EVERYONE'S EYES WIDENED. They felt like they were staring at a bludger-sized illusion. A tiny girl, barely more than a toddler, with dark brown—almost black—hair, slightly wavy, sat perched on Severus Snape's desk.
"Snape…has a child?" someone whispered. The sound rippled through the room.
"I thought he was a bachelor! Who'd marry *him*—"
"Are you talking about my papa?", the little girl piped up, her voice surprisingly sharp. The three fourth-years froze, their faces flushing.
"N-no! Of course not! Uh…what's your name, little one?" asked a redhead, stumbling over his words.
"Lily Phoebe Snape." She said it with such matter-of-factness.
"Ahem!" Snape's voice cut through the chatter. Everyone scrambled back to their seats.
Lily hopped off her seat, wiggling as she waited for her father to start class.
"Today, we will be beginning with—"
Hermione's hand shot up, faster than a seeker's dive. Snape’s lips curled into a frustrated scowl.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?"
"Aren't we going to…acknowledge the child?" Hermione asked, her tone a little too bright. Every eye in the room swiveled back to Lily.
Snape sighed, rolling his eyes. He looked over at his daughter.
Lily, undeterred, waddled to the front of the class, her tiny legs pumping. She was determined to be seen.
"Hi everyone!! My name's Lily Phoebe Snape. And I'm four years old this year!! Papa said I could come. So here I am!" She grinned, her face radiating pure joy. A few girls squealed at her cuteness.
"Great. Now—"
"Is she a Slytherin?" Ron blurted out, before Hermione could elbow him in the stomach.
"No," Snape said, his voice flat. "She hasn't been sorted yet."
"Who did you shag to—"
"Seamus Finnigan, detention after school for the rest of the week and thirty points from Gryffindor for explicit language." Snape’s voice was like a whip.
The Slytherins snickered, but Lily just scratched her head, looking confused.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She ran towards a boy, nearly tripping over her own feet.
Harry had thought she was running *past* him, but she zoomed right past him and latched onto Draco Malfoy.
"You're Draco Malfoy, aren't you? The Slytherin Quidditch seeker?" Lily demanded, her voice brimming with excitement.
Draco was…surprised. He snorted, watching Harry's jaw drop.
"Why of course I am. Would you like a signature along with a picture?" Draco grinned, thoroughly enjoying Harry’s reaction.
Lily nodded vigorously. “Can I sit with him, Papa? Can I, can I?"
Snape sighed, but he couldn't say no to his little girl. "Fine, but no messing around."
Lily stretched out her little arms, and Draco, hesitantly, picked her up. He placed her on his lap, careful not to drop her.
Lily was ecstatic. She was sitting next to the Slytherin seeker her father had told her about.
Throughout the lesson, Draco struggled to write, Lily kept kicking her legs in excitement.
"Stop that," Draco hissed, trying to maintain his composure.
"Stop what?"
"Stop kicking your legs."
"I'm sorry," Lily pouted, her lower lip trembling. Draco rolled his eyes.
"It's fine," he grumbled, and Lily’s face lit up again.
When class ended, Lily hurried back to her father, who was miserably grading quizzes.
"Papa, look!! I got Draco's signature!!" Lily giggled, proudly showing off the parchment.
"Very nice," Snape said robotically, gently patting her head.
Lily then pulled a small piece of chocolate from a pocket in her dress and placed it on Snape's desk. Whenever he was stressed, or even remotely disturbed, Lily would leave chocolate for him, hoping to sweeten his day.
//❁//
Lily walked into the dining hall, holding Snape's hand. Everyone gasped. No one would have believed that Severus Snape would bring a child to Hogwarts, and one so young.
Lily greeted the professors and gave Albus Dumbledore a hug—or rather, hugged his leg, since she was so small.
"Well hello there, Lily. Come to join the Triwizard Tournament drawing, I see?" Dumbledore chuckled.
"Mhm!! Papa said there are two more schools here!! Where are they?"
"They're—"
Just then, the great doors swung open, revealing beautiful young women in blue skirts. They pranced around, capturing the attention of every boy in the hall.
Suddenly, a woman who looked like a giant walked in. She had a bob cut and wore a dress with red and black linings and faux fur.
"Woah! She's taller than you, Papa," Lily pointed out. Snape just hummed in response.
Then, the doors opened again, revealing boys who twirled sticks like batons. Lily was impressed.
Suddenly, Victor Krum, the Bulgarian seeker, walked in. Lily jumped up and down.
"Papa, look, look!! It's Victor Krum!!! IT'S VICTOR KRUM!!!"
Krum glanced over at the commotion and raised a brow, unsure what a little girl was doing at Hogwarts. But he didn’t question it, as Karkaroff ushered him to the front.
"Now that we are joined by Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute, we shall unite all together by singing the school song!!" Dumbledore announced.
"Papa, I can't see!" Lily whined, as everyone stood up, blocking her view.
Snape picked her up, carrying her in his arms so she could see.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts!
Teach us something pleaseeeeee!!"
Snape cringed at Lily’s singing, but didn’t dare show any displeasure.
"Papa, why aren't you singing along?" Lily asked.
"I…my throat feels a little unwell," Snape lied, not wanting to tell her he thought the song was ridiculous.
"Aw, well hugs always makes the pain go away," Lily smiled, wrapping her arms around Snape's neck.
Snape patted her back rhythmically.
"Indeed. I'm already feeling better."
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