Author's Note: My sincerest thanks to those who are still with me. Please see the Yahoo group for details about the delay.
Another chapter of Snape family fluff, and setting up for possible future relationships, before we move on with the plot. Please bear with me, and hopefully soon we'll see more of the snarky, sexy Severus that we all know and love in the chapters to follow. But for now, I should warn you... he's complete and utter mush.
All questions and comments are welcome if you would like to leave a review!
Thank you to all of my readers and reviewers, without whom I may have given up on my story during the past few hectic months of my life. Hugs and love to each and every one of you!
Disclaimer: Borrowed most of the characters and places from JK Rowling. Not using them for profit, only for personal enjoyment.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts, who was always the one who seemed to know exactly what to do or say in any situation, found himself speechless as he looked upon the child in his arms. It was not the first child to carry his name, but quite possibly the first that had touched him so deeply.
Nearly two decades earlier, he had taken a repentant Severus under his wing, acting as a mentor to the misguided young man. But over the years, Albus had come to regard Severus as a son, and he felt as though the younger man's children were the grandchildren that he never had.
The silence in the room was broken a few moments later as the infant began to squirm in his arms, and let loose with a hungry squall.
Albus smiled as he leaned in to place a kiss on Nathaniel's forehead before stepping forward to place the hungry child in Hermione's arms. Turning to Severus, he pulled him into a fatherly embrace and whispered, "I am honored, son."
It was Severus' turn to find himself at a loss for words as Albus uttered those four words. Albus had used the word 'son' when speaking with Severus many times over the years, but only now did it finally sink in what the wizened wizard was inferring when he used that endearment. Severus had realized many years earlier that he felt a similar affection for the older wizard... Albus had become the father figure that Severus had yearned for, but never had, in his youth. And though Severus had never said it in so many words, Albus was the first and, until Hermione, the only person that Severus had ever considered to be not only a true friend, but his own family.
Severus was not often openly demonstrative in showing his affections, but this time he made no attempt to hide the emotion that he felt as he responded by returning the Headmaster's embrace with a ferocity that he usually reserved for private moments with his wife and children.
"I believe it is time for me to take my leave," Albus spoke quietly, smiling as he let go of Severus and stepped away a moment later. "There will be plenty of time later for me to become acquainted with the newest member of the Snape family. For now, I shall leave you to spend time bonding with your son and his beautiful mother."
Remus excused himself as well, taking a moment to hug and kiss both Hermione and Nathaniel before grasping Severus' hand in a firm handshake, "Congratulations again, Severus."
Elizabeth reached out to touch Remus' arm affectionately as he approached her. He paused for a moment, placing a gentle kiss on her temple, as she asked him to wait for her while she bid her daughter and newest grandson goodnight. After assuring Hermione that she would be right next door to care for Samuel, she and Remus took their leave.
Poppy, who had faded into the background while everyone became acquainted with the new arrival, bustled over to the bed to check on Hermione and Nathaniel one last time. "I am rather glad to see that he is nursing quite well, already," she smiled as she peered at the infant, who was suckling contently at his mother's breast. "I suppose you are both faring well enough for me to leave you for the night."
Noticing that Severus looked quite fatigued, she gazed intently at him as she continued, "I'll return to check up on all of you in the morning."
"Thank you, Poppy," Severus said as he made to walk her to the door.
Poppy paused for a moment in the doorway, "I do mean all of you, Severus. You aren't looking well. Have you taken your potion?" she asked curtly.
"Yes," Severus sighed impatiently, "though it does little," he admitted as he saw her narrow her eyes suspiciously.
"Hmph," Poppy tutted, thinking for a moment before she continued, "I will have to pay a visit to young Mr. Malfoy and see what is keeping him. He should have had time enough to brew the stronger potion that I requested by now."
"Draco, I'm sure, has had a full day teaching my classes," Severus reminded her, smiling proudly. "Not to mention, trying to keep my Slytherins in line," he added with a smirk. "No need to bother him. I assure you, I will be fine after a good night's sleep."
"It has been rather a full day for you, hasn't it?" Poppy asked with an indulgent smile, before adding sternly, "I will see Draco about that potion, and you see that you do get some rest, and Hermione as well. There is plenty of help available for both of you, if you need it. And for once, don't be stubborn about it, Severus. Your family needs you to get well."
With a curt nod, Severus acknowledged her orders, sighing with relief as he closed the door behind her. He paused for a moment, leaning against the door and rubbing his hands wearily across his eyes, willing his headache to go away. Opening his eyes again, he smiled as he caught sight of Hermione nourishing their newborn son, and tried to push the pain aside before making his way back over to them.
Kneeling beside her, he caught her lips in a tender kiss. As he pulled away, his eyes narrowed in concern, "Can I get you anything, love?"
"Come to think about it, I'm rather famished!" Hermione replied with an impish smile.
Severus returned her smile, placing a kiss on her forehead before replying, "Let me see what I can do." Not wanting to disturb the nursing child, he crossed to the other side of the room before summoning a house elf and placing an order for a light meal for Hermione and himself. He waited for dinner to arrive before returning to Hermione's side, carrying a tray of food, only to find his wife and son curled up on the bed, asleep.
After gently placing the tray on the bedside table, Severus gently padded across the room to the nursery to peek in on his other son, who was sleeping soundly. He peered into the crib and reached to gently brush a lock of hair off of Samuel's brow as he whispered, "You have a new brother, Samuel." Smiling wistfully, he added, "Nathaniel is very lucky to have you." He bent over to place a soft kiss to the Samuel's forehead, before tucking him in.
"Goodnight, son," he whispered as he left the room.
Returning to Hermione's bedside, he gently removed the sleeping infant from her arms. Nathaniel stirred as Severus held him in his arms, his eyes shining with the love that he felt for his family as he gazed at the child.
"Let's get you dressed, shall we?" He asked quietly, reaching for the baby clothing that Hermione had laid out earlier in the day, as he began to untuck the corners of the warm blanket that his son had been swaddled in. Laying Nathaniel gently on the other side of the bed, Severus smirked to himself as he gently tried to ease a baby gown over the infant's head, "It doesn't seem so long ago that your brother was small like you. I rather think I should remember how to do this."
After only a bit of fumbling (due to fatigue more than lack of recent experience), Severus finished dressing Nathaniel and eased a pair of booties onto the feet of the squirming infant, smiling proudly as he completed his task. After once again swaddling him in the soft blanket, he eased himself into the rocking chair near the bed and began talking to his son.
"You truly are a gift, Nathaniel," he smiled as he kissed his son's forehead.
"In the morning, you will meet your brother Samuel," he continued quietly. "You are lucky to have a big brother, you know? Having a brother means that you will always have a friend. Having an older brother means that he will always be there to protect you, in case..."
He sighed, his brow furrowing with pain as he continued in a hoarse whisper, "In case I can't be."
"But I promise that as long as I am here, I will always protect you," he vowed, "I will not rest until I am sure that our world will be safe place... for all of you."
He held his son protectively to his chest as he continued to rock him, not wanting to let go even as the child drifted off to sleep.
Severus was beginning to drift off, as well. His eyes grew increasingly heavy, his rocking motions slowing, nearly coming to a halt before he was jolted awake by a knock on the door. His brow furrowed in frustration as he wondered who would be calling on them at such a late hour.
After easing himself to his feet and attempting to lay the child in the cradle, Severus heard the visitor rapping on the door again. Severus swore silently as Nathaniel began to stir. He gently plucked the child back out of the cradle and carried him with him across the room, finally opening the door with an irritated scowl on his face. "What do you wa..." he began to snarl, only to find that nobody was there. Poking his head through the door, he glanced down the corridor and saw the retreating form of Draco Malfoy.
"Draco," he called quietly.
When nobody had answered to Draco's knocking, he assumed that they must have been sleeping, and felt guilty as he turned to face a disheveled Severus in the corridor. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he saw the child in Severus' arms and realized the reason for the delay.
His smile was apologetic as he approached Severus outside of his quarters, "Sorry to disturb you, Severus."
Severus quickly waved off the young man's apology, as he ushered him into the room. "You are welcome here any time, Draco," he said, before raising his eyebrow inquisitively, "though, one must wonder what brings you by at such a late hour."
Grinning sheepishly, Draco reached out his hands, holding a goblet of potion, "I wanted to get it to you earlier, but it has been quite an... eventful day."
"For me as well," Severus smirked as he motioned for Draco to set the goblet on the table.
"So I see," Draco smiled, "Congratulations, Severus."
"Thank you, Draco," Severus nodded with a small grin, "And thank you for the potion, as well. I do hope that it wasn't too much of an imposition. I know that you have had a busy day."
"Not at all," Draco smiled. "And I am sorry that I could not get it to you sooner, but I needed a few fresh ingredients that you didn't have in store. I couldn't get out until after dinner, and didn't even have a chance to begin brewing it until I did the Slytherin's bed check. I've brewed a cauldronfull, and will bottle the rest and bring it to you in the morning."
Taking a hesitant step closer, Draco peered at the child in Severus' arms, "He's quite... er... small. And... er... cute," he added with a grin.
Severus smirked and nodded, raising an eyebrow as he offered the child to Draco. The young man took a step back, stuttering, "I... I... don't know..." his face flushed crimson, "it's just... I've never... and... he's so small!"
Severus chuckled as he motioned for Draco to sit on the sofa, "Only for a moment, Draco. I really do need to take that potion."
"Er... well..." Draco looked at the sleeping child again, sighing as he sat on the edge of the sofa and stiffly held out his arms.
"Relax, Draco," Severus urged him, "sit back. Bend your arm, put it up there," he directed as Draco shifted into the corner of his seat, propping his elbow on the arm of the sofa as Severus placed Nathaniel in his arms, "be sure to keep his head supported."
"Er..." Draco flushed again as he asked, "What do I do?"
"Don't drop him," Severus replied dryly, smirking as he saw the look of panic that briefly flashed across Draco's face.
Draco chuckled, and as he began to relax he shifted the child into a more comfortable position. He only held Nathaniel for a minute or two while Severus took his potion, and his face showed a mixture of relief and reluctance as Severus reached down to take the child from his arms.
Raising to his feet, Draco excused himself, "I had better get back to bottling the rest of that potion." He tentatively reached out his hand, and sighed wistfully as he caressed Nathaniel's cheek with his forefinger. If he could have found the words to speak, he would have told Severus that seeing the man find happiness gave him hope for his own future.
Taking a moment to mask his emotions, he finally looked up at Severus, smiling as he bid him good night.
After the young man had left the room, Severus sighed. It didn't take a Legilimens to know what Draco was thinking. Severus could see so much of himself in the young man, which was one of the reasons he had taken him under his wing. He wanted to do for Draco what Albus had done for Severus over the years. He only hoped that Draco would not turn into the embittered man that Severus had been before he found his love.
But Severus knew that if he could find happiness after so long, that it was not too late for Draco.
"One day, you'll have it too, Draco," he whispered as the door closed behind the younger man.
End note: For those of you who do not visit my Yahoo group, I just wanted to add a final note here. Again, to apologize for the delay. But also, to let you know that my updates may continue to be erratic, possibly few and far between as I am going to be working two jobs as of this week. I WILL be finishing all of my stories... so don't worry if you don't see an update for a while.