Chapter 23: What It Means To Make An Effort

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

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The Sinclair Residence, Unknown Location, Unknown World...

Severus Snape awoke to the scent of breakfast and idle chatter from what appeared to have been a house full of people. He had not been all that surprised when he slept to feel the familiar warmth of a small figure that had not been his wife tucked beneath the covers in bed with him. Pulling the covers off himself and revealing the figure, he noted a very adorable little girl with raven hair snuggling a brown teddy bear as she began to stir in the wake of having the covers removed from her.

"Morning Daddy." she said rather sleepily despite the smile that filed across her little pale face.

"Good Morning, Ellie." replied Snape reaching forward to tussle her raven locks before climbing out of bed and making his way to the loo.

Once the former wizard had finished up, he found that his daughter had been sitting up on the bed with her legs folded and the teddy bear pressed against her chest. He found Eileen to be a rather charming if not strange child and made an effort to keep up appearances when in her presence.

He had not known why he cared so much about Eileen other than the fact that she shared his late mother's name but from the moment he arrived in this strange life, she seemed to be more real to him than anything this world had to offer.

"Daddy, Mummy said you got sick again when we were gone." she said looking him over with the same concern her mother had showed.

Snape sighed.

He had not wished to speak of that incident with anyone but it appeared Eileen had been of the mind to inquire more.

"I did." replied Snape not in the least willing to go into detail. "As you can see...I am well once more."

Eileen hopped off the bed and rushed over toward him, hugging him tightly.

"I'm glad that you're better daddy." she said.

Once more Snape tussled the adorable girl's hair and turned his attention to the laughter downstairs.

"Shall we greet the rest of the family?" he asked her.

Eileen treated him to a rather bright smile and he allowed her to lead him downstairs via his hand. She truly had been an adorable girl, a strangely pleasant mix of his traits and Hermione's despite Sidney Sinclair being her biological father.

It was an odd moment when Snape had looked upon the girl and began to think of her in terms of being his daughter.

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The Sitting Room, The Sinclair Residence, Unknown Location, Unknown World...

Hermione seemed to have her hands full trying to reign in the dynamic duo as they raced about the house giggling and wreaking havoc as both she and Harry attempted to get them dressed. The boy-who lived had been unable to do much about it either falling over the sofa after missing the chance to capture a running Silas.

"SILAS, SIDNEY JR. YOU GET OVER HERE AND GET YOUR CLOTHES ON THIS INSTANT!" shouted Hermione even more flustered as her notoriously bushy brown hair seemed to be flung in all sorts of directions in the wake of her attempts to catch the running boys whom were busy laughing at their mother and brother's failed efforts to discipline them.

"It's not working..." groaned Harry attempting to scramble to his feet only to fall again.

The boys had been content in their game of cat and mouse until they took notice of their newly awakened father.

"DADDY!" they shouted in unison and headed right for Snape whom had caught them both as they tackled him.

He couldn't help but chuckle at the excitement behind their eyes when they took notice of him.

"Can I be in Slytherin Dad?" asked Silas recalling the tales of Hogwarts Castle from their bedtime. "I'm faster than a Gryffindor witch."

"Me Too...I want to be Slytherin I can out run two Gryffindors." said Sidney Jr with a prideful smile filled across his little pale face.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Snape whom she believed the fantastic tales of the magical school and her being a Gryffindor witch and Harry being a Gryffindor wizard originated.

"Good morning to you too boys." said Snape enduring each of their hugs and priceless giggles.

Eileen seemed amused by the whole ordeal, as she was already promised she'd be the first one in Slytherin house.

"The least you can do is help us get them dressed...after all the trouble your little fantasy game has caused us." said Hermione with her hands on her hips.

"Told ya Mummy is a Gryffindor witch." said Silas with a smug expression as he looked at Sidney Jr.

Snape couldn't help but burst out laughing despite his young wife's annoyance at the whole situation.

"Get dressed I'm sure your mother and brother have plans that don't include chasing you about all afternoon." he said once he composed himself.

"Okay Daddy." said the boys in unison rushing over to their mother to get dressed.

Hermione rolled her eyes at how easily they obeyed their father.

Eileen made her way over toward Hermione as well once the boys had been fully clothed and ready to head out the door.

Harry sighed shaking his head as he got to his feet without falling.

Leaving the others to their business, Snape made his way into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

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The Kitchen, The Sinclair Residence, Unknown Location, Unknown World...

Snape had been in a rather pleasant mood as he set about obtaining his mug from the kitchen cupboard when a low growl got his attention. He had only been able to turn to face the direction it had come from before a large black mongrel leapt from the shadows of the kitchen and tackled him to the ground.

Annoyed and not in the least pleased about being knocked to the floor by such a large animal, least of all one that greatly resembled Sirius Black's animagus form in his world, Snape attempted to get back to his feet despite the animal's enormous size.

Padfoot growled at him briefly staring into his eyes and bearing his teeth almost as if he'd been intent on attacking him.

Snape simply met his gaze as more growling gave way to sniffing and eventual whimpering. It had not taken the former Potions Master long to understand that the dog had known exactly what had been wrong with him and that it had been quite worried.

Noting the dog's concern for him, Snape sighed resolving himself to patting the mangy creature long the head as it pressed it's large cold and wet nose into the downed man's pale cheek.

"I never thought I'd say this...especially to you Mongrel...but I...appreciate the sentiment." he said petting Padfoot on the head before the big beast got off him and allowed him to stand.

Snape went back to making his coffee with Padfoot keeping an close eye on him whimpering in sadness due to his discovery of the brain tumor. Snape treated him to a small smile and turned his attention to the big brute's leash.

"Let's go for a walk boy." he said still petting the enormous black dog.

Unbeknownst to him, the ever watchful eyes of the enchantress had been on him taking in the fact that he appeared to be making more of an effort in this new life of his.