Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Doubts
Hermione looked down at her potions professor who was sitting on the couch in a right state and her heart was moved to pity. He began to speak. "I can't do this. Dumbledore told me I could learn and I really thought I could, but it's not working. Maybe I should send her to an orphanage, she'd be better off there." Hermione looked at the baby in her arms and knew she did not want this child to be sent to an orphanage; it was quite easy to fall in love with a baby. Crossing the room, she sat on the sofa next to the confusing man. "Do you really think it would be better for her to live in some crumbling building with lots of other children, never getting the attention she deserves?"
"I do not know how to care for a child, she will find someone who can."
Hermione placed a steady hand on her professor's arm and said, "I will teach you."
Snape looked up and met the girl's chocolate eyes, noting how strange it was for this young woman, who he had put down for the entirety of their relationship, to be offering her help. "You would? Why?"
Hermione looked down with such love and devotion at the infant who was snuggling into her breast and said, "I don't want her to grow up in an orphanage."
For a moment Severus felt his chest constrict as the thought crossed through his mind that no one would ever look at him in that way. He too looked over at Elizabeth, and then reached over with a shaking hand to brush a lock of hair away from the baby's face.
Elizabeth immediately began to wrinkle her nose and Severus pulled his hand away sharply. As the baby began to cry, Hermione caught his retreating hand.
She looked him in the eye and said, "Gently," and then guided his hand back to the child, his body leaning closer to hers.
With her hand on top of his, she guided him in stroking the baby's soft hair. The entire top of the small head would have fit in his palm. As he stroked her head, the baby stopped crying, it was almost like magic.
A sincere smile crossed the professor's lips as he wondered at the small child. Hermione happened to catch this display of emotion and giggled herself. "You know that smile doesn't look half bad on you Professor."
Hermione was struck by her own words, she had meant to sound like she was encouraging her professor to smile once in a while, not sound like she had been actively looking at her professor. Well, she had to admit to herself, at least, that it was the case. There was something about being here with him that was making her stomach feel like the home of a thousand butterflies. Her palm tingled where his warm hand rested underneath it.
She looked down so he could not see the embarrassment on her face.
Severus too, had been struck by the words. At first he had been slightly angered by the fact that he had allowed another person to see that he actually had emotions. Then he realized that at the moment he truly did not care about concealing his sensibilities. It was probably the fact that no one had appeared to know about Elizabeth by his first class that made him feel he could trust the girl.
When he saw her turn her head and he noticed the slightly pink color to her cheeks, he began to focus on her statement as a whole. Had she just said that he might look good? Very quickly, he became aware of how much he liked the feeling of her soft hand on the back of his.
Hermione turned her head to properly face Severus to ask him a question. Not realizing how close they truly had been, she bumped her nose on the older man's. Quickly she turned and swallowed hard, muttering a soft apologetic word.
Severus closed his eyes and opened them again, trying to ignore the feelings inside of him that he knew he could not allow to surface.
Hermione tried again what she had meant to do. She turned to her professor and asked, "Do you want to hold her?"
Snape was taken aback at first, "I, I don't know, she's so quiet now, and she doesn't seem to like me holding her, and-"
Hermione smiled and shook her head and began to place the infant in her professor's arms.
Elizabeth was immediately aware of the rigidity of her environment and began to squirm making her uncle tense up further. As the small child began to open her mouth to make her displeasure known, Hermione placed her hand on Severus's arm. "Shh, relax." Hermione told him rubbing her small hand up and down Severus' arm.
There was much comfort in her touch and Severus did begin to relax a bit. "Now hold her close to you; babies like to feel warm," Hermione instructed, her arm still running over Severus's.
Severus looked down at Elizabeth who now lay peacefully in his arms. He was actually holding her and she wasn't crying.
Hermione smiled glad that she could help in such a way, but the general atmosphere of the room was getting to her. Snape's quarters were small yet lit only by the fireplace and were actually quite cozy. She was so close to the man and baby he was holding. A very sleepy and satisfied feeling came upon her and she rested her head on Severus' shoulder as she looked down on the sleeping babe.
Severus felt the pressure of her head on his shoulder and without realizing it, put his head on top of her own. The girl gave a soft, satisfied whimper as she felt her eyes close. Severus felt his own lids drooping before he became aware of what exactly was going on. Carefully, as to not wake up the baby or Hermione, he carried the baby over to her crib and lay her down on her side.
Returning to the sofa, he tried to wake the sleeping girl finding the task hopelessly impossible. Sighing, he carried her over to the bed and removing her shoes tucked her into the covers. He looked at her for a moment as she slept, noticing how truly beautiful the girl was. Then he walked over to the couch where, pulling out an old quilt, he settled down to sleep.
Hermione awoke the next morning feeling safe and warm. The layers of covers over her were different from the ones she was used to, but nice. She opened her eyes slowly and took in the silver and black bed hangings that were surrounding her. Then she remembered falling asleep with the child. She had been ever so tired.
Hermione was almost afraid to look beside her in the bed; if there were one thing that would be ever so disturbing, it would be waking up beside your potions professor. With a deep breath, Hermione turned to face her professor, only to find that he wasn't there.
A wave of relief coupled with curiosity swept over her, and she looked around for the older man. She found him soon after laying asleep on the couch.
Well, at least the man had integrity.
A soft snuffling noise was emanating from the other side of the room. Guessing at what it was, Hermione walked over and picked up a squirming Elizabeth. The child was making the same pre-wailing noises she always did, and Hermione saw her professor stir. All she needed was a prematurely awakened Snape to start the day off on a wonderful foot.
Trying to think of what would comfort the small baby, Hermione pulled the little one to her breast and began to sing lightly while swaying with the child. Elizabeth appeared to like this a lot. As Hermione became more and more involved in the song, the small baby's eyes drooped further and further towards closing. When Hermione ceased her singing, a voice behind her spoke.
"You have a very pretty voice Miss Granger,"
Hermione turned and immediately blushed. Had she known her professor was up, she would not have sung; it was something she did to please herself, not to do in front of other people. "Oh, I just, um, I..."
Snape raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
"I've got to go."
As she swept past her professor he caught her arm and turned her around. "Remember Ms. Granger, not a word to any one."
Hermione looked her professor in the eye for a moment expecting to see some threat in his eyes. But his eyes held no warning, only a soft plea. The brunette placed her hand over Snape's own before walking the few steps to the door.
After she left the room, Snape berated himself for allowing himself to get so close to Miss Granger the night before. There was no doubt that he was hungry for the long absent human connection that he had been missing his whole life. He also knew it wasn't right to allow himself to take such pleasure in the presence of his student simply because he had been lonely.
Severus quickly made up his mind not to slip again; he respected Miss Granger far too much for that, even if he did act like he detested her in class. It wasn't often that you found a student who was quite as smart and bold as she.
A sound coming from the direction of the crib across the room interrupted his thoughts. He proceeded carefully over to the child's cot and peered over the railing. Young Elizabeth looked up at him expectantly. Severus took a deep breath; he could do this. He reached one hand under the baby's neck and slid the other under her back and picked her up slowly cradling the child to his chest.
He braced himself for the onslaught of noise that was sure to come. Surprisingly enough, Elizabeth cooed softly and smiled up at him. It was at that moment that Snape knew everything would be okay.
And it was. That evening, when he returned to his chambers, he found both Winky and Elizabeth in good spirits. He was able to enjoy an entire night with his small niece.
That night when Hermione did her rounds, she found that there was no screaming coming from Snape's rooms. She got closer and heard what sounded like a baby giggle. Turning on her heel, with a warm smile on her face, she walked back up to her dorm.
And that's another one folks!! Do u like it? Let me know! Next chapter, Hogsmede and suspicion!! Bum bum bum!!! ::giggles:: until then!
THANK YOU all of my lovely reviewers!! I heart you guys!!!!! U mean so much to me!!
And guys, if you like this story, check out SOLITUDE also by me! Its all about Snape and its glorius! Or at least I think so, but I want you guy's opinion! Bye for now!
Atiannala
Doubts
Hermione looked down at her potions professor who was sitting on the couch in a right state and her heart was moved to pity. He began to speak. "I can't do this. Dumbledore told me I could learn and I really thought I could, but it's not working. Maybe I should send her to an orphanage, she'd be better off there." Hermione looked at the baby in her arms and knew she did not want this child to be sent to an orphanage; it was quite easy to fall in love with a baby. Crossing the room, she sat on the sofa next to the confusing man. "Do you really think it would be better for her to live in some crumbling building with lots of other children, never getting the attention she deserves?"
"I do not know how to care for a child, she will find someone who can."
Hermione placed a steady hand on her professor's arm and said, "I will teach you."
Snape looked up and met the girl's chocolate eyes, noting how strange it was for this young woman, who he had put down for the entirety of their relationship, to be offering her help. "You would? Why?"
Hermione looked down with such love and devotion at the infant who was snuggling into her breast and said, "I don't want her to grow up in an orphanage."
For a moment Severus felt his chest constrict as the thought crossed through his mind that no one would ever look at him in that way. He too looked over at Elizabeth, and then reached over with a shaking hand to brush a lock of hair away from the baby's face.
Elizabeth immediately began to wrinkle her nose and Severus pulled his hand away sharply. As the baby began to cry, Hermione caught his retreating hand.
She looked him in the eye and said, "Gently," and then guided his hand back to the child, his body leaning closer to hers.
With her hand on top of his, she guided him in stroking the baby's soft hair. The entire top of the small head would have fit in his palm. As he stroked her head, the baby stopped crying, it was almost like magic.
A sincere smile crossed the professor's lips as he wondered at the small child. Hermione happened to catch this display of emotion and giggled herself. "You know that smile doesn't look half bad on you Professor."
Hermione was struck by her own words, she had meant to sound like she was encouraging her professor to smile once in a while, not sound like she had been actively looking at her professor. Well, she had to admit to herself, at least, that it was the case. There was something about being here with him that was making her stomach feel like the home of a thousand butterflies. Her palm tingled where his warm hand rested underneath it.
She looked down so he could not see the embarrassment on her face.
Severus too, had been struck by the words. At first he had been slightly angered by the fact that he had allowed another person to see that he actually had emotions. Then he realized that at the moment he truly did not care about concealing his sensibilities. It was probably the fact that no one had appeared to know about Elizabeth by his first class that made him feel he could trust the girl.
When he saw her turn her head and he noticed the slightly pink color to her cheeks, he began to focus on her statement as a whole. Had she just said that he might look good? Very quickly, he became aware of how much he liked the feeling of her soft hand on the back of his.
Hermione turned her head to properly face Severus to ask him a question. Not realizing how close they truly had been, she bumped her nose on the older man's. Quickly she turned and swallowed hard, muttering a soft apologetic word.
Severus closed his eyes and opened them again, trying to ignore the feelings inside of him that he knew he could not allow to surface.
Hermione tried again what she had meant to do. She turned to her professor and asked, "Do you want to hold her?"
Snape was taken aback at first, "I, I don't know, she's so quiet now, and she doesn't seem to like me holding her, and-"
Hermione smiled and shook her head and began to place the infant in her professor's arms.
Elizabeth was immediately aware of the rigidity of her environment and began to squirm making her uncle tense up further. As the small child began to open her mouth to make her displeasure known, Hermione placed her hand on Severus's arm. "Shh, relax." Hermione told him rubbing her small hand up and down Severus' arm.
There was much comfort in her touch and Severus did begin to relax a bit. "Now hold her close to you; babies like to feel warm," Hermione instructed, her arm still running over Severus's.
Severus looked down at Elizabeth who now lay peacefully in his arms. He was actually holding her and she wasn't crying.
Hermione smiled glad that she could help in such a way, but the general atmosphere of the room was getting to her. Snape's quarters were small yet lit only by the fireplace and were actually quite cozy. She was so close to the man and baby he was holding. A very sleepy and satisfied feeling came upon her and she rested her head on Severus' shoulder as she looked down on the sleeping babe.
Severus felt the pressure of her head on his shoulder and without realizing it, put his head on top of her own. The girl gave a soft, satisfied whimper as she felt her eyes close. Severus felt his own lids drooping before he became aware of what exactly was going on. Carefully, as to not wake up the baby or Hermione, he carried the baby over to her crib and lay her down on her side.
Returning to the sofa, he tried to wake the sleeping girl finding the task hopelessly impossible. Sighing, he carried her over to the bed and removing her shoes tucked her into the covers. He looked at her for a moment as she slept, noticing how truly beautiful the girl was. Then he walked over to the couch where, pulling out an old quilt, he settled down to sleep.
Hermione awoke the next morning feeling safe and warm. The layers of covers over her were different from the ones she was used to, but nice. She opened her eyes slowly and took in the silver and black bed hangings that were surrounding her. Then she remembered falling asleep with the child. She had been ever so tired.
Hermione was almost afraid to look beside her in the bed; if there were one thing that would be ever so disturbing, it would be waking up beside your potions professor. With a deep breath, Hermione turned to face her professor, only to find that he wasn't there.
A wave of relief coupled with curiosity swept over her, and she looked around for the older man. She found him soon after laying asleep on the couch.
Well, at least the man had integrity.
A soft snuffling noise was emanating from the other side of the room. Guessing at what it was, Hermione walked over and picked up a squirming Elizabeth. The child was making the same pre-wailing noises she always did, and Hermione saw her professor stir. All she needed was a prematurely awakened Snape to start the day off on a wonderful foot.
Trying to think of what would comfort the small baby, Hermione pulled the little one to her breast and began to sing lightly while swaying with the child. Elizabeth appeared to like this a lot. As Hermione became more and more involved in the song, the small baby's eyes drooped further and further towards closing. When Hermione ceased her singing, a voice behind her spoke.
"You have a very pretty voice Miss Granger,"
Hermione turned and immediately blushed. Had she known her professor was up, she would not have sung; it was something she did to please herself, not to do in front of other people. "Oh, I just, um, I..."
Snape raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
"I've got to go."
As she swept past her professor he caught her arm and turned her around. "Remember Ms. Granger, not a word to any one."
Hermione looked her professor in the eye for a moment expecting to see some threat in his eyes. But his eyes held no warning, only a soft plea. The brunette placed her hand over Snape's own before walking the few steps to the door.
After she left the room, Snape berated himself for allowing himself to get so close to Miss Granger the night before. There was no doubt that he was hungry for the long absent human connection that he had been missing his whole life. He also knew it wasn't right to allow himself to take such pleasure in the presence of his student simply because he had been lonely.
Severus quickly made up his mind not to slip again; he respected Miss Granger far too much for that, even if he did act like he detested her in class. It wasn't often that you found a student who was quite as smart and bold as she.
A sound coming from the direction of the crib across the room interrupted his thoughts. He proceeded carefully over to the child's cot and peered over the railing. Young Elizabeth looked up at him expectantly. Severus took a deep breath; he could do this. He reached one hand under the baby's neck and slid the other under her back and picked her up slowly cradling the child to his chest.
He braced himself for the onslaught of noise that was sure to come. Surprisingly enough, Elizabeth cooed softly and smiled up at him. It was at that moment that Snape knew everything would be okay.
And it was. That evening, when he returned to his chambers, he found both Winky and Elizabeth in good spirits. He was able to enjoy an entire night with his small niece.
That night when Hermione did her rounds, she found that there was no screaming coming from Snape's rooms. She got closer and heard what sounded like a baby giggle. Turning on her heel, with a warm smile on her face, she walked back up to her dorm.
And that's another one folks!! Do u like it? Let me know! Next chapter, Hogsmede and suspicion!! Bum bum bum!!! ::giggles:: until then!
THANK YOU all of my lovely reviewers!! I heart you guys!!!!! U mean so much to me!!
And guys, if you like this story, check out SOLITUDE also by me! Its all about Snape and its glorius! Or at least I think so, but I want you guy's opinion! Bye for now!
Atiannala