Snape's Daughter (Book Two)

Chapter Sixteen : The Better Christmas

Time flew by when Ellia was at Hogwarts, and before she knew it Halloween had passed and Christmas was on its way. She didn't dare go near her father, however she did know that he was in fact going back to Spinner's Emd for Christmas, so Ellia, together with Remus and Tonks via letters, made the decision to stay at Hogwarts over the holidays. In her own eyes, and everybody else's, it was the safest place for her. Ginny, Neville and Lavender had all returned home, and Ellia was left by herself with only the company of Minerva and Ace.

Christmas morning, she awoke from her restless sleep to find a small pile of presents at the end of her bed. The rest of the dormitory was empty, so it was just her and the gifts. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up before reaching out and grabbing hold of the biggest present. Tearing it open, she saw a wooly jumper with the letter 'E' sewn onto it, a note attached.

'Merry Christmas Ellia,

Love

The Weasleys'

Ellia wondered how they were all doing, and how Ron, Hermione and Harry were doing as well. She'd also received a box of every flavour jelly beans and a box of puking pastels from Fred and Aurora, a note pad from George, a wolf figure from Tonks and Remus, and then a golden encrusted silver heart necklace from Draco. She held it in her hands before sighing. She hadn't gotten any one gifts and yet they'd all sent her beautiful gifts that meant so much to her. Ellia carefully put the necklace on her neck, before holding the heart in her hand.

Ellia Mae Snape
My survivor

It was a short but sweet message from Draco, and it meant a lot to her that he actually remembered her during this time. She thought that by now he would've forgotten her, left her. They hadn't seen each other in so long, she was sure that at some point he would move on. After all, Pansy was always there for him, and she's a supporter of the Dark Lord.

Dragging herself out of bed wasn't hard for Ellia, but finding the energy to get dressed was much harder. She pulled on a pair of leggings and the jumper Mrs Weasley had made her, before exiting her dormitory. Nobody was in the common room for once, it seemed as if everybody had just left without saying goodbye. Ellia decided it would be a good idea to wander around the school, seeing as she had nothing else to do with her time except that. The paintings were all celebrating the joy of Christmas, yet Ellia was celebrating the loneliness of it. It was her first proper Christmas since before she started Hogwarts, and yet it seemed almost worse than beforehand. The same loneliness, unwanted feeling and the same ramble in her stomach for the taste of Christmas food. Ellia turned on her heal before rushing off to the Great Hall, knowing that there would be good food in there. Inside was a couple of students, but otherwise it was practically empty like the rest of the castle. Ella grabbed a plate full of food before walking up to the staffing table, and sitting down next to McGonagall.

"You're not supposed to sit there," She scolded Ellia as she sipped on some pumpkin juice.

"It's too lonely down there, I feel like you're the only person I can talk to now," Ellia sighed, digging into her meal.

"I know how you must be feeling, but I cannot always be there to talk to you, I'm afraid," McGonagall replied, placing down her cup.

"I know," Ellia sighed again," It's a shame, really. Because nobody is."

"You want to leave, don't you?" McGonagall asked her.

"I want my friends and my fam..... carers," Ellia said, remembering that the Snape family had sort of abandoned her.

"Your carers are your family. But, I can help you," The witch said, looking Ellia in the eye with a small glint of excitement.

"You can? How?" Ellia asked her, curious to find out how she could leave the castle.

"Through the Forbidden Forest, over the bridge," McGonagall whispered in Ellia's ear, checking nobody was around," Go pack your things now, and I'll get you out of here." Ellia almost jumped from the table, before trying to act natural as she sped past the students at the tables and out of the Great Hall. She headed straight for the common room and her dormitory, she had no time to loose. She through a robe in a rucksack, as well as a jumper and the wolf figure Remus and Tonks gave her, as well as a potions book with a couple of ingredients. She tucked her wand in her boots before tying her hair back in a messy bun. Today was the day it would happen. Today was the day she would be free.

Ellia met McGonagall down in the kitchens, where they greeted Kreacher the elf. McGonagall had instructed Kreacher to do something, something Ellia was unsure of. But whatever it was, Ellia knee McGonagall was trying to help.

"Kreachers going to get you out of the castle where it'll be safe, before you need to go and find the Burrow. It should be safe there, but whatever you do, do not apparate. The trace is still on you," McGonagall warned Ellia.

"Thank you Professor," she said, before McGonagall wrapped her arms around Ellia.

"Your mother would be so proud of you," She sighed, before letting Ellia go," Now go, you must stay safe." Ellia held on to Kreacher's tiny palm, smiling once more at McGonagall before they apparated out of the castle using house elf magic. They landed flat on the ground, a couple of metres away from the Hogwarts Station in Hogsmede.

"You know, I don't have to do this. I could easily hand you in even if my masters Harry Potter," Kreacher grumbled, ensuring the coast was clear.

"Your masters Harry Potter? I know him, I wouldn't dare betray me otherwise I'll tell him, he shan't be happy to here that," Ellia joked as the elf scowled.

"Just be gone and get to the Burrow, you don't have long," The elf scowled at her.

"Thank you," Ellia said, before running off, her backpack slung on her shoulders. She was free. Out of her father's clasp and out in the open. But the open wasn't the safest place for a young girl with a father like Severus Snape.

"A student has been reported missing," Snape started, his voice echoing across the Great Hall. Each and every student lowered their head, hoping to avoid eye contact with the heartless headmaster. "Her name is Ellia Snape," he continued, gasps echoing across the Great Hall.

"I bet he had her kidnapped," One student whispered.

"Or worse... killed," Another whispered.

"Enough," Snape barked," She managed to escape out of Hogwarts barriers with some help of a house elf on Christmas Day. Her locations right now are ...... Unknown. Her welfare is the same. If anybody knows where this rebellious student is, you must immediately inform myself and other Professors, who then will inform me," Snape shot a deathly glare towards his fellow Professors, before continuing on.

Meanwhile, Ella opened her eyes to see a familiar face opposite her. Gasping, she jumped backwards before hitting her back on a rock. It couldn't be.

"Hello Snape," she growled.