Don't Own
Please R&R
YAY I'm finally going to see HP part 2 tomorrow! I was in such a good mood that I decided to finish writing this and post it now, even though I had planned to wait until Sunday. So you're lucky I'm in a Harry Potter mood.
Enjoy!
…
"Avada Kedavra"
"Expelliarmus"
There was a loud bang as the two spells burst from their owners' wands and collided in midair.
Then the elder wand was flying out of Voldemort's hand and his curse rebounded on him. It hit him square in the chest and there was a shriek of outrage before Voldemort was falling down, dead. The elder wand landed beside him with a clatter.
There was a moment of absolute silence as everyone in the room took in the scene. Their faces held their shock.
After a moment though, the whole room broke out into applause, and it filled the Entrance Way as every man, woman and child, who had fought for the Light began to cheer.
Harry looked around the room and his eyes landed on Ron and Hermione.
His two friends smiled brilliantly at him and they began to run towards him.
However, before they could reach him, their attention was pulled away to the wand that lay beside Voldemort. It had begun to vibrate and everyone's attention was drawn to it as they watched in fascination and fear.
Harry took a step back as the wand, of its own accord, rose into the air.
"What's happening?" Harry heard Hermione whisper to Ron from behind him, but if Ron answered her Harry didn't know.
The wand was splintering down the sides and it was shaking uncontrollably.
Suddenly it practically exploded, pieces of the wood shot in every direction. Harry had never seen anything like it. As it exploded tiny, white, glowing balls of light erupted from it and they hovered in the air. They looked to be about the size of ping pong balls, and they floated in a tight group.
Harry was sure as he looked at them that there had to be at least fifty of the glowing balls.
They hovered in the same place, above Voldemort's body, for another minute, and then they began floating in different directions.
Everyone in the room watched them with bewilderment.
The majority of the glowing balls were headed towards the Great Hall, but others were making their way towards the grounds, and farther into the castle.
As at least thirty of the balls breached the Great Hall, the shocked silence was broken by Mrs. Weasley as she shouted "Fred!" in panic. She ran into the Great Hall and most of the crowd followed her.
Kingsley had the sense to stun most of the remaining Death Eaters, who were all just as shocked as everyone else (and made easy targets), before he hurried into the Hall after everybody else.
Harry watched as one of the glowing balls separated itself from the pack and floated over to the closest prone body near the doors, that of a sixth year Hufflepuff. He watched in utter astonishment as the ball floated into her chest and then expanded as a bright light passed through her body.
Her whole body started twitching, and at first Harry feared the worst, but after a moment the girl's eyes flew open and she took in a deep shuddering breath.
Everyone who had watched the spectacle were left stunned.
The girl pushed herself up with her arms and looked around, blinking in confusion. A few of her friends who had been in the crowd, pushed through and ran to her.
Then all around the room people who had been wrongfully killed were waking up as the tiny balls of light floated into their chests.
Harry didn't understand what magic was at hand, but he didn't care as he saw Remus pushing himself up and Tonks doing the same after him. Harry ran to the man and gave him a bear hug, which he returned enthusiastically.
Harry wondered for a second if Remus would be able to remember the moment in the forest when Harry had called the Marauders, as well as his mother, to him before he faced Voldemort. He shook his head and decided it wasn't the right moment to bring it up.
He looked over at the Weasleys who were all crowded around Fred, hugging him with joy; Harry could barely see him in the mass of red heads.
He saw Ron grinning and Hermione standing beside him, wiping away tears of happiness.
Harry felt warmth spread through him as he looked around the Hall and saw all of the happy faces. At all the people who were getting a second chance, and their grateful family and friends.
Thinking about second chances, had Harry thinking of Severus and he felt a longing within him as he thought of being with the man, and his daughter.
Harry gave Tonks a hug and then patted Remus on the back before walking over to Ron and Hermione.
"I have to go back to Shell Cottage, right now" Harry told them once he had hugged both of them and they were standing off to the side, a little ways away from the rest of the Weasleys.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Why?" Hermione said at the same time.
"It's a long story," Harry answered "I just have to go."
"Well we'll come with you and you can tell us on the way" Ron said.
Harry shook his head "You guys should stay here," he gave Ron a meaningful look "with your family."
Ron rolled his eyes "Harry, you are our family."
Hermione nodded her head in agreement.
"Besides," Ron said patting Harry on the back "I'm looking forward to seeing the little squirt too."
Harry laughed "Okay," he said "let's go then."
His friends nodded and began to follow Harry out of the Great Hall, so that they could apparate without being noticed. Hermione took Ron's arm and looked at Harry as they walked "So, this long story would be?"
Harry ran a hand through his hair "Well it starts off with Severus Snape being innocent, and also the father of my child."
Both of his friends gaped at him in shock, and Harry felt a grin spread over his face; they both looked ridiculous.
…
Severus stood outside of Shell Cottage, trying to brace himself for what was about to happen. If he was totally honest, he would have to admit that he was nervous. He knew the reception he was bound to receive, and was worried about meeting his daughter without getting himself killed beforehand.
Severus knew he was a strong wizard, and that he could easily take on Fleur Weasley, especially seeing as Bill Weasley was at the battle, but he didn't want to have to use force. Not when they had obviously taken good care of his daughter, when neither he nor Harry could, and Harry had obviously cared for them.
Not to mention Harry's last wish had been for Lesley to grow up around friends and family, being loved. Severus doubted that would happen in the near future if he just stunned his way in.
But thinking about Harry made his chest tighten and his heart start to break all over again, so Severus pushed those thoughts from his mind and knocked on the door.
He was surprised when long, fiery red hair greeted him as the door opened, and he found himself staring down at the youngest Weasley girl, only a few seconds after he had knocked. He had thought that she would also be at the battle, but he guessed the overprotective Molly Weasley had put a stop to that notion.
The look of shock on her face was almost comical, but then the look turned hard and her wand shot out in a defensive position.
"Snape" she breathed as she glared at him.
Severus could see the hatred in her eyes, and found himself wishing, as he had done the summer before, that his curse that was intended for Rodolphus Lestrange, hadn't hit George Weasley's ear instead.
"Please," Severus said, though he hated the thought of begging "I mean you no harm." Severus held his arms up over his head in a gesture of surrender, leaving his wand in his robe pocket as he did so.
Ginny snorted "Sure…" she said sarcastically, her wand still trained on him, but other than that she seemed to be at a loss for words.
Severus guessed he would feel the same if he had been in her position. A Death Eater showing up at the door, for no apparent reason, when they were supposed to be fighting in the biggest war the Wizarding World had ever seen, was something that he was sure would leave someone speechless.
Severus found himself searching for something to say.
"I have a letter," Severus stated, making sure to keep his hands up, he continued to watch the wand that was pointed at him, "from Harry, for your brother and sister-in-law."
This seemed to be the last thing Ginny had expected him to say because now she looked even more confused than before.
"If you would allow me to give it to her, I'm sure it would explain some of your questions too" Severus tried.
"A letter?" Ginny questioned.
"Yes" Severus confirmed.
"Fleur!" Ginny called, though she didn't take her eyes off of Severus.
Fleur appeared in the doorway and then screamed when she saw Severus "Death Eater!" she yelled pulling out her wand and pointing it at him "What are you doing here? We have nothing that could possibly be of interest to you!"
Now this was more of the reaction Severus had expected.
Before he could answer Ginny piped up "He says he's not here to hurt us, but that he has a letter for you from Harry."
Fleur looked skeptical.
"Where is this letter?" she asked.
"It's in my pocket," Severus answered, looking down "Will you allow me to retrieve it?"
Ginny gave a stiff nod "But slowly, and don't try anything because I won't hesitate to hex you."
"Okay," Severus said and then he slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter. Harry's magical signature was so strong that he got a clear image of the boy's face in his mind when he touched the parchment.
Severus held the letter out to Fleur, who snatched it from him; the image of Harry disappeared from his mind. By the look on Fleur's face a second later, Severus could tell that she must have received the same image.
"It's definitely from Arry" Fleur told Ginny.
"Well then go ahead and read it," Ginny said "I'll watch him" she gestured to Severus.
Fleur nodded quickly and then unrolled the parchment and began to read it.
Severus watched her face as her expression turned to shock, then outrage, and finally to utter disbelief.
When she was done she was shaking her head "But this is impossible," she stated "I don't believe it."
Severus had known she would say that.
"What's impossible?" Ginny asked curiously "What did the letter say?"
"It said that he was the other father of Lesley, and that he didn't murder Dumbledore like we all thought" Fleur said.
Ginny looked shocked.
"The letter is strong with Harry's magical signature, but I still don't believe it." Fleur turned to Severus and asked "How do we know you are not lying? How do we know you didn't force Arry to write that letter?"
"It is impossible to force someone's signature" Severus said, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. He knew the witch must know that.
But Fleur and Ginny still didn't look convinced.
"But I have proof other than that," Severus said and he pointed to the inside pocket of his robes, where Dumbledore's pensive and his memories sat "and if you want you can use Veritaserum on me."
The two women stood silently for a moment. "Fine," Fleur finally said "show us this proof."
"It would be better done inside" Severus said though he doubted they would let him in.
Fleur's features turned cold but then she gave a stiff nod "Do not take your wand off him Ginny."
Ginny nodded and her wand hand gripped tighter.
Severus carefully followed them inside, Fleur led him to the living room and Ginny walked behind him with her want pointed at him. When they stopped Severus slowly reached into his robe pocket and took out the small, stone pensive, he handed it to Fleur "My memories," he explained.
Fleur gave him a look that suggested diving into Severus' memories actually pained her.
"Will you be alright with…him," Fleur said "while I watch his memories?"
Ginny nodded "Yeah, go on."
Fleur took a moment and then placed the pensive on the coffee table in front of them before letting herself be drawn into it.
Ginny stood stiffly in front of Severus "You should sit down" she ordered.
Severus, who had been looking around the room nodded. "Right," he said, he knew it would make her feel just a bit better if he wasn't towering over her, so he sat down without argument.
They waited silently for a long time.
After almost twenty minutes of silence Ginny finally broke it "You came from the battle?" she asked.
"Yes," Severus said after a moment.
"Why didn't Harry come with you, wouldn't this have been easier to explain with him here?" Ginny asked.
Severus felt a painful jolt in his chest and he grimaced "He was unable to come with me…he had something else he had to do."
Ginny looked stricken by his answer "Is he okay?" she asked worriedly.
"I don't know," Severus said, he didn't want to have to be the one to explain to her that Harry would most likely be dead by now.
"What about my…" Ginny began but trailed off when the pensive began to shake and Fleur shot out of it.
The blonde stumbled for a moment and then she looked up at them, tears were rolling down her face and she looked like she was about to break down. "Oh Professor Snape, I had no idea…and Arry, he's…"
"Yes" Severus said looking away from her; he couldn't bear to see her pain.
However she came forward and kneeled down beside him, she took his hand "I'm sorry, it was clear that he truly loved you."
Severus reluctantly let her hold his hand, he had made sure to add his last memory with Harry in Dumbledore's office into the pensive, he didn't like putting such a private moment out there for just anyone to view, but he knew it was necessary in order to gain their trust.
"Wait…" Ginny said "What happened?"
Fleur looked up at her "Oh Ginny, you can lower your wand now, Professor Snape was telling the truth, he is innocent."
"But…" Ginny began, still not lowering her wand "How can that be?"
Ginny's eyes glanced towards the pensive, Snape felt annoyance rise in him but nodded his head towards it "Go on then" he said stiffly.
Ginny bit her lip and slowly lowered her wand, her hand shaking slightly. With one last glance at Snape she walked over to the pensive and let it pull her in.
Fleur was still sniffling, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, her other hand still clutching Severus' and he was becoming uncomfortable.
Severus looked around the little cottage again and the said "Do you think I could possibly see my daughter now?"
Fleur's head shot up and she looked him in the eye "Oh yes…how could I forget, you must be impatient to meet her. She's upstairs sleeping right now, but of course you can go up."
Fleur stood up and gestured for him to follow her, he did so.
…
"Wait," Ron said, slowing down as they approached Shell Cottage "so it was Snape that sent us the doe and the sword?"
"Yes," Harry said impatiently, he could see the lights on in the little Cottage now and felt excitement rise in his chest.
"And then you sent him here with his memories so that he could retrieve Lesley?" Ron continued.
"Yes," Harry repeated "and I'm not sure how Fleur took it with him showing up on her door, so I want to get there quickly."
"Right…right," Ron said quickening his pace "I just still can't believe you were buggering Snape!"
"Ron!" Hermione hissed, as she too ran to keep up.
"Oh come on Hermione, you know you were surprised too" Ron said.
Hermione blushed "Well yes, but obviously Harry and Snape are well matched. Well I'm not too pleased with the fact that you had a relationship with your Professor Harry, I mean that is breaking so many school rules, I'm glad that you had someone that cared about you, other than us."
"Thanks Hermione," Harry said as he reached the front door of Shell Cottage. He raised his hand and knocked. Before he could even lower his fist, the door was pulled open and a baffled Fleur looked out at him.
She gaped at him for a few moments, and then her eyes widened as she gasped out "Arry?"
Harry smiled "Professor Snape wasn't here, by any chance, was he?"
Fleur didn't answer; instead she pulled him into a hug. When she pulled away she was looking at him in disbelief "But you…and You-Know-Who…should be dead" she stuttered.
"Well Voldemort is," Harry said and almost laughed at the look of shock on Fleur's face "but I'm still here, luckily. It's a long story, I'll explain later. Now is Severus here?"
Fleur blinked rapidly before nodding "Yes, he's upstairs, with Lesley."
Harry grinned and felt his heart flutter "Do you think I could?" he looked past her towards the stairs.
"Of course," Fleur said moving out of the way.
"Thanks," Harry said walking past her and then practically ran up the stairs. The door to Lesley's room was wide open and Harry slowly peered into it.
Harry's could see Severus' outline standing beside the crib, by the morning light filtering in through the window above Lesley's crib. Then man seemed stiff and Harry wondered what he was thinking. Harry watched as his back arched a bit and he reached into the crib to run one of his long fingered hands through Lesley's hair, she was still asleep.
Severus seemed almost afraid to touch her and Harry could see that his hand was shaking slightly.
Harry soundlessly stepped into the room and walked up behind Severus. He ran a hand down Severus' back and felt as the man stiffened, his hand quickly withdrawing from the crib. "She's beautiful isn't she?" Harry whispered.
At the sound of his voice Severus whipped around and stared at Harry in astonishment. "Harry…?" he said and his voice cracked.
Harry nodded.
"But…but how?" Severus whispered.
"Apparently since I was willing to give up my own life for everyone the killing curse didn't work on me, it only killed the part of Voldemort's soul that was inside of me. Dumbledore explained it, but it's rather complicated, something to do with love, of course" Harry said with a grin.
Severus just stared at him for a moment before bending down to pull Harry close and kiss him. He didn't care what kind of magic it was; all he cared about was that Harry was standing in front of him now and that he was very much alive.
They broke apart when they heard a slight rustling to from the crib. They both turned to look down.
Lesley had woken up and she was now staring up at them blinkingly. Her little arms moving above her head as she stretched from sleep.
Harry stepped out of Severus' embrace and moved closer to the crib "Hey little one," he whispered as he placed a hand on her tummy.
Lesley gave a wide yawn and Harry chuckled "Are you a sleepy girl?" Lesley smiled up at him and kicked her legs out.
Harry moved to pick her up "Do you want to meet your Daddy?" He cradled her to his chest and then moved towards Severus. The man looked stiff again and he was looking slightly uncomfortable. "I'm sure your Daddy wants to meet you, isn't that right Severus?"
Severus looked down at the sleepy child in Harry's arms. She was rubbing her eyes with her fists as she yawned again. He couldn't believe that she was actually his, that she was a tiny part of him and Harry, of their love together. He had to repeat to himself 'I have a daughter, I have a daughter.'
"Severus?" Harry repeated.
"…Yes" Severus said after a moment and then held out his hands to take his child. She was heavier than he thought she would be and he clutched her closely to his chest. Then he felt this surge of magic in the pit of his stomach and almost gasped at the force of it. "Wow…" he said looking down "what was that?"
"The tingling?" Harry guessed.
"I wouldn't call it a tingling, more like a blast of unearthed magic" Severus said.
Harry laughed "That's her magical core searching out yours. With it she can tell you are her father."
'Right' Severus thought to himself, he did remember reading that somewhere, and how strong a baby's magical bound could be with their biological parents.
Severus was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Lesley squeal. At first he thought he had somehow hurt her but then he realized when he looked down that she was squealing in excitement. She bounced in his arms a bit and reached for his hair.
Harry smiled and moved closer, he could see the tenderness in Severus' eyes when he looked down at their daughter, and it made Harry feel hopeful and giddy.
Severus used the hand that he wasn't holding Lesley with, to place a hand around Harry's waist and pull him closer. "She is beautiful," he stated as they both stared at their daughter. Then Severus placed a kiss on Harry's temple and whispered "Thank you."
Harry smiled and lent into Severus' touch.
…
A/N: I know Ginny wasn't supposed to know about Lesley, but I just figured that she could have overheard her parents talking about her. I mean she was out of school and in hiding, so what else would there be to do other than eavesdrop. Lol.
Also, I know Severus normally wouldn't have been able to find Shell Cottage because of the Fidelius Charm but there was no way I could work around that. So you can come to your own conclusion on how he knew it. I was thinking that Dumbledore might have known before he died, and had told Severus just in case.
And last but not least, I'm thinking that there will be maybe two more chapters to this story, possibly only one but I'm working on making it into two.