The Sound Of Silence

Snape glared at the chair across from him. Hermione didn\'t meet his eyes. She had looked away from him a long time ago. Dumbledore had taken Stephanie to continue their walk. Finally he spoke. \"Why?\"

Hermione looked at him. \"Of all the questions you could have asked, that\'s it?\" He nodded. She looked at the floor. \"I didn\'t know I was pregnant until after I left. I knew that I couldn\'t come back after the argument with Harry and Ron and I didn\'t want you to feel trapped. I was 20 when she was born. You had just gotten away from Voldemort. I thought you would resent me.\"

Severus leaned back in his chair. \"While all that may be true, you caused me to miss out on most of my child\'s life.\"

She sighed. \"I\'m sorry. I know that doesn\'t even begin to make up for everything, but I am sorry.\"

He glared at her. \"Tell me about Stephanie.\"

Hermione smiled slightly. \"Well, she was born February 21.\"

***

Steph couldn\'t stop thinking about what Mommy had said. Professor Snape was her father! She wanted to go back and see him. Maybe now they would stay here. She grinned.

Dumbledore looked at her. \"My dear, I know you are happy with the news. I also know you are smart enough to know the emotions that come along with it. It will take time for things to become as you picture them.\" Steph nodded, the motioned for a paper. He transfigured one for her and she wrote. He nodded as he read. \"That\'s true child, but things have changed since then. Just give them time.\"

***

George pulled back from the Floo. \"Well, Mum\'s on her way. She can\'t wait to see Hermione and meet Steph. She\'s even trying to get Ron and Harry to come.\"

Fred shook his head. \"\'Mione is not going to like this.\" George shrugged. \"Then you call back and tell Mum not to come.\"

***

Hermione ran her hands through her hair. Snape hadn\'t said a word since she finished telling him about Steph. Finally he looked at her. \"How long are you visiting?\"

She looked at him. \"We\'re here for two weeks. We have a room at the Three Broomsticks. I couldn\'t afford to take any more time off from work.\"

He nodded. \"I want to see Stephanie every afternoon. You can either accompany her or you can leave her with me. I would prefer that you left her with me as your presence disgusts me. Get out Ms. Granger. I\'ll bring Stephanie back to your room later.\" He stood and opened the door. She didn\'t look at him as she walked out.

***

Steph finally convinced The Headmaster to take her back to the Dungeons. She wanted to see her parents together. She grinned. Her parents. She had two now. Maybe Professor Snape could come visit her school. She was going to ask him and Mommy about that. Dumbledore knocked on the door. He smiled down at the child. Her happiness was evident, but he knew it would take time for Severus to forgive Hermione. He only hoped that nothing to rash had taken place.

Snape jerked the door open. His face softened when he saw Steph. Why hadn\'t he seen the resemblance before? He looked at Dumbledore. \"Ms. Granger has left. Stephanie will be staying with me until later this evening.\" Steph frowned at him.
Dumbledore nodded. \"I\'ll go see about Ms. Granger.\" He patted Steph\'s shoulder before he left.

Severus closed the door after Stephanie walked in. He offered her a seat. She smiled at him. He sat and ran a hand through his hair. \"I have no idea what to do now.\" She wrote and handed him the paper. He looked at her. \"I will be taking you back to The Three Broomsticks this evening. We\'ve agreed that for the remainder of your stay, you will be spending afternoons with me.\" She grinned and wrote again. He smiled at her. \"I don\'t know. What would you like to call me?\"

***

Hermione went to the one place she could count on to be alone. Loo out out over the grounds from the Astronomy Tower, she thought about what had happen. She knew Severus was going to hate her, she just never expected it to hurt her this much. She sighed and leaned against the wall. She didn\'t need him in her life. She didn\'t want him. That\'s why she had gone to America, wasn\'t it? Because she hadn\'t wanted him.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. \"Were you running away?\"

She started and turned to look at him. \"I\'m a Gryffindor. You know we don\'t run away.\"

He stepped beside her. \"I know you Hermione. You always have a plan.\"

She snorted. \"Love doesn\'t ever go according to plan.\"

Dumbledore nodded. \"It would be wise to remember that.\"

Hermione turned to see the twinkle in his eye. \"I don\'t love him Professor.\" Albus smiled and walked away. Hermione turned back to her thoughts.

***

Severus was impressed with his daughter. His daughter. It still sounded unbelievable. His eyes followed her walk around his chambers. He knew there had been a connection the first time they met, and now he knew why. She was his daug. Th. The thought had once made him shudder, but with her, it made him proud. She turned and pointed to a book. He nodded. \"Yes, you can see it.\" She pulled it down and handed it to him. He took it and watched in amazement as she crawled into the chair with him and curled against his side. He wrapped one arm around her, opened the book, and began to read.

***

Hermione walked into the Great Hall for lunch. She wondered if Stephanie and Snape were going to be there. She knew she should just leave, but she couldn\'t stand the thought of leaving her baby alone.

She was so lon hen her thoughts, she was taken by surprise to find herself wrapped in a hug. When she pulled away, Molly Weasley was smiling at her. \"Where have you been my dear? I\'ve missed you! Not one owl or anything!\"

Hermione smiled weakly. \"I\'m sorry Mrs. Weasley. I\'ve been busy.\"

Molly nodded. \"Fred and George told me all about you having a daughter. I want to meet her.\"

Hermione looked around. \"She\'s with her Father right now. I\'m not sure if they\'ll be coming to lunch or not.\"

Molly\'s smile got wider. \"Her father is here at Hogwarts? Well, that\'s sure to make you visit us more often. Who is her father dear?\"

Hermione looked up to see Steph and Professor Snape walking, hand in hand, towards the Great Hall. \"Well, you can actually see for yourself.\"

***

Steph was grinning as she walked down the hall. She kept looking at Professor Snape and smiling. She looked ahead and saw Mommy. She looked up at her Father and pulled his hand. He nodded and watched as she ran to Hermione. Gods, he was so proud of his daughter.

Hermione watched Steph run towards her. She bent down and hugged her. \"Hey baby girl! Are you having fun?\" Steph nodded and started signing. Hermione smiled as she listened. \"Wow, you have had a busy morning! Have you been good?\"

Snape walked up beside them. \"Yes Ms. Granger. Stephanie has behaved beautifully.\"

Hermione stood up. \"I assumed that she would. I did teach her manners after all.\"

Hermione turned to Molly. \"Molly Weasley, I\'d like to introduce you to my daughter Stephanie Jade Granger.\"

Severus cleared his throat. \"Snape.\"

Molly looked at him. \"Severus, this is your daughter?\"

He nodded. \"Yes, I was informed of this just today. I was just taking my daughter to lunch. Come along Stephanie.\" He held out his hand. Steph looked at him and then at Mom. She took his hand and then grabbed Hermione\'s. She grinned as they walked to the table.

***

The House tables had been moved to allow for one long staff table. Severus held Stephanie\'s chair until she sat and then took his seat beside her. Hermione put on a smile and took the chair on the other side of her.
Minerva patted her hand. \"Albus told me you had come for a visit dear. How are you?\"

Hermione smiled. \"I\'m great. I\'d like to introduce you to my daughter Stephanie Jade\", she cut her eyes at Snape, \"Granger.\"

Severus frowned. \"And I\'d like to introduce you to my daughter Stephanie Jade Snape.\" Hermione glared at him while Steph hid her face in her hands.

Dumbledore clapped his hands. \"Let\'s all enjoy our meal, shall we?\" The conversation abated with the appearance of food.

As they were eating, Minerva turned to Hermione. \"Albus also explained that Stephanie was out visitor when you were in school. I must say I\'m happy to see her back. Will she be attending Hogwarts?\"

Hermione and Severus answered at the same time. \"I don\'t know\" and \"Yes, of course\". Hermione glared at him. Minerva looked at her plate. Further \"discussion\" was postponed by the surprise arrivals.

The doors of the Great Hall opened and revealed Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, wands out. With a confused look on his face, Ron turned to Mrs. Weasley. \"Mum, your owl said there was an emergency at Hogwarts. What\'s the matter?\"

She motioned for them to put their wands away. \"The only emergency here was the fact that Hermione is visiting and I didn\'t want you to miss her. Come sit and have lunch.\"

They both sat and stared at Hermione. She frowned at Mrs. Weasley, then looked at the boys. \"I didn\'t ask for this. I know you\'re probably still upset with me. I came with Stephanie.\"

Harry looked at the girl. \"Hey. That\'s the girl from our 6th year. She did make it back.\"

Hermione looked at Steph. \"Guys, meet my daughter Stephanie.\"

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Thanks to my beta! She\'s great!

A/N: There\'s only going to be one chapter this week. I\'ve got a research paper due at the end of the week and I need to focus on it. I swear, I\'ll post more on Saturday!

Barrie: Well, I hope this chapter answered your questions. Thanks for the review. I hope you keep reading.

Nesscafe: Aww, I\'ve never been compared to a tobacco company. I didn\'t know I was addictive. Maybe a Surgeon General warning on my tush? Thanks for reading. I love reviews!

Jen: Well, I never said Hermione wasn\'t anything but direct!

Kristy: Thanks. I\'m enjoying your reviews!

Honor: Wow. The best? That\'s a great review! Thank you so much! Keep reading. I hope it will live up to your expectations.

Shemhamforash: I\'m glad I made you happy. As for the happy ending, you\'ll have to talk to Herm and Sev for that. They\'ve clammed up over here and won\'t tell me anything in advance. Thanks for the reviews! IM me sometime. On yahoo as absolutlacy. I\'d love to chat!

Rosmerta: Well, I had to keep you wanting more. Miss Vance was a puzzle. Something for him to figure out. That\'s what I attribute it to. Anyway, that\'s what he told me. Thanks for the review.

Deb: Steph just wouldn\'t let me take her on a tour. She wanted to see Professor Snape. I had to give in. She\'s just too cute! Thanks for the review. I hope that Severus lives up to your expectations.

Pearle: Thanks so much. I understand about life getting in the way. I\'m a senior in college. I have no life. Really. As for kids, I don\'t have any of my own, but I do claim two girls that I baby-sit on a regular basis. When they were babies, I would take them places just to get free stuff. I love em but as they get older, you just want to strangle them. Thanks for reading. Hope you keep it up!

April Grey: Thank you so much for reviewing!

Phoenix Feather 7: Well, I hope to have another chapter Saturday. Hope you read it then! Thanks so much!

Rilla: OMG! You\'re still reading! Wow. Your stories rock so much. I just hope this one turns out as good as yours. I tried to keep her father\'s identity a secret. I\'m glad that I was able to fool you! Thanks so much!

Keket Amunet: Thank you so much for reading. I understand how you can skip things. I skip all sorts of things in life. Ah well, c\'est la vie. The only thing I can say about the story moving fast is I\'m a journalist. I\'ve been taught to get right to the point. It\'s just how I am. Thanks for the heads up. Maybe I\'ll rewrite later. Keep reading. I think it does get better.

ShagstheDustmop: Great. I didn\'t want anyone to know he was the father. I wanted it to be a shock. Of course, any cute, smart, child that can\'t speak would enchant Snape. Steph is a schemer. Just like her old man. Keep reading and thank you for your review!