Tabitha was adapting quickly to her new surroundings. She gripped Snape's fingers tightly as she stumbled along. He was bent double, teaching her to walk. He smiled gently and picked her up. Dumbledore was taking her for his afternoon class. He went into the Headmaster's office and plopped his new daughter down on the cushions in a safe place where she was least likely to fall and hurt herself.
He hated to admit it, but he'd started to get attached to the little girl. Her eyes were a lovely shade of reddish-brown, her hair a strawberry blonde. "I'll be back to get her after class. Let me know if she causes any trouble, sir," Snape said to Dumbledore.
Tabitha crawled over and climbed up the desk, standing on her own. Dumbledore smiled and opened his hands. She toddled forward a few steps then collapsed into his arms. He picked her up and set her on his lap, moving the valuables out of the way so she couldn't break them. "Oh, Severus, we'll be fine," he said. Tabitha looked up at him, chewing on a fist, and smiled.
In spite of all outward appearances, Snape's heart twitched in a way that hurt, but also felt kinda good. What a curious feeling. He shook his head and headed off to teach. His forearm burned where the Dark Mark was etched into his flesh. Voldemort was looking for an update on either the child or his mission. Class ended and he hurried off to Dumbledore's office. Without thinking, he scratched the Dark Mark, drawing the Headmaster's eyes to it.
"Would you like to take her or would you rather leave her here with me?" Dumbledore said, steely blue eyes meeting deep black.
"I'll say she's napping and gets fussy," Snape said. "He sent Bellatrix with me saying that while she's valuable, she talks too much." They both chuckled at that. "What should I tell him of the mission he believes he sent me on?"
"Tell him it's going well but that you still need to earn my trust, that I've almost completely surrendered to your..." Dumbledore trailed off as Tabitha swung a fist around as she bounced. He bobbed his knee, soothing her urge to move for the moment. "...skills."
Snape nodded and left. "Oh, and make sure to let the students know that class is cancelled this afternoon."
"Will do." Tabitha could be heard shrieking with laughter. Snape made it to Hogsmeade and forced the smile on his face back down to his stomach as he Apparated.