Learn to Fly

Alora was floating peacefully in her dreams, when she was abruptly shaken awake.

"Ally! Ally, wake up!"

Alora opened her eyes to see her father shaking her, fear etched into every line on his face. She sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"Dad, it's the middle of the night."

He suddenly thrust a piece of parchment into her hands.

"Read it and memorise it. Quickly! There's not much time before they come."

"Before who comes? Dad, what's going on?"

"ALORA! There isn't time for this! Read it and memorise it! NOW!"

She read the parchment over three times and committed it to memory.

"What's the Or-?"

"SHHH! Don't say it! Have you memorised it?"

Alora nodded. Severus snatched the parchment out of her hands and set it alight. He then pulled her out of bed and dragged her to the nearest fireplace.

"Take the floo to the address you just learnt. Wait for me there. Whatever you do, do not come back for me. Do I make myself clear?"

Alora lowered her head.

"Yes, Dad."

Severus pulled her into a tight hug.

"Take care, Sweetheart. I love you."

"I love you too."

He shoved a jar of floo powder at her. She took a pinch and stepped into the green flames.

"Number 12, Grimmauld Place, London!"

*

Alora tumbled out of the fireplace screwed up in a ball. She opened her eyes and found a pair of emerald green eyes staring back.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Alora then noticed the wand pointed at her heart. She reached for hers then realised she left it on her bedside table. With a wounded cry, she burst into uncontrollable sobs.

"Harry?"

A slightly familiar voice called out from another room.

"Harry? Are you alright?"

Someone entered the room and gasped with surprise.

"Alora Perry?"

Alora looked up and was shocked to see her previous professor gaping at her in surprise.

"Pro-professor Lupin? Where am I?"

She couldn't stand it for a second longer and began crying again.

"Alora, what are you doing here?"

"I-I want my d-dad!" she stuttered through her tears.

Lupin gently steered her to a chair.

"Harry, get her a drink or something. I'll contact Dumbledore."

A short time later, a mug of sweet tea was set on the table in front of her.

"Drink it. It'll make you feel better."

He sat beside her.

"Sorry about before. We are all a bit jumpy around here."

"That's okay," she murmured through a mouthful of tea.

"I'm Harry, by the way. Who are you?"

"Alora, but everyone calls me Ally. Anyway, I know who you are. It's kind-of hard not to when my boyfriend hates your guts." Alora realised just then she shouldn't have said that and bit her tongue.

Harry's eyes narrowed.

"You're that Ravenclaw who's dating Malfoy."

"Yeah. Mind you, I don't carry his grudges. Nor anyone else's for that matter." She gave him a firm look, like she was daring him to deny it.

Harry gave a grim nod.

"Glad to hear it."

A sudden sound made them turn their heads to the centre of the room, where an ancient man with a long, silvery beard stood. Alora rushed towards him.

"Headmaster! Do you know where Dad is? Is he safe? Why was I sent here in the middle of the night? Why-?"

"Alora! Please calm down. Your father should be here soon. He is more than capable at looking after himself. He will answer everything when he gets here."

Alora growled in frustration and began to pace the room, the others watching her wearily.

Half an hour passed before they heard the front door slam. Before anyone could move, Severus ran into the room. He stopped and Alora and he stared at each other, using Legilimency to see if the other was an imposter.

After a brief moment, Alora cried out.

"DAD!"

She ran straight into his arms and sobbed into his robes.

Severus clasped her to him like he'd never let go, his face as white as a sheet.

"Thank God you're safe," he whispered into her hair.

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

Everyone turned to the doorway where a shell-shocked red headed boy and a very embarrassed Hermione Granger stood.

Alora felt her father tense. He gently released her and stood to his full height.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Weasley?"

His voice was soft and dangerously low.

The red head stood his ground, though he was obviously terrified.

Harry cleared his throat.

"Did you forget to mention that your dad hates my guts too?"

Alora blushed.

"It's not something that comes up in everyday conversation."

Silence followed. Alora decided to break it the best way she knew how. Loudly.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Allow me to introduce myself! I am Alora Marie Snape-Perry! Daughter of Severus Snape and Jesika Perry! I am fifteen years old, a Ravenclaw and I am not a freak show, so I would appreciate it if you would quit staring at me!"

She bowed and glared at the red head, who was gaping rather rudely at her.

Severus rolled his eyes.

"My daughter, the Drama Queen," he droned in a bored voice.

"I can't believe the greasy git's a father," muttered the red head loudly into Hermione's ear.

No sooner had he said it, he was thrown to the floor, Alora hitting every bit of exposed flesh she could find.

"Arrg! Get off me, you crazy bitch!"

"Alora! That's enough!"

Severus pulled his daughter off the boy, but not before she had given him a black eye.

"Insult him again and you'll live just long enough to regret it!" she spat.

Harry stepped forward, trembling with fury.

"Ron didn't do anything to you!"

Alora glared at him.

"You insult Dad, you insult me. And no one insults me and gets away with it."

Severus placed a hand on each of her shoulders.

"Ally, calm down. Remember that first impressions last."

Alora closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.

"Better?"

She nodded.

Dumbledore smiled kindly at her.

"I think it's been a very trying evening. Perhaps the situation will improve after a good night's sleep?"

Severus nodded in agreement.

Lupin rounded up Harry, Ron and Hermione and sent them back to bed. After much grumbling, they stomped up the staircase. He then turned to Alora.

"Do you mind sleeping on the lounge tonight?"

"Nah, that'll be fine."

When Alora was settled on the lounge, Severus smoothed out the blanket covering her and turned to leave.

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

Alora lowered her gaze.

"Could you stay with me until I fall asleep?"

He nodded and sat down on the lounge.

"Dad? What happened tonight?"

Severus reached out and stroked her silky, blue-black hair.

"I'll tell you in the morning. Okay?"

Alora nodded sleepily, yawned and lay back on the pillow.

Severus continued stroking her hair until she was asleep.

She looks so sweet and helpless when asleep. Not at all like she could give an older boy a black eye. And in my defence, too.

With an amused smirk, he got up and kissed her softly on the forehead.

"Goodnight, Sweetheart."

He silently left the room, unaware of Remus Lupin hiding in the shadows, positively baffled.