The Other Child

I apparate just outside the Great hall, People are rushing all over, I watch the Death eaters falling all around me. I see Lucius rush across the great hall, grabbing Draco’s arm, dragging him towards his mother where they stay, eyes fixed on the two battle that seem to have everyone’s attention. In the middle of the room Bellatrix is duelling with a red-headed woman, one miscalculation on her part and she crumples to the floor. I see Narcissa go to run for her sister, Lucius grabs her arm and shakes his head. Narcissa looks distraught as her sisters body gets trampled by people trying to get a better view of the battle currently ensuing, Harry versus Voldemort. They circle each other in a predatory manner; the war will be over soon, Voldemort is alone in this fight now. I move closer to hear what is being said.

“Severus Snape wasn’t yours; Snape was Dumbledore’s, Dumbledore’s from the moment you started hunting down my mother, and you never realised it because of the thing you can’t understand. You never saw Snape cast a patronus did you Riddle? “

Voldemort stares at him, not looking away.

“Snape’s patronus was a doe, the same as my mothers, because he loved her for nearly all his life, from the time they were children. You should have realised, he asked you to spare her life didn’t he? He was Dumbledore’s spy from the moment you threatened her, he’s been working against you ever since. Dumbledore was already dying when Snape finished him” I smile inwardly, He is cleared.

The two men converse about the elder wand and trade their final blows. Voldemort falls, there is a momentary uncertain pause and then an explosion of cheers and celebration, McGonagall sees me as she swishes her wand, returning the great hall to its normal state and filling the tables with food, she smiles and nods at me. A young red headed girl slams into me, apologises, and continues running. I grab her arm and shove a pouch into her hand; it contains a large amount of vials full of my life potion.

“Severus asked me to make sure these were given out to anyone on our side of the war that has fallen” I lie, she would never trust anyone who looks so much like Lucius, that I can see in her eyes. She nods and runs off. Scanning the Great hall I see my brother sitting at a table, holding his son close between him and his wife.

I apparate back into Severus’ room. He is sound asleep, blankets pulled to his chin. I remember leaving his shoes socks and pants on him. I decide to take off the rest of the blood stained clothing off of him so he does not stink when the blood starts to decay. I take a moment to survey him; he still has blood caked on his face and in his hair, but he looks peaceful, my beautiful soldier. I sit on the edge of the bed, lifting the blankets carefully resting them on his waist. I untie his shoes slowly sliding them off his feet and dropping the quietly to the floor. I roll of his socks and toss them aside. I reach up undoing his belt, button and zipper and slide off his stained pants carefully, returning the blankets over his cooling legs. I move to the bathroom filling a new basin with hot water and grabbing a bottle of shampoo from his cupboard. I place the basin and shampoo on his bedside table. Removing the old basin full of now cold water and dumping it down the drain. I return to his side. I climb onto the bed lifting his head and lowering it onto my knees; I begin wetting his hair with the steaming water, working through any knots. I add shampoo and begin scrubbing at his hair trying to remove the caked in blood, and the blood that has caked onto his scalp, I mutter a rinsing spell and then a drying spell, having soak myself and the bed in the process, I lower his head back on to his pillows and move to the bathroom to grab his brush. I sit back on the bed pulling his head onto my lap and begin slowly brushing out his silky locks. I move to the hair that he always wears over his face and notice he is watching me, a look of adoration on his face that he cannot express.

“Amy...” he pauses “Is it true?” he whispers, not wanting to push his voice.

I stop and stare at him, unsure of what he means. “Is what true Severus?”

He Takes a deep breath and starts whispering again “Did you leave your family and fortune because of me? Because you were pregnant with my child?” He asks carefully

I nod “Yes Severus, That is correct, I wanted to tell you, please believe I did, But you already had so much to hide from Voldemort” he looks at me alarmed “I didn’t want you to have to worry about us as well”

“How did you—never mind, I understand, but you gave up everything for nothing, had you told me, I may have been able to stop—“

“Stop there Severus, I don’t want to relive that, There would have been nothing you could have done, had you tried to stop my father, had you gotten in his way he would have killed you”

“Perhaps, but at least the child would still be alive” he chokes

I stare at him questioningly, “where have you been getting your information Severus?”

“Lucius, Why?” he asks puzzled

“That explains why you don’t know...Our child never died Severus; my friend is watching her while I am here protecting you”

Severus looks at me unblinking, Thousands of emotions flashing through his features all at once before disappearing again into nothingness. I fear he is angry or about to explode.

“I see” he answers quietly

“That’s it!? I see?” I ask letting a hint of annoyance into my voice.

He looks into my eyes gently “I really don’t know what to say Amy; I’ve spent the Last 4 years feeling responsible for a death that never occurred”

“I am truly sorry Severus, But it was better that Lucius didn’t know, he was always hanging off of Voldemort’s arm. I believe that would have put her in danger Severus, Surely you can understand that?”

He nods in approval “Her...my daughter” He says, softly testing the words in his mouth, I can tell by the look on his face they feel strange to him.

“What is her Name Amy?”

“Raven Adrina...Snape” I tell him softly, suddenly fearing he won’t like it. He nods a silent approval of her name and slips deep into thought. I turn to go and sit on the couch across the room.

“Come and sit here with me Amy, please?” he asks gently in an attempt not to seem forceful “I’m not mad, nor do I have any intention to hurt you Amy”

I nod, clearing the distance between us and climbing up into the bed beside him, he moves the covers as much as his severe lack of strength will let him. I lift the covers crawling under them; I feel his hand graze mine. He is still cold; I remove my outer robe tossing it to the floor and press my warmth against his cool form earning another moan of appreciation.

“Does she know anything about me? I mean...has she ever asked about me Amy?” he whispers into my ear.

“She asks about you all the time Severus”

“What have you told her?” he asks using all his strength to wrap his arm around me.

“That you can be rude and mean, but despite that, you are the most amazing man I have ever met, that you were doing everything in your power to bring down Voldemort. And that no matter what anyone tells her about you, she should always be proud that her daddy was willing to sacrifice everything to make a better life for her, and now everyone will know that, thanks to Harry Potter”

Severus does not seem to care whether or not he has been cleared; he just jumps into his next question.

“Why do you love me Amy? Why have you always been so good to me?”

I stare into his eyes “I have always known what you were doing, that you had betrayed Voldemort, that you were different that the other Death Eaters my Father Paraded through the house, I saw it in your eyes the first time you made love to me. I knew you would give everything to see he was finished off, and I have always been proud of your choices and your strength. Everyone has always hated you, and yet you still sae their lives, and that to me, makes you a hero”

“I see” he whispers, realising that in his moment of weakness with me so many years ago, it could have all been over.

“Do you love me Severus? Or are my feelings for you unrequited?” I ask softly

“I have always...always cared deeply for you Amy” he whispers, struggling for words

“Caring deeply is not the same as loving Severus” I say sadly, for a moment believing that all my sacrifices would leave me with nothing in the end. He struggles forward, pressing his lips to mine. Kissing me softly, the kiss deepens and becomes hungrier, more urgent, I wrap my arms around him, and I need him. He pulls away with all his remaining strength, breathing heavily. I look at him, hurt in my eyes.

“Amy, believe me I want nothing more than to take you right here, but I haven’t the strength to lift my head right now” he explains. I chuckle at the double meaning of his words. He smirks, gods I’ve missed that smirk.

“I...I love you Amy Malfoy, Never forget that” He whispers to me as I snuggle up to him and fall asleep in his arms, like I have always wished to do.