Thanks to everyone for all the favourites and reviews. I glad to see people are still reading this.

I have sped things up a bit in this chapter, mainly because I wanted to start on their lives as young adults. So expect to see pregnant Severus making an appearance soon.

Enjoy!

Three years had passed since James and Severus had first gotten together. Having just turned eighteen, Severus was in his final year at Beauxbatons, with James having graduated the previous summer. Much to the surprise of many, the two had remained together as strong as ever. Not that it was a surprise to those that really knew them. They worked too well together; James was laid back enough to keep Severus calm and relaxed, while Severus was serious enough to push James into receiving far better marks than he'd expected to get.

There were those that tried to separate the two; individually they were highly desired for not only their wealth but also their bloodline. While Severus was a halfblood, a fact many were all too eager to conveniently ignore or forget, he was highly intelligent. Not even out of school, he'd already received offers to continue his studies with some of the world's most esteemed scholars and wizards. The perks of being a pureblood, or so people told him. Of course his ability to carry a child was another reason for his popularity amongst the pureblood mothers. Each of them seeking suitable brides or husbands for their sons. In fact it was this ability that allowed these mothers and fathers to ignore the little problem of his lineage.

James too was highly desired. With his good looks, charming personality (until their backs were turned), athletic body and quidditch ability, it wasn't hard to understand why so many fawned over him. Of course he was aware of this. It was hard to ignore when a particularly busty seventh year would plaster herself to his side, batting her eyelashes so frequently he wondered if she had some sort of condition. But James simply took it in stride. From an early age his parents had warned him what would happen as he grew older. Where friends would become enemies and girls would surround him in hopes of securing his wealth for themselves. Gold-digging whores his mother had termed them. It was quite possibly the only time he'd ever heard her swear in his presence.

Now James was no idiot. He knew perfectly well why he was suddenly receiving so much attention. But it made no difference to him. He felt quite proud of himself for what he'd done. Attaching himself to Severus almost as soon as they'd met, securing his love and loyalty and making sure everyone knew the smaller boy was off limits to them. For while his classmates had been busy preparing for their OWLS and whining about their parents, he'd been busy securing his future. And look where it had gotten him. A gorgeous boyfriend that everyone wanted, some of the best NEWT results of his year and soon enough a family to call his own.

While many boys his age may have feared the future and what it held, James was looking forward to it. The war had only gotten worse over the years; people had grown more scared and fearful for what the future would hold. While James was sure he'd come out of it unscathed, he didn't want to risk missing his opportunity to raise a family of his own.

As for Severus, well with Christophe gone he was enjoying school a lot more than he had. Soon after graduating, Christophe had apparently dumped his boyfriend to marry a pureblood girl. Rumour had it they were expecting their first child. Although it seemed there had been doubts as to who the child's father actually was. It seemed the two were just a little too alike.

As for Christophe's ex, according to the rumours (which Severus adamantly denied listening to) he'd inherited quite a large sum from a distant relative. While no one was quite sure how he ended up inheriting it, Severus had a pretty good idea judging by the little thank you note he'd received. Who knew felix felicis could be that lucky. Although to be fair, the clue was in the name.

As for the whole Lucius debacle, as much as Severus had wished it, it hadn't simply gone away on its own. The trial concerning Lucius' attempted murder, not to mention the dark mark he now bore, was naturally one of the most talked about events throughout the boys' sixth year. It had taken months before the trial could even begin, with the Malfoy's doing absolutely everything within their power to delay it as much as possible. In the end thought their efforts were for nought.

As the boys were minors, they were not expected to attend, something Severus was very relieved by. As was his grandfather. Instead their memories of the night were used in evidence, alongside the testimony of Minerva McGonagall who confirmed the Malfoy heir bore the dark mark. Just that little bit of information was enough for the press to go wild. For a solid week it was all anyone could talk about, mainly because it was all the newspapers would report on. As time went on it was still frequently reported in the papers, but as the trial went on, soon all of England was made aware of Lucius' crimes. Attempting to murder the Back heir, attempting to rape the Prince heir and of course attempting to grievously harm the heir to the Potter line. Well no one could say he didn't have ambitions.

During this time, Severus had never been more relieved to reside in France rather than England. It meant he didn't have to read the gossip. He didn't have to listen to some of Lucius' supporters accuse him of being a slut and a tease. Which okay, the last one might have had some truth to it if he was being completely honest. However James and Sirius had seen fit to send him clippings of some of the more scandalous articles. It truly amazed him that in the span of a week, he'd gone from being pregnant and expecting twins and then triplets, to already having born at least three children with Lucius, prior to the attack in which he was pregnant yet again. You'd think he'd remember having so many children, especially with a man who'd made that his primary goal in life. On the plus side he'd never run out parchment to line Archimedes' cage.

Now Severus knew the chances that Lucius would get away with what he did were slim. There were just too many witnesses and too much evidence for the Ministry to justify letting the young man go. But still Severus worried. Severus was well aware that the British government wasn't as powerful as it liked to think. No, its real power came from those that lined its pockets. From families like the Malfoys that had already planned the next three election results in advance. But there was one thing Severus hadn't considered. Not the public outcry, no that he had expected. After all, Lucius had attacked a group of underage boys unable to legally use magic to defend themselves. It was only natural that there'd be some backlash. No what had surprised Severus was the support they'd received. Support from families with even greater wealth and influence that the Malfoy's possessed.

It shouldn't have come as a surprise. Lucius had attacked the heirs of three prominent families, and of course Remus who was happy to remain in the shadows. The last thing he wanted was a bunch of reporters asking questions about his past.

Logically it made sense to Severus that some of the more prominent pureblood families would offer their support. But having grown up around Lucius, he'd come to believe that the Malfoys were untouchable. While he knew that the Prince family was influential in its own right, he'd never really understood just how many allies his grandfather really had. Not to mention those that were loyal to both the Black and Potter lines. The Black family in particular had provided some particularly strong allies. Not surprisingly some of those allies were closely tied with the Malfoy family as well. After all the two families had remained in the same social circles for many years. But when comparing the family heads against each other, well it was like comparing a kitten to a tiger. For all their money and power, nothing assured an ally's loyalty better than fear. And Walburga Black had always been a master of inciting fear in others.

It didn't come as much of a surprise when Lucius' verdict was given. If anything it was a little too lenient. A minimum of ten years in Azkaban, though it was likely that with his lawyers he'd be out sooner. Though Severus supposed he should be glad the man had received as long a sentence as he did. After all he hadn't actually killed anyone. No one could be sure just how close he was to the Dark Lord, so they didn't know if he was a mere grunt in his army or one of his more trusted followers. To the Dark Lord, his respect wasn't merely guaranteed as a result of what family his followers came from, it was always earned. Lucius could only be tried on what was fact, not on what was conjecture. For attempting to murder at least one minor, it guaranteed several years in prison. For attempting to rape another and harm two more, his sentence was increased. And for his association with the Dark Lord, another couple of years were added.

Severus supposed he should be grateful that the man received what he did. He was sure that someone, somewhere within the Ministry, felt it was a fair sentence. But it did little to alleviate his fears at just how quickly those ten years could pass by. He only hoped by then he'd have nothing to fear from the man.

Since the trial and Lucius' subsequent arrest and incarceration, things had become a lot simpler for Severus. Something he had to admit was a great relief. Oh sure he still had people asking him about it, he still had reporters hounding his grandfather for an interview, but on the whole he was happy.

Severus had also become very busy. Having interned at one of Paris' finest wizarding hospitals, as required by the Beauxbatons curriculum, Severus had finally decided on his future career. While the idea of healing did interest him, he found himself more drawn by the research side of things. Creating new spells and potions to help fight against the countless diseases and conditions, that walked through the doors every single day. Of course he couldn't simply apply for a job straight after graduating. It would require a Mastery at the very least, which has grandfather had so helpfully lined up for him.

Then of course there was James. Of course Severus had told James of his plans; it would have only complicated matters if he'd chosen to keep it hidden. Not that it really changed anything. James had recently begun training to become an Auror, something that secretly amazed and terrified Severus at the same time. While Severus' safety would be assured, working behind closed doors with security at every corner, James' wasn't. There was a reason there were always vacancies for Aurors with each graduating class. Every year without fail a handful would fall in the line of duty. But in recent years that number had been increasing. It was to be expected with the war and all, more and more were turning to aid the Dark Lord. But it didn't make it any easier for those involved. Families had to be informed, funerals had to be held and with every death the country's morale would weaken just that little bit more.

It didn't stop James of course. Nor Sirius for that matter although his mother damn near killed him when she'd learned of it. It was only thanks to Regulus' intervention that his brother remained intact, with all his limbs attached. Though he had received a right walloping for it when he'd returned from school.

As for Remus and Peter, well Remus had never expected to have much of a life outside of Hogwarts. As he was a werewolf, his options had been limited from the start. For a long time he'd seriously considered hiding in the muggle world, hoping he'd be lucky enough to avoid the worst of the war. Naturally Sirius wasn't having any of it. James too for that matter.

Much to everyone's surprise, much like with James and Severus, Remus and Sirius were still together. Sirius' mother of course had been firmly against their relationship. She refused to allow her eldest son to settle with what she referred to as a mangy mongrel. At least until the boys' marks came in. Upon learning that Remus' marks were among the highest in his year, and that he'd been tutoring Sirius whose marks almost rivalled his own, she'd come to tolerate his presence. Just barely. The boy himself, she had no great problem with. He needed a haircut yes and he desperately needed new clothes, but he wasn't a hopeless case. Not like those poor unfortunate sods Crabbe and Goyle. But she couldn't bring herself to look past the monster he harboured within himself. While Remus was a shy and kind lad, the monster within him wasn't. Not even close. And Walburga had already come close to losing her son once. She didn't want to risk losing him again to the bite.

It seemed however that Walburga was willing to divert her attentions to Regulus. Ensuring that a good match was made for him, with a lovely pureblood girl of her own choosing. However she couldn't break herself of the habit of watching the moon's cycle like a hawk. Demanding Sirius come visit her whenever the full moon approached. At least then she could be sure he'd be safe.

So with his mother's (almost) blessing, Sirius had demanded Remus live with him, in his own little apartment in the heart of London. Try as he might (and he did try), Remus could think of no way to get out of it. And so the two ended up living together soon after graduation.

As for Peter, he had surprised many by choosing to study for his Mastery in transfiguration. While many thought it was an odd choice for the boy, the Marauders (and Severus) knew that his animagus ability proved he was more than capable. After graduating Peter returned home, saving up until he too could join his friends and move out. Into Remus and Sirius' apartment building no less. It certainly made things easier by any means. Whenever Sirius' mother demanded he visit, Peter was around to keep an eye on Remus. Helping to transport him to a safe house where he was free to transform ad give into the wolf.

James too had his own place. But instead of an apartment, his parents had bought him his own little house in one of the nicer districts of London. A place to raise a family, he often thought to himself. Of course with Severus still in his final year, James didn't expect him to move in until the end of the year.

At least he hoped.

With everything that had happened, James knew that he would have to fight to get Severus to live with him. It wasn't he himself that was the problem, but rather where he'd chosen to live. Severus hadn't returned to London since that fateful day all those years ago. So it was understandable that he was reluctant to move away from the safety of his grandfather's home. Of course James had the Potter manor to fall back on, but the last thing he wanted was he and his boyfriend to live with his parents. And James wouldn't inherit the manor until their deaths.

Of course James had been willing to move to France for Severus' sake. But there were virtually no vacancies within the French Ministry's Auror department. The school systems in both France and England were ever so slightly different; meaning the deadline for most job applications had already passed by the time James had graduated. So James had decided to remain in England, at least there he could be guaranteed an income. He refused to do as some of his classmates had chosen to do, living off their parents money for as long as they were able.

So instead James began to save. Joining the Auror training programme wasn't particularly well paid at first, but with his parents paying most of his bills, James was able to do what he'd wanted to do for years now. He began saving for their future family. Of course James was willing to wait a few months at least for Severus to finish his final year. For what may have been the first time in his life, he'd been forced to research a number of contraceptive charms and potions. Severus was adamant he wouldn't get pregnant while still in school. Even though the image of the smaller boy in his school uniform with a swollen belly, made James all kinds of happy. Thankfully James had enough sense to realise Severus might not share that particular fantasy. Although it sure didn't stop him from thinking about it.

Severus meanwhile was determined to finish his last year of school with stellar results. His career depended on it. He outright refused to become what society had expected him to become right from the start; a housewife (or husband) whose only job was to have babies and dote on his husband. There would be no doting of any kind as far as he was concerned. If he was the one getting knocked up, then he was damn sure he'd be the one getting doted on. He refused to have it any other way.

"Well we did it, we're finally free". Mathieu cheered, taking a swig of the bottle of firewhisky he'd smuggled in.

"You are maybe, I've got my mastery after this, remember?" Severus smirked, grabbing the bottle and taking a swig for himself.

"Oi, are you sure you should be drinking that? You're not supposed to drink when you're pregnant" one of their classmates said, before grabbing the bottle out of Severus' hands.

"I'm not pregnant you dick! Give me that!" Severus scowled.

Severus watched as one of his classmates stumbled over towards the stairs, laughing as the boy tripped on the very first one. The other boys were already in a similar state.

"Yeah but you're gonna be soon enough yeah? I know that boyfriend of yours can't wait to have kids". Another teased, stumbling as he tried to avoid the cushion that was thrown at his head.

"Oh yeah? Who told you that?" Severus reached for another drink.

As if on cue the group of lads all pointed at Mathieu, before a barrage of cushions were tossed in his general direction. Each missing spectacularly, and in one case almost landing in the fireplace.

Too drunk to care, Mathieu just laughed. "Well it's true. Besides we all know you'd have cute kids and I want to be an uncle already damn it". Mathieu hiccupped.

As much as Severus wanted to deny it, he had to admit it was true. "Yeah, they would be cute". He reached for the bottle once more.

He was bound to regret it later, tomorrow they were all leaving for home for the last time. And travelling with a hangover was bound to be a nightmare. But Severus couldn't bring himself to care.

He'd done it, he'd graduated. Now he was about to start the next chapter in his life and he just couldn't wait. And he'd be doing it with the man he loved. Not that he'd admit it out loud of course. He didn't want the lads thinking he couldn't handle his drink. Although it was clear a few of them clearly couldn't.

Luckily for Severus, he'd planned ahead. Waiting for him, once everyone was asleep, would be a freshly prepared hangover potion. Well he had made it himself after all. It was only fair that he got to be the one drinking it. Besides, he wasn't the one who'd snuck in that bottle of firewhisky.

Obviously I have sped this chapter up considerably, however I personally like this chapter better compared to the last one.

As always please review. I'm on holiday this week so I may be able to update earlier than usual. And for those reading Breaking the Mold, I'll be updating over the next couple of days.

KB