Dear Reader,

This story is just a quick idea that popped into my head. I have read several fanfictions in which Severus Snape has a daughter but I decided to put a spin on that plot idea and created my own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading this story. If you did, please leave a review.

Sincerely Yours,

NeverEndingPretending

Harry surveyed the destruction around him. Blood trickled out from a wound on his head and clung to his lip which had been split. He also had a feeling that his wrist had been sprained and his ribs ached. However he refused to be looked at, due to the sheer number of seriously wounded witches, wizards and students.

"Harry Potter" a soft voice called out to him.

Harry turned around to find a young woman dressed in simple black robes approaching him. "It is an honor" she said bowing to him, when she straightened her face came into view.

She had long chocolate brown hair that was pinned away from her face but still fell in graceful waves down her shoulders. She had amber eyes which had a soft, caring nature about them. She also had lightly tanned skin and rosy cheeks, she looked to be in her early twenties.

"Yes?" he responded softly, his voice betraying how exhausted he truly was.

She smiled softly at him, "My name is Rolina Atkinson" she explained, "I was wondering if there was a place that we could talk in private?"

Harry nodded and led her outside and up the stairs into the watch tower where Albus Dumbledore had lost his life.

"How fitting you pick this place" she said softly, "Albus Dumbledore's death occurred here"

Harry looked at her, shock registering on his face, "How did you know he died here?"

Rolina merely smiled, "Albus and my grandmother were close friends, I also happened to be one of Hogwart's star pupils back in the day" she said in a breathy, light voice.

"How long ago?" he asked, trying to making casual conversation.

"Almost 8 years" she said smiling fondly, as though recalling a pleasant memory.

"Harry I'd like to start by thanking you" she began.

"Thank me for what?" he asked, genuinely intrigued.

"For stopping the Dark Lord" she said, her voice barely audible, "The plan Dumbledore crafted got himself and Severus Snape killed. Though Severus died knowing that you would go on to defeat Voldemort" saying the Dark Lord's name like it was poison on her tongue.

Harry nodded, "He was one of the bravest souls I've ever known" he said, lowering his head in sadness, the pain of the loss finally catching up with him.

"Do not wallow in sadness" she told him softly, "Severus can finally be happy now, he is free of all the despair in this world" she stated wiseley.

Harry nodded, his eyes still downcast. "He doesn't have my burden anymore"

Rolina frowned, "Harry Potter you cannot blame yourself for either of their deaths, Severus knew exactly what he was doing. Why do you think he was so hard on you? He wanted you safe, he vowed all those years ago to protect you"

"Always" Harry murmured.

Rolina nodded, "Yes, always" she spoke softly. "Have you given any thought of what you might do next?" she asked softly.

Harry shook his head, "I don't even know where to start"

Rolina's smiled brightened a bit, "Taking a shower might be a good place to start, you might also want to get that wound on your head examined"

Harry chuckled, "That sounds like a good place to start"

Rolina nodded, "Harry before you go I'd like to share something with you" she explained.

"What is it?" he asked.

She pulled back the fold of her cloak and removed a small crystal vial from the inside pocket. "Follow me" she said, she turned away and led the way out of the room.

She entered the Headmaster's office and pulled back the thick maroon colored drapes and revealed the pensieve from its place hidden behind the wall. She looked at Harry and gestured for him to come closer and he did so. She uncorked the vial and dropped its contents into the pensieve, Harry placed his face into the pensieve and was instantly shot into a memory.

xXx

Allison Atkinson stumbled down a darkened street. Her wavy brown hair clung to her face which was coated in a thin sheet of sweat. Her crystalline blue eyes were red rimmed as tears flowed from them. She clutched a bundle close to her chest and found it increasingly hard to keep her vision focused. Finally she came upon a small, dilapidated brick house. She recognized the location as Spinner's End.

She muttered a spell under her breath and stumbled to the doorstep. She braced herself against it and pounded on the door. The life was slowly beginning to leave her body as she heard movement inside the house. A man dressed head to toe in black came to the door. His eyes widened as he happened upon her. She thrust the bundle into his arms and slumped down. Her eyes slid closed and the final breath left her body.

Looking down at the bundle Severus gasped, a baby girl was wrapped inside. He muttered an incantation and set the bundle down on inside the box near the door. He scooped up the woman's fallen form and checked for a heartbeat. Finding none he cleaned off her body and wrapped her in a white sheet. Returning to the box he leaned down and scooped up the bundle that had begun to wail.

Severus had no idea what to do with her. He snapped his fingers and a quill and parchment appeared before him. He used magic to get the message down and sent it off with an owl. Response came not in the form of a letter but instead with a knock at the door. He threw the door open and an old woman and a young girl stepped onto the landing.

Upon seeing the body covered by the white sheet the old woman gasped and shoved the little girl back out the door.

"What happened?" the old woman hissed.

"She was bleeding" he told her, "She gave me this" he said pulling back the tattered blanket to reveal a wailing baby girl.

"Rolina stay outside" the old woman commanded.

The young girl at her side looked up at her grandmother with worry and confusion but didn't question it.

"Severus give me the child" she bit out.

Severus reluctantly handed her the bundle and she gently whispered a spell, "Limpio" she gently brushed a finger over the baby's now clean, soft cheek and conjured a bottle for her.

"Move her Severus" the woman said gesturing to her daughter who lay motionless under the sheet.

"Preservar su" he murmured before opening the door to the cellar. He descended the rickety steps, he set her down on the old bed set he had down there.

As he moved her the sheet fell away from her face, she was already starting to get cold. He closed his eyes and a tear escaped his eye, "I'm sorry" he uttered.

He covered her body again and made his way back upstairs. "Colloportus!" he said, using a locking charm to seal the door shut.

He heard a scream from farther down the hall that turned into the wailing of the baby. He rushed down the hallway and found the old woman doing her best to calm the crying of the five year old girl in her company. Severus approached the woman and removed the baby, quite forcefully, from her arms.

The baby wailed and waved her tiny fists in the air until her eyes locked on Severus. "Silencio" he whispered, not as a spell but as a warning of sorts.

The baby stopped her cries all on her own and again watched Severus, she was definitely seeing something in his coal black depths.

Severus brushed a pale finger over her pale cheek and whispered something to her, "You have her eyes" he whispered looking into the baby's bluish green eyes, "Lily..." he murmured.

Tears rolled down his cheeks and he angrily wiped them away. The baby seemed to respond to his emotions with some of her own. Tears flowed from her eyes and the woman stood up and strode towards him.

"How dare you!" the woman shouted, "My daughter was killed because of you and all you can think of is Lily Potter!"

She snatched the baby from Severus's arms and the baby's cries only became louder. Severus glared at her, "Do not touch my daughter Genesee" he growled.

He snatched her away from the old woman and apparated away from Spinner's End. He looked down at the baby and stroked her cheek thoughtfully, "Lily" he murmured holding her close.

xXx

Harry was instantly shot out of the memory and looked at Rolina shocked.

"I was only five years old then" she whispered, "My mother had a heart condition and the strain of childbirth was enough to kill her"

Harry watched her, his eyes wide, "So what happened after that?"

"My grandmother Genesee and I took my mother's body and buried it. Severus didn't resurface with my sister until I was almost 17. As it turns out he had my sister registered at Hogwarts under a false name. We had no idea where to look as he had placed a cloaking spell on her" she murmured.

"Where is she here now?" Harry asked.

"She's downstairs helping the wounded, she always had a knack for mending broken wings"

"Why did you show me all this?" Harry asked, truly perplexed and not only that but curious.

"I want you to help me clear Severus Snape's name. It was by Dumbledore's wish that Severus killed him. I want his good name to remain intact for my sister's sake"

Harry nodded, "Tell me what I have to do"