The Serpent

FIVE

I knocked at the old wooden door in the dark basement of Hogwarts. It was lockfasted because Dad didn't like guests very much. Even I had no key of the three locks.
"Dad, may I come in?", I asked cautiously.
He unlocked the door and opened it with a straight face.
"Come in!", he replied in a dark tone.
"I'm glad you're here! I really need somebody to talk to, who hasn't a nut loose.", I went like a bull at a gate. I walked over to his work desk where he was brewing a potion in a big kettle. After inspecting it and coming to the conclusion that it was Polyjuice Potion, I cautiously leaned at the corner of the table crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"What is it honey?", Dad asked, knowing me too well to be worried about me calling other people crazy. Smiling to himself, he sat down at one of the big green armchairs.
"I got invited to some kind of meeting with Professor Slughorn yesterday. Together with Harry Potter, the Weasley Girl, Zabini and other idiots. We gathered in his compartement and he asked weird questions about us.", I spilled the beans.
"What kind of weird questions?", he asked and tightened his coat around his chest.
"He asked me what it felt like being your daughter. You "of all people", known for being strict. The audacity! And he praised Harry to the skies for being "the chosen one". Slughorn seems just really stupid, I bet he can't even teach us the Hair Raising potion!", I got infuriated.
"Calm down, I know he isn't a bad teacher. Whether you like it or not, he will be your Potions teacher this year. I can't change it, dear.", dad explained in his calm voice.
"Yes, I know. But, dad, am I the problem or is it him? Am I overdramatic? He's got bats in his belfry, doesn't he?", I asked overthinking my own reaction.
"No, you're fine. I see your point! But, what have I told you? Don't judge a book by it's cover, even the best potions books have nothing but a kettle painted on it.", dad said and nodded me at the armchair in front of him.
I sighed astir.
Loosening up my posture, I walked over to him. There was nothing left to say. Albeit grudgingly, I sat down in front of him and looked him right into the dark eyes. Again, I let out a sigh. Saying nothing to each other, our eyes locked. His aura was calmning my overstimulated mind. It always did.

"What do you think about a good old round of Wizard's Chess?", he asked me with a grin. Of course, I agreed with an even wider grin. "But, don't forget your potion. It could overheat and alleviate it's impact.", I reminded him. "Did you ever see me forget someting?", he joked. "Some birthdays definetley! And one time you forgot to-", I started listing up the things. "Anaïs, that was a rhetorical question. Please, don't tell me about all my flaws!", dad laughed and broke me off. "Sorry...", I mumbled chuckling.

Half into the round, the headmaster knocked at the door. "Severus? Do you have a moment?", he asked. With an irritated groan, he got up from the comfortable chair to unlock the door again.
"Good evening! May I interrupt?", Dumbledore requested. "Of course, but my daughter is here.", dad replied. "Good evening, Miss Snape! I bet you are winning this round.", he adressed me smiling. "Of course I am, Proffessor!", I chuckled.
"So, Severus, I just want to make it really quick. It's because of my hand... Well, it's not getting any better and I thought maybe you would have a bit of this healing potion left.", he asked friendly.
I had seen it in the Great Hall when we arrived Hogwarts, but it definetley was a serious case. The old wrinkly skin on his fingers was black and dead. It had almost reached the heel of his hand.
"If you could be so propitious to tell me what kind of curse this is and how it happened, maybe we could find something that really helps.", dad grumbled.
"I told you, Severus, it's not safe for you to know. Not in times like this.", the headmaster stated mysteriously. Dad went to search for the potion and in the meantime, Professor Dumbledore sat in the armchair in front of me. He smiled at me and looked down at the playboard. "Severus, do you mind if I keep on playing for you?", he called for dad. "Not at all!", he replied from the back of his storageroom.
"Queen to E5!", the headmaster commanded. At first, the queen looked around in confusion, but then she moved to E5 to violently crush one of my rooks. Surprised, I looked at the board. Damn it! "Knight to E5!", I said and his queen got crushed as well. "Oh, I did see that coming! Bishop to E7!", he chuckled and took my other knight.
I never liked loosing. That's why it didn't happen very often. In deep shock, I elaborated my next possible moves. The silence was loud.
"Take your time, Anaïs! And don't worry, I was a great player when I was younger.", he said presumptuously and leaned back. "Pawn to G7", I tried and the little figure smashed one of his barns.
"Oh, dear! You're not a bad player either!", he noticed. Leaning forward and looking at the constellation of figures, he smiled.
"You know, Anaïs, I pity you.", he claimed.
Teared out of the game, I sat straight and looked at him in confusion. He chuckled and said: "Pawn to G6!"
Looking down at the game, I couldn't think of anything except his words. Again, nobody said anything.
"You have become a very smart and mature young lady. And you're even more beautiful than your dear mother, if I allow myself to judge this.", he talked further. I looked him in the eyes.
"Thank you, Proffessor.", I mumbled still confused.
The slience returned and I made my next move by saying: "Pawn to G6", to destroy his last barn.

"However, your fate is tragic. You're a good person, forced to do bad things. The tragedy lies in your power. You're an extremly powerful witch, but don't have any choice over your own power.", he continued to wander around it.
I didn't have anything to say. He wasn't wrong, but I didn't want to believe that he was actually right.
"Excuse me, I am just an old man! King to F1!", he stopped. The king moved one more square away from my figures. He was retreating...
"Knight to F3. Check!", I moved on. The headmaster was at bay.
For a second, he looked surprised, but then he said: "Bishop to F3."
My knight was brutally murdered. However, I had noticed about his bishop. "Queen to D1. Checkmate!", I said. The Queen slaughtered the bishop and the king wasn't able to move anymore.
"You're as bright as a button, dear! Well done!", he commented. I smiled, knowing very well that he was right. Wizard's chess was my hidden talent.
"I want to tell you something for your way in life. Of course, you don't have to listen to an sour old man like me! However, I feel like you haven't found your place in life yet and might be a little lost at times. You define yourself through those excellent grades and your big heart, but you don't have real friends to belong to and you can't just backtrack to your father whenever life gets tough. I might be a little worried that you could loose your way, just like your mother did. Whenever you're scared or lost, you react with villainy and hatred. I don't want to doom you for it, I just want you to know that there are different ways. You don't have to act like that, if you don't want to.", he told me. I fend his words off. I just didn't want to see it. It was already too late. I didn't have any choice.

There was a slight cough behind me.
"Oh, Severus! I'm afraid, I have lost your game.", Dumbledore told dad.
"She's invincible!", he replied proudly.

"I'm going to leave before curfew starts.", I said and got up. Dad smiled at me. I bet he heard every word the old freak told me. "Good night!", I said smiling and shortly turned around to face the headmaster one more time. Dad hugged me tightly.
"I love you, Anaïs!", he whispered and I replied: "I love you, too, dad!"
"Sleep well!", he wished me and let go off me.
I left the room with a smile.