"Have you lost your mind, Caterina?" The woman speaking barely raised her voice above a whisper, but Caterina knew she was very angry.

"No, Mother. I believe this baby is the child Great Aunt Tatyana was speaking of," she said.

"But your career, my daughter. You've worked so hard, gained so much, how do you plan to raise a child?" The anguish in her mother's voice made Caterina wince.

"I don't, Mama. But Pietr and Elena cannot have children. I know they will raise my boy right, and he will always know his mama loves him," she answered.

"Your cousin and her husband are good people, this is true. But all these secrets and plans, child. I hope it all works out." She shook her head. Nothing about the situation was easy.

"Thank you, Mama. I knew I could count on you," she said, smiling at her mother.

It hadn't quite been a moment of shock when Caterina realized that she was pregnant. She knew the prophecy her Great Aunt Tatyana had made referred to a child. She also knew that with Severus making plans to ensconce himself as a spy in the self-proclaimed Dark Lord's ranks that she had to hide the fact from him, for his protection as well as for hers and the baby's.

When she saw her babushka shortly after realizing she was pregnant, the old lady smiled at her and gave her a special tea that would bolster her system to carry a baby. "The match of magic overcame all the protections, didn't it, little one?"

"Yes, Baba," said Caterina.

"It happens that way sometimes. It is a pity you and he are so young, and have so many obstacles. In my time, a match of that much power would have made you the couple to envy. Now? Now it just makes you seem stupid. But you aren't, my little one. Sometimes destiny is not within the grasp of our wills," she said. The older woman walked slowly around her kitchen. "You know the spells to keep the baby safe while you play? Luckily he will be born after the season ends for the most part. In late August you will come down with a very curable form of Dragon Pox," she instructed. "Return to me close to then, and I will spell you carefully. No one will be able to tell the difference, and you will be required to be in isolation for three to four months. Elena and Pietr will be sent to you to help you during this time. We shall also be spelling Elena to make her look like she is expecting. She has already had this form of Dragon Pox. You understand?"

Caterina's eyes started to water. She was very thankful that her grandmother had so much of this set up for her. Then she thought a bit. "Baba, you always said I should take Tatyana's words with a grain of salt. Why did you have so many plans in place already?"

Baba threw her head back and laughed heartily. "My sister was a true seer, little one. But no one should live under a geas because of a prophecy. They can play out many ways. I was uncertain of how you were to be involved, but when you told me of the Snape boy and how you were drawn to him, I knew magic had its hand in it. Once it was set in motion, we needed to keep you protected. People can be very odd about children of prophecy."

"I think that's an understatement, Baba. I want my child to grow up strong and unfettered by any of this," she said.

"Good girl, Caterina. He will. We will all see to it." Baba's pronouncement sounded almost like a prophecy in and of itself.

The Quidditch season moved quickly. Caterina was almost unstoppable in practice, but not quite as good as the current seeker. Vladimir Sikanov was one of those veteran players that made people want to play the sport. He had a fondness for Caterina who was a few years less than half his age. One day late in spring, he pulled his broom up next to hers, after watching her fly drills with the reserve team. "You are as young as my oldest daughter, girl. But she only uses a broom to sweep the kitchen, when her mother can convince her to do so. You, you are worth training."

"Thank you, Vladimir. That means quite a bit coming from you," she answered.

"You are taking care of yourself, aren't you, girl? The baby will not end your career?" he asked, genuinely concerned. "I plan to retire within two years, and you need to be ready."

She looked at him, gauging his sincerity. When she saw no guile, no greed in his eyes, she nodded. "I have plans, Vladimir. He will be looked after, and I will continue to play. I thank you for your concern."

He nodded, clapped her on the shoulder, almost knocking her from the broom and sped off, returning to the field of play.

Shortly after practice, an owl arrived.

Dearest Caterina,

Thank you very much for all your encouragement. I have broken things off with Lily as planned. I've also been working with Master Fabrizie not only on potions but on higher magics. It amused him that my Patronus was a doe, but I did not give him the reason. Only you, my goddess, know why I chose a doe to protect me. I guess I'm lucky it wasn't a Quidditch player. That would be very difficult to explain away, wouldn't it?

This letter is very hard for me to write. Master Fabrizie wants me to be the aloof and untouchable person for the Dark Lord, so that I may keep my hands as clean as I can. I am being admitted without the requisite murder because of my display of potion-making skills.

I guess, what I mean to say is that I do not want to endanger you. I care about, no, I will write the truth. I love you.You are the only person, other than my mother, who has seen me for me. I do not know what the future holds, Caterina, but if I make it through to the other side, once everything is done for good, if you still want to give me a chance, then maybe we can see if we can work it out.

Please know that what ever else may happen in our futures, you will forever be my good thought.

All my love, even if it must just be for now,

Severus

Caterina put the letter away in the box she had for special treasures. She knew it was the last thing she would hear from him for many years. She also knew that she would leave it as a farewell, with no response. She would be far too tempted to tell him of the child, and that could not result well for anyone.

Her child was born at the end of the season, shortly after she came down with "Dragon Pox" following a visit to her babushka.

Caterina was exhausted from the birth, for athlete or not, giving birth is not called labor because it is easy. She looked at the boy when they handed him to her. He had dark hair, dark eyes and a slightly hooked nose. "You look like your Papa, my son. May you have his strength and convictions as well as his power." She kissed him on the head, then turned to her cousin who was in the room, waiting for the baby to be handed over to her. "Take care of my Viktor, Elena."

It was Pietr who answered, watching his wife croon to the baby she had been given. "Viktor is a fine name, Caterina. It will go well with Krum."

"Thank you both. I cannot imagine what his life would be like if that Dark Lord knew of his existence. My son will not be a pawn in a war," she replied, face fierce at the thought of danger to her infant.

Elena looked up from the sleeping baby in her arms. "He will always know his mother, Caterina." She held a few fingers up to quell any protests. "He will be told what he needs to know when he is old enough to know it. But you will be a large part of his life. The outside world will just think that you are his fond godmother and cousin, not his mother." She raised her eyebrows in emphasis.

The gesture made Caterina think of Severus, and she smiled through the tears that had started to fall. "Give me a kiss, both of you, and go before I change my mind."

They did as they were told and left the room. As Caterina's tears fell in earnest, Baba walked in the room. She sat on the bed and held her granddaughter in her arms. "You are doing the right thing, little one. You shall see."