Ghost Rider

Title: Ghost Rider
Author & Notes: never_tempt aka cameowitch
Status/Part: one shot
Rating: Innocent-ish
Pairing: HP/DM HP/SS implied
Date: 12-Aug-05
Key words: Fluff, mpreg, character death

Summary: Harry believes he loves Severus Snape. When Severus is taken from him in the final battle, it is a dying wish that brings Harry and Draco together.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Beta: Keikokin


Ghost Rider

The war was finally over and Harry Potter lay in the infirmary at Hogwarts. Again.

~~ Flashback~~

It was the last day of the seventh year, not quite commencement time but close. The school was abuzz with excited seventh years, waiting to get their licenses and exuberant younger students waiting to go home for the summer. Harry had been in the girl’s loo saying good-bye to Moaning Myrtle and making sure the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was sealed and going to stay that way.

The teenager, made older from experience than he should have been, was lost in his memories of his life these last seven years and didn’t immediately hear the noise on the outside of the loo. When the door was blasted open, he turned in surprise, with wand drawn, to see Severus Snape looking singed and breathing hard. ‘Come on Potter. Destiny awaits.’ The Slytherin pulled the young man against him before kissing him hard. The two had developed a tight relationship that never went beyond a kiss, even though Harry had often wished it would have. Whether it was to relieve the sexual pressure or because he really wanted a closer relationship with Severus, he could never be sure. Severus made the decision for him. Harry would have to live with the sexual pressure.

That didn’t mean Severus didn’t lust after the young man. He just had some scruples left and those included not breaking the heart of his godson, Draco Malfoy. Severus had seen the looks Draco could barely disguise around Harry and finally cornered him one day about it. The young blond confessed and felt his burden ease a little. He would never distract Harry with the problems of a Malfoy, his supposed hated enemy. He told Severus he would do everything he could to keep him safe during the coming battle. Draco had had no intentions of ever joining the Dark Lord; he’d have killed himself first. So when it all came out to Severus, the man being honorable and loving no matter what the other students thought, vowed to himself to help the two young men along.

It had worked to a point; they had become less aggressive with each other and able to carry on a conversation without hexes and physical violence. Harry couldn’t see what was in front of him and Draco wasn’t confident enough yet to tell him. So they all waited, Harry for Severus, Draco for Harry and Severus for both of them to wake up and smell the coffee.

Harry’s memories returned to that kiss. It was the only one Severus had ever initiated and it had been fleeting but filled with so much – Harry could feel the fear in Severus, the adrenaline rush of finally going to have this settled and something else that surprised Harry. He felt the love Severus had been hiding from him. He could hardly wait to finish off Voldemort now and seek out his Potions Master.

The Gryffindor was surprised when the kiss ended and he felt a broom pressed in his hand. ‘Come on Potter, time for us to fly and end this now.’ Severus turned and ran for an exit, knowing Harry would follow. Both males hit the exit and were airborne within seconds. Severus had always loved flying and did whenever he could, but that was a little known fact. He usually did his at night as the students slept and he was bothered with bad dreams. That’s how he and Harry had finally used it as a mutual interest to bridge the gap between them. They fell into a pattern of flying together and could anticipate the other’s moves with very little thought. It was this that helped Severus get Harry in close to the Dark Lord around his minions.

Harry saw Voldemort and landed quietly just out of eyesight. He signaled for Severus to join him, but the stubborn man knew he had to stay up to run interference and draw the others away from the Dark Lord. Harry realized Severus had made himself a target to give him what he needed – the opening to take out Tom.

Harry slipped through the openings until he found his target. Taking careful aim at the middle of the back, he quietly called out “Tom Riddle, turn around and face me you coward. You, madman, the killer of innocents, have finally got your wish, to face me one on one. Let’s see what you can do.” Harry watched, as he slowly turned around, not surprised to see the eyes looking more like mere slits, mimicking a snake’s eyes. “Poor Tom, couldn’t you think of anything better to emulate?” The Gryffindor tormented his adversary with words, knowing that they would drive him to distraction and carelessness. Harry kept up a litany of insults as they began to move in a slow circle around each other, waiting for the opening. He’d only have one chance.

Harry blocked out the rest of the world, he knew where Severus was and was confident in his abilities. He knew where the Headmaster was, he knew where the Death Eaters and Aurors were. His only worry was in front of him and he was being very cautious. When the time was right he’d strike faster than a snake and that would be the end, one way or another. It was such a simple plan he didn’t know why someone hadn’t thought of it before, it wasn’t that hard to kill a snake.

Hearing a familiar cry, Voldemort turned his head in time to see Severus falling from his broom to hit the ground. Harry saw it in his peripheral vision, but knew this was his only chance. He gathered all the energy around him he could and cast the most unexpected spell he could. Stupefy hit Voldemort square in his forehead and dropped him to the ground like a rock. Running to him, Harry felt a sense of satisfaction, this would be fairly simple. Taking his wand again, the Gryffindor began with spreading a circle of sulfur around Tom’s body. He then began chanting a spell he and Severus had developed. It was simplistic and not many would have thought of it as a killer. As the liquid began falling on Voldemort, Harry watched as the man-snake began freezing in place, his existence ebbing away. Screams penetrated Harry’s concentration as the other
Death Eaters began falling, not dying though, as Voldemort was dying. The end came soon though and Harry was glad of it. He turned, expecting to find Severus at his back, but ran as soon as he saw his friend lying on the ground.

Severus had managed to fall, so he could watch what Harry was doing. He knew he didn’t have long and he still had things to tell the brat. He saw Harry running to him and wished he could still be there to help the young man. There was so much he wanted to show him and teach him, now that they had become friends. It was going to be hard leaving him.

Harry dropped to his knees next to Severus and lifted him up. “Severus, what do you think you are doing lying here? We still have to clean up this mess. Come on Severus, don’t do this to me now. You’re going to be fine. I’ll get Poppy and the Healers and anyone you need. Please Severus, stay with me.” He held on to the Potions Master and began yelling for Poppy and Healers and Albus. He was surprise when Draco landed across from him, placing his hands under Severus for more support.

“Severus, please don’t scare us like this. We still need you. Fight, stay with us.” Draco let his tears fall, unashamed of them. This man meant the world to him, more of a father than his own had been. “Sev, please you promised to help us.” The blond Slytherin stared into the cloudy obsidian eyes and knew it wasn’t for much longer. He’d seen it too many times. “Sev, please” came out in a choked voice as the tears flowed freely. Severus just smiled at him.

“Harry make sure you finish the spells and incinerate that body. The alcohol you used will help burn it, just make sure there is nothing left, but ashes and then burn them and have them blessed, so no magic can be used on them again.” Severus stopped talking only to start coughing and wheezing. Breathing was getting more and more difficult. “Harry, put your hand on my chest.” Harry heard the words and obeyed, hoping he could give Severus what he wanted. “Dragon, join his hand.” Draco did as he was told. Severus took as deep a breath as he could and started. “You two, stay together, you’re good for each other. My last wish, is that you marry, have children. I love you both. Now love each other. I’ll stay here to fly with you Harry and watch the babies. Just not in this body.” Severus Snape blessed them with the most peaceful smile anyone had ever seen on his face, as the two young men holding him took his hands in theirs and promised to fulfill his last wish.

~~~ Present~~

Harry looked around the white walls. As often as he’d been a patient there, you would think they would let him decorate his area, as he wanted. His right hand moved to his stomach. The bulge was still there and the soft, silky blond locks spread over it like a protective blanket. His left hand was clasped firmly in another hand. He opened his eyes and took in the sight before him. His husband, Draco Malfoy, sat in a chair with part of him resting on Harry. He was familiar with this sight, Draco did it often enough, even at home. It was as if to make sure he was there to protect them. Harry felt another pain ripple through him and laughed as the blond hair rippled with it.

“Draco, love, get up.” Harry squeezed the hand a little harder and ran his fingers over Draco’s lips. The blond woke up in an instant, concentration fully on the man on the hospital bed. He looked deep into the emerald eyes and kissed the smiling lips.

“Hello beautiful. Are we going home or having this baby today?” Draco had been
impatiently awaiting their first child.

~~Flashback~~

They had been married for three years now and wanted children. It had taken a year after the end of the war for the two men to be able to talk about Severus’ last wish and to work together to become closer friends. It finally happened on the night of the anniversary of Voldemort’s defeat and the death of Severus Snape. Harry couldn’t sleep again. Even the peace of Hogwarts wasn’t enough to settle him this night. He slid out of bed and looked at Draco lying on his own bed. They were living together, learning each other, but no sex for them as of yet. Harry was still living with sexual tension, whether from not having satisfied himself with Snape or not indulging in sex with Draco, he wasn’t sure. It had been his decision not to and Draco was honoring it.

This night just bothered him too much. The revelry had pushed him further away from others, making him seek the solace of their rooms. Albus had asked Draco to stay on as the new Potions instructor; he couldn’t be called a Master yet, as he still had his apprenticeship to finish before earning that honorific. He had a good master to learn from though. Severus had taken care of that eventuality too. It was all set out in his will. Harry was still there, apprenticing to Madam Pince in the library. He loved the information, but he knew it was just a stepping stone to his true position of Assistant Headmaster in a few years. But those were not in his thoughts tonight.

Tonight his mind kept going back over the last time with Severus. He knew the Potions master promised to stay somehow. He remembered the kiss before his world turned upside down. He grabbed his broom and crept out of the rooms, leaving the blond sleeping. He even went through the same door Severus had taken him into battle through. He was airborne again in seconds and fell into the patterns he and Severus had worked on, so long ago. They brought him no comfort tonight. As he went higher and faster, his mind slipped further into the past. He flew the practice routines without thought. Before long, he was lost in them, so he wasn’t surprised to hear Severus’ velvety clipped voice. “Come on Harry, that roll has to be tighter and not so wide. How will you ever avoid a spell if you are spread out? Might as well wear a Muggles bull’s eye with a note, “Aim Here”.

Harry chuckled thinking how like the potions master that sounded. He didn’t remember Severus ever saying those words, but it wouldn’t have surprised him. It did surprise him, though, when he heard, “Potter, get your head out of the clouds and look at me.” He turned to his right where Severus always flew. His broom wobbled under him and he had to fight to regain control.

Next to him flew one ghost of Severus Snape, broom and all. “Hello Harry. Told you I’d fly with you. Now, while we do slow gentle loops, you are going to answer questions until I have the answer we are both awaiting. I want to know why you and Draco aren’t together yet.” So Harry began looping and talking to Severus. Finally, finishing everything, Severus looked at him. “Potter you always were slow on the important things. I’m going to do something I couldn’t in my body. I’m breaking a trust. My blond haired godson has loved you for years, not hated you, loved you. He could never come to you because of the eyes that were on all of us, waiting for the wrong move. He told me because he needed someone to tell. I never told either of you before, but I loved you, in different ways of course. I would have enjoyed being your first, you would have enjoyed it too. Fate did not have that in mind for us. It’s better this way. Go back to him tonight Harry, crawl into bed with him and just hold him. Let it go where it will. Don’t force anything, just let it happen. What is to be, will be. I’ll still be here flying when you need me and I’ll be there for the births and to watch over your children. Be good to him Harry. He loves you, even though he may never say it to you. He said it to me, that is why I never pursued you. I couldn’t hurt both of you. I love both of you and want you happy. You love him; you just haven’t been able to see past me. Look and you will see it. I’ll see you later Harry. Go to your rooms now.” Severus broke off their pattern and Harry turned back for the castle.

~End Flashback~~

Harry groaned and clutched at his stomach. “Damn it, Draco. That hurt. Where’s Poppy with something for the pain? Can’t I have something for the pain?” Harry just clutched at his stomach more as the pain began rippling through. He hoped Draco knew how much he loved him because this was unbearable. As Harry began panting Poppy came up to them and said, “Not long now Harry. I can’t give you anything for the pain though. The healer will be here soon and we can have this done in a thrice.” Poppy moved away as the green eyes glared wrathfully at her. Harry whimpered and squeezed Draco’s hand again. Draco in turn whimpered at the feeling of his hand being crushed. The doors flung open and Harry looked up to see the healer come through the door. Snarling now, he managed “What took you so freaking long? This baby wants out. NOW.”

The healer looked at him and had the nerve to chuckle. Directing his look at Draco, he nodded and pulled his wand. “He’s ready now Mr. Malfoy. Please move where we showed you before and we can get this baby here and your husband comfortable.”

Draco helped Harry sit up and slid in behind him, supporting him against his chest and the healer took more readings and finally set hands on Harry. Harry groaned as he felt the pain ease. The healer spread the sheets and moved to prep Harry. Soon the sounds of a cry filled the air. The Healer looked at him and said, “You have a beautiful baby here. I’ll be done in a moment and you three can get acquainted.”

Draco and Harry looked at him as he finished and the baby was handed to them. They looked at their son with Harry’s raven hair and Draco’s blue eyes. The look of awe was one that the healer had seen many times in his life while delivering babies. The surprise that he couldn’t hide was from the appearance of the ghost behind them.

“I told you I’d be here. What is the name for our young one here? Look at those long fingers and the Malfoy nose. Draco, he has your eyes. It looks like he has a combination of your hair, black for Harry’s and thanks be to the goddess, tame like Draco’s.”

The men smiled, admiring their baby and looked at the ghost. Draco nodded to Harry. “We are naming our son Severus James Potter-Malfoy. He will have a legacy to live up to, a legacy to live down and we’ll make sure he has balance between the two and a fun filled life.” Harry kissed his son, followed by Draco kissing the baby. Finally, the spirit of Severus Snape, murmured softly over the baby as the little one reached out to clutch at the hair and nose in front of him, only to have his little hands flail through the airy figure.

Severus looked at the two men and smirked. “Hmm, watch this one for Seeker abilities.” With that Severus smiled at them and hummed his way out of the castle on his broom. The two husbands looked at each other before smiling and Harry commenting. “Death loosened him up.” They smiled back at their son and wondered what a life he would live without the constant threat of war or of Voldemort over his head. Draco and Harry would be free to enjoy his life with him and any more children they would have.