Authors Notes

Thanks to everyone who took their time to review! I Greatly appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I don't own HP deal with it.

Thanks to txgrl-88 and Em for being such dolls, and editing this chapter.

Recap

Hermione opened her eyes, only to be faced with three tunnels. She blinked confused, the one she came out of, was blocked with a huge rock. She looked to the other two. One held blue light; the other held extremely bright white light. She started walking towards the intersection. There was a sign.

"Welcome to the three tunnels. The tunnel that you cannot go into, is the one blocked. Please choose your path carefully."

End Recap

CHAPTER ONE

THREE YEARS LATER

Severus sat down in his desk chair, while he watched his fifth year students gather the needed ingredients for their potion. He loathed them, every single one of them. They had happiness; they had something that he obviously didn't have.

But you have Liana.

Severus sat still for a moment, his gaze never leaving the piece of parchment in front of him. It was true; he had Liana, his little girl. Yet, that wasn't the kind of happiness he was talking about. Happiness with the one you loved, the one who loved you back in the same intimate passionate way. Around the classroom, the students had felt the need to talk amongst themselves as they had sat down.

"I thought I had said to collect the potion ingredients that you needed," he said as he got up from his position. "Nowhere in my instructions, said collect your potion ingredients while talking."

Gryffindor and Slytherin fifth years hushed up, as their professor found a need to hover over them. A few minutes later, they heard a soft padding of feet. Severus paid no heed to it, thinking it to be a fellow staff member; he proceeded to criticize his student's potions. Severus heard the soft creak of the door that lead to his personal chambers open. He instantly turned around his heart thudded in his rib cage. Liana was the only one in his personal chambers.

He swiftly moved towards the door, while the students looked on in curiosity. Everyone craned their necks to take a peak at the little girl; who had just strolled into their potions class.

Everyone gawked at the little girl. They had only seen this little girl in the Great Hall, but she was never with their professor. Two years ago, she had been with his deceased wife, but nowadays she was either with Albus Dumbledore, or anyone of the staff members.

Five-year-old Liana walked towards her father, not paying attention at all the stares she was receiving. She marched towards her father, and tugged on the hem of his robes. Severus bent down so that he was eye level with the five-year-old girl, who was looking more and more like her mother.

"Liana, what are you doing out of bed?" he questioned, ignoring the squeals from the girls in his class.

"Daddy, I had a nightmare," she said rubbing her eyes.

Severus frowned; he didn't want to discuss anything with his daughter with his class here. "Liana, find Grandpa and you can tell him about your nightmare. I'm busy at the moment."

He ignored the sniggers coming from the males in his classroom. He turned around and glared at them. "Keep working on your potions. I didn't ask you to tune into my conversation with my daughter," Severus snapped. "Well, get on then."

Severus muttered to himself about 'stupid ignorant pricks,' before turning back to his daughter whom was staring wide-eyed at them.

"Daddy, why are you so mean to them?" Liana asked as she stretched her arms towards her father, signalling that she wanted to be picked up. Snape scowled, pondering if he should answer her question.

Picking her up, Severus answered: "Liana, don't ask such trivial questions."

Severus placed his daughter into his big black chair, than looked at her sternly. "After I finish instructing my students, I expect you to go to Grandpa," Severus instructed. Turning around, he watched as the fifth years pretended as they were working.

"You will all finish the draught by the end of this class. You will also hand in an essay on moonstone, by the next class," he commanded.

Turning his back on them, he caste a spell on his daughter, in which she glowed bright silver for a while.

"Now, you will find Grandpa in his office," Severus said, taking her into his arms and put her down on the floor. She nibbled on her lip, before scrunching up her nose at her father. "Do you remember the word, to get past those gargoyles?"

Liana nodded her head excitedly. "Yes, the word is - -"

Severus put a finger to his lips. "Remember what Grandpa said?"

"It's a secret," Liana said with a smile plastered on her face.

"That's right, a secret," Severus answered. "Now, hurry a long now. You have to go find Grandpa, and tell him about your nightmare."

- - -

Liana walked down the deserted halls, humming to herself. She remembered the song her Uncle Harry taught her. She stopped walking for a minute, trying to remember what it was that he taught her. 'I'm a little…' she smiled she got it.

"I'm a little tea pot. Short and stout, here is my handle. Here is my spout," Liana sang to herself, doing the hand actions as she walked towards the gargoyles. She turned left once she saw the red walls.

"When I get all steamed up, hear me shout! Tip me over and pour me out!" She giggled happily to herself.

Reaching the gargoyles, she stood staring them wide-eyed. Their bulging eyes, and the look of boredom clearly etched on their faces. Standing up on her tiptoes, she tried to touch one of the extremely looking sharp fangs. She frowned when she couldn't reach them.

Scrunching up her face in determination, her chocolate brown eyes dead set on the object before them. She looked around the gargoyle trying to see if there was anything she could stand on.

Finding a crook to place her foot in, she put her foot in it. She grabbed hold of one of the hands, which were placed out in front of the gargoyle; she hoisted herself close to the gargoyles face. Her foot had left the crook near the bottom of the gargoyle, while both her knees settled in the crease of the gargoyles arms. The little girl looked at the fangs, a smile plastered on her face at her accomplishment.

Firmly taking hold of both of the gargoyles fangs, she caressed them. Her mouth formed an 'o' at her utter amazement, at the soft feeling that of the stone under her skin. Her eyes settled on the tip of the fangs, however. The tip of the fangs, which she was pretty sure, was sharp. Hesitatingly, she stretched her petite hand forward. She bit her lip as her forefinger got close to the top of the fang.

Her finger touched the tip of the fang. Her eyes widened at the prickling sensation on the pad of her finger. She gasped, and sucked on her finger. That was a bad decision, as the little girl came toppling down onto the floor in a big heap. She landed on her bottom. Unaffected by the pain inflicted on her bottom, she stuck her tongue out at the gargoyle.

"Jolly Ranchers!"

Liana watched in awe as the gargoyle jumped to the side, and showed a path of stairs leading upwards. She stepped on one, and stamped her foot twice. Just like magic, the stairs started moving towards the little girl's destination. She stepped into the threshold, and smiled at the past Headmasters and Headmistresses as they talked amongst themselves.

Liana walked to the glass case that held Godric Gryffindor's sword. She heard from her Auntie Ginny that Uncle Harry had pulled the sword from the sorting hat, in a secret chamber.

"Liana." The little girl turned around to see an amused looking Uncle Harry and Uncle Draco.

"Uncle Harry! Draco!" she launched herself at both of their legs, making the two a bit unsteady.

"Hey, hey young lady," Draco said sternly to his Godfather's daughter. "Watch it, you might hurt someone by giving them such a rough hug."

Liana giggled, and shook her head stubbornly. "No, I won't hurt anyone."

Harry just shook his head, not wanting to get into the conversation. "Ana, where's Grandpa?" Harry asked looking around.

"Potter, do you see him anywhere?"

"Eat dung Malfoy."

Liana looked to her Uncle, and God-brotherwith an incredulous look on her face. A sudden smirk appeared on her face. "Eat dung Malfoy!"

Two stunned faces turned to look at the little occupant in the room.

"Shit," Draco muttered to himself turning away from the little girl.

"Shit, shit, shit!" The little girl danced happily in little circles, repeating everything that they were saying.

Draco's eyes widened in horror, his Godfather was going to murder him.

"No, Liana it's 'shoot' okay?" Liana frowned, but nodded her head.

Draco looked around the room, seeing as how Dumbledore wasn't here.

"The old man isn't here anyways, I'm leaving," he mumbled.

He ran back down the stairs, Harry shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the little girl. He picked her up, and sat down in one of Dumbledore's oversized chairs.

"So, why are you here in Grandpa's office?" Harry asked the little girl.

"Daddy sent me here," the girl answered easily. "Daddy said that I was dissirupting his class, and that we'll talk later."

Harry quirked an eyebrow, "Darling, I think you mean disrupting."

Liana's eyes brightened, nodding at what her Uncle had just said. "Yeah, Daddy said that word!"

Harry chuckled, and held the little girl close to him while she fiddled with his snitch necklace. This little girl that he was holding, was the only physical remembrance he had of Hermione. It was entirely that gits fault! If he hadn't let her go into Karkaroff's head quarters she wouldn't be dead, she would be alive. Alive and bloody healthy at that too!

Yet, there was to be no dwelling on the past, nope. All that mattered, was the little girl in front of him. He didn't care if she was Snape's only daughter; all he cared about was that she was Hermione's only daughter. He would fulfill his place as Godfather to the girl, by watching over her every single day and night no matter how many times it annoyed the greasy git to death.

He had thought that the git of the dungeons would have changed, since Hermione had decided to fall in love and eventually marry him. Harry was mistaken; he was as every bit of an idiot that Sirius had said he was.

"Harry, Liana, well it is unexpected to see you here."

Harry was jerked out of his thoughts to see Professor Dumbledore standing there, smiling at the pair.

"Grandpa!" Liana jumped out of Harry's hold, and ran to give the old man a hug as he stretched his arms out to embrace the young child.

"Albus," Harry said smiling as he stood up.

"Harry, what brings you to my office?" questioned Dumbledore as Liana started fiddling with his long beard.

Harry shook his head, not finding a point in discussing what he wanted to discuss with Dumbledore, what with Liana there.

"I'll speak to you about it later Albus," Harry said. "Malfoy, Ron and I need to talk to you, that's all."

Bidding a farewell to both of them, Harry bounded down the steps. His thoughts were still around Hermione. His only female best friend, aside from Ginny of course. What he wouldn't give to at least see her walking, for at least a final time.

- - -

Liana tugged on Dumbledore's beard hard, bringing all the attention back to her.

"Ouch," Dumbledore said rubbing his chin. "Liana, that wasn't very nice of you," he said in a reprimanding voice.

"I'm sorry Grandpa," Liana apologized her eyes tearing. She wrapped her small, slightly chubby arms, around his neck as she patted the back of his head. "I love you, and I promise not to do it again."

"Apology accepted," Dumbledore said heartily. He sat down in his chair, settling Liana on his lap. "Now, I think you needed to tell me something," he said with a knowing tone.

Liana nodded her head. "Oh yes Grandpa, I need to tell you something very, very important," she said stressing the second 'very'. "I had a bad dream, a nightmare," she said in a low voice.

Dumbledore pretended to look shock, just for the sake of it. He loved to play along with her; she was the only one who called him Grandpa. The name gave him a significant sense of belonging.

Liana opened her mouth to tell her tale, when she felt a sudden cold shiver run down her tiny back. She curiously looked around the room; the windows were closed, so it can't have been the wind as it was a warm day for the second week of September. The room was relatively warm; she looked to the door and found that it was close.

"Is there something wrong?" Dumbledore asked concerned.

Liana nodded, she brought her face very close to Dumbledore's ear. "I think someone is spying on us Grandpa."

She heard someone snort and cough, causing her to jump. She looked around the room, her eyes wide with fear. Her heart was thudding in her chest, someone was in the room, someone she didn't know, and that scared her.

"Darling," Dumbledore said causing Liana to jump. "I think your over-reacting, the only people in this room are you, the past Headmasters and Headmistresses, and I." Dumbledore said in a comforting voice.

Liana nodded her head, though she didn't seemed convince.

"Now, what was this dream you were talking about?" Dumbledore asked steering her away from thinking that there was someone in the room.

This caught Liana's attention immediately.

"Grandpa, in my dream I saw Daddy crying over someone's body. And, Auntie Minnie was holding me, and she brought me closer to the someone. I saw Mommy on the bed!" Liana said in a hushed voice, as she drew closer to Dumbledore's ears to make sure that no one was listening.

"I know I don't remember Mommy, but I saw the pictures of her and Daddy in Daddy's room. Mommy was wearing a white dress in one of the pictures, that's my favourite picture of her you know," Liana said in a tone that usual five year olds took with the elderly.

"I see, and what else happened in your dream?" Dumbledore asked.

Liana thought about it for a minute, before responding: "Daddy was crying over Mommy's body, and she wasn't moving. Then, the picture changed and I saw a bad looking man, laughing." Liana finished her tale, her voice now very quiet. "I didn't like the bad man Grandpa," she said quietly. "He looked mad."

Dumbledore thought about what he should say to the little girl. Liana was obviously having dreams of what had partaken in the past. He couldn't very well tell her that the bad man in her dreams was the very one who had killed her mother. That would give her a heart attack, or at least, worse dreams.

"Liana, I think you should run along now," Dumbledore said quietly, "Daddy should be in the Great Hall soon."

Liana frowned, and placed her hands on her hips in a huff. She gave her Grandpa the most evil look she could muster. "There's something you're not telling me," she stated.

Dumbledore chuckled; the little girl would certainly be the death of him. She was always on to his little plans, not that anyone was, but they were never upfront about knowing what he was up to.

"Darling, your dreams are dreams, that's it."

Not satisfied with the answer she got; she jumped down from his lap and opened the door to his office.

"Your mean Grandpa." With that said, the little girl slammed the door in Albus' stunned face. The old man shook his heads, and placed his head in his palms. Dumbledore's long fingers, stroking the tips of his head.

"You know," he said suddenly, "she's becoming more and more like both her father, and you everyday."

A silver figure appeared from out of the bookshelf, smiling at Dumbledore.

"I'm afraid your right."

- - -

Draco stalked through the halls, snapping at the idiotic students who were still wandering there.

"Its dinnertime, not time to chat with your mates in the halls," Draco seethed at a couple of fourth years. "You can continue your useless conversation in the Great Hall, five points from Hufflepuff."

Approaching the Great Hall, he moodily sat at his normal position. Being the Charms Professor was totally unbearable, especially if you taught ignorant sixth year Gryffindors.

"Nice day Malfoy?"

Draco turned his head to see Potter sitting on his little behind, swallowing what looked to be meat loaf. "Oh yeah, loads of fun," he said sarcastically.

"Ginny get moody on you again?"

Draco nodded his head glumly; he had been trying to escape the attention of his wife. Apparently, she had noticed and wasn't too happy about it. It also didn't help that she was pregnant. Draco thanked Merlin, wherever he was, for not giving Dumbledore a crazy idea of letting her teach at Hogwarts. She would be muttering things under her breath, just like Hermione had done.

The thought of the deceased woman made Draco even grumpier. 'Stupid Gr-Snape.' After the two had been married for four years, he still couldn't get over the fact that his Godfather had married the know-it-all that had outsmarted him in every subject by 5.

Yet, he had to accept her after she became Mrs. Severus Samuel Snape, officially becoming his Godmother. It was she who had gave him advice on how to get his wife, and it was she who helped him whenever he and Ginny had a row. He would never admit it to anyone, but he did miss the Gryffindor know-it-all. There was no one else to help him with his rows with Ginny, except for maybe Potter, but Potter seemed to like watching him suffer.

It was a selfish thought, no doubt about that, but he did miss her help. Though, that wasn't all, he missed having his Godmother around. It still felt weird to call her that, but he had always resorted to using that whenever he wanted something of her. Anyway, back to point. With Hermione gone, his Godfather was the moodiest man that ever crossed the planet. He was even worse than before, and that was saying something!

"How's Luna?" Draco asked the raven-haired boy.

He watched as Potter shuddered, he smirked. They were both in the same situation, and he wouldn't change it one bit. Both their wives were too pregnant to walk to the Great Hall for mealtimes, so they holed themselves up in their chambers, which was just fine for the two men.

"Pregnant." Was the answer Draco had gotten.

Harry looked at Draco with an odd expression on his face. Draco noticed and raised an eyebrow. He nudged his head to the side (which just happened to be behind Draco). Draco turned his head around, to see his Godfather sit down beside him. Next to him, was his God sister.

Harry prayed to Merlin, and all the powerful witches and wizards who were among the stars, that Liana forgot his little row with Malfoy in Dumbledore's office.

- - -

Liana spotted her two Uncles, and waved to them. She watched as the two waved back, though not as enthusiastically as she had. The little girl plopped herself onto her father's lap, making him sigh. She watched as her father piled food onto her plate, as well as his.

"Daddy," she said, "Draco, and Uncle Harry taught me two new words today!" The little girl bounced happily as she made her father switch seats with her.

"Really," Severus said, looking highly uninterested. "And what, are these new words that they taught you?"

"Shoot and," Liana watched as her fathers eyebrows shot up a little, "shit!"

Severus had taken a sip of his red wine from his goblet, it seemed like a good idea at the present time. Though, he hadn't expected his daughter to say such a foul word.

Severus turned his Godson with a look of pure astonishment, and rage.

"Draco," he said in quiet voice filled with rage, that made the younger man gulp, "why did you teach my daughter such foul language?"

Draco stuttered out an answer: "Y-you see U-uncle Sev, Liana caught Potter and I having a just a little row and--"

Severus turned away from his Godson, and proceeded to put food on his daughter's plate.

"Save the explanation for your wife," Severus spat enjoying the look of horror that past over his Godsons face.

"Uncle Sev," Draco said in the same voice he used to use on his father, "you can't tell Ginny. She's pregnant, any added stress won't be good for her."

Severus gave him the 'is-that-all-you-could-come-up-with-look', that his mother gave him whenever he tried to explain the empty muggle condom wrappers, in his room.

Draco mumbled something to himself, and cut his steak with enough force to make the plate crack a bit.

"Eat your vegetables, Liana," Severus demanded. He felt something snap in him when his daughter shook her head. "Liana, eat them."

Severus took a fork, and poked a carrot piece with it. He then attempted to feed his daughter, who refused to open her mouth.

"Liana, I said eat your vegetables." By now, everyone in the Great Hall stopped eating their meal to watch the little argument in the Snape family.

"Liana," he said warningly.

Liana huffed in her seat, and shook her head. "Eat dung, Daddy."

Severus' eyes widened slightly at his daughter's foul language. The obvious work of his Godson and the arrogant Harry Potter.

"Liana," he said in a reprimanding voice, "who taught you such language?"

"Draco, and Uncle Harry," she whispered looking down at her plate of food. "Is dung a bad word, Daddy?" she asked scared for the lives of Draco and her Uncle Harry.

"Very much," Severus said sharply.

Severus turned around to look at his Godson, and Potter. He watched as they tried to shift away from him.

"Well, its lovely dinner and all gentlemen," Harry said wiping his lips with his napkin as he got up. "Alas, my wife needs my attention and…"

He trailed off seeing the look on Snape's face. "I guess there could be time to have a little chat with you Severus," Harry said hastily.

Severus' lips curled into a sneer. "What on earth were you thinking when you taught my daughter such language!"

Harry and Draco shared a look, and glared childishly at the little girl who was watching the interaction with wide eyes.

- - -

Severus carried his daughter into her room. He had grudgingly let her have her room the colour 'pink', though he would've preferred it to be dark green, light grey, silver, or black. Though he felt a little better when she had asked for green stripes, even if it was French Green.

He tucked her in, and was about to leave her room when he heard a slight: "Daddy."

He turned around to find his daughter, who looked very upset and was crying. He assumed it had something to do with what had transpired at dinner. He wiped away a black curl from her face.

"Why are you crying?" he asked.

Liana sniffed, before answering her father. "Daddy, I don't want to be left alone," she said through her tears.

"Its alright," Snape answered. "I'm going to be next door grading papers. After all," he chided, "you're a big girl."

Liana shook her head in defiance. "No, Daddy that bad man is going to visit me in my dreams again!" she cried. "I just know it!"

Severus looked at his daughter, pretending to be bored, and tired, when really he was shocked and seemingly interested.

"Don't be silly," Severus chastised, "there won't be a bad man visiting your dreams."

"Daddy you don't understand!" she said indignantly. "The nightmare I told you about in your classroom," she said, "that's when the bad man visited me. I don't want to see him again."

Severus finally understood what his daughter meant.

"Its okay," he assured her. "I won't let a bad man visit you," he said.

Liana looked unconvinced, but closed her eyes because she trusted her father.

"Good night." Severus placed a light kiss on her forehead.

He stood up from where he knelt, and walked towards the door.

"I love you Daddy," Liana whispered.

Severus heard this, and turned around from his position. He stood looking at his daughter for moment, before answering: "I love you too Liana, now sleep."

He closed the door, and suppressed a sigh as he went to his desk. Severus took out the sixth year papers, which were on the properties of Salamander blood. Feeling the smooth coolness of the bottle of his red ink, he opened the cap, and dipped his fine quill into it.

He immediately began scratching away at the essay. His nerves grated as the student who wrote the essay had bad grammar. After editing, and marking four essays he decided that he couldn't look at the other essays. They were absolutely horrible!

His eyes fell on a picture of Hermione holding Liana as a baby, and himself. They were smiling as they looked at their daughter. Draco had taken the picture, and didn't stop teasing him about smiling in the picture.

He closed his eyes, and tried to forget her. He couldn't though she was his love. His only love; his soul mate. Yet the fates had different plans for him. They had ultimately decided that he could survive without her. This was worse scenario that he could have been handed. His wife dying, and that left him to raise their only child. Not that he was complaining, it was just the fact that Liana looked so much like her mother.

He poured vodka into one of his crystal glasses, and moodily sat on his green leather couch. He, Severus Snape, was the worse father in the world. He couldn't even look at his own daughter for days! His own mother had to come into the school and snap him back to reality.

If there even was a reality for Severus Snape anyway. No, he really didn't think there ever would be a reality for him. Life had been taken away from him the very moment his wife was taken away from him. The only one that mattered now, was Liana. Severus knew that he had to stay alive for as long as he could, just to watch his little girl get married to someone, Severus knew he could trust.

Trust was the biggest issue that Severus had to learn to deal with. Especially with what James Potter, and Sirius Black had put him through, way back when. Taking a swig of the vodka in his hands, he scrunched his nose in disgust at the thought of the Marauders. Snorting he waved his wand, and watched as the alcoholic beverage trickled into the cup, making splattering noises once it hit the glass.

Those two reminded him of his father. The infamous, Samuel Snape. Severus loathed his father; his father would always accuse his mother of doing the simply outrageous things! Severus remembered sitting in the drawing room of Snape Manor, and the two: Samuel Snape and Helene Ravenclaw (Snape), would fight endlessly.

- - Flash Back - -

"You little whore!" Samuel growled as he stared at his pathetic excuse for a wife.

Helene refused to look offended at his little accusation. "Don't use such language in front of my son."

"He's as every bit as my son as well," Samuel sneered.

Helene straightened up slightly, dusting off the invisible dust on her robes.

Seven year old Severus sniffled slightly, as his parents continued arguing. He had hated it when they argued. His eyes widened though, when he saw his father slap his mother across the face. Severus had had enough! He stood up with courage, and hit his father in the side.

"Move out of the way Severus," Samuel said harshly, as he pushed his son back onto the couch. His wife continued to swear and curse at him for being so impossible, having heard enough of her high pitched voice, he smacked her down.

Severus watched with wide eyes, and stood up to run to his mother.

"Severus, do not interfere," Samuel stalked closer to the two. He pulled Helene up to her feet, and pried Severus away from her. When Severus didn't move, Samuel pulled out his wand.

"Samuel!" Helene cried as her husband pushed her behind him. "No, please!"

"Shut up woman," he sneered. He rounded on his son, who looked up at him with fearful eyes. "You pathetic excuse for a Snape." He raised his wand, and thrust it into the air. "Crucio!"

- - End Flash Back - -

Severus could still remember the feeling of being put under the Cruciatus Curse, by his own father.

He closed his eyes, and opened them again. He saw an outlined silver figure, of what looked to be Hermione. He blinked again, to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating. Opening his eyes, he sighed in displeasure. He really was hallucinating.

- - -

Hermione breathed in a sigh of relief as she disappeared through the walls of the dungeons. She was almost caught!

Closing her eyes, she opened them again. Looking down at her palms, the color of her complexion was the same. A silvery white, color.

Her throat felt parched. She really would fancy a cup of tea, though she knew it wouldn't happen. She wasn't able to eat anything. Nope, being a ghost, she couldn't even touch anything.

Life, was absolutely brilliant.

END CHAPTER ONE

I do hope that this is long enough for the first chapter! Tell me how it was, I seriously think I did bad, but eh.

Read and Review!

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