Prologue

He had been planning this speech since the day he found out she was pregnant. He'd struggled to find the right words, but nothing seemed to fit. He would just have to make do with what he had.

It was only one night. He was drunk, and miserable. The baby would be better off without him. He wasn't ready to be a father. He couldn't be a father. He'd only ruin its life. He would never admit that the true reason was he feared becoming like his own father.

He hadn't been allowed in while she was giving birth, for which he was glad. Instead he had paced back and forth in the waiting room, going over and over his pathetic little speech.

"Mr Snape?"

The Muggle Doctor's voice brought him out of his thoughts. Laine had been one of his first friends as a child, and they had stayed in contact while he was at Hogwarts. She was a muggle, and knew nothing of the Wizarding World.

"Yes?"

"I'm... I'm so sorry Mr Snape; Miss Adelaide... there were complications"

"What do you mean complications?" asked Severus, his eyes narrowing. The Doctor fumbled for a moment.

"She didn't make it. I am truly sorry"

Severus did not move, his mind was running over and over the information repetitively.

"What about... the child?" he asked finally.

"Your daughter is healthy as a horse Mr Snape"

"A daughter?"

Severus Snape had no recollection of entering the hospital room. He had no idea when, or who placed the baby in his arms. All he knew was that the moment he looked into those big blue eyes, something in him changed. In that moment, he knew he would do all he could to protect her, to keep her safe, to make her happy. She was a part of him; and he a part of her. She was his. She was His Baby Girl. She was his Karli.

"Has anyone seen Karli?" asked Severus, bursting into the staffroom at Hogwarts. It was almost four years since Karli's birth, and he had been raising her at Hogwarts. He had tried to keep her a secret from the staff, but things never stayed secret for long at Hogwarts. He was just grateful none of the students had found out. He would never live it down.

"Has she run off again?" asked Albus with a twinkle in his eye. Severus scowled at his mentor.

"I don't know how you can be so calm" he asked. Albus only laughed.

"She always turns up, with nothing more than a few bruises"

Severus didn't say anything, merely turning around, and sweeping away, hunting for his baby. Minerva, and Sinistra were patrolling the halls, also looking for little Karli; who they had grown quite attached to.

"How a four year old manages to escape one of the most highly recommended nannies in the Wizarding World, I have no idea!" wondered Professor McGonagall.

Karli watched them walk past her with a silent giggle. She sucked on the green thing in her mouth. When she had been exploring the Forbidden Forest one day, she'd found a patch of orange berries. She discovered when she dropped it in some of her daddy's red truth potion, and waved her nannies wand, it turned green. When she put them in her mouth she turned invisible, and no one could see her. It helped her so much with her sneaking out. But she was almost out of berries, and she needed some more. She waited until the coast was clear, and then quick as her little legs could carry her, she was out the door, running across the lawns and into the forest her daddy thought was scary. Boy was daddy going to be surprised when he couldn't find her!