THE OLIVE BRANCH
by The Goblet

Chapter 4 - Emergence of the Greasy Git

February 1976

The two weeks after the full moon were especially distressing for Severus. After three days of denying his condition, he had finally accepted that he was pregnant and the news began to sink in. He was only fifteen. He hadn't finished school. He hadn't received his OWLs, He was about to become a father. A single father, unless Lupin realised what he had done.

Severus calculated that his baby would be due around September. That meant that he would, in any case, be able to sit for his OWLs, and thus complete at least part of his education.

Forcing himself to sit down and write a study guide, Severus split his time between catching up on the school work he had avoided last month and learning all he could about werewolf pregnancies.

The Slytherin had a hard time trying to conceal his condition from the other students in his dorm. Severus suffered terribly from morning sickness: most mornings were so bad, that he was unable to even smell breakfast without being violently ill. But once the morning sickness had passed for the day, he found himself starving and craving food. Severus took to sneaking down to the kitchens between classes, and after dinner and devouring strange and exotic food combinations, his favourite being muesli and orange jelly.

Severus's body began to ready itself for the birth of his child. His breast began to grow - only slightly, but on his lithe from they were very noticeable, not to mention tender. He began to put on weight, again quite noticeable for what was usually a slender form. His skin, although blotchy with pimples, was radiant, almost glowing. His hair was the healthiest it had been in all his years at Hogwarts.

Too terrified to speak to anyone about his condition, Severus researched and perfected several concealment charms: charms to hide his breasts, charms to make his skin look sallow, charms to make his hair look greasy and limp. He made doubly certain that the charms he chose would not hurt the babe.

On the full moon that month, Severus hid himself in his dorm. He pulled the curtains tight around his bed and lay awake, thinking of his child. He was determined to have the baby and he knew he wanted to keep it. He just wasn't sure how it was all going to work out. After worrying himself senseless with thoughts of his, and his child's future, Severus eventually fell into a restless sleep.

In the wee hours of the morning, Severus woke to find Moony hovering over him, staring. He was surprised that the wolf had managed to gain access to the Slytherin dorms, let alone his bedroom. He was astonished that it hadn't attacked any of his classmates.

Moving slightly, he ran his hand through the wolf's warm, soft coat. In response, Moony jumped onto the bed, licking Severus's face in greeting.

Standing on the bed, the wolf walked around in circles, trying to decide on a nice place to lie down. He finally decided to lie perpendicular to the boy, his head resting on Severus's lower abdomen, just above the baby.

Severus fell asleep feeling comforted and safe with Moony as his protector.

"How did Remus get out of the Slytherin dorms?" Dumbledore enquired.

"He left before the sun rose," Severus said quietly. "He never transformed back, he left in wolf form."

The headmaster gazed at the boy who was sitting up in the bed, holding his son so tenderly. Severus looked exhausted, which wasn't surprising for a person who had, only a few hours ago, given birth. Albus felt ashamed of himself for keeping the boy from his much needed rest. Madam Pomfrey would have his head if he didn't let Severus get some sleep.

"I want to see Remus," Severus whispered. "Please, I want Remus."

Albus was shocked by the raw edge Severus's voice had acquired.

"He's in my office, I'll go fetch him," he answered as he watched Severus lay the baby in a crib by the side of his bed. "Get some rest my boy, it may be a while. I want a word with him first."

"Not too long," responded Severus sleepily. He looked up at his headmaster, "It wasn't his fault."

Albus made his way from the Hospital Wing to his office.

Upon entering his study, the headmaster saw his deputy, who was having difficulty trying to calm the distraught werewolf. Minerva McGonagall had her wand trained on the youth, who wanted very much to be with his family.

"Mr Lupin, please, sit down," said Dumbledore calmly, as he walked across the room and stood beside one of three comfortable armchairs, arranged around a low coffee table.

Remus looked slyly from professor to professor, as though weighing up his options. Finally conceding that he was not going to make it anywhere near his mate and child, he wearily made his way to the armchair the headmaster was hovering over.

Once satisfied that the boy was not going to take off for the Hospital Wing, Minerva tucked her wand away and took a seat beside her favourite prefect.

Albus tapped his wand on the coffee table. A full tea service, complete with milk, sugar and a generous plate of biscuits appeared with a pop . Pouring out three servings of tea, he handed both his guests a cup, but not before tainting the entire pot with a mild Calming potion. Merlin knew they all needed to calm down after the morning's revelations.

Albus smiled at Remus. "Both Severus and your son are doing well," he said, knowing that the new father was frantic about his mate and child. "Madam Pomfrey assures me that they are both healthy, although a little worn-out. Actually, they're both sleeping at the moment, so we have a while to sit and talk."

Settling into his chair, the headmaster regarded the werewolf. "Severus tells me that you are not to blame," he started quietly. "He says that you did not do anything against the rules I set down when I admitted you to this school; apart from sharing your secret with your friends.

"I am very much aware of how this happened, having studied Lycanthropy in detail. I made sure that I knew what I was letting myself, and the staff in for before I offered you a position at this school. I am familiar with the different methods with which lycanthropes procreate, including how brutal the act can be." Albus paused a moment for Minerva to comprehend his meaning.

"Severus has already told me of the circumstances which surrounded the conception of your child. He also told me that you visited him in your wolf form once he was with child. I am curious: did you consciously know what was happening?"

Remus shook his head, "No, I didn't know what was going on. Not at first." He paused, trying to collect his thoughts. "It's kind of hard to explain, I was drawn to Sev…"