A/N This chapter isn't all that captivating, but it has some importance later in the story, and in the sequel. Just so you know, the flashbacks serve 2 purposes: 1. To allow the reader to see why Monique's life is the way it is and 2. To hopefully make the reader understand what she sees when she looks at her father. So, without any further delays, I'll let you read!

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling thought of Harry Potter and all related items before I did. I thought of Monique, Flop, Vietsvar, Catrine, Francine, and now Sterling before any of you.

Harry Potter and the Sacred Soul of Vietsvar

Rated: PG-13

By: Handsofftheshinyshirtitsmine

Chapter 7 Picking up Pieces

Snape remained in Dumbledore's office long after his daughter's departure, as did his fellow staff members. The four of them sat in silence for a few tense moments before anything further was said.

"She'll be alright, Severus. She's a strong girl. A smart girl." McGonagall said quietly, noting her coworker's obvious discontent. Snape looked at her somberly, and then nodded.

"Yes, yes. I'm sure she shall." He responded. His tone was sure and unwavering, masking the fact that his heart was pounding furiously in his ears. "Monique is well able to care for herself."

With that simple statement, Snape headed for the door.

"Oh, and Severus?" Dumbledore called out to him. Without turning, Snape stopped and replied.

"Yes?"

"Please keep an eye on Monique."

Snape found his way to his quarters and threw himself wearily onto the leather sofa he kept near the fireplace in his study. He moaned and closed his eyes as a headache began to form around his temples. Dumbledore's last sentence echoed in his ears. "Please keep an eye on Monique." Snape began to wonder about the way he had raised his daughter. Had he not paid enough attention to her actions, her interests? Did he cast a blind eye to her faults? He had tried his absolute hardest to be a good father, despite his own shortcomings, but should he place her on a chain now that this prophecy was coming to be?

He realized then how difficult it was for him to safely talk to her without another student noticing or overhearing. Since they had come to Hogwarts, Snape had had very few conversations with his only child. He wondered then how he could "keep an eye on her" without this ability.

-

Harry held Monique tightly to him without any further inquiry into what was bothering her. As others streamed into the common room, they cast suspicious glances their way, but said nothing, something for which Harry was extremely grateful.

"Monique," he whispered. "Are you going to be alright?"

"Oh Harry, please, just stay with me awhile longer." She mumbled, her arms wrapping themselves more securely about him. He felt his cheeks tingle with an oncoming flush, and he rested his head on Monique's.

"Of course."

-

"Monique, come here please." Snape clasped his daughter's hand gently, smiling down at the young girl as he did so. The 8-year old grinned back at him, and happily allowed herself to be led into the massive stables which they were standing outside of. The poignant smell of hay and horses overwhelmed her senses, the sound of the animals reverberating on the old stone walls. She followed her father innocently down one aisle after another, unsure of where they were headed, watching as he ran his hand briefly across the noses of several horses which stuck their heads out in greeting.

He finally came to a stop outside a stall far larger than any of those preceding it. Monique knew that inside it was the palomino mare that had once belonged to her mother, and she wondered why her father had brought her there.

"Sterling…" Snape clucked his tongue, and the sound of a large animal moving about was heard. The exquisite champagne face of the prized animal appeared over the door. Monique reached up in order to pet the velvet soft hair on the horse's muzzle, and she giggled as Sterling licked her hand.

"Monique, I want her to have her." Her father announced, as he lifted her so that she could finger the light blaze on the mare's nose.

"Have her?" Monique asked, looking into the horse's deep eyes. Since she could remember, the only person her father had trusted with Sterling's care had been himself. In addition, she already had a horse of her own, a diminuative but trustworthy old grey gelding.

"Yes. I think it time that Sterling again felt the touch of a woman. And who better than her mistress' daughter?" Snape said.

-

Monique perked up suddenly, pulling herself abruptly away from Harry.

"Is there any placed about here where we can go riding?" She asked of him eagerly. Harry looked at her and ran a hand through his hair, a bit startled.

"Er…I don't think…" He thought a moment, and then an idea came to him. "Yes, yes there is."

The two gathered their cloaks and hurried outside towards Hagrid's cabin near the Forbidden Forest.

"What are we doing?" Monique managed as they ran, Harry pulling her unceremoniously along by the wrist. He looked at her and then yelled back.

"It's a surprise! Wait and see!" The two dashed down the slope from the castle to the cabin precariously, arriving at Hagrid's door at a dead run. Monique smiled at Harry as he knocked on the cabin door, her pale cheeks flushed and her chest heaving.

In the cabin, the vociferous bellowing of a dog, accompanied by shouts of "I'm comin' I'm comin'!" were the only things that could be heard. As the door swung open, the tremendous bushy face of Hagrid appeared, lighting up as he noted who stood outside.

"'Arry! C'mon in here where the win' can' get at yeh! And who is this with 'im? Monique! 'Aint that jus' a surprise!" Monique looked about at the cabin's exterior and then greeted the Care of Magical Creatures professor.

"Hello Hagrid." Her attention was then drawn to the boarhound that had begun to lick her hand, plastering it in thick slobber. Hagrid noticed this, and laughed.

"Oh, that's jus' Fang, don' pay no attention 'ter him. Fang, c'mon, git back! C'mon in 'ere 'Arry!"

"Actually, Hagrid, I came to ask you a favor." Harry replied. Hearing this, Hagrid's small, dark eyes sparkled with joy.

"Anything 'fer yeh, 'Arry! What kind o' favor?" He asked, now stepping out and shutting the door in an attempt to keep his enormous dog inside.

"I'd like to pay a visit to Tenebrus. Can you help me out?" Harry inquired. Monique gave him a queer look, but said nothing.

"Tenebrus 'eh? I jus' saw 'im this morning. The herd is probably still in the same area. Wait righ' 'ere 'Arry."

With that, Hagrid re-entered his home.

"Er…what's he doing?" Monique asked, finally unable to contain her curiosity. Harry merely smiled and repeated "wait." Irritated, Monique shifted her weight from on foot to another, watching and waiting for Hagrid. When he finally came out again, Monique noticed that he was carrying a rather bloody, apparently freshly-killed rabbit. Her confusion doubled.

"Follow me." Hagrid told them, starting off towards the forest. Harry took Monique's wrist again. "Now, 'Arry, you know students aren' supposed 'ter be in the forest. Don' expect me 'ter do this all the time 'fer yeh." Hagrid commented. Monique shivered as they entered the shade of the trees, and pulled free of Harry in order to wrap her cloaks more securely about herself.

They stopped in a small clearing not far from the forest's edge, and Hagrid threw the rabbit carcass on to the ground. Monique watched silently.

"Jus' wait." Hagrid told her. She glanced over at Harry, who merely nodded.

The cracking of a twig brought her attention back to the meat. Her eyes widened as she saw a winged, black, skeletal horse making it's way towards the rabbit. Two more then emerged from the growth in the opposite direction.

"Thestrals!" Monique whispered excitedly. Harry looked down at her.

"You can see them?" He asked, shocked.

"Yes. Oh, are they tame enough to ride?" She cooed, without further explanation as to why she could see them.

"O' course! Which one would 'yeh like 'ter ride?" Hagrid responded. Monique stepped forward and looked at each of the horses critically, until some feature on one of them piqued her interest.

"That one." She pointed towards her beast of choice, and Hagrid grinned.

"What abou' you, 'Arry?" He offered. Harry looked at the Thestrals, and began to protest.

"No, no, I'd rather not…." He muttered, as memories from the previous year came flooding back to him. Monique grabbed his hands, and pulled him forward roughly.

"C'mon Harry, don't be such a dull 'ol bloke!" She hissed. Harry looked away from her plaintiff face and conceded.

"Umm…whichever, Hagrid." He said. Monique squealed with delight and went to the Thestral she had chosen to ride.

It looked down at her with white eyes, and Monique ran her hand along its dragon-like neck.

"I'm going to ride you now, if you'd oblige me." She whispered. The Thestral snorted, and looked away, reassuring Monique that it would be alright to mount. She wrapped her hands about in its black mane, and easily swung herself onto its back. Harry did the same to Tenebrus.

"Where do you want to go?" He called to her. Monique smiled.

"Wait! It's a surprise!"

Soon they were in the air, flying side-by-side to a destination only Monique knew.

"It's getting dark, are we almost there?" She heard Harry ask. His statement was true, as the sun was quickly setting and soon it would be night.

"We'll get there before dark, though it will be by the time we get back to Hogwarts!" She shouted back.

They continued on in silence until Monique suddenly began to descend.

"C'mon Harry, we're there!" She sang out happily. Harry followed suit, and they landed on the grass in front of a large stone manor. Harry looked about.

"Where are we?" He questioned, siding Tenebrus up beside Monique's Thestral. She sighed and shrugged simply.

"My home." She informed him.

-

It was pitch black when they returned to Hogwarts. Hagrid was gone, and neither knew how late it was. They dismounted, and headed out of the forest, both laughing but exhausted.

"Thank you." Monique said, looking at Harry. "I needed that." She smiled, and Harry wrapped an arm about her, allowing her to rest herself against him.

"Any time, Monique." He answered quietly.

They climbed the hill back to the castle, and quietly ascended the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. Inside, they found it almost empty, although Ron and Hermione were among those still awake.

"Glad to see you're still alive." Ron remarked critically, causing Harry to blush.

"Monique wanted to go riding…" He stammered. Monique winked at Ron, and laughed quietly.

"Well, you're both just lucky that no one caught you." Hermione said. "Monique, you look positively drained. Let's go up to bed." She suggested.

"Alright." Monique agreed. She smiled gently at Ron, and then Harry. "Good night." She then picked up Flop, and followed Hermione from the room.

-

A/N Well there you go. It's kind of cute and affectionate, just in the time for Valentines Day. (Involuntary shudder) I hope you enjoyed it! Look for Chapter 8 Currently Untitled by St. Patrick's Day (March 17). Sorry that it's such a long leeway but I have my SAT that month, along with several writing contests, and I don't want to pressure myself!