A Knock at the Door

A Knock at the Door by Pearle

Summary: The war is over and Hogwarts is about tarttart 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 1. A Knock is Heard

The afternoon light streamed through the enchanted window as Severus Snape sat in his office comparing his potions supplies against his classes needs for the coming school year. It was the last Saturday in August and classes would be starting on Monday. Tomorrow night the students would return to Hogwarts for the new school year and with their return, chaos would again reign supreme.

“Where has the summer gone to?” Snape mused to himself. A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Whoever it was had better have a good reason for disturbing his last night of peace and quiet. Snape was solitary by nature, he was a difficult man, unbending - and those were his good points. The thought that a colleague would just drop by to see him was unheard of. Albus would have just walked in.

“Enter,” he growled not looking up from his paper work. He heard the door open and the rustle of robes as someone walked into his office.

“Hello, Severus.”

Snape looked up and found it difficult to breathe. A cold mask of indifference fell across his features. It had been almost twelve years since he had last seen the girl standing in front of him. No, this was no longer a girl, this was a woman. Hermione Granger had grown up. And she was once again standing in his office.

The silence stretched out between them. Neither one was willing to break the silence and ease the tension. Finally Hermione sighed, “How have you been? May I sit down?”

Snape's voice dropped an octave. His voice went from cold to barely controlled, “How have I been? I do not think that is any concern of yours. Get out.”

“ I told Albus this would never work. The man must have dementia to think I could carry this off.” Hermione had remained standing and was mumbling to herself.

“While I find this most fascinating, what do you want?” Severus drawled, determined not to let this woman know how unnerved he was by her mere presence. Albus's name had piqued his interest. The man was always meddling in his life.

Hermione lowered elf elf into the chair in front of his desk and looked into his eyes. “Severus,” she said with a sigh, “it has been a long time.”

Snape's eyes remained cold and his expression was unreadable. “Madam, what do you want? State your business and get out.”

“Do you really hate me that much?” His exasperated sigh was her only answer. “ All right, perhaps if you would ever lower your standards to attend a staff meeting we would not be having this conversation. Well, we would still have much to discuss but not on these terms anyway. Whatever was I thinking?” Hermione was growing agitated and had started to pace as well as returning to her running commentary, speaking more to herself than to Snape. She knew this was going to be difficult, she had played the scenario out in her mind several times over the years. But she had not envisioned just how different rea wou would be from her imagination. Snape was definitely not an easy man. She had not expected a warm welcome, but then again she had not imagined this degree of hostility either.

Snape's eyes glittered darkly as he cleared his throat. “What. Do. You. Want?” Each word was enunciated clearly and echoed against the silence that had fallen between them again.

Hermione stopped pacing and sat down. Gathering her courage, she was a Gryffindor after all; she looked him in the eyes and said in a strong clear voice, “ IF… you had attended the meeting this morning, you would know I am the new assistant mediwitch. There is a greater influx of students this year and Albus felt the need to add to the staff.”

Snape had been aware of the increase in students. Several new professors and staff members had been hired. He had been forced to add a new lower level potions class himself, though where he would find time for his increased class load was beyond him. “And this concerns me? It is a large castle, I am sure we can avoid each another without too much effort if we both put our minds to it.”

Hermione just glared at him. “Haven't you ever wondered why I left that night, all those years ago? Where I went, and why.” His cold stare was her only response. “It's been almost twelve years, aren't you the least buriourious?” she asked.

Snape was not about to admit he was more than just a little curious. She seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Neither the annoying Boy That Lived nor his equally obnoxious sidekick had had any idea of where she’d went or what had happened to her. She had sent the Order an owl, stating she had to leave for personal reasons and that they should not look for her. She had simply disappeared. Ceased to exist. Gone. Snape did not hear anything during his meetings with Voldemort and the other Death Eaters. Her name never came up. Albus was consumed with the ongoing war and with the Order. He expressed sorrow at the loss of the brightest witch of her generation but it went no further than that. Albus had said he would respect her wishes and not try to find her. But Snape had looked for her. Only to come up empty. Snape was Slytherin to the core. He would never admit to wondering what had happened to her. Admitting he might still care, or at least care enough to ask where she had went and why would only show weakness on his part. She was obviously fine and in good health, unharmed. Wherever she had been, well, it was too many years to go back.

“Madam, I grow weary of this game you are playing. I will ask you for the last time. What. Do. You. Want?”

Hermione rose from her seat. “Severus, tomorrow night the first years will be sorted. I thought you might like to meet your daughter before she starts at Hogwarts.” Hermione braced herself for the explosion she was sure would follow. Instead there was a dead silence.

She looked at Snape and quietly said, “If you would like to meet Silenus, you may come to my chambers tonight at 7:00. Good day to you.”

Snape could barely form a cohesive thought. “My daughter? You expect me to believe I have a child? With you? And that she is here? What are you playing at?”

Instead of going onto University after graduation, Hermione had stayed at Hogwarts to work with Snape on developing a potion that would weaken the Dark Lord. They spent the next six months working on the potion and had fallen into a tolerable if not amicable working relationship. They proved to be molikelike than either had ever realized. Whether they came together out of respect or a missed place feeling of desperation at the mounting war, neither one could say. They did not talk about their “affair.” Their working relationship remained the same, and if they happened to go back to either his or her chambers to spend the night, well, it was a way to dispel the increasing tension the war was creating. No promises were ever made. No declarations of undying love. No words were ever said really. They just were, until the night she disappeared.

Hermione's voice was cold as she answered the Potion Master's outburst. “I had found out I was pregnant just a few days before I decided to leave. The potion was almost completed. You were becoming more distant by the day. Voldemort and the Order were causing you to take even greater risks than before. You have never been a very open man, but you seemed to withdraw more each day. I was not willing to become a pawn if it had become known that I was carrying your child. I felt I had no other option but to leave.” Hermione stood still watching the dark man in front of her.

Snape felt beyond weary. All the years, all his lies and transgressions seemed to catch up with him in a matter of minutes. How could a simple knock at his door change his whole life? Change his very existence. Merlin's Robes, a child. His child. “You mentioned Albus?” he asked, his eyebrow rose, heading for his hairline.

“Albus is, was, my secret keeper. He helped me relocate to America and saw to it that I, well we, after Silenus was born, were safe wel well hidden, undetected. He helped me obtain an internship as a mediwitch with an American Wizarding school. I am only returning to Hogwarts at Albus’s request. Silenus has received her Hogwarts letter as well as a letter to the American school I was working at. She will be sorted with the new students tomorrow night.”

“Silenus. What have you told her?” Snape pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting off a headache that threatened to overwhelm his senses. Silenus. Hermione. Albus……. Albus. He would deal with him later. He had known where she was the entire time. He knew Snape had a child. Snape was not a particularly paternal man. He had always felt the world would be better off if the Snape line ended with him. He really did not like children but he did feel he had an obligation for the child's care if nothing else. But he was… a possessive man. And she was of his flesh. Snape would definitely be speaking with the headmaster later. Hopefully he would not be in Azkaban by this time tomorrow. Bloody hell, he was hoping he would just make it through this evening.

Hermione had silently watched Snape's face, looking for his emotions and thoughts as he had listened to her story. To the outward eye he remained calm but a very slight twitch below his right eye betrayed his inner turmoil. She had known him long enough to see his back straighten and his eyes change if only for the briefest of seconds. He was a mastf cof control, after all this control was what had kept him alive while acting as a double agent for Dumbledore and the Order against Voldemort. But she had been watching him closely, looking for the tell tale sign that would mean she may have struck a chord within this hardened man.

“Silenus? What have I told her about what?” This was just too good for Hermione to pass up. She knew what he meant. But he had not hexed her yet, and he had not thrown her out of his office as yet. Still, it was never wise to play with a coiled snake, especially one ready to strike at any moment.

Snape glared at the woman in front of him. The look would have been enough to cause heart failure in any student up to and including a seventh year. Hermione merely blinked. “What have you told her about her father?” Snape bit out with barely contained fury.

“Oh. She is aware you are her father. I told her we were unable to stay together because of the war. That seemed to sce. ce. I had my copy of Hogwarts: A History so I was able to show her a picture of you. She is aware the war ended sometime ago but we were happy where we were. My understanding was it was still not safe here after the war. It took a long time for the Ministry to round up the surviving Death Eaters. As I said, I have only returned at the request of Albus.” Hermione had remained standing with her arms crossed defensively across her chest. She leaned forward onto the desk, looking directly into Snape's eyes, eyes so very much like her daughter's. “Silenus is thin and very tall for her age. She has look curly black hair and very black eyes. She tends to be a bit of a loner and has her nose stuck in a book a good deal of the time. Luckily she has my nose. She was very precocious as a small child. She has the most amazing ability for flying. She also has a penchant for mixing things together. I cannot imagine where she gets it from. Of course, you are a formidable wizard in your own right. She is the most unbelievable combination of the two of us. Beyond what I could have ever hoped for.” Hermione fell silent as she thought about her daughter and a smile lit her face. “Severus, will you come meet her tonight? She is nervous enough starting a new school. The thought of actually meeting her father is causing her an unending amount of stress. You have stated enough times that you are not fond of children but this is your daughter.”

Snape was taken aback by Hermione's impassioned response. He would meet the child. And then what? “What exactly do you expect to happen, Miss Granger? What role do you expect me to fill? Surely you do not expect me to assume the mantle of parenthood with just a simple twist of your words, a wave of your wand as it were?”

“No, no foolish wand waving for you Professor. Really, Severus, the war is over. Do you really have to play the bastard all the time?”

“I have never professed to be anything less then what I am, Miss Granger.”

Hermione sighed, “Yes, of course. I suppose it does suit you, the bastard extraordinaire. And my name is Hermione in case you are interested. You used to use it at one time. I am not some little first year you can intimidate. Trust me professor, I am long past intimidation where you are concerned.” She grinned mischievously, “You know, Severus, I might not recognize you if you were to act truly happy or if you were to smile or perhaps…. grin.”

“I do not grin……Hermione.” Snape stated icily. This had gone far enough.

“Fine.” Evidentially the snake was now rattling its tail and ready to strike. She would do well to get out of there while she still could. “I expect……nothing. Just meet Silenus. She has no expectations. She is aware of your nature. I have told her stories from my days here. She merely wants to meet you. After that, well we shall see.”

Snape nodded curtly at the woman standing before him. “Very well, I will meet you in your chambers at 7:00 this evening.” His nod was a dismissal as he returned to his work. Hermione had turned and was just about to open the office door and leave when his voice stopped her. “And what of us, Hermione? What are your expectations?”

He had lowered his voice and infused it with that silky quality that was all his own. For a moment she let it wash over her, remembering just what that voice could do to her. Remembering just how good the nights had been between them. And just how long ago it had been. She straightened her back and answered him without turning around. “I have no expectations, Severus. There is you, there is me, and there is Silenus. There is no us. I don't know if there ever was. 7:00. Do not be late.” And with those words ringing in his ears she was gone.

Silenus. Born in the Americas no less. What did the Gods have against him? He would have to ask her how she had picked the name. He knew it to be a derivative of Silena, the Goddess of the Moon. Snape rose from his desk and strode across his office to the hidden entrance to his private quarters. He lowered the wards and stepped into the sitting room. He was past livid and could barely think. He opened his sideboard and withdrew a crystal decanter and matching glass. The weight of the decanter and the glass felt good in his hands. This was real. His life has taken a sharp turn from reality and he was having trouble accepting this new version of his existence. Why had he ever answered the knock on his door today, as if that would have actually changed the facts? Pouring himself a generous portion of fire whiskey, Snape knocked the drink back in one gulp. He threw the heavy crystal glass at the empty fireplace on the opposite wall. The glass shattered with a very satisfying crash. One thought continued to run through his mind. “ I have a daughter and I am going to kill Albus.”

TBC

A/N: All right, this is my first attempt at fanfiction and the chapter is not beta’d. Obviously those are my excuses. I have not written fiction in years. Well? I would love to hear from you, comments, thoughts, whatever.