AN: When Headmaster Longbottom asks Severus for help on a project, the potions master decides to take his eighteen month old daughter, Rose, with him to meet the headmaster portraits. Rose has several things she wants to say, but will she be able to express them?

This takes place in the Kiss From a Rose Universe. I miss the characters, so I decided to bring them back for a little fun. Happy 4th of July to those who celebrate it!

Severus never thought he would never grace this room with his daughter. There were good reasons for this. First and foremost, he never thought he'd have a daughter. Second and perhaps more surprisingly, he never thought any headmaster would allow him entry into Hogwarts. Even more surprising, the headmaster admitting him was Neville Longbottom.

So much had changed in this office from the time he'd been headmaster. The scent of lemon drops had been replaced by that of chocolates and blooming petunias. The crimson curtains were open, allowing the afternoon sun to illuminate the room. Severus didn't remember the room ever being so bright, at least not during his tenure as headmaster. Instead of foreboding and intimidating, the room was light and welcoming, just as his host was.

"Ookey Dada," Rose pointed to a portrait on the wall.

"Yes." Severus cooed. "Those are the headmasters."

"Oh." Rose sneezed from the lingering soot on her father's robe.

"Bless you," Severus whispered before wiping her off. "Let's go ahead and sit down."

Severus strolled to a leather chair in front of an oaken desk. After sitting, he set the white baby bag onto the floor.

"Hi!" Rose waved at the portraits on the wall.

"Hello Little Dear," Vindictus Viridian gave her a small wave in return.

"Wan own," Rose turned to her dad and squirmed.

"You want down, don't you?" Severus muttered.

"Yeh." She gestured towards the ground.

He examined the floor for anything the toddler could put in her mouth or harm her. Satisfied that the area was secure, he pointed his wand at the ground at intoned, "Stilou de joc."

A green light flashed in a circle around Severus and his daughter. After it dissipated, he adjusted her in his lap.

"Own?"

"Soon, but Neville would like to see you before I allow you to run around and play. You want to see him, don't you?"

"Yeh," she replied.

"Then you need to be patient and stay on my lap."

"Misser ake?"

"Do you want Mr. Snake?"

"Yeh."

"Very well then. I can get him for you."

"I apologize for being late," Headmaster Longbottom rushed in before Severus could reach into his bag. "I got distracted by an emergency with a student."

"I understand how that is."

"I know you would," Neville's eyes glistened. "You brought Rose with you!"

"I hope you do not mind," Severus replied. "Hermione needed a break from her antics, and we needed to spend some father-daughter time together."

"That's fine." Neville gushed. "Did you bring Victor with you?"

"No," Severus replied as his daughter reached for Neville. "Hermione was afraid a three month old would prove too disruptive. She was concerned about me bringing Rose, but the chance of a nap was too much for her to pass up. If Rose is proving to be too problematic at any point I can bring her home and come back."

"Oh no," Neville tickled Rose's belly. "You're going to be a good little girl, aren't you?"

She giggled and flailed her arms

"She should be well fed and not at risk for having an emergency anyway," Severus replied.

"She's fine," The headmaster removed his hands from her belly. "I'm so happy to see her I won't notice any distraction she creates."

"Indeed." Severus replied as she grabbed one of his buttons.

"Rose is perfectly fine, but what isn't fine is the state of the potions program." The gleam in Neville's eyes had disappeared, and his voice was lower.

"Powon!" Rose clapped her hands. "Dada aye powon."

"Yes." Severus grinned. "We are going to make a potion when you get home."

"Yay!"

"Now, can you be good and let me speak with Headmaster Longbottom?"

"No, I wan powon ow."

Severus and Neville laughed.

Rose scowled. What was so funny about wanting to make a potion? Why did she have to wait for her dad to be ready to make a potion anyway? If she had the right equipment she could do it herself right now.

How did she go about getting a cauldron and ingredients though?

"You're going to need to wait to make a potion." He adjusted her in his arms.

"O-ay." She huffed.

"Indeed," The humor evaporated from Severus expression. "What exactly is wrong with the potions program? Even you couldn't have destroyed every cauldron in the school yet."

Neville sat across from him. "Professor Slughorn is planning on retiring at the end of this year."

"It sounds like the potions program is improving immensely already."

"It won't be if I can't find the right candidate."

Rose's ears perked up. Was Neville saying that he wanted someone to brew potions?

"I have no idea how to write out the job description, what to look for in a candidate, or even how to assess someone's credentials."

Rose's blue eyes were huge. If she took this job she could brew potions whenever she wanted! She would have all the equipment she needed, and wouldn't need to wait for anyone. It would be perfect!

"So you need my help in selecting a new potions professor?" Severus replied.

Rose raised her hand. I can brew the potions!

"I would like it," Neville answered. "But I know you're busy with your apothecary and your children. If you cannot aid me then I fully understand."

"It is in my best interest to aid you though." He lowered Rose's hand.

"Not if it means you spend less time with your family."

"Whoever you hire is going to teach my children. It's in my best interest to find someone qualified so their futures are not in jeopardy."

"Me!" Rose exclaimed. "Me!"

"You?" Severus cocked his head.

"Me Dada. I wan powon."

Once again, Severus burst out laughing. Rose scowled at him again. Why was it so funny that she'd teach potions?

"I apologize Little One." He gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I do not mean to tease you, but you are much to young to have a wand, much less teach potions."

"No. Powon ow."

"No, potions later."

"No, ow!"

"Do not worry." He whispered into her ear. "I will teach you everything I know so that you can teach at Hogwarts someday if you would like to do so. Then you can brew all the potions you want."

"Oh." Rose smiled. "Dada."

"Yes," Severus placed her on the ground. "Here, if I pull out Mr. Snake and some of your other toys will you let me help Neville without interruption?"

"Yeh," she replied.

"Thank you." Severus unzipped the bag and looked at Neville. "I am unsure how much I can do given that I am not associated with Hogwarts anymore."

"But you were a former headmaster, meaning you might have some say."

"How much though?" Severus took out the toy and handed it to his daughter.

"The bylaws never specify. You could be on the committee to hire someone, and nobody could say a thing against it."

"I could be." Severus scratched his chin.

"Of course if this is too much to handle I understand."

"Listening to my children drone on about some dunderhead and his inaccurate potions information is too much for me to handle."

"So you'll help?"

"I will run the committee myself if I must."

"Oh thank you." Neville's eyes twinkled. "You have no idea how relieved I am to have someone on the hiring committee who actually understands potions."

"Powons!" Rose held Mr. Snake to her chest.

"Yes," Neville squeaked. "Potions."

Rose giggled.

"The first thing we must do is write a job description," Severus rubbed Rose's back. "Do you have one?"

"I was working on one last night, but I was in such a hurry to see you I left it in my quarters."

"Please retrieve it so I can examine it."

"We don't need to look over it now."

"Why not? I am here, and Rose is not causing any trouble. We may as well begin."

"Very true."

With Mr. Snake in hand, she took a few toddling steps towards Neville's desk, her black cape dragging behind her. If she was lucky Daddy wouldn't notice her grabbing the quill the headmaster had dropped.

"Rose," Severus warned. "Do not go near the desk."

Why not? She drew closer until she bumped into an invisible barrier. She took a deep breath before hitting it again.

"We go through this every time I cast the playpen spell." Severus grabbed Rose. "You can only go so far before you are stopped."

She snarled as she hit her fist against the invisible wall.

"You are an intelligent child who understands that once you reach barrier you will go no further." Severus held her close. "You know better than to go where you should not be."

Rose sighed. Yes, she knew she wasn't going further than the wall. Still, it was worth a try.

"Let me go ahead and get that job description." Neville stood.

"Very well." Severus set his daughter on the ground.

The second the current headmaster she the door to his quarters was the second every former headmaster spoke up.

"She is so adorable!"

"How old is she?"

"Do you always dress her in black?"

"She is so precious!"

Rose smiled at them. They all seemed so friendly. She wondered if any of them would leave their frames to play with her.

"Please I can only answer one question at a time," Severus replied.

"What's her name?" They asked in unison.

"This is my daughter, Rose." He turned to the toddler. "Rose."

She startled.

"These are the former headmasters of Hogwarts. Say hello to them."

"Hi!"

"Hello," they cooed.

"I never thought I'd see the day you had a child," Phineas Black noted.

"She looks so much like you though," Dilys Derwent noted.

"Yes, right down to her scowl," Vulpus chuckled.

"She excels at mimicking my expressions."

Rose gave the portraits a very Snape-like smirk.

"Ooh she's so cute!" Armando Dippet cooed. "I'll bet she's the light of your life."

"She very much is," Severus replied.

"Who's the mother?"

Severus' blood ran cold as he turned to Albus.

"Mummy!" Rose cheered.

"Yes," the questioning portrait laughed. "I know your mummy is your mother, but what name does Severus call her?"

"Ove," Rose answered.

"Ove?"

"Yeh, Ove."

"What a peculiar name."

"I only call her Love as a pet name." Severus tensed. "Her actual name is Hermione."

"Hermione?" Dumbledore asked. "As in Hermione Granger?"

"Yes."

Dumbledore looked at him as if he'd just eaten the last lemon drop.

"Why is that so surprising?" Phineas asked. "We saw her go to Minerva's office when she tried to convince her not to marry Severus. Why wouldn't Hermione be the mother?"

"I know, but I was unsure whether or not Severus would claim the child."

"Why would I not claim my own daughter?"

Rose gasped and turned around. She'd never heard Daddy use that tone of voice. Why was this man upsetting him?

"Of course you would claim your own daughter. You are an honorable man."

"There's a but somewhere," Severus growled.

"The story of Rose's conception makes no sense."

Rose snorted. What was this headmaster's problem? It made all the sense for Daddy to be her daddy. Mummy only loved Daddy, and Daddy only loved Mummy. He was a real dunderhead to think otherwise.

"Before I died, Hermione and Ron were fostering a budding, beautiful, romance. You were still obsessing over Lily."

Rose raised an eyebrow. Who was Lily?

Phyllida Spore chuckled. She never thought that any child acting so much like Severus would be so charming.

"I want to know how two people who were in love with other people can come together and form such a well-adjusted baby."

"First of all, love was a strong word for what we felt towards our former partners."

"Which is why it's interesting that you'd both leave them."

"Not at all. As you said, I was obsessing over Lily. I am unsure whether or not I ever loved her though, especially after being married to Hermione."

"If you didn't love Lily, then why did you spy in her name?"

"She was the closest thing I had to a friend at the time. The guilt from my role in her death haunted me."

"So is Hermione your friend?"

"Yes, and she is much more than a friend." Severus tilted his head towards his daughter. "Hence the reason we have children."

"Tell me, how did you persuade Hermione to leave Ron?" Dumbledore asked.

"I did very little persuading. Ron treated her like a used chocolate frog wrapper, and she needed someone to care for her. Thus she came to me, and we formed a wonderful family."

"That's very interesting," Dumbledore mused. "Yet why would she choose you?"

Rose glared at Dumbledore. Why was this headmaster being meaner than the others? Everyone was having fun until he started asking these really weird questions. She wished he'd be quiet so everyone could go back to being happy.

"What about Ron wasn't right for her?" Dumbledore asked. "They seemed perfectly happy together when I died."

"He was emotionally abusing her and destroying her self-esteem even then. Unfortunately she was too beaten down to contemplate leaving him."

"So you felt the need to insert yourself into their love story?"

Severus swallowed.

Rose stood. This headmaster was getting annoying.

"You seem to have a nasty habit of butting into Gryffindor romances."

She looked at Daddy. Although his voice was raised, he was starting to slouch, as if he was upset about what the headmaster was saying.

"I did not interfere with anything. Hermione came to me."

"Then tell me, how did you seduce Hermione away from Ron?"

Severus shifted his eyes from him.

"Albus, he doesn't need to kiss and tell," Basil Fronsac hissed.

Rose toddled towards Daddy. She needed to make sure he knew exactly how she felt about all of this.

"How did you manage to break up the Golden Couple?"

Severus looked at him as if he was a student who'd just been assigned a month's worth of detentions.

"Why did you feel the need to interfere in the first place?"

"She fell in love with me," his voice was weak.

"Did she fall in love with you, or did you seduce her?"

"It was not like that at all."

"Then explain it to me. What happened?"

"Albus be quiet." Phineas snapped.

Before Dumbledore could utter another word, Rose pulled on her dad's pants leg. He picked her up.

"Ah ove you Dada," Rose put her arms around him.

Severus' eyes grew. "What?"

"I love you Dada."

"Oh Rose." He embraced her as a tear trickled down his cheek. "I love you too Little One. I love you so much."

"I ove you!" she cheered.

Once again, the headmasters and headmistresses were gushing over the child.

"That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!"

"She's such a sweetheart!"

"She's a Daddy's girl all right!"

"It's so heartwarming. Severus finally has someone who loves him!"

"Thank you, Rose," He gazed at her. "You are a most precious child."

She lifted up Mr. Snake and shook the toy.

"I'm sorry Severus."

Father and daughter turned to the former headmaster's portrait.

"It was wrong of me to question you as I did. However the child came about, it is clear that she is loved, and just as importantly, she loves you. I apologize for prying."

"You are forgiven." Severus stroked Rose's back.

"Now tell us, what's her middle name?" Phineas asked.

"Severa."

"Aw!" The portraits cooed.

Rose beamed. These portraits were so much fun! She hoped Daddy let her come around more often so she could play with them again!

"I apologize for taking so long," Neville glanced at the portraits and then on the child on Severus' lap.

"It was no trouble at all," Severus replied. "It was long past time that Rose get acquainted with the headmasters and headmistresses anyway."

"Yeh," she muttered.

"I agree." Neville sat down. "Hopefully now that you are helping you will be able to bring Rose over more."

Severus turned to his daughter. "Would you like to see them again?"

Rose's face lit up.

"Perhaps next time I will bring Victor over as well, along with Hermione."

"We'd love to see her," Dumbledore cut in.

"I know you would," Severus answered with a smile.

"Now about the potions position…"

"I wan powon!"

"I'd love to give you the position, I really would," Neville began. "Sadly you wouldn't be able to live with Mummy, Daddy, and Victor if you became my potions professor. I think you'd miss them too much to want this job."

Rose frowned. Mummy, Victor and Daddy couldn't be with her if she was at Hogwarts? That was terrible! Why would anyone want this job?

"Do not worry, Little One. There will come a day when you will no longer need to be with us. When that day comes, you are more than welcome to become a potions mistress."

"O-ay."

"In the meantime, study hard and learn from me," Severus kissed her cheek. "Perhaps then you can brew potions, become a headmistress and have your portrait on the wall."

Rose hummed. Being a potions mistress was a worthy goal, but right now it could wait.

At the moment, she would rather spend time with Daddy.