Chapter 1: Acceptance
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Dark thunderheads crept through the sky over Spinner's End, casting a pall over the already dreary street and its surrounding buildings. To the rare motorist who traversed the main road through the desolate factory town, the derelict houses, with their unkempt gardens and rotting siding would seem the last place any person would want to call home. But for one small girl watching the rapidly approaching storm with her round hazel eyes through the grimy window of a particularly dismal house at the end of a long row, Spinner's End and the isolated town around it was home, and had been for as long as she could remember. It was where her father had brought her to live after her mother had died, and where she had remained, with her father's brother and her godfather to watch over her.

Aurora Snape sighed with boredom as she continued to watch the skies. Though life outside the walls seemed depressing and bleak, life inside the abode was usually far different. Unless, of course, it was the summer holiday. Things always took a turn for the worse during the summer - for it was during those weeks from late June until the end of August that her father returned. It was then that the normally jovial attitude in the house took on a distinctly sour tone. Aurora glanced over at where her father sat in his armchair by the fire, his face hidden by the latest edition of The Daily Prophet. Severus Snape could not be more different than the regular inhabitants of the house at Spinner's End. Being gone for nearly ten months out of every year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he held the position of Potions Master, gave him little time to really know the daughter he sequestered here - or the two men who practically raised her.

It did not seem to bother him, Aurora thought - not for the first time - as she began to study him rather than the skies outside. Though he was on holiday, his posture as he sat was stiff and formal, as though he weren't at all comfortable in his surroundings. She knew exactly how he felt. Whenever he arrived, she felt on edge, careful not to do anything that might set off his notoriously nasty temper. Most days during the summer, she would be reading a book, or joking with her uncle, Steven, or her godfather, Malichi Melison. But both had errands today, and no amount of her begging convinced them to allow her to tag along. And so she sat, alone with the father she didn't really know, watching the clouds. To her eleven-year-old mind, if she sat there long enough, her father would be bound to notice her and engage her in conversation. The reality, however, was that she had been in the same room with him all morning, and he hadn't once looked up from the paper.

Aurora turned her attention back to the overcast day. Just as she'd finally decided that she would at least go and retrieve a book from her room to occupy her thoughts, she spotted an owl in the distance. There were no other wizarding families within miles - which meant that whatever the owl carried was for one of the four inhabitants of her house. Her large eyes followed the bird's progress as it headed directly towards the windowsill at which she sat, straining to recognize to whom it belonged. Larger than Kenoa, the family owl, the approaching messenger had feathers blacker than the curtain of stringy hair that framed her father's face. She knew that she, at least, had not seen it before.

Severus looked up idly as the owl landed on the windowsill and pecked at the glass. Aurora looked to him for approval, and with his curt nod, she spun the lock and allowed the mysterious guest to enter. When it did not fly over to her father, as she'd expected, but instead dropped a letter onto her lap before again taking flight, it took a moment for the girl to realize what had happened. As she examined the decorative envelope addressed to her, the handwriting seemed to trigger recognition, but stayed tantalizingly out of reach. She turned the envelope over, and immediately knew what it was. The seal was unmistakable - it was the same that appeared on every missive to her father from his place of employment. It was a letter from Hogwarts - to her. She glanced up again, but her father seemed disinterested in the letter's contents.

It was no matter, however, as she had enough interest for the both of them. She tore into the envelope eagerly, only taking in the first few words before leaping from her chair and crossing the room to where Severus continued to read his paper. Aurora cleared her throat expectantly.

"Yes?" he said irritably, not putting down the paper.

"This letter just arrived, Father - it's from Hogwarts."

"Your point?"

"It was addressed to me," she went on, not sure if he understood the magnitude of what she held in her hand.

"Then you would do well to open it," he said shortly.

"I have." He sniffed derisively as he continued to read. "It says I've been accepted." Her father looked up from his paper, his cold black eyes snapping with impatience.

"And?" Aurora looked down at the letter, and then back at him, hope buoying at the prospect.

""It's not a mistake, is it? I mean, you'd already said that with you teaching there -"

"Obviously you are being permitted to go, or Professor McGonagall would not have sent you that letter." He returned to his paper, leaving her too stunned to reply. Aurora had the sudden urge to throw her arms around his neck and hug him - but was sure his reaction would not be pleasant.

"Th-thank you for changing your mind," she stammered instead. There was no response from behind the paper, and she wandered back to her seat in awe. She was going to Hogwarts. Steven and Malichi had been telling her stories of the school - both had attended, and Malichi had been Potions Master before her father - and of the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Aurora re-read her letter, her heart thumping with excitement. Wait until she told them - their excitement, she knew, would rival her own.

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Malichi and Steven arrived within moments of each other, just before dinner. Aurora waited only until they'd removed their traveling cloaks before rushing to them and telling them her news, earning her a disapproving grunt from her father - now buried in a Potions text. Far from sharing her excitement, however, both men immediately turned startled gazes above her head to her father.

"That's some news," Steven said curtly as he continued to stare coldly at his brother, who seemed unaware that there was any issue in the corridor. Aurora was astonished at his reaction - though he resembled her father in every physical way, Steven's personality was the polar opposite of his older brother's, and he was normally warm and quick to laugh. The expression on his face now made it clear that laughter was the farthest thing from his mind.

"Indeed it is, Piccolino," Malichi agreed, diffusing her uncle's brusque reply with the use of his pet name for her. With his long grey hair flowing past his shoulders and the lines that leant character to his features, her godfather seemed frail, but Aurora knew better. He tore his eyes from Severus and turned a warning glance towards Steven, which the young girl took in with curiosity.

"Malichi, doesn't Uncle Steven want me to go to Hogwarts?" she asked as he began going through the cupboards.

"We all want what is best for you, Piccolino. The decision had been made to send you to Beauxbatons - Steven was simply surprised, that is all." Aurora frowned.

"But -"

"Hush, Piccolino. Aren't you pleased to be going to Hogwarts?"

"Oh, yes!" she affirmed, her eyes lighting up.

"Then leave well enough alone, child. Do not ask so many questions." Aurora obeyed, but a nagging doubt had already seeded itself in her mind.

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Steven waited only until Aurora and Malichi had left the room before voicing his displeasure.

"What happened to sending her to Beauxbatons?"

"I was not aware that I needed your approval to obtain the best education for my child," Severus snapped, his eyes not wavering from the text he studied.

"You're the one who suggested it!" Steven argued, crossing the room to stand before his brother.

"And it was I who changed my mind," Severus retorted, his icy gaze flickering to the younger man.  "It occurred to me that I would be best suited to watch over her during the term."

"Did it not also occur to you that many of your former colleagues have children who will also be attending? What if one of them was to discover who she was - you said yourself that they wouldn't think twice about - she isn't safe where they can find her, Severus, and you damn well know it!" Steven's eyes held a mixture of emotions as Severus met them head-on - fear, anger, concern - nevertheless, Severus had made his decision only after much consideration, and he would not be swayed.

"I would never place her in harm's way," Severus pointed out through gritted teeth. "And you damn well know that. While Albus Dumbledore is Headmaster, the school is virtually impenetrable. She will be well protected there." Steven opened his mouth to say more, but was stopped by Malichi's arrival in the doorway.

"Supper's on." His voice was low as he checked back over his shoulder to verify Aurora was still in the kitchen. "And I would advise the two of you to at least attempt to conceal your animosity at the moment."Without waiting for an answer, he turned and headed back into the kitchen, the two younger men close behind him.

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Despite Malichi's warning, the tension at supper was apparent, even to Aurora. Severus hadn't spoken to any of them, and Steven refused to look up from his plate. Aurora was very disappointed. She'd been so excited when she got her letter, but now she felt as if a lead weight had settled in her stomach. Ever since she was old enough to talk she'd told her uncle that she wished she could go to Hogwarts. He'd always told her what a fine school it was, but now it seemed as though he was dead set against her going. Was it going to be like this the entire summer?

"Aurora," Severus spoke suddenly, startling her enough to make her flinch, dropping the spoonful of peas she'd been holding to the floor. He eyed her critically while she cleaned them up, and then cleared his throat when she sat down again. "I want to discuss how you are to behave while you're at Hogwarts."

"I'm confused," she said, meeting his glare. "Even though I don't get out much, I think I know how to behave among other people." Her father's jaw clenched and Aurora braced herself for his sharp retort.

"He doesn't mean your behavior, really," Malichi broke in. "Just how you present yourself to the students and faculty."

"Oh, I understand now," she said irritably. "I'm going to be Aurora Rinkle again?" Severus nodded. "And I suppose I'll have to use the glamour potion, too?" At the second nod from her father, Aurora tried to choke down the lump that had begun to rise in her throat. "Am I ever going to be allowed to be myself?" she asked quietly, staring down at her plate.

"Nobody is telling you not to be," Severus admonished, his voice taking on its usual irritable tone. "All we require is that you do not tell people that you're my daughter. That has nothing to do with how you choose to act."

"That's where you're wrong!" She surprised even herself by standing up from her chair. Her eyes focused on him, anger and hurt burning brightly in them. Realizing that she had shouted, she lowered her voice. "It's going to be the same as it is every time I'm allowed to leave the house - a rehearsed answer to every question anyone should ask. It's hard enough to lie convincingly for a few hours - how can I be myself when I don't look like myself, and have to be careful about what I say every second of every day?"   Tears had begun to stream down her cheeks, but they went unheeded as she continued on. " When I got the letter, I thought that this year, it might be different. Stupid me. Why would you suddenly decide to admit that I'm your daughter, just because I'm going to be in the same building with you for ten months?" The two brothers stared at her in shock, while Malichi took in the scene stoically as she ran from the room. Steven got up to follow her, but Severus stopped him.

"She's my daughter, Steven."

"Then act like it! Tell her the truth, Severus! She can't go on believing that she's done something worthy of how you treat her!" Seeing that he was going to get no response from his brother, he threw down his napkin and stalked out, slamming the door behind him. Severus leaned back in his chair, rubbing his throbbing temples.

"The child has already begun to ask questions, son," Malichi intoned quietly, picking up his fork to finish his meal. "I suggest you start being a bit more forthcoming with her."

"She'll do as she's told, Malichi. The details need not concern her."

"Not if you want her to loathe you by the end of term, no." Severus closed his eyes against the older man's words, wishing - not for the first time - that for just one day, nobody would contradict him.

"Do me the favor of allowing me to rear my daughter in the manner in which I see fit," he retorted tersely, standing abruptly from the table and climbing the stairs towards the sanctity of his bedroom. He hesitated as he neared Aurora's door. Should he speak with her, or simply let her be angry? Surely nothing he could say would comfort her - he was not likely to change his mind. But still - oughtn't he at least try? Finally coming to a decision, he braced himself, and then opened the door without bothering to knock.

"Aurora." She was sitting on the bed, facing the window when he entered. As he spoke, she turned to him expectantly. At that moment, the sunset cast an eerie red glow over her face, giving him an intense feeling of foreboding. "Goodnight," he said, quickly shutting the door behind him. He leaned against it for a moment, his heart pounding. Not one to normally believe in signs, the pall which had passed over her face nevertheless stuck in his mind as he continued on to his room, and haunted his dreams.

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The next morning at breakfast, Aurora refused to look at her father. Steven had not returned from wherever it was he'd gone, and the lack of his presence disturbed her. She hadn't even volunteered to cook breakfast - something she usually begged to do. Instead, she simply re-read her Hogwarts letter until her father called her in to the kitchen. She ate quickly, not saying a word to either her father or godfather, then laid her dishes in the sink and went back up to her room. Neither man made any effort to speak with her, but she was not surprised. Her father's conversations normally consisted of laying down rules, and became awkward and forced when the subject turned to anything else. As for her godfather - Malichi was nearly as reticent as Severus, though he did make his affection for her known on a somewhat regular basis. It was Steven who was her consoler, Steven who made everything seem well again. But Steven was nowhere to be found.

September first. That was when she would be able to start school. Looking at the calendar, she realized with a start that it was only three weeks away. Perusing the list of items she'd need for the term, she toyed with the idea of asking Malichi to take her to Diagon Alley for her supplies. Realizing that her uncle's feelings would probably be hurt, she decided against it, and leaned back on her bed with a heavy sigh. The door suddenly swung open to reveal her father, his ever-present scowl firmly in place.

"What?" she asked irritably.

"Mind your tone when you speak to me. I do not want last night's episode to become a regular occurrence." Ignoring his warning, she looked back up at him haughtily, then addressed him with a confidence she didn't truly feel.

"What are you going to do? Put me on restriction?" She gave a humorless laugh. "I'm not allowed to go anywhere, and you've made sure I haven't any friends, so what good will it do?"  His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"It's not too late to send you to Beauxbatons." Aurora bit back a retort before he made good on his promise. "Steven is going to take you to Diagon Alley. I suggest you get ready immediately if you wish to go." She jumped from the bed excitedly and ran to her mirror to put up her hair, stopping when her father's arm appeared in front of her, a vial in his outstretched hand. Aurora knew without being told what the milky white potion swirling inside the container was. She'd had to take it her entire life - any time she stepped foot outside of the house.

The reasoning had never been made clear to her - her uncle and godfather tended to refer the matter back on her father's wishes, and her father was not very receptive to questions. With dismay, she took the potion, and then watched her reflection as it took effect.  Her flowing auburn hair that she'd inherited from her mother became thin, blonde, and shorter than her father's, and the upturned button nose - again, a gift from her mother - turned down, and elongated. The almond shaped green eyes of her disguise stared back at her, and without a word to her father, she brushed past him and hurried down the stairs to where Steven was waiting.

"Let's go," she urged, grabbing his arm and starting towards the door.

"Ra-" Aurora stopped at the use of his pet name for her. Steven was grinning. "You don't want to walk all the way to London, do you?" 

"Might as well," she said in conspiratorial tones as her father descended the stairs. "It's not like it's going to be any fun around here for a while." She smiled back at him as he guffawed loudly - maybe last night hadn't ruined the entire summer after all. They made their way past Severus, both Steven and Aurora carefully avoiding his glowering stare, and out the back door into the garden. Steven took Aurora by the hand, smiled at her, and with a loud crack, they had left Spinner's End behind. Aurora looked around as they Apparated at the far end of Diagon Alley, just outside of the Leaky Cauldron.

Every time they came, it seemed as though there was something new to look at. This morning it was a group of witches - touring on holiday, from the look of them. Dressed in identical bright orange robes with green pointed hats, they were ogling everything in sight. As Steven and Aurora passed by them, she heard them talking amongst themselves in a language she didn't recognize. One of the witches - an old, hunched over woman with sagging skin and bloodshot eyes - caught her stare. Aurora smiled in what she hoped was a friendly way as the old witch narrowed her eyes and muttered something to her compatriots.

Aurora quickly turned her attention back to the street ahead of her, her heart leaping when they arrived outside Flourish and Blotts - by far her favorite store. Steven was muttering to himself and glancing at her school list, while the small girl looked in wonder at the thousands of books that were crammed inside the building. She wandered away, her fingers grazing the spines as she walked among them. Her distress at having to be disguised yet again was momentarily forgotten as she perused the tomes cluttering the area.

She was disappointed to find nothing of new interest in the first several shelves - she hadn't been to Diagon Alley in nearly six months - but her breath caught in her throat as she rounded a stack of precariously balanced books on kneazles. Nearly hidden by shadows at the very rear of the store, a battered sign read ‘Muggle Books - ½ price'.

Aurora made her way to the deserted aisle eagerly. Her father, of course, would never have allowed her near the books, but both Aurora and her uncle found Muggles intensely interesting. Having been taught at home while her father was away, Steven had made sure she'd had exposure to the non-magical world of Muggles. He was, by night, a stage magician, performing sleight of hand and other tricks that did not breach the International Statues of Secrecy.

Standing directly beneath the sign, Aurora devoured the titles that loomed before her. Some she had heard of, even read, but there were quite a few of which she knew nothing about. She selected one at random, pulling it from the shelf and scanning the synopsis on the back cover before replacing it and pulling the next down.

"There you are!" Steven was frowning slightly as he crossed the crowded shop to stand beside her, a stack of textbooks in his arms.

"Muggle books!" Aurora explained, pulling yet another from its spot. "Oh! It's a cookbook!" She flipped through the pages hungrily, her eyes shining with delight as they devoured each recipe.

"Ra, we haven't the time - I've got all your books, we have to be getting on."

"Can't I get one of these as well?" she implored, giving him what she hoped was a woebegone expression. For a moment, it looked as though he was going to refuse, but he shook his head and smirked.

"Oh, all right. You know I can't resist that puppy-dog stare. But just one," he added, as she began pulling several from the shelves.

After ten excruciating minutes of being unable to decide, she closed her eyes and selected one at random.

"Excellent!" she beamed. The book was entitled Don Quixote, bore an image of a windmill and two men on horses, one of them in full armor. It had the added benefit of being extremely thick, which meant that it might entertain her through the rest of the summer.

"Let's get over to the till, then," Steven suggested, gently taking her arm and guiding her through the throngs of customers. They stopped at the counter - which was six inches higher than the top of Aurora's head - and he set their purchases down. Aurora stepped back in order to survey the wizened clerk. Though he seemed permanently hunched over, she had a feeling that he would be taller than her uncle if he could stand straight up. Tufts of what looked to be brown hair stuck up at odd intervals in a horseshoe shape around his head, giving him a slightly dodgy look. The clerk looked down his bulbous nose at the books on the counter, and then turned his eyes to Aurora.

"Daughter off to Hogwarts, sir?" he asked, his dull blue eyes surveying her critically.

"Yes. That is - she isn't my daughter, but yes, she's been accepted at Hogwarts this term."

"Bit of goblin in her, I reckon?" The clerk asked. Steven looked confused for a moment.

"Merlin's beard, no. All wizard," he assured the other man. The clerk cocked an eyebrow and looked slightly skeptical, and Aurora felt her fists tighten in anger by her sides. She knew she was rather short for eleven - one of the aspects of her true appearance that the glamour potion did not alter - but she was sick and tired of getting stares of incredulity when people heard her age.

"Excuse me," she addressed him through clenched teeth, prepared and eager to tell the clerk off. "Just because someone happens to be-" Steven cast a furrowed brow in her direction to silence her as he hurriedly dug out the coins from his pocket and pressed them into the clerk's hand.

"Thank you," Steven said quickly, scooping up the books - now tightly wrapped in brown paper - and taking Aurora's arm as before - though this time, his hold was much firmer. Aurora cast a glare over her shoulder at the man, who had already turned to the next customer in line. Only when they'd passed through the doors of the bookshop did Steven release his grip.

"Aurora, we've talked about that temper before," he chided softly, his brows still furrowed.

"What do you want me to do? Pretend that I didn't get what he meant?" she fumed, stuffing her still-balled hands into the pockets of her jacket.

"I'd expect you'd be used to it by now." She turned on him immediately.

"So just because I'm short I have to get used to people treating me like I couldn't possibly be human?"

"Of course not - but getting angry doesn't solve anything," he responded patiently. They had resumed walking, making their way towards Madam Malkin's Robes.

"Makes me feel better," she muttered as an unseen bell chimed their arrival into the shop. Steven seemed not to hear her as he greeted Madam Malkin warmly. She glanced around his shoulder at Aurora, nodded, said something in low tones to Steven, and then promptly disappeared into the back room.

"In any case," Steven said cheerfully, taking a seat at the front of the shop, "You go off on your classmates, you're liable to end up with an extra set of arms. Mind you, they could be useful in keeping your room tidy..."His words had the effect she knew he wanted - her grimace of fury softened as she struggled to keep from laughing. "Might need six arms, though, at the rate your messes spread." She was nearly there - her mouth was twitching up at the corners - "I'll write Professor Dumbledore. I'm sure there's bound to be a hex for that sort of thing. Make sure it gets spread around the school, so there are plenty of opportunities…"Aurora clamped a hand over her mouth as she heard an involuntary snicker emerge. Too late - Steven had heard it, and beamed triumphantly at her as Madam Malkin returned.

Though the robes the tailor witch had brought were twice Aurora's size, Steven kept up a diatribe of quirky ideas on things she should be on the lookout for at school, effectively keeping the girl's anger in check while Madam Malkin began to pin the hem.

"Don't move, dear," Madam Malkin said as Aurora began to fidget. She begrudgingly stood still, though she continued to shoot looks towards Steven, who finally began to laugh at her.

"It will look fine when she's done," he assured her. "Madam Malkin is the best robe maker in London." The old witch beamed with this praise, and began moving a bit faster, finally standing back and nodding approvingly.

"You're done now, dear." Aurora jumped down eagerly, and dragged Steven from the shop.

"I thought we'd never get out of there!" she said, sinking onto a bench dramatically.

"Well, we have," Steven said, frowning as he glanced down at his watch. "But it took longer than I expected. I've an appointment later this afternoon. We'd best get a move on." He steered her towards the apothecary, and as they crossed the threshold, Aurora realized she'd never been inside.

The interior was dimly lit and smelled faintly of old socks, freshly dug earth, and dragon dung. Along the walls were shelves filled with jars, each containing something she could not discern. Barrels hid some of the shelves from view - the ones closest to Aurora and Steven were filled to the brim with beetle eyes, dragon livers, and rat tails. Aurora began to examine everything with interest, feeling slightly disappointed when Steven hurried her out what seemed like seconds later, her supplies tucked under his arm.

"There were loads of ingredients in there!" Aurora announced as they began walking towards the other end of the alley.

"Yes - if you know how to brew them, Potions can be used for almost anything," Steven agreed, his hand pressed lightly against her back as he steered her through the other shoppers. Aurora glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her mind whirring.

"That's why Father enjoys them," she realized quietly. "They give him control - they even let him create the perfect daughter." Steven stopped mid-stride and stared down at her, his jaw open. Shaking his head, he took her elbow and quickly led her to a bench, where he forced her to sit.

"Ra, look at me," he instructed, taking the spot next to her. She lifted her head slowly and looked at him. "Your father - he does love you. Just as you are."

"It sure doesn't feel like it."

"I know," he sighed. "But trust me. How could he not? You're smart, funny, and beautiful. Of course, you get your good looks from me." He tossed his head and posed pompously. With his short-cropped inky hair, coal-black eyes and hooked nose, he and her father held no resemblance to her. Aurora giggled, but stopped as she remembered she didn't even look like herself. "Now, we'll hear no more nonsense about your father wanting you to be anything than what you are, okay?" Steven went on, apparently oblivious to her change in mood. "C'mon," he said, standing up and offering her his hand. "Let's go get your wand."  Aurora nodded curtly, not convinced by his words. Still, she took his proffered hand, and as they approached Ollivander's, she couldn't help but feel a tremor of excitement as she thought of obtaining her first wand. Steven's mood, however, grew increasingly darker. Despite his reassurances to his niece, her words clutched painfully at his heart.

"Damn you, Severus," he muttered.

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