Thanks to Rainbows4eva, this now has been corrected :)


Settling in with a Duck and Severus Bear

Severus closed the door to the new nursery and rubbed his eyes. How the bloody hell did he get into this situation? He saw the reasoning- he could protect the girl from the Dark Lord and his followers; it was convenient that she was near to administer possible antidotes (which he was starting on ASAP), but he never wanted children. Of course, Albus DID have a point- a few days with Minerva or Poppy and the child would be traumatized for life.

He sighed as he poured himself some firewhisky and pulled a book off of his shelf. He scanned the table of contents. Nothing helpful popped out. He looked on his shelves for a book on child rearing, knowing good and well there was nothing there. He wondered if there was anything in the library. Of course, how difficult could it be? If Crabbe and Goyle's parents could do it, Severus could. She was so tiny, how much trouble could she really make? He snorted. He could do this, it was only for a few days, or weeks, no a few days. It was just going to take a few days to get the potion to correct this little problem.

He took off his robe, set a stack of books on the floor near his bed to glance through in the morning and climbed in. He lay there thinking of all of the potential cures to this "little problem," until he finally dozed off.

He awoke startled the next morning to find a little girl, holding a black bear, staring into his face. The child was too small to get up into the bed, so she was standing beside the bed on the stack of books trying to look in his face.

"What the?!" He mumbled incoherently, as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. Suddenly it all came rushing back to him. Bloody hell, it wasn't a nightmare.

"Severus was scared," said Hermione in a little voice.

"I beg your pardon?" He asked. How dare she use his name, and to imply he was frightened- well now he was terrified, but a minute ago he was happily sleeping.

"Severus was scared." She replied, holding out the bear.

"Severus?" He asked. "Why in the name of Merlin did you name your bear after me?"

"Because he's just like you," she said, hugging the bear close and gazing into its eyes. Suddenly she lost her balance. With a little squeak, she fell off the tower of books and onto the stone floor where she did a tumbleset. She righted herself and looked up at Severus who had dashed to her side.

'Great,' he thought, 'first morning in my care and I broke her.'

He thought she was going to start crying, she was clearly surprised. Instead, she blushed and giggled. "Severus-Bear, are you ok?" She asked. She paused for a moment, as thought listening. Then she looked up at the dark man and said, "Yes he's, ok."

Severus was deeply disturbed at having a teddy bear named after him. He was NOT the fluffy, soft, cuddly type. That was NOT the personae he was going for.

He sighed, "Right. Moving on, are you hungry?" The child shook her head.

"You must be; you've not eaten since yesterday."

"No. I'm not hungry, thank you." she said, still hugging the bear tightly.

"What do little babies eat?" He wondered out loud. "Bottles," He answered himself.

"I am NOT a baby, you baby!" She stood up and looked at him with her hands on her hips. "I don't want a bottle. I'm NOT hungry and if I were, I would want a hot fudge sundae with extra sprinkles."

Severus rubbed his temples. 'Did she just call me a baby?' he though… I'm really losing my snarky touch.

"You cannot eat a hot fudge sundae for breakfast." He said.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because it is not a breakfast food," he said patiently.

"Why?"

"Because no one eats ice cream for breakfast," He replied.

"Why?" She asked.

"It is a dessert. It is a reward for eating your meal." He said, getting frustrated.

"Why?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Because it just is, that's all." He said.

"You don't know why?" She asked.

He took a deep breath.

"WINKY," bellowed Severus. With a pop, a female house elf appeared. "I would like you to tend to Ms. Granger while I teach."

"Oh yes, yes, yes!" Said Winky, excitedly. "Winky will watch and make sure the little miss is good and happy."

"Can I have a hot fudge sundae?" She asked the house elf.

Before the elf could reply Severus shouted, "I said NO and I meant it!"

She looked at the elf and said, "he's a bit grumpy, today. I think he needs and early nap." The elf nodded.

Severus eyed them as they turned to head back to her room- "Oh, I nearly forgot, we are going to have to get you some clothes soon, but for now…" With a wave of his wand, Hermione nightgown was turned into a little sage smocked dress, a sash neatly tied behind her, and shiny Mary Janes. "Go," He said, "and no hot fudge sundaes."

She gave him a pouty face as they disappeared into her room.

He dressed and headed to classes.

The day passed as usual, for Severus. One more day and he would finally be rid of the blasted dunderheads for an entire month. All of the students were being sent home this year so they could renew the wards on the school (something that took place every ten years and required much of Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall's time). Except for one, he remembered, and suddenly he had the desire to bang his head repeatedly on his desk. Instead, he headed to the Great Hall for dinner. The over-abundance of Christmas décor made him roll his eyes (and almost throw up a little).

He took 75 points from Gryffindor, 25 from Ravenclaw, and 10 from Hufflepuff on his way to dinner. That always made him feel better.

He sat down at the head table and surveyed the scene. His Slytherins were plotting something new to torment the golden trio… er... duo. The Ravenclaws were all reading as usual, the hufflepuffs were a quiet, boring group, and the Gryffindors were goofing off and enjoying their meal. Potter and the Weasel looked lost without their third, he thought.

"Severus, so good of you to join us, m'boy," said Albus as he scooped a big slab of chocolate pie onto his plate.

Severus snorted, as if he had any choice. The faculty was expected to eat in the Great Hall during term.

"How's the little one doing?" He asked.

"Fine." Severus replied, sipping his wine.

An owl fluttered in and landed in front of Albus, he read over the note and grimaced, passing it to Severus:

Dear Professor Dumbledore:

Thank you for the information regarding our daughter, Hermione, a most unfortunate event. After discussing it at great length, her mother and I have concluded that it would, indeed, be best for Hermione to remain at school during Christmas break. We do not have the time or inclination to be parents to a young child. We didn't want children sixteen years ago, and now that we are older, we cannot tend to a child now. We are both far too committed to take on that responsibility and already have plans for a Holiday in the Alps. Thank you for your offer and understanding. We are more than happy to fulfill any monetary or materialistic obligations. Please do keep us posted on her progress.

Sincerely,

The Grangers

He couldn't believe it! How could any parent be so cold? Everyone assumed he led such a terrible childhood, but actually, Severus had a very loving mother and father. He couldn't imagine how difficult it must be to have neither parent emotionally available. He tossed the letter on the table and took another sip of wine.

"How's your 'little problem'?" Asked Flitwick, with a wink.

"Just fine; I left her in the care of a house elf during my lessons today so I've not had to deal with her all day," he replied

"Ohhh can we see her?" Begged McGonagall, overhearing the conversation.

Severus rolled his eyes- "It's just Granger, Minerva. She's not REALLY a toddler." Seeing her face he added "YES, you may see her."

Just then, he heard a "Pop" and Dobby appeared frantically. "Professor sir, Winky asked Dobby to come tell you, the little miss is in a terrible state wanting to see you. Yous not been in to see her at all today the miss says that shes waited and waited and yous didn't go see her. She's rained all afternoon in her room but it didn't leave water anywheres and then she made a duck waddle around the room and lightening flashed and Winky don't like lightening, sir, and ..."Dobby babbled.

Severus took a glance around the Great Hall. Everything seemed in order.

"We'll visit you in a bit," said Minerva.

Severus swept out of the Great Hall to the High South Tower.

He opened the door to Hermione's room and sure enough, a duck waddled around quacking and rain poured over Hermione's head, but neither she nor the floor was wet. Her arms were wrapped around her bear and she looked terribly angry.

"What is the meaning of this?" He sneered.

Before he knew what happened, she leapt into his arms- either she used magic or she had a really amazing jump for a small child. She buried her head in his neck and cried and sniffed.

"I missed you, Mr. Meany-head." She said through her sniffs, holding on to him for dear life. "Never leave ever, ever, ever again!"

This was the sight that greeted Albus and Minerva as they walked up behind him.

"You left your door open, my dear," said Albus. "You must be careful about that- so unlike you," a sparkle in his eyes.

"Kiss Severus," said Hermione, holding her bear to both Albus and Minerva.

The gods hated him, he decided. He wanted to die right there.

"Oh Severus is a beautiful name for a bear, and what a beautiful bear he is" said Minerva with a big grin, giving a side glance to the real Severus.

"She named it. I had no say." He replied.

"Now what is that duck doing running around your room, Ms. Granger?" Asked Albus.

"I missed Mr. Meany-head." She replied, simply, as though it explained everything.

"Ah. I see. So you sent a duck running around, I quite understand. I believe I have done the same thing on occasion." He said, popping a lemon drop into his mouth.

"You miss Mr. Meany-head too?" She asked.

"Always." He replied.

Severus grimaced, entirely uncomfortable with the way this conversation was going.

The little girl grinned as she buried her head in Snape's jet black hair with a big smile.

"Would you like a lemon drop?" He asked her.

"Oh yes, please." She replied.

"Don't take that!" Exclaimed Severus, as he knocked her hand away from the candy. "Never take candy from someone- especially him! You don't know where it's been and you don't know what he's done to them!"

Before Albus could respond, Severus tightened his arm. The Dark lord was calling. Albus saw his face.

"You must go," said Albus.

Hermione's lip trembled. "Noo, I don't want you to." She grabbed on to him tighter. "Don't leave me, please! You just got here and I missed you, so! You can't go away!"

It took both Minerva and Albus to pry her off of him. She screamed and kicked at them, for a small child she had a lot of strength and sheer willpower that was certain. The rain poured down on them all, the wind picked up, and the damn duck kept nipping and quacking at everyone. Try as he may, Albus couldn't get rid of the weather, or the blasted duck. Severus was finally freed from her death-grip. He felt guilty that she was so beside herself with his departure. No one had ever been upset to see him go (actually that was usually the reaction when they saw him coming).

He returned just after midnight, exhausted and twitching from the Crustaceous curse. He entered his rooms, wanting nothing more than a cool shower and a firewhiskey. Albus greeted him as usual, to be filled in on the "meeting."

"He knew about Granger's accident, he saw it through Potter, he doesn't know about her powers, yet, but that's just a matter of time." He said. "He wants me to find out as much as I can about her. I have to have some news the next time I go back. I did not yet tell him that she was under my care."

They spoke about the ramifications of this, when the door opened and a little girl in a cream nightgown emerged. She ran and leapt into his arms. The duck waited near the door.

"She refused to sleep until she saw you." Minerva explained, as the little group walked back into the girl's room. Severus sat on the over stuffed chair, the child in his lap, refusing to be set down. He gave up and let her remain. "Albus and I tried everything to make the duck disappear, but he remains, and the child has grown quite fond of it. All children need a pet."

Severus grimaced, first the girl now the goose? Er Duck? What next? At least the Weasely kid took her cat to his house for the break. He couldn't handle that, too.

"You're hurt!" Said the child angrily. "Who did this to you?" She demanded. "Never mind, I'll make your boo-boo alllll better." She wrapped her little arms around his neck, and closed her eyes.

He was surprised to find that her mere presence stopped the pain and twitching from the curse- was she doing something or was it a psychological reaction?

Nothing surprised him, anymore. Not when it came to her. She was harboring many secrets and as much as he disliked the know-it-all, as much as he detested children, he found he enjoyed finding what little secrets were hidden within her.

The professors saw themselves out. Severus sat in front of her fireplace in the big overstuffed chair for a few moments, allowing the girl to sleep on his shoulder, the duck at his feet. Less than a week ago, if someone would have told him that he would've had a sixteen-year old- two year old, a nursery, and a duck, he would've sent them to St. Mungo's. Now, he felt like HE needed to go to St. Mungo's.