Scarred Souls

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Title: Scarred Souls



Author: Misty Moonlight/Co-author: QueenBoadicea



Beta: QueenBoadicea



Pairings: Severus/Harry



Published: 12/10/2008



Summary: A widowed Harry must bond with Snape in order to save his daughter’s life. Sev gains a family, for better or worse, and the hearts of two scarred souls will be changed forever.



Warnings: Romance, Drama, Angst, Alternate Universe, Sexual Situations, Hurt/Comfort, M/M, Slash, Anal, Language, Humor, possible MPreg, Bonding, Original Characters, Family, OOC-ness,

non-canon, WIP



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Chapter 43: Out with the Children





The kidnapping made all the papers. Given that Harry was right at the center of the action, it was impossible to sweep something this big under the rug.



“POTTER POUNCED ON BY PREVIOUS PROTECTOR!”



“OBSESSED CHILDHOOD FAN TURNS EVIL STALKER!”



“CHOSEN ONE CHOSEN AND BETRAYED BY TRUSTED GRYFFINDOR CLASSMATE!!!”



The first one, riddled with alliterations designed to draw the public eye, was courtesy of The Quibbler. Witches’ Weekly was responsible for the next title page, complete with the requisite fawning over and ghastly concern for the Golden Boy of the Wizarding World. The last rag, with all those superfluous exclamation points, came from the Daily Prophet. Throughout the article, the fact of Colin Creevey’s house was mentioned several times, as if to point out how treacherous Gryffindors could be.



Severus thought he detected a special malice in it. The pestiferous Rita Skeeter strikes again. The article went on to detail the shock from Colin Creevey’s former classmates and the disgruntled students of his photography class; many of them were asking for their money back and demanding the Ministry make reparations.



Far from what Harry expected, Severus didn’t want the debacle kept quiet. No, he was actually gleeful about the whole business. Let the entire Wizarding world see that Gryffindors could be as criminally minded as Slytherins and that one of them had tried to hurt their Golden Boy. He also hoped the exposure would teach Harry a lesson.



“Why the devil didn’t you tell me about Colin Creevey?” he stormed.



“I wanted to tell you. But then you flew off the handle—typical of you, I might add—accused me of sleeping around and we got into a row, didn’t we? After that, we stopped listening to each other—as usual. Then you got all flustered because of your Parseltongue kink and attacked me,” Harry pointed out with more than a hint of smugness.



“I do not get flustered,” Severus huffed. He would be the first one to admit he had a temper. That didn’t mean he lost control like a five year old.



“No. You get overcome.” Harry put his hand to his forehead and pretended to swoon.



Severus stalked off, fuming, listening to Harry laugh behind him. His ruffled pride was only slightly appeased by hearing that Colin had received a modified sentence—he was to go to St. Mungo’s for treatment of mental illness. If Severus had had his way, the miserable creature would have gotten life in Azkaban with no chance of parole.



Still, he’d been glad to return to Grimmauld Place after that terrible scene he’d stumbled on. Harry had been rather less so. The birthday in his cottage had reminded the Gryffindor of its hominess and congeniality. Taking the time with Molly Weasley to make the preparations had brought Severus in touch with its domestic attractions, as well. He hadn’t been able to spend much time there before, thanks to those animated heads.



But they were gone now and no longer a concern. Severus didn’t need to stay in Grimmauld Place. He’d only wanted it because he wanted its library. But now that he had access, he could go there whenever he wanted if he ever required a peek at the dusty tomes. He had to admit that the library hadn’t held the charm that he had hoped it might.



Harry missed his home, surrounded by other former Hogwarts students in their down-to-earth little domiciles. Didn’t he deserve its simplicity, its peace and quiet after his horrendous ordeal?



So, with almost no discussion, the Potter family packed its bags once again and returned to their quaint cottage. Seeing the joy on Harry’s face upon their return gave Severus a strange jolt in his chest. He would do anything to keep that expression there from now on.



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It was hard to hold on to that resolution when he was throwing up for the seventh time in three days. The only thing that made this bearable was the anti-nausea potion he took. Poppy allowed it—up to a point—but she had sternly forbidden him from taking it every hour on the hour. “Nausea is perfectly normal at this stage in pregnancy. If you want to alleviate the symptoms, eat crackers. Stop taking potions every time you feel out of sorts, Severus!” she had snapped on one of her intolerable visits.



Harry stroked down his back and held his hair out of the way, while bathing his forehead with a warm wet cloth. “Better?”



“No, I am not better, Harry!” he snarled. It would have been more impressive if he didn’t have his head down the lavatory basin when he said it.



His bond mate had the nerve to chuckle. “This reminds me of Ginny. She used to be running to the bathroom every morning, afternoon and night when she was up the spout.”



Severus lifted his head and took several deep breaths before answering. “Potter,” he gritted through clenched teeth, “you are NOT helping.”



“Sorry, Severus.” The Gryffindor then surprised him by kissing him on his temple and carefully raised Severus from the floor. “Open your mouth.”



“Why?” Severus asked suspiciously.



“So I can use the Mouth Cleaning Charm.” Severus was surprised by this consideration but conveniently opened his mouth. The Charm was refreshing and he licked his lips appreciatively.



In spite of Harry’s arm firmly around his waist, Severus staggered as he regained his feet. With his new weight gain, his usual grace was lost. Some days Severus feared he would never get his svelte figure back, even after this parasite was taken from him.



“I swear, Potter, after this child is born, you are never touching me again.” Harry muttered something indistinct. “What was that?”



“You keep saying that. But somehow we can’t keep our hands off each other. Did you want to give it a go now?” He leered at Severus.



“I’m not exactly in the mood, what with this recent re-acquaintance with last night’s dinner,” Severus grumbled. “Besides, I don’t see why you should be so eager. I can’t be too attractive.”



“I told you I don’t care about your scars—”



“I am referring to this protuberance that precedes me by 15 minutes everywhere I go!”



Harry squinted. “Your nose? Okay, it’s rather big. But you know what they say about men with big—”



Severus roared, “POTTER! I am not in the mood for levity!”



“Oh, you mean this?” Harry rubbed his hand over Severus’s bulging stomach. “It’s not that big. Besides, I rather like it,” he said shyly.



“You like that I’m nearly three stones overweight?!” Severus asked in disbelief.



“I like everything about you,” Harry said quietly, even as the Gryffindor flushed in embarrassment. It was endearing, though Severus would never say so. At times Harry seemed impossibly young, even after having three children.



As if trying to hide his sudden chagrin, Harry buried his nose in Severus’s hair, sniffing deeply. His breath caused a tingle to run over Severus’ skin. “I like the way your hair smells after you’ve washed it.” He nuzzled the older man’s neck. “I like the feel of your skin, your hands, your legs—so firm, strong and yet yielding to the touch. I like the way you said you loved me,” he murmured, pulling back to smile at Severus.



“No need to belabor the point. I believe you,” Severus muttered. He could feel his cock stirring. Really, these unpredictable surges of arousal were most inconvenient. He told himself he was hungry not randy. But he allowed himself to lean more heavily against his bond mate.



Breakfast was a noisy affair. The twins and Lily chattered like parrots at each other almost constantly. The girl spoke quite a few words now. But she frequently descended into an idiot babble that only her brothers seemed to understand.



The lion no longer scampered on the table. But Lily had developed her new trick of throwing it at Severus. If the thing landed in his lap, it wriggled around in a way that was truly disturbing before Harry would levitate it back into his daughter’s arms. Moments later, it was flying through the air again, landing on Severus’s head, winding itself in his hair and making the boys laugh like Peeves after playing a particularly buffoonish trick.



“Stop that, you pestiferous child. I gave you that toy to hold on to, not to muck about with. Keep that up and I will remove the Motion Charm from it entirely,” Severus threatened.



“Sev, it’s no good talking to her like that. She’s just over a year old. She doesn’t understand.”



“It’s never too early to instill discipline, husband.” The twins giggled at his endearment and Harry blushed again. Really, it was too wonderful getting that reaction from him. Severus tried to do it as often as he could—just to tease him, mind.



In spite of his earlier nausea, Severus found that he was ravenous. He polished off his eggs, a rasher of bacon, several kippers and a stack of lightly toasted wheat bread liberally smeared with lemon curd. No one else in the house fancied the curd, but Severus had developed quite a passion for it. The lemony taste was also reminiscent of a certain long-departed Headmaster…not that he would ever tell that to anybody. Severus wasn’t foolishly sentimental, like some.



He was sipping his second cup of tea when Harry pushed himself from the table. “Well, I’m off. Take care of yourself, Severus,” he murmured as he leaned down to kiss his husband’s brow. “Call me if you feel the least bit off.”



Severus rolled his eyes. “Yes, mother.”



“I mean it, Severus,” Harry said sternly.



“Yes, I heard you. Stop fussing! You’re going to be late,” Severus snapped.



Harry merely smiled and ran his hand over Severus’s hair. Thinking of what Harry had said about his hair flooded him with a wave of warmth. The grins on James and Albus’s faces showed that they had caught his reaction. Severus swatted away Harry’s hand and scowled.



It seemed his scowls had lost their ability to terrify. Harry merely kissed him again, this time on the lips. Just before he pulled away, Severus grabbed him by the hand.



“You be careful, too, Harry Potter.”



Harry looked surprised, then touched and he leaned his forehead against Severus’s. “Yes, mother.” He grinned and ran off towards the floo. Severus could have sworn the man was skipping.



He polished off the last of his breakfast and heaved himself to his feet. “Kreacher!”



The house-elf appeared, that gold locket banging against its narrow chest. “Yes, Master Snape?”



“Wash and dry the dishes and clean up the kitchen.”



“Very good, Master Snape. Where will you be?”



Severus lifted his eyebrows. The house-elf had never inquired after his whereabouts before now. His demeanor had acquired a grudging respect since Harry’s demands that Severus be treated with better care. But Kreacher hadn’t displayed any particular concern about his well being.



“I’m going to be in the basement. I have several orders on backlog that I need to fill.”



The house-elf shook his head. “You must not be in the basement longer than two hours a day, Master Snape.”



“Oh, mustn’t I?” Severus he crossed his arms as he leaned over the house-elf. He’d never managed to intimidate the decrepit servitor but that didn’t stop him from trying.



Sure enough, Kreacher was unmoved by his scare tactics. “Master Harry said it is bad for you to be cooped up for too long, given your condition. If you try to linger, Kreacher has been given orders to summon Madam Pomfrey.” The house-elf gave Severus one of its toothless grins. The Potions master had no doubt he would do it, if provoked.



Severus clenched his fists. He would have dearly loved to floo after Harry and shake him by the throat, demanding to know where the fuck he got off, siccing his new servant on him like a vicious dog. But that would waste valuable time, time that Severus couldn’t afford.



He released a long breath through his nose. “Very well, Kreacher. After you’ve finished with the breakfast things, take Lily up to her room.”



Lily may not have understood much of adult speech. But she knew enough to feel her abandonment. She started mewling. “No! Dada Sevvie! Dada Sevvie!” Severus ignored her. But when he tried to leave, her cries turned to abject wails.



Severus grimaced. “Will you stop crying, you wretched girl! Goodness, you’d think I was leaving for the Antipodes, the way you’re behaving.” When she didn’t cease, he lifted her out of her high chair. Thinking quickly, he Summoned a towel, draped it over his shoulder and patted her back until she burped and spat up a thin stream on to the cloth.



Immediately, her cries died down to hiccupping sobs and even those ceased as he carried her towards the basement. He was at the basement door when he realized the twins had followed them. “What do you two want?”



They shifted their feet, exchanging glances. “Well, we were thinking…we could help,” Albus blurted.



Goodness, another surprise. That made two and the day had barely begun. “Help me with what?”



“We could take care of Lily while you make your stuff,” James offered.



He knew the twins held a fierce loyalty towards their sister. But this level of devotion seemed suspicious. His eyes narrowed. “This wouldn’t be a dodge to muck about with my potions, would it?”



Albus looked abashed but James looked at him hopefully. “Can we help? Pleeeeassse? We won’t get in the way!”



“We’ll hold Lily!”



“We’ll keep her quiet!”



“We won’t drop anything!”



“We’ll be real careful!”



“Promise!” they both cried.



Severus rolled his eyes. “All right! All right! Anything to stop the two of you from whinging on about it. Kreacher, I’m taking Lily with me. Proceed with the rest of your chores.”



“Yes, Master Snape.”



Severus pretended to be annoyed with the twins but he was secretly pleased. The boys were taking quite an interest in potions, something their father had never done. Albus, in fact, was proving to be quite a dab hand. Neither of them could pronounce the more difficult-sounding ingredients but Albus could remember their colors and shapes faster than his brother, although it was James who more easily remembered what uses they could be put to when they were combined.



Working with quiet efficiency, he Transfigured a worn bench into a rocking cradle for Lily. Then Severus quickly set the twins to work in the far corner beside her. It kept them out of reach of any splashing from the cauldron and they couldn’t reach the higher shelves where the more dangerous ingredients were shelved. Once they were set to the task on lining up tools for him to use, they became obedient and quiet. Just the way he liked children.



The time sped by quite companionably. Every now and then he looked up to see a pair of bright green or hazel eyes staring at him over the lip of the cauldron. They asked him questions in their high, happy chattering voices and appeared to think over their answers. They might make a fine pair of brewers someday.



More of the Dragon Pox vaccine was needed and he worked diligently, unmindful of the passing time. Fortunately, for this particular potion, no lengthy brewing and cooling time was required. The cauldron contents cooled quickly and he began ladling them into their various flasks. Once filled, the flasks were placed into cotton-lined crates, ready for delivery to Hogwarts, St. Mungo’s and the various apothecary shops.



He glanced at the boys murmuring to each other. Their sister had long fallen asleep, content and sated from her meal and the quietude of the ample space.



It struck him just how much things had changed for him. When was the last time he’d had any children keep him company in dungeons who weren’t subject to detention? When was the last time a child had begged to stay in his presence?



His work as a Potions master did net him a tidy little income and his next payment was due today. On the spur of the moment, he decided that a special treat was in order. He cleared his throat and waited until the boys looked at him.



“I have to deliver some of these to certain shops in Diagon Alley. Would you care to accompany me?”



It was like he’d suggested taking them to a Guy Fawkes celebration. Their eyes lit up and they crowed, “Really?” “Can we?”



He shushed them in reproof. “Quiet. Remember, Lily is sleeping.”



They lowered their voices but began hopping on their feet in excitement. “Can we go to Fortescues?” Albus begged. “I want some chocolate custard.”



“I want to see Uncle George!” James demanded.



“We will take care of my errands first and then visit certain purveyances to make purchases if time permits. We should, however, be home before your father comes back from the orphanage.”



“What about Lily?” Albus said, glancing at his sister, obliviously dozing in her bed.



“We can leave her with Kreacher. He can tend to her just as he’s done in the past.”



Albus ran his hand through his hair. He looked remarkably like his father when he did that; it was almost like having Harry in miniature. “I don’t know. Lily’s sad when you or Daddy isn’t here.”



“She’ll be fine, Al. We can’t take her with us if she’s sleeping.” James was practically dancing with eagerness. He knew that if they didn’t take advantage of this offer, it might not be repeated.



Severus considered the problem. Unlike Harry, he wasn’t completely trusting in the abilities of an old house-elf to take care of a small child, especially one as active as Lily had become. Now that she knew how to stand and walk, she did so constantly, so that either he, Harry or her brothers had to go chasing after her. Kreacher was capable but even he found his hands full.



“We will take your sister with us. I will Transfigure a baby carriage. I will also use a glamour on all of us so no one recognizes us.”



“All of us? Can I look like a redhead like Lily?” James asked, eager at the thought of a disguise.



“Why?” Albus demanded.



He looked down at the green eyes staring up at him. “Why what?”



“Why do you have to ‘guise us?”



“Disguise. I am still…wanted by certain members of the Wizarding community. It would not do to let them know that Severus Snape is walking around with Harry Potter’s children.”



“Why? No one hurts us,” Albus pointed out.



His brother nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Everybody likes us.”



Because you’re Harry Potter’s children, that’s why. He didn’t bother to explain that. He merely said, “I’m not as popular as your father. So let’s get on with it before I change my mind.”



“Why don’t you just pretend to be Daddy?” James asked. Ever the practical one, this twin.



Severus smirked. “I doubt I could imitate your father well enough to fool anyone.”



The boys stood still while he made glamours for them. Now they looked like portly little urchins with indiscriminate mousy blond hair. Their little sister was given a slightly darker shade of red hair, closer to brown.



James and Albus laughed and teased each other over their new forms until Severus stopped them. “Now, I don’t want you two to talk much or call each other by your names. As I stated, I don’t want people to know who you are. If they do, they might easily guess who I am.”



Then Severus created a glamour for himself, one that put on a few extra pounds, enough so that he resembled the boys and girl. As an additional precaution, he cast a Notice-Me-Not Charm on all of them. Anyone trying to look at them would find himself interested in something else without realizing that his attention was being diverted.



Once satisfied with his preparations, he shrank the waiting packages to fit into his pockets, picked up the makeshift carriage holding sleeping child and gestured to the boys.



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Wandering the aisles at Slugs & Jiggers always soothed Severus’s feelings enormously. The sight and smells of the various ingredients, rare and common, nestled securely in their jugs, flasks and glasses were a delight to his senses. He treasured this the way others would a visit to a sweet shop or a trip to the florists.



His transactions had proceeded far more cheerfully than in the past. Perhaps the presence of Harry’s children had to do with it. They raced around the store, looking at all the bottles, flasks and boxes filled with mysterious ingredients. Severus had heard Albus murmuring under his breath, trying to spell out the names he saw everywhere.



With his ample stipend from St. Mungo’s, they were able to take a side trip to Fortescues. Even though James had begged to be taken to Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Severus had put his foot down. Just because he was getting on better with Harry’s adoptive family didn’t mean he wanted to make a habit of visiting them.



Fortescues was bustling. August brought hot days as well as parents and children taking a break from shopping for school. There were lots of older children chattering excitedly about their upcoming first year at Hogwarts and speculating on what houses they would be in.



Although Severus was uneasy in crowds, this excitement was actually better suited to his anonymity. The parents were tired from shopping and the children too caught up in each other and their plans to bother a trio of anonymous brats.



The boys ate their ice cream but looked longingly at the other children. Like most wizarding tots, they were actually eager for school, wondering what it was like, desperate to get wands and come into their powers. They wanted to learn magic even if their minds weren’t quite up to the task of first year lessons.



Well, who was to say that children as young as they couldn’t be taught? Severus decided he would grant the boys a special favor when they got back home.



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The cottage was very quiet when they returned, which was just how Severus liked it. “Children, would you like to learn wandwork?” he asked.



The twins flew into paroxysms of excitement, effectively rousing their little sister. She woke and began fussing. Severus patted her bottom and then wrinkled his nose at the smell wafting from it.



“First things first. Your sister needs to be tended to. Harry! Are you home?”



No answer. Well, perhaps it was too early. But Severus wasn’t going to deal with this if he didn’t have to. “Kreacher! Kreacher!”



There was no answering pop from the house-elf. “Blast,” he muttered. The boys were far too young to deal with this. It looked like he was going to have to handle it himself—again. Well, was he or wasn’t he a Potions master?



So the boys were forced to wait while Severus tended to their stinky baby sister. Severus gingerly removed the nappy. The mess wasn’t as bad as he feared and he swiftly Banished it. Knowing that baby skin was far more sensitive, he proceeded to clean it more thoroughly with a warm cloth. Lily cooed and waved her arms, smiling up into his face.



“Yes, very easy for you to be cheerful. You’re not the one handling this muck,” Severus muttered. Lily laughed and grabbed for his fingers while he arranged the nappy around her groin area. When he was done, he held her up to his shoulder and sniffed appreciatively.



Freshly powdered and cleaned, she smelled quite nice. She was over a year old, no longer a baby but a growing toddler. Still, she exuded the fresh scent of innocence and baby flesh. It was heavenly really.



When he caught himself sniffing Lily’s hair, Severus jerked back. But it was not quick enough to keep her from winding a chubby fist in his hair. “Dada Sevvie. Nice,” she whispered, batting her lashes at him.



“That’s enough out of you, missy.” When the boys giggled, he glared at them. “Get to my room, you two.”



“Your room?” Albus was wide eyed at the prospect of seeing his stepdaddy’s forbidden chambers.



“You will take very good care while you are in my room. If you disturb or destroy anything with your antics…”



“We won’t!” James cried.



“And don’t interrupt me while I’m speaking!” The brats subsided but he didn’t trick himself into thinking that he’d cowed them.



He wondered if having a child of his own would be like this. It was a heady thought, one that beat back his memories of miserable hours spent regurgitating his food. No wonder Molly Weasley had had seven children if the experience of parenthood proved to be so rewarding.



Smiling to himself, he followed the running twins at a more sedate pace, cuddling their sister close to his chest.





TBC