It Started With A Kiss

Chapter 18

A figure dressed in black robes suddenly appeared in the back alley of an abandoned building in London. Taking his wand and pointing it at himself, he transfigured his clothes into something more appropriate and walked out of the alley.

He walked several blocks and turned into an old building, one that had definitely seen better days. He walked down the hall to a door that was just like all the other doors in the building. He took out his key and unlocked the door, then stepped into the flat. Inside the rooms were dingy, the furniture worn and scratched. It was nothing like the opulent surroundings of his first eleven years.

Julius Malfoy, a.k.a. John Marlowe, sat down on an old threadbare sofa in the dark, dingy sitting room of the place he called home. A scowl came to his face as he looked around him. Home, he thought, home used to be a beautiful, elegant manor in Wiltshire. Expansive gardens and house elves tending to his every want and need. Now even the bloody elves lived better then he did. That was over thirty years ago. Thirty years since he was left at the mercy of muggles in an orphanage. Yet he remembered his father’s words to him like it was yesterday.

-Begin Flashback-

He entered his father’s study afraid that he may have done something wrong; his father was a strict disciplinarian and not above using his wand on his children. He stood straight, chin up, shoulders back as he had been taught, waiting for his father to acknowledge his presence.

“Julius, your mother and I have noticed for quite some time that your magic has not manifested itself. We did hope that would change as you matured, but considering you have not received your Hogwarts letter we can only come to the conclusion that it never will.”

He always knew he was different from his parents and even his younger brother, Lucius, who at five had already shown he possessed strong magic. ‘It wasn’t fair,’ he thought, ‘it’s not as if I can help being the way I am. It should have been Lucius though. I’m the first-born son, I’m the one who should have the stronger magic instead of none!’

“There will be someone coming here in an hour for you. You will no longer be living in this house or even in the wizarding world. Your name will be removed from the family tree and you will be declared dead. I will NOT allow this family to bear the shame of having a Squib as a member. You will be taken to a muggle orphanage, there they will teach you what you need to know to survive in the muggle world. You will have no contact with this family again.”

“Please Father, no, I promise I’ll try harder. Please don’t send me away.”

“You are NOT a wizard, Julius and you NEVER will be. Consider yourself lucky. Most Squibs meet with an untimely demise. You have your mother to thank for your continued existence. I’ve spared your life for her sake.”

The young boy shed tears for the first time in front of his father. He felt the pain in his heart; he was unwanted all because he wasn’t gifted with magic.

“Show some dignity, boy and stop crying like a little girl. Now go upstairs and say your good-byes to your mother and brother while you still can.”

-End Flashback-

He remembered how miserable he was in that awful place, that orphanage. He wasn’t an orphan, he was just disowned, abandoned, thrown away like garbage by the family he loved, because he was not born with magic ability. Then he was placed under that damn spell by that wizard who came to take him away from the only home he ever knew, so he couldn’t talk about the wizarding world to anyone. It’s not as though any muggle would have believed it, they would have thought him mental if he ever talked about it. He went to that muggle school, and learned a muggle trade. He was even given a muggle name, John Marlowe.

One of the few bright spots in his life as a muggle was the women. He was blessed with the Malfoy charm and looks, which went a long way with the ladies; he never lacked for female companionship.

His luckiest day though, was the day he walked into that old bookshop. Who would have thought he would find a Dark Arts book in a Muggle bookshop? He could hardly believe it as he opened the cover and discovered the wonders within it. He quickly closed it and picked it up holding it close to his chest as he went to the counter to purchase it. The muggle shop-keep had no idea what he had in his store. There was no haggling over the price, as it was worth more than the miniscule amount he paid for it. He left the store and rushed back to his shabby flat and began to read the first wizarding book he had seen in over thirty years.

As he neared the middle of the old tome he found a ritual, one that would grant you that which you most desire. It did not require the type of magic one needed a wand for, just some of his blood and a quill. There was a blank page to use for the writing; all he needed to do was find a quill, and if it worked, he would show the wizarding world what a ‘mere squib’ could do.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was the last day of the term before the Christmas hols. Hermione was in Gryffindor Tower visiting her friends before they left the next day.

“So we going to see you for Christmas dinner at the Burrow, Hermione?” Ron asked.

“I’m not sure, Ron, but don’t count on it. I think Severus and I may just spend a quiet Christmas here in our quarters.”

“You mean the bat won’t let you come out of the dungeons for dinner,” Harry interjected.

“No, Harry, that’s not what I mean. This is our first Christmas together and I really haven’t had much of an opportunity to talk to him about plans for the hols. You really need to get over this hostility you have towards my husband.”

“Have you forgotten how he treated us, Hermione? He was particularly awful to you. Do you remember the incident when Draco hexed your teeth?”

“No, Harry I have not forgotten. I’m also not twelve anymore. I know you haven’t noticed, but his classroom personal is nowhere near what it used to be. Yes he’s still demanding, and exacting, but that is a part of him that will never change. In private, though, he’s very different, and he is wonderful to me. If you can’t be happy for me, Harry, then maybe we need to put some distance between us.”

“No, I don’t want that. I’ll keep my comments to myself if you try not to bring his name up in conversation.”

Hermione smiled.

“I think I can do that. I don’t want to lose your friendship, Harry. The three of us have gone through too much to let it go so easily.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Christmas Eve night found Hermione with Severus in front of the fire having a quiet dinner for two. She decorated a small tree and put a few decorations up, it was enough for them.

After they had their fill and the dishes vanished to the kitchens they sat down together on the sofa close together with a cup of tea.

“Severus, I want to give you one of your gifts tonight.”

“I thought we were exchanging gifts in the morning.”

“We are, but there’s a gift I really want to give you tonight. I’ve been anxious to see your reaction to it.”

Hermione went to tree and retrieve the books she bought him, now wrapped in Slytherin green paper with a blue bow on top. She sat back down next to her husband, placing the present in his lap.

“I hope you like it,” she said, a nervous smile on her face.

He opened the gift carefully, revealing the books she bought. He read the title of the first, his brow raising.

“Hermione, why would I need a book about pregnant witches, and a book on child care?”

He looked over at Hermione, the same nervous smile still on her face.

“Well, I thought that you might need them to help you get through the next seven and a half months or so.”

“The next seven and a…..”

It was at that moment he understood what she was trying to tell him.

“Hermione, are you saying that you are….that we are going to…I’m going to…”

“Be a father? Yes.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, his face a picture of shock and uncertainty.

Hermione reached out placing her hand gently to his face.

“I’m very sure, love. Madam Pomfrey confirmed it for me a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to wait till tonight to tell you, when it was just the two of us here and no students to interrupt. Remember when I told you about the dream? Well what I didn’t tell you was that I was told I was pregnant. They told me I was going to have a son, and Poppy confirmed that, too.”

“A son?” he asked.

Hermione nodded then giggled slightly.

“I never thought that I would live to see the day that Severus Snape would be at a loss for words.”

He reached over and wrapped Hermione in his arms holding her close.

“A son. Hermione,” he whispered into her ear, “I never thought I would ever be a father. Thank you my love. Thank you for the most wonderful present you could ever give me.”

“I should thank you also my love. After all, I would not be in this condition without you.”

Severus kissed his wife passionately, lifting her up in his arms. He carried her to the bedroom where he spent the night showing her just how much he loved his gift.

A/N: Anya, Thank you...I couldn't agree more about fanfiction being AU, if only more thought that way.

To all my other reviewers a big thank you also. My muse loves reviews. Now it's her feeding time, please click on that button below she's famished after writing this chapter!