Deserving (Final Chapter)

Happy Birthday Anhelo


Chapter 27

Harry felt a certain type of pride when he sat at the breakfast table and found it laden with ‘family’. To his left were Millicent, Baby and Mark Sly. To his right were Snape and Richard. He wanted to hide his smile but couldn’t find his newspaper to do so.

“Kreacher, where is my Prophet?” he asked the little elf that began to work on everything but answering Harry’s question.

Harry looked at Snape puzzled by Kreacher’s reaction.

“Would Severus like more tea?” asked the elf with a forced smile.

“Kreacher, my husband has asked for his newspaper. Can you please fetch it for him?” asked Snape as nicely as possible.

Kreacher glided over to Mark. “More potatoes?” he asked with the frying pan in hand.

“Ah, no thanks, I have plenty,” answered Sly, not understanding why he was being offered more potatoes when he had not started on his first serving.

“Kreacher! Where is my paper?”

“Kreacher is taking Richard up for his nap,” announced the house elf.

Harry, Millicent and Severus could not understand the bizarre behavior of the elf.

“Kreacher, Richard has just awoken. He will not need a nap until after lunch. What is going on?” asked Severus, trying to decipher the elf’s behavior.

But Kreacher simply snapped his fingers and disappeared.

“He’s gone bonkers. He’s finally lost it,” said Harry, looking at the empty space that Kreacher had left in the room.

“Harry,” admonished Millicent, “He is simply old.”

“He is NOT old. He has been a faithful servant of this house for decades,” cleared Severus.

“Bloody hell, I am going to have to get my own bloody newspaper,” said Harry as he popped out of the kitchen and back a couple of seconds later, Prophet in hand. “Let’s forget about the whole thing with Kreacher and have a peaceful breakfast,” encouraged Harry.

But his attitude changed as soon as he unfolded the newspaper to the first page. There were two pictures side by side, one of Harry as a new entrant to Hogwarts and the other of Snape in his Teaching robe. Harry looked shy and scared while Severus looked menacing.

His shock must have shown because everyone at the table were asking what was wrong. Harry couldn’t believe what he was reading.


It has come to the attention of this respectable newsprint that our beloved Savior, Mr. Harry James Potter has been victimized since childhood by the infamous Death Eater Severus Snape. Sources that shall not be named, have informed us that when our Savior was but a child of eleven years of age, he was victimized by then Professor Snape. Apparently the deprive Death Eater used all his recourses to get poor Harry alone in his dungeons, giving our Savior “detentions” at a whim.
After further investigation, this reporter has found that Death Eater Severus Snape has a thing for young children. Former students have since spoken up to reveal acts that this newspaper finds too disturbing to print.
Our poor Child Savior was made to believe that he was in love with his professor and as soon as the Death Eater came up for Guidance, poor Harry, in his ignorance rushed to his tormentor’s salvation.
It is obvious that Mr. Snape, in true Death Eater mentality, decided to have some kind of insurance just in case He Who Should Not Be Mentioned was to fail in his endeavor. He made our dear Harry believe that he was madly in love with his abuser. It is common knowledge that Harry parades around on his broom with the fruit of this devious relationship. Apparently spilling all his love into the child that he knows will never feel love from his cold and mean birthfather.
We, at this respectable newspaper, and as the voice of the Wizarding World are demanding that the Ministry take action in helping our poor Harry Potter. We must not forget what this child did for us and we must repay him in turn. We are demanding that Harry Potter be freed from the claws of the Death Eater Severus Snape.


Harry let the paper fall from his hands and Severus picked it up. Millicent and Sly gathered around him to read what had obviously disturbed Harry. Soon it was Severus’ turn to let the paper fall from shocked hands. He walked ran out of the kitchen. Harry was brought back to the present by the movement of the door. He looked around and calculated that it had been Snape who had left the room. He followed him up to the bedroom, finding Snape curled up in the window seat looking out into nothing.

Harry had never seen Snape looking so depressed. Why was Snape allowing this to affect him so?

“Hey Quasimodo, you’re in my seat,” said Harry, breaking the silence in the room.

Severus got up immediately, still carrying a gloomy face. Harry went to his side and took him in his arms.

“Every heard of a jest?” said Harry, trying to make light of the situation.

But Severus was cold and unresponsive. Harry looked for his husband’s eyes.

“Why are you letting this bother you so much?”

Severus looked at him in shock.

“Eleven years old,” he said as if that explained everything.

“But you never did those things,” countered Harry.

“My students… they said there had been others,” rebutted Snape.

“Anyone that knows you knows that you are incapable of those things. Merlin, I was your most hated student and you never laid a finger on me. Come off it Snape, you know that The Prophet and used toilet paper are the same thing,” he argued, trying to shake Severus out of his state.

“Eleven years old, a child,” regressed the marked man who retreated into himself again, not listening to anymore reasoning.

Harry let him to the bed and helped him lie down, lifting his legs with care. Severus simply looked at the opposite wall, giving Harry a hopeless feeling. He couldn’t seem to be able to protect his family.


***

When Harry went down to the sitting room he found it crowded with friends, but at a closer inspection he realized it was crowded with Snape’s friends: Poppy, Minerva, Dennis, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron and Hermione with their little son.

“How is he?” was the collective cry.

Harry simply shook his head. Hermione looked at Molly and dumped her son in Harry’s arms.

“Here, hold a baby. Look at how little his hands are and how awkward his movements are and then try to justify giving him a remote control truck. Molly I think the professor needs our help.” Even in the seriousness of the situation Harry couldn’t help but smile. Hermione must have been holding that rant in for a long while.

And with that the two witches disapperated. Richard came running to his dada who decided it would be easier to sit if he was going to carry both boys.

“What dat?” asked Richard, pointing to the little boy on his father’s other side.

“This is a little friend for you,” explained Harry.

Richard looked around the room and spotted what he needed.

“Izzy, Izzy, come here, Izzy,” attracting Dennis with his hands.


Dennis approached Richard and squatted down to meet his eye level.

“Izzy, for you,” he said as he tried to shoved Hugo out of his father’s lap.

Everyone laughed.

“Richard, you best get used to little boys on my lap. Your Papa is going to give you a little brother soon. Wouldn’t you like that?”

“No,” said Richard shaking his head. “I want a bunny.”

Again everyone laughed while Izzy relieved Harry of Hugo. Richard seemed to think it wise to occupy his father’s lap with someone of his own choosing because he opened and closed his hand in an attempt to summon Millicent over.

“Milly,” he cried and when Millicent approached him he motioned for Baby to sit at his father’s lap. Harry fixed Baby on his lap and Richard seemed content with the swap until Kings, Draco and Nicky walked through the floo.

“Nicky!” cried Richard when he saw his friend that could actually play with him come into the room.

Sly decided to take Baby before he was shoved off of Harry’s lap, but to Harry and Millicent’s complete amazement Baby giggled when Sly lifted him up. When Sly saw their amazement he realized that giggling must be a special occasion for the child of a Marked One and decided that it really shouldn’t be so he lowered Baby and lifted him high up making the child giggle even harder. Harry and Millicent’s eyes grew even wider.

Harry placed Richard on the floor and disapperated. When he apperated in the room he found Molly and Hermione sitting on the edge of the room trying to get Severus to respond but he was gone to the world.


“Snape, get up,” ordered Harry to Molly and Hermione’s utter dismay.

“Harry!” admonished the two witches.

“Snape, I gave you a direct order and you know I don’t like to be disobeyed,” said Harry, ignoring the witches.

Snape got up and Harry walked to his side.

“Hold on,” and with that he disapperated with his husband in his arms apparating again in the sitting room followed by the two witches. Harry motioned with his head to Sly who lowered and lifted Baby in one swift movement making Severus react when he heard the unfamiliar giggle. Snape looked at Baby then back at Harry who had a broad smile. “He’s giggling,” whispered Harry.

Severus looked at Millicent who had tears in her eyes and hugged her, hiding his own emotions.


***

Everyone was in the sitting room celebrating Baby’s accomplishment and assuring Severus that no one who ever met him would believe a word in that news article while Harry slipped out the back door. He was halfway to the apparating point when he heard the back door open and Ron and Hermione came out.

“You don’t think you are going without us,” said Ron.

“I didn’t know you cared to come with the ‘monster’,” said a sarcastic Harry.

“You don’t get it; do you? We will always be by your side as long as you are fighting for a good cause,” explained Hermione.

“Let’s see, so that means that as long as I am fighting for what you believe is a good cause.”

“Good is good, no matter how you dice it. And now that you have come to care for the Professor you must admit…”

“I do not car for the Professor. He is merely the father of my child and therefore I must keep him safe.”

“Yeah, Hermione, keep you facts straight. Harry hates Snape, the fact that he looked as if his pet bunny had died when Severus was upset was just a coincidence,” explained an equally sarcastic Ron.


“Look, my son is very connected to him and if he is unhappy Richard can perceive it. It is weird, I know, but it is just how things are. And if you will excuse me, I have something I have to tend to.”

“Not without us you’re not. There is no way that we are letting you go into Single’s den without backup,” said Ron.

Harry looked at them; it was like old times, when he had friends.

“Have Hermione stay. She is a mom now and should not be in any harm’s way,” said Harry, earning a puzzled look from Ron.

“Harry, what in our history together would make you think that Hermione would listen to me?”

Hermione arched her eyebrow, waiting for the answer to that question.

“Ron it’s your place to look after your family.”

Hermione and Ron looked at each other and so many things were clear at that moment. Was that how Harry viewed things?

“Harry, I wish I could tell you that our marriage contract gave me some kind of authority over Mione, but the truth is that she is still the smartest witch of our times and I know better than to try to boss her around.”

Hermione looked at her husband with an approving smile. Harry was shocked. Why wasn’t Ron standing up to his role as head of the house? Aunt Petunia would never question anything that Uncle Vernon would say. And Snape was as smart as Hermione and he never ever questioned Harry. He could not understand but he had more pressing matters at hand.

“Suit your selves,” he said, turning to the gate followed by his two ex-friends. When he exited the Ministry’s floo in the lobby, Luna and Ginny came out of the two adjoining floos. And moment latter Neville aparated in the lobby, obviously not needing the floo. The crew was back and this time they were not a group of kids. They were in fact some of the most powerful witches and wizards of their times. They marched in an arrow head formation headed by Harry. When they got to Single’s door they didn’t bother to knock and just marched in. Single stood up but did not show any amazement or shock. He surveyed the people present at this demonstration with menacing eyes and when they landed on Neville he displayed a smirk.

“Mr. Neville Longbottom, how nice of you to finally obey the order to submit to an interrogation by this department.”

“Oh, that,” said a very casual Neville, “I am afraid that will have to wait. My friend Harry here has more pressing matters to attend to and I certainly do not want to take away from his momentum.”

Single’s sour face turned red at the insolence of this kid who thought he was above the law.

“Thank you, Neville,” said Harry, whipping out his wand and sending Single against the wall with an invisible grip to his throat.

“Luckily for you, Mr. Single, I am going to make this brief. As you can imagine I am not thrilled with that little stunt you pulled in the Prophet. Now, let’s see, why would you think you could get away with this? Hummmmm, oh yes, you have the support of the victims of the pure blood inquisition trials. Hermione, how many people were affected by those trials?” asked Harry, pointing his wand at Single’s throat but turning to Hermione.

Hermione caught on the Harry and said: “Twenty-seven point six percent of the Wizarding population was affected by these trials.”

“Ummm, so if my math is correct seventy-two percent were not affected. The way I figure it, I have a very good chance of running for Prime Minister and winning. Wouldn’t you say so Mr. Single?” said Harry, letting go of his grip and giving Single an opportunity to catch his breath.

Mr. Single was panting in a desperate attempt to get air into his lungs.

“And after today’s headline, where the Wizarding World was reminded of who their savior is, I believe you’re a shoe in, Harry,” added Hermione.

Single looked up in horror. Harry enjoyed having the smartest witch on his side.

“So you see, Mr. Single, if I run for the Minister’s seat that would make me your boss and if I am your boss, what do you think my first order of business would be? Hummm that’s a tough one,” said Harry sarcastically.

He stepped back and rejoiced in seeing the look of horror and dismay in Single’s face.

“Yes, Mr. Single, firing your sorry arse. So if were you I would stay clear of my family and that includes the Marked One, who was given to me by your department. I am his guide and the only one that can determine when and if he needs punishing. Is that clear, Mr. Single?”

But Harry didn’t need a verbal answer; Single’s sour face gave him all the answer he needed. He walked out of Single’s office in the same way that he went in, flanked by his friends. When they got to the lobby and were standing next to the floos, Harry turned to Hermione…

“Mione, I remember so many people being affected by the trials, are you sure it was less than twenty-eight percent?”

“Harry, the Wizarding World never takes stock of those things like the muggle world does. Who knows how many were affected? People just tend to accept anything that comes out of my mouth,” she said with a shrug.

Harry and Ron looked at each other and burst out laughing. But Harry’s laughter was interrupted when he caught a glimpse of Luna and Ginny in the background. He approached them and spoke to Ginny first.

“I am sorry, you are the last person in the world I would have wanted to hurt,” he said hanging his head.

“Harry, its like mum says: things happen for a reason. You and I know, you were more in love with my family than you were with me. It would have been a mistake. I am just so happy to hear that you are a good dad and that you have begun to treat the Professor with some level of respect. It hurt so much to see you do barbaric things. I fell in love with a hero not a monster. It’s nice to see him back.”

Harry turned to look at Luna but before he could say anything she was giving him a bear hug. When she finally released him she simply smiled at him and left, Ginny on her tail. Neville was to the side and seemed to be waiting for his turn to speak with Harry so Ron and Hermione left.

It was an awkward situation for both wizards.

“Don’t you think he’s paid enough?” asked Neville out of the blue, but Harry could not answer that question.

“Harry, I love him. I’ve loved him since seventh year when he risked his life to safe us. One night I was caught and given ten lashes with the whip. He told them he would take me to the dungeons, and in true Professor’s style, he did as he said. Only it wasn’t what the Cowley’s thought, he took me to his room and cured all my wounds. He sat by my side all night until he was sure I was well. There he was, Professor Severus Snape, the most feared professor and he was taking care of me as if he cared. And he did you know. That wasn’t the last time he took care of me. Harry if you could find it in your heart. If you could give him his freedom…”


“My son,” interjected Harry.

“I would never keep you from Richard. You would always be a significant part of his life, promise,” said Neville with despair in his voice.

“You had your opportunity. He could have chosen to marry you, but he didn’t. You’re the one not respecting his wishes. I have a family and not you, not Single, not anyone will take that away from me,” said Harry as he stepped into the floo.

A/N
I try to respect JK Rowling’s work as much as possible. I do not mess with things that happen before the epilogue but I guess this time I messed up. I forgot that Hermione and Ron first had Rose then had Hugo. Oh well, very little I can do now.