Disclaimer for this entire work: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters; all of those belong to J.K. Rowling. Anything you do not recognize from JKR's Harry Potter has been made up by me.
A/N: This is a working title. If you have an idea for a good title, please let me know via reviews!
CHAPTER ONE
"Would you care for a lemon drop?" Albus Dumbledore asked cheerily.
Severus Snape offered him a cool glare. "What do you want, Albus. I swear, if this is anything to do with the Potter brat..."
"Quite to the contrary, my dear boy. I need you to, ah, fetch, a particular student."
Snape quirked an eyebrow. "I was not aware this was in my job description as Potions Master."
"Of course, Severus, you are correct as usual. However, I am in need of your," Albus twinkled at him, "particular talents." Albus paused, clearly waiting for Snape to respond. "I trust you have heard of Malin Matsdotter."
"Malin the Mad?" Snape sneered. "Certainly. She died several centuries ago."
"Precisely," said Albus, eyes twinkling.
Snape grimaced. "And what exactly does Malin the Mad have to do with...this?"
"Well, Malin had a daughter, and that daughter had a daughter, and that-"
"Cut to the chase, Albus."
"Eventually, there was a many times great granddaughter named Margaret, or more commonly known as Madcap Maggie."
"Continue." Snape had a bad feeling about where this conversation was going.
"Madcap Maggie was apprehended by Aurors four years ago, and her daughter, who was about seven at the time, vanished. Remus has finally pinpointed the child's location - she's in a Muggle orphanage in Peckham."
"And I surmise you want me to travel to London to retrieve her," Snape said, voice cold. "Why don't you send the flea-bitten hound instead. I'm certain he would love to play fetch," he sneered.
Albus looked uncomfortable. "Remus is, ah, indisposed at the moment."
"Of course he is. I'm sure the furry mongrel is busy causing chaos."
"Now Severus -" Albus began.
"Don't 'now Severus me,' Albus. I'm not going to be goaded into participating into one of your 'well-crafted' plans." Snape paused for a second. There was something bothering him, nagging question sitting at the back of his mind. "In fact, I don't even know who the girl's sire is, and judging by the look your face, you don't want me to. After what kind of idiot" - he spat the word out - "would involve himself with Madcap Maggie?"
Albus steepled his fingers nervously. "Perhaps, Severus, it would be best if you did not know…" Albus quickly doubled back upon seeing the glare Snape shot him. "At least for now," he added hastily. "It might change your opinion of the child."
"You do realize that I am not going anywhere until I have any and all pertinent information."
"You have always been difficult to please, Severus. I will share the information I have -"
"Withheld," Snape supplied.
Albus looked at him reproachfully. "- not yet given to you under the condition that you give your word that you will retrieve the child."
Snape sneered, hating how he played into Albus' hands. "Fine. I swear that I, Severus Snape, will retrieve the child providing you provide me with the aforementioned information."
Albus sighed deeply. "The child's name is Lyra Black - Sirius Black is her father."
There was a brief silence as a slight flush traveled up Snape's cheeks. "Bloody hell, Albus. You've got to be fucking having a laugh if you think there's any fucking chance I'm going to retrieve that tosser's spawn." Snape's voice rose in volume. "That prat almost killed me, in case you don't remember, for a laugh. I have no reason, none, to help that murderer in any way. If he was enough of a pillock to sleep with Madcap Maggie, that's his problem, not mine." He stood up abruptly. "Now, if you don't mind, I'll be leaving now." Snape glared at Albus who was busy inspecting his fingernails.
"Severus, we have an agreement."
"We had an agreement. I'm not going anywhere near the bastard daughter of Sirius Black. I'm not helping anyone - thing - related to him."
"Severus, you cannot go back on your word," Albus said, his voice losing its grandfatherly tone.
Snape flinched - mentally, of course - "I suppose you give me no choice but to acquiesce."
Albus smiled brightly. "Excellent!" He handed Snape a sheet of parchment. "Here are the apparition coordinates. I would get a move on if I were you - I would not wish to be in that part of London after dark."
Snape stood up in a swirl of cloak. "Good day," he spat as he stalked out.
It was almost dusk when Snape finally Apparated to 27 Dillweed Lane. Snape's lip curled at the sight of the ill-kept street with its cracked pavement and rusty street lamps. He grimaced at sounds of nearby raucous Muggle parties. What kind of idiot decided to place an orphanage in this dump? Eager to get back to his potions, Snape quickly ascended the stairs to Ms. Carden's Home for Girls and knocked smartly on the door.
The door creaked open and a mousey haired woman with bloodshot eyes poked her head out. "Whadda ya want."
Snape looked at her disdainfully. She was clearly drunk or in the process of getting there. "I'm assuming you are Ms. Carden," he sneered. "I have important information to discuss." He looked at her pointedly when she showed no intention of moving. "Indoors would be a better location for our conversation." Carden opened the door fully, allowing Snape to enter the dingy antechamber. "I have come for Lyra Black."
Carden's eyes widened, and Snape didn't need Legilimency to determine that something was amiss. Snape raised an eyebrow, as Carden's frown morphed into a scowl. "You can ha' 'er if you want," the woman slurred, taking a swig from her bottle, "she's nothin' bu' a twit, tha'un. A little freak, alus causin' pec-u-lar things to happen. We tried to beat the freak outta 'er bu' she still freaky. We keep tryin'..." Carden trailed off and glared at Snape suspiciously. "You isn't with the rozz?"
"Obviously not," Snape said coldly. Everything you've said would grant you a one-way ticket to Muggle prison. Snape reigned in the urge to Stupefy the woman on the spot."Where is the girl?"
The woman scowled again. "Why should I be telling you?"
Snape offered her his coldest glare, black eyes glittering dangerously. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I will find out where the girl is. Whether you tell me yourself or if I rip the information out of your mind is entirely your choice. I am not going to wait."
Carden withered under the weight of Snape's glare. "Top floor," she muttered. "Last room on the left."
Snape lazily flicked his wand. "Stupefy." Carden fell senseless to the floor. "Incarcerous." Ropes snapped around the woman's body, trussing her like a pig. Snape's lip curled in disgust. I wouldn't want you going anywhere.
The top floor of the building was stuffy in the late July heat and the air reeked of dust and some other foul odor Snape couldn't place. He stalked down the hallway feeling ill at ease. It was too quiet. Snape knew far too well that children were incessantly noisy creatures, and to hear this level of silence in a Muggle building full of them was disturbing to say the least. Snape reached the last door on the left. The smell was stronger here and had a metallic edge to it that Snape could easily recognize. This is not going to be pleasant. Especially if that idiot Carden wasn't exaggerating… Snape banished the thought. No use getting sentimental over Black's brat.
"Alohomora." The lock quietly clicked open. "Lumos," Snape muttered as he entered the room, eyes quickly adjusting to the dim wandlight. Bloody hell…
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