Severus had been in bed for almost fifteen minutes when he heard his door open and the soft padding of Tirza's slippers on the floor. "Daddy?" she whispered, lightly rubbing his shoulder. He turned over to face her. "Can... can I sleep with you? If you don't want me to, I'll go back to my room." He took her in his arms and pulled her onto the bed and threw the covers over her. "Yes, you may. I told you that earlier, didn't I?" he asked. He had mentioned that fact several times since he made those cranky comments earlier that morning. She nodded. "Just checking," she whispered. She snuggled down next to him and kissed his face. "Are you alright?" She shook her head no. "I'm scared. I've never been to court before. And I don't want to talk to lots of strangers." Severus wrapped an arm around her protectively and held her close. "There's nothing to be afraid of. I'll be there with you and I know you'll do just fine." She shrugged her little shoulders. "I dunno; I always seem to screw up everything." Snape leaned down and kissed her nose, making her giggle. "You do not screw up everything. All you have to do is tell the truth." She turned her face away from him. "Nope, I know I'll mess it up, cuz I'm stupid." Snape sighed and rolled her over onto her stomach and gave her bottom a light smack. "Hey," she whined, rolling back onto her side. "I want to hear none of that kind of talk young lady," he scolded her softly. She giggled. "Daddy, you're silly." "I mean it; no talking like that about yourself anymore. You and I both know it's not true and it makes me sad when you say that, because I know it hurts you to think that way." Tirza blushed and looked down. "Daddy, how do you know everything?" she whispered. Severus chuckled and rubbed her shoulder. "I do not know everything, child, but I do know you are anything but stupid." Tirza sighed and looked back up at him. "Daddy, why do you like me?" He frowned and raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" "I mean why do you like me daddy? I don't like me, why should you?" she asked, carefully watching his face. "How could I NOT like you? What is there to not like about you?" he replied, gently stroking her hair. She sighed. "I'm loud and I swear and I'm annoying and I get into lots of trouble, and I have lots of problems and I demand too much, and I'm selfish, and self-centered, and I don't think about other people's feelings," she quietly told him. He brushed a stray tear away with his finger. "Sometimes you're loud but everyone is at times, and you've been working very hard on not swearing and I'm very proud of you for that. I also don't know a child that doesn't get into trouble and you don't get into anymore then is normal for your age; but I don't see those other things. Those are very big words with complicated meanings. Why do I have a feeling that you are not the one that thought them up about yourself?" Tirza turned her face away from him; Snape cupped her chin and made her face him again. "I'm tired now, I wanna sleep," she told him. "Now I happen to know that when you are lying, your left eye twitches slightly," he replied. Tirza rolled her eyes. "You're crazy." "Am I?" he prodded gently. "Maybe I just don't want to talk about it," she decided, rubbing her left eye. It was true that her eye twitched slightly when she lied, but he had been the only one to ever notice. "You might feel better if you talk about it." She shook her head no. "I get all confused inside." Snape looked into her eyes. "Come on, you know you'll feel better if you tell me. Baby, who made you think you were those things?" "I don't wanna talk about her... I mean I..." her voice trailed off when she couldn't think of a way to change her statement. She quickly rolled over and buried her face into the pillow. Severus gently sat up and scooped her into his arms; Tirza laid her head on his shoulder. "Don't cry," he told her as he started rubbing her back. "I'm not crying; I think I ran out of tears," she told him.

He kissed her head. "Mommy said," Tirza whispered. "She was right; I was mean to want so many things." Snape began to rock her in his arms. "What kind of things did you ask?" She took a deep breath. "Mommy used to hold me and let me sleep with her when I was scared, and make me happy when I cried. Then she stopped when she got sick. I wasn't trying to be selfish, daddy, really I wasn't. It was hard; I was scared HE would come back and hurt me again. She needed a friend and all I did was make things hard. I didn't try daddy, I didn't mean to be bad." All Severus could feel was sadness. "Daddy, if you hate someone, does it kill them?" He sat her up on his lap and looked at her intently. "What are you talking about?" "Auntie Chrissy said that love would help mommy, but I didn't love her anymore, I don't think. She made me sad and hurted my feelings and I hated her. Did... did that kill her?" Tirza looked at him earnestly, her eye pleading with him to make her feel better. "Of course not. Your aunt simply meant that your mother feel a little better, but baby, there is no cure for the sickness she had... she was dying and you had absolutely nothing to do with it." Tirza visibly perked up. "Are you sure?" He nodded and she let out a sigh of relief, and then leaned against him. "I'm glad. I'm not sure if I liked mommy or not, and I was scared she might be dead cuz of me." Severus kissed her head. "No, I promise. What was your mother like before she got sick?" Tirza smiled. "She was lots of fun. We watched movies and played games and went to all sorts of places; we were bestest friends." "You loved her then, didn't you?" Tirza nodded. "When your mother got sick, it wasn't that she didn't want to be your friend and mother anymore, she was just too sick to help you. She still loved you, but she didn't explain properly what she was trying to say. I don't think you really hate her now or ever did. I think you were just very sad and worried and hurt," he told her, rubbing her back. She nodded. "I didn't want her to die." "Of course not," he assured her. "The hurt you were feeling got mixed up inside and you mistook it for hate. Do you understand what I'm saying?" "I think so," she replied, looking up at him. "I like talking with you daddy, you always make me feel better. But you're not gonna die and leave me all alone are you?" "Never," he stated firmly. She yawned, and then giggled. "I am tired for real now." Severus tucked the covers around them as she cuddled close to him. "I love you daddy; you're real special." He chuckled and kissed her cheek. "You are very special to me; sweetheart and I love you very much." She bid him goodnight and within ten minutes, was soundly sleeping.

Snape gave Tirza an encouraging look as she took the witness stand the next day. She nervously sat down, wearing her black dress pants and a plain violet shirt. Mr. Advokit, the Wizard Justice, turned to her. "Now Miss Snape..." "Tirza," she interrupted. Mr. Advokit smiled and nodded. "Tirza. Do you understand what it is to tell the truth in court?" She nodded her face very serious. "I know that you have to tell the truth because you promise you will and that if you don't it's called, um, purgery, and you can get in big trouble if you do that." "You're a very smart girl," the Justice replied. "Now, do you promise to tell the truth, as best as you can?" "Yep," she assured him. "Good. Now there are going to be two men who will ask you questions..." "Those are the lawyers," she interrupted again. "One for defense and one for trying to put the dude on trial in jail. And they ask questions to help the case, right?" The Justice smiled again. "That is exactly right. Now they are going to start asking questions and there is no need to be nervous. All they want is the truth." She nodded and the prosecuting attorney approached the witness stand. "Can you tell us how old you are Miss Snape?" the prosecutor, Mr. Chambers asked. "Tirza," she corrected. "I'm ten." "Alright Tirza, can you tell us what happened the night the defendant attacked you?" She nodded and proceeded to tell the jury what he did to her. "Has the defendant ever done anything else to you?" "Objection! Leading and irrelevant," the defense attorney, Mr. Freeman stated, standing up. The Justice frowned. "This is a ten-year-old; I'm going to allow some latitude. As for the irrelevance, I think that other incidents that the defendant has been caught and punished for ARE relevant." Severus watched the faces of the jury members as Tirza told them about the things that happened in the Shrieking Shack; most were shooting nasty looks at Flint. "Thank you Tirza," Mr. Chambers said as he took his seat. "Isn't it true Miss Snape that you were not allowed in Hogsmeade and went anyway?" Mr. Freeman asked in a hostile tone. "Yeah," she admitted quietly. "And that you enjoy teasing and torturing my client and his friends by playing pranks? And did you not start a physical altercation on the night of your arrival at Hogwarts?" "Objection!" Mr. Chambers countered. "The witness' character is not in issue." "Overruled," Mr. Justice decided. "But tone it down counselor."

"Did you start a fight your first night at Hogwarts?" Tirza nodded, her stomach starting to do flips. "And have you been involved in pranks against my client?" "But he made my lion turn real and bite me," she quietly protested. "In fact, haven't you been involved in a series of pranks and fights since your arrival a short two months ago? That you are a juvenile delinquent who was sent to her father in hopes that he could keep you in line? Have you ever been in trouble with the law, Miss Snape? Isn't it true that you are on muggle drugs to keep from a nervous breakdown? What did you do that made your mother send you here after ten years?" "HOW DARE YOU TREAT MY CHILD THIS WAY!" Snape yelled, standing up. Mr. Justice banged his gable on the bench. "I want to see counsel in my chambers immediately! As well as the witness and her father." Snape went to the witness stand and took Tirza in his arms. "Why is he picking on me daddy?" she whispered, close to tears. Snape muttered something in a language she didn't understand. "Latin," he told her when he saw her confused look. "Things your little ears don't need to hear." He carried Tirza into the judge's chambers. "This is outrageous treatment of a child, your honor," Mr. Chambers protested. "Some child! She's got a vicious streak and probably planned this whole thing to frame my client!" Freeman countered. "ENOUGH!" the Justice yelled over the two attorneys. "Your cross examination is over Mr. Freeman and Mr...." All three men stopped and looked at the little girl who had just thrown up. "I apologize Mr. Justice, my daughter does not do well with stress," Snape said as he quickly performed a spell to clean Tirza, himself and the floor. "Not a problem, poor child. Is she needed for re-direct?" the Justice asked Mr. Chambers. "Unfortunately, I'll need to close the doors that Mr. Freeman maliciously opened." "Perhaps I could testify in that respect; Tirza will be unwilling to tell the things that she'd have to," Snape interrupted. "You have absolute direct knowledge of the things you will testify too?" the Justice asked. Snape lead a still somewhat nauseous Tirza back into the courtroom to where Dumbledore sat. "I am needed to testify and she cannot be here while I do, she's already been sick as it is," Snape informed him. "Come Tirza, let's go see if there is a candy shop around here," Dumbledore said cheerfully. Snape took a vile from his pocket and handed it to the older wizard. "Make sure she takes this; she refused to take it before hand." Dumbledore nodded and took Tirza's hand and led her from the courtroom. Snape turned back to the attorneys with a very dangerous and determined look on his face. If that man was going to ask all those outrageous questions, then he'd get an earful of answers that he didn't want, and that served Snape just fine.

"Now Mr. Snape..." "Professor," Severus corrected. "Professor," Mr. Chambers tried again. "Is it true that Tirza was involved in a fight the night of her arrival at Hogwarts?" Snape nodded. "One of the boys grabbed her and made her feel threatened; she fought only in self defense." "Has Tirza been involved in pranks?" Snape nodded again. "She and a student of the school have played a few harmless pranks on each other, nothing that is dangerous or unusual for their ages." Mr. Chambers looked at the jury; most of them seemed to be convinces, but a few had question mark looks on their faces. "What is the real reason that Tirza was sent to you Professor?" "Her mother died of cancer and I am her father and only living relative." "So it was not because she had problems with the law back in the United States?" Mr. Chambers prodded. "She had dealings with the law there, but as a victim, not a criminal." Mr. Chambers nodded and returned to his seat. "I'd like to have this witness be declared hostile," Mr. Freeman asked as he approached the witness stand. "Hostile is an understatement after the things you accused my child of," Snape retorted. "So declared," the Justice replied. "Professor, isn't it true that your daughter has been in several fights and injured the other party quite seriously?" Mr. Freeman asked. "My daughter fights only when she feels threatened. Some of the injuries to BOTH were serious, but nothing the school's nurse couldn't fix." "And why were those injuries so serious?" Snape scowled at the attorney, fighting the urge to use his wand on the man. "My daughter studied karate for a time when she was with her mother." "Karate? Well of course she never fights without provocation if she took karate," Mr. Freeman stated sarcastically. "There are legitimate reasons why she took karate," Snape countered. "That was not my question. Is she at this time or ever in the past taken muggle drugs?" "She..." "This is a yes or no question professor," Mr. Freeman told Snape with a bit of a smirk on his face. "Yes," Snape growled. "I'm through with this witness." "Redirect?" the Justice asked. Mr. Chambers nodded and once again approached the stand.

"Can you tell us why your daughter took karate lessons, sir?" "Yes was raped by a perverted teenager when she lived in the United States and her mother felt she should learn karate for future protection." "Objection!" Mr. Freeman shouted. "Does the witness have any proof of his daughter's alleged rape?" Snape stood up, a look of death on his face. "Perhaps you would like to contact the police in New York City and discuss the positive results of the rape kit and examine the semen found?" The Justice banged his gable on the bench. "Sit down Professor. And counselor, I believe that answers your objection. The prosecution may continue." "So is it correct to say that when Tirza feels threatened, she defends herself?" Snape nodded. "Why is she currently on muggle drugs?" Snape sighed. "Because of the rape, she has developed an acute anxiety disorder, doubled in intensity by flashbacks of the incident and panic attacks. She is now using a potion instead of the muggle pills." "Objection! Has the witness ever SEEN any of these symptoms?" Snape scowled again. "You saw one in the Justice's office and that was a mild one by comparison to her usual attacks. I also found her during a flashback when she was lured to the Shrieking Shack. Your client was holding her down, hurting her and I found him that way. She was crying and begging him to stop. The flashback didn't stop for nearly ten more minutes and I have no idea how long it had been going on until I got there." Mr. Freeman sat down, knowing there was no way he could counter that. "What happens during these flashbacks?" Mr. Chambers inquired. "Tirza can see the things happening again in her mind and can feel where she was touched and the various things that were done to her. She shakes as though having a seizure; she cries and begs. They attack her mind at night as well, in the form of very realistic nightmares and I can give her the Dreamless Sleep Potion only so often, so she suffers very greatly with these things." Mr. Chambers looked at the jury; one woman was even crying and the others were looking very sympathetic towards Tirza. "No more questions." "Any other witnesses?" the Justice asked. Both attorneys shook their heads and the Justice sent the jury off to deliberate.

Snape, Tirza, Dumbledore, Lupin and Isabel sat in court the next morning as the jury filed back into the room. "The defendant will rise," Mr. Advokit ordered. Flint and Mr. Freeman stood. "Madame Foreperson, has the jury reached a verdict?" The forewoman stood and nodded. "Yes we have. One the first count of the indictment, assault and battery, we find the defendant guilty." Snape squeezed Tirza's hand and she sighed in relief. "On the second count of the indictment, illegal use of a potion, we find the defendant guilty. On the third count, on the use of Dark Arts, we find the defendant guilty. On the fourth and final count, attempted murder by use of Dark Arts, we find the defendant guilty." Everyone in the courtroom cheered and Flint looked devastated; only his parents were not cheering. Snape hugged Tirza tight. "Order!" the Justice yelled over the noise. When everyone quieted down and found their seats again, the Justice turned back to the forewoman. "Has a decision on sentence been reached by this jury?" "Yes," the woman answered. "We the jury sentence Marcus Flint to a term of five years in Azkaban prison." With that said, Wizard officers led a protesting Flint from the room. "I think this calls for a celebration," Snape decided. "Can we have ice cream?" Tirza begged. Severus smiled at her. "Ice cream for everyone, on me." Tirza smiled and took his hand as they exited the courtroom.

That night after Tirza was soundly asleep; Snape looked at the last letter he had received from Chris Logan. It had actually been two letters; one from her and one from her husband. "There is no statue of limitations for the rape of a minor. I admire you for wanting to this scum bag prosecuted, something Ariel should have done," he read the letter from Chris' husband, Detective Michael Logan. "I have contacted the District Attorney and he has agreed to prosecute. He feels that there is a good amount of evidence and should have no trouble securing a conviction." Snape felt immensely relieved. He wanted to kill the person who had caused his little girl so much pain, but of course he could not. The next best thing would be to see that fungus of humanity put in prison; he hoped it would help Tirza as well to possibly feel a little closer. Nothing would ever make it go away, but it might help a little. "The D.A. would like to meet with you and Tirza when you come to visit; until a formal complaint is placed by you as her legal guardian, the D.A. can't really proceed with any charges as initially it was not pursued." That would not be the most pleasant thing to do during their vacation, but it would have to be done and the sooner the better.

Tirza finished writing her letter to AJ and went off to look for Hermione to send it. She stuck the letter in her pocket and opened the door of the chambers. She was suddenly drenched in freezing cold water. She growled in frustration, her clothes soaking, dripping everywhere. She looked around for Draco, knowing he had done. Usually he was long gone by this time, but she spotted him hiding in the shadows of the dungeon. Curiosity had gotten the better of him, as he hadn't yet seen her reaction to all of his bucket of water tricks. Tirza growled and ran towards him; Draco took off running. "I'm gonna get you!" she shouted. Draco didn't doubt it and was running as fast as he could to get away from her. The chase led out of the dungeons and down one of the main hallways that was filled with students walking about. Tirza finally caught up with him and tackled him' they rolled over several times in the hallway. Tirza's face was red with anger. She was the first to get up off the floor and she stared at him, a dangerous look on her face. Draco pulled out his wand, not sure what she was going to do, but wanting to be able to defend himself. Without either of them moving a muscle, the wand was pulled from his hand and snapped in half. Both stared at the two broken pieces that landed on the floor. Draco looked closely at Tirza; had SHE done that? She didn't even have a wand with her! Tirza stood there shocked, giving Draco enough time to start running again. She quickly snapped out of her shock and chased him, again tackling him. "You leave me alone with all these stupid jokes!" she shouted. "How are you going to stop me?" Draco countered. Again, her face turned red with anger, then before the crowd's eyes, all of Draco's clothes turned a bright yellow. Tirza's mouth dropped open. How did that happen? Did she do that? "Stupid mudblood girl! Look what you did!" Draco shouted. Before Tirza could stop herself, she punched Draco square in the nose. "Don't EVER call me those bad names!" Luckily for Draco, his nose didn't break; he swung at her and missed. He jumped at her, knocking them both over. They began rolling around throwing punches and kicking.

Snape stalked down the hallway in a very bad mood. A third year student had come to his office, telling him that Tirza and Draco were fighting in the hallway. He had warned them about this and would make sure they regretted disregarding his warning. He quickly turned the corner and saw them rolling on the floor, hitting at each other, surrounded by a group of gaping students. Without a word he strode over to them and hauled them off of each other. He pulled them off the ground and stood them in front of him. Draco and Tirza looked up to see a very, very angry Snape scowling at them. "We are going to have a discussion in my office, NOW," he hissed. With a firm group on their shoulders, Snape steered them towards his office.

A/N: My hand is better and I got to type this chapter all by myself, LOL! Uh-oh, things don't look too good for Draco and Tirza! Will they ever learn? Of course not, that wouldn't be any fun! Coming up is Tirza's name change, Christmas shopping, and Snape talks some things over with Isabel. Stay tuned! And thanks to all who sent me get well wishes about my hand! Stupid grilled stuffed burritos at Taco Bell, that grill is out to get me, I swear, LOL! Oh by the way, I have no real clue how a Wizard court would be run or even one in England for that matter, so I incorporated US justice system and some made up things in there. Hope it turned out well.

JeannaUO: Hi there! I am glad that you found the story and like it. Thanks for the sweet compliments; they mean a lot to me. Interesting idea about Voldemort, I'll have to give that some thought. I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

SugarPrincess: Yes, my hand is better now. The three days off with pay was nice too, LOL! About the "you can't spank me in front of a girl" line, in my opinion, Draco and his father both seem like guys that would consider females inferior, so that kinda fits that thought as well as he would be embarrassed by it! So what do you predict will happen?

SailorEclipse: Yes, pouting does work wonders! Aaron's got a heart of gold and most of them time I just have to ask and he's willing to do it, and I for him. He's such a sweetie and I will tell him hi for you. I have never really understood the spaces between dialogues, as I was taught to write in paragraphs. Maybe I am missing something? I hope you won't be too confused, but if I change my style now I will get confused, LOL!

Alrick: Good ideas for Snape catching Draco! We all know Draco and he won't stop pestering her, no matter what the threat, even if it does involve being spanked in front of a girl, LOL! So what do you think Sev's reaction to this altercation will be? Yes, Tirza is very vulnerable right now and Sev should think before he speaks with her, because she is so sensitive. I think he'll remember that from now on though!

SeverusSnape: Thanks for the hugs (wink). It was sweet to see Sev cry; he messed up bad and he knew it! So he should have felt the way he did.

GrintsGirl: Yeah, I loved that Snape cried. Tirza is just so sensitive and he knew he had hurt her really bad, so it was only right for him to be upset about doing that. And my hand feels much better, thanks!

Potter-Snape: Sev does have a humanistic side when he wants to show it and Tirza has a way of bringing long hidden feelings out where he is concerned. So what is your prediction of Sev's reaction?

SlytherinKid: Thanks for the get well wishes! Hope you like the chapter! And I like your new name better...

MissLKid: Hope you like the chapter! And yes, my hand is much better!

AlexGrey: Am I really good at the drama/angst stuff? I haven't tried to focus on that, it just seems to come, like it has its own mind, LOL!

BuzzBuzz16: Who better to bring out Snape's heart then Tirza?

Raclwst: Hope this one prints okay, LOL! And I am doing fine, thanks!

LostSoul: No matter what Snape does, the war between Tirza and Draco will continue at least until she starts school. At that time, who knows? I try not to get too far ahead on myself or I get confused, LOL! And Aaron is fiancé, will be hubby on August 19 (that's why I picked it as Tirza's birthday, LOL!) this year.

Kenomee: Sev will definitely have to watch his tongue... I am sure he'll remember after this! Draco is just like a Slytherin should be! He'll get his though (and several times more, too... those two will keep fighting for quite a while!). What do you see as Sev's reaction to this? And how did you like Tirza's accidental magic with the wand and the yellow robes? Good luck on all the stuff with your house!

Hugs, Kerry