BLOOD OF THE MOTHER By BertaS Sept. 05

Chapter 14

Description: So what does the Prophet have to say?

Not mine, it all belongs to JKR

The Prophet

Stifling a noise that sounded suspiciously like a giggle when Snape groaned Harry said, "That bad huh?"

Snape simply started reading aloud:

All Hail Potter; the Dark Lord Is Dead

By Glenda Goodwitch

In a large battle in Little Whinging yesterday Harry Potter (see Bio page 5), The Boy-Who-Lived, lived again, using an unknown spell to disintegrate He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

This reporter discovered that Potter used Blood Magic to accomplish this feat. Blood Magic has long been frowned on due to it dark roots. This reporter also learned that this was not the first Blood Magic used by The Boy-Who-Lived, earlier in the day Potter claimed his first Dark Servant.

Severus Snape, Potions Master and Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, (see Bio page 6) is now sporting what some are calling the 'Mark of Potter' and a most sinister smile. Snape was at Potters side during the entire battle and was the one to carry the unconscious Potter from the field after a confrontation with Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge (see story page 2).

There has long been speculation about the orientation of The Boy-Who-Lived. Dark or light, why would Potter trust a man with a history as checkered as Snape? And if Potter will protect one Deatheater how many others will flock to his side?

This new 'Mark', though more attractive than the 'Deaths Head', causes this reporter to fear that we may have simply exchanged one Dark Lord for another, an even more powerful and frightening one.

Snape glanced at Harry, who was standing by his shoulder, peering at the picture on the front page, which showed a group of people: Fudge, Dumbledore, Harry, Snape and Madam Bones. They seemed to be having an intense discussion.

Snape turned the page reading out small snips of other articles or story titles and holding the paper where Harry could see.

Fudge Wears Dark Mark

By Rita Skeeter

Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge a Deatheater? Ministry sources confirm Fudge was arrested after the defeat of the so-called Lord Voldemort (see the story The Dark Lord Reveled, page 10) …blah…blah…blah… There are many wild rumors about Harry Potter however; this reporter refuses to speculate on the motives of Mr. Potter until The Boy-Who-Lived-Again sees fit to grant an interview.

"I'll have to remember to invite her over." Harry deadpanned.

Ministry in Chaos

By Nigel Rathburn

The Wizengamet has been in closed session since the arrest of Cornelius Fudge yesterday afternoon. There are additional charges of massive corruption at the Ministry. Many where called in for questioning and subsequent arrests have been made.

We where lucky to catch Supreme Mugwhump Albus Dumbledore (see Bio page 7) on a brief break early this morning. We were granted three questions:

Q1.How is the Wizengamet dealing with Fudge and who will be taking his place as Minister of Magic?

A1.There are going to be a great many trials in the near future for Minister Protem Thorneprick (see story page 3) to preside over.

Q2.What is happening with the Pettigrew/Black situation?

A2.Sirius Black has been posthumously pardoned and Peter Pettigrew has already been taken to Azkaban to await trial.

Q3.How many arrests have been made of Ministry personnel and how many are actually Deatheaters?

A3.I don't have the exact figures on that, we will get them out when we have the final tally.

One has to wonder if our world will survive, as we know it. From another source it appears that one out of every three Ministry workers from Minister to Janitors has been scheduled to appear for questioning. And half of those questioned so far have been charged with a crime. These crimes range from Deatheater Activities, embezzlement and accepting bribes to petty theft and jaywalking.

Sirius Black Innocent: Pettigrew Tells All

The stunning confession of a Deatheater…

There was a picture of Peter being dragged off by Dementors.

Harry Potter Fact and Fiction

"I doubt they have any of it right, don't even bother to read it." Harry commented.

Snape a Deatheater No Longer

This one had a photo of Severus displaying his mark to Amelia Bones.

Snape snickered and, "I'll be damned. The Daughters of Veterens of the Goblin Wars are holding their Fall Cotillion at Kendelwood Castle."

"Huh? What's it got to do with anything?"

Snape cleared his throat and read, "In a written statement, Mrs. Esmeralda Longbottom stated that she and her Grandson, Neville Longbottom (see Potters pals page 8) were eager to play host to the Cotillion and that though standing empty for quite a few years, the ancestral home of her daughter-in-law, Alice Kendelwood Longbottem would be a splendid venue… Do I really need to read more?"

"No." Harry shook his head grinning, "Sounds like fun, we should go." He totally missed the shocked look on Snape's face.

They continued looking through the paper at the Biographical articles and pictorials.

The caption: "It Looks Like Love is in the Air – In and unusual display former Deatheater Severus Snape carries Harry Potter from the field of battle," under the picture of Snape carrying Harry up the walk, had Harry giggling and nudging the Professor

"I had thought about disappearing for a while, but they'd have us married with a dozen kids by next month."

When the man beside him gasp and shuddered, Harry realized that he must have said or done something wrong. Living in the same dorm with Neville he was well aware of what a panic attack looked like and that the key was to get the fear in to the open.

"Professor?" The man just kept staring straight ahead, trembling and barely breathing. Harry laid his hand on Snape's shoulder, "Severus, its okay, snap out of it."

Severus took a deep breath and sagged toward Harry, who very self-consciously held the man a few minutes before asking softly, "Can you tell me what frightened you?"

Severus turned his tear-streaked face up, "I don't want to be a mother. Please Master please don't make me. I really wouldn't be any good at it."

At something of a loss as to what to say Harry blurted out, "I like girls… um … not that there's anything wrong with liking guys…uh… Don't you like girls?" Severus just stared at him. He took a deep breath and picked up a napkin from the table and started drying the Potions Masters tears. "I promise I won't make you do anything you really don't want to. I was just joking. You know, about how the people at the Prophet make up wilder stories than they do at the Quibbler.

Severus leaned his forehead against Harry's chest whispering "Thank you Master, thank you."

Harry awkwardly patted his shoulder, "Your welcome, Professor. And it's Harry, just Harry."

"As you wish, Harry. Will you continue to call me Professor, you called me Severus earlier?" he had pulled back but was looking at his lap.

"Well, I can try Severus. It feels a little weird, considering how you would have reacted day before yesterday. Hey, we only got a couple of hours before Dudley and his parents get back, the kitchen needs cleaned and I have to pack."

Severus looked around the nearly spotless kitchen; "The kitchen will not take long, I would be happy to clean it while you pack.

Harry smiled, "Excellent, I won't take long packing." He moved toward the door, "Oh and Severus, maybe in the near future you could go into teacher mode and explain just how a man becomes a mother?"

Severus had a rather comical look on his face as he answered, "Um, Magic?"

Next Chapter: Harry looks at some mail, and has business to attend to.

A/N: Thanks to all reviewers.

I have a feeling that Harry's question on male pregnancy will never be fully answered since he is kind of squicked by the idea.

I think it would take an extremely tedious potion, some rather tricky transfiguration and several complicated charms and would be quite dangerous. But I think that's for another story that I probably won't ever write.