Disclaimer:
All things not Allosia and Gabriel belong to JKR.
Don't worry people, the baby is just going to be one more excuse for him to be gruff and cranky and rude. I swear. It's not easy, but I'm almost sure I can keep him in character through this. Just stay with me - this set up stuff is a pain.
As to the missing scene(s) from Ghosts - I've got to be in the right headspace for that, which I'm not - I think I'm still suffering from trying to have some dignity. ;) But I will write it, it's only fair.
---------------
Relief didn't last long though, and eventually, with two days before start of term they had to bring their fight about her teaching to Dumbledore.
After listening to them bicker for a good twenty minutes, Dumbledore had held up his hand for silence, and after he got it, sighed loudly.
"First of all, Severus, you're not going to be teaching Defense of the Dark Arts here now or ever. You know the reasons why, do not insult either of us by making me explain them to you yet again. Additionally, you are far too good with Potions for me to spare you for anything else, nor do I think our students could withstand it.
"Allosia, Severus does have a point. Some of the things you do in your more advanced classes are somewhat dangerous. I won't stop you from teaching, but I think you really need to consider if it's realistic."
Snape turned to Allosia then and said pointedly, "I was not trying to get your job."
Before Allosia could speak, Dumbledore interjected, "I'm sure she still has some of that Veritaserum left, Severus, I gave her quite a bit," and smiled kindly.
Eventually it was decided that Allosia would continue to teach, but would not take on any electives and therefore nothing too particularly dangerous for the term.
The term itself was no worse than usual, although at every moment of student idiocy, incompetence or rudeness Snape found himself wondering if his own child would be as bad and if Gabriel would be as afraid of him as the students were.
Gabriel. What as he supposed to do with a child? He didn't even really know what other people did with children, other than pack them off to torture him. He hadn't had siblings, and so had never really been exposed to children younger than his pupils. His own early childhood he remembered as quiet. He preferred books and his own imaginings to other children. He built worlds then, constantly in his head. Slight, but critical variations on his reality. It was a good distraction, and a hopeful one from his mother's haughty temper and his father's constant strategizing, which always seemed to amount to very little. He had always felt as if he were a key piece in a puzzle they hadn't bothered to buy. Now, he often wished he'd never bothered to buy it either.
His life, he realized, was very much the Slytherin curse he had been warned of as a first year. One of the prefects had taken him aside, after his first month, having watched all the time the boy spent alone, having seen just how talented he was. She had told him to be careful, to focus his ambition, or else importance could come in very unexpected ways. He had listened, but had clearly not applied the lesson well.
All he could do, he realized, was treat Gabriel with respect, which he realized for him, meant not treating him as a child. When around his parents and his friends, he had always been a small adult. He outwardly presumed, and secretly hoped, Gabriel could be the same way. Otherwise, he was going to be a most incompetent father.
He also worried about the child growing up within the confines of Hogwarts. The boy would learn too much too young, and should, realistically, be sent somewhere else for his education, but as long as the war continued, that wasn't safe. Snape hadn't mentioned it to Allosia yet, but it was an issue, however distant, that weighed on him heavily. He wanted to give the boy a normal life, but he realized, there was simply no way he could. Gabriel's life would probably be most unpleasant at times. Inwardly, Gabriel would be a better person for it, this Snape was sure of. Outwardly, he worried the boy would wind up too much like him. Snape spent as much time as he could in his potions lab stewing on this, it was merely a complicated problem, and like all problems, it must, inherently have a solution.
Allosia for her part spent the term trying to prove Snape's concerns about her teaching wrong. She was hell bent on keeping up with her classes, and she managed well enough, although it left time for little more than eating and sleeping. She felt as if she never saw her husband anymore, but to some degree, she was relieved. Between her hormones and his general ill- temper, too much time together would have been a very bad idea indeed.
Mostly, they spoke in bed, when at least one of them was half-asleep and docile. It occurred to her, that had they discussed this baby thing, there wouldn't be a baby, but things were as they were, and she strongly suspected they'd both feel much better when they actually got the meet the fellow.
Gabriel decided he wanted to make his appearance two days before the Yule ball. When she told Snape she was in labor, the first thing out of his mouth was, "Why couldn't he have waited until after the students left?" Allosia responded with a shrill and uncomfortable laugh before suggesting they make their way to the hospital wing.
Two hours into her labor, Snape felt the Dark Mark on his arm flare in summoning. He didn't say anything, but after a few minutes Allosia noticed the set of his face.
"You have to go," she said sadly and somewhat inquiringly.
He shook his head.
"Severus -"
"It'll wait."
"Don't be stupid," she said through grit teeth.
"It will wait," he said more insistent.
She sat up and grabbed his face then. "Go!" she practically screamed at him. Then again, softer, "Go, please. So I know you'll come back."
He closed his eyes tightly.
"I'll be fine. We'll be fine, now get out of here," she said, sinking back into the bed.
Snape sighed, and turned to leave, practically knocking over Madam Pomfrey with the swirl of his robes.
All things not Allosia and Gabriel belong to JKR.
Don't worry people, the baby is just going to be one more excuse for him to be gruff and cranky and rude. I swear. It's not easy, but I'm almost sure I can keep him in character through this. Just stay with me - this set up stuff is a pain.
As to the missing scene(s) from Ghosts - I've got to be in the right headspace for that, which I'm not - I think I'm still suffering from trying to have some dignity. ;) But I will write it, it's only fair.
---------------
Relief didn't last long though, and eventually, with two days before start of term they had to bring their fight about her teaching to Dumbledore.
After listening to them bicker for a good twenty minutes, Dumbledore had held up his hand for silence, and after he got it, sighed loudly.
"First of all, Severus, you're not going to be teaching Defense of the Dark Arts here now or ever. You know the reasons why, do not insult either of us by making me explain them to you yet again. Additionally, you are far too good with Potions for me to spare you for anything else, nor do I think our students could withstand it.
"Allosia, Severus does have a point. Some of the things you do in your more advanced classes are somewhat dangerous. I won't stop you from teaching, but I think you really need to consider if it's realistic."
Snape turned to Allosia then and said pointedly, "I was not trying to get your job."
Before Allosia could speak, Dumbledore interjected, "I'm sure she still has some of that Veritaserum left, Severus, I gave her quite a bit," and smiled kindly.
Eventually it was decided that Allosia would continue to teach, but would not take on any electives and therefore nothing too particularly dangerous for the term.
The term itself was no worse than usual, although at every moment of student idiocy, incompetence or rudeness Snape found himself wondering if his own child would be as bad and if Gabriel would be as afraid of him as the students were.
Gabriel. What as he supposed to do with a child? He didn't even really know what other people did with children, other than pack them off to torture him. He hadn't had siblings, and so had never really been exposed to children younger than his pupils. His own early childhood he remembered as quiet. He preferred books and his own imaginings to other children. He built worlds then, constantly in his head. Slight, but critical variations on his reality. It was a good distraction, and a hopeful one from his mother's haughty temper and his father's constant strategizing, which always seemed to amount to very little. He had always felt as if he were a key piece in a puzzle they hadn't bothered to buy. Now, he often wished he'd never bothered to buy it either.
His life, he realized, was very much the Slytherin curse he had been warned of as a first year. One of the prefects had taken him aside, after his first month, having watched all the time the boy spent alone, having seen just how talented he was. She had told him to be careful, to focus his ambition, or else importance could come in very unexpected ways. He had listened, but had clearly not applied the lesson well.
All he could do, he realized, was treat Gabriel with respect, which he realized for him, meant not treating him as a child. When around his parents and his friends, he had always been a small adult. He outwardly presumed, and secretly hoped, Gabriel could be the same way. Otherwise, he was going to be a most incompetent father.
He also worried about the child growing up within the confines of Hogwarts. The boy would learn too much too young, and should, realistically, be sent somewhere else for his education, but as long as the war continued, that wasn't safe. Snape hadn't mentioned it to Allosia yet, but it was an issue, however distant, that weighed on him heavily. He wanted to give the boy a normal life, but he realized, there was simply no way he could. Gabriel's life would probably be most unpleasant at times. Inwardly, Gabriel would be a better person for it, this Snape was sure of. Outwardly, he worried the boy would wind up too much like him. Snape spent as much time as he could in his potions lab stewing on this, it was merely a complicated problem, and like all problems, it must, inherently have a solution.
Allosia for her part spent the term trying to prove Snape's concerns about her teaching wrong. She was hell bent on keeping up with her classes, and she managed well enough, although it left time for little more than eating and sleeping. She felt as if she never saw her husband anymore, but to some degree, she was relieved. Between her hormones and his general ill- temper, too much time together would have been a very bad idea indeed.
Mostly, they spoke in bed, when at least one of them was half-asleep and docile. It occurred to her, that had they discussed this baby thing, there wouldn't be a baby, but things were as they were, and she strongly suspected they'd both feel much better when they actually got the meet the fellow.
Gabriel decided he wanted to make his appearance two days before the Yule ball. When she told Snape she was in labor, the first thing out of his mouth was, "Why couldn't he have waited until after the students left?" Allosia responded with a shrill and uncomfortable laugh before suggesting they make their way to the hospital wing.
Two hours into her labor, Snape felt the Dark Mark on his arm flare in summoning. He didn't say anything, but after a few minutes Allosia noticed the set of his face.
"You have to go," she said sadly and somewhat inquiringly.
He shook his head.
"Severus -"
"It'll wait."
"Don't be stupid," she said through grit teeth.
"It will wait," he said more insistent.
She sat up and grabbed his face then. "Go!" she practically screamed at him. Then again, softer, "Go, please. So I know you'll come back."
He closed his eyes tightly.
"I'll be fine. We'll be fine, now get out of here," she said, sinking back into the bed.
Snape sighed, and turned to leave, practically knocking over Madam Pomfrey with the swirl of his robes.