The daughter of the Death Eaters.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting in the Griffindor common
room discussing their eventful DADA lesson from the previous day. They didn't
understand Lupin's comment about Faith being her 'father's daughter', and were
amazed at her audacity and insolence.
"Well, obviously she must be the daughter of someone he knows," said Hermione.
"Yea, but who? Who do we know that would allow their child to be so bold and
disrespectful?" asked Harry.
"I dunno, but we're going to be late for breakfast," said Ginny, standing up.
"I wonder what Will's doing," said Ron, as the rest of them stood, and headed for the
Hall. When they got there, Faith was sitting with Malfoy, and his friends, and they
were talking to her, but she appeared to be listening to a distant sound.
Pansy Parkinson could be heard telling someone that the girl had her own private
room, and that she was a stuck-up tart that was only interested in talking to the male
members of Slytherin.
Faith must have heard because she slowly turned and stood, facing Pansy. Her wand
was in her hand, and she advanced on her slowly. Pansy let out a terrified squeak, and
Faith smiled cruelly.
"I do not want to only talk to the male Slytherins, I just want to talk to someone who
has some level of intelligence. This tends to be more of the males, and the Slytherins
seem to have a greater understanding of life than others. You are nothing more than a
snivelling baby!" Faith raised her wand and opened her mouth. But before she could
curse Pansy into oblivion, as Harry was certain she would, McGonagell appeared.
"Miss Snape! What in the world are you doing? I think you need to remember where
you are! Just because you're mother encouraged you to curse people does not mean
that you can do it in this school! It is forbidden. You will get into a lot of trouble if
you do not follow our rules." She was furious, and the other students would have been
terrified if they hadn't have been in shock that Faith's surname was Snape. Even
Malfoy looked shocked.
Faith however did not stir. She did not seem even slightly affected by this outburst,
and she stared McGonagall.
"Miss Snape?" she asked, looking at her," do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Faith didn't speak.
McGonagall shook her head," Perhaps you will talk to your father then." She sent
Crabbe to get Snape. Snape appeared moments later. He looked calm, and
unconcerned, but his eyes betrayed him. They reflected his fury, and it was aimed at
Faith.
"What is going on?" he asked.
Faith turned her gaze to him, and McGonagall looked relieved.
"Don't look at me like that. It doesn't work," said Snape firmly.
Faith smiled sinisterly, "No. But it worked for my mum all through school though
didn't it?"
Snape glared at his daughter," My office now." He spoke calmly, but this time his
voice was trembling slightly from anger. Faith's smile increased and she shrugged,
"Whatever you say. Severus." She pronounced his name clearly, and deliberately, and
her cruel eyes appeared to be laughing at him. With that she left the Hall, and Snape
swept out behind her.
Harry and the others looked at each other in astonishment.
In Snape's office, Faith spun to face her father.
"How dare you. You have upset two of my colleagues already. While Lupin is no
great loss, we need to keep McGonagall on side. I am trying to protect you, and all I
get in return is disrespect," he snarled at her.
"So now parents try to help their children for a reward?" she asked in her cool, distant
voice, "besides, whose fault is it that I need protecting? I mean I know my mother was
partly to blame at the beginning, but you.well where should I start? You allowed a
baby to be branded by the most evil, and corrupt wizard of all times. You left that
baby with a woman that was incapable of caring for her, and a man that is a self-
obsessed maniac and longs for blood shed. And then, to add insult to injury, you
turned from Lord Voldemort, which placed your daughter in danger by association!
So tell me again, why should I show you some respect?"
"Don't say his name," hissed Snape.
"What idiot turns his back on the ultimate power when he cannot even voice the name
of a wizard? You aren't brave enough to beat Him, and you aren't good enough to be
respected," snarled Faith, losing her cool, distant tones, and adopting a fiercer, Snape-
like tone.
"I don't want to hear of any more incidents, because it will be your fault if you are
thrown from Hogwarts. Do you think that he will take you back? You're as good as
dead to him. And as for the Dark Lord, well, you can follow him as you please, but I
will not be blamed for any consequences. Get out." Snape's voice was low and
threatening.
"I don't know what she ever saw in you," said Faith, her cool tone back. Then she
spun and swept out of the room.
Snape sighed, and sank into his seat.
He stared at the beautiful child in her arms. An agreement had been reached. A
fair one, but he was unsure of one of the terms. Should a baby be branded as a
member of the most deadly wizard's followers? He didn't think so, but he tried to tell
himself that he didn't care, he hadn't until he'd seen her there, peaceful and sweet.
"Well?" asked Lizzie, impatiently," are we agreed? I'll keep her and give her a
middle name, if you leave and let me get on with my life? You can give her a first
name." This was said as if it was a treat, but what did he know about baby names?
"Severus? Look I have to know so that I can tell the Dark Lord her name. You're
messing my life up, and you need to know what you want before you can give me what
I want. You can leave, no strings attached, I swear. And in return, if you ever change
your mind about us, or the baby, then you can come back. That simple. You win,
either way."
She said it as if it was so simple, but to him it wasn't. He was having doubts about the
Dark Lord, as well as what he wanted from her. He was sure that she knew this, he
was also sure that she firmly believed that he would return. He wished he was so sure.
He nodded slowly, "Can I come back later with the name?" After all he didn't want
to upset the Dark Lord by not giving his daughter a name. Elizabeth Herlaiday
nodded, and with a slight nod of his head, Severus Snape disapparated with a loud
pop.
With a loud pop he reappeared in someone's living room. A beautiful muggle
girl walked in and nearly fainted in shock. She recovered herself, and smiled at him.
"I'm still not used to this magic lark," she laughed, nervously.
She was afraid, and it showed. She was unsure of his intentions. That mudblood of a
sister of hers had obviously been making her mouth go. To her credit, Gemma
motioned for him to sit down. He refused.
"You don't trust me," he said softly. It was a statement rather than a question. She
sighed," Severus, you said yourself that you don't know which side you're on."
He nodded.
"I have a daughter."
"Congratulations," her tone was distant as it always was when Lizzie was mentioned.
"I've agreed to the conditions, only I need a name by the end of today."
She thought he had come to gloat, he could see. She was so easy to read, so
vulnerable, he wanted to hold her, but fought the impulse. His mind wandered back to
Lizzie, and he felt vaguely confused.
"I want your help," he explained.
"To name her?" she clarified. He nodded.
"Maybe something that you will always relate to, so that she'll always seem part of
you."
He frowned, uncomprehending.
"Something you like. A flower, or something that means something beautiful.
Something that will remind you of both yourself and her, when you hear it."
He shook his head, it hurt. He didn't want to be a father; he was barely managing to
take care of himself. She understood. She held him close, she thought hard, then,
"How about Faith?"
He didn't reply, just held her tighter.
"Because that's what you need. A little Faith. Every time you need something to help
you then you can look at her, and it'll help you believe. That little girl is gonna need
Faith and you need it right now. What do you think?" He looked at her then. He
nodded, slowly.
"Thank you. I have to go."
"Severus?" she kept hold of him," what are you going to do? Go back to her and
Him?"
He shook his head, "I don't know." But he wouldn't look her in the eye. As he
disapparated, Gemma prayed that Severus would hold fast to Faith and see truth.
"Faith."
Lizzie looked at him in surprise.
"That's her name. Faith. And I agree to the conditions. You were right. I need to get
away and sort myself out."
He cut his hand and held it out to her. She cut her own, and they shook hands. They
had bound themselves to the contract; they could no longer go back on the agreement.
A blood contract was rarely, if ever, broken. And with that he was gone.
Lizzie smiled; she knew that he'd be back before long. Severus never strayed too far.
He was bound to her, even more so that they had a child. She looked at her child,
Faith Alixandria Snape, and smiled. This child was going to solve everything.
Snape was walking and didn't even realise where he was going until he got
there. He walked into the large room. A decision had been made, and although he was
still unsure about his life path, he knew where he had to start.
The great man looked at him. He had power beyond most, and Severus knew that he
had finally seen his truth.
"Professor Dumbledore, I'd like to take you up on your offer. I would like to become
a teacher, here at Hogwarts."
"Okay," smiled the great Albus Dumbledore, and he welcomed Severus to his new
home. Severus had made a decision and for now at least, he knew that it was the right
one. Dumbledore was a man that could be trusted, and he was about to trust entirely
in Severus. Something that both alarmed and warmed Severus.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting in the Griffindor common
room discussing their eventful DADA lesson from the previous day. They didn't
understand Lupin's comment about Faith being her 'father's daughter', and were
amazed at her audacity and insolence.
"Well, obviously she must be the daughter of someone he knows," said Hermione.
"Yea, but who? Who do we know that would allow their child to be so bold and
disrespectful?" asked Harry.
"I dunno, but we're going to be late for breakfast," said Ginny, standing up.
"I wonder what Will's doing," said Ron, as the rest of them stood, and headed for the
Hall. When they got there, Faith was sitting with Malfoy, and his friends, and they
were talking to her, but she appeared to be listening to a distant sound.
Pansy Parkinson could be heard telling someone that the girl had her own private
room, and that she was a stuck-up tart that was only interested in talking to the male
members of Slytherin.
Faith must have heard because she slowly turned and stood, facing Pansy. Her wand
was in her hand, and she advanced on her slowly. Pansy let out a terrified squeak, and
Faith smiled cruelly.
"I do not want to only talk to the male Slytherins, I just want to talk to someone who
has some level of intelligence. This tends to be more of the males, and the Slytherins
seem to have a greater understanding of life than others. You are nothing more than a
snivelling baby!" Faith raised her wand and opened her mouth. But before she could
curse Pansy into oblivion, as Harry was certain she would, McGonagell appeared.
"Miss Snape! What in the world are you doing? I think you need to remember where
you are! Just because you're mother encouraged you to curse people does not mean
that you can do it in this school! It is forbidden. You will get into a lot of trouble if
you do not follow our rules." She was furious, and the other students would have been
terrified if they hadn't have been in shock that Faith's surname was Snape. Even
Malfoy looked shocked.
Faith however did not stir. She did not seem even slightly affected by this outburst,
and she stared McGonagall.
"Miss Snape?" she asked, looking at her," do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Faith didn't speak.
McGonagall shook her head," Perhaps you will talk to your father then." She sent
Crabbe to get Snape. Snape appeared moments later. He looked calm, and
unconcerned, but his eyes betrayed him. They reflected his fury, and it was aimed at
Faith.
"What is going on?" he asked.
Faith turned her gaze to him, and McGonagall looked relieved.
"Don't look at me like that. It doesn't work," said Snape firmly.
Faith smiled sinisterly, "No. But it worked for my mum all through school though
didn't it?"
Snape glared at his daughter," My office now." He spoke calmly, but this time his
voice was trembling slightly from anger. Faith's smile increased and she shrugged,
"Whatever you say. Severus." She pronounced his name clearly, and deliberately, and
her cruel eyes appeared to be laughing at him. With that she left the Hall, and Snape
swept out behind her.
Harry and the others looked at each other in astonishment.
In Snape's office, Faith spun to face her father.
"How dare you. You have upset two of my colleagues already. While Lupin is no
great loss, we need to keep McGonagall on side. I am trying to protect you, and all I
get in return is disrespect," he snarled at her.
"So now parents try to help their children for a reward?" she asked in her cool, distant
voice, "besides, whose fault is it that I need protecting? I mean I know my mother was
partly to blame at the beginning, but you.well where should I start? You allowed a
baby to be branded by the most evil, and corrupt wizard of all times. You left that
baby with a woman that was incapable of caring for her, and a man that is a self-
obsessed maniac and longs for blood shed. And then, to add insult to injury, you
turned from Lord Voldemort, which placed your daughter in danger by association!
So tell me again, why should I show you some respect?"
"Don't say his name," hissed Snape.
"What idiot turns his back on the ultimate power when he cannot even voice the name
of a wizard? You aren't brave enough to beat Him, and you aren't good enough to be
respected," snarled Faith, losing her cool, distant tones, and adopting a fiercer, Snape-
like tone.
"I don't want to hear of any more incidents, because it will be your fault if you are
thrown from Hogwarts. Do you think that he will take you back? You're as good as
dead to him. And as for the Dark Lord, well, you can follow him as you please, but I
will not be blamed for any consequences. Get out." Snape's voice was low and
threatening.
"I don't know what she ever saw in you," said Faith, her cool tone back. Then she
spun and swept out of the room.
Snape sighed, and sank into his seat.
He stared at the beautiful child in her arms. An agreement had been reached. A
fair one, but he was unsure of one of the terms. Should a baby be branded as a
member of the most deadly wizard's followers? He didn't think so, but he tried to tell
himself that he didn't care, he hadn't until he'd seen her there, peaceful and sweet.
"Well?" asked Lizzie, impatiently," are we agreed? I'll keep her and give her a
middle name, if you leave and let me get on with my life? You can give her a first
name." This was said as if it was a treat, but what did he know about baby names?
"Severus? Look I have to know so that I can tell the Dark Lord her name. You're
messing my life up, and you need to know what you want before you can give me what
I want. You can leave, no strings attached, I swear. And in return, if you ever change
your mind about us, or the baby, then you can come back. That simple. You win,
either way."
She said it as if it was so simple, but to him it wasn't. He was having doubts about the
Dark Lord, as well as what he wanted from her. He was sure that she knew this, he
was also sure that she firmly believed that he would return. He wished he was so sure.
He nodded slowly, "Can I come back later with the name?" After all he didn't want
to upset the Dark Lord by not giving his daughter a name. Elizabeth Herlaiday
nodded, and with a slight nod of his head, Severus Snape disapparated with a loud
pop.
With a loud pop he reappeared in someone's living room. A beautiful muggle
girl walked in and nearly fainted in shock. She recovered herself, and smiled at him.
"I'm still not used to this magic lark," she laughed, nervously.
She was afraid, and it showed. She was unsure of his intentions. That mudblood of a
sister of hers had obviously been making her mouth go. To her credit, Gemma
motioned for him to sit down. He refused.
"You don't trust me," he said softly. It was a statement rather than a question. She
sighed," Severus, you said yourself that you don't know which side you're on."
He nodded.
"I have a daughter."
"Congratulations," her tone was distant as it always was when Lizzie was mentioned.
"I've agreed to the conditions, only I need a name by the end of today."
She thought he had come to gloat, he could see. She was so easy to read, so
vulnerable, he wanted to hold her, but fought the impulse. His mind wandered back to
Lizzie, and he felt vaguely confused.
"I want your help," he explained.
"To name her?" she clarified. He nodded.
"Maybe something that you will always relate to, so that she'll always seem part of
you."
He frowned, uncomprehending.
"Something you like. A flower, or something that means something beautiful.
Something that will remind you of both yourself and her, when you hear it."
He shook his head, it hurt. He didn't want to be a father; he was barely managing to
take care of himself. She understood. She held him close, she thought hard, then,
"How about Faith?"
He didn't reply, just held her tighter.
"Because that's what you need. A little Faith. Every time you need something to help
you then you can look at her, and it'll help you believe. That little girl is gonna need
Faith and you need it right now. What do you think?" He looked at her then. He
nodded, slowly.
"Thank you. I have to go."
"Severus?" she kept hold of him," what are you going to do? Go back to her and
Him?"
He shook his head, "I don't know." But he wouldn't look her in the eye. As he
disapparated, Gemma prayed that Severus would hold fast to Faith and see truth.
"Faith."
Lizzie looked at him in surprise.
"That's her name. Faith. And I agree to the conditions. You were right. I need to get
away and sort myself out."
He cut his hand and held it out to her. She cut her own, and they shook hands. They
had bound themselves to the contract; they could no longer go back on the agreement.
A blood contract was rarely, if ever, broken. And with that he was gone.
Lizzie smiled; she knew that he'd be back before long. Severus never strayed too far.
He was bound to her, even more so that they had a child. She looked at her child,
Faith Alixandria Snape, and smiled. This child was going to solve everything.
Snape was walking and didn't even realise where he was going until he got
there. He walked into the large room. A decision had been made, and although he was
still unsure about his life path, he knew where he had to start.
The great man looked at him. He had power beyond most, and Severus knew that he
had finally seen his truth.
"Professor Dumbledore, I'd like to take you up on your offer. I would like to become
a teacher, here at Hogwarts."
"Okay," smiled the great Albus Dumbledore, and he welcomed Severus to his new
home. Severus had made a decision and for now at least, he knew that it was the right
one. Dumbledore was a man that could be trusted, and he was about to trust entirely
in Severus. Something that both alarmed and warmed Severus.