Madam Pomfrey walked promptly, descending the winding staircase in front of her. As the head nurse at Hogwarts, she was hardworking and straightforward in her role, which she took pride in. After all, she made it her sworn business to complete all of her supposed tasks.

Can't expect less from the head nurse at a school of magic, of course.

Traveling several paces behind her were the two and a half students, at a somewhat slower rhythm. The madam was so fixated on her task that she didn't recognize the immensely uncomfortable air just behind her.

Severus walked briskly with Harry in his arms, resembling the strict nurse in front of them. However, his torso was hunched more forward, unconsciously aiming to support his child more. People around them weren't really focusing on his posture however, as their attention was fully drawn to the intense seething expression on his face. His lips were pulled into a harsh scowl, his glare wishing death among all who dared make eye contact with him.

James trailed behind Severus, hands in his pockets as he gently kicked up his feet with every step. On his face was a disheartened and clueless expression, as he continued to stare at the back of the raven's head throughout the walk to the hospital wing. He kept squinting his eyes while looking at the Slytherin, eyebrows furrowing in frustration; he truly didn't understand the other's reaction.

Once they arrived at the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey led the two to the nearest bed, with a wooden chair next to the bed and a white curtain around the area, to provide privacy. She conjured a second chair and placed it next to the first, gesturing for the boys to sit.

Once sat, Severus handed over Harry, who panicked slightly at being taken away from his papa. He calmed once the nurse turned him around to give him full view of the Slytherin while placing the child on the bed.

Severus couldn't stop his heart from warming when he saw the boy looking around curiously, eyes darting around inquisitively but never letting them wander for long before returning to his papa, the child giggling and smiling when their eyes met. It was only with the notice of a slight shift on his left that Severus realized that the bespectacled Gryffindor was looking at him, and the soft smile the raven had on his face was wiped off, the student hunching slightly at the unwanted attention.

"Alright, young man," the head nurse said, cutting into the silence and making Severus jolt before he realized that she was referring to Harry. "Please cooperate with me here, I simply want to make sure you are alright after your journey."

Harry grinned at the older woman. "Okay!" he exclaimed, wiggling his feet excitedly. He's not scared. How could he be scared? He had both his daddy and papa right there with him, barely a few feet away. He was the happiest boy alive!

Madam Pomfrey moved closer and grabbed the boy's chin, turning his face from side to side. After observing him for a second, she let go of him, and began casting several wordless spells. All the spells glowed upon impact, but faded fairly quickly, seemingly having no effect on the boy in front of them. Harry just continued grinning adorably throughout the entire process.

The head nurse took a step back from the child and faced the two students briskly, arms behind her back. "Alright. I have determined that there are no harmful everlasting effects of the time travel. He is completely healthy and in tip-top shape."

Madam Pomfrey paused, moving to cross her arms in front of her. "I will leave now to go fetch the paternity potions and to attend to another patient of mine. It may take a while. Now, in that time," she stated, pointing a very fixed expression towards the two boys in front of her, her stare lingering on both for several seconds, "I better not find out anything happened between you two, especially anything that could harm the young lad. Do I make myself clear?"

She clearly remembered the relationship between the two students in front of her.

The boys nodded jerkily, not taking their eyes off the woman in front of them. She stared the boys down, unyielding. Finally relenting after a moment, she swished open the curtain to leave, the curtains magically closing right after she left.

The head nurse at Hogwarts was truly a formidable woman.

Left behind was once again a very awkward silence, only interrupted by the murmured babbles coming from the boy on the bed. He made no move to approach his papa or daddy, too focused on crunching the blanket he was currently sitting on in his little baby fists, somehow focused purely on the blanket. Severus didn't understand.

As he sat watching the boy, he saw out of the corner of his vision Potter straightening, and he knew he'd have to interact with the Gryffindor, which was something he did not want happening. He'd much prefer to jump out a window, which he was seriously contemplating. It was only a few feet away.

Sadly, he just couldn't leave Harry behind, so Severus also straightened out, awaiting the godforsaken exchange. Unfortunately, he didn't wait long.

"Uhm, Snape…" James started, looking down at the ground while moving a hand through his hair. "I uh- I'm sorry, I guess? I just- I really don't know what I did wrong. It felt like we were getting along, um, cordially I suppose, but then you got really angry, and everything got really tense."

Severus could only stare at him, which he did for several seconds, affronted. "You really don't understand what you did wrong? What you said?"

The cluelessness on the seeker's face was enough. Severus gritted his teeth. Ignorant fool.

"You said that no Slytherin would ever truly care for a child. Only using them," the raven replied, seething rage embedded in every slow and precise delivery of the words. He wanted Potter to understand exactly what was unacceptable.

Alas, Severus was disappointed when, instead of looking shocked with comprehension, James lowered his hand with an expression of irritation growing on his face.

"What's wrong with that?" James countered, outraged. "Slytherins are evil. You- They would use anyone to get what they want!"

Severus's nostrils flared as he sat up briskly, eyes brimming with hate as he glared at the brunette across from him. With a level, scathing tone, he retaliated.

"Clearly not all evil is Slytherin. Just look at your best friend."

"Black isn't evil!" James leaned forward, hand slamming down on the armrest of the chair in clear offense at the raven's statement.

"Well I'm certain I heard him say Harry deserves to be a squib purely because he's my child!" Severus cried out, level voice wavering at the last several words.

He couldn't take it anymore. He could feel his throat drying up, burning, as he looked away from the Gryffindor, taking a couple of seconds to will his turbulent emotions not to fall from his eyes. There was only silence.

"You're right," the Slytherin heard from next to him, the words calm and quiet. It was so unexpected that Severus nearly started retorting out of habit before realizing what was said.

"What?" Severus brows furrowed in confusion as he stared at James in shock, mouth slightly agape.

"You're right," James replied again, looking calm and mature in a way that was so foreign on the Gryffindor. It made Severus lean away, even more wary than before.

James just sighed at Severus's reaction. "Sirius was- what he said, was out of line. And I'm going to talk to him about that. Makes sure he understands."

Severus was still wary, but he most definitely had some opinions to input. "Excuse me, you seem to have forgotten that this is Black we're talking about. He encompasses the complete and utter stubbornness you Gryffindors seem to take pride in to a tee."

The Slytherin didn't expect to see James smiling at that. "Yeah, Padfoot would be the guy to never admit he's wrong. Up until his death that is, where he has it written on his gravestone. 'I was wrong that one time, and no other!'" James chuckled lowly to himself at the visual, before taking on a serious tone once again.

"But really, I'll make sure to talk to him. About this, how that was a horrible thing to say." James said, looking earnestly at the Slytherin.

Severus was just taken by surprise with the Gryffindor's actions, but as the seeker's words started to sink in, he could feel an intense, deep seated resentment rising in him. If it wasn't for Harry, you would have been perfectly fine with what Black said, the raven thought bitterly. But all that came out was, "Are you serious?"

"No, that's Padfoot." James replied instinctively.

Severus automatically rolled his eyes, but he couldn't stop a slight smile at the Gryffindor's stunned laughter. He covertly bit his lip to hide it.

He wasn't going to give Potter that satisfaction.

Severus felt himself startle out of whatever state he was in when the curtains zipped open, Madam Pomfrey entering with three potions floating behind her. All three were a gold yellow color, but one bottle was larger with a slightly more opaque shade.

Swishing her wand, she sent the two smaller bottles to the students, then handed Harry the larger one.

"Alright, here are the paternity tests. The young lad has the basis potion. You two have the responsive potions. After being ingested at the same time, the basis potion will read the child's magical core, and produce a glow that surrounds the child. If there is a parental link between the child's core and one of your cores, then you both will glow. If you two are indeed the parents, then all three of you should glow."

Turning to the child, the nurse smiled softly. "Go on," she said, placing her hand under the bottle and pushing it upwards towards the child's mouth, "You must drink it. It should taste good."

Looking up at the nurse, the boy then turned his head to look at his papa. Once his papa smiled at him, Harry took the leap, and took a sip. He found that it tasted fairly similar to the lemon drops from the headmaster's office, and liking the taste, he gulped down the rest.

Severus watched the child drink the potion happily, then looked down at his own bottle. Twisting off the cap, the Slytherin downed the potion, smacking his lips while grimacing, as the liquid was a little too sickly sweet for him. The Gryffindor next to him did the same, after a slight bout of hesitation where his eyes darted from Severus to the potion in his own hand.

Severus looked forward towards the child on the bed, waiting. It was with the widening of his eyes that he saw the boy begin to glow a bright, orange color, with what the raven swore to be thin lines of green scattered about. Remembering the goal of the potions, he hurriedly looked down at himself, only to find himself glowing too, though his was more of a pastel yellow with the green being more prominent, and the glow was faded.

Severus felt so much relief at seeing the glow on his body. He was almost mesmerized by the glow, refusing to look away from the curve of the back of his hand. He objectively had known that Harry was his child. But of course, no matter what, there would always be the slight doubts that appeared right before taking the potion. After all, Harry was adorable, bright, and enjoyed the presence of others. Nothing like himself.

Now there was no doubt. Harry was truly his son. He would truly have a child with someone.

Severus felt a rush of air enter his lungs as he remembered that. As he remembered who else was there. He hesitated, refusing to look over, even tilting his head in the opposite direction.

But finally, he had to look.

And Potter was glowing.

James was glowing a more golden yellow color than Harry, richer and more opaque. There were no streaks of green, but there was a red undertone, and his glow was also faded. It was like the two parents' glows together made up the intense glow of their child.

Severus, however, was not focused on that. The moment he had turned and seen the glowing Gryffindor, his heart had turned to stone. His expression grew emotionless.

He didn't want to deal with this.

"Papa! Look!" Severus heard, his attention drawn to the grinning child on the bed. The child was looking with wonder at the glow on his body, but once he looked up and saw that his papa's attention was on him, he crawled to the edge of the bed and reached his arms out. Severus, recognizing the universal sign, reached over and picked him up, setting him in his lap facing him.

Harry thrust his hand into his papa's face. "Look! I'm orange!" Severus just smiled at the adorable antics of the child, who's attention was now drawn to the Slytherin's glowing arm.

"Wow," Severus heard from next to him. He looked over to the Gryffindor, who had his hands out in front of him, just gazing at the glow spread all across them. "I'm," James started, then paused, a fond smile slowly growing onto his face. "I'm his father."

Against his better judgement, Severus heard himself saying, "He looks just like you."

"I know," James replied, attention still on the glow of his arms. "But this- this makes it real."

Severus didn't reply, turning his head to look down at the child, the glow fading from all three. Secretly, he agreed.

The glow was gone in the next couple of seconds.

"Well," Madam Pomfrey determined. "It seems as if the two of you are indeed the child's parents. Now hurry along, I have other patients to take care of. Unless you want me keeping you here all night."

She didn't have to tell Severus twice. He gently picked up Harry, who was frowning at his hands. Severus hid a smile at the clear disappointment the child had at the lack of a glow. Passing the Gryffindor, Severus exited the enclosed area, determined to forget everything that had just transpired, fail at that, and then wallow in his room.

He stopped short when fiery red hair danced past his vision.

"Lily?" Severus pondered. "What are you doing here?"

The redhead turned around, a look of surprise on her face as well. Understanding dawned on her face when she saw the boy in his arms, however. She left her location right outside another curtained off area and bounded over to the duo.

"Hey, Sev!" She greeted him, waving at Harry. "Did Pomprey check up on him? How is he?" She then rested a hand on his shoulder, pulling them closer with a serious expression. Talking quietly, she inquired, "Did you two do the paternity test? What were the results?"

Based on Severus noticing that Lily's eyes had darted past the pair in front of her, the Slytherin could tell that she was referring to both aforementioned parents.

"Yeah, he's fine. In full health. And," he leaned closer and whispered, "both the tests were successful. He is indeed-" And here Severus paused. He needed to take a breath. "Indeed the other father."

Severus watched Lily not respond, just keeping eye contact with him, but he knew she was a forward pushing woman. She would have more to say. And he's really been through a lot in the last two days. He should really be allowed a break. He did not want to have to discuss this matter yet. Truthfully at all, but he knew that with the redhead as a best friend, that wish was a lost cause.

"So," Severus cut in, noticing that her mouth had opened, preparing to speak. "You never informed me as to why you are here currently."

"Oh," the woman uttered, taken aback. She looked away, dazed with a concerned expression, as if arguing with herself as to whether or not to tell the raven. She bit her lip, and relented, making eye contact with Severus. "It's my friend, Mary. She, well, she can't remember anything from when she was five to when she arrived at Hogwarts. And it's not the natural way we forget things; she can't remember anything from then. At all." She broke eye contact, looking down. "I'm worried for her."

Severus didn't respond, busy contemplating what he had just heard. What could have caused that? He had a few ideas drifting around in his head, nothing with certainty sadly, but Harry interrupted before he could voice any.

He felt the boy moving against him and glanced down, only to see the boy's outstretched hand grasp at the long, red hair of the Gryffindor. "Hi, Auntie Lily." the boy shyly muttered, looking up at the woman with what could only be the widest, most adorable eyes in existence.

Lily couldn't help but coo. She reached her hand over and tapped the little boy briefly on the nose. "Boop!"

Harry moved back slightly, scrunching his nose, before he looked up and grinned widely, giggling at the woman in front of him. He let go of the hair, turning and burying his head in his papa's chest, embarrassed but still looking at the woman from the side of his vision gleefully.

Severus could see the stupid, dopey smile on Lily's face, and he refused to think about his own face. He knew that it was reflecting hers.

Lily's eyes skimmed past the father-son pair, and Severus noticed the smile on her face fading. Still looking past him, she calmly stated. "Don't look now, but a certain Gryffindor seeker is loitering at the entrance to the hospital wing."

Severus had to physically stop himself from turning in shock. Why was Potter still here?! He got the paternity test. He knew that Harry had potter blood flowing through his veins. He knew at some point he and Severus would end up… making a baby in some way. What else did he want!?

"Hey, so," Lily continued, drawing Severus out of his turmoil. "Did anything happen during the, uh, get together? Did Potter do something stupid? You said you'd tell me."

She was right. Severus had promised her that he'd mention anything bad that happened. And he did have something to say. Something had happened. Potter had insulted him and, now that Severus had looked back, he hadn't really apologized. He hesitated.

"No, nothing really happened," was the response that ended up coming out, shocking even Severus, and certainly shocking Lily.

"Are you sure?" She prodded, eyebrows raised. Clearly she didn't believe him.

"Yeah, I- I just stayed away from him. Didn't really interact much except for Potter attempting to make some very awkward small talk."

"Yeah, that would be really awkward, wouldn't it." She grimaced, the unwanted image popping up in her head. Severus just held Harry closer, not wanting to acknowledge what he had just done.