Disclaimer #1 – Not my characters.

Disclaimer #2 – AU, Dark Fic, Non con, Mpreg, angst,

Disclaimer #3 - SS is a little OC in this, but please excuse him, as Albus is being...well... Albus, and that's enough to even crack the bravest soul.

The Hogwarts House Elves outdid themselves. A spot of breakfast turned into a full bloody breakfast. Pork sausages, bacon rashers, scrambled eggs, black and white pudding, toast, soda bread, marmalade, jam, lemon curd, grilled mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, scones plus far too many other edibles were brought into his room.

"Merlin's saggy left tit," Severus whispered, as his traumatized stomach objected to the mere thought of eating even while the table groaned in protest at the sheer weight of breakfast. "I see Albus has decided that I'm not eating enough. He should have just fitted my room with a feeding trough."

"Actually, the House Elves did it on their own," Poppy explained from the safety of the doorway. "May I come in?"

"Do I have any chance at stopping you?" Severus growled. Even though his life was utterly topsy turvy, Severus struggled to maintain his usual dyspeptic attitude. Any weakness could be exploited, and he needed his emotional armor and his rapier wit to defend himself.

"Not really," the mediwitch admitted easily. "But it is considered polite to ask. Most importantly, I have someone who wants to visit you, and I thought you'd probably desire to see him before you saw Horace."

"Who now wants to spread the milk of human kindness by visiting the infirm?" His voice was deadpan.

Truthfully, he couldn't think of anyone one might want to see him. If the Dark Lord was at all concerned, he'd have Lucius drop off a fruit basket rather than stop by for a chin wag.

"Filius?" Minerva softly questioned.

"Yes, it's Filius," Poppy agreed.

"You should see him, Severus," the witch softly suggested. "Flitwick was quite concerned about you the last time I saw him."

"Plus he did nearly kill himself up rescuing me," Severus dryly. "Bring him in. I hope he's hungry."

Severus stared at food before turning a delicate shade of light green.

"I know I'm not," he dryly added.

After the Charms Master entered the room, he took one look at the food and then gazed at Severus before shaking his head. "I thought you were eating for two, not a bloody Quidditch league."

"The House Elves," Severus curtly explained. "Pull up a chair and join us. Poppy? I trust that you're staying."

"Maybe I'll have a bite," Poppy admitted.

Severus was hungrier than he had supposed, but the apparently fully recovered Filius still managed to tuck in a vast quantity before the quartet had finished demolishing breakfast. He was still finishing his regretfully decaffeinated cuppa when Poppy left, leaving just Filius and Minerva to hover over him. Filius and Minerva were busy verbally sparring over some arcane issue, and he was warm and fed and more than content to listen to the dangerous duo argue… but still… decaffeinated tea! Poppy had given him a list of do's and don'ts and caffeinated tea was a most assuredly a do not.

Decaf! What I do for you, my little sprog!

Decaffeinated tea was most assuredly a high crime against humanity!

"Filius, I swear you have the metabolism of a humming bird," Minerva chastised the Charms Instructor who was energetically nibbling on the last cheese scone.

"Just born lucky, I guess," the Charms Instructor quipped.

After Filius had tucked away the scone, the Charms Instructor then turned to Severus, and he extended his arm. "Your wand, wizard," Filius chirped.

Hesitantly, Severus took the ebony wand which looked exactly like his before it had been shattered. It possessed the same length and heft as his former wand, and wonders of wonders, the new wand felt the same in his hand, comfortable and familiar, though Severus knew that it truly wasn't.

"Try a small spell," Filius helpfully suggested when it became obvious to all that Severus was hesitant to test the wand.

What to try? What to try? Wingardium Leviosa was a spell suitable for first years, but he didn't want to shatter anything if the spell collapsed on him.

"Orchideous!" He gave it a half-hearted swish and flick, because while mentally, he knew that Filius wouldn't be giving him the wand without a great deal of testing beforehand to ensure that it worked, emotionally, Severus knew that he was magicless.

To his surprise, two flowers popped out of the end of his wand, and Minerva grabbed them before they hit the floor. They were two red roses, their petals loose, but Minerva was delighted.

"Severus! Flowers for me, how sweet," she teased. She made a great deal of hullabaloo over the blooms, insisting on smelling the flowers and then she shook her head in disapproval. The witch then handed them to Filius who examined them closely. For added torture, Filius pulled out a magnifying glass to closely examine the roses.

Merlin's dirty y-fronts, it was like he was back in school, as he nervously wondered if he had gotten an O or E. As much as Snape was loathe to admit it, he had to admit that both instructors would be more than generous to give him anything higher than an A for acceptable.

"I think that rates a Poor, Filius," Minerva stated sadly.

Poor! They were beautiful roses! YourAuntie Minnie needs to get her glasses checked.

"I have to agree, Minerva. In a bouquet there should be more than two, the petals are loose, and well, they definitely smell like irises rather than roses. The stamen is misshapen, and the pistils are off color. It's definitely not one of his better results, so shall we try again, Severus?" The Charms Instructor flashed him a very evil grin, and Severus scowled.

"I've been ill," he tersely reminded them.

"I didn't quite hear you," Filius retorted. "My ears are still ringing. You need to have complete confidence that this wand will work for you or else it won't work to its full potential. I can tell you were just humoring me."

"Orchideous!" He put his considerable will behind the spell, and to his delight, easily a dozen or so long stemmed roses popped out, complete with a compliment of calla lilies, baby's breath and ferns. Minerva had to struggle with the flowers, as they quickly filled her arms. "These flowers are for you, Minerva. Considering them a small token of my high opinion for you."

"Now he's getting exotic," the Charms Master drolly commented. "I think the boy wants extra credit. Take a look at them, Minerva, and then I'll check them. But Severus, do you think you could also produce a vase for them?"

The spell to Transfigure a tea pot to a vase was rather complex plus Severus knew that Min would ding him points if there was a tea spout and handle on the vase. Snape decided to add a few fancy touches just to prove that he could do it. He managed to produce a vase that looked somewhat like the vase that he had mentally prepared to cast, so he was content. Hopefully Minerva wouldn't know what design he had been attempting to place on the vase. The kitty cats didn't quite look like her animagus form, and in fact, looked more like a pride of drunken, fornicating Kneazles.

The expenditure of magical energy left him feeling winded, and he dozed for a brief time, letting Filius and Minerva talk amongst themselves.

"Severus?"

It was Filius' voice, soft so not to disturb him if he was truly sleeping, yet loud enough for him to hear if he was dozing.

"Yes?" He questioned. Blearily, he opened his eyes, and Severus was surprised to realize that he had slept for a good thirty minutes.

"I just need to remind you of a few things regarding the wand. It possesses only a limited supply of magic before it needs to be recharged," Filius then began to explain in intricate detail how he created the magical wand, and how it was powered.

It took a few moments for Severus to realize that the wand was charged by donated magical energy from various wizards.

"Who donated?" Severus asked. He hated feeling indebted to anyone, but this gift of defense demanded at least a proper thank you from him and the sprog.

"I did," Minerva inserted. "Poppy, Filius… and…"

Minerva paused, and Severus had a very sinking feeling that he was quite familiar with the fourth mage.

"Albus," whispered the Slytherin.

"Yes, I wasn't sure about the propriety of him donating, but he's being rather bull-headed. I know it's difficult to believe that our sweet, tractable Albus could ever be considered obdurate," Minerva dryly explained. "He claimed that since this was for the protection for his child that he had the right to donate."

"My debts to him keep increasing by leaps and bounds," Severus protested. "When will it ever end?"

"He owes you," Minerva tersely snapped. "Don't let him guilt you into anything, Severus."

"It's a little late," Severus retorted.

"I know, Severus," she admitted.

Minerva Floo'd him down the dungeons after brushing the various crumbs from brekkie off his new clothes, and Horace greeted him warmly.

"Don't let him overdo it, Horace," Minerva warned Slughorn.

"I won't. We'll do a couple small potions, and if Severus wants to chat we will, if he doesn't, we won't chat. Then I promise to return him back to the infirmary by three." Horace cheerily assured Minerva.

After Minerva left, Horace laughed. "She shouldn't be a tabby cat animagus. She should be an English Bull Dog. Loyal, fierce, stubborn and overly protective. Now lad, let's get chopping, shall we? You'll need to set up your station."

Severus nodded his head, and he was quite chuffed that Horace hadn't set up a station for him. No, Horace was well aware that Potions Masters had their own unique style for setting up their work station. If Horace had set up a work station for him, it would have shamed Severus, because it would have been as though Horace had declared him an incapacitated invalid.

Taking his time to set up everything just so on his workstation, Severus hesitantly picked up his silver knife. Would the old skills come back to him? It took a few moments to orientate himself, as he had taken for granted what he had easily accomplished using his left hand, but soon the silver knife felt right in his hand. There was no other way to explain it except it was as though part of his soul had been out on holiday and had decided to return. Now, with a silver knife in his hand, and a cauldron nearby, Severus was complete. Carefully, he began mincing the peppermint into a fine consistency.

Truly, there was nothing quite as restorative as brewing to calm his nerves.

He nicked a sprig and began to chew. Hopefully it would help settle his stomach after this morning's brekkie. He shouldn't have had the third helping of mushrooms but the sprog had wanted them.

The two Potions Masters worked in companionable silence, Horace occasionally interjecting a comment or three which Severus would tersely answer. It wasn't that he was being deliberately rude to the older Potions Master, Severus was never one for idle chit-chat when he was busy brewing. From personal experience, he knew how much could go wrong if he was distracted. He was finishing mortaring and pestling moonstone into a very delicate powder, suitable for use in healing potions, when Horace interrupted him.

"Severus, I think that's enough for now. I'll be brewing a Draught of Peace for you later. I believe that the addition of peppermint to the brew will help negate the hellebore's acidity for your poor stomach's sake. Last thing you need is to develop a bleeding ulcer." Horace explained. "Now, we need to talk, Slytherin to Slytherin, Severus."

"What do you wish to talk about?" Severus questioned. Deliberately, he concentrated on completely wiping down his station by hand, ensuring that everything was just so, not wanting to show his unease. Yes, he could use magic to clean his station, but that was the lazy way. Plus, it was always beneficial to hand check every bit of one's work station to discover what equipment might be in need of replacement. For example, his medium sized glass flask was showing wear on the lip, and he needed to purchase a new one.

"I need a new glass flask, medium size," Severus muttered.

"I have a spare that you can have," Horace offered. "I got several samples of that size from one of the glassmakers I know. It has additional resistance to heat and the various acidic compounds, so she wanted me to use it and see how it worked. She's a former student of mine, she had graduated maybe ten years or so before your class arrived."

"Thank you," the younger Potions Master said, and he pretended to listen to Horace as he raved about Lyssa Smythe's skill with glass.

It wouldn't hurt to be polite, as at the moment, his funds were rather limited, and he'd have to scrimp to make this month's payment for his mother and still have enough to live on. Yes, Albus was planning on being generous to the incubator and an allowance would soon no doubt be provided to him like he was twelve. In all likelihood, the promised job was nothing more than a makeshift position to get him on the payroll.

Damn it, he had his pride. He shouldn't have to rely on the kindness of others, especially not the goodwill of the wizard that had gotten him up the duff.

"Now, the matter I wish to discuss with you is the simple fact that Slytherin House is in an uproar. Your disappearance has upset the students greatly, so I wish to know how to handle it. They feel abandoned by you."

Abandoned?Abandoned!

Slughorn heartily laughed as Severus' skeptical expression.

"Yes, the Slytherin students do rather like you, Severus," insisted Horace.

"The Head Master hasn't given you specific instructions?" Severus quipped.

He was rewarded with a snort from Slughorn.

"He's Gryffindor, lad. He doesn't understand the bonds between Slytherins," Horace reminded him.

"I've experienced first hand the bonds between Slytherins," Severus retorted. "As much as it pains to admit me, perhaps we could learn a few things from the House of Hufflepuff."

"I called a House meeting for one this afternoon. The rumors are spreading that you're actually here at Hogwarts. We need to figure out what to tell them, Severus," Horace gently informed him.

"Doesn't the Head Master have his script prepared?" he retorted. "I'm surprised he hasn't given you implicit instructions."

"No, and I've not given him the opportunity to catch me in the hallway," Horace assured him. "What do you want to tell them?"

"I'm not quite sure. The fact that I'm two months up the duff with the Head Master's sprog thanks to the Dark Lord's tender mercies might be too much truth for them to handle," Severus dryly admitted.

Horace shook his head.

"No, no, no, I think we can leave that bit out. I don't want to have to deal with an entire Houseful of boys worrying that they can get pregnant," Horace dryly admitted. "And I certainly don't want to worry that one of them will actually find the right spell!"

"Plus several of their fathers helped do this to me," Severus slowly confessed. "I'll have to look them in their eyes, and understand that they know the truth."

"Hmm… you're carrying a wand, and they won't expect that. Perhaps a little discussion with them after the general show, you can use magic to show that you're not defenseless, imply that you've aborted the baby…" Horace suggested. "You are a Potions Master, and as much as it pains to admit me, you're my superior in brewing skills. But at least I can take great solace in the fact that I taught you. I always knew you'd be a Potions Master, lad."

Severus thought upon the subject for some time, and then he decided what he was about to say. A small fearful voice suggested that perhaps he needed to speak with Albus before he spoke to his former students, but Severus quickly quashed that thought. He needed to take control of his life.

"Very well, we have a few minutes to prepare," Severus finally stated. "This is what we will tell them."

Horace did have a flare for drama, Severus admitted, as the current Slytherin House Head had everyone sitting in the Great Hall for the mandatory house meeting. He spoke on a variety of subjects and then Horace commented on the recent spread of rumors regarding Severus Snape's disappearance.

"I understand that you all have questions, and I feel the best way to handle it, is by letting you voice your concerns," Horace explained. "If you don't mind, Severus?"

Snape walked out from behind the Glamour that had hid him, and Severus was surprised by the response. The damnable rug rats, the children that he had hated, all looked delightedly surprised to see him back. Even Malfoy, McNair, Goyle and Crabbe seemed… surprised… though perhaps not so delighted, to judge by their sick expressions.

"Accio chair!" he called, and one of the chairs from the Staff Table bounced over to where he was. He sat down easily in it, and then smiled. The Death Eater's spawn were plainly stunned by his use of magic.

"I am truly sorry that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to you all before I quit. I would have, except it was the Holiday break and did not wish to disturb you at your holidays. Plus you have to admit that visiting over one hundred homes to personally inform each of you regarding my decision to leave would have been difficult to achieve."

"Why did you leave us?" Millicent Bulstrode plaintively questioned. "You didn't even say goodbye."

There were assorted sounds of agreement and several of the Slytherins were even misty-eyed! Merlin's scrote! Where the students in front of him Slytherins or Hufflepuffs?

"Sadly, while I truly enjoy teaching," Severus lied. "I did want more money. Teaching Defense is far more hazardous than teaching Potions, especially considering that most teachers barely survive the year with all their limbs and sanity intact. The Head Master assured me that I would receive the Defense per diem rate. It failed to materialize, and after repeated requests for what was legally mine were not so politely rebuffed, I quit. I had hoped to stay until the beginning of term to ensure a smooth transition to the werewolf instructor, but once I had resigned, I was asked to leave."There was a grumble of protests, numerous aspersions were cast against Dumbledore and his anti-Slytherin bias along with rude comments about having a werewolf teach Defense, and Severus shook his head.

"Do not blame the Head Master, I should have stayed anyway to say goodbye to you."

The questions continued, mainly asking what his plans were now, and he truthfully answered that everything was up in the air. The reason why he was currently at Hogwarts was to wrap up a few loose ends, and he had truly wanted to say goodbye to his students.

Then Gregory Goyle raised one hand, and Severus barely managed to keep his composure when he called on him.

He was face down in the dirt of his cell; Albus' hands were pressing down…

"Yes?" Snaple slowly drawled when he managed to shake off his flashback.

"What happened to your left arm?" Goyle not so gently questioned.

There was a loud hullabaloo when everyone turned to stare at him and realized that his left sleeve was empty.

"I decided to take a vacation since I didn't need to worry about preparing for the new school year. I went on a Terrortour," he easily lied. "Not all of me came back. When the Terrortours warn you that you might not come back with the same number of limbs as you started the cruise on, I should have believed them."

There were many more comments, many of a sympathetic nature and Severus was horrified to realize that Pansy Parkinson was in tears. What in the name of Merlin's bloody scrote happened to his students while he was gone? If he didn't know the bloody rug rats as well as he did, he'd swear that they actually cared about him.

Fortunately, Severus wasn't fooled in the slightest, but he was surprised when a second year asked Horace if they'd be allowed to say a personal goodbye when they were dismissed.

"Well, naturally, yes!" Horace agreed, while Severus attempted to find an easy way to get himself out of this mess. "You'll each get a chance to talk with Severus and then you can leave."

His nerves grew more and more shot as the greeting line progressed, as Horace had stepped out to give him some privacy with his former students. Really, had it been necessary for a weeping Millicent Bulstrode to hug and kiss him? Yes, he had always felt some compassion for Millicent as the poor girl looked like his mum, but really! Once Millicent had done that, then all the Slytherin women felt obligated to hug him. Pansy Parkinson even snuck in three kisses and two hugs.

Then Gregory Goyle, the thug, walked up to him. Severus tried to prevent from his uncontrollable panic from overwhelming him by imaging that he was Avada Kedavraing Goyle the gorilla. It was a pleasant daydream, Severus had to admit.

"Mr. Goyle," Severus intoned. "Stay behind. We have much to discuss and I have a personal message for your father that I wish you to deliver to him."

I need to keep it together, need to keep you safe, my sprog.

And so Severus pulled out the various Death Eaters' spawn, and he smiled at them when it was just the six of them. Draco, Gregory and Vincent Crabbe were the most uneasy, as they knew. They kept staring at his empty sleeve, at his gut and at the wand that sitting in his lap. The other three students stared blankly at each other, plainly wondering why they had been kept behind. Severus quickly spoke to them and then dismissed them, but not before giving a personal message to McNair to give to his father, before turning his malevolent eyes on the threesome.

"I presume that your parents have been telling you what happened to me," Severus intoned in his most intimidating way. "No doubt they told you the most… interesting… stories including me being magicless."

With a quick gesture, he straightened the tables and benches in the Great Hall. For good measure, he had one bench slam into their calves, forcing them to sit. The magic in his wand was weakening, but the three shell shocked boys didn't notice.

"You might have heard these most distressing rumors regarding recent incidents involving me," Severus paused and then put his hand on his flat stomach. "As you three are well aware, I am a Potions Master and quite familiar with all abortifacients currently known. If I hear any false rumors relating to recent events circulating through these hallowed halls, I will know that it was one of you three. I promise you three that you will not survive the hour even though I may not be in Hogwarts. Be completely assured that I will know if one of you decides to be a rumormonger. Is that completely understood?"

The three of them babbled assurances. The three of them were quite intent on reassuring him that they wouldn't even think of spreading such malicious falsehoods. He let them panic for a bit, and then he dismissed the three of them, deliberately ignoring Draco, who seemed determined to talk to him.

That left him alone in the Great Hall, and Severus was alarmed to realize that he was shaking. He needed to settle his nerves before Horace returned. He desired to be the very picture of complete serenity before his return back to the Infirmary, else Poppy would curtail his trips out of his sickroom. A man did get tired of staring at the same four walls and inanely talking to the tadpole in his gut.

To his stunned disbelief, he saw the Head Master materialize in the Great Hall. Damn it, he should have asked Horace to check for Disillusionment Charms!

"How much did you see?" Severus attempted to pull up enough energy to be royally angry, but he lacked the strength. Instead, he sounded like a mewling kitten. "Have I no right to privacy from you?"

"Everything. I wondered why Horace was calling a House meeting, and I believed that your reappearance might be the subject of the meeting. Since you decided not to confide in me, I decided to spy. After all, your well spun tales would fall apart if I said the incorrect thing to the wrong person. As for your claims to privacy, as the father, I do have the right to be made aware of what actions you may take that may affect her. Severus, your desire to have a special meeting with Goyle, Crabbe and Malfoy nearly caused me to intervene."

Albus' blue eyes were not twinkling; instead they were the deep blue of the sea.

"You were able to easily fool those three. Do you believe that you would get off so easily if you spoke to their fathers? For all intents and purposes, you just issued a challenge to a duel to McNair, Severus? What were you thinking?"

Severus didn't answer, instead he was still staring at Albus' sea blue eyes, feeling the waves overwhelm him. He was drowning and all he needed to do was stop struggling. It would be easier then, and he closed his eyes, letting the warm waters cover his head…

"Severus, I wish you to talk to me," Albus gently insisted.

When Severus shook his head, Albus hissed his disapproval. Carefully, he put his hands on Severus' face and he forced Snape to look into his eyes.

"If you can't give voice to your concern, will you enter my mind to speak freely? Severus, I give you permission to enter…"

Severus was falling, falling, falling and to his surprise, someone grabbed him before he hit the ground. He blinked, and he found himself on a sandy beach, and an auburn haired man with a long beard of a matching hue was supporting him. His blue eyes were familiar, as was the badly set broken nose, plus only one man would dare to wear that particular color combination.

"Head Master?" Severus weakly protested at this latest assault. "What have you done?"

"I let you into my mind willingly, so you're seeing me as I see myself," Albus explained. "I'm not sure about the location though. Were you thinking of the sea? I didn't know that you enjoyed the beach."

Severus said nothing, as he was busy inspecting himself. Torn, ratty black clothes. A shirt that strained against a rather noticeable bulge in his middle that did not yet exist in real life and his thin right arm was covered in bruises and healing cuts. The stub of his left arm still oozed dark blood. He managed to stand unsupported, and then he turned away, stumbling toward the water.

Reaching the water's edge, Snape gaped at the figure in the water, and the scarecrow of a man stared back at him with haunted eyes. His lank, greasy hair was black with heavy streaks of grey, and his exposed skin was covered in bruises, cuts and scars in various stages of healing.

"It's how you mentally see yourself, Severus," the youthful Albus explained. "You've been through a rather traumatic experience, and you're feeling battered."

Albus put his hand on Severus' shoulder, and then with his other hand, he began to gently stroke Severus' cheek. The Head Master's touch made him recoil, as he could… sense… Albus' emotions. A deep concern for Severus combined with a deep sadness as though the Head Master had failed him.

"You'll heal in time, Severus. This I promise you. But you need to cease taking such needless risks, Severus. I thought you wanted the child? Yet, your actions deem otherwise."

The Head Master's voice was full of compassion yet there was the faintest taste of paternal disapproval.

"The child," Severus weakly protested, damning himself for not pushing Albus' hand away. Even in his mental state, he craved any bit of kindness that the Head Master might bestow on him. "It's yours also as you are well aware."

"I am well aware of that fact, Severus," Albus retorted. His voice was soft, and free from censure, but still Severus shivered as he sensed Albus' growing exasperation over what a stubborn git Severus was.

"You call it 'the child', 'her' or 'it'," Severus whispered. "Never have you called it, 'my child' or 'our daughter'."

"It's nearly impossible for me to bond with her… our daughter as you insist on pushing me away. Whenever I try to talk to you, you put up all these barricades," Albus softly explained.

Albus continued to stroke Severus' cheek, and then after a long moment in which Severus refused to speak, Albus gently prompted him.

"Why are you putting up all these barricades, Severus? I wish to know."

Albus' blue eyes were peering into his soul, and Severus was weakening.

Speak to me, Severus. Let us be truly honest with one another without fear of reprisal, or Minerva swooping in to protect you from me. How do you expect me to assist you if you won't let me know what help you need?

The Head Master's voice was in his head… was nothing sacred?

"Tell me, Severus, I won't be angry. I promise," Albus whispered.

Severus knew full well how Albus' guarantee to a Slytherin worked. Albus would honor them, except if a Gryffindor was involved. Then to hell with the Slytherin, to hell with any vow Albus might have made. His mind was racing, struggling to find an acceptable answer that might be believed, as Severus wasn't foolish enough to voice his concerns to Albus.

Your only trust in me, Severus, is that I'll break my promise to you?

Yes…

Is that why you've been busy putting up obstacles, Severus?

He was drowning in Albus' blue eyes, and the truth was being dragged from his unwilling lips and his mind which Albus was reading as easily as an open book.

"I have to protect her from you," was his reluctant explanation.

He pulled away from a surprised Albus, and then the Slytherin crouched, attempting to physically shield his head and his belly from Albus' imminent attack. When Albus touched him, he flinched away, but Albus began to gently stroke his dirty, lank hair.

I so wish that I was clean for you, Head Master, but even in my thoughts; I know that I am soiled.

Never soiled, I'll never see you as tainted, Severus.

"Protect her from me?" Albus gently questioned while he continued to stroke Severus' hair. "Why do you believe that you need to protect our child from me?"

"You'll break her heart," was Severus' simple answer. He flinched again, waiting for the blow to fall, for the kick to land, and still Albus continued to caress his hair.

This was what he feared most, that the Head Master would weaken him and hoodwink him into trusting him and then Albus' abject cruelty would begin. He was back in his cell… remembering…

"Oh my dear, dear boy," Albus whispered. "Let me comfort you. Everything will be alright, Severus. Remember Severus, how many times have I assured you that I love you and our baby? How could I not care for a child that we created in our love?"

Without so much as a sound, he rolled on his belly, and in that same gesture, he pulled up his robes, exposing his smooth, shapely buttocks. He even positioned himself so that it would be easier for Albus to mount him. Albus was a bit arthritic in his hips, and not as limber as a younger man.

"No, no, Severus. Never like that. Never," the fake Albus softly crooned. "Especially not now while you're carrying."

Carefully, he covered the boy with his robe, allowing himself the chance to slowly caress the boy's lovely buttocks, then rolled him over before he assisted him in sitting next to him. The faux Albus pushed Severus' long, dirty hair out of his face, and Albus began to cover his faces with soft kisses. Instead of murmuring a protest, or shying away from Albus' kisses, a defeated Severus accepted Albus' touch without a qualm. No, instead the boy was leaning into the kisses, as though he was in need of solace.

"I love you, Severus." Albus assured him. "I'd do anything for you, you know that."

"Will you… protect… us?" Severus whispered. "I promise that I'll be good. Just please…protect us from Albus..."

"I will, my dear boy," Albus promised.

He had begged, and he had even sniveled for Albus not to harm him, yet Albus had relished in hurting him.

"You don't have to worry about me hitting you, Severus. Nor will I will use magic against you or take you by force. I want you to tell me the truth, and I will let you have your say. But why do you believe that I'll break her heart? What do you mean by that, Severus?"

"She'll love you, love you so much, and you won't love her back… It will utterly break her heart when she realizes the unhappy truth that her father doesn't love her." Severus admitted that slowly.

I know what it's like to yearn for your parents' love, Head Master. I can not inflict that ceaseless agony on to her.

You believe me incapable of loving our child?

Yes, Head Master.

"Why do believe that?" The Head Master's voice was still soft.

"Because she'll be half-Slytherin, Head Master. Your bias towards the Gryffindor House is well known, as is your strong dislike for anything that tastes of Slytherins. You give your love freely to Gryffindors, never noticing that other, lesser souls might crave it." Severus whispered his confession, and waited for the Head Master to lose his temper as the Head Master had stopped stroking his hair.

To Severus' surprise, the Head Master kneeled next to him, and he put both hands on Severus' face.

"Look at me, Severus, and know that I speak the truth to you. You have confessed to having a crush on me when you were a student and I have assured you that I would never take sexual advantage of a student. I have never, ever done that, Severus. The very thought is horrific to me," Albus reminded him.

"I didn't want sex when I was a student, Head Master; all I ever wanted was a few moments of kindness from you. A simple congratulation from you when I received Top Marks would have been enough. You couldn't be bothered as you were too busy consoling the second place Gryffindor," Severus explained.

The Head Master's blue eyes were confused, obviously uncertain why Severus was mentioning this now.

I struggled so hard for those marks, as I wanted your approval, Head Master! I craved it, I needed it, and you never gave it to me because I was a dirty, little Slytherin. All I ever wanted someone to care about me, damn it. My parents didn't, you couldn't be bothered… that just left the Death Eaters. They thought I was smart, they thought I had potential. No one else ever looked at me and saw that I possessed anything worthwhile!

He spat that, and Albus flinched. Severus waited for Albus to laugh, to deride and chastise him for his gall to actually blame Albus for him turning to the Death Eaters. Instead, Albus nodded his head, and then spoke in a very gentle tone. "So is that the reason why you're keeping the baby, Severus? So you can have living, breathing proof that I actually care for you?"

Care, not cared. A stunned Severus attempted to think of a proper response to that, when Albus shook his head.

My comment was truly uncalled for, Severus. The reasons why you're keeping it are unimportant. All that matters is that you let me help you. I spoke to you of putting our Banns in the Daily Prophet. Have you thought further on the matter?

The Head Master began to stroke Severus' cheeks with his thumbs and he spoke softly as though to a frightened child.

"You need protection, Severus. The best way I can keep you and our daughter safe is by bonding you. It won't be so bad, Severus. You'll be able to rest and heal. Also, you'll get your hands on most of my library, except I'll have warded the Dark Arts books from you."

The gentle amusement in the Head Master's voice was a vicious slap to his face, and Severus flinched.

"Don't you trust me with them, Head Master?" Severus whispered.

"No, no, no…. that's not the reason. The experts warn pregnant witches to stay away from Dark Arts books due to fears of the fetus being adversely affected. I'll set up your quarters as you desire, as I know that you do not want to share my bed."

Severus tried to hide his disappointment. Yes, he could barely stomach the Head MAster touching him, but to be bonded with the Head Master, to be so intimately connected with him while knowing that no matter how much he desired it, he'd never again share the Head Master's bed….

He was unsuccessful in hiding his longing from the Head Master, as Albus' blue eyes widened in disbelief.

"Bloody hell, Severus. You don't actually… want…" Albus was dumbfounded.

A shamed Severus nodded his head once. To his surprise, Albus embraced him.

"Shh… shh… It will be alright. You honor me, lad, far more than I deserve. I'll woo and court you, take my time until you feel comfortable again. I told you that I didn't merit such that precious gift you gave me on Christmas night. This time, I'll make it right for you."

"P-p-p-romise?" Severus whispered. His face flushed crimson as he stuttered like a first year.

Merlin's cauldron, he knew full well how the Head Master was, yet he still yearned to believe that the Head Master actually cared for him.

Your Auntie Minnie would be throwing her hands up in absolute disgust with me. She warns me over and over again, and yet I come crawling back to him, like a kicked lapdog creeps back to his master, hoping for kindness. But I need to protect you. Your father can protect us.

Aunt Minnie? My word, Severus, Minerva is rather protective of those she loves and sometimes her nurturing nature can make her rather caustic. If she is unhappy with our decisions, I will let her blister her tongue on me. I'll keep you and our child safe from friends and foes alike. No one will hurt my Severus and our child ever, ever again.

That was thought with all the possessiveness of a lion.

Your Severus? I'm … your … Severus?

You will always be my Severus, forever and ever.

"I'd promise you, Severus, swear any vow that you desire, but I understand that you don't trust me," Albus stated. "After everything you've been through, I understand why you don't believe me. It will take time for you to learn to trust me again. Will you let me bond you?"

Having no real choice in the matter, an exhausted Severus nodded his head.

He was still nodding his head when he abruptly returned back to the Great Hall. Minerva had one hand on his shoulder and one hand on Albus' shoulder. The witch was shaking Albus furiously, as it appeared that she was quite close to throttling him.

"Horace…" the witch spat. "You leave him alone for two minutes, and Albus manages to sneak in. Get out of the Great Hall, Horace. I'll deal with you later."

While Horace murmured a weak defense as he ran for safety, Minerva turned towards Severus and she gently asked, "Are you alright?"

He nodded his head, and then Minerva asked the Head Master the same question. Her tone was not quite as gentle as the one she used with Severus, and in fact, could be best described as astringent.

"I'm fine, just fine, Minerva. Severus? Shall we let Minerva be first to know the good news?" Albus then smiled at Minerva.

The witch narrowed her green eyes, and stared fiercely at the smiling Albus. She knew from personal experience that specific smile meant nothing good.

"What did you do to him, you daft old bugger?" Minerva snapped, her temper overriding her good manners.

"Severus? Care to tell Auntie Minnie the good news?" Albus' smile grew broader as Minerva's eyes narrowed still further as she mouthed, 'Auntie Minnie'.

"I've agreed," Severus whispered.

The witch turned towards him, and she sighed.

"You've agreed? To what?" Minerva softly questioned, though it was obvious that she knew the answer.

"We're to be Bonded, Minerva. Will you be my Best Maid?" Severus plaintively questioned. His composure was cracking, his knees were trembling, and Severus knew that he was mere moments from have a complete mental meltdown.

"Lad, you're paler than a sheet. Let me Floo you back to the Infirmary, Severus, and put you to bed. Albus, I'll meet you in your quarters in thirty minutes to discuss in detail this latest scheme of yours."

"Yes, Minerva, we need to pick out a suitable dress color for you to wear as Best Maid. Neither Severus or I share your fondness for tartan," the Head Master quipped.

Regally, Minerva ignored him, as she was half dragging, half carrying a shaking Severus to the fire place.

"Come on, Severus. You needed the Draught of Peace ten minutes ago or I'm not Auntie Minnie," Minerva gently jested.