A/N this chapter takes place about a week after the fall of Sunnydale. And ** denotes a flashback**

Thanks for all the great reviews… they are what are feeding the muse…. Yummy thanks for the chocolate muse frog…. It was totally enjoyed.

And thanks for the correction of the dates that tom riddle was 50 years before chamber of secrets, I will remember that for future stories, but for now this is AU so I am keeping Lord V a little younger for future plot bunnies.

Disclaimers, see the beginning

Chapter 2 the missing

As Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat near the window of his office lost in thought, he heard the telltale tapping on his window of an owl. With a sneer, he got up and let the little feathered pest into his office where he noticed a leather pouch tied to its leg. He knew the owl wasn't from his master or from anyone else he could think of. With caution he untied the leather and gave the owl one of the treats he kept in his desk drawer for Dumbledore's phoenix. After casting several charms to make sure there were no traps on it, Snape opened the packet to reveal a letter written in a hand that he hadn't seen for too many years.

My dearest love Severus,

I know it has been many years since I was able to write to you, but I felt the need to have this letter charmed to find its way to you in the case of my death. There have been a lot of things that have happened over the years. Some things though are not my story to tell. If you are reading this, then that means that not only have I died, but the town that our daughter and I have been living in has finally collapsed. I have left my wand, wedding ring, and papers for Buffy to find, I also left her my old school books and directions how to find you through friends. She has grown up well, and I think that she will be able to help with different things in our world. Yes Sev, she is a witch. I intercepted the letter from the Salem Academy when she was 11. I would love for her to be able to meet my brother and her cousin.

If she comes to find you, whatever you do; don't patronize her or look down on her or try to be over protective as I know you will want to be because it will just make her very mad, and that is something you want to try and avoid. I learned that one the hard way.

You have always been remembered with the most love and fondness I could find within me… I have missed you over the years, but I understand why we had to leave. Please love her and take care of her for me now. I love you always; no matter where I am…

Your loving wife, Elizabeth Joyce Snape (it has been too long since I could sign something like that)

The letter fell from Snape's grip as tears started to run down the potions masters face. His one love was gone, and he would never see her again. He thought back to the night before he made them leave for America.

** "I still don't understand why you want us to leave Sev. Kissy and Luc are staying and she just had a baby. I want to stay with you or at least them." Joyce argued with her husband as he charmed their belongings smaller so that they could fit in one of the muggle contraptions called a back pack.

"I wish you didn't have to go love, but with what HE has planned, I don't want you to be here if and when it backfires. Because of who your brother is, you will be considered a Death Eater and our child will be known as a Death Eater's daughter. It doesn't matter that Albus says he can protect you. You will be safer in America. I would prefer it if you were near the Hellmouth because it would hide your magic's from those who would use you against me." Snape said with true emotion in his voice. **

To this day, no one knew he had been married and had a daughter; except for Malfoy. Snape thought 'I am glad that Joyce never had to see what Lucius and I had to do under HIS controlled. She would have at least been glad that I was able to get the Malfoys' to turn spy like I did which would help them in the future when we finally kill the evil prat… I really need to get a hold of Dumbledore and let him know about my daughter and that she may be on her way to find me.'

** About a week ago**

** Buffy came out of her room after a full day of deliberation and reading through the books and doing some experimentation with her mother's wand (thankfully she didn't set too large a fire on her bedspread with the charms she tried. Her mind was made up. She was wearing her mother's wedding ring and had put the wand in her hair holding it up looking every bit the typical blond Californian that she showed everyone.

"Well guys, I thought about it an since there are so many slayers now, I am going to take the time and go look for my real dad and maybe check out this school and these other relatives I have." A confidant Buffy stated as she walked into the lobby and sat down next to Willow. "And I want my best friends to come with me."

"Umm, yes, about that ," Giles said as he took off his glasses and started to clean them," as much as I would love to accompany you, I have to start to see to matters here with the council having been destroyed. Maybe a little later I will be able to join you, but remember that if you ever need me I am just a telephone call away."

Buffy looked a little dejected at that, and looked towards Willow and Xander. "How about you guys?" with hope in her voice.

"Count me in Buffy. I have missed England since coming back from my time with the coven. Hay maybe I can see that school that your mom went to and maybe learn something new…" Willow started to babble with excitement

"Awesome Wills. How about you Xander? I would love to have my best Xander shaped friend with me too. This is too important to me to go alone…" Buffy asked.

"I want to Buffy, but I don't have the passport, or money to right now. " Xander pouted.

Buffy hugged her best friends and mentor as tight as a slayer could without hurting them and went upstairs to pack. Giles got on the phone and made the reservations for her and Willow for a flight to leave the day after tomorrow.

An unusually for the Scoobies was a quiet trip to the airport and through security. The girls stretched out on their seats as the plane took off from LAX and flew the 17 hours to land in London England. Customs was a breeze to get through, and soon they found themselves waiting for a taxi.

"Where to ladies?" the cabbie asked as he loaded the luggage into the boot of his cab.

"I believe the name of the street is Grimmauld Place." Buffy said as the girls got into the cab.

The drive was about 15 minutes from the airport when the girls got out. It was a dark looking street and as they looked down it there were numerous houses there with dark Georgian facades. The numbering on the houses was weird. On one side of the street were house numbers 1 to 10, and on the other it went 11 then 13 then the rest of the way to 20. Buffy looked strangely at the spot between numbers 11 and 13 and could swear she saw something a little shimmery. She dug into the cleavage pocket on her halter top and pulled out the little piece of paper that she tore off the bottom of her mom's letter and read it looking back at the shimmery spot and watched in amazement as a house appeared to squish open between them.

"Wow that was cool." Willow said as she watched.

The girls walked up to the door and knocked. A boy with messy black hair and a lightning bolt shaped scar answered the door.

"Who are you?" asked the boy staring intently at them.

"Umm, I am looking for my father. My mother said that this was where I would probably be able to find him." The tiniest cutest blond that Harry had ever seen answered his question. Wait… who was her father, he didn't know anything about Sirius having any kids, or at least he never told Harry about any.

"Who is your father and why do you think that he would be here?" Harry retorted a bit confused as he took in the blond a little more carefully.

"Umm. My father's last name is Snape. I really can't pronounce his first name cause like I never got to hear it said before." The little blond answered as she kind of shifted from foot to foot wondering if maybe this kid was another child by her father.

TBC

a/n I know cliff hanger but hay, sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do…