In Want of a Child

Chapter 4:
The Three Little Pigs
By: Moon of the Sea
Beta: Ari


Potter was once again in his flat plagued by the thoughts of Snape having a baby and leaving the wizarding world. He had such an uneasy feeling about the whole thing. Sure, he knew that Snape would make a great dad; Snape was so strong, smart, and witty. He would create the perfect setting for this kid to grow up in. Harry smiled at the thought of Snape reading bedtime stories to his child. Harry had always wanted someone to sit next to him and read him a bedtime story. When he learned how to read he would pretend to hear a voice of a strong and protective man reading to him. But those were childish dreams, dreams that Snape’s child would never have because they would be a reality to him.


He sat at his computer and browsed online until he found the book he was looking for. When he was about to check out he went back and ordered a second book. One he felt he needed even if he did not understand why.


***


Snape looked at him with a smile of bemusement; a smile that said, “Now what?”


“ I ordered this for you. I hope you like it. It’s a …”


“Mr. Potter, I do know what a book is and I am familiar with Fairy Tales; even if they are of the muggle kind“.


“Yeah, well sorry about that. But, as a kid I only read those and if your kid is going to grow up in a muggle world I thought you should read these to him.”


“ Indeed,” the Potions Master looked at him trying to decipher the young man in front of him. Why was this so hard on Harry? Why couldn’t he just let it go? “Mr. Potter I assure you that even when I am forced to live in the muggle world I will teach my child about the wizarding world. There is after all a fifty percent chance that the child will be magical.”


“ So it will be Beadle the Bard for little Snape and not Brothers Grimm”.


“Mr. Potter I would appreciate it if you refrain from calling my child ‘little Snape’ and no I did not say I would not read muggle literature to my child; far from it. I will endeavor to raise my child in both cultures.”


“ Well, I have no problem in deleting ‘little Snape’ from my vocabulary as soon as you start calling me Harry and not my father’s name.” Harry looked hopeful and Snape did not disappoint him.


“Fair enough, but you do know I have long since stop thinking of you as your father’s clone,” his tone sounding like that of a man who was asking forgiveness.


Harry smiled at him showing that no forgiveness was necessary. Three years had passed since Voldermort’s demise and the years had been well-spent healing old wounds and creating strong friendships. Harry and Snape both knew that peace was something that had to be cultivated. They were both determined not to see another wizarding war during their lifetime.


“I know, Sir.”


“ Would you like to stay for tea, Mr. … Harry? I usually read The Tales of Beadle the Bard but I am sure I can start freshening up on my muggle tales.”


“You’re reading fairy tales and you said ‘my child’ earlier, does this mean you have succeeded?” asked Harry with dread.


“No, Harry I have not. But I can’t leave everything for the last minute and I am hoping that if my magic reads how determined I am it will help the potion work its magic.”


Harry looked at him with the look of a child who suddenly realizes he can’t find his mother at the shopping mall. Lost.


“I will read to my baby when I become pregnant. I have read that it helps the child feel safe and has the secondary effect of having the child become accustomed to the father’s voice.”


Harry looked at him in awe. Wow! Snape had thought this through. Snape was going to have this baby and leave the wizarding world. Leave him.


***


After tea, Snape invited him to sit in the sofa next to him as he took the book that Harry had brought him.


“Is there one that you like in particular?” It was then when it hit Harry. Snape was going to read to him.


“Are you going to read to me?”


“Well, I certainly do not expect my guest to sit there and watch me read silently.”


“ Yeah, of course not. Umm… Oh I know! The Three Little Pigs,” said Harry with a smug smile as if he had made the right decision in a very important matter.


“May I ask why this story in particular?”


“ As a child, I was always drawn in by it. I just couldn’t stop reading it over and over again. Every time I read it, I was always the first foolish little pig; the one that didn’t know any better and made his house out of straw and eventually got eaten by the wolf. I always wanted at least to be the second little pig; the one that learned from the first little pig’s mistake. I didn’t even dream of being the third one; the smart one. But your kid will surely be that one. He will have you to teach him how to make his house out of brick and he will have your smarts and will think of boiling water in the fireplace and making the wolf run for its life.”


Snape had no way to answer Harry, so he began to read.