I need a mother

Author: Leta McGotor

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

Chapter 4

It was a beautiful summer morning. The sun was shining brightly and there were no clouds at the sky. Every then and now you could hear birds singing. On the streets the life began. The people were going outside to prepare their afternoon, buy some fruit or to chat with friends. All in all there was a very relaxed atmosphere.

Minerva McGonagall sighed. All looked peaceful, the contrary to the hectic rush in some streets of Edinburgh or in London. She enjoyed the view from her window. Maybe she should stay a bit longer in this village.

She turned away from the window. The inside of her small bag was scattered all over her bed. Her glasses and her wand lay on the bedside table a book besides them. The jacket was lying on one of the chairs next to her shoes. Shoes.

They reminded her on the little girl she had met in Edinburgh two days ago. She knew the girl was familiar to her but she couldn't put her finger on what it was exactly. She wondered. After her return to Howarts she would look up her name in her book. There was a book at the scholl in which all names of students who ever were gone to the school were written down. Additionaly there were also the names of those who would go to Hogwarts in a few years.

Minerva McGonagall looked at her watch. It was 9 o'clock. Surely Severus stood up now so that she could visit him. Therefor she took her wand and her bag and went downstairs.

'Severus, could you be so kind and look for a few apples while you are in the village,please? I've missed to see that we have none. And please, would you buy two glasses of cherries for the cake, wouldn't you? Thank you.'

Without him answering she went back into the kitchen. Severus looked puzzled.

'Ethel? Which cake?'

'Oh, for the afternoon. Dorothea and her husband come for a visit. I have told you that yesterday.'

'No, you haven't like every time they came for a visit. But it doesn't matter. All I ask for is that you don't disturb my work. All right, he asked in a low dangerous voice.

'Of course, my dear.', said Ethel happy. 'But now hurry up, Severus.' With a sigh he turned and went to some of the shops in the village. He didn't want to go but he would do all only to have a peaceful afternoon. He hated Dorthea and her husband. He was an lunatic and she was more hysterical than any woman he had met before. He wasn't keen on meeting them today. In fact Severus wouldn't meet them voluntary if his life depended on it.

Cassy was playing in the garden. She had taken a large blanket and a few of her dolls with her. With some little stones she built a bed for one of them because it was ill. Therefor she took some grass as medicinal herb to heal her doll. She didn't recognize that she wasn't alone anymore.

Severus looked at his list. He wasn't sure if he had all what he should have.

'I have that, …that …and this' He inerrupted himself whem something touched his shoulder. He turned around. In front of him stood Minerva McGonagall. Stunned he looked at her. She wore trousers and a brief red shirt. Instead of her strict bun her hair was hanging loosely behind her. She smiled at him.

'Hello, Severus. Nice to meet you.'

'…Yes, …well, n-nice t-to meet you a-as well.' He stuttered. Why in Heaven's sake must he stutter? He sounds no better than Quirrel. Noticing than Minerva was still looking at him he said:

'What are you doing here? Has Dumbledore sent you?' She laughed.

'No. I've decided to explore the nature around Edinburgh by bike. Can't I speak with you without the end of the world, can I? We have holidays and I for myself try to relax.'

'Yes …yes. Well, and why the nature around Edinburgh?' He asked coriuosly. Maybe in a few minutes he would know where she lives.

'Oh, I live there. Every summer and sometimes winter, too, I explore the nature to see what has changed. Do you understand?'

'Yes. You live in Edinburgh? Where exactly?' She smiled.

'That's a secret. Why do you want to know that?'

'I haven't got a reason. If you wouldn't want to tell me, I'm not interested either.'

'You behave yourself like an insulted child, Severus.' She gave him a you-mustn't-do-that look.

Anyway, why are you here, especially this village? Have you the opinion our nature is the brightest?'

'No, but it's on my way. No special reason.'

There was a pause, where nobody knew what to say. You could say good-by, turn around and go to take your bike. But mabe you could ask him for a cup of tea together or something like that. She thought. Ask her to accompany you, ask her. A little voice in his head screamed.

After a few minutes both of them similtaneous started to speak. Therefor they didn't understand what the other was saying.

'You first', he said.

'I…I will go …then. Or is there something you want to tell me?' she asked and looked up at him. But he missed the hopeful sound in her voice while asking. Therefor he changed his mind and answered:

'No. We'll see each other at Hogwarts, I guess?'

'I think so. Yes. Good-by.' She turned around and went away from him. The faster she would arrive at the pub the faster she would start her tour again. He stared at her back while she vanished. He should have asked her, he really should but he hadn't. When she turned around a corner and was not visible for him anymore he went home with his thoughts stuck on her.

Arriving at home he noticed that it was unusally quiet. He went inside. Standing in the corridor he heard smebody sobbing. He followed the sobs to find Ethel sitting on one of the chairs in the kitchen.

'Ethel, what happened?'

'They …they…have her …they…have…kidnaped her …Cassy.', and she started crying in her handkerchief. Ethel gave him a sheet of paper. Some words were to be read on it. Severus read the letter three time to be sure he hadn't miss something. Then he looked at Ethel. Her whole body trempled because of the sobs and with redcried eyes she stared at him.

'I'm so sorry …I…I didn't noticed them until…until Cassy screamed. They were too fast for me. I couldn't do anything. Why would somebody kidnap her? We … we aren't rich or … powerful or … so. I can't … understand it.' Ethel started sobbing again. Severus was petrified. They had her. They had taken her with them. He had failed. He had sworn to look after Cassy and he had failed. In a a wave of anger he kicked the chair next to him. He had failed, failed to help his own daughter when she needed him. He didn't want to know what they would do to her. But one he know for sure: It was nothing good.

He let himself fell on the chair. Next to him Ethel was shaken uncontrollably by her sobs now. He couldn't think clear. All he knew was that he had to do something, but what? He neither knew who those people were nor what they wanted with his daughter. Cassy's mother had spoken of a mysterious gift once but never mentioned what it was. Now Cassy was the last of that familiy and definitly in the wrong hands.

Think clear! He told himself. Think clear! It is an old Scottish Clan. Thousands of years ago something happened that gave that Clan power. Although they have the power from birth on they can't use it. But why? That makes no sense. … An old Scottish Clan …old Scottish Clan …Scottish Clan …Scottish …a SCOTTISH Clan.

He jumped from his chair. Ethel stared at him, bewilderment was to be read in her eyes and face.

'Severus, what …' But without saying a word Severus rushed out. He ran through the village not paying attention to the people staring at him. It didn't matter.

After a few minutes he arrived at the pub. Being about to open the door he heard some quiet 'click click click'. He looked around the corner.

Minerva who had taken her bike to start her trip for today heard sombody calling after her. She turned. In front of her stood Severus Snape heavily panting.

'Severus, what happened?'

'They … kidnaped her … Cassy.'

'Who?' She asked puzzled.

'Cassy, my daughter. …She was kidnaped. You have met her … in Edinburgh. She wanted to buy new shoes. Cassy, my daughter.' Whatever Minerva had expected, it wasn't that. Bewildered she stared at Severus.

'Cassy is your daughter and she was kidnaped…' she repeated slowly to test if she had understood him right.

'Yes, she belongs to an old Scottish Clan. I don't know who has kidnaped her. But maybe you know. You're Scottish.'

'Why should people kidnap an eight-years old girl because she belongs to an old Clan?'

'Because … because the members of that family has a special gift and those people want to use it. And…'

'Cassy is Cathrine Merina McDrake? Who is Cassy's mother? Merina McDrake?'

'You … you know? But how…'

'Severus, Merina was my cousin. Of course I know. They have kidnaped her? When?'

Maybe half an hour ago. But…'

'Severus, we haven't got the time to discuss it now. Let me think.' With that she took seat on the ground. Severus stared at her. Either they are all mad or you are mad. Oh God, I am belonging in a madhaouse. After a few minutes of silence he got an idea.

'Minerva? You are her cousin? That means Cassy isn't the last of that family?' Minerva looked up at him.

'You know that mysterios gift and you know here Cassy is now because you knew about that all the whole time. … Where is my daughter?' His voice raised at this point.

'Severus, don't understand it wrong…'

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

And thanks to Charli Fenwick and Lady Henrietta for reviewing

And not to forget: Thanks to sinnasmurfen, Crookykanks for saying my grammar isn't that bad. It's very encouraging.