I need a mother

Author: Leta McGotor

Diclaimer: I owe nothing but Cassy. The other belongs to JKR.

This chapter is a bit longer than the others but not really. I try to make them longer ;-)

Chapter 3

The next day Cassy avoided her father. She didn't want to speak with him. Her aunt worked in the garden and her father somewhere in the house. Therefore she stayed in her room reading, drawing and thinking about new tactics for chess. She loved playing chess. Because Aunt Ethel didn't understand it she had to wait until summer to play with har father. Always he was better but she knew someday she would beat him. In fact, Cassy developed a real passion for chess over the years that it was scary.

'Maybe I'll beat him today. But, no. I won't speak and play chess with him. No. I have my pride. I'm a member of a powerful clan and I have my pride.' She thought while looking bored out of the window.

Suddenly she had an idea. She jumped from the windowsill and stormed out of her room. Next to the living room there was the family library. She loved being there and she knew perfectly well where to look for what she thought of. Her only problem was that the book was in a shelf high above. So she climbed on top of one of the chairs. But the shelf was to high for her. Therefore she stood on the arm-rest and stretched herself to reach the book. In exact the moment she had it in her hands she lost control and fell to the ground the books of the shelf behind her.

Because of the noise Severus stopped pacing. For hours he had thought about what to do. He had no clue how to stop Minerva telling Dumbledore about his daughter. Probably he knew already. How should he explain it? But the noise disturbed his thoughts and only a few seconds later he stood in the library.

'Cassy, what has happened? Are you all right? Is something hurting you? What…?' Severus had helped his daughter out of the mess of books and examined her looking for injuries.

'Dad, I'm fine, really. Only my wrist hurts.'

'Let me see.' He knelt besides her and watched the little wrist in his hands.

'Here?'

'Yes.' Her wrist hurt so badly that she had tears in her eyes.

'What do you were up to?' he asked while lifting her up and set her on the chair.

'I was looking for a book. But I didn't reach it. And so I…'

'Which book?'

She showed him a thick book, the cover was made out of a network of red leather and it looked very old. The pages were yellowed and a few bookmarks could be seen. The title was written in golden letters: Transfiguration – Discovery, History and Use. Severus stared at the book.

'What do you want with it?'

'I told you I've met a woman with a Transfiguration book. I think it is a very intersting suject. But many people say that it is very difficult and I wanted to know why. Please Dad, let me read it.'

'Transfiguration is difficult. Believe me. I never was able to transfigure my cup into something else. In my opinion it is very boring and useless. It is more important to brew good potions, believe me.'

'Dad.' She rolled her eyes. 'I know the most important subject is Potions but I want to know something about Transfiguration. The book she read was: Transfiguration – A Gift. Please Dad, I want to understand it.'

'You'll learn it at school. And because Minerva McGonagall reads such books doesn't mean you have to read them, too.'

'But I'm interes… Do you know her?'

Severus sighed. He knew he was too harsh yesterday and that he had to explain it all to Cassy but he didn't know how to start. So he remained silent and ordered his thoughts. Cassy watched him. What would he tell her? Before he could say anything she started:

'Dad, please listen. I like her very much. I don't know why. It's a bit strange but I like her really. I can't explain it but I knew she wouldn't harm me…'

'Of course she wouldn't. But there is another problem. You see, nobody knows that you exist. I'm not allowed to teach having a daughter. Therefore the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, doesn't know, too, and nobody of the staff knows. Until yesterday. Minerva McGonagall is the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts. She'll tell Professor Dumbledore about you and we…'

'No, she won't.

'She will.

'No.' She repeated with certain.

'Why do you think she won't. Let me guess: You don't know why but you feel it, right?'

'No. I haven't told her who I am. I've told her I'm Cassy and she didn't ask.'

'That's fantastic. Do you know that? Now I don't need to explain it'

'Dad? Is that the reason why I should not speak with strange people?'

'Well, yes…no.' Cassy looked puzzled.

'Dad?' Severus sat down sighing.

'Last month died your uncle.'

'And? I think he was ill and very old. I didn't know him.'

'Yes, but you are the last of the clan of your mother. There are some people who are hating the clan. They could harm you when they find you. Therefore you are here. They believe you are living somewhere in Ireland, Dublin or somewhere near that.'

'Why do they want to harm me? I don't know them, do I? I have done nothing to them.'

'Of course not. I don't know what they are really after but I don't want to know it, either. Therefore you should stay away from strange people, have you understand me?

'Yes, but Minerva McGon…'

'I don't think she belongs to the enemies of that clan if you ask me. But promise me if you meet her or someone else again, don't tell her who you are. Is that clear?'

'Yes, Dad. Of course.

'So, what's about your wrist?'

It was nearly 9 pm when Minerva McGonagall reached the little village. She needed longer than planed and now it was dark outside. Hopefully there was a Bed and Breakfast in that village. She didn't know which it was but she would look up it later on her map.

While walking through the village she watched the houses. Some were very small and old. A few were broken and shabby but mostly the houses looked very modern with large gardens and more windows than countable.

Somehow the village was fimilar to her. Someone of the staff was living here but who? She didn't know. After a few minutes she reached a small pub. She chained haer bike and entered it.

There was a large room lit up by a fire and some lamps. To her left was a long bar and to her right a group of about 20 people was sitting at five or six tables. Minerva went to the man behind the bar.

'Good afternoon. How can I help you?' he asked friendly. He was very tall, had short auburn hair and beart and dark eyes.

'Good afternoon. I need a room for one night.' She answered while he scrutinized her from head to toe and back again.

'Do you want breakfast?'

'Yes. At 7 oclock. Is that possible?'

'Well, you see the group there? This is a group of tourists. Their bus is broken and tomorrow there will be another one. They also want breakfast at 7 oclock. I can offer you your breakfast at 8 o'clock. All right?'

'OK.'

'So here are your keys. Can I help you with your luggage?'

'No, thank you.' He led her upstairs to her room.

There she let fall herself on the bed. Lying there she felt too exhausted to change her clothes. She stared out of the small window next to her and then got the idea. She knew who lived here. It was the Potions Master, Severus Snape. She had visited him last year because Dumbledore was too busy. Maybe she would visit him tomorrow. She smiled and with that thought she fell asleep.

In another room someone else lay on his bed. But he wasn't sleeping. Severus Snape thought, not about his daughter, not about Ethel, not about Dumbledore or Voldemort. He thought of a certain colleague of him, a certain Transfiguration professor. Since Cassy had mentioned her his thoughts were stuck on Minerva McGonagall. Why had Cassy met her in Edinburgh? Does she live there? Maybe he could visit her. Maybe he could ask her for a date? No. That was impossible. He slaped himself for that thought. He couldn't hope that she would repeat his feelings for her.

For years he had watched her, knew her plans better than she did, was always near her. Or he had tried it. Only two times in his whole life he had fallen in love with someone. The first time he had married his love, Cassy's mother, but now… Something had changed. He knew perfectly well his feelings then but now they seemed to be stronger. It was difficult to hide his sweaty hands when she was talking to him, difficult not to stare at her the whole time during breakfast or dinner and forget to eat, difficult to listen to her while staring at her lips and imagining what a feeling it would be to touch them with his own. But the most difficult was to see her every day and to say nothing. Hecouldn't confess his love to her, he simply couldn't. Probly she would slap him, would scream at him would say that she hated him, something like that. Never would she repeat his feelings and so he remained silent.

'Is that the right village?'

'Of course it is. I have studied the map.'

'How long shall we wait? Midnight, tomorrow morning?'

'We'll wait until she is alone tomorrow. But we have to be careful because she mustn't scream and we mustn't become the focus of attention of the people around. Understand?'

'Of course. It's no problem to kidnap a little girl.'

'Silent. There is someone.'

Thank you for reading. Please, tell me what is good and what I've to improve.

And thanks to Crookykanks, Lady Henrietta, Kyer and Shadowside for reviewing

Kyer: Severus is mostly someone who got quiter with anger but that's his daughter and he cared a lot about her. It's not easy to be a good father, I think.