Chapter 11 –Shouting from the rooftops

Hermione stood in the Great Hall surrounded by Death Eaters while professors and students alike watched in horror. She had been disarmed of her wand yet she still stood in defiance like the proud Gryffindor she was destined to be. Her almond eyes reflected her anger like a wild mountain fire that had become uncontrollable. She straightened her spine and clenched her fists together at her sides.

One of the Death Eaters stepped away from the group of Death Eaters, walked to Hermione and slapped her hard. Hermione barely managed to keep her balance and blinked her eyes furiously to keep her tears at bay. Slowly she raised her hand up and swiped away the thin line of blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. With courage unknown to her before, she raised her head up in defiance once again. "Is that the best you've got," she asked in a taunting voice more suitable to that of her father Severus Snape.

Minerva, who had been watching from her seat at the Gryffindor table, cringed at the tone Hermione had used. Minerva, like all of the other professors in the Great Hall, had been disarmed of her wand and seated with the frightened students. Harry Potter had been serving detention with Severus when the Death Eaters had taken the Great Hall and she could only hope he had managed to escape to safety. Unfortunately the Death Eaters had decided to send a message to Potter by using Hermione. Of course, Hermione had shown them her Gryffindor courage and it had terrified Minerva. She was proud of Hermione's defiant nature; however, she was also terrified something horrible would happen to her only child.

"What did you say," the Death Eater Minerva now recognized as Beatrix Lestrange screeched at Hermione.

Hermione plastered a smirk her father would be proud of on her face before she repeated, "Is that the best you've got."

"You stupid Mudblood," Lestrange yelled angrily before drawing back to hit Hermione once more.

Hermione prepared herself for a hit to the face but it never came. Severus Snape had burst through the Great Hall doors and immediately stunned Beatrix to the shock of everyone present in the hall except Minerva. "What's the matter with you Severus," Lucius Malfoy asked, still cloaked in his Death Eater robes.

Severus made his way towards Hermione before answering, "I thought that would be obvious Lucius, I am protecting my daughter from the likes of you."

"Your daughter," Malfoy said as if it was something foul.

"Yes," Severus said proudly then added, "Hermione is my daughter and I love her very much. I will not stand by and allow you to harm her in any way."

Hermione moved closer to her father and smiled when he grasped her small hand with his own. She released a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and offered him a small smile. "Isn't this touching," Malfoy sneered then added, "We'll have to teach you a lesson Severus as well as the Mudblood."

Rage filled Severus' dark eyes and uncontrolled magic surrounded him as he glared at Lucius Malfoy. Without thinking what he was doing, he raised his wand and cursed the blonde man before him. Lucius flew threw the air, smashed against the wall and landed with a thud. The other Death Eaters raised their wands to curse Severus; however, they immediately put them down when they saw Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and a group of Aurors entered the Great Hall. "Lower your wands," Mad-eye Moody commanded with a forced calm.

All the Death Eaters did as was told except for Lucius Malfoy who was unconscious on the floor anyways. The Aurors bounded the Death Eaters with magical bonds and carted them off to Azkaban. Albus called for silence within the Great Hall and gave a brief speech to calm all faculty and students. As things returned to normal in the Great Hall, Hermione embraced her father publicly before whispering, "I love you daddy."

"I love you too Princess," he said honestly before dropping a kiss to her forehead.

Minerva chose that moment to join her family, drawing the attention of everyone in the Great Hall. She had longed to shout the truth regarding her family to all the magical community and now was the perfect opportunity. Minerva hugged Hermione tightly and kissed her cheek lovingly. "I'm fine Mama," Hermione said reassuringly before giving her another hug.

There was a collective gasp in the Great Hall but the Snape family ignored it. In fact, Minerva decided to finally throw her stern image out the window and drew her husband closer. She kissed him searing on the lips before smirking at the surprised look on his face. He gave a genuine smile before asking her, "Are you sure you're not a Slytherin?"

Minerva just laughed before gripping her husband's arm and asking, "How about a lovely evening walk around the lake my husband?"

Severus just smiled before leading his wife out of the Great Hall. Hermione smiled at her parent's antics before following them outside where it was pouring the rain. She had always enjoyed playing in the rain and after seeing her parents dancing in the rain, she knew why.