Thirteen

Lily stared at the pile of things in the third bedroom. "Severus, here I thought you were organised."

She looked up at him, trying not to giggle. He frowned. "I just shoved things in here after taking the house after my mum died and Tobias disappeared."

He never called his father, 'father', only by his name.

"Do you know what happened to him?"

"No. And I'm not going to go looking; he's probably dead or in prison." He stepped into the room and started with the first box on his right. Lily worked with him, it was mostly old papers they disposed of, a few books Severus put in a pile to keep. Lily opened a box and found some pictures.

"Sev, look." She started going through them. What looked like Eileen's wedding day, followed by a few pictures of her smiling and laughing, perhaps their honeymoon. It was followed by pictures of her pregnant. "Have you seen these?"

He shook his head and took them from her, looking over each one. "I remember her smiling a few times, not much, not like this." He flipped through the photos and came to ones of him. "Surprising, I would think they would not have wanted to waste the film."

Lily put her hand on his arm, drawing his attention. "Sev, they loved you, they were your parents."

"No. My Mum, perhaps, but not Tobias."

"Sev, look." She took several of the photos and spread them out. It was a series of pictures, clearly Eileen trying to get him to walk and then succeeding, smiling proudly as a little Severus walked towards her, arms outstretched. "Who do you think took these?"

"Mum could have charmed it to be automatic."

"Possibly, but it could have been your father."

He shrugged. "Perhaps, but I do not think he ever loved me or my mum, if he had he would never have treated us the way he did, even when he found out we were magic."

Lily found herself unable to argue, she too believed that love was something that did not go away, not if it was real, it didn't stop. She wasn't sure she would ever get him to really talk about his childhood, it came out in little bits and pieces. He continued looking through the pictures, even smiling a bit. He reached the end.

"It looks like I was right, there is nothing after I was five."

He carefully restacked them and set them aside, continuing on to the next box. Lily noticed he didn't put them in the trash pile and was glad. When Harry woke from his nap she went to get him while Severus continued on with sorting.

XXXXXX

Lily sank down onto the bed, she was tired, hot and felt like a whale. Sev told her she looked beautiful, but she had to question his judgment as she leaned back on the pillows, kicking her shoes off her swollen feet.

"Lily, are you all right?"

She heard Sev call from across the hall where he was getting Harry down for his nap. Harry's third birthday party had been fun, but she was eternally grateful that Molly had volunteered to hostess it and all Lily had to do was be there.

"Yes, Sev. I'm fine."

The soft, deep sounds of Sev's voice as he talked to Harry soothed her as well, she smiled when she heard him start to sing. He had a beautiful baritone voice, and as long as it was a slow song he managed to hold himself on pitch without music. She felt herself drifting to sleep when she felt the bed shift slightly as weight was added. Opening her eyes, she found herself looking into Sev's dark eyes. "And you are absolutely certain there is only one in there?"

He whispered, arching one eyebrow.

"Yes. Just one. I'm not likely to have multiples, Sev, it's not in my family. Is it in yours?"

He shook his head, lying down and pulling her close. "No. The Prince's had small families and while the Snape's were very prolific, there were no twins or triplets as far as I know."

"So you have cousins?"

"Yes, although I have not seen them in years. I doubt they would have anything to do with me."

"Then they are not worth knowing if they would judge you on the actions of your father."

Severus looked at her for a moment. Lily ran her fingers through her hair. "I would like a nap, Sev, stay with me?"

"Of course."

XXXXXX

Two more weeks. Severus stood in the middle of his storeroom at Hogwarts, making sure everything was in place for the new term. Everything was ordered and in place, his lessons plans were complete. He had nothing further to keep him until the day school started. He started to walk into the Slytherin Common Room to make certain it was in the order he wanted when the silver sheepdog he recognised as Arthur's patronus bounded into the room.

"Lily's in labour!"

Severus ran back to his chambers and used the floo to get home. He found Arthur waiting with Harry.

"Is she here?"

"Upstairs, Madame Pomfrey is with her. I thought I'd take Harry back to the Burrow and send Molly along."

"That would be good, thank you." He looked at Harry.

"Daddy, I's going to be a brother!"

"Yes, you are. Go on with Mr. Weasley." He hugged Harry and watched him go with Arthur before charging up the stairs. Just as he reached the closed door to the master bedroom, a scream filled the air. Coming to a complete stop, he drew in a deep breath and reminded himself she was in labour, not mortal danger.

He opened the door and found Lily on their bed, Madame Pomfrey at her side.

Lily looked up at him and held her hand out. He stepped over to the bed and took her hand in his. Before he could speak, she did. "I'm just a little early, Severus. It's all right, I promise. Poppy says there's nothing wrong, just an eager child."

Severus nodded. It seemed as though an eternity passed, darkness fell and the labour continued. He was sure Lily was going to break his fingers the way she squeezed, but he said nothing. He had expressed concern to Poppy that maybe they should go to the Muggle hospital and she assured him everything was normal. Normal?

Finally a baby's cry announced the arrival of their child. Lily leaned back and they both watched as Poppy cleaned him and checked him over.

Lily was so tired she could not manage to say anything, she just kept her hand on Severus' and finally Poppy turned to them, holding a tiny bundle wrapped in a blue blanket.

"It's a boy. Congratulations, Severus, Lily."

"Sev, you can hold him first."

She watched has her already pale husband seemed to pale further. "I . . . I can't."

"Sev, you've held and cared for Harry. Come on, you'll be fine."

He swallowed hard and let Poppy place the impossibly tiny bundle in his arms. The baby's eyes opened just enough for Sev to see the darkness of his own eyes mirrored in his son's.

"What will you name him?"

Lily looked at Sev. They had talked about a few names. "Sev?"

"Richard, after your father."

"Richard Severus Snape." Lily spoke quietly, smiling at her husband, the look of awe in his eyes as he stared down at the tiny baby in his arms. Severus turned his gaze towards her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I know you don't want to have a 'junior', but I want to have part of your name passed on to our son."

"Thank you." Severus smiled.

A few minutes later, Poppy spoke. "Lily, you need to let him eat."

Lily nodded and took Richard from Sev. She was pleased that her son needed very little encouragement and looked up to see Severus looking on them with complete wonder.

XXXXXX

She woke to the sound of the low rumble of Sev's rich baritone whispering something, opening her eyes she saw him standing on the other side of the room, changing their tiny newborn son. He stopped and looked towards her.

"Mummy's awake." He lifted the child in one arm and walked to the bed, handing the now fussing baby to her.

"Are you going to get Harry today?"

"I thought I would wait and see how your morning is first. Poppy said you would need to rest for a few days."

Lily took Richard and let him eat. She was tired, but she wanted Harry home. "It's still morning?"

"Barely." He answered. Richard had come just after ten o'clock and then sleep had been interrupted at regular intervals.

"He'll want to see his new brother and so will Molly. Let them come on over, I'm not up to more though, anyone else will have to wait."

Sev nodded. "I will floo them. Are you hungry?"

"Starving."

By the time Severus returned with Lily's lunch and Harry and Molly with him, Richard was back to sleep in his cradle. Lily sat up in bed and Harry ran to her, climbing up on the bed.

"Mummy!"

She hugged him back as he wrapped his arms around her neck. He had obviously been told to be careful, he had slowed down once he got on the bed. "Were you good for Mr. & Mrs. Weasley?"

"Yes." He peered over her and down into the cradle. "I's a big brother!"

"Yes, you are. We named him Richard after my father."

"Grandpa Evans."

"Yes."

Lily watched Harry climb off the bed and get on the floor next to the cradle, staring at the baby. Molly came and stood next to her. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired, but all right. Severus has been wonderful." She turned her head to look up at him as he sat the tray down beside her that contained a bowl of soup and a chicken sandwich with some juice to drink.

"Good." Molly smiled. "Now, let's see that little one!"

XXXXXX

Lily was sitting in the back garden with Richard, watching Severus and Harry fly together. Harry had been using his broom, but wanted to go higher and so they were now flying around together under a notice-me-not charm so the Muggles would not see them. Severus landed and put Harry on the ground. They walked over to her.

"I know you have to go back to school soon, but what about those lessons you promised to give me after the baby was born?"

Severus smiled. "Yes, wandless magic." He looked around and saw she had a glass of water on the table next to her. "Where is your wand?"

She pulled it out of the arm holster he had given her and he took it.

"Focus and summon that glass of water."

Lily nodded and took a deep breath, looking at the water. She thought Accio, but nothing happened.

"How did I do it before?"

Severus held out his hand and summoned the glass into his hand, handing it to Lily. Harry clapped and giggled.

"You were fighting for your life, Lily, and to protect your baby and you were pregnant. I learned to use wandless magic out of necessity, and I learned while I was still in school."

"Why?" She spoke, adjusting Richard slightly in the baby-sling she had him in against her chest.

Harry had gone to play with his tricycle.

"It was the only way I could practise magic here, my father would lock my things away. I tried to use it to defend myself, but most of the time I simply was unable to, I do not know why."

She took his hand, pulling him closer. "Because it isn't in you to harm others unless you are helping someone else, yet more evidence you are a good man inside."

He shrugged. "I became a little better at it after Fifth Year, after . . . you know. But it wasn't until after school I really became good at it." He paused. "Try again." Sev set the glass back on the table.

Lily sighed and stared at the glass, she could feel her magic.

"Try saying the incantation."

"Accio water glass."

Nothing. Lily looked at her husband.

"Keep trying. Do not get impatient with yourself, Lily. It requires focusing your magic, it will help with Occlumency later. Remember that what you did was more like uncontrolled accidental magic, you were desperate to protect your child and yourself."

He sat down beside her just as Richard woke. Lily frowned. "Someone needs a fresh nappy!"

She started to stand. Severus got up. "I'll take him. You stay here with Harry."

Lily let him take their tiny son back inside the house. Harry stopped riding and ran over to her, jumping up into her lap and hugging her.

"Mummy?"

"Yes, Harry?" She hugged him back.

"I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. I always will."

"Even with Richard?"

"Yes, Harry. I love you both and so does your daddy. Richard is a baby right now and needs more attention, when he gets bigger you two can play together, but right now I bet we can find something you can help me with, if you want to."

"I help Mummy?" He brightened.

"Yes, you're Richard's big brother! I will tell you what you can do to help me when he's down for his next nap, all right?"

"Yes!"

Severus returned with Richard and Lily took him to feed him.

XXXXXX

Lily laid on the sofa, her back against her husband, his arms around her. Ths house was surprisingly quiet, Harry was in bed and for the moment Richard was even asleep. Sev had only a few days left before he had to go back. An owl tapped at the window. Lily got up and let it in, taking the note.

"It's for you, from the Headmaster."

He rolled his eyes and took the letter. She watched him, he was too still.

"Bloody Hell."

"What?"

"It seems there is a Snape on the rolls at Hogwarts. Naturally, he wants to know if the child is related. I cannot believe I did not think of that."

"You had other things on your mind."

He looked over at her, and he smiled. "Yes. I should go to the school though and attempt to explain. Malfoy will know as well, but he will believe the child to be a bastard."

"What will you tell Dumbledore?"

Severus sighed and returned to his place on the couch, taking her in his arms.

"That the boy on the rolls is my son. I told you I will not deny our children. He may still want Harry, but I am hoping he will not continue to try and take either of you from me, I do not trust him, especially not after he was working with Malfoy."

Lily snuggled deeper into his embrace.

"I will protect you and the boys."

"I know. I need to be working on practicals for my finals with the Ministry. Do you want me to keep the same schedule?"

"Yes, I think we can still do that, you and the boys will be safe in my quarters, I added to the wards on my chambers."

He stroked her hair and she just leaned back against him. "Will You-Know-Who come back?"

"I believe he has a way to come back, I just do not know what exactly, yet."

"Does Dumbledore?"

"If he does, he has not bothered to tell me. He is far more interested in training Harry to fight You-Know-Who. Even if Harry is supposed to have something to do with his final defeat, it would be prudent to know how he plans to return, before he does. Then you could possibly stop his return, or at the very least be prepared for it." Severus spoke quietly, holding Lily close, content to simply feel her in his arms.

XXXXXX

Severus allowed his robes to billow as he marched down the empty corridor. School would begin in exactly one week. He was still irritated with himself for not thinking ahead to the books that would record his child's name at birth. Giving the password, he made his way to the Headmaster's office.

"Severus, good to see you."

The Potions Master crossed his arms and stood in front of Dumbledore who was seated at his desk.

"Your letter indicated you wished to see me."

"Yes! There was a new name on the roll books, a Richard Snape. Any relation?"

Severus inhaled deeply. He had sworn to Lily he would not deny their children. "He is my son."

"The mother?"

He would keep the story consistent, treat Dumbledore like Malfoy. "Of little consequence, the point is that yes, I have a son of my own blood that will be enrolled at Hogwarts when he is of age. I believe you were concerned about my position?" He arched an eyebrow.

"Yes, have you considered how this will affect your position?"

"It will not, Voldemort will be gone for good before I have to be concerned about a son of mine being forced to become a junior Death Eater." Severus answered.

"We are not certain he can come back."

"Yes, he can. I told you what Malfoy said. He has a way to come back, it would be of great benefit to start trying to discover just how and delaying will only make things worse."

"I will look into it. I still do not see how you can possibly keep Harry and Lily safe and maintain your cover as a Death Eater."

"That is none of your concern and I warned you, Albus, leave them alone or lose us all." He turned on his heel, his robes billowing out as he marched from the office.

XXXXXX

Lily was sitting in the back garden with Molly, Sarah and the children. The children played and the women sat in chairs talking and watching. Lily looked up and saw Harry sitting on the ground with Ron, giggling at something.

"What are those two doing?" She stood, leaving Richard with Molly. She got closer and heard Harry talking, but couldn't understand him. That is when she saw the snake between the two boys. The twins had wandered over to watch.

"Look what Harry can do!"

Lily froze for a moment before picking Harry up, despite his protests.

"Mummy! No!"

"Hush, Harry. We need to talk to your dad." Lily saw Molly stand and shook her head. "He's all right, it's . . . I have to call Sev."

She looked at the clock above the mantle and saw he did not have a class and so was probably in his office or quarters. She tried his quarters. He appeared a moment later in the flames.

"Is there something wrong?"

"I really don't know, can you come through, please?"

"Of course."

She stepped back and he came through, Harry grabbed for him and he took him.

"What is it?"

"He was talking to a snake, he can speak Parseltongue."

Severus stared at her for a moment. "Are there any Potter's with that trait?"

"No. They were all Gryffindor's."

She watched him roll his eyes and look at the ceiling for a moment before looking back at her. "Lily, it has nothing to do with what house one is in, if it did then all or most Slytherin's would be able to speak it and the fact is most cannot. Something Dumbledore or Po . . . James told you?"

Lily nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry, Sev. . ."

He put his hand on her arm and shook his head. "No, there is no reason you should have doubted what they said, I suppose, you had no other experience." He looked at Harry.

"It may have something to do with the scar. I am not about to tell Albus just yet, I do not think he is in any danger, I have never detected anything dark from him." He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "I will do some research, speaking to snakes is seen by some as a gift, it is a language, not a curse."

Lily nodded. "All right, thank you. I didn't mean to panic."

Severus frowned at her. "Lily, it is not panic to want to make sure your child is all right, you did not panic. You called someone you knew would be able to help immediately, that is not panic."

Harry wrapped his arms around Sev. "Daddy no go."

"Harry, I must return to work. However, if you are a very good boy for your mum, you can come Friday and stay with me, just us." He knew Harry was having a little trouble adjusting even with the tasks that he and Lily had set for him to help with as very important.

"Just us?" He look from Sev to Lily. Lily nodded.

"Yes."

XXX

A/N: Truthfully, I did not want to post this just yet, I wanted to go a bit further. However, yesterday morning I got a request for a full manuscript from an editor I had sent a query and three chapters to on my other writing So, I need to put this on the "back burner" so to speak while I polish my story up and send it off to her, since I didn't want to leave quite so long with nothing - I decided to go ahead and put this up.

Thanks to all who have read, reviewed, favourited …. I will be back! I just need to pour the energy into my non-ff story for a bit, ok?