Severus Snape, current Headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry for fifteen years, Order of Merlin Second Class, glared at the two recalcitrant students sitting in front of his desk. This wasn't the first time they'd been sent to him by their exasperated Head of House for punishment. He doubted that it would be the last. Although, maybe letting them serve a month's detention with the caretaker, Argus Filch, would keep them quiet for a while. Yes, he could always trust Argus to come up with something particularly nasty and bothersome to wear the two little devils out.
Their reaction was predictable. First horror, and then of course anger and indignation; no sign of remorse for their actions other than that they had been caught. Which was shame enough, they were Slytherins after all! Severus blamed their Gryffindor mother.
"You can't do that! Daddy will –"
Severus' rolled his eyes in irritation and quickly cut off that line of protest. He'd heard it all many times before.
"No, your father will not cast Cruciatus on me for giving you detention, which you most assuredly deserve! He will not fire me, and he will certainly not have me strung up from the Astronomy tower for the entire wizarding world to see. He will be disappointed that his son and daughter were caught red-handed sabotaging the Gryffindor Quidditch team broomsticks to fly loop-de-loops at the next game against Hufflepuff.
"I, on the other hand, should be able to convince your uncle Harry quite easily that you two don't deserve to go to the World Tournament Quidditch final between England and Bulgaria if you don't shut up right now and do exactly what Mr Filch tells you to do for the next month."
Two sets of wide, green eyes gaped at him in horror. "You wouldn't." The girl whispered while the boy shook his head, red curls shaking.
Severus' mouth twisted into his nastiest smile and the twins blanched. Then, as one, they pouted, looked down at twisted hands in their laps and then up at him coyly through long eye-lashes.
"But, uncle Severus…"
His glare notched up a few more degrees. They should know by now not to try and cutesy their way out; it never worked on him.
"Out. You will report for detention at Mr Filch's office after dinner tonight, and if I hear so much as one complaint about either of you for the rest of this month, you can kiss those box-seat tickets good-bye."
They knew when to stop pushing their luck. The two children jumped out of their chairs, scrambled through the door, and down the stairway past the gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office. For a moment Severus rested his head in his hands. Another five years of the terrible twins, and to think: next year Jim and Beth Weasley-Riddle would be joined by their triplet brothers. May Merlin have mercy on all their souls.
A trilling melody made Severus look up and with a few beats of his wings Fawkes flew over to his chair and landed on his shoulder. Severus gave a brief smile and then gently stroked the warm feathers on the fire bird's breast.
But what else could be expected from the Dark Lord's children? An absent and uninterested father, their mother too preoccupied with her next pregnancy, and the Weasley twins Fred and George for surrogate parents and role-models. A recipe for disaster, if Severus had ever heard one. He guessed it could have been worse. There was no maliciousness to their ceaseless pranking, and they were actually quite adorable when not charming his quarters Gryffindor red and gold. Severus chuckled as he remembered them doing the same with their father's entire wardrobe the one time the Dark Lord had taken his children to Riddle Mansion. Lord Voldemort had not been pleased to put it mildly, and ever since then he had never interfered when disciplining his children once again fell to Severus.
Severus looked up at Albus Dumbledore's portrait, hanging on the wall of his office like all of Hogwarts' previous Headmasters. It was a wizarding portrait of course, charmed with Albus' personality and memories. Albus' portrait rarely moved however, unlike all the other Headmasters. Instead he just stared down at Severus in unwavering disappointment. Severus sighed and continued to stroke Fawkes' breast. He hoped that wherever the Headmaster's soul had gone to he'd been able to forgive Severus, and was maybe still proud of his former student and friend. Severus had buried the Headmaster at the edge of the Forbidden Forest fifteen years ago and taken up his duties the same day.
Albus had died in the battle for Hogwarts, killed in a wizarding duel by Voldemort. It had heralded the final defeat of the 'Light' and without their leader the Order of the Phoenix had crumbled. Severus was grateful that he hadn't been there to witness the death and defeat of his mentor and one-time lover; instead he'd been busy brewing healing potions and the like with Harry in the potions laboratory at Riddle Mansion. When Hogwarts had been secured, soon after Dumbledore's death, the Dark Lord had summoned him and given him the former Headmaster's body and position.
There had been very few casualties at Hogwarts, the students had long been evacuated and most of the teachers and Order members had surrendered after Albus' death, if not before. Hogwarts' capture had really only been a formality, cementing the Dark Lord's position as ruler of wizarding Britain: two weeks earlier he had already attacked and taken control of the Ministry and the media. Soon after that Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley were being patrolled by Death Eaters.
Acting on Severus' information Albus had convinced the Ministry to dispatch most of its forces to Hogwarts and they'd lain in wait, in ambush, for the attack that hadn't come. At the last moment Voldemort changed his mind and the assault was made on the Ministry instead. Severus still wasn't sure whether the Dark Lord had known of his betrayal and changed his plans accordingly, or whether he'd been counting on it and been stringing Severus along. It was best to let sleeping dogs lie and so Severus had never raised the subject, grateful that he hadn't been expected to participate in any of the fighting nor been punished for his treason. Together with Harry he'd remained at Riddle Mansion, brewed healing Potions and after the fighting tended to the wounded.
The raid had been quick and successful. In the space of a few hours the Ministry fell, Fudge was executed, and that Saturday morning Voldemort was already addressing the population over the wizarding wireless. There had been no attempt to recapture the Ministry, instead the Aurors remained at Hogwarts and made it their new base. Voldemort offered asylum to all those wanting to leave, and thus enabled the students to return to their families. Over the next two weeks he unfolded his plans for complete segregation of the wizarding and Muggle world. The radio and the papers were filled with his propaganda, while he did his best to convince wizarding Britain to acquiesce under his rule. There were many defections in that period, by the end of the second week nearly half the Aurors at Hogwarts had given themselves up. The Dark Lord was merciful, there were no summary executions; people were sent home for the time being while he solidified his hold. Voldemort had definitely revised his tactics; and while terror certainly had its place, he was now also resorting to more effective, if insidious ways of gaining power.
Two weeks later than planned he attacked Hogwarts. Announced. Like any war, the people needed closure, and the Dark Lord provided that in a wizarding duel to the death with Albus Dumbledore, who had become the leader of the opposition. Albus was slain, and the rest of the resistance either surrendered or fled. There were still small pockets of resistance; even now there was still the occasional attack on Death Eaters or Death Eater sympathisers, although those attacks had become increasingly rare over the years. Regardless, the Dark Lord was able to start putting things to order. Of course most positions of power were distributed among the inner circle Death Eaters, Severus became Headmaster of Hogwarts and Lucius Malfoy was made Minister of Magic. But Voldemort maintained enough competent, neutral wizards and witches in their places to appease the population.
Over the summer he set about segregating the wizarding and the Muggle world. All wizards and witches in the Muggle world were required to return, if they did not do so willingly they would be hunted down and detained. The Muggleborn children that had returned to their Muggle families during the siege of Hogwarts were retrieved and their families obliviated. A few, mostly the younger ones, were placed in Death Eater families or other families that had volunteered, but most were sent to Hogwarts. It had fallen to Severus to see to the distraught children that had been removed from their families for good. For all intents and purposes they were now orphans, and Voldemort had made them wards of the state
In an impressing and pivotal speech the Dark Lord had said that he considered these Muggleborn children his own; he had declared that they were his responsibility, and that as such he would see to it that they were happy and well-cared for. He recounted his own childhood, alone in an orphanage, maltreated by Muggles; he would never allow such a thing to happen to any child wizard or witch again. He spoke of his own half-blood background: a Muggle father who deserted Voldemort's mother when he discovered she was a witch, left her to die in childbirth and abandoned his only son.
"I have always considered my Muggle name to be a curse, a shameful thing, and for a long time I sought to deny it. But no longer; there is no shame in Muggle parentage, no shame in mixed blood although we must strive to prevent it. Let my surname now become a sign of what binds all wizards and witches: our unique ability to perform magic.
"From now on any child with magic born to Muggles will be mine. A special force of Aurors will watch for any signs of magic, will watch and search England for any child with magic, and as soon as such a child is found they will be retrieved and brought to our world, to where they belong. I will give that witch or wizard my name, and they will be treated as if they were my children. I will find them homes with wizarding families, homes where they will grow up to know our culture and our ways, where they will belong. I will set up a trust fund for each and every one of my children, they will be provided for and I will make sure they are loved. We are a small community, and our children are our strength, our life. Let no one forget that."
Most of the Muggleborn children that had already been attending Hogwarts were placed with wizarding families, with their friends, over the summer. Voldemort provided ample financial support to ensure this. There was little problem in placing the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students, even less with placing the few Muggleborn Slytherins. The Gryffindors were more problematic. Dumbledore had always favoured that House and many viewed the Dark Lord with distrust. They argued and pleaded to be able to see their families again, to be returned to them, but in the end they had no choice but to acquiesce to the new world order and they were mainly placed with Gryffindor wizarding families. With two weeks left before the start of term Voldemort sent his Death Eaters to retrieve the first year Muggleborn students who had received their owl earlier that month. Again they were taken and brought to Hogwarts, their families obliviated. There were ten first years that Sorting Feast with the surname Riddle and by Christmas they had all been found a home with a wizarding family.
That first year under Voldemort's reign had been hectic, and if it hadn't been for the Dark Lord's decisive actions there would have no doubt been chaos. But he had prepared his plans well, and even though there was some mumbling among the Death Eaters about threats to pureblood wizarding society, they knew better than to voice their dissent aloud. Ever since his return five years ago Voldemort had been working to ensure the loyalty and blind obedience of his followers. Even though they might not all agree with his Grand Design, they were committed to their Lord and thus to his Vision. The general wizarding populace was surprisingly quickly won over by their new leader. The Dark Lord used the media and his not inconsiderable charisma well. He worked to include as many of his would-be opponents in the execution of his plans. He would listen to their objections, and sometimes even change his plans to accommodate them.
It was yet another example of the power of Lord Voldemort's charisma and his changed approach in gaining domination over wizarding Britain. His propaganda was extremely effective, but no matter what he might have said of his surname, only a suicidal witch or wizard would dare refer to Lord Voldemort as Tom Riddle. The population however, gladly accepted his propaganda as people let themselves be lulled into a false sense of security.
By the time the anniversary of the fall of Hogwarts came round, it was celebrated widely if a little hesitantly. Now, nearly fifteen years later, the day of Lord Voldemort's ascension rivalled with Christmas for the most popular day of celebration. Severus looked at Albus' portrait and wondered what he would think of what had happened. But the former Headmaster's portrait stayed silent and just stared down at Severus in unwavering disappointment.
He sighed and then set about finishing the day's paperwork. Harry had asked him once why he didn't get rid of Dumbledore's portrait – Harry's attitude toward Dumbledore had always been one of resentment and distrust, and he found it hard to believe that Severus still had fond memories of the older wizard – but Severus had replied that for all his faults Albus had been one of the most important wizards in Hogwarts' History and that he deserved to be there. Voldemort hadn't remarked on it. He'd been surprisingly respectful toward the memory of the late Albus Dumbledore, even if it had been mainly to win the trust of the wizarding community.
Fawkes flew back to his perch when Severus had finished. The Headmaster retired to his rooms to freshen up, and then descended the spiralling staircase to attend the evening meal. These past four years the influx of students to Hogwarts had steadily increased, a consequence of Voldemort's politics encouraging more children, and the Great Hall was already filled with children. Severus nodded to the caretaker as he passed the squib and his cat, and then made his way through the students to his place at the head table. His black robes billowed around him, and the children quickly got out of his way.
His demeanour had changed little since he relinquished the Potions position and became Headmaster, and most students did their best not to gain the Headmaster's attention. Jim and Beth Weasley-Riddle were the only real exceptions, but he could hardly be faulted for that. They'd grown up with the scowling presence of 'uncle Severus' and it took quite a glare and some serious threats to Quidditch and prank supplies to cow them. At that moment they were sitting together at the Slytherin table keeping a very low profile. For as long as it lasted anyway.
Severus took his place between Minerva and Filius and dinner commenced. Most of the teachers had survived the attack on Hogwarts, but Severus was still surprised how well Minerva McGonagall had adapted to the new regime. But he should have known; her pragmatic nature and no-nonsense attitude had helped immensely in keeping order in Gryffindor house. From one year to the next they had changed from favoured house to the one viewed with distrust, the scapegoat. With Voldemort's ascension many thought they could curry to his favour by picking on those who had opposed him. Together Severus and Minerva had put a stop to that kind of behaviour at Hogwarts very quickly. And although Gryffindor hadn't won the House-cup in fifteen years, Severus did not doubt that they would again some time in the near future.
Not all the teachers had survived, or stayed. Hagrid had left, unhindered, and moved to Beauxbatons. Remus Lupin had been killed; one of the first casualties at Hogwarts, and Severus had shed no tears. Sirius Black lived, but where nobody knew. He was one of the few Order members still at large. There hadn't been any sightings for years though, and privately Severus suspected the mutt had passed away as well. Either by his own hand, or Voldemort had finally tracked him and had the mongrel put down in secret. When Black heard of his godson's defection he had been livid, Minerva had later told him the Gryffindor's reaction. He was grateful that she and the others never mentioned Albus' reaction when he realised Severus had betrayed him.
Severus and Voldemort had spoken before the attack about what they were going to do with Harry's godfather: despite Harry and Sirius' many disagreements Harry still felt something for his godfather. He was the last living link to his parents after all. Voldemort had promised Harry to spare him, but Sirius had managed to escape, in the process killing Walden MacNair. The Dark Lord had not been pleased, but again, on Harry's insistence, made no work of it and let the animagus run. He had promised Harry that as long as Sirius did nothing he would not pursue him. However, all bets were off when two years later a small group of rebels, under Sirius' leadership, somehow managed to sneak into Riddle Mansion and attempted to kill the Dark Lord's consort.
They had surprised Harry in the basement where he'd been all alone, working on creating the Philosopher's Stone for Voldemort. Harry had managed to incapacitate Ron Weasley, but been overpowered by Black and Hermione Granger. Thank Merlin Nagini and Cassandra had noticed the commotion. The two snakes had surprised Harry's attackers before they could finish the job. Granger was bitten but managed to stab Nagini before she died. Sirius transformed to his animagus form and escaped once more. Somehow the three had managed to bring down the wards tied to Harry, the ones that notified the Dark Lord and all his Death Eaters if something happened to him.
Severus still had nightmares of entering Riddle Mansion that evening and finding the wards down, finding Harry near death, wrapped in Cassandra's coils. Ron Weasley on the floor, in a full body bind and just staring at Harry as Severus' lover's life dwindled away. Hermione Granger, all her veins distended and bent backwards in a rictus of agony, one hand still closed around the hilt of a dagger buried in the skull of the Dark Lord's familiar. If he'd arrived only half an hour later … If only he'd arrived an hour earlier …
Harry had been stabbed and poisoned. Cassandra's magic had sustained him, she'd tried to stop the bleeding by wrapping herself around him tightly, and it had taken precious moments to convince the snake to let her Master go. The stab wounds had been relatively easy to fix, there were an abundance of healing potions in the room, and Severus had stabilised Harry enough to call the Dark Lord through the floo. The anti-apparition wards on Riddle Mansion had always admitted their Master, and before Severus had completed the sentence 'Harry's been hurt', Voldemort was already standing next to him.
If Severus had had any doubts left as to the veracity and depth of the Dark Lord's feelings toward Harry Potter, each and every one of them was dispelled that evening. Voldemort had looked to him, and only asked what he could do to help. He had not questioned Severus, not flown into a rage. Yet. Severus had revived Weasley and questioned him about the poison. At first the boy had been tight-lipped, but a minute under Cruciatus quickly had him spilling all he knew. It had been something made and created by Granger, eerily similar to what Severus had devised only a few years earlier. But he wasn't a Potions master for nothing, and although he had happily not stirred in a cauldron or chopped one slug ever since he'd been made Headmaster, in that moment Severus was grateful again for his talent. While Voldemort kept the poison at bay with his and Cassandra's magic, Severus had created an antivenom.
All that time Harry had been conscious and slightly delirious, hallucinating and reliving parts of his past. He'd been disoriented, and not known where he was, or with who, or when. It had been particularly heartbreaking when Harry imagined himself in the Hogwarts infirmary all over again; just been informed that Tom Riddle had murdered his parents. Voldemort had borne Harry's rage silently.
When Severus had finished and administered the cure, the four of them had sat there for a moment. Harry slowly drifting into a healing sleep while Cassandra, Severus, and the Dark Lord watched over him.
"Thank you, Severus." Voldemort said. He gently stroked Harry's cheek and then put his consort in Severus' arms. "Take him upstairs. I will see to this mess. See to Weasley and Black." One last kiss pressed to Harry's pale lips, the dagger removed from Nagini's skull, and then he strode over to where the youngest male Weasley was lying. Voldemort's eyes burned red as he grabbed the boy and then disapparated. Severus momentarily felt the ache of a mass summons in his Mark but it faded quickly; he had a different task than hunting down Black and punishing Weasley.
He'd washed Harry and himself. He'd washed away his lover's blood from the both of them, and then settled into bed with Harry and Cassandra. By that time Harry was starting to come round again.
"Severus?"
"I'm here, Harry."
"Tom?"
"He's out looking for Black."
"Tom," Harry moaned plaintively, eyes frantically searching for his consort.
"I'm here, my love."
Severus looked up in surprise; he hadn't noticed Voldemort's return. He'd made a move to leave the bed, to relinquish his place to Harry's husband, but Harry's grip on him had tightened and the Dark Lord had shook his head, instead taking Cassandra's place at Harry's side. The two had started speaking in Parseltongue, but for once Severus did not feel left out, did not feel shut out. Harry was in his arms and he was in Harry's life.
When Harry drifted off to sleep again Voldemort looked up at him seriously. They'd never discussed Severus' position as Harry's lover before. Severus knew Voldemort was aware of it, allowed it, but Severus had always been careful not to bring his relationship with Harry to the Dark Lord's attention.
"I've tolerated this because it is what he wants, because I promised him I would leave you alone, would leave you Hogwarts to rule as you see fit. And you have not disappointed me there. I am not a generous man, Severus. I do not share well that which is mine. But Harry does not belong to me, or you, only to himself, and I have learnt to live with the thought of you two together. I will not lie, I was not happy when he told me about you, although I could understand that you loved him. Who wouldn't?" A bitter laugh escaped Voldemort's lips, as Harry's godfather obviously crossed his mind. His red eyes held Severus' and the Headmaster of Hogwarts knew that Black had better pray the Dark Lord never catch him.
"You have proved your devotion to Harry, and I know now that this is not a passing infatuation. Harry loves you as much as he loves me, and I find I can live with that. You saved my consort's life today, and that cannot go unrewarded." He held up a hand to stop Severus' protests. "I know, you need no reward, but this is something Harry has asked me to give you, a request I was not before prepared to grant. Give me your arm."
Severus held out his left arm, Mark up, and Voldemort ran his fingertips over the Dark Mark before looking up again.
"I cannot remove it. Long ago you pledged yourself to me, pledged yourself to another, and that pledge cannot be broken. It can, however, be transferred." Severus' eyes darted to Harry's sleeping form and then back to the Dark Lord. Voldemort nodded. Severus swallowed nervously.
"Please." To be free of Voldemort, to be allowed to be pledged to Harry, it was not something Severus had ever dared hope. Harry had become Voldemort's consort soon after Hogwarts' fall and while Severus hadn't doubted Harry's love for him, he'd always been slightly apprehensive and worried about Voldemort's indulgence in letting Harry keep a lover. The fact that the Dark Lord had given Severus free reign over Hogwarts had served to relax his worries slightly, but he'd always been acutely aware of the fact that Voldemort was only tolerating him for Harry's sake.
Voldemort covered the Dark Mark on Severus' hand and whispered a spell in Parseltongue. There was a brief tugging sensation, and then an awareness of Harry that Severus had never had of Voldemort. The Dark Lord smiled and removed his hand, revealing a now green tattoo of a snake coiled around Severus' wrist.
"If anything happens to Harry, you will know and you will be able to reach him wherever he is, through whatever magic our enemies may try to use. I trust you with my consort, Severus Snape. I trust you with his life, and I trust you with his happiness. I know you will not fail him."
They had never managed to find Black, or if Voldemort did he kept it a secret. Ron Weasley, however, suffered the full brunt of the Dark Lord's wrath.
Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, the Weasleys had benefited greatly from Voldemort's coming to power. Voldemort had summoned Ginny Weasley soon after Hogwarts' fall, and despite her parents' and siblings' protest she'd answered the call. They'd only found out nearly a year and a half later what exactly the two had discussed and agreed upon, but she had managed to ensure the safety of her family. Arthur Weasley kept his job at the Ministry, and worked, under supervision, in aiding the Dark Lord's special force of Aurors in retrieving Muggleborn children from their families and further completing the segregation of the Muggle and wizarding world. Percy Weasley, the former Minister of Magic's aide, took the Dark Mark and kept his position, now serving Lucius Malfoy. Molly Weasley agreed to take in Riddle children, as the Muggleborn were soon called, if only to make sure they received a good home and were not indoctrinated by Death Eater propaganda.
Perhaps the most surprising development was the fact that Severus asked Fred and George Weasley to take over his position as Potions professor. Severus had lost nearly all his love for Potions over the previous years. He had used his talent to create poisons, and did not wish to be reminded of his former life. Potions had become a passion out of necessity, an escape from the confines of his life, but had never been what he truly wanted. Getting the Weasley twins to teach one of the most difficult, and dangerous, subjects, might have seemed folly, but Severus knew the twins were competent. If their students had to pay attention if they wanted to be able to turn their hair back to its normal colour, or prevent falling victim to one of the twins' tricks, then more the better.
Ron Weasley had kept a low profile ever since Hogwarts' fall, but there'd been no way to suspect he would try anything against his former house mate. The blow was even worse because at the time of the attack Ginny Weasley was six months pregnant by Lord Voldemort.
The Dark Lord wasn't stupid; he realised the wizarding world would die out if they stopped mixing with Muggles: Muggleborn wizards and witches were after all the result of wizarding parents somewhere in their heritage. And so Voldemort set about encouraging the wizarding population to have more children, while at the same time he made a start at establishing contact with foreign wizarding societies. Britain had always had the most organized and centralized community of wizards and witches, which made it easier for Voldemort to control. But there were small enclaves in France and elsewhere on the continent and overseas that the Dark Lord sought to gain influence over, slowly, and for the most part diplomatically.
Voldemort put an end to all pureblood theory and propaganda, using himself as proof that mixed parentage did not guarantee weaker offspring. He did, however, outlaw any and all relationships with non-magical people. Squibs were exempt, although he did discourage them from having children or marrying wizards or witches. In the meantime, the Weasleys became something of an example to wizarding Britain: seven children and their home open to Muggleborns. A pureblood family that had once been the ridicule of wizarding Britain gained status nearly overnight, and many of the traditional, Death Eater, pureblood families were shamed because they often had only one child, as had been practice for centuries to keep inheritances large and undivided.
One of the reasons Voldemort had been silent for nearly three years was because he had been busy securing his hold on his first followers and ensuring their continued loyalty. As Minister of Magic, Lucius had to of course give the good example, and much to Narcissa's distress, he'd insisted on having more children. She'd acquiesced to another one, but when it became clear that Lucius did not plan on being outdone by a bunch of Weasleys and that he wanted at least another five brothers or sisters for Draco, she'd flat out refused him, filed for divorce, and skipped the country. Within a week Lucius remarried, a blonde Hufflepuff Muggleborn witch of twenty-two, and was by now the proud father of another seven Malfoys.
Because of wizard's and witch's longer lifespans and the fact that most families left it at one child to secure the family legacy, the wizarding world had always been accepting toward alternative lifestyles and homosexuality. When you could look down on people for interspecies breeding, what did people care about two men or two women together? Voldemort confirmed this by making Harry Potter his consort, but he too acknowledged that he could hardly preach what he would not do himself. While there were ways to induce male pregnancy, and spells that could temporarily turn a wizard or witch into an hermaphrodite, Harry had made it clear he was not going to have kids, although Tom was free to carry them if he wanted to. Instead Voldemort made a deal with Ginny Weasley that she would mother his children.
Severus had never found out the details of that conversation between Tom, Harry and Ginny, and he doubted he ever would. He'd known Harry and the Weasley girl had been friends, had been lovers briefly at Hogwarts, but he'd never expected Harry to willingly share Tom. Harry had turned out to be quite possessive of both Voldemort and Severus: while he had no problems with the two of them together (although Severus was glad Voldemort only ever touched him on the times Harry insisted the three of them share some time together), there was no doubt that he counted on their fidelity toward him. But the arrangement between Voldemort and Ginny could hardly be called love, and Severus knew for a fact they only ever slept together when it was time to conceive. The Dark Lord acknowledged his children, but hardly treated them any different from all his 'other' children. After all, there was no need for heirs when you planned to live forever.
Ginny seemed content with her life, happy to bear the Dark Lord's children while she lived at Hogwarts and discretely kept an affair going with the new DADA professor, Draco Malfoy. As long as there was never any doubt as to the parentage of her children, Voldemort really didn't care what his broodmare got up to.
Ron Weasley's participation in the attack on the Dark Lord's consort, on Harry Potter, had been a sharp blow to Voldemort's regime. While he had made it clear that he did not hold the other Weasleys responsible for the actions of one of them, their special status had not saved Ron any pain, and the Dark Lord's wrath had been considerable and public. For nearly two years people had been able to start forgetting that they were ruled by a Dark Lord, had been able to start forgetting the cruelties of the seventies, but they were harshly reminded of political reality when Voldemort cast every dark hex and curse he could think of on the boy, and then had the – by-then insane – Gryffindor Kissed. The bodies of both Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were put on display at the entrance of the Ministry of Magic to serve as a reminder why it was such a bad idea to anger Lord Voldemort. The Weasleys had publicly distanced themselves from Ron of course, but Severus knew that in private Ginny had begged Harry to ask Voldemort for mercy for her brother. Harry had refused.
Severus looked down the table to see his Potions professors heatedly discussing something. It had been nearly thirteen years now, and for all intent and purposes there had never been a sixth Weasley son. Fred and George must have noticed him staring; they looked up with identical grins and waved. Severus poked suspiciously at his desert and decided to skip it that evening.
After dinner Severus retired to his chambers and, making sure Minerva or Filius would be able to contact him if something happened, he flooed to Riddle Mansion. He found Harry happily tinkering with potions in the dungeons. It still made Severus shiver every time he went there, he could still see Harry lying on the floor, bleeding to death. But Harry had insisted on keeping his laboratory, declared he would not let himself be scared away from one of his favourite places in the world by anyone. The first few times though, Severus and Voldemort had made sure at least one of them was present. Nagini's body had been preserved and she lay coiled around what had always been Lord Voldemort's chair. Severus found it morbid, to be honest, but Harry said her presence comforted him.
He made himself comfortable at the large table and just enjoyed watching his younger lover. Within six years Harry had succeeded in doing what it had taken Nicolas Flamel nearly a century to achieve: he'd created a Philosopher's Stone, and on the seventh anniversary of Voldemort's ascendance Harry had presented him with the means to immortality and eternal youth. Ever since then the Dark Lord's body had not aged, nor had Harry's. Even now, when he was in his early thirties, Harry looked no older than twenty-two. Harry had offered Severus use of the stone as well, with Voldemort's reluctant approval, but Severus had declined. He had no desire to be immortal. Severus still fondly remembered Albus' words: for the organized mind death is but the next adventure.
It was clear that Harry wasn't entirely happy with Severus' choice. Every now and then he would ask Severus again whether he hadn't changed his mind, but he never pushed, and respected Severus' decision.
"I'm nearly done, won't be a minute."
Severus just hmmd and settled in to wait. While he no longer enjoyed working with Potions, it still warmed his heart to see that Harry had lost none of his joy or enthusiasm in the art. For a change Harry really only did take a minute to finish, and with a flick of his wrist (he hardly ever used his wand anymore), he cleaned the bench and covered the cauldron. Then he turned around and stalked toward Severus, turned his chair and straddled the Headmaster's lap. Harry ran his hands through Severus' hair and Severus wrapped his arms around the lithe body. They kissed open-mouthed and leisurely; Harry smelled of Boomslang, Aconite, and Bubotober puss. He smelled like home.
Harry broke their kiss for air and pulled back slightly, grinning impishly.
"I need to take a shower, and you are going to wash me all over." He leaned in again and nipped at Severus' lips before moving to Severus' left ear. "And then we are going to bed and we are going to make love over and over and over again."
"I like your plan."
"I thought you would." Harry hopped off Severus' lap. "Race you."
Severus laughed and calmly made his way up the stairs and toward Harry's bedroom, ignoring Harry's shouted encouragements to loosen up a little. When he reached the bedroom Harry's clothes were strewn about and he could already hear the water running. He shrugged out of his robes and slipped past the curtain and into the shower next to Harry. Harry leaned back against him and Severus set about washing the young man's hair.
"How was your day?"
"Stressful. Jim and Beth were up to their tricks again, they'll be serving detention with Filch for a month. Hopefully that will teach them not to get caught in the future. How was yours?"
"Good, I think I made a minor breakthrough." He turned in Severus' arms and leaned his head back under the spray a moment while Severus washed out the shampoo. "Enough talk now, I can think of more fun things to do with our mouths." Severus laughed and let himself be pushed against the wall while Harry slowly slid down onto his knees and wrapped his mouth around Severus' cock, slowly coaxing him to hardness. Severus sighed and gently touched Harry's face, ran his fingers along his lover's cheeks where he could feel himself. When his breathing became laboured Harry released him and pulled him out of the shower, whispered a quick drying spell and they tumbled into bed.
Harry scrambled up Severus' body and for a long time they just kissed, rubbing against one another lazily. Then Harry pulled away, ignoring Severus' protest, turned around and started fellating Severus' prick again. Severus tugged Harry into a better position and pulled his young lover's cock into his own mouth. He closed his mouth and enjoyed the sensation of Harry's mouth around his cock and Harry's cock in his mouth. His nose pressing against Harry's balls, he relaxed his throat and swallowed around the member in his mouth. It only took a few moments and then he pulled back as Harry came and filled his mouth with his come.
Severus pulled free of Harry's grip and manoeuvred the temporarily sated man onto his belly, parted Harry's cheeks with his hands and let come dribble from his mouth into Harry's crack. He used his tongue to push the semen into Harry's hole, wiggled his tongue around and kneaded Harry's buttocks. Harry was soon panting again, pushing himself back against Severus and begging for more. Severus just smiled and continued to tease him.
Finally Harry could take no more and he escaped from Severus' tormenting. He pushed the Potions master onto his back and straddled his hips, then slowly lowered himself onto Severus' member. Severus had to fight to keep his eyes open, and he raptly watched Harry impale himself.
"Merlin, I love you so much."
Harry smiled and gave an experiment squeeze that made Severus' eyes cross. "I love you too." He then raised himself slowly and sank back down. Severus settled his hands on Harry's hips and helped steady his lover. Their lovemaking was slow and leisurely. Harry leaned forward, Severus' cock slipping half free, and they kissed as Severus' fingers teased the stretched ring of muscles around his member. When it became too much Severus flipped them over and started thrusting into Harry's willing body. Harry wrapped his legs around him, dug his heels into Severus' side and urged him on. He gripped his own erection and stroked it in time to Severus' thrusts.
Crying out Harry's name Severus' rhythm stuttered and he came, pouring his release into his lover. Harry writhed beneath him and grabbed Severus' hand, closed it around his cock and used it to bring himself to climax. Carefully Severus pulled out and rolled onto his side. Harry curled up in front of him and pressed his still wet buttocks against Severus' and sensitive crotch. Severus' arms came round the younger wizard, holding him close. Harry sighed and pulled the blankets up over them. Severus closed his eyes and let his mind drift.
"Tom will be home tomorrow. Will you join us?"
Severus was silent for a moment and then nodded. "Whatever you want, Harry." He pressed a kiss just below Harry's left ear and gently stroked Harry's side. While Severus had no desire for his former Master, he knew it excited and pleased Harry immensely to see them together. "Anything for you."
They lay there in comfortable silence. A stray thought surfaced and after a moment's hesitation Severus voiced the question that had been on his mind for nearly fifteen years.
"You never told me what you saw in the Mirror of Erised."
Harry turned in his arms and frowned. "I didn't?"
Severus shook his head. "Will you tell me?"
Harry smiled and caressed Severus' face with his left hand, the hand with the Dark Lord's wedding ring.
"Can't you guess? I saw the same you did." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Severus', green eyes not releasing Severus'. His thumb touched the ring, twisted it, while his hand tangled in Severus' hair. "I saw the ones I love. I saw Tom, and I saw you." A whisper against his lips and Severus closed his eyes and returned the kiss. He may have to share Harry's love, his life might not be perfect, but it was his own, and he would not choose differently.
Fin
Well. I hope you enjoyed it, please let me know (even if you didn't ;). As there will be no more updates to this fic, if you want a reply please leave your email, or log in and make sure I can find it on your profile page. I might end up writing a few additional stories in this 'verse: the Snapledore and Quirrell back story, and maybe one (or two *g*) Tom snippets.
You can find a full single file version of this fic here (just get rid of the excess spacing to make the link work): inkstain.slashcity.net/isf/archive/14/choosingloyalties. h t m l
At the moment I'm mainly busy writing a number of Snapledore fics, but the next Severus/Harry fic should be out by the end of November. If you want to know what I'm up to and keep an eye on new work (I won't be posting NC-17 stories here), just check my livejournal from time to time (the link is in my profile page). Thank you again for your kind reviews, I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Kind regards, ntamara