Oliver frowned darkly. "You what?"

Taking a deep breath, she repeated herself. "I want to quit the quidditch team."

"No, I canna let you do it," Oliver responded. "You'll play even if I have to tie you to your broom."

"Oliver you can't do that!" Tirza exclaimed. "I have to quit, I just have too!"

A firm shake of his head followed. "No, I willna let you. You're not off the team Tirza, and it's for your own good that I say it. Now what's really bothering you?"

She tried to glare him down with the classic Snape-glare, only Oliver wasn't about to be intimidated by a little girl.

Oliver picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder. "Hey!" she shouted. He ignored her completely, dragging her out of the common room and into the deserted hallway.

Setting her down he held her firmly by the shoulders. "This isna like you Tirza. I know something is wrong, and whether it's part about quidditch or not, you're my adopted little sister and I want to know! Now tell me!"

Tirza's face crumpled and she let him pull her close. "It's dad… And quidditch. He can't cheer for me Oliver. I'm Gryffindor. I embarrass him. No matter how much he loves me he still can't do it. We haven't talked since the night of the game against Slytherin."

"Do you really think that's true Tirza?" Oliver asked gently. He knew she was terribly upset by this, and wondered if there was a way he could fix it. That way was not letting her quit though.

She nodded, fighting her tears. "It is Oliver. All those games he hardly even tried and then when we had Slytherin he was mad. I don't know what to do!"

Oliver kissed the top of her head. "I know your dad loves you Tirza, more then anything. He'll figure out what to do, let him come to you. I am sure he's just as upset as you are right now. Give him time to come around to his senses. I promise it's not as bad as you think."

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Severus Snape was second-guessing himself. And third guessing, fourth guessing and even fifth guessing himself. When it came to potions, there were never any second guesses, but when it came to his child there always seemed to be a lot of it.

What would he do? What would he say? What would Tirza do and say? It was too late now for anymore guessing. Severus had already left a note at her desk by the time Tirza's class entered the potions classroom.

Tirza did find the note, asking her to stay after class and speak with him. She tried to get a read on how he was feeling, but Severus was much more skilled at hiding then she was.

"Hey Ginny, you and Maddie go on without me to DADA. I need to stay after, I'll follow you both shortly."

Ginny looked suspicious. "Are you sure? We could stay with you if you wanted."

Tirza shook her head no. "It'll be ok. Just tell Professor Lupin that I might be late because I was kept after class."

"We will," Maddie assured her. "Good luck."

Tirza smiled hesitantly. "Thanks…"

She sat in her seat and felt Severus' eyes on her as the other students left and headed for other classes. Then there was no one left but the two of them; a heavy, tense silence filled the room for several moments.

"I'm glad you found the note," Severus started. He sat behind his desk, watching her. Had he ruined everything? She was avoiding looking at him, he could tell, and it made his heart ache.

"What's going on dad?" Tirza picked at a bit of a potion that seemed to be stuck to the side of her table.

"I thought we needed to talk Tirza. Come up here."

With a sigh, she left her bag on the table and walked up to his desk. "Okay…"

Severus ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath before beginning. "What you said to me a few nights ago has gotten me thinking."

Tirza ducked her head a bit, her face flushing slightly. She hated telling him that, knowing it wasn't true, but Tirza loved him enough to not want to pressure him into supporting her Quidditch team if it made him so unhappy. She couldn't imagine loving anyone more then she loved her dad, and didn't want to be the cause of his sadness.

"I…" another sigh escaped his lips. "Sit down here with me, please?"

Tirza plopped in a chair beside him. She felt oddly relieved when he simply stood, picked her up out of her chair, and sat down again sitting her on his lap.

"I haven't been a very good father lately…"

She bit her lip, unsure how to answer him, or even if she should.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking Tirza. I should be a more supportive father, a father who doesn't care whether his house will be offended or not. A daughter should matter so much more then any house," he sighed.

"I thought I was doing well enough until the Slytherin game and I realized I am not."

Tirza hung her head and leaned against his chest. "It's ok daddy," she whispered. "You don't have to. I know it's embarrassing and I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

Tears stung her eyes as she spoke. She wanted more then anything for him to cheer her on, or at least smile and give her a wave during a game.

"I should though," he whispered. He began to gently stroke her hair as she laid her head against him, so glad to have her back in his arms. "I should be uncomfortable, if it enables me to be a better father. Being your father is the most important thing, and the largest as well as hardest job I have ever had. You mean so much to me, more then anything or anyone in the world. Your happiness should always be my top priority, always."

Tirza threw her arms around his neck, burying her face against him. "I'm sorry," she whimpered, trying hard not to start crying.

"Shhh." Severus kissed her head for the first time in four days, and held her tight to his chest. "It's alright, it isn't your fault, it's mine."

"Yes it is daddy, it's my fault because I embarrass you... because I'm a Gryffindor. I wish I had never been a Gryffindor!" Hot tears started to trail down Tirza's face and dripped onto his shoulder.

Severus pulled her away from him a bit and gave her a slight shake, making her squeak. "You are NOT an embarrassment," he scolded. "EVER. I was telling the truth when I said I was so proud of you for making the team. You were placed into the Gryffindor because you fit the description of those in that house. In my house, you would've felt left out; you were not born with the qualities to be a Slytherin. I love you for who you are not for what house you are in."

"I know daddy." Tirza swallowed hard. "But it embarrasses you to cheer for me. I-- I told Oliver I wanted to quit. So you wouldn't have to cheer for Gryffindors."

Severus shook his head no, giving her a stern look. "I forbid you to quit because of me. You enjoy playing Quidditch and I do not want you to quit unless it is truly what you want to do. I will not be the reason you quit something you are so skilled at and love."

"Oliver wouldn't let me anyway," she admitted. "He said I was going to play or else he'd tie me to my broom or something."

"I can see Oliver saying that." Severus cracked a smile as he imagined the conversation. "You will play Quidditch with your friends Tirza, and I will cheer for you."

"Yeah?" she asked softly. "And you'll really cheer for me?"

"Yes I will," he nodded. "Because you are my one and only daughter whom I love very much."

Tirza blushed and hugged him again, having missed hugging him so much.

"You have shown me so much and continue to show me things," Severus told her sincerely.

"I'm glad. I'll try real hard not to ever embarrass you, ok? I don't want to embarrass you, I love you a lot."

"Even if you embarrass me, I will still love you," he promised. "I'm so proud of you Tirza."

"I'll always love you daddy," she whispered.

Severus hugged her tighter, kissing her forehead. "I'll always love you Tirza. There is no other child I would rather claim as my own, but you."

Tirza cuddled in his arms for several moments before brushing across her damp eyes with her sleeve. "Daddy?"

Severus looked down at her. "Yes, baby?"

"Uncle Remus' class started about five minutes ago..." It wasn't that Tirza wanted to leave the cuddling, but she knew eventually she had to get to class.

"I know. Do you really wish to go? I'm sure Remus would excuse you today," he asked.

She looked up at Severus with wide eyes. "Are you, Mr. You-Better-Have-A-Pass, suggesting I skip class!"

"Only this once," Severus added firmly. "Because you have a very good reason."

Her eyebrow went up. "I do?"

"Yes you do: you are making up with your stubborn father," he smirked.

Tirza giggled. "Ok, I think that's an excellent reason!"

Severus chuckled. "I certainly do love you, young lady!"

"Not half as much as I love you!" Tirza kissed his cheek. "So what are we going to do for my skip, huh?"

"Perhaps we'd best go walk by the lake and hope we aren't discovered being truant, hmm?" Severus suggested.

Tirza nodded and slid off his lap. When Severus stood, she took his hand and practically dragged him from the room.

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"That one," Severus pointed up at a cloud. "Looks like Albus' hat. And how about going to Rosmerta's for supper?"

"Really?" Tirza giggled and looked over at where he was pointing. "It does! And that sounds awesome! I love her place."

Father and daughter lay on a blanket near the lake watching the clouds roll by and catching up on the days they had missed each other. Only someone else was missing Tirza; that someone was Professor Remus Lupin!

Remus Lupin had missed Tirza in class and noticed that she hadn't come at all, when Ginny had said she would be a bit late. After his class ended he checked the potion's classroom and found both Tirza and Snape were gone.

On a hunch, Remus had decided to check the outside and see if they were there. He saw them, of course, and smiled. It was about time they made up!

"Ahem…" He coughed just behind them. Remus couldn't help but laugh as both Tirza and Severus sat up quickly and looked around.

"Looks like two people have played hooky today," Remus mock scolded. He shook his head and sighed. "It also looks like two people are in need of a detention!"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Pardon me?"

Remus only grinned back. "You heard me Severus. Both of you are due at my classroom in one hour's time. I heard that the Muggle Studies class has a large amount of chalkboard erasers that need to be banged together to get the dust off. I am sure that the professor will be thrilled to know that I have two able-bodied volunteers to do this task for her."

Tirza's jaw dropped, while Severus growled.

"One hour, don't be late!" With a cheeky grin, Remus turned and headed back into the school, leaving two silent Snapes in his wake.

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Growling and grumbling the entire way, Severus allowed Tirza to pull him along towards Remus' classroom. "This is complete idiocy."

Tirza sighed and rolled her eyes. "Oh dad, one evening, you'll live."

"Hmph! I stopped being subjected to detention the year I graduated."

She looked up at his darkly scowling face and could only laugh. "Dad, you are pouting! You are totally pouting! Oh my god!"

Severus raised an eyebrow and fixed her with a stern look. "I, young lady, do not pout. I am not a teenager. In fact, I never even pouted when I was a teenager, unlike some little girl I know."

His lips curled up in a smile as Tirza looked offended and bopped him on the arm. "Low blow!" she laughed.

Severus opened the classroom door for Tirza and smirked.

"Merlin, I never expected you to show up Severus. I was just kidding, didn't you know that?" Remus exclaimed.

"Apparently not," Severus growled.

Tirza rolled her eyes and hugged Remus. "Hi uncle Remus, I made him come, he was pouting."

Lupin grinned cheekily. "I wish I could have seen that. Severus Snape in full pout would have done my heart good."

"I do not pout!" Severus reasserted loudly.

"Yeah yeah yeah." His daughter waved a hand in his direction.

"Actually I was only hoping that you would come Tirza. I wanted to give you some notes from class today and let you know that if you have any questions not to hesitate to come and find me." Remus handed her a roll of parchment containing notes, the homework assignment, and pages in her textbook that would be helpful.

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Later that evening, when potions were packed up, parchments graded, lessons prepared and homework finished, Tirza snuggled in Severus' arms.

"I am so glad we made amends," he whispered in her ear.

Tirza looked up at him, ignoring the video that they were watching. "Me too daddy. I haven't been that sad in a long time. It was really hard."

Snape sighed and hugged her closer. "I am sorry that I made it so hard Tirza. Perhaps I owe you a father/daughter day, hmm? One that does not involve skipping classes of course."

"I'd like that! Maybe we could go see a movie or a play in London some weekend? Please?"

"I would very much enjoy that," Severus admitted, even though he knew it would be a strain for him. "Let me do some checking on what is playing now, or coming soon, and then we'll set a day. Maybe even rent a room and make it an over night. We'll have to see."

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A/N: Thank you all you reviewers! I really love reading your messages! So what will Snape and Tirza do in muggle London? Will they have a nice trip, or will disaster ensue? Keep reading and reviewing! Love, Kerry