Disclaimer: Don't own nothing not even a smidgen. All works owned by J.K. Rowling Bloomsbury paperbacks and a few others.
Summary: A gift has arrived to none then Severus Snape and due to reasons, will not accept it. Will Dumbledore be able to persuade him to keep it to open his heart and trust before it's all too late? 1st ff be nice RR
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Love and Trust of the Heart
Chapter 8- In which Curiosity Kills the Snake
Much to Severus' displeasure, Albus began his counseling the following morning, in Albus' sitting room. Before his new memories, Severus never knew the room existed, but he spent most of his spare time in here when he was younger. Severus didn't know where to start nor was he sure if it was helping him or Albus, with Albus, shattering his office window, startling Fawkes from his slumber. Severus saw the anger mount in his eyes as the session went on. During his third session with Albus that week they were interrupted by a loud shrill cry.
Severus stood up, as did Albus who then bolted out the room. Severus had never seen Albus really move so fast. By the time Severus entered Albus' office Albus was nowhere in sight, except for Fawkes who was now perched on Albus' desk. Severus did notice though his office chair had been moved, to right up against a now fallen Fawkes perch and that the mystery door Severus queried Albus about, was now slightly open. What was Albus hiding behind that door? Curiosity got the better of Severus, as he walked silently towards the door. He was just outside the door; he could hear faint whimpers and Albus murmuring in a soft gentle tone. What was Albus doing? What was it that he was hiding? Severus peeked through the crack of the door to see Albus sitting on a low single bed with his back to the door. He looked like he was holding something. What was it? - An illegal creature? Severus shook his head quickly that was something Hagrid would do not Albus. Severus was too curious now he wanted to know what was going on. Severus gently pushed the door open; Albus still hadn't turned. Severus didn't feel comfortable in the fact Albus did not know he was there, unlike his students, so he rapped lightly on the door before he walked in. Albus turned his head quickly to him.
"What have you there Albus?" he asked, as the thing in his arms was still out of view.
"Something precious," he replied amused before returning to his original position Severus found him in.
Severus walked closer to the bed and peered over his shoulder. Severus nearly died in shock of what he saw that was in Albus' arms. That mop of hair he'd recognize anywhere, he saw it everyday for it was exactly like his- but less greasy. It was his niece Isabelle.
How dare Albus go above his word? There was a distinct reason why he didn't want her around. For the sake of the Snape lineage- he wasn't getting married anytime soon- but most of all, for her safety. He was a deatheater- a spy his only purpose of living. To stare at hell himself, suffer torture, come back with an inch of his life, with no one to worry about him, no one to care he was alive, no one he had to care about, then to repeat the cycle over and over again until the end of his dying days or when the dark lord was finally defeated. What in Merlin was she doing here?
Isabelle looked up from the comfort of Albus' chest to see Severus. She immediately buried her face back in Albus' chest.
"It's alight," Severus heard Albus say soothingly to Isabelle. "Does it hurt anywhere?"
Severus watched Isabelle nod, "Where does it hurt sweetheart?" Isabelle held out her arm to Albus. Albus rolled up the child's pyjamas' sleeve, to see a small fading red mark. Severus watched his anger building up, 'she shouldn't be here.' Severus watched surprised as Albus kissed the mark, "There all better," Albus cooed, "Be more careful next time, hmm?" Albus scolded gently.
Severus watched his niece bury her head back in Albus' chest, and Albus letting her snuggle into him.
"What is she doing here?" Severus growled.
Severus heard a faint muffled noise.
"Severus lower your tone, you're scaring her."
Severus just glowered at Albus; Albus just ignored him.
"How about some breakfast?" Albus asked Isabelle. Isabelle gave a nod. Severus just stood rooted on the spot, and continued to glower at Albus as he walked past holding Isabelle's hand out the room. If looks could kill Albus would have been dead by now, six times over.
Severus followed Albus out into the living room where a table appeared with 3 chairs, with two cups and a teapot and a plate with a slice of toast with a plastic cup full of juice.
Albus could see Severus seething in anger, but he needed this. Albus sat down at the table watching Isabelle carefully climbing onto the chair.
"Severus tea,"
"No, I want to know why she's here."
Albus glared at Severus that was no way to talk about a child. She may only be four but children have an uncanny ability to feel people's emotions especially when it's about them. Albus smiled softly at Isabelle who was eating her peanut buttered toast happily.
"Isabelle, I'm just going to talk to your uncle in my office ok," Albus said.
Isabelle peeped around her chair, pointing at Severus, before quickly hiding herself behind her chair again.
Severus stood impatiently in the room waiting for Albus' explanation; he got the shock of his life when Isabelle pointed at him.
"Yes, that's you're Uncle Severus. I'm going to talk to him."
Albus stood out of his chair still slightly angry with Severus for his actions of pretending his niece was not there. Albus motioned Severus to follow him into his office, as Albus closed the door behind him.
"What is SHE doing here? How dare you go against my wishes, I don't want her here! I-" Severus yelled.
"SEVERUS SALAZAR SNAPE! You will not use that tone with me," Albus replied in a roar.
Severus stared at Albus in shock. He hadn't ever heard Albus yell at anybody like that, let alone state his full name in years. Severus saw the anger that now mount in his eyes. All of Severus' anger melted away he now felt quite ashamed and slumped his shoulders in defeat. Severus quickly turned away unable to stand looking into Albus' intense gaze, their pierce like hot daggers.
"Why?" Severus replied croakily.
Albus hadn't used that tone of voice in a long time, but nevertheless still had the same harsh effect, of instantly quieting people and making them have your attention. Albus watched Severus immediately calm down, and which quickly changed, as Albus read was shame. Albus quickly let his anger drop, Severus was now in reasonable mood to talk civilly with.
"Why is she here?" Severus asked again.
"Why shouldn't she be here?" Albus questioned quietly.
"Because I said so," Severus replied angrily.
If the situation weren't this serious, Albus would be laughing right now. Severus at the moment was doing a very good imitation of a spoilt child who hadn't gotten their way. Albus knew he had to tred carefully if this was going to work.
"Why Severus don't you want her here?" Albus asked quietly.
"Because I said so!"
"That is not an answer Severus... why?"
"Because I hate children," Severus stated.
"Then why do you teach children?"
"Because I have to and no one else would give me a job. I'm a coward and I seek refuge in the castle."
Albus stared at Severus' turned back; this wasn't how it was suppose to go. Albus knew Severus would be a good parent if he given himself the chance what he needed was a little self-confidence and to once again not to be afraid open his heart up. Severus was a very loving man, Albus believed, however Severus had over the years not lost but misplaced the emotion. That is what Albus needed to work on.
"You are not a coward my boy far from it, what is your real reason why you don't want Isabelle here?"
Severus didn't say anything. He was a coward he knew it, and Albus had this stupid over confidence in people. Him look after a child I don't think so; he was a deatheater.
"You know what I think Severus," Albus started.
"No," Severus replied sharply, "and I don't want to hear it."
"You're scared, scared of being a parent, looking after a child, scared of opening you're heart," Albus replied softly.
Severus slumped his shoulders in defeat; Albus' words broke his barrier, they were all true, hardly anything got passed the man. Damn him for being so perceptive.
"I'm a deatheater Albus," Severus replied.
"No, you were, but you are on the light side now."
"But she's so little,"
"Even more so for you to take her in,"
"You know what I'm like in teaching students, what makes you think, I going to be any good at being a parental figure," Severus replied now facing the man.
"Because I believe you can, just like I believed in you could return to the light side and become a spy "
"I failed then, looked what happened to Potter and Lily, all I ever do is fail people."
"Lily and James weren't your fault,"
"I-"
Albus grasped Severus by the shoulders in saying "IT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT!" in a firm voice, saying each word slowly in emphasis. "They died at Voldemort's hands and Voldemort's hands alone."
"But-" Severus started.
"But what Severus?" Albus knew Severus loved the child, he had seen it in Severus' eyes that day in his office. Just a bit more prodding and it wouldn't be long before Severus would see that he was right and give in.
"What if Voldemort finds out about her? I-I-"Severus looked down unable to go any further.
Albus looked at Severus, he had finally gotten the boy to accept the child and an added bonus forced him to admit he loved the child- not that it wasn't hard to love such an adorable child like Isabelle.
"You what Severus?"
"I-I love her too much," Severus whispered. "I'm more of a danger then I am her protector. That's why- that's why I don't want her here, Voldemort would use her against me, and he would capture her and torture her until I fulfilled my tasks and I would forever do Voldemort's every whim and that is why I am not fit to be a parental guardian. She would have a much larger survival rate without me in her life. That's why I asked her to put her in an orphanage, so she would have a better life, with people that would give her the love and attention she properly needs."
"Severus what makes you think she would have a longer life, with Voldemort running around the place. If Isabelle was to go to an orphanage, you still don't have the guarantee that she'll live. You know better then I do that Voldemort likes to attack orphanages; it was where he was brought up, also what makes you think she will be given to a well-loving family, she could be given to nice people that could turn extremely violent. I think Isabelle would have a longer life being here with you. She is in the safety of one of the safest places during this war; you cannot be with Isabelle 24/7 Severus trying to give her protection-no parent can, but will be able to prevent it, and a well-loving family? I think most of us teaching staff will find places in for hearts for her- she already has mine, and she'll have many brothers and sisters when school starts up again," Albus argued.
"But-" Severus started.
"But what Severus?" Albus asked mused, Albus knew he had won this battle. Albus was looking forward being in the grandpa role again.
"But... but... but-"Severus rummage around in his brain for another logical explanation but it was useless, he could think of one, and by the look of Albus' expression he knew it to.
"Now come along Severus, and get to know your niece."
Severus cursed under your breath silently, and to think if only he didn't see what was behind that door his whole day could have turned out so differently.
