Disclaimer: Don't own. Please don't sue.

A/N: I'm writing this fic instead of revising for my media studies exam tomorrow. That shows how much I hate media studies.

Discovery, Secrets and A Bit of Magic

Chapter 4 – Births and Bitterness

Lupin lay in bed that night, unable to get Poppy Pomfrey's words out of his head.

Flashback

"I'm sorry, Remus. There's nothing I can do. She's gone."

At those words, Lupin dissolved into tears and clung to Harry, who (after making up with Lupin) had wrapped his arms around the sobbing man, stroking his hair and whispering comforting words to him.

End flashback

He turned over and cried himself to sleep, her words still echoing in his mind.

It was now impossible for Snape to walk without help, as he was heavily pregnant. When he made his way into his last Order meeting, aided by Professor McGonagall, he was met with gaping faces. No-one had known just how big he was going to get. And there was absolutely no way of hiding it. The first person to speak was Lupin.

"Lucky for some, isn't it, Harry?" he said bitterly. "Come on, let's get out of here." He tried to lead Harry out of the room by the hand, but Harry pulled his hand out of Lupin's grip, walked back to his seat and sat down again. Lupin glowered at Harry and pushed past Snape on his way out.

Snape was just about to draw up a chair, when Dumbledore stood up and said, "No, no, Severus, I'll do that." He waved his wand and a large, shapeless pouffe appeared next to Snape.

Snape then proceeded to lower himself into it carefully. His face suddenly contorted in pain. He was extremely glad Lupin was not here.

"Severus, are you all right?" asked Dumbledore, looking at Snape with concern.

"I'm fine, Albus, just a false contraction." Dumbledore did not look convinced, however.

Snape could not sit still for the rest of the meeting. The occasional pain hit him. When he eventually cried out as the latest, and worst, one hit him, Dumbledore said, "Severus, if I'm not very much mistaken, I believe you've gone into labour." Giving him another look of deep concern, he said, "We'd better get you to Madam Pomfrey."

Many hours later, the sound of six crying babies hit the air. Frankly, Snape thought, I am exhausted, and I am definitely never doing this again. Then he fell asleep.

The first person to see the babies after Snape was Lupin. "I'll say one thing. I hope it wa painful,"

At this, Snape's eyes fluttered open. "Contrary to that, Lupin, the birth wasn't all that bad."

"You'll pay for what you did, Snape. I mean it. We were really looking forward to having a baby," Lupin replied bitterly.

"Somehow I get the feeling that was entirely one-sided."

"Are you suggesting Harry didn't want a baby?" cried Lupin.

"Yes, maybe I am. Potter only defeated the Dark Lord a few short months ago. He is 18 years old. I hardly think he is ready for a baby at his age."

"You make it sound like Harry is the one who was pregnant. We love each other, and for your information, he wasn't that surprised when I told him I was expecting." Lupin replied defensively.

"He was probably inwardly shocked, Lupin.The boy grew up with Muggles, for Merlin's sake. He probably didn't even know male pregnancy existed, unless Granger has been feeding him the entire history of it at mealtimes," Snape said matter-of-factly.

"That's all well and good saying that, Snape, but Harry hasn't actually seen or talked to either Ron or Hermione since he left Hogwarts. He's been that busy with his mission, he just hasn't had the time."

"You mean Potter has been so busy doing things with you, he hasn't had time to contact his friends," Snape said nastily.

"How can you say that?" Lupin cried, turning red, his eyes sparkling with tears.

"I can say that because I like neither you or Potter. Full stop."

"But..."

"No buts, Lupin. Now get out of my sight, I need to sleep," said Snape in a tone that told Lupin it was the end of the conversation. Lupin left the room, tears running down his cheeks.

He had to stop getting into arguments with Severus. He always lost, and he always ended up in tears. It wasn't fair. He wished he'd never told Harry that Snape was pregnant. Then he'd still have his baby and he might still have an ounce of respect for Severus.

"She's gone."

Those words echoed in his head, bringing on a fresh set of tears. It sounded like Madam Pomfrey was talking about a wife or girlfriend, rather than his unborn child. He hated himself for even thinking that.

He walked to his quarters in silence and sat on his bed miserably. Just then, Harry appeared in his doorway, and cleared his throat.

Lupin jumped a mile. He had been so deep in thought he hadn't heard anyone come in. Then he turned. Harry was standing there, watching him. He walked over to Harry and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Harry, love, we need to talk."