A/N: YAY! Two reviews! Thanks! Must type this up quick! Have to leave for church mass thing in like an hour… got to eat breakfast… got ready….okay… now a response to the reviews:

Breanna Senese: Thanks! Lmao you'll find out what Snape gets, I hope you wont be too disappointed… lolz

TwilightArc: Yeah! AKFG! WOOT! FMA! Finished watching the anime like a week ago… I must see the movie! I know that Severus' hate towards Muggles and Muggleborns is quite strong, but this fight does happen when he is 16, so he is a moody teenager. And about the time line thingy, yes I know that first death eater, next spy, then teacher. I think the way I worded it in the prologue is the reason why you mention it. Maybe I should said the spy first and then the teacher job… shrugs thanks for the review!

Summary: End Sixth year to Seventh year. Severus Snape's sister dies and he inherits something he never wanted, but slowly and surly will grow on him. With the war starting, is it possible for him to keep the things he cares for safe?

Disclaimer: I'm not married, I have no kids, I'm not British, and I am so not a genius. So in conclusion, I do not own Harry Potter. And if anything seems familiar to you, then I don't own it! I do own the plot and any OC characters!

OoOoOoOoO

Shell smashed, juices flowing

Wings twitch, legs are going,

Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel.

One day, I'm gonna grow wings,

A chemical reaction

Hysterical and useless

Hysterical and…

-Let Down, by Radiohead.

OoOoOoO

Thicker Than Water

By LalathePanda

Chapter One: Of Ends and Beginnings

1996

"Mess up, and not only do you fail today's lesson, but most likely be sent to the Hospital Wing." Severus Snape warned the class of fourth year HufflePuffs and RavenClaws. "The ingredients are at the back, directions on the board." He paused for a moment, as if to add drama. "Begin."

The sounds of chairs being pushed back, students rushing to get ingredients and those ingredients being chopped and boiled filled the room for the next hour. Ten minuets before class ended, the potion master got up from his desk and inspected the cauldrons. Out of the twenty-eight students, only four failed.

"Class dismissed." Ordered Severus. As the students left his classroom, you could hear the happy relief of the fourth years. The greasy blacked haired man went back to his desk and proceeded to grade essays and other various homework assignments. He sat at his desk until dinner when he placed his red inked quill down and headed for the Great Hall. When he entered the hall there were some students, but all of the professors were already at the table. Severus got to the head table and took his spot. A few moments later students began to fill the tables and the Great Hall of Hogwarts was bursting with life.

If you looked at the hall, you can tell that it was different than last year. For one thing, with the war starting up, muggle parents believe that their children were safe in Hogwarts due to the fact that He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named is afraid of the headmaster. All of the muggleborns in England, Scotland, and Ireland were at Hogwarts. But if you looked at the table of green and silver, one could tell that the number occupants of the table have decreased. Many of the pureblooded families took their children out of the school. But not all, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Blaise Zabini, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and most importantly, Draco Malfoy were some of the students that stayed at the castle.

Then, all of a sudden the hall went quiet. Severus looked up from his plate to see what hushed the students. An owl. An owl came in; slowly making it's way to the head table. It landed right in front of him. All of a sudden all eyes were on him. It was very strange for one to get a letter at Hogwarts during dinner. Severus untied the package from the leg of the owl.

After reading the piece of parchment, he got up and quickly went to Albus Dumbledore. "Albus, something happened and I need to leave." Severus whispered to the headmaster.

Dumbledore arched his eyebrow. "Oh, why, Severus?"

"Its my sister. Something happened." He handed the aged wizard the letter. Dumbledore read the letter and then handed it back to him.

"How long will you be gone?" Dumbledore asked.

"Most likely a week or so. I'll tell you once I find out." Severus replied.

"I'll see you in a week then."

Severus nodded and left the Great Hall causing whispers and gossip to spread across the four tables.

OoOoOoO

In the town of Salem, Massachusetts, a young fifteen year old girl walked into her third class of the day, History of Magic. She attended The Salem Witches' Institute; an all witches school. She quickly went to her seat, near the window, and opened her textbook. As she reviewed yesterday's notes, she felt a presence next to her. It was her best friend, Phoebe. The two said their hellos and began to talk about last night's assignment. As Phoebe helped the girl with a problem, snickering could be heard from behind. Behind the two sat the four most obnoxious girls in their school. Third period was the time these four had class together. They loved to spend the hour making fun of the two. Every day they heard side remarks, jokes, and side whispers about them, most of them were directed at the other girl.

"Ignore them, Bella." Said Phoebe as the two looked over their homework assignments. She pushed up her eyeglasses. "They're just being jerks."

Bella Marianna Dougherty just gave a small nod. "Yeah, I know." Soon the teacher entered the room and the lesson began. As the class took notes, Bella's mind wandered about and her eyes drifted to the window. Her eyes watched as the tree's arms would swing back and forth in the cool summer breeze. She felt Phoebe gave her a nudge and she quickly went back to work.

As she copied the notes absent-mindedly her mind strayed off to other things, such as her next test for Transfiguration, and her essay for potion, 'I'll do that in the morning', She thought. Bella frankly didn't really care for potions; maybe it was because she sucked at it. Bella gave a mental sigh as she copied down notes about the Salem Witch Trials, the history teacher's favorite subject.

As Bella's mind slowly digressed from the main subject of note taking, her notes now looked liked rows and rows of scribbles, the principal walked into the classroom.

"Miss Dougherty." The history teacher called. Bella was slow to responded so Phoebe had to give a nudge.

Bella looked up from her notes. "Yes?"

"The Principal would like to talk to you." The teacher pointed to the older women who stood near the door.

"Take you things." Said Mrs. Went.

Bella nodded and began to pack her notes, books and other things that were on her desk. As she did, Vicki, one of the four girls, hissed, "I think that this school is finally getting rid of all the losers."

Bella closed her bag. "I guess you are next then." She replied.

Vicki would of done something, but with the principal and teacher in the room, she was wise enough to choose not to say anything.

"I'll see you later." Phoebe whispered as Bella passed her. Bella gave a small wave to her best friend before leaving the room with Mrs. Went.

As the two stepped into the hall, Bella could tell something was wrong right off the bat. "Did I do something?"

"No, Bella, it has nothing do to with school." Mrs. Went replied. "It… Its about home."

"What?"

"Oh… how do I say this… um." Mrs. Went paused before continuing. "It's your mom and dad, something happened."

"What? What do you mean? What happened?" Bella gave the principal a confused look. The older witch gave Bella a look of pity.

"They're dead, Bella."

OoOoOoO

Bella sat in the car as one of her teachers drove who offered her to take her home. Bella had no one else, except for her parents. She hadn't said anything to anyone. Her eyes were red and her face was tearstained. When she was packing her things in the dorm, Phoebe came in and asked what had happened. Bella said nothing to her but began to cry. When she left, Mrs. Doves and her took a portkey and then once in the state they drove to her house. Now she sat in the back of a car, in Virginia.

"They're dead, Bella." "Three more weeks until summer!"

"It was a car crash."

"I can't wait for the family road trip! It's gonna be a blast!"

"They were murdered."

"Three weeks seem so long…"

"I'm so sorry."

"We'll see you soon, Bella!"

Bella wiped the new tears from her face. She was never going to see them again. She was an orphan. She was alone. The teacher driving, Mrs. Doves, saw Bella crying from her rear-view mirror.

"Are you okay, Bella?" Mrs. Doves asked. Bella said nothing a looked out the window, out into the passing fields. An hour later they reached Bella's home. It was a normal looking house in a normal Suburban neighborhood. Her home had nice green lawn, with a beautiful two-story house. The house had a back yard with a huge willow tree that had a swing. She grew up in what American society considered a normal family. Even though both her parents were British, and had thick accents that never seemed to go away no matter how long they lived in America, Bella grew up an American girl.

Bella stepped out of the car as Mrs. Doves levitated her trunk out of the trunk of the car. Bella groped for her house keys in her backpack. Once she found them she place the key into the keyhole and turned the knob. Upon entering the empty and quiet house, Bella had an eerie feeling come over her.

"Where would you like your trunk?" Mrs. Doves asked as she walked into the foyer of the home.

Bella turned around; she had almost forgot that her teacher was there. "Oh, you can place it in my room." Mrs. Doves nodded and began to head upstairs. "It's the first door to the left." Bella added.

Bella dropped her backpack onto the side of the hall and went into the kitchen. No one was in there. She really hoped that her mother was in the kitchen, saying it was a prank call and cooking something up for dinner. But Belinda Dougherty wasn't in the kitchen. She then checked her father's office; Brian Dougherty wasn't there. Bella shook her head and ran her hand through her thick black hair.

"Is everything okay?" Bella turned around and saw Mrs. Doves.

"Yeah."

"That good. I'll be heading back to the school. You know you'll be gone for the rest of the school year right?" Bella nodded. "Okay, We'll see you next term." And with that Mrs. Doves went back to the car and drove off. Bella waited until she could no longer hear the car before her way up the stairs to her room.

OoOoOoO

The day of the funeral was hot. Severus dressed up in a white muggle long sleeve button-up, black slack, and a black tie. He sat in the far back so he would get noticed. When it came to go up to the casket. Severus skipped his brother-in-law and went right to Belinda's. He stood next to the polished wooden box the held his sister. Both caskets were closed. He heard that the car accident was horrible. He ran his fingers along the part were her head would lie. Severus then took his hand off the casket and made his way back to his seat.

The last person in line was a young girl, probably around the age of fourteen or fifteen. She had pale skin and black hair that was in a bun. Her nose was small but a bit pointed at the end. She had high cheekbones and, to what Severus believes, black eyes. She wore a black spaghetti strapped dress that went down to her knees and had creamy white flower pin over the left breast. She was obviously the daughter and Severus's niece.

The funeral came to a close and Severus went to a remote part of the cemetery so he could apparate back to his hotel room and get ready for the reading of the will, which would take place in an hour.

So in an hour, Severus walked into a law firm, a wizard one disguised as a muggle firm, and was directed to the meeting room. When he opened the door and was greeted by a very long wooden table with only two occupants, the lawyer and his niece.

OoOoO

Bella sat across from Mr. Biggs, her parents' lawyer. Mr. Biggs informed her that another was coming in for the reading of the will. That confused Bella, because she thought that she was the only one of her family now, and most likely the only one mention in her parent's will.

"Um, Mr. Biggs. Who is this other person?" Bella questioned. The older man was about to say something when the door opened. A man with black hair, pale skin, and what Bella noticed the most was his almost black eyes, like her and her mom's. He was also dressed in wizard robes.

'Wait… wizard robes? But… wait… huh?' the thoughts in Bella's head began to make her head hurt. Her parents knew a wizard? 'But, they were muggles! And this was a muggle law firm! How did he get here?'

"Miss. Dougherty, this is Severus Snape. He is your new guardian." Mr. Biggs introduced the two.

"But… you're a wizard? Wait! But how do you know…?" Bella had a very confused look on her face.

"This is a wizard law firm, Bella." Mr. Biggs explained as Severus Snape sat down a chair away from her.

"But… why would my parents have a wizard as a lawyer? They're muggles! Did they know?"

Severus looked livid. "They didn't tell her? They lived as muggles?" his voice sounded harsh and cold to Bella.

"What?" Bella looked between her new guardian and the lawyer. "My parents were…?"

"Yes, they were wizards, Bella." Mr. Biggs answered. "Why they lived as muggles, I don't know. But we are here to read out the will." The other wizard nodded, but Bella wanted to know Severus' connection to her parents.

Mr. Biggs read out the will. Severus was to take care of Bella until her legal age. Bella inherited a large around of money. When Severus heard the amount he asked, "Belinda never touched her inheritance?"

Mr. Biggs shook his head. "Nope, it appears she didn't, and because of interest, the amount grew to a pretty large sum of money. Now about you, you have no children, correct?"

"No, and I have no plans for any." He replied.

"I see. Now since you are Bella's legal guardian now and she is the only Snape alive besides you. She will inherit the Snape name and Estate upon your death."

"Wait!" Bella stopped the two. "I'm related to you?"

"Yes, it appears that I am your uncle." He replied. "I am your mother's brother."

"But… then why didn't she mention you to me?"

Severus redirected his eyes and fixed them on the glass of water before him. "She must've had her reasons."

"Oh, so… then… I'm a Snape?" She asked.

"Well, yes." Mr. Biggs cut in. "And once all the documents are processed, your last name will be legally changed to Snape. It will be the only way to get the Snape inheritance upon your uncle's death." The lawyer then knocked on the wooden table.

"Erm… wow…" Bella ran her hand through her hair. A part of her life had just been unearthed. "So, let me get this straight. You are my uncle; I'm a Snape. I'm going to live with you, and I'm heir to the Snape fortune. If my parents were both wizards, am I a pureblood?"

"No, your father was a muggleborn. Your mother came from a pureblood line." Severus answered. "And I do believe that you'll be living with me in about two weeks."

"Where do you live?" She asked.

"Haven't you noticed his accent?" asked the lawyer as he closed his folder, the meeting was done. Bella looked at her uncle.

Severus then said, "You're moving to England."

OoOoOoO

The very next morning Bella woke up and went right to her parent's room. It was hard for her to go in, but she did and it took almost all her courage to do so. She went to the dresser and knelt down and picked the lock of the bottom drawer. That bottom drawer was the one her parents always kept locked. Bella gave an educational guess that that drawer held her parent's wands. And she was right. In the drawer lined with the softest blanket she felt, were two wands. As she held the two wands in her hands, she wondered which wand belonged to whom. Maybe her new uncle would know. She took out the blanket and wrapped the two wands in it and took the two magical items to her room.

As she carefully hid them in her school trunk the doorbell rang. She dusted her knees and went downstairs to the door. Bella looked through the eyehole and broke into a smile. Bella unlocked the door and opened it.

"Bella!" Phoebe hugged her friend.

"Phoebe! What are you doing here?" Bella asked as the two separated.

"School ended yesterday! I'm so sorry was unable to attend the funeral!" Phoebe wiped a tear from her face. "But I'm making that up by staying here the rest of the summer until the next term starts!" Bella's smile faltered. "What's wrong, Bella?"

"Oh gosh… there are so many things I have to tell you… But I'm leaving for England in two weeks." Bella took her friend's bags and set them on the floor. And Bella led her to the family room.

"What? Why?"

"You know how my parents had thick English accents?"

Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, isn't it strange, didn't you move from Italy when you were five?"

"Yeah, well my parents are from England and it turns out my mom has a brother, my uncle. I'm moving in with him now since he is my guardian." Said Bella. "Not only that, but both of my parents were wizards! I found their wands! My father was a muggleborn and my mom was a pureblood! And since my uncle has no kids I'm going to inherit the Snape family fortune! Which I might add is a whole heck of a lot of dough!"

"Oh my God! Really? That's… that's…" Phoebe had no idea what to say.

"Amazing? Odd? Weird? My parents lied to me, Phoebe!" Bella growled. "They lied about my past! My blood! Did they think this was the way I was going to find out?"

"Bella," Phoebe began. "Be happy, at least you found out."

Bella let out a frustrated sigh. "Yeah, your right. I guess…" She sank into the couch.

"Hey, you're leaving in two weeks right?" Phoebe said after a short period of awkward silence. Bella gave a nod. "Well then, let's makes this the two best weeks of your life!"

OoOoO

While Phoebe unpacked in the guest room, Bella went to take a shower and dress up. The two agreed to spend today shopping, in New York City. Since Bella inherited her mother's money, she was able to have access to it. After Phoebe heard how much Bella bank account now held, the two agreed to go shopping. Even though Bella insisted for her best friend to use her money for shopping, Phoebe said that she would use her own money for her things. Both of Phoebe's parents had pretty well paying jobs.

The two spent a moment figuring out if they should shop muggle or wizard. But Bella said that they should shop muggle since she remembered that the day before after the reading of the will, her uncle told her that he would buy her some robes when he found out that all she had was her school robes since she was raised as a muggle. He also mention that he would give her some of her mother's old robes from her school days since they were the same size. Luckily, Bella would look that much out of style in the old robes since fashion in the magical world hasn't changed that much since, well, the early 1900s.

Bella combed her hair and used a charmed blow dryer to dry her hair quickly as possible. She applied a thin layer of make-up and tied her hair in a low ponytail. She slipped on a pair of distressed flare jeans, a lime green-short sleeve Lacrosse Polo shirt, and a white three row studded belt. On her feet was a pair of chucks that she had for quite some time now. Her right wrist had two multi colored Buddha bracelets and her left had her favorite watch. As she stuffed her Etro Color-Block mini shoulder bag with various things, Phoebe walked into the room.

Her best friend wore a mini jean skirt, an orange tank that had DKNY studded across the chest and orange converse high tops. She carried a white Marc-by-Marc Jacobs bag with her. "Ready to roll?"

Bella gave a nod. "Yup! But first we have to head to my uncle's hotel room so I can get the bank key from him. Then we head to the bank and then the portkey station."

"So, that means I have to met your uncle?"

"Yup! My uncle hooked up the house with the floo system, so all we have to say is 'Room 75' and the hotel and we're off!"

The two made their way to the fireplace and took a hand full of floo powder. "I'll go first." Said Bella. "I'll see ya in a few!" and with that she threw the powder into the fire and jumped in.

OoOoO

At eleven in the morning, Severus was going through the legal papers when he heard the fireplace in his suite spit someone out. He ran into the sitting area with wand in hand to find his niece covered in soot. He did a quick cleaning spell and helped the young girl up. "What are you doing here?" he asked. Before Bella could answer, another girl came out of the fireplace.

"Hey, uncle!" Bella greeted. "That's my best friend, care cleaning her up too?"

Severus gave an annoyed growled but performed the spell anyways. "What are you doing here?" he repeated.

"I need to key to my new bank account." Bella replied.

"Why?"

"We're going shopping!" Phoebe replied. "Since she is going away in two weeks, I figured she could use a couple of new clothes!"

"You should be in mourning!" Severus scolded.

"I am, but mom taught me that once someone is buried, so should your tears for that person." Said Bella. "So that's why I'm not mopping around the house. Mom taught me that when my grandfather died back when I was seven."

Severus recognized what Bella had said. Belinda said the same thing to him the day after their mother's burial. "Fine." He muttered and took the key out of his breast pocket. "Don't spend to much."

"Don't worry, we're expert shoppers." Both girls replied. Before both girls went to the fireplace to head to the portkey station, Severus stopped Bella.

"Be back before eight, I have dinner reservations at a wizard restaurant so we can talk." Said Severus.

Bella nodded. "Don't worry." Responded Bella. And a few moments later, Severus was alone in his hotel suite again.

OoOoO

Bella redrew 311 galleons, 2 sickles and 23 Knuts and convert it into American dollars, while Phoebe sat in a chair. Phoebe was a muggleborn and didn't need to convert her money into muggle since it was already in dollars. Since Bella took out $1500 she had the money put into a special card, like a credit card, but using her own money and not some company's. Soon as the task as done the two headed to the Portkey station to be transported to New York City for their day of shopping.

Around three o-clock the two sat down at a small restaurant for lunch. Both carried at least three bags in each hand. "I wish we could do spells right now, I would love to shrink these and put them in my pocket!" said Bella.

"Hell yes!" Phoebe joked as she looked through the menu. "We are so lucky to go shopping today! So many stores have sales!"

"Yeah." Bella replied absent-mindedly.

Phoebe rolled her eyes and placed the menu down. "Stop spacing out. What's on you mind?"

"Nothing." Bella replied. "I'm just thinking on what to get."

"You're reading the menu upside down." Phoebe said bluntly.

"Oh! Really? I didn't noticed!" Bella gave a laugh as she turned it right side up.

"The only reason you didn't notice because you spaced out! You were thinking again!"

"Am not!" Phoebe stared down Bella. "Fine I am."

"Is it about… your parents?" Phoebe asked.

"Yeah…" Bella flipped the page of the menu.

"Look, we cans stop shopping if you want…"

"No! No! It's okay, Phoebe! I'm fine." Bella insisted.

Even thought Phoebe didn't believe her, she just went along with it. "Okay, if you say so."

The ordered their meals and ate them leisurely. "That guy is cute." Phoebe pointed at a blond haired guy sitting two tables away with her fork.

"Gay." Said Bella as she ate her Caesar Salad. "Saw him before we entered holding another dude's hand." She ate the last of the greens and placed her fork down. "Done?" the brunette nodded. "Okay! Let's hit the stores… again!" and with another three hours of shopping, they deemed themselves spent. They each had about seven bags, not including the small shopping bags that were in the big ones, and visited about thirty stores. Phoebe had used all of her money as Bella had two hundred left.

As the two sat on a bench Phoebe complained once more that the bags were heavy and she wanted to shrink them. "What should I do with the $200?" asked Bella. They had an hour left to kill before seven, when they had to get back so Bella could get ready for dinner.

"Well, don't spend it on your self!" Phoebe laughed.

Suddenly an idea came to Bella. "I thought of something!"

"Did it hurt?" Phoebe joked again.

"No, it was rather painless." Bella retorted with a smile. "I'll buy something for Uncle!"

"What?"

"Uh… I haven't thought of that." Bella said sheepishly. "But there is a wizard district nearby." She whispered so they wouldn't be over heard.

"Great idea!" agreed Phoebe. The Wizard Shopping District of New York, also known as Walley Boulevard, was a few blocks away. They reached the entrance, which as an alleyway that had many turns. Only magical folk could see this alleyway. To get in, there were five long vines that hung on the brick wall. You would have to tug them in a certain order and then tap your wand on the longest vine. Once doing so, the bricks moved and the vines pulled away to reveal a busy magical outdoor shopping center.

"What store do we go to?" asked Bella as they passed many stores.

"How about…Asklepios' Apothecary Shoppe?" Phoebe suggested. "You did say that he is a potion teacher at some school in Scotland."

"Urgh. I hate potions." Bella grumbled. "Fine, lets go in." The two girls entered the store and browsed through the aisles of potion ingredients, books, and tools. The passed by many possible gift options, such as a golden ladle ("That is not useful", commented Bella.), a magical timer that used insults for its alarm, and a book called, "How to Teach Potions to Your Stupidest Students".

"I'm tired! Let's just get him a gift card!" Bella whined. The only good thing that happened to them in the past twenty minutes while they were in the store is that the storekeeper offered the shrink their shopping bags for them and placed a special time charm that would have the bags un-shrink in an hour, about the time the two should be home.

"Your uncle is one tough guy to buy for!" Phoebe muttered.

Bella passed through the book section of the store when something caught her eye. "Perfect," she gasped. It was a special deluxe edition of a potion book. According to the description of the book, it was pretty rare and a must have for any Potion Master.

"Found anything?" asked Phoebe as she walked up to Bella. "That?"

"Yup! And I have just enough for it!" said Bella excitedly. She called over a sales lady to get the book out of the glass case. The lady then went to the counter. "Okay, Miss, that would be a total of 37 galleons, six sickles, and 19 knuts. Cash or credit?" Bella handed her the card and the sales lady tapped it with her wand. "Okay, is this a present? Would you like me to wrap it?"

"Yes." Bella replied. The sales lady then placed the book on the counter behind her and with a flick of her wand the book was placed in a green gift box.

"Gold ribbon or silver?" the lady asked.

"Um… silver would look nice," Bella answered.

"Here you go." The sales lady handed the gift box with the book inside. "Please come again."

"Thanks." Bella took the box and left the store. Phoebe stood outside waiting. "I think there is a Floo station here."

"Yeah, down this way." Phoebe took her friend's hand and the left to head home.

OoOoO

A/N: yay! Chapter one is done. and if you read the A/N at the top, no I did not write this all in an hour! Okay… next chapter will be the dinner, and Bella heading to England! I'm planning for chapter three to be Hogwarts…okay… just go and review… NO FLAMES! And just for a side note… Bella will NOT have a relationship with any of the characters (I.E.: Harry, Draco, Ron, etc.) unless my friends advise me or there is a heavy demand by the reviewers!

Until next time!

LalathePanda