Chapter 30. Rotten

"Now don't all crowd around at once!" Madame Pomfrey ordered, "She's still got strict bed rest orders, and I don't want you lot-" She pointed her finger at the group of visitors, "- sending her into a frenzy, you hear?" With a huff the woman walked away, her heels clicking against the tiled floor of the hospital wing.

Astrid was happily sat up in her hospital cot, a bundle in her arms, she beamed down at her bonny baby, completely ignoring everything Pomfrey had just said. Her father sat in a chair to her right, Molly Weasley to her left. Remus Lupin and Tonks sat on a near by hospital bed, hand in hand.

"I think we should make one of those," Tonks whispered to her beau, Remus shook his head with a smile. At the foot of the bed stood the golden trio, Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Yes Madame Pomfrey," Hermione nodded. Once the irate matron was out of sight Hermione came to sit on the bed with no hesitation, she reached her arms forward and Astrid handed her baby over.

The first time she let her baby leave her arms was difficult, she handed Everly over to her father, Alastor, to hold just a few hours after the birth. Since then, two days had passed and practically everyone and their mother had come to see and hold the child. Her father and Molly had never left her side in that time. Her father muttered something about protecting her, and not letting her out of his sight. Molly just wanted to be supportive, and feel useful, she told Astrid of how difficult things were in the wizarding world now, how she barely left the Burrow. She had filled Astrid in on everything she missed in her captivity, Harry's fight against you-know-who in the flesh and the craziness that ensued after.

"She's so cute, does she have a name?" Hermione asked as she smiled down at the sleeping baby girl.

"Everly," Astrid smiled, "Everly Winnifred,"

"Moody." Alastor butted in gruffly.

"Moody-Malfoy," Astrid corrected with a sigh. Her father made a distasteful noise from beside her, shifting in his seat he took out his flask and took a long gulp. They had argued a lot over the name, over the surname anyway… Her father was sour and full of hatred still, it made Astrid glad she was in captivity when he found out about her and Lucius. Apparently, it was Ron that blabbed, but it didn't really matter to Astrid who it was, her father was bound to find out eventually, and perhaps it was for the best it happened whilst she wasn't around. Ron didn't go into detail about her father's reaction, he just said it was 'explosive' and by the way he nervously stood at the end of the bed eyeing Mad-Eye in his chair, it certainly must have been quite the reaction.

"Has Draco come to see yet?" Hermione asked curiously, she looked up from Everly when she got no reply, reading the awkwardness in the room she apologised immediately. "Sorry, I was just wondering aloud,"

"No, he hasn't, I haven't yet asked him to honestly…" Astrid sighed, she didn't know why she hadn't sent word to Draco, perhaps it was too painful, he was little version of his father, a hurtful reminder. She was also worried what his reaction would be… she remembered what Lucius had told her… about Draco being regretful, but she didn't know what to believe anymore when it came to that man.

"Probably for the best, Draco is trouble," Harry told the room with a disgruntled look.

"Harry thinks Draco is becoming a death eater," Hermione half laughed as she handed the bundle of joy back into Astrids arms.

"There's no way that coward is becoming a death eater, only thing he's guilty of is being a right creep," Ron shook his head.

"Even if he is, it might not be his choice," Astrid said sadly, "I was nearly one too,"

"That was different," Alastor barked, "You were forced into that situation, he was born into it, I agree with Harry, stay away from Draco Malfoy,"

"Have you thought about where you want to spend Christmas dear?" Molly asked cheerily, changing the subject.

"It's not even October," Astrid smiled with amusement.

"Well, you're always welcome at the Burrow, especially with this little angel," Molly beamed as she stroked Everly's cheek with her finger.

"Astrid will be staying at Hogwarts for Christmas Molly, where its safe," Alastor asserted with a bang of his staff on the tiled floor.

"The Burrow is safe Alastor; Kingsley has placed all kinds of protection…" The bickering faded into the background as Astrid zoned out and focussed on her daughter, her little round face, the light tuft of white blonde hair on her head. She had little hands that perfectly wrapped around your finger, and when not slumbering, she had bonny blue eyes.

"I best be going," Harry announced looking at his watch, "Don't want to be late for potions,"

"Urgh, good luck with that snivelling dungeon-rat," Astrid snorted as she shifted Everly from her arms to laying on her chest.

"It's Professor Slughorn this year actually," Hermione informed her.

"Oh," Astrids eyes knitted together, "Then which class is Snape teaching?"

"Defence against the Dark Arts," Harry said dryly over his shoulder as he began making his way down the ward to the exit, it had put a bit of a dampener on his favourite class, Snape was hardly his favourite professor, especially after his Occlumency lessons the previous year.

"See ya later Harry," Ron called after his friend as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why did Dumbledore bring in Snape to handle the potions for my labour then… why not this, Slughorn character?"

"Professor Dumbledore trusts Snape above anyone else, he wouldn't have trusted that job to Slughorn." Remus explained, Astrid's nose wrinkled in response.

"Misplaced trust," Alastor grunted.

"I agree with my father, Snape is… I don't trust him, not after my time at the manor," Astrid shivered as she thought of that night in the dining hall. He knew, knew and didn't say anything.

"But Dumbledore does trust him, and I trust Dumbledore and that's what matters," Remus sighed, he was sick of having this argument.

"Is Professor Binns taking my class?" Astrid asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, a bore as ever," Ron snorted. "When are you going to be coming back?"

"I don't know Ron, I just had a baby," Astrid shook her head in disbelief.

"Well, it needs to be soon or I'm gonna fail History of Magic, seriously, can't you just hand the baby over to someone for classes?" Ron goofily smiled.

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded with a hint of a giggle in there somewhere.

"I'll be back when I'm ready Ron, I promise,"

Within a few days Astrid had been discharged from the Hospital wing, and she returned to her chambers in the tower. Upon returning she found a large wooden crib in the centre of her living space, a small tag attached:

With Love, LM

Astrid felt sick to her stomach reading the parchment tag. Her sickness turned to anger as she knew there could only be one person who informed Lucius: Snape. Then her mind turned rational, her due date had come and gone, perhaps he had taken it upon himself to presume she was here, in the castle, with their baby? No, she thought, Snape had definitely told him, he was there for the birth and the naming after all.

Astrid bypassed the cot and made her way up the stairs, she placed Everly delicately in the centre of the large bed and lade next to the tiny babe.

"You are everything I could have dreamed of," Astrid whispered as she held Everly's little hand. She was so wrapped up in her baby Astrid did not hear the knock upon the door, or the creaking footsteps up her stairs.

"Already she has grown so much," The voice of Severus Snape rang through Astrids ears. Sitting up she faced the ex-potions master.

"What are you doing here?" Astrid uttered, taking her baby up and pressing her tightly to her chest and shoulder.

"I'm not here to steal your baby Astrid," Severus sighed, "I'm just… checking in,"

"Funny, I don't remember you checking in on me when I was a prisoner in the Malfoy dungeon," hissed with a whisper, she stood up slowly and backed away as far as she could.

"It was impossible, not without gaining the Dark lord's suspicion, as much as I… wanted to help… my mission had to come first Astrid," Snape explained.

"Forgive me, but that sounds like bullshit…" Astrid shook her head, tears stung at the corner of her eyes, "You knew what he was planning that night, and you didn't warn me, didn't help me… didn't help Camille." The tears now slipped from her blue eyes, rolling over her freckled skin. Severus approached her slowly, a look that almost resembled regret cast over him.

"Astrid… I am profoundly sorry… about your friend, but I could not breath a word to anyone, the Dark Lord trusted me and me alone with that information, if I had told you, told Lucius, and he had found out… he would've known it was me," Severus proclaimed as he came to a halt in front of the girl.

"You just care about yourself," Astrid sighed as she closed her eyes and pulled her baby close, resting her tear-stained cheek on the infant.

"I care about the mission," Severus said with great conviction, Astrid looked into the professors' eyes to seek out the truth, and to her surprise she found some.

"I sent an owl… to Lucius, telling him of the news," Severus informed the young mother, he backed up a little, giving her some space to explode at him. But to his surprise, she didn't, she was annoyed yes, but not furious like he expected.

"I gathered," Astrid huffed, "I saw the note, on the crib… I suspect that was your doing, getting it in here?" Severus gave a small nod and reached into his robes.

"He sent an owl back, with a letter addressed to you, if you want it?" Severus drawled. Astrid nodded after some hesitation, and to Severus's shock Astrid handed her baby over to him, which he held uncomfortably and awkwardly in his arms. Astrid peeled the envelope open and pulled the parchment from inside. She sniffled a little sob as she read the hand written words.

My Dear Astrid, and beloved Everly,

I am elated to hear the news, and though it pains me deeply I was not there, I am thoroughly delighted by the arrival of our daughter. I wish to take the opportunity to apologise profusely, I wish I could go back and change what happened that night, I am disgusted by my cowardice to stand by and not act in your defence. I hope you can forgive me darling.

I've had plenty of time to think of you, and in that time, I came to realise something, that I'd rather die than live forever without you in vain. I love you, forever and always, but to protect you and Everly I must cut my ties. I want nothing more than to be the doting father our daughter deserves, but it cannot be, not whilst the Dark Lord lives. Hopefully one day, I can return to our family, and you will welcome me with open arms, but until then I must remain in the shadows. Please, tell our daughter of me, and of my undying love for her and her mother, and if I should fall in this wizarding war, know that I have split the estate between her and Draco.

I hope one day to hold you in my arms once more.

Your love

LM

Astrid covered her mouth to stifle the sobs as she read the letter, tears fell from her eyes onto the parchment, making the words run into blurs. Severus had already read the letter and resealed it carefully, his curiosity knew no bounds, and Lucius' words hit him deep, so he could only imagine the pain Astrid was feeling in that moment. He held the slumbering baby firmly to his chest with one arm, supporting her back and head against him, and with his other he pulled Astrid forward into him, wrapping his arm around her back gently. She sobbed into his black buttoned jacket, burying her face in the stiff fabric. His hand hesitantly rubbed her back gently. He said nothing, and neither did Astrid, they stood in that position for a while, one couldn't say how long exactly, but when Everly awoke with a croaking cry the two ended their comforting embrace.

Astrid took Everly from Severus with a sniffle.

"Thank you… Severus…" She said softly as she walked to the bed and sat down. Severus understood the tone and with a nod of his head turned on his heel to leave, giving the young woman privacy to feed her child. But as he was about to descend down the staircase, Astrid addressed him, causing him to freeze and hear her words.

"I didn't mean what I said… In Dumbledores office… you're not a rotten bastard, I just… find it so hard to separate your two selves, I'm sorry,"

Severus Snape's thin lips curved into a small forced smile, he wanted to say something, but decided against it and took his leave. Her words were genuine, but in his own truth he knew he was a rotten bastard, rotten and twisted, stinking of guilt. There could be no other way of describing a man that was falling in love with his longest friend's beloved.