Dumbledore carefully tucked Severus into his pram, covering him with the – scourgified – blankets.
"Now I know why Molly goes on and on about the first time her children smiled," the old wizard leaned forward over the pram to kiss the infant.
"Yes," Harry said, his eyes closed. Albus looked up, and frowned in concern when he saw the pale face and dark smudges under the eyes.
"Harry…"
"Just tired," the young man muttered, "I was tired already before I stopped by Minerva, and I never cared for a baby before."
The headmaster leaned over the lounge and repeated the tucking and kissing procedure with his young History teacher.
Harry's eyes opened in shock when he felt a kiss brushed on his forehead.
"What the…"
Dumbledore rested his hand on the unruly black hair.
"I've always cared about you, Harry," sad blue eyes met emerald green, "you weren't just the Boy Who Lived to me. I know you don't believe me, but that won't stop me from finally acting towards you the way I should have from the beginning."
The wizard gulped. "You're not going to catch up on all the telling-offs you should have given me over the years, but didn't, are you?"
They stared at each other for long seconds until finally, they started to laugh.
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Leaving Harry and Severus, both fast asleep, in the care of Winky and Dobby, Dumbledore decided to pay a visit to his Deputy.
He knocked, entered, and sat down in front of the desk.
For minutes on end, he didn't say a word. The Transfigurations professor stared, looked away, fidgeted, and eventually outright squirmed as if she was seventeen instead of over seventy.
"Why, Minerva?" Albus finally sighed.
The witch raised her chin defiantly. "Harry simply stormed in, and took the child. He…"
"He took him, because you put a Silencing charm on the pram and let him cry, without changing his nappy or feeding him. He took him because you called him a burden. Why, Minerva? Please, make me understand. The Minerva I know would never have done such a thing."
Suddenly, the women looked every bit her age.
"We are all tired from this war. We all have to return to lives we had all but forgotten. Severus..."
"Did more than any of us," Dumbledore nearly whispered.
"Yes," she admitted, staring at her hands, folded on the desk in front of her, "yes. Only…we never did understand him. None of us did. No one but you. Of course we know how much he sacrificed…but all of us are all but spent."
Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "I should have realized. Still, I must insist you don't take out your frustrations on a baby again, Minerva. I can't force you to care for him, or even like him. I'm sorry if you felt I forced him onto you earlier. But please, stay away from him as long as you feel so resentful towards him."
McGonagall blushed deeply. "I don't know what came over me. There was so much work to do and his crying kept me from focusing. Before I knew, I had cast the charm…"
"I think," the headmaster said thoughtfully, "that we need a quiet year. The administrative responsibilities are quite extensive, and take up a lot of energy from both of us. Energy that we need, especially now. I am going to hire us a secretary."
The Head of Gryffindor looked up in utter surprise. "A secretary?"
"Yes. Someone who can take care of most of the paperwork for us. You know, sort the mail so we only get the important letters while he or she takes care of the others. That should ease everyone's workload a little."
Minerva's eyes misted over. "You would do that? After what I did?"
Her old professor patted her hands. "Of course, my dear. I will see if I can get us someone within a forthnight."
He stood up to leave. "Let me know when you are ready," his smile was genuine but his eyes remained sad, "when you are, I would love to introduce my grandson to you."
"Grandson?"
"It is the easiest way to look at the little one," Albus bit his lip, "to think of him as my grandson. He could, in some ways, be considered Severus's son. Until he is old enough to understand, that is how I will explain things to him."
"So…Severus…really isn't coming back? This is not just…a temporary arrangement?"
For the first time, a little sorrow shone in the witch's eyes.
"No," the old man replied, his voice tight with grief, "no. As I said before, Severus is gone. All that remains is a baby who will look like him, but end up a different person. Technically, Severus isn't dead – but in reality, that is how it is. Severus Snape is dead, and Severus Dumbledore has only just started his life."
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"Albus?"
Harry looked around the rooms, but saw no headmaster.
"ALBUS?"
At last a voice came. "Over here, Harry, in the bathroom."
A bit worried that he was summoned into the bathroom with the headmaster, Harry entered.
Dumbledore had levitated a baby bath, and was busy undressing Severus.
"So nice of you to show up early, my boy," he said, lifting the naked infant in his arms, "now you get to help me give him a bath."
He gently eased the baby into the water, the head resting on his forearm, while he held the child in place with his the fingers of that hand under the tiny armpit.
Severus sighed – being undressed and manhandled into a bath is apparently hard work – and relaxed into the water.
"He loves this," Albus chuckled, "I imagine one day he will start purring. He's close enough to it."
And indeed, the baby was making distinct sounds of complete contentment. Harry smiled.
"What brings you here this early, Harry?"
"Hmm? Oh, well, I heard you were looking for a secretary. When I was in hospital, I met a girl about my age; she went to a smaller school somewhere in Cornwall or Devon, I think it was. Anyway, she got hurt pretty bad in the war, but she's recovered now. We still write occasionally. She worked with the Ministry, doing some sort of administrative job as well. She's good at that, but she hated the Ministry. Now that she has been discharged from the hospital, she's looking for a job. I figured she might be interested."
"Contact her, if you will, Harry, and have her come in for an interview as soon as is convenient for her. What's her name?"
"Phoebe. Phoebe Falcon-Ashley." Harry watched as Dumbledore lifted the baby from the water, causing a loud angry protest.
"This part he hates," Dumbledore commented, and quickly wrapped the baby up in a towel.
"Here, Harry, you dry him off. Don't rub, just pat with the towel. Make sure you dry everywhere."
A bit hesitant, Harry started drying. Severus calmed as he got over the shock of being lifted from his warm bath, and enthusiastically flailed arms and legs about, hitting Harry's hand.
"Hey, careful there, Junior," Harry smirked, "I'll have to teach you proper fighting techniques when you're older."
Accepting a nappy from Dumbledore, he powdered and dressed the child. Albus hovered close, offering advice when needed.
"There," Harry said contently, when he had finally managed to dress the child in his romper suit, soft pants, shirt, and a baby-sized robe, "all done, Junior."
Junior showed little appreciation for Harry's rapidly improving childcare skills. He simply yawned and went to sleep again.
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The young woman hesitatingly stepped out of the carriage that had picked her up from Hogsmeade station and looked at the castle.
"Phoebe!"
She smiled happily as she saw a familiar black-haired figure on the steps.
"Harry! This place is even grander than you ever told me," she took her handbag from the carriage and climbed the stairs.
"There's no way to describe her and do right by her," Harry smiled as he kissed her on the cheek, "how are you?"
"It's been strange, outside the hospital," she admitted, "as you probably know full well yourself. Thanks for thinking of me when the headmaster mentioned this job."
"How could I not? Come, let's go in. The headmaster is waiting for you."
She bit her lip. "Have you…told him…about…"
Harry shook his head. "I didn't know if you'd want me to. If you wish, I can go in first and tell him."
Shaking her head, the witch climbed the stairs determinedly. "No. No, that's alright."
They entered the office together – Phoebe not having the password – and found Albus Dumbledore behind his desk.
The headmaster looked up. Only years of experience allowed him to keep the shock from his face as he saw the young woman.
She was quite handsome. Or rather, she used to be. She had a nice figure, although she stood at only 5'1". Her eyes were a warm, deep brown and long, auburn hair reached the middle of her back.
Over her face, from her left eyebrow, crossing her cheek and ending just above her chin, was a long, ragged curse scar.
"Good afternoon, headmaster," the young woman said bravely, "I am Phoebe Falcon-Ashley. I hope I find you well?"
Harry left the room and went into the headmasters library to babysit Severus while Albus conducted the interview. He paced the room nervously for nearly an hour, wishing he could hear something, anything from the other room.
At last, he was allowed back in. Phoebe rushed up to him and threw her arms around his neck.
"Thank you, Harry, thank you!"
Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled brightly.
"May I introduce you to our newest staff member, Harry?"