A/N: I forgot this in the last one, if anyone doesn't know what an Eskimo kiss is, it's when two people rub their noses together.

A/N 2: In defense of Minerva's behavior in this chapter, I don't believe that she and Snape hate each other. I think that at this point, they have a good natured rivalry when it comes to their houses, but that she trusts him know, after all, it has been some fifteen years or so since he switched sides.

A/N 3: Secrets will be revealed quickly, but just when you think there are no more….more will show up… (he he)

A/N 4: In this chapter you find out that Alathea calls her step-dad "Papi." Aside from obviously being a great way to keep everyone from finding out who the rest of her family is, Alathea's Mother has been with her Step-Father since before she was born. I think she would have some sort of title for him, aside from his name.

Feed me Seymour, Feed me…feedback!

Chapter 2: The Return of the Princess

            Snape shook his head in the headmaster's office. The charge had just been laid to him, but for once Severus Snape was afraid to do what he was told. "She can't possibly want to see me." He protested weakly. The heavens knew, he wanted to see her, and he suspected that Albus Dumbledore knew as well.

            The potions master felt a gentle hand squeeze his shoulder and her turned slightly to look at Minerva McGonagall as she gave him a comforting smile. "Severus, the little girl I remember worshiped her father. I doubt that's changed."

            His black eyes stared dubiously into hers, but Minerva never lost any of her confidence. "You didn't seem so confident in me when I returned."

            With a sigh and a nod she sat beside him in the other wingback chair. "That's true." She admitted. He was shocked to see a brief bit of shame cross her face. "And it wasn't even entirely your fault." She admitted. "Your father and I have a rather unpleasant history with each other. And seeing what a carbon copy of Stefan Malfoy Lucius is…I just assumed." She reached across the seat and took his hand in hers. "I'm sorry for that. You can tell a lot about a person by how they raise their children Severus. And I have never seen a father you aren't better or at least equal to. Thea is very lucky."

            Snape took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you Minerva."

            "Have you decided to go get her then?" Albus asked from behind him. Snape barely refrained from jumping, he hadn't heard Dumbledore approach.

            Snape sighed and looked into the gentle eyes of his boss. "Yes, very well, I'll go get her."

            He swept out of the room, leaving the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress alone. Albus moved to her side and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. She covered his hand with her own and they stared into the fire, both thinking, for a few minutes. "We're going to have to tell Harry." He reminded her softly.

            "We're going to have to tell Alathea as well." She pointed out. "And Severus. They're all going to be angry with us."

            "It will be alright Minerva."

            Severus Snape apparated right out side the grounds of Hogwarts and appeared in the middle of a field in Northern New York. He was only a few feet away from a figure with long dark hair; the wind carried her sobs to him and pulled at his heart. "Thea? Little one?" She turned to him, blinking away the tears in her green eyes. Her mother's eyes a voice in his mind reminded him. With a strangled cry she ran to him and threw herself in his arms. He held her close and stroked her dark hair.

            "They…they took Margery…" She whimpered into his neck.

            "Who took her?"

            "The Nazgul…like the ones that came with Sauron when he killed mommy and papi." He ran a hand down her back and pulled her a bit away from him. She drew ragged breaths and hiccupped as she tried to get some control on her emotions. "Daddy she's just a muggle, she doesn't know about Sauron and the Nazgul!"

            He hushed her gently. "Sweetheart, that's not really who they are. The men who took Margery are Death-eaters and they work for a dark wizard named Voldemort."

            "I know. But I didn't know what else to call them." She whispered. "That's what you told me about them." He nodded and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Come on honey, it's time to go home. Don't you want to see your brother?"

            She nodded quietly and held tight as he apparated them home.