I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER – JUST BORROWING

They landed at the boundary line of Hogwarts. Snape unlocked the gate and ushered Cassi inside. It was playing in her mind, 'Discuss the display of illegal magic.' Wonder what he means by discuss? Her mother's discussions came with a strap or switch attached. They walked through the castle, not meeting anyone, down into the dungeons, and finally to his quarters.

She unlocked the door and was just over the threshold when he grabbed her by the back of the neck, nearly dragging her into the kitchen. Snape pushed her hips into the table and then slammed her head down on top of it so she was bent at the waist. "Now, child, explain why you ever thought drawing a wand on me was a good idea." His voice was just barely above a whisper, but she caught every word.

Breathing heavily, she was caught off guard by his sudden assault. Not to mention her head was throbbing where it collided with the table. Did he call her a child? Fuck this!

"Regarding your accusation of illegal magic, I think you'll find I didn't perform any. As a foreign witch, I'm allowed to use magic as long as I have a visa, and I'm not currently enrolled in any magical educational institution in this country. Provided I was with my guardian or family member in a place muggles cannot enter. It's all in the papers the witch from the Department of Magical Cooperation gave us." Cassi explained coldly.

"I don't understand why you provoked him. You agreed to the meeting. You agreed to stay. Why would you agree if being in his presence made you so miserable? I know you have a history with the man. But today wasn't about you or him or your history. Today was supposed to be to honor my mother. The only person who actually cared she was gone besides me was Sirius." Cassi began to tear up now. She was pouring out the emotions she tried so hard to hide.

"It's not a secret you never loved her. She knew it and wasn't ashamed of it. You barely knew her. But he does. He knows her. I just wanted to be a little closer to her today. It was important to me. Instead of celebrating her the way I knew she would have liked, I had to dress in these stupid stuffy robes and subject myself to sneering, condescending assholes who couldn't care less that my mother was gone. They only wanted to size me up to see if I was worthy or forfeit. I'm not a complete idiot, you know!" Cassi was shaking.

She had surpassed sadness and tears and moved straight on to anger. Waves of energy were flowing off Cassi like an electric current. Gasping in pain, Snape let go of her. An angry wheel appeared on the hand holding her down. She had hit him with a stinging hex without even knowing it. Cassi was on her feet now. She was passed, caring what she said.

"Since Mum died, I haven't gotten one say in anything that happens to me. And I've gone along with it! For you! I know the strain you're under. It's unfair for me to expect anything of you when you didn't know I existed. But if you don't want me, for fucks sake, tell me now! I will not be an afterthought. My mother gave her life so I could have one. I will not dishonor that. Not now, not ever!" Cassi screamed at him.

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, but she was unaware of it. Emotions were swirling around her head like a tornado, smashing through logic like a troll on steroids. She walked over to the couch and collapsed on it in a heap. She was sobbing out all her loss and anger into her hands.

Snape had no idea what to do. He hated to admit it, but she was right. He barely knew Aurora. He had never heard any of the stories Sirius shared with Cassi. He was doing what he needed to do to stay a spy, not to blow his cover. This was not for Cassi or her mother. He had subjected her to judgment and scrutiny from the worst sort of people, and she went through it for him.

Snape strode over to her and took her hands away from her face. "Calm yourself. You're going to make yourself sick." He pushed a handkerchief into her hand. She blotted her eyes as she tried to get her breathing under control.

Snape left the room momentarily and returned with a couple of potion vials. "Here, a calming draft and some dreamless sleep. You need to rest for tomorrow." He laid them on the table in front of her. His voice was quiet and not unkind. Cassi groaned. Of course, the fucking test.

Cassi looked up at him. Huge tears still spilled down her cheeks. "If you think for one moment I attacked you, you're wrong. You're the one person I dreamed of meeting my whole life." She took a deep breath and went on. "I was afraid to attack Sirius outright. He is a conduit to my mother. The only one I have left. I was afraid he wouldn't give me access to her anymore. Everything I have of her, it's all back there. I had to sign it all over to MACUSA in order to stay here. It's all gone." Cassi was breathing in great ragged, gasping breaths.

Snape sat next to her. Cassi leaned softly against his arm, just wanting to feel the warmth of another person. She had felt so alone since her mother died. Snape put his arm around her. They just sat together, father and daughter, feeling lost.

Snape finally reached forward and picked up the calming draft. He uncorked it and held it to her lips. She took it gently from him and drank. Taking another deep breath, she looked up at him. "I'm sorry I lost it. I'm sorry I cursed at you. It's been a horrible day." Tears were threatening to fall again. But she breathed her way through them. She was tired of crying. It never did her any good.

"Let's get a little food in you, then sleep. Yes?" Snape suggested. He helped her off the couch and brought her back to the table.

"I really thought you were going to beat me," Cassi said honestly.

"I had planned to," Snape said. Turning Cassi so she was looking him in the face, he said sternly, "If you ever use language like that again, I will. Make no mistake." He pulled out her chair for her, and Cassi sat. He ordered a light meal from the kitchens, just some soup and warm bread. He gave her a cup of very sweet tea. He sat there looking at her. Maybe this was a mistake. Perhaps he should send her away now, give her a fighting chance. Maybe this was his chance. A chance he never thought he would have after losing Lily—so many maybes.

It's true. He never loved Aurora. He barely knew the woman. He knew she was pretty, and he knew there was a strong likelihood he would die on his next mission. It was pure adrenalin. Their moment together was a stress relief. He never thought it would give him a child. When he didn't see Aurora again, he thought she was dead. He was too busy trying to keep himself alive to worry about the woman he barely knew.

Snape looked down at his daughter. He felt strangely drawn to this girl. Cassi was powerful, intelligent, pretty, strong, and had a good right hook. He smiled ruefully. If he wasn't careful, she was going to get him killed.

"Tell me about you," Snape said quietly. "Tell me of your childhood. I would like to know you." She smiled softly up at him. Cassi told him a few stories over dinner. Even earning a slight smirk and almost a laugh at some of her antics. She had spirit but not wild abandon. She was calculating, smart, and a definite survivor. This might work.

After dinner, he pressed the dreamless sleep potion into her hand and said he'd check on her in a few minutes. He hadn't done that since she'd come to stay with him. Cassi thought it a nice gesture. She got ready for bed and was tucked in when he knocked on the door.

"Come in," Cassi called.

"Ready for bed?" Snape asked, completely unsure of what he was doing. He had never tucked anyone in before. Hell, he had never been tucked in, either. More uncharted territory, wonderful.

Cassi nodded. "Thank you for," she trailed off. "Well, just, thank you" she said softly. Cassi uncorked the bottle of dreamless sleep and put it to her lips when Snape gasped and grabbed his left wrist in pain. HOLY FUCKING SHIT! Cassi looked at him in horror.

She made to leap out of bed, but he pushed her back gently, his face a mask once again. "I have to go. Take your potion and go to bed. I'll be back later." Snape walked out of the room and closed the door. She heard the floo flare, and she was left in silence. SHIT!

Cassi leaped out of bed and went into her father's lab. Was she supposed to be in there? No, of course, she wasn't. Fuck it, desperate times and all that. She rifled through his stock of potions. She grabbed the bottom of her shirt and held it up to use as a little basket. Not knowing what his injuries might be, Cassi grabbed a pain potion, nerve regenerating potion, skelegrow, a calming draft, dreamless sleep, antiseptic, some dittany, and murtlap essence. Carrying them carefully into his room, she placed them on his bedside table for when he returned. She hoped she would hear the floo. Just in case, she grabbed a large glass of water and a small glass of firewhisky and placed them next to the potions.

She returned to her room, leaving the candles lit in the kitchen. She put her wand under her pillow and shoes open at the foot of her bed. The clock on the mantle said 10:03 pm. She climbed into bed and drank her potion. Cassi whispered under her breath, "Silent as a mouse, stealth as a cat, quick as a rabbit," over and over again until she fell asleep, one hand under her pillow on her wand.

Cassi heard a whoosh. Maybe she was dreaming. Something heavy hit the floor. Her heavy eyes struggled to open. Damn, that potion. It was 3:04 am. What could have hit the floor? Her brain was starting to come out of its stupor. SHIT! She grabbed her wand, threw her shoes on, and ran into the sitting room.

Snape was on the floor. He looked like hell. He was pale as a ghost, covered in sweat and blood. Hopefully not his own. She dropped down to the ground and felt for a pulse. "I'm alive," he whispered. Cassi leaped up and sprinted into his room. She scooped all the potions she pulled out into her shirt, then ran back to her father.

"What happened? Is that your blood? Which potion do you need first?" Cassi asked all this very fast but clearly.

"Pain," he ground out. She uncorked the pain potion and tipped it into his mouth.

"What next?" She listed the potions she pulled from his lab

"My clever girl," he whispered. "Nerve potion and dittany" He pulled up his shirt to show her a nasty gash across his abdomen. She uncorked the nerve potion and tipped it into his mouth.

"I'm sorry this is going to sting," Cassi said bracingly. She dabbed the wound with antiseptic and dropped a little dittany on it. The cut bubbled and stung. Snape hissed in pain. But his wound began to close. "Is anything broken? Can you move everything?" Cassi asked. Snape nodded.

"Come on then, up you get. You can't spend the night on the cold floor." She pulled him up, placing his arm around her shoulders. Cassi helped her father stagger to his bedroom. Flopping down on the bed, he groaned. Cassi propped pillows under his head. "Come, drink a little water," Cassi said, trying to lift his head. She put the glass to his lips, and he drank gratefully.

"Can I get you anything else? More pain potion?" Cassi asked concernedly.

"No, I'm already feeling much better." He looked down at his stomach. "Good, it's healing. Well done, my girl. Well done." Snape said wearily.

"Go, back to bed, sleep." He made shooing motions with his hand. "You need to be rested for your test. I won't go easy on you just because you didn't sleep," he teased. She kissed his forehead.

"Call if you need anything," Cassi said softly. She pulled off his shoes and put them by his wardrobe. She grabbed the throw off the chair in the corner and covered her father. He was already dozing off.

Cassi washed the blood off her hands and arms, changed her shirt, and went back to bed. She lay there listening for noises, but she heard nothing. Thinking way too much about everything kept her awake. How was this her life? She was in training from a small child and now may be brought into the ranks of the Dark Lord's inner circle. This can't be normal. Thoughts kept swirling around in her head. She finally fell into a broken fitful sleep as the sun was rising.

Her alarm chimed, and she sprang out of bed, wand drawn, ready to fight. Looking around, she realized she was in her room. Seriously? This can't be normal, can it? Surely other kids don't fly out of bed ready to curse the first thing that moves in the morning. Cassi felt lucky just then that she didn't have a pet. She probably would have blasted the poor thing. She felt her pajama pants for pockets, shrugged, and put her hair in a messy bun held in place with her wand. At least she'd have it if she needed it.

Her father was not yet awake. She padded into his room to check on him. He was sleeping hard. She checked the pulse in his wrist. It was good and strong. Godric, it was going to be a long day. She walked into the kitchen and called for a house elf. "Dobby at your service Miss. What can Dobby be doing for you?" the little elf said brightly. Cassi looked down at the little elf. What an odd creature. Dobby was wearing two different socks, a pair of small shorts, and a tie.

"Well, good morning, Dobby," Cassi said, amusement all over her face. "I apologize for calling you away from your work, but I don't know how to order breakfast here. My father is not well, and I'd like to get him something to eat." Cassi explained.

"Oh! Dobby can be helping with that, miss. What is it you bes wanting?" Dobby said, eager to please.

"I'd like a pot of strong black coffee, some porridge and fruit, some soft scrambled eggs, and some tea, please. Enough for the both of us if you wouldn't mind. Thank you very much, Dobby." Cassi said kindly

Dobby bowed and left with a crack. He was back before she could start the water in the shower. "That was very quick. Thanks, Dobby, so much. It looks wonderful," Cassi said, helping herself to a hot cup of coffee. Dobby bowed low and left with a crack.

Cassi took her cup into the bathroom, savoring the brew's richness, and got into the shower. It was sadly very short. The minute she finished rinsing her hair, her father started yelling. Turning off the water and throwing a bathrobe on quickly, she flung herself out of the bathroom and ran down the hall, wand in hand. "What's the matter?!"

Her father wasn't awake. He was yelling incoherently in his sleep. It looked like he was shielding his face. What the hell happened to him last night? Lighting the candles in the room, she started toward him. She began touching his feet. She didn't feel like getting punched so early in the morning.

"Father? Father, wake up. Father, can you hear me?" Cassi asked over and over again. Then she reasoned he had been Severus long before he was called father, and she was the only one who ever called him that. "Severus?" Cassi called loudly, tapping him on the foot. "Severus, wake up. It's okay. You're fine. Open your eyes now," she continued.

It went on for minutes. Shit! Pinching the bridge of her nose, she whispered, "Godric, guide me." She backed away from him, screwing up her eyes against the noise as she let several loud bangs sound from her wand. It echoed around the room like a firework. Her father shot out of bed, looking wildly around for what made the noise, nearly desperate to find his wand.

"Father, it's okay. You're okay. It's just me." Cassi said apologetically.

Snape looked murderous. "Have you lost your tiny mind?" he spat at her. "You nearly gave me heart failure!"

"Sorry, but I tried for several minutes to wake you up. You weren't budging. It's what Mum used to do to me when she was trying to startle me." Cassi said, shrugging.

"Startle you? Why would she want to startle you?" He said, one hand on the bed, the other still clutching at his chest.

Cassi shrugged again. "Mock battle, boundary coming down, death eater attack, you know, stuff. She wanted me to be ready." She said. "Well, now that you're up, I've had the kitchen send up breakfast. Just something simple, porridge and soft eggs and tea. I wasn't sure what your stomach could handle, to be honest." Cassi turned and left her father staring after her.

Why wasn't she rattled about what happened last night? Most kids would be curled up in the fetal position after what happened to her in the last month. How common were surprise attacks in her life that she looked fine? He would have to look into this more carefully.

Cassi dressed quickly, tucked her wand into her wrist holster, and went to breakfast. She poured herself another cup of coffee and helped herself to porridge and eggs. It was quite delicious. Her father came staggering out, looking like death warmed over. "Oh, that's a cute look for the day. Will you be wearing a very fashionable blood-stained button-down for my exam?" Cassi said with a smile.

"I forgot you were hilarious," Snape said dryly. "Oh, is that coffee I smell?" He walked blearily toward the smell of the coffee. Arms outstretched like a zombie.

"Do you want to talk about last night?" Cassi said carefully.

"Not in the slightest," Snape said without blinking, now savoring the hot coffee clutched in his hands. "Finish your breakfast and go get ready. Your test starts in 30 minutes."

"I am ready. I showered, changed, and am almost done with my breakfast. Thank you very much. And in case you hadn't noticed, I've woken you up and gotten you fed and watered as well." Cassi said haughtily.

Snape cuffed her on the back of the head and sent her to grab parchment, ink, and quills. She'd be testing in one of the little classrooms off the entrance hall. There was no point in going from class to class since she was the only student.

When they arrived at the testing room, Snape looked quite a bit more put together. Thankfully, Professor McGonagall was waiting for them.

"Good morning, Miss Black. I trust you're ready for your entrance exam?" She had a little frown on her face as she looked at Cassi. Professor McGonagall strode over to her, grasped her chin, and turned her head to the side. "What happened here?" she asked brusquely, frowning down at her.

Pulling a small mirror from her bag, she looked at what the professor was referring to. There was a small bruise on her face, probably from when her head met the kitchen table last night. "Oh gosh, that's nothing," Cassi said apologetically. She rubbed her hands together, whispering some words as she did, then swiped her hand slowly across the bruise on her head. The bruise faded at once. Professor McGonagall's eyebrows rose.

"Well, now, let's get you situated." Cassi followed Professor McGonagall into the room and took the indicated seat. "The written portion of your exam will last 4 hours. You will have an hour break for lunch. Then you will come back to this classroom and begin your practical exams. Do you have any questions?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Just one, Professor. Will all the Professors be here for the practical exams later, or will you be proctoring those as well?" Cassi asked. She had no idea why, but she was starting to feel nervous.

"The majority of the Professors will be here. As you have chosen Ancient Runes and Arithmancy for your additional subjects, there will not be practical demonstrations in those classes or Astronomy. Professor Snape or I will take the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical exam because we do not yet have a professor for that position." McGonagall explained. "Anything further?" She asked.

"No, thank you, Professor," Cassi said, her mouth slightly dry now.

Professor McGonagall put a stack of parchment in front of her, face down. "When I tell you to do so, please turn over the test and begin. You will have four hours to complete your exam. If you complete it early, you may check your answers. If you need to use the lavatory, please raise your hand. Time will stop until you've returned. You may turn over your paper and begin." Professor McGonagall returned to the desk at the front of the room and turned over an hourglass. Cassi flipped her papers over and began to read.

Question one, "What are the key ingredients in a forgetfulness potion?" Really? That's not so bad. Cassi scribbled down her answer and plowed on.

Question 12 "What are the incantations for the banishing and summoning charm? What is needed to perform both?" A wand? A brain? Something to chuck around the room? What a weird question.

Question 23 "Accurately fill out the constellations depicted on this chart" Wait, she didn't have to draw it herself?

Question 39 "Divine your heart, social, and character numbers using your first, middle, and last names. After that, use your character number to properly divine your appropriate career path." Cassi sighed and began doing the calculations.

Question 42 "Draw the rune Isaz and give an accurate translation."

Question 58 "What is the appropriate diagram to perform cross-species switches? What is the most important function of the diagram?" Cassi's hand was starting to cramp up. She looked up at the hourglass. She was making good time.

Question 64 "What is bubotuber pus used for, and how is it harvested?"

Question 79 "What are the three unforgivable curses, and why are they so named?"

Question 85 "What were the names of the Goblin rebels names and what were they known for?" Cassi pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. She really hated History of Magic. Wasn't there one called Urg something or other? Cassi sighed

Question 94 "What are the ingredients, in order of use, for a wit sharpening potion?"

Question 103 "What is the proper incantation for color change?" She wasn't sure if it was asking for Charms or Transfiguration. So she put both down to be safe.

On and on she went. Finally, at question 150, "What are the properties of Wormwood?" Putting quill to parchment, she answered the final question.

Leafing through her answers, she was satisfied. There was nothing she could think of to add to her answers. She felt confident she's gotten the majority of them correct. Looking up, she said, "Professor, I'm finished."

Professor McGonagall frowned at her. "Are you quite sure? You still have a little over an hour left. You don't want to look over your answers?" she questioned.

"No, thank you, Professor. May I go?" Cassi asked politely. Professor McGonagall dismissed her and gave her a time to be back for her practical. She walked back down to the dungeons to fill her father in on how things went and maybe have some lunch.

At one o'clock, she walked back up to the entrance hall and into the little classroom. Several professors were standing around talking. Professor McGonagall introduced her to the professors she hadn't met yet and what subjects they taught. She smiled and shook hands, thanking the professors for taking their time.

Charms was first. She had to accurately complete the banishing charm, severing charm, scouring charm, and summoning charm. Then change the colors of the hats on the table to the ones requested.

Herbology was next. She had to accurately identify the devil's snare among the flitter blooms, harvest some bulbotuber puss after which several windows were opened, and properly puncture a bouncing bulb, harvesting the seeds inside.

Transfiguration came third. She had to change a hedgehog into a pin cushion, change the pin cushion's color, Vanish a squirrel, conjure a ruler, and change a guinea fowl into a guinea pig.

Potions was next. She had to brew an antidote for the given poison. She threw her father a very ugly look when he gave her the assignment. He said he wasn't going to go easy on her. She brewed the antidote from memory and portioned out a flask for him to test. She was smirking slightly at the frown on his face when she handed him the vial.

Defense against the Dark Arts was last – She had to demonstrate several jinxes and hexes, shield charm, and attempt to throw off the Imperius curse. Cassi was surprised this was taught. Her mother had told her that Hogwarts didn't teach the unforgivable curses. Both her father and Professor McGonagall took this last one.

It was nearly dark by the time she was done. The professors all look satisfied with her work. Professor McGonagall was grading her test while she took the majority of her practical exams. "Well, Miss Black, I can officially welcome you to Hogwarts" Cassi smiled at her. "If you follow me to the Headmaster's office, we can get you sorted. I dare say your father wants to go home sometime this summer. These are the assignments given to the other students at the end of last year." She handed Cassi a stack of assignments. "These are due on the first day of class."

She followed Professor McGonagall up to the headmaster's office. Her father walked beside her, looking pleased. He had seen her test scores. Professor McGonagall gave the gargoyle the password, and they followed her up the spiral staircase. Professor Dumbledore opened the door as they got to the top. "Congratulations, my dear, and welcome to Hogwarts. Do come in," Dumbledore said, beaming down at her.

"Thank you very much, Professor. I'm excited to be done with my exam," Cassi said a huge smile on her face. She was ushered into the office, where she saw an old, patched, and worn-looking hat on a small stool. "Come, sit down. Place the hat on your head, and it will tell you what house you belong in." Cassi picked it up, frowning at the thing.

She did as she was directed. She sat on the stool and popped the hat on her head. At once, the hat screamed, "Slytherin!" The hat was taken off her head and placed back on the shelf. Her father looked even more pleased. Her mother mentioned that Sirius was the only one in the family who ever managed a different house other than Slytherin. It was for the best, given the current climate.

The headmaster dismissed them, and she followed her father back downstairs. Upon reaching his quarters, her father sat her down. "You will be spending the next several days at Grimmauld Place. We will be heading there shortly. I have work that needs to be done for the Order. Before you ask, no, you may not come with me, and you may not stay at the house alone. You will mind your manners and not cause trouble. If I get a bad report from anyone at headquarters, you will be in serious trouble. Are we clear?"

She sighed, "Crystal." She muttered; Snape raised an eyebrow. She took a deep breath and stopped herself from rolling her eyes with extreme difficulty. "Yes, Sir." She said coolly. Snape nodded his satisfaction. "Are you happy I'm in Slytherin?" Cassi asked.

"There are only two houses I would tolerate you being put in. Slytherin or Ravenclaw. I obviously prefer Slytherin. So yes, to answer your question, I'm satisfied." Her father said.

Rolling her eyes at her father's back, she sighed and went to pack her belongings.