Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, all rights go to J.K. Rowling. I only own my own OCs.

A/N: Hi everyone! I hope all is well. I'm so sorry it's been so long - the world is so crazy right now that I've felt myself slip back into a mental health funk. I'm still working during this awful pandemic because I am in healthcare, and let me tell you, it's stressful. However, I've seen quite a few new accounts following this story - and let me just say, I am so happy that you guys are *hopefully* enjoying it! I've never written a full on story before that had a plot that made sense. I used to write when I was like...11 *grimace face*… and it was god awful and cringe-worthy. I hope you all are enjoying the story, and if you have any feedback at all it would help so much! Thank you guys again! Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 12: The Same Situation

Students of all houses, as well as professors, have been on high alert for the past few months. Word of Sienna's episode had spread through the castle like wildfire, the rumors continued on about her no matter how hard she tried to ignore them.

"She's probably the heir of Slytherin. Just look at who her father is!"

"She's faking it for attention because daddy-dearest didn't know she existed for eleven years."

"Her and Potter should just sit in a room together and shut up for once."

It was hard for Sienna to process all of the rumors. Some days it irritated her to no end and thought about all the hexes she could unleash onto her fellow classmates. Other days she put her head down and pretended to not care. However, that was very far from the truth, and her father heard the brunt of it.

"Can you believe the things they're saying?!" Sienna shrieked once the last student left the Potions classroom, pacing around the marble tables.

Snape, cleaning up his space like he did everyday after classes, sighed and shook his head. He knew that it was frustrating his daughter what people were saying, it was frustrating him too. No one dared to talk about Sienna in his presence, but words traveled through the castle quicker than someone casting a sleeping charm onto others. He looked at his daughter with a long face. "You have to ignore them, dear."

"How? All I can hear is people talking about how weak I am and how similar I am to Harry. For one, I am not like Harry. I don't talk to snakes, nor can I understand them. Two, I am not weak." She emphasized.

"You're certainly not."

"But how can they just… just… urgh!" Sienna plopped down on the closest stool and huffed. She felt defeated, lonely. Although this time, it wasn't Tom Riddle initiating these thoughts. "I just want a normal life."

Snape couldn't help but feel pity for his daughter. For years, Snape felt his heart growing colder and colder. After his break up with Alesia, he vowed to never open himself up to anyone again. Was that his fault? Absolutely. He knew he broke her heart, and he knew the hurt he bestowed on this girl. All because of his ties to you-know-who. He remembers the day vividly. He remembers her crying and begging him to tell her what is happening. Most of all, he remembers the chilling words he uttered to her.

"I'm his follower, now. Go, blood traitor."

He remembers the look of terror on her face. He remembers every single thing about her; the way her face turned red from crying, her big blue eyes swollen and bloodshot, and a few strands of her dark hair sticking to her face from each side of her head. He saw her heart shatter before him. He knew he was breaking it for quite some time, but that never prepared him for the heartache he encountered that night, the heartache he created. He also remembers the last time they made love. Severus never loved another woman after Alesia Black. From then on, he stayed to himself, buried into his work and his assistance with taking down the Dark Lord. He repressed the hurt for a long, long time.

Until Sienna entered Hogwarts.

After meeting Sienna formally, it took everything in him to not send Alesia a letter and explain why he abandoned her. He paced in his chambers, he rolled out parchment onto his desk, he even organized his area to make sure the ink didn't accidentally spill. He sat, and waited for the letter. All scenarios ran rapidly in his mind, and he was afraid of what the outcome of the letter would create, but the letter was nothing but humble and pleasant.

Severus,

You've met Sienna, our daughter. I know this is a shock and I am sorry that you are now just finding out. The words I have kept in my mind for almost twelve years have piled up into a mountain. I just wanted to let you know that I wanted to tell you sooner. I wanted to tell you when I found out I was pregnant. I wanted to share this experience with you. However, I couldn't bring myself to it. It was a selfish decision, but I feared the worst for her. I thought she would be taken by you-know-who if he ever found out about her. I had to protect her. So I did.

But I hurt you in the process, and for that I truly am sorry. Let me tell you about her.

She's just like you in more ways than you know. Her hair is dark, her skin is fair. Her personality is stubborn, but she cares deeply for everyone she loves. She is so incredibly smart and is so intrigued to learn new things. I had to hide my wand many times because she would sneak it and start to learn magic on her own. She's so, so passionate, Severus. She loves with all her heart, and will defend the ones she loves to no end.

I thought of you whenever I looked at her.

She is excited to meet you, but nervous. She may hesitate at first, but she will get to know you and love you with all her heart. Please don't deter her. She will learn from you and about you if you let her. I just hope you understand her and take the time to love her. I know you will.

Here's to the rest of your life, Severus, not just as Professor, but as dad.

Alesia

Snape's heart started to melt a bit that night. It was like each passing moment a single drop of ice would start to shrink the ice that surrounded his heart. Everytime Sienna stayed after class, everytime she asked him for advice, everytime she hugged him goodnight. A part of Snape that was missing finally made itself known. He had Sienna to thank for that.

He also had Alesia to thank.

Snape sighed and sat next to his daughter on the tall black stool. "Well, for one, life is never normal no matter how hard you will try. Two, you are related to not only me, but your mother whom is related to-"

"Sirius Black. I know."

"Correct. I don't know how normal your life will be, dear, but I do know that you will attract people who also do not have a normal life, and together you will become accustomed to your environment."

This made Sienna smile a bit. "You're right."

Snape stood up with a whip of his cloak, "Of course I am."

She rolled her eyes at the man. "I'd still like to know why everyone thinks Harry and I are alike, though."

"Although brought up very differently, you both are known for your background."

Sienna looked at him questionly. "We are?"

He nodded at her. "Yes. You have a father who is well known within the school and wizarding world, and Harry is known to be the boy who lived."

Sienna nodded, "I guess you're right."

"Of course I am." He smirked at her.

Again, she rolled her eyes. "Do you think I should, ya know… talk to him about what's happening to me?"

Snape hesitated to answer that. He knew of the events that happened the year prior, and the possibility of The Dark Lord returning to full form, but he also knew Sienna needed some type of reassurance that she wasn't crazy.

"I think you should keep to yourself, dear. Draco and I will help you."

She sighed, putting her head down onto her crossed arms that sat on the marble high top table. "If you say so."

Snape bit his tongue with his snarky remark. "Go eat."

"Yes, father." She said, gathering up her things and standing up straight. She slung her bag over her shoulder and put her wand in her robes. "See you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Sienna."

"Night, dad."

And with one last look, Sienna was out the door.

The Great Hall was filled with red and white candles, signifying the celebration of Valentine's Day. Sienna walked over to the Gryffindor table to sit with Ginny, and noticed that she wasn't there. She looked and saw Ron stuffing his face with tonight's dinner, Harry deep in thought playing with his food, and Hermione who had a book stuck on her face. This could've been her time to chat with Harry quickly. Maybe she can ask him why people have been talking about her and him quite often.

She quickly looked at the Slytherin table to find that Draco had not come for dinner tonight. Although it would've usually made her sad, she was relieved tonight. No need to explain to Draco why she was talking to Harry. She slowly walked towards the trio and sat down next to Ron.

"Oy! It's Snape!" he said.

Hermione looked up from her book and smiled at her. "Sienna! How are you?"

Sienna shrugged, "Could be better. I was wondering if you guys knew where Ginny was?"

Ron rolled his eyes, "that girl constantly locks herself in her dormitory. I asked her what was wrong a few days ago, and you know what she did? She threw parchment at me! Bloody girl."

"Oh Ronald, be nice." Hermione snapped at him.

Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes at the two. "Have you gotten a chance to talk to her, Sienna?"

She shook her head. "Not really, we've both been so busy with school...and...um…" Sienna didn't really know how to go on.

"You've heard the rumors I'm assuming?" Ron said bluntly.

Hermione huffed at him. "Ron!"

Sienna shook her head again. "No, it's okay Hermione. I have heard the rumors, and I kind of wanted to come over here and talk to you guys about them...if that's okay?"

Harry suddenly became very interested in the girl. He cleared his throat, "I know that you had an...episode… but I didn't know what it was related to."

Sienna nodded at him, "Yeah, it was kind of related to-"

"We shouldn't talk about it here." Hermione suddenly said, hushing the girl before she could continue. "Let's go to the lavatory."

"But I'm eating!" Ron whined.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Then bring it with you!"

It was, again, Harry's turn to roll his eyes, but this time at the pair. He turned back to Sienna. "Hermoine's right. We can't talk about it too much here. Not many people know about-"

"Harry, shut up!" Hermione smacked him lightly in the arm with the book in her hands. Harry flinched at her and rubbed his arm.

Sienna giggled at the trio. They were all so different in their own ways. "Alright, where to?"

Hermione stood up promptly and fixed her grey kilted skirt. "Follow me!" And they did.

Sienna was familiar with the lavatory that Hermione brought them to. She remembers coming to this bathroom the day she had her episode. She looked around at the old structure and the faint crying in the background by none other than…

"Moaning Myrtle." Sienna whispered.

Hermione smiled sheepishly. "She doesn't mind us usually. Although, she loves talking to Harry."

Harry's eyes rolled for what seemed like the millionth time that day. "Maybe because I'm nice to her unlike anyone else."

"Is that you, Harry dear?!" A distant voice came from the stained glass window near the stalls. Within the blink of an eye, the ghost manifested before them. She had pigtails and glasses, and her voice was awfully high-pitched. When Myrtle finally settled, she looked at Harry lovingly. "Harry, it's so good to see you."

Harry blushed and waved awkwardly at the ghost. She smiled and giggled. Sienna couldn't help but raise her eyebrow. Myrtle managed to notice her and a scowl appeared on her face. "A Slytherin? How delightful." Her ghostly eyes rolled and focused her attention back to Harry. Sienna's face created its own scowl. "What brings you here?"

Harry cleared his throat and gestured towards Sienna. "Myrtle, this is Sienna. She is Professor Snape's daughter."

Myrtle's eyebrow arched a bit. "As long as she stands more than six feet away from my Harry-kins, I don't really care."

Sienna huffed with frustration, then realized she was angry over a bloody ghost. She straightened up a bit, "Right, well, nice to meet you, Myrtle."

Myrtle simply nodded at her and sighed. "Well I better go off and be left alone with my thoughts…" her voice trailed off as she floated towards the window. Sienna was very perplexed by the ghost and her personality.

She turned to the trio, returning to the reason she came with them to the lavatory. "So, you guys, I need some… um… help, I guess you could say."

Hermoine nodded at her, signaling her to keep going. The boys were waiting patiently (Ron was pretending to at least) for her to speak. Sienna cleared her throat, "When I had my...episode… I've been having some weird experiences before. It all started the day we left school for Christmas Break. I heard this voice saying my name, and they were telling me to kill other students, which is terrifying. Christmas Eve I was writing in my diary, and then this ringing started that got progressively louder when I-"

"Tried to ignore it?" Harry suddenly cut in. Sienna looked at him, eyes wide and eyebrows furrowed. She gulped and nodded at him, "Exactly."

Hermione looked at the pair and cringed. "You both have heard the same things?"

Harry nodded, sighing. "It's been worse around this time, I'm not sure why. I remember getting this awful headache from the ringing about a few weeks ago, and then hearing that voice like you said, telling me the same thing." Sienna noticed the boy fidget with his cuticles, and he spoke with a hint of fear. That scared her. He looked at Sienna, waiting for a response from her.

She looked at the trio entirely, "So, do you have any idea what this might be?"

Hermione nodded, "I've been doing some reading, though I'm not entirely positive about what it is. There's legends of this happening before, almost fifty years ago. Of course it doesn't list symptoms like yours or Harry's, but it does mention the attacks, even on ghosts, and animals. It's almost like history is repeating itself."

Sienna's eyebrows furrowed. "Do you think… someone else had these symptoms though?"

Hermione shrugged, "it's possible, though there's no evidence."

Harry looked at Sienna and Sienna at him. Something was happening, and she was more scared than she has been before.