Snape's secret

Chapter 1: Prelude

Severus Snape was standing in Dumbledore's spiral staircase, gently rocking a tiny bundle of blankets in his arms. The tears have dried but kept their red color in his eyes. The love of his life, the woman he married, the mother of his child, was dead. Finally after what seemed an eternity the stairs stopped spinning and before him was two of his colleagues; McGonagall and Dumbledore. McGonagall looked as if she was crying had fresh tears pouring down her cheeks as she saw the bundle.

"Oh Severus! She's okay!" she exploded with happiness when the bundle moved.

"Yes ..She's fine..." his voice was slow and quiet, barley over a whisper. "Could one of you hold her, I don't think my arms will work for much longer..." immediately McGonagall too the baby girl in her arms. "Thank you..."

He flexed and massaged his arms, but there was a large gash in his left bicep, his shoulders, and a large one on his chest. He winced as the fresh blood flowed down his shirt. Dumbledore mumbled a healing spell and the skin slowly grew over the wounds.

"Thank you... Albus." He inspected his arms once more, his daughter was reaching out for him and McGonagall gave her back. "Shhhh, shhhh, it's okay hon. It's okay." Severus kissed the baby's forehead.

"I'm the reason they killed... E-Evelyn..." his wife's name leaving his mouth was as hard to say; like throwing up a Devil's Snare with thorns on it.

"It's all my fault..." he mumbled "The Dark Lord wanted me, but he killed... E-E-Evelyn..." he looked at his daughter and tears fell again "Now he wants you...". The baby cooed cutely at him and reached for his crooked nose "I have to give her up..."

Dumbledore stepped forward "Severus" Snape didn't look up "Severus, you have to give her to a muggle orphanage. It's her safest option."

"I know..." Snape's voice cracked "Minerva. Would you?" he asked putting his arms out, McGonagall took the girl in her arms.

"She looks just like Evelyn, Severus." She complimented "Same eyes, hair, probably her attitude also."

Snape didn't hear anything of what McGonagall said. He was busy writing something on a piece of parchment. His wife's final moments played over and over in his mind.

Flashback:

"Come back to us Severus." Voldemort's ice-cold voice ripped through his house "If not..." Bellatrix entered shoving Evelyn clutching their daughter in her arms, onto thecarpeted floor. "Your family pays..."

The gashes on his body burned. A simple flick of the wrist and now he has wounds all over his upper torso.

Severus could see the hate and fear in Evelyn's rich chocolate brown eyes, his daughter was starting to make fussing noises, which annoyed Bellatrix.

"Don't do it!" Evelyn mouthed "We'll be fine!"

"Shut up!" screamed Bellatrix slapping Evelyn's head, shoving her face onto the carpet "Damn Mudblood..."

"Don't. Touch. Her." Severus snapped.

"Yes Bella. Don't touch her. Don't want to damage her anymore than she is..." Voldemort agreed coldly. Evelyn let out a slight whimper. Her broken arm was being crushed under Bellatrix's foot.

"Evelyn!" Severus took a few steps forward but Voldemort threw a curse at her "AVADA KEDAVRA" Before he could even reach her a bright green light hit her square in the chest. Her blood-curling scream was the last sound she made before she was dead at his feet. Voldemort and Bellatrix both sneered and Apparated out of the house.

Severus eased closer to the body of his wife and sobbed but then he heard the quiet cries of his daughter. He immediately pried her out of her mother's arms, but she had a slight mark on her left arm. A miniature skull and snake about the size of a thumbnail.

"I'm sorry Evelyn..." he picked her up and buried her outside by the place where he had purposed three years ago.

End of Flashback:

"Severus..." Dumbledore said "We have to leave now..."

Severus grabbed the note and put it in an envelop. "Let's go..."

Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall were on the outskirts of London, on the doorstep of an orphanage. Severus held his daughter but Dumbledore urged him to let go. Snape kissed the girl's forehead and gently put the bundle of blankets and slipped the note by her face.

Dumbledore put a hand on his friend's shoulder and pulled him away. "It's the best way... You have to let her go"

"I love you... Goodbye... Hermione..." Severus said sadly. Hermione cooed at him, begging for him to come back but he tried to ignore it. A lump formed his throat as he tried to ignore his daughter's cries.

"Reginald! Come quick!" a middle-aged woman squealed "Another one..." she held the little girl in her arms.

"Oh! She's so cute!" squeaked Jane "Look at those big brown eyes!"

"And her curly brown hair! Oh she'll be a looker this one will!" Reginald said in a thick Scottish accent.

"Oh a note. Come here."

To anyone who is taking care of my daughter-

My name is Severus Snape. This is my daughter, Hermione (Her-mai-o-nee). I'm sorry but she cannot let her stay with me, due to personal reasons. Her mother died earlier this day, because of me. Tell her adopted parents to fill these requests.

Tell her you love her everyday.

Hug her everyday

Expect a surprise when she turns 11-years-old

Severus Snape

"Oh this is so sad..." said Reginald "Dead mother, abandoned by her father..." he chocked.

"At least he wanted what's best for her. He obviously loves her." All of them agreed.

"Well let's get you set up Hermione..."

They all entered the nursery and tucked her in next to another baby about her age.

"There we go..." the nurse with the Scottish accent said.

"Wait!" cried Jane "I love you Hermione." She cooed and hugged her little body.

Hermione cooed at Jane Granger's face and gently played with her curly blonde-brown hair. "Goodnight..."

Hermione was later adopted by Christopher and Jane Granger, two weeks later.