Chapter Thirty Eight: A Father's Undying Love
"Excuse me Professor McGonagall," said Severus as he stepped into his daughter's Transfiguration class that Minerva was covering for Hermione, whilst she was visiting the Potters and their new baby.
"Good Morning Professor Snape," replied Minerva, cutting through her speech about how to animate inanimate objects, "how may I help you?"
The entire class turned to look at their intruding Defence Professor, and he snarled them in return for their inquisitive glances.
"I was looking for Miss Snape," answered Severus concisely as he scanned the room for his Daughter, his eyes falling on the empty space beside Albus Potter.
"I'm afraid Miss Snape is otherwise engaged," informed Minerva with a smile that suggested that there was nothing to worry about as she strode towards him. "Whilst I speak to Professor Snape," the substitute Professor continued as she turned to her curious class, "you are to get on with the spell that Professor Granger has left for you."
Immediately the class set to work under the old woman's orders, and Minerva led Severus out of her classroom and into the hall.
"Is something wrong?" she asked once they were firmly away from prying ears.
"No not really, I just need a quiet word with her," explained Severus.
"Albus called her out of the lesson about an hour ago," informed Minerva with a confused expression. "I have no idea what for and he didn't feel the need to explain."
"I think Albus is engaging in one of his private lessons with his favourite granddaughter," returned Snape in a resentful tone, "and teaching her all of the complex, and potentially Dark Lord defeating, spells he knows."
Minerva sighed. "Albus has an incessant need to ply those whom he thinks holds the key to the end of this war, with everything he knows. I told him when this occurred with Harry Potter that it would do nothing but confuse the boy, and I'll be saying the same thing again with regard to my Granddaughter."
"My daughter is far more capable than Potter ever was," spat Severus. "When it came down to it, Potter didn't even kill the Dark Lord did he?"
"Harry did his best Severus so do not speak ill of him, but you are right, I think Septima does have more of an advantage this time."
"I just wish that Albus would not complicate already convoluted matters further, by downing her in a myriad of new spells. She is powerful enough as it is, more powerful I believe than Albus himself was at her age, and now she has the necklace, she is almost indestructible."
"Nobody is indestructible Severus," chided the older witch, "I thought you of all people would understand that."
"I do, but Minerva, Septima is phenomenally powerful and I think that Albus is not helping the situation with his mothering."
"He's scared Severus," explained Minerva in hushed tones. "Do not let him know that I told you this but I caught him crying last night after he became aware of Voldemort's plan for this evening. He loves that girl so much and is petrified of losing her."
Severus frowned at Minerva's words. "We all feel that way about the situation and even I can admit that I've shed a tear or two of late, but there is no room for sentiment in this war. We have to be detached and strong."
"How can you say that when it's your own daughter that we're talking about? It's not Potter you're sending off to war Severus, it's your little girl; your baby."
"I know!" bellowed Severus as he punched the stone wall beside them in anger. "I know!"
"And how do you think Septima feels right now?" Minerva continued. "She needs her Father to hold her and tell her everything will be alright, not be 'detached and cold' as you so firmly put it. It was for the best, I'll agree, that you lacked emotion with Potter for he was not your child, but this is Septima we're talking about. The little girl who used to call you 'Uncle Presser' and follow you around the castle so that you'd play with her, even when she was not aware that you were her Daddy."
An image of Septima when he first met her swam around in Severus head: (her tiny little legs that could barely hold her up, and her mop of unruly black hair.)
"Tomorrow night Minerva, I cannot show her love and protection in the presence of the Dark Lord," sighed Severus exasperatedly.
"Surely even the Dark Lord appreciates that you'll be worried for her when she accepts the mark?"
"The Dark Lord sees love, even for a child, as a weakness and so to express such emotion would only cause unnecessary hurt."
"Do you think he'd hurt her Severus?" asked Minerva, whose voice held a tone of fear.
"Yes," replied Severus honesty. "If not to prove a point to me, but to pre warn her into the need for loyalty."
"And is she aware of the likelihood of such an occurrence?" continued Minerva as she screwed her eyes up to prevent any stray tears from falling.
"No, that is why I came looking for her now," relied Severus, "to explain the night's proceedings."
"You are going to tell her everything aren't you?" asked Minerva. "It's just that Hermione came to me earlier and expressed concern that you were going to keep certain information from young Septima."
"No, I have decided that will tell her everything," explained Severus. "I'm her Father and must do everything I can to keep her safe."
"You haven't got much time until sunset, a few hours at most, so I suggest you go and retrieve her from Albus as soon as possible," said Minerva and Severus nodded in reply.
"Thank you Minerva," he said in muted tones as he set of for the Headmaster's office. "You've put a lot of things into perspective."
"Any time," Minerva called back at him. "After all you're the only son I've got."
"Hey Dad," beamed Septima once Albus welcomed his Defence Professor into his circular office.
"I went to look for you in your Transfiguration Lesson," returned Severus as he took a seat beside his daughter and opposite Albus Dumbledore. "Your mother will not be happy that you've been skipping her lessons."
"I'm afraid the blame falls on my shoulders Severus," interjected Albus. "I was showing my favourite Granddaughter a trick or two."
"As much as your tricks make you feel better about sending her off tonight, they will do no good for Septima," said Severus, who was doing his best not to raise his voice.
"Actually Dad, I think that Grandad has helped me a lot today," Septima said with a broad, reassuring smile.
"My dear girl," chortled Albus whose eyes lacked their familiar twinkle, "I believe your Father is right. I have been bombarding you with unnecessary spells to set my own mind at ease about you leaving tonight."
Septima stood and made her way around Albus' desk and towards the Headmaster. She bent down and kissed him on his bristly cheek. "I'll be fine Grandad, I'm made of tough stuff," she said as she placed her arms around his shoulders.
Albus sniffled. "You're a good girl Septima Snape," he said as he tried to regain some sort of control over his unusual display of over zealous emotion, "and the best Granddaughter a man could wish for."
"And look how lucky I am," furthered Septima as she looked from her Father to her Grandfather and back again. "My Father is Severus Snape, the greatest academic of his time who has deceived Voldemort for almost forty years straight and who is seen as the most feared and powerful Dark wizard there is other than The Dark Lord himself. My Mother is part of the infamous trio who helped defeat Tom Riddle the first time around, and who is also the most powerful witch of the age. And if that's not enough, my Grandfather is Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful and influential wizard the world has ever seen. What could possibly go wrong for me?" she finished optimistically.
Albus chortled heartily at her speech but Severus did not seem too amused.
"Oh lighten up Dad," exclaimed Septima upon noticing her Father's furrowed brows.
"You are far too unperturbed for my liking," said Snape sternly. "Have you got any idea what lies ahead of you?"
"Grandad, could you excuse us for a moment?" asked Septima politely. "I think me and my Dad need a little chat."
"Of course. I'll be in the Great Hall if you need me," replied Dumbledore as he strode out of his office leaving Severus and Septima alone.
"Would you stop with that angry face Septima," said Severus as Septima took her seat beside him on a large sofa and glared at him angrily. "You look far too like you're Mother when she's got a bee in her bonnet, and to be frank, it's terrifying."
"Good," retorted Septima.
"Where has this mood come from?" asked Severus. "You were all happy go lucky when Albus was in here."
"It's called a brave face Dad, I'm sure you know all about them. Grandad is really worried about me and I just wanted to set his mind to rest by pretending to be okay."
"So you're not okay?" persisted Severus, who was a little confused at his daughter's yoyo of emotion.
"No I'm bloody not!" snapped Septima as she picked anxiously away at the leather arm of the sofa. "If there's anybody who I can be blunt with, it's you right? So here it goes: I'm petrified."
"I'll be there for you and so will everybody else who you know to be a spy," said Severus who wasn't sure if he was reassuring himself or her. "There is no need to be scared."
"Dad I'm not stupid so don't treat me like I am. I know all about the treatment of newcomers into the Dark Lord's ranks, so there is really no point in trying to make out that we're going to meet him for tea and scones."
Severus smiled despite the train of conversation. "No you're right, you are most definitely not stupid."
"Will you protect me Dad?" whispered Septima as she cuddled into her Father's side. "I mean if he hurts me, will you stop him?"
"You know I can't do that Septima," sighed Severus as he placed his arm around her and pulled her close.
"I'm scared Dad," she conceded as she snuggled into his billowing mass of black robes. "I know you expect me to be brave and not cry like a little girl, but I can't be as strong as you all the time."
"I'll let you into a little secret," whispered Severus as he wrapped a lock of her black her around his finger and began to play with it. "I cry every time I'm summoned."
"You do?" said Septima as she sat up to look her Father in the eyes.
"I do," he replied shortly, avoiding her gaze.
"So you think he'll use the Cruciatus on me?" she asked bluntly and whilst Severus frowned profusely, he deemed it best to be honest.
"I'm not going to lie to you Septima and treat you like a fool because that you are not. The likelihood is that he will use the Cruciatus on you to prove a point, and warn you from straying from the Dark side."
"Does it hurt?"
"Yes," he replied sincerely. "Yes it does, but I'll be there for you Septima, right there by your side and I can assure you that I have a plan."
"A plan?" she repeated in curious tones. "Dad I don't want you to risk your life just for the sake of saving me from a little teensy weensy bit of Cruciatus."
"There is no such thing as a 'teensy weensy bit of Cruciatus' Septima," retorted Severus sternly. "That particular curse makes you feel such pain that you wish for death rather than endure any more of it."
"Well that doesn't sound too good," she joked in a vein attempt to lighten the mood.
"Stop with the jokes Septima, this is not the time for humour, nor is it the time for naivety."
"Dad, I can assure you that I am under no false pretences about this evening's entailments, but you have to understand that I deal with fear in a different way to you. Whereby you use your own fear to spark it into others and you push it aside, I embrace it and attempt to counterbalance it with humour."
"You are far too like you're Mother in that sense," informed Severus. "Fear can not be monopolised."
"No you cannot monopolise it, but I can."
"Either way, I just want you to be fully aware of what will happen and I want explain how you should behave."
"Go on…"
"I will be summoned this evening and then asked to return to Hogwarts for you. We will then apparate to The Dark Lord's requested destination, where you will be introduced to the Death Eaters. You must remember that you are not supposed to know where you are being taken and so you must feign surprise, but never fear."
Septima nodded in agreement and Severus continued.
"You must not speak unless spoken to, and you must always address The Dark Lord as: 'my lord'. You must pretend to be humbled by his presence and you should express your desire to join his cause so that you can make me, your Father, proud."
"That is why I'm doing it though Dad," interrupted Septima. "I want to make you and Mum proud."
"We are already proud of you Septima. I never expected to have a daughter, never mind one as special as you. As you already know, when you came into my life you changed me into the man I am now. I will never stop loving you Septima Snape and even if you end up marrying Potter I'll be proud of you. I know I never tell you enough," he continued as he kissed her forehead, "but I love you more than anything and anybody in the world. You're my only daughter, my first child and my little angel."
"I love you too Dad and I know it's an odd thing to say to your Father, but I'm so proud of everything you do and of who you are."