Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, or ideas (Harry Potter nouns) belong to J.K. Rowlings. Olivia McGonagall, Ferris Longbottom, and Eudora are mine.

Chapter 7: A few gray hairs and a few discoveries.

The sky had been dark for several hours before he finally returned to the castle. Severus had been on a reconnaissance mission, spying on a couple of Deatheaters at Albus' request. Even with Voldemort gone, it was still necessary to trace the movements of his followers. Severus entered his rooms and showered, deciding to check on Minerva despite the lateness of the hour.

He whispered the password and entered her rooms, raising an eyebrow at what he saw. Minerva was pacing the room, holding the baby and attempting to quiet her. The infant would not stop crying. Minerva looked up at Severus as he entered.

"How did it go?" she asked.

He noted he exhaustion in her voice. "Fine. Now tell me, why you two are up at this undignified hour?"

She noticed his evasive answer and decided that what he did not want to tell her was his business. She rubbed the shrieking child's back. "It's normal for babies at this age to wake up in the middle of the night and eat. She is almost a month old now. I woke with her and I've fed her, changed her and I ran out of lullabies ten minutes ago. She won't stop crying and I'm too tired to devise any other plans."

"Why don't you at least sit down for a moment and hand her to me?" he offered.

"Alright." She handed the squirming baby to him and he held her close to his chest.

Minerva stared in surprise as the infant ceased crying almost immediately. "How did you do that?"

"I don't know," he replied, looking down at Livie.

Minerva thought for a moment. "I have heard that children can sense when adults are upset. She probably sensed that I was frazzled and you were not. What I need is a few hours of uninterrupted sleep," she relayed yawning.

The small bundle seemed to stare back at him inquisitively. "I still have my evening rounds to make through the castle. Would it be alright if I took her with me? It might give you the extra sleep you need."

"I don't know…" she trailed off, worrying. She blinked and her eyelids felt like sinking ships. "On second thought go ahead, and be careful."

He left her resting on the couch and took the baby with him, wrapping his arms around her securely. As he wandered through the eerily dark corridors, with his wand lit, he would occasionally look into the infant's eyes. The girl would watch him, but not cry or squirm. He smiled at the girl.

"I don't see how you can find me so comforting. I'm an ex-Deatheater and probably the worst person to befriend in this entire castle. It's almost as if you know something I don't," he told her.

When he returned to Minerva's rooms, he found her curled up at one end of the couch, much like a cat, sound asleep. Minerva had used magic to manipulate the walls, creating an extra room for her daughter, which contained her crib. He placed the baby in her crib and carried Minerva to her bed, being careful not to wake her. He covered her with the blankets and then walked back into the sitting room. He decided to spend the night on the couch in case the baby should wake again and Minerva was too tired to hear the sound.

Minerva woke to the sun filtering in through her window. She looked at her surroundings and wondered how she hand ended up in her bed. Grabbing a robe, she left her room to check on the baby. She smiled with relief, noticing that the child was still asleep. Then she slapped her forehead, feeling embarrassed for having left the infant with Severus and not having been awake when he returned. She walked out to her sitting room to prepare a small breakfast and abruptly stopped when she noticed Severus sleeping on her couch.

She walked over to him and smiled when she noticed he was snoring. She knelt down next to the couch and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Severus."

He slowly opened his eyes and grinned broadly when he spotted her. "Ah, Sleeping Beauty awakes."

Minerva laughed softly. "Yes, and I cannot thank you enough for the extra sleep," she paused and realized something. "You put me to bed, didn't you? You had to have because I don't remember going to bed."

He nodded. "Yes, I did. She gave me no trouble at all and when we returned, you looked too peaceful to disturb."

"Would you like a little breakfast?" she offered. He sat up and stretched, hearing his shoulders and neck crack.

"Actually, I believe I'd like a few new joints," he commented wryly.

She laughed. "When you spend the night on a couch, you are bound to wake up feeling stiff."

"The only thing worse than falling asleep on a couch would be falling asleep in a chair," he relayed.

"So you've dozed off in staff meetings too?" she teased.

He laughed. "I suppose we all have, though this next one should be very interesting." She nodded and looked in the direction of the bedroom as the baby began to wake.

A week later Severus and Minerva were seated in the staffroom as the rest of the faculty piled in. They could see that Minerva was holding something close to her, but they could not tell what it was. Severus had already spoken to Albus in December, only mentioning that Minerva was ill and required a substitute. Now everyone would learn why.

Albus entered with Eudora and walked to the center of the room as she took her seat. "Before I bring this meeting to order, I believe Professor McGonagall has an announcement to make. If you would proceed, Minerva."

She glanced at Severus, who nodded and then they both stood. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, attempting to draw out a little Gryffindor courage. Moving her robes aside enough, the faculty stared in curiosity at the sleepy infant she held. "I have someone I would like you all to meet. This is Olivia Alice McGonagall, my daughter."

The room was deathly quiet. Several people, including Eudora, had to make an enormous effort to close their mouths. "When did all this come about?" Albus finally asked.

Minerva was glad someone had broken the silence. "She was born on December 1st and she is also the reason I require a substitute for a while longer."

Eudora recovered her voice, but still appeared genuinely shocked. "And who is this child's father?"

All eyes gravitated to Severus as he threw up his hands in defense. Minerva sighed. "That question is a wee bit difficult to explain. It was all Ferris Longbottom's fault. The whole situation started because the boy accidentally dropped a potion on me. Apparently a fertility potion and a sleeping draught are next to each other in the potions text book. The potion was activated by touch and the evening I was covered in it, I do not recall whom I ran into."

As she grew increasingly nervous, the child began to wake and squirm in her arms. "Excuse me," she stated as she left the staffroom to quiet the baby.

Minerva had no sooner left the room when the other professors began to gossip. "What was she thinking? How does she expect to raise that child? Anyone could be the father, doesn't she realize how dangerous that is? She's out of her mind. She's in way over her head. I can't believe-"

"Would you all shut your blasted mouths and think with your heads for a moment?" Severus interrupted, tired of the gossip. "How dare you try to pass judgment on her for an accident! It was not as if she had a scandalous love affair: she had a child due to a potions accident."

Flitwick spoke up. "I agree with Professor Snape. We shouldn't shun her for an accident. I've seen this particular textbook. It could have happened to anyone because of how the potions are arranged."

"Then what is to be done about the child's education and upbringing? Do you suggest that we take turns in watching her between our class breaks and share in educating her when she is older?" Madame Hooch inquired.

"That sounds like a fine idea," he commented. He looked each staff member in the eyes. "Now when Minerva returns, you are to treat her with the respect she deserves."

The faculty collectively nodded and Minerva came back shortly. To her surprise, the female professors surrounded her and fawned over her daughter, saying how cute she was. Minerva sat down and Albus continued the meeting. "Since we are beginning a new school year, we must discuss budgets for the various departments. Does anyone have any particular requests regarding funds or resources?"

Severus cleared his throat. "The Potions department would like money for new text books."

All of the faculty members simultaneously called out, "Granted."

The first week of September arrived, and a slight autumn breeze seemed to bring the students. Severus had finished his classes and had taken four-year-old Livie for walk near the lake. He had not planned to stay long because the two had a surprise for Minerva. Livie had grown into a charming girl with shamrock-green eyes and hair as black as obsidian. The two stopped walking fifty yards from the water to sit and enjoy the day. Livie had already seated herself and seemed to disappear behind a bush when two second-year students approached Severus.

"Professor Snape," they began timidly, "we- we wanted to ask you- we wanted to ask-"

"Would you stop your stuttering and get on with it?" Severus barked at them.

While they explained their failure to find a particular herb, Livie noticed two girls floating on the water atop a raft. She scampered toward them as the raft drifted to the shore. Figuring her to be someone's niece, they thought it would be cute to bring Livie with them. The little girl squealed with excitement and left her shoes on shore when the older girls invited her to join them. It would have worked if Livie had not wanted to sit on the edge. As they used paddles to push themselves around the lake, Livie decided to dangle her shoeless feet in the water.

Still talking with the boys, Severus observed a small splash out of the corner of his eye. It took him less than a second to realize that Livie had wandered off. He brook into a dead run, heading toward the lake. Plunging in, he reached the raft and dove down to find the little girl. Almost immediately he was able to grab hold of her. Though she did not know how to swim, she had been squirming enough in the water to stay afloat. Holding her with one arm, he swam back to shore and then walked out of the lake.

He brought her over to a bench and sat her on his lap. Tearing his eyes from her momentarily, he realized they had attracted a small crowd. "Go on back to whatever you were doing. Haven't you ever seen a person go into the lake fully clothed before?" he growled.

The students left and he turned his attention back to Livie. She looked up at him with a worried look. "Are you alright, Poppet?" he asked her and she nodded in response. He wrapped his arms around her and held her. "Don't you ever go into, over to or even around that lake until you learn how to swim. Do I make myself clear?" he asked, more gruffly than he had intended to.

She sniffed. "Yes. I won't go near the lake until I can swim. And I'm sorry," she sobbed into his already soaked robes.

"Hush now. I'm not upset with you; I was just very worried. Livie, you do not know how much you mean to your mother and I. If anything happened to you, I'd never be able to forgive myself. We love you, Poppet," he told her, stroking her hair.

She smiled up at him and threw her arms around his neck. "I love you too."

He grinned broadly. "Now that we've settled that, it's time to use a drying spell. If we come back dripping wet, your mother will throw a fit." As if she's not going to throw one when she finds out about this situation, he added mentally.

After they were dry they walked back to the castle hand in hand. When they reached Minerva's rooms, she was waiting for them with her hands on her hips. Livie looked up at Severus. "You want to tell her or do you want me to?" she whispered.

Not taking his eyes from Minerva, he told Livie, "I'll speak with her. You go on to your room for a while."

Once Live had left, Minerva spoke. "I heard an interesting rumor today, about a little girl who fell into the lake, and a professor who made a fifty-yard dash to fish her out."

By Minerva's tone he knew he was in trouble. "She ended up on a raft with a couple students while my back was turned for only a few seconds. Then she slipped off and I quickly pulled her out of the lake."

Minerva's Scottish temper had flared up. "What were you thinking? She could have drowned!"

Severus placed his hands on her shoulders. "It was an accident, and she's fine. And you don't need to go lecturing her either."

She glared at him over the top of her glasses and for a moment he felt as though he was back in school. "She is my daughter and I will lecture her if I choose!"

The glare he dealt in return countered hers. "I took care of it. She knows not to return to the lake unless she knows how to swim. You and I have already discussed her upbringing. She is your daughter, but you agreed I would be her godfather and help in any way I could. She has already been through enough and I don't think having her mother upset with her would do any good at the moment," he told her rationally.

She sighed when she had calmed down and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I was just so terribly worried. I need to remember that she is only four and I should not expect the same behaviour of her that I expect of my students, nor should I expect you to have eyes in the back of your head. I'm sorry and-" she trailed off, feeling his outer robes between her fingers.

He could not read the curious expression on her face. "What is it?"

She shook her head and laughed. "Whatever drying spell you must have used was obsolete because your outer robes are still damp."

He chuckled and pulled her into a hug. "Now, so are yours."

They were both laughing as she wiggled her way out of his embrace. "Sometimes you're a blackguard."

He stopped laughing and met her eyes. "Am I forgiven though?"

"Yes. I should be thanking you for what you did instead of scolding you," she conveyed, leaning forward and brushing her lips with his.

After returning the kiss, he spoke. "Livie and I have something to show you."

She released him. "Go on then."

Severus called for Livie to come out of her room as he picked up a book from the coffee table. When she walked over to him, he handed her the book and opened it to a particular page. Minerva watched the child with interest as she began to read.

"The frog told the girl the he wasn't a prince. He was just a talking frog, but she kissed him anyway." Live continued to read the story until Minerva spoke.

"You can read? Livie, when did you learn this?" her mother asked with a broad grin.

Live smiled at Severus and he nodded. "Uncle Sevrus taught me."

Minerva stepped toward Severus. "Did he now? Livie, how do you think we ought to reward him?"

He raised an eyebrow as Minerva smirked. Livie giggled and piped up, "Mummy, let him stay for dinner."

"I'll stay on one condition," he mentioned, "that you find me a better drying spell before I become a salamander from this wet robe."

Minerva sat in her chair grading essays from the first-years. September had come and gone so quickly that she could hardly believe it was already the second weekend in October. Severus had seated himself on the couch and Livie looked for something with which to occupy her time. They had just finished breakfast and the now six-year-old girl had become bored. Walking around the room, she spotted an extra cauldron and went into the kitchen to gather a few pots.

Severus watched Livie with interest as she then brought out a few stuffed animals and set them by each pot. Then she placed a small folding tray in front of her. She stood facing Severus while her stuffed animals faced her. Dashing off to the kitchen quickly, she returned with a carrot, a celery stick, a salt shaker, an orange, and a wooden spoon.

"Livie, what are you up to?" Severus inquired.

She giggled. "I'm going to pretend to be you. Do you want to see, Uncle Sevrus?"

He smiled. "Alright, Poppet."

Minerva overheard the exchange and glanced up from her essays to watch as well. Livie lifted up the carrot and the salt. "Class, today we will be making…," she paused and thought for a moment, "Floo Powder!" She looked out at the stuffed animal class and then back at her ingredients. Then she set the salt down and hit the tray with her fist. "One of you borrowed my herbs with out asking! I'm making you all copy down page seventy-five in your notes and all of you owe me an essay on the uses of Floo Powder if someone doesn't admit to taking the herbs soon!" She looked at all of her animals and then pointed to the tan stuffed dog. "Foster! You have detention for taking herbs without asking." She reached out and tipped over two of her animals' pots and then went back to her position as the professor. "Longbottom!" she called out to the chestnut-brown bear, shaking her finger. "Stop blowing things up!" she added. Then she turned to the cream-coloured rabbit. "Moat, stop helping him blow things up! Detention for both of you!"

Severus chuckled heartily. Her actions were an exaggeration, but a good performance. Minerva laughed also, but as she watched Livie's movements and facial expressions, the laughed ceased. It was in the way she squinted her eyes when pretending to be mad, it was in her quick movements, it was in her hands. Oh bugger! Why did I not see this sooner? She is Severus' daughter. She has his expressions, his hands. I don't think he sees it, but I should tell him. Can I? What if the followers of You-Know-Who find out he has a daughter and use it against him, endangering them both? I can't risk that. I'll just have to tell him later, she thought to herself.

Livie had ended her performance and taken a bow. Severus clapped enthusiastically. "Bravo! Well-done! Someday you'll be an excellent actress."

The girl giggled and shook her head. "Actually, I'm going to teach potions when you retire."

Minerva had decided to join them so they would not think anything was wrong. She had heard the conversation and was laughing along with Severus. "And why wouldn't you want my class?"

"Teaching your class doesn't look like as much fun. Uncle Sevrus gets to yell more," Livie explained rationally, causing the adults to laugh more.

When Livie left to read in her room, Severus turned to Minerva. "I have a feeling she will thoroughly enjoy school when she starts."

She nodded. "Yes, and she's off to a head start with what you and I have given her to read, but she still has quite a while. Harry Potter will enter Hogwarts before she does."

"Potter, James Potter's son will arrive in the fall term of next year. Then it'll be a long seven years before we're rid of him," he grumbled.

(my thanks to MoroTheWolfGod, Quill of Minerva, Lizella, TartanLioness, Morgana-Alex, Clove, and Empress Andromeda for reviewing  )