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 FanFreak- thanks, but I don't trust myself to write the scene, although I have tried. Muggle lover is probably the correct term. I like your analysis of Chimera; it makes a lot of sense, especially as I "created" her character based upon Severus. To chris- wow, another international reader! Thank you! :-) Thank you also to risi and Exwhyzed 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 #18: Fate Can Be Kind

Severus was nine months pregnant and his ankles felt every pound of the baby and her support system as he waddled down the red carpet running across the Quidditch field, hand in hand with Sirius. Their robes- Sirius's blue and Severus's purple - were identical in style, featuring flared sleeves and a cape attached at the shoulder by epaulets, but Severus's lacked a waistband and had been greatly adjusted to accommodate his girth. Remus and Harry, their respective best men, wore black. Their "small wedding" had become Dumbledore's excuse to host a celebration for the entire school. The faculty and all of the students stood witness to the ceremony that proclaimed them Mr. and Mr. Black-Snape.

After the exchange of vows, the school shuffled into the Great Hall, where a banquet and a small orchestra of dwarves waited for the festivities to commence. Dumbledore, the grooms, and the rest of the wedding party sat at the head table; the other faculty scattered themselves among the houses. Grape juice- for the sake of the students and for Severus- was served instead of wine.

Dumbledore raised his goblet and announced, "Before we begin, I believe there are some of us who would like to toast the happy couple. Remus?"

Remus stood up amid the polite clapping and began jovially, "Well, I must say, this is the first- and very likely last- wedding I've been to where there was no bride and the groom was pregnant."

Nervous laughter rippled through the hall. Severus snarled.

"Severus," he continued, "Sirius told me that as his best man, I'm obligated to make a joke. Therefore, I think you should know that he wrote my entire speech."

"Oh, thanks a lot, Moony!" Sirius exclaimed.

Even Severus had to laugh at that.

"This wedding is one of the most bizarre events I have ever attended," he said, "and also one of the most beautiful. I am honored to be a part of it."

Severus and Sirius nodded in grateful acknowledgement of his words and the guests applauded. As Remus sat down, Harry stood up. The boy was shaking.

"I… uh…" Harry took a breath and swallowed. "Uh… Yes, I'm a Gryffindor," he said.

The Slytherins shouted, "You bet you are!" but their quip was clearly playful.

Harry began again, still nervous but a bit more confidant, "Most people know that Professor Snape and I didn't really like each other at first. We… we sort of got off on the wrong foot. But, I'll never ever forget that monkshood is the same as aconite or wolfsbane and that bezoar is in the stomach of a goat."

Severus snorted into his hand. "Oh, God," he muttered to Sirius. "If I was him, I would have done my best to forget that incident."

"Sirius," Harry said. His voice suddenly cracked. "Sirius, you've been a father to me. I think my dad knew that you would when he picked you to be my godfather. You're my family."

Sirius blinked and rubbed his eye. He had become as taunt as Harry with emotion.

"Severus, you've made Sirius very happy," Harry continued. "And you've done more for me than I or anyone else here will probably ever really know. You're my family now, too. And I love you."

Harry sat down very quickly and stared at his plate, his face rapidly becoming red.

It was several minutes before anyone spoke. Finally, Dumbledore stood up again and declared, "I have one last toast."

He recounted, "I remember when two rebellious, willful third-years were brought to my office for their masterful display of hexing during the Halloween feast. I believe the event occurred on top of the Slytherin table and involved several pumpkins exploding, as well as a food fight. So, you can imagine the state in which these two were presented to me."

The laughter of the crowd was not as hearty as it might have been had the story not followed Harry's speech.

"This is a union of equals. To place either of these gentlemen with another would be to create something hopelessly inadequate. It would be to mock true love. They compliment each other. They understand each other better than any other person possibly could. They are soul mates. They are proof that there is goodness in the world, that fate can be kind, and that light can be drawn from the darkest shadow.

"Severus, Sirius. May you enjoy the happiness you so richly deserve."