Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, nor am I J.K
Rowling. I think they belong to Warner Bros. or something, but if not,
don't sue me!
Author's Note: The story contains spoilers from the Order of the Phoenix.
The following morning, Severus awoke and immediately shuffled down the hallway to check on Orion. The boy was lying awake in his crib, smiling at the stars on his enchanted ceiling. Severus picked him up, washed him, changed him and gave him a quick bottle before setting him back in his crib. He then slumped off to his bedroom to get dressed. It took him all of three seconds to get curious and open Riona's drawers. There weren't many unusual things; clothes, some makeup, jewelry, and a few photos. However, all of her money was gone and her apparation license was missing. Upon further investigation, he found that she had a secret compartment. He very cautiously opened it and took out a long, black box. He tried to pry the box open with his fingers, but soon discovered that it was locked.
"Alohamora," he commanded. The box clicked and opened itself, revealing a long, narrow dagger. It startled Severus so much that he made a quick, shrill noise and dropped the dagger on the floor. The razor's edge nicked his toe and a few drops of blood trickled onto the rug. After regaining his composure, he carefully picked up the knife and held it in both hands. He ran his fingers along the cool metal. A tight, tingling sensation flowed through Severus' body. Just as he was placing the dagger back in the box, he noticed a blood soaked cloth and a few gauze pads under the dagger hold.
"No... she couldn't have been... cutting..." Severus reasoned with himself. "She wouldn't do it, not to us.. then why the hell is it still here?" The crying of a baby brought Severus back to reality.
Severus ran down to Orion's room, picked him up, and paced back and forth across the room a few times before Orion finally settled down. Severus had a big day ahead of him.. The Order needed him for something, so he and the baby were going to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Holding the baby tight, he grabbed a handful of floo powder and shouted the destination. In a flash of green fire, they were now standing in the portrait hallway of the Black family mansion.
"Filthy fucking scum!" the portrait of Mrs. Black shrieked. "Bastards of hell!"
"Lovely seeing you as well, ma'am," Severus said cynically, rolling his eyes. "Stupid bitch," he muttered. The shrieking woke the baby and then the other portraits started in as well. "Bloody Christ!" Severus thought, "This is a nightmare!"
"Severus!" Dumbledore shouted, "Severus, how are you?"
That was perhaps the most asinine question to ask at that point. What Severus wanted to say was "Hell, Albus, I'm great. My spouse is missing, I'm out of a job (thanks to you), and I'm holding a screaming child in a hallway full of screaming fucking pictures! I've never felt better!" Instead though, "Fine." was his reply.
"Severus, is that you?" Molly Weasley called. "Oh dear, I thought I heard you come in. Things have been awfully chaotic around here and I haven't had any time to clean. I apologize for the mess.. and the pictures," she said, giving a reproachful look to Mrs. Black in particular. "Eh.. won't you sit down?"
Severus accepted gratefully and manages to shout "Thank you" over the baby and the pictures. The group then adjourned to the living room and sat down. "Here, Severus, why don't I take the little one and get him freshened up." Severus handed Orion off to Molly and she headed upstairs.
"Now, Severus," Albus said, "let's talk about the real reason that you're here today." He paused as if deep in concentration. Severus looked troubled and had a nervous expression on his face. He also had the impression that Dumbledore was trying to read his thoughts. "Severus, I know how hard this must be on you both," he started, " but I must beg you to please, please remain professional about your mission here."
Severus nodded and was able to say through clenched teeth, "I have always done what is asked of me." He was livid. He didn't know why exactly. Dumbledore seemed to be implying that Severus was letting his grief get the better of him, which it certainly was not. Severus had learned long ago not to mix his personal problems with his task performance. The tension in the room was palpable.
At long last, Albus said, "I need to make something perfectly clear. Your efforts and contributions to the Order have been most helpful and I'm aware of the sacrifices that you've made. You and Riona both. However, I feel that you've been distracted. Not just by recent events either. You need to focus on your son now. Your responsibilities lie with him. You, Severus, are all that he has left in the world." He added, "Stay here was long as you have to. Get some rest. And please, don't take this personally."
Severus was now trembling with rage. "Alright, Headmaster. Now I need to make something clear. I don't need you," he stammered, "or anyone else telling me how to live my life, and what to do with my boy! I have been nothing but loyal to you for fifteen years! For those long fifteen years, I have kissed your ass almost every day, I have bent over backwards for you! And this is how you repay me. I lose my job, and now this. Fuck you!"
With that, he ran upstairs to get Orion. "Molly!" he shouted, "we're leaving! Where is Orion?"
"Severus, he just laid down to sleep, why the hurry?"
"Well Molly," he snarled smoothly, "some of the others don't think I can do it anymore. They don't think I can raise my son. So, quite honestly, I see no reason to remain here." He snatched the sleeping baby from the crib and bade Mrs. Weasley "Good day."
* * *
A dark haired woman snickered evilly from behind a crystal ball. "Fools!" she cried, "They have no idea.."
Author's Note: The story contains spoilers from the Order of the Phoenix.
The following morning, Severus awoke and immediately shuffled down the hallway to check on Orion. The boy was lying awake in his crib, smiling at the stars on his enchanted ceiling. Severus picked him up, washed him, changed him and gave him a quick bottle before setting him back in his crib. He then slumped off to his bedroom to get dressed. It took him all of three seconds to get curious and open Riona's drawers. There weren't many unusual things; clothes, some makeup, jewelry, and a few photos. However, all of her money was gone and her apparation license was missing. Upon further investigation, he found that she had a secret compartment. He very cautiously opened it and took out a long, black box. He tried to pry the box open with his fingers, but soon discovered that it was locked.
"Alohamora," he commanded. The box clicked and opened itself, revealing a long, narrow dagger. It startled Severus so much that he made a quick, shrill noise and dropped the dagger on the floor. The razor's edge nicked his toe and a few drops of blood trickled onto the rug. After regaining his composure, he carefully picked up the knife and held it in both hands. He ran his fingers along the cool metal. A tight, tingling sensation flowed through Severus' body. Just as he was placing the dagger back in the box, he noticed a blood soaked cloth and a few gauze pads under the dagger hold.
"No... she couldn't have been... cutting..." Severus reasoned with himself. "She wouldn't do it, not to us.. then why the hell is it still here?" The crying of a baby brought Severus back to reality.
Severus ran down to Orion's room, picked him up, and paced back and forth across the room a few times before Orion finally settled down. Severus had a big day ahead of him.. The Order needed him for something, so he and the baby were going to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Holding the baby tight, he grabbed a handful of floo powder and shouted the destination. In a flash of green fire, they were now standing in the portrait hallway of the Black family mansion.
"Filthy fucking scum!" the portrait of Mrs. Black shrieked. "Bastards of hell!"
"Lovely seeing you as well, ma'am," Severus said cynically, rolling his eyes. "Stupid bitch," he muttered. The shrieking woke the baby and then the other portraits started in as well. "Bloody Christ!" Severus thought, "This is a nightmare!"
"Severus!" Dumbledore shouted, "Severus, how are you?"
That was perhaps the most asinine question to ask at that point. What Severus wanted to say was "Hell, Albus, I'm great. My spouse is missing, I'm out of a job (thanks to you), and I'm holding a screaming child in a hallway full of screaming fucking pictures! I've never felt better!" Instead though, "Fine." was his reply.
"Severus, is that you?" Molly Weasley called. "Oh dear, I thought I heard you come in. Things have been awfully chaotic around here and I haven't had any time to clean. I apologize for the mess.. and the pictures," she said, giving a reproachful look to Mrs. Black in particular. "Eh.. won't you sit down?"
Severus accepted gratefully and manages to shout "Thank you" over the baby and the pictures. The group then adjourned to the living room and sat down. "Here, Severus, why don't I take the little one and get him freshened up." Severus handed Orion off to Molly and she headed upstairs.
"Now, Severus," Albus said, "let's talk about the real reason that you're here today." He paused as if deep in concentration. Severus looked troubled and had a nervous expression on his face. He also had the impression that Dumbledore was trying to read his thoughts. "Severus, I know how hard this must be on you both," he started, " but I must beg you to please, please remain professional about your mission here."
Severus nodded and was able to say through clenched teeth, "I have always done what is asked of me." He was livid. He didn't know why exactly. Dumbledore seemed to be implying that Severus was letting his grief get the better of him, which it certainly was not. Severus had learned long ago not to mix his personal problems with his task performance. The tension in the room was palpable.
At long last, Albus said, "I need to make something perfectly clear. Your efforts and contributions to the Order have been most helpful and I'm aware of the sacrifices that you've made. You and Riona both. However, I feel that you've been distracted. Not just by recent events either. You need to focus on your son now. Your responsibilities lie with him. You, Severus, are all that he has left in the world." He added, "Stay here was long as you have to. Get some rest. And please, don't take this personally."
Severus was now trembling with rage. "Alright, Headmaster. Now I need to make something clear. I don't need you," he stammered, "or anyone else telling me how to live my life, and what to do with my boy! I have been nothing but loyal to you for fifteen years! For those long fifteen years, I have kissed your ass almost every day, I have bent over backwards for you! And this is how you repay me. I lose my job, and now this. Fuck you!"
With that, he ran upstairs to get Orion. "Molly!" he shouted, "we're leaving! Where is Orion?"
"Severus, he just laid down to sleep, why the hurry?"
"Well Molly," he snarled smoothly, "some of the others don't think I can do it anymore. They don't think I can raise my son. So, quite honestly, I see no reason to remain here." He snatched the sleeping baby from the crib and bade Mrs. Weasley "Good day."
* * *
A dark haired woman snickered evilly from behind a crystal ball. "Fools!" she cried, "They have no idea.."