Before I begin the Prologue, I would like to mention some things. For one I would like to say I debated for a long time whether to even make this story because from past experience people don't particularly like OC characters. Another reason would be I am sure there are other stories where Snape has been perceived as a father figure and didn't want people to think I stole the idea because I didn't. I have been debating and developing this story in my mind for over a year and decided I needed to write it down or my brain would explode. I decided to share it because… I think maybe someone out there will like it. I try very hard not to make my OC characters Mary Sue so I'm hoping to put in as much twists as possible to keep the idea out of people's heads. Please don't flame and I would really appreciate some reviews. This will follow most of the time the MOVIE lines because it's easier to reference a movie then a four hundred or so paged book. So this will include movie characters and happenings only. Sorry.

~JC

…

Everything was quiet on the road of Spinner's End. That was until a knock sounded on a dreary apartment door. The silence that was disturbed did not seem to cause much attention, except that of the man that opened said dreary door. He was dressed in all black, not yet having gone to bed despite the ungodly hour due to a stack of papers that required his attention to grade, and his black eyes feel upon the cloaked figure before him. A young woman stood in the mysterious clothing, clutching an infant to her body. Black eyes met black eyes and the man that held the first set blinked and moved aside for the woman to enter his depressing home.

The woman scurried inside and waited for the man to return to her and for the door to be shut. "Severus…" the woman whimpered, her frightened state reducing her to such a pathetic tone. She did not continue her statement, just looked at him as if searching for the words to go on.

"What is wrong Annabelle?" the man's voice naturally held a hint of disdain even if that was not what he meant. His hand motioned for her to sit and she did hesitantly, resting the baby on her lap. He noticed how her hands trembled, and how she fidgeted.

"It's Richard… he has not come home yet…" she barely spoke above a whisper as if afraid someone would overhear them.

"Why are your reckless husband's affairs such a bother to you? Doesn't he usually disappear for days on end due to the Dark Lord's wishes?" the man whom was called Severus pointed out.

"It's different this time… Far different. As you know Severus, Richard is as trusted by the Dark Lord almost as much as you are." She stopped herself as if her mind was still processing. He waited patiently for her to continue then gave a small nod of encouragement.

"That's why… the Dark Lord gave him an assignment… A rather impossible one in fact." She looked down at her sleeping child. "So impossible that Richard dared to refuse the Dark Lord." The man blinked, his emotionless face changed momentarily at such a ridiculous statement. "However as was expected, the Dark Lord was very persuasive and convinced Richard to go." She sounded slightly bitter as she went on.

"Persuasive?" he prompted, raising one eyebrow.

"You know how the Dark Lord does love a tragedy… He used Richard's family. Saying that if he didn't complete the mission successfully…" she trailed off again, swallowing hard. Her already pale skin seemed to be drained of all color in the dimly lighted room.

"Anna are you saying that your life is on the line?" the man interpreted her words and kneeled before her, taking her hands in his. His under expressive face was contradicting his worried actions as he stared at the woman known as Annabelle's face.

"Not just mine Severus…" her lip trembled and her voice was strained as she looked at her sleeping child. The child lay so unsuspecting, so innocent. Snape hardly remembered such innocence anymore.

"What do you want me to do Anna? Do you want me to hide you? Get you out of here? What? I'll do anything really." He told her earnestly, squeezing her hands to give her support.

"Nothing can save me Severus… I cannot escape him." She reminded him. There was no hope of her evading him, and they both sat in the uncomfortable silence as they both new the truth in her words. "But Severus…" she suddenly looked at him desperately, the words on the tip of her tongue. He waited for the words to spill from her eager mouth, feeling hopeless at the thought of losing her. "He doesn't know about our daughter. He doesn't know she exists. There is still a chance for her." She pet her daughter's hair and both sets of black eyes turned to the baby's face.

"Anna, I don't know if I can-"

"Please Severus! Please my dear brother you cannot hope to save me but please help me save my child! Raise her how you see fit, even if you don't think you could be a good father please for mercy try! She may live a life without parents because of this solution, but at least she will have a life to live. And…" she looks into his eyes, begging him. "At least she will have you."

Severus was silent for a few minutes. The ticking of a clock could be heard in the still air. By the time this night was over, his sister would be gone, and he might be a father. It was hard for him to understand, for it to sink into his mind. He looked at the hands he was holding, the small delicate ones that had been in his grasp so many times before. The only sweetness in his childhood before Lily and Hogwarts was right here before him, for the last time. Was he ready to let go of these hands and be left with only those memories?

The soft almost white hair brushed his cheek and he looked at his sister's face. Somehow she had been blessed with the beauty of their cursed Muggle father and his blonde locks. She looked so pure and beautiful, to imagine her dead sent a shockwave through Snape's body. He looked back at the daughter and realized with an aching feeling she too had the bizarre platinum blonde color of hair as her mother.

"Severus…" the weak and helpless voice shook him from his thoughts and he gave a long hard sigh, making his decision.

"I'll… I'll take her Anna." He agreed hesitantly. Her face brightened slightly and she kissed his forehead gratefully, unable to hug him due to the bundle on her lap.

"Sevy thank you… I love you brother I truly do… I could not ask for a better sibling…" she was nearly crying as she praised him and held the baby to him. He blinked and took her slowly and uncertainly. She guided his arms and hands on how to properly hold her.

Anna kissed her daughter's forehead now and backed away from them slowly. "Congratulations Severus. You are now a father." She smiled weakly and pulled the hood of her cloak back up.

"Wait! Anna! What am I supposed to-"

"Name her and raise her Severus. Teach her the beauty of life even though you don't see it yourself. Teach her the knowledge that will make her great and not just the knowledge that will make her strong. Teach her to choose the path of right even though you have chosen the one of wrong. Let her make her own decisions in life even though you yourself never got the chance." She hurried towards the door, looking back one last time at them. She had to leave soon or she would breakdown. She couldn't take her, she told herself. This was without a doubt the hardest thing she had ever done in her whole life.

"Anna…" Severus was reminded that this would be the last time he saw her and opened his mouth to say something. She didn't give him the chance as she quickly made her way out the door and was swallowed up by the night. Just like that, he was left with only his memories, and a child.

The child yawned and was beginning to stir in his arms. He looked at her blankly, the sorrow almost engulfing him. The only two things he loved in his world were now gone or out of his reach. His sister Anna would be dead by morning and his love Lily Evans now Potter was under protection and far away from him.

The girl's eyes slowly opened to look at him. Snape's own widened as black eyes once again met black. The little girl smiled at him and Snape could almost feel his heart melt. He had never given much thought to what being a parent would feel like. Would this be it? Feeling warm every time she just smiled at him?

I have to name her don't I? He thought and frowned hard at her. She giggled and her small hands reached out towards his face. Odd… she thought he was funny for frowning? He sighed, like her mom.

An idea occurred to him. A lot of kids are named after people that are important to the parent right? He thought a moment longer then sat down with the baby. "I guess you are Lilianna…" he decided tiredly. Combining the names of the two women he had loved seemed to fit perfectly.

He lay down on the couch, infant resting on his chest. He did not yet have a better place to put her so she let him go back to sleep there. He pondered the night's events with a heavy heart. He choked down his emotions like usual. He would not weep in front of this child; he would not be the first to expose her to such sadness.

"Lilianna, you are going to be as strong and beautiful as your mother was aren't you?" he murmured to the little girl as he closed his eyes. "That's fine… just promise you won't turn out like me."

Heaven perish the thought…

To Be Continued…