A/N: Well I've been super busy but I was hit with ideas for this chapter so i decided to write it and post it...
I hope you enjoy it and as always, i really want to hear what you think xx
Harry realised that as the days went by, Severus became more and more scarce around the castle. First it was his subtle disappearances from prowling the corridors- something that he still enjoyed doing from when he was a teacher years ago- then he started to miss meals in the Great Hall and just like that, it was going onto two weeks that Harry hadn't seen a trace of the man.
To Harrys' annoyance, McGonagall seemed to have a very good idea of where exactly the headmaster was but never said more to Harry than that he shouldn't worry since Severus was much wrapped up in some research.
All that was well and fine with Harry since he didn't expect special correspondence on the mans' activity however he still found it odd that the man who all those nights ago seemed to have such a strong and opposing view on Harrys' decisions had decided to hole himself up in his office 'researching' when instead Harry expected to be confronted with some choice words.
But it also wasn't like Harry was excited about receiving a telling-off either; he just supposed that since he had revealed the most well kept secret of his life to Severus, the man might just have been able to help him out and provide direction for him or an ear to vent out his frustrations but it seemed that thinking of the headmaster right now was increasing his current frustration with the world so Harry decided that some fresh air was in order.
Xxx
The cool air hit Harrys' face the moment he set foot outside. It was unusually cold for this part of the year, so much so that Harry wouldn't be surprised if it started to snow. He started to walk up to his favourite spot by the lake and let his mind wander to the recent goings on of his life.
Harry had, for days after his confrontation with Cho, mulled over what his decision about Cedrics' custody will be. He went through it over and over in his head; if mum and dad were still alive I'd wish for my childhood to be spent immersed in their love and care but here Cedric has both his parents, he has that chance, yet all we do is fight and argue. I won't be responsible for depriving my child of a happy childhood because I myself didn't have one.
No matter how many reasons there were to not trust Cho, the potential happiness that Cedric could have from being around both his parents always outweighed the negatives.
Harry sighed and wrapped his arms around his body as a particularly chilly gust of wind washed over him; he was glad that it was a Hogsmeade weekend since he had most of the castle and grounds to himself so that he could wallow in despair at peace… ironic…
"For goodness sakes Potter, you'll catch your death in this cold," came a voice from just behind Harry.
No… was it? It had to; there was no one in the entire of Britain that had a voice like that…
Harry turned around and was about to say "Severus, what are you doing out here," when instead he said, "Where the hell have you been? Two weeks Snape, two weeks and you come out here pretending to be concerned for my well being!"
Severus was startled for a moment; he expected Harry to lash out at him for his absence but not this soon and definitely not with that much hurt and disappointment in his voice.
But if Severus was anything, it was definitely that he was a hot-headed match for Harry, "Watch your tongue Potter and if you are so very disturbed by my presence, I will take your leave."
As Severus turned away, Harry felt almost like he'd been stripped of his clothes by some stray spell; looking down, he saw that that was not the case, but he definitely could feel the chill right to his bones now. Then he saw that Severus was just tucking his wand away and mentally kicked himself for being so drowned in his anger that he didn't even acknowledge the spell Severus cast to keep him warm.
He took a few steps forward, "Severus, wait… I'm sorry, that was rude," Severus stopped but didn't turn around just yet, "It's just that you just disappeared all of a sudden and the last time I saw you, you were mad at me and-"
Severus finally turned around, "Harry, I felt a lot of things that night but I assure you that my anger was not directed at you; irritation, yes but never anger," he looked at Harry sincerely.
Harry started to walk towards Severus, "I get that you didn't support my decisions but all the more reason that I expected you to help me make up my mind but you were gone," he looked up at Severus expectantly when he got close enough.
"I apologize but I really was busy with research. I trust that you are still trying to come up with a decision."
Severus' statement came out more like a question and Harry felt obligated to answer, "Actually, I've decided to leave it to the social workers at the ministry," Severus gave him a disbelieving look so he continued, "they're allowing Cedric and Cho to become acquainted, properly this time and after a while they'll evaluate what they have witnessed as well as Cho, Cedrics' and my desires then come to a decision."
Harry started to explain to Severus what led him to his decision and while he could see understanding dawn on the older mans' face, he also saw well suppressed disapproval.
"I see that we both decided to go completely different routes in trying to find a solution," said Severus.
We…
"Severus what do you-"
"I thought that it was only fair that you received all the help you could get in coming to a decision so I thought that a little research never hurt anyone…"
Harry almost choked on air, "You mean- the research… it was for Cedric?"
Severus' face softened, "And for you."
Harry had the sudden urge to just mould himself to Severus' warm body and with their proximity, it wouldn't take much but he wasn't sure how the man would take to physical gestures such as that so he instead settled for beaming at the man.
"I can't believe that you spent all that time trying to help us and I can't believe that I was ungrateful about it."
"You couldn't have known Harry, I don't blame you. But I wasn't sure how you would receive this solution, should I say, without adequate reasoning that it was worth all of its trouble."
Harry grinned, "Well then, let's hear it?"
"Not here Harry, perhaps we could go back to my office and have some refreshments; Merlin knows that you need to warm up. I meant what I said about-" Severus stopped speaking when he realised that Harry wasn't paying attention to him anymore- well his attention still seemed to be on him but he had stopped listening, "Potter, if you have quite finished gawking…"
Harry snapped out of his trance and returned his gaze to meet that of the headmaster, "It's amazing how one snowflake can make you look a lot less daunting than you usually are," said Harry, smiling as he gazed into Severus' eyes.
Severus found his voice before he lost himself in an emerald sea, "Whatever are you talking about, Potter."
Just then, Harry stepped closer; his face right in front of Severus', green eyes fixed on black and a gentle hand on tugging at Severus' hair…
No, that wasn't right.
Severus jerked back, the pull though not painful but entirely unexpected from what he had pictured in his mind. Harry just chuckled as he held up the now melting snowflake in his palm.
"It's snowing," said Harry in hushed tones, quite unsure why but it only seemed right in the oddly intimate moment that they were now experiencing; although it shouldn't feel that odd since Harry was quite certain that the sudden heat in his cheeks and his racing heart had nothing to do with the weather.
"Odd," said Severus after a short while and then spoke up again as the silence grew thick between them, "We should return to my rooms, to get you warmed up I mean and obviously speak about what I have found."
Severus' response was also whispered and so in keeping with 'their' moment, Harry just nodded before his arm was grasped in a gentle but firm grip and he was apparated to the headmasters' quarters.
Xxx
Harry landed steadily on his feet when they reached the living area of Severus' room but it was clear from the headmasters' outstretched arms that he didn't have faith in Harrys' landing.
Severus stood looking Harry over for a moment before leaving the room and returning with a black coat- his black coat- which he shrunk to Harrys' size and then offered to him.
"Thanks Severus. Shall I call a house-elf for tea?"
He was answered by a pop and a delivery of a tray of tea and sandwiches, "Already taken care of," said Severus as he gestured for Harry to join him on the couch.
They ate in comfortable silence before Harry spoke, "So are you going to tell me what you found or are you going to make me suffer for it first?"
Severus smirked before replying, "Suffering sounds doable however I must refrain from stalling," his expression turned serious, "Harry, you are aware that I am a man who is very knowledgeable in the field of the Dark Arts," Harry nodded so he continued, "I must warn you that while this may seem to be border-line Dark magic and is probably in its own respect, I have immersed myself in in-depth research on the subject and come up with a suitable enough offer for you to consider."
Harry absorbed Severus' words and became more and more absorbed by each one. He knew that Severus, even if it wasn't said explicitly, cared for him and Cedric and he couldn't imagine that the man would willing put them in any danger so he knew that whatever Severus said next would have to be listened to attentively and with an open mind.
"There is a way to still have Cedric experience the love of two parents without one of them being necessarily biological," he stood up and walked to the fireplace, "it is nothing like adoption however. The child will be able to have the magic of their parent of choice flowing through their veins just like a biological one but not display physical characteristics of the person themselves… It is rather complicated for while it does allow for the unwanted biological parents' magical lines and DNA to be partially destroyed, it is still present in a small quantity however the magical lines and abilities of the parent of choice save for their DNA, will take dominance and precedence over the biological one."
He paused and looked to Harry who had a thoughtful expression on his face, "So you're telling me that you've found a way to partially remove the biological inheritances in Cedric from Cho thereby giving her less of a right over Cedric than the parent of choice and myself?"
"In simpler words, yes, that is exactly what I said."
"How is this not dark magic?" asked Harry worriedly.
"Harry, I will not lie to you; this borders on dark magic for the reason that it allows a so called manipulation of blood lines and magic. That can be seen as deceit in our world however, this type of magic is entirely legal- by ministry standards even- for the simple reason that it cannot be performed if the intention is not pure and the participants are not willing; it is either performed and successful or not performed at all."
Harry went over it all in his head in a rush, "But Cho would never willingly agree to allow me to diminish her rights over Cedric."
Severus turned to face Harry so fast that he was sure he heard a funny noise from his neck, "Harry, does this mean that- that you are willing?"
"Honestly Severus, it sounds intense and dark but at the same time I can see how hard you've worked on this and I appreciate it and yes Severus, I think that this may be what I've been waiting for but I still don't get how we're going to convince Cho. And besides that, I just feel a bit bad about this; I mean I was deciding to give her a chance after all."
"Harry, I have no respect for a woman who walks out on her child willingly only to come back into his life because she learns his father is gay and feels that she needs to extract him from the sin."
"Yeah but I kind of thought that maybe she changed, maybe she- wait, you know?"
"I pride myself in being an observant man, Harry."
Harry blushed and looked down at his shoes but his head was brought up by Severus' fingers on his chin, "Do not be ashamed Harry."
Harry swallowed visibly before replying, "I'm not! I just don't want your opinion of me to change."
Severus chuckled lightly before speaking, "I cannot shun you for that will be like casting aside my own self," he noticed Harry gasp at his revelation before continuing, "And you will never do anything to change my opinion of you… Always the insufferable brat."
His last comment earned Severus a light slap on the shoulder but he laughed and relished the feeling of lightness that was now between them; a little something like old friends and that thought melted away the many restraints of Severus' heart.
Harry was still smiling and looking to Severus every bit the young man he was supposed to be, without all of his worries and burdens however they still had one more thing to discuss.
"To answer your question, Mrs Wood need not know a thing of this. It all depends on you, with pure intentions, Cedric with the desire to love and the want to be cared for the parent of choice and of course the parent of choice who needs to be willing to walk through fire for Cedric."
Harry seemed to be deep in thought before he spoke, "The social worker informed me that while Cho seemed to be getting along with Cedric, there was a sense that her heart wasn't in it- like she was just there for the sake of making a good impression. I told her though, that we should just give Cho some time since reforming their bond might take some time but right now when you mentioned the parent of choice, I realised that true bonds don't need time at all. You just sort of click with the kid and even if you don't realise it, somewhere deep down, you become each others protectors."
Severus looked curiously towards Harry who was now sitting at the edge of his seat with a faraway look in his eyes, "You have decided upon someone then? I trust that you thought it through thoroughly though Harry, you cannot just have anyone at your childs' side. It can be anyone you trust most since no romantic relations are expected or required from this arrangement."
Harry stood up slowly and walked towards Severus while looking him right in the eyes, he reached out and took hold of both of Severus' wrists in each hand as he spoke, "I have thought it through and I want it to be you Severus. Will you be Cedrics' other father?"
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