Deserving (Final Chapter)

Title: Deserving
Author: Moon of the Sea
Beta: Ellie perverted.intellectual@gmail.com
Chapter 13



The next morning Severus found the coins for his deed on the night table. He was grateful that the coins had not been tossed at him. He placed them in the bottom drawer of the chest where Harry allowed him to keep his purple nightgown. When they went down for breakfast they found Kreacher in the kitchen serving up a special breakfast.

“Snape, I think he is giving you a honeymoon breakfast,” Harry said mockingly.

“Kreacher knows I only have tea and toast in the morning now that I am no longer with child.”

Harry took a second look at the table and found that Kreacher had made all his favourites. It warmed his heart to see that someone still thought about him.

He sat down with a smile. “Thanks, Kreacher, you’re the best.” He took a couple of bites when he remembered he had some errands for Kreacher. He accioed the chest and stopped it in mid air at Kreacher’s reach. The little elf took the chest and looked at Harry for directions. “Please take this to my vault at Gringotts. It belongs to Severus but he will need my permission to access it. Is this clear?”

Kreacher looked at Severus then at Harry and nodded. “Yes, Harry Potter Sir, Kreacher is doing what Kreacher is told to do.”

“Then you will go to Madam Malkin and ask her to make a new wardrobe for Snape. He is my husband now and I don’t want him walking around with hand me downs. Is this clear?”

“Is Kreacher taking Master Severus to Madame Malkin?” asked the little elf.

“Master?” questioned the Savior of the Wizarding World.

“Master Severus is now married to Harry Potter Sir. This is making him my master also.”

Harry saw the logic behind the elf’s thinking but was not about to allow the ‘master’ business in his house.

“Yes, well, you do know how I feel about the word ‘master.’ I do not allow you to use it with me and I will not allow you to use it with him. You can call him ‘sir’ but none of this ‘master’ business.”

“Yes, Harry Potter Sir. Will Kreacher be taking Severus Sir to Madam Malkin?” he asked again.

“No, she has his measurements. She just took them. I am sure she can use them. Tell her he will need casual and formal wear. Oh yes and he will also need pajamas. I do not want to see him wearing...”

“Sir, will you be saying goodbye to Richard?” Severus conveniently interrupted.

Harry caught on with Severus’ intent and decided he was not in the mood to ruffle any feathers. “Yes, of course I will,” he said standing to go to the nursery.

***

The following night Harry was sitting in his favourite chair in the sitting room reading a book when Severus walked in. He had just put Richard down for the night and sat in the chair that Harry had assigned him after the birth of their son. Severus sat down after a long day to enjoy the warmth from the hearth and to do a bit of knitting. It had become a favourite pastime once he had mastered the art.
Severus dropped his head back and closed his eyes in frustration. He had forgotten that his knitting basket was in the kitchen. He had braced the two chair arms to lift himself up when he heard his husband say, “Accio Severus’ knitting.” When the basket landed on the stunned man’s lap he said a soft ‘thank you’ but his husband just continue to read.

Random acts such as this one continued for the next two weeks and Severus was at a loss. Why? Why the change? Harry hated the fact that he was married to him but yet he was being quite civil to him. He decided he needed answers, so that night after putting Richard down to bed he sat in the chair on the other side of the hearth. Harry was reading and did not acknowledge his presence. Severus cleared his voice.

“Your knitting is right besides your chair,” said the kid without raising his eyes from the book.

“Yes, husband, I know. Ah... whe... ah...”

Harry put his book down. “Are you really at a lost for words? You, Severus Snape?”

Severus had to admit he did sound quite dim-witted, so he straightened himself up in his chair and said, “May I ask you a question, sir?”

Harry smiled a wicked smile, “It is too tempting to respond that you have already asked but then I would sound just like an arrogant professor I had at Hogwarts.”

Yes of course the kid was right. It had been poorly phrased. Severus took a deep breath and then let it out. “Why are you being kind to me?”

Harry turned his head to the fire. Suddenly he was mesmerized by it. “On our wedding day I took an oath, on my magic, to protect and provide for you. I do not take my oaths lightly.”

Ah... the Gryffindor Code of Honour, yes that would explain it. This brought calm to the troubled potions master’s head. Severus needed order, logic, sense, and now this was restored. Harry was just catering to his Gryffindor’s sensibilities.

He was brought back to reality by the voice of his husband.

“Listen, I know that... well... you don’t like it but I am going to need for you to tend to my needs from time to time. Look, it is not like I need it all that often. I was thinking maybe once or twice a month...” said the guide still looking into the fire.

Severus was looking at him in disbelief. He was a young healthy man and was asking for once or twice a MONTH.

“Husband, I assure you I have no problems fulfilling my duties as your spouse. To be honest last time was not even painful.”

He was not lying. The lube had helped and he knew that as long as this little commodity was granted he could deal with his marital obligations.

“So is tonight alright with you?” questioned the Gryffindor a bit too timidly for Severus’ taste. Why was he even asking? He was still in control here. Severus was the Marked One and he was the Guide; a representative of the Light and backed by the Ministry of Magic itself.

“Shall I go upstairs Sir?”

Harry simply nodded but when Severus reached the stairs, “Make sure to apply the lube.”

And it was Severus’ turn to simply nod even when he was sure that Harry could not see him from his seated position.

Almost an hour had passed by when Harry finally entered the bedroom. He was stunned to find Severus naked and kneeling.

“You don’t have to do that. You can wait in bed.”

Severus didn’t know what puzzled him more: Harry’s actions or his reactions. He didn’t know how to feel. He still had crimes to atone for. Had Harry forgiven him? Did he have the right to forgive him without properly punishing him for his wrong doings?

“I said you can get on the bed.”

Severus got up but all of a sudden he had lost all intelligence. He had no idea how to lie in bed. Should he lie on his stomach or on his back? Should he...

“Snape is there something wrong?” asked Harry who was already lying on the bed; naked.

Severus was feeling very awkward so he decided to lie on his stomach. He froze when Harry slid his arm between his arm and his chest and scooped him up onto his side. He was grateful that he was still facing away from Harry but caught his breath when Harry began to fondle his nipples.

“Am I hurting you?”

“No of course not, I was just startled.”

He wished Harry would stop this. His guide had always been in control. He did not like this meek man that lay behind him. Even Harry’s erection, that was pocking him in the back, felt weaker then it used to be. Did he need his anger in order to perform at maximum capacity?

He felt the kid nudging in all the wrong places back there so he decided to help. He grabbed his upper butt cheek and pulled it up so Harry could have a better aim. It worked. Soon his husband was thrusting and to Severus’ surprise he was still stroking Severus’ nipples. Was he, Severus Snape, really getting into this? He decided to help his husband by squeezing his internal muscles.

“Yesss,” hissed his husband from behind. “Do that again,” he pleaded.

Severus did it again and again and... oh Harry was now bitting into his collar bone. That felt odd. He could not tell if odd bad or odd good. Or was it that he was afraid to think it through.

“Good... like that... again.” He slammed in and out without an objective simply thrusting to get off. His nose was on Severus’ neck and he inhaled loudly. “You always smell so good; so sweet.”

Was he actually pleasing his husband? Should he ask his husband for permission to stroke himself? But there was no need to ponder on that last question because right then and there Harry shot his load. Severus found himself closing his eyes in frustration.

“Go clean your self up,” was the short order.

When Severus entered the privacy of the loo he contemplated for a second pleasing himself, but the coldness of the tiles and porcelain turned him off the idea. When he came out he found his husband asleep and his payment on the night stand.

***

The next day Kingsley called him into his office. Harry had not yet crossed the threshold when his chief fired his questions.

“What do you have against her? Against her child? Or are you just prejudice against all Slytherins?”

“Kings, for some god forsaken reason you are under the impression that I can read minds. What are you on about?”

Kings glared at him. “What am I on about? What am I on about? I will tell you what I am on about, Mr. Potter. Does the name Pansy Parkinson ring a bell? And does the image of her under nourished child come up in that pea brain of yours?”

Oh, that, yes... Harry felt the weight of his guilt come crashing down upon him. He knew that Kingsley was right in being cross.

“Kings, look, I know I screwed up. You have to understand, at that moment I was so intent on saving my son... well, I was just not thinking.”

“And now a mother and a child that could have been saved are back in a place of violence and abuse.” He said falling down into his chair in defeat.

Harry’s heart shrunk. He had screwed up royally.

“Kings I assure you, it wasn’t until the dust settled that I realized that I could have helped her. Maybe I can call her guide and tell him I have reconsidered.”

“No, we will need that for a dire moment. The Guides consider you ruthless when it comes to the Marked Ones and this could work to our advantage.”

Harry was having such a hard time imagining anyone thinking of him as ruthless that he didn’t even pick up on the ‘we’ and the ‘our’ that Kingsley was throwing out there.

“Kings, because of him, my parents are dead, because of him my godfather is dead, because of him the greatest leader of our times is dead and now we have no guidance,” he said not lifting his eyes from his trainers.

There was so much Kingsley could argue on what had been said but it was wiser to pick his battles.

“A true leader makes leaders.”

***

That night Severus woke up in the middle of the night to find an empty bed. Once his eyes adjusted he found Harry in the window seat staring out into the night.

“Husband, are you well?”

Harry simply nodded not moving his gaze from the darkness outside.

“Can I get you something?”

Harry shook his head.

Yet again Severus had no choice but to feel sorry for the kid. He looked so lonely there in the night and so, so sad. If it were day time he could bring Richard in, that would surely brighten up the kid but that was not an option. He settled back in bed but he could not sleep knowing that Harry was troubled by something. He did not want to show his concern so he lay there very still trying to fain sleep. It was no use after two hours of this and still no Harry in their bed; he sat up again.

“Sometimes it helps to talk about it.”

Harry turned his face to look towards Severus, considered his words, and then turned back to the window. After minutes of silence, “I just wasn’t thinking.”

Severus froze. What was Harry talking about? Did he feel remorse for what he had done?

“I didn’t want to hurt her or her kid,” he replied in a monotone.

“Her?” questioned a very lost Severus.

“Pansy”

“Miss Parkinson?”

Harry nodded again.

“When did you see Miss Parkinson and her child?”

Harry explained in the same monotone what had happened, leaving Severus at a loss for words. Had this kid, the Saviour of the Wizarding World, really turned into a monster, with out any feelings or compassion? Severus had risked his life to give his son a family life; the family life that he had never had. He had believed that Harry would be a good and caring father, but now that seemed very naive on his part.

“Why did you send her back? What did she ever do to you? Did you simply hate her for being a Slytherin?”

“NO!” screamed Harry, finally shaken out of his lethargic state. “I did not mean to do it. I was just so worried about Richard. They had taken you away. My child needed nourishment...”

“HER CHILD NEEDED NOURISHMENT!”

“YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT?” he looked down at nothing in his hands. “I just couldn’t bare the sight of her. She was nothing of the cheeky girl back at Hogwarts.”

“So getting rid of her made it all go away,” whispered the Professor.

“Accio Firebolt,” ordered Harry.

Severus saw the door open and the broom fly to Harry’s hands. The windows flew open and out sped the Gryffindor.

Severus let his chin drop. Yes, of course, Harry could fly away from his reality, unlike himself. He felt as if he had painted himself into a corner. Was this a repeat of a family story? Was his mother ever naive enough to think that his father would ever change? Was he being equally naive? It was hard not to be, the kid had always been kind hearted. Was it not his love that had allowed him to succeed against the Dark Lord? He had been a champion to the Wizarding World way before he could even be called a man. This was the father figure Severus had chosen for his son. This is why he had given up his freedom? What a dumb fool he had been.

***

During the weeks to come Harry continue to treat Severus with decency. Well if you did not take into consideration that the coins were always on the nightstand the morning after their copulation. Severus had decided he would not let it bother him. He was being well fed and taken care of. He was the last of the Marked Ones that could complain and he was not about to do so over some coins. Coins that had been earned with minimum discomfort and in such a short period of time.

Harry continued to enjoy his time with Richard although he did notice that the child became uneasy if he did not see Snape around. Well it was to be expected, Snape was his source of nourishment. That is not something to take lightly. Severus had noticed that this had bothered his husband and was starting to ween his child from his presence. He would have Kreacher play with him for longer and longer times, but at the end he could not help coming into the room when Richard cried for his presence.

He was waiting by the floo with Richard when Harry walked into the room.

“Look! Dad is here,” said Severus turning so Richard could see Harry.

“Dada!” said the happy little baby.

Harry and Severus stood frozen.

“Did... did he just say... Did he just say dad?” asked the shocked Gryffindor.

Severus nodded with a soft smile on his lips. He buried his nose into the side of his son’s head and whispered, “Who is that?”

“Dada!” exclaimed Richard.

Harry grabbed him in his arms and danced him around the room. “Who are you calling? Eh? Who?”

Son and father both giggles as they danced around the room. Severus had never seen Harry so happy. He left to see if dinner was ready and Harry could not stop but notice that his son was immediately looking for him. He tried to distract him by playing his son’s favourite lifting and dropping game, but to no avail. He could see the distress look on Richard’s face growing with every second of Snape’s absence. When Snape came back in Richard gave Harry his full attention. Harry comforted himself with the thought that it was the food thing.

Severus thought for sure that Harry would turn to his old ways but to his surprised he did not even ask for his marital rights that night. Severus was relieved and hoped that he had indeed not been a fool.

***

It seemed that once Richard had said his first word his vocabulary started growing none stop. Now he could also say ‘eech are’ for Kreacher and ‘up’ when he wanted the elf to levitate the pots and pans for his amusement. Severus had just brought him in from the kitchen, where Kreacher had been entertaining him, to wait for dada. And as it had now become a custom as soon as Harry stepped in Severus asked his son, “Who is that?”

“Dada” screeched the little one putting a broad smile on his dada’s face. “Up, dada, up” he followed leaving Harry in the dark.

“Kreacher entertains him by levitating the kitchen utensils,” explained the caregiver.

Understanding dawned on Harry who whipped out his wand and began to levitate everything in sight. Richard giggled none stop and Harry was in sheer bliss but the fun came to a screeching halt when Harry decided to levitate Snape. Because he did not expect it his face showed his shock sending Richard into a crying bout.

Harry immediately settled Severus and everything else down.

“Don’t cry. Snape is alright. Look,” he said turning his son so he could see his caregiver.

“I am fine. That was actually very enjoyable. Husband, why don’t you do that again?” he said smiling and shaking his son’s little hand.

Harry looked doubtful but decided to follow Snape’s lead. Severus lifted a finger asking for a minute before he acted and then sat on the floor with his legs crossed. He put is thumb and ring finger together and closed his eyes humming. Harry waved his wand and Severus starting rising. Richard looked on in amazement but had to giggle when he spotted Severus opening one eye to peek at him.

“You see, dada would never hurt him. He takes care of you,” said Harry rocking his child from side to side.

“Up, dada, up”

“Do you want me to make him go higher?”

But Richard stopped to consider this and apparently taught better of it because he stretched his arms towards Severus. Harry brought him down and handed Richard over. Richard giggled happily.

“Up, dada, up”

“What would you like me to levitate?” he asked willing to please his child.

Richard looked around and seemed indecisive, so Harry began to levitate everything in sight. Richard giggled and giggled, egged on by Severus who was jumping him up and down in his arms. Kreacher came in an immediately shot up to mid air. Harry, Severus and Richard looked stunned.

“I didn’t do it, honestly,” claimed Harry.

“Kreacher is wanting to join in the fun,” he squealed from above sending them all into a laughing frenzy.

Once he recovered Severus decided to go into the kitchen to help Kreacher bring in the dinner. When he was walking to the door Richard extended his arms and yelled “ape!” Severus froze in his tracks.

“Don’t turn,” warned Harry.

Severus closed his eyes in dismay. His son was calling out to him for the first time and he was being denied the right to turn to him.

“Ape,” called again the child trying to leap out of Harry’s arms.

Severus curled his hands into a fist.

“Who are you calling? Ah?” asked Harry trying to raise his child back into a better grip.

“Ape”

“I don’t see anyone by that name. Are you calling Papa? Is that who you’re calling?”

Snape’s eyes shot open. Had he heard correctly?

“Papa, I think Richard is calling you. Why don’t you come here, papa?”

Oh Merlin, if there were ever a time where he did not want Harry to be jesting it would be now.

“Papa! Richard is calling you.”

Severus turned around slowly and walked to his son who had his arms extended out to him.

“There you go; go with papa. That is who you wanted, right?”

Severus had his son in his arms and a knot that was burning in his throat.


A/N
This author bows her head humbly. One reviewer stated that she has been reading my work from the beginning and has seen a growth. Wow! What a compliment! As she stated “It seems practice does make perfect.” I am so far away from perfect but I know that I have improved because of all of my great readers. Yes, even the ones that don’t review. I look at the hits that my story gets every time a chapter is put up and it gives me chills to see so many reading my story. Another reviewer called me a great story teller. That would be because of the reviews I get: the good, the bad and the ugly have all helped me grow as a writer.

Your humble servant,
Moon of the Sea