Author's Note: Everything in italics is directly from the book. I will only be mentioning the scenes relevant to this story. I am also trying to keep it as close to the book as possible. Reviews are welcome.

Severus Snape had been despised by everyone his whole life but at this very moment no one hated him more than he himself. She was dead. The one person in this whole world who had genuinely cared for him was dead. Maybe if he kept repeating it, he would actually start believing. He had murdered her. She was the only one who had made the effort to befriend him, to understand him and he had killed her. He may have as good as gone and cast the killing curse with his own wand. He had been so hungry for attention, for once to be commended for his work that he had gone running to the dark lord without once thinking as to the meaning of what he had heard. He had known every time that she and Potter escaped the dark lord, had known when her son was born. Every tiny little detail of her life he had followed and yet in that moment he had been so blinded by the idea of The Dark Lord's praise that the math had escaped him He had not realized that he was signing her death certificate for just a pat on his back. His musings were interrupted by Dumbledore walking over to him. He looked up with weary eyes.

"I thought…you were going…to keep her…safe…"

"She and James put their faith in the wrong person," said Dumbledore. "Rather like you, Severus. Weren't you hoping that Lord Voldemort would spare her?"

Snape's breathing was shallow.

"Her boy survives," said Dumbledore.

With a tiny jerk of the head, Snape seemed to flick off an irksome fly.

"Her son lives. He has her eyes, precisely her eyes. You remember the shape and color of Lily Evans's eyes, I am sure?"

"DON'T!" bellowed Snape. "Gone…dead…"

"Is this remorse, Severus?"

"I wish…I wish I were dead…"

"And what use would that be to anyone?" said Dumbledore coldly. "If you loved Lily Evans, if you truly loved her, then your way forward is clear."

Snape seemed to peer through a haze of pain, and Dumbledore's words appeared to take a long time to reach him.

"What – what do you mean?"

"You know how and why she died. Make sure it was not in vain. Help me protect Lily's son."

"He does not need protection. The Dark Lord has gone – "

"The Dark Lord will return, and Harry Potter will be in terrible danger when he does."

There was a long pause, and slowly Snape regained control of himself, mastered his own breathing. At last he said, "Very well. Very well. But never – never tell, Dumbledore! This must be between us! Swear it! I cannot bear…especially Potter's son…I want your word!"

"My word, Severus, that I shall never reveal the best of you?" Dumbledore sighed, looking down into Snape's ferocious, anguished face. "If you insist…"

The celebration in Hogsmeade was sickening. Everywhere you could hear the noise of crackers going off and people singing at the top of their voice. Even Hogwarts seemed to join in the festive spirit of it all. He had not been able to tolerate it any further and after leaving Dumbledore's office had come to his miserable abode in Spinner's End. Even the demise of the most powerful dark wizard was not enough to lift the gloom from this neighbourhood. How he had hated it while growing up but today it seemed to be perfect with an air of misery everywhere. He had wanted to mourn her privately. He took out an old picture of her on the table and had donned his black robes but could not bring himself to light the candle, had felt himself unworthy of doing this. He had failed her in the worst possible way.

How he had begged her for another chance, had been hurt when she had given up on him, and had parted ways. He had told himself that she had been like the rest of them befriending the Marauders and then dating that arrogant prick Potter. When she had married Potter he was convinced that there was no justice in the world and his only place was with the death eaters. That night he had drunk himself to oblivion and gone to the park where they used to play as kids and had burnt down half the swings. Then he had called Lucius and for the first time he had been a death eater in every sense of the word. They had destroyed pubs, overturned shops and tortured Muggles creating a general havoc. Thinking back the memory sent a chill down his spine.

He kept complaining in the injustice of all but he had never realised that he had been the reason of it. He had left Lily no choice. She had not given him another chance because there was nothing left for her to take a chance on. In the quest of making his place in the world he had gone and befriended the people who had loathed her very existence. He had been so desperate for some semblance of power and belonging that he had given up all sense of honour and followed the Dark Lord like a lost puppy. He remembered the day they had innocently sat in the park and she had asked 'Does it make a difference, being Muggle-born?' he had hesitated for a second but then said 'No'. He had wanted to put her worries to rest, to appease her innocence and today that difference had taken her life.

He had never believed in blood superiority or any such nonsense. He himself was a proof of that. His father had been a Muggle with not a drop of magical blood but he was ten times the wizard than most of those conceited pureblood prats. All he had just wanted to get back at them all. Those self-proclaimed Maraunders, Dumbledore, McGonagall each and every one of them. Now that she was gone all these seemed so petty. How he had pleaded the dark lord for her life. Asking him to kill her son but grant her mercy. He had been naive to think that she would stand aside and let her son get killed. He had begged Dumbledore to save them. He had been ready to become a double agent knowing that it was tantamount to signing a death certificate. He had taken up the position of the Potions professor even though that was the last thing he could never imagine himself doing. He had no patience for dunderheads and a very short temper. Both of these not very admiral qualities of a teacher. The Dark Lord had been pleased and had applauded him for becoming his spy on Dumbledore. The one time he had received open appreciation from him and it had been when he had defied him to become Dumbledore's spy.

In the end it had all been for nought. She was dead. Her son had survived. He had no idea how. The word on the street was that the killing curse had bounced off him and killed the dark lord. He knew better. A simple killing curse would not have killed the dark lord. Dumbledore had been sure that the dark lord would be back. He had asked him to live for that child and help look after him when the Dark Lord came back to power. He would remain at Hogwarts teaching, waiting for the return of the Dark Lord and when the time came he would protect her son with all his being. He would do anything to atone for his mistakes and if being a double agent for the rest of his life was the solution then so be it.

His musings were abruptly brought to a halt by a knock on the window. He turned to find a postal owl pecking at the glass. Slowly he got up and opened the window letting the owl fly in. He turned and carefully untied the letter and kept it on the study table he then turned and went into the kitchen returning with a piece of toast and offered it to the owl earning himself a glare.

'Well I don't have any owl treat so you will have to make do.' He spoke as he offered the toast again. This time the owl snatched it from his hand and flew out. Severus then picked up the letter and could not believe what he saw. The letter was addressed to the 'Half Blood Prince.' He was sure no one knew about that title except for Lily. They had still been friends when he had coined the term in his sixth year marking his Potion's book and journal with it. It had been a silly teenage act and he had forgotten all about it until now. With shaking hands he opened the envelope and found a letter and another envelope. Keeping the envelope aside he read the letter. It indeed was Lily who had written to him. He just could not believe it she had been thinking about him. She wanted a favour from him in the event of her death. He would do anything for her. He picked up the other envelope and for a moment wished that it would not open. But it did open revealing another letter. Hastily he went through it. Once he finished reading he slumped on the couch. This was beyond anything she had ever expected. Lily had a daughter that no one knew about. A daughter who was in an orphanage and she wanted him to be her Godfather. The irony of it was not lost on him. He was the reason she was an orphan today and here Lily was trusting him with her welfare. If only she knew. This time he was not going to disappoint her. It had been only an hour back that he had promised Dumbledore to protect her son and now he knew would do everything in his power to protect her daughter. Well her son was cared for the next ten years seeing as he was living with Petunia but he would look after her daughter. She had named him her Godfather and he was going to live up to that. For starters he would have to get her from that orphanage. She was no orphan. Her Godfather was alive and he would move the heavens and hell for her.

The implication of what she had asked of him had not escaped him. It was one thing to protect her son from afar and another to be the godfather of her orphan daughter. He was a professor at Hogwarts he could not stay here and become a full time Dad and if he took Samantha with him to Hogwarts he had not an inkling of how to look after an infant and there was also Dumbledore to explain. He was completely clueless. All he knew was he had to care about this little girl. He would not Lily down this time. Her daughter would have the best of upbringing. Dumbledore and Dark Lord be dammed. He was sure a solution would present itself he just had to think things clearly. Thanks to the dark lord's generous funds and his own obsession with academia he had earned his masters in potions and defence against the dark arts. It had been one of the reasons he had felt he owed the maniac. He was sure he would be able to make a comfortable living if he put his mind to it. He just needed to figure things out. The biggest hurdle was Dumbledore. He was not sure how much of the truth he could trust him with. The man was a manipulative bastard. Well Lily had trusted in him and this time he would be the friend she deserved.

It was with these thoughts that he dozed off. It was dawn by the time he woke up. Slowly stretching his hands he got up and went to the kitchen. He took out the kettle and prepared his blend of tea pouring a mug he went and sat on old table near the window. It was only when he had taken a few sips that he let his mind wander to yesterday's events. It all seemed like a blur of drunken haze though he was sure he had not imbibed a drop of alcohol. Slowly his thoughts turned to the baby. He had to visit her today. He knew he had to get her back to England if he wanted to truly look after her but he was not sure how to go about it. The only thing he knew for certain was that he did not have the heart to become a father or the faintest idea of how to care about an infant. His two months teaching career had taught him one thing and it was that he absolutely despised children. How in the seven hells was he going to protect two kids was beyond him.

There was a knock on the living room window and he went to let in the handsome brown school owl with the Hogwarts logo. No doubt a message from Dumbledore. Opening the letter he found that the headmaster wanted him to take a few days off and that he would himself oversee the potion class in his absence. So there was one problem solved. He would not have to explain to Dumbledore the reason for his absence. Now he had to think of the bigger problem at hand and that was Samantha. He had to get her back to Britain and well he could hire a nanny to look after her but he needed someone he could trust explicitly. Suddenly a thought struck him. He was not sure if it would work but it was his best chance. Summoning his travelling cloak he apparated. When he next appeared it was in front of a small cottage with a pretty garden surrounding it. He raised his hand and was about to knock when a lady with grey hair, hands covered in mud and wand at ready came at him from the back.

'Is it you Severus.' She said lowering her wand. He turned and nodded and was pulled into a fierce hug 'You are getting the mud on me Gran' He muttered against her neck.

'Oh don't be so sour. I just got up a little early and decided to work in the garden.' she admonished. 'Come in I will get you a hot cuppa and you can tell your gran all that is going on.' And with that he was pulled inside.

Taking out the travelling cloak he walked into the living room and was surprised to see it looked still the same. He had not been here in a long time. The last he visited was in his fifth year just after his mother's death when his grandma had been inconsolable with grief. After that he had been too busy or maybe as he realised now too ashamed to contact her. She had always had a keen eye. One glance at him and she would have known what he had been up too.

With a steaming mug in hand Mrs Prince walked into the living room.

'Take a seat dear and tell me what is worrying you. 'She said handing him the mug.

He sighed as he sat down on the chair next to him.

'I needed a favour from you gran.' He said taking a sip from the cup.

'You don't have to be so hesitant Sev. I have told you so many times I am always there for you.' She said as she sat down the cushioned chair opposite him. 'Now tell me what it is I can do for you.'

'I ..' He began not sure how to word his request.

'There is a baby, an infant actually. I want you to formally adopt her and bring her up as you always wanted to do for me.' He said while staring at the painting on the wall.

'Why I never knew you had a child Severus. Such a wonderful news. I am sure Eileen would have been delighted. Who is the mother if I may ask?'

'She is not my child gran. I am her godfather. Her parents were killed recently. She is in an orphanage. I want to do right by her and I need your help.' He pleaded.

'And I don't suppose you could tell me about her parents.' She was suddenly very grim. Obviously thinking that they were the wrong sort. Well it was not her fault. He had not had many friends on the light side of things who would have made him the godfather of their child. Come to think of it he had no friends on the dark side who would do that either.

'Well I suppose a child is a child and I am glad to see you are honouring your duty. Give me the address I will see what I can do.' Silently he handed over a piece of parchment with the address of the orphanage scribbled on it. Then he got up and left. He walked down the road to the lake and stood there thinking about things. In a matter of hours his life had made a complete turn. Well with his grandmother on board he did not have to worry about the little girl's upbringing. She would do whatever was best for her. She had always had a kind heart. How he had loved visiting her as a little boy. She had told him tales about Hogwarts and showed him how to brew potions and work in the gardens. She could grow most of the ingredients herself and had taught Severus to do the same. All his potion brilliance had been her influence. Lily had been impressed by his potion skills. Well she had been good at it herself and with these thought the flood of grief overwhelmed him once again.

He heard his name from the distance and was brought back to the present. It was dark. He had not realised how the day had passed. He was still sitting on the rock near the lake. Slowly he got up and brushed his robes.

'Severus.' It was his gran. He could see her approaching.

"I knew I would find you here. Have you been sitting here the whole day? Come back in I have cooked dinner. 'She did not wait for a reply and walked back.

With heavy steps he walked to the house and was greeted by the pleasant aroma of his gran's cooking. It made him realise that he was starving but before he could move or say anything his attention shifted to a crib placed in the centre of the room. Slowly he walked up to it and was greeted by the sight of a baby girl beaming at him. He was utterly lost. Seeing her here staring at him somehow made everything more real. He just stood there not knowing what to do.

'You may pick her up. She won't break.' Unbeknownst to him his gran had walked there.

'I don't think it will be a very good idea.' He murmured.

'What nonsense.' She picked up the baby and put it in his arms and walked away. He was horrified. What if he dropped her? He stood still as a statue not knowing what to do. The woman had gone senile. How could she just hand him the baby and walk away. This was utterly ludicrous. He had no idea what to do.

'You can move around Sev. I am sure she would appreciate it.' Came her voice from the kitchen. He had a dubious feeling that she was getting too much pleasure out of the situation. Taking pity at him she walked up and took the child from his arm. Slowly he released the breath he had not realised he was holding.

'You will have to pick her up sometime. She is your god daughter. Asking me to raise her does not end your responsibility.' She said as she walked to the table and started serving the dinner.

'So I heard you took up teaching.' He was surprised at this comment.

'I like to keep up with my only grandchild's life. You are young and may not remember your gran all the time but you will realise when you are my age that family is what matters the most.'

'I don't think I would ever have a family. I am just not cut out for it.' He replied.

'But you just did Sev. This beautiful girl is your family and by caring for her you proved that you have much more compassion than both your parents combined.' Don't gape at me boy I may have loved my daughter but I was not blind to her faults. I kept telling her to leave you with me but she never listened. At least you had better sense. You are far too young to care for a child all by yourself. I will look after her.'

'Thanks. I will do my best to provide for her. For both of you. You should not have to work at this age to make ends meet.' He said with conviction.

'O dear I don't mind working. It keeps me agile and healthy. Well you could send us whatever you wish. With another mouth to feed I would not argue with that but don't worry yourself over it.'

Once they were done with dinner he got up and collected the dishes thinking that he could at least help her with them. Once everything was cleaned and arranged he walked out to see his gran softly singing a lullaby. She was an amazing woman. It had been only a few hours but she had taken up to the baby as if it was her own. He knew he would have to be actively involved in her upbringing. She would not let him get away with it. It was funny how he had hated the idea of lily's son ever knowing about his commitment immediately thinking of him as the potter boy but he embraced her daughter with open arms. Well as much of an open arm as he was capable of. Maybe it was her being a girl that somehow made him associate her more to Lily or maybe it was the bond of being her godfather. He supposed it could be the trust that Lily had placed in him with this resp0onsibilty that endeared her to him. She would always be only Lily's daughter to him.

He walked to the guest room and was asleep the moment his head touched the pillow. When he woke up it still early in the day. He walked into the living room and could make out his gran working in the gardens. Folding his sleeves he went out to help her. They worked quietly for an hour. Then she got up and asked him to come in for breakfast. As they sat having tea and enjoying the warm eggs she asked him when he planned to return.

'By next week I have to be back at school.' He said apologetically.

"Don't worry I will take care of her. Visit us whenever you get time. I will expect you during the holidays. It has been a long time since we have celebrated any holiday like a family. With a baby in the house we should take time to do things properly.' She said as she ate.

'There is one more thing I have been meaning to talk to you about. The girl has no family name. Well I did not name her Snape as I was pretty sure you would not have appreciated that and naming her Prince would have been like announcing to the world that she is adopted seeing as I am the only Prince alive. So I named her Sadler.' He raised an eyebrow at this.

'It's my maiden name and the family was long forgotten for anyone to notice.' She explained

'I am sure you know the best gran. 'Samantha Sadler' has a nice ring to it.' He said. It had not escaped him that she would have the same initials as him. Another connection to him.

The week passed by before he realised. He had been helping his gran in the garden daily and had felt at peace doing it. He had also made progress with 'Sam' as her gran insisted on calling her. He could feed her from the bottle and could even walk a few paces with her in his arms. Both huge accomplishments in his opinion. Well now it was time to go back to Hogwarts and see what the old coot had in store for him. He was sure it would be nothing pleasant.

He apparated to Hogsmeade and walked up to the school with a conviction to right all his wrongs. The moment he had entered the grounds, he was surrounded by wands from all sides. Before he could react a man with a magical eye and wooden stepped forward.

'You are under arrest for being a follower of 'He who cannot be named.'

A/N – Initially I had wanted Snape to adopt the baby but somehow it did not feel right and so I scraped the whole chapter and re wrote it. Hope you enjoy it.