Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Marriage of Convenience	By : NinaSweets Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 158860 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 44
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters and places all belong to JK Rowling this is a not for profit story.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
Hey guys, here’s another chapter, enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen
Harry sat forward in his seat watching Snape carefully. The man wasn’t looking at him; he was staring down at his notebook, frowning at it.
“Do we have to talk, or do we have to talk?” Harry asked.
“What?” Snape said looking up at him sharply.
“Just... just tell me,” Harry said quietly.
Snape sighed softly turning more to face Harry.
“We can’t be together anymore,” Snape said bluntly.
Harry gasped. He hadn’t been expecting that.
“Don’t look so shocked, you knew this wouldn’t be forever. You asked me when we did this to release you at the end of the year; I’m just doing it earlier.”
Harry blinked a few times before looking at his knees.
“Is it me?”
“Potter,” Snape sighed and Harry looked at him.
“I thought... I thought we’d been getting along pretty well. I... I thought it was working,”
“This isn’t a real relationship; it was... at best a tentative acquaintance” Snape said
“So it is me,” Harry said softly.
Nobody wanted to be with him. He had thought they really had something special together. It wasn’t quite love, Harry didn’t know what that felt like, but this had definitely been the start of something like it. With more time he could see himself falling for Snape. It wasn’t the man’s looks or his sharp personality. It had been all those little things he did for Harry, holding him after a nightmare and soothing him back off to sleep, those stolen little kisses to make Harry smile, letting them hold hands even though he clearly detested it.
Snape had still been talking while Harry was freaking out so Harry only caught the end of his sentence.
“- sign, then you can be returned to your aunts custody,” Snape said. He was holding out a stack of papers toward Harry who was too stunned to take them. Snape sighed and placed them down on the coffee table in front of Harry and held out a quill instead.
Harry threw himself at the man’s feet, “Please don’t make me go,”
Snape lowered the quill glaring at him.
“I’ll be better I promise, I... I’ll do anything you want, anything. I really – I... we can have sex if you want!” Harry promised.
“That’s not it at all,” Snape said angrily.
“Well what is it? Tell me right now!” Harry demanded and Snape glared at him.
“Sign the papers Potter!” he ordered,
“No!” Harry snapped, “Not until you tell me why and it had better be good.”
Snape opened his mouth but Harry interrupted waving a finger in the man’s face, “Don’t you dare even think about lying to me, I’ll know!”
“Potter, how dare you presume-”
“I’ll do more than just presume if you don’t answer me,” Harry said snottily
“Potter, you’re a fourteen year old boy-”
“I’m getting older as we speak, try again,”
“You’re a child.”
“You knew that when we got married,” Harry said and Snape glared at him. Harry leant up on his knees so he and Snape, who was still seated, were nearly eye to eye.
“Tell me - tell me you don’t love me and I’ll sign those papers,” Harry said.
“Love?!” Snape gasped and Harry nodded, “Do you love me?” Snape asked him mockingly.
“I don’t know,” Harry answered honestly.
“You don’t know?!” Snape snapped.
“Well I don’t really have anything to compare it to!” Harry cried defensively. “I know I love my parents and I love Ron and Hermione but it’s all in different ways. All I know for sure is that I’ve never felt this way about any one other then you.”
“It’s called loathing and you’ll get used to it,” Snape said and Harry rolled his eyes sitting back on his heels.
“If you can honestly tell me that you don’t feel something, anything at all, we can get divorced.”
“You’re a fool.” Snape said and Harry stared at him with raised eyebrows.
“Harry,” Dumbledore said softly. Harry had actually forgotten the old man was there and started at his voice.
Dumbledore smiled at him and patted the couch space between Snape and himself. Harry sat himself down where indicated but stayed as close to Snape as possible.
“This is so much bigger than just you and Severus,” Dumbledore began. “Voldemort has returned, it should never have happened-”
“Well whose fault is that?” Snape interrupted and Dumbledore gave him a stern look that told him his input was most unwelcome. “I’m simply stating that it wouldn’t have happened if you had given me the Defence Against the Dark Arts job like I asked,”
“Regardless,” Dumbledore continued on, now speaking more to Harry and ignoring Snape completely. “It has happened; we simply cannot allow it to go further. There is so much we don’t know about Voldemort and I still don’t quite know how to defeat him. I have theories as everyone does. For now, what I need is information, I have numerous contacts investigating for me but the best source I have is what Severus delivers to me.”
Harry turned to look at Snape whose face was its impassive mask once more. Harry reached over and took hold of the man’s left hand, Snape didn’t protest. Harry stared down at his wedding ring and then down to his tightly buttoned wrist knowing that just up from that was the Dark Mark. Harry turned to Dumbledore.
“How do you know you can trust him?” Harry asked
“That is between Severus and I Harry,” Dumbledore said.
Harry turned back to Snape, looking down at their entwined fingers. He remembered waking up after Voldemort’s rebirth in the hospital wing. Snape must have gone to see him that night. He hadn’t been there while Harry was; Voldemort had spoken to everyone, commented on his followers absences, Snape must have gone later. He had come home seemingly fine. Seemingly fine could mean anything though. This was serious, he couldn’t do this. He couldn’t be selfish just because the man made him feel nice. Dumbledore was right; this was so much bigger than him. They needed all the help they could get on defeating Voldemort and Snape was their only way to that. He had to be free to do that, Harry couldn’t hold him back. It wasn’t about his feelings. He couldn’t be selfish.
Harry leant forward and grabbed the quill from the table. He pulled the papers toward himself and began to sign his name, before he could finish though Snape had slapped the quill out of his hand.
“Ow,” Harry muttered rubbing his hand and glaring at Snape.
“Professor-” Harry started to protest but Snape grabbed the stack of papers and threw them into the fireplace. He then grabbed Harry and pulled him into his lap.
“Something to say Severus?” Dumbledore said sounding amused. Snape ignored him, wrestling to keep Harry on his lap instead. Harry gave up and slumped against the man in defeat trying to hide his embarrassment in front of the Headmaster.
Harry glanced up at Snape who was blankly staring back at him. Actions definitely spoke louder than words when it came to Severus Snape. Harry offered a small smile and Snape narrowed his eyes turning to glare into the fire. Harry turned back to Dumbledore his small smile now a full grin.
Dumbledore smiled at him in return and spoke, “So I take it then you’ll be staying together?”
“Well, if Snape doesn’t have any good reason for us not to...” Harry muttered.
“Of course I don’t!” Snape snapped, “Why do you think I’ve been tearing my hair out over this stupid potion?!”
Snape slid Harry off his lap onto the seat beside him and stood up. He headed over to his blackboard and began to stare at it again frowning.
“I’m so close,” he said and Harry turned to Dumbledore.
“It is hard to focus when the mind is so cluttered Severus,” Dumbledore said and sipped at his tea.
“That’s your fault,” Snape replied.
“Sir,” Harry interrupted softly and Dumbledore turned to him.
“Ah, perhaps an explanation for Severus’ obsession is in order. There are many things one must do to be allowed to marry in the Wizarding world. Wizarding marriages are very different from Muggle ones. The most important difference being magic, magic is such a part of us it feels as we feel and is driven by us and at the same time we are equally driven by it. Much like an unhappy heart in a Muggle marriage, unhappy magic in a Wizarding one can cause problems. The most common symptoms are simple things like exhaustion and irritability when around the partner. More serious problems are things like infertility or spell work going awry or even an inability to perform spells at all. The Ministry takes these issues very seriously. We are so few in numbers now that the loss of magic isn’t simply detrimental to the witch or wizard it affects our whole society. So to deter anyone getting married for foolish reasons and suffer through magical instability each newlywed couple is required within the first three years of marriage to conceive an heir, or a reason as to why they cannot conceive one.”
Harry sat still for a moment trying to think this through. That couldn’t be right.
“Are they really allowed to do that? What about couples who don’t want kids?”
“They would be required to submit to a hearing stating their reasons for that choice. The Ministry isn’t unreasonable, just unconventional,”
Harry sat back against the couch and frowned.
“So we just tell the Ministry I can’t have a baby,”
“There is absolutely nothing stopping you,” Dumbledore said and Harry frowned at him. “From the Ministry’s point of view, anyway. You are quite young but you’re certainly not the youngest. Abraxas Malfoy the first and his young bride Drusilla were only twelve and thirteen, respectively when they had their first child,”
“I can’t have a baby there’s a madman trying to kill me,” Harry said and Dumbledore turned to Snape.
“What are you working on Severus?” Dumbledore said
“Fake pregnancy potion,” Snape mumbled back distractedly.
“Fake pregnancy potion?” Harry repeated turning to Snape sharply.
“Yes, a potion that will mimic all the symptoms of pregnancy except for the baby,” Snape said not turning from the board before him.
“Won’t they notice there’s no baby when they do a – a – the x-ray thing?” Harry asked.
“X-rays would seriously harm a baby; I think you mean ultra sound?” Snape said turning to look at Harry over his shoulder. Harry raised his eyebrows at Snape in surprise.
“Spells while wonderful are surprisingly primitive when compared to certain Muggle technologies. All the spells can do is detect the hormonal changes in your body, it won’t actually be able to tell if there’s a baby in there or not,”
“Well how do people know if it’s a boy or girl?”
“There’s a spell for that too but by then we’ll tell them you miscarried,” Snape said
“Oh you’ve sorted this all out then, thank you for discussing it with me,” Harry said and Snape frowned.
“I knew you didn’t want to leave me, this is the only way the Ministry will let you stay. I’ve been working for months,” Snape said in a flat voice. Harry frowned, thinking back, Snape had been locking himself away for a while but it was only recently he’d started having those frustrated outbursts in class. This potion had probably been an intriguing problem at the start and was now a nuisance.
“Oh...” Harry said feeling uncomfortable now. “Well... is this really the only way?”
The question was open to the room; Harry glanced between Snape and Dumbledore waiting for an answer. Snape looked to Dumbledore tiredly; the headmaster raised an eyebrow in return. Harry sat quietly; he had a feeling they were having a completely silent conversation and it was all about him.
After a few moments both men turned to Harry, “Yes,” they replied in unison.
“Oh...” Harry sighed softly.
“This is very important Harry; if you want to be with Severus then we all must play our cards exactly right. In between the Ministry and Voldemort’s return this is very dangerous,” Dumbledore said and Harry nodded.
“I want to... I want to try,” Harry said
“You’re going to be killed,” Snape said
“If I go down you’re coming with me.” Harry replied, not missing a beat.
“Foolish boy,” Snape muttered turning back to his work but he was hiding a smirk.
“Excellent,” Dumbledore said, standing up, “Now that’s all sorted-”
“Wait!” Harry said and Dumbledore paused. “What about Voldemort, isn’t he going to be expecting Snape to bring me to the next meeting or something?”
“Professor Snape,” Dumbledore corrected gently.
“I’m sorry sir I’m not calling my husband Professor and we’re not quite at first name basis yet,”
“Said the mother of my unborn child,” Snape muttered and Harry shot him a dark look.
“Why am I the mother?” Harry asked, Snape turned to him and raised a challenging eyebrow.
“All right then,” Harry muttered before turning to Dumbledore, “That still doesn’t answer what we’re going to do about Voldemort,”
“I believe you are safe for now, Voldemort needs Severus as much as I do right now, he can’t afford for Severus to jeopardise my trust in him,” Dumbledore said and Snape nodded in agreement.
“What if that changes?”
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it,” Dumbledore said soothingly and Harry shook his head.
“I want to cross it now,” Harry demanded. Dumbledore stepped forward and placed his hand on Harry’s shoulder.
“I know I ask so very much from you sometimes but again I must ask that you simply trust me. If you can’t do that, then trust Severus’ trust in me.”
“I don’t trust you,” Snape said immediately.
Dumbledore gave him a tired look and Snape turned back to his blackboard in silence.
“Patience,” Dumbledore said simply and swept from the room. Harry slumped back against the couch wondering, not for the first time, what it would be like to have a normal life.

Snape and Dumbledore had done their best but Fudge would not be deterred. He was determined to get Snape and Harry together so he could grill them about their marriage and their apparent lack of consummating that marriage.
Ron had confirmed for him over lunch earlier that day that, yes, the Ministry really did monitor all newlywed marriages for the first few years to make sure they were on the right track.
“It’s sort of like free marriage counselling really,” Ron said with a shrug. It was normal to him.
Hermione on the other hand was completely horrified,
“They have no right to tell me when to have children! What if I don’t want children?”
“Well of course you’d want kids,” Ron said and Hermione glared at him.
“Maybe I don’t Ron, I want a career, a proper career, not everyone wants to be a homemaker like your mother,”
“Hey! Don’t talk about my mum that way, just because you think it’s beneath you doesn’t mean being a housewife is any less important than some stupid Ministry career!” Ron snapped.
Harry had been secretly grateful when Snape came along to collect him for the meeting. He put a stop to Ron and Hermione’s arguing with his sharp acidic tongue.
“Mr Weasley, while you have shot up in the eyes of the female population of this school for your defence of the career choice of housewife it is perhaps wise to consider such a career for yourself due to your abysmal grades and not assume it fall upon your unfortunate future spouse due to her gender! And you Miss Granger, a career in the Ministry is admirable but not a single person will look at you twice if you insist on carrying on like a spoilt child when someone disagrees with you!”
That had helped Snape cool off some steam but it wasn’t enough. He led the way to Dumbledore’s office, gliding through the halls in a swirl of anger.
He spat the password at the gargoyles guarding the headmasters office and then stormed up the stairs Harry reluctantly following in his wake.
They entered the office together to find Dumbledore and Fudge already waiting for them. They were seated at Dumbledore’s desk but both of them rose up in greeting.
“How are we today gentlemen?” Fudge asked brightly.
“Very well Minister,” Harry said, Snape merely grunted. Harry slapped his arm.
The look Snape gave him promised severe repercussions later on. Harry ignored it. They were supposed to be madly deeply in love so Harry was trying to think of married people he knew and how they acted. The only examples he had was his aunt and uncle and Mr and Mrs Weasley. While they were vastly different couples there were a lot of similarities. They all obviously cared for their partners and were extremely well matched in personality. Vernon and Petunia Dursley were both standoffish and arrogant, Vernon was hot headed and impulsive and Petunia balanced him out she was cooler, calculating and rational. Well in other aspects, no Dursley could be rational when Harry Potter was around.
Molly and Arthur Weasley were both kind hearted, warm people who simply loved to be with one another. Mr Weasley was certainly a wise man but he was also curious and often times reckless. Mrs Weasley helped reel him in, thinking ahead for her family when her husband over looked one thing or another. She was a generous woman and the very epitome of a mother hen. She knew who she was and was proud of it.
The similar things between these two couples was their love for one another, founded over a mutual love and hatred of the same things, the same values and goals they had for each other and for themselves.
Harry decided if he wanted any hope of getting the Ministry to leave Snape and himself alone it was to act like the Weasley’s or the Dursley’s. So if Snape was rude he was getting slapped.
The odd group moved to the couches near the fire, Dumbledore and Fudge placing themselves into the single seats so Harry and Snape could share the couch. There was tea set for four on the spindly table in between them. Harry sat forward accepting the role of hostess. He’d seen his Aunt do it enough times to work out how to act when there was someone important around. The perfect wife served tea and biscuits promptly without being asked. He didn’t want to be a robot so Harry felt the safest way to do this was to be a very good balance of Aunt Petunia and Mrs Weasley. Both very good wives but in very different ways. Aunt Petunia was a trophy wife, perfect to trot out at business meetings to impress the board members and Mrs Weasley was... well she was real. She was a real person, a caring person who spoke and listened and was quick on her feet and with her words, she wouldn’t tolerate mischief or rudeness.
He prepared everyone else’s tea before making his own and taking a delicate sip.
Fudge cleared his throat and Harry politely turned to him.
“I’m not sure if anyone has spoken to you about how Wizarding marriages work,” Fudge started but Harry nodded along.
“Yes, Severus and Professor Dumbledore were telling me the other day actually. My friend Ron compared it to free marriage counselling which is a fun way to look at it. It’s very nice that the Ministry cares so much to offer such a thing,” Harry said and sipped his tea.
“That is a very good way of looking at it,” Fudge agreed and Harry smiled.
“It’s also very nice of you to come along and counsel us, surely as Minister you have more important things to do?” Harry asked
“Well yes but I thought you’d benefit more from a familiar face, we will be touching on some sensitive subjects. Besides it’s nice to leave the office every once in a while,” Fudge replied.
“Indeed,” Dumbledore agreed and Harry smiled.
“So, I suppose we’ll get started then,” Fudge said, “any problems so far? No magic gone awry or anything?”
“I haven’t noticed anything,” Harry said and looked to Snape who shook his head.
“Well there shouldn’t be, that usually settles after consummation,” Fudge said and Harry blinked at him.
That was so subtle.
The look on Snape’s face said he very much thought the same.
“Just ask what we all know you’re dying to, Minister,” Snape said.
“Have you consummated the marriage?” Fudge asked bluntly.
Harry was puffing up ready to be the offended clueless innocent but Snape held up a hand to stop him before he could start shouting.
“No,” Snape said simply and Fudge stared.
“Why? You don’t have to worry about conceiving without the Gravidam potion,”
“That’s not the issue,” Snape said and glanced at Harry who squirmed uncomfortably under the stare.
“Well then what is it? This is a safe space, you should feel free to discuss anything here,” Fudge said. Harry could sense Snape trying very hard not to throttle the man. Harry decided to jump in.
“He’s too big,” Harry blurted out.
Fudge choked on his tea.
Snape smirked and leant back in his taking a triumphant sip of tea as the Minister spluttered.
“I – I’m sorry?” Fudge said
“Homosexual intercourse requires anal penetration. Male bodies are not designed to accept anything into them, add into that Harry’s petite stature and my significantly larger... frame, well we’re not fitting quite as we should,” Snape said his smirk still firmly on his face.
“Yes... any other problems besides... that?” Fudge asked. Harry glanced at Snape and then they turned to Fudge and shook their heads.
“Just that one,” Snape said. He was looking a lot happier to be here as he watched Fudge squirm uncomfortably.
“Well... you’re a potions master surely you can make something?”
“All the lubricant in the world won’t change the size. I’m trying to fit a wand into the eye of a needle here,” Snape said and Harry put a hand over his mouth in shock slapping Snape on the arm.
“Bit of an exaggeration don’t you think?” Harry hissed.
“Perhaps, but now the Minister understands what we’re working with here, you are very petite,” Snape said.
“Can’t you switch?” Fudge asked. The look he received from Snape was lethal.
“Do you and your wife switch?”
“What? Of course not... I... we can’t,” Fudge said. He was very uncomfortable now, shifting away from Snape’s glare.
“So just because we can we should? You and your wife also have the means to switch if you are creative enough but you won’t. It’s not who you are and it’s not who I am,”
Fudge cleared his throat uncomfortably and turned to Dumbledore for help.
“Any suggestions?” Fudge said pointedly.
“Oh Cornelius it’s been a very long time since I’ve engaged in any activity like that, I expect everything I used is now illegal or very bad for you,” Dumbledore said with a wistful smile.
Harry was now the one who was uncomfortable. Dumbledore was so old... that was just... ugh nope.
Snape and Dumbledore seemed to be having fun though as Harry and Fudge shifted in discomfort.
“Well... yes, I suppose you should both work on that issue together,” Fudge said.
“Certainly,” Snape agreed.
“Have you two discussed children? Even without the Gravidam potion there is still a chance you could fall pregnant. Twelve percent of wizards are able to carry without the potion,” Fudge said.
Harry shot Snape a look; no one had told him that! Snape gave a curt nod to confirm and Harry turned back to Fudge in shock.
“I’m still in school, I can’t imagine running around to classes with a baby strapped to my back,” Harry muttered.
“Don’t be silly, I’d let you finish school, I’ll watch the babe,” Snape said and Harry glared at him.
Not helping!
“Well excellent, of course you should finish your education, however if something were to happen it’s always good to have a plan,” Fudge said cheerily.
Harry knew what that meant, Fudge was sincerely hoping something happened and he did have a baby, nothing said; ‘Everything is fine,’ like the Boy-Who-Lived settling down to have a family.
“Any other issues you’d like to cover?” Fudge asked, Snape and Harry shook their heads and the man beamed. “Wonderful! I must say this is going better than I had thought; I had my doubts at the beginning but you two seem to really be making a go of it.”
“Thank you Minister,” Harry said politely.
“I’ll be back to chat with you again soon but I don’t think we’ll be having very much to discuss, you are getting along splendidly,” Fudge said
“We’d like that,” Harry said and Snape just grunted. Harry slapped his arm and offered the Minister a smile. The man smiled back and left them with a tip of his bowler hat. As soon as the door shut behind him Snape slapped Harry’s arm. Hard.
“Ow!” Harry whined.
“Don’t hit me!” Snape growled.
“You were being rude,”
“I’m always rude!”
“Sorry I just wanted him to understand we’re married so I tried to act like a wife and all the wives I know hit their husbands when they’re being rude. They also hit their husbands when they’re stupid enough to hit them,” Harry said and slapped Snape’s arm again. Snape raised his hand to slap him again but Dumbledore interrupted.
“Really now boys calm down,”
“Did you see that?” Harry asked Dumbledore, “He tried to hit me, wife beater,”
“Arrogant swine,”
“Snarky git!”
“Impertinent brat!”
“A wand into the eye of a needle could you be any more disgusting?” Harry asked
“Come over here and I’ll show you how apt that description is,” Snape challenged.
“Boys!” Dumbledore called loudly over the top of their arguing.
Snape and Harry both fell silent.
“I think that we were all just a little tightly wound from that meeting and needed to let off some steam,” Dumbledore said
Snape slapped Harry again and received a glare from both Harry and Dumbledore.
“I wasn’t done yet, now I am, I am completely calm,” Snape explained.
Harry rubbed his sore arm glaring at him,
“I know you were making innuendos with Fudge but you actually are a lot bigger than me and a lot stronger, your slaps hurt!” Harry grumbled.
Snape immediately changed his eyebrows rose and he stared down at Harry’s arm.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you; I have a salve in my rooms for bruises,” Snape said quietly.
“It’s okay, just a kiss should make it better,” Harry said cheekily and held up his arm. Snape frowned.
“I’m not doing that,”
“Oh but it hurts so much, oh the spousal abuse, I don’t know how I’ll carry on,” Harry sighed dramatically.
Snape shot Dumbledore a look but the Headmaster had become suddenly fascinated with the swirling designs on his teacup. Snape rolled his eyes but gave Harry’s arm a quick peck making Harry smile.
Harry leant forward and gave the man a quick kiss, “Thank you, it feels so much better now, why I think it’s all healed up.”
“If only we could fix that mouth of yours,” Snape said
“This one?” Harry asked pointing to his lips, “right here? This mouth?”
“Yes that one,”
“Well of course I’d let you try to fix it but I do have a class to attend so maybe later?” Harry said and gave Snape another quick kiss before hurrying off out the door.
“Aw,”
“Not. Another. Word!”

Harry sat at the coffee table in his rooms chewing on the end of his quill. Snape was again locked away in his lab. He had worked out his potion, in theory, now it was time to actually brew it and see how it went. The last two times he had tried they had both had to evacuate their rooms for a few hours while Tipple kindly cleaned up the damage. Harry was hoping that the third time was the charm as Snape was quickly becoming very irritable again, the satisfaction on having solved the potions mysteries quickly evaporating with each failed brewing attempt.
Harry turned back to his homework with a small sigh. He still wasn’t quite sure how to feel about all this. He couldn't quite believe this was really the only way. It was probably his Muggle upbringing but he was just very suspicious of a government that meddled so much. It seemed Dumbledore and Snape agreed with him. But there was nothing they could do, Harry wanted to stay with Snape so they had to play by the rules. He just couldn't stop worrying, it didn't feel right. He was worried about Voldemort, he’d tried to kill Harry as a baby what if he felt this new baby was even more of a threat? Then he’d be after Harry as relentlessly as ever.
There was just so much about this that felt wrong; babies deserved truly loving families, even imaginary ones…
Harry wished he could talk to someone but Dumbledore had forbidden it. He couldn't even tell Ron and Hermione. While they were fiercely loyal and Harry knew they wouldn't tell intentionally Ron had a habit of blurting things out when he was angry. Hermione would be able to help but he couldn't tell her and not Ron. Dumbledore probably knew that which was why he’d forbidden Harry from telling either of them. He wanted to talk to Sirius but he couldn't possibly put something like that in a letter. Professor Lupin would probably be able to help but he couldn't talk to him either. No one but Snape, Dumbledore and Harry could know. He wasn't looking forward to the summer nearly as much as he would have. Being married to Snape meant he would go and stay with him, it would be his first Dursley free summer and it would be ruined by a fat belly with an imaginary baby inside.
Harry wanted a family of his own more than anything, he hadn't given it much thought but he had dreamed of when he was older. He'd get married and have a little house with a cute little garden and wonky front steps; he'd have a beautiful wife and loads of children, definitely more than two. The house would be dirty, his kids running from inside to outside leaving muddy footprints and he wouldn't care. He wouldn't scold them like his aunt had when he tracked mud in the house. He would let his kids be dirty, they would play in the mud and eat bugs and draw on the walls and do all the naughty things kids do. He would discipline them but he'd never outright forbid it unless it was really dangerous. His kids would be allowed to simply be kids and he was excited for that.
Harry sighed and stood up heading over to Snape’s lab door. He knew he would get in trouble but he just had to share his thoughts and feelings this was wrong. He did want to stay with Snape but this felt like a price to high.
He knocked on the door and waited patiently. As expected the door was flung open and Snape was glaring at him from across the room, his wand pointed at the door.
“What?!” he barked.
“Can we talk?” Harry asked quietly.
“I’m a little busy Potter, can't it wait?”
“It's about the potion,” Harry said, “I don't want to take it.”
“What?”
Snape put down his wand and potion stirrer to stare at him. His glare was made all the more fierce by the red glow shining from the potion in front of him.
“I don't want to take it,” Harry repeated, “Voldemort will use it to his advantage,”
“By the time the Dark Lord hears of it you will have ‘miscarried’.”
“Well I don't feel right in taking it; I shouldn't have to have a baby to be with you. I don't… I'm not ready for it,
“Potter, it's not a real baby,”
“Well even a fake baby feels wrong! Babies are meant to be made of love even fake babies,” Harry said and Snape raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t have time for such petty problems Potter,”
“Please, I just feel really uncomfortable doing this. It's like kicking my dreams in the face,” Harry said. Snape stared at him waiting for him to continue.
“I… it's nothing serious… I just… well doesn't everyone dream of their future? I want to have real kids someday with someone I love and I know loves me. I don't want fake ones with a man I have sort of strong feelings for. I just can't do it.”
“Potter I obviously can't force you to drink this potion,” Snape said in a tone that was strongly suggesting he might do just that. “Would you like to continue having stupid little progress meetings with the Minister? Where he continues to ask foolish invasive questions and then eventually forces us to have fertility tests to check why you’re not pregnant yet till I get so frustrated I leave you due to pure annoyance? Perhaps he’ll decide that’s not good enough and we’ll be forced to have intercourse with a series of witnesses by our bedside cheering us on.”
Harry sighed softly.
“Do you trust me?” Snape asked. Harry startled at the random question but nodded.
“Yes,” he said honestly. He did trust Snape, the man played things close to his chest but Harry knew Snape was really trying to make this work, whether it was for his sake or just Harry’s he wasn’t sure of.
“I’m not doing this to be mean. You made a choice and unfortunately with such things there is a price to pay,” Snape said, he turned back to his potion and slowly began to ladle it into various vials he had set up around him.
“As far as prices go this isn’t a very high one to pay, I can think of many that are far worse,” Snape said and turned to him holding out a vial toward him.
“Drink,” he ordered.
“What? Right now? Shouldn’t we test it first?”
“You said you trusted me,”
“Well… yes but-”
“So drink,” Snape said offering the vial once more. The liquid inside was a swirling shimmering red. It sparkled as Snape held it closer. Harry sighed and took the vial from him. He was right; there could be worse prices to pay… besides if both Dumbledore and Snape thought it was a good idea then it couldn’t be too bad right?
Harry lifted the vial to his lips and drank the contents in one big gulp.

Another chapter up, I hope you all had a nice Halloween and for those who don’t celebrate I hope you enjoyed the lolly sales at the supermarket. Don’t forget to leave a review and I’ll see you next time, Nina
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A Marriage of Convenience