Finding Father

Chapter 6- The Headmasters Advice

DUMBLEDORE'S POV

I look up from my desk, hearing a knock at the my office door. I flick my wand at the door, and the lock clicks open. The door swings open, and I smile at my visitor.

"Hello, Severus."

"Headmaster," he says. He's trying to be respectful, but sounds angry.

"How may I be of service? Trouble with Slytherin house again? Or is it Harry Potter?" I ask him calmly, a smile still on my face.

"Neither, Sir" he replies through gritted teeth.

"I have to say, I'm surprised, as not much else is ever on your mind enough to come to me about it. What is the trouble?"

"The new Ravenclaw, Avery Carter. What do you know about her, Albus?" I think for a moment.

"Not much, just that she's the daughter of Rachel Carter, single mother, also a Ravenclaw. Fillius says that she's a bright young girl."

"You know nothing else?" Snape asks me.

"No, I don't know everything about all the students, Severus," I say. "What do you want to know about her?"

"You said her mother is single. You know nothing of her father?"

"No, I do not. Do you?" I ask him.

"Yes." He looks extremely unhappy. I raise my eyebrows.

"By the expression on your face, I have a guess at who her father is, but I would like to know why this came about, and why he is not with her family now." Snape glares at me.

"I had no other choice."

"So my guess was correct. You always have a choice, Severus."

"I didn't," he says harshly. "It was unexpected. I had no money, no time, and I was already spying on the Dark Lord. For you! What if I was killed?" My next question catches him off guard.

"And how, may I ask, did you tell Rachel that?"

"That doesn't matter now," Snape says after a long pause.

"Well then, my guess is you told her quite rudely and kicked her out, am I correct?" His silence is answer enough.

"Well, Severus. You must make another choice. Tell her, or not. Let her live without a father, or reveal yourself to her. And if you think I'm trying to guilt you into this, you are quite correct," I smile at him.

"I'm in the same position as I was last time. And what will her mother think?" he says finally.

"Severus, I want you to take that girl aside, tell her you are her father, and then act like it. But ultimately it is your decision. Now, I have work to do."

Taking the hint, Snape leaves my office, more confused and angry than when he came in.

****************

AVERY'S POV

With another long day of classes and homework, I'm almost late for my second detention with Snape. I rush to his office, barely making it in time, but hey, at least I got my Transfiguration essay done!

I knock on the door and he lets me in. Then, without a single word, he sits back down and goes back to his work. I pick up the rag sitting on the corner of his desk, and begin where I left off on the shelves.

After a few minutes, I venture to speak. "May I ask what you're working on, Professor?" He looks up for a moment.

"No, you may not." I grimace and try again.

"Isn't it just student's homework?"

"No, it isn't, now keep working. You are not here for social time, rather, you are here for a punishment. I will not engage in your wish to converse."

I sigh, and turn back to the endless rows of potion ingredients. Nettles. . . Leech juice. . . Armadillo bile? Ick.

Row after row after row get cleaned, jars and vials replaced, before I finally finish. According to the clock on the wall I've been working for two hours. I turn and stand before Snape, before saying timidly,

"Professor?"

"Yes?" he replies, without looking up.

"I'm finished," I tell him. He nods.

"You may leave. And, one more thing?" I started to turn towards the door, but stop and face him again.

"Yes, Sir?"

"You will come back here Friday night. Not for detention, unless you decide to pull any more stunts in my classroom. We are going to discuss some things that I do not wish to speak about right now. Now, you may go." I nod, and this time, I don't question his instructions. I turn and leave the room.

I get back to the Ravenclaw common room fairly easily, and quickly fall into bed, even though I'm one of the first students to do so. Most everyone else is still up chatting or doing homework, but I'm exhausted. I fall asleep quickly, briefly wondering what on earth Snape wants to talk to me about.