*I do not own Harry Potter or any characters from the book, only JK Rowling does. I only own Sophia-Cristina & the somber figure from Chapter I*
Chp II
Another staring contest with the hospital wall and yet the wall has won again. ::SIGH:: Its so boring in the hospital that some days Sophia wishes she could go back to Hogwarts and sit in class.
"Sophia?" said a familiar voice.
"Yes." Sophia said as the familiar person walked in. "Auntie Mini!" Sophia said as Minerva McGonagall and Snape both walked into the room. Sophia leapt out of bed and ran to hug McGonagall.
"Hello my little dancer." McGonagall said hugging Sophia tight. "How have you been?" McGonagall asked
"I've had good and bad days, but so far mostly well." Sophia said as Snape pushed her back to bed.
"Always the optimistic one in the family." McGonagall said with a smile, "Oh I have brought something for you. I know your father won't like it but what does it matter." McGonagall said as Snape shot her a look of I am in the room. She took out a small basket and enlarged it. "This is something from the whole staff. It has dozens of your favorite wizard & muggle candies." McGonagall said setting down the large & heavenly candy basket.
"That will do as an after dinner/lunch/ not often snack." Snape said putting the basket on a high shelf.
"Daddy, just one piece please." Sophia begged & shot him the puppy eye look
"You may have a piece after dinner and that's finally." Snape said as McGonagall took a small M&Ms bags and placed it in her hand. Sophia hid it in her bra; the one place Snape would never search. McGonagall smiled and decided to distract Snape.
"Severus a nurse just called you." McGonagall said as Snape left the room. This gave Sophia about 40 seconds to guzzle down the M&Ms.
"Thanks Auntie Mini. I miss regular food and life." Sophia said as McGonagall vanish the M&M wrapper & any hint of chocolate in the air.
Snape returned with the nurse who was bringing Sophia her dinner.
"Now tonight for dinner we have some broiled chicken, snow peas and a banana. Oh and a note that visiting hours will end 30 minutes early tonight for intern observation seminar. Good night." The nurse said leaving the room and the dinner.
After 20 minutes, dinner was over.
"All right love now you may have your 2nd piece of candy of the night." Snape said with a smile that said foolish child I know what you did earlier.
"Visiting hours are now over please say good bye to your love ones." A woman's voice over the PA announced.
"Well my little dancer I will be seeing you soon I hope." McGonagall said as her eyes watered.
"The doctors will let me know tomorrow." Sophia said hugging McGonagall tight.
"Very well, good night. I shall wait for you outside Severus." McGonagall said kissing Sophia's head & going outside.
As the door shut, Snape began the nightly ritual of tucking Sophia in for the night. Snape pulled the blankets one by one to Sophia's chin, fluff her pillow & kiss Sophia goodnight.
"Dad?" Sophia asked
"Yes love." Snape said smoothing out the wrinkles from the top blanket.
"Are you mad at me for not doing the treatment?" Sophia asked
:: Sigh:: "Darling I was in the beginning, but then I realize its selfish. I want you alive, yet I do not want to see you in pain. However baby girl you know what you can handle." Snape said with a sad look on his face. Death eaters were strong in all aspects but this however seems to be the breaking point.
Sophia yawns, which brings a smile to Snape.
"Daddy?" Sophia asked
"Yes baby girl?" Snape answers holding her hand
"Stay with me until I fall asleep?" Sophia asked
"Your wish is my command." Snape said kissing her forehead as Sophia's eyes closed.
"Visitors must begin leaving the hospital if not expect to be escorted out by ministry officials." The nurse's voice said over the PA
Snape glanced one last time at Sophia, kissed her forehead and left the room.
"She went right to sleep, Severus?" McGonagall asked
"Yes she did." Snape said as they apperated back to Hogwarts.
As both professors arrived, back at Hogwarts Snape furiously went to the dungeons to be alone with his thoughts.
"How is our little dancer doing, Minerva?" Dumbledore ask watching Snape descend into the dungeons.
"She was in good spirits when we were there, but you know Sophia." McGonagall said
"Yes I know her very well, always optimistic." Dumbledore said
"Well someone has to be in this day in age." McGonagall said
"I am going to check on our Potions Master." Dumbledore said descending to the dungeons.
Snape sat by his fireplace mulling over everything that has happened in the past few hours. As he slowly sipped the absent from his glass the portrait swung open.
"Fine night for a drink Severus. Might I join you?" Dumbledore asked
"Go ahead." Snape said too tired to argue.
"Minerva tells me that Sophia was in good spirits today." Dumbledore said
"Yes she was, but you know Sophia always the optimist even in grim days." Snape said
Dumbledore poured some absent into a wine glass and took one sip with grimace.
¨Yes I do. And, if I may be bold to say that Sophia's optimism can spread to you." Dumbledore said transforming the absent drink into a tropical drink.
"Dumbledore what is the point of this talk?" Snape said taking another sip.
"No point just a reminder, no matter what happens a part of Sophia will always live in you." Dumbledore said
"Touching headmaster." Snape said staring at the fire & holding a wine glass in the other.
"When does Ms Sophia come home?" Dumbledore asked
"The doctors want to observe her for one more day so by tomorrow we will know the answer." Snape said
"Why don't you take the day off tomorrow and return on Tuesday for classes. I'm sure I can find a substitute for them." Dumbledore said
"Headmaster I would prefer to-"Snape said but was interrupted by Dumbledore
"I insist on it, plus it might be a pleasant surprise for Sophia to see you earlier in the day." Dumbledore said
Snape sighed again knowing all to well he cannot change Dumbledore's mind.
"Very well Headmaster." Snape said taking one last sip of his absent.
"Well now that the matter is settled I best be off to bed. Pleasant dreams Severus." Dumbledore said leaving the dungeons.
Snape quickly changed into his pajamas and slipped into bed. Since Sophia's diagnosis, there was never a peaceful night's sleep for Snape. He always slept with one eye open incase the unthinkable should happened, meaning Sophia's death. Slowly his eyes began succumbing to sleep and then they did.
*Dream Sequence*
Snape opened his eyes and confronted with a scene long tucked away in his memories.
"1! 2! 3! That is it time of death: 2:06pm. Let's go tell him." Dr McDougall said as Snape watched in horror as another person covered her body. The woman was Lucy Yale, Sophia's mother and the woman he chose to get Lily's attention.
Snape followed the Doctor out into the waiting room. There Snape saw his younger self sitting in a chair drumming his fingers impatiently. Then the doors open & he stood.
"I'm sorry Professor Snape, we lost her.," the young doctor said
"Couldn't save a potion McDougall let alone a human::sigh:: What about the baby?" Snape asked
"Your daughter survived. She is in the nursery. This way Professor Snape." McDougall said leading Snape to the nursery.
Snape looked at himself walking. He remembered that day when he 1st saw Sophia, which was the last day too.
"Who are they? What are they doing with my daughter?" Snape said pounding on the glass.
"They are ministry officials. Professor with all due respects we reported you to the Ministry. Rules are that anyone who is or was a death eater be reported to the Ministry. Since your records show that you are still, then the child gets taken away from that parent." McDougall said as Younger & Older Snape watched Sophia being taken away.
"WAIT! Please let me see her?" Younger Snape asked
"We cannot allow you to hold her." McDougall said
"Just let me see her even through the glass." Younger Snape asked as McDougall nodded and a female minister brought the baby girl to the window.
Older Snape watched his younger self touched the glass as a tear slid down his cheek. What shocked him next was something he had forgotten occurred. As Older Snape watched, he placed his hand on the window. His new daughter opened her eyes & reached out to place her tiny hand on the window with his.
"Even then she knew I was her dad." Older Snape said as the memory began to dissolve.
*Dream Sequence Ends*
Snape sat straight up in his bed and drudgingly looked at his pocket watch, which read 2:35am. He sighed and lies back down on his bed and fell asleep once again.
Yet another chapter down and Merlin's beard how many more. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for the reviews they were greatly appreciated. Please continue to review, or suggest ideas. All reviews are appreciated the good and the bad, even if you say one word please review.