Chapter One

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Harry Potter. We all know that they belong to the wonderful, and fabulous J.K. ROWLING. All rights to Liana Snape belong to me.

Thanks to QueenP for beta-ing this chapter. Without her, this would all be something completely different!

Recap

Hermione opened her eyes only to see three tunnels. She blinked, feeling confused. Looking around her, she noticed the one she came out of was blocked with a huge rock. She looked to the other two. The first emitted blue light, the other an extremely bright white light. She started walking towards the intersection. In the center, a sign read:

"Welcome to the three tunnels. The tunnel from which you came is the now blocked. To that life , you cannot return. You now must choose how to proceed. Please choose your path carefully."

End Recap

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CHAPTER ONE

THREE YEARS LATER

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Severus sat down in his desk chair, watching the fifth year students gather the needed ingredients for their potion. He loathed them, every single one of them. They had happiness; they had something that he obviously didn't have.

But you have Liana.

Severus sat still for a moment, his gaze never leaving the piece of parchment in front of him. It was true; he had Liana, his little girl. Yet, that wasn't the kind of happiness he craved...happiness with the one you loved, the one who loved you back in the same intimate passionate way. Around the classroom, the students had felt the need to talk amongst themselves as they had sat down.

"I thought I had said to collect the potion ingredients that you needed," he stated as he stood up. "Nowhere in my instructions did I include the phrase 'while talking.'"

The Gryffindor and Slytherin fifth years immediately hushed up as their professor found a need to hover over them. Severus heard a soft creak as the door that lead to his personal chambers opened. He instantly turned around his heart thudding in his rib cage. Liana was the only one in his personal chambers.

He swiftly moved towards the door, while the students looked on in curiosity. Everyone craned their necks to take a peek at the little girl who had just strolled into their potions class.

Everyone gawked at the little girl. They had only seen this little girl in the Great Hall, but she was never with their professor. Two years ago she had been with his deceased wife, but now she could be seen with Albus Dumbledore,or any of the other staff members.

Five-year-old Liana walked towards her father, not noticing at all the stares she was receiving. She marched towards her father and tugged on the sleeve of his robes. Severus bent down so that he was eye level with the five-year-old girl, who was looking more and more like her mother.

"Liana, what are you doing out of bed?" he questioned, ignoring the squeals from the girls in his class.

"Daddy, I had a bad dream," she said rubbing her eyes.

Severus frowned; he didn't want to discuss anything with his daughter with his class here. "Liana, can you go find Grandpa? You can tell him about your nightmare. I'm busy at the moment. I've got a class to teach, and you're disrupting it."

He ignored the sniggers coming from the males in his classroom. He turned around and glared at them. "Keep working on your potions. There is no need to tune into my conversation with my daughter," Severus snapped. "Well, get on then."

Severus muttered to himself about 'stupid ignorant pricks,' before turning back to his daughter who was staring wide-eyed at them.

"Daddy, why are you so mean to them?" Liana asked as she stretched her arms towards her father, signalling that she wanted to be picked up. Snape scowled, pondering if he should answer her question.

Picking her up, Severus answered: "Liana, don't ask such trivial questions."

Severus placed his daughter into his big black chair, than looked at her sternly. "After I finish giving instructions to my students, I need you to go to Grandpa," Severus instructed. Turning around, he watched as the fifth years pretended they were working.

"You will all finish the draught by the end of this class. You will also hand in an essay on moonstone at the beginning of next class," he commanded.

Turning his back on them, he cast a spell on his daughter. She glowed bright silver for a moment as the spell took effect, a means of helping her find her way to her intended destination.

"Now, you will find Grandpa in his office," Severus said, taking her into his arms and putting her down on the floor. She nibbled on her lip before scrunching up her nose at her father. "Do you remember the word to get past those gargoyles?"

Liana nodded her head excitedly. "Yes, the word is ..."

Severus put a finger to his lips. "Remember what Grandpa said?"

"It's a," began Liana looking around the room for unwanted listeners, a smile plastered on her face, "secret." She finished in the softest voice she could make.

"That's right, a secret," Severus whispered in return. "Now, hurry a long now, Sneaky Snake. You have to go find Grandpa, and tell him about your nightmare."

- - -

Liana walked down the deserted halls, humming to herself. She remembered her Uncle Harry teaching her a fun song. She stopped walking for a minute, trying to remember what it was that he taught her. 'I'm a little...' she smiled as she remembered it.

"I'm a little teapot, short and stout. Here is my handle. Here is my spout," Liana sang to herself, doing the hand actions as she walked towards the gargoyles. She turned left once she saw the red walls.

"When I get all steamed up, hear me shout! Tip me over and pour me out!" She giggled happily to herself.

Reaching the gargoyles, she stood staring them wide-eyed. Their bulging eyes were staring down at her. Standing up on her tiptoes, she tried to touch one of the extremely sharp looking fangs. She frowned when she couldn't reach them.

Scrunching up her face in determination, her chocolate-brown eyes dead set on the object before them, she sought a way to reach her goal. She looked around the gargoyle trying to see if there was anything she could stand on to give her the height she needed.

Finding a crook to place her foot in, she stepped up. She grabbed hold of one of the gargoyle's outstretched hands, hoisting herself close to its face. Her foot had left the crook near the bottom of the gargoyle, when both her knees settled in the crease of the gargoyle's arms. The little girl looked at the fangs, a smile plastered on her face at her accomplishment.

Firmly taking hold of both of the gargoyles fangs, she caressed them. Her mouth formed an 'o' in utter amazement at the soft feeling of the stone under her skin. Her eyes settled on the tips of the fangs, however. The tips of the fangs, which she was pretty sure were sharp. Hesitatingly, she stretched her petite hand forward. She bit her lip as her forefinger got close to the top of the fang.

As her finger touched the tip her eyes widened at the prickling sensation on the pad of her finger. She gasped, pulling her finger back and sucking on it. That was a bad decision as the little girl came toppling down onto the floor in a big heap. She landed on her bottom. Unaffected by the pain inflicted she stuck her tongue out at the gargoyle.

"Jolly Ranchers!"

Liana watched in awe as the gargoyle jumped to the side, showing a path of stairs leading upwards. She stepped on the first one and stamped her foot twice. Just like magic, the stairs started moving towards the little girl's destination. She stepped over the threshold and smiled at the past Headmasters and Headmistresses as they talked amongst themselves.

Liana walked to the glass case that held Godric Gryffindor's sword. She heard from her Auntie Ginny that Uncle Harry, in a secret chamber, had pulled the sword from the Sorting Hat. Auntie Ginny said that he saved her life when he did that.

"Liana." The little girl turned around to see an amused looking Uncle Harry and Uncle Draco.

"Uncle Harry! Draco!" She launched herself at both of their legs, making them both bit unsteady.

"Hey, hey, young lady," Draco said sternly to his godfather's daughter. "Watch it. You might hurt someone by giving them such a rough hug."

Liana giggled and shook her head stubbornly. "No, I won't hurt anyone."

Harry just shook his head, not wanting to get into the conversation. "Ana, where's Grandpa?" Harry asked looking around.

"Potter, do you see him anywhere?"

"Eat dung Malfoy."

Liana looked at both of her Uncles with an incredulous look on her face. A sudden smirk appeared on her face. "Eat dung Malfoy!"

Two stunned faces turned to look at the little occupant in the room.

"Shit," Draco muttered to himself, turning away from the little girl.

"Shit, shit, shit!" The little girl danced happily in little circles, repeating everything that they were saying.

Draco's eyes widened in horror. Severus was going to murder him.

"No, Liana it's 'shoot', okay?" Liana frowned, but nodded her head.

Draco looked around the room, seeing as how Dumbledore wasn't here.

"The old man isn't here anyways, I'm leaving," he mumbled.

He hurried back down the stairs. Harry shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the little girl. He picked her up and sat down in one of Dumbledore's oversized chairs.

"So, why are you here in Grandpa's office?" Harry asked the little girl.

"Daddy sent me here," the girl answered easily. "Daddy said that I was dissirupting his class, and that we'll talk later."

Harry quirked an eyebrow, "Darling, I think you mean disrupting."

Liana's eyes brightened, nodding at what her Uncle had just said. "Yeah, Daddy said that word!"

Harry chuckled and held the little girl close to him while she fiddled with his snitch necklace. This little girl that he was holding was the only physical remembrance he had of Hermione. It was entirely that git's fault! If he hadn't let her go into Karkaroff's head quarters she wouldn't be dead now. She would be alive...alive and bloody healthy at that too!

Yet, there was to be no dwelling on the past. All that mattered was the little girl in front of him. He didn't care that she was Snape's only daughter; all he cared about was that she was Hermione's only daughter. He would fulfill his place as godfather to the girl by watching over her every single day and night no matter how many times it annoyed the greasy git.

He had thought that the bastard of the dungeons would have changed, since Hermione had decided to fall in love and eventually marry him. Harry was mistaken; he was every bit of the idiot that Sirius had proclaimed.

"Harry, Liana, it is unexpected to see you here."

Harry was jerked out of his thoughts to see Professor Dumbledore standing there, smiling at the pair.

"Grandpa!" Liana jumped out of Harry's arms and ran to give the old man a hug as he stretched his arms out to embrace the young child.

"Albus," Harry said smiling as he stood up.

"Harry, what brings you to my office?" questioned Dumbledore as Liana started fiddling with his long beard.

Harry shook his head, not wishing to have the desired discussion in front of Liana.

"I'll speak to you about it later Albus," Harry said. "Malfoy, Ron, and I need to talk to you, that's all."

Bidding a farewell to both of them, Harry retreated down the steps. His thoughts were still around Hermione. He missed having one of his best friends to talk with. What he wouldn't give to at least see her walking through the castle one final time.

- - -

Liana tugged on Dumbledore's beard a bit too hard, bringing all the attention back to her.

"Ouch," Dumbledore said rubbing his chin. "Liana, that wasn't very nice of you," he said in a reprimanding voice.

"I'm sorry Grandpa," Liana apologized her eyes tearing. She wrapped her small, slightly chubby arms around his neck as she patted the back of his head. "I love you, and I promise not to do it, again."

"Apology accepted," Dumbledore said heartily. He sat down in his chair, settling Liana on his lap. "Now, I think you needed to tell me something," he said with a knowing tone.

Liana nodded her head. "Oh yes Grandpa, I need to tell you something very, very important," she said. "I had a bad dream, a nightmare," she said in a low voice.

Dumbledore pretended to look shocked, just for the sake of it. He loved to play along with her; she was the only one who called him Grandpa. The name gave him a significant sense of belonging.

Liana opened her mouth to tell her tale when she felt a sudden cold shiver run down her tiny back. She curiously looked around the room. The windows were closed, so it couldn't have been the wind. As it was a warm day for the second week of September, the room was relatively warm. She looked to the door and found that it was closed.

"Is there something wrong?" Dumbledore asked concerned.

Liana nodded, she brought her face very close to Dumbledore's ear and whispered, "I think someone is spying on us Grandpa."

She heard someone snort and cough, causing her to jump. She looked around the room, her eyes wide with fear. Her heart was thudded in her chest. Someone was in the room, someone she didn't know, and that scared her.

"Darling," Dumbledore replied, causing Liana to jump. "I think you're overreacting. The only people in this room are you, the past Headmasters and Headmistresses, and I," Dumbledore continued in a comforting voice.

Liana nodded her head, though she didn't seem convinced.

"Now, what was this dream you were telling me about?" Dumbledore asked steering her away from thinking that there was someone in the room.

This caught Liana's attention immediately.

"Grandpa, in my dream I saw Daddy crying over someone. And Auntie Minnie was holding me, and she brought me closer to the someone," Liana said in a hushed voice, as she drew closer to Dumbledore's ears to make sure that no one was listening. "I saw Mommy on the bed!"

"I know I don't remember Mommy, but I saw the pictures of her and Daddy in Daddy's room. Mommy was wearing a white dress in one of the pictures. That's my favourite picture of her you know," Liana said in a tone that usual five year olds take with the elderly.

"I see, and what else happened in your dream?" Dumbledore asked.

Liana thought about it for a minute before responding: "Daddy was crying over Mommy and she wasn't moving. Then the picture changed and I saw a bad looking man. He was laughing." Liana finished her tale, her voice now very quiet. "I didn't like the bad man Grandpa," she said quietly. "He looked crazy."

Dumbledore thought about what he should say to the little girl. Liana was obviously having dreams of what had occured in the past. He couldn't very well tell her that the bad man in her dreams was the very one who had killed her mother. She didn't need the added stresses that knowledge could bring. That information would cause this girl to have even more nightmares.

"Liana, I think you should run along now," Dumbledore said quietly, "Daddy should be in the Great Hall soon."

Liana frowned and placed her hands on her hips in a huff. She gave her Grandpa the most evil look she could muster. "There's something you're not telling me," she stated.

Dumbledore chuckled; the little girl would certainly be the death of him. She was always onto his little plans. Not that others weren't, but they were never upfront about admitting he was up to something.

"Darling, your dreams are dreams, that's it."

Not satisfied with the answer she got, she jumped down from his lap and opened the door to his office.

"You're mean, Grandpa." With that said, the little girl slammed the door in Albus' stunned face. The old man shook his head and placed his head in his palms. Dumbledore's long fingers stroked the sides of his head.

"You know," he said suddenly. "She's becoming more and more like both her father and you every day."

A silver figure appeared from out of the bookshelf, smiling at Dumbledore.

"I'm afraid you're right."

- - -

Draco stalked through the halls, snapping at the idiotic students still wandering there.

"It's dinnertime, not chat-with-your-mates-in-the-halls time," Draco seethed at a couple of fourth years. "You can continue your useless conversation in the Great Hall; five points from Hufflepuff."

Approaching the Great Hall, he moodily sat down at his usual seat. Being the Charms Professor was totally unbearable, especially when you taught ignorant sixth year Gryffindors.

"Nice day Malfoy?"

Draco turned his head to see Potter sitting next to him, swallowing what looked to be meat loaf. "Oh, yeah, loads of fun," he said sarcastically.

"Ginny get moody on you again?"

Draco nodded his head glumly; he had been trying to escape his wife's attention. Apparently, she had noticed and wasn't happy about it. It didn't help that she was very pregnant. Draco thanked Merlin, wherever he was, for not giving Dumbledore the crazy idea of letting her teach at Hogwarts. She would be muttering things under her breath, just like Hermione had done.

The thought of the deceased woman, as usual, made Draco even grumpier. 'Stupid Gr-Snape.' Even after the two had been married for four years, Draco still couldn't get over the fact that his godfather had married the know-it-all that had outsmarted him in every subject by at least 5%.

Yet, he reluctantly accepted her after she became Mrs. Severus Samuel Snape, officially becoming his godmother. It was she who had given him advice on how to win his wife, and it was she who had helped him anytime he and Ginny had a row. He would never willing admit it to anyone, but he did miss Hermione. There was no one else to help him after his rows with Ginny, except for maybe Potter. But Potter, it seemed, liked watching him suffer.

It was a selfish thought, no doubt about that, but he did miss her help. Though, that wasn't all. He missed having his Godmother around. It still felt weird to call her that, but he had always resorted to using that whenever he wanted something from her. But that was besides the point. With Hermione gone, his godfather was the moodiest man that ever walked the planet. He was even worse than before, and that was saying something!

"How's Luna?" Draco asked the raven-haired boy.

He watched as Potter shuddered. He smirked. They were both in the same situation, and he wouldn't change it one bit. Both their wives were too pregnant to walk to the Great Hall for mealtimes, so they remained in their chambers, which was just fine with the two men.

"Pregnant," was the answer Draco received.

Harry looked at Draco with an odd expression on his face. Draco noticed and raised an eyebrow. He nudged his head to the side indicating the area behind Draco. The Charms Professor turned his head around to see his godfather sit down beside him. Next to him sat Liana.

Harry prayed to Merlin, and all the powerful witches and wizards who were among the stars, that Liana forgot his little row with Malfoy in Dumbledore's office.

- - -

Liana spotted her two uncles and waved to them. She watched as the two waved back, though not as enthusiastically as she had. The little girl plopped herself onto her father's lap, making him sigh. She watched as her father piled food onto her plate, as well as his.

"Daddy," she said. "Draco and Uncle Harry taught me two new words today!" The little girl bounced happily as she made her father switch seats with her.

"Really," Severus said, looking highly uninterested. "And what, pray tell, are these new words that they taught you?"

"Shoot and shit!" Liana watched as her father's eyebrows shot up.

Severus had taken a sip of his red wine from his goblet; it had seemed like a good idea at the time. Although, he hadn't expected his daughter to say such a foul word.

Severus turned to his godson with a look of both pure astonishment and rage.

"Draco," he said in quiet voice filled with rage. The made the younger man gulped. "Why did you teach my daughter such foul language?"

Draco stuttered out an answer: "Y-you see U-uncle Sev, Liana caught Potter and I having a... just a little row and..."

Severus turned away from his Godson and continued to place food on his daughter's plate.

"Save the explanation for your wife," Severus spat enjoying the look of horror that passed over his Godsons face.

"Uncle Sev," Draco said in the same voice he used to use on his father, "you can't tell Ginny. She's pregnant. Any added stress won't be good for her."

Severus gave him the is-that-all-you-could-come-up-with look, that his mother gave him whenever he tried to explain the empty muggle condom wrappers in his room.

Draco mumbled something to himself and cut his steak with enough force to make the plate crack.

"Eat your vegetables, Liana," Severus demanded. He felt something snap in him when his daughter shook her head. "Liana, eat them."

Severus took a fork and poked a carrot piece with it. He then attempted to feed his daughter, who refused to open her mouth.

"Liana, I said eat your vegetables." By now, everyone in the Great Hall stopped eating their meal to watch the little argument in the Snape family.

"Liana," he said warningly.

Liana huffed in her seat and shook her head. "Eat dung, Daddy." The silence in the Great Hall was such that the entire student body heard Liana's small voice. All eyes turned to Professor Snape to see what would happen.

Severus' eyes widened slightly at his daughter's use of foul language. The obvious work of his treacherous Godson and the arrogant Harry Potter. He noticed all the students watching him intently and proceeded to give them a glare that quickly informed them of the death that would follow should this be discussed near him.

"Liana," he said in a reprimanding voice, "who taught you such language?"

"Draco and Uncle Harry," she whispered looking down at her plate of food. "Is dung a bad word, Daddy?" she asked, scared for the lives of Draco and her Uncle Harry.

"Very much," Severus said sharply.

Severus turned around to look at his Godson and Potter. He watched as they tried to shift away from him.

"Well, it's been a lovely dinner and all gentlemen," Harry said, wiping his lips with his napkin as he got up. "Alas, my wife needs my attention..."

He trailed off after seeing the look on Snape's face. "But I guess there could be time to have a little chat with you Severus," Harry said hastily.

Severus' lips curled into a sneer. "What on earth were you thinking when you taught my daughter such language!"

Harry and Draco shared a look and glared childishly at the little girl who was watching the interaction with wide eyes.

- - -

Severus carried his daughter into her room. He had grudgingly let her have her room the colour 'pink,' though he would've preferred it to be dark green, light grey, silver, or black. He felt a little better, though, when she had asked for green stripes, despite the fact that she chose French Green.

He tucked her in, and was about to leave her room when he heard a slight, "Daddy?"

He turned around to find his daughter looking very upset and crying. He assumed it had something to do with what had transpired at dinner. He pushed back a black curl away from her face.

"Why are you crying Little Snakelett?" he asked.

Liana sniffed, before answering her father, "Daddy, I don't want to be left alone," she said through her tears.

"It's alright," Snape answered. "I'm just going to be next door grading papers. Besides," he chided, "you're a big girl."

Liana shook her head in defiance. "No, Daddy. That bad man is going to visit me in my dreams again!" she cried. "I just know it!"

Severus looked at his daughter, pretending to be bored,and tired, when really he was shocked and seemingly interested.

"Don't be silly," Severus chastised. "There won't be a bad man visiting your dreams."

"Daddy, you don't understand!" she said indignantly. "Remember the bad dream I told you about in your classroom?" she stated. "That was when the bad man visited me. I don't want to see him again."

Severus finally understood what his daughter meant.

"It's okay," he assured her, "I won't let a bad man visit you," he said.

Liana looked unconvinced, but closed her eyes because she trusted her father.

"Good night." Severus placed a light kiss on her forehead.

He stood up from where he knelt and walked towards the door.

"I love you Daddy," Liana whispered.

Severus heard this, and turned around to face his daughter's bed. He stood there looking at his daughter for moment before answering, "I love you too, Sneaky Snake. Now sleep."

He closed the door, suppressing a sigh as he walked to his desk. Severus took out the sixth year papers on the properties of Salamander blood. Feeling the smooth coolness of the bottle of his red ink, he opened the cap and dipped his fine quill into it.

He immediately began scratching away at the first essay. His nerves grated at the atrocious grammar used by the student who wrote the essay. After editing and marking four essays he determined that he couldn't look at any other essays. They were absolutely horrible!

His eyes fell on a picture of his family...Hermione holding Liana as a baby and himself. They were smiling as they looked at their daughter. Draco had taken the picture and still hadn't stopped teasing him about smiling in the picture.

He closed his eyes and tried to forget her. He couldn't though, she was his love. His only love; his soul mate. Yet the fates had a different plan for him. They had ultimately decided that he could survive without her. He could not think of a worse scenario into which he had been placed. His wife dying, leaving him to raise their only child alone. Not that he was complaining, really. He loved the girl. It was just that Liana looked so much like her mother.

He poured vodka into one of his crystal glasses, and moodily sat on his green leather couch. After Hermione's death, Severus had been the worst father in the world, at least in his opinion. He couldn't even look at his daughter for days! His own mother had to come into the school and snap him back to reality.

As much of a reality there was for Severus Snape anyway. No, he really didn't think there would ever be a reality for him. Life had been taken away from him the very moment his wife was taken away from him. The only one that mattered now was Liana. Severus knew that he had to stay alive for as long as he could now, if for no other reason than to watch his little girl grow up and get married to someone Severus knew he could trust.

Trust was a major issue for Severus Snape. One he had never truly learned to deal with, especially after the incident with James Potter and Sirius Black back when they were all students. Taking a bottle of vodka in his hands, he scrunched his nose in disgust at the thought of the Marauders. Snorting he poured the bottle of vodka, and watched as the alcoholic beverage trickled into the cup, making splattering noises once it hit the glass.

Those two reminded him of his father. The infamous Samuel Snape. Severus loathed his father; his father would always accuse his mother of doing the simply outrageous things! Severus remembered sitting in the drawing room of Snape Manor, and the two...Samuel Snape and Helene Ravenclaw (Snape)...would fight endlessly.

- - Flash Back - -

"You little whore!" Samuel growled as he stared at his pathetic excuse for a wife.

Helene refused to look offended at his accusation. "Do not use such language in front of my son."

"He's every bit as my son, as he is yours," Samuel sneered.

Helene straightened up slightly, dusting off the invisible dust on her robes.

Seven-year-old Severus sniffled slightly as his parents continued arguing. He hated it when they argued. His eyes widened though when he saw his father slap his mother across the face. Severus had had enough! He stood up with courage and hit his father in the side.

"Move out of the way, Severus," Samuel said harshly, as he pushed his son back onto the couch. His wife continued to swear and curse at him for being so impossible. Having heard enough of her high pitched voice, the abusive wizard smacked her down.

Severus watched with wide eyes, and, standing up, ran to his mother.

"Severus, do not interfere," Samuel stalked closer to the two. He pulled Helene up to her feet and pried Severus away from her. When Severus didn't move, Samuel pulled out his wand.

"Samuel!" Helene cried as her husband pushed her behind him. "No, please!"

"Shut up, woman," he sneered. He rounded on his son, who looked up at him with fearful eyes. "You are a pathetic excuse for a Snape." He raised his wand and pointed it at the young boy. "Crucio!"

- - End Flash Back - -

Severus could still remember the feeling of being put under the Cruciatus Curse by his own father.

He closed his eyes and opened them again. He saw an outlined silver figure, of what looked to be Hermione. He blinked again, to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating. Opening his eyes, he sighed in displeasure. He really was hallucinating.

- - -

Hermione breathed in a sigh of relief as she disappeared through the walls of the dungeons. She had almost been caught!

Closing her eyes, she opened them again. Looking down at her palms, the color of her complexion was the same: a silvery white, color.

Her throat felt incredibly parched. She really would fancy a cup of tea, though she knew it wouldn't happen. She wasn't able to consume anything. Being a ghost, she couldn't even touch anything.

Life was absolutely brilliant.

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END CHAPTER ONE

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Authoress Notes

What did you think? Hermione's a ghost, hmm.

m1s7ress