Chapter 3- An Understanding

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Disclaimer: I only own Autumn, nothing else- that belongs to Jk Rowling, although I wish I did own Severus (hahaha).

Turning over in her bed and grabbing her pillow Autumn tried to block out the rapid knocking and go back to sleep. "Miss Snape, get up or you'll miss breakfast." Came her guardians threatening voice. "Leave me alone! I'm tired!" she groggily replied. "Miss Snape, get up this minute!" She stubbornly gave no reply. "Autumn Leslie Reiner Snape! Get moving or I'll come in and get you up!"

Just hearing Snape use her full name was enough to make her jump out of bed. "I'm up" she said scowling, "Bloody Hell, it's only 8:00!"

"Well seeing as breakfast is 8:30 you slept too late." Came the sarcastic reply. Autumn could have sworn she'd heard amusement in his voice. The teen put on a pair of khaki pants and a cute, scooped neck pink tee. After brushing her long, dark hair she opened the door to her room. Not seeing her guardian and looking at the clock she realized it was 8:26. Silently cursing she ran as fats as she could up to the Great hall reaching it with 30 seconds to spare. Upon entering Snape looked up at her with a smirk.

"Don't look at me like that, I made it in time." Her uncle's reply was to raise an eyebrow "So I can see, but if you had listened to me the first time you wouldn't be out of breath." Autumn rolled her eyes and sat down to eat.

Dumbledore turned to her and asked how she liked Hogwarts. "I found it very interesting Sir, McGonagal showed me so many things!" she exclaimed and they spent breakfast talking about all of the schools delights.

"I'm glad to hear you like it so much as you'll be going her now." Her guardian put in sarcastically. Caught momentarily off guard Autumn opened her mouth but nothing came out. "A lose for words Miss Snape? That's not like you." Her Uncle replied. Getting over her stunned state Autumn chided herself for not realizing this sooner. 'He does teach here after all!' Turning to Snape she said "What about me other school and my friends and ..." the headmaster gently calmed Autumn "Don't worry my dear your headmistress has been informed, and as for your friends I'm sure your uncle will allow you to write to them." At this Snape gave a curt nod and the teen let out a breath she hadn't been aware of holding.

A sudden question rose in Autmn. "Sir? McGonagal told me about houses, which one will I be in?" Her guardian opened his mouth but the headmaster cut in. "Whatever one the sorting hat puts you in at the beginning of the year."

"Oh" said Autumn biting her lower lip. "Why don't I just go into Slytherin now, I mean my Uncle is its head of house for crying out loud!" Dumbledore tried to hide a smile. "That doesn't mean you could not be in Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or ...."

"My niece will NOT be in Gryffindor!" Snape snapped. Angered by this statement Autumn muttered "Hope I'm in Gryffindor then." Dumbledore, the only one that heard her say this, stood up laughing before turning to leave the room but not before turning back around saying "Severus, I believe you might have met you match." A grin crept up Autumn face but stopped at the glare her uncle gave her. Jumping up from her seat she said "I'm going to the library!" and ran out of the Great hall before Snape could say anything.

Autumn spent that day wandering around, exploring Hogwarts. 'It really is a fantastic place' she thought to herself. 'Maybe school here won't be so bad, except potions that is.' Coming out of the last passageway she explored the teen looked at her clothes and groaned, for they were covered in dirt. 'Better change before my dear guardian sees this...' "Uh oh" Snape had just rounded the corner and stopped, staring at his niece. As her uncle strode towards her Autumn brushed some of the dirt off and tried to put on a look of innocence. "Is the library really that dirty Miss Snape?" he said scowling.

"No Sir, I was uh, sidetracked." She heard herself reply. Snape snorted "obviously." 'Damn, that was a stupid answer' Autumn scolded herself as her uncle walked on, robes billowing behind him.

'Wonder how his robes to do that?' the teenager thought with a smirk as she headed back down to her room.

After changing into a pair of jeans and a blue V necked shirt Autumn went off to the library for real this time. She wrote letters to her friends telling them what had happened, where she was, and that she wasn't coming back next year. Finishing the letters Autumn sat reading a book called Hogwarts, A History that was rather fascinating. The teen was a fourth of the way through the book when an owl flew in a dropped a letter on top of the section she was reading (The legend of the Chamber of Secrets). She opened it and as she read a sad expression passed over her face...

Miss Reiner- Snape,

Your parent's funeral is scheduled for next week on Tuesday. Following the funeral is the reading of your parents will. You and your Uncle can floo in at around 2:00pm. Hope this finds you well.

Ethan Topper

She was so intent on reading through her tears that the teen didn't even notice her Uncle come up behind her and read the letter over her shoulder. Autumn jumped when he finally spoke. "Miss Snape, are you well?" he said in his usual cold manner. Spinning around in her chair Autumn tried to wipe her tears away. "I'm fine Sir" she replied tonelessly. Snape frowned disbelievingly. "You do want to go right? I'm sure no will make you do anything you don't want to." Her uncle continued in a mocking manner. She slowly nodded and her guardian gave a curt nod back and strode from the library.

TO MOVE THE STORY ALONG A BIT I'M SKIPPING AHEAD TO THE FUNERAL

Autumn sat in the first row with uncle in black pants, a gray sweater, and a stony face. It was your average funeral, speeches, songs, crying, and Autumn didn't want to be there. She felt like she couldn't cry anymore, and bottled up her sadness inside. Her mother and father were buried side by side with a shared tombstone like they had always wanted. The teen didn't want to deal with it anymore, so many people had expressed their sympathy to her but she hated them for doing it. To make it worse for the saddened girl, she still had to attend the will.

Mr. Topper read the will after everyone had arrived...

Us, Susana and Daryl Reiner being of sound mind do make this our last will and testament.

To our friends Helen, Joan, Henry, and Sam we give 1/20 of our money to each as well as any memorabilia they may wish to collect. We loved you all.

To Severus Snape, our only living relative, we give 6/20 of our money as well as guardian ship of Autumn our daughter. (From Susana) Severus, please don't hold anything I might have done against Autumn and know that I apologize for any pain I might have caused you- you are my only brother and I loved you.

To Autumn Leslie, our daughter, we give 10/20 of our money as well as the house and everything in it, excluding the memorabilia of that stated above. Autumn we loved you so very much and are sorry we had to leave at such a time. Please give your Uncle a chance and try not to kill each other- your more alike then you know.

Silence followed the reading as each of her parent's friends hugged her a final time and departed. Throughout the whole affair Autumn had not shed a tear, and throughout the whole affair her Uncle had been watching her closely.

Snape's POV

'What is up with her I wonder?' thought Snape grimly. 'She's bottling it up I can tell." This was possibly the worst thing for his niece to do in her situation, something had to be done. His sister's will had hit him hard and he knew deep deep down he had forgiven her and loved her also- but what to do with his niece?

They left for Hogwarts at 5:30 and arrived back in the dungeons. Knowing his niece wouldn't want to see anyone and not wanting to himself Snape called dinner to them. They ate in silence and Severus, who usually liked it that way, found it nerve wracking. Finally, he could stand it no longer, annoying as his niece was she usually had something to say and Snape knew she was suffering.

"Miss Sn...errr...Autumn?" Severus said uncertainly. His niece looked up at him in shock though he wasn't sure if it was the name or his fumbling which shocked her more. "I was wondering if you were ok?" the potions master asked trying to put some of his usual malice in his voice but failing. "Sure" came the quiet, uncharacteristic reply. "I know losing parents is the hardest thing, I lost my mother when I was around your age." He said fighting to keep his voice normal. Autumn looked up at him again, tears sparkling in her dark hazel eyes. 'At least she's showing emotion now.' thought Snape. He was startled however when Autumn suddenly burst into tears, all her pain and sadness from the funeral came flooding out.

Snape stared for a moment, uncertain of what to do with this sobbing teen. Getting up from his chair the man moved to Autumn and awkwardly held her shaking shoulders. 'Merlin, what am I doing?' he thought. Eventually his charges tears subsided although her eyes remained red. She looked up at him and Snape realized that he still had his hand on her shoulder. He removed it quickly but saw Autumn give him a weak smile through her sad features.

"Thank you Uncle Severus" the teen said. Snape froze a minute at her words but managed to choke out "your welcome Autumn."

"I'm going to my room now if that's ok?" All Severus could do was nod and watch his niece leave the room. 'She called me uncle' the man thought. It was that thought that caused Severus Snape, feared potions master of Hogwarts to smile.

Ohhhh, I'm so excited! Their first bonding experience!