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Unquestionable Love	By : CRMediaGal Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 3380 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is copyrighted to and belongs to JK Rowling. I own none of her associated characters. New characters belong to me. No money/profit is made from this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
A/N: Progress can be slow, especially when it involves very confused teenagers and snarky, misunderstood fathers...

Many thanks to my beta reader, Brittny!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is copyrighted to and belongs to JK Rowling. I own none of her associated characters. New characters belong to me.

Chapter 7: Severus's Proposition

Severus paced up and down the Potions lab. The air was chilly and the assortment of hanging torches along the walls was dying out, leaving the room even more frigid than usual. The Potions Master took no notice though; the dungeons were always cold, and Severus had grown accustomed to the foreboding, arctic chambers that were his sanctuary. The only warmth radiating through his body came from the exercise he was getting from striding back and forth. His expression was quizzical, his weariness hinting at a dilemma that needed solving.

He had to do it. He needed to swallow his pride, face the humiliation, and simply ask. The worse she could say was no, or nothing at all.

It was almost seven o'clock. Severus made one last effort to fix his cravat, which felt increasingly stiff and tight around his neck, and dashed out of the lab, down the stone corridor, towards a spiraling staircase. He knew where it was; only a sinister-looking shadow was hiding it from view. The entire hallway was practically engulfed in darkness, but Severus was use to such a sight.

He grumbled as he began climbing the steep stairs, his breathing becoming more labored the further he ascended, until he finally reached the top. He paused to catch his breath, peering down the various hallways before him to see if anyone was around. Not surprisingly, there were only two or three stragglers mucking about. It was the weekend, and the majority of students and staff were finishing up their evening meals in the Great Hall. Severus hoped he would spot Hailey there. It was now or never.

A few corridors later and Severus found himself before the extensive oak doors that led to the Great Hall. They were wide open as usual, and a bustle of voices reverberated from inside. Severus frowned at the piercing clamor of utensils and obnoxious chatter. Such noises put him on edge, and tonight especially, the Potions professor was in no mood for such racket.

Crowds of students filtered past him; most had their heads bowed or turned away from the menacing-looking man, determined to avoid him out of fear. None were interested in receiving detention tonight, or else they were simply made nervous by his formidable presence.

Severus's black eyes scanned the Gryffindor table until they recognized Hailey and Lily. The girls were abnormally close to one another, their heads locked together, in the midst of a very intense, private conversation.

Severus was relieved that the Great Hall was emptying out and that, even better, none of Hailey's friends were hanging about. Albus Potter and Hugo Weasley were missing, and Tessa Longbottom was dreamily skipping out with a few Ravenclaws.

"Good evening, sir!" came the wry voice of a Slytherin boy—Scorpius Malfoy—trudging towards him.

Severus lost his focus momentarily, and was about to mutter something unpleasant, when he noticed Surina accompanying Scorpius. Scorpius was a first year now, and Severus was rather relieved to see his second eldest taking the boy under her wing. Surina smiled at her father but did not address him, respecting the quiet protocol that was necessary.

At least she seems relatively happy to see me, Severus bemoaned before giving her and Scorpius the slightest bow of acknowledgement.

Surina and Scorpius moseyed around Severus's striking form and left, allowing him to shift his attention back to the one person he needed to speak to. He made the slow, painful progression towards her table. Hailey and Lily were still chattering in hushed voices about something he could not detect. His footsteps were so muffled that, even if the room was not as relatively noisy as it was, they still would not have heard him approach.

When he was practically standing behind them, he halted and took a deep breath. His own behavior was frustrating the hell out of him. This was his daughter, and a child at that. What on earth did he, Severus Snape, the brilliant wizard who had lived through two long wars and faced countless dangers, have to fear from a mere eleven-year old girl?

"I'm sure that's not it, Hailey," he heard Lily whisper with a hint of desperation in her high-pitched voice, sounding very much like her mother.

Hailey tilted her head. "Then why the hell would he—"

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation!"

"No! You know there isn't, Lily! Surina told me last night what happened to her last year. What did he do to you—"

Severus groaned, knowing full well what they were so adamantly discussing: him. But he did not have time to eavesdrop, nor did he wish to. He needed to get Hailey's attention, rather than wait to be acknowledged. Perhaps they were both purposely ignoring him, Severus considered bitterly for a fleeting moment, before brushing the idea off of his shoulders. He cleared his throat, trying to muster some strength and confidence.

"Miss Snape?"

Hailey let out a squeak and whipped her head around. Lily also started in her seat and glanced up at her father. Both young girls were taken aback, their eyes wide, first with alarm and then relief, but only for a brief moment before trepidation surfaced.

Hailey situated herself and stretched her neck up to look her father fully in the face. What does he want? she asked herself before addressing him. "Erm, yes?"

"I need you to come with me. Now."

Severus shuffled uncomfortably, agitated by his own less than confident, wooden behavior. He had spoken far too quickly, without the assertion and authority he normally possessed. He hoped that the girls did not take notice, for he was already in a foul mood; that uneven temper was never entirely within his control, and was even less so as of late...

Hailey turned to Lily for support, but her sister did not meet her pleading gaze. Lily was staring at Severus with a look of equal confusion, and the usual glow in her cheeks was drained. Severus scrutinized their exchange, becoming more aggravated by the second at not receiving the immediate response he was accustomed to.

"Um, now?" Hailey stuttered. "But my dinner—"

"That can wait!" he snapped, before composing himself and adding, in a much gentler tone, "I won't keep you long."

"Look, I don't want to talk about—"

Severus's upper lip quivered and he struggled to contain the edginess that seemed to be engulfing him. "I'm not interested in mindless banter, you silly girl!"

"Sir!" Lily started before she could stop herself.

Severus peered down at his pretty firstborn, but his displeasure did not abate. "This does not concern you. If you are finished eating, you may go, or you may stay here and do whatever you like. But your sister needs to come with me this instant."

Lily swallowed and nodded in a respectful manner that left Hailey aghast. Her face reacted by turning a brighter shade of red.

How dare he stalk in and ruin my meal—not to mention my weekend—with his god-awful presence! Just look at him! The nerve!

Not wanting to make a scene but also desiring to make it known that she was still outraged, Hailey jumped to her feet and glared into her father's unreadable eyes with all the disdain she bore him just a few days prior. "Very well, sir," she sneered, showing the same sarcasm he so often displayed.

Severus ignored her fresh retort and growled. He spun around and exited the Great Hall, leaving Hailey to trail off after him. Lily watched her younger sister stumble after their father and prayed that things were not about to go from bad to worse. Hailey had just been informing Lily about what had transpired between Severus and her on her first day in Potions, and Lily was only beginning to wrap her mind around the incident. She knew her father could be exceedingly tough, as he had been so to her and to her Gryffindor friends on countless occasions; but to threaten one of them with his wand? She knew he very rarely did that to much older students when they riled him up enough, but her father's actions that first day seemed out of character, indeed. Would her father have used his wand if Albus had not come to her sister's aid? Lily sat quiet and placid in the Great Hall, hoping her sister's perspective of things was wrong.

Severus rushed down a gloomy corridor towards the spiral staircase that would lead them down to the dungeons. Hailey ran after him as fast as her short legs would allow.

"Wait!" Hailey gasped, struggling to keep up. "Please!"

Severus stalled when he reached the staircase and waited silently for his daughter to catch up. She stumbled and practically lost her balance once she reached his side. Her shaggy hair appeared even more disorderly than usual, her brown curls spiraling in every direction and her cheeks flushed from the exercise.

Severus took a brief moment to survey Hailey's little round nose, the smallness of her mouth, her dainty but athletic frame. Everything about her was petite; she did not have the height or stature of an average eleven-year old. She was entirely her mother. The only glimpse of him that was at all tangible was her eyes, which were much darker than Hermione's, almost black like his own. Almost.

Even in her breathlessness and with the combativeness she currently projected, a deep part of the troubled wizard yearned for the little girl he had so wronged. He missed her more than he realized, surveying her now, and tried to suppress a mounting ache in his chest, as she glared up at him with unfamiliar resentment.

"If you really want me to follow you, you shouldn't try to lose me!"

"It is not my fault that your legs are so short, Miss Snape," he mused darkly.

"Would you stop calling me that?" Hailey huffed, throwing her arms into the air. "It's ridiculous!"

Severus rolled his eyes, ignoring her outburst, and started down the staircase. An aggravated Hailey rushed down the stone steps behind him. He was already waiting for her with his hands behind his back when she reached the bottom.

"Humph!"

The third Snape was clearly unable to mask her irritation and Severus could not help but find it endearing. He led her into the Potions lab, where she hesitated before entering. Severus shut the door behind them and stalked past his daughter to his desk at the far end of the room. Hailey, however, did not come any closer from where she stood. She was next to the oak door, ready to spin around and bolt out of the room at any moment. Severus frowned at seeing her waning confidence and returning cowardice, as she stood nervously before him.

"Hailey, I—"

"I don't want to talk about it," she whispered hastily in the faintest voice. Severus could sense the pain in her tone and it grieved him immensely.

"That's not why I brought you here." He watched her brow furrow, but it was the only response she gave. "I have a proposition for you."

Hailey curled her nose. "Come again?"

"A proposition!" Severus hissed, against his better judgment.

Hailey jerked backwards, almost as if she thought her father were about to lunge at her, causing Severus's normally strong shoulders to slump. Why did everything now serve to frighten the poor girl? He ran his elegant fingers through his hair and stared at the slight young female across the room.

"There is no need to be alarmed, Hailey. I haven't brought you here to cause you more pain."

Though he meant to offer her sincere reassurance, Hailey could see her weary father struggling to keep his emotions in check. His pale face flashed several different emotions before her in a matter of seconds: misery, frustration, stress, discomfort...

Hailey felt a twinge of guilt for reacting as she had, but was more annoyed with herself for not being stronger in his presence. After what had happened, she desired to prove that she was not afraid of her father; even though she was. Many questions had been spinning through her mind since that first day. She wanted answers but was still too afraid—and far too angry—to ask.

Severus composed himself and broke the uncomfortable silence. "I am to take on an assistant to help with a few tasks that fall outside of the classroom." Hailey angled her head to one side but said nothing, allowing Severus to continue uninterrupted. "It was not my decision and, regrettably, I have no say in the matter; however, I do have the choice in whom I select. The student I choose has the right to refuse, of course."

Hailey shifted awkwardly, taken aback by what her father was saying. A mixture of bitterness and befuddlement traced the barely visible outlines of her face before she could manage a reply.

"Huh? I don't understand... Are - are you asking me to be your assistant, sir?"

Severus's raven eyes darted away from her for the first time, looking towards the stone floor. "You may call me 'Dad' here, Hailey," he murmured, his tone exceedingly gentle. "We are alone, and this is not your Potions class."

Hailey swallowed hard, not sure how to reply. What should she say? Why on earth was he asking her to do this, especially after what he had done? Was this a 'pick-me-up' or some sort of pathetic attempt at reconciliation?

Hailey laced her fingers together, becoming increasingly more confused, and realized her hands had started trembling. When she finally spoke, her voice sounded as miserable as his. "Why should I call you that, after what you did?"

Severus's eyes peered up at her and, though her silhouette was etched in shadow, he did not need to see her expression because it was already apparent by her tone of voice. For the first time in a long while, Severus Snape was at a loss for words. He knew of only one thing he could offer, but it would not be enough. Not nearly enough.

"I'm so sorry, Hailey. I truly am."

Hailey waited a long moment, allowing his words to fill the void between them. Neither one moved or breathed. They simply stared at each other, their eyes locked, wanting to turn away but unable to do so.

Hailey had followed Surina's advice. She had allowed her father to apologize; however, she was still unsatisfied. A deeper hurt lingered somewhere within her tiny body, a wound that was still festering, unhealed.

"I - I know you're sorry, but it doesn't change how I feel. I'm still mad at you..."

Hailey watched Severus exhale; he did not speak immediately. He scratched his chin and wrung his hands, something he never did, which surprised her. He regarded her sadly.

"I would be surprised if you weren't, munchkin," he breathed, referring to her in the affectionate term he so often used at home, almost causing Hailey to lose her composure. "I understand."

Hailey bit her lip and folded her arms across her chest, not taking her eyes off of him. "So, what now?"

It was the first time all week that her voice bore him no ill-will. Her question was entirely sincere, though measured. Severus sighed again, his upper body wilting under the various emotions that were sweeping over him.

"I don't know, sweetheart. I suppose that's up to you. I just want you to know that you deserve an explanation and I am here to offer it to you if, and whenever, you wish. But I won't push you."

Hailey let out the breath she was holding and stared at the floor, her bangs falling over her eyes. She nodded her head and traced an outline of stone with one of her feet.

"Fair enough."

After another lengthy pause, Severus went to stand, when Hailey's voice echoed from the dark corner near the doorway, stopping him in his tracks. "This assistantship—"

Severus slowly turned to her, his eyebrow raised. "Yes?"

"If I accept—"

The Gryffindor stopped, as if waiting for the professor to say something. Severus had expected the opposite answer. His daughter was hinting at an agreement, and a glimmer of hope flashed in his otherwise inscrutable eyes.

"Yes?"

"If I accept," she restated, more cautiously than before, "and give it a try, but it isn't working for me..."

Hailey waited again for her father's answer, inching a few steps closer to him. Her face broke out of the shadows and into the dim, orange shades of the candlelit room. Her expression exuded a calmness that reminded Severus so much of Hermione that it took him a moment to focus. A hint of anxiety was also present in her brown eyes.

"You may withdraw at any time," he murmured in his low voice. His answer seemed satisfactory to Hailey.

"When would I start?"

"Monday, I would imagine. The days and hours will be worked out with the Headmistress. If you accept, you will need to meet with Professor McGonagall and me in her office tomorrow morning after breakfast. There is a contract that you and I will need to sign."

Hailey acknowledged Severus's reply with a bow of her head. Her mind was filled to the brim with lingering questions about the assistantship—indeed, everything—that was happening. Why had she just accepted this when it was already hard enough to be around him? When she was still so angry at him for what he had done? She had not even bothered to ask what she would be doing, how much work it would involve, or how often she would have to come to these wretched, creepy dungeons. How her father could stand the dreadful atmosphere, she could not fathom.

Despite her ill-temper, Hailey found herself suddenly upset at the sight of Severus standing there, half-concealed by the shadows of his classroom, isolated and very much alone in such a dreary place. For him, this was a daily occurrence. How had he managed it all these years? Hailey did not have the heart to ask, and a part of her still did not trust her fluctuating emotions, so she kept her mouth shut on the subject.

"All right," Hailey replied after a short time had passed. "I will see you tomorrow then." Hailey turned to exit, not waiting for Severus to respond, but then halted when her hand touched the smooth oak of the door behind her. "Um, how will I get into Headmistress McGonagall's office?"

A crack of a smile formed at the corners of Severus's thin lips. She was, indeed, bright, that little witch of his, even if she did loathe him entirely. "Meet me at the large gargoyle statue at nine. I will escort you."

Hailey nodded but did not turn around to face him. She opened the heavy door with some difficulty. It creaked louder than she expected and echoed throughout the eerie dungeons.

"Hailey," Severus called to her, still standing at his desk.

Hailey whipped her head around and eyed him expressionlessly. Severus's face was also unreadable, his eyes as deep as they had ever been.

"Thank you," he managed to say, without any emotion.

Hailey inclined her head once more and then briskly disappeared, leaving the Potions Master to his usual solitary confinement. For the first time in a long while, Severus Snape detested the bone-chilling isolation.

Upstairs, Hailey scrambled back into the Great Hall, grateful to find Lily still lingering with her friends, but they were the only ones. The rest of the hall was empty. Lily jolted at the sight of her sister approaching, her eyes fixated on Hailey, undoubtedly worried. She had been waiting anxiously for her younger sister to return.

"What happened?" she breathed, rushing over to Hailey so the others would not overhear.

"He asked me to be his Potions assistant."

"Assistant?" Lily's head cocked to one side with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"Apparently, he needs help, so he asked me."

"And you accepted?" Lily's mouth hung open, stunned. Considering how angry Hailey had seemed a half-hour ago, Lily thought it odd that her sister would accept such a position; it would force her to work with their father on what would surely be a regular basis.

Hailey returned her sister's dumbfounded expression. "Yes, I did."

"Why, sis?"

"I have no idea..."
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Unquestionable Love