-Thanks Mystic Witch for reviewing. I hope this chapter is long enough for you, and I will try to make them all the next ones longer too.

-Don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 3

Snape woke up early the next morning. He had thought that Voldemort would call all the Death Eaters to him, but it didn't happen. Last night, after he had led Katlyin to her room, Snape informed all the House Elves of the death of his father, and that they would know serve him. None of the House Elves seemed to mind the change of masters. Afterwards Severus went to bed and enjoyed the best nights sleep that he had gotten in a long time.

After waking up Severus checked on Katlyin. Snape had put her in a room two doors down from his. His mother had decorated the room. There was a window with a window seat, a canopy bed, and some old antique furniture. Snape thought that this room fitted Katlyin very well. Katlyin was still sleeping so Severus went down to the library. The library had bookcases on every wall and they reached up to the ceiling. He instructed one of the House Elves to lead Katlyin to him when she woke. Severus planned to do some research into ancient spells that would protect the manor. Not that his father didn't put up many in his own lifetime. There had to be more enchantments surrounding Snape Manor then any other Wizirding place, except for Hogwarts probably. For instance in the hallway was a mirror that should anyone's approach. There was also a none appiration zone around the Snape Manor. After Snape had learned to apparate he had hated the none appirition zone, but now he was thankful for it's protection, and for the isolation it gave him.

Severus called a House Elf to him and asked it about a book that would have ancient spells of concealment and protection. The House Elf bowed clumsily and darted away, but then stopped and turned back.

"Master Snape," it began in a squeaky voice, "may I use magic to get it sure? What Spots means to say is that the book is high up, and Spots does not like heights."

"Yes that's all right." Snape replied. The House Elf bowed deeply, touching it's nose to the ground. "Thank-you master." Spots said respectfully and then snapped his fingers. An old, thick book came flying down from the top of one of the bookcases. Snape could tell that it hadn't been looked at in a long time. Severus took it when it came to a stop in front of him and sat down in one of the chairs. He waved for the House Elf to leave. The book was heavy and smelled like dust. Snape sat back, opened the book, and buried his crooked nose into it desperate to learn anything that may allow him to let Katlyin and the rest of the Seers to have a place of refugee.

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Katlyin felt the sun streaming in on her face. She didn't want to wake up, because she feared that what she thought was real would just be a dream. After being ambushed by Death Eaters Katlyin thought that Shape had saved her from them, and even allowed her to come home with him. The he had lead her to the most amazing room she had ever laid eyes on, and she was considered royalty among the Seers. Katlyin's blood-line was the strongest among the Seers, and her ancestors had been the first Seers to exist. According to legend even if she were to marry a wizard their children, and descendents would still have the same abilities of the Seers. She had never tolled her father, mother, or older brother that she was in love with Severus. Ever since Katlyin laid eyes on him during their first year at Hogwarts she knew that he was the one. Of course Severus had no clue. He mostly kept to himself, and was often very mysterious.

Katlyin groaned. She did not want to wake up and face reality. Slowly she rolled over and threw back the covers, but when she opened her eyes she had to stop. It wasn't a dream. Then Katlyin slapped her hand on her forehead. She was such an idiot, and not a morning person. Katlyin laid back down on the bed and stared around at the room. It was even more beautiful in the daylight then it had been late last night. She hoped that her father hadn't come yet. Vernos, her father, had sent her with the others and told her that he would come get her when the time was right. Last night when she had told Severus that her father would come in the morning she had assumed that that's what her father meant, but maybe he hadn't.

A knock at the door made Katlyin jump. She got up, walked over to the door, and opened it up. A timid House Elf in a filthy ripped up sheet bowed to her. "Mes hopes that I didn't wake you up ma'ma." the House Elf said while looking down at her feet.

"No you didn't….. What's your name?" Katlyin asked.

"Zoey ma'ma."

"You don't have to call me ma'ma. Katlyin will do."

"Oh no ma'ma I mean lady? Miss?"

"Miss will do fine if you can't call me by my first name."

"Yes miss. Master Snape told us to bring you to him when you woke. He is in the library. It is this way." Zoey turned to lead her to the library, but Katlyin stopped her.

"Wait. Do you think I could take a bath first?"

"Mes thinks that will be okay. Mes also thinks that there might be some spare robes for you to wear instead of those ones."

"That would be great Zoey."

"Follows mis." the House Elf said and lead Zoey to the bathroom at the end of the hall. After making sure that she could get along fine Zoey rushed through the house to the library. Zoey hoped that the new Master Snape would not yell at her for disturbing him. She crept into the library slowly and then rushed to him. Zoey bowed low and then spoke. "Master Snape mes sorry for disturbing you."

Snape jumped at the sound of the House Elf. He had been so absorbed in the book that he hadn't even heard it come in. "What is it?" he asked a little harshly.

"The miss has awoken and wanted to take a bath before coming down."

"That's all right." Snape said. He had forgotten how much Katlyin had hated mornings. Often he had seen Lilly dragging her down the stairs and into the Great Hall for breakfast. More often then not Katlyin had looked like she had just gotten up and thrown some robes on. Snape gave a real half-grin.

"Is it alright if mes gives her some clean robes as well."

"Yes that's all right." Snape said and dismissed the House Elf. Before any other memories could surface Snape buried himself back in the book.

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After taking a bath Katlyin felt much better, and more awake. One of the House Elves had laid out some clean robes for her to wear. Katlyin looked at them and realized that they must have belonged to Severus's mother. She hoped that they wouldn't bring back said memories, but there was nothing else for her to wear as the House Elves cleaned hers. So Katlyin put them on. There were not black like the ones she had been wearing, but a deep-midnight blue. Katlyin thought that they brought out her eyes, and blended well with her hair.

Katlyin left the bathroom and walked down the hall, but she had no idea on where to go. She knew that the house was large, and she could easily get lost but lucky for her there were also a lot of House Elves.

"This way miss to the library." a House Elf said behind her.

"Thank-you." Katlyin said as she followed the House Elf. She hated that way wizards treated and dressed House Elves. Drosen Snape must have been a hard Master to please judging by the way he had treated his son. Severus often had tolled him of his misfortunes with his father, but that did not mean things had to change. Perhaps she could talk him into letting her design a uniform like the House Elves had at Hogwarts.

"Her you are miss." the House Elf said, bringing her back to reality.

"Thank-you." Katlyin said to the bowing House Elf, and walked into the library. Severus was sitting in a chair with his long, croaked noise buried in a book. Katlyin laughed, but didn't know for what reason exactly.

Severus looked up and smiled at her. "Old habits die hard I see."

"And what do you mean by that?" Katlyin said with her hands on her hips glaring at Severus. She knew exactly what he meant.

"Since your up now we can have some breakfast. No wait I think it would be more appropriate to say lunch." Severus said with a grin on his face that he reserved only for her.

Katlyin smiled at Severus. She had been worried that being a Death Eater may have hardened him, but Katlyin was proud to know that Severus was still there. "You're right Severus I'm starved. By the way, what are you reading?"

"It's a book full of ancient spells of concealment and protection."

"Why is that? Do you enjoy having me around that much?" Katlyin asked with a smile on her face. She knew that she had hit a sensitive spot with him. Severus didn't say anything, but lead her into a grand dinning room. Katlyin forgot about teasing Snape as she looked at the grand oak table with a magnificent chandelier. Snape Manor reminded Katlyin of a muggle church built in the gothic style, and it got more beautiful the more she saw of it. At the end of the table the House Elves had laid out a magnificent lunch for them. Severus even pulled out the chair for Katlyin. "Being very gentlemen like aren't we."

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Snape said to her in a very serious voice. The two of them kept at it for the rest of the day. After lunch Katlyin helped Severus in the library looking at books, but she also did manage to get Severus to allow her to create a uniform for the House Elves. Of course Katlyin would have made them anyways. She just couldn't deal with the House Elves running around in their filthy garments.

The day was perfect, but just before supper things changed. Around 5:00 the House Elves alerted Snape that a man was coming up the hill to Snape Manor. Severus told Katlyin to stay in the library while he went to see who was coming. He also made sure that his wand was tucked into his robes. The last thing he wanted was to be taken by surprise. Snape watched the yard and saw the man coming. He was wearing dark robes and had a hood covering his face. Snape griped his wand, but they man stopped. Snape could still see him out the window, and he watched closely as the man removed his hood.

Severus let out a sign of relief. The man was a Seer. He could tell by the crystal blue eyes. All Seers had unique blue eyes, and people could easily tell them apart, but Snape still had to be careful. It could be a wizard that took polyjuice potion. Snape walked to the door and stepped outside. "Who are you?" Severus called to the man.

"I am who you think I am. I am the husband of Katlyin Drays."

Behind Severus Katlyin peered around him. "Father!" she yelled, and ran toward the man.

"Wait Katlyin." Severus yelled afraid that she was going to get hurt, but the man simply gave her a hug. He then came up to Severus and put out his hand. "My name is Vernos, Katlyin's father. She has told me a lot about you." Snape shook his hand, but he was still worried.

Katlyin put her hand on Snape's shoulder. "It's all right Severus." Katlyin said. Hesitantly Snape led Vernos into the sitting room.

"I think you know that we have something to talk about." Vernos began as soon as he took a seat.

"Yes we….." Snape was cut off as he felt the familiar burn in his arm. One of the House Elves immediately appeared with his Death Eater cloak. Snape through it on, and quickly told the House Elves to take care of Vernos and Katlyin. He then disappeirated. Drosen Snape may have been a mean man, but he also smart. People could disappeirate from Snape Manor, but not appariate to it. Severus just hoped that Voldemort wasn't in a bad mood.