Hermione sat at the desk in her bedroom, her transfiguration book open in front of her, but just couldn't concentrate on the text she was reading. Her thoughts kept on going back to last night and what happened at the cemetery. After crying out all the emotion and hurt she felt at her mother's grave, she now felt a small sense of relief starting to settle upon her. Remembering her mother, she could feel the pain of losing her but then happy memories started to surface and a smile graced her face.

She tried to clear her mind while she walked from her bedroom to the kitchen. She filled a glass with water and as she shut the tap off she heard the door open. She wasn't expecting anyone but turned toward the sound and smiled when she saw her father and Professor McGonagall enter.

"Hello Hermione, how are you feeling dear?" McGonagall asked, taking a seat on the couch.

"Hello Professor, I'm good, thank you for asking," Hermione replied, looking to her father with a curious expression, wondering why her head-of-house was in their chambers.

"Hermione, I need to go out again for a few hours and Professor McGonagall has offered to keep you company. She is going to go visit Mrs. Weasley and you're more than welcome to go with her," Snape told her, watching the emotion change on his daughter's face.

"Okay, I would like to go see my friends even if it's for a few minutes and if you don't mind me asking, where are you off to?" Hermione asked, drinking the last of her water and returning the cup to the sink as she waited for a response.

"I'll be heading to the Ministry of Magic to make us an appointment at the earliest time available. I've got to head off now and will be back in a few or so hours," Snape said, leaving the room with his robes billowing behind him.

"Hermione, come sit down, please," McGonagall said, patting the seat next to her.

Walking over to the older woman, she sat down next to the professor not knowing what to expect.

"How are you really doing, dear?" McGonagall asked, concern etched into her aging face.

"I'm doing better than what I thought I would; I really miss Mum but it's good having Da... Professor Snape around; it's really helping. I never knew that he could be so nice and understanding, let alone be a good parent but I have learnt so much in the last few days and for that I'm thankful," she honestly responded, surprised by her own words.

"That's good to hear. I'm glad Severus has stepped up and accepted you as his, it gives him something to be proud of and he's very proud of you," McGonagall said, watching the smile on the young child's face.

"I'm glad too. He's nothing like you think he is once you get to see the real him instead of the bat of the dungeons," Hermione said, settling into the back of the couch.

"Very few people have that privilege and those who do are very fortunate. Also, is there anything you want to do in particular or do you want to come with me to visit Mrs. Weasley? I don't want to keep her waiting," McGonagall asked, not sure of what else to say.

"I'd like to go visit them," Hermione replied, knowing that her friends were there.

After spending almost two hours playing card games and chess while the adults talked, Hermione, Ron and Harry entered the kitchen so Ron could make himself a sandwich.

"So, how has your holiday been?" Ron asked Hermione, taking a bite out of his chicken sandwich as they left the kitchen and entered the lounge room.

"It could be a lot better but that's why I came here with Professor McGonagall, to tell you both why," Hermione replied, sitting down on the couch as Harry and Ron sat across from her.

"What's going on?" Harry skeptically asked, rubbing the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

"What I'm about to tell you, no one else is allowed to know, especially no one at school," Hermione said, almost pleaded, as she took a deep breath in, composing herself.

"Promise," Harry and Ron agreed looking at each other.

"Please don't be mad about what I'm going to tell you or interrupt, it will be a lot easier for me to say it in one go. When we got off the train from Hogwarts, my dad picked me up and when we were about two streets away from our house, we saw the dark mark in the sky. We rushed home and the ministry was there. My mother was killed by Death Eaters. I spent the next few weeks with my dad and then I ventured into the attic. I found my mum's diary and it said my dad wasn't my real dad. I went to the Leaky Cauldron and Tom got Professor Dumbledore for me.

I went back to Hogwarts with him and showed him the diary entry about my real dad. Some tests were done and it seems that Professor Snape is really my dad," Hermione said, taking a deep breath in and holding it as she played with a loose thread on her shirt.

Hermione watched as Ron went wide-eyed and almost choked on his sandwich, coughing slightly to clear his airway. The expression coming from Harry was unreadable to Hermione. She slowly released the breath she was holding and started to chew on her lip, waiting for Harry's reaction.

"How is that possible? You look nothing like him!" Harry angrily spoke as he stood up.

"It's possible because it is," Hermione calmly said. "I can't help who my parents are, I had no say in the matter," she continued, keeping her cool.

Harry heavily sat back down next to Ron and looked Hermione in the eye before speaking again, "I don't like Snape, I never have but you are my friend so I'll try to bite my tongue while you're around. It's the best I can do," he finished, crossing his arms and looking away.

"Okay," Hermione responded, expecting more of a volatile reaction from the dark-haired boy. "Ron?" she inquired, noticing the red-head was looking like a fish, constantly opening and closing his mouth.

"Blimey," Ron responded, closing his mouth and going back to his sandwich.

"How did Mr.'s Weasley and Potter take the news?" McGonagall asked as they walked through Hogsmeade, on their way back to Hogwarts.

"I'm not really sure how to interpret how it went. I was expecting something more from them both, like Harry, I thought he would have started yelling and done something completely irrational and Ron, I expected more from him too," Hermione said, still not knowing how to take her friends' reactions to her news.

"Don't worry about it then, dear, be grateful that they didn't do that," McGonagall responded, placing her hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "It's starting to get a bit chilly, don't you think?" McGonagall added, shivering as a gust of wind blew around them.

"It is," Hermione responded, pulling her jacket tighter and zipping it up. "I wonder if Dad is back yet?" she wondered aloud.

McGonagall smiled at the young Gryffindor and let out a soft chuckle.

"What?" Hermione questioned, looking up at the older witch.

"I've never heard you call Severus 'Dad' before, I bet he will like it though," McGonagall said, smiling at Hermione.

"Oh wow, I guess I just did. I've almost let 'Dad' slip out a few times but I stop myself just before it happens," she responded, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Well, Severus is your father. If you want to call him 'Dad' I'm sure he wouldn't mind," McGonagall said, entering the grounds of Hogwarts.

Looking through the books on her father's bookcase, Hermione found she wasn't really in the mood to read. Sighing, she moved over to the couch and lay on her back. Looking at the ceiling, her thoughts just drifted, focusing on nothing in particular. The sound of the door opening brought her out of the trance she was in and she smiled when she saw Snape enter their chambers.

"How was your day?" Snape asked Hermione as he went and sat down in the armchair.

"It was okay, I told Harry and Ron and they were reasonably calm about it considering everything," she replied, sitting up.

"Harry Potter acting reasonable, I wish I was there to see that," Snape said, not able to imagine such a thing.

"He's not that bad once you get to know him," Hermione replied, thinking of the black-haired boy. "How was your day?" she asked, shifting the topic of conversation.

"As you know I had to go see the Ministry of Magic and we have an appointment with them in four days. After the meeting I would suggest we go shopping for the things you'll need for school this year and then we can do something you want, is that acceptable?" Snape informed her.

"That's fine," Hermione replied, stifling a yawn. "I might go lay down for an hour or two, I'm feeling tired all of a sudden."

"Okay, I'll wake you fifteen minutes before dinner is served in the great hall," Snape commented, watching Hermione stand up.

Walking over to Snape, Hermione gave him a brief hug, "That'll be great, thanks Dad," she said, walking to her bedroom and closing the door.

Snape sat there in stunned silence, 'She just called me Dad,' he thought with a small smile on his face.

tbc...

A/N: Sorry this took so long to write, my muse ran away and it's only one chapter from being complete. I've literally ran out of ideas so if you would like to see anything in the last chapter, please, please, please tell me. It took me two months to get out a little over 1,500 words :/ Also, thank you to Datsme for helping me with ideas and proof reading. And, a big thank you to all of those who have commented :3