Snape Revealed Shorts, Story ONE:
Lost and Found
Part 1: Dumbledore's Request
AN: JK Rowling created most of these characters and the universe from which they hail…
Okay, we all knew this was coming. Even before I got pregnant I thought about writing a Snape and baby story. This takes place about 2 yrs after Severus arrives at Hogwarts to teach. He's had roughly 22 months to mourn for Lily and his involvement in her demise and has been having a very rough go of it. Some other tragic things have occurred as well since Lily's death that he's also trying to cope with.
Thanks Ambiguity for helping me with some research for this.
This piece is not betad.
September 9, 1983
Severus woke up in a worse mood than usual that Friday morning. As much as he loathed teaching Potions at Hogwarts, he loathed the loneliness that weekends brought him even more. As a result, Friday was his least favorite day of the week. He got himself dressed in his usual black teaching robes and ran his fingers through his wet hair.
He left his washroom and entered his sitting area to find Nina in her favorite spot, curled up in a tight ball in front of the green-flamed fireplace. She raised her head when she saw him and meowed once. Normally Severus acknowledged her but on that day he just walked right by and out of his corridor with a loud slam of the door. He sped passed the vacant Head Girls room without looking at it as usual and climbed the stairs towards the Headmaster's office for the weekly Head of House meeting, which was usually held on Thursday mornings but Dumbledore had official business in London the day prior.
Severus marched with conviction down on the stone floors of the ancient school, glaring at as many non-Slytherin students that dared make eye contact with him. The only thing the new school year brought that made Severus happy was none of the current students were his peers back when he was a student there anymore.
As usual, Severus was the first to arrive in Dumbledore's office. He sat at a chair near the fireplace that faced a wall to avoid getting the bright morning sunshine in his sensitive eyes. He removed his prized fob-watch from his robes and sighed when he saw the time. Four more minutes until the meeting, which meant two before McGonagallwould grace him with her presence.
Severus's mind wandered, trying to find an occupation for the weekend. He could assign all of the Hufflepuffs detention for the entire weekend, but then he'd be stuck in a chilly dungeon with a bunch of clueless Hufflepuffs all weekend, which seemed like a worse scenario. He could work on his book, but he simply found his mind wandered too much when he tried to sit and write. He could venture into Muggle London and catch a punk rock concert, but he wasn't quite that desperate, and since the death of Sid Vicious, he thought punk rock had lost its spirit. There was always the cinema, but that would only occupy several hours of his weekend.
Then there was Lucius Malfoy, but Severus still could hardly stand him, and since he'd stopped drinking over the summer, he found it was very difficult to be near him, despite Dumbledore's efforts to keep the he and Lucius close for surveillance purposes. Draco Malfoy was becoming the biggest spoiled brat to ever breathe oxygen, and the constant bickering between Lucius and Narcissa got on Severus's nerves. If she'd just forgive him and if he'd just take some mood enhancers, they'd be a nice couple to be around, if Severus were truly that desperate.
When the door opened and Minerva McGonagall entered, Severus decided he was indeed that desperate. He'd pen a letter to Lucius inviting himself to the Manor for the weekend after the meeting. Severus instantly felt relieved. There was still a small part of him that missed the good times he'd had at the Manor, and an even smaller part that missed the old Lucius of many years ago. He was, after all, one of Severus's best friends still, the fact he could hardly stomach him mattered not. He'd rather spend a weekend of opulence at his fake-friend's mansion than being around sniveling students.
"Severus," McGonagall said in her usual tone as she took the seat furthest from him. Severus just nodded and waited for Sprout to show up next, which she did. She was too much of a morning person for anyone aside from Dumbledore.
"Good morning Severus!" Pomona Sprout exclaimed as she poured her coffee.
"Yeah," Severus fought to reply.
"Chipper as always I see."
"Pomona, we both know Severus here is not a morning person, never has been," McGonagall spoke in his defense as if he wasn't even in the room.
"I still hold out hope that someday he'll grace me with a smile before noon!"
"I'd not hold my breath Pomona…I'd settle for a smile any time of the day," McGonagall muttered as Flitwick entered the room. "Good morning Filius."
"Oh I suppose it is. I do wish we could do these meetings in the afternoons."
"Me as well, but Albus loves breakfast meetings for some reason," McGonagall replied as a house elf handed her the same breakfast she had at each Head of House meeting…soft boiled eggs, dry toast, two plump sausages and a small glass of orange juice. Filius Flitwick sat next to Severus and dined on his stinky bangers and mash as always, and on that day, Pomona Sprout decided to have beans on toast with a side of ham. Severus got up and poured his usual coffee, with extra cream and extra sugar.
"I must say Severus, how on earth do you not have a million cavities with all those lumps of sugar you add to your morning coffee?" McGonagall asked.
"What? I only added four."
"Most people add one."
"I'm not most people."
"Yes, we are aware."
Severus sat down and stared at the elf that was standing next to him holding a silver platter.
"What?" Severus asked.
"The Headmaster asked us to make sure you ate," he said, and lifted the lid to expose three donuts. "He knows you like chocolate!"
"Um…I'm not in the mood for chocolate donuts."
"Of course you are Severus," Albus Dumbledore stated as he entered his own office holding a chocolate donut of his own. "Ever since I discovered these, I can't stop thinking of them."
"I know. I should have never taken you to…"
"And I know you love them too! Go on, eat up!"
"I'll never tire of trying to fatten that one up," Sprout erupted with a wink. "Don't make us force you now!"
"Fine," Severus said, putting the donut in his mouth. Even he could admit it was the most delightful taste he'd ever sampled. But he made sure his face didn't show his pleasure at the simple donut.
"Okay, well let's make this brief; Argus can't watch the students in the Great Hall forever. So, according to my records it's Severus's weekend off, do you plan to leave the castle Severus?"
"Oh yes, indeed, I most certainly do!" Severus said with great conviction.
"And where are we going?" Dumbledore asked.
"Does it matter?"
"Albus, the same place he always goes," McGonagall said. Severus sometimes wondered if she was a legilimens, but he knew she wasn't. No, it was far worse than that, he was becoming…predictable.
"Ah, well tell Lucius I said 'Hi' then," Dumbledore stated plainly.
"Honestly Severus, gallivanting with the likes of Lucius Malfoy, after what he's done,"
"What has he done Minerva? He was found guilty of nothing!" Severus snapped.
"Yes but we all know he is guilty! Half the members of the council were Slytherins as is the Minister for Magic and…"
"What are you implying?" Severus asked in a defensive tone. "Minister Bagnold is a highly respected…"
"Minerva, please, Lucius Malfoy is guilty of nothing but having a weak mind, we can move on now," Dumbledore spoke plainly and then sighed. "Now, before you know it we'll be having our first Quidditch match of the term and…" Dumbledore paused as Hagrid burst through the door holding a bundle in his colossal arms.
"Sorry fer not knockin', but look wha' I found!" Hagrid exclaimed. Everyone in the room stood and leaned in to see what kind of magical creature he'd discovered this time. Hagrid began to pull back the burlap when the creature made a high pitched squeal.
"Is it a Bowtruckle?" Sprout asked.
"No, sounds more like a Pixie!" Flitwick stated.
"No, it can't be, it sounds like a Porlock," McGonagall stated.
"No, no, it's nothin' lie' tha', it's a…"
"Baby," Severus said under his breath. Everyone turned to face him when the baby began to coo.
"Yeah, it's 'er baby!" Hagrid said with a joyful smile.
"Hagrid, where did you find a baby?" Dumbledore asked in an amazed tone.
"Somone lef' it outside my hut!"
"Who would do such a thing?" McGonagall asked.
"Clearly someone who didn't want a baby," Sprout said in a saddened voice as she leaned in to catch a glance of the tiny creature.
"If abortion were legal in our world this kind of thing wouldn't happen!" Flitwick boasted as everyone rolled their eyes at him.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Sprout asked.
"I dunno, I didn' check."
"Who cares? We need to get this child out of here!" Severus said.
"And where would it go?" Sprout asked.
"It would go where other orphans go, to an orphanage until its parents come to claim it."
"And Severus, if that never happens?" McGonagall spoke.
"No, no orphanage, orphanages do awful things to children, need I remind you? Besides, Death Eaters destroyed the only orphanage that we would use. This is probably a baby witch or wizard, we can't allow the child to go to just any Muggle orphanage," Dumbledore stated as he reached out his arms to grab the baby from Hagrid's massive hands. "Aw, come here little one, oh he, or she…is cute."
"Aw, he or she most certainly is!" Sprout boasted as McGonagall looked almost as sickened as Severus.
"It's a he, he looks like a he," Severus stated calmly. "Was there a note?"
"No, nothin'! Nothin' but a nappy an' this burlap bundle."
"Here, Severus, check to see if this baby is a he or she," Dumbledore suggested as he tried to hand Severus the baby.
"What? Why me?"
"You're the Healer!"
"No, I'm the Potion's Master. You are all qualified to decipher the gender of this….person," Severus said.
"Severus, you're a qualified and highly capable pediatric Healer. Please, examine this child."
"Fine!" Severus quipped. He grabbed the baby from Dumbledore and opened the burlap to find nothing on the poor baby but a soiled nappy. The nappy had magical pins on it so it was obvious the child came from at least one magical parent. Severus just pulled the nappy down enough to confirm that he was, indeed, a boy. "Male, appears to be around eight or nine months old," Severus stated as he continued to examine the baby. "He has…six teeth," he spoke as his finger gently glided across the baby's gums, the baby began to giggle.
"Aw," Sprout and Dumbledore sighed at the same time.
"He likes you!" Flitwick exclaimed.
"He probably likes the sugar on my finger."
"So he was just lying outside of your hut?"
"Yea' Headmaster, in th' garden, near the cabbage!"
"The child came from a cabbage patch? Really?" Severus asked, handing the baby back to Dumbledore.
"Aw, a little cabbage patch kid!" Sprout said with a smile. "Give him to me! Oh, so cute!" she smiled and began to rock the baby, who instantly began to scream. "Oh, oh dear."
"That's odd, babies usually love you."
"Yes, well my own do Filius, this one seems rather…cranky."
"I'll take him again," Dumbledore stated, but the baby didn't stop crying, in fact, he began to scream even louder.
"What's wrong with him Severus?"
"Why are you asking me? I don't know…ask him!"
"He can't speak yet Severus."
"Yes Filius, I'm aware of that, I was joking. He's in a soiled nappy being ogled over by a bunch of witches, and he's probably hungry."
"How, how will we feed him?" McGonagall asked.
"No one here at Hogwarts is lactating that I'm aware of," Sprout interjected. Severus couldn't believe she said what she just said.
"Severus, can we spoon feed him goat's milk?"
"Well Minerva, I'm not sure we're in possession of a goat and goat's milk is for goats, human milk is for humans, he needs human milk…and a spoon is not efficient."
"Well, Healer Snape, can you acquire a lactating breast in the next hour or do we sit and listen to him scream?" Flitwick asked in a tone that angered Severus even more.
"What? You don't have one?"
"Severus, Filius, this sarcasm is getting us nowhere. Severus, please, what do Muggles do if they need to feed orphans?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm not sure. Let me do some research, in the meantime, just…just…slice an apple and let him suck the juice out until I can think of something."
Severus turned and left the room frazzled and angered. He knew Muggles fed their babies artificially but he couldn't remember how. With everything he'd been through in the last two years, he was surprised he remembered anything from his past, let alone his medical training. He tried not to think of his own child who had died, but it wasn't easy. Suddenly it dawned on him. A bottle! He turned and went back into the office.
"A bottle, they use…"
"Yes Severus, Filius just said something like that, but what do they put in it?" Dumbledore asked.
"I seem to recall reading something about Muggles using this artificial powder stuff that's mixed with water."
"What? And…and Muggle babies can survive on that?" Sprout asked making a sickened face.
"Probably not very well, I mean, they are Muggles after all, so who cares if they malnourish their children," Severus stated bluntly.
"Severus," Dumbledore sighed.
"What? It can't be healthy!"
"I meant the Muggle bashing."
"Oh, well, it's…it's what they use I think. Filch can go into town and get some."
"Hagrid, please go get Argus and have him go into town to get nappies, bottles, and this…what's it called?" Dumbledore asked.
"I don't know…Muggle baby food-powder-crap?" Severus replied.
"That, get that. In the meantime, it's getting late, you all must get to class, I'll have the elves care for this child and bathe him while I try to find out who his parents are. Goodness, he won't stop screaming."
"God, give him to me!" Severus snapped, reaching for the baby. Dumbledore handed him the baby and then the elf appeared with the apple slice. Severus placed the apple slice in the baby's mouth. The baby moaned and sucked on the slice, and even nibbled on it a little. "There you go, that's what you wanted."
"You do have a way with babies Severus."
"Well, Pomona, he was a pediatric Healer," McGonagall reminded.
"Hmm. Maybe that's what this baby needs," Dumbledore added.
"What?"
"A Healer. He could be sick; you should care for him after your classes," Dumbledore instructed.
"What? No! He's fine! He's just hungry and dirty. The elves can care for him."
"None of these elves have a background in being a baby nurse Severus, but you are a pediatric Healer."
"Was, I was, and now I'm a Potion's Professor…"
"No, Severus, tonight after your classes, you will care for this child until we find his parents. And no more protesting. Please tell Lucius Malfoy you'll have to postpone your visit. You need to tend to this baby."
Severus felt his heart sink. He'd rather spend a weekend with the Devil-Spawn known as Draco Malfoy than a strange orphaned baby he knew nothing about.
"But…but…"
"No buts Severus, my mind is made up. In the evenings and weekends, the baby will stay with you."
"But…but…"
"No buts I said."
"But…Minerva or Pomona should do this!"
"What? Why?" McGonagall asked in a horrified tone.
"Well, you…you're….you're a woman!"
"So! You're a man, am I to assume you're a natural at Quidditch?"
"Point taken."
"Besides, I can't stand babies…I don't even like children much." McGonagall said as Severus's mouth dropped.
"Oh Severus, I have my own to worry about and that baby doesn't like me much," Sprout added.
"Don't look at me!" Filius stated.
"It's decided…Severus, you will do this for me…please," Dumbledore said firmly. Severus was speechless. His Friday was turning out far worse than he expected.
…To be continued.