Title: Snape’s Child 9/?

Author: Animealam

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Severus/Hermione, mentions of Severus/OFC

Warnings: Violence, Child abuse, Drama, Tragedy, OCC, Manipulative but not evil Dumbledore, Character Death, Bad Ginny, Bad Ron, Romance/Het, Alternate Universe, AU 5th Year, Good Severus, Adoption, Gender-Bender, Child Harry, Rape, Bad Sirius, Abusive Dursley, Pregnancy, Child Neglect, Contains references to HBP, and TDH, Post GoF.

Disclaimer: Nope, doesn’t belong to me. I only play with them a bit.

Summary: Based on the Challenge at Potions and Snitches Archive:

Hidden as Snape’s Daughter by carvell

Summary: Dumbledore never makes it to Harry’s trial (summer of 5th year) and Harry is sentenced to Azkaban to be kissed. Snape rescues him and Harry is hidden in plain sight, as Snape’s daughter; he ends up in Slytherin. Only Snape knows who he really is, the rest of the world thinks he’s dead from the Dementor’s kiss. No romance whatsoever.

Author’s Note: I’m basing this story on the challenge, although I’m not following it completely. Harry will be much younger. I wanted to try my luck at adding two other characters that are usually minor and last but not least there will eventually be some romance, although not for a while, and not for Harry. She is too young for that.

This story is just in the beginning stages, so I only have about three chapters captured in the computer, plus a whole lot of notes and ideas.

Chapter 09

Getting everyone to eat required blackmail, several death threats, as well as threats of humiliation, besides a heavy dose of sarcasm. But he got everyone to at least have a few spoonfuls of the savoury stew the elves prepared. The students concerned him mostly, and of them Granger was the one that needed more attention. The moment the food was on the table she turned rather green. How come Molly did not notice? Really, Gryffindors had to be the most oblivious people he had seen. Severus shook his head.

A discrete Pregnancy Detection Spell confirmed the girl’s and his own, suspicions. She was pregnant. Six weeks along. He had Lippe bring him a Nutrient Potion with Folic Acid. It was specially formulated for pregnant witches. The potions was extremely complicated, and not many brewed it. He made a hefty income of selling it to St. Mungos, and the apothecary in Hogsmeade. Students in detention were quite useful in preparing the ingredients he needed for the potion.

Severus also requested a Stomach Soothing Draught, besides Danielle’s potions. It was time for her next doses. Severus sat besides the Gryffindor’s Know-It-All with Danielle on his lap. His new daughter had no appetite, and he had to coax her to eat. Going so far as to spoon feed her. It shocked her enough, she stopped protesting, and ate what he gave her from the bowl they shared. He was not hungry either, but he realized with chagrin he had to set the example.

The Professor presented the potions discretely to Granger, who gasped in shock. Even grief stricken the girl was not slow on the uptake. She paled even more, and stared at him with dread, and fear filled eyes.

She had heard them speak about Legilimency, and while she did not know -yet- what it was. She was able to deduct it was some type of Mind Reading. “You saw Sir?” Hermione’s voice shook.

“I did,” he responded in a surprisingly kind tone. He cast a Muffliato around them. He noticed she and Danielle sensed his spell. It surprised him, not many were sensitive enough to detect magic being cast subtly.

“Am I expelled?” Trepidation and fear filled her voice. Hogwarts Rules were clear. No pregnant students were allowed.

“No, you are not Miss Granger. You, Madam Bones, the Headmaster, and myself need to speak in private to see what can be done,” he paused. “After dinner.”

Hermione did not feel like talking, but knew the Professors would insist. Snape in particular would not let it rest. He could be relentless, like a hippogryff with a ferret. “OK Sir.” What choice did she have? She pushed her plate away from her.

“Eat Miss Granger. It’s clear you have not been eating properly this summer break, and you need the nourishment.” Again his voice was kind. She looked at him surprised. The girl was too frail emotionally, and he frankly was too worn out to be scathing to the young witch. She required support, not condemnation. “Do not fear, we will find the best possible solution to your problem.”

Danielle wanted to know what was wrong with her friend, and Severus hesitated for a moment. It was the girl’s story to tell, but he was sure Granger would not tell a strange six year old child what her problem was. So he decided that he would tell Danielle part of the problem without revealing too much. He told the little girl they would talk later about it.

After dinner he had his child take her potions. There was a dose of Sleeping Potion amongst them, and she was out like a light. Unfortunately she was too young to have Dreamless Sleep Potion. He knew she would have a very difficult night, probably fraught with nightmares, and she truly needed a full night of rest. His earlier Diagnostic Spells revealed she had not been sleeping well for several months.

The Order dispersed after eating, leaving only the Weasleys, Albus, Kingsley, Amelia, Minerva, and Granger. The red headed family left after they secured a room for their youngest. Severus offered them a house-elf to watch over her, and asked Hersy for a volunteer. He believed in treating his elves well. As they left the room, he made sure all of them had a dose of Dreamless Sleep Potion. Molly ushered Granger to her bedroom, but Severus told her there were things they needed to discuss with the young witch.

“Let us move to a more comfortable room,” he said and called Hersy.

The elf informed him the parlour was ready, as were most of the bedrooms. Including the master suite in case he decided to stay the night. They all moved to the parlour, and he settled Danielle on one of the couches with a one way Silencing Charm. One of the elves brought him a blanket to cover her, and a pillow. They all looked at him rather surprised by the gentleness he demonstrated with the little girl. At the moment he was too weary to care what anyone thought; and the night was not over yet. He sat on the couch with Danielle, and spoke once they were all sitting.

“Potter was not the only grievously abused child in Gryffindor,” he began. Granger curled a bit into herself, not daring to look anywhere but at her clasped hands.

“Potter was not abu …” Minerva began protesting. She had not been privy to the conversation they had with Albus when they arrived.

“Sadly Minerva,” Albus interrupted. “He was terribly abused by those muggles. I … made one of the worst mistakes of my life leaving him there.” The witch turned to look at him in shock.

“I told you Albus! I told you not to leave him there, they …”

“It is mooth point Minerva,” Severus interrupted the beginnings of what would clearly become a long rant. “The boy is dead. There is not much we can do for him, except to bring those animals to justice.”

“They will be Severus,” Amelia assured them. “I have already sent Aurors to arrest them.” He nodded at her.

“The issue is, he was not the only one. Miss Granger as well has been subjected to abuse by her parents. Please Granger, remove the Runic Glamour.”

“Professor?” Hermione asked. She had not healed quite as well as she expected. It had been two weeks since she arrived to Grimmauld Place, but she was still a mess. She still hurt.

“That woman,” he spat, “ran you over with her car!” Those present actually gasped. “From what I saw, it was your magic that saved you child. A muggle would have died.” He paused to let that sink in. It would hurt her to know her mother actually tried to kill her, but he would not lie to her. “You were injured, and have not treated those injuries. If you allow me, I will see to them.” His voice went soft, and kind.

Tears began rolling down her cheeks. “She was angry, she … He … he’s her husband … I … deser …”

“No. You.did.not.deserve.it.” Severus stressed.

“I did! I did! I knew it was so wrong to let him do … to … have sex,” she forced herself to say, “with him! I knew! Incest is WRONG!!” She did not notice the Headmaster and the Auror flinch, and the witches let out a soft cry. “It’s so.very.WRONG! But I let him! I didn’t say no. I did all he wanted me to do!” She was crying, and began rocking, as she hugged herself. “I wanted so much for them to love me, to accept me. For so very long, and he said he did. I didn’t want him to stop loving me if I refused to do what he wanted. But … but … she hated me … she hated me so much.”

Severus looked at Minerva hoping that she would offer comfort to the distressed girl, and sighed when he realized the older witch had no idea what to do. She was in shock. Clearly she had never dealt with an abused child. For the umpteenth time that day he sighed. Then he knelt before the distraught child. It would be up to him to offer comfort. Minerva and Albus were useless, and Granger did not know the Aurors.

“Hermione look at me,” his voice was kind and soft. He hoped the shock value would help, and get her to respond to him.

Hermione stared at Professor Snape astounded. She always thought he had such a beautiful voice, and having those warm tones directed at her with kindness was note worthy. She couldn’t just not obey. She looked into his eyes, which were also shockingly kind, but so weary. Soul tired weary, and there was pain in there as well. He was hurting, and she could not help but wonder why. At that moment the ‘Over grown bat of the dungeons’ looked so human.

“Listen carefully, I know you are a smart girl and won’t need me to repeat myself. You are NOT to blame. This is NOT your fault. He ignored and neglected you when you needed him the most, both of them did. Then that monster took advantage of you, of your need for love and attention. Of your love for him.”

“But … I … I knew … and I … I agreed!”

“Did you ever refuse him?” He’d seen one time. It had been extremely traumatic. The man told her so many terrible things, but above all, he hurt her. She nodded and shuddered. “He made sure you never even think of refusing him again, did he not?” She nodded again. The girl keened, and to his immense shock, she clung to him as she began crying her heart out. “It’s all right now Hermione, you are safe here, and I give you my word you won’t be returning to those people.” He leveled a hard glare to both Albus and Minerva.