Here's the next chapter. Note to those reading True Nature the rest of chapter 17 is up with the important note and is now labeled 'Important note & Chapter 17'.
Chapter 4:
"Well," Stated Severus as he looked down at his young fledgling. "I suppose that now would be a good time to get you cleaned up and put some clothes on you before Luc decides to come back in."
Severus knelt down in front of the couch. Very carefully, he moved his traveling cloak enough to expose the teenager's head. Severus took a long look at the girl's face. He was studying her facial features. There was something vaguely familiar about her and it took him a few long moments to realize why. His eyes widened in disbelief. It couldn't be, could it? There was no way that this girl could be the one that he had been searching for the last three years. And yet, the slight similarities between this teenager and the Boy-Who-Lived were very striking. So maybe it was possible that this young girl that he rescued could be the very girl he had spent the last three years searching for. There was only one way to find out for sure and that would be to wait until the teenager regained consciousness and ask her what her name is.
Another thing that Severus noticed as he was studying the girl's face was that she also looked kind of like Lily and James Potter. The longer he studied the teen, the more he was beginning to think, and maybe even fear, that this girl could very well be the missing Potter girl. And if that was indeed the case then that meant that he was so screwed; Petunia would freak out and probably blame Severus for not finding the girl sooner. Then again, there are now more important things to worry about than Petunia Evans. For instance, there was the youth's current mental state to worry about, among other things.
Severus reached out and gently brushed a strand of red hair out of the youth's face and tucked it behind her right ear. He then unwrapped his traveling cloak from around the teen as carefully as he could. After the teen's naked body was revealed, Severus took out some creams to put on the cuts and bruises that marred the girl's body. It took a few minutes for all of the cuts to heal over and the skin to look flawless. During those few minutes Severus was also able to get the bruises to heal and look like they were never there. When Severus was done with all of the cuts and bruises he dressed his fledging in the shirt and boxers that had been brought into the room earlier as gently as he could. With that done, Severus took out some potions that would take care of any internal damage that might have been done to the teen. Along with a few other potions, Severus managed to get the girl to swallow all of the potions by gently massaging her throat.
"Well, little one, you should be fine within a few days at the most." Severus murmured. "All that's left is for you to awaken and for me to learn your name." He paused for a moment. "But you still need to rest in order to regain your strength."
Severus sighed. He didn't really want to, but he should wake his charge some time soon. He needed to know her name, and it would be good to know anything else about the teen as well. Severus stood up from his knelling position and stretched a little. He leaned down and shifted the teen enough so that he could sit down on the couch as well. He sat down and allowed the teen's head to rest in his lap. It was only then that Severus allowed himself to begin to relax and let his mind wander a bit. He also allowed one of his hands to gently card through the youth's long hair. It was a few minutes later when an idea came to him. An idea that would tell him who the girl's parents are and still let the teen awaken on her own. It was a simple Japanese spell that he knew of that would reveal the names of the girl's parents. Well, it was certainly worth a try since he was curious about his charge's identity.
'Well, it's now or never.' Severus thought to himself. "Shimesu ryōshin." He murmured softly. He had to know who her parents are, for both of their sakes.
Severus held his breath as he waited for the incantation to do its work. After a couple minutes he saw that words were beginning to shimmer above the unconscious teenage girl. The spell was finally taking effect. In about another minute he should have his answer as to who his charge's parents are. Severus sucked in a sharp breath as two names became clearer in black lettering, meaning that the girl's parents were dead. That her parents were…
"No." Severus whispered in an almost broken way. "Why her? Why did this have to happen to one who has lost so much?" He gasped softly. "I should have known, should have suspected this out come." Severus looked down at his fledgling sadly. "Do you even know who you are, my little one? I should have found you sooner." He was surprised moments later when blue eyes opened and met his own black eyes.
"Why are you so upset… so sad?" She asked softly after studying him for a couple minutes.
Severus blinked his surprise away. "I do not understand how this could have happened to one so young and so pure." He answered honestly. "I don't really understand how that man could have done the things that he has done to you."
"Pure?" The teen repeated in wonder. "You think of me as pure?"
"Yes." Severus stated firmly. "Because, despite everything that has been done to you, you still have a purity about you, little Illyria." By this time the teen was laying on her back with her face turned up toward Severus.
The teen's eyes widened in slight shock. "You know my name?" She gasped with a small twinge of fear in her voice.
"Yes, I know your name." Severus replied gently. "I also know who your parents were as well."
"I see." The girl, Illyria, murmured. "I know that you are the one who saved me, but I have no idea who you are or what your name is. I also don't know how you know my name or who my parents were." She had began to tremble at some point while she had been talking.
"Shh, Illyria, calm down." Severus gently said in a soothing manner. "I won't hurt you."
"For some reason, I find myself believing you." Illyria said in a soft tone. "Maybe it's partly because of the fact that you saved my life."
"Perhaps." Severus stated.
"Your name, please." Illyria requested quietly.
"Severus Snape." Severus replied. "I suppose that I should probably explain some things to you now."
"That would be nice." Illyria whispered.
Severus took a deep breath, but did not break eye contact with his fledgling. "I guess I should start with how I know who your parents were and how I know your name." Illyria nodded for him to continue. "I know that your full name is Illyria Katherine Potter and I know that because I used a Japanese spell that basically translates to 'reveal/disclose parents'. The spell revealed that your parents were Lily and James Potter. I know your full name because I had once been very good friends with your mother. I don't know if you know this or not, but you have a twin brother by the name of Harry James Potter. He was given his first name in honor of your paternal grandfather while your middle name was in honor of your paternal grandmother. Your father's parents died before either of you were born. Your mother's parents died some time after your brother and you were born."
"Wow. You know a lot about my family." Illyria stated. "Do I have any living family, Severus?" She didn't even notice that she called him by his given name. "I mean, I know my mom and dad, and now both grandparents, are dead, but what about my brother? Am I the only one left?" She needed to know if she was the last one alive in her family.
Severus actually smiled a little. "No, little one, you're not the only one left. Harry is living with your mother's older sister, Petunia, and her children." Severus paled suddenly.
"What's wrong?" Illyria demanded.
"Your aunt Petunia is going to mangle or kill me." Severus answered bluntly.
"Why?" Illyria asked curiosity.
"Because, Illyria, I promised her almost three years ago that I would try to find you and bring you home to her." Severus stated heavily. "I should have found you much sooner, it might have prevented some of this from happening to you."
Illyria sat up and leaned into Severus's right side. "Don't blame yourself, please. Even if you had found me sooner, it wouldn't have changed much."
"What do you mean?" Severus demanded as he wrapped his arms around Illyria's shoulders.
"Well, Severus,… um, I mean, Mr. Snape…" Illyria trailed off as Severus interrupted with a stern look.
"Stop!" Severus growled. "There is no need to be so formal with me, Illyria. To you I am Severus, to many others I am Professor Snape. I would like for you to use my given name, please." Severus paused for a moment. "Now, what were you going to say?"
"It wouldn't have made much of a difference because Russell has been doing this to me for years, for almost as long as I can remember, to be honest." Illyria admitted.
"I see." Severus grumbled. "That is most unfortunate." On the inside he was furious at that revelation, but he was not about to let that show in case it scared Illyria.
Illyria stiffened all a sudden. "Don't you dare pity me or feel sorry for me!" She hissed angrily. "Because I don't want or need either of them. Especially not from you!"
"Illyria, calm yourself!" Severus sighed. "I know better than to feel sorry for or pity a victim of any kind of abuse. I've dealt cases of some of my students being victims of abuse since I became the Head of the Slytherin House at Hogwarts." Slowly the teen relaxed again.
"So, you're a teacher?" Illyria inquired. She needed a change of subject.
"I am." Severus answered. "I teach at Hogwarts, where your brother is an attending student."
"Well, teach, what's your subject?" Illyria asked in a teasing and playful way.
Severus arched an eyebrow slightly. "I am a Potions Master." Severus stated. "Therefore, I teach potions, or at least attempt to, but many are not very talented with brewing much of anything." He grumbled.
"I see." Illyria giggled a little. "Sounds like it can be challenging and difficult. A nice combination to have." There was a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
Severus snorted. "It can be very dangerous."
"Oh, of that I have no doubt." Illyria paused and tilted her head to look at Severus a little better. "So, tell me, teach, what exactly did you have to do in order to save me?"
Severus seemed to hesitate; he wasn't sure how she would react. "Are you sure you want to talk about this now?"
Illyria's eyes narrowed a little. "Well, yeah, I don't see why not. You were so serious about what ever it was that you were going to do to save me before I passed out earlier." She paused for a moment. "Unless there is something that you are trying to hide from me?" She made it a question with a touch of suspicion in her tone.
Severus wanted to growl and snarl like a feral animal. He didn't want to talk about this right now. But on the other hand, he also didn't want to upset Illyria by avoiding her question. Avoiding this conversation would solve absolutely nothing. That, and the teen was starting to suspect that he was trying to hide something from her. Well, perhaps it would be for the best that he got this over and done with quickly and then figure out how to deal with Illyria's reaction if it happened to be a bad reaction to learning about being turned into a vampire.