Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters.
Long Nights
Professor Snape paced back and forth within his chambers, his head slowly splitting into two uneven halves. There appeared to be no possible means of ceasing the infernal racket emanating from the confounding bundle he was holding.
The Professor picked up a bottle and held it up to the mouth of the squirming infant in his arms. Holding the dejected babe in one arm and moving the bottle with the other was proving to be quite challenging, and he allowed himself to fall onto the couch still trying to appease the baby with the bottle.
The bottle however seemed only to upset the child more. Bouncing the baby Snape racked his brains, frantically trying to think of something, anything, that would quiet the child. His eyelids were threatening to close on him but he simply could not allow it, as he had to watch the baby. The same thing had happened last night too; he had to stay up with the baby all night and had gotten no sleep. Amusingly enough, his students could not discern his current predicament as his lack of sleep simply added to his sour disposition.
The small "bundle of joy," as they called it, still lay in his arms screaming. Figuring that there would be no negotiations with this baby on behalf of his sleep, he leaned against the back of the couch reminiscing about yesterday; before he found out that the spawn of Satan would be permanently in his care.
He had received an owl after dinner saying that the Headmaster requested his presence in his office. He should have known right then that nothing good was waiting for him.
When Snape had entered Dumbledore's office, he found himself facing a solemn looking old mage. However the ever-present mischievous twinkle that was in Dumbledore's eyes meant that there was more to this situation than appeared on the surface.
"You wanted to see me Headmaster?"
"Sit down Severus."
Severus remembered not wanting to sit, wanting to run before whatever task it was came to haunt him; but no he was not a child but a man and he sat unflinchingly in the chair.
It was then that Severus learned of the plight that he was now facing. The words of the older man flowed unimpeded through his brain. The only message he could discern from Dumbledore's platitudes was the fact that his sister was dead! His precious baby sister, the only other person he had ever cared for, was gone. He was five years her senior, and if it had not been for her he would no doubt still be a faithful servant to the Dark Lord.
It was his sister who brought him to Albus Dumbledore when his daunting master had Crucioed him to near death. He had been pained and terrified of what he had become, but even more afraid of leaving his master. His sister had given him the opportunity and strength to come back from the darkness. He owed her everything, and now she was gone.
"...and it states that the baby be put under your care..."
Baby! "Baby?"
"Were you not aware that your sister had a child."
"No sir. I mean yes sir. What I mean to say is that I know she had a baby, but what does that baby have to do with me?"
"Well you are the godfather, are you not?"
"Yes but..." She wasn't supposed to die; if anyone were to die it was going to be him. He had been clear about that.
"But?"
"I don't know how to take care of a baby," he allowed his head to slip into his hands.
"Neither do most new parents Severus." he clamped a reassuring hand on the younger man's shoulder, "You'll learn."
Dumbledore's voice was firm and certain, Severus just wished that his stomach could agree but as it was, it was tying itself in knots. He quickly turned to face the snow headed man. "And what of my classes; what happens then?"
"Winky, the house-elf, has grown rather fond of the child and would greatly like to be the child's nanny when you have classes."
Severus looked down at the ground considering this new development; he was going to have a baby. Snape looked up, a dazed look overwhelming his dark eyes. The last time he had seen his sister, she had been eight months pregnant, but that was four months ago, and he had not yet seen the child.
Dumbledore called in Winky, who came in cradling the baby and placed her into Snape's arms. He looked down at the child, and she looked up at him with blue eyes that were full of love and trust; they were his sister's eyes and gazing into them, he knew he could handle this.
"Hello, Elizabeth."
That had been yesterday, and now, a sleepless night and hectic day later, he was fairly certain that this new prospect would either hospitalize or institutionalize him.
Little Elizabeth took a moment to catch her breath before letting out yet another hellish wail.
At this moment, the Head Girl happened to be walking by the dungeons on her final patrol before turning in. Hearing the otherworldly plaint, she went running towards the source of the noise. The Heads were told all passwords in case of emergency, and judging by the sound, this was an emergency.
Hermione Granger entered the room half expecting to find some first year being tortured; needless to say the sight that greeted her was somewhat of a shock.
"Professor?" the young girl asked tentatively.
It was even more surprising when the professor looked up at the student he had presumably hated for the past six and a half years with his pleading eyes holding a mixture of pain and frustration and said, "I can't make her stop."
Hermione stood for a moment pondering whether she actually wanted to help out the Potions Master or not and finally decided that helping the baby was a good enough excuse for accidentally helping the surly man.
She checked the usual spots first: the diaper, the bottle...
"I tell you, I already fed her, and the bottle only makes that thing angrier."
"You fed her?"
"It's what I said didn't I?"
Hermione, figuring that men in general- and her potions master in particular- knew nothing about babies, she picked up the infant and laid the small stomach across her shoulder. "I suggest Professor, that if you wish the screaming to stop any time soon, you treat your help with a little bit of kindness."
Snape said nothing, which for him was being nice. Hermione was rubbing and patting the back of the little child, which appeared to have no effect. Just when Severus was beginning to fear for the permanent disability of his eardrums, the baby let out a sound louder than anything else she had thus far emitted that night: she burped.
The burp was followed by silence, blessed silence. Snape closed his eyes in thanks to the powers that be.
Hermione was now sitting on the couch coddling the young one. "What's her name?"
"Elizabeth,"
"She's beautiful."
There was a look in Hermione's eyes that Snape had never seen on anyone's face before and a strange appreciation came over him for the girl.
The professor yawned, "Thank you Ms. Granger. You've been most helpful."
Hermione turned from the baby to face her potions master, appraising every inch of his face, fully taking in the dark circles under his eyes.
"Perhaps Professor, you should go to sleep and I should watch the baby."
The professor would have argued except his eyelids had already begun to agree and he knew that he would be asleep as soon as he hit the pillow. Without so much as a word of thanks, he staggered over to the bed and lay down.
Hermione heard the breathing of her professor change into slow and light breaths and turned her attention to the beautiful baby she was holding. Where did she come from? She had no idea that Snape had become a father; he definitely was not married and did not seem like the type of man who would enjoy sleeping around.
She soon wondered if this baby would ever see its mother; young girls do need a mother. About an hour later, Hermione had made up her mind that she would come and visit this child as often as she could. She couldn't help feeling that the child needed her.
Now, with the young babe snuggling her head in Hermione's breast, she felt very protective of the wee one and imagined that the child felt safe and warm where she was. As Hermione stroked the small tufts of hair, the little girl closed her eves and slowly slipped into slumber. Hermione then allowed her own tired eyelids to close as she fell asleep there on the couch.
The next morning, Severus awoke rested and feeling better. He got up to go to the bathroom, and was slightly startled to see, his student on his couch holding his niece in her arms. He decided to wake the girl so she could go back to her own chambers and get dressed for her classes.
Severus had every intention of being coarse with the girl, but when he reached down and grabbed her shoulder she smiled at him. It was a gesture that he did not receive often; no one smiled at Severus Snape. He was touched and found himself at a loss for words.
As he stood there musing for no more than a second on the sincerity of her smile, Hermione stood up with the baby and began to place the baby in his own arms.
Hermione had wondered how to go about this but still wasn't quite sure. Finally she decided just to be blunt. "I didn't know you had a daughter."
She had no business prying into his personal affairs! Still, she had helped him immensely and he might just need her help in the future. "I don't." after taking in her quizzical look he added, "She is my niece."
Hermione nodded, sad that the child would probably be leaving soon; she had liked it better when the child had been Snape's daughter and would stay forever. "I should have known when I saw you having that much trouble. When will her parents be coming to collect her?"
Snape wasn't sure whether to answer her question or defend his abilities. "They won't be," he thought he saw Hermione perk up when he said that. "And I happen to have been doing just fine on my own."
Hermione laughed, "Yeah okay."
"Need I remind you Ms. Granger that even after classes I am still your professor, and you must address me with respect?" He didn't like her getting too comfortable with him; his guard began to flare up.
"Sorry Professor," trust Snape to turn a casual conversation vicious. She felt quite indignant and decided to leave promptly instead of staying to chat which was exactly what Snape wanted. "I will see you in class, good bye."
Snape watched her retreat almost in awe at the fact that she could change moods as easily as him. She had gone from curious and pleasant to distant and disinterested.
The door closed softly after the girl. Snape looked at the sleeping child in his arms. She really was quite pretty when she stopped screaming. He walked over to the baby's crib and gently placed her down, covering her with the pink blanket that lay inside.
He affectionately brushed the thin hair on the top of the baby's head and looked down at her with his eyes full of compassion.
This baby could be his undoing. He knew that very well which was why he had told the headmaster not to tell any of the other faculty members or students. Cursing himself, he realized that he had forgotten to tell Granger not to mention this to anyone. The last thing he needed was the entire student body knowing his secret.
so do u like? K I know Snape might seem slightly out of character, but this chapter is done mostly in privacy. In the next one, I promise, he will be the bastard you'd imaging him as being, b/c we r going to move into the days. U see, he has to hide any and all emotions when he is around people. I don't care how much of a prick he acts like, in my book he does have a heart even if he conceals it. The differenced between him and his act will become more apparent later. Hope you liked it! Don't forget to review!
Long Nights
Professor Snape paced back and forth within his chambers, his head slowly splitting into two uneven halves. There appeared to be no possible means of ceasing the infernal racket emanating from the confounding bundle he was holding.
The Professor picked up a bottle and held it up to the mouth of the squirming infant in his arms. Holding the dejected babe in one arm and moving the bottle with the other was proving to be quite challenging, and he allowed himself to fall onto the couch still trying to appease the baby with the bottle.
The bottle however seemed only to upset the child more. Bouncing the baby Snape racked his brains, frantically trying to think of something, anything, that would quiet the child. His eyelids were threatening to close on him but he simply could not allow it, as he had to watch the baby. The same thing had happened last night too; he had to stay up with the baby all night and had gotten no sleep. Amusingly enough, his students could not discern his current predicament as his lack of sleep simply added to his sour disposition.
The small "bundle of joy," as they called it, still lay in his arms screaming. Figuring that there would be no negotiations with this baby on behalf of his sleep, he leaned against the back of the couch reminiscing about yesterday; before he found out that the spawn of Satan would be permanently in his care.
He had received an owl after dinner saying that the Headmaster requested his presence in his office. He should have known right then that nothing good was waiting for him.
When Snape had entered Dumbledore's office, he found himself facing a solemn looking old mage. However the ever-present mischievous twinkle that was in Dumbledore's eyes meant that there was more to this situation than appeared on the surface.
"You wanted to see me Headmaster?"
"Sit down Severus."
Severus remembered not wanting to sit, wanting to run before whatever task it was came to haunt him; but no he was not a child but a man and he sat unflinchingly in the chair.
It was then that Severus learned of the plight that he was now facing. The words of the older man flowed unimpeded through his brain. The only message he could discern from Dumbledore's platitudes was the fact that his sister was dead! His precious baby sister, the only other person he had ever cared for, was gone. He was five years her senior, and if it had not been for her he would no doubt still be a faithful servant to the Dark Lord.
It was his sister who brought him to Albus Dumbledore when his daunting master had Crucioed him to near death. He had been pained and terrified of what he had become, but even more afraid of leaving his master. His sister had given him the opportunity and strength to come back from the darkness. He owed her everything, and now she was gone.
"...and it states that the baby be put under your care..."
Baby! "Baby?"
"Were you not aware that your sister had a child."
"No sir. I mean yes sir. What I mean to say is that I know she had a baby, but what does that baby have to do with me?"
"Well you are the godfather, are you not?"
"Yes but..." She wasn't supposed to die; if anyone were to die it was going to be him. He had been clear about that.
"But?"
"I don't know how to take care of a baby," he allowed his head to slip into his hands.
"Neither do most new parents Severus." he clamped a reassuring hand on the younger man's shoulder, "You'll learn."
Dumbledore's voice was firm and certain, Severus just wished that his stomach could agree but as it was, it was tying itself in knots. He quickly turned to face the snow headed man. "And what of my classes; what happens then?"
"Winky, the house-elf, has grown rather fond of the child and would greatly like to be the child's nanny when you have classes."
Severus looked down at the ground considering this new development; he was going to have a baby. Snape looked up, a dazed look overwhelming his dark eyes. The last time he had seen his sister, she had been eight months pregnant, but that was four months ago, and he had not yet seen the child.
Dumbledore called in Winky, who came in cradling the baby and placed her into Snape's arms. He looked down at the child, and she looked up at him with blue eyes that were full of love and trust; they were his sister's eyes and gazing into them, he knew he could handle this.
"Hello, Elizabeth."
That had been yesterday, and now, a sleepless night and hectic day later, he was fairly certain that this new prospect would either hospitalize or institutionalize him.
Little Elizabeth took a moment to catch her breath before letting out yet another hellish wail.
At this moment, the Head Girl happened to be walking by the dungeons on her final patrol before turning in. Hearing the otherworldly plaint, she went running towards the source of the noise. The Heads were told all passwords in case of emergency, and judging by the sound, this was an emergency.
Hermione Granger entered the room half expecting to find some first year being tortured; needless to say the sight that greeted her was somewhat of a shock.
"Professor?" the young girl asked tentatively.
It was even more surprising when the professor looked up at the student he had presumably hated for the past six and a half years with his pleading eyes holding a mixture of pain and frustration and said, "I can't make her stop."
Hermione stood for a moment pondering whether she actually wanted to help out the Potions Master or not and finally decided that helping the baby was a good enough excuse for accidentally helping the surly man.
She checked the usual spots first: the diaper, the bottle...
"I tell you, I already fed her, and the bottle only makes that thing angrier."
"You fed her?"
"It's what I said didn't I?"
Hermione, figuring that men in general- and her potions master in particular- knew nothing about babies, she picked up the infant and laid the small stomach across her shoulder. "I suggest Professor, that if you wish the screaming to stop any time soon, you treat your help with a little bit of kindness."
Snape said nothing, which for him was being nice. Hermione was rubbing and patting the back of the little child, which appeared to have no effect. Just when Severus was beginning to fear for the permanent disability of his eardrums, the baby let out a sound louder than anything else she had thus far emitted that night: she burped.
The burp was followed by silence, blessed silence. Snape closed his eyes in thanks to the powers that be.
Hermione was now sitting on the couch coddling the young one. "What's her name?"
"Elizabeth,"
"She's beautiful."
There was a look in Hermione's eyes that Snape had never seen on anyone's face before and a strange appreciation came over him for the girl.
The professor yawned, "Thank you Ms. Granger. You've been most helpful."
Hermione turned from the baby to face her potions master, appraising every inch of his face, fully taking in the dark circles under his eyes.
"Perhaps Professor, you should go to sleep and I should watch the baby."
The professor would have argued except his eyelids had already begun to agree and he knew that he would be asleep as soon as he hit the pillow. Without so much as a word of thanks, he staggered over to the bed and lay down.
Hermione heard the breathing of her professor change into slow and light breaths and turned her attention to the beautiful baby she was holding. Where did she come from? She had no idea that Snape had become a father; he definitely was not married and did not seem like the type of man who would enjoy sleeping around.
She soon wondered if this baby would ever see its mother; young girls do need a mother. About an hour later, Hermione had made up her mind that she would come and visit this child as often as she could. She couldn't help feeling that the child needed her.
Now, with the young babe snuggling her head in Hermione's breast, she felt very protective of the wee one and imagined that the child felt safe and warm where she was. As Hermione stroked the small tufts of hair, the little girl closed her eves and slowly slipped into slumber. Hermione then allowed her own tired eyelids to close as she fell asleep there on the couch.
The next morning, Severus awoke rested and feeling better. He got up to go to the bathroom, and was slightly startled to see, his student on his couch holding his niece in her arms. He decided to wake the girl so she could go back to her own chambers and get dressed for her classes.
Severus had every intention of being coarse with the girl, but when he reached down and grabbed her shoulder she smiled at him. It was a gesture that he did not receive often; no one smiled at Severus Snape. He was touched and found himself at a loss for words.
As he stood there musing for no more than a second on the sincerity of her smile, Hermione stood up with the baby and began to place the baby in his own arms.
Hermione had wondered how to go about this but still wasn't quite sure. Finally she decided just to be blunt. "I didn't know you had a daughter."
She had no business prying into his personal affairs! Still, she had helped him immensely and he might just need her help in the future. "I don't." after taking in her quizzical look he added, "She is my niece."
Hermione nodded, sad that the child would probably be leaving soon; she had liked it better when the child had been Snape's daughter and would stay forever. "I should have known when I saw you having that much trouble. When will her parents be coming to collect her?"
Snape wasn't sure whether to answer her question or defend his abilities. "They won't be," he thought he saw Hermione perk up when he said that. "And I happen to have been doing just fine on my own."
Hermione laughed, "Yeah okay."
"Need I remind you Ms. Granger that even after classes I am still your professor, and you must address me with respect?" He didn't like her getting too comfortable with him; his guard began to flare up.
"Sorry Professor," trust Snape to turn a casual conversation vicious. She felt quite indignant and decided to leave promptly instead of staying to chat which was exactly what Snape wanted. "I will see you in class, good bye."
Snape watched her retreat almost in awe at the fact that she could change moods as easily as him. She had gone from curious and pleasant to distant and disinterested.
The door closed softly after the girl. Snape looked at the sleeping child in his arms. She really was quite pretty when she stopped screaming. He walked over to the baby's crib and gently placed her down, covering her with the pink blanket that lay inside.
He affectionately brushed the thin hair on the top of the baby's head and looked down at her with his eyes full of compassion.
This baby could be his undoing. He knew that very well which was why he had told the headmaster not to tell any of the other faculty members or students. Cursing himself, he realized that he had forgotten to tell Granger not to mention this to anyone. The last thing he needed was the entire student body knowing his secret.
so do u like? K I know Snape might seem slightly out of character, but this chapter is done mostly in privacy. In the next one, I promise, he will be the bastard you'd imaging him as being, b/c we r going to move into the days. U see, he has to hide any and all emotions when he is around people. I don't care how much of a prick he acts like, in my book he does have a heart even if he conceals it. The differenced between him and his act will become more apparent later. Hope you liked it! Don't forget to review!