Chapter 21

Severus slowly surfaced to consciousness, his head lolled forward, his chin pressed to his chest. He tried to move but realised his hands were tied behind his back, his body pressed against a wooden pole. His head was thumping and there was a sticky trail of blood making its way from his temple down the side of his face.

"God, I was beginning to think you'd never wake up."

Severus raised his head and squinted, his vision blurred. There was a chair a few feet in front of him, upon which a figure was perched. He could tell from the voice that it was a woman but she was shrouded in darkness and his sight was compromised anyway.

"Who's there?" he asked, his voice raw.

"Come now, you know who I am," the woman said, and Severus was sure he recognised her voice. He was too fuzzy-headed to think properly but he knew that he knew her; there was something about her posture that was familiar, pulling at his memories.

"I'm not surprised you can't remember," she continued airily. "It's been years since you've given me any thought, if you ever did at all."

"What do you want from me?" Severus asked as he struggled futilely against his bindings.

"I just want to finish the job I started," she crooned, twirling her wand in her hand.

"You're the one who cursed me."

"Attempted to curse you," she corrected. "I was interrupted halfway though. I intended to take you back much further."

"Why? What possible reason could you have for doing that?"

"What reason?" she echoed, her voice dripping with spite. "I wanted to take you back to a time before you had your thoughts bastardised, before you were corrupted by that simple-minded moron you married. I wanted to return to your true self, to the man loyal to our Lord."

"Voldemort's dead – "

"The Dark Lord will never be gone, not truly!" she shrieked. "With all his followers scattered or turncoats there's no one to serve him. If you were in your right mind you would want to do all you could to resurrect him."

"And that was your plan? To wipe my memory and use me as a tool to serve this insane cause?"

"It isn't insane!" she hissed, finally leaning forward into the thin sliver of slight. Her face partially illuminated by the pale moonlight, he was able to recognise her, although she was a shadow of her former self.

The years hadn't been kind to Pansy Parkinson. Her skin was sallow and so thin that it was stretched over her razor-sharp cheekbones. Her eyes were sunken and hollow and her dark black hair hung limply around her grey face.

"Pansy – "

"Ah you recognise me now. I can imagine you haven't given me much thought over the years."

"Pansy I don't – "

"Oh spare me the lies. You forgot about your Slytherins the moment you decided that Potter's arse was more worth your attention than we were."

"I'd turned from Voldemort long before I fell in love with Harry," Severus argued, although he wasn't sure Pansy was capable of rational thinking anymore.

"So much for the Head of Slytherin," she snarled. "You tossed us aside like we were nothing!"

"Not all of you," he countered, feeling his anger rise. "Only the ones for whom there was no hope!"

Pansy let out a manic giggle and stood up. "Well that's me! It's been a long time since I had any hope. I'm resigned to living in this shell," she said, gesturing around her, "stripped of all assets, all social standing, my family name all but obliterated while you play happy families with Potter and your little bastard."

"You leave my son out of this," he growled.

"Don't worry. When I'm done with you you won't even remember his name," she said and panic gripped him. He couldn't lose Harry and Gabe again, he couldn't go back to square one and forget everything he had spent months building up.

"Pansy, listen to me," he said trying to keep his voice level. "When Harry and I killed Voldemort the curse we created bound his soul and obliterated it. There is no way to bring him back."

"Oh Severus," Pansy murmured, her eyes quite mad, "there's always a way. We will bring him back and finally my life will be restored to me."

"Pansy – "

"We really have talked for long enough. It's time we got started," she said, brandishing her wand at him.

"Don't do this. It won't help anything, you won't be able to bring Voldemort back, I promise you."

"That kind of negative attitude really isn't helpful," she sing-songed. "Order will be restored to the wizarding world and the purebloods will take their rightful place. Now, let me see. We need to take you back to 18 I think, when you were last in your right mind."

She advanced on him and Severus fought harder against his restraints, desperately trying to formulate a plan. "Close your eyes," she said sweetly, "and when you wake everything will be better."

"Pansy, no! This is madness."

"It's brilliance! I was always brilliant. I was always – "

A bright flash of light filled the room and Pansy was knocked sideways. People were everywhere and Severus blinked as Harry knelt by his side with a relieved smile.

"How did you – "

"Tracking spells in your wedding ring," Harry answered as he freed Severus' wrists. "We had them woven in years ago. Bet you're glad you put it back on now."

Harry hauled him to his feet and Severus saw that Ron and Draco had Pansy restrained between them while Ginny held her at wand-point.

"We haven't got much time before the aurors arrive and once they have her we'll have no hope of reversing the curse. Sev, come over here," she instructed and Severus complied, Harry close by his side.

"Ginny," Severus said quietly, "this could compromise you greatly. You're risking your career, Merlin knows what else. You don't have to do this."

"Shut up, Sev. Now close your eyes and I'll see you on the other side."

~*~ It had been a mistake to invite Harry to spend time in his quarters, of that Severus was certain. The offer had been made though and it couldn't be retracted now, despite how conflicted it made Severus feel. The trouble was he enjoyed Harry's company, enjoyed spending evening after evening with Harry working quietly alongside him and, Merlin help him, he couldn't stop himself from noticing just how beautiful Harry was.

And therein was the issue. He could have almost reconciled himself to the fact that he found Harry's company pleasant and engaging, people were capable of change after all, but it was almost impossible to bear the fact that he found Harry attractive. The boy was his student, for Merlin's sake, not to mention that, in a right and proper universe, he would never find James Potter's son attractive.

The truth, of course, was that it was harder and harder to continue viewing Harry in such terms. He wasn't just James Potter's son, not anymore, he was Harry, a person Severus appreciated for his own merit and, damn it, a person he liked. The dedication the boy was showing in his training was laudable and Severus had to admit that the power he possessed was astounding.

A fraction of that power now resided within his own body and his hand went to his chest as he thought of it. Harry had shared his power with him, saved his life for that matter, and the notion was bothering Severus in ways he didn't want to examine too closely.

A soft little noise drew his attention and he looked up to see Harry with his head resting on his arm, his eyes closed. One hand still held his quill and he was snoring gently amid his pile of books. Severus shook his head in horror as he realised the swell in his chest was in fact a surge of affection.

He stood up from his desk slowly and moved over to Harry's, pausing a moment before he crouched down beside him. It wasn't enough that he had to find the brat attractive, oh no, he had to have actual feelings for him. Sometimes he missed the old days when all he had to worry about was serving the needs of two demanding maniacs who were willing to sacrifice his life at any given moment.

He reached out and brushed the hair from Harry's forehead, Harry smiling in his sleep as he did so. Against his better judgement, he allowed his fingers to lightly trace Harry's cheekbone, then brush over his jaw. He was beautiful, there was no point in denying it, but Severus knew he was becoming dangerously close to succumbing to his attraction.

He dropped his hand to Harry's shoulder and shook him gently. "Harry," he said softly. "Harry, wake up." Harry's eyes fluttered open slowly and he stretched as he smiled sleepily at Severus. Mortified, Severus realised he found it adorable.

Harry seemed to realise exactly where he was and his eyes widened as he sat up and said, "Oh I'm sorry!" He scrambled up and knocked a couple of books off the table in his haste. "Shit," he cursed, sliding off his chair to pick the books up and smacking his head on the table leg in the process.

Severus couldn't help but laugh as Harry sat with his legs splayed out, his hand pressed to his forehead as he emitted a series of colourful swear words. Harry glared at him and said, "I'm glad you find this so funny."

Severus smirked and said, "I do. The most powerful wizard in centuries knocking himself out on a table leg." He stood up and held his hand out to Harry who took it and let Severus haul him to his feet.

"I'm not very good when I first wake up," Harry groused, rubbing at his forehead.

"Clearly. Here," he said, brushing Harry's hand aside gently, "let me see." There was a small bump and no doubt Harry would have a bruise in the morning. "I think you'll live."

"Very amusing," Harry said, a slight flush creeping over his cheeks. Unable to stop himself, he gently moved his hand from the boy's forehead to rest softly against his cheek. As close as they were to one another Severus could see that there was a very light dusting of freckles across the bridge of Harry's nose and that the outer parts of his irises were flecked with darker shades of green. His lips were full and red and Severus' mouth felt suddenly dry as his fingers itched to trace the all-too-enticing mouth.

Harry's skin was soft beneath his palm and Severus fought the urge to let his fingers slide down the boy's jaw and over the pale column of his throat. He wanted to lower his head and attack the vulnerable flesh, hearing Harry moan with pleasure as his lips created a sensual assault that the boy wouldn't be able to resist. Had he ever had a less appropriate thought in his life?

He cleared his throat, feeling suddenly hot, and lowered his hand, saying, "Perhaps we'd best call it a night. I'm not cruel enough to make you work on a concussion."

Harry chuckled and some of the tension mercifully evaporated. "You're entirely cruel enough, you just want to kick me out of your quarters."

"There are easier ways to do that than encouraging you to knock yourself out," Severus said dryly, and Harry grinned. Of course, he really did need to get Harry out of his quarters; the boy was looking far too enticing with his flushed skin and plump lips and Severus' body was responding entirely too keenly.

"Go on, off you go," he instructed, although part of him wanted to keep Harry in his quarters indefinitely.

Harry smiled and said "Goodnight sir. See you tomorrow, as long as I don't succumb to my injuries in the night."

As Harry disappeared through the floo, the fond smile that worked its way onto Severus' face told him that he was in very serious trouble.

~*~ Severus' neck was stiff and his lower back was aching something terrible. If Voldemort had ever had any sense he'd have given up on the Cruciatus and just used hospital chairs to torture people. Of course, the bastard was dead and gone now so he'd never discover the merits of such torture devices while Severus was relegated to hours of such delights while he kept vigil by Harry's bedside.

He hadn't let himself consider, not for a moment, that Harry wouldn't wake up. He knew that the man would rally, his body just needed time to recover, his magic needed to settle itself back in his system, and Severus would be there for him throughout. He reached out and ran his fingers through Harry's dark locks. "Come back to me, love," he whispered softly.

He wanted to see those green eyes open and look up at him, wanted the man back in his arms where he belonged. He wanted to feel Harry's skin beneath his palms, feel his heart beating against his chest as he kissed him like there was no tomorrow. He needed reassurance that Harry was still flesh and blood, that he'd be able to touch him again the way he so wanted to.

"Severus," came a voice from the doorway, and he looked up to see the headmaster standing there, his hands folded in front of him.

"Albus," Severus said quietly. "Forgive me but I'm in no mood for – "

"I'm only here to enquire after your wellbeing, and Harry's," he said gently as he moved into the room. "How are you?"

"Fine," Severus lied.

"It can't be easy, waiting for the man you love to wake up."

Severus eyed him carefully. Talking with Dumbledore was often akin to performing a dance only your partner had the steps to and it usually left Severus feeling constantly on the backfoot. "I was under the impression that you didn't approve."

Dumbledore sighed and said, "I couldn't approve of a relationship between a teacher and a student, no matter the circumstances. Seeing the two of you, hearing what you said to him before the final battle, I can see how much he means to you."

It was uncomfortable to have his feelings laid bare and scrutinised in such a way and it made Severus feel vulnerable to be so dissected by the headmaster. "It wasn't meant to happen," he said eventually. "I…tried to fight it, although probably not as hard as I should have. Harry showed more restraint than I was capable of."

"You've always been governed by your emotions, Severus," Dumbledore said, although it didn't sound like a criticism. "You feel things deeply and I can see how much you love Harry."

"If only the git would wake up," Severus growled, looking back at his comatose lover.

Dumbledore chuckled and said, "He will, give him time." There was a pause before the man continued, "I'm truly glad you've found someone, Severus. You deserve happiness and I can see that you've found that with Harry. I know you don't require my blessing – "

"It's nice to know I have it all the same," Severus said quietly. Part of him would always want the man's approval, no matter how hard he fought against it.

"I'll make sure you're both shielded from the press and other enquiring eyes. You need time to rest and recover, time to spend just the two of you."

"Thank you, Albus," Severus said and extended his hand. The old man shook it with a fond smile and something eased in Severus' chest a little.

"It'll be fine, Severus. I see a long and happy life ahead for you both."

"We just have to wait for Harry to join us now."

~*~ Severus had never particularly liked weddings but he had certainly enjoyed his own a year prior and Ron and Draco's was proving to be equally bearable. He had been very touched to stand up for Draco as his Best Man and Harry had beamed from ear to ear as he'd stood beside Ron. The grooms hadn't been able to take their eyes off one another all day and Severus watched as the spun around the dancefloor.

"They're good together, aren't they?" Ginny asked as she came to stand beside him.

"They are," he agreed with a smile, watching as Ron dipped Draco and swept him up in a kiss. Truth be told he was incredibly fond of both men and he had grown close to them as the years had passed. He no longer thought of Ron as Harry's friend or Draco as a family acquaintance; they were dear to him and he felt blessed with the life he had created.

"I love how soppy you look these days," Ginny teased, hooking her arm through his and snuggling into his side.

"Do shut up," he drawled. Of course, if anyone were to ask, he'd have to admit that Ginny was his favourite, no contest. She was witty and vivacious and Severus admired her intellect greatly. She had just qualified as a mind healer and Severus had no doubt that she was going to excel.

"I miss the big bad Slytherin. You were so sexy when you terrorised people."

"Am I no longer sexy?" he asked and Ginny giggled. She was rather adorable when she was tipsy.

"Of course you are. Harry certainly thinks so, judging by the looks he's been giving you all day."

"He has a thing for formalwear," Severus said with a smile.

"So do I," Ginny said, leaning up and pecking him on the cheek.

"None of that," Severus chided, "or I'll have a jealous wolf on my hands."

"I can't help it, I have a thing for older men. Bonus if they used to teach me."

"You should probably see someone about that particular predilection."

"Oh Sev, I do so adore you," Ginny laughed, cuddling in closer. She had always been tactile with him, thoroughly unperturbed by his many barriers. It had been strange and bewildering at first but over the years he had grown used to it and welcomed her affections gladly.

"Dance with me," she instructed, and Severus knew there was no point in denying her.

She led him onto the dancefloor and they settled into one another's embrace as they danced a simple waltz. Ginny looked absolutely beautiful in dark green robes, her hair intricately plaited, her make up simple and elegant. If he'd been so inclined he might have been tempted to set his cap at her himself.

"I love seeing you so happy," she said as they moved together. "I love how you became part of our family."

"I am similarly pleased with how my life has turned out. I never imagined surviving the war, let alone thriving."

"And being happily married to Harry Potter," Ginny added with a grin.

"That was certainly never on the cards."

"The best things never are."

"Might I borrow my fiancée for a moment?" asked Lupin as he appeared beside them.

"Reluctantly I shall return her," Severus said, kissing Ginny's hand as Lupin swept her up in his arms.

"A fella could get jealous of you two," came Harry's voice in his ear and he turned around to meet his husband with a kiss that was decidedly not the sort that should be had in public. He gripped him tightly and swept his tongue into his husband's mouth as the familiar thrill went through him when he thought of Harry in such terms.

"Still jealous?" Severus purred as Harry looked up at him with deliciously hazy eyes.

"I'll get over it."

~*~ Harry giggled as they stepped out of the floo in their flat, stumbling as Severus tried to keep them both upright. They were both fuzzy with alcohol, on something of a high after the New Year's Eve party at Ron and Draco's and the last half an hour had been Harry whispering increasingly filthy things in his ear. It had been all Severus could do to hold onto his dignity long enough to get them both home.

"Mm, want you," Harry muttered as he began pulling at Severus' shirt.

"You need to learn to keep your tongue in your head, you insolent brat," Severus whispered as they stumbled through their flat, hands tearing at each other's clothing.

"You fucking love it," Harry purred, his fingers fumbling clumsily with Severus' belt buckle. "You know you do."

Severus growled and wrenched Harry's shirt from his shoulders. "Not when we're in a room full of people, you insatiable git."

"That's what makes it so hot," Harry said with a grin as his hand made its way into Severus' trousers. "Anyway, I was only telling the truth. You do want my arse, you do want to pound me into the middle of next week until I'm screaming your name."

"A day without pounding your arse is a day wasted," Severus said, his voice low as Harry palmed his cock. Frustration getting the better of him, he spelled the rest of their clothes off and grabbed Harry's shoulders firmly as he kissed the man passionately. Their bodies pressed together, hot and firm, their erections lining up as both men moved insistently.

Severus gripped his husband tightly and Harry took the hint, shifting to wrap his legs around Severus' waist, the man supporting him as they continued to kiss fiercely. His prick settled in the cleft of Harry's arse and Harry ground against it with an appreciative moan.

"Close, but no cigar," he whispered impishly.

With no patience to get to the bedroom, Severus dumped Harry on the kitchen table and summoned their lube into his hand. He plundered Harry's mouth as he coated his fingers liberally then pushed two fingers inside the man as he writhed against the intrusion.

"Fuck yes," Harry breathed as Severus moved his lips to the man's throat, moving his fingers in and out of Harry's tight, responsive body. He wanted nothing more than to be buried to the hilt inside him, his prick aching intensely.

"Oh God, Sev. Fuck me, fuck me so hard."

He guided his cock to Harry's entrance and pushed forward forcefully, breaching him in one smooth movement. Harry groaned low in his throat and Severus pulled nearly all the way out and entered him again.

"Oh yes, just like that," Harry whispered, rocking his hips as he grasped Severus' arms.

"Is this what you've been wanting all night, love?" Severus asked, as he thrust hard, enveloping himself in Harry's delicious body.

"Yes, wanted your cock so badly," Harry moaned as he writhed against Severus, his cheeks flushed, his lips full and swollen from Severus' bruising kisses.

"You always want it, you're not happy until I'm deep inside you, fucking you senseless," Severus growled as he continued to move hard and fast inside his husband, the pleasure spreading throughout his groin, mounting with each clench of Harry's muscles.

"Feels so good when you're inside me. Mm, fuck Sev, I love you so much."

"I love you too," Severus breathed, capturing Harry's lips as he slammed into the man again and again. Harry made the most delicious noises against his mouth, tightening his legs around Severus' waist and urging him ever faster and deeper. Pleasure coursed through him, electrifying his nerves and chasing away all thoughts but his husband.

He reached down and wrapped a hand around Harry's weeping cock and pumped it several times before Harry came hard with a gasp of pleasure as his whole body went taut. He gripped Harry's hips and fucked him with abandon until he found his own release, his body shuddering as the pleasure exploded through him.

His muscles relaxed as he tried to catch his breath and Harry stretched beneath him with a self-satisfied smile. The man was about to say something when the table below them let out an ominous creek. Severus went to move them both off it but it groaned once more then collapsed, taking them both down with it.

Surrounded by a pile of shattered wood, Severus looked down at Harry to check he was ok and found the man blinking up at him owlishly. A smile split his face and Harry burst out laughing, Severus joining him as the absurdity of the situation sunk in.

"Happy New Year, my love.

~*~ Severus looked around in wonder, unable to believe it was finally finished. All the planning, the back and forth and it was finally complete. He was standing in his home, his and Harry's home, where they were going to raise Gabe and live as a family. Ron had done them proud and, despite knowing it would be wonderful, Severus hadn't expected it to be this perfect.

His state-of-the-art lab had had him practically salivating and his fingers itched to use it as soon as possible. Harry was similarly enchanted with his art studio and Ron had been delighted when he'd seen his friend's eyes light up with joy. The house was a masterpiece and Severus had fallen completely in love with it.

"It'll obviously look much better when the furniture arrives," Ron said as he and Harry came back into the living room, Gabe balanced on Harry's hip. "It should get here tomorrow but that's Ellie's department," he said, referencing his partner, who dealt with the interior side of things.

"Harry's still insisting we camp out here tonight," Severus said, rolling his eyes as he took his son from Harry's arms before he started to fuss.

"What's up with that?" Ron asked with a grin.

"He's watched too many American films," Severus replied dryly.

"It'll be romantic," Harry protested, and Ron and Severus exchanged fond smiles. "We can sleep on the mattress I've brought," he said, patting his pocket where the shrunken version lay, "and we have all Gabe's stuff."

"You're just like Drake," Ron said with a sigh. "He has all these funny ideas too."

"It's romantic," Harry insisted again.

"Isn't Daddy daft?" Severus asked his son, the one year old giggling happily as Severus kissed his cheek. Harry always said that Severus was the softer of them when it came to Gabe and he was inclined to agree. From the moment his son had first been placed in his arms he had fallen head over heels in love with him.

Fatherhood had come surprisingly naturally to him. He didn't enjoy the sleepless nights or the explosive nappies but those things paled into significance compared to the overwhelming joy his son brought. He had never felt such fierce and all-encompassing love, and the fact that he got to share it all with Harry made it that much sweeter.

"If you don't start appreciating me I'll run off and find someone who does," Harry threatened with a pout.

"Fine, I'm keeping the house," Severus told him with a smirk.

"Hey, if Harry leaves I can move in and we can continue with our torrid affair," Ron said, wiggling his eyebrows with a lascivious leer.

"At long last," Severus said with a dramatic sigh as he reached out and pulled Ron to his side, the man cuddling up to him with a grin.

"You two are idiots" Harry said with a snort.

"You're just jealous," Ron told him, leaning across Gabe to kiss Severus' cheek. "Don't worry, Gabe will come to think of me as his father."

"I carried that kid for nine months, no one else gets to take credit."

Ron chuckled, disentangling himself from Severus and said, "Fair point. So, final verdict? You both like the house?"

"It's perfect, Ron," Harry said with a bright smile. "I could never have imagined anything so wonderful."

"You've truly outdone yourself, it's beautiful," Severus said, and Ron beamed at them both. He'd had great success as an architect, but he'd never had friends as clients before and Severus knew he'd been nervous about the final outcome.

"Well that's good. I don't have to leave the country after all. Drake would have been terribly put out."

"As long as it doesn't fall down around our ears, we'll have no complaints," Severus said dryly.

"Hey, this baby's built to last. It'll be here long after you've gone."

"It's your crowning glory," Harry told him with a smile. "Now bugger off and leave us in peace."

Ron huffed and said to Severus, "And he wonders why I prefer you." He said his goodbyes, an overly dramatic one to Severus involving far too many sloppy wet kisses, and left them in their new home.

Severus couldn't say he understood Harry's insistence to camp out in the empty building but he found it difficult to deny his husband anything. He supposed there was a certain charm to sitting cross-legged on their mattress while they ate takeaway food, Gabe happily ensconced in his playpen surrounded by his favourite toys.

They looked through the portfolio Ellie had provided them with and made their final decisions about where the furniture and furnishings should go. Harry had a better eye for such things than Severus so he was largely content to sit back and agree with whatever his husband suggested.

They settled down to sleep, snuggled up to one another on their makeshift bed. It was a month until Christmas and it was bitterly cold outside, although the house was beautifully warm. Still, Harry took any excuse to wrap himself around Severus' body and Severus rarely complained.

It took him a while to acclimatise himself to sleeping in new places so he dozed on and off and was more than aware when Gabe began to make fussing noises from his travel cot. He extracted himself from Harry, who was snoring gently, and went over to his son, picking him up and settling him on his hip.

"Can't sleep?" he asked the little boy, who snuggled into his shoulder.

"Pa. D'agon," he murmured, pointing to his stuffed dragon in the cot. Severus retrieved it and offered it to his son with a smile, who took it and wedged it under his arm. It had been a present from Draco, smugly declaring that he was Gabe's favourite. It was true, Gabe absolutely adored the man and wouldn't rest until Draco picked him up whenever he was around.

"Do you like your new home, love?" Severus asked his son as he transfigured the playpen into a modest armchair, taking a seat and settling Gabe on his lap.

He had to admit that there was a slight pang in leaving their flat behind. They had had some incredibly happy times there, including the first year of Gabe's life. They needed more space though, a place they could grow together as a family.

"You'll love it here," he told his son. "You'll have your own room and there's plenty of space outside for you to play when you get older."

It felt good to be able to give his son all the things he had never had, to promise him things he had only ever dreamt of. Of course, it wouldn't have mattered if he'd lived in a mansion as a child, he would have still been miserable with his wretched parents and he had vowed that Gabe would never suffer such things.

When he'd first found out that Harry had been expecting their son he'd been concerned. He hadn't felt at all prepared for fatherhood and he'd had a woefully inadequate example in his own father. He worried that he would struggle to bond with their child, that he would be the cool, emotionally-detached parent to Harry's warm and caring one.

Those fears had melted away the first time he held his son and felt such a powerful rush of love it nearly floored him. He had spent that first night wide awake, staring at the tiny bundle that was his son in wonder, watching the small chest rise and fall as he slept. He'd been mesmerised and the overwhelming spell had yet to be broken.

"You're so loved," he whispered to the little boy. "You'll always be safe and protected and your dad and I will always be here for you."

Gabe gabbled happily, stuffing his dragon in his mouth and chewing on the tail. Severus couldn't wait to see the child his son would grow into, couldn't wait to watch him develop into a young man and see what traits he would inherit and what his personality would be like. He was a quiet and content baby and Severus could imagine him becoming a studious and intelligent child.

"Pa, D'agon," Gabe said, offering Severus the toy, presumably to have a chomp as well, if he so fancied.

When Gabe had first called him 'Pa' he'd been happier than he'd been in his whole life. No word had ever sounded so sweet and Harry had teased him that he'd been on cloud nine for weeks after.

"Are you going to try and get some sleep? You'll be grouchy tomorrow if you don't."

"Pa. St'ry," he said as he bounced up and down, which was his way of asking to be read to from one of his many books.

"It's too late for that, you little monkey," Severus said with a laugh.

"As if you won't give him exactly what he wants," came Harry's voice and Severus looked up to see his husband sitting up on the mattress, looking at him with a beautiful smile. "You spoil him rotten."

"Jealous?"

"Terribly," Harry said, coming over to perch on the arm of the chair, stroking Gabe's cheek gently. Severus wrapped his arms around the man's waist and gave him an affectionate squeeze. "I love watching you two together," Harry said with a dreamy smile.

"He is awfully cute," Severus said, smirking down at his son.

"Do you ever stop to think about it?" Harry asked, resting his hand on the nape of Severus' neck and stroking gently.

"Think about what?"

"Us," Harry said softly. "We're married, we made a baby together, we have a whole life what we built. It boggles my mind sometimes that this is where we ended up."

Severus paused for a moment and looked down at the little boy in his lap. His son, his and Harry's son. It wasn't hard to see why Harry felt baffled by things some days. He would never have expected his life to turn out the way it had but he wouldn't change it for anything. He was happier than he'd ever been and Harry and Gabe were his whole world.

"It's a strange existence that fate has delivered into my hands, but it's more precious to me than I can say."

Harry leant down and softly pressed their lips together in a tender and affectionate kiss and Severus had never felt more loved, nor had he felt such utter devotion to his husband and child. He had earnt this happiness and he was damn well going to enjoy it.

In his sleep, his mind recovering from the trauma it had experienced, Severus smiled as his life played out before him and he remembered just how lucky he truly was.

AN: All of you need to apologise to Teddy for thinking so badly of him! Did anyone call that it was Pansy? Well, one more chapter to go and then we're done. I'm updating a day early because it's my father-in-law's funeral tomorrow, so apologies if I don't get around to review responses this week.

I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, please let me know what you thought. Lots of love x