Tirza, who hadn't slept in over 48 hours, was down on her knees in front of Snape. "Come on man, please can I go to Hogsmeade with everyone?" He sighed. "Child, I have a lot of work to do; I won't have time to take you tomorrow." She turned on the puppy eyes. "You don't have to come. Please? Porfavor senor? Bitte mein herr? S'il vous plait?" Snape raised an eyebrow and gave her a funny look. "Where did you learn to speak all that? Anyway, if I do not come, how will I be sure that you stay out of trouble?" "Umm," she searched her tired brain. "Maybe Oliver would watch me." "Have you already asked him?" She shook her head. "If he says yes, can I go?" Snape rubbed his chin in thought. "If Mr. Wood consents to you being his ward for the day and if you promise me you will not cause trouble, then yes, you may go." Tirza bounced around the room. "Yippy!" She hugged Snape tight. "Thanks dad!" She caught up with Oliver at lunch and slid into the seat across from him. "Hey Oliver!" He looked up and smiled. "Hello TJ." "Are you going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" He nodded. "Great! Can I go with you? My dad won't let me go without 'supervision' and I thought of you first, cuz you're really cool," she asked. "Sure, I don't see why not," he answered. Tirza flashed him a smile. "Dude, you're awesome!" She ran to the teachers table. "He said it was fine; I told ya he would!" she told Snape.
Snape sat in his armchair watching Tirza; she looked so pale. "Are you drinking coffee again?" She breathed in the steam from her mug. "No, it's hot chocolate. It's really cold in here." She was wearing a violet sweat outfit and wrapped in a quilt. "Are you sure you're alright?" Tirza sighed. "I'm fine! Believe me; you'd know if I wasn't!" Damn was it easy to lie. She had been lying for months; to her teacher about her sleep, to her mom about the showers and sleep, and now to her dad. Besides, what good would it do to tell them the truth? There wasn't anything they could do anyways; the sleeplessness and lack of appetite would pass. It always did, never lasting more than three days, so by tomorrow night, she should be just fine. What was the point in alarming him anyways? He'd just drag her off to see Poppy again. "You didn't eat much for lunch," Snape pointed out. "I grabbed a snack when you were teaching your afternoon class," she lied. "Well, I hope you will eat a decent supper, you are too thin child," he mused. She nodded and took another sip of hot chocolate. She'd have to force down some food tonight, or he might not let her go tomorrow; she just wasn't hungry and hadn't eaten more than a full plate of food since Wednesday afternoon. "Nah, you worry too much," Tirza told him.
Supper was a struggle; it's not that the alfredo wasn't good, she just wasn't hungry. She managed to eat half of it, stuffing the rest in her napkin when Snape wasn't looking. Tirza forced down a piece of bread with butter and jam as she looked absentmindedly around the room. She scooped the last bite of alfredo into her napkin and caught Malfoy's eye as she did it. He was watching her every move; god that little creep annoyed her! Making sure Snape wasn't watching she stuck her tongue out at Malfoy, who turned red with anger. "Are you done eating Tirza?" Snape asked. She nodded. "Just gonna finish my milk." She downed the glass, feeling very nauseous. "Um, I'm gonna head to the library and look at some books, ok?" Snape nodded. "I want you back in our quarters by 8:30. Can you find the way yourself or shall I come get you?" A whole week there and Tirza still got lost. "Maybe you should come get me. I'll see you later." She quickly exited the Great Hall and headed for the first girls restroom she could find, her face turning green, not noticing Malfoy was following her.
Her face was pale and her stomach still queasy when she walked out of the restroom. Malfoy came out of the shadows and followed her. "Not so perfect are we?" Tirza whirled around at his voice. "Throwing away your food and puking what you do eat? Tisk Tisk, I should tell your daddy on you." She sighed. "Look, I'm not feeling good, so please just leave me alone." He laughed maliciously. "Not so brave without someone to come to your rescue?" She turned and walked away, ignoring him. He continued to follow her. "What's wrong, huh? Is the tough little girl all sick?" Not feeling up to a fight, Tirza did her best to ignore him. As she rounded the corner, Draco shoved her up against the hard, stone wall, his hands pinning her. Tirza started to squirm. "Please, let me go," she begged. He punched her in the stomach and she slunk to the floor. Draco laughed and sat on her; she couldn't move. "Please, I don't wanna fight, just let me go!" Tirza started to panic as she felt the flash back wash over her; she twisted her body, fighting to stay in reality. Draco smiled; he loved watching her squirm, knowing he was in control. He didn't even need his wand this time! She turned deathly pale, her heart racing, her breathing dangerously fast. "See, you can't win. Everyone's still eating, we're all alone and I told you to watch your back," Draco told her. "Please, please," she begged. "Don't. its bad. don't want to." Tirza was losing the battle and the flashback consumed her mind. Draco was alarmed, yet amused as she struggled and mumbled incoherently. She was breathing faster and faster, starting to hyperventilate. Thinking she might be dying or something, Draco quickly got off her and ran. Tirza laid their for several minutes until the worst of it passed, then got up and staggered like a drunkard down the hallway, not caring where she was headed. Luckily, she made it to the library. Wiping the tears from her face, she headed for a dark, quiet corner and pulled her knees to her chest and softly sobbed.
Snape found her there in the dark corner of the library, still crying. He reached for her, but she backed away. "What happened?" She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Flashback; they get really bad sometimes. Something just kinda brings everything back and I live it again. I can see it happen in my mind and I can feel it and it's really scary," Tirza whispered. "I'm sorry," Snape said, not knowing what else he should say. She shuddered. "I wanna take a shower," she told him. "But I'll just hurt myself again." Snape was proud of her that she could admit that to him. "What can I do?" Tirza suddenly jumped into his arms, burying her head in his shoulder. "Just hold me," she whispered. He picked her up and carried her out of the library, rubbing circles on her back.
She sat huddled in Snape's lap, shaking. God, he felt so helpless! "Are you sure is there nothing I can do?" "I'm really cold," Tirza said, her teeth chattering. He set her gently in the chair and rummaged through an oak chest in the closet; he reappeared, holding a large quilt. Snape picked Tirza up and wrapped the quilt around her like a cocoon. "Hold me again," she whispered. He nodded and sat her on his lap; she snuggled deep into the blanket. "This is nice; it looks homemade." Snape nodded. "Yes. My mother had a passion for quilting." 'One of her few redeeming qualities,' he thought. He wrapped his arms tighter around her as she continued to shake. "Do you want some tea?" Snape asked. "It seems to comfort people. Your mother was always partial to it." Tirza giggled. "Really? All I ever saw mom drink was diet Coke! I don't want tea, but mom always let me eat ice cream; she called it. um. comfort food. Can I have ice cream?" He glanced at the clock. "It's nearly nine; do you really want to eat that close to bed?" She nodded. "I like chocolate, just plain jane chocolate. Do you like chocolate?" "It's not my favorite; I'm more of a rocky road man myself." Tirza's eyes went wide. "You have Rocky Road ice cream HERE? No way dude!" He chuckled and nodded. "Wow, that's cool. I thought this place was like Middle Earth or something, with no McDonald's and all. Mom and I never would have survived some days if it hadn't been for Mickey D's!" Snape raised an eyebrow. "Middle Earth?" She slapped her forehead. "Don't tell me you haven't read Lord of the Rings?" He shook his head. "Well, I haven't either, but I've seen the first movie and it was so cool! AJ's dad took us and we liked Legolas and the hobbits, they were fun; dude you miss out on so much stuff here!"
Tirza dressed in her favorite jeans, black with red laces that laced up the sides, and a red t-shirt that featured an adorable puppy on the front with the words 'Spoil Me' written in black underneath. She left her hair hanging long, she loved the way it curled and bounced, but put on an army colored bandana. "I'm going dad!" she yelled, heading for the door. "Wait a minute," Snape called. He handed her some money, which she deposited into her leopard backpack. "Behave yourself for Mr. Wood," he warned. She nodded, feeling full of energy, despite no sleep. With a few last minute warnings to Oliver and the trade mark death threat if anything happened to Tirza, Snape sent them on their way.
"Wow! This place is awesome!" Tirza took off towards the first store she saw, but Oliver grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "You'd better stay with me so you don't get lost. Don't worry, we'll hit everything." Their first stop was Honeydukes; Oliver let her wander through the store on her own as long as she didn't leave without him. Inside, Tirza ran into Harry, Ron and Hermione. After purchasing several handfuls of candy, she went to look for Oliver. "Can I go to Zonko's with Hermione and Ron and Harry?" He thought for a moment. "Alright, but stay together. When you are done, I'll be getting a butter beer, so meet me there." She nodded and ran out of the store with Hermione and the guys. Tirza's eyes took in every item in the store. "This is a prankster's paradise!" Ron and Harry laughed. "My brothers think so too," Ron told her. "I wouldn't get anything if I were you TJ," George said, appearing behind her. "Remember how the food fight ended?" She smiled at him and nodded. "Yeah, believe me, I remember! Maybe if I don't use these on my dad they'll be okay." George shook his head. "I know how you feel though; this stuff is so great!" In the end, Tirza did buy two trick wands, a dung bomb (with Malfoy in mind!) and a few pieces of candy that turned your teeth black. She laughed at the look on Hermione's face when she bought the items. "Don't worry, I'll hide them! Let's go find Oliver and get some of whatever this butter beer stuff is."
Tirza found Oliver at the Three Broomsticks and ordered herself a butter beer. "Yummy! I don't know what this is, but I like it!" she decided after her first swig. Oliver laughed. "It is good. Are you ready for lunch?" She nodded, feeling up to eating a little something. "What's safe to eat here? I don't want anything wacky like pumpkin juice!" The waitress came over to their table. "Hi Oliver. Who's this little lady?" The blonde waitress smiled at Tirza, who shook the waitress' hand. "I'm TJ Shelby." "She's Professor Snape's daughter," Oliver added. The waitress couldn't hide the surprised look that came over her face as she thought of the dark and sour Snape being the father of the smiling child. "My goodness, you'd never know it looking at you honey, you're very pretty. And who would have thought Snape would have a kid!" Tirza giggled. "Is there safe food here? I don't like funny stuff." The waitress smiled and listed a few different meals for her. Tirza ordered a roast beef sandwich and a glass of milk, though she only finished a fourth of the sandwich. "Aren't you going to finish your sandwich?" Oliver asked. She shook her head. "I'm not as hungry as I thought." When Oliver had finished, Tirza walked up to the counter, ready to pay for her food. She opened her purse and sighed. "Do you haven enough money?" he asked. "I don't know." She showed him her purse. "This money is weird." He fought the urge to laugh, not wanting to hurt Tirza's feelings, and helped her pay. "You're real nice," Tirza told him. "I like you. You're not stupid like most boys are." Oliver smiled. "Thanks." "I need your help with something," Tirza said as they walked. "Sure, what is it?" "Well, it's kind of a secret. Are you good at keeping secrets?" Oliver nodded. "Great, I'm looking for." she whispered into the ear. "I know just where to look," he told her. "Awesome!"
They arrived back at Hogwarts just in time for supper. Tirza was exhausted; she and Oliver had gone everywhere except the Shrieking Shack. He escorted her to the dungeon, helping her carry the bags. "Thanks Oliver. See ya later, ok?" He nodded and left. Tirza watched him go and sighed. "Wow, he's so hot." Just then the door she was leaning on opened and she fell backwards, landing at Snape's feet. "Oh hey dad," she said looking up. "Did you just come back from Hogsmeade?" he asked. "Yep, just thought I'd drop in!" She started laughing so hard that he had to help her up off the floor. "You're here in time for supper." She immediately sobered. "I, uh, just had a big lunch with Oliver. I think I'll eat later, okay?" He nodded and left. Tirza scurried to put away the stuff from Zonko's.
Oliver watched as Snape entered the Great Hall, his robes billowing around him, and sat in his chair alone. Where was TJ? He waited until Snape was finished eating and slowly approached the teacher's table. "Professor Snape? Might I talk with you for a moment?" Snape sneered at him, but motioned for Wood to follow him out into the hallway. "What is it?" "Well, I was wondering where Tirza was?" Snape shook his head. "She told me you and she had a big lunch and she would eat later." Wood looked confused. "No sir. She didna even eat half a sandwich and that was hours ago; I thought she'd be awfully hungry by now." Snape walked away, leaving Wood in the hallway, wondering if he had just accidentally sent an angry-enough-to- murder Snape to Tirza.