Any character you recognise from the World of Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling. I do not make any profit from it, it's purely entertainment.

This is a challenge fic; please review

Flashback Hermione's POV

Hermione stirred slightly in her bed, nothing much, just lightly. It was near the end of the term and Christmas was approaching. She would be going home to meet her family and they would spend Christmas together and exchange gifts like always. However, as Hermione lay in her bed, dreaming softly about books, the death of Sirius, Harry, Ron, her family, the snow which had begun falling from the sky, all the things around, she was woken by professor McGonagall.

"Miss Granger," her voice spoke, and faintly Hermione registered the voice inside her head. The voice spoke her name again and Hermione finally managed to snap out of her deep sleep. She looked up and met her Transfigurations teacher's worried face.

"Professor?" Hermione asked bewildered and turned her gaze frightened towards her magical alarm clock, in fear that she had slept in late. It was 3:00 AM. "It's night," she stated surprised and met her professor's gaze again. A sudden flinch in her heart made her realise what had happened. She shot out of bed. "No," she barely said as she watched professor McGonagall gesture her towards the door. Hermione shot a glance towards the two other beds in the room. Lavender and Parvati was obviously still asleep, their deep breath was heard from within the closed curtains surrounding their beds.

"Miss Granger, please follow me to the headmaster's office," professor McGonagall said softly. All Hermione did, was back away for a second and then run out of the room and ran to the headmaster's office. Vaguely she registered how cold that castle felt in the cold winter night. Having rushed out of bed and hurried off, Hermione hadn't even taken shoes on or slippers, not to mention appropriate clothing. She was wearing her faint white winter PJ in cotton, vague lines made a pattern all over the PJ, leaving to the imagination of the forms, which the stripes made. The cold stone floor was sending a numb feeling through her body as she ran the hallways. Only a very vague echo of her naked feet hitting the cold stone floor was carried around in the hallway as she ran, but she didn't notice. A stitch was approaching and her breath was beginning to get heavy and thick. Her mouth seemed dry, and when she finally reached the eagle guarding his entrance, she was out of breath and on the verge of collapsing.

"Strawberries, Fizzing Whizbee, Cockroach cluster, Sherbert lemon, Lemon drop!" Hermione uttered out hoping for a result. "Muggle sorts, candy, lollipop..." The guard began to rotate and Hermione stepped onto the stairs and was carried up. Her legs were trembling, but not from coldness, but from nervousness and fright. Inside she whispered over and over again a plea for her parents' well being. Finally the rotation stopped and Hermione opened the door to the headmaster's office without knocking. Several people sat inside, some she knew, and others she didn't. Tonks, Moody, Remus, Snape, and then a couple of people she had only seen, but did not know the names of. They all looked at her as she burst inside. She trembled slightly as the adrenaline calmed down inside of her and she started to remember how she had awoken. Suddenly it felt like a dream, where did McGonagall go? Her mute question was answered as McGonagall entered the office.

"Miss Granger needn't to run off like that," she said and stirred Hermione over to a chair for her to sit in.

"You don't have to say it," Hermione suddenly burst and removed herself from McGonagall's firm grasp. "When I looked at the clock and saw what time it was, I knew what it was about," her voice started to tremble and knew further speaking would come out stuttering and hoarse. Insecure about the lasting of her voice, Hermione spoke anyway. "They're... they're... No... I..." She tried to form what she was going to say, but her voice, heart, and mind didn't seem to agree about what to say. Luckily, or not, Albus spoke.

"Hermione..." he started out and Hermione saw the same she had seen in her transfigurations professor's eyes.

"Just now? What happened exactly?" Hermione demanded hoarsely, nobody spoke. "Dammit speak to me! What happened exactly?" Hermione demanded in a more stern voice.

"Miss Granger do try not to shout," a cold voice spoke from somewhere in the room. Hermione identified it as her potions professor right away. The man she had spent the first term with during the first stage of her sixth year project.

"I will shout if I feel like it!" Hermione spat back feeling no remorse from biting back a teacher. "Tell me!" She demanded again.

"Hermione, please take a seat," Albus asked and Hermione did was she was told. Albus told Hermione everything, from Snape finding out at one of the Dark Revels that the Death Eaters would attack, and him telling Dumbledore about it. From the further actions and the scenario when they got to her house. Hermione just sat swigging all information she had been told.

She had only pursed her lips into a thin line and then she had gotten up, not speaking a single word. Dumbledore gave her a dreamless sleeping draught, which she accepted politely and then she wandered off without further comment. She had gulped the draught as she had entered the dorm and then she lay down and slept. The following morning she would think about everything. The following morning she would take care of what needed to be taken care of.

She had slept through the day, not attending any classes, and when she woke up she did what every other person would, probably, have done in her case. She cried. She cried for hours, telling people to leave her alone. She cried to another day and, again, she did not attend any classes. When finally coming to her self again, Hermione realised she had spent three days mourning and only eaten little, when she at night woken up and left the tower to see the kitchen. When she had renewed her strengths, Hermione found that she it was the last school-day before going home in the vacation, so, with a slight hiccup, Hermione left to see the headmaster and talk to him about her parents' clinic, her house and all the other things.

She still had not met Harry and Ron who was anxiously worried, so she had been told by Lavender and Parvati, and it wasn't until the end of the day when Hermione entered the Gryffindor Tower around dinner, that she met her two friends sitting in the common room, waiting for her while everyone else was in the Great Hall for dinner. Then Hermione cried and little more by the shoulders of her beloved brothers, and then they went to the Room of Requirement to sit and talk. Hermione would tell them all about her childhood, about her parents and how they had met. How her life was before she became a witch and how her parents' reaction was when she got her letter. She told about her thoughts, her feelings and her wishes for the past and the future. Then Harry and Ron helped Hermione planning of what to do with things. Ron proposed that she kept the house and she decided to do so, but sell her parents clinic.

After having been in the Room of Requitement until five am, Hermione, Harry and Ron had planned everything, from her parents' funeral to selling the clinic. Dumbledore was happy that she had thought of everything and he did everything he could to help her. Since Hermione wasn't of age and therefore would be put in custody of the muggle ministry, Albus Dumbledore offered to adopt her. Of course Hermione had used a time-turner and therefore was of age, but only in the wizarding world, it would be hard to explain the muggle ministry and the easiest way to make then stop snooping around her, would be adopting her and letting them know she would be fine.

Hermione had spent the Christmas vacation on cleaning out. Dumbledore had found her a muggle lawyer who had a wife who was a witch, and therefore knew what would need to be done. He had helped her selling the dentist clinic for a large amount of money and helped her learn the muggle system. Dumbledore put on the Fidelius Charm on her house and became her secret keeper and the lawyer helped her selling things. Hermione mostly sold her parents stuff. It wasn't that she really wanted to, but she knew that she could not live in the house if it wasn't 'cleansed'. She needed to accept that they were dead and keeping their stuff wouldn't bring them back - not only for her own sake, but for her parents' too. She knew them well enough not to want her to suffer.

It had been two drastic weeks where Hermione had made changes in her house. Everything was being replaced, well not everything, but close. Sometimes, rather often, she would break down and cry while she was cleaning. Sometimes she fell asleep in her parents' old room. Sometimes she would sit and watch all the family photos while drinking tea and crying. Sometimes she listened to music while cleaning, songs about love, song about loss, songs about hate and death, it depended on her mood. Sometimes she spent a day crying instead of doing anything else.

End of flashback

Severus Snape: Owner of Merlin's Order, First Class. Great, and well-known, war hero in the great battle against Voldemort, not to mention a great spy – he was standing in foyer of the Ministry of Magic, looking very much like a gaping fish.

Voldemort had killed a lot of families. Those families had tried to hide their children from getting killed, which resulted: a hell of a lot of children without parents. So the Ministry had done what only thing they could do. They had completed a law, which enforced everyone from the age of 20 years of age that is not attending University and above, to take in at least one child (anyone below 17 years of age), unless they already have at least two children in their care. Married couples are only required to take in one child. Those who are over the age of 80 don't have to take in a child. So, even being a war hero did not count. Severus was forced to take in a child, and it was the reason for him being in a crowded foyer with small obnoxious children running wild.

"Severus, lighten up," Albus Dumbledore said as he arrived with Remus Lupin, Minerva McGonagall and Tonks.

"Lighten up?" Severus nearly roared, "I am forced to take in an obnoxious child!" He felt the urge to cry. "As if the children at Hogwarts aren't already getting on my nerves, how do you think I will handle a ten year old, nine, five, four?"

"Severus..." the old wizard calmed him down, "it's not that horrible. If you don't want a four year old, then don't adopt one. We're going to take in children too," Albus smiled greatly.

"Why? You're above 80, you don't have to..." Severus couldn't understand the old man, not a bit. "Who are you adopting?"

"Remus is adopting Harry and I've adopted Hermione three quarters of a year ago when she lost her parents. They are old enough to take care of themselves so we decided to adopt some more," he chuckled lightly along with the rest. "Well almost, not me, I'm too old," he chuckled again.

"Can I help you?" A young witch had approached the little party with a long scroll.

"Yes, we're here to adopt some children," Tonks said brightly to the witch.

"Just take a long look around, when you've found your child, find me and we'll sign you up," she smiled brightly and left.

"It sounds like a bloody market! Take two, pay for one!" Severus snarled indignantly and sniffed coldly.

"Severus, you might as well find a child, they need you," Albus said and padded him gently on the back, before leaving with the rest to find some children. Minerva had almost already found herself a child, a young girl, and Remus Lupin was talking with a young boy whose cloths were torn slightly. albus was walking around with Tonks, who were looking eagerly at the large number of children.

"Might as well get the best out of it," Severus said dryly to himself and began pacing around the children. The more he walked between them, the more he felt like he was in a market to buy candy. He shivered and decided to think about what he would like in his child. Good god! He had already started calling the child 'his' before he had even chosen it!

As Severus watched the masses of children and adults who were trying to choose a child, Severus's eyes caught a hold of a young girl sitting in a corner. She had brown frizzy hair, lots of little brown curls, and she was wrapped in bunches of clothing as if trying to hide in it. A young couple was trying to get in contact with her, but she seemed to be ignoring them. After a minute the young couple left and the girl moved slightly in her seat, with a smug settled on her face. At first Severus wondered why she seemed so pleased with herself, but after having watched her dismiss several possible parents, Severus realised what she was doing. Slowly he walked towards her and watched as she, once again, dismissed a possible parent.

"Clever," he said calmly as he approached the girl. She jumped slightly by the sound of his voice, and then pretended he wasn't there. "I know what you're doing and I must admit that I'm quite impressed," he said truthfully, knowing that he had never been so honest in his entire life. She still did not speak. "If you're going to be adopted it has to be on your terms. Of course what else could people have expected, it's like a pig- market," his said thickly and with a fresh hint of bitterness and sarcasm. He took a seat next to her. "I suppose I should try and tell who I am..." he said weary, "My name is Severus Snape, one out of the eight truly great potion masters in world, youngest too, Hogwarts professor in potions. My life is to make potions and teach the annoying brats of Hogwarts. I am an intolerable, insufferable, cruel, mean and vicious person and I don't care about others. Only living Snape left which makes me Lord to be precise. Why, I can tell you if you pick me to be your... guardian," the girl looked at him and Severus knew why. Not only had he told that it wasn't him who chose her, but her who chose him if she wished, he also used the word guardian to make her understand that he wasn't interested in filling her dead parents space, but offer her protection and a new start. The girl looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I am forced to take in a child, I am not very nice, though, I would never ever hurt you," he assured her suddenly, "I have a great temper, but I would never react with my wand or my hand! I assure you that," he promised truly. "I am an old Death Eater," she seemed to flinch nervously, "I was a spy for Albus Dumbledore, the old man over there," Severus pointed towards Albus and the girl followed his gesture, "I was spying on the Dark Lord and collected information for the Light from the beginning of this last war and I was a spy at the first war too..." he watched her, she was listening, but pretended not to. "If you select me, you must behave. There is certain things I do not tolerate and that in an unbearable behaviour... I study a lot of things, that is my hobby," there was a pause while both just sat looking at the children and adults in the room. A young man and woman approached them.

"Is she taken?" The man questioned and both Severus and the girl seemed to jump slightly by the question. Severus felt the heat rise to his face, what a question! How dared he treat the children like that?

"She is not taken nor will she ever be! She is the one to take guardians, not the other way around!" Severus rose to his feet, making the young couple back away in horror and left. "How undignified!" Severus snarled coldly and sniffed the air annoyed.

"Thank you," the young girl suddenly said and Severus looked at her surprised, "for not acting like them..." she did not smile, as if she had more to say.

"You're... welcome," he mumbled not knowing what else to say.

"My mother was a muggle, but my father a wizard," she watched his reaction as if she suspected him to draw back, but nothing happened to her relief.

"I am not judging you because of such a insignificant detail. I happen to know a very intelligent and magical witch whose parents were both muggles," said Severus without mentioning that it was Hermione Granger he spoke of. God he hated himself, no, her. Hermione Granger! !ARG! The little girl suddenly held out her hand towards her, and Severus looked at her frightened.

"What?" He asked apprehensive and looked at her slender hand and young hand.

"Can I come with you?" Her voice had changed into a voice more proper for her age. She looked at him with her big brown eyes, which oddly reminded him of someone.

"Why? Didn't I tell I am mean and cold? Who would ever want to choose me?" He asked baffled even though he had tried to be the one she chose for half an hour's time now.

"We're in the same boat, both have to adopt a child in your case and a parent in my case... Beside, you're different," she said wisely and with a small smile. Severus met her small hand and together they walked over to a one of the Ministry workers and signed the adoption papers. It seemed almost wrong holding her hand, it was so small next to his. His long fingers could get around her wrist several times, or so it felt like.

"Hello," the witch greeted with an unbelievable singsong voice, both Severus and the girl flinched surprised and back away. "Adopting this girl, mr?"

"Severus Snape, and yes I am adopting this young lady," he said as if it wasn't obvious already.

"Name?" She looked at the young girl and smiled fondly.

"Phoebe Selene Congatty," she responded and Severus felt her hand tighten his as if she tried to prevent herself from attacking the Ministry worker. Severus smirked mutely at the thought of this new young girl of his, Slytherin. Or?

"Good, good. Do you wish to keep the name?" The witch asked in a singsong voice, and bended a little to level the girl. Severus frowned.

"You don't have to treat her like a little child, so stop using that hideous voice. She will keep her name if she wishes to," Severus said as a matter-of-fact. The woman looked at him coldly by his remark, but when Severus looked back at her, she stepped back slightly nervous and apologised politely

"Actually, I would like to add Snape to my name, Phoebe Selene Cognatty Snape," her voice was polite and very adult, even though she was only eight or nine. It was then Severus Snape realised this huge mistake. To his horror, this girl would probably end up in Gryffindor when being sorted. Almost right then and there Severus wanted to drop the child and run off and never return. But he didn't.

"Good, and you Mr Snape..." the witch broke him train of thoughts and handed him some papers to sign.

"Good. Here," she handed him Phoebe's birth certificate, "have nice day," she ended and hurried to leave. Severus stood with Phoebe for some moments, not knowing of what to do.

Severus had left the Ministry without telling Albus, Tonks, Minerva or Remus about it. He had held Phoebe tight and then Apperated to Hogsmaede with her.

"This is the guards of Hogwarts," he pointed and some statues of four wizards and witches. "They are located around Hogwarts and makes sure that the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, knows who enters. They also indicate the line of the Hogwarts grounds. Go beyond these and you'll be in trouble," he said unquestionably, "you are not allowed to leave Hogwarts, clear?" His voice was strict, but to his surprise she didn't seem very scared. Damn.

"Yes," she said clearly.

"Good. I am not quite sure how things will be when I teach. I think I heard Albus say something about day-care centre, but that doesn't matter know..." he gestured for her to follow him up to the castle. As they walked, she took his hand and held it tight. He looked down at her and felt a slight smile spreading across his lips. He knew this girl would never outweigh the cruelness he had done in his past life, but it would be a start.

A/N: Not finished yet, next chapter will be up in three days. 30/5