The Black Eyed Boy Part Two
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall strode out of Hogwarts at a brisk pace. All who knew her could see on her face she was angry. She arrived on the doorstep of The Phoenix Orphanage and without hesitating entered. She easily pushed through the impressive wards as the building recognised her instantly and allowed her to pass through.
Hermione Granger dropped the book she was holding as her office door crashed open to reveal a very annoyed Minerva McGonagall
"How could you of all people lie to me?" screeched Minerva with a glare to match.
Hermione stood up from her chair, open mouthed, blinking rapidly, not understanding why Minerva had barged in with such hostility.
"Don't you dare," she seethed, moving in closer to the young woman that had got her ire up. "I trusted you, treated you like...like one of my own." Her right arm was rigid with tension and her fingers clenched as they wanted to reach for her wand. "I did check the Record Book at Hogwarts you know."
Minerva had been both shocked and happy to discover that Severus had a son. Unbeknown to anyone, she as headmistress looked up the student's book and got the shock of her life.
"I don't understand..." started Hermione, with a shake of her head. She was aware Minerva was seething with anger, her foot was tapping in a way Hermione knew meant big trouble. It was all directed at her and she could not fathom why. Then the headlines on tomorrow's copy of 'The Daily Prophet", slammed into her mind. Oh she was truly screwed.
"The book, girl! The book!" Shrieked Minerva.
Hermione jumped backwards and fell into her chair with a thump. Minerva stormed over to look down upon her. She swivelled Hermione's chair around so they were face to face.
Hermione had not felt so vulnerable for a long time and it brought a flashback to her being attacked by Bellatrix at the Malfoy Manor. She visibly paled and began to shake. Her wand was in her desk drawer and Minerva was a very dangerous witch right now.
"I checked the book." Minerva spoke the words slowly, full of meaning. She looked closer at the girl and only then it dawned that she did not have a clue of why she was so angry with her. "You must know, Hermione, you are his mother."
"Whose mother?" Hermione asked confused and shook her head.
"The wee laddie's mother."
"What? I never have had..." she stammered and blushed deeply as she admitted such personal information to her ex-Head of House. "I have never had sex with anyone, and certainly not with Severus Snape. That boy is not mine."
"The book does not lie, Hermione!" shouted Minerva. To top it all off, she slammed down another early copy of The Daily Prophet with its ghastly headline.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she spoke, hiccupping and with snot dribbling from her nose. She was a mess.
"I love that baby, but he is not mine!" Hermione wailed out her distress.
"I'm sorry lassie, but the book cannot be tampered with and is only allowed to be viewed by Hogwarts Head or Assistant Head.
"But how did 'SHE' find out?"
Minerva knew Hermione meant Rita Skeeter. "I am sorry, lassie, if it is in the book and both parents are magical it also shows up in the Ministry of Magic Registration Department. The Muggle born children only show up in the book at Hogwarts. The leak is at the Ministry, my dear."
A gull flew in through the kitchen window of a secret kept building, carrying a letter. The letter contained a missive as well as a copy of 'The Daily Prophet'. The information had come from the only person who knew that he, Severus Snape, had survived Nagini's bite and knew how to locate him in an emergency. Their news had him packing at once.
"Buggering, fucking, shite. I just knew it would be a fucking Gryffindor that would have me returning from the fucking dead," growled Severus Snape as he prepared to return to the magical world.
"April Fucking Fool!"
Severus arrived at the gates of Malfoy Manor and passed easily through its wards. He was expected.
"Hello, Uncle Severus," greeted Draco Malfoy as he opened the main door to allow his godfather to enter his home.
"Thanks, Draco." Severus sneered as he waved the letter that Draco had sent him earlier that day. 'The Daily Prophet' had been burnt to ashes before he had left.
Draco patted him on the arm then shook him by his hand. He could not resist. "Never realised that you and Granger were close? Congratulations on the birth of your son," he said with a smirk.
Severus glared and strode past him, heading for the library and to where he knew was a bottle of fine Elf Made Whisky. He had not had a drop of alcohol in over a year. He needed a drink - now!
Draco spent the evening filling Severus in on the goings on in the magical world since he had left it nearly a year before.
"Might have known Granger would be knee deep in the Ministry and its goings on," Severus snarled angrily.
"No," Draco said his face softening. "She kicked Shacklebolt where it hurt. She did not discriminate about any of the orphans' blood status, and she has found homes for many Death Eater children in good homes. She has been very fair."
Severus huffed. Then Draco made him become very angry.
"You know the house you owned not far from Hogwarts? The one you left me in your will? I gave it to Granger, for her orphanage."
The air was blue with swearing and the sound of breaking glass as Severus Snape's whisky glass was thrown angrily into the fireplace.
Draco smirked behind his tumbler of whisky and would love to be a fly on the wall when his godfather caught up with Granger. He was glad he had a Slytherin spy at the Daily Prophet who sent him an early copy of the next days issue.
Hermione stood gasping through sobs after Minerva left her office. The headmistress had slammed the door behind her as she exited, convinced that Hermione was lying to her and had stormed away.
With reddened eyes and a tear stained face, she turned to face her office door. She had had two irate visitors today and knew the next day would bring many more. She was in danger, and much worse, the child of Severus Snape was under threat. She had to protect the child above all else.
Hermione gathered her wits together then began casting wards. She used her magical knowledge to make her private office impregnable. She blocked her Floo as well as any other exits and entries a witch or wizard could get through. She had already moved the child into her private quarters. She had placed the boy's cot in her bedroom.
She also put a silencing spell upon her domain in order to stop any sound from the outside coming through. She had sent her Patronus to Shan Pink informing her that she was indisposed and would remain uncontactable for the some time. She also added a personal comment that she was keeping Snape's child safe..
The baby smiled up at her with his big dark eyes sparkling with pleasure as Hermione tickled him. He chuckled, his legs and arms waving with delight. He was warm, fed, and just had had a bath. Hermione cuddled the boy she called Sev in her head. He smelled so good. His hair was silky to the touch. She had often pondered if Severus Snape's own hair felt the same?
Then she froze. She felt someone trying to pull down her wards. Her heart thudded with terror. She held the baby boy tight to her until he began to squirm in protest, then wailed in alarm.
She shushed to quieten him, kissed him on the forehead, and then gently placed him in his cot. She set a magical shield around him as an extra protection. She then hurried towards her office door where the caster outside was taking down her wards.
"No you fucking don't," she screamed.
She cast more wards using rare magic. Whoever the Witch or Wizard was - they were strong. She panicked as her own magical wards and blocks began to fail. She screamed with frustration, tears fell from her eyes. She was angry and threw up all the magic she could think upon to protect the boy.
She remembered how her best friend Harry's mother had died protecting him. She vowed to do the same even if the boy was not hers. Her thoughts crashed in on her as she remembered Minerva repeatedly stating that she was the baby's mother.
Severus Snape entered the Phoenix Orphanage easily. He removed its wards then immediately when inside, recast them. He did not wish to put any child at risk from anyone, let alone him.
He had obtained the information from Draco of where Granger's office was located. She was a known workaholic so he assumed she would be still working that evening. He had obtained her home address should she not be here.
He huffed as he discovered his entry to her office barred. He was impressed as he waded through the wards the witch had cast. She clearly had got wind of the Daily Prophet's story and had barricaded herself in. He snorted with amusement; as if she could keep him of all wizards out.
He felt the wards break further and then began to laugh. The witch was casting new wards as he took down the old ones. He shook his head and smiled. "Granger, your magic ability surprises me." He enjoyed the battle to break through her wards. He was soaked in sweat, his hair sticking to his face with the effort of keeping up the magic. It was most exhausting for him. He had not used much magic since he had left the Magical world.
He was back now and had a fight on his hands. He wanted to see Granger and to see this child that was named as his.
Hermione screamed in terror as the wards finally crumpled and fell. A dark haired wizard stepped into her office. She fled towards the bedroom to protect the child. Severus saw a denim leg whip out of sight as she ran through a door and slammed it closed.
He knew he had beaten her. He swiftly cast new wards and secured the area against her Apparating away. They needed to talk.
He broke through the final wards, then pushed the door between them open. Without a sound, he repaired the damage he had caused. The place was secured and he knew no one either wizard or witch would be able to enter without him being aware.
The witch was clearly tired and obviously panicking. He found Granger in a corner whimpering with a bundle in her arms.
"Granger," he spoke softly. The girl, no, woman, was scared. He watched as she tried to scoot further into the corner. He moved towards her slowly. Her eyes grew wide, tears filling and falling down onto her cheeks. She gulped, trying to stop from screaming.
Severus removed his outer cloak and stood in what looked to Hermione like a Muggle jumper. He wore a grey v-necked jumper, which revealed a small area of chest hair at the v poking over. Then she gasped; he was wearing a pair of black 501 Levi jeans. Distracted, she did not see him move in closer.
"Granger?" he asked. He had squatted down in front of her but far enough away from her feet not to be kicked.
She tightened her hold on the sleeping child, then lifted her eyes and met his gaze. Her face crumpled again as she began to sob.
"You're ...alive?"
"Indeed and you, I believe, have my child?" he said in a soft tone, with a nod towards the sleeping bundle in her arms. "That is if you can believe a bug."
"Please don't kill him," she begged. "Kill me, but please, not him."
"I have no intention of killing anyone, Miss Granger, let alone any innocent child or young woman."
He saw how terrified she looked and knew he had to show compassion. She had saved his life and felt a strong pull towards the witch. He held out a hand to her and waited.
"Trust me, Miss Granger?" he begged. "Hermione, I mean neither you nor the child in your arms any harm. Please believe me on this. Have I ever lied to you?"
Hermione wiped at her tears; she was a mess. She thought back and knew she could trust Severus Snape. She always had hated anyone calling him nasty names or disrespecting him. She knew he had spied for Dumbledore. She even trusted him even after he had killed the headmaster. Yes, she trusted him then, and trusted him still. She was happy to see he had lived.
"No," she finally replied, looking up at him.
Severus winced. His face fell and he felt his heart plummet, he had hoped for so much. Although he had been bitterly annoyed at the article in the newspaper, it gave him hope. He had hoped the child was his. He had also hoped that the witch could be his salvation. Apparently he was to be disappointed, yet again.
Then a warm hand took his and his hope was restored.
"Mister Snape, Severus… No, you have never lied to me, and I do trust you."
She allowed him to assist her to rise. Her whole body was stiff and she was tired. The child in her arms woke and snuffled and began to cry.
Hermione forgot about Severus Snape and gave her full attention to the child. Severus stood and watched. His face grew tight and his eyes wide as Hermione Granger showed with her actions how much she cared for and loved this child.
He watched as she fed then changed the boy. She laughed and sniffed away her last tears as the boy peed up in an arc before she could get a towel to cover his nudity.
Severus chuckled. He moved in, but not threateningly, and recalled a memory. "I remember when Draco did that exact same thing, when I used to change him."
Hermione's eyes went wide with shock then she let loose a light laugh. She had already resigned her fate regarding Severus Snape.
"Oh, that is an image I shall have to burn from my mind now."
"Yes, I looked after him when the Malfoy's went out of town. I am his godfather."
Hermione nodded. She was aware of that. She put a new nappy on the boy and then deftly dressed him in his pyjamas for the night. She picked the boy up and automatically cuddled then kissed him. The boy playfully patted at her cheek with his hands. He then tugged at a piece of her long hair before shoving it into his mouth to chew.
Severus looked closely at the boy and stepped in nearer to Hermione. He had watched and noticed that the boy did look like him. The child has his eyes and thankfully the nose was smaller but definitely his. The mouth… He looked at Granger then gasped. The child had Hermione Granger's mouth. How was this possible? He kept this thought to himself, for now.
"May I hold the child?"
The boy looked over at Severus and blew a bubble as he cooed over at him. Hermione smiled. She nodded and carefully transferred the boy into Severus' arms.
"Hello?" Severus said gently as he smiled down into the boy's face. The baby cooed again, and his hands slapped at Severus's face and tugged on his beak of a nose.
Hermione could not help but laugh. Then she gasped in horror as the boy child put his mouth to Severus Snape's nose and began to suckle on it.
Severus was shocked as much as Hermione but shook his head and smiled. The boy left a drool trail from Severus nose to the boy's mouth. He cleaned it with a flick of his hand, using wandless magic.
"What is his name?" he asked.
"I have not named him, but we call him the dark haired boy or darling. Some suggestions were made but none fitted him."
"You did not name your own child?" he stared at Hermione.
"He is not mine," she huffed. "You have seen the Prophet article? That is all of Rita Skeeter's doing."
"I did think the bug probably lied. But seeing the child, he is yours. He has your mouth, chin, and your delicate ears."
"He is your son." She turned pink with embarrassment as well as anger. "The child is not mine. How could he be?"
"He has my eyes, my hair." Severus stroked the hair of his son. Then added. "He has my nose too, thank the Goddess it is a smaller version than the one I have been given. Somehow this child has been created. He is our child, Hermione."
Hermione blushed. She tried not to look at Severus as she responded.
"We never..." She shook her head and then threw her hands up in the air. "You know we did not... We could not..." She blustered, not wishing to state the obvious.
"Granger, Hermione," he said then sighed, leaning into the child and kissing his head after caressing the boy's hair. "We did not have intercourse." He smirked seeing the deep blush on her face. "I can and will confirm that. But this child, somehow has been created, and we are his parents."
Hermione slumped down upon her bed and bit her lip. "I know." She shook her head. "Minerva said as much, we are in the book... You know?"
Severus nodded and sat down on the bed alongside Hermione with their child now sleeping soundly in his arms.
"The whole wizarding world will know of this tomorrow. We need to prepare a statement. Hermione, we cannot hide from this. I have hid for nearly a year and wish to remain in the wizarding world." He passed their child into Hermione's arms. "We need to name him."
"We?" She looked into Severus's serious face.
"Yes, 'we' need to name him. Together."
Hermione smiled and wondered if she could keep this child of theirs. "I love him. I would have died for him tonight if need be and will do it tomorrow too."
"I saw how protective you are of him, Hermione." He smiled. "Thank you for saving my life during the Battle of Hogwarts and for protecting my son."
"Our son," she corrected him and smiled. "How about Severus Junior?"
He shook his head with a firm, "No!" He thought for a moment, then suggested a name. Hermione nodded and agreed. It would be very fitting as the boy was found on the doorstep of the Phoenix Orphanage.
The boy was named Fawkes, after a bird who had saved many lives in the magical world. A fitting tribute to the Phoenix that had once belonged to Albus Dumbledore.
Together, the next day Severus Snape and Hermione Granger would introduce their son, Fawkes Granger-Snape to the world. Knowing the shock of seeing Snape alive perhaps would stop any questioning about the child's conception of which both parents remained stumped. (Until they researched it further but for now that could wait.). They had a press conference to prepare.
The End.
