Aretha Spills

A/N: A one-shot between Snape and his daughter, please review and obviously enjoy it(:

Introduce a Bluestone's components.

Bluestones are pebbles of a faint bluish hue, found dispersed from each other and the size twice smaller than that of a chicken's egg. It is a familiar and regular ingredient of most healing potions since it can balance almost all the fatal weeds, generally required by the potions itself as a counter the fault of a body. Bluestones are made up of four levels, the core, the softener and the propeller and the brim. The core is where the healing components, also called the Hefelato, are stored, which helps to rectify simple illnesses. The softener is where the attack from the lethal weed is reduced in amount due to this layer which exudes white precipitate to absorb the toxic and is expelled later through the body. The propeller stores magical energy, and is given off as Spectisc waves to quicken the incorporation of toxic by the white precipitate. Finally, the brim's functions resembles that of a bottle's uncannily, which is to act as a lid to contain the components within a Bluestone.

Done by: Aretha Snape

Severus scrutinised the parchment with neat, illegible script splayed across it. He could hardly find an error on the essay as he read. It was short, concise and detailed.

He looked up at the girl who stood in front of her.

She had lustrous locks of black curls, her eyes wide with black pupils, her mind sharp and inquisitive, her mouth the most lethal one in a dispute; not because of language, but because of her witty, logical rejoinders she could bring up and fling across that it remains awkwardly unanswered, skipped or sheepishly ignored. She was of an average height, slender and she took pride in her craving to read, write, explore and experience. She was the impeccable offspring of her parents, inheriting their most distinguished, preeminent traits; her parents who were both, coincidentally, brilliant people of their time.

"Dad," the thirteen year-old girl called, clambering up Snape's lap and encircling her arms around her father. "How's my Bluestone essay?"

Snape returned her essay, flicked his eyes to meet her keyed up eyes and finally relented himself to praise, to agree. "You are too old for cuddling. Your essay..."

Just one approval for your daughter...

"It could have passed for a fourth-year's work, Aretha."

Aretha beamed and planted a sound kiss on her father's cheek.

"My positive appraisal of you means I approve of your work and I expect you to--"

"Just say you think I did splendidly and you love me, Dad."

Snape scowled.

"Aw, I love you too, Daddy."

Aretha could not help but let out a peal of guffaws at her father's unchanged, sober expression, and piped, "Because I know I am exquisite to you, Daddy, and that you love me too. I would be your most important girl in this world. Maybe with the exception of Mom," Aretha added, the corners of her mouth lifting to form a mischievous grin.

Snape smirked. Ah, Aretha mentioned her mother. Which brings him to why he was in the study room early: Hogwarts had a holiday while Hermione had to work. But he'd get to spend quality time with her all right, way beyond the night and possibly, a little of tomorrow.

"Both of you are viewed as equals in my eyes, Aretha," Snape conceded softly, his voice low. "Probably since both of you are the only women in my life now."

Snape granted his daughter another embrace.

"It's six in the evening now, your mother should have returned home. She is late."

Aretha snickered.

"Dad, give Mum some time, won't you? I'm sure she's... anticipating home too."

"She will be."

Aretha settled in her father's arms for a few more moments. All of a sudden, she stiffened, and this did not go unobserved.

"What, Aretha?"

Aretha shifted apprehensively.

"Well, Dad, it's... I just thought of the Yule Ball next week."

"What is it you are brooding over, then?"

"I... I almost... Nothing much, Dad."

"Do you have a date?"

"Yes."

"That's hardly a predicament. What is it that caused you to be so uneasy then?"

Aretha did not answer, and her father knew, instantaneously, from the way her eyes shifted and she chewed on her lower lip, that it was the identity of her beau she was trying to conceal.

"I believe you have something to tell me, and you will respond truthfully, Aretha Snape. Who is bringing you to the dance?"

There, that was it. She had to be honest; she couldn't lie to her father. To someone who had been an unbeaten, valiant double-agent for almost half of his life. Of course she wouldn't be able to get past her father.

"It's... He's from Gryffindor, Dad."

"I'm waiting, Aretha."

"Oh... okay. James is taking me to the dance."

"James?"

"James Potter."

Snape felt the same glower revisit his face.

"Why Potter?"

"Because... well... Oh, Dad, James is very amiable actually, and though he is a perfect dunderhead, he is a great person to talk to. Besides, we are both of the same age and can identify with each other; I don't see what's wrong."

Snape struggled to compress his fury and he closed his eyes.

"Breathe, Dad, breathe. I know it's something arduous for your acceptation, but..."

"Potter," he snarled. "Get Potter to come and see me during Potions, and I will speak to him about--"

"Dad," Aretha protested, "It's my choice of dates, and I really want to hang out with him! Just once only..."

"Aren't you afraid you Slytherin friends might... eliminate you from their acquaintance?"

"Clara and Arielle absolutely agree with me. Besides, they wouldn't dare Dad, please? Just once? You said we needed to attempt, as humans, on different things and challenge, endeavour, and--"

"I will give in, Aretha, for this once, but next time you make a choice, please remember to include your father in. Is your mother aware of this?"

Aretha, who had smiled at first, coloured up.

"She... She was the one who suggested it."

Snape raised an eyebrow.

"So..."

Just then, he heard a squeal and the bang of a file being dropped; the door slammed shut shortly. He could picture Hermione kneeling down to retrieve the sheaf of parchments while fervently cursing under her breath.

He could have something to get her back for now. Perfect. It seemed long before she committed any "offence" worthy of accusation.

"Aretha, return to your room to pack up and tell Geri to prepare our dinner. You might want to revise for your nearing exams after our meal. I believe I have something to... discuss with your mother."

"Use Muffiliato, would you, Dad? I need to study."

Black eyes met, and smirks appeared simultaneously.

"I will."

Aretha exited her father's study, folding her Bluestone essay into half and her mind preoccupied otherwise with work. Snape watched his daughter go and poured himself a goblet of Firewhiskey. Hermione's heels ascending the stairway were soon heard.

Soon, he'd have her.

For even pairing his precious daughter with Potter's son, and perhaps, for the simple fact that he found his wife irresistible...

Soon.