A/N: Hello! Welcome to new readers, and welcome back to old readers.
Thank you to RainingTearsandPixieDust for reviewing last chapter! You must know how extremely grateful I am.
Now, seeing as I would like to get to know my readers, I am setting another small task for you to do in your review.
Number One: Tell me what character from Harry Potter you'd most like to meet in real life and why.
Number Two: Give me one couple that you wished would have been together in Harry Potter.
Also, if you have any ideas for me, any of you, please tell me and I'll be sure to discuss them with you. Anyway, this chapter has a lot of Snape and Isabel. Not necessarily. They're starting to get the whole father/daughter thing, like what happens when they get upset with each other. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Although, everyday, I wish that I owned Draco Malfoy.
We arrived back at Hogwarts for another year. It wasn't my greatest desire to be there, but a job is a job. And in a few years time I'd be the head of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. In some ways, I think teaching was better for me than being an Auror. For one, there would be much less of a chance of me being killed. And two, I'd be a lot more stable. Stability was something that was much needed in my life. Father and I first went to see Professor Dumbledore in his office. Father said that I needed to find out where my office is, since I'd be living there and all. We made out way from the front entrance of the school to the Dumbledore's office. Father and I entered and waited in front of the Headmaster's desk.
"Severus. How nice to see you" said Dumbledore, making his way down the stairs to us, a big smile on his face.
"And Miss Snape! How lovely that you are here too! I am so glad that you took my offer. There was no one I would of liked more than you to take this new post."
"Professor Dumbledore, if you are calling my Father by his first name, I would much like you to do the same thing for me" I said plainly. Fathers lips curled up into a small smile.
"Of course, Isabel." Dumbledore smiled and sat on the big chair behind his desk. I'd always found the headmaster to be quite...eccentric.
"Now, Isabel, on to the matters of where you'll be staying. It just so happens that your Father has a spare room beside him in the dungeons. It's not a large room. It'll be enough for your things, a place for you to mark things and write letters, and a bed. Is that quite alright?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore."
"You're things have already been taken to your room. Now, I see we have all that sorted so you are free to go. You too, Severus."
"Thank you, Headmaster" Father and I said at the same time. We left the Professor Dumbledore's office and walked towards the dungeons.
"Are you angry?" I asked. Father looked at me as we were walking and shook his head.
"No. Is there such reason for me to be?"
"Well, I took the spare room next to you. I would of thought you'd prefer to keep that area to yourself."
"I would prefer you to be closer than further away. I can keep an eye on you and your situation with Lucius." Father flicked his wand so the door in front of us would open. We walked through the door and down a spiral stair case.
"I would prefer no one to know about what happened at the Malfoy Manor. Just you and I. Please don't tell Dumbledore" I pleaded. Father stopped on a stair as we were nearing the dungeons.
"I had no intention to tell the Headmaster. However, if I felt you were truly at risk, I would need to share it with him."
"I see" I muttered, looking down, "it's just...I don't want to seem like that. I don't want to seem as one of those people..."
"One of what, exactly?" Father asked.
"Remember when people were calling me skanky, slutty Snape?"
"You should not be ashamed. It was not your fault. And Dumbledore would not think of you like that" Father said. He turned and continued down the stairs. I s and followed Father's black flowing robes. We reached the end of the stairs and there were three doors. The middle one was Father's office. The door on the right, led to my office. I walked to the door and attempted to open it. The door, inconveniently, was locked. Father made his way to my door and pointed his wand at it. I shook my head and lowered his wand with my hand.
"You think after spending all those years here that I'd be able to unlock a door" I said, raising my wand to the lock on the door, "Alohomora." There was an unlocking sound on the door and it opened. Father nodded and made his way inside my office. I looked around and soon found myself in my office too.
"It seems as if your belongings have been brought here already" Father said, indicating my trunks, bags and wooden boxes full of my things. I opened one wooden box to see three photo frames. One had a picture of Fleur and I, smiling. It was taken when I was only eleven years old. A few weeks before leaving to live over here with Father. The second had a photo with Mother and I. How I missed my mother. Her golden, long hair. Her bright eyes. Her brilliant smile. Her warmth. Mother was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I missed her. Lastly, was a photo of Father and I. It was taken just after my 7th year N.E.W.T pass. Father and I were both standing. He looked different in this photo. His expression was one of pride. He wasn't smiling, like I was. He just looked very proud. I put the three photo frames on the mantlepiece above the fireplace.
"Would you also like this one?" Father said, handing me a photo frame I'd obviously missed. The photo inside was a beautiful one. It had Tonks, Charlie, Bill and myself. This photo hadn't been taken long ago. We were all smiling and laughing. I placed this photo on the mantlepiece and sighed.
"Is there a problem?" asked Father, raising an eyebrow.
"Not at all" I answered.
"You cannot lie to me" he told me.
"I'm just stressed. I start classes with Lupin within a matter of days and all I can think about is when Lucius is going to come and find me or send me another letter. It's frightening."
"He will not get you here. Dumbledore will protect you. As will I." I pursed my lips and nodded. He was right.
"What about Draco?" I enquired suddenly, "what if he asks about what happened between Lucius and I the other night? He must know I was there." Father moved swiftly to the door and stood in the doorway.
"I cannot help you there. You must make that decision for yourself. Telling him would be a large risk to take, but maybe lying to him would be a bigger mistake. I have some things to attend to. I take it you'll be alright unpacking on your own?" I nodded. Father stared at me for a few moments before leaving the room. I flicked my wand numerous times to open my two trunks, some wooden boxes and a few bags. 'Time to get to work' I told myself in my head.
My office was set up. Everything from the photos on the mantlepiece, my working desk, my bed and my books were in order. I was quite satisfied with myself. There was a small knock at the door and I jumped a little.
"Sorry, Miss Snape. I did not meant to startle you" a familiar woman's voice said. I turned to see Professor McGonagall. I held my hand to my chest and let out a big breath.
"It's quite alright, Professor McGonagall. I am just a little jumpy today, that's all."
"I can see that. Is everything alright?" she asked, sitting down on the comfortable black and green chair next to my bookshelf and fireplace.
"Yes, Professor. Everything is okay." The professor nodded and looked at the books on my shelves.
"Seeing as we are now colleague's, I think we should stop the formalities. I don't call your father Professor Snape, nor do I call the Headmaster Professor Dumbledore. I call your father Severus, and I call Professor Dumbledore Albus."
"Of course, you may call me Isabel if that is what you wish."
"Then you may call me Minerva." She smiled warmly before looking back at the books covering my walls.
"You obviously like to read" she said. I nodded slowly.
"You're very much like your Father, your attitudes are quite the same. Although you are more tolerant of some things." We both laughed. How true that was. Father couldn't put up with half the things that I do.
"I trust that you won't be biased to the Slytherin students like your Father too?"
"Of course not. I have many friends that have been in Gryffindor, and are in Gryffindor at the moment. And I've had friends from other houses too." Minerva smiled and I smiled back.
"You will make a fine teacher in the years to come. Albus was lucky to get you when he did."
"Thank you, Minerva. And if you need any help in any of your classes, I can help you" I said. Minerva took my hand and pat it softly. I didn't spend a great deal of time with her in my Hogwarts years. She was my transfiguration teacher. It never went further than that.
"Thank you for that offer, dear. I will take it into consideration. Why, it's a little chilly in here." The Transfiguration Professor pointed her wand at my fireplace and a big fire lit up in that instant.
"Thank you" I told her. Minerva stood up and gathered her green cloak.
"And might I say, black suits you. Another similarity to your father. Do you have any similarities between you and your mother?"
"We both have pale skin" I laughed. Minerva laughed quietly and put her wand away.
"I must be going. I will talk with you soon, Isabel" she said, turning away and leaving my office. I sighed. I was alone again. I took the photo of Father and I off the mantlepiece and looked at it carefully. We were similar. Very similar. If I wasn't quarter veela, and inherited incredibly beautiful looks from my mother, who knows how I might of turned out. I felt happy to see the pride on Father's face. I thought we were fighting then, but in that instant, I knew it was a one sided fight, and I was the one fighting. Father was proud of me, but he didn't know how to express it. Can't blame him.
The night soon fell and I found myself eating dinner with Father, Minerva, Filius Flitwick, Madame Hooch, Pormona Sprout, Poppy Pomfrey, Rubeus Hagrid and the Headmaster himself.
"I'd like to welcome Miss Snape to the staff of Hogwarts. A toast. Miss Snape" Dumbledore said, raising his glass.
"Miss Snape" everyone except myself raised their glasses in toast to me. It felt a little weird. I hadn't done anything yet. They were all smiling at me, except Father of course, he was just looking at me in that expression he always has on his face when he's content with everything at that moment.
"Thank you." I smiled, nodding to all the people looking at me around the table. Flitwick sat back in his seat and sighed.
"The last night of freedom before the students come rushing in" he said. Everyone laughed, except Father and I. Father never laughed. I didn't mind that. I guess he just didn't want to.
"How will you find teaching your friends, Miss Snape?" Dumbledore asked me. I looked around for a little bit before focusing on the Headmaster.
"It will be a little strange."
"Which of your friends will you be teaching?" Madame Hooch enquired. I laughed a little bit under my breath and turned to flying teacher.
"Percy Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter, Oliver Wood and Draco Malfoy." I swear Father flinched at the names Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
"How did you find the Malfoy child?" Minerva asked softly. All the teachers attention was now fixed on me. I guess Draco was sort of difficult for some of them. I had heard that he called Hermione Granger a mudblood last year. Sometimes, I felt as if I must question my friendship with Draco.
"He was an excellent student for me while I was tutoring him. He's a good friend, also. I guess I was his only real friend. He acted different towards me then he did to everyone else." All the teachers nodded simultaneously.
"And Harry Potter?" asked Flitwick. I smiled when the words 'Harry Potter' left his tongue. Harry was a good friend, ever since the first time we bumped into each other.
"He's very talented. Extremely talented. And he has a heart of gold. A lovely boy. It's so unfair what has happened to him in the past." Minerva and Dumbledore both smiled, while Father had an emotionless face. I didn't know why he hated Harry Potter so much. I didn't think Harry would have given him a reason to hate him.
"Where's Remus?" I asked, suddenly noticing his absence. I would of thought he'd be here by now.
"He will be arriving by train tomorrow" Dumbledore told me. I wished that he'd been here tonight, giving me someone else to talk to. Father sighed and looked down.
"You very well know that I do not agree with this" Father muttered. I looked at him inquisitively. I didn't think he was talking to me. Dumbledore looked at Father and shook his head.
"Remus Lupin will be a fine addition to our teaching staff, Severus. No matter what the circumstances are at the moment" the Headmaster said.
"Excuse me, but I don't understand. What circumstance?" All the teachers sighed and sat back in their seats. I leaned forward, hoping someone would tell me soon. Minerva finally looked at me.
"You have heard to Sirius Black's escape, I hope?" she asked. I nodded.
"Well, years ago, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were best friends. Along with James Potter and Peter Pettigrew. They were all the best of friends. That was until the Wizarding War when Black betrayed the Potter's and went to You-Know-Who and told them their hiding place. The Potter's were then killed, leaving Harry on his own, as you know. Black also went and killed Peter Pettigrew. Remus and Black's friendship finished at the time Black betrayed James and Lily Potter" Minerva said.
"And you" I said, turning to Father, "think that Remus will let Sirius Black into the school?" Father didn't look at me, but I knew what I had said was right. To the surprise of all the other teachers, I laughed. Father looked up at me and raised his eyebrows. He too, had no idea what I was on about.
"That's completely absurd. Absolutely absurd" I laughed. Minerva, Poppy, Pormona and Madame Hooch's lips crept up into smiles.
"Isabel, stop laughing. It's rude" Father snapped.
"Now, now, Severus..." the Headmaster said. Father stood up from the table and left the room swiftly. Dumbledore went to stand up but I stopped him.
"I'll get him" I told them softly. I stood up from the table and left the room, my black dress trailing behind me.
I stood outside the door of Father's office. I couldn't hear any noise coming out of the room, but I knew he was in there. I knocked on the door. No reply. I knocked again. No reply. I knocked once more...
"Go away" Father called out, his tone cold and vicious. I attempted to open the door, but it was locked. I took out my wand and pointed it towards the door.
"Alohomora." The door unlocked and I walked into the dark room. No lights were lit. Not even the usual
"Lumos" I whispered. I made my way around the room, sometimes stumbling over the odd object that was sitting in the middle of the floor.
"I told you not to come in" I heard Father's voice say. I couldn't work out where it was coming from. I pointed my wand to various places in the room. The light then fell on a pair of dark eyes in the corner of the room. I walked over to that corner, and there was Father, sitting on a chair with his arms crossed. I lit a candle sitting on the table next to Father and sat down on the chair next to him.
"You made a fool of me in there" he spat.
"I'm sorry" I said. I saw my Father's eyes as the candle light hit his face. He looked hurt.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Why would I tell you?"
"I'm your daughter. It's my job to make you feel better." Father stayed silent and still for a few moments, before he lowered his eyes to the floor.
"People would make fun of me all the time when I was here at Hogwarts as a student. They would make fun of my appearance, of me in general. I was some sort of game to them. And you laughing at me in there...it brought back some horrible memories."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise" I said, noticing that I had made fun of him in the dining room earlier. I sighed and looked down. I always had to go stuff everything up. Especially with my father. Just when I thought things were going well, it was me who had to make the stupid mistakes.
"Leave. Please. I would like to get some rest" Father whispered. I stood up and turned to Father.
"Goodnight, Dad" I said, leaving his cold, dark office. I walked to my office and opened the door to see a house elf standing next to my fireplace.
"Hello, Miss!" The house elf said cheerfully.
"Ah - Hello. Who are you?" I replied, not sure of what to say.
"Dobby, Miss. Dobby wonders who you are, too."
"Isabel Snape."
"May Dobby call you Miss Isabel?" I nodded. Dobby smiled and handed me an envelope.
"Dobby wonders if you are related to Professor Snape...the Potions master."
"Yes, Dobby, I am. He is my father."
"This arrived for Miss Isabel not long ago. Dobby thought he should bring it to Miss Isabel and introduce himself." I recognised the handwriting straight away and fell backwards onto a chair.
"Is Miss alright?" Dobby asked. I shook my head. I opened the letter slowly and read it.
Miss Snape,
I understand why you did not reply to my last letter. I realise my actions were very inappropriate last time we met. I do not know what came over me. I would blame it on you being quite an alluring young woman, but I believe it was just my rude behavior.
I very much feel we must meet again. Please, I need to see you again soon. We have much to discuss.
Lucius Malfoy
I sighed and my head fell into my hands.
"Miss, are you alright?" Dobby asked me. I looked up at Dobby with a tear coming down my face.
"I'm scared, Dobby" I whispered.
"Dobby does not understand, Miss. Why are you scared?"
"For now, Dobby, you cannot know. Can you please leave?"
"Of course, Miss" Dobby said, looking towards the ground.
"You can come visit me any time, Dobby" I told the small creature. His eyes lit up and he smiled.
"Thank you, Miss! Dobby will definitely visit Miss Snape!" Dobby left the room and I fixed my attention back on the letter. I took out my writing paper, quill and ink. If I didn't reply, I'm afraid he'd come looking for me. And that was something I did not need. How would it look if Lucius Malfoy came to Hogwarts asking to see me? The trust I had gained from everyone at this school would disappear in a second. And I could not show that I was scared, either. I had to play his game.
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
I am sorry I did not write to you earlier. I have been quite preoccupied, you see. I completely understand about what happened last time. It was not a graceful ending to our evening, but I believe our friendship can be mended in due time. I will visit you some time soon, but right now I am much to busy.
Sincerely,
Isabel Snape
I tucked the letter into an envelope and chucked it in the top drawer of my black wooden desk.
A/N: Lucius is getting impatient. And an impatient Lucius means trouble! Remus Lupin will be in the next chapter so that is something for you to look forward to! Review please :)