Disclaimer # 1 - These characters aren't mine.

Disclaimer # 2 - Squick fest. non con. mpreg.

It had been some time since he was graced with a visit by his own personal apparition. Least, Severus believed that his last visit by the Glowering Ghoul of the Disapproving Dumbledore had been several days ago….

Or perhaps it had been perhaps… a week or so ago?

Touching the stubble on his chin, Severus pondered if his last haunting had been actually more than… two weeks ago…? It had been before he was shaved by Bellatrix for his command performance in front of the Dark Lord… wasn't it?

Quickly, he crawled away from the phantasm, accepting that there was no escape; nevertheless, Severus did feel more secure in the situation when he was in the corner of his cell. With two walls firmly against his back, Severus didn't have to worry about anyone attacking him from behind.

Though, his mind thoughtfully pointed out that since this Albus was an apparition, would mere stone walls be able to stop him?

"Severus?" Albus the Apparition softly questioned.

Severus knew his part in this charade, and how to appropriately respond. The Physical Albus had been brutally efficient in training him in what was acceptable responses. Quickly, Severus had come to terms with the simple fact that the only way to ensure that the excruciating pain did not start anew was to play his part with all the grace he possessed.

Survival was paramount; keeping his pride intact was not.

No doubt this visit was another of Albus' assessments, and Severus feared failing it.

Once, he thought himself strong enough to easily laugh off torture, but that was before Severus had been broken so easily, and so efficiently. They hadn't even wasted the energy to Imperio him after the first few sessions, because the unholy need to protect the child had become so engrained into his soul after they had bespelled him that it overrode every other instinct. Even his own physical safety was no longer his main concern, except for the simple fact that he was the incubator; it was necessary for him to stay alive.

He cradled his belly protectively, because that's exactly how Albus had trained him.

Failure to do so quickly and properly would only lead to Albus kicking him. Physical punishment was favored by Albus, as his nemesis could quickly focus the delivery of retribution to only Severus' less vital areas, his face, arms and legs, while Magical punishment could affect Severus' entire body.

Albus knelt next to him, and Severus softly groaned.

Moaning was good.

It pleased the Physical Albus to hear him whimper. The Glowering Ghost on the other hand, appeared ghostly aghast by his sniveling and the fact that Severus shied away from him.

"Severus… what have they done to you?" Albus gently questioned.

His voice was husky, as though Albus was upset with Severus.

Yes, Albus would be upset with Severus, because Severus Snape was an ungrateful git.

"Thank you for my present, Albus," Severus quickly whispered. In the hopes of earning much needed bonus points, Severus smiled widely, and attempted to appear enthused. Truthfully, he was as far from ecstatic as he had ever been, and in fact, Severus was so long past terrified that he was working on a state of full hysteria.

Being knocked up by one Powerful Wizard of Good and then being used as a ruse by a Powerful Dark Wizard to destroy the Good Wizard had quite utterly destroyed Severus' mental equilibrium.

Severus knew that he was thisclosetogoing absolutely positively barking mad.

"What present?" Albus softly questioned. His sincere voice sounded concerned.

"My special gift," Severus hesitantly reminded him, wishing he understood why the capricious Albus was being coy. "My very special Christmas present."

Don't you remember?

Yougave a unique and integral part of yourself to me as my special Christmas present.

Albus hadn't informed him of when exactly the conception had taken place, and so Severus had doggedly obsessed on the simple, indisputable and unquestionable truth that it was, in fact, the result of his Christmas night with the Real Albus. Severus had accepted the brutal truth, which was that the odds of the sprog being conceived on Christmas were so long as to be near impossible, but his refusal to believe otherwise was the only way his shattered soul could handle his escalating emotional and psychological trauma.

It had to be that night, because he couldn't bear to consider the possibility that the child he was so determinedly protecting with every fiber in his being had been engendered by the Angry Albus.

Yes, he was bespelled. He knew it, but that didn't stop his savage need to protect the sprog.

It had to be Albus' child.

After all, hadn't the Christmas Albus been gentle?

Evidently, Albus had planned the conception of their baby to be the perfect culmination of an incredible night for Severus. Dumbledore had been an unusually considerate and caring lover, besides being quite zealous… in fact; almost… relentless… in ensuring that Severus had been completely satisfied.

Only Minerva had ever before treated him with such thoughtfulness.

Severus had naturally, in turn, desired to please his lover, but instead, Albus had insisted on focusing only on him. Their coupling hadn't been a hard, fast and furious fuck, but long moments of tenderness combined with Albus' playful teasing. Then to Severus' bewildered surprise, after they had made love, Albus had adamantly insisted on Severus staying in his bed, where the two of them had snuggled together under the blankets. The two of them had even cuddled, kissed, and softly talked while they had gently explored and touched one another.

Albus hadn't just taken his pleasure and kicked Severus out of his bed.

No, he only had dismissed Severus because Severus had gotten entirely too bold! He should have been happy with what Albus had deigned to give him.

Severus always wanted more than he deserved.

You knew that I always craved the smallest part of you just for me. All those years, I assumed that you were horrified and disgusted by my dark desires… and instead… you gave this to me.

Just for me.

You always give everyone socks and scarves for Christmas. Never before have you sired a child on anyone.

Just me.

Me and me alone.

MINE

I just wish that you had asked before you cast the Paters Gignere Ingeniter on me, Albus. It will in all probability kill me, Albus, to bring this child of ours to term. If you had only asked… I would have willingly agreed… I could have prepared a strengthening draught…researched some potion… found something that could help this child be born…

Maybe… I'm so… confused…what being bespelled, hexed and cursed...maybe you wanted to surprise me with this?

Yes, you wanted to watch me… until I comprehended what we had created together.

I'd be so afraid to confess, to fearfully admit to what had occurred, terrified that you'd blame and curse me for this blessed mistake. Then to my overjoyed surprise, you'd laughingly reveal your duplicity, your blue eyes merrily twinkling with amusement over my apprehension, and then you'd tenderly explain how this was your gift to me. You'd reassure me that you'd carefully watch over me while I brought this to fruition.

Yes, that has to be the explanation. The other explanation… is… unacceptable and intolerable. You have to be the father. I could not handle the shame otherwise.

You are always such a trickster, Albus, and I constantly fail to understand your wit. … This would be a merry trick that you would gleefully perform on your grim and humorless Slytherin… you would clandestinely wait in the shadows in order to merrily observe my shocked and bewildered reaction…

That's why I know you're responsible… and not… him.

Because this is something that you would do to me. Then while I was sputtering in my confusion, you'd offer me a sweet.

"Sherbet lemon, Severus?"

They'd be so resentful and covetous because you had deemed that a Slytherin, and most horrifically to that Blasted Gryffindor Honor, that This Slytherin in Particular, was worthy to be part of this experience, and not one of your Golden Gryffindors. As always, Potter, Black and Lupin would be malicious, but you'd punish them because at long last… you cared for me and clearly saw their cruelty.

You'd keep me safe, unlike when I was younger.

You'd ask for my forgiveness for what happened in my formative years, and I'd assure you that it was nothing…for nothing matters between us but the now.

But… then why am I here? Why are you letting the Dark Lord's followers hurt me?

"The socks?" Albus questioned, his voice confused. "The scarf? Why do you burn with this completely unexpected enthusiasm for socks and scarves, Severus?"

This isn't a punishment, is it?

To give me this gift? Then to deny all knowledge of it? Leaving me alone to bear the guilt that I'm causing it to suffer?

"No," Severus desperately whispered. "My special Christmas gift? You said you had planned it, that you'd be so proud to look upon me and know that you gave it to me… Please, Albus, I'm so sorry."

He put his one hand on his face to shields his tears from the maddening, capricious Albus. Why was Albus so cruelly mocking him like this? Albus knew that Severus didn't posses his finely developed sense of whimsy. Severus was pragmatic and strict, he had never learned to be otherwise. His life had offered him no other alternatives, no other way to survive Tobias and Eileen.

"Why did you put me here?" Severus softly questioned. He strove to keep his voice calm and composed, but he sounded plaintive to his own ears.

"You believe that I did this to you?" Albus asked.

"You were angry about what I said Christmas night. I'm so sorry, Albus. I should never have said what I did. I was too presumptuous, I know… too familiar… but I was just… overwhelmed… by your kindness and compassion…I spoke before I thought…. Please… please... forgive me. I did not mean to offend you with my impudence."

"Severus, you weren't impertinent, lad. I was absolutely astounded by how strongly you felt. I reacted badly, and I wasn't as sympathetic to your feelings as I should have been. When you're rescued, we'll have a long talk, and everything will once again be just fine between us."

Albus' voice was so soothing and comforting, so much like a soothing salve on a painful wound that Severus had to ask The Question.

"Then why are you punishing… us?" Severus fearfully asked.

"Us?" An obviously thrown Albus questioned.

"Albus? The Paters Gignere Ingeniter?" Severus prompted, his voice sounding strained. "I'll be dead before the child… our child… is ready to be born. Don't let it die because you're furious with me… Please? Albus... please…Why are you pretending that you know nothing about your precious gift to me? Why are you being so cruel? Is not my sincerity in apologizing enough to assuage your anger?"

"Paters Gignere Ingeniter?" The phantom's voice sounded strange, but then his tone turned harsh and demanding. "Severus! What have they done to you?"

"Albus? You did this to me…?" The Slytherin softly questioned. "I'm protecting our child from Albus as well as I am able. I swear to you that I am. He hurts me, but I permit the abuse."

"Why do you let him hurt you, Severus?"

"To protect the baby you gave me," Severus stated in confusion, disbelieving that Albus thought there was another alternative that he hadn't considered. "I do anything they want me to do…If I am not lively and quick, they have threatened to Crucio me. That wouldn't be good for our baby, it could permanently harm it. I do many horrible things in order to protect it, I fear that one day, you will both know the magnitude of my disgrace."

Albus said not a word, and Severus began to panic.

"Know this. I do it gladly, for you both. But please, you need to explain to me… why did you let them take me?"

Severus' eyes were full of madness, and his voice was cracking.

"Christmas night, Albus? Clearly, you had meticulously planned everything…didn't you?"

"First thing I need to do, is get you out of here, Severus," Albus insisted, refusing to answer the question, but knowing that Severus would hear an answer anyway. "I'll find you, and then we will put this to rights."

The prisoner stared at Albus, and his eyes that had once blazed with such an obscene, exultant joy were now cold and dead. The Slytherin was curled up into the fetal position, but his hands were protectively resting over his belly.

"Don't you be afraid, I'll take care of you, I swear. I'll keep you safe, I will, I will," Severus whispered. "Doesn't matter to me who your father is. You're mine. All mine. Ignore him, he's not really here. And if he was actually here, he wouldn't care. But I care… I care for you."

And then he refused to speak to Albus.
Albus woke then, his heart pounding in his chest. For a moment, he thought he was still in the dirt cell with a shell-shocked, extremely traumatized, and yes, apparently pregnant Severus who had confidently pinned his expectant condition as being completely due to Albus' tender mercies. There was a droning noise, and Albus prayed that he wasn't to be haunted by the sound of Severus softly crooning to his unborn child for all of eternity.

He would be haunted enough by the knowledge of what he had witnessed; Albus would prefer to do so without the additional bonus of sound effects.

Fawkes then gently chirruped his concern about Albus' emotional state, and Albus gratefully realized that he was in his bedroom.

Severus?Paters Gignere Ingeniter?

"Bloody hell, I need to wake Filius," Dumbledore growled.

He requested a house elf bring hot chocolate and other delicacies to his quarters, suitable for calming and bribing an unhappy to be woken staff, and then he Floo Called Filius, and yes, Minerva also.

The witch gave him a jaundiced eye of stern disapproval when she exited his Floo. Her long hair wasn't completely restrained, as she apparently had put it into a bun with a lick and a promise. Her tartan dress was neat and presentable, so she must have used magic to ensure she looked presentable.

"You're too easily making a habit of these late night chinwags, Albus," she snapped. For good measure, she gave him a mighty glare, that might have frightened him, if he wasn't Albus Dumbledore.

"I'll explain the tawdry details when Filius gets here, Minerva. I don't want to repeat myself," Albus stated.

"You don't look well." Her voice was questioning. Then she sighed, and softly added, "Was it?"

"Our little boy lost? Yes," Albus slowly admitted.

Filius tumbled out of the Floo, his dark hair askew, and looking rather rumpled. Unlike Minerva, Filius had thrown on his academic robes. Being a small man in a large world, Filius used everything thing that he could to work to his advantage. Respect could be earned by intellectual intimidation, after all.

"This better be GOOD, Albus," the diminutive Charms Instructor darkly growled in a tone that would deeply surprise the denizens of Hogwarts, all of them possessing the same mistaken impression that Filius Flitwick was the closest to Sainthood among all those currently in residence at Hogwarts. "Pour me a cup of Hot Chocolate before I accidentally murder you with a muffled, misfired hex."

"First, I must ask you, Filius, what do you know of Paters Gignere Ingeniter?" Albus questioned. "Understand that what I am about to reveal to you can not leave this room."

Filius ceased his grumbling and shook his head.

"Very well, I will swear a Wizard's Oath, if that makes you happy. Paters Gignere Ingeniter ? That's Dark Magic, Albus. If you truly want to chat about that particular spell in the wee hours of the morning, in my completely professional opinion, you should really bring our DADA instructor Remus Lupin into the conversation," Filius calmly stated. "He's your Dark Arts specialist. Severus would probably be the better option, but he's not available."

"Let us say that I can not bring Remus into this conversation," Albus carefully phrased that. "Due to his past history with the possible victim, I believe that it would be counterproductive to have his input."

"Severus?" Minerva's voice was rather shocked. "Are you saying Severus has been hexed with Paters Gignere Ingeniter?"

Filius sat down, and his somewhat grouchy demeanor disappeared to parts unknown. Instead, he was completely the sharp minded academic.

"Merlin's knickers, Albus, you should have just said it." Flitwick hissed. "Very well, Paters Gignere Ingeniter is Dark Magic. It is not as commonly used today as it was back in the Middle Ages. It's primarily a method of prolong torture, though I'm sure some fools have thought it the height of romantic love to have their lover's child. Two male wizards have sex, willingly or not, and the child is conceived. The wizard that is carrying the child becomes almost a squib, for the lack of a better term, during the pregnancy. All of his magical essence is used to carry the child. His magic nourishes it and allows it grow inside of him. It's very draining, and it takes an extremely powerful wizard to carry the child to term."

"That's what I know, but I need more information, Filius," Albus explained. "Go beyond what's written in the text books, Filius. I need to know everything I can about that curse, even if it's merely hearsay, as it might prove invaluable."

"It's a risky spell at the best of times, Albus. I'm assuming that one of the Death Eaters fathered the child?" Filius questioned. "Paters Gignere Ingeniter usually requires a latency period after the spell is cast. The wizard's body needs time to adjust. While it's technically possible to cast the spell and then immediately impregnate the wizard, the odds are quite low that you'll actually be successful. What else do I need to know?"

"To add further insult to Severus' injury, there is a possibility that Polyjuice Potion might have been used so the Death Eaters took on… my physical form." Albus was proud that his voice remained steady when he admitted that.

Filius hissed, and made a warding gesture.

"Under the letter of the law then, the child is biologically yours, though you will not be legally responsible for it," Filius reminded him.

"I will be responsible for the child, irregardless of what the law currently says. I owe Severus that much," insisted Albus. His voice was stern, and it brooked no disagreement or opposition to his statement. "He will not have to deal with this situation alone."

"Severus may not want anything to do with you after what he's experienced. More importantly, he may not want the child after he is rescued. There are options available to him that he may decide of which to make use. Poppy must be involved, naturally. She's discreet, plus she's… compassionate. Some mediwitches are far too forceful in inserting their personal beliefs into this particular situation. Poppy will do what must be done. But Albus, how do you know all this?"

"I've been having dreams…" Albus admitted slowly.

"Turning into Sybill, are you? Very well, it's quite possible that you're catching psychic vibrations from this event, especially since you're so intimately involved with Severus' current trauma. I warn you though that if I catch the slightest whiff of cooking sherry from your direction, I will be most vexed with you." Filius growled the word vexed.

Filius' bright eyes stared at Albus, and then the Ravenclaw Head shook his head.

"That's very bad, Albus. Both you and Severus are powerful wizards, and the child most likely will be also. That means Severus' magical reserves will be quickly depleted. But on the positive side, they might have made a major mistake then. Be back in a minute," Filius snapped, before he got off the couch and ran toward the Floo, his small academic robes billowing behind him in a fair impersonation of Severus Snape.

With a puff of green smoke, Filius disappeared.

"How was he?" Minerva questioned.

"He seemed to be coping with the situation as best as he was able. Severus had decided that the child had been conceived on Christmas night, and was fiercely protective of it because it was… mine. He called it his Christmas present from me, and when I, naturally, being confused about the situation, Severus became quite agitated."

"Oh," was all Minerva said.

"I fear that I might have shattered his illusions in my confusion," Albus softly confessed. "I should not have done that."

Filius then exited the floo, carrying a rag and a small package. Behind him, a bespelled small cart was following him. It was filled with assorted books, and various scrolls.

"Clean a table off, Albus. I'll need room," Filius ordered. "I might be able to locate the baby. I'm sure Severus' location is Veiled, as you have been unable to locate him. But the baby? I doubted that they have even thought of the possibility of it being used to Locate Severus. When I boxed Severus' belongings after his disappearance, I found a cloth with his blood on it. It appears that he was injured at the Christmas massacre and used it to clean his wounds. Also, I managed to find some of his hair on a brush."

Albus nodded his head once, and then he rolled up the sleeve of his robe.

"My blood is willingly offered. You do not have to fear that the onus of performing the Dark Magic will fall on your soul, Filius. It will be my obligation to carry. I do so willingly." Albus quietly stated. "As for my hair, due to the Army of Polyjuiced Albuses running amuck and creating chaos, I can easily assure you that it's quite potent for spell use."

"All you need is one piece, Albus. You can then Replicate it until you have enough to weave blankets upon blankets for your Army of Albuses," Filius reminded him. "You have no fault in this."

"I do," retorted Albus. "I hold the final responsibility for what has occurred."

Filius hemmed and hawed, placing the dirty cloth with Severus' dried blood and a few pieces of Severus' hair on a piece of white silk. Albus tugged at a healthy clump of his hair from his head, and without a wince, he added it to the pile.

"I didn't need quite that much, Albus," Filius softly reminded him.

"Severus' hair is desiccated, and so is his blood. You will need more of my magic essence in order to balance and bind the charm," Albus stated.

"Actually, I was wondering. Min?" Filius shyly questioned. He didn't quite meet her eyes when he asked, "You did take the boy to your bed?"

Minerva slightly blushed, but proudly nodded her head.

"You can use my blood as the binding," she offered. If it helped locate Severus, the slight taint of being involved in a Blood ritual mattered not at all to her. "Plus my hair."

"Thank you," was all Filius said, but she heard his gratitude in his tone. Plus, the timbre of his voice seemed more optimistic.

"I don't understand why you're using Minerva's blood. If they should detect what you're doing, they may use a Backfire Spell to harm her," Albus protested.

"I'm willing to take the risk," Minerva insisted.

"Easy, Minerva. I can shield you as much as possible from the possibility of Backfire. Albus, the boy's been wounded by you. Not you, I know, but the physical essence of you. His blood may not agree to be bound with yours for the Location spell. Minerva has been lovers to you both," Filius explained.

"I didn't realize everyone knew," snippily inserted Minerva. She had always prided herself on her discretion.

"She has cared for you both and has willing received from both of you, your physical essence…" Filius blushed and then slowly whispered. "Sperm, Minerva."

"I paid attention in class," Minerva snapped, though her face was fiery.

"In turn, you have both fulfilled her as the Goddess," Filius explained to Albus.

"You both gave me an orgasm," Minerva inserted, knowing and accepting that this was a very serious matter, but she did intend on making Filius pay through the nose for revealing her carnal secrets. "Usually the two of you did so repeatedly, I'm quite delighted to announce."

"This is beginning to sound somewhat… pagan, Filius," said a blushing Albus.

Filius, realizing that his lecture on the spell had moved in areas that he wasn't comfortable discussing, then offered a small silver blade to Minerva.

"Cut Albus, and then he'll have to transfer his blood to the cloth. You then cut your own wrist, and you then will have to mix your blood between both of them. Severus' blood may react favorably to yours. It may cling to yours, and Albus to yours. That way their blood will be mixed and I can locate the child."

She cut Albus' wrist, and she hissed at the amount of blood that welled from the wound. So much blood, so much more than she had planned on spilling. Blithely, Albus let his blood pour onto the silk cloth, uncaring of the flow. Minerva then cut her own wrist and then her own blood was soon mingling with the blood of both Albus and Severus.

"I'm sorry, Albus. I didn't mean to cut you so badly," she admitted.

Albus gave her a gentle smile. His blue eyes were somber, and she realized with a frightening thought that Albus Dumbledore was old. Not just old, but also weary and terribly exhausted from the battle he fought. Intellectually, she had always known that Albus was her elder, but he had always seemed... energetic.

"I'm sorry, also," he whispered.

Not for the cut, but for the emotional wounds he had unintentionally inflected on her so many years ago when they had been lovers.

I should have treated you better, as I should have treated Severus kinder. But I had wanted to protect you, to protect him, from the pain of loving someone so undeserving as myself.

"I know you are sorry, dear heart. I know you are." Minerva whispered. "I've long since forgiven you."

"But will he?" Albus questioned.

His soft voice only reached her ears, as Filius was busy flicking and swishing his wand. With a final snap of his wand, Filius had completed the spell.

"And now? Minerva questioned.

"And now we wait to see if we can Locate, Severus. We may not have enough of his blood for this to work," Filius tersely answered.