A/N- Thankyou all for your fantastic feedback, especially for Afterglow! I love you all! Thanks for being so patient, as well…I'm back on prac (teaching grade 8 SOSE – megableck!) and so all my time is being devoted to that. However, I managed to snag some time to myself, allowing me to post up this chapter! Enjoy, my friends. Enjoy!

It took Harry a grand total of 30 seconds before he was following in the direction of the older wizard. He wanted to rush, but, as he was carrying his daughter, he took his time, careful not to shake the baby. Once he arrived in his bedroom, he stopped at the doorway, and observed his older partner and Potions master.

"Severus," he began after another few seconds of contemplation, "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

The man in question turned to look at the Gryffindor and offered him a genuine smile. Harry felt the urge to back far, far away. He held his ground, though, and watched as the Slytherin approached slowly. The man took his free hand, and held his eye contact, his thumb absently rubbing over Harry's. "I'm…redecorating."

The younger man looked around the space that had been his room, where all his carefully resized and packed items of furniture were scattered around the floor. He turned back to Severus, an eyebrow arched. "So I noticed. Any particular reason why?"

Snape nodded, and locked eyes with him once more. "I was pondering the merits of 'us', as you insist on referring to our…relationship-" Harry brightened, and smothered a small chuckle at Severus' hesitation, "-and I realised that I care deeply for you…and your daughter…and if you still have no other plans after you graduate…Perhaps you'd live here, at the Manor, with me."

The Gryffindor blinked, taken by surprise at the suggestion. "Severus, are you sure? I…it's not that I don't want to…"

The Slytherin's face fell for a split second, before he became stoic once more. "I see. In that case, I suggest you collect the rest of your belongings and-"

"Sev," Harry interrupted, noting the way that his older partner wasn't completely meeting his gaze, but rather staring determinedly past him, "I haven't said 'no' yet." When he got no response, he sighed and moved forward, Callisto gurgling happily in her carrier by his side. "I just…are you sure? This isn't the type of decision you can just make. It's going to change…everything…"

Obsidian eyes slowly met green.

"I…I know that we're in a, well, what some people are going to call 'serious' relationship…" Harry continued, "But move in? Have you given this much thought? Because I don't want you thinking it was a mistake or-"

Snape shook his head, and offered the teenager a faint smirk. "Do I look to be the type of man to act purely on impulse?" He asked, feigning offence. "Potter…Harry, I've given it enough thought to know that whatever is between us is not a momentary thing, and, sooner or later, I would have posed the question. Taking into consideration your lack of plans for the immediate future, and the question mark hovering over issues of where you and your daughter will live after you graduate, it seemed to be the most logical move either of us could have made."

The young father grinned, "And?"

" 'And' what?"

"The part where you explain how much you really want me to live here so you can spend as much time as possible with Callisto and I." Harry's eyes sparkled with mirth as he teased the older man, who scoffed in response.

"You're pushing your luck, Potter."

The Gryffindor's grin widened, "C'mon, Professor…admit it…"

Severus rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "I will do no such thing." Harry beamed at him in response, and he felt remarkably content. His life finally seemed to be looking up again. He had, though grudgingly at first, fallen into a state of attraction and (loathe though he was to admit it) love for another being and it was reciprocated.

While this was still new to his younger partner, it was still something that the Slytherin was not all that familiar with, however confident he tried to appear. The fact that Harry had agreed to fuse his life so willingly with his own…it was both overwhelmingly endearing, and also horribly disquieting. Everything was about to change. Especially with a baby in the picture. Merlin, his life would never be the same again.

Not that he minded.

In fact, Severus Snape welcomed the change. For the first time in almost 20 years he felt as if he had a family again. The thought would have caused him to smile, however the awareness that they had to last five more months without acknowledging the degree of their relationship dampened his enthusiasm.

"At any rate," he finally began, breaking the somewhat comfortable silence that had fallen between them, "If you choose to accept, I believe we should set about resizing the furniture, collecting the last of the items you require, and make our way back to Hogwarts."

Harry nodded, now standing directly in front of the older wizard. He leant forward and raised himself onto his toes, kissing Severus pointedly. "Thankyou, Sev. I know I've said it before, but thankyou. For everything. I-"

The Potions Master had placed a long, elegant finger on the Gryffindor's lips, stopping him mid-sentence. "Shh," he whispered. "None of that." At the younger man's slightly puzzled look, he shook his head. "I know, Harry. Actions speak louder than words. There is no need to thank me for any of this." In fact, if he were to allow himself to be completely humble and honest, it should really be him that was thanking Harry, and not the opposite way around. However, he was still Severus Snape, proud and arrogant, and no amount of warm and fuzzy conversation from a bubbling teenager would change that.

Said teenager swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded, smiling back up at the Slytherin. It seemed as though the pieces of his twisted existence were finally coming together. He had a family, now. And a welcoming home.

Things were finally looking to be the best they had been for both men in an excruciatingly long and painful while.

-?-

Quarter to three that afternoon found the trio emerging from the Manor with a small amount of luggage. They strode to the middle of the footpath that stretched between the door and the gates, and Severus pulled Harry and Callisto into his arms as he had barely a week earlier.

Addressing his daughter, Harry motioned towards the looming building with a smile, "Say bye-bye to home for now."

'Home', Severus thought before closing his eyes. A faint smile flittered onto his lips. Yes, the manor would once again be his home.

For the first time in almost 20 years, he welcomed the notion.

-?-

"Ah, Severus, Harry, right on time, I see." Dumbledore greeted them warmly as they entered his office. His eyes landed on the baby fussing in the teenager's arms. "And young Callisto," his lips, almost hidden under a bushy white beard, quirked into a smile, "Always a pleasure…."

Harry snorted, "Not when she's in one of these moods, she's not." He informed the headmaster, trying to readjust the squirming bundle he held, "Or when she decides your sleep isn't of any importance…" He shot a look towards his Potions Master, mentally reliving a few of the sleepless nights they had shared, trying various strategies to put the child to bed while she screamed.

Albus chuckled, and extended his arms, "If I may?"

"Go for it." The Gryffindor agreed immediately, moving to give the baby to the older wizard. She seemed to stop fussing for a moment, however broke into loud wails the second she readjusted to her sudden shift in placement.

Harry groaned, while Dumbledore attempted to pull a variety of faces and sounds to distract her and cheer her up.

His attempts were in vain.

Severus watched on, slightly agitated, yet highly amused by the scenario. It wasn't too often that Albus' irritating cheer was rejected so vehemently. In fact, if he wasn't to be mistaken, it seemed the Headmaster of Hogwarts appeared a little put out by the fact.

The screaming continued.

"Oh, Merlin's beard, let me." Snape finally snapped, swooping forward to take charge. He gently took Callisto into his arms, and began to pace slowly with her, bouncing every so often, as he muttered potions descriptions at her in his soft, velvety voice. However, he refused to acknowledge that he, Severus Snape, most feared teacher at Hogwarts, and ex-death eater, was bouncing to please a baby.

Harry merely rolled his eyes as Dumbledore watched on, captivated by the display. It was definitely something he never thought he'd witness.

Callisto, once she realised whose arms she was cradled in, and whose voice was crooning at her, began to calm. Harry shook his head with a smile, knowing exactly which parental figure she'd chosen as her favourite, for the moment anyway. He didn't feel bitter about it, or depressed, as he had just after her birth. Instead, he understood. And, on some level, he agreed with her judgement.

Shaking his head of the thoughts, he turned to Dumbledore, "Anyway, at Snape Manor, you said something about modifications?"

The old wizard nodded, eyes sparkling, "Yes, yes I did…However, I must ask," his eyes flitted over to where Severus stood, and for a second, Harry's heart rate sped up.

Dumbledore knew about he and Severus! Sev could get sacked! He could get expelled!

The Gryffindor tried to calm himself, and hoped that when he tilted his head to the side, he looked casual, and not the nervous wreck that he felt. Seemingly oblivious to the teenager's inner turmoil, Dumbledore continued, "Would either of you like a lemon drop?"

Having prepared himself for the worst, Harry smothered a sigh of relief. "What? Oh…No, thankyou."

Severus also declined, still pacing across the room with the baby in his arms, rocking her every so often.

Albus shrugged, and popped one into his mouth. "Very well," He told the couple, "Now, about the modifications…It seems that Callisto is quite attached to you, Severus."

Already, the potions master knew where the conversation was headed. But then, even the ghost of Blind Freddy could see what the old coot was about to suggest.

"Apparently so, Albus," he began, nodding slowly, "However-"

Ignoring him, the headmaster continued. "And the public are already aware, to a degree, that you are in apparent custody of the child…"

"That is beside the point. She is not my daughter-"

Blue eyes glanced at him through half-moon spectacles. "And yet, it is safer to allow them to believe that she is rather than to explain her…unusual parentage to the Wizarding world, don't you agree?"

Severus scowled, "No, it is not." He glanced towards Harry, who appeared most vexed by the direction of the conversation. "Not for her needs and rights. She deserves to be with her father." He looked back directly into Dumbledore's eyes, "She deserves to have her proper bloodline acknowledged."

The older man frowned, "It's not all about bloodlines, Severus, and you know as much."

"Albus," Severus' tone was clipped, and Callisto started to whimper at the harshness. He closed his eyes, and attempted to calm himself, before whispering reassurances to the baby. Turning his attention back to the older wizard he nodded, "even so, a dungeon is no place for a baby. And she deserves to have her real father with her, and acknowledged as so, in both public and private spheres. It is not fair on either of them-"

"I don't think I ever denied her of her father in my suggestion." Albus beamed at him, "And you are quite right, dungeons are no place for a baby, unless properly lit, and warmed, and decorated-"

"Would you mind, terribly, getting to the point?" Snape hissed, allowing the older wizard to bait him. "Explain what kind of ridiculous plan you have concocted, so that I may take Potter and his child to whichever destination it is that you have deemed suitable."

Dumbledore chuckled, "All in good time, my boy." He looked to Harry. "Am I correct in assuming that you and Severus have overcome your mutual animosity, enough so that you are content in allowing him to bond with your daughter?"

Having once more prepared himself for the worst, Harry hesitated. "I…" He stopped to collect himself, "Yes, sir."

"Good." The older wizard replied, "And am I also correct when I assume that you would not be bothered if you were to be offered quarters with an inter-Hogwarts floo link to Severus' private chambers?"

For the second time that day, the young father felt his mouth become dry. His own quarters? With a link to Severus' private rooms? He furrowed his brow. "But, sir, my own rooms? Isn't that a bit…unfair to the other students? I mean, I'd love that, but-"

"Under any other circumstance, yes, offering a student his or her own quarters is something we avoid. However, it is in the interests of the other students that I offer it to you." The headmaster smiled kindly. "After all, you said it yourself, your daughter can be the cause of many a sleepless night, and with all the young men in your dormitory preparing for their NEWTs, I believe the best move for all involved-"

Harry frowned again, "But, if you're trying to convince everyone that Callisto is Severus' daughter, doesn't it seem a little…odd….if I get awarded private chambers for no reason?"

Dumbledore tilted his head in acknowledgment, "Severus was quick to argue against any attempts at a cover up, and I agree with him."

"Then why do I need a floo link to his chambers?"

Eyes twinkling in that kind -yet highly irritating- fashion, Albus smiled back at him. "For one, it appears that Callisto has grown rather attached to Severus, just as he has to her." He chuckled and shook his head as the Potions Master made a move to protest. "I'm afraid, Severus, that you can not deny it." He looked back at Harry, sobering slightly. "Not only that, though. Raising such a young child is not an easy task, especially when one is also The-Young-Man-Who-Lived, with the pressures of having the public following his every move, and is also currently studying for his NEWTs." His blue eyes took on a steely quality. "You cannot expect to take care of her by yourself."

The Gryffindor nodded slowly, before daring a glance in Snape's direction. "But Severus…I mean, Professor Snape, is already a Head of House. He's got a lot of work to do as it is. I'm sure that he doesn't need the added burden-"

"Nonsense." Dumbledore cut in, smiling warmly once more. "We all know that had Severus really disagreed, he would have made it known by now." He grinned in the Potions Master's direction. "Isn't that right, my boy?"

Snape rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed with his new title. "Indeed."

"Then it's settled," the elderly wizard clasped his hands together, "Harry and Callisto will receive their own quarters in Gryffindor Tower, which has already been furnished and linked to Severus' own private chambers." He looked towards the 7th year, "You will find that you cannot access any other fireplaces through the network; only Professor Snape's."

Harry nodded, a slow smile creeping onto his face. "Thankyou, sir."

"Now," The headmaster began again, rising to his feet. "I believe we have much more to discuss…"

-?-

Harry sat at the staff table blushing furiously under the stares and whispers surrounding him. Callisto lay in her carrier, carefully positioned on the seat between her father and his secret partner.

"Mark my words, Mister Potter," the young father heard his Head of House exclaim as she entered the Great Hall, having only just emerged from a meeting with Dumbledore –no doubt being informed of the most recent events of Harry's life- "that was a most dangerous and incredibly dim-witted-"

"He knows, Minerva." Albus admonished, appearing from behind the gracefully aging witch. "And, as we discussed-"

The Transfiguration professor had the grace to look mildly ashamed, "My apologies, Albus." She strode to where Harry sat and caught his eye, "and to you, Potter." She glanced down at the baby and her features softened.

Harry saw Severus roll his eyes, and almost snickered. "That's okay, Professor." He replied to the Head of Gryffindor, "It's not like I don't expect to hear the lectures a lot. Merlin, I'm almost dreading Hermione's reaction…"

A few of the teachers present at the table chuckled, including Minerva as she took her seat to Harry's other side. She continued to peer around him and he grinned. "Did you want to hold her?"

The witch's eyes lit up, while Severus made a small sound of protest, which could have been perceived as vague irritation over the fuss Callisto's presence was causing. However, Harry knew better. As he turned to pick his daughter up, he caught his partner's eyes. He braved a small smile, allowing their eyes to hold a conversation that they clearly couldn't in public, before facing Minerva once more.

He introduced his daughter and Head of House, and then turned back to his food. He wasn't hungry, but he ate anyway, occasionally swirling his mashed potatoes around with his fork, while his thoughts swirled around in a similar fashion inside his head.

Not long now, and the entire Wizarding world would know.

He'd have to face his best friends.

He had no idea how they would react.

He had a sinking feeling that the rest of his school year was going to be even more complicated than he could imagine. At that moment, the Gryffindor thought, Trelawny would have been proud of his dismal predictions.

Not long now, he reminded himself, and the world as he'd known it would come undone.

Staring into the mess he'd made of his dinner, Harry sighed.

-?-

"Harry."

The green-eyed young man jumped at the sound of his partner's voice. He spun, left hand clasped melodramatically at his chest. "For Merlin's sake, Sev, don't do that."

"My apologies." The Potions Master replied, not sincere in the least.

The Gryffindor closed his eyes in frustration. "Is there something you wanted?" He asked, in an almost eerie imitation of the older wizard. He caught the bite in his tone the second the words left his mouth and he sighed apologetically. "I'm sorry, Sev, I'm just tired…"

Snape nodded slowly. "Understandable." He moved closer to where Harry stood in front of his bed, unpacking his possessions. After watching in mildly strained silence for another minute or so, he turned elegantly and sat down, moving the remaining pile of clothing, baby-goods and toys aside. "Are you alright?"

The teenager, now forced to direct his attention at the older man, shrugged and placed a half-hearted smile onto his face. "I have to be."

"Potter…"

Harry rolled his eyes at the concerned warning in his older partner's tone, before sighing in defeat. "I don't know…I'm just tired. All that talking with Dumbledore…and then all the other professors…and in a couple of days I'll have to do it all again…only it'll be harder…and do you realise that I haven't even bothered to ask what I'm going to do with Callie during classes?"

Severus allowed Harry his rant before patting the space beside him. Once the younger man was seated, he spoke. "It is more than understandable that you are exhausted, and I am afraid that there is nothing I can do to prevent the hoards of people that will naturally question you. We have had this conversation before, I know." Tentatively, he placed a reassuring hand on the younger man's knee. "However, on the latter topic, we will speak to Albus tomorrow. I, for one, refuse to allow her in my Potions classroom." He shook his head and chuckled lightly at the look of indignity on Harry's face. "It would be unsafe for her, and, loathe though I am to admit it, I am rather too attached to our daughter to leave her in such an environm-"

They both froze upon realisation of the potions master's slip.

"Sev…" The Gryffindor managed after a while.

The older man, barely disguising his embarrassment, stiffened and stood, before moving briskly towards the adjoining living room, to the fireplace through which he had entered.

"Severus!" Harry leapt to his feet and rushed forward. He lunged towards the older wizard's hand and grasped it tight, pulling Snape around to face him. "Sev…do you really think of her as 'ours'? As yours and mine?"

It took him a moment, but the potions master forced himself to meet the younger man's gaze. He saw the hope radiating in the emerald green orbs, and thought back to the large step they had taken in their relationship merely hours earlier.

It did not appear that Harry was angered by the suggestion that he take on the role as Callisto's other father, nor disturbed in the least. In fact, his eyes shone in encouragement, almost begging for Severus' response. Taking a steadying breath to ensure his own confidence, he nodded slowly.

Within moments, Harry's arms were wrapped tightly around his partner's upper body. There was so much emotion between them that neither could speak. It was impossible to put into words the thoughts and feelings that coursed through their veins. The men chose to hold each other in silence instead of complicating matters further.

Between them they held an unspoken agreement; that they would work the finer details out later.

-?-

"Harry!" Hermione's voice rang out as she raced into the Great Hall, arms extended, ready to pull her best friend into a hug.

The 7th years were arriving the night earlier than the younger classes, so that their teachers could give them yet another lecture about their NEWTs and run through the notices that only concerned them.

As Harry turned around to greet his best friend, Callisto nestled in his arms, he realised that he and his daughter would also be the main concern of the notices at dinner that evening, especially seeing as Severus' name still needed to be cleared of the rumours from a certain newspaper article.

Hermione practically skidded to a halt in front of the Boy Who Lived, her eyes glued to the infant that he held. For once she appeared speechless, before forcing her gaze up and towards the staff table. She looked between the baby and Potions Master, before finally choosing her words. "The Daily Prophet-"

"-Was a load of rot." Harry finished, fidgeting slightly under her now calculating stare.

"Oh?" She replied, arching a questioning eyebrow.

He swallowed. "Where's Ron?"

"Harry…" Her tone was becoming harsh and demanding. "It's not that I don't believe that the Prophet is, shall we say, full of untruths…it's just that you have that look on your face that says you're hiding something important from me concerning said article. And the fact that Professor Snape would be entrusting you…" She shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. "Start talking."

The young father shook his head, "I'd rather not have to go through the entire thing with you guys more than once…." He trailed off as Hermione sighed in frustration and defeat, realising that Harry had a valid point.

"Right, well, he's in the Tower with the others. Said he'd come down with them…" At the look the Boy Who Lived gave her, she conceded. "I'll go get him now, shall I?" Without waiting for the reply, she turned and headed out of the Hall.

Harry walked back to the staff table, where the majority of teachers were pretending not to pay any attention to the happenings. He placed his daughter into Severus' outstretched arms. "I'm thinking that it will be easier to tell them everything somewhere a little less, ah, crowded…" The teenager explained, his eyes glued to those of his older partner.

Snape frowned in concern. "Potter…" He began, a note of warning in his voice. It had just occurred to him that out of all that they had discussed, they hadn't really covered what 'everything' -in relation to what Harry's two best friends would be told- actually was.

Holding up his hand to silence the older man, the Gryffindor sighed. It seemed that it was not an issue that required discussing. His mind was clearly made up. "No…They deserve to know…I've kept too much from them as it is…I trust them."

As they were surrounded by the other staff members, Severus could push the issue no further. It looked rather suspicious as it was. He merely frowned and nodded. "Do not dawdle. You are required to be back here before dinner. Mainly to take care of your daughter's requirements…"

Harry rolled his eyes, stifling a chuckle at the forced command. He knew that, deep down, beneath that icy demeanour, Severus was more than happy to spend time with Callisto. He felt the urge to roll his eyes again. That girl would be the dictionary definition of 'spoilt' and by Snape's own hand. It was somewhat ironic, seeing as it had been the bane of Severus' existence when he had thought of Harry himself as the spoilt Potter brat…

"Right," Ron's voice brought Harry out of his reverie. "What's such a big deal that 'Mione had to come a-rushin' into the boys' dorms…" He trailed off as the sight of Harry standing by Snape, (apparently in a somewhat pleasant conversation with the man) both subconsciously fussing over a baby, came into his view.

Taking a deep breath, the Boy Who Lived began. "Well, the article in the Prophet at Christmas-"

"The one about Professor Snape and his baby-" Hermione cut in, much to Harry's discomfort.

"Ah, yeah…" He fidgeted, "That one…See, the thing is-"

"Snape's letting you near his kid?"

"I'm getting to that." Harry snapped, covering the cough of protest from his partner. Callisto, as per usual, began to fuss and whimper at the tone that her father had used. The raven-haired Gryffindor closed his eyes for a moment, attempting to calm himself. When he reopened them, he addressed his friends. "Look, walk with me. I'll explain everything. Let's just…go somewhere a little more…private."

After bidding the teachers goodbye, the trio made their way to the grounds, and strode to the lake. Harry broke free from his friends, moving forward a few paces. Their presence was almost smothering. He stood silent once they had reached their favourite patch of grass and stared over the rippling water in contemplation. It was Hermione who broke the silence first.

"You know," she began softly, in the tone that usually signalled that she had been paying too much attention to trivial details, "for someone who fought against spending the Christmas break with Snape, you certainly seem…comfortable with him now. Judging by the way you were interacting before."

The Boy Who Lived continued to stare out over the expanse of water, not reacting to her gentle nudge in conversation at all. She scowled.

"Look, whatever's bothering you-"

A tiny pained smile lifted the corners of Harry's lips as he sighed, his glare still burning a path towards the giant squid, which had emerged near the far side of the lake. "Nothing in the article was true." He began, sounding somewhat detached. "Not about Professor Snape, anyhow."

The girl exchanged glances with her redheaded counterpart. "I'm not sure I follow…."

The raven-haired boy continued, as if ignoring her comment. "See, he was…What I mean is…he didn't fight the claims made by the Prophet because, well, I asked…no…I begged him not to." It was at this point he chose to turn back to his friends, his emerald eyes glimmering as the sun's slowly setting rays hit them. "Snape- He was covering for me…"

"You?" Ron repeated, deciding that he had remained silent for too long himself, "Mate, I'm lost."

Harry ducked his head slightly, "Callie…Callisto; the baby…She's, uh, well…she's mine." He wasn't surprised when a shocked silence followed his confession.

"Yours?" Ron asked, almost as if testing the idea on his tongue.

Hermione's jaw fell further at the Boy Who Lived's nod. "I…Oh, Harry, I don't know what to say…"

"Now there's a first." The other boy chuckled, managing to overcome his initial shock. "Mione, do you have any idea what this means?" She shook her head and a slow, sly grin appeared on his face. "It means that Harry here has been getting lucky and didn't bother to tell us…" He moved forward and threw his arm around the taller young man's shoulders. "Go on, mate." He encouraged, nudging him playfully. "Who was she? Not a student here; we'd have noticed if one of the girls was walkin' around the place with a basketball for a stomach..."

Harry fought the urge to tell his best friend that that presumption wasn't necessarily true, but stayed silent for a little while. After all, he hadn't even told them of his sexual preference yet. To delve directly into the technicalities of concealing pregnancy wouldn't be the best move.

"C'mon…Tell me!" Ron was practically pleading. "Who was she? Was it an ongoing relationship or a one-night thing? Oh, and was she any good in the sack? And…OI!" He yelped as Hermione hit him square in the chest. "Bloody hell, Mione, what was that for?"

She glowered at him. "Women are not objects, Ronald." She huffed indignantly, before noting Harry's uncomfortable silence. She attempted to look into his eyes. "Harry?" She enquired softly.

The young man in question fidgeted and avoided her eyes. "See, the thing is…I…er…well…I was Callie's mother, in the technical sense of the word…" He could feel his face burning as Hermione stared incredulously at him. Naturally, Ron was still a few pages behind on the uptake.

"You…what?" He asked, looking extremely puzzled.

Harry took a deep breath. "I was her mother…I carried her in me…I…Ron…I'm not exactly all that attracted to women and I-"

On instinct, Ron recoiled, pulling his arm back from the other boy's shoulder and panicking slightly. "But…Cho-"

"Was when I was 15 and we all saw how that worked out." He swallowed, a little hurt that his best friend was coming off a little homophobic. "Look, can you think of any other time where I've been out with a girl?" Silence followed his question. "I didn't think so."

"But, Harry, it's not like we've seen you, ah, 'out', so to speak, with any men either." Hermione reasoned.

He chuckled lightly, without really knowing what he found so amusing. "That's true, Mione, but I-"

"No." Ron cut in, blinking at him, as if sizing him up. In truth, he was wondering whether Harry was still the same Harry that he had been best friends with for over six years, or if he was going to plan on suddenly going out and buying fishnet tank tops and piercing his ears, while calling everyone 'Luv' and flirting madly with every male that walked by.

Mentally admonishing himself for the idiotic and rather wrong manner in which he had internally labelled his best friend, Ron grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, mate, it's a lot to take in, you know? I mean, I believe you and all…But…it's a bit of a shock."

"You're telling me." Harry shot back, heaving a breath of relief.

Before another awkward silence could settle over the group, Hermione spoke up once more. "So you slept with some guy," Harry winced at the very light questioning in her statement, but chose not to extrapolate, "discovered you were pregnant, obviously used magic to conceal it," she seemed to be gathering confidence and anger as she spoke now, and the young father knew what she was about to say next, before the words even left her mouth, "and you neglected to tell me…I mean, us?" She gestured between herself and the youngest remaining Weasley.

Harry nodded slowly. "Look, 'Mione, I-"

"You what?" She snapped, folding her arms over chest. "Forgot? Decided that it wasn't important enough for us to know? Or maybe-"

The Gryffindor male under her attack glared. "And if I'd told you? What then? Would that have changed anything, other than to make the information a little less stable, thus putting me and Callisto into more danger than we already were at the time?" He attempted to swallow the lump that was forming in his throat. "I wanted to, oh Gods, I wanted to tell you both so badly…But the battle was coming…And then after…" he looked away, knowing that he didn't have to explain himself further in regards to that event and the weeks following it. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned back to look into Hermione's eyes. "I'm sorry." He managed.

She shook her head sadly. "We all are. But you should have told someone."

Harry laughed at that. Hermione scowled at him, and he snickered. "Sorry, Mione, it's just…I knew that you were going to say that…I mean, those words exactly! I even bet a couple of the teachers the other night, although, it's not really a bet if the other parties involved agree…"

She seemed somewhat put out at that, but decided to set those issues aside and focus on the actual topic of discussion. "Okay…So before Christmas, when you were protesting the decision to send you to Snape's, that was obviously because of the due-date."

The young father nodded. "Yeah…I hadn't really thought that I'd survive the battle. Especially unmarked the way I had…So I never really had any plans for when she, or he at the time…I didn't exactly know what I was carrying… Anyway, I'd never really planned ahead to giving birth and all that…" He shrugged. "Severus was probably the last person, and yet the only person, I could have asked to have gone through that with, if you know what I mean."

"Not really," Ron interrupted, earning himself a glare from Hermione. He immediately chose to do his best 'Contemplative Academic' impersonation and willed his face to become sombre, "But do go on."

"Well, I kept the concealment charms up…" Harry continued, smirking a little at his friend's antics, "Well…until he took them down when he thought I'd been cursed by something-or-other…and helped me through everything, gave me the odd lecture, actually listened to me when I begged him not to tell Dumbledore or anyone, and then got caught by the press the one time we left the manor. And then after Christmas –thanks for your gifts, by the way. Did you get the ones that I sent?- he sort of helped me sort everything out and then Dumbledore came and we found out about the article and then we came back here and sorted a lot of other stuff out."

After having rushed his story out in the manner of an overexcited 5 year old, Harry looked at his friends. "And that's about it. The rest of it you'll find out tonight, when everyone else finds out. It's mainly trivial details…"

"Like who the other father is?"

At Hermione's question, Harry paled. "I…I…"

The young woman pulled him into a reassuring hug, "I promise you, Harry, no matter who he is, we're here for you…"

The Boy Who Lived closed his eyes. "Draco." He confessed. He felt Hermione tense up, as Ron's jaw slackened. Well, as long as things were already coming undone, he might as well admit to it all properly. "What we had…Well, it definitely wasn't a relationship…or anything remotely based on any emotion other than lust and release of stress and, ahm, tension…But it was ongoing nonetheless…" He paused, "He didn't know. Not 'til right near the end. Merlin, he was pissed off."

For once it was Ron who chose to speak first. "Anything else you'd like to admit to, Harry? There's not all that much else you can say now to shock us, I'd say. Well, other than admitting to being involved with The Greasy Git himself-"

The young father froze, "Funny you should say that-"

His best friend's eyes widened, as his face took on an expression that was somewhere between horrified and disbelieving. Then he crumpled to the ground. Obviously, it had been too much information for him to take.

Harry pulled away from Hermione's hug and looked her in the eye, "You're okay with all this? I mean, Sev and I…we're serious…but he and I…we haven't…" He trailed off, blushing, while his friend struggled to respond properly.

"I don't think I need details just yet…or ever…But, yes, Harry, as long as you're happy…" She finally managed, smiling at him. He grinned and pulled her into a hug once more, before promising to explain things properly once Ron was conscious and they were in a more comfortable setting. Then together the two friends helped carry the third member of their trio back to the castle, where some smelling salts and more time for explanations awaited them.

-?-

Later that evening found Harry tucking his daughter safely into her crib for the night. He smiled as he looked down at her, and sighed lightly. Telling the rest of the 7th years had proved interesting, although they had been given a much more abridged version of the events than Hermione and Ron, if that were even possible to contemplate.

For hours Harry had suffered under the questions and babbling of his peers, while he kept an eye on how Severus was fairing, seeing as the older man had taken charge of the baby, glaring at all those who approached to see the latest addition to the Potter clan, and even endeavouring to scoff at the select few who had been brave enough to have pleaded with him to let them hold her.

Chuckling to himself as he reached for his wand, Harry wondered if telling the rest of the school would bring forth a similar, if not more excited reaction. He didn't doubt it.

Still smiling, he placed the monitoring spell over the baby's room, before exiting towards his own bed.

Things had been less complicated than he'd predicted.

With this happy thought in his mind, Harry slipped under the covers and closed his eyes. It took him a little longer than usual to drift off as he was still trying to readjust to not having the strong body of the potions master beside him, however he still managed to float off into a pleasant slumber.

-?-

"Harry…."

The voice in his dream was beginning to annoy him.

"Harry…."

In fact, it seemed to be rising in volume.

"Potter!"

The Gryffindor groaned a little as he slipped out of dreamland and into consciousness. He cracked open an eye to find one rather frustrated Severus Snape towering over him, nursing his daughter in his arms. "Hmmm?" He managed after a moment.

Severus frowned at him. "Get up, you're running late. Breakfast started 15 minutes ago…"

Harry threw the covers aside as he dragged himself from the bed. "And I slept through Callie's usual morning fuss?" He asked, his brain kick starting, "With the monitoring charm on? I find that hard to believe…"

"No, you did nothing of the sort. I took it upon myself to take care of her early this morning, as it was more than obvious that last night took a lot out of you…"

The younger man smiled warmly, and he pressed a soft kiss to his partner's cheek as he threw on his school robes. "Thanks."

Severus nodded, "There was that…" He began, before sighing sadly and turning to look Harry in the eye, "However, I also wanted to speak to you before anyone else…"

The tone of his voice sent the warning bells off in Harry's mind. He sobered immediately. "What is it?" He asked. "What's wrong?"

The potions master swallowed, but did not divert his gaze. "Albus received an owl earlier this morning…Lucius Malfoy is on his way as we speak. He's demanding he see his granddaughter."

Harry closed his eyes, calming himself from the panic that was about to take him over. He didn't know how Malfoy knew. No, that didn't matter. What did matter, though, was the fact that he was coming. Coming to interfere. To try and take his baby away, perhaps?

And with the mere possibility of that thought alone, Harry felt his knees give way and his heart hammered away in his chest as he flopped to the ground. And within moments, the Boy Who Lived's resolve had crumbled, and he was frozen with fear, and pain and panicking like nobody could ever imagine.

He'd survived the killing curse, and numerous battles with the Dark Lord, however all it took was six little words to make him come undone, and at that moment in time, those six little words were repeating over and over in his head.

Lucius Malfoy is on his way.

A/N 2- I hope it was worth the wait. I'm not really pleased with this one, to be honest. I much prefer the ones preceding it. Either way, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.