Maggie couldn't help glancing around at everything. She was following Snape… her father, she corrected herself. She had to begin thinking of him as her father now. He had apparated them to just outside a forest. She couldn't see the castle in the distance, but her father assured her it was there. He had explained that it was warded so that muggles couldn't see it. He had made her don an invisibility cloak, warning her that she must remain close to him and silent.

They had passed through a field that appeared to contain merely a pile of large stone blocks, when suddenly the castle appeared before her. She skidded to a halt, amazed to see this massive castle where a moment before had been open sky and stony ruins.

"We just passed through the wards," her father had told her quietly.

Now, they were in the castle and heading down to his quarters. As it was early in the morning, there were no students in the corridors. He spoke quietly to her as they walked, telling her about the castle. She couldn't keep her eyes off the moving paintings. Then a ghost floated past and she came to a startled stop. Her father must have heard her somehow because he stopped and waited for her to catch up. "Sorry," she whispered.

He silently nodded and continued walking. They descended further and further into the castle, finally stopping in front of a painting of a snake wrapped around an apple. "Eden," he said quietly, waiting as the portrait swung open so they could enter. He gestured her inside first and followed her. A muttered Incendio and the fireplace lit, taking some of the chill from the room.

Maggie glanced around, surprised to find herself in a wood paneled room with a thick cream rug. This was clearly his living room/study. There was a pair of massive bookcases lining the side walls. A large desk covered in parchments sat in a corner. A long, black leather couch was before the fire, flanked by a pair of comfortable-looking armchairs.

"This way," he said, leading her through the living room and into a small hallway. "There is the kitchen," he said, pointing to a small tiled room to the left. "The bathroom is there," he turned and pointed across from the kitchen. He led her to the door at the end of the hallway, "You will sleep in here." He opened the door and led her into a large bedroom. There was a canopied bed draped in red and black. A dresser with mirror sat against one wall. Next to the bed was a small table covered in books. "I will be sleeping in the living room," he said before she could ask.

"Oh! I can't steal your room from you," she said quickly.

"Nonsense," he scoffed gently. "I will transfigure the couch into a bed. I assure you I will sleep as comfortably as I ever do." He pulled her shrunken bag from his pocket, placed it on the bed, and restored it to its rightful size. "The top two dresser drawers are empty for your use. I will allow you to unpack. When you are finished, come to the kitchen for lunch."

"Ok, thank you… sir." She still wasn't ready to call him father and she hoped he wasn't angry about that.

"Maggie, I understand that it will take both of us time to adjust to this. I will admit to you now, I have no idea how to be a father. You may call me whatever you feel comfortable with."

He turned and left the room and she let out a small sigh of relief. She hadn't really considered that this situation might be hard on him too. She quickly unpacked her clothing, rolled the duffel bag up and shoved it into a drawer, and left the bedroom. She walked to the kitchen and froze in the doorway. Her father was seated at the small table talking to… She wasn't quite sure what he was talking to. The creature was small with long ears. He had a pair of mismatched socks on his feet, a stack of hats on his head, and what looked like a tea cozy around his body.

Her father glanced up and met her eyes. He gave her a small smile and gestured her to enter. "Maggie, this is Dobby, one of Hogwart's house elves." Her father's eyes shifted down to the house elf and his face grew serious, "Dobby, Maggie is my daughter. She will be staying with me here for a week and no one is to know who she is or that she is here, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Master Snape. Dobby will keep the other house elves away he will. Very happy Dobby is to meet you Mistress Maggie!"

Maggie smiled broadly down at the curious looking creature, "It's nice to meet you too, Dobby."

"Dobby will be getting lunch now." With a pop, the house elf disappeared.

"Sit, he will be back in a moment."

No sooner had she obeyed her father than another pop was heard and Dobby was placing a laden tray onto the table. "Will you have anything else, Master Snape?"

"No, Dobby, that will be all."

"Thank you, Dobby," Maggie said quickly before he could disappear.

Silently nodding his over large head, he disappeared again.

Maggie looked over the amount of food on the tray, "This could feed six people."

"I fear Dobby is a bit over exuberant," he responded, taking a plate and cup from the tray.

Maggie followed suit. She glanced over the items on the tray and frowned curiously at a couple things. She didn't hesitate to question her father over them. He explained each before lifting the carafe and filling her cup.

"This is pumpkin juice. It is akin to muggle orange juice," he explained.

Maggie suddenly realized that her books would only get her so far and she blushed, slightly embarrassed that she was asking questions a four year old would probably know the answer to.

"Maggie," her father's voice quickly got her attention. "There is no reason to be embarrassed at your lack of knowledge about this world. Many students who come here are from muggle families and have even less knowledge than you of our world. Do not hesitate to ask me anything, okay?"

She smiled and nodded in response. She lifted her cup, sniffed at the juice inside, and took a small sip. She quickly put the cup back down, perhaps that was an acquired taste, she thought, scrunching her nose up. Her father chuckled and she laughed too. It was a beautiful start to what would surely be an interesting day.