— CHAPTER FIVE —

Two weeks later, Harry noticed that Severus seemed to be suffering aches and discomfort from the pregnancy. He hated not being able to be there for the other man, but then, he reconsidered that thought and realized that maybe there was a small way that he could.

He approached Severus in the kitchen - what he considered to be neutral territory. Severus was sitting on one of the benches that had been brought in to accommodate the large number of people in the house.

It was very late and everyone was asleep. It occurred to Harry then that most of the meaningful moments in his life these days occurred after dark. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing or… if maybe it wasn't actually significant at all and his mind was just trying to distract him from the foolish course of action he was currently set upon.

Severus was sipping tea and he looked utterly exhausted. Harry knelt before him. Severus went tense immediately and demanded, "What are you doing?"

Harry slipped off the black slipper that covered Severus's left foot and gently smoothed his thumbs over the sole of the swollen, tender foot. His fingers kneaded carefully and expertly. He did not look up but he felt Severus relax slowly and Harry was relieved Severus hadn't decided to kick him in the face as he had worried might happen. Harry tended each foot in turn with great care, rubbing the ankles and calves as well.

At last, when the grandfather clock chimed the hour, Harry replaced the slippers, bent his head and dared to press a gentle kiss to Severus's ankle. He raised his head then and met Severus's dark gaze. Harry murmured softly, "Please, try to get some sleep. You must be exhausted."

Severus was regarding him with a very strange expression. Harry supposed the man was shocked by his actions. Harry stood and left the kitchen without another word.

Every night after that - with the exception of one night where he had to leave to complete a mission for the Order - Harry repeated the new kitchen foot rub ritual. A week later, after Harry had pressed yet another kiss to Severus's ankle and stood to leave, Severus broke his silence to ask a question.

"Where did you learn how to do that?"

Harry paused then took a step backwards and leaned back against the counter, "A great deal of practice."

Severus gave him a rather meaningful look and Harry clarified hastily, "My Aunt Petunia is fond of wearing pointy, ill-fitting, high-heeled shoes."

Severus scoffed quietly, but surprisingly without much menace at all, "Such a doting nephew. Your aunt must adore you."

Harry stared at him a moment then looked away uncomfortably, "Uh no, not at all."

Severus could not have possibly been more wrong but Harry had no intention of elaborating this time. Harry straightened and said, "Good night, sir."

"Potter," Severus called, stopping Harry again.

"Yes, sir?"

There was a long pause and Harry frowned a little, confused by Severus's expression. At last, Severus said, "You must know… that this place is no place for a child."

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "I do know. I have been thinking about that as well. What would you have me do?"

"I intend to return to teach at Hogwarts after giving birth," Severus replied. "With your permission, I will take the child with me as well. You may visit your heir on holidays."

Harry's shoulders slumped a little and he had to close his eyes briefly before he replied, "Yes... that... that would probably be best."

Harry swallowed tightly against the lump in his throat. Tears stung his eyes but he forced a smile, "I am sure you and our child would both be safer... and happier at Hogwarts."

Severus slowly nodded, his eyes fastened firmly on Harry and as unreadable as ever. Harry left him and went to his room to try to deal with his emotions privately.

Shortly after then, Severus gave birth. Harry sat by his side the whole time and was startled when Severus actually clutched at his hand, eyes glazed with pain as they fixed on his. Harry squeezed the hand gripping his own and raised his other hand to caress Severus's cheek soothingly, speaking quiet nonsensical reassurances that actually seemed to help.

It was a boy, a gorgeous and healthy baby boy with a thick stock of wild black hair and sparkling black eyes. Severus offered Harry the baby to hold. Harry cradled him gently, terrified of dropping the precious little bundle. Harry swallowed tightly managed to ask, "What are we naming him?"

Severus raised a dark brow, "I have not considered it. I had thought you would have had a name in mind - something sentimental perhaps?"

Harry shook his head, "I… really have no idea."

He paused, staring down into those wide black eyes as he thought for a moment. He thought the child was his own person should have his own name, not someone else's. He whispered uncertainly, "Nicolas? Nicolas Blake, maybe?"

It was the first name that came to his mind and he was extremely surprised when Severus nodded and agreed with him, "Yes, that name is acceptable. Nicolas Blake Potter-Snape."

Harry raised a brow, in a way similar to Severus had just minutes prior. He said, "I would have imagined you would want his family name to be Snape-Potter."

"You bound me to you against my will, proving yourself to be superior to me," Severus replied without adding any negative affliction to the words, merely stating facts. "You are the dominant partner of our pairing. It is only proper that your name should come first."

Severus watched Harry holding Nicolas for a long moment then said, "Give me our child. You should try using your magic. Supposedly you should have some sort of increase in your strength."

Harry reluctantly gave Nicolas back to Severus. Harry raised his wand and pointed it at the wall, speaking a ward-strengthening spell. It was like a dam broke. Power exploded out of him in a wave and the house shuddered as the magic settled into the wards.

Severus's dark eyes had gone wide, Nicolas had started wailing immediately, and the healer - a woman that Harry had completely forgotten about - was openly gaping. Harry forced his magic back under his skin with a great deal of effort. He put away his wand, still feeling the magic thrumming through his veins, ten times more powerful than anything he had felt before, "Well, I suppose that answers that."

Harry looked at his wailing son guiltily, "Sorry, Nicolas."

He met Severus's gaze and was startled by the calculating look in those black eyes. He questioned uneasily, "What? What is it?"

"Exactly how powerful were you before?" Severus questioned slowly, suspiciously.

Harry glanced at the healer in time to see the woman hurriedly slipping out of the room. Harry shrugged a little and replied honestly, "That isn't an easy question to answer. Individual power can only be judged by comparing it to others. I know you never thought much of my abilities as a student but I assume you had to have had some idea of the things I've done over the years, don't you? You know I've fought Voldemort many times throughout my childhood and survived. It was not just dumb luck. Other than Voldemort and Albus, I really don't have anyone else to compare my magical ability to. I try to avoid excessive displays of power except when necessary. I avoid wandless magic and I keep my magic under my skin. It has always seemed best to be discrete when I can."

"You can use wandless magic?"

Harry nodded, "It comes easily to me."

Severus took a few seconds to process that statement then questioned, "What do you mean by keeping your magic under your skin?"

"I don't want to upset Nicolas again," Harry hedged evasively.

"Show me anyway." Severus's tone left no room for argument and Harry wasn't really looking to argue with the man, especially given what he had just been through.

Harry sighed then dropped his hold on his magic. His magic rose from beneath his skin, rapidly expanding outwards and growing in intensity. His awareness expanded with it. He quickly forced it back under his skin mere seconds later, without allowing it to fully expand. It was unlikely Severus would realize Harry hadn't revealed the full extent of it.

Severus looked rather shaken but he made a valiant effort to conceal it. Harry hesitated then said, "You felt my magic when I bound us and you know I am acting leader of the Order. I do not understand why you are so surprised."

"I did not realize," Severus began, only to trail off and shake his head. The man tried again, "I did not comprehend…"

Harry had never heard the other man at a loss for words. Harry smiled sadly in response, "Well, I suppose that is because it did not fit with your preconceptions about who I am."

Harry held Severus's gaze firmly as he continued, "I am powerful and I will protect you and Nicolas. I will pursue Voldemort and his followers relentlessly, I promise you that. Our son will never know the world as we have come to know it."

Harry cast one last look at his son then left the room, knowing that Severus and Nicolas would be gone by morning.