/^~*H*~^\=Harriet's POV

/~*D*~\=Draco Malfoy's POV

/~^*S*^~\=Severus Snape's POV

/~~*L*~~\= Lucius Malfoy's POV

|~^~*3*~^~|= Third Person POV

/^~*H*~^\

"I just want you two, to take care of my little snake. Consider it a year long, possibly more- vacation from Death Eater duties. I just want Harriet to know that she has a family now, and the ones that are still alive are in my dungeons living out their most horrible nightmares. Foolish people. They were utterly foolish to cross Lord Voldemort, but to cross his little snake, is just plain stupid." I heard Tom talking. I smiled brightly but waited for what he was going to say. I knew he knew I was there. "Come out my little snake." Tom ordered softly and I ran from my hiding place and into his open arms. He had been with me for all of those years down to the dungeons and talked to me every night. I was foolish for not telling him. He thought that I was a mute, for he had never heard me talk. Nor had the Death Eaters told him, because if they did, they would give themselves away.

"Tom!" I yelled and hugged him tightly. He was the only one that I had in the world. Of course I have Severus and Mr. Malfoy, but, I can't really see them as family. They are Death Eaters, even if they were not the ones that hurt me. They were just as cruel. If only I had known better.

I felt strong arms wrap around me and I hisses out in pain. He immediately released me and I frowned taking a few steps back from him.

"Harriet, did I hurt you?" Tom asked me frowning and I realized that he was just worried about me. I blushed and looked down.

"Well, as you know, I am still recovering from my injuries..." I whispered and then looked up at Severus when he started to speak.

"We misjudged our priorities and didn't tell Draco anything, so he decided to give her his normal wake up call, because he sees her as family already." Severus explained. I frowned and looked down ashamed that I didn't stop Severus from telling Tom about this morning.

"Harriet, you may be recovering from your injuries, but that doesn't mean that Severus wont treat any new ones. Why did you not let Severus heal you?" Tom asked me softly and I blushed in shame frowning when I felt a hand under my chin making me look into Tom's eyes.

"I didn't want him to waste anything more on me." I whispered and he nodded and frowned releasing me. I didn't notice that I took a few steps back away from him, standing closer to the wall, always keeping my escape route in my vision.

"You are to tell Severus any pain you have, even if it goes away after a few seconds. I want you to tell him, do I make myself clear?" Tom said and I nodded.

"Yes Tom." I whispered and looking down.

"Don't look so glum. I have something for you." Tom said and I looked up. He should know by now that I didn't like gifts. They were always... unpleasant, but Toms gifts have never been unpleasant. If fact they were always quite enjoyable. I watched him take a tightly wrapped box out of his robes, but he stayed where he was. After five minutes of him holding it out to me, his hand never moving, I walked over to him and took the small box from him. I looked at the dark green wrapping with silver snakes on it and carefully removed the paper. No one commented on my careful actions. " Congratulations on a Family and Happy early Birthday Harriet Severus SnapeEvans.

I set the paper aside and opened the box to find a green book. In the bottom right corner was my name in silver lettering. Tom had obviously wrote on the cover himself because he had the nicest hand writing that I had ever seen. I knew it by heart because of all of the notes he would make flutter over to me. I didn't speak, but I often wrote him back answers. The butterfly or whatever insect he wanted to make would return back to him once I was done.

"Its a journal. Your very own. I thought you might want to write down your thoughts if you didn't want to speak them." Tom said softly. I nodded and replaced the lid on the box and smiled slightly up at him. Another enjoyable gift. He had of course made me several of the journals, but I had long since filled them. They were still down in the dungeons if I remember correctly. I suddenly frowned and looked at the ground.

"My others are still in my... room at your manor." I whispered. He laughed softly and I was going to glare at him for being so mean to me, but I looked up and smiled brightly He had all five of them in his hand. I stood and almost grabbed for them. Instead I hugged Tom tightly almost knocking him to the ground. I flinched when I heard my journals drop but I didn't care. I couldn't even stop the tears from flowing down my face.

/~^*S*^~\

It hurt so bad. It hurt so bad to watch Harri interact with Our Lord as she did when she would barely talk to me. Throughout Our Lords visit, he got her to talk more then I had in the two months that we had spent together. I sighed and left the room. I would have to ask him how he did it. Got her to love him so much.

He stayed an hour, then he returned to where I was.

"Severus, what is the matter with you?" Lord Voldemort said. I frowned and looked away. No point in lying. Its about Harri. He will know if I am lying. When it comes to her I can't lie.

"I am upset that Harri talked to you more then she has with me when I have been with her for two months. I haven't heard her say as much as she did with you. I was only there for five minutes and you had her talking more then me." I said frowning. How low can I go?

"Severus, I have been there for her her entire life. She knows me. She thinks you are just as cruel as the other Death Eaters. I have not told her otherwise because she needs to see for herself, not from my word. She believes me, but she really believes things when she sees them with her own eyes and hears with her own ears. She doesn't go by anyone's words. She has to find out for herself the truth or not. Just continue being the wonderful father that I know you are and she will warm up to you. Maybe voice some of your concerns and not wait for her to tell you what is wrong. She will never come to you. You have to go to her." He answered and I nodded, grateful for the advice.

Maybe that was what I was doing wrong. I never got involved with my Snakes lives unless they wanted me. Harri isn't just my Snake. She is my daughter and I need to treat her differently.

"Thank you my Lord, for you help. Thank you for everything that you have done." I said and looked at him smiling softly. He nodded and patted me on the shoulder.

"I will see you all in three days time. Try to get closer to her. Ask her if she is okay. Ask her what she needs and if she doesn't want to talk about it then leave her be. Offer to play some games with her or teach her the game of Quidditch. She would make an excellent Seeker. " He said and left through the Floo. I sighed and rubbed my face tiredly. I knew the last part wasn't a request. Well it was, but he just wanted the request fallowed.

/~*D*~\

"What you go there Harri?" I asked her when I walked into the living room. I saw she was holding a green book; identical to the other five on the small table to the side of her. She was curled up in a ball with the little book on her knees and she was writing furiously. When I asked her she immediately closed it mid word and I felt a rush of magic over me. She warded the small book from prying eyes.

"Its nothing." She said.

"Its a Journal isn't?" I asked her. Of course it was. Why else would she lock it or be writing in a book?

"If you much know yes." She whispered and I smiled walking over to her.

"Don't worry. I have one as well. Want me to teach you a spell where you can turn it invisible so only you can see there are words in it. Just encase someone knows the counter of the locking charm you just did?" I asked and she smiled nodding. I smiled at her and took out the wand that I was only suppose to use in emergencies, but I suppose Father wouldn't mind me teaching my little sister a ink invisibility spell. It was to protect her privacy after all. She didn't have to know that we all knew the counter to it. No need to tell her it's a family spell.

I took out a piece of paper and wrote my name on it. "Me ni mienai Inku" and tapped the paper. I heard her gasp softly but I pretended to not notice.

"It means Invisible Ink. Did you know that the Malfoy, and the Prince families both come from Japanese descendants? Fathers grandmother was a Japanese Wizard and I believe that Uncle Sev's great Grandfather was Japanese. The Malfoy Family sill practices a lot of the customs. I know that Uncle Sev didn't start his practices until he met Father at Hogwarts. Father taught him all about both his family history and even Uncles own family history. it turns out that my great grandmother help uncle Sevs great grandfather out all of the time. We even found documented proof. I should take you to the library this place has tomorrow."

"Draco, Harri, what are you doing here? You know that this room is only used when Our Lord is over for a visit." I frowned at how faster Harri stood up.

"Sorry Sir, T-Tom told me that I could stay in here and wr-write." She stammered.

"Its alright Harri. You didn't know. It was my fault for not letting you know. And you don't have to be scared of Father. Father and Uncle Sev are never going to be like the others. They are only Death Eaters in meetings. They don't bring anything hope like that. All the others... they... are mean to their families, but uncle Sev and Father are never like that. Don't tell Tom this, but their family comes first." Draco said proudly. " You don't have to worry about them being mean-"

"Draco hold you tongue." Father ordered and I nodded and just smiled softly at her, but quickly frowned when I saw her eyes glaze over.

"Harriet! Don't you dare!" I yelled and she flinched away from her her eyes alive and frightened. My eyes saddened, but I looked at her in the eyes. " You were remembering something awful. I didn't want you to, so I did the only thing I could think of. I yelled at you to snap you out of it. You have a knew life her Harri. Me, Uncle Sev, who happens to be your father, and my father who is... well I guess you could call him an uncle, are always going to be here for you no matter what. I am your older brother weather you like it or not and anyone who tries to harm you will pay dearly!" I said and I smiled at the surprise in her eyes. " That's right." I nodded. " You are my little sister. I showed you that spell didn't I? Brothers are suppose to help their little sisters when they are having trouble, or just need a hug or want someone to play with." I said proud of my knowledge of being a sibling, but never being one until yesterday.

"I... don't need a brother." She whispered and walked away. My face fell and I was about to follow her but father stopped me.

"Draco. She hasn't had any family before. It is still new to her and it will take time before she actually accepts us as family, let alone the title of father, or brother. Let her go, Severus wants to talk to her so she is in good hands. Now, what I want to talk to you about may make you uncomfortable, but... I was wondering how you felt about me and Severus being a couple. We just revealed to each other that we like each other more than friends, and I haven't told you before because I did not know where it was going to lead." He said and i just smiled up at him.

"I am happy for you and Uncle Sev. Who knows, maybe I will find a boy to marry, either way love is love, I am just glad that you didn't actually marry mother. Who knows what would have happened if you had. In a way, Uncle Sev is a part of the family, always has been always will be. He helped you raised me and if you think about it he is the other parent in raising me. He has always been there for me just like you Father." I said feeling quite happy. Its about time they both told each other. I am only ten and I knew they were in love with each other. I smiled and hugged father before walking out. We both knew that nothing more had to be said.

/^~*H*~^\

I walked quickly away from the room. Once I thought I was far enough away I leaned against the wall breathing deeply. No one could have missed the true statements or the emotions of which he stated those statements. I may not have heard many truths, but I could spot one. There was no way he could have made any of that up.

Did I need a brother.

No.

Did I want one.

Yes.

If I let him in and be my brother would it last.

Probably not.

I suppose I act like Tom is my father because for all of those years he was. I know that Severus is my father by birth, but... but... Tom has always been there. I spent all of those years cursing my father for what he had done to me and my mother, but, in actuality he wasn't my father. Severus Snape was my father. He hadn't abandoned me yet. He seemed to care, but I learned to keep my emotions locked away, but ever since I came to live with Severus all my emotions come crashing down on me like I suppose a waterfall would feel like rushing over you.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up into the concerned eyes of Severus. I vaguely recalled that i didn't flinch or anything when he touched me, but I could have just imagined the whole thing because the next thing I recalled was a sharp pain when my head hit the stone floor.

I looked up at the ceiling and frowned when it was so burly. It seemed farther away then it usually was when sleeping on a bed. I stiffened when felt the cold wash over my body. I was like a stone cold mist, kind of like when you are walking through fog in the early morning. I placed my arm over my eyes flinching at the harsh light that evaded my sensitive sight.

"Harriet-"

"No!" I gasped and sat up so fast that the room span. I knew I was swaying but the person didn't let my head touch the ground again. I flinched at the touch and tried to move away from the man that was going to hurt me even more. I should have known that everything of the past two months were nothing but very detailed dreams. Something that I had come to believe was real why my mind slowly lost whatever sanity that it had.

"Easy there Harri..." A voice whispered and I shuttered trying to move away once again. Strong arms wrapped around me. I stiffened and closed my eyes tightly as the man carried me somewhere. Probably a new torture room just for me.

"Uncle Sev what happened?" A voice yelled and I stiffened more moaning in pain as my head throbbed even more in pain. The man carrying me told the other person to give me something. I struggled weakly but they eventually forced me to take it, which wasn't hard. My head started to instantly feel better and I opened my eyes just barely enough to see the person holding me.

"Dad." I whispered frowning. I felt him stiffen and look down at me. He stopped walking, missed a step in his walk causing him to readjust his pace.

"Yes Child. I am here, just like I said I would be." Oh I could have kissed him! I wasn't insane. I was safe and in my fathers arms being taken care of. Was I weak because I called him dad? Did that make me weak. No. Draco was very strong and he called his Father 'dad' as well. Maybe it would be better to keep calling him Severus, or maybe Father. Would he permit me to even call him that? Not even Tom had been for me after the beatings because he never knew about them. I was alone. I was always alone when I was hurting. But now I wasn't. Someone was carrying me and gave me something for the pain, something I didn't even know existed. That person just happened to be my father. The father that I didn't know that I had. He had a daughter that he didn't know he had.

I had thought that he didn't want me. But, now, I know that he does want me and he will be there for me. I just hope this lasts. Nothing good lasts in my life. Please let my little happiness last at least for a few more days.

Please! I begged all of the gods out there. Hopefully at least one of them heard me... please let it be so...