Three\'s A Crowd

Part - 21


Severus had seen Albus Dumbledore fall. But had no time to react as he doubled over in pain!

He felt moisture run down his legs, but knew that he had not lost bladder control. It had come from the only opening is his body large enough for the babies to exit his body.

\"Severus!\" Gasped Pomfrey rushing to his side. \"Oh, Merlin, come quickly.\" She helped him to stagger to a bed.

\"Bad timing,\" He managed to hiss through the pain.

\"Very,\" said the mediwitch gently gathering her instruments. Her face was impassive, but her mind raced. \'Too early.\' She thought her stomach churning. \'I cannot contact St. Mungo\'s. Sweet Merlin please let my skills be enough!\'

---


Sirius Black carried Harry Potter to the infirmary. Albus Dumbledore lay on a stretcher conjured by Remus Lupin. Other injured were also being brought such as Molly Weasley was supported by Arthur and Ron, having surprised everyone, Death Eater\'s included as she fought like a she-wolf to save her youngest son.

But when they reached the door to the hospital wing. A nervously trembling first year Gryffindor opened it. \"Professor Snape is having his babies.\" She said when asked where the mediwitch was.

Since the danger had passed, Remus, who was trying very hard to remain calm, opened the floo and called St. Mungo\'s. Eight mediwitches and two mediwizards came through and began to treat the injured.
Anthony Rogers was one of them. He immediately went to the room where Pomfrey was frantically working on Severus. But he was only there for a few minutes when the door opened again. \"Remus,\" He indicated the werewolf should come with him.

He stepped back as the very easily recognized mass murderer Sirius Black followed Remus. One of the Aurors, a tall muscular man with long gold blond hair stood with wand drawn to block his way. \"Sirius Black, you are under arrest.\"

\"No, I am not.\" The intense stare made the Auror flinch. \"My lover and my child are in that room.\"

\"But, you, I cannot...\"

\"Sirius Black is innocent,\" announced Arthur Weasley. \"If you do not believe me, go out to the courtyard and look in the fountain. You will find the body of Peter Pettigrew floating there.\"

\"Pettigrew was alive, and with the Death Eaters?\" the Auror gasped. Unsure, he stepped back to allow Black into the room.

The room was dark, with only a few flickering candles for illumination. The first thing that they saw was three metal and glass incubators. In each one was a tiny, (extremely tiny) baby.

They were even labeled.

The baby with the name Black on the incubator was draped in a pink blanket. She had a little tuft of black hair on here head.

The second labeled Lupin was beneath a blue blanket, and seemed to be completely bald. His skin was so pale that blue veins could be seen.

Number three had the name Potter, and had even more hair then the girl. Peeking out beneath the hair on the child\'s forehead was a pale almost purple birthmark, shaped like a bolt of lightening.

Both men felt their hearts swell at the sight. Yet a deep ache grew as they saw the much too pale, still form on the bed near the window. \"Severus?\" Remus managed to choke out before his voice failed.

\"Could Fawkes\' tears help him?\" asked Sirius hardly able to speak himself.

\"This is not a physical injury. Severus is drained of power, of life. It is, only a matter of time,\" Pomfrey answered reluctantly moving away to give them some privacy.

\"Severus?\" Sirius said softly. \"Severus please open your eyes.\"

The black eyes snapped open and tried to focus. Remus bent down and kissed his cheek. \"Have you seen them? You make beautiful babies Severus.\"

\"Had help,\" he said weakly. Then he closed his eyes again. \"Tired,\" he rasped, as his breath became even shallower.

\"No,\" Sirius gasped. \"You cannot die!\"

Severus jerked, let out a moan. Remus\' eyes widened. \"Sirius, bring Harry in here now!\" he ordered as he dropped to his knees beside the bed. \"Severus, listen to me, you will not die today. I order you to live!\" In the background he hear the babies cry weakly at the frightening noise of his desperate voice, but at that moment, Remus only had ears for the hiss of Severus\' labored breath.

\"Remus,\" the Slytherin moaned. The mediwizard Rogers rushed to his side and cast a monitoring charm. The prone man\'s heartbeat increased very slightly.

\"If I can order you not to have morning sickness, I can order you to live,\" Remus said as he grasped his husband\'s hand.

Sirius returned with a conscious but weak Harry Potter floating behind him.

\"Put him on the bed with Severus,\" Remus told her. Sirius did so, levitating Harry over and set him gently beside the other wizard. Harry draped an arm over his lover. \"You will not leave us,\" he whispered. \"I told you that you will live a long time.\"

Sirius Black took his lover\'s cold hand. \"Live damn it!\"

Severus had been sinking into a strange place. It was warm and dark, and actually felt nice. There was no pain now, no fear, nothing. Part of him did not want to leave his babies, or his lovers, but if he had to, this was really not such a bad place to go.

But then he kept hearing Remus calling. The curse his father had placed on him tried to compel his body to obey the command to return. But Severus realized that he had a choice. He had moved far enough into the other realm that he did not have to heed the summons.

Should he return to the world with all of its pain, and joy, or sink into the warm comforting embrace of death?

\"Severus, we need you. Please, come back to us, back to me.\" The voice of Sirius Black penetrated the blackness.

Sirius Black was begging him to return.

Well, he was certainly not going to miss the sight of Sirius Black begging.

---


Epilog - Three years later

Severus sighed, as he lay warm and snug in the enormous bed.

It had to be massive since it usually held four adult males.

Remus and Sirius had been out on some errand or other last night, which Severus was sure had something to do with today being the anniversary of his being impregnated. They had been very secretive and most likely were getting him some silly sentimental present.

Because of the two men\'s absence he and Harry had spent the night alone for a change. Severus found it amazing how completely Harry had gotten over his homophobia and now enjoyed sex with all three of his husbands.

It still felt odd sometimes that they were legally married.

By a special proclamation of the Wizongamot an ancient law had been reinstated that allowed for multiple partners in a marriage. This type of polygamist arrangement was actually becoming quite popular.

Severus sighed. His body was still warm and tingled with the memory of their lovemaking.

A smile ghosted over his lips as he heard the voice of Albus Dumbledore in the next room talking with Harry over the dull roar of three rambunctious toddlers happily ignoring the pleas of Dobby and Winky as they destroyed the living room.

Lillian Snape-Black, James Snape-Potter and Sean Snape-Lupin were happily running amok. You would never know that they had been tiny and delicate at birth, as they bounced on the couch to the sound of Dumbledore\'s laughter.

\"Lillian, let go of the Headmaster\'s beard!\" yelled Harry with obvious embarrassment.

\"Now, now Harry, there is no need to fret, I did not even notice that she had it. I dare say if it grows much longer, she could use it as a jump rope,\" the raspy voice chuckle over the din.

With a sigh he recalled Albus telling them of his own choice on the day of the battle. When Fawkes had come to give him the tears that would save him, he almost refused them. After all, he had been on this world a very long time, and wondered if it might not be time to move on. But then, he realized that he would not see Severus\' children grow up and decided that perhaps he could stay for a while longer.

He now walked with the aid of a long wooden staff, which caused many a muggleborn to note that he now really looked like Merlin, or was that Gandolf?

Well, perhaps the Gandolf from some muggle movie.

As Severus contemplated hauling his lazy arse out of bed he listened to Harry speak to the Headmaster. \"I still find it hard to believe that I was afraid of this.\"

\"We all fear things that we do not understand,\" the familiar, gentle voice assured.

\"I know. I was afraid of the family that I always wanted,\" Harry laughed. \"Now I cannot think of what life would be like without any of them. Especially these three marvels. Sometimes, I wish that we could have another child.\"

A choked gasp escaped Severus\' lips as he felt the still present womb created by the potion stir within his belly, combining his essence and Harry\'s seed.

Harry, Albus Dumbledore and three startled children jumped as the bedroom door flew open and a furious Severus Snape glared at the world with a hand on his still tingling belly. \"HARRY JAMES POTTER!!!!\"

Albus chuckled with eyes twinkling.

Harry Potter suddenly realized what he had just said. \"Oops.\"

End