Chapter 28
They say childbirth is miracle you cannot imagine until you have one. The joy it gives is just unmatchable. It was a pure magic that even the greatest wizards couldn't copy. True enough, Severus gained so much from having this child. After all the misery he went through, Severus Snape finally learned the taste of true happiness. His cold heart thawed with the warmth of newly founded emotions toward his child and Sirius Black.
But even he didn't expect to find himself waking up in a luxurious room he'd only seen in Malfoy's manor when he woke up next morning.
The tiny triangular nursery has turned into something else when the Slytherin tried to climb out his bed. It became bigger, much bigger. There was a hearth on his left and a large cherry wood table with elegantly carved chairs near it. Severus noticed the floor was covered with carpets-not the ones he conjured up, and tapestries were decorating the walls. Golden eagles and silver lines making beautiful patterns on each of the textiles. A large set of wardrobe and drawer were lined up in one side of the room. When he looked up, Severus noticed his bed-which tripled in size- has a very sumptuous canopy.
His mouth gaped open, Severus momentarily thought he was dreaming. However, when he looked at his side, he saw Sirius and his newborn baby was sleeping comfortably together. Severus chuckled as he heard tranquil sounds of their breathing, looking innocent as well as oblivious to what was happening.
Severus leaned down to kiss the baby and brushed off a strand of hair from Sirius' forehead. He blushed when he remembered the kiss last night. Although they hadn't said anything afterward, Severus knew that things have changed between them. Not necessarily solely due to their child.
"Mm-" Sirius murmured something in his sleep.
Severus stilled, waiting to see if he's waken up but Sirius stayed asleep. Instead, the baby stirred awake, his tiny mouth twisted in an attempt to cry. Severus picked him up gently, cooing to calm him.
"Shh- it's alright", he whispered.
The baby squirmed, falling asleep again. Severus smiled affectinately. He got out of the bed quietly and walked up to the hearth. A heat from the fire warmed his body nicely.
"Odd", Severus muttered to himself, examining the changed room.
Severus, of course, was perfectly aware of the fact that this castle was built by the four founders with ancient magic. There were hidden places unknown even to the staff inside it. Chamber of Secret, the room of the requirement, such places known only as myth adorned this castle. However, Severus had never heard of a room that changes at the birth of a child. Or was there something else that triggered the change?
As a Slytherin, Severus was a curious student by nature. And he was intrigued deeply by the magical room that involved in this whole affair. Sirius told him he was almost dragged by this room when he drugged himself. It felt like as if a voice was calling for him while an invisible hand pulling him. Severus now wondered if the decision he made to give birth in this room was his own entirely.
Severus stared at the eagle patterned tapestry, stepping closer to examine the pattern. Up close, he noticed the silver lines were not exactly a line but small snakes twisted around each others. An eagle and snakes. Ravenclaw and Slytherin? Was there another room Salazar Slytherin built? Or was this place built by Rowena Ravenclaw?
A curiosity occupied his mind as to the identity of this room. Suddenly, strong arms looped around Severus' waist. Severus needlessly knew of their owner. Sirius buried his head on the crook between shoulder and neck, breathing out a sigh.
"Hey", Severus said, turning his head slightly.
"Hey", Sirius returned. "I thought you two were gone, Severus." Sirius muttered in his shoulder.
"Where would I go?" Severus snorted in amusement.
Sirius ignored the retort, just savouring the moment embracing him with child.
"What is this place? Or should I ask what happened to this place?" Sirius asked after a while in silence.
Severus shrugged, "I don't know. I was hoping you know."
Sirius frowned, "How should I?"
"You were the first one to find this place."
"Yes, but-" Sirius drawled, "I also told you I was quite not myself that night."
Severus sniggered, "Right".
Sirius drooped his eyes, making him looked like a sad puppy. "I'm sorry."
Severus simply smiled, looking down at his child. He was so small. His face was pink and plum, a wisp of hair sprouted on his head and tiny little hand curled in fists. He was perfect.
Sirius followed his gaze and stared at his son. The boy slept so peacefully and quietly that he felt tranquil and warm as well.
"We should give him a name", Sirius whispered into Severus' ear.
Tickled by the hot breath, Severus stifled his giggle and gave a short nod.
"Any ideas?" Severus asked.
"How about … Leo?" Sirius suggested, with a boldness in his voice.
"Or Serpens", Severus countered calmly.
"Leonard?"
"Leviathan."
The two held each other's gaze as indignantly as they could until they broke off into stiffled laughter.
"No lions, no snakes, deal?" Sirius suggested with a giggle.
"Deal." Severus nodded in approval.
Sirius unravelled his arms and led the Slytherin towards the table where he drew a chair for him. Severus settled down, adjusting his hold on the baby.
If he could see the baby's eyes, it might've been better. He heard some people name their children after their eyecolour. But he knew little of colours and names derived from them. Names. Stupid stupid Severus. He should have thought of the name firsthand but he was too overwhelmed by the prospect of having a child that the need for names were pushed deep inside his mind.
How did his mother name him? Severus wondered. He vaguely remembered when she told him about it. Severus looked up his name from the library but he found no Severus in the list of Prince Family.
"Family names…"
"What?" Sirius asked, knocked off from his reverie.
"Do you have a family name you want to use? Perhaps you father's name?" Severus inclined his head.
Sirius' face broke into a scowl, aversion instinctively adorning the handsome features. He looked away, trying to compose his emotions, and met Severus eyes.
"I don't want Orion", Sirius paused, hoping he'd catch the unsaid part.
Severus looked at him with slightly wide eyes, but nodded his head in understanding quickly.
"...my family uses constellations, for names", Sirius muttered, uncertainly.
"Constellations?" Severus recalled that 'Sirius' was the brightest star of dog constellation. And Regulus, Regulus was the brightest star of lion constellation.
Seeing the pattern, Severus thought this was quite great idea for naming.
The boy stared down at his child again, trying to recall every constellation and star for the baby. When he managed to recollect a few, Sirius cleared his throat.
"How about your family?" Sirius asked in somewhat hurried way.
Detecting the attempt to divert him, Severus quirked an eyebrow. The Gryffindor boy looked as though the idea of naming his child followed his parents or ancestors sounded horrifying.
"I don't know much about my family", was the answer Severus could give, which was not a lie.
Sirius clamped his mouth after opening it to say something. He glanced at the baby and him few times, fidgeting like a dog trying to guess if his master was angry or not.
"I won't use your father's name nor other names you don't want on him", Severus added after studying his face.
Sirius winced, ashamed at being discovered, though relieved in some degree.
"But- I don't really know about my family, my mother never told me about them. So, unless you have better options, I think constellations are nice." The Slytherin boy smiled challengingly, daring the other boy to counter.
Sirius found no reasonable objection, so he nodded his head in an agreement. Well, he just have to avoid few.
"So, no lions, no snakes and no Orion. How about Cygnus?"
"You want to name a boy after a swan?" Sirius retorted, recalling the name used on many of his cousins who were just the replicas of his parent. Or was it vice versa?
"Alright, then, what do you suggest?" Severus asked, peeved.
"Alphard", was the one popped into his head as it belonged to only family member who shared the common ground with Sirius.
But Severus didn't like the name. "What else?"
"Pollux? Deimos? Aries?" Sirius worked through his brain to come up with the good ones but it was harder than he thought. He wanted the best name for his child, the one who have given him so much, but he couldn't think any better.
"Draco, Ariel, Pegasus, Perseus, Aquilla, Vega, Caelum, Atlas…" He ran through the list of every star and constellation he could think of.
"Caelum." Severus whispered.
"What?"
"Caelum. I like that." He said.
Sirius gazed at the other boy with a surprised look but when he muttered the name in his tongue, it wasn't so bad. In fact, it was quite nice for a boy's name. Perfect, even.
"Caelum Black, I like it", without thinking, Sirius blurted out in satisfaction. "Er- I mean, urm, I like the name Caelum, Caelum Snape", quickly realising his mistake, Sirius stuttered.
"Caelum Black sounds better." Severus calmly countered.
"What? Why? Er- you don't have to. We could use hyphen: Caelum Black-Snape-" Thinking Severus was retorting, Sirius tried to make amends.
"Sounds stupid. I like Caelum Black better." But Severus cut him off, staring down at his now-awaking child.
He cooed his baby boy with much affection even he didn't know he had it in him. "What do you say, Caelum Black?"
Sirius fell silent as he stared at Severus.
"...don't you want to use your name?" Somehow, he could guess the answer.
Severus looked up to meet his grey eyes. There were sorrows and bitterness barely concealed in his black eyes.
"That name is stained with miseries. I want my child to be the happiest boy never knowing the bitterness I suffered." He confessed quietly.
Sirius almost asked what really happened to him when he was not in the school but the presence of his newborn made him hesitate. They'll be staying together from now on, he supposed he will have the opportunity to know him better.
Sirius tried to smile, which came out wistful.
"Caelum Black is a good name."
Severus nodded, leaning down to kiss the baby. Sirius, too, leaned closely to the Slytherin and his child, his arm looping around Severus' shoulder protectively.
He planted a kiss upon Severus' temple.
Whatever he went through, he was determined that Severus Snape will never have to endure again.