Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every week!
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Severus, Harriet, and baby Maggie went home to a quiet life assisted by Disencan.
They treated their new family member and employee well, with a full salary, warm clothes, a retirement plan, holiday time, and healthcare.
Severus had presented Disencan with a single sock on the same afternoon that the court had declared the house elf could work for the Snapes.
It had been Disencan's enthusiastic decision to stay with the Snape family.
Harriet never took a position as an auror, instead, she stayed in the home that she shared with Severus and focused on being a good wife to her husband and a good mother to Maggie.
Maggie was a pleasant, sweet baby, but as time passed, it became evident that either her premature birth or the trauma of her arrival…...or perhaps both…..hadn't left the child unscathed.
Severus's daughter achieved most of the usual milestones of infancy, all except those of locomotion and speech.
Maggie kept an adorable smile on her tiny face, eager to greet the world with her bright, green eyes, but her first birthday came and went without her uttering a single word.
The healers assured Harriet and Severus that some children took longer to find their voices.
Harriet had tried to take comfort in their guidance, but Severus continued to frown in worry whenever his little daughter was out of sight.
Maggie's chubby legs didn't seem able to support her.
After she nearly tore the skin off of her bottom trying to scoot around, her parents had taken her back to the healers for more advice.
In the Magical Medical Apparatus Department of St. Mungo's, Maggie Snape received her first means of successful transportation.
It looked somewhat like a muggle wheelchair, with two wheels on the side, both enchanted so that her small fingers couldn't get caught between them, with a buckle that held the inquisitive little girl in place for her safety.
Finally though, Maggie could take herself to places around her house, just like other toddlers her age.
Regardless, it broke Severus's heart whenever he saw his poor little pup, so innocent and sweet, confined to her tiny chair if she wanted to travel.
Harriet tried to focus on the positives.
She gave their daughter every potion, every healing elixir, every single thing that the medical staff recommended, in hopes of aiding Maggie's growth and development.
Shortly after their victory in court, Severus had retired from his position as Hogwarts' headmaster.
He and Harriet had no financial worries.
His true place in the world was no longer overseeing the castle's school.
Severus Snape finally got to go home, to a real home.
He spent his days loving his wife and looking after their darling daughter.
Harriet hadn't experienced a heat since Maggie's birth, which didn't seem to bother the Snapes.
They were content the way they were, completely settled into the normalcy of their domestic routines.
Early one spring morning, a couple of weeks before Maggie's second birthday, Harriet woke early and sighed quietly as she cuddled onto Severus's chest.
Although the sun had yet to rise, Severus cracked his eyes open when he felt Harriet's soft weight gently press over his heart.
"...Good morning." He greeted his mate in a low purr.
Harriet glanced up at him and yawned before she replied, "Sorry…..I didn't mean to wake you."
Severus groaned in response and wrapped his arms around his lover to hold her tightly against him.
He leaned his head down to bury his hooked nose into Harriet's hair and inhale her scent.
It wasn't as strong or as sweet as it had been when she had her heats or carried Maggie, but it was still her scent and catching even the slightest hint of his mate's smell made Severus feel blissfully at ease.
"The sun will be up soon." Harriet whispered as Severus used one of his hands to gently stroke his fingers up and down her arm.
"...So will Maggie." Severus replied as he moved to kiss Harriet's forehead.
Harriet glanced up at him slowly.
He blinked as she rolled onto her belly to look at him for a long moment.
Severus held his wife's stare for a second before he glanced down at her lips, then back up to her emerald eyes.
Harriet leaned forward………
Severus leaned towards her……..
Their eyes closed as their lips connected in a soft kiss.
The action drew gentle whispers of longing from the lovers.
Harriet cupped Severus's pale face in one of her palms as their affection deepened.
When she felt his hands dip to hold her sides in the familiar, possessive grip that she cherished, Harriet spread her legs to straddle Severus while she raised herself up on her hands.
As the morning sun began to peek through the curtains of their bedroom, Severus let his palms slip up Harriet's ribs to find the soft mounds of her breasts that her nightdress cruelly concealed.
Another moment and Harriet would have the hem of her gown lifted…….
Another moment and Severus would slip inside his omega, with his mouth latched onto one of her sweet little nubs…….
Another moment and………
A gentle coo from down the hallway sent them hurriedly pulling back from each other.
"She's up." Harriet whispered as she scrambled off of Severus and stood from their bed.
Severus sighed quietly as Harriet padded out of the bedroom.
Of course he couldn't wait to greet his little girl that morning.
However, he would have preferred it if his tiny darling could have given him a bit more time to greet Harriet.
Mrs. Snape returned a moment later with a sleepy baby Maggie in her arms, who laid against her breasts with a pout on her little lips.
Severus quickly moved over in bed to fluff the pillows as Harriet climbed back in and leaned against them for support.
He reached a finger out to gently stroke Maggie's silky hair as she raised a chubby little arm and pulled down her mother's nightdress.
Harriet sighed softly as her daughter grabbed her exposed breast and took her nipple into her mouth.
While Maggie's quiet suckling sounds filled the silent room, Harriet glanced over at Severus and frowned at the look that she saw on his face.
Was that…...disapproval?
"The healers said it would be fine to let her wean herself." Harriet defensively reasoned with her husband, "She eats solid meals now too, I think it's perfectly fine. She only takes me when she needs me."
"Of course." Severus replied in his low drawl as his dark gaze flickered from Maggie to Harriet.
To show his support, Severus leaned in and kissed Harriet lovingly.
She laid her head against his chest while she cradled Maggie and whispered, "...I love living this life with you, Sev."
Severus's breath hitched as he looked at Harriet and their little child.
He closed his eyes as he wrapped her and Maggie tightly in his embrace.
It wasn't that he disapproved of the way that his mate mothered their daughter.
Actually, Severus felt that Harriet was a wonderful mother.
Since Maggie had been born, the love he held for his wife had grown stronger because of the attentive care that she gave his little one.
No, Severus hadn't meant to shame his wife, he had only pouted at his own lost opportunity.
Sometimes, he needed to take Harriet too.
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Harriet did make time for her alpha, although perhaps not on his schedule.
They coupled while Maggie slept at night.
During the day, if she took a nap, they may have enough time for Severus to hold Harriet against the wall, bite down on her neck, and make himself one with her.
It wasn't about the physical feeling for Severus, making love to his mate was much deeper than that.
He needed to feel Harriet's hands on him, to hear her cries, to understand how badly she wanted him…...him……and no one else.
Those were the sounds, the thoughts, and the sensations that fed Severus Snape's soul.
Later that same morning, he stood in the kitchen while he waved his wand around and prepared something special for lunch while Harriet helped Disencan work in the lavender patch outside.
Farming had become a surprisingly profitable venture for the Snapes.
While the land they owned was far from sprawling, they did have enough earth in their possession to grow several crops plentiful enough for brewing potions.
Not only did they utilize their harvests for their household's supply, they occasionally peddled some of their crops and concoctions off for a bit of extra spending money to preserve their ample savings.
Severus had just finished placing several herbs into a pot on the stove when he heard a gentle creak.
He turned and looked in the direction of the noise.
His face softened as he saw his little girl smiling up at him from her miniature chair.
"Hello, my darling." Severus purred as he walked over.
Maggie laughed and reached up towards her father.
Severus happily accepted his baby's embrace as he unbuckled her from her chair and lifted her into his arms.
Maggie cooed softly as she admired the view from Severus's height and kept a firm grip on him.
Severus kissed his daughter's little cheek and watched her grin while he turned the temperature down on the boiling pot with a flick of his wand.
A storybook sat on the coffee table in the living area but before Severus could walk over, sit down, and read to Maggie, a knock came on the door.
Maggie blinked at Severus and he blinked back at her.
Hesitantly, he glided over and opened the door.
"Minister Shacklebolt…..." Severus greeted as he narrowed his eyes incredulously when he found Kingsley standing on his front porch.
Behind the Minister for Magic, Severus could see Disencan and Harriet staring in confusion at their unexpected visitor.
"Severus Snape." Kingsley nodded. He smiled at baby Maggie, who readily returned his smile before he replied, "Your daughter has only become cuter, I see! May I come in for a moment?"
Severus paused before he frowned at the Minister as he cautiously stepped aside and allowed him to enter his house.
After Kingsley crossed over the Snapes' threshold, Severus gestured for him to sit, which he did, in one of the chairs by the sofa.
Maggie blinked at the newcomer while Kingsley sighed and looked at Severus.
"I've come to ask you for a favor, Severus Snape." Kingsley nodded, "I understand if you refuse, but I would be most grateful if you could help me with this matter."
Severus felt debt weighing on his heart as he looked at Kingsley and contemplated the generosity that the Minister had shown him and his wife during their trial, "I'm retired now, Minister Shacklebolt. How can I possibly be of any service to you?"
"My term is almost up." Kingsley said as he nodded, "I won't be running for re-election, this position isn't for me, not really. However, as my last act in office, I intend to purge our government of the corruption that I am certain exists within it, yet hides in the shadows. I'm not certain who will step forth to campaign yet, but people fully expect me to…...and because of that, they expect my focus to be scattered. Instead of offering my own name as a candidate, I was hoping that you would allow me to use yours?"
Maggie put a tiny fist to her mouth as Severus's black eyes narrowed to slits, "I beg your pardon…….Are you asking me to run for Minister for Magic?"
"No, no!" Kingsley said quickly as he put his hands up defensively at the dark scowl that formed on Severus's face, "I'm merely asking you, Severus, to let me use your name and endorse you as a candidate…..Only to convince our enemies that my eye is not upon them! Then I might catch them in their villany before I pass our government on to its next leader! Please, Severus, be assured that it will be no personal cost to you if you help me. I don't mean to offend you, but you're not popular by any means……..It's not like you stand a chance of winning this sham campaign."
Kingsley finished with a chuckle and despite Severus's gratitude, he found the notion that he couldn't win the election a bit offensive.
Severus let the insult roll off his shoulders as he looked at Kingsley and nodded, "I'll have to discuss this with my wife before I give you an answer."
"Of course." Kingsley replied, "Please let her know, Severus, that a lot of good could come from this, if you two are willing to aid the Ministry."
As Kingsley stood and apparated away, Severus frowned to himself.
Of all the reasons that the Minister for Magic may potentially visit his home, that certainly wasn't the reason that Severus would have guessed.