Chapter 3
Emilia Yaxley stood in front of him for the first time in almost eight years. He hadnt been expecting it; everyone assumed the witch was dead. She looked ill, if he was honest; too thin, red rimmed eyes like she’d been crying but her back was ramrod straight, her demeanour giving nothing away as she watched him curiously across his desk.
She sighed, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “How have you been, Severus?”
He sneered at her, they weren't friends, not any more. Once, they’d had an arrangement of convenience, a small piece of normality amongst the brutality of war, and then she’d disappeared without a word. He’d mourned her; in many ways, she’d been his only true friend for a long time. Or so he had thought. To see her in front of him after so many years was jarring and it made him question whether he had imagined their friendship. It wouldn't be the first time.
“Wonderful.” he said succinctly, refusing to be drawn into whatever game she was playing. “Why are you here?”
“Do you remember how scared we were last time we saw each other?”
He frowned slightly at her seemingly random question. The witch was many things, but she done nothing without purpose.
“We were in the middle of a war, we were all scared, even those of us who were pretending they weren’t.”
She smiled at him sadly. “I know. The Dark Lord was getting more unstable by the day, people were disappearing, people we once knew and neither of us had a way out, not really. Not unless we done something drastic, and the Gods know, you would never have been able to. Not with that Mark on your arm. Me though? Dammit Severus, he was hunting a baby! An unborn baby. How could he believe that was rational?”
One of Severus’ eyebrows rose. “Are we reminiscing, Emmy? Or is there a point to your ramblings?”
He watched as she closed her eyes, her distress evident now. “Please don't hate me.” she whispered.
His eyes widened in shock as a horrible sense of foreboding swept through him. Whatever was coming was not going to be good.
“We all knew about the prophecy, none of us knew who it was about, until later. I have no idea where your loyalties lie, Severus. The fact Dumbledore stopped you going to Azkaban gives me some hope, and I dearly hope it's not misplaced. I’d been feeling ill for a while before I left, do you remember?” At his wary nod, she continued. “I found out I was pregnant, two months after that prophecy was shared.” She glanced at him warily, his face completely frozen. “You have a daughter, Severus. I’m so sorry I didn't tell you but I couldn't allow her to be forced into that madness as I was. And she would have been. We’d have been made to be married, things were heading that way before I left regardless; you or Rabastian and then, she’d have been betrothed to the highest damn bidder before we could blink. The Malfoy or Nott Heirs possibly, or gods forbid, one of those in his inner circle. He never was concerned about age gaps if he could use it to his advantage. And I had no idea what your true thoughts were; I wasn't sure if you’d let him.”
Fuck. This wasn’t happening. Severus' mind was whirling as he tried to comprehend what she was saying. A daughter. He wasn't fit to be anyone's parent, as angry as he was, and if he thought about it too long he’d have to accept that he was fucking livid, part of him could understand her not wanting the child anywhere near him. He’d been loyal then, wrapped up the Dark Lords vision for their World, forcefully blocking out the things he found distasteful, that caused disquiet. It had taken her disappearance, he’d assumed the Dark Lord had sanctioned her murder for not obeying his demands and the realisation that he intended to hunt down Lily, for him to finally stop ignoring the voices at the back of his mind, telling him this was all insane. What would he have done if she’d told him about the child then? He couldn't be sure. He hoped that he would have done what was best for his daughter but there were no guarantees, and even if he had hoped to, he likely would have been overruled. Girls of an acceptable pedigree were rare in their world, male Heirs were far more common. Emilia was right, she’d have been seen as a valuable commodity, a way to tie bloodlines together to the best of the Dark Lords advantage, regardless of what she, or they wanted. Unfortunately that logic could not drown out the anger, the guilt that she’d assume he’d fail his child and that she’d likely have been right.
“Why are you telling me this now? I cannot imagine what I have done in the last eight years to have redeemed myself” he sneered at her coldly.
“I’m dying, Severus. We’ve been hiding in the muggle world under assumed names. You know my family has links to the Dagworth-Grangers, so I adopted the name Granger easily enough. It’s just been her and I, her entire life. And now, I’m dying. And I’m scared. I have no family to speak of, not that I trust, anyway. I have no husband, no partner, no friends close enough that I could consider asking them to take her in. So I am here. Having a conversation I should have had many years ago.”
His face had paled dramatically during that speech. “Dying?”
“Yes. Muggle cancer. They caught it too late, it's always difficult to find the time to go to the doctors and I’m a single parent, life is busy. I put the symptoms down to other things. There's nothing they can do. They’re talking in months, Severus. Not years. Months. And I need to know that my, our, baby is alright.”
“And you want me to do what? Have her here? Find her a family?” His eyes were panicked.
“I’d prefer it if you had her with you. She’s delightful, although gods knows she's no Slytherin. Gryffindor would be my guess.” Her face fell as she whispered, “I wish I’d be around to see it.” Straightening her spine again she pulled herself together as she continued in a stronger voice, “But I won't be. And I need to know she’ll be safe. If you truly believe that she’ll be better off with another family, I’ll accept your wishes, but Severus, please. Please consider keeping her.”
He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know nothing about raising children, Emilia. And even if I did, Dumbledore is convinced that the Dark Lord will return. Having her here would put her back in the danger you were so desperate to keep her out of.”
“No parent knows what they’re doing, Severus. They learn by trial, error and an awful lot of luck. And I know it's not ideal, but can you honestly give me a family name that will keep her out of that danger? Either I allow her to go into the muggle care system, allow her to be bullied for all the strange things she does no muggle can explain, allow her to come here and be viewed as a muggleborn, allow her to be hunted as he hunted them before or I find her a family in our world. If it's a light family, she’ll know they’re fighting when the time comes, and our daughter isn't content to sit out of anything, she has no sense of self preservation, so she’ll fight and be hunted that way. Or if it's a family that would be expected of me, we’re right back to where we started. There is no good scenario in this, only what if’s and hope. At least if she was with you, you can protect her, you can train her to protect herself.”
He sighed as he gave in to the truth of what she was saying, but damn it, he had no urge to raise a child. He wasn't sure he was capable. Especially not when said child was going to be grieving her mother. He would be a poor substitute for Emilia, he knew, but she was right, however much he didn't want her to be.
“How exactly are you proposing this works, if I agree?” He asked tiredly.
“I propose you meet her, with increasing visits, overnights etcetera. Let her get used to you.” She smirked, “Let you get used to her. I’ll be able to be there, in the beginning, to help but if she’s to live with you, I need to know she’ll be happy.”
He nodded slowly. “I will need to inform Dumbledore, and likely Minerva. Who are the child's Godparents?”
“You’ll take her?” He nodded against his better judgement. “Oh, Severus! That's wonderful. Although, she doesn't have Godparents, no one knew of her existence.”
He sighed, another thing he’d have to figure out then. “And now that people will know of her existence, do you have suggestions? She’ll need them, especially if Albus is right.”
“I had wondered about Minerva.” She spoke haltingly, visibly hesitating before she continued. “And potentially Remus Lupin. I know your feelings on the man, but we were close once. And hes incredibly protective of those he cares about. She’ll need that.”
He sat still allowing the emotions to flow through him. He didn't want to invite Lupin into his life, the man was inadvertently responsible for some of his worst memories. They were not enemies, not any more, they managed to be civil on the rare occasion they came into contact but that didn't mean he liked him. However, he also couldn't dispute that Emilia was right, again. The man was fiercely protective of the people he considered his, and given Albus’ dire warnings, his daughter needed all the protection she could get.
“I do not like it.” he said finally.
“But you’ll agree?”
“Do I have a choice, Emilia?” he asked drily.
“Of course you have a choice, Severus. If you have any suggestions I am willing to listen.”
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “You know very well that I do not.”
“Wonderful, we’re in agreement then?”
“It would appear so. Both Minerva and Albus are in the castle, I will send for them now. We might as well get this over with.”
They found themselves in Albus’ office less than fifteen minutes later, Albus’ eyes widening at the sight of Emilia.
“Ms Yaxley, I must admit, this is a surprise.”
“It's Ms Granger, these days, Albus.” She corrected blandly, the Headmaster always left her feeling unsettled in ways she couldn't put a name to. It wasn't that she didn't trust him exactly, but she would never be his biggest fan. The man wrote off Slytherins and favoured Gryffindors blatantly; his response to Severus’ bullying at the hands of James Potter and Sirius Black was enough of a reason for her to be wary even without her instincts screaming at her.
“I see.” he responded, turning to Severus for an explanation.
“I’ve asked Minerva to join us, we will explain everything once she is here.”
As he said it the office door opened to reveal a confused looking Minerva McGonagall. She gasped as her eyes landed on Emilia.
“Emilia Yaxley! We all thought you were dead!”
Emilia smiled sheepishly at her one time mentor. Minerva had overseen the beginnings of her Transfiguration mastery, a mastery she’d never been able to complete thanks to her absconding to the muggle world. “Hello Minerva. Its been a long time.”
“Yes, it has!” Minerva sat down heavily on a seat, “What happened?”
“That is what we are here to discuss,” Emilia began, eyes darting around the occupants of the room. “I was never a follower of the Dark Lords doctrine, however my family had certain expectations. You both know how it is, I had no where to run and had I remained in our World, they’d have hunted me down and murdered me for treason. I found out I was pregnant just after we learned of the prophecy that we now know related to Harry Potter, not that we knew then who it was about. The madness the Dark Lord displayed upon hearing that, combined with the knowledge that I was expecting a girl, a girl they’d sell into marriage to the highest bidder, was enough to force my hand. We’ve been living in the muggle world ever since.”
“Good Gods” Minerva breathed. “Why didn't you come to me? I could have helped!”
“I didnt want to put anyone in danger. You were my Master, I assume they looked?”
“Yes,” Minerva sighed. “Yes they looked.”
“If they had found me, Min, if they had found any shred of evidence that you knew where I was, you’d have been slaughtered. I couldn't risk it. You were well enough protected here, that I hoped if they looked into it, you’d be ok.”
“This is fascinating Ms Granger, but it doesn't explain your presence here today.” The Headmaster interrupted, a calculating look on his face.
“I am dying.” She tried to ignore Minerva's horrified gasp. “My daughter will need a home, somewhere safe.”
“I’m afraid I still do not understand Ms Granger. Is it your intention to ask Minerva? Because I assure you that her duties as a professor as well as deputy headmistress would make raising a child impossible.”
“Albus!” Minerva turned to look at him horrified.
“I am merely stating facts, Minerva.”
“Then I will cease being either Professor to Deputy Headmistress if need be.”
“Its alright Minerva. I haven't come to ask you to take her, although we were hoping you’d consent to be Godmother. I was never able to give her one before now.”
“We?” Minerva asked as her eyes slowly widened as she realised what Emilia was implying.
“Yes. Severus is Hermione’s father, he has agreed to get to know her with a view to her moving in with him permanently.”
“Oh my!” Minerva turned wide eyes towards Severus, who was doing his best to blend into the wall he was leaning against.
Albus cleared his throat. “That is simply out of the question.” Three sets of eyes turned to him disbelievingly. “Voldemort will return, Severus. You will put the girl in untold danger and compromise your position. No. We will simply have to find her somewhere else.”
Before Minerva could react, Severus moved, slamming his hands on the Headmasters desk. “How dare you!” His voice was dangerously low. “How dare you presume to dictate whether or not I am allowed my daughter in my life. Remember your place, old man. I agreed to spy for your Order, I agreed to tell no one the last time round, I agreed to protect Lily’s son once he re-enters our world but that is where it ends! I stay here because it is convenient, do not make me change my mind.”
Albus’ eyes widened, clearly not having expected that reaction. “Be reasonable, Severus.” He began before he was interrupted by a seething Minerva.
“Reasonable, Albus! Reasonable! You have clearly forgotten the meaning of the word! One more word out of you about this and I will not be responsible for my actions! You are Severus’ employer, nothing more. Do not forget it! And Albus? If hear that you’ve gone behind my back once we leave this office, if I find out you are making this difficult for him you will be finding yourself a new Transfiguration Professor, and I will be ensuring everyone knows why.”
Dumbledore deflated behind his desk. This wasn't in the plan, he needed Severus unencumbered and alone for his plan to work. He couldn't risk losing Minerva's loyalty though, people would believe her and he’d loose all credibility. He’d just need to create a new plan. Maybe Severus having a child wouldn't be a bad thing. If he could engineer her becoming friends with Harry, perhaps... that may work, Severus would never allow his daughter to be put in danger, if Harry was guaranteed to be next to her, he’d ensure he protected him too. He’d have to think about it. But he was Albus Dumbledore, he’d make it work.