All right, I finished another chapter! I told you they'd get longer.
Thanks so much to No Name LOL, RandiWeasley, ImNh (just to let you know, I
don't really know if you're allowed to have a revised edition of your story
up while you still have the other one up, but I'm going to til someone tells me to stop!), Sarahamanda, and Anon(just to let you know, I tried to change the ending of ch.3, I really had no idea it would offend anyone, but I couldn't get the thing to work! I'll try again.) for reviewing. Ya'll are awesome. Same disclaimer as I've used before, in case anyone was in doubt. And now to the chapter, and Snape's demons. Hehe. Next chapter
will be the Sorting Hat for those of you who are curious!
CHAPTER NINE
Once he reached his office, Snape sat down at his desk and buried his head in his hands. It was all happening too quickly. He still couldn't believe Koraleigh was old enough to be beginning her first year. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Snape was supposed to be able to deal with Koraleigh's presence as soon as Koraleigh was old enough to announce it to Hogwarts, but it seemed that Koraleigh had matured faster then he had.
There was a knock at the door. Snape quickly sat up, regaining his composure. "Come on." he called. With a soft creak, Minerva entered.
"Yes?" he asked coldly.
"I wanted to speak to you about Harry Potter. It has come to my attention that Mr. Potter wishes to become an Auror after Hogwarts, but in order to even be considered for training, he must have his NEWTs in Potions. He did receive an E, after all. I allow E's into my NEWT class."
"Your point being?" asked Snape.
"You know exactly what my point is, Severus."
Snape regarded her a moment, expressionless. He was about to deny her request with some biting remark, but suddenly his conversation with his wife the night before flashed before him and he sighed to himself.
"All right." he finally muttered.
"Harry deserves the chance to...what did you say?"
"I said all right." repeated Snape with a glare. "Need I make myself plainer?"
"May I ask what prompted this new change of heart?" asked McGonagall, looking completely befuddled.
"Being that you already did, it's simply because I was reminded recently that a child should not be held responsible for the sins of the father."
McGonagall stared at him, slightly unnerving him, though Snape did not show it, of course.
"And where would you have been reminded of this?"
Snape seriously considered telling her that he had already answered the permitted number of questions per day, or something to that effect with a snarl to make it more effective, but then decided that he might as well start shocking people now.
"I was conversing with my wife last night about our eldest daughter starting school today and she told me that I shouldn't do to other students what I didn't want them to do to my own child."
Minerva opened her mouth and then closed it several times. It was quite humorous to Snape, though he refrained from making a comment.
"Your...daughter?" she finally managed to gasp out.
"Yes." replied Snape dryly. "Her name is Koraleigh."
"But...why wasn't I informed? I send out all the first year notices!"
"I have no idea why you weren't informed other then I suspect Professor Dumbledore of respecting what he believed I might want. As for Koraleigh's letter, it was sent directly from Albus. Any more questions?" Snape accompanied that last statement with a scowl clearly discouraging the prospect.
But McGonagall was not so easily intimidated as the students. "Who is your wife? Do I know her?"
Snape was getting extremely tired of this questioning. "You would know her as Ailey Lavesa. She was in Ravenclaw." he replied shortly. "Now, if you don't mind, I have things to do."
"Oh, I remember little Ailey! She was such a fun student!" She paused and looked at the extremely annoyed face of Professor Snape. She made like she was about to add something else, but thought better of it, and left.
Snape sank back into his chair. He could just hear Minerva's unspoken comment. 'How did you two end up together?'
Snape entered the staff room just as the before school staff meeting was scheduled to begin so he wouldn't have to speak to anyone. Minerva had no doubt told everyone about Snape's now uncovered life. He scowled at anyone who dared look in his direction and chose a seat in the far corner.
Dumbledore walked in, a smile on his face, as he clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention. "Welcome, everyone, to the new school year!" There was a bit of scattered applause. Snape, as usual, refused to partake in it.
"It is with a bit of concern that I stand before you. As all of you well know, Lord Voldemort has risen. Hogwarts is well warded against any attacks; we need not fear that. My prevailing concern is the students. Many of them have not believed that Lord Voldemort has indeed risen until very recently and may be somewhat, excitable. We need to take care of this as calmly and efficiently as possible. It is mostly the Heads of Houses who will deal with this sort of thing, though I expect all of us will be called upon sometime during the school year to assist with this sort of thing."
Snape doubted much that he would deal with this. More then likely, students would come to him wanting to be reassured that the Death Eaters were still all right.
"Next, I have the pleasure to introduce to you, Professor Hannalore Jekings, who will be taking the vacated Defense position. I trust she will do a better job then her predecessor."
There was much more clapping and even scattered cheering. Snape even found himself putting his hands together a few times, half-heartedly. Though he had once again been turned down for the DADA job, he was extremely glad that foul Umbridge woman was gone. The new teacher was tall, with brown curly hair. She appeared to be a bit older then Snape and looked to be an essentially good teacher. 'You could tell a lot from one's appearance,' Snape conceded. He wondered where Dumbledore had found this one. He had thought there weren't anymore decent teachers around.
Snape reclined back, lost in his own thoughts as Professor Dumbledore plowed through other meaningless tidbits of information, but was abruptly brought back to reality when Dumbledore mentioned the subject he was most touchy about.
"I have the privilege to share with you the fact that we, for the first time in several hundred years, have a professor's child attending Hogwarts!" Most of the staff looked around, bewildered, trying to figure out who it was that had children. "Professor Snape's daughter, Koraleigh, will be joining us this year as a First Year!"
Snape gazed out, expressionless, refusing to meet anyone's questioning eye. He was fuming at Dumbledore for announcing the matter in this fashion. True, it could not be kept a secret anymore, but how dare he tell everyone!
With a start, Snape realized the staff room had emptied except for himself and Dumbledore.
"Severus," said Dumbledore, his tone solemn but his eyes twinkling, "I know that was not the manner that you wished me to tell everyone about Koraleigh, but really, don't you think 12 years is long enough to keep a secret?"
Snape said nothing.
"In any case, it is time for the arrival of the students. We must go now."
Snape tried to calm his suddenly rapid heartbeat as he followed Dumbledore to the Great Hall.
up while you still have the other one up, but I'm going to til someone tells me to stop!), Sarahamanda, and Anon(just to let you know, I tried to change the ending of ch.3, I really had no idea it would offend anyone, but I couldn't get the thing to work! I'll try again.) for reviewing. Ya'll are awesome. Same disclaimer as I've used before, in case anyone was in doubt. And now to the chapter, and Snape's demons. Hehe. Next chapter
will be the Sorting Hat for those of you who are curious!
CHAPTER NINE
Once he reached his office, Snape sat down at his desk and buried his head in his hands. It was all happening too quickly. He still couldn't believe Koraleigh was old enough to be beginning her first year. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Snape was supposed to be able to deal with Koraleigh's presence as soon as Koraleigh was old enough to announce it to Hogwarts, but it seemed that Koraleigh had matured faster then he had.
There was a knock at the door. Snape quickly sat up, regaining his composure. "Come on." he called. With a soft creak, Minerva entered.
"Yes?" he asked coldly.
"I wanted to speak to you about Harry Potter. It has come to my attention that Mr. Potter wishes to become an Auror after Hogwarts, but in order to even be considered for training, he must have his NEWTs in Potions. He did receive an E, after all. I allow E's into my NEWT class."
"Your point being?" asked Snape.
"You know exactly what my point is, Severus."
Snape regarded her a moment, expressionless. He was about to deny her request with some biting remark, but suddenly his conversation with his wife the night before flashed before him and he sighed to himself.
"All right." he finally muttered.
"Harry deserves the chance to...what did you say?"
"I said all right." repeated Snape with a glare. "Need I make myself plainer?"
"May I ask what prompted this new change of heart?" asked McGonagall, looking completely befuddled.
"Being that you already did, it's simply because I was reminded recently that a child should not be held responsible for the sins of the father."
McGonagall stared at him, slightly unnerving him, though Snape did not show it, of course.
"And where would you have been reminded of this?"
Snape seriously considered telling her that he had already answered the permitted number of questions per day, or something to that effect with a snarl to make it more effective, but then decided that he might as well start shocking people now.
"I was conversing with my wife last night about our eldest daughter starting school today and she told me that I shouldn't do to other students what I didn't want them to do to my own child."
Minerva opened her mouth and then closed it several times. It was quite humorous to Snape, though he refrained from making a comment.
"Your...daughter?" she finally managed to gasp out.
"Yes." replied Snape dryly. "Her name is Koraleigh."
"But...why wasn't I informed? I send out all the first year notices!"
"I have no idea why you weren't informed other then I suspect Professor Dumbledore of respecting what he believed I might want. As for Koraleigh's letter, it was sent directly from Albus. Any more questions?" Snape accompanied that last statement with a scowl clearly discouraging the prospect.
But McGonagall was not so easily intimidated as the students. "Who is your wife? Do I know her?"
Snape was getting extremely tired of this questioning. "You would know her as Ailey Lavesa. She was in Ravenclaw." he replied shortly. "Now, if you don't mind, I have things to do."
"Oh, I remember little Ailey! She was such a fun student!" She paused and looked at the extremely annoyed face of Professor Snape. She made like she was about to add something else, but thought better of it, and left.
Snape sank back into his chair. He could just hear Minerva's unspoken comment. 'How did you two end up together?'
Snape entered the staff room just as the before school staff meeting was scheduled to begin so he wouldn't have to speak to anyone. Minerva had no doubt told everyone about Snape's now uncovered life. He scowled at anyone who dared look in his direction and chose a seat in the far corner.
Dumbledore walked in, a smile on his face, as he clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention. "Welcome, everyone, to the new school year!" There was a bit of scattered applause. Snape, as usual, refused to partake in it.
"It is with a bit of concern that I stand before you. As all of you well know, Lord Voldemort has risen. Hogwarts is well warded against any attacks; we need not fear that. My prevailing concern is the students. Many of them have not believed that Lord Voldemort has indeed risen until very recently and may be somewhat, excitable. We need to take care of this as calmly and efficiently as possible. It is mostly the Heads of Houses who will deal with this sort of thing, though I expect all of us will be called upon sometime during the school year to assist with this sort of thing."
Snape doubted much that he would deal with this. More then likely, students would come to him wanting to be reassured that the Death Eaters were still all right.
"Next, I have the pleasure to introduce to you, Professor Hannalore Jekings, who will be taking the vacated Defense position. I trust she will do a better job then her predecessor."
There was much more clapping and even scattered cheering. Snape even found himself putting his hands together a few times, half-heartedly. Though he had once again been turned down for the DADA job, he was extremely glad that foul Umbridge woman was gone. The new teacher was tall, with brown curly hair. She appeared to be a bit older then Snape and looked to be an essentially good teacher. 'You could tell a lot from one's appearance,' Snape conceded. He wondered where Dumbledore had found this one. He had thought there weren't anymore decent teachers around.
Snape reclined back, lost in his own thoughts as Professor Dumbledore plowed through other meaningless tidbits of information, but was abruptly brought back to reality when Dumbledore mentioned the subject he was most touchy about.
"I have the privilege to share with you the fact that we, for the first time in several hundred years, have a professor's child attending Hogwarts!" Most of the staff looked around, bewildered, trying to figure out who it was that had children. "Professor Snape's daughter, Koraleigh, will be joining us this year as a First Year!"
Snape gazed out, expressionless, refusing to meet anyone's questioning eye. He was fuming at Dumbledore for announcing the matter in this fashion. True, it could not be kept a secret anymore, but how dare he tell everyone!
With a start, Snape realized the staff room had emptied except for himself and Dumbledore.
"Severus," said Dumbledore, his tone solemn but his eyes twinkling, "I know that was not the manner that you wished me to tell everyone about Koraleigh, but really, don't you think 12 years is long enough to keep a secret?"
Snape said nothing.
"In any case, it is time for the arrival of the students. We must go now."
Snape tried to calm his suddenly rapid heartbeat as he followed Dumbledore to the Great Hall.