Kat quietly crept down the corridor. The last thing she needed was Filch to find her, especially since Mrs. Norris was with her. Glancing down at the cat she smiled, "You are a crazy cat you know that." She whispered.

Mrs. Norris looked up at her with those yellow eyes. Kat shook her head; it looked like the silly cat was laughing. Looking down again she smiled. Said silly cat was laughing!

"Silly cat." She continued softly

"Talking to yourself again I see."

Kat whirled around. "What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"I could ask you the same thing." He replied with a smirk.

"That's none of your business." She replied turning around and walking away.

"Kat wait." He called softly.

She stopped, turning towards him with one eyebrow raised.

"Can." he began, pausing for a moment, "can I walk with you?"

She looked at him suspiciously. Why would he want to walk with her, the school had just learned that she was Snape's daughter. But, looking in his eyes she saw that he wasn't joking.

"All right." She replied softly then turned around and continued walking.

The two students made their way down the hall with Mrs. Norris walking in front of them.

"So where are you going?"

"The kitchen." She replied, "You?"

"Actually I was coming back from your father's office."

"Why were you in trouble?"

"Something like that. So what's he like, as a dad I mean."

"He's a great dad. Most people are shocked to learn that he's a father let alone was married.. He wasn't always like he is now." She began changing the tone of the subject.

"Sure he dabbled in the dark arts as a kid, but who can honestly say they never thought about it." She continued with a shrug.

He smiled holding back a laugh.

"He was never truly evil you know." She said as a statement, but her eyes said she was asking him.

"What changed him?" he asked softly, answering her question without actually saying he agrees with it.

"Riddle threatened my mother's life, he truly wanted her dead. So she ran to the north with me, to where we would be safe with her family. After that Papa changed, or so I've been told, was less happy. I never knew the man he was, I remember some, but not much. Then momma died, and he was never the same. That's when I came back to live with him. I know he loves me, but he locks his emotions away, that's why he's the way he is now."

He listened, surprised she used the dark lord's real name, but didn't comment on it, instead he asked softly. "How did your mother die?"

"I don't remember."

He watched her as she answered; she looked away from him when she replied. She was lying about her mother's death. She knew how her mother died. But, he had the feeling she wouldn't want him to pry, so he decided to change the subject.

"You know, I use to hate you."

"That's no big surprise, almost the entire school hates me for being so smart."

"No, before I came to Hogwarts, before you came back."

"Why?" she asked, looking at him questioningly.

"My father always compared me to you. 'If a girl can do it you can.'" He mimicked. "I could never escape you. Then I met you."

"And now?"

"I don't think I want to."

She stopped mid-step and looked up at his face. She smiled then continued down the hall. They stopped in front of the picture with the fruit and tickled the pear. It swung open and they stepped inside. Hundreds of house elves looked up at them.

"Miss Katherine." One of them said softly, from the back then came jostling forward.

"Aniee." Kat said with a smile as the small elf finally stood before her.

"Aniee is glad to see her Kat."

"And I'm glad to see you Aniee. How have you been?"

"Aniee fine, fine. What brings you here?"

"Well, I didn't have dinner."

"Ooh, you are hungry." Aniee said with a smile. Immediately every elf went one way or another, returning with tons of food. Aniee just smiled as she looked up at her Kat.

The two sat down at a table and ate while the elves did some tricks for them. Aniee sat next to Kat the entire time, smiling from ear to ear. After they had eaten, they stood up and thanked the elves for an enjoyable evening. Making their way towards the entrance Aniee followed them on their way. Stopping at the entrance, Mrs. Norris went out first to make sure it was safe.

"Goodbye Aniee. Take care."

"Of course Miss Katherine. You too."

"I will. I'll see you again soon."

"Of course my Kat. What room are you in?"

"Godric's"

"Good good, now I can make you treats again."

"Aniee you don't have to." Kat began

"No. My Kat has come back and I will make her treats." Aniee said stubbornly.

"All right Aniee. I'll see you soon." Kat said with a smile as Mrs. Norris returned signaling it was clear.

"Goodbye my Kat."

"Goodbye Aniee." She replied as the walked through the entrance. Once they were on the other side he laughed softly.

"She is one stubborn elf." He said with a smile.

"She always has been. I found her in the forest near our village. She was with me from then on. She followed me to Hogwarts, and worked in the kitchen, but all the elves knew that I came first for her. When I left, I had to leave her here." She paused, her voice taking on a sadder tine.

"It nearly killed me, she was one of my three best friends, and I couldn't take any of them.. I promised her I'd come back for her; this was my first trip to the kitchens to see her. I haven't had the time since school started." She finished, her voice laced with regret and a bit of guilt for not coming sooner.

"I don't think she minded too much." He said with a smile, hoping to bring her out of her sad mood.

They quietly made their way up to the Griffyndor tower, neither of them minding the silence. It was a nice sort of silence, comfortable. They stopped in front of the painting of the fat lady who was half-asleep, but raised her eyebrow just the same.

"Out late aren't we?" she asked with a smile. "Well, I'll be right back." She replied before walking out of the picture.

They both shook their heads; "She's silly." Kat said with a smile.

He smiled softly. "Well, thank you for an enjoyable evening."

"You're welcome, and thank you for going to the kitchen with me."

"Goodnight Katia." He said with another smile before turning and leaving.

"Goodnight." She whispered to his retreating form. Turning around she saw the fat lady was back and whispered the password. The fat lady smiled as she moved out of the way, and Kat quietly made her way up to her room.