Snape's Heart

Chapter Eleven

(Lullabies and Lucius)

Julia continued to be very active, and her morning sickness had begun to fade. The students did not know yet, at least no one said anything to her. She was still able to wear her regular clothes. The only one who noticed any difference was Severus. He would lay for hours with his head on her chest just watching and feeling her slightly swollen abdomen. He would imagine what his daughter may look like, what beauty she may possess. For the first time in his life something that superficial actually mattered to him. He cared about whether she would be outgoing or shy. Would she be more like him, quiet yet studious or more like her mother, strong and boisterous? So many questions, so many thoughts would run through his mind. But the one thought that always made him want to hide her and Julia away was the thought that they were both in danger. Especially now, since he knew that the Dark Lord had knowledge of the child growing inside Julia. What was worse was that he knew what she was.

It began with Julia in the bathtub.

Severus was sitting at the desk in his room working on a lesson plan. He could hear the gentle sound of splashing water coming from the bathroom. He shook his head thinking about how not shy she was, bathing with the door open. He could also hear her singing while she washed. It was the same song that she sang all the time. It was her lullaby to the baby.

When he had asked her about the song and she replied, "It is a Muggle song called 'The Rose'. It's sung by a woman named Bette Midler. It's just a pretty song about not giving up and ...well...I think I like the name Rose...ya know...for the baby." She looked at him with those blue eyes and he knew that her mind was set, that his daughter was to be named Rose. He mused to himself that he at least got to pick out her middle name.

The lyrics sung in a soft falsetto floated to him on the steamy air. It's the heart afraid of breaking that never takes the chance. It's the dream afraid of waking that never learns to dance. It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.

He sat and pondered the meaning of the words. He silently agreed with her that it was a great song for her to sing to their Rose. This is why she will be the Peace-Bringer; she was blessed, in his eyes, with a wonderfully brilliant mother.

As the song continued, he began to play with the idea of joining her in the bath. He got up and started to cross the floor when he heard a sound coming from his classroom. He shot one longing look at the bathroom doorway and turned immediately towards the classroom door.

He had no idea what to expect. It was Saturday and what student in his right mind would want to be in Potions on such a lovely day. Then he saw the blonde sitting in the chair at his desk and his stomach sank.

Severus began, "Lucius, what are you doing here? I'm pretty sure that black eye I gave you last time pretty much settles the fact that you are not wanted around here."

"Come now Severus, you and I both know that we still have to work together. Even if I don't agree with your taste in playthings," Malfoy replied. "Let me guess, does little Miss Perfect think that you are still a good guy? Does she think that you have changed your evil ways?" he smirked.

"Julia knows what she needs to know. Which is more than I'm comfortable with, due to your little attack. My God man, did we do the same to you when you started seeing Narcissa?" Severus asked.

"Well, we always knew which side of the line Narcissa walked, Sevvie. Unlike your precious Julia, Narcissa has always been behind the Dark Lord," Lucius said with pride.

"Funny," Severus narrowed his eyes, "I thought she was always under the Dark Lord, or was that on her knees pleasuring the Dark Lord."

"Say what you will, but will Julia stand by your side when she knows that you have to kill your child?" Malfoy stopped and looked intently at Snape waiting for his reaction.

"You have lost your mind Malfoy, kill my child?" he said, waving his hand in dismissal. "What child?"

"Don't lie to me Snape, it doesn't suit you. You know exactly what I am saying. You and that Muggle-lover have conceived a child. We also know that there is a prophecy. We already know that this child is to unite the two worlds," he said with disgust in his voice. "This child is going to make Harry Potter look like a bad dream if it lives. And it won't because you are going to kill it. The Dark Lord wants you to do the deed. It should redeem you in his eyes."

Severus didn't know how to reply. He busied himself with the papers that Malfoy had knocked onto the floor, stalling to think of the precise words. He looked up suddenly when he heard Malfoy gasp.

Julia had come into the room. Her hair was wet and hanging in tendrils down her back and in her face. She was wearing a little t-shirt that said Angel in pink sparkly letters with matching pink jogging pants. She was wearing no shoes or socks. She looked quite insane.

She had heard the whole conversation. She had hid back in the shadows and waited until for her moment. She quietly walked up behind Malfoy and pulled out her wand, training it on the blonde. Once close enough, she grabbed a handful of his hair and pointed the wand at his temple.

"So, you think you can come in here and start demanding things from people? Start to demand that Severus kill our child? Do you really think I wouldn't kill him if he tried? You sorely underestimate me," she hissed.

Severus had never seen her fury firsthand, he was glad that he wasn't Malfoy.

"I know you would defend your child, either way you would all die in the end," Malfoy stammered, still trying to sound tough.

"I don't think so. I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your wife, but I doubt she would let you kill her child. Women become savage monsters when it comes to their young. Do you want to know how savage I can be? I do owe you," she said, letting her anger take control.

"I know what a woman is capable of when it comes to protecting her children, but you underestimate the Dark Lord," he replied.

"What? Voldemort? How can I fear someone who refuses to even address me in person? How can I fear someone who has to send a two bit lackey to threaten me? Then to top it off the wimp has to drug me so I won't beat the crap out of him. Your lucky I don't shove that pimp stick up your ass right now," she threatened, with a crazy, little laugh. She continued, "I want to meet this Son of a Bitch. Though, considering what a one year old did to him, I shouldn't be all that surprised that he fears a fetus."

Severus' heart sank into his stomach. Julia had no idea what she was getting herself into, and he had no way of stopping her. Though, part of him enjoyed watching her finally take her revenge on Malfoy.

"You...you want to meet the Dark Lord?" Lucius asked, thinking quickly. "I can arrange it. I can speak with him and ask that he meet you." Then viciously, he added, "He may enjoy killing you in person."

She turned him around with one swift movement and pushed him into the nearest chair. She then put her bare foot onto his chest and leaned into his face, "You do that, Blondie. You set up a little play date for me."

Again, Severus had no idea why she was playing this dangerously. She looked savage. He bit his tongue and waited only hoping he could fix this when it was over.

She continued, but her voice had changed. Not so angry and more cunning, only Severus noticed any difference. "I want to meet the Dark Lord. Ask him why I was never invited to join the 'wives club'? What? Just 'cause I grew up in a family that worshipped Dumbledore doesn't mean that I do. Everyone just assumes that I'm such a good girl. Well, I stopped being a good girl when I started killing for a living. Teaching is just a side job. I've been a demon bounty hunter since I was 15 and I've enjoyed every minute of it. Yet, just because I dress in pink everyone just wants to believe that I have sided with good."

Lucius and Severus were speechless. Malfoy, because he would have never guessed that she could be bad. Severus, because he knew she was brilliant and marveled at the fact that she still looked irresistible while lying thru her teeth.

"I...I...will talk to my Master. He may be pleased to hear this news." Then he turned to Snape, "She may just redeem you."

Julia stood up straight and put her wand away, still being cautious. She allowed Malfoy to sit up and straighten out his robes. She laughed inside at the site of this prissy man, primping.

He reached out to take her hand. She hesitated for a minute and then gave it to him. He kissed the back of her hand and said, "My apologies, I underestimated you. Please forgive me." Then he turned to Severus, "We will be in touch." Then he stood up and in a swirl of capes, he left the room.

Silently, Julia turned and headed to the bedroom. Severus went to check that the classroom door was locked again and went to join Julia. As soon as she heard him shut the bedroom door, she turned and began to cry, "They want her dead."

"Julia, we should have known that if they found out, that she would have a bounty on her. Voldemort would never allow her to live. But you may have given him something to think about. If you join his side then he will believe that the baby would end up living that life and will not become the Peace-Bringer. He may not want her to die just yet," Severus said, trying to comfort her.

"You know, I have no intention of joining him," she asked searching his face for anger.

"I know, love," he said, reassuringly, as he put his arms around her. "I know that you only said those things to protect the baby."

"I did get a bit carried away, didn't I?" she asked, smiling a little.

"I personally enjoyed the part about shoving that pimp stick up his ass," he teased. Then he looked at her questioningly, "What is a pimp stick?"

She looked at him and shook her head, they both broke down laughing. Even though, they both knew things had just gotten worse.