LP HP: Second Dose- A Story in Twenty-Eight Snippets

by Tavalya Ra

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J. K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Rowling is a goddess; may she have mercy on my soul for writing this.

Author's Notes: Thank you to Mawkish for putting me up to the challenge of writing this and to everyone who read and commented upon the story in April- especially Skip, who never failed to make me laugh.

This snippet would have been posted much sooner if not for the fact that Fanfiction.net would not allow me to upload documents for several days.

To manic- I hope not; Snape would never let his child live it down. To Exwhyzed- you are sadistic! ::grins:: To Alla- thanks for your congratulations. I think that there's canon proof behind Severus's and Sirius's Houses (but don't quote me on that), however, I want Severus to be a Slytherin. It's my House! To Melissa Jooty- fanon typically puts Snape in a Death Eater family, so I felt inclined to try the opposite. Thank goodness Sirius didn't know when they were schoolboys- he would have tortured Severus unmercifully. To risi- hehehe. Yes, she does. The whereabouts of Severus's father are explained in this snippet. To Alicorn- there must be a Sirius MPreg out there somewhere… let me know if you find it. Thank you also to Elendil Snape for reviewing.

If anyone wishes to archive this story on his or her site, please contact me at clearbluedelphia@yahoo.com.

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Snippet #10: Being Here

"Godric?" Sirius gasped between fits of laughter. "Your middle name is Godric? As in Godric Gryffindor?"

"Sirius, shut up!" Severus snapped irately, flopping onto the bed.

"But Godric!" he sputtered, still chortling.

Severus snatched up a pillow and smacked him, then threw the cushion on the floor and curled up into a despondent ball.

"Just leave me alone."

Sirius inhaled deeply to calm himself and lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry. I understand why that would be touchy for you… I can't believe her comment about the Mark. That was really horrible of her."

He laid down beside Severus and wrapped his arm around him.

"She never liked me from the start," Severus said. "She wanted a girl. And she was upset that I inherited my father's nose."

"I like your nose," he said, tapping the tip of it affectionately.

"Most of mother's family are Gryffindors. My father's relatives are Ravenclaws. When I was Sorted into Slytherin…" He shook his head. "Understand, I love my House, Sirius, but I'm surprised she didn't send a Howler."

By now, Severus had uncurled, allowing Sirius to draw him close.

"She thought that Potions was a fluffy course, my career choice absurd… and when I made the mistake of telling her I was homosexual…" he shuddered. "Her reaction wasn't pretty. She made it painfully clear that I was neglecting my filial duties by denying her grandchildren- but after that display in the hall, I see that grandchildren only count if I father them," he fumed.

"But that's not what caused the rift between you," Sirius prodded.

Severus was quiet for a moment. "I never told her I was a Death Eater, Sirius. But I often warned her not to go certain places if I knew there would be an attack. She pieced the truth together herself. She disowned me. She told me very clearly that if I ever contacted her again, she would turned me over to the Ministry of Magic." His voice suddenly cracked. "I don't blame her for that. I'm more disgusted with myself than I can begin to tell you for that time in my life. I can't blame her, especially considering my father…"

"What about your father?"

"He was an Auror," Severus explained.

"'Was'?" Sirius repeated.

"He was murdered when I was fourteen."

"It… He wasn't killed in connection to Voldemort, was he?" asked Sirius.

"No." Severus hesitated a moment before answering, "His throat was ripped out by a werewolf."

Sirius went rigid. He suddenly felt sick.

"Oh my God," he uttered. "Oh my God. Severus… I… Oh my God, and I pulled that stupid prank…"

Severus's body tensed and he seemed to shy away from Sirius's hold.

"I don't want to talk about the Shrieking Shack. It's over and done and I do not want to talk about it."

"No wonder you hated me."

"I hated you before then."

Sirius tried to tighten his embrace, but Severus resisted.

"But you don't hate me now?" he questioned, suddenly feeling insecure.

"How can you ask something like that?" Severus demanded sharply. "If I hated you, would I tell you any of this? Would I be carrying your baby? Would there have even been an opportunity for you to impregnate me? Because I certainly wouldn't have brewed a potion like that just for your entertainment!"

Some of his frustration was spent in the last retort. He relaxed, allowing Sirius to snuggle him closer.

"I love you," Sirius said, stroking Severus's hair- which was much less greasy thanks to his lack of exposure to potion fumes. He enjoyed the intimacy of Severus's pregnant belly pressed against him.

"Thank you, Sirius," Severus murmured, resting his cheek on the Animagus's shoulder.

"For what?" Sirius asked.

"I don't know. Being here."