Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry, Nick and any name you don't recognize, and isn't from the HP universe) are entirely my own.


Chapter 21: A Letter, A Bond and the Witch

A huge storm swept across New Salem School, burying the school in pure white snow, just two weeks before the students were scheduled to depart for the holidays. The large dining hall was brimming with students that Friday evening. They fluttered between tables, while some studied for upcoming mid-term exams and yet others sat stuffing their faces with that night's dinner. Friends chatted happily between each other about the upcoming Quidditch game the following weekend, and also the nearing of the Christmas holidays.

The day had went by like any normal school day, and currently Septimus sat with Helena and his varsity teammates at the sixth years' table. They quietly discussed their game plan for the following week against Belknap Springs. Everyone was too occupied with their own doings; never noticing a little owl as it swooped down from an open window, carrying an envelope in its' claws. Everyone except Helena.

"Sept?" Helena questioned, as she watched the little bird flew towards their table.

"Yeah?" Septimus muttered, as he and Carlos looked over their notebook full of plays.

"Isn't that Hermes?" she asked, nudging his shoulder slightly in order to get his full attention. Septimus turned towards her with a frown, that soften slightly upon seeing the owl flying towards them.

"Yeah, it is," Septimus said, raising a questioning brow. "What's he doing out in this weather?" Hermes swooped down lower, and landed, not so gracefully, in a bowl of salad; scattering the lettuce and its' toppings everywhere. Those who saw the crash, chuckled as Septimus hastily plucked the bird from the bowl.

"You're embarrassing, you know that?" Septimus muttered darkly to the little bird, as he sat it down on the table in front of him. Hermes ruffled his feathers angrily, sending snow and drops of water all over the surrounding students.

"Oh Sept, stop it," Helena murmured, as she broke off a piece of biscuit for the owl. "Can't you see he's freezing?" Septimus quickly undid the letter for the owl's leg, before Helena scooped the bird up and wrapped him up in her outer robes. Septimus sat quietly for a moment, staring at the spidery script on the envelope's front.

"Who's it from Sept?" Justin asked, as he, Mike, Kyle and Carlos paused their discussion to watch Septimus open his letter.

"It's from my dad," Septimus frowned, as he ran his thumb along the seal and pulled out the letter.

"Thursday, December 3rd

Dear Septimus:

Your mother and I are pleased to announce the birth of your sister,
Serenity Selene. She was born early this morning at 3:17 AM,
weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Your mother requested that I enclose a photo, which I have. She
has also wished to send her regrets that she will not be able to attend
your match next weekend, but I shall be there. Elisa has requested, since
your sister was born two weeks early, that she not be exposed to
the cold weather so soon, but your godmother said that both will be
able to attend the next match in January.

We are looking forward to your homecoming on the twentieth.
Give our best to Helena and the boys.

Sincerely,

Your Father"

"Your father?" Helena giggled, as she read the letter over Septimus' shoulder.

"I don't think Dad is use to calling himself 'dad' just yet," Septimus chuckled slightly, as he reached for the envelope again. "Now, where's that photo?" He continued, opening the envelope and pulling out a small colored magical photograph of a squirming infant with a tuff of black hair on its' head and ice blue eyes.

"OH!" Helena squealed with delight, as she snatched the picture from Septimus' hands. "She's adorable! Look Sarah!" The boys at the table all groaned as the girls around them cooed over the photo of the little girl.

"Looks like Christmas is going to be very interesting this year," Septimus smirked, before turning back to his teammates and their game plans.


Elisa had set up a bassinet next to the bed so that neither Severus or Katherine had to move too far in order to get to Serenity. The healer had also shown Severus how to properly change a diaper before both Christoph and herself left for the rest of the night. Serenity had been placed back in the bassinet, so that Katherine could get a couple hours of sleep before her daughter's next feeding, but for Severus, sleep didn't come as easy.

He sat on his side of the bed, which had been transfigured back into their normal queen size mattress, pondering over what had occurred in the last twelve hours. He watched Katherine and Serenity sleep peacefully, as astonishment washed over him. He was a father. Well he already was a father, but to a teenage boy who could take care of himself. This was...different. He was now a father of an infant; something that needed his full attention and protection.

Although he had felt the protectiveness course through his body the moment he laid his eyes on his daughter, that feeling seemed to only grow every time he held her. As he watched his daughter sleep soundly in her cradle, Severus couldn't help but think how well her name fit her.

He had chosen the name 'Serenity' with one thought in mind. She was the beginning of his peace, and she would be brought up in a better world, hopefully a more peaceful one. 'Selene' came simply to him tonight, as the full moon that hung heavily in the sky at the time she was born, was now fading behind the western horizon across the lake.

A soft whimper from the cradle broke his thoughts, and Severus slipped quickly and quietly from the bed and over to where the child was laying. Serenity's ice blue eyes were shining up at him, as he hovered over her bed. Her tiny arms and legs moved erratically under the pale yellow blanket, that Christoph had brought in from the nursery.

Gently, Severus picked her up and held her like Elisa had shown him, before bringing her back over to the bed. Serenity's soft whimpering quieted and she stilled in her father's arms, as Severus resumed his previous position on the bed. Her blue eyes unfocusedly watched his black ones, as Severus carefully opened the blanket to look his daughter over. Her tiny face was pale skinned like both his own and Katherine's, but the little girl most definitely had her mother's eyes and nose. Her little tuft of black hair was no longer matted and wet looking, but was now wispy and soft under Severus' fingers as he tenderly reached out to stroke her tiny head.

Slowly, he ran a finger down one of her tiny arms to her hand; marveling over her little fingers. Serenity's fist opened after a gently prodding from his own finger, but they only close again, capturing her father's finger with a forceful grip. Severus' eyes ran down the rest of the little's one body, observing the jerky movements of the little legs to her petit feet and toes, that were constantly curled.

"Hello Serenity," Severus started, looking back up into her little blue eyes. "Your mother said I am suppose to talk to you. Something about it helping stimulate the brain." Serenity stared up at him with wide eyes, as Severus brought her closer to his chest.

"Don't worry though," Severus continued. "I won't babble nonsense at you like your godmother Elisa did just a few hours ago.

"It's hard to believe that at this time last year..." Severus paused, as Katherine stirred slightly in the bed next to him. "At this time last year, I was living in the darkest of worlds; playing the pawn for two masters, all the while trying to protect those who were most important.

"If your mother hadn't been there for me..." Severus continued. "I don't know where I'd be right now. We, you, your brother and myself, are lucky to have to her in our lives." Serenity suddenly began to whimper softly again, and turned her head further into Severus' chest.

"I take it that you are hungry?" Severus asked, adjusting himself on the bed. "You know that means that I will have to wake your mother." Gently as he could, Severus reached over with one hand, and shook Katherine's shoulder lightly.

"Katherine?" Severus said. "Wake up. Our daughter's hungry." Katherine's eyes opened heavily, as she stifled a yawn. She gingerly sat up in the bed, and smiled at the sight before her; of her husband bonding with his daughter.

"Are you hungry sweat pea?" Katherine asked the little girl, as Severus gently passed the baby to her, so she could settle her in for her feeding. "There we are." The two sat in silence, as they watched the little girl suckled greedily from her mother's breast.

"How are you feeling?" Severus asked, as Serenity continued to feed.

"Tired...a bit sore," Katherine smirked. "But fine none the less. It's amazing what I few spells can do, isn't it?" Katherine continued, nodding downwards towards her once again flat stomach.

"Although, spells can't take it all away," Katherine said, shifting Serenity to the other breast. "Between breastfeeding and bit of exercise, I'll be all back to normal in no time."

'Normal," Severus thought. He knew that wasn't fully true. Katherine wouldn't be truly back to normal for at least three more months, when they would be able to heal her damaged soul. But what Severus was still contemplating was about what had happened a few hours ago. The pain he endured during Serenity's birth wasn't nearly as excruciating as what Katherine had gone through. And he only hoped that he and Christoph could get to the bottom of it soon.


Elisa arrived a little after one in the afternoon, with Christoph trailing right behind her. As the healer went to check up on Katherine and the baby, Christoph and Severus slipped out and headed towards the Apparation point. From there they Apparated to the outskirt of Amadahy and quickly made their way down the all familiar dirt road that wound around the northern part of the lake until they came to the small hill.

The small passageway to the wooden door was covered in dead brush and snow, and an incense perfume hung in the air around them. Christoph knocked twice and the two waited for the aging witch to answer it. Slowly, the wooden door cracked opened, revealing the aging dark skinned, grayed haired woman.

"Fuerst. Snap...or should I say Prince, now, is it?" Wakanda smirked, as she opened the door wide enough to allow them in.

"It is," Severus snarled. "But that's not why we are here. I want to know why I didn't feel what you told me I would. Why did my wife endure such excruciating pain during childbirth, yet I only endured a slight back pain."

"If you don't know why, then you didn't listen to me close enough," Wakanda cackled, as Severus and Christoph glared down at her.

"What are you talking about?" Christoph said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"What do you two not understand?" Wakanda huffed. "Remember? Katherine's soul was split. But only a fracture. That fracture had attached itself to you."

"Are you saying," Severus frowned. "That the reason that I did not feel the same amount of pain as Katherine, because..."

"Because of that fracture," Wakanda finished for him. "You only experience that fraction of the pain, a very small fraction, while your wife experience your pain tenfold. Because the small fracture takes on full force of your pain, and sends it back to the damaged portion of hers."

"A fraction of a soul equals only a fraction of the original pain," Christoph muttered. "It makes sense."

"HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO HER!" Severus spat angrily. "HOW DARE YOU GIVE HER..."

"Do not blame this on me, Dark One," Wakanda snarled, as she rounded on Severus. "Katherine Dumbledore knew very well what she was getting into. Being a student of the Dark Arts, she should have realized it herself that this could have happened. She should have recognized your remorse!"

"DO NOT PUT THE BLAME ON HER!" Severus growled, reaching for his wand. "She received the translation for the spell from you. You were..."

"She sought me out!" Wakanda spat, pulling out her own wand and pointing it towards both Severus and Christoph. "She came to me for the spell. I did not seek her out Dark One."

"Severus..." Christoph muttered, back towards the door a bit.

"You have the counter curse Severus Snape," Wakanda snarled, as she began to advance on them. "So I suggest you take your leave. Leave my home NOW!"

"Or what..." Severus spat. "I've faced things much worse than an aging, senile witch."

"Senile, am I?" Wakanda cackled madly. "You underestimate me Dark One. I am rather good with curses. Would you like to see?

"Hmmm?" Wakanda asked, her dark eyes turning wild and angry as she backed Severus and Christoph closer to the door. "What curse shall it be? The loss of a limb? Loss of your hearing? Your sight? Your voice?

"Or maybe..." Wakanda grinned evilly. "The loss to pleasure your wife and produce your heirs."

"Severus come on," Christoph said, as he reached behind himself to grab the door's handle. "I'd for one like to keep my boys attached."

"You better listen to him Dark One," Wakanda warned, still grinning evilly. "Go home to your wife and newborn daughter before I curse you on the spot. I pretty sure your wife would not appreciate the sudden pain I would place on you."

Severus' eyes widened at her words. He had almost forgotten that any curse the witch would place on him, would affect Katherine as well. And it wouldn't be good on her system right now, not right after giving birth so soon. She was too weak to endure more pain, and the extra pain could make the situation that much worse.

"This isn't over with yet crone," Severus snarled, as he lowered his wand and headed towards the door, where Christoph had already disappeared through. Severus slammed the door shut with such force, it cause a few books and jars to fall from their resting place and smash onto the floor. He left so quickly that he never heard Wakanda's last comment.

"How right you are Dark One," Wakanda snarled quietly, as she watched Severus and Christoph trek back up the path through the knee deep snow. "We shall see each other soon than you think...or want."


a/n: Please, please forgive this tired writer, but work and writers' block have gotten the better of me. As I told Missyick, I'm at the point in my story that is unfamiliar territory for me, as I do not have any kids myself. So bare with me as I write the next few chapters. Chapter 22 should be posted, hopefully, within the next week, as long as my brain can process it. I will also be posting a prologue to another story that has popped into my head, and yes, it is another Sev/OC (but it isn't Katherine this time).

A big thanks to all of those who have been adding this story to their favs and/or alerts. And an even bigger thanks to Missyick, tigerlili48, esmeralda023, Mira SeverusSirius Black-Snape, AdaYuki, RequiemWolfenstein87, Brilliant Sunrise and AccioSS for their wonderful reviews!