Title: The Tie that Binds
Author: A Secretive Snowflake
Giftee: Evanjames
Word Count: 12,500
Rating: NC17
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Warnings: Chan (16/17), MPreg, hermaphrodite, rimming
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are
the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright
infringement is intended.
Summary: An affair between Harry and Severus holds
unexpected consequences and dangers
Author’s Notes: Thanks to BB for beta and
suggestions, helping make this fic 1000 times better than it was. Sorry,
Evanjames, but I just couldn’t write a Harry/Snape/Lucius threesome—just didn’t
have it in me.
The Tie that Binds
It had taken undreamed-of cooperation, but in the end, they
had done what many had deemed impossible: Severus Snape and Harry Potter had
simultaneously cast a complicated mélange of spells that had killed the Dark
Lord. Extinguished him completely. A thirty-seven-year-old man and an almost
seventeen-year-old boy had taken down the most powerful wizard of an age.
A rank bog had been Voldemort’s choice of locale for the
battle, and thus, his final resting place. Fitting, really.
For the first time in months, Severus smiled. He herded
Potter away from the Great Hall. Away from the throng of healers and Ministry
officials. He guided him, without fuss, to the dungeons and locked them in his
rooms.
He’d been waiting for this. He’d been waiting a long time
for just this.
Besides, victory was proving to be a powerful aphrodisiac.
The boy ran a hand through filth-matted hair. “Thanks for
getting me out of there, sir. I don’t think I could have answered another
question.”
“Neither of us needs an interrogation.” He raised an eyebrow
and sniffed the air. “Although clean clothes wouldn’t go amiss.” He reached
forward, hesitantly at first, and when no move was made to stop him, his hands
darted out to yank a fetid Muggle sweatshirt off Potter’s body.
“Clean clothes. Right. Except we’re in your rooms and none
of my clothes are here.” Potter’s gaze held his own, daring and tempting.
“Tell me if I’ve been reading you wrong, Potter. All these
months while we’ve been training…” Extending a single finger, Severus traced a
line of dried, dirty sweat down the boy’s chest and stomach to where it disappeared
into the waistband of his jeans. “I believe you’ve wanted more from me than
perhaps I should give.”
Potter inhaled sharply, but made no move to halt the
proceedings. Even when Severus popped open the button of his jeans, the boy
only stared at him, mouth moving around unsaid words.
As he pulled down the zip, Severus glanced at Potter. The
boy’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He nodded. Consent enough, then. Severus tugged the
jeans and boxers down in one go, leaving them pooled around Potter’s feet. He
stepped back and admired lean muscles, pale skin, and a heavy cock standing
erect. His mind filled with images of that prick pressed against his own.
Slipping. Sliding…
With a flick of his wand, Severus divested himself of his
own filthy clothing.
The move seemed to release the boy from a trance-like state.
He gaped for just a moment before almost toppling to the floor in an attempt to
remove his shoes so he could untangle his legs from his pants. His lovely cock
slapped against his firm abdomen.
Severus so enjoyed the view.
Scourgify wouldn’t clean them as thoroughly as a hot bath,
but it was enough for Severus’s intentions. He cast the spell and then stepped
forward to graze a hand down Potter’s neck to a nipple.
The boy’s skin prickled in gooseflesh.
Still trailing a hand against warm skin, Severus slipped
around until he was behind Potter. He tugged the boy to him, back to chest. He
was surprised at how well they fit, Potter’s head reaching perfectly under his
chin. “If you don’t want this, Potter, say so now. Once we start there will be
no turning back.”
Potter’s head dropped back onto Severus’s shoulder. He
wriggled against Severus’s cock. “Want this… Wanted you for so long.”
Ah, so he’d been right. The Golden Boy wanted him. Severus
ran his hands down Potter’s belly and then further, flitting over silky skin
and wiry muscle, searching for heat and hardness. When he found it, Potter
whined deep in his throat—wonderful sound, that. “Has anyone ever touched you
like this? Are you a virgin?” Severus continued to stroke.
Potter’s breath came in short gasps. He reached up and back,
wrapping his arms around Severus’s neck, arching into the touch. “Vir… virgin.
Never… nngg… never been touched.” He shuddered when Severus squeezed his cock. “Ohhhh,
sir. Are you going to fuck me?”
“Not tonight.” Severus didn’t have the patience for a long,
thorough stretching of a virgin hole. Later, when the intensity of his need
abated a little, he would indeed take Potter’s virginity if it was still on offer.
Potter seemed too far gone in his own pleasure to comprehend
Severus’s words. His hips writhed, rubbing a bony lower back against Severus’s
erection. Severus growled and swung Potter around to face him. He needed to
feel the boy’s prick against his own. But Potter’s smaller stature proved
vexing. To remedy the situation Severus lifted him to perch on the very edge of
his tall desk. He fit himself between the boy’s thighs and found Potter’s cock
now at an equal height to his own. He wrapped his arms around the boy’s lower
back, pulling them together as tightly as he could, and began to rut.
Ah, he had almost forgotten how good—how animalistic and
freeing—this felt. He wasn’t sure which sensation was more intense: the ridges
of Potter’s prick sliding over the head of his cock, or their spongy heads
meeting and then popping past each other with almost unendurable friction. He
grit his teeth and ground harder against the boy.
“Fuck, Sir! Don’t stop.” Potter’s hips joined Severus’s in a
lustful dance. Sweat and pre-come mingled, providing minimal lubrication where
none had been before. Potter’s head fell forward to rest on Severus’s shoulder,
but his hips continued pistoning. Grunts and moans issued from the boy’s lips
until he cried, “I’m going to… I’m going to… Oh, Gods…” Potter’s voice broke on
a sob when he came, his release shooting up the length of Severus’s cock.
The extra lubrication felt like warm, wet, nirvana as
Severus’s cock skimmed through it. He shifted position so his erection dragged
through the crease formed from Potter’s leg and groin, cockhead hitting hipbone
on each upthrust. Severus thrust against the boy, throwing his head back and
moaning when his balls tightened and he released.
He may or may not have called out Potter’s name as he came.
He didn’t remember doing so, but Potter insisted otherwise.
*****
In the three days before the Hogwarts Express whisked the
students away to summer celebrations, Severus and Harry (he chose to use the
boy’s given name after their third—or was it their fourth—go ‘round) took every
opportunity to be naked and sweaty in each other’s arms.
Severus did finally fuck the boy. He laid him on his ornate
wooden bed and stole his virginity just as surely as the Dark Lord has stolen
his innocence, their innocence.
It was heaven, and he was lost.
Part II. Harry
That summer, spent entirely at the Burrow, was the happiest
Harry had ever known. Not worrying about a murderous madman tended to free
one’s mind and time for happier pursuits. And, if that wasn’t brilliant enough,
he had lost his virginity to a man he had lusted after for months, and had
every reason to believe his affair with Professor Snape would carry over into
the fall term. Severus had taught him more in three days than someone less
experienced could have taught him in three months.
He couldn’t wait to get back to Hogwarts.
As summers do, lazy days piled one on top of the other until
it was time to go back to school. Once returned to Hogwarts, Harry knew enough
not to make his intentions toward Severus obvious. After all, the man would
insist on secrecy. He tried to keep the old vitriol in his public dealings with
Severus while he impatiently waited for some private time. Finally, after a
week in school, seven days in which Harry felt he would go crazy if he didn’t
feel Severus’s hands on him, a barely perceptible nod had Harry making excuses
to Ron and Hermione and heading down a seldom-used corridor.
It had taken Harry longer than he’d have liked to ditch his
friends, so when he entered the hallway, he saw no sign of Severus. He swore
under his breath. Would he have to check every room along the way? Of course,
maybe Severus didn’t stop in this hallway, maybe he had ventured into one of
the corridors that crossed it. Maybe Severus was waiting for him down one of
those. Yes, that sounded better than checking every room. Harry strode down the
hallway, anticipation building with each step. He had made it only a quarter of
the way down when a sound behind him caused him to turn. The door to the
classroom he had just passed flew open. Harry was grabbed and yanked inside.
Thrown and pinned against the stone wall, Harry writhed
against Severus’s body. This was what he’d been waiting for. He groaned and
tried to stretch up to capture Severus’s lips.
Severus put a hand on Harry’s chest to stop his movement. “I
am quite discouraged, Mr. Potter.” His voice was cold and hard.
Harry struggled to switch from desire to rational thought.
“What? Discouraged? Why?”
Severus’s hand pressed harder into Harry’s chest, his other
hand bit into the skin at Harry’s shoulder. Severus’s face was tight, his voice
too controlled. “No smoldering looks. No careless attempts to gain my
attention. No late-night wanderings into the dungeons. If you didn’t want to
continue our liaison, you should have had the bollocks to tell me.” Severus’s
hand twisted Harry’s robe at his chest, tightening it uncomfortably. “What’s
the matter, Potter, did you find a younger lover? Someone more desirable,
perhaps?”
“What? NO!” Harry tried to let the truth show in his eyes.
“I want you. Of course I want you. I thought about you all summer.”
Severus pulled Harry from the wall and then tossed him back
against it, letting his hands then fall to his sides. “But not enough to make a
move? Not enough to show any desire…”
“I thought…” Harry struggled for the words to fix this. “I
was trying to be mature. I didn’t think you’d want anyone to know about
us—since you’re a teacher and… well, older. I was waiting for you to give me
some signal or something. I thought I’d go crazy with the waiting.”
Severus’s hands were on him again, this time framing Harry’s
face. For a long moment, Severus searched his eyes, and then crushed their lips
together.
Harry groaned and responded, inviting Severus’s tongue into
his mouth and reveling in the heat of it when it entered.
Pulling back for a moment, Severus whispered, “I’m going to
fuck you, Harry. Right here. Right now. I am going to fuck you.”
“Yes, please,” Harry murmured, his eyes on Severus’s lips,
willing them back to his own. “Fuck me. Want you so bad. Need this. Need
you.”
Severus crushed Harry against the wall, spelling their
clothes off and grinding their bodies together. After one kiss, so brief Harry whined
at the loss, Severus spun him around to face the wall and clutched at his arse,
spreading his cheeks wide. Breath caressed across Harry’s ear. “I am going to
taste you. You will hold absolutely still while I prepare you with my tongue.”
Harry moaned. They hadn’t done that before. Severus’s
body slid down his and Harry heard the man’s knees hit the stone floor. Hot
breath puffed over his entrance, followed almost immediately by the wet warmth
of Severus’s tongue. Harry had never felt anything so sexy or dirty in his
life. He dug his fingers into the wall, knowing he needed to obey Severus’s
orders or the man would withdraw that wicked tongue.
After circling and lapping noisily at Harry’s hole,
Severus’s tongue stiffened and began assaulting the center, demanding entrance.
Harry focused on relaxing into the invasion and gasped when the tongue breeched
through and began fucking him. The feeling was strange, but wonderful. Harry
only just stopped himself from pushing back, from forcing more into his body.
His knees wobbled and his arms shook. His breath came in pants, and half-formed
words of need fell from his lips.
In that moment, he was sure the man was a god.
Too soon, Severus’s tongue withdrew and he pulled away from
Harry’s arse. Before Harry could bemoan the loss, one long slicked finger
plunged into his entrance, skewered him twice and then was removed to be joined
by a second. “You may move now, Harry. Fuck yourself on my fingers. Show me how
hungry you are for me.”
As if Harry’s hard, aching prick wasn’t proof enough.
But since fucking himself on Snape’s fingers sounded
brilliant, Harry thrust his arse back, forcing those fingers deeper. He loved
the feeling of each knuckle as it slid against his inner walls. His muscles
tightened as he pulled away, as if his body wanted to trap part of Severus
within. Harry rested his forehead against the cool wall and grunted as he
bucked back over and over again, changing his position every so often until his
prostate was finally found and hit. When a spark of electricity shot through
him from that little gland, he shouted, unable to keep safely quiet under such
intense feelings.
Behind him, “Silencio,” was whispered.
“Look how badly you want me, Harry. I can see how greedy you
are for me.”
“Yes,” Harry whined. But he wanted more. “Your cock, sir.
Please. Need you.”
Severus must have stood because his body was suddenly
pressed against Harry’s and his fingers slid from Harry’s hole. “You’re a
little too short for this to work.”
In his haze of need, Harry didn’t care what spell Severus
had just cast, he only let Severus guide him to stand on a small wooden pallet
that had materialized next to his feet. Severus’s hands caressed down Harry’s
sides and traced their way to his arse, parting the cheeks once more. “That’s
better. Much better.”
Without preamble, Severus lined up his cock and shoved in.
Harry gasped. Even with the lube Severus must have conjured from somewhere, it
was still a tight, hard slide. His fingers scrabbled against the stone. For a
moment, it was too much. Harry was glad for the silencing spell Severus had
cast as he wailed and begged and keened. Severus stilled for the barest of
moments, allowing Harry only scant time to get used to the invasion before he began
thrusting his hips, rocking against Harry.
“Can’t stop. I need you too much.”
Severus’s words washed over Harry. If he didn’t have a cock
up his arse, he’d have turned to make sure it was really Severus Snape at his
back and not some fantasy conjured from his own mind.
Harry took a few shuddering breaths, willing himself to
relax and accept Severus’s invasion. If the man needed him this much, he’d be
damned if he didn’t try to give him what he wanted. With each thrust, the pain
lessened, until it morphed to fullness, and then fullness changed to bliss.
Then, Harry bucked back to meet each of Severus’s thrusts. When his prostate
was rubbed, he howled. “Faster. Harder. Please!”
Severus’s breath was coming in gasps. He grunted with every
plunge into Harry. He reached around their bodies and grasped Harry’s cock,
pumping it in time with his strokes. It took an embarrassingly small number of
pulls before Harry was writhing, screaming, and shooting his seed onto the
wall. Severus milked the last of Harry’s orgasm and then grasped his hips
tightly with both hands, fucking Harry’s arse deep and hard. After several
minutes, Severus stilled and then shuddered.
Harry felt his channel being bathed in warm fluid. Severus
slumped against him, pressing him yet harder into the wall. When Harry’s
oversensitive prick scraped against the stone, he pressed back onto the man and
whispered, “Not comfortable.”
Severus groaned, but pulled back, steadying himself with his
hands against the wall on either side of Harry’s head. Harry turned and looked
at his lover. Severus was disheveled and sweaty. His eyes were closed and his
jaw slack. Harry loved it that he was able to put his usually dour professor
into this state. A slow grin spread across his face. “That was fantastic.”
“Mmmm…” Severus opened his eyes. He stood straighter and
removed one hand from the wall to grasp Harry’s chin. His eyes were dark and
burned into Harry’s. “While you are at this school, you will be mine. Do you
understand?”
Harry nodded. His heart stuttered. He’d wondered how long
Severus would keep him, and now he knew—they’d be together until Harry left
Hogwarts. They had until June.
Part III. In Sickness and in Health
After that, Harry surreptitiously threw heated looks at Severus
as often as he dared. He sneaked down to the dungeons to surprise his lover at
least once a week, and he’d even left notes and naughty drawings tucked safely
inside his Potions homework. Severus seemed pleased.
Within two weeks, Harry began to think about the possibility
of being with Severus even after he’d finished school. After three weeks, he
felt pangs of jealousy when he imagined Severus with any other lover. A month
into their reestablished tryst, Harry was falling in love.
His friends began noticing a change. “Why do you look so
happy all the time?” Ron prodded Harry in the ribs as they walked down the
corridor.
Harry grinned and shrugged.
Hermione mock whispered, “I think he’s found someone
special.” She nodded knowingly. Harry’s heart stuttered for a moment until he
realized she couldn’t possibly know who he’d found.
“Is that it?” Ron swung around to face him, stopping their
forward progress. His eyes darted around the corridor. He shook his head and
pulled Harry down a less crowded hallway. “So, is it a girl or a guy?”
Sometimes Harry wished he hadn’t told Ron he was bisexual.
He held up a hand. “I’m not answering that.”
“But there is someone, isn’t there?” Hermione smirked, happy
as always to be right.
Harry nodded. “But don’t tell anyone. I don’t want people
wondering.”
“We’re your best friends, Harry. You’ve got to tell us who
you’re seeing.” Ron turned to Hermione for confirmation, only to look
disappointed when she shook her head.
“You’ll tell us when you’re ready, right, Harry?”
Harry smiled gratefully as Hermione pulled Ron out of the
corridor and toward their next class. He really wasn’t ready to tell them he
was being fucked by Severus Snape.
But fucked he was. He was taken in every room of Severus’s
quarters, not to mention his office and private lab. Harry was sucked off in
the Quidditch broom shed and frotted against in a dungeon alcove. And one
especially memorable night, he fucked Severus in the man’s bathtub. To have
Severus Snape under him was almost as amazing as the sex itself. Almost.
So it was bitterly disappointing to Harry when he came down
with the stomach flu that was infecting most of the school. Madam Pomfrey
liberally dispensed a mint-flavored potion that had most of the sufferers better
within a half hour. Harry wasn’t so lucky. The first time he begged off sex
with Severus, the man scowled, but said he didn’t want to catch the dratted
virus anyway. The second time, Severus pushed a bony finger into Harry’s chest
and reminded him that Severus had ownership of Harry for the duration and Harry
had best not be seeing anyone else.
The man had a jealous streak as wide as the Hogwarts
grounds.
Finally, Harry just pretended to feel better. He avoided
kissing Severus by dropping to his knees in order to lavish attention on a
needy cock. Unfortunately, once Harry had sucked Severus off, the semen hitting
his stomach aggravated the virus and he vomited.
Severus pulled him to his feet. He dragged him to his
bathroom, rummaged through a cabinet, and pressed a vial into Harry’s hands.
“Drink this and go see Pomfrey again.” He peered into Harry’s eyes, pulling the
lids apart as if performing his own perfunctory exam. “Return here as soon as
she’s done with you.”
*****
Madam Pomfrey frowned when Harry told her he still had the
flu despite three doses of remedy potion. She had him dress in hospital garb
and lay down on an examination table. “I’m going to run a basic health scan,”
she explained as she ran her wand inches over his body from head to feet. A
line of multi-colored tracings hung in the air in the wake of her wand. Even
Harry could see there was an odd looking jumble of colors and shapes in the
area of his abdomen.
“See, I told you my stomach’s still not good.”
Madam Pomfrey stared at the tracings for several moments
before shaking her head and banishing them. “I’m going to perform a more
thorough scan, Harry. If you can’t lie completely still for ten minutes, I can
stupefy you.”
“I think I’ll be okay.” Harry quickly scratched an itch on
his nose and stretched his legs before settling back down.
“Please close your eyes.” Madam Pomfrey placed the tip of
her wand over Harry’s forehead and waited for him to comply.
“Why do I have to close my eyes?” Harry asked. “Is this
going to hurt?”
Madam Pomfrey smiled. She patted Harry’s arm. “Of course
not, dear. I’ll be scanning just as I did earlier, but it will be a slower scan
that will show your insides much more in-depth. I find it’s easier for people
to stay still when their eyes are closed.”
Harry nodded. He didn’t mind really. He was a little tired
anyway. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift, trying not to let his mouth
bow into a smile when he thought about Severus.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before he was being
shaken awake. He squinted one eye open to see Madam Pomfrey peering down.
“Sorry,” he slurred, his tongue heavy. “Must’ve fallen asleep.”
Madam Pomfrey helped Harry sit up. “You weren’t restless, so
it turned out well. I was able to take a nice long look at your insides.”
Harry grimaced at the thought. He stood and wavered on the
spot for a moment, reaching out a hand to balance himself on the wall.
“Dizzy?” Madam Pomfrey put a hand on his arm. “Come. Sit
down. We need to talk.”
Her tone of voice scared Harry. “What… what did you find? Is
there something really wrong?”
“It’s… well, you’re not really sick.” Madam Pomfrey led
Harry to a chair. “I have some news for you, however, and I’m not sure how
you’ll take it.” She tapped her lips with her finger. “Perhaps I should call
the Headmaster. He’s going to need to know.”
Harry almost jumped back out of his chair, but a wave of
nausea stilled him. “Know what?”
“Are there any adults here you trust, Harry? Anyone you
would feel right about sharing secrets with?”
Without thinking, Harry blurted, “Severus… erm… Professor
Snape.”
Madam Pomfrey raised one eyebrow. “Yes, well, I had
wondered…”
Harry swallowed hard, only just realizing what a terrible
mistake he’d made. “Wondered what? We trained together to kill Voldemort. He’s…
well, Professor Snape…” he trailed off, not knowing where his mouth might lead
him since his brain didn’t seem attached.
“And the Headmaster? Would you mind if I called him in
also?”
For a moment, Harry considered demanding that Madam Pomfrey
give him the news alone, but if it were really horrible it might be best to
have others with him. Well, at least Severus. But that could appear odd, just
him and Severus. Like a couple. He nodded. “Yes, the Headmaster, too.”
*****
Severus burst into the Infirmary. His eyes flitted from
Harry to Pomfrey and finally to Dumbledore. “Is there a problem?”
Dumbledore shrugged. “I don’t know yet, my boy. We were waiting
for your arrival.”
Madam Pomfrey indicated a chair for Severus, the one next to
Harry.
Severus narrowed his eyes, but sat, glancing toward Harry
for a second before turning back to Pomfrey.
“I have some news to tell Harry and he indicated the desire
to have you both here.” She focused on Severus. “He will need all the support
he can get, and since he indicated you two are now—friends, is it?”
Severus nodded curtly. “I suppose. I am assuming there is
something wrong with the boy.”
Madam Pomfrey sighed and pulled a chair into position
directly in front of Harry. She sat down and pulled his hands into hers.
“Harry, do you know what a hermaphrodite is?”
“Part man, part woman, right?”
Pomfrey nodded. “My scans show that you are a hermaphrodite,
Harry. Did you know?”
Harry shook his head. “I don’t have any female bits.”
“Inside you do. Inside you have all the reproductive organs
of a female.” She cleared her throat. “Your cervix, the opening that leads to
your womb, is attached to your rectum.”
Severus shifted in his seat. All eyes focused on him for a
moment. He glared and they turned back to Harry.
Harry knew his face was red, he could feel the heat in it.
How could he be part woman and not know it? He forced down the urge to vomit.
“Have you menstruated, Harry? Have you noticed blood from
your anus?”
“What? No! You must be wrong about all this.” Harry moved to
stand, but Severus put a hand on his shoulder, forcing him back into his chair,
and then quickly snatching his hand back away.
“I’m sure Poppy has re-checked all her findings, Harry,”
Severus murmured.
Madam Pomfrey went on as if there had been no interruption.
“When females go through major stress, sometimes they don’t menstruate for months,
even years, at a time. I am positive that’s why you’ve seen no blood.”
Dumbledore stroked his beard. “So Harry should expect to
begin menstruating soon?”
“It’ll be at least eight months before anything happens,”
Pomfrey said. She cut her eyes toward Severus.
Severus shot out of his chair. “Are you saying Potter’s
pregnant?”
Harry barely heard Pomfrey’s affirmation over the blood
rushing through his ears. This was too much. How does a boy keep his sanity
when he finds out he’s part girl and pregnant in the same day? His hands
slipped from Pomfrey’s, darkness danced at the edges of his sight. A hand came
down on his shoulder, warm and familiar, grounding him.
When Harry again focused on the room, Dumbledore was
standing. “We’ll need to know who the other father is, Harry. We’ll have to
know so we can keep you both safe.”
Harry only just kept himself from glancing up at Severus.
Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat.
“I… I don’t think I…” Harry stuttered.
In a voice so low it was barely audible, Severus said, “I’m
the father.”
IV. Some Truths Must be Told
Harry was glad Hermione had been appointed Head Girl. It
meant she had her own rooms and loads of privacy. The small sitting area in her
suite consisted of two chairs and a shared ottoman. Harry gestured Hermione and
Ron into the chairs and sat stiffly down on the footstool. His mind raced over
all the ways he had imagined telling his friends that he was even more
different than the scar on his forehead had forced him to be.
“Harry, whatever it is, you can tell us. You know that,
right?” Hermione reached out and patted his arm. “Is this about whoever it is
you’ve been seeing?”
Ron shot out of his chair. “If it was some bloke and he hurt
you, I’ll take care of it.” He rolled up his sleeves and curled his hands into
fists.
Hermione laughed and pulled Ron back into his seat. “I’m
sure Harry can take care of himself.”
Harry, caught up in the moment with his friends, chuckled.
“Yeah, Ron, it’s not like I’m a…” He stopped short before he could say ‘girl.’
Hermione pointed a finger at him, but continued smiling.
“You best not finish that sentence, mister. Girls can take care of themselves,
thank you very much.”
“I sure hope they can…” Harry muttered. When Ron and
Hermione gave him a questioning look, he squared his shoulders and amended his
declaration. “I sure hope we can.”
Hermione narrowed her eyes.
Ron raised one eyebrow. “We can what?”
Harry’s face flamed. This was harder than he thought and
he’d thought it’d be murder.
“I don’t think he meant we as in us three,” Hermione said
slowly. Her mouth moved silently as she replayed the end of the last
conversation. “Harry… did you just include yourself as a girl?”
Like a jack-in-a-box, Ron launched out of his chair again.
Harry would’ve laughed if he wasn’t so nervous. “Some bloke did hurt you,
didn’t he? If you’re well… heartbroken or something, that doesn’t make you a
girl.”
Harry stood and placed his hands on Ron’s shoulders. He
watched Ron’s eyes closely as he spoke. “Yes, I am seeing a guy. And yes, this
has something to do with him. But it’s nothing like what you think.” He pushed
Ron back into his chair, but remained standing, looking down at the two best
friends he’d ever had. He finally settled on concentrating on Hermione, knowing
she’d be quicker on the uptake. “I called myself a girl, because I am.
Partially.” He watched her eyes and knew the moment she reached her conclusion.
At that point he nodded. “Hermaphrodite.”
Hermione’s eyes widened almost impossibly.
Harry flicked his gaze to Ron.
It was a few seconds later that Ron’s mouth dropped open and
he shook his head.
Before either could get their wits together enough to speak,
Harry plowed on. “I just talked to Madam Pomfrey. She says I’m the rarest type
of Hermaphrodite. My… erm… genitalia are completely male, but internally I’ve
got all the female parts. She says my plumbing’s wonky, but it’s all there.”
“Wow, Harry,” Hermione whispered.
“So are you a guy or a girl?” Ron asked.
Harry sank back down to sit on the ottoman. “Both. Neither.
I’m just me, I guess.” Now that the first part of the story was out, Harry
found he couldn’t look his friends in the eye. He lowered his head into his hands,
expecting to hear Ron pop out of his chair again, this time heading directly to
the door and out of his life.
A large, warm hand came to rest on Harry’s knee. “I guess
now I won’t feel quite so weird when I hug you. After all, it’s not like I’m
hugging a bloke.”
Harry looked up to see Ron quirking a lopsided grin. “Git.”
Ron laughed. “You’re still Harry, right? It’s not like
you’re suddenly going to go all female on me or anything.”
Hermione snapped to attention. “We have loads of research to
do. I’m sure the library has hermaphroditic references.” She rubbed her hands
together. “We’ll have to find out all sorts of things… if it’s hereditary, if
you’re fertile… did Madame Pomfrey mention whether she thinks you can father a
child? You do make semen, right?”
Ron choked. “What a thing to ask a bloke!”
Harry laughed freely for the first time since he’d found out
about his condition. It was a relief that Ron and Hermione were still, well,
Ron and Hermione. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all. He rolled his eyes and
said, “Of course I squirt, Hermione. If I didn’t I’d have figured out sooner
that something’s wrong.” He sobered a little. “But Madam Pomfrey did tell me
my… well, my sperm isn’t viable. I can’t get a woman pregnant.”
Hermione’s face fell.
Ron said, “Sorry, mate, I know you wanted a family some
day.”
“Maybe you can adopt or something,” Hermione offered.
Harry took a deep breath. It was now or never. “About that.
You know how I said I have all the internal female organs?”
Hermione nodded.
“Well, I guess they work and they’re connected to…erm… some
of my other plumbing.” Harry ran a hand through his hair and looked at the
floor. “I’m pregnant.”
This time, Ron didn’t jump up or even jump to conclusions. He
simply sat in the chair, hands balled into fists.
“How far along?” Hermione asked.
“Only a few weeks.”
“And the father?”
“I don’t think I…”
This time it was Hermione who stood. She loomed over Harry,
hands on her hips. “I supported you when you wouldn’t tell us who you were
dating, but I draw the line here. You’re our best friend, Harry, and we need to
know who got you pregnant and if he’s going to help take care of the baby. Have
you told him?”
“Sit back down and I’ll tell you, but I’m warning you, this
might be too much for Ron to handle.” He glanced at Ron who remained stone
still. Harry was about to check if his friend was breathing when Ron took a
gulp of air.
Ron nodded. “I can handle anything, Harry.”
Hermione sat on the very edge of the chair, hands twisting
in her lap.
“I’ll tell you two, but no one else can find out, okay?”
“Why the secrecy?” Hermione asked. “Everyone will know
soon enough—when you start showing.”
“Well, you know how the Aurors are still rounding up Death Eaters,
right? Well, Dumbledore’s always saying I have to be careful because some of
Voldemort’s old cronies might try to kidnap or kill me. He thinks the pregnancy
might incite some of them to try harder, especially because of who the father
is.”
Ron slid down to sit on the floor, his back to his chair.
“Blimey, Harry, who the hell’d you let fuck you, anyway? What bloke around here
would the Death Eaters care about?”
Before Harry could answer, Hermione whispered, “Severus
Snape. The only one they’d really care about other than Harry is Professor
Snape.”
*****
Dumbledore requested that Harry and Severus stop seeing each
other until Harry left Hogwarts. After all, even though rules had been broken, it
was never too late to begin following them. But Harry and Severus weren’t
deterred. On the contrary, they saw each other as often as they safely could.
If Harry had thought the man would be gentler because of his
condition, he was mistaken. In fact, Severus’s desire seemed fueled by the fact
that Harry was carrying his baby, and his possessiveness multiplied. Harry
could have done without much of the overprotective looming, though it did give
him hope for a future with Severus.
A future they never talked about. Outside of his
appointments with Madam Pomfrey, they didn’t discuss the baby at all. They
didn’t plan how the child would be raised, whether they would be a family
together, or even names. Harry felt it was as if they were poised on a brink, each
waiting for the other to take the first step into the unknown.
But, since neither seemed courageous enough, they went on as
if their progeny wasn’t growing in Harry’s womb. They went on as ever before,
except for Severus’s stalking.
Finally, one day, Harry cornered Severus after Potions class
and hissed, “You have to stop following me around school. People are starting
to talk.”
Severus scowled. “No one could possibly guess the truth.
Besides, I cannot leave you unprotected against Death Eaters.”
“I can protect myself. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m a
powerful wizard.”
But Harry was beginning to wonder how powerful he truly was.
He wasn’t about to admit it to Severus, but he was having trouble casting even
the simplest of spells. It was as if the pregnancy was draining him of magic.
*****
The first time it happened, Harry was four months pregnant.
A small tingle traveled through his body. He didn’t think much of it. The
second time, it was more of a sharp sting. Harry yelped.
Professor Flitwick looked up from the papers he was grading.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Potter?”
“No, sir. Sorry.”
The third time, Harry couldn’t pretend it was nothing. That
time, an electric current fairly ripped through his body.
He went to Severus first who accompanied him to Madam
Pomfrey.
As they entered the Infirmary, Severus pulled Pomfrey aside
and hissed. “I believe it’s happening.”
Madam Pomfrey dropped the tray of equipment she was
carrying. The sound of metal on stone echoed through the room. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, from what Harry has told me.”
Several moments of hushed explanations, and Harry was left
dumbstruck. “Why didn’t anyone tell me about Errant Fetal Magic?”
“As strong as your magic is, we didn’t believe it would be
an issue.” Madam Pomfrey led him to a bed and urged him to lie down. “Let me
check on the baby.” She ran her wand over Harry’s midsection and smiled. “The
little one’s fine.”
Harry sat and focused a glare at Severus. “ You should
have told me there could be a problem.”
Severus shrugged. “As Madam Pomfrey said, your magic should
easily contain that of the growing baby. I saw no need to add to your burdens
unnecessarily.”
Flopping back down onto the hospital bed, Harry threw his
arms over his face and said, “Fine, tell me what I’m up against now.”
In the end, he almost wished he didn’t know.
Madam Pomfrey went into Nurse-Lecturer mode. “You see,
Harry, magical beings have powers from the moment they’re conceived. Normally
the magic is so slight before birth that the mother will seldom feel any more
than a tingle of power from the fetus. Particularly strong babies, however, can
cause a bit of a problem during the pregnancy. In such cases, their powers are
enough to cause discomfort for the mother, or in very rare cases, harm to the
baby itself. By the time the baby is born, the magic will have stabilized and
gone mostly dormant until the child is older.”
“So, you’re saying this baby,” Harry laid a hand on the
small swell of his belly, “is giving off magic and that’s what I feel?”
Madam Pomfrey nodded.
“And the baby could hurt itself? How?”
“A strong enough surge of pre-natal magic could sever the
umbilical cord or physically harm the baby.” Madam Pomfrey looked from Harry to
Severus.
Severus, his mouth held in a tight line, nodded.
“You will have to learn to keep some of your magic always
focused as a buffer around the baby, to absorb errant magic. I believe Severus
can help you with the spell.”
“Of course.” Severus reached a hand out to help Harry off
the cot. “We will begin immediately.”
Harry let Severus help him to a sitting position, but then
squeezed his hand and shook his head instead of standing. “One problem, though.
I seem to have lost most of my magic.”
That put everyone into a frenzy. Harry’s magic was
tested and found severely lacking. Dumbledore was called to the Infirmary, but
could offer no concrete advice. The consensus was reached that the fetus was
extremely powerful and had been draining Harry’s power as he unconsciously
contained the errant magic being released.
But now, his own magic was nearly depleted and the baby’s
magic was strengthening. Everyone looked dour… or scared. When nothing more
than muttering and complaining was being done, Harry asked that Hermione and
Ron be called to the Infirmary.
When Hermione poked her head in the door, Harry beckoned her
in. Ron followed on her heels. “Good, you’re here,” Harry began. “Hermione,
would you please research Errant Fetal Magic and how it can be contained? If
anyone can come up with information, it’s you.”
Hermione’s brow furrowed. “Fetal magic? Is there a problem,
Harry?”
It took Harry only a moment to fill his friends in on his
predicament. When he was done, they looked as uneasy as everyone else in the
room. Harry knew it was time to take charge. He scooted off the exam table.
“So, Hermione will research. Madam Pomfrey, can she have access to your medical
journals?”
“Of course.” Madam Pomfrey pulled a notepad from the pocket
of her robes and began scribbling in it. “And I’ll help with the process. I
could also check with the St. Mungo’s maternity ward. They may have had cases
such as these.”
“I doubt there are any other such cases, unless you care to
go back to the time of Merlin’s birth,” Dumbledore said.
Before Harry could do more than open his mouth, Severus
said, “Yes, Harry, the magic of our child seems to be immeasurably stronger
than any we could have imagined.” He turned to Madam Pomfrey. “Unless you can
devise a believable reason why you are asking St. Mungo’s such questions, it
may do more harm than good to seek their advice. Stirring up curiosity right
now, on what is probably a fruitless venture, would be asking for trouble.”
Harry nodded at Madam Pomfrey. “If Hermione and you can’t
dig anything up, we’ll consider going to them, but until then, I’d rather no
one other than those here know anything.” He turned toward Severus. “Have you
heard of any potions that could safely dampen fetal magic?”
The Headmaster nodded. “Maybe there is something, Severus.
It is worth a try.”
“I will, of course, research. But I doubt I will find much.
Potions Masters have always been reticent to administer any but the most benign
potions to the pregnant. However, I do have some ideas of my own I will work
on.” He tapped a finger to his lips as his eyes lost focus. Harry knew his
lover was already mentally in his potions lab.
Dumbledore looked from Severus to Harry and chuckled. “As
for myself, my boy, I will assist on both fronts.”
Ron looked apologetically at Harry. “I’d really like to do
something to help. I don’t know how much good I’d be at anything, but everyone
else has something to do.”
“Oh, I already have plans for you.” Harry smiled. “You’re
going to stick close to me in class and help me cast spells. If people start
noticing how weak I am, I’ll be an even bigger target.”
As the impromptu meeting in the Infirmary broke up, Severus
addressed Ron and Hermione. “Please tell the other Gryffindors that Harry is
spending the night in the Hospital Wing.”
“What? I’m not staying here tonight!”
“Of course you aren’t. You will be staying with me. But that
certainly cannot become common knowledge, now can it?”
Harry’s heart stuttered. He’d like nothing more than to
spend an entire night with Severus. To wake up next to him in the morning….
Dumbledore cleared his throat. “I think not, Severus. I
cannot knowingly allow a student to spend the night with a teacher.”
Severus shrugged. “I suppose I could Obliviate you.”
“You are well aware that is not what I meant.” Dumbledore’s
usually mild expression hardened. “But, if you need me to make myself clear, I
will not allow Harry to spend the night with you.”
Severus stepped closer to the Headmaster. “I must insist.
Harry is carrying my child. He has had quite a shock today and, I believe, is
in need of comfort. Comfort only I can supply.”
Harry nodded.
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, but Severus continued,
“Besides that, Harry and I need to discuss a few matters.”
*****
The evening in Severus’s rooms didn’t start out quite the
way Harry had envisioned. The fact that he had hoped for cuddling showed how hormonal
he truly was. His lover was Severus Snape, for Merlin’s sake.
Severus sat Harry down in a chair and handed him a glass of
water. “Madam Pomfrey omitted an important fact. Trying to save you worry, I
assume.” Severus settled himself in another chair, the fire crackling
merrily in the hearth between them.
Harry’s hand tightened around the glass. Wonderful. What
else could go wrong? “What is it?”
“With the depletion of your power, you will be unable to
protect yourself from the baby’s errant magic. Your life, in fact, is as in
danger as that of our child.”
Harry chuckled. “Oh, is that all?” He shrugged, trying to
show nonchalance where none actually existed. “My life’s pretty much always
been in danger, now hasn’t it?”
Severus tipped his own glass toward Harry in
acknowledgement. “Yes, but you weren’t my lover before. That changes things.”
“How?”
Severus's dark eyes flashed. “I would very much rather you
live.”
“And before? You certainly saved me enough. I suppose I
thought you didn’t want me to die then either.”
“Of course, I never desired your death. But now, my desires
are much more personal.”
Harry swirled his water, watching as the ice cubes circled
and tinkled against the glass. “I appreciate that, Severus, but we’re doing all
we can. I suppose finding a way to temper the baby’s magic will also protect
me.”
Severus stood. He picked up the fireplace poker and dug
about in the ashes, stoking the fire. It wasn’t lost on Harry that magic could
have done the same job.
Finally, Severus straightened, looked at Harry, and said.
“There is a quick solution. A way to protect your life.”
Harry was immediately on edge. “Only mine? Not our child’s?”
Severus nodded. “You could abort the baby. No one would
think worse of you for the measure. With your powers dwindling so dramatically,
the child has virtually no chance of survival anyway.”
Harry jumped to his feet. “I will not kill our baby,
Severus! I will not give up hope.”
“At least think it over, Harry. You shouldn’t martyr
yourself for a life which is most likely already forfeit.”
Harry turned away, taking steps toward the door. His mind
reeled. Did Severus truly care so little for their child he was willing to
sacrifice it at the first hint of trouble? He needed to get away. He needed to
be alone to digest all he’d learned in the past hour. He made it halfway to the
door before a hand clutching his arm stopped his progress. He closed his eyes,
tension coiling his every muscle.
“Don’t leave.”
“It’s better if I’m not here right now. Maybe we both need
some time alone.”
Severus’s grip loosened, but he didn’t let go. “I’ve had all
the time alone in this life that I can stomach.” His hand moved up to grip
Harry’s shoulder, forcing him around to face him. “You are right. I will not
mention abortion again. I only thought to save your life.” Severus pulled Harry
to him, pressing their bodies together. “I only thought of keeping you safe.
Keeping you for myself.”
Harry relaxed against his lover. “I wouldn’t be the same
person again, if I killed our baby.”
Severus sighed. “Come to bed, Harry. I meant what I told
Albus about comforting you.”
*****
Severus’s brand of comfort consisted of a warm mouth
stretched around Harry’s cock. Severus’s tongue swiped along the head with
every up-stroke, his cheeks hollowed in suction on the down.
Harry’s hands threaded through Severus’s hair, grounding
him, reminding himself not to buck up and choke the man. Strands of long, dark
hair brushed Harry’s thighs, raising gooseflesh. “Gods, Severus, yes. Need this
so bad. Need you…”
Severus’s strokes sped up. His head bobbed over Harry’s
erection.
Harry’s hands fell to his sides. Unable to stop himself any
longer, he thrust up into Severus’s mouth. Groaning when his cock hit the back
of the man’s throat.
Severus swallowed.
Harry gasped. His balls tightened. He scrabbled once again
at Severus’s hair. “I’m going to…”
Severus pulled up and then shot back down, forcing Harry’s
cock into his throat once again.
Another swallow and Harry was lost in the sensation of his
orgasm, rocking his hips and groaning.
Severus kept him trapped within his mouth until the last
weak pulse subsided. He pulled off Harry with a slurp and a lick, slid up his
body, and wrapped him in his arms, just as a violent burst of energy radiated
from Harry’s abdomen to sting them both.
After checking that Harry and the child had both survived
the wild magic unharmed, Severus frowned. “I believe the baby may feel and
react to any of your heightened emotions.” He caressed Harry’s cheek. “So,
unfortunately, I believe sex is out of the question until the child is born.”
*****
“It’s not too late to call this off, my boy.” Dumbledore
squeezed Harry’s shoulder. “Poppy tells me you’re exhausted.”
Harry smiled at the Headmaster. “I’m a little tired is all.”
He glanced through the doorway and took count of the number of reporters
sitting in the Great Hall. He hadn’t expected so many.
Another month had passed. A month in which Hermione was so
busy researching, Harry barely saw her. A month of sitting quietly in Severus’s
lab while the man tried to concoct a potion that would help. A month of no sex,
but plenty of bouts of unrestrained pre-natal magic.
But it was also a month of watching his stomach slowly
expand, and thirty days of learning to love, more and more, the life growing
inside him. His baby. Merlin, how he loved the sound of that.
Harry, already skinny to begin with, looked gaunt now. He
still had trouble keeping food down and the baby took a large share of the
calories he was able to consume. “A powerful one, it’ll be,” Madam Pomfrey
liked to say. “Its magic needs nourishment just as surely as its body.” That’s
why Harry was always tired, always dragging. And people were starting to
notice. Headlines screamed about his mystery terminal illness. Other students
treated him like he was made of spun glass.
He was grateful that at least his school robes covered the
bump of his belly, but even that wouldn’t be the case for long. So, today he
would put an end to the hype. Today he would tell the truth.
Dumbledore smiled over Harry’s head. “Severus! I’m glad you
decided to join us after all.”
Simultaneously, Harry’s stomach plummeted and his heart thumped.
Severus had made it quite clear that he did not agree with Harry’s decision to
expose his condition. They didn’t fight, exactly. Severus seemed afraid to
actually argue, afraid to cause Harry’s adrenaline to surge and affect the
baby. But his whole demeanor of late spoke of how opposed he was to Harry’s
plan.
Harry slowly turned to face his lover.
Severus's eyes grazed over Harry’s belly before settling on
the Headmaster. “I am not joining this farce. As I told you, Headmaster, I
believe addressing the press is sheer folly. If you think they bother Harry
now, they won’t give him a moment’s peace when they learn the truth. And any
Death Eaters…” He shook his head.
“Most of the Death Eaters have been rounded up, Severus. You
know that. But even if they weren’t, Harry won’t be able to hide his condition
much longer. Sometimes it is best to go on the offensive before your opponent
even knows there’s a game afoot.” Dumbledore’s attention was caught by a flurry
of activity in the Great Hall. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I believe I am
needed. Harry, you will not be alone in this.” The Headmaster smiled and winked
before stepping through the door and into the fray.
Severus’s eyes darted up and down the hallway. “It’s not too
late to change your mind. Walk away, Harry. Do you think those vultures will
leave you alone after this?”
Harry shrugged. He carefully avoided looking at Severus. “It
can’t be any worse than the rumors of my impending death. Once they know the
truth, some of them may give me my privacy. ”
Severus snorted. “Privacy? Those people aren’t your
friends.” He gestured toward the awaiting media. “They’ll be after your blood.”
“You’re a bit paranoid, Severus.”
Severus touched Harry’s chin, tilting his head so their eyes
met. "I think you are the opposite of paranoid, Harry, I think you go
around with the delusion that everyone likes you."
Harry leaned in to Severus’s touch. “I don’t really. I do
know the truth. But I feel I have to do this. Now, if there’s nothing else, I
have a press conference to give.” He smiled sadly. He didn’t want to fight with
the man, but some things had to be done Harry’s way. This was one of them.
He tried to step away, but Severus grabbed his arm. Warm
breath puffed across Harry’s ear. “I cannot be part of this.” He waved his free
arm toward the Great hall. “I simply cannot participate in something that could
cause harm.”
Harry only nodded as Severus released him and stalked away.
Dumbledore was almost immediately at Harry’s side. “We’re
ready for you.”
Harry peered around the door. “Will I have to stand at a
podium or something?”
“No. You will sit at a table with a few others. There has
been a localized Sonorous charm placed over the area, so as soon as you sit down,
be sure to say nothing you don’t want the reporters to hear.” Dumbledore placed
a gnarled hand on Harry’s shoulder and began to guide him into the Great Hall.
At their entrance, the murmur of voices died down until the room was silent.
Harry’s eyes sought out the table at which he would sit. He
let out a relieved sigh when he saw Madam Pomfrey. He’d been afraid of not
knowing the correct terms for any medical questions. Even more gratifying,
however, was the sight of both Arthur and Molly Weasley. Other than Ron and
Hermione, the Weasley parents were the only people Harry had told of his
pregnancy, although they didn’t know who the father was. They might not have
any questions to answer during the press conference, but they would offer great
moral support.
Harry made his way to them and was wrapped in a tight hug,
first by Molly and then Arthur. Arthur, especially, seemed reticent to let
Harry go, he cradled him against his chest and rubbed his back. “We’ve been so
worried, Harry.”
When Arthur finally did release him, Harry took his seat
next to Dumbledore. He scanned the crowd. Most of the reporters were people he
didn’t know, but a few were filthy maggots he steered clear of under ordinary
circumstances. One friendly face stood out amongst his peers, Xenophilius
Lovegood sat in the second row, smiling benignly.
After Dumbledore introduced him, Harry took a deep breath,
ran a hand through his hair, and then sought eye contact with Mr. Lovegood. He
would talk like he was telling his story only to The Quibbler. That would be
easier. “I have an announcement to make. After the initial statement, you can
ask questions, but I may refuse to answer some of them. After this press
conference, however, I ask that you all leave me alone.”
In his seat, Xenophilius nodded.
Harry cleared his throat and then took a drink of water from
the glass sitting next to him. “I found out recently that I am what is known as
an Internal Hermaphrodite.”
Several hands rose. Harry held up one of his own to quiet an
onslaught of murmuring. “Madam Pomfrey can give you the medical details after I
finish, but there is one other bit of news first.”
The reporters quieted, but many of them squirmed in their
seats as if barely able to keep from lunging.
“I found out I am a Hermaphrodite only after I became
pregnant.”
The room erupted in a swell of shouted questions.
Dumbledore stood and called for silence.
Most of the reporters remained standing, but quieted. Harry
tuned out for several minutes while Madam Pomfrey discussed the medical side of
Harry’s condition. He snapped back to attention, however, when she spoke of the
problems he faced during the pregnancy. In truth, he was proud that his baby
was to be a powerful witch or wizard, if only he could contain that magic long
enough to see the child born.
Madam Pomfrey’s voice trilled through the room. “This baby
seems to have a wealth of pre-natal powers. Unfortunately, Harry’s body and
magic have to absorb any errant magic the baby casts. Therefore, Harry is
suffering from exhaustion and should not be hounded by reporters.”
Harry smiled down the table at the Mediwitch. He often
thought she was as protective of his baby as he was. It was then that the
question was asked that Harry had been dreading.
A screechy-voiced, anorexic witch stood. “Who’s the other
father, Harry?”
Several voices rose in a chorus to join the questioner. When
they didn’t quiet, Harry rose and held up his hands. “In the interest of
privacy, I am unwilling to answer that question.”
A voice shouted from the back of the room. “It’s a Weasley
boy, isn’t it? You stayed with them over the summer, didn’t you?”
“I don’t care to answer any questions about the baby’s other
father,” Harry reiterated. “But in this case, I will tell you that, no, this
baby will definitely not have ginger hair.”
A few of the reporters sniggered, but the same screechy
voice from the back overrode all others. “Come on, Harry, why else would Arthur
and Molly Weasley be with you unless they were the grandparents-to-be?”
Harry’s answer was cut short by a scraping of chairs at the
end of the table. He looked down to see Arthur starting to stand, but Molly
pulling him down and rising instead. She pointed in the general direction of
the voice that had posed the question. “Arthur and I are here because Harry is
a part of our family, so in reality, we already are grandparents-to-be. But we
are only here to give him any support he needs. Merlin knows, I wish Harry’s
baby was fathered by one of my sons, at least then he’d have a spouse’s support
behind him, not all this secrecy.” Molly clapped a hand to her mouth.
Arthur looked apologetically toward Harry and pulled Molly
into her seat.
Harry shrugged.
“Is the father denying the baby, then?”
“Were you raped?”
“Is he married?’
“Do you, in fact, know who the father is?”
“Harry, are you feeling well?” This last was asked by Mr.
Lovegood.
Harry fought to quell the buzzing magic that was engulfing
him. Finally, when it became too much, all went dark.
V. Fighting for their Lives
Severus was with him in the Infirmary when Harry regained
consciousness. Harry half expected to be berated for putting himself in a tense
situation, but Severus only shook his head and grimaced. “While you were out,
we tried an incantation Granger found in an old spell book. The magic is meant
to transfer some of my power to you until the baby is born.”
Harry nodded. “You don’t look pleased, so I assume it didn’t
work.”
“Unfortunately, no. The baby treated my magic as an invasion
and fought against it.”
Harry closed his eyes. He really didn’t know how much longer
he could fight.
“The potion I’m working on does appear promising, however.
If only I could be sure it wouldn’t cause more harm than good.”
“At least it’s a hope,” Harry whispered. “So what harm do
you think it could do?”
Before Severus would answer, he called a ‘summit meeting’ of
all those who had been trying to help Harry and the baby. Madam Pomfrey was, of
course, already in the Infirmary. Ron and Hermione showed up together, but it
took Dumbledore a bit of time to join them. Harry was surprised when the
Headmaster arrived short of breath.
Severus jumped to his feet. “Albus? Has your magic not
returned?”
Albus put a hand on Severus’s shoulder and smiled. “Not to
worry, my boy. My powers are returning, they’re just not reliable as of yet.”
Harry looked from Severus to Dumbledore, unsure of what they
were talking about. “Have you been ill, Professor?”
Dumbledore shook his head. He gestured toward Severus.
“It is part of what I would like to discuss with all of
you,” Severus said. Everyone settled into chairs or, in the case of Ron,
perched on the edge of Harry’s hospital bed. “Albus was good enough to allow me
to experiment on him with a magic-tampering potion. I had hoped it would be the
answer to our predicament.”
“But?” Hermione asked.
“But the potion seems to steal power for longer amounts of
time each time it is ingested. I am afraid if it is used long-term it could cause
irreversible magical depletion.”
“So I could end up a Squib?” Harry asked.
Severus nodded.
“And the baby?”
“I have no way of knowing.” Severus sat down on the bed
beside Harry.
Ron shifted away slightly.
“The ingredients wouldn’t be physically harmful to an adult,
but to a fetus…”
“So the cure could kill.” It was a statement, not a
question. Harry felt ill. “So this is our best hope?”
“Other than you being able to hold on until the baby is
born, I’m afraid it’s our only hope,” Severus said.
Harry nodded. He chewed his bottom lip for a moment,
thinking. “We’ll go on as we have for now, then. But if I feel I can’t hang on
anymore, or if I lose consciousness or something, then we will try the potion.
What other choice do we have? We have to save this baby.”
Severus nodded. “If it comes to that, it will be safest to
keep you in a magical coma until the baby is born. That way, you won’t be
further physically depleted.”
*****
Two months later, Harry doubted he could save himself, much less
the baby. He was so exhausted it took all his energy to get to class. And his
magic was so low he might as well have none. He waddled when he walked and
spots were breaking out on his face, but at least his hair seemed tamer than
it’d ever been. Hermione said it was the hormones.
Severus was being quite a gentleman, at least. Sure, Harry
noticed how the man looked at him, desire nearly burning behind his eyes. But
for Harry’s sake, and the baby’s, Severus hadn’t even mentioned sex since the
night Harry had spent in his chambers. It was for the best, really, as Harry
couldn’t even imagine sex right now. Not the way he felt. Not the way he
looked.
Some days the only things that kept Harry going were those
looks from Severus, and a tiny fist or foot swiping across the inside of
his swollen belly. When the baby was most active, Harry would laugh and talk to
his child, and for the moment, there was hope.
At least there had been no attempted attacks from Death
Eaters. It looked like Severus’s concerns had no basis after all. Most of the
reporters, however, were acting as Severus thought they might, like sharks in
chum-filled waters. Even if he’d had the energy, Harry wouldn’t have dared
visit Hogsmeade. Reports were that at least fifty reporters were camped out
there, waiting for any news on Harry.
As for the other Hogwarts students, most of them took
Harry’s pregnancy in stride. He’d always been different, after all. Girls, for
the most part, tried to smother him, thinking he’d want to discuss every
particular of the pregnancy. Most found out soon enough that wasn’t the case.
The boys generally fell into two categories: those who looked at Harry as if he
was a curious alien species, and those who saw Harry beyond the swell of his
growing child.
Ron, of course, was one of the latter. He still treated
Harry as his best mate, but had taken to helping with everything from casting
spells to carrying books.
Harry was normally so exhausted he allowed the pampering.
Hermione barely studied, preferring instead to research
prenatal magic with Madam Pomfrey. Unfortunately nothing they tried worked.
“You only need to hold on six more weeks, dear,” Madam
Pomfrey assured during one of Harry’s check-ups in April. “By then the baby
should be strong enough to be delivered.”
Harry nodded. It was easier to agree than to admit he was
worn to the point of fraying.
*****
Harry had let his guard down. Most of the Death Eaters had
been captured, and those who were still on the run were fringe followers, those
who didn’t show much devotion toward Voldemort, or weren’t strong enough
magically to worry overmuch about.
So, when the attack came, it took Harry completely by
surprise.
At least he was in the dungeons on his way to Potions. At
the very least, he was close to Severus.
They had been guarding against an outsider breaking into
Hogwarts. They had expected that if danger came, it would be in the form of a
rogue Death Eater. They were ready for such occurrences. The Hogwarts wards
were set to defend Harry against an outside enemy, not an inside threat.
So when a student, a younger student, a Ravenclaw
student, attacked, it was completely unforeseen. Harry passed the fourth-year
classes coming from Potions, paying them no more attention than he paid the
portraits on the wall, when Orla Quirke stepped out of the line of students and
leveled her wand at Harry. “We don’t need another all-powerful witch or wizard
in this world!” she shrieked. “That baby cannot be allowed to be born.”
Ron shoved Harry behind him and drew his own wand. But
before a spell could be cast, a streak of pale skin and blond hair flashed in
front of Harry’s eyes, knocking Orla to the floor and wresting her wand from
her hand. Harry’s heart stuttered in his chest, adrenaline caused his hands to
shake. Before he could even think to calm his body and mind, the baby shifted
violently and magic sizzled out from every pore of his body.
Harry’s head was spinning. He heard shouts and crying. He heard
Malfoy barking out orders, but could make no sense of them. Children ran past,
adding to Harry’s vertigo.
He sank to his knees. It took everything he had to keep
consciousness. Ron turned to him, stooped, and grabbed his shoulders. “Harry!
Come on, mate. You’ll be okay, really you will.”
Harry vaguely wondered how bad he must look for Ron to
appear so frantic. He knew one thing for certain. He had no more energy and
possibly no more magic. No way was he walking out of this hallway.
“I need Severus,” Harry rasped.
“Malfoy!” Ron called. “Malfoy, go get Professor Snape.
Malfoy. Snape. Now!”
Malfoy’s voice carried to Harry. “Blaise, watch her. Don’t
let her get up.”
Footsteps retreated down the corridor.
It seemed ages before Severus was kneeling next to Harry,
wrapping him in his arms, and lifting him. “Mr. Weasley, run ahead and tell
Madam Pomfrey what’s happened. Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini, escort Miss Quirke to
the Headmaster’s office. Carefully.”
Harry relaxed in Severus’s arms. He laid his head on his
lover’s chest.
“I do believe there will be no question as to who fathered
our baby after this, Harry,” Severus murmured. He began walking, his long
strides eating up the distance between the dungeons and the Infirmary.
“I’d like everyone to know,” Harry said. “Does it bother
you?”
Severus pulled Harry closer to his chest. He chuckled, the
sound vibrating along Harry’s skin. “Who wouldn’t want to be known as Harry
Potter’s paramour?”
“I’m more trouble than I’m worth, I think.”
“Perhaps.”
Harry smiled. “We never talked about the future, Severus. We
never even picked out names for the baby.”
Severus pushed through the Infirmary doors and followed
Madam Pomfrey to a bed. He paused before he laid Harry down. “What names do you
want?”
Harry pulled away from Severus’s chest so he could see his
face. “Save this baby and you can name him or her anything you want. Deal?”
Severus lowered Harry to the bed. “It’s a deal, Mr. Potter.”
Severus pulled his arms out from under Harry but remained leaning over the bed.
“I guess it’s time for me to go to sleep for a few weeks,
huh?” Harry smiled weakly. He used the last of his energy to reach up and
stroke Severus’s cheek. “Promise me you’ll do everything you can to save the
baby.”
Severus leaned in further and kissed Harry chastely on the
forehead. “I will.”
Madam Pomfrey came to stand on the opposite side of the bed
from Severus. “I’m ready to cast the spell to put you in a coma, Harry. Are you
prepared?”
“Almost.” He looked at Ron and Hermione, smiling lightly at
them.
Ron shook his head and turned away.
Hermione wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.
Harry flicked his gaze to Severus. “I realize this isn’t
great timing, and maybe you’d rather not hear it, but I love you.”
“And I admit to being fond of you.”
“Git.”
“Brat.”
Madam Pomfrey flicked her wand over Harry and incanted.
Harry’s sight went first, darkening around the edges and then blinking out
altogether. For a couple of seconds he could still hear, hear well enough to
pick up Severus saying, “Sleep well,” and then he was gone.
VI. The Tie that Binds
His muscles were terribly stiff. He stretched his legs and
then his arms. Everything felt heavy and unused. Harry wondered idly how long he’d
been asleep. If it had been days, then the baby had most likely not survived.
Weeks, and there was hope. He tried to open his eyes, but they weren’t ready to
work, so instead he focused on his other senses. He smelled antiseptic and
heard a nearby rustling. Further away was a murmur of voices.
When he shifted to bring feeling back to his bum, Harry
realized how light his midsection felt. His heart thumped. Slowly he reached a
hand to his stomach. So it was really over. Of course, he’d known it was, but
still… for better or worse, he was no longer pregnant.
He tried to take a deep breath, but it was cut off by a
weight pressing against his chest.
“Perhaps this is what you are looking for, Harry.” Severus’s
voice came from above him.
Harry wrenched his eyes open, it seemed to take ages for
them to focus, but he knew what was lying warm and heavy on his chest even
before his vision cleared. “The baby,” he breathed. “Severus, you saved the
baby!”
Severus chuckled. “Harry, meet our son, Tiberius Ceasar
Prince.”
Harry’s sight had cleared. Severus lifted the baby enough so
Harry could get a good look at the boy. Tiberius was raven-haired with pale,
creamy skin. His eyes were still baby blue. Harry wondered if they’d turn
emerald or ebon. His mouth was shaped like Severus’s, but his nose, thank
Merlin, was Harry’s. With a weak, shaky hand, Harry caressed the baby’s cheek.
“We made a beautiful baby, Severus.” He reached up and mimicked his actions on
his lover, running a hand gently down Severus’s face. “But, Tiberius Prince? No
Snape? No Potter?”
Severus raised one eyebrow. “You did give me permission to
name him, did you not?”
Harry nodded. “But I expected he’d at least have one of our
surnames. Why Prince?”
“Potter is famous, Snape infamous. Neither would lend itself
to a normal childhood.”
Tiberius fussed. Severus picked him up and tucked him into
the crook of one arm. The baby calmed.
Harry felt a stab of envy. Tiberius knew Severus, not Harry.
Severus held the baby tenderly, but hadn’t so much as touched Harry. “You two
look pretty comfortable together. How long ago was he born? How long was I
asleep?”
Severus placed a hand lightly on Tiberius’s chest and sat on
the bed. “Seven weeks. We kept you in the coma for seven weeks, Harry. Tiberius
was born eight days ago. We didn’t wake you immediately as we hoped, with rest,
you would regain your magic. You have.”
“And Tiberius? Does he have his magic?”
“In spades.” Severus grimaced. “I believe we’ll have our
hands full with this one.”
Harry smiled. He remembered what else Severus had told him.
“Wow. Seven weeks, huh? So much must have happened while I was out…”
“Well, we did have a child.”
“Obviously.” Harry struggled to sit up, managing to push
onto his elbows. “But what about us? Is there still an us?”
Severus’s brow furrowed. “I certainly assume an us. Did we
not confess our feelings?”
“Yes, I believe I said love and you came back with
fondness.”
“Ah… I see. I will append my declaration to deep fondness,
then.”
Harry knew he probably couldn’t expect a more sentimental
statement from the man. “You… you haven’t touched me since I woke up.”
Severus’s eyes momentarily widened. He smirked. Leaning in
toward Harry, he placed his free hand on Harry’s chest and a kiss on his lips.
“If you had your strength, I would give Tiberius over to the care of Miss
Granger, and ravish you right now,” he murmured.
When Severus pulled away, Harry flopped back down on the
bed. “That’s more like it, then. But, where do we go from here?”
Severus stood and bounced Tiberius lightly on his arm. “As
soon as you are strong enough, I will take you to my chambers… to our chambers.
We will remain at Hogwarts, of course, raising our child.”
“So we’ll be a real family, then?” Harry knew his grin was goofy,
but he really didn’t care.
“Indeed. In fact, I believe we should bond next week.”
Severus raised an eyebrow as if in challenge. “We will both take the surname
Prince, as sharing a last name will benefit our son.”
Harry’s mind was having trouble keeping up with the
conversation. It was too much to process so soon. “Bonded?” he finally blurted.
“But neither of us even proposed. I’m still in school!”
Severus’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I assumed when you
professed your love, you wouldn’t be averse to being bonded.”
“I’m not! It’s just… oh hell.” Harry scrabbled for the right
words before finally hitting on them. He smiled. “Severus, would you do me the
honor of becoming my husband after I finish Hogwarts?”
Severus let out a breath. “Indeed, I would.” He unsheathed
his wand and cast wards on the curtains surrounding Harry’s bed. Then, with one
arm, he pulled Harry up to sitting and balanced him until he could settle in
behind his lover. Finally, when he was sitting against the headboard of the
bed, he pulled Harry to his chest and placed the baby over Harry’s heart,
encircling them both in his arms.
Harry smiled as Tiberius squirmed against him. He closed his
eyes, ready to sink back into sleep. “Tiberius is such a big name. I’ll call
him ‘Tie.’”
Severus grunted.
As Harry drifted back to sleep, his intended strong against
his back and his child warm on his chest, he heard Severus mutter, “Where were
we, Tiberius? Oh yes… Mandrake root is a powerful restorative…”