"You what?!" shrieked Sarah in anger.

"I set it up with Dumbledore that you can spend a month with your father," said Samantha as she threw Sarah her suitcase. Sarah attempted to catch it, but fell backwards onto her bed. Her mother held in a giggle, and Sarah lay there on her back with a suitcase on her chest. She breathed out harshly and lay there as her mother continued to place things into her suitcase.

"But dad hates me," she said after a minute.

"Well, he can just deal with it. Besides, it's about time you two got together,"

"Mom, I am not going to spend time with a father who can't stand the sight of me. It would be a living hell!"

"It won't. Now pack up. I'm sending you there tomorrow."

"But-"

"No but's. Besides, I think it will be good for you." Sarah scowled at her and waited for her mother to leave. Samantha stood outside of the bedroom door and laughed to herself. "Oh, Severus, she grows more like you everyday."

"This is not fair!" grumbled Sarah as she fell backwards on her bed again (without a suitcase this time). She knew as well as anyone that her dad would never accept her. She was also not looking forward to being with magic people when she was a muggle. The last thing she needed was a bunch of show-off's rubbing it in. "Dad better watch out or I'll give him a run for his money," she mumbled. From downstairs she heard her mother calling her.

"SARAH! I'M GOING TO THE STORE. I'LL BE BACK IN A LITTLE WHILE."

"OKAY, MOM." shouted Sarah. She tumbled off her bed, and went around her room, gathering things she'd need. A month was a long time. She made sure all the clothing she picked was black, seeing it as a way of showing him how angry with him she was. She also threw in all black cosmetics and gothic jewelry to freak him out. That was one skill she was proud to have accomplished. "There," she said to herself, satisfied. Suddenly the door opened downstairs, and a man's voice could be heard.

"Samantha, you old bitch! Get your ass down here!"

Sarah gasped. She knew that voice too well. It belonged to a man named Bud. He was her mother's boyfriend, almost always drunk and on the rage. He was very abusive, and always beat her. Her mother never knew about it since Sarah was more afraid of getting herself killed or in the hospital if she told. She left her room quietly and went downstairs.

"Mom's not here, Bud." She said softly. Bud turned and looked at her. He was wearing a stained white t-shirt and blue jeans and reaked of beer. He was very muscular and had a large head on his shoulders, a poorly shaved beard and green blue eyes that always made her wince.

"Well, where the hell is she?" Sarah knew she couldn't tell him, or he may try to find her.

"I don't know." she lied.

"Don't give me that crap! I know she must've told you where she was. WHERE IS SHE!"

"I already told you I don't know!" she shouted. He struck her violently across the face.

"DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE ON ME!" Sarah sneered at him and pointed to the door.

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" she screamed. "OR I'LL CALL THE POLICE!" Bud stiffened and then turned.

"Fine," he said. "I'll go. I heard you're going for a month, and I'm glad. The place will be a lot better without you. But you just remember something, if you tell that bum ass dad of yours about me, I'll kill you and your mother and him." With that he left.

"Go ahead and get my dad then! I'm not stopping you, bastard," she growled. "Dad had better not hit me." Not that it should be a problem. After all, her father had ignored her for seventeen years strait. What could possibly change in a month? She walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge. She pulled out a Mt. Dew and closed the door. Suddenly a green fire lept in the fire place and an all too familiar greasey haired, hooknosed man's head appeared in the fire.

Snape stared at the teen staring back at him and almost thought it was a mirror. She looked a lot like him when he was that age, only a lot thinner. A little too thin as a matter of fact, but he paid it no heed. Her black eyes showed the same hurt and anger his had at that age. She sneered at him and opened her soda can.

"What do you want?" she asked in a somewhat angry tone.

"Is your mother there?" he asked cooly.

"She's out. Why? Remembered something mean you forgot to say about me this morning?" Snape sighed. She was just like him.

"No. If I did I would just tell it to your face." Sarah made a face like she was holding back tears.

"Get the hell out of here!" she said in a dangerous tone. Snape shook his head.

"Didn't your parents ever teach you to respect your elders?"

"Yeah, but I only respect those who respect me so you're screwed."

"Fair enough. When can I talk to your mother?"

"Never. Now go."

"Sarah, don't make me come over there or I'll..."

"You'll what? You have no authority over me. After all, I'm not your daughter." Snape groaned.

"This is going to be a long month."

"Hey, you think I'm looking forward to it? And speaking of which, I need to finish packing. Mom will be home in about an hour. You can try again then."

"Alright, that's all I wanted to know. Bye."

"Yeah, good riddance." Sarah didn't bother to see if he left. She went back upstairs and waited. She went to the medicine cabinet and pulled out every bottle of pain killers she could find. One by one she put two pills from each into a small Ziplock bag and then hid them cleverly in her suitcase. "Just incase I can't take it anymore," she muttered to herself.

Samantha never found out about the conversation. All she knew was that when she came home, Sarah screamed out that she was not going no matter what. Sarah lost that fight though because the next day, she found herself boarding the Hogwarts express.

"Alright," said Samantha, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Good luck. And write to me. I'm sure they still have the owlery."

"The what?" asked Sarah. There was a loud whistle announcing five minutes till departure.

"Never mind. Take care."

"Alright," grumbled Sarah. "See you, if I don't kill myself first," she added very lightly under her breath. Samantha didn't hear the last part but simply waved goodbye. Sarah was a little excited about having the whole train to herself. But once she got on, she curled up in one of the seats, and cried. She didn't want to go, but part of her did want to meet her dad. Growing up for so long without him made her wish that she would meet him sometimes, even though she claimed to hate him at the moment. She felt so torn.

Sarah soon fell asleep and did not wake until she was there. She sat up and stared out the window at the starry night. It was so beautiful, and for a very brief moment she completely forgot about what was going to happen. As she stepped into the hallway, the reminder got knocked into her when she tripped on her bootlace and fell in the hall. Thoroughly embarrased, she stood up and hurried past the conductor, who was snickering into his hand. She climbed off the train and looked around, not seeing anyone, except for a very tall man with wild bushy hair and a bushy beard. She couldn't help but stare for a moment, and then shrug and walk to him.

"Are you Sarah?" he asked.

"Uh... yeah. That's me." The man smiled, his eyes twinkling at her.

"I shoulda known. You look just like yer father."

"Ouch that hurt," she whispered to herself.

"Well, follow me." He led her away until they were standing in front of the school. Sarah stared at him questioningly once they were outside of it. It was a beat up, abandoned shack about ready to fall apart. Something wierd was going on. "By the way, my name's Hagrid. Yer father doesn't like me much though, I'm afraid."

"Then I know we'll get along great," said Sarah cooly, but not disrespectfully. Hagrid laughed.

"Not the type to take after yer father, eh?" he asked.

"No. I don't leave the people that need me most... WHOA!" What had been a shack with a 'Do Not Enter' sign on it, suddenly changed to a giant castle. Sarah stood there, her jaw hitting the ground.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." said Hagrid in a happy tone.