Snape's Spawn

"Dad," squealed Severus Snape's daughter. He gathered the ten-year-old in his arms and kissed the top of her head.

"How are you?" he asked. Before she could answer, his wife came over. She was actually pretty, which was a bit surprising considering who she was married to. She had silky light brown hair and light hazel eyes with a dimple in her left cheek. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and kissed her. She smiled and he put his arm around her.

"Well, Dad," Sarina finally said." It's been okay. A bit lonely, but okay. I'm just so excited about going to Hogwarts this year. I'll be with you!" She paused and grinned at her father. She skipped in step with her parents as they walked to their huge manor.

"How have you been, Kath?" Severus asked.

"I've been okay," Katherine Snape answered. He smiled lovingly at his family, but it was at the wrong moment. Sarina screamed and Severus looked up. As he saw the green glow surrounding his house he felt a sickening drop in his stomach.

"Dad, don't go in there," Katherine pleaded as he put his foot forward.

"I have to," he said, withdrawing his wand as he hugged her. He disappeared and Sarina studied the manor, the fright suddenly gone from her face. She noticed her mother was upset and she put a hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be okay," she said confidently. "He's not stupid. I know." Katherine couldn't help but smile at her daughter's tone and the truth in the statement. Her husband wasn't stupid; in fact he was brilliant. He had taught their daughter almost every single charm, spell, and hex up to fifth year. Using his wand, she had mastered them all. You could tell their daughter was smart because she had started when she was six and had only had time to practice over the summer, the only time she saw her father. They waited almost ten minutes before Severus came back out. He was holding a limp black cat in his arms, her head twisted at an odd angle. "Oh no," Sarina gasped. "Moonsilver." She started crying as Severus strode over.

"We'll have to go to twelve, Kath. It's just not safe anymore," he whispered to his wife under the cover of his daughter's tears.

"But Remus," Katherine said.

"We'll have to tell him." Even though she was devastated about her pet's death, Sarina could see her parents were in a muck.

~

Moonsilver was buried beneath a rose bush in the backyard and Sarina wrote to her friend in Florida about it.

Dear Heather,

Today, the Death Eaters broke Moonsilver's neck. I had been happy about Dad coming home and then the stupid; arrogant Death Eaters killed my pet. I guess it's just as well considering that I was going to have to get an owl soon for Hogwarts. Of course, I haven't gotten my letter yet but I know I'm going to get accepted, or else how would I have been to perform the charms. Whatever color owl I get, I don't want it to be black or dark brown...It'll remind me too much of Moonsilver. At least it wasn't anyone in the family, though. Especially Dad. But I don't want to make you feel sad or anything. Owl me as soon as you find out which house you are in and I'll do the same.

Hugs and kisses,

Sarina Snape

Sarina had never bothered to keep her identity secret from Heather. First off, it wasn't like she could tell anyone that she knew who Severus Snape's daughter was and even if she did no one would know who he was, most likely. Secondly, it wasn't like Heather held any grudges against her father like some people did. Not like she had ever seen him, or anything. But during Christmas vacation Heather was going to come to Hogwarts and stay until the end of February. That was because their winter breaks were that long, which was decidedly fair, considering their summer vacation was only for August and started earlier than Hogwarts.

The houses in Pantona were Froda, Kania, Johnson, and Ingle and Sarina thought Heather would be in either Kanil or Ingle. As soon as she had owled the letter to Heather, using her father's owl, she heard her father talking to her mother. "But what should he do?" he asked. "Just pop in and say,' Hi. I hate to intrude but we really need your protection and even if you don't like me I'm technically your brother in law?' He'd probably kill me and Merlin only knows what he'd do to you."

"Not exactly," Katherine said slowly. "I think I should go first and explain everything. After that you and Sarina could come." Sarina had no clue where they would be going , though she knew about her mother and Remus, and by the tone of her parents she knew the Death Eater attack was no accident. She wasn't scared for her own safety, only her parents. They protected her and they were all the she needed.

~

In the first week of August, Sarina's eleventh birthday and the day she got her acceptance letter, the entire Snape family was rushing around to get ready for Diagon Alley. Since it would be crowded Sarina and Katherine would stay together but when Severus had to go into Knockturn Alley Sarina would accompany her, just so they could have some time together. Severus was also going with the pair when Sarina got her wand. Right before they were to leave, Sarina got Heather's reply.

Dear Sarina

I feel so bad, even though you told me not to. I know how much you loved Moonsilver. It reminds me of when David drowned. Of course, a brother is not the same as a cat, especially a little baby, but it's still very sad to lose someone you love. Mom's pregnant again, so I expect there will be another pair of little feet padding around. Though, I don't know why, considering we have Kara and Keith running around, barely knee-high. I wish you luck in getting into the house you want. Sorry this is rather hurried but I'm going to get my supplies today.

Kiss, kiss

Heather Norman

Sarina folded the letter and put it into the shoebox where she had all her other letters from Heather. She had tons of letters about David's death. David, was he was barely a year old, had slipped and fell into a swimming pool in the Hangelas' backyard. He had hit his head on the side of the pool on his way down and been knocked unconscious so he hadn't even had time to scream. Mrs. Norman had found him and fainted, though she had fallen in her husband's arms instead of the pool. Heather, who had been eight, had been so distraught she had tried to drown herself. But since she knew how to swim, it didn't work. After that, her parents had sat her down and explained how they loved her and that, no matter how many people she knew died, she couldn't kill herself. Life was too precious to throw away like that. After that, Heather had become rather sensitive and compassionate. Sarina slipped on her sneakers and then left the house between her two parents.

~

Sarina had silky hair, like her mother, but it was bright copper red with hints of burgundy. Her eyes were the same incredibly dark brown as Severus's but they seemed to shine, rather than glare. She had her mother's dimple. She already had slight curves and was slender. She had a slight tan from when they had gone to California over the summer last year. Her hair was about five inches below her shoulder and wavy at the end. That was why the few people who knew Sarina was Severus's daughter had a rather difficult time believing it at first. But after seeing each other together they knew it was true.

~

As Sarina pushed open the door to Ollivanders she heard a loud bell tinkling. These constant bells were really starting to annoy her. "Ah, yes," Mr. Ollivander greeted. He handed her a light brown wand with a dark brown handle but once Sarina waved it a glass bulb shattered. "No, no," he muttered hoarsely. He handed Sarina a ten-inch wand made from a dogwood core, Opalin root, and purple fig. She waved it a dove shot out of the tip, fluttered around madly for ten seconds, and then disappeared with a cloud of smoke. The wand was mahogany wood with a black rubber handle at the bottom. "Those whatchamacallits are new." Sarina raised her eyebrows and pointed to the rubber handle. He nodded. "Yes, those." Sarina shrugged almost imperceptibly as Katherine paid for the wand and the three left the store. As the bell rang again, Sarina jabbed her wand at it.

"Silencio." They then bought Sarina a tawny owl with hints of light brown and light blue eyes named Amos. After that, Severus bought them all sundaes with hot fudge topping but he had to sit at a separate table.

"Hey, Snape," a voice suddenly said. Sirius Black, who had been found innocent sometimes that year, had suddenly turned up, Harry Potter in tow.

Sirius Black had been convicted for the assistance of Voldemort and the murder of Peter Pettigrew. Then, in Harry's fourth year, which was last year, Peter had been anonymously left in the Ministry. After being questioned by Veritaserum he had been sentenced to a life long term in Azkabam. Sirius Black was freed and Harry Potter had been allowed to live with him, but only because of Harry's insistence. Few people did not trust him.

"I asked a question in fifth year once," Sirius continued, ignoring Severus's glares. "And you never answered it. So, do you ever wash your hair?"

"Black!" After they bickered for a while longer, Sarina suddenly couldn't stand it. She felt like if she had to hear one more nasty or hurtful comment from her father, she might forget that their relationship had to be kept secret.

"Excuse me, but if you're going to fight please take it elsewhere because we do not need to hear it," she said crossly. A quick smile flashed on her father's face before he stood up and strode away, leaving his half-finished ice cream, a stunned Sirius, and his family.

~

After Katherine and Sarina managed to find Severus again the male took Sarina to Knockturn Alley. He had to go their to get something that he would not let Sarina know and the alley was the only place with it. Right as they stepped into a clearing a man stepped in front of them. "Hello, Severus," Lucius aid.

"Hello, Lucius," Severus replied.

"Our Lord requests your daughter." He paused and glanced at Sarina. "Just leave her with me and you'll be okay. In fact, the Lord might just reward you." Severus nodded and stepped away from his daughter.

"Okay." With that, he Disapparated. Lucius smirked.

"Looks like Daddy doesn't care so much about you," he taunted.

"I think Daddy does," Sarina retorted. Then she turned into a tiger and crouched in front of Lucius. He was shocked. He had never known there was a charm to turn someone into an animal. Surely the girl could not be an Animigus. The youngest person to ever do so was, in fact, Sirius. He had gotten his license after he was freed, though he admitted he had been an illegal Animigus. He hadn't even been punished for it. Before he could finish his musings, two Aurors, along with Severus, appeared with a pop. Lucius cursed himself.

"Lucius Malfoy, you are being charged with the attempt of kidnapping Sarina Snape and assisting You-Know-Who," a woman with curly blonde hair and hazel eyes stated. Sarina and Severus dearly hoped the crowd that had gathered had not heard Sarina's last name. As Aurors slapped handcuffs on Lucius, he hissed at Tiggeria, which was what Sarina called the tiger she transformed into. She had always loved Tigger, and a part of her still did, even though she had only seen a couple of episodes. When she had gone to a distant relative' funeral she been five and then she had gone to her cousins house and they had watched Winnie-the-Pooh for two hours. Her own family didn't own a TV. One of the episodes had had Tigger singing his song and that was when Sarina had fallen in love with the funny and light-hearted character. And since Tigger was a boy she had added ia to it.

"Okay, Sarina, you can change back now," boomed a different Auror as the crowds wandered away. She still slunk into the shadows before changing back. She then showed her Animigus I.D to the Aurors. Severus sighed and smiled at Sarina.

"Sorry to put you on the spot there but I was hoping you would be able to figure out what to do," Severus explained. Checking around quickly, he planted a kiss on the top of her head and then straightened up and walked a few paces ahead of her as they entered the shop that had been the point of the whole trip.

~

After this incident, Severus and Katherine knew more than ever that they were not safe. Now, even Albus Dumbledore sensed it. The next morning at breakfast, Katherine broke the sleepy silence. "I've decided to tell Remus about everything," she announced.

"Why?" Sarina questioned.

"We have to hide at number twelve Grimmauld Place but that's where Remus lives and he wouldn't accept your father without knowing the truth," Katherine explained. Remus Lupin was Katherine's brother and they had been close when they were young. But when Remus had gotten bit, when he was eight, he had started detaching himself from his family. After Hogwarts, Katherine had changed her surname to Smith and then two years later, she had married Severus. He was actually two years older than her and had been taught by him in her last year.

"Send us an owl when we should come," Severus finally said.

"I'm leaving now." At this, Sarina looked up from her sausages and eggs.

"Why?" she asked. "I know it's for our safety and all but you promised we could go skating." Sarina was normally mature about things like this but the stress of the past couple of days were catching up with her.

"Sarina, what use is skating if we're not going to live to remember it?" Katherine asked.

"But you bloody promised," Sarina yelled. Her parents stared at her in shock.

"Sarina, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong? My pet was murdered by Death Eaters, I have to go into hiding, I almost never see my father, I was almost kidnapped, and you ask me what's bloody wrong?" Her hands were clenched in fists and were actually shaking. "Why can't we ever just be normal? I have to hide who I am just because you're uncomfortable with people knowing. Are you ashamed of me?"

"You think you can deal with people staring at you, with being lonely just because you're my daughter, along with being ignored and made fun of when you're a great person?" Severus asked quietly. At this, Sarina burst into tears. She climbed into her father's lap and he stroked her hair. Katherine excused herself, kissed her husband and daughter goodbye, and then Apparated.

"It's just not fair. I'm proud of being your daughter, yet I know you're right. I couldn't let people know who I am," Sarina admitted through her tears.

"Baby, not everything is going to be fair. In fact, I'm not sure what's fair," Severus said softly to his daughter. "Sweetie, you're tough. I know I couldn't have lived through what you have and not even have cried until now."

"Actually, I cried once when I was seven," Sarina reminded him.

"Because you broke your arm. But that's different."

"I love you Daddy."

"I love you too."

~

A couple of days later, the two flooed to Grimmauld place at Katherine's request." Memorize this," Severus said to Sarina.

The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

"Got it?" he asked. Sarina nodded and he made the paper disappear with his wand. "Now say the what you've just memorized in your head." As soon as Sarina came to the part about number twelve, Grimmauld Place, a battered door emerged out of nowhere between the two houses next to it. The loud conversation in number eleven continued on. The Muggles inside must not have even noticed. The pair walked up the worn stone steps and Severus couldn't help but notice the shabby condition. The door was painted black and scratched and chipped. The silver knocker was in the form of a twisted serpent with it's tongue chipped off. There was no keyhole or a place for mail to be received. As soon as Sarina entered the room she noticed that the house wasn't even up to date, as it had gas lamps lighting the hall. At their arrival three men, and Katherine jumped into the hall. The men were Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore. Sarina, knowing that almost everyone in the room hated her father, prepared herself for a battle. Before that, though, Katherine rushed over and scooped up Sarina.

"I'm sorry for leaving when you were so upset," she apologized. "I felt so guilty." Sarina smiled slightly as her mother set her down.

"Just as long as we go skating soon," Sarina said, putting her hands on her hips. "That was supposed to be my present." She paused and winked at her mother. "Or else."

"What are you going to do to me?" Katherine challenged.

"Okay, this is all very nice but I think you two have some explaining to do," Remus interrupted, glanced at Katherine and Severus. Sarina crossed her arms over her chest.

"Okay, fine," Severus said quickly, recognizing the look on Sarina's face. He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder." Merlin, you've gained some weight."

"No, you've just gotten weaker," Sarina corrected. Everyone took a seat, Sarina choosing to sit in her father's lap since there was no open seats.

"So, when did you start dating?" Remus asked.

"The year after I left school."

"And why did you just disappear?"

"Because none of you would have let me marry Severus," Katherine replied.

" That's not true," Remus objected." You were practically my best friend."

"Before you were bitten. Then you started isolating yourself." There was a moment of silence and then Remus cleared his throat.

"Okay, but I want to tell you something." Here he paused and glanced at Sarina. "How come you never told me I had a niece?"

"We weren't in contact."

"But surely you could have put that aside. I mean, don't you remember how nice it was having Uncle Paul?" Remus asked.

"But Mum never disappeared and severed all ties from him."

"Why did you?" Katherine was silent this time and so Severus answered.

"I wanted her to," he said. Sarina looked at him; she knew he was lying.

"Why? She was my sister!" he asked angrily, though quietly.

"Because we shared a mutual hatred and I knew Kath would never be able to go through with the wedding if she had her family looking upset," Severus explained. Sarina wanted to protest but she knew this wasn't her business.

"Sev," Katherine said quietly.

"You call him Sev?" Sirius asked, repulsed. He had a hard time believing sweet Katherine, someone he had always been rather protective of, had married his archenemy.

"Mum, I'm tired," Sarina said; though she wasn't at all.

"It's three o'clock," Katherine pointed out.

"So? I can't be tired?" Sarina asked, folding her arms over her chest. Then she sighed. "Okay, I'm not tired, but why is everyone so bloody angry. You love Dad and he loves you and I don't see what's so bad about that. And if they can't deal with it, tough shite. Would they really let you die because they're upset?"

" Sarina Joss Snape, where did you learn language like that?" Severus asked sharply. Sarina bit her lip and looked down, her face turning red and giving Severus a face full of hair.

"I'm sorry."

"Not as sorry as you're going to be." Sarina scurried out of Severus's lap and scurried towards the staircase. She paused and turned to face her father. She was still biting her lip but let go momentarily to talk

"Sorry for trying to defend you." Then she stomped upstairs, though Severus had seen the tears shining in her eyes.

"Severus," Katherine sighed.

"What? You didn't talk like that when you were eleven."

"When I was eleven I didn't have to hide who my parents were or any of Sarina's problems," Katherine replied. Severus sighed and rested his head in his hands.

"Sarina's not the only one with problems. I should have quit teaching. I've probably only seen her a year and not even at once. I'm such a bad father."

"I can't believe you and I actually agree on something," Sirius said.

"Shut it, Black."

"Now where did you learn language like that, Severus Kaler Snape?" a voice form the staircase said, her hands on her hips.

"Life," Severus muttered before realizing that Sarina had come back.

"Now why couldn't I have thought of that?" she complained, coming back to the table. "That's brilliant."

"Are you trying to bribe me?" Severus asked suspiciously. Before Sarina could answer, Dumbledore's strode in.

"Hello. I flooed here, in case you're wondering. Katherine, I have a proposition to make," Dumbledore said cheerily.

"Yes, Albus?"

"How would you like the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts. You were one of the top people in your school and I know you're currently unemployed," he explained.

"Sure, of course," Katherine replied, blinking several times, and her slightly confused tone becoming cheery as she finished. "That'd be great."

"But you will have to go as Professor Lupin, of course," Dumbledore added. Katherine nodded." Sarina will be Sarina Lupin, too." Sarina's face became pained but she nodded.

"Now I'm going to have to suffer through years being known as Sarina Lupin. And I bet some rumors will go around that Mum married Uncle Remus," Sarina said dramatically, flopping onto her mother's lap." The pain, the torture, the-"

"Hey!" Remus protested." Nothing's wrong with having the surname Lupin." Sarina sighed theatrically and rolled her eyes upward.

"Maybe to you. But you were born with it. I, on the other hand, was not," she explained. Suddenly, she started giggling. "I really need to go to sleep," she choked out.

"Goodnight, Sarina," Severus and Katherine chorused together. Sarina started laughing again at the top and had to clutch at her stomach. Sarina started tipping from her laughter and reached a hand out to the railing to balance herself but she didn't make it. She stopped laughing and screamed as she toppled backwards down the stairs. The thump of her body triggered Mrs. Black to start screaming.

~

Katherine was trembling from fear as she held her daughter's hand. Severus was sitting in a corner of the room, partly hidden in the shadows and staring at Sarina, barely blinking nor showing any expression. Remus was next to Katherine, his arm around her and studying the girl he barely knew. Sirius was pacing outside. Even though the last two barely knew the girl they already loved her.

"I can't stand this," Severus said suddenly. He walked over to Sarina and took the hand that had the IV in it. "Come on, wake up, Sarina. You're not mean enough to make us feel pain."

"Severus," Katherine said gently. "The doctor told us she's going to be okay."

"Oh, really?" Severus spat. "Then how come you're trembling and Black and Lupin are feeling grief and they don't even know her. She's your daughter; you have a reason to be scared. I know that. But why does it hurt so bad?"

"Now where did you learn language like that," Sarina mumbled; though it didn't make any sense. Her eyes were still firmly shut and she couldn't squeeze anyone's hand but she had still spoken. And that counted for something.

~

A girl sat up quickly in a hospital bed, blinking rapidly. A man with shoulder-length black hair and a hooked nose beamed when he saw her and a woman with silky hair and green eyes gave her a smile. They hugged her at the same time, making it a three-way hug. "How are you feeling, Sarina?" the man asked. The girl blinked.

" Who's Sarina? Who are you?" At this, their faces fell and the woman bit her lip.

"You're Sarina and we're your parents," the man said, motioning to the woman. Sarina nodded slowly. She noticed three other men, one with a long beard, one with long black hair, and the last with peppery black hair.

"Who are they?" she asked.

"That's your Uncle Remus, Sirius Black, and Albus Dumbledore." Sarina absorbed this information and then noticed the concerned looks on the people's faces.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "What happened to me?"

"Well, you were laughing and then you fell down the stairs," Severus explained.

"Okay...Goodnight," Sarina said abruptly. With that, she turned away from the crowd of people and slept.

~

For a week, Sarina stumbled around awkwardly. She didn't remember anything and it pained her parents especially because she didn't remember them. "Good morning, Mum, Dad," Sarina said brightly. She noticed Amos chewing on a owl treat. "Amos, I told you two weeks ago not to eat treats before breakfast," she scolded. Her parents continued their conversation, not realizing what Sarina had said.

"I know. I said that but-Wait, Sarina, did you say something about weeks ago?" Severus said, staring at her.

"Yeah," said Sarina in a tone that suggested he was an idiot.

"But you lost your memory," Katherine said.

"I did?" Sarina asked, wrinkling her nose. "I don't recall."

"We were in the hospital for days," Severus remembered. "It hurt so bad." Sarina was quiet and suddenly she launched herself into her father's arms.

"I'm sorry, Dad," she whispered.

"It's okay."

"I know. But I still feel bad."

"Please don't. It makes me feel even worse," Severus said.

"Okay," Sarina agreed. "On one condition."

" What's that?" Severus questioned

"When Mum and I go skating tomorrow you come to." Severus laughed and Sarina wiggled out of his lap, taking it as a yes.

~

The next day dawned beautiful. The sky had few clouds, though all were thick and fluffy, and the sky was a brilliant blue. There was a gentle breeze and the air smelled of fresh flowers, even though it was fall. Or at least, that's what Sarina tried to see. In truth, the day was cold with a dreary gray sky and thick storm clouds. Also, Severus had to go away on Death Eater business. He had had a hard life and when he was sixteen he had turned to Voldemort to solve his problems. After leaving Hogwarts, he realized how wrong he was, along with how evil Voldemort's purpose was. He had sat down with Dumbledore and explained everything and then he had agreed to let Severus become a spy. "Bye, Dad," Sarina said as Severus dressed in his black robes and put on his mask.

"I'm sorry, Sarina," he apologized. "But I have to go."

"I know. It's okay. It's not today would be much fun for skating anyway," Sarina replied, turning away from the window and smiling at her father. As soon as he had Disapparated, a dark brown owl flew in through the cracked open window. It was Stan, Heather's owl.

Dear Sarina,

I got into Kania! I'm so happy, you wouldn't believe it. Okay, so maybe you would, but only you would. There's this one dude, Mr. Cooper, who's one of the teachers. He reminded me of your father in the way that everyone hates him. I don't though, because I think he may be kind underneath everything, just like your dad. I decided to send my picture so that you'll know whom I am when I come to visit. I can't believe I waited this long to send one to you.. Mom's due around Thanksgiving which, as you know, is a holiday only celebrated by Americans. I'm going to go home when she goes into labor, by floo. For some reason, she insists on not going to a hospital to give birth. Instead, a housewife is coming. Since Dad is dead, I've been practicing breathing with Mom. I don't see why she doesn't take drugs to ease the pain. I'm afraid she'll break my hand. But, oh well, it'll be worth it! You know how much I love little kids. Kara and Keith are going to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. After all, the twins don't need to know anything about where babies come from yet ;)

Love ya,

Heather K. Norman

Sarina grinned and gave Stan a treat before sending him away. She put the letter into the box and then sat down and studied the picture of Heather. Heather had dark brown hair to her shoulders and clear blue eyes. In the photograph she looked around nine and she was holding up a T-shirt in front of her that read I went to Disney and I got this fantastic shirt. Then she began writing a response back. Two hours and five pages later, Sarina rubbed her ink-stained nose. She set her eagle quill aside and then screwed the cap onto the ink jar. "Accio envelope," she pronounced after getting her wand. An envelope with Sarina's address already in the corner slid through the crack under her door. She melted a chunk of green wax with a candle and then sealed the envelope by pressing the hot wax onto the back of it. She wrote Heather's address in red ink and then went over to Amos's cage. "Think you're up to another journey to America?" she asked, stroking his back. He hooted and she tied the letter onto his foot, along with a scarf she had knitted for Heather. Heather was from Florida, which was normally warm, but Pantona was in Colorado where it snowed and Heather had never even been in cold temperatures. After that, she washed her face and then had prepared a lunch consisting of a BLT and orange juice. As Sarina sat down at the table a woman with a pale heart-shaped face and brown hair to her shoulders bounced in, grinning." Who are you?" Sarina asked, not in the least fearful or surprised. People she didn't know had been popping in and out of the house and Sarina had gotten used to it.

"I'm Tonks," she replied.

"You're the secret keeper," Sarina said, setting down her glass. She had been told this the recently.

"Yep," Tonks agreed. "Who are you?" Sarina hesitated before answering.

" I'm Sarina Lupin. Remus Lupin is my uncle," Sarina answered, sticking to the story Dumbledore and her family had supplied to her.

"Brother to sister, or brother to brother?" she asked.

"Brother to sister," Sarina replied after a moment of figuring out what Tonks had meant. "Or, to put it simply, my mum is Remus's sister."

"I figured." Tonks took a mug of something fizzing and took a sip and made a face.

"What's that?" Sarina asked, peering at it.

"Some potion for strength. I had a fight with some Death Eaters the other day and Moody's making me drink this stuff to 'regain my otherwise lost strength.'" Tonks grimaced as she took another drink. Sarina had met Alastor Moody, more commonly known as Mad-Eye Moody, so she wasn't surprised he had said such a thing. She smiled and finished her lunch. After Tonks finished the liquid she washed the flagon thoroughly and then took a drink of Sarina's juice. "Bye, kiddo." Then Tonks shot out of the room, Sarina deciding to follow since she was done eating. There was a clatter, a curse, and then the portrait of Mrs. Black, Sirius Black's mother, started shrieking.

"TONKS," shouted Katherine.

"Sorry, sorry," Tonks apologized over the insults. Sarina, pointed her wand at the painting.

"Silencio," she said in an irritated tone.

"Why didn't we think of that?" Sirius asked, screeching to a halt. He up righted the troll leg umbrella holder and sighed. He forced the curtains over the ugly woman and she shook her fist at him.

"Who's Kreacher?" Sarina asked. Right before she had silenced the painting she had yelled at them about Kreacher.

"Kreacher's a house-elf that's crazy. I refuse to let him talk to her painting anymore and they're both upset about it," he explained. "The only person who likes him is Hermione Granger. And she's obsessed with freeing house-elves," Sirius replied.

"What is my friend obsessed with?" a rather playful male voice asked from the doorway. Sarina, Tonks, and Sirius whipped around.

"Harry," Sirius said and ran to hug his godson.

"Sirius," Harry protested." I've only been gone two weeks."

"Yeah and you missed everything," Remus Lupin added as he walked into the hallway. "Now why is everyone gathered here? This isn't technically a room."

"I'm leaving," Sarina said. "It's gotten too crowded." Like that, everyone turned to stare at her. "And now it's uncomfortable."

"SARINA!" Katherine's voice echoed around the house and if Mrs. Black hadn't been silenced she would have started screeching again.

"Yeah?" Sarina asked as her mother walked into the hallway. Sarina was now pressed against the wall and getting very annoyed.

"Why did you just leave this laying around?" Katherine demanded. She had Sarina's Animigus license clutched in her hand. Sarina started laughing. "Don't do that. What if you hit your head on the wall?" Sarina couldn't stop laughing, though, and Katherine was started to get worried. Her daughter had never laughed uncontrollably before, especially at nothing. She knew it was due to stress but she was still worried.

"I'm sorry, Mum, really. But Tonks made Mrs. Black scream and Sirius was being so funny and Uncle Remus came in right after Harry..." As soon as she said Harry her face contorted with worry. Katherine immediately understood. "Uh, Sirius, you never mentioned to You-Know-Who that Harry lived here, right?" Sarina asked.

"Voldemort? What would I be doing talking to Voldemort?" Sirius asked, drawing a shudder from Tonks.

"I would have said Voldemort if that's who I meant," Sarina said impatiently.

"Ah," Sirius said, comprehending. Then he made a face. "Why would I tell him anything?"

"You stupid idiot," Sarina groaned. "Or stupid idiots, more like." She hit her head on the wall.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Sirius asked.

"I'm eleven, for Merlin's sake," Sarina retorted. Just then, Severus walked into the hallway, still in his Death Eater robes, though without the mask.

"Uh, is this a bad time?"

~

"You actually trust him?" Harry demanded, looking first at Sirius and then at Remus, and then finally at Dumbledore.

"Severus is simply a spy. Of course I trust him," Dumbledore confirmed.

"I don't trust him that much, but Dumbledore does and so of course I let him live in my house...though very grudgingly," Sirius muttered.

"And you're Remus's niece?" Harry questioned, looking at Sarina.

"Yes because my mother is his sister."

"Who's your dad?"

"He died when I was a baby," Sarina said, which is what she was instructed to tell everyone.

"But why does Snape need to live here?" Harry asked, glaring at the offending man. "I escaped the Dursleys just to come to live with Snape?"

"I can assure you, Potter, that I have no more joy in this than you do. Nor do I expect that we'll have to do anything together." Harry made a face.

"Thank Merlin."

~

"I know I've said this before, but it's not fair," Sarina pouted. "We hardly ever get to be together and now that we are we have to act like we barely know each other." She sighed as Severus put his arm around her. She smiled at him before continuing. "But at least we have some time together." They were taking a walk in a private garden that one of Severus's 'friends' owned and had agreed to let them use it.

"That's my girl," Severus said. "Always looking on the positive side."

"And we never got to go skating," Sarina said. "Not even just me and Mum."

"One day I'll be able to tell the whole world that you're my daughter and you'll be able to tell the world I'm your father," Severus said. They walked in silence for a long time until Sarina paused by a fountain. She on the edge and swirled her hand in the cool water for a few minutes. Severus gave her a Knut and she tossed it into the fountain, wishing that she didn't have to hide her identity.

"Promise?" she asked, studying her father's face. He sat down beside her and took her small hand in his.

"Promise."

"You swear on your life?" Sarina asked.

"No, I just promise."

"Good enough for me."

~

Sarina flashed a nervous smile at her uncle and Sirius, who had come to see her and Harry off since her parents had left the day before, and then walked through the barrier. As soon as she saw the Hogwarts express, a scarlet train that spit smoke, she felt soothed and climbed aboard. She honestly had no idea which house she would be in since her mother had been in Ravenclaw and her father in Slytherin. She was hoping either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, though she would never have admitted it to anyone. She knew her father wanted her to be in Ravenclaw since he knew there was no way she would be in Slytherin. She interrupted herself from her thoughts and searched for an empty compartment. Harry had already snatched one with three people he knew to be Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley. The only open one had male twins sitting in it, both with spiky black hair and hazel eyes. "Would you mind if I sat here?" she asked, glancing at them.

"What house do you want to be in?" one asked after nodding.

"I'm not sure," she said, sitting down. "By the way, I'm Sarina Lupin.

"I'm Dave Newbert and he's Tom," the second one said.

"We're in third year, Hufflepuff," Tom added. "So, do you know Remus Lupin? He taught here two years ago."

"Yeah, he's my uncle," Sarina replied. "My mum is his sister. She's teaching DADA this year."

"If she's related to Lupin she must be as bloody brilliant as him," David said. "He was great. Though last year's teacher, Kora or whatever, he was just stupid." Sarina nodded and turned to look out the window. Amos, who was on shoulder, nibbled on her ear when the sweets lady came around. Sarina reached for her money pouch but the lady stopped her.

"This is already paid for," she said, handing her a large load of chocolate frogs, which Sarina loved for the cards and the fact that they were chocolate. Sarina smiled, as she knew they were from her father, and began eating her candy. On her fifth one she found a new card.

"Harry Potter," Sarina read aloud. "Harry Potter was only a year old when he defeated the Dark Lord and survived the killing curse." The next three were also Harry Potter. "Do you two collect chocolate frog cards?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Do you have Harry?"

"No, he's the newest one. There's only about ten of him," Tom replied.

"Here," Sarina said and handed two of them to the twins. "Have these. I have two others." They stared in awe at the cards. Then David blinked and shook his head slightly.

"Which one do you need?" he asked earnestly.

"Barmy the Banana at Birth," Sarina replied.

"Just your luck. I have an extra one," he handed it over to her and then shrugged. "He's not as rare as Harry Potter, though, but..." he trailed off when he saw Sarina's face.

"I don't care how rare the cards are. I now have every single wizarding card made!" She grinned at David.

"There's only three other people who have that and one conjured three of them," he said hoarsely. "All three of them are over thirty."

"What can I say? I'm a miracle."

~

Sarina waited calmly for her name to be called. She spotted her mother looking at her and she grinned at Katherine. "Lupin, Sarina." Sarina walked up to the stool and picked up the weathered and frayed hat and perched it on her head, plopping herself down.

"Hmm...Ambitious and kind...you're very brave when it comes to others. Definitely Gryffindor." Sarina didn't realize that the hat had shouted Gryffindor, she just knew she had to go sit down. She yanked the hat off and hurried over to her table, keeping her eyes down. Of course, she had been hoping a bit to get into Gryffindor but she knew her father would be angry. Not at her, of course, and it would be irrational anger-but he would still be angry. Sarina forgot her worries as soon as food appeared on her plate, though. It looked and smelled delicious and it tasted just as good.

"You like beans?" a girl with crimped blonde hair and dark brown eyes asked, wrinkling her nose. She was also in first year.

"Not really but I promised my mum I'd eat something I didn't like."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because everything I don't like is healthy for you," Sarina explained. The girl giggled.

"I'm Mary Porl," the girl said. "I despise my last name."

"Hey, at least when you get married you get your last name changed," Sarina offered." 'm Sarina Lupin."

"My dad works in the ministry and he told me that the new professor is a female with the last name Lupin. Is that your mum?' Mary asked. Sarina nodded." What does your dad do?"

"He died when I was little," Sarina replied. "I was two."

"Oh, how sad," Mary said sympathetically. Sarina shrugged and averted her eyes to her plate. She felt bad getting sympathy from someone about something that hadn't even happened.

~

"Miss Lupin, how do you get monkshood?" Severus asked Sarina on Wednesday, his first class with her.

"First you have to plant a piece of a dragon's liver and then you have to wait two moon cycles. After that you have to soak the roots in beetle blood. Then you plant that and after two weeks you have monkshood," Sarina replied automatically, not even looking up from her doodling.

"Ten points to Gryffindor for the correct answer and more but ten points away for not paying attention," Severus said. Then he strode to the front of the classroom as Sarina set her raven quill, the one form her father, in the jar of ink and fixed her stare on him. But as he began to lecture them on something she already knew she felt her attention slipping. "Do you think you know more than anyone else in this room, Miss Lupin?" Severus drawled, cutting through her thoughts like a particularly painful spell.

"Everyone except you," she replied absently.

"Oh, really? Then tell me, what's the most advanced potion you've ever brewed?" The most advanced potion Sarina had ever brewed was illegal, so she had to go down some.

"A love potion." Severus was shocked. He knew his daughter was advanced but a love potion was fifth year.

"Really?" Severus repeated, raising an eyebrow. Sarina actually blushed on her neck and looked down. She knew her father had never know; her mother had helped her with it. "I think I need to have a talk with Albus."

"About what?"

"Five points from Gryffindor," Severus snapped. Sarina shrank in her seat and nodded.

"Yes, sir."

~

"Albus, Sarina knows fifth grade stuff. I think she should be able to take her O.W.Ls now and be in sixth year," Severus explained to Dumbledore after dinner. He paused. "Of course, only if she wants to." Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"I suppose so, if she wants to," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. Then he stared at Severus with a piercing blue stare. "But you must swear to do what she wants."

"Albus," Severus said weakly," I don't think I could do it if she didn't want to. I would never force her to do something. She's my daughter and I love her." Neither of them heard someone gasp and then slip out of the office under their Invisibility cloak, along with his two friends.

~

"Sarina!" Sarina paused in her letter writing and looked up at Harry, whose eyes were wide. Ron and Hermione were beside him, both with eyes as equally wide and Hermione was flushed.

"Yes, Harry?" Sarina asked.

"Snape is your father?" Ron asked hoarsely. Sarina giggled.

"No, who told you that?" Sarina was a very good actor, though she was a bit nervous.

"Snape said it to Dumbledore," Harry replied, sitting down and rubbing his temples.

" It's true, isn't it?" Hermione muttered. "You have his eyes."

"If I was Snape's daughter my name would be Sarina Snape and I wouldn't be in Gryffindor," Sarina retorted, now thoroughly worried.

"But that's just it. If Snape was a spy he must not care much about his own safety. The only reason he moved into Sirius's house was because you and your mum need protection." Harry's eyes had a strange fire in them as he figured things out. Sarina shut her eyes and squeezed them together so tightly it strained her face muscles.

"I am not Snape's daughter," Sarina lied through clenched teeth. Ron snorted. Sarina gazed at the three faces and almost started crying. Why did the stupid trio have to go digging around in everybody's business? Why were they listening to Dumbledore anyway? Sarina stood up and threw some powder into the fireplace. Instantly, Severus's face appeared.

"What is it?" he asked, alarmed.

"They know."