"Severus," Lily entered his potions classroom quietly Tuesday evening and took the chair across his desk. Snape looked glanced up from the chicken scratch a first-year Hufflepuff had submitted as a Moonstone essay.

"Hello Lily," he said brightening up a bit.

"So the potions professor does know how to smile!" Lily teased.

"Let's go to my quarters, and then we'll talk. An imbecile might just walk in on us here," he scoffed and led her too his place.
Lily let out a huge breath as she settled in the sofa beside him. "How are we going to tell her? Should it be slow, to let the news sink in or should it be short and too the point? Sev? Why are you laughing! This is serious you git!"

A smile still tugged at the corners of his lips "She knows,"
"Huh!" Lily's eyes widened in amazement. "You told her with out me?" she asked, unsure if she should be glad that the news had been broken too Vivica without her seeing the disappointment and frustration on her face, or angry that she had been told with out her there.

"I didn't tell her anything," he said simply, handing her a warm drink. "She found out on her own,"
"How!" Lily demanded, almost spilling her drink.

"Well," Snape started out calmly. "Your daughter earned a detention writing out old cards and for Madam Pomfery for a crime I highly suspect the Weasley twins have put her in and she found her birth certificate with our names on it,"

"My goodness," Lily put a hand on her chest. "What a terrible way to find out,"
"It is," he continued. "She came in last night and vented out her anger by shouting and being completely un-Vivica like. She's fine with me now though; but you have a good dose of anger coming for you,"
She narrowed those pretty eyes at him. "I expect that you put all the blame on me,"

He shrugged. "No, just the parts you deserve,"
"Hmph," she crossed her arms over her chest. "I suppose…yeah, I owe her an explanation…" she reasoned with herself.

He nodded. "Yes you do; I'll go collect her,"

"Wait," she tugged at the sleeve of his robe. "I'll go,"

"Use the floo to McGonagall's office," he said. "Good Luck,"

XXX

"Vivica," Professor McGonagall collected the young girl from her common room.

"Yes Professor?" she asked, walking down to her office with her.

"You've got a visitor," she said quietly.

"Is it dad?" she questioned, trying to keep up with McGonagall's long strides.

"No, it's your mother,"

Vivica stopped walking.

"Vivica dear, she's come to give you an explanation." McGonagall coaxed, walking back to her.

"I don't want to see her sorry face," she said stubbornly. "She let me live without my real father for most of my life! How will she explain that?"
McGonagall looked thoughtful. "Lily was going through a hard time dear-"
"But she was an adult, and we were only children!" she said sadly. "You don't know how much we missed having a dad," Vivica sat down on a near bench. "Uncle Remus was alright but…"

"Darling, what ever has happened, has happened. You can not change the past," McGonagall explained gently. "But you can change the future. Talk to you mother, and maybe you can have your father back,"
"Okay," Vivica got up slowly. "But I am still angry at mum,"
"I wouldn't blame you," McGonagall slowed down her pace so Vivica could keep up with her. "But I do know she loves you. When she first held you she told me that you are the most amazing thing she has ever seen."
"You were there when I was born?"

"Of course, I was her head of house," McGonagall said proudly. "And your father thought you were the most delicate thing that he was scared to hold you," she chuckled.

"Did I like you too?" Vivica asked warmly. "You liked my spectacles. Vivica, what did your mother tell you about your birth,"
"That I was born here, but it was only her, Grandma and Dad-er-James?"
"Oh," McGonagall tried to hide her disappointment. She had always been very fond of Lily; why did she leave her out of the story?

"Well, here we are," McGonagall gave Vivica a reassuring smile before shutting he door behind her, not even bothering to look at Lily.

"Mum," Vivica greeted her mother curtly, still standing by the door.

"Oh Vivica," Lily got up from her seat by the fire to hug her. "I'm so sorry,"
Vivica kept her arms stiff and by her sides. "No you aren't."
Lily pulled and away and held he shoulders. "Baby Via, you don't understand,"

"I know," Vivica said simply. "What ever has happened, has happened."
Lily was at a loss for words. What is she going to tell her?

"You do not know how wrong I was," Lily said sadly, leading her daughter back to her seat. They both fit in the oversized armchair. "I am truly sorry for all the pain I caused you. You should have never gone through what you have. But you are such a brave girl, you can endure anything."

Vivica felt a bit of pride in what her mother was saying, but remained quiet.

"Will you forgive me, please?" Lily asked hopefully.

"Did Dad forgive you?" Vivica asked, still looking down at her feet.

"I suppose he has,"
"Than I suppose I can," Vivica said. "Can we go see him?"
Lily hesitated for a moment. "Alright," she said quietly. "We'll use the floo,"

XXX

Vivica sat silently in between her parents as they explained their hardships and what had eventually led to their split; laughing, crying and snapping in the process.

"It is a lot for you to take Kitten," Snape said softly, holding her close. "We're so sorry,"
"I know you are," she said automatically. "But I can not forgive you completely."
"Didn't you say that what ever has happened has happened?" Lily asked calmly, squeezing her hands with her daughter's.

Vivica nodded sullenly.

"We'll start fresh," Snape smiled at her. "With me as your dad and you-"
"-As your daughter," Vivica managed to give him a weak smile.

"We both love you so much," Lily explained. "We didn't want to hurt you,"
Vivica leaned into her father's side, making Lily feel upset. "I know,"

"Good," Lily leaned in and kissed her daughter's forehead. "I should be going now, I can't leave Harry has a good bit of homework he needs help in. Bye, Baby Via,"

"Bye," Vivica waved as her mother disappeared into the floo. "Dad?"
"Yes Kitten?" he looked at her fondly.

"Are you mad at mum for what she did?"
Severus sighed. "I'm mad at her for making me miss almost all of your life but I'm glad that I can have you back now,"
"I guess you're a bit of both," she said softly. "Same here. I am angry at her for lying to me about such an important thing, but she did still raise me single handed and I think she did a pretty good job,"

Snape chuckled. "You have been friends with the Weasley twins far to long,"

"Eleven years and counting," she said proudly. "They've been great friends."
"How has Remus been with you, seeing that he is your godfather," Snape asked curiously. He did not mind it when Lily chose Remus to be her godfather, seeing that all of his friends were soon-to-be Death Eaters and her friends were insufferable but he still wanted to know if he had been any help in raising his child.

"He's good. He gave Harry and me pre-Defense classes and he is really nice too me. He taught me a lot about Qudditch. One year, he volunteered to be our assistant coach and we hardly lost a match,"

Snape nodded in understanding. "That's good," he peered over his shoulder to see that the fireplace had came to life and McGonagall stepped right through.

"It's nearly midnight, Severus, I've come to collect Vivica,"

"A few moments, please Minerva. You may have a seat though,"

"Professor," Vivica looked at her kindly. "Would you like to tell me the real story about the day I was born?"
McGonagall laughed. "I thought you'd never ask."

XXX

November 1st seemed to be a reliever day from all the candy consumed by first to seventh years alike from Halloween. Apparently though, a quiet and no-nucience Snape was just as anxious as his Lily, who was currently giving birth this evening. Professor Slughorn stood at this side, patiently reading a potions catalogue since he knew Severus was not going to talk.

"Have a seat Severus," Slughorn said mindlessly, not looking up from the catalogue. "You'll wear a hole to the dungeons,"
"Sorry sir," Severus said curtly and sat down, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Why can't I go in with her?" he demanded to his professor.
"Because you are not married and it is unjust," Slughorn said calmly.

"She will be," he said quietly, tapping his pocket.

"It's society's and Madame Pomfrey's rules, Severus, you can not go inside. Lily will be fine,"

Severus snorted.

"Why don't you think of names?" Slughorn said casually, putting down the magazine. "Let's start with boy names, how about Harry?"
"Disgusting," Severus said. "I prefer something like Saiphon,"
"How about girls," Slughorn said quickly, seeing that they will be at a disagreement with boy names. "Let's start with the A's,"
"Arianna," Severus suggested dismissively.

"Arielle is Lily's middle name is it not? That will sound beautiful for a first name,"

"I suppose."
"Let's do flowers then?"

He looked like he was going to snap. Just then the door creaked open and Severus's head shot up.

"Mr. Snape, will you like to see your child?" Professor McGonagall asked softly.

Severus nodded mutely and followed his transfiguration professor inside, with Professor Slughorn following them.
He mentally let out a huge sigh when he saw his tired looking Lily healthy and happy as she gently rocked a baby swaddled in a pink blanket.

"Oh Lily," he said softly, walking to her side.

"She looks just like you," Lily said quietly as he cautiously held out his finger for the child to grasp.

"Would you like to hold her Sev?" she asked kindly as Severus timidly held out his arms for his new child. At eighteen, most boys this age would have shaking arms like this when they received their Diploma, not their child. All the same, Severus Snape was fascinated with his child, she was so small and delicate yet she melted his coldness as soon as she was nestled up against his chest.

"She likes you," Lily's musical voice observed, he smiled at her, then back at the baby.

"We can never give her up, Lil'," Severus said quietly. "She's too..."

"Precious?" Lily supplied and smoothed the baby's dark hair. "I know, Sev, but how can we? We've got school and the child and You-Know-Who is becoming stronger every day."
"You and I both know we can't give her up though," Severus gave her one of his rare smiles. They had been thinking about adoption, but they both knew that they could never oblige.

"You're right," she laughed lightly. "We can make it work, my mother was not all pleased with the pregnancy but I sure as hell can bet you that she'll spoil our baby rotten."
"When will we see her though? It is going to be pretty hard to forget her,"
"Evenings, weekends, breaks; I'll have a floo set up to my house. And Severus," She gave him a pointed look as she took back her baby.

"Yes, Lily?" he sat down beside her on the bed.

"We cannot refer to our daughter as 'baby' all the time. She needs a name. And no naming her after a stupid flower like mine,"

"You know it suits you," he smirked. "You're soft, but sharp Lily Evans,"
"Thanks, but she certainly does not look like a flower,"
They both exchanged a series of names including 'Clarabelle', 'Edith', 'Kimberly' and 'Penelope,' but none of the suggestions seemed to suit her.

"Let's go with the 'V's'," Lily suggested. "Vanessa? Veronica?"

"How about Vivica?" Severus suggested.

"Vivica," Lily tried the name out on her tongue. "Vivica. That is beautiful."

"You should pick the middle name then," Severus said. "It's only fair."

"Rose, after my mother," she said softly.

He chuckled. "What happened to 'stupid flower names?'"

"My mother will be the one taking care of her so she might as well be included in her name," Lily answered automatically. "So this is it. This is our beautiful Vivica Rose Evans-Snape,"
"Goodness Lily, please don't deprive the child of carrying my last name. Why the hell do you think I go by 'The Half-Blood Prince?" he inquired.

She giggled and kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you Severus Snape,"

XXX

"So let me get this straight. Slytherin Snape is your freaking dad!" Fred looked more confused than ever when she told him about her 'detention' during supper in the Great Hall.

Vivica looked up shyly. "Yes,"

George looked at her curiously. "You sure?"

"Yes,"

"This is clearly, very strange," Angelina thought carefully. "I mean, he hates Gryffindors, my sister said that she got a week of scrubbing cauldrons for not having her Swelling Solution the proper shade of periwinkle blue."

"She's a nerd!" Fred exclaimed.

"Fred," Vivica sighed, exasperated. "Why don't you get it!"
"Because, it's lie!" he snapped back, his voice echoing through the hall. "That's a new low to get good grades,"

"I get good grades because…I'm smart!" he cheeks burned as she glared at her lifelong friend. "Unlike you! I'd rather be a geek in glasses than a dumb-arse dropout!"

"Take that back you daughter of a SNAKE!"

"Oh so I'm a snake?" it took every nerve in her body to resist the urge to slap him straight in the face.

"You seem so proud to declare yourself one, nerd,"

"Is that the best you can do Weasel," said in a dangerous, low voice. "I swear it, I know hexes that a seventh year wouldn't dare performing,"
"You really are a Slytherin! Go on leave, go eat with them,"
"Just leave it Fred," Angelina said angrily. "George, you and me are the only people Via's told, I think you should support her because this is very tough,"
Fred completely ignored her. "Don't even act like you'll do it. I know you won't actually cast the hexes. Not with all the teachers here,"
"You're right," she quietly put her wand back in her skirt pocket. "You should learn to sleep with one eye open,
"Oh yeah, well-"
"Okay Freddo, let's just leave it," George tried to take his brother out.

"Yeah, let's go start on that transfiguration essay, Vivica," Angelina whisked her friend away.

While they walked back to the common room, Vivica kept her boiling anger well concealed.

xxx

After finishing their essays the girls quietly talked amongst them selves. Angelina didn't dare mention the tiff between her and Fred, seeing that Vivica clearly didn't want to touch on the subject. Instead they talked about the new Nimbus 1998 and how much better it was than the old Nimbus 1997. During Vivica's Qudditch rant about how the Harpies were being unfair to their latest player, Shaniqua Sharzobia, Angelina began to nod off and Vivica let her go to bed. There was still an half an hour left until curfew so she decided to exploring. She had bought herself a copy of Explore Hogwarts: A First Year's Guide to Discovery and took it out with her while she left the common room.