Mary lied on her bed listening to 3 Doors Down when she heard a knock on her door. "Come in," she called. When Mary saw that her father stepped in with a concerned look on her face, Mary wiggled her finger so the stereo would turn off and sat up.
"What' wrong, Daddy?" she asked.
"Mary, we need to talk," he said. "I have Dumbledore in here."
"Why is he here?"
"You'll soon find out. Headmaster!" Dumbledore stepped into the room with his half moon glasses and unusual concerned face.
"Hello, Mary," he said.
"Hello, headmaster," she said.
"Yesterday, your father went to Diagon Alley. Do you know why?"
"He was getting some supplies that he forgot to get."
"Wrong. He met the other professors and I. We had to have a discussion. No, your father told me that you and your sister want to stop acting like you're not Severus's daughter, is that correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, we all discussed about it yesterday and we thought that, well, it wouldn't be the best idea."
"Why not?"
"Your father is already in trouble by Voldemort. If he knows about you and your sister, Voldemort will come and kill both of you and your father. We are not willing to take that chance. Also, if anyone else knew about this, they would tell everyone else, who could possibly tell Voldemort.
"That's why noone else should know about who you and your sister really are."
"That's the problem," Snape said. "A few people already know."
"Who?"
"Potter, Granger, and the two youngest Weasleys."
"Daddy, can't you say their real names?" Mary asked.
"That is not a problem," Dumbledore said, ignoring Mary's question to her father. "I know these children. They wouldn't tell a soul."
"Don't you remember what the Sorting Hat said when Potter had that hat placed on his head?" Snape asked Dumbledore. "It said that he would be great in my house. That means that Potter might turn against us all and tell Voldemort about my two daughters!"
Mary never heard her father say the dark lord's name, not even when he was a death eater. She knew that her father was upset. "Daddy, Harry won't turn against us," Mary told her father.
"Honey, how do you know that Potter won't turn against us?" he asked. "You know what the Sorting Hat said."
"I know what it said, Daddy. But Harry's a really good friend. I know by observations. I know by seeing how great his life if when he's at school. The only reason that you don't like Harry is just because his father was mean to you.
"You're one of the very few things that lets his spirits down when he walks into those doors for a whole new day. That always bothered me that you were mean to your students. Even to Carolyn and me. He became friends with Carolyn and me.
"But then, they found out that you were my father. They automatically hate us. I can't help it! Daddy, this has gone far enough! I might as well find someone with the last name Louge, take Carolyn and we can move in with them!"
"Mary Rebecca Snape. I love you and your sister very much. That is the reason why noone should know who you two are. You two are my pride and my joy, but you're also my biggest secret."
"First, you know for a fact that my middle name is to never be spoken. Second, are we your biggest secret? Next to the secret to what you have on your arm? Next to the secret that you were a death eater? Next to the fact that we are your world during the summer, but during the school days, you treat us like any other kids?
"When McGonogall called my name for the sorting, instead of saying 'Mary Snape' she said 'Mary Louge'. And same with Carolyn. Since we went into the school, everyone thought that you and I didn't even know each other. Daddy, I told you, Carolyn and I are sick and tired of pretending!"
Mary turned around and ran into Carolyn's room. Snape stepped ahead, but Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder. "Give her time, Severus," he said. "Give her time."
Carolyn looked as her sister stepped into her room. "Carolyn, are you tired of pretending about who we are?" Mary asked.
"Oh yeah,"
she answered to her sister.
"Well, Dumbledore's here, and he
said that we STILL have to pretend."
"What? Can't he see that we're tired of pretending?" Mary looked to see the red mark on her sister's face.
"I know, Carolyn. He says that we have to protect ourselves by doing this." Carolyn smiled at her sister's sarcasm.
"Mary, we've been pretending since you were eleven. Mom died years ago. Daddy was a death eater. What have we done to deserve this? We never did anything."
"Carolyn, sis, calm down."
"I can't! Mom's dead! Dad's not our father in school! The only friend I have is you and the only friend you have is me! We don't see each other in class! We made friends, but they hate us because of out father! We can't control who he is!
"He might be mean to them, but he loves us! He's nice to us! And yet everyone else hates him!" Carolyn started to burst out into tears. Mary hugged her sister, rocked her back and forth, and sang softly and slowly.
Do you believe in magic in
a young girl's heart
How the music can free her, whenever it
starts
And it's magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel
happy like an old-time movie
I'll tell you about the magic, and
it'll free your soul
But it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout
rock and roll
If you believe in magic don't bother to
choose
If it's jug band music or rhythm and blues
Just go and
listen it'll start with a smile
It won't wipe off your face no
matter how hard you try
Your feet start tapping and you can't seem
to find
How you got there, so just blow your mind
If you
believe in magic, come along with me
We'll dance until morning
'til there's just you and me
And maybe, if the music is right
I'll
meet you tomorrow, sort of late at night
And we'll go dancing,
baby, then you'll see
How the magic's in the music and the music's
in me
Yeah, do you believe in magicYeah, believe in the magic
of a young girl's soul
Believe in the magic of rock and
roll
Believe in the magic that can set you free
Talking 'bout
magic
Do you believe like I believe Do you believe in magic
Do
you believe like I believe Do you believe, believer
Do you believe
like I believe Do you believe in magic