***Three Days Later***

Ana sighed. Sitting in Snape's Advanced Potions class was not what she wanted to do. Especially since she knew that, like her twin brother Harry Potter, Snape didn't like her. She stared straight ahead, pretending to pay attention as Snape explained how to make a "Sleeping Death" potion.

"Um... Professor Snape?" The new girl, Ebony Epans, said, raising her hand. Snape nodded in her direction, expecting a question. "The way you're making that potion is inefficient." A few startled gasps were heard from around the room. "If you substitute Dragon Claw for Troll Hair, you could leave out Toad Eyes, Rat Tail, and Phoenix Ember." As she stopped, she shrank a little in her seat, realizing everyone was staring at her.

Snape smiled an evil smile towards the girl. "Americans. Always looking for a quicker way." He muttered then announced to the class. "Although using Dragon's Claw is another way to make this potion, you are not to use it. If you use that on the final, you will fail." Then he turned back to Ebony. "And that'll be a detention for you."

Ebony shot up. "Professor Snape, that's not fair. I didn't do anything! I pointed something out!"

"Double detention and minus twenty from Gryffindor." He said nonchalantly.

"But—"

"Say one more word, Miss Epans, and it will be triple and minus two-hundred!" Snape warned. Now sit down." Reluctantly, she sat. "I'd also like to talk to you after class."

"But I'll be late for History of Wand Making."

"Give me one good reason why I should care." She sat silent and gave him a glare that said, "you know why you should care," but she said nothing. "Ah. No reason. Just as I thought. I'll see you after class."

Suddenly, Harry started to wonder. Was Snape purposely picking on Ebony? She'd only been at Hogwarts three days and Snape appeared to be trying to make her life a living hell.

When class was over, Harry waited for her right outside the classroom and listened to the conversation between Ebony and Snape.

"I'm not going to give you detention or deduct points this time, but don't disrupt my class again. Do you hear me?" Snape asked.

"Yea, but just one thing." Ebony said roughly. "Are you trying to make me miserable? The entire class knows you hate me!"

"I don't want them to become suspicious."

"Oh, don't worry. They're not!" She said very sarcastically. Harry couldn't believe it. Ebony was yelling at Snape! "Uncle Severus, don't you think I've been through enough? Can't you be a little nicer to me?"

"Now that wouldn't be very 'uncle-like' of me, would it?" He paused. "Only joking. Trust me, you're not the only one suffering from this, Ebony. Your parents were wonderful people and I'll miss them immensely. You're all I've got left now." He said gently. "C'mon. I'll take you to your class."

Harry had no where to run. Snape and Ebony came out of the room and he had no place to hide. Snape spotted him immediately.

"POTTER!" He yelled, almost in surprise.

"Um... Professor Snape. I... I was waiting for Ebony."

"And in doing so, heard everything." Said Snape, obviously very irritated.

"It's all right, Uncle Severus. Harry won't tell anyone. Will you Harry?"

"Of course not!" Harry said quickly. "But why don't you want anyone to know you're related?"

Snape sighed. "I suppose you'll want to know everything." Harry slowly nodded. "Fine, but you're not to tell a soul and that'll be twenty points from Gryffindor for eavesdropping!"

"Oh, come on. Don't take off points! He was just curious!" Ebony stated in Harry's defense.

Again, Snape sighed. "Fine. No point deduction."

Slowly, Harry was beginning to realize Snape's one weakness— his niece.

"All right, sit down, Potter. This isn't a long story, but knowing you, you'll probably have a thousand questions." Snape said before starting. "It's as simple as this: Ebony's father was my twin brother. I'm her uncle."

"But—"

"And he starts with the questions!" Snape exclaimed. "Go one, but I'm warning you, Potter. Nothing leaves this room! You hear?"

Harry nodded. "Why are your last names different if her father was your brother?"

"Potter, spell 'Epans' backwards in your head." Snape said with hints of annoyance in his voice.

"Snape!"

"Uncle Severus, I think you should give Harry an 'A' because he knows how to spell!" Ebony said jokingly. "Ya know, Harry. Your dad and my dad were real close friends. My dad used to say that he asked Dumbledore if you could live with us in the States, but he said it would be better if you stayed with your family."

"I'd never be able to stand seeing you every summer." Snape stated, glaring at Harry.

"You went to America every summer?" Harry inquired.

"I had to see my brother, sister-in-law, and niece sometime." Snape said snidely.

"Uncle Severus spent every summer with us." Ebony said gently.

"I hated that wretched city." Snape said. "It's too noisy. Even at night..."

"But you haven't answered my question. Why don't you want anyone to know you're related?" Harry asked, growing impatient.

"One, people might think I'm treating her better because she's my niece."

"And two?"

"And two, people also might start to say that she belongs in Slytherin because I was in Slytherin."

"Her father wasn't?"

"No. My brother was in Gryffindor with your father."

"What happened to your brother?"

Snape looked down. "Ebony, would you go into my office for a moment?"

"Yes, sir." She said softly. She wasn't stupid. She knew what Snape was going to tell Harry.

"Harry," Snape said when Ebony had left the room. "My brother, along with his wife were murdered. That's why I went to New York. For the funerals. I'm Ebony's only living relative."

"Who killed them? Voldermort?"

"I'm not sure, but whoever it is may want Ebony dead, too. That's another reason her name's backwards. For her protection." Snape said, tears forming in his eyes.

"Professor Snape? Are you all right?"

"I'm not sure, Harry. I'm really not sure." He said softly.

Without a word, Harry stood up and left before he saw a side of Snape he never wanted to see. On his way up the corridor, he passed Snape's office where he could hear Ebony crying bitterly.