Author's note: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. This fic was just a idea that popped in my head and flowed out more, so any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Severus Snape ran through the Halls of Hogwarts, it was a lie, she wasn't dead. Please Merlin and whatever Gods were listening please let her not be dead. He thought as he raced in the Headmaster's office.
"Albus!" he yelled, the old man, slowly turned a woeful expression on his face. "No…" He said sinking to his knees…the rumors couldn't be true, his mind flashed back to the meeting he had just had with her that very day.
"I have a secret to tell you." Lily said as she lay in his arms they stared up at the brilliantly blue sky. Severus laughed.
"Potter has finally decided that he is going to come out and declare he likes boys?" He teased and got elbowed in the stomach.
"Severus that isn't something very nice to say, James has sacrificed a lot, including his safety for you and me. " She pointed out. Severus sighed and nodded pulling her closer.
"I know, I can't wait for this to be over, then you and I and…well we can go away and leave the Wizarding world behind." He whispered. Lily snorted sitting up.
"Severus Snape of all the ridiculous things I have ever heard, you would die of boredom as a Muggle. Let alone not being able to dabble about in potions!" she said and jumped on top of him planting a kiss on his lips. "You need to come out of your dungeons more often then you might actually have some color." She teased him. Severus rolled pinning her body under his.
"What secret is it that you have to tell me Evans." He called her by her maiden name. Lily let loose a giggle.
"Oh I don't know if I should tell you, I should make you come over tomorrow night for supper. Harry is missing you. I caught him trying to grab a cauldron that I use for potions when I feel the need to brew them. He is taking after his father already." She stated, Severus sighed and laid his head on her chest listening to her heart beat. "Alright I'll tell you now, but you still have to come over."
"Alright, get on with it flame hair." He teased smiling at her, he could always be himself around her, and she was the one person who made him feel whole.
"Alright crooked nose, I.Am.Pregnant again!" she declared grinning at him. Severus felt the blood drain from his face, then he let a slow smile light his face, he jumped up and picked her twirling her around.
"That is wonderful! How far along?" he asked, she grinned pressing a kiss to his neck.
"How long since we?" She left the question in the air he paled.
"Lily that was seven months ago!" he said astonished.
"And you haven't been around enough for me to tell you, please don't be mad okay?" she begged. He shook his head and smiled at her.
"I'm not mad, just surprised is all." He kissed her again.
"I wish we could stay like this forever, but if I am gone much longer…" she trailed off.
"Then people might find out, and everything Potter has done to protect you and Harry will be for nothing. Please be safe tonight, I don't trust…"he trailed off as she placed a finger on his lips.
"Please trust in us okay? I love you Severus." She grinned and bounded off. "Remember tomorrow night you promised." She called and then she was gone.
Severus…the voice rang in his ears, Severus can you hear me? Severus blinked and saw Dumbledore kneeling in front of him his hand on his shoulder.
"Harry? And…she was…." He managed with a choked voice.
"Harry is alive, and Lily managed to stay alive long enough to give birth…it was a girl." Dumbledore said softly. Severus nodded.
"Where are they?" he said moving to stand but the headmaster kept him down.
"This is going to be very hard on you Severus, I have placed Harry with Lily's sister." He began.
"No! Give me my son Albus!" he yelled. Dumbledore tightened his grip.
"Listen to me, the Dark Lord's followers won't think to look for him there." He pointed out. Severus glared at him with tears in his eyes but he nodded.
"The minute that he comes of age to attend Hogwarts I want him back." He said in a tight voice. "Death Eaters or not." He snapped.
"I agree. And as for your daughter…" Dumbledore began, Severus held in his breath, Lily's daughter, the last gift she had given to him, would this crazy old man deny her to him as well? "She is in your custody." Severus smiled though grief coated his eyes.
"Where is she?" he asked wanting more than anything to have both his children, but he understood sadly why Dumbledore wouldn't allow it.
"She is in the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey says she is in perfect health despite being two months early, which is very odd. But I have a feeling she will be a very special girl." He answered and watched his Potion's master stumble towards the door. "James tried to save them both, he sacrificed himself in doing so." He added softly. Severus stopped squaring his shoulders he turned.
"He did his best, and I owe him more than I can ever repay, I hope…" he trailed off unsure of how to put into words what he hoped.
"James knew you didn't hate him Severus, go to your daughter." Dumbledore said and watched the younger man rush out of the room. He closed his eyes and sank onto the nearest chair. Severus wouldn't forgive him…not for what was going to take place; he only hoped that his son was strong enough to survive the trials that faced him.
Severus sat in the chair holding the tiny pale babe in his arms staring down at her as he fought back tears. He held her closer and finally gave into them the sound of his pain echoing in the hallways. His body shook and he didn't hear the footsteps that entered his room.
"Severus…" the normally cold voice said held regret, he raised his eyes to his onetime closet friend.
"Get away Malfoy!" he growled like a rabid animal sheltering his daughter from the very sight of the man. Lucious Malfoy shook his head holding up his hands.
"I didn't have anything to do with it Severus, search my mind if you need to."He offered meeting Severus's eyes, quickly the Potion's master did so , once he had finished he allowed the other man to see his grief.
"They took Harry away too…" He whispered as Lucious pulled a chair up to sit next to him. The blonde had tied his hair back for once and hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Why?" he asked careful not to touch the babe in his friend's arms without permission. Severus lowered his head to stare down at his daughter. She was already showed signs of having his completion.
"To protect him from rouge Death Eaters out to avenge the Dark Lord." He whispered.
"And this little one is?" Lucious asked softly. Severus offered a watery smile.
"Lily was pregnant seven months, she stayed alive long enough to protect her and Harry." He explained. Lucious nodded.
"What are you going to name her?" he asked.
"Carina." Severus said after a moment.
"May I?" Lucious asked and Severus nodded, reaching out the blonde stroked her head. "She's going to have your hair, and lily's looks." He said softly then looked up. "Your exhausted, why don't you come home with me, Narcissa would be more than happy to help out with her, as she does have Draco as well." He pointed out. Severus took a deep breath then nodded standing him he swayed, Lucious quickly grabbed him.
"Do you trust us?" he asked. Severus was silent before he nodded.
"More than I trust Dumbledore now." He whispered. Lucious quickly led him down the hallway.
"Good, now come on we have to hurry before someone tries to stop us, they will want you to have 'help' with her I am sure." He said. And held out a port key once they were far enough away, Severus looked wary at it. "Don't worry this one is infant safe." Severus nodded and took hold of it feeling the familiar pull.
"Thank Merlin Severus!" The normally composed Narcissa ran to him careful not to crush the child in his arms as she held him tight, he took a deep breath and froze as his daughter began to wail. He looked confused staring down at her. "Don't worry, she is most likely hungry, go and sit by the fire, I'll get her a bottle, and then it's off to bed with the both of you." She said and walked off calling for her house elf.
"Lucious I don't think I could…" he began as he was pulled over to the fire and forced to sit in a chair by it.
"Don't even go on with that sentence, you will get some rest, have some faith in me." Lucious said grinning. "After all I have a very good stock of potions brewed by someone who is quite talented at it."
"Lucious that's an utterly ridiculous idea! What if Carina needs something?" he snapped as Narcissa came back into the room carrying a bottle. She handed it to him and smiled as he held his daughter in the manner he should and began to feed her.
"Severus…you trust us correct?" Lucious asked yet again.
"Yes, I already answered that question." Severus snapped annoyed.
"Then you are taking the bloody potion, without argument! Or I will gladly force it down that stubborn throat of yours." Lucious snapped, another wail was heard upstairs and a house elf appeared.
"Master Draco is crying Mistress, he wants you." The house elf said timidly. Narcissa nodded, and squeezed her husband's shoulder before she swept out of the room following the house elf. Lucious watched her for a moment before he narrowed his eyes at Severus who was glaring right back at him.
"If you think I am going to take a potion just for one night's sleep…" Severus hissed but interrupted him.
"I have a feeling you intend to have a multitude of sleepless nights, so while you are under this roof, which you will be until you are able to control your grief, you will take a potion to help you rest. Think of your daughter Severus, and your son, you want to see him again so prove that you are as smart as you pretend to be." Lucious challenged. Severus closed his eyes tightly and sighed.
"I'm sorry Lucious I am just…" he began but opened his eyes when Lucious laughed.
"You are just being your normal stubborn self, I'll give it that you actually are showing more emotion than I have seen in quite some time. But you are just being yourself, now let's get you upstairs and in bed, Carina too, I'm sure Narcissa set up a crib in your room for you. And leave her care tonight to us. We would die before we allow anything to happen to either of you." Lucious said as Severus handed him the now empty bottle. He set it aside and helped Severus to his feet leading him up the stairs.
"I know…she's gone Lucious…I lost her…" Severus whispered in a lost voice, Lucious sighed as he pulled his friend into the guest room and managed to persuade him to set his daughter in the crib, he tucked the child in while Severus stood in the center of the room his mind finally sliding into complete shock. Lucious quickly hurried over to him pulling him to the bed and then pushed him down. He took the vial that he knew his wife had had a house elf set out for him and opened it putting it to Severus's lips.
"Drink." He said coldly knowing that Severus didn't need compassion but orders. Severus nodded mutely and drank it, once it was empty Lucious handed him a change of clothes. "Change." He commanded and walked over to the crib while Severus obeyed his command. The baby was already fast asleep, he tucked the blanket around her more, and noticed the small white owl stuffed animal in the crib, he picked it up and then set it next to her head, she turned over and held it close to her body, he smiled, and turned when he heard Severus sit back into bed. He walked back over and pulled the blankets back, Severus sighed and slid into the bed allowing Lucious to tuck him in due to the potion already working its way swiftly to the system. Lucious waited until he was sure Severus had fallen asleep before he slipped silently from the room heading to his own …