E Pluribus Unum

A/N - Wow! What a great response. Thanks as always to my beta, Kate, without whomouldould have far more grammatical errors and wouldn\'t look half as cool. :) thanks to my reviewers, deblovesdragon, Lady Aidil, Ann, Tamargrl (who I meant to thank in the dedication as well), Ventrue66, Zephyr, Peeves (Mistress and Commander of HUI, a great group that I adore), Len and Droxy!


Chapter 2 – Paternal Instincts

Severus paced the halls of the tiny cottage with an expression of boredom plastered on his face. The truth is he was anything but bored. In the next room he could hear the midwife’s gentle coaching and Bellatrix’s screams and insults. He hoped the Muggle belief that the birthing process formed a baby’s personality was untrue; otherwise Ryan would grow up to swear like a sailor. Voldemort had chosen to be absent for the actual birth, smart bugger that he was, Severus thought savagely. His command to guard Bellatrix, sadly, did not allow Severus to escape the grunts and howls emanating from her bedroom.

Hours passed and a thin wail could be heard coming from behind the door; then soft voiced conversation from the midwife and a sharp insult and angry retort from Bellatrix.

The door opened and the harassed woman, all round plumpness and bespectacled blue eyes, emerged with a tiny bundle in her arms. Severus went absolutely still and then crept over to peek at his son.

“He is quite healthy, Mr. Broom.” The midwife said nervously. Severus smiled at the little boy who was howling fit to burst in the midwife’s arms. The child caught sight of the dark eyes watching him and quieted, seemingly comforted by his father’s presence. He was red and somewhat squashed by the birthing process, but Severus thought he was quite handsome despite that. He noted the tiny button nose with relief.

“He is perfect, Goody Bloom.” Severus took the baby from the suddenly smiling woman. He could almost read her mind: at least this child would have one parent who loved him. Severus took the baby gently in one arm and being careful not to disturb the child who was drifting off to sleep, stunned the midwife and then obliviated her.


Three hours later he was sitting at 12 Grimmauld Place, being made the recipient of much helpful feminine advice. The rooms Albus had put aside for his occasional use were pleasant, more so now that Molly had chased the dark gnomes from under the couch. The Verruca monster had taken some time to get rid of, but Arthur had finally driven her out of the sock drawer and it was a great relief. A small wardrobe, bassinet and changinble ble had been set up in the parlor and along with the couch and the many bookshelves, Severus had found the rooms very comfortable. There was a bedroom and private bath off the parlor, which suited his desire for privacy very well.

The little parlor was done in robin’s egg blue, Molly’s choice. Severus had preferred the previous dark wood paneling and black drapes. The curtains were a cream colored silk and the couch matched them. It was light, airy and despite how little it suited Severus, he hadn’t had the heart to ask Molly to change it. Harry had given her a huge amount of money to redecorate with last year, after Sirius had died, and she was so excited and happy about not having to buy second hand tatty furniture that he had just grumbled about her color choices and let her be.

Molly Weasley was bottle-feeding little Ryan with the practiced ease that can only come after quite so many children. Her red hair, untouched by gray, was pulled back away from the baby’s reach and her bright eyes were sparkling with happiness as she cooed at Ryan.

She was chattering to both the baby and Severus, giving him a crash course in nappies, bottles and bath time. It was difficult to figure out which bits of her conversation were addressed to him and which were addressed to the baby, since both were delivered in a saccharine tone that he found revolting in the extreme.

“Yes, that’s a good little man! Regularity is the key dear, they need a schedule. Do you want a burping, little angel? Yes, you do. Baths need to be warm but not too hot, and you need to check his nappies regularly so he doesn’t get a rash. No, wouldn’t want that, would we puss’ums?”

The baby, tossed over one of Molly’s plump shoulders and patted vigorously, emitted a sound that Hagrid’s dog might make and that Severus found highly alarming.

“Is he supposed to sound like that?” Severus stared at the tiny child, so small with pale eyes and a cap of ebon curls, far too sweet looking to have made a noise like a Hippogriff in heat.

“Oh yes, he is a healthy little lad, isn’t he.” Molly sounded as though the burp were the most melodious noise on earth and Severus relaxed and took the cooing baby back from her. The miniature fists waved happily and little bubbles of spit rose from between the tiny rosebud lips. Severus was amazed to find that what would disgust him on anyone else was actually rather charming on his son. A spare nappy was pressed into drool duty and Ryan kicked in his blankets, apparently enjoying his father’s attention.

“He really likes you Severus.” Molly said with happy complacency.

“Yes, who could have imagined it?” His hair hung down and tickled the child. A tiny hand tried unsuccessfully to grab the dangling lock and Severus tucked it away from potential harm.

Looking into his son’s eyes was something he could do all day. The baby had wide clear eyes and a steady, if unfocused, gaze.

“You’re his Da, Severus, why wouldn’t he like you?” Molly gave him a stern gaze and he returned her a small smile.

“Because he would be the first person under the age of thirty to do so.” Molly chuckled and shook her head at him, but he was lost again in the tiny face that peered up at him with such wonder and trust. He could twist the tiny neck so easily; he jerked his mind away from the thought. His history was always there, in the background of his mind, would he ever be free of it? He had never killed a child so young, but he had killed children in the past.

He thought of Kathryn -- how would she react to this child? She said she would love him, but faced with the reality of what he had had to do with Bellatrix, would she resent him? Would she see in Ryan the reflection of the darkness that had surrounded his conception? Severus could only see the extreme innocence of the child. He wanted to preserve that innocence for as long as possible. He wanted all sorts of things for his son. He wanted peace, security and happiness for him and everything good that he could gift to this child. Ryan was drifting off to sleep in his arms, relaxing into the boneless sprawl that seemed to characterize very small children.

Molly was watching the baby with a goofy smile that Severus suspected mirrored his own. He was quite prepared to make a fool of himself for this tiny person; he would sacrifice dignity, quiet and sleep and he would try to do it with grace.

“It’s so different when they are yours, isn’t it Severus.” Molly murmured softly, stroking a finger along one rosy cheek. “Knowing that they look to you for everything, that they trust you completely and that you just can’t fail them, because their life depends on you.” Severus nodded; along with the incredible feeling of wonder and love that was blossoming in his heart was the heavy weight of responsibility. He had to protect and care for this child.

“Albus has enlarged my quarters; he’s added a playroom and child-proofed the place for Ryan’s safety.” Severus shifted the sleeping child to ease the strain on his arms.

“Where will he sleep?”

“With me, at first. I want to be sure to wake when he cries.” Molly smiled at him as though he had told her he was presenting her with Lucius Malfoy’s fortune. Severus was suddenly uncomfortable, feeling exposed and shy. Molly seemed to sense his discomfort and turned away to bustle about the room. She was opening the myriad packages and bundles that she had brought along today.

Shopping for Ryan had been an obstacle until Molly’s elder sister had had her first grandchild and thereafter Molly simply bought all of Ryan’s things under the pretext of helping her great-niece. Severus had provided the money and arranged to send plenty of gifts to the other baby as well, to cover their tracks. He had been secretly pleased to repay Molly’s kindness with this hidden act of charity, for he hated to owe debts to anyone, or at least that is what he told himself.

Molly began tucking baby things into the clothes press in the corner. He watched her neatly fold the tiny garments with a flick of her wand and then she waved at him and departed, leaving him alone with his son.
Ryan stirred in his grasp and he rose, walked over to the white wicker bassinet and settled the sleeping child into it. Molly had bought it of course. The ribbons woven through the wicker were in pale blue and yellow, an insipid choice, he decided, and with a quick wand wave they were transformed to Slytherin green. Much better. He stepped back and admired the effect. Another wand wave and the wicker was a more natural golden color, fitting better with the ribbons and his personal tastes. He didn’t suppose that a black bassinet would be appropriate, though he thought it would be attractive.

Two weeks here at Headquarters and then he would transfer Ryan to Hogwarts in time to get ready for the next year’s students. How he was going to take care of the baby, teach and spy all at once, he had no clue. He guessed he would have to make it up as he went along.

Looking down into his son’s tiny face he knew that whatever he had to do, it would be worth it