Seven years later

"Hard to believe she's being sorted today," Raleigh said, coming to stand by Severus at the window. He turned and looked over his shoulder at the sweet blond girl curled up in an armchair by the fireplace. "Feels like just yesterday we were moving to Hogwarts." Raleigh's voice was wistful.

"Time has moved quickly," he replied, his gaze shifting from his child to his wife. She didn't seem to have aged a day, her long silvery hair still as beautiful as ever. He brushed a smudge of flour off her cheek.

"You've been spending a lot of time with the house elves in the kitchens."

"Yes, I'm rather fond of them. They know all sorts of recipes."

Severus smiled. "I know there are days when you would rather not be stuck at Hogwarts, but I appreciate your willingness to live here. It is where I need to be."

Raleigh nodded. "You know I'm never really stuck here. Except for maybe Dumbledore I'm the only person who can apparate off the grounds."

He reached towards her and pulled her small body into his arms, hugging her close. "I know. I'm just saying I'm glad you don't leave," he whispered into her hair, enjoying the warmth of her against him.

Taking his hand, she pulled away and turned to their daughter.

"Ariana, it's time to go. All the students are arriving at the castle. Your father has Head of House duties and you need to put on your school robes."

The lovely blond girl jumped up from her chair and walked over to join her parents. She wouldn't turn eleven until late December, but Dumbledore had made an exception for her to start school this year, mostly because she showed surprising maturity and a genuine thirst for learning.

Ariana sighed and took her father's free hand. "I feel as though I've grown up at Hogwarts. I barely remember our old house. Still, today I feel like a stranger. Do you think the other first years will like me?"

Severus bent down and lifted her chin. "Is this why you've been so quiet the past few days? You're nervous about starting school? Ari, I've missed your energy. Show your housemates how fun you can be, and you'll have no problem fitting in. I promise."

Ariana nodded, her color brightening a bit. "Okay, Dad. Just try not to embarrass me, okay?"

Severus chuckled. He wasn't so sure about that. He was known as one of the rather more frightening professors.

"I will do my best."

She smiled and he felt as though the whole room brightened. Some days she really reminded him of…Lily.

Severus had to work hard to keep a frown on his face as he watched the group of first years standing nervously in front of the Sorting Hat while Minerva explained how it worked. Ariana looked rather pale, but it wouldn't be her turn for a while.

He allowed his mind to wander, remembering the day he himself had been sorted.

"Evans, Lily."

He crossed his fingers for Slytherin, and was dismayed when the hat instantly called Gryffindor. Lily smiled, shrugged at him, and skipped off to join the Gryffindor table. He scowled. Maybe he could get in Gryffindor too. He waited anxiously as Lupin, Remus; Malloy, Raleigh; Pettigrew, Peter; and Potter, James were called up. All Gryffindor. Suddenly it was his turn. He approached the hat nervously. Maybe if Lily was in Gryffindor it wouldn't be so bad.

"Interesting, yes interesting," said the hat as Professor McGonagall set it on his head. "I know where you belong, right where I wanted to put the Black boy. Hmm. You belong in Slytherin, you know. Wanting to be a Gryffindor because of a friend is very different from wanting to be a Gryffindor because you're brave and true. There is nowhere else for you. SLYTHERIN!"

Severus got up frowning, and when he looked at Lily she made a sad face. Instead of paying her any attention he walked straight over to the Slytherin table and allowed his fellow housemates to pat him on the back. He couldn't bare to look at Lily, not since things had turned out like this.

"Snape, Ariana."

Severus was jerked out of his memories. He watched his fair-haired daughter sit down, the sorting hat falling over her ears. She sat there for a full minute before the hat screamed GRYFFINDOR!

He frowned a little. Ah well, it was her mother's House. Maybe the sorting hat had a thing against fathers being the Head of House of children. He watched as the Gryffindors patted her back. She was soon followed by Weasley, Fred and Weasley, George. Goodness, there were more of them? He already taught Bill, Charlie, and Percy. The two boys went to sit on either side of Ariana, both chorusing hello at the same time.

He suddenly felt protective of her. Still, there was something about red-heads that put him at ease. Ari would be all right. It was good to make new friends. He remembered repeating those words over and over the first time he had met Raleigh.

It's good to make new friends. It's good to make new friends.

Severus wasn't sure how he had let Lily talk him into this, but then again, it was rare that he ever told her no. He marched through the snow drifts, looking forward to a warm butterbeer. His robes were really in no shape for the cold weather.

The door to the Hogshead slammed shut behind him and suddenly he was enveloped in warmth. Despite the snowy walk, it was worth it to be a third year, just to be able to go to Hogsmeade. He spotted Lily sitting in a corner. Beside her was a pretty girl with silvery blond hair, dressed in Gryffindor robes and trying not to look like she was reading while Lily talked to her.

He walked over to the table and smiled at Lily. "Hi."

"Hi, Severus. This is Raleigh Malloy. She's our year. She's stellar at Potions."

He wondered why they had never met before. He was certain that Slytherin and Gryffindor had had double potions at least once in the last few years.

"I'm going to get us a few butterbeers. Why don't you all talk?"

Suddenly he felt suspiciously like Lily had set him up. She disappeared and he was left with a girl he barely knew, unsure of what to say or how to act. It was most irritating.

"So, you're good at Potions?"

She lifted her gaze from the book and smiled. She really was quite unique looking.

"Lily is exaggerating. She's the one who's so good. Slughorn just adores her. I made a perfectly decent cauldron of Amortentia the other day and he didn't even notice because Lily happened to be able to tell him what a bezoar is. As if anyone doesn't already know that."

She rolled her eyes, but then grinned. "She really is a lovely girl."

He couldn't help smiling back. "Has she told you about the Slug Club? Ugh, so gross." Severus didn't want to admit that he had been waiting impatiently for Slughorn to notice him. He would give anything to be in the Slug Club with Lily.

"Really. It's downright vomit-worthy. Listen, if you want to ditch, I've never been up to the Shrieking Shack and Lily is too scared. Want to come?"

Perhaps it was the mischievous gleam in her eye or the fact that for once he wanted to be the one that was leaving Lily behind, but he said yes. And so had begun the sort of friendship that Severus valued because it made him stop thinking about Lily. When he was with Raleigh, they talked about other things, dreamed about future careers, and she never criticized him for anything. By the time they were fifth years, they were close enough that she was willing to trust him with her phoenix secret. Close enough that even Regulus Black was noticing how much she liked him. Close enough that by the second time he kissed her, he didn't imagine he was kissing Lily Evans.

"First years, follow me!" He heard the prefects yelling as the Great Hall started to empty. He watched Ariana walking away, the twin red-heads by her side. Yes, if she was anything like her mother (and she was) she would do just fine.

Raleigh appeared at his side and he rose.

"There goes our baby," she murmured, looping her arm through his and leaning against him. "Off to become a witch."

"She'll be a first rate witch. Just like her mum."

Raleigh smiled softly and squeezed his hand. He was enveloped in warmth and then he found himself back in his room. She let go of his hand and started walking towards the fire, which had died down in their absence. He reached out and grabbed her back, pulling her into his arms and kissing her thoroughly. Another flash of fire and they were in bed, her kisses filled with a breathless sort of passion that left his heart beating a like he had just run a marathon.

As he slid his hand through her silky hair he realized that it would only be two more years until Harry arrived. Just two years before everything changed. He would have to see Lily's eyes on a regular basis, see James' face. He let his tongue invade Raleigh's mouth, enjoyed the moan that escaped her lips when he whispered a spell that left them both naked. She helped him forget, she had always helped him to forget.

Ariana Snape was pleased. She would never tell her father, but she was glad to be in Gryffindor. It was the right fit for her, and the Sorting Hat had seemed to enjoy the dilemma of choosing between houses.

And she had already made friends. She knew some of the Gryffindors simply because she had grown up in the castle, but she wanted to spend the most time with her fellow first years. She liked Fred and George. They talked a lot and made silly jokes. She snuggled tighter under the blanket. The Common Room was empty, everyone had gone to bed, but she had wanted to sit up and relive the day as she thought over each and every detail, from the moment the Sorting Hat had yelled Gryffindor to the wonderful desserts at dinner that she knew her mother had helped prepare.

"Hey, Ari! Want to come with? We're going to explore the castle!"

Ariana turned and peeked over the back of the couch where she was sitting. Fred and George were standing by the portrait hole, grins on their faces.

"We aren't allowed out of our dormitories at night," she insisted. "Besides, I've already explored the castle."

"Oh don't be a spoil sport," Fred said.

"Yeah don't be a spoil sport," George echoed. "Besides, that means you know all the good spots."

"Come on!" They said in unison, and ducked out of the portrait hole. Ari rolled her eyes and got up, missing the warmth of the blanket but glad to know she had some exciting friends who weren't afraid of making mischief.