A Knock at the Door

A Knock at the Door by Pearle

Summary: The war is over and Hogwarts is about to start a new school year. A knock at the door of Severus Snape\'s office is about to change his life and the lives of those around him. HG/SS


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 7 - Guess Who\'s Coming to Dinner?

The week progressed, Monday followed Sunday. Classes to teach, papers to mark, and nights without sleep. It was late Wednesday night, long after night patrols were over, and Snape was restless. He decided to do some work in his private lab. There would be a full moon in a few days and his supplies of Wolfsbane were running low. He might as well brew more now. Lupin would be around in a day or so to collect a bottle. He wondered why the werewolf hadn\'t returned yet to visit a certain Gryffindor. The Potions Master was so lost in his mental wanderings that he failed to notice he was not alone when he entered the Her Hermione was working at one of the benches. She had that deer in the headlights quality to her eyes as she looked at him. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Snape sighed deeply, he always knew he was a difficult man, but he guessed he was really as much of a bastard as everyone said he was. He had never been good at dealing with other human beings.

\"Severr...Professor. I\'m sorry. I did not know you would be using the lab tonight.as jas just brewing some Pepperup Potion and Burn salve for Poppy. I will return tomorrow when you are aass.ass.\" She turned and started to cast stasis to the potions and clean the workbench, avoiding his gaze.

Snape knew she had been using the lab when he had classes. He never saw traces of her work but things would be used or moved. He had asked Poppy if she needed refills on some of her supplies. She had given him an odd look and said Hermione had been refilling them. \"There is no need to leave Madame. You may finish your work. I just need to start the base for the Wolfsbane Potion.\"

Madame. The name and tone cut into Hermione. Straightening her back she thought \'Fine, if that\'s the way you want it.\' \"Thank you Professor.\" The emphasis on \'professor\' made her voice cold. \'Is this what we have become?\' she thought.

Snape pulled down a fresh cauldron and laid out the supplies to create the base of the potion. He added water to the cauldron and lit a low flame under it. He moved to the side and started to prepare the ingredients. The silence in the lab was strained. Every chop, every movement could be clearly heard. He never noticed she had cleaned up until she started to leave.

As Hermione reached the door to the outer hallway, she barely turned as she coldly said over her shoulder. \"Good night, Professor Snape.\"

Snape sighed, \"Hermione.\"

She heard him but never stopped. She just continued out of the room. The slam of the door was his only answer.

Merlin\'s Balls the woman was infuriating. Snape\'s chopping became vicious as he vented his anger on the innocent potion ingredients. \"Good night, indeed.\" He snarled to the empty room.

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Snape made his way to breakfast, his mood foul. He had not slept well when he finally returned to his chambers. Today was HER birthday. If he had not told Silenus and Albus he would attend tonight, he could have sealed himself in his chamber and spent a quiet night with a bottle of Old Ogden\'s.

The day only got worse. Harry Potter and Remus Lupin were in attendance, laughing with Hermione and Minerva. Both witches shot him a hateful look. Shakespeare may not have been a wizard but he certainly had it pegged right with his portrayal of witches. And they thought him evil? He bowed courtly to them and said \"Good morning ladies.\" There let them stew on that. A man Severus did not recognize was standing with them. He was about Here\'se\'s age, blond hair, blue eyes and was laughing at something she said. Snape glared at the young man.

Professor Dumbledore took his place at the head table and the others sat down. He cast Sonorus on himself and started the announcements. \"May I have everyone\'s attention please? Due to an unfortunate accident yesterday,
Professor Marchall our current Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor is no longer able to teach. I am told he is recovering nicely at St. Mungos and should be released sometime in late April or early May. We have been most fortunate to have as his replacement Professor Michael Cammeron. Thank you. Tuck in.\"

Snape looked in the direction of the new professor. Just what he needed. He had heard something about a curse gone wrong but hadn\'t paid too much attention. Albus\' voice cut into his thoughts. \"Don\'t forget about tonight
Severus.\"

\"Yes Headmaster.\"

The day just kept getting worse and worse.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Snape was in his office after lunch grading essays. It appeared to be his lot in life. There was a knock at his door. What now! He called out, \"Enter.\"

Remus Lupin walked into his office. \"Good afternoon Severus.\"

\"It may have been up until now that is.\" Came the snide reply.

\"Oh, come off of it. I know you\'re glad to see me.\" Remus smiled broadly at the man. Though the two had never been friends, there was a grudging respect between them. Lupin truly enjoyed sparring with him.

Snape eyed the man. \"My enjoyment of seeing you is only second to that of running into a rouge dementor, Lupin. Are you here for your Wolfsbane?\" Wolfsbane was extremely difficult to brew properly and required a Potions Master of the highest caliber to prepare it properly. Snape was one of the few capable of such a feat.

Remus laughed. \"Why are you still here Severus?\"

\"This seems to be where I wake up each morning.\" Snape was unwarding the door to his personal quarters. Lupin followed him through his sitting room and into his private lab.

\"That\'s not what I mean and you know it. If you hate it so much why are you still here teaching? You have paid your debt, Severus. You can go anywhere you choose. While your ability to deal with other human beings may need some work, your professional talents are exceptional.\"

Snape pulled the bottle out of a side cabinet. He had asked himself the same question many times. Where would he go? He still felt he owed Albus for saving his life, for not sending him to Azkaban. Hogwarts was his home. He had an ancestral estate that he never visited. He life there had never been happy. There was no reason to return there. While he would never be the friendliest of people, he did consider some of his colleagues to be friends of a sort. He enjoyed the life of an academic. Since he no longer answered to two masters he had time to do independent research. He had even written a few articles for publication on various potions. Even the teaching was not as abysmal as it once was now that he could be fairer in the grades. He supposed all in all he was satisfied with his lot as it were. This seems to be where I wake up each morning was not as far off as it seemed.

\"And would you have me deny you my services? I believe for now I will remain here.\"

Reheldheld the bottle in salute to Snape. \"Thank you Severus. This means a lot to me.\"

\"You are welcome Lupin.\" They may not have been friends but he felt for the man\'s problems. He would help if he had the capacity to do so.

\"I met Silenus. You must be proud of her. She really is sweet.\"

The conversation was moving into the realm of uncomfortable now. \"Thank you.\"

\"I heard Minerva almost fainted when Hermione\'s daughter was sorted into Slytherin. I wish I had been there.\" Remus said with a grin.

\"Actually, she did faint when she found out I was Silenus\'s father. After Albus had revived her, she told him she’d had the most terrible nightmare. She did however, manage to remain conscious when he informed her it was not a nightmare but the truth.\" Snape was actually smiling at the memory of McGonagall\'s expression.

Remus started laughing. \"Hopefully she has recovered by now. I know classes are starting soon, thank you for the Wolfsbane. I will see you tonight at Hermione\'s. I still need to run into Hogsmeade and pick up a present for
her.\" Remus left, still laughing to himself.

Hermione. Her birthday. A present. Oh Merlin.

And the day grew worse.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The afternoon passed. Dinner came and went and he found himself accompanying Albus, Minerva, Harry Potter, and Remus Lupin to Hermione\'s quarters. It looks like a bloody processional he thought. He had noticed his daughter was absent at dinner as was Hermione. He had assumed mother and daughter had had dinner together in her quarters. A stab of jealousy ran through him. She was his daughter too.

They had reached the portrait outside of Hermione\'s quarters. The one that did not want to let him in before. The Headmaster spoke up, \"Good evening, good lady. We are here to see Miss Granger.\"

\"Of course Headmaster.\" And the portrait swung on its hinges, though not before the woman in the painting shot Snape an angry glare.

There were several people in attendance already. Hagrid over shadowed Madam Pomfrey as they sat on the sofa. What held his attention was the man Hermione was talking to. Professor Michael Cammeron. Bloody Hell. What was he doing here? They were talking quietly as he helped pour tea into cups. Silenus was on the side, putting candles on a cake.

\"Ah Professor Cammeron, How did your first day go?\" Albus was reaching for a cup of tea.

\"Very well Headmaster. The students here are exceptional. I look forward to a very rewarding year.\"

Snape glared at the young man. \"Exactly what qualifies you to teach defense against the dark arts, professor?\" The name was said with as much disdain as Snape could infuse into the word.

\"Professor Cammeron, have you met our Potions Master, Professor Snape?\" Albus asked, his eyes twinkling.

\"No we have not met, but your reputation precedes you. It\'s nice to meet you sir.\" Cammeron smiled at Snape.

Sir. Sir? How old did the twit think he was? \"Exactly what qualifies you to teach defense against the dark arts, professor?\"

\"I have worked and studied in the field for some time, sir. I have quite a bit of experience.\" Came the reply, stated more as a challenge.

Snape\'s look was questionable as Albus injected, \" Professor Cammeron was an unquestionable Severus. He has also studied spells and hexes with Mister Moody. He is most qualified for the position.\"

Snape\'s glare was murderous. Silenus handed him a cup of tea and stood between them. The room had narrowed to the two men looking at each other. The other occupants of the room seemed to be watching them, waiting for
something to happen.

\"And this young lady is amazingly well versed in spells and hexes. Particularly for someone so young.\" Cammeron indicated Silenus, a smile on his face.

\"Thank you sir, I learned most of them from my mother and a few from Uncle Harry.\" Silenus said quietly.

\"It never hurts to be prepared.\" Said Cammeron.

\"There is one thing though, I learned a bit about dueling when I was with my mom at Witchfield. I would really like to learn more.\" Silenus turned to Snape, \"Professor, my mother said you are a dueling master, perhaps you
could teach me?\"

\"I am sure Professor Snape is a busy man. I would be happy to train you Silenus.\" Cammeron was still smiling brightly. The man\'s smile did not quite reach his eyes.

The room had grown quiet. Albus was watching the two men, his eye twinkling brightly. Hermione was standing to the side thinking she should break this up, but it was like looking at a train wreck. You couldn\'t look away, you just had to watch.

\"I am never too busy to train my daughter.\" Snape turned to Silenus, \"When you come on Saturday to play chess we will discuss a time to start your training.\"

Harry may not like the git, but there was something about Cammeron he liked less. He was amazed Snape would so publicly acknowledge his daughter. He looked over at Silenus, she was smiling, her eyes bright. Hermione look like she was trying not to burst out laughing at the two men. Harry caught her eye and shook his head. She just shrugged her shoulders.

Cammeron had gone still. \"Your daughter?\"

\"Yes. Didn\'t Miss Granger tell you I am Silenus\'s father? How well informed are you sir if you have not even read the Daily Prophet recently?\" Snape was enjoying this.

Silenus could be heard to say under her breath, \"Or the Quibbler. I wonder where the twins are?\"

Harry stifled a laugh and decided to try and defuse the situation. \"Well, I think it is time for Happy Birthday and the cake.\" Everyone gathered around to sing to Hermione as she blew out the candles. The cake was cut and
passed. The room was abuzz with the sound of conversation.

Cammeron pulled Hermione to the side. \"Why didn\'t you tell me Snape was Silenus\'s father?\"

Hermione frowned. \"Why should it matter who her father is? Besides the fact I do not believe we have discussed my daughter yet or any conversation in depth at this point for that matter. Is there a problem Michael?\" They had only met at breakfast this morning, what did he want? This was exactly why she did not
date. Men. Wizards. She shook her head.

\"I\'m sorry. I just do not like to be put on the defensive. Please accept my apologies.\" Cammeron was smiling again.

\"Fine. But I am not the one who put you there. If you will excuse me I will see to my other guests.\" Hermione walked away from the man and went to sit on the sofa with Harry and Remus.

\"Listen, Hermione, Remus and I are staying over. How about tomorrow evening we go into Hogsmeade? It\'s been a while since we went to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer.\"

\"I would really tha that Harry. My shift will be over at 7. I will meet you outside the Great Hall near the front entrance. We can go from there.\"

If Hermione had bothered to look around, she would have noticed that someone else was listening to the conversation. It would seem there would be more people heading for Hogsmeade tomorrow night, then just the three of them. And from all indications, they would be heading for trouble as well.


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A scream cut through the noise in the Great Hall sounding for all the world like a banshee. For a Friday night, there were still quite a few students studying in the Great Hall after dinner. The Headmaster held up his hands
and assured the students that all was fine and they could return to their activities. Minerva gave him a questioning look as he left to check the main entrance.

If one listened carefully, the sound was not so much a scream as the shriek of a name at a very high, very loud decibel. ioneioneeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

It was just a few minutes ago, when Hermione left her quarters to go meet Harry and Remus at the front entrance outside the Great Hall. She had run into Silenus as she was leaving. Hermione was truly glad that Silenus was getting on with Severus. Gods knew what a git he really could be at times. She realized the girl had a right to know her father, but it still felt..........well, she was jealous. She knew Silenus loved her, but to see
her with him and not be a part of it bothered her more than she could say. She wasn\'t ready to be that brutally honest with herself yet.

And Silenus, they had always enjoyed a strong mother daughter relationship. After all, there had only been the two of them. There were just too many changes at once. Silenus not living with her, Silenus and her new friends, friends Hermione knew nothing about, Silenus and Severus, Oh Gods Severus. Best not to even think along that track. Her daughter\'s mood had been odd lately. \'I suppose I could chalk it up to hormones or the fact that up until three weeks ago she had a father she\'d never met.\' Hermione sighed as she walked down the stairs to the entrance hall. Time. Things would get better with time. \'Yeah. Right. Tell me something I can believe.\' She told the voice in her head to shut up.

A scream caught Hermione off guard.

\"Hermioneeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!\"

\"Ginny?!\" Hermione\'s face lit up. Harry had a silly smile on his face as Ginny Weasley hugged Hermione within an inch of her life.

\"Gin let her breathe. I\'d hate to lose her when she\'s just come back.\" Harry was grinning as he watched the two witches.

\"How are you? What have you been up to?\"

\"I am sooo mad at you! Why didn\'t you let me know where you were, what happened to you?\"

\"I\'m sorry I couldn\'t. You look great. What is going on with you two anyway?\"

\"Where is your daughter? When do I get to meet herape?ape?!?\"

Remus laughed as he said to Harry, \"I seriously doubt we will get a word in edge wise. They don\'t even seem to know we\'re here.\"

The Headmaster was standing in the entrance to the Great Hall. He walked over to the two witches. \"Miss Weasley, a pleasure as always. I believe a few students mistook your greeting for the shriek of the banshee. Perhaps you can record it for us and Professor Cammeron can use it in the Defense Class.\" The Headmaster was inding tng the man who was walking towards them.

\"I do not believe you have met our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor yet. Professor Michael Cammeron, may I present Miss Ginny Weasley.\"

Cammeron shook hands with Ginny. She raised her eyebrow questioningly at Hermione and giggled. Harry had stepped up possessively next to her. They had been dating seriously the last two years. Ginny had finally finished her training for a position within the Ministry. It was not uncommon for couples to date a long time. Witches and wizards lived 200 years or more and rarely divorced.

\"It is lovely to meet you Ginny. May I call you Ginny?\" Cammeron was all smiles. Hermione rolled her eyes. He should have been perfect. Tall, great physique, blond hair, blue eyes, well educated and polite to a fault. What was wrong then? Maybe he was too perfect. Yeah, then that would make Snape what, about right then. Hermione giggled at that thought. Harry did not look all that happy with Professor Cammeron.

\"We were just on our way into Hogsmeade for a butterbeer.\" Remus was explaining to Cammeron.

\"That sounds great. I think I\'ll join you.\" Cammeron\'s smile seemed glued to his face, but never seemed to quite reach his eyes.

\'It\'s as if it were all for show. Just a feeling, witches intuition, but some t is is just not right.\' Thought Hermione. \"Well....\" She looked to Harry for help.

\"Wonderful, I\'m sure you young people will have a wonderful time.\" Albus had started to usher them out the front doors. Hermione shot the Headmaster a look, wondering what he was up to.

The odd group turned and made their way down the path to Hogsmeade.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The girls had left the library and were heading back down to the Slytherin Common room. \"So what do you two talk about?\" Jessie was dying of curiosity to find out how things were going between Silenus and Professor Snape. Silenus was rather closed mouthed when it came to any information about her father.

Silenus shrugged her shoulders. \"I don\'t know, books, potions, classes. He\'s been talking a little bit about himself. He\'s different when he\'s not in class. Sort of...funnier and more relaxed.\"

Jessie looked skeptical, \"He tells jokes?\" Somehow she just couldn\'t imagine the Potions Master telling jokes let alone laughing. Maybe he even juggled?

\"No.\" Silenus said laughing. \"Not jokes.t oft of odd remarks that are...well, funny.\"

\"Funny?\"

\"Yeah, like telling me not to touch something bse ise it might touch back. He\'s just, I don\'t know, easier to talk to when we\'re alone. We\'re going to play chess again tomorrow afternoon. I still don\'t know what to call him
though. I feel funny with anything other than Professor.\"

\"What about using his name?\" Though Jessica didn\'t think Professor Snape was the type to be called by his first name.

Silenus\'s voice dropped to a stage whisper. \"I can just see me walking into his office tomorrow and saying, \'So Sev, how\'s it going? Oh, Severus, could you pass the tea please? Yeah, right.\" Both girls broke out in a fit of
giggles.

\"Daddy?\" Said Jessie through her laughter. All Silenus could do was shake her head as she laughed harder.

\"Well, if nothing else I\'m glad you\'re getting to know him. You\'ll figure out what to call him sooner or later. How\'s your mum doing?\"

\"My mother. She\'s sort of annoyed all the time these days.\" Silenus rolled her eyes. \"She\'s still trying to get the Ministry to reverse their decision and declare her alive.\"

\"Did you two ever talk about your Dad before you came here?\" Silenus had gone on and on about Witchfield and America, but not anything that was too personal. Jessie was intensely curious about her. The fact that both her mother and father were responsible for helping Harry Potter bring dow Who Who Must Not Be Named, and that he was a family friend would have made her incredibly interesting in itself. But Jessie found her interesting simply because she really liked her, the rest just added to who she was. Underneath it all, Silenus was intelligent and funny in her own right and matched Jessie\'s personality perfectly.

\"A bit. She showed me his picture in Hogwarts: A History. Honestly, the picture scowls at you, not very friendly. She talked about when they were together. I still don\'t get it. I\'m not sure why they were together or why they split up.\" Silenus shrugged her shoulder and grew a bit distant.

Jessie looked over at her friend. Time to change the subject. \"Well, I\'m sure it will all work out. Did you see the new copy of Witch Weekly this morning?\" They had just reached the portrait to the common room. Jessie
turned to the portrait and said, \"Essence of Belladonna.\" The portrait swung open.

\"Who thinks these passwords up anyway?\"

\"I believe the Head of each House is responsible for their passwords. So that would be...my father, Professor Snape.\" The girls looked at each other and burst out laughing.

\"Well, maybe you can work on him to change it to something a little less sinister.\"

\"There you two are, I was looking all over for you.\" Kelly was waving Silenus and Jessie over to the chairs in front of the fire. \"Benita and Melissa were just going to show us some charms they learned this summer on how to put your hair up in a French twist.\"

And Witch or Muggle, teenage girls are the same all over. \"Oh, lets see. Do Silenus\'s hair she\'ll look great.\"

And the rest of the night was spent on hair and fashions, and boys. Tomorrow Silenus would play chess with her father again. \'All in all, things were going rather well.\' She thought.

TBC


A/N: Questions, questions, questions. Where is Severus? What kind of trouble? And where? Harry and Ginny? What exactly is Professor Michael Cammeron\'s problem? Will the Slytherin password be changed? All this and
more next time. Thank you to all who have reviewed. As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome. A thank you to Casandra, my beta.

Regards, Pearle