Cousins
“Hi.” Severus' eyebrows rose into his hairline as the tiny girl who was more hair than person plonked herself down into the seat next to him in the library. Across from him, Lily's face showed equal surprise.
“Hello, Hermione wasn't it?” she ventured cautiously.
“Yes.” she agreed, “Lily Evans?”
“That's me.” she smiled. “Are…can we….” Lily floundered for a moment, clearly not sure how to word it without offending the girl.
“What do you want?” Severus sneered.
“Sev! Don't be rude!” Lily chided as Hermione recoiled before straightening her shoulders.
“I just wanted to meet you.”
Severus froze, wondering why on earth this tiny Gryffindor first year would want to meet him. “Why?” he demanded.
“Hermione Prince.” she held out her hand like her name should mean something to him. He frowned, looking her over but not taking her hand, a matching frown appeared on her face. “Your cousin.” she supplied like he should have known, dropping her hand. He hadn't known. He had no idea he had a cousin.
“Cousin!” Lily exclaimed.
“Yes. Cousin. Daddy’s Aunt Eileen's brother.”
“Aunt Eileen isn't on the family tapestry,” Severus sneered mockingly, “She was disowned.”
“I know,” Hermione replied softly, her eyes scanning his face. “Grandfather died just before term started.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Lily commiserate.
To their astonishment, Hermione snorted, “Then you’d be the only one.” she replied drily, startling a laugh out of Severus.
“I do not understand why that is relevant.”
“Oh. Because Daddy’s now Head of House,” she stated like he should have known.
“And?” he prompted, wishing she would stop assuming what she said made sense.
“And he misses his little sister and would like to reinstate her? Or at the very least he wants to meet you.”
Severus froze, not entirely sure what to make of that statement. “She’ll never agree.”
“Why?” He shut his mouth with an audible clack, not sure how to explain to her what his home was like. She clearly read something on his face because she stiffened and Severus felt himself tense in response, dreading what was about to come out of her mouth. “Oh.” she said softly, “Will you meet Daddy then? He's…he's not like Grandfather.”
She met his eyes then and he saw that his tiny cousin understood more than he would have liked her to. “I…I could,” he agreed finally, not wanting to admit that he was rather pleased when Hermione beamed back at him. Other than Lily, no one had ever looked that pleased to be near him.