Snapes Child hood

Dumbledore had called Severus to his office, up the hidden stair case behind the giant stone statue of a phoenix, during the last week of term. It was obvious that around this time Dumbledore often gave him his mission for over the holidays. Dumbledore sat at his desk reading through documents involving the school when there was a knock at the door, Fawkes gave out a bird like cry acknowledging the sound, Dumbledore smiled and said calmly,
“Come in Severus…” He took a seat in front of the headmaster’s desk and crossed over one his legs casually forming a triangle with his thighs awaiting Dumbledore to finish.
“Severus do you remember the Courtensia’s?” Thinking back for a moment Snape nodded his head, still checking his facts, frowning in thought
“Vaguely, my mother used to look after their daughter for them when I was younger, Alexis I think it was, why?”
“There was another hit Severus, six days ago to be precise, their keeper a dear friend of mine Abigail Merrywheather has been looking after their daughter … I’m afraid they didn’t make it. She’s taken t rather hard.”
Snape shook his head in disappointment as he did regularly noticing the death of someone he had known,
“Abigail has noticed some odd on goings with Alexis, rather odd as she would put it…”
“Oh?” Snape listened with a keen interest,
“It seems that Miss Courtensia has stumbled into her parents warlock abilities, so far through her life, she has shown no signs of any magical interest however of late she has become mischievous…” Continuing to read through a piece of parchment Dumbledore nodded with a faint smile,
“She has no registered wand in her name and has severed all ties with the magical community around her except with Abigail…” Seeing little importance in the matter he scrunched his brow together as one and said quizzically,
“To what importance is all this, if you forgive my bluntness Albus?”
“I was quite unaware at first when first reading my dear friends unusual letter, however upon ending it she mentions her young charge repeatedly receiving letters to join a wizard club…A wizard club with this seal.”
Dumbledore revealed a small piece of ripped parchment with a black seal upon it clearly printing a serpent; Snape studied the marking and twitched a brow,
“A death eater invitation of membership, I wasn’t aware these were still produced, with the dark lord being suspicious of all his followers…”
“Yes, I was quite vexed with the invitation also; however, Abigail also claims that her charge has been meeting with a tall wizard with long blonde hair.”
“Malfoy.” Dumbledore nodded with a suspicious yet peaceful look on his ancient face,
“I was rather hoping you would relieve Abigail of her post and keep an eye on Miss Courtensia, at least for the holidays, just to make sure she does not make any rash decisions in her state of mourning, I believe she may yet play a rapid part in the dark lords down fall, should she be trained well enough.” Snape nodded seeing no real problem with what Dumbledore was requesting of him,
“Have you persuaded her to come to Hogwarts I take it?” Dumbledore gave a quiet yet none the less merry chuckle often meaning he required a more prudent service from Snape
“I was more hoping Severus that you would take her to a more known environment, say for example, Snape Manor?”

Snape cocked another brow and folded his arms, in a trance though in deep thinking mode, and gave a defeated nod
“Very well, I’m sure you would also like me to pry her from the muggle world and introduce her to the magic as the new head of the Courtensia estate training her up as well?” Smiling through his half moon specs, debating the idea in his mind he said tilting his head to one side,
“That’s an excellent idea Severus; an introduction party would also be an idea…” Becoming irritated at Dumbledore’s lacking in detecting sarcasm he said,
“I was being sarcastic, by Merlin you can tell you were in Gryffindor Albus…” The old man gave a hearty laugh as Severus got to his feet, aware of the task that faced him ahead of one week. Upon his leaving Dumbledore replied to his friend’s letter informing her that in one week her young charge was invited for a stay for the summer, to Snape Manor. Severus also distributed a letter to Snape Manor, informing his keepers that he would be returning home for this break, and to prepare one of the guest rooms, as he would have company staying also.
The week past all too quickly and before Snape knew it, he was receiving his last orders from Dumbledore and apparating to the Courtensia Estate. Upon his arrival he had summoned a carriage in a later departure, if Alexis had indeed separated herself from the magical world; she would hardly be in the mood for apparating. He had sent his belongings ahead straight to Snape Manor and upon ringing large bell, was greeted by a middle sized plump witch with tide up bobbing grey hair and quite large glasses, near to that of Madame Trelawney’s looking quite flustered.
“Ah, Master Snape, do come in…” She looked the man up and down, as if mentally measuring him,
“I can remember when you were yay tall…” She brought her hand to just below her shoulders and said happily to herself,
“Ah where do the years go…? Even when you used to take the little miss Sire riding.”
Snape recalled the memory the old woman was muttering about and gave a quant smile and nodded as she led him through the hall was and the large back kitchen into a large yet snug conservatory, Abigail pointed to a large pile of bags and suitcases that belonged to her young charge and with a wave of his wand were also sent ahead to Snape Manor. The last visual memory Snape had of Abigail’s young charge was that of a small girl with Malfoy blonde hair and excited wild blue eyes who found his young magical tricks amazing. She had thought the world of him, and when he had learned to Sire ride with his mother, well that only made her liking for him grow, however there was the fourteen year age gap, for she was around seven when his mother looked after her and he was in College around early twenty one, indulging in his potions master degree. Yet it filled his summers indulging his young friend at home in the simplicity he could create that excited and interested her so much, all those years ago, but that was not what sat before him now.