FIC: Don't Need No Education
Severus Snape woke, as usual, to a loud shattering noise followed by ominous silence. It took him a full ten seconds to remember the date and that Promessa had no business in his lab this morning. With a groan, he rolled over and threw an arm over the warm body next to him.
“Go and fetch your daughter.”
“How is it,” Remus Lupin grumped, “that whenever she’s smashing something she stops being our daughter and becomes my daughter?”
“Just get up before she sets the bloody house on fire.” Severus yawned and pulled Remus closer. “Like last week.”
“Fine.” Remus disentangled himself from Severus, stood up and tugged on his pajama bottoms. He leaned down to kiss Severus’ dour mouth.
Severus pulled a face but did not resist. “Morning breath.”
“You’re not fooling me, you old curmudgeon. I know you’re just as excited as she is - new school year, and all that.” One more affectionate peck and Remus was out the door, bellowing for their daughter to get out of Severus’ lab. The answering explosion shook the rafters.
Severus winced and pull Remus’ pillow over his face. This, he mused gloomily, is going to be a long day.
Perversely, time seemed to speed up and all too soon they were hurrying across Hogwarts grounds with Promessa’s trunk floating before them.
“Did you pack your Potions kit?”
“Yes,” Promessa hissed. It was uncanny, seeing his glare on someone else’s face. “And my textbooks, and my wand, spare parchment, quills, and everything. If I forget anything, Dad can just bring it to me.”
Severus flicked his wand irritably. The trunk jerked in midair. “Promessa -”
“Mess,” she corrected him belligerently.
For the millionth time, Severus cursed the name he had given his daughter. He blamed the pain potions he had been taking at the time. He didn’t like to think about the fact that Remus hadn’t been around to object.
“You were the one who insisted on living in the dormitories ‘like all the normal kids,’ as you put it. How will it look if your father visits every day, bring you spare pants?”
“You could always bring me spare pants.”
“We have discussed this,” he muttered, laying a hand on her shoulder. “At home, I am your father. At Hogwarts, I am your Headmaster. Otherwise -”
Without waiting for him to finish, Promessa darted away. Once she got two meters ahead, she stumbled on the hem of her robe and fell face-first onto the springy turf. Severus rushed forward, but Promessa didn’t even look back - she picked herself up and barreled straight up to the main entrance.
Remus had wanted to Floo to London so Promessa could take the Hogwarts Express along with her classmates, but Severus had nixed the idea immediately. He reckoned that she was perfectly capable of walking with him from their cottage in Hogsmead. But he hadn’t expected their first walk together to go quite like this.
Just inside the doors, Severus stopped. “Come here.”
Promessa, halfway through the doors into the Great Hall, spun on her heel. Seeing Severus’ face, however, she grudgingly stomped back to his side.
Severus took a long look at his daughter, from her lank brown hair, down her brand new school robes to the scuffed boots she insisted on wearing. She had Remus’ stout build and, unfortunately, Severus’ prominent nose. People often mistook her for a boy before noticing the piercings that lined her slightly protruding ears. She was no beauty, Severus could see that plainly. Yet, looking at her, he felt a lump form in his throat.
“Oh, Dad.” Promessa rolled her eyes, but her expressive face broke into a fond smile. “Don’t get all soppy. I love you, too.”
“I was not -” His voice broke. Severus inhaled sharply and tried again. “I was going to say… I am proud of you.”
After the tearful scene Remus had made over breakfast, he had thought Promessa would be sick of maudlin displays. Severus was surprised when she dropped her school bag and hugged him around the waist. He forgot where they were and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Thanks,” she mumbled into his midsection, squeezing a bit too tightly for comfort.
“You’re welcome,” he responded, and squeezed back.