Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, or ideas (all Harry Potter nouns) belong to J. K. Rowlings. Tanner Orson and the Maddock family are mine.

Chapter 14: The only way?

After agreeing to be a spy and being evaluated by the Ministry of Magic as well as having a few lengthy discussions with Dumbledore, Severus was given the position of Potions Master and finally granted his freedom. Preferring the quiet solitude of the dungeons to the rest of the castle, he had finished moving his belongings into his new quarters when an owl brought a message from the Headmaster:

Mr. Snape,

It is good to have you back with us. A matter has come up that I must discuss with you immediately. Come to my study. The password is 'butter toffee.'

A. Dumbledore

Does he know? I though Minerva said he did not know the complete parentage of the boy, he worried as he headed to the study. After saying the password and ascending the staircase, Severus was met by Dumbledore, who held out a cup of tea for him. He slowly took it and the two sat in wing-back chairs.

After a few moments of silence, Dumbledore spoke. "I'm certain you are curious as to what all this is about. One of the deatheaters in Azkaban was killed as he tried to escape. Perhaps you knew him, Tanner Orson?"

Severus coughed after having sipped his tea. "Do I know him? Headmaster, he was a busybody of a Legillimens whom I had to block out constantly. That man's favourite past time was finding ways to be a nuisance to me."

"As he was dying, he made a threat against you," Dumbledore said solemnly.

The younger man snorted. "That's nothing new."

"My boy, he said that he suspected someone would turn traitor with the disappearance of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. And then he said that the younger deatheaters should be killed before they have the chance to change sides. Apparently he despised you a great deal because his last words were, 'Snape and anyone connected to his family will die for the cockroach he is,'" the old wizard paused as Severus' face lost what little colour it had. "It sounds as though you have acquired enemies," Dumbledore explained.

Severus set his teacup down on the end table. "Who hasn't? For all the enemies I've made, I have people who still trust me enough so that I can be a spy."

"I wanted to see your commitment to this. You may go now, but first, if you could deliver this letter to Minerva it would save me some time," he requested.

He knows. Somehow he bloody knows. "Why do you think I would be looking for Professor McGonagall?"

"She is the one with your final paperwork," the Headmaster answered rationally.

Severus met Minerva at her flat in London later. She answered the door wearing the same ocean-blue muggle dress that she had worn the previous summer. "Forgive me, I wasn't expecting company," she stated.

He looked into her eyes and knew that she was trying to process where they stood with each other. "Never mind the formalities; you look fine. This is not a visit on anyone's record but yours and mine," he said seriously. She let him in and once the door was shut, he leaned closer and whispered, "If I was spying on you for whatever reason, I would not need to use the front door."

She smirked and the situation immediately felt lighter. "Come in then. I'm sorry that we have not had much time to talk during the school week."

As he stepped into the living room they both stood still for a moment, unsure how to proceed. She decided to break the tension by giving him a friendly hug, which he slowly returned. "I came to see you, but also to give you this," he paused as he handed her the letter, "It's from Dumbledore."

She took it and placed it on the coffee table, then disappeared into her kitchen for a moment, retrieving the forms he needed. "I'll read it later. Would you like to hold your son now?"

"Of course. This is a place where better memories belong," he responded.

She went into the guest room and retrieved a boy wearing emerald-green pajamas. The baby did not cry as Severus held him, worried that he would somehow harm the child. His son simply looked up at him with curiosity. Minerva watched the two with interest. "It seems as though he knows you," she stated.

Severus adamantly shook his head. "If he knew me, he would be screaming right now, terrified."

"Come now, you are too harsh on yourself. He cried when Poppy held him," she mentioned.

He chuckled and showed a levity that she had not seen in him for quite a while. "I think that if I were him, I would cry too if Poppy tried to hold me. That woman is the most meddlesome, insufferable busybody in existence."

The baby began to fuss. "It's time for his nap. I'll put him to bed and then make us a pot of tea," she relayed as he gently handed the child to her.

Later they sat on her sofa, drinking Lady Grey tea. "Minerva, I cannot tell you how sorry I am for putting you in a position of parenthood. I had no idea-"

"Nonsense, after I found out that I was to be a mother, it was my choice. And you are not the only one at fault, considering that I practically invited you to stay," she reminded.

"I suppose. You appear to be handling things well with him," Severus began.

Minerva took a sip of her tea and averted her eyes. "We come here on the weekends once in a while. During the school day a house elf watches him while I teach, and I don't like doing things that way. I can't give him what he needs. I feel as though I don't know what to do. These are uncertain times we are living in, and though young Harry Potter has somehow defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, they are times too dangerous for a child to grow up in the wizarding world without parents to keep an eye on him most of the time."

He set the cup down for a moment. "Speaking of dangers, what did you say the boy's last name is?"

"Snape. His name is Mordecai Cyrus Snape," she answered frankly.

He cleared his throat. "Do you mean to tell me that the name you just told me is the name on his birth certificate?"

"Yes, but it is enchanted not to reveal a last name unless one of us is looking at it," she attempted to reassure him.

He stood and began to pace. "It was still risky of you, especially because he is named after my grandfather and your father."

"I know that. I only wanted to contribute something from both of us," she defended.

Sighing he stopped his pacing and sat down next to her on the sofa. "I like the name; I am just worried that too many connections between the two of us and the boy are on the surface for anyone paying attention. If anyone realizes that I have a son, they will use him against me. You are at risk as well in this matter."

In her next comment, she seemed to read his mind. "The staff is unaware of the child. Dumbledore and Poppy are the only exceptions and not even they know of your involvement. I do not know how both of us could raise a child without giving the staff an adequate explanation…" she trailed off, remembering the letter. Lifting the seal, she read:

Dear Minerva,

I am sorry to trouble you with this matter, but I could do nothing to prevent it. The Board of Governors has seen fit to begin a program routinely scrutinizing the staff of all the wizarding schools of Europe. This means for you that they may also examine medical records. I strongly recommend that you leave your son with relatives for a while.

Albus

Severus had watched her worried expression as she read the letter. She sank down in a chair and placed the letter on the table holding the lamp. Severus put a hand on her shoulder. "Minerva, what was in the letter?"

"Dumbledore told me that the whole staff will be under scrutiny from the Board of Governors. The letter told me something that I already knew though."

"You sound as though you have an idea," he prodded.

Sighing heavily, she nodded and met his eyes. "I have been thinking about this for a while. We could leave him with my cousin, Fiona, and her husband Thomas. She and I grew up together, but we hardly see each other anymore, except on Christmas. They have a five-year-old daughter named Maggie and a seven-year-old son named Gregory. Their last name is Maddock and they are wizards that have lived relatively inconspicuous lives. He would be safe with them," she offered.

"Minerva, am I the only one of us who finds this entire parenting thing quite confusing?" he began.

She smiled. "It's not like learning a new subject in school. Someone does not hand you an instruction manual, and most of what you learn comes from experience."

"Parenting is a curiosity that warrants further exploration, but I know too many people who could easily do me harm as well as good, and I won't put either one of you in harm's way. This may be our best option. Would he be brought up as another one of your cousin's brood?" Severus questioned.

Minerva shook her head. "No, he would acknowledge them as his aunt and uncle, never knowing the names of his parents, but knowing that we left him there for his own safety."

"But could you not still write to her?" he asked quietly. "She is your cousin and it

would not look suspicious."

She brightened slightly. "You're right. She could keep us updated on how the boy is doing. And I visit her on most Christmases."

"There, you see? You could merely explain to him that you are another cousin, for the time being. My presence," he paused and sighed heavily, "would need a far more extensive explanation. With safety being an issue, I will remain at a distance and you can keep me informed."

Without realizing it, Minerva had laid her head on Severus' shoulder. He wrapped one arm around her and took both of her hands in his other hand. "I am supposed to be the Gryffindor in such matters, but despite what is better for him, I don't want to let him go," she whispered into his robes, a few tears slipping into the material.

He held her closer and rested his chin on top of her head. "Why is it that the most important decisions in our lives are often the most difficult?"

She cleared her throat and took a deep breath, sitting up straighter in order to meet his eyes. That simple question had brought her back to a moment some years earlier when she herself had asked it. "Because it is during such situations that true character is revealed and it is during such outcomes in which the true metals that make up a person are forged."

He dealt her a half-smile and kissed her gently. "Do not ever doubt yourself to be a Gryffindor. It is with courage like yours that such difficult times are at all bearable."

"Then we are resolved as to what must be done?" she continued.

"So it would seem," he answered with dry certainty.

Minerva wrote to Fiona, apologizing for the lack of information that she could provide, explaining the importance of secrecy as she wrote. It was decided that Minerva would come by herself to hand the baby to Fiona. She apparated with the infant and found herself in front of a cozy white cottage and lovely garden with colourful roses among the numerous flora.

Fiona stepped out of the cottage, her raven-black hair in a long braid, a mixture of concern and curiosity in her green eyes. She looked enough like Minerva that she was mistaken for a sister when the two were younger. "It has been a while, hasn't it Minerva?" Fiona began.

The other woman sighed. "I know, and I cannot thank you enough for doing this," Minerva said as she attempted to keep her voice from cracking with the sorrow she felt.

Studying Minerva for a moment, Fiona placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure about this?"

She slowly nodded. "This is the safest plan."

"Very well then. We will be his aunt and uncle, but no one can replace his parents. We promise to protect him and love him, to teach him right from wrong, good magic from bad magic, and good manners. Is there anything else you would like us to tell him?"

Minerva swallowed hard, finally relinquishing the infant to Fiona, giving him a hug and a kiss on the forehead. "Tell him…" her emotional reserve was starting to crack. "Tell him that we left him here, not because he was not wanted, but because we wanted to protect him."

"You have my word," Fiona relayed solemnly.

(My thanks to Leta McGotor, das eulchen, Underground (), Graciesmom (), and excessivelyperky for reviewing :D)