Chapter 3.

Bronwyn's New Home.

Authors note: I would like to thank Snapegirlkmf for encouraging me to post this story and MishaySahila for her fantastic story "Rescued" which has given me some great ideas. I realize that Severus may be OOC, but he will be more snarky as the story goes on. Around Bronwyn though, he will be very gentle. Besides, I'm in love with the man and like his softer side! Therefore, if you want a very snarky Snape, you won't really find him here.

Snape stepped gracefully from his Floo, and sat down in a large armchair in front of the fire. He turned Bronwyn to face him and said 'How long have you been able to mind – speak?' She looked him straight in the eye. 'As long as I can remember I suppose. Are you angry?'

He smirked, "No child in your situation it makes perfect sense. However, it is unusual to hear it in someone your age."

She smiled at him, her violet eyes sparkling. She knew her Uncle would not scold her or hit her for doing what came naturally. Suddenly her face clouded. 'Papa said I shouldn't let too many people know what I could do. They laughed at me anyway because I can't walk or talk like everyone else. He said that it would be safer if few people knew what I could do.'

Severus looked at her in surprise, "Is that why you let people think you are a Squib?"

She nodded. 'Papa said it would be better if I could learn to Occlude my mind and magical core so people would not take advantage of it'.

Snape nodded. "May I see your core?" He asked gently. Bronwyn nodded and let down the shields. What he saw astounded him. Her core burned with a brilliant purple fire. Severus was well acquainted with the color of magical cores and knew that her core was very rare and powerful. He must have looked stunned because Bronwyn pulled back in fear. She slammed her shields in place and looked away. Severus turned her to face him saying, "No child, I am not angry at you but I see why your father wanted you to learn to Occlude."

He stood up carefully, still holding her in his arms. "Would you like to see your room?" He asked. Bronwyn nodded eagerly, and they walked up the long flight of stairs to the second floor. Bronwyn looked around fascinated at the beautiful rooms. 'Are you rich?'

Severus laughed. "Well, you might say I'm very well-off, but rich; not really." He took her into a room next to his on the second floor. It had a large, white four – poster bed with white hangings a light violet comforter and dark purple sheets. The walls were lavender colored with white trim. It was also a large white wardrobe, desk and chair. The window looked out over an enormous garden filled with all kinds of plants and herbs.

Severus looked at her and said, is there anything else you would like for decoration?"

Bronwyn thought and asked 'Can you take out Shimmer please?'

Severus took the stuffed toy and her suitcase out of his pockets and enlarged them.

Bronwyn said 'Can you put Shimmer on the walls but instead of fire, have her breathe white, fluffy clouds and stars?'

Severus waved his wand, and the decoration appeared instantly. Bronwyn laughed, her voice sounding like bells. Severus smiled and said "Tillie!" The house elf appeared with a pop. "What can Tillie do for Master Severus and little Mistress?"

"Tillie, this is Bronwyn and she will be staying with us. She is my niece and you may remember her mother when she lived here."

"Oh yes!" she squeaked. "Mistress Camilla was a good Mistress and good to all us elves. Little Mistress looks just like her. That is why we decorated the room with these colors. Mistress Camilla liked them too."

Severus smirked, "Well, you'll be taking care of Mistress Bronwyn, as you can see she cannot walk, talk or use her hands very well."

"Don't you been worrying Master Severus, Tillie can see what Little Miss wants in her head. All she has to do is call us and we will come. That is how we elves know what you want before you even ask sometimes. However, we usually wait to be asked because it is polite. We even did that for you and Mistress Camilla when you were here sometimes."

"I see, said Severus. I'll have to be more careful about what I'm thinking in the future."

"Oh no Master Severus! We elves always wait for you to ask because that is what you want. But since Little Mistress cannot ask we will know what she is thinking." She looked at Bronwyn. "Is that all right Mistress?"

Bronwyn smiled and nodded. Severus sat her on the bed and said, "I am going to do some scans on you to see if I can do anything to help your arms and legs. It won't hurt I promise, but it might tickle a bit." She nodded, looking a bit apprehensive. Severus waved his wand and did a few medical scans. He found her general health to be good but her arms and legs were stiff and difficult to move. Her legs also tended to cross, making it difficult for her to sit up properly.

He sighed and said, "I am going to call two friends of mine who are Healers who may be able to help. I know you've been looked at by Healers before, but they may be able to do something more than the ones at Wizarding Child Services."

Bronwyn sighed, but nodded in agreement. She trusted her uncle and was willing to allow him to try what he thought best to help her.

"Good girl," he said smiling. "Tillie, get tea ready please and serve it in the garden."

Tillie popped out and Severus went to make his Floo calls. In a few moments, he was back.

"Well Miss, Shall we get cleaned up for tea?" He walked over to her wardrobe and picked out a pair of pink overalls and a white fluffy turtleneck.

He picked her up and walked into the bathroom. It was made of cream and blue tiles and looked like the ocean. The tub was large and deep blue in color. So was the sink and toilet. Severus sat Bronwyn in a chair in front of the sink and helped her wash her hands and face. He also combed her hair into a ponytail and tied purple velvet ribbons in her hair. He then took her back to the bedroom and helped her change into the fluffy turtleneck and overalls. "Tillie will be helping you dress and wash but I wanted to do it this time to see what I could possibly do to help your muscles relax."

She smiled. 'I know and I will be as good as I can, but sometimes my legs and arms hurt. I will try not to be a bother."

"Bronwyn you are not a bother. If you are in pain at any time, you will call Tillie or myself and we will help you to relax and feel more comfortable. Now are you ready to have tea?"

She smiled and held up her arms to be picked up. Severus carried her downstairs to the garden where a table was laid out for tea with cakes, strawberries and cream, sandwiches, milk, hot chocolate and tea.

Severus conjured a chair similar to the others around the table only taller and with a Cushioning Charm and a Sticking Charm. He Bronwyn in the chair and said, "Let's try some sandwiches first and a glass of milk." He made up her plate and put it in front of her. He broke the sandwiches into bite-sized pieces so it would be easier to pick up and put a straw in the milk for her to drink through. He also put a large napkin on her lap.

"Don't worry about asking or needing help", he told her. That is what I am here for." He helped himself to a plate of sandwiches and a cup of tea and began to eat. He watched Bronwyn carefully and saw that she handled the small pieces of food well and managed the milk. She finished and tried wipe her face and hands with the napkin but became frustrated that she couldn't do it very well.

Severus stopped her and said, "Don't worry it's nothing that can't be cleaned and I am pleased that you tried your best."

Bronwyn looked around the garden and said, 'I like the flowers especially the violets and roses'.

Severus said, "Tillie will see that there are fresh flowers in your room every morning. Would you like that?"

Her smile was like the sunshine. 'Oh yes please!' She grew thoughtful and said, 'Do you have a piano?'

"Yes, but it hasn't been used in a long time. Why do you ask?"

'I have a surprise for you," she said.

Severus picked her up and carried her into the sitting room where he was a piano. He sat in a chair with Bronwyn on his lap and as he watched, her eyes began to glow and the piano began to play Chopin's "Aeolian Harp." As the music played he felt the most perfect and complete peace that he had ever known settle over him. After the music stopped, he asked her "Have you always been able to do that?"

'Oh yes! I love music and it seems to make people happy. Did you like it?'

"Yes. It was lovely. Thank you. But now I think it's time for a little girl to take a nap you've had a busy day."

They went upstairs and Severus helped her to undress and change into a white nightgown with pink roses on it. He took her in bed, gave her Shimmer and a kiss. As she was closing her eyes she said, 'Papa left a letter for you. It's in my suitcase.' Then she was asleep.

Severus walked over to the suitcase and took out a parchment envelope. Then he called Tillie and told her to watch Bronwyn and let him know if she needed anything and he would be in his study.

As he walked down the stairs, he was very thoughtful. His sister Camilla had been born when he was 12 and at Hogwarts. He stayed at Prince Manor while studying for his Potions Mastery. When he became the youngest Potions Master in Europe at the age of 21, he was offered the post of Potions Master at Hogwarts. The following year, he was made Head of Slytherin House. When he was 23, Camilla came to Hogwarts and was sorted into Ravenclaw. She stayed with him at Hogwarts after their grandparents died and when she fell in love with Joseph Griffiths at 18, and wanted to marry him, he gave his consent and gave her away. After he became a Death Eater and spy for the Light, he didn't see her often but they did keep in touch. She knew about his love for Lily Evans and grieved with him when she was killed.

As he went into the study, he wondered what Joseph had to tell him. He had heard he died in an accident, but there weren't many details. He sat down at his desk, opened the letter and began to read.

"Dear Severus,

If you are reading this letter, it probably means I am dead and you are raising Bronwyn. I want you to know that if I am dead, I was murdered. I had found a rare wood that was believed to be used by Merlin and a Golden Phoenix core. It was the most powerful wand I had ever made and knew it would take a powerful person to wield ; I had an apprentice who I did not know was a Death Eater. He brought some of his friends and tried to take the wand for You-Know-Who. I know you have been a spy for the Order of the Phoenix but I could not tell you I was spying as well. Bronwyn did not know and I made arrangements that if something happened to me, she would go to the Wizarding Child Services and then to you. One thing you MUST know about Bronwyn is she is a powerful spell-singer. I taught her Occlumency and Legilimency and she can bend people to will with her music. She needs to be taught how to use her power properly because He Who-Must-Not-Be Named will want to use her. I am sorry I could not tell you sooner but time ran out. You most train her in her power and to use it well. I have already spoken to Dumbledore and he assures me you are the best person for the job. As for the wand, it is safely hidden in vault 766 at Gringott's. The goblins will be able to give you access to it when you need it.

Take Care,

Joseph"

To say that Severus was shocked would be an understatement. Not only had his brother-in-law been a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, he created a wand so powerful that the Dark Lord wanted it and his niece had a power so great he wanted that as well. He would talk to Dumbledore in the morning and find out exactly what he knew.

Right now, he needed a drink. Just then, Tillie popped into the room and saying, "Master Severus come quick Mistress Bronwyn is having a very bad dream!"

He raced up the stairs and when he entered Bronwyn's room, he found her glowing with a brilliant purple light and screaming for her father. Objects were flying around the room and he found that he could not get near her. A shield had been put up around her. He stood in shock trying to break through her shields with no success.

Suddenly she woke up, looked at him and burst into tears. As he gathered her in his arms, he heard her say, 'I saw them kill my Daddy! He hid me but I heard them! Why did they do that? I heard them say they wanted me too. Don't let them take me please!'

As he rocked her, he said, "Don't worry Sweetheart, you are safe here."

However, even as he said it, he wondered just how safe that was.

Authors note: I know this is a long chapter, but I had to start moving things forward and explaining Bronwyn's power. It may seem a bit disjointed but it will become clearer in the next chapter. Reviews are welcome as well as suggestions. Since this is my first story, I am still working things out. If you want to hear what Chopin's, "Aeolian Harp" sounds like, check it out on YouTube!