March 17, 1989

"I'M GOING TO GET YOU!"

The caretaker's shouts amused the little brown-haired girl terribly. She couldn't have been older than eight, and she ran down the corridors lined with students. It was almost lunchtime, and she had already managed to play three pranks on him, as well as a few on his disliked cat, Mrs. Norris, who had the annoying habit of following her everywhere. Of course, she managed to escape her every time.

The girl turned right into a hallway where a few older boys were looking at her in amazement. Everyone knew the little one, often saying she was the soul of the school with how adorable and clever she was. It was no wonder she was like this; her mother had been known as one of the biggest troublemakers during her school years, though her mind had always been sharp and envied. That was until she faked her death seven years ago.

The girl knew some of her mother's secrets, the biggest being her direct connection to the Potters, who were killed by Voldemort, a dark wizard defeated by their son. Her mother was Lily Potter's stepsister, Harry's aunt, and the next queen of the Vampire Kingdom.

This meant that she, the little troublemaker currently being searched for by Filch, was the cousin of the Boy Who Lived and the vampire princess. At her age, she didn't feel the weight of the responsibilities and worries her mother had, but she perhaps suffered more than anyone else when she saw her mother's deplorable health and the sadness in her dark chocolate-colored eyes.

The girl considered her mother a fighter, having gone through a war and losing many loved ones, then feeling like she couldn't go on and faking her own death, only to hide in the place she loved most on this planet: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The brown-haired girl had grown up here, staying nine or ten months a year, and she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. She had made many friends among both students and teachers, not to mention the ghosts who visited her daily in the room she shared with her mother. She enjoyed the atmosphere as much as she could, knowing that in the year she turned eleven, when she received her letter of acceptance to Hogwarts, everything might change.

But she preferred not to think about that now and continued to have fun as if it were the last day. Perhaps that's why she didn't notice the person she bumped into when she turned right down a corridor, landing on them with a few books falling on top of them.

"Were you not looking where you were going, or was it me? Or both?" asked a quiet female voice that made the brown-haired girl lift herself up on her hands.

The child smiled innocently and got off the twenty-eight-year-old woman with similar brown hair tied in a ponytail, a bit dazed from the fall. The brown eyes scanned her figure, and a small smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"I think it was both, Mommy," said the girl quietly.

"What did you do this time, Lyra? Another prank on Filch?"

She knew her too well, but the thought didn't stop her from giggling.

"What do you think?"

"What's the reason now?" her mother asked, getting up from the floor and dusting off her black cloth pants.

Lyra had never seen her wear anything other than black, suspecting it was due to the death of her uncle and aunt. Nevertheless, it suited her, and she couldn't deny that the woman she called "mom" was beautiful.

"He started punishing two first-year students for talking a bit too loudly. Did you expect me to sit idly by?"

Her mother let a small smile escape the corner of her mouth, then shook her head amusedly at her daughter's adorable expression. With a movement of her long, pale fingers, she lifted the books she had been carrying a few moments before their little accident. Lyra had always been fascinated by her mother's powers, but now even more so, wishing she could do the same things.

"No, he deserves it sometimes. But I think you've been spending too much time around Tonks."

"Mommy, you know it's not her fault," said the girl, picking up a thick volume on the properties of magical plants from the floor. "It's weird not to spend as much time with her anymore..."

The woman looked tenderly at her little wonder, understanding her pain. Tonks was in her fifth year, with some of the most important exams students had to take to follow their dream careers. It was normal for her to spend more time studying, even though it was a bit out of character for a prankster like her.

The same went for Bill and Charlie, two of the Weasley children. Lyra had grown up as one of their own; they had taken care of her when most of the teachers were busy, without their parents knowing of the girl's existence. The girl knew that no one outside the castle knew that she and her mother were alive, and that would continue until Catherine felt ready. Until then, everyone's lips were sealed.

"Sweetheart," murmured the woman with dark chocolate eyes as she crouched to her daughter's level, "I'm sorry I haven't been able to spend more time with you in the last few weeks. How can I make it up to you?"

The girl put a finger under her chin, pretending to think intensely about something. However, she already had a proposal for her mother, and she was convinced she would like it. It wasn't the first time they had done this, after all.

"Take me to your classes," said the girl with a grin.

"To embarrass my students?" Catherine asked, laughing.

The vampire had long seen her daughter's desire to learn as much as possible. She would steal her mother's books or ask Madam Pince, the school librarian, for thick volumes of magic theory, potions, and history to study. At eight years old, she knew more than most seventh-year students, impressing almost all the faculty.

The truth was, she had plenty of sources to learn from. There were many times when Catherine couldn't take care of Lyra, so she left her in the hands of Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration professor and deputy headmistress. She had continuously taught her since she was five years old, enjoying every time the child came to her or called her "granny." Minerva had been like a mother to Catherine, taking care of her during school and since she returned to teach.

The girl had also studied Charms with Professor Filius Flitwick, with whom she had formed a close friendship. The same happened with Professor Pomona Sprout, who taught Herbology and prayed Lyra would keep her current good behavior. The same went for Professor Sinistra of Astronomy, who found the young girl extremely interesting.

However, most of her knowledge was due to her mother and another person. Catherine made sure her daughter knew how to defend herself and learn what she enjoyed. She never had a problem with the girl spending time with other faculty members, but one worried her.

Lyra had gotten quite close to the Potions professor, a cold, stubborn man with sharp words when he wanted. Severus Snape was known for his alliance with Voldemort, then switching sides to the good one. The man knew a lot of dark magic, and Catherine feared her daughter might follow the same wrong path as she and he did. She didn't like that the girl found a confidant in Snape, but she couldn't force her not to stay with her loved ones.

She still didn't understand how Snape had accepted the girl, considering he generally couldn't stand children. Maybe Lyra had found a place in his heart, who knew...

"Maybe that too," replied the girl with raised eyebrows and dark eyes. "Which year do you have now?"

"Seventh years from Ravenclaw."

"Ew, no!" the girl raised her tone, grimacing. "I'm not in the mood for them; they're too stuck up and snobbish. I'll come another time to embarrass them in front of you."

"Then I don't know who you'll be with..."

The girl didn't need long to give her mother an answer; she already knew where to go and escape Filch as well.

"Don't worry, Mommy, I'll manage."

Lyra gives the vampire woman a kiss on the cheek, running towards the stairs and leaving her mother with a smile on her face. She has changed her life for the better, and now hopes that she will get along with her cousin. The brunette skips two steps at a time down to the lower level, where the coolness and darkness dominate. The only sources of light are the torches on the damp stone walls, which give the girl a feeling of safety. As long as she can remember, she has found this hallway interesting and very calm, a place to gather her thoughts and escape worries.

Lyra is aware of the daily quarrels between her mother and Severus, having witnessed a few childish exchanges between them. She believes their pride is perhaps too great to bury the hatchet once and for all. She hopes that one day they will reach better terms or even become a couple; they would look good together and complement each other perfectly. Of course, this thought must not reach their ears, as it has been her plan ever since she heard their childish bickering.

In a few minutes, she stands before a tall, dark, and imposing door, but it doesn't scare the little girl since it's not her first time deciding to pay him a visit. This time, she plans to knock on the door instead of barging in as if it were her own room and annoying a certain professor who is extremely grumpy on Wednesdays. She can't explain why Wednesdays and not Fridays, but that's an unimportant detail.

She perks up her ears, her lips stretching into a smile when she hears footsteps approaching to open the door. She tilts her head to meet a pair of living coals, so similar to her own. She has always thought that black eyes are among the most beautiful in the world, truly unique.

The frown on the pale face of the man, framed by shoulder-length black hair, brings a certain happiness to the brunette's soul. Her gaze shifts to his simple attire, just a black shirt and trousers the same color as her mother's clothes. Catherine has a reason to wear black, but Severus does not. Lyra wonders if he is secretly mourning or simply hates bright colors in general.

She tends to believe the second option is more plausible.

"Evans?" The monotonous voice breaks the silence between them. "No one else to bother, so you came to me?"

Typical Snape.

"I don't have anyone to be with. Mom is busy teaching, and I need a hiding place. I played a prank on Filch," Lyra explains with a neutral expression.

"I have classes now, Evans. I don't want..."

"No, you don't. Your next class is from four to five," the brunette interrupts him. "I've memorized your schedule, so you have no reason to send me away."

The man mutters something indecipherable, then allows Lyra to enter. The little girl beams, almost running into the room directly to his worktable. She studies every bottle, leaf, flower, and piece of paper with amazing passion. She climbs onto a chair to see the cauldron's contents, being quite short, and finds that it won't take long for the potion to be ready. The liquid has reached the desired color; only a few ingredients remain to be added.

The brunette turns towards Severus, who approaches her slowly, raising an eyebrow, waiting for the little girl to speak.

"I didn't expect you to make Felix Felicis," Lyra says softly, eyes on the cauldron. "It's one of the most fascinating potions."

"And one of the most difficult," Severus adds calmly, reading from the papers spread on the table. "But I believe you could make it yourself if you set your mind to it."

Lyra smiles at the compliment, then grabs a knife and starts cutting some roots next to the cauldron. They're not part of the potion, but she wants to keep busy and help Severus however she can. The man is exhausted after a busy day with first-year students; sometimes, the little girl wonders how he manages to keep up with them.

From time to time, she glances at the potion or the brunet, focused on his notes. The energy around him is balanced, just like her mother's. That's how she knew the two would make a good couple if they didn't argue like kindergarteners. She presses the knife down to cut a rather thick piece of root and grimaces. Great, now she has to shape it nicely.

"When is Draco coming?" the brunette asks, wanting to have a topic of conversation with the man next to her.

Draco Malfoy is Severus's godson, a troublemaker sometimes, but he has a good heart. Catherine has told her a few times to stay away from Malfoy, knowing the horrible things his father did, but she gave up. Lyra doesn't intend to give up her friendship with him and the other children the blond talks to.

The brunette knows some of the blond's ideas are extremely bad, that she can't agree with everything he does or says. Still, she has found a loyal friend in him whom she can rely on and make plans with to bring her mother and Severus together. The children have tried many times to set them up in one way or another, but bad luck has been on their side just as many times.

"Probably next weekend. Lucius is away, and Narcissa has something to do. I'm still considering whether to let you two be together again; last time, you almost blew up Filius's office," Severus says suspiciously, looking at the girl next to him.

Lyra shrugs. She and Draco only wanted to draw attention to the two of them, not to cause trouble for the Charms professor. It's not their fault those fireworks didn't stay in the right position.

"We're kids, Severus. Our only worry is not having enough sweets!" the little girl exclaims with a smile.

The man snorts disapprovingly, stopping what he's doing to watch Lyra try to cut another piece of root, but she was holding the knife incorrectly. Severus moves behind her, asking permission to touch her hands. She nods slowly as the man's unusually warm hands cover hers, positioning the knife correctly and continuing to show her.

Lyra loves these little moments, seeing the kindness in the man's soul that he doesn't want to let out and feeling closer to him. If she had to choose a father, he would be the best choice.

In this way, the next hour passes so quickly that both wonder when it became ten to four. The brunette helps him gather the items from the table and around it with a snap of her fingers, then collects the books as best she can to put them back in their place. She is happy to be around the man, feeling comfortable with him despite all the rumors she hears in the hallways from other students.

"Lyra?"

The little girl turns her head towards the brunet, the corners of her lips lifting. Severus calls her by her last name only when he is angry or in a bad mood; otherwise, they talk on a first-name basis.

"Yes?"

"There's always been a question about you that I haven't found an answer to. Why do you like being around me?" the man asks softly, studying her from a distance.

The brunette continues to place the grimoires on potion studies, thinking about how to tell him. Will he look at her strangely once he hears the reason? She hopes not, but it's ultimately up to him.

"Your aura tells me you're trustworthy, plus I'm very fond of you," the young girl responds quietly, fearing someone might hear her. "I told my mom too; she almost choked on her tea when I mentioned you have the same aura color."

She laughs softly, recalling Catherine's incident. The woman is a magnet for trouble, even if she doesn't want to admit it. She looks at Severus curiously, waiting for him to say something after revealing her little secret. Only her mother knows about this, fearing other professors might find the situation too strange.

"Aura? What do you mean?"

The little girl smiles mysteriously, approaching him with small steps to give herself time to respond. It's quite complicated to explain, especially since for a long time she thought all wizards had this ability. That was until her mother told her she doesn't see the world as the little girl does, nor do the others.

"Every time I meet someone, I see them in black and white for a few seconds. I can feel their energy, and it's represented by a wave around them. Often, it's shades of gray, lighter or darker, indicating how pure their soul is. Don't you remember that time in the hallway when I asked mom to stay away from a certain student?"

The man thinks for a moment, analyzing the situation. Yes, he remembers that little incident where Lyra bared her fangs at a sixth-year Ravenclaw student, shouting at him not to come closer to Catherine. He thought she was a bit jealous, not that it was something entirely different.

And yet, it wasn't the first time something similar happened. All the moments with Lyra come back to him, pulling Cath away from certain people. How did he not put all these signs together?

"The aura of that student was very dark, almost black. I wanted mom to be safe," the young girl continues her story. "Since I was four, I've been able to do this... I think. It's all vague until then, but I guess that's when I started seeing through people. You are a combination of good and evil, balanced, that's what I saw in mom. Now do you understand why I stick around you? You're imperfect; you're human, who makes mistakes and learns from them."

The brunette smiles widely, almost innocently, as she hugs his waist. Severus just stands there, arms around her, astonished.

"Thank you for this hour, Sev, see you later!" exclaims Lyra, skipping towards the door of his classroom.

Snape waves to her as he closes the door behind her. He wonders what more he can do besides this. She's the heiress of the four founders and the princess of the vampires. He fears Voldemort will come after her and her cousin, but they wouldn't be the only ones targeted by the Dark Lord for the Potter-Evans family.

An evil foretold before Lyra's birth is on the trail of the two vampires, as well as other creatures. Hogwarts will receive not only vampires, mermaids, and werewolves, but also demons, angels, hybrids. It's this prophecy that the man in black fears the most, the fear of losing his only daughter.

The fear that the prophecy of an army of creatures will come true, and the price paid will be steep. Perhaps too steep.