Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series is the property of J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Twenty-One: Amelia Ryan

Two days after Christmas, Professor McGonagall was eating breakfast in the Great Hall when the owl post came in. A small white owl dropped a letter by her plate. Professor McGonagall opened it up without giving it much thought, but sat up straight when she read the contents:

Dear Professor McGonagall,

My apologies for taking so long to reply. I'm afraid I have moved around so much this past year that it was a miracle your owl even found me at all.

I'm delighted that you wrote to me. I've often wondered about Eleanora and how she is doing. As it happens, I shall be in Hogsmeade soon, probably by the time this letter gets to you, to catch up with some old friends. I will be staying at the Three Broomsticks. I would love it if you would look me up when I get there. It would be wonderful to see Eleanora – I haven't seen her since she was a few days old.

All the Best,

Amelia Ryan

Professor McGonagall shot a glance over at the near-empty Gryffindor table. Ellie was sitting with the other four Gryffindor students who had stayed at Hogwarts over Christmas. She was eating a piece of toast silently. Professor McGonagall smiled to herself. Ellie would certainly be happy when she heard this news!

Professor McGonagall decided to go down to Hogsmeade first to make sure Amelia was in fact staying at The Three Broomsticks before saying anything to Ellie. She resolved to go down after breakfast. Dumbledore, who was sitting on her left, seemed to have had the same idea about going to Hogsmeade. He suddenly looked about the staff table and asked if anyone wished to accompany him to The Three Broomsticks that morning for a butterbeer. Some staff members nodded their heads, others graciously declined. At first Snape had been one of the latter, but Dumbledore pressed him, and Snape rolled his eyes and agreed.

"Splendid!" Dumbledore told them. "Drinks are on me of course!"

Within the hour, Professor McGonagall was sitting at a long table in The Three Broomsticks, along with Dumbledore, Snape, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Professor Sinestra, Madame Hooch and Hagrid. Everyone chatted away happily apart from Snape, who looked glum. Professor McGonagall excused herself from the group while Dumbledore ordered a round of butterbeers from the barmaid, and approached the bar. Madam Rosmerta was standing behind it and smiled when Professor McGonagall beckoned to her.

"What can I do for you?" she asked, and Professor McGonagall asked her if an Amelia Ryan was staying there.

"Yes, she is. In fact," Madam Rosmerta began, "she's just walked through the door right now!"

Professor McGonagall thanked Madam Rosmerta, and turned to see a familiar, although older now, face standing behind her. Amelia recognised her immediately.

"Professor McGonagall! I was hoping I would see you!" she exclaimed.

Her voice got Dumbledore's attention and when he turned his head and saw Amelia, he too recognised her and jumped out of his chair to greet her.

"So good to see you!" he told her, and insisted she join their table. Amelia gladly accepted and took a seat at the end of the table, opposite Snape, as Dumbledore called for another butterbeer.

When Amelia took her seat, she and Snape glanced at each other briefly, each recognising the other instantly. Snape's eyes bulged and he looked away quickly, and Amelia cleared her throat awkwardly. They each felt horrified – Snape because he knew that Amelia knew of his relationship with Claudia, and Amelia because she knew who Ellie's father was, and wasn't sure what, if anything, Snape knew.

Professor McGonagall brought up Ellie immediately, which made both Snape and Amelia squirm in their seats.

"Eleanora will be delighted to meet you Amelia!" Professor McGonagall told her.

Amelia shot a nervous glance at Snape, and then replied in a shaky voice, "Good! I'm looking forward to seeing her."

Snape caught Amelia's glance and his eyes narrowed. She knew. Well of course she must have known, Claudia was her best friend, but Snape felt angry. Amelia had known all along in their last year at Hogwarts together that Snape had a daughter and she didn't say a word to him.

"The poor girl doesn't really have anyone," Professor McGonagall continued. "No mother, no father (Snape flinched at this, although it went unnoticed by anyone – apart from an uneasy Amelia and a curious Dumbledore), and her guardian is very ill."

"Oh dear, I didn't know that," Amelia replied.

"You shall have to come up to the school and see her Amelia," Dumbledore told her.

"Of course," Amelia said, shooting Snape another look.

The conversation turned to more general topics, although neither Snape nor Amelia paid much attention. Eventually, Dumbledore announced he had to return to Hogwarts. He invited Amelia to come and visit the school that afternoon, and she agreed immediately. The other staff members got up to follow Dumbledore, but Snape made excuses to stay on, saying he had some business in Hogsmeade to attend to. Dumbledore nodded his head, a twinkle in his eye. Snape and Amelia remained at the table. When Snape was sure the others had really gone he moved in closer to Amelia.

"You knew!" he hissed at her.

Amelia bowed her head, ashamed.

"I'm sorry Severus," she mumbled.

"Sorry?" he exclaimed, and then quickly lowered his voice, not wanting anyone to overhear their conversation.

"Sorry? Sorry that you kept this secret from me or sorry that I found out?" he snapped.

"Both," she admitted. He glared at her, so she explained.

"You have to understand, Claudia swore me to secrecy. She didn't want you to know."

"Why not?" he snarled.

"Because she was scared!" Amelia cried.

These words shocked Snape.

"Scared?" he repeated, his tone softening.

"Yes, scared," Amelia replied gently. "You were getting involved with that Lucius Malfoy. Claudia was afraid you were going to join up with that pure-blood group. And you did, didn't you?" Her tone was accusing. Snape looked guiltily at the floor for a moment.

"It's in the past," he replied, quietly. Amelia nodded. There was an awkward silence, broken a minute later by Amelia.

"How did you find out? When she came to Hogwarts?" Amelia asked, curious.

"I knew she was Claudia's daughter when I saw her. There was no mistaking it. I didn't realise my own relationship to her for several months. It didn't occur to me that Claudia would keep something like that from me."

"What tipped you off?"

"Her age. When I thought about it, I realised that there was no other possible explanation," Snape admitted.

"Does she know?"

Snape sighed before answering.

"No."

"When are you going to tell her?"

Snape looked uncomfortable for a moment.

"Never," he said curtly.

Amelia frowned.

"Never? What do you mean never?" she asked, confused.

Snape sighed again.

"I mean she must never know," Snape stated, avoiding eye contact with Amelia.

"Are you serious?" Amelia asked incredulously.

"It is for the best," Snape said flatly.

"For the best? She's your daughter!" Amelia cried, her voice raised.

"Would you keep your voice down for goodness sakes?" Snape hissed as heads turned in their direction.

Amelia scoffed.

"You're a piece of work, you know that," she said, shaking her head with disgust.

"Excuse me?" he asked indignantly.

"You heard me! How can you keep something like that a secret!" she said.

Snape gave her a cold look.

"I would have thought you of all people would know that, Amelia," he sneered.

Amelia's cheeks turned pink.

"That was different!" she insisted.

It was Snape's turn to scoff.

"Oh really?" he replied coolly.

Amelia glared at him, angry at the smug expression on his face.

"I want you to promise me you won't tell the girl," Snape said suddenly.

"Severus, I really think that…" she began, but Snape cut her off.

"I don't care what you think!" he hissed. "Just give me your word. It's for her own good."

Amelia considered the request for a minute.

"All right," she finally said, agreeing. "But only because I think you should be the one to tell her," she added.

"Don't hold your breath," Snape muttered, and stood up.

"Thank you for understanding Amelia," he said. "I shall no doubt see you this afternoon."

He nodded to her, and then stalked off.

Amelia watched him go with a look of loathing on her face. That poor girl -having him for a father. Amelia shook her head, and then got up to go to her room. After a morning like that, she needed to lie down for a while to prepare for her afternoon trip to Hogwarts.