Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Shorter chapter as we come close to the end of the story. Hope you enjoy!
Lily smiled at him and although transparent, looking as young and beautiful as she had in life.
"Lily?" Severus tightened his hold on Harry, and looked at Narcissa. "Do you see her too?"
"Yes," Narcissa said, her eyes wide.
"Sev, I wanted to thank you," Lily said softly. "Your friendship meant a lot to me. And thank you for saving Harry from my sister, for loving him as your own. For giving him a loving family," Her emerald eyes went to Narcissa and she smiled. Her eyes then moved to Draco and Remus and then to Sirius and Dumbledore. "Thank you all." And then she was gone.
"Was that really her?" Sirius asked in a choked voice, shocked at seeing his friend.
"I believe it was," Dumbledore said thickly.
Severus closed his eyes and dropped his head, his arms still holding his son.
"Daddy?"
Eyes shooting open, Severus stared down at his boy. "Harry?" He gasped. With a laugh, he pulled Harry up. "You're alive!" He hugged him.
Harry hugged him back. "I'm okay, Dad." He assured him.
"Oh, Harry," Narcissa squealed, pulling him from Severus so that she could hug him. "We thought we lost you!"
"Pup, you're okay!" Sirius crowed, a grin spreading across his face.
Remus was laughing in relief and Draco crawled over to Harry, throwing his arms around his brother. "You're alive!" Draco sobbed onto Harry's shoulder.
Severus couldn't believe it, his son was alive. Shocked eyes went to Dumbledore, who was beaming. "Albus? How?"
"Didn't you know, my boy?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled madly. "Love is the greatest magic of all."
HP
"Severus Snape, the boy is fine," Poppy huffed as she watched him cast his own diagnostic on Harry. "I have checked him over three times already!"
"I am just making sure," Severus said defensively as he confirmed that his son was okay.
"I can not imagine what you have been through," Poppy said gently. She had been given the full story when Severus had carried Harry into the infirmary. "But Harry is just fine." She turned to her other patient. "Did you want a calming draught, Narcissa? You show no after effects of being hit with the Cruciatus Curse but -"
"No, I'm fine," Narcissa assured her. She smiled at Harry and then at Draco, who was snuggled up to his brothers side. "We are all just fine." Even Dobby was all right, although he had been very upset that he hadn't been able to stop them from being taken.
"How did you find us, Severus?" Narcissa asked.
Severus cleared his throat. "I had placed a tracking spell on the three of you," he admitted.
Narcissa stared at him for a moment. "That was...a brilliant idea. I should have thought of it," she said with a light laugh.
"Lucius Malfoy alive," Poppy shook her head. "I can not believe it."
"At least now he is in Azkaban where he belongs," Severus said in a dark voice. "The same with Bellatrix. And Dorian Nott." He spat out the last name of the man who had cast the killing curse.
"Hopefully Bellatrix doesn't manage to get out again," Narcissa said with a scowl.
"She had help, the last time," Dumbledore said as he entered the infirmary. "She, Lucius and Dorian were questioned before being put into Azkaban." He smiled at the boys and pulled up a chair to sit on. He smiled brightly at them. "How are you two doing?"
"We're fine," Draco spoke up. He held Harry's hand tightly. He had never felt such grief, such sadness and loss than when he thought Harry was dead. He was afraid it would turn out to be a dream or something, that his brother was okay. He never wanted to experience that fear again.
"Wonderful." Dumbledore said warmly. "Now, as to who attacked Harry before Christmas. It was Stuart Campos, a seventh year Slytherin. He also was the one who lured the Dementors to him. His father, Malo Campos, had been helping Lucius. Malo had told his son to do what he could to hurt Harry, but not kill him. Theo Nott and Pansy Parkinson had the same orders."
Severus clenched his fists. "I see."
"I should have known," Draco muttered, remembering how Theo and Pansy had tried to turn him against Harry.
"Naturally, Stuart was taken into custody as well and Theo and Pansy's mothers have taken their children out of Hogwarts." Dumbledore continued. "They will not be returning."
"Good," Narcissa said in relief.
"As to who helped Bellatrix escape, apparently it was a ministry worker named Delores Umbridge. She had hoped to impress Lucius and expecting him to take over the wizarding world, was his inside source. She has been put in Azkaban as she was also the one who killed Quirrell before he could be questioned."
"Merlin," Severus shook his head.
"At least we will all be safe now," Narcissa said, taking Severus's hand.
"Yes," Dumbledore smiled. "Lucius had still hoped to take over where Voldemort had left off. Now that will never happen. He will spend his days rotting in Azkaban."
"I still can't believe he was alive this whole time," Narcissa shook her head. "I never wanted Draco to have to see him again. And Harry..." she smiled at Harry and Draco fondly. "Both boys were so brave, Severus. They stood up to Lucius, I couldn't believe it."
"Sounds like our sons," Severus said, ruffling Draco's hair and then Harry's. The boys protested and laughing, Severus backed away and turned to Dumbledore. "Merlin, when I thought Harry was gone..." he said quietly. He never wanted to experience anything like that again. The pain had been a million times worse than the Cruciatus Curse.
"A horrible moment," Dumbledore agreed softly.
"I'm afraid to sleep," Severus admitted. "I'm afraid I'll see his lifeless body in my nightmares."
"He's alive," Narcissa said firmly. "He's alive and well."
HP
That night, Severus tucked Harry in. He knew he had been hovering over Harry all evening but he couldn't help it. He wanted to keep his son in his sights after experiencing losing him.
"Dad, I can't move at all," Harry whined with a laugh. He struggled to get his arms above the covers.
"Sorry," Severus smirked.
"Can I tell you something?" Harry asked a little anxiously.
"You can tell me anything," Severus said seriously. "Always."
"I saw my parents!" Harry shared excitedly. "Before, when that man cast that killing curse. I got to talk to them!"
"You did?" Severus sat on Harry's bed, staring at him. He swallowed. "Would you like to tell me about it?"
Harry nodded eagerly. "They both hugged me and told me they were proud of me." He beamed. "Dad said how grateful he was that I had you!"
"He did?" Severus said weakly.
"Uh huh," Harry nodded. "And mum said she was so happy that you and Narcissa were getting married. And that Draco was my brother now. They told me to have a good life and that they would always love me."
"Of course they will," Severus pulled Harry up and hugged him.
Harry laughed. "Dad, you just undid all the tucking in you did," he teased, throwing his arms around his dad's neck.
"I'll just have to do it again," Severus said, kissing the top of Harry's head. "I love you, Harry."
"I love you too, Dad."
HP
Word got around about what had happened and when Ron and Hermione returned to Hogwarts from their Christmas vacation, they had both hugged Harry and Draco fiercely. Hermione had had tears in her eyes and Ron had been as serious as Harry had ever seen him. It had been the talk of the school for weeks and both Draco and Harry were grateful when the talk finally died down. The rest of the school year passed without any incidents and both boys were excited when it was finally summer.
Severus and Narcissa married in front of all their friends and it was a beautiful day, filled with joy and laughs and happiness. Harry and Draco were thrilled to finally be a true family and were even more excited that while their parents went on their Honeymoon, they got to stay with Sirius. Remus had promised to drop in every day to visit with them, although Harry had joked that it was probably to keep an eye on Sirius. Sirius had agreed that that was probably true.
When Severus and Narcissa returned from their Honeymoon, the four of them moved into their new home. The summer was filled with fun and love and right before starting their second year, Harry and Draco were told that they were going to be big brothers. The boys were ecstatic, going back and forth on if they wanted a little sister or little brother. They decided it didn't matter, all that mattered was that they would be the best big brothers their sibling could ever have. Life was good and sometimes Harry could only marvel at how much his life had changed for the better since being rescued from the Dursley's when he was five years old. He had everything he could ever want, friends and family who loved him. And when his little sister was born, all he could think was how the love of a family made life truly beautiful.
TBC: A Short Epilogue Coming Next!