Child of New Beginnings

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Chapter 15



Severus was flat on his back on the carpet in the nursery. With his hands, he raised Sebastian up above him, and lowered him, again and again. “Who is turning into a big boy today?”



Sebastian let out a laugh as his father tickled his chest with his nose.



“You are!” Severus laughed as Sebastian somewhat took a hold of his nose. It was Sebastian’s seven month old birthday. “Why are you always trying to grab Daddy’s nose?” At least you don’t have Daddy’s big crooked nose. You have Mummy’s cute nose.” Since when did he think that Hermione’s nose was cute?



He had spent most of his time with Hermione and Sebastian, and rarely was alone. And when he was alone, he wanted to be with them. When was the last time he picked socializing over his privacy and solitude? With Hermione, he never asked about what she was feeling, or what she wanted to do. They never spoke of personal topics. It was all Sebastian this, and Sebastian that. Yet, when he looked at her, he felt another feeling within him, and it wasn’t guilt. It was entirely something else and something new. What was it?



Sebastian’s little feet continued to kick in the air in amusement.



Hermione walked into the nursery and headed to the drawer of clothes. “Severus, he’s going to feel sickly later,” she told him as she rummaged to find Sebastian a set of nice clothes. They had started addressing each other by their first names soon after the talk. It was a little awkward at first, but they quickly got used to it. They did a lot together, from eating meals, and spending time with Sebastian. They acted like a family, but never really acknowledge or question it. Never did they talk about the rape issue again.



“Mummy’s being a spoil sport isn’t she?” Severus growled as he set Sebastian down on his chest, and looked up at his smiling face.



“I heard that!” Hermione snapped at him as she placed the clothes that she had been searching for on the changing table.



Severus seemed to have surprise her over the past few days. He didn’t wear his black teaching robes anymore when he was around Sebastian and her. She couldn’t help but think that he did look good in casual clothes like jeans and a neutral colored shirt. And when he smiled, for some reason, it made her stomach flutter. The first time she saw it, she couldn’t breathe. What exactly was she feeling?



“I’ll just shower and freshen up,” Hermione said as she walked out. “You dress Bastian up.”



“She’s gone,” Severus smirked, and it seemed as if his son smirked back at him. “Super Sebastian!” Severus said as he again raised Sebastian up and down.



After minutes of playing ‘Super Sebastian,’ with an additional game of nose tugging, Severus heard a knock on the door. “It’s open!” he said aloud, not stopping his playing with Sebastian.



Remus opened the door, and stepped inside Hermione’s chamber, closing the door behind him. He looked around and noticed that there was no one in the living room. Then, he heard a familiar sound of a man, laughing. Was that Severus? He walked towards the sound. He walked into the nursery and stopped at the sight he saw. It was him.



“Severus,” Remus said as he cleared his throat.



Severus stopped and placed Sebastian on his chest again. He moved his head slightly to the side and raised his brows when he saw Remus. “Remus,” Severus said as he sat up straight.



“Uh, this is for Sebastian,” Remus said as he took a step forward, holding a small wrapped package in his hand. He was uneasy. He never saw Severus, Hermione or even Sebastian when the case was given to him.



With a nod, Severus told the man to come close, and sit down.



Remus did as told, and sat down on the floor directly in front of the two.



“Look, it’s Uncle Remus,” Severus said as he turned Sebastian on his lap to face him. “And he has a new toy for you.”



Remus couldn’t help but smile. Severus was a wonderful father, he could tell. When his eyes finally saw how Sebastian looked like, he could tell that it was Severus’s son. “Hi Sebastian,” Remus cooed as he touched his hair softly. He then unwrapped his gift, and placed the little stuffed hippogriff on the floor. “This is for you.”



With a giggle, one of Sebastian’s hands extended out towards the toy. Slowly, the toy slid and moved onto his lap, and stopped as soon as he touched it with his hand.



“Wow!...” Remus said in silent shock. Never had he witnessed someone so young to perform such magic.



“You should have seen him when he threw people flat on their arses, Albus included,” Severus smirked.



“I would have paid to see that,” Remus chuckled. “Sebastian is special.”



“He is,” Severus said as he bent forward to kiss Sebastian’s head. “Just make sure he isn’t pissed off, otherwise you’ll find yourself flat on your arse as well.”



Remus nodded. “Everything seems fine,” he noted. “How is Hermione?”



Looking down at Sebastian, Severus answered, “She’s coping, but clearly, she’s in fear.”



“Any parent would be. And don’t blame yourself Severus.”



“Can’t help it if I do,” Severus sighed back.



Remus didn’t say anything back. He didn’t want to continue on with the discussion, not really knowing how Severus would react if he pushed it too far. He just looked at Sebastian, who was happily playing with his new toy.



“Would you like to hold him?” Severus asked Remus.



“Sure,” Remus smiled. He loved kids. He reached for Sebastian as he was handed to him. “And are you Gryffindor like your Mummy?” he asked as he raised the baby up to his face.



“Not at all,” Severus drawled.



“Why not?” Remus asked back, as he glanced at the other man before looking back at Sebastian. “You are Gryffindor aren’t you?”



Sebastian raised a hand and managed to take hold of Remus’s mustache. With a giggle, he gave it a tug.



“Hey! Ow!” Remus said as he pulled back.



“See, he’s Slytherin,” Severus stated as he arched a brow up.



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The Room of Requirement became the venue for Sebastian’s birthday celebration. This seventh month was obviously different this time around. The celebration was bigger, and Severus was present. The Malfoys, Albus, Minerva, Remus, Poppy, and Hagrid were all invited. Everyone was happy and smiling at Sebastian, who was the center of attention. Sebastian was showered with more gifts, more toys and more clothes.



Draco, who also had grown close to him, gave him a special walker, which was the most interesting gift. It was a small baby broom style walker, which floated and head no wheels. In front of the broom, there was a plastic toy, which Sebastian would reach out to or chew on. The toy was in the shape of a quidditch seeker. Draco kept on saying that Sebastian would soon one day become a fine seeker. Severus may have not been a player, but he was one of the finest when it came to riding a broom. He never was fond of the game, and never took interest in it. If he was, then he would have certainly been on the Slytherin team during his student days.



“There goes the cake,” Hagrid said as he laughed.



Sebastian’s who was seated right in front of the cake made his little shoe covered foot land kick it slightly. A third of his shoe became buried in the icing.



“Sebastian!” Severus hissed as he pulled him far from the cake. He looked directly at him with his most angry and menacing scowl.



Sebastian only laughed and just dove forward for the cake, making his little hands also get buried in the icing.



Shaking head, Severus turned Sebastian around so as not to face the cake. Leveling with the infant, he pointed a finger at him and spoke. “You have made a mess out of yourself. I am not amused,” he hissed.



Sebastian laughed harder with his little baby laugh and placed both his hands right on his Daddy’s face. His hands smeared the sticky mess on Severus’s nose and lower part of his face.



“Looks like you don’t scare him one bit Severus,” Albus laughed.



Severus sighed and shook his head. His scary façade never scared his son a single bit when he was angry.



“Here,” Hermione laughed as well handing him a towel. She was seated right next to him, but didn’t want to help him clean Sebastian up. “The both of you look so cute and messy,” she whispered to Severus.



“Ha, ha, ha,” Severus drawled sarcastically at her. Cute was never word to describe him. “You think that funny?”



Hermione nodded. Before she knew it, a finger full of icing was rubbed on her cheek, making her gasp.



“Now you’re a mess,” Severus smirked.



“Not funny!” Hermione snapped. “You Slytherin!”



Everyone around the table kept silent, and grinned at the way Severus and Hermione were fighting.



“I’m not the only one,” Severus said softly, waiving one of Sebastian’s hands at her.



Hermione shook her head. How was she going to deal with two Slytherin’s in her life?



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AN – Fun, enjoyable, funny chapter. Review!