"Dumbledore!" Ms. Figg began shouting as soon as she landed in the headmaster's office. "Dumbledore! Dumbled-oh." She spotted the old man at his desk, rifling through papers. He smiled heartily at her.

"My, my Arabella to what do I owe the pleasure?" He removed his spectacles and stood up to welcome his visitor. They shook hands in greeting before the squib all but collapsed into the wooden chair at the front of his desk. The chair quickly turned into an overstuffed recliner, thanks to Dumbledore. She beamed gratefully before launching into her tale.

"Sir I have reason to believe that Violet Potter is not safe at Privet Drive," she said carefully, eying his reaction. He merely smiled as if waiting for her to continue. "I was at the park today when I saw her and her aunt and cousin. Petunia wasn't paying attention pushing that chubby little boy on the swings. She had bruises all over her Albus! And when I asked her she said her uncle had pushed her and that her aunt pinched her! It's also clear that her cousin must bully her too! Before I could get more out of her, Petunia took her home," Ms. Figg paused, not sure if she should reveal what else the child had said. Deciding it was a mere coincidence, she continued. "I know you said it was safe there but please listen. She's already small for her age and a little skinny. I know there's more than enough food in that house to feed her: that man, Vernon, is huge."

Albus Dumbledore listened quietly and observed the worked up state of the woman. "Now Arabella-"

"Don't you Arabella me Albus Dumbledore! Something is going on with that little girl. She doesn't play and I've never seen her with any toys of her own. I gave her a doll when I babysat her once and she just stared at it like she didn't know what to do with it!"

The old man sighed and stroked his beard. "I'm sure you're overreacting, my dear Ms. Figg-"

"I am NOT overreacting!" He held up his hand to silence her.

"As I was saying, I'm sure you are over reacting but I will investigate the matter at hand. I'll try and stop by sometime this week to observe the child."

"Some time this week?!" Ms. Figg screeched. She all but attacked the man. Did he not realize what was happening to this little girl? No one should have to put up with that kind of abuse. Underfed, bruises, and that sore foot were all things that should be looked at…heaven help the old woman if the abuse had or would turn sexual. The sudden thought made the old woman's blue eyes widen. "I demand-"

A knock at the door stopped Arabella Figg's tirade. Dumbledore welcomed any person who could help him calm down the irate Ms. Figg. He had too much on his plate today already. "Come in," he called.

The door opened to reveal a man in black robes. "Headmaster, the Perry brothers have- oh hello Ms. Figg," he said, his annoyed face changed to that of indifference.

"Ah Severus," Dumbledore smiled, "I believe you remember Ms. Figg?"

"Yes the one who checks on the Potter brat," Snape nodded. He tried to hide the look of utter distaste on his face. He had come to the Headmaster's office to inform the man that the Perry brothers, fourth year and sixth year, had managed to get toilet paper to fall on anyone entering the first floor bathrooms. The welfare of the small girl mattered little compared to the fact that he, Snape, had fallen victim to the prank mere minutes ago. He had vanished all the toilet paper off of him after leaving the bathroom with a scowl but had missed a sheet on his lower back.

"Excuse you Professor but that little girl is not a brat. She is a sweet innocent creature who appears to be being raised by people who despise her as much as you do," Ms. Figg huffed. She glared heavily at him. It wasn't his fault though to have walked in on an unknown dispute about the living situations of said child.

"Dear Severus here had a bit of a disagreement with the child's father if you remember, Arabella. I'm sure he means nothing by his comment," Dumbledore stated trying to keep things from getting out of hand in office that had been peaceful minutes ago. "Now as I was telling you Ms. Figg, I'm afraid I can't come and see the child for a few days yet." He paused with a twinkle in his eye. He glanced at Severus. "However I do believe Severus has a free period right now." The man in question glared at the elder wizard.

"He just called little Violet Potter a brat? How would he give an unbiased opinion of her living situations?" The old woman demanded. She did not come to Hogwarts only to be turned away as a silly fool. She may be a squib but she would not back down to the great Albus Dumbledore.

"I assure you, he will give fair assessment of the situation," Dumbledore sent a quick glance as Severus who had once again wiped his face of all emotion. "I trust his judgment as my own." Snape knew Dumbledore would pull that card. It was an unnecessary way to guilt trip him into doing what the old man wanted. Black eyes met blue and an understanding was met.

"I will go with you Ms. Figg and I promise to behave accordingly," Snape almost grumbled. He understood he was to be there as Dumbledore's eyes and ears, not as himself.

"If there are any problems after this Ms. Figg, I promise you I will take care of it myself." Dumbledore returned to his desk, dismissing them both. The woman opened her mouth to say one more thing but, seeing the look the headmaster had as he peered over his half moon glasses, she concluded this discussion was over…for however short of a period, it was to be was in Snape's hands. She would just force the black haired man to see the truth of the situation.

With a nod from Dumbledore, Snape spoke to the woman. "Lets get this over with Ms. Figg. I have some students that need to be disciplined, namely those foolish Perry boys," he scowled. Those boys would get away with their idiotic prank for now, but once the so-called bat of the dungeons returned, there would be punishment for those two. "After you," he curtly said motioning to the fireplace.

She picked up the floo powder and glared at the man. His stare was cold, almost like what she saw in Petunia Dursley's eyes. She looked away, stepping into the flames. "Seventeen Wisteria Walk."
Brushing the soot off, grey haired woman strode into her living room. A few seconds later, the black clothed man arrived. He sneered, seeing all the cats everywhere.

"My kneazles, be careful of them," Mrs. Figg warned. Snape acted like he didn't hear her as he strode to the door. She followed suite.

"I don't need an escort, Mrs. Figg. I am perfectly capable of finding the house on my own." Blue eyes met black, each glaring at the other. "Point me Violet Potter," he said waving his wand. "I'll be back within the hour."

With that he swept out of the room, robes billowing behind him. 'Stupid bloody wizards,' Arabella thought to her self. She closed the door behind the man and huffed. She wished she had a better view to keep an eye on the blasted man.

Meanwhile, Severus Snape cast a silent disillusionment charm on himself to hide from the prying eyes of muggles. He followed the direction his wand pointed him to and ended up in front of a bland ordinary muggle house, in an ordinary muggle neighborhood. Hearing voices inside, he cast more spells to become invisible and quiet his breathing and footsteps. Peaking through the kitchen window, he saw there was no one in the entryway. He silently slid inside.

A voice cooed in the living room. Noiselessly, Severus crept towards the voice. He moved slowly as to not make any sudden movements, which might be detected considering how invisibility spells sometimes worked.

Finally stepping foot in the spotless living room, Severus stepped next to a small table that contained a bland white vase, to stay out of foot. He was not expecting the sight that greeted his eyes however.

Petunia Dursley was playing with her overweight son while her back was to the little girl with unkempt hair, who sat listlessly a few feet away. The little blonde boy laughed as his mother made airplane noises while he held a rather expensive toy plane. After a few seconds of being in the room, he noticed the girl make a slight movement in the corner of his eye. Removing his attention from the mother and son, Severus turned his attention to the room's fourth occupant. The little girl reached her hand slowly to a toy car laid at Petunia's foot. Her hand gripped it tightly and started to pull away. Severus fully expected Petunia to ignore the girl or push the toy towards her. Instead, the woman slapped her hand away from the toy.

"That's not yours girl. I don't want you to contaminate my precious Dudders," dishwater blonde screeched. She gave the car to her son, who quickly abandoned the airplane to play with other toy.

"Mine!" He cried and he too reached over to slap the young girl. She held up her arm in defense and he hit her forearm bone. Holding his arm close, he howled in pain.

"Look what you did you freak!" Petunia pulled her up by her arm. The little girl was practically dragged out of the room. "I want you to sit in there and think about what you've done." Severus heard a door slam. He had seen enough.

Hurriedly, the wizard took off the charms and spells he had placed himself. The fat little boy, who had remained in the room while his mother left, sat shocked as the man suddenly came into view.

Wordlessly, Severus stunned the boy to keep him from crying out, as Severus had a feeling he would. He slipped into the hallway just as Petunia was turning a key into a padlock on a cupboard door. One word got her attention. "Petunia."

Her head whipped around to the sound. The woman grew more terrified as she realized whom the man was. She pointed her finger accusingly as if to say something. Severus cut her off however.

"She would have expected better of you," he whispered. With that, he stunned her just as he did her son. The look of horror stayed frozen on her face as her body froze and fell over. Without pity, the black haired man pushed her body aside to get to the padlocked door. He pocketed his wand as he manually unlocked the lock and through out the bolt.

Light flooded the inside of the closet. A messy mop of red hair was the first thing he saw as he drew the door open with ease. Two tear dried eyes, one green one brown, stared up at him from under the red mess.

The green eye was the one that got his attention. He hadn't noticed it earlier. It was as if he was transported back in time and he was looking at a young Lily Evans. A ghost of summer breezes gone by brushed his skin. The scent of a hundred old leave piles filled his nostrils. The taste of snowflakes plagued his tongue. Laughter filled his ears…

The mismatched eyes blinked. Suddenly Severus was aware of where he was again. Lily…Lily was dead and had been dead for a while. This child, this was her child. The green eye was hers, the hair was hers, he bet even the laugh was hers.

Severus's heart, which had been hardened years ago and then frozen solid at Lily's death, suddenly melted. This child…this child was hers. She held a piece of her mother inside of her and Severus swore he would never let anything happen to her.

"H-hello there little one," he sighed. "I won't hurt you. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."

The little girl raised her arms hesitantly above her head. She wasn't allowed to ask to be picked up but she had a feeling this was okay. Her feeling was right as she was soon held tightly up against the man's body.

"No one will ever hurt you again," he repeated in her ear. Severus squeezed her body lightly and kissed her head. "I'm Severus." He stated. "And you, you're Violet aren't you?" She turned her head to look at his face.

"Mhmm 'M Vi'la," she agreed. Severus laughed for the first time in years at her cute little baby talk. It was just as he imagined she would sound.

"Mhmm," he mimicked, "You're Vi'la." She laughed at his impression of her.

"Noooooooo!" She giggled. "'M Vi'la."

"Oh, I see," he tickled her belly. "You're Emvila." She howled with laughter at the tickles and because of how he said her name. "And I'm Severus."

"Siwius!" She shouted with glee.

The black haired man stopped tickling her and nearly dropped her in shock. "No," he corrected. "Sirius is a bad man. I'm a…I'm Severus." He almost said he was a good man, but he was the man that had caused her mother's death. No, Severus Snape wasn't a good man…but he was an okay? man. He would prove it by keeping Violet safe.

"You Sewus."

"There you go little one." He tapped lightly on her nose. "Now let's get going shall we? We don't want the mean lady to wake up." He held her close once more, breathing in her childlike scent. She smelled like baby and Lily. It was heaven to his nose.

Violet snuggled into his shoulder. Severus wasn't going to bother with anything in the house, but noticed something on the little cot. He grabbed it and put it in his back pocket just in case.

Severus, with Violet wrapped around his waist, left the bland house on Privet Drive and headed toward Arabella Figg's house.