Severus' Daughter: Year One

Chapter 19: Settling In (or attempting to anyway)

Severus was attempting to mark some of the essays he had set during the last week when his daughter came running into the room, a bright smile on her face as she looked at him, sitting on the sofa with the pile of essays balancing on a tray that sat on his crossed legs. He was in the living room of his quarters. Because he barely set foot out of them.

As much as he hated to admit himself a coward, he only left his private rooms for classes, meals, and if someone set off the wards attached to his office door, or if it was one of his nights spent in the Slytherin Common Room helping his students with their homework or whatever else they needed help with. He had warded his rooms so that Dumbledore couldn't get in, and Regulus had added his own, too.

He was safe in his rooms.

He didn't have to see the old fool if he stayed in his rooms.

Not that the man didn't try to get in, or to corner him whenever he saw Severus. But there were always plenty of people around to help Severus get away.

Apparently the students had begun to realise that there was a rift between the two and had actually started helping Severus get out of those situations. Though he thought that maybe being himself in classes because he couldn't pretend any longer, he didn't have the energy or thought to, may have helped with that. The students were beginning to like him. And his classes, surprisingly.

He was worried about his daughter and her friends, but apparently they had all been able to avoid the man so far, which is something he was so very grateful for.

He smiled up at his daughter who rushed over to sit next to him.

"What has you in such a good mood?" Severus said, moving the tray to the coffee table next to the sofa so he could put his full attention on her.

"So, I was in my dorm talking to Susan and Hannah and they were telling me about all the children's books that have been published about me over the years, and all the articles in the Daily Prophet. Apparently Susan's aunt has been trying to get them to stop since it is against the law to use the name and appearance of a minor in any form of media without the permission of the child's parents or guardians, or another blood relative. However she was always told that they had permission, though never who had given them the permission. And she couldn't find out who had given the permission either, no matter how hard she looked,

"But, I'm thinking that maybe it was the Headmaster, right? But even if it isn't the Headmaster then we should definitely find out who it was and whether they made money or not from it, right? And sue the people who wrote and published the books and articles. And we can do that now that we know that you are my biological dad, right? You are the only one who can give permission for my name and image to be used, and you didn't, so what they did was very illegal and we have the right to demand reparations and for them to stop. And if it is the Headmaster, then that is one extra thing that we can tear him down for, right? And Susan's aunt has already started the investigation, but with more hands on it, so you, Reg, and everyone else, we can really do this. We could even find out other things as we investigate, too, to help us with everything else," Rosalie said, sounding excited.

Severus smirked, "That is a spectacular idea, Little Snake. I shall have to write Amelia a letter to request her assistance," Rosalie beamed at him, "How are your classes going? Are you settling in alright?"

"Classes are good. The Hufflepuff Common Room is amazing, so comfortable, and warm, and bright, but bright with warmth and love, not the obnoxious, blinding kind, you know? The food is excellent, though not as good as yours and Grandma's because your foods taste like home. I have friends, which is great. I mean, I always had Lee, but having more than just him is wonderful, too. And I get to see them all the time, too, instead of just over the school holidays and when I was allowed out of the house. But yeah, I like it here. Although I don't have good feelings about Professor Quirrell, he makes my head hurt, but his classes are okay, I guess," she shrugged.

"Hm, we're still keeping an eye on him, don't you worry. We don't have good feelings about him either, especially since he makes your head hurt," Severus said, concerned.

Her eyes widened, "You know about that?"

"Of course I notice how you wince and sometimes clutch your scar whenever you glance at him in the Great Hall. You know, you don't have to hide things from me. If something is wrong then I want to know, so that I can try to help you," he said softly.

"I know," she sighed guiltily, "I'm sorry, I just… I didn't want to worry you. I don't want to be a burden. And you have so much else going on, and I don't want to add to it,"

"I know. But you will never, ever, be a burden. Not to me, Rosalie. You are my daughter, and I love you more than everything in the entire universe. You will never be a burden to me. I want to help you. I want to look after you. I want you to be okay. So please tell me when something is wrong. Even if things are going on with me, I want to know, I want to help," Severus said.

"Okay. I'll try," Rosalie said softly, looking up at him with a small smile.

"Good," he said, smiling back, "Have you had any trouble with the Headmaster?"

"No, we are able to avoid him with the Map, mostly, if he does come near us then we are conveniently dragged away, or whatever," she shrugged, grinning again. "We're thinking about pranking him but we can't decide precisely what we want to do since there is so much we want to do. I think I might write to Padfoot and Moony to see if they have any ideas. Do you have any ideas?"

"Oh, plenty," he said with a smirk, "Though I don't think any of them are pleasant enough for young ears, or appropriate for you to be making. Maybe one day, though,"

There really were so many things he wanted to do to the man. And yet he was sure he would be shipped to Azkaban the second he did any of them. Maybe one day, though, when the man's reputation was gone and the truth revealed. Maybe then he could do something, anything… he didn't know.

Really he just wanted the man gone so he could stop thinking so much. So that things could stop hurting so much.

He didn't think he would get that any time soon, though.

He was thankful that Rosalie stayed to talk to him until it was time for dinner, when she ran off to eat with her friends, promising to come by again tomorrow, like she had done every day since the school year had started the previous week. She had come and spent however many hours she could with him.

He thought, briefly, about what he would have to do if he wasn't a teacher at the school she was attending in order to see her. He loathed the thought of not seeing her every day, especially so soon after getting her back, and wondered how it was that other parents managed to do it. How they managed to send their children off to boarding school and not see them for months at a time. Yes, they wrote letters, and if an emergency occurred and they needed to talk to their children, some parents were able to write to Minerva or the Headmaster and request a day with them. But…

He didn't like to think about having to spend months away from his daughter. But he also didn't like being in the Castle anymore. He hadn't stepped foot in the infirmary since he had left it over the holidays. When he had the potions Poppy requested ready he called for a house elf to deliver them.

He didn't like that he was in the same building as the man that had adopted him and was meant to love him, and yet had done nothing but cause him, and his daughter, pain.

He didn't want to be here. He didn't want his daughter to be here either.

But at least she was enjoying it. And she had people around her to keep her away from the man.

The situation with Quirrell was concerning, though. And it bugged him more that he couldn't think about what might be occurring.

Though he hadn't really been thinking well lately.

Even as he tried to ignore everything that was going on inside his mind.

He heard the floo go off and turned to watch Regulus step out of it. The other man smiled at him as he crossed over to the sofa and bent down to place a gentle kiss on his lips. And Severus smiled, too, though his heart and mind were racing and he couldn't think clearly.

"You ready to go for dinner?" Regulus said gently.

"I… I don't want to eat in the Great Hall tonight," Severus said softly, looking down at his lap briefly before looking at the grey eyes of the man that was now sitting next to him.

"Why? Are you feeling okay?" Regulus asked, concerned, as he took Severus' hand in his.

"Yes, I just am not particularly hungry at the moment and thought we could spend a meal together, just the two of us. If you wanted to anyway," Severus said.

"I always want to spend time with you, Sev. And I would love to have a meal with just you. Especially if that is what you need right now," Regulus said, smiling at him knowingly, "What do you fancy eating tonight? I could make us something, or call Kreacher to make it, he is a wonderful cook, for me. Or I could take you out to a nice, out of the way restaurant?"

"A nice, out of the way restaurant sounds good to me," Severus said thickly.

Regulus smiled brightly, kissing him again before standing and helping Severus up, "Perfect. I know an amazing little Italian restaurant on the cliffs of Dover. Wizard owned, so it is heavily warded so the muggles don't find it. I… I've wanted to take you there since I found it, years ago, but… Well, at least I can take you now,"

"Sounds good to me," Severus whispered, a wave of pain flooding through him again at the near sadness in the eyes looking into his own.

"Good," Regulus said gently before leading him to the fireplace.

Somehow Regulus managed to make him forget everything but the good times they used to have when they were teens as they sat in the restaurant, decked in fairy lights and the sounds of gentle music playing in the background, drinking wine and eating food. Talking and actually laughing. Severus relaxed for the first time in… years, sitting there with the man he loved, had forgotten to love for a while against his will, but now he remembered again.

And the love he was feeling from the man in front of him, smiling at him like he was the most amazing thing in the world, was flooding him, taking control of everything else, even if just for the moment. He felt alive again.

He felt alive again.

And he could relish in that for a little while, he supposed. He hoped.

He really did hope.

Hiya, how are you all today?

Happy New Year! I wish you all the best for it. And I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. What do you think is going to happen next? With Quirrell? With Dumbles? With everything and everyone else? If you would like to share your thoughts and ideas, or even just little things you would like to see, then I would love to hear them.

I now have a Discord server, a new one since the one I had a while back didn't work out with how little time I had and such, but I have a new one, and I am working on sorting my life out with plans and such so I will actually have time to post on it. So, if you would like to join then feel free to drop me an email (can be found on my profile), or a message on social media and I shall send you the link. On there I will share about my fanfics, original stories, life, and whatever else I feel like sharing.

I also now have a Tumblr. My username is marauderingpaige so feel free to go and follow me over there, too, if you would like.

Anywho, I posted an essay/petition where I (un)officially explain why I think I should be cast as my favourite character, Severus Snape, in the new HBO series, despite the fact that I am a woman. It would mean a lot if you went and read it, but no pressure. It isn't going to lead to anything, unless, by some miracle, it goes viral, but it was fun to write. Feel free to go and check it out.

Also, I am working on some Spotify playlists for my fanfics, so if you can think of any songs you think work with the stories as they are so far, or where you think they are going, or songs that give you the vibes you get from the stories, then please do let me know and I will give them a listen, then potentially add them to the playlists. If you would like to go and give them a listen as they are now then you can find me on Spotify under the name Maraudering_Paige. They aren't that long at the moment, but we are making progress and I will continue adding to them the more music I listen to and when I have the time to do so. But still, if you can think of any relevant songs then do let me know.

I have a Facebook group called Maraudering_Paige which you are all welcome to join if you would like to and are able to. It is where we can talk about Harry Potter, fanfics, life, share memes and more. It is also where I have somewhat of an update schedule for my fics and will be keeping you up to date on what I am working on, in regards to fanfics, original works, and more things. So if you are interested in joining then I am more than happy to accept you all.

I also now have a TikTok and an Instagram for my fanfic writing escapades. The username is maraudering_paige on both of them so feel free to follow me, and we shall see how often and what kinds of content I can post when I can. But it is another way for me to keep you all up to date if you don't have Facebook and such, and for me to spread the word about other things I am working on and things I want to do and such. So yeah, feel free to join me on those if you are able.

And finally, if you like poems, then I write them and I have started a where you can read 1 or more poems every month depending on how many I have the time to post. You also get access to information about my original books I am working on before anyone else. And you get your name listed in the acknowledgements section of any book I publish whilst you are a Patron. For as little as £1.11 (plus VAT) a month. If you would like to join me over there and read some rants I call poems, and get updates on original work, then you may. My username over there is Paige_Makepeace. No pressure, by the way, you certainly do not have to if you can't or don't want to. I understand. I just thought it would be a cool thing to try. Any money made from this will go towards helping me write and publish the original novels I am working on. Including the one I am hoping to publish first which is a slow-burn, witchy, bisexual/lesbian enemies to lovers book. You will also be able to read the first draft of the first chapter of my book, so, if you are interested in doing that then feel free to go and subscribe if you want to.

If there are any other platforms you think I should join you all on then let me know and I will have a think.

I hope you are having an amazing day!

Kind regards,

Paige xx