Disclaimer: I changed the first disclaimer of this fic to read 'If I was Jo, the HBP would be a very different story'. That's putting it nicely. I got the book at midnight and read it in 7 ½ agonizing hours. For emails that uplifted, I have to give special, wish I had a life-sized poster of Snape to send thanks to Severusgirl for keeping me away from the vanilla extract (I'd no Nyquil or cooking sherry in the house, lol). The quotes from the film Truly, Madly, Deeply, were used especially for you! (the fact that they worked great is fab too, heh) FNP, as well, cheered and put up with my conspiracy theories about the HBP text being like Tom Riddle's diary and affecting the story in more ways than one, and I appreciate the support. A pal who wishes to remain anonymous deserves muchas gracias for sending me 8 reasons why Snape will be vindicated in book 7. Not that I thought he wouldn't be, but like worry beads, they're a tangible comfort when it comes to keeping the faith. : )
Embellished, in her last review, said she'd be interested to see what Snape story I'd come up with taking the events of the last book into account. It just so happens that I've written the first chapter of a Marauder era Snape romance that will do just that (not Snape/Lily) and will start posting More than a Feeling in September, since you all know how I like to have a story follow the school year. ; )
I feel like this should be Thanksgiving, since I'm so grateful for all my blessings, like readers who don't abandon stories just because the new book makes them alternate instead of canon. Thanks again for reading. Eres muy amable.
Don't Call Me Daddy
Severus' Valentines
"mama"
Hearing the baby's call through the Morpheus Monitor, the child's father opened his eyes. Lorelei lifted her head from his chest and looked at him entreatingly.
"Healer Brazelton said that Septimus is going through a bit of separation anxiety. He misses us when he wakes at night. It'll pass in a few weeks, but tonight, can't we let him come to us until he falls back to sleep?"
"Mama"
Severus' gaze, heavy lidded as a result of recent, pleasurable exertion, was sympathetic even while he replied firmly,
"We mustn't reinforce such behaviour. Septimus has to learn to soothe himself or he'll never learn to sleep through the night."
Through the monitor, the room was filled with the sound of a baby fretting. Lorelei bit her lip and then pleaded,
"He's almost nine months old, not nine years. Surely we can make an exception?"
Snape frowned. He was about to reluctantly deny his wife's request when a plaintive little voice quavered,
"Dada?"
The wizard's brows drew together. The lips that had parted to say 'no' instead formed the words,
"Very well"
Lorelei kissed him joyfully and then bounded off the bed. Stygian eyes traveled over her appreciatively before reminding,
"Although Septimus does not view you in the same way I do, seeing his preferred form of sustenance will undo the effort it took to eliminate midnight feedings."
Looking down, his wife laughed ruefully,
"You're right." Her gaze flickered up to catch his smirk. She stuck out her tongue. "Like always, hmmm?" Opening a dresser drawer, she threw him a pair of black briefs. "Why don't you go get Septimus while I put these out of sight, out of mind?"
He nodded agreeably, rising to slip on the briefs. Passing her, he reached out and caressed.
"Out of our child's mind, perhaps…"
How gratifying it was to have such an effect on his wife. He gave her a promising look and headed toward the nursery. Inside, his son was standing, holding onto the cot rail. When he saw his father enter, Septimus grinned, chubby knees bending and straightening as he bounced in glee.
"Dada! Dada! Dada!"
The baby let go of the rail to stretch out plump arms. He promptly lost his balance and plopped down on his padded backside. Severus said, amused, while lifting the boy,
"Happy to get your way, are you, my little Slytherin?"
Changing a nappy with efficient speed, the father hefted his son and brought him back to his bedchamber. Lorelei was lying in bed, propped with pillows. Snape took one look at her short lace nightie and considered taking Septimus back to his cot directly.
"Mama!"
Once on the bed, the child launched himself into his mother's arms. She hugged the babe and kissed his face. Septimus sat on her stomach and babbled contentedly while she stroked his straight black hair and crooned,
"Really? Dada came to get you and called you a Slytherin? Yes, darling, that's a compliment."
Placing an extra pillow behind his head, Severus lay close to his small family and said dryly,
"I don't hand them out right and left like your mother does, so value it accordingly, son."
Now playing pat-a-cake with the infant, Lorelei demurred,
"Dada exaggerates"
Septimus smiled angelically, exposing his tiny white bottom teeth. Leaning forward, his fingers grabbed a raven spiral and brought it to his mouth.
"No, no, Ari, don't eat mama's hair."
After watching his wife's unsuccessful attempt to pry her hair from a strong grip, Severus took charge, deftly releasing the wet strands from a dimpled hand. Yawning, the baby's eyes began to grow heavy. Lorelei shifted him to lie on her chest. After a few minutes, her eyes widened. Septimus' lips began to smack.
"Severus, let Ari sleep on your chest for awhile, please."
A smile curved the man's thin, clever lips. When he took the baby and laid him on his chest, he huffed in amusement. Lorelei was sitting up, her bodice sticking wetly to her chest. The baby's soft weight had caused her milk to let down. She sighed,
"I'll go take a quick shower. Behave you two, no playing darts whilst I'm gone."
The baby had already fallen asleep. His father replied,
"I told you last week, I was merely explaining the rules, not playing."
Pulling off the soiled nightie, his wife said, "Uh huh. And Ari was holding a dart because…"
"Because Malfoy charmed it for safety and I was merely allowing Septimus to become accustomed to its weight."
Her matching lace panties fell to the floor.
"I've heard the expression 'train up a child', but I don't think that's what they meant, love."
He chuckled silently.
"No? Well, when he beats all comers in darts one day, you will say otherwise."
Repressed laughter made Lorelei's torso shake enticingly as she shook her head and went into the bathroom. Hearing the water charm engage, Severus closed his eyes and savoured the warmth of his son's body, the unconditional trust and affection given by a child who would never be treated harshly or made to feel unloved. After a few minutes, he gingerly rose and transported Septimus back to his cot. Brushing a kiss across the top of a small head, he returned to his bedchamber. Lorelei was still in the shower. Lips quirking in satisfaction, Snape strolled into the bathroom after removing his briefs. Beneath the fine spray, his wife greeted him with a loving smile and opened arms.
The first weekend of February was unusually temperate. Relaying that fact to his wife as they dressed for dinner, Severus added,
"That doesn't mean I want your mother taking Septimus outside to show him the constellations again. London may not be the wilds of Scotland, but a child can catch a chill just the same." He caught her hiding a smile behind slender fingers. His eyes narrowed. "Think I'm an over-vigilant father, do you?"
Lorelei shook her head vigorously, causing a spiral to tumble from the upswept arrangement. She glided over to fix his cuff link and assure,
"No love, you're vigilant, there's a difference." Her tone changed when she noticed the direction of his gaze. "You're aware, observant…" Severus wondered if the low bodice would hold if she leaned over. He decided to do an experiment and surreptitiously loosened the other link instead of fastening it. When it went ping onto the floor, Lorelei smiled and bent to retrieve it. He leaned forward. The neckline held. The wizard straightened and affected nonchalance when she affixed it correctly and purred, "Keen too…traits I enjoy, personally." Looking up with laughter dancing in her eyes, she informed, "A charm holds my bodice up." Winking, she promised before sashaying out the door, "I'll break it when we return."
Downstairs in the lounge of their London home, his mother in law and her partner were lauding Septimus over his skill in taking steps while Marina held his hands. The three on the quilt laid over the centre rug looked up when the couple entered. Letting her grandson's hands drop, the most attractive grandmother Snape had ever seen clapped her hands.
"You two look wonderful all dressed up in black, don't they Jean Luc?"
The distinguished bald man nodded with a smile, "Indeed"
Seeing his parents, Septimus held out his arms.
"Mama"
Severus' heart jolted when his son took a tiny, wobbly step forward. It raced when Septimus took another, crowing,
"Dada!"
Lorelei clutched his arm.
"Oh Severus! Look, look!"
They dropped to their knees on the quilt. Severus held out his hands. Small features scrunched, as if unsure what was expected of him.
"Come to dada, Septimus." Lorelei said encouragingly.
The baby took two more unsteady steps and began to topple over. His father scooped him up and held him close while the women gushed about how wonderful and advanced and brilliant the boy was. Jean Luc said,
"He'll be a handful now."
Severus looked down into his son's smiling face. Tiny feet were pushing against his abdomen, as if wanting to walk again, right now. Proud and exultant, he replied with a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "I wouldn't have him any other way."
Lorelei took her turn hugging and kissing the baby goodnight before they resolutely left the house, although it was hard to ignore the heartrending outburst of tears that accompanied their departure. On the walk beyond the front garden gate, his wife huddled into her wrap and leaned against him, sniffing,
"I'd like to wait, just until…"
He knew that she meant until the baby stopped crying. It never took long as Septimus was only left with those who were affectionate, competent, and entertained him ably. Within five minutes, their child's wails had ceased. As relieved as Lorelei, even though he didn't show it openly, Severus inclined his head and said,
"Shall we?"
They Apparated to a cozy restaurant in a wizard section of London. Remus, in a dinner jacket that Tonks was mystifyingly proud of unearthing in some designer resale shop looked quite presentable. The metamorphmagus, in a dark blue sheath that matched her hair and eyes, looked very well, too. She grinned when he told her so.
"Wow, a compliment. I'll treasure it forever."
Ignoring his dinner companions' amused smiles, he led the way to their table. It was a corner booth designed in a horseshoe shape. After the group ordered, Severus listened to the others chat. He'd noticed something, sliding into the booth after Lorelei, and wanted to do another experiment. Keeping his expression impassive, the wizard's left hand slid onto his wife's right thigh. He discovered that his hypothesis was correct. Sitting down, the skirt of the dress rode up. The slit that ended mid thigh while standing now reached her upper. His fingertips slid beneath a garter. Lorelei knocked over her glass of water. The server rushed over to dry the tablecloth with his wand. Tonks laughed,
"Good to know I'm not the only clumsy woman around."
Lorelei smiled shakily and slanted a glance his way. He lifted a brow inquiringly while rubbing silken skin. She blushed, but the siren didn't move his hand away. Dinner was quite enjoyable. Afterwards, Tonks joked,
"Anyone want to go sing Karaoke?"
The others laughed when he immediately decried,
"NO"
Remus suggested a nearby jazz club. Severus nodded his agreement. Tonks said she'd like to walk, get some exercise, while Lorelei said huskily,
"I need some cool air…" Turning pink, she said quickly, "I meant fresh air…"
Severus' fingers slid to the inside of her thigh before he pulled them from beneath the garter. Lorelei gave him a look that he found impossible to read until they retrieved their cloaks and wraps and stepped outside. Her arms twined around his neck while her lips molded to his. Not unaffected by his covert experimentation, Snape returned her kiss. Tonks griped,
"Merlin, I thought having children was supposed to decrease your interest in that sort of thing!" When they eased apart, the witch snorted, "Keep that up and I'll have to tell McGonagall she won her bet that you two are back to standard in all areas, so to speak."
Even beneath the glow of orbs imitating Muggle gas lights, Lorelei's flush was noticeable. Remus chuckled,
"How much did you wager, love?"
Gaping incredulously, Tonks said disbelievingly,
"Ten galleons…all the staff did…except Dumbledore."
Lupin grinned wolfishly,
"That'll teach you not to bet against love."
Angrily, Tonks yanked her arm away,
"How can you say that when you've been doing it for years?" She cut off her partner's shocked 'Tonks…I…' with a tormented, "Damn it to hell, Remus, I'm bloody sick and tired of waiting!"
She stormed off. Remus hurried to catch her.
"Tonks, hold up…Tonks!"
Severus watched his quiet friend begin to argue loudly on the street corner. It was unsettling. Lorelei slipped her hand into his.
"They've needed to talk about this for a long time, Severus. Don't worry, things will work out."
He stared down at her imperiously. Worried? Why should he care if those two settled their differences of opinion about whether it was right to marry and bring children into a family where the father was a werewolf? What business of it was his, anyway? Snape realized that his thoughts were echoes of his own father's opinions on non-involvement, on the intellectual's need for self-containment and isolation to allow his mind to fulfill its greatest potential.
What gobshite. His father had been a self-centred man who had died as he lived, isolated in his tower without a soul in the world who truly cared for him. Realizing that he was nothing like his progenitor in all the ways that mattered, Severus glanced at the couple who were now embracing passionately and said in a low tone with all sincerity,
"I'm glad."
His wife started sniffing. The Potions Master smiled fleetingly and handed her his handkerchief. She dabbed at her eyes while they walked slowly toward their friends. Keeping his arm around Tonk's waist after releasing her lips, Remus grinned boyishly,
"Are we still on for dancing?"
Inclining his head, Severus deadpanned,
"Anything is preferable to Karaoke."
Spinning Tonks around, Lupin gave a bark of laughter.
"Follow us."
Remembering that night on February 14th, Severus fastened the mandarin collar of his black dress robes and called,
"Do you really believe they're going to announce their engagement at a Valentine's Dance at Hogwarts?"
Lorelei stood in the doorway, Septimus on her hip, smiling radiantly,
"Won't it be romantic?" Red lips tinted to match her dress robes parted in a dreamy smile. Noticing his son's attire, Snape demanded,
"What the blazes is my son wearing?"
Delicate brows arched,
"Our son is wearing dress robes, like his dada."
"Dada!" Septimus repeated, hurling forward in a lunge to reach his father's arms. Hurriedly taking the child before he toppled, the wizard looked down into dark eyes that charmed as effortlessly as his mother's and sighed,
"I suppose we could take him with us for a short time." Gazing implacably at the infant blessed with an excess of attractiveness, he said, "Then it's straight to bed for you, young man."
"Yayayaya"
Lorelei's giggle wasn't stifled well enough. His steady regard made the smile on her lips fade. Perhaps it was due to the way his eyes roamed over her curves in a silent promise to explore them all later. The tip of her tongue came out to moisten her lips. His collar was starting to feel tight. Severus asked,
"Are you wearing my present?"
She nodded,
"And the anklet you gave me too."
Resisting the urge to tug at his collar, he said, "Ladies first." On the way through the lounge, an enormous red basket filled with Valentine's cards drew his notice. "What is that?" Before she could answer, he stalked over and snatched up a card. "Did every boy at Hogwarts send you a card? So help me, I'll…" Melodic laughter rang out, halting the menacing words. Lorelei gasped between giggles,
"Read it"
A flick of his wrist opened the card. Two fingers held it open while he read aloud,
"What do you call a very small valentine? A valentiny! Happy Valentine's Day Septimus, Love Kristy."
Tossing down the card, he picked up another with a drawing of a fluffy sheep on the front. It read,
"Ewe are so cute. I love ewe! To: Septimus, From: Danielle."
Septimus took the card from his father's slack fingers and began to gnaw it. Severus pointed to the basket.
"These…Valentines…are all for our son?"
Lorelei lifted one and gave it to her husband after taking the wet card from her son and giving him a stuffed bear to suck on instead. Snape noticed at once that the art work was vastly superior to the other cards. An enchantment caused a large and small snake to slither together, tongues flickering. Inside, fine, familiar script wrote,
To my Dada: How about a hug and a hiss? Happy Valentine's Day, Love Septimus
Beneath it, another magicked drawing showed a black serpent coiling around a red heart. Beneath the illustration was written,
Severus, I wanted you to know how completely you hold my heart. With all my love, Lorelei
"Draco is the artist." Lorelei informed with a smile when he told her and their son thank you.
He smirked,
"I recognized his snakes."
Her smile widened, then became soft.
"I'm going to treasure my Valentine from you always."
Severus remembered how distastefully flowery and insipid the statements in commercially produced cards had seemed. In the end, he'd sketched two entwined hearts on a small square of parchment folded to fit into the anklet gift box and penned,
When I met you, I had no idea where our relationship would lead. That it led to love and family makes me count myself the most fortunate of men. Tha gaol agam ort, Severus
"I really love you." Lorelei said mistily.
Severus leaned forward to kiss his wife. Deciding to give her another Valentine's gift, he said with only the merest trace of sardonic inflection,
"I really, truly, love you."
Her face lit up at his remembering the dialogue that she'd raved about several times after Tonks had dragged Lorelei off to her Gran's to view some Muggle film on telly. He still believed the sentiment to be overblown and theatrical, but if it made his wife happy, he would spout it.
She said wholeheartedly,
"I really, truly, madly, love you."
Septimus was now sucking on a strand of his father's hair. Allowing the behaviour, temporarily, Severus returned to Lorelei,
"I really, truly, madly, deeply, love you."
Her lips parted. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she sighed,
"I really, truly, madly, deeply, passionately, love you."
Septimus had managed to wind the wet strand around a plump fist. He pulled hard, yanking his father back from further impulsive actions. Swallowing with difficulty due to the bloody tight collar, Severus warned in a dark, silky, tone,
"If you do not wish me to deposit our child into his cot and love you passionately against the nearest wall instead of going to the dance, we had best be on our way."
Lorelei's eyes lost none of their glazed look.
"OH? Oh yes, we…we should be off…"
She didn't move. He took a step forward. She asked, "Which wall?"
His lips curved wickedly,
"After the dance, pick a wall, any wall."
After reaching the dungeon stairway, Severus composed his features into a mask of inscrutability. Inside the Great Hall transformed into a red and white themed ballroom, faces turned eagerly when he and Lorelei entered. His upper lips started to curl. All across the chamber, girls squealed,
"Septimus!"
Like a tidal wave they came, girls of all houses, all years, crowding around to see the baby. Snape began to feel acutely uncomfortable. Keeping a firm hold on his socialite son, the professor said sternly,
"Return to your tables and your escorts at once."
The girls startled like a flock of birds and thankfully flew back to whence they came. At a far corner table, Remus and Tonks laughed at his look of relief. Septimus, the incorrigible flirt, held out his arms to Tonks, who took him with a smile.
"Dada better get used to this, eh, gorgeous?"
Lorelei smilingly tried to reassure her husband,
"Girls love babies. I'm sure that as he grows older, Septimus' admirers will go from legion to mere dozens."
"Dozens? Is that supposed to be a comfort, that my son will have dozens of girls on the go in his future?" He scowled.
Remus gave a bark of laughter.
"Don't worry about the future, Severus, it'll take care of itself. Besides…" He added with a chuckle, "It's hardly likely the lad will have dozens of girls on the go- Merlin, he'd be Sirius!"
A tic started to spasm in the Potions Master's cheek at the vision of his innocent, loving child becoming a swaggering lothario. Not if he had anything to say about it. Satisfied with his silent resolve, the wizard glanced at Lupin and said, "The last Wolfsbane trials engendered a trio of vapors before they dissipated." A pleased smile creased the face that the approaching full moon had etched with tension.
"Any progress is good, my friend. I know that one day, you'll stabilize the potion."
The corner of thin lips tugged upwards.
"I shall never stop trying, my friend." To stave off some physical demonstration of friendship, he changed the subject. "So, do you have an announcement to make tonight?" His knowing smirk made Tonks blush and Remus laugh while raising her left hand.
"Tonks has done me the very great honour of consenting to be my wife."
"That means he asked all proper and I said oh yeah!"
Remus held Septimus while Lorelei, and soon the rest of the female staff exclaimed over the metamorphmagus' ring like it was ten carats instead of less than one.
"I do believe women have a unique form of sixth sense which unerringly guides them to a betrothal ring." Albus pronounced as he and Minerva joined the queue to congratulate the newly engaged couple.
Severus gathered his son, who was starting to fret 'dadadada', and stood back from the throng. Lorelei joined them.
"Shall we dance?"
His eyebrows rose. Septimus' followed soon after. Laughing, the siren led the way to the centre of the room. Young couples snickered over the trio swaying together. One former student, there with her date, exclaimed,
"He's grown so much; he's so sweet, hello Septimus!"
Ginevra Weasley looked very grown up herself. Severus greeted,
"Miss Weasley, Professor Malfoy, Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials."
Lorelei hugged the pair, congratulating them more effusively. The redhead beamed,
"Thank you, I'm so happy." She gazed at her fiancée impishly and then shared, "Ron just announced that he and Hermione are engaged too. Isn't that wonderful?"
Wonderful was not the word he would have chosen. Thanking Merlin for a wife whose bright chatter made up for his pained silence, Severus looked from a curious Draco to a drowsy-eyed baby and made yet another resolve- to instill a loathing of know-it-alls in his son. Taking comfort from the second resolution he'd made that evening, he was able to comment politely when the situation warranted it. Ginny requested that she and Draco hold the baby while he and Lorelei had a dance.
Circling the dance floor with his wife awhile later, Severus admitted,
"I am a bit perturbed that events with vague resemblance to my dreams are occurring."
Lorelei lifted her hand from his shoulder to caress his cheek.
"Have faith in Septimus, darling, the way we have faith in you."
He smiled a bit, nodding,
"I will."
Severus began to maneuver his wife toward the future Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, determined to have faith backed up with action. Shrugging off his concern about the future, he focused on the present, where he was determined to collect his sleeping son, deposit him in his cot, and invite his Valentine to pick a wall, or any other surface she liked.
A/N: Have faith indeed! Although things look dark thanks to the end of the HBP, I believe of everyone, wizard and muggle alike who now think Snape really is a bad guy, But they were all of them, deceived…one by one the (readers) fell to the power of the (book). But there were some who resisted… (and don't think Snape has truly gone to the Dark Side. He's the Gothic Hero!) Galadriel, or J.R.R. Tolkein, I'm not, but faithful, I am! Flicking my bic, holding up the flame with all others who don't take what they read at face value, I'll be happy to send the 8 reasons why to any interested, to make sure that some things, that should not (be) forgotten (are not) lost…
I actually looked through Valentine sites and used the 'hug and a hiss', 'valentiny' and a couple of other phrases to craft my own Valentines. There are a lot of craptacular Valentines out there...I feel like Severus, lol.