Daddy Dearest - (No Update, Edit)

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 79 ~ Free for the Moment

Bail for Hermione was set at two thousand galleons, and the initial trial date a week from her release in order to give Mr. Jockrin time to subpoena the necessary witnesses. Severus left the Ministry the moment bail was set. He would see Hermione later tonight. He needed to get back to Hogwarts and let his son know his mother was released on bond.

The Potions Master was in very good spirits. Some important facts as well as rumors were going to come out in that trial that would shed light on the DKV actions. Within the organization their line might seem fine, but to the wizarding world at large, most likely that line would be seen for what it was. A program of targeted hatred. Severus apparated back to Hogwarts.

In an unused Ministry side office, Hermione and Cronnie sat down and talked for a very long time, the lawyer asking Hermione about her background, her parent's background and her son. He also asked about Mathias' father. Hermione was honest with him and told him Severus' background as well, except for his dual role in the Order. Mr. Jockrin then asked her for character witnesses, and Hermione told him the names of everyone who was likely to give her a good reference. Then he asked Hermione if she ever had any personal dealings with Draco Malfoy. The lawyer figured they had to have had some run-in since they were contemporaries at Hogwarts and she was in Gryffindor and Draco in Slytherin. Hermione recounted one situation that made Cronnie almost cackle with glee.

"Oh, this is going to be good," he said, opening his briefcase. He took out a small pensieve.

"I need you to put your memories of that day into this pensieve so I can study it," the lawyer said to Hermione.

The witch took the pensieve and using her wand, which was returned to her, pulled out the memory of Ichabod informing her she'd been replaced and dropped it into the pensieve. Mr. Jockrin sealed it and placed it in his briefcase.

"Miss Granger, can you put me in contact with anyone who can brief me on the activities of the DKV? I need to be better familiarized with their methods of operation. Much of this trial will revolve around that blasted organization's influence. You won't be the only one on trial here, Miss Granger. Not by a long shot," he said darkly.

"I can put you in contact with an authority on the DKV, who can provide you with information that's been collected about the organization for years. His name is Albus Dumbledore," Hermione said.

Cronnie's eyebrows rose.

"Ah, yes. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer; Founder of the Order of the Phoenix, Former Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He defeated the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945; and also discovered the 12 uses of dragon blood. He will do quite nicely, Miss Granger. Quite nicely," the wizard said, smiling broadly as Hermione stared at him with her mouth open.

"I may be out of circulation, but I keep up with the wizarding world's who's who. Have to make sure I'm still listed," he said, pulling on his mustache, his gray eyes twinkling at the witch.

"I suggest you make your home unplottable as soon as possible, Miss Granger. All kinds of crackpots will be showing up at your door otherwise, protesters and supporters alike. Some will be dangerous and there will be skirmishes between opposing individuals. In short, your home will be a war zone if it can be seen. You don't have to move…just make it invisible. I suggest making the lot appear to be a garbage dump. That will make most visitors leave quickly," the wizard said.

Hermione nodded. She hadn't even thought about public reaction and the possible effect on her private life. She needn't have worried however. Albus had already paid her home a visit and placed the necessary privacy spells on it. It was not the same concealment spell that was on Order Headquarters. This was a combination disillusionment/displacement spell. Hermione's house would be visible only those whose signatures were attached to it.

Currently, Hermione, Mathias, Severus and Albus himself were keyed to the location. Everyone else who visited the address would indeed find a garbage dump. They would be able to walk through it as well since the house would be invisible and insubstantial to others. If the witch wanted someone who was not on the signature to enter her home, they would simply have to be in physical contact and walk in with her, Severus or Mathias.

Hermione's main thoughts at the moment were getting home, getting a shower and getting into Severus' strong, comforting arms. She was almost sure the Potions Master would come to see her tonight, despite it being a weeknight. She needed him to help distract her from the nightmare she'd been through in the past couple of days. He would be more than willing, she was sure. Plus Hermione wanted to thank him properly for getting her such amazing council. Despite all his snarkiness, Severus was a sweet wizard…to her at least.

Most of the time.

Well, some of the time.

Then again, maybe a small, small part of the time.

Hermione shook her head. The description of sweet just never suited Severus, try as she might to fit the designation on him. He would look at her as if she were crazy if she told him he was sweet, and probably immediately embark on proving to her in no uncertain manner that 'sweetness' was not part of his makeup.

Mr. Jockrin told Hermione he would contact her in a couple of days and arranged for the witch to be escorted home by Justice Forall and several other Aurors.

After she had changed into her robes and filled out the proper paperwork, Justice took her by the arm and escorted her from the Ministry building. A crowd was outside and flashbulbs popped the moment she appeared. The Aurors disapparated with her.

They appeared in front of her house. Only the Aurors couldn't see it.

"What happened to your house, Hermione?" Justice asked her. "This place is a dump."

Hermione furrowed her brows at Justice. Sure, the lawn could use a bit of cropping and the flowerbeds a little weeding, but her house was hardly a dump.

"There's nothing wrong with my house," she said testily, disengaging her arm from Justice's walking into the yard and unwarding her front door. She walked inside. To the Aurors it looked as if she'd disappeared behind a tall pile of garbage. Justice ran after her into the dump. He looked around a bit before he realized that her house was hidden. Smart move. He walked back to the other Aurors, who looked perplexed.

"Miss Granger is fine. Let's go," he said.

They all disapparated.

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Severus returned to Hogwarts, found the Headmaster and let him know how the arraignment went. Albus was delighted.

"Excellent!" the wizard exclaimed, "I am so glad she's been released Severus."

The Potions Master's eyes glinted.

"So am I, Headmaster," he said in a low voice, thinking about how he'd welcome the witch home.

"Does Mathias know yet?" Albus asked him.

"I don't believe so. I will find him now. I believe he's in Advanced Charms," the wizard said, "If you'll excuse me, Headmaster."

"Certainly, my boy," Albus said, his eyes twinkling. Thank the gods the witch was home.

Severus strode through Hogwarts to the Charms classroom. He knocked on the door.

"Come in," squeaked Professor Flitwick. He was standing on top of his desk lecturing his class. Severus stepped just inside the door. Flitwick's students all paled, except one. Mathias.

"Professor Flitwick, may I speak to Mr. Snape for a moment?" he asked the petite Professor.

"Certainly Professor Snape," he said, "Mr. Snape, you are excused."

Mathias rose quickly and followed his father out of the door.

"What happened, Dad?" Mathias asked Severus, his black eyes anxious.

"Your mother had been released on bond, and is home now. I managed to secure counsel for her. I believe she will come through this trial without having to do any time in Azkaban, though nothing is set in stone," the Potions Master said.

Mathias smiled broadly, and for the second time in two days, embraced his father. Severus was better at it this time and gave the boy a strong, firm embrace back before releasing him.

"I knew you'd get her out," Mathias said.

The Potions Master could clearly see the love and admiration in Mathias' eyes, and his throat tightened. Severus never believed anyone would ever look at him in such a way. He pulled himself together.

"Of course I did. You need your mother," he said rather gruffly.

Mathias eyed him for a moment, then said, "And you don't?"

Severus looked at Mathias with irritation.

"Go back to class, boy," he said, scowling.

Mathias smirked.

"All right. Thanks Dad," the wizard replied, returning to the classroom.

Severus stood there for a moment, scowling blackly.

The boy was too cheeky. Just too damn cheeky.

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Later that evening, Mathias informed Jasmine that he wouldn't need to listen in on her conversation with her father after all. His mother had been released on bond and stood a good chance of being exonerated.

"Oh Mathias, that's wonderful!" Jasmine said, once again embracing the wizard. This time Mathias embraced her back. Gods, she felt good against him. Her closeness was intoxicating. He tightened his grip, pulling her against him tighter reflexively.

Jasmine went rather stiff as she became aware of the hardness of Mathias' body and how tightly he was holding her. They were in the common room and other Slytherins were watching them, whispering to each other.

"Er…Mathias…you can let me go," Jasmine whispered, her warm breath tickling his ear. "People are starting to talk."

Mathias bit back a response of "Let them talk," and released the witch, his dark eyes staring into hers.

"Sorry," he said, but he really wasn't. Jasmine felt good against him. Very good.

"It's all right. I know you are really happy your mother is free," Jasmine responded.

Mathias nodded, but his holding her tighter really didn't have that much to do with Hermione, and more to do with his growing attraction toward the witch. But the young wizard really didn't want to let Jasmine know how he was feeling. He didn't want her using it against him. Mathias had no intention on becoming one of those love-struck wizards that did back flips whenever a witch that met his fancy said "Jump." He thought it beneath him.

"Are you going to go see her?" Jasmine asked.

Normally, Mathias would…but he had a feeling his father was going to pay her a visit. Probably an overnight one, and he didn't want to crash the welcome home party.

"Not tonight. Maybe this weekend," he said.

Jasmine frowned.

"If it were my mother just coming home from a horrible experience like that, I'd go see her immediately," she said to the wizard. "Don't you care?"

Mathias scowled at Jasmine's supposition that he wasn't going to see his mother because he wasn't concerned about her.

"Of course I care. It's just that someone else is going to visit her and I don't want to be in the way. I can see her this weekend before I go to training," he said.

Jasmine looked curious. She didn't know Mathias' father and mother were lovers. The witch wondered who was so important that Mathias would step aside and let him or her visit his mother first.

"Who is it?" she asked him.

"Jasmine, you are too nosey. It's none of your business," he said loftily.

"I bet it's her boyfriend," Jasmine said, eyeing Mathias. "That would be the only person you'd let see her first."

Mathias shrugged.

"Could be her lawyer too," he said.

Yes, it could be, but Jasmine doubted it. She wondered who Hermione's boyfriend was. He had to be someone acceptable to Mathias. She was sure if he didn't like whoever it was, he'd find a way to get rid of him. Mathias didn't like a lot of people. He didn't hate them, mind you…he just really didn't care for many. He was very much like his father in that regard, although he could be very charming when he wanted to be.

"Right. Her lawyer, Mathias," Jasmine said, disbelief evident in her voice.

"Think what you want to think, Jasmine," he replied starting to leave the common room. Jasmine fell in step with him, not about to let him get away.

The witch suddenly thought of something.

"Where's Professor Snape? Doesn't he usually take you and Andreas to your training lesson tonight?" she asked Mathias.

Uh oh.

"He had something else to do," Mathias said evasively, speeding up, hoping the witch would stop following him.

Jasmine scowled.

"Something else to do? He's been taking you and Andreas to lessons like clockwork every week for the longest and now tonight he doesn't…" she began.

Suddenly, Jasmine looked shocked.

"Mathias!" she said to him, her eyebrows raised.

"What?" Mathias said, his heart sinking a bit. The secret was out.

"Professor Snape is shagging your mum, isn't he?" she blurted out.

Mathias spun on her.

"Shhhh! I don't want everyone to know," he hissed, shushing her.

Jasmine's eyes glittered.

"But that's so cool, your mum and dad together. You're like a family," she said, smiling broadly.

"A very private family, Jasmine. Please don't say anything," Mathias said, his black eyes serious.

Jasmine put her hands on her hips.

"Why would I tell anyone about your parents? Now, I mean. I'm not the same little blabbermouth I used to be. I can keep a secret," she said evenly.

Mathias looked at the witch when she said this, a funny feeling washing over him. What were Jasmine's secrets?

His look wasn't wasted on the witch. Jasmine instinctively knew the time had arrived where the dynamics between them were changing. She was becoming a young woman now, and Mathias was becoming a young man. True, they were still too young for an adult relationship…they were only fifth years, but the stirrings were there, waiting be to explored. The desire to touch, to test and particularly to tease was undeniably present.

Jasmine found Mathias attractive on a number of levels. He was intelligent, intense and physically appealing. He made her feel safe and protected. He made her feel special as well when he focused on her. Mathias did not seem to notice many witches, though they certainly noticed him with his long, silky hair, piercing eyes and dominating presence. They would giggle and make eyes when he walked by. Even the older witches in sixth and seventh year gave him a second, maybe a third glance as he strode past them. But Jasmine was the only witch he had words for. And she was glad for that.

But she knew, no matter how she was beginning to feel about Mathias, if he ever approached her on a more personal level, or indicated he would like to court her, she would have to decline because of her upcoming position as Voldemort's consort. It would be better if her heart weren't attached to any wizard…if it were, it would only make what she underwent with the Dark Lord even more horrible.

Mathias' embrace had been nice…too nice. The witch would have to avoid coming in contact with him like that if she didn't want to complicate matters. It was bad enough their contact had been witnessed by the members of their house. Some still whispered she was shagging Andreas, but no one dared confront her or the black wizard about it. Now, because of the public embrace with Mathias, the word would probably get around that she was shagging them both.

Gods, life was so complicated at sixteen.

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Albus had informed Severus of the spell he had placed on Hermione's house. When the wizard apparated, he found several curiosity seekers walking up and down her street, looking for the witch's home. He quickly glamoured his face so he wouldn't be recognized. The Potions Master found he could see the house quite easily and walked into the yard. A few people watched him enter the dump and walk around a large pile of garbage…then, they didn't see him anymore. Some followed, but just came out the other side, perplexed.

Hermione had come home and showered, then dressed in a set of comfortable sweats. She was more tired than she thought because after eating a sandwich, she entered the living room to sort through her posts, and fell asleep on the sofa. That's how Severus found her, the witch's head thrown back and her mouth open, snoring.

Severus looked at the witch's position on the couch, particularly her open mouth. He smirked as a very wicked idea of how to wake her flashed through his head. But, after her ordeal, he didn't think she would be very pleased to wake up with a mouthful of hard, randy Potions Master. She'd want some other kind of reassurance that he missed her. If he woke her that way…there was a good chance her office wouldn't be the only recipient of her wrath.

The Potions Master walked around the sofa and quietly sat down next to the witch, remembering how she had been shackled. It had been terrible to see her like that…but still, some small part of the wizard's brain found seeing the witch bound and chained arousing. The potential for complete domination was appealing. Severus also pushed that out of his mind. Now was not the time to ask the witch if he could chain her down. Maybe after all this mess was behind them.

Severus brought one pale hand to the sleeping witch's head and caressed her hair gently.

"Hermione? Hermione, wake up," he said silkily.

The witch stirred slightly, turning into him. The Potions Master kissed her gently and Hermione's arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him down as she slid down to the cushions, partially pulling the wizard on top of her as she deepened the kiss, her tongue slipping into his mouth. Severus let out a little groan and pulled back from her.

"Nice greeting, witch," he purred at her.

"You deserve it, and more Severus. Cronnie Jockrin? My gods, how did you manage it?" she asked him softly. Her amber eyes opened and she looked up into a face she didn't recognize. She pulled back and let out a little scream.

Severus realized he was still glamoured and quickly removed it.

"That's what you get for kissing before you look," he said to her, his black eyes glinting.

The Potions Master looked down on the witch. He couldn't imagine Hermione going anywhere away from him, much less Azkaban.

Hermione scowled at him a moment, then softened.

"How did you manage to get Cronnie Jockrin, Severus?" she asked him again.

"I don't know exactly Hermione. I took a chance he would accept the case, and he did," the wizard said. Hermione's eyes went dark.

"He must cost a fortune," she whispered, "He's the best trial lawyer there is."

Severus looked at the witch soberly.

"I would spend my last galleon to keep you out of Azkaban, witch," he said quietly, "My very last sickle."

Hermione looked up at him.

"You care about me that much, Severus?" she asked the wizard.

The Potions Master met her amber eyes.

"I desire you that much, witch," he responded, once again dancing around the emotional connotations of their relationship.

Hermione smiled at him. Severus had never said he loved her, and she never said she loved him…but she knew there was more to their relationship than extremely satisfying sex. She loved the wizard, and she suspected he loved her. She didn't need to hear it said verbatim. It was enough she felt it, like she felt it now. She also felt something else as the wizard shifted against her.

"I have a welcome home present for you," Severus said to her, grinning wickedly. "Do you want me to unwrap it here or in the bedroom?"

Hermione frowned up at him.

"The bedroom," she responded, "Although I thought the recipient of a present was supposed to unwrap it."

Severus rose and swept Hermione off the sofa, carrying her toward the bedroom.

"That's even better," he purred, kicking the cracked door open with his foot and entering with the smiling witch.

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A/N: A nice little look into Jasmine's mind concerning Mathias, and a definite recognition of the attraction between them on her part. Severus and Hermione are about to reclaim each other. And we saw how Mr. Jockrin is preparing for the trial. Justice is being a very decent sort. Good for him. Please review.