To Hope For Nothing

To Hope for Nothing

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Break the News

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The Night, Part III

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"Opara Collida is an ancient spell, Sirius. Ancient and powerful, and very complicated." Dumbledore turned around to face him, and for once there was not the usual merry twinkle in his wise, blue eyes. "It's an impregnation spell."

For a moment they just stared at him. Then Black said, with a very weak voice, "Do you mean that Remie is... He's with that bastard's child?" He seemed to be breathless, and his eyes were wide with shock. Severus himself felt oddly weak, like all air had been hit out from his lungs.

"Oddly enough, no," the Headmaster said, sighing deeply. "Seemingly something else took also place last night." He raised his eyes again, even more serious than before. "The child that has just been created inside poor Remus... Is Severus's."

He hadn't even finished his sentence when Black had already grasped the Potions Master's collar and hung him up on the wall. "You bastard!" he roared. "You filthy, heartless, fucking BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"

"Sirius!" Dumbledore said warningly. "Let him down. I'm sure Severus has done nothing improper."

"Listen to him for once," the Slytherin said. He was nearly panicking now. How could it be? He had done nothing! "I have done nothing to your werewolf friend besides brought him here! I have no fucking idea how he could be pregnant to me!"

"YOU LIAR!" the Gryffindor yelled, not loosening his grasp the tiniest bit.

"Sirius, CALM DOWN!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "Severus doesn't lie. There indeed is a satisfying explanation as of why Remus is carrying his child, and not Lucius Malfoy's."

The both turned their eyes to the Headmaster, waiting for the explanation. Black still didn't let Severus go, but at least he was listening to Dumbledore instead of yelling at him. Well, that was indeed a bit better.

"Should it have been a normal human who was hit by the curse, they would indeed be with their rapist's child," Dumbledore told them calmly. "But as you both are quite well aware of, Remus is not a normal human being. He's a werewolf."

They both nodded in understanding, waiting for him to continue.

"Severus, did you show any comfort or affection towards Remus while you brought him here?" the oldest wizard asked kindly.

"I did," Severus answered. He closed his eyes as the pictures of the previous night came to his mind. "He was only half-conscious and whimpering. I murmured something in order to soothe him, and when he wouldn't calm down, I kissed his hair." He felt Black's furious eyes back glaring at him, and tried to meet the gaze steadily. "I did nothing else! I swear!"

"He did nothing else, Sirius. I trust Severus." Dumbledore's eyes went thoughtful once again. "There was no need for anything else to be done. Remus maybe wasn't in his right mind, but the wolf in him was well awake. It was also well aware that the seed inside him was that of the one who had hurt him, and didn't want to carry a child of his. Because the spell couldn't be stopped from being completed when once casted, the wolf chose the next best option, picking up the nearest person who showed any kindness to him. And that was you, Severus."

"I... I remember some kind of glow..." he said thoughtfully. Yes, indeed. There had been a warm, golden glow around the werewolf, and for a moment, also him. He had thought it was some kind of aftereffect of the Dark Lord's curse, and not given it another thought in his hurry to get the werewolf safe.

"Indeed. The magic took a bit of you, and this, combined with a bit of Remus, was shaped to the new life placed inside Remus's body."

"So he didn't hurt Remie?" Black asked hastily.

"He most definitely didn't. If he had done anything to harm Remus, Remus's body would have refused to carry his child."

"And now that you know that," Severus snarled, "could you please let me down?"

"What?" Black blinked, seemingly having been lost in his thoughts for a while. "Oh, yes. Of course." He let Severus go, and the Potions Master landed gracefully on his feet.

"Lupin doesn't know yet." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

The Headmaster shook his head. "No. I thought it would be the best if you break the news to him, Severus."

"WHAT?" he exclaimed. "Me? Why me? Why not Black? They're best friends! He hates me, he'll never listen to me!" Black looked equally shocked at the thought.

"Because you're the other father."

"Oh, yes, I can see it in my mind now," Severus said with a mock-happy voice. "I walk inside and say, 'by the way, the last night left you dealing with a baby. Don't worry, it's not Malfoy who knocked you up, it was me...'" He snorted. "Ridiculous."

"If you put it that way, yes," Dumbledore said, a bit of the old twinkle returning to his eyes. "But he trusts you now, Severus. The wolf found you trustable last night, and it made his human part think so also. If you calmly explain everything, he'll take it much more easily from you than from anyone else, even Sirius."

"Hold on," Black said suddenly. "There's still one thing that has to be taken care of."

"Oh?" Dumbledore smiled. "And what could that be?"

"The baby. I know male pregnancies can't be aborted, and even if they could, Remus would never do that. He'd keep it even if it was Malfoy's... or Snape's," he added, shooting a glare at Severus. "But what about when it's born? He can't take care of an infant all by himself!"

"Don't worry, Black," he said with a little snort. "I will help him. Although I didn't cause his pregnancy, I am the other father, after all. And I have some responsibility, unlike some others." He glared at the Gryffindor.

"Are you maybe suggesting that I wasn't responsible?" Black asked, looking angry.

"I never resort to hinting," Severus replied nastily. "I say it right away, Black. You are a completely irresponsible brat. I can't believe they ever let you become an Auror."

"Shut up!" Black growled, glaring furiously at him.

"Children, will you please calm down?" Dumbledore asked quite calmly. "Sirius, stay here. There are still some things I'd like to discuss with you. And Severus? I believe Remus is already waiting for you."

"Indeed, Headmaster," he said. Shooting the last furious glare at Black, he left the room.