A/N # 1 – Mpreg. Angst and unhappiness abounds. Not my characters that I'm abusing.
We last left Albus Dumbledore getting a hard dose of reality from his ever loving brother.
Albus Dumbledore sat on the bar stool, facing his brother and slowly, he removed his half-moon spectacles. He looked tired and quite despondent, and Aberforth wondered what grand scheme of his had gone all pear shaped.
"I want you to break my nose," Albus softly requested. "I want you to tell me how much I failed our family and how you wish that I'd rot in deepest dark hell with my sodomite lover. Tell me how much you hate me, Aberforth, how our parents are ashamed of me, and how I have repeatedly failed anyone that ever made the mistake of depending on me, and then, I want you to break my nose again."
Really, an opportunity like this was too rare to let it pass by, so Aberforth Dumbledore raised one large fist and landed a picture perfect punch on his brother's crooked nose.
Albus' universe was spinning on its axis, much like his brain was rapidly whirling inside his skull and bemusedly, he stared at the ceiling. The Earth was rotating beneath him, revolving so fast that he knew that he'd fly off into the cosmos if he stood. Better stay flat on the ground and enjoy the view provided by lying supine.
Lying flat on one's back truly gives one an interesting perspective on life. For example, Aberforth really should do something about those cobwebs.
"Shite," bellowed a very disappointed Aberforth. "You bloody promised me that I could tell you off, and break your nose twice, damn it! Don't black out before I can tell you off!"
Percival Dumbledore, a mountain of man, reached for him and then tightly embraced him. "You take care of them, with me gone; you're the man of the house. Can't let any of them know, they'll take Ariana from us, lock her up."
"Get on your ruddy feet. You wanted me to punch you, and I didn't realize you had a bloody glass chin!"
Ariana was screaming and screaming and screaming and she wouldn't cease her bloody screaming. He tried to tempt her with her favorites, but she wouldn't eat, instead she just screamed and screamed and screamed. He was all of seventeen years old, his parents dead to protect their sacred secret, trapped in a life with a nutter of a sister who screamed and a half-crazed from grief brother who despised him besides possessing the promising future of being permanently locked up for bestiality.
Was this his grand destiny?
He'd be madder than his sister by Christmas.
He struggled to get her to eat anything, each spoonful down her gullet a hard fought victory. He talked to her in his best, calm tone, he tried to sing to her like Aberforth did but it didn't work and she just kept screaming. His damnable brother kept insisting that he'd quit school to take care of their sister because Albus couldn't control her.
Albus was the head of the fractured Dumbledore Family, and his dozy brother would return to Hogwarts where he made no effort to learn anything and Ariana would be cared for and fed, but oh, in the darkest hours of night when Ari screamed and screamed about the bad boys who had hurt her, Albus pondered dark thoughts. Would it have been a mercy if she had died, rather than survive her ordeal? In time, perhaps, the grief over her death might have faded, and there would still have been the four of them, as opposed to the fragments of three. She would have remained a memory of bright, tragic beauty rather than a screaming, shattered shell of a girl.
Elphias… His dear friend Elphias had abandoned him, gone on his world tour. He had insisted that he'd stay with Albus, but Albus couldn't chain him here. Elphias dutifully sent him letters, cheery, informative missives, full of all the adventures that Albus was missing and promises on what they'd do together once Elphias was done traveling the world. He read them at first; devouring and memorizing every word until finally Albus couldn't bear the pain of reading them anymore. Must Elphias sound so bloody jolly about his Grand Adventure? Elphias' missives weren't just salt in an gaping, open wound, his communiqués were aconite, powdered griffin claw and salamander blood scoured into the gaping, hemorrhaging mortal wound that was Albus' life. The letters stacked up, unopened, untouched.
Then one day, in answer to his prayers, his life changed.
"I am Gellert," said the dazzling handsome blond. He was a God, a golden Adonis, banished to Earth, forced to wallow among the putrid mountains of goat dung in the seventh layer of hell that was better known as Godric's Hollow. Gellert had laughing green eyes and there was a spark of intelligence in them that made Albus desperately hope that they could be friends. Perhaps, they could talk. These days, his conversations were limited to Aberforth's grunts, Ariana's screams and the bleating of Abeforth's bloody goats.
And yes, they talked, and Albus marveled that he had found someone whose keen mind matched his own. They could discuss anything and everything and his presence quickly became a balm to Albus' aching soul.
On one perfect summer day, Gellert decided to show him how it was done between men and took his virginity. Up until then, Albus had shyly experimented with Elphias while they were at Hogwarts. They had only gone as far as hesitantly snogging and mutual wanking as they had been terrified of being outed as deviants. Not Gellert, he had no shame, no fear, no responsibilities to anyone except himself and Albus admired, envied and loved him for his carefree nature.
For a single, golden moment on that perfect summer day, nothing existed for Albus, and then Ariana, naturally, had to ruin it.
She had escaped from Aberforth and she found the two naked men… boys really. Gellert was stroking Albus' hair while they lay in each other's arms.
"Al not wearing clothes!" Ariana delightedly shrieked as she wildly danced and danced around them. Albus quickly got back into his clothes while the brazen Gellert indulgently lounged au natural. Aberforth soon arrived and his face was a storm cloud. Though he was all but illiterate, he figured out the sums well enough.
"Sodomite," Aberforth spat the word like a Curse at his brother.
"Zoophile," Albus retorted. Not that Aberforth knew what that meant, so for good measure he maliciously added, "Goat lover."
On that day, the rift between the brothers grew and increased until it was a chasm so vast and wide that there was little hope of ever bridging it. Naturally, he turned even more to Gellert, who understood… oh thank Merlin, Gellert understood. They talked about a world where people like his sister could be safe; silly daydreams, nothing more, as there were no way that two young men could ever overturn the world order.
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, there had been a bright and golden girl named Ariana, and then one day, she laid still and dead, slain in the midst of a three way magical brawl. Gellert fled, naturally, and Aberforth blamed Albus for Ariana's death. It was his fault, as Albus had neglected her. Elphias, dear, sweet and stalwart Elphias appeared at his door on the day of Ariana's funeral.
And when Aberforth broke his nose in the midst of the funeral, Elphias had physically separated the two Dumbledore brothers. Albus didn't raise his wand or his hands to defend himself from the raging bull known as Aberforth, because he accepted that he deserved the broken nose and so much more.
"Not like this," Elphias tearfully insisted. He possessed a gentle soul that wounded so easily. "Your parents would not approve! You are all the family that each other has!"
"Ask him about Gellert," Aberforth spitefully whispered. "Ask him about his Teutonic boyfriend. Inquire about your letters that remain unopened and unread. Question him about his golden hair lover. Ask him about what he did underneath the apple tree. Ask him… if he remained chaste and true while you were away…"
And Elphias had turned to Albus, his eyes full of pain, begging Albus to refute Abeforth's claims, and Albus… couldn't… lie.
"I loved you," Elphias' soft voice was almost impossible soft. "I was willing to cancel my trip to be here with you…I would have willingly stayed here to help you with your sister if only you would have had me."
On the day he buried his sister, he lost not only his brother's love, but gentle, loving Elphias' kind regard. At the time, being young and foolish, he regarded the loss of Elphias' friendship as far more painful than earning his brother's perpetual loathing.
In time, he finally understood the true tragedy of the death of Ariana Dumbledore.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
"Get up you damn fool, I didn't hit you that hard," Aberforth growled.
No, it wasn't Aberforth's punch that was causing his faraway state, it was the fact that Albus had decided to bounce his head off the counter, turn a cartwheel or three and bonelessly collapse onto the floor.
We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick, but the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder, as the ceiling flew away…
There was something wet on the back of his head…. Might be blood… possibly could be his brains leaking out of his skull….
"My dear, dear, precious Minerva, are you sure?" Albus kept his voice soft.
"Please?" Minerva whispered. Her hands were on his shoulders and her beautiful green eyes were peering into his soul. "I want you to be my first…since what happened…"
"My dear lady, you honor me," he tenderly whispered. "You honor me so much with this boon that I fear my pride will be insufferable. I pray that you will be able to keep me from being too arrogant."
"Doubtful," quipped Minerva. "But then, I've always hated your taste in hats, so if this puffs up your head and you can't wear them anymore, I'd quite delighted."
A laughing Albus sat down next to Minerva on her bed. With her long hair undone, she appeared young and anxious over this next step in their relationship. With gentle hands, he removed Minerva's glasses and placed them on her bureau. That done, he tenderly smiled at her before he shyly kissed her cheek. They looked into each other eyes while they held hands and Albus questioningly arched his eyebrow, silently asking her if she was sure about this large leap of faith. In response, Minerva bit her lip, pondering his unasked question. She bravely nodded her consent, and Albus kissed the bruise on her lip, soothing the wound with his lips. Carefully, reverently he began to leisurely undress Minerva, taking his time so to savor the experience.
"So beautiful, so brave, my Minerva is," he whispered into her ear. "My courageous, daring lioness, I am so flattered…"
He had loved her, oh Gods, how he still loved her.
Not the school boy crush he once had for Elphias nor the overwhelming passion for Gellert that had waylaid his sanity and nearly destroyed his soul but a gentle, warming love that chased away the shadows in his heart. They could talk… about almost anything… their tight camaraderie strengthened and magnified by their physical intimacy. He revealed far more about himself to Minerva than he had to anyone else. He couldn't tell her everything….because some secrets were best left unspoken… but she knew him far better than even Elphias.
Albus squired her to the Flamels, where Nicholas and Pernelle whole heartedly gave him their approval of the match, and he even took her to Elphias and his wife Leah's house. That incident had proven embarrassing as with his white hair and beard, their great-grandchildren had loudly insisted that he was Father Christmas. He had played along with it, and Minerva had watched the scene with pained amusement in her green eyes.
She was barren, but it mattered not at all to him. He had reassured her of that basic truth so many times, and Albus had prayed that she believed him. He had over three hundred children to oversee as the Headmaster of Hogwarts; that was more than enough for him. As it was, there were always the Toms that slipped through the cracks.
And so after he had introduced to his closest friends, when she had requested a meeting to discuss their relationship, he had taken with him the engagement ring that he had previously bought, but he had been too timid to present to her. It had diamonds and emeralds that matched the color of her bright eyes and Fawkes, in spite of being a rather vain creature, had regretfully agreed that the platinum ring was almost as pretty as he was.
This night, he would ask. This night, he would. The Flamels had approved and Elphias had been delighted that Albus had finally found someone. If he could face and defeat Gellert, why was proposing to Minerva so much harder?
"I love you," she had told him. "But you don't love me the way I need to be loved, Albus. I think it's best for a clean break."
To no avail, he had protested.
"I love you, utterly and completely Albus. I love you in spite of your horrific taste in hats and your strange desire for spangles, but while you love me… you don't unreservedly love me. You always hold something back, Albus. I want… I need…I bloody deserve… to be loved by someone for whom I'm everything."
If Minerva would give him another chance, he'd do better next time, be more demonstrative…. Albus would take her to the damn ministry functions that he was always required to attend. He would take their relationship public… do anything… It wasn't that he was ashamed of their relationship; he just hadn't wished the taint of scandal to be attached to Minerva. She had earned the position of Assistant Headmistress of Hogwarts on her own merit, not because of their relationship, but he had known that people would talk.
No, Minerva had done the figures and had decided that he was fundamentally lacking in some arcane ingredient necessary for the ability to truly love her, and so their relationship had ended. Their closeness had shattered along with his heart, and it had taken months… years…and a great deal of effort on both their parts before they could easily converse once more.
On her seventieth birthday, he had hesitantly given her a platinum pendant with diamonds and emeralds that matched her eyes. While Minerva would never wear his ring, it was enough that his dearest friend would wear that token of his esteem, love and affection. Somehow, the entirely too empathic Minerva had known what the pendant had once been, and so she wore it for the passion that had once existed between them and the friendship that had endured.
"Bloody hell, I've just scrambled your damn brains," growled his brother. "You had to crack your bloody head open on the counter. I just bloody wiped it down."
The dark haired Slytherin just stared at Albus, and the boy opened his mind to him. The onslaught of Severus' overwhelming need nearly unmanned Albus, as Albus could hear, feel, sense an emotionally shattered Severus mentally shrieking how he was cursed and damned.
USE ME. USE ME. ALBUS, CONSUME ME! I GIVE EVERYTHING TO YOU AND DO SO WILLINGLY!
"You're a Legilimens, Albus," Severus pleaded. "Read my mind. You could do anything to me, just don't turn me away. Not tonight, I beg of you."
I AM ICE.
I BLEED TO DEATH FROM THE PAIN. STAY WITH ME, WARM ME.
I COULD MAKE IT SO GOOD FOR YOU!
"Easy…. Easy…" Albus whispered. "Just for tonight."
He kissed Severus on the top of his head, and the boy began to weep.
For a moment, he had his doubts. The boy was fey tonight… He shouldn't do this; he should send Severus on his way as Snape was an instructor at the school. Severus wasn't a tool… it wouldn't be right to bed him, but oh Merlin, Severus was a mass of oozing emotional wounds. Severus needed to be held and consoled and damm it, Albus was just so damn lonely. The holidays always made Albus maudlin as he reviewed his joyful memories of happy Christmases with his family using his pensieve.
Their intimacy was to be for just for one night, to help Severus through his current emotional crisis. His plan had been to be tender and affectionate with the distraught Severus, but instead, Severus had been feral and frenzied that night, so anxious for Albus to experience carnal bliss from his sexual skill that Severus had no fear of hurting himself. Albus was an old man and bedding a sexual buck was a surefire way to die in bed. So he had insisted on slowing the pace and he had ensured that Severus had his pleasure first.
During the night, Severus had tried to slip out of his bed so Albus wouldn't have the awkwardness of dealing with him in the morning. His stealth in sneaking off had disturbed Albus, how Snape had anticipated that Albus would be deeply ashamed of bedding him. He softly insisted that his lover stay in his bed. Albus wouldn't just kick the Severus out of his bed! Severus would stay the entire night, and in the morning, they'd have breakfast together in Albus' quarters. It would be the proper way to end their night together. Severus had still seemed far to eager for flight, so deliberately, he had held Severus close while he whispered heartfelt remarks about how wonderful the night had been and how Severus need never worry about Albus regretting it. He had stroked and caressed Severus and he demanded many kisses until Severus was drowsy with sleep.
He had been dozing, when he felt his bed partner move. His lover had carefully stroked his beard with gentle hands so not to wake him and then Severus had timidly whispered, "Love you".
No, no, no. Severus had not just said that.
Albus had known that Severus loved Lily Evans; Albus had known that basic, undeniable principle just as certainly as he had known casting Wingardium Leviosa would cause a feather to gently float in the air. Severus Snape had loved his dear friend so fiercely that he was willing to betray the Dark Lord to protect her son. Lily had known about the strength of his regard for her because Albus had broken his word and had informed Lily about her benefactor. Lily had needed to know the truth about Severus, but Albus hadn't told her what he believed to be the real reason why Severus was protecting her. She had wept then, and James had asked why. Lily had lied and she had told him it was due to her hormones being in such a flux, but her tears were for the solitary, earnest boy with the dark eyes.
Albus' heart had shattered on that Christmas night when he had realized that he had made a horrible mistake. Severus was devoted to Lily's memory because she had been his only friend for far too long. He didn't love her…not in that way… No, he loved the man that willingly sent him into that viper's pit.
Oh Merlin… sweet Merlin… no…
He would never have touched the boy if he had any inkling of the depths of the boy's feelings toward him. The war Albus fought did not permit him the chance to love, especially one who so needed affection and devotion. Furious with himself for such a colossal misstep, Albus had realized too far late that boy believed that Albus' anger was directed toward him.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledorewas had been unanimously deemed by the jury of his loved ones as being too self-absorbed to care about anyone else but himself, inconsistent in his affections resulting in an inability to commit fully, emotionally and physically undemonstrative and far too involved in his grand, noble causes to actually care about another person.
Subsequently, when they had finally rescued the shattered, gutted shell of Severus Snape, Albus had vowed that he would do everything in his power to help Severus. All his life, Albus had disappointed the people that had loved and needed him, and his failure would stop then and there. Whatever Severus needed, he would provide.
And when the shattered Severus decided that what he needed to do was bring the child to term, an utterly gobsmacked Albus had no damn clue what to do.
He had failed Ariana, Aberforth, Elphias, Minerva and Severus among countless others and now… now… now there was a child…. his child… his… daughter…their daughter… involved.
Regardless of his daughter's highly irregular conception, whatever Severus needed, Albus would make available… and if no one would tell him what Severus required, then Albus would still provide what he deemed suitable and appropriate. Severus would have proper clothing for once. Every damn bonus, every damn pay increase he had pushed through for Severus had gone directly toward his mother's care. He wouldn't even buy himself a proper pair of shoes even though his soles had been worn thin, repaired and worn thin once again.
Severus wouldn't have to worry about finances as Albus would provide a suitable stipend large enough to cover all of Severus' expenses including his mother's care. Albus' Gringotts vault had more than enough gold to cover a lifetime of Eileen's Hospice expenses.
Oh yes, his noble efforts at supporting Severus and their child as Severus recovered from his horrific ordeal had been far more successful than Albus had ever dared hope. Minerva and Poppy had warned him to leave Severus alone. But he couldn't, because Albus rightly feared to be accused of rejecting Severus. It was his modus operandi after all. When his loved ones needed him, he was long gone from the scene.
Everything had gone completely pear shaped thanks to Albus. He had further traumatized the shattered Severus so severely that Severus believed the only acceptable option was to flee from Albus' alleged anger, and Albus… oh sweet Melrin, he had caused Minerva intense emotional distress.
Why did he always hurt the ones he loved? He could easily defeat Dark Wizards, Transfigure sand into gold yet… Oh Merlin, dear stalwart and true Minerva. He hadn't meant to hurt her by putting in the unenviable position of being the intermediary and referee between him and Severus. Hadn't meant to terrify Severus… but he had…
"Bloody hell, you've got two black eyes and your ruddy nose is now pointing in a new direction." Aberforth roughly announced. His gruffness was in sharp contrast to his gentle hands that were carefully palpating the back of Albus' head. "Plus you're got a good gash on the back of your head. I know enough healing to close it, but it won't be pretty. What the hell brought on your strange desire to get punched?"
"I'm to be a father," Albus woozily informed his brother. "I thought it would be for the best if you punched me before you failed to congratulate me on spawning. If you give me a minute, I should be able to stand long enough for you to hit me again."
Abeforth peered into his brother's eyes, gauged Albus' pupils and loudly snorted his disgust. He wanted to be home with Mattie, not dealing with a rambling and incoherent Albus Dumbledore.
"Bloody hell, I better take you to St. Mungo's. Everyone knows that delusions and hallucinations are bad signs with a head injury. The day you care enough about someone else to father a child…"
"But I did care…" Albus whispered. "I did and I still do. I swear that I do care about him…"
"Him? Albus, I may not be the smartest wizard ever to take a leak, but even I know that you need a man and woman to make a child," Aberforth tartly reminded his brother.
"You'd be surprised…."
Once she was safe in her quarters, Minerva gave a succinct report about exploring Curry Mile with Horace to Filius and Poppy. Then, regretfully, Minerva tentatively explained how she had been so convinced that the hawk nosed man had been Severus until she had seen his left arm. Last thing she wanted was for Filius to think she was a nutter and seeing Severus everywhere. Filius just nodded his head and said not a word about her misassumption regarding Severus.
To her surprise, Horace was sitting next to her on her couch and he was gently rubbing her back. That simple act of support and compassion had her close to coming completely undone.
"How do you feel, Minerva?" Filius intently questioned. The Charms Master, who had the medallion in his right hand, was keenly examining her. Whatever he saw in her face, Filius did not approve.
"My head hurts like I was hit by a Bludger," Minerva wearily admitted. "I'm also feeling a bit peaked."
She gingerly put her hand on the back of her head, surprised that there wasn't a large aubergine colored bruise.
"Anything else?" The Charms Master prompted. "Tell me everything. It's important."
"I'm feeling… frightened… distressed…depressed… overwhelmed… exhausted… dizzy… plus for the lack of a better description, I had this truly surreal moment of wild euphoria that rather quickly crashed and burned… which was replaced by an overwhelming feeling of desperation." Minerva then sighed. "I'd really like to go to bed."
"I'll ensure that she takes her potion," Horace insisted to her concerned friends. "I'll stay until she's asleep."
"Don't be so bloody noble, Horace," Minerva tartly protested. "You've got to teach tomorrow."
"Nobility is the core of every Slytherin," chorused Horace, Filius and Poppy as it was one of Horace's favorite sayings.
Filius and Poppy ordered her to bed, and she wearily nodded her head in agreement. Horace continued to rub her back until after Filius and Poppy had left her room. His large hands kneaded her tight neck and she had the most delightful tingles when he ran his hand down her back.
"That feels nice," Minerva confessed.
"You're holding in all your tension, Minerva. Your neck and shoulders are like solid rock. Let me get that potion for you, and I'll add a muscle relaxant. Get changed for bed, and I'll be right back."
It had been some time since she had entertained Horace in her bedroom, so she slipped into a Slytherin-green dressing gown. While crawling into her tartan jim-jams and sleeping for the next week held a certain appeal, Horace was a rather sophisticated soul. He had his foibles and one of them was that he truly enjoyed the tactile sensation of silk.
Carefully, she positioned herself just so in the middle of her large bed, and she waited for Horace to return. Minerva was almost asleep by the time Horace silently returned.
"I'm awake," she quickly assured him.
"I want you to drink this," he requested as he handed her a small vial. "It will relax you further and you'll sleep for most of tomorrow. If we find Severus, I can wake you and easily reverse it, so you'll be bright eyed and chipper when you attempt to beat some sense in Albus' head. Shall I get you a Quidditch Bat from Rolanda?"
"I'd rather have a la petite mort than a potion to relax me," Minerva straightforwardly admitted. "Plus a Quidditch Bat is just so lonely and just so… wooden plus the chance for scandalous splinters that I dare not explain to Poppy. Stay with me tonight, Horace. For old times' sake."
Being a prim and proper soul, Horace blushed, while his light green hazel eyes showed that he was amused not scandalized by her boldness. The Slytherin shook his head. "You've already had a potion that has relaxed you and lowered your inhibition. I will not take advantage of you.
"Horace, I'm not a frigid virgin. I won't wake up tomorrow claiming that you took advantage of me. Potion or no potion, I don't want to be alone tonight, and I wish you would stay."
There, her wand was on the table, it was now time for Horace to decide if he should stay or go.
"I'm honored, but I've put on some weight since last time," Horace softly admitted.
"And I've put on quite a few years. Get into bed, Horace, you should remember that I prefer my lovers with a little meat on their bones. Less likely to gouge myself on their hipbones, plus… it's wonderful cuddling with you. You kept me warm on many a cold, winter night." Minerva then paused, debated and then smiled wickedly. "Besides, I remember how your mustache tickles."
"I cherish fond memories on how you are sensitive in certain spots, m'dear," he agreed. "I was rather nonplussed on our first night when you kept giggling. Fortunately you were such a kind soul that you explained to me that my mustache was tickling you, else I would have been devastated. Performance anxiety is a cruel, cruel curse for older men."
Horace flashed a grin, complete with dimples, before he deliberately traced his finger down her cheekbone, down her neck to her shoulder. Minerva smiled when Horace's hand began rubbing her silk clad shoulder.
Is this need for closeness a betrayal of Severus? He had been her only lover for the past few years…but they had specifically made no promises to each other, no pledges of undying devotion, each assuring the other that they knew the boundaries of their relationship. They weren't in love, but yet there was love between them. A prickly, spiky, confiding affection based on candor and openness.
And because of that trusting relationship, she was capable of damaging Severus just as surely as Albus was. In fact, she was able of wounding him far worse than Albus could, because Severus trusted her.
Carefully, Horace sat down on the edge of her bed and he turned towards her. His hand continued to touch, explore and caress.
"Silk, Minerva? Not only do you remember my ticklish mustache, it seems that you also considered my eccentricities in your nefarious plan to relieve me of my innocence."
With a surprising grace, Horace leaned towards her and gently kissed her on the lips. For a moment, Minerva felt a spark of alarmed panic which quickly melted away. It was deligthful… to be kissed by Horace.
Horace was a very well educated connoisseur of fine wine, food and the female form.
Albus snogged with a great deal of sincerity and passion while Severus' kisses had been hesitant then more self-assured as their relationship progressed, but Horace? When Horace Slughorn kissed you, you bloody knew you were snogged.
But damn it, she had to start giggling like a school girl in the midst of their kiss! It was his damn walrus mustache.
"Laugh at me?" Horace gave a mock growl. "Mock my best attempts at seducing you? Well, m'dear, I fondly remember all your ticklish spots."
Then he aggressively began kissing her neck and Minerva began giggling still harder.
"Damyan Georgiev Draganov?" Severus softly questioned. "I… would be… honored… if you would consent to be Ariana's Godfather. Ekaterina Sidorova Dobrolubskaia? Would you be her Godmother? She has one already, but there's no reason why she couldn't have two. I would be pleased if you accepted."
The Dark Mage placed his hand on Severus' forehead and shook his head.
"He's feverish," he brusquely announced to Oxana. "I'll pull the fever out as he can't take my usual tincture. Can you help him after I'm done? He'll need to be undressed, and I'm sure he'd prefer if you helped. Now, just relax and I'll pull the fever out. You'll feel a little pressure in your head…"
Sasha put his fingertips on Severus' temples and he murmured a few soft words. Severus felt a rush and then, he was quite weary. Sasha put his hand on the wall so to put the fever into the stone.
I don't know how to do that. There's much he knows which with I'm not familiar. It would be an asset for Ari, to have someone watching over her that hasn't been trained by Dumbledore and by extension, the Dark Lord. They both know how I will react to a given situation but Sasha… he's a completely unknown quantity.
Is it wise to actually want him to raise Ariana? He's got that slight issue with his temper.
Yet, he's managed to make a life for himself, without either Dumbledore or the Dark Lord being none the wiser. He could keep Ari in the shadows… she'd be safe…. Oxana would be able to keep her eye on both of them.
If Minerva raised her, the enemies of Albus would target her…
And…Albus… might… hurt… her…neglect her… She'd love him so much and he'd disappoint her… she'd think it was her fault… because of me…She'll hate me for denying her the chance to have his love…. I couldn't handle that…
There's no going back to Dumbledore now, as he'll be infuriated that I asked Damyan to be Godfather.
"Will you?" Severus softly repeated. "Would you consent to be Ariana's Godfather?"
"Let's get you to bed," Sasha answered. The older wizard easily pulled Severus to his feet, and he wrapped his arm around Severus. "Lean on me and we'll get you to bed."
Severus refused to move and then he repeated his question. "Will you? Ekaterina?"
"To be a Godfather implies that God and I are on speaking terms," Sasha dryly retorted. "Sad to say, we're not. Besides, if you wish to tell Dumbledore in no uncertain terms to go sod off, there's countless other, dare I say it, saner ways to do so than having me be Godfather to his child."
"I'm serious," Severus tiredly insisted. "I am. You can keep her safe… Ekaterina?"
They ignored his offer, dosed him and put him to bed with a firm admonishment that he be ready to work for his keep tomorrow.
He had the strangest dreams… he was in Minerva' bed chambers, and he was being rather enthusiastically kissed by Horace Slughorn. Instinctively, he panicked, his fear of intimacy overwhelming him, but then he remembered.
It was only a dream assisted by whatever medication he had taken.
Severus Snape wasn't Horace's type, not at all… so it was only his overactive imagination playing tricks on his dreaming self as he had seen Minerva and Horace having dinner together… but bloody hell, Horace's mustache was rather ticklish.
But his last thought before he fell asleep was that the old boy was certainly rather creative and ingenious a lover. Severus had never made Minerva react quite like that….
Albus was feeling rather giddy and ticklish and he moved in response. The baby goat in his arms baa'd his disapproval as his bottle was removed from his mouth.
"Sorry… Mattie," Albus sincerely apologized to the baby goat. He plopped the bottle back into the goat's mouth, and the goat began to blissfully suck once more. "Mattie, I feel I must warn you that you're going to hiccup if you continue to eat this fast and I refuse to burp you."
Mattie didn't care.
Albus moved slightly to make himself more comfortable on the couch. It was quite difficult as he was nursing a goat that was supposedly orphaned and still allegedly a baby even though it weighed a good six or seven stone. Knowing his brother as well as Albus did, he had no doubts that Mattie had once started off as an orphaned baby, and the shrewd goat, realizing a good thing when he had it, hadn't bothered informing Aberforth that he was now a goat grown and no longer needed a bedtime bottle.
It was astonishingly… relaxing… to nurse the goat. Albus had experienced a brief moment of panic when the goat had first clambered into his lap as Mattie was a rather large goat. Mattie was surprisingly warm and quite fuzzy, so he was a living, breathing continental quilt. Plus the goat made the most remarkable noises while he suckled from the bottle.
Albus was sitting in Aberforth's home and it smelled ever so slightly of Mattie the goat. Not that it bothered Albus, as it was a familiar, homey, musky scent. Percival and Kendra Dumbledore had once owned goats, and Albus was feeling rather nostalgic.
"You're a natural," Aberforth gruffly informed his older brother.
"Mattie's doing all the work, I'm just holding the bottle," Albus honestly confessed. "Have I stopped bleeding yet? I'd hate to get my blood over your couch."
While the battered couch had seen its better day as it displayed assorted stains from various bits and bobs, Albus didn't want to add his blood to the messy menagerie. There was enough bad blood between him and his brother, thank you very much.
"Yes, you've stopped bleeding."
"Good, I'd hate to bleed on your furniture," he told his younger brother. Yes, Albus was repeating himself, but it was better than awkward silence? Wasn't it?
"So, you're to be a father. God help that poor soul who's spawning your child, and you're still insisting that the baby's mum is male?" Aberforth questioned. "You sure he's a proper male? The Quibbler had this interesting article on inbetweens… claiming that these inbetweens had various bits and bobs. If he was an inbetween that would explain why he's up the duff."
"I didn't know you…" Could read was what Albus was about to say, but he thought better of it. "Read The Quibbler."
"Don't," Aberforth admitted proudly, justifiably proud of being his brother's anti-thesis in every single possible way. "They were cackling about it at Hog's Head. Mattie? You're done with your bottle, so off to bed with you. It's late and you need your sleep"
The drowsy goat looked hurt and disappointed and Aberforth shook his head. "I'll tell you all about Babbitty Rabbitty tomorrow night, Mattie. Need to talk to my brother. Off with you. I'll make it up for tomorrow by telling you another story along with Babbitty Rabbitty."
The goat realizing that no bedtime story would be forthcoming, then left the sitting room and climbed into Aberforth's bed where he settled and made himself quite comfortable Albus was happy that Mattie was no longer sitting in his lap, as the goat kid was rather heavy, plus the goat caused him the most unusual ticklish feeling. He had nearly burst out in giddy giggles several times while nursing Mattie as he had been bombarded with ticklish sensations all over his body.
Some had been in extremely interesting spots.
"Babbitty Rabbitty?" Albus softly questioned. "That was…"
"Aye, her favorite," admitted Aberforth. "It's Mattie's favorite also. I refuse to tell him The Three Brothers."
"Reasonable," agreed his older brother.
"It's an ill-omened tale," spat the youngest Dumbledore brother. "So, tell me about this man who is all male yet having your child."
"I must ask that you keep it between us," regretfully requested Albus.
"Ask me to keep your secrets? Haven't I kept our family's secrets, Albus? For better for worse, I've kept it all quiet. You'd think you'd have learned by now, you being so bloody intelligent and all that, the secrets you learned at our mother's knee brought nothing but destruction down on our family. What's one more? I'll tell you what's wrong. It was a bloody mistake to treat Ariana as something shameful," Aberforth roared. "Secrecy destroyed our family, Albus!"
Mattie the goat bleated his concern and Aberforth settled down.
"Just having a heated discussion with my loving brother, Mattie. Go back to sleep," Aberforth softly called.
The goat nickered and calmed down.
"I ask you to keep it secret because Voldemort was instrumental in the conception of the child, and I do not wish the child to be seen as ill-omened," Albus explained. "I was rather surprised when informed that a conception had taken place."
"Unplanned? Unwanted? Should have used a contraceptive spell," snickered his brother.
"The child while unplanned is most assuredly wanted," Albus growled. "Her fathers both very much desire her to be born healthy."
"But the child is completely You Know Who's doing?" Aberforth spat his disgust, aiming at Albus' suede boots. Albus refused to move his foot, allowing Aberforth to score his spat derision on his boots.
"Yes."
The admission was a painful one for Albus. A baby was normally a source of such hopeful potential, and yet their daughter had been conceived using Dark Magic. In spite of his insistence to Minerva, Albus secretly feared for the baby's possible contamination.
"Alastor? He's been tetchier than normal lately," Aberforth suggested in a sly tone, his blue eyes narrowing. "Broody, one might say. So is Alastor Moody our stroppy cow?"
"No, not Alastor." Albus then barked a laugh. "Though considering how placid Alastor is at the best of times, Alastor with child is a rather frightening thought!"
"Then the father is Severus," his brother shrewdly decided. "Let me guess, he fancied you and you shagged Severus, rather thoroughly from the unexpected results of your little swimmers. Severus told you that he was up the duff and he realized then what an uncaring, heartless bastard you are so he ran for the hills. That's why you have the Order searching for him, as you want what is in his bloody gut."
"Succinctly put, but not completely correct. Voldemort kidnapped him, and as part of his plan, his Death Eaters Polyjuiced themselves into me, and…" Albus paused, swallowed once and then he softly continued. "And, as you so crudely put it, my swimmers fortunately got there first. I'm searching for him because he'll be dead before long due to the spell used. It has a very high mortality rate."
"You haven't admitted what you did to him. You did something that caused his decision to escape from you using the Knight Bus," Aberforth reminded Albus.
"The Knight Bus? You saw him take the Knight Bus? When?" Albus questioned. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't tell you as the man looked bollocksed. I figured he got tired of being your bloody whipping boy and decided to take a nice seaside holiday. Was about a month or so ago, probably the night he disappeared. Mattie might remember the date," Aberforth stated.
At Albus' quirked eyebrow, Aberforth felt need to defend his friend. "Mattie's a right smart goat. He does my accounts at Hog's Head. I was never good at long division… So, why did he leave you? Because you didn't give a damn about him? Were you were more concerned about the embarrassment he was soon to become?"
"No, I overwhelmed him with my generosity. I know that previously, I neglected my responsibilities…"
Aberforth snorted, but other than that, left Albus' confession uncommented, and Albus' boots unspat upon.
"So I bought him clothes, gave him books… and completely ignored Minerva's requests that I back off from this rather delicate situation."
"Should have listened to Minerva," Aberforth sagely decided. "Should have married her also. She would have straightened you up, and knocked your pride down to manageable levels. I quite enjoy her."
"Minerva was too smart to marry me," Albus retorted. "I convinced him that it would be best for our daughter…"
"A girl? You're having a daughter? 'Zounds! That poor baby girl is doomed, having you and Severus as her fathers! She'll be forever a spinster if you two dress her. I hope Minerva McGonagall will be willing to clothe her. She looks smart; though keep her away from the tartans. She's got a fetish for them."
"Minerva agreed to be Godmother…" quickly inserted Albus. "While the ceremony wasn't completed, I'm sure she'll be quite willing to dress the babe."
"Dispensing the role of Godparents already, are we? I hope you're planning on asking me to be Godfather," Aberforth demanded.
Truthfully, the thought had never crossed Albus' mind. In the rare carefree moments when he had time to think of such happy things, Albus had wondered about the possibility of Elphias as Godfather. He was Godfather to Elphias and Leah's oldest son, and it would be nice to reciprocate the honor… though naturally, Severus would need to weigh in on the decision.
"You desire to be her Godfather?" Albus questioned. His head was still spinning and he wasn't sure that he had heard Aberforth correctly.
"Somebody needs to protect her from you," retorted his brother. "You've got Minerva and me, we'll keep your head screwed on straight and make sure that you behave. Minerva can magic you into behaving, and I can physically beat some sense into you."
Albus was quiet, debating how Severus would react to the news that Albus had unilaterally decided that Aberforth would be their daughter's Godfather. He would not be happy…
"You know, I never understand why you let me beat you up. You being such a powerful, almighty smart-arse wizard, you could Hex me," Aberforth admitted. "Yet you let me break your nose and give you two black eyes!"
"It's your brotherly prerogative to physically knock some sense into me," Albus confessed. "Though I've thought that we've long since reached the age where fistfights are unnecessary to settle our disagreements."
"You've got a hard head," his younger brother sagely informed him. "You need your skull cracked open to let common sense into it."
Truly, tonight was rather remarkable. He needed to let Aberforth whack away on him more often. It appeared that being bartender to the dodgy souls at the Hog's Head had turned Aberforth into Albus' very own Agony Aunt Aberforth.
"While I would be delighted to have you as Godfather, I truly must ask Severus for his input," Albus admitted.
"You're learning," approvingly muttered Aberforth. "You don't wear the trousers in this particular relationship. Severus does, as he's the one spawning. But you were saying? Before I was accepting the role of Godfather?"
Albus inwardly shivered and prayed that Severus would understand why Aberforth had declared himself the Godfather.
"If we were Bonded, I'd be able to easier support him through this. Minerva thoroughly castigated me and opened my eyes to the unmistakable truth that instead of merely helping him, I was terrorizing and bullying him into agreeing with my desires. I agreed that Bonding Severus might not be the best for him. Minerva told him…"
"You lacked the bollocks to tell him yourself?" Aberforth's voice rose in his disbelief.
"Sshh… you'll wake Mattie! Minerva and Severus are quite close, and I thought that it would be better if she spoke with him. I had also been banned from the infirmary and thought it would be best if I actually obeyed the ban. Severus trusts Minerva, and he has sufficient reason not to put much confidence in me or my word. He did a runner, Aberforth, and I need to find him before Voldemort does."
"I'll look for him, as I want to save my goddaughter from him," Aberforth stated. "Now, since you're to be a father, I think this news calls for a celebratory drink."
Aberforth disappeared and quickly returned with a small glass bottle.
"Fire-whisky?" Albus questioned.
"For this, we won't be using that weasel-water. I brew this myself," Aberforth proudly admitted before warning his brother, "May knock you on your arse."
He poured the liquor into two small glasses and Albus wasn't surprised to see a small mushroom cloud appear over the liquor. He was quite familiar with his brother's experiments, after all. The cloud quickly dissipated and then Aberforth handed him a glass.
"To my Goddaughter! May she have better fashion sense that her fathers!"
"May she be born healthy," Albus responded. "And may Severus survive the ordeal."
They clinked their glasses together and Albus gulped down the drink. The drink was quite tasty, so he agreed to another drink… and then another… and then… yet another…
That's all that he remembered until the next morning when he woke in Aberforth's bed, nestled next to Mattie the goat, who gave him a cheery bleat of greeting.