Chapter 75: Muggle To Half-Blood

It didn't take Snape long to note that Hermione had been uneasy about what her parents thought of her relationship with her former Potions Professor. It had been so much easier to have been Sebastian Prince and addressed the father of the witch how had his heart. The man could feel superior in his size and Muggle tact for intimidation. Rita Skeeter's nonsense column had done more to harm the overall appeal of Snape and Hermione's relationship than anything. The dour man felt as if there was only one course of action that would ultimately satisfy all parties involved. He would have to journey to Muggle London and have a talk with John Granger Wizard to Muggle. If that didn't work he'd have to tone it down to Muggle to Half-blood. He had not forgotten everything about his Muggle upbringing and could carry himself well enough among them. The Potions Master had decided he would put his plan into action but to do so without Hermione knowing. She had enough to deal with in the wake of Rita Skeeter's lies.

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Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...

Hermione Granger had been lying in bed heavily exhausted after a few go rounds with a certain dour wizard, who had taken it upon himself to get up and shower. The bushy haired charms mistress was attempting to fight the drowsiness that had over taken her. Her amber eyes held such passion and love for Severus that it was almost difficult for him to get out of bed. But what he had to do far out weighed what he wanted in that moment. Hermione lazily watched as he came out of the shower dripping from his efforts and applied a quick drying spell. She smiled noting that he had not even bothered to use a towel and took in the sight of his pale naked form.

"Where are you going, Severus?" she asked drowsily.

"I have some business in which to take care of." he replied.

"Business?" asked Hermione. "But it's Sunday...can't you take a rain-check?"

"No." replied Snape. "I'm afraid I have to get it done today...but when it's done it should make life a bit easier for us in the future."

"So you aren't going to tell me what you're up to." said Hermione taking the hint.

"An that is why your are considered to be the brightest witch of your age." replied Snape with a smirk.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Git." she said.

"You forgot Slytherin." replied Snape.

He got dressed rather quickly despite Hermione's various attempts to lure him back into bed. He managed to pull away with a promise to make up for his departure. The dour wizard left Hogwarts headed for Muggle London. He needed to speak with Dr. John Granger and let the man know exactly how he felt about his daughter and that what was said in that cage fodder of a newspaper had not been true. Of course he recalled how John had been protective of his daughter during their visit. He didn't believe the man would be all too thrilled about a man his age seeking companionship with a girl as young as Hermione, but he would do anything for the witch even face down a fire breathing dragon.

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Dr. Granger's Dental Office, Muggle London, England...

Dr. John Granger had been finishing up for the night. He had seen his last client and had been well on his way to closing up his office for the night. He bid his assistant good-bye and headed out of the door. He had gotten only to his car when he caught the sight of a not so impressive looking man wearing a practical black t-shirt and trousers with pale looking skin, raven hair and obsidian eyes. John squinted his eyes as he looked upon the lean man who appeared vaguely familiar to him.

"Sebastian?" asked John unsure of whom he had been speaking to.

"Hello Mr. Granger." said Snape cautious. "I believe we have a discussion to conclude.

It took John only a few minutes to figure out that this man was indeed the one his daughter brought home with him on her birthday. Although, he appeared older than he had been then.

"I'll say." replied John not wishing to make a scene at his office. "Get in the car."

Snape nodded and ventured over toward the man's car. He gathered that if he wished to kill him he would not do so in front of his business. Both the Doctor and the Potions Professor climbed into the man's automobile and he ventured down the street. They stopped at a small clearing and got out to continue their discussion.

"Who are you?" demanded John as he narrowed his dark eyes at the wizard.

"My name is Severus Snape." replied The Potions Master. "I teach at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry in Scotland...where I currently hold the title of Potions Master."

John seemed to put everything together well enough. He appeared to be just as sharp with recalling facts as his daughter.

"So you're that Professor Snape that's been seeing my daughter." he said enraged. "You should be ashamed of yourself preying on young innocent girls like my Herms."

"Mr. Granger I assure you what you read in that cage fodder they claim to be a newspaper could not be further from the truth." said Snape. "It is the reason I came here today...Hermione doesn't know of this visit and I would simply like for you to hear me out."

John had not been interested in hearing Snape out. As far as he was concerned Snape was a devious cradle robbing old lecher who needed to be put in his place. The enraged Muggle dentist set upon Snape before the wizard even had a chance to put his hands up to defend himself. Snape found himself on the receiving end of a vicious hay-maker to the jaw. When the pale wizard stumbled John took it as incentive to hit him again.

Snape had promised Hermione that he would not hurt her father but he had to defend himself from the man's crazed assault.

"Mr. Granger." said Snape trying to reason with the enraged muggle. "I realize that you have your misconceptions about me but if you would only allow me a moment to..."

John hit him again this time sending him to the ground.

"What the hell's the matter with you man fight back." shouted the irate Muggle dentist.

Snape scrambled to his feet feeling the sting from the other man's repeated blows and the slickness of his own blood as it oozed from his already damaged nose.

"I-I did not come here to fight you Mr. Granger." said Snape. "I came here to speak with you...if you feel the need to hit me until you wear yourself out then do so but I will speak to you wither you like it or not."

John seemed to calm down enough to hear his words. Although, it was mostly due to him being winded from the blows he had rained down on the dour wizard.

"Alright Snape." said John trying to catch his breath. "Speak."

"As I said I am Potions Master at Hogwarts." said Snape. "It is where I met your daughter and I was her teacher up until the point of her graduation."

John rolled his eyes.

"Let me assure you sir that I had no designs on your daughter at all during that time." said Snape. "But we did end up having a relationship...one that I do not regret despite all that you and various others may believe."

John grunted still not swayed from his rage about the ordeal.

"Since my word appear to have no effect I feel that I should show you just what I mean." said Snape.

The dour wizard made his way over to the Muggle dentist and whispered a spell.

In seconds he was projecting images of his life into the skeptical man's mind.

John saw flashes of a boy with raven hair and sad obsidian eyes in an abusive home. He saw him go through life without a love or friendship aside from the few people who had taken an interest in him. He saw the boy at his lowest point when the girl he loved turned her back on him. John witnessed Snape's time at Hogwarts as a student, his involvement with the dark lord, his time as a teacher, and his time with Hermione during all 7 of her school terms at Hogwarts. He saw how Snape protected Hermione and her friends from various dangers and with little to no thanks from anyone.

The images picked-up and John witnessed the death eaters attacking Lucius Malfoy after the war and injuring him. Everything went blank until John saw Snape had been transformed into the young Slytherin Sebastian Prince. Sebastian and Hermione's little war made him chuckle and the gravitation that seemed evident between them made him wonder. As the images progressed he saw Sebastian slowly fall in love with Hermione who had fallen in love with him as well.

The Muggle dentist had been stunned as he watched Sebastian risk his life day after day to protect Hermione and her friends despite being young himself. He saw the sadness in his daughter's eyes as she feared the worst for Sebastian when he was turned back into her Potions Professor. The images continued to move and John saw how Snape tried to stay away from Hermione, to let her find her own way and how much it hurt them both to be apart.

Snape let John Granger see everything including how Hermione saved him from the demon realm and her ultimate rejection of him when she found out the truth. Snape had been nothing but kind and patient when it came to dealing with the young witch after the fact. Even going so far as to distance himself from her. Five years had passed before they found themselves reconnecting.

John had been impressed when Snape showed him Austin Embers and how Hermione had even taken to the boy. Once the need for projection had concluded, Snape pulled back and watched the Muggle man who had been speechless by what he had just experienced.

"T-That was...your life?" asked John.

"Yes." replied the dour wizard.

"I-I don't rightly know what to say." said John still stunned. "Y-You did all that for my little girl and her friends?"

Snape nodded.

"I told you that I have nothing but the purest intentions when it comes to your daughter Mr. Granger." he said. "As you saw I was not involved with your daughter until she was of age and by then I was a student myself."

John nodded.

"I-I still don't understand how that all happened with your age and so forth." he said. "You magic types are a strange lot."

"Indeed." replied Snape. "Mr. Granger if I believed walking away was the best thing I could do for Hermione I would...but as you well know your daughter can be very stubborn and down right fierce when it comes to someone she cares about."

John nodded.

"You're telling me." he said impressed by Hermione's ability to handle herself.

"A trait I believe she got from you no doubt." said Snape rubbing his aching jaw.

John conceded the point.

"Look I'm sorry about..." he started. "But you got to understand she's my little girl."

Snape nodded.

"I understand Mr. Granger." he replied. "I have no children to protect as fiercely as you but with Mr. Embers in my care one could imagine what it must be like."

John seemed to relax hearing this.

"Well, what should I call you?" he asked. "When you came to our house she introduced you as Sebastian."

"Severus would be fine." replied Snape. "And Mr. Granger it would be in both our best interests if we did not mention how we came to this little understanding."

"Agreed." said John.

Both the Muggle Dentist and The Potions Master climbed back into the car.

"So Mr. Snape." said John in a gruff tone. "Fancy a pint?"

Snape turned his attention to Hermione's father.

"Indeed." he replied.

John started the car and drove them to the nearest local bar. The talk with Hermione's father had gone rather well despite the bruises and possible black eye from the minor altercation. The dour wizard was pleased that he could reason with the Muggle man and that he appeared to approve of His and Hermione's new found relationship. At the very least he would know better than to adhere to the lies Rita Skeeter printed about his daughter in The Daily Prophet.