Hey readers! Welcome to another story! I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 1: Adopted Daughter
She knew she was taking a huge risk by sneaking into the castle, but she had to. She had to make sure her baby girl would be safe. The Auror's had already captured her husband, it was only a matter of time before they found her as well. Pulling her hood over her head and clutching her new born child to her chest, she swiftly made her way down towards the dungeons.
Severus Snape had just changed into his night clothes and was about to pour himself a night cup of brandy when he heard the slight tapping at his door. At first he thought it was a few students playing a joke, but when it continued, he decided to answer it, and then give the brats responsible detention for the rest of their educational career. Opening the door; however, he did not find a student out past curfew.
"Bellatrix Lestrange. What an honor, really." His voice was a snarl.
She quickly pushed past him, heading over to the roaring fire nearby. "It's okay little one, we'll get you warm." Bellatrix sat herself down in front of the fire, moving the blanket bundled around her baby, just enough so the infants head was peaking out.
Severus was rather shocked at the moment, however being practiced at concealing his emotions he simply asked the woman a question.
"Do you want explain to me why you are cuddling an infant in the middle of my sitting room?"
Bella looked up at tall Head of Slytherin House. Fear filled her eyes though her face remained fixed with a smirk. "They are looking for me. I had to keep her safe."
"They? I am assuming you mean the Aurors?" Severus smirked, debating calling the Aurors on her himself.
She nodded. "They have already captured Rodulphus, they will find me soon enough. Severus' I need you to care of my baby." Her eyes looked deep into his.
"Excuse me." Severus found himself shocked, once again.
"I need you to take her Severus. Raise her as your own."
Severus crossed his arms and glared down at the sadistic, bigoted, blood-purity obsessed woman. "No."
"Severus please."
"Give her to your sister."
"I can't"
"Why?" The words flew out of their mouths the fastest either of them had ever heard anyone speak.
"She does not even know I was pregnant, no one does, not-not even my husband." She said the last three words so quietly Severus almost didn't hear them.
"That makes no sense Bellatrix. Why would you not inform your own husband you were with child?"
Bellatrix looked down at the tiny baby in her arms, smiling at her innocence. "He never wanted a child, let alone a daughter." She admitted looking back up at Severus.
"Oh? Then how come you have one?"
She once again looked down at her baby who continued to nurse from her mother. "He was drunk, and I do not even know if he recalled that night we spent together. It happened a few months before Our Lord vanished. Rodolphus has been out of the country a lot this past year, so it wasn't difficult to hide it from him."
"Bellatrix, I cannot take her. I-
"Her eyes like mine, dark- not even a color, and she has my black curly hair, but other than that she looks very much like Rodulphus."
"Bellatrix." He said softly. "I am not fit to raise a child."
Bellatrix laughed. "Who is? Please Severus, raise her as your own. It is better if she grows not knowing who her true parents are".
"I-I can't."
"Severus please. I do not wish her to be raised as an orphan. I do not wish for her to grow up unloved, thinking her parents abandoned her. Our Lord grew up like that, and…I do not wish it for my daughter."
Severus took a long deep breath and peered down at the baby who had fallen asleep at her mother's breast. "Okay. I will take her."
"Thank you." Bellatrix rose from the floor and delicately handed the baby for her new father. Severus very carefully took the child into his arms.
"She is three days old." She told him as she buttoned up her shirt and robe. "I have not named her. I will allow you to do that."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I do not wish to become more attached to her then I already am." She looked once more down at her daughter and kissed her sweetly on the forehead. "I love you little one." She then pulled a letter from her pocket and handed it to Severus. "When she is old enough, give her this".
Severus nodded and took the letter. "Take care of her Severus."
"You have my word."
Wiping a tear that had fallen to her cheek Bellatrix once again kissed her baby. She then looked up at the man her baby would grow to call father. "Thank you." Severus nodded, and Bella left.
"So you know." He said, looking down at the still sleeping infant. "I'm only doing this so you don't turn out like your sadistic mother."
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