The Domino Effect

Title: The Domino Effect
Author: Dr. Jeckell & Mrs. Hyde (aka Taran & Magdelena)
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Harry Potter/Severus Snape, Ron Weasley/Draco Malfoy (secondary pairing)
Warnings: Non-consensual sex, Violence, Adult Language, Sexual Situations, Graphic Sexual Content, Rimming, MPreg
Summary: HP/SS – Slash – Chapter 16 of ?. Harry discovers that when he kills Voldemort, all of the Death Eaters will die as well because of the bond that they share with the Dark Lord through their Marks. Harry vows to do anything it takes to allow Severus Snape to escape that fate.
Disclaimer: We do not own any of the characters herein (only the plot). All the characters in the Harry Potter universe belong exclusively to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers, and anyone else JKR chooses to allow to play with them. We are publishing our fanfiction writings only for our own selfish desire to be a part of their world.
Authors’ Note: Thanks to the incredibly wonderful Sev1970 for betaing this story.

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Chapter Sixteen – The Spy Who Loved

Remus contacted Albus, as well as Harry’s friends, assuring them that both Harry and Severus were fine. Remaining with the two for several days to be sure Severus was not going to get worse, Remus witnessed with his own eyes that, indeed, Severus’ health was improving rapidly merely with Harry’s presence, and he bid the pair farewell, promising to check in on them soon.

Harry was true to his word to Severus. He never bothered the pregnant wizard during the days, keeping to himself, writing numerous letters and floo calling Hogwarts several times a day to inform the others of Severus’ progress.

Several large parcels had appeared for Harry, and the Potions Master wondered briefly at the large tomes and stacks of parchment that Harry had been perusing each night, but dismissed the younger man’s activities as pertaining to the NEWT exams that he wasn’t aware Harry wasn’t even scheduled to take.

When Severus found his strength beginning to return, he began to decorate the nursery in earnest. Harry only offered to help once, but at a glare from Severus, he backed away and didn’t ask again. Severus ignored the fact that Harry would occasionally appear at the doorway, bringing him food, drink, or nutritional potions, as if he was waiting for Severus to change his mind and allow him to help. Severus went about his decorating, but he always sensed when Harry gave up and left the room.

When Severus felt the child moving within him, he longed to share those tender moments of the miracle he was carrying with his bonded, but then just as suddenly he would realize exactly how he had found himself in this situation. Severus ached with hurt and desire for something he thought he could never have with the younger wizard. It was only at night when Harry quietly slipped into the bed beside him, spooning up behind him protectively, that Severus would let down his guard and allow himself to believe that perhaps Harry was sincere in his words.

The next several months, at times, seemed to pass slowly, and at others seemed to speed by. Friends came to visit, and Liam and Josephina checked up on Severus every week. Josephina even offered her midwife services should Severus need help during delivery. She had given Severus instructions on how to breathe during labor and how to focus on one focal point to help him manage the pain. Severus wasn’t worried about the pain; after all, he’d been through many painful curses from Voldemort over the years.

In almost no time, the odd little family found itself with only two short weeks remaining before Severus’ due date. Severus had been in a flurry of activity that day, straightening and cleaning the little cottage with both magical and Muggle means.

He grumbled to himself as he realized that he was experiencing exactly what Poppy had predicted… nesting impulses. He snorted at the insanity of the other ‘impulses’ that had returned. Poppy had mentioned that sexual desire, often absent through much of a pregnancy, would return with vigor in the final weeks before giving birth.

Much as he wanted to, Severus found it difficult to stop his thoughts from wandering to his child’s other father, and how the tight denim jeans the young man seemed to enjoy wearing stretched ever so pleasantly across Harry’s long legs and tight arse as he bent and moved. Berating himself silently for his lack of control, Severus again began cleaning with vigor.

By the end of the day, he was exhausted emotionally as well as physically. Half the day had been spent in tears as he cleaned, thinking about all that might have been if Harry hadn’t betrayed him. The other half was spent in angry fits, throwing things at Harry when he dared interrupt Severus’ ‘nesting impulses’ or offered assistance.

They managed to sit through a quiet supper without Severus bursting into tears or yelling, though Harry saw the play of emotions clearly in Severus’ dark eyes. He watched closely as Severus fidgeted in his chair, shifting frequently and looking uncomfortable, but he kept quiet, not wanting to upset the pregnant man needlessly.

After clearing the table, Harry watched Severus waddle carefully out of the room. When Severus had returned to his bedroom, Harry went to the fireplace to make a call.

Severus sighed tiredly as he closed the bedroom door. His back was aching terribly and was going to lie down, but realized suddenly that he needed to use the bathroom in a hurry. When he was finished, he began to return to the bedroom, but the sound of Harry’s voice made him pause. He stepped towards the living room to find out who Harry was talking to. What he heard made his feet stop and his heart freeze.

“I want everything taken care of. I asked for this to be done weeks ago, and it is still not handled to my satisfaction. I want my child to have the best of everything, and in order to do that, I need you to ready everything for me.”

“You bloody liar!” Severus yelled angrily once Harry had closed the firecall. “You always intended to take the baby from me! How could I have ever believed…?”

“No, Severus. You have it all wrong.”

“The hell I do. I heard you talking…” He turned and stepped into the bedroom.

“To my solicitor at Gringotts,” Harry called out before Severus could slam the door shut. When Severus paused, he continued. “He was supposed to have everything drawn up weeks ago. I’ve had accounts set up for both you, and for our child, as well as drawing up my will ensuring that our child receives, upon my death, not only all the Potter holdings, but the Black holdings as well.

“I’ve also drawn up papers stipulating that I give sole and complete custody to you. It’s been difficult because apparently it’s rare for a parent to want to give total support to a child while not being afforded equal custodianship. But we’ve finally got it all worked out. The baby is yours, legally, and he or she, and you, will have my financial support even if I should die.”

“But you might have other children…” Severus said softly as he turned back to look at Harry. “And the point is moot. Because of our bond when you die, I will die as well.”

“No, that’s part of what I’ve been doing, researching. There isn’t much information, as you well know, but when you have the child, the bond will change even further. Your life force will no longer be tied entirely with mine. And as for other children… Severus there won’t ever be anyone but you. So there are no future lovers for me, no future children, other than our own.”

“You don’t know that, you can’t. You’re too young.” Severus didn’t want to believe that Harry would never love anyone else. That would mean believing that Harry truly loved him and that was a fantasy best left to his dreams.

“Actually, Severus, I’m far too old. I was supposed to die in this conflict too, you know. I was supposed to die when Voldemort did. The only future I have, the only reason I have for living, is right here in front of me.”

Whatever answer Severus might have given was cut off as his back cramped painfully.

“Bloody hell, are you all right?” Harry said as he rushed to Severus’ side.

“I’m fine,” Severus said as he tried to stretch the cramped muscles. “Just have a sore back. Must be from all the cleaning I did today.”

Harry nodded and carefully helped him to the bedroom. He helped Severus ready himself for bed, then tucked him in. He risked kissing Severus’ forehead and smiled softly when his former professor allowed it. Quietly he crept from the room as Severus had already fallen asleep.

Several hours later, Severus awoke with a painful start. His back was cramping up again and though he was warm and otherwise comfortable, he couldn’t get back to sleep. Harry must have come to bed while he had slept, for he felt Harry pressed up against him from behind, as had become their custom. In Harry’s arms, he couldn’t help feeling secure and even happy.

He thought about what Harry had said that evening about giving Severus full, legal, custody of the baby. At first he was elated to know he wouldn’t have to fight Harry over the baby, but the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to cry. For all Harry had talked about loving him and the baby, the younger man wasn’t willing to fight for them. It made him feel even more unwanted than ever.

Carefully and quietly, Severus pulled himself from Harry’s embrace and off the bed. He crept to his dresser and opened the top drawer. Inside he found the letter Harry had sent him several months earlier. With shaking hands he took it out and walked slowly to door. He turned back to glance at Harry as he slept. Sadly, he watched as Harry moved into his side of the bed, and then he walked out of the door and into the nearby nursery.

Severus gingerly sat in the rocking chair in the nursery and looked around. The room was finally finished and was exactly what he had wanted. The theme was Noah’s Ark, with the crib for a ship and many animals spread out in the room, on the walls, the ceiling, the floor, as well as little stuffed toys the baby could play with when he or she was older.

Severus gasped as pain lanced through his back. He closed his eyes until the pain had dissipated some. He sighed heavily and looked down at the little brown envelope in his hand. He had to know what Harry had written so long ago and why he had never asked Severus about the letter.

Tears welled up in his eyes as Severus read the letter. No one had ever cared so much for him, not his parents, not even Albus had loved him so deeply. He began to realize that Harry hadn’t given up, but was only doing as Severus had asked. He was willing to break his own heart to give Severus what he most wanted, a choice.

By the time he had finished the letter, Severus was crying openly. He finally admitted to himself his love and need for the young man that had tricked him into living, and came to realize that his choice to die with Voldemort wasn’t just out of a need for freedom, but out of loneliness as well. He didn’t want to live alone, but hadn’t felt worthy of anyone’s love. Harry had shown him otherwise. Worthy or not, Harry loved him and he didn’t have to be alone anymore.

Just as he was about to rise from the chair and return to Harry’s side, pain seared through Severus’ spine and branched out to cover his entire body. He gasped loudly and sat back panting.

“Harry?” he called weakly. He swallowed hard, then tried to call again, but his second cry didn’t come out much louder than the first. Taking a deep breath, he finally was able to call out loud enough for Harry to hear him. “HARRY!!” he screamed in pain and fear.


~TBC~

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Authors’ Notes: Thank you also to all of our reviewers. We're sorry that once again RL has taken over, and caused us to have *gulp* three months between our postings. *meep*

If anyone is interested, Magdelena has a yahoo group to update you on when we update. Sign up here: http:// groups.yahoo.com/ group/ magdelenas_menagerie/ (take out the spaces between the //'s to make the link work!)