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Cassirin · 06-13-2004, 05:38 AM

After Ginny finishes her final year at Hogwarts, she's stunned to learn that Harry, who's been out of school a year, is engaged. Not wanting to return to the Burrow, which will be full of wedding planning and activity, Ginny escapes to Diagon Alley for a bit of independent living. The twins kindly take Ginny in and offer her a job, and she drags Neville and Luna along as flatmates. Who knows what will happen now that they are living independently?

This is a VERY loose storyline so far, but we want to have the chance to explore these characters as rising adults. I have all of the main characters filled at this point. If you are interested, go ahead and post your character idea. To be honest, I'd prefer HP characters (but not necesarily HRH) rather than made-ups... although a quality made-up is always welcome. If I don't feel your character will add to the story, I probably won't say yes. Also, we're quite serious about RPing, so if you aren't on at night EST, CST, or you will only post very sporadically, don't bother. This is advanced RPing, so YES, your posts need to be longer and more detailed and we DO care about your spelling and grammar.

Ginny - Cassirin
Neville - Spots
Luna - Biochemkris
Fred - tylert_28
George - Cassirin
Ron - Poirot
Hermione - Lumos299
Harry - Lumos299
Elizabeth - Kirstie McGonagall
Guinevere - Jennifer_w
Dobby- Spots

Cassirin · 09-19-2004, 03:42 AM

Tara realized immediately that she'd struck a wrong chord with Snape. He moved past her and she grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Please, Severus. I know you don't want to come, and I"m sorry he's making you," Tara didn't refer to Dumbledore by name and didn't think she needed to. "But I... I'm glad for the company. Its hard to go into that house and know that I'm not taking Danika with me. And its hard to face Alanna alone." Without giving herself time to think her actions through, Tara wrapped her arms around Snape and stole comfort from his solid form. "Just ignore my cattiness and help me, please."

Biochemkris · 09-19-2004, 03:48 AM

Snape was spun around and sneered down at Tara, though she was a step above him. He was shocked by her opennes and even more so when she wrapped her arms about him and gave what amounted to an apology. Unsure what to do, Snape merely wrapped his own arms around her and whispered, "Of course."

Then, he pulled her away from him and began to walk down the stairs, once more. The sooner they left, the sooner they would get back. "So, no mention of magic or muggles. The robes will not present any problems? Anything else to keep in mind?" he asked, attempting to sound concerned, though he really didn't see why he had to cater to the whims of ignorant muggles.

Cassirin · 09-19-2004, 03:55 AM

"No... I trust you have the common sense to know what is and is not appropriate to say in front of Muggles," Tara appreciated his effort, although with the grouchy look on his face currently, she didn't suppose anyone would feel safe enough to even try to speak with him.

"If we're taking a portkey we don't have to go all the way outside," Tara stopped again and shot an apologetic glance at Snape who sneered as he almost toppled over her in the hallway. She patted her pockets and pulled out a crumpled star chart. "Portus," she murmured and gestured for Snape to grab ahold of it as well.

Biochemkris · 09-19-2004, 04:00 AM

Snape grabbed hold of the bit of parchment and felt a tug behind his navel. The two colleagues arrived in a small hut of some sort with a bunch of strange objects. They looked like the kinds of things Arthur Weasley had pictures of and was constantly trying to drum up conversation about them. One object even had a seat with levers next to it and a wheel of some sort. Then, there was some rather normal looking garden tools which wouldn't look out of place in the greenhouses at Hogwarts.

After his look around, he turned to Tara. "Interesting place," he said, a bit confused as to why they were in a garden shed. "But, wouldn't we have looked less suspicious merely porting into the house?"

Cassirin · 09-19-2004, 04:09 AM

"Alanna doesn't want any magic in the house," Tara said biting her lip and opening the door a crack. The yard was clear and they slipped out. "Let's go around to the front of the house and ring the bell. If Dani asks, tell her the robes are part of the school uniform. I've told her before, but she may ask again. She is 8, afterall."

They walked through the miniscule side yard of the house and up towards the door of the rather nondescript white bungaloo that seemed to match every other house on the street. Tara hesitated, then rang the bell. Now that they were there, she was uneasy about what could possibly be wrong.

A tall woman with a cascade of dark blond hair opened the door and glared at Tara and Snape before pulling the two of them into the house. "All your 'powers,'" she said sarcastically, "And it takes you this long to get here? And who is this?" Her question was pointed at Snape.

"This is my sister, Alanna," Tara said apologetically to Snape. "And this is one of my colleagues, Severus Snape."

Biochemkris · 09-19-2004, 04:20 AM

Snape sneered at the woman who presumed to talk down to Tara and himself. He looked her and over and saw the perfect victim for Deatheaters; they would have loved nothing more than to hear those disdainful words issue forthe from her mouth. It would have been an excuse to show her just what sorts of 'powers' wizards had over mere muggles.

He nodded to the woman but, he didn't bother extending his hand, as he could read this woman as clearly as any bit of parchment: Voldemort would go door to door singing Christmas carols for the muggle children before this woman extended her hand or approval to a wizard. She reminded him of Potter's Aunt and Uncle whom he heard about through McGonagall. Those two, even if they weren't related to Potter, would also be prime meat for Deatheaters. How they loved breaking these high and mighty muggles of their pride. If only these muggles knew exactly what kind of powers wizards possessed...

Snape had to clasp his hands behind his back as he realized he had been reaching for wand. He took a deep breath and cleared his expression. If he had lost enough control for his hand to sneak toward his wand, he was almost certain his face was showing the contempt he felt for this woman.

Cassirin · 09-19-2004, 04:35 AM

Tara watched the clenching of Snape's jaw and knew he wanted to do something quick and painful to her sister, who was being admittedly unpleasent. "Alanna," Tara's tone contained a hint of reproof, but it was ineffectual against her sister. Alanna always did as she liked and got what she wanted, and nothing Tara did could change that.

"What's the emergency?" Tara prompted, and Alanna pointed wordlessly at the door into the living room. Poking her head through, Tara saw Dani sitting on the couch, swinging her feet and humming a wordless tune. She looked the same as always, a perfect little copy of Tara with her pale, delicate features, small frame, and huge midnight eyes, but her usually brunette curls were currently a brilliant shade of blue.

"You called me because her hair is blue?" Tara snapped at her sister. She had been worrying about illness and injury, and her sister had sent an emergency owl over hair color?

"Excuse me, Sitara, but I'd be more comfortable discussing this alone," Alanna pointed at the kitchen and dragged Tara away. Tara threw a desperate glance at him, then waved him towards the living room. "Go sit with Dani."

Biochemkris · 09-19-2004, 05:03 AM

Snape watched as Tara was dragged off by the harpy and was once again, shocked, when she told him to sit with her daughter. Surely the sister would object? But, no, she was too worked up over a bit of blue hair. Sighing once again, Snape walked to the doorway and peered into the living room. Sitting on the couch was an almost perfect, miniaturized copy of Tara, excepting the blue hair. Tara had mentioned her being 8 which was only 3 years younger than the first years he taught. Of course, he had never been forced to sit next to one of them on a couch before, but he figured it couldn't be all that difficult. Besides, it was better than standing outside the kitchen door where he was certain the sister would come out and incense him even more.

The thought of being provoked sent Snape into the living room; he couldn't afford to lose his control. Dumbledore must have forseen this. Perhaps this was some sort of test to see if he was over his Deatheater tendancies. Dumbledore certainly had more than in Snape than he had in himself though, that had always been the case. Even when he occassionally slipped back into his old ways, enjoying his work a little too much during Deatheater activities as an undercover spy, Dumbledore maintained that Snape had a good heart that just needed a bit of guidance and a second chance.

Snape sat down on the opposite end of the couch, as far from the girl as possible and looked across the room to what she was staring at. It was a box sitting on a table with what appeared to be wizarding pictures with sound. But, the people... no, creatures, looked anything but real. They looked almost like children's drawings. Suddenly, the picture blacked out and, in place of the strange sponge with pants, there were children playing with toys. Snape leaned forward to watch the moving pictures on the screen, surprised at the strange muggle apparatus.

Cassirin · 09-19-2004, 05:14 AM

Danika Sinistra twirled blue hair around her finger absently as she stared at the TV. She'd heard the doorbell ring a few minutes ago, but her mother had shouted at her to stay put. Now this man was sitting on the couch with her watching the telly as if he'd never seen cartoons before. He wore one of those strange black dresses like Aunt Tara wore, which made Dani suspect Aunt T was in the house talking to her mom. Dani liked Aunt T. A lot. She kind of wanted to go find her, but not with this tall strange man who looked like maybe he would bite her if she got off the couch.

"Do you like Spongebob?" Dani asked him, tilting her head as if she really didn't think he did. "What's your name?"

Biochemkris · 09-19-2004, 05:24 AM

Snape sat back up and turned to face the child who had addressed him. He frowned at her for a moment as he tried to comprehend what she was asking. Spongebob... It must be that strange sponge with the pants he had seen before what appeared to be advertisements had taken over the screen. "I have never had the opportunitiy to view spongebob before," he answered, extending his hand toward the child. "I am Severus Snape."

Cassirin · 09-19-2004, 05:29 AM

Dani didn't hesitate to put her hand in Snape's. She pumped it up and down like she often saw adults do, then scooted closer to him on teh couch, still leaving plenty of distance between them. "I'm Danika Marie Sinistra. You can call me Dani, because that's what most people call me. I don't usually have blue hair," she admitted this as if it were news.

Biochemkris · 09-19-2004, 05:41 AM

Snape was, once again, suprised, as the girl took his hand in her own without fear and he watched with some trepidation as the girl inched closer to him on the couch. "Hello, Dani," he greeted her, still eyeing her with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. "What color is your hair normally? And how did it get blue?"

Cassirin · 09-19-2004, 05:49 AM

"Oh, its brown," Dani nodded in assurance. "Just plain old brown. Not very interesting. I was thinking about that today. About how everyone has brown hair or blond hair or sometimes red hair..." Dani pulled a handful of her hair out so she could study it frankly. "But no one has blue hair. And then I just thought that I'd really like to have blue hair, and then my mom was yelling at me so loud! It just turned blue." She let go of her hair and turned miserable eyes to Snape. "Sometimes I do weird things. It makes my mom yell a lot. Do you ever do weird things?"

Biochemkris · 09-19-2004, 03:15 PM

Snape studied the girl, carefully and then, looked to the door, listening hard. He could still hear the two women... Well, the one woman shouting at Tara about the blue hair. He turned back to the girl. "I wouldn't categorize them as weird, however..." Snape began and then, muttered something under his breath while he stroked to top of the girl's head, changing the hair back to its natural color. "I do know a fair bit about making things happen that I want to happen."

He was certain the anti-magic sister, whatever her name was, would not like what he just did but, he frankly, did not care. While he enjoyed to see students struggle and suffer at Hogwarts, this was no way to be treating a very young witch, just discovering her powers, even one without pure blood. The girl needed instruction, not a lecture about not doing things the girl had no idea she was doing anyway. From the little he witnessed earlier, he knew Tara would do nothing about it and, despite their agreement, Snape found himself wanting to help her and her child.

Biochemkris · 09-28-2004, 12:54 AM

ooc: I know most of you already know that losing the RPs was a joke (or maybe you didn't even know that much). Well, that's the good news. The bad news is that they used a backup from a couple days before the move when they moved the threads and we didn't start posting on OotF until after that time so, we have a big gaping hole in TD and another in BLT (anything we did from late night on the 19th until we started saving the posts in OoTF on the 20th). *sigh*

So, we can either try to recreate what we did or post something that says "fill in the blank" and just repost the rest and move on.

Cassirin · 09-28-2004, 03:18 AM

*sigh* I take it upon myself as the RP Mama to do the recap:

In the land of Snape and Tara, Snape finds that Dani is being physically and emotionally abused by Alanna, who wants Dani to be a normal Muggle child. He and Tara try to take Dani, and Alanna jumps on him and Snape goes all dark and sinister. And Tara thinks that's hot. *nod* So they whisk Dani away and Erin gains another character to play. They meet up with DD (Dumbledore, for those who don't speak Kris-language) and he welcomes Dani to the castle. Tara goes off to sleep, and Snape is charged with Dani's care... I don't know why, but they decide to go to the kitchens, which is where we started cross posting.

For pretty much everyone else, George and Fred wake up and decide to do the brother-bonding thing by making waffles. I know, manly. Pretty much everyone joins them for the interesting Fred-made recipe, only to be interrupted by Guin coming down and yelling about missing clothing. Apparently, the underwear stolen was NOT Ginny's, but Guin's. Guin yells at them and takes off... the twins are probably mid-plan on how to get her forgiveness, and we are all caught up.

Anyone want to be kind and post all the OOTF stuff?

Biochemkris · 09-29-2004, 03:00 AM

Neville was almost run over by Guin who was charging past and up the stairs mummbling something about her undergarments. "Morning everyone," he said entering the kitchen and looking around to find George and Fred. "You guys still trying to find a pair that fit you?" he said laughing and turning to get some of the waffles off the stove.

Dani took in her surroundings as they walked, realizing for the first time what a massive building she was currently in. There were kitchens. Like... more than one. Without really considering it, Dani grabbed Snape's hand as they walked, swinging it a bit. "What's this place called? What do people do here?" She looked up at him curiously. "Are you Aunt... I mean... are you my mum's boyfriend?"

George stared at Guin as she ran out of the room. Hermione's comment certainly didn't make him feel better. "Yes, thanks, Granger. I certainly needed your comments to let me know that I was a total git. Please, continue to keep me updated on my gittiness in the future," his tone was pure sarcasm as he absently considered whether he should follow or give Guin time to settle down.

Snape was disconcerted by the child's ease in his presence. Not only had she placed her hand in his own, but she had begun swinging their arms. She was full of questions and he would have been quite... well, maybe not happy, but he wouldn't have minded answering until he heard her last question. Boyfriend? He looked down at the girl and began with answering her first two questions. "This is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Right now, as it is summer, the students are all gone. However, in the fall, these corridors are filled with young witches and wizards who are here to study magic," he said, pausing before broaching the last question. "As for your mother and I... We are both professors here."

"Don't take it out on her, George....she's right." Fred said stepping up after Guin the ticking time bomb had left. He put a hand on Hermione's shoulder and looked to George. "We're gits that have no concept of girls or logic. " Fred rubbed the back of his head like he usually did when things were bothering him.

He had managed to smooth things over with Hermione..she didn't seem to hate him for decorating the garden with her most private pieces of clothing, but Guin wasn't Hermione. "George...we need to fix this...I'll go out back and get flowers...girls like flowers....and you make her a plate of waffles...Neville you're in charge of the waffles from this point on. You go on up George..I'll be up right after you.."Fred said handing the spatula over to Neville.

Fred tried to wipe some of the batter off his face, only managing to smear it more. He gave Hermione's shoulder an extra squeeze, slipped on someone shoes that were by the door (Big black boots that went so well with his green PJ's), and ran out to the garden to find some flowers.

Dani knew he was ignoring her question and answering it the way he wanted, but adults did that. She focused on the first bit of information. "Magic? Is that what it is? I... I can do that too?" She processed the thought that she could do magic before speaking her mind. "Am I gonna get a wart?"

George nodded, relieved that Fred was going to take some responsibility in getting Guin to forgive them. He waved Neville off the peculiar waffles and instead brewed two cups of hot chocolate and climbed the stairs. George knocked softly on the door to the girls' room. "I've come bearing gifts and I'm prepared to be your personal slave," George called through the door.

Snape looked down at her a bit confused as he stopped in front of a large portrait of a bowl of fruit. "A wart?" he asked. "I don't know. Many people get warts but, being a witch doesn't mean you'll definitely get one. As a matter of fact, as a witch, you'll be able to brew yourself a potion to get rid of them... But, I wouldn't attempt that one until after your third year here at Hogwarts. As for doing magic; yes, that is exactly what you are doing. However, you are still young and have yet to learn control."

Snape tunred away from the girl to reach up and tickle the pear. The pear gave a shriek of laughter as the portrait swun open to reveal the doorway to the kitchens. "Here we are," he said as he led her into the kitchens where a half o dozen house elves jumped up from what they were doing and surrounded them.

They were all bowing deeply to the Potions Master. "Oh, sir, what an honor to see you here." "Can we get you something, sir?" "I hope you are well, sir?"

Elizabeth observed what was going on, intensely grateful that the twins had not taken her underwear. She smiled at Neville, whom she hadn't talked to for ages. "How are you Neville?"

Fred searched the almost barren garden. Mrs. Weasley had done some spiffing up of the garden, but it was going to take more than Lockhart's 333 Ways to Woo your Garden to help the Black Family garden out. Fred, though, did find some small orange flower in the very back of the garden. He picked it and headed off to find George and Guin.

George was still waiting on the landing outside of Guin's room when Fred caught up with him. He flashed him the flowers. "She's not letting us in? Hmm...maybe we should sing to her? Do girls like that?"

Fred knocked again and started in:

Oh where Oh where could our little Guin be?
Oh where Oh where could she be?
With her lovely brown hair
And her blueish green eyes..
Oh where Oh where could she BEEEEE????

"Guin? Please open the door....I promise not to touch you, wet you, steal anything of yours, or do anything in your general direction...."

Neville was grateful that at least someone was noticing him without ordering him around or trying to steal his underwear. "Oh, I'm fine, Elizabeth," he felt a bit awkward, he hadn't really spoken to her since things went to pieces between her and Harry. "I didn't know you were staying here too." Nevilles nodded towards the stove, "can I get you anything to eat?"

Guin had been in her room for what only seemed for a few minutes before she heard a knock and Georges voice. She refussed she speak, she didn't want to see or her them now or ever again, she was packing. Then she heard a weird little song and almost laughed before she relized who was singing it. They weren't gonna give up were they? But either way she had enough.

Guin had sent Dumbledore a letter saying how she just couldn't manage it anymore and she didn't care what he thought either. Finally with all her things in the trunk she opened the door and stared at the boys. "What do you want?" She said with anger clearly in her voice.

Dani was shocked by the sight of the little men in the kitchen. Strangely enough, they kind of reminded her of the Oompa Loompas in that movie Alanna had watched with her a couple of times, although they weren't orange and most of them only wore towels. Looking to Snape for a sign, Dani smiled and quickly ordered up a meal that would make most adults cringe. A cheeseburger with extra ketchup, mashed potatoes, a chocolate milkshake, and some cinnamon applesauce. When Snape blinked at her, Dani added, "And make some for..." Dani studied Snape, not quite remembering the long and complicated name he had given her. "Make some for my friend Professor Sevvy Snaps." She smiled proudly at him, feeling just like a little adult for considering him.

"Now, when do I get to learn how to do stuff? Do I live here or somewhere else?"

George sighed in exasperation. Fred didn't understand exactly how serious this was, and he was going to end up making it all into another big joke. It looked like another joke was the last thing Guin needed right now. "Look... Guin. We acknowledge fully that we are gits and that we need to be reprimanded and perhaps severly punished for what we've already put you through. But who's going to do that if you leave?" George handed Guin both cups of hot chocolate, forcing her to put down her trunk. He kneeled in front of her, knowing he looked a bit ridiculous but not really caring. "I know it sounds like another big joke, but I'm serious. I'll be your personal slave until you feel redeemed. I'll do your laundry. I'll carry you around the house. Just let me prove we're just thoughtless and not entirely evil."

Biochemkris · 09-29-2004, 03:04 AM

"Professor Snape," he repeated for the benefit of the girl as the house elves were perfectly aware of whom she was speaking about.

"You'll be living with your real mother up in the Astronomy tower," he said, as they waited for their meals. "You're too young to attend classes but, I'm sure you'll begin learning to control your magical outbursts and perhaps some basic spells through living with your mother and through interaction with your mother's colleagues."

"Snape," Dani repeated, wrinkling her nose at the sound of it. She'd forget anyway, but she'd give it a try. The little men appeared with their food just then, and Dani dug into her cheeseburger like she hadn't eaten in a week. Alanna would flip out if she knew what Dani was eating, but she had the feeling that her mother really wouldn't care. In fact, her mum might have ordered up some cake to go with it. "Aunt Tara" was always so fun when they spent their week in Italy... Dani wondered if it might always be like that.

"Is it good?" she looked at Snape questioningly. "Do you... do you think my mum is sorry she has to take care of me now?" Dani didn't know why she asked this man, except that he'd been honest with her so far and she was afraid to ask her mother. "I don't think she planned on bringing me with her today. I could go back to live with Aunt Alanna. She isn't so bad..."

Fred thought for sure that George had lost his mind. This girl had made it more than a little clear that she wanted nothing to do with them, and he was offering himself as her personal slave? But, George was his brother, so he followed his lead. Getting down on his knees too, he said to her. "I'll help too. But I promise not to touch you or your things unless you give your consent first. I swear we never meant to make you hate us and I promise we're not all that bad....we just got off on the wrong foot. Let's start over....close your eyes..." Fred closed his eyes and re-opened them. "I'm Fred Weasley, one half of your personal slave." He extended his arm and offered the lovely orange flowers he had picked for her earlier...

Snape picked up the... cheeseburger and studied it for a moment before taking a bite. It was interesting though, not like anything he would have ordered for himself. "It's different," he responded, taking a few more bites before answering her last question. "No, your mother wasn't anticipating bringing you here today. However, Professor Dumbledore sent me with your mother so that, should the need arise, she would have the strength to take you with her."

Waving over a house elf, Snape requested two goblets of pumpkin juice be brought forth. He took a long sip of the cool liquid and waited for the child to finish her meal or as another question. Though he was begining to tire of her questions, he had to admit that the child was less annoying than he had anticipated.

Guin didn't know what to say, was she to forgive them or not? They were both on their knees and made a pledge to be her slave. She wasn't she if she wanted to curse them both to oblivion or to even give them a second chance..well more like 4th. Ahhh she was about to say something when her owl flew back in and made her mind up for her. Guin read the letter and sighed, she sat on her bed and looked down at the twins.

"I was gonna leaveyou know! But...Dumbledore's ordered me to stay no matter what..." She told them as she crumbled up the letter and threw it out. "Fine then. Were gonna get this straight, I don't wanna any personal slaves, it's not humanly. So as long as both of you stay far away from me and anything to do with me I'll be fine. But if anything happens again...I'll really leave no matter what he says." She threw back Fred his flowers and gave them a look that made it clear she wanted them to leave.

Dani swirled the spoon in the mashed potatoes, finding she'd lost her appetite. She had hoped Snape would give her some indication that she was wanted here, but the complete absence of that thought made her believe the opposite was true. Her mother didn't want her and had only brought her away because of some stupid thing she'd done and because Alanna had grabbed her too hard that morning and left a bruise. "I'm full," Dani said when she became aware of Snape's eyes on her.

"Alright, then," he said, as the house elves began to clean up.

He reached out to grasp her hand again, surprised at himself when he realized what he was doing. "Would you like to go outside for a tour of the grounds now, or would you like to continue touring the inside of the castle?" he asked.

You might not want a personal slave, and I intend to respect your wish for space, but you're not getting rid of us. What I said now, and last night," George added significantly, "still stands. I'm going to convince you that we're not only not bad, but actually rather good guys. Just... try to keep an open mind about us. We'll win you over." George hated that he had to include himself in the equation, but if Fred was going to win Guin, first George had to make things right between them. Because, in the end, she was still perfect...

Dani dropped her spoon and stared at Snape. "This is a castle? I knew it was big but... like... with towers and a moat and...?" She blinked at him, wondering if she had wandered into a kind of fairy tale world. Maybe there were even princesses and dragons and things like that here too. "Can we see if from the outside?" She hopped to her feet, the wonders of the kitchen forgotten, Snape's hand in her own as she tugged him to his own feet.

"Yes, it's a castle. There is no moat, but we do have a lake. We can go outside and I can show you," he said, leading her out of the kitchens, up the stairs and into the Entrance Hall.

He opened the large oak front doors and the two stepped out into the sunlight.

The expansive grounds spread out before them, the light from the lengthening day tinging the landscape in red gold hues. The lake was a shimmering sheet, no wind rippling the surface and the squid apparently asleep. Even the forest seemed to take on a fairy talesque quality. Dani dropped Snape's hand and marched down the lawn until she stood a good distance from the castle. As if peeking before she was ready would somehow break the spell, Dani kept her face forward and her jaw set. Finally, she turned, taking in the castle, the windows in the turrets and towers catching the sun and glinting, the cool gray of the castle, even the snapping flags with a colorful emblem she couldn't quite make out.

Turning shinning eyes on Snape as he joined her, Dani gasped, "Tell me I live in a tower!"

Biochemkris · 09-29-2004, 03:09 AM

Snape merely stood and watched as the girl dropped his hand and ran forward. He groaned inwardly at her demand, associating wanting to live in a tower with Gryffindors but, for some reason, her eager face called to some part of him and he stepped down to join her. Snape pointed to the second tower on the left, "You see that tower there? That is the Astronomy tower, where you will be living with your mother, the Astronomy professor. The tower next to it, to the right, is the Divination tower, and that one over there... Gryffindor tower."

Snape growled the words through clenched teeth. He was not looking forward to this next year. Despite his better judgement, he had allowed Dennis Creevy into his NEWT level potions class as he had received the OWLs which entitled him a position there and Snape was certain he would be even more of a pest than ever.

Dani closed her eyes in ecstasy. "I'm like... a princess. All we need now are unicorns and a dragon guarding the tower, and... yeah." Dani stared at the tiny window visible from the ground, as well as the large balcony with the railing that wrapped around much of the tower. So far, this was a very good change from living in Alanna's bungalow with the yelling and the strange rules and the many boyfriends. "Do you live in that tower with us?"

As soon as he was deemed well enough, Draco had spent the next few days roaming about Hogwarts. The Headmaster hadn't said anything about him needing to leave - or to stay for that matter - and the cool darkness of the castle seemed infinitely preferable to the wretched emptiness of Malfoy Manor.

He was roaming about the Dungeon, poking his head into the Potions classroom and seeing what had changed since his departure, when he heard the voice of what seemed to be a... little girl?

Since when did Hogwarts have little children running about?

Then he heard the deep baritone of the Potion Master's voice and he started.

Professor Snape... a young child...

No... it couldn't be.

...

Could it?

He hurried out the Dungeon and followed the voices to the castle grounds and stopped short.

The summer sunshine basked him in a sudden warmth and he found himself smiling, just a little. It was nice - for once - to be in the sunlight and not have to worry about your safety all the time. He stretched and peered up at the Astronomy tower and followed his line of sight to the Quidditch field.

There was a pang in his chest as he remembered the good old days of Quidditch matches against the insufferable Potter. He sighed quietly and for a moment, he forgot everything around him and forgot about the fact that he was looking for the sources of the voices.

"It would be illegal, without special permission from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, to keep a dragon on the grounds," Snape replied, wondering what all the fuss about the castle, unicorns, and dragons was about.

While it was true that even those from wizarding families were impressed by the vastness of Hogwarts, Snape and his fellow Slytherins would never have shown such outward awe. After staring at the castle some more, the girl turned back to him with another question. What gave her the impression he lived in the tower with her mother? "No, I don't live in the Astronomy tower. My rooms are in the dugeons, down the stairs on the opposite side of the Grand Staircase from the ones we took to the kitchens," he said, wondering why, in Merlin's name, he had just given the young child even the vaguest of directions to his quarters.

Fred picked up his flower and nodded to Guin. She was being more than clear that she had enough of them for the time being. Fred helped George back to his feet, "I'll see you around Guin." He bowed and left her bedroom.

He hopped down the steps one at a time, crept back past Mrs. Black and reentered the kitchen where every one else still was still. He tossed a flower to each of the girls, Hermione, Elizabeth, and Ginny. "Maybe you guys will appreciate these more than her." Fred said rolling his eyes. "Sorry I don't have one for you Longbottom!" Fred laughed and pulled a stool close with Hermione.

Ginny tucked the flower into her hair and smiled at her older brother. "I think its just lovely, Fred." The orange flower looked strange against her red hair, but she really didn't mind too much. "I think you picked the only lovely thing left in that old garden. Do you think mum would mind if I spent a bit of time out there today? Maybe I can get some bulbs planted or something."

Dani stared at him for a moment. She backtracked the conversation to the part about dragons. "But... there ARE dragons, right? That's what you're saying? That we don't have dragons but we COULD have dragons? I think I need to be pinched," she muttered to herself.

"You live in the dungeon?" Dani gave him what could only be a pitying look. "Are you being punished for something? I bet if you asked that Santa Clausy guy really nicely, he'd let you live in a tower too," she nodded firmly.

"Yes, we could have dragons, were it legal. Im sure Hagrid would be beside himself it was," Snape muttered the last bit.

He thought for a bit before answering her last question. While he wasn't really punished for anything by having his living quarters in the dungeons, he felt as if, in some ways, he was being punished, or at least, rehabilitated, by living and teaching at Hogwarts. "No, I'm not being punished," he answered. "I prefer the dungeons to towers. I spent my seven years of school living in the dungeons with the rest of my House."

Biochemkris · 09-29-2004, 01:38 PM

Dani sat down so that she could see the castle and part of the lake, even though she was sitting in the middle of the lawn. She didn't understand what he was talking about... houses, when clearly this was a castle... "Maybe now you could tell me everything you know about this place. Let's start small... what's it called?" She knew she was being a bit of a smart aleck, but her... Alanna had never been able to pick up the traces of it in her tone.

Snape sneered but, the professor in him spotted the eager young face, sitting there, waiting attentively for him to speak. "As I stated earlier, this is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was founded quite a long time ago by four of the greatest witches and wizards of the age; Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, and Helga Hufflepuff. Each of the founders accepted students based on their own set of criteria. The four houses of Hogwarts are named after their founders: Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff. However, now that the founders are dead, the Headmaster accepts students and they are sorted into houses their first night at the school by The Sorting Hat..."

Dani listened raptly as Snape explained the history of Hogwarts and what life was like there. She had a million and one questions, but she stored them up since Snape looked like he really enjoyed talking. As he spoke, she let her glance take in the castle. Was this really her new home or was she only here temporarily? Afterall, her mother had dumped with someone once. What would keep her from doing it again? She probably shouldn't get TOO comfortable here.

After explaining a bit more about the Sorting Hat, he continued to describe the houses in a bit more detail, including describing the house ghosts, house points system, and the types of students generally admitted to the houses. Then, he explained about how students were generally admitted at age 11 and studied for 7 years, living at Hogwarts during the school year. He described some of the subjects that were taught and named some of the professors currently teaching. When he finished, he looked down to see the girl staring at the castle and he wondered if she had even been listening.

Dani's eyes sought out Snape's once he had finished, and her face was serious and solemn. In fact, she looked remarkably like her mother in that moment. "My mum teaches Astronomy? I guess that's why she's sleeping right now." She mentally scanned all her questions, finally finding one that she most wanted answered. "I'll go to school here when I turn 11, won't I? What house do you think I'll be in?"

"Gryffindor," he answered, almost at once, with a slight sneer.

While her curiosity could also land her in Ravenclaw, Snape saw something in the girl that reminded him of all the young Gryffindors he'd had the displeasure of teaching. Of course, he didn't know her well at all and she did have a few more years to grow out of it.

"Gryffindor?" Dani repeated. "Those are the ones that live in the tower? And they're... brave and adventurous?" Dani weighed his words. "No... I don't think so. I'm not brave." She shook her head and put on a false pout. "I kind of wanted to be in YOUR house. In the dungeon. I bet its really creepy down there!"

"So, you think you want to be in Slytherin?" he almost laughed. "You seemed so enamoured with the towers, I htought perhaps you'd follow in your mother's footsteps. If not Gryffindor, I would have pegged you for a Ravenclaw but, they also live in a tower."

"Do you want to continue your tour?"

Draco snapped out of his reverie just in time to hear his former Potions Master mentioned the Houses. He spun around and saw the professor with a little girl, who had just told the Potions Master that she wanted to be sorted into HIS House - the House that lived in the dungeon.

At one point, he would have been extremely proud to hear that - to hear that someone would choose to be a Slytherin - and he would have been a prat about it as well because not everyone was "good enough" to be a Slytherin.

But with the recent going-ons, his mind had made an abrupt about-face. Being a Slytherin had cost some of his former Housemates their lives and it had nearly cost him his. He absently rubbed a hand along his shoulder where the mark burned.

Was being a Slytherin worth it? Was the name of Slytherin even worth anything anymore?

He caught the Professor's laugh at the little girl's declaration of her House preference and his question was answered.

As long as Professor Snape was still Head of House, Slytherin House would still have its glory and it could still be brought back to the original splendor it once was. During his last year, the Potions Master had more or less carried the weight and worries of their House on his back even though he didn't show it. Without him, Slytherin House would have fallen into disrepair and become nothing more than a bad memory.

He cleared his throat and addressed the little girl. "The Dungeon is not as bad as many people might think it to be. I'd take the Dungeons rather than the towers any day myself seeing as how Slytherin House is headed by a very respectable professor." His drawl, normally filled with loftiness or contempt, was softer than what it used to be and infused with a tone of respect.

Dani turned her head to take in the newcomer. He was a young man with white blond hair and a face that she found pleasing. His silver eyes were soft as they took her and Professor Snape in, and Dani smiled at him. "Do you live in the Slytherin house too? Have you met the Bloody Baron? I bet he's really scary!"

The man seemed to hesitate and Dani rose quickly to her feet. "I'm Danika Sinistra. Professor Snape is giving me a tour because I'm a witch," she nodded for emphasis.

Harry watched Ginny tuck the flower in her hair and realized, not for the first time, how incredibly beautiful she was. He felt as if a voice inside his head was telling him that she needed to know this somehow, and he had the sudden urge to take Ginny away from this house and just be with her. But he knew he couldn't.

"Hey Gin..." Harry said, standing up from his seat at the table, "Do you want to... erm... take a walk around the garden or something?"

Hermione took the flower in her hands and twirled it around between her fingers, admiring its beauty. She wondered how such a flower had ever grown at Grimmauld Place. When she looked up from studying the flower, she found Fred next to her and was actually quite startled for some reason and felt her cheeks grow warm.

Ginny looked up at Harry. She felt only love for him, but she'd also felt like he was ignoring her and being totally wrapped up in things during the past few days. It made her heart swell with joy and excitement to see that look in his eyes again - the look that told her he wanted to be with her. She rose to her feet eagerly and stepped around the table towards the door. She couldn't bear to look at Elizabeth, but she kept her pace slow and her tone light so that her eagerness wouldn't hurt the girl more than she'd already been hurt. "Sure, I want to see what needs to be done anyway," she answered.

Draco was surprised at this response, forgetting momentarily that this child had never met him and didn't have any biases. He felt a strange sense of euphoria at this for whatever reason and he crouched so he was eye level with her.

"Nice to meet you Danika," Draco shook her small hand and let the corners of his lips turn upwards ever so slightly in a grin. "My name is Draco, Draco Malfoy. I actually graduated from this school, but yes, I was in Slytherin House and yes I met the Bloody Baron."

His lips quirked upwards again at the curiosity of this girl. "He's actually not that scary once you stand up to him and tell him he's not scaring you. But he's a terrific House ghost to have around." He chuckled.

Dani considered Draco's words. "I don't think I could stand up to someone who has blood on his clothes. You'd have to be brave and... Gryffindor," she looked very proud of herself for making the connection. Looking sheepishly at Snape, Dani asked, "Do you think we could have dinner soon? And maybe find my mom?" She didn't want to ask for favors in going back to the kitchen, but she hadn't really finished her food before and some time had passed since they'd left the kitchen.

Snape looked up as Malfoy walked over and talked with Danika. At her proclamation of being hungry, Snape looked at his watch, a simple, silver, pocket watch. It wasn't quite time for dinner, yet. "Perhaps Mr. Malfoy would be kind enough to take you back down to the kitchens for a little snack while I go and find you mother," he replied, looking up at Malfoy after he had finished speaking.

Biochemkris · 09-29-2004, 01:43 PM

Draco realized belatedly that he had missed lunch during his excursion around the school. His stomach rejoiced in the idea of food but he grimaced slightly at the mention of Gryffindors.

Bloody Gryffindors...

"That's a brilliant idea seeing as how I missed lunch earlier." He caught the look from the professor and he stood up and extended his hand to Danika. "How about some food? What do you like to eat?"

Dani slipped her hand into Draco's easily. "We had what I like to eat for lunch, Draco. We can have what you want to eat for dinner. Draco," Dani rolled his name around in her mouth, liking the way it sounded on her tongue. "Did you know there's a constellation with your name, Draco?" Dani waved at Snape and grinned over her shoulder before pulling Draco off towards the kitchen.

Draco grinned at the mention of the constellation and was amazed at her show of intelligence. "You like the stars, too? And no, I didn't know there was a constellation with my name." Actually, he did know, but he wondered how much she knew. "Do you know where it is in the sky?" His gunmetal eyes shone a little.

"We can see what the kitchen elves have and then make our choices, what do you say? And if there isn't anything we like, I'll have them prepare something else." He let her pull him along as he felt a sense of acceptance buoy him along with her.

"I say okay," Dani agreed seriously as she opened the huge front doors. "I'll show you the constellation later, though, because its too early for it now. Plus, I bet we could use a telescope up in my mum's tower. Did you know she teaches Astronomy? I bet you did know that..." Dani's brow furrowed at her stupidity. "Did she teach you?"

Once Malfoy and Danika were safely on their way to the kitchens, Snape slipped into the school and up to the Astronomy tower. He hesitate a moment with his fist poised to knock, wondering if he should give her some more time. But, he was laready here and decided to go ahead and knock anyway, hoping they weren't in for one of those relationship talks he was certain would be coming after what had happened today.

Harry took Ginny's hand and led her outside. He blinked when the sun met his eyes, realizing now how dark it really was inside the house. When his eyes adjusted, he looked and Ginny and smiled. "Forgive me if I've been short with you at all in the past week. A lot of things are going on... but... I'm sorry. I love you."

He found himself grinning despite of himself at her barrage of comments. "Some of the older graduated students wouldn't know that actually, because we changed instructors while I was at school here. But yes, I was one of her students, actually. I remember her making us sit out in the Quidditch Field beneath the stars to make out own star charts."

He recalled that night rather vividly seeing as how he had snuck off to find a place by himself so he could think and draw undisturbed. It was one of those rare moments of relaxation in a very trying time. His eyebrows furrowed a little wistfully at the memory.

Tara stirred at the sound of a knock on the door, but she rolled over and buried her head under the pillow. Was it time to get up already? She snuggled back under her blanket, glad that she'd thought to wear a light nightgown while the heat of the day still streamed into her tower. Cracking one eye, she saw that the sun was going down. That didn't make her want to get out of bed. In a moment of spite, Tara threw her pillow at the door and curled back up under the covers.

Ginny smiled sunnily at Harry and pulled the garish blossom from her hair, the red waves catching the sun and glinting gold. She tucked the flower behind Harry's ear, letting her fingers linger on his face. "I love you too. Even if you're being a git."

Dani cocked her head. "I don't know anything about making a star chart. I hope it isn't hard," Dani wasn't really too worried. She'd always been pretty good at school work, and this seemed like the kind of work she'd actually enjoy. "I'm going to live with my mum in one of the towers. Don't you think that kind of makes me a princess? Do you live here?"

Snape thought he heard some stirring inside the room and then, he heard something thump into the door. Worried that something might be wrong, he opened the door which had been left unlocked in haste and stepped into the room. He reached down and picked up a pillow which lay at his feet and felt rather foolish for acting so rashly.

Draco chuckled and pondered on a response. "If living in a tower makes YOU feel like a princess, then why not?" He flinched at her question of if he lived at the school or not. The image of Malfoy Manor loomed over him and he inwardly blanched.

"For right now, I am living at Hogwarts." He settled for the answer to his most current living situation.

The question about star charts chased the image of Malfoy Manor out of his mind. He recalled seeing his star chart posted in the Astronomy Tower before he graduated, so maybe it was still there.

"I think Professor Sinistra - your mother - might have my star chart posted on her wall in the Astronomy classroom. Maybe we can visit the tower later."

Tara cracked her eye open again at the sound of her door opening. This had better be good... oh, hello. Snape stood in her doorway, holding her pillow and looking confused. "'Lo, Sev'rus," Tara yawned, not moving from her curled position on the bed. "Be a dear and give me my pillow back."

Tara sat up suddenly, peering behind Snape. "Where is Danika?"

"I'm not being a git!" Harry said, laughing and taking the flower out from behind his ear, and returning it to her hair. "It looks so much more beautiful on you," He told her, keep his fingers in her hair and twirling it around his fingers.

Fred tapped his fingers on the counter. Everyone seemed to be a tad awkward...and Fred had had enough awkward with the whole underwear escapade to last him till at least dinner. "Um...Hermione...what do you say we go up and watch some dust gather?" Not waiting on an answer from her, or a dumb remark from Longbottom, Fred put his hand on the small of her back and guided her out of the kitchen and up the stairs to his room.

Doing a quick cleanup charm, Fred shifted all the clothes and clutter he and George had thrown everywhere to one corner of the room. Fred turned back to Hermione. She was looking beautiful...her curls resting on her shoulders, her twirling the flower in her dainty little hands. Fred was still confused about her...he just didn't understand how someone he and George used to make fun of and tease non-stop would be such pleasurable company. She was occupying more than a little bit of time in Fred's thoughts...it just didn't make sense. And now..here she stood. Fred didn't know what to do with her....or his hands..he always had problems with finding something to do with his hands when Hermione was around....

"So....um...want to sit?" Fred asked waving towards his bed on the right side of the room.

Biochemkris · 09-29-2004, 01:49 PM

They reached the portrait to the kitchen and Dani pulled on Draco's hand. "Let me do it," she begged before reaching up to tickle the pear. It giggled and the door sprung open.

"What are we going to eat, Draco? We need to get something that my mum will like," Dani twisted her hands a bit, betraying someting other than absolute confidence for the first time.

Snape was walking over to the half-asleep Tara, her pillow clutched in his long white fingers when she suddenly sat up. He made it the rest of the way to the bed, handing her the pillow before he spoke. "She's safe with Mr. Malfoy at the moment. After leavingthe Headmaster's office, we headed to the kitchens for lunch. Following lunch, we toured the grounds and Mr. Malfoy came across us. He and Danika seemed to be enjoying each others' company adn the both of them were hngry so, he took her back ot the kitchens while I came to see how you were doing," he said, thinking she might want an accounting of their day and mentally smacking his forehead for his last remark.

"Why do we need to get something your mum will like? Will we be bringing her some food? Or does she just want you to eat healthy, something that all mothers do?" Draco was more than happy to let her tickle the pear, something he still felt more than a bit foolish doing.

He recalled the days of his childhood - before the Dark Lord had become a constant presence in their lives - when his mother would sometimes prepare delicious food on the very rare occasion.

They walked into the kitchen and Draco looked around.

Ginny laughed and wrapped her arms around Harry, drawing herself closer to him. "How could it? Its orange..." She made a face and wrinkled her nose. "Orange is not a color you should let anywhere near this red head. But think of it, Harry... pretty soon and with a little work, this whole garden will be beautiful and full of rich and abundant life." She leaned against Harry, imagining she could feel his warmth right through both their clothes and smiled. "Just like us, Harry. We'll have a beautiful and abundant life."

Tara scrubbed her hands through her bed-head hair and yawned, trying to take the time and let her composure return. Surely Snape hadn't meant it in the way she was wishing, so she needn't go all typical female and fall apart on him. "Do you trust Draco Malfoy?" Tara caught his look and responded to her own question, "Well, if you trust him with my daughter, than so do I. I hope you both managed to enjoy yourselves on the tour, because I certainly enjoyed my sleep." She looked down at her rumpled nightgown and felt a bit silly. "Could you please hand me my robe, Severus?"

Dani raised big blue eyes to Draco's gray ones. "Isn't my mum coming to eat dinner with us? I thought she might want to..." But her thoughts were interrupted by clammoring elves asking them waht they wanted to eat. She looked at Draco for assistnace in ordering a meal that didn't consist of junk food and cheeseburgers.

It wasn't until she mentioned handing her her robe that Snape noticed her state of dress... or rather, undress. His eyes lingered on Tara, the way the thin nightdress was slightly rumpled and clinging to her form in some places, one thin strap threatening to fall off her delicate shoulder. Snape reluctantly turned his gaze away from her and reached for the robe which hung from the end of the bed. His eyes turned back to her as he handed her the robe, wishing she would invite him into her bed rather than put it on.

Draoc locked gazes with the little girl and nodded. "She might and I'm sure she'll try. Being an instructor here is really hard work, but I'm sure she'll be down soon. But hard work means you need to eat a lot, too." His stomach agreed with a growl.

"Could we have roast chicken with roasted vegetables, extra potatoes, and shepherd's pie." Remembering he was in charge of a young child, he added, "Please." After a moment's thought, he added, "And some pumpkin or fruit juice and some fruit and raspberries for dessert." After yet another thought, he turned to Danika and asked, "What do you like for dessert? Do you like ice cream or cake?"

Realizing that the Astronomy professor was Danika's mother, and remembering that Snape had disappeared and that he had been in charge of Danika earlier, his eyebrows arched upwards at the sudden notion. He shook his head ever so slightly to clear it of any such thoughts.

It wasn't his business, after all, but he was suddenly curious.

Harry nodded and wrapped his arms around Ginny as she had done with him, holding her close and looking into her eyes. "Our lives will be perfect as long as we have each other," He said. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and smiled down at her.

Tara watched Snape retrieve her robe and hand it to her, her observant eyes taking in the way his eyes darkened in lust. She was surprised, considering how rumpled and creased she felt. Taking the robe, she slid it on but didn't bother to tie it. "We're not going to be getting much time alone now that Dani's come to live here," Tara finally spoke some of the words that had been weighing on her for awhile. While she was ecstatic to have her daughter back with her, she was also a bit sadder than she should that her so-called relationship with Snape was being affected.

"No, we won't," he agreed, stepping back from the bed after she had slipped on her robe in anticipation of her rising. "Would you like me to come back after you've had a chance to get dressed?"

"Ice cream, please," Dani said solemnly, her big eyes shining at Draco in complete adoration. She was now his devoted shadow, and Dani was seriously considering making him her "boyfriend" and marrying him when she grew up. "I hope my mum does come down, but its alright if she doesn't. I'm just glad I don't have to stay with Alanna anymore." Dani unconsciously touched her bruise through her clothes and moved to sit down to wait for the food.

"No," Tara laughed in disbelief. How could he not see what was as plain as the nose on her face? "Merlin, Severus, I want you to take advantage of one of our few moments alone before I have to go and make sure that Mr. Malfoy is properly caring for my Dani." She didn't move, however, looking up at him expectantly.

Draco's keen eyes picked up on the unconscious movement and his heart twinged. He was starting to put two and two together, and him being a child of abuse when he was younger made the pieces click together faster than they normally might have.

He gently squeezed her hand. "And ice cream, too."

The elves nodded and scurried away and he led her to one of the tables and sat down.

"I've had to stay with people I didn't really want to stay with either before. So I know what that's like. You'll love it here, I think, especially since you seem to like learning."

He had no idea as to why he was saying this, but he knew that as a child, he himself dealt with a lot of guilt when his father had been violent towards him. He thought that it had been his fault and tt wasn't something he was supposed to talk about and keeping it in had make him more withdrawn.

Danika was clearly a bright child and he could see her potential and he didn't want to see that part of himself being reflected in her. Slytherin House could really use a bright student like her someday.

He grimaced when he remembered her mention of Gryffindors.

But maybe she'll choose Slytherin...

"What do you think of Hogwarts?" He asked.

Ginny made a face up at Harry and wrinkled her nose again. "No," she disagreed. "Perfect would be boring and impossible to maintain. Perfect is what you would have had with Elizabeth, but it isn't what you'll have with me. You'll have passion, though... and that's something better than perfect."

Biochemkris · 09-29-2004, 02:04 PM

Snape smirked at her comment but, slowly stalked back over to the bed. "At first I thought you were going to say you wanted me to take advantage of you," he laughed, slipping a hand into her robe and over her shoulder, moving his wrist so that the robe slipped off to bare her shoulder.

"I like it," Dani said, seriously considering the question for a moment. "I don't think I get what exactly it means to be a witch yet, but I can't hate a place that has dragons and unicorns and a castle and Oompa Loompas that bring you whatever food you want. What's not to like? I think I can be happy here, even if my mum doesn't want me around..." Dani looked a bit guilty at her statement, but she trusted Draco.

"A witch is a girl who can... do extraordinary things that normal m - people can't. A wizard is a boy who can do the same things, like me." Draco bit his tongue as the word 'muggle' nearly slipped his mouth. That wasn't a word that settled well with him ever since the whole Dark Lord thing had consumed him. Not to mention, it would be a bad influence on her.

But since when has Draco Malfoy EVER been concerned about children?

"Ever since NOW", he firmly told his mind.

"Why do you say your mum doesn't want you around? She's letting you live here with her rather than with someone you don't want to be around, right?" He inquired, his voice a softer drawl.

"And what in Merlin are Oompa Loompas?" His brows furrowed in perplexion.

Tara's smile was almost wicked as she rose to her knees and reached for Severus's robes. "It isn't taking advantage if I welcome your advances, Severus. I think its a bit too late in the game for us to go through the dance steps again. I want you in my bed." She watched his robes and shirt fall to teh floor.

Snape needed no further encouragement. After slipping off the rest of his clothing, he slid beneath the covers next to Tara and enjoyed the physical aspects of their relationship. When they were finished, Tara lay in the crook of his arm while he ran his fingers through her hair.

"You know... an Oompa Loompa? Those little orange guys from Charlie and the... Nevermind." Dani shook her head. If she were a wizard or a witch before now, she probably would have been much too busy playing with unicorns and doing extraordinary things to sit around and watch that long movie. Draco probably hadn't even seen it, and he was a grown up.

Dani fiddled with her hands, not looking at Draco right away. "I lived with my Aunt Alanna for a long time, and my mum only came to visit me a few times a year. She must not have wanted me with her, and now she has to take me because she found out I do the weird things and Alanna gets mad..." Dani looked up at Draco. "I don't mind. I"d rather be here."

Tara traced the contours of Snape's face with one delicate fingertip, enjoying the intimacy of the moment and feeling of Snape's warm arm holding her to him. "I wish we could stay like this," Tara's voice was low, and she let Snape take her comment as she wished. She didn't have the emotional energy for pretence in that moment.

"Weird things... like this?" Draco shook out his wand and murmured, "Lumos" under his breath and the tip of his wand glowed.

"Wizards and witches like you and me are... different from the regular people because we can do... special... things. And these people are sometimes scared or jealous and some think it's a bad thing. But here, these special gifts ARE special and in a good way." He felt a sort of anger towards the way she had been treated before.

"That's probably where the abuse came from..." he thought.

He raised an eyebrow when she mentioned the Oompa Loompas. "No, please tell me about Charlie and the... whatever." He now realized she had been living with the muggles and that her aunt was a muggle herself. He realized that he should feel some sort of repulsion or at least feel condenscending, but somehow he didn't.

To feel condescending towards this child didn't seem right and so he kept his thought to himself.

But that would mean she probably wouldn't get into Slytherin House either...

Snape leaned over and kissed Tara's forehead. "Yes, life seems more bareable in these short moments of intimacy," he responded. "But, the feeling is temporary and the world comes back to haunt us. To lay here forever would be far easier than facing the world. But, your daughter is waiting for you but, I believe she fears she is unwanted and I'm afraid I did not say anything to alleviate those fears."

Dani giggled and launched into a detailed explanation of the movies plot as well as she could remember, considering she had seen it last when she was six, which was quite young and very much still a baby! "And the Oompa Loompas were the little orange men that worked for Willy Wonka, only if you read the book you get to find out a lot more about them and where they are from. And in the next book you even go to where they lived and see the terrible animal Willy Wonka saved them from." Dani looked curiously at Draco. "Have you ever gone to see a movie?"

Tara rolled from his embrace, knowing that this was as much of him as she would ever really get. She'd have to come to terms with that if she wanted to continue this relationship and retain her sanity. She sat on the edge of her bed, pulling on her clothing.

"Well, it is not surprise she feels that way, considering I left her with Alanna for so long without a word about why. She must think I did it because I didn't want to be with her. She knows nothing of this world and its dangers, nor of a young mother's fears for her daughter."

Draco was amazed at the detail of Danika's explanation, and he found himself listening raptly.

"No, I never... had the chance to. I do read a lot, though. I would love to see this... movie and read the book. From what you described I can understand how you think the elves look like Oompa Loompas."

"Children never seem able to comprehend the actions fo adults," Snape said, draping his legs off the other side of the bed to pull on his own clothes. "But, now that Danika is here to stay, you'll have plenty of opportunities to explain things to her. She's probably waiting for you in the kitchens for supper right now."

Tara rose to her feet and crossed quickly to the door, knowing she still looked a bit rumpled but much more approachable in her trousers and blouse than in the voluminous black robes. She hoped Dani would think so. Snape was right behind her. "Perhaps I'm biased, Severus, or perhaps I'm just lacking experience as a mother, but I think Dani is kind of wonderful," Tara admitted as they left the tower.

"She's more tolerable than most of my students have been," Snape replied as they descended the stairs.

BG · 09-29-2004, 04:36 PM

Tara grinned up at Snape, a teasing light in her eyes. "That's high praise, indeed," she nearly laughed. "From you, of course... are there any students you DO find likeable?" Tara walked a fine line, and she knew it. Camaraderie was not in the cards for them, and she felt the curious desire to take his hand.

Snape thought about her question. "I don't know," he answered, his hand brushing against her arm.

Tara nearly jumped out of her skin at the feel of Severus's hand on her arm. Great Godric, the man was her lover and she was jumpy when he brushed against her in the hallway. Tara relaxed again and moved to the other side of the staircase, her hand sliding down the railing. "You don't know or you don't want to admit to me that you don't really hate everything about Hogwarts as you so pretend?"

Snape sneered over at her. "I honestly cannot think of one student who did not annoy me..." he paused for a moment after he had said this, realizing that it was not entirely true. "Perhaps, Luna Lovegood. Though she was a bit odd, she was always attentive, not overly eager to spew forth her knowledge, and was adept at potion brewing."

Tara continued down the staircase in silence, her teasing mood dissipating as Luna's name was strung up in the past tense. She had been a sweet girl, odd in her way but curious and clever. There was certainly no replacing Luna Lovegood. "Strange the way the innocent ones seem to die so young, while those of us with our own darkness to overcome live another day to try to redeem ourselves," Tara mused to herself, barely loud enough to be heard.

Though she had spoken barely above a whisper, Snape's head turned as he heard what she had said. Personal darkness... What did she know of personal darkness? As someone who had spent several years of his life, devoted to the Dark Lord, and doing his bidding, Snape had more darkness to atone for than most. What darkness could the astronomy professor have? "I shouldn't get involved," he unknowingly whispered to himself as he thought about their original agreement and the fact that his current thoughts were moving in a very personal direction.

Tara was brought from her reverie by Snape's low voice. They were nearly to the kitchens, and Tara was uneasy about seeing Dani again. How do you explain to an eight-year-old that you made at mistake out of fear and confusion and took eight years to correct it? "Did you say something?"

"No, I didn't say anything," he said, wondering about his sudden loss of control while around Tara.

They had finally reached the entrance to the kitchens and when Snape turned to look at at Tara, she looked a bit apprehensive. Without a thought, he placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze before using that hand to tickle the pear.

Hermione stood by the door of Fred's room awkwardly, until he asked if she wanted to sit down. Shyly, she walked to the bed and sat down, staring up at him in anticipation. Was there something he wanted to talk to her about? He sure had made a point of getting her alone.

Harry grinned and kissed Ginny again, a little longer this time. "I can live with that," He said. He almost cringed when Ginny mentioned Elizabeth. That was something he just wanted to forget, and it would be considerably harder to do now that she was living in the same house. He moved his hands over her bare arms, watching her face.

Strangely, Tara gathered a good bit of strength from Snape's touch, and she climbed bravely through the portrait. Dani sat with Draco Malfoy, eating contentedly and laughing about something. Tara wanted nothing more than to sit right down and be apart of whatever was making Dani happy, but she had a feeling she'd make that laughter stop and turn those shining eyes somber.

Dani ate the dinner Draco had planned for her, still chuckling over the comparison of Oompa Loompas to the house elves. "It isn't that they look alike but that they act a lot the same..." Dani heard a noise at the door and turned her head. "Mum!" she said delightedly, excited that her mother had joined them for dinner afterall.

Tara glanced at Snape as if to share her joy with him before racing down into the room and grabbing ahold of Dani. "Are you having fun at Hogwarts, darling?" she whispered, and they held a quiet conversation about what the girl had seen.

Snape stood in the doorway and allowed Tara to move foward to greet her daughter before sitting down a little ways away near Malfoy.

Ginny enjoyed the feeling of Harry's rough, warm hands on her arms, and she looked down distractedly to watch their path. She raised her head finally and quirked an eyebrow at him before leaning forward to catch his mouth again. "Are you going to help me in the garden today?" she asked with her mouth hovering near his and she shivered again from his touch.

Dani pulled out of her mother's embrace and gestured towards Snape. "I told Professor Snape I wanted to be in his house. I think it'd be fun to be a Slytherin and live in the dungeons. But he said I'd probably be a Gryffindor. They live in a tower like us, mum."

Tara was glad that Dani seemed to comfortable with the idea of living with her. The term "us" had never sounded so sweet. But she also knew how deeply Snape loathed the Gryffindors, and his placement of her in the house he so disdained was almost an insult. "Severus!" she chastized him with wide eyes.

"Sure," Harry told Ginny. "What were you planning on doing? First you have to clena out all of the dead things, right? That won't take long, though... do you have new bulbs to plant?

Ginny slapped Harry playfully on the chest and turned away from him to walk to the garden shed. "You certainly know how to ruin a mood, Potter. Good thing to. I'd hate to think what you could have talked me into if you kept on the way you were." Before he could open his mouth, she pitched a pair of gloves at him, followed closely by a shovel.

BG · 09-29-2004, 04:39 PM

Tonks tripped on her robes and fell headlong down the stairs, her trunk landing on top of her. She let out an "Ooof!" and lay for moment before pushing the trunk off and standing up, dusting herself off. "I knew I should have just apparated from my room," she said to herself, waving her wand to levitate her trunk once more.

She stepped out of the house, locked it with a charm and raised her wand arm for Knight Bus. She had always enjoyed travelling on the violently purple bus and was pleased Dumbledore was allowing her to use this mode of transportation (during the day, no less) to get to Grimmauld place. Tonks smiled at Stan and Ernie who both gave her wide grins, "Ello, Tonks. Usual fare, I presume?" Stan said as he hauled her trunk aboard and settled her into the seat next to his own.

"Of course," Tonks replied, laughing a little and settling down and leaning over the driver's shoulder. "So, how have you been Ern?"

The drive was quick but, jerky and bumpy, as usual and Tonks was a little dissappointed when they arrived at their destination. She performed a cloaking spell before stepping off the bus and made her way down the street to Number 12. Of course, things had been going too smoothly for too long so, the minute she stepped through the door and shut it, she ran headlong into a house elf who hadn't been able to see her due to the cloaking spell. She fell head over heels and landed on her bottom, right in front of the portrait of Mrs. Black who had woken up due to Tonks' rather rude exclamation upon landing.

Snape looked up at Tara after hearing her harshly yell his name. "What?" he hissed before finishing the bite of chicken he was about to take before the outburst.

"My daughter is most certainly NOT a Gryffindor," Tara stroked Dani's hair as she spoke, her laughing eyes on Snape. "If she is not quite Ravenclaw stock, then of course she might be Slytherin or Hufflepuff material. But Gryffindor... that is quite an insult." Tara winked at Dani, who grinned back, not quite getting the joke but enjoying that she was part of it.

Harry caught both the gloves and the shovel and laughed. "You need to teach me not to be a mood ruiner. Remind me not to ruin the mood next time, maybe I can talk you into something." He joined her at the shed and waited for her to tell him what to do.

Ginny pointed to a patch of particularly dreary plants that seemed to be attempting to take over one side of the yard, indicating that Harry could dig it up. "Honestly, Potter. I might let you seduce me someday, but I'm not about to tell you how to do it." Ginny deposited herself next to the lone flower bed and began pulling out the choking weeds.

Snape glared at Tara. He felt sure she was making fun of him somehow but, he wasn't up to trying to retaliate. "Perhaps a Slytherin," Snape conceded, breaking a piece of bread and popping it into his mouth, his eyes on Tara.

Harry kneeled down and started pulling weeds along side of her. "Weasley... you are a very stubborn girl, you know. If you don't tell me how to seduce you, I may never manage it. I'm not that good at that type of thing."

"Now, you see that, my darling?" Tara turned and spoke to Dani, although her voice was still loud enough for Snape to hear. "He admits you're Slytherin material. That's quite a compliment from him, and you should know now that Professor Snape never gives out an undeserved compliment. Perhaps you should thank him?"

Dani's smile had a bit of the wickedness of her mother in it as she descended on Snape. "Thank you, Professor," Dani's voice was all perkiness as she wrapped her arms around Snape and gave him a hug, which caused her mother to blink in surprise.

Ginny sat back on her heels and watched Harry work for a moment. He really had no idea what he did to her, and that made him that much more attractive to her. His black hair was sticking every which way and the sun was getting high enough that midday heat was making some of it stick to his face with sweat. Even his shirt was sticking to him, and he pushed his glasses up, leaving a streak of dirt on his face. Harry Potter was still the best thing she'd ever seen. "Oh, I think you'll make out just fine, Potter. You're better at it then you know," Ginny went back to her work.

Snape looked down at the child who had wrapped her arms about his waist and then, looked up at Tara, confused. She was also staring at the child with surprise. Malfoy also seemed amused. Snape, however, was not amused. He had no idea what to do and he absolutely abhored that feeling of helplessness. "Slytherins don't make a habit of hugging their Head of House, perhaps she's Hufflepuff after all," he thought, still quite disconcerted by the child's show of affection.

Dani smiled genuinely at Snape, who seemed not to know what to do with his arms. "I had a very good day today, Professor," Dani confessed to him. "You helped to bring me here, and that makes you like the knight who rescues the princess." She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "I wish you WERE my mum's boyfriend, because then you could come and live with us in our tower and teach me lots of things." Dani breathed deeply, taking in his scent. "You smell like my mum," she said more loudly then she meant to.

Tara watched Dani put her arms around Snape, and she felt a lump form in her throat. Her daughted didn't have a father, and to see someone getting her love like that was touching. Her comment shocked Tara though, and it took all of her will not to gasp out loud.

"Oh, really?" Harry asked playfully, pulling dead plants out of the ground, knowing her eyes had lingered on him for longer than just a friendly glance. "So then, when the time comes, I should have no problem with seducing you?" He pulled his wand out of his back pocket and started to remove the dead flowers from the ground with magic.

Ginny through a clod of dirt and the weeds attached at Harry and it hit him in the side of the head. "That's cheating," she protested, before she too took out her wand and began to remove the weeds magically. It was much easier this way. After a few moments, she answered his question. "I'm bored with this line of thinking," Ginny rose to her feet and moved to another patch that needed weeding. "I think when the time comes, I'll just seduce YOU."

Snape was anything but a rescuing knight though, he didn't say anything. Before he could respond, he was taken aback, once again, when she not only wrapped her arms about his neck to pull him closer to her but, mentioned wishing he could live with her and her mother. However, the icing on the cake of discommodiousness came when she seemed to shout for the entire world to hear that he smelled like Tara. His breath caught in his throat and he raised an eyebrow at Tara over the child's head.

Snape seemed to be handing the baton off to her with his look and Tara took the time to glare at him before turning her glare on Draco, who had the sense enough to look as if the conversation was less interesting than the food on his plate. "Well, of course, darling," Tara explained calmly, thankful as always for her cool Ravenclaw front. "Professor Snape came to retrieve me in my rooms while I slept. You'll find that our whole living area smells quite strongly of the fragrence I wear." She gave Snape a pleading look.

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