CHAPTER ONE

All right, guys and gals, I decided that I wanted to try another fic. But never fear, I'm not giving up on Koraleigh, but any means. In fact, the next chapter of that should be up either today or tomorrow. Well, everyone review and tell me what you think of this, if you think I should continue. I'm not sure yet, but I don't expect this to be extremely long like "Koraleigh" is. Well, get reading, and don't forger to review. Oh, and also, I think I'm going to remove "Living Two Lives" and my original "Koraleigh" because I'm not updating on them. They're still on my computer so if people have objections, I suppose I can always put them back. All right. Now read!

It had been a normal Thursday for Severus Snape. He had terrified a couple of Hufflepuff first years, taken off at least fifty houses points from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, and was now settling back in the peacefulness of his private chambers to grade fourth year Potions essays.

The peacefulness did not last long. Snape jumped slightly as a voice came from the direction of his fireplace. "Severus! I need to speak with you immediately."

Drat Dumbledore! Couldn't he leave him alone? But Snape knew better then to disobey. After all, it was the same man who had given him his life back, after his destructive attempt at becoming a Death Eater, the same one who had saved him from the terrors of Azkaban, the one who had offered him a job when he was positive no one would hire him. The man who had become more of a parental figure to Snape then the ones who actually fit the job description. For Dumbledore, Snape would do almost anything. Unfortunately, the old man knew that.

Snape stopped mid-paper and walked over to his fireplace. He tossed in the required amount of floo powder, and within seconds was in Dumbledore's office.

"You called, Headmaster?" he said mildly.

"Yes. Severus, I need to speak with you about something." Dumbledore gestured with his left hand. Snape followed the gaze and noticed that there was a little girl, probably around five or six, sitting silently, staring at him.

"Who is that?" Snape asked cautiously.

"This, Severus, is Emmilen. She is your niece."

Snape started violently. "I don't..." he began.

"Emmilen, why don't you go see how Fawkes is doing?"

"All right." replied Emmilen quietly as she dutifully ran over to the phoenix, whose cage had been moved to the other side of the room.

"Yes, Severus, you do." said Dumbledore softly, in regard to the small, dark-haired girl talking quietly to the phoenix. "Your brother had his own reasons for not telling you about her. She has been living with her muggle grandmother, her mother's mother, for the past few years, ever since Kolus and Meina's deaths. But unfortunately, Emmilen's grandmother is unable to care for her anymore. Since you are her next closest relative..."

"No!" said Snape sharply. "I cannot take care of a...of a child! while fulfilling my duties here. There must be someone else, Albus. I cannot do it."

Dumbledore regarded Snape carefully. "I'm sorry, Severus. But there is no one else." He lowered his voice even more. "I have not told Emmilen yet, but last night, there was an attack on the remaining members of your family. I'm sorry Severus, to have to tell you this."

Snape was in shock. Though he had not particularly liked his extended family, or any of his family, in fact, he, nevertheless, did not wish them dead.

"As I said, Severus, now neither you nor little Emmilen have anyone else in the world, well, other then Emmilen's grandmother, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Severus, you are all each other have left. She needs a home and you are the only one who can give her one."

Snape gazed over at the little girl. She had dark brown hair and freckles dotted her cheeks. Now that he was looking for it, he could find bits of Kolus in her. Snape growled to himself. If only he could get that old feeling out his mind, of feeling like he didn't belong and wishing more then anything that he had a permanent home. Snape sighed. As much as he might regret it later, he couldn't, in full conscience, let someone else, much less his flesh and blood, go without a real home, to grow up as he had, without someone who loved him.

"All right." said Snape finally. "As if I had any other choice."

Dumbledore gave Snape the oddest look. "There is always another choice, Severus." he said quietly, almost too quietly to be understood.

"Emmilen, could you come here a moment." asked Dumbledore, in a much louder voice.

"Okay." replied Emmilen, hurrying over. She stopped a few paces in front of Dumbledore and looked at him inquiringly.

"Emmilen, this is your uncle Severus. He is going to be taking care of you from now on."

Emmilen gave Snape a small smile. "I'll be good." she pronounced.

Snape gave a curt nod in acquiescence before turning back to Dumbledore.

"Now, Severus, I will have the house elves fix up your spare bedroom for Emmilen as well as bring her things in."

"All right." said Snape. "Come, Emmilen." He prepared to floo back to his chambers, but Dumbledore stopped him.

"Don't you think it best if you walk back to the dungeons, give Emmilen a taste for the school? It will also give the house elves time to prepare Emmilen's rooms."

More nonchalantly then Snape felt, he shrugged and started toward the actual exit. It wasn't until he had crossed the threshold into the entrance hall that he looked down at the little girl hurrying to keep up with his long stride that he wondered just what he had managed to get himself into.

"Uncle Sev'rus? Is this really where you live?" asked Emmilen, looking around the hallway leading to his classroom, office, and living chambers.

"Yes." replied Snape curtly. He really had been trying to be cordial to the girl, but after passing several groups of students, all who had made audible comments about Emmilen, he was feeling like there was nothing he needed more then to be alone in his rooms.

"Will you play with me, Uncle Sev'rus?" asked Emmilen hopefully as they neared the doors leading to Snape's rooms.

"Not tonight, Emmilen. It's past your bedtime." It wasn't really. It was barely seven thirty, yet Snape didn't think he could handle being a surrogate parent tonight.

Emmilen pouted a bit as they entered Snape's rooms, but brightened as she took in all the sights. "Where's my room?" she asked curiously.

"It's in here." replied Snape, hoping that the house elves were finished. He led the way in.

"Wow!" said Emmilen breathlessly. "It's pretty."

While Snape was loathe to call anything "pretty," he had to admit that the house elves had outdone themselves. The room was decorated all in pink and green, with butterfly images flying just above reach. The small cot that had been in the room before was gone, replaced by a large pink bed covered in multi-colored pillows. There were piles of toys stacked up in the corner for Emmilen to play with. All in all, Snape decided that this had to be a little girl's dream room. He was extremely relieved that he wouldn't have to come in her often.

"Emmilen." said Snape firmly. "Tonight, since it's a special occasion, you can stay up as late as you want, provided that you don't leave your room unless it's an emergency. Please be quiet, though, since I am going to bed." In all honesty, Snape felt drained from the surprises of the day and was completely serious about going to bed, though he was usually up for several more hours.

"Okay." said Emmilen excitedly. "Will you play with me tomorrow?"

Snape sighed. "We'll see." he replied. "Good night."

"G'night, Uncle Sev'rus." said Emmilen cheerfully, already hurrying back to her room.

With a last glance at his newly discovered niece, Snape retired to his bedroom, a complete contrast to Emmilen's bright girly room, giving only a sneer to the pile of ungraded papers left on his desk. He quickly changed into his nightclothes and then climbed into bed, letting sleep overtake his over-exhausted mind.