Disclaimer: I don't own any of Harry Potter names, affiliates, merch, and all that. I'm just here for the food.

Note: Do any of you want a romance?I will add one in if enough people want one.

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Severus Snape was pissed. His robes billowed out behind him as he briskly walked down the hallway towards the headmaster's office. As soon as he entered he began to talk in a manner most disrespectful.

"Really, Albus. Disturbing me while I make lesson plans? The school year starts tomorrow, and I'd like to be as prepared as possible."

"Severus, I would only do such a thing, if it were important, would I not?"

Snape decided to let that comment pass, and he seated himself down in one of the comfortable chairs opposite Dumbledore's desk. The latter pulled out several sheets of paper and tapped them on his desk.

"Do you remember Tobias Mortacrin?"

Severus calmed slightly remembering his friend.

"Yes, He died quite a long time ago, however. His widow, Zenevieva Rachel, is she still…"

"No. Sadly she also died nearly six years ago."

"I see. And is there a purpose to all this…?"

"Yes. You see, they had a child, who, upon their deaths was kidnapped."

Snape was growing more confused by the minute, and didn't like it.

"What in the world are you talking about?"

"Well, maybe you should read this."

Snape rolled his eyes as he took the crumpled letter from the headmaster and began to read. After a few moments he looked up. The letter greatly disturbed him, but his emotionless face did not betray his feelings.

"And?..."

Dumbledore sighed heavily.

"The new witch we have at this school, who came as a fourth-year is that girl. I met her at the Durham train station a little over a month ago. She's a very intelligent girl, but she's in a bad emotional state. After all that's happened to her, she doesn't even cry, or express any sorrow. The Ministry questioned her about what had happened, but they say she was very vague, and would not say much. I also asked her, but she said that she had performed a Memory Spell on herself at the time of her release. I have a feeling that she was lying to me, however. A spell to cover several years like that would take a lot of power, and she would also forget everything she learned, which was quite a bit apparently. She would be stupid, and have to start Hogwarts with the rest of the first-years, but she is very smart, and able to start with the fourth-years."

Snape stood.

"If a sad story about the misfortunes of a single girl in the entire wizarding world is all you have to tell me, then make it quick, because I really must go."

Albus Dumbledore felt his years as he faced the cold, irritating Potions Master.

"You are the guardian of the girl."

Snape had nothing to say, so he remained silent. Dumbledore continued.

"The Council gave me this letter to give to you. It was written by Tobias Mortacrin it is his last will and testament, along with a letter addressed to you."

Snape was about to demand why this letter was just reaching his hands now, but instead opted for cold silence as he took the letter and walked toward the door.

"I will read over these carefully, I can assure you. But now, I really must leave."

And with that, he sailed out the door with his capes following him in gusts.

Snape gently unfolded the letter. It was slightly yellowed with age, but still crisp. Proof that no one had opened it yet. Inside he saw his old friend's familiar handwriting.

'Severus,

If you read this, then I am indeed dead. Don't ask me how, but I somehow always knew that I would not live long in this earth. My hands shake as I write this, knowing that my daughter and wife will be without me, and that my daughter might come in harm's way. Severus, if anything happens to me and my wife, please take Mannie, and keep her safe. Zenevieva and I have no siblings to speak of, so Mannie is virtually alone in the world if we are gone. As much as I hope this letter never falls into your hands, I beg you to take care of my daughter. You were as close to a brother as I ever had. Thank you, old friend.

Tobias Mattimeo Mortacrin'

Snape sat back heavily in his chair. It was difficult to digest all he had read. This letter should have gotten to him years ago, and he had not been able to prevent the Deatheaters from getting her. He angrily threw the letter from himself. He had let his friend down all these years. Well, no more. He would adopt his daughter, Mandara as his own, and take care of her. As he pulled open drawers and shuffled papers, he had an uncomfortable feeling in the depths of his being that told him there was much more too all this than at surface appearance.

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Mannie awoke the next morning feeling refreshed, and after waking Hermione, and a girl named Adrianne who shared the room with them, she began to get dressed. She tugged on a dark gray skirt, and topped it with a white blouse, light gray sweater vest with Gryffindor colors, and a tie also with the house colors. After putting on her black robe, and brushing her hair, she went out into the big room where Harry was waiting for her. Together they walked to breakfast in the Great Hall. Harry munched on waffles.

"What classes do you have?"

Mannie passes him her schedule.

"Ugh. You have double Potions, at least you're in my class."

Mannie looked at him queerly.

"Is Potions a bad class?"

"I'll say! The teacher is such a bloody git. He thinks he knows everything, and gives Gryffindor a hard time in his classes."

"It can't be that bad."

"Oh yes. Just wait till you meet Snape. Then you'll understand what I mean. He even looks mean."

Mannie turned back towards her food. Truthfully, she had been looking forward to Potions class. Her mother had taught her a lot when she was a little girl about the healing and helpful potions you could make. And also about ones that could harm and destroy. She found them fascinating, and was disappointed when Harry told her the class wasn't that good. She began to eat again, telling herself that she would enjoy Potions class if it killed her.

She walked into her Potions class feeling a little nervous. After all, this was her first year at Hogwarts and she had never been with these people before. Mannie spotted Hermione over at a desk and went and sat with her. Taking out her books and a quill she sat patiently as people filed into the classroom. Mannie's eyes wandered around the room. The various ingredients and potions and liquids were all arranged in what looked like a complicated storage system. Seeing a jar of frozen bat hearts next to powdered dragon fang gave her a little idea on how to speed up the chemical reaction of a potion used to calm patients who were insane, for a short period of time. Usually the brew took a few minuets to fully work, but with the right amount of…Mannie began to scribble her idea on a sheet of paper as she muttered to herself about measurements and possible ramifications that could appear in the formula. She was so immersed in her notes; she did not hear the teacher call her name until he was standing right in front of the desk. Hermione elbowed her and whispered discreetly.

"Psst. Mannie,…Mannie!"

Mannie looked up quickly, right into the sneering face of a tall, cold-looking man. He had shoulder length black hair, and piercing dark brown eyes. He was thin, and had a rather severe look about him. Clothed entirely in black he was an imposing figure. He stared down at her harshly.

"What is your name?"

"Mandara Mortacrin, sir."

"That is impossible. I have called her name no less than three times, and she has failed to answer. Thereby meaning that she is obviously not in attendance."

Scattered snickers around the room made the tips of Mannie's ears grow hot, from embarrassment, and her fingers twitched in a sudden urge to hex somebody. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down in spite of the humiliation she was feeling, on her first day, no less.

"I apologize, Professor. It won't happen again."

"I'm sure."

He turned and walked to his desk, with his robes fanning out behind him as he continued to call out names. When he came to Harry's name, he looked up with a sarcastic look of surprise.

"Mr. Potter. I feel so honored that you take my class once again. Its nice to see that you and Weasley have managed to stay out of trouble for the first 24 hours of school."

Harry glared at him, and Mannie couldn't blame him. So far this class looked like it was every bit as terrible as Harry made it out to be. Snape walked up to the board and began to write at a fast clip. Everyone hurriedly got out scrolls and quills, and began to take down notes as Snape lectured. Then he turned to the class and began to ask questions. He was harsh, simply nodding at correct answers, but when someone gave and incorrect one, he jumped all over them, and embarrassed them in front of the class. This made for fewer hands going up in the air.

"If I have swallowed dried newt tongue mixed with jasmine, and suddenly have the symptoms of the common cold, what should I do, and why?"

The class remained silent, and Mannie, who had stayed quiet during the class, because of her earlier mortification, slowly raised her hand.

"Miss Mortacrin, I'm glad you've finally decided to participate. Stand and tell the class what I should do. Or shouldn't."

Again, some slight chuckles made Mannie's palms tingle with magic, but she dug her fingernails into them, and stood up with as much confidence as she could muster. Lifting her chin up, she looked the Potion's Master straight in the eye.

"First you would use Indication Potion, to determine if your symptoms were allergy-related, or a sickness from a defect in the potion you had originally drank. Indication Potions are usually acid-based, and a simple one can be made from lemon juice, aloe, and weatherfether leaves. After doing this, you would probably find that there was a defect in the original potion, because jasmine is a very potent ingredient, and if you were allergic, you wouldn't have taken the tonic, because you would've known you would get sick. If then, there was a defect in the original potion, then the best thing to do, would be to take a reversal drug, or to simply wait it out, as neither newt tongue or jasmine have lasting effects."

"And what if the Indication Potion showed that I was indeed allergic to jasmine, then what?"

"Then you would take castor oil and frog liver to eradicate the traces of the potion inside you."

"And if I was allergic to the newt tongue?"

"Then you would have to wait out the effects, sir. Because newt tongue is hardy, and it would be more work to get rid of it, than to leave it."

Snape looked at her with a mildly surprised look on his face.

"It appears you have competition, Miss Granger, for the class brainy kid. Well done, Miss Mortacrin."

He turned around to the board again and began to write. Mannie sat back down and wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt, as she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Hermione next to her smiled, and looking across the room, she could see Harry and Ron grinning at her, Ron mouthing the words, 'You showed him!' Mannie allowed herself a tiny smile of achievement as she began to copy down notes again as Snape lectured. Maybe this class wouldn't be so bad after all.

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Harry ran up to Mannie in the hall after class.

"Ha! You were terrific in class today, Mannie!"

She shrugged her shoulders slightly.

"I was rather embarrassed in the beginning, when he called my name and I didn't answer."

"Oh, don't worry about that. Everyone's forgotten by now. By the way, what were you working on that had your attention so?"

"Oh no! my notes! I forgot them in Professor Snape's class!"

"I'll go back with you to get them."

"No, Harry. It's no good if both of us are late to Transfigurations. Please tell Professor McGonagall that I'm with Snape, and will be there soon."

Harry looked down at her.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I'll be right back."

She turned and walked briskly back towards the Potions lab. Harry looked at her retreating form. She was brave, that's for sure. Going to Snape's class all by herself.

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Mannie ran into the Potions class to find Snape at his desk reading something. When she entered he did not even look up, but somehow knew who to address.

"Miss Mortacrin, running is permitted outside; kindly reserve your energy accordingly."

"I'm sorry, Professor, but I'm going to be late for my next class an-"

"And I do believe that my class is over, so if you'll be so kind…"

He looked at her expectantly. Mannie resisted the urge to stomp her foot in frustration.

"But I forgot some notes in here. I wanted to get them because-"

"Ah yes, I'm reading them right now."

Mannie ran forward and would have snatched them from his hands, except he pulled them out of reach just in time.

"Miss Mortacrin, running is an activity reserved for outdoors. Are you hard of hearing?"

"No, but please, those are mine."

"They don't have your name on them, and they were left in my class."

"But, sir-"

"I believe you have a class to be in, Miss Mortacrin, and it isn't mine."

"Professor-"

"And that's five points from Gryffindor. Continue to pester me, and it will become fifteen."

Mannie was furious. Not trusting herself in the same room with Snape anymore, judging by the magic heat pulsating in her hands, she glared at him angrily before rushing from the room, and closing the door behind her with an audible clap.

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Snape looked over the scribbled notes and arrows and measurements on the paper he was holding. The girl was genius. She had just refined and perfected an extremely old potion. Snape wasn't even sure if he should let anyone know about this. It would definitely draw attention to her, something he wasn't sure she should be doing. He had studied his soon-to-be young ward, and still hadn't formed a complete decision yet. She seemed brooding, inquisitive, and very quiet. But when alone, like in the example just now, she was hot-tempered, stubborn, and more than slightly disobedient and rebellious. Still, it was only the beginning of the school year. He would have many more chances to evaluate how she really was. He shuffled papers around on his desk, preparing for his next class. One thing he did notice, however. Dumbledore was right about her carrying around a lot of grief. It was quite obvious in her eyes, and the way she walked about as if in fetal position, with her books held against her chest, and her head pointed down at the floor. Even when she sat at her desk, it looked like she was trying to curl up and protect herself from something.