Snape sighed as he decanted his current potion into a glass beaker. The result was a much-altered version of polyjuice potion that took a greatly reduced time to brew – only two days – and that would last for a month at a stretch. It also didn't change one's appearance to match another. Instead, it would have transfiguration spells cast directly upon it and the drinker would absorb those changes. He had only recently perfected it and now he would use it to hide his daughter from the world.

He would ask McGonagall to cast the Transfiguration spells so that they would hold up better than his own would. Placing the flask aside, he rubbed at the bridge of his nose. The potion had taken him all weekend to brew and with Maggie leaving for the Burrow on Thursday, he only had a couple more days to spend with his daughter.

He also couldn't forget his fears regarding Katrina. He hadn't been summoned for some time now, so he had no way of knowing if she had become a victim of Voldemort. He acknowledged that it was possible that she had fallen victim to one of the many dangers of the muggle-world, which was much more likely.

Then there was this last week's worth of exams that he had to administer. He also had to consult with Maggie's other tutors on her schedule. Then there were his own lessons with her to plan.

Oh, and let's not forget the fact that his daughter had spent most of her time this weekend practicing spells with Harry bloody Potter. Who knew what excuses the boy had given his friends to spend time in Snape's personal chambers? He had grudgingly allowed the lessons, silently acknowledging that the boy did show promise as a teacher and that Snape himself would be too busy brewing the potion to spend any time with his daughter.

Snape frowned as he contemplated the potion. He had noted the growing attraction between his daughter and Potter and wondered how much of it was superficial on Potter's part. As much as he disliked Potter – and he was willing to admit some of it was a holdover from his dislike of James Potter – he didn't desire to see his daughter get hurt. There wasn't much he could do about it if the attraction was purely physical. His daughter had to disappear, as she would be in too much danger if her relation to him were discovered.

Casting a quick Tempus spell, Snape saw that it was about time for dinner. He cleaned his workstation and exited the lab for his personal quarters. Entering quietly, he was unnoticed by his daughter or Potter as his daughter cast Rictusempra at Potter. Snape was surprised that the spell hit the boy, as he was sure Potter was capable of blocking it.

Maggie canceled the spell as Snape stepped further in the room. "Honestly, Mr. Potter, I had thought you capable of blocking a first-year spell. Let us hope the Dark Lord doesn't decide to tickle you to death."

"I'm quite capable of blocking it," Potter replied defensively. "I've learned, though, that it's easier to teach someone a spell when they can see its effects."

"I assume you won't be teaching my daughter the Unforgivables, in that case," he sniped.

"No sir, of course not! We've mainly worked on defensive spells today," Potter said quickly.

"Oh?" Snape inquired, moving to the fireplace where he kept his bottle of scotch.

"Harry taught me Petrificus Totalis and Stupefy," Maggie began with a smile. She frowned slightly as she continued, "He tried to teach me how to cast Protego, but I couldn't quite seem to manage it."

Snape poured himself two fingers of scotch before turning his gaze on the boy, "You can cast Protego?"

"Yes sir. I learned it for the Triwizard Tournament."

"Impressive," Snape remarked, focusing again on his daughter. "Don't be too discouraged, Maggie. Protego is a spell which many adults never fully manage to cast properly." He slowly drank his scotch. "Have the two of you eaten yet?" He knew dinner in the Great Hall had ended. With the return of Albus to the school, Snape no longer needed to take every meal with the staff, though the Headmaster preferred if Snape was there to oversee his Slytherins.

"No, father, we haven't," Maggie responded. "Actually, we lost track of time."

"Mr. Potter, as you have missed dinner in the Great Hall, you are welcome to eat with us," Snape said, trying not to sigh audibly.

"Thank you sir, I appreciate that."

"Maggie, call Dobby and have him bring dinner. The potion is finished and I only need to have Professor McGonagall transfigure it. I'm going to ask her to come down here in an hour. Once it is finished, you will need to consume it immediately." Leaving the room, he spoke to Minerva through the floo, arranging for her to come by in an hour.