You Know You Are Loved When A Gryffindor Loves You

35

Sure enough, within the next few days, the Potter-Snapes were all back at school. Harry was offered a part-time post as the new DADA teacher, sharing the post with Remus Lupin. Severus experienced pangs of jealousy when he saw their heads together over lesson plans and timetables but he watched as Harry flinched away from even the most innocent touches to his shoulder or back, as he swatted his ex-lover’s hand away and sat them a little apart. He could see the slight hurt on Remus’ face and grinned, despite himself. He meant the man no harm but he was relieved at Harry’s reactions.

They fell into their routines again, with Dobby on child-minding detail as they worked out and fought and swam and made up for the laxity of the summer, hardening, toughening up again. Harry was showing his tiredness in private as he started his lessons with the fifth years and over, but this time only the two knew that Harry was pregnant again, although Albus was wary and watchful of his two special charges and noted the sudden dips in the younger man’s energy levels.

The strike, when it came, was unexpected and short-lived. A brief invasion onto the school grounds surprising everyone. The pupils were sequestered indoors as the Order and the Two went out and joined in battle with the dark bastard. There were bodies littering the field. Hermione had been Stunned and Ron was in a body bind that came at him from behind. Magic was no further use here as Severus and Harry stepped out and engaged their nemesis in unarmed combat. Severus knocked him out after a vicious fight with the quarterstaffs and Harry stood over the red-eyed monster and solemnly intoned the Avada wandlessly, scrunching up his face and calling on all of their energies to do so, and felt only the mildest sense of victory as the hated man met his end out on the quidditch pitch. Harry watched the light go out in his eyes, then knelt to feel for the non-existent pulse as various folk came rushing over to them, Remus and Draco at the vanguard. He shrugged, “I did it, he’s dead. Prophecy fulfilled. Now can I go and have a life please?” and started to walk away on unsteady legs until his beloved caught him as he fell.

Harry was retching into the grass as Severus held him, tears flowing over his cheeks. When he could speak again, Harry moaned, “Can we go home? I don’t want to ever see this place again. I’ve done my bit, fulfilled my destiny. I just want to run away and bring up our children”, he creased up, clutching at his belly and howled out his grief. Severus took off his robe and threw it around his love’s shaking shoulders, “Come on, lover, we need to get you seen by Poppy”, he bent and picked Harry up in his arms and carried him from the field of battle ignoring everyone else as he carried him back into the castle, rebuffing all attempts at congratulation that came at them from both sides. He knew this was a hollow victory and that Harry felt more like screaming than celebrating. He only hoped that the baby was okay.

He apprised Poppy of the situation and she dowsed him carefully. “The baby is fine, a little traumatised, but she’s doing great”. This was the first time that Severus had smiled since coming back to school, “She?” Poppy reddened, “Sorry. I shouldn’t have given the game away, but, yes, you’re having another girl. Harry’s fine and so is she, but he will need a lot of rest during this pregnancy. The last one took it out of him, rather, and this one will be easier but only if he has complete rest and a little gentle exercise. Did you tell Albus this time?” Severus shook his head. “We knew that Harry’s reversion would happen soon, and there seemed like no reason to bother anyone this time”. Poppy shook her head.

“This time, I’m going to tender my resignation and mean it. Harry needs my care and I mean to make sure that he receives it. I love him beyond reason and I want our children to be safe and happy. There will be mopping up to be done and I want my husband to be well out of the line of fire. He’s done enough. He’s done what was expected of him and then some. It’s time for Harry Potter to leave the field to those more adept at the cleaning up and I want no Death-Eaters within a hundred miles of that sweet boy and our children”. Poppy grinned, “I’m happy for you both. I hope you will let me deliver him. As it’s his second, we can maybe deliver him at home this time”. They shared a smile.

Poppy smoothed the hair back on Harry’s brow, “Look, his scar is fading, it’s turning white”. Severus laughed, particularly as he noticed the tiny solitaire diamond on the woman’s finger. He grabbed her hand, “So you asked her then?” Poppy was surprised and swiftly pulled her hand from the man’s grasp. “Yes, we are to be wed at Christmas”. Then he threw his arms around her and hugged her, “So not all the news is bleak. I’m happy for you both. Everyone should have love in their lives”, and let her go.

She looked at the previously unhappy man, “Well the biggest change here is to your own good self, Severus. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so happy. Have a good life. Kick back, enjoy yourselves, enjoy your babies and parenthood. Now he’s dead, all of the rest can pale into insignificance. Poor Harry will have to do interviews and press stuff, then you can both run off and have some fun and enjoy being daddies. I’m only sorry that this is a part of life that I am too old to enjoy now as I am past menopause, but I have had many children, all those that were entrusted to me into my care as they ailed or were injured. But now I must go and attend to the other injuries on my ward. Stay with him, he will awaken soon and I want your face to be the first he sees as his eyes open”. Severus gulped back tears at her words and lay on Harry’s bed and took his love into his arms.

After Poppy had left them, he cautiously rolled his left sleeve back. The Mark was gone and he held his man tighter, “You really did it, Harry, you freed us all. I love you more than words can say, and we’re having another little girl and she’s fine and I love you, I love you and I always will”. At this he was quite overcome and wept into Harry’s hair.

Harry’s eyes flickered open and he felt the warmth of arms around him, instantly recognising Severus’ unique scent surrounding him and blissed out feeling truly safe for the first time since he had learned of his destiny. His vocal cords weren’t working properly, so he thought, ‘Another girl, we’re having another girlie?’ Severus moved and saw his lover’s eyes open, ‘Harry I’m so proud of you, my love, my own. We can run away now, just like you said. It’s over. You killed him. It’s over. And I’ve never loved you more than I do right now’.

****

Of course, getting away wasn’t going to be that easy. The press wanted a piece of him but they were all rebuffed by his irate husband. The only folk he allowed anywhere near were Harry’s good friends, particularly as he told them about Harry’s newly delicate state. The girls squealed and hugged him when they were told and Severus knew that Molly’s knitting needles would be clacking soon. Ron was astounded, “Shit, Harry. You killed him and while you were preggie as well. Fuck, dude, you never cease to amaze me, mate”. Severus tried to look stern as he admonished Ron for his language in front of their children, but couldn’t help the grin of proud fatherhood. Draco hugged them both. “It turns out that it was Nott senior who killed my father and the others, so I am completely exonerated on all counts. If you two need a quiet place to give birth in, then there’s always the Manor. It’s mine now, well, mine and Ron’s”. Harry’s eyes widened, “Oh, yes?” then both stepped forward and flashed small diamonds on their left hands.

“Ohmygod, you’re engaged?” Ron was pink to his roots and nodded, “It seems Draco’s mum registered him with the Muggle authorities, so we can both wed as you two did, ‘cos my dad registered all of us lot in both worlds”. Harry grinned at his best mate, “And I remember you telling me that this wouldn’t end at the altar. I’m happy for both of you. D’you fancy being godparents, both of you?” Draco was stunned. “You mean me too?”, he whispered, tears in his eyes. Harry nodded, “Yes. You two and the girls”, he laid a protective hand over his belly, his other brushing the wet from his brother-in-law-to-be’s eyes, “Yes, you too, Draco. Welcome to the family”. Draco dissolved in his lover’s arms at all the love he felt around him and looked around at all the wet faces around him. This wasn’t the family he had started out with, but they were a damn sight better family than any he had ever known before. With a watery smile, he recalled Severus’ words from the previous year.

“You know you are loved when a Gryffindor loves you”, and in that moment, couldn’t agree more. He had the love of nearly a dozen of them and his heart sang.

THE END