Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/666330.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      No_Archive_Warnings_Apply, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Harry_Potter_-_J._K._Rowling
  Relationship:
      Harry_Potter/Severus_Snape
  Character:
      Harry_Potter, Kreacher_(Harry_Potter), Severus_Snape, Minerva_McGonagall,
      Narcissa_Malfoy, Poppy_Pomfrey
  Additional Tags:
      Mpreg
  Stats:
      Published: 2013-02-02 Words: 5139
****** Absolved and Accepted ******
by lilyseyes
Summary
     When Harry finds out that his lover had survived the Final Battle, he
     hopes that this might be how the fates reward him for his defeating
     Voldemort. The reward he received was completely unexpected.
     Prompt(s):#124: Severus was one of the best spies ever, but hiding
     his bulging belly from the Dark Lord - and everyone else - until the
     Final Battle was really hard work.
     So, when Nagini bit him, the blood loss and the past stress made him
     collapse. His lover Harry saves him and only realizes that they are
     going to have a kid when Madam Pomfrey tells him that both father and
     child are safe and healthy.
Notes
     Beta'd by Sevfan - Harry is 17.5 when the relationship begins
===============================================================================
Harry Potter wiped his sleeve across his sweaty forehead as he finished dumping
another load of bloody bandages. He stretched his aching back and swiped at the
cut on his cheek that just wouldn't stop bleeding as he looked for the next
task he could do. The door to the private room near the back of the hospital
wing remained stubbornly shut and Harry closed his eyes against the worry that
ripped through him anew. Madam Pomfrey had been in there for hours without any
word and refused to let him in.
The image of Severus, ashen and covered with blood, reared up uninvited and
Harry's eyes snapped open. Suppressing a shudder, Harry looked around
frantically for something to do. A drying trail of blood, Severus' blood, led
toward the closed door and Harry dropped to his knees. Conjuring a bucket full
of hot, soapy water, he Summoned a rag and began scrubbing. As hard as Harry
tried to think of anything else, the sight of Severus' lifeless, horribly
swollen body kept flashing into his mind.
Harry scrubbed harder, purposely dragging forward the memory of Severus
catching him eavesdropping on him and Malfoy during Slughorn's Christmas party.
The ensuing fight had been spectacular, somehow ending with Harry pinned
against the door of Severus' office, clinging desperately as Severus ravished
his mouth, bodies frantically rubbing together. Their relationship, for lack of
a better phrase, had become a secret series of hurried rendezvous whenever they
could get away from their responsibilities.
They had remained in communication during the hunt for Horcruxes, the portrait
of Phineas Nigellus Black carrying messages back and forth for them. Harry had
been heartened to learn that Severus had managed to assist in keeping the
Carrows from really hurting any of the students, with Neville and Ginny leading
the group of students still loyal to Harry and Albus Dumbledore. The Room of
Requirement was put to good use as a sanctuary for them and Severus hoped they
were using the time to hone skills. He and Severus even managed several
clandestine meetings where their frantic couplings had been intense.
The last time had been in the Forest of Dean and Harry had no problem bringing
that memory forward in his mind. Severus had brought him the Sword of
Gryffindor that frigid night, Harry had discovered as he followed the silver
doe into a protected copse of trees. Harry had thought Severus' actions that
night had indicated there was something deeper between them than just
pleasurable interludes as Severus called them. The way Severus had greeted him,
the gentleness of the hands Severus had cupped his face with, and the way he'd
sunk down on Harry's cock to ride him with almost desperate abandon convinced
him he was correct.
They each had their role to play in the battle and Harry had never dreamed that
he would survive the destiny that had been set for him. When Kreacher had
whisked Severus away from the Shrieking Shack the night of the Battle of
Hogwarts, Harry hadn't believed he'd ever see his lover alive again. Armed with
Severus' memories, which had reassured Harry that he was loved, Harry had faced
his own death at Voldemort's wand. Now that he'd survived, Harry was desperate
for Severus to live as well.
"Potter!"
Harry looked up to see Madam Pomfrey standing over him with a frown and he
scrambled to his feet as he wiped his hands off on his jeans. "Yes, ma'am?"
The mediwitch's eyes narrowed and she took a step forward. "Hold out your
hands, Potter."
Harry immediately put his hands out, palms up, and yelped as Pomfrey cast a
Cleaning Spell on them. She did the same for his clothing, before leaning in to
look at the cut by his eye.
"I'll see to that after you see the Headmaster," she said, signaling Harry to
follow her through the door.
Stepping inside, Harry slowly approached the bed, his eyes fixed on Severus'
ashen face. A quick scan of his lover's body showed his throat was heavily
bandaged; his breathing seemed shallow but steady, but the bulge at Severus'
abdomen was still present. Clenching his trembling fingers behind his back to
keep them from reaching out, Harry stared down at the man he'd come to love
more than anything in the world.
"Severus will be fine, Potter." Professor McGonagall's clipped voice startled
Harry and he looked around to find her standing on the far side of the bed.
"Thank you again for allowing me access to Severus' memories; I can assure you
that Minister Shacklebolt is on his way to view them as well. He's going to
make sure the Wizengamot knows the true facts as well."
Harry gave her a wan smile, nodding as his eyes shifted back to Severus' face.
"Is Se…Snape going to be all right, ma'am?"
Pomfrey took a step closer and patted his shoulder. "Yes, Potter, both Severus
and your baby will be just fine. Thank Merlin the man had the foresight to take
that special antivenin potion he'd he created, and supply me with the curative
one he'd made for Arthur Weasley!"
"Baby?" Harry frowned, looking from Severus to Pomfrey and back in confusion.
"What…what do you mean, baby?"
Pomfrey moved forward, grabbing Harry's arm and pulling him forward to press
his hand against the bulge at Severus' belly. Harry's first instinct was to
pull away, knowing Severus would hate that anyone was pawing at him, but
something stirred against his palm. It wasn't a kick, but more a slight
movement under the surface, even more than that was the magic he could feel
under his hand.
"That's our baby?" Harry asked, incredulous. "But how?"
McGonagall fixed him with a steely glare. "I would imagine the usual way,
Potter, which is something I have to ask you about. This smacks of an
inappropriate liaison…"
Harry felt his anger flare, replacing the intense, undefined emotion that had
gripped him by the throat at the thought of fathering a child. "There was
nothing inappropriate about it, Professor! I was over the age of consent and…"
"When, Potter?" McGonagall didn't back down.
Harry snapped, "Would you like me to take Veritaserum?"
"Eventually, yes," McGonagall said, her tone softening slightly. "But as
Hogwarts headmaster, Severus and his actions are subject to scrutiny, Potter."
Swallowing the indignant anger Harry felt, he nodded. He did understand, as it
was something that had bothered Severus, something they had discussed several
times, however, on top of the unexpected news, it rankled that anyone would
imply that Severus forced him to do anything. As the movement started again
under his hand, a sudden, horrific thought occurred to Harry.
Looking up frantically, his hand cupping the bulge protectively, Harry looked
between McGonagall and Pomfrey. "Did he…do you think Sev…Snape wanted the
baby?"
"Yes, Potter, I believe he did." Pomfrey gave him an encouraging look. "I found
a prenatal potion in an inner pocket of his robes, along with a magic enhancer,
which he would need to sustain a magical pregnancy."
"Magical?" Harry frowned, his head spinning, as he had no idea a man could get
pregnant in any circumstances.
The two witches exchanged another unreadable look as Harry looked between them,
before Madam Pomfrey answered. "Male pregnancy requires two powerful wizards
with a strong foundation of mutual regard between them to achieve conception.
It is that pure magic that creates the child and the pregnancy needs to be
maintained by it."
"You mean love," Harry whispered, his stomach churning with his turbulent
emotions, the baby stirring under his hand. "I didn't mean to…Severus never
said…"
"Don’t mistake that sentiment for an instant 'happily ever after', Potter.
Severus is a difficult man who has had to fight for everything he's ever earned
and he will be harder to convince now that you've both survived the ordeal
neither of you expected to," Professor McGonagall told him. "You'll need
determination and perseverance, and an unending supply of patience if you
expect Severus to accept that you truly want to have a permanent place in his
and his child's life."
Harry swallowed hard and nodded, his eye returning to Severus' face. As it
turned out, his Head of House had been right on all counts, and over the next
weeks, Harry came close to giving up. It was the memory of the expression of
sheer joy and the happiness that had lit his eyes the first time Severus had
regained consciousness and had seen Harry sitting beside him. Since that
moment, it had been a battle to bite his tongue and hold his temper in check as
Severus 'snarled' at him in written form and baited him at every turn.
"I haven't decided whether he thinks the whole thing was an enormous mistake or
if he's trying to push me away because he doesn't believe I'm mature enough to
make a commitment," Harry told Hermione wearily over tea one morning, raking a
hand through his hair. "I'm about to just give in…"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Hermione rolled her eyes as she Summoned a dusty tome
from somewhere, Harry ducking as it sailed towards him. "I did a bit of
research last night, knowing how you feel about family, and I think I've found
a way to prove to Snape that you are serious about being a family."
Shifting nervously, Harry watched as Hermione thumbed through the ancient-
looking parchment. "It's not going to upset Severus, is it?"
Hermione lifted her head slowly, an incredulous expression on her face, and
Harry felt his face flame. It wasn't his fault that he'd fallen in love with
the git! He wisely kept his mouth shut and let his thoughts drift over the past
few weeks. Severus had finally regained consciousness, his throat still
healing, but he'd managed to speak volumes with his eyes and a lightning fast
writing spell. Harry had taken over care of Severus until Madam Pomfrey had
released him to his rooms in the Headmaster's tower, with the caveat that Harry
go with him, at least until the magically-imposed block was lifted off his
larynx.
The icy reception Severus had given him was almost enough to have sent Harry
fleeing, except for the sidelong glances Severus gave him when he didn't think
anyone was looking. Severus still allowed Harry to touch him as he took care of
him, especially seeming to relish the daily massages that Harry gave him. One
of the things that kept Harry going was the light touch of those slender
fingers through his hair one evening when Harry had fallen into an exhausted
sleep next to Severus' bed. He'd been very careful not to let on that he was
awake, savoring the little sign that Severus had, at one time, cared about him.
"This document is simply a statement of your intent to name Snape's child as
your legal heir, a rite given sires for millennia." Hermione flicked her wand
over a page in the book and then repeated the gesture over a piece of new
parchment.
Leaning over her shoulder, Harry read the top. "Hermione? This looks like an
official document."
A self-inking quill appeared in her hand and Hermione filled in the blank
spaces. "Of course it’s an official document, Harry, how else will you file
your claim with the Ministry?"
"My claim?" Harry frowned, apprehension swirling in the pit of his stomach.
"Really, Harry!" She finished writing and cast another spell, before pushing
the parchment at him. "You have to get some rest, you're making yourself sick
this way!"
Scanning over the words, Harry felt his frown deepen and his anxiety double.
"But this says that I demand the baby have my last name!"
"You're the last of the Potters, Harry, and it’s well within your rights as one
of the ancient magical families."
"This is more a demand for parental rights than a way to get Severus to
reconcile…" Harry's jaw snapped shut as he realized he'd said too much.
The look on Hermione's face softened. "I know you want things back the way they
were, Harry, but Snape won't respect you if you don't take a strong stand."
Harry nodded slowly as he realized she was right, again. He couldn't let his
desperate desire to be loved and be a part of a real family to override the
firm stand he had to take. A stance Severus would respect, as the man had no
use for the weak-willed or indecisive.
"Just sign it, Harry!" Hermione pushed the quill at him. "Then you'll have it
if you decide you need to use it!"
Rubbing a hand over his face, Harry sighed before taking the quill and
scribbling his name on the line Hermione indicated. He rolled the parchment up
and slid it into his wand pocket. Harry stood still as Hermione hugged him,
hoping she didn't notice the fever he was sure he was running, before Flooing
through to Severus' quarters at Hogwarts.
"There you are, Potter!"
Madam Pomfrey's voice was brusque as Harry staggered out onto the carpet. Harry
turned to find her standing in the doorway to Severus' bedroom, hands on her
hips. Her eyes narrowed on his face and Harry dropped his gaze to the rug,
hoping he didn't look as bad as he felt. His throat was on fire and his head
felt thick, due no doubt to his lack of sleep.
"I'm about to remove the paralyzing spell on Severus' vocal cords and thought
you might want to be present."
Somehow, Harry figured that it wouldn't make all that much difference, Severus
seemed to be able to communicate well enough without his voice. Severus had
left Harry in no doubt as to how he felt, but Harry had just chosen to ignore
the hostility. He felt if he gave in to the sentiment, then the fact that
Severus had just deemed him convenient and gullible enough to believe Severus
had feelings for him would crush Harry.
"Come along, Harry, I think his bark is worse than his bite," Pomfrey said
quietly, patting him on the shoulder. "Don't let him scare you off."
Harry gave her a wan smile, before steeling his features and following Pomfrey
into the room. Standing at the end of the bed, Harry watched Severus sleep as
the mediwitch waved her wand in a series of complex movements. Pomfrey laid her
hand lightly on Severus' throat, fingers tracing the edges of the bandage as if
to see if it was too tight. Severus stirred at her touch, his eyes snapping
open as he became more aware.
"All right, Severus, I've lifted the healing spell, you should be able to
speak." Pomfrey moved around the bed, gathering up soiled linens.
Severus' hand flew to his neck, sliding up from the base to his chin, his mouth
opening and closing without a sound. Harry watched avidly, until he heard
Severus try to clear his throat and he was around the bed, handing Severus a
goblet of water in the next instant. There was something in Severus' eyes for a
split second as their fingers brushed before it was masked and Harry wasn't
sure if it was something good or bad. He hovered as Severus slowly drank.
"Th…thank you, Poppy," Severus said, his voice sounding raspy from disuse.
"You are welcome, Severus," the mediwitch said, patting his leg. "Now, does it
hurt to talk at all?"
Harry collected the pile of linens and the empty water pitcher and slipped
silently out of the room. There were chores to do and dinner to see about now
that Severus was awake. His appetite had been nonexistent in the past week or
so, between the final battle and watching over Severus and their child. The
thought of eating even made Harry feel slightly nauseated and he swallowed
thickly before Summoning Dobby.
Within a matter of minutes, Harry was carrying in a tray with thin soup and
soft, buttery bread. Madam Pomfrey had said that Severus should be able to eat
with only a little discomfort and Harry should encourage him to, for the baby's
sake. Stepping into the room, Harry was surprised to see Severus sitting up in
bed and Pomfrey gone.
"I brought you some soup," Harry said, walking slowly, very conscious of
Severus' eyes on him.
Severus continued to watch him as Harry set the tray across his lap, carefully
not to spill anything. Staring at the food for a moment, Harry was unprepared
when Severus looked up at him with narrowed eyes.
"Why?"
Harry blinked, his mind frantically scrambling to produce an answer to the
raspy question. "Soup because Madam Pomfrey said you might still have a problem
swallowing." Harry felt a lump forming in his throat. "I'm here because I want
to be, Severus, to take care of you and our baby."
"Just playing at it." Severus managed a sneer, despite the hoarseness of his
voice.
"No!" Harry stepped closer, hand held out.
"I don't need your pity," Severus snapped, voice cracking. "Get out!"
"But, I love you!" Harry could literally feel his heart tear in two. "We're
having a baby!"
Severus' lip curled in the ugliest expression Harry had ever seen. "You can't
really be that gullible, Potter! OUT!"
Harry flinched back, as if the hand Severus flung out had struck him, stumbling
backward out of the room. The door slammed shut in his face and was followed by
the sound of the dinner tray being hurled across the room. As if in a haze,
Harry staggered to the Floo and called out the first place he could think of
that would get him away from Hogwarts.
"Twelve Grimmauld Place!"
                                    ***/***
Severus Snape stared at the page of the book he held in one hand, the other
rested on the top of his expanding belly, as if soothing the child growing
under his heart. The string of letters printed on the crisp parchment seemed to
be random, unreadable, and Severus closed his eyes as he reached to set the
book on the table. The ache of loneliness seemed particularly strong this
morning, as the baby moved restlessly. The pain was as bad as those months when
Harry was on the hunt for Horcruxes and Severus had been left trying to cope
with the worry as he dealt with the Dark Lord and the Carrows.
It was better this way, however, Severus believed. Harry couldn't know that
only those wizards in love were able to conceive and Severus didn't plan to
enlighten him. Whatever affection the teenager had for Severus was forged in
the pressures of war and shared grief, and they would never stand the test of
daily interactions and shared nappy changing. Severus himself was used to a
solitary existence; he would survive as Harry moved on with his life, leaving
Severus and their child to get on with theirs. The level of pain he felt was
unexpected, but Severus would survive, he always did.
What had surprised Severus was that in the five days since he'd thrown Harry
out of his rooms, he'd heard nary a word from him. Honestly, Severus hadn't
expected either of them to survive the war, but in the event they did, he'd
expected to have to rebuff several emotional tirades from Harry, especially
concerning his pregnancy. The lack of the boy's legendary stubbornness had
forced Severus to give up any hope that Harry Potter would continue to care for
him, for them.
"Severus!"
Minerva's voice pulled Severus out of his reflection and he stood to greet her
as she stepped into the sitting room. She and Poppy had been his only visitors,
both tearfully remonstrating him for his dire actions during the Death Eaters
occupation of Hogwarts. In the end, they had seen his reasons for hiding his
true loyalties as well as his pregnancy from them, yet neither had said much
about Harry's absence.
"There you are, Severus," Minerva said, holding out a scroll towards him.
"Kingsley just sent this through for you."
Accepting the parchment, Severus scowled at the sight of a Ministry seal on it
and was tempted to check it for Dark hexes. "What would the Minister of Magic
be leaving for me?" He tried to interject the right amount of disinterest into
his tone.
Minerva reached over to pat his hand. "I believe they are your absolution and
reinstatement papers."
"Absolution?"
"Harry wanted you absolved of any and all allegations, as well as acknowledged
for your sacrifices and the hardships you were forced to endure." Her eyes
swept the room, before narrowing on Severus. "I'm surprised you were able to
convince the boy to leave your side."
Severus nodded absently; his fingers shook slightly as he broke the seal and
allowed the scroll to unfurl in his hand. His eyes scanned the swirling script,
his heart beating a little faster when he saw that he had been cleared of any
wrongdoing, proclaimed a hero, and awarded an Order of Merlin. His bequest from
Albus was to be returned to him forthwith, as was all his property including
his Gringotts vault, and he was declared the last true heir of the Prince line.
The last was something the Ministry had denied him for the eighteen years since
his mother's death.
"Severus?" Suspicion crept into Minerva voice. "Where is Harry?"
His eyes scanned the paper once again, just to make sure he'd read it right, as
Severus answered her, "I sent him away."
"You what?"
Severus' head snapped up, his eyebrow arching. He wasn't aware that Minerva's
voice was capable of that particular screeching tone. "I'm sure Potter has a
number of other…things to divert his attention, Minerva, and he didn't strike
me as someone who was enamored with the idea of parenthood."
"Severus!"
Severus' other eyebrow shot to his hairline as his head swiveled towards the
doorway. There was a hint of anger in the refined voice. "Narcissa?"
The blonde-haired woman sailed into the room, projecting an angry air even
though there wasn't a hair out of place. Stalking over to Severus, Narcissa
tossed another scroll at him, which Severus just managed to catch. "I heard
what you said, Severus, but I never took you for an idiot before! Read that and
then tell me that Harry Potter doesn't want to be a father!"
Narcissa folded her arms over her chest and Severus saw a look exchanged
between the two women. Moving the Ministry papers to one side, Severus
carefully unrolled the slightly battered parchment, his eyes automatically
scanning to the bottom where he recognized the scrawled signature. His heart
skipped a beat and Severus felt the breath catch in his chest as he returned to
the top. His eyes quickly scanned the excerpt of Wizarding law, his emotions
swirling inside him as he tried to change the unsettled feeling in the pit of
his stomach into anger as he saw the demand Harry was making.
"You are carrying Potter's heir, Severus," Narcissa snapped.
"How did you get this?" Severus asked, his voice icy, not putting it past a
Malfoy to use this to their own advantage.
"The old Black family house-elf brought it to Andromeda this afternoon when I
was there helping with young Ted. Mumbled something about not knowing if his
master was going to live until tomorrow and Potter would want this to go to his
other heir if something happened to him."
"Of course," Minerva interjected. "Teddy is Potter's godson."
Severus found himself on his feet, one hand on his belly as the other crumpled
the parchment, before throwing it down on the table. "What did Kreacher mean,
if his master didn't live until tomorrow?"
Narcissa gave him a disapproving stare. "I would assume that Potter must have
fallen ill since you threw him out!"
"Severus!" Minerva admonished. "How could you do that? Potter's utterly devoted
to you and that child!"
"Absolutely," Narcissa agreed. "Decidedly unSlytherin-like to throw away a
chance at such a promising future, Severus, especially with someone of Potter's
social standing and potential."
Severus had heard enough rhetoric. He'd done what he thought he had to by
pushing Harry away for his own sake, giving the young man a chance to make a
choice. Perhaps, Severus would have done better simply dousing Harry with
Veritaserum and asking him, but the deep-seated fear of rejection had stopped
him from taking that course of action. Now, it appeared that Harry had gotten
himself into yet another situation from which he needed rescuing. The boy
needed a minder!
"Kreacher!" Severus snapped, the baby kicking suddenly.
The ancient house-elf appeared in front of him with a crack, bowing low.
"Master's Snape summon Kreacher?"
"Where is your master?" Severus demanded, looming over the elf.
"Master be in his room at Grimmauld Place, sir." The watery eyes were filled
with dislike. "Master be dying."
"Take me to him at once!" Severus' heart was thundering.
Kreacher gave him a sly look. "Master said not to be allowing anyone in."
Severus stepped even closer, ignoring the whispered conversation between the
witches behind him. "If your master dies, house-elf, the child I carry becomes
your new master, which means you will answer to me until it is of age and I
will make your life unbearable!" he ground out. "Take me NOW!"
House-elf magic seemed more refined than wizard magic, the Apparation process
more comfortable than the usual squeeze and pull. In an instant, Severus was
standing at the foot of a bed in a dim room, a sour, musty smell assaulting his
nose. Waving his hand at the torch he knew was on the wall, Severus was
appalled at the sight of Harry's gaunt, scruffy face, but his heart seemed
lighter for some reason. It was obvious that Harry hadn't been eating, or
taking care of himself, but a quick diagnostic spell revealed a fever and
respiratory infection. Despite Kreacher's proclamation of doom, Harry seemed to
have succumb to exhaustion and a cold.
"Kreacher, you will return to Hogwarts and immediately bring Madam Pomfrey
back," Severus said, unbuttoning his cuffs as he continued to issue the house-
elf instructions. Conjuring a bowl, Severus filled it with warm water from his
wand, and Transfigured a magazine into a flannel. Severus moved to the head of
the bed, reaching down to gently brush the fringe off Harry's hot forehead.
"Idiot boy, you know you can't live without me."
                                    ***/***
Harry stirred, his eyes opening slowly to a softly lit room, warm and pain-
free. Stretching, Harry took a deep breath, pleased to find that his lungs
didn't protest and that the horrible wheezing sound was gone. Harry Summoned
his glasses, sliding them on as he pulled himself up on the pillows, startled
when the effort left him winded. The room around him was clean and tidy, the
curtains open to allow in filtered sunshine. Vague memories of being cared for
by gentle, soothing hands flashed through his mind.
"I brought you some soup."
Harry's head snapped to the doorway where Severus stood, a tray held in front
of him almost like a shield. Was it possible Severus was nervous? The choice of
words didn't escape Harry; they'd been part of a recurring nightmare he'd
suffered since that afternoon at Hogwarts. As Severus moved forward, Harry's
eyes focused on his gently rounded belly as he walked to the bed, his hands
clenching at the bedding to keep from reaching out to touch it. The tray was
settled across his lap, with a bowl of thin soup and a mug of weak tea.
Harry looked up, heart in his throat, and strived for something witty and adult
to say. "Looks delicious, Sev…sir, which has the Veritaserum?"
Severus folded his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at Harry. "Your
idiotic neglect of the simplest self-preservation tasks has put you in this
situation, Mr. Potter, and you will eat watered soup and porridge until your
stomach is capable of digesting anything more sophisticated." Severus sniffed.
"Hot cocoa lends itself better to masking the taste of Veritaserum, actually."
Harry felt a grin curl his lips, hope blossoming within him as picked up the
spoon, only to find his hand shaking. Embarrassed, Harry tried to hold the
spoon steady as he leaned over the bowl to scoop some into his mouth.
"Idiot boy!" Severus admonished him, his voice almost affectionate, as he sat
down on the bed facing Harry. "I'll feed you as I've no desire to clean bedding
again."
Harry leaned back on the pillows, not sure how he was supposed to act as
Severus leaned close to spread a serviette across his chest. His closeness made
Harry tingle and he closed his eyes for a second, only to fly open when he felt
Severus' fingers trace his jawline. Severus met his gaze, allowing Harry to
glimpse vulnerability in their depths, before moving away to pick up the bowl
off the tray.
"You'll need to immediately hone any nurturing skills that you possess, in
order to care for our child," Severus told him, carefully spooning broth into
Harry's mouth. "In order to do that, you'll continue to perfect your technique
by massaging lotion into my skin, with particular interest in the areas of the
most swelling: feet, ankles, abdomen, and anything else that might appear to
need it."
Harry almost choked on his swallow of soup when he realized what Severus meant
and he looked into the neutral face that Severus wore. Slowly, Harry reached
his hand out and laid it on Severus' belly. Watching his face, Harry saw
Severus relax, before giving Harry another spoonful.
"We will discuss the last names, but it seems a premature discussion until
after we have bonded. I do, however, favor a hyphenated last name as a familial
link to both heritages."
"Bonding?" Harry felt his grin stretch across his face until it hurt. "Like
getting married, bonding?"
 
"Of course, getting married bonding!" Severus snapped, giving him a look as he
fed Harry the last of the soup. "Perhaps around your birthday at that cottage
on the coast you told me about."
"Brilliant!" Harry breathed as Severus picked up the teacup before Banishing
the tray.
"Then I accept your proposal," Severus said as he shifted to sit beside Harry,
putting his arm around Harry to hold the teacup. "I will expect frequent sexual
liaisons, as well."
Leaning into Severus' warmth, Harry allowed himself to feel the joy bubbling up
inside him. He buried his face in Severus' throat as the emotion threatened to
overwhelm him, his hand rubbing circles on the baby bump below Severus' heart.
A finger tilted his chin up, dark eyes examining his face.
"We'll discuss our theories on child-rearing," Severus said, brushing his lips
over Harry's, "later."
Harry agreed enthusiastically as Severus kissed him breathless.
                                    ***/***
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