Guardian Angel

Lily sat in the living room as she stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace while idly petting Xander while they were waiting for her father. She was paler than usual once again all due to how the full moon had just passed just days before. So once her father had been sure she would be find unattended besides the watchful eyes of Twinkle, he had resumed classes once again on the Monday after the full moon in October. "I feel bad for how this makes dad worry…" she spoke idly as she heard Xander start to purr lightly while she traced her hand across his back while he snuggled against her pink night dress she was wearing since she had been in bed for most of the day because of her feeling so weak.

"What should I do?" she thought aloud as she heard a soft meow only to look down into the clear blue eyes of her kitten. "I have even tried getting a hold of some of dad's more advanced potion books to try and see if there is anything I can brew myself so to not worry him so much during the full moon." Lily said as Xander stood and stretched only to move to her lap and sit there facing her.

"You were looking into what?" a deep voice asked as Lily jumped, sending an unsuspecting Xander to the floor where he landed with an upset meow at her and the one who had startled her. Looking toward him for a brief second, Lily saw Xander give a look that seemed almost not like any a cat would give before turning and going back to her room. 'That look…' she thought before she shifted on the couch, bringing her knees up to the cushion as she was leaning slightly against the back of the couch to steady herself as she smiled innocently at her father.

"I was just wanting to look through some of your potion books to see if I could find anything at the level where I can brew it since I am stuck in here day and night." She admitted as her father closed the door behind himself only to come over, walking around the couch to sit beside her giving her a skeptical look.

"You know that I cannot allow you to look through those books. They are dangerous especially in your hands." Severus said with a faint smile on his lips even more so when Lily pouted ever so slightly as she shifted to be sitting normally on the couch. "I can see about taking you to Diagon Alley during Christmas break to get you some of the course books you will need for when you start your first year next September." Severus said as Lily looked even more put out by that offer than he had thought possible.

"But I already read all of the first year required course books!" Lily said leaning back against the couch a bit as she heard a soft chuckle only to turn ever so slightly to see that it had been her father whom had chuckled. "What?" Lily asked as Severus shook his head ever so slightly.

"I just find it amusing how you will be a first year next term and yet you have studied up to at least O.W.L. level in your reading." He said shaking his head. All because he knew the reason she had studied up to that point already. All because she was not allowed out of their quarters in the dungeon, making it so that all she could do was study or maybe if he could convince her to take up a different hobby then maybe he could get her to slow down with her learning. 'That or she will be at N.E.W.T. level by the time she is thirteen at the latest.' He thought as he could not help but smile when he saw the look of confusion that she was giving him. "I have my reasons for not wanting you to get any further ahead." He said as Lily crossed her arms lightly before herself.

"It is not like I can do much else when I am kept locked away in here while we are here during the term." She said in a hurt voice as she looked away. "But I understand why…" she trailed off ever so slightly. "Because if I was allowed out then I am a danger to the others here in the school because of how I am different…" Lily whispered only for her to see a rush of black material before her. Next thing she knew she was being pulled to be at an angle as she found herself being held close by her father but she fought to keep a neutral look on her face as he held her.

"You are not a danger to anyone." He whispered as he once again weighed his option at this point, more so when Lily did not answer him. "What would you like for dinner tonight?" he asked as Lily leaned back to look at him with surprise written on her face and in her blue eyes.

"Just some soup." Lily said since at the moment she was not up to eating anything to complex since the last bout with her affliction had ended with her unable to keep anything down for three days so she was still recovering in that sense.

"Twinkle!" Severus called as the small house elf appeared bowing before Severus and Lily. He spoke again before the small house elf could even ask what he was needing. "Get some soup for Lily." He said as the small elf vanished with a small pop while Severus removed his arms from around Lily. "Just rest for the moment." He said while standing from the couch though he saw the questioning look in his daughter's eyes. "I am going to have a talk with the annoying fool." Severus said with a soft tone before he turned and rushed from the dungeon quarters.

/

Up in the office of the headmaster, Albus sat seeming to just look over a book when he heard the sound of footfalls approaching the door as he opened his desk and tucked the book away only for the Potions Master to enter. "Severus." Albus said in a somewhat cheerful tone, but he could tell from the look on the younger man's face that he was not there for a pleasant visit. "What brings you here?" he asked since he had been thinking to head down to the Great Hall soon for dinner.

Severus just gave the old man behind the desk a sneer due to how the man acted like nothing was wrong yet he insisted on Lily being treated like a prisoner. "I am taking leave from my teaching duties for the remainder of this term and plan to return at the start of the next term when Lily will be starting school." Severus said in a firm tone only for the sparkle in the blue eyes of the headmaster to all but fade away in that instant. Without allowing the old man to say anything, Severus continued to speak. "Because of how having her locked away, I think, is part of why her affliction is getting worse with each and every month. She needs to be allowed freedom instead of being locked away being made to think that she is a danger to everyone." Severus ground out as the headmaster brought his hands up and intertwined his fingers before himself on the desk.

"Very well." Albus said as Severus gave him a questioning look, all due to how the man was always so unbearable, yet he was merely letting Severus take leave with no further notice than this. "I will get someone to take your place for the remainder of the term." Albus said as Severus merely nodded before turning and leaving the office.

Once Albus was sure that Severus had gone down the spiral stairs and was surely far enough away he drew his wand casting a simple charm to make it so that none could enter for a few moments or hear should they press their ears to the door to see if he was in the office. Once he was sure the spell was in place he stood and walked over to the cabinet only for it to open with a tap of his wand. Reaching inside he drew out the orb he had placed in there recently since he moved it around from time to time to insure that it was never found.

"Mors orbis indica mihi quem suscitavit." He spoke as within the orb white smoke shifted and swirled only to reveal Lily Snape as she was at the moment. Sitting at the table in the quarters in the dungeon. A smirk played at his lips as his white beard shifted with the small shift in his facial features. "Everything is progressing as planned, even though it is still early." He whispered as he carried the orb back to his sleeping chamber only to put it within his nightstand and cast a spell to make it so it would not open for anyone else. Once he was sure the orb was locked away he lowered the protective charm on his office before leaving to head to the Great Hall.

/

Severus did not stop at the Great Hall but instead kept walking past it toward the entrance to the dungeons so he could go let Lily know the good news. When he walked in he saw that Lily had moved over to the small table and was eating a bit of soup that he assumed Twinkle had fixed for her. He could not help but smile at the thought of how they would be leaving either that night or the following morning. Walking over to the table he pulled out the chair opposite of Lily as he sat down leading to Lily looking at him with a questioning look.

"You didn't hex or curse someone did you?" she asked since it seemed that lately her father had not smiled that much all due to how he was near always worrying about her.

"No." Severus said with a hint of a laugh in his voice at how his daughter thought he had left to go and do something like that. 'Then again it was very tempting…' he found himself thinking before he spoke again. "I took leave for the remainder of this term so that you can have more freedom back at the house rather than you being locked up here." He said as he saw a mix of emotions fly across his daughters face.

"But this is the last term that Tonks…" Lily started but she trailed off as the look on her face said it all. That she knew that while this was the last year her friend would be attending school, that she was not allowed to really spend time with Tonks. "Will I be allowed to say bye to her before we leave?" Lily asked as Severus felt a pang of sadness all due to how that was the dominant emotion in Lily's eyes.

"Of course. That and I am sure if you ask that Tonks along with Narcissa and Draco will come by for Christmas, if not I am sure Draco will be wanting to visit you fairly often." Severus said as he had noticed the budding crush that he was sure was only one sided. All due to how before Lily had even known Draco, Harry had all but captivated her heart. A sad bit that Severus was having to accept, that his baby girl was approaching the age where he would have to allow her to start dating.

"That would be fun." Lily said with a hint of her smile returning to her pale face.

Severus felt relief at seeing the smile return as he stood only to walk over by Lily and slightly mess her hair as she ducked away from his hand slightly while laughing, a sound that was still pure in Severus's ears. "Once you finish eating, pack what you want to bring with you then I'll take you to say bye to Miss Tonks." Severus said as he saw Lily nod with the first true enthusiasm he had seen in her since before they returned to the school.

Leaving Lily to finish her dinner, Severus started going through different areas of their quarters to determine what he would need to bring. With each item he decided to bring, he shrunk them down only to put them in the pocket of his robe. While he was finishing up in his room he heard Lily rush down the hall to her room followed by a startled meow hinting that Xander had been asleep when she raced into her room. 'I just hope I am doing what is best for her.' Severus thought as he finished gathering up his things.

Thirty minutes later, Severus ordered Twinkle to take Lily's bag and return to the house where they stayed between terms. He tried to get Lily to make Xander go with the house elf but found himself giving in when Lily insisted that she wanted him to be able to see some of the school, even if only the way to the Hufflepuff common room. So once Twinkle had vanished, Severus took Lily's hand and led her out of their quarters while Xander was cradled in her arms.

Once they got to the wall outside the Hufflepuff common room. They had to wait for a few moments until a second year of the house came down the corridor in a bit of a rush, all due to how it was close to curfew for the younger years. "Mr. Diggory." Severus said as the second year boy stopped dead in his tracks, his grey eyes wide with fear in them. Something that Severus was fairly sure was due to how when he had the second year Hufflepuff's in class earlier that day he had been very unpleasant to be around.

"Yes, sir?" Mr. Diggory said as his voice shook ever so slightly due to how the scariest professor in Hogwarts was standing there by the entrance to the common room. Though as Lily looked toward the boy to see that he seemed to be trying to now show his fear for her father.

"I need you to go into the common room and see if Miss Tonks is inside. If she is send her out." Severus said in a calm tone, but Lily could tell from the underline tone that it was meant to slightly intimidate the boy.

Mr. Diggory merely nodded before rushing past Severus, Lily and Xander to the wall where the entrance was and whispered the password before going in once the entrance appeared. Not even five minutes after it had closed, the entrance opened and there stood Tonks with a confused look on her face when she first saw the dark professor then she looked toward her friend who was beside him.

"Lily!" Tonks near yelled as she rushed forward barely missing tripping as she got near Lily earning a startled meow from Xander. "You being allowed some random moments of freedom?" she asked since she knew all too well how the headmaster saw Lily as to dangerous to be out among the students or to even sit in during her father's lessons.

"No." Lily said as she shifted her arms as Xander climbed to her shoulder as Lily moved closer to Tonks and hugged her. "Dad and me are going back home." She said as Tonks returned the hug only to tense.

"Home? You mean where you live between terms?"

"Yes." Severus said as Tonks continued to hold Lily close. "So that she can be allowed more freedom than she can here at the moment."

"I guess that is for the best…" Tonks said in a sad tone before she suddenly smiled, stepping back away from the hug. "I will be sure to write you as often as I can with how I am studying for my N.E.W.T exams at the end of this term."

Shortly after that, Severus led Lily and Xander back to their quarters, locking them up tight so that no one could enter through the main entrance or by floo once they had gone through. Though when they got to their home away from Hogwarts, Lily insisted that she wanted to go for a quick walk around the yard, saying that she would be fine since she would have Xander with her. So Severus had relented and allowed her to go on the condition that she not be too long.

Lily walked outside and rushed to walk away from the house so that she could be alone, or as alone as she could since Xander was hopping along behind her, easily keeping pace. Once she was sure she was far enough from the house she slipped behind a tree only to lean against it panting ever so slightly since she was slightly straining herself by doing this. Once she had regained her composure she remained leaned against the tree as she spoke. "Whoever you are, go away or show yourself!" she ordered only for the cloaked figure that she had been seeing since her last birthday step out from behind a nearby tree. "Who are you!" Lily demanded only for the figure to walk closer. "Don't come any closer!" Lily ordered as the figure stopped.

"I am not surprised you do not know who I am." The familiar female voice said from within the cloak.

"Of course I wouldn't because I have never seen your face to try and recognize you." Lily said while glaring at the figure. "Why have you been following me since my last birthday? Why can't my dad see you?" Lily asked in a near rush since she had been fighting to remain calm since her father had insisted on her birthday that he could not see the one Lily saw clear as day.

"All you need to know for now, is that I am like your guardian angel." The figure said only to fade away leaving Lily and Xander alone in the trees. Though her voice lingered as she spoke again. "When the time is right I will reveal more."

A/N: I am sorry that it has taken me so long to finish this chapter. I had to rewrite the ending several times due to how I was debating between what to have the conversation reveal and what to hold back for the time being. Also I am not posting the translation of what Dumbledore said all due to how it would be a MAJOR spoiler. The next chapter is already in the works in terms of planning it, so I hope I won't be near as long getting it up. There will be a lot of father daughter bonding between Lily and Severus, along with much more! I want to thank Alia Prior and NatNicole for their reviews. Though I want to ask if anyone has any guesses as to who the figure Lily keeps seeing is. If you do put your guess in a review, I plan to do something special for any who can guess it.