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
Love and Trust of the Heart
Chapter 9- Talks with no words
Severus and Albus entered back into the room to see Isabelle licking her fingers, as she just finished her breakfast, yet her mouth told a different story with peanut butter spread all around her face.
Severus heard Albus chuckle before summoning a cloth, beckoning Isabelle to come to him. Severus watched the up most gentleness Albus used with Isabelle. Severus knew he'd never be able to give that much gentleness to Isabelle. He had gotten so caught up in his facade with being the cold, vindictive, biased potion master it had now become instinct. It was going to take a miracle for Severus to learn to open his heart again- to trust.
Severus took some toast from the plate that had appeared from the kitchens.
Isabelle was now looking at Severus cautiously, before she quickly took her teddy bear from the table clutching it to her chest as if to say 'Mine!'
Severus just raised an eyebrow. At this he received a facial expression of fear, he expected a little yelp yet not a sound came. Instead Isabelle buried her face in her over large teddy bear. Severus couldn't help but let a little twinge of his mouth break through his usual cold demeanor. Severus bit into his toast as he watched Isabelle whose eyes captured on Albus' phoenix Fawkes.
Isabelle threw her arms up towards the bird, clutching her hands open and closed. Whichever direction the bird flew Isabelle would chase after Fawkes with a smile and without a sound of irritation or a childish joyous squeal of happiness. He watched with interest, at the child until the bird landed before Severus' plate. Fawkes extended his head down expecting a pet.
Severus stroked the bird's neck before handing Fawkes the remaining bites of his toast, before stroking him again. Severus was distracted by something trying to climb up into his lap. He looked down to be faced with a boisterous little child, whose cautiousness and shyness was now long forgotten. Severus could feel Albus' eyes on him, watching him interact with the child. Severus was unnerved he felt like he was being tested with Albus watching him... what if he did something wrong?
Severus was pulled out of his thoughts of the boisterous child still trying to climb into his lap; Severus gently placed his hands around the child's tiny frame before picking her up off the ground, placing her onto his lap. But the child did not want to sit she struggled out of his holds as she pushed herself up to standing. Isabelle was ambitious to get hold of the bird. Severus put his hands around the child frantically. He could just see Isabelle was going to fall. Isabelle was now leaning forward, her hands just above Fawkes head, when Fawkes attempted to nip at the girl's hands in a playful gesture. Isabelle instantly pulled her fingers back, frightened, falling back into Severus' lap. Severus saw the fear that was evident in her eyes. Fawkes moved closer towards Isabelle, his head outstretched, but Isabelle had other ideas, as she backed away further into Severus chest, whimpering in fear. Fawkes let out a note wanting to be acknowledged by Isabelle, but Isabelle just turned frightened burying herself into Severus' robes, softly crying. Severus looked up at Albus who was smiling happily, his eyes twinkling undauntedly. Severus hesitantly placed an arm around her tiny frame. Before he lightly rubbed her back in small circles trying to comfort her. Now came his attempt of being caring. It felt so foreign to show emotion, he usually had the iron mask intact. He only showed one emotion and that was anger, but let his other emotions out when other people weren't around. He could still feel Albus' eyes on him, but he didn't look up. "Hey," Severus started. His voice was rough and snarly and not at all very comforting- even to him. Severus tried again this time his soft silky voice ringing out from his vocal chords. "Hey, it's ok." Severus hesitantly looked up at Albus who smiled brightly, nodded his head with encouragement. Severus took a deep breath; this was going to take some time getting use to. "Fawkes was only playing," he murmured softly, as Isabelle looked at Fawkes who was now tilting his head from side to side before he sang a note. Isabelle whimpered; Severus gently took Isabelle's hand in his before he guided it towards Fawkes. Isabelle whimpered trying to pull back her hand from Severus' firm clasp. Fawkes extended his neck out to Severus' hand. Severus watched Isabelle close her eyes tightly as he placed a hand on Fawkes crown, before making her hand gently stroke Fawkes. Severus let out a chuckle when he saw Isabelle open her eyes, now wide open, before she let out a winning smile before she continued patting Fawkes. Severus couldn't hide his grin of happiness.
"See you're a natural Severus," Albus smiled, knowingly. Severus just looked down at Isabelle unable to say anything; she was exactly like her mother. The only person able to bring him from nasty cold and vindictive person to a big soft cuddly teddy bear.
Severus felt Albus staring at him and looked at him, his twinkle sparkling more bright then they usually did and smiling like a Cheshire cat.
"What?" he asked softly.
"Is that a smile I see on my Sev's face?" Albus asked amused. Severus felt a slight heat rise to his cheeks. "And what's this, a blush, well, well so it is," he teased. "You've shown more emotions in two minutes then you have all year. Now if you showed the real you and acted like this toward your students, you'd have fewer students in tears."
"I do not coddle!"
Albus let out a chuckle, "Not yet anyway."
Severus just glared at him, but got distracted by Isabelle who was trying to stand up on his lap again. Severus found his hands gently at Isabelle's side as she stood on his lap directly matching his eye height. Severus was unsure of what to do at this moment as the child just profusely stared at him. He wandered his eyes over to Albus hoping for some guidance but was useless as the man was busying himself with unwrapping a sherbet lemon. He stared back at the child who was still mystified within his pupils; Severus found this quite eerie. Feeling a bit stupid at all this staring Severus forced his voice box to work, in a poor attempt and starting a conversation with the child whom probably didn't understand him anyway.
"Hello Isabelle," he said softly.
The child stared at him a little longer before cocking her head to the side as if he was speaking something muggle.
Before Severus could say anything Albus cleared his throat.
"Severus child, there are a few things you need to know about your niece."
"I am not a child!" Severus growled, before Severus felt something painful on his nose that stopped oxygen to his head and began spluttering. Severus caught eyes of Isabelle who was smiling brightly still pinching tightly upon his nostrils. Severus automatically tried breathing through his mouth his arms clasping the child's arms. This earned gentle laughter from Albus before Isabelle let go snuggling right within Severus' shoulder with a mischievious smile however laughter danced around in her eyes.
"WHY YOU," Severus thundered glaring down at the child bringing a hand to his nose, before he was confronted by the innocence and purity that radiated from Isabelle and her perfect smile- Sabrina's smile. His heart leapt ferociously unlike it had in many years at the touch at the smile that greeted him now. Her smile formed the face of an angel, and Severus found himself unable to be mad at her. "Little Brat!" he muttered softly, gently rubbing his nose.
This earned Severus more laughter from Albus. "If I knew a child would change your attitude so dramatically I would have given you one years ago."
"You were saying?"
Albus' demeanor changed immediately, "The Auror John informed that our little angel hasn't spoken a word since the day Sabrina and her were attacked. Although throughout the five-year period the aurors stationed had not heard Isabelle voice one word, yet the aurors assured by Sabrina she can speak. Perhaps our first priority is to coax that delicate voice from her."
Severus stared down at the child softly, allowing the anger to boil at Hunter who now was responsible for Isabelle's emotional scars.
Severus allowed the child to slip from his lap as she ran out the room as fast as her little legs could carry her. Severus just raised an eyebrow while Albus murmured about getting something. Severus turned to his tea drinking as he agonized over his thoughts. Severus could feel a headache coming on. Him look after a child? All this was going way to fast and Albus' consistent meddling. He was just about to take another sip of his tea when he was hit in the side of the head by an airborne teddy bear. He turned to see Isabelle smiling mischievously at him. Great! The child had a devil/ Gryffindor streak too. He was about to take another sip of his tea when he was hit with bear yet again. "Stop that?" he scolded more scathingly then he intended. Severus watched Isabelle's smile falter and her eyes began to go glassy. Severus breathed in deeply, waiting for the inevitable to come while he smacked himself mentally. 'She's only four years old Good one Severus!' He heard little sniffles come from the child and only made Severus want the world to suck him up whole. It was at this precise moment did Albus decide to return with a stack of papers and ink. No, this couldn't and would never work; he couldn't raise a child, not this child. Severus watched guiltily as Isabelle ran to Albus tear cascading freshly down her pure innocent skin.
Albus looked alarmed by the child burying herself within his robes, as he gently placed the paper and ink on the table, before picking up the child. Before Severus allowed the guilt to swell up anymore hr voiced, "I can't do this Albus!"
"Nonsense."
"No nonsense, you may think I can, but you're wrong. I know my capabilities and caring for her is beyond them."
Albus cradled the now silent Isabelle that refused to resurface from his robes. "How can you say that Severus? You haven't even given yourself a chance to prove what your capabilities are."
"I can't Albus, I can't- not even a few minutes and she's in tears. I only create misery not prevent it."
"No one Severus, no one no matter how hard they try can be an expert at parenting in a mere couple of hours. It takes time and persistence. There is always rough patches for every parent, but I can guarantee there will be a lot more happy and enjoyable times as time goes on. All you need is some trust and love in that heart of yours Severus."
"Albus I can't, I just can't," Severus replied picking up the now forgotten teddy bear.
"Yes you can Severus, you can, all you need is confidence."
"I'm sorry, but I can not." Severus heaved himself out of the chair before gently throwing the teddy bear towards Albus hitting him and Isabelle in the chest. He turned towards the door before saying a demure "Goodbye Isabelle," and exited the room.
"Severus," Albus called rushing after him, "I beg you! Reconsider!"
Unbeknownst to Albus or Severus did they notice a wide spread grin across Isabelle's angelic face.
Severus was halfway down the flight of the staircase, "I'm sorry Albus I can not." Suddenly something hit him in the back of the head making his lose his footing, as he fell the remainder of the stairs.
"Severus child," Albus cried anxiously running down the remainder of the staircase towards him.
Severus groaned in pain as he rolled over to be faced with his attacker the god flaming teddy bear. He was pulled out of his reverie by a soft childish laughter; so carefree and innocent he looked to see a giggling toddler clapping her hands in, as Severus would describe as vile delight. Albus stared astounded before the wriggling child slipped from his grasp. Then Albus realised, 'the child thought Severus was playing a game' as he watched her grab the bear before hitting Severus again laughing.
Severus tried sitting up as the flying bear attacked him again and again, followed by a continuous music of laughter. As he sat up it dawned, Isabelle had been playing a game all along. She wanted him, HIM to play a silly little game. After having enough of attacks by the bear he grabbed the bear arm. This made Isabelle shriek in delight, its pitch making him wince. He smirked amused as he watched the child fighting him for the bear as she collapsed laughing in his lap.
"A voice my child, a voice. See, give yourself a chance and look what you can accomplish, you have coaxed the starting point in only a day, a voice in which many could not accomplish in years," Albus replied extending his hand, to help him up. "Imagine what you can accomplish in a week, a month, a year to years."
Severus allowed himself to be guided to Albus' desk in which lay the adoption papers, the ink and a feather quill. "Trust in your heart Severus and let it guide you. It will never lead you astray in matters of love, but sometimes child, to start, you need to take a leap of faith," he replied as he pushed forward the inkwell and quill. Severus breathed deeply looking down at the smiling Isabelle to Albus before looking at the papers. He closed his eyes before picking up the quill and in a neat scrawl he signed, Severus Salazar Snape.
THE END
