty looking lump on the right side of his head and his nose and mouth were bleeding as well. Hermione just shook her head as she closed the door behind her.

"I have never met such a despicable man in all my life," Hermione's mother angrily stated, as they made their way down the school corridor. Mrs. Granger limped with each step since one of her heels had been broken off in the scuffle.

"Professor Snape does seem to have that effect on people," she told her mother. "Don't worry Mum, I'll only have to put up with him for a year at most."

Hermione's mother stopped in the middle of the hall and faced her daughter. "Listen to me, Hermione. That man is going to be the father of your child. No matter what you think, he's going to continue to be a part of your life," her mother informed her. "That's why you need to take control now, before he gets it into his fat head that he can treat you anyway he wants. You need to make sure he doesn't even go to the loo without asking permission first."

"I got it, Mum. I'll cut them off and keep them in my pocket," she said confidently to her

mother.

"Good girl," her mother said, as she patted her on the shoulder. Hermione took her first good look at her mother since they left Dumbledore's office. Her right eye had completely swollen shut. Her left was red and watery with a purple mouse under it. Her mother's hair had come out of its bun and was now as wild as a lion's mane.

"Mum, your eye looks pretty bad. We should hurry and get you to the infirmary," Hermione said with concern. Her mother reached into her purse and withdrew a large pair of sunglasses and put them on.

Before closing her purse, Mrs. Granger looked inside and said, "Damn, I think I broke your father's phone on that stupid oaf's head." Closing her purse, Mrs. Granger continued to limp down the corridor with as much dignity as she could muster.

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