A/N: Thank y'all so very very much for your response to A Wish Made! I was just SURE no one would like it, which is why it was only a one-shot. Because of your response (on here, on AO3, and on Facebook), here is the first chapter of the sequel! I can't thank you enough for your reviews, your encouragements, and your kind words. They mean the absolute world to me. If anyone is interested, I can be found on Facebook as Zorak TwentyThree and Discord as Zorak23. As always, Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights.

Beta Love: ambiguousgoldfish, the best beta in the world. Brit-picked by JacqP, my favorite Northern Lass. Photo-manip by the ridiculously talented Ravenpuff Love.

A Wish Granted

by Zorak23

Chapter One

1986

*CRACK*

"Hi Severus!"

The man in question sloshed his tea over the rim of his cup, spilling the warm liquid all over his paper and onto his lap.

"Bloody hell!"

"Language!"

Severus sighed and waved his wand over himself, carefully siphoning tea off his trousers and his copy of the Daily Prophet.

"Lass, what in the world are you doing here?"

"I just missed you," Hermione replied, skipping over to give him a hug. Severus returned her embrace, then set her firmly on her feet.

"Hermione. How did you get here?"

"The same way as last time. I just wished and wished and then I was with you," the tiny girl said with a shrug.

"You… accidentally apparated… on purpose?" Severus was stunned. "What, exactly, did you wish for?"

"I wished to be with you. Because I missed you. Was that bad?"

"No, of course it wasn't bad. I always want to see you. But does your mother know you're here?"

"Nooo…"

"Oh lass. You're all the way in Cokeworth and I don't have a phone. We'll have to apparate back to your house."

"Can't I just stay with you? It's my day at the surgery, and Mummy and Daddy are very busy. They won't even notice I'm gone."

"Now you know that's not true," Severus sighed. "Come on, let's get you home. I'll see if your parents mind you coming back here with me. But lass, you must let someone know where you're going. No more accidentally-on-purpose apparating, if you please. You'll scare the piss out of me."

"Language!"

Cynthia Shafik looked up from her desk when the bell over the door rang. When she recognized the smaller of the two people walking in, she gasped, stood, and ran to the back of the surgery.

"Mrs Granger! Hermione just walked right in the door, holding hands with some strange man! I never even saw her leave!" she exclaimed, torn between worry for the child she'd come to care for, and excitement at the possibility of a juicy story. If nothing else, Cynthia thrived on good gossip.

"Oh dear. She must've snuck out the back," Helen hurriedly explained, following her receptionist to the front of the surgery.

"Hermione Jean Granger, where did you go?" Helen asked sternly when she saw who her daughter was with. Looking up towards the tall man, she said, "Thank you for bringing her back, Severus. I'm so sorry she bothered you."

"It was no trouble at all; I just wish she had told you she was leaving," he insisted. "If… if it would be alright with you… I could, er, could I keep her for the day? At your home, or somewhere else you suggest…"

"Oh please, Mummy, please-please-please?" Hermione begged, fairly bouncing in place as she swung Severus' hand back and forth. "I promise I'll be ever so good!"

"Sweetheart, we can't just use your brother as a babysitter," Helen gently explained, crouching down to her daughter's level. "Besides, we're spending all day with Severus tomorrow, so you'll see him then."

"Mm, well, I would… it wouldn't be an issue, for me, I mean. It would… I would enjoy the time with her, in fact…" Severus managed to say, hoping against hope that he would be allowed this time with his sister, but resigned to the fact that caution would win the day.

Helen sighed, grasping both of her daughter's hands in her own. "Alright." Before Hermione could start squealing, she quickly added, "but you must listen to everything Severus says. And you must be back in time for tea. And no ice cream this time."

Hermione launched herself at her mother, wrapping her tiny arms around her neck in a strangling hug.

"Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you Mummy! I love you so much!" Releasing her mother, she immediately bounced over to Severus and held up her arms so he could easily lift her. Once settled on his hip, she said, "This is the second-best day ever!"

"Just the second, lass?" Severus asked with a small grin.

"Of course," the girl answered seriously. "Yesterday I wished for a brother, and I got one."

"Mm. Yes, well. Can't argue with that," the man said after clearing his throat. Would he ever be accustomed to his sister's esteem? He rather thought she would become disenchanted with him before that could possibly happen. Looking towards her mother, he asked, "Four o'clock for tea?"

Helen waved them off. "Yes, dear. Just bring her back here to the surgery, and you'll stay too. David and I will want to hear all about your day."

She watched as her… children, she supposed, walked out the door. She had to stifle a laugh when she heard Hermione say, "I think Mummy might be magic, Severus. She knew about the ice cream, and that was a secret!"

"Who was that, Mrs Granger?" Cynthia asked, making no attempt to hide the fact that she'd been listening in. "How is he Hermione's brother?" Still smiling, Helen turned and walked towards the desk.

"Well, you see…"

"Where can we go today?" Hermione asked, swinging Severus' hand.

"Where would you like to go, lass?" Severus replied, the corner of his mouth quirking up as he looked down at his sister.

"We could go to the library, or we could go to the park, or we could go to your school…" the girl began listing off.

"Oh, bloody hell, the faculty meeting," Severus muttered, then winced when Hermione reprimanded him yet again.

"Language!"

"Yes, well. I do need to remember that, don't I?" He sighed, then looked at her stern little face. "My school it is, lass. I'm afraid I've quite forgotten about a meeting I need to attend. It shan't last more than an hour, though. And I'll be able to speak to the man I wanted your parents to meet while we're there."

"We really get to go to the castle?" Hermione asked rapturously, clasping her hands together in glee.

"Yes, we really get to go to the castle," he chuckled. "We'll have to apparate again, but if we leave now I'll have time to show you around Hogsmeade first. They have a toy shop, and we could get you some little witches robes if you wish."

"Can I have black ones just like the ones you had on yesterday?"

"Mm. Well, mine are for wizards…" seeing her smile start to fall, he quickly added, "but we'll see what we can come up with, yeah?" He was rewarded with her blinding smile, then ducked into an alley to find a place to apparate them to the highlands.

"Professor Snape! Bit early for your fitting, innit?" a surprised voice called out as the pair entered Gladrags Wizardwear.

"It is; however, I am not here for my teaching robes, madam. We have much more important business here today," Severus drawled, gently ushering Hermione further into the shop.

"Oh ho, who's this, now?" the proprietor asked with a cheery smile for the little girl. Hermione boldly walked up to the curious tailor and stuck out her hand.

"Hermione Granger, ma'am. I'm pleased to meet you."

"And so polite!" the woman commented to Severus as she laughingly shook the child's hand. "I'm pleased to meet you as well, dear. My name is Madam Manford. Is Professor Snape helping you shop today?"

"Yes ma'am," she replied. "Severus said I could get black robes just like his because he's the best brother in the whole wide world!"

"Brother?" She looked up at Severus quickly, surprise written all over her face.

"We've… recently reconnected," he explained to the woman, who thankfully did not mention how pink his cheeks had turned at Hermione's praise.

"How lovely," she effused, patting the child on the cheek. "I'm sure he's a wonderful brother, my dear. Now, are you sure you want black robes? You wouldn't prefer a nice pink, or even yellow?"

"Black, please. With lots of buttons."

"Lass, I'm not sure…"

"We could definitely do that, dear, but what about both? A black set for when you're with your brother, and a more… colorful set for other times, perhaps? Hop up here and let's get you measured. I'll show you what we have. There's a good girl." Madam Manford whipped out a measuring tape and charmed it to record Hermione's measurements, then stepped to speak to Severus. "I'll have to make up a set for her like yours, Professor. We certainly don't keep the like in stock for children, but I can at least tailor it to be more feminine for her. Would you like to look through our off-the-peg section for something more… appropriate, as well?"

"Of course," he murmured, and headed in the direction she indicated. As he looked through the rack of impossibly small robes, it dawned on him that he was shopping for his sister's first ever set of witches' robes. He wondered what other firsts he'd get to witness.

After convincing Hermione that she would look just as nice in colorful robes as she would in solid black, the pair left the shop with the promise to return after Severus' faculty meeting. Her black robes should be finished by then; as for now, Hermione was wearing a lovely set in mint green, and Severus was carrying a bag containing a third set in two shades of pink.

They walked happily around the town, Severus pointing out this or that, always willing to answer Hermione's multitude of questions. As they passed Tomes and Scrolls, Hermione cried out.

"Oh Severus! A bookshop!"

"Yes, well, there's also a toy shop just up the way." Her brother attempted to sway her, but Hermione was having none of it.

"Whyever would I want to go to a toy shop, when there's a bookshop right here?" she demanded, one hand on her hip. Severus snorted at the indignation on her face.

"A thousand pardons, lass. Of course we'll be going to the bookshop instead of the toy shop."

Five new books later, the siblings entered Honeydukes as their last stop before Hogwarts. Severus couldn't help but be proud of his sister's reasoning that her mummy had only said no ice cream; she'd been told nothing about sweets. Appreciation of Slytherin cunning won out over responsibility, and a large bag of sweet treats joined the bags from Gladrags and Tomes and Scrolls.

Noticing the hour, Severus hurried Hermione out of the sweet shop. Knowing his sister would enjoy the sights on the walk to the castle, but worried about the time, he lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders for the trek to the castle.

"I can see everything, Severus!" Hermione squealed from her high perch. "You're the tallest person in the world!"

Severus chuckled at her glee. "I'm afraid not, lass. You're about to meet someone much, much taller than me."

"Taller than me, too? I'm up so high!"

"You could stand on my shoulders and not be as tall as Hagrid."

They chatted more about the large gamekeeper as Severus strode towards the castle, and he entertained his sister with tales of Hagrid's various attempts at keeping dangerous animals as pets. Hermione was thrilled to learn that there were unicorns in the Forbidden Forest, and Severus decided he really shouldn't have been surprised that she had already read much of the animal book he'd bought her yesterday. Soon, they came close enough to the grounds that Hermione would get her first glimpse of the castle.

"Look up there, lass. That's Hogwarts."

"Severus," she breathed. "You get to live there most of the year?"

"I do indeed. The gates are just up there; Hagrid should be there to meet us. You'll be able to see for yourself if you're taller than him or not."

"I still think you're exaggerating," she said sceptically, making him chuckle. "Oh, there's the winged boars!"

"And look, just past the gates. Here's Hagrid, come to let us in." Severus felt her hands tighten in the hair on the top of his head, making him wince slightly.

"Oh, you weren't exaggerating," Hermione said softly.

"Don't be scared, lass. Hagrid has a very gentle soul and would never harm you. Just, perhaps let me know first if you're planning on meeting some of his pets." Severus lifted her off his shoulders, deciding to settle her comfortably on his hip after she tightened her hold on him when he attempted to set her on the ground.

"Professor! Jus' in time. They're all waiting fer… why hullo there, little one! Didn't see ya at first," Hagrid said, opening the massive gates and catching sight of the small girl in Severus' arms. "Who've ya got wi' ya, Professor?"

"Hagrid, I'd like you to meet my sister, Hermione. Lass, this is Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts," Severus replied, stroking her back when she hid her face in the crook of his neck. "Remember how I said Hagrid is very gentle?" he said quietly in her ear. "There's no need to be frightened. I'm right here with you."

Slowly, Hermione turned to look at the giant man, eyes wide and still gripping her brother tightly. "Hello, sir," she said softly. "I'm pleased to meet you."

"Mighty pleased ter meet ya, too, 'Ermione," Hagrid said with a rueful smile. To Severus he added, "The little ones always do tha' at first. Don't think I knew ya had a sister, though."

"Yes, well, I'm sure I'll have to explain at the meeting if you don't mind waiting, Hagrid."

"O' course. Sounds like a long story, wouldn't want ya ter have to repeat yerself," he nodded in understanding and led the way to the castle. The pair made small talk as they went, and Hermione finally felt comfortable enough to be let down once they reached the castle steps.

Holding her brother's hand tightly, Hermione stared up in awe at the large doors. She couldn't contain her gasp when Hagrid swung them open, and both of the men chuckled at the expression on her face as she walked into the castle.

"Severus! The people are moving just like in my books!" she exclaimed, staring at the portraits on the walls.

"Yes, lass. And here, they can speak as well," he explained, grinning as she raced up to a portrait of a maiden holding a shepherdess' crook and a lamb. "I promise you'll have time to talk to all of the portraits at some point, but we really need to get to the meeting," Severus called after her, then laughed when faced with two pouting faces. The maiden had been happy to find a friend as well.

Returning to her brother's side, she took his hand once more. "Will you introduce me to all of them, please?"

"Of course. Perhaps not today; there are hundreds in the castle. But eventually, of course." They began walking towards the staff room, Hermione skipping along next to him and swinging their hands to and fro as they went.

"Can I see your classroom today?"

"Yes, after the meeting."

"Can I see where you live when you're at school?"

"Certainly."

"Can I see the library? I do so hope there's a magic library."

"There is, and you may."

Hagrid silently marveled at Severus' remarkable patience with the tiny child's barrage of questions. He'd never seen the normally dour young man so content, nor so happy before. The joy present on his rather sallow face shone brightly, making him appear as if the twenty-six years he'd spent in the world hadn't been quite so hard. Soon, they arrived at the staff room and Hagrid preceded the siblings into the room.

"Ahh, Hagrid. Just in time. You've found Severus, I trust?" Albus Dumbledore asked, sitting on a comfortable looking, squashy armchair.

"Right you are, Professor Dumbledore, sir. Seems he's brought a guest ter meet us, too," Hagrid boomed into the room. Surprise lined the Headmaster's face at this pronouncement, and the chatter around the room quieted instantly.

"Oh?" Albus queried, rising from his seat. "And whom are we welcoming today, Severus?"

Before the man in question could say a word, a tiny gasp was heard. "Severus! You didn't tell me you knew Father Christmas!"

"No, lass. This is Albus Dumbledore, not Father Christmas." A few titters were heard, but most in the room simply stared in shock at their colleague as he ushered a small child into the room. "Albus, I'd like you to meet Hermione Granger, my sister." Severus grinned, further shocking the other professors in the room, when the girl crossed to the Headmaster and stuck out her hand.

"I'm pleased to meet you, sir. I'm sorry I thought you were Father Christmas."

"Quite alright, my dear. Happens to the best of us," the aged man replied, gently shaking her hand. Looking up at his employee, he asked, "Severus? Your sister?"

"Yes, sir. She was adopted after my mother…"

"Ahh, I see," Albus said, remembering the circumstances of her death and wanting to spare the poor man retelling it. "How is it that you've come to… reconnect?"

Severus crossed the room to take a seat, and Hermione immediately crawled up into his lap. He grinned faintly when she picked up his hands and wrapped his arms around her.

"She accidentally apparated into the back room of Mr Mulpepper's Apothecary while I was there yesterday. I thought her to be a lost muggleborn child, but upon returning her home, her mother recognized me as the man who'd given her her child."

"And she just gave her back to you?" Professor McGonagall asked, scandalized.

"No, of course not," he scoffed. Suddenly Severus' expression shifted, and he grinned fully. "It seems someone has figured out how to accidentally apparate on purpose, though. Scared the… stuffing out of me this morning when she turned up in my parlour." He tapped Hermione on the end of her nose, making her giggle as he added, "After taking her back to her parents' surgery, her mother said she could come with me for the day whilst they were at work. I admit I quite forgot about the faculty meeting, however. I rather had more important things on my mind."

"Of course you did, Severus. We can all understand that," Professor Sprout said, smiling warmly at the pair. "It's nice to meet you, dear. You may call me Pomona."

"Then I shall be Minnie," Professor McGonagoll added decisively. She was happy to see her younger colleague looking so content. Once all the introductions had been made, Severus settled his sister onto a separate armchair, and unshrunk the bag containing her books. He smiled as she immediately cracked one open and lost herself within its pages.

"Would you believe I tried to take her to the toy store in Hogsmeade, and she said she'd rather have a new book instead?" he said wryly to the room in general.

"I believe she'll be one of mine, then," Professor Flitwick laughed. "She's darling, Severus. You're very lucky."

"I don't know about that, Filius. She made quite the cunning argument about Honeydukes. Her Mummy had only said she shan't be allowed ice cream, not sweets."

"Oh pish," Professor McGonagoll replied. "All children try to talk their way into having more sweeties. Tell me you didn't fall for it, Severus."

"He did," came a giggling voice from the corner. "A whole bag's worth, too."

"Bloody hell," Severus muttered as his colleagues laughed.

"Language!"