'Please don't say that you care if you don't mean it' Harry, shouted tears rolling down his cheeks

'Harry I do care, I beg you to believe me' Severus implored the hysterical man

'No, every time someone tells me they care, and I am stupid enough to believe them, it all goes to hell and I am the one that's left with nothing but a broken heart that is far beyond repair' Harry sobbed, roughly wiping tears from his eyes

'My sweet Harry, not only do I care for you, but I love you deeply with every fibre of my being, I promise you I speak the truth'

'You can't, you just can't, I have nothing, I am nothing' Harry howled, as he shot past Severus flinging the front door open and disappearing into the night.

The former Professor couldn't understand what had come over Harry, when the final battle had ceased 3 years prior he and Harry struck up a friendship, albeit a tentative one in the beginning, both still raw from the battle, their previous years of animosity and trust issues that stretched the length of the Scottish Highlands. In time those barriers were carefully and slowly deconstructed, trust was built in its place, and the friendship grew.

The attraction between them was visible to anyone who cared to take a closer look; it wasn't long before even Severus couldn't deny that he had fallen in love with the world's hero. On the first anniversary of Voldemort's demise it all changed, Harry became aloof and hostile, avoiding Severus at all costs.

He implored Harry to tell him what had changed, how he could fix whatever the problem was, but Harry remained tight lipped and unbreakable. After week of unanswered letters, Severus went to the flat Harry had lived in, only to find it empty and Harry nowhere in sight.

The potioneer with the help of his godson and his partner, searched the entirety of the United Kingdom for Harry, when they didn't find him there, the search was widened. Severus spoke to all manner of people, including his adopted family, they were wrought with worry and told Severus they would do whatever they could to help.

2 years later, Severus saw Harry in muggle London, where he had been focusing his search of his lost love. Torn between running to him in the middle of downtown London and not wanting to scare him, Severus exercised some of his old spying skills and followed Harry back to his flat.

It was in a run down part of London, not a place Severus ever pictured Harry living, the flat was small and compact, with others stacked on top and below the one he saw the young wizard enter. He couldn't sense any magic, any wards or protection charms to speak of, figuring that he had opted for the muggle way of life.

Over the next few days, Severus observed Harry's coming and going's, he ha taken a job at a small bookshop in a small village. Two of the 5 nights he watched, Severus saw Harry leaving a club of sorts in the early hours of the morning, always with a large overcoat pulled tightly around him. It was on the 5th night that Severus confronted his allusive Harry, and was met with pain, grief and something that he was sure was shame flashing through those beautiful green eyes.

Not prepared to lose him again, Severus left Harry's home and apparated to the first place he could think of, the one place Harry went to that made him feel safe, a place that was truly home.

'How did you know I was here?' Harry asked in a small voice

'You always came here when you needed to think, or get away from it all' Severus answered softly

'Please Severus, just go, I.. c… just please' Harry murmured

'Not until you tell me why you walked out of my almost 3 years ago, and why you ran out on me tonight?' Severus stated, sitting beside Harry on the dampening grass.

'I can't Severus, I couldn't bare having you ashamed of me' Harry whispered

'Harry nothing you could say or do would give me cause to be ashamed of you, never, I love you far too much for that' Severus replied

'You wouldn't love me if you knew' Harry said quietly

'Why don't you let me decide that' Severus said gently

'Severus you deserve better than me, someone who can give a good life, not someone like me that has nothing, who is nothing' he said dryly

'Please Harry, tell me what happened' Severus Implored once more

'They used me, and I was foolish enough to let them' Harry began

'Who?' Severus asked, terrified he knew the answer.

'The Weasleys' Harry croaked. 'You see it was just before the anniversary of the battle, that Ginny told me she was pregnant, I didn't believe her, I knew we'd never slept together, so I ignored it. She kept insisting it was mine, I told her to get a paternity test, prove it was mine, she said she couldn't afford it, I told I would pay and I did. I went with her so she couldn't say it was mine when it wasn't. I nearly died when the healer said it was mine. I didn't know what to do' Harry began to sob so hard he couldn't speak.

'The night before the ball, she told me she'd had a miscarriage; it was my fault for the stress I had put her under. I had no idea what to think. I tried so many times that night to tell you, but Ron and Hermione never left me alone long enough to get a minute alone. It was too much, so the next day I left, I stayed with Andromeda for a while, then went overseas travelled for a while. I got a letter from Andy about a month ago, I was in Italy, and she told me that she had been to see Molly and Arthur at the burrow. Andy had never quite believed Ginny's story, she needed to see things for herself I guess. There was a baby sitting on the living room playing, when Andromeda asked who it belonged to, Molly became nervous, said it was Bill and Fleurs son' Harry paused taking some deep breaths before he continued

'Andy knew something wasn't right, Molly went out of the room to the kitchen, she cast a few spells, over the baby, a glamour had been used to disguise the baby, it looked exactly like me, that's when Andy knew Ginny had lied about losing the baby. She also told me that the burrow looked as though it had had a makeover of sorts inside, she asked Molly about it, and she told Andy it was just from some savings her and Arthur had tucked away. Before I came back I checked my vaults at Gringotts, they were just about empty, I asked them how that could be possible, I haven't touched them in close to 2 years. They said that blood from the Potter line was given as identification, allowing them access'

'Did you go to the Ministry?' Severus asked realising the ridiculousness of the question 'Sorry'

'It's fine Severus, it wouldn't have made any difference if I did, not with Robbards at the helm and his right hand man being a Weasley' he quipped 'I dare say that's how they gained access to my vaults though, with a little help from Percy'

'Merlin Harry I am so sorry' Severus said sadly

'I have been saving enough money from working two jobs so I can at least see my son and fight for custody, Ginny could care less about him, Andy said she was off with the Holyhead Harpies the day she visited Molly, and from what witch Weekly says she travels more often than not without the baby' Harry replied sombrely

'Why didn't you come to me?' Severus asked quietly 'Didn't you trust me?'

'Oh Severus, no of course I trusted you' Harry countered turning to face him ' I was so ashamed that I'd been taken for a fool, lost everything, I couldn't bear you thinking badly of me'

'It's not possible to think badly of you my darling' Severus smiled 'I have to know one thing though?'

'Did I sleep with Ginny?' Harry said wryly

'Yes, you have a son Harry he is of your blood' Severus frowned

'No I didn't Severus, I swear to you I didn't, Andromeda explained some muggle methods of falling pregnant, without having sex, I'm guessing that's what she did. I stayed at the Weasleys after Ron's birthday, the next morning I woke up all sticky, thought it was from the dream I'd had the night before, about you' Harry blushed looking away

Severus tilted his chin so green orbs met black, 'Never be embarrassed about dreaming such things my love, I too have had my fair share of erotic dreams, all starring you'

'She must have made me cum and used my sperm to fall pregnant, probably imperiused a muggle doctor or something' Harry pondered

'What are you going to do about your son?' Severus ventured

'Fight to get him back, save as much money as I can' Harry answered

'I will help with whatever you need Harry' Severus said with sincerity

I ca…

'I will not take no for an answer Mr Potter, I love you with all my heart you are not alone' Severus said firmly. 'We are going to the Ministry first thing in the morning, and presenting our case to Gawain Robbards, with a lawyer in tow' Severus explained

'I can't afford a lawyer Sev' Harry protested 'Robbards won't listen to anything I have to say'

'You leave the lawyer to me, I know someone who can help, as for Robbards I very much doubt he is aware of his assistants activities outside the office' Severus smirked

'Who's the someone?' Harry asked

'Lucius Malfoy' Severus replied 'he knows where all the bodies are buried so to speak, apart from that he happens to be a very talented lawyer he will be more than happy to help you'

'I love you Severus Snape' Harry said with affection 'Thank you'

'I love you Harry Potter' Severus smiled

Gawain Robbards stuttered and stammered as Lucius Malfoy ex Death Eater stood in the Minister for Magic's office stating Harry's case. Percy Weasley had abandoned ship soon as he saw Harry, Severus and Lucius walk into the foyer of the Ministry.

'You have my sincerest apologies Harry' Robbards murmured 'I will personally see to it that you get every last Knut that was stolen back'

'That's not all you will do Minister' Lucius growled 'You will file this claim for custody on Harry's behalf with the family relations department and see to it that Miss Weasley is penalised for in her involvement in this to the fullest extent of the Wizarding Law. It seems Miss Weasley has been partaking in activities unbefitting for a mother of a young child'

'Indeed Mr Malfoy I will see that the claim is filed immediately' Gawain promised.

'Now Harry would like to see his son' Severus chimed in, 'I trust you can make that happen?'

'Right away Mr Snape' Gawain smiled weakly

'We will meet your Aurors at the Burrow' Lucius stated

Harry's son Connor Matthew Potter was returned to him that day at the Burrow, the Wizenagomot issuing a temporary custody order in favour of Harry until the court date. He had just turned a year old; his hair was the colour of Harry's as were his eyes. Connor was a bright and bubbly child, Harry feel in love with him immediately. Severus fell more in love with them both.

Ginerva Weasley didn't put up much of a fight for the baby, it was the money she was more worried about losing. Molly didn't seem all that fussed either. They were ordered to pay back all the money they'd stolen. Ginny had purchased homes all over the country and abroad, the Ministry seized the lot, the Burrow was stripped of all its improvements.

Ginerva and Percy were both charged with theft and the use of an Unforgivable curse, Ginny had the added charges of supplying and selling performance enhancing drugs to her teammates and non-consensual masturbation of Harry. The pair was sentenced to life in Azkaban. Harry and Severus found a new home to begin their lives with Connor, who settled into life with his fathers well. Severus proposed to Harry on Christmas Eve, and adopted Connor in the New Year.

'What are you thinking?' Severus asked Harry one night as they lay in bed together

'That I am finally something, not nothing anymore' Harry replied

'My darling you are everything' Severus whispered kissing his temple