"You have it right Hermione?"

"No Harry. I left it. How long have you known me?" She smacked his head.

"Ow. Sorry, this just has to be perfect."

They were sitting in an abandoned Leaky Cauldron. The only other person there was Tom. Harry had use Muffiato on Tom, not because he didn't trust him, but with what had happened with Madame Rosmerta, he wasn't taking any chances.

"It'll be fine mate." Ron said next to him.

"Just-"

But before he could finish his sentence, a hooded figure came out of the fireplace. This had to have been the most business Tom had seen in months. The figure pulled off its hood to reveal a dark haired girl with a fair complexion.

"May I help you miss?" Tom asked.

"Yes, just a drink, thanks, and has Harry Potter arrived yet?" Her voice was soft and beautiful.

"Yes, he's over there." He pointed to where the trio was sitting. She thanked him and walked over to them.

"Harry Potter?"

"Hello. Elaine Snape?"

"Urgh. No, please, call me Ella."

"Hello Ella. Please sit." He gestured to the opposite side of the table.

"Wow." She laughed, "You'd think I was on trial…of course I am."

"I'm sorry Ella, but-"

"No need to apologize. Children are often persecuted for their parent's doings. If what I've heard is correct then I would have convicted myself already." She laughed. "Just know that my father has his reasons for doing things, good or bad, but he always has a reason."

"What were his reasons for getting my parents killed? What was his reason for killing Dumbledore?" Harry stood up quickly knocking over their drinks.

"I don't know about the latter, but…but I was the reason for the first one, well me and my mom. Voldermort threatened to kill my mom if he didn't continue to follow him. My mom got pregnant with me and my dad was so proud I'd be born he couldn't risk it. He wouldn't risk it." She started to sob.

"Is that the line he fed you?" Harry growled.

"No, that's his memory, my mom's memory!"

"Oh." Harry sat back down.

"Let me get us more drinks." Hermione jumped up to get them more. "Here, I'm sorry but what did you have Ella?"

"Just pumpkin juice, thanks." She smiled as Hermione returned with her glass.

"So how old are you?" Hermione asked sitting down.

"Oh, seventeen. I hate apparition though." She added as an afterthought.

"You used Voldermort's name." Harry said more to himself then to Ella.

"Well why not. He wants us to be afraid of a name. Please, I'd be more afraid of a toaster then his name!" She giggled.

"Toaster?" Ron looked quizzical. "Oh, that muggle device. I think my Dad has one. Why would you be afraid of that?"

"My point exactly. I mean unless you jab a fork into it, then…" She stared crying so hard from her laughing.

The trio exchanged glances.

"So when did you last have contact with your dad?" Ron eyed her suspiciously.

"Oh, I don't know. Before I was three, or maybe when I turned three. He'd sent me a birthday card. The first and only I've received form him. That's when I got this." She pulled out a locket with an S on it. "He said it was something someone he knew had found. Told me the S was for Snape. Told me to always keep it with me. Take care of it. It would be useful one day. It has a charm on it so it won't come off. To where I can't even get it off." She laughed.

"Do you laugh often?" Ron wondered which threw her into more laughing. "Well, I guess that settles it then."

"I'm sorry, but yes. Constantly actually." She added followed by more giggling.

"So that's…wait can I see that? The necklace?" Harry's voice could hardly mask his growing excitement.

"Um…Yeah, sure." She leaned across the table.

"This is it." He whispered.

"What's what?" She asked.

"Never mind." He leaned back in hi seat. "So that's the only contact you've had with Snape?"

"Yup, for the last seventeen years, I've only seen and talked to my mom, Dumbledore, McGonagall and now him," indicating Tom, "and now, you three." She blushed.

"Would you excuse us?" Harry asked ushering Hermione out of her seat and followed by Ron.

"Yeah, just don't take to long on your verdict please."

"That's it. That's Slytherin's locket!" Harry exclaimed.

"Well then, that settles it, she helps us!" Hermione triumphantly.

"I guess so, Ron?"

"Yeah, just keep an eye on her. You added the Veritaserum right Hermione?"

"Yes Ronald!"

"Ella, let's go." And with tat they gave their goodbyes to Tom and walked into Muggle London towards number 12 Grimmauld Place.