Authors notes:

Everything is owned by J.K Rowling and everyone associated with her. Except for my characters, Adrian, Ina and Adora.

I apologize for everything being all confusing and stuff. It'll make sense in chapters ahead so keep on reading and everything will be addressed. If you like it leave feedback, if you hate it and want me to kill myself... leave feedback. Thanks.

I also want to apologize for how it jumps around and that I'm not updating like i promised. I've been in a writing rut, because I get great ideas for how a story should begin and end, and filling in the middle just drains me.



Chapter 9



Severus sank back into his chair as the tape cut to static. He sat there for several minutes, with an emotionless look on his face before, with all the anger and sadness pent up inside of him, he threw the camera at the wall and broke it into thousands of little pieces. His lip began to curl into a sneer and he shuddered with the cool winds of the dungeon blowing by his face. Even if his room was richly furnished, it was drafty. Though most of the cold was absorbed by the overstuffed antique furniture and family heirlooms. His dark hair swept by his face again, and he tucked it behind his ear. He'd let it get pretty unruly lately and decided to himself to have it cut soon. Even at his age, there were no streaks of gray or white anywhere in his mane. He tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair before he rose to grade some 1st year potions parchments. Given the mood he was in, he hoped none of them expected a passing grade. He took of his sweeping black robes and sat in the hard wooden chair at his desk to grade the papers when a large white owl began pecking at his mail-window. He grumbled and stood back up opening the window so that the owl could warm up and give him his letter.

"What is this?" he demanded to the owl, who gave him an 'are you crazy?' look in return. Severus shook his head and tossed the letter onto his bed as he went back into his study to grade papers. The owl, growing irritated at Severus's behavior picked the letter from his bed and flew it into the study, dropping it into his lap, and perching on a wooden beam. "Why can't you leave me be?" He begged, tears welling up in his eyes. The owl hooted gently and drifted down to his desk and nipped gently at Severus's fingers. He picked up the folded parchment delicately, because of it's age. It had his name on it in fading red ink and he knew who it was from. He turned over the letter and the black Snape seal popped open gently.



Dearest Severus,

If you are reading this letter than I am dead. I am writing this to you because I feel that if I don't write it down now, then you'll never know. I love you more than anything else in this universe. I know what people say, and we both know that it had torn us apart. We also know that it's true and I'm so sorry. I never loved Draco Malfoy and never will, and our affair meant nothing to me. I know that this will never make up for them mess I made of our lives, especially our daughter's, but I hope that you'll eventually find it in your heart to forgive me. I'm just a human, and I have faults, and I make mistakes. I just want to tell you that you're not one of the mistakes I made, and I don't ever want you to feel that way. I love you. A thousand times over, I love you. I will watch over you and protect in this life and in the next, because it is you that makes my heart sing and float as if it had wings. You're my angel, my beloved.

~ Hermione



Severus folded the paper back up and cleared his throat. He looked back down at his desk full of papers.

"They can wait another day." he growled under his breath and stood up to go see Dumbledore.

**************************

He stormed into Dumbledore's office, where the old wizard stood, in his dressing gown, night cap and bunny slippers, feeding Fawkes.

"What is the meaning of this?" Severus demanded, clutching the letter in his hand.

"I don't know. I was just told to give it to you if you ever returned." Dumbledore shrugged.

"You mean to tell me, you meddle around in everyone's lives and manage to know everything that's going on, but you can't even tell me what is the meaning behind this letter, that is from MY DEAD WIFE! Why do you torment me old man?"

"Oh Severus, quit your belly aching and sit down. Have some tea."

"No. Explain." He said evenly, still standing in front of Dumbledore's desk. Dumbledore shrugged and sat down.

"Several years ago, when the threat of Voldemort was very strong, Hermione came to me with a box of things for you and the child she was expecting at the time, Adora. This box had a letter with it, and I was instructed to give it to you when you returned here. I didn't understand at the time why she thought you were going to come back here but I took the box without a word. Would you like it?" Dumbledore asked motioning towards a shoe box full of small trinkets. Severus stood up and retrieved the box, greedily.

"Why is all this happening?" Severus asked, not looking up from the box. He ran his fingers along the edges, thinking to himself 'she held this once, in her small but nimble hands.'

"Even the dead have stories to tell. Maybe yours and hers isn't over yet." Severus shrugged. He still hadn't torn his eyes away from the box.

"Do you believe in life after death?" He asked Albus. Dumbledore stood Severus up and ushered him to the door.

"I don't know. But I can tell you that Hermione did. Just a thought." Dumbledore winked and sent Severus on his way.

************

Back in his rooms Severus sat the small box on his bed stand. He paced back and forth debating on whether or not to open it. At this time he heard a light 'click' and the small 'pit pat' of little feet running across bare dungeon floor. He turned to face the blanket covered lump that had crawled into his bed.

"May I help you?" He said in a smooth voice. The covers sat up and were dropped back to reveal Adora, clutching her bear in one hand and shivering all over.

"There are monsters under my bed." She replied.

"Then tell them to leave."

"They won't listen to me. They drank all my tea and invited their friends to play. I told them it was rude to invite their friends when they're guests in someones house, but they laughed at me."

"They did did they?" Severus play-gasped.

"Yes they did and they climbed into the wardrobe and had a party. It was bouncing all about so I made get out of my wardrobe. I said 'My daddy is a potions master and he'll beat you up.'"

"You had a Boggart in your closet and you let it out?" He replied coolly.

"Yes. He wasn't scary. Just rude."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Beat him up." Adora nodded, pigtails flying in the air. "Can I sleep in here with you Daddy?" Severus looked up at her as if she was crazy. "Please. So the monsters don't get me. You don't want them to get me do you?"

"I'm debating on it."

"That's not nice." She knitted her brow, which threw Severus for a loop.

"Don't do that!" He growled and grabbed her arm, sitting her down. "Your mother did that and had little wrinkles at age 20 because of it." He whispered hoarsly.

"Adora looked up at him. You never talk about mum."

"I didn't think I'd need to. If you're sleeping in here tonight, then you best get in the bed and stay there." He quickly changed the subject and began pulling over a large green Barcalounger* to sleep in. Adora sat up and watched him.

"I love you daddy."

"Go to bed." He grumbled. Adora layed back down and began to goto sleep as Severus pulled a blanket over his legs and reclined back. He'd have to investigate the box tomorrow.









* I believe everyone in the world including the wizarding world needs a barcalounger. So I gave Snape one.