Oh, Baby!

It was nearly a month since I'd been with the dragons, and during that time I had learned more about fire, controlling my temper, illusions and masking spells than I could've been taught in seven years at Hogwarts. Fireflash was nothing if not a through and competent teacher and in those three and a half weeks I ate, slept, and breathed magical instruction. It was sort of, now that I look back on it, a kind of spellcasting boot camp, where I learned at a highly intensive and accelerated rate. But what I learned then would stay with me for the rest of my life, and indeed the lessons Flash instilled in me would someday soon save my life.

For there was a dark shadow hovering on the horizon, though I did not know it at the time. The mystery of my past and the reality of my present were about to collide all unknowing, bringing trouble and heartache into my life once more. But all of that was yet to come.

All I cared about right then was that Fireflash pronounced me a full-fledged firecaller on a sunny day on May 4th, three and a half weeks since my arrival at Camp Crystal. To celebrate, we went on a quick flying tour over the volcano, with me on Spark, and Flash and Sunny flying wingman. Citrine had to return to her duties on the Council a few days before, so I'd already made my farewells to her.

As we flew over, Flash told us how the volcano was the final resting place of the wicked Dragonmaster, otherwise known as Gerald Crouch, who'd been responsible for the killing of five bronze dragons, including Aventurine, Spark's father. Both of us spat into the crater as we flew by, and Spark said he hoped the bastard was roasting nicely in hell.

"If there's any justice the other side of heaven he is," I said, peering down at the bubbling magma core of the volcano.

Deep beneath the surface, I could feel the molten heat stirring, and I quickly looked away, not wanting to encourage St. Helen's to wake up. Then Spark was circling off to the right and I was safely beyond influencing the volcano with my powers.

In celebration of my new status as Firecaller, we had fresh tuna, grilled over a fire conjured by yours truly. I love fresh tuna steaks, and these were roasted to perfection, basted with wild onions and teriyaki, nicely browned on the outside and pink and juicy on the inside. I stuffed myself like a pig and prayed I wouldn't end up with indigestion later on. (I didn't, thank God for small favors).

As a token of my graduation, Flash presented me with a dragonscale pendant, made from one of Spark's shed scales. Bronze scales have magical properties if enchanted correctly and are one of the hardest substances known to wizards. This one was enchanted with the rune for communication, so I could speak with my dragon friends whenever I wished, and also the rune for clarity of thought.

"When you need to, activate the rune for clear seeing and your mind will become sharp as a dragon talon dagger, able to see through any and all deception, whether of your own or another's making," Flash said. "Take this token of my friendship and use it wisely, Firecaller Snape. May you fly high and far and be a credit to your lineage."

I bowed low to him and slipped the pendant over my head. "Thank you, Fireflash. I'll never forget what you taught me, sir."

"I would hope not, apprentice," the dragon chuckled, grinning at me toothily. "I'd hate to think that all my lectures and wisdom were nothing more than hot air, going in one ear and out the other."

I laughed at that, then reached out and hugged his ankle, which was the only part of his body I could get my arms around. "It was an honor to be your student, Flash."

The dragon preened. "And it was an honor to be your instructor, Firecaller Gavin Snape. I think I can say this experiment was a blazing success, right, Sunny?"

"It was indeed, Flash," replied Sunstrike, giving me her own smile. "And I might just consider taking on a wizard apprentice of my own, once this Council session is over."

"Now see what you've started, Snape?" grumbled Spark. "Next thing you know I'm gonna have wizard kids all over this mountain, and I'm gonna always be compared to them."

"So what, Spark? Competition's good for you," I shot back and Spark glared at me.

"Look who's talking, Mr. Big Chief Firecaller," Spark snorted. Then he spread his wings and gave me a challenging look. "Care for one last flight over the basin? For old times sake?"

"You're on, wizwyrm! And this time I'm gonna wallop you like a naughty dragonet."

"You and what army, Snape?"

"This one." And with that I summon up a few flames shaped like wizards on brooms and send them aloft. Then I summon my Windstorm and take off after them, laughing. "Catch us if you can, slowpoke!"

Spark growled something that was probably a swear word in dragonspeech and took off after me, but I manage to maintain my two second lead by sheer luck and some wickedly dangerous flying, and I touched the ground in front the cave first for once. A sweet victory to end my time here, and all's well that ends well, as Flash is fond of quoting.

We part friends and promise to see each other sometime in the near future, when our slavedriving masters give us a vacation. Then I pack up my things and return home on Flash's back, proud as a peacock, to find my father standing on the back porch, waiting to welcome me home again.

* * * * *

I arrived home two days before Arista was due to have her baby, as fate would have it. Everyone in the family was anxiously awaiting the newest arrival, and I swear Sev practically wore a hole in the carpet pacing up and down when Drake called him to tell him that Arista was in the beginning stages of her labor early Wednesday morning, May 6th, which was her mom's birthday.

I couldn't resist teasing him a little. "Hey, Dad, why are you so nervous? It's not like it's your kid getting born, y'know."

He shot me a baleful glare. "Shut up, Gavin!" Then he went back to his endless pacing and muttering. "When is Trish going to call with some news, damn it?" he asked, rolling his eyes heavenward.

I shrugged and didn't bother to reply to that question, because I had no clue. The only thing I knew about babies getting born was that the first one took hours, sometimes, and all the women cursed out their husbands and threatened to do some serious bodily harm to the man while it was happening. It made me glad as hell that I wasn't a girl, that's all I can say.

Dad was looking a little ragged around the edges, so I suggested he sit down and have a drink, not tea, but a shot of firewhisky. The way he lit into me you'd have thought I'd told him to drink Absolut laced with hemlock. I shut up after that and kept my suggestions to myself. There's no reasoning with a father whose daughter is having his first grandchild.

Soon after that, however, Severus went and sat down in his recliner and stared up at the portrait of him and Amelia that hung above the fireplace. Then he said, very softly, like he was trying to keep from screaming, "I'm not overreacting, Amelia. The kid just got on my nerves right now, and the last thing I need is to be drunk." He was scowling at nothing, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "I don't give a bloody damn if that's what every other man in the damn world does to calm down, I'm not touching any whiskey, Amy! You know how I feel about the stuff. Merlin's bloody arse!" He put his head in his hands. "I'm about to become a grandfather and you want me to become like my bloody father, for Godsake!"

At this point I started to become seriously afraid. Oh my God, he's snapped. It's too much, all the pressure, me and my smartass attitude, Arista's having a baby. He's totally lost it. What do I do? Help me God, I can't take this!

Just then my spellophone ring chimed and I answered it with relief. Finally, an adult who could help me. "Hello?"

It was Drake. "Hi, kid. I just wanted to give you and Sev an update on Arista."

"How is she?"

"Doing fine. She's almost ready to push and she's relaxed, well, as much as you can be, and the baby's doing fine too. How's Dad doing, little brother?"

"Drake, I think he's gone crazy!" I babbled. "He started pacing and now he's talking to himself."

"What? Calm down, Gav. You're not making any sense. What do you mean?"

"Well, he's been all snarky to me and when I told him to have a shot of whiskey, he damn near bit my head off." Drake snickered. "What's so funny about that?"

"You forget, Sev hates whiskey, Gavin. You should have offered him tea instead. Spiked with a Calming Draft."

"Whatever. But Drake, I'm serious, he's talking to himself. He's sitting in the recliner, looking up at the portrait of him and Amelia and he's having a conversation with her. And there's nobody here except me!"

I waited for Drake's gasp of alarm, and I wished I hadn't told him about his father-in-law's sudden descent into the loony bin. He had enough to worry about right then. But to my utter shock, Drake didn't look at all concerned. "Hang on a minute. You say he's having a conversation with Amelia?"

"Uh-huh. He's totally lost it, Drake!"

"No, he hasn't, Gav. Trust me. I guess he never told you about soulbonds, huh, kiddo?"

I scowled. "What's that got to do with anything? That's an empath thing, Arista said you've got one with her."

"So did Severus with Amelia. That's how he can speak with her now. Soulbonds last beyond death, Gavin. So she's probably with him right now, only you can't see or hear her."

I nearly fell off the couch. "What?! You mean Dad's talking with his dead wife's ghost?" I yelped.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying," Drake replied. Then he laughed at my expression. "Come on, kid, you didn't really think he'd gone nuts, did you? Even you aren't bad enough to drive him bonkers, no matter what you do or what he says. Ask him and you'll see." Then he frowned. "Gotta go, Gavin. Arista's calling me. I'll tell Trish to call you as soon as the baby's head is showing. Bye."

Then my brother-in-law's face disappeared back into the image gel on the ring as he ended our conversation. I felt as if my head was going to implode like a helium balloon too near a fire. I'd known Severus really adored his late wife, but even I'd never guessed that he'd shared one of the deepest and most intimate bonds with her known to wizard and Muggle alike. No wonder then that he'd never remarried. Or that he was hearing his wife's voice in his head or whatever.

I cast another glance over at the recliner. Dad was now gesturing and arguing impatiently, "You're forgetting, love, this is the first time I'm going through this, since you never bothered to tell me when Arista was born. So excuse me all to blazes if I'm a little nervous."

I squinted sharply, using my magical senses to try and see if there were any spectral presences in the room. I could almost sense . . .something. It felt like . . .a warm ray of sunlight. Then I rubbed my eyes and when I opened them again, I could just make out the hazy blue outline of a small woman with auburn hair in a Hunter's shirt and pants standing next to the recliner, resting her hand on Sev's shoulder.

I gaped, speechless for once.

She turned her head and winked at me then, smiling in amusement. Then she looked back at her husband and I heard her say softly, "Severus, you're scaring your poor son to death. He thinks you've gone off your rocker, dear."

Dad snorted, amused. "Not even close. After all the headaches he's given me, Amy, if I haven't been committed now, it'll never happen." He turned to look at me. "Relax, son. I'll explain everything in a minute." He shook his head. "Why aren't you with Arista, Amelia? Doesn't a girl need her mother the most at this time of her life?"

"Sometimes, yes, Sev. But Arista's doing fine right now, and you needed me more than she did, so I chose to be with you. Calm down, Sev. This isn't the first baby born in the history of the world, you know," she laughed. Her laughter sounded like bells chiming.

"It's my first grandchild," Dad pointed out grumpily. "And I'm fine now, so you can go back to your daughter. She needs you more than I ever did at this time, Amy." He sighed, running his hand through his hair, which he only did when he was extremely nervous or upset. "How long does it take to have a baby anyhow? With all those Healers, can't they speed it up?"

"No, dearheart. Having a baby is one of those things that doesn't welcome a Healer's interference. It's best to allow nature to just take its course, unless there're complications."

"Complications? Like what?" Dad looked like he was about to bolt up from the chair.

"Easy, Sev. There's no need for you to go through the roof," Amelia soothed. "Arista's fine, this is a textbook delivery, from what I can sense. So relax, Grandpa, before you give yourself an early coronary."

"I am relaxed," he muttered, scowling. "Honest I am. I just hate all this blasted waiting. Why couldn't women have babies the way cats have kittens?"

"I don't know, Sev. Maybe next time I see God, I can ask Him for you." Then she burst out laughing. "I'm sure every woman on the planet has asked that same question."

"Don't make fun of me, Amelia. Women! There's no understanding you sometimes."

"I know. That's why you love us so much," she smiled at him, and in that smile was such love and tenderness that I nearly cried. God, what I wouldn't have given for my mother to smile at me like that. Then she leaned over and kissed him.

I looked away. I'm no Peeping Tom, and this was an intensely private moment. My face felt like it was scorching and I firmly kept my eyes fixed on the ceiling.

When I looked back a moment later, they'd stopped kissing, thank the Lord. But Dad had a look on his face of such love and contentment that you'd of thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Well, maybe he had, in a way. "I love you, Amy."

"I love you too, Sev. And now, I think I'd better go and see what's going on with Arista. I don't want to miss the birth of my first grandchild. See you later!" She put her spectral arms about him and hugged him, kissing him once more, then she vanished in a cloud of golden sparkles.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to clear the glittering afterimage from my retinas. Hell, I groaned to myself, I didn't want to be able to see dead people. I had enough crazy talents just being a firecaller and an Animal Speaker, I didn't need to become John Edwards too. It was then that I realized my hand was gripping the dragonscale pendant Fireflash had given me. The rune for clarity glowed faintly as I stared at it, then it faded. With it you can see through any kind of illusion or deception, Flash's words swirled in my head. Was a ghost considered an illusion? Guess so, or else the amulet wouldn't have let me see Amelia.

I heaved a vast sigh of relief. Thank God, I wasn't going to start seeing ghosts all over like Whoopi Goldberg in that old romance Ghost with Patrick Swayze. "Dad?" I began. "Was that really Amelia you were talking to?"

Severus turned to face me, opening his mouth to reply, when his spellophone chimed. He immediately opened it to reveal Trish's smiling face. "Hey, Dad! You need to come over to the hospital double quick. You're a grandpa! And Gavin's an uncle, may God help the poor kid."

"I'm on my way, Trish." He shut the spellophone and turned to me. "Come on, scamp, let's go and meet the newest Snape."

"Uh, the baby's a Lockwood, Dad," I felt compelled to remind him.

"Right, but also a Snape, Gavin." He held out a hand for me to grasp.

"What is it, a boy or a girl?"

"Uh . . .do you know, I forgot to ask," he said, looking sheepish.

"You're losing it, Dad," I said, laughing.

"Shut up, Gavin!" he mock-growled, grabbing me in a hug that nearly squeezed the breath out of me. Then we Apparated in a flash of blue light.

* * * * * *

Trish, my other sister, and her husband Flick were waiting for us when we appeared in the waiting room of the maternity ward. Trish is short, blond, and curvy, with sparkling brown eyes. She's the most easy-going of us all and we love her for it. She teaches preschool at another integrated wizard-Muggle school in Brick called Little Wonders. Her students adore her, she's a natural with them.

Flick, whose real name is Robert, works under my dad as a Hunter, and he's always ready with a joke or a smile. He's medium height, with spiked brown hair and dark eyes that are always dancing, unless he's tracking down a suspect. He's a martial arts master and one of the best combat masters ever trained by Colin Flynn.

Right then both of them wore broad grins on their faces and Trish bounced over to hug Dad and me. "Come on, you've got to see the baby!"

"Uh, Trish? What is it, a boy or a girl?" I asked.

"You'll see. Arista wanted you to be surprised."

We followed her and Flick through a small blue door and into a room that was painted with sunflowers and hearts. There in a bed against the wall was Arista, looking a bit worn, but she was smiling in sheer delight down at the little bundle in her arms. Drake was seated beside her, beaming proudly, one hand resting on his wife's arm.

Arista looked up as we entered, her dark eyes glowing. "Dad, come and meet your grandson, Severus Alexander Lockwood." She held the tiny baby out to Dad, who looked like he'd just received the Order of Merlin First Class, awed and delighted at the same time.

"You named him after me?" he asked, taking the baby from his mother and cuddling him expertly. I was surprised, until I remembered he'd held both of Colin's kids before when they were this little. "Hello there, young man," he crooned, and the baby whimpered or something.

"Yeah, Arista and I decided it sounded better to name him Severus Alexander instead of Alexander Severus," Drake told him. "Alexander's my dad's middle name, and I like it better than Robin. But I think we're gonna end up calling him little Sev."

Dad didn't say a word, he was too busy playing with his new grandson, who was gripping one of his long fingers in his tiny fist. I peered over Dad's arm. Little Sev was a little red-faced, but he had the biggest pair of dark blue eyes I'd ever seen, and he was looking at the finger he was holding like it was the biggest mystery on earth.

"Hey, kid. What're you looking at, huh?" I asked softly, and reached out to stroke the downy fuzz on the top of his head, which was a kind of dark reddish color. "I'm your Uncle Gavin." God, that sounded so weird!

"Careful, Gavin," Dad warned. "Don't touch the top of his head, babies are very sensitive there."

I immediately withdrew my hand. "Sorry. I didn't know." I extended a finger at the baby's other hand. "Can I touch his hand then?"

Baby Sev didn't know how to use his left hand too well, so I settled for touching the tiny palm. His skin was softer than griffindown. I grinned down at him, unable to help myself. "Wow!"

"Yes," Dad chuckled. "He's perfect, isn't he? Want to hold him, Gavin?"

"Uh . . .now?" I gulped, suddenly terrified. "But he's so small."

"Not really!" Arista put in from the bed, and Trish laughed. "He's a good seven pounds and five ounces, Gav."

"He is?" I repeated, thinking that he sure didn't look it.

"Yeah, trust me," said his mother.

"Sit down and I'll put him in your arms," Dad instructed, jerking his chin at the foot of the bed.

I sat, feeling my stomach start to do flips, I was so nervous. "Uh, Dad, I don't know if this is such a good idea . . ." I began.

Dad smirked. "Come on, Uncle Gavin, say hello to your nephew. He won't bite. Hold out your arms like you were cradling an expensive potion bottle." He placed the baby in my arms, making sure one of my hands was underneath his bottom and his head was resting securely on my upper arm. "Good. Now hold him against you, that's right."

I snuggled the tiny thing to me, marveling at how he felt so light and yet so squirmy, for his little legs and arms were flailing a bit. "Hi, little Sev," I said, and then the baby looked at me for the first time and his tiny mouth twitched into what I could swear was a smile. Aw, Jeez! And suddenly I wasn't nervous at all. Just really happy and amazed at the little miracle staring up at me.

Right then and there I vowed to be the best uncle ever.

"Well, Gav? What do you think of him?" Arista asked.

"Arista, he's . . .amazing!"

"You can say that again," his father chuckled.

"He certainly is," Dad agreed, smiling. "Congratulations, you two." He then went over to hug both new parents. "You should be very proud of yourself, Arista. I know your mom would be, if she were here."

"She was, for awhile," my sister whispered in my dad's ear. Then she straightened and said, "I just hope my son doesn't drive me as crazy as we did you, Dad."

"He'll have a ways to go before he equals your brother," said Dad with a wicked smirk.

"Hey! I'm not the only troublemaker in this family!" I said indignantly. "The twins get into more trouble than I do. And Marietta's no angel either."

"The four of you are the new Horsemen of the Apocalypse," Dad remarked. "Replacing the original Horsemen."

"Who were they?" asked Trish.

"My mom, Aunt Teri, Aunt Sandy, and me, I think," replied Arista with a laugh. "Right, Dad?"

"Correct. Your mom and aunts used to drive Leo just as crazy as you ever did me, Arista Eileen. Or this scamp does," he added with a sigh.

"You like me this way," I pointed out. "You wouldn't know what to do with a kid who behaved all the time."

"No?" He arched an eyebrow at me.

"No. You said so yourself, all kids get in trouble and there's no such thing as a perfect child."

"There is now," Drake put in, indicating his son.

"You say that now, buddy," Flick chuckled. "Just wait till he wakes you up at two in the morning, Drake. We'll see how perfect you think he is then, right, Sev?"

Dad merely smiled knowingly. "All fathers think their children are perfect."

"Really? Then you think I'm perfect, right, Dad?" I queried.

"Of course I do," he answered and I smirked in triumph. "A perfect scamp, that is."

The others burst out laughing.

I frowned. "Real funny, Dad." But I wasn't really annoyed with him. Much. "Just like you were when you were a kid," I added slyly.

"Good one, Gav!" Trish said, laughing.

Dad pretended to glare at me, but I knew he wasn't mad either. A second later he ruffled my hair, then he took little Sev from me and gave him back to Arista. Just in time too, for the baby started howling.

"Somebody's hungry," Arista crooned, and summoned a bottle of formula with a snap of her fingers. While her son ate, she turned to Severus and asked, "So, Dad, how does it feel to be a grandfather?"

"It feels wonderful."

"He didn't think so a few hours ago, Arista," I couldn't resist adding. "He was nearly going through the wall waiting for the kid to get born."

Dad shot me an irritated look. "So? It's not everyday your first grandchild comes into the world. Now quit smirking, Gavin!"

"Yes, sir." I tried to control my expression into something that was not grinning like an obscene monkey.

"Uh, Dad, I hope you realize you're going to have to go through this again in another seven months," Trish began, giving him a tentative smile.

"What?"

"Flick and I are expecting," she announced proudly, and was promptly congratulated by Arista, Drake, and me.

"That's great, Trish," Dad said, then I heard him mutter, "Somebody shoot me now, please!"

I couldn't help myself. I burst out laughing.

"Incorrigible brat!" Dad growled.

I just laughed harder. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father's mouth twitch into a reluctant grin.

So what did you think of Sev's reaction? And how did you like Amelia being there as well?

Next: Gavin gets a brilliant idea that they ought to go on vacation to Salem, but will Snape agree? Find out next chapter!