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Deserving (Final Chapter)	By : tana97 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 97732 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. And I do not make any money from this stories.

Chapter List
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Chapter 8: Deserving

Chapter 8

***

They stepped into the sitting room in complete silence. It was up to Severus to disturb the peace.

“Shall I go to the kitchen or your bedroom, Sir?”

“We need to talk.”

Severus closed his eyes, dreading the topic of the impending conversation. He took a deep breath, lifted his chin and opened his eyes.

“I do not believe you should be given a reprieve from labor pains, do you?”

Severus knew that there was only one possible answer to that question but that answer entailed pain. A pain that very few had ever been able to survive.

“No, Sir,” he whispered without any feeling at all. He couldn’t even muster desperation because desperation requires hope, no matter how slight, that there was in some way to change the outcome. One look into Harry’s liquid green eyes told him that he need not bother with desperation.

“We will have to keep Pomfrey away until your water brakes. Agreed?”

Severus nodded his consent.

“What will we do about Kreacher?”

Snape was shocked by the question. “Kreacher?”

“He has grown fond of you. I think he believes you’re an overgrown elf. You surely are ugly enough to be one. You have to find a way to convince him that you want to go through the pain; do you think you can mange?”

Again Severus nodded his consent.

“Very well, you may sleep in the kitchen. This way you may speak to him. Now make yourself scarce.”

Severus took long and hurried steps towards the kitchen door. Once inside he felt the warmth of the fireplace embracing the space. Kreacher was serving his tea with a non-expressive face.

“We must speak,” announced the Potions Master.

“Drink,” said the small creature.

“You must listen to me.”

“Severus is sleeping in the kitchen. Kreacher is preparing Severus’ bed.”

“Kreacher, please listen to me. We need to talk.”

“It is being late, Severus is needing to sleep.”

He disappeared with a snap of his fingers and the blankets appeared on the floor next to the fire. When Severus approached his resting space he saw his flannel nightgown, glasses and book appear on top of the blankets. He took a breath in resignation and then said, “Thank you,” into space.

***

The following day was Saturday. Potter ate a light breakfast and left. He came back around midday with a young wizard that Severus recognized as a former student. A Gryffindor if he was not mistaken.

“Snape, this is Rob. He is a designer specializing in nurseries. He will be designing my child’s quarters.”

“Hi, Professor, I don’t know if you remember me,”

“Yes, Mr. Carty, I remember you quite well. If I recall correctly you had no aptitude for Potions whatsoever.”

“Yep, that would be me. How are you doing?”

“That really isn’t important. We have much to do. I will show you the room. Follow me,” said Harry already moving up the stairs.

Rob turned around to notice that Snape was not moving.

“Professor, aren’t you coming?”

“He has no say in the matter. It is better if he makes himself scarce.”

And that was all it took for Severus to move quickly into the kitchen.

***

The following Monday Severus was knitting in the sitting room when he saw the floo stir and without permission Mr. Carty walked into the sitting room.

“Oh sorry, Professor, I didn’t know you were here. Mr. Potter said I could come today to get my measurements.”

“Do you remember the way or should I get Kreacher to guide you?”

“Kreacher?”

“Mr. Potter’s house elf,” explained Severus.

“Can’t you guide me?”

“Mr. Potter does not want me partaking in this project.”

“It’s your baby.”

“Mr. Carty, if I am not mistaken, I was less than kind to you while at Hogwarts. I would have thought that this was a key ingredient in your qualifications for this job.”

Rob smiled a naughty smile, “Yeah, I think Harry thought so also. What he doesn’t know and I didn’t care to submit was the fact that I fell in love and married a beautiful Slytherin.”

“Cristina Sillas”

“Yep, she is my wife and mother of my two beautiful children. She is also the daughter of one of the Death Eaters that died in the final battle. I had to say that she fled taking my children with her in order to keep her safe. Professor you have no idea how much it pains me to have to keep my children and wife hidden.”

Severus did have an idea. He could see the pain in his former student’s face and hear it in his voice. The end of the war shouldn’t have left so much hurt behind. Were all their sacrifices worthless?

“So what is that phrase? ‘When the cat’s away the rats are at play’? Given the fact that Potter isn’t here I don’t see why you can’t show me the room.”

But Severus shook his head. He would not go against his guide. Rob took a deep breath and came up with another idea.

“Very well, so why don’t you tell me what you would like in the nursery room.”

“I am to have no say in it. It is my Guide’s wish.”

“Well, then, if you were designing your baby’s room what would you put in it?”

The question was hypothetical so Severus felt comfortable answering it.

“I would include books; children can never have too many books. Building toys are supposed to stimulate their imagination so blocks and puzzles are a must. And maybe a window seat where he can cuddle up with a stuffed animal or a book.”

“And the room should be yellow,” prodded the designer.

“No!” said Severus with a snarl and stretching out the o. “Soft greens and blues would be more appropriate.”

“And a mural of…”

“A mural of nothing, the child will not be made to suffer an overgrown and over animated character that might scare him.”

“Wow, you and Mr. Potter actually agree on something,” smiled Rob.

“What would my guide like to see in the room?” dared the Marked One.

“He really didn’t give me much to go on. He only said no murals and to make it a place where his child will feel happy. I tried to explain that only you two could make that possible but he wasn’t listening to me. He wants the perfect room in which his child can grow happy and secure. It seems you have a better grip on what it would take to make this child happy. Potter has no clue does he?”

“This is his first child,” excused the tall man.

“It is your first child also.”

“My guide is young and I have the experience of raising countless children that have passed through my hands at Hogwarts.”

“You seem to come up with an excuse for all his behaviors.”

Severus did not answer and Rob got up and went to the room to take his measurements. When he was about to leave he stopped and turned to his ex-professor.

“Where do you sleep?”

“Is that important?”

“Yes, I have to know how far you are from the child’s room.”

Severus took a deep breath and said, “In the kitchen.”

Rob left without a word.

***

Two weeks later Rob came to the house on a Saturday and announced that the room was ready. Harry was rushing towards the stairs when he noticed that Rob was not following.

“Shouldn’t the Professor see the room also?”

“Look, around here you can call him Snape or snake or greasy git. He is no longer a Hogwarts’ Professor. He lost his respectability when he killed Dumbledore, and no, he has no say in my child’s room.”

Rob curled his fist trying not to blow his cover. He closed his eyes and remembered his wife and children. He needed this money to keep them safe but it was harder than he thought it would be.

“Who is going to take care of your child?”

Harry looked at him as if he had never thought of the answer to that question.

“Snape will have to feed him for his first year.”

“Well, Mr. Potter I have news for you: babies get up in the middle of the night. And to my best knowledge the Professor no longer has magic. Won’t he need to know where everything is in the room? Won’t he need to say if something is missing or is useless to his endeavor in keeping your child safe and healthy? You asked me to create a safe environment for your child and I told you that only the parents can accomplish that. I stand by what I said: no design can substitute good parenting.”

Harry had to agree that Snape needed to know the layout of the room if he was going to go in during the night to feed his child.

“Kreacher,”

“Yes, Harry Potter Sir,” said the elf as soon as he popped in.

“Fetch Snape”

The elf gave him a sideways glance and closing his eyes as he popped out. Moments later Severus walked through the door and stood next to the stairs where the two younger wizards waited.

“Follow and try to stay out of the way,” said the Chosen One as he walked up the steps. Rob made a gallant gesture with his hands telling Severus he should walk in front of him.

When they walked into the nursery both Severus and Harry were blown away. Harry loved everything about the room and had the liberty to say so unlike Severus who had to look and keep his feelings to himself.

“Wow! The colors are perfect.”

“Yes, the blues and the greens are very serene,” he said talking to Harry but looking at Severus.

“Oh, look at all these beautiful children’s books. They are awesome!”

“Aren’t they?” continued the designer not moving his eyes away from his ex-professor.

“The stuff animals are quite cute. I think he is going to have a ball with those.”

“Yes, children do like to cuddle up with stuff animals don’t they?” trying not to laugh at his mischief.

“Why is there a daybed here?”

“Mr. Potter you are aware of the fact that children do get sick from time to time. Where are ‘you’ going to sleep when you have to stay up with him all night? I believe a nursery should be as comfortable for the parent as it is for the child. Don’t you agree, Mr. Potter?”

Harry had to agree with the designer. He would have wanted to say that it was Snape and not him that would be spending sleepless nights with his child but that was yet to be seen.

***

The following Sunday they got the news:

Mr. Shacklebolt and Mr. Malfoy would like to announce the arrival of their son Nicolas Adams Shacklebolt a healthy little wizard that has come to bring joy and happiness to his fathers. Father and baby are doing just fine.

Harry gave the piece of parchment to Snape, who had trouble hiding his contentment. The news read “little wizard.” Wizard, that was great news to his soul.

Poppy had mentioned that none of the children of the Marked Ones were being born with the blue light that was indicative of a magical child. They still hoped and believed that the children would develop their magical inheritance in the eleven years before their Hogwarts letter but it looked grim.

She was unable to fill him in on more details because his guide had walked in late, claiming that his duties as an Auror had kept him away. It had been torture to hear just that snippet of information without any rational behind it. How could children, of two healthy magical people, not have magic? Then again none of the horrors that he had seen or heard so far gave any indication that many of the Marked Ones could be considered healthy. But Draco’s child had been born with magic and that gave him the desired peace. Severus had not had the love and respect that Draco had gotten but he had suffered nowhere near the abuse that some of the others had had to endure. Surely his child will also be born with magic, was Severus’ silent prayer.

***

When Harry got to work Monday morning he caught a glimpse of Kings’ office. It was crowded with old friends with gloomy looks on their faces. Shouldn’t they all be celebrating the birth of Kings’ son? He could see Ron, Hermione, Percy, Mr. Weasley but no Shacklebolt in sight. Where was he? He was almost rammed over by the answer. Kings was storming into his office. He began to shout when Ron went to the door and closed it casting a silencing charm because Kings could no longer be heard.

“Wow” said Kings’ secretary, bringing Harry back from his thoughts, “The Minister must have chewed him a new one. He was in there for almost an hour and Layla, the minister’s personal secretary, could hear them shouting from the coffee station. She said it got really bad but they must have figured out that they were being heard because all of a sudden it was dead silence.” She looked up at Harry, “what do you think all the commotion is about?” but Harry had no desire to contribute to the office gossip and besides, he had no idea.

***

Two hours later Harry was called into Kings’ office.

“Close the door, please, and would you mind casting a silencing spell? I have no energy,” said the head of his department.

He looked defeated. He looked weak and, somehow, smaller. How could Kings let the idiot minister get to him this way? Were the thoughts that raced through Harry’s mind when he entered the office.

“I guess you’ve heard that I was called down to the Minister’s Office.” Here he stopped and looked at Harry, “Do you know why I was called, Mr. Potter?”

Harry had no idea and could not see why Kings was telling him about the incident. Didn’t he remember that Harry was no longer part of the clan?

“He called me because I was naive enough to send him an announcement of my child’s birth.”

He still was making no sense to Harry.

“You see, Mr. Potter, the announcement declared that my child was a wizard.” Again he stopped to look into Harry’s eyes.

Harry was still clueless.

“It seems that a child of a Marked One is to have no magic. He was appalled that I had not taken Draco to St. Mungos like all the other Marked Ones. It is apparent that in St. Mungos they are making sure that the children a born without magic.”

Harry’s eyes had gone to an impossible size. “Kings you must have heard wrong. The Ministry would never deny children their magic,” was the most convincing answer the Chosen One could give.

Kingsley looked at him, staring deep into the emerald eyed kid before him.

“They wanted to take my child away from me. I had to say that no light was actually seen and that I was just bragging.”

“Kings, this makes no sense, no sense at all. Why would the Ministry not want the children to have magic?”

“Because, Harry, they are the children of the Dark Side and they will grow to be evil as their birthing parent once were.”

Harry looked at him in disbelief.

“But Kingsley we are the fathers. You and I, we both fought for the Light and we are in charge. We will raise decent kids. What is the Ministry on about? Don’t they know what a good upbringing can do? This is madness, I tell you, madness.”

Harry was now pacing up and down the office with his fingers at his untamable hair.

“So what are you going to do about it, Mr. Potter? What will you say or do when the Ministry asks you if your child is a magical baby?” said Kings not daring to blink in fear of missing Harry’s reaction to his question.

But Harry straightened up and looked right back at him. “The truth, my child will have magic, but he will not be raised by a marked one. I will inform the Ministry that Snape will only be in my child’s life until he has been weaned. Then I will raise a good and noble wizard.”

Kingsley began to clap in a slow and awkward fashion, “Wow, Mr. Potter, did you think of all that crap on your own? I am impressed.”

Harry could not believe that Kings was mocking him and on a topic as serious as this one.

“So you are telling me, that you are willing to risk your child by telling the Ministry the truth, our Ministry.” He asked emphasizing the last bit.

Put that way, Harry no longer felt so confident. What if the Ministry did take his child and stripped him of his magic? Harry shook his head. That could never happen could it? But then he realized what was going on.

“You made it up! You made up this whole crazy scheme so I would join your little alliance. Do you really think I am that thick? Open your eyes, Shacklebolt. I am no longer a kid that everyone could manipulate. I call the shots now,” he said as he stormed out of the office.

When Harry got to his office he could not stay still. He could not sit nor stand. His hands seemed to idle but yet to busy as he pulled on his hair. Did Kingsley really believe this crap? There was no way the Ministry would do anything to harm his child, Harry Potter’s child.

***

The Birth Day

It was Harry’s birthday and Kreacher had prepared his favorites for breakfast. Severus was sitting at the table but was unable to eat. He was feeling quite uncomfortable. They both turned to see the floo flare up in the sitting area. Harry’s face lit up as soon as he saw that it was Dennis and granted passage at once.

“Happy Birthday Harry,” smiled the young blond.

Harry had a goofy smile on his face, “Thanks, I am so happy you stopped by. Look at all this food Kreacher has prepared.”

“Good morning, Professor, how are you feeling?” he asked with concern.

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about him. He has had an easy pregnancy. Come sit,” interjected Harry.

“Professor, you look a bit pale,” Dennis pointed out.

“You do look a bit off, why don’t you go and lie down?” added Harry.

Severus was grateful for the opportunity to lie down; the back pain was killing him. He began walking towards the kitchen.

“You’re not still sleeping on the kitchen floor? Not in you condition,” protested the young Gryffindor.

Harry remembered how upset his lack of caring for the Death Eaters had chased Dennis away and he did not want a repeat.

“Of course not, Severus, where are you going? Go upstairs: I will have Kreacher take you some tea. Go on now,” said Harry trying to seem concerned enough for his guest. He placed his hands on the small of Dennis’s back and guided him to the table. “Now, about all this food…”

“Harry, shouldn’t we make sure he is all right?” he said, walking with Harry but turning his head to look at Severus who was slowly climbing the stairs.

“I’ll have Kreacher stay with him. Don’t worry Madame Pomfrey says he is doing just fine and he is not due for another week or so,” he explained, pulling out the chair so Dennis could sit.

Dennis smiled and tried not to worry. They sat and ate till their bellies ached. When they were about to get up from the table Kreacher popped in.

“Harry Potter Sir is calling the healer now,” announced the creature.

“What are you on about?” asked an exasperated Harry.

“Severus’ baby is coming now. Severus is needing the healer,” exclaimed an even more angered elf.

Harry had to act quickly or Dennis’s presence would ruin his plan. There was no way he was going to make life easy for the killer of his parents.

“Dennis, I am going to go up and see what is going on. I am sure it is a mistake. As I told you he isn’t due yet,” he excused himself and grabbed Kreacher by an arm and apparated then both into the bedroom.

Severus was breathing heavily and was sweating even more.

“Sir, I cannot do this. I thought I could but it is too much. Please, Sir, I will die if I do not take the potions,” pleaded the man that never did.

Harry sat next to him on the bed, “You listen to me Snape. I know you can do this. You are a strong man and a little labor pain isn’t going to do you in. Woman have been dealing with it for ages and very few die…” he was saying when he saw Kreacher bring his fingers together. He reached out and grabbed the elf’s tiny arm. “Oh no you don’t! You listen to me, if you dare get Madame Pomfrey before I tell you to, I will give you away to another Guide and I will punish Snape. Have I made myself clear?”

Kreacher nodded his consent and snapped his fingers, disappearing for a second before re-appearing with a bowl and towel. He sat next to Severus and began to wipe of the sweat from his forehead. Harry, satisfied with his elf’s obedience and Snape’s pain, went back down to Dennis who jumped from his seat as soon as Harry reached the steps.

“How is he?”

“Will you please calm down? I told you he is fine. Kreacher is with him. He is giving him a bath. Now, what do you think about taking my brooms out for a spin?”

“Harry, I don’t think that is a good idea. What if Severus…”

“I told you he is with Kreacher. Do you really think Kreacher is going to let anything happen to him? Come on, it’s my birthday, aren’t you going to please me on my birthday?” said the Boy Who Lived with a puppy face look that made Dennis smile against his better judgment.

“All right but it will be short. I don’t feel comfortable leaving Severus for such a long time.”

“I promise,” fibbed the Guide.

A/N

Thanks for all of your review and placing Deserving among the top 10 reviewed stories in the past 7 days. And it seems I have made some of your favorite author list. Thanks.

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Deserving (Final Chapter)