Learn to Fly

Severus Snape moved aside the last marked paper for the holidays. He sighed with relief, set down his quill and closed his eyes, willing the throbbing headache to go away.

"I can't believe I have to deal with Potter's presence for yet another six years. Surely one is enough," he mumbled.

Harry Potter had just completed his first year at Hogwarts, fighting off death once again, making new friends and becoming more bigheaded by the day, in the Potion Master's opinion.

Looking forward to the summer's solitude, he had finished all his marking early in order to set aside time for more important things, such as sleep. As he rose from his chair to make for his bed, an owl suddenly swept into the room. Severus moved towards it and removed the letter from its legs. It ruffled it's feathers and took off in a flash.

Curious, thought Severus. I never get mail during the holidays. He broke the wax seal and began to scan the piece of parchment. Jesika?

Why would she send me a letter after all these years? The signature brought back a torrent of painful memories; Australia, the beach, the engagement, the long nights, and worst of all, when she left him. One day she just left, no note, no warning. Severus was broken hearted.

Severus glanced at the letter again and saw the address she asked him to come to. He hesitated for one second, then started towards the fireplace, floo powder in one hand, cloak in the other. No idea about what was going to happen, he took a deep breath.

"St. Agatha's Wizarding Hospital, Australia."

*

Severus tumbled out of the fireplace into a brightly lit room. He realized in seconds it was the hospitals reception. He walked up to the desk, where a witch with badly dyed hair sat reading a magazine.

"Excuse me," asked Severus. "Where may I find Jesika Perry?"

The witch looked up at him over her magazine and ran her finger down a long piece of parchment.

"Room 24, second floor. She doesn't get many visitors, poor thing."

Room? Visitors? What the hell is going on? He walked up to the second floor and headed to room 24. The door was locked with a small sign reading, 'Patient is sleeping. Visiting hours are 4pm-6pm.' He looked down the hall and saw a small area with a few mismatched chairs, a table covered with magazines and a clock. Striding over, he inspected the clock. Twenty minutes till visiting time. He decided to wait. I might actually get some answers, at last. He settled himself down in one of the chairs. He suddenly realized he was being watched.

Severus looked up and saw a young girl watching him with a curious look on her face. When their eyes met, she quickly turned away as if she was never looking. He looked away too, but began to study her out of the corner of his eye.

She was young, about ten, with long, silky black hair and wide, dark eyes. She looked strangely familiar. He realized he was watching her for too long and started rustling through the pile of magazines. He pretended to be deeply immersed in an article about Billywigs, when he heard a small, clear voice.

"Excuse me? Do you want one?"

He looked up and saw the girl offering a bag of lollies. Startled, he just stared at her. Then for something to do, he reached into the bag.

"Thankyou."

"That's okay."

He thought that would be it, but heard her settle herself into the chair next to him.

"What's your name?"

He started again and muttered, "Severus Snape."

"I'm Alora. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Snape."

He looked curiously at her and she stared back, just as interested as he was and not at all intimidated.

"How old are you?" he inquired.

"I turned eleven two weeks ago. Why?"

"Just curious. You have good manners for someone so young."

She gave him a stubborn look.

"I'm not that young."

Severus had the sudden desire to smile, but stopped himself. Alora did it for him.

"Who are you visiting?" she asked.

You're so familiar, Alora. But I can't put my finger on it.

"A old friend. And you?"

At this, she looked at her feet.

"I'd rather not talk about it."

An uncomfortable silence followed until the clock struck four.

"I must be going."

He got up to leave.

"Seeya, Mr. Snape."

"Goodbye, Alora."

And at that, he headed to room 24.

*

Severus entered the room and suddenly felt uncomfortable. Something wasn't right. It was as if a great blanket of silence had fallen over the room's occupants. Two pairs of eyes stared at him: one pair blue, belonging to the healer and a pair of hazel ones, which Severus knew all too well. They belonged to Jesika.

"I'll be back in half an hour, Ms. Perry. If you need anything, just call."

At that, the healer left the room and a deadly silence followed. Severus was beginning to wonder if he should break the ice, when Jesika spoke.

"Hello, Severus. Thankyou for coming on such short notice. Please, sit down."

He sat and stole a glance at her. Her beautiful brown hair and hazel eyes were the same, but she looked different. She was paler, thinner and looked so fragile that he was afraid to touch her.

"You're probably wondering why you're here."

Gathering up his emotions, he replied in a sarcastic tone, "That thought did cross my mind, now I think of it."

Jesika sighed and leaned back on her pillow.

"Severus, just hear me out without the sarcastic comebacks, please?"

He let out a deep breath and nodded.

"Good. Listen, I know you're upset at me for before. I can't blame you, but there's some things I have to tell you."

Severus looked into her eyes, which were now brimming with tears. It took all his self-control to prevent himself wiping them away.

"Severus, I'm dying."

His stomach felt like lead.

"How?"

"I've got cancer."

Severus felt like laughing with relief.

"Jes, that's a muggle disease. Surely, the healers can help you?"

A sad look came over her face.

"In normal circumstances they could, but I ignored it for too long. There's nothing they can do."

Severus put his head in his hands.

"Why now?" he moaned softly. "After all these years, why contact me now?"

The door suddenly flew open.

"Mum, have you seen Belle? I think she's gone hunting again."

Severus lifted his head and was surprised to see the girl, Alora, standing in the doorway.

Jesika sat up and addressed the girl in a soft tone.

"I think she's downstairs, honey. Can you come back later?"

Alora stared at Severus.

"What's he doing in here?"

"I'll tell you later, okay? Just go look for Belle."

After one more steely glance, she left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Severus shot Jesika a jealous look.

"Mum? So, I guess congratulations are in order. Who's the lucky guy, Jes?" he accused in an icy tone.

No wonder Alora looked so familiar, he thought. She looks just like Jes.

Jesika gave him a condescending look.

"Surely, you can tell that for yourself."

It was like someone had lit a candle in his brain. Her hair, her eyes, that stubborn look. They were his.

"Shit, it's me."

Severus couldn't stop shaking. The girl who had offered him lollies, who had good manners, who was so curious. That girl was his daughter, his offspring. He was a father.

"Shit! I've been a father for eleven years and I never knew it!"

He looked Jesika straight in the eye, bubbling up with fury and pain.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jesika stared at her hands.

"I wanted to protect her, Severus."

This was the last straw.

"Protect her? PROTECT HER?! From what?! From me? Is that it, Jes? Is that why you left me? Because you got pregnant and thought I would hurt you? Because you wanted her for yourself? Because you hate me? Is that it, Jes? Do you hate me?!"

Jesika began to cry.

"I don't hate you, Severus."

He locked her with a steely glare.

"Well, it sure feels like it."

"Please, Severus," she cried out in a pleading tone. "Listen to me. I was afraid. Afraid for my life, afraid for my baby's and afraid for yours."

"What's my life got to do with it?"

"You know I know about that mark on your arm."

Severus subconsciously grabbed his left forearm, where the Dark Mark was burnt into it.

"He's coming back. No matter how much they deny it, He's coming back. I knew you were to good to truly follow Him. You know what He's like. You know the consequences if you were ever discovered."

Jesika stared at her hands.

"When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wants to kill a man, He starts with his heart. He destroys everything the man loves. I figured the less you had to love, the better chance you would have."

Jesika stared into his eyes.

"Believe me, it was never my intent to hurt you. Remember that you loved me once. I loved you then, too."

Severus was distraught to see her hazel eyes swimming with sincerity, regret and tears. He forced himself to look away.

"I still don't understand why you had to contact me. Wouldn't it be better to leave me out of it?"

"Severus, I'm dying," she said in a slightly harsher tone. "I have to tell you both the truth before I go. You deserve to know your daughter and she deserves to know her father."

Severus began to think as he calmed himself.

"She told me that she just turned eleven. Where is she going to school? I presume she's a witch."

"When did you talk to her?" she asked in a surprised voice.

"In the waiting room before I came in. That was before I knew who she was. Does she know about me?"

"No, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's worked it out. She's so clever, I think she got that from you."

"If I may make a suggestion?"

"Of course."

"I think Alora should attend Hogwarts. Under your last name, of course, and under strict supervision. I can't think of what would happen if people found out about our relation."

"Do you really think so? Would she be able to get in now?"

Severus gave her a reassuring look, or as close to it as he could get at that moment.

"Dumbledore will be able to pull a few strings."

Jesika lay back on the pillows and sighed with contentment. At that moment the healer walked in.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything. Ms. Perry, your daughter is asking to see you. Oh, by the way, she found your cat."

Jesika nodded. For the first time in his life, Severus looked as nervous as he felt.

"Could you ask her to come in, Healer Lochet?"

The healer smiled and swept out of the room.

Jesika smiled.

"It's time you met your daughter properly, Severus."

Severus gulped.