"Tell me again, this time a little more slowly and coherently, if you please."
Snape was pacing up and down Dumbledore's office, trying to explain Miss Renner's request to the Headmaster. Unfortunately, he had had to give Potter and Weasley another detention that afternoon, so he wasn't in a particularly charming mood. Still, Snape forced himself to stop pacing, took a deep breath, and turned to face Dumbledore.
"Miss Cassandra Renner has requested that I give her private Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons. She seems to feel that Quirrell's teaching is not covering what she expected. I told her that I would help if she could prove to either you or myself that her reasons for wanting these lessons were in earnest and not as means of sneaking her way to the top of her classes - however, I'm not sure that the Potions master is permitted to tutor in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I wished to make you aware of the situation and inquire as to whether I am permitted to help - should her reasoning prove acceptable, of course."
Dumbledore sighed. "I had a feeling Miss Renner would be coming to you before long, but I didn't think it would be this soon. Her situation must be worse than I thought..."
Snape looked at Dumbledore, astonished. "Has she already spoken with you?" He asked incredulously. "It was only this afternoon she came to me..."
"No, I have not spoken with Miss Renner concerning this topic," Dumbedore said. "However, I can boast prior knowledge. Tell me, Severus, what do you recall of Edward Renner?"
Snape paused. "Not much," he said thoughtfully. "He was four years behind me when we came here. Gryffindor, very popular, always seemed to be able to find something to smile about. Quidditch player, quite skilled. I seem to recall he had a particular affinity for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and he planned on teaching it someday. He married a Ravenclaw girl from his year, Danielle Lucas, wasn't it? And they were both killed -" Snape realized what he was saying. "Both killed by Death Eaters." Cassandra's parents had been killed by Death Eaters. The event had occurred just a year or two after the Potters' deaths and was severely overshadowed by that headline, but Snape now recalled it clearly.
"Well done, Severus. I'm impressed. Yes, Edward did marry Danielle Lucas and yes, they were killed by Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, before they were sent to Azkaban. The Renners left behind a girl who was three years old at the time of the murders. Cassandra Elizabeth. She was sent to live with her closest relative - a third cousin once removed, or something like that. I never could keep relations straight. This man, a 42-year-old Muggle named Nathaniel Waters, was not pleased to find that the care of a three-year-old child was left to him, and even less so when he learned that she possessed the ability to perform magic." Dumbledore looked at Snape. "I have no proof to support my assumptions, but it is my belief that Waters has been abusing that child since she came into his care, trying to scare her out of using magic."
As sad as it was, this was not an unusual occurrence among Muggle-borns. Even so, Snape found it difficult to believe that someone could be so lacking in character that they would continually abuse a child such as Cassandra. Her guardian must be a lovely fellow. Snape had never been known for his compassionate heart, but even he could see that Cassandra was hard-working and resourceful, kind and patient. What kind of a man did it take to mistreat someone so clearly innocent and never change? Suddenly Snape swallowed. Hadn't he once done just that, though? Lily was his best friend, in some ways his ward while she was away from the comfort of her Muggle world, and he had never listened to her admonitions about his friends or his behavior. In fact, he had responded by calling her slurs and never reconciling himself to her. Was he truly any better than Waters, this guardian who clearly held no respect for the person under his care? The equality between himself and Waters strengthened Snape's desire to assist Cassandra in whatever she needed. It also sparked some amount of righteous anger in him, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a good while.
Dumbledore stood silently, watching the range of emotions on Snape's face as they flitted from one to the next. "I believe that if Waters is in any way abusing Cassandra, she has the right to know how to defend herself, would you agree?"
Snape looked up. "No one should have to go endure that without any means of defense. Of course." He straightened. "I take it that I have your permission, then, to teach her?"
"Yes. And Severus," Dumbledore said, "should she ask for any other kind of assisstance in her situation, grant it to her. Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it." Snape inclined his head. He headed towards the door. His hand touched the doorknob, but before he could turn it, he heard, "One last thing." He turned.
Dumbledore gave Snape a small, understanding smile. "I know you're angry at Waters, but do try to restrain yourself. Don't teach the girl any Unforgivable Curses or anything of that sort." Snape looked momentarily disappointed before saying, "Of course, Headmaster." Snape left the room and headed back to his own chambers, but Cassandra's dilemma and his own thoughts didn't leave him alone until very early the next morning.