A daughter.

Never in Severus Snape’s wildest imagination had he thought he might have a daughter.

His love for Lily was undeniable. Yet, when Lily married James Potter, frustration and defeat consumed him. No matter how good he tried to be, Lily’s eyes remained fixed on Potter, not him.

For the first time, he decided to try something drastically different, hoping it might change him. He turned to alcohol - something he had always despised. His useless, abusive father had been an alcoholic and Snape swore never to follow in his footsteps. But now, curiosity gnawed at him. What kind of potion was this alcohol that it could transform a coward man into a monster? Would drinking it change him in some way?

So, he went to a respectable pub and drowned himself in wine and whiskey.

When he woke up, he found himself in a strange house. A woman, about his age, lay beside him. The traces left behind suggested an intimate encounter, yet his memories of the previous night were hazy at best. As he was about to leave and process the events, the woman opened her eyes - eyes that were strikingly similar to Lily’s.

For a moment, he was captivated. He thought, Maybe...maybe I can find someone else to love. Maybe I can move on.

But no.

The woman, Lisa White, turned out to be someone who sought new adventures whenever she grew bored of her current companion. His fleeting role as her boyfriend lasted only two months before she ended it with an apologetic tone.

“I’m sorry, darling,” she said, her voice dripping with charm. “I’m just not the kind of woman who stays home for a man. Home feels like a cage to me, and I belong to the forest – to the trees, to exploration.”

So much for “finding someone else to love”.

Snape sneered at himself and returned to his path of serving the Dark Lord, all the while yearning for an opportunity to rid the world of James Potter – for Lily deserved better.

It was a fleeting chapter in his life, insignificant compared to his other experiences. He had never imagined that one day he would encounter a child who bore such a striking resemblance to himself yet carried the unmistakable traits of that woman.

Lisa White had never told him about the child. If he had known, he would never allow her to end up in an orphanage...

“Goodness!” Madame Brown’s exclamation jolted Snape back to the present. “Scarlet, sweetheart, you mean your chemistry professor...he’s Jessica’s father?”

“Well, most probably. It’s pretty obvious when you compare their appearance side by side,” Scarlet replied smoothly, launching into her newly fabricated story – version two. “Actually, Professor Snape didn’t come here for me. He came for Jessica. Um... a few days before we returned, my friends and I were chatting about our families and sharing photos if our homes. I showed them pictures – not just of my grandparents and cousins in Japan and Hong Kong, but of you all as well. And...Professor Snape happened to pass by, caught a glimpse, and saw Jessica.”

The office was quiet, with only Madame Brown, Scarlet, and Professor Snape present. Outside, Jessica worked on her homework with her friends. Every so often, she wrinkled her nose at the thought of the strange man in the black robe – she much preferred white, a subtle nod to her last name, White.

“Apparently, Professor Snape is still processing the reality of having a child,” Scarlet said, gesturing toward the man, who remained uncharacteristically slow to react. She leaned closer to Madame Brown and whispered, “And he’s not exactly the social type when it comes to matters outside of his professional duties. I think he’s suspicious but hoping he’s wrong - hoping no child was born without his consent. But, well...as you can see, he’s shocked.”

Madame Brown nodded with understanding. As the director of an orphanage, she had encountered countless stories – many of them far more dramatic than this professor’s predicament.

Clearing her throat, she addressed Snape gently, “So, Professor Snape, what would you like to do next?”

“What would I like to do next?” Snape repeated blankly, clearly lost in the turmoil of his thoughts.

Scarlet caught Madame Brown’s eye and gave her a quick wink, silently asking for permission to steer the conversation. Taking charge, Scarlet raised two fingers. “Let’s start simple. There are two options: If Jessica is proven to be your daughter, would you take her with you? Yes, or no?”

Snape opened his mouth as if to respond but faltered, his thoughts too fragmented to form coherent words.

“Okay, maybe that’s too soon to ask,” Scarlet said with a nod of understanding. She turned to Madame Brown. “I’ve already asked Meiko to fetch syringe from Dr. Singh’s clinic. Once she’s back, I’ll collect blood samples from both of them and send them to a lab for DNA testing. It’s just a precaution, but we’re fairly confident about Jessica being Professor Snape’s daughter, considering he remembers his ex-girlfriend's name was Lisa White.”

“That’s exactly Jessica’s mother’s name!” Madame Brown exclaimed. She quickly moved to a shelf, rummaging for a folder. A moment later, she presented the file to her guests. “Here’s her birth certificate, her list of inherited properties, and...a news clipping about her mother.”

The clipping was a local news report detailing a tragic car accident. A photograph of a young woman appeared alongside an image of the blood-stained crash site. Jessica had clearly inherited many her traits from this woman.

After a long moment of silence, Snape finally asked, “Did she have no husband or relatives to care of the child?”

“I’m afraid not,” Madame Brown said shaking her head. She pointed to a handwritten note attached to the news article. “I made some notes back then so I wouldn’t forget the details. According to the police, she was single and didn’t have a boyfriend at the time. No siblings or relatives ever came forward – just her friends and colleagues. She worked as a florist - a kind and gentle woman who doted on Jessica. The accident happened early on morning while she was picking up flowers from a lorry parked nearby. A drunk driver hit her...She died instantly at the scene.”

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Madame Brown continued, her voice tinged with sympathy. “Her friends weren’t in a position to take Jessica in, so she was placed here by the welfare department. They still visit her occasionally, bringing clothes and other things she might need.”

She paused, glancing at Snape. “It’s not an uncommon story, unfortunately. But Jessica isn’t alone here – many of the children share similar backgrounds.”

“What I’m trying to say, Professor Snape, is don’t burden yourself,” Madame Brown said gently, her warm eyes fixed on the still-stunned man. “Jessica is doing well here, even if you choose not to take her back with you. Of course, you’re welcome to spend time with her as family, but please give her some space. She has no memory or understanding of having a father in her life. And I believe you need time to decide how you want to approach your relationship with her. If you feel overwhelmed, it’s perfectly fine to remain silent about your connection...for now.”

“She’s my daughter,” Snape stated firmly, cutting through the air with certainty. “I do not deny my relationship with her.”

Madame Brown studied his expression her gaze softening as she nodded. “I understand. But I must emphasise again - take it slow. You both need time to adjust. She has no experience being someone’s daughter, and you’ve never been a father before.”

Snape’s lips pressed into a tight line. The Muggle woman’s words stung with truth. He knew nothing about fatherhood, and his own father had been a disgraceful figure – hardly an example to follow.

“I have an idea!” Scarlet interjected, glancing between the two adults with cautious optimism. “Professor Snape has the right to propose and sponsor a child for our school. Why don’t we start by enrolling Jessica? That way, they’ll have more time to get to know each other and figure out how they want their relationship to work.”

Madame Brown’s eyes lit up. “That’s an excellent suggestion, sweetheart! Professor Snape, would you consider sponsoring Jessica to join your institute? I know it’s challenging since your school only admits students with exceptional abilities like Scarlet, but with her guidance, I believe it’ll be smoother for Jessica to connect with you as her father. One semester should be enough to see how she adapts, and if it doesn’t work out, she can always return to public school.”

Snape gave a curt nod, pulling out the acceptance letter and aligning himself with Scarlet’s improvised story. “I’ve already prepared her acceptance letter. I’ll need to take her shopping for school supplies soon.”

“Marvelous! I’ll inform Jessica that she’s been offered a sponsorship to the mystery school Scarlet attends,” Madame Brown said with a smile. After a brief pause, she added, “I’ll tell her that it was a friend of her mother’s who decided to sponsor her upon learning about her situation. Would that be acceptable, Professor Snape?”

“...Yes, please.”

“Oh, and Jessica should stay with me before school starts!” Scarlet quickly added before Madame Brown could leave the office. “The school is quite far from here, so it would be easier for her to travel with me when the time comes. Plus, I can help her mentally prepare for the transition.”

“That sounds reasonable, but I’ll still need Mr. Graywood to sign the necessary papers,” Madame Brown replied.

“Of course. He’s on his way.”

Before long after, the small office became crowded with visitors.

The first to arrive was Dr. Singh from the nearest clinic. Known for his care and patience with the orphanage children, he entered the room wearing a mixture of confusion and disapproval. “Scarlet, I know you’re clever, but it’s not wise to have a someone randomly ask for a syringe to draw blood samples! Are you planning to it yourself, or will you ask your housekeeper? This is a professional’s job. You can’t just poke needles into someone’s arms without training!”

I actually know how to draw blood using syringe, Scarlet mused, but she decided to keep quiet and offered a sheepish smile instead. “Well, it just so happens that I forgot...Sorry, Dr. Singh.”

“No more of this next time, alright?” Dr. Singh huffed, pulling out his kit from a pristine white suitcase. “Now, whose blood samples am I taking?”

“His first,” Scarlet gestured towards Snape, then added, “And there’s a girl in the other room after that.” Seeing Dr. Singh’s raised eyebrow, she explained, “It’s for a DNA test. Just tell the girl it’s a health check-up before starting school.”

“Ahh...” Dr. Singh nodded knowingly. “I get it - take it slow, don’t shock the girl. How about this: I’ll give her proper check-up at the clinic, eh? Bring her over once you’re done here. I’ll wait.”

“That would be perfect! Thanks, Dr. Singh,” Scarlet replied with a grin. Then, moving behind Snape’s chair, she leaned down and whispered in his ear, “Roll up your sleeve and act naturally. When he rubs your skin with alcohol, just stay calm. It’ll feel like a tiny ant bite. Whatever you do, don’t flinch or jolt, or the needle might poke somewhere else, and that will hurt.”

Snape’s teeth clenched as he hissed back, “My perfectly sound mind does not require coaching from your harebrained commentary. I know how to handle myself, even among Muggle!”

Scarlet smiled and countered, “And yet you failed your first lesson by showing up in a black robe, dear Professor.” She firmly pressed his shoulder to ensure no sudden movements, watching intently as the syringe filled with Snape’s blood. Despite the Potions Master’s evident displeasure, the process went smoothly.

Before Dr. Singh could leave, William entered the room and took custody of the blood sample.

“Milady, I’ve located a lab that meets your specifications,” William said, carefully placing the sample in a specialised container. “They can provide results withing one to two weeks.”

“Can money expedite that?” Scarlet asked, her tone businesslike.

“Yes,” William replied, pulling out his mobile phone. “With an additional fee, we can have the results in three to five days. Shall I arrange it?”

“Please do, thank you,” Scarlet waved him off. “Jessica will head to Dr. Singh’s clinic for her health check-up later. Would you mind accompany her to make sure everything runs smoothly?”

“Of course, Milady.”

With that, William took charge of the remaining tasks, leaving Scarlet free to guide Professor Snape on a tour of the orphanage.

“This way,” she said, leading him down the corridor. “It’s better for you to understand how Jessica has been living here.

Meanwhile, Meiko was subtly keeping Black in check, her fingers digging into his shoulder with a pressure that felt as though it weighed ten kilograms. She had noticed his expression shift upon seeing the professor and wasn’t about to let him act recklessly.

“That gloomy bat...” Black muttered, trying to squirm free. However, a shiver ran down his spine as Meiko leaned close, her voice low and chilling.

“If you so much as tarnish the name of the Red House or embarrass out young lady with your unruly behaviour in front of her teacher or these children,” Meiko whispered, her tone menacing enough to cut through steel, “I guarantee I’ll break your legs – inch by inch. Please don’t give me a reason to.”

“...Of course, I won’t,” Black replied, his voice equally low, though laced with bitterness. He winced as Meiko released him, the ache in his shoulder persisting. What kind of barbarian is she? How could someone so slender have such terrifying strength? Rubbing his shoulder gingerly, he resigned himself to the possibility that it might already be bruised.

By the end of the day, everything fell into place.

William delivered the samples to the lab as planned. Jessica underwent thorough body checkup, packed up her belongings, and moved into Scarlet’s home – confused but thrilled to spend more time with her favourite sister. Professor Snape, still stunned by the revelation that the new student was, in fact, his daughter, resolved to brew the Kinship Draught as soon as he returned to his office, all while absently rubbing the small needle mark on his arm.

Matteo, he ever-enthusiastic driver, finally found an excuse to speed down the roads in high spirits. Meiko, pleased with the lack of threats to her lady’s safety, allowed herself a rare moment of satisfaction. Madame Brown, delighted by Snape’s decision to step into his role as a father, retired for the evening with a sense of accomplishment.

And Black? He sat in a corner, grumbling as he applied ointment to his bruised shoulder, still stewing over how someone as wiry as Meiko could so easily leave him aching.