Ok, disclaimer time. Her's not mine.
All done.
Major thanks to Zeedrippyvessel for her beta-ing skills and to the
lovely shadowcat for her thoughts and assistance with Minerva's rant.
She helped me make things clearer. It is difficult to write secrets
sometimes. You get to thinking everyone is in on it when they ain't.
Thanks shadowycat!!!
Now, off to the races.
Snape stood leaning against the fire place mantle for several long moments after Olivia's rapid departure, her parting words rattling around his brain like bright glass marbles.
A son!
The declaration had shaken his normally unshakable calm and the thought of flooing to the Headmaster's chambers in his present state caused the Potions Master to shudder.
The walk would settle his nerves, Snape decided as he called for his robe and wand.
The students were just beginning to emerge from their respective dormitories and stumble, muddy-eyed, to breakfast when Professor Snape made his way across the entrance hall. Even half asleep, self preservation kicked in and the children cleared a path for the their dreaded Potions Master. Robes hissing about his feet, the dark professor sneered gleefully at the pale, frightened faces, relishing his position of power. He was beginning to feel much better.
Leaving the Grand Staircase, Snape turned in the direction of the Headmaster's quarters only to pause when he spied Professor McGonagall standing outside of her office. The graying witch was juggling a mountain of text books and scrolls as she fumbled for her wand.
Snape briefly debated on turning and approaching Dumbledore's tower from another direction, but brushed the cowardly, abet undoubtedly wiser, action from his mind. That Minerva regretted Snape's involvement with her adopted daughter was painfully obvious, judging from the scene the wizard had witnessed days prior. But, dammit it all, Snape groused, the deed was done! The child, his child was growing in Olivia's body and there was nothing Professor McGonagall could do to alter the fact.
Minerva cursed lowly when the pile of scrolls spilled to the floor. With an exasperated sigh, she knelt to gather up the mess.
Rolling his eyes at her lack of common sense, the wizard smirked at the opportunity to put Professor McGonagall in her place.
Striding decisively to the crouching, muttering McGonagall, Snape growled, "Surely, Minerva, you of all witches should realize..." The sentence died stillborn and shock widened Snape's black eyes as Professor McGonagall whipped about, her wand clutched in one boney fist.
Spitting through bared teeth, Minerva sprang at the Potions Master, the blunt tip of her wand pressed into his chest. Snape retreated backwards as Minerve, her wand arm held rigidly at the shoulder, matched him stride for stride. The wizard quickly found his black clad frame penned against the opposite wall, McGonagall's wand grinding into his breast. Seeing no easy avenue of escape, Snape slowly raised his arms to the side, palms facing forward, two pale flags of surrender. He winced as unbending hawthorn was driven, dagger like, against his flesh. Her eyes blazing with pained fury, Minerva's face twisted like a rag and her thin, wrinkled lips writhed as she struggled visibly to contain the killing words that fought for release.
And oh, how they wanted to be free! Free to be hurled upon the blot of darkness, the taint on human life that stood before her. Snape's hook-nosed visage blurred like an ink drawing left in the rain but Minerva made no move to dash the tears away. Her heart, her thoughts were fixed upon the wizard who had authored her pain. "I could kill you now and skip joyfully into Azkaban, a contented witch, were it not for the oath Olivia demanded of me!" she whispered harshly. "How could you?" She croaked, applying more pressure to the expanding eye of pain growing on Severus' breast bone. "How could you?"
Hands still aloft, Snape inquired bluntly, "Would your anger run this deep if it were Black's child growing within Olivia?" Lifting his chin arrogantly, Snape attempted to squelch his feelings of despondent hurt. "I had not realized the enormity of the hatred you bear for me. The weight must be staggering."
"Yes!" Minerva spat hotly. "I do hate you! It drags me down, bending my back 'til I can barely stand" The bony frame was being racked by tremors as the old witch continued to speak around her escaping sobs. "My guts burn with the acid of my rage! Yes I hate you, for you have stolen my child. You have destroyed Olivia!" Tears poured into the aged furrows of McGonagall's cheeks and Snape's eyes narrowed in confused anger and watched as the witch's heart broke.
"What are you on about, Minerva?" He snarled. "Stolen Olivia? She gave herself to me freely. Destroyed her? She is now safe because of me!" Minerva merely shook her head. "What selfishness is this?" Snape continued. "Have you become so stingy that Olivia must reserve her love for you alone?" He winced as his words caused a sharp tremor to move over McGonagall's frame, causing the point of wood to bury itself deeper.
"Did you not spare a thought to the possibilities?" Minerva raged. "You bedded her with no consideration, you rutting bastard!"
"I have truly played my part well over the years if you think me capable of casting Olivia aside now that I have gotten her with child." A faint wisp of puzzlement passed over Minerva's face at his words, but without noticing, Severus plowed on.
"Think what you will of me, woman." Snape whispered, his jet eyes unblinking. "Olivia has pledged her love to me and I will have her! When Voldmort is dust, she will be with me, aye, and the babe as well. Your bitterness over my history will only serve to drive a wedge between you and the daughter you claim to love so well."
Minerva's eyes widened slightly as Severus' words sank into her mind, the horrible truth of their situation chipping at the icy sheet of hatred that had grown over her heart. "He misinterprets my anger." The grinding pressure of the wand eased slightly, but the witch continued to pin Snape with a confused glare.
"Do you love her?"
Minerva's gravely voice unnerved him and Snape exhaled sharply through his nostrils as he turned his face angrily away.
"Do you love her?" The old woman demanded once more, her voice rising.
Flashing her a glare of cold anger, Snape replied sharply, "Yes!"
Roughly shrugging the threatening wand from him, the riled wizard straightened
the lapels of his jacket before pulling the volumous robes close about
him. "Damn you, yes I love her! Think you that I would endure
the mistreatment I receive at her hands-and yours- if I were not committed
to her body and soul?"
Minerva staggered away from him, her eyes blinking rapidly. With shaking hands, she tucked her wand into her sleeve then pulled a handkerchief from some hidden spot and used it to wipe at her face. Snape folded his arms over his chest and stared moodily down at the floor.
"Would you wed Olivia?" Minerva asked casually, though her voice remained strained.
"If she would have me, yes." Snape responded without looking up. The anger and embarrassment that Minerva had generated in his chest continued to burn. He fought the impulse to jump when a wrinkled hand was placed upon his crossed forearms.
"Forgive an old witch, Severus. I thought... wrongly. Forgive me." She stopped and moved away to retrieve her scattered belongings. Severus watched, noticing for the first time how frail and aged Minerva had become. With an impatient sigh, he joined her on the corridor floor, snatching the books and scrolls from her hands. A jerk of his chin indicated that she should release her wards and Minerva quickly obeyed. When the door opened, Snape hastily walked across the chamber and dumped the pile upon the massive desk. Unburdened, he turned to make his exit.
Professor McGonagall stood erect and proud just inside her office. The keen, piercing gaze Snape knew so well was once more in place, though her eyes were still red with her crying. "Thank you, Severus. That will be all." Minerva dismissed him with a nod and stood aside.
Accepting the curt dismissal, Snape moved through the door, but then paused to cast a flat glare upon the old woman. "I will protect her, Minerva. Have no doubt about that."
"I know you will, Severus." Professor McGonagall responded, meeting
his glare evenly. Without another word, he was gone.
Minerva gently closed the door and leaned wearily upon the solid wood.
With a pained sigh she pressed the heels of her hands to her brow.
"He does not know!" She whispered sadly, shaking her gray head.
I have decided to devote myself to finishing this story. I have placed myself on leave of absence from all of my groups and sworn off of reading fanfiction.
Well, maybe a small read at night.
I wanted to thank each and every one who reviewed the last chapter but I am in a big hurry to post this and get on to the next chapter. I promise to update more often but the chapters will be shorter. Hope that is ok with you all.
Huggs and kisses.
gotsnape