It was after the feast when Severus Snape managed to stagger his way into the private quarters given to him by Albus Dumbledore. In his arms he juggled his 6 month old daughter, a diaper bag, and his school bag. Elizabeth was asleep against his shoulder, hand fisted in her curls and thumb of her other hand jammed into her mouth. This made Severus very happy as most nights since her birth; he had gotten little to no sleep.
Severus laid the small frail Elizabeth in the white crib given to him by the child's godparents; engaged Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy. Snapping the bedroom light off and leaving the door open wide enough so he could see into it from time to time, Severus tore open the envelope given to him by Dumbledore after the feast. His ex-girlfriend had sent him many threatening letters over the summer, most howlers that had woken his daughter from her afternoon nap and pissed his father, Tobias, off enough to storm up the stairs to deliver a personal lecture. Now Albus Dumbledore had thrown himself into the mix which was just a recipe for disaster.
Plopping down on the couch, Severus read,
Severus,
I know you love your daughter very, very, very much, but your only 16. You have a whole life ahead of you and you need to seize the opportunity of adoption before you find yourself unable to let go. You can't tote her around a magic school; it would be much too hazardous for a child. That being said, it would be very difficult for her, not being able to see you as much as she would need. Remember my boy; I have yours and Elizabeth's best interests at heart.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Severus crumpled the letter in his fist and chucked it in the fire. No one, not even the great Albus Dumbledore, could make him give up his child. His love for his daughter was greater than any could understand. It was not one easily explained, not one that could be described.
Severus was pulled from the furious thoughts of loathing by a sharp cry that pierced the quiet of the late Monday night. It came from the baby's crib, a cry that screamed 'I can't be ignored'. Severus heaved himself off the couch and shuffled his way into the bedroom to retrieve his screaming offspring. Picking her up gently, Severus carried Elizabeth to the little kitchen to mix a bottle. While waiting for the formula to warm, he rocked her slowly to calm her a bit. After testing the bottle, he began to feed it to the child nestled in his arms.
Tilting the bottle so no air got in, he watched as she latched on and drank half the bottle quickly, stopping a few times for air. Eventually, she stopped drinking all together and pushed the bottle away. Severus threw a dishrag over his shoulder and burped her gently. Afterward, as she fell asleep on her shoulder, Severus laid her down in her crib and prepared for bed himself. Right before he laid down, he blew out the candles. Pulling the blankets over himself, he hoped for at least a few hours sleep.
