Rihanna's Son

hi everyone! whew, ok, the writer's block/curse is over (I hope!) here's another chapter, and the next is up and running.

this one might be a little off, but it got me writing the story again and I hope everyone enjoys since everyone's been wonderful about waiting so patiently!

marti!@

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Snape came through the Floo, brushing ashes off his robes as the last of the Polyjuice Potion wore off and he returned to his old dark, scowling self. He stood upright to find Molly and Remus sitting at the kitchen table, arms crossed as they seemed to be waiting for someone. He could only assume it was he they waited on and that his son hadn’t learned discretion in his short four and a half years of life. He’d have to remember to talk to the child later, assuming he was still in one piece then.

“Good afternoon, Lupin, Molly. How are the two of you?”

“When were you going to tell anyone?”

“About?” Severus cocked one eyebrow at his son’s uncle, knowing full well what the werewolf was referring to, but baiting him nonetheless. Hell, he’d been stuck in this bloody house long enough, he needed a good tussle.

“Hermione.”

“Miss Granger? What about her, Lupin? Did she brush your fur wrong?” He asked silkily, smirking at the werewolf.

“I’m not the one shagging her, Snape.”

“Severus! A student. What would Albus say?” Molly wrung her hands in her apron. Severus rolled his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Any student would be able to tell that he was getting annoyed.

“Albus would tell me to be circumspect and don’t advertise my involvement with a student who is my intellectual equal and of age in both the Muggle and magical world. He would also congratulate me on choosing a wonderful woman to plan my future with once this damn war is finished. And he did give his approval last spring when I approached him about my feelings toward Hermione. Now, if we’re through?” Severus started to brush past the shocked werewolf, but Molly grabbed his left forearm. He hissed and pulled his arm away from her. She let go, but didn’t step away from him.

“She’s a child, Severus. You were her teacher.”

“We’ve been through this, Molly. We know our own feelings and we’re not worried about what everyone else will say.”

“You can’t do this to her, Severus. She still has her entire life ahead of her.” Remus found his voice.

“My entire life is going to be with Severus, God willing, Remus Lupin! How dare the two of you come in here and confront Severus.” Hermione swung open the kitchen door and stood there with her brown unruly hair flying about her head. Behind her, Severus could see his son standing, peeking around her hip. He was sure that she thought the boy was somewhere else. Well, Hermione was going to be a big part of his life, he might as well hear what’s going on now.

“We’re only trying to help.”

“Don’t help. Severus and I know our own feelings.”

“I know that I want to ask Hermione to marry me once the war is over. Providing I survive, of course.” Severus cocked one eyebrow at the two of them. “If you don’t believe me, go ask Albus’s portrait.” He walked around them and stood in front of Hermione staring down into her sparkling eyes. “Good afternoon, Miss Granger.”

“It is now that you’re back safe and sound, Professor.” She smiled, knowing how much he didn’t like displays of affection in front of others. She didn’t touch him in any way. She felt her skirt move a bit as Damien brushed by her to wrap his arms around his father’s legs.

“Hi, Daddy. Did you bring me anything?”

With a flourish, Severus pulled a small package from inside his cloak. About two and a half feet long, it was quite narrow. Hermione knew that it wasn’t a wand since Ollivander hadn’t returned to Diagon Alley yet, nor would he send a wand to a four year old.

“What is it?”

“Go sit at the table and open it. Be careful.”

“Is it a kitty like Crooks?”

“Fortunately, there are no cats like Crookshanks. The gods wouldn’t be that cruel. No, it’s something far more appropriate for a child.” He ruffled the boy’s black hair and urged him to go sit at the kitchen table. Damien hugged Severus’ leg once more then sat down and started ripping the butcher paper off of the package. Molly and Remus continued to watch them.

“Did you bring anything for me?” Hermione whispered with a little smile.

“You’ll get your gift later.” Severus turned back to his interrogators with a Snape sneer. Neither had missed the growled promise in his voice. “If you’re finished?”

“Not by a long shot, Severus. But not here in front of little ears.” Remus swore through gritted teeth and watched his nephew open his present, the first from his father, slowly. He was savoring the action.

The unvoiced argument hung in the air of the kitchen as the adults watched and urged Damien on.

“Wow! A broom of my own! Look, I gots a broom!” Damien pulled the miniature broom from the package and ran his hands over it lovingly. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“A broom!” Molly and Hermione’s identical exclamations made Severus wonder if the tiny toddler broom had been a good idea. Although, looking at his son, he knew that he couldn’t and wouldn’t return it. “Severus Snape, I can’t believe you got that boy a broom! Can you imagine the terror he will instigate while cooped up here in this house? Or what he might break during his riding?” Molly’s admonition made him wince.

“To be honest, I did not think about those things when I chose the broom, Molly. I was only concerned with getting something for my son which might bring him some joy. You’re welcome, Damien. I shall take you outside later to practice. You are not to ride it unless an adult is near. Am I understood?”

Damien nodded vigorously, his hair bobbing wildly. Severus made a mental note to get it trimmed before he began to believe he had a daughter. He picked up the broomstick and held it to his chest reverently for a moment before running full-tilt toward the swinging kitchen door. “Man, I can’t wait to take Crookshanks for a ride!”

Hermione’s smile froze and before Severus knew it, she had turned and was running after the little boy.

“I truly wish Mr. Creevey were here with his camera right about now.” Severus sighed. He put up with her orange familiar only because he loved her, and now because his son had grown attached to the bloody thing. A couple of times, he’d been tempted to lure the beast into the basement during one of Remus’ times of the month, but the thought of his young lover crying in his arms was tortuous to him.

Besides, he had a feeling she would know he was behind the ‘accident.’


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I love Damien. :-)

marti

tbc