The Sound Of Silence

Severus Snape was actually smiling as he walked to breakfast. He daughter was going to be here soon. He would be spending Christmas with his family. His smile faltered. His family? When had be begun to think of Hermione as family? He shook his head. It was no use. His feelings for her were beginning to return. He sighed and headed into the Great Hall.

He was surprised the see Hermione and Stephanie eating breakfast. He walked to the table. \"What are you doing here?\"

Steph grinned up at him. She signed, \"Eating.\"

Snape glared at her. \"I see that, but why are you here? I wasn\'t expecting you till this afternoon?\"

Hermione looked up at him. \"We had a small problem at the Burrow this morning. Steph wanted to come to Hogwarts early.\"

Severus nodded as he sat beside Stephanie. \"I take it Potter and Weasley gave you their gifts?\"

Hermione looked at him. \"You knew?\" He nodded. She put her fork on her plate. \"You knew about their gift to me?\"

Severus nodded slightly. \"They told me of their plans. I only arranged for Stephanie\'s allowance to be sent to your account.\"

She frowned at him. \"You are giving her an allowance? So you think I can\'t take care of my daughter either? I believe I\'ve done well so far.\"

Stephanie lay a hand on her mother\'s arm. She signed. \"Can we please talk about this later?\"

Hermione looked at her the then at Severus. \"Fine, but I do plan on talking to you about this.\"

***
Later, Stephanie was airborne over the Quidditch pitch. Hermione and Severus were watching from one of the Observation Towers. Severus spoke. \"She is good. You have to admit that.\"

Hermione nodded. \"Harry and Ron did teach her well.\"

Severus looked at her. \"What happened today?\"

Hermione sighed. \"They gave Stephanie her broom. I wasn\'t happy with that, but she was very happy. Then they gave me the key to the vault they set up for me. We fought. I went for a walk to gather my thoughts and Steph came out with all our things and asked to come to Hogwarts. She didn\'t tell me what was wrong, but we came early.\"

He nodded. \"They weren\'t happy with your reaction to the key?\"

She shrugged. \"Not to their standards. I can\'t make them understand that I am happy with how my life is. Stephanie is the best thing that has happened to me. I understand why they feel they have to give me the money, but I truly don\'t want their help.\"

Severus nodded. \"I can see your point of view, but I also know something that you don\'t. The money is truly yours. Had you not left, you would have enjoyed the same fame and fortune that Potter and Weasley do.\"

She looked at him. \"I didn\'t do anything important.\"

He lifted an eyebrow. \"Nothing important? Aren\'t you the woman who helped Potter design a spell to weaken Voldemort so he could be destroyed? Did you not fight grown men, Death Eaters and survive? Do you not have the scars to prove your importance?\"

Her hand went to her side. \"Yes, I did those things but...\"

He stopped her. \"Then you deserve the money and the fame.\"

She turned her eyes back to Steph. \"I didn\'t ask for either.\"

He shrugged. \"Not many did.\"

She sighed. \"Do you think Stephanie is happy?\"

Severus frowned at her sudden change in thought. He followed the young girl\'s flight. \"Yes. I do think she is happy.\"

Hermione looked at him. \"You give her an allowance?\"

Severus nodded. \"She helps me during our time and I give her an allowance. You support her as her mother, it\'s only right that I support her as well.\"

Hermione put a hand on his arm. \"I didn\'t bring her back to Hogwarts to get your money.\"

He looked at her. \"I know that, but she is as much my responsibility as she is yours.\"

Hermione looked back up at the girl. \"She will be attending Hogwarts when she receives her letter.\"

Severus nodded. \"Her name is on the books. Minerva checked as soon as she found out about her. She is quite happy that she\'ll be teaching your daughter.\"

Hermione sighed. Severus looked at her. \"What about you?\" She looked at him in confusion. He raised an eyebrow. \"I don\'t expect you to stay in New York. What are your plans?\"

She looked away from him. \"I guess I\'ll stay with Harry and Ron. They\'ve offered to help me settle back into this world.\"

Severus noticed the look on her face. \"You don\'t want to?\"

She sighed. \"I\'m not the same Hermione I was before. I am not their sidekick anymore.\"

He looked at her. \"You grew up.\"

She frowned at him. \"I hoped that I would have.\"

He looked at her for a moment and then leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. She gasped slightly, but returned the kiss. He pulled away from her. His hand gently caressed her cheek then he started to leave.

She out a hand on his shoulder. \"No. You\'re not leaving. Not after that.\"

He sat back down and looked up at Stephanie. He folded his arms over his chest.

She sighed. \"All right. Look. I wanted you to see her when she was born. I wanted you to be there as she grew up. I wrote a letter every week, but I didn\'t have the courage to send them. I thought you didn\'t want me. I didn\'t want you to reject me again. I didn\'t think you would care about either of us.\" She bit her lip as she watched her daughter.

Severus sat in silence for several moments. Finally he stood and paced back and forth. He stopped and looked up towards his daughter. When he spoke, Hermione had to strain to hear him. \"It was hard for me to see you go. I wanted you to go and find your dreams. It appears that no matter what I did, I kept you from that.\"

***

Stephanie came down and hovered in front of her Father. She smiled and motioned towards the broom. He shook his head. \"No thank you Little One. I do not want to fly. I think it is time for us to go back inside.\"

Steph nodded and turned the broom towards the Castle. Hermione shook her head as the girl flew ahead. She pulled her cloak around her. \"Thank you for letting her work to earn Christmas money.\"

Severus looked at her. \"The cloak does suit you.\"

They walked in silence back to the Castle, similar thoughts running through their minds.

***

In the dungeons, Steph was grinning at her parents. Hermione laughed. \"Go on. Give it to him.\"

She grinned and handed Severus two packages. He shook his head. \"I wasn\'t expecting a gift.\" He pulled the paper off the potions text. \"Hermione, this cost...how did you afford this?\"

She shook her head. \"You will have to ask your daughter about that.\" Steph grinned and nodded.

He hugged her. \"Thank you Little One. It is an amazing gift.\"

She pushed the other gift into his hands. She pointed to Hermione. He raised an eyebrow as he unwrapped the small frame. He frowned.

Hermione came and sat on the arm of the chair. \"That is Stephanie and I. It\'s a muggle photo. I think she was about two years old there. Mum took it when we were visiting for summer. There is another recent shot of her inside the frame as well. I thought you could choose which one you wanted to display.\"

He smiled up at her. \"Thank you. This has truly been a happy Christmas.\" Stephanie climbed into his lap and lay her head against his chest. He smiled and wrapped an arm around her as he looked at the photo.

Hermione looked at the clock. \"Albus and Minerva will be expecting me for tea. You two play nice until I get back, then Steph and I will have to go get ready for the party.\" She kissed Stephanie\'s head and then looked at Severus.

He cleared his throat. \"Yes, well. We\'ll be waiting for your return. Have a pleasant visit.\" She nodded and left the room. Severus looked at Stephanie, \"I suppose you want your gift from me?\"

She frowned and shook her head. She hugged him tightly and signed slowly, \"I\'ve already got my Daddy.\"

He brushed his lips against her hair. \"I know, but I did get a gift for you.\" He summoned a small box. \"Open it.\"

She plucked the box out of the air and opened it. Inside was a small emerald pendant. She looked back up at him. He pulled the necklace from the box and helped to fasten it around her neck. She signed, \"It\'s pretty.\"

He looked at her. \"It was my grandmother\'s. It\'s very special as well. When you are back in New York and you wish to speak with me, simply grasp this in your hand and think of me. I will be able to hear you unless I am asleep.\"

She smiled and grasped the gem. He smiled and looked at her. \"Happy Christmas to you as well.\" She leaned up and kissed his cheek. He looked around the room, \"What would you like to do until your Mother gets back?\" She grinned and pulled him from the chair.

***

Hermione sat and stared into her tea. Minerva looked at Albus and then back to the woman. \"My dear, unless you\'ve discovered hidden talents, I don\'t think you will be able to read your own tea leaves.\"

Hermione shook herself from her thoughts. \"I\'m sorry. I was just thinking about Harry and Ron.\"

Albus smiled. \"Have they dealt with your news?\"

She nodded. \"They adore Stephanie and I believe they\'ve come to grips with Severus being her father.\"

Minerva looked at her. \"Something else is bothering you. Are you and Severus not getting along?\"

Hermione shook her head. \"Actually, I\'m getting along better with Severus than with Harry and Ron. The boys surprised me with a gift this morning. I\'m still deciding how I should feel about it.\"

Albus looked at her. \"They do care for you dear. Remember that.\"

***

In the library, Severus looked up from a book. \"Little One, this will be very hard. Are you sure you want to try?\"

Stephanie nodded and wrote on a parchment. \"I want to be like the other children when I come to Hogwarts. I know I can\'t talk like everyone else, but maybe if I practice wandless magic I won\'t be so behind.\"

He nodded. \"This takes a very powerful witch or wizard. I don\'t want you to be disappointed if you fail at this task.\"

She bit her lip and pulled the book back to her. She reread a paragraph and looked up at him. She signed, \"I want to try.\"

Severus nodded. \"Very well. Then you\'ll try. Now, we need to find your Mother. We have a Christmas party to prepare for.\"

***

Hermione was coming out of the Headmaster\'s office with she ran into Severus and Stephanie. Steph signed and told her about the book she was reading. Hermione frowned. \"Well, we\'ll practice but keep in mind most magical people can\'t do wandless magic.\" Steph nodded.

That\'s when Hermione noticed the necklace. \"Where did you get that?\"

Steph touched the pendant. She pointed to her Father. Hermione nodded. \"It\'s very pretty.\" She gave Severus a look that told him they would be discussing his choice of gifts later.

He shrugged. Hermione had a penchant for over-analyzation. Basically, she thought to much. He placed a hand on Stephanie\'s shoulder. \"Now, I believe we have a party to prepare for.\"

***

Hermione smiled as she looked at her little girl. The transfigured robes made her look older than her ten years. Steph smiled at her mother and pointed to her. Hermione nodded. \"Yes, I\'m going to get myself ready. Right after I do your hair. Would you like it up or down?\"

Steph thought a moment and then signed the word up. Hermione nodded and started the charms for the young girl\'s hair.

***

Severus looking at his face in the mirror. Should he shave or go looking scruffy? He frowned. Why did it even matter? He was not out to impress anyone. He sighed. Yes, actually he was. He knew that Hermione and Stephanie would be lovely tonight and it wouldn\'t do to look out of place with them. He sighed again. Maybe just a goatee?

***

Hermione stepped out of the bedroom. Stephanie looked up from the book she was reading. She grinned. Hermione shrugged her shoulders. \"At least I got a high NEWT in transfiguration. Severus should be here soon to escort you to the party.\"

Steph signed. Hermione shook her head. \"I\'m not sure I was even thought of.\" Steph held up the necklace and let her mother put it around her neck. Hermione looked at the gem. \"What did he tell you about this?\"

Steph signed the information about the emerald. Hermione nodded. \"At least I don\'t have to worry about his acceptance.\" She picked up her new cloak to make sure that it was clean. The box Harry and Ron had given her, fell out of the pocket. She sighed and opened the box.

Steph came up and put her arms around her. Hermione kissed the top of her head. \"Life isn\'t that bad is it? I mean, you\'re happy aren\'t you?\"

Steph nodded. She looked at the key and signed, \"Couldn\'t you just keep the money as a back up? I know you make enough at the magazine to take care of us. We could just use the money if we needed it, right?\"

Hermione looked at the girl. \"I don\'t see the harm. We don\'t have to change our lives, just use this for emergencies.\" Steph grinned at her and then went to answer the knock that sounded on the door.

She opened it to see Severus standing there. He smiled at his daughter. \"You look beautiful Little One. Green is most assuredly your color.\"

She blushed and mouthed the words \"You look nice too.\" He nodded and stepped into the room. He looked at Hermione and his eyes grew wide in appreciation. Stephanie looked beautiful in her emerald gown, but it was nothing compared to her mother.

The dress was strapless and hugged every curve she had. The hem was long but that only enhanced her beauty. Her hair was up in a French twist, with small curls framing her face. Her skin seemed to glow against the silver of the fabric, adding to her angelic beauty. He smiled. \"You look beautiful.\"

She blushed and looked him over. His dress clothes were so dark green they appeared almost black. He still wore his frock coat, but with several of the top buttons opened. His hair had been pulled away from his face and was held with a ribbon at his neck. He had opted for a goatee tonight, and she thought it gave him an air of ruggedness. She quickly wondered what that facial hair would feel like against her cheek, but quickly dismissed that thought. She smiled. \"Thank you for the compliment. You look rather handsome yourself.\"

She handed Stephanie her cloak and was surprised to find Severus helping her with her own cloak. He offered an arm to each lady. \"Shall we go? Albus and Minerva are waiting in the bar with our port key.\"