Family is Everything
Alternative Version
Disclaimer: While I love the books, if I owned the rights to them, the story would have been different.
Summary: The war is over and Harry is starting his life with Severus and Lucius. The arrival of his godson changes his perspective on the men in his life causing him to flee the country. This is an alternative to my original story line. BRIEF HP/SS/LM, HP/SS. Ignores HBP and DH. AU/OOC MPREG
AN: So here's the answers to some questions. Oh and a little surprise too.
Severus POV
Oh Merlin! I'm so nervous. I have waited for this moment for 7 months and I'm ashamed to admit, I am scared to death. What if he doesn't listen to me? What if he doesn't believe me? How am I going to make him understand what really happened that day?
And the children. My children, I just know they are mine, are about to be born. My whole life is about to change, for the better or worse all depends on Harry but my life is about to change one way or another.
To whatever deity is up there listening, please let everything go well. Please let him see the truth. Please let him and our children come through this just fine. Please let them come home to me.
Schooling my features as best as I can to hide my nervousness, I make my way into the delivery room. A nurse stops me before I could take more than three steps.
"I'm sorry sir but you can't be in here."
I swear my heart stopped beating. Before I heard a timid voice from further in the room. His voice.
"It's… it's alright. I said he could come in."
My face lit up with probably the first real smile since I found out Harry was pregnant.
"Harry." It came out slightly more breathless than I would care to admit.
He looked up at me shyly.
"Severus."
"Oh Harry. There's so much we need to talk about. There's so much I need to tell you."
"That's what my father said but it will have to wait for later. While I'm not sure if I should, I'll let you stay."
"Thank you Harry."
"There are two conditions though."
I nodded for him continue.
"The first is that before this day is over I want proof that what my father said is true."
"I will gladly give you whatever it takes."
"The second is that I want a wizards oath that you will not try to take custody of the children from me, that's if they are yours of course. Not now, not ever."
I wanted to cry. I could feel the color draining from my face. After everything we've been through, he has no faith in me. He doesn't trust me. This is hopeless. He's never going to believe me if it takes a stupid oath just to allow me near the children. How could he think so poorly of me? I know that he has feared I would take the children but to have it slap me in the face like that was like a knife to my heart. I schooled my features to an emotionless mask, or at least that was my intention.
"As you wish. I SEVERUS TOBIAS SNAPE SWEAR AN OATH ON MY LIFE AND MAGIC THAT I WILL NEVER TRY TO REMOVE MY CHILDREN FROM THE CUSTODY OF HARRY JAMES POTTER. SO MOTE IT BE."
My magic swirled around the two of us making the oath binding. I was about to say something to Harry when I heard chuckling. I looked to my right and found the healer trying not to break into a full out laugh! How dare he laugh over something like this!?
"Well, I must say. I've seen a lot of things happen in this room; however, I can honestly say I've never seen anything like that. Now if you are through, how about we deliver these babies."
I looked to Harry and for the first time since I entered the room he actually allowed me to meet his eyes. They were filled with a flurry of emotion. Love, sorrow, hurt and hope. I tried to let my emotions bleed into my eyes and I am sure that mine showed a similar mix. We stared into each other's eyes for a moment before I turned and nodded to the healer.
With a flick of his wrist I felt a strong cleaning charm pass over me. Another flick set up a curtain so that Harry and I could not witness the surgical aspects of what was about to happen.
I sat on a stool near Harry's head. I wanted so badly to hold his hand; however, I was sure he wouldn't allow it. Yet I could not resist raising a hang and wiping his bangs from his eyes. He reached up and I was positive he was going to swat my hand away so I was startled when he clutched it in his own and gave a small squeeze. Maybe there was hope for us after all.
Then the healer was speaking.
"Alright Harry. I'm going to numb you up and then I'll start the incision. When I'm ready to pull the first baby out, you'll probably feel a little tugging. It's normal so don't worry unless you feel actual pain, in which case tell me."
Harry didn't say anything, just nodded his head while staring at the ceiling.
Two minutes went by and I was starting to get anxious. Suddenly I heard a baby's cry and the healer was holding a little boy over the curtain.
"He's your son. I'm going to give him to the nurses to clean up and then they will bring him over to you."
I stared at the baby while the nurses took him to be cleaned up. A son. Our son. No matter the father, that boy is my son. And he was probably the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
Another cry soon joined the first. The healer reached over the curtain and held up an angelic looking little girl.
"And your daughter. While the nurses clean her up I'm going to check you over just to make sure everything is ok and then I'll clean you up and close the incision."
By that time the nurses were finished with our son and brought him over for Harry to hold. I could see Harry's face light up with a blissful smile. The baby was perfect. Ten fingers, ten toes, a petite little nose and pitch black hair. Not Harry's dark nearly black hair but pitch black. Just like mine. From the kinkiness of it, I am sure he'll have Harry's bird's nest hair style. I knew that his eyes would be blue for awhile yet but I hoped that he had Harry's eyes.
I looked back to check on our daughter when I heard a surprised sound from the other side of the curtain. I was instantly alarmed. Fearful that something might happen to Harry.
"Is everything ok? Harry's alright isn't he?"
The healer started that blasted chuckling again! I swear I am going to hex that man before this is all said and done.
"Oh everything is just fine. Shocking but just fine."
As he said that, another softer cry could suddenly be heard in the room.
"I'd like you to meet your other daughter."
He held the baby up over the curtain and I nearly fainted. Harry's head jerked up in surprise as the announcement.
"I'm not sure how she stayed hidden from me all this time but here she is. Now unless there's another surprise hidden in here, I'll finish up."
The nurses brought our first daughter over and went to hand her to me. I looked at Harry and while he appeared doubtful, he nodded. I took the babe in my arms and she was just gorgeous. Ten perfect and long fingers. Ten perfect toes. Like her brother she also had pitch black hair although her's appeared straight, opposed to her brother's kinky hair. She looked up at me and stared. I swear she was looking into my very soul before she snuggled up and went to sleep.
Another nurse appeared with the other little girl and I looked to Harry not sure what to do or who should hold her. He made the decision for me when he handed me the babe he was already holding and opened his arms for the nurse to place the little girl in them.
I could see she was just as perfect as her siblings. Harry checked her over, counting fingers and toes making sure they were all there. He was truly breathtaking holding that little angel. She was the spitting image of her sister.
I was brought out of my musings when I heard the healer speak.
"Alright Harry. You're good to go. We'll move you back into your room now. I know you have some people waiting outside. Would you like to send your friend out to them or would you like me to send a nurse?"
Harry hesitated for a moment and I clutched the children just a little tighter, fearing he would have me hand them over.
"If it's alright, could you send a nurse with the news. And ask them to wait until someone comes for them. Severus and I need to talk before I see anyone else."
"Certainly Harry. It's not a problem."
Switching to Harry's POV
We finally made it back to my room and I was settled into bed holding my two daughters. While I was nervous as all hell, I allowed Severus to hold my son. I still wasn't 100% sure on who their father was but I had a pretty good idea. The healer agreed to run the test but I want to get this over with with Severus first. I'm scared to hear what he has to say but if I'm ever going to get on with my life, then I need to know if he and my father are lying to me or not.
"Alright Severus, let's hear it. What kind of story do you have for me?"
"I've been thinking about this Harry and I think there are only two ways I can prove to you beyond a shadow of a doubt. Since I do not have any Veritaserum with me, I would like to ask you to just view the memories for yourself. It's one of the worst days of my life and I have no want to relive it yet I know it's the only way I have at the moment for you to truly believe me. That is, if you are willing."
I didn't want to. I really did not want to watch that scene when I had heard enough of it already but I knew I had to. I love this man and if I'm ever going to trust in what he and my father have said, I need to see this with my own two eyes. I steeled my courage, placed the babies in the bassinets by my bed and reached for my wand.
"Alright Severus. Legilimens."
I drove into his mind looking for the memory of that horrible day. Along the way I spotted many others that made me pause. There was Severus walking up to my front door. Severus waiting outside the clinic. Severus walking through different stores asking about me. Severus elated at the news of my pregnancy. Severus looking sad, asking my father for any news. Severus devouring the letters I wrote to my father. His fingers caressing the pictures of Teddy and I. Severus screaming at my father. Severus curled into my father crying. Severus tormenting the students more than normal. Severus breaking a glass before falling to his knees in tears. Severus decorating a child's room. And then, there it was, the memory I didn't want to see and knew I had to.
When I finally pulled out of his mind, I had tears streaming down my face. Oh sweet Merlin! What have I done!? How could he sit there asking to prove himself when I am the one that should be begging for forgiveness. I didn't trust him enough. I didn't trust our love enough. I walked away and caused both of us so much pain. FOR NOTHING! It was all for nothing! He stood up for me. He wanted us and I threw him away because I couldn't bear to hear the rest of the conversation, certain I would be the one tossed aside like garbage. How can HE ever forgive ME?
I looked up and was startled to see tears rolling down his face. Other than those memories, I've never seen him cry. It was like a slap in my face, showing me just how much I'd hurt this wonderful man.
"Oh Severus. I… I don't know how I can ever show you how sorry I am. How can you ever forgive me?"
"Harry, there's nothing to forgive. It was a tragic, horrible misunderstanding. Just please, please tell me you'll come home. Please tell me we can work this out. I'll do anything Harry. Anything. Just don't keep my family from me. I couldn't bear it if you and the children disappeared from my life."
"We still need to talk more Severus. We have a lot to work out. I like it here and I'm not sure I want to leave but I do want to give us a shot. I still love you Sev."
"And I you my Harry."
We talked for about an hour. We talked about the children and what to name them. We talked about how to get to a place that was perhaps better than it was before in our relationship. We still had a lot to work out but I was confident we could do it. Together.
The healer came in and cast a paternity spell on each of the children and then he sent a nurse to bring the others into the room.
Narrator POV
Albus, Draco and young Teddy came into the room and were greeted with the sight of a smiling Harry sitting in his hospital bed that someone had enlarged to allow Severus to sit in it as well. Severus holding two bundles in pink and Harry holding one in blue.
Teddy instantly reached for his father and the men proceeded to introduce him to his new baby brother and sisters.
Albus and Draco were surprised yet thrilled to see the sight of triplets instead of twins. And they were even more elated when Severus leaned down and captured Harry's lips in a gentle kiss over the top of the children's heads.
They took turns passing the children around until Severus held one girl, Albus held the other, Draco held the little boy and Harry held Teddy.
Finally Draco couldn't take it any more and blurted out, in a totally un-Malfoy like way,
"So out with it already. What are their names? And am I holding my brother or god-brother?"
Severus looked up with great pride in his eyes as he said,
"You, my bratty godson, are holding Cyan Tobias Dumbledore-Snape. Albus, you have the privilege of holding Veridian Lillith Dumbledore-Snape. And this little darling is Krymsin (pronounced Crimson) Eileen Dumbledore-Snape."
AN: And there we have it. Only the epilogue left. I hope you liked it. I'm still not certain about these last two chapters but oh well, their done now.
Ok for the children's names, yes I know they are weird. They are magical children, they are entitled to be weird. Yes I know they are all color names, even if the spelling is different. I told my husband if we ever had another daughter, I wanted to name her Krymsin. It's odd but I like it. Not that he can argue since he named our youngest Ciencia.
For Veridian, I read it in in a story some time ago and thought it was pretty cool. Sorry for not giving recognition to the original author or asking to borrow it but I seriously don't remember who it was because it was so long ago. I also thought it fitting that the girls names are variations of red and green, Gryffindor and Slytherin.
Cyan I actually had to look up. Since the girls names were both colors, I thought it fitting that he would have a color name to. Once I saw it, I knew it was the right name. I actually knew someone named that once.