Disclaimer: Everything is J.K.'s
A/N: oh dear, Snape's own daughter is a Gryffindor! Poor guy, I almost feel sorry for him. Let's see how their first interaction goes!
Thanks to all my reviewers: Poisonchik88, Seve-Suzie, journeyforever, otaku3kagome, ScienceGeek101! You guys are wonderful ego boosters P
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 4
Severus Snape was still fuming. His own daughter, a bloody Gryffindor! What had the world come to? True, she had been brought up by a Gryffindor through and through, but judging by her expressions and behavior, she would have been well suited for Slytherin. Now she was also under the jurisdiction of Minerva McGonagall. He scowled and stabbed moodily at his steak.
"Now, now, Severus," began Dumbledore, chortling slightly. "It's not the end of the world. It's about time you got along with your rival house. You might even start understanding Harry Potter…your daughter seems quite close to him."
Snape let out a menacing growl.
"I do not wish to 'understand' the adolescent brain of Harry bloody Potter," he retorted almost sulkily. "Merlin knows I'd be unable to brew my most basic potions correctly for a week from the trauma."
"Severus!" said Professor McGonagall reprovingly from her seat on the other side of Dumbledore.
"Your precious hero does tend to have that effect on potion brewers, did you not know?" Snape went on. "It is no wonder his potions ability is so lamentable."
"May I remind you, Severus," Dumbledore cut in loudly before an irate Professor McGonagall could vent her piece, "that you are currently conversing with the head of your daughter's house?"
Snape forcibly restrained his tongue. He couldn't look at her satisfied expression without wanting to make some acerbic comment (such as the fact that tartan robes, no matter how dressy, have been out of fashion since Merlin last walked the earth), so he had to be content with glaring at the student population in general. His eyes landed involuntarily on his daughter. She was chatting incessantly with the twittering Gryffindors around her. Potter and his ever-faithful sidekick Weasley appeared to be quite taken with her. Snape sneered. His daughter may be a Gryffindor, but she would not be friends with the likes of Potter and Weasley, he would make sure of that!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lia was surprised to find herself enjoying the feast immensely. After everyone had gotten over their initial shock of Severus Snape's daughter being placed in Gryffindor (punctuated by her father's goblet crashing and Neville fainting into his plate), the house welcomed her quite enthusiastically, especially the seventh years. She had chosen a seat between Harry and Seamus Finnegan. Unfortunately, this also meant she ended up across from Hermione Granger, who hadn't said a word the entire meal and spent half the time glaring daggers at her. Lia still couldn't figure out what she had done to tick the other girl off, but she didn't care anyway.
"…so Dad had to spend an entire afternoon trying to keep Mum away from our rooms!" Ron finished amid gales of laughter, after a particularly entertaining, not to mention racy, story about the latest escapades of his twin brothers' joke shop.
"I can't figure out why you even bothered trying it anyway," Hermione suddenly put in, tartly.
Ron turned to her in utter disbelief.
"Aw, 'Mione, you honestly don't understand us guys' egos," he protested.
"I think what Hermione's hinting is that she's quite satisfied with what you have," Lia smirked.
Those within earshot oohed as Hermione turned a blotchy red and Ron hastily shoved some roast duck in his mouth.
"What's wrong with that?" Hermione hissed belligerently.
"Oh, nothing," said Lia, airily, purposely using an I-won't-tell-you tone that she knew would raise the other girl's temper.
Sure enough, Hermione opened her mouth in anger, but Harry cut in at that moment.
"So Lia, what brings you to Hogwarts?" he asked curiously.
"Yes, do tell," Hermione bit out, nastily. "Running away from a boyfriend? Or maybe boyfriends?" She arched her brow as she emphasized the plural.
"Jealous, darling?" Lia drawled slowly, though she was seething inside. "You should have learned by now that pretty girls are never lonely…unlike bushy-haired know-it-alls."
Hermione looked outraged.
"Stop it, you two," said Harry firmly. "Lia?"
"Oh, we all thought it would be nice if I visited my father for a while," said Lia vaguely.
Her answer appeared to satisfy the boys, who all went back to devouring their meals. Hermione Granger, however, narrowed her eyes.
"Who's 'we'?" she demanded.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger. Watch your tone when you speak to my daughter," came a silky voice.
Lia and the rest of the seventh years glanced up to see her father towering menacingly above them while glowering. His cold eyes traveled down the table and his thin lips curved upward in a nasty sneer.
"Weasley, I can see that seventeen years of life has failed to teach you the basics of table manners. Perhaps you should remind your mother of her failure the next time you return to that hovel you call a home. Twenty points from Gryffindor for thinking swear words at me. I do believe you've heard the Muggle saying 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me'? Finnegan do resume your meal. I don't see how my conversation with Weasley has anything to do with you. Longbottom, stop mixing your food. We already know you can cause disaster with the simplest potion; there is no need to explode your meal to prove it." He smirked as Neville blushed and dropped his fork, and added, "Oh dear, that's another ten points from Gryffindor for not treating utensils with respect. Potter, your glare astounds me in its lack of ability to induce fear. Now, not another peep from any of you, or it'll be fifty points from Gryffindor."
He glared particularly ferociously. The Gryffindors ducked their head, except Neville, who was practically cowering under the table, and Lia, who was extremely amused.
Snape finally turned his attention to Lia, "Cornelia, I require your presence after the meal. The headmaster will take you down to my private quarters, is that clear?"
Lia merely arched an eyebrow at him. Snape shifted his feet and scowled.
"I asked you if my instructions were clear," he snapped, irritably. "Answer me!"
"You threaten to take fifty points from Gryffindor if we utter a sound. Yet, you want me to answer your question," said Lia, lazily. "Do stop contradicting yourself."
Snape clenched his fists and appeared to be making a valiant effort to contain his temper.
"Cornelia, you will answer me whenever I ask you a question," he ground out.
"Yes, I'm clear," said Lia.
"I'm clear, sir," Snape prompted.
"I'm clear, Dad," smirked Lia, tilting her chin at him defiantly as Neville squeaked in horror.
Snape closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily. Suddenly realizing his show of weakness in front of a table of Gryffindors, his eyes snapped open and he scowled with full force.
"We will discuss this later, Cornelia," he snapped and strode off, robes billowing impressively.
Lia chewed thoughtfully as she gazed at the poker-straight back of her father. Her mother had described Severus Snape as an extremely introverted man whose surly, snarling demeanor was in reality a façade that hid a good man in heart. Pondering over their conversation earlier, however, Lia couldn't help but agree with the Gryffindors that Snape was a "nasty bastard" indeed, whose sole joy in life was to take points from their house.
"Bloody hell, Lia," croaked Ron, looking pale but extremely impressed. "You just put Snape down! You must be mad."
"I think you're brave," piped up Colin Creevey.
The result of Colin's comment was that Lia suddenly found herself surrounded by admiring glances and an inordinate amount of attention. She brushed off the compliments in an airy, bored manner, but her sharp eyes made note of Hermione's furious red face. To the other Gryffindors, Lia Snape was merely used to being in the spotlight; yet, Lia was truly the daughter of the master of disguises. She had seen the burning look in Hermione's eyes and knew only too well what it meant: war.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After thoroughly enjoying the boys' ice cream competition (punctuated by occasional sniffs from Hermione), Lia strode confidently towards the headmaster, who was cutting stars in his apple pie. As she neared the head table, many of their professors ceased their meals to eye her out of the corners of their eyes. Lia noticed that most looked extremely curious, although Professor McGonagall was wearing an expression surprisingly similar to Hermione's.
"Headmaster, may I be shown to my father's private quarters?" asked Lia boldly, ignoring the other professors.
"The headmaster has not finished his meal," Professor McGonagall cut in, stiffly. "And you are to address him as Professor Dumbledore, Professor, or simply sir."
"I will address him as I see fit…ma'am," answered Lia smoothly.
Dumbledore's blue eyes zoomed sharply towards Lia's face, then the corners of his mouth relaxed into a tiny smile. Professor McGonagall's lips thinned considerably.
"Do remember who you are currently addressing, Miss Snape," she said in a voice that could chip ice. "When you are in my house, you follow my rules. The same goes for students of other houses. I will inform you right now, young lady, that I will not tolerate any smart talk from you!"
"You forget that no matter the situation, my father has the final word in all matters relating to his daughter," said Lia, her smooth demeanor never wavering.
"Ah, how extraordinarily like young Severus you are!" beamed Dumbledore brightly. "He too was extremely eloquent. Come now, Lia, I'll lead you to his private quarters."
"But Albus…" began Professor McGonagall.
"Now, Minerva, have you tried the apple pie? Quite excellent, if I do say so myself – the recipe was provided for by my grandmother years ago. Do try a slice, Minerva. If you find it too bland-looking, as I do, I daresay you may try some of the stars on my plate? But do leave a few for me when I return after escorting Miss Snape."
Smiling to himself, Dumbledore eased his plate in front of Professor McGonagall in a manner that brooked no argument. She had no choice but to flounce her head in a very miffed, cat-like way and dig her fork through the stars savagely. Lia took advantage of the moment to try to silently convince Professor McGonagall's chair to dump her unceremoniously on the floor.
"Don't dawdle, Lia, I think it's a good idea if we go now," said Dumbledore. He looked absent-minded, but a gleam in his eye told Lia that he knew only too well what she was trying to do.
"Yes, sir," said Lia, feeling uncharacteristically guilty.
They walked out the Great Hall and Dumbledore led Lia down a flight of stairs that led to the dungeons. The change in atmosphere was instantaneous. It was even in the walls. The walls of the entrance were warm, soft-tempered, and soothing; they had a motherly feel. These walls, however, were wary and distant. Lia sensed that some of the stones were even downright hostile to this newcomer to the dungeons. Go away, she heard them hissing.
"Headmaster…sir…" Lia trailed off.
Dumbledore directed his bright blue gaze to Lia and she felt as if he could understand everything she was dying to ask.
"The dungeons have a dark history, Miss Snape," he said quietly. "Yet, you must remember that nothing is what it seems. A wise Muggle man once wrote that 'fair is foul and foul is fair.'"
Lia shivered slightly. Dumbledore reached the end of the stone hallway and caressed a section of the wall lightly. Like smoke, it melted away and revealed a steep, slippery staircase winding down in tight circles into darkness.
"This is where my father lives?" said Lia incredulously.
Dumbledore looked at Lia patiently.
"Right, nothing is what it seems," Lia muttered.
Dumbledore smiled slightly and stepped towards the first stair. No sooner had he taken the first step than the entire surrounding began to change. Lia observed in awe as the dank walls morphed into dry stone punctuated by torches of silver and green fire. The winding staircase vanished and was replaced instead by a tasteful hallway with hanging tapestries of medieval farmlands. At the very end of the hall stood an elegant door of dark wood with silver and green stained glass around the edges. The doorknobs were in the shape of silver snakes that hissed at Lia a few times, but calmed down when Dumbledore laid his hands on them.
"Daughter of the head of Slytherin," he said.
The snakes gave a startled hiss, then started bowing their heads to Lia in apology.
"Quarters most worthy of Slytherin," said Dumbledore, admiringly. "Now, the vanishing stone wall can only be activated by one who knows the destination. However, the scene with the winding staircase can only be altered by loved ones, which is why no other students or staff can enter Severus's private quarters. Yes indeed, very powerful, love…"
Dumbledore's voice trailed off and his eyes took on an absent look.
"Headmaster? Shall I knock?" asked Lia.
Dumbledore gave a tiny start.
"No, no, just twist the snakes around their bodies a bit…that's it," he said as Lia twisted the knob and entered her father's chambers alone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lia's first thought was that her father's rooms were a strong indication of his personality. The color scheme was a tasteful forest green and brown; gleaming wooden furniture was placed strategically around the room to enhance its elegance. Despite the aesthetically pleasing appearance, however, the room exuded a feeling of distance and formality. Lia couldn't decipher any feelings of warmth and home, and she definitely couldn't crack the personality of the inhabitant, who was obviously private to the point of paranoia.
"Dad," called Lia.
There was a slight shuffling sound from the next room, the sound of a drawer banging shut, and her father stepped out from the darkness.
"Cornelia," he acknowledged her stiffly. "Sit down."
"What were you looking at before I came?" asked Lia curiously.
"Nothing that pertains to you," snapped Snape. "I believe I asked you to sit."
"Contrary to popular belief, you ordered me to sit," Lia countered waspishly.
Father and daughter glared appraisingly at each other. Snape's black eyes bored painfully into her blue ones and the look on his face was enough to make any student scurry for cover. Lia met him stubbornly gaze for gaze. Finally, Snape sighed wearily and swept a lock of greasy hair back from his face.
"I have neither the time nor the patience for this. Please sit down; the sooner this is over and done with, the better for me," he sneered, lowering himself carefully into an armchair.
Lia sank into the identical armchair across from him. It was extremely plush and gave off the scent of spicy herbs. The leatherwork was intricate; the leather itself surprisingly soft. Lia was surprised to feel herself enveloped by reassurance. Her attention returned to her father, who was now staring at her with a contemplative frown.
"What should we begin our discussion with?" asked Lia politely.
Snape gave a start and scowled.
"Stop interrupting my thinking!" he snapped. "Must you feel the need to fill the silence with your inane chatter?"
"Does my sorting into Gryffindor have anything to do with your tone?" said Lia coolly. "If it does, then we might as well have this conversation over with and not have anything to do with each other ever again."
Snape's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly against the armrest, but he relaxed them quickly before Lia could determine the cause.
"I wanted to discuss the question of your courses," he began. "I have signed you up for five classes at NEWT level – Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions."
"I would like to drop Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions, and add Divination," said Lia.
Snape raised his eyebrow.
"Drop Potions?" he repeated incredulously. "Cornelia, might I remind you that you are the daughter of the Potions Master of this school? I want you in my class and you will attend every single one of my classes."
"Well, how cocky can we get?" challenged Lia.
Snape's lips thinned but he continued, "My decisions are final when they relate to you. I would also like to know what in the world possessed your mother to send you to Hogwarts. I have half a mind to owl her right now and send you home."
Lia felt a tiny stab of hurt. So her father had never wanted her at all. That was the impression she felt when she was a little girl, but she had refused point-blank to accept it, and her child's mind imagined excuses for his absence. However, it seemed there was no other explanation for his behavior. He even had the nerve to refer to her mother in that nonchalant manner. Lia felt her control slipping and she hardened her heart.
"You have no idea, do you?" she sneered in a deadly whisper. "Mom was murdered, you greasy git. Of course no one let you in on that tiny detail…obviously, someone who abandoned her wouldn't give two hoots about whether or not she's alive. The only reason I'm here is because her will states so. Merlin knows if I had the choice, I wouldn't be anywhere near my arrogant bastard of a father."
Snape's face had turned deathly pale at the mention of Camilla Rosebury's murder; his new surge of fury at Lia's words turned parts of his face an unattractive, blotchy purple, like chunks of eggplant on a plate. Lia stood up stiffly.
"I assure you, Dad, I am having the last word here," she bit out with venom. "I will get to the end of Mom's murder and if, as I suspect, you are behind this, I will make you scream like you have never screamed."
"You have no idea how many times I have screamed with pain from my entire heart and soul," Snape whispered hoarsely as Lia flounced towards the door.
"Heart and soul?" Lia sniffed, turning back for a final glare. "You have no heart and you don't deserve a soul."
Snape looked hurt for a moment. Then he closed his expression quickly so that it resumed its usual coldness.
"You will attend all the classes I have signed you up for. However, I will take the liberty of adding Divination to your schedule," the last part was punctuated with derision.
"Good. I see that someone has pounded some sense into your dunderheaded brain," drawled Lia sweetly, though she was still fuming inside. "Good night, Daddy dearest."
For a moment, Snape stared incredulously at the mocking door that closed behind his daughter. Never, ever had he been so humiliated and put down, and by his daughter nonetheless! With an incomprehensible bellow of rage, he seized a random goblet from the table and flung it violently against the door.
"Bloody hell!" he roared above the shatter of the goblet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Argh, not my best chapter so far, but I was in a rush. I'm trying to go for greater length and detail in each chapter so each update might take a while!
"Fair is foul and foul is fair" – ah yes, central theme of "Macbeth" by Shakespeare (which we happen to be studying in English class)
Next chapter: First week of classes and Lia receives some interesting news…