HP: Bad Intentions

The baby lay peacefully in a cozy incubator, no longer crying.

Her emerald green eyes, wide with curiosity, observed the gathering of adults around her.

"Ah... what a lovely child," Grindelwald said, his eyes glancing at Blake. "Blake, why don't you find a girl and give me a baby to play with?"

Blake nearly choked. "Are you serious? I'm only twelve! I won't even be thirteen until August!"

Grindelwald sighed dramatically. "Okay, okay… I just don't know how much longer I'll be around. I'm old, you know."

He looked pitiful. "Just think about it. Plenty of girls like you already."

Blake's face darkened. He hadn't expected to be pressured into fatherhood before becoming a teenager.

"Old bastard! Blake's still underage!" Dumbledore snapped, his beard bristling with fury.

Grindelwald muttered, "He's certainly capable at this age…"

"I knew bringing Blake here was a mistake!"

"Oh, I was just joking. Don't get your beard in a twist, you old fool!"

The two bickered in the background, but Snape didn't hear a word. His eyes were locked on little Lily.

He hesitated, then timidly reached toward her, only to withdraw his hand again. She looked so delicate.

"Blake… I… can I hold her?"

"Of course," Blake replied, giving him an odd look. "Isn't she your daughter? Why are you acting like you're afraid of her?"

"I… what do I do?" Snape asked helplessly. Everything he'd read the night before had vanished from his mind like a spell of Obliviate had hit him. His thoughts buzzed as he stared at his daughter.

Blake sighed, the sight of a flustered Snape completely new to him. "First, one hand under her neck—support her head. Then the other hand under her body. Like this."

He gently lifted little Lily from the incubator, cradling her. Lily sucked her thumb, watching Blake curiously.

"Got it?" Blake asked.

"Y-yes…"

"Okay, your turn." Blake moved closer and offered Lily to Snape.

Snape nervously wiped his hands on his robes before carefully taking the baby. She was so light… so soft.

As he held her fully in his arms, a strange, overwhelming feeling bloomed in his chest—a sudden, fierce sense of responsibility.

He would protect this child no matter the cost. He would even give his life.

"Good girl," he murmured softly to Lily. "Stay away from people with yellow hair."

He shot a glance at Blake.

Blake's expression soured.

Seriously? Just say "stay away" and be done with it! Why the glare? Why not just hand out my ID number while you're at it?

"What's wrong with blond hair?" Blake muttered, scratching his pale blond head irritably.

Snape, meanwhile, was completely smitten. He stared at the tiny face in his arms, not wanting to let go.

Then Lily's bottom lip quivered.

"Uh-oh," Snape muttered.

"Waaaah!" Lily burst into tears.

Snape panicked, looking at Blake for help.

Blake checked his watch. "She's probably hungry. She hasn't eaten since birth."

With a flick of his hand, Blake conjured a warm bottle of milk.

Breast milk would've been better, of course, but where would they find a wet nurse now?

Without hesitation, Blake took Lily back and began feeding her.

She quieted instantly, sucking contentedly from the bottle.

Snape's shoulders relaxed. He'd been worried he'd hurt her somehow.

As he fed her, Blake said, "Seems like you're not quite ready to care for a baby."

"I-I am!" Snape insisted.

"Oh really? Do you know when she's hungry? When to change her diaper? Babies are fragile, Severus."

Snape fell silent. He didn't know. And if Lily got hurt because of him… he couldn't forgive himself.

"Don't worry," Blake reassured him. "I've made arrangements. I'm bringing in someone I trust most to help take care of her. You can help when you're free."

Snape sighed in relief. Taking care of a baby was far more overwhelming than he'd imagined.

"Who are you going to ask?" he asked curiously.

"The person I trust the most."

Just then, a circle of golden sparks flared in the air nearby.

A dimensional gate opened before their eyes.

Dumbledore and Grindelwald tensed—the spell hadn't come from Blake.

But who else could cast such magic?

From the portal emerged Nagini, followed by a wide-eyed Madam Marian.

She was clearly stunned, having seen magic like this for the first time.

"Mrs. Marian!" Blake called warmly, still cradling Lily.

If not for the baby in his arms, he would've run up to greet her.

In many ways, Lady Marian was the closest thing he had to a mother.

"Blake!" she said, delighted, then noticed the baby. "Oh, such a cute child! And those green eyes… Wait—there was a girl with you once with eyes like that…"

Her gaze sharpened. "Blake! Did you…? You're still so young! How could you get someone pregnant?"

"Huh?!" Blake gawked.

The tone in her voice—it was like she thought he'd seduced a girl and left her with a child.

She must be thinking of Cassandra…

"Wait, Mrs. Marian! It's not what you think!"

If Mr. Worley heard this, he might hex Blake out of sheer outrage.

"…Didn't Nagini explain?" he asked.

Nagini had only told Mrs. Marian that Blake had a child who needed care.

Thinking it was a favor for the boy she'd raised, Marian had agreed immediately.

And now… here they were.

Blake said patiently, "She's Professor Snape's daughter. Not mine."

"Ohhh…" Marian looked over at Snape.

She wanted to say the baby didn't look like him but bit her tongue.

She reached for Lily, and Blake handed her over. Marian's movements were swift and practiced.

She could tell Lily was a newborn—freshly cut umbilical cord and all.

There was no blood, likely due to magic. She didn't ask about the mother. Her instincts told her enough—something had gone wrong.

She took the bottle and gently continued feeding the baby.

"Professor Snape doesn't have experience," Blake said. "I'd like to ask you to help him—and teach him what you can."

He pulled over a chair.

Marian studied Snape, who gave her a stiff smile.

"Madam, please…" he said.

"Don't worry," she replied, smiling. "I'd be happy to help."

She loved children. Always had.

And more importantly, this was Blake's request.

"Thank you," Snape said sincerely.

Marian nodded, then looked back at Blake. "With your funding, the orphanage is well staffed now. I've got free time. Taking care of a baby is no trouble at all."

She chuckled fondly. "Time flies. Feels like yesterday when I found you in the snow…"

Blake smiled. "Yeah… it really does."

"Blake, did you ever find your parents? To leave such a tiny baby out in the snow—it's unforgivable! You were the same age as this little one…"

Blake remained quiet. Now he knew—it might've been himself who left that baby out in the snow.

Marian turned to the others. She recognized Dumbledore but not the rest.

"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, long time no see."

"Hello, Mrs. Marian," Dumbledore greeted politely.

"And the others? Are they professors too? Is this Blake's school?"

She patted Lily's back gently to lull her to sleep, glancing at the strange mist that seemed to linger around the group.

Grindelwald stepped forward. "Ahem… Hello, Mrs. Marian. Thank you for taking care of Blake."

"Oh, hello. And you are…?"

"I'm Blake's father. The cruel parent you just mentioned."

"…Ah." Marian's smile stiffened.

Caught bad-mouthing someone to their face—awkward.

But then, thinking of what little Blake had suffered, she stood her ground.

"So you're his father?" she asked coldly.

Despite his youthful appearance from the life-extending potion, Grindelwald's facial structure gave it away—he did resemble Blake.

Under everyone's stunned gaze, Mrs. Marian let loose.

"How could you be so cruel?"

"Do you know how close that child came to dying? Thrown into the snow—what kind of parent does that?"

Ten minutes later, even Lily was asleep.

Grindelwald was drenched in sweat from the scolding.

"I… I had my reasons," he tried explaining to Blake. "You've suffered, but I had no choice…"

"What possible reason could excuse abandoning your child?" Marian demanded.

Dumbledore spoke calmly, "He really didn't. He was imprisoned at the time."

Marian blinked. "Oh… really?"

That, she hadn't expected.

Then she turned to Vita Rocheron. "Are you Blake's mother?"

Vita froze. After the potion, she looked much younger—clearly of age to be a possible candidate.

She quickly waved her hands. "No! I'm not!"

She pointed at Dumbledore. "He's also Blake's father!"

Dumbledore's smile vanished instantly.

"Huh?" Marian looked between them. "Is this how things are among wizards? What a mess!"

=============

Want to read more?

Join my Patreon

patreon.com/Max1mus

Also Please vote for this work with your Powerstones

And don't forget to leave a review