A Knock at the Door

A Knock at the Door by Pearle

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.


~~~~~~ A Knock at the Door ~~~~~~

Chapter 5 – A Door Slams Open

Silenus dressed quickly. Jessica and Kelly said they would be waiting in the common room so they could go to breakfast together. She liked being in the dorm with the other girls. It was certainly different than Witchfield. She had been mad when her mother told her they were moving. Now she was gtheythey had made the change, but she still missed her old friends. Maybe she would write them tonight. The other girls had teased her about her accent. She was the only American in the whole school. She had started to get angry when Jessie burst out laughing. In the end they all thought it was cool she had been born across the big pond as they put it. It gave her an air of mystery they said.

She did not need any help in that department either. She was questioned over and over about her mother, who was thought to be dead all this time. Her mother was known as a war hero. Silenus explained they had been in hiding. They wanted to know what being in hiding was like. And Uncle Harry! Was he really her mother’s friend? Would he visit them? Could they meet him? She thought she would never hear the end of it.

They asked about her father. Who was he? Where was he? Now there was a difficult topic if there ever was one. She gave them a smile that would have rivaled the Mona Lisa’s and just shrugged her shoulders. She told them she was not at liberty to reveal his identity yet and refused to yield. She had just met him yesterday. She wanted to keep him to herself for a while longer. He might not be an easy person to know, but Silenus definitely wanted to know him. She was determined to at be on friendly terms with him if that was possible. She had spent most of her youth wondering what he was like. Now was her chance to really find out. She understood why her mom did what she did, but that didn’t mean she still wasn’t mad at her about it. She wondered what her housemates would think when they found out just who her father was. She knew they would be receiving their class schedules so she hurried down to the common room. Her new friends were already there, waiting for her.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Professor McGonagall walked over to the girls as they entered the Great Hall. “Miss Granger, the Headmaster would like to have a word with you. If you will follow me please.”

McGonagall turned and swept out of the hall. Silenus looked up at the Head table, both her mother and father’s chairs were empty. That couldn’t be good. Silenus hurried to catch up with the Professor. “Is my mother alright?” She asked.

“Yes Miss Granger, your mother is fine.” McGonagall spoke without breaking her stride.

“Is Professor Snape alright?”

McGonagall looked oddly at the young woman, “Yes, he is quite well too. Ah. Here we are.” They had stopped in front of the stone gargoyle. McGonagall raised her hands and said, “SugarSnaps.”


The wall started to move revealing the entrance and the moving stairs that lead to the Headmaster’s office. “You may go up. They are waiting for you.” With that the witch turned and left.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Silenus reached the top of the stairway and saw the ornate wood door in front of her. She had just raised her hand to knock when the Headmaster called out, “Come in Miss Granger.”

Both her parents were sitting in front of the Headmaster’s desk. Her mother looked fit to be tied. Silenus thought smoke would pour out of her ears. Professor Snape actually looked………..well happy, if you could call it that. He had sort of a cat-that-ate-the-canary smirk plastered on his face. Silenus sat in the empty chair between the two and looked at the Headmaster.

Dumbledore smiled and held out a tin to the girl. “I’m glad you could join us. Have you settled in well? Lemon drop?” He asked.

“No, thank you sir. Yes, everything is fine.”

“Albus.” Hermione’s tone had a sharp edge to it and she looked as if she hadn’t slept well the night before.

“Is something wrong sir?” Silenus cast a sidelong glance at her mother.

His eyes sparkled. “ No child. But something has come up. The Ministry of Magic had declared your mother dead when she originally disappeared. We will have to petition the Ministry to reverse the decision. It should only take a matter of days.”

“As if they couldn’t tell I am a living, breathing human being just by looking at me.” Hermione grumbled angrily.

Albus gave Hermione a look. “The point being, since Professor Snape is your only living relative, he is now recognized as your legal guardian.”

Silenus looked at the Professor, her father. No wonder he looked pleased. Silenus smiled shyly, shrugging her shoulders, “Okay.”

“There is one more thing Miss Granger. The adults on either side of her groaned now and shook their heads. The Headmaster was unrolling two scrolls on his desktop. “The morning owls will be delivering these in just a few minutes. I am afraid there is no way to stop them. These copies arrived earlier this morning in my quarters.”

Silenus leaned forward to read the two head lines. Now she understood the problem.

____________________________________________________________________________
THE QUIBBLER xxx SPECIAL EDITION xxx All the news that magic will allow

My Love Children with the Ghost of A Dead War Hero by Professor Severus Snape

“We fell in love when Hermione haunted my dreams. The twins mean the world to me.” Professor Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School and the former lover of the deceased witch was quoted as saying.
____________________________________________________________________________


Silenus burst out laughing when she read the headline and quote. “Really, isn’t it a bit redundant to say ghost and dead? And what twins?” She looked at the other paper and paled a bit.


__________________________________________________________________________
THE DAILY PROPHET xxxxxx The World of Magic Direct to you xxxxxx 5 Knuts

Hermione Granger Returns


The Ministry of magic disclosed late last night that Miss Granger has indeed returned to Hogwats School after being in hiding these last twelve year. This reporter has learned she returns with her an eleven-year old daughter fathered by Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin, First Class. An investigation is pending.
___________________________________________________________________________


“Oh no.” Silenus had stopped reading and sunk back into her chair. Well now she wouldn’t have to tell anyone. All she’d have to do is answer the hundred and one questions everyone would have. They would all know who her father was before the first class. “Well, I guess this mean I won’t have to tell anyone who my father is.”

Professor Snape looked over at his daughter. “I would assume this to be a problem. Is that not so?”

“You mean you and the ghost? No, I just wanted to wait a little bit before I told anyone, that’s all.” Silenus was looking down at the ground. Severus chuckled a bit.

“Miss Gra……” Snape started to say, but Hermione shot a look over her daughter’s head at the Potions Master. He tried to back peddle. “Silenus, I am sorry that the news was divulged in this manner, but the fact is your mother and I are well known. It will cause a stir for a while but I am sure it will be fine in a matter of time.” Snape was finding it hard to say the right words. As Head of Slytherin he had counseled students before, but this was different. He did not want to admit it, but it mattered to him what she thought of him. His own childhood had been difficult. He had grown up in a cold, abusive environment. As angry as he was at Hermione, he could see she loved the child, and had tried to do what was best for her. How 48 hours had changed his life. He shook his head.

“Thanu.” u.” Silenus’s quiet voice cut through his thoughts.

“Well, now that that is taken care of,” Said the Headmaster brightly. “Would anyone care for tea?”

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

They had talked a bit more before Silenus was dismissed. Both parents assuring her all would be fine. Silenus made her way to the dungeons for a double potions class, Gryffindor and Slytherin. The Headmaster had given her the class schedule when she left his office. She had missed first period Herbology. Her first day and already she was behind!

Silenus stopped outside the doorway to the classroom. She could hear a murmur of voices on the other side of the door. Straightening her shoulders, she took a deep breath and opened the door. The level of voices died down as the students turned to look at Silenus. Jessica was seated up front with Kelly. She waived to Silenus to join them, giving the rest of the class a fierce look.

Silenus sat between Kelly and Jessica; she could feel the tension in the classroom. Jessie turned an appraising eye on the girl before stating in a loud voice, “I must say, for a dead woman, your mother looks very good.”
The remark broke the tension and Silenus burst out laughing, grateful for her new friend. The other students started to pepper her with questions.

“Is Snape really your father?”

“What is he really like?”

“Why aren’t your mother and father together?”

What was it like being in hiding?”

“Why isn’t Snape your last name?”

The classroom door slammed open against the sidewall. Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin First Class and bastard extraordinaire entered the room. The students immediately feel silent. He strode forward to the lectern at the front of the classroom, his trademark scowl in place, robes billowing out menacingly behind him.

With the barest of nods to his daughter, Professor Snape started his traditional first year speech. “\'There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in my class...”

And another year at Hogwarts had begun.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

The week progressed and the students fell into a routine. Silenus was happy with her classes and the new friends she had made. She was especially pleased with the library. It carried a greater selection of topics than any she had ever seen. She planned on reading her way through it before she left Hogwarts. ALL of her professors had commented ow muw much she was like her mother. It was getting a bit tiresome to tell the truth. She may be her mother’s daughter, but she was still a person in her own right.

It was Friday morning and she was on her way to double potions with Jessie. They had become inseparable. Jessie was the exact opposite to Silenus. Where Silenus was tall, Jessie was short. Silenus had black curly hair with almost blue highlights; Jessie’s was ash blonde and straight with golden highlights. Silenus may have inherited her mom’s curly hair and complexion, but her eyes were definitely her father’s. They were a very deep brown verging on black and just as piercing as the originals. Jessie was fair skinned and had blue eyes that danced with mischief. They were a perfect contrast of light and dark, day and night and they got on like a house on fire.

They walked into the classroom and took their seats. They were partners for potions and were talking quietly when Snape burst into the room. “Open your books to page 394. We will be preparing a Coloring Potion of the nontoxic variety today. We will be testing your potions at the end of class. I have a Reversing Draught that will only work if you have brewed the potion properly. Collect your ingredients and get to work.”

“The man does know how to make an entrance.” Jessie whispered to Silenus as they set up their cauldron.

“Is there a problem Miss Brownynn?” Snape had come up silently behind them.

“No sir, I was just asking my partner to get our supplies while I set up here.” Jessie’s look was one of pure innocence, and it did not fool the Professor for a moment.

He would have to keep an eye on his daughter and this one. He had endured the Golden Trio and all the problems they created, he know disregard for the rules when he saw it. “I see, carry on.”

They had reached the end of the class, the cauldrons were all simmering quietly. The potion had turned a delightful shade of neon lime green. “Can anyone tell me the effects of this potion?” Snape surveyed the classroom.

Silenus’s hand went up. His daughter was a carbon copy of her mother. She knew all the answers; even her scrolls were longer than requested. He may have called Hermione a-know-it-all, but in Silenus it created a quiet pride deep inside of him. He was going to get to know her better. He would take the first step in that direction today.

He looked around the room. No other hands were raised. “Very well, Miss Granger.”

“The potion should be of a bright lime green in color and the consistency of maple syrup. Normally, the person using the potion would apply a drop to the object they wish to change and think of a color. Since this is a nontoxic version, I believe we will be ingesting a sample and then changing color ourselves.”

Silenus answer was textbook perfect. “Eight points to Slytherin for the correct answer Miss Granger.” Snape addressed the class at large. “Decide which of the two at each station will test the potion. Then laddle a small sample into a beaker. I will come around to monitor each of you. I expect 2 feet of parchment on Monday as to the normal effects and duration of the potion.”

He turned to Silenus and Jessica. They had brewed a perfect potion, as he knew they would. “Miss ger.ger. Miss Brownynn. Who will take the potion?”

“I will Professor.” Snape nodded as Jessica swallowed a small sample of the potion. Immediately her skin seemed to glow. Her skin broke out in baby blue and lilac polka dots on a lime green background. The class giggled.

“Really, Miss Brownynn. 2 points from Slytherin for impertinence. And 7 points to Slytherin for originality. Here is the Reversing draught.” His eye held an amused light even if it contrasted with his snarl.

“Miss Callon, what color should the potion be?”

“Bright green, sir.” Came the meek reply.

“And what color is yours?”

“Umm……red sir.”

“Indeed. 4 points from Gryffindor and you and Miss Gower shall each turn in an extra 2 feet on why fluxweed should be properly chopped in this potion.” With the war long over, Snape could hand out and deduct points on a more honest level without effecting events outside of Hogwarts. He still favored his own house a bit over any other, but that was to be expected.

Snape made his way through the classroom, checking potions, handing out draughts, deducting and awarding points. The final bead jad just started to ring as he walked back to his desk. Without looking up from his paper work he said, “ Miss Granger, may I see you for a moment?”

“I’ll save you a seat at lunch.” Whispered Jessie as she left.

“Follow me.” Said the Professor. As he turned towards the wall, an archway appeared. Silenus followed him into what appeared to be his private office. Papers and books were littered around the room, covering every flat surface and magically adhered to a few others. The shelves behind the desk held an array of bottles and flasks with various objects and potions ingredients in them. Silenus was taken with the room, a smile playing at her lips.

Snape was pleased with her response to his office. He had feared she would have a look of abject horror upon seeing the contents of some of the bottles. “How has your first week progressed?”

“Fine sir. I like the classes. Hogwarts is amazing.” Her words shone with youthful enthusiasm.

“I have noticed you and Miss Brownynn have become quite friendly.”

“All the girls are nice. I like Jessie. She’s…..interesting.”

“Indeed.” Snape replied dryly. Definitely bears watching.

“ I believe we agreed to a game of Wizard’s Chess?” A finely arched eyebrow punctuated the question.

“Yes sir.”

“Very well. Tomorrow is Saturday and I am not forced to endure the presence of the usual dunderheads I must teach. Shall we meet after lunch, here in my office?”

Silenus’s smile turned sunny, “Yes, sir. I would like that.”

Snape nodded at the girl. In a low voice he said, “I do not intend to ‘let you’ win. Tell me, are you any good?”

Silenus smiled even wider. “I am very good sir.” Father and daughter sat regarding each other before she said. “Would you like to make a wager on the outcome?”

“Are you in the habit of wagering often?”

“Only when I am sure of the outcome.”

Snape chuckled. There was no doubt the girl was Slytherin. He thought he might even enjoy the game. “And what would be the wager?”

Snape nodded as she commented. “Perhaps we could decide that tomorrow? Just for the record sir, I used to beat Uncle Albus when he came to visit. I just thought you should know.”

Good Gods she had beat Abus! She wttemttempting to unsettle her ‘opponent’. This would be interesting. Snape noticed the hand on his office clock with her picture on it said, “Lunch started 10 minutes ago. Let the girl leave.”

“Tomorrow, Silenus?”

Silenus smiled. She gathered her books and turned towards the Professor on the way out. “ Thank you sir. I am looking forward to it!”

Both parties felt the coming year was definitely going to be more interesting.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Professor Snape sat in his office grading first year essays on the use of Mandrake root in potions. His fingers were stained with red ink. “It’s the same every year, can’t these idiots read a text book? No, Mr. Newton, one of the uses of Mandrake Root is not in Pepperup potion.” His quill slashed through the words, the parchment was predominately red with just a few spots of ecru peeking through.

A knock at the door disturbed his ramblings. ‘Who in the bloody hell could it be now?’ It was 10:00 at night and by all rights the occupants of the castle should be asleep.

“ENTER.”

The door opened and Hermione Granger walked in. Snape sighed and looked up at the woman. She had spent the week attempting to get the ministry to declare her alive. A woman who could have been Umbridge’s evil twin scheduled her hearing for one month from now. She told Hermione she could make it two months if Hermione did not quiet down and leave. Luckily Harry had been with her and managed to get her out the door and back to Hogwarts. “I’m sorry to bother you Severus, but I need to ask a small favor.” She watched the daan ian in front of her.

“I am afraid Madam, the Ministry will not grant joint custody to a ghost.” Snape intended to play this to the hilt. It served her right.

“Touché.” Hermione sank into one of the chairs. “I need to make some potions for Poppy and wanted to do a bit of research myself. Would you allow me to use one of the workbenches in your private lab?”

“Is every thing alright in the hospital?” Snape noticed how tired the woman in front of him looked.

“Yes, . Th. The usual. I just need to refill a few things. Silenus has offered to assist me again. I will attempt to stay out of your way if you will tell me when you plan on being in the lab.”

Snape knew Hermione had the talent and capabilities of being a Potion’s Mistress in her own right. She was one of the few people he had ever let into his private lab. “That will not be necessary. I come and go at irregular intervals. I will set the wards on the outer door to recognize you and Silenus.”

“Silenus told me the two of you are to play chess tomorrow.” Snape’s face was guarded and he did not reply. “I really am glad you’ll get to know each other.”

She was silent for a moment before softly saying, “I know you are angry, but for what it’s worth, I really am sorry.”

Snape did not answerHermHermione got to her feet. “Well, tomorrow should be a busy day with Quidditch tryouts and all. Thank you Severus. Good night.”

Snape’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Do you need a sleeping drought?”

Hermione’s laugh was a little high strung. “Is it that obvious? Thank you but no. I think I will try a hot bath and a glass of wine.” Snape watched her leave.

Hermione stopped in the doorway and leaned against the frame. The look on her face was intense as she regarded the Potions Master. “We were never in love, were we Severus?” she asked sadly.

The dark man’s voice was low, heavy with emotion. “No Hermione, we were not.”

Hermione nodded. “Well, maybe now we can be friends, for Silenus sake.” She turned and walked out the door.

She never heard the velvety tone of his voice, silk on satin, or the whispered, “Good night Hermione.”

TBC


A/N: Father and daughter are proving to be evenly matched! What ever could the bet be? What else will brew in the lab? Stay tuned! Thank you to all who have reviewed. As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome. A thank you to ***Cassandra*** my beta.

Regards, Pearle