Okay, as you probably should know by now, nobody on this site owns Harry Potter unless they somehow have the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling.
"Parseltongue"
"Normal Talk"
Thoughts/emphasis
Enjoy!
He finally couldn't take it any longer, and decided to transform back into a human to protect his child from harm, no matter how simple the problem was. She'd been in here for who knew how long, and had a number of possible murder or suicide weapons at her disposal.
"Kiru," Snape said gently, pulling her into a hug. "You should have told me, sweetheart. I promise, she will get detention for this, and I'll also be talking to the headmaster about this, and her parents. Don't worry, I'm here. I'm here. Daddy's got you. Daddy loves you, it's okay, sweetheart. Shh, it's alright."
"Dad," Kiru sobbed, burying her face into his chest. "Dad, I'm so sorry….I'm such a monster…I shouldn't be here…"
"Don't you ever let anyone tell you that," Snape snapped. "It's not true. Potter's a Parselmouth, and so is the Dark Lord. Two very opposite wizards – it's what you do with your gifts that count. You belong here just as much as I do. Let me tell you something," he said, looking around. "Myrtle, I would prefer no eavesdropping on this part, if you would please."
"Yes, sir," she said before floating back a ways.
"I got picked on, too," Snape whispered, and Kiru moved back to look him in the eyes. "Really, I did. James Potter and Sirius Black were relentless. One prank of theirs almost killed me, till James intervened. Kiru, I know you're upset, but if you ever need to talk, just let me know. Here – use the coin. I'll come pull you out of class as soon as I can, I promise. I love you, Kiru. I always have, and I always will."
"But- then why'd you leave mom?" Kiru asked confused as Severus handed her the Ocarina.
"I didn't want either of you getting hurt. I was acting as a spy at the time, and I knew that if word got out that I had a family and was a spy – well, they'd go after you first," Snape said gently. "Both sides would. That Ocarina was from your mother's household – I took it the night she tried to force me to take you in. I took it and hid it so that you could have it – I knew that the Dark Lord would want it since only a descendant of Slytherin may use it."
"So, it was to protect us?" she asked, and he nodded as she tooted a shaky and shrill note out. "But why leave me there? Why not come get me when mom was becoming abusive?"
"I couldn't – she put the house under a Fidelius charm, and I had no way of getting in," Snape said gently wiping her tears with his thumbs. "Kiru, I know I'm not used to being a parent, and I was extremely negligent on my duties as a father to you, but I'm going to change that, starting today on the train. I suspected, but I wasn't sure until Minerva – Professor McGonagall to you – called out your name."
"Daddy," Kiru sobbed, clinging tightly. "Will I have to go back to face her?"
"Hm? Ah, the prefect? No, I'll handle her. I'll look into getting you a familiar you can keep with you at all times. Where's Moaning Myrtle?" the Potions Master suddenly realized from the lack of moaning.
"I got on her good side," Kiru grinned sheepishly. "She caught me crying and, we started swapping stories of why we were crying. Did you know she died from the giant snake in that sink?"
"The Basalisk? Yes, I've heard of it – the one Potter killed last year," Snape said inspecting the snake on the tap.
"I wonder how I get it to open," Kiru said softly, and the sinks began shifting. "What'd I do?"
"I do believe," Snape smiled broadly. "That you found the Chamber of Secrets. Try to close it, before someone else comes."
"Right, uh…close," Kiru said, and the sinks shifted back to their original position. "Wow…"
"Severus!" McGonagall raced in, panting heavily. "Oh, thank goodness you found her… Malfoy was panicking like there was no tomorrow. Severus, you might want to have a word with the boy – he was cussing at a prefect. And – is that Sarabella's Ocarina?"
"Yes, and with every good reason," Snape retorted. "She called my daughter a freak on the train, even though she already knew Kiru was unstable from the dementor attack. If it were up to me, I'd be expelling her right now. Sadly, I cannot do that without the headmaster."
"You can expel someone?" Kiru asked quietly.
"Under extreme circumstances, yes," he told her. "But that is only for the Headmaster and the head of their house to decide."
"Daddy, I'm scared! I don't want to go near her! She'll hurt me, I know it!" Kiru whined, and Snape bent down once more to hold her tightly.
"Not on my watch, she won't," Snape said firmly. "And if she does, I'll be ready for her. Trust me – I've got an idea. It's risky – but it might just work."
"Severus, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore greeted as he walked in. "Myrtle was kind enough to inform me of what has happened, Miss Snape. Severus, you understand the severity of the situation – what was she saying in Parseltongue that Myrtle didn't catch?"
"Something that would make me look like sunshine and flowers," Snape replied with a slight shuddering, masking it with his robes. "And not in the threatening way – simply put, the girl made the dementor feel like nothing compared to now."
"I believe that she is in a little need of some hot chocolate," the old man grinned. "I find that it soothes my nerves and helps perk me up."
"I don't like chocolate," Kiru objected, and Snape grinned.
"Like father like daughter," Dumbledore grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Perhaps Potions making, then?"
"Can we?" Kiru asked, looking up at her father, her eyes pleading desperately.
"Of course we can, I'm the potions master, I'm in charge of potions brewing here," he grinned widely, holding her shoulders tightly and protectively. "I was thinking of a little Veritaserum…"
"Severus, that's illegal!" McGonagall objected.
"Whoever said I'd use it on a student?" Snape grinned. "No, I was thinking of Wormtail to put him in jail, ne, Kiru-chan?"
"Daddy," she murmured, her head suddenly light and her legs wobbly. She fell back, and he caught her with ease. "Daddy…"
"Shh, just rest," the once-heartless teacher said softly as he stroked her hair. "Headmaster, she shouldn't go unpunished – from what I saw in legimency, Kiru did nothing wrong. If you don't believe me, see for yourself."
"Legimens," Dumbledore murmured, and he watched the memories of the train from the small girl. He opened his eyes and sighed. "Your prefect could very well be sent to Azkaban for what she's done…"
"Hm?" Snape murmured, furrowing his brow.
"She attempted a nonverbal Imperius Curse, but it backfired onto a toad," Dumbledore said quietly, and the two teachers stood in shock.
"That little-!" Snape began, but Kiru's stirring brought him back down, still fuming. "Can we at least try it?"
"It's well worth it," McGonagall said. "It's not the first time, from what I've heard from my lions. She attempted it on a number of them, including Longbottom, the four Weasleys, and even Granger during last school year."
"Headmaster, I think we should give her a proper trial by the Ministry. If it's alright with you, I'd like to get Kiru a snake for a familiar – she is a Parselmouth, and can use the snake to vent out her frustrations as she needs to," Snape said calmly, and the old man nodded.
"Very well. And Severus – let Draco know. He's very worried about her."
.o0O0o.
"Sir!" Malfoy said startled as Snape walked into the dungeons common room. "Is she alright? Was she hurt? What happened after she ran off?"
The entire house had heard what had happened, and even how the girl had done something to their own head of house's daughter. Oh, the prefect knew it too. Snape jerked his head to a group of fifth year girls who nodded and raced into the dormitories. The other students backed off, the first years not understanding why the older ones were terrified, but obeyed their elders nonetheless and backed off.
"She'll be alright, Draco," Snape said firmly. "She just needs to rest, and have nobody insulting her anytime soon. Not so soon after that dementor attack on the train and the emotional breakdown I just had to calm her down from. It took me a full half hour of listening to her sobbing and finally forcing a relaxant down her throat."
"Sir, would you like me to watch over her? I could get my old house elf to do it!" Malfoy said quickly, and Snape looked at him. "Sir? You remember Dobby, right?"
"Yes, I recall," Snape said, leering. "But Potter freed him."
"I can pay him for it, he'd probably be happy to as long as I don't act the way father did," he volunteered, and Kiru stirred once more in her sleep. "Sir, please, I just want to help in any way I can."
"Actually, Draco, there is a way you can help," Snape grinned evilly. "Could you contact Lucius? I'm sure he'd be very interested in what's happened tonight, wouldn't you agree, Miss Arachne?"
"Professor, I did nothing to that girl," the prefect said, and Snape glared at her. "I swear it's the truth, Professor."
"We'll see who is telling the truth and who is lying tomorrow – or rather, later today, due to the ungodly hour that you've forced me to stay up until to find my daughter hiding in a bathroom stall. From you and your big mouth, need I add. One more outburst out of you, and I will have no problem expelling you. You knew she was attacked by a dementor, and you attacked her anyways. If I see you approach her one more time and it's not to help her with homework at her request, or with my permission, you will be expelled. I do not tolerate death threats in this house – that goes for all of you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Professor," they chorused, and Malfoy hesitantly padded closer.
"Sir, how quickly do you want me to write him?"
"As soon as time allows it. Hell, write it during History class or lunch for all I care," Snape said with a jerk of his head. "In the meantime, who – aside from Miss Arachne – would care to help get Kiru into bed?"
"I will," Millicent Bullstrode said as she stepped forward. Pansy Parkinson also stepped forward, and as did two more Slytherin girls from the older years.
"Thank you," Snape said as he looked at the dying fire. "Allright, bed, all of you. We still have classes in the morning."
"Yes, sir," they chorused and Snape headed into his office.
"Sorry, Crookshanks, Snuffles," Snape said yawning. "Trouble with a rogue prefect. I swear that girl is going to drive me insane. Thank Kami that some of the other girls were willing to help with Kiru."
Draco sat down at his bed, quickly writing a letter to Lucius Malfoy.
Father,
Unexpected problems have come up. Yes, I know, it's too soon, but one of the girl prefects, our own Slytherin prefect, attacked one of the first year girls, who happens to be a friend of mine. The first year was almost killed, and was even considering suicide, even though she just got here.
She was attacked by a dementor on the train, and the prefect used this as an opportunity to attack with the Imperius Curse. It backlashed and landed on Longbottom's toad thank goodness – the first time that idiot ever came in handy – and was harmless to her. Later, after the sorting and feast, the prefect outright told the first year girl that she wasn't welcome, and should – and I quote – "do the world a favor and drop dead".
Also, the prefect has used the confundus charm, and the Imperius curse before, just not on Slytherins. Father, I worry for the first and second year girls' safety. If there is a way to get her expelled, could you please help me and tell me what to do? Thank you!
Love, Draco
He lay the paper under his pillow so it wouldn't get stolen, Malfoy let himself drift off to sleep with thoughts of Kiru's smile in his mind. Ginny, Luna, and Neville were all thinking along the same lines as Malfoy when they went to bed, but they worried all night about their new friend's safety.
The next morning, Kiru awoke late, and panicked. She raced downstairs to the common room, and dashed out to try to find the Great Hall. She tripped, fell, and came face-to-feet with the prefect girl from the night before.
"Well, if it isn't daddy's girl. Mark my words, one day you'll regret dragging him into our little discussions," she jeered, as she pulled the girl up in front of Snape and walked off. Malfoy raced up, and roundhouse tackled her.
"You're alright! Oh, thank heavens! I was so worried!" he breathed relieved, and Kiru stared in confusion. "No, strike that, we were so worried! More than half the house stayed up last night to see if Professor Snape found you! Oh, you should have seen the look on his face when he saw her – I swear it looked like he would have lunged forward and tortured her to death muggle-style if it weren't for the fact that you were in his arms asleep."
"Draco, am I ugly?" Kiru asked suddenly and barely audible, and Malfoy stared at her in shock.
"No! Whoever said that was outright lying! You're the most beautiful Slytherin I've found yet," he said honestly. "Hey, I'm headed up to the owlrey to see if they can get this letter off to my father. I think I left something behind. Would you like to come with me?"
She nodded and they went upstairs in silence.
"Draco?" she asked as they got to the owlrey. "Will you kiss me?"
He stared at her for a few seconds, then gently brought her lips to his. He could feel the shock behind hers, and she could feel the sincerity behind his. He pulled away, a soft smile on his lips.
"Maybe that will prove those others wrong that think Parselmouths can't find love," he grinned. "And – could we not tell your father? I don't want to get in trouble."
"That's not it," she said hesitantly. "My mother said that nobody would ever kiss me except for my father, and that if it did happen, that I would finally be free of her curse."
"Curse?" he asked confused.
"Draco," she whispered as she hugged him. "I'm scared. I don't want to be alone, the prefects scare me…"
"Shh, don't be. Professor Snape loves you very much and would do anything to protect you. Heck, he went into a girls' bathroom for you, and he never does that. That should say something about how much you mean to him as his little girl," Malfoy said gently as he tied the letter to his dad onto his owl and sent it off.
"Breakfast?" she asked, and they raced down to breakfast. When they reached there, the Slytherin house was ecstatic, even the ones who had stayed up late the night before. The entire house had sleep deprivation, and Snape was probably the proudest head of house in that moment.
Even the seventh years and those goody-goody students in the Slytherins were ecstatic that she'd told off the prefect. They were all busily congratulating her and patting her on the back, which was extremely confusing and terrifying to Kiru. Malfoy draped his arm over her shoulder, smirking, and she grabbed his free hand for comfort.
"Kiru! That was amazing!"
"You should have obliviated her! Can you do that next time, Kiru?"
"Make her eat slugs, Kiru!"
"Three cheers for the heiress of Slytherin!" one of the seventh years yelled out, and the entire Slytherin house raised their glasses.
"To Kiru!" they cried unanimously over their morning pumpkin juice. "The heiress of Slytherin!"
Kiru, meanwhile, was pale faced and shrinking onto Malfoy. He laughed, and raised his glass right along with the others.
"And the most beautiful of all the Slytherin girls," he whispered in her ear before drinking his whole goblet full. "Hey, meet me outside during lunch, okay? I want to show you something." Kiru blushed a deeper red and watched as her father chuckled at her behavior and slightly raised his own goblet as well.
Yes, she falls in love with Malfoy. Don't worry, it's not too terribly graphic.
Review? Please?
