In Want of a Child

Chapter 5
The Little Mermaid
By: Moon of the Sea
Beta: Ari
***

Tea and story time became a regular event for the two war heroes. Harry knew that Snape needed the time away from his pet project. He suspected that Snape was giving the potion twenty-four seven of his time only stopping for teatime. Today the Potions Master looked defeated. He could not keep up with the conversation.


“So I gather you’ve made no progress?”


Snape shook his head.


“Maybe you should try doing it like the muggles do it; you know an egg and a sperm”.


“Harry the embryo would not take in a male. I know. I tried it and was quite ill for over a week.”


“ What? You are experimenting with your own body. That’s mental!”


“ Only once and I can assure you I will not be doing it again anytime soon.”


Harry looked at him, trying to figure the man out. How much was Snape willing to sacrifice for this dream?


“But why won’t it take to the male body. I have seen wizards pregnant”.


“Yes, Harry but those are magical conceptions. No one really knows how it happens. The enchantment has been passed down through the generations and no one remembers where it all started. We only know that when two wizards bond and then chant the spell, a magical baby is conceived.”


“ Magical? Are all of them magical? I am guessing that some might be squibs”.


“No, Harry no squib has ever resulted from a wizard/ wizard relationship”.


“So what gave you the idea to try the potion?”


“ Every summer I go to a Muggle science convention. Unlike other Potions Masters, I think it is important to know what the muggles know. I have found that it is very useful in my work; in developing new and improved potions. This is where I found out about artificial insemination. The muggles have been doing it for decades and it has become a rather simple procedure. By the way, I wanted to let you know that the convention is in two weeks. I will be gone for four days.”


“Wow four days. Lately we meet every other day and on weekends. It is going to be strange not seeing you for four days.”


Snape shook his head and raised his eyebrow in amusement. “You will live.”


***


It was the day before Snape’s trip and Harry arrived to find a defeated Potions Master seated next to the fireplace.


“No luck?”


The Potions Master shook his head. “I do not know what else to try. I guess it was only a dream, one that I am not entitled to.”


Harry didn’t know what to say that would cheer up the professor. “Will you read to me?”


“ Harry, I am sorry but I am in no mood for fairy tales and there is no point to these reading anymore”.


“Please, Professor, just this once.”


Snape gave in with a sigh “Very well Harry, what will it be?”


“ The Little Mermaid,” said Harry with a very satisfied smirk on his face.


“I gather there is a reason for your selection?”


“ Well, yea. You know she wanted something that was impossible. She wanted to walk like people but she had a tail like a fish and of course, fish tails are very useful in the sea but completely useless on land. However, that did not deter her. In the end, she ends up walking with her own two feet. Now tell me that is not a story of striving against all odds.”


Snape knew when he was defeated so he simply looked Harry in the eyes and said: “Get the book.”