Disclaimer: No Infringement Intended.
Severus Snape was sitting at the teacher's table drinking some coffee and mentally preparing for the afternoon's lessons. It was Monday, his day with the seventh year Gryffindor's, his day with Potter. He inwardly groaned. Having to teach Harry Potter and see him day in and day out was a constant reminder of his days at Hogwarts with Harry's father James. He hated the mere memory of James, but even more he hated the way he was around Harry because of his feelings for James. He just couldn't get past the boy's face. In the middle of his musings, a brown owl floated down to him and dropped a letter on his plate. It was odd to have a delivery in the middle of the afternoon, but he didn't really give it a thought. He picked up the letter almost lazily and began to read.
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Dear Professor Snape.
We regret to inform you that your ex-wife has passed away. Your daughter Ann was with her at the time of her death. At the request of Ann, we have placed her on a train to Hogwarts. She will arrive at Hogsmeade station Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. Our deepest condolences go to the both of you.
Sincerley, Healer Gregory Aldophus. St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
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Snape's heart began thudding in his chest. Ann, his Ann was coming. He had received a letter from her mother, his former wife Mary, weeks ago at the start of the school year after he had come from visiting Ann at her home. The letter, which he had thought cryptic, now seemed too clear. She must have known she was sick. He sat holding the letter announcing her death and thinking back to the last one she would ever send him. It had said:
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Dear Severus,
I am so pleased that you were able to spend so much of the summer with Ann. She enjoyed your visit more than you can know. I find myself thinking more often of the time when I was pregnant with her, when we were still together and happy. I don't regret the decisions I made, but often wish there had been another way. One of the happiest days of my life was finding out from Albus that you had left Voldemort and the Death Eaters. My greatest wish is that you continue on the path you're on now. You have it in you to become a great man and a great father. You owe it to yourself and Ann to fulfill that potential.
Love, Mary.
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He must have had an odd expression on his face because the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, leaned toward him and asked. "Is everything alright, Severus?"
"No Headmaster, I've just received some very upsetting news from St. Mungo's concerning Mary." He said handing the note from St. Mungo's to Dumbledore.
The Headmaster perused the letter quickly and then raised his eyes sharply to Severus. "I am very sorry, Severus. Is there anything I can do?"
"If you could arrange to have my classes covered today. I need to pick up Ann at Hogsmeade station."
"Of course." Dumbledore was about to speak again, but Severus stood suddenly and made his way out of the Great Hall.
Severus made his way slowly to his room ignoring the Slytherins who greeted him along the way and the other students who deliberately crossed to the other side of the hall as he passed. Once in the confines of his room he felt free to breathe. He was not sure how he felt about Ann coming to stay with him. He had barely been a father to her since her mother had left him fifteen years ago. Ann had only been a year old. After that it had been almost five years until Mary allowed him back into her life and then for only a few weeks during the summer.
Despite his long absences, Ann accepted him as her father with a great deal of love and affection. He suspected, though he never asked, that Mary had kept much of his past a secret. Ann had never known that the reason her mother had left him was because she had found out that he had joined the Death Eaters. In truth, it was her leaving him that had caused him to go to Dumbledore and beg his assistance. He had tried to redeem himself in her eyes by fighting against the Death Eaters with Albus Dumbledore, but the knowledge of what he had done had been too much for Mary to forgive.
Now Ann would be visiting Hogwarts. She would be exposed to the truth of who he was. The thought sent chills through him. Would she still love him if she knew what the students thought of him? He simmered in his private anguishes until it was time for him to leave for Hogsmeade station to pick up his daughter. With apprehension filling his entire being, he left the castle and took the long walk to the village.
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Harry and Ron were overjoyed that Potions was cancelled for the day. They were trying to convince Hermione to forget about her plan to use the free time to go to the library and get ahead for the next week and come into Hogsmeade with them. Now that they were finally in seventh year and all over-age, they could go to Hogsmeade whenever they liked.
"I wanted to get Professor Lupin a welcome back gift, now that he's back as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," said Harry. "He's been really great since Sirius died. Kind of taken over Godfather duties."
Hermione and Ron smiled. Harry was finally beginning to be able to talk about his Godfather with some ease. They took it as a sign that he was beginning to move on. After over a year, they each felt it was about time.
"Come on Hermione," said Ron jutting out his lower lip in a pout. "Come to Hogsmeade with us."
Hermione laughed and agreed, but only because ever since they had started going out she couldn't say no to that particular expression of Ron's. She suspected that he had figured this out and was using her weakness against her.
They joined hands and followed Harry to Hogsmeade. Harry still wasn't quite comfortable with this new dynamic between his two best friends. He occasionally felt like a third wheel in their presence. He was also very jealous of Ron. Not that he wanted Hermione for himself. It was just that he hadn't had feelings for a girl in that way since his fifth year. Lately though, he was beginning to think there was something missing.
They were talking and laughing all the way to Hogsmeade when Harry suddenly stopped dead. Ahead of him, waiting at Hogsmeade station, was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was standing looking around for something or someone. He had never seen hair as straight and shiny as hers. It was jet black and fell halfway down her back. Her eyes were blue and bright and her nose was slightly long with a small hook at the end, it gave her whole face character. She had an expression he recognized too, kind of sad and disconnected. It reminded him of the face that had often stared back at him from the mirror over the past year.
"What's up, Harry," said Ron.
"Who's she?" He whispered.
"Who?" Asked Hermione.
"That girl over by Hogsmeade station."
"Don't know mate. Never seen her before," said Ron.
"Maybe she's a new student," said Hermione.
"She beautiful," Harry whispered.
Ron laughed and Hermione punched him in the shoulder. Harry turned a deep shade of red. He hadn't meant to say that last part out loud.
He watched as a man dressed entirely in black approached the girl. The girl dropped the bag she was carrying and threw her arms around the man's neck. The man embraced her briefly and then bent to pick up the dropped bag. As he turned with one arm around the girl Harry immediately recognized him.
"Shit," Harry whispered. "It's Snape."
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Ann had been waiting for about fifteen minutes for her father. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the three students watching and talking about her. "Ann," came a voice. She turned and looked at her father standing solemnly behind her.
"Father," she said dropping her bag and embracing him.
He pulled away from her and picked up her bag. "Was your journey long?"
"Not too long."
"Ann, why didn't you tell me."
"Mother didn't want you to know. She knew there was nothing to be done and she wanted this last summer to be special." Ann paused before continuing. "It is ok that I came, isn't it?"
"Of course, Ann. There is no where else I'd want you to be." Snape paused. "I assume you will want to take some time before returning to school. I can arrange for some accommodations for you adjoining my own room."
"I wasn't planning on returning to school, Father."
"Ann, you cannot simply leave school. You are only in sixth year. You must eventually return to school."
"That's not what I meant. I thought I could stay here with you. Finish my schooling at Hogwarts. I got my letter when I was eleven. It's just that." She paused.
"Your mother preferred for you to go elsewhere," Snape finished.
"Yes."
"I suppose we can discuss that. Right now I think it would be best to get you back to the castle."
They made their way out of Hogsmeade station and Snape saw them. The Golden Trio. His whole being filled with distaste, but he didn't want Ann to notice. "Potter," he acknowledged him with a slight tilt to his head and pushed Ann forward.
"Sir," he heard in response.
They walked a few more feet before Ann asked. "Was that Harry Potter, Father?"
"Yes." Snape said curtly.
"I've always wanted to meet him." Ann said her voice full of curiosity.
"I would prefer if you would keep your distance from the Potter boy." Snape said not bothering to disguise the contempt in his voice.
"Why, Father?"
"He is an arrogant trouble maker and not someone you should be associating with."
"Yes, Father," Ann said, though she had already made up her mind that she was going to make it a point to introduce herself to the boy with the greenest most striking eyes she had ever seen.
Severus Snape was sitting at the teacher's table drinking some coffee and mentally preparing for the afternoon's lessons. It was Monday, his day with the seventh year Gryffindor's, his day with Potter. He inwardly groaned. Having to teach Harry Potter and see him day in and day out was a constant reminder of his days at Hogwarts with Harry's father James. He hated the mere memory of James, but even more he hated the way he was around Harry because of his feelings for James. He just couldn't get past the boy's face. In the middle of his musings, a brown owl floated down to him and dropped a letter on his plate. It was odd to have a delivery in the middle of the afternoon, but he didn't really give it a thought. He picked up the letter almost lazily and began to read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Professor Snape.
We regret to inform you that your ex-wife has passed away. Your daughter Ann was with her at the time of her death. At the request of Ann, we have placed her on a train to Hogwarts. She will arrive at Hogsmeade station Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. Our deepest condolences go to the both of you.
Sincerley, Healer Gregory Aldophus. St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Snape's heart began thudding in his chest. Ann, his Ann was coming. He had received a letter from her mother, his former wife Mary, weeks ago at the start of the school year after he had come from visiting Ann at her home. The letter, which he had thought cryptic, now seemed too clear. She must have known she was sick. He sat holding the letter announcing her death and thinking back to the last one she would ever send him. It had said:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Severus,
I am so pleased that you were able to spend so much of the summer with Ann. She enjoyed your visit more than you can know. I find myself thinking more often of the time when I was pregnant with her, when we were still together and happy. I don't regret the decisions I made, but often wish there had been another way. One of the happiest days of my life was finding out from Albus that you had left Voldemort and the Death Eaters. My greatest wish is that you continue on the path you're on now. You have it in you to become a great man and a great father. You owe it to yourself and Ann to fulfill that potential.
Love, Mary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He must have had an odd expression on his face because the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, leaned toward him and asked. "Is everything alright, Severus?"
"No Headmaster, I've just received some very upsetting news from St. Mungo's concerning Mary." He said handing the note from St. Mungo's to Dumbledore.
The Headmaster perused the letter quickly and then raised his eyes sharply to Severus. "I am very sorry, Severus. Is there anything I can do?"
"If you could arrange to have my classes covered today. I need to pick up Ann at Hogsmeade station."
"Of course." Dumbledore was about to speak again, but Severus stood suddenly and made his way out of the Great Hall.
Severus made his way slowly to his room ignoring the Slytherins who greeted him along the way and the other students who deliberately crossed to the other side of the hall as he passed. Once in the confines of his room he felt free to breathe. He was not sure how he felt about Ann coming to stay with him. He had barely been a father to her since her mother had left him fifteen years ago. Ann had only been a year old. After that it had been almost five years until Mary allowed him back into her life and then for only a few weeks during the summer.
Despite his long absences, Ann accepted him as her father with a great deal of love and affection. He suspected, though he never asked, that Mary had kept much of his past a secret. Ann had never known that the reason her mother had left him was because she had found out that he had joined the Death Eaters. In truth, it was her leaving him that had caused him to go to Dumbledore and beg his assistance. He had tried to redeem himself in her eyes by fighting against the Death Eaters with Albus Dumbledore, but the knowledge of what he had done had been too much for Mary to forgive.
Now Ann would be visiting Hogwarts. She would be exposed to the truth of who he was. The thought sent chills through him. Would she still love him if she knew what the students thought of him? He simmered in his private anguishes until it was time for him to leave for Hogsmeade station to pick up his daughter. With apprehension filling his entire being, he left the castle and took the long walk to the village.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry and Ron were overjoyed that Potions was cancelled for the day. They were trying to convince Hermione to forget about her plan to use the free time to go to the library and get ahead for the next week and come into Hogsmeade with them. Now that they were finally in seventh year and all over-age, they could go to Hogsmeade whenever they liked.
"I wanted to get Professor Lupin a welcome back gift, now that he's back as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," said Harry. "He's been really great since Sirius died. Kind of taken over Godfather duties."
Hermione and Ron smiled. Harry was finally beginning to be able to talk about his Godfather with some ease. They took it as a sign that he was beginning to move on. After over a year, they each felt it was about time.
"Come on Hermione," said Ron jutting out his lower lip in a pout. "Come to Hogsmeade with us."
Hermione laughed and agreed, but only because ever since they had started going out she couldn't say no to that particular expression of Ron's. She suspected that he had figured this out and was using her weakness against her.
They joined hands and followed Harry to Hogsmeade. Harry still wasn't quite comfortable with this new dynamic between his two best friends. He occasionally felt like a third wheel in their presence. He was also very jealous of Ron. Not that he wanted Hermione for himself. It was just that he hadn't had feelings for a girl in that way since his fifth year. Lately though, he was beginning to think there was something missing.
They were talking and laughing all the way to Hogsmeade when Harry suddenly stopped dead. Ahead of him, waiting at Hogsmeade station, was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was standing looking around for something or someone. He had never seen hair as straight and shiny as hers. It was jet black and fell halfway down her back. Her eyes were blue and bright and her nose was slightly long with a small hook at the end, it gave her whole face character. She had an expression he recognized too, kind of sad and disconnected. It reminded him of the face that had often stared back at him from the mirror over the past year.
"What's up, Harry," said Ron.
"Who's she?" He whispered.
"Who?" Asked Hermione.
"That girl over by Hogsmeade station."
"Don't know mate. Never seen her before," said Ron.
"Maybe she's a new student," said Hermione.
"She beautiful," Harry whispered.
Ron laughed and Hermione punched him in the shoulder. Harry turned a deep shade of red. He hadn't meant to say that last part out loud.
He watched as a man dressed entirely in black approached the girl. The girl dropped the bag she was carrying and threw her arms around the man's neck. The man embraced her briefly and then bent to pick up the dropped bag. As he turned with one arm around the girl Harry immediately recognized him.
"Shit," Harry whispered. "It's Snape."
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Ann had been waiting for about fifteen minutes for her father. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the three students watching and talking about her. "Ann," came a voice. She turned and looked at her father standing solemnly behind her.
"Father," she said dropping her bag and embracing him.
He pulled away from her and picked up her bag. "Was your journey long?"
"Not too long."
"Ann, why didn't you tell me."
"Mother didn't want you to know. She knew there was nothing to be done and she wanted this last summer to be special." Ann paused before continuing. "It is ok that I came, isn't it?"
"Of course, Ann. There is no where else I'd want you to be." Snape paused. "I assume you will want to take some time before returning to school. I can arrange for some accommodations for you adjoining my own room."
"I wasn't planning on returning to school, Father."
"Ann, you cannot simply leave school. You are only in sixth year. You must eventually return to school."
"That's not what I meant. I thought I could stay here with you. Finish my schooling at Hogwarts. I got my letter when I was eleven. It's just that." She paused.
"Your mother preferred for you to go elsewhere," Snape finished.
"Yes."
"I suppose we can discuss that. Right now I think it would be best to get you back to the castle."
They made their way out of Hogsmeade station and Snape saw them. The Golden Trio. His whole being filled with distaste, but he didn't want Ann to notice. "Potter," he acknowledged him with a slight tilt to his head and pushed Ann forward.
"Sir," he heard in response.
They walked a few more feet before Ann asked. "Was that Harry Potter, Father?"
"Yes." Snape said curtly.
"I've always wanted to meet him." Ann said her voice full of curiosity.
"I would prefer if you would keep your distance from the Potter boy." Snape said not bothering to disguise the contempt in his voice.
"Why, Father?"
"He is an arrogant trouble maker and not someone you should be associating with."
"Yes, Father," Ann said, though she had already made up her mind that she was going to make it a point to introduce herself to the boy with the greenest most striking eyes she had ever seen.