Chapter 34

The day they arrived back to the UK, Harry went out to do a last-minute holiday check on the apothecary. While the shop was closed for Christmas, Harry wanted to make sure he did not leave any dangerous ingredients or potions simmering behind.

"Sebastian? Come here for a minute," called Severus, patting his lap signaling the boy to climb on him. They were at their sitting room, lounging.

Sebastian sleepily stood from playing with his trains on the floor and walked over to his father. With one train in his hand, the three-year-old managed to climb into Severus' lap without so much trouble.

"Do you think you can keep a secret, little prince?" Severus whispered.

His son nodded solemnly, "What is it, papa?"

"Father Christmas told me you wanted a baby brother," smiled Severus, brushing his fingers over the boy's neatly combed hair.

Sebastian gasped and brought his free hand to cover his mouth in surprise. "He did?"

"Yes, and he wants me to tell you, you must have to wait for a little while until you get your wish," consoled the father. He thought it was stupid of him to let his son expect a baby brother. No matter how potent the potion he made, there was still a possibility that Harry might now conceive. If he does, it's not even 100% sure it would be a boy.

Sebastian merely nodded, as if he knew it already. In fact, he did know it. He already knew he needed to wait a very long time to get his wish. "Will daddy have a baby in his tummy?"

"If your wish is granted, then yes, my love. Daddy will have a baby in his tummy like you were."

The boy's eyes widened at the new information, "I was in daddy?"

Severus nodded before standing up, keeping Sebastian tightly pressed to his chest. It was almost time for his nap and both Severus and Harry were serious in following his schedule. Add to the fact that they just arrived from half-way across the world, Sebastian was set to be tried very soon.

Severus took his son to his room and gently set him down on his small safari cot. The boy started to refuse napping in his bed so Harry added a cot by his play-tent.

Sebastian looked up to his papa with tired eyes, "Papa? Why do I have a daddy and a papa and not a mummy?"

Severus sighed and knelt next to his son, carefully brushing the locks on his forehead. He thought he would have this conversation when Sebastian was older, and Harry was with him, not when the boy was in a sleepy state.

How do you tell your three-year-old son the concept of reproduction, much more for a male to have been pregnant?

"You are a very special little boy, Sebastian. In time, you will understand. But for now, it's time for your nap. We do not want daddy scolding us, do we?"

Sebastian shook his head and finally closed his eyes. Severus gently patted his cheek before standing up to head to the kitchen to begin preparing. Harry wouldn't be back until later, just in time for Christmas dinner.

Severus decided to create their family tradition of sitting down for Christmas dinner, like last year. He called for two house-elves to help him prepare their meal which Severus decided would be Honey-glazed baked ham, prime ribs, roasted baby potatoes, sour cream mashed potatoes, cranberry pie, blueberry cheesecake, Parmesan Brussels sprouts salad, honey-garlic broccoli, and some good old beef wellington. Severus need not to worry about excess food since Harry had already decided to send the rest of the food and then some to Grimmauld Place, now an orphanage managed by the Wizarding Social Services, a department added right after the war.

Two hours into his cooking, Sebastian woke up with a tantrum. Severus had to put all the dishes into stasis while he calms his son. Sebastian sometimes cries when he wakes up from a nap and not finding either of his parents with him. It had been going on for a few weeks already.

Severus entered his son's bedroom and found Sebastian on his cot with fat tears rolling in on his cheek.

"Come here, love," said Severus softly as he dropped one knee on the floor and opened his arms.

Sebastian was engulfed in his papa's arms in a matter of seconds and continued his sobbing on Severus' shoulders.

Both Severus and Harry initially found his behavior troublesome but after a visit from St. Mungo's, they were told Sebastian was probably merely undergoing separation anxiety and will not be permanent as long as they do things right.

"Hush now, my love. Papa's here," cooed Severus softly, bringing his lips to brush against Sebastian's bed-hair.

As usual, the crying began to lessen which then turned to small hiccups. Severus kept rubbing circles across the boy's back in an attempt to soothe him.

"Are you fine, now?" asked Severus gently, making sure not to sound mad of the crying.

Sebastian nodded and buried his face on the crook of Severus' neck. Severus stood up with the boy in his arms and sighed. "Papa needs to finish preparing dinner. How about you go finish your ABC's in the kitchen counter?"

Sebastian lifted his head and smiled at Severus amidst red puffy eyes. The father then summoned the boy's worksheets from his little desk and carried his son back to the kitchen.

He placed Sebastian in his booster seat and set up space for the boy to practice his letters. Severus then went back to preparing their meal, answering some of Sebastian's unusual queries along the way.

"Papa, I finished!" exclaimed Sebastian happily.

Severus bent over to check his son's work nodded in approval, causing the boy to beam.

"Why don't you go play in your room for a little while until daddy comes home?" suggested Severus. While he loved having Sebastian with him in the kitchen, the boy was a scoundrel and kept on eating the blueberries.

Sebastian nodded cheerfully and got off his booster with practice. Severus saw Dippy racing after the boy, already knowing her Master Severus would not want his son playing without supervision.

He then went back to put the pie in the oven. If not for the help of the house-elves, he would never finish preparing dinner on time.

Severus was too occupied cutting the baked ham to thinner slices that he had not noticed his fiancé entering the wonderfully aromatic kitchen.

Harry smiled to himself as he stared at Severus' form. He decided not to distract the man just yet. Harry very much liked how ravishing Severus looked when he was in deep concentration. The man had his hair tied up into a neat man-bun and his pale-pink lips twitching into little smiles every time he slices a good piece of ham that had Harry feeling warm throughout his body. He felt extremely lucky to be soon married to someone like Severus.

Deciding to finally let that man know of his presence, Harry faked a tiny cough that may have started Severus.

Harry moved closer to the scowling man and wrapped his arms around his waist.

"Hello, Sev," greeted Harry, not bothered by the scowl still plastered on his fiancé's face and leaned up to kiss him on his cheek.

It softened Severus a fraction, just enough to lose the scowl. Severus hummed and went back to his task but not before ordering the younger wizard to fetch their son in his playroom.

Harry merely chuckled at Severus' manner of greeting and quickly went upstairs to find his three-year-old.

Severus, with the help of his two house-elves, finished preparing a wonderful Christmas dinner for his family and set it up on their dining table.

Harry and Sebastian came downstairs only a few minutes later, dressed in matching Christmas jumpers, Harry in red while Sebastian in red and green, that had Severus grimace.

His grimace turned to a sneer when Harry happily handed him a green jumper with the exact reindeer design.

"Oh, come on, Sev! Just wear it," said Harry. Sebastian was beside him looking at Severus with curious eyes, probably unbelieving his papa would wear such a thing.

"No," droned Severus, picking the jumper from the back of the chair with his two fingers, getting it away from him as much as possible as if it was a dead animal.

Severus could hear Sebastian's quiet giggles and a soft whisper to his daddy, "Told you papa won't wear that, daddy."

Harry huffed and ruffled the boy's hair, "You're right, champ. Papa's too scary to wear the jumper. Such a shame, we would have looked like a very close and loving family, don't we? With matching jumpers on Christmas eve..."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake! Fine! You win," grumbled Severus, quickly putting on the distasteful jumper with much reluctance. "You really should have let the sorting hat decide, Potter."

Harry grinned at Severus and walked over to kiss him sweetly. Sebastian followed and hugged Severus' legs.

"We look the same, papa!" grinned the boy toothily.

Severus thought that smile alone was definitely worth wearing an atrocious jumper. "We do, my love. That, we do."

Christmas Eve dinner was just as merry as last year had been, though they did have it on Christmas day instead. And as long as they're together, it will always be.

None of the three even noticed their house-elves taking photographs of the family as they enjoy their evening. Perhaps they would be merely surprised when they wake up tomorrow morning with a new addition of a family picture on their mantelpiece and on Severus' desk.

That night, Sebastian slept peacefully between his parents, a rare occurrence in the house, reserved only for Christmas evenings and very bad nightmares, which hardly happen lately anyway.

"Sebastian asked me today why he had you and I instead of a mummy," informed Severus nonchalantly as he ran his fingers through the little boy's hair.

Harry who was just placing the storybook on the nightstand, snapped his head to Severus. "And? What did you say?"

"That he'll understand when he's older. I am unsure how to inform him of his conception, one that will make a three-year-old understand."

Harry sighed, "Yeah, when he's older... Sev? Do you ever think of having more children? I mean, Sebastian will be turning four soon..."

Severus supposed this was a conversation long overdue. He did not want to ruin the surprise yet he also wanted Harry to know he was very much into the idea of having more children. "I do, Harry. I would be amendable to more little ones with you," said Severus softly, bringing his hand to caress Harry's arm across their sleeping son's form at the same time leaning down to press a soft kiss over Sebastian's head.

Harry's eyes filled with light and happiness at Severus' declaration. "Really, Sev? I have brochures of surrogacy agencies in my desk drawer, I'll show you tomorrow!" said Harry excitedly.

"Hush, my love. Be calm," smiled Severus, looking down again to make sure Sebastian had not roused from his sleep. "We'll do it after our bonding, okay? I want to do it right this time."

Harry deflated a little but then brightened once again. They would be getting married in less than a month, and Harry was all too willing to wait. He'll finally get his chance of a bigger family.

Severus was glad Harry had not minded waiting until their bonding day. He knew Harry expected them to have surrogacy but he hoped Harry was really open to carrying their child again. The mere thought of his soon-to-be husband swelling with their child was so arousing that Severus had to steady his breathing so as to not pound on Harry right there where their little Sebastian was between them.

Glancing at the two most important people in his life, Severus could not help but smile as he drifted off to sleep.

"Daddy! Papa! Wake up," whispered Sebastian loudly on their ears.

Both parents were light sleepers caused by the war and were quickly woken up by their son. Harry glanced at the clock on the nightstand and found it was only half-past 4 in the morning.

Harry groaned at having to wake so early but still moved out of bed to get their winter clothes. Severus was an early riser no matter the date so waking up at 4 am was not as taxing as it was for Harry. Severus silently received the child's coat, hat, gloves, and boots, and bundled Sebastian thoroughly. When the boy was properly dressed, Severus went to grab his own clothes only to find Harry already holding his coat up for him.

Severus smiled at Harry in gratitude and leaned down to lock their lips in a deep kiss. After putting on his own coat and shoes, Severus lifted Sebastian to his shoulder and carried him effortlessly to the fountain courtyard.

The sky was a bit different from last year but beautiful all the same. They had a bit of snow this time, reflecting the pinkish hue of the early morning sky. It was colder than usual and Severus moved closer to wrap both his lover and their son in a tight one-arm hug.

With their steaming mugs of hot chocolate (for Sebastian) and coffee (for Harry and Severus), the little family welcomed the rising sun.

Of course, Christmas would not be complete with presents, and Sebastian was one ecstatic child to have received a vast number of them, perhaps even more than last year. This time, he received gifts from the rest of the Hogwarts staff. Sebastian even got something from the muggles they encountered throughout the year, a Dr. Suess book collection from Joseph and Maddy, and a 6-piece wild animal toy set Jim from Sea Life.

Sebastian was definitely thrilled to have also received his first tricycle from Severus, a black and mint-green pedal bike complete with a tiny basket and a water bottle holder. Severus found it when he was browsing through the muggle shops, thinking of possible gifts he could get his son aside from his delayed-Christmas wish. The fact that it would keep the boy on the ground instead of up in the air was an added bonus.

Not that it mattered though, as Harry, ever the Quidditch-fanatic, also bought their son his very own toddler broom. Severus almost sent his lover a scowl but managed to send it as a disapproving look.

Harry merely rolled his eyes and said, "How was I supposed to know what his Christmas wish was?"

Severus grunted and let it be, vowing to keep the broom out of Sebastian's hands at all cost, or at least be there to supervise when he does make use of it.

Naturally, Harry was delighted to have received a vintage snitch from Severus, so much that he launched himself into the man's lap and snogged him fully. Thankfully, their son was busy pedaling across the room and back to notice his parents on the couch.

It did not escalate, much to both's dismay and perhaps for the best as well. The line crosses at groping around their three-year-old.

Severus, like always, was surprised by Harry's thoughtfulness. His future husband had given him a signed first edition copy of The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal, a book written by the great Nicolas Flamel.

"How did you get one of these?" asked Severus in awe.

Harry merely smiled and half-shrugged, "Just the right contacts."

"Thank you, Harry. This is wonderful," smiled Severus before pulling Harry in for a soft kiss on the lips.


Severus had only a week left to wait before he will finally be bonded to the love of his life, something he never thought he would get to experience in his meager life.

In all fairness, Severus did not feel an ounce of anxiety he thought he would be having considering he would be bonding his life to another's, completely offering all of himself up willingly. He once saw every type of bond to be similar to the one he had with the dark lord and then to Albus, a slavery and a duty respectively.

This time, though, he chose to bond himself mind and soul to Harry Potter. Ironically, the same person involved in his last two magical bonds. It was truly an unexpected outcome, come to think of it. No one in their right mind would have guessed Severus Snape and Harry Potter would one day choose to tie themselves for life. No one in their right mind would bet on them getting on very well. Hell, no one in their right mind would even think both were gay to begin with.

But they were and they will. What others may think of their relationship were either of no matter or were all for it. Not that they cared either way. The only people who had a definite say in their relationship and could actually put a stop to the bonding were their Head of Houses but since they were already the heads of their houses with their parents (or Severus' uncle) dead, there really was no point.

Thinking of the dead, Severus imagined whether his mother would have been happy for him. He supposed she would have. After all, all his mum wanted for him was to be happy. Severus suddenly wished his mother was alive and with him on his wedding day.

"I've invited my cousin, Dudley, to the wedding," said Harry casually one evening.

Harry had sent the invitation last minute, opting to send an olive branch to the only blood relative he had left that may still accept him. The last he heard of his cousin was that he joined the military, a decision Harry was surprised with.

"That same cousin who bullied you throughout your childhood?" asked Severus sourly.

"Yes, I'm not trying to defend his actions but he really did change for the better... I think."

"Harry, if he does anything to hurt you..."

Harry held out a hand to stop Severus from continuing his line of thought. "No, he won't hurt me. I'm quite sure of that. I'm more worried for him than of him."

"Why is that?" asked Severus, taking his reading glasses off and closing the book he was reading to focus all his attention on Harry.

"He's not well-versed in the magical world. I am certain he will have a mental breakdown at some point during the wedding."

Severus snorted, thinking a mental breakdown was the least Harry's cousin could suffer. If he had the choice, that Dudley kid would be having a very much awaited discussion regarding his past actions, and perhaps a little help from the Weasley twins.

"Do not worry about that, my love. That whale cousin of yours will be fine," muttered Severus with a slight scowl that made Harry punch his arm lightly.

Severus glared at Harry but without the hate in it, and instead reached out to pull his lover close to his chest.

"I love you," whispered Harry softly.

Severus smiled indulgently, eyes already closed and his arms around Harry's waist as he whispered back to the darkness, "I love you too, with all my heart."


A/N: I was sick for a couple of days but I'm all better now. Anyway, just a Christmas fluff filler! I hope you like it.