E Pluribus Unum

A/N - Yes, Droxy, the story id going to get very dark before the dawn. I have been dealing with my married roomates and their relationship for years, but now my roomie Angela is pregnant and I am watching the dynamic shift, which is finding its way into EPU. I have also been dreaming heavily and as you long-time readers know, much of my inspiration for the stories comes from my dreams. You are in for a bumby ride. :) Thanks to Kate, my angel of grammer, and all my reviewers who maade me feel like there was some point in continuing. - Barrie


Chapter 5 – Why Me Lord?

Kathryn wandered into the living room to be met by a very odd sight. Tonks, with her hair long and black, was twitching spasmodically and gyrating to the sounds of the Weird Sisters. It couldn’t be called dancing, really, more like falling and catching yourself rhythmically.

The living room had been cleared for this exercise, the burgundy couches pushed back, leaving the Persian carpet free for Tonks’ dancing feet. The mahogany furniture had been buffed, polished and reupholstered, but not replaced. It was pretty once the dark accumulation earsears had been peeled from it.

Tali sat in one of the beige chairs with a polite smile nailed to her face and Remus looked utterly blank from his perch on the couch.

“This album is so much better than their last one.” Tonks called out as she went into what looked like an epileptic seizure. “The lyrics are so deep. I mean, ‘Baby you’re mellow, baby you’re yellow, little bird fellow, don’t fly away.’ I mean isn’t that just the most amazing thing you’ve ever heard?”

Kathryn met Tali’s eyes from across the room and they exchanged an appalled look. Remus’ lips twitched as he caught their expressions and Kathryn realized he was fighting not to laugh. Kathryn was tempted to stop the music and begin a de-programming regime on Tonks, but held herself back by counting to twenty, very, very slowly. I prI prefer Muggle Rock music; the Wizarding World’s version is a little too derivative for me.” Kathryn said, with a blank expression to match Remus’ own.

Tonks was incensed by Kathryn’s comments and looked ready to launch herself into a defense of her favorite band, but Kathryn was rescued by Severus’ entrance on the scene.

“What is that infernal racket?” He snarled his terrifying bat image only slightly less effective with Ryan’s baby sling hindering the proper flapping of his black robes.

“The Weird Sisters.” Tali informed him in a pained murmur.

Severus waved his wand imperiously and the music cut off with a squawk. He glared at Tonks until she was reduced to gibbering incoherence and then swept from the room, cloak aflutter along with Kathryn’s heart.
“How can you stand him?” Tonks swung on Kathryn with both fists clenched at her side.

Kathryn sauntered over to Tonks, leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “He’s a demon in the sack and can get it up within ten minutes of coming.” She smiled into Tonks’ horrified face. “I also happen to love him.” She watched as the girl colored up and Kathryn let her stew for a moment before standing straight and sighing. “You know, we are all on the same side and I hate bickering. So, can we call a truce here?”

Tonks was so flustered by the contradictory emotions that were going through her that she had nodded her agreement before she quite knew what she was agreeing to. Keep them off balance, Kathryn thought, and they will never be able to mount an effective offense or prepare an effective defense. That reminded her -- she needed to be sure to ine boe both Sun Tzu and Klausewitz in the seventh year curriculum. Rommel’s book on tank combat might not be a bad idea either.

She abandoned Tali and Remus to Tonks’ depredations without a single qualm and went looking for her favorite Potions Master.

She found him in the kitchen, pouring himself more coffee and chatting with Arthur Weasley, who had just come in from work.

“Yes.” He was saying to Arthur. “We leave tomorrow for Hogwarts and honestly, I cannot wait to get away from Tonks’ idea of music.”

“Wait ‘til Ryan gets older; the kids always drove me mad wite cre crazy stuff they were listening to.” Arthur warned with a genial smile. Severus rolled his eyes and Kathryn smiled at both of them and made her way to the well-scrubbed wooden table.

She watched the two men interacting, discussions of fatherhood and sleepless nights. She wondered if Severus had ever had someone before to talk to like this growing up, just a man-to-man discussion of daily life -- a friend. She was constantly amazed by how disparate they were in appearance, and yet there was, despite the differences in background and experience, a strange kinship under the skin. They were both fighting with all their soul and heart for what they believed in, they both were fiercely protective of hearth and home, and they both cared little for politics or what other people thought of them.

With a wave of her wand, tea was poured, sugared, creamed, and floate her her hand. She sipped meditatively and watched the discussion evolve from diapers to discipline. The niggling insecurity Severus felt about fatherhood was being dispelled by Arthur’s experienced advice. His quiet assurance and supreme confidence in Severus’ abilities to ‘manage’ did much to bolster the new father.

“So when he goes to Hogwarts will you snark at him as well?” Ryan’s name was already down in the book for Hogwarts so there was no doubt in anyone’s mind, the boy would be attending.

“If I am still teaching, he will be treated like any other student during school hours.” And totally doted upon when those hours are up, Kathryn thought with some amusement.

“Why wouldn’t you still be teaching?” Arthur asked perplexed.

“I may not live that long, Arthur.” Severus reminded him gently. Arthur’s face fell and he looked somewhat lost. “Which reminds me, I have created a will. I have stipulated that if anything happens to Kathryn and myself, you and Molly are to take custody of Ryan.”

Arthur’s jaw dropped in shock.

“Severus!” He stared at the lean, black-clad man in dismay.

“If it will put you out…”

“Of course not, we would be more than happy. It’s just that surely there are people closer to you?”

“Not that I would trust with a child, Arthur. My parents did poorly enough by me; no need to cause Ryan an equal amount of distress.” Severus tossed the comment off lightly, but Arthur picked up the subtext of ‘wild dingoes will gnaw my entrails before those people raise my son’ and he nodded.

“I see.” Arthur said.

At that moment a large portion of the Weasley clan descended. Fred and George came through the kitchen, dressed in neon bright robes, arguing vociferously with Molly about the merits of their joke shop versus Zonko’s, while Molly bemoaned their occupation. Ginny and Ron, in far more sedate jeans and t-shirts, came in on their wake, rolling eyes and sighing aggrievedly, bored by the ongoing disagreement.

The Weasley offspring came to a stunned halt as Severus turned from the stove, Ryan suddenly visible, wriggling happily in his sling. Molly had apparently not mentioned the baby to them, though she pounced on the infant, cooing.

“Oh what a wonderful idea! That sling works wonders; how I wished they had had them when mine were still in arms.” Molly exclaimed. “Who’s my little darling?” She tickled Ryan under the chin and he kicked happily, pleased to be the center of attention.

The kids edged forward in wide-eyed shock, eyeing Severus as though he was likely to eat the baby in front of them.

“It was Kathryn’s suggestion, actually.” Severus remarked dryly, finding the twins’ wide-eyed amazement, Ginny’s look of wonderment and Ron’s look of horror, to be amusing.

“Professor Leblanc!” Ginny and Ron chorused, spotting her seated at the table.

“Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley.” She smiled complacently and sipped her tea.

“Are you visiting?” Ron asked simultaneously to Fred and George’s exclamation. “That’s your old DADA teacher? Much prettier than the last one.” While Ron pelted her with questions, Fred and George attempted to flirt with her.

“I am returning to teach at Hogwarts next year.” She informed Ron and he whooped in joy.

Ginny, in the meantime, approached Severus and peered into the sling to see the baby. With a soft sigh of wonder, she gave a finger to black-haired infant and let him grab it.

“He’s so little.” She murmured in awe. “He’s beautiful, Professor Snape.” She grinned up at Severus and he looked around to make sure no one but Kathryn would be watching, then he gave her a small smile and tugged a lock of her red hair.

“He is rather nice, isn’t he?” Severus agreed, sotto voce.

“Quite.” Ginny returned in like manner and giggled softly. Kathryn hid her own smile at the scene, not wanting to draw attention to it. Ron was still rather untrusting of his Potions Professor and Fred and George were too likely to make fun.

Severus raised an eyebrow at where the twins were still jostling for Kathryn’s attention and then strode forward nudging them out of the way and seating himself beside her with his cup of coffee.

“Kathryn is taken.” His tone brooked no opposition and the twins gave up with shrugs and went on to pester their mother for lunch. Ron settled into the chair across from them with Ginny beside him. The seventeen-year-old boy nodded at the baby.

“So, may I ask where he came from?”

“Well, Mr. Weasley, if your own father has failed to inform you of the facts of life, far be it for me to enlighten you.” Severus waved an airy hand and Ginny snickered.

“I meant, who are his parents?” Ron ground out.

“He’s my son, Mr. Weasley.” Severus turned his head to look at Arthur and ignored the stunned expression on Ron’s face. Kathryn sighed; she could see that Severus was going to be prickly and undiplomatic about this.

“There are classified aspects to this, Mr. Weasley.” Ron paled at that and stood up suddenly with a look of horror and revulsion.

“Oh my god! Who did you rape, Snape? Which one of those poor kidnapped girls, you bastard!” Ron’s shout brought the other presents members of the Order running and Kathryn grabbed Severus’ hand swiftly.

“Shut up, Ron!” Arthur shouted his son down and Ron turned to his father in shock.

“You knew! You knew he was a bloody rapist?” Ron was florid and screaming now, shaking a finger at Snape with fury.

“I said shut up! You don’t know what you are talking about!” Arthur was red as well, with embarrassment for Ron’s behavior.

“His mother is Bellatrix Lestrange and I didn’t rape her, although I was ordered to father this child.” Severus’ voice was nearly a whisper and he had wrapped a protective arm around his son. Ryan, distressed by the shouting and tension, began to cry.

“That’s disgusting!”

Severus rose swiftly and cradling his son tenderly stalked from the room.

“You ignorant brat.” Kathryn hissed. “You judgmental narrow-minded …” Kathryn tapered off, unwilling to say everything she wanted to in front of Molly and Arthur who were staring at their youngest son in red-faced silence. “ How many times does he have to cut himself open and bleed for you before it’s enough!”

The looks of embarrassment on the faces of the Order members and Arthur and Molly’s obvious shame combined to drive Kathryn from the room after Severus.