Severus Snape and Katie Potter

Professor Snape's POV

I sat beside the left window in my house and stared outside looking for my sister. Since she now lived with that idiot Potter I barely see her. Today was the day she was coming to visit with their 8-year-old daughter, Katie. I haven't seen her yet. Hopefully she won't act as foolishly as her father.

Suddenly a flash of lightening came down and I heard a scream. I ran outside as fast as my legs could take me but stopped as I gazed at the scene in front of me. A woman with dark brown hair now laid on the street in front of my house. " Ursula!" I yelled running over to her. I kneeled down next to her and listened for a heartbeat, but none came. Tears welded in my eyes as I gazed down at my now dead sister.

Then it hit me that she was supposed to bring her child with her. When I turned around I saw a small girl standing in front of me. Her eye's were red and wide open in shock. Don't just stand there. Say something, do something! Slowly, I approached the girl and knelt down in front of her. Before I could say something she flung her arms around me and began crying hysterically. Automatically I held her close and cried with her.

After about 10 minutes I realized she had fallen asleep. I can't say I blame her, she must be exhausted. Carefully, I picked her up and walked inside. There was an extra sleeping room upstairs so I laid her down there and covered her up.

Albus Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall arrived a while later. " It seems history is repeating itself," Dumbledore stated. " Not only your sister, Ursula, was killed. Along with her, we found none other than Harry Potter murdered inside their house."

My eye's widened at this. Both Potter and my sister were murdered? Then their child is the only one left, and I'm the only family she has...

" We need to make arrangements for where the child will live," McGonagall insisted. " Severus, you ARE the only family she has...I think it would be best if you took her in."

I looked over at Dumbledore, hoping that he would have another suggestion but none came. " I agree, it would be all for the best is she stayed with you," he said.

" Me?" I exclaimed. " I have no idea how to raise a child, especially a girl! Wouldn't there be someone else better suited to do this?"

" You're the only living relative she has, and it would be better for her to stay with someone in the family," McGonagall stated.

A child? Me, taking care of a child...it's mad! Not to mention she's the daughter of my most hated student at Hogwarts. Then again, she's also my sister's child. I loved her dearly and I know she'd want me to take care of Katie. Well then that's it. "I'll do it."

It only took those three words to please my two guests. The money that came from the Potter's home would be given to me to support her, and since her birthday will some soon and will turn 9 she'll only be a year younger than the usual age and she will begin her year at Hogwarts this coming year.

" Now Severus, there's only one more thing I have to tell you, and this will make things a little more difficult. Katie...well, she's mute. She can still hear and understand, but she cannot speak." After Albus said this him and McGonagall left hastily.

All I could do was stand there at the open door. She's mute? How will I be able to communicate with her? This is horrible. I'm going to have a hard enough time, and now I won't be able to understand her! Can things get any worse?

Katie's POV

~Dream~

A woman in a black cloak stood before me. Her eyes were as black as the night sky. Her mouth curved into an evil smirk. I knew she was looking at me. " What do you want?"

The lady only laughed and pointed her wand at me. " What do I want? Your death." Then she mumbled something and a flash of green light came towards me...

~End Dream~

I woke up screaming. Tears were streaking down my cheeks. Suddenly the door burst open and a man rushed over to me. " Are you alright? What happened?" I only looked at him, he looked so familiar in a way. Then I remembered, he was the one who came out right after...right after my mom was killed.

I watched as he sighed and sat beside me. " I forgot," he said. "They told me you couldn't speak, but I so want to be able to understand you. My name's Severus, Severus Snape. Your mother was my younger sister."

After he said this I could see that he was fighting back tears. He's so sad. I know I feel horrible, but he must feel just as bad. She was his sister. I slowly held out my hand and brushed away a tear that was streaming down his cheek and smiled calmly, trying to tell him it would be alright.

I guess he got the message because he slightly smiled back at me. He then cleared his throat and continued. " It was decided that, since I was the only family left, you could stay with me. The decision's up to you though. If you'd rather stay with someone else I understand."

I sat there for a second in thought. It's true, he was the only family I have left. But then there's all those stories dad told about how mean he was to him. He doesn't seem that bad. Maybe it was because his sister liked him and he thought she'd leave him. I think we could help each other get through this. We both just lost someone we love. I then nodded, telling him I wanted to stay here.

The slight smile on his face turned into a full grin. " Are you positive? This is a very big decision." I only hugged him and nodded. "Well, I'm sure you must be tired. You get some sleep and we can talk more in the morning ok?"

I nodded and then laid back down in the bed. I watched as he covered me with the blanket, turned out the light, and left the room. Tomorrow will start a whole new chapter in my life, and I have a feeling it'll be full of new experiences.