Chapter 13
Taran Swann
~*~*~*~
Severus watched closely as Harry's eyes got brighter and filled with tears. He gave Harry a very puzzled look when the younger man started giggling and then all out chuckling.
Harry reached out and touched Severus' cheek softly as he knelt down in front of him. Severus had only seen Harry's eyes sparkle this much when he'd told Harry that he was pregnant. Harry pulled something from his robe and looked lovingly into Severus' confused eyes.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Harry said softly, showing Severus an open box containing a shining, gold ring.
Severus inhaled sharply, his jaw hanging open until Harry leaned in and kissed him. Their lips met softly at first, but the passion quickly rose. When they finally broke for air, Severus rested his forehead against Harry's and panted. The feel of Harry's hands on the back of his neck, sent shivers of delight down his back.
"So, is that a yes?"
"Oh, Gods, YES Severus!" Harry shouted with laughter. He pulled back and saw the tears streaking Severus' cheeks and brushed them away with gentle fingers. Severus captured his hands and slid the ring easily onto Harry's finger. Harry, never losing contact with Severus' eyes, slipped the ring he had purchased onto Severus' slim finger.
"It's not a family heirloom or anything," Harry whispered as he noticed how old the one from Severus was.
"It is now," Severus whispered across Harry's lips as he leaned in to kiss him again. Harry helped Severus to his feet and noticed the exhaustion on his face.
Harry walked Severus back to their room and gently laid him on their bed. He pulled the covers up as he crawled in behind his future husband. He felt Severus sigh with content as he wrapped his arms around him. He whispered softly, but Severus was already asleep.
Several days later, Severus was sitting comfortably in Harry's lap in the sitting room. They were discussing the wedding, while Harry rubbed light circles over Severus' round tummy. Every once in a while, he'd kiss Severus' stomach as he felt the baby kick against his hand.
"So what color should we go with? Red or green?" Harry asked, placing a soft kiss on Severus' stomach again.
"Neither," Severus said, giving Harry a dubious look. Harry looked up at him with a raised brow. Severus smiled and said, "This is our day, Harry. It's a celebration of OUR union, not the union of our two houses. That's only secondary. I think we should just go with black and white."
Harry grinned as he pulled Severus' face down to his for a warm kiss. "I agree completely, love!" Severus smiled at the endearment. He liked it when Harry called him 'love'. It made him feel warm and special.
"You will ask Ron to be your best man, won't you?" Severus asked.
"Yes, he is my best mate… er friend," Harry said with a laugh. Severus rolled his eyes, but the smile on his lips betrayed his humour. "Who will you ask?"
"Well, I thought perhaps…" Severus looked shy, which Harry found to be very endearing. "Since Albus will be performing the ceremony, I thought I'd ask… Sirius?" Severus said as though asking for Harry's permission to ask his godfather to stand up for him.
Harry smiled with wonder and happiness. It still shocked and amazed him at how well the two of them got along. Sirius had remained in the house to help Severus, and Severus allowed Sirius to help. Harry was a little jealous at first, but soon realized how much they had come to respect each other. A bond of friendship was clearly evident between them, and that made Harry happy.
"I think that's a wonderful idea, Sev!" Harry captured Severus' lips with his own, his hands roaming under Severus' light cotton shirt. When his fingertips brushed over Severus' extremely sensitive nipples, the man practically jump right out of Harry's lap. He bit hard on Harry's lip in retaliation, causing him to giggle.
"Ahem…"
Severus sighed into Harry's mouth before turning to look at the intruder. Sirius was standing in front of them looking quite amused.
"Are you two finished?"
"No, actually we were just starting," Severus said with mild irritation before turning back to Harry for another kiss. Harry snickered and gently pushed him away. Severus sighed tiredly and rested his head in the crook of Harry's neck, his fingers carding through the unruly black locks.
Harry began rocking the chair as he rubbed Severus' side with one hand and outer thigh with the other. Sirius sat on the sofa next to them and eyed Severus carefully. He knew how exhausted the pregnancy was making Severus and couldn't help worrying about him. He smiled at Harry when he was caught watching.
"So, have you picked a date yet?"
"No," Harry started to say but was cut off by Severus' sleepy voice.
"July 31st."
"My birthday?" Harry asked, puzzled. They hadn't yet discussed a date and waiting until Harry's birthday meant that Severus would only be a couple of weeks shy of his due date.
"Yes," Severus mumbled.
"Are you sure you want to wait that long?"
"Yes," Severus mumbled again and cuddled closer, his hand slowly drifting down Harry's neck to rest against his chest as he fell asleep.
"All right, then. July 31st it is," Harry whispered as he kissed the top of the dark head. His arms wrapped protectively around Severus as he continued to rock slowly.
~*~
Severus sighed and groaned, trying to get comfortable. The chair Sirius had brought into the little room off the Great Hall was too solid, too straight, and definitely didn't have enough padding. Not to mention that his stomach was tied in so many knots that he was beginning to worry about the baby being able to get past them in two weeks.
"What's wrong?" Sirius asked firmly as he continued to brush through Severus' long inky hair.
"Nothing," Severus growled as he shifted again.
Sirius snickered at him. "I can't believe you're so nervous!"
"Well, I'm getting married! What do you expect?"
Sirius smiled and set the brush aside. He came around the chair and knelt in front of Severus, his hands resting lightly on the man's knees.
"Severus," he said comfortingly, "a bond was formed between you and Harry the moment that baby was conceived. This wedding is only a ceremony. You've been married for over 8 months already."
"I know," Severus replied, setting his hands over Sirius'. "I just never dreamed or dared to hope I'd ever find a love like this." His eyes began to mist over with emotion.
"You know, at first I stayed with you because of Harry, but after a while, it was more than that. Every time you cried, I saw it. I saw in every tear how much you loved Harry. I'd have stayed with you even if Harry had never returned. Somewhere along the way, I not only learned to respect you, but to care for you, too. I never tried to know you when we were children, but I'm very grateful to have been given the chance to know you now. I'm honoured that you asked me to stand with you today, but even more honoured to call you friend."
Severus closed his eyes and let the tears slowly roll down his cheeks. As Sirius took him in his arms, he whispered, "The honour is mine."
Sirius released Severus and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He stood up and turned to retrieve the brush and nearly dropped it as he looked back at Severus. Severus' face was contorted with pain and he was clutching his stomach.
"Severus, what's wrong?" he asked as he dropped back to his knees in front of him.
"Cramps." Severus took a deep breath and slowly relaxed. When he opened his eyes again, Sirius could see that the pain had faded but wasn't gone completely. "Must be my nerves affecting the baby and causing cramps."
"Are you sure you're all right?"
Severus took another deep breath and released it calmly. He nodded at Sirius. "Let's just get this over with, shall we?"
Sirius kissed his forehead. "Let me just finish your hair, then I'll go check to see that everything is ready." Severus nodded again.
After tying Severus' long hair back with a white ribbon that matched the silk robe he wore, Sirius left the small room to check on everything. He peaked his head into the Great Hall and spotted Ron, wearing a black, silk robe with a red rose pinned over the heart, identical to his own. He smiled and motioned Ron over.
"Is everything ready?" Sirius asked.
"I think so. How's Sev doing? Harry's a nervous wreck!" Ron laughed.
"Sev is, too, but he's also having some pretty nasty cramps. The sooner we get this over with, the better."
Ron saw the worry in Sirius' eyes and nodded. Severus had been weak throughout the entire pregnancy and now was unable to even use enough magic to light a candle.
"Give me two minutes!" Ron flashed him a smile as he headed to the far side of the Hall, waving to Hermione and Albus as he breezed past.
Sirius returned to the room he had left Severus in. He rushed to the man's side upon seeing how flushed he was and panting heavily. He helped Severus to his feet and held his waist until he steadied himself.
"All right?" Sirius asked nervously. Severus gave a curt nod even as he gripped Sirius' arm tightly. "All right, then, future Mr. … Potter-Snape or Snape-Potter?" he asked curiously.
Severus suppressed a grin. "You'll just have to wait and find out like everyone else."
Sirius gave him a mock glare as they made their way slowly to the door of the Great Hall just as Draco opened it. Draco smiled brightly at his godfather and nodded that they were ready.
Severus closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, releasing them slowly to calm his mind and the baby rolling restlessly in his stomach. When he was ready, he opened his eyes and looked across at Harry, standing directly across the Hall. He easily returned Harry's happy smile.
Severus looked at Sirius standing next to him, still smiling and nodded that he was ready. Sirius could see the pain and stress had receded finally. Severus was most definitely ready to proceed. Sirius smiled back and led him towards the dais set in the center of the Hall where Albus waited.
~tbc~
