Deserving (Final Chapter)

A/N Part One

I am sorry to inform that this chapter has not been beta also. This time because I did not finish until Sunday morning so I had no time to email it to Ellie. Let me know of the mistakes I have made so I can correct them asap.

About this schedule of mine, I will have to change it. For the near future I will only be updating once a week. I am aiming for Friday nights. I just can’t keep up with this schedule. Last night I felt guilty when I went to bed without finishing the chapter. I had to remind myself that this is a hobby and it should be a pleasurable experience not a stressful one.

So on with the story…

Chapter 19

On the day of Nicky’s birthday party:

“What do you mean she can’t go? Why?” Harry asked the following morning at breakfast.

“It is too dangerous for Millicent to leave the house. I distinctly remember you assuring Mr. Longbottom that you would keep her safe between the property limits,” countered Severus giving Milly a supportive smile.

“But it is a birthday party. I am sure she hasn’t had any fun in ages. And besides Kings already said that they would be safe…” starting off looking at Milly and ending directly at Severus.

“No, I believe Mr. Shacklebolt said that Baby would be safe. Millicent had not arrived when the matter was discussed.”

“Look, you seem to be forgetting who is in charge here. I am trying to be lenient in order to have a half decent family life, but make no mistakes, I see you trying to abuse my good will and I will reign you in this fast,” he said snapping his fingers.

Millicent was sitting opposite Severus with Baby in her arms. Richard was in his high chair trying to catch a banana that Kreacher was levitating in front of him. Harry looked at Millicent and noticed that she had begun to shake and was holding on too tight to her child.

“Its fine, Millicent, Snape and I are just discussing what is best for you. I am not actually going to heart him. He gets a bit opinionated sometimes,” said Harry looking at Baby for any signs of distress.

Severus got up from his chair and walked to Milly’s side. And with a feather soft voice said: “You do not want to hold him too tight. He is small and may find it difficult to breath.”

Millicent reacted by looking down on her baby to make sure he was fine and then turned and whispered to Severus: “Please, don’t cross him because of me. I will do what ever he asks. I don’t want to see him hurt you.”

But Harry heard the gist of it. He decided to place the ball on her court.

“Milly, I really think you and Baby would have a great time at the party. I hear Kings has gone all out. The children will see magical creatures that most of us didn’t see until our fourth year.” He was surprise she wasn’t impressed. “But if you don’t feel safe going, it is all right. I do want you to know that I wouldn’t let anything happen to you or Baby. You believe me right?”

She nodded but Harry was under the impression she would have nodded her consent to anything we would have asked.

“So what’s it going to be? Are you coming?”

She looked at Severus with a plea in her eyes. He gave her a little encouraging smile. “Just tell Mr. Potter what you would like to do. I assure you he will not make you do anything you do not feel comfortable with.”

She looked down at her baby and shook her head.

“No, what?” prompted Severus.

She looked up at Harry. “Sir, I do not wish to leave this place. I am warm, well fed, and with my baby. Please, do not make me leave,” she said hiding her eyes again.

“Milly,” he sang. “No one is going to make you leave. We will be back this afternoon…”

But she shook her head with more intent. “No, Sir, I do not wish to go. I like it hear and my baby is still too weak to enjoy any of the things that you have described, and…” but she stopped.

“and… what?” prompted Harry.

She looked at her professor with a plea and Severus understood her objection. He gave her a little smile and a little squeeze to her hand.

“Husband, may I see you in the sitting room?”

Harry couldn’t understand how Snape understood the unspoken plea but he was curious to find out what Milly’s objection was, so he followed Snape to the sitting room.

Severus twitched a bit when they got to the sitting room, action that Harry found strange, but he was not about to let that distract him.

“Snape, she needs to go out. She needs some fun. Look at …”

But Severus held up his hand to ask for the right to speak. Harry shut up and took a deep breath giving him the floor.

“Sir, you must understand, Millicent is a young woman,” he started off his argument.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

Severus arched his brow and took a deep breath. “I have worked with young ladies most of my life and if there is something I have learned is that they would rather die then to be seen in a less than an acceptable state.”

“Oh, come off it, Snape, she is looking a hundred percent better than she did when she arrived.”

“Yes, husband, and to you and I that is more than enough, but to Millicent it is far from being so. Anyone who knew her back in Hogwarts and sees her now will surely feel pity for her. And as you well will understand, pity is something she is not ready to face.”

Harry had to give it to Snape; he did know what he was talking about. Milly did look better but her hair was growing in odd shape. Just strands here and there. And no matter how many fitting charms Kreacher cast on her everything looked three sizes too big on her. Yes, she did inspire pity and that wasn’t fair. She was a brave young woman who had gone through so much. No, he would not expose her to that indignity.

He took a deep breath and announced: “Very well, we will leave her, but we are bringing back a balloon for Baby.”

Severus had to lower his head as not to show his amusement at his husband’s mentality. And there it was again; the twitch.

“What is wrong with you? You have been twitching all morning,” asked Harry.

“Nothing, Sir, I am fine,” tried Severus.

“Yeah, well I am not buying it. There is something wrong and I demand to know what it is. Now!”

Severus didn’t want the situation to escalate more than necessary so he decided to comply.

“It is my chest, Sir.”

“What about your chest?” asked Harry with a scrunched up face.

“I have been feeding Baby but now that his mother is here it is no longer my place to do so. And Richard is eating more and more table food and less of my milk. So I find my chest heavy with milk and I fear they might start leaking,” explained Severus.

Harry approached Snape and held his arm. “Hold on,” was the only warning before apparating them to the bedroom. There he got out his Auror belt and resized a first aid kid. He took out a long bandage and spelled Severus’ shirt off. He wrapped the bandage around Severus’ chest as if it were some kind of sport bra. Then he spelled his shirt back on.

“This should hold until you get to Poppy. She will be at the party and we will be able to ask her to solve this for you.”

“Husband, I do not think that it is fair to ask Madame Pomfrey to work at a social event. I am sure I will not die of my condition. I can wait until Monday.”

“But that must be very uncomfortable.”

“No, Sir, it really is not and I must say that your care has provided great relief to my worries,” said an unconvincing Snape.

“Have it your way, but Monday I want you to go directly to her office. Is that understood?”

Severus nodded his head.


***


Harry, Severus and Richard were greeted by plump ghost that Richard kept on trying to touch but Severus held his hands to prevent it.

“Sna…” but then remember that his son was present. “Papa, she is harmless, let him touch her.”

But Severus would not let go of Richard’s hands. Kings and Draco showed up to greet them.

“Severus!” boasted Kings.

Harry saw him coming and grabbed Richard. Kings wrapped a hand around Severus’ neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Harry smiled but he could not help but feel a bit strange about the whole scene.

“Oh, this can’t possibly be Richard. No way! Richard is a little baby. This is a strapping boy,” he said making Richard giggle. He took him in his arms and carried him way up high.

“Up, up, up,” said and giggled Richard.

“Is that my little boy?” asked Minerva as she walked in from the kitchen.

“Nope, no little boys here. Try caring him and tell me if that is the weight of a little boy. Severus what are you feeding him?” Kings asked the rhetoric question while Minerva relieved him from his cargo.

She jumped Richard up and down in her arms and leaned over to give Severus a kiss. “How are you Severus?”

“Fine, Minerva,” as he held up his hands trying to protect Richard from falling out of the headmistress’s arms.

“Will you stop worrying?” whispered Harry into Snape’s ears. Severus put his hands down just as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were walking into the room.

“Look Arthur it is Severus and little Richard,” she said as she grabbed Richard from Minerva and kissed Severus.

He moved over so she could see Harry, they stood face to face. To Severus’ great relief she gave Harry a little smile and then a kiss.

“He is beautiful,” she said of Richard.

Harry simply nodded his agreement.

“What are we all doing here when there is a party going on outside. Wait till you see the Thestrals that Hagrid brought,” announced Kings.

“Ahh, Kings, you do know that…” began Harry.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhh” was the collective cry.

“Apparently, we don’t want to hurt Hagrid’s feelings,” explained Draco.

Harry and Severus raised their eyebrows in understanding.

When they got outside Hagrid seem to be very upset with Dennis who was taking pictures of the children in front of Charley’s dragon but not one single picture in front of his invisible thestral.

Harry was stunned to see a dragon in the middle of the yard and leaned over to question Draco about it.

“Aren’t dragons dangerous?”

Draco pressed his lips together and dragged them to one side of his face. “Please, the thing is so old it is a miracle it hasn’t keeled-over.”

And to Harry’s astonishment Severus grabbed Richard and took him over to the Dragon so Dennis could take a picture. But Dennis was still auguring with Hagrid about the impossibilities of a picture with an invisible creature. Harry decided to help the arguing duo.

“Hi ya’, Hagrid,” said Harry with a broad smile.

Hagrid smiled back at him and came over to give him a bear hug. Harry then took him over to the thestrals with the excuse of having missed them. Hagrid was more than happy to reacquaint the old buddies. This gave Richard and all the other children the opportunity to take their pictures with the main attraction; the dragon.

After the picture with the dragon Richard wanted to go where all the other children were headed but Severus did not think it a good idea to take him to the Huneydukes’ stand.

“I don’t get it,” said Harry lifting one finger. “Touching a ghost; dangerous,” lifting another finger. “Standing next to a dragon; not dangerous,” lifting a third finger. “Honeydukes; dangerous. Snape!!! Are you mad?”

“DADA,” said Severus reminding him of Richard’s presence. “Have you ever run through a ghost?”

Harry thought and then remembered. Then his body hair curled up. Yep, he remembered how ire it was. He shook the memory off like a dog shakes the wetness off his body and put one of the fingers down.

“Dragon and Honeydukes,” he said pointing at each finger and demanding and explanation.

“Mr. Charles Weasley has been dealing with Dragons for almost a decade. If he feels it is safe to bring the creature to a children’s event I am sure it is because it is completely safe,” Harry lowered another finger, but still had one finger left up in front of Severus’ face.

“May I remind you that Richard is barely eating table food; sweets are totally uncalled for at this age.”

“Ahh, come off it, Snape, one sweet wont kill him. It’s a party,” and with that he took Richard from Severus’ hands and carried him over to the stand. He gave Richard a loot bag and as Severus suspected helped him fill it with all the great colored candy their son pointed at. Luckily Richard was content with filling the bag with the vibrant colored objects and had no idea that they were for consumption.

Soon it was time to sing and cut the cake. Everyone gathered around the cake and sang to Nicky who seem to want to flee Kings’ grip in order to go back and play at the pond where the funny looking creatures kept on popping in and out of the water. But when everyone started clapping he was amazed to find that they were clapping for him. He raised his little hands and out of the tips of his fingers came ‘twinkels’.

Oos and Ahs came from every direction. Kings gave out a thunder of laughter.

“Did you see that? Twinkles!!! Did you see?” he said hugging Draco with tears in his eyes.

Harry noticed how everyone present seemed to be crying with joy over the event. He looked at his son who Severus was once again restraining his hands by gathering them in his big hand and bringing them to his mouth for an unending kiss. He looked at Snape puzzled by his actions. Severus let go of Richard’s hands and Harry saw him stretching out his hands to cast twinkles. Severus gathered his son’s hands before he could cast the twinkles and whispered in his son’s ear. Harry understood what Severus was trying to do and decided to help.

“Hey, have you seen the pond?” he asked his son stretching out his hands. Richard dove into Harry’s hands and was whisked away to the pond.

Richard was instantly entertained with the creature that dwelled in the pond and Harry was startled by a big hand that grabbed him by the shoulder.

“Did you see it Harry? Did you see it?” asked Kings still visibly moved by his son’s accomplishment. Harry simply smiled at his boss who continued to speak with glossy eyes. “You have no idea what it feels like Harry, but you will. You’ll see. That little one of yours is sure to cast twinkles. He is the son of two great wizards. Yes, Harry, mark my words you will feel the pride that I am feeling,” said Kings wiping a tear in his eyes while walking away.

Harry turned his attention to his son when he heard a voice from behind.

“I knew a fine young man once,” said Poppy. “He was famous… yet humble. No matter how much attention people try to give him he wanted no part of it. I admired that young man. I have missed him. It was nice to catch a glimpse of him,” she said walking away.

The party was in its closing stages and people were starting to give their good-byes when all of a sudden they heard a loud thunder. The party goes all looked up to see two wizards falling from the sky as if from a porthole. Both had their wands out and pointing to the sky but as soon as they landed they both lowered their wands to the ground in unison. The grown lid up with magic and then two grunted cries were heard. It was Draco and Severus who had fallen to the ground, both attached to collars and chains. Harry was stunned by how fast everything was happening, but shook himself off and drew his wand. Kings and the rest fallowed suit. Poppy took Richard from Harry’s arms. And just as they had arrived the two wizards pointed their wands to the sky and rose out of reach, disappearing in matter of seconds.

Harry and Kings began to cast spell after spell in a vain attempt to free the Marked Ones. Kingsley’s elf popped in to try to help but no sooner had she appeared she was incarcerated in a cage made out of a green leafy vine. Harry was about to call Kreacher when Charlie stopped him.

“No, Harry, they have done this before. They have cast a spell and any elf that comes into this ground will be incarcerated in ivy.”

Harry took a better look at the cage and saw that it was indeed the common ivy vine. For sure he could break it, but try as he might he could not make the vine let go of its prisoner. His attention was diverted from the cage when he heard Richard cry.

“Pah pah, up pah pah, up,” cried the child trying to escape Poppy’s grip.

Harry sped over to him and took him from the matriarch.

“It’s all right, Richard, papa is going to be all right. I promise,” he said trying to keep his son in his arms. But Richard was going limp in an attempt to go down to the ground next to his papa.

Next to Draco, Kings was living the same situation.

“Daddy is fine, little one, I assure you he is. Why don’t we take a nape with daddy?” suggested Kings and with that he pointed his wand at Draco and a blanket appeared under his husband. Kings placed Nicky on Draco’s chest and lay beside his husband and child. This seemed to calm little Nicky and Harry saw that it was a good idea, so he did the same. Only he did not place Richard on Severus’ chest because he remembered Severus’ affliction. Richard was immediately calmer when placed at Severus’ side and when Harry lay down he could see his little one smile. Harry couldn’t believe he was so impotent in this situation.

“Have any ideas?” he asked his husband.

Severus simply shook his head.

“Listen, I may not know how, but I am getting you out of this. Do you understand?”

Severus simply nodded.

Harry could hear Draco’s fear.

“Kings, what if they take me. What if they lock me up? What if I never see you or Nicky?”

“Shhhh, my love, you know I will never let anything happen to you. Help is on its way. Trust me.”

And at that same moment thunder was heard again, but this time it was two familiar figures that fell from the sky: Neville and his elf. As soon as they landed, Neville’s elf fell prisoner of the ivy cage, but Neville simply waved his hands and the cage fell to the ground in a pile of leaves. He walked over to Kings’ elf and performed the same magic. Both elf ran to the marked men and freed them at once making the gathered wizards and witches cheer. Harry got up and picked Richard up. Neville came over and helped Severus up.

“Are you all right professor?” asked Neville still holding on to Severus.

“I am fine. Thank you, Mr. Longbottom,” he responded taking a step back to free himself from Neville’s grip.

They all watched in amazement when Neville closed his eyes. Then they hung on each of his words.

“Professor, there is something wrong. I can sense it. Please, if you would allow me to…”

But Severus eyes went wide and he looked around to notice that all eyes were on him. Harry understood his fear and decided to intervene, grabbing Severus by an arm.

“If you’ll excuse us, we will be leaving now,” he announced heading for the floo.

But Neville stepped in his way.

“Harry, if you would only give me a moment. I am sure I can determine the cause of Professor’s ailment.”

“Neville, I would appreciate it if you do not touch my Marked One. Now, if you would be so kind as to step away. I want to go home NOW!”

“He is ill,” argued Neville.

“That is none of your concern. I determine what he needs and when he needs it.” Then he turned to Kings. “Thank you for the great party and please understand that I am not trying to be rude but Neville leaves me no other alternative.”

Kings looked puzzled but immediately understood when Harry apparated with in the limits of his property.

No sooner had they landed in the sitting room when Harry heard Poppy screaming her desire to enter via the floo. Harry ignored her.

“Are you all right?”

Severus nodded. “Yes, Sir, thank you very much.”

“Do you want me to let her in?”

Severus thought about it. He did not want her harassing his husband but if Harry denied her entrance, ‘they’ would surely think the worst of his guide. He simply nodded his consent.

Harry granted his consent and the witch entered with a scowl on her face.

“Severus Snape is my patient and I demand the right to tend to his…”

Snap! Harry had disappeared with Richard.

She turned to Severus who wore a scowl to rival her own.

“He has gotten away with enough and he is sadly mistaken if he believes that we will sit around and allow him to…”

“Madame, will you please stop assuming. It is not wise to do so,” interrupted Severus not being able to stomach any more. “My husband was merely trying to spare me an embarrassment in front of Mr. Shacklebolt’s guest.”

“Severus?”

“Yes, Madam, as hard as it may be for you to understand, my husband saw me in a precarious situation and did what he had to do to aid me.”

“Severus, I was there. Neville determined that you were ill and…”

“I am not ill. I am, I will admit, uncomfortable. But I am far from being ill.”

Madam Pomfrey looked lost at the statement, so Severus decided to explain.

“I was feeding Millicent’s child but now that she is here there is not need for my nourishment. My own son has begun to favor table food. This has left me with a heavy chest. My husband wanted me to tell you at the party but I did not want to inconvenience you at a social event.”

“Severus, you know that is not an inconvenience. I am your physician. You must be the most pig headed wizard I have every known,” pronounced the aggravated witch. “Let’s take a look then.”

Severus unbuttoned his shirt and took it off. Poppy gave him a puzzled look when she saw the bandage.

“I was afraid I might leak, so my husband came up with this solution.”

Poppy had to concede that it was a good solution and she did so by stating: “I see.”

“Severus, please call your elf.”

Severus had no idea why the witch was requesting Kreacher but he complied and called the elf. When he popped in Poppy asked him to fetch Harry. Soon the elf was back with Potter by his side.

“Is he all right?” was Harry’s first question.

Poppy stood to her full height and took a deep breath.

“Yes, Mr. Potter, Severus is in no peril. I am afraid there is little I can do for his condition. Richard is still three months away from being weaned, so I can not dry his breast. He will just have to endure it until his body gets used to Richard’s new feeding schedule. It should only take a couple of days.”

“So you are telling me that there is nothing in the magical world that can alleviate his discomfort?”

“Mr. Potter, is that concern I am detecting.”

“NO, it is simply hard to believe that you can grow bones yet you can not help a simple thing as overflowing breasts.”

Poppy looked skeptical but continued. “Other than taking warm showers or warm compresses on the area and massaging the area, several times a day. Then, breastfeeding Richard immediately should alleviate the situation.”

Harry nodded his understanding. “Will that be all,” he said half turning to leave.

“Mr. Potter,” said Poppy stopping him in his tracks. “I am seldom wrong, but when I am I will be the first one to admit it,” she took a deep breath. “I am sorry I misjudged you.”

Harry did not turn to look at her and she left as she came.

“Go tend to the children and Milly. Then go directly to the bedroom. We have loads to discuss. Go, now,” ordered the guide in what Severus felt was his old attitude.

Severus knew at once that tonight he would be punished.

A/N Part two
I tried, as I have tried many times to write a dialogue with Hagrid speaking but I can’t do it. So I had to write a narrative instead. Please remember to review and rate my story.
Thanks,

Moon of the Sea