The First Day
Severus kept watch over his wife and child all morning, astounded that he was now a father. Zelda slept deeply for several hours, so when the baby opened his eyes, Severus picked him up and held him. He could think of nothing to say to the child… Alaric, he should say, so he held him in silence, watching him breathe.
Alaric did indeed have the black hair that Zelda had predicted, although everyone said that sometimes a baby's hair changed color. His eyes were a dark blue-gray, and the others said that would change too.
"I wish you'd have the good fortune to resemble your mother," he told the infant softly, running a finger lightly over the delicate head. "We're lucky to have her in our lives."
The tiny arms moved randomly, emphasizing the helplessness of the newborn to Severus. Protectiveness roared through him as he considered the dangers that might threaten his little son. It was a heavy responsibility.
The baby eventually began to move jerkily and whimper. Severus changed the way he held the baby, but the fussing continued. He grew nervous, not knowing what to do, and when the baby started crying he went hastily to Zelda.
"Zelda!" he said urgently. "Wake up."
Her eyes opened groggily, but suddenly she smiled.
"He's hungry," she told her worried husband. "Let me sit up and I'll take him."
The thin cry of a newborn resembled a cat, he thought, but it was only a moment before Zelda reached for Alaric and got him settled to feed.
"There's not much yet," she said. "My milk will come in soon."
"He's not starving, is he?"
"Not if he's peeing and looks hydrated. Soon enough there'll be a feast."
"I never knew anything about childbirth," he mused. "When I watch you with him, it's logical and perfectly natural, but it surprises me."
"Come sit down," she invited. "He'll feed every two to four hours, so I'd like to keep him in bed with us at night sometimes. When I'm sleep deprived, walking to the crib is horrid, but if he's with me, I can practically feed him in my sleep. Gradually he'll begin sleeping through the night, but now his stomach's so tiny that he needs night feeding."
"Are you worried I'll object?" he asked.
"We've never done this before, and I have to say I'll miss snuggling with you sometimes, even though I love this little guy."
"I'll find time to be with you," he said. "Never fear, my absurd wife. I'll do my best for our son too. He's so pure and sweet, I find it hard to believe he'll grow into a beastly creature like my students."
She frowned at him and said, "He'll be just as sweet and wonderful as Harry, except more adorable, because he's ours."
He gazed frigidly at her, remaining conspicuously silent.
"Sev, look at him. What a good little angel he is," she said reproachfully.
I like the fact that he stays where I put him," said Severus grudgingly. "Unlike Potter."
"Speaking of Harry, we should eat lunch and prepare for visitors," she told him. "Alaric's almost finished, for now."
Severus went to the drawing room and called Dobby, who promised to deliver their lunch immediately. When he returned to the sitting room, Zelda detached the drowsing newborn from her breast and put his head against her shoulder. She began patting his back.
"He needs to burp after he eats," she explained.
Dobby appeared with a luncheon tray, beaming at Zelda.
"Dobby, thanks. I'm starving," she said, handing the baby to Severus and reclining back on the couch. "Have you seen our baby yet?"
"Dobby has seen the baby," he replied. "Dobby's happy to help Mrs. Professor Snape to care for the baby."
"Thank you, Dobby," she replied kindly. "I may need you sometimes, but among Muggles, most of us care for our own babies."
Severus put the baby gently into the cradle and sat down with Zelda, offering her a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Ah… I'm so hungry," she said, drinking thirstily and accepting a plate of food from him.
Severus found himself hungry too, a fairly unusual occurrence. Becoming a father required more energy than he'd imagined. He noticed Zelda gazing intently at him and looked back enquiringly.
"I imagine my alternate life sometimes, the one I'd be living if I'd never met you," she said. "I feel disoriented."
He knew precisely what she meant. "None of my alternatives involved happiness. I feel sometimes that I don't deserve my life."
"I feel the same," she replied. "Although if you think about it, I'm fat, stretched, old and taking on huge responsibility at a time when my peers are planning their retirement. I have no business being so happy, but I'm very happy."
He smiled faintly and said, "Your visitors will be here in ten minutes, so prepare yourself. I'll tend young Alaric."
She headed for the bathroom while Severus Vanished the remains of their meal. He picked up the baby and headed for the changing table, determined to change a diaper correctly, without witnesses.
"Don't laugh," he warned the newborn as he began uncovering the tiny body.
He stared, fascinated at the miraculous little body. He realized when he had the diaper unfastened that he needed a clean one and reached for it, keeping one hand on the baby. There was a sudden warm wetness on his hand and wrist and he realized he was drenched in urine. He sighed, wondering if this would be a normal occurrence.
"Having fun?" asked Zelda, having come to watch.
Severus wiped off his hand and cleaned the baby. Remembering how Michael had done it, he methodically applied the diaper and then turned to look at his wife.
"Smooth," she said. "Let's change his clothes now."
He stepped back and watched her deftly undress the baby.
"Choose something nice for him to wear," she said.
He handed her a soft white nightgown that covered the baby completely. Her deftness as she slipped clothing over the tiny head and arms was admirable. Then she picked him up and cuddled him, then handed Alaric to his father.
"Will you hold him while I brush my hair?"
He nestled the child against his chest, gently stroking the tiny back. A child of his should not be beautiful, but this infant was quite perfect, he thought.
"Do you want to change clothes?" asked Zelda. "You're still wearing yesterday's clothes. Did you forget?"
He had forgotten, furthermore he realized that many pests would invade his space, so he decided to wear his customary clothing, rather than Muggle clothes.
"I'll be ready shortly," he told her.
Zelda took the baby and went to the sitting room, finding a comfortable position and laying the child on her chest.
A few seconds later she heard voices and Harry arrived, flanked by Ron and Hermione.
"Zelda, I can't wait to see the baby!" exclaimed Hermione, bustling ahead of the boys. "Oh…"
She knelt in front of Zelda, gazing raptly at Alaric. Harry's slight frown vanished as he realized Zelda seemed well.
"Hi kids," said Zelda with a smirk. "If you're interested, I'll set you up with babysitting classes."
"May I hold him?" asked Hermione, sitting cautiously down. "He's so sweet."
Knowing Hermione had experience with a baby cousin, Zelda handed Alaric to her as the boys looked on, stunned. Hermione cradled the baby competently, looking down with a delighted smile.
"What's his name?" she asked.
"Alaric," replied Zelda. "Boys, sit down and say something. Are you in shock?"
"Where's Professor Snape?" asked Ron, shocked that Hermione was allowed to hold the newborn Snape.
"Ron!" said Zelda, having seen his thought. "You're a wicked young man."
"Should you be Legilimencing innocent people?" he asked, flushing.
"My Muggle rudeness. I used to do it without being aware what it was. Bad habits die hard."
He grinned at her and said, "Mum's coming down this evening and said to tell you she can't wait to see the baby."
Harry handed something to Zelda and said, "Hermione left me holding this. It's for the baby."
Zelda opened the small package and discovered it was the mobile Hermione had thought necessary. It did indeed have lightweight black bats, each with a happy little smiling face.
"Hermione, it's perfect," she said, chuckling. "He'll love looking at it."
Harry watched the others, mostly silent. He was filled with painful emotions. The sight of Zelda with her baby, the joy in her eyes, made him wonder briefly if his mum had looked like that…
Zelda saw Harry's pain and confusion. She wanted to help, but speaking in front of others was too invasive. Fortunately, Severus came out of their bedroom in full Snape regalia, a welcome distraction.
"Look what Hermione brought for Alaric," she said, holding up the mobile. "We'll put it over his bed and he can watch the little bats flutter in the breeze."
He rolled his eyes, his persona perfectly in place. "Thank you," he said stiffly to Hermione, glaring when he saw her holding his son.
"Severus!" said his wife, laughing. "Can't you work gradually back into your menacing thing? I'm still weak from childbirth."
He swooped over and kissed her cheek apologetically. He couldn't be open and vulnerable before other people, not even with these brats who'd watched him fall in love with Zelda the previous summer.
She caressed his cheek briefly and he saw that she understood.
"Be careful with our offspring," he told Hermione. "Zelda went to a great deal of effort to produce him."
"I will," she assured him earnestly. "He's lovely, Professor."
Ron moved closer, wanting to see what fascinated her. Really, the baby was incredibly small and red, he thought. It had black hair like its father, but the nose was insignificant. The eyes opened suddenly and the tiny mouth yawned, eliciting an enchanted sigh from Hermione.
"He's got no teeth!" said Ron, shocked.
"That's a good thing," said Zelda, chuckling. "You haven't had much to do with babies, have you, Ron?"
"Never seen one up close before," he said cheerfully. "Is this one typical?"
"This one's superior in every way," replied Zelda. "But to the ignorant, he'd be considered typical."
"He's so sweet," gushed Hermione.
Ron and Harry stared at each other, wondering if Hermione had lost it. Their know-it-all friend was cooing insanely over a baby.
Rowena rushed in and pranced from one person to the other, and then the room was suddenly filled by Hagrid's presence.
"Afternoon," he said. "Rowena's been missin' yeh, Zelda."
Zelda sat up and made room on the couch between herself and Hermione. Rowena spotted the opening and leaped joyfully up to be petted. Severus was pleased to see Granger hold tight to the child, guarding him from the powerfully swishing tail.
"Sweetie, I missed you," she said, kissing the dog's head. "We have a new baby, Rowena, and I want you to take care of him."
Rowena was sniffing Zelda frantically, recognizing a change in her. Suddenly she turned and looked at Alaric, held close by Hermione. Her black nose was twitching eagerly.
Everyone held their breath and watched. Zelda put a hand on the dog's neck and Severus grasped his wand, prepared to stun the dog. But Rowena's tail began wagging as she sniffed the baby.
"Hermione, give him to me," said Zelda. "Rowena, this is Alaric."
She took the baby and held him close, petting the dog with her free hand. Rowena licked Zelda's face and quickly licked the baby's cheek, then got up and ran to Severus.
"Good dog," he said, relieved.
"She'll be fine wi' the baby now," said Hagrid, smiling. "Can I see 'im?"
Without hesitation, she put the baby into his hands and watched. Hagrid's eyes twinkled with pleasure as he held the infant. Zelda invited Rowena to sit by her and sat stroking the dog fondly.
"He's a fine little one," said Hagrid. "I don' get ter see babies, livin' at Hogwarts. The last one I held was you, Harry."
"Really?" asked Harry, watching Hagrid with fascination.
Ron recognized Hagrid's expression from the day Baby Norbert hatched. Who'd ever believe Hagrid was mad about babies?
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle entered the room together. Harry was delighted that Draco looked nervous, but Crabbe and Goyle came bearing gifts, namely a huge bouquet of hothouse flowers. The pair marched straight to Zelda, while Draco slipped over to sit by Harry.
"I can't believe Professor Snape has a kid," he whispered. "Lucius used to mock him and tell my mother that "poor Severus" was so ugly, no one'd want him. I almost wish he knew how wrong he was."
"I hope your father never finds out Zelda and this baby exist," said Harry, imagining what Lucius Malfoy would do to Zelda.
"I'd do anything to keep him from knowing. Lucius is a sick bastard. He destroyed my mother, left me to deal with… Voldemort and ruined his life through his own arrogance."
Zelda was exclaiming over the lovely flowers from Crabbe and Goyle, feeling sure the pair had never given anyone flowers in their lives.
"Are you okay, Zelda?" asked Crabbe.
"I'm fine, just exhausted. I need a few weeks to heal, but I hope you'll come down next week and tell me more magical history. Babies aren't much for conversation, so I'll be glad to talk to someone intelligent."
Dobby put an assortment of snack foods on the table by the window and the students began moving around the room, eating and talking.
Zelda got up and went to where Hagrid was sitting and gazing in delight at Alaric.
"How does he compare with your young magical creatures?" she asked in amusement.
"I wonder if he's a wizard," mused Hagrid, looking thoughtfully into the baby's eyes.
"How can you tell?" she asked.
"Yeh can't. Not at first," he replied. "I'm thinkin' he's got magic in 'im, but it's jes' a feelin' I have."
"I don't care one way or the other," she said. "He's perfect to me."
Severus listened, realizing he'd have more worries about this subject. He wished he could accept what would come without reservations, as Zelda would do.
She stood up slowly and went to where Harry and Draco were standing and watching the others.
"Too strange and foreign to you?" she teased.
"Congratulations, Zelda," said Draco. "I've never had anything to do with babies, but this one looks acceptable."
She chuckled wickedly. "Afraid I'll make you babysit? I think I'll book Hagrid for the job. Who'd ever think that he's crazy about babies?"
Harry smirked, remembering Baby Norbert. "He'll have to fight Hermione for the job. Who knew she'd go mad for a baby? At exam time too!"
Hermione and Ron emerged from the Snape bedroom.
"I put the mobile over his bed," she said brightly. "Would it be too much if I came by later to see him again?"
Ron's blue eyes bulged slightly as he said, "Er, we should be studying, shouldn't we?"
"We have plenty of time for that," she said eagerly.
"Next visiting time is half past four," said Zelda. "Minerva, Michael and Kingsley sent word they'll come this evening, after dinner, but it'll probably be quiet earlier. I need to sit down again now."
Harry offered his arm, which she took with a smile.
"Come back, okay?" she asked, squeezing his arm. "Did you talk to Lily and Eli?"
"Yeah. They want to know when they'll get to see the baby," he said, helping her to sit down and sitting next to her, looking earnestly at her.
Hagrid interrupted them. The half-giant handed Alaric down to her, smiling happily.
"It's time fer me ter go ter class," he whispered loudly. "Let me know when yeh wan' Rowena ter visit Fang again."
"Thanks, Hagrid," she said. "Thank's for the flowers, too. They're just gorgeous."
"Take care, Zelda," he said, nodding. "I'll be seein' yeh."
Zelda examined Alaric, sleeping peacefully after his visit with Hagrid.
"Want to hold him, Harry?"
Harry stared at the tiny creature, fragile enough to be terrifying, but he knew it meant a lot to Zelda, and he could tell Lily and Elijah that he'd held their brother.
"Okay, but how?" he asked, squirming.
"His head needs support, like this," she said, demonstrating.
Harry gingerly took the baby, who stirred and whimpered. He looked at Zelda in horror.
"What am I doing wrong?" he asked.
"Relax and hold him closer," she said. "He's been inside me, listening to my heart beating for months, so he likes to be close to you."
Screwing up his nerve, Harry hugged the baby cautiously, with no result. Severus watched in cynical amusement from across the room. Wickedly, he walked soundlessly up behind them.
"Potter," he hissed icily.
Harry jumped and instinctively clutched the baby protectively.
"Sir?" he asked, old habits making his heart race.
"Hold him that way," instructed Severus, smirking.
The baby quieted, seeming to enjoy the close contact with Harry.
"Not bad, Potter," said Severus, moving away from them.
Zelda laughed. "Excellent, Harry."
She leaned over and kissed his cheek, making him feel much better.
"May we bring the baby to your cottage to see the kids?" she whispered. "I can't wait for them to see Alaric."
"Sure, any time. But Lily wants to know what his middle name is," asked Harry.
"We had no choice," she said teasingly. "It's Michael."
"That's great," he said, realizing it wasn't so bad to hold a baby. "I don't know anything about babies, Zelda."
"I'll teach you, if you want," she offered. "Someday maybe you'll be a dad, so it's good to know."
"Not for twenty years, I won't," he said fervently. "I'm not parent material."
"Hey!" called Ron. "We're going now, Harry."
"Come back at four," suggested Zelda. "Alone, okay?"
Harry carefully handed the baby to Zelda. He smiled, looking happier than before.
"See you at four," he whispered.
The students all came to say goodbye and then headed off to classes. Suddenly the room was very quiet.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" asked Zelda, gazing up at him.
"They'll be back, my girl, and you need to rest," he said sternly.
"I know. I think a short nap in bed might be nice," she offered. "Alaric has a new mobile, so I think he should try looking at it."
"He'll need feeding," said Severus.
"I know, but I'd like to snuggle with my husband now, if that's okay," she said.
He'd been feeling deprived and, even without the prospect of sex, he wanted her undivided attention. He helped her to her feet and soon they were lying in each other's arms, smiling into each other's eyes.
"This is perfect," she said, running her fingers through his hair and kissing his nose. "I sleep best with you."
She warmed his body and soul, he thought. "Rest, my girl," he commanded, rubbing her back soothingly.
She closed her eyes, buried her face against his neck and was almost instantly asleep.