Author's Notes: Another short one. Although it may not seem like it initially, this chapter is important, as we get to take a look inside Ellie's head and see where she is with her feelings for Snape and their relationship. Next chapter deals with Snape's thoughts on Ellie.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Thirty-Four: A New Year

Ellie felt strange to be in the Gryffindor common room on her first night back at Hogwarts, with Jamie not being there. She glanced at the corner they used to sit in and talk about everything – lessons, their problems, elaborate plans to get Devin Farley, Snape…

Her life had changed so much since coming to Hogwarts, but the one person she could always rely on for support, the one person she felt would always be there, was gone. It only fully hit her as she went and took her usual place, and there was no Jamie sitting beside her, and there never would be again. It made her feel strange, empty inside with nothing to look forward to.

This should have been a good year for her. She had found her father and was beginning to forge some sort of relationship with him. With all the extra lessons she had taken with Snape, most of her classes would be a breeze. She had spent two years immersed in the wizarding world and she felt at home here. If Jamie had been with her, everything would have been perfect.

"Ellie, did you have a good summer?"

It was Amy. She came over and sat in Jamie's usual spot. Her expression was sympathetic. Ellie guessed she was trying to cheer her up about Jamie's departure.

"It was okay. What about you?"

"Oh, pretty boring. I just stayed at home with my Mum and Dad. What did you do?"

Ellie pretended to rub her nose and hid a grin behind her hand. If only she knew!

"I spent the first few days in London…"

"London! Oh, you're so lucky! I've begged Mum to take me shopping in London!"

"Yeah, it was pretty nice I suppose."

"What else did you do?"

"I went to California…"

"What?"

Amy had shrieked so loudly that Helen appeared in front of them, wondering what was up.

"Ellie went to California!"

"Oh wow Ellie! Did you see Jamie?"

"Er, yeah, I did…"

"That's so cool! We only went to France for a few days."

"Yeah, what a brilliant summer you had Ellie."

"Oh and by the way, I also spent a month with Professor Snape," Ellie thought to herself. She wondered if Amy and Helen would think she had such a great summer if they knew about that.

What kind of summer did she have anyway? She had certainly enjoyed herself when she was with Amelia – London, her family's home and California had all been wonderful. What about her time with Snape – how would she describe that?

A month was a long time to spend virtually exclusively in one person's company. In theory, she should have come away with a greater understanding of Snape's character, but as Ellie looked back over their time together, she felt she could not work him out. Why had he consented to her staying with him? Had it been out of a sense of obligation? Had it been because of genuine paternal affection, or had it been because Snape saw it as an opportunity to make her into the kind of child he wanted to have, as opposed to the child he did have.

All his talk about his mother's family and their grand academic traditions – although at first Ellie had felt honoured that Snape wanted to share them with her, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was more Snape would feel ashamed if she didn't meet up to whatever standards Snape felt a "Prince" had to hold to, rather than a father wanting to pass his knowledge on to his daughter. Should it matter to her if the former were the case? After all, Snape had barely known Ellie when Amelia had asked him to take her in – why should it bother her.

"Because he knew you were his daughter for over a year and he's had plenty of time to get to know you if he wanted to, but he didn't – not until he had to," a quiet voice inside her head whispered.

Ellie tried to ignore this. After all – he had taken her in. That meant something. If he really wanted nothing to do with her then he would not even allow her to be ranked as a Prince in his mind, let alone allow her to live in his house and devote his time to teaching her. Amelia herself had said that she had expected Snape to tell her to get lost, but he didn't. There must be something there, something Ellie couldn't see yet. Snape was a reserved person - that she did know; perhaps it was unfair to expect some declaration of familial affection just yet.

He was happy with her progress in his lessons. If she continued to work hard, then perhaps Snape may loosen up around her.

Ellie felt a guilty pang as she thought of the book that was packed away in her trunk, still only half read. Well, she had tonight and all day tomorrow before dinner to read it (tomorrow being Sunday). She would show Snape what a good daughter she was.

Ellie walked the familiar path to Snape's dungeon office, the book tucked under her arm. She had spent most of the day in her bedroom finishing it.

She knocked at the door, and entered upon Snape's command.

"Good evening Professor," she said politely.

Snape was sitting at his desk. His eyes met hers with a cold stare.

"Take a seat," he told her. Ellie frowned. She had been hoping for a warmer greeting than that.

"I read the book," Ellie offered.

Snape gazed at the book in Ellie's lap.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Er…"

"Vampires are a fascinating subject," Snape continued, not waiting for Ellie's answer.

Ellie laughed nervously. Why did he find them a fascinating subject? Maybe she should just ask once and for all.

"I brought some more books for you to study in your spare time. For your eyes only, understood?"

"Yes sir."

"Good," Snape said with a thin smile.

There was silence for a moment. Ellie wondered if he waiting for her to say something.

"How are you finding Gryffindor Tower without Mr. Logan?" he asked suddenly.

Ellie was surprised by this question. She knew Snape was not fond of Jamie. In fact, his loathing for Jamie had seemed to increase exponentially with every hint that she had cared very much for him. It was about the only thing that really made Ellie feel like Snape had some parental feelings for her – the fact that he was left absolutely seething after every time during an Occlumency lesson when memories of her closeness with Jamie would flash through her mind.

"It's not the same," Ellie admitted. Snape nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, I dare say it's not."

Ellie was confused by this. Was he encouraging her to miss Jamie now? Hadn't he tried to convince her that he was holding her back and she was better off without him only a month ago? Why the sudden change of heart?

"Now, vampires. Tell me, how would you recognise one?"

The first week back at Hogwarts without Jamie was a tough adjustment for Ellie to make. Although she got along well with her other classmates, there was no one that she had been especially close to apart from Jamie. It was difficult to try and get more involved with the others too when Snape had set her a mountain of extra work to do on top of the homework she got in her regular classes, not to mention the daily extra classes after dinner. She was asked a few times where she disappeared off to in the evenings. She knew Snape did not want her mentioning the extra lessons to anyone, so she lied and said she had detentions with Snape instead. The sympathetic looks she got from the others made her feel guilty, but she couldn't tell them the truth. It did sting her a bit when some well-meant insults were hurled Snape's way, but considering all the insults she and Jamie had come up between them for him she knew it would look very odd if she spoke up against them, so she bit her lip.

Snape's extra work was starting to feel like a huge burden already, and they were only a week into the term. Ellie shuddered to think about what it would be like in a few months. She struggled on however; glad that at least it enabled her to spend some time with her father. She wished it could be without the books, but maybe in time…