Chapter 4

A/N: We're almost to the end. I appreciate everyone sticking with me on this. As always, thanks to my beta, RobisonRocket!

Saving Grace

Chapter 4

HOGWARTS DURING FIFTH YEAR

"But, Mum, can't you at least talk to him?" Grace pleaded.

"Grace, this is your thing," Hermione said, taking quick strides back to her office above the Transfiguration classroom.

"Mum."

Hermione kept walking.

"Mum, stop!"

Hermione, ignoring her daughter's pleas, still kept walking.

Finally having enough, Grace yelled, "Professor Snape!"

That did it. Hermione stopped dead in her tracks and turned around, glaring at Grace. Approaching slowly, Hermione said in a low voice, "In my office, now."

Grace flinched at her mother's obvious anger and dejectedly made her way to her mother's office.

Once inside, Hermione closed the door and motioned for Grace to take the seat in front of the desk while Hermione decided to lean against it as to give the impression of being a formidable opponent.

"Now, you listen carefully, Grace Ginevra Weasley. I will NOT tolerate you raising your voice at me. Not only am I your mother, but I am also your Head of House. You WILL respect me."

Grace had the decency to look abashed, which caused Hermione to ease up on her.

"Now, I believe you would like to discuss your wanting to be an Auror. I'm not sure who put that into your head, but you might as well decide on something else."

Grace mumbled something under her breath.

"What's that? I didn't quite hear what you said?" Hermione asked sternly.

"Mum, is there anyone else that you have discouraged from doing what they want with their lives, or is it just me?"

Hermione sighed and moved around to sit in her chair. It seemed her daughter wasn't easily intimidated.

"Gracie, I just worry about you. There was a time when I had to go into battle, and it's very tough. Not just physically hard, but it does things to your mind. I probably would have died if Ron hadn't insisted that I stay at The Burrow after I found out about your impending birth. I was so angry with him, too. It was just as much my responsibility to protect Harry as it was his."

"But, you fought. Maybe not at the Final Battle, but you did fight. Do you not think me capable? Do you not think me strong enough or smart enough?"

"I believe you are extremely capable, Grace. Your strength and intelligence have nothing to do with my fears. I'm a mother, and unfortunately, that's my only argument I have."

"So, will you talk to Dad for me?"

"Grace, you do realize that you don't need parental consent when deciding a career. Do what you need to do, and we'll deal with him later."

"You don't understand, Mum. I don't want his consent--I want his blessing. I just want him to be proud of me, and I don't want to go behind his back." Grace finished, dropping her gaze to the floor.

Hermione stood and came back around the desk. Kneeling in front of her daughter, she raised Grace's chin and whispered softly, "He is proud of you, Gracie. But, I'm afraid that if you want him to give you his blessing, it is you that will have to ask for it. Use your Gryffindor bravery and go talk to him. It won't be easy, mind, but this is something he needs to hear from you."

They both started when they heard a soft knock on the door. Hermione stood after giving Grace's hand an affectionate squeeze.

"Enter," Hermione said.

The door opened, revealing her husband, and Hermione smiled when she heard Grace's sharp intake of breath.

Severus stepped into the room with obvious frustration plastered all over his face. "I just came by to give a bit of advice to the two of you. It is most unfortunate to have a row inside of a castle whose walls can... talk. There I was, strolling through the corridors, looking for a dunderhead to terrorize, when I heard the most peculiar bit of gossip amongst the paintings. Would either of you care to venture a guess as to what I heard?"

Grace sat rigidly in her chair, still facing her mother's desk. Hermione, on the other hand, smirked Slytherin-style and strode to where Severus was standing.

After giving him a peck on the cheek, she looked pointedly at Grace and then back into Severus' obsidian eyes. Then, without a word, she swept from her office.

With a calculating stride, Severus made his way to Hermione's vacated chair, folded his arms over his chair, and waited.

"Right then," Grace said to herself, raising her chin to look him in the eye.

Severus raised one eyebrow at her indicating her to just get on with it.

"I want to be an Auror," Grace said with all the Gryffindor courage she could muster.

"I see," Severus responded dryly.

Grace, losing a bit of bravado, continued. "Did you hear me? I want to be an Auror after I leave school."

No response.

"Dad, aren't you going to say something?"

Severus narrowed his eyes at her. "Have you finished your Potion's essay?"

Grace was stunned. "What? What does that have to do with my wanting to be an Auror?"

"Please accept my apologies, Grace. I didn't realize you wanted to me to say something about a specific topic." Severus' silky voice reverberated through the room, sending an involuntary chill down Grace's spine.

It was moments like these that Grace felt full appreciation for how powerful and terrifying Severus Snape could be. She was so used to the softer side of him – the nurturing father, the loving husband, and the distinguished Head Master – that his Death Eater/spy persona always took her by an unsettling surprise.

Grace cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "Dad, I would like to be an Auror when I leave Hogwarts. I believe that I am a fully capable witch, for I have had the best teachers throughout my life. Fighting the Dark Arts is not only in my blood, it's in my character. I may have Ron Weasley's blood flowing through my veins, but it's you who taught me to fight for what I believe in."

Severus softened slightly. He would have to use a different approach with his too-bright-for-her-own-good daughter. He would have to be honest. Coming around to the front of Hermione's desk, he leaned on the front and then patted the empty spot on the desk next to him.

Grace stood and propped herself on top of her mother's desk so that she was sitting next to where Severus was standing. They both remained silent for a few moments.

With his eyes focused on nothing in particular, Severus chose his words carefully. "Grace," he said softly. "By the time I was your age, I was on my way to becoming a Death Eater. I studied and learned the intricacies of the Dark Arts until they became a part of me. I learned spell after spell – hex after hex. I even created a few of my own. When I took my Mark, it burned my skin as lover's caress."

Grace raised her frightened eyes toward Severus. He had never spoken of his life as a Death Eater. She knew that he was one, of course, but she was always told the stories of the ex-Death Eater turned spy. She couldn't suppress her tremble, but she loved him and knew he wouldn't hurt her.

"Dad," she asked, "why are you telling me all of this? Do you think that I'm going to get involved with dark wizards or something?" Grace tried, but failed to keep the hurt out of her voice.

"You misunderstand me, child," Severus said softly. "I cannot help but fear that you will run across someone who was like... me. You see, Grace, before I found my way through Albus Dumbledore, I would have stopped at nothing to achieve the highest praise from the Dark Lord."

"Albus saved me, yes, but will there be an old codger out there ready to save the next group of lost witches and wizards that are ready to follow the next fool who tries to become a dark lord? Who knows? But, my worry is that you will become a victim of their hunger for power."

Grace looked pleadingly at Severus with tears streaming down her cheeks. In a surprisingly calm voice, she said, "I promise not to let you down. I know that I don't have to get your permission, but I need your understanding, Dad. You have to understand that this is something that I have to do."

"And you must understand that, as your father, I am terrified for you." Severus, who had never been an emotional sort, found himself trying not to choke on his next words.

"Gracie, I have fought against the most despicable curses, and I have seen some of the most horrid crimes. But, none of those things are comparable to the pain I would suffer if anything happened to you. Your mother keeps telling me that I saved the two of you, but the truth of the matter is that I was the one who was saved. Ronald Weasley gave me a reason to keep going, and your mother gave me a reason to love. But, it was you who gave me back my soul."

Grace threw her arms around Severus' neck and whispered, "I love you, Dad."

"And I love you, Grace. Which is why this is so hard for me... You have... my blessing. I will support you in your endeavors."

Grace sobbed harder. "Thank you."

A few heartbeats later, Severus let her go. "Well, now, I guess you had better get back to your dormitory and get to work on your essay. And I will get back to terrorizing students."

Grace giggled. "Why do you still patrol the corridors now that you're the Headmaster?"

Severus smirked. "Come now, why should all of my fun be taken away just because I got a promotion. If I hurry, I might even be able to catch Mr. Malfoy out-of-bounds."

"Dad," Grace gasped. "Please don't start giving Devon a hard time just because I'm his girlfriend."

"Why, Grace, I'm appalled. Is there another reason to give the brat a hard time, other than the fact that he's your friend?"

Grace fought the urge to roll her eyes. She smiled instead, allowing Severus to win this round.

"Fine, I will go finish my essay, but first I want to go to the owlery."

Severus furrowed his brows. "Who on earth are you sending and owl to at this time of night?"

"Oh, I need to write Uncle Harry. I promised him that I would write to him after I got your blessing. He said he would help me train, but only after I talked to you."

"I see. Well, then, I suggest you get going. I believe I will retire for the evening. I have suddenly lost interest in scaring students."

Grace couldn't help the ominous feeling she got from his choice of words, but decided not to comment. Instead she kissed his cheek and said, "Okay, Dad. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, love. I will see you at breakfast."

Hermione reappeared moments after Grace left her office.

"I just saw our daughter, Sev. I assume your decision was in her favor?"

Severus nodded and stood. Without saying a word to his wife, he went through the side door that connected to their suite.

Hermione followed him, oblivious to his state-of-mind.

"I'll put some tea on," Hermione said.

Severus didn't answer her. Instead he went straight to the fireplace, muttering to himself.

"Severus, what are you doing?"

Again, he didn't answer her.

"Severus!"

He turned to look at her. "What?"

"What is the matter with you?"

"I don't know what you mean?" He sneered.

"Don't give me that rubbish. Grace seemed to think the two of you had a wonderful talk, and you're acting like a mad hippogriff. Tell me what's bothering you."

"Grace and I had a nice chat, yes. I agree. Why don't you put on some tea?"

Hermione watched as he started rummaging around the fireplace, still muttering to himself. She caught a few words such as: kill him... mind his own business... bloody brat... who he thinks he is...

"Hermione, where in Circe's name is the bloody Floo powder?"

Hermione walked calmly over to the fireplace and handed him an urn that was right in front of him. "If it were a basilisk, it would have bitten your head off. Now, are you going to tell me what this is about and who you are calling at this hour?"

"I will speak with you about this later. As of right now, I have business to take care of."

Before Hermione could say anything else, Severus grabbed a handful of powder and threw it into the fireplace, bellowing one word.

"POTTER!"

A/N: Sev's not happy with our be-speckled boy, is he? Please leave a review.