Sweetest Of All

“Emily. Do you have your shoes on?”

The young girl looked up from the book she was reading. “Yes Mum.” She rolled her eyes and went back to her book.

Hermione Snape came into the living room as she pulled on her robes. “Honey, get up. The Sorting Ceremony is starting soon.”

Emily didn’t even look up from the book. “Yes Mum. I know. I’ve been to one every year since I was born. I think I’ve got the routine down.”

Hermione sat and pulled on her shoes. “Aren’t you excited? This year, you start Hogwarts.”

Emily shrugged. “Whatever.”

Severus walked into the room, a small bundle held gently in his arms. The bundle starting moving. “Hermione, can you take him? I’ve got to put my teaching robes on.”

She took the baby from him and cooed at him. “Hey there baby. What’s the matter ‘Rus? Not happy?” She shifted the baby till he was laying against her shoulder. “Come on Emily. Where’s your sister?”

Emily shrugged and closed the book. “Who knows? She’s probably somewhere in the Castle.” She lay the book down and walked out of the room.

Hermione sighed. She was starting to look for her other daughter when she heard Severus in the bedroom. “Adrienne, please. You need to stay out of Mummy and Daddy’s wardrobe. Take Tabby with you too. Mummy needs to help you get dressed for the Sorting.”

A girl with brown, straight hair came into the living room. A kneazle kitten bounded along at her feet. “Here I am Mummy! Me and Tabby.”

Hermione smiled at her youngest daughter. “There you are. Were you hiding again?” The young girl nodded. “Me and Tabby was playing. Is it Sortin’ time already?”

Hermione nodded. “Yes honey, it is. Are you ready?”

Adrienne nodded. “I’ve got shoes, dress, and my robes. Can I take Tabby?”

Severus stepped into theing ing room. “Afraid not pumpkin. He might get lost and then you would be very sad.” He swung her up into his arms. He kissed her cheek and then kissed Hermione. “Is everyone ready?”

Hermione raised her eyebrow. “Everyone except Emily.”

He frowned. “Emily. We are leaving. Let’s go.” He waited for a few minutes and got no response. “EMILY ALEXIS SNAPE. NOW!”

There was a shuffling and then she called out. “I’m not going.”

Hermione patted ‘Rus’ back. “I’ll go talk to her.”

Snape looked at Adrienne. “Why don’t you go find Uncle Albus? Take Tabby with you, but be sure to tell Hagrid you have him ok?” The little girl nodded and ran out the door.

Hermione and Severus walked to their oldest daughter’s door. Hermione shifted the baby to one arm as Severus knocked on the door. Hermione touched his arm. “Don’t be to harsh with her.”

The door opened and Emily walked back to sit in her window seat. She pulled her robes around her as she looked out over the grounds. Hermione sat on her bed as Severus leaned against the wall.

Emily sighed. “Go ahead yel yell. I know you’re going to. Just get it over with and go up to the Sorting Ceremony.”

Hermione sighed. “Honey, we’re not going to yell. We just want to know why you are refusing to go to the Ceremony.”

Emily took a deep breath and looked at her parents. “You wouldn’t understand anyway. If I tell you, you’ll just get mad.”

Severus bit the inside of his jaw. He wasn’t going to yell at her. Hermione gave him a look. He closed his eyes and counted to ten. He looked at his daughter. “Maybe we will. Give us your reasons and we can discuss them.”

Emily turned away from the window. She stood and started pacing. She bit her lip as she organized her thoughts. Finally she spoke, “I love you both. You know that. The reason that I don’t want to attend Hogwarts is because of you. I’ve lived in this castle for eleven years. I know how the students feel about you both. They hate Dad and Mum is a close second to him. I’ve heard jokes about you, I’ve heard jokes about me. If I stay here, I’m always going to be the over-grown bat and the know it all teacher’s daughter. On top of that, all the other kids are finally away from their parents. I’m not. I’ve been in the same room, in the same castle my whole life. I want to go to school where people don’t know who I am. I want to go to school somewhere I’ve never been before. I don’t want to stay at Hogwarts.”

Hermione looked down at the child in her arms. She looked up at her husband. He looked as gobsmacked as she did. She stood. “I’m going to put Rus down. I’ll be back so we can talk about this.”

Severus watched as she left the room and then looked back at Emily. She was chewing her bottom lip just like her Mother. He knew she was worried that she had upset them with her words. He walked over and pulled her into his arms. “Em, listen. I’m sorry. I know all the jokes and rumors about me. I’ve heard them since I started teaching here. They did hurt at first, but I learned how to deal with them. Now, I find them amusing.”

Hermione walked back into the room. “If I’m not mistaken, a few of those rumors were started by your Uncles. You know that they don’t care for your father either.”

Emily nodded as she held onto her Dad. “I know you don’t mind the rumors and names, but it’s horrible to have to listen to them.”

Hermione walked over to the pair and sat next to them. She ran her hand over Emily’s hair. Severus kissed his daughter’s forehead. “Honey, would it make you feel better to know that your Mother and I talked about sending you away to school?” Emily looked up at him. He nodded. “We talked about it. We even visited the schools. They were not the caliber that we wanted for your education.”

Emily pulled away from him. “So I have to stay here.”

Hermione nodded. “Yes honey, you do. I know it’s going to be hard, but look at it this way, you may get sorted into one of the houses away from the Dungeons. We can’t make you live with us. That’s against school rules.”

Severus looked at her. “Another thing, neither your Mother nor I will be giving you special treatment in classes. You will be expected to perform as well, if not better than your classmates.”

Hermione laughed. “You can complain about us bearing down on you just like your housemates.”

Emily shrugged. “But the other kids are still going to know that I’m your daughter. They’re going to make fun of me and of you.”

Hermione sighed. “Honey, we can’t stop that. We’ll never be able to stop children from making fun of us or of you. I was made fun of all through school, so was your Father. Part of growing up is dealing with that and learning to put it behind you. Prove to them that you aren’t what they think you are.”

Emily sighed. “I guess.”

Severus hugged his daughter. “Now. Get your shoes on. You have a sorting ceremony to go to.”

The girl smiled as she stood up and put her shoes on. She looked at her parents. “You really aren’t going to like me?”

Hermione stood and hugged the little girl tightly. “Only on the weekends, how does that sound?”

Emily smiled. “That sounds great! I love you both so much.” She ran over and hugged her Father who was still sitting on her bed.

He hugged her and kissed her dark hair. “You better get a move on. Hagrid said that you could go with him to the station and arrive at Hogwarts like all first years.”

Emily grinned as she grabbed her cloak and ran out of the room. Severus stood and pulled his wife against him. “Well Mrs. Granger-Snape, it looks like we have yet another sorting ceremony to attend.”

Hermione nodded and kissed him. “I wonder if these first years will be smart than last years.”

He chuckled. “I think there will be at least one bright spot.” They both chuckled as they walked out of the room.

***

Emily stood beside Hagrid as all the students unloaded the train. She bit her lip as she saw children she had known from the year before. She waved to a few of them.

Hagrid smiled down at the small girl. He called for the first years to join him. He watched as they timidly make their way over to him. He headed them all towards the boats and over the lake to Hogwarts.

***

A small blonde haired girl sat next to Emily. She gasped when the school came into view. Emily looked at her. “It’s amazing isn’t it?” The girl nodded. Emily held out her hand. “I’m Emily.”

The young girl smiled shyly and shook her hand. “My name is Katherine Hermione Andrews. My parents thought it would be neat if I was named after a hero of the Great War. Please, call me Kat. Everyone always makes fun of my middle name.”

Emily smiled. “All right Kat it is then. Where are you from?”

Kat smiled. “I was born in London, but my Father had to move for his job so now my family lives in Manchester. Where are you from? I didn’t notice you on the train.”

Emily nodded. “I didn’t come on the train. I live near Hogwarts. I just came to the station to come across with the rest of the First Years.”

Kat looked up when the boats came to shore. “I guess this is it. I’m so nervous. What if I can’t do anything right? What if they make fun of me for being named after Hermione Granger?”

Emily put a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “You’ll be just fine. I’m sure of it.”

***

Hermione and Severus watched as their daughter entered the Great Hall. Hermione held ‘Rus in her arms, hidden under her robes so he could nurse. Adrienne sat next to Severus with her kitten in her lap. She smiled at her older sister. Severus gave her a look before she called out to the girl.

Everyone’s attention turned to the Sorting Hat and listened to it’s song for the year. Minerva stepped forward and called the first name to be sorted.

Kat grabbed Emily’s hand. “I don’t care what house I get put into, but I don’t want to go into Slytherin. I’ve heard stories about Professor Snape. He’s a horrible person!”

Emily shrugged. “I don’t think he’s that bad. Maybe what you heard was an exaggeration.”

Minerva called out “Katherine Andrews.”

Kat put on a fake smile as Emily squeezed her hand. She walked up to the stool and sat and waited as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. It took a few moments, but finally the Hat called out “RAVENCLAW!”

Emily clapped along with the rest of the room. She glanced up at her parents and gave them a smile. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. She managed a small wave at her sister and then looked up as her name was called.

“Emily Snape.”

The room fell silent as she climbed the stairs and took the seat on the stool. Minerva placed the hat on her head and stepped back. Hermione grasped Severus’ hand under the table.

The hat humphed. “Well, well. It’s finally your time eh? Let me see now. Two different houses joined in one body. The cunning and ambitiousness of Slytherin with the courage and bravery of Gryffindor. A true conundrum. Let me see, let me see. Ah yes. Somewhere you can start anew. Somewhere you can prove yourself without your heritage to assist you. I know just the place. RAVENCLAW!”

Emily stood and smiled as she walked to her new house table. She took a seat next to Kat who was looking at her. The blonde sm sli slightly. “I didn’t know you were a Snape. I wouldn’t have said anything about him if I had known.”

Emily shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before and I’m sure I’ll hear it again. He is a right bastard sometimes. Mum can be a bear too, but both they are great pts.”ts.” She smiled up at her family.

Kat followed her gaze. “Bloody hell! Your Mum is Hermione Granger! This is going to be great. Now I know I’ll get picked on for sure!”

Emily looked at her new friend. “Well, we’ll get picked on together then won’t we? It won’t be so bad. We’ll deal with the teasing and prove to them we’re not what they think we are. Right?”

Kat smiled as the feast began. “You’re right. After all, I heard even Harry Potter was picked on when he was in school.”

Emily smiled. “nd mnd me to tell you some of the stories he and my Mum have told be.”

***

Later in the Dungeons, both remaining Snape children had been tucked in bed. Hermione had her head laying on her husbands bare chest, her fingers making designs on his skin. “Do you think she’ll be ok?”

Severus tightened his arm around her. “She’ll be fine. It looked like she had already made a friend at dinner. I bet she’s not even thinking about us right now.”

There was a tapping at their window. With a flick of his wand, the window opened to admit a small owl. It offered the letter attached to its leg and flew back out into the night.

Hermione picked up the parchment and carefully opened it. She looked at the writing and smiled before handing it to Severus. “You’re right. I think she’s going to be just fin

Severus smiled. In his daughters handwriting was the note:

Mum and Dad,s yos you already, but I’m having fun. Kat is one of my roommates. They’ve already been asking questions about you two, Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron. Don’t be mad, but we just recently got in bed. Just wanted to say thank you for the talk today. Love you both and goodnight. Love, Emily.

P.S. Mum, Kat’s middle name is Hermione. Please, don’t say anything to her about it. She feels like she has enough to live up to as it is.

***

He turned and lay the note on the bedside table and extinguished the light. He pulled Hermione into his arms and kissed her forehead. “She’s going to be just fine.”

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Title comes from Dr. Hook\'s album: Players in the Dark