AN: ok so I'm actually finishing writing this during the Superbowl if you can believe it… but I like to update every weekend if possible… doesn't always happen and it almost didn't cause I'm hosting the party. anyway GO PATRIOTS!!!

text

"talking"

thinking

Severus returns home after spending several hours with his friend Jean-Pierre. Some of that time was spent discussing the law, and some of it was catching up with an old friend over lunch. Entering his study he is surprised to see a package and two letters. One of the letters he sees is from Hermoine and is attached to the package, the other is from an unknown sender, but that is not too uncommon since the war. His reputation as a Potions Master has overcome his reputation as a Death Eater, and he was often receiving requests for assistance with potions projects.

Deciding that Hermoine's letter was of more importance, he sets the other letter aside and opens the package. Inside is a plain brown journal, full of Hermoines handwriting. Realizing the journal must be full of her notes he opens the letter for the full explanation.

Severus,

With this letter I have included a journal of more of the notes I have from working with Harry. Regretfully though after you left I soon realized that most of our notes, and our evidence are still in the Chamber of Secrets, so unless you are aware of another parseltongue? Then we definitely need to find Harry. I've written down everything I can remember in the journal, but it still won't be enough without the evidence. The only question now is how do we find Harry? After he first disappeared, I, the Weasley twins, and the Ministry did everything they could to find him. I will continue to do research to find him but any ideas you have would be useful.

Hermoine Malfoy

Putting down the letter with a sigh, Severus picks up the journal and flips through her notes, and her pages and pages of, 'everything I can remember',she could probably rewrite most books word for word.

He then proceeds to set the journal and letter back on his desk, then calls for his house elf Elvis. "Elvis bring me some tea, and then begin dinner; I shall be dining in tonight." The elf bows before disappearing.

Moments later the elf reappears carrying a tea tray. Elvis sets the tray on the table next to the desk and leaves quietly hoping to not disturb his master who is busy reading.

Severus reads several pages in the journal before he realizes that most of it is a repeat of the material found in the other journals. Growing bored he skips to the end section with her personal notes. That is when he notices Elvis has brought the tea he asked for.

Laying the journal back down, Severus prepares his cup of tea when he remembers the second envelope. Finding the envelope, Severus waves his wand and says a quick spell to detect any spells on the letter. The only detectable magic is an untraceable spell. Curious he opens the envelope to read,

For Severus Snapes eyes only:

This parchment has been enchanted and requires two things

1: A drop of Severus Snapes blood

2: An answer to this question: What spell did the half-blood Prince create during his fifth year at Hogwarts?

Answer incorrectly or if there are any enchantments present in the blood, and this paper shall self destruct.

Sincerely,

An old and hopefully still dear missing friend.

With shock Severus realizes that the letter must be from Harry. Smiling at his resourcefulness Severus quickly pricks his finger, letting a drop fall onto the parchment, and then grabs a quill and writes Sectumsempra before the blood dries. Suddenly the blood and ink fade into the parchment and the real letter appears.

Dear Severus,

As hard as this must be for you to read it is equally hard for me to write now. Many things have happened since that fateful night, and you are wondering why I am writing now, six years later and two days before Christmas, and most importantly you are wondering why I don't get to the point. Six years ago I came to you with a need, a need that I found you shared, but it was too risky to share the plan with you. I hope that you do not feel as if I took advantage of you, but you were my choice, I didn't want it to be anyone but you.

You will have to go to Hermoine for the full details, but I was against the law against gay male couples having children. We attempted to get the law changed but found it impossible, so I attempted a risky venture. I decided that I would find a man to father a child for me, and then I would disappear, once I had the child it would be easy to pretend that the child's mother had died. The spell required that there be a bond between the fathers, I almost preferred it that way. My conscious would not allow me to have a child with someone that I didn't care for. I spent weeks trying to find the right man. The father should be someone I respected; someone who had qualities I would want passed onto a child, someone who wanted children, and most importantly someone I would hope would want to have children with me if they had the option.

I can almost picture the glare on your face, how presumptuous of me. But I cared, and still do care deeply for you. You were the only one who ever looked at me not Harry Potter. You were wrong about my childhood, but in the end it did help ground me, nothing ever went to my head, and I never thought anything should be handed to me. I owe that to you. During the final years of the war I learned much more about you, and how much we actually had in common. I don't know when I fell in love with you… yes love, but it happened and I regret nothing.

I had planned to wait and discuss things with you, but then that night happened and I knew that I conceived, and I panicked and just left. I didn't know how you felt about me, or the law, or anything. I knew we had a bond but if it went past more than friendship that night proved it to me, but I couldn't risk being found out.

To cut this story short I… no we now have a beautiful six year old daughter named Olivia. She has your black hair, but my eyes. She definitely has your brains, and is advanced for her age in reading and writing, although her spelling could still use some work. I try not to keep things from her, and she does know about you, just not your name. I have one picture from the war that she has grown overly fond of, and it stays next to her bed every night. For her safety I have kept everything a secret, but she is of the age where she needs her Daddy and her father. That is what she calls you, I am her father and you are her daddy.

She would love to meet you, and I greatly wish you see you again. I know in my heart that you would never do anything to endanger your daughter. Tomorrow Hedwig will return for your response, if you feel it is too dangerous to meet I understand. Any response would be greatly appreciated, even if it just a letter full of your scathing comments.

With all of my heart,

Olivia's father

After finishing the letter Severus could only sit back in his chair in astonishment at the letter. He needed to find Harry and here it was in a letter. It was entirely possible that the letter was a fake, but no one else knew about his fifth year potions book, or his daughter besides two people that he would trust with his life, Hermoine and Jean-Pierre.She may not be his favorite person, he thinks with a snort,but she would never betray mine or Harry's trust.

"But now I have to respond to Harry's letter, and how do I tell him that I already knew about Olivia, and Hermoine and I have been working on changing the law for several days?" Severus says as he stands to begin pacing the length of his study. Stopping suddenly by the card from Olivia on his mantle, he says, "The simple answer is to pretend that I don't know. If I tell him that I knew of Olivia, he will want to know how, and then she will get in trouble. I understand wanting to keep her safe, but she is only a child, and she was very ingenious in sending that card unbeknownst to her father. " Severus sighs but before he can begin to pen his reply, Elvis appears and says, "Dinner is ready master."

"Yes Elvis I will be along shortly." Severus then sets the letter back on his desk, and decides to finish the letter after dinner.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Ok so not the best update but I like the fact that everything is coming together, there is a perfect odd timing to it. Olivia got the proverbial ball rolling; now everyone wants to get together for Christmas, and she doesn't even know… lol

I have yet to still figure out an ending, let alone what Severus is actually going to say to Harry… so any ideas would be appreciated