Ensnaring The Senses

Hermione smoothed back her hair after using a spell to tame it. She buttoned up her dark blue dress shirt, zipped up her black dress pants and slid her stocking clad feet into a pair of classy black pumps. Severus would be there any moment to pick her up for their lunch date with her parents.

She was nervous, and she tried to hide it by applying another coat of pale lip gloss. When she had sent the owl to her parents asking if she could bring a friend out to meet them, she had choked and didn't say who. Or why.

Draco had spent a lot of time there with her when Cissa was a baby, they had gotten to like him. Even had hoped she'd marry him. Her Dad had thrown out broad hints about how nice of a guy he was, how much he changed from how he had been in school. Her Mum had left out wedding dress books, and had driven her crazy looking at them.

Then Draco had met Ginger. They had hid their disappointment to Draco but the looks she had received could have melted chocolate on a cold winter's day.

She had also told her parents very little about Cissa's father. Her Dad had blown up when the name was mentioned, had wanted to hunt Severus down; wizard or no wizard. He'd been angry about the vast age difference till her mother not so gently reminded him that he himself was older then she.

So now here she was, days from her thirty-second birthday afraid to bring her boyfriend home to meet her Dad. The evils of being Daddy's Little Girl.

“You ready?” Severus said behind her, dressed in his black turtle neck, black pants and boots. Hermione had asked him to dress Muggle-ish, and she had ignored his protests to the contrary.

“Yes, Sev. You look like your facing a firing squad. It's only my parents.” Hermione sighed, brushing an imaginary piece of lint off his shoulder. He took her hand and they made their way out of the castle for the apparition point outside the gates.

“Somehow my dear, I think that is a very apt description.” He tugged his sleeves down lower, wishing she had not requested he dress in something other the robes. He was an adult wizard for Merlin's sake, and he was letting his knees knock together like some little boy waiting outside the Headmaster's office.

“You'll be fine. Once they see you again, all will get worked out and they'll see how much in love we are.” She said.

“They do know we are coming?”

“I sent the owl a few days ago, they sent back a note saying it was okay to meet for lunch.” They had reached the apparition point and he stopped, turning to look at her.

“They do know that it's me.” Severus's eyes looked into hers, and she tucked a stray strand of black hair behind his ear.

“I said I was bringing a friend.” Hermione admitted, dropping her forehead to his chest.

“Hermione Jane Granger!” He hissed out just seconds before they disapparated to a small park near her home.

Hermione's parents lived in a small neighborhood in North London. They were both retired from their dentistry clinic, but still spent a lot of time doing volunteer work in a local free clinic.

“Here,” Severus said, handing her his wand.

“Why? You perform magic as well with a wand as without.” She commented, tucking his wand with hers into her back pocket.

“I'm hoping your father will see me as an unarmed man and not attack me. I'm trying not to think of Cissa in a few years, because I have a feeling your father is going to react to how my thoughts are going for Cissa's first boyfriend. There is this nice place in the Forbidden Forest I hear-”

“Severus Snape!” Hermione's words cut his off as they neared her childhood home. “You will not hex her boyfriends!”

“I will do as I please, Hermione.” His feet stopped at the edge of the well cared for lawn, a cobblestone path leading up to the house. “And I wasn't thinking simple hex either.”

“You're already going to scare them away, why hex the ones actually brave enough to approach her?”

“No one will do to my daughter-”

“What you did to me?” She finished for him, seeing his wince.

“You got it.” He answered, stepping onto the cobblestones. Usually a condemned man got a last meal before facing the executioner, but as his stomached rumbled he feared his death would come before.

Severus strode up to the door, imagining his robes billowing behind him in the breeze. He raised his hand to knock but before his hand met the wood it was thrown open and a fist flew into his long hooked nose. He fell to the ground both from the shock and the pain.

“How dare you show your face at my door after disappearing from my daughter's life for twelve years? Haven't you hurt her enough?” Harold Granger said angrily, standing over Snape as he held his nose, blood dripping through his fingers.

“Daddy!” Hermione whispered in shock, bending down to check how badly Severus was hurt. Her hand reached for her wand to cast a healing spell.

“Hermione, not here.” Severus garbled out, his head nodding towards her curious neighbors.

“Harold! I told you to talk first.” Helen Granger said when the small group entered. She sighed and shook her head. “Sorry Professor Snape, Harold gets a little hot headed over his 'baby' girl. He keeps forgetting she's old enough to deal with things herself now.” They walked into the kitchen, and Helen motioned for him to take a seat.

Severus winced again, a cold cloth pressed to his throbbing nose. “Bend your head back, Professor.” Helen said, Harold glaring in the back round; his foot tapping the floor and his arms crossed over his chest.

“It's broken.” Severus said grimacing as he leaned his head back. He made eye contact with Hermione's father and nodded.

“Let me heal it, please.” Hermione said, wand in hand. Her mother stepped back and she said a few incantations, stopping the blood and mending the bones. “It will still be a bit painful and slightly swollen, but it looks better.” She said, giving her father an angry look.

“Hermione,” Severus said, the pain only a light throb. “I have received worse punishments, allow your father the right to defend your honor.”

“Phftt, I'm more then old enough to make my own decisions now.” She looked at the other three, her arms across her chest, and her foot tapping. Severus noticed how much she looked like her father at the moment, and arched his eyebrow before grinning.

“Your father made his point by drawing blood, and it was a small price to pay, love. The terms for walking away from you again is death.”

“You're a wizard, Severus.” Hermione retorted, her finger tapping on her crossed arms.

“And he is your father.” Severus said back logically, and he touched his nose gingerly. “It feels better already.” Severus stood and walked towards Harold.

“Since you are not a wizard sir, a wizard's oath cannot be performed with you. Will my word suffice?” Severus asked Harold, looking him in the eye.

“Yes, Professor Snape.”

“When I left twelve years ago I was not emotionally capable to be the man your daughter needed in her life. Through mistakes I claim as my own, that left your daughter to raise our daughter alone; with the help of friends.

“I spent twenty years as a spy, doing atrocious things that I took years to get myself to acknowledge and accept that I cannot change. I was a danger to her in the state I was when I left, with nightmares that filled my days even.” Severus felt Hermione's hand slip into his own, and clutched it tight as he continued.

“If I could undo my past, or at least the last twelve years I would. I love your daughter, and her spirit is what got me through. I thought that when I was ready to return she had by then moved on, forgetting me. As she rightfully should have.

“With you permission, Mr and Mrs Granger, I would like to belatedly ask you for your daughter's hand in marriage. I will never leave Hermione's side unless she asks me to again.” Severus waited silently for Harold's response, his hand clammy in Hermione's.

“If I say no, will you walk out that door and never come in contact with my daughter and grandchild again?” Harold asked, his brown eyes holding Severus's black ones in a duel.

“Daddy!” Hermione exclaimed and she buried her head in Severus's shoulder; his hand tightening slightly around hers.

“If that is your desire Mr Granger.” Severus nodded, his gaze not wavering. He wanted to hex the man standing before him. Instead, he waited as Mr Granger thought. He could see Hermione's mother standing to the side, silent as she awaited the verdict.

This Muggle could give the Wizengamot lessons in torture, Severus thought. A well placed Cruciatus could possibly speed this up. He felt Hermione shift beside him and allowed his arm to wrap around her.

Harold and Helen watched the silent interchange between the two; the gentle comforting arm he had wrapped around her; the way her head still nestled into his shoulder. They saw Hermione's eyes raise to look at Severus and the gentle hand that raised to caress the side of her cheek before she again nestled back into his shoulder.

Harold looked at his wife and Helen nodded, years of living and working together had given them a knowledge of each other's thoughts. Harold extended his hand to Severus.

“Welcome to the family, Severus.” Harold clasped Severus's hand tightly.