Daddy Dearest - (No Update, Edit)

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 11 ~ Meeting at the Three Broomsticks

Hermione entered the Three Broomsticks inn, her eyes sweeping the room full of patrons for Professor Snape. It was five after seven and she didn't see him anywhere. She didn't know if the wizard had made reservations or not. She walked up to the innkeeper, Madame Rosmerta, who was behind the bar serving drinks.

"Hello, Rosmerta," Hermione said to the buxom, blonde witch.

Rosmerta passed a firewhiskey to a customer, then her blue eyes turned on Hermione and she smiled.

"Why Hermione, so good to see you," she said to the witch.

"It's good to see you too, Rosmerta," Hermione replied, "I was supposed to meet Professor Snape here. Have you seen him?"

Rosmerta's eyes widened a bit. She reached into her robes pocket and pulled out a room key.

"Yes. He said to give this key to whoever asked for him. He is in room eighteen," the witch said, taking in the surprised and uncomfortable look on Hermione's face.

Obviously, this wasn't meant to be a tryst.

Hermione took the room key slowly. What the hell was the Professor up to? Surely he wasn't going to try and seduce her again. If he was, he had all the tact of a barreling bugbear. Hermione scowled darkly.

"Thank you, Rosmerta," she said evenly.

"You're welcome," Rosmerta said, drying a glass she'd just washed and eyeing the witch.

It didn't look like the Professor would be receiving a cooperative partner tonight. But then again, she'd seen the wizard woo plenty of initially uncooperative women to her rooms over the years. He wasn't a handsome man, but he definitely had something to him. She watched Hermione walk tentatively up the stairs.

Hm. Wasn't the witch involved with that dreamboat Auror, Justice Forall? Now he was a wizard to pay attention to. A lot of attention.

Hermione had just disappeared up the stairs when Justice walked into the Three Broomsticks and over to the bar. Rosmerta stared at him as if he had three heads as he took a seat.

Justice looked at the witch's expression, then ran his hand over his face and looked at it. Then he looked at Rosmerta.

"Hey there, Rosmerta. I have a bogey hanging out of my nose or something?" he asked the stricken witch.

"Ah, no Mr…Mr. Forall," Rosmerta replied, "It's just that I don't see you here often during the week."

Gods, if he found out his girlfriend was up in a room with another wizard, there could be some unwanted action in the inn tonight.

Justice frowned slightly.

"I've been stood up for the third time in a row by my significant other, so I'm not feeling too significant right now, and came to drown my sorrows in a couple of butterbeers," Justice replied.

Justice wasn't a big drinker. He just felt like getting out after Hermione broke their date for the third time. He hadn't made love to the witch in over a month, and that always made the wizard a bit antsy. He was rather possessive of Hermione despite her independent streak, and he liked to put his physical claim on her often for his own peace of mind. They had been together for over five years now, and Hermione didn't seem to want to take it any further. He thought it might be because of her son. Despite Justice's best efforts, he couldn't get the strange boy to warm up to him.

He didn't consider Mathias strange overall, just in his mannerisms. It was as if he were a little old man. He didn't act at all like a proper child. Oh, he played Quidditch with his uncles, but he didn't associate with other children very much and spent most of his time reading or locked away in the basement doing gods knew what. Justice had tried to bond with the boy, but Mathias was always close-lipped and wouldn't talk to him except to give him polite, one-word answers.

There had been a few instances of unfortunate incidents around the young wizard too, where Justice tripped for no reason, or something fell and hit him or broke when he touched it. The Auror didn't tell Hermione he believed her son was out to get him, because he knew nothing would drive a wall between them faster than if he accused Mathias of being less than a model child.

But now Mathias was at Hogwarts, and Hermione was alone. Possibly he could get her to reconsider marrying him now. He would like his own son or daughter, and to wake up alongside the witch without having to dress and leave. Well, he would get with the witch again sooner or later. And he'd work on her.

Hard.

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Hermione walked down the hallway looking at room numbers until she came to room eighteen. She inserted the key and opened the door.

Room eighteen was quite large. It had a king-sized bed, of course, but also a sitting area complete with a desk, coffee table and two comfortable armchairs set in front of the fireplace. Sitting in one of those chairs, drinking a firewhiskey was Severus Snape. The wizard put down his glass and stood when Hermione opened the door.

"Good evening, Hermione," Severus said silkily.

Hermione scowled at him.

"Don't you 'good evening' me, Severus Snape," she spat, "what is the meaning of you booking a room? You know this is completely out of line!"

Severus scowled at the witch and sat back down.

"I suppose you wanted to talk about our son where anyone could overhear us," he responded, his dark eyes leveled at her.

Hermione was taken aback. She hadn't thought about that at all. Severus was correct. They couldn't discuss what was supposed to be a tightly kept secret in public. There was no way to tell who would be listening.

"I'm sorry," she said, closing the door and approaching the wizard, "I just thought…"

"You just thought I was setting you up for an attempted seduction," Severus finished for her. "My, you are a self-absorbed little witch, aren't you? You must think quite highly of yourself to believe I can't be alone with you without scheming to get under your robes."

Hermione sat down.

"All right. I deserved that. But I said I'm sorry, and I really don't want to discuss that with you. It won't happen in any case and we have Mathias to think of," she said evenly.

Severus' eyes swept over the witch, and the memory of the pensieve combined with their tryst came stubbornly to the fore. It had been eleven years, but the memories were renewed in the wizard's mind in explicit detail due to the pensieve. He wouldn't mind taking the witch again.

"Yes, we do, Hermione. But first…" the Professor said, drawing a small, rather oval package from his robes pocket and placing it on the table between them. "I have a gift for you."

Hermione eyed the package suspiciously.

"A gift. I don't want any gifts from you. If you are trying to buy my forgiveness…you can forget about it," the witch said, frowning.

Severus frowned back at her.

"I am not trying to buy forgiveness from you. There is nothing I can possibly do or say to make the past eleven years go away for you. What I am giving you here, is closure. You don't remember that night, Hermione, and it was an important one. You lost your virginity to me and have no idea what occurred for that to happen or even what the experience was like for you, or for me. You only awoke horrified the next morning. I think you need to know."

Severus nodded toward the package.

This is a pensieve…a very special pensieve. I have included the instructions on how to use it. Whether or not you view it is up to you, but I would think you would like to know how it was for your own peace of mind. I highly doubt it will change anything, but it is an opportunity to know for yourself what occurred the night Mathias was conceived. Accept it," he said in a low, sincere voice.

Hermione stared at him.

She did need closure. Every now and then the memory of waking up next to the pale wizard naked and deflowered haunted her. It was bad enough to sleep with someone and not remember anything about it, but to sleep with someone for the first time in your life, be deflowered and impregnated without remembrance was a million times worse.

Hermione hesitated, then picked up the package and put it in her pocket.

"I'll take it, but I doubt if it will mean anything," she said to the wizard.

Severus fought back a smirk. If she went level two it would mean quite a bit, he was sure.

"That's fine. I don't expect it to," the wizard said. "But you have a right to know. That is why I gave it to you…so you can close that chapter of your life."

"Or reopen it," he thought.

Hermione was silent for a moment, then said, "Now about Mathias. I don't want him knowing that you are his father, Severus. It might destroy him to know you have always been around and never once tried to be a father to him."

"Not to mention, he may end up despising you for lying to him all these years," the Potions Master purred.

"I did what I had to do," Hermione said defensively.

"As did I, Hermione," the Potions Master said.

"Oh, yes. You are "a spy" so that absolves you from facing your responsibilities. 'Voldemort might have found out.' Sure, Severus. You couldn't have added Mathias to the hundreds of other secrets you keep from the Dark Lord," she said sarcastically. "You could have at least sent financial support. It was hard for us in the beginning."

"Hermione, I couldn't send you anything. The Dark Lord is in my pockets like lint. He keeps a close financial accounting of every sickle his deatheaters earn, and their expenditures. He has accountants keeping track of the spending and moles in Gringotts watching every account. He knows my earnings. If I had sent you anything, it would have been discovered and investigated. You and the boy would have been abducted and all of us killed. I could have absolutely NO dealings with you," Severus said evenly.

"If I sent you support, there would have been a connection. If I told you that I couldn't be in yours and Mathias life because of the Dark Lord, there still would have been a connection. I needed to be out of your thoughts as well as out of your lives. If I could have sent money, you would have seen me as an avenue of support and come to me if there were any other kinds of difficulty, Hermione. You have to see that," he said.

Hermione looked at him. He was right. She might have.

"If things were different, if you weren't under Voldemort, would you have done the right thing by Mathias?" she asked him.

"I can't say," the Professor replied honestly. "I never wanted to be a father. Possibly I would have sent money for his upkeep…but most likely that would have been the extent of it. I am not the "family man" type."

He looked at her.

"But that is neither here or there. We can do nothing about the past. It is the present and future we have to concern ourselves with. Mathias is in my house and under my care and influence now. He is quite an accomplished little wizard and bound to draw attention to himself if he does not receive proper instruction, Hermione. He is Slytherin through and through, have no doubt about that. You will not be able to keep me from influencing him, simply because he is like every other Slytherin under my care. It is my job to influence them and prepare them for adulthood. I will not slack because he is my estranged son," he said evenly.

"Then I want your word you will treat him the same as every other student under your care. I know the kind of favoritism you show your Slytherins. I am concerned you will show even more to Mathias. I want your word you won't. He is not your son. You gave up that right when you denied him," Hermione said, her eyes flashing.

Severus looked at the witch.

"Hermione, the boy already exhibits a lot of my traits. He physically resembles me. He had a distinct love of Potions as far as I can see. As he grows older, our similarities are bound to become even more apparent. Do you really think we can keep this secret from him? Do you think it fair to do such a thing? We do not have to make it public knowledge…in fact, we can't afford to the way things are developing in the wizarding world. But Mathias has a right to know," Severus said.

"No! I don't want him to ever know!" Hermione said vehemently. "I told him his father was dead and I want to leave him buried!"

"How much did you tell him about his father, Hermione? Did you give him the details a son needs to know for closure, or did you just say he was dead and left it at that?"

Hermione didn't answer him. Severus knew that meant she had given the boy no details.

"The boy most likely already knows you are hiding the truth from him," Severus said, "One day he is going to confront you head on. What will you do then?"

"Deal with it," Hermione said stubbornly.

"With more lies?" Severus asked her, scowling.

Hermione didn't answer. This meeting was supposed to be to lay the law down with the Potions Master, not put her through the third degree.

"Hermione, we will not be able to keep the truth from Mathias forever, and it would be better if we were to tell him the truth before he discovers it for himself. If he finds out, he may even disown you. In my case, it really doesn't matter. But you have loved and cared for him all his life. It will devastate you, and in a worse case scenario, lead the boy down a path he may not have chosen, seeking others to whom he can relate, maybe even drawing him into the Dark Lord's ranks."

Severus was thinking of his own spiral downward into the Dark Lord's ranks, seeking acceptance and understanding. He would hate to see the same thing happen to Mathias. He already could see the power in the young wizard. Voldemort would not be above accepting his ruined heritage in exchange for access to the boy's gifts, despite him having a muggle-born mother. Hermione was very powerful, and Voldemort would recognize that despite the public pureblood spin he put on his politics. He already accepted halfbloods who denounced their parentage. Mathias' parentage would be put on the backburner as well.

"Mathias would never join the Dark Lord," Hermione spat.

"Maybe not the Dark Lord of old, whose evil was clearly visible. But this is a new Dark Lord, growing in power and influence, who operates behind the scenes and offers a sense of new hope, power and unity. A false sense, but still leading the wizarding world like cattle to the slaughter. Without a sense of family, Mathias could be drawn into that fold, Hermione. It is something you must consider," Severus said.

Hermione looked at Severus. She knew, despite his shortcomings, the wizard was right concerning Mathias.

"But…but how can I tell him?" she asked the wizard brokenly. "I've lied to him all these years…"

"Basically, when the time comes, we must tell him together. We must tell him how he was conceived…"

Here Hermione blanched. She didn't want her son to know he was the product of a drunken interlude with an ex-teacher.

"Then I must tell him how I disowned him, and the reasons why, and you must tell him why you lied to him. He will have to be old enough to confide in. I am not saying it is something we can do now…I don't think it wise…but possibly in his fourth or at the latest, fifth year in Hogwarts," Severus said. "We have to be sure he understands how important it is that he keep his parentage a secret," the wizard said.

"If he even speaks to either of us again," Hermione said, her eyes glistening.

Severus studied her.

"For now, Hermione…I will keep this secret and not reveal who I am to the boy. But as far as exerting my influence…I will do this. He needs the instruction of a Slytherin, as well as direction because he is so powerful. I will provide that direction in my capacity as Head of House until such time as my true role in his life is revealed. And revealed it must be," Severus replied.

Hermione looked at him, tears now freely rolling down her face.

"You have raised an exceptional son, Hermione Granger. You should be proud," he said softly. "He is skilled, brave and fair-minded. But he is also dark, secretive, resourceful, and quick-tempered. He needs guidance handling those aspects of himself. It is my turn to take the reins. I may not have been there in the past, Hermione, but the fates have put me here now. I have no choice but to do my duty by the boy, both as a teacher and a father…though I still cannot help financially…."

"We're fine," Hermione said, wiping her eyes and regaining her composure. "Mathias wants a private room. I think he should have one."

As much as she hated to admit it to herself, having the Potions Master's help in this situation seemed like a blessing. All the things he said were true, and his evaluation of the situation and what should be done about it, correct. She didn't have the strength to face Mathias alone…at least Severus would be there to absorb some off the blow when Mathias reacted. It wouldn't all fall on her.

Severus nodded.

"I will see to it. I think it is a wise move. The boys he shares his room with are less than stellar," the Potions Master said as Hermione rose.

"Thank you, Severus," she said, meaning it. "If you need to contact me, you have the proper information. I can also be reached at the Ministry."

"Yes," Severus said, rising and towering over the witch.

Hermione looked at him, the mother in her coming out.

"You let him down before, Severus. Don't let him down again," she said warningly. "I promise you, I won't be so accepting this time."

"I won't," the wizard replied, letting her threat pass.

Their eyes met for a moment, and there was an uncomfortable silence.

"I should go," Hermione said unnecessarily.

"Yes," Severus agreed, thinking about the pensieve. "You should."

Hermione started toward the door, then halted.

"You look after Mathias. Don't let him get away with too much," she said, her eyes glittering a bit.

"He's in capable hands," Severus replied.

Hermione nodded and exited the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Severus stared at the closed door, thinking he now found himself in the position he had tried so hard to avoid. The position of a father. Fate couldn't be thwarted, no matter how hard one tried. He had so much to make up for, and so much more to do when it came to Mathias Granger.

He sighed and sat back down. He'd have one more drink before leaving.

He needed it.

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Hermione descended the stairs in somewhat of a daze. She was aware of the chattering patrons of the Three Broomsticks as she headed for the door.

Suddenly she was caught by her arm and whirled around. She found herself meeting the hard eyes of Justice Forall.

The wizard had seen her descend the stairs from the rooms upstairs. What was she doing here, where was she coming from and more importantly, who had she been with?

"What are you doing here, Hermione?" Justice demanded, his grip on her arm firm. "I thought you said you had a meeting tonight."

He studied her face. She didn't have the flushed look she normally did after intercourse…but still…there were only bedrooms upstairs.

"I did have a meeting," Hermione said rather lamely, trying to break free of the Auror's grip.

"In a private room at the inn? What kind of meeting could that have been?" he asked accusingly, his heart tight in his chest.

Gods, was she seeing another wizard?

"I don't have to tell you that, Justice. It was a meeting. A private one. That should be explanation for you enough," Hermione said evenly.

Justice frowned at her.

"You've broken three dates with me in the past month, Hermione. I wonder if these 'meetings' have anything to do with it?" he said coldly.

Hermione scowled at him.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked him, knowing full well what the wizard was insinuating.

"It means maybe you've been busy attending these meetings flat on your back with your heels in the air," he said nastily.

Severus descended the stairs just in time to see Hermione slap a tall, blonde wizard who had a possessive grip on her arm.

"Uh oh," he thought, "Enter the jealous boyfriend."

Justice let go of Hermione and brought his hand to his jaw, stunned as Hermione stormed away. He didn't follow her. Rosmerta looked at the Auror sympathetically.

"Have another butterbeer, Justice. On the house," she said gently, sliding another mug in front of the wizard.

Severus appeared on the other side of Justice, handing Rosmerta two sets of keys.

"Thank you, Madame," the Potions Master said, taking a good look at Justice, then leaving the inn, smirking just a bit.

It seemed Hermione's personal life had just taken a turn for the worst.

Rosmerta breathed a sigh of relief as the dark wizard left. Disaster had been avoided. Narrowly. Thank the gods Hermione and Professor Snape hadn't descended the stairwell together. There would have most certainly been an even large scene, topped off with a brawl.

Justice sat at the bar, his cheek burning where Hermione's angry little hand had connected, and his heart aching. What had he done or not done to make her seek out someone else? He loved her as much as he could love anyone or anything.

"Rosmerta," he said to the innkeeper. "Give me a firewhiskey. Make it a double and keep 'em coming."

Rosmerta frowned at the wizard, but she wasn't the neighborhood watchdog. He was a grown man and this was a bar after all.

The witch gave the Auror what he wanted.

Several times.

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A/N: Interesting. Have to run out right quick. Please review.