A/N Hi everybody! Here's the 8th chapter! I'm really sorry for the delay. I have no excuse but between my new story and me watching Doctor Who and Merlin all the time and reading some of your fanfiction and my exams, I didn't really take the time to translate this chapter. But here it is and I hope the next one will come sooner. Oops... I'm babbling! :p

A huge, huge Thanks to Born-Of-Elven-Blood.

Chapter 8: Their firsts steps (2)

The discussion amongst Hermione, Severus and Stanislas had gone well. Stanislas had understood the stakes of the situation and why Hannah's identity had to remain a secret. It has been decided that Hannah would be known as Hermione's niece. Severus would have to inform Dumbledore about this decision later.

Stanislas was now allowed to come down to the Dungeons to spend time with Hannah during his free time. Because it would make things easier, Severus would ask to move Hermione's quarters closer to his.

Then with the help of Hermione and Stanislas, Severus had explained to Hannah what she was and was not allowed to do in public. The little girl had seemed to understand and was delighted that Hermione and Stanislas would take care of her. Despite her mother's death, Severus and Hermione would do anything for the little girl to be at ease and felt a deep, familial sort of affection for her.

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Several days has passed since Hannah's arrival. It was early November and the first Quidditch match of the year was about to begin. Slytherin was playing against Ravenclaw. The Slytherins were confident; they knew that they would win.

Hermione was going to see a Quidditch match for the first time from the Head stand with Severus. Each seemed to have begun to like the other more thanks to Hannah's arrival.

But it didn't stop them disagreeing most of the time and one could still see the Professor glaring or snapping at the young Mediwitch apprentice. The only clue that they did like each other was that Hermione was the only one that could approach the Professor driving him away. And despite his sarcastic comments, Hermione did approach Snape, and was the only one able to hold a conversation with him besides Dumbledore. And because of that, Hermione now spent all her meals in the Great Hall in Professor Snape's company.

Today, more than just the first day of Quidditch, was also the first day Hannah would meet all the Hogwarts students.

Indeed, after a dozen days of sharing her time with her father, Hermione and Stanislas, Hannah had not seen much of the castle besides the infirmary, her father's quarters or Hermione's.

Therefore, in order for her to discover more about the castle and its inhabitants, Severus had allowed her to go see the match in Stanislas' company.

Stanislas was currently heading to the Slytherin stands with Hannah holding his hand. Lidwine was waiting for him there. Unfortunately they would not be able to watch the match with Hugh and Charlie but it didn't matter; the four of them had planned to meet after the match to play chess.

After a few minutes walking, Stanislas and Hannah sat besides Lidwine. She was surprised to see a little girl like Hannah here. She smiled and crouched to be at her level in order to introduce herself.

"Hi! What's your name?" she asked.

As every time an unknown person talked to her, Hannah didn't answer and Stan was forced to speak for her.

"She's Hannah, but she does not talk that much," he answered.

"Oh Hannah, that's a nice name. I'm Lidwine, but you can call me Winy. I don't like talking too much either, so it doesn't matter if you don't want to answer."

The two girls shared a smile. Lidwine sat next to Stanislas and turn to him.

"Why is she here?" she asked nicely to Stanislas.

"She's Mia's niece. Her parents died at the end of October and Mia is her guardian for now. So I look after her sometimes. She has not left the infirmary or Mia's quarters since she arrived, so I think it's good for her to come watch the match with us."

"Oh, that's so sad! She's too cute. She's like your little sis now!"

"Yes, kind of," Stanislas said thoughtfully.

It was true that because Hermione and Hannah were now present in his life, he felt less lonely; he almost had a family.

It was Hannah that brought him out of his thoughts, pulling at his robe. The match was about to begin.

"Stan! I don't see anything,' said the little girl.

Stanislas smiled to her and took her on his lap. The little girl was so happy, she backed against his chest and together they watched the match. Ravenclaw was about to score as Lena McKingdom took possession of the quaffle.

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The match had been running for three hours now. Hannah had fallen asleep in Stan's arms and the boy was bored.

Slytherin was ahead by a hundred points over Ravenclaw, but the seekers had yet to see the Snitch. Since the beginning, neither team had even approached the Snitch.

Also since the beginning of the match, many players had been injured and Hermione had been summoned to help Madam Pomfrey and therefore she had been forced to leave the Professors stand.

Suddenly, just as the match was reaching the four hour mark, Keyflash, the Slytherin seeker, saw the Snitch few feet from him and hurried in its direction, followed by Davis, the Ravenclaw seeker.

Ten minutes later, Davis caught the Snitch, ending the match. But unfortunately Slytherin was so far ahead that they won even without Keyflash catching the little golden ball.

Therefore, though the Slytherins were somewhat disappointed, they were happy to have won the first Quidditch match of the year.

When all of the stands were empty, Stanislas and Lidwine, who carried Hannah in her arms, joined Hugh and Charlie who were waiting for them besides a tree near the lake.

All five of them talked, laughed and enjoyed themselves. But soon it was dinner time and Stanislas took Hannah back to the dungeons.

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A few days later, Hermione and Hannah were in the infirmary.

Severus came in while Hermione was reading a book to Hannah.

"Miss Granger?"

"Sir," she answered as she turned back to face him.

"Would you like to assist me in my laboratory?"

"Sorry?" she asked surprised.

"In case you suddenly became deaf, I asked you if you wanted to come assist me in my laboratory," he said, annoyed.

"I... but..." she babbled, astonished by the Professor's question.

He never asked for help and even less when it dealt with Potions. So why was he asking her to help him?

"With your apparent auditory problems, by chance, would you happen to have suddenly become mute as well, Miss Granger?" he asked with a faint smile on his face.

"It would be an honour, but I can't leave Hannah here alone," she said.

Obviously, the Potions Master hadn't thought about this detail. Hannah was too young and couldn't stay with them in the laboratory while they brewed with some of the more dangerous ingredients.

"Stanislas just finished his with his classes about an hour ago and I'm sure that he has finished all his homework, so why not have him look after Hannah while you help me?" he asked, raising his eyebrow innocently.

"If you're okay with that then I am," she answered, happy to have found a solution.

It was not every day that a great Potions Master such as Severus Snape asked her to assist him.

"No problem."

And then they left the infirmary, bound for the Slytherin Common room to find Stanislas.

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The three of them arrived at the common room and Hermione waited outside.

Severus entered the common room, full of students who were busy working, playing chess or chatting.

He noticed Stanislas, who was alone in a corner of the room, reading a big leather bound book in an armchair. He approached him. The young wizard was so engrossed in his book that he didn't notice his Head of House's presence before the man spoke.

"Granger!"

"Yes, sir?" he answered, raising his eyes towards the Professor.

"Could you follow me, please?"

Stanislas nodded and followed Snape out of the room.

Outside, Hermione and Hannah were waiting for them.

"Stanislas could you look after Hannah while the Professor and I work in his Potions laboratory?" Hermione asked immediately.

Stan looked at Snape and Mia and then Hannah. If the Professor and Mia were asking him to do such a thing it probably meant that they trusted him. That thought warmed him inside and he agreed.

Hannah took his hand and together they headed to Hermione's new quarters, which were located close to Snape's quarters and laboratory.

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They had started working two hours ago. They were brewing a potion that Voldemort had requested. At the beginning, Hermione was disgusted at the thought of working for a monster, but Severus soon explained to her that he had no choice and that he would do everything in his power to make sure the potion was not to be used in awful way.

Hermione liked working with the Professor. She liked observing him working.

As the time passed, Hermione was beginning to feel more at ease. But brewing for such a long time was tiresome and soon Hermione only wanted to go to sleep.

She was so tired that she couldn't tell the difference between her fingers and the roots she was cutting. And so, of course, she cut herself. A faint cry escaped her and it made Severus turn.

"Miss Granger? Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes, I've just cut myself," she answered.

"Show me," he said, approaching her and taking her injured hand.

He examined her finger and with a wave of his wand he summoned a salve, which he put on her injury. A few seconds later, her hand still in his, the cut disappeared. He raised his eyes to look at her and their eyes met. For a few moments neither of them seemed to be able to stop looking at the other. It was the noise made by the potion as it started to boil that brought them back to the present and Severus let go of Hermione's hand.

"Miss Granger, it's late, I think you should return to your room."

Hermione nodded, too tired to replied. He accompanied her to her quarters in order to collect his daughter at the same time.

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Arriving in Hermione's living room, they were met with a cute tableau. On the couch Hannah and Stanislas were asleep in each other arms.

"Could you thank Stanislas for me? I'll take her back to my quarters," he whispered while he approached the couch.

"No. I'll put them in bed in Stanislas' bedroom. You can come get her tomorrow morning," Hermione said, yawning.

"Miss Granger, you can barely stand. If you want, I can carry them into your son's bedroom myself. I don't want risk injury to my daughter because you're too tired."

Hermione smiled and agreed.

Severus carried them with a great gentleness, Hermione noticed, that was unusual from him, and put them in Stan's bed, which was large enough to welcome both children.

While he was tucking them in, Hermione had fallen asleep in one of her armchairs.

When Severus Snape came back in the living room, then he discovered the petite witch asleep. So with kindness he carried her to her room and tucked her under the blanket. He allowed himself to indulge in a little kiss on her forehead.

He left Hermione's quarters and headed to his with a faint smile on his lips. That day had been wonderful and he thought that maybe, after years of misery, a wonderful future might just await him.

A/N Please, a review will be very welcome!^^