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 17 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 Seventeen – It’s Time!

Harry shifted restlessly in the bed, his body automatically moving into the warm area that Severus had just vacated moments earlier. He breathed in the clean, spicy aroma of Severus’ shampoo on the other wizard’s pillowcase, and was subconsciously soothed, again drifting off into a peaceful slumber. Several minutes later, however, his rest was abruptly ended when he heard Severus’ scream.

Bounding from the bed, Harry raced towards Severus’ voice, which sounded as if it was coming from the nursery. His heart leapt into his throat as he took in the sight of Severus gasping for breath, one hand protectively covering his abdomen as the other stretched back behind him, pressing against his lower back.

Harry stopped in front of the rocking chair Severus was perched in, panic and fear setting in for Severus’ life as well as the life of their unborn child. “Oh, sweet Merlin! Severus, what’s wrong?”

“I-“ Severus gasped, his eyes widening in shock. “I think my water just broke!”

“Water? What water?” Harry said, anxiously looking around the floor for a broken water glass.

“MY water, you fool!” Severus growled impatiently, his fear subsiding some as he realized he was in labor and the baby wasn’t in any immediate danger.

“Your water… OH! Oh, bloody hell! You’re in labor!” Harry’s jaw hung open for a moment as he stared at Severus’ belly. “I have to call Poppy! No, wait! St. Mungo’s!” Harry rushed from the room, then came running back. “No, I have to call Remus! He wanted to know the moment you went into labor.”

Severus sighed and shook his head. “Wonderful! I’m bonded to an idiot! He can face the darkest wizard of our day without flinching, but he can’t even organize a thought when it comes to delivering our baby,” he mumbled to himself before calling loudly after the younger man. “Harry!” he shouted. “Go get Josephina,” he continued a bit more calmly when Harry rushed back into the room.

“Josephina?” Harry questioned, momentarily forgetting who she was.

“The midwife?!”

“OH! Right! Josephina!” Harry turned to leave, then looked back at Severus. “Shouldn’t I take you to St. Mungo’s?”

“Harry,” Severus started with strained patience. “I can’t Apparate, I can’t floo, and I sure as hell can’t Portkey!”

“Oh, right! I’ll go get Josephina and bring her here!”

Severus shook his head dismally as Harry hurried out again. He struggled to his feet, wincing in pain with every movement. He stepped out of the nursery and nearly walked right into Harry, who had returned carrying several scrolls of parchment.

“Here! You have to sign these!” Harry said breathlessly.

“NOW?!” Severus asked incredulously.

“Yes, it’s the custody papers. They have to be signed before the baby comes!” Harry thrust the papers, which had only arrived late that evening, into Severus’ shaking hands. He wouldn’t meet Severus’ gaze, but the Potions Master could clearly see the pain in Harry’s eyes as he spoke his next words. “I’ve already signed, but for it to be legal you need to sign as well signifying that you agree to everything.”

Severus clutched the papers to his chest as another wave of pain broke across his back. When the pain had lessened, he walked to the kitchen door and retrieved Harry’s Firebolt, ignoring Harry’s mutterings about calling Remus. He handed Harry the broom and feigned a smile.

“You go get Josephina and I’ll call Remus,” he articulated slowly to ensure Harry’s comprehension.

“Right! The midwife!” Harry grabbed the broom and quickly left the little cottage.

Severus sighed with relief and turned to go back to bed. As he pivoted on his heel, he caught sight of the low burning fire in the hearth. He looked down at the scrolls in his arms and stared at them for several moments before coming to a decision. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and threw the papers into the fire. He watched them burn for a moment, a tug of hope pulling his lips into a smile while he gently rubbed his abdomen. He returned to his bed and before he knew it, Josephina was rushing to his side, Harry on her heels.

“Severus!” she exclaimed when she saw his pale face. “How far apart are the contractions?”

“No contractions,” Severus informed her as he shifted, trying to find a comfortable position for his aching back. “My back…” He groaned as his back spasmed again.

“Oh dear! I should have warned you! Some women… err, birth-givers… experience contractions centered in their lower backs rather than in their abdomens,” Josephina explained before turning her attention to Harry.

“What can I do?” Harry asked nervously.

“Go boil some water. Then get some clean flannels and towels,” she told him. Harry nodded and quickly left the room.

“Why is it,” Severus asked between gasps, “that people always boil water when someone has a baby?”

“It keeps the husband occupied,” Josephina joked. She helped Severus move into a more comfortable position, then had him bend his knees. She uncovered Severus’ lower body, and placed a soft warm blanket over him. “It’s also for sterilizing my equipment,” she explained when he was settled.

“Equipment?” Severus asked with uncertainty. He watched as she pulled a towel-wrapped bundle from her bag and placed it on one of the bedside tables. As she opened it, Severus saw various knives and several different apparatuses he didn’t recognize, and didn’t want to think about what they may be used for.

“Relax, Severus,” she said calmly when she noticed him watching her. “Most likely, I won’t need any of this, but it’s better to have everything on hand, just in case.”

“Here you are,” Harry said as he brought in a large pot of steaming water. He nearly dropped it onto the floor when he saw the knives. “Anything else?” he asked in a high-pitched voice. Josephina thought he was going to faint as he stared at the utensils.

“Yes, Harry. A cup of tea, please.”

Harry gave Severus a worried look before nodding and racing from the room.

Severus sighed and shook his head at Harry’s antics. “Perhaps after all this is over he will remember he is a wizard and could have easily conjured both the hot water and the tea.”

Josephina chuckled for a moment as she started dipping her tools into the hot water, then turned to address Severus. She spoke softly, hoping to distract him from his continued worried glances at the sharp instruments.

“When did the pain in your back begin, Severus? And, do you know how far apart the contractions are?”

“I… I don’t…”

“About twelve hours ago,” Harry said as he came back into the room. He was carrying a teacup with both hands and held it out to her. He kept his eyes on Severus the whole time. “And unless he had another while we were gone, I’d estimate that his back pains are spaced out about five or six minutes apart.”

“That’s for you, dear,” she said with a kind smile to Harry, indicating that he should drink the tea he had brought. “You just might prove to be helpful yet. Now sit next to Severus and calm down.”

Harry did as he was told and pulled up a chair next to Severus. He sipped the tea as instructed, then set the cup down on the second nightstand. He lightly stroked Severus’ sweaty forehead with one hand and took one of Severus’ hands into his other. He was suddenly very serene, even while Severus was groaning in pain. He knew at this moment that no matter what ever happened in the future, that he could no longer regret his actions to save Severus’ life. Though he was saddened that he would never be accepted as a part of Severus’ or his own child’s futures, he couldn’t help but be amazed at the dawning miracle that he was a part of.

“Severus, do you remember how I taught you to breathe? I need you to start doing that. It will help you control the pain. Harry, I know damn well that you were listening in when I was instructing Severus. I want you to do it with him. Help him stay calm,” Josephina instructed.

Harry reached out instinctively to link his fingers with Severus’, and gently led the other wizard in the breathing exercises he had indeed been paying rapt attention to.

When the pair had gotten a good rhythm going, Josephina lifted the blanket covering Severus’ lower body. “Now, Severus, I’m going to clean you up a bit and see how far dilated you are, okay?”

Severus nodded and the midwife began doing her job. Though she was Muggle, she had helped with nearly all the deliveries in the little town for the last twenty years, so even though this was the first child she had delivered from a man, Severus had every confidence in her. If there were any complications that she couldn’t handle, Harry could fetch Poppy in an instant.

The next several hours passed in a blur for Severus. Though his water had broken quickly, he hadn’t dilated fully until an hour after. Then it was an hour of pushing, crying, screaming and cursing. Through it all, Harry stayed by his side, holding his hand, stroking his forehead, cooing softly and panting with him, even through the transition phase when Severus spat every vile word he could think of at Harry.

Then suddenly, it was over. The blood-soaked babe slid from Severus’ body with a whoosh and moments later, a fierce cry pierced the air. Both wizards had tears of joy sliding down their cheeks as they watched Josephina attend to their newborn son. In a few short minutes, she had the child bundled securely in a warm blanket, and laid him on his father’s chest. Instinctively, the baby turned towards what he most needed and latched onto Severus’ nipple. Harry watched in wonder as he stood beside the bed and witnessed as Severus cradled their son to his chest for his first feeding.


~TBC~

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Authors’ Notes: Thank you to all of our reviewers. We're still struggling in RL and we thank you for your continued patience. Just a couple more chapters to go!

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