This is just a story idea I had in school and started writing. Don't know where it's going to go. Just letting the pen go where it wants to. Review and let me know what you think. I'm sure I've made spelling mistakes.
"Alice!" I turn to see my friends calling me over. It is the first day of our fifth year. The first day feast is one of the best of the school year.
"Hey guys." I sit between Fred and Harry. George, Ron and Hermione sit across from us.
"Glad to be back?" Harry whispers to me. I nod. I hate being home and dread the holidays. My foster parents aren't the best. For the most part they ignore me, which I like better. I'm mostly there for them to take there anger out on. I'm glad I have someone like Harry who understands.
The feast goes like normal. Dumbledore explains off limits and the new Defense teacher. She looks like a frog made out of pepto. Snape seems unhappy that he still didn't get that job. Everyone doesn't like him. He's actually my favorite teacher. He is also my father. He doesn't know that though. I only found out because we did a family tree thing that used our blood mixed with a potion. The parchment showed Severus Snape as my father. I don't know who or what ever happened to mother.
The feast ends and we go up to our tower.
"How was my favorite red head's summer?" I ask Fred as we sit away from everyone.
"Lonely without my favorite raven haired beauty. How was your?"
"Boring without my prankster." We always go back and forth like this. We both like each other, but I guess we're to scared to date. We talk for a bit more before we both go to bed.
I straighten my tie as I enter the Great Hall for breakfast. The room is mostly full since we get our schedules. Before I get to my friends McGonagall hands me my schedule.
"Alice, what do you have first?" Ginny asks.
"Defense. Guess we'll see what type of teacher she is."
"Glad I have an easy class first. I have Herbology." She responds.
"Something is not right about Umbridge."
"Don't worry, Alice, it's probably nothing." Fred says to me.
After breakfast we head to our first class. Hermione and I sit together while Ron and Harry sit together. The room becomes silent as the pink blob enters.
"Put your wands away. You won't be needing them in this class."
"But Professor you're suppose to teach us how to defend ourselves." Hermione blurts.
"I am to teach you something you'll never have to apply. There is no danger that requires this."
"What about Voldermort? He's a danger." Harry response with an angry voice.
"He-who-must-not-be-named is dead. Despite what the Prophet is saying. The Dark Lord has not returned."
"Yes, he has. I saw him."
"Detention tomorrow for telling lies."
"He's not lying. Voldermort is back." I say in Harry's defense.
"Detention tonight. After dinner." I bite my tongue.
The rest of my classes are dull. Tomorrow I have Potions first. Then Herbology. Then Muggle studies.
"Do you really have a detention tonight?" Fred asks once the dinner food appears.
"Yes, after dinner. First of many." I give him a smile. I help the twins with their pranks. The dinner continues with talks of Quidditch, summer, updates, and other topics. I glance up at the Professor table to see Umbridge looking at me. She looks at Snape then back at me. I look away and continue my conversation with Fred.
After dinner I head to Umbride's office. At least I'll be able to tell Harry what he's in for tomorrow.
"Ms Graves, have a seat. I'll be having you write lines," I sit down and she hands me a quill. "You won't need ink. I want you to write, 'Potion Master's Daughter'." She grins at me.
"Why?"
"I know Snape is your father. I work at the Ministry. Now write or I'll tell him." I put the quill to the page and start writing. After two lines my left arm starts to burn. Pulling up my sleeve I see the same words I'm writing etching into my arm. Umbridge just smiles.
After forty more minutes she finally lets me stop and leave. I head straight for the girls restroom to clean my bleeding arm. The pin blob is insane. 'Potion Master's Daughter' is going to scar into my arm. I can't let any one see this. I don't know what the old hag is trying to do but it's not good.
Leaving the restroom I head back to the common room.
"Alice, what did Ms Pink make you do?" George asks as I enter the room.
"She made me write lines. Harry can I talk to you alone?" He gets up and we exit the common room. And sit on the staircase outside the portrait.
"Don't even get another detention with her, Harry. She's going to make you write lines and after a few lines they begin to be carved into your skin."
"What did she make you write?"
"Don't worry Harry. Just don't get another detention from her. Please."
"For you. I'll try . Now come on. I'm sure Fred would love to see you."
Next morning I'm slow getting out of bed. My arm hurts and a headache is starting. I head down to meet the others in the Great Hall. My uniform is all in order except I haven't tied my tie yet. All of the sudden my tie is magically done. I look to see Umbridge.
"Detention for improper uniform. Tonight after Potters."
"You can't do that."
"I can tell Severus if you prefer." I glare at her smug look and continue into the Great Hall.
"Hey Alice, what's wrong?" Ginny asks me as I take a seat next to her and Hermione.
"Just got another detention with the toad."
"What did you do?" Fred asks across from me.
"My tie was undone."
"She can't do that."
"It's fine. I can handle it." Harry gives me a look of concern. I just smile.
The next few weeks past slowly. I have had detention with Umbridge most of the time. Thankfully Harry had it that one time. They all are worried about me. Since the detentions started I've been feeling sick. I haven't eaten or slept much. None of the teacher's have noticed because I'm doing so well in all of them.
The bell rings dismissing us from Potions. Everyone leaves fast. I'm slow getting up from my seat. My arm catches the table and starts bleeding. I grab my arm and glance and Professor Snape. I become light headed and so tired. My legs give out and I hit the ground.
"Ms Graves?" I hear Snape say before I pass out.
Snape's P.O.V-
I watch as Ms Graves is the last to leave. She seems paler then usual. Her arm catches the table and she grabs it. She looks up at me before she falls to the ground.
"Ms Graves?" I rush from my seat and to her. She's unconscious and bleeding badly. I pick her up and go straight for the fire place. I floo to the Hospital wing where Pomfrey is reading but stops when she sees me.
"Severus, what happened?"
"I don't know. She stood up from her seat and hit her arm then passed out." She leads me to a bed to put Ms Graves on. I walk back into Poppy's office and wait. I should go back to my office. I have papers to grade since it's my free period. Ms Graves is one of the few people to get their potions right the first time. She's a fast learner. Has been since first year which is surprising since she comes from a muggle foster home. She's friends with Potter though. He can be as arrogant as his father.
After about a half hour of just sitting there thinking I get up and head for the fire. A voice stops me though.
"Severus, you're still here." Dumbledore says as he enters the room.
"I am."
"I need you to teach Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts for a few days until I find a new replacement for Umbridge."
"What are you talking about?"
"Poppy, hasn't told you yet?"
"Told me what?" He motions for me to follow.
"Ms Graves has been serving detentions with Umbridge for a few weeks now. Umbridge has had her writing lines with a quill that carves what you write into you. Umbridge put a spell on the quill to slowly poison the user." We reach Ms Graves' bed. She is asleep and still very pale and sick looking.
"Severus, Umbridge knew something no one knew. I don't know if Ms Graves knew at first. And yes I did a blood test spell to confirm." I stare at her confused. She unwrapped her left arm. The one she hit on the desk. Her arm is red and looks slightly infected. The most noticeable part is the reopened wound that spells out 'Potion's Master Daughter'. I've read enough of her perfect essays to know her handwriting.
"How'd you know it was Umbridge?" I barely say. My throat hurts.
"I treated Harry after his detention with her. He wouldn't tell me anything. I had Albus ask him before coming down here."
"What happened to her mother? Why is she in foster care?"
"First the blood test says her mother is-"
"I know who her mother is."
"She's in foster care because her mother beat her Severus. She's in a muggle prison. I found out years ago. I though it better if I didn't tell you. I had no idea Ms Graves was your daughter though Severus." I can't talk. 15 years I didn't know. 5 years I taught her. Whe didn't she tell me when she found out?
"Severus?" How could I have not known? She has my black hair but her mothers waves. How could her mother do that? I knew she was pregnant but she said she lost the baby and wanted nothing to do with me. I never saw her again.
"Severus?" Why did she lie? I cared about her. I would have helped her raise a child Did she not trust me? Did she even want the baby? Is that why she beat her? Why didn't she put her in foster care to begin with? Or send her to me?
"Professor Snape?" The small tied voice before me asks. I can't find my voice. This girl who was once only a student now frightens me. I turn and leave. A daughter. I have a daughter.
It's been hours. I haven't left my office since I left the Hospital wing. I don't know what to think or do.
"Severus?" I turn to see Albus standing in the doorway. "She doesn't expect you to do anything. She didn't tell you because she didn't want to ruin you life. She'll be in the Hospital wing for a few days. Goodnight Severus." I am alone once again. I need to talk to her. I get up and take the long walk to the Hospital wing instead of Flooing.
I get to the door and take a deep breath before entering. Potter, Grangert, and the Weasley's are there.
"What are you doing here?"
"That is none of your concern Mr Weasley." Ms Graves tells them it's alright and for them to leave. She looks better than she did but she is still very pale.
"Professor?" She asks once everyone is gone. I hesitantly sit in a seat next to her bed.
"How long have you known?"
"Since first year when we did the family tree potion in your class," A confused look crosses my face. "I never turned it in. If I did then you would have known. You seemed like a sad and angry man but you seemed content with it. I didn't want to ruin it."
"How old were you when you where put in a foster home?"
"Five."
"Have you seen her?"
"Not since she was taken away. I never wanted to see the women who caused me pain. Because of her I'm one of the several foster home cases that falls through the cracks."
"What do you mean?"
"My foster parents have hated me since day one."
"What do they do?"
"Next question." She looks away. Her aversion to the question worries me.
"Do you know why your mom moved you to the states?" She shakes her head 'no'. "Why didn't you tell me when Umbridge started this?"
"Same reason as before."
"What do your foster parents do?" She looks away. "Alice, what have they done?"
"Beat me mostly. Got worse when I got my Hogwarts letter. They moved me to the basement. Out of sight out of mind I guess. They barely ever fed me."
"Do your friends know?"
"Just Harry." She yawns.
"You should get more rest." I stand and head for the door.
"Are you going to come back tomorrow?" I stop and turn toward her. She seems so scared and alone right now. I know what I'm going to do.
"I will."
