It was a cold night at Spinner's End. The snow on the ground made the area look slightly less eerie, but still it was far from cheery. A fierce knock on the door disturbed Severus Snape from his ponderings. Who could it be at this time a night? Few people knew he lived here, even fewer wanted to set foot here. For true blood wizards this place was no place to be seen or even associated with. And he had put so many charms up to keep people out that no muggle had made it to the front door in years. A cold feeling would set upon them, and anybody in their right mind would turn round, rather than knock on his door. Instead however the knock intensified
Wand in hand he came down the stairs. He looked through the spyglass. A woman and what appeared to be a small child. Muggle judging by the clothing, not wizard.
As soon as he opened the door, the girl was thrust in his arms. ¨Take this child away from me.¨
"What, who are you?" Severus asked surprised.
He got no answer, the woman just stared at him. "You are exactly as I remember you." Then she pointed at the girl. "She is just like my sister, an abomination. She will ruin me and my husband, and we will all die. Get rid of her or her magic. I'm not going through that again.¨
He looked at the child now in his arms. she looked so... innocent. Big green eyes staring at him, just like...
¨Linda Rose Evans, is that you?¨ he asked looking back at the woman. Lily's youngest sister. She had grown looked just like Petunia, but her little girl... Those green eyes looked up with him with curiosity and he almost melted. God, how he just wanted to take this child and keep her with him forever. Unfortunately he was in no position to take care of a child.
¨Yes... I'm surprised you still remember me. You only ever had eyes for Lily. I might as well not existed. God, I had hoped to forget about all that had happened when I moved to the States... Always Lily here, Lily there, even after she died. It´killed my parent, the grief. I am not going through that again. Not with my own daughter. SHE...¨ she pointed at the child ¨...makes things fly above her crib. She's not normal, and I won't have that. I am not getting torn into your little war. I'm not having a freak for a daughter either. So you either take her magic away or you take her, do you hear me?¨
She had magic? Here in his arms was a little Lily. Dark hair like her cousin Harry, but the eyes, they were the same. Severus thought about it... Voldemort was back. The war Linda spoke about would soon flare up again, and the dark lord was sure to come after anyone related to Potter, I only to use them as leverage He couldn't let her die again. Without magic she would be safe... or at least safer than she would be as a muggleborn witch in he years to come. ¨What's her name?¨
"Sarah," the little girl said herself. She smiled at him unafraid. It nearly reduced him to tears.
"Hello Sarah. I'm Severus."
She tried to repeat his name but it came up sounding like "Ja-reth." She was so sweet. But he could not keep her. That would be certain death.
He hated what he had to do next, but it was the only way. His mind was like a spell book, he only needed to find the right one. Yes, that was it. "I am gonna bind your magic. You wont be able to make things fly again, but you will be safe..."
"Okay," little Sarah said without a care in the world.
He took her inside, not inviting her mother. Linda could freeze to death on the doorstep for all he cared. She came in anyways. A woman that treated her own flesh and blood like this just because she was a little different did not deserve the child. If only there was another way. He remembered little of Linda, she was born when Lily had first gone to Hogwarts. The only real memory was that of her as a sulking teen on Lily's funeral.
As he sat down with little Sarah, a book flew at him. Voodoo, that you do was the title. The girl giggled.
"Did you do that, you little witch?" he smiled at the child. That was really an amazing display of power for one so young. Especially untrained.
Another book landed besides him on the table. Underground Magic, tales of the dark ages.
"You are just a little bookworm, aren't you." He tickled her and got rewarded by another beautiful laugh. Oh how it broke his heart. She would make a formidable witch if she was ever to gain her full powers. But the Dark Lord would swat her down as if she was a mere fly if he found her.
So he had to bind her magic. It wasn't right, but it was the only way. With a few words it was done, so she could no longer use it. She would be a normal girl like any other. Voldemort wouldn't even look at her twice. Still it felt like he had done her a great injustice. Linda looked pleased as she took back her daughter. He hoped the little girl would be alright with that woman. It did not feel right to hand her back to someone so heartless.