Chapter Seven – Intervention

Severus was quite glad she already knew how to perform some spells to a small degree. Within mere hours she was filling cups with water, levitating books onto the top shelf of the bookcase, casting protecting shields, and petrifying him temporarily. It took a little more practice for some of the other spells (Accio, Expelliarmus, Rictumsempra, Levicorpus, Mobilicorpus, and Incendio to name a few) and a few more to get to use it in Transfiguration, which she failed at miserably. Thus, they decided to ignore it to focus on Charms and Defense, which she was already proving to be quite good at.

She was practicing the spells, and had memorized and been able to perform more than four dozen Charms and three dozen defense spells, jinxes, and curses. She was a prodigy, Severus smiled, and he was more than happy to have her as a private student, meaning he could take all the credit for her abilities, as well as shortcomings. She'd scared the daylights out of him in June when on the twenty first she insisted that she practice nothing but hexes, curses, and jinxes at a couple dummies that she'd set up. This scared him, but he let it go thinking it was a one-time thing. It wasn't.

July fourth and sixth were both days of extreme anger for her, and she again insisted upon training in these kinds of spells. August ninth was a day that she progressed exponentially, her magic being fuelled by rage for some reason that day, and the twelfth was a day that she didn't want to do anything at all, much to his shock. The twenty-third was a day that she made up for the twelfth by practicing Charms and Transfiguration all day. All day, every day, studying was what she did. He smiled when he was able to give her an exam at the end of the summer to prove that she was, as he suspected, ready to move on to the dangerous animals and more material of the second year's nature.

Halloween however, was a day that he wanted off, and she happily oblidged him with complete understanding. She'd also revealed why she wanted the twelfth off – her birthday, her nineteenth. Sarah was now at her third year levels, nearing completion and it was making him feel something he hadn't felt in a long time – pride. He sighed as he stared up at the ceiling thinking about Lily. He fell asleep, and began to dream of her once more.

"Sev," Lily said, appearing in his dream. "I'm glad you let your shields down today, my friend."

"Lily," Snape gasped. "You – of course, today's the day that the veil between the living and the dead is the weakest. But – after all these years – why now? Why not before?"

"You were too busy with the war, and too wrapped up in your own messes before today," she smiled gently. "Open up to her, Severus. Give her a chance, even though she's young enough to be your daughter, give her a chance. Thanks for taking care of Harry for me all those years."

"You're not leaving, are you?" he asked worriedly, and she laughed and shook her head. "Okay, I'm just checking. I can't bear to – how – I can't. I can't open up to any other woman, Lily, you know that."

"You already have, Severus," she soothed. "Besides, her background reminds me almost of yours, just in a different manner of … not abuse, but emotional turmoil. She'll remember the bad about her family more than the good, but for you, I think she'll make an exception. She probably still thinks that this is all just a bunch of hocus pocus. Speaking of which, she's watching that movie right now."

"Okay," Severus said shrugging. "But she's already learned so much without me."

"You're wrong there, Severus," Lily cut in. "If it were anyone else, she wouldn't be trying anywhere near this hard. Not because she doesn't want you hounding on her, but because she wants to prove herself worthy of you. She wants to prove to herself and to you that she's worth bringing to Spinner's End from America, the suburbs, no less of all places! She's ashamed of her past, Severus, and you need to help her with that."

"How?" Severus asked confused. "How?"

"Be yourself," Lily explained. "And it wouldn't hurt to compliment her once in a while, or to join her in her shenanigans – as long as they're within my reasoning, which most of them will be, I promise – and to be there for support when she needs you. Oh, James, Sirius and Remus all say that they're really, really sorry for everything. They – they were telling me to tell you that if they were here, they'd be groveling at your feet for mercy. No lie."

"Thanks, Lily. For the sake of their sanity – and mine – I might be able to forgive them, if given time. But how – how can you forgive me?" he asked worriedly, and she smiled softly.

"By telling him you fancied me, you gave me the choice, and I chose to die for Harry. By begging for my life, you saved Harry's, and I thank you for sending me to my doom, Severus," Lily said quietly. "Because if you hadn't, that madman would still be ruling the country, possibly the whole world, and you'd be insane from being a spy for so long. Now go – there's a hyperactive brunette who needs your loving care."

"I'm sorry, Lily," Severus whispered. "I forgive you, all of you, but it will take time. I will try, but I'm not sure if she's willing to look past my past to see me for a man."

"She will, Sev," Lily assured as she faded. "she wouldn't trust you otherwise."

Severus got up, headed out to the living room, and sure enough, saw Sarah watching a Muggle movie called 'Hocus Pocus'. He shook his head but sat down next to her, watching as the blonde witch, Sarah, began singing. His Sarah, the one next to him, began singing as well, softly, having already memorized the words long ago.

Come Little Children, I'll take thee away.

Into a land of enchantment.

Come little children, the time's come to play.

Here in my garden Of magic.

He stared at the movie, glancing at her as she sang in her soft, yet somehow almost raspy, soprano. It was clear to him that she hadn't sung in a very long time, but for some odd reason he wanted to hear more from her. He somehow liked it when she sang, it made him feel like he's just brewed a brand new, never before invented potion. The song was short lived, and he scowled when the movie was finally over, not liking the ending.

"I know, you don't like the ending, but it was part of their spell," Sarah shrugged with an evil grin, "And as an added bonus, we can watch Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas if you want since it's about Halloween makers taking over Christmas."

"As much as I like the idea," Severus began slowly, not sure of how to word his thoughts. "I was thinking of something a little different. Perhaps karaoke?"

"Ah, um, I'm not very good at that when the video's are playing," she admitted. "And some of the songs on my Ipod are just wrong and…"

"What your brother would call porn?" Severus asked, and she nodded ashamed. "I won't judge. Most music I hear and remember is from the seventies or about idiocy with the opposite gender."

"What did ollivander mean by 'sister wand', Professor?" Sarah asked, and Severus smirked.

"You'd make a very good Muggle Studies teacher, did you know that?" he asked, and she gaped at him in awe. "You'll be fine, you're Muggle born, raised as a Muggle, probably know more than most Muggle Studies teachers, and know how to defend yourself for the most part."

"But- but I haven't graduated yet!" she objected, confused at his offer.

"That won't stop me from putting you in school next fall," he smirked. "Oh, actually… perhaps this spring? Horace wants to retire, and you're already at the third year level on your Charms and defense… I could write Minerva to see if she can give you some Transfiguration advice, or be able to take you there on the weekends for training with her, if you like. You'll need to start your third year, complete it, and then move on to the fifth year. Knowing you, you'll be able to do it all in one summer, and I will even go as far to say that you've studied more adamantly than even Miss Granger did."

Sarah stared at him shocked. He was complimenting her, offering her advice and help, and then he was saying that she was better than one of the famous Golden Trio members? No! She was nothing compared to them, a mere candle light next to the bonfire that was them! Why on earth was he helping her? Pity? Loneliness? A desire to teach someone who wouldn't blow up a classroom in potions? She sighed, looking at the bookcase sadly, knowing that no matter what, she'd always be inferior to Hermione Granger, the insufferable know-it-all who got an Order of Merlin First Class for being the nagging witch who kept Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley in line during their insane years at Hogwarts and on the run.

Suddenly, the Floo flared up to life, to reveal Harry Potter himself, dressed in all black, and followed by Hermione Granger. Sarah's eyes widened, and she left the room, not wanting her rescuer to see her cry.

"I'm sorry, Potter, Granger, could you excuse me for a moment while I go soothe my charge from whatever damage I have inadvertently – and unintentionally, I can assure you – done?" Severus asked, and they nodded. He stalked up the stairs, heading into the second bedroom to check up on the tiny female, only to stop cold and find her crying her eyes out. He leaned closer, taking heed not to make any noise so he could hear what she was sobbing.

"I can't believe it!" Sarah sobbed. "How the hell can he do that? I'm nothing compared to her, nothing! I can't even cast a patronus, much less erase someone's mind or go on a fantastic trip like she did! I'm nothing like her, I'm a nobody! What the hell does he see in me? Why do I always have to be the inferior one in life? He says I'm better, but I'm not! She's probably two to five years older than me, and is already advanced in magic more than I'll ever be! How can he – why does he put up with teaching me when I can't even figure out most of the wizard customs?"

"Sarah?" Severus knocked at that moment. "May I come in, little one?"

"Go away!" she sobbed, and he sighed through his nose and pinched the bridge of it. "I don't hear footsteps! I said go away!"

"No, child, I want to talk to you," Severus said evenly. "At least tell me what's wrong and how I can help fix it. if it's something I said wrong, then I apologize for offending you. I really did mean it when I said you were the better of the two of you."

"You're just saying that so I'll quite crying!" she screamed at him, and her sobbing carried downstairs to Harry and Hermione, who were wary of what would happen to the girl.

"Sarah," Severus said calmly, "What's wrong? Are you homesick? I can help you get a letter to them if you are, child. Just tell me what's wrong, and I'll do anything and everything that is legally in my power to fix it."

"Kill me," she muttered. "use the unforgivable that you used so often in the war and put me out of my misery."

Severus, however, had heard what she'd said and his eyes widened, his throat clenching with fear, and he put his wand to the doorknob, knowing she hadn't learned how to relock it with magic yet. He walked in to find her lying on her side, curled up under her blanket, and sulking moodily. He sat on the edge of the bed and began to silently think of what to say to her so as not to reveal that he hadn't been listening to her rantings.

"Sarah," he murmured. "I will do no such thing to you, no matter how hard you beg. You're already ready to begin Charms and Defense spells and books for the fourth years, and you've only been studying for a mere couple months. It's taken Miss Granger seven years to get to the point that she's at now, and I'm sure you will be able to get there as well if given two more years of this ravenous studying habit. If it's more defense spells you're worried about, I can teach you, but you must also remember that she had three, four other classes aside from the two that you are learning right now. So far, you are doing so much better than she could have hoped for if she were in your position.

"Your stamina is incredible for spell casting, and you're very adept and quick to learn more battle strategies. You're very, very smart, even though you sometimes act without thinking, but then again, who doesn't? I know that was one mistake I made when I joined the Death Eaters. Don't let it bother you, Sarah, I meant it as a compliment, not an insult. If I offended you, I apologize. I'm not asking you to forgive me, I just want you to know that you're more than welcome to stay here for as long as you like."

"What if I'm not in Slytherin?" She asked quietly as he stood up to leave, and he smiled.

"Then one of the other houses will have gained a truly remarkable witch prodigy in their ranks," he said gently, "Even more so than Granger. Comparable probably only to myself or Dumbledore now that I think about it…"

"Will you stop saying that? I'm nothing but a good-for-almost-nothing idiot who can't seem to do ninety percent of what I do right, and I screw up so often it's not even funny."

"Yes, but you're a proud screw up," Severus said. "And that's a good thing. Remember what Hinata told Naruto right before he went to go beat up Neji? Well, this is pretty much that same conversation from her end on my part, kiddo. You're clumsy, a screw up, but no matter what, you always get back up and try all the harder to please people. You're a member of the magical community now, Sarah, and as such, I will treat you as such. If your family doesn't like it, then they can go to hell and you can move all your things to live with me if you like. That's not a threat, that's a promise."

Sarah looked at him, with a tiny voice in her head saying to trust him and that he meant it. She knew her lower lip was quivering, so she buried her head in his robes to hide her tears.

"Don't be afraid to cry in front of me, child when we are alone," he soothed. "Not everyone would believe that I'm not the heartless bastard that I make myself out to be. Please try to remember that, Hime*."

"Severus," she sobbed, burying her head deeper so she could hide and listen to his heartbeat, a deep and resonating sound that would forever be able to calm her sorrows if she just focused on it. "I'll – I'll try to make you proud, I promise. I – I'll try not to let you down like I did my parents."

"Come, there's a song or two I think you need to hear," Severus soothed as he led her back downstairs.