Chapter 14

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related.

Seamus headed for his weekly therapy, grinning like a fool. It had been three months, half-way done with the therapy, since he had seen his best friend again. He no longer saw the run-down, beaten building, but rather the nice, clean, modern building it really was.

He walked in and was greeted by Ruth, who slid up next to him.

"Morning, Seamus. Feeling a bit happy, are we?" She asked, tucking her hair behind her ear. Today she was wearing a red plaid skirt over black leggings and had her famous leather jacket on over a blue tank. She loved to mismatch her wardrobe.

"Yeah. What about you? You're not wearing your combat boots." Seamus pointed out. She grinned.

"No, I'm not. They were Jason's." Jason was her newest boyfriend, they had the same tastes in nearly everything. Ever since she found out Seamus was, for all purposes, gay, he had become her "gay best friend". Her words.

"Ah, he find out?"

She nodded. "Sadly. At least I know what to ask for." She laughed. "Arse kicking combat boots."

Seamus laughed. Together they arrived at Group. They no longer had Andy, who broke his parole and went on a rampage. He managed to harm two people before he was arrested and sent to Kanaban, a prison for underage wizards. As Andy had only been sixteen, he was sent there.

Grace sat in her usual seat, staring at the floor, fidgeting. James and Oliver grinned and waved to Seamus. Oliver signed something to James.

"He says to tell you he retook his NEWTS." James said, proudly. Oliver had dropped out of school when he became deaf.

"Congrats! What did you get?" Ruth asked.

"Nearly O's for every subject. Naturally, he got a D in Potions." James shrugged. Oliver had an unusual aversion to Potions, which made sense to Seamus.

Mr. Thomas walked in, smiling. He had been rather subdued since Andy left, but he was back to normal. He was determined that no more of his clients turned down that road.

They started group, learning a lot about each other. Grace actually willingly spoke up about her mum, who never had enough time with her because she had given birth to triplets recently, and her dad, who was always working to make more money for them. James told about how him and Oliver were very close, how James instantly started learning sign language when Oliver became deaf. Ruth talk a bit about Jason, as a side conversation to lighten the mood. Then, when it turned to Seamus, Grace spoke up again.

"Why did you try to drug Harry Potter?" She asked, swinging her hair away from her eyes to look at him.

"Er. I guess I was obsessed with him. Ever since Sixth year, I thought I loved him, but he was dating someone. So, when he was single, I hoped I had a chance. But I never did. He loved someone else. It took getting caught, nearly arrested, and sent here to realize I never loved him. I nearly cost him true love for my selfish reasons." Seamus hung his head.

"Do you love someone now?" James asked. Seamus thought about it.

He and Dean had been seeing each other for about two months now. Secretly, since they weren't allowed to until Seamus got through his parole. While he could say he liked Dean a lot, he wasn't sure about love.

"I think so." Seamus answered truthfully.

James nodded and Oliver grinned.

After that was up, Seamus and Ruth walked to Dean's office to start individual therapy. They walked in and was greeted by papers everywhere, drawers open, and Dean was kneeling next to the file cabinet. He was rummaging through the papers.

"Damn paper was here a second ago…Where is it!?" Dean was muttering.

"What paper?" Ruth asked.

"Invitation to a baby shower." Dean answered, not looking up.

Seamus noticed a blue paper laying near his foot. He picked it up and read it.

To: Dean Thomas

Come and celebrate with us for a new arrival! Severus Snape and Harry Potter will be hosting a party to welcome the newest addition to their small family in August. If you bring a gift, make sure it is neutral, as they had decided not to learn the gender. You can bring a guest, but please tell me beforehand.

Hope you can make it!

Hermione Granger

Ronald Weasley

(Ron was dragged into this!)

Seamus expected to feel something, regret or something, but he just smiled and held the paper out.

"This?" Dean looked up and froze. He gave a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, I hoped you wouldn't have to see that." Dean said, standing. He waved his wand and all the papers went back to their proper spot.

"It's okay. Really. I thought I would feel something, but all I feel is happiness and excitement for them." Seamus said. He handed the paper to Dean.

"Really? Maybe we're making some progress." Dean scratched his chin and sat down.

Seamus and Ruth also sat down. They began the session today, not noticing how close Ruth was watching them.

*Meanwhile*

Ron grimaced a second time since Harry had rushed to their room and started waving his arms. He had seen the invitation thanks to McGonagall.

You both know I don't like parties! Especially in my name! Harry had written on a piece of paper, throwing it at them. Hermione just kept smiling while Ron shielded himself.

"Harry. Honestly. Tell me you absolutely hate this idea, and so does Severus, and I will cancel the whole thing." Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Harry backed down instantly. He didn't know how he felt about this, but Severus was actually excited about it. He couldn't say no to Severus when he got like this.

He sighed. Fine, but if I look like I'm enjoying it, I'm not. I'm forcing myself too. But he smiled, showing he was joking.

Hermione laughed. "Of course. Now, why don't you want to know the gender?"

Harry had told Pomfrey that he and Severus wanted to keep it a mystery. Because it's more fun, not knowing what it's going to be. Tomorrow, I learn who the father is- His quill trailed off, thinking about it. He started to panic.

"Harry. Breathe. In and out." Hermione got up and took Harry's face in her hands, forcing him to look into her eyes. Harry took a deep breath and nodded.

I'm good. He wrote. He flexed his hand again, it had started hurting when he wrote for long periods of time, as he had a lot to say. Hermione looked thoughtful.

"Here." She tapped the quill and parchment, then Harry's head. "Think of a sentence." She instructed. Harry thought of something, then watched as the quill jotted down what he thought.

This is a sentence.

"Really? Really, Harry?" Ron asked, chuckling. Harry glared at him.

She was pressuring me! Wow, this works. Hey, thanks Hermione!

"It's no big deal. I'm not sure how well that will work though. I just thought of it," she admitted. Harry shrugged his shoulders.

Still cool. I'm sorry for 'shouting' at you.

"No big deal." Ron said.

Harry smiled. Then there was a knock on the door. Hermione answered it, revealing a worried McGonagall.

"Harry, dear. You're needed at the hospital wing. It's Severus. There's been an accident."

*Meanwhile*

Severus shook his head. He hated working with first years. They knew nothing! He set them a simple task, and so far no one was doing it right. He managed to rein his anger in.

"Mr. Sanders, what color is this?" He asked the small Ravenclaw.

"Uh, green?" The boy answered with a question.

"Green. What color was it supposed to be?" Severus asked.

"Blue…"

"Which means?"

"I get a bad grade?"

"Yes." Severus turned and started walking away. The small Ravenclaw gulped and tried fixing his potion. Severus felt, rather than heard, the simmer. Realizing what that sound was, he turned and threw himself at the small boy and his even smaller partner. He felt the cauldron explode behind him, searing his back. He knocked the two Ravenclaws to the ground, the rest of the class had already ducked. Severus couldn't feel anything but the scorching pain as his back got the worst of it. He looked up into the eyes of the boy he protected.

"Get…help…" He managed before passing out cold. His last thought was Harry is going to kill me.

*Meanwhile*

Harry burst into the hospital wing, looking around frantically. He noticed Pomfrey standing besides a figure on a cot. Feeling his stomach roll, he approached the cot timidly.

Severus' back was badly burned, his robes burned off his back. He was unconscious. Harry bit back a sob.

What happened? His quill wrote. Pomfrey looked at him.

"He was teaching first years. Kid tried to fix his potion, next thing the kid knew, Severus was pushing him to the ground as the cauldron exploded. I'm so sorry, Harry." Pomfrey laid a hand on his arm.

Harry tried making his voice work, tried harder than ever to ask the question he was afraid to know the answer too. All that came out was a squeak. He gave up and asked with his mind.

Is he going to die?

"I'm afraid at this point, it's hard to tell. But if he survives this night, no, he will not die." Pomfrey said.

Harry took a seat in the chair next to the cot, reaching out for Severus' hand, which was ice-cold. Pomfrey let them have a moment, ignoring the sentence that wrote itself as Harry thought it.

Come back to me, my love.

Harry drifted off to sleep, wondering where Severus' mind was, and if he was at least not in pain.

*Meanwhile*

Severus groaned and opened his eyes. He was standing in mist. It rolled on the ground, covering his shoes. He looked around. He couldn't tell where he was, but he felt good about it.

"Severus."

He looked around, then saw two people he never thought he'd see again. His own mother, Eileen, and Lily walking towards him. They were both smiling at him. He felt no twinge when he saw Lily, and wondered what it meant.

"It means you're finally over me." Lily answered, grinning wider.

"You-You can read my thoughts?" Severus asked, his eyes widening.

"Yes, it is very easy for us." His mother had reached him and pulled him into a hug.

"B-But you're dead! Am I dead? Is this heaven? Or hell?"

"You're not dead, you're knocked out. And this is a small sliver of heaven. This is where people go when they escape their bodies. Severus, you came here because your body is in a lot of pain." Lily explained.

"We came here to meet you, we've been watching over you." Eileen smiled tearfully as she took in her grown son.

Severus tried not to think about how his life had gone, but he couldn't help flickering to memories he'd rather keep hidden.

"Yes, we know everything." Lily smiled. "Especially about my son." She winked, causing Severus' face to heat up. "And there is someone here to talk to you." Then, James Potter stepped out of the mist.

"Potter." Severus said, backing away slightly. He wasn't afraid, but was a bit nervous as Severus had been sleeping with his son.

"Severus." James grinned at his expression. "Yes, I know about you and Harry. I came to say…I'm sorry. For everything I put you through."

Severus didn't know what to say. Sirius had never actually apologized, but he was acting much more kinder, and now James was apologizing?

"Yes, he's actually apologizing." Eileen smiled.

"Severus, we came to say that we accept your love for one another. We are happy for you and Harry." Lily said. She was holding James' and Eileen's hand. "Now, it's almost time for you to wake up. You will be woken by the best surprise you could ever get. In fact, there are two surprises you will receive. For now…" Lily paused and looked to Eileen.

"…wake up." Eileen smiled.

Severus felt something jerk him from behind and he stumbled backwards, away from his mother and Harry's parents. Back to the real world, where the was indeed two surprises waiting for him.

*Meanwhile*

Harry woke up to Pomfrey's gentle prodding. Sunlight now streamed in from the windows, signaling that it was a new day.

"Harry, do you want to do the test now, or wait?" Pomfrey asked.

Harry looked over to Severus, who was no longer badly burned, but his back was smooth again. His robes were ruined, but he was healing. He thought about his answer. He wanted to prove he could do this, even if it was Lucius'.

Now. Harry wrote, standing up. Pomfrey nodded and led him to a different cot. She made him lay down on another cot.

"Relax, Harry." Pomfrey said, before starting to wave her wand over his body. She did a series of complicated spells, going on for about five minutes. "Now, look." She whirled her wand and red ribbons shot out her wand, twisting to form words.

Maternal father: Harry James Potter.

There was a tense moment before they formed new words.

Paternal father: Severus Tobias Snape.

"Harry! It's Severus' child!" Pomfrey shouted, happy beyond belief. Harry was so happy, his quill couldn't keep up with his thoughts and combusted. Now, Harry had no way to say what he was thinking. He ran over to Severus, grabbed his hand, and tried very hard to speak. Pomfrey watched, amazed, as Harry gave a couple of squeaks before finally speaking.

"Severus, wake up!" Harry shouted for the first time in months.