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.

To Elendil Snape- although Snape will never admit it, he has grown very dependent upon Sirius to keep himself emotionally stable. No, he wouldn't survive. To CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur- thank you. The biggest compliments are from typically non-slash readers who tell me they like my stories anyway. :-) To Exwhyzed- seems Chimera knows how to push your buttons just as well as Severus's! Most of Chimera's suffering is a produce of her own stubbornness and personality, a characteristic she shares with her son. She loves him, but she is locked into rigid attitudes and thought patterns that prevent her from accepting him. She hurts herself as much as she hurts him. To Mitchell de Quevedo- it's great to hear from you again! Welcome back! Thank you also to Alla 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 #14: Of Course

Severus was sick with worry. The baby was agitated by his anxiety and turned fitfully in his womb. He spent the day attempting to absorb himself in potions manuals and quell his child by speaking to it soothingly- there was no one in the room to think him crazy for talking to his stomach- but succeeded at neither.

Harry visited him after his classes. The boy chatted avidly about schoolwork and asked homework questions, but Severus recognized his cheer as an attempt to take their minds away from the fears they both harbored.

Harry left at eight. Severus waited until ten for Sirius's return, then retired to bed. He spent a restless night ruing the fact that his pregnancy prevented him from imbibing a sleeping draught.

The next morning the baby still had not settled. Severus paced the room and read the same page of Two Hundred Three Non-Fatal Poisons ten times. By noon, he had worked himself into such a state that he could no longer stand the color of the carpet. He left his chamber and- for the first time in months- joined the school population in the Great Hall for lunch.

Chimera was sitting at the head table. He refused to meet her eye and she pointedly ignored him. Everyone glanced anxiously at Dumbledore's empty chair. Severus took a place between McGonagall and Hooch. When the food apparated, he stabbed despondently at his plate, then set down his fork and commenced a staring match with his peas.

"Severus?" McGonagall placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"I-" Severus began. His voice cracked and he bowed his head. "No, Minerva, I am not!"

He would not break down- not here, in front of everyone…

Footsteps rushed across the threshold of the Great Hall. Severus glanced up. A man stood wearing a white robe, the traditional garment the Ministry gave to the pardoned…

Severus stood up. He was so overcome that he did not know what to feel.

"Sirius!" Harry shouted. From the Gryffindor table, he sprung out of his seat and rushed to embrace his godfather.

The rest of the students had little clue as to what was going on, but the jubilance of the Boy-Who-Lived was enough to rally them to their feet, cheering.

Severus slowly circled the head table. Sirius hugged Harry tightly, then approached the Potions Master. He looked at Severus with joy dancing in his eyes, then- without word or warning- kissed him fiercely.

The students roared in amused delight at the startling new development in the Head of Slytherin's love life. Severus did not hear them or their whistles of approval, only Sirius's voice suddenly whispering in his ear.

"Marry me."

"What?"

"Marry me," Sirius repeated. "I promised myself I would ask you on the day I was freed. Marry me."

Severus pulled away to stare into the depths of Sirius's eyes. "I-" he began. He shook his head and then said firmly, "Yes. Did you honestly think I would say no? Yes. Of course, yes."

Sirius kissed him again and all of Hogwarts howled with wild glee.