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The little girl lay down in her bed after I gave her a potion to keep the dragon pox from getting worse. I was glad that we had gotten to her illness in time.

"You can go back to sleep now Karina," I told her.

I knew she was exhausted from all that her body had been through. Sleep would help her heal further.

"Okay, Daddy," she whispered, and my breath caught in my throat.

Daddy

I had never thought I would have a child call me that. A mix of emotions ran through me. She was a precious child, and she saw me as her daddy. Her daddy. Someone who'd take care of her, protect, and play with her. She felt safe with me, and she was connected to me.

I also felt terrified. I wasn't qualified to be a father. With the exception of Karina, I hated being around children. My own father wasn't a good example of how a parent should raise a child. How could I know what to do with her since I didn't have any experience with small children? I had dealt with teenagers before but that was out of obligation. I never enjoyed teaching, and I could never connect with my students the way other teachers did.

I watched her sleeping face and I knew I must have been doing something right for her to call me Daddy.

I looked at Anna. What did she think of me being called daddy by her daughter when I wasn't her daughter's father? Would she think it an insult to her late husband's memory? Her opinion mattered to me quite a bit. I had considered her one of my few friends. A tender smile crossed her face as I searched her eyes. I felt relief sweep through me. She wasn't mad then.

I looked back to Karina's sleeping form. I brushed some hair out of her face before I kissed her forehead gently. I stood to let her rest, fallowing Anna into the living area where she turned towards me.

"Thank you, Severus." I could see the gratitude in her eyes.

"You're welcome."

"I'm going to watch over her for the next couple of hours. You should get some rest."

"Will you send a house elf if she becomes worse?"

"You know I will, and I'm sure she'll ask for you again."

I nodded at her before leaving the rooms. Once back in my own room, I discarded my robes, fell on my bed, falling asleep even before I could pull the blankets around me. Hours later, I woke up feeling refreshed but disoriented. Looking at the time, I was startled to see twelve hours had gone by.

I showered and dressed in fifteen minutes. My long legs led me to Anna's room, and I let myself in. I heard sound from Karina's bedroom and my feet carried me to the room. Relief spread through me as I saw Anna reading to Karina. Karina sat up against the head bored and leaned into her mother's side. I smiled to myself at the sight. Anna and Karina looked at me. Karina gave me a week smile as she saw me.

"I just took my medicine like a good girl," the little girl eagerly told me.

"Good," I told her, and she gave me another week smile.

"Will you come listen to the story?"

I nodded and moved to sit in a rocking chair in the corner of her room to listen.

"No sit by me," she said, and her mother cleared her throat. "Please, Sev-us."

I sighed and moved to her side on her bed. She leaned against me and took my hand.

"It's the bestest part," she whispered.

Anna continued to read as we listened. By the end of the book, Karina fell asleep against my shoulder, her hand going limp in mine. Anna stood, putting the book onto her book shelf along with her many other books. I laid Karina and pulling the covers over her. I looked to Anna who was covering up a yawn.

"You should get some sleep," I said, and guilt ran over me as I realized how long I had been gone.

She must be exhausted, I thought.

"I could use some sleep," she agreed.

"Has she had any more medicine while I was sleep?"

"Right after you left, Poppy came by with a dose. She said she would return sometime today with another."

I nodded standing to move to the arm chair beside the bed. I was surprised when Anna intercepted me before I sat and enveloped me in a hug. I stood motionless for a moment. The only hugs I got (which were rare and far in between) were from Minerva, and those rare hugs were usual motherly ones. This one was from a friend. I hugged her back and awkwardly patted her back before she pulled away.

"Thank you so much, Severus," she said, her eyes shining with tears. "You mean so much to us. I'm so glad that I have someone to help me with her."

"You're welcome."

My mouth had gone dry by her actions and words. Never in my life had I met two people who I felt really cared for me. I watched her walk away before slowly lowering myself into a chair. I sat by Karina's side for hours reading a book that I had brought with me. After nearly five hours, I heard Karina's whimpering from the bed. I immediately put my book down and sat on her bed.

I put my hand on her forehead. She still felt extremely warm. She whimpered again in her sleep and opened her eyes.

"Daddy," she said for the second time.

For the second time, a wave of emotion ran through me.

"Hold me, Daddy," she pleaded.

I lifted her up, picked up one of her throw blankets, and moved to her rocking chair. I placed her head on my shoulder as I sat, and I slowly rocked up back and forth. Karina clung to the front of my shirt.

"I'm glad you are my Daddy," she whispered.

"I am too," I whispered back.

She gave me a hug before closing her eyes and going back to sleep. I looked up at the door way to Anna standing there. This time, she had a sad smile on her face. I wondered what she was thinking.

"The house elves brought tea in the living room," Anna whispered.

I nodded at her before she left. Karina fell deeper into her sleep. I moved her back to her bed, and went out to the living room where a cup of tea waited for me. I realized then that Anna knew how I liked to take my tea. This was something, not even Lily, had bothered to remember. I mumbled my thanks to her as I sat in an arm chair. I watched Anna as she sipped from her steaming cup. I could tell that something bothered her.

"Anna?" Her eyes met mine and I gathered my thoughts. "Are you bothered by Karina calling me 'Daddy'?"

She sighed and put her cup on the coffee table.

"Honestly? I'm happy and sad. I'm so glad you are here for us, Severus. Like I said before … it's just sometimes I wished my husband were here. I miss him terribly sometimes."

"I'm not trying to replace him," I stated.

"I know," Anna replied, she gave me a warm smile. "You are her father in your own away."

I avoided her gaze as I took a drink of tea. This conversation was strange for me.

I felt her place her hand on top of my right. Her fingers curled around my hand causing a strange tingling sensation to shoot up my arm.

"Are you alright with it, Severus?"

I looked into her eyes and they held my stare.

"I am," I started, and I cleared my throat. I had a hard time opening up to people ever since Lily. "I care for your daughter very much."

"I can see that." Anna gave my hand a squeeze.

I turned my palm over and curled my fingers around her hand. I held her hand for a moment before Anna pulled her hand away to pick up her cup. My hand felt strangely cold.

Over the following weeks, Karina continued to get better. She was able to stay up for longer periods of time, her apatite returned, and her nonstop chatter returned. She was still a little week, and she took naps for longer periods of time.

During the time Karina recovered, I found myself spending all of my time in Karina and Anna's rooms. Anna and I would end up talking after Karina went to sleep and she was finished with her teaching duties. She and I talked about everything, even a few short conversations on the war.

Even though I enjoyed my discussions with her, I felt a little apprehensive with our friendship growing closer. I cared for her, and I felt as though I was starting to care for her in a romantic light. I didn't know what to think.

I was scared that she wasn't interested in me, like Lily was. I didn't want to spend years of not enjoying our friendship because of unrequited love. On the other hand, I felt like these emerging feelings were different than the ones I had for Lily. They felt deeper, and I knew Anna cared deeply for me too, even if it was just a friend. I also knew that I wouldn't make the same mistakes with our relationship that I did with Lily.

One night as I was leaving her rooms, I felt Anna's hand fall on my forearm. I raised an eyebrow at her. She looked like she was debating something before she leaned up and kissed my cheek. I felt my skin tingle where her lips touched it. I wondered if the tingling would be more intense if she kissed my lips. I pushed those thoughts out of my mind.

"Good night, Severus," she whispered.

"Good night," I said softly.

My head felt cloudy as I walked back to my rooms.

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