Author's Note: Ok, I heard you already. Hope you like the latest update. My goodness, you all waited three years for the Order of the Phoenix to come out. Can't you wait a few weeks for the next chapter. Seriously, I am sorry it took so long to update. I'll try not to let it happen again. I hope this latest update satisfies everyone and if it doesn't, well there's not a whole lot I can do about it now, is there? Happy Reading!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 17

Harry was storming through the halls of Hogwarts in such a fury he wasn't looking where he was going. And when the inevitable happened and he ran headlong into someone, he didn't even have the good fortune to run into some baby faced first year.

Snape had also been storming through the halls, intent on finding his daughter at once. When he and Harry collided, and he was confronted with the person he was blaming everything on, he lost what little control he had desperately been trying to maintain.

"Potter," he barked.

Not in the mood to deal with Snape at the moment, Harry tried to move around him. "Excuse me, sir," he mumbled.

Snape snaked his hand out and gripped Harry's forearm.

"Get off of me," shouted Harry; somewhat surprised that Snape had grabbed him.

"Hear me now, Potter," said Snape lowly. "I will see you expelled from this school if it is the last thing I do."

Harry pulled free from Snape's grasp. "I'd love to see you try," he said back, narrowing his eyes.

Snape stood over Harry, staring down at him with cold fury. Harry matched his stare, unblinking. "Do not test me, Potter."

"Wouldn't dream of it, sir," said Harry sarcastically.

"I have warned you before," continued Snape, ignoring Harry. "But you did not listen. Now I am telling you for the last time. Stay away from Ann."

"That won't be a problem, sir," said Harry. "I wouldn't speak to Ann again if she were the last person on earth."

Snape regarded him questioningly. He wondered what had caused this sudden change of attitude from Potter, but he wouldn't ask for all the Galleons in the world.

Fortunately, Harry was only too eager to enlighten Snape on his daughter's true nature.

"You should be very proud of Ann, you know," continued Harry in a hollow sort of voice. "She's decided to follow in her old man's footsteps."

Snape remained quiet.

"What? Now you have nothing to say? You were all too eager to blame me for everything that's happened a few days ago. Just think of the points you'll score with your Lord and Master when Ann joins up. It'll be a father/daughter team."

"Shut up, Potter," hissed Snape glancing around the deserted hallway.

Harry continued, almost smiling. "I wonder what Dumbledore would think about having two Death Eaters parading around the castle?"

"I said shut up, Potter," said Snape pulling out his wand.

Instantly Harry had also pulled out his wand.

"Go ahead, Potter. Attacking a professor is a sure way to get your wand snapped in two."

Harry stared into Snape's icy gaze determined not to be the first to flinch.

"Go ahead, Potter," repeated Snape, clearly enjoying the moment. "Just give me a reason."

"Severus, Harry!"

The two jumped slightly at the loud voice and turned to see Lupin striding toward them. He stood between their outstretched wands. "Put those away right now," he commanded.

Neither Snape nor Harry lowered his wand.

"I said put them away," repeated Lupin more forcefully.

With one last cold stare, Harry slowly lowered his wand and Snape did the same.

"Now what is going on?" Asked Lupin.

"Stay out of it, Lupin," spat Snape.

Harry smirked and Lupin looked at him questioningly.

"I was just telling Professor Snape about Ann's newest little hobby. He doesn't seem to be taking it too well."

Snape moved toward Harry menacingly, but Lupin put a hand against his chest and stopped him. "You're not helping, Harry," said Lupin wearily.

"Who says I'm trying to," said Harry coldly.

"Harry, I know you're upset. I know that she hurt you, but..."

"Hurt me," spat Harry. "She didn't hurt me. She's nothing but a lying Slytherin."

"Harry," said Lupin sharply. "Enough."

"It will never be enough," snapped Harry.

"Harry, you have to try to look past your anger. Ann needs all of our help now. You have to understand why she did the things she did. You of all people know what it is to be lied to all of your life," said Lupin carefully avoiding Snape's gaze.

Harry said nothing in response, but Lupin could see the anger in his eyes ebbing away slightly.

Lupin turned to Snape. "Ann and I were looking for you earlier. She's gotten herself into a bit of trouble."

"I do not need you to tell me about my daughter, Lupin," said Snape angrily.

"Then you knew," said Lupin in a somewhat surprised manner. "How long have you known?"

"None of your business," said Snape, almost childishly.

"Really Severus, this is not the time to be proud. Your daughter needs help. She needs you to be honest with her. Completely honest. I'm not sure if she'll trust you until you are and right now..."

"I don't need advise from you on how to deal with my daughter," interrupted Snape testily.

"That's where you're wrong, Father."

The three men turned to see Ann staring at them. She approached the group slowly carefully avoiding Harry's penetrating stare as she gave Lupin a very small smile before settling her gaze on her father.

"Maybe we should go someplace private to talk," said Lupin quietly. Ann nodded and followed Lupin as he headed down the hall. Snape and Harry looked at each other, both eager for the other to see their complete contempt, before turning and following Ann and Lupin.

Inside an empty classroom Lupin and Ann sat immediately and waited for Snape and Harry to follow. Snape did so slowly, but Harry remained indecisive. "I don't think I should be here for this," he said.

"Please stay," said Ann quietly. "I want you to understand why I did what I did."

"I'm not sure that's possible," said Harry almost sadly.

"Harry," began Lupin patiently. "Give her the chance. Believe me, you'll regret it if you don't."

Harry face was impassive, but after a few seconds he sat.

Ann smiled gratefully at him, but he turned away from her. With a sigh, Ann turned her attention to her father.

"Ann," Snape began hesitatingly.

"Yes," said Ann, almost eagerly.

Snape's face registered sadness and love for the briefest of seconds before turning angry. "What were you thinking," he exclaimed.

Another angry outburst was not exactly what Ann had been expecting and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Have you any idea what you've done? Do you know the danger you've put yourself in?"

"What I've done?" Shouted Ann angrily. "I haven't done anything you haven't done."

"That's not the point," returned Snape loudly.

"It's the only point," ranted Ann. "Were you ever going to tell me what you really are? Have you any idea what it felt like to hear it from Draco Malfoy," said Ann finally losing control and letting the tears fall down her face.

Snape had never actually seen his little girl cry before and the sight of her swollen eyes and trembling mouth broke his heart. All the anger and fear he had felt he was so justified in feeling melted away. "Ann," he whispered. "Please," he brought his hand up to his mouth unable to continue. He wanted so desperately to reach out to her and comfort her, but he couldn't seem to make himself move. "I'm not what you think I am."

"I don't know what you are," cried Ann. "Because you've never been honest with me. I feel like our whole relationship is a lie."

"It's not," insisted Snape. "I felt I had to keep things in my past from you. I didn't want you to think less of me."

"And what about your present? When were you going to be honest about that? I thought you were a Death Eater. If Professor Lupin hadn't told me the truth, I would still think that."

Snape shot a look at Lupin. He had momentarily forgotten that he and Harry were in the room.

"I'm sorry," said Lupin sincerely. "I would have left that up to you, but at the time I felt it was necessary for her to know the complete truth."

Snape merely nodded.

Everybody stared silently at one another. "Perhaps Harry and I should wait outside," offered Lupin. "So the two of you can really talk."

Snape nodded and Ann looked uncertainly at Lupin. He gave her a reassuring smile before putting one hand on Harry's shoulder and leading him out of the room. "We'll be right out here if you need anything," he said more to Ann than Snape. She nodded appreciatively and Snape narrowed his eyes slightly, but said nothing.

Once alone, Snape looked down at his daughter, but wasn't sure where to begin. Fortunately for him, Ann knew exactly where to begin.

"If I'm ever going to trust you again," she began. "You have to be completely honest with me."

Snape nodded slowly, unsure if he was ready to expose himself to the last person on Earth who loved him.

"Will you tell me why you became a Death Eater?"

"It's very complicated, Ann," began Snape uncertainly.

Ann looked sadly in her father's eyes and was surprised to see something she had never seen there before, vulnerability. She pulled her seat closer to him until there knees were touching and took one of his hands lovingly. "I promise that nothing you tell me will change the fact that you're my father and I love you."

Snape's throat constricted and he looked away from her.

Ann placed her hand gently on his face and forced him to turn back to her. "Please Dad."

Snape's mouth turned up in a small smile at the word. Ann had never called him Dad before. She had always called him father. The same thing he had always called his own father, a man he hated more than almost any person he had ever known. The word father had always seemed more like a foul word than a loving endearment to him. Hearing her call him dad convinced him that nothing he said would make her turn from him.

"All right, Ann. I'll be honest with you."

"Thank you," she said smiling and maintaining her hold on his hand.

As Snape began relating the story of how he had gone from a student with a fascination and obsession with the Dark Arts to a full fledged Death Eater, Ann's hand never wavered. She maintained a firm hold sometimes squeezing it, encouraging him to continue.

"I was not very popular when I was a student at Hogwarts," he began. "I was a very sullen boy. My own home life was less than satisfactory. My mother died a year after I came to Hogwarts and left me to be raised by my father. He was a very demanding person. I never seemed to be able to live up to his expectations." Snape paused. "Your grandfather was a very dark wizard. I came into Hogwarts knowing more dark spells than some of the Professors."

"Was Grandfather a Death Eater?" Asked Ann.

"No," said Snape quickly. "During the time the Dark Lord came to power, he was very ill. He died at the height of the Dark Lord's power, but had he not, I have no doubt he would have been one of his most loyal followers. Your grandfather was also fanatical when it came to blood purity. He always made it very clear what he would do to me if I gave my affections to anyone who did not meet his approval."

"I hated my father," continued Snape. "So of course I did the one thing that I knew would enrage him. I fell in love with someone worse than a muggle-born. I fell in love with a blood traitor."

"My mother?" Questioned Ann.

Snape nodded. "Yes. Your mother didn't have an ounce of muggle blood in her, but unlike most pure bloods, she could have cared less."

Ann smiled.

"Your mother was one of the few people at Hogwarts who was kind to me. Slytherins tend to be an isolated group. We're a bit too arrogant to really get along with any of the other houses. Mary never seemed to have that problem though. I found it fascinating."

"Dad," interrupted Ann. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but how did you and mom end up together? When did you fall in love?"

Snape smiled sadly at his daughter. "That's very complicated, Ann."

"Please," she begged.

Snape reached out and stroked her hair. "Ok," he smiled. "Your mother, as I suspect you already know, was very much involved with Remus Lupin."

Ann nodded in agreement.

"I won't hide from you how much I disliked Lupin and his whole group. To this day I will never understand what she saw in that arrogant group of show offs. I did my best to show Mary what they all were, especially Potter, their little ring-leader."

Ann smiled. "Poor Harry never had a chance."

Snape frowned down at her.

"Sorry," she mumbled blushing. "Please continue."

"As I was saying. She and Lupin were a couple and then one day they weren't."

"Didn't you wonder why?" Asked Ann.

Snape shook his head. "I was so happy that she was no longer attached that I never questioned why." Snape got a far off look in his eye. "Perhaps if I had, I could have saved your mother a lot of heartache."

Ann looked at him in confusion, but Snape was lost in the memory of his first and only love.

"Our courtship was somewhat fast and about two months before graduation we got pregnant."

Ann gave a soft laugh and Snape smiled at her. "Surprised?"

"A bit," agreed Ann.

"At any rate, the logical thing to me seemed to be that we should be married immediately. I have to admit that your mother wasn't certain, but in the end I convinced her that we would be happy together." Snape's shoulders slumped. "I was very selfish. I only thought about myself."

"No," objected Ann.

"Ann," continued Snape seriously. "Your mother was not ready for marriage. At least not to me. She was still in love with Lupin. A few months into our marriage, Lupin came to see your mother. I overheard her tell him that she still loved him."

Snape looked away from his daughter. "Needless to say, I was beyond devastated. I was so angry at what I felt was your mother's betrayal that I did the one thing I knew would hurt her more than anything else. I took the Dark Mark. I realize now that I was the only one committing betrayal. I married your mother fully knowing that she had left part of her heart with Lupin. I told myself as long as she was mine, I could wait that out. It was very immature of me."

"Things went quickly downhill from there. Because of my new "duties," I was away from home a lot, when your mother really needed me. I nearly missed your birth. After you were born I began to realize the seriousness of what I had done. As time passed and the Dark Lord grew stronger I was asked to do things that to this day still haunt me. Eventually it became too much for me and I knew I wanted out. I went to Professor Dumbledore, who had always been kind and fair to me, and asked for his help. Unfortunately, before I could confess all I'd done to your mother, she found out about my secret life. I think it was the one thing she couldn't forgive. She asked me to leave and I didn't try to make her change her mind."

Ann's eyes were brimming with tears. Snape reached over and wiped them away gently. "In time," he continued. "She allowed me back into your life, thanks in no small part to Dumbledore, but Mary and I could never go back to what we had been."

"Oh Father," cried Ann.

"Please don't," said Snape quickly. "Don't call me that anymore."

Ann looked at him in confusion. "I don't understand."

"You called me Dad before," said Snape slowly. "I wish, that is I prefer," Snape paused and took a deep breath. "Father sounds so formal," he finished almost apologetically.

Before he quite knew what had happened, Ann had thrown herself into his arms and was squeezing him tightly. "I love you, Dad," she whispered in his ears. Snape was so shocked by the sudden show of emotion that he wasn't sure how to react. After several seconds he slowly wrapped his arms around his daughter and returned her warm embrace.

"I love you two, Ann."