A/N- I don't know what the heck this chapter is about. It just popped out of my head, whilst I was indulging on sugar mind you. So it maybe a little weird at points. And as a reviewer pointed it out my grammar's bad. Actually, worse than bad. Although I love to be a BETA reader, I actually need one because I can't read my own work and spot the mistakes. So if there's anybod out there, help!

Disclaimer:You know the drill. I own nothing. You can't sue.


Comic relief

Kiara sat on the grass, looking out into the tunnel created by the trees, standing in a neat row going as far as she could see. At the end there was light, and there she knew was the manor. She suddenly remembered something that somebody had told her, a couple of years ago. Somebody she had been rather close to. Not Elvin, they had been close, but not as close as this. She struggled to remember who it was but soon found her mind filled with thoughts she wanted to forget. It didn't matter who it had been, but what they had said. 'It's always darkest before the light.' She had been through sixteen dark years and finally she had found the light in Severus. He had saved her twice now, and she didn't know how she could ever repay him.

The problem she had was that the light didn't seem so bright. It was dim. Severus had been right when they had argued for the first time. She didn't trust him. After what she had been through, she found it hard to trust anybody. And what if they found her? What would happen then? They would kill her and Severus since he had lied for her. Kiara sighed and wondered whether she was doing the right thing. Maybe, if her father saw how much stronger she was, and that she could be of some use to him, he would change his mind. He would finally be able to look her in the eye and call her his daughter. But she was dreaming, wasn't she? About everything. Any minute now, she would wake up, and find herself nearing death just a little bit more. Lying on the cold cellar floor, and wishing she could just die now.

"Hey, Earth to Kiara. Anybody home?" somebody said pulling her out of her thoughts. She blinked to focus and blushed as she realised that she had been in a daze. She sat back onto her hands, the grass tickling her palms slightly. She never thought she would say this, but the guy that was currently sitting a few feet from her, wasn't that bad a person.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about some stuff," Kiara replied, still looking at the light at the end of the orchard but still paying attention to the person she was sitting with. He gave her a curious look and shifted his position until he was looking exactly at the same place that Kiara was looking. She threw him a puzzled look, and just had to ask. "What are you doing?"

"I was just wondering what stuff I would think of if I was looking in that direction, and the only thing that came into my head was: What are Hermione and Ron are doing right this minute in the library, all by themselves?" he said forcing a look of total concentration on his face. Kiara laughed for probably the first time in awhile, and was surprised by how good it felt to laugh. "So, tell me. What were you thinking?"

"It's complicated, Harry. I don't know if you'd understand." Harry gave her a look that clearly meant 'Try me'. Kiara sighed and sat up trying to think of a way to explain it. "See, somebody once told me, 'It's darkest before the light' and as I was looking down towards the manor that's what it reminded me of. And so did my life. I spent my whole life in the dark, and I'm suddenly in the light, but it feels like a very dim light. And I have no idea why I just told you that."

"Hmm, interesting. You are very complicated, but I think I get you. You're trying to say that all your life you lived in fear and pain and then suddenly, Snape comes into your life and your pain and fear is gone. The problem is that you don't know how long that will last, so it's very dim. Am I right, or am I right?" Harry asked proud that he had actually figured that out what exactly Kiara had been thinking, and by the look on her face, he knew he was right.

"Yes, you're right, but how did you know that? I wasn't that obvious was I?" Kiara asked, curious to find out how he had been able to translate what she had said into something that actually made sense. A serious look came over his face and he looked back at where Kiara had previously been looking at. There was only one answer to that. At least one he could think of.

"I knew that because I feel like that a lot of the time. Never knowing when I'm going to lose the people I care for, or whether I'm going to die anytime soon. It's not easy being Harry Potter, the friggin Boy-Who-Lived." He tensed and then relaxed, laying down on the grass and laughing as if something was really funny. "Hey, you know what? Let's swap and I'll be in your shoes, and you can be the Girl-Who-Lived."

"Thanks for the offer Harry, but I enjoy myself way too much having to hear my father's mini-tantrums, and having to study ten subjects in two weeks for my OWL's which I missed due to certain circumstances. I can't give all of that up," Kiara said, trying hard to look as if she was sad that she wasn't like Harry. She really longed to tell him to be careful because if everything went to plan, he would die a horribly sticky end. A very sticky one indeed.

"Kiara, can I ask you something? Something that your father must never know I asked because he doesn't think highly of me already, and he'll just think I was trying to stir things up between you. Which I am not. I wouldn't dare. Even though the git doesn't deserve a daughter as nice as you, and it would serve him right, but that's not the point, and-"

"Harry, I don't know how to tell you this, but you're ranting and getting as far from the point I think you are trying to make. Just ask me the question, and no, I won't tell Dad. I know he doesn't like you, and you don't like him so whatever you ask won't offend me. Just perhaps him."

"Well, hopefully it won't offend any of you. Kiara, why is it that apparently you don't like me very much? It's alright, because you're a Snape and everything but I hoped you had a reason that you could tell me."

"Who told you this? I have no problem with you. Now. It's just the people I lived with before were anti- Harry Potter, and I was brainwashed. But now I know you let's just say my father has competition in my good books," Kiara said as she stood up wiping the grass of her bottom, and hoped there were no grass stains on her light blue trousers. "Come on, let's go back to the manor, and finally answer your question. What are Ron and Hermione doing in the library?"

"Did you just mean what I thought you meant? You like your father more than you like me? That's unbelievable. Who on Earth, apart from the evil dudes, likes Severus Snape more than me?" Harry asked standing up, somewhat bewildered. Sure he was acting vain, but it was only a bit of fun. "Come here and tell it to my face, Kiara Snape!" Kiara had started walking away from Harry towards the manor and there was a considerable amount of space between them. She turned around and stuck her tongue out at him.

"You want to know, you'll have to catch me first!" She started running towards the castle, her long black air billowing behind her, turning back to see whether Harry was running after her or not. He just stood there looking at her with a peculiar look in his eye, and he had a peculiar feeling in his stomach. "Come on Harry! Last one there has to hug Severus, and tell him he's looking uglier than usual!"

Harry shook the feeling aside and started running. The last thing he wanted was to insult Snape after hugging him. He shuddered at the thought and picked up the pace. Maybe he was hungry. Sure the Dursleys fed him, but it wasn't enough for a growing boy like him. For some reason a smile crept up on his face as he saw Kiara running in front of him. He had made a new friend.


"What were Ron and you doing in the library, all on your own, for that long?" Kiara asked Hermione who was sitting cross-legged on Kiara's furry blue rug, sorting out the textbooks that were now littered in Kiara's room and drawing up a revision plan she expected Kiara to keep. Kiara sat on the bed watching Hermione work and asking odd questions like this one.

"He was keeping me company whilst I looked up some more books that would help you. Just for some light reading. I told him to bring them up here and deposit them somewhere neatly but I don't know where he's put them. When they come back from the horse riding I'll have to ask him," Hermione said not taking her eyes of the timetable she was conducting. She had to be rifling through her twentieth or so book. There were fifty in total which Kiara had to read. "Tell you the truth I never knew Harry and Ron were interested in horse riding. Harry looked so furious when he left, I wondered why on Earth he was going."

"Yeah......about that. Harry didn't want to go, not really. So I asked him really nicely and he told me he'd do it even if it meant that Dad might not come back in one piece if he gets on Harry's nerves. Nice guy Harry is," Kiara explained sliding of the bed and going to her wardrobe. She had a feeling that Ron had left the books in there, and sure enough they were there. "Did you mean these books, Hermione? If you did, then you'd better find another word to describe them because this is not light reading."

"Yes, it's those books, and they are light. There's less than a thousand pages in each, and that's considered light. Pick one and start reading. The smallest has no more than a hundred pages, and that is definitely light. After you've finished reading then maybe we can talk assuming that Ron, Harry and Professor Snape aren't back." Hermione went back to the timetable, and Kiara plonked herself in her armchair and started reading. 'Pure-blood Families Around Europe; A Dying Race'. How this would help her, she would probably never know. Until she asked that is.


"Why are you here, Potter? You obviously don't want to be here by that scowl you're carrying on your face," Severus asked as he, Ron and Harry trotted along a canal on horseback. He was enjoying himself, but the look on the two boys with him, especially Harry's was annoying him. It hadn't been his idea in the first place. Kiara had a way of wrapping round her little finger, and persuading him to do anything she wanted. Even be civilised to Harry Potter. Ron Weasley he could stand, but Harry Potter? That was a different matter.

"Why, this is but a scowl of pleasure. There's nothing I enjoy more than going horse riding with my Potions teacher who just happens to be a rather unpleasant person to be with. In fact we should do this more often," Harry said sarcastically, still wondering himself why he was there. Horses weren't his thing, and it didn't look like they were Ron's either. He looked scared as he rode his horse.

"Should have known Kiara put you up to this. I was a bit surprised when you suggested we go for a ride. Didn't know you were into horse riding. Now if you'd asked whether I had any brooms so you could fly, then I would understand. Does this mean I can stop being nice to you?"

"Oh sorry, I didn't notice when you started being nice to me. I'm not into horse riding, and I wouldn't be here if your too-nice-to-be-related-to-you daughter hadn't been worried that you don't go out enough. And I've been hired to help her, right? So I decided I'd start by being nice to her father."

"Aw, how kind of you. You know something that would also benefit the both of us? If you jumped of the top of the Himalayas and were never to be seen again," Severus said before picking up the pace and going ahead Harry, who simple followed. Harry wasn't through with him yet.

"That would be convenient for you wouldn't it? Harry Potter dies in a suicide attempt giving Voldemort the freedom to have killing sprees everyday. And since you are a Death Eater, you can just skunk in and act as if you were on their side all along. Tell me, how does it feel to have worshipped a man who has no nose? Just two slits."

"It feels absolutely exhilarating. And tell me how you're going to feel at the bottom of that canal, once I've finished strangling you? I'm sure nobody will miss you really. They'll just sort of sigh because their last hope is gone." Obviously he was ignoring everything he had read in the book, 'The Do's and Don'ts of Sarcasm'.

"Is that meant to be a threat? I've heard worse, and most of them from Filch and Hermione. Kiara won't be very happy if drown me though. She seems taken to me, unlike what somebody told me. She seems quite nice actually. You wouldn't mind if I asked her out?" Harry asked, just waiting to see what his reaction would be. Severus stopped the horse and looked at Harry his face pale.

"What did you just say, Potter? You want to date Kiara? Absolutely not. You will stay away from that section. No relationships, not whilst you're on the job at least. You and Kiara? NO, that will never ever happen. No, I absolutely forbid it," Severus snapped as he thought about it. He felt faint, and held on to the reins tightly so he wouldn't fall. He took a deep breath and caught up with Harry who was also holding tightly onto the reins so he wouldn't fall but for a completely different reason. He was laughing so hard it was hard to balance.

"Oh my. I haven't laughed so hard in ages. But seriously, she's a nice girl. Never in a million years would I have guessed she was your daughter. Let's list the reasons why, shall we?" Harry said, still laughing slightly. This is what he had needed for the past three weeks. Humour. Some comic relief. "Well, she's nicer to look at than you since her teeth are miles whiter than yours, her nose straighter than yours, she's nicer than you, she's less serious than you, she's-"

CRACK! THUD! Harry stopped mid-sentence and turned around to see what had rudely interrupted his list that was subtly insulting Severus. On the floor lay Ron who was rolling around in the grass clutching his head. The horse he had been riding galloped off in the direction of the manor, probably thinking it was alright. Above Ron was a tree branch, and it was obvious what had happened here.

"Mr. Weasley? Are you alright?" Severus asked, trying very hard to suppress the laughter that was boiling up in him. He dismounted his horse and walked over to where Ron was groaning, probably in pain. He could not hold it in any longer and he let out a laugh, something that was very rare. Harry dismounted his horse, a smile also on his face.

"See, now there's something you don't see everyday. This will sell big in the magazines. 'Cranky schoolteacher laughs'. It feels good to laugh, don't it Professor?" Harry said as he crouched down to see how much damage Ron had managed to create. "Come on, mate. Up we get. Or at least let me see your face."

"Harry, when these dots get out of my eyes, and my head stops hurting, I'm going to kill you with my bare hands. All this just to make him laugh," Ron moaned said letting go of his face, and revealing a nasty bruise right in the middle of his forehead. His mother would not be happy. "You owe me. Big time. Kiara better be worth it"

"She is. If it means you have to get hurt, I don't really mind. She's great, you should really get to know her, instead of spending your time ogling at Hermione." Harry reached for Ron's outstretched hand and pulled him up. He had never noticed how heavy Ron was.

"I do not......ogle at Hermione. I just keep her company, unlike you who spends his time flirting with Snape's daughter, and getting his best friend to do what she asked you to do."

"I do not......flirt."

"You'd better not, Potter. Get on a horse and we're going back. I have a few things to sort out," Snape said icily as he re-mounted his horse and galloped past them. As he passed he said something loud enough for them to hear. "One of them is Kiara."

"Do you think she's going got get into trouble?" Ron asked rubbing his sore head absentmindedly. Harry pulled a face and wondered exactly what percentage of the big head of Ron's was actually brain and not air. They mounted the horse, and galloped after Snape who was way ahead of them.


Harry leaned against the door of the study to see if he could hear anything. He could hear voices, but they were muffled. Severus' voice was the loudest and he caught glimpses of what was being shouted at Kiara. Ron was being nursed and scolded by Hermione who, despite also seeing the funny side, thought this had been a very cheap way to get Severus to smile. Harry had been ushered out, Hermione saying that he was a distraction to Ron's health. Those two were spending an awful long time together. Harry could stand the suspense no longer and pushed open the door slightly. Instantly, he could hear the conversation at more or less, full volume.

"You have some nerve, Kiara. You had Ron Weasley ride straight into a tree branch just to make me laugh. Call me old-fashioned, but that was the most stupid thing you've done since you've been here. What if he had been hurt, huh? Have you not heard of Molly Weasley? Thank God I can get rid of that bruise, but she would have killed me. And all for one dumb laugh, that did not last long!" Severus lectured Kiara. Harry could just about see Kiara through the gap, and she did not seem too happy as she sat on a chair with her arms folded and eyes narrowed.

"Have you quite finished? I just thought you needed to laugh for once, and Ron volunteered," Kiara said putting on a face of innocence. Harry had to say that she looked rather cute like that, with big eyes and a small pout. Severus obviously knew better, and he was pulling a face of serious disbelief which Harry could not see. "With a little persuasion, of course."

"If I needed to laugh, I could have waited until school started and watched my pupils make fools of themselves. You do not, in fact you will not, get people to do your dirty work. Want to make me people laugh do it yourself. If you want to do whatever, do it yourself. Am I making myself clear?"

"Yes, although I would rather in the future you did not shout at me for such petty reasons. Not like you don't get people to do your work. You have house-elves, therefore what you are telling me is very hypocritical." Kiara had just copied Hermione's know-it-all voice and Harry had to bite his knuckles to stifle his laughter.

"Don't you start with me. Childish behaviour never wins an argument. And for God sake stop pouting. You look silly," Severus said, copying Kiara's face and definitely looking silly. "Potter, you've been standing there an awful long time. Care to join us?" The door opened and Harry stumbled in, blushing deeply as Kiara laughed.

"Eh, hi there. I was...um...just wondering...when...uh...I could...like...go home," Harry said slowly, aware that Kiara was looking at him with those big doe eyes. He felt like an open book, and he was with Severus' Occlumensy thing. He saw Kiara pout and quickly added, "Not that there's anything wrong with this place, but I've got Potions homework that I haven't started and don't want to leave to the last moment."

"Yes, you're absolutely right. Better get a move on then," Severus answered glad to get rid of Harry. Ignoring the fact that he hadn't set any homework for his fifth-year classes. But if it was an excuse that got Potter out of the manor and away from Kiara, he was happy. "I'll go get Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger." With that he swept out of the room, but not before giving Harry a warning look.

"Harry...um...thanks for helping me get him out of the study. You're not as bad as I thought you were," Kiara said smiling at Harry, with a strange feeling in her stomach. Maybe she was hungry. Harry smiled back, and the smile stayed there as he remembered Severus' face when he had asked if he could date Kiara.

"Hey, no problem. I'll be glad to help anytime, anywhere, any day," Harry answered. He put his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground wondering what on Earth he should say. The silence was awkward. "So......I guess I'll see you soon. Probably in a week or maybe sooner. But if you want to stay in contact until then, you can owl me."

"I will do. And between us, I think there's something very fishy going on between Hermione and Ron. Not that it's not obvious to anybody who looks at them. Do you think-" She was cut off as the above mentioned walked in followed by Severus. She blushed a little but quickly regained her composure not wanting to raise any suspicions.

"It was nice getting to know you, Kiara. I'll be seeing you in a day or so when we go shopping for your clothes and equipment. In the meantime, follow your revision timetable and you'll be fine," Hermione said giving Kiara a hug she wasn't expecting. It was one of those girly see-you-later, kind of hugs, but Kiara had never had the chance to experience them.

"Yes, I will. It will be like my Bible. Thanks Hermione," Kiara replied still a bit dazed from the friendly hug, and smiled, happy that she had found a friend . One that was very smart and could help her pass her OWL's. Kiara turned to Ron and couldn't help but blush. "And Ron, thanks as well. You went through a lot of pain for me."

"No problem, but you owe me. Big time. Next time make Harry do it himself," Ron said making a face as he remembered how it had hurt when he had rode straight into that branch. Maybe he should have just fallen off. He looked at Kiara's sweet smile, and found that it had definitely been worth it. "See you later then. Next time we meet be ready to eat. Hey, that rhymes. You know, eat and meet. Never mind."

"Thank you for that, Mr. Weasley. I do believe we all know eat and meet rhyme. So I think I'll take Ms. Granger back home first, followed by Mr. Weasley and then Mr. Potter," Severus said trying hard not to add a sarcastic comment in there. He took a deep breath and turned to Kiara with a warning look on his face. "And you, will not leave the manor under any circumstances whilst I'm gone. Consider yourself grounded for that little stunt this afternoon. If the place burns down, I don't care. You will stay here. In fact, go to your room now and do some reading. Understood?"

"I mustn't leave the manor at all today. Understood," she nodded looking absolutely serious about it. She said a final goodbye to her three new friends. "Well, it was nice having you over here. It was getting dull, not that it's dull around here. Come again some time."

"It was no problem, Kiara. Remember, you can owl or phone if you ever get lonely. Not that you can get lonely here," Harry said smiling sweetly, whilst Kiara tried to stifle a laugh. It wasn't very funny but there was something funny about Harry's sickly sweet smile.

"Yeah, same here. Owl or phone will do, if you need any help on your revision, or if just need to talk," Hermione said suddenly remembering that she too had an owl and phone, which could be used to contact Kiara, and vice versa. Kiara nodded thoughtfully, acting as if that was a brilliant idea, and that she hadn't thought of it before.

"I can send you chocolate and stuff if you owl me. I'm not a writing person," Ron added feeling that if he didn't say anything he'd be the odd one out. This time Kiara didn't say anything but simply gave a small wave and left the study. The minute she had closed the door shut, Kiara let out a laugh. Today, she had felt so happy, so cheerful, so ecstatic. She straightened up and made her way to the bedroom a floor up. She still had that odd feeling in her stomach and wondered if she should go and get a bite to eat. She decided against it, and carried on her merry way.


Severus was on his last delivery and was starting to get anxious. Kiara was alone, in the Manor, conscious that he had gone, and alone. He had gotten a rough idea and her personality, and Kiara seemed to only obey to his instructions when she wanted to, not when he said so. Right now she could be halfway to London, he thought, why do parents have to talk so long? The Grangers had engaged him in a lovely conversation about teeth whitening, and suggested that he give it a go. He had found that somewhat insulting. His teeth weren't that bad, were they? And then Mrs. Weasley had insisted that he have tea and biscuits with him, so that they could discuss Kiara more thoroughly. How he had gotten out of that conversation, he had no idea.

He was walking Harry to his room, something he had no idea why he was doing. The greeting Harry had gotten from the Dursley's hadn't exactly been warm, and they had only been nice to him because they were scared he would turn them into frogs. Now he remembered. He was to give Harry one last warning to stay away from Kiara or he would......he would......he would do something mean. They reached outside the room and stood in the corridor in silence. Until Severus broke it.

"What I wanted to say is simple and quite clear. I want you to stay the hell away from Kiara. No relationships. Nothing. I'll be lenient and you can be friends, but other from that, I will do something that you could never possibly imagine, if you get any closer than you should be. Something very horrible," Severus hissed, trying to look menacing. But Harry simply had a blank look on his face. "Understood?" Blank. "Are we speaking the same language?" Blank. "Why do I bother?" Smile.

"Man, I love seeing you look frustrated. There's nothing that raises my spirits more," Harry said, grinning as Severus glared angrily. "Alright, don't kill me. I'll stay away from Kiara, for the moment. I mean, you won't be able to blame if I do fall for her. She's a great listener, she's nothing like you and she's got pretty eyes."

"Potter, I'm warning you..."

"Fine. For now, I'll have to restrain myself. Such a hard job." Harry sighed and looked as if it was a big sacrifice. It wasn't like he liked Kiara more than a friend. He hardly knew her. Then he remembered something. He grinned. "You know what professor? Since you've been so nice to me, you deserve a hug. Come here, you great oaf." Harry wrapped his arm around Severus who looked scared.

"Would you might telling me what the meaning of this is?" Severus asked obviously confused.

"And Professor, I would just like to tell you, you are looking positively revolting today. Goodnight." With that he let go of the bewildered Professor and went into his room. Severus shook his head and took out his wand to Apparate.

"Weird child."


A/N- Tee hee! That wasn't funny but, tee hee hee. Is that romance I smell? Between Kiara and Harry? Are the hints that obvious? And what about Ron and Hermione? Were they really destined to be together? And Severus, will he always be this horrible, even to Kiara who usually makes him go soft? Tune in next time, on the next chapter of: My Saviour!