Unwanted

Two days after Christmas, Severus was helping his daughter pack for her extended stay with Molly Weasley. Tristyn wasn't talking to him, only telling him how she felt by addressing her kitten in his presence. It was getting quite annoying. He had told her that she wasn't allowed to go with him in search of her mother, which had set off a storm of crying and temper tantrums that astounded even him.

"Hurry up, little grump."

"Rover, tell Daddy that I'm hurrying as much as a five year old can." She said in her clipped little voice she'd copied from him while listening to him harangue some of his students. He rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. His students didn't give him this much trouble most of the time.

"Rover, please tell my daughter that if she isn't ready in five minutes, she'll go to the Weasley's starkers but for you around her neck!"

"You wouldn't do that to me!"

"So, you're finally talking to me now? Good. Tristyn. Apparation is very difficult, and I don't want to risk harming you during it. How do you think I would feel if I lost both you and your mum?" He leaned against her doorjam, watching her. She sighed in frustration and blew some curls out of her face. She had been refusing to let him brush and maintain her hair and now she looked like her mother had after the fight at the Ministry in her fifth year. But with black hair and scowl like his.

"But I want to meet my mummy with you."

"I might not find her this time, poppet. There are hundreds of thousands of places where she could be that I might miss. I don't want to get your hopes up." 'I don't want to keep getting my own up, but I must.' He told himself as he entered and sat next to his daughter. She slid over next to him and hugged him. He was glad none of his students could see him now.

"But, you're going to find her, right? Maybe not now but someday?" She asked with so much hope in her voice.

"I will. You will have your mother, Tristyn. Of that, I can promise."

"I know you will, Daddy." She bent down and lifted her fluffy white companion. "Rover, would you like to go visit Miss Molly for a few days? I'll let you chase the garden gnomes as long as you promise not to hurt them." Tristyn looked deep into the blue eyes and nodded. "Okay then."

"Why did you name that ball of fur 'Rover'? Is that not a dog's name?"

"Yes sir. I wanted something just for him. No other kitty is named Rover."

She had him on that, at least.

"Finish packing. I'll take you to the Great Hall for breakfast, if you hurry. I think there are a few students staying over for the holidays." The students loved Tristyn like one of their own, no matter the House or year. She sat with anyone who struck her fancy and she chatted with them amicably. The older students had grown up with her and treated her like a little sister. Tristyn grinned, jumped off her bed and hurried to her closet. It was a rare treat when her father let her dine in the Great Hall with Uncle Albus and Auntie Minerva and the students.

The staff remaining at the school along with the few students all sat together at one table. Albus felt it made it more familial for the students. If Tristyn hadn't been there, he'd have objected, but Severus knew when he was beat. At the moment, his daughter was sitting between a fifth year Slytherin and a second year Hufflepuff, chatting with both of them while eating whatever the house-elves made appear on her plate.

"All ready to head out, Severus?" Albus leaned closer, talking softly so no one could overhear their conversation.

"I'll be staying at a Muggle hotel while abroad and apparating from there to various points. I'm hoping to get maximum coverage of the east coast. I promised Tristyn her mother and I'm going to keep that promise."

"I commend you for your commitment, Severus."

"If the Dark Lord hadn't seen my infatuation for Hermione in my mind, then he would never have taken her and put me in the position to petition for her in the first place. I'm responsible for her and I'm going to find her, Albus." Severus sipped from his wine glass watching Tristyn giggle when the second year tickled her under her chin. He'd have smiled if he didn't think it would undermine his authority with the students present, who would immediately tell their friends once they returned from holiday. And the last thing he needed was a lack of discipline in the potions lab.

"Severus, my boy, I've been telling you for years. It is not your fault. Hermione was in great danger anyway just because she is Harry's friend."

"Thank you." Severus whispered, keeping his head lowered.

"Whatever for, Severus?"

"For not using the past tense." He said so low that Albus feared he wouldn't hear him properly.

Albus smiled back at him then turned to the students. A few of them were war orphans, thanks to Tom Riddle's reign of terror, living in a wizarding orphanage in the middle of Muggle London.

"Tristyn. Mashed potatoes are not to be sculpted. You have toys for that. If you are finished with your meal, you may go wash your hands."

"I was just showing Taylor and Annelle what happened when you were playing Quiddich and fell in the rose bushes. You remember, when you made all the garden gnomes ascared and they ran away?" She looked up at him innocently. Everyone drew in a sharp breath as they wondered what the potions master would do to his own child for impertinence. Albus kept himself from chuckling.

"I wouldn't have fallen if you hadn't started yelling at me for throwing the quaffle too hard at your Uncle Ron." He answered evenly. Had she not reminisced in front of students he would have grinned and laughed. Instead he gave her a cocked eyebrow that she returned, then turned back to the headmaster.

"After the meal, the two of us will be apparating to the Burrow. Tristyn will be staying there until I return on Sunday, right before the rest of the dund--student body comes back."

"Good luck, Severus."

The potions master knodded and looked back at his daughter. He hoped he hadgood luck this time.

a/n~~This kid is a corker, man. She just keeps grabbing me while I'm writing and demanding her own time!

Enjoy the ride, things are gonna start getting fun from here on out!

AFter the next couple of chapters, real life will again intrude. I'm glad everyone's been so understanding and patient for the updates.

Marti