Snape and Deidre

    As he was finishing up with one student, Snape heard a small whimper from a corner. He crossed the room and leaned over, his black hair draping his shoulder as he found the young girl. The child looked terrified, her eyes red from tears. His somber appearance made her draw back from him, but Snape persisted. “Come now,” he said softly. “I may look awful and mean, but I wouldn’t hurt you, child. Tell me what has you so upset.”

    She gazed up at him, eyes wide. Snape sighed softly, then lowered himself to the floor so he wouldn’t be towering over the girl. He held out his hand and conjured a candy bar from the stores that Harry had brought him. “Do you like chocolate? I’ve never had a bar chocolate myself and I’m afraid it might taste terribly like tripe.”

    “Chocolate is good,” the little girl said softly. “Y’ve never had it before?”

    Snape shook his head. “I couldn’t afford a bar chocolate when I was your age. I could scarcely afford my books when I first arrived here at Hogwarts. Could you show me how to open the bar?”

    The little girl took the bar from his palm, deftly opening the wrapper with her tiny hands. She broke off a piece and held it out for Snape, who took it from her. “My name is Professor Snape. What’s your name?”

    “Deidre ... Deidre MacNair.”

    “What has you so sad, Miss MacNair?”

    “Imma scared th’ bad man will come back and hurt me like he hurt me mum an’ da.”

    Snape’s brow furrowed. “What bad man, Deidre?”

    “Vollymort.”

    “May I tell you a secret?”

    Deidre nodded. “Ya.”

    Snape leaned in close to her. “Vollymort is gone and he’ll never come back. Harry Potter and all of his allies made sure of it.”

    “Ken ye be sure, Professor Snape? You were dead, weren’t ye?”

    Snape’s fingers went absently to his neck scar. “Not completely, but close enough. But see, I was given a second chance. Vollymort is gone. He’s dust on the winds.

    “Now, eat a bite of chocolate. It’ll make you feel better.”

    Deidre ate a piece of chocolate, then smiled up at Snape. “It’s a good chocolate. Better than the frogs.” Her eyes welled up. “I miss me mum an’ da. They died down there in th’ courtyard. I know they were fightin’ again’ Vollymort, but I miss ‘em just the same.”

    Snape rose to his feet, holding his hand out to Deidre. She latched onto his long fingers and stood beside him. “Your parents were very brave, and you are too, going on in your schooling even while missing them. If you find yourself sad and lonely, you must come find me or Professor McGonagall. Do you understand, Deidre?”

    “Aye, Professor Snape. Thank ye for makin’ me feel better. Here’s ye chocolate.”

    Snape patted the girl’s head gently. “You go ahead and keep that, Miss MacNair. You might need it and I have more, all right?”

    Deidre nodded. “All right.”

    “Off with you, then. You may honour your parents’ sacrifice by doing your very best here.”

    “Thank ye, professor.”

Art & excerpt ©2016 Juliana Pocase (nee Blewett) All rights reserved
Harry Potter characters © JK Rowling & Warner Bros.