Summary: Severus Snape and the other teachers at Hogwarts have been called back to school three weeks prior to the start of term. They are to assess a new student. And not just any student, but Dumbledore's great-granddaughter. Severus is not pleased at all. He has never liked protégés. Little does he know that this girl will come to stand by his side until the end.

Beta: Daedalus Plum

Disclaimer: Everything you recognise belongs to JKR. I am merely playing around with her creations.

Chapter I: Morgaine of the Lake

I am standing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The setting sun has cast a blood red veil over the hilltops. Everything is silent, I can hear the wind whisper in the treetops, and I imagine that there is another whisper. A voice I have always known, it seems: a voice of comfort and trust. But I know that I am imagining things. I will never again hear his voice. Severus is gone. He laid down his life in the Final Battle. But still I know that he will never really leave me. He will always be there at my side, just as I stood by his until the very end.

If you don't know that it is there, you will easily miss the small slab of dark granite at the edge of the forest. Already it is partly covered by grass and wild flowers. But if you kneel down and part the grass, you will be able to read the inscription.

What do you write on the headstone of a man like Severus Snape? Here lies a brave man? A hero? He would have laughed at this. So I chose something else, a simple phrase that means so much. At least, to me it does. And I hope he would like it, too: 'Never Forgotten'. For that's one thing Severus Snape will never be: forgotten. He will always be in my heart.

Fourteen years we have shared. Not always together, not always in harmony. There were times of love, and there were times of hate, times of laughter and times of sorrow. But whatever we went through, in times of need we always stood at each other's side.

But let me tell you how it all started. I was fourteen years old and finally, finally, I was on my way to Hogwarts. I had been dreaming of this place for three years, ever since I had been told that I was a witch. But I had not been allowed to go then. My guardians had decided that the Magical World was not for me.

But now, finally, I was on my way.

I had left my grandmother's house two weeks ago. The only home I had ever known, the place where I had been trained and schooled since the age of six. I had left to discover a new world.

My introduction into the Magical World had been gradual. Remus had taken me to Diagon Alley, where I saw the things I only knew from books and things I had not even known existed. Then he brought me to the Burrow where I was welcomed with open arms.

And now I was sitting on a train that would bring me to Hogwarts. I was not nervous, just excited. I had been well-prepared and was eager to see all the things I had learnt about.

I had only been given two pieces of advice on my way: always follow your heart and never cross the Potions master.

* * *

Severus Snape was walking along the corridors of Hogwarts Castle, his black robes billowing behind him. The Headmaster had called all the teachers back to school three weeks prior to the start of term, not giving them any more information than that they were to discuss the admittance of a new student. Now it was time for all teachers to meet this student, and so Severus was on his way to the Headmaster's office to find out more.

'Ah, Severus, right on time,' the Headmaster announced in his most cheerful tone as Severus entered the office. 'I hope you had a nice summer.'

Severus shrugged. Nothing that had happened this summer was worth talking about. He had spent most of his time in his house at Spinner's End, reading old books, perfecting potions and trying out new ones, just as he had done every summer since he had started teaching at Hogwarts three years ago. Rather dull, actually, but the people he had associated with prior were either in Azkaban or busy keeping a low profile. Severus didn't miss his so-called friends very much, to be honest. But the summer months did tend to get a little boring. He had therefore been quite glad when he received the Headmaster's note.

'Well, the reason I called you back here in the middle of summer is a new student,' the Headmaster started. 'A rather special young lady, if I may say so.'

He smiled and his blue eyes were sparkling when he continued. 'Morgaine duLac should have started her magical education here at Hogwarts three years ago. But her guardians didn't like the idea of sending her into our world. You see, so far Morgaine has been raised in Iceland.'

'Iceland?' Professor Sprout asked. 'Now what would a young witch be doing in Iceland? Sounds a bit like the end of the world.'

The Headmaster chuckled. 'Well, the place where the girl was raised is a rather secluded one, and to some people it might seem like the end of the world indeed. As a matter of fact, it is known to more Muggles than wizards. Many of them visit the place for spiritual guidance.'

'What is a young witch doing there?' McGonagall repeated Sprout's question.

'There are still priestesses there who practice the Old Ways and live by the Old Religion,' Dumbledore explained. 'Many of them know as much of Herbology and Potions as some of our best wizards and witches. It had been planned that Morgaine should become a priestess as well, but I couldn't let such talents go to waste.'

'You know this girl then, Albus?' McGonagall wondered.

Dumbledore smiled mysteriously. 'As a matter of fact, I do. She is my great-granddaughter.'

Severus raised an eyebrow. Lovely, he thought. A protégée. Just what I had been hoping for.

'I don't want anybody to think that Morgaine gets any special treatment just because she's a relative of mine,' Dumbledore said. It was as if he had been reading Severus' mind.

'That is why I called you here. Morgaine will arrive at Hogwarts tomorrow, and I want all of you to test her over the next two weeks in order to see if she has what it takes to join the other fourth year students. Minerva here has put together a schedule for all of you.'

Severus glanced at the parchment McGonagall had put in his hand. It wouldn't be his turn to test the girl before the end of the second week.

'I ask you to test Morgaine as you would test any other student at the end of their third year. She has been tutored by a skilful wizard, but there might be several gaps in her knowledge. Remember, the point of the following two weeks is to figure out whether she could keep up with the other fourth-years.'

When the teachers were dismissed in order to prepare the girl's tasks, Severus returned to his office in the dungeons. So Dumbledore thought that his great-granddaughter was ready to join the fourth year without having studied at Hogwarts before? Severus shook his head. Most of his third year students didn't even live up to his expectations. Hence, he wasn't going to make it easy for the girl. As from the rest of his students, he would demand nothing less than perfection.

He took a copy of the third years' potion book from the shelf on the wall and started flipping through the pages, looking for suitable tasks. If he were to take this girl into his class, she'd better prove herself worthy.

* * *

As usual, Severus woke early the next morning. And as the meeting with the new student wasn't scheduled until after lunch, he decided to take a walk around the grounds. Maybe, he would even make an excursion into the Forbidden Forest to look for herbs.

On his way out, he ran into Dumbledore.

'Ah, good morning, Severus. Just on my way to Hogsmeade station to pick up Morgaine,' the old wizard announced. 'I hope you have some nice tasks in store for her.'

Severus nodded curtly. He had picked the tasks carefully. The girl would have to earn her place in his class.

* * *

When I left the train, I entered a new world. It felt as if every step I took towards Hogwarts was a step away from my old life and towards a new one. And it felt good to have my great-grandfather by my side even though I didn't know him well.

I had only met him a couple of times. He had been the one who had given me the greatest gift ever. He had told me that I was a witch. He had sent Remus to teach me when my guardians had refused to send me to Hogwarts. He had seen to it that they changed their minds. And I loved him dearly for it.

Hogwarts Castle was the greatest building I had ever seen, and I shuddered when I stepped into its shadow. But when entered, I was surprised. It felt as if I were coming home.

* * *

Severus returned to the castle in good time before the meeting. He had to admit that he was curious to meet the girl.

When he entered Dumbledore's office, the rest of the staff had already arrived although there were still five minutes left to the appointed time. And so had Dumbledore and the girl.

Severus' eyes were immediately drawn to her. He had expected her to be taller, being Dumbledore's great-granddaughter. But she was quite short, just about five feet, Severus guessed. Her chestnut hair was shoulder-length and rather bushy. She was wearing a midnight-blue robe, and around her neck she wore a leather string with a Witches' Star attached to it.

'Ah, Severus,' Dumbledore exclaimed and smiled. 'Come here, let me introduce you. Morgaine, this is the Potions master, Professor Snape. Professor, Morgaine duLac.'

'Good afternoon, Professor.'

Morgaine smiled and stretched out her hand, and for a second, Severus was slightly taken aback. He normally didn't shake hands with his students. But it was good manners, after all, and all his colleagues were looking at him. He had no other choice than taking the girl's hand.

He held onto her had a second longer than he had planned. The firmness of her handshake had surprised him. The girl had obviously self-confidence.

When they had released each other's hands, Dumbledore directed the girl towards a chair. 'I think everybody is quite curious to know how your education has been so far, Morgaine. Why don't we all have a seat and you can answer the teachers' questions.'

Severus chose a chair by the window, a little apart from his colleagues. He wanted to observe the girl. She had made a good first impression and appeared confident, but now she was definitely nervous. And Severus noticed that she was chewing her lip.

As Morgaine faced the teachers' questions, Severus had to admit that she was no brainless girl. Obviously, she had done her homework, and whoever had been teaching her so far had done a fine job. However, Severus refused to get too impressed. After all, anybody could memorise spells and charms from a book. Using them was a completely different matter. It would be a pleasure to test the girl.