Just want to thank everyone for their reviews, and any helpful critics. I'll try to use them. The next few chapters will be about Bella growing up and interacting with Snape, and a few other people. And I hope you guys continue to enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Twilight.

….

To Severus his first 'official' meeting with Isabella was an utter disaster.

Isabella had woken up later that day, after Dumbledore and McGonagall had gone about other business. She awoke, fairly quiet, before looking around at her surroundings. Then things changed.

Isabella scrunched up her face and let out the most loud, annoying,wail Severus thinks he has ever heard. As he looked down at her he didn't know what to do, as the wail turned into a series of sobs.

Madame Poppy Pomfrey, having heard the ruckus from the other end of the hospital wing scurried over to Severus. She looked at the little girl who was now gasping with tears, and then looked up to Snape, who was still peering down at the girl as though frozen. For a moment she waited to see if he if would do anything before speaking.

``Well, aren`t you going to do anything? ``

Severus glanced up at Pomfrey and just stood there. Poppy sighed, bent down, and picked up Isabella.

``Hush now. There we are.`` Pomfrey bounced Isabella up and down a bit as she calmed down, except for tiny whimpers that came through her pouted lips. Madame Pomfrey took a Kleenex out from her apron pocket and wiped the child`s face free of tears and a slightly dripping nose.

From across the room a retching sound could be heard and Poppy pivoted to look at over at the curtain, hiding the bed ridden patient behind it.

She turned back to Snape and held out Isabella. He stood there, and continued to look at the squirming child.

``Dear Lord, Snape! Take her! I have other people to attend to. ``

He seemed to wake up in that instance, and took Isabella in his arms, unsure of the best way to hold her. Pomfrey regarded the odd sight in front of her for a moment. Seeing Severus Snape hold a child, was an odd sight indeed! But she snapped out of her musing when hearing the retching sound again, and darted over to the curtain and quickly passed behind it, throwing the Kleenex in the garbage as she passed by it.

Severus looked at the tiny girl in his arms. What did he do now? She appeared to have calmed, so he attempted to place her back in the crib. But the moment he let her go she started to cry again.

He let out a frustrated sigh and picked her up, and she almost immediately stopped. Snape looked around the room as if for some assistance when he felt a tug on his shirt.

He looked down to see that Isabella had become quite intrigued by the buttons on his shirt. She was examining them and tugging at them, smiling. She then peered up at Severus, when he noticed her eyes- just like Lily`s. Isabella saw him frowning at her, and furrowed her brows, looked back to the buttons, then back to him.

He raised an eyebrow at her, and she smiled once more, and then continued to play with the buttons. When Snape noticed no one else in the hospital wing to take her off his hands, he sat down on a bed and placed Isabella in his lap.

When she had no more interest in the buttons, Isabella looked around the room before leaning back to look at Snape.

``Da-Da? ``

Severus was startled for a moment, before responding.

``No. Snape. ``

She blinked a few times, and looked around once more.

``Ma-Ma? ``

He felt his heart clench, and looked Isabella straight in the eyes.

``No. ``

She kept the gaze before scrunching her face up and letting out a small cry. He felt a slight sense of panic, then did the only thing that came to his mind, and picked her up, cradling her in his arms. She seemed to be comforted by the motion, and was pacified. For the moment anyways.

…..

After that minor incident, things seemed to get smoother. Isabella eventually stopped asking for her mother and father, and was getting closer to Severus.

Severus was busy juggling teaching and a one year old. Not many people knew about him taking the little girl in. It seemed that was a tightly knit secret between him and the people in the Order. He liked that. His life away from the school was always secret and he aimed to keep it that way. He especially wished to keep it like that, should the Dark Lord ever return as Dumbledore prophesized he would. He didn't want Isabella involved.

Life continued, while Snape kept learning new things about Isabella every day. Some were trivial to him, others not. Those more trivial things included, what food she liked or didn't, what her shoe size was, what the signs were when she was tired and so on.

Then there were the non-trivial things. Things he found made her seem even more like her mother to him. Her stubbornness was one. Lily called it determination, but he called it stubbornness. Bella always set out to do something, and until she achieved it, she wouldn't stop. Even if she got hurt, while doing so. This frustrated her when she tried to walk. She would pull herself up by a table or a chair, and get her footing. But when she fell, she would get right back up and try again. Snape supposed this could be seen as a good thing, but after the fifteenth time of seeing Bella fall, he decided it was best to put her in her crib before she hurt herself. Bella seemed to pout, but quickly forgot it when Snape gave her a chocolate frog, that kept getting away.

His favourite trait Bella had was the way she constantly tried to make him smile. She would poke his nose, or giggle in effort, but pouted –lip out and everything- when he didn't. Snape then just ended up doing things to make her smile. It was a sort of game he had with her, and at the end of it, he always gave her a small smile. One that used to reserve only for her mother.

….

As the months went on, it seemed things were starting to settle down. Isabella had officially been moved into a dorm room of her own- one near Snape's room of course- and she was starting to get into a routine.

Oddly enough, so was Severus. At first it was difficult having to learn how to handle teaching and Isabella, but he was eventually able to establish a fair daily routine with her. If he was being truthful to himself, he was actually getting used to her and was starting to enjoy having her around.

Currently Isabella was in Dumbledore's office, sitting on his desk, watching Fawkes, fly around the room. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, looking at the days Daily Prophet, but quickly dismissed it.

Isabella let out a small squeak, as Fawkes flew right over top of her, and she reached her arms out, as if to try and catch him.

Dumbledore smiled her, stood and picked her up. He took her over to the window, and opened it, letting Fawkes fly out into the late afternoon sky.

He heard a tiny yawn, felt Isabella's head fall onto his shoulder. Severus would be here soon. After a few more minutes of gazing, and Isabella pulling at his beard, Dumbledore turned to the sound of his office door opening.

As expected, Snape passed through, and came to stand by the entrance. Seeing Dumbledore with a tired looking Isabella, he glided over to them. Immediately, the tired little girl perked up and held her arms out toward the man dress in all black. She clenched and opened her hands impatiently. After what seemed like an eternity to her, Severus finally took her into his to arms.

"She seems to be getting used you, Severus."

Snape nodded, and pivoted toward the door but stopped when he heard Isabella mumbling.

``Ssee…Ssev…Sev…Sev! ``

As he looked at Isabella, Snape thought back to Lily using that as his nickname for him, many years ago. He looked at the small girl, smiling up at him, having no idea how much she had just impacted him.

….

"I am beginning to get concerned, Albus. She's been with us for a number of months and she has yet to show any signs of magical ability."

"I know, Miverva."

Albus Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid and Minerva McGonagall were in Hagrid's hut, waiting for Severus Snape to join them. It was a meeting of sorts, to discuss the child the potions master had acquired those several months ago.

"Perhaps we should wait 'till the professor gets here, sir."

"Of course, Hagrid."

"Well, he should be here, by now. He's not the type to be late." Minerva looked out the window, to the school. She didn't really know what she expected to see. It was the dead of night, and Severus always wore black. He would be impossible to see.

Just then Fang's head picked up from his paws and he let out a whine, from his laying position beside Hagrid. The door opened to reveal Snape's dark silhouette, illuminated by the small fire, in the fireplace. He stood in the doorway for a moment before entering.

"Good evening, Severus."

Snape looked about the hut, but stayed as far away from the people within it, as physically possible. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked to Dumbledore, who sighed.

"Yes, well. As I'm sure you know, we are here to discuss the concern with Isabella's lack of showing magical ability."

McGonagall spoke up first.

"Her brother has shown his ability multiple times. While watching over him I've seen it, much to the Dursleys dismay- "

"Bella is still young yet. She will show it in time."

They all looked to Snape.

Dumbledore regarded him. Seeing him jump to defend Isabella made him elated. However the seriousness of the issue at hand was disconcerting. It was getting late for Isabella to be showing signs of magic. If by her second birthday nothing was seen, she would have to be reported to the Ministry as a squib. There was very little time left. To have Isabella live in this world without any magic would be difficult. Squibs were looked down upon greatly in the wizarding world. It was a difficult life to lead. Perhaps that's why most squibs chose to live in the muggle world.

Hagrid cleared his throat. "If I may sir? No one can force her to do magic. She has to do it on her own."

Dumbledore nodded softly. "I believe that when she is ready, she will show it."

A soft mumble came from the other side of the small hut. "And if she does not?"

Three heads turned to look at the potions teacher who now had his head down.

As much as Severus hated to admit it, he was growing attached to Bella. So much so that he couldn't see her living in the muggle world. However, life for her would be harsh, if she had no magical capability. And so, if he had to make the choice of that or making her face the judgements growing up, the choice was simple.

The Headmaster spoke softly. "Then we shall raise her as if she has...and love her just the same."

With his head turned down Dumbledore swore he saw tears build in Snape's, until his head came up. He looked at the three adults with determined eyes, and a hard set mouth.

"Very well."

…

So a little trouble may be coming for Bella! Not showing any signs of magic isn't a good thing! If anyone is unfamiliar with what a squib is I encourage you to go to Harry Potter Wiki. That site has helped me a lot in coming up with some ideas for this. Well, until next time!