-=Evening has come for the Harry Potter series, it will always be dawn in fanfiction.=-

Abandon

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Echo sobbed open-mouthed, Severus pat her pointlessly. "Echo," he tried to inject a note of calm. "I promise to make you something sweet if you tell me what is the matter." He tried to be discreet.

Echo pulled the tail of her shirt up exposing her distended abdomen to wipe her reddened, tear-streaked face. With much hiccuping and sniffing she wailed, "I'm so evil." Severus pulled the hormone plagued Echo onto his undersized lap. He made shushing noises to quell his embarrassed laughter. Earnest in her need, she tried to explain. "I'm the evil twin Severus."

What Severus had known of Desiree's hijinx, he would have sworn just the opposite. "Shush, that's nonsense."

That only made matters worse, "don't Say I'M STUPID." Echo's cry was loud enough to rattle his eardrums.

Back-pedalling quickly, "Echo honey, you're sweet and compassionate, how could you ever say such a thing about yourself?" Severus brushed her damp hair back.

"After I got magic and Desiree didn't, I was so mean to her. Like I was better because I could change the tv program without getting up, then I'd rub it in. I was such a bad winner. I'd play tricks on her and shut her out from playing with me. I was so mean. I'm going to be such a bad parent. I had been a bad sister." Severus let her cry it out he knew there was no point in trying to make her realize that she'd made it up to Desiree. Severus whispered too quietly for Echo to hear him. "What, what did you say?" She sharpened her focus on Severus. "What was that Severus?"

Gently, "I asked if you wanted your treat? I was thinking potato candy, maybe. We have leftover mash." Echo hugged him around the neck, pressing her round stomach into his lean frame. "Potato candy it is."

Echo sobbed some more into his shoulder overcome with emotion. Severus stood sliding Echo off his lap. "If you come now, I'll let you lick the spoon."

Echo pulled Snape's arm around her. "I love you Sugarpie."

Severus pecked her lovingly between her eyebrows, "Madam Rosmerta charge it to my account." The barmaid grinned. "Thanks." The austere man lead his wife from the pub amid dozens of staring eyes.

AN/Forgive me, I had to give Severus a break from being incompetant suitor. ;-)