Severus Snape sat in the small kitchenette of Spinner's End, staring out the window with a blank expression on his face. So he would begin teaching at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry once again, but this time, one particular student would trouble him greatest of all, the one and only Boy Who Lived. Lily's son, no less, he had to be a prat if he was fathered by James bloody Potter. Harry Potter, the Brat Who Lived, in his own classroom. Severus gave a look of disgust to no one in particular.
It was that very evening when Severus had made his last visit to Albus before he would move back into the quarters at Hogwarts. Severus had thought with a familiar scowl on his face as he traveled through the Floo network into Albus's office.
"Severus, you're late." Truth of the matter was, Severus was actually ten minutes early to the time scheduled. It was all he could do not to point this out. "Cockroach Cluster?" The Headmaster held out a dish of the awful delicacies, which were skittering around in the silver dish. Severus just put out a hand in refusal, and to his horror, Albus devoured one himself.
Severus cleared his throat, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. "Headmaster, you called me here on short notice. You are not the only one with limited time," He said curtly. He had enough planning and paperwork as it was, and was only annoyed when Albus had called Severus to his office through Fawkes. When that creature had manifested in Severus's home, it had set half of his completed papers and potions textbooks into flames. That had devoured half of his patience, and the rest was already wearing thin.
"Of course, of course, my boy." Albus set down the dish and sat forward in his chairs, his sky blue robes glimmering in the candle light. "Please, do sit down." He gestured to one of the tall arm chairs in front of his desks, and Severus knew more than well to refuse. He took a seat, staring precariously at the silver whirring instruments on the Headmaster's desk. Severus sat straight, and cast a nonverbal Legilimens, staring into Albus's twinkling-blue eyes. Diving deep into the man's mind, he saw nothing but a spark of memory, only to be dragged out again. Blast. Albus was nearly as powerful an Occlumens as Severus himself.
The Headmaster only chuckled softly. As he did, tiny bits of Cockroach Cluster were shook loose from his long white beard. Severus nearly snapped, there and then, but Albus took no notice. "I only want to tell you, formally, of course, that the Ministry will be paying you a visit tomorrow morning." He tapped one of his instruments, and it began to spin around like a weather vane.
Severus started. "What? For what reason?" It couldn't be for his past dues, he was cleared of all charges against the Ministry. They'd already gone through the certification of his teaching at Hogwarts, including countless tests and background checks; Severus had even been Legiliminized, and it took every bit of effort not to push the Ministry git out his mind. What else could the bloody organization want?
"Oh, just a yearly visit from the Department of Children's Welfare. A new Ministry law. They only want an insight to your teaching and mentoring abilities." Albus sounded casual, and Severus immediately knew the Headmaster was keeping something. He narrowed his eyes, and tried once again to delve into the man's thoughts.
Albus chuckled again, peering through his half-moon spectacles, and Severus cursed mentally in ten different languages. "Albus, I want to know what is going on at this instant! You've been keeping nothing but everything from me, and I demand to know what." He brought his hand hard on the huge wooden desk; some of the knickknacks and things shuddered in response.
"My dear boy, you must learn other forms of communication if you wish to know things," The Headmaster said smoothly, and rose from his chair. Severus did the same. "Now, if you excuse me, I'll be retiring shortly. Oh – you may move into your quarters anytime in the next week. Goodnight, Severus." And the old coot was gone. Severus swore again, but had returned home. There was no use trying to pry into Albus; he'd learned that the hard way.
Now he sat at his dining table, slowly tapping his fingers on the wood surface. A goblet of wine in the morning would hopefully get him through this, for lack of a better word, get-together. Severus scowled. "Rowan. Wash this up and prepare my emerald robes. We'll be having...guests." The House Elf with huge brown eyes and flopping ears popped in.
"Yes, Master Snape, Rowan will get be with it right now!" He squeaked, then popped out of sight again. Severus sighed and rose from the table and retired to his bedroom. The room consisted of an oak four posted bed with navy bed coverings and a large desk of the same wood, which was covered in parchment, quills, ink, and any sort of office supply you could imagine. A wardrobe stood beside, carved with serpents and ancient runes that even Severus knew not of.
In another moment, Severus was dressed in deep green robes that billowed as he walked down the stairs again. As soon as he hit the floor, there was a knock at the door. He strode down the long hallway, and suddenly an awful feeling rose up inside him. Severus pushed it back down, and with a slight sneer upon his face, grasped the brass doorknob and yanked open the door in a hard, swift movement.
Severus almost gasped as he took in the two people standing in his doorway. One was an older, kind looking witch with some sort of uniform-looking grey robes on, which were soaking in the sudden rain that Severus hadn't even noticed before. But, standing next to the woman, was...Lily.
The girl looked about ten years old and had pale, pearly skin, black eyes, and long wavy red hair drenched with rain, down to her waist. So many memories were yanked out of the vault in Severus's mind...she looked exactly like Lily during their first year. However, this girl wore an expression of pure hatred.
Severus's heart ached, but he still kept his complexion smooth. No, of course not. Ridiculous. Then who...? He could not be prepared for the words that were to come, no matter the mind training he had been through. That was all broken and shifted out of ways after the older witch spoke.
"Severus Snape?" She asked, smiling. Severus still hadn't taken his eyes off the girl, who was scowling just as much as he was. He could have laughed.
"Yes," He replied slowly, gripping the edge of the doorframe.
"This is Marcia, your daughter."
