Author's Note: All Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling. But I own all original characters.

Chapter Two

Meeting Emily

He looked up at the large building that was apparently St Mary's Children's Hospital. He couldn't believe he was doing this. Here he was, standing outside the hospital building wearing black long pants, enclosed shoes and black t-shirt.

Severus Snape inhaled and exhaled a breath and went into the building. It was definitely a Children's hospital, there were cartoon characters on the walls and children were seen walking about. Snape saw one getting about on crutches due to what appeared to be a broken leg.

"May I help you?" asked a doctor at the reception desk.

Snape turned to face her, she slightly shorter than him, her brown hair was short and she was wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around her neck.

"Yes, I'm here to see someone, Dumbledore…"

The doctor just gave a slight smile. "Of course, he informed us that someone would be stepping in for him this time," she said, she placed her hand out for a handshake; "I'm Doctor Helen Grove."

"Severus Snape," said Snape, taking the hand.

"Best to introduce you to Emily," said Dr Grove, when their handshake parted, "this way."

Snape followed the Doctor along the hallways of the hospital. At the moment all he saw were kids with plastered arms and legs.

"So, I've been told that you are a Professor at the school Albus runs," said Dr Grove.

"I am," said Snape.

"Must be interesting with teenagers," said Dr Grove with a smile.

"You could say that," said Snape, thinking of all the melted cauldrons and blow-ups that have happened in the past.

"I am glad someone was able to step in for Albus," said Dr Grove, smiling in a grateful way. "He's quite the favourite."

"I can imagine," Snape slowly replied. 'Yes Dumbledore would be that kind of a person…' a voice in his head muttered.

"Do you have any kids?" Dr Grove asked.

Snape had never been asked that question before. "No, I'm not even married," he replied.

Dr Grove nodded.

"You?" Snape asked right out of the blue from his own mouth.

"Married for three years and have a little boy of my own," Dr Grove replied.

Snape could see this woman loved her life.

"Now I must tell you about Emily," said the doctor.

Snape had to wonder when he was going to be informed about this girl he was yet to meet.

"She's nine years old and she has been in hospital since last year," Grove explained.

"What's wrong with her?" Snape asked, with a concerned frown on his face.

"She has leukaemia," Dr Grove replied.

They had stopped outside the door of a room with seen through walls that had blinds closed. Dr Grove placed her hand on the handle of the door and slid it open. Snape carefully stepped over to the doorway, where Dr Grove walked in through.

"Good morning, Emily," said the kind voiced doctor. "I see that you have barely touched your breakfast."

"I'm not really hungry," replied the voice of a girl who sounded rather tired.

Snape looked from Dr Grove to the little girl who was sitting, propped up, on the bed, with a tall wheel tray over her and a tray of breakfast food was on it. Her skin was so pale and she wore a pale blue bandanna on her head. She also wore pretty pale blue satin pyjamas with white wavy lines along the collar and sleeves and the buttons were white too.

She had a private room, on the wall behind her were pictures of horses and on the beside tables, along with flowers and get well balloons, there were horses, ranging from My Little Pony to figurines of horses up upon their hind legs, showing off it's brilliance and elegance.

The little girl then looked over to the doorway and saw Snape standing there. Dr Grove saw this.

"Emily this is a friend of Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape," said the doctor. "Severus this is Emily."

"Have you met Dumbledore?" Snape asked the girl.

"Yes, on the Christmas holidays," said Emily, her face had a bit of a smile on it. "He was cool."

Dr Grove went over to Emily and did the needed checks and so forth.

"I see that you are into horses," said Snape, noting the many horses, as he stepped further into the room.

Emily smiled shyly and nodded.

"Ever been on one?" Snape asked.

"No," said Emily. "Have you?"

"Yes," said Snape, truthfully. "I actually own a horse."

Emily's big hazel eyes light up at this; "Really?" she said.

Snape couldn't quite explain himself. Why was he acting like this? He is never like this to his students.

"What breed do you own?" Emily asked.

Dr Grove grinned at this, as she wrote down the vital notes and such.

"Thoroughbred," said Snape, sitting down on a seat next to the bed.

"Let me guess, he's a black stallion," said Emily.

Snape raised his eyebrows; "I would like to know how you guessed that."

"You're wearing a lot of black and it just seems to fit," said Emily.

Snape's lips pulled a smile, a real genuine smile.

"Well," said Dr Grove. "I'm done here. Please eat at least something."

Emily gave a small nod, as Dr Grove walked around the bed and towards the door. She stopped at the door and turned back to face Emily.

"You're mother is probably going to drop by sometime today," she said.

"Thank you, Dr Grove," said Emily, with a sweet smile.

Giving a last smile, Dr Grove left the room, sliding the door closed.

"Nice healer," said Snape, looking at the door.

"She's great," said Emily, cheerfully. "Maybe you could stay and meet my mum."

Snape turned back to Emily. "Well, since I have no other plans."

"So what's your thoroughbred's name?" Emily asked.

"I know," said Snape, raising his eyebrows with amusement. "Why don't you guess his name?"

Emily made a thoughtful face. "Is it to something to do with Ancient Rome?"

"You could say that," said Snape.

"Is his name Caesar?" Emily asked.

"No," said Snape.

"Augustus?"

Snape shook his head. Emily made all sorts of good guesses but none were correct.

"The only thing I can think of is Emperor," said Emily. "They're in Ancient Rome."

"Well, then you would have to be correct," said Snape.

"How often do you see him?" Emily asked.

"Every weekend if I can manage," said Snape. "If not, I have someone to care for him."

"How old is he?"

"He's four years old," said Snape.

"He'll be five on the first of January, all horses have their birthday on that day…unless you're in the Southern Hemisphere where it is the first of August," said Emily.

'This kid reminds me of a certain Miss Hermione Granger,' his mind said.

But this girl doesn't seem to boast about her intelligence.

"So, Dr Grove said you were a teacher, Albus said that you taught at his school…"

Snape was curious on what the Headmaster had told this little girl…