1.
"I told you it wasn't a good idea!" Hermione lectured Ron and Hermione the next day on their way back to the common room from Charms. "I knew you'd get caught. They have a curfew for a reason; you're both lucky you only got house points taken away!"
"Hermione, you're really quite foul sometimes. Haven't you had fun before?" Ron rolled his eyes. All morning he and Hermione had been butting heads on the simplest of things.
"Excuse me, Ron, but sorry I don't want to get expelled. I'm not from a magical family nor do I have one of the teachers as a parent!" Hermione exclaimed as they stepped onto the moving staircase.
"Hermione…" Liana said softly, shocked at her friends cruel remark.
"Oh, Liana, I'm so sorry. I just—" But it was too late, Liana shook her head and stepped of the moving staircase and took off running down the hall.
"Liana, no! That's the third floor!" Hermione shrieked.
"What's wrong with the third floor?" Ron asked, but Hermione grabbed him by the robes and pulled him off the staircase, just before it could move again. They then began to chase after her.
"Dumbledore said not to go on this floor during the feast on our first night here!" Hermione called out while chasing after her, but it was too late, Liana cast a spell upon a locked door and entered.
Ron and Hermione caught up to Liana, although she as now on the other side of the door, but that quickly changed. Liana flung the door back open and leaped out; following her was a three-headed dog, biting at her heels.
"Hurry, shut that door!" Ron yelled as the three of them pushed the door shut. Finally, after quite some pushing the door was shut and locked.
"Liana," Ron panted, "No offence, but you've really got your dad's temper."
"What are they doing keeping a dog like that locked up Hogwarts." Liana said as they quickly moved away from the third floor.
"Didn't you see?" Hermione said. "It was standing on a trap door. That dog was guarding something."
"Hermione, I think we were a little preoccupied by that thing's heads!" Ron exclaimed.
"Wait!" Hermione said as she stopped walking towards the common room.
"What?" Asked both Liana and Ron.
Hermione answered, "We have our first flying lesson today; hurry, we'll be late!"
2.
"The youngest seeker in a century!" Ron exclaimed at dinner that night, beaming at his friend. "Fred and George are thrilled that you're on the team."
"We'll try and not let you get beat up too badly!" George joked from across the table.
Liana laughed and Hermione rolled her eyes, "You could have been seriously hurt! Or worse, expelled! I'm surprised McGonagall didn't punish you at all, and I'm even more surprised she bought you a new broom—"
"Hermione! Lay off of her! This is a great day; don't spoil it with your obsessive need to follow rules!" Ron turned to Liana, "You should have seen Malfoy's face when he found out you're the new seeker! He thought you were out of here for sure!"
Liana smiled, but then her mind traveled, she began to wonder what her father was thinking of her new Quidditch position.
3.
A few more days sped by and soon it was time for the first Quidditch match of the season—Gryffindor VS Slytherin.
"Liana, eat something, you'll need your strength." Hermione coaxed.
"I'm not hungry." Liana answered.
Ron replied, "You? Not hungry. Never thought I'd hear that."
"Ronald, she's just nervous." Hermione said.
Then a sly voice came from behind them, "Try not to make a fool of yourself, scar head!"
"Can it, Malfoy!" Ron and Hermione exclaimed. Liana smiled at her friends.
"Ready?" Oliver Wood asked Liana, who nodded. Fred and George followed close behind her, along with the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. The team made it to the locker room where Oliver began to make a speech, but Liana was too nervous to listen.
"Alright, let's go out to the pitch." Oliver proclaimed.
Liana soon found herself standing on the Quidditch field. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and everyone kicked off of the ground. As Liana flew up from the grass she felt as though her nerves were being left behind on the ground.
The wind blew against her face and through her long hair. She circled the pitch a few times, but Liana couldn't spot the snitch. As Liana flew in front of the teacher's viewing tower she felt her broomstick twitch. Looking down at the handle, she saw it vibrating slowly, and then she felt it. Her broomstick was jerking around. She held on as though it was a bucking bronco. Liana had completely lost control of her broom. Someone had bewitched her broom, and Liana looked around worriedly, trying to spot who had done it, but the broom was moving so quickly she could barely hang on.
"Evans has lost control of her broom it looks like! Rumor is Professor McGonagall got her that broom."Liana heard Lee Jordon's voice through the stadium.
Then Liana spotted him, Professor Quirrell. She only saw him for an instant, but she saw his wand pointed at her from inside his sleeve. And then she saw that someone else had noticed Quirrell—Severus Snape stood up and moved towards him.
Liana didn't see what Severus did to Professor Quirrell, but her broom instantly became controllable again. As she looked at the teacher's viewing tower again she saw Severus sitting back down. Without thinking she gave Severus a relieved smile and then as Severus beamed back, she realized who she had just acted friendly towards and took off across the field.
Flying gently in the sun was the snitch. She saw its gold sparkle against the sky, but she saw it a moment too late. Slytherin's seeker was already headed in the direction of the snitch. Instantly, she sped towards it. Liana was now head to head with the other seeker. And then the snitch dove to the ground. Both seekers changed their direction—now racing in a nosedive. But Liana's broom was faster, she inched closer to the snitch, but at the same time the ground was also getting closer.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the other seeker looking at her, hoping she would retreat, but she didn't. Liana reached out her hand, stretching forward. The ground was now just feet away. Then she closed her hand around the snitch, and seconds after that she crashed into the ground.
4.
"We won!" Ron was the first person to notice that Liana had awoken in the hospital wing.
Hermione then flung her arms around Liana. "I was so worried! You crashed and then you weren't moving anymore! You shouldn't risk your life for a silly game!"
"Quidditch is not silly,Hermione" Ron argued.
"Fantastic game!" Oliver Wood moved towards the bed. "Excellent dive!"
The rest of the Gryffindor team began to approach the bedside, but then Madam Pomfrey entered the hospital wing. "Out! Out! She needs rest! After a crash like that, lucky your skull didn't break!" She approached the bedside. "Students out!" She exclaimed once more. Hermione patted her friend on the shoulder, and Ron gave her a smile, and then she was alone in the hospital wing, except for Madam Pomfrey who then returned to her office.
Or so she thought, walking out of the corner of the room, Severus Snape appeared. He moved slowly towards her, and then sat at the very end of her bed. Neither said a word. Liana glanced awkwardly around the classroom.
"You flew quite admirably today." He finally said.
"Thank you, sir."
Silence overtook them again. Surprisingly, Liana was the next to speak, "I saw Quirrell bewitching my broom."
"Yes, a hurling hex. He's been acting less and less like himself for some time now. I made sure that nothing like that will happen again." Severus was elated that she was starting to speak to him again.
"I never liked Professor Quirrell." She said quietly, still avoiding Severus's eyes. "My scar hurts whenever he speaks to me." Severus raised an eyebrow at his remark, to him that didn't seem like an odd remark to say.
"Severus," Madam Pomfrey returned back out form her office space. "She needs rest; she'll be here all night." Severus nodded and looked at his daughter, but she still wouldn't look him in the eye. Regardless, he patted Liana on the knee and walked out of the hospital wing, his cloak billowing behind him.
5.
Nightfall began to draw nearer, and the hospital wing grew darker. Liana's eyelids grew heavier and soon she was fast asleep.
It was the middle of the night when Liana awoke. She felt her scar prickle and then the hospital wing door opened. She was still sleepy and just slightly opened her eyes.
"Muffliato," She heard the voice and saw a light flash towards Madam Pomfrey's office. Then she realized something wasn't right. She opened her eyes fully and her scar hurt more powerfully.
"Professor Quirrell," Liana began.
"Incarcerous," He spoke strongly, his stutter was gone. And then Liana found herself bound in robes, she couldn't move. She looked over at her wand on the bedside—she couldn't grab it now.
"What are you doing?" Liana exclaimed wildly. "Madam Pomfrey!"
"She can't hear you. There is a charm on her office. She's not going to hear anything you say." His voice sounded cold. "It's a pity you didn't die today during the match. But you are a smart girl. You knew it was me casting the hurling charm." Liana didn't say anything. "My master is very eager right now, he wants me to finish the job I began earlier, but there is something I need to do first. Crucio!"
Liana never felt excruciating pain. Her body twitched unnaturally, although it was still bound by the ropes. She shook uncontrollable in the hospital bed. And then it stopped. "Help! Help me please!" She cried.
"Nobody can hear you, Liana." Quirrell sneered.
"Severus!" Liana screamed. "Severus, please!"
"Crucio!" Quirrell cried again. Liana felt her mind weakening. The pain was so strong. She couldn't keep conciseness for very longer, but then she heard it.
Smash!
The hospital wing's door opened and Severus Snape stood in the doorway.
"Severus!" Liana screamed. "Severus, please!"
"Crucio!" Quirrell cried again. Liana felt her mind weakening. The pain was so strong. She couldn't keep conciseness for very longer, but then she heard it.
Smash!
The hospital wing's door opened and Severus Snape stood in the doorway.
"Help me!" Liana cried, looking at his dark eyes.
Quirrell raised wand, probably to cast another torture curse, but he was never able to. The wrath of Severus Snape was upon him. "Expelliarmus!" Severus bellowed angrily. Quirrell's wand flew out of his wand, and Quirrell flew from the ground and landed with a crash against the wall.
Losing her conciseness, Liana tried to see what Severus was doing, but his back was towards her. She saw Quirrell try to get up from the ground. An unfamiliar spell was cast by Severus, and now Quirrell now lay unconscious on the hospital wing floor and he too was bound in ropes.
Severus was beginning to turn around Liana called out for him, "Severus…" She sounded as though she was about to cry. With a wave of his wand the ropes entangling her disappeared and he moved quickly to her bedside, and the second he got there she clung herself to his. Clutching the front of his robes she started to sob. Severus sat down on the bed next to her as Liana pulled him closer.
As she wrapped her arms around his neck, she moved so that she was sitting on his lap. Liana didn't know why she was crying. Maybe it was the pain that still resided from the torture curse, or maybe it was the fact that she missed Severus, but for whatever reason, Liana clung to Severus Snape as he squeezed her tightly and kissed the top of her head as she cried fiercely into his neck.
"Liana," Severus spoke quietly, "I came as quickly as I could. I had a spell cast on the hospital wing door to alert me if anyone entered." He rubbed his hand on her back trying to comfort her. Severus knew something was going on with Quirrell quite some time, but he wasn't sure what.
Pulling away from his neck she unconcernedly wiped her face and nose on his robes; this made Severus laugh, for that was something she did when she was a child, although Liana didn't cry much when she was a child. In actuality, she rarely cried. Severus then realized it had been weeks since he'd last laughed.
Deciding now was a good time to explain again, "I never should have kept it a secret." Liana knew exactly what he was talking about—Severus's real identity. Nodding, Severus carried on. "It was so difficult keeping it a secret, too. I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how you would react."
"I understand." Liana said calmly as she wiped the rest of her tears away with the back of her hand. This statement surprised Severus, he thought she was going to ignore him more, but now they seemed to be on their way to forgiveness. "I really missed you, Severus."
Feeling his eyes water, he squeezed his daughter tightly. "As did I, sweetheart," he said as he kissed her cheek.
"Severus," She spoke as though she had something important to say.
"Yes?" He answered, looking at her seriously.
"I'm Gryffindor's new seeker." She said childishly, but she spoke as though it was something she wanted to tell him herself for some time.
"And I couldn't be more proud." Severus laughed loudly and squeezed his daughter tightly.
The door to Poppy's office opened and she appeared in the doorway. "Severus! What is going—"
"Get Albus, please." He ordered, and Madam Pomfrey did as she was told.
Silently, Severus and Liana sat together, they both were glad to be speaking to the other again. As Liana was about to ask Severus questions about Quirrell, the hospital wing door opened. Dumbledore glanced around the room—looking from Quirrell to Liana and her father, the twinkle was gone from his eyes.
"Are you alright?" He asked Liana softly. She nodded.
"No, she's not alright Albus! He cast the Cruciatus curse twice!" Severus shouted. Liana wasn't sure how he knew this, but she assumed he had cast an enchantment to inform him of any spells cast inside the hospital wing while she was present in it.
Poppy winced, and Dumbledore looked upon Professor Quirrell angrily. Dumbledore moved to Quirrell, looking at him closely. "Severus, he was possessed."
"By who?" Snapped Severus, his protectiveness was coming out.
"That I do not know, but I have a hunch, but I'm hoping I'm wrong. And I'm not sure how my hunch could be possible. It seems farfetched."
"What is your hunch?" Liana asked quietly.
"Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore spoke with no hesitation. "But we won't know anymore until Professor Quirrell wakes up."
"And Liana will not be here when he does." Snape spoke firmly. Liana typically would argue with Severus telling her what to do, but in this situation she did not mind.
"You may take her to your private quarters, Severus. And I imagine Madam Pomfrey would appreciate it if you kept her there to rest all tomorrow as well." Dumbledore added. Liana was glad tomorrow was Sunday and there were no classes.
Severus nodded and scooped his daughter into his arms. Liana felt she was a bit old for this, but she didn't argue, and with Severus's long strides they soon arrived in the dungeon anyways. Walking past the office area and into the private quarters, Severus soon reached his daughter's bedroom. He placed her on the bed and pulled the covers up and over her. She watched him do so.
"I'm right across the hall—"
"No!" Liana spoke loudly.
"Sweetie, what is it?" He asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"You can't leave again." Liana sounded close to tears again.
The heart inside Severus Snape's chest seemed to melt—she had finally forgiven him, and now he knew it. "I won't. I won't." He said quickly as he moved further onto the bed. Hearing Liana sigh a breath of relief, she leaned against his side and was almost instantly asleep.
Sleep didn't find Severus Snape that night, partly because he was sitting up in a bed, but mainly because his mind kept reevaluating everything that had happened. Severus believed Dumbledore when he said Voldemort had possessed Quirrell, for that was Severus's assumption as well.
At the beginning of the year Dumbledore hid the sorcerer's stone on the third floor. If Voldemort was possessing Quirrell then he must be after that stone. Although after tonight Dumbledore would be mad if he let Quirrell stay and teach at Hogwarts.
6.
"Albus, are you mad?" Severus roared at Dumbledore, who stood in Snape's office early the next morning.
"Quiet down, Severus. You'll wake your daughter up." Dumbledore countered calmly.
"You cannot let him stay here." Severus hissed.
"Professor Quirrell did nothing wrong, it was the person who possessed him who did the wrongdoing. And if I let a teacher go in the middle of the year it will make the ministry suspicious of why. And personally, I would like to keep Quirrell here so that I can keep an eye on him."
Severus shook his head and looked at him furiously, but before he could argue the door to his private quarter's opened. His daughter stepped out, still wearing her red and gold stripped pajamas.
"I'm glad to see you awake." Albus spoke. Liana nodded. Winking an eye at her, Dumbledore stepped out of Severus's office, closing the door behind him.
Liana then turned to Severus and he told her that Quirrell is staying. Nodding, Liana knew there was nothing neither she nor Severus could do about it.
7.
Halloween's feast was upon the staff and students of Hogwarts. Once Liana and Severus made up time seemed to go by much faster, and Potions was much more enjoyable.
"Are you ready yet?" Ron yelled up the girls' staircase. "Every single Gryffindor is already down there."
"I am," Liana called down as she poked her head around the corner. "It's Hermione. She says she's almost done with her essay and doesn't want to lose her train-of-thought." Liana rolled her eyes slightly. "C'mon, Hermione!" Liana whined. "Ron says that we're the only ones left."
"Fine!" Hermione said loudly and Ron and Liana heard a book slam shut. "Fine!" She repeated as she stomped down the stairs. "Let's go, but don't you two complain to me when you fail your O.W.L. exams because you were too hungry to do any work!"
They stepped out of the portrait hole and Ron explained, "Those exams are in years!"
"We're just first years." Liana added as they neared the great hall.
"You two don't understand!" Hermione stopped walked just before the great hall.
"I understand that we're feet away from the feast and you're still holding us up." Ron muttered.
"You two have known about magic for years, and I only have known about it for months! I don't want—"
"Hermione, just finish telling us at dinner," Ron interrupted.
Hermione stared at Ron and then exclaimed, "You don't understand anything, Ronald!"
"Hermione, please, let's go." Liana coaxed, she could tell Hermione was very sensitive about this topic.
"I'm not hungry right now. I'll be in the bathroom." Hermione looked on the verge of tears.
"Wait, please." Liana tried, but Hermione was already walking down the hallway.
Ron touched her elbow, "Let's go; I smell chicken." Liana rolled her eyes, but followed him. They both knew Hermione would come around eventually.
Walking into the great hall the two sat down. Liana looked up at the staff table, she saw her father raise his brow to her. Recently, he'd taken to poking fun at Liana and Ron—saying they're soon going to be dating in a few years. Severus always made sure to emphasize the 'in a few years' part of his anecdote.
Without hesitation Ron began piling his plate full of food. Liana watched him feeling slightly guilty about not listening to Hermione earlier, but then her stomach grumbled and she joined Ron.
Liana was about to take her first bite of food when someone ran into the great hall, "Troll! There's a troll in the dungeon!" Professor Quirrell ran down between the tables of the hall. "I thought you ought to know." And then he fainted onto the floor.
An eruption of screams filled the great hall. Ron dropped his piece of chicken. And then a voice boomed over all the noise. "Silence!" Dumbledore stood. "Prefects, please take your houses back to their dormitories immediately."
Ron and Liana shuffled away with the rest of the Gryffindor students, as they were about to climb onto the moving staircase, "Hermione!" Liana exclaimed. "She doesn't know about the troll."
Looking her in the eyes, Ron nodded. They both knew it was their fault that she went into the bathroom to be alone and probably cry. They looked around to see where Percy Weasley was, and then they took off down the hallway.
8.
"Is it dead?" Liana asked as she pulled her wand from the troll's nose.
Ron shook his head, "Just knocked out." Ron and Liana then turned their heads to face Hermione, she beamed at them gratefully.
"I shouldn't have thrown a fit—" Hermione began.
"Hermione, we should have listened to you. You must feel so different than people who've grown up with magic. We should have been there for you."
Hermione's eyes watered and Liana hugged her friend. "Girls…" Muttered Ron humorously.
The golden trio then began to climb over the troll when footsteps entered the girls' lavatory. "Liana!" Severus instantly was in front of his daughter. He squeezed her tightly in a hug. Then he stepped back, "What on earth made you do this?" Beckoning, he moved the three students away from the troll.
But before Liana could answer Severus, more Professors entered the room. Professor McGonagall gasped when she saw what had happened. Professor Quirrell followed her, limping. And Professor Dumbledore came in last.
"May I ask what you were thinking? Three first years bringing down a twelve-foot mountain troll, might I add that you three are very lucky to still be here to tell the tale!" Professor McGonagall said.
Liana opened her mouth to speak; she knew she would be in trouble from her father by her recklessness. But Hermione answered before she could, "It was my fault." The teachers turned to look at her; usually it was Ron and Liana that dragged Hermione into mischief. "I read a lot about trolls; I thought I could handle it by myself. If Liana and Ron didn't come after me I would probably be dead." Snape raised his brow suspiciously, but he didn't question her.
"Well, w-w-we can say th-that you were very-y-y lucky." Professor Quirrell stammered, and then something caught the trio's eyes—a large open gash on Quirrell's leg. Quickly, he covered the wound.
"Minerva, would you please escort your Gryffindors back to their common room." She nodded and motioned for them to move closer to her.
"First, before you leave," Dumbledore began. "I'd like to award fifty points to Gryffindor—each, for outstanding bravery." Severus and Minerva rolled their eyes, while Dumbledore looked at the trio—his eyes twinkling with pride.
9.
A few days after the troll attack, Liana strolled down to the dungeons one evening. Reaching Severus's door she slid it open. He was sitting behind his desk grading Potion essays. Severus glanced up and smiled when she entered, but he continued to look down at his work.
"Not your best work on that last essay, sweetheart." The corners of his mouth turned up into a smile.
"Sorry, I've been a bit busy." Liana said.
"Hopefully, bringing down more mountain trolls isn't what's keeping you from your studies." Severus marked an essay and moved onto another one.
Liana blushed. "Actually, it's a three headed dog now."
Severus put down his quill and looked Liana in the eyes. "What three headed dog?" He spoke solemnly.
"It's just a rumor that I've heard. I haven't seen it." She added quickly. Severus looked at her strongly, she often wondered if he could read minds.
"You're lying." He said blatantly.
"It was an accident. We didn't know we were on the third floor." She shuffled her feet. "I mean it was Hermione's fault really."
"I find it hard to place Miss Granger at fault for that." Severus smirked. "But Mr. Weasley on the other hand…" He smiled. "Liana, please don't go near that dog again."
"I won't." She said, ever since she'd forgiven Severus she got away with anything. "But what is he doing there anyway? That dog, what is he guarding?" Severus again looked at her sternly. "I mean he's on a trapdoor, so there has to be something under it."
"That is something you will not be finding out. That is between the professors, not the students." Severus spoke defiantly.
"Does Quirrell know? Whatever it is under that trap door he's trying to get it." Liana said nonchalantly, but this statement seemed to astonish Snape.
"What makes you say that?" He spoke slowly.
"On Halloween, when he came into the lavatory his leg was cut pretty badly, I bet that dog did it."
Severus now rose from his seat and moved to his daughter. "You must not go searching for the answers that I know you came here today to discover. I already do not like how much you know about this, and I will be angry if you try and find out anything further."
Liana nodded. "And you'd better get going; dinner is only a few minutes away." Severus grinned when he added, "I'm sure your boyfriend is going to be looking for you—"
"Severus!" Liana rolled her eyes and flounced out of his office.
10.
At dinner Liana told Ron and Hermione everything that she had discovered from Severus, especially his reaction when she said Quirrell wanted what was under that trap door.
"If only we could find out what's under there." Hermione said softly.
"I'm still curious about how that dog got into the castle." Ron remarked.
"That's it!" Liana exclaimed. "Do know who would know that?" The two looked at her confused. "Hagrid. I bet he got that dog into the school—"
"And he would know why it needed to go there!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly.
"Tomorrow, right after classes we'll go and see Hagrid. I know he'll tell us what Quirrell is after." Liana said.
11.
"Hagrid!" The trio pounded on the door of the hut.
As the door pulled open, Hagrid emerged. "Snape was warning me at dinner last night that you three were going to be coming along." Hagrid chuckled and led them into his house. Hagrid then began to make a pot of tea. "Your father," Liana cringed at that statement; she still wasn't used to the idea. "Told me you'd probably be coming around her asking questions about ol' Fluffy."
"Its name is Fluffy?" Ron asked bewildered, as he took his cloak off and sat down. "You're talking about the three-headed dog, right?"
"Fluffy is a good ol' dog! And Fluffy's doing a great job guarding that stone—"
"What stone?" The three asked immediately.
"I shouldn't of said that." Hagrid said as he began pouring tea.
"Hagrid, Professor Quirrell wants that stone; he's trying to steal it." Hermione added, hoping for Hagrid to spill more.
"Professor Quirrell? After the stone? Why, Quirrell is one of the professors protecting the stone. Although Quirrell has been acting suspicious lately."
"Thanks, Hagrid!" Liana said as the trio quickly snatched their cloaks and got up, leaving their tea completely untouched.
"What about yer tea?" Hagrid called back as they dashed from his hut and ran back to the castle.
12.
"Hermione, do you have any idea what stone Hagrid was talking about?" Ron said as they dashed up the stairs of the school after they abruptly left Hagrid's hut.
"Haven't a clue; that's why we're headed to the library." Hermione said and they entered the school. Without stopping for a breath they ran to the library. Once they reached it, they quieted their breathing and entered. Walking quickly, Hermione found them an empty table. Then using her wand she cast what seemed to be an entire bookshelf's worth of books over to their table. The books landed quietly in front of them.
"We're going to check all of these?" Ron grumbled.
"We've got to start somewhere." Hermione hissed as she handed him a book. "Look for anything about a stone, or at least a stone worth protecting. Then we'll make a list of the options it could be."
The trio sat down and began going through all the books on the table. Once they completed that, Hermione cast more books to come to their table.
"My eyes are killing me." Liana complained a few hours later. "I've read so many pages."
"Maybe you need glasses." Hermione joked; Liana giggled and continued on.
"There are just so many magical stones. Maybe it's the resurrection stone? That seems like a stone very much worth protecting." Ron and Hermione nodded, neither of them could determine which of the stones it could be, for they found so many in the books they had just begun to look at.
And then Hermione spoke, "I'll be right back; I've got to use to loo." Ron and Liana still continued to search more.
They suddenly stopped when they heard a voice behind them, "I didn't see either of you at dinner. I was beginning to worry. Rarely do you two miss meals, especially for studying." Severus Snape spoke solemnly.
"We're not studying," Liana answered absent mindedly, Ron threw her a look.
"Then what are—" Severus began.
"We're researching." Ron answered quickly and cheekily.
"I see," Snape spoke slowly as he looked at his daughter as though he could sense her mischief. "Anyways, there is a tray for you in your common room when you're done researching."
"Thank you, Severus." Liana replied and Ron nodded gratefully.
13.
"Ron, have you seen the weather? It's been pure sleet for days! It's getting close to Christmas, you'd think it'd be snowing by now." Liana flung herself into a chair in the common room a few days after their day in the library "researching."
Oliver Wood overheard her complaint, "Hopefully, this weather clears up for the Quidditch match tomorrow. Hufflepuff should be easier than Slytherin was, but you never know."
"I'm also not sure how it's going to play out with who's refereeing the match either." Angelina Johnson said as she neared Oliver and Liana.
Now the Weasley twins were listening to the conversation. "What do you mean? Isn't Madam Hooch doing it as always?"
Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet now got up from the table they were sitting at. Angelina looked around bewildered that the rest of her team didn't hear the news. Oliver looked furious, "Well, who is it?"
Angelina turned her head to face Liana, "It's Professor Snape."
"Bloody 'ell!" Ron exclaimed.
"Maybe it will work out to our advantage," Oliver began. "I mean his daughter is on one of the teams."
"Yeah, but she's the only Gryffindor he even likes!" One of the Weasley twins chimed in.
"I can't believe him!" Liana stood up. "And when was Severus planning on telling me this." And with that she stormed towards the door.
Angelina shouted after her, "They only announced it this morning!" But that didn't matter to Liana; she slammed the portrait of the fat lady shut behind her and took off for the dungeons.
As she approached Severus's door she could already hear his voice; he was shouting at someone. Quickly, she tiptoed to the door. She slowed her breathing, allowing herself to be able to hear what was being said inside the office.
"It's not safe here, Albus! Quirrell is trying to get it. The troll on Halloween was a distraction so he might be able to get to the stone. And I've got a feeling Quirrell has found himself involved with You-Know-Who. Flamel needs to move his stone."
"Severus, the stone is well protected. If it was not protected appropriately than Nicholas would have never left his stone here…" Liana no longer listened to what Dumbledore was saying inside the office. Her fear of Quirrell was confirmed, and her struggled to discover what stone lay hidden on the third floor was greatly narrowed. She soon found herself running back up the stairs to the common room; this was something she had to tell Ron and Hermione immediately.
14.
"Nicholas Flamel, where have I heard that name?" Hermione paced back and forth in the common room. "I don't recall reading that name yesterday, but I know I've read it before. I just can't remember when."
Ron ignored Hermione's pacing, "So what'd ol' Snapey say when you asked about the Quidditch match tomorrow?"
"Bloody 'elll!" Liana exclaimed. "I forgot all about that after I overheard him and Dumbledore." With that being said, Liana dashed back out of the common.
As she stepped out of the portrait hole she faintly heard Hermione scolding, "Ronald, you shouldn't curse; now Liana is." As the portrait hole swung shut she could still hear a hint of Ron's laughter at Hermione's remark.
15.
"Severus Snape!" She thrust the door to his office open. "What do you think you're doing tomorrow?" She neared his desk and leaned over it, looking him powerfully in the eyes.
"Tomorrow? I can't recall anything—" Severus began smartly, but he was shortly interrupted (which he knew he would be).
"Quidditch! Why are you refereeing Quidditch?" She moved to the other side of his desk.
"Oh, yes. I knew I was forgetting something." Liana tried not to smile. She knew he was completely pretending not to remember Quidditch. "Liana," Severus beckoned for her to move closer to him; however, he was surprised when she climbed right into his lap. "I'm only doing this for your protection. This way I can keep an eye on Professor Quirrell and be close to you if he should try anything." Liana nodded. "And another thing, I want you to try and avoid Professor Quirrell. He's dangerous right now; something isn't right."
"What's going on with him? Is it Voldemort?" Liana asked in hopes of finding more information on the stone hidden in the school.
Severus sighed at his daughter's use of the true name, but he didn't say anything. Severus thought of You-Know-Who as Voldemort in his head, but he still didn't say the name out loud. "Yes, he's behind it. I'm almost certain. When you're in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes be sure to keep that boyfriend close by, not that he could do much, but just as another precaution."
"Ron is not my boyfriend." Liana whined and Severus laughed.
"I know, and that's good because you're not allowed to date until you're married." Severus kissed his daughter on the forehead.
16.
"Oliver, this is horrible weather." Liana heard Angelina Johnson speaking with their captain as she walked into the common room. "Let's hope for a quick catch of the snitch, aye?" Angelina said as she noticed Liana.
Liana found Ron and approached him, "Hermione's in the library; she wanted to look search for Nicholas Flamel some more before the match." Ron nodded and the pair walked to the great hall for breakfast.
They sat down with the rest of the Gryffindors. The entire team seemed anxious for the match to begin. And soon after Hermione came down from the library (after not finding anything on Nicholas Flamel) it was time for the Gryffindors to head out. Ron kindly patted his best friend on the shoulder and wished her luck, as did Hermione.
The Gryffindor team slowly walked out to the pitch; the rain was pouring harder than ever. Liana could barely see a few feet in front of her. She wished she had rain resistant goggles, like some of her teammates had.
She stood in the center of the field with the rain pouring down on her face, her hair was already drenched. A chill ran down her back as the cold rain seeped into her Quidditch uniform. Glancing around at her teammates she saw that the match was about to start, and then her father threw the Quaffle into the air.
Immediately she kicked off of the ground. She darted past her father, and began circling the pit. Speeding around the pit she kept a close eye out, she could only see so far in front of her. And then she heard a penalty against Gryffindor being called. Liana then heard the groan of the Gryffindor fans; none of them seemed to justify the penalty either.
What's Severus doing?
Searching through the raindrops she looked for her father to see what exactly he was doing. A bolt of lightning flashed, and the whole stadium was illuminated for a second. And that's all the light Liana needed, for she then saw the glimmer of the snitch—right next to Severus.
She clutched her hands on her broom and took off. Almost instantly, Liana was close to her father. A Bludger then skimmed the ends of her hair, and Liana heard Severus gasp. But then she reached out and snatched it. She caught the snitch in record time.
Both teams and Severus quickly landed. Oliver Wood grabbed Liana and kissed her cheek happily, he then noticed Severus watched and got very quiet. Meanwhile, the Weasley twins hoisted her up onto their shoulders, and they carried her into the locker room that way. Everyone knew there was going to be a grand celebration starting soon in the Gryffindor common room.
