The Traitors Daughter (Completed)

Chapter Sixteen

The twins were so happy with their new piece of information. She hadn't told them where she got it from but she believed that they suspected anyway. But now it was nearing the end of dinner and her excitement was replaced with nervousness. She had finished her meal only a few minutes prior but she had to wait for Lupin to leave and her father to collect her.

A tap on her shoulder brought her out of her daze and she looked up to find her father staring at her expectantly.

'Its time?' She asked and he nodded helping her up by grabbing her hand. They walked out of the hall in silence all the way to Lupins office still holding hands. Upon reaching the door she gave Severus' hand a tight squeeze before wiping her sweaty hands on her trousers. The two didn't bother knocking.

'Lilliana and Severus. Thank you for coming' If Lupin was confused as to why Severus was there he didn't show it. Neither Severus nor Lilliana replied. The three of them sat in uncomfortable silence for about 10 minutes before Lupin eventually spoke up.

'Lilliana, I was informed by Severus that I upset you during the Christmas dinner. I would like to clear up and misunderstanding that may have occurred.'

'It wasn't a misunderstanding. Everything was going fine until you looked at me like I was the dirt on the bottom of your shoe.'

'I want to reiterate that it wasn't you I was looking at in disgust. As I am sure you are aware of how your father and I don't get on. Well neither did your birth father and Severus. That's why I made that face because it's not who I expected adopting you.'

'Why? Did you not think he would be a good enough father? I have already had to yell at Ron for suggesting that.' Lilliana noticed that Severus was squirming in his seat, she knew he was uncomfortable so she continued with, 'Dad you can go, ill see you later okay.' Severus nodded, stood up and then squeezed her shoulder in reassurance before he left.

'Honestly no I didn't' Lupin continued, 'The Snape I knew in high school and a few years after was a cold-hearted Bastard. We never got on and it never seemed like he had a heart so for it to be announced that he had adopted a child was a shock, but it was an even bigger shock when I came to find out that the child he had adopted was you. It still blows my mind that he said to Dumbledores proposal.'

'Why?' What he said made sense but Lilliana still wanted to know more.

'Because Me and Peter, your birth father, plus two of our closest friends in school used to bully Severus. I'm ashamed of it now. I never used to join in but I never stopped it either and I was part of the crowd who laughed at him. I just assumed when I heard the news that he had done it out of spite. I didn't know that Dumbledore had asked him at that point but even if I didn't know that my opinion would have changed. I've seen the way he treats you and I've seen your relationship improve these last few weeks and when he came to you defence on boxing day it just proved to me that he genuinely loves you as his daughter. I couldn't be happier for the two of you.'

'So you and Peter were definitely close?' Lilliana had taken to calling her birth dad Peter to save the confusion when she mentioned that Severus was her father.

'Yes he actually chose me to be your godfather'

'Really?'

'Yes. Severus said you remember me from when I used to visit you at Ted's.'

'I do, I think I used to call you Rupin because I couldn't pronounce your name' Lilliana laughed.

'You could barely pronounce anything' Lupin joined in the laughter. That's how Severus found them a few hours later, reminiscing and remembering the past, laughing about the tale that Lupin told her.