Poppy's head popped into the fireplace. "Severus! What can I do for you?" "Tirza is complaining of a tummy ache but I suspect it could be something else," Severus replied. "Can you spare a few minutes and come check her over?" "Of course!" poppy's head disappeared and two minutes later, she had flooed into the room.

Tirza was whimpering and holding her side. "Can you please show me where it hurts Tirza?" Poppy prodded gently. Tirza lifted her hand away and pointed. "It hurts really bad now," she told poppy, looking close to tears. "How long has it been hurting?" Poppy questioned, lifting Tirza's shirt gently and pulling out her wand.

Tirza scowled as her shirt was lifted. "Couple days." "I'm sorry but this may sting a moment," Poppy said as she did a quick incantation and a read out began to appear of what her wand was scanning. Tirza winced, but didn't fight poppy. "Severus was must get her to Hogwarts immediately," Poppy said in a very quiet, but scary tone. "She needs immediate attention that I cannot give her here."

Severus silently nodded and picked Tirza up very carefully and stepped toward the fireplace. "What's going on?" Tirza asked worriedly. "Sweetie Poppy needs to take you back to Hogwarts for some special medicine," Severus replied gently, trying to keep the concern from his voice. The last thing he needed was for Tirza to panic. "I will be with you the whole time."

"Daddy, I need molly!" Tirza protested. "Accio Molly," Severus said quickly. The lion floated into Tirza's waiting arms. "Daddy, I'm scared," Tirza whimpered. "We must be going," Poppy said as she flooed away with Severus close on her heels. "Baby I promise you Poppy will take very good care of you," Severus vowed.

Poppy was bustling around setting up a private bed and readying some items as Severus entered. "Poppy what will be done?" Severus asked, concern etched in his voice. He was beginning to feel panicky, a feeling he hated, especially when it concerned his daughter. "Her appendix will have to come out," poppy said softly. "Noooo!" Tirza shouted.

Poppy prepared one of the emergency surgery rooms, she and her nurses bustling around quickly. "Wonderful" Severus sighed. "Why is this happening now?" "Is there EVER a good time for it to happen Severus?" poppy asked point blank, frowning at him. He certainly wasn't going to help anything if he had that attitude! "Yes you check her regularly you should know when these things are going to happen!" Severus retorted, growing angry.

"Severus, don't be ridiculous! You can't predict these things!" poppy scolded, still preparing the room. Tirza started to cry frantically. "Tirza Poppy is going to take very good care of you," Severus said quietly, reining his temper under control. "I will be here when you wake up."

Poppy came over and took Tirza in her arms. "Shh darling, it won't hurt at all, you'll sleep and have sweet dreams... would you like to come in Severus? You can if you use a sanitizing spell." "Drink this honey," poppy said. Tirza drank it and was asleep in seconds. Poppy set her on the bed and began the surgery.

Two hours later, Tirza began to stir. "I feel floaty," she mumbled, not opening her eyes. "Hi baby," Severus said quietly as he held her little hand. Her eyes popped open suddenly. "Did you know vodka martinis are yummy?" she asked absentmindedly. "What are you talking about?" Severus asked, an eyebrow raised. "You've never even tried them!" she nodded, closing her eyes again. "I did with James bond, shaken not stirred."

"Weird dreams" Severus said laughing "How do you feel?" "Sleepy, but ok," Tirza admitted, yawning. "Am I gonna get presents?" she asked, one eye opening. Severus' eyebrow raised again. "Why would you get presents?" he asked honestly. "Of course she'll get presents," Dumbledore replied as he knocked on the open door.

"Hi grandpa," Tirza greeted with a small smile. Severus groaned, imagining all sorts of visitors bringing presents. Albus entered and kissed Tirza's forehead. "Here you go sunshine," he handed her two wrapped packages. "For being so brave." Tirza eagerly tore into the packages. One contained a large supply of chocolate frogs, and the other was book of crossword and word search puzzles. "Oooh, thanks grandpa," Tirza replied, blowing him a kiss.

Tirza yawned again and tried to shift her position slightly. "Alright, I'll get you a present," Severus decided, kissing her forehead. "As long as you behave yourself and rest properly," he added with a stern look. Tirza nodded, not paying all that much attention to what he was saying as she was quickly growing groggy again.

"Time for medicines," Poppy called cheerfully as she entered Tirza's room. Tirza made a face. "Yucky," she said. Dumbledore chuckled and kissed her forehead. "I'll come visit again later; you need your sleep sunshine." He quietly exited the room. "Don't worry dear these don't taste as horrible as they look," Poppy said, offering her a vial of steaming green liquid.

Tirza looked doubtful, but drank it. "Not too bad," she admitted afterwards; the potion had tasted like a sour apple sucker. "This is for your pain," Poppy told her, handing her a thick pinkish looking liquid. "It is supposed to taste like bubble gum." Tirza drank it down quickly. "That one was good!" she announced happily. "Good flavor!"

"Okay now I need to look at your incisions and clean them and put new salve and dressings on them," Poppy said beginning to undo part of her gown. "Severus you need to watch so you can know how to apply when she goes back to your chambers." Tirza pushed poppy's hands away, scowling. She did NOT want her clothes undone without being asked first! She was feeling ultra sensitive right now.

"Tirza that was rude," Severus said in a low tone. "Poppy is doing what she is supposed to do." Tirza shook her head no, still scowling, now at both Poppy and Severus. "Tirza stop being a brat!" Snape snapped, getting frustrated by her actions. "We are trying to help you get better and unless you wish to stay here 'til start of term I would suggest you allow Poppy to tend to your wounds!" "I'm not a brat," she said softly, looking down at her hands. "Then allow Poppy to tend to your wounds like a big girl," Severus stated.

Tirza sniffled and looked away from Severus; this time she didn't push poppy's hands away. "Do you want to look at them Tirza before I put the bandage on?" Poppy asked as she finished putting the salve on the incision. Tirza shook her head no, hugging molly tight. "There all done," Poppy said fixing the last bandage and pulling the gown back down in place. "Take this last liquid in about 20 minutes. It will help you rest tonight." She patted Tirza's head and left the room.

Tirza quickly covered herself with the blanket and tried to ease onto her left side. "Would you like for me to stay the night?" Severus asked quietly. "Poppy said it would be alright." she nodded, but didn't turn back over to look at him. She hugged molly close and tried to sleep. "I think you might want this first," Severus said holding the vial out to her.

Avoiding looking at him, she took the vial and drank it and handed it back to him, then fell asleep.

Nearly four hours later, Tirza moved in her sleep and yelped; "ow!" she put her hand over where she knew the incision was. "What's wrong?" Severus said, awake instantly. "It hurts," she whined, fighting the urge to rub. "Here drink this," Severus said handing her a vial. "Poppy said you might want this when you woke up." Tirza nodded and quickly drank it, sighing as it began to work and take the pain away.