occasusvenustas (occasusvenustas) wrote in snape_potter, @ 2008-01-21 18:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | fic, occasusvenustas, rating: r |
3/3
Title: Always The Hero
Chapter: 3/3
Pairing: Harry/Severus, Remus/Sirius with past mentions of Severus/OC
Rating: R
Summary: Harry Potter is always trying to play the hero. How will Snape react to Harry mucking about in his business again?
Warnings: Mentions of Snape/female, Babies (but no mpreg), canon compliant with only a handful of characters.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter
A/N:: N:: I should have posted this sooner but my daughter just turned five (she shares her birthday with Snape on 9 January), my son is just about to turn seven (god save me), so I had to plan parties. My 7 month old is... well... seven months old. Plus I have four final exams tomorrow, this week I had to complete the end of my practicum for my teaching degree AND I had to study US History (blerg) so that's why it took me so long. Fun, right? Anyhow, this is the end, R and R if you will. Oh and be warned, the end has like a whisper of a kind of sort of DH spoiler and apparently there ARE some people out there in this fandom who haven't read it. Oh and x-posted.
Chapter One
chapter two
--------- ---------- ------------
Being that Severus was a rather wizardy wizard, it was odd for him to request that Harry drive. But being that Harry rarely questioned the motives behind Severus’ requests, Harry merely said, "Sure," and that was that. He didn’t even bother to question why Severus was wearing Muggle clothing. Because Severus donned robes usually, no matter where they were going.
Now, Severus had explained that although Amy had lived in London, when she found out she was pregnant she moved back to Surrey to live with her mother. Harry had mixed feelings about going back to Surrey, as he had not set foot there since the day the Order came and removed him from the Dursleys that very last time.
It wasn’t until Harry was pulling into the car park of the restaurant they had agreed to meet at, that Severus confessed. "Just so we’re on the same page," Severus said as they were getting out of the car, "Amy happens to think that I’m a Muggle."
Only Severus, Harry would later realise, could literally remove his ability to speak with just one sentence. It took him a moment to recover. "I... er... what?"
"Amy happens to be a Muggle who has absolutely no link to the wizarding world whatsoever," Severus explained further. "There isn’t a single connection, in her entire family line, to a wizard."
"Is that even possible anymore?" Harry asked.
"Rarely, but yes," Severus confessed.
"Jesus, you really know how to pick ‘em."
Severus rolled his eyes. "I just don’t quite know how she’d deal with the news right now. Her condition is delicate."
"Yeah, I figured, being ready to pop out your kid and all," Harry snarked.
Severus sighed. "I’ll tell her when it’s necessary."
"You mean like when your kid gets their Hogwarts letter?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"Cheek, Potter," Severus warned.
Harry glowered at him for being called Potter and for being scolded like student. "Whatever, Severus, I won’t spill our little secret." They started to walk towards the door but Harry stopped him. "She does know you’re gay, right?"
"She knew that before we had sex," Severus said. "And yes, she does know I am taken," he added, answering Harry's unspoken question.
That made Harry flush with pride, just a little, and he quieted as they entered the restaurant. Although Harry had never seen what Amy looked like, for some reason he spotted her immediately. She was sitting in the back, and a table blocked out the view of her belly. But still, he knew it had to be her.
She resembled Bellatrix Black in an almost frightening way, though when they got closer Harry could see she wasn’t really related to the Blacks at all. Still, she had those same type of sleepy eyes and her hair was very thick and very dark.
She was pretty, in an unconventional way, her nose a little too large for her face and her teeth were a little crooked. She smiled when she saw Severus and quickly waved them over.
When the two men approached, she stood and they both got a look at her extremely swollen stomach. She laughed a little at Severus’ expression and patted her huge, round middle. "Yeah, I know," she said.
Severus cleared his throat and quickly sat down, nodding for Harry to do the same. "Amy, this is Harry."
"Pleasure," Amy said, extending her hand.
Harry took it politely. "Pleasure to meet you," Harry said. "I’ve heard only good things."
"I’m sure that’s not true," she said with a laugh. "Severus never has good things to say about anyone." She tipped a wink at Severus which made Harry bristle possessively.
"Well he had plenty good to say about you," Harry insisted.
Severus cast a sideways glance at Harry that screamed, ‘Shut it,’ and he turned his attention back to Amy. "How are you feeling these days?"
"Oh like a fat, bloated whale carcass," she said.
"Charming," Severus replied.
Amy laughed. "Aren’t I, though? I’m healthy, and so is your son."
"Ah. A boy."
Amy nodded. "I’ve known for a while. I should have put it in a letter but as I hadn’t heard from you, I wasn’t sure if you cared."
"I didn’t mean to take so long, it was a shock."
"I am sorry about that," Amy said, looking down.
"You’ve apologised enough," Severus said kindly. He reached out and pet her hand gently.
Harry shifted uncomfortably but didn’t say anything.
The three of them eventually ordered breakfast and Harry found himself growing increasingly uncomfortable and out of place. To Harry, it seemed that Severus fit better with Amy. They had a much better rapport than he and Severus did and they both seemed to get each other. Harry got Severus, but not in the way Amy did, and Severus seemed as though he could sense her thoughts.
It reminded him very much of Remus and Sirius. True Remus and Sirius had known each other a long time, but it was the same feeling when Harry was a room with them. It was just something, just a connection that no one had except them.
"Would you excuse me for a moment?" Harry asked. Severus shrugged and said nothing as Harry walked away from the table and headed outside. He quickly walked to the side of the building and lit up a cigarette.
It was a lot to take in, the two of them. Harry had wondered how someone like Severus had managed to land himself a woman in bed, but it had become quite clear to Harry. In fact, Harry wondered if perhaps Severus wasn’t straight, because watching Severus with Amy planted the seeds of doubt deeply into Harry’s mind.
Eventually Harry finished his cigarette and he knew he had to go back to the table. He hadn’t really said much during the meal but he didn’t want to come off as unfriendly. When he sat back down, he shot Amy a small smile.
"So, Severus says you’re going to be present at the birth," Amy began.
Harry flushed a little. "We had discussed that, yes."
"As long as you don’t mind it," Severus clarified.
Harry frowned. Before, Severus had come across to Harry that if Harry wasn’t allowed, Severus wouldn’t go either. But now that had changed.
"I certainly don’t mind. If you’re going to be in Severus’ life, you’re going to have to be at all the important things. This, of course, being the most important event of all."
Harry let that sink in. The most important event of Severus’ life. Nothing would top it. Not the moment he and Severus moved in together. Not if they decided to get married or adopt one of their own... not that adopting would be necessary anymore, would it? Because Severus would be having one of his own now, and he was Snape. Why would he want one, let alone two?
Harry’s stomach sank but he put on a smile. "I appreciate it," he said.
The conversation switched again and Harry lost himself in his thoughts until it was time to leave. The three of them walked out together where Harry and Amy shared a small hug and then Severus shook Amy’s hand.
"I will be in touch soon," he said.
The two lovers walked back to the car and Harry got in, still quite silent. They drove off and it was some time before Severus spoke again. "You weren’t quite yourself," he said.
"I just felt out of place," Harry explained. "It feels like I’m intruding on something really personal."
Severus didn’t reply. He merely turned his gaze out the window and stayed silent. When they got back to Severus’ home, Harry pulled up to the gate but he didn’t switch off the car.
Severus looked at him a moment before asking, "Do you need an invitation to come in now?"
"No," Harry said blandly.
"So," Severus pressed.
"I think I’m going to go home for a little while," Harry replied.
"Ah," Severus said.
"Unless," Harry said slowly, "you think there is a reason for me to stay."
"Not specifically," Severus said. Without waiting for Harry to answer, he got out of the car and went inside.
Harry sighed. "Thought not," he said and he headed home.
--------- --------------- ----------
Three days later, while Harry was wallowing in the misery of his split from Severus, there came a knock at his door. Harry jumped, praying to whatever god might be listening, that it was Severus asking for Harry to come back.
But when he opened the door, he found his godfather standing there. "Fancy a chat?" he asked.
"Sure," Harry said and let Sirius inside.
They went into the kitchen and Harry poured them both a cup of tea. Sirius pushed his to the side and clasped his hands atop the table. "When you started buggering Snape," he said with disgust, "I knew I had to get used to seeing him on the occasion, holidays and whatever. But having him come to my home to complain about relationship problems with you, on my own free time, is where I draw the line."
Harry’s eyes widened. "What? When was this?"
"Last night," Sirius said. "He came over, and thank God Remus was there to buffer the little invasion of my home. He was whining about how you just fucked off without rhyme or reason. Now if this is true, more power to you, Harry. I mean fuck Snape." Sirius paused and then said, "Ew. Not literally. But if you haven’t split, maybe you should talk to him, or something. Because I didn’t appreciate him fouling up my house. It took long enough for me to get rid of all the left over Death Eater scum that my family left."
Harry rubbed his hands over his face. "What did he say, exactly?"
"How long has it been since you’ve spoken to him?" Sirius asked, not answering Harry's question
"Three days," Harry said.
"Did you have a row?"
"No," Harry said. "I just... we went to meet the mother of his child, Amy. And I was watching them at breakfast and I realised that Severus is better off with her. They were touching hands and finishing each other’s sentences. Like you and Remus."
Sirius sighed. "Did Severus tell you he wanted to be with her?"
"No," Harry said.
"So what’s the problem?"
"The problem is they’re good together," Harry insisted.
"That doesn’t account for the fact that he chose you," Sirius said. He put up his hands. "Don’t get me wrong, Harry. I’d rather you not be with that slimy, disgusting Death Eater, but let it be for a real reason. Ditch him because he won’t bathe or brush his teeth, not because he might click better with some bird he doesn’t even want."
Harry shook his head. "You didn’t see them together," he insisted. "They were so..."
"What?" Sirius pressed. "You expected them not to have a connection at all? For Christ’s sake, Harry, they fucked and they’re having a kid! Of course they’re going to connect. Rarely does one have sex with a person they have no connection with."
"They have a better connection than Severus and I do," Harry said
Sirius sighed. "And you’re letting him walk away, this man that you love, albeit a greasy git, because of that?"
"Well... yes," Harry said.
"You’re an idiot," Sirius said. "You’re a class-A moron."
"Sirius!" Harry bit.
"I’m just telling it like it is, Harry. I’d like to say I raised you better but I didn’t really raise you, then I was dead, and honestly if I had raised you, you wouldn’t fancy Snape! But damn it, Harry, haven’t you learned anything from me and Remus?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "I kept going back to you and Remus when I saw them together."
Sirius laughed. "Are you joking, Harry? You think Remus and I connect that well? You think we have any of the same interests? You think we agree on anything or anyone?"
"Well er-" Harry said and shrugged. It was true, Sirius and Remus were like night and day.
"It’s what works for us, and it’s probably what works with you and Snape. Not that I want to picture it," he said and shuddered.
Harry sighed. "I think it’s too late, now. I mean he’s not one to forgive very easily- or pretty much at all."
"I guess you’re just going to have to try, aren’t you?" Sirius said. "Besides, if there weren’t a chance, I don’t think Snape would have lowered himself by coming to my house and asking if you were ever coming home." Sirius shuddered and then asked. "And since when do you and Snape share the same home?"
Home. Harry felt his insides go very warm and suddenly he wanted nothing but to be inside Severus’ home, in his arms, kissing his mouth. "I’d better go," Harry said.
"I thought so," Sirius. "Mind if I Apparate from here?"
"Go ahead," Harry said. "I’m going to drive."
------ ------ -----
It was a short, twenty minute drive to Snape’s cottage just outside of London. Harry pulled round to the side of the house and walked up to the door. He fingered the knob, torn between knocking and just walking in.
Then he remembered. Home. Harry pushed the door open and walked inside. There was a fire roaring in the lounge and the smells of food were coming from the kitchen. Harry followed the sounds of cookery to the kitchen where he found Snape chopping vegetables for stew.
"Severus," Harry said.
Severus looked over his shoulder and snorted. "It’s about bloody time. Reach into the cabinet
and hand me a clove of garlic."
Harry hid his smile by biting on his lower lip and did as Severus asked. He watched as Severus chopped up the garlic and threw it into the pot. "So er... beef stew?"
Severus nodded. "Where the hell have you been?" He spoke without turning to look at Harry.
Harry flushed and looked at his feet. "At my flat," he said. "I’ve just been thinking."
"About what?" Severus asked and this time did turn to look at Harry.
"You and Amy," Harry said.
Severus sighed and set the knife down. "If you can’t handle the thought of me having a child with a woman, you need to tell me, Potter. You can’t just disappear."
"It’s not that," Harry said.
"So what is it?" Severus demanded. "You’re the one who insisted on bothering me in my quiet life. You’re the one who stuck your bloody nose in my business, and stuck yourself comfortably into my life that was quite comfortable without you. And now I can’t sleep in that damned bed without your body in it. So what the hell is it, Potter?"
Every thought Harry had been thinking about Severus and Amy suddenly seemed so stupid and so petty that he didn’t want to speak them aloud. He walked forward and put his arms around Severus. Severus didn’t return the gesture right away.
"I had this stupid thought that maybe you’d be better off with Amy and the baby."
Severus snorted and put a heavy hand on Harry’s shoulder. "You stupid idiot. If I wanted her I would be with her, not you."
"I know," Harry said. "Sirius came by and-"
"Bugger," Severus said. "For the record, I was drunk last night. Otherwise there is no way in hell I would have showed up at his house."
Harry chuckled. "Well he helped me sort things out."
"That’s a miracle. Of course it’s a miracle he learnt to tie his shoes so-"
Harry reached his face up and stole a quick kiss from Severus. The older man hummed a little and then put his arms around Harry and kissed him deeply. "As much as I would like to take you here on this floor, I am in the middle of dinner. Make yourself useful and set the table. We’ll have plenty of time for the other stuff later."
"I think I love you," Harry said with a hint of cheek, though he meant it completely.
Severus rolled his eyes. "You would."
----------- ------------ -----------
It was deep in the night when the mobile finally went off. Both men sat straight up in the dark. "What the bloody hell?" Severus growled.
"It’s the mobile," Harry grumbled sleepily.
Severus picked it up off the bedside table and began to fiddle with it. Eventually Harry grabbed it from him, opened it and pushed the talk button.
"Talk into it," Harry said.
"Yes?" Severus said. He winced at the volume of the voice coming out the earpiece and eventually tossed it away from himself. "The baby is coming," he said.
Harry picked up the mobile and ended the call before slipping it into his pocket. "Shall I drive?"
"I say we Apparate or we won’t make it there in time," Severus said.
"Won’t she wonder how we got there so fast?"
"She probably won’t be of sound enough mind to ask those sorts of questions right now," Severus said.
"Right," Harry said.
The two men got dressed and together they Apparated to the hospital where Amy was having the baby. They were quickly escorted to her room where Amy’s mother was waiting outside the door. Severus and Harry were let in where they saw Amy lying in the bed. She was smiling, though she looked quite tired.
"How is everything going?" Severus asked, going to her bedside.
"Oh just peachy," Amy said and started breathing quickly.
Harry, who had no idea what was going on, nor did he want to know, took a chair in the corner of the room and tried to think about something other than women pushing babies out of their vaginas.
Of course that became increasingly difficult as Amy’s labour progressed. She became louder, her breathing became louder, all the machines in the room became louder and eventually the room became full with nurses and a doctor.
Harry had attempted not to look over but when the Doctor shouted, "Look!" Harry automatically turned his head and honestly wished he hadn’t. Along with dripping fluids of some sort, there was this bushy thing coming out of the woman. It looked so unnatural that Harry felt his head start to spin.
He managed a glance up at Severus, who had gone quite green, before looking away. He closed his eyes and tried to shut it out until it was over, which wasn’t too terribly long after that moment.
There was a lot of hustle and bustle after the baby was born with tests and baths and blankets and nurses and all sorts of other things that made Harry feel like he was in a zoo gone mad. Suddenly, though, it was quiet.
Harry finally chanced a look over and saw Amy nursing the baby and Severus peering over her shoulder.
Amy grinned tiredly at Harry and said, "You can come take a look if you’d like."
Harry shrugged and stood up. He walked to Amy’s bedside and could make out a little, wrinkled thing with rather red skin sucking furiously on Amy’s breast. The baby was swaddled tightly in blankets and a blue cap was secured tightly over its head.
"Boy, right?" Harry asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Have you got a name?"
Amy looked up at Severus. "Anything in particular that you’d like?"
"No," Severus said. "I never thought I’d have a child so I’ve never given it any thought."
"I’ve always been fond of Sebastian," Amy said with a shrug. "It’s what I’ve been calling him while he was in my stomach."
"That’s suitable," Severus said.
"Sebastian Snape," Amy said.
"Perhaps not Snape," Severus said.
Both Harry and Amy looked up at Severus with surprise. "Are you having doubts about the paternity?" Amy asked carefully.
"No," Severus said. "There is a chance he will end up in the school that I went to and taught at for some years and it might be easier on him that he not carry my surname."
Amy looked over at Harry with confusion. "I don’t understand."
Harry let out a breath and said, "He was strict and I think he will be remembered for it."
Amy shrugged. "That seems like a silly reason but if you insist..."
"There’s more to it I can explain later," Severus said shortly. "For now how about just Sebastian."
Amy looked a little put out but let the subject drop. Eventually Amy’s mum returned and Harry and Severus decided to leave. They had previously decided on a hotel near the hospital which they went to and got to their room.
Inside, Harry ordered take away for them and collapsed on the bed. "Well that was certainly interesting," he said.
"Indeed," Severus replied. He changed out of his Muggle clothing in favour of some comfortable robes.
"You’re going to tell her about us, aren’t you?" Harry asked.
Severus sighed as he settled himself next to his lover. "I don’t see any other choice. Perhaps our story can dissuade her from calling the child Snape."
"You do realise you’re considered a hero," Harry pointed out.
"Yes, as well as a Death Eater, and I think others are more inclined to remember the latter. The child will suffer prejudice at Hogwarts if he goes as a Snape."
Harry wanted to argue, but it was true. He, himself, suffered extreme prejudice from Snape himself. "Do you think she’ll understand."
"I don’t know," Severus said. "But I hope so. I’m going to wait until she’s out of the hospital and the baby is a little older. It would be too much for her to take in, anyhow."
"I understand," Harry said and fell silent. Both men lay there in the quiet, letting it sink in that for better or worse, their lives had just changed.
Severus waited a month before telling Amy all about wizards. He told Harry that he wanted to do it alone, so he left Harry at the cottage and was gone the better part of the day. The sun was just starting to set when Severus came in the door.
From the look on his face, Harry could tell the talk hadn’t gone so well and he was glad he had prepared dinner for Severus. The older man didn’t say much at first, just helped himself to steak and kidney pie.
Eventually, he sighed and looked up at his lover. "So I think she understands," he said.
"Mmhmm," Harry said.
"It was all I could do to keep her from calling the authorities, but once she calmed down, I was able to reason with her."
Harry bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. "Did she believe you?"
"She had no choice," Severus said. "I had to do a bit of magic."
"Oh dear," Harry said.
"I don’t think she’ll be speaking to me for a while and I’ve been sworn not to use my ‘hocus-pocus’ in front of the baby."
Harry snorted. "That’ll happen," he said. "What are we supposed to do when he comes to visit?"
"Damned if I know," Severus said.
----------------- Epilogue ---------------------
It was late on a lazy afternoon, one Saturday. Severus and Harry had spent the better part of the day doing absolutely nothing, which was exactly what they were doing when the knock came at the door.
Severus frowned. "If that’s one of your ruddy mutts calling-"
"They would have let me know first," Harry said. "Unless it was a real emergency." That, of course, caused a sense of urgency in Harry and he rushed to the door.
He was completely and utterly surprised, when he opened the door, to see Amy and the soon-to-be eleven year old Sebastian standing there.
"Hi Harry," Sebastian said with a grin.
"Hello," Harry said. "This is a surprise."
"Yes," Amy said tersely. It was odd to hear her voice so annoyed, especially since she had got back on friendly terms with Harry and Severus.
"I got my Hogwarts letter!" Sebastian cried.
Severus smirked from his spot on the sofa while Amy crossed her arms. "You said it might not happen."
"Might, being the operative word," Severus replied. "I can’t help if I have dominant genes."
"For his sake, I hope no one notices the resemblance," Amy said, pointing at her son who did, in fact, resemble Snape a great deal. "After everything you’ve said-"
"Severus probably exagerated," Harry said, trying to sound reassuring. "I mean he was kind of a nasty git... still is for that matter... but he is a hero in our world."
"Dad saved Harry," Sebastian sang out. "Dad saved a lot of people! Then he died! But then he came back and now he’s here."
"Yes I know," Amy said. She sighed and sat down in a chair while Sebastian ran off to his bedroom. "What does this all mean? How much of my life is going to change?"
"A great deal," Severus said. "Sebastian is a wizard whether you like it or not. You can refuse to send him to Hogwarts, but that won’t stop the fact that he has magic, and some way, he will end up using it. It’s like weapon, Amy, and if he isn’t trained properly, he might harm himself, or someone else, with it."
Amy rubbed her temples. "I just thought that since there is no magic in me, at all, that he might get skipped over."
"It’s not like a virus," Harry said. "And it doesn’t mean he’s going to be seen as a freak, and it doesn’t mean he’ll be cast out of the Muggle world. It will just mean that he’ll live life a little differently from you. Trust me, I came from a Muggle house and I couldn’t be happier."
"I just worry for him," Amy said.
Harry smiled gently. "You wouldn’t be a mother if you didn’t. But trust me, he’s going to be fine. And if rumour has it," Harry said, looking over at Snape slyly, "Hogwarts is getting two new professors at the start of term.