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Potions and Problems	By : SerenityBaby Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/James Views: 13882 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Chapter Two

***

“Snape why don’t you get your nose out of that book and join the real world for a while” Lucius said taking the book out of hold and just out of his reach as Snape glared at him.

“Give it back Malfoy you know I don’t talk to anyone when I’m having dinner” he said reaching for the book and just to have Lucius move to further out of his with a smile seeing how much Snape wanted the potion stained book back in his possession.

“Honestly when are you ever not reading this book, you carry it around with you like you are some girl protecting her diary. You must have learned every potion in this book by now the number of times you have read the thing” he said opening it and flicking though the pages quickly. “Honestly you have even written little things on everyone of the pages. You are so going to get detention for this one Snape you no you have to return this book at the end of the year.” He said before Snape managed to snatch the book back from him. “All that and it’s bad manners to read at the table during dinner.” He said as he delicately at a piece of chicken off his fork.

“Whatever Malfoy it doesn’t matter and while I’m at school I’m eat however I want too that includes reading while I eat.” He said eating a small piece of sausage before opening his book again and continuing to read before feeling Malfoy play with the tassels of his scarf.

“…what’s with the scarf?” Lucius asked before his hand was tapped away.

“If you must know I have a cold coming on so I’m trying to sweat it out before I get it alright” he said feeling impatient before going back to his book again only to feel Lucius start to play with his scarf again a few minutes later almost as if he liked seeing Snape get annoyed with being constantly interrupted.
"You looked quite the state when you came into the common room earlier - get into another tussle with Potter?" Lucius drawled, dropping the scarf when it seemed Severus wasn't going to rise to his tormenting. Severus stiffened in his seat but did not look up from his book. Lucius glanced around them before leaning in, getting down to the matter he wanted to speak to him about to start with.
"At the coming Hogsmeade weekend, He is calling a gathering for the inner circle." Snape did look at him out of the corner of his eye then. Lucius smirked and steepled his fingers, propping his chin up on them. "He wants you to take the mark, Severus, to join us officially. What will you say? It is quite the honour to be asked before you've even sat your NEWTs."
“It would be a real honour to be made a member…but I don’t really know. Maybe it would be better to wait until I finish here then I could stand at the dark lords side full time” he said looking at Lucius and eating another piece of sausage.

“But I don’t know, I don’t think I would be able to say no to the dark lord if he asked” he said looking away and his eyes seem to glance to James from across the room for a second before he looked away wondering why he cared what the griffindor might thing.
"The Dark Lord is not a patient man, Severus. For some reason he is taken with you, wants you for the inner circle despite the fact that you have not yet earned your place there," Lucius said with distaste and jealousy ripe in his voice. He had had to work tirelessly to gain his position, yet Severus had just walked in there and won the Dark Lord's favour. Students were rarely admitted. What was so special about Severus Snape?
"He also does not take kindly to newcomers walking in to a marking empty-handed," he said with a dangerous smile. "What will you offer him in return for his mark on you?" Severus shifted then and Lucius' eyes flared, he reached up and tugged Severus' scarf so that a huge blooming lovebite was visible. "Do you think you can pay him with your disgusting body? Is that why Potter looks so thoughtful tonight after your fumble in the bathroom? Did the sight of it give him pause for thought?" He pressed his thumb cruelly into the bruised skin before Severus shook him off, readjusting his scarf. "The Dark Lord will take great interest in where those marks came from."
“These marks have nothing to do with Potter and I also see no reason to tell you how I got them or what I will be offering The Dark Lord for my mark in the inner circle thank you Malfoy” he said glaring at him before shutting his book with a snap.

“And anyway shouldn’t you be thinking about moving yourself up the ranks before tell me what I should or shouldn’t be doing Malfoy? After all if I do take the position I will be higher ranked than you are so you will be under me when it comes to getting The Dark Lords trust and attention” he said resting his chin on the palm of his hand as his fingers cupped his cheek.
Lucius sneered. "Take care, Severus," he warned under his breath, "fraternising with the enemy house could well damage your reputation with the Dark Lord enough to make him reconsider his favour." He reached forward for his own goblet and Severus, who was so fiercely ignoring him, did not see him upend a small vial into Severus' drink.
***
As dinner ended that night James doubled-back, giving the other marauders the excuse that he'd left his bag at the table. Instead he took a secret passage down to the dungeons just in time to corner Snape as he rounded the corner on the way to the Slytherin common room.
"Oi, Snape!" he called and instantly, the boy whirled to face him, wand drawn. He looked oddly peaked considering they'd just finished dinner and he was doubled over slightly as if suffering from a severe stomach ache. "You alright?" he asked awkwardly, not really knowing what to say.
“I’m just fine, what the hell are you doing down here?” he asked with a slight snap to his voice as he rubbed his stomach gently a few times.
“Your common room is upstairs with the other Griffindor’s remember. The dungeons belong to the Slytherin’s and if you are here to see me I don’t want to see you got it.” He said feeling himself break out in a cold sweat as James moved closer to him and Snape stepped back.

“I told you I don’t want to see you Potter. So just go away!” he yelled placing his hand on one of the cold stone walls to keep him standing up right and wondering if he might have eaten something bad at dinner that wasn’t agreeing with him.

"Don't be like that, you're ill, let me take you to Madam Pomfrey," he insisted, trying to take Snape's arm and guide him in the appropriate direction. Snape yanked his arm free with a glare. "Did I hurt you earlier or something? I didn't mean to you know, if I did. I've never had sex with a bloke before." He paused, staring at Snape calculatingly. "You came harder than I did, I couldn't have hurt you that much."

“Oh what would you no! You didn’t have someone ramming into your body relentlessly” he snapped with a glare. “But it doesn’t matter, I don’t need the medical wing and I don’t need you taking care of me because of what you did to me back there and I probably just ate something weird at dinner. Not everything is always about you Potter.” He said turning his back on James as he rubbed at his stomach hoping the pain would leave soon.

"Don't pretend that wasn't the best fucking thing you've ever felt!" James hissed shoving Snape against the wall so that he couldn't avoid looking at him any longer. "I saw your memories, I know you're not everything you've shown yourself to be these last few years. You're just as human as me and you want someone to want you, just like everyone else." He set his arms either side of Snape and leant in so that their faces were scant inches apart. "You don't have anyone else, so let me in." Merlin only knew why he wanted to be admitted into Severus Snape's confidence but he did. Filled with morbid fascination he couldn't shake. He needed to know him.

“I don’t need anyone in my life thanks especially not a puffed up griffindor like yourself. All I need in my life are my spells and potions nothing more. You are no part of my life got it?” he asked with a glare.

“And my memories are nothing to do with you so just stop bring them up and constantly waving them in my face I no what my memories are and I don’t need you to tell me about them” he said looking into James eyes as he felt his skin pale more than normal, he felt like he was going to be sick and the thought amused him a little at the thought of being sick on James’s shoes.

"No man is an island, unless you're the Dark Lord," James said venomously. "You said it yourself, you don't even have Evans anymore. You have no one and if you don't let someone in you'll go down the dark path all of the death eaters go down." Severus was silent at that, simply glaring at him with as much hatred as always. James sighed, taking a step back and ruffling his hair in frustration, scratching the back of his neck. "Look. I know I'm hardly deserving of your trust but I saw, I felt how lonely you are. How desperate. Let me in before you go mad or worse - do something you'll regret."

“You have to getting something into your head Potter. I am a Slytherin and all Slytherin’s turn dark the moment they step into that house name, you should have none that right from the start. Even the quiet ones are darker than you wish to believe they are” he said looking at James as he remained propped against the wall and loosened his scarf a bit to cool down.

“Now if you are done with me I would like to head back to my dorm room and lie down on my best…oh and one other thing, stop calling me by my first name. You have no right and frankly it makes me feel sick when you do” he said from his place on the wall.
James winced. He knew he was hot-headed, had dived into that scene in the bathroom more vigorously than he should have. He'd forced Snape to do the things they'd done but he couldn't help but feel the need to force his way deeper. He admitted as well, he was shocked that even Snape had said no to him, over and over again, despite all they had done to each other over the years. No one said no to him, except perhaps Lily Evans. He grit his teeth. "Whatever you say, Snivellus," he bit back, but before he could say another word Lucius Malfoy and a flurry of other slytherins streamed down from the main hall and passed them toward the common room. Most of them paid no interest but as he passed, Malfoy paused and looked directly at Snape. "Semen can survive in the body of the recipient for up to 72 hours, you know," he said with dark amusement. "Take care, Severus, arrogant Gryffindor genes are hardly the ones you should be messing with." He chuckled to himself as he moved away, leaving James and Snape in the hallway alone once more.
James rounded on Snape. "What the hell was that about? Freaks, the fucking lot of you," he snarled vehemently, bolting for the stairs. If Snape wanted to be alone, he could bloody well be alone. "And don't think I don't know where you're planning to go this Hogsmeade weekend," James called back to him. "You're treading a dangerous path, Snivellus, and there are only so many people that will offer you help before you go too far."
Snape glared at James as he left and let out a sigh “I don’t need anyone’s help. I get myself into a mess I will get myself out of it” he said before looking in the direction the other Slytherins went in and wondered what Lucius had been talking about early and why he would bright up such a subject but he quickly shrugged it off before starting to make his way to his common room thinking that he might just take a potion and go to bed early and hoping his stomach would calm down over night.

***

“Hey buddy your back. Wow don’t you have a face like thunder” Sirius said with a smile as he watched James come into the common room.
“Did someone steal your bag or something, you’ve come back empty handed” he said watching James upside down from the couch he was currently ‘sitting’ on with his legs crossed in the air.
James blinked back at him, fuming yet embarrassed at being caught out. "I didn't have one, forgot," he muttered, ruffling up his hair awkwardly. "I'm all over the place today, sorry mate." Remus was poring over homework with Peter looking positively white with worry at the fact he still hadn't managed to complete his own.
"I've detention tomorrow with Merrythorpe," he said absently, thinking he should probably tell them. "I roughed Snivellus up a bit and McGonagall caught us."
Sirius let out a bark-like laugh while Remus looked up at him out of the corner of his eye, still writing his essay.
"Anything you could've done would only be an improvement," Sirius said uncharitably.
James gave a non-commital nod, not really listening. He knew exactly what Snape and the other so-called 'Death Eaters' were doing this Hogsmeade weekend. The person that called himself Voldemort was getting far too big for his boots and the Ministry didn't seem to consider him anything more than a respectable wizard with a few 'odd' acquaintances. Because they're all in his bloody pocket, he thought with distaste, knowing they had to do something to sabotage the meeting but not knowing how.
“James, please tell me that you punched Snivellus in the nose” he said looking at his before rolling backwards off the couch and stood looking at James. “I bet that big beak of his probably looks better for it” he laughed as Remus rolled his eyes at him.

“Don’t give me that look moony you were probably thinking the same thing as well so don’t act innocent over your homework” he said kneeling down and throwing an arm around him with a big smile before looking and James.

“And sucks that you have detention man, what us to find a way to break you out of there?” he grinned.

"No," James said, a bit too quickly. "No it's fine. Another excuse to torture Snivellus anyway," he added with a smirk. "Listen, Hogsmeade weekend this weekend. There's another meeting, I want to sabotage it before they recruit anymore slytherin sheep from the flock. Ideas?"

The group seemed to be deep in thought before Sirius snapped his fingers. “How about a flooding charm I bet that would work great. It would break them all up and give them a well deserved bath” he said with a barked laugh.

“Speaking of baths you could use one Sirius you are starting to small like wet dog again” he said pushing him away playfully to try and get his homework finished for the night.
"I know a charm that could turn a room into a swamp," James said thoughtfully, his mind not truly with the conversation, but far below in the dungeons where the slytherin he did not understand at all was suffering in silence.
***
James couldn't explain why but he was actually looking forward to his detention that evening. The entire day he'd been on edge, anticipating what was to come. It wasn't even that he could say he truly missed Snape, for the slytherin was in all of his classes today (not that he so much as made eye-contact with James). He couldn't even say he'd started to like him really even, but he wanted to see him. Needed to.
His skin prickled as he watched the back of the boy's head in each class, willing him to turn and face him. Why was he suddenly so interested in Snape? Was it really just the fact that he'd seen how difficult a life Snape had led? He saw the boy in a different light now, that was for sure. He supposed the only justification he could give it was that the other boy was more human to him now, more vulnerable, it intrigued him.
It didn't help that Snape was probably the only person to say no to him. That in itself was infuriating and intriguing all at once. He walked far too quickly to Professor Merrythorpe's office in the dungeon for detention. He wanted to get under Snape's skin and he wanted to feel more of the sensations he'd felt back in the bathroom. But most of all, he wanted to make sense of the feeling burning in his chest. It was like anger, but different. So confusing that he still had a frown on his face when he reached Merrythorpe's office and found Snape waiting outside.
Snape raised his head as he heard approaching footsteps thinking that it might have been Professor Merrythorpe only to be greeted by the site of James and he turned his gaze away again with an exhale of breath.

“So you actually showed up for the detention then? I thought you would have used your influents to sneak out of it somehow, guess I was wrong” he said as James moved closer to his and leant against the wall next to Snape as he looked at him.

Having James looking at Snape really threw him off, he had felt the Griffindor looking at him the whole day in all of there classes and it had taken a lot not to turn around and scream at and hex him to look in another direction.
"I don't have any influence," James snorted, leaning up against the wall on the opposite side of the door. He didn't take his eyes off Snape. The slytherin was always pale but he looked quite peaky, more so than usual. "You still ill?" he asked, trying to sound aloof, as if he didn't care.
Those dark eyes narrowed at him at the question.
“Not that my health is of any concern to you but I still feeling sick from yesterday” he said with a grumble shutting his eyes with his arms folded so he didn’t have to look at James and for once he was rather glad that the dungeons were always so cold, it made his feel a little bit better.

James quirked a brow at the other boy's rigid stance. "Was I that good?" he mused and when Snape's head snapped to him in shock, he smirked broadly. "You're lying if you say I wasn't." He pushed off the wall and came to stand right in front of Snape. "I can be gentler next time, if you like," he breathed huskily.

“There won’t be a next time Potter” he said pushing him away and out of his personal bubble. “And if what twisted word of me saying I feel sick do you take that as a complement?” he asked looking at James not really caring if he got an answer to the question or not as long at he stayed away from him.
James opened his lips to argue but before he could, the door opened and he stepped back quickly away from Snape.
"Nice and punctual boys," Merrythorpe beamed at them, standing aside to usher them into her office. She set them to work reorganising her potions ingredients, alphabetically, then by use and then by size. It was tedious, given the thousands of ingredients in Hogwarts storage and while Snape seemed to be in his elements, James was focused on other things. Merrythorpe was back in the office marking and had left them in the storage cupboard. It was ridiculously long and tall but the galley between the two long rows of shelves was quite thin, so thin that he and Snape frequently brushed against each other as they passed.
He licked his lips as Snape sidled past him to set the doxy eggs back where they belonged and stood perfectly still. That was, until their groins caught as Snape passed. They both froze.
Snape’s breath gave a small hitch to the contact and his gaze seemed to meet James just for a moment before quickly sliding by as if nothing had just happened between them.

“You should really hurry up Potter, you are falling behind and I will not do your work for you” he said stepping up a near by ladder and fumbling to find something on one of the slightly higher shelves as he felt his groin tingle from the brief contact between him and James.
"Don't act like you didn't feel that," James hissed. Merrythorpe had her gramophone playing loudly and last he saw, had twelve piles of marking to get through. She would not be coming to check on them any time soon.
"You're not indifferent," he snapped, pressing in on Snape, trapping him between the shelves with hormones and greedy desires raging through him. He reached down, cupping Snape's groin with his hand and pressing firmly. "You're harder than stone down there. If you were more honest I might do something about that for you." His eyes were glittering.
“I’m fine get off me!” he yelled pulling his back against the opposite shelf and hearing some of the vials shake as he wrapped his robes around himself and glared at James.

“I don’t want you touching me like that Potter, I told you already I’m not interested so just go molest someone who cares. I’m sure most of the school would love to bend over for you” he said as he tried to ignore the tightness in his trouser from where James had touched him making his body grow more excited.
"What if I don't want the rest of the school?" James half-snarled, half-purred, moulding his palm against the shape of Snape's long, slender erection. It grew thicker and throbbed at his touch. He could feel the heat through the fabric of his trousers. "I can be very generous you know. Let me show you."
Abandoning that pulsing organ for the briefest moments he tugged Snape's belt and trousers open roughly so that they both hung off his skinny hips. James' hand stole inside his underwear, caressing bare skin, his thumb pressing into the weeping slit.
“Stop it don’t do that!” he said putting his hands on James’ arms trying to push him away with no luck as James stood fast in front of Snape refusing to go anywhere as Snape bit into his bottom lip.

“I said…Stop it!!” he yelled before bringing his kneel up hard and colliding with James’ groin.

"You fucking prick!" James hissed, cupping his balls with both hands and staggering back. Eyes watering, he dragged out his wand and sent Snape hurtling to the floor. He cast a silencing charm on the store room too, just in case they might be heard over Merrythorpe's god-awful gramophone and bore down on Snape. "I might as well be pissing on you for all the gratitude I get!" He snapped, seizing a fistful of Snape's robes. "Did you ever think if you weren't such a colossal arsehole I wouldn't have to force you?"

“And did you ever think that I might just want to be left alone!” he yelled wanting to get up but found it very difficult with James holding his legs down with his own. Not that it stopped him trying to struggle out of his hold.

“I have been doing just fine without sex of touching myself in life without you trying to change all of that! If you are so intent on doing something why not go do it with Lily, she says no you more than I do!” he yelled managing to free one of his arms from underneath his body.
Snape shoved him back, hard and James let out a grunt as all the air left his lungs and he was thrown bodily back into the shelves. They rocked ominously and the flask of doxy eggs Snape had just put back in its rightful place shattered beside them. James quickly threw the sleeve of his robe over his nose but it was too late for Snape, who had inhaled a lungful of the spores. Snape made a choking sound and was thrown back into the floor by a spasm of his own body.
James' eyes widened. The slytherin writhed on the floor in a fit, eyes rolled into the back of his head. Shit. Doxy bites were venomous and the spores from their eggs made the eyes water but they shouldn't have had this affect on Snape. Banishing the silencing charm on the room he flew out the door to find Merrythorpe.
A half hour later found him sitting on the edge of a vacant bed in the Hospital Wing, head bowed awkwardly as Merrythorpe and Pomfrey berated him about fighting - then again about fighting next to volatile potions ingredients. Snape was out cold on a bed opposite him, his skin pallid and worryingly clammy.
"Look," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm sorry, alright? Snape and I, we push each others buttons but I never wanted this to happen - it was an accident! He pushed me and the jar fell." He looked at the two women in confusion. "I've never seen doxy eggs affect someone like that - is he allergic or something?" He glanced over to where the boy lay. "Is he going to be alright?" Why was the thought that Snape might not be okay so painful to consider? He didn't even really like him!
Pomfrey and Merrythorpe looked at each other. "It's none of your business, Mr Potter. Mr Snape will recover. Now, if you please - I have a patient to see to!"
Grumbling under his breath (mostly for show) James snatched up his bag and headed for the door, as soon as they turned their backs, however, he hastily tugged the invisibility cloak out of the hidden pocket and pulled it over his head. He shut the door quickly, so that when they glanced up, it looked as if they were alone. Quietly, stealthily he crept back to Snape's bedside and listened.
"You know as well as I Poppy," Merrythorpe began, her face and voice despondent. "There is only one reason for him to have a reaction such as that."
Pomfrey didn't meet the other woman's eyes, but she nodded solemnly all the same as she tipped a shining white liquid down Snape's throat. "I don't why a boy his age would take the potion to make it necessary - or how he managed to get hold of it!"
Merrythorpe stared down at Snape's unconscious form. "He is the most proficient talent in potions I have seen in many years," she whispered, "and it is no secret of his miserable home life. Perhaps he wished to build a family of his own, however inappropriate the timing..."
James blinked. What were they talking about?
Snape was stirring at last and staring up at them in confusion. Obviously confused as to where he was and what had happened.
“What…what happened? Where am I?” he asked before sitting up and feeling his head spin like he had been standing on a round about for too long before he quickly laid back down again and looked about the room before meeting eyes with Pomfrey and Merrythorpe and blinked at them a few times.

“I must be in the medical wing…what happened?” he asked looking at the pair as he rubbed his head.
"You had a reaction to the Doxy Egg spores, Mr Snape," Pomfrey said, her tone sharp but her eyes shining with sympathy and understanding. "A reaction that only occurs for one reason. I ran a test just to be sure and have found my suspicions to be correct. All I can say, Mr Snape is that I am extremely disappointed you would make such a choice so close to your NEWTs. I had thought you more responsible than this."
James watched from under the safety of the cloak as Snape stared at Pomfrey in irritated confusion.
"Suffice to say I stabilised your reaction - there will be no further harm to the foetus. Luckily we caught this before any damage was done - Mr Potter and Professor Merrythorpe got you here just in time."
Snape's face only hardened - as if he had no idea what they were talking about. James had a horrible thought that he knew exactly what she meant. She had said foetus, hadn't she? Why on earth had Snape taken the potion to get pregnant?! His own face twitched with anger and jealousy both. So that was what Lucius had meant! Snape had been with Lucius before him? Was the virgin thing just an act?
Snape looked medi witch as if she was crazy and doing this just to gage Snape’s reaction but seeing the seriousness on her face be guess that was the case and quickly shock up ignoring the fact that the room was spinning around him.

“What the hell are you talking about?!” he all but yelled at madam Pomfrey as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and looked at her.

“I don’t know if you didn’t notice but I am in fact a guy and there for cant have a…foetus. Growing inside of me, unless I have an undeveloped twin inside me” he said as he looked at her not really liking the face she was making at him.

"Do not be obtuse," Pomfrey said sharply. "You are one of the greatest minds this school has seen in decades, you know as well as I that there is a potion that could easily make it possible. What I wish to know is why on earth you would take it at such an important part of your academic life!"

Probably a death eater game, probably as a sacrifice for Voldemort, James thought with distaste. Snape could look shocked all he wanted, the thought of having Lucius Malfoy's sloppy seconds churned his stomach. All this time Snape had been playing reluctant virgin to him, he'd actually been shacking up with a death eater - Malfoy no less. And probably Voldemort too, he thought uncharitably.

“I might be a brilliant mind but even I don’t know how make something like…that” he said with distain at the thought of something growing inside of him. “And even if I did trust me I would never in a million years take it. Trust me I’m going to make sure the Snape name dies with me not pass it on and as you no my family does have the greatest record when it comes to a stable family life” he said taking deep breaths, all of this was just a bit to must for the slytherin to take and he laid back on the bed about in a sat up position.
Pomfrey pursed her lips, clearly not believing him, and continued with her questioning. "In any case, I must be blunt when I ask you what you intend to do about this predicament." Both Snape, James and Merrythorpe looked at her.
"You probably considered this before you took the potion, however pregnancy is very taxing on the male body - even after the potion has changed it to make it possible," she regarded him calculatingly. "You will need to take lots of supplements, which I can provide."
Snape opened his mouth to protest, again that he had not taken a potion, but Merrythorpe headed him off. "This simply isn't possible unless you have taken a potion, Mr Snape," she said, gentle but firm. "You need to have been inseminated within 72 hours before or after the potion as well. The necessary organs all connect to your anus, you see so-" "He took the potion, he must know how it works," Pomfrey interrupted tersely. "You cannot have accidentally taken it despite the potion being odourless and tasteless - it is still a very difficult potion to come by - expensive too - ridiculously expensive. Indeed, that is why you do not see many male pregnancies though it is possible. Most cannot afford it."
“Exactly! They cant afford it what makes you think I possible could you twit?!” he yelled growing irritated as he flapped the sleeves of his second or maybe third hand robe around.

“And believe you me I will not be keeping this…thing. So feel free to go right ahead and rip it out of me, I have no intention of becoming a parent to this spawn and before you as no the ‘father’ does not get a say” he said glaring at the two women sternly as the brief thought of James standing in here hearing all this and screaming at him crossed his mind, but lucky for him James was not there (that he could see) and would never no about all this.

Pomfrey glared at him. "Watch your tone young man, I have been looking after your health since the moment you set eyes on Hogwarts - have some respect!" After a short silence, she spoke again, her brow furrowed. "I am afraid that the potion bonds with your magic to form the womb - it cannot be breached until the baby is fully formed and ready for delivery. Abortion is not an option." The sight of Snape's horrified expression seemed to finally reach her. "Good gracious you - you really didn't know, did you? Has anyone given you an unidentified potion? Didn't you feel your innards shifting? Mr Snape, if someone did this against your will it is a very serious offence!"

“I…I don’t remember taking anything from anyone” he said running a hand through his hair. “I mean…I had some stomach pains yesterday but I thought I had just eating something funny in the great hall and it wasn’t settling well in my stomach” he said looking down at his bed sheets and inwardly swearing at the situation, what the hell was he going to do.

“What…what should I do?” he asked no one in particular as he ran both hands though his hear and tried to think of anything strange that might have happened in the last couple of day with no luck, his mind was in to much of a haze to really think straight at that moment.
Pomfrey patted his arm consolingly. The sheer horror and misery on Snape's face was too sincere, she realised he wasn't lying now. He truly had had no idea. "Adoption is an option, of course - there are many people out there who cannot have children," she said quietly, "Or there is support we can give to help you raise it. The paternal father - it will be a shock to him as well, of course, but he could be of help. It is his child too, after all."
For some reason, James' stomach twisted at the thought of Snape and Malfoy joined together by a permanent, irrevocable little life. Malfoy and Snape. It was just wrong.
"Don't decide now, not alone," she said softly, stroking Snape's hand comfortingly. "Talk it through with the other father, you have 9 months to decide. I have a glamour I will teach you so that you can hide your stomach as it grows - maintaining secrecy will allow you more time to make a decision." She surveyed him with wet, sympathetic eyes. "I will give you the supplements - they are just as much for you as they are for baby. Come back to me in a few weeks and we will do a scan for you. You are not alone - Severus."
Snape gave a small shudder still not liking that people would use his first name from time to time. “I…I don’t want to tell the father…he’s an arrogant ass who could care less about my feels let alone the life of a non existent child” he said still looking at his sheets.

“Professor Merrythorpe would…would it be okay if I finished my detention another day?” he asked looking up at her with almost pleading eyes not wanting to go back to that small cupboard with James where he would want answers and probably start touching him again. Snape let out a sigh and lied down flat on the medial bed again as he looked at Merrythorpe.
"Of course," Merrythorpe said softly.
"I am afraid, Mr Snape that for your child to be put up for adoption both parents need to sign the child away. If you end up coming to that decision, the other father needs to be told," Pomfrey said, gently as she could. "Of course, if you keep the child... There is no law that says you have to involve him, but it would be advisable."
“I can’t afford to look after a child. But at the same time I don’t want to tell the father about it” he sighed closing his eyes and rubbing his face with the pals of his hands a few times.

“What am I supposed to do, cant just my name be good enough to give it to someone else? What if I said the father was dead then it would count wouldn’t it?” he asked as Pomfrey gave him one of those looks that said ‘don’t be so stupid of course not’ Snape sighed again looking at the ceiling. “This is all way over my head.”
"the document that signs the child over is magical, Mr Snape, it will know the truth. You don't have to tell him tonight," she said softly, "stay here tonight - away from the rest of the students and just...get used to it yourself before you have to involve another." With a flick of her wand, she summoned a fresh glass of water and pressed it into Snape's slightly shaking hand. "I know it's a bit of a shock. Drink this."
"I'd better go," Merrythorpe said as Snape slowly, thoughtfully sipped his water. "I am on corridor patrol tonight." She squeezed Snape's shoulder firmly. "Come to me tomorrow to finish your detention, perhaps we can discuss how I might be able to help you," she said, before making her way out of the room, leaving Snape with just Pomfrey and (though he didn't realise) James.
Snape took a deep breath before letting it out again and taking another sip of his water to calm himself before placing the glass on the bed side table and lying down as he glanced at Madam Promfrey.

“Sorry…for what I said to you earlier, I didn’t mean to be so mean…thank you for taking care of me” he said giving her a smile.
"You're quite welcome, Severus, I understand this is a shock to you," she said gently, patting his hand again. "I have some work to do in the office," she gestured to the small door to the back of the Hospital Wing, "no one else is in tonight. You stay here and rest." Giving him a reassuring smile, she pulled the screens around the bed so that if someone did come in later, they wouldn't see him.
"Let me know if you need anything - I will be back to check on you before I turn in for the night." With that she disappeared from sight and James was left staring at Snape. Did that mean he'd fucked a pregnant Snape the other day? He remembered him suffering from stomach pains. He must've had Lucius just before? A nice little disciple for Voldemort, James thought uncharitably. But despite the bitterness creeping up his throat like bile, he couldn't help but notice how incredibly young Snape's face look when he thought no one was watching.
Inclining his head slightly, he watched as Snape stared down at his own body, lost and confused.
Snape sat quietly for what seemed like hours even though it was only a few minutes before he drew his kneels up to his chest like a small child and James could help but notice it.

“I’m glad my father isn’t here now…I don’t think he would let me live if he found out about this…I don’t think 10 lashings would even cover it this time” he said sadly nuzzling into the sheet covering his kneel.

“…and what am I going to tell him. I can just walk up to him and go ‘guess what remember that time you fucked me…’ Merlin this is not happening let this all be a bad dream.”
Seething with jealousy and rage, James curbed the urge to throw the cloak off and smack Snape straight in the nose. Instead he held his breath and waiting as slowly gradually his temper simmered back to a more manageable level. Still scowling, he took a seat in the chair next to Snape's bed and watched.
Those long fingers knotted in the sheets in frustration but what James saw most clearly was despair. He frowned. Did Snape not want Malfoy's baby? Malfoy was the school's biggest whore so he had no doubt that Malfoy would want nothing to do with him. He'd heard Malfoy was betrothed to Narcissa Black, so he supposed Malfoy would turn him away and deny any rights to the child if Snape tried to confront him about it.
Voldemort was a problem for the man too, he supposed. If the supposed 'Dark Lord' found out he would no doubt use this against him. He stared at Snape's bare arms and noted that he hadn't taken the dark mark - not yet. That was something of a relief.
He paused at that thought. Why was he relieved? Why did he care? Gritting his teeth he tried to comprehend it. Yes, since he'd seen those memories, everything he'd thought about Snape had been turned upside down. He wasn't the man he'd thought he was all along, but a young person severely abused by nearly everyone around him. He felt sympathy, he felt sorrow for him, but that didn't mean he needed to be so possessed of this urge to get closer to him - or even save him from this destructive path he was heading down.
He's pregnant with another man's child for goodness' sake! He thought. But it didn't change how he felt. He wanted to help Snape - even if Snape didn't want to be helped. Because if he didn't, he didn't think anyone else would. Taking a deep breath to steel himself for what was to come he cast a quick, quiet silencing charm at the office door so Pomfrey couldn't hear and then pulled off his cloak.
Snape jumped a mile-high in shock.
“POTTER! What the hell are you doing here? …how long have you been sitting they?!” he asked more worried about the final question as he pulled the bed up to cover himself.

“Don’t tell me you have now turned into one of those creepy people you hear about who watch people there obsessed with sleep” he said hoping that James had no idea that he was pregnant with his child. The last thing Snape wanted was the griffindor being around him all the time telling him what to do because he was carrying his child.
James just stared at him expressionlessly. "I never left," he said bluntly and that, he knew, was enough for Snape to realise he'd heard everything. Snape's face was ashen, paler than ever. His fingers were white-knuckled as they clasped the sheets like a startled child.
"You might've told me you were sleeping with someone else, I thought you were a virgin," James ground out through clenched teeth, trying to sound calm.
“I was you total ass!” he as he grabbed his sheet and stood up on the opposite side of the bed with his back turned to James and he clenched the sheet about his thin frame and half wondered how Pomfrey hadn’t heard all there yelling then realized James must have used a silencing spell.

“But don’t worry you don’t have to lift a damn finger with this…unless you somehow planned this right from the start” he said turning on James and looking at him across the bed. “But don’t worry this ‘virgin’ isn’t keeping it, the last thing I want you floating around all the time.”
James felt the bottom of his stomach drop. Snape's words were like a punch in the gut. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open, dry and moving soundlessly as he searched for something - anything to say. He came up with nothing. Never in a million years had he expected Snape to come back with that retort - never. And from the look of pure horror on his face, he was telling the truth.
Fuck.
A baby. His baby. He was seventeen!
His baby inside Snape! Inside a man! It was only the other day he'd even really thought about men in that way, since he saw 'memory Snape' masturbating, since he'd touched Snape. Since he fucked him. Merlin, it had felt so good. So much better than anything he'd ever felt before. But now there were consequences further reaching than Snape's anger and his own guilt.
Oh Shit.
I forced myself on him, whether he felt pleasure in it or not. And now there's a baby. My baby.
Shit.
"My family are well off but the only way I'd be able to afford that potion is if I sold every asset in the Potter name," he said, his voice quiet now, quite unlike his own usual, self-assured tone. "Bloody hell, Snape, I'd have settled if you'd just talk to me, admit that you liked what I..." He cut short, scratching the back of his neck in frustration and panic, ruffling his hair unwittingly. "I wouldn't have done it - even if I could. That's even beyond me, forcing you to carry my child." He paused then looking at Snape thoughtfully. "Malfoy said something last night - that's why I thought you and he might, you know..." Malfoy could certainly afford the potion and easily too.
James didn't realise he'd got up of the chair until he found himself at Snape's bedside. "It's mine? Really?" Surely this was all a dream? A cruel joke? There was no way he could be a father at seventeen. And to Severus Snape's child? Oh, Sirius would probably die laughing at the irony of it all.
“Yes. It’s yours, for what possible reason would I have to lie about something I don’t want” he said sternly looking at James and watching him pale with the information that was being thrown at him. The information wasn’t a walk in the park for Snape either and he wished that James had never found out about all this.

“And what makes you think I would ever sleep with Lucius Malfoy! I hate him as much as I hate you” he almost yelled before something snapped in his break. “AH! Lucius Malfoy that git he did this to me! When I find him I’m going to strange him til death.” He growled moving around the bed and planning to make a b-line for the door to find the slytherin and kill him.
James seized Snape's arm, halting him in place. "No - I will be the one to deal with Lucius Malfoy," he said darkly. He didn't know why Malfoy wanted Snape pregnant and with his child no less. It could be he wanted to punish them both for some unknown transgression, he wanted to use the baby in some sort of sacrificial ritual, he wanted Snape out of the way (for it was no secret that Malfoy fancied himself as Voldemort's right-hand man). Or perhaps the ponce was simply that bored with money to burn. He didn't know. He didn't care. He was going to kill him.
But the intense agony in Snape's dark eyes, his heartache and hatred for the thing growing inside him. It made James' insides freeze over. His stomach twisted in revulsion at the thought of what Snape might've done to the innocent life if he were able. They'd both heard Pomfrey, if Snape miscarried he risked his own life as well.
Shit.
But he'd be damned if he let Snape hoist his child off on some stranger. He stared hard into Snape's face. Snape might not believe he had any integrity or honour, but he did. He knew responsibility. He felt responsible for the growing life and he wouldn't let Snape give it away. His parents had never been able to have anymore children after him, a fact that had always saddened him. Children were gifts, weren't they? In any circumstances.
"Look," he said firmly, "I know there is a past between us, I know you hate me but this baby isn't to blame for all that. It's a living thing, innocent, you can't kill it - you know that. Pomfrey said as much. And I can't just let you give my son or daughter away." He felt quite nauseous at those words 'my son or daughter' - oh, shit. His parents would kill him. It was a world of responsibility he wasn't ready for, hadn't even contemplated! But he couldn't ignore it now. Not when Snape was so set against it. He was that tiny baby's only hope.
Merlin help him.
"If you really don't want it," he said after Snape had been staring at him in enraged silence and shock for too long, "You heard Pomfrey, we can do a glamour to hide it and once it's born... You can just go on as if it never happened. It's my child as well and I will raise it by myself if you want to get rid of it so much." He let Snape go then holding his gaze unwaveringly. "No one has to know you and I were even involved. I'll make something up - I'll find a way but you can't get just pass it on to someone else. It's not just your life Lucius Malfoy has fucked with."
“Really? Cause I think I’m the one who’s been fucked here in more ways than one” he said looking at James as he wrapped his blanket around him and moved back over to his bed sitting on the edge of it looking down at his lap.

“I have this happening and don’t seem to understand the meaning of no and fucked me putting me in this situation so its safe to say I’m not very happy right now!” he said angrily taking a deep breath and rubbing at his stomach thinking he shouldn’t be getting so stressed with everything but it was hard not too.

Fuck this is so dumb

“Maybe you should just go…there is no reason for you to be here right now…you don’t what your friends thinking there is actually something going on with us” he said finally looking up at James as he moved his white blanket up over his head as if to hide from his sight a bit.
James frowned. "I didn't know this would happen - how was I supposed to guess that Malfoy would slip you a potion?" That wasn't the point of Snape had said though and he knew it. Grinding his teeth in release of his frustration, he forced himself to come to terms with the truth. He had forced Snape, whether he had enjoyed it physically or not. And now he was asking him to care for the product of that unwanted union.
"I'm sorry," he whispered out, his voice low and solemn. "I didn't think.." His cheeks flushed. "I felt your body reacting, I thought that you wanted..." He stopped. No. He'd known on some level Snape hadn't wanted him. He couldn't start this with lies. There really was no explanation for his behaviour. "I wanted you," he said in the end, not knowing what else to say but the blunt truth. "I saw what you looked like in your memories, wanking and I wanted you. And when you said no to me it only made me want you more - because no one says no to me, because you challenge me and don't let me do what the fuck I want."
Moving back to sit in the chair beside Snape's bed, he watched the boy's expression as he processed James' words. "I was selfish and I didn't... I really thought if I made you feel good I could make you want me. I'm sorry and I'm sorry that Malfoy gave you that potion and gave you a constant reminder of my mistake. But this baby is a victim here too and if you don't want it, I will take it when it's born and you can go back to your life as if nothing happened."
Snape let out a sigh as pulled his legs up to chest and toes clung to the edge of the bed as he processed everything. “You keep bringing up the fact that you saw me…wanking” he said with a blush. “But I guess you didn’t see that whole memory or you wouldn’t have done what you did to me” he said glancing at James before looking away from him.

“But I guess it doesn’t matter now this situation is what it is…and if you do take the…baby. Tell how are you going to explain that to friends? I’m just dying to know” he asked turning to James with a small smile really wanting to no the answer to that question and knowing it would probably be along the lines of it was a one time fling with a girl.
James swallowed. He was a typical headstrong Gryffindor that barrelled in doing what he thought was right. He wasn't too sure how he would handle his friends, or his parents for that matter. Sirius and Remus at least knew everything about him. Everything except this, with Snape. But he had inadvertently fucked up Snape's life, making amends for that and doing the right thing by his child was more important than his friends knowing everything.
Quite soberly, he met Snape's dark eyes. "It's no one else's business. I'll say his or her 'mother' wasn't able to deal with it at the time. It doesn't need to be discussed further than that. And as for the baby itself, well, we would have to decide together what you wanted me to tell it."
“Just do what you want with it” he said rubbing his feet together on the edge of the bed. “It’s not like I really care about what happens to it…and there is no possible way I could support a child even if I did want to keep it.” He said looking down at his toes as he rubbed them together not looking at James but feeling his eyes looking at him.

“And I don’t see that you would let a ‘dark wizard’ raise the child of a Potter bloodline either.”
James' face hardened. "It'll be your child too," he said firmly, "I said I was wrong about you before, alright? I know I was wrong and I may be pigheaded but when I'm wrong I admit it. You're not a dark wizard, though you might pretend to be. And I have money, not enough to go wasting on potions to get someone who hates me pregnant but the Potter wealth isn't something to be sneered at. If you wanted to, I would support you and it."
Snape looked positively sick at the thought of living off his money. James grit his teeth. "It's my son or daughter, I would support it if you decided you wanted to be more involved. But you have months to decide anyway." He should leave Snape be for a while, he clearly needed some time to think this life changing news over by himself. But James didn't want to leave for some reason.
“You can say whatever you want Potter but at the end of all this I still wont want the child…or your company” he said moving on the bed the throw his legs onto the other side before standing and moving over to a share and dropping the sheet around him to the floor.

“Now if you don’t mind I would really like to change for bed without you getting on my case about everything” be said with his back turned to James as he fumbled to undo the button’s on his shirt before letting it slid off his thin frame revealing the belt mark on his back again as he moved to pick up his pyjama top.
All the air left James' lungs at the sight of the lacerations on Snape's back. There was nothing he could do or say to make the hurt he'd suffered disappear. It was no wonder the boy had grown up so bitter and hungry for power, power to ensure he never had to suffer that kind of abuse again. I abused him, James thought, in a different way. He owed Snape some privacy now, at the very least.
"As much as I disagree with abortions, I'm sorry that it's not possible for you to have one - not for me, for you. I know it will be hard for you, even if no one except me ever finds out." He headed for the door. "Just so you know, I won't let you go to Voldemort this weekend. And if you try with my child in you, I will stop you." He stared hard at Snape from the doorway. "You know as well as I if he finds out you and the baby will be used for sport or worse."
“You cant stop me going to him Potter” he turning to look at James with a glare as he slip his shirt on that was too big for his small frame and found it hung off one shoulder.

“And it’s not like you can just follow me around all day with your friends because eventually they will want to do something to me and if you say no to them they will want to no why” he said “and another thing, this is my body I can take it anywhere I damn well please without your say so weather its to Voldemort or not!” he yelled watching James as he stood in the door way.
James smiled broadly, frighteningly beautifully. "You can take it wherever you want, but you won't take it anywhere near Voldemort while my child is inside it. If you try, I WILL stop you," he said again simply and with that, banished the silencing spell he'd cast earlier and slipped out the door.
***
Snape was only half right. True, he couldn't follow him around all day but that wasn't necessary when Snape was only allowed out of the castle on Hogsmeade weekends. He was wrong about his friends wanting to do something if they were around him, they were secretly following Snape now and Sirius and the others seemed quite content on the fact that they were about to sabotage a Death Eater meeting. They weren't even thinking about Snape.
James looked to the side. Sirius was positively gleeful as they snuck around the back of the building the meeting would be held in. Remus was flicking through the book he'd brought, Peter just looked happy to be included.
"This incantation will start the swamp," Remus mused, pointing to the words on the page.
James nodded. Voldemort wasn't there yet but Malfoy and the others had just gone in. They had cut ahead of Snape to get here first and he fully intended the swamp to have banished the Death Eaters before Snape got here.
“Oh chest it out Malfoy’s here. Aw and look, he’s primping himself for Voldemort isn’t that cute” he grinned at James knowing he wanted nothing more that to ruin that perfect white blonde hair of his.

“You think that we should start the spell now?” Remus asked as he held the book open in place and looked that the gathering.

“No! We cant start yet, Snivillus isn’t here yet and I want to see him sink into this swamp with all the others as well” he said with a barked laugh as he looked around hoping to see the young slytherin coming.
"Let's get it over with before Voldemort comes," James said quickly, snatching the book off Remus and raising his wand. The bastard wasn't all powerful but he was growing stronger and stronger. It would be easier if they foiled his plans before he graced his followers with his presence. Opening the window quietly he directed his wand inside and began to chant quietly.
Malfoy and the others were already gathered inside. Snape was nowhere to be seen. By the time he got here, Malfoy and the others would be picking swamp out of their hair. He smirked. It was an obscure spell that not many knew about, they wouldn't be able to banish it on their own - not without knowing the exact spell. Remus' voice mimicked the incantation and soon enough, the other two marauders joined.
The swamp began as a disgusting brown-green sludge on the floor, steadily spreading and growing until it erupted upwards. Malfoy's scream of indignation as he found himself neck-deep in stagnant water was but a few of the sounds heard. The four marauders ducked down and listened. The trees and water and sludge would only stay inside the house of course but the death eaters had to escape the swamp first to leave.
James couldn't decide what was more satisfying, ruining Voldemort's meeting before he'd even arrived or pissing off Malfoy.
"Look!" Sirius whispered. "There's Snivellus!"
James' head whipped round just in time to see Snape walking towards the house, Sirius with his wand raised.
"No!" he hissed, seizing Sirius' arm. "Leave him."
“What the hell James why are you stopping me?” he asked turning his attention away from Snape and focusing it on James. “We can’t just leave him untouched we have to do something to him as well.” He said as Remus raised a brow finding it strange that James would stop Sirius from doing something to Snape.

“Come on prongs how about just a little spell to make him fall down a whole or something. Or better yet we could hang him upside down again and then steal his trouser! I would love to see him walk back though town like that” Sirius said with a big smile on his face.
"No," James said. Voice hard, unmoveable like stone. He carded his fingers through his hair. "McGonagall said she'd hold me personally responsible if anything more happened to Snape at Hogwarts," he lied. "I can't afford anything to happen to him. Leave him be."
No sooner had he finished speaking that the door on the other side flew open and several death eaters stumbled out into the cold air, spluttering and choking on swamp water. The Marauders ducked even lower, just to be sure they wouldn't be seen. James saw Snape stop at the sight of the death eaters sprawled across the floor and no doubt the swamp he could see through the open doorway.
Snape looked around knowing this had to be the work of The Marauders and James inperticular but saw them know where in sight as he neared the few death eaters that had managed to escape the now indoor swamp.

“Oh come on prongs one little spell couldn’t hurt and no one will ever no it was us and seriously what could McGonagall do to you? Put you in detention ooo as if we haven’t been in hundreds of those over the years” he said with a big as he took his wand arm back.

“Besides when have you ever let a threat from old McGonagall stop you picking on Snivallus?”
James' grip tightened on Sirius' wand arm. "I mean it, Sirius. All of you. Snape is off limits. Leave him be." He looked at each of his friends in turn before staring hard into Sirius' face. For some time he didn't move. Eventually he gave a grunt of displeasure and lowered his wand, clearly annoyed with James' decision but not saying a word.
The CRACK of the first Death Eater disapparating, swiftly followed by the others. The swamp still remained and so did Snape, staring at the building, evidently enraged. He knows it was me, James thought with satisfaction, edging round the other side of the building so Snape wouldn't see him and the others leave.
Snape stood there in silence for some time, that was until a familiar voice dragged him back from his reverie.
"Severus?" Lily called, surprised to see him. She looked awkwardly between him and the swamp visible through the doorway. "Did you do this?"
“Lily” he said looking at her a little surprised, mostly surprised just to hear her talking to him but he quickly shook his head.

“No I didn’t do this, you really think I would no or do a childish spell like this?” he asked with a smile as he pointed behind himself before looking back to Lily. “But what are you doing all the way out here I thought you would be in the hogshead with your friends having butter beer” he smiled at her before thinking butter beer sounded really good in that moment.
Lily smiled awkwardly. It had been so long since they'd spoken, or argued, as the case may be. She didn't know really what to say. It had been a long time since she'd forgiven him for calling her a mudblood, what had kept her away was the knowledge of the person he was becoming, the fact that he was still trying to be one of them. A Death Eater or whatever they called themselves. What he was becoming frightened her, the anger she saw in him made her afraid and honestly, disgusted. But here he was standing in front of her and it was almost as if they'd never fought. Almost.
"I've missed you, Sev," she said brightly, taking a few steps toward him. As she came to a halt in front of him, however, she frowned. "You look really peaky."
Snape looked at Lily a little started for a second before smiling. “Oh that just probably from where I’ve kept myself locked away in the school. You no me can’t help but try new potions out so I haven’t really seen the sun or got any fresh air” he smiled at her hoping she would believe his lie.

“But I’m really alright you have nothing to worry about. The fresh air today will do me some good and I’ll look like my old self again, we can even go somewhere and sit outside and have tea and cake if you like I know how you love sweet things” he smiled at her even though the though of cake turned his stomach.
"You're such a rubbish liar, Sev," she mused, but her smile didn't fade. She stepped closer. "I admit I saw you walking this way. I know we haven't spoken and I... We've both been stupid. But I've missed you, I've been worried about you and I just wish things could go back to the way they were." She watched him warily, as if afraid he might refuse.
He seemed just as stuck for words, however. But the pained look on her face she hoped meant he'd missed her just as much. "Come to Honeydukes and I'll buy you some liquorice. I know that's your favourite." She held out her arm, inviting him to slide his in hers like they used to. She wanted her best friend back.
Snape looked at the offered arm hesitantly wondering if he should take it. His eyes glanced back at the swamp filled building behind him before declaring that there probably wouldn’t be a meeting today and he took Lily’s arm with a smile.

“I’ve really missed you too Lily and I’m still really sorry about what I called you” he said apologetically as he looked at her and they walked along the path back towards the main town.

She beamed. "I should've known better too, Sev. I left you when you needed me most." Her eyes darkened. "Your dad hurt you again this summer didn't he?" she whispered, having been privy to his darkest of secrets in the past. She'd even met Tobias Snape before, once was enough. He was a vile brute. "That's why you practically blew him up." She squeezed his arm firmly, reassuringly. "You’re not the only one that's sorry - I should've been there for you."

“No, I never would have put you in danger of being near him” he said looking at Lily fearing the thought of her being anywhere near the scene before or after and he would share many things with Lily but that scene he would not, she didn’t need to no that.

“But having you here now is all I need Lily, you are the best friend someone like me could ever ask for…and with my father gone I guess I wont have to worry about my back anymore” he said with a small half hearted laugh even though he knew if someone where to run past right now and hit his back some of the newer one could still reopen and bleed.
Honeydukes was crowded and the two talked quietly, easily as they browsed, ignoring the others in the shop. For the most part, everyone else ignored them too, that was until a familiar bark-like laugh filled the shop. Snape tensed and Lilly frowned looking over her shoulder to see that Potter, Black and the others had stepped in - though they hadn't seen them yet.
She glanced back to Severus. "We're not kids anymore, Sev, they can't touch you."
“Trust me Lily, they still can” he said glancing over at James knowing the statement meant more that one thing and he lowered his head a bit hoping to not be seen by the group.

“Maybe I should just go, I don’t want you getting drawn into a fight again if they suddenly start on me like last time” he said referring to the time near the lake where he had called Lily a mudblood.
"They don't own the earth, Severus," she said firmly. "If they don't want to act like adults then they are the ones who can leave." The four boys were close now and she gave Severus a final reassuring glance before whirling around, making sure the boys saw her first before they saw Severus.
James froze when he saw them and fidgeted anxiously, wondering if he could get them all out of here before Sirius realised...
"Oi! Look - it's Snivellus and Evans," Peter jeered.
James winced. It was too late.
“Oh yeah you’re right Peter” he said moving towards them. “Hey Evens what’s a pretty thing like you doing hanging out with old Snivillus again, I though you two were talking” he said with a big smile at Lily.

“And Snivillus we didn’t see you today, off lurking around in the shadows were you with your little friends” he said watching Snape recoil a bit before looking at him.

“I was not lurking anywhere for your information Black” he said even though he had no real for behind his words.

"Sirius," James said warningly, but he just got a glare in answer.
"It's a free country I s'pose. Even if you are a slytherin," Sirius said with distaste. "Careful you don't do something he dislikes, Evans. He might blow you up like he did his old man-"
"Sirius, enough!" James snarled, seizing his best friend's shoulder and whirling him around to face him. "He never even said anything to you! Don't start on him it's just petty and pathetic. Leave him alone, alright?"
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Wormtail asked suspiciously. "It never mattered to you before, it was more that he existed." The echo of his past words made James flinch.
"Some of us have grown up," he said heatedly, turning his gaze back to Sirius. "Leave him be, Padfoot, I mean it."
Sirius glare at James for a while before letting out a snort “fine. But you have changed Prongs, I don’t know what this Slytherin snake has on you but I’m going to find out” he said before turning to glare at Snape as he seemed to fidget under his gaze and he moved to walk past him.

“I’m going to find out your secret Snivillus make no doubts about that” he whispered as he past him and uttered a small spell to tie his shoe laces together still wanting to do something to the Sytherlin even if it was just making him fall down.
Gritting his teeth in frustration, James met Snape's eyes. The slytherin clearly still loathed him but he would still make good of his promise to redeem himself. No one would touch him. Sirius and the others pushed on to the other side of the shop but he lingered, looking at Snape and Evans. They were friends again, that pleased him. He'd felt Snape's sorrow on losing his only friend when he had seen his memories - it wasn't a good feeling.
"Enjoy your day you two," he said politely, cautiously.
Snape’s eyes followed James before he looked to Lily again. “Why don’t we get out of here and get a drink, I could use a little air as well” he smiled at Lily not liking how crowded the store was starting to get and that The Marauders were handing around behind him somewhere.

Snape gave a smile at Lily to show her everything was fine not wanting to worry her as he went move and feeling himself start to fall from where his shoe laces were tide and was soon met with the hard floor.
James dove forward on instinct, unable to help himself and seized Snape's shoulders, crashing down to the floor with him and breaking his fall. Their heads clashed together painfully as Snape fell on him. The crowd in the shop scattered backwards and James groaned as the force of the fall made his head ricochet off Snape's and onto the unforgiving floor.
"Shit!" he cursed, wincing in pain as he clumsily aided Snape back up to his feet. A quick spell from Lily undoing his laces deftly. "Sirius Fucking Black!" he roared, staggering to his feet. His vision twisted and jerk. He felt sick, his body swayed from the blow to the head. "I told you! No! We're not - we're not bullies! We don't...!" But his words cut short as his sight twisted and he fell back to the floor with a thud.
“James!” Sirius yelled running forward (and pushing people out of the way) and picking James up. “Hey James open eyes” he tapping his face with his hand trying to wake him up.

“Shit come on James open your eyes!” he half yelled at him. “Sirius we have to get him back to hogwards to madam Pomfrey there could be something wrong with his head” Remus said putting a hand on his shoulder to try and get him to calm down as Snape watched not knowing what to do, deep down he really wanted to help the griffindor but he knew his friends wouldn’t let him anywhere near him.
"Get back!" Lily snapped, dipping down and raising her wand. "Mobilicorpus!" The spell lifted James' body into the air, her intentions raising him gently, so as not to worsen any damage done. "Severus and I are far more capable of subtlety than you oafs and subtlety is what this requires! Get back! We're taking him to the castle!"
"Over my dead body! Snape hates his guts!" Sirius snapped, "He could hex him at any minute!"
"It's your magic that hurt him, not Severus'," she said heatedly, glaring straight into Sirius' eyes. "Move out of my way. Your friend needs help fast. The longer you delay the worse off he'll be. Move."
Sirius grit his teeth with a growl before moving out of the way letting Lily pass him with a hovering James and closely followed by Snape as Sirius glared at him as he passed before they left the shop.

“Is it really okay for us to be taking him?” he asked pulling out his want and helping Lily to carry James as they passed through the busy streets and pasted the crowds of on lookers as they whispered to each other about the floating griffindor.
"If it were up to those three he'd get a broken neck too," Lily said heatedly. "I don't know what Potter's game is but he's different to the other three lately." She looked at the unconscious Gryffindor oddly as they made their way through the village, ignoring the stares of those they passed by. She could already hear the rumours spreading that Severus and she were kidnapping Potter. Honestly, school children - their gossip spread like wild fire.
"He tried to save you, he's trying at least to be an adult," she said but when she looked back at Severus was regarding Potter with an odd look. She blinked. "Have you and Potter been up to something?" she asked curiously. Severus seemed to be taking quite a bit of care with the Gryffindor's limp head.
“What? No we haven’t been up to anything!” he said quickly looking focus for a minute and leaving James head to suddenly hand back before lifting it again. “There is nothing going on with us Lily, Potter is just being his weird self.” He smiled as her as they left the village and climbed into one of the carriages that would take them back to hogwarts.

The journey back was anything but smooth and Snape wished that the carriage had a spell on it to make the journey more smooth just he new the journey wouldn’t last very long so he wouldn’t complain.
Lily didn't miss the way Severus watched Potter's body on the entire carriage ride up, as if his health were something he was concerned with. She said nothing though. There was definitely something going on.
***
James awoke with his head pounding as if there were a herd of hippogriffs were stampeding across his skull. He didn't open his eyes entirely, merely cracked them open hesitantly, in case doing so only brought with it more pain. He vaguely made out the hazy shape of the Hospital Wing.
"...there were witnesses, Mr Black, showing you tried to trip Mr Snape and Mr Potter was injured breaking his fall!" Madam Pomfrey's voice was scolding Sirius it sounded like. There were people far across the other side of the room and one at his bedside.
Squinting, he just about made out a familiar black and green blur watching him. Snape?
“Madam Pomfrey I know what Sirius did was stupid and he shouldn’t have done what he did, but will James be alright?” Remus asked from behind Sirius as he glanced over at the bed where James was lying and saw that his head had moved to the side slightly seeming to look at Snape who occupied the chair next to his bed.

“Yes please, I’m sorry for what I did just please tell me that James will be alright and its nothing serious. I mean its was just a bump on the head…right?” Sirius asked worried about his brother.
McGonagall, who was standing beside Pomfrey, regarded Sirius with a scowl. "It could be a concussion. Madam Pomfrey has seen to him. If he wakes up soon all should be well - with him. But that still leaves the matter of your disgusting behaviour. Are you not seventeen years of age and therefore an adult in wizarding society?"
Sirius said nothing but bowed his head slightly at her scolding.
"Your best friend has seen fit to put the past behind him, to grow up. Perhaps you should do the same," she said venomously. "Now, as an incentive I think stripping quidditch privileges, detention for every week night for the next month and missing the next Hogsmeade trip should be a start."
Sirius' head snapped up to her.
"A tad harsh, you think?" she said sharply. "I think not, not after all the chances you have had to set this foolish school-boy hatred aside. You are an adult, Mr Black and in a few months you will be out in the real world. If I need to be a bit more harsh to help you teach others with respect then I will do so - and more
Across the room, James blinked his eyes open, still delirious with his throbbing skull and met Snape's gaze. "You have very nice eyes," he murmured quietly in his stupor, for Snape's ears only - thank God. "Y'kay?" He sounded drunk. That must've been the pain-killers Pomfrey gave him. Mmmm. He felt sort of fuzzy in the head. It was a nice feeling. The pain ebbed along with his common sense.
Snape turned his head to look at James hearing his quiet slurred words and seeing his eyes open and looking at him. “So you are finally awake Potter. You know that was a really stupid thing you did today, you should have just let me fall I would have been just fine.” He whispered to him as he turned slightly in his chair to look at him better.

“But…yes, I’m…we’re. Just fine” he said glancing away at the statement and looking at the bedside table before reaching for some think on it James couldn’t see before his forehead was greeted with a cool folded flannel.

“…thank you…for today.”
James flushed. He couldn't help it. He felt quite giddy. Snape's sleeve brushed over his nose as he pressed the flannel onto his head. "Mmmm y'smell good," he whispered, smiling stupidly. The others hadn't even noticed he was awake. It was a very good secret. Only he knew that Snape smelled good. And kissed good. Mmmm. "I like you, y'know. Why don't you like me more?"
He would definitely regret this once the influence of the potions subsided. Above him, Snape blinked in shock.
“Because you are an arrogant griffindor who doesn’t no boundaries or personal space” he said removing his hand feeling satisfied that the flannel wasn’t going anywhere.

“There are a lot of things I don’t like about you Potter and the way you treat me is one of the big ones I don’t like and I don’t like that you keep bringing up my memories even though you don’t really know what happened in them” he said leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.
James blinked. It took him a few seconds longer than normal to process Snape's words. Everyone else in the room was still discussing Sirius' punishment. He preferred it that way. It hurt to try and focus on more than one thing at the moment and he wanted to focus on Snape. "Then tell me what happened in them, I'd like to know. I'd like to help."
Yes the pain was entirely gone now and he felt quite light-headed with the painkillers. Severus' long fingers tightened on the arm of the chair he was in. He stared at them. They were so pale. He wanted to touch them but couldn't make his hands co-operate. "Y'Know I'm an invalid right now, you should have to be nice to me. Tell me what happened."
Snape gave a small chuckle at the comment before looking at James and seeing his eyes glazed over from all the potions in his system. “With the way you are now I don’t think you would be able to process the information properly Potter. Maybe you should just sleep and work off those potions in your system before we have any sort of talk.” He said to him.

“Now just go to sleep before you make yourself worse you big fool.”
James scowled the way a small child might. "You promise to tell me later?" he demanded, still in a whisper. The others seemed to have noticed he was awake. Lily Evans was among them he noticed, for the first time catching sight of her auburn locks. She was here for Severus, he realised and was glad. Severus needed a friend.
"Mmm, your name sort of rolls of the tongue you know," he muttered to himself. "Sev-er-us."
Sirius and the other marauders stood back a bit as Pomfrey started to approach. James narrowed his gaze and stared at Snape, waiting for an answer.
Snape let out a sigh at him. “Yes fine I promise to tell you later and I already told you before stop using my first name” he said giving him a small scowl to tell him to stop it.

“James! How are you doing buddy you okay? You had us so worried what you wouldn’t wake up” Sirius said from the end of his bed as he looked down at him as James slowly turned his attention towards him then to madam Pomfrey still looking deeply out of it and almost like me might start singing like a crazy drunk uncle people did talk about.
"M'fuzzy," he mumbled nonsensically, frowning as Sirius stepped up to the bed and essentially blocked his view of Severus. He liked to look at him and tried to move his hand to shove Sirius out of the way but felt far too weak thanks to the potions. "Go away," he murmured dazedly.
"He's out of it thanks to the potions I've given him for the pain," Pomfrey said tartly, adjusting James' bed sheets and shooing Sirius back from the bedside. "Give him some room Mr Black. He'll be quite dazed for the next few hours until the potions wear off. After that he will be good as new."
Lily stood between Severus and the marauders, looking from her best friend to James silently, wondering what on earth was going on. She'd have to corner Potter before he came 'back' to himself. Maybe she'd get more sense out of a potion-inhibited Gryffindor than she did out of Severus.
"You should say sorry," James said to Sirius, words slurring slightly.
“I’m really sorry mate, I didn’t mean for you to get hurt” Sirius said looking at James before Lily gave a tut and an exasperated sigh.

“I think James was talking about you apologising to Severus for what you tried to do to him not what you did to James” she said looking at the marauder as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and he should have realized it.

Sirius looked at Lily disgusted by the thought of apologising to Snivillus about anything, but he knew she was right, that was what James was asked for and if it made him happy he would do it. “Alright, I’m….I’m sorry, okay” he said even though it was only half hearted.
"Quite so," Pomfrey said sharply, before rounding on the students. "If you would all please vacate the infirmary, Mr Potter will be out in time for dinner and you can chatter all you like then. Right now he needs rest." The students started to make their way toward the door.
"Mr Black, report to my office after dinner for your first detention," McGonagall said sharply as she held the door open for each of the students in turn, ensuring they actually left.
"One moment, Mr Snape, I have something to give you," Pomfrey said as Severus made to follow the others out. Lily hovered in the doorway, looking curiously back at her friend.
"I'll see you in the Library, Severus," she said brightly, before heading out the door. McGonagall closed it behind them all, but not before Dumbledore slipped in quietly and stood with his back to the doors. Both he and Pomfrey looked at the slytherin carefully.
"I have been made aware of your condition, my boy," he said, blue eyes twinkling as he inclined his head to look at Severus through his half-moon spectacles. He watched as the boy went ashen and tensed, preparing for a reprimand and possible expulsion. But he continued, "Or should I say, Hogwarts school enrolment list has made me aware. You see, the list is magically automatically updated as soon as a child that might be eligible to attend Hogwarts is conceived." He smiled warmly at Severus. "I consult it every once and a while, an old man's indulgence. Imagine my surprise when I took a moment to consider the enrolment list, only to find a most unexpected addition to the list."
James, who was still dazed but listening to every word twisted his head so that he could see Severus' panicked expression.
"Potter-Snape," Dumbledore explained, "As it is not a usual combination I thought I had better come and speak to you regarding special arrangements that might need to be made."
James, through his stupor thought that Snape hadn't breathed in several minutes.
“N-no headmaster…that wont be necessary” he said waving a hand and feeling terrible now that the secret of who the father was, was out in the open for everyone in the room to no.

“Everything has already been decide, I’m not keeping the baby I’m giving it to Potter over there and I’m going to use a cloaking spell on my stomach when I start to show so no one will ever no about any of…this” he said with his eyes lowered so that he didn’t have to look at the headmaster and that look of his that always said everything is hunky dory.

“So please headmaster I would just like things to remain as they are as if nothing is happening or changed. I wish to go to class and sleep in my bed in the dungeons like I have done every year before.”
Dumbledore's smile changed subtly. He reached forward and set his hand on Severus' shoulder reassuringly. "It will be as you wish. Professor Merrythorpe is aware of the situation and will ensure that your class do not work on any potions where the fumes are dangerous to the baby in the mean time. Pomfrey tells me you are due at the end of July, after your exams and your graduation. That will make things much simpler for you. I will have to ensure you are not involved in duelling in your Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, however. I hope you do not mind me including your Defence teacher in our circle of knowledge? He will of course be sworn to secrecy."
Before Severus had chance to answer, James sat up sluggishly on his allocated bed. "Y'not mad at us, sir? For having...you know?" His words were still slurred but Dumbledore seemed to know what he meant.
Snape glad over at James for making such a comment. “Potter just shut up and lay back down” he scolded him before turning back to Dumbledore and letting out a sigh of defeat.

“I would rather you told no one and just let things stay the way they are. But I guess thank to Mr. Potter over there that will not be happening anywhere in the next 9 months…thanks a lot Potter this is all your fault…well…your and Malfoy’s but mostly yours!” he half yelled pointing a finger at him even though he knew it was pointless yelling at the drugged up wizard.
Dumbledore watched the exchange quietly before he spoke. "Ah, yes, Mr Malfoy - I am afraid without proof I cannot take further action against him," he said regretfully. "I would advise you both exercise some caution around him from now on, however. He must have targeted you both for a reason, after all."
When silence had taken over the room, Pomfrey stepped forward, pushing a small casket of potion vials into Severus' hands. "These are supplements for you to take while you're expecting," she said brusquely. "Take two sips of the blue in the morning and one of the purple before bed. No extreme sports, no eggs, tuna, undercooked meat and absolutely no alcohol. I'd advise against apparation as well during this time."
‘Maybe it would just be easier to roll over and die now’ Snape thought as he listened to his list of instructions of the he wasn’t allowed to do which sounded like everything under the sun and moon.

“Yes madam Pomfrey” he said sounding beaten down as he looked at the vials in his arms and not liking the thought of taking something he didn’t no the ingredients to or had made himself before he looked up at her giving her a small thankful smile.

“Will I have to spend the night in the hospital wing as well after today what happened or am I safe to go to the great hall for dinner and then back to my dorm room?” he asked glancing around at any of the adults that might gave him the answer he waned to hear.

"You may go," Pomfrey said, her face softening as she regarded him. "But steer clear of Lucius Malfoy. Do not allow yourself to be alone with him at any time."
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Potions and Problems