A/N: Guys! I finally got a laptop so I can write more! I'm so sorry to keep you all waiting. I hope this chapter lives up to the anticipation. If you have any comments or critiques, please let me know!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, all rights go to J.K. Rowling. I only own my own OCs. Also ***trigger warning*** topic of depression and suicidal ideations, so please proceed with caution.

Chapter 7: The Past

December 23, 1992 - 9:22 am.

The cold winds and white snowflakes engulfed the school with cheers of excitement and happiness for the holidays. Sienna was packing up a small bag of her things to bring to her mother's, making sure to only bring the essentials. Mavi was resting in her cage, watching Sienna with her big yellow eyes. Upon her night stand that sat next to her bed laid the diary of Tom Riddle Jr. She looked at it skeptically, deciding if bringing it home would be the best idea. Knowing her mother would be curious about it, as well as Remus, but anxious about the fact that it might get into the wrong hands if she left it behind. She ultimately decided bringing it with her would be the best idea.

Sienna wrote to this Tom Riddle person daily. She was intrigued by the conversations that ignited between the two. She learned that Tom was someone whose spirit lives within the diary and he attended Hogwarts himself during the late 1930s to the early 1940s, and he was in Slytherin! She learned that Tom grew up in an orphanage, having little to no friends. Sienna felt for the poor man - he died about 11 months after she was born. He did state he had many friends at the time of his death and he missed them immensely. She told him about herself, describing that her father was Severus Snape and her mother was Alessia Black. She found it interesting that Tom kept asking questions. Although, she thought nothing of it. A few times Draco had caught the girl scribbling in the diary, and he was intrigued when he noticed she would get tongue tied and lied about what she was doing. He did not push the matter though, figuring she was writing letters often to her mother like she stated.

Sienna snapped her bag shut and swung it around so that it rested on her back. Her long black hair was wrapped up in a messy bun, which matched well with her emerald green turtleneck and dark blue jeans. She slipped on black boots that came up to her shins then grabbed Mavi's cage. She made her way down to the common room to say her farewells to her father and friends. On the way down, she ran into but, who else, Draco Malfoy himself.

Draco turned when he heard footsteps, noticing the girl. Although he'll never admit it, deep down his heart skipped a beat. He smiled at the girl, whom returned it wholeheartedly. Sienna approached him with a small box in her hand.

"For you, Malfoy."

Draco looked down at the green box that was as big as his palm, on top of it sat a small silver bow. Draco opened the box to find a pin with a silver "M" in the middle. Around it was an arch that had a sheer green tint. Draco didn't say much, but he did smile a bit for the thought Sienna put into it. He looked up at her, not knowing what to say. "Thank you, Snape. Very thoughtful of you."

Color entered Sienna's cheeks, as she nodded at the boy. "I'll see you after the holidays?"

He nodded at her, "I'll be sure to find you when you come back."

Sienna couldn't help but feel her breath catch at the sentence. She nodded, turned her back, and was out the door. Mavi sat peacefully in her cage as Sienna moved gracefully out of the common room and towards her father's classroom. As she entered, she saw Snape with his back turned to the door, as if he was fixing something up quickly. She knocked on the wooden door that was made out of old mahogany wood, stained dark brown. With a quick glance over his shoulder, Snape waved Sienna over to where he was standing. Sienna set Mavi's cage down and glided to her father's spot.

"Brewing anything good today?"

"A sleeping draught for myself, actually." Sienna noticed her father's eyes seemed to be sunken in quite a bit.

"Are you not sleeping again?"

"I am, dear."

"Not from what I can see."

"Then please stop watching me, Sienna."

"But dad-"

"The headmaster and I have been trying to find out what has been happening to these students. Which reminds me…" he turns around briefly, "why aren't you being escorted to your carriage?"

She shrugged. "I kind of forgot. Sorry dad."

"This is a serious matter, Sienna. You need to be cautious at all times."

"I will from now on."

"Good, I will escort you to the carriages myself then."

Sienna turned and picked up Mavi's cage. Snape caught a glimpse of Sienna's bag that had a small black book in the side of it. His eyebrows raised in questioning. "Writing a bit more, I see?"

Sienna turned to look at him slightly, confused on the statement. Then she saw that the diary was sitting on the side of the bag. Panicking a bit, she came up with an excuse like she did for Malfoy. "I-uh-I use it to write my letters to mum."

"That's lovely. The pages look a bit old. Where did you find it?"

"Ginny actually gave it to me."

"Ah, the Weasley girl."

"Yes, her. She said it would be good for me since I was homesick for quite some time."

"How thoughtful." It almost sounded like a hiss to Sienna more than a comment.

The rest of the walk to the carriages was silent. Although her and Snape were still getting to know each other, she felt safer knowing he was around to protect her. Sienna tried her best to talk to her dad and make it known that her life has changed since he came it. Some days he would embrace it and smile, other days he didn't know if he should laugh or cry. It was ongoing, and Sienna was okay with that.

Alesia, on the other hand, had some mixed feelings.

December 2, 1992 - 8:45am

Alesia stood at the window on a rainy Tuesday morning, watching the rain fall onto the trees outside. A chill went up her spine, thinking it was the cold December air, but in reality knowing it was the memory of Severus that crossed her mind. Being twenty at the time, she remembered the night that she found out she was pregnant with Sienna. She sat in the lavatory in her home, head between her knees. She noticed that she had not gotten her period, and she vaguely remembers the panic that fled her body when she had a realization. Severus and her had an awful, abrupt argument that caused him to cease communication. He had said some things that caused Alesia into a deep, dark depression. She remembers them like it was tattooed onto her brain.

"You're worthless, Black. I wish to no longer associate myself with you."

"Severus, what is going through your head? I love-"

"Enough. I never loved you."

"Severus, please." Her eyes started to water.

"You mean nothing, Black. Goodbye." And then he was gone.

Alesia remembers the knots in her stomach and the feeling of her heart sinking to her stomach. A tear rolled down her cheek. It has been thirteen years since her last face-to-face interaction with Severus Snape, and she was struggling with the acceptance of co-parenting with him now. She took a shaky breath, trying to escape the memories of her past. She remembered the nights Remus, Sirius, Peter, James, and Lily all sat with her and made sure she was alright. The thoughts of no longer existing took over more often than she'd like to admit. However, the day she realized she was pregnant changed her entire world. Carrying his child made her want to vomit, but when Lily reminded her that it was also half of herself, her mindset changed for the better.

Alesia looked down at the note that she received from Severus the night Sienna met him back in September.

Alesia,

I'm not sure where to start this letter. I'm not sure what to say. All I know is that I never knew that having a daughter would be possible, considering our past, especially mine. First and foremost, I hope you understand the reason behind my motives, in light of the events that took place a year after we last saw each other. I was sworn to secrecy by Dumbledore. I never meant to hurt you. Words could not explain the hurt and frustration I felt when I left you. I thought about it everyday, and I still do. However, seeing Sienna for the first time helped melt that hurt away. She has your eyes, and she has your personality through and through. I hope to live up to this role of fatherhood, for Sienna, and also for you.

I have written this letter and threw it away about four times so far - not knowing the right words to say. Sienna amazes me everyday. She's smart, she's fierce, she's snarky, and she has a spark in her that I quite often think she inherited from me. However, I owe it all to you. You raised our child by yourself, and I will never be able to repay you that debt. Thank you for allowing me to get to know her, especially after everything we've been through.

I hope we can sit and talk sometime soon. I admire you, Alesia. Thank you.

Severus

She clutched the letter to her chest, a tear unbeknownst sliding down her cheek. Of course she knew now that Severus didn't mean any words now, but back then, her thoughts scared her to the point she wanted to be hospitalized. Losing the love of her life, and finding out within the same month that she was going to carry his child, overwhelmed her to no extent.

But seeing Sienna's face made it all worth it.

Alesia wiped the tear off her cheek and stood up straight. She placed the letter in a drawer and continued on with her day.

December 23, 1992 - 9:38am.

Sienna and Snape walked through the hallways, filled with students in muggle clothes ready to spend the holidays with their families. Although everyone was buzzing about the holidays, the walls of the school felt eerie. Sienna felt as if she was being watched all the time, as if someone was watching her every move. She couldn't figure out why. Thankful her father was walking beside her, she clutched Mavi's cage a little tighter.

"Sienna."

She heard a whisper over her shoulder, whipping her head over her shoulder to find the culprit. She found no one.

"Your soul."

And again.

"Your life...worthless…"

What was that?

Snape looked down at his daughter and realized her disturbed look. "Sienna?" Sienna snapped her head up to her father, a panicked look on her face. "What's the matter?"

Sienna checked her shoulder one more time. Still nothing. She shook her head, "Uh - I thought I heard something. Probably a Hufflepuff."

Snape raised an eyebrow. Stuttering was not something Sienna did often. However, he let it go. "Alright." They arrived at the carriages shortly after. Sienna placed her things in the carriage, turning to her father. She hugged him lightly and sighed. Snape returned the hug. "Write me when you arrive to your mother's."

"Will do. Happy Christmas, dad."

Snape smiled. "Happy Christmas, Sienna."

December 23, 1992 - 1:51 pm.

Sienna sat cross legged on the train in an empty compartment. With Tom's diary in her lap, she scribbled words on the old, debrading page. I heard the strangest voice today, Tom.

*Did you now?*

It said my name… and said something about my soul, and my life.

*What about it?*

That I was worthless. Why would someone say that?

*They might be jealous of you, dear girl."

But who would say that?

*Maybe that Malfoy boy you're always around.*

Sienna froze in her seat. She stared as the ink disappeared, nowhere to be found.

*Sienna?*

How did Tom know that? She had only mentioned Draco once to Tom. She slammed the diary shut and shoved it into her bag. Curling her knees to her chest, she squeezed on her legs. The ends of her hair stood up on her neck. A sudden feeling of doubt and guilt set in. How does Tom know about Draco and her where-abouts with him? If what he said was true… why would Draco say that about her?

Sienna slipped her jacket closer to her body and laid her head on the window, slowly falling into darkness and dreams.