Unwanted

"Oh, I suppose. I've never seen you drop a snitch, I suppose my daughter's safe with you, Mr. Potter." Severus sneered as he passed the wide awake and attentive newborn.

"Thanks. Since I usually caught it instead of Malfoy, that goes without saying." Harry smirked and gazed into the eyes of the baby cradled snuggly against his chest. She was so focused on her surroundings, on his glasses. One of her hands waved without purpose above her head, seeming to be reaching for his face. He laughed and let her grasp his index finger. "She's really strong. I can't wait to teach her how to ride a broom and catch a snitch."

"We both know Hermione won't allow that. And who said you would be teaching my daughter? I'll have you know I was a chaser for the Slytherin team my sixth and seventh years." Snape leaned against the mantle and smirked at the younger man. Potter wasn't so bad once he was in his company longer than a minute.

"Against my dad?"

"He wasn't as good as you. Slytherin actually beat him a time or two." The Potions Master gave him a reluctant compliment. The boy was far better than his father had ever been.

"Oh my, Tristyn, a compliment. I might expire before the Dark Lord gets his chance." Harry tickled his goddaughter's chin and laughed at the milk bubble she blew at him. "I'll take that as a laugh, little girl."

"Mmm. Corrupting my child already." Severus looked uncomfortable as he stood with the mirror image of his worst school memories. He withdrew an envelope and a scroll from his inner cloak pocket. "These are for Hermione, with the healer's permission of course. Pictures of Tristyn and some of you with her and Weasley. I found them among her belongings yesterday when I came home to prepare Tristyn's room. I hope she will come to appreciate them."

"She will, Professor. Hermione's strong; she'll get over this."

"She's almost too strong, Potter. You know the idiom, 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall'? Hermione's greatest strength is her intelligence, her brain. Her brain became her biggest enemy. Gods, I hope they help her. Albus should have sent her there after...afterwards."

"Everyone makes mistakes, Professor. I'm sure Hermione will be alright. She's the brightest witch of her age, remember." Harry smiled down at Tristyn. "Mummy's the smartest witch, yes, until you get to Hogwarts and beat all her scores, right Tris."

"Tristyn!"

Harry laughed, glanced down at the baby's unusually scrunched up face and grinned, handing her back to her father quickly. "She wants Daddy, I think."

"Of course she wants her father, Potter. Who else would a Daddy's gi--eww. What is that stench?" He glared at Potter, then looked down at his daughter's drooping eyes. It couldn't be coming from her, could it? That little being was causing his eyes to water? Potter started laughing at the look on the older man's face.

"I wish I had a camera right now!"

"You wouldn't have a chance to use it before finding yourself hexed, Potter! Maaki!" He yelled for the female elf, who appeared instantly at his side. Holding his breath, he gave the baby to her. "Tristyn needs a nappy change. And perhaps a freshening spell. Or two. Be careful." This was the first time he'd have the house elf take the child out of his sight since returning home with Tristyn. Maaki nodded and smiled up at her master. She'd been a nursery elf at her former home before the family had been killed by Death Eaters recently. She had been more than happy to become bonded to Snape since he was fighting against Voldemort's reign of terror, plus it gave her a chance to take care of a motherless child.

"Of course, Master Severus. Little Miss will be cleaned and ready for her feeding, she will."

"I will give her her bottle, Maaki. Bring her down to my study after Mr. Potter has departed." He gave the baby a soft look then turned his attention back to Harry, still grinning from Snape's outburst. He was determined to take care of Tristyn as much as possible, instead of letting servants do it. Until Hermione snapped out of it, he was all their daughter had for family.

"Yes, sir. Good day, Mr. Harry Potter." She cradled the child against her little chest and apparated upstairs to the nursery.

"First stinky one, professor?"

"Evidently. Dopey! Mr. Potter is ready to leave. Are Miss Hermione's things packed?" He sneered as he yelled for his house elf. The male house elf appeared at his elbow. A shrunken suitcase in his extended hand. Harry took it and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"I'll be going now then, professor. I hope you'll be able to visit Hermione sometime soon."

"If the healers would approve, I would be there now, Potter. Give Hermione....my well wishes."

"Alright, professor. I'll see you later." Harry turned away from the spy and walked out the front door, disapparating right outside. Sighing, Severus turned and headed into his study, Dopey heading back upstairs to do whatever the hell house elves did when they weren't in the sight of their masters.

He dropped into the leather reading chair near the window and looked out into the snowy scene. He had a few days reprieve before he'd have to show up in the Dark Lord's presence and present his daughter, pretending to revel in his wife's mental breakdown. The last thing he wanted to do was put his daughter within a hundred miles of Voldemort, but until Albus finalized his plans and Potter found the last horcrux, he was bound not only by the Dark Mark on his arm, but his oath to Dumbledore to do whatever was necessary to stay in Voldemort's good graces.

He rubbed one hand over his face, yawning, not for the first time since Hermione's admission to the hospital. He'd spent eighteen to twenty hours there with Tristyn mostly, looking in on Hermione, making the healers and nurses annoyed with his constant attendence. It was always fun dancing attendence to a raving, but brilliant almost dead tyrannical madman. Life was like a box of chocolates, but only if a Slytherin gives them to you and you have to watch out for the poisoned cherry filled pieces.

"Master? Little miss is ready to be fed." Maaki entered from the livingroom holding his daughter's tiny form, a bottle levitated and following her. Tristyn was squirming and he could hear the noises of her sucking her fist angrily. If she weren't fed soon, she'd be screaming louder than Molly Weasley after finding out her sons had quite Hogwarts. She certainly had quite the temper. 'She must have gotten that from her mother.' He thought wryly, remembering hearing about Hermione hitting Draco Malfoy in their third year.

"Ah, thank you, Maaki. I'll take her now." He cradled his daughter against his chest immediately, hardly looking at the house elf as she placed the warmed bottle in his left hand. Making hushing noises, he pulled her fingers from her mouth and planted the nipple in before she had barely had drawn the deep breath to start her wailing. "Ha, stopped you didn't I? Wait until I'm stopping your antics at school, young lady."

Tristyn stared up into Severus' eyes unblinking, her cheeks and jaw moving as she suckled down her milk fast. He could hear her gulping and knew he'd need to conjure something for his shoulder.

"I can't believe I'm having a conversation with a three and a half day old child."

A/N~~~ Thanks to everyone again for the great reviews and the encouragement. Knowing there are some people out there anxious to read the next installment keeps be tapping away at the keyboard. Also, thanks to everyone for their support of my family and your understanding.

to Rose, thanks for the advise. Jon (my little guy) has CF and is pretty used to being on the kids ward. LOL, He usually packs most of his room for the trip to the hospital!
I won't be online again til saturday, so enjoy the couple of chapters i've been able to get out

marti