Author's Notes: Thank you to everyone who read this story! A special thank you to all who reviewed! The next "chapter" is pretty much a post-mortem of the story, so there's no need to read it if you're not interested.

Once again, thanks for reading!

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

Epilogue

23 February 1997

Professor Snape sat hunched at a table in The Three Broomsticks, feeling decidedly uncomfortable. His eyes darted about nervously. A waitress approached him and asked him what he would like, giving him a curious stare. Snape scowled to himself. He knew it must look strange him sitting here alone – he never set foot in the place unless he was dragged here by Dumbledore. He ordered a scotch, which caused the waitress to raise her eyebrow briefly.

"Just yourself here today Professor Snape?" she enquired with a twinkle in her eye.

Snape scowled again.

"I'm waiting for someone," he gruffly informed her. She nodded her head and went off to get his drink. A moment later, she came back, setting a glass on the table in front of him.

"Enjoy your drink," she told him, and he glared after her in annoyance.

Snape spent a solid minute complaining to himself about having to sit in this annoying pit before he glanced up and saw her. He jumped up, knocking the table and spilling half of his drink.

She was standing in the doorway, a warm smile on her face. Although it had been almost six years, he recognised her immediately. Those twinkling eyes were still her mother's eyes. His breath was taken away as he took her in. She was no longer a scrawny thirteen-year-old girl as he remembered her, but instead a tall, beautiful young woman stood in her place. She bore a remarkable resemblance to her mother, but Snape noted to himself that she was taller, and her complexion had remained pale – like him, despite the sunny Californian weather she had been exposed to for the last six years.

She stepped forward, still smiling. He moved to meet her. They met in the centre of the room, coming to a stop in front of each other.

"Hi," she said in a shy voice.

"Ellie," he replied in an awe-struck voice, and received a warm look for his effort. They stood together in silence for several moments, until Ellie laughed awkwardly. Starting, Snape shook himself out of his stupor and gestured to the table he had been sitting at. Without a word, Ellie followed him and took a seat opposite him.

"It's good to see you," she told him warmly, offering him another smile.

"I was surprised to get your letter," Snape admitted. Ellie nodded vigorously and laughed.

"I thought you might be! But I'm glad you agreed to see me," she said.

"Of course," he told her.

There was another silence, broken by the same waitress as before, who appeared at the table and asked Ellie if she would like anything.

"Oh! I'll have a butterbeer please!" she told her, and the waitress nodded and scuttled off.

"I only ever had one once, but it was the best thing I ever tasted!" Ellie whispered to Snape. He nodded, and Ellie suddenly smiled to herself, as if she were amused by something.

"Still at Hogwarts then?" Ellie said.

"Yes."

"Congratulations by the way. I heard you finally got the Defence Against the Dark Arts job."

Snape hesitated for a moment and then muttered a, "thank you."

"Did you keep up with your training?" he asked suddenly. Ellie laughed and nodded. Leaning closer to him and lowering her voice, she added more seriously, "these are dark times. I have to admit, I do sleep easier at night thanks to your teaching."

"How is your Occlumency?" he whispered to her.

"Try me," she whispered, her eyes gleaming playfully. Snape stared at her for a moment, and then his lips curved into a thin smile.

"You haven't forgotten then," he said, satisfied.

"You have nothing to worry about," she told him. He raised an eyebrow for a moment.

"Nobody knows, except Amelia and Jamie of course," she told him.

"Good," he muttered. Ellie shook her head, but she had a wry smile on her face.

The waitress appeared again with Ellie's drink, who took it gratefully.

"Ahem. How is Mr. Logan, now that you've mentioned him," Snape asked.

Ellie blushed slightly.

"Well… we're going to get married," she admitted.

Snape's eyes bulged and his heart stopped for a moment. He gripped the table.

"Indeed!" he replied. Ellie laughed at him.

"Yes! Don't act so surprised!"

"Oh I'm not surprised at all, believe me," Snape muttered. Ellie laughed again.

"That's actually why I'm here," she told him, sobering up.

"I see," Snape said, suddenly wishing that he and Ellie were in some place more private.

"I know Jamie was never your favourite person, but I wanted you to know."

Snape nodded.

"….And, I was wondering if…"

Snape closed his eyes and put up his hand, signalling for Ellie to stop.

"What's wrong?" she asked frowning.

Snape darted his eyes about, and grunted.

"Let's go for a walk," he finally said, standing up.

"I don't understand…" Ellie began as she got up to follow Snape.

Snape was silent until they were outside.

"Can you apparate?" he asked her. She nodded, confused.

"Meet me at the main entrance to Hogwarts," he told her. She gave him a puzzled look, but disappeared in front of him. Half a second later, he followed.

She was waiting for him at the gate. He looked furtively about and then took out his wand and tapped the gates. He then pushed one open and gestured to Ellie to go inside. He followed her in, tapping the gates behind him. Taking her arm, he led her away from the main path, and they walked for quite a while until they came to a wild looking part of the grounds, surrounded by trees. Snape looked about again, and waved his wand, muttering something that Ellie didn't quite catch.

"It should be safe enough to talk here," he said.

"Okay, what's that all about?" Ellie asked, puzzled.

Snape sighed.

"There are some things I never got around to telling you about me Ellie," he confessed.

They talked for hours, Ellie's expression alternating between wonder, horror and shock. When Snape had finished his story Ellie nodded and then remarked, "I guess this means you won't be coming to the wedding." She gave him a wry smile, but her eyes registered her disappointment.

"I don't think it would be a good idea," Snape admitted.

"That's okay," she told him. "I'm glad you told me why."

"I should probably get back. Jamie's a bit worried about me being here, what with everything that's been reported in the news," she added.

"Yes, you should get back. You're safer there than you are here."

"Um, before we go… I want to you to know something," Ellie said, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

Snape waited, curious.

"I… I love you Dad," she said. Snape looked surprised, but not unpleasantly so. He opened his mouth, and Ellie could see the internal struggle he was facing in his eyes.

"Hey," she whispered. "It's okay, I know."

She smiled at him, and he could not help a small smile in return.

They walked back to the gates in silence. Snape opened them for Ellie, and stepped out into the lane with her.

They stared at each other for a moment before parting

"Goodbye," Ellie said finally, giving Snape the same warm smile she had greeted him with.

"Goodbye," he replied, his expression neutral, save for a twinkle in his eyes that Ellie could correctly interpret.

One more smile, and she disappeared in front of him. He stared at the spot in which she had just been standing. Once again, he was left alone… and once again, he wondered if he would ever see his daughter again.

The End