Chapter Text
April 1985
“You're real!” Sirius breathed as his eyes roamed over the tiny witch clutching Severus Snape's hand.
“Puppy-man,” she whispered before burying her face in Severus’ robes.
“Come on now witchling. You're not shy,” he coaxed, squatting down beside her, making Sirius’ eyes blow wide.
“Is she yours?” he blurted.
“Idiot,” Regulus hissed, smacking his arm. “What did we say?”
“That she's a muggleborn witch,” Sirius recited before looking at his brother in confusion “But… if that's true… I don't understand.”
“Sit down, Sirius,” Regulus commanded, smiling at Hermione.
“Hello little witchling. Doesn't Uncle Reggie get a hug?”
Richard Granger snorted as Hermione darted forward, jumping into Regulus’ arms much to Sirius’ bafflement. “I can't decide whether to be upset she loves you more than me or grateful she has a little band of terrifying men with magic to scare off unsuitable boys,” he mused.
“Be grateful,” Narcissa counselled, stepping out of the floo, Draco in her arms.
“Auntie Cissa!” Hermione squealed, barreling towards the witch.
Regulus pouted. “Well I dislike that Narcissa is her favourite,” he muttered petulantly.
“I’m going to be just like Auntie Cissa,” Hermione informed him. “And wear pretty dresses and sparkly things and shout and glare at people until they do exactly as I say.”
Severus snorted loudly, unable to hold it in at the look of pleased smugness on Narcissa's face and the horror on everyone else's. “I think we’ve created a monster,” Regulus muttered.
“Nonsense,” Narcissa cooed at Hermione. “There's nothing wrong with a girl who knows exactly what she wants, is there Princess?”
“Nope,” Hermione grinned before taking Draco's hand. “Come and meet puppy man, Draco!”
Sirius watched the approaching children warily. Six months out of Azkaban and he was finally feeling up to being around people. His recovery had been hard, but he owed this tiny witch and he’d been determined to meet her. Despite that, and despite having been thoroughly briefed, it was almost unbelievable to see her surrounded by previously bigoted members of his family and Severus sodding Snape, especially as it was immediately clear that all of them adored the tiny girl, a feeling she obviously returned. It hurt his head if he thought about it for too long. He’d known, in some abstract sort of way, that the girl was now joining Draco in his lessons, that she called his brother Uncle, that his cousin doted on her, and that the muggles were now welcome in Malfoy Manor but to see it… he wasn't sure he wasn't hallucinating.
“Hello Miss Granger,” he tried to smile.
“Hi,” she murmured, suddenly looking unsure.
“I wanted to say thank you for visiting me and for getting me out.”
“You're not cold now,” she whispered.
“No,” he gulped. “I’m not.”
She hummed. “Will you turn into a puppy now?”
He gave a bark of laughter before he shifted, Padfoot barking joyfully at the children who giggled and chased him through the house, much to Severus’ displeasure. He might owe this tiny witch but Merlin knew everything was much easier when he was a dog.
September 1991
“I'm going to miss you so much, Miney,” Jean Granger whispered, hugging her only child tightly.
“Don't cry,” she murmured back. “You promised you wouldn't cry!”
Jean gave a wet-sounding laugh and leaned back into her husband. “I lied,” she admitted before nudging her. “And apparently it wasn't just me.”
Hermione groaned. “Uncle Reggie! You promised!”
“I lied too little witchling,” he replied, tugging her forward for a hug. “How are you old enough for Hogwarts? I don't like it.”
“For the love of Merlin, let her go, Regulus,” Severus muttered, not wanting to admit it was harder than he'd expected to keep his composure. He hated knowing he wasn't going to see the tiny witch as often as they had been. He didn't think there had been a week since they’d turned the Granger's life upside down that he hadn't seen her.
Similarly, Narcissa and Lucius had absorbed the Grangers into their family, insisting that Hermione grow up with Draco, which meant family dinners, holidays, weekly lessons, and eventually specialised potions lessons with him. Jean and Richard often joked that Hermione had more parents than she could count, and while they had laughed, it wasn't far from the truth. The tiny witch was as close to a daughter as he and Regulus would ever have and damn it all he was going to miss her.
“Don't cry Uncle Severus,” she murmured, sinking into his hug. “You're supposed to be the one who makes them all behave.”
He gave an incredulous laugh. “I have never been able to make your Uncle Reggie behave witchling. I think it's impossible.”
Hermione sighed. “Probably.”
“Hermione!” Draco's voice called as he ran from his parents. “We’re going to Hogwarts!”
“Finally,” came two voices in unison. “We need our third to keep Ronnikins in line.”
“No,” Severus and Richard bit out at the same time, making the twins laugh as a frantic Molly Weasley called for them.
Hermione giggled at the twins before she spun to face Severus and Richard, glaring in a manner she could only have learned from Narcissa. Neither man was sure the witch hadn't been giving her lessons. It was a rather terrifying thought. “You're both ridiculous. Auntie Cissa, tell them!”
Narcissa laughed as she stopped beside Regulus, reaching to pull Hermione into a hug. “Oh darling, I am going to miss you.”
They all jumped as the train whistle sounded.
"Oh! Oh, I’m not ready!” Regulus moaned. “You can't go. I forbid it! You'll just have to be homeschooled. With us.”
Hermione laughed at him, squeezing him tightly. “Love you Uncle Reggie,” she whispered, disentangling herself before he could stop her, moving around her makeshift family before ending with her parents. “You're going to have to keep him busy,” she informed them seriously, making them laugh.
“Miney, come on!” Draco called impatiently, shaking off his mother’s hug.
Letting go of her father with a laugh, she reached for his hand, calling out, “See you at Christmas!” over her shoulder.
They stood watching the train until they couldn't see it anymore. “She… she just went,” Regulus sobbed as Severus cringed, wondering what state his robes would be in by the time the other man was finished.
“Come on,” he sighed. “I need a drink.”
“Me too,” Narcissa agreed, her eyes glassy as she automatically reached for Jean.
Beside her, Lucius looked suspiciously red-eyed, muttering something about them just being babies and being a school governor which meant he could visit.
Severus would have laughed at him if he hadn't been in wholehearted agreement with the man. Someone needed to check on them! They were too little to be away for so long. Only Regulus' solid if still sniffing presence stopped him from attempting to apparate onto the train to take them back. Resigned, he followed Narcissa, assuming Lucius would grab Richard as they appeared in the foyer of the Manor, Narcissa already calling for Dotty and wine.
Settling into the sofa, allowing the whiskey Lucius had shoved into his hands to ground him, he looked around the strange collection of people he considered family. It wasn't something any of them had expected when the baby had appeared out of the blue all those years ago. A new family, better friends than they could have hoped for, a life free from the terror of their earlier years, and yet that's what she’d given them. And if that meant he had to count down the days until the Christmas holidays feeling like he was missing a limb, he'd bear it because the alternative was unthinkable. And he'd heard Slughorn was considering retiring properly next year. He could teach children. Couldn't he?