Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Both Sides Now	By : Sayan Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3261 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
Chapter 6

The day had passed relatively uneventfully. The Potions master had countered the stares with his more potent, infinitely more practiced, one and, after house points had been taken in dozens, all students concentrated on their work, or at least they put on a very convincing act.
Severus had insisted on looking after Lierin himself today. Only shortly before the meeting with the headmaster had he called for a babysitter.
For once the gargoyle wasn’t guarding the entrance to the Headmaster’s office. Halfway up the stairs he could hear angry voices. One was obviously the Headmaster and the other one— He knew this voice more than he cared to. It belonged to Cornelius Fudge the current (and very unfit for this position) Ministf Maf Magic.
The newcomer hesitated to enter the office he didn’t want to aggravate the situation even more. The bickering between the superficial and publicity-seeking Minister and Albus Dumbledore was anything but friendly since Voldemort's return. And, more importantly, he wasn’t on best terms with the fool.
A third, very angry, voice had joined the heated conversation. Severus remained hidden in the shadows, he had long ago learned to not stumble blindly onto a battlefield.
‘No, absolutely not! What are you thinking? There is nothing more to investigate. You have the whole medical file with the outcome of every test possible. The blood tests state clearly that—’
‘Be that as it may but neither you, nor your …companion… are fit to care for a baby.’ A very smug undertone was prominent in the Minister’s voice.
‘Not fit to care for a baby? Are they speaking about Lierin?’ Severus had to sneak nearer to catch some of the following words, which were spoken more quietly.
‘… irresponsibly left the community...weakened our defences...just to dally with a Death Eater?’
Cornelius Fudge was leaning back in his chair, his hands folded over his belly.
Not that Severus hadn’t thought or spoken similar things about The Boy Who Lived but he didn’t like the direction in which this discussion was going. But the knowledge that he would act as an additional red rag to the simple-minded bull named Fudge was making him hold back. Dumbledore would solve the problem much more easily.

‘You—You cannot do it.’ Potter was seething, looking at Dumbledore for reassurance but the old man had put his forehead in his hands and was clearly thinking hard.
‘The law is on my side and as the first servant of our endangered community I have to see that it is followed. I will not bend it for anyone. The baby—’ Engrossed in his pompous pose the round man didn’t feel the tall professor nearing him with a very thunderous expression on his face.
‘She is my baby and you don’t have a say in—’
‘Enough. I will come back again tomorrow and take her with me for further examination. We are very pleased that there is another heir to the influential and ancient Potter clan. But her birth raises some questions and it needs a profound examination by the best scientists we have.’
Severus growled deep in his throat the their usual investigation methods indicated something then it was a sheer incompetence. And with all the secret Voldemort supporters in the Ministry the baby girl wouldn’t survive a day. Or she would end as a pawn, delivered by one of these fools to the Dark Lord.
Fudge smirked and was clearly very pleased with himself.
‘The public needs to know that in difficult times their leaders maintain a certain standard and that fame will not prevent anybody from slipping through the net of the law.’
Harry was leaning forward in his chair, tense and glaring fiercely. ‘You just want to push your public image. Lierin is happy and secure here with her father..’ The young man was clutching his wand and clearly playing with the thought of hexing the Ministry next Sunday.
‘It is a monstrosity. We have to make sure—’
‘She is a baby and her name is Lierin and there is nothing wrong with her. I will not allow you to hurt her for the sake of your dubious security. Is it the same level of security that should protect the precious children of your voters on the platform 9-3/4? You should consider protecting the innocent instead of positioning every Auror available around your own office.’
Severus could see that the bodyguards standing along one wall of the office were trying to hide their expressions behind their hands. It wasn’t a very wise move to attack Fudge’s easily hurt self-esteem. Very unbecoming red dots were glowing on the Minister’s full cheeks.
Nothing a little Avada Kedavra wouldn’t cure and Severus was very willing to put him out of his misery. He caught a warning glance form Albus and a nearly nonexistent shaking of his head. His old mentor had something up his sleeve. He wouldn’t let Fudge take the baby girl away, would he? And as much as the Aurors might despise their superior, they would prevent him from harming the fool.
The man was now standing, swaying on the balls of his feet and trying (and failing) to look impressive.
‘Look at him, even Dumbledore knows that the law is on my side. As I said, I will be back tomorrow to take it to the ministry, and you can do nothing to prevent it.’ He nodded imperiously to his bodyguards and intended to strut out of the room. Coming face to face with an obviously very pissed off Potions Master made him change into a rather undignified hurry. And after making a wide circle around the man, of course. The Aurors followed.
‘This little piece of shit! How could someone like him become elected as Minister of Magic? Dumbledore—’
The Headmaster sighed and shook his head. ‘At the time he was a good choice for the position.’
‘Albus, this is neither here nor there. He cannot be allowed to take Lierin away.’
‘I am very sorry but officially he can do it in this case.’
Potter was now nearly shouting. ‘You were the one exposing her to this threat! Against my advice, I might add. Fudge was one of the reasons I hid my pregnancy and my identity. Damn you Dumbledore, I was right! And now, because everyone knows about her I cannot leave. The Muggle world would be far too dangerous with Voldemort on the rampage, I don’t have the time to leave the country because I cannot Apparate with a baby and they surely have shut down the Floo-network. Shit!’
‘Harry calm down please. The situation is bad, yes. But it is not without hope. Severus, please take a seat this will need some time to explain.’ That did nothing to reassure the parents.
Severus had the driving need to beat some one up. He felt cold sweat on his skin. He clearly remembered the procedure and ‘standardised’ methods of the ministry. Everything that was classified potentially dangerous was subjected to the investigators’ every whim. Most of them didn’t mean harm but some were so engrossed in their studies or so fanatical in their hatred of everything that smelled dark that they would act now and ask questions later. But later could be too late for Lierin.
And Severus doubted that Fudge had the scientists in mind when he spoke about investigation. The difference between some of the Aurors and the Death Eaters showed only in the colours of their uniform. And both sorts didn’t care if the possible culprit was a child or an adult. He still had nightmares about the three months he had to stay in their questionable ‘care’ and later in Azkaban.
Dark cells, mouldering straw as a bed and food a dog would refuse to eat were his minor bad memories. But the cruelty and sick pleasure some of the Aurors displayed during the interrogations; Severus had never been able to feel clean afterwards no water could wash away his impressions, the dirt and blood. And not just interrogations, the simple examinations of his body every time after and before a visit or interrogation had been cruel and degrading. They had handled him like Severus wouldn’t do with cattle on its way to the slaughter.
And there was always the possibility that Fudge would use Lierin as bait for some harebrained mission to assure the public about his willingness to protect them. The dark Lord would be very pleased to get his hands on the daughter of the traitor and the boy who destroyed him once. Maybe he would make a deal with Fudge. ‘I —I give you the baby, therefore you will give orders to spare me.’ Oh, yes that was a picture he had no problems believing.
Potter was still arguing with the Headmaster.

‘I am not her mother in the normal ‘female’ sense but biologically I am! And as her mother—’ Something nearly forgotten came to Severus’ mind, something he once heard while half asleep in History of Magic in his own school time. What had it been?
The headmaster was rummaging in his desk. After some old tomes were carelessly thrown aside he showed the younger men a very ancient looking book. It wasn’t very big. Well, it wasn’t until the warlock touched it with his wand. Then it grew to enormous measurements.
‘The magical world is very different to the Muggle one, Harry. I myself don’t know much about Muggle society. But, have you never wondered about your classmates? Nearly every student, when he or she is brought up in oin our society, comes from a ‘normal’ family. Two parents and maybe one sibling is the standard.’
The obviously confused green-eyed man shook his head. Severus was well aware of the facts Dumbledore told them but he couldn’t see how this would help in their situation.
‘Wizards have a very long lifespan, over hundred years are normal as long as nothing happens to us like lycanthropy or a lethal disease. We are mortal of course and helpless like every other human being. We just have more and other means to protect ourselves. But this long life comes with a high prize. We don’t have many children.
The Weasleys are an exception. It has something to do with a quirk of nature. For you Mr. Weasley might look like a normal father, but let me tell you that for wizarding standards he looks old for his age! Mother nature always has her way to regulate population.
But few children have dire consequences, for a long time we were likely to be extinct. There were many families without a fortune or influence to back them up and to help them arrange marriages with other pure blood families. Many had to take a non-magical person for a partner but there remained the fact that children were rare. And therefore we value the safety of our children very high as well as family traditions. Combine this facts with the danger of being discovered by the general Muggle-society and you have some of the reasons why Tom Riddle was so shunned by his peers.’
Potter tried to say something.
‘One moment, I am getting to the point. An unsupervised magical child, growing up and scandalizing the very superstitious Muggles is a danger. Giving birth to such a child out of wedlock, increases this danger Therefore it was seen, and many old families still see it this way, that being pregnant and not married is a sign of irresponsibility and bad character. This is a very medieval way of thinking of course. Many witch-hunts rooted in an unsupervised child doing accidental magic, Salem is only one of the most known examples, so the reasoning behind our mistrust for illegitimacy it is understandable.

In the 13th century High Court leader, a former form of our Minister of magic, included a certain rule in the codex of witchcraft and wizardry as a consequence to a massacre in Sussex.’ Albus touched the book in front of him. ‘In case of a child born outside marriage or to an unmarried witch, the high court has the responsibility and authority to take away the child to prevent an immoral influence to the infant. This bill was never changed. It is not used often but it is legal.’
‘I wasn’t exactly asking to get pregnant! That is clearly no sign of my bad character, just my bad luck. And come to think of it, the way some married parents treat their children in the magical world is despicable. Look at Barty Crouch!’
Severus had to stand up again and turn his back to the other two men. He glided to the window and looked outside. He could guess where this conversation was leading and he didn’t like it at all. It would be a solution, but at what price?
‘Another medieval law roots in the before mentioned situation. Because children are so precious normally no adult would think about abusing them. A married couple would care for their offspring, teach him and show him the proper behaviour for our kind. Until the child’s sixteenth birthday, in the old times this was the age the youth was officially allowed to marry, they had to take responsibility for every damage and action of their child, it was by law their possession. This codex may be the reason for your sorrow, but it also includes a possible loophole for you all.’
Hasn’t Potter caught up with it yet? The Potions Master snorted and began to bang his head against the window frame. Of course not. Stupid Gryffindor.
Dumbledore pulled his glasses up his crooked nose and run his fingers along the registere boe book opened and for some minutes the old man read silently, then began to read out loud:
"In the case of a child born out of legal wedlock the high court shall have authority to ensure the mental and bodily health of the child in question.’
‘So what?’
‘Potter are you daft?’
‘Harry, there is no mention about the marriage needing to be before the birth or conception of the child to outnumber the ministry.’
TBC
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Both Sides Now