Book One: The Veil of Shadow

Summary: Tensions are high in the Snape household. Severus is a wreck, though he daren't show it, as his little girl is to embark on the first adventure of a magical child's life; Hogwarts. Cypress is a kind but strange child who must navigate school life in all its facets while also trying to suppress the feeling like there is something wrong with her.

NOTE:

-This was originally written under ProclaimerofHereos, I lost access to that account and could not recover it, the only proof I have I guess is that you can check out my Reddit account under the same name

-We are starting off in the Chamber of Secrets.
-This is an AU and borrows heavily from lore, magic and creatures of the Witcher.
-Each "book" of the series will have its own summary.

He stirred. Too awake to fall back asleep. Too tired to yet get up. The summer heat seeped relentlessly into the room. Sweat pooled on his temples. He pushed it back into his hair, but some of it trickled down his jaw.

Cokeworth had one of the worst summers since his childhood. The clock in the room ticked as if taunting him; you only got four hours of sleep. He closed his eyes in a near desperate attempt.

Dammit… He gave a long groan and resigned to get up, but took his time to do so. His room was small. More of a closet with bed, nightstand and a wardrobe transfigured to the space. His childhood bedroom.

A metallic clang rippled from downstairs. He took the black cloak from the hook on the door and swept silently down the stairs and made sure to avoid the loose board third from the bottom. His hand curled around his wand.

In the dim light, a slim woman hunkered over the sink. Her hair the color of bricks was pulled into a very tight ribbon, and she wore her best dress. His presence startled her.

"Oh, Severus!" Her breath hitched. She put a hand to her chest, and yet again dropped the tea kettle into the sink. "You gave me a fright."

"Apologies, Evelyn." His wand slid into his sleeve. "You're over earlier than expected." He hovered over to the brown bag on the counter. It's always pancakes…

"It's an important day, isn't it?" Evelyn replied. She moved the kettle to the stove. After the igniter lighted she turned to him with a toothy smile.

"About that," Severus began to pull out the ingredients, "I have some changes." He watched her freeze nearly in place.

Evelyn was the kind of woman who thought she hid her emotions well. To Severus they screamed at him; Changes? How dare he?

"Oh?" Her voice was expectant, like it wouldn't be that bad. She pulled down a mixing bowl from the cupboard.

"You have to understand," he said slowly, "magical society is like going on a parade." He placed the blueberries on the counter.

"I thought you were too busy to—," She broke off as a floorboard above them groaned with movement. "I thought it had been agreed. I even memorized the instructions you wrote."

Severus squeezed the bridge of his nose as she began to viciously compile the ingredients. "You recall the Malfoys'. They offered to—." He stopped at her audible scoff.

"Oh yes, I recall them." Evelyn added fervor to her stir. Batter began to decorate the counter and kitchen tile. "That boy of theirs." She tsked in disapproval.

He found her tone thoroughly irritating, but as she had an immense value to him Severus attempted to muster up something- anything to comfort her.

"You are indispensable to this family." His tone must not have been acceptable.

Evelyn remained stiff and attentive to her task. He was always atrocious at this sort of thing. It didn't help that Evelyn was always testing him. Testing his patience. Testing his temper. She always won out in the end for one simple reason.

That reason appeared at the bottom of the stairs. The third loose board announced her presence; his daughter. Cypress was small for eleven. Though that never stopped her from reaching the chocolate milk powder on the very top shelf.

Her ashen hair gave her the aura of continuous mischief; as if a cauldron had exploded in her face. It was the only thing she was self conscious about as the muggle primary school she went to were of course snot ridden brats.

She was already dressed in jeans and a grey cable knit sweater. Her hair was a textbook example of a rat's nest. She always waited for Evelyn to comb through the relentless knots every day. Another tradition that we'll have to discuss…

"Oh Love," Evelyn shifted from the stove and leaned down to her, "It's boiling out."

"Are you sure?" Cypress asked.

Evelyn put a hand on her forehead. Cypress was always cold, and every so often Evelyn would address it with him in concern. Rush her off to the local doctor and return with another muggle prescription that would mysteriously disappear. The woman brushed a hand through her hair. "After pancakes we'll get you into something suited to your adventure, and I'll braid your hair."

"Blueberry pancakes?" Cypress's eyes, black as coal, grew wide.

"Of course." Evelyn answered. She eyed Severus with a 'we'll-talk-about-this-later' expression as she didn't like to incite discord in front of Cypress.

It was then he noticed the purple and blue layered in the skin under her eyes.

"Cypress," Severus swooped down to her and took a closer look at the bags drooping beneath the eleven year olds eyes. "Did you take your potion last night?"

She shrunk in his arms. He hadn't thought his tone was too harsh, but perhaps he was wrong.

"I thought," Cypress began quietly, "I thought I would outgrow it."

Severus endeavored to hold in a sigh. His little girl suffered from extreme night terrors all her life. He had brewed a solution of blackberries, poppy, and fairy wing dust to give her a restful night sleep. Her infant years had been an absolute nightmare for him.

Cypress perked up, "My dream wasn't too bad." She smiled, "You were in it Papa." Her smile sent a frigid shiver down his spine. "Though I can't remember it now."

Severs sat in his usual place to the right of his daughter and across from Evelyn. A setting of a family if he ever saw one. Though Evelyn knew he position in the house. She had also tested thoughts waters before. He couldn't blame her. She was aging now, but the door on that subject was long nailed shut.

"What am I going to do without you all year?" Evelyn asked playfully.

For the past eleven years she had spent every day with Cypress; caring for her, taking her to school, doctors appointments, doing the laundry and the majority of the cooking.

Severus had wanted to pose that she got a hobby, but that wouldn't have been well received no matter his tone of voice. His daughter had enormous affection for Evelyn. She had asked once, when she was very young, if Evelyn was her mother. That was a strenuous conversation to have.

"I'll wriff you effory day." She answered through a large mouthful of breakfast. At his stern glance she swallowed and apologized for talking with her mouth full.

"You will have to tell me all about Hogwarts. Everything from class to what you ate for breakfast." Evelyn's smile waned.

The squib had longed for every facet, every excruciating detail of magical society. She would have had a taste of it today if he hadn't axed that. Severus knew his daughter needed to be introduced to magical society by a more well connected lot. The Malfoys were just that. It pained him to imagine them stumbling about Diagon Alley. This was the best course of action.

"Papa," Cypress brought him out of the image, "Are you going to eat those?" Her eyes were locked on his plate; untouched.

He stood setting his plate down in front of her and kissing the top of her head before returning upstairs. His stomach had been stewing. He'd imagined Cypress's first year in his head since her birthday. It was tortuous. A crowd of children pointing and laughing at his daughter made him lean against the bathroom door.

Dumbledore had given him strict instruction on how he was supposed to act. Professor first. Father second. He loathed the idea. The Headmaster had every right to be concerned. Severus would bring down a wrath of punishment the moment his daughter even sniffled.

The steam of the shower didn't send away the pressing feeling inside him. What if the pure bloods in Slytherin tease her? They wouldn't dare. Teasing the Head of House's kin would be social suicide. Slytherin was the safest place for her. She would have Draco, and he could keep a weather eye on her.

What if she isn't sorted into Slytherin? His stomach churned at the thought. Severus stepped out of the shower eager for the horrid feeling to be gone. He wiped the condensation from the mirror. His coal black eyes stared back. Cypress will be in Slytherin.

She even talked about how she looked forward to it. She would tell the sorting hat. He'd made sure to mention this to her on several occasions. He was being anxious for not, yet the unsettling thought did not leave him entirely.

A knock at the door startled him. "Severus?" Evelyn said, "Cypress is ready to go."

"I will join you shortly." He answered.

He dressed and made several mental notes in his head; You double checked her trunk for muggle things, you have the note of extra items for Narcissa, and you've told Evelyn not to bother with the house duties. Severus took a deep and steadying breath.

When he came down to the foyer Evelyn was closing Cypress's trunk. His daughter was looking up at him with her arms firmly crossed. Evelyn had managed to get her into a summer dress. Her ratty hair was braided across her head that looked rather like a crown.

"Why is my trunk coming with," She asked and without waiting for a reply, "and why isn't Evie taking me?" Her tone had grown louder.

Severus grazed his tongue against his teeth. He did not want to start this out with a fight. Surprisingly Evelyn came to his rescue.

"Unfortunately love, some very important business came up that I must attend to." Evelyn said.

His daughter would not take the bait. "What kind of business?" She asked reproachfully.

"Cypress, we do not pry into their personal affairs." Severus also knew Evelyn was not a liar; not a good one at least.

"That still doesn't explain my trunk." She said tartly.

"Because," He strode across the foyer and tapped her trunk with his wand, "The Malfoys have graciously offered for you to stay with them so that I can be present at for the teacher's first day, which is today, and if someone isn't careful they're going to get themselves grounded for their tone." Severus turned away from her sour expression, and made his way to the fireplace.

The parting embrace was long. Filled with many promises to write and not to miss each other too much.

A memory pulled at him. His mother at platform nine and three quarters. She was tearfully dabbing an eye. He was promising to make her proud. Have you made her proud?

Cypress had crossed to the fireplace and held out her small hand for the floo powder.

"Diagon Alley."

—Some Time Later, Diagon Alley-

Cypress stood on the very tip of her toes. She hated how short she was. It was impossible to see over the crowd of adults bobbing through the Alley. The weak breeze that sent goosebumps over her exposed skin smelled of honey and lacewing powder; a strange combination.

"Be patient," Her father spurned. They had been waiting the better part of an hour.

She was still rather cross with her father. Cypress had wanted Evelyn to escort her for supplies. They had talked day and night about it. Not that she didn't like Mrs. Malfoy. It was a day that had been long dreamed about, and now Cypress felt slighted.

Out of the crowd emerged Mrs. Malfoy draped in azalea colored robes. As ever her lips matched the color of her robes. Her smile was waxy; nothing like Evelyn's smile.

"Do forgive me Severus," She said, "I got held up." Mrs. Malfoy turned her gaze downward, "Hello Cypress, dear."

"Hello," Cypress looked past Mrs. Malfoy left and right, "Where's Draco?"

"He's with his father at Flourish and Blotts, I believe," She answered, "I asked them to grab your school books as well."

Cypress saw her father's jaw clench. He had picked up her school money from Gringotts the other day, but this is how Mrs. Malfoy was. Every time she would go to Wiltshire Mrs. Malfoy felt the need to line Cypress's pockets with sweeties, coins or small trinkets. Resulting in the heat of embarrassment crawling up her face.

"Very kind of you." Her father managed. His face remained as it ever was; pale and firm.

Mrs. Malfoy's eyes glittered down to her trunk. "Doby!"

There was a CRACK, and one of the Malfoy's house elves appeared. "Take Cypress's trunk to her room at the manor."

House elves had always fascinated Cypress. She'd rarely seen Doby on her visits. Draco had mentioned he was Mister Malfoy's personal elf. His large eyes moved like the game pong introverted. Up and down with the movement of his head.

With another CRACK the house elf was gone. The trunk with him.

"There," Mrs. Malfoy smiled, "Now we can get some shopping done."

Cypress turned to her father who was already stooped low for a hug. She hoped to be as tall as him one day. Then she wouldn't have to maneuver objects to get to what she needed.

"I'll see you at school," She pulled away, "Professor." She couldn't help but grin.

Underneath her father's curtain of black hair she could see the starting of a smile. They had a long discussion about how she was to treat him during school hours, and she wanted nothing more than to make her father proud.

She took Mrs. Malfoy's hand and they parted from him.

Their first stop made Cypress's heart clatter; Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

"I know what you're thinking," Mrs. Malfoy said, opening the door, "But Ollivanders actually does make fine wands. I received my wand here, so did Mister Malfoy and Draco."

That was not at all the thought she was having. Why couldn't he have done just this? Done this and then … Cypress took a deep breath. Today was supposed to be an adventure.

They entered the shop and a tinkling bell rang through the air alerting the elderly man on a ladder to their presence.

"One moment." the man said climbing down slowly.

Cypress was in awe at the thousands of wand boxes piled to the ceiling. The man turned eyeing her. His eyes were like moonstones; clouded. Perhaps he was a touch blind she thought. She reached for a piece of hair that always fell out of her braid and found comfort at rolling the hair between her index finger and thumb.

Mrs. Malfoy put a steadying hand on each of her shoulders. "Mr. Ollivander," She greeted, "This is Cypress and she's here to get first wand."

The wand maker peered down at Cypress as if he were making a study of her, "And what is Miss Cypress's family lineage?"

"Her father is Severus Snape." Mrs. Malfoy replied quickly.

Cypress glanced at Mrs. Malfoy wondering if she knew anything about her mother. If she did she did not make it known to Mr. Ollivander.

"Snape… ey." He moved slowly along the wall, his fingers dancing along the boxes until he pulled one from the shelf. Ollivander lifted the lid extending the box out to her reach. " Oak, dragon heart string, 6 inches."

She took the wand gingerly like it was made of glass. Her father rarely took his wand out at home, but she had watched him when he did. The wand flew from her hand rattling against the rafters until it fell back to the floor.

Ollivander frowned leaving the wand where it lay before scurrying over to another pile of boxes. The next wand was ash, dragon heartstring and 6 inches. That one smashed the bottle on the counter. The one after, elm, dragon heartstring, 6 and half inches blew hot air.

With each wand Mr. Ollivander grew more frustrated, mumbling to himself as he combed the shelves until he stopped pondering in front of a box.

He brought it to her, "Willow, unicorn hair, 11 and a half inches."

Cypress gave the wand, though larger in her hand than the others, a precise flick. A rosy feeling welled up inside of her starting at the tip of her fingers. A warm wave crawled over her skin, and a spark jetted from the wand. Mrs. Malfoy clapped happily for her, but Cypress couldn't look away from the cloudy eyed wand maker whose expression was ever so curious.

"A given wand." He said in an airy voice.

"A what?" Mrs. Malfoy snapped before Cypress could ask.

Mr. Ollivander cleared his throat and was nearly smiling. "A given wand comes to us from creatures that willingly give their magical properties to us rather than being procured in less kind manners." He put a halting finger and rifled through his very unorganized front counter. "Ah, here we are." He produced a small booklet and ran his finger down the page. "The last given wand I sold was to Mister Newt Scamander famed for his book which I am sure you will read in school."

Cypress leaned on her toes in an urge to know who else was in the very small book. She watched as he added her name to that list.

Together they breezed through everything on the supplies list. As soon as their feet hit the cobblestone after the ink and parchment shop an acquaintance of Mrs. Malfoy stopped her for a chat. Cypress wasn't used to such long adult conversations as her father was a man straight to the point with everything. Her eyes wandered along the shops until she came to a large window box crowded with cages; the magical menagerie.

She took a few steps towards the display window. Large barn owls fluttered their wings. Several toads puffed out their cheeks, but it was the pure white prowling cat that Cypress had been drawn to.

It's eyes were violet like the dried wisteria they kept in the kitchen. Despite its large size the cat nimbley crouched and dove onto the tank containing a variety of mice.

Cypress bent down to see the ensuing chaos, but the cat was nowhere to be seen. The mice in the tank appeared just as confused as she was. A tinkle came at her thigh. As she went to scratch it she came into contact with what was disurnedly fur.

"Oh!" She said. The white cat rubbed against her leg again. "I don't think you're supposed to be out here." Cypress reached down and picked up the cat. It's entire weight was in its fur. She looked behind her to see Mrs. Malfoy was still deep in gossip with another witch, and entered the menagerie.

"Be with you in a moment!" a voice yelled. The voice could be audibly heard muttering about the school year, supply and demand. A disheveled witch appeared from behind a stack of cages. Her brown eyes widened with terror.

"He got out." Cypress said quickly-defensively. "I wasn't-."

"He let you pick him up?" the witch asked.

Cypress glanced down at the very relaxed cat in her arm. It was like carrying an empty basket really. "Well yes, like I said he got out so I was bringing him back."

The witch blinked. Her eyes refocused. "First year at Hogwarts?"

She nodded. The cat leapt from her arms and brushed against her legs like it was going out of style.

"A sickle and he's yours." She said.

Cypress had more than that left from school supplies, and she'd always wanted a cat. On days when Evelyn wasn't feeling the best, Cypress would prowl the nearby streets for strays convinced that if she caught one she could keep it. She frowned. Father would disapprove.

"I can't." she finally said. Cypress gave a departing nod before hastily returning to the Alley.

Mrs. Malfoy had only just noticed her disappearance, but she said nothing about it. "I dare say we deserve a treat after all our hard work."

The ice cream parlor was crowded, and despite Mrs. Malfoy's reluctance, they sat outside. Cypress had rather pressed to pay for her own treat; a small scoop of lemon ice. Mrs. Malfoy sipped a frothy drink in a tall looking tea cup.

"Are you excited?" Mrs. Malfoy asked between sips, "Nervous?"

Cypress nodded, "It is scary, but Evie says that all adventures in life are scary."

Mrs. Malfoy brought the cup to her waxy lips, "Evie… the squ-...woman who cares for you?"

Cypress nodded this time her mouth with a spoonful of ice.

"Speaking of," Mrs. Malfoy reached a hand down into one of the bags. She rummaged for a while before producing a green bottle, "Your father tells me you don't take care of your own hair?"

Cypress swallowed. Her haircare fell dominantly into Evie's hands. It was a special time in the morning. Evie would use her special silver comb and they would sing along to her portable radio. "Fleamont Potter's Sleek Easy Hair." she read the purple and orange label.

Mrs. Malfoy nodded, "Every night before bed rub a sickle size dollop into your hair and comb it through. I'll show you this evening so you can do it on your own for school." She took another long sip of her frothy drink. "Your father was right to have us take you around, I dare say. Mrs. Greengrass asked all about you. Her youngest will be in your year; Astoria." Mrs. Malfoy set down her cup, and gave Cypress a very focused gaze. "I think it would be wonderful if you would make acquaintances with her." Before Cypress could reply, "They are the right sort of people."

"Merlin there you are!" a grumpy voice said.

Draco emerged from the crowd.

"Darling," Mrs. Malfoy smiled. "Where is your father?"

"He said for us to go home. That he had business to attend to." He rolled his grey eyes on the word business. "Hey Cy," he greeted knocking elbows with her.

They hadn't seen each other for about a month as his family had gone on vacation. She wouldn't have guessed they'd gone to Greece. He was as pale as he'd always been.

"Did you get shorter?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Did you get any better at chess?" Cypress asked in return fire.

They both smiled.

-The Next Day, Kings Cross-

Cypress fidgeted. Her hair felt greasy though it lay flat and straight. Mrs. Malfoy had laid out a rosewood colored robe and cape. The fabric was too light, and she suppressed a shiver.

"Honestly, my dear I don't know why we had to arrive this absurdly early." Mr. Malfoy grumbled through thin lips.

"You know exactly why." Mrs. Malfoy replied. A smile hadn't left her lips since they'd arrived.

It was a quarter of an hour until they were to depart on the Hogwarts express. The scarlet steam engine had appeared gloriously only moments ago. Witches and wizards had begun to pop up in pairs and gather in little clusters along the platform.

"Ah, Elaine!" Mrs. Malfoy greeted a witch flocked by several children; all girls.

The witches lightly kissed on the cheek in greeting.

"Narcissa, dear, so glad we've had a chance to see each other again, so soon." Elaine said.

Cypress glanced up. The witch was tall with fair skin and a stylish updo. She and each of her children wore a different shade of green.

Elaine wore the darkest evergreen. She smiled down at Cypress. "You must be Miss Snape."

"It's nice to meet you." Cypress said, and nodded to each of the daughters.

Mrs. Greengrass inclined a hand to each, "My eldest Calliope a prefect this year," she said this more to Mrs. Malfoy than Cypress.

Calliope was tall, thin, and had a constellation of freckles. She nodded with a kind smile.

"Then we have Daphne, Draco I'm sure you know." She patted a hand on the next girl. "And this is my youngest Astoria."

Astoria's mahogany hair was set in perfect curls. They bounced every so lightly as she nodded a hello.

"Well, how wonderful," Mrs. Malfoy said, "I'm sure you all can find a nice compartment together and get to know each other."

"There's Crabbe!" Draco said, and without warning, dashed into the crowd.

Mrs. Malfoy and Mrs. Greengrass fell into a conversation. The two elder girls slowly disappeared to meet friends leaving Cypress and Astoria to stand near the adults in silence.

Cypress searched for something to talk to Astoria about, but before she could her heart sank. Near one of the pillars sat the white cat from the menagerie. A student must have bought him after she'd left. Just as soon as the cat locked its violet eyes on her it was gone. Cypress blinked.

A sharp whistle went through the air. It made her jump.

"Time to go!" Mrs. Malfoy announced.

Cypress and Astoria were shuffled to the nearest door. Mrs. Malfoy disappeared into the crowd after a swift goodbye. Astoria kept her hand clamped to Mrs. Greengrass at the door. Cypress shuffled back and everything felt suddenly heavy.

Father can appear and disappear to wherever he wishes…. She glanced at all the departing families. He could have… Cypress clenched her fist. She was being silly. He was probably busy readying for the arrivals, and the famous feast she'd heard so much about. She felt calmed by the thought.

In the swarming chaos of bodies. Cypress lost sight of Astoria. Not that she felt it mattered much. She followed the flow of people glancing into compartments for Draco.

Older sixth and seventh students purposefully standing in the way. Fifth and fourth year students flirting at the door of compartments. Then there was the underclassman all just trying to navigate and find their friends. Cypress had pivoted thinking she'd seen her friend's trademark platinum hair. This was a mistake. She didn't turn back quickly enough to avoid colliding with another body. Cypress's bottom hit the hall floor.

"Hey! Watch it you clumsy old woman." a voice shrieked.

Cypress looked up at a girl with a black bob, her bangs parted, and already wearing Slytherin robes. She brought herself up meeting with the girl's beady eyes trying to halt the fire growing across her face.

"Oh merlin," the girl said in a slight giggle, "I thought you were the trolley witch."

"What a load of bollocks," another voice said, a harsh voice from the nearest compartment. A girl with a mane of red hair and a blazen expression interjected before Cypress could say anything, "You need to get your eyes checked."

The other girl's eyes narrowed, "I don't need glasses to see you come from nothing." The girl said in a haughty tone. "So your opinion is rather…" she appeared to struggle for the word, and then reset herself with an air of confidence, "I don't need to mix with your kind." She walked on.

Cypress returned her attention to the redhead.

"I'm Ginny," the girl held out a hand, "It's my first year too. Do you want to join me?"

"I'm Cypress." She replied, "And yes I'd like that."

Cypress couldn't help but smile. She hadn't had a friend that was a girl before. Unless she counted Evelynn, and she knew adults really didn't count. Draco slipped her mind as she happily accepted the invitation taking up the seat across from her next to the window.

"I hope you don't mind if my brother's join us." Ginny said, "They ran off a bit ago but they'll be back before long."

"Oh, I don't mind. How many brothers do you have?" Cypress didn't know why this sent Ginny into a slight chuckle.

"Just here at school," She started, "Four. Altogether Six."

Cypress couldn't mask the surprise on her face. She had always wanted a brother, but she could scarcely imagine six of them. Where would they have all fit at Spinner's End?

"I know it's a lot," Ginny sighed.

"I imagine, but at least you'd never be lonely if you didn't want to be," Cypress said a bit offhandedly.

Ginny slightly nodded in agreement.

"It's just my dad and I… and well our neighbor Evelynn. She practically is kind of like a mum." Cypress said.

"You can take any of my brothers," Ginny paused, "Cept maybe the twins."

They chatted. Ginny had been watching her mother's magic around the house all summer and though it was mostly house-work spells she hoped it would give her an edge in class. Cypress thought about the few spells her father had used in their home. He had repaired a shattered vase that belonged to her grandmother once. There was also that time a creature had made the attic its home.

"Well, what's this?" Said a voice.

"Well, Fred, it looks like our compartment has doubled in first year girls since we left." a second voice replied.

"By merlin's beard," the one called Fred said in despair, "They're going to take over!"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Cypress, these are my brothers Fred and George."

They both went to a dramatic bow, "I'm Fred." each of them said.

Ginny scoffed, "That one's Fred." she pointed.

Cypress felt bad. There was no telling between them. Each had ember colored hair with deep set eyes. Their shoulders were broad. They were even the same height. There wasn't a mark of difference between them. She thought of their poor mother.

One of them sat next to her extending a hand, "George Weasley, nice to meet you."

She took his large hand shaking it in turn, "Cypress Snape, nice to meet you too."

His hand kept clamped to hers. The air in the compartment shifted. Two sets of large brown eyes were piercing at her.

"I'm sorry," George said with a small laugh, "I thought you said Snape."

"She did you bumble-head." Ginny said defensively.

"No, bloody way." The twins said together.

Cypress pulled her hand away from George. They were looking at her with an intense curiosity like how Cypress looked at the pangolin when Evelynn took her to the muggle zoo for her tenth birthday.

"So you mean to say you're related to our dear potions master?" Fred asked. He stroked his chin as if he had some semblance of a beard, though his chin was bald.

"Well, yeah," Cypress started confused by their ogling, "He's my dad."

She thought his jaw was going to fall from his face and all the skin with it. As if the idea of her being his daughter was impossible. An anger started to bubble in her stomach.

Cypress excused herself under the guise of changing. Her return was slow and she wondered if the twins would still be there when she got back. She rather hoped not as she had really liked talking with Ginny.

"Cy! Ey Cy!" Draco was smiling and leaning out of a compartment.

She hoped Ginny would understand.