Nervously Ayleen climbed up the stairs to the headmaster's office. She had no idea what Dumbledore wanted from her, but she suspected that it had something to do with Harry. Her brother had emerged from the labyrinth a few days ago with the dead Cedric Diggory and claimed that Lord Voldemort was back. Of course, she believed him she didn't see a reason why Harry should make up such a story. She knocked on the door and was immediately invited in. Dumbledore sat at his desk and smiled at her. "Professor", she greeted the man she knew since her childhood. She took a seat on the chair across from him. "Miss Potter it's good to see you. How's your brother?" Dumbledore wanted to know looking at her over the rim of his glasses. Ayleen shrugged. "According to the circumstances, he's still pretty shaken up. Do you believe him professor?" Ayleen asked. Dumbledore sighed. "According to Severus' statement Voldemort has really returned." Ayleen's eyes widened worried, she had forgotten that her foster father used to be an supporter of the dark lord. "The dark mark", she whispered and Dumbledore nodded. "Don't worry Miss Potter, Severus is here at the castle, he's fine, but that's not why we're here." Confused Ayleen looked at Dumbledore. "Not?" she asked and the old wizard shook his head. "No. Ayleen I asked you here, because I wanted to give you something", he said opening a drawer in his desk. He pulled a parchment out and only as he handed it to Ayleen she noticed that it was a letter. The color and the parchment were already slightly faded, which meant that it was a bit older. Ayleen turned it in her hands but couldn't see anything despite the seal. "This letter is from your mother, she sent it to me with the request that I give it to you when you're ready. I think now is the right time", Dumbledore interrupted her thoughts. With shaky fingers Ayleen broke the seal. She had never received anything from her parents and to read now a letter her mother had written personally got quite close to her. She pulled the parchment out of the envelope and unfolded it. The first thing Ayleen noticed was that her mother's handwriting was quite similar to hers and that she probably had a weakness for the color green as well, because the ink was exactly that color. Curious Ayleen started reading.
Ayleen my beloved daughter.
If you hold this letter in your hands it means that neither I nor James survived the war. What I tell you here I would have liked to explain you personally and I hope you don't judge me to much. I'm sure you've grown up to a strong young woman and it hurts me that I couldn't be there, but I'm sure you can handle this information. Please don't be angry with me, I ensure you that you were always loved. Ayleen, James Potter isn't your father. You can believe me when I say that he wasn't pleased when I told him that but as soon as you were born he was wrapped around your little finger. For him you were his daughter even if he wasn't your father. Before I got pregnant with you James and I had a huge fight. I fled with Harry to an old friend of mine. He was so caring and courteous one thing led to another and I spent the night with him. On the next day I went back to James and we made up. Then when I discovered that I was pregnant I knew straight away that James couldn't be the father and that there was only one other possibility. Ayleen I hope you can forgive me. I don't know when Albus will give you this letter, but I hope you haven't been in the dark about your origins for too long.
I'm sure you're wondering who your biological father is and I would like to give you a chance to find and get to know him. On the first sight he might seam a little grumpy and coldhearted but believe me he's one of the loveliest people I know. He knows about you Ayleen and maybe he even looked for you after my death and all I'm writing is nothing new for you. But it could also be that he's in Azkaban or dead then he stood on Voldemort's side. Please don't judge me and him for it right away, because I think he just didn't see any other way after our friendship had fallen apart, if I had been stronger and could have forgiven him, then maybe everything would have turned out differently. The name of your father is Severus Snape and I'm sure that wherever he is now you will find him.
Ayleen you and Harry are my greatest treasure and I wouldn't miss you for anything in the world, so never believe that I regret this one night because it gave me you. I hope that you find Severus and he can be there for you where I can't.
In eternal love your mother,
Lily
Ayleen's hands shook when she lowered the letter, that couldn't be true. It had to be a bad joke. "I-is it true?" Ayleen wanted to know. "I don't know the contents of this letter, Ayleen. Maybe you should speak with Severus", Dumbledore suggested even tough he had an idea what Lily had told her daughter. Ayleen nodded absently and left the room with the letter in her hand.

Without paying attention where she was going Ayleen stumbled through the castle to the dungeons. In her head she had thousand questions and she couldn't make a sense out of this. Blindly she walked into someone. "Woah careful," a familiar voice said. Ayleen looked up and straight into Draco's grey eyes. "Ayleen what's wrong?" he asked worried when he saw her haunted gaze. "Severus…I…he", Ayleen stammered breathing quickly. Draco grabbed her shoulders and shook her softly. She seemed close to a panic attack. "Take deep breaths, then tell me what's going on", Draco asked. Ayleen tried to calm down but shook her head. "Shall I take you to Professor Snape?" Draco wanted to know and Ayleen nodded. Draco wrapped his arm around Ayleen's shoulder and guided her down the hallway. He could feel that she relaxed slightly and he wondered what had shaken up his friend in the first place. Hesitantly, he knocked on the door leading to his godfather's office and waited. The door was wrenched open by Severus and he glared angrily at Draco. "Malfoy what are you doing here", he hissed before he realized that Ayleen was also there. He was shocked to see the state of his daughter. "What have you done Malfoy?" Severus asked angry and pulled Ayleen into the room. "Nothing Sir, she already walked into me all confused," Draco growled back. "Well good you brought her here. You may leave now", Severus said, slamming the door in Draco's face. Severus guided Ayleen to a chair and sat her down on it. He saw that she was holding a parchment in her hands and shook softly. "Ayleen what happened?" Severus wanted to know worriedly and knelt in front of her. But Ayleen said nothing and just stared at him blankly. Severus sighed, straightened up again and started preparing a tea for Ayleen. "Is it true?" he heard Ayleen's voice, when he had turned his back to her. "What?" Severus asked confused turning back to Ayleen. Ayleen had stood up again and was staring at him. "Is it true what stand here?" she asked upset. "What are you talking about?" "That's a letter from Mom", Ayleen said waving around the parchment. "It says that you are my biological father. Is that true?" Severus' eyes widened; from where did she have this letter. He hadn't wanted. He hadn't wanted Ayleen to find out like this, especially not now that he was supposed to be spying on the Death Eaters for Dumbledore. "Ayleen" Severus said softly and stepped closer to her. But the girl backed off and shook her head. "Tell me are you my father or not!" she wanted to know. Severus sighed, he knew he couldn't hide it any longer. "Yeah", he said finally and looked straight into the green eyes of his daughter. "Why did you never tell me?" Ayleen wanted to know and Severus saw how tears gathered in her eyes. She had to feel incredibly betrayed. "I don't really know myself", Severus sighed. "Probably because I wanted to protect you. I didn't want you to face accusations just because you're the daughter of a former Death Eater. Now that Voldemort is back it's even more important that they don't associate you too much with me. You're already in danger I don't want to put you at any more risk." Ayleen closed her eyes and bit her lips. "Then why was I never allowed to call you Dad?" she asked. "Because I don't deserve that you call me that." Ayleen opened her eyes again and tears streamed down her cheeks. "Really? Or are you ashamed of me, because I came from a meaningless one-night stand?" Before Ayleen could react Severus was in front of her and pulled her into his arms. She did not resist him but did not return the embrace either. Severus let go of her and took her face between his hands. "Ayleen you can't think that. Since I met your mother I loved her. For me it wasn't a meaningless one-night stand. I admit that I was shocked when Lily told me that she was expecting my baby, but when she gave me your ultrasound picture I was over the moon. Even before you where born you had me rapped around your finger. I could never be ashamed of you Ayleen, you're the best thing that ever happened to me", Severus explained. Ayleen laid her hands on Severus and pulled them from her face. "I need some time to process the whole thing," Ayleen said, looking into Severus' eyes. "Alright. I'm sure you have a million questions now, don't hesitate to ask them", Severus asked and Ayleen nodded. She turned around and left the office on shacky legs. Severus sighed and leaned against his desk. He shouldn't have let it get this far and hoped that Ayleen would eventually be able to forgive and trust him again