Phoenix Tears Rising

An Alternate Year Six Book

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and characters associated with his world belong to JK Rowling. No financial gain is being made from this story – only hours of enjoyment.

Chapter Four. As the Seventh Month Dies

Order of the Phoenix Headquarters, July 31st 1980, 1:12 am

Lily had been feeling contractions all afternoon. The baby parasite inside of her had made sure to let her know he was ready to greet the world. Snape, as to his instructions had been called immediately when the contractions had started. This in itself had caused problems.

Snape and James had become unbearable over the last nine months. Snape could not help but rub James' nose into the fact that the baby was not his. James had made a show of not caring, stating only Lily's health was his concern. Lily knew otherwise. It gnawed at James, like a thorn in his mind he could not help but regret the new life they were greeting into the world was not his seed.

It had come as a shock to Lily to learn from Snape a few months into the parasite's growth that he was not really hers. She was not his mother. She was only a carrier for a period of nine months and a milk bar until he was old enough to ween.

That was the day Snape had given her a journal to write her experiences down, he seemed genuinely sorry for her that day. He wasn't his normal professional, emotionless robot he normally was around her. He didn't even sneer when she had burst into floods of tears; he pattered her arm and left her a present.

When Albus Dumbledore accused Snape of compassion, the raven hair potions expert defended himself by saying it was in the potion baby's best interest not to have a distraught carrier. Overall Snape had been careful around her, made sure he only teased James when she was not present and acted as if he was walking on egg shells around her.

That was also the day the baby had become 'parasite' in her mind. It was absolutely awful to think she was not carrying James' child and this child had no links to her in consolation. No she was being used to be feed upon, used and abused. These thoughts stayed in her mind gnawing and sucking away at her sanity.

This baby had ruined her wedding day. Her wedding dress was far from perfect even though it had hidden the tell tale bump. He had made her feel sick and miserable. He was causing her great pain…

Lily gasped and gripped at James's squeezing hard as she could. She wished that she could shout at her poor husband for getting her in this position like all those glamorous wives on television but that luxury was not given to her.

She was currently laying on a make shift bed in the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters or to be more specific on a transfigured lounge somewhere in London. She glanced over her bulging belly and between her spade legs. There were only two others in the 'delivery room'.

Snape surly watched in displeasure; evidently he was not interesting in the birthing process. Lily knew his presence was necessary in case the potion had in fact affected her or the baby.

Poppy, the new mediwitch at Hogwarts, was the other. Lily scowled at the bustling woman as she looked between her legs. "Deep breaths honey, can see the baby's head… not long…"

"Arrrggghhh!" Lily cried. "This fiend is going to KILL ME!"

"I highly doubt that dearie," Poppy said patting her arm. "Deep breaths and push."

Snape calmly folded his potions periodical slowly and stood taking his place by James' side. It would be he as the resident potions master who would inspect the baby and not Poppy. He found himself smiling smugly and darted his eyes to the door where he was sure Sirius Black was standing ear pressed to the door.

Sirius had wanted access to the birth and yet Lily demanded quite loudly between contractions for him to get his doggy backside out of the way. Remus was probably by his friend side comforting his wounded ego. He smirked, remembering the look on Sirius' face when he realised that Snape would be there and yet he was denied. Lily's complaining was almost worth it.

"PUSH!" came Poppy's command.

"ARRRGGGHHH!" Lily screamed clamping down on James' hand so that he visible winced. "Oh…!" Lily breathed a sigh of relief as a baby's cries were heard. "Oh that little bugger hurt!"

Snape smirked as Poppy wiped the squirming, red mass of baby clean with a flick of her wand. He stepped forward and took the bawling, naked baby and glanced down. Glancing up he saw James sitting on the edge of his seat, wide eyed waiting for the verdict. The opportunity was too good to miss. James was nervous and this could be used against him.

Snape lowered his head with slow deliberately movements and counted the infants toes and fingers sluggishly.

James shifted but Snape did not look up. His nemesis was becoming infuriated very quickly but was trying to behave in front of his spouse. It was torture and Snape was enjoying every moment of it and the infant's squalling was only putting James more on edge.

"Baby's nose is squashed," Snape commented.

"What does that mean?" James demanded his knuckles turning white from holding onto his seat too tight.

"Nothing," Snape said. "I was just making a comment."

Snape slowly stalked to Lily's side and placed the naked bundle on her chest. "Feed him he's hungry."

Lily stared at Snape incredulously and then at the infant who was attempting to squall with his tiny fist in his mouth. "He's beautiful," Lily murmured.

Snape rolled his eyes. In his opinion there was nothing beautiful or remotely nice looking about the red piece of flesh that was torturing his ear drums. He looked away as Lily unbuttoned her nightie and attached the child to her breast. He waited for the suckling sounds indicating that the tiny mouth was working against his carrier's nipples. Poppy used this time to discreetly leave and tell people the good news.

"There is nothing wrong with the baby or with Lily," Snape said with his face averted. "The child is in perfect health."

James wordlessly nodded his thanks; true to form Snape ignored him.

"You better decide soon whether or not you want to keep him, Dumbledore wants his answer."

Lily glanced towards her husband and then at the baby who was sucking quite contentedly that she was surprised it hadn't drowned itself on her milk.

"Erebus Prior knows nothing about his potion," Lily commented touching the silky black fuzz on top of the baby's head. The infant's sea green jewel like eyes rolled back and paused before suckling once more. "You could tell it was a man who created this potion."

"How is that, Mrs. Potter?" Snape demanded as he retrieved his periodicals.

"I am his mother. No matter what Erebus and yourself imply. I birth him and he is apart of me," Lily said she turned her emerald eyes towards James. "Can you not love him?"

James looked at the infant who was blinking contentedly. "If he is a part of you… no problem sweet heart."

Snape suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Honestly James Potter was a romantic prat.

James took the small child in his arms and Lily buttoned her nightie. For a moment James stood and rearranged the child in his strong seeker arms in pensive thought. Then he pulled out his wand and waved it over the child. A gold light engulfed the child for a moment before disappearing.

"James what have you done!" Lily cried sitting up in bed despite her exhaustion. She held out her arms for her baby.

James smiled sadly and handed the infant back to his 'mother'. "A glamour. He shall grow as a Potter, not a Slytherin."

Lily looked down at her baby, dark emerald eyes looked up at her. "Oh James," Lily muttered thickly. "What have you done?"

"Destroyed any hope of you having a handsome son, I would think," Snape snarled from his corner.

"Shut up Snape," James snarled back just as viciously. "You wouldn't understand."

Snape shook his oily head. "You're right I don't understand. The child's fathers are long dead, ancient wizards of old, he is in no danger and you selfishly take away his identity."

James seemed unmoved.

"His fathers were Salazar and Godric!" Snape hissed. "Fine breeding that is!"

"All you would care about isn't you pure blood sadist," James hurled back.

"I'm not the one who covered his prestigious heritage so I wouldn't have to face the fact the child is from the most illustrious wizarding lines there are!"

James snorted and looked down at the child. "I'm sure Harry doesn't mind looking like a Potter and not his Slytherin father."

Snape stopped short. "Harry?"

"Yes, Harry after my father. What's it to you?"

Snape snorted and laughed. "The boy should have a more appropriate name."

"Harry is a cute name," Lily pointed out lazily blinking. Despite the activity of the room her exhaustion was putting her to sleep. She hadn't really been listening to James' and Snape's bickering.

"He needs a Slytherin name," Snape hissed dangerously. "A name to make his real father proud, Aries, Pierce or Emrys anything is better than Harry."

"He's right, Godric Salazar Potter… or Salazar Godric Potter," Lily murmured her head lolling to the side.

James took the infant and placed him in the cot. "His-name-is-Harry-James-Potter," James said between clenched teeth.

Snape looked at his old school foe blinking wondering why he was trying to defend the infant who was unfortunate enough to have James Potter for his 'father'. "Your funeral," he said stepping out of the room his robes billowing out behind him.

"Harry's cute," Lily said in her dreams.

"Glad you agree with me, Lily Flower," James murmured to the empty room and pecking his wife's cheek.

'

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Order of the Phoenix Headquarters, July 31st 1981, 10:46am

It had been one year to the day since the first potion vial baby was born. Severus Snape was fuelled by curiosity of the possibility that he had since done research on creating babies. Muggles, he was disgusted to find, had beaten the wizarding worlds to it. The first 'test tube' baby was born in 1978 and it was cold comfort the she child was born in Britain.

Since the birth of the child, Harry, Snape had little to do with the Potters. It would be the first time in months that he would see little Harry and be reminded of the monstrosity that James had performed on him when he was not minutes old.

Tightening his grip on the handle of his wand, Snape firmed his resolve. It was not right, he believed, to shame Salazar Slytherin's name by giving his child a face of a Gryffindorish face, lest of all a face of a Potter.

Snape greeted the gathered Order with his habitual sneer and swept past, ignoring Remus Lupin's attempt to offer him a Firewhiskey. He needed more than a strong Firewhiskey he decided seeing as he was voluntarily at Order Headquarters on its birthday. The Potters were sure to be there along with their friends to celebrate.

As suspected Snape spotted James Potter smoking, no choking, on a cigar with his pal Sirius. He snorted diversely, James Potter didn't have a commanding bone in his body even through his pure blood and an auror. Honestly the man seemed quite distraught when Snape announced 'his' first born would be a pure blood despite his carrier's lacking blood ties.

Snape stood in the corner watching people bustle about and wondered how on earth he was going to get Harry alone.

His answer was soon answered but none other than Lily Potter herself. She was looking good Snape had to admit, with Harry sitting wide eyed on her hip. He however was not ready for the pretty red haired witch to approach him with a large smile.

"Severus, could you look after Harry for a moment?"

Before Snape could reply in either the affirmative or negative, Lily thrust the baby into his arms and disappeared. "Thanks you're a darl."

Black orbs looked into emerald green, before the baby giggled at him and blew hearty raspberries. Didn't James teach his 'son' any respect for his elders?

Then it struck him. He had Harry; no one was looking his way. This was a good opportunity.

Snape carried Harry at arms length towards the lounge room. Sitting the infant on the couch Snape studied him. As much as he hated to admit it, James Potter had done an excellent job with the glamour charm. Snape suspected it had to do with James' training as a transfiguration expert.

Snape contemplated his next move, twirling his wand in his long elegant potion stained fingers, he was never one for foolish wand waving.

Harry on the other hand was quickly becoming bored. "Itch!" he announced. Snape said nothing.

"Itch!" Harry repeated.

Snape continued to twirl his wand.

"Itch, itch, itch…IIITTTCCCHHH!" Harry demanded.

Snape raised his eyebrow in response. "Indeed," he drawled not knowing what to say as he was not fluent in baby gargle.

Harry however seemed quite pleased with Snape's response and blew another particularly wet raspberry.

Snape cast his first spell without much affect on the child. Harry looked up him innocently smiling toothlessly and bouncing up and down on his nappy clad bottom.

Snape tried another spell. Still there was no result.

He tried another and another and another. Still there was no result expect Harry bouncing with gusto and a putrid smell in the air.

Snape glared at the infant. "Please tell me you didn't, Mr. Potter," he drawled tonelessly.

Harry was grinning and continued bouncing, which was now accompanied by a squelching sound and Harry's happy cries of. "Poopy!"

Snape was not sure if he should be amused or disgusted. He decided on disgusted.

"Poopy! Poopy! PPoooopppiiiiieeee!" Harry gargled.

Snape was holding his large croaked nose and breathing heavily out of his mouth. He had never known that babies could be so toxic. Send Voldemort a dirty diaper and the war would soon be over. Argh! The smell.

"What's going on here?"

Snape thought he would never see the day when he was relieved to see James Potter's beaming, boyish face. "HERE!" Snape cried picking up Harry and holding him as far from his body as possible so that the infant's feet dangled in mid air. "Your brat has a present for you."

"Dada! Itch!" Harry screeched holding out his miniscule dirty hands.

James took Harry up threw him in the air and caught him. "Yes Daddy will play snitch with you later."

Snape had to stop himself in mid eye roll. Typical Potter playing a stupid child's game called Snitch with his child. There was no hope for this child. He could grow up to be the worse imaginable Gryffindor possible.

James then did something that caught Snape off his guard and the potion expert nearly caught himself for admiring the Gryffindor's courage. He turned Harry around and peeked down his nappy. "Ah it's a bludger in there!" James announced.

"Bugger! Bugger!" Harry repeated clearly delighted as he clapped his chubby hands.

Snape could not believe it; James had used a Quidditch name to describe baby excrement! Was everything James thought of Quidditch? With those last thoughts Snape did the only Slytherin thing left to do.

He fled.