Facing the Past
Severus had no idea that the person whose coming he was, at that very moment dreading, had already arrived. Indeed, she was almost directly above him in Dumbledore's office. So it did not occur to him that he would be wise to keep to his dungeon for the next, oh decade or so. And still silently fretting he went up to dinner.
**********Upstairs**********
"Here," Dumbledore held out his hand, "let me take your cape." "Thank you," said the young woman with dark red-brown hair who was standing next to the headmaster in his office. She shrugged off the heavy velvet cloak and handed it over to him. He turned around and hung it on a rack by the door. "I don't know why I still wear that, it's heavy, hot, old, and it's ripped." Dumbledore turned around and smiled at his daughter, "You always were the fretter. Oh! It's so good to see you, I've missed you so much!" He walked back over and hugged her again and she buried her face in the silver hair that hung on his shoulders. "You're not the only one whose missed, it's never been easy for me to be without you." She said when they finally broke apart. "I can well remember," said Dumbledore with that familiar twinkle of happiness and mischief combined. "Indeed, all those nights I'd have to fly out of here because your nanny couldn't get you to come out from under the bed." "Oh that was just a ploy to get you to come. I never got to see you much back then." Now the same twinkle was in her eyes and for a moment there was an uncanny resemblance between father and daughter.
They both sat in the two chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk. For a few moments Dumbledore regarded his daughter in silence. Truly he was relieved she was here. He needed the help of someone he could trust, now more than ever, and he had missed her something fierce, after all, she was all he had left to cherish. Reaching out he took her hand, "You have no idea how much I appreciate this Deidra, I know this is a lot to ask, even of you, but I can think of no one else who I could trust and be able to work with." She put her other hand over his and looked him in the eyes. "It's perfectly alright, I've been looking forward to the day when I could return the favor and take care of you for a change for a long time. I'm just glad that you knew you could turn to me." He smiled at her and touched her cheek, "I knew I could call on you because you're like your mother, more than capable to any task that's set before you, even the care of entire school." Deidra blushed and looked down. "I only wish I were half the woman my mother was, nor will I be looking after an entire school by myself." Dumbledore smiled again, lifting his daughter's chin, forcing her to look at him. "You're more like your mother than you'll ever know and just as capable as she was. But don't be surprised if you do end up looking after the school by yourself. Don't get me wrong, these teachers are all fine people, and Minerva means well, but they're all to personal to truly look after the school. That's why I need you. I'm being tied up in none school related things more and more lately." He sighed and patted her hand. "I'm getting old, don't tell me I'm not Deidra, two hundred and fifty years that is old, and I can't handle it all anymore." Deidra began to rise to protest, but Dumbledore gently pulled her back down. "Don't worry, I don't plan on going anywhere for quite some time yet. But Voldemort has returned, Fudge will do nothing and half the population won't even believe it. If I do not do what I can now, we are all doomed. Yet at the same time I must be sure that this school and its charges are safe. That's why I need you to help me. I need someone to take over some of the more domestic matters of the post of headmaster. So that I need only focus on the safety and security of Hogwarts, not its menus, or minor discipline problems that my staff is to flustered to deal with by themselves. Can you do this for me? Can you be the Headmistress of Hogwarts as it used to be?" Deidra smiled and softly chuckled, "Yes father, I think I can do that for you." He patted her knee before rising. "Good, let's go down to dinner, I can imagine it'll be better than most of the food you've had for the last week or so." "It probably will be if it's anything like the Hogwarts food I remember." She said before rising herself and following him out the office.
Just outside the door Dumbledore stopped and looked at Deidra. "My, I am getting old, look at you, my little baby. You've turned into a grown woman while I wasn't looking, and what a beautiful woman at that. The very image of your mother, oh if she could see you. She would be so proud, just as I am." Deidra looked away to avoid her fathers gaze. "Once again you over rate me, but you are right about one thing, I am a woman now, more so than the last time I was here." Dumbledore took her hand and shook his head. "Just like your mother." And hand in hand Dumbledore led his daughter down to the great hall.
**********The Great Hall**********
Severus had been staring at his plate, lost in thought. He did not notice Dumbledore come in and take the seat next to him and so failed to notice the woman that was with him. It was only when he heard a laughter to familiar for comfort did he look up to notice the other people at the table, and it was then that he caught the scent of freesia and the face that he would forever connect with it. Unable to control himself he sucked in his breath quite sharply. So sharply that it drew the attention of several others at the table who turned to see what had caused the potions master to make such an irregular sound. Among the heads turned was Deidra's who for the first time noticed the person who was occupying the seat to her father's right.
Quickly they both turned away. Severus to Professor Sprout, anxious to talk to anyone who would listen about the early progress of her latest patch if Boober Tubers. And Deidra to Professor McGonagall who, having known Deidra since birth (she was Deidra's nanny before she taught at Hogwarts) was overjoyed to see her again. And for the rest of dinner Severus avoided looking to his left and Deidra to her right.
Severus barely touched his food and after listening to Sprout about her Tubers for about ten minutes left the Hall in the greatest hurry. Deidra looked up and watched the back of his head disappear with a ripping feeling in her stomach. She had not known that Severus taught at Hogwarts and her father had not mentioned it. Slowly she rose and, bidding a hasty goodnight to her father and Professor McGonagall quickly left the Hall for her room on the third floor.
Once inside she sank to the floor and buried her head in her hands, trying to hold back her tears. How was she supposed to look after this school if she was constantly trying to hide from Severus. Indeed just when she had thought herself ready to start a new life and put her mistakes behind her along comes a fresh reminder. It tore her heart to think of Severus, of what had happened, of what had not happened, of what could have happened. But most of all, of her own cowardly behavior. No, she was not like her mother and if anything could prove that it was her history with Severus. But you have a second chance now. A little voice said inside her head. Why are you up here hiding in your room, your mother would never have hid from anything. "No," said Deidra, laughing bitterly, "My mother would not have hid from a second chance to make things right." Then abruptly she stood up and walked out of the room and back downstairs, toward the dungeons.
So, now we have some answers, but what to do next review and let me know what you guys think I should do next.