Mind Baby

Severus Snape found the baby on his doorstep on a sunny, cold December day.

He remembered it crystal clearly, even years afterwards: he'd been home for the Christmas holidays, for once, and lazily flicking through the channels on the ancient black and white television in his living room when he'd heard loud, mewling cries from the outside. Evidently curious, Severus had quickly slipped into his fur-lined winter coat and had opened the door.

He'd been expecting to find a kitten.

Instead, Severus stared at the baby in the golden crib on his doorstep once. It – he or she, Severus corrected internally – was wrapped in a bundle of bulky blankets, sporting an amusing little blue bonnet on his head. He, then. His eyes were open – they were a dark brown that would eventually turn into a vivid, stormy grey.

When he picked him up, the baby immediately stopped bawling, staring at him with wide dark brown eyes.

"Who are you?" Severus asked, sighing. It wasn't as if he needed any answer, though. He had seen enough of his father's brats at the base, and if this little one's crib was any indication – yes, Severus was sure that this child was what Pa called a mind baby.

The more the man looked at the baby, though, the more unsettled he grew. Severus then realised the problem – the baby resembled him! He had the same hooked nose, the same shape of eyes, the same colouring, and the same colour of hair. When he gazed at the baby's head with the bonnet removed, he saw that the only thing different about the baby was that there were tufts of curly hair on his head.

Curly hair. Eileen Prince hadn't had curly hair, and neither did her son have any.

Severus's father, though, did.

It clicked into place. Severus's eyes narrowed. His bastard of a father had been involved with the goddess of wisdom? Tobias Snape wasn't exactly what you would call intelligent, except if you counted his incontestable skill with mechanics, which had earned him a promotion back in the days when he'd worked at the local mill.

There was also his talent with fire; but that was a different story.

Severus sighed and dragged in the golden crib, holding the baby with his other hand. "I hope I don't drop you, brother of mine," he drawled cynically, smirking a tad at the baby, who merely sucked his thumb, "It would be a shame. Come, you must be hungry – and freezing. Your mother's probably responsible for keeping you alive, eh?"

He opened his fridge, frowning at the lack of food inside.

Oh, shit. Severus then stupidly remembered that the stores were closed over Christmas. With a sigh, he picked up a bottle of water from the end of the fridge. "Am I supposed to warm this?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes at it, as if the water bottle would answer him. "Boiling would just burn the baby's throat – nah, better to just give him warm water."

He put down the baby in the golden crib. "Be good," Severus said.

Immediately, he felt silly and cursed himself. If the Weasley twins heard him right now...

Severus preferred to not think about it. Without further ado, he proceeded to warm the water, and then Conjured a baby bottle. "I hope this works," he told the baby – ahem, apparently his half-brother. He propped him up. "Pray that I don't choke you, little one, I'm not an expert in your care."

At that, he smirked. Severus was actually finding the whole process quite fascinating until the baby spat up – and then he thought sullenly about changing his spit-splattered robes before heading back to the base. His father definitely had some explaining to do...

Ah, payback.


Right, so this is entirely compliant with The Penetrator of Darkness: Year One. For those who're reading Rose, Albus, and Scorpius' story: don't worry, I'm working on it, I have about half of the chapter done... This is just me exploring that world a little further.

Anyway, please read and review, especially if you favourited/alerted, and all that jazz :)