Chapter Six

Chapter Six

As Severus approached the group, he noticed the amazed stares they were giving him. He glared, not liking the attention his relationship with Jessica was getting him. An oblivious Jessica struggled out of his arms and went looking for Maria again. Still glaring, Severus sat back down in his seat.

Suddenly, Ginny started giggling. Eventually she was laughing so hard, she was clutching the sides of her protruding belly.

Severus glared more profusely. "What, pray tell, is so amusing?" he asked, his voice holding a deadly tone.

"She c-calls y-you Prof-fessor!" Ginny managed to get out between her laughs.

Though embarrassed, Severus showed no outward sign he cared.

"Your point?" Severus asked coldly.

Ginny tried to sober up, though it took a moment for it to happen.

"It really shouldn't surprise me," she said after a moment. "You know, Severus, at first the thought of you being a parent made me nervous, but after seeing you with Jessica..." Ginny paused and smiled at him. "It just surprises me that you and she get on so well, yet she still only calls you Professor."

Severus didn't know what to say to that, so he kept quiet, his face blank.

"We can never truly replace the children's families, but we can try," Arthur said in a quiet voice, breaking the silence.

"Too right, Minister Weasley!" a cheerful voice said, and Severus jumped ever-so-slightly.

Severus had not noticed the twinkling Headmaster arrive with Minerva. It was a wonder he had made it all those years as a spy when he couldn't even sense when someone was approaching. Arthur stood up, a wide smile on his face. They shook hands.

"I was wondering when you would get here," Arthur noted as they sat down.

Albus smiled. "We were held back by several trivial issues," he explained with a wave of his hand.

Severus raised an eyebrow, but did not say anything.

* * *

As the night continued on, Severus found the company to be tolerable. While he would not willingly put himself through the torture of socializing with said tolerable company, he found that he did not mind it as much as he had expected he would.

Dinner had been a loud affair, and Severus made sure to stay out of the limelight, preferring to sit back and observe those around him. It was a skill he valued above most others and had been an important part of his previous role as Dumbledore's spy. It did not take him long to recognize those who were tense and those who were relaxed...those who wanted attention and those who, like him, preferred to stay in the background. He immediately mentally filed them into each category, for lack of anything better to do.

After dinner, Severus felt obligated to stay, but managed to slip away as soon as he could. He promised Jessica that she would be able to see Maria when the older sister seemed very melancholic at the thought of leaving. He felt justified in telling her as much, knowing that he intended to allow her to do so anyway. He deftly ignored the irritable pang he felt in his chest at the girls' teary good bye and glared at the look he knew the Headmaster was giving him.

If there were one thing the Headmaster could not be if he wanted to, it was subtle. And the not-so-subtle hints that he should have taken Maria in as well were really beginning to grate on his nerves. While Jessica wasn't a complete terror, Severus had a nasty feeling that Maria would be a nightmare and detrimental to his health and the state of his rooms.

No, it was bad enough he'd had to take one child in; he would not succumb to taking in the girl's sister as well.

Now if that bloody pang would leave him be...

* * *

Severus considered himself to be a reasonable man. While he knew he was short-tempered and impatient by nature, he liked to think he'd developed a certain amount of control over the years...which was why he was currently very frustrated with the direction things were going in the situation he now found himself unable to avoid.

It was three days before the start of term, and Miss Granger had come to prepare for her impending occupation, if it could be called that. He was not sure baby-sitting was an acceptable job for someone who was renowned for being an over-achieving know-it-all. Unfortunately for him, it seemed, two other former students of his returned for a visit with Miss Granger.

Severus resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose in irritation at the conversation he certainly did not care to hear, as he would prefer to be in the near-solitude of his private rooms. Unfortunately for him, when he heard his name being spoken amongst his three former students, he had to fight for control over his actions. It would have been much easier had the context in which they were talking of him been different.

After taking a moment to compose himself and plaster his usual sneer upon his face, he turned to the small group of former students. The glare he sent them rivaled those he usually reserved for Mr. Longbottom. He stalked toward them, his air exuding power and authority.

"Is there a problem?" his silky voice asked, laced with venom.

Miss Granger paled slightly while the young man just glared back at him, and the other young woman looked up at him with an eerily thoughtful look on her face.

"Yes, Professor, there most cert..."

Whatever his former student had been about to utter was cut off from a barely concealed elbow to the ribs. He raised an eyebrow at Miss Granger, then turned back to the young man. If Blaise Zabini had something to say to him, then far be it for him to stop the former Slytherin.

He noticed the look of warning Miss Granger sent Mr. Zabini, but also knew that if a Slytherin had set their mind to do or say something, no Gryffindor could stop him or her. Unless, of course, they were Tom Riddle and looking to take over the world. Never mind the technicalities, though.

"Yes, Mr. Zabini?"

The young man sneered at Severus. "You," he began, a finger pointing toward Severus' chest. "You took in a child. An innocent. The things you have done, seen. How could you even think you are fit to care for a child? You will only taint the poor girl."

Miss Granger looked aghast, and the other young woman frowned slightly.

"Blaise! You promised you wouldn't do this!"

Severus kept his face skillfully blank.

"I can't stand back and allow this to happen, Hermione! You know that! It's bad enough the poor child lost her parents and is separated from her sister! Why should she have to be stuck with Professor Snape? Can you tell me that, Hermione?"

Mr. Zabini's eyes were blazing, and the normally quiet Slytherin seemed ready to explode.

"You promised, Blaise." Miss Granger's voice was soft in the aftermath of Mr. Zabini's outburst.

A slightly eerie voice broke in, saying, "I happen to think the Professor would be excellent with little Jessica. I knew her parents, and they kept her well disciplined. I'm sure Professor Snape will have no problem keeping her disciplined, and I have faith that she will show him how to care. I think they are good for each other."

Severus raised an eyebrow at the very unexpected defense to his ability to care for Jessica. He always knew that Ravenclaws were renowned for their intelligence, but he had never put much merit to this one's ability. Not only did she always seem a bit out there, but whenever she spoke, she sounded as though the words were coming from another world entirely. In any event, he was mildly grateful for her confidence in him, not that he needed people's confidence, but it was nice to know someone thought him capable.

"Why, thank you, Luna," Hermione said in a level voice, her eyes never leaving Mr. Zabini's. "I definitely agree with you. While I do worry about his patience with such a young girl and for her when she matures, I think he's more than able to care for the darling girl."

The other eyebrow rose up to join the first as he observed the group that seemed to have forgotten his presence, but far be it for him to correct that.

"Fine," Mr. Zabini said stiffly, "but when that poor girl comes running to you, crying about how absolutely cruel Snape is, remember that I told you he is unfit!"

And with that, the younger Slytherin stormed away, leaving Hermione fuming behind him, Luna seemingly holding back a chuckle, and Severus with his eyebrows nearing his hairline.

"Thank you," Severus started silkily, "for that wonderful display. If we are finished here, I have some business to attend to. Miss Lovegood, Miss Granger."

Without waiting for a response, Severus stormed off, trademark robes billowing behind him. When he entered his rooms, he found Jessica curled up in a large chair, an open book fallen haphazardly on the ground. He couldn't help but stare at the small form of the innocent child. She was a remarkable young girl, he had to admit, and he found himself wondering if Blaise was right and that, somehow, by taking care of her, he might taint her. Merlin forbid.

* * *

The start of term found Severus watching through a window as the carriages, led by the thestrals he had been able to see most of his life, came up the hill leading to the gates of Hogwarts. There was already chattering in the Great Hall, as most of the staff plus the small children were already situated. They had set up a table in front of the staff table for the young children, making sure there was still room for the first-years to be sorted. He made sure Jessica was sitting so that they could easily see each other. He didn't want her causing any trouble after all. With a sigh, Severus took his usual place at the staff table and waited as the noise of the returning students grew.

Severus watched, amused, at the looks on the faces of the first-years and younger children as the first-years were sorted. Certainly those with older siblings who had already gone to Hogwarts would have told them awful stories of the absolutely impossible tasks one had to do to be sorted into the houses. And those that were Muggle-born, well, they had probably thought up all the horrible things, themselves. The imagination was a crazy thing when it didn't know what to expect.

Albus stood and gave his usual pre-feast nonsense speech. The feast was, as usual, spectacular. It seemed that every year, the house-elves wanted to do better than they had the year previous. He wasn't complaining, though. No, if there was one thing he definitely did not mind at Hogwarts, it was the excellent cuisine. After the food, Albus gave a slightly more serious speech, during which he explained what most of the students already knew: that there would be younger children present and that they were not to be harassed. Well, those weren't the exact words he used, but that was what he was saying. When Albus excused them to their dormitories, Severus stood, went to Jessica, and led her out of the Great Hall, thinking that this year was definitely going to be a different one.

* * *

A/N: First, I want to give a great big hug, thanks, and cookies to my beta, Soul Bound, who has helped me so much in correcting my pitiful attempt at writing! Also, thanks to everyone who has reviewed! I love it! Please keep reviewing, it fuels the muse!

Chapter polished up on January 29, 2010.