Current mood:	accomplished
Current music:	A Warning, Poxy Boggards

FIC: Thicker Than Water (Snape/Harry) part 2/2
Title: Thicker Than Water part 2/2
Author: Amy / swtalmnd
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Word Count: 22,048
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: AU, chan (11), manipulation, mpreg, rimming, knickers, mischief & mush
Summary: Snape comes across Harry in a vulnerable moment, and devises a plan to tie Harry's loyalties to him.
Notes: For accioslash -- we began this for the Sweet Charity auction, and when we both agreed it needed continuing, finished it for Live Long and Marry and saved posting for santas_lap. Sorry I'm so slow!
Thanks: to isidore13, adbaculum, shadowess & clauclauclaudia for the beta love. And extra thanks to accioslash for her generous support and endless patience.


Part 1 of 2

The next day it was with mixed feelings that Snape released Harry back into the flood of returning students, watching him embrace his friends, Granger and the youngest of the Weasleys. It was good to see that Harry still smiled, but he found himself annoyingly jealous that not all of those smiles were for him anymore.

His classes were an interesting mix of his usual bad humour tempered by the occasional lapse whenever something reminded him of Harry. He found himself giving points to Gryffindors and even Hufflepuffs once in a while, and he made up for it by taking those points and more off for the slightest of slips. He knew his strange moods were being remarked upon, especially when it came to his suddenly gentle treatment of Harry, but he was unaccustomed to dealing with such soft and unpredictable emotions and couldn't seem to help himself.

Harry stayed after class that first day, shooing Hermione off with a smile that couldn't possibly have been more suspicious, his whole face lighting up as he turned back to Snape. "Are there more nutrient potions to brew?" asked Harry, sidling up to Snape. "It's only, I hate for you to do them by yourself."

Snape chuckled, waving his wand in a gesture that checked the room for stray students and locked the door before more could wander in. "There's other things I'd hate to do by myself," he said, sweeping Harry up into an embrace topped off with a warm, sweet kiss. "Are your classes done for the day?"

Harry made a face and sighed. "No, sir, I've got lunch now and then double Herbology."

"Well, then, perhaps after your adventure with plants you'll come down to join me for tea, a bath, and some brewing?" offered Snape. He'd get the boy back to his compatriots for dinner, which would give him plenty of time for homework and avoiding their questions.

Harry gave a little wriggle. "No time now?" he asked, his little cock poking into Snape's belly.

Snape chuckled. "I suppose I have time for an aperitif, if you're quick." He set Harry down on his desk, nearly moaning aloud at the flood of fantasies that came with the sight of it. "Just you, though, I can wait until later."

"All right," said Harry, sounding disappointed but not overly so -- he'd grown accustomed over their days together to being needier than his older lover, for which Snape was grateful.

Snape sat in his chair and spread Harry's thighs, regarding him a bit like a fine bottle of rare spirits just waiting to be uncorked. "Good lad," he praised, his voice a purr as he leaned in, long fingers making short work of Harry's robes and flies. He inhaled the sweet scent of aroused boy and then dove in for his first taste, a little lick across the cherry-ripe head. "Delicious," he murmured, before taking the whole length into his mouth, an easy fit at Harry's size.

"Oh, Sev'rus," said Harry, his hands occupied with holding him upright and unable to bury themselves in Snape's hair as was his wont. His hips rocked up as Snape's head bobbed down, and it was only a few short minutes before Snape was rewarded with a flood of bittersweet come.

Snape rose up and pressed a kiss to Harry's pink mouth, sharing the flavour with the boy.

"Mmm," said Harry, slouched there among the papers. "S'good."

"Very good," said Snape, hands redoing what they'd so recently undone until Harry was once more his neat self. "How have you been feeling? Any nausea or other side effects?"

"Nuh-uh, I'm good," said Harry, allowing himself to be lifted, kissed, and then set on his feet. "I haven't been as hungry as I usually am, but I think that's 'cos I'm full more," he added happily.

"Excellent," said Snape, pressing a final kiss to Harry's lips. "Off to lunch with you, then, I'll be up in a minute," he said, wand waved and door swinging open.

"Yessir," said Harry with a grin and a wink. He gathered his bag and scampered off, the very picture of a happy First Year who'd just had a visit with a favoured teacher.

The irony was not lost on Snape, who made sure his desk showed no signs of their activities before sealing up the room and heading up for his own lunch, now that his appetite had been whetted.

---

That encounter set the tone for the next few months, with Harry visiting whenever his desire grew too great, and spending many of his weekend nights in Snape's bed. He began to fill out more, muscles hardening and a layer of fat cushioning the prominent ribs, while his middle grew soft and slowly rounded out.

"Am I gonna get fat like Dudley?" asked Harry one day, standing naked in front of Snape's mirror and rubbing his little paunch.

Snape chuckled, rising up to join him, unselfconscious after all these weeks of closeness. "No, pet, you're just a little soft in the middle like boys should be at your age," he said, giving the round belly a rather more proprietary rub. He crouched down behind Harry so they were more level and allowed himself the luxury of cradling and petting the small bump, imagining the child that even now was growing hidden from the world, waiting to become something of himself, and something of this boy he'd grown so attached to.

"Promise?" asked Harry, turning his face up for reassurance.

Snape gave him that, and a kiss as well. "Promise, love. Your belly will grow a little this year, but I'm sure you'll flatten back out again when you get older." He felt another stab of guilt at the small deception, but Harry's grin of relief was balm enough.

"Good," said Harry, turning in his arms so they were facing one another, prick already on the rise once again.

Snape chuckled and allowed himself to be lured back to the bed for another round of the lovemaking to which, if he were honest, he had grown as addicted as Harry.

---

The weather was wet, rainy and cold for weeks, and Snape worried like a mother hen every time Harry went out in it. He brewed a special store of preventative Pepper-up to keep Harry healthy, though he had to caution only small sips once a day. It was far too early for the baby to be kicking, but he didn't want to think of what other complications an unwise choice of potions could cause. He even went so far as to persuade Madam Hooch to let him referee the February Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, which had taken a great deal of convincing indeed.

When game day dawned just as dreary as the rest, it was all Snape could do to keep from spilling the beans just to keep Harry inside. He chastised himself for becoming sentimental and foolish, but it didn't matter if it let him keep what they had wrought. He and Harry had already begun to form something of a partnership, and if it was one more instance of him caring for his young lover, well, he didn't think either of them truly minded.

"I'm getting big!" crowed Harry, toddling out of the bedroom in his Quidditch uniform, which fit much more snugly now than it had even a month ago. "I'll grow up tall and strong with all those potions you're giving me," he said, offering a kiss in thanks.

Snape tugged Harry into his lap for a rather more thorough expression of gratitude, and then held Harry close for a moment. "You'll be tall and strong at my side," he said softly.

Harry heard him anyway, tousled head shooting up with an expression of fierce joy. "Tall and strong so I can take care of you someday," he said, echoing Snape's earlier thoughts.

Snape kissed him until it was time to head up for breakfast, and the match that Snape could only hope would prove uneventful.

All too soon they were trudging out to the sodden pitch, brooms in hand and anticipatory grins on all the faces but his own.

Snape took his bad humour out on Gryffindor out of habit, appalled at the reckless way the Beaters knocked the bludgers so very close to their tiny-looking Seeker, though of course not a single one hit. He was distracted enough by the Weasley twins' antics that he barely noticed when a streak of red flew past him and down.

In a moment, it was all over -- Harry had caught the Snitch and ended the game, but he failed to pull out out of his dive fast enough, and was lying on the ground clutching a broken ankle. Madam Pomfrey was at the boy's side before Snape could even land his broom, and her startled expression was enough to tell him that the jig was well and truly up.

She opened her mouth to speak, when Snape interrupted. "Why don't we take this to the Infirmary?" said Snape pointedly, gesturing at the crowd gathered around them.

"I take it you know something about his... condition?" she asked, even as she began to levitate Harry through the onlookers toward the castle.

"Sev- erm, Professor Snape's been giving me nutrition potions and stuff," said Harry, looking confusedly from one to the other.

"I think that they may have had an unanticipated side effect," said Snape, allowing Harry to latch onto one of his hands. "But I have every confidence that Madam Pomfrey and I will take care of you."

"You had bloody well better," muttered Pomfrey under her breath, and it was all Snape could do to suppress a chuckle. They'd all be livid with him, of course, but they'd have to go along with his plan because the alternative was so much worse for Harry. Since Harry had initiated that first encounter in a way, Snape even had a thin veneer of legality to stand behind -- after all, once at Hogwarts wizards were considered of age for any number of things, though usually they got up to them with each other.

"You always take care of me, Severus," said Harry softly, his face gone white as some of the natural endorphins began to fade and the pain of his broken ankle hit him.

Pomfrey softened at that, and asked Snape almost civilly, "What potions is he taking?"

Snape listed out the regimen, then added at the end, "Of course the combination has been known to have this side effect, but I hadn't thought it would be a risk at Harry's stage of development."

"It shouldn't have been a risk!" said Pomfrey, glaring at him darkly. She, of course, knew the statement for the bald-faced lie it was, but she obviously wasn't ready to expose him just yet.

Snape suppressed another surge of triumph, then shrugged. "No rules have been broken, you may question us both if you like."

"You can bet I will," was all she said for the remainder of the trip, her concentration on Harry as they levitated him through the winding castle and into one of the infirmary beds.

---

It was the work of minutes to fix Harry's ankle, followed by a completely unnecessary amount of cosseting. Snape waited while Poppy gave Harry a very thorough examination, listening as she avoided his increasingly panicked questions until he couldn't stand it any longer.

He strode behind the curtain as though he had every right to be there and sat down on the small bed beside Harry, who was looking as upset as Snape had ever seen him, shivering in the inadequate hospital gown. Snape wrapped him in a fold of his robes and Harry snuggled close, his voice small as he asked one more time, "What's going on?"

Snape kissed his tousled hair, then looked him seriously in the eye and said, "There's been a side effect from your potions and our lovemaking that I didn't properly anticipate, but it's nothing bad," he said, making sure to add the last quickly and firmly. "I think it's rather wonderful, in fact."

He ignored Poppy's derisive snort.

"What was it? Am I gonna get sick?" asked Harry, confused more than afraid now that Snape had assured him it wasn't a disaster after all.

"You're going to be a father, Harry, and so will I," said Snape, hand going down to rub Harry's round little belly with all the tenderness he'd begun to feel for this boy, and their soon-to-be child. "I've made you pregnant."

Harry blinked, then cocked his head. "Boys can't be pregnant... But you said it was magic?"

"Accidental magic, but yes, only magic could have done this," said Snape. There was a loud noise as Poppy dropped the cup she'd given Harry his dose in, and Snape glared in her direction.

She snorted and chose discretion over valour, leaving the field and his prize to Snape. "I'll want a full list of his potions," she said over her shoulder as she left.

"So... So we're gonna really make a family, like you said?" asked Harry, showing more astuteness than Snape might've given him credit for.

"Yes, love, we're really going to make a family together," said Snape, pulling Harry into his lap and wrapping him close in the spell-warmed layers of his clothing, much like their first night together. He ignored the pang of guilt that brought; he was used to it by now.

Harry cuddled up without any hesitation, need for comfort far outweighing any self-consciousness that might have lingered. Snape held him and kissed his hair and sweet mouth, but didn't allow either of them to take it any further, knowing that they'd soon be inundated with visitors.

Dumbledore, predictably, arrived ahead of the horde. "I hear there is joyous news," he said, eyes twinkling cheerily, no sign of Poppy's disapproving attitude. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Headmaster," said Harry, peeking out from where he was cocooned in Snape's robes. "I'm happy that we're having a family, even if I'm awfully young."

Dumbledore looked surprised at that, but he recovered well enough. "I insist we hold the wedding here at school. Do you know when you're due yet?"

Snape smirked. "No earlier than late summer," he said. "We began our relationship over winter break."

"And he started me on my potions right away," added Harry earnestly. "Nutrition and other stuff that's helping me put on weight."

"I wasn't expecting this side effect, of course, but I will gladly step up and accept responsibility," said Snape. He paused, risking Dumbledore's anger to steal a kiss from the boy in his lap. "You will marry me, won't you, Harry?"

Harry's eyes went very wide indeed, and he nodded, speechless. He stared up at Snape for a long moment, then snuggled up even closer, clinging, Dumbledore momentarily forgotten. "We're gonna be a proper family," said Harry, voice muffled.

"And we'll love each other and our baby just like a good family does," whispered Snape, trying not to cringe at the thought of their audience hearing him utter such sticky sentimentality.

"Then this is excellent news indeed," said Dumbledore, face sharper now that Harry's attention was diverted. His voice was still jolly, but his eyes clearly threatened a future discussion that Snape was unlikely to enjoy.

Holding Harry's small form in his arms, Snape rather thought the prize would be worth the consequences.

---

"I was not aware that there was any way for a young wizard to become accidentally impregnated," said Dumbledore dryly, waving his wand so the virulently chartreuse teapot began to pour into the clashing lime-green teacups. Snape hated that tea set, which never seemed to make an appearance except when he was being dressed down for something.

Snape smirked. "I doubt that it would do anyone any good, least of all Harry, for him to discover that he was tricked, seduced and impregnated," said Snape. "It would be cruel to leave the boy to raise a child by himself when all he wants is a proper family of his own."

Dumbledore gave him a sharp look. "And how did you discover this wish of Harry's?" he asked, handing Snape his tea, made with far too much sugar for Snape's taste, as the Headmaster well knew.

"I saw him talking with his dead family in the Mirror of Erised," replied Snape. "He hasn't gone back since we began our relationship."

That, at least, surprised Dumbledore long enough to derail whatever lecture he'd been working up to. "Harry has chosen a life with you over the facsimile of his heart's desire," he said thoughtfully. "And you planned to marry him all along?"

Snape sniffed primly. "Of course. I wouldn't go to all the trouble of fathering a child just to abandon it, though I had hoped it would stay a secret just a little longer."

Dumbledore laughed at that. "He'd have been found out eventually, he does still sleep in the dorms most of the time."

Clearly, the Headmaster had been checking up on them since that afternoon. Probably the house elves, who knew perfectly well what Snape and Harry had been up to, but had chosen to keep their secret until asked directly about it by their true master. "He'll sleep with me more, now that there's no need for subterfuge. He finds it too cold in the castle."

"As you always did," said Dumbledore, far too discerning for Snape's comfort. "It seems you have made a good match for yourself."

"And for Harry, unexpected though that may be," said Snape, just a little defensive. He'd never expected to love the boy, but now that he did, he had no intention of letting anyone believe it had ever been otherwise. "He is a very loveable young man, in the right circumstances."

"I don't think I wish to know what those are," said Dumbledore, waving his hand dismissively.

Snape was amused to find his next sip of tea devoid of the offensive sweetness. "Some details are not up for discussion, regardless," he replied.

"If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I'm not sure I'd believe you were treating him well enough to allow you to demur," said Dumbeldore, with just an edge of danger to his tone, "but it is clear from the way Harry dotes upon you that you're doing something right with him."

Snape smirked, but refrained from comment.

---

The entire school had of course heard about Potter's predicament by the time Snape emerged from Dumbledore's office, and he met all the looks with his usual smug smirk. He headed for his office, intending to Floo to Diagon Alley for a modest set of wedding rings, when he was waylaid by a pair of his lover's cohorts.

"You're the reason why Harry's been staying out nights, then?" said the youngest Weasley, sounding bewildered more than anything.

"He's been taking advantage of Harry!" corrected Granger shrilly.

"Muggle thinking," said Snape dismissively, though he allowed them to follow him into his office. "Harry has received care, attention and affection from me, as well as physical pleasure, a potions regimen for his health, and even some tutoring. In return, he has given me affection and pleasure, and will soon give me a child."

"He's just a child himself!" insisted Granger. "It's criminal!"

"No, it's not," interrupted Weasley. "It's only illegal if he's doing it for better marks in Potions. Otherwise, Harry's just got to be consenting, and from what I saw, he consents all over the place."

Snape laughed. "You seem remarkably sanguine about this development, Mr. Weasley, perhaps I underestimated you."

Weasley shrugged. "Harry smiles more since Christmas hols."

"How can you be okay with this?" said Hermione, rounding on Weasley. "Harry's being taken advantage of by a teacher!"

"I doubt my fiancee would agree with your choice of words," said Snape, just to watch the shock on her face.

"F-fiancee?" she squeaked.

Snape smirked. "Harry has accepted my proposal of marriage, so that we may raise our child, and likely eventual children, in proper wedded bliss. I assure you, I intend to do everything in my power to assure Harry has a happy life from now on, as his happiness will directly affect my own."

"Slytherin," said Weasley with a touch of distaste, "but sensible."

"Precisely." Snape checked the clock. "Now, if you will excuse me, it is time I bought my fiancee a wedding ring."

Granger seemed to have run completely out of steam, and she allowed Weasley to lead her away, looking quite confused indeed. Snape locked his office and took the Floo to the Leaky Cauldron, letting the brief, cold walk to the jeweller fortify his spirits for the bargaining session ahead.

---

When Snape returned from his errand, he was annoyed to find Miss Granger lurking outside his office. "We have already-" he began.

"I looked it up," she interrupted.

Snape rolled his eyes, but he stepped back to let her in. "Just what is it you think you've figured out?" he asked, letting his annoyance and impatience show. It would be dinner soon, and he wanted to find Harry before then.

"I looked everywhere in the library, but the only way Harry could've become... like he is, is if you gave him Fertilis Fidelis. And you're too good at potions to have done that by accident," she said, arms crossed over her chest.

Snape's eyes narrowed. "And if I had done such a thing, what would you do about it? Tell Harry, and take away the father of his child, his fiancee, and the only family he's ever had a chance at?"

Her brows knit; clearly, the little chit hadn't considered the consequences of her research fully. "He deserves to know," she insisted.

"He deserves a family who cares for him, regardless of how that family came about. He deserves to have a husband who will help him raise his child, rather than leaving the baby in the care of people who treated Harry himself so poorly. He deserves to be loved," said Snape, the last slipping out before he could hold it back.

Granger's eyes widened. "You'd do this to him, and call it love?" she said angrily.

"I never said I loved him when I did it," said Snape evenly. "In fact, I never said I did it at all." He looked down, carefully straightening the quill and ink bottle on his desk. "But I do love him now, and I will love our child."

"Then how can you keep lying to him?"

Snape rolled his eyes. "People lie to each other every day in a hundred small ways, to make each other happier, to make themselves look better, to mask an unfavourable opinion. Harry still thinks he can convince me he likes beets, and I let him think so because I know he needs the nutrition, but it doesn't make either thing the truth. Truth, Miss Granger, is highly overrated."

The stubborn set of her chin was slowly softening, though it hardened a bit again at the last. "How should I know that it's the truth about the other stuff?" she asked.

She was astute, even if she did have the black-and-white worldview of the young. And Gryffindor. "You know that Harry would be devastated by your little theory, don't you?"

"Y-yes, I suppose that's... But it's not the point!" She was angry now, but it was the anger that was all that was left over after her carefully constructed argument had come apart, leaving her with nothing but stubbornness.

"I'm afraid it is the only point that matters," said Snape, standing up straight. "Now, if you excuse me, I have left my fiancee alone far too long as it is."

She started to deflate again in the face of his confidence, and Snape hid his profound relief. "You're really marrying him?"

"In view of the entire school," said Snape. "I'm sure he'll ask you to be an attendant, so you'll have a front row seat."

"If you're mean to him, I'm going to tell," she said, arms across her chest again.

Snape let out a chuckle. "Perhaps we'll make a Slytherin of you yet."

---

It was a very pleasant surprise indeed when Snape returned to his quarters to find Harry curled up on the couch, half asleep in his cocoon of spell-warmed blankets. "How long have you been waiting, love? How are you feeling?" asked Snape, sitting and scooping Harry into his lap, blankets and all.

"My ankle's fine, but my tummy feels weird after Madam Pomfrey poked me," said Harry, sounding sleepy and sulky. "You don't mind I came back here?"

"I'm very glad to see you here, Harry, I'd have come back sooner if I'd known," Snape reassured him. "I was out getting something for us."

"Presents?" asked Harry, head poking properly out of the blankets. He stole a kiss, and then an arm appeared, the blankets unravelling enough to reveal that Harry was back in his proper school robes.

"Of a sort," said Snape. He dug in his pocket and pulled out the box, in which were nestled two simple gold bands, one much smaller than the other. "Engagement rings, for both of us."

"Oh!" said Harry, blushing and looking very pleased and just a little sly. "Now everyone'll know you're mine."

Snape chuckled, as he'd been thinking it was rather the other way around. "They'll know we're each other's," he said, pulling the smaller ring out of the box and fitting it on Harry's finger, where it adjusted itself to Harry's size.

"It's nice," said Harry, looking at his hand and admiring the shine in the candlelight. "Is it real gold?"

"It's real gold," said Snape, knowing Harry was unaccustomed to such luxuries, not trying to doubt him or his gift. "Want to put mine on?"

"Ooh, yes!" Harry grinned and grabbed the other ring, fumbling a little as he slid it onto Snape's long finger. "Brilliant."

Snape kissed him, slow and sweet and full of every bit of affection Snape had learned to feel for Harry, and for the life inside him. "Shall we celebrate?"

"In bed celebrate?" asked Harry, wriggling sensually, his spirits clearly recovered. "You can even poke me first, if you want to."

Snape laughed. "I'll leave the poking to Poppy," he said, standing up with Harry bundled in his arms. "I just want to make love to my fiancee."

"Good," said Harry, appearing quite satisfied indeed with that answer.

Snape laid him down on the bed and proceeded to divest him of his encumbering cloth one layer at a time, first the blankets, then his school robes, the clothing beneath, and finally his pants and socks, until Harry was naked and grinning and tucked into bed. Snape made much shorter work of his own clothing and slipped in next to his young lover, pulling him close for another kiss, this one rather hotter than the last.

"Are you really okay with it?" asked Harry, after a moment. Harry's green eyes were wide and unsure, a look Snape hadn't seen much of since classes had started up again, and it made something in his chest ache to see it now.

"I am happy, Harry, more than happy to know that I'll get to keep you, and that together we'll make a family worth being part of," said Snape, letting himself gently rub Harry's belly, feeling the gentle rise where once it had been hollow. "Are you okay with it?"

Harry smiled up at him, shifting so they could comfortably kiss with Snape's hand right where it was. "It's a little weird, bein' a mom or whatever, but I like that it'll be us together having a baby, and we'll both love her."

"Her?" asked Snape, raising one eyebrow.

"Her," said Harry definitively.

"We'll both love her," repeated Snape, with conviction, and the he added, "and each other."

The kiss that followed was ample reward all on its own, hot and sweet and loving. Harry had gained skill in the past few weeks to go with his enthusiasm, and Snape curled his longer body around Harry's short frame, cradling their future protectively, possessively close. Harry let out a happy little murmur and snuggled even closer, shifting so that he could rub against parts of Snape's anatomy he knew to be sensitive. His fingers tweaked a nipple, hip brushed against Snape's cock, even his toes found one bony ankle to tease.

"You're getting far too good at getting what you want from me," said Snape, his voice warm and wry.

Harry grinned. "I'm just lucky you want it just as much as I do," he said, though he was clearly pleased by the compliment.

"That, too," agreed Snape, kissing him again. He let his own hand wander, though it kept coming back to the soft swell of stomach after its visits to Harry's other parts. Harry didn't seem to mind, preferring that touch to almost all others, except perhaps when Snape finally let his fingers wander down and back.

Harry's legs spread wantonly wide, then, and things took on a more urgent pace. Snape found the lubricant and used it liberally, then sat back against the pillows and pulled Harry into his lap and onto his impatient cock.

"Oh, it's always so, so good!" said Harry, hips shifting to get every last centimetre inside him. "Will it still feel as good when I'm bigger?" he asked innocently.

Snape shoved away the twinge of guilt that followed, kissing Harry to reassure them both. "Of course it will, love," he said, and then he grinned wickedly and added, "If not, I can always enlarge my equipment to match."

Harry laughed at that, the joyful innocence washing away Snape's remorse. "I'll hold you to that!" he exclaimed, and then he bounced happily and all thoughts of the future were eclipsed by the pleasure of the present.

Snape caught his hips and smoothed out their rhythm into something they could both sustain, wanting to treasure this first night together with as much truth between them as they could afford to enjoy. Harry purred and rocked in Snape's lap, legs wrapping around Snape's hips and arms going around his neck, and Snape whispered sweet words just to watch Harry's face glow brighter.

"Oh, Sev'rus, love you," gasped Harry, picking up the pace when it began to be too much.

"As I love you," said Snape, moving with him, one hand still supporting the slim hips while the other hand found his prick and began to stroke.

No more coherent words passed between them, though they both gasped out things that might have wanted to be names or declarations or pleas. Harry braced his feet against the bed and used the leverage to ride Snape's cock, head thrown wantonly back, inviting Snape's mouth to explore his throat as they both worked their way toward climax.

It was Harry, predictably, who broke first, shuddering his way through a glorious release, clinging tightly as the pleasure took him. "Now, now you," he gasped when he was done, kissing Snape hard and redoubling his efforts.

It was a matter of moments before Snape's control broke, and he spilled himself into his young lover.

Harry curled happily into Snape's embrace, making contented little sounds as Snape shifted them to a slightly more comfortable position. "That was brilliant, Severus," he said, cheerful despite the languor stealing over them both.

"It was, wasn't it?" said Snape, kissing the tip of Harry's nose. "Do you know what the best part was?"

"I thought it was when you did that thing with your hips there at the end," said Harry.

Snape chuckled. "I thought it was knowing that we won't have to hide anymore, and that soon we'll be a proper family."

Harry yawned, then stuck out his tongue. "Well, if you're going to get all mushy on me," he teased.

Snape snagged a cloth and cleaned them up, then tucked them under the covers, though they'd have to dress for dinner soon enough. "I thought you liked a bit of mush now and again," said Snape, nibbling on one earlobe.

Harry giggled. "I s'pose it's all right, now and then."

Snape gave them both a few moments to enjoy the postcoital bliss in silence before he said softly, "I should tell you I have been very soundly lectured today on your behalf by quite a surprising number of champions."

Harry looked up, surprise chasing away the sleepiness that had been threatening. "Really? Like who?"

"Well, Madam Pomfrey for one," Snape said with a chuckle. "Followed by the Headmaster, and your two cohorts, Granger and Weasley. The youngest one, that is, though I expect the older one will eventually attempt to corner me for reassurances. He seems the type."

"All of them? Even Ron?" asked Harry wonderingly.

"All of them. So you'd best have Weas- Ron and Hermione down here for tea this weekend, so they can inspect the provisions I've made for you," said Snape, tickling Harry gently.

Harry's laugh was as much delight as ticklishness, and he hugged Snape close. "You take good care of me, and now I can tell people about it," he said. "I'm glad."

Snape kissed Harry's hair and whispered, "I'm glad, too." Snape allowed himself a few more moments of holding his husband-to-be before sighing and kissing him one more time. "Come on, love, we've got to get you up to dinner or they'll think I've done horrible things to you."

Harry sighed, but he allowed himself to be coaxed from the bed and into his clothes. "They'll think that anyway," he protested feebly. "They always do."

"Then you can get the best revenge by living happily despite them," said Snape.

Harry laughed, and Snape led him up to the Great Hall with the strange feeling that he might manage just that himself.

---

The Hall fell silent when they entered, Snape's arm around Harry's shoulders and Harry grinning at whatever it was they'd been talking about, the topic forgotten as they faced the mostly-hostile crowd.

Snape straightened up and reminded himself he was getting everything he wanted, and led Harry to the Gryffindor table. "Will you be by to sleep tonight?" he asked casually, leaning down to give Harry a goodbye kiss.

Harry kissed back and his grin widened. "Yeah, I might study in the library a bit first, but I'll be there."

Snape nodded. "I'll be marking. You know the password." He swept off to the head table, a smug expression creeping onto his features. He could tell from the expressions of his fellow teachers that they were each and every one of them aware of what he had done, and equally aware that they had to let him get away with it, for Harry's sake. "Minerva, how are you this evening?" he asked, sliding into the seat beside her.

She glared.

He smirked, and it was just too much. "How could you?" she hissed, quiet enough that the students wouldn't be able to hear, though Snape had no doubt they were correctly inferring the nature of the conversation from their seats. Most eyes were on him, though some, especially the Gryffindors, were paying more attention to Harry.

"I am giving Harry the one thing he longs for the most, a loving and happy family. How could I not?" replied Snape, his words and tone utterly confident, betraying none of the lingering guilt he felt for manipulating his young husband-to-be into the situation.

She harrumphed and turned away, ostensibly to serve herself from one of the platters at the table. Snape set the self-satisfied expression firmly on his face and did the same, amused to note that several of his favourites were within easy reach. Apparently the house elves, at least, approved of the way things were working out.

Snape watched fondly as Harry's friends plied him with food and good cheer, making it very clear to any outsider that Gryffindor was ready to stand with their own, even if their own had been knocked up by an unpopular Professor. He found himself toying with the simple gold ring, and he resolved to invite Harry's friends to help plan the wedding. That way they would feel more complicit in the whole affair, and give them a feeling of overseeing Snape's treatment of Harry before their union was irrevocable.

Snape was startled out of his reverie by a sharp poke to his side, and he turned back to Minerva with one eyebrow raised. "Yes?"

"You'd better take care of him," she said fiercely. "I won't stand for you abusing one of my own."

"Can you honestly tell me you haven't seen how happy he's been since the holidays?" asked Snape, gesturing to where Harry was giggling in the midst of his friends.

"That is the only reason I haven't roasted your bollocks on a spit already," she said, managing to sound prim and threatening at the same time.

Snape laughed. "I'll keep that in mind. Harry and I are both quite fond of my bollocks just as they are."

He spent the rest of the meal enjoying the memory of her affronted look, as well as the peaceful, if icy, silence that followed.

---

It wasn't until the next day that his peace was broken. Snape and Harry spent Sunday morning together, eating breakfast in the privacy of Snape's rooms, and even lunch in the Great Hall wasn't too bad, since Minerva wasn't speaking to him. No, the final straw was the invasion -- albiet at his suggestion -- of his quarters by Harry's friends.

"You're really knocked up!" said Weasley, upon seeing Harry for the first time in well-fitting clothes without the concealing charm. "Wow, even mum didn't start until she was out of school."

Harry blushed and laughed. "I didn't plan to start now, but I don't mind that I have. Is that weird?" he said, leading them into Snape's quarters.

Granger was more curious about the rooms than Harry's condition, having read up on it thoroughly in order to chastise Snape yesterday. "It's really warm in here," she said finally, pushing up the sleeves of her jumper.

"Harry and I both get cold easily," said Snape, unfolding himself from where he'd been reading by the fire. "His robes have warming charms on them, but I have chosen to keep it warmer in here so he can be comfortable even in his pyjamas."

"It's brilliant," said Harry with a grin. "He even has a bunch of charmed blankets. He gave me the one on my bed in the dorms, too, so I'd be warm even when I wasn't here."

Weasley seemed startled at the idea that Snape would do much of anything for Harry's welfare, let alone go so far as to change the temperature in his quarters. "You mean that red one you're always curled up in?" he asked.

Snape smiled to himself at the thought of it, Harry curling inside the warmth of his lover's regard under all their noses, and none of them the wiser.

"Yep," said Harry. "It's nice, finally being warm most of the time."

Snape busied himself expanding their little table to seat four and conjuring another pair of chairs, giving Harry and his friends the illusion of privacy without leaving them unsupervised in his quarters.

Granger have Harry the expected hug. "I'm glad you're h-happy," she said, and Snape could feel her glare from across the room.

He smirked.

"So, are you gonna have more, d'you think?" asked Weasley.

Harry nodded. "Oh, yeah, though I think maybe we should wait until school's over, if Severus can figure out a different set of potions for me."

"You are healthy enough now that, once you've recovered from the birth, we should be able to eliminate most of your regimen," said Snape, coming over to stroke Harry's hair. "Are you all ready for tea?"

There was a chorus of assent, and they moved to the table, now laden with food. Snape poured the tea for everyone, pleased to see that the house elves had made an effort to give them a meal fancier than anything they were likely getting upstairs. "You take milk, no sugar, correct?" he asked Granger.

She blinked, startled, then nodded and accepted the cup he passed her as though the idea that he might know her preferences was completely foreign.

Snape held in his smirk with effort this time, instead politely turning to Weasley. "Three sugars for you, and lemon today?"

"Yeah, you've got the good lemons," said Weasley agreeably. He appeared to have come to terms with Harry's new status overnight, which seemed unusually tolerant of him.

Snape handed him his cup, then made up Harry's and finally his own. "Please, serve yourselves whatever food appeals," he encouraged, pleased to see that they all allowed Harry first choice, though Weasley got a glare from Granger before he complied.

"If you were to want another child before you leave school, fourth year would be best, before the work of OWLs and NEWTs begins in earnest," said Snape calmly.

Granger nearly spat her tea on them.

"Oh, yeah, that makes sense, and the oldest wouldn't be so far ahead of the rest that way," said Harry with a grin that told Snape he was fully aware of what Snape was doing, and thought it was funny. "What d'you think, Ron? Aren't Bill and Charlie a bit older than the rest of you?"

"Not too much, just a couple of years. Don't tell Percy, but I do like having my brothers here while I am, most of the time, anyway," said Weasley. "Not sure I'd want Mum and Dad living here, though."

Snape chuckled. "I expect that, once Harry has left school, I will seek other opportunities that don't take me away from home for most of the year."

"Really?" said Harry, grinning. "I knew you'd be a good husband." He turned up his face in a very familiar gesture, and Snape gave in and bestowed him with a chaste kiss.

"Really," said Snape. He allowed himself to enjoy the shock, fascination and disgust on their faces, then kissed Harry again, just because he could. "You'll be just as good a husband, and father."

"Will we both be fathers, then, even though I'm kinda the mum?" asked Harry.

It was Granger who answered this one. "Traditionally, you'd both be referred to as the fathers, just as two witches would both be the mothers, should they choose to magically enable conception," she said, obviously quoting from some book or another.

"Neat," said Harry. Snape hid his amusement at Harry's simple derailing of her diatribe. "Does everyone have enough tea?" he asked instead, and they all took that as their cue to begin eating.

Harry was the first to speak up wanting a refill, and Snape was careful to treat him as he would were his friends not here, though Harry wouldn't be allowed to climb into Snape's lap for a very special sort of pudding until they were gone. The conversation turned to more mundane things, but it kept swirling back to Snape's relationship with Harry, and the future no one had expected.

"I'm not sure I understand why it's not considered unethical by wizarding standards," said Granger, when they were all done eating and just sipping tea around the table, "but I guess it makes you happy, Harry."

Harry beamed, and even Weasley had to return the smile. "I am happy, Hermione, I love him and he loves me and we don't do anything bad."

"That's just so, Harry," said Snape quite firmly. "Everything we do together is a natural result of our affection for one another." He gave Granger a look that boded ill for any suggestion otherwise, and then gave Harry another sweet kiss. "Do you have any homework tonight?" he asked, indicating the subject was closed.

"I've got my Potions essay," said Weasley, not even trying to sound enthused.

"Mine's done," said Harry, "but I still have History." He gave Snape the sweet look that they both knew by now would get Harry whatever he wanted, within certain limits, and asked sweetly, "Can they stay if we're quiet?"

"For an hour or two, yes, but no marathon late-night revising," said Snape. "You need your rest."

"Yes, sir," said Harry in a singsong voice, echoed by Granger and Weasley. "I'll come with you guys to get books, I wanna make sure the house elves moved all my stuff, anyway."

They headed for the door and Snape stole a last kiss before sending them off, filled with a mixture of affection and foreboding. He had a feeling his quarters would never again be the haven of peace and quiet he was used to -- and that he was besotted enough not to mind.

---

Things proceeded much the same way for the next few weeks. Snape was affectionate in public, Harry was happy as a clam, Harry's friends slowly warmed to the relationship and everyone else looked horrified. Snape enjoyed every minute of it, especially having Harry in his bed nearly every night with everyone knowing what they were up to and unable to do a single thing about it.

The only fly in the ointment was the preparation for their upcoming wedding.

"Why can't we have a private ceremony?" asked Snape for the third time that evening.

"All of the school wants to see Harry happily wed," replied Dumbledore, just as he had the previous two times.

Harry was over in a corner of Dumbledore's office being fussed over by the tailor who had come in especially for the occasion. "Harry does seem to be enjoying the idea," said Snape. He wasn't looking forward to his own turn with the tailor, but Harry seemed delighted at the attention.

"The house elves will take care of the feast, Severus, we just need to decide a few more things," said Dumbledore, gesturing to the glossy issues of Which Witch Wedding spread out before them. "Primarily the cake, and the vows."

"Something tasteful," said Snape, imagining the sort of orange and purple monstrosity that might occur were he to leave this particular choice up to the Headmaster, or the house elves. He flipped through the magazine in front of him (Special All-Cake Issue!) and came to rest on a very simple tiered cake in white with designs piped on in a shimmery pearl icing. "This, perhaps."

"Do we get little people on top?" asked Harry, restored to his school robes.

Snape kissed him, one eye open to watch Dumbledore twitch, then pulled Harry into his lap. "We could, it's easy enough to conjure simulacra of ourselves," said Snape. "What do you think of this cake?"

"It's pretty, but kinda boring," said Harry. He began to flip through the magazine, landing on another page with a cake done all in gold, with silver filigree piping. "What about this?"

"Gaudy," said Snape, sighing when he saw Harry's face start to fall, "but acceptable. The symbolism is unmistakable, anyway."

"Thank you!" said Harry happily, squirming around until he could hug Snape properly, and get a few kisses of his own. "We'll make sure it's a good flavour, too."

Snape gave him one more kiss before regretfully returning Harry to his feet. "You discuss that with the Headmaster, and I will go get fitted into my wedding robes."

"Yes, Severus," said Harry in a singsong voice, demanding one more kiss before giving Snape over to the clutches of the tailor.

---

Invitations were another matter that had to be handled; the whole student body would attend, of course, but there were others who would demand to be included. Harry was content to let Snape handle the guest list with Granger and the Headmaster, only concerning himself with the design of the invitations.

There was one invitation in particular that Snape chose to deliver himself -- the Dursleys.

Snape knocked on the door, having slipped out during a free period one afternoon before the holidays, invitation in hand and a smirk on his face.

The door opened a crack. "I won't have your kind here, go away," said Petunia sharply.

"I'll only stand here where all your neighbours can see until you let me in," said Snape, crossing his arms over his chest. "Perhaps I should conjure more colourful attire to make sure they don't miss me?"

"Fine," she said, stepping back, "but don't touch anything."

"As if I'd have any interest in your Muggle things," said Snape derisively. Harry's influence had mellowed him at school somewhat, and he found himself enjoying the chance to loose his vitriol on a deserving target. "I have come to discuss your nephew with you."

"What else?" she said. They ended up in the kitchen, which was a sterile and cheerless sort of room, despite the sunshine streaming in through the windows. "What's he done now?"

Snape smirked, and held out the invitation. "I do not expect you to attend, but it is expected I would invite Harry's only living relatives to his wedding. He will leave your care for good, and become my husband and consort."

"W-what?" she said, leaning against the counter and turning first pale, then feverishly red. "You, you're, you... Freak! Pervert! How dare you..."

"Love him, as you have not?" said Snape, eyebrow going up. "Take him gladly into my home, provide him with all the things you did not, such as clothing which fits, food in plenty, and a warm bed to sleep in?"

She sputtered, eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as she attempted to process it. "He's never to come back here, you understand, never!"

"As if he would want to," said Snape. "Accio Harry's things!" A door somewhere banged open, and a few items came flying to him, a meagre bounty indeed for ten years of childhood wasted in this place. "He is no longer your burden, and I expect you never to contact him again."

"As if I would want to," Petunia shot back, showing a small measure of her sister's spirit.

"As you say," said Snape. He bowed his head and Apparated away, smirking to think of the talk it would cause, that she'd let in a strange man in that afternoon whom no one would see leave. As he walked up the lane toward the castle, he allowed himself to savour the joy of doing what Harry would not, and telling off his dreadful aunt.

Perhaps as a wedding present to Harry, Snape would offer to send them a cursed letter that would give the whole family hives.

---

Despite the combined influences of an 11-year-old boy, the eccentric Headmaster, and a hundred house elves, the wedding ended up a reasonably tasteful affair. The golden Hogwarts dishware complimented the silver filigree embroidery on the white tablecloths, the cake glowed softly in the candlelight without seeming too flashy, and Harry looked absolutely radiant in his white and gold robes. Snape wore black and silver, a dark shadow to complement Harry's lively glow, and the attendants wore deep wine on Harry's side, and forest green on Snape's.

Harry had chosen Weasley and Granger, of course, and Snape asked Albus and Minerva to stand with him, while a senior member of the Wizengamot officiated.

"It's like the holidays," said Harry, peeking out at the hall, waiting for the procession to start.

"You wanted red and green," said Snape dryly.

Harry giggled. "Not like that, I mean the way it's all glowing and there'll be a feast and everyone's smiling. It's like a holiday, just for us."

Snape didn't bother to point out that many of the smiles were strained, or that the students were just happy to have an excuse for a feast. "It is," he agreed instead, kissing Harry. "I have to go, you know what to do?"

"I know, just like we practised," said Harry impatiently. "Go on, I wanna be married!"

Snape laughed, and so it was with a smile on his lips that he slipped around to the side door and emerged onto the dais to stand next to the officiant, who looked as though he'd swallowed something very sour and unpleasant. Snape's smile widened.

Music started up, and soon the four Attendants were ranged with him, and all eyes were turned toward the door, waiting for Harry.

Snape felt his chest tighten when the doors opened again and Harry stepped through, and promised silently that he'd make sure that their family was nothing like his own, or Harry's. Then he promised it aloud, saying his vows with a ringing sincerity that left surprise on the faces of the audience, though Harry's expression held only trust and love. After all, he'd been secure in Snape's love for him from the very start.

In some ways, he was smarter than Snape about these things.

Their kiss was passionate enough to get a gasp from the audience, Harry melting shamelessly into Snape's arms for long moments. "I love you," whispered Harry as they pulled apart.

Snape winked and whispered in his ear, "I love you, too, and I'll love you more if we don't linger too long at the reception."

Harry laughed delightedly, and the band struck up the recessional. They signed the paperwork in the hallway outside, and then it was official -- Harry was his, and no one could take him away.

"You'll dance at least once with me, won't you, Severus?" asked Harry, while they waited to make their second entrance.

"Of course, I didn't put up with all those lessons for nothing," teased Snape, though in truth he'd enjoyed it, especially since they usually ended with another sort of dancing entirely. "We'll eat, dance a few times, cut the cake, and then vanish on our honeymoon."

"Honeymoon?" asked Harry, eyes lighting up.

Snape grinned as the doors opened, tucking Harry's hand into the crook of his arm. "It won't be much, just until the end of Easter hols, but yes, love. I wouldn't deny you your honeymoon."

They walked up front at a pace designed to give every single person there a good view of their beloved boy hero now the consort of a notorious spy, Harry looking happy as could be and Snape more smug than ever. They stayed that way through eating and dancing, and Snape even smiled indulgently when Harry insisted on feeding him a bite of their magnificent wedding cake, getting gold dust all over his lips. Snape dipped Harry back, and then passed the precious metal along with a deep, passionate kiss.

After that display, no one even tried to stop them when Snape whisked Harry away to begin their week of more private celebration.

"Now," said Snape, lifting Harry up like a proper bride once they were down in the dungeons where no one would see, "did you want to take the Portkey to our destination and make love there, or make love here and then take the Portkey?"

"Can't we make love here, go there and then make love again?" asked Harry, grinning.

Snape laughed and kissed him. "As you wish it, so shall it be done," he said, an echo of the words the officiant had said over them just a few hours ago. The door to Snape's quarters opened obligingly for them, and he was amused to see the bed had been draped in white silk for the occasion.

"Oh, it's pretty!" said Harry, clearly more charmed than Snape by house elf mischief.

"There are white rose petals on the bed," said Snape bemusedly. Then he shrugged and laid Harry down on top of them, robes and all.

Harry pulled Snape down for kisses, small hands fumbling at the complex fastenings of Snape's clothing. "These are worse than your regular ones!" he complained, making a little noise of frustration.

"But I have a solution," teased Snape, stepping back and Banishing first his own, then Harry's outer garments to the wardrobe, where they would be cleaned and preserved. "Oh, now that is nice."

Robes gone, Harry was wearing a pair of white silk knickers with frilly edges and a little bow right in the middle, perched over the wet spot where Harry's cock strained against the fabric. Harry's belly was round above it, the skin taut but mark-free thanks to the potions Snape rubbed into the skin every night, and Harry smoothed a hand down over the bump of it self-consciously. "D'you like them?" he asked shyly, plucking at the elastic. "I like the back," he added, rolling over to reveal the half-dozen rows of ruffles decorating his pert bum.

"They're nearly as adorable as my husband," said Snape. He was wearing the black silk pants Harry had chosen for him, but he quickly slipped them off before curling up behind Harry, his cock burying itself eagerly in the silky frills as he wrapped himself around Harry. "Very nice indeed."

Harry twisted around for kisses, arm coming up to cup Snape's face while Snape's hand slipped down to cradle Harry's belly protectively. "I liked yours, too, but I like you better like this," admitted Harry, ruffled bum rubbing back against Snape.

"Mmmm, I like us both like this," said Snape, kissing him again and again. Even though it was nothing more than they'd done many other nights, it felt different knowing that Harry was his, willingly, legally and permanently. "I like that you're mine." He rocked his hips along with Harry's, just enjoying the unique sensations of silk against his cock, and his husband in his arms.

"I'll like it better when you're doing that inside me," said Harry, though he made no move to strip off the knickers. "It's better, now that we're married, isn't it?" he asked innocently.

Snape kissed him hungrily, slipping his hand down into the pants and stroking Harry's cock. "It's better," he agreed. "It reminds me a little of our first time, there on the couch," he said.

Harry laughed delightedly, hips rocking between Snape's touches, from cock to hand and back again. "I couldn't believe it was okay to want you to touch me," he said between kisses. "It's hard to believe we're married now, I mean, that it's officially okay."

"It's always been good, though, once we let it," said Snape, voice growing hoarse as Harry teased him. "Every time, it's good."

"So good," agreed Harry, finally letting himself melt into Snape, little gasps punctuating his words. "Husbands, good, oh, Sev'rus."

"My Harry," whispered Snape, tightening his grip just enough and running his thumb over the wet head of Harry's eager prick.

Harry arched up, crying out wordlessly as he spilled his pleasure into Snape's hand and over his own belly, the spurts already more lush than they had been a few months ago. "Your Harry," he said, grinning up at Snape. "I think it's time for you to be in me."

As always, Harry's innocent willingness was an aphrodisiac for Snape, not that his libido had required any more fuel. "I think you're right," he growled, rolling Harry flat on his back and slipping off the now-sticky panties. "Nearly right," he corrected, when he saw Harry laid out beneath him like a feast.

"N-nearly?" Harry began to protest, but the words turned to enthusiastic moans as Snape's tongue slipped its way up Harry's inner thigh and into the dark space between them. "Ohhh, yes, yes, first, do that, oh, oh Husband!"

Snape kept right on with what he was doing, tongue first teasing around the outside of Harry's tender entrance, then slowly wriggling its way inward. This wasn't something he'd done before, though at the moment he had no idea why. Harry was making the most delightful sounds as Snape's tongue worked him gently open, writhing and bucking so that Snape had to hold his hips down, though his legs remained obediently splayed.

Snape indulged them both by continuing long past the time when Harry's body was as opened to him as it would get from this, waiting until Harry's moans had turned to begging before he retrieved the lubricant and slicked up his fingers. "Good, love?" he teased,

"Sooo good," said Harry, pulling Snape up for a hot, hungry kiss. "Why didn't we do that before?" he asked.

"I've no idea," said Snape, slipping two fingers easily into Harry's body. "Perhaps so we could have something new for tonight."

Harry's hips moved in familiar patterns now, eagerly toward the hand preparing him. "S'good, new things, oh, all good," he gasped, but it didn't take long for even that level of coherency to leave him.

Snape got his cock slick and slid into place, draping Harry's legs over his own so as to leave room for the mound of Harry's belly between them. "Ready?"

"So ready," Harry replied, already writhing in place, as if trying to take Snape in on his own.

Snape obliged him, shifting and pushing forward so he could slide easily into the familiar heat of his new-minted husband. "So good," he whispered, gazing down at Harry all round with their child and speared on his cock, everything that he'd dreamed of and far more, given the love in Harry's eyes.

They found a rhythm easily, one thing that practice had improved for them both. Snape's hands cradled Harry's narrow hips, helping to support him as he met each thrust. There was nothing left to be said now, and so Harry let free the whimpers, mewls and cries that Snape loved so much, while Snape allowed Harry to hear the groans he'd once tried to hold in. Here in Harry's body, in their bed, he knew he could give them both that.

In the end, there was one word that found its way to Snape's lips as he reached his climax. "Mine," growled Snape, stroking Harry's cock even as he spilled himself into the eager, waiting body.

Harry cried out and came, spattering pearls over the taut, pale skin of his stomach, more beautiful then than he had been coming down the aisle.

"It's really for always?" asked Harry, smile showing the answer he already knew. "It's not a dream?"

"It's not a dream, love," said Snape, pulling out gently and curling back around Harry protectively. "We're really a family, for always."

Harry kissed him, all warm and sleepy and sated. "Good," he said, before letting the post-coital lassitude drag him down into sleep.

Snape watched over him for a little while longer, cleaning them up with a silent spell and indulging himself in disgustingly sentimental thoughts until he, too, dozed.

Their honeymoon would start soon enough that a little nap wouldn't make a difference one way or another.

---

Snape stood in the doorway with the sort of smile on his face that, a year ago, even he wouldn't have predicted he'd ever have.

Harry sat on the armchair he'd conjured for himself in the middle of Snape's ex-guest room. He was wearing one of those light summer robes Snape had admired at Christmas, which seemed a lifetime ago indeed with Harry here in his house, his lawfully wedded husband and heavy with his child. The seafoam green robes were loose, but nothing could disguise the state of Harry's stomach at this late date. Harry made a face and waved his wand, and the room changed from a warm peach to a more delicate pink.

"I'm just not sure what she'll like, Severus," said Harry, brow furrowing.

Snape pushed off the doorway and moved in for a soothing kiss. "I suspect that she'll mostly wish she was back in there," he said, pointing to Harry's stomach.

Harry laughed. "I suppose you're right. Did you at least order the bassinet I picked out?"

"Of course," said Snape. "And I found something else I thought you might enjoy." He pulled a box from his pocket and did the simple spell to grow it to normal size, revealing Mrs. Scrummykins' Beauties for Babies, Contents, one wall decoration spell.

"Oh, they're so cute!" said Harry, running his finger over the box cover, which kept changing from duckies to bats to bunnies. "Which set is it?"

"We'll have the choice, it depends on how we apply the charm," he said, flipping the box over to show Harry the instructions. There were six designs in all, but he had a suspicion the pink walls would soon be adorned with white fluffy bunnies, from the way Harry's eyes lit up whenever they went gamboling across the bottom of the picture.

"Aren't there bunnies on that mobile Mrs. Weasley gave us?" asked Harry, though there'd been so many shower gifts that it was even odds something would match, even if he picked the frogs.

"I believe so, do you want me to check?" said Snape, moving to stand.

Harry's hand stopped him, the box floating gently to the floor as Snape gave him the kisses he demanded. "I want you to have me again," said Harry, eyes shining with mischief.

Snape chuckled. "You're just pleased to have found that article that said it was good for the baby," he said, referring to one of the many parenting magazines now scattered throughout the house -- thankfully, they were at least all wizarding in origin.

Harry grinned and shrugged. "I'd want it anyway," he said, giving a little wriggle that drew Snape's attention to the fabric tenting out below his stomach. "This just makes it feel more virtuous."

Snape laughed. "Well," he said, standing and then scooping Harry up into his arms, "I wouldn't want to keep you from virtue."

Harry grinned happily and allowed himself to be carried out of the nursery, the difference between rose petal pink and cherry blossom pink forgotten with other, much more delightful ideas waiting to be explored.