The door slammed shut behind Snape as he stormed into his quarters. Tirza jumped at the noise and dropped the book she was reading. "You lied!" he spat out. She frowned and blinked several times. "Okay, what?" "You, young lady, have been caught in a lie! And lying is something I will not tolerate!" His voice was hard and cold, making her shiver. "What are you talking about?" she asked hesitantly. "Mr. Wood just asked me why you were not at supper when you ate so little for lunch!" He thundered, his eyes shooting sparks of anger and Tirza swore she could almost see steam coming out his ears. "Oh," she said quietly. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Snape didn't give her a chance to answer before continuing. "You are in a world of trouble young lady!" "I'm sorry," she whispered. "Yes, I'm quite sure you are; sorry you were caught that is," he sneered. "Please don't be mad! I haven't been feeling real good lately and haven't been hungry. I didn't tell you because I knew you'd worry or be mad," she whined. "I am very upset with you young lady! Now answer me this, and for your sake you had best be truthful: what other lies have you been telling me?" Tirza started to shake; she wanted to cry, but it was like her eyes ran out of tears. "When you ask me if I'm feeling good, I say yes just so you won't drag me to Poppy again. You asked if I've been sleeping alright, but I haven't slept in almost four days. But other than that I've told you everything, I swear!" Snape didn't seem at all concerned that she might be sick or that she hadn't slept in so long. "I am disappointed in you; lying is a naughty thing to do young lady!" Again she shivered from the cold in his voice. "I'm really sorry! I'll never ever lie again! I promise! Don't be mad!" Tirza didn't think she could stand it that he was so angry with her. "From now on you will be truthful! You shall have to be punished for this; I absolutely will not tolerate lies!" Snape yelled. Tirza hung her head, dark curls spilling over her head. "Are you gonna spank me again?" She whispered. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you yet. Go to your room this instant!" Tirza quickly ran for her room and Snape swatted her bottom as she ran past him. Snape stormed to his room to think, slamming the door behind him and began to pace the floor.
Tirza sat on the floor in her messy room, her knees pulled up to her chest. She felt like crying and screaming, but her voice was gone and there were no tears left. She heard his bedroom door slam and flinched. 'He hates me,' she thought. 'I'm too much trouble.' She had to get out of there. She just couldn't stand the way he was so cold and hard towards her; his attitude seemed to confirm her deepest fears: that he would get sick of her and send her away. She eased her door open and looked around; his door was still shut and she could hear him talking to himself inside. Now was her only chance. She closed the door and crept across the floor, praying that she wouldn't make a sound, barely daring to breathe. The door opened easily and quietly and she carefully shut it behind her before running down the hallway. 'Where to go?' Tirza thought, searching her brain. 'The Astronomy tower!' She continued down the hallway and bumped into Professor McGonagall. "Can I help you dear?" the older woman asked. Tirza nodded. "I'm trying to find the Astronomy tower. Can you show me where it is?" McGonagall smiled. "Of course; this way dear."
Thirty minutes later, Snape had calmed himself down enough to think of was the appropriate thing to do in this situation. 'Why don't children come with instructions?' he mused. He took a potion for headaches before leaving his room. Snape knocked gently on Tirza's door. "Can I come in and talk with you, Tirza?" He waited, but received no answer. He knocked again. "Tirza." Becoming worried, he opened the door; Snape didn't see her in the room. He quickly checked the closet, under her bed, and anywhere else he thought a small child might think to hide. After searching her room and the sitting room with no luck, he started to panic and ran to the hall.
Tirza climbed the stairs to the top of the tower. 'I wish I had Molly with me,' she thought. She reached the top and opened the large window, breathing in the night air. 'Wow, it's peaceful up here.' She looked at the night sky, amazed at how bright and close the stars seemed. She took a deep breath and walked towards the open window. 'Don't look down,' she told herself.
Snape rushed into the teachers lounge. "Has anybody seen Tirza? I can't find her anywhere!" The teachers all shook their heads. "Well don't just sit there like idiots! Help me find her!" He quickly left the room headed for Dumbledore's office. The teachers, surprised to see the well composed teacher so upset left to start searching. Snape rushed down the hallway and nearly knocked Minerva McGonagall over. "Have you seen Tirza?" he almost shouted. McGonagall gave him a strange look and nodded. "Yes, just a little while ago." "How long?" "About twenty minutes. I showed her to the Astronomy tower." Snape's heart stopped, his blood grew cold. He thought of Tirza's mother who had nearly committed suicide in the tower and of the overwhelming issues Tirza was dealing with. "Oh my god," he whispered. He took off running, like he had never run before in his life. He kept thinking of her dying and knew it would be entirely his fault; he was too rough and she desperately need love and comforting. Snape raced to the tower and up the steps and entered the top room of the tower. The window was open. "No," he whispered. He made his way toward it, dreading what he would see when he would look down towards the ground. He wasn't watching where he was going; Snape was in a haze of guilt, sadness and panic. He nearly tripped over a bundle of something and turned around to kick it when he realized it wasn't a something, it was a person. A little person, curled into a ball; Tirza's skin and hair was illuminated by the moon and stars. 'No, I just want it to be her," he moaned, looking closer. It was Tirza; she was sound asleep. Snape grabbed her and held her tight. She woke with a start. "What the." She looked up and saw his face. "Dad, you're squishing me!" He loosened his grip, but refused to let go. "Are you still mad at me?" she asked quietly. Anything he had felt earlier disappeared at the relief of finding her safe and sound. "Merlin, I thought I had lost you." Tirza yawned.
"What ya talking about?" He rocked her back and forth, never feeling so happy to hold her as he did then. "Minerva said you came here and I thought about your mother and that I had made you upset and that you would jump!" She yawned again and leaned against him. "You're silly. I wanted to think and look at the stars. Can I go to bed now?" He picked her up and began descending the stairs where Minerva was waiting. "I found her; she's alright!" Snape kissed Tirza, who was now asleep in his arms. "Tell the others, will you? I want to get her to bed." Minerva watched them go, shaking her head.
Tirza's sleep was fitful; being upset had caused the nightmares to come. She thrashed and rolled around on her bed. "Daddy!" she screamed. Snape sat straight up in bed. It was the first time that she had ever called his name in the night; she had always called for her mother. He rushed to her side, her blankets and sheets in a knot from her rolling, tears flowing down her face. He held her until the worst part of the nightmare past, which left her crying, shaking and almost hyperventilating. "Wanna sleep with you," she whispered. "Hush, you'll be alright," Snape gathered her tiny body in his arms. "Don't forget Molly." He grabbed the stuffed lion and headed for his room, gently putting her on the bed and crawling in beside her and covering her with the blankets. "No, like this," she grabbed his arm and wrapped it around her. "Safe," she whispered. Snape kissed her head and held her in her arms as the sobs and shaking subsided, finally allowing her to slip into an undisturbed sleep.