Disclaimer: I do not own the greatness that is the world and characters of Harry Potter... damn
Chapter 3: Christmas with a stranger
Severus was sitting in the living room drinking a cup of tea. Aaliyah was sitting on the floor playing with scruffles. Severus had a small smile playing on his lips as he watched them. At first he was wary of letting Aaliyah have an animal at her age, but quickly found that the two were good for each other. Aaliyah was learning how to take care of her pet, which in turn was making her aware of how to take care of herself. Severus felt an odd pang in his heart. His little girl was growing up faster than he could have ever imagined. He looked back fondly on the days when he would sit and rock her in the nursery for hours, simply watching her sleep.
"Severus!" Albus Dumbledore's voice cut through his reverie. Severus jumped and nearly spilled his half full cup of tea on himself.
"Albus, is there something wrong?" Severus was immediately into his "Spy for the Order" mode. He was silently swearing. It was a few days before Christmas, and this one would be special because it would be the first one where Aaliyah would understand the concept of Christmas, and that would make the holiday all that much more enjoyable.
"Nothing really wrong Severus. I have a favor to ask of you." The odd twinkle in the old man's eyes made Severus wary. His former Headmaster was up to something, and Severus knew it wasn't something he'd like.
"And what would this favor be?" He asked cautiously. The mood was slightly broken as Aaliyah gave a great yelp. He turned so fast his body thought it was still facing the other way and he fell to his knees right next to his now crying daughter. "Aaliyah what's wrong?" His heart was racing.
" I have a splinter daddy..." She was crying hard, so he took her hand and looked at it. He swore to himself, it was a very large splinter and it was already bleeding. He picked her up and brought her to the kitchen, setting her on the counter, he got the muggle first aid kit he had. He had gotten the kit after the first time he had taken Aaliyah to the muggle playground down the road. She had fallen down and badly cut her knee. Knowing he couldn't use magic, he had freaked out. Then one of the muggle mothers came over bringing a first aid kit with her. She had fixed Aaliyah up in half a heart beat. After that Severus had picked one up in a muggle store. He had picked up some other muggle things too, and boy was it a shock to himself when he actually had allowed the muggle power company to put electricity into his house. Now Aaliyah was like most children, she watched annoying children's shows and had disney movies. While he had been remembering all the times he had had to use this kit on Aaliyah, he had automatically went to work pulling the splinter and bandaging the finger so that it wouldn't get infected.
Picking up Aaliyah, who was still crying a little, and carrying her to the living room. He sat down on the couch and kept her in his lap, rocking her slightly.
"The favor Albus?" He asked, suddenly remembering that the other man was still there.
"Well after witnessing that, I am now positive that you are the right one to do this."
"Do what Albus?" He asked getting slightly annoyed at Dumbledore for not getting to the point.
" I need you to take Harry Potter for the remander of the holiday." As soon as the words were out of his mouth Severus was on his feet, having placed Aaliyah on the couch next to a sleeping Scruffles.
"No, NO! I absolutely will not take that glory seeking, trouble making brat into my home, so that he can ruin Christmas for my daughter." Severus' pale face had flushed with anger, and the color made him look almost normal.
"Severus Gideon{1} Snape! Harry Potter is none of those things. If you would give him a chance, you would see it. You of all people should appreciate the difference between public personna and private." Albus said looking pointedly at Aaliyah who was petting her kitty.
"Albus, think about it. I'm sure Potter would rather stay at Hogwarts during the holiday." Severus sounded desperate, he had a feeling that he would end up having Potter in his house.
"I'm sure he would too... but Hogwarts is not safe Severus. There is someone who is helping Death Eaters get in, as you very well know. All students and teachers are returning to their homes for the holidays."
"Why can't Potter go to the Weasley's?, Or even his family?" Severus asked knowing the answer before Albus could answer.
"He can not go to his relatives, because they have refused to take him. It saddens me that our greatest protection for Harry is now null and void. He can't go with Molly and Arthur because that would be the first place Voldemort would look for him."
"Why can't he go with you or Minerva?"
"Because Voldemort would never think that his great enemy is with his faithful Death Eater. Please Severus, you know that Harry is our only chance." Severus sighed
"Alright, alright... he can come." He couldn't believe that every time Dumbledore always won.
"Severus... please listen to me. Harry has never been shown love or kindness from his own family. He has never known a father, or a mother. Molly and Arthur have done a good job, but they have many of their own children. What Harry needs is to be shown what it's like to have a family that cares for him. He is losing faith in himself. He doesn't think he can be loved for being anything other than the Boy-Who-Lived. He needs to have his faith restored. Severus... he's not going to make it... this feeling in him... this hopelessness is going to destroy him... Severus... I have never asked something of you that I didn't think you couldn't do... and I would never asked this of you unless I was certain that you could restore his faith in love, because it is love that will save us. If you won't do this for Harry, or for me... or even for yourself, do it for you daughter. So that she may grow up not knowing fear of Voldemort, that she may even grow up at all." At this one moment Severus looked at Albus. There were tears in his eyes. Severus looked at his daughter. She was smiling and talking to Scruffles. Severus had a flash of the future in his mind. Her first day at Hogwarts, her graduating from Hogwarts, the day she married the man she loved, the day his first grandchild was born. Tears streaked down his face. He knew that he would do everything in his power to make sure that his daughter never knew what it felt like to know that she could die at anymoment. How it felt to be marked by the Dark Lord.
"Daddy? What's wrong?" Aaliyah asked looking older than her years. Thinking quickly Severus came up with an answer.
"Daddy is just really happy honey. We're going to be having a guest for Christmas, someone really special." Albus smiled at them both then turned to go.
"Harry will be here tomorrow. Thank you Severus... I think... that this great thing you are doing... might be the thing that will redeem you for all that has been done... will be the thing to save that small part of your soul that is black and cold... the part that you never wanted your daughter to know... You are a good man." With that Albus was gone.
Late that night Severus sat thinking as he watched his daughter. She had grown up loved, knowing that she'd always have her daddy, and that she was loved. Potter had never known that, and Albus wanted him to show Harry that... Did he have it in him to love his former enemies son? Could he show Harry that? What the hell... When did I start thinking of him as Harry and not as Potter? With that thought he was asleep.
{1} I love that name
Chapter 3: Christmas with a stranger
Severus was sitting in the living room drinking a cup of tea. Aaliyah was sitting on the floor playing with scruffles. Severus had a small smile playing on his lips as he watched them. At first he was wary of letting Aaliyah have an animal at her age, but quickly found that the two were good for each other. Aaliyah was learning how to take care of her pet, which in turn was making her aware of how to take care of herself. Severus felt an odd pang in his heart. His little girl was growing up faster than he could have ever imagined. He looked back fondly on the days when he would sit and rock her in the nursery for hours, simply watching her sleep.
"Severus!" Albus Dumbledore's voice cut through his reverie. Severus jumped and nearly spilled his half full cup of tea on himself.
"Albus, is there something wrong?" Severus was immediately into his "Spy for the Order" mode. He was silently swearing. It was a few days before Christmas, and this one would be special because it would be the first one where Aaliyah would understand the concept of Christmas, and that would make the holiday all that much more enjoyable.
"Nothing really wrong Severus. I have a favor to ask of you." The odd twinkle in the old man's eyes made Severus wary. His former Headmaster was up to something, and Severus knew it wasn't something he'd like.
"And what would this favor be?" He asked cautiously. The mood was slightly broken as Aaliyah gave a great yelp. He turned so fast his body thought it was still facing the other way and he fell to his knees right next to his now crying daughter. "Aaliyah what's wrong?" His heart was racing.
" I have a splinter daddy..." She was crying hard, so he took her hand and looked at it. He swore to himself, it was a very large splinter and it was already bleeding. He picked her up and brought her to the kitchen, setting her on the counter, he got the muggle first aid kit he had. He had gotten the kit after the first time he had taken Aaliyah to the muggle playground down the road. She had fallen down and badly cut her knee. Knowing he couldn't use magic, he had freaked out. Then one of the muggle mothers came over bringing a first aid kit with her. She had fixed Aaliyah up in half a heart beat. After that Severus had picked one up in a muggle store. He had picked up some other muggle things too, and boy was it a shock to himself when he actually had allowed the muggle power company to put electricity into his house. Now Aaliyah was like most children, she watched annoying children's shows and had disney movies. While he had been remembering all the times he had had to use this kit on Aaliyah, he had automatically went to work pulling the splinter and bandaging the finger so that it wouldn't get infected.
Picking up Aaliyah, who was still crying a little, and carrying her to the living room. He sat down on the couch and kept her in his lap, rocking her slightly.
"The favor Albus?" He asked, suddenly remembering that the other man was still there.
"Well after witnessing that, I am now positive that you are the right one to do this."
"Do what Albus?" He asked getting slightly annoyed at Dumbledore for not getting to the point.
" I need you to take Harry Potter for the remander of the holiday." As soon as the words were out of his mouth Severus was on his feet, having placed Aaliyah on the couch next to a sleeping Scruffles.
"No, NO! I absolutely will not take that glory seeking, trouble making brat into my home, so that he can ruin Christmas for my daughter." Severus' pale face had flushed with anger, and the color made him look almost normal.
"Severus Gideon{1} Snape! Harry Potter is none of those things. If you would give him a chance, you would see it. You of all people should appreciate the difference between public personna and private." Albus said looking pointedly at Aaliyah who was petting her kitty.
"Albus, think about it. I'm sure Potter would rather stay at Hogwarts during the holiday." Severus sounded desperate, he had a feeling that he would end up having Potter in his house.
"I'm sure he would too... but Hogwarts is not safe Severus. There is someone who is helping Death Eaters get in, as you very well know. All students and teachers are returning to their homes for the holidays."
"Why can't Potter go to the Weasley's?, Or even his family?" Severus asked knowing the answer before Albus could answer.
"He can not go to his relatives, because they have refused to take him. It saddens me that our greatest protection for Harry is now null and void. He can't go with Molly and Arthur because that would be the first place Voldemort would look for him."
"Why can't he go with you or Minerva?"
"Because Voldemort would never think that his great enemy is with his faithful Death Eater. Please Severus, you know that Harry is our only chance." Severus sighed
"Alright, alright... he can come." He couldn't believe that every time Dumbledore always won.
"Severus... please listen to me. Harry has never been shown love or kindness from his own family. He has never known a father, or a mother. Molly and Arthur have done a good job, but they have many of their own children. What Harry needs is to be shown what it's like to have a family that cares for him. He is losing faith in himself. He doesn't think he can be loved for being anything other than the Boy-Who-Lived. He needs to have his faith restored. Severus... he's not going to make it... this feeling in him... this hopelessness is going to destroy him... Severus... I have never asked something of you that I didn't think you couldn't do... and I would never asked this of you unless I was certain that you could restore his faith in love, because it is love that will save us. If you won't do this for Harry, or for me... or even for yourself, do it for you daughter. So that she may grow up not knowing fear of Voldemort, that she may even grow up at all." At this one moment Severus looked at Albus. There were tears in his eyes. Severus looked at his daughter. She was smiling and talking to Scruffles. Severus had a flash of the future in his mind. Her first day at Hogwarts, her graduating from Hogwarts, the day she married the man she loved, the day his first grandchild was born. Tears streaked down his face. He knew that he would do everything in his power to make sure that his daughter never knew what it felt like to know that she could die at anymoment. How it felt to be marked by the Dark Lord.
"Daddy? What's wrong?" Aaliyah asked looking older than her years. Thinking quickly Severus came up with an answer.
"Daddy is just really happy honey. We're going to be having a guest for Christmas, someone really special." Albus smiled at them both then turned to go.
"Harry will be here tomorrow. Thank you Severus... I think... that this great thing you are doing... might be the thing that will redeem you for all that has been done... will be the thing to save that small part of your soul that is black and cold... the part that you never wanted your daughter to know... You are a good man." With that Albus was gone.
Late that night Severus sat thinking as he watched his daughter. She had grown up loved, knowing that she'd always have her daddy, and that she was loved. Potter had never known that, and Albus wanted him to show Harry that... Did he have it in him to love his former enemies son? Could he show Harry that? What the hell... When did I start thinking of him as Harry and not as Potter? With that thought he was asleep.
{1} I love that name