Snape rubbed his tired eyes. Ayanna hadn't slept at all. She was a darling girl, but at the age of a year old, she had decided sleeping through the night wasn't for her. Now she was snuggled against his stomach, sleeping contently. He breathed in a little, feel his eyes lower. He quickly shook off the sleep, laying Ayanna down in her crib. He slowly walked to the couch and lay down. He hadn't had a drink in the month and half. That was how long she had been there. He loved her already, and her inquisitive green eyes reminded him of Lily. She always smiled, except when she cried. Snape drifted off to sleep wondering how he was to survive another day traveling to Hogwarts in an hour.
He woke with a start. Knocking continued on the door as Ayanna screamed. He shook his head, picking her up and walking to the door to answer it. Mrs. Longbottom stood there, her arms crossed.
"Snape, your late again. The time got away from me while I watched my grandchild, and I just noticed you're a half hour late." Snape glanced at the clock, wincing.
"I am sorry, I think I might have to move to Hogsmeade permanently soon, with all the traveling. Here is Anna." He had shortened her name to Anna, but not pronounced as AA-nna, but Ah-nna. He didn't like the way AA-nna sounded, but Ah-nna was sophisticated. Mrs. Longbottom smiled as she took Anna, nodding in agreement.
"Well, I would be off if I were you, but have a terrific day, Severus." Severus nodded, closing the door and Apparating to the front gate of Hogwarts.
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"And Neville told me I made a dumb girl, so I charmed his toad. It is an ugly toad, isn't it Daddy?" Anna asked, swinging her legs. She was five now, and a very inquisitive little girl. She always claimed that she had Severus's hair, even though Severus didn't have the heart to tell her who her real father was. Dumbledore and Severus had agreed that they would tell her when she was eleven, so they could explain why she couldn't go to Hogwarts. "Daddy, can I come teach with you today?" Her green eyes sparkled as her two black pigtails bounced. Severus smiled down on her.
"Then what would your teacher say, I think you are learning the letter 'R' today." Anna giggled.
"Daddy, I already know my letter 'R', it is in your name."
"That it is."
"Daddy, why isn't the letter 'S' anywhere in my name, first or last?" Severus winced at this.
"Because, we have different last names, but that doesn't mean anything, I'm still your daddy."
"Draco Malfoy said you aren't." Anna looked hurt by this. She looked at Severus with innocent eyes.
"Well, Draco Malfoy must have been in a bad mood. He is always picking on you. Maybe I should have a talk with his daddy. I don't know why he would do that. Evans and Snape might not be the same last name, but Evans is a very common name, anyone can have that name. So don't worry. I bet Draco is just jealous because you are smarter." Anna giggled, taking another bite of the marmalade toast Snape had made her for breakfast.
"Why don't I have a mommy?"
"Because, your mommy is in heaven."
"What was her name?"
"You are just talkative today, aren't you?"
"Yes, but you always tell me I am named after a flower. Mommy must have a flower name too. Does she go by your last name or mine?" Severus wanted to cry at that point. He had always missed Lily, in the four years he had Ayanna, he had missed Lily.
"You are going to be late if we don't hurry, so finish your toast."
"Yes Daddy." She took another bite, and Snape winced when he thought of all the things him and Lily had gone through. And now he had her daughter. He loved Ayanna, but for some reason, he saw more of Lily in her than James. He didn't know if he could love Ayanna the same if she looked a lot like James…
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Ayanna slept soundly under her warm covers. Suddenly, her windows were thrown open, revealing a bright sun.
"Daddy, don't wake me up like that," She groaned, as her father walked over, an omelet sitting on a tray with a candle sticking out of it.
"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Ayanna, happy birthday to you." Anna smiled broadly, blowing out the candle. He smiled at his daughter. "Happy fifteenth birthday, Anna."
"Thank you Daddy."
"So, what do you want for your birthday?" She smiled, he had always done this. He asked her what she wanted on her birthday so he would get something before she decided she didn't want it.
"Well, I really want something, and it's really easy for you to get."
"And what is that?"
"I want to go to Hogwarts." She said it bluntly. It wasn't that she hated Beauxbatons, she just didn't fit in. Her black hair always seemed to darken the mounds of blondes. That wasn't the only thing. She loved guys, but these girls surrounded their whole lives with pleasing a husband. She had always heard great stories of Hogwarts from old school mates like Neville and Draco. They always begged her to come, but she knew that her father didn't want her to. And Harry Potter wasn't the only reason. Snape wasn't stupid. Anna had inherited her mother's beauty. Her black hair was cut in layers, lying strait around her face, and she had bangs side-sweeping across her face, hiding her lightning scar. Her cat-like eyes sparkled with knowledge, the deep green a beauty only one other person in this world possessed, and he happened to look like James. Anna was five-six, a good height, and she had always loved running, and was a great player on any of the Quidditch positions. Snape was afraid of how popular Anna would be at Hogwarts, and she would draw attention to herself. He shook his head.
"Anna—"
"Daddy, please don't say no. I don't have any great friends at my school now. I promise to lay low. My brother won't even know my last name." Snape looked at her pleading eyes, and shook his head.
"I will consider it." Anna face drew into a smile, and she wrapped her arms around Snape's neck, feeling excitement surround her.
"Thank you, Daddy. I love you so much." She whispered, and Snape smiled, thinking of how this girl had grown with him, and she had turned into a beautiful young lady. Now, all she had to deal with was meeting Harry. Snape didn't like him at all, but only for the fact that he wished Harry looked like him and not James bloody Potter…
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"So you are coming?" Draco asked, his back propped against the tree, as Neville sat across from him at a picnic table. Anna smiled at both of them, thinking of the fact that they only got along when they were at this park with her. She had decided that she was their middle ground, almost a neutral against Draco's red-hot temper and Neville, always almost blue with how scared he was. She had always called herself their purple, a color of royalty.
"Yes, I start this year, isn't this so exciting?" She said. Draco raised his eyebrow skeptically, letting an awkward silence settle. Neville had caught on quickly, and did the same. They held the silence for about ten seconds, and then broke into broad smiled.
"What house do you want to be in?" Neville suddenly said, then quieted. Draco looked up with questioning eyes, but Neville tried to look like he hadn't said anything, looking at an ant crawling across the table. She tried to think of the best way to answer the question.
"Well, I don't care what house I get into, but I would appreciate it if I didn't have two boys getting into a fist fight because one of them lost me to another house." Both boys averted their gaze at this point, not wanting to look at Anna. "If you boys both promise me that you won't fight, I would really appreciate it." They both looked at each other. "And if you agree, we have to bind it with a spell, so you won't break it." Draco drummed his pointer finger against his lip as Neville tapped his on the picnic table. They had no idea that they were alike at all. She smiled at this. That was what she loved about both of them. They liked different things, but were both alike in certain ways, also.
"Fine, I will do it if he does it." Neville decided.
"So will I." Anna smiled, pulling out her wand and sealing the promise; glad she would be at Hogwarts with two friends already. She grabbed both of their hands, feeling a little rush of feeling coming through her, almost like a spark. The problem was, she didn't know who it came from. They both looked at her, smiling brightly, but she suddenly felt uneasy. Anna broke the grasp, sticking her hands inside her pockets.
"Great, I am so psyched about this year. No all girl's school for me." She said, smiling.
"Me too, but I got to go." Neville turned and started running towards the gate.
"So, who will you sit with on the train?" Draco said, smiling wickedly.
"That is not fair, and if you keep asking questions like this, I will sit with Harry Potter." Draco looked startled by what she said. He had never really talked to Anna about Harry, or heard her talk about him.
"Harry Potter is a bloody git."
"You said you don't mind him as much as you let on."
"I don't, but he is still an annoying, bloody git." Anna laughed, looking up into Draco's eyes.
"Well, who cares, I would sit with him just to spite you. I might even go after his best friend just for the fun of it."
"Why not the Potty, himself?" Anna hid back a snort. She still hadn't told Draco or Neville about her parents. To them, she was just Snape's adopted daughter. "I mean, you could probably get him, or anyone else in that school." She looked up, almost shocked by Draco's sudden forwardness.
"Um, thanks, but I think I will pass on Harry, he doesn't really seem like my type, plus Daddy would kill me. He hates Harry, remember?"
"That he does. So, are you ready for Hogwarts?" She smiled wickedly in return.
"I think that the real question should be 'is Hogwarts ready for me'?"
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Snape grabbed Anna's arm protectively as they walked through Diagon Alley, He was nervous, looking at every turn to make sure nothing was there.
"Daddy, I think you are being really protective." Snape blushed, dropping her arm.
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to be an annoying dad." Anna smiled.
"Don't worry Daddy, but can I go off by myself, you need to get school supplies." He looked at her reluctantly, but nodded.
"Have fun." He said simply. Anna smiled, running off into a crowd. He watched her battered jean jacket disappear, thinking what a great daughter she truly was.
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"Harry, don't look so wary." Ron whispered under his breath as Harry gripped the leash tighter. "No one knows who Padfoot is."
"Be quiet Ron." Harry hissed. A girl suddenly leaned down, rubbing Sirius's ears. She looked up at him, her green eyes smiling, although he sensed a hint on fear in them.
"Nice dog, what's his name?" She asked. She was dressed in all Muggle clothing, and her bangs swept across her forehead. Harry felt a little nervous that she was asking questions about his 'dog'.
"Padfoot, right Ron?" Harry asked, glancing over at Ron. Ron didn't speak however; he was looking at the girl, his eyes wide. That was when Harry noticed how pretty the girl was. Her green eyes shone, and her black hair fell around her, some of it tucked into her jacket. "Hi, I'm Harry." He said, introducing himself, even though he doubted he had to.
"Nice to meet you Harry. I like your dog." She looked at Ron," And you are?"
"Ron, Ron Weasley." He stammered. Harry tried to hide a smile.
"Nice to meet you both." A shadow fell over her, and Harry looked up. He sneered as he saw Malfoy.
"What are you doing here Malfoy?" Harry asked, feeling a deep loathing.
"Like I am here for you." Malfoy said. Harry looked down at the girl, shocked.
"You're with…I mean…you hang out with…" Harry couldn't get the words out.
"What, jealous Potter," Malfoy sneered. The girl snorted, and Harry, Ron, and Malfoy looked down at her, all with confused looks.
"Sorry, just thinking of…never mind." She said. She stood up, looking at all the boys. "Draco, shut up. Let's go now." She pushed him away from Harry and Ron, disappearing into the crowd.
"How did Malfoy get a girl like that?" Ron questioned.