Fathers' Day

Rodolphus Lestrange, Severus Snape, Tom M. Riddle/Voldemort, Barty Crouch Jr., Remus Lupin POV

Overview

A special treat I've been working on for this day, this oneshot consist of five candidates for Alexis's father role view on being a dad/Alexis overall. It is based on the top five on the poll and will go in order of who you all think Hex's father is from least to most. This does not mean in anyway that the poll has decided who Hex's father is (as I did that myself long ago) but is simply a bittersweet treat that will keep you on your toes. Also, a bit of a time leap as Rodolphus's takes place after the prison breakout. The other four take place in scenes from either the fifth or fourth book that have already happened.

Enjoy!

5. Rodolphus Lestrange

If it were his choice, he would name her Josobelle. It was a strong name, a pure name, and the perfect name for his baby girl. Not that it was his choice though, he had married a Black, which included allowing his wife to name their child.

Rodolphus looked down at the newspaper clipping once more, his hands once strong now looking boney and weak as he held the photo almost gingerly. It was strange, having his first look of his daughter be through a photograph in the Daily Prophet and even stranger knowing the photo was over three years old. He had missed so much in Azkaban, even the birth of his child only a cell over. And now, fifteen years later he gets too see that child for the first time two years before she becomes a legal witch. That was a low blow even he had to sneer at, despite his best attempts not to.

Carefully, Rodolphus examined the photo in his hands, watching with a scrupulous gaze so that he could catch every detail. A nearly twelve year old Josobelle, for he would not call her that Muggle name and his wife had yet to announce her true one, was standing awkwardly for the photo along with two boys and an overdressed blonde man who seemed to be discreetly holding the three children still with his arms. The man he was not familiar with but both boys he knew. The blonde boy Rodolphus easily recognized as his nephew Draco while the green eyed carbon copy of James Potter had him fighting back another sneer. If what he was told was true, then these two boys were his daughter's best friends.

He looked back at his daughter and took in her familiar features. Looking almost identical to his wife the last time he saw her in Hogwarts her third year, he was a bit surprised to realize that Josobelle had yet to have even turn twelve when the photo was taken. Though small, his little girl already look older than she truly was. Her hair was just as wavy and black as her mother's but her eyes... Her eyes had him smiling.

Rodolphus wasn't a fool. He knew he wasn't the only one that could be his Josobelle's biological father but he was her father either way. As a Pureblood she was his child no matter what but as a Lestrange she was his family and family to a Lestrange was everything, blood or no blood. Not that he didn't have a chance at being her real father - oh, he most certainly had a chance - and her eyes only further proved that. The eyes the color of death. They were a family trait after all, one that very few Lestranges didn't have, and it was clear as day that Josobelle's eyes were the same color as his own.

Cautiously, Rodolphus let a smile slide onto his face. He wasn't one for being much other than stoic after he learned to control his temper but he allowed himself this one pleasure. After all, he hadn't smiled since before Azkaban and the thought of being a father moved him so. He remembered what his wife had said, before they had attacked the Longbottom's Manor, that she had something to tell him later. He could only assume this beautiful girl was her secret to share, that he would be a father and now, after fifteen long years, he could be.

Carefully, Rodolphus placed the photograph down on the table to his left before standing up. He moved towards the desk littered with more newspaper clippings all about his child. However, what he found made his smile quickly slip.

Apparently, his first role as father was to kill a lot of boys.

4. Severus Snape

If anyone could get around an Unbreakable Vow it would be, and was, Albus Dumbledore. Not that it did Severus any good. He couldn't exactly act on the new discovery nor would he know how if he could. After all, he hadn't had the best role model growing up to know how father's should act.

Not that he was a father, he couldn't be sure anyways, but the chances were still there and were high at that. When he had first met Alexis he had found it easy to believe she was anyone else's. They didn't look alike and they certainly didn't act alike. She was definition Gryffindor and he Slytherin. She was loud and wore her heart on her sleeve while he was quite and nearly stoic.

But eventually he began noticing they're similarities. Her eyes were green like his mother's and her hair had a certain shine to it identical to his own. She was a knack at potions just like he was, so much so that he had the Headmaster change her entire schedule just so that he had her in advance classes. And lastly, her skills as a Legminens were equal with his own though her Occlumency needed severe work.

Severus watched carefully from the corner of his eye as the girl went to work on her Wolfsbane Potion, taking it upon herself to tweak the actual directions with her own recipe for the thing. She was almost unnaturally graceful around her cauldron and watching her made him have to force his usual sneer onto his face. He would not show favoritism. He would not let her become a weakness or a weapon to be used against him.

He wonder if perhaps there was another way to clear his conscious of his crimes. After all, he never loved Bellatrix, not like the fool Barty did, nor had he been her husband. He had loved Lily. He still loved Lily. His actions with Bellatrix had been solely out of his desire to feel and justify his crimes but it had only resulted in more evil deeds. Now Lily was dead and the girl who could very well be his daughter was growing up unsure with who she was supposed to be. He didn't know how to help her and couldn't even if he did. That's why he stayed away. That's why he showed her no favoritism.

"Here you go, Professor," she said to him, handing him a finished vial of her work. It was perfect, as he had expected, and she seemed to be waiting for him to acknowledge it as such as she rocked back and forth on her heels in front of him.

"Is there something you need, Miss Lestrange?" he asked after pocketing the potion without so much as a second glance.

"My grade," she answered in a fashion far too much like her mother. Severus had even been waiting for her to add a 'duh' at the end of her words.

"Miss Lestrange, if you had not received an O on this potion, not only would you have known it but I more than likely would have had your N.E.W.T. in Potions stripped away from your record officially," he replied in a stern drawl but the girl remained unfazed by him.

"See?" she said with a wild, Black family grin. "Was telling me that so hard? Now admit I'm your favorite student."

He only took away five points for her cheek. Perhaps he would allow a little favoritism.

3. Tom M. Riddle/Voldemort

Tom Riddle loved no one but himself. He will always only love himself, but Tom Riddle is still a man, despite his attempts at denying it, and every man has needs. Bella willingly satisfied those needs of course as the faithful follower she was. He wasn't looking for love, he never will look for love because he loves himself, and he wasn't surprised that neither was Bella. That was why she was his favorite because he had seen into her heart and claimed it as his own.

But Tom Riddle loved no one but himself. He will always only love himself, and Bella would remain his faithful, if not eccentric, follower, but nothing more. Even the dear girl in his arms that he spun with a laugh would not change this relationship but she may very well change his plans.

The daughter of a faithful - to him anyways - Pureblood witch, and perhaps she was even his own daughter, makes a powerful pawn in the game of life. Especially if that dear girl was already deeply rooted in the light side's trust. A sliver of corruption was all it would take to have her as his own and Tom Riddle knew this wholeheartedly, which is why he laughed as he spun the dear girl in their first embrace in his new body. It would be days before he discovered it was not their first embrace.

Lucius had given the girl his diary and although it had failed to bring him back it had not been a total failure. His younger self had taken a strong liking to her, noticing right away her talents and potential. He had gained her trust easily, and with it had planted the seed to her corruption that Barty had spent the year watering and watching grow. Oh yes, the dear girl would a great asset to his victory and to Potter's downfall. Perhaps he would even grow to fond enough of the dear girl to let her call him father then but he would never love her.

Tom Riddle loved no one but himself. He will always only love himself, but the dear girl didn't need to know that.

2. Barty Crouch Jr.

His little Bell looked so peaceful asleep. He had kept her that way longer than necessary because he had wanted to hold her with his own arms and not the arms of her precious Al so he had waited until the potion had worn off to scoop her off the ground where he had made sure she had landed gently after he had obliverated and stunned her. His plan had been to move her to the couch before awakening her but as he held her in his arms he could not help but delay.

His little Bell was beautiful just like her mother and while asleep, with her green eyes covered by close eyelids, Barty could easily mistake her for his Bell. The way her head rested on his bicep, causing her hair to tickle his skin had him smiling fondly down at her. He loved her hair. It was so much like her Bell's.

Reluctantly, he made his way over to the couch. Al's magical eyes swiveled on the ground around him and Barty knew he was being watched by the ex-Auror like a hawk watching its prey. He grinned wickedly at it and giggled dangerously before slowly lowering his little Bell down onto the couch. Barty knelt down beside her with one hand caressing her cheek while the other hand slowly ran through her hair. He loved her hair.

"My little Bell," he sang softly, unable to stop himself as he watch her sleep. Another insane giggle escaped him.

He wondered if she was dreaming. She had to be with how peaceful she looked. Asleep, his little Bell looked her true age, perhaps even younger. She looked so fragile to him, like a porcelain doll but he would protect her, he would always protect his little Bell.

"My sweet, little Bell," he sang again, brushing a few stray strands out of her face. He loved her hair. "My sweet, sweet, little Bell."

Barty kissed his daughter's forehead gently, running his hand through her hair one last time as he giggled. She had to be dreaming such wonderful dreams. Maybe she was dreaming about the day her family would finally be together and her mother and him would hold her in their arms, embracing her with all the love they had for her.

"Soon, little Bell," he sang softly in her ears as he leaned over her, his giggle slowly transforming into a chuckle.

His words made her stir. His little Bell reached out her hand and took his own. She breathed something, a single word. At first he had thought she had whispered a certain boy's name but no. It couldn't have been. His little Bell had said daddy, she had to have.

"Daddy love you too, dearie," he said, kissing her forehead once more before reluctantly releasing his hand from her grasp.

He took out his flask and drank the potion, annoyed that he had to once more be someone else around his little Bell. He reattached the magical blue eye and reconnected the metal leg to his stump. With a finally shake in response to the potion, he sat down at his desk just before his little Bell's eyes fluttered open.

"Had a nice nap?" Barty snorted.

His little Bell groaned.

"Shut up, Al."

1. Remus Lupin

There were only a few things Remus knew for sure about Alexis. He knew her mother was Trix, the woman that he had loved but had died and now had a homicidal maniac living in her wake. He knew Tomas had saved and raised her to his best ability until the summer before her eleventh birthday. He knew her best friend was James's son, Harry. He knew he had to keep an eye on them, especially now that they were older and under Sirius's influence. He knew she loved the Eagles and her friends unconditionally. And he knew she and Carter would get along once hell froze over.

What Remus wasn't sure of, even more unsure than whether or not he was her father, was what Alexis and Nymphadora were talking about and why Alexis kept looking at him.

He wondered briefly and for a fearful moment, if the two were talking about his likelihood in being Alexis's father. Not that he was ashamed of the fact that he very well may be Alexis's father, oh no. Remus couldn't even be ashamed of his actions that resulted from him letting Trix get away anymore because of her. It was selfish, and he would be the first to admit it, but all the bad was easily canceled out whenever he saw her smile at him. No, his worry was more towards what Nymphadora would think of him and - oh, Merlin, Alexis was giggling.

She looked at him again, her green eyes shining with mirth from something Nymphadora had said. When he had been younger and before he had ruined such a great thing in his life, Remus had imagined that his daughter would one day look like Alexis did now, with her mother's features and his eyes. If she were his daughter though, it would explain why her cheekbones were lower than most Purebloods and why she was so short. His mother hadn't even made it to five foot, which is why he was enterally grateful he had inherited his father's tall frame.

Remus caught her frowning at him over Nymphadora's shoulder and it made his worries return. But Alexis's smile was quickly replaced with a grin and after a few words, Nymphadora responded to it with a loud, victorious "Yes!" that echoed through the room. Okay, now he had to find out what they were talking about and the oh so familiar grin Alexis sent him in response to his quizzical glance only confirmed that belief.

He made his way over quietly and stopped behind Nymphadora just as she spoke.

"I was more worried about me not being worthy of him," Nymphadora all but sighed. "He really is a great guy."

Remus couldn't fight back his smile. So that's why Alexis was smirking at him. What a little devil his daughter was, playing matchmaker. Oh, well. Might as well play the fool.

"Who's a really a great guy?"

So what did you all think? I hope this helps give you all an idea of the top five's view on Hex because each is pretty sure they're Hex's dad (no one as sure as Barty though) but also gives you an idea of how each character's mind works.

Now, There's a new poll on my profile for you all to vote on based on all the new and old hints pointing to who Hex's father is!

Please vote and please Review!

DCF