It was seven o'clock the night when Severus returned. Remus had moved to the couch. "No you have to leave the full moon's coming up soon." Cordy pushed him to the fireplace again. "Severus you have to leave. I'll write you after." Remus told him. "What about Cordessa where is she to go?"

"The wolf never hurts it's cub." Cordy smiled. Remus sat up. "Moon's coming." Severus looked outside the window. "I'll be back in the morning. If I can." Severus walked over to Remus and kissed the man's still slightly clammy forehead. "Go." Remus warned. Severus left. "Daddy who is he?" Cordy asked. Remus stood up and made his way to the back door as quickly as possible. "Remember when I told you, you had two dads? Myself and another?" The girl nodded. "Severus is your other dad."Go to the living room and wait for me there I don't want you watching."

Severus had found his mate. Not only his mate but his daughter. They had a child. Severus sat in the dungeons waiting for morning. He had dozed off on the couch around four in the morning. "Severus. Severus wake up and come to my office quickly." Severus sat up and looked at the fire place. He knew it was Poppy's voice.

Severus stepped through the floo network appearing in her office. "What's going on?"

"Daddy got hurt during the full moon he's really, really sick now." Cordy looked at him.

"Severus come into the hall." They both stepped into the hall way. "She's told me she's met you recently. That you've talked to Remus." Severus nodded. "Remus is very seriously ill. The combination of the illness and the full moon last night have left him far to weak to be cared for at home. He's been taken to St. Mungo's for treatment. The day she was born Remus made me promises not to tell anyone. Only you if anything ever happened to him. You are her-"

"I know what she is to me. I will care for my daughter." Severus told the medi-witch. Severus called to Cordy who followed after him in his usual pace was far slower for the girl to keep up. "I know you're my other dad." Cordy said. Severus looked at her. "Well then as my daughter we have to get you settled in my rooms. But first we must see the headmaster. Severus smiled at the amber eyed child. Cordy took hold of his hand and they continued their way on to the Headmaster's office.

Severus swung Cordy into his arms as they neared the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Cordy laughed and smiled. Severus saw his beloved Remus in it. "Severus my boy ah and who is this young lady?" The man smiled at Cordy. Cordy looked at the man with a smile. "She is my daughter Cordessa." She looked at her. "And a beautiful girl she is. When did you have a child?" Dumbledore did not know of the girl's existence. The great Albus Dumbledore did not know something for once in his life.

"It is why I came to see you. I found out a few days before she is mine but her other parent is sick and I must care for her. I've come to ask for a room to be added to my quarters for her." Severus watched the old man. "It was Remus you had her with. I'm glad you finally found them. Don't look at me like that Severus I was well aware of your relationship with Remus before the final battle. When you return to your room the room will be there." Dumbledore smiled. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you my child." Dumbledore smiled. Cordessa grinned and Severus couldn't help but smile.

Severus stood putting Cordy on her feet. "Come along Cordy we have to get you settled in." Severus told her. "Headmaster could you-" "Already taken care of." Severus nodded. "Come along Cordessa." the little girl trotted after him. They used the floo in the great hall to go back to the cottage. "Collect your things Cordy." Severus told her. Cordy started up the stairs with Severus following her. Cordy went into her closet and pulled out a bag of sorts and started to fill it. Severus was looking around, she had three mobiles. One of bats, the other of butterflies and the last of miniature dragon skeletons. "Can you reach them for me?" she asked pointing to the books on the higher shelves.

"Where are you going to put them?" Severus asked. "In the bag silly."

"Cordessa your clothes are in the bag. Here put everything into this box." He conjured one up. He then cast an undetectable deepening charm on it. "I'm getting hungry." Cordy stated. That's right she hadn't eaten breakfast. Cordessa was so much like Remus. But so like him as well. The way she talked and the way she stood. Severus made Cordy a sandwich and bowl of soup which the girl ate happily. "Cordy come finish packing." Severus called to her.

Cordy pulled out an old shoe box from under her bed. "Daddy said I could wear this when I got older it was his mother's." Cordy showed him the ring. Remus had raised Cordy up till now. Severus knew that if he lost his mate nothing he could do would help Cordy would ever bring her closer to him. If She was his child he had a feeling she was one to isolate herself like he had done for many years. Cordy was packed and ready to go. "Where is your cloak?" Severus asked and Cordy ran for the coat closet in the living room and pulled out as purple cloak. "It's my favorite color."

Dark colors that child in no doubt mine. Thought Severus as he smiled.

Severus had struck the bag and box and put them into his pocket before picking Cordessa up and walking out the door locking it behind him. The girl was no stranger to apparating and giggled when they arrived in Hogsmeade. They walked back to Hogwarts and into the dungeons. IT was obvious the door that had been added next to his office was the room for Cordy. The room was amazing with a book case and bedroom furniture. There was a large window seat with pink pillows. The window out looked the Black Lake you could see into. Fish, eels, the occasional mermaid and sometimes the giant squid. "I Love it." Smiled Cordy she hugged her father. "Thank you Papa."

"Don't thank me, thank the head master." Severus let Cordessa set up the room. When he came to check on her he saw the pillows from the window seat gone. "Cordy where are the pillows?" he asked. "I don't like pink, their in the closet." Severus smiled the pillows were put back in place. "What color would you like?" Cordy thought for a moment. "Purple."

Severus took a look around the room he saw two stuffed animals on the bed. A black dog and a stuffed wolf. Cordy had books, a few toys and a coloring book. It dawned on Severus that he had no where for Cordy to go while he taught his classes. There was no way he would allow her in the potions lab. He'd have to talk to the other teachers during the meeting after dinner. "Papa I'm hungry." Cordy told the man. It was almost time for dinner. "Come we'll start our walk to the great hall." Cordy smiled and followed after her father. Using the teachers entrance Severus took to his seat and Cordessa the empty one next to him.

Everyone stared at them save for the headmaster, and Poppy. Cordy let her eyes scan the room smiling at all the new faces she was seeing for the first time. The tiny child giggle. The headmaster stood silencing all the whispers. "Everyone the little girl you see is Professor Snape's daughter she'll be joining us here at Hogwarts." he smiled and sat down again. Cordessa beamed she was extremely happy to be in the new place. Remus had only told her stories of the castle at time she believed it was pure fiction and that it never

Existed.

Cordy was happy between her father and Madam Hooch she could feel the occasional glances from student and teacher alike. Dinner ended and the teachers left for the staff room while the students went back to their dorms for the night. Cordy was laughing as she was fawned over by a few of the female professors. "Severus when ever did you have a child?" Minerva asked. "It was until the other day I learned I had one."

"Yes and beautiful one at that. Can I keep her?" Sprout smiled at him. "No Sprout my dear I'm sure Severus would like to keep his daughter. But the point is she cannot go to the potions lab it's far too dangerous." Dumbledore addressed. "Severus if you need someone to watch her while you teach I will gladly help." Minerva offered. "As will I." Hooch told him. "I'll look after her as well." Filtwick offered. There were a few other such offers from sprout, Dumbledore and Poppy.

Cordy was smiling at her father. "Thank you all. Cordessa we're going." Severus plucked her out of Rolanda's arms. "Papa can I fly?" she asked her eyes bright with hope. "No." Severus cracked at grinned at his daughter.

The other staff members watched as Severus left his daughter in his arms. "Either my eyes have grown far too old or I've seen eyes like that before." Madam Hooch commented. "Oh stop it. The girl is beautiful. She has Severus hair texture." McGonagall said. "She'll be a smart one that child. It's impossible not to love a smile and eyes like that." Sprout said.

Severus and Cordy entered their rooms. "Alright my dear time for a bath, then to bed with you. Come along."

"I can do it myself." Cordessa told her Papa. Severus nodded. Cordy ran for the bathroom but stopped. "Where's the bathroom?" Severus chuckled and opened the bathroom door. "Thank you Papa." Cordy ran to her room and dug through her drawers she pulled pajamas and Severus pointed out the towels. When the door closed he thought of Remus. His mate had done well raising the girl but Severus knew nothing of children. He detested the ones he taught bit this was different this was his own flesh and blood. He removed his cloak and hung it up before walking to the fire place. He took a handful of floo powder and tossed it in. "Pomona Sprouts room."

"Severus?"

"Could you come through please?"

"Of course. Step aside."

Severus took a few steps back for his fellow teacher to come through the fireplace. "Is everything alright?" she asked. "Yes everything is fine."

"And the baby?" she asked referring to Cordessa. "In the bath. I have no clue how to raise a child." Severus admitted. "Well little girls are far easier then little boys and if she's anything like you I'm sure she can self occupy. Now think about what she likes take a few days to get to know her before going shopping. With winter on the way she'll need warmer clothes. Activities she can do books to read and a pet maybe." Pomona said.

"A pet?"

"Yes. A furry friend they can tell their secrets to. Not every child will voice what is bothering them so having a furry friend would help or just someone she can talk to if you're busy." Severus nodded. "Thank you Pomona." The witch smiled and nodded at him. She left his rooms via door. "Papa ready for bed." Cordy was dry and dressed for bed. "Come on then time for bed." Severus picked her up and carried her to her new room. "Can you read me a story?" she asked crawling under the covers. Severus nodded and walked to the book shelf. "Which one?"

"The puppy who wanted a boy. It's my favorite one." she smiled. Severus plucked the book from the shelf and sat on the bed letting Cordy settle into his side as he read. Severus read and continued to read until the book was done even though Cordy had fallen asleep. He moved carefully and placed her on the pillows. He looked back from the door way to watch the sleeping child before him. He smiled and turned out the light to go to bed himself.