As Severus and Anastasia entered the school later that day Severus noticed that Anastasia had been unusually quiet on the walk across the grounds and he decided to ask her about it.
"Are you alright Anastasia?" Severus asked his daughter.
"You yelled at me." Was the simple reply.
"I'm sorry that woman just frustrated me to no end and I took it out on you, I apologize. Are you alright?"
"You scared me that's all. For a minute there I thought you wouldn't want me anymore. I know it's stupid but I can't help it."
Severus sighed, "Anastasia how many times do I have to tell you that it doesn't matter what you do I will always want you. It was completely that Sylvia woman's fault that I snapped not yours."
Anastasia nodded. She understood that Severus would never kick her out or ignore her like her mother and grandmother had done however that never stopped her from worrying about it happening.
"I know, you're forgiven, now do you want to see what you bought for me or just be satisfied knowing you made me very happy?" Anastasia asked burying her fears for the time being.
"Try everything on and we can alter it now." Anastasia smiled and nodded taking everything to her room to try on.
The next few hours went by with Severus making comments about all women muggle clothing not having enough fabric to cover the person wearing it, while Anastasia laughed while trying to model the clothes like a professional.
"I better take this back to the dormitory." Anastasia said once she was done.
Severus nodded and watched Anastasia leave wondering when his little girl had grown up so much.
"Where have you been all day, last anyone saw of you was you running through the corridors like greased lightning." Hermione said when Anastasia entered the common room.
"I went shopping with dad, and if I wasn't in the entrance hall by nine he would leave without me. Then I never would have gotten all this. Anastasia explained her absence to Hermione indicating to the bag of clothes she had at her fee.
"Sounds like fun."
"It was until some muggle upset dad. We were in a department store and some woman comes up and starts hitting on him. Well that got dad all upset and he snapped at me. And I know this is stupid but it upset me. He hasn't snapped at me since I first came to live with him and we were getting used to each other. However it was funny that someone had the nerve to hit on my dad."
"I agree it does sound funny." Hermione said, " who would have thought a muggle woman would be courageous enough to hit on professor Snape?'
"Eww, Hermione don't joke about something like that." Ron said sitting down next to her.
"Why are you such a jerk, Ron?" Anastasia asked, "I know that dad can be a little mean sometimes, but you don't even know him."
"Didn't your mother ever tell you that if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all?"
"No, Hermione, don't make him apologize if he doesn't want to. I'm going to take this stuff upstairs then go for a walk. I'll see you later."
"If your going to be hitting softballs warn the people around you." Harry said to the retreating girl.
"Shut up potter." Anastasia replied turning around to take care of her stuff.
Anastasia quietly wondered the corridors of Hogwarts wondering what she had done to make Ron Weasley hate her so much. While thinking she remembered something that helped very much when she had a problem she couldn't solve. It was then that she walked three times past a tapestry showing Barnabas the barmy being clubbed by trolls. Concentrating on what she wanted. After the third time a door appeared, Anastasia entered and saw the room was the same as she remembered.
It was a huge library much like the one in the Disney movie she had seen, Beauty and the Beast, along with a beautiful mural on the ceiling also much like the one in the ballroom of the movie. The floor was completely made of mirrors so the mural on the ceiling was reflected there. Finally in the very center of the library was a full sized black grand piano.
Anastasia walked quickly to the piano and sat before it running her hands over the smooth ivory keys she played a few scales to warm up then began to play. The song was slow and mournful then she began to sing.
"You were once my on companion,
you were all that mattered."
Anastasia continued to play never realizing she had an audience who had followed her all the way from the tower.
"Help me say Good-bye!" Anastasia finished the song and it was then that someone began applauding behind her. When the last note died away Anastasia finally heard the clapping and whirled around on the piano bench. There in the doorway stood Harry, Hermione, and Ron who looked as if her was dragged along. Harry was the one clapping while Hermione merely stood there.
"That was amazing." Harry complemented Anastasia.
Anastasia, still sitting on the piano bench, blushed. Sure she had been playing for a while, however she never thought of herself as amazing as Harry had said.
"Thanks, Hermione are you okay over there?" Anastasia asked the brunette who still hadn't moved but was staring at all the books.
"Yes, I'm fine." Hermione replied moving more toward the center of the library. "How many books are there? Are there fictional or referential? What kind, magical or muggle?"
Anastasia laughed, "I have no idea how many there are. The majority is fictional but the ones at the top are referential. And it's a mixture of magical and muggle."
"Can I…"
Anastasia nodded smiling at her friend.
"Where did you learn to play like that?" Harry asked as Hermione half walked half ran to the nearest bookshelf.
"When mother was alive I took lessons then when I was held captive at grandmother and grandfather's I continued to take lessons."
"Wow, you're really good."
"Thanks but I'm not." She replied then turned her attention to the other boy. "why are you here Weasley? You hate me."
"I apologize fore my behavior and I'll try to be a bit more civilized."
"Fine, I accept your apology." Anastasia replied, still not sure if she could trust this boy.
"Aren't you going to apologized for punching me?"
"No, what you said was uncalled for. Tell me where do you come off judging people you barely know? I'm not sorry for what I did because you deserved it."
Those were the last words Anastasia spoke to Ron Weasley, because then she turned around and played another song on the large piano.
The rest of the weekend passed in relative peace. Ron stayed away from Anastasia and she ignored him. On Sunday morning Anastasia took the theory part of the OWL potions exam then after lunch she created a potion Severus thought any AP Potions student should be able to create.
Just as Anastasia was finishing her potion and owl came through with her test portion. However she had to wait to open it since she had reached the end and hardest part of her potion. The moment after she placed a sample on her father's desk Anastasia ripped open the envelope and let out a squeal of joy.
"Do well?"
"I got an O. There's also a note saying they haven't seen scores this well since you took the test."
"Well done, I'll see you in class tomorrow." Severus said handing Anastasia her class schedule. "Get out of here and tell you friends."
Anastasia smiled and went to tell Harry and Hermione.
