Severus Snape looked up at the faint knock on his office door. He didn't bother asking who it was or calling for them to enter. He knew perfectly well by the number of knocks and the speed at which they came who was at his door. He also knew that this person would invite himself in, even if the Potion's Master pretended not to be in, as he was known to do on occasion.

"Good morning, Severus," Albus Dumbledore greeted Slytherin's Head of House.

"I don't see much good about it, Headmaster," Snape replied bitterly.

"I believe a bit of optimism would do you some good today, Severus," Dumbledore replied and then chuckled lightly.

"With all due respect, Albus," Snape began, "all the optimism in the world probably wouldn't help me."

"You told me several years ago, when you first came to apply for the teaching position I believe, that there had been one thing that brought light to your life," Albus said. Snape didn't reply, and the Headmaster hadn't expected one. "Today's the day, is it not?"

Snape sighed, "It is," he replied.

"That is what I came to talk to you about, Severus," Dumbledore said, ignoring the hard backed chair students were often sat in, and conjured a much more comfortable chair. After he had settled comfortably in it, Dumbledore continued, "Your daughter is not yet seventeen, and therefore will have to remain here at Hogwarts at least until she is of age."

"We've already established this, Albus," Snape cut in. "I'm well aware of the circumstances."

"Allow me to finish, please," Albus replied. Snape glowered, but said nothing else. "I came here to offer Severyn a job. If she accepts my offer, then Severyn would be something like a secretary to me. Organize documents, help me remember my appointments."

"Headmaster, you are likely the last person to need a secretary," Snape replied.

"And you, Severus, are likely the last person to allow a person to live in this castle with out earning her keep," Dumbledore replied fixing Snape with a knowing gaze. "I am merely offering this job as a means to prevent that from happening. I was hoping to accompany you to Hogsmeade when you go to meet her."

"Very well then," Snape replied knowing that he had no say in the matter.

"Excellent, when do we leave?" Dumbledore replied.

"Severyn is set to arrive at noon," Snape replied.

"Ah, then now would be an excellent time to be on our way," Dumbledore said, "Come now, Severus, I'll have a carriage meet us at the door."

Snape glowered, but stood up to join the headmaster. He had planned to wait until a time closer to noon, but Dumbledore no doubt wanted to arrive early for a reason known only to the headmaster.

The Three Broomsticks only had a handful of guests, so the two educators were able to choose a table near the fireplace where Severyn would floo in. Dumbledore exchanged silent greetings with the few other guests in the pub. Snape glared at them as though daring any one of them to smile and wave at him.

"Hello, Professors!" Madam Rosmerta greeted them cheerfully. "What'll it be?"

"Severus, would you care for anything?" Dumbledore asked, "It will be my treat."

"A large bucket of fire whiskey," Snape said sarcastically.

"Severus," Dumbledore said giving the Potion's Master and stern, yet amused look.

"Oh very well, coffee," Snape said. "You're no fun, Albus."

"A round of coffee then, Rosmerta," Dumbledore ordered, "And perhaps some biscuits if you have any."

"Have that right out," Rosmerta promised them, and then walked away.

Snape looked around the pub with a frown; he would have much preferred to meet Severyn as the Hogshead. The Three Broomsticks was much too cheerful for his tastes. Perhaps it was the way the current patrons were laughing and enjoying themselves. Maybe it was all the adolescent energy that his students left behind at their last visit. Snape's thoughts turned to the upcoming school year that began the next day. He still had plenty of work to do, and yet he had to put it on hold to greet his daughter. He had missed her greatly, of course, but surely, they could have sent a carriage to pick her up.

A mug landing in front of him brought Snape back to reality and he looked up in time to see Rosmerta setting a pot of coffee in the middle of the table. A plate of biscuits was placed next to the pot and Rosmerta left to attend to another customer.

"So, Severus, what does Severyn look like these days?" Dumbledore asked dunking one of the biscuits into his coffee. He took a bite and chewed while waiting for an answer

"She looked like her mother when she was younger. I'd imagine she still looks like her now." Snape replied, "I don't look at the pictures often."

"Isabella was a lovely woman," Dumbledore replied. "Severyn must be a lovely girl."

"She inherited some traits from me, Headmaster," Snape replied with a humorless laugh.

Dumbledore was about to reply when the fire suddenly changed color to a bright emerald green. Both Professors turned to watch as a girl suddenly appeared in the fireplace. She was carrying a small trunk in her arms. The girl looked around the pub uncertainly as she stepped out of the fireplace.

"Hello, dear!" Rosmerta greeted the girl. "Help you, sweetie?"

"I'm looking for my father." The girl replied.

"Right then, what does he look like?" Rosmerta asked.

"I'm not sure," the girl began.

Snape cleared his throat loudly and the girl looked at him. Her eyes grew wide as she realized who he was. She thanked Rosmerta and walked over to the table. Professor Dumbledore immediately rose to greet her. Snape, however, remain seated; he had coffee to drink after all.

"You must be Severyn," Dumbledore said extending a hand for her to shake.

"Yes, sir," Severyn replied accepting the offered hand.

"I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts," Dumbledore replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Severus?"

"Hi," Severyn said quietly looking at Snape with apprehension.

"What are you waiting for?" Snape asked in reply, "Sit down."

Dumbledore pulled out a chair for Severyn to sit in. She looked around the pub with a look of interest and curiosity on her face. Rosmerta came back by their table to refill the coffee pot and asked Severyn what she wanted to drink. Severyn ordered an apple cider, and then resumed looking around. Rosmerta returned a moment later with a glass of cider.

"You still like that?" Snape asked suddenly, and Severyn whipped her head around to look at him.

"I've always liked cider," Severyn answered.

"I must say that I wish the circumstances under which you are coming to us were a bit more cheerful," Dumbledore said breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled over their table. "If you don't mind my asking, Severyn, how did your mother die?"

"They're not sure yet," Severyn replied sadly. "They're going to do an autopsy and send me their findings. The Aurors said it looked like she was poisoned, but I can't imagine why anyone would do that."

"Things some people do never make any sense," Snape spoke up. "I know that I did some things in my life that still make no sense to me to this day."

"Like what?" Severyn asked innocently.

"Like taking a teaching position at Hogwarts," Snape offered.

"One day, Severus, you will leave that teaching position. Then, you will think back, and you will miss it," Dumbledore replied.

"I seriously doubt that," Snape replied. "I'm going to throw a huge party the day I leave those dreadful little nitwits behind. And I'm not going to invite a single one of them to it."

"I'd imagine they'd have their own celebration," Dumbledore said with humor in his voice.

"Would you blame them?" Snape asked rhetorically, and then changed the subject. "I have quite a bit of work still to do. Perhaps we could settle the bill and return to the castle?"

"Certainly, Severus," Dumbledore agreed. "Do not worry about your drink, Severyn. It is my treat."

"Thank you." Severyn replied.

Professor Dumbledore paid for the drinks, and joined Snape and Severyn outside the pub. Severyn was staring wide eyed at the thestrals that pulled the carriages, but Snape was practically bored by them.

"Thestrals," Severyn said in a breathy voice.

"Yes, thestrals, surely you've heard of them," Snape replied.

"I did, but I couldn't see them at the time. I think I preferred them more when I couldn't see them," Severyn replied.

"Useful creatures, Thestrals, but the circumstances under which we see them are rather sad," Dumbledore said as he opened the door to the carriage. "I myself have been seeing them for several years now. More than I actually care to admit."

Snape sat across from Dumbledore and Severyn on the ride back to castle. Severyn looked out the window of the carriage as they rode, and that afforded Snape some time to look at his daughter. She still had her black hair, something she had inherited from him no doubt, and it was quite long. Her face was almost exactly like her mother's, but she had his dark eyes.

Dumbledore bid his farewells to them at the castle doors and headed for his office. Snape instructed Severyn to follow him, and led her to the dungeons. He stopped for a moment to show Severyn the potions classroom, and then led them past it to a painting of a large tree at night.

"When you approach this painting, say 'Silver Cauldron'," Snape instructed. "That is the password that will get you through this door."

Indeed, when Snape said 'Silver Cauldron', the painting swung open to reveal a large hole in the wall. They stepped through it into a large sitting room. Severyn looked around taking in the overstuffed chairs, the desk, and the fireplace.

"Your room is down the hall on the left. Mine is at the very end, and the bathroom is on the right," Snape explained the layout. "I'm afraid I do have some work to do, so you'll have to wait for a grand tour of the castle. So, you might want to go to room and unpack."

"Am I allowed to do magic?" Severyn asked. "One of the witches at the AMG shrunk my trunk for so it would be easier to carry, and I don't know if I'm allowed to return it to its right size."

"You are still underage, so I believe it would be best if you followed Hogwarts' school rules until you are seventeen," Snape replied. "I'll resize it for you, and then I'm going to have to ask you to leave me to my work for a few hours."

"All right," Severyn agreed.