The love of a child
I would like to say thank you to my beta Founders Child because she is the best in the entire world, I bow down to her greatness :)
Chapter seven – Unwelcome Christmas gifts
Harry awoke early on Christmas morning, aware that Bonnie was crying for him. Rubbing sleep from his eyes as he went, he wandered through to her room without noticing that the presents under the tree had more than doubled since the previous evening. Harry fed her and changed her before going to change himself as he realised that he must smell a little as well after having slept in his clothes.
When the two of them finally made it back to the living room Harry had to do a double take, their were so many presents he could hardly believe his eyes. Upon going closer he recognised Severus' italic scrawl upon most of the extra packages. Others were from Ron, Hermione and the kids, another was from Dumbledore and there was even one from Remus.
It took two entire hours to open all of the presents, Bonnie was surrounded in wrapping paper and was enjoying the mass of bright colours around her, giggling (or making a baby sound similar) every so soften. Harry left his gift from Severus until last. He picked it up and examined it. The parcel was wrapped in red wrapping with a golden ribbon wrapped around it.
Harry was reluctant to open it as he himself had not been so thoughtful and got Severus a present, but at least this made it seem to Harry at least that Snape didn't want to be cut off completely, that was definitely a good sign. He opened the present with care, upon seeing the green velvet jewellery box he thought he knew what was coming.
He was proved correct upon opening the box and saw that it contained a bonding ring and a hand-written letter that Harry read over trying to take in everything that it contained.
My dearest Harry
I have been a complete and utter fool, I can admit that now and I will continue believing it until you tell me otherwise. As you read this you know what I have decided to give you this Christmas, I know it is sudden but it is what I want most of all in this world and I am sure you feel the same. Give my love to Bonnie; I shall be down to see the both of you with some breakfast.
Severus
Harry felt like screwing the letter up and throwing it at the potions professor. Harry couldn't stand it any longer, first he wanted nothing more to do with them and then he was proposing so that they could be together for eternity, Harry was at a lose of what to think, He hated the fact that Severus was still controlling everything in his life. He was the one making the decisions not Harry.
Harry had put Bonnie in her play pen with a few of her new toys and had begun tidying the place up, he did not want to seem like a complete slob when Snape came down, their were baby clothes everywhere already, both dirty and clean, toys and baby books littered every surface, he had just about managed to bin all of the wrapping paper when there was a loud knocking on the portrait that concealed his rooms.
Harry went and opened it to allow Severus access, he made sure not to smile at him, his aim of course was to make Snape as anxious as possible before he cut to the chase and degraded him for putting him in such a position that he had.
"Sorry it's such a mess but I haven't really had time to do much cleaning and I hate it when the house elves make it too tidy so I like to do it myself." Harry said as he started picking up and separating clean and dirty clothes.
"Harry stop, everything is perfectly alright." Severus said taking the pile of clothes, holding them at arm's length away from his clean robes and put them down. "I see you have opened all your gifts."
"Yes, and now that you mention it, no everything is not alright."
"What appears to be the problem?" Snape asked confusion clear in both his voice and facial expression. "I thought…"
"I know what you thought Sev, that's the problem, I'm so confused, firstly you want nothing to do with us and you act if your assumed for god sake and next you want to bond for eternity, what happens if another cute guy crosses your path within the following month or even at the wedding reception, will you dump us again?"
"No, of course not, how could you think so low of me?"
"Because that is how you have been treating me, you have been moulding us to your liking, making all the decisions, did you ever consider the fact that maybe I just wanted you around, that I'm too young for such a big commitment."
Severus shook his head in silence trying to process everything. Harry had turned him down and for a good reason, he wasn't going to storm out he decided he was going to take this in his stride and ask Harry what he wanted. "So, what do you want?" His tone was soft and straining to stay calm.
"What I want is for us to be together, not because you feel you have to stand by us but because you love us both, I want to when we are both ready to bond but not before and I want for you to understand that twenty three years your junior and have a child, please don't rush me into things ok."
Everything was silent apart from Bonnie who was kicking a musical device secured to the bars of her play pen and it was making an off sort of melody. Snape tried desperately not to get irritated by it. "Alright, I accept that. How about instead of bonding you move down to the dungeons with me?"
"No offence honey but I can tell your getting irritated by Bonnie already and secondly I think you should get to know her first, plus I would rather have windows."
Severus could only just contain a half smile that had wanted to escape, he watched as Harry moved over to the playpen and picked up his daughter while making funny faces at her causing her to make her happy noise. Snape looked mildly impressed at this. Harry sat them both down on the sofa and motioned for the potions master to join them, he did so.
"Would you like to hold her?" Harry offered as he stroked what was showing of Bonnie's raven black hair. Her startling green eyes watching those that surrounded her.
"I would love to but what about that shield thing?" Of course Severus was worried, his daughter was already a powerful witch and she was only a week and a few days old.
"She'll only put it up if she feels threatened, she won't hurt you Sev."
"Tell that to Bellatrix." Snape said in a low tone of voice as Harry passed Bonnie to him. Just as he had feared as soon as he saw her he fell in love with the tiny girl. She was the most adorably cute thing in the entire world. Bonnie for a moment looked as if she were considering him but then smiled a toothless gummy smile and clapped her little hands together. "She is gorgeous; I can't believe that we actually created her."
Harry sat cross legged on the sofa watching a smiling; it seemed that Severus Snape had fallen in love. "Can you watch her while I shower and get ready for lunch?" Harry asked hopefully, as much as he loved his baby girl he would appreciate a few minutes alone that were worry free. "If anything happens just give me a shout and I'll be right there." He reassured at Snape's nervous glance his way. "Just give her the bottle on the counter over there then burp her, after that you can either put her in her playpen or hold her, ok."
Snape nodded dumbly as Harry went off to shower. He followed all of Harry's instructions very carefully as if he were brewing a very delicate potion that would blow up in his face if anything went wrong. Harry certainly would blow up if anything happened to Bonnie.
When the younger wizard came back he smiled at the sight that met his eyes, Bonnie had dozed off in Severus' arms and as a consequence Snape had stopped moving completely in fear of waking her. Harry took her and placed her in a carry chair so they could both go to lunch without leaving her in the company of a house elf for two hours. "Are you ready?"
"No, not quite, I should really change first, you go and I will see you there."
Harry nodded and they both departed to go their separate ways. Harry couldn't help but smile upon entering the great hall, things had most certainly progressed for the better where Severus was concerned. Dumbledore noticed the ecstatic smile and a twinkle returned to his blue eyes.
Wow and again another chapter, I just keep them coming don't I. I do hope you enjoyed this please review, it does mean a lot to me. xxx