Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!

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The following day, Harriet managed to convince Severus that he needed to lie down and rest.

After hours of Mother Hen's gentle coaxing, Father Raven finally climbed into her nest and let his exhausted body find respite with a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

Although, Severus's dark eyes snapped wide open the second that Harriet deftly stood from the bed to visit the lavatory.

"You can't be this protective forever." Harriet chided as Severus blinked blearily at her and the baby in her arms.

"Where are you going, Potter?" He asked suspiciously.

"I need to use the lavatory. Am I allowed?" Harriet frowned.

"Well…...give her to me then. I don't want you to drop her." Severus drawled as he sat up and forced himself to ignore his grogginess.

"I'm not going to drop her!" Harriet laughed as Severus leaned over and scooped their daughter from her arms before she could stop him.

Harriet watched Severus lay back in her nest and lovingly cradle his little Lily.

A soft smile danced across Harriet's lips before she asked softly, "...Father Raven?"

Severus's black eyes shifted towards her questioningly.

"We're alright." Harriet assured him with a small nod.

She kept her smile as she bent over and pressed a soft kiss to his lips while she squeezed his free hand in hers.

As Mother Hen straightened her back and padded to the bathroom, she turned around and saw Father Raven watching her, ready to rush to her aid if she stumbled or fell.

The sight of his paranoid hovering made her cheeks flush scarlet.

Mother Hen relished being in Father Raven's care, protected under his wings.

Harriet closed the lavatory door and sighed to herself.

Mother Hen hoped that Father Raven wouldn't leave her nest now that fledgling had arrived.

Harriet desperately wanted Severus to be hers…..her lover and her mate…….not just the father of her child.

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Fledgling's first weeks of life brought joys, triumphs, and challenges for both Mother Hen and Father Raven.

Harriet felt like she had a much easier time than most new mothers.

All she had to do was lounge in her nest and cuddle her daughter, Severus made things that simple for her.

He was completely dedicated to his new little family.

Severus had taken a temporary leave of absence from Hogwarts after Professor McGonagall had agreed to lead the school in his place for a while.

There was no other option for Severus, even if he had returned to the castle every day after the winter holidays ended, he wouldn't have been of any use to the students or the staff.

His thoughts remained with his daughter and the omega who had birthed her.

To help Harriet recover, Severus assumed all of the household's daily responsibilities.

He did the cooking, the cleaning, and the errands that needed to be completed to keep the pantry well-stocked.

Whenever Mother Hen would allow him, Father Raven changed fledgling, bathed her, cuddled her, and read to her.

He tended to Harriet with all of the same painstaking attention as well.

Harriet was fortunate enough to have avoided complications during the delivery, but Severus was determined to make sure that she didn't encounter any afterwards either.

Severus kept Harriet clean and dry.

He gave her ample amounts of those soothing pads he had prepared for her most delicate areas.

He used his skillful hands to massage her and ease the cramps that echoed from her shrinking womb.

Whenever Harriet's breasts ached, Severus warmed his palms and rubbed calming lotions into her engorged glands.

Sometimes Harriet was generous enough to allow him a sip of the thick, pearly fluid that started leaking from her nipples when fledgling was a few days old.

Severus found the taste sweet, rich, and addictive, but that was all he ever allowed himself, a taste.

No matter how delicious the omega was, her milk was for his daughter.

The look of loving reverence that had planted itself on Severus's pale face when he had first met little Lily never faded.

It was that look of tenderness that made Harriet fall more deeply in love with the stoic alpha.

One evening, while Severus sat in the nursery and read to Lily from a book of fairytales, Harriet peered inside the doorway and laid a hand over her empty womb as she watched.

From her father's arms, Lily cooed softly in response to his low, rich voice.

The nursery lamp burned with the same, steady, fondness of Harriet's heart as she watched Father Raven read to their daughter.

Her emerald eyes were soft and gentle as she looked at her family.

Family.

It frightened Harriet that she and Severus hadn't discussed many plans for after the birth.

Mother Hen hoped with every fiber of her being that Father Raven would decide to stay.

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Baby Lily celebrated her first month of life.

That afternoon, Mother Hen gently swung the pendant of her harmony ball necklace back and forth between her fingers while her daughter nursed.

Severus glided into the nursery and silently watched the scene for a long moment.

When Harriet felt his dark stare boring into her, she looked up and met his gaze.

Harriet drew in a deep breath and Severus couldn't help but follow the movement of her creamy breasts as her chest rose and fell with the action.

He noticed the blush that dusted the omega's cheeks when she realized that he was admiring her.

"It's impolite to stare." Harriet smirked.

Despite her statement, Severus noticed that she straightened her spine to expose more of herself to his hungry eyes.

"I underestimated you, Potter." Severus answered in his low drawl.

Harriet blinked at him incredulously until he added, "...You're an admirable mother."

Severus watched Harriet grin at his compliment.

As much as he despised her arrogance, he knew that she deserved his praise.

Harriet had been attentive, patient, and almost ethereally maternal with his daughter.

That alone would have easily put him in her debt forever, but there were other reasons why Father Hen remained committed to Mother Hen.

"I should have seen it before." Harriet replied as she gave Severus a wry smile.

He scowled at her questioningly for a moment and she laughed.

"Sometimes you were cruel and strict." Harriet said with a smile, "...And everyone was terrified of you, Professor Snape, but you kept us safe. You looked after us in class….and out…..and we learned. We learned from you because you taught us well, you prepared us, and watched over us. I don't why it's surprised me so much that you've been a good and decent father."

Severus felt his chest swelling with pride as Harriet spoke.

They held each other's gazes until Lily let go of Harriet's nipple and began to fuss as she impatiently demanded the other.

Harriet abandoned the moment she was sharing with Severus and looked down to carefully switch her daughter to the other side.

When Lily latched on again, her gentle sucking sounds filled the room, punctuated by Harriet's quiet sigh.

Severus eyed her gold harmony ball necklace that glittered in the light from the lamp.

"This was brilliant….I think she does recognize the sound." Harriet said with a gentle smile as she touched the pendant that hung over her breasts.

Severus gave Harriet an unreadable look as the air between them grew heavy with tension.

"Do you know the real reason that I gave you that necklace, Potter?" Severus asked in a low whisper.

The atmosphere in the room was thick with mutual pining as Harriet replied, "...I like to think that I do."

As Severus walked forward, Lily let go of her mother and settled herself down to sleep.

Father Raven silently waited as Mother Hen stood from her chair and laid fledgling down in her bassinet.

Harriet was going to turn and look at Severus, but by the time she glanced over, he was already standing behind her, with one hand protectively on her lower back and his dark gaze flickering between her and their infant.

Severus's eyes were narrowed as he opened his mouth to speak, but Harriet surprised him by begging in a hushed whisper, "Stay with us!"

Severus felt his heart clench in his chest.

Slowly, he raised his hands and clasped the pendant around Harriet's neck in his slender fingers.

They heard its gentle chime ring out in the silence of the room.

Harriet looked up into Severus's black eyes and scanned his face for a response, but he merely leaned down closer.

Harriet couldn't help the involuntary noise of gladness that escaped her throat when Severus crushed his lips against hers.

Their kiss spoke of passion and held the sweet intimacy that remained fresh and exciting with the anxious thrill that new lovers experienced.

Severus pulled away as their kiss cooled.

He knew full well that Harriet hadn't fully recovered from the birth yet.

As they stood together and clutched onto each other, Severus leaned down again and let his head rest against Harriet's.

He wrapped his arms around her and draped her in the black fabric of his robes while he breathed in her sweet scent.

Harriet closed her eyes and did the same, comforted by Severus's calming smell.

When he tired of standing, he pulled Harriet into his strong arms and carried her to her nest.

She was quiet as he laid her down gently among the soft blankets and smooth sheets.

Severus slipped into his nightclothes before he joined her there and let her cuddle into his side as if it were the most natural thing in life.

Harriet held onto Severus as he draped his arms around her and allowed his fingertips to trail over her skin.

Their gentle contact and the dizzying kiss they had shared made both Father Raven and Mother Hen wish that fledgling was older.

If Harriet had healed from the birth, Severus may very well have triggered her heat and in turn, the hormones and pheromones she released may have pulled him into a rut.

Harriet fantasized about the day that Severus would claim her when she was at her most vulnerable and they would become mates at last.

While Harriet dreamed, Severus was contemplating the appropriate time to wait until he presented Harriet with another piece of jewelry.

Whenever that time came, he was certain that the next golden gift he gave the omega wouldn't be a necklace…….

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The unlikely family gradually established routines and settled into their new roles.

After fledgling had been in the world for two full months, Severus returned to Hogwarts, but for half-days only.

He spent every morning with Harriet and his daughter.

Before Father Raven left for the castle each afternoon, he saw to it that Mother Hen had her lunch and that fledgling was doing well.

Lily was a happy little baby who delighted in the copious amounts of love that she received from both of her parents.

She fell asleep easily listening to the low, rumbling purr of her father's voice, cradled against her mother's chest, which retained the scent of her milk.

Harriet was well on her way to recovering from Lily's arrival.

With her baby adhering to a mostly regular feeding and sleeping schedule, she had managed to gain most of her energy back.

When Severus came home each night, Harriet had dinner waiting for him.

She started to perform the cleaning duties and the errands.

After Harriet pulled some lemon biscuits out of the oven late one afternoon, Lily cooed behind her and she glanced at the time.

Severus was fond of lemon, it had surprised Harriet to learn that.

Regardless, she genuinely hoped that he would enjoy the treats she had made for him when he came home in an hour.

Harriet had originally planned to return to work as soon as possible, but that had been before she gave birth.

The joy of mornings spent cradling Lily and counting the baby's eyelashes while they snuggled had proved too great for Harriet.

She had decided to extend her leave from the auror office indefinitely.

Besides, as the one who had defeated the Dark Lord, there would always be a position for her there, when and if she chose to go back.

With her vast inheritance, Harriet had no real need to work.

She smiled as she glanced down at the lemon biscuits that sat cooling on the metal baking tray.

Mother Hen enjoyed her time at home, looking after fledgling and her……..well, Father Raven.

He wasn't really hers yet, not formally.

Harriet was hopeful that soon though, that would change.