1Chapter 8 A Unlikely Savior.
Severus and Remus walked to the entrance of Hogwarts neither wanting to talk just yet each thinking of the events that lead to this moment. The young women who so easily excepted them as they were, one a deed, dark, reclusive, and an almost all together unlikable facade of a man. Yet she had laid all prejudice aside and befriended him. Even fought for him when he was doubted by colleges. The other man in a total stupor of his last 24 hours. After the depression of once again losing his dear friend Remus heart had began to grow cold towards anyone outside the Order. His fear of rejection leading him to exile himself from most everyone, especially the opposite sex. Not since Lily had any female look him straight in the eye and just took him for who he was. His trance was broken by Severus seemingly waiting for an answer to a question he didn't know was asked.
"I'm sorry what?"
"I said we need to talk do you have anywhere to go?"
"No I don't, and yes I suppose we do need to talk."
"Well first you need to get properly dressed, then I will meet you in my office. Your things have been put in your old rooms."
Without another word or glance to Remus he stalked off to "his" dungeons. After showering and putting on fresh clothes Remus made his way to the dungeons. He knocked loudly on the heavy wooden door to Snape's office.
"Enter"came a curt reply to the knocking.
Walking into the office Remus sat in the seat he usually took. "Afternoon Severus." His tone was serious and thoughtful for he had a million thoughts.
"Yes well, what are your questions? I'm sure your Gryffindor curiosity is killing you." Severus stated flatly
"How did you meet her?"
"Two years ago she turned 17 thus becoming of age. As customary to pureblood families the family ring is passed on to the eldest bore. The rings were enchanted long ago to pass to the "heir" so she on her 17th birthday she woke with Albus's amethyst ring on her finger. This happened in Potters 4th year. So at the Dark Lords rise I was summoned. The Dark Lord unhappy that I ignored his first call entered my mind but once inside noticed with great happiness that the ring was no longer on Dumbledore's hand. Therefore he put two and two together and told me to prove myself and find said child. She would be a great tool against him. Of course I told the headmaster the new information. However well Albus can keep things to himself he gave hints in his pallor and his hesitance to say anything. So I changed the subject hoping he would have an answer to our riddle later. However the Dark Lord called me back and gave me a potion he wanted me to brew. When I informed him it was made he told me to use the potion that it was a tracking potion and it would help my mission if Dumbledore's child was within a fifty miles of the school. Sure enough I took the potion and was able to look onto the ring it was a good 30 miles away, instead of going to the location I went to Albus. He told me I had already meet his daughter on a few occasions."
Memory Scene
Carina was 4 and doing what she loved best exploring the Hogwarts castle. No other child had ever gotten to know the castle as much as she had at such a young age. It was her home and she had been to almost all the upper levels. But today she would finally conquer her fear of the dark dungeons. She stood looking at the first step to the dungeons stairs. It was the hardest step so far. She had made it down to these stairs but never farther it was dark and smelt funny. She didn't like it at all. But she was taught not to judge a flobberworm by its color. So she stepped and then it was easier and for the first time she made her way to the bowels of the castle. She began to sing it helped brighten the darkness around her but she was A.D.D. and soon was lost. The sun was setting and she was in and abandon hall completely unused by students unless to "study" at night. Soon it was completely dark and she began to cry out to anyone who may hear her and save her. Soon it was dark and cold and she shivered and feel next to the wall.
"Help!"
"Please Help!"
"Mommy! Daddy!"
"Please anybody!
Soon all she could do was sit and cry her small fist wiping the crocodile tears from her eyes. Trying to keep her spirits up she slowly began to sing with a shaky voice.
"Hush little baby don't say a word... daddy's... going to buy you a mocking bird."
Severus Snape was out on his prefect patrols. He was 17 it was his final year and he wanted to bust as many wayward idiots he could before he had to leave. He knew the empty dungeon halls where just right for hormonal dipsticks he was forced to call his piers. Then he heard something up ahead, someone one was speaking softly and crying he could hear the small sobs. Moving slowly toward the noise he soon got close enough to light up the hall without them being able to run for it. The voice was female and was young too young to be snogging that was for sure.
"Lumos!" he belted.
Whatever he was expecting it sure wasn't this! A young sweet faced girl was huddled next to the wall shivering eyes swollen and totally alone. He may not be nice to the immediate people around him but he wasn't as cold hearted as people believed. In fact he had a gentle love for his sweet baby cousin Sophie who was about the dame age as the girl in front of him. He knew how to care for young children more then he would ever admit to anyone in any of the School Houses. So pity for the girl hit his heart.
"Are you lost?"
"Yes." her eyes were wide as she looked up at him trying to judge friend or foe.
"What are doing down here so late? Were are your parents?"
"I was exploring." she avoided his last question just as she'd been taught.
"Exploring the dungeons weren't you scared?"
"That's why I did it! I didn't want to... to.. Be scared anymore."
"Well then come on get on my back and I'll take to the headmasters office."
"Oh thank you so much!"
Snape was shocked when the young child ran up and kissed his cheek. No child but Sophie had ever been so warm to him. He figured his snarky attitude along with his pale face black hair and black eyes had some what of a tendency to scare children.
She climbed on his back and feel asleep half way to the Headmasters office. Upon arriving. The headmaster was elated that Severus had found the child. He even gave Severus 100 points to Slytherin, comletely unheard of from and ex-Gryffindore. Then Severus went on his way and nearly forgot about what had happened, but the girl held the memory in her heart and from then on held a silent child's crush on him. She always asked her father about the boy who had saved her. Albus feared the connection made between the two, feared his daughters young heart would always be soft for the dark boy whom he cared for but worried over.
