Author's note: as much as I tried to restrict myself on writing another side story (as I told weird1 about it), I can't stop myself on writing this one. My fingers were actually itching to write this chapter!lol

It is still chapter 27 but in his perspective (it was actually fitted that the chapter have their separate perspectives since I also done that when they fought * Halloween chapter*).

Now let's enjoy this while I'm still writing my next update shall we?

Note: the italized words were his thoughts, Still OOC and fluffy on some moments.

Enjoy reading!

update (11-09-11): i may be updating again after a week =( i'll be on a vacation and i dont think i could write there (too may distractions. ^_^) and i dont think there is a internet connection there..so anyways...

His promise

An eight year old Severus Snape looked around. His friend Lily still hasn't arrived on their secret base, a discrete spot at the side of the lake, under the old oak tree. He hugged his knees and gazed on the lake, sunlight were touching the water, making it glitter under the blue sky. His father had been beaten him again, producing another batch of bruises on his thin body. He always wondered why his father beat him and his mother, though he was more curious why his mother seems to be blinded by her love to his husband.

Severus looked around as he heard the bushes moved behind him. But instead it was another girl who appeared, not his red headed friend. Her long dark brown hair was tied on pigtails; her eyes were also green like Lily's, but it was more doe-like than hers. She was wearing blue shirt and yellow skirt that reaches her knees.

"Who are you?" he demanded. No one had ever discovered their hidden base, even Petunia.

The girl didn't answer. She sat beside the boy with her short legs stretched on the grass, signed contently and smiled on the boy.

"I can't say my name. You'll run away if I did" she said and gazed on the lake again.

Severus was about to say another word to the mysterious girl when she suddenly stood up and pulled him up.

"Let's play" she smiled brightly and run, pulling him out of his place.

"Where are we going?" he asked again but the girl just giggled in response. They were no longer on Severus's neighborhood. It was a park he didn't recognized. The girl hopped on the swing and smiled at him, motioning him to join her. He joined the girl, making her giggle in delight and began to swing. Her laugh was contagious, making him smile and forget his aching bruises. The two began to play like they have known each other for a long time.

The two tiredly sat on the bench at far from the playground after long hours of playing hide and seek. The girl was hard to find, unlike his red headed friend who's always been hiding on the same spot every time the two would play that game.

He looked at the girl as the wind blew. The girl's hair flows with the air freely and her eyes were shouting in happiness. She gazed back on the pale boy beside her, leaned over but not merely touching him and placed a small peak on the boy's lips. He was astonished as the girl leaned back. But the girl was no longer a kid; she became much older as he noticed that he was already on his current age. He stared on her as she looked up to him and gave him a bright smile.

…

Severus woke up on his dark bedroom. His dream about her had been non-stop for days now. It was unlike his other dreams that are haunting him for Merlin knows how long, this particular dream was warm and light.

He went to his kitchen and started to boil water of his tea. At last he was in his own home, after that blasted meeting with the dark lord. Isabel and Albus have asked him to help them to identify the kidnapping's mastermind, which he was quite astonished by Isabel personally requested it from him. The only thing that they knew is that this person was within the original inner circle, since they were the only ones who knew about the dark lord's desire for an heir. Whoever this person was, he or she was eager to please the dark lord and confirm Isabel's disloyalty.

He let his mind wander on his previous dream, temporary forgetting those dreading things around him. His dreams sometimes change, but the eight year old Renee was always there and they would always end up playing. Somehow, those dreams made him relax, even for only a few hours on mornings. He imagined her contagious laughs once again, her face that shines brightly under the sunlight; her doe like green eyes that seems to smile along with her pink lips, her skirt that freely follow the wind….

"Severus" the old man's voice cut his trail of thoughts. Severus cursed under his breath thinking how the headmaster always on bad timing.

He strode on the living room, where the fireplace was located. He always hated himself for giving the password of his floo to the headmaster.

"Yes headmaster?"

"Can I come inside Severus? There is something I wanted to talk about" Even on the fireplace, he could still see his employer's eyes twinkling.

"Certainly" Severus responded and step aside, making space for the headmaster's arrival.

For all I thought I will be having a rest day, he thought as the headmaster came out of the fireplace. He was wearing his usual bright color robes that Severus thought his eyes burned on the sight.

"Ah good morning Severus, forgive me for disturbing you today"

Not that I can do anything about it

"Would you like some tea, headmaster?" he offered.

"That would be wonderful"

He summoned the tea cups and a pot of tea he was supposed to drink alone. Albus sat on the couch as Severus sat opposite of him and poured tea for both of them.

"What do I owe to have this…pleasant visit?" he asked politely, thought it could clearly hear the sarcasm on his voice.

"Last night, Arthur Weasley has been attacked on the ministry" the twinkle on his eyes disappeared and Severus now knew the situation was getting serious.

"How is he right now?"

"He is currently on St. Mungos. We almost lost him if Harry didn't …"

"How is the boy got involved here?" he asked thought he wasn't really surprised at all. The boy always got involve in everything.

"He had dreamt about the attack, he was on the snake's perspective on that dream"

Severus leaned to his chair, worse comes to worse.

"I fear he had already connection with Tom, we just hope he was still unaware of it. We must protect Harry"

"Yes, he must learn occlumency" he agreed, it will be best for him to learn the art of protecting his mind.

"I want you to teach him that after the vacation" the statement made Severus startled.

"No" he sternly answered, the last thing he wanted was the boy to pry on his mind, one way or another.

"I cannot accept a 'no' for an answer Severus. Remember your oath, you need to protect Lily's son" Albus let out his last resort in persuading him. Severus just scowled, yet the regret and his sorrow was visibly shone on his eyes for a moment.

"Fine, but I will borrow your pensive. I don't want to potter to see…unnecessary things" he signed in resignation.

"Very well" Albus stood up, his eyes were twinkling again. He was about to reach the floo when he looked back again to his employee.

"Oh, before I forgot. There is also one thing" his mischievous smile made Severus thought the headmaster was up to something, and he will definitely not like it.

…

He scowled as he stood outside the Matte's residence.

Albus Dumbledore owes me a raise for this.

Tutoring the boy after vacation is one thing. But sending him to this house is a whole different story. The Mutt (Sirius Black) will be coming back to his residence and he was asked to stay with them for a few days. Dumbledore had also added that it was only him who could replace Sirius because he was only one of the few who knew her parentage.

He scowled again for the hundredth time.

Albus definitely owes me a raise.

…

Isabel opened the door as Severus knocked several times.

"Snape, come in" she ushered him in, unbelievably nice to him; unlike the other day when she pointed her wand on his back. Somehow, Isabel had known his arrival, Albus must have told her beforehand.

"Thank you for coming here on short notice" said Isabel and gave him a small smile and leads him on the living room. Severus looked around the house. As he predicted, the house was warm and well lighted, unlike his house at spinner's end. Isabel gestured him on the couch and sat across his seat. A pot of tea and two cups were already on the table.

"I wanted first to apologize from what happened at Albus office. I'm quite hot tempered when it comes to those things"

"It is understandable. There is nothing to worry about" he quietly said. Her eyes lit up and smiled. He couldn't help but noticed how Renee and Isabel were similar.

"Oh, you can call me Isabel" She waved her hand on him.

"I heard from Albus that you're going to teach Harry occlumency" she added on him as she poured another serving on Severus cup.

"Yes that will be after the holidays"

"Gave him a hard time, will you? The golden boy will surely learn from that. That's what I always did on Renee when I was still teaching her" said Isabel as she helped herself for another serving. Severus suddenly remembered how Albus had been telling how the poor girl was having for her mother to teach her. Now I know why, he smirked at the thought.

"Gods, you really need a raise from those extra works we were giving to you" Isabel muttered under her cup.

"True" He agreed, thinking he might really get along with this woman.

"Oh good Lord, here comes trouble" Isabel suddenly muttered as they heard footsteps from upstairs.

"Snape" Sirius Eyes narrowed at the sight of Severus on the living room.

"Black" Severus raised his eyebrow.

"What is he doing here?" he asked with his gritted teeth, as if he was trying to control himself.

"He is the one Albus send to replace you" Isabel spoke.

"I thought Moony was…" Severus wanted to snort, why would this Mutt thought that Isabel would agree to that?

"And why would you think I will agree to that?" She asked, as if she had heard Severus thoughts.

"You know he is completely harmless when…"

"I don't want to take any risk Sirius"

"And you're going to take risks on having a death eater here on your house?"

"Yes! I would rather take that risk" their voices were becoming higher as the argument was starting to get heat up. Isabel finally stood and glared at Sirius.

"Now, let's talk like civilize people shall we?" Severus tried to go in between the two hot tempered adults. How come Albus got this two work together as a team?

"Don't talk as if you know how to civilize Snivellus" Sirius sneered as he pointed his wand at him. Severus finally rose on his seat and clutched his wand on his side, itching to throw hexes at him.

"Will you shut up for a minute Black?" Isabel went in between at the two men

"How will I shut up…if that person will be lurking around her…?" Isabel finally snapped back on his complains. She took her wand and pointed it on Sirius

"One more Death eater on your mouth and you'll be sorry, Black!" her voice was cold and quite, her usual voice that she reserves on death eater meetings.

Severus will utter another word for the two hot tempered companions when suddenly a door not far from the living room creaked open and a certain girl came out from it. Her face was flustered and reddish, either from running from the stairs or on her fury. She was wearing yellow skirt and faded blue shirt. Her hair was on loose braids with some pieces of hair on her face.

"Why are two bickering again? Did you know how near I am to…seeing…?" her bright green eyes met his. He didn't know why, but his heart suddenly went fast as he thought Isabel and Sirius would hear his pounding heart. His recent dream flowed again on his mind as he stared at her.

"What's happening? Mum…Sirius…Professor Snape?" her sweet voice echoed on his ears. He was focused on the girl that he didn't even noticed Sirius and Isabel lowered their wands at her sight.

…

He scowled again, thinking that he had been scowling more that any other days. Severus was certainly not on his good mood now, and he can't even give any damn good reason for that.

Curse that Mutt

He was irritated how Renee seems to be too close to the mutt. How she was worried about that dog and the insufferable Potter anger him for some reason.

She even volunteered to go with the dog at his place!

Of course she couldn't go there, that will endanger her life now that her kidnappers were still lurking around. But thinking how willing Renee was to go to Black side instead on staying to his…their house (he corrected himself for thinking about that) angered him and he snapped at her on the living room.

He even saw the two of them so cozy together before dinner, as he saw their silhouettes on the windowpane.

Curse that Mutt

Oh, how he wanted to curse that immature man on dinner badly. Especially when they were talking about their sleeping arrangements for the night as they only have one guest room to spare. He had automatically listed a dozen of hexes to be thrown at him when he gave a stupid suggestion. Before he could say an insult on the man, the girl had coolly replied at Sirius, who seemed to be very used to the man's words.

That made him list another dozen of curses he wanted to throw on the man any moment.

Severus signed again, he really don't know what is happening to him at all.

Blasted that dream, he thought angrily. Taking all the blame on the harmless warm dream…

He took a deep breath, suddenly became aware on the faint lavender scent on the room. It was the same scent he could sometime smell on the girl on their remedial classes and he swear that he also smelled it while on dinner…

It's a good thing the Mutt will be leaving tomorrow, he tried to calm himself and the scent was clearly helping on it.

He drifted to sleep, with that scent haunting him until in his dreams.

…

Severus couldn't be happier when Sirius had left for Grimmauld place. He thought that if he would stay another minute with the same roof as him, the Mutt will pass his idiotism on him.

He confined himself on the basement, as Isabel had agreed to let him borrow their potion making corner for his potions. It was actually just an excuse to let him stay away from the certain girl.

His dream still lingers at the back of his mind, especially when the actual person was in front of him. He knew that he mustn't dwell on his dreams (as Albus would always say) but he couldn't help himself but stare on the young witch, especially on meal times when the girl awkwardly eating her meal in front of him. He decided not to be near on her at all times, and he end up locking himself on the basement, dwelling himself in brewing and researching potions. He hasn't forgotten about his actual duty why he came to this house, he set up several charms to alert him whether the girl would go out of the house or not. The alarm hadn't been alert him ever since he placed it on his surprise, as he well known that the girl had been breaking rules two weeks prior the vacation.

She must have thought how serious her situation was getting too, he thought.

Severus heard heavy footsteps above; Isabel had gone again, as she was personally called by the dark lord again early this morning. That resort him to think that it was the young witch who came down on her room. Like him, she confined herself most of the time on her quarters. And it was quite unusual to hear her going downstairs after lunch. He knew how the girl had been itching to go outside (as he noticed she was always hanging out on the school grounds before, whether it is warm or cold on her preference).

Confining her inside the house must be getting her insane.

He finished his brewing and transferred it on the vials when something came to his mind. An idea that was very unlike of me, he noted to himself as a smirk came across to his face.

…

I really must have gone mental

He thought as they apperated in the middle of the crowded street of Diagon Alley. He really detests crowds, and he forgot how the place gets so crowded on Christmas season. He scowled once again as he wondered on the cheery atmosphere of the stores, forgetting the eight year old Renee on his side.

We should not have gone here, he thought as he began to walk through the crowd. He finally noticed the girl was failing trailing him behind as her short height and small feet were not getting near him. He was about to say about the change of plans when he saw her doe like eyes trailing on the bright colorful displays of the stores and looked up to him with much excitement on her eyes. His opinion on his mind disappeared on an instant as he remembered those same expressions on his dreams.

I must have really gone mental

They stopped on their original destination, to buy several potion ingredients to the potion he was going to brew. They both disguised themselves as children, as he put Renee to her eight year old self and him as a sixteen year old him. Whoever was looking for her will not recognize her, as they were just looking for a fifteen year old teen, not an eight year old one. He let his eyes gazed in the girl while he was on the counter purchasing the necessary ingredients and the girl was studying the several ingredients on her hand. There are so much concentration on her eyes, too mature for an eight year old, he noted but then he reminded himself that the girl was actually on her fifteen year old mind.

The crowd was as still thick as ever, and she was too slow that she was drowning through the crowd. He scowled again as he reached her soft wrist so he won't lose her. The last thing he wanted was to die on Isabel's hands for just losing her daughter in the crowd.

They reached Florish and Blotts get his ordered books. He was getting impatient on the new salesman's store as he was too slow on getting his ordered books. The only thing that made him entertained was when he glanced on his companion that was being trapped on the saleswoman. She was obviously faking her sweet voice; he noted when the saleswoman noticed her lurking on books that wasn't appropriate on her age. He saw her face smug as she turned her back on the potions section and headed on the children's books and eyed her as she purchase three books (a potions book, a children book and a…Quidditch related?).

They both found themselves on the crowded street as the two exited the bookstore with their purchases. Severus grabbed her hand suddenly as he spotted Lucius Malfoy on the crowd and pulled her further to the crowd (opposite of Malfoy's direction) and be blended on it.

I thought he was supposed to be on Rome today? He thought as they entered the coffee shop. He wondered if the fellow death eater still remembered his sixteen year old face, though the man didn't notice them at all. A sudden protective feeling creep into him, making him bought their snacks as fast as he could and was glad that the girl agreed to go back as early as the both anticipated.

She must have sensed something, he thought as they apperated back on her neighborhood. It was still early, and the potions were still not wearing off. He decided to use the remaining time on the park, on her delight and surprise as they went to the same spot she had gone on the day she first arrived from Hogwarts. She plastered him a bright smile and thanked him for "walking her". He just scowled, though he really doesn't mean it; he just doesn't know how to respond to those bright smile and happy thanks she was giving him.

As much as he didn't like to acknowledge it, she was a good company. She was quite, though not entirely letting herself unnoticed. Her eyes were fixed on the almost empty playground and broke the silence on asking forgiveness on the last argument on the potion's lab. He didn't respond as she took all the blame, and was surprised when she emphasized that she doesn't regret on what had happened on Halloween.

How very stubborn of her, he snorted to himself.

Her next statement made him stunned though. Severus was about to speak about her meddling her own business but stopped when he saw the sincerity and concern on her eyes. He told her about Lily, but leaving his sin on details. She listened eagerly, without any fidget and criticism on him.

Severus regretted telling about it the first second he was finished. He just told his darkest secret to the person the boy was close with! Not to mention the dark Lords daughter. Now he wondered if his tea contains truth serum. Although she promised not to tell any soul about it, he was still anxious.

"Do you want me to perform the unbreakable vow for you to believe me?" Severus looked at her; it was kind of awkward to hear about the unbreakable vow to an eight year old girl. He shook his head; he could clearly see the seriousness of her eyes and finally believe that she won't tell anyone about it.

She leaned over him, shifting her weight on her right hand but not merely touching him. For a moment he thought she was going to kiss him like on the dream. He found his left pinky finger rose, with her left pinky finger wrapped on it.

"I solemnly swear that I will not a living soul or a dead one about it" she grinned though Severus could clearly see how red her face was becoming, who just came back to her current age. Her eyes widened at the sight of his current face, as he was also come back to his original age. She recoiled as fast as she could, letting her fringe cover her red face. It was amusing for him to watch the bold girl turned to be shy all of the sudden. He found himself smirking and as she looked back at him, she was grinning. Little did he know with that promise she had made, he silently made one too.

I'll make sure that history will not repeat itself again.

A/n: is Snape really OOC like I think he was in this chapter?

Review?