Ophelia Black ~ Harry Potter fanfic

Snuffles

After my talk with Snape, I couldn't stop thinking about everything that I just learned. Sirius Black is my father...

The man that killed my best friend's parents is my dad. My father is the reason why Harry couldn't have a happy normal life... what happens when he finds out I'm his daughter? He'll hate me. How could he not. I'm the daughter of the man who's to blame for all his suffering. For merlin's sake I hate me too.

I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if Harry or anyone else for that matter found out about my father. They would all hate me... who's going to want to be friends with a mass killer's daughter. I can't tell anyone about this. Not Hermione, not Ron and definitely not Harry. Although that's going to be hard. He'll know somethings up if he sees me. I'm going to have to try and avoid him as best as I can. So that means I can't go to the Gryffindor common rooms tonight like I always do after classes. But I don't want to go to bed either, my thoughts would just eat me up.

I decided to go down to the black lake and just sit by the shore. I've always loved to sneak away here at night. It gives me peace, just laying down in the grass looking up at an endless diamond sky; saying all the things I can't say to the moon.

I don't know for how long I've been laying here looking at the sky, but I was starting to fall asleep until I felt something wet on my right cheek. I quickly jolt awake and look at whatever it was that touched me. Or should I say licked me. It was a huge black dog just sitting there in front of me with his tail wagging.

"For Merlin's beard! You scared me." I say looking at the dog releasing a relived sigh.

The dog just barked and ran over towards me jumping on me, making me fall back on the ground. It started licking me and barking excitedly. Like a dog receiving it's owner when they come back home from work. I put my hands up to try and cover my face so he wouldn't lick me.

"Stop" I said laughing a bit. "Yeah, hi to you to buddy. Hey." I move him off me and sit up to pet him.

"How did you get here hmm? I thought dogs weren't allowed at Hogwarts." I said while petting him. "At least that's what Severus always told me each time I asked him if I could have a dog." The dog grumbled when I said 'Severus'. I guess he's not a fan of him either.

"Do you have a name buddy? Or maybe an owner?" I said checking to see if there was any collar on him. "No owner hmm? Me either. I just keep getting passed on to new ones. Although I think I finally found good ones and I think it's going to be permanent this time. I sure hope it is. It's been the best almost three years of my life, living with the Weasley's. I love them very much. They really are the closest thing to a family I have. Well excluding Sev of course. " The dog barked again when I mentioned Sev.

"Wow you really aren't a fan of Mr. Severus Snape, are you?" I ask chuckling. The dog grumbled and... it looked like it shakes it's head no. What am I kidding, it's a dog, it doesn't really understand me.

"Well, he isn't that bad. He's the best father figure I've had. I mean bless Arthur; he's been brilliant towards me, but I don't really see him as a father figure. But I still love him terribly and I'm very grateful to him and Molly for taking me in and being my legal guardians. But Snape, he's just always been there you know, he's always helped me, taught me and just been there whenever I really needed him. And yeah, he can be a bit of a grumpy scary grinch most of the time, but comparing him to my real father, Sev seems like the sweetest creator on earth." The dog tilted its head sideways like if it was confused.

"Well, you see that's the thing, Snuffles- can I call you Snuffles? You seem like a Snuffles to me. That's what I'm going to call you from now on." The dog barked as if agreeing to the name. Weird dog.

"So, Snuffles today I found out who my parents were. My real parents. Our new professor, Lupin, told me about my mother in the Hogwarts express and today Sev told me more about her and she seems wonderful. She was smart, kind, ambitious, beautiful. And she was a Slytherin! Just like me. I love her. I never met her, but I still love her. I wish I could've met her..." A tear slipped out while talking about my mother. Snuffles probably sensed my sudden change in mood and came up closer to me laying its head on my lap. It was comforting.

"But then there's my father. His name is Sirius Black. He's a murderer. He killed my best friend's parents. He killed my mum. He sold out his own family and friends to Voldemort. He's a horrible man. He ruined my life." Snuffles's tale stopped wagging and his ears went down. "Because of him I was sent to an orphanage and got adopted by an abusive arse, because of him I spent years crying myself to sleep wondering why my parents didn't want me, because of him I might now lose all my friends. Because of him I might lose Harry..." I start crying. The dog looked sad too, I guess my mood must have affected Snuffles. I pull Snuffles in and hug him crying on his fur.

"I can't lose him. I've been able to handle everything life has thrown at me, but I don't think I'll be able to handle Harry hating me. I've grown to need him during these years at Hogwarts. He's my rock, a constant in my life that has always been there...that understands me. I hate Sirius Black; I hate him for even putting my relationship with Harry at risk. That man is not my father."

Soon the tears stopped and changed into anger towards Sirius Black. That man has done nothing but ruin mine and many other people's lives. He's a monster.

Soon I was starting to fall asleep again, but Snuffles kept waking me up by nudging me with his nose but soon enough not even that could stop my tiredness from taking over.

"I like you Snuffles, you're a good listener. " I mumble. Before my eye lids completely gave out, I could see Snuffles laying down next to me, staring at me like if it wanted to look after me while I slept.

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