Snape stood before the red haired child uncomfortable, she smiled serenely at him at his feet. After her magic had settled she had curled up at his feet and had taken a nap like the little snake she had been nick-named.

Not long though he could hear the voice of her mother calling, his gut clenched at the voice.

"Phoenix! Where are you?"

Thus, he had woken her up and they were brought to the moment before them. Her peering up at him like a small puppy.

"Could you teach me?"

He blinked.

"Excuse me."

"Could you teach me more about magic?"

"I hardly think that would be appropriate."

She tilted her head to the side, her usual way, looking every inch like a child her age once again.

"Why?"

"I doubt your mother would approve."

"I heard her talk to a lady here, she doesn't know what to do with me because I'm so smart. She was going to get someone to teach me anyways. If I get her to say yes to you teaching me, will you?"

Snape peered down at her and couldn't help the smirk, not in a million years would her mother ever allow her to be taught by him.

"So be it."

"Promise?"

Snape knew the cost of promises, but he knew that this one would never be fulfilled. Lily would never allow her child to be taught by him, she had never forgiven him for the past. She knew of his dark dealings as well and would never let her child be influenced by him.

"I promise to teach you as long as your mother agrees for me to do so."

"Ok! See you soon!" She grinned up at him and the air seemed to sparkle around her.

His gut dropped and he instantly felt as if he made a serious mistake, as magic had once again sealed him to the promise.

Curious and driven by instinct he followed the child at a distance as she skipped down the hall towards her mother's voice calling to her. He kept to the shadows as she turned the corner and a tall redhead stood at the bottom of the moving staircases.

"Coming, Mama!"

"Be careful!"

"I'm being careful, Mama."

Lily's hand was to her chest as she watched her daughter skip down the staircases, terrified that at any moment she would fall from them.

She sighed in relief as her little one grabbed hold of her hand.

"Are we going to stay here?"

"Yes, my darling."

This time Phoenix didn't wince at the endearment instead she smiled her brightest smile, "Really?" She jumped up and down, "Do I get to go to school here too?" She knew that she was too young but she knew her mother didn't know she'd been listening earlier.

"No. I'll be finding you a tutor though and you'll be well taken care of while I have classes."

"Can I pick my tutor?"

The dark shadow hiding at the top of the staircase shifted.

"I don't know. You don't really know anyone here."

"I do. I do. I met some teachers, they were really nice." Nix knew that the other tall man wasn't a teacher but a little fib wouldn't do any harm.

"You didn't cause any trouble did you, Phoenix?"

"No. I made friends!"

Lily smiled at her little one and her heart ached. She knew how hard it was for the little one to make friends, she was always smarter than everyone else her age. She would often get bored with the neighborhood's children at their old home.

"That's marvelous, dear."

"So can I pick my tutor?"

Lily sighed, "Yes you may."

"Promise?" Phoenix smiled up at her mother, her little auburn eyelashes fluttering. The shadow watching sucked in his breath. "You have to say that you promise that I can have any tutor I want."

Why the little manipulator, she knew exactly what she was doing. The shadow known as Severus felt a bolt of respect for the little one, even as he dreaded what was about to happen. She would make a good Slytherin one day.

Lily sighed once again exasperated, "I promise to allow any qualified person you choose to teach you." She knew her daughter always got her way when she asked for promises, thus her little caveat.

Phoenix turned towards the moving staircases and called upwards, "You can come down now, Sev, she said you could tutor me."

Lily paled to the point her freckles almost seemed to fade as well, "Sev?"

"Yep, he's qualified. His magic is really strong and he's smart and he's a teacher here."

The Sev in question took in an intake of air quickly, the little snake was definitely smart.

He came down the stairs, "Mrs Potter." He nodded towards his old flame and friend.

"Severus!"

"You know him? Then it's perfect!"

Lily looked down at her child and for the first time noticed the little smirk on the tips of her daughters lips that mirrored that of her old friend. She sucked in a deep breath to take back her promise, but her words would not come forth, for she could not take back a promise that was sealed by magic.

"I see she got you with a promise as well, Mrs. Potter. I suppose we will be seeing more of each other now that the little one has got us trapped."

A little laugh came from the child between them, "This will be so much fun!"

Thus, this was how the Dark Lord's potion master became the youngest Potter twin's tutor.