The Augurey of Hogwarts

Prologue Part 2

Severus' POV

I sat patiently in the Malfoy's sitting room waiting for their return from the mission Voldemort sent them on. I couldn't help the slight irritation I felt at being the one voted to stay behind. Lucius was even more protective of his family now that he had a son; however, a new family member wouldn't stop him from leaving to go raid a Muggle home.

"I have priorities!" The man had argued when I had pointed out that Lucius should be the one to stay and protect his own family. I may be the appointed godfather but I was not a stand in for Lucius himself, I thought moodily.

I was shocked out of my thoughts by Lucius stepping through the hearth followed by Bellatrix. I was quickly on my feet; standing in front of them. I was about to open my mouth to ask how it went, when I was silenced by a noise from a bundle in Bellatrix's arms. I narrowed my eyes at the moving thing suspiciously.

"That better not be a cat, Lestrange," I motioned towards the bundle which was now moving rather violently in her arms.

Bellatrix sneered at me, not bothering to hide the hate for me in her eyes. "Unfortunately it's not. Actually-"

"It's a baby." Lucius cut in, voice filled with scorn, moving to sit on the seat I had vacated. "Apparently a powerful one."

My eyes widened in disbelief before darting back to the now visible hands that were poking out of the blanket. I forced my body to walk closer to Bellatrix so i could see better. Sure enough, a small giggly baby boy with little tufts of brown hair, sat in her arms. I was beyond shocked. "And you brought it home?"

She held the child closer and turned its face away from my stare. I watched with ever growing shock as she used a single finger to stroke its head. There was an emotion in her gaze that I didn't recognize.

Fondness? Endearment?

Lucius spoke up from behind us, disturbing the rising tension in the air with calm calculating words, "With all due respect, Severus, I think Bellatrix should be given the opportunity to raise the child." Both Bellatrix and I turned to stare at Lucius with mixed shock and horror. "It would be good for Draco to have someone to play with his own age. Plus she's not as soft as you." Lucius's voice was eerie in the bow silent room, the only noise coming from the soft cooing of the baby still in Bellatrix's arms.

I shot a glare in Lucius' direction, satisfied with the flinch i got in return. Bellatrix just laughed and started stroking the child's head again, in an attempt to quiet down his happy giggling.

I ignore the cursing i could hear under Lucius breath, most-if not all-of them directected towards me. I walk closer to the little baby in Bellatrix's arms; as I reach to touch it's little cheek with my finger I felt a jolt of electricity surge through my body, sharp and cold. The next moment I am flying across the room; I felt the cold hard cement of the fireplace collide with my back and I fell onto the wooden floor. I lay in shock and slight pain at what had occurred. Had the child done that? If a baby so small possessed that kind of power, what other things is it capable of?

I didn't risk trying to move from the floor for some time, fearing damage to my spine. Fortunately, I was saved from the embarrassment when Narcissa came rushing in. She had probably heard the sound of my back breaking on her fireplace, I thought bitterly.

"What happened?" Narcissa asked, I just now noticed the blonde baby in her arms. Draco pulled on Narcissa's hair and giggled, ruining any chance of his mother appearing stern. The little Malfoy's attention; however, was quickly drawn to the equally playful baby now situated at Bellatrix's hip.

"How lovely to see you, Narcissa, I wasn't aware you were home," I greeted in my dry tone. Even the pain I felt burning through my body wasn't obvious in my voice, as I kept it hidden behind my well built emotional walls.