Silence filled the pub when Severus walked in with Serena. No one could ever remember seeing Severus with anyone. It was rumored that he had a great dislike for little children and yet, here he was with a little girl in tow.

Tom the old bartender gave them a toothy grin "Woulda like a drink por'fessor?" then he glanced down at Serena, who pressed her face against Severus's leg, hiding it from view.

"Not today Tom. I am very busy" Severus answered curtly.

Before they could make their way to the back porch they were surrounded by what seemed like the entire pub.

Even the darkest of glares could not scatter the group, so Severus had to endure several minutes of questioning which of course he refused to answer.

Finally the last person departed and the man and child made it out to the porch.

Severus was a bit concerned about how Serena had handled the recent situation, but was surprised when he looked down and saw that she didn't seem at all troubled. He decided to ask her about it in case she was hiding her true feelings about what had just happened to them.

Kneeling down to her level he took both her hands into his and looked into her eyes.

"Little one how are you doing?"

Serena's face fell slightly and Severus knew that he had been right, she was hiding something from him.

"You need to tell me if something is wrong, I can't help you unless I know" Severus gently touched her check

A smile came across her face, hopefully Severus would not be angry when she told him

"You protected me and their lights were a little dim, but they were such bright colors" she told him

Severus was confused by this. What was she talking about? He had so many questions to ask her, but they were pressed for time and to ask them now would not be such a very good idea.

Why he was thinking, Serena watched his silence and was getting scared. Maybe she should not have said anything. Before she lived with Severus she would get beaten for the things she said. Why she was thinking about what would happen to her Severus spoke into her ear

"You can tell me all about it when we get home"

Severus stood up and using his wand tapped the bricks on the wall and Serena watched in amazement as the bricks moved and formed and arch which they walked through and turned her head so she could watch them form back into a brick wall.

Before doing any shopping Severus took Serena to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour who served things like Brownies and cookies with hot chocolate in the winter. Buying himself a cup of coffee, he bought Serena a large hot chocolate with whipped cream and a double fudge brownie.

He figured that this was a special occasion for Serena and didn't think that having so many sweet things at once would bother her stomach.

Serena who had never had anything so yummy in her life declared to Severus that these were her new favorite foods and didn't seemed bothered by the factor when she was told that they were going to be a sometime treat and not to expect them all the time.

When they finished there snack (Severus who had a secret passion for chocolate himself helped finish the brownie), they walked together through the streets and Severus pointed out each building to Serena and explained what it was.

First there was Gringotts Wizarding Bank and then Eeylops Owl Emporium which Severus took Serena inside so that she could see the different animals. Seeing her interest in that shop he went ahead and took her into all of the shops even if he required nothing from the shop. First they went into the Telescope Shop, then hoping he would not regret it he took her into Gambol and Japes joke shop, but Serena didn't seem at all that interested, but then again Severus noted that the things in here were way too old for her to play with anyways. They by passed Twilfitt and Tatting's and Severus found the quality of their merchandise to be beyond his taste in clothing and were much to expensive for him to purchase anyways.

After the left the joke shop they were walking past Quality Quidditch Supplies, it opened and out stepped a family of four. Severus quickly picked up his pace hoping that they would not be noticed, but unfortunately he had been spotted and when he heard his name he froze for one moment murmured to Serena to keep quiet and turned around.

A tall man with long blond hair that was tied back with a gray ribbon that matched his eyes walked towards them and immediately Serena took refuge behind Severus. The man's light was so dark it was scary. It was the darkest light she had ever seen coming from a person.

"Well well if it isn't Severus Snape. I trust you are having an enjoyable holiday" Lucius Malfoy said in a voice that was as cold as his eyes. "Narcissa was just saying that we really should have you come over for dinner and of course Draco and Orion have been begging to see yo…"

He paused when he saw Serena hiding behind Severus.

"My my what do we have here" He gave the child a smile, but Serena didn't smile back

Lucius looked back at Severus "Since when do you have a child? The last I heard you were a confirmed bachelor who hated Children"

Severus sighed, there was no way he was going to involve this man into his personal matters "Lucius you of all people should know better than to listen to those petty wizards and witches who have nothing better to do with their time, but to sit there and swap stories of those they hold a grudge against"

Lucius had already changed the subject "Will you be there tonight? I sent you an owl this morning"

Severus raised an eyebrow "I received no such message from any source"

"Just be there" Lucius turned on his heel and headed back to his family

A meeting tonight! Now what was he suppose to do with Serena! While he was thinking he felt a tug on his cloak. Looking down he saw that Serena was looking up at him with a look of panic in her eyes, he picked her up and hugged her.

"Don't you worry about what he said" he told her "I don't hate children"

This was not however what was bothering Serena

"I have to go" she whispered into her eyes.

A sense of panic came over Severus. This was just what he needed. Serena needed to use the bathroom and he had absolutely no idea as to where to take her or if the shops here would allow customers to use their facilities.

Luckily across the street was Madam Malkin's. Knowing that Madam was a kind person who loved children Severus took Serena inside. After a hurried explanation, Severus was admitted to the back room, he set Serena down and pointed to a door. A grateful Serena ran inside and should the door. A few minutes later she emerged.

"Severus help" she looked desperate

He approach the child slowly perhaps she didn't make it "What do you need help with?"

Serena held up her hands "can't reach sink"

Again they went into the bathroom and Severus held up Serena so that she could reach the sink. She washed her hands and after drying them Severus set her down.

Before they left the shop, he went ahead and bought a couple of child sized robes for the little girl as a way of saying thank you.

There wasn't much time left now as Severus had a meeting tonight and had to get a babysitter for Serena so they quickly went through the Slug and Jiggers Apothecary and Flourish & Blotts where he bought a book for the little girl to help keep her entertained. They went past Ollivanders which Severus explained was a shop for much older people. He did however briefly take her in Magical Menagerie. This was the only other shop beside Flourish & Blotts were Serena was excited to be in.

Knowing that they had to leave and figuring she would be very disappointed and hoping against hope that she would not throw a fit he told Serena it was time to go.

Serena just nodded and rubbed her eyes. Not a tear was shed, but she did however put her arms up

Severus picked her up and Serena laid her head on his shoulder

"I'll bring you back another time when we have more time"

Severus whispered as he rubbed her back. Hopefully she would fall asleep and could nap while he made a few potions and find a sitter.

Once home Serena was laid in her bed and Severus went downstairs.

Quickly placing a floo call to Dumbledore, he explained what was going on and that he was in a jam. He did not bring up the fat that he had not heard from the man in so long about the other issue that was no longer seeming like it was such an issue.

Dumbledore listened quietly then when Severus had finished sat in silence for a few moments before speaking

"I have a few ideas as who you can ask, but I do not think you are going to like who I am going to suggest"

A/N So who do you think Dumbledore is going to suggest and who do you think Severus will chose?"