Disclaimers: I do NOT own most of these characters. I DO, however, own Rebecca Robinson and any other character you DO NOT recognize. I would also like to thank you in advance to reading and reviewing. Please let me know how this story is working out.

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RWH

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Seven
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"How do I look?"

Rebecca swept into his chambers engulfed in a long Sapphire blue graduation gown with a delicate edging of gold trimming down the neck front and cuffs. Her long dark hair accentuating the dressings of her house of Ravenclaw colors.

The Daily Prophet rustled in his hands as Severus looked up from his chair and grinned at the young woman standing before him.

"You look absolutely beautiful, Child."

He let his breath out slowly as he spoke, his eyes fastened at the creature standing before him. Such a glorious vision his ward was now. The child had indeed grown into a beautiful woman and he envied, yet pitied the men she would have on hook as soon as she entered University.

She frowned and placed her hands on her hips causing him to bite back a grin. The beauty transformed back into the girl he had always known. The familiar disapproving stance brought out the 'adorable' part of her, but 'adorable' was a word she despised so he never spoke that word around her, especially 'about' her, without the consequence of a very unpleasant verbal tongue-lashing. Something she had learned from him over the years of living with him. She detested anything that made her sound like a child still.

"I am not a child." She stated her eyes blazing in annoyance unaware that she had just read his thoughts. "I do wish you would stop calling me that."

He chuckled and stood up slowly, tucking the paper into the side cushion of the chair. Again, his mind raced at her words of discontent. Indeed she wasn't a child and he knew fully well that she hasn't been in quite some time. The realization of that truth hit home months ago when she got her last spring grades from her other professors along with various pamphlets of their recommendations of Universities for her to rummage through and sort out. Not that she had her own choices, with him as her tutor as well as her guardian. She had one of the top scores of N.E.W.Ts in that year, of course she just barely came in under Miss. Granger's record scores of several years back, but then Rebecca started out on shaky grounds. So, he gave her that little leeway of respite and didn't press the matter. He was proud of her and proud of the fact that she could attend any university that she chose and they would accept her with open arms because of said scores.

He brought his mind back to the present again and noticed her staring at him with a cocked head and a set, worried expression on her face. He smiled and held out a hand to her intending to rid her of her worries. The issue of him calling her 'Child' would not go on forgotten, as he well knew from experience. Best to get the apology out of the way.

"Forgive this old man, My Dear, I cant seem to get it through my head how much you have grown in the last four years. I just can not believe you are graduating so soon. Has it really been four years?"

She grinned and ran over to him throwing her arms around his waist in a very tight hug. "You are 'NOT' an old man, Severus. You are just as handsome today as you were four years ago even more so. I don't ever want you to say that again."

He swallowed hard, she had taken to calling him by his given name when she started researching Universities. She responded to his questions as to why with a simple answer.

"Because in a few months I will be a legal adult and I cant keep calling you 'Sir' then.. now can I?" She replied with a gleeful grin and returned to her research leaving him standing behind her with his mouth opened. She had surprised him with that answer and continued to surprise him at every twist and turn in the following days.

He at first thought that the change in the way she addressed him would diminish the respect that he instilled in her. The change had been a shock but after a while his name sounded very nice coming from her and he found that he didn't mind it in the least bit. Now it felt.. natural.

She had managed to wiggle her way into his heart over the years and now he found that he didn't want her to go. Although he knew that he must, in order to let her grow more and learn the ways of the world outside of Hogwart's. He dreaded what she would have to endure out there, beyond Hogwart's safe haven, beyond his protective reach.

He gazed down at her now and smiled, kissing the top of her head. Her words she just spoke echoed in his soon to be empty heart yet he squeezed her tight.

"You make me forget how old I am sometimes, Rebecca."

"Good, 'cuz you aren't 'OLD'.. you're.. you're.. perfect!"

She beamed up at him before taking a step back before he could protest her 'perfect' comment and turned to the mirror. She tugged at her long hair and deftly twisted it up in her hands and piled her hair up on her head. "Should I wear my hair up or down?" She asked looking at her reflection in the mirror tilting her head this way and that to try to get a better judgement on how to wear it.

"Up.. I think.. " He replied somberly as she watched his reflection walk over to his desk. She turned to watch him curiously as he pulled a long black box from the top drawer. "It would allow you to show this off."

She stared at him opened mouth until he laughed and pressed the box into her hand, her hair falling back down to her waist as she took the pro- offered box in shaky hands. He never gave gifts, well, without a good reason.

"Open it."

Becca's eyes flashed between him and the box before she pulled the box top from its elongated body.

"Oh!"

An excited gasp escaped as her gaze settled on the heart shaped locket resting comfortably in a sea of black velvet. Reaching in with a trembling hand, she pulled out the necklace. Her eyes widened as the late afternoon sunlight caught the dazzling circle of Emeralds and Sapphires surrounding an etching of two roses with entwined stems.

"It's.. beautiful." She raised tear filled eyes up to him touched beyond words.

"Look inside." He spoke softly as she flicked the golden locket open. A large grin spread across her face as she saw a picture of Severus Snape grinning and waving at her. On the opposite side were the words. 'Remember, I love you' etched in elegant script. She sobbed loudly, threw her hands around his neck, and hugged him again, tight.

"I love you too, Severus, always and forever." She sobbed as she clung onto him.

"Always and forever are a long time, my Dear." He whispered as he hugged her again pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbing at her face. "I trust you will soon meet a nice young man and fall in love. I suppose I should start planning your hand fasting now?" He chuckled a little and sensed her struggling for control again.

He dreaded the moment she would leave. The moment coming up all too soon.

"Never." She looked up at him with a tearful smile and ultimate devotion written in her expression. "There will never be another man in my life, Severus."

"Never say never Child.. " He chuckled as he felt her stiffen and start to pull away at the hated nickname. He tightened his hold on her and repented his words. "Sorry, I mean.. Rebecca."

She gazed up at him with an even more determined expression making his heart lurch at the look in her eyes.

"NEVER!"

Gods.. she can be stubborn.

He kissed her once more, discreetly, on her cheek and sent her on her way back to her own room to finish getting ready. The beautiful necklace gleaming in her hand.

"I will see you on the pitch field, Becca.. " He smiled as she retreated and he sat down once more pulling the paper from the cushion and tried to read.

His mind didn't want to because it was in a mass of confusion.

~~~

Rebecca returned to her room wiping the sniffles away with his handkerchief. She had said never and she had meant it. She knew that no one would ever be able to fill Severus shoes in her life. She had tried. Gods knows she had tried. She had several boyfriends over the last few years but not one of them stood up to Severus's standards.

Now, she knew that she had unusually high standards, for Severus was one man that no one would ever be able to equal up to in her mind. When she had discovered that she loved him in more than a fatherly way, it was such a shock to her that she hid it from herself as well as him. She had hoped that it was just an infatuation and that it would end soon. But it didn't, the stupid feeling just continued to grow without any form of encouragement.

She hoped that Severus had no idea. She never let on to that little tidbit of fact. Never gave him any idea that her feelings towards him had changed in the slightest. She didn't dare, knowing Severus, she would have been shipped off to another guardian without warning and without a backward glance.

That was the kind of man he was, and that was why she loved him so much.

She sighed and looked at the locket he had given her. Her fingers traced the rose with care. He gave her this, the entwined stems had to mean something and the words inside. Did he only love her as a daughter? Or.. could it. . someday.. possibly.. turn into something more?

She smiled slightly, allowing her thoughts to drift as she started to pin her hair up.

Only time will tell.

~~~

"Rebecca Robinson."

Albus Dumbledore called out and winked over to Severus as she rose from her chair, elegant and refined. The necklace gleaming from her throat. The youthful schoolgirl's clothing was now replaced by more adult and flattering attire underneath the blue and gold robe. No more neckties to spoil the effect of the locket.

Severus sat on the stage and watched with proud eyes as his ward took the stage to receive her diploma, his grin radiating his pride as she first stopped before Albus to accept her diploma then paused in front of his chair, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. He didn't mind the intimacy now, he had gotten used to the fact that the students knew that he cared for another. They didn't bother him anymore. He still didn't show extreme favoritism, but he didn't hold back his praise any more.

He felt his pulse quicken as he felt her breath in his ear.

"Never." She renewed with a smile and wink before she made her way back to her chair.

Severus's eyes followed her until Albus cleared his throat and called the next name on the list. In a side whisper, Severus heard the headmaster's comment.

"She's not a child anymore.. is she Severus."

It wasn't a question but more of a statement of fact. It was then that an old thought merged with a new one.

A light of revelation.

'She wasn't his ward any longer.'

"Indeed." Was the only word he spoke, because he didn't dare to speak more. His throat had tightened up.

Now.. Now she will be gone, out of his life, possibly forever. He felt a cold chill run down his spine.

Forever.

Almost as long as.Never.

A/Ns and Acknowledgements

Torny: Its not like I take what she did to heart with that livejournal post, I mean she only posted to the first chapter, so obviously she didn't even read it, I just figured that she was just a very unhappy person. So.. no harm, no foul. But thank you for defending my story. It made me feel like someone out there like it.

LioraJean: Interesting that you posted this link after only the first chapter. Why don't you try to read the whole thing before you attack. Thanks anyway.

Hawaii5063: Okay, I'll work on that. Glad you are enjoying what I have so far.

Kenomee: Thank you for your kind words. I was trying to give him a fatherly side. But now.I need to work on another side, a side I'm better at writing. I hope you continue to read and are not put off by the twist I'm adding in now. Let me know if you do or do not like it. Thanks again.

Fancy: Grandchildren? Uh.. better keep on reading.. dear.. LOL.

Cat: angst and romance coming up. I hope you like what's going to happen in the future. LOL.. and I doubt she would give me authorization for something like that.but thanks for the vote of confidence.

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PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW.. I'M BEGGIN YA'