Thanks to all reviewers. Some of you are ever so quick in responding to a new chapter. It's amazing and makes me continue with my writing.
Chapter Twelve
It was evening, but the sun was still high and heat was radiating from the pavement and the houses when two people walked down the Muggle street towards the house in which Claire Saunders and her daughter lived. A young man in jeans and t-shirt and an elderly lady, who – despite the heat – was wearing a well-cut tweed suit and a matching hat. They stopped at Claire's front door and rang the bell. They could hear a baby cry inside the house and then the door opened and they found themselves opposite a very tired-looking woman wearing shorts and an oversized t-shirt, carrying a black-haired baby on her arm. She regarded them curiously, trying to calm the baby. "Mrs Claire Saunders?" Professor McGonnagal asked quietly. "Yes." "Do you know Severus Snape?" Claire stared at them wide-eyed with surprise for several minutes, oblivious of the baby's complaints, her face showing shock and disbelief. "No, I – he – he isn't here," she finally stammered in terror. "We know," the old witch replied kindly. "He is with us at the moment, he needs help." "He's with you? He's alive? But why – please, come in." Claire ushered them into the living room clustered with baby paraphernalia and slumped onto the sofa, suddenly in tears, confused and unable to do anything further. The two visitors remained standing, looking on helplessly.
"Oh dear!" Professor McGonnagal sighed after a few embarrassing minutes. She went over to Claire, carefully relieved her of the wailing baby and muttered some spells which calmed the child at once. Noticing Harry's baffled expression the old witch explained that she'd had enough nephews and nieces to diagnose and cure a colic if she saw one. With the baby peacefully asleep in her mother's lap, the witch conjured a pot of tea and three cups, sat down close to the sobbing woman and touched her arm gently. Claire's brushed the tears away, accepted the teacup with shaking hands and apologized for breaking down like this.
"I don't get much sleep nowadays. Susanna wakes me during nights and often there are dreams… And I haven't heard of him for over a year and I miss him so. I thought he was dead. Tell me about him, please."
Professor Mc Gonnagal told the story of the battle and of Snape's injuries with Claire drinking in the words; and Harry could see from her reactions that indeed she was deeply in love with his former teacher. Why? he asked himself, why could anybody love this ugly, evil-tempered man?
Two days later the members of the Wizarding community of Hogsmeade, who were out for their evening strolls in the warm summer air, met with an unusual event: A silver Muggle car was passing through the narrow streets, and those who risked a closer look, could see Harry Potter and a rather greenish looking Professor McGonagall inside, together with a woman in the driver seat. The car left the village in the direction of Hogwarts and when it reached the gates, Professor McGonnagal got out and started a lengthy and complicated series of wand movements, upon which the gates opened and the car was allowed into the grounds. The witch took a deep breath and directed the car towards Hagrid's cabin. She would not get in again if she could help it, the long trip from London to Hogwarts had been an absolute nightmare for her. But Claire, although ready and eager to come to Hogwarts, had resolutely refused to apparate or to use any other means of Wizarding transport. So after spending the night in Claire's house – Professor McGonnagal making sure that Claire got a good night's rest for once – they had set off in Claire's car.
Claire parked the car behind Hagrid's vegetable patch and was greeted suspiciously by the big man who muttered something like "too good for the bloody traitor" under his breath. They unloaded the car: Two bags and a baby. Then Minerva McGonnagal pointed her wand at the car and it vanished. Claire opened her mouth in protest, but the witch smiled reassuringly
and said, "It's still there, you just can't see it, because it blends in with its surroundings. We call it Disillusionment charm."
Disillusionment charm! Well – there certainly would be more surprises waiting for her in the magical world of Hogwarts, Claire thought, this was just the beginning.
She turned to see her bags float a yard above the ground, obediently following Professor McGonnagals's wand up the hill towards the castle.
Expectant eyes were directed towards the front door of Hogwarts. Members of the Order and Aurors were waiting in the entrance hall for the visitor Minerva McGonnagal had announced an hour ago. The first Muggle to be allowed access to Hogwarts. They all stiffened when finally the door swung open. Two bags floated into the hall and fell to the floor with a thud. Next there was a woman with a black-haired baby in her arm, followed by Harry Potter and Professor McGonnagal herself.
"This is Claire Saunders and her daughter Susanna," the old witch introduced her visitor. Claire smiled nervously and shook hands with each of the witches and wizards.
Apart from their clothes and their tendency to play with their wands they looked like normal people. Shacklebolt gave a wry smile of recognition and squinted at the baby.
"Is she Snape's child?" he asked blatantly.
Claire nodded.
"If only I had known," he muttered, not making it clear what exactly he would have liked to know. Susanna grew restless on Claire's arm and started to cry.
"I must feed her," Claire announced.
"Let me show you your room."
A young witch with unruly curls levitated the bags and turned towards the stairs. Claire started to follow her, but then hesitated and addressed Minerva McGonnagal.
"Can I see Severus?"
"Yes, of course. If you have finished with the baby, Miss Granger will show you to the hospital wing."
Her room was on the second floor, quite close to the hospital wing. Claire admired the four-poster bed and the huge fireplace. There was a cot for Susanna and several other items of baby care. There also was a tray with tea and sandwiches on the table. The young witch, Hermione, as she had asked Claire to call her, helped unpacking the bags, so that Claire could look after her daughter. Feeding and changing nappies didn't take very long and soon Susanna was peacefully asleep in her cot. Claire poured herself a cup pf tea and offered one to Hermione with an apologetic smile. "It may seem heartless, but I must eat and drink something before visiting Severus, I'm starving. The problem with breastfeeding is that it leaves you continually hungry." She took some bites from her sandwich and washed them down with the tea. When she had stilled her hunger she pushed away her plate and looked at the young witch with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. "Hermione - have you seen him?" she asked timidly. "Yes, I have." "How is he?" "His wounds are healing nicely, I think, and Madam Pomphrey cares for him and feeds him, so his body is much better…" "I'm so afraid," Claire whispered. "We all are afraid. We can only hope for the best," the young witch replied with an encouraging smile. Claire smiled back wryly and sighed. "I'm ready," she said and together they went to the hospital wing. There Claire was introduced to Madam Pomphrey, who then led her to the only occupied bed in the room.
Claire stopped at the bedside and looked down at the unconscious man. She had been prepared for the worst, but seeing Severus's face made her stomach tighten into a knot. Madam Pomphrey had bandaged the eyes again, but the thick red scar disfiguring his left cheek was clearly visible against the pallor of his skin. Lines of pain and misery were etched into the face even in its present relaxed state. Claire just stood there, oblivious of her surroundings, staring at this face that had occupied her dreams for a year. Finally she bent down and gently placed a kiss on its unblemished side. Then she sat down on the bed and took his limp hand into hers, holding and caressing it, kissing the long fingers with the broken nails, wondering if he could feel her presence. Tomorrow they would try to help him make his decision. What was he going to choose, life or death? Claire didn't know what she should wish for. They had told her he was still wanted for murder, so choosing life would perhaps mean more suffering for him. But she didn't want him to die, either. She had missed him so much. She wanted to feel his lips on hers again, wanted to hear his voice, feel his arms around her. He was the father of her child, she loved him, she needed him. They had only been together for two weeks, for God's sake! Her tears were falling on his arm, but she didn't care. She only looked up when she noticed a hand on her shoulder and saw Madam Pomphrey stand next to her, her face full of compassion.
"You should go to bed and get some sleep. You are not very strong yourself. Tomorrow will be hard work for you, you must be rested. Would you like some of this?"
The witch handed her a small glass with an orange liquid.
"What is it?" Claire asked.
"Dreamless sleep-potion. Severus made it."
Claire quickly drank the potion and grimaced at its bitter taste. Reluctantly she let go of Severus' hand and rose to leave.
Back in her room, after a brief look at her sleeping daughter, she went straight to bed, where the potion made her fall asleep immediately.
Thanks to J.K.Rowling for the inspiring characters.