Daddy’s Little Princess by Shug

Daddy's Little Princess by Shug

Thank you to DeeMichelle for beta reading!

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Marianne Branstone was sitting by the fireplace in the Hufflepuff common room, chatting with Vera, when the card in her pocket began to vibrate. Her blue eyes widened in trepidation, and slowly, she pulled out the card which would invariably lead her to her doom. She turned her gaze to her friend as, with a trembling hand, she held up her glowing yellow card.

"Oh, Marianne!" Vera exclaimed sorrowfully. "I'm so sorry! This is all my fault...I'm the one who introduced you to everyone. You wouldn't be involved in this at all if not for me."

"Nonsense," Marianne stated, hoping that her shaking voice would not belie her words. "You were being a good friend. You had no idea it would turn out like this."

That was true. Marianne was part of the group of popular girls only by association. The other three Hufflepuffs had befriended her and often invited her along to parties and study groups and the like. She'd been happy to make new friends, and so she truly didn't blame Vera at all for the predicament in which she now found herself. After all, she hadn't been asked to do anything the girls hadn't been asked to do, as well.

Still, she had to admit, she was terrified.

Vera smiled tremulously, her eyes upon the betrothal ring which still resided on her finger. Marianne took a shuddering breath. This whole affair was turning out to be quite the mess. It had been pure chance that her turn had ended up so close to the conclusion of the game. Professor Snape was certain to be at the end of his rope by this point, and now she had to ... had to ... Oh, it was too awful to even contemplate!

"Oh, dear. It's your turn, is it?" Fern asked as she and Tracie entered the common room, obviously having noted the card still held in her hand.

Marianne nodded morosely.

"Well, go on then. Tell us what you've got." Fern and Tracie plopped down on one of the sofas and looked at Marianne expectantly.

Marianne swallowed...hard...and then read the card. As with the first time she'd read her task, she blushed a fiery red. "I have to tell him that I'm his long lost daughter and show him a paternity test confirming it. And I have to call him 'Daddy.'"

"That's not too bad," Tracie said supportively. "At least you have dark hair...he might even believe you."

Marianne shook her head. "That's not all. I have to ... I have to ..." Tears filled her eyes, and she looked up at her friends, her expression bleak. Her face crumpled as the enormity of her task dawned. "I have to crawl into bed with him, ask him to sing me a lullaby, and then cry when he says no!" she wailed, bursting into tears. "I can't do it! It's an impossible task. How in the world am I supposed to climb into his bed? I don't even know where his bloody chambers are, not to mention how to get inside! I'm going to be green for a year, I just know it!"

For a few moments, the other three girls could do nothing but stare at her, their eyes round with disbelief. The task did indeed appear impossible. Then, as if in tandem, they surrounded her, wrapping her in their arms as she sobbed.

"What am I to do?" Marianne choked out, sniffling as her tears finally slowed.

"We'll figure something out. We just need to work together. Let's just think for a bit and see what we can come up with. If nothing else ..." Fern paused for a moment, an idea forming. "You know, I think I know just the people to talk to." She jumped up and pulled Marianne to her feet. "Come on, everyone, let's go!"

*****

Marianne had waited for the signal from Fern and Vera before slipping down the corridor. Their Slytherin friends had been reluctant to tell them the location of Professor Snape's private chambers, but after an hour or so of negotiations...and half of Marianne's supply of Honeydukes chocolate...they had been more than happy to help. Not only had they provided the location of the secret entrance to his chambers, they had agreed to create a diversion in the Slytherin common room so that Marianne could slip inside.

Honestly, Marianne thought it had been a wasted effort. Even though they had succeeded in getting him out of his rooms, how was she to get in? Now that she stood outside his chamber door, she had no idea what to do. Her whispered "Alohomora" had done nothing, and she knew full well that the professor's door would have any number of jinxes and hexes should she attempt to open it by any other means. In fact, she was surprised that the spell she'd already cast hadn't landed her in the hospital wing.

Marianne gnawed on her thumbnail as she paced in front of the door and considered returning to her common room and forgetting the whole blasted thing. If she'd had a choice, she wouldn't be here at all. In addition to her own trepidations about what was required of her, she felt sorry for Professor Snape. She was an observer by nature, and her observations told her that the professor, whilst acerbic and more than a little frightening, genuinely cared for the safety and well-being of his students. So in truth, she felt rather bad for participating in the game...not that she'd been given a choice. However, Hufflepuffs were loyal above all else, and it was her loyalty to the girls who had befriended her that was her sole reason for not rushing back to her common room and forgetting this entire mess.

Well, that and the threat of being green for a year.

She almost felt sorry for the Weasley twins when the game finally reached its conclusion. There was no possibility at all of them escaping unhexed. The Gryffindors would be obvious yet daring in their attempts at retribution, the Ravenclaws, witty and wise, and the Slytherins, cunning and ruthless. Marianne smiled deviously. She would bet the last of her chocolate that the twins would completely underestimate the Hufflepuffs, which would be their downfall. After all, there were few things as dangerous as an angry badger.

Oh, what was she doing? She was supposed to be figuring out how to get inside the professor's chambers, not plotting! She turned to face the door, and with a newfound determination, she drew her wand. She'd just have to try to counteract whatever hexes and jinxes were on the door.

Dear Merlin. She was in so much trouble.

With a gulp, she raised her wand and prepared to cast the first spell.

"I do hope you're not thinking of attempting to open my door, Miss Branstone. The result would be quite ... messy."

Marianne spun around to see Professor Snape storming down the corridor toward her, his robes billowing behind him in a dark, angry cloud. Oh, no. She was too late, and now he was here, and he had seen her trying to get into his rooms, and he was going to kill her, and then she was going to be green for an entire year!

All of the blood drained from her head, and she swayed on her feet.

"No, you don't," snapped the professor.

She frowned. It wasn't like it was her fault she was feeling faint. It was his! She attempted to take a step back but wobbled. She was about to pitch forward when he caught her by the arm.

"Pull yourself together, girl," he said with a sneer.

Marianne was surprised that he continued to steady her while she gathered her bearings. When she felt as if she could stand unassisted, she nodded, and he released her arm.

"Now then," he drawled, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down at her with narrowed eyes. "I take it this has to do with that ridiculous game. Correct?"

Marianne couldn't find her voice; she nodded her agreement.

"And how many more of these fun little pranks are left ... in your estimation?"

She swallowed down her fear and hesitantly replied, "One. Perhaps two?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose between his index finger and his thumb. "I suppose that you telling me of your task would violate the rules of the game."

Taken aback by her professor's unusual demeanor, she slowly shook her head. "I don't know, sir, and if it's all right with you, I'd really rather not find out." Knowing the twins, they'd both end up green for a year ... or two.

He nodded, seemingly resigned to his fate. "Well? What are you standing there for, girl? Get on with it."

"Erm ... I-I'm afraid I have to be in-inside your q-quarters, sir," Marianne stammered.

Professor Snape heaved a sigh. "Of course you do. Well, out of my way, Miss Branstone. I don't have all night."

She scurried to the side of the door, not wanting to do anything that might cause the professor to lose his temper. So far, he'd been almost pleasant...for him, anyway...and she didn't want to tip him over the edge.

The professor performed a quick series of complex wand movements, muttering an incantation under his breath before the door opened.

"Inside, now," he ordered tersely after glancing down the corridor, ostensibly to see if anyone was coming.

Marianne entered his chambers, fully cognizant that she was probably the only student ever to have seen where Professor Snape lived. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but it certainly had not been the small, comfortable, if a bit austere, sitting room in which she found herself.

"Well, girl? Let's get this over with."

With a deep breath, Marianne turned to face her professor and plastered a saccharine smile upon her face. "Hello ... Daddy!"

Call him 'Daddy' ... check.

The professor's face turned a violent shade of red, and Marianne hastened to pull the piece of parchment from beneath her robes. "I'm your long lost daughter?" she said, her statement sounding more like a question as she thrust the 'paternity test results' that Carlie and Emma had forged for her into Professor Snape's hand.

Paternity test results ... check.

He gave the parchment a cursory glance and then returned his gaze to her, one eyebrow arching in query. "Is that all, Miss Branstone?"

Marianne thought the professor was really taking the entire episode quite well, especially compared to how he'd reacted to the others. She began to hope that she might make it out alive after all. But then she remembered the next part of her task, and her face fell.

Death might be preferable to what was in store for her after what she was about to do.

Her knees knocked together, she was trembling so. Just get it over with, she admonished herself, and then, gathering her courage with both hands, she turned on her heel and made a break for the door she assumed led to his bedchamber.

"Miss Branstone!" Snape bellowed, his thundering steps quickly following behind her.

She threw open the door, almost sobbing in relief when she saw the bed, similar to her own four-poster in Hufflepuff tower, only a tad wider and with black curtains instead of yellow. Without a backward glance, she leapt on the bed and turned frightened eyes to the now livid wizard behind her.

In his bed ... dear Merlin ... check. Oh, she hoped it didn't matter that he wasn't in the bed with her!

"What is the meaning of this..."

Wanting nothing more than to finish her tasks and leave as quickly as possible, Marianne interrupted, blurting, "Won't you please sing me a lullaby, Daddy?"

Ask him to sing you a lullaby ... check.

A muscle in his jaw clenched as he stared at her. "No?" he said, as though questioning whether or not his response was the correct one.

Marianne sagged in relief and gave a sharp nod before bursting into tears...those she did not have to fake.

Cry when he says no ... check.

Hurriedly, she pulled out her game card, breathing a sigh of relief when the letters on the card began to glow green.

She was so busy congratulating herself on making it through alive and in one piece that she neglected to notice a very irate, angry Professor Snape stalking toward the bed until he was so close she could feel his breath upon her face. Terrified, she lifted her gaze to his until they were all but nose to nose.

"Are you quite finished, Miss Branstone?" he asked, his tone deceptively mild.

"Erm ... y-yes, sir."

"Excellent," he purred. His face inched impossibly closer as he murmured dangerously, "Get. Out."

He stepped back, drawing himself to full height, his expression apoplectic. "NOW!"

Marianne did not have to be told twice.

She jumped from the bed and ran from the chambers as fast as her legs could carry her, exiting into the dungeon corridor. She was halfway to the Hufflepuff common room when she realized that she'd done it. A wide grin spread across her face; she'd completed her task and lived to tell the tale.

Thank Merlin.

Good luck, Sally. It's up to you now.

And the fun continues...

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Author's notes:

The original prompt is: Tell him you're his long lost daughter. When he doesn't believe you, hand him the 'results' of a paternity test. Call him daddy. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) Crawl into bed with him and ask him to sing you a lullaby. Cry when he says no.