Author's Note:: My beloved readers, if you are still reading, that is, I wish to apologize wholeheartedly for my stupidity. I left out a chapter! and no one noticed! But this missing chapter (or mini chapter if you will) will no doubt fill in some holes. I have been reading my "published" version and I apologize for formatting mistakes, I generally don't read them after I transfer them from WordPad...lol maybe I should stick with Microsoft Word, right? Well enjoy this missing chapter. There will not be another installment until I am completely satisfied with it. I feel like I forced it too much and I want to rewrite it. Thank you so very much for your support. :]

DISCLAIMER: Obviously I own nothing, except for the unfamilar characters and events. Thank you.

Abandoned

Severus Snape woke up an hour earlier than normal. Something wasn't quite right, but then again when where things right? He went about his business as usual, got ready and went to his classroom before breakfast. On his way he past the entrance to the Slytherin Common room.

"Student count?" he asked the closest portrait of a famous ex-Slytherin.

"Professor, You know, us portraits need our sleep..."

"Hectus, you sleep during the day, when students are in classes....student count?" he asked again, quietly.

"All but one returned very late last night, or rather early this morning," he portrait replied tiredly. Severus nodded. He knew his students often ventured out, but as long as no other house learned of this, it could continue. As long as they were to class on time and caused zero problems... it could continue.

"Who did not return, Hectus?" Snape questioned almost uninterested. Hectus grumbled and scratched his head.

"The new one sir...with the black hair...her name is..." he looked up wide eyed, "Why, your daughter, sir! She never returned last night."

Severus's heart fluttered in his chest and his eyes flickered in worry. She could be any where and more than likely in terrible condition.

He turned around and hurried upstairs to the Great Hall. Dumbledore would be in the Great Hall getting ready for breakfast. They could organize a small search party of teachers, ask the portraits and keep it low key until Tempus was found.

"Oiy! Fred! You gotta see this!" Lee Jordan's voice carried through the corridors, "Snape's girl is sprawled out on the front steps!"

Severus didn't stop hurrying but his heart did. It stopped dead. There was a tone of amusement in Jordan's voice, which meant she wasn't dead. As much as he hated Gryffindores, they didn't take death lightly, but this was little consolation to him. The entire student body was crowded around the front door, teachers being stuck at the back of the crowd. Severus saw McGonagall trying to push her way to the front, but the comotion was so great it was very difficult.

"Let me through!" Severus bellowed, literally shoving students aside. When he finally reached the front of the crowd and gawked. His heart stopped dead again momentairly only to start beating so fast that it was deafening. His daughter, his own daughter was sprawled across the front steps, belly down. Her hair was greasy as it often got if it wasn't washed every morning, and it was no longer in its tight pony tail but it was loose and straggly. Her skin was pale and clamy; her make up smudged and running. Her clothes were disheveled and one of her legs was lying funny. There was a faint smell of vomit coming from a small pool a few steps down.

A loud, horrified gasp, broke his mortified paralyzation. Professor McGonagall was goggiling at Tempus, not believing her eyes.

"Students, please go back to lunch!" she cried, trying to push the crowd to the Great Hall. Severus stared at his daughter in fear and disgust. What if...

"Severus! For the love of Merlin! See if she's alright!" McGonagall scolded. Severus nodded distractedly and slowly approached his daughter's body.

He kneeled down beside her, trying not to display any sign of emotion. His outside was blank but on the inside he was raging. Who did this to her? Or worst of all, why did she do this to herself? He turned her body over and laid her head on his knees. Her complexion was unnaturally white and her eyes were rolled. One would have thought her dead if it wasn't for her unmistakable signs of breathing. Her chest was rising and falling most painfully.

"Tempus..." he whispered. Instead of waking her (which would only further humilaite and worsen her condition, he cradled her and picked her up. He carried her to the Hospital Wing, ignoring both inquiries and jeers on his way.