For the couple of people who alerted this story here is the next chapter - Hope you like it. Bit of a slow one I admit but the next chapter where they go to Diagon Alley is better and kind of amusing in places so stick with it and the real plot will soon kick in.

"How about we take Trix to the common room before we give her a tour?" Steven said pointedly to Laura and Sophia.

Trixabelle wondered for a moment who Trix was but realised it was her. In France everyone had called her Belle but this new name was kind of cool.

"Oh alright then." Laura said with a slight scowl in Steven's direction.

Trixabelle sent him a look of relief. She may have been Severus Snape's daughter but she could only handle so much walking after Apperating for the first time and having gone so far.

Fortunately the common room wasn't too far away – down a wide corridor and up a tower at the top of which a suit of armour opened the door for them by striking it with its sword when you answered a question, the answer to which was necromancy at the moment.

"Morbid." Trix commented.

"Sir John, the suit of armour, likes to go through all the different types of wizardry from time to time. Sometimes though it's something as stupid as his own name." Sophia said with a shrug.

Once they passed the door the air was scented with camomile and soft lights flickered on all the tables and the mantle of the fire. All the furniture was dark blue with gold trimming and the Ravenclaw name sake stood proudly over the fire. Already there were a lot of people in the room doing homework or reading books of various descriptions. Someone was crying in the corner being comforted by friends and other people looked sympathetically in his direction.

"Mother just died. Ran in with the last of the Death Eaters and tried to bring him in. Death Eater was caught but Snape didn't arrive in time to save her." Steven whispered in her ear.

"What does my dad have anything to do with it?"

"He's the best with the Vulnera Sanentur healing spell. If he couldn't bring her back then no one could."

"Has he spoken to him about it yet?"

For a moment everyone was silent. It was the deep voice of Archie that broke the silence. "No." he said shortly.

"Well that's not fair. He deserves to know what exactly happened to his mum!"

"Not so loud, Trix." Sophia scalded looking round at the crying boy. "Severus is not going to change his habits just for Daniel. Not after what he went through with You-Know-Who. Forget it for now. It's not the time. I'll show you to the dorm. I suppose you want to write to your family back in France. And Madame Maxime. I bet she's pleased with the illegal stunt you just pulled." Sophia swiftly walked off up another set of stairs.

Trixabelle obediently followed. "Did I say something wrong?" she asked Laura.

"The lady was her aunt. She cried almost as much as Daniel when she found out. She hates Snape right now for not talking to them. You're lucky she's being civil to you right now actually. I'm quite surprised."

"Considering myself lucky." Trix said and the subject was dropped.

The dorm was a room at the end of the corridor. There were five beds in there, four of them occupied. Each had blue and gold curtains with an eagle on them and the crest stood on the back of the door. People's clothes trunks were neatly stowed at the end of each of the beds and books were stacked on and in bedside tables. All of them faced into a semi-circle save for the one that was to be Trix's bed. It was quite obvious why it had been left unoccupied – it was the only one not in the semi-circle and was therefore the most unsociable place to be. Everyone else had left it empty even though it offered the most privacy.

The bed was behind the others on the far right hand wall set inside an alcove that it only just fit lengthwise into. It only had one curtain but it was set a foot away from the bed meaning there was more room to comfortably change than all the other beds offered. But even this extra space and privacy wasn't enough to make anyone want to be away from everyone else in the room. For now though that was alright with Trix. She was in a new place and didn't really know anyone. She'd be able to hear the conversation which was noise enough for her right now.

"When are all your things arriving?" Laura asked.

"Um… well I need to write to Madame Maxime first."

Laura narrowed her eyes. "You don't sound French."

"My aunt and uncle are English. I got their accent." Trix shrugged and sat on her bed. It was far more comfortable than any of the beds at Beauxbatons. "Can I send a couple of letters? No one knows I'm here. Maybe except Mad Maxime."

Laura got her some parchment and a quill.

"You can use my owl." Sophia said kindly having got over her anger. "I'll fetch him for you."

Laura closed the door after Sophia left and then sat on her bed apparently doing homework whilst listening to the wireless. Trix sat on her bed and wondered what to write. In the end she decided to write to Madame Maxime first.

Dear Madame Maxime,

I'm at Hogwarts. No doubt Severus Snape has already told you. I Apperated here. Illegal I know but I only intended to go the other side of the field. I'm staying here for the rest of my education at the least. Could you send my clothes and equipment?

Trixabelle Williams

Informative enough, she thought, and it was all in French to try and get back on Madame Maxime's good side. Around Beauxbatons she'd constantly talked and wrote in English much to the teachers' annoyance. Even after living in France her whole life she was more comfortable and confident using English. She looked at it a moment longer and decided to scratch out her surname (at least what was her surname) and write 'Snape' instead. She then chuckled and wondered at her forner head teacher's shock as she figured it out. All she had to do now was hope she'd got all the grammar right. What she had to do next was tell her aunt and uncle (they were really her great aunt and uncle but the whole title was far too long to bother with) that she'd not see them for a long time.

Dear Aunt Ruth and Uncle John,

I'm at Hogwarts… I was experimenting with Disapperition and it went wrong and I landed here. I had to convince my dad to let me stay but he said I can. I'm in the Ravenclaw house. I was almost in Slytherin though. Everyone in the Great Hall was really excited to learn that their professor has a daughter and I've been treated a bit like a celebrity. Is that so strange?

Is he always so cold? He tried to send me back before he even asked what I wanted to do. Then he made the Sorting Hat sort me in front of everyone in the Hall. And he failed to save someone's mother and hasn't even explained what happened to the guy! I know he went through a lot with the whole Voldemort thing and killing Dumbledore but really is he incapable of showing some… kindness?

Some people have adopted me into their group and they're all kind of cool I guess for saying I've only just met them. Already I have more friends here than I did back in France – at least I can speak this language properly!

My dad… father… Severus… is taking me to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get uniform and stuff. Isn't Mr Ollivander there? Maybe he'll have a wand for me.

What do I call him? I mean I called him Dad back with you guys but now that he's here, actually here… I don't know but I feel weird calling him Severus too. I guess I'll have to call him Professor Snape around school though.

I'm sorry you're finding out about this by letter. I hope you're happy. Write soon – please.

Trix

- that's what everyone here is calling me and I'm trying to get used to it.

Sophia had long come back with her owl who was a Barn Owl called Hooter.

"He's really quite fast. Where do your Aunt and Uncle live?"

"Paris. In a flat near Manhattan Island. The other one is to Beauxbatons for Madame Maxime." Trix said to Hooter whilst he was tying the letter to her leg.

Hooter hooted before he left and then he was gone, disappearing into the blackness of the night faster than Trix had ever seen a bird fly.

Filius Flitwick accompanied Severus to his office after dinner had finished. Severus had been unusually quiet throughout the meal. By all accounts that was almost a miracle in itself as Severus didn't say much when he was so surrounded by people, but today he had been positively silent. Withdrawn even. Worrying was the best word to describe it. Filius and Pomona Sprout had discussed what to do and it had been decided that Filius should be the one to talk to him even though Severus was just as good friends with Pomona.

Needless to say this was one conversation Filius Flitwick wasn't looking forward to and planned to keep his wand close to hand just to feel a bit safer even though he knew Severus wouldn't hurt him.

Severus irritably spoke the password and walked up the stairs to his office as fast as they appeared. Filius had a job to keep up with him and only just managed to dart through the door he slammed.

He sat behind his desk and Filius sat opposite him in a chair that Severus usually levitated so they could easily look each other in the eye. This time he didn't bother. Filius was relieved. He didn't fancy going spinning off into a dark corner. Not this soon after dinner anyway. He turned in his chair to talk to the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore looked back at him his face slipping from the calm confidence he was known for into a look of deep concern.

"Not exactly helping this time, Albus." Filius with a weak smile.

"She's supposed to be in France." Severus began. "She's safe there."

"All the Death Eaters have been caught, Severus. She's perfectly safe here." Filius said knowing he was speaking the truth but doubting that Severus would agree with him through sheer stubbornness.

"I put her in France for a reason."

"And what did you say to me when you came back here? 'I'd give anything for her to have a good father'."

"I'm not a good man."

"And Albus Dumbledore is a fool!" Filius shot back not sure he could believe what he'd just heard. Severus Snape not a good man? After everything he'd done for Dumbledore, after everything he'd sacrificed… How could he say he wasn't a good man?

"What am I supposed to do with a… little girl?"

"How old is she Severus?"

"Seventeen." He said without hesitating. "Hardly a little girl anymore." He mused thinking over all the things he'd missed.

His anger wasn't because she'd turned up but because he didn't know what to do, how to proceed with her. For all he knew she was exactly like her mother – the thought that had scared him for days as he contemplated going to see her. What of she was no better than her mother? What if she was no better than he was?

"Exactly. She's nearly all grown up." Filius sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "What do you think you should do?"

Severus didn't say anything but look out of a window lost in thought. He was looking back over his childhood – how he always looked forward to going back to school and dreaded the holidays. The only solace he'd had during the holidays had been his beloved Lily. That is until he ruined their friendship. After that he'd been left to the mercy of his parents' carelessness and callous treatment. What had he wanted back then? Parents who loved him, who he could talk to and would help with his homework.

But could he give Trixabelle that? He certainly didn't know how since no one had done it for him. When he looked at her he saw… her mother. Himself.

"You're scared, Severus." Dumbledore's portrait said.

"I… don't know what to do." he admitted.

"What do you normally do with children?" Dumbledore said once again looking wise.

"Tell them to add worm tails to their potions."

"You help them." Dumbledore then busied himself reading a book.

Severus stared out the window once more.

"Well I should be off, detention to conduct with the young Mr Weasley for doing trickery in my lesson. Exactly like his father." Filius got off his chair and looked back up at Severus. "I always thought you'd be an excellent father." He said.

"Then you thought wrong."

"I'll make sure Miss. Snape knows to meet you here tomorrow after breakfast." Filius didn't say anything else after that but shook his head as he walked towards the door.

Once the door had closed Severus stopped looking out the window and turned his attention to more easily solvable matters, the first one concerning a letter from Pomona.

Severus,

The plants I ordered for the 1st years' herbology lessons still have not arrived. I have enquired after them but the seller believes them to be on foreign soil. Could you employ someone to search for them?

Pomona.

Severus sat back and supposed… supposed that Filius was right about Trixabelle. She wasn't so young anymore that she needed… wait what did this have to do with the plants? He shook his head to rid himself of all thoughts about her. He was working and didn't need the distraction. He was already going to be taking her to Diagon Alley tomorrow and losing precious time working. He needed to get all the work done tonight if he wasn't going to fall behind.

The next thing he had to do was ask Argus Filch to polish the armour again. A letter would do but very quickly he found himself writing about this conflicted feelings instead. He scrunched the parchment up and then set it on fire with his wand. He watched the pieces turn to cinders and then set his quill back in the ink pot.

"You call yourself an Occulmens." He muttered to himself.

Concentration for work evaded him for most of the evening, and so he poured himself a glass of his favourite red wine and sat by the fire just trying to clear his thoughts.

That night, for the first time in a long time, he didn't sleep because he was worried.

So what did you think - let me know in a review, you know you want to!

I, alas, do not own Harry Potter but J.K. Rowling does.