Chapter 6

the new moon is most powerful (for blood freely given)

It was a little before curfew the next night, that Harry followed Hermione and Ron to the dungeons, where Professor Snape was even though he taught DADA now. Honestly, Harry was now cursing that fact because that meant that he had even more time to contemplate everything that can (and probably would) go wrong.

"For the record, I still think this is a terrible idea."

And Ron, in all his confident genius beforehand, wasn't helping.

"Yes Ron. I heard you the first 50 times you said that."

"Just making sure I'm heard, Mia. I also think you're nuts."

"I heard you every time you said that."

"But this is reaching new heights, Hermione – This is a terrible idea and you are going batty."

"Of course. I think it's a side effect of being around you for so long really."

"Hey!"

"Both of you – shut up please. You are not helping my stress levels."

Harry took a deep breath as both of them fell silent and continued to walk through the dungeons. The stale humid air entered his legs in deep breaths, with him hoping to calm his erratic heart. The attempt proved fruitless but the gesture was at least comforting enough to bring some feeling back to his numb legs.

"Y'know, it's not too late to back out; We really don't have to tell Snape."

Hermione sighed tiredly. She had already had this conversation and explained it multiple times. She was obviously getting sick of Ron saying the same thing over and over.

"No, we need a stable connection with Riddle's magic to support Harry. This is the best way that we know of. And, in any case, we need someone with a close connection to Riddle so that small seeds can be planted before Christmas. You said this yourself, Ron."

Ron looked very unhappy at the reminder but fortunately didn't say anything as the entered the hall that held Snape's office. Despite making up the plan himself, when it actually came down to it, it was obvious that he was very concerned about everything that could happen; he had tried to account for everything and anything that could happen but there was always the off chance they could be unprepared for anything that could happen.

Harry took in another deep breath and rubbed his flat stomach to remind himself who he was doing this for. Not himself, but his child.

His unborn child.

Hermione knocked steadily on Snape's door and Harry was startled when the door swung open harshly. The scowling face of the Potion's Master darkened at seeing them. "Potter, Granger, Weasley... And why do I have the displeasure of seeing you before my horrific class with you three?"

Harry summon all his courage before he could chicken out.

"We need to tell you something. It's urgent."

"Oh? And this could not be brought to the Headmaster." Ron snorted behind him and Hermione shot him a look.

"Er – no sir. We'd rather not. And it's connected to the Dark Lord."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Indeed? Very well then. Enter." He stepped inside, allowing them entrance.

Harry went in and sat down in front of Snape's desk, while Hermione and Ron seemed a bit reluctant to sit but did so anyway. Snape sat down and gazed at Harry with heavy, black eyes; Harry averted his eyes instinctively, remembering his Occlumency lessons the previous school year despite having his own working shields. Though he knew that they weren't strong enough to keep Snape out for long, it would only take a few well-placed attacks for Snape to get through into his mind.

"Well Potter? What is the urgent news that you had to share with me?"

Harry opened his mouth but found no words. He glances at Ron and Hermione uncertainly and they nodded at him. You can do this.

They'd planned for this and it would work – if it didn't, Harry would have to remove any and all loose threads. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do right now.

"Potter, I do not have all day. My time is precious even if you do not deem it s –"

The words were flowing before he could stop them, invoked by Snape's familiar barbs.

"I'm a necromancer."

...X

Severus would never admit it, but he had been extremely worried when he had been called to the Gryffindor Tower and saw a flushed and fevered Potter, unable to get out of bed. It had been extremely disconcerting to see the normally strong and determined teen sobbing in pain and begging to be put out of his misery.

His vow to the boy had throbbed relentlessly, burning his wrist from its tethering there. It had pulsed so painfully, Severus could, without a doubt, classify it on the same level of the Dark Lord's crucio.

Spidery-black lines had webbed from the boy's face, spreading throughout his body like someone had injected black ink all through his veins. Potter had screamed so loudly and horrifically during this process; Severus genuinely feared his mind would shatter from the pain. Instead, Potter was frighteningly coherent when he woke, able to perform perfectly on all the tests that Poppy had insisted on. It was relieving and concerning to say the least.

And throughout the past month and a half, he'd spent days upon days in the Library and talking with Granger and Weasley over large books that looked dryer than listening to Trelawney sprout death everywhere. Granger had been reading, nothing unusual for her, but what was unusual was the switch she'd done a little after Potter's incident to a muggle notepad and biro. Most purebloods and some half-bloods wouldn't've even spare a look at such a thing, just assume it was some odd muggle invention, which also meant that she was using it for something important. Weasley had been more mothering and hovering around Potter, which Severus warranted to the random dizzy spells and blackouts that Potter would experience.

But now, as he stared at Potter, with no more glasses to cover his mother's eyes, who had spoken words he greatly hoped he misheard, everything made an appalling amount of sense.

"I do believe I misheard you, Potter. You must not have said what I think you said."

Potter shook his head. "I believe you heard me right, Professor. I am a necromancer."

Severus inhaled sharply and silently summoned 5 calming draughts from his potion cupboard. He downed one easily before staring at the only reason of his existence. "Explain now, Potter."

"O-Okay. On the 29th of September, I can into an Inheritance. Now that I know it at the time – I thought Volde –" Severus grimaced and the boy switched easily. "Er sorry.. You-Know-Who was trying to kill me via our connection." Potter took a deep breath and continued. "Things were happening, which, in hindsight, were a pretty clear indication of where my Inheritance lied. My vision would glitch with colors or shimmery people would appear. I would hear whispers and shadows would ripple or become darker when I was near." Severus waited as Potter collected himself.

"Then I spoke with Death."

Severus downed another calming draught but gestured for Potter to continue all the while. It was not advised to drink many calming draughts in rapid succession, but his control was likely to break throughout the conversation if he didn't. Potter had the unusual and much disliked ability to do that to his Occlumency walls. There were a fortified place, able to beat the Dark Lord, and yet the teen could make them crumble with the force of his emotions like a hot knife through butter.

Potter continued to speak. "Death came to me after I'd gotten away from Ron and Hermione, who were being rather hovering at the time. Um, they told me about my Inheritance and all that, beware the Tainted One and stuff. And, um – we got some books from the Potter vaults to cross reference it with the other information that we found. And then on Halloween, we found out something else."

When had they left the castle? How had they left the castle? Severus threaded his fingers together and pressed his lips together, listening intently in case there were any details that didn't match up with everything else.

"For this, sir, we request that you take a vow of secrecy. It is not.. not light news and this cannot get back to Dumbledore and seeing as you are the spy, and your prior treatment of Harry... there are precautions that must be taken."

Severus raised an eyebrow, disbelief wafting through him. "And everything else you've told me is light?"

"When compared to this, yes it is." Severus stared at Granger, who looked at him completely stoic.

"Very well. I will take the vow." Severus places his wand over his heart and recites, "I, Severus Tobias Snape, vow not to reveal is told, or has already been stated, to me or imply what had been said to me in confidence with the intent to inform anybody. I will safeguard all secrets unless Harry James Potter tells me not to, explicitly through any form of contact. If I break this vow, may my magic be taken me. So, mote it be."

Severus watched Potter for any signs of deceit as the 16-year-old bobbed his head and shifted before taking what was to be a settling breath. Whether it worked or not, Severus did not know.

"I'm pregnant with the Dark Lord's child?"

Severus blinked, stared, then blinked again.

"Come again?"

"I'm pregnant... the Dark Lord is the father."

Severus stared then let out a half-crazed sound, his impeccable control turning to ashes in the wind immediately. His brain was moving too fast and everything else was muddled. Potter was carrying – with the Dark Lord's child no less. How did that even come about? The question had his mind coming to a screeching halt from it's fast paced thoughts and Severus lurched forward physically. The three started at his sudden movement.

"How, Potter, did this come to be?"

"We aren't sure, sir."

Severus made a noise of annoyance. "Very well. How far along are you?"

Potter averted his eyes. "Ah – about 7 weeks now almost."

Severus blew out harshly and pursed his lips. "There is a reason you told me this, answered the questions – what is it you like me to do with this information?"

Granger piped up at this. "According to Ron and all the books I've consulted, the 2nd and 3rd months are pregnancy are vital to the fetus' survival and health. The first month is dedicated to the bearer's magic stabilizing and forming the base of the womb. The other two months, the sire's magic or a compatible magic is needed to form a proper womb to ensure the survival of the fetus. Sir, your Dark Mark is a direct link to his magic..." Severus heard the unanswered question.

"You are asking me to allow Potter to siphon magic, the Dark Lord's magic, from me to stabilize his womb? You do realize what you are asking?"

"Yes sir, we do, but please –"

"I will do it. Do not start begging like a fool. I will do it.. but only because this provides... provides something precious."

Potter looked a bit surprised at his words and Severus sneers. "Children are precious and a gift, Potter, no matter that I do not desire any of my own. Male pregnancies are exceedingly rare and celebrated in the Wizarding World. I will help you."

"Thank you sir."

...X

Harry went over to Snape with slow steps, stopping about a metre away. Snape rolled his sleeve up to reveal his Dark Mark, stark and black against pale skin. With the instructions having been drummed into his head, Harry drew a small cut across his palm with his potion's knife and looked at Snape. The Potion's Master drew in a breath but gave a curt nod of consent. Harry pressed it against the Mark, making a cut across a dark line of the Mark.

Blood swelled and when Harry placed his hand on it, the magic pulsed madly underneath it. Harry closed his eyes preparing himself for anything that may occur. He searched for the magic, looking for the strand to pull on. Finally, he found a deep blood red strand and he coiled around it, pulling on it harshly. And then came the torrent. Magic flooded into him and Harry whimpered at the heady, intoxicating feel of it. His own magic, burning like fire and ice, tugged at the red magic and led it through, before connecting it to the thin red strand of magic that led to the small core that began pulsing rapidly.

The two magics pulsed into the small white orb, protecting, loving and – Harry gasped as his eyes flew open, stumbling back. He was trembling from head to toe and his knees threatened to give out. Colors assaulted his vision, and he took a deep breath to try and regulate his breathing, trying to adjust his eyes without forming a massive headache.

A hand gripped his arm and led his to a chair, allowing him to collapse in it. A shuddering breath caught his attention and he turned, blinking in surprise at the paler than normal form of Snape, who was slumped against his chair.

"Professor?" Hermione went near, scrounging through her bag and pulling out two phials. She held them out to the man. "A Pepper-Up and Magic Replenisher, sir."

Snape grabbed the phials and gave them a quick check. He nodded and downed both of them, immediately looking a bit better. Harry could feel the restlessness of his magic calming, swathing around his abdomen in an almost instinctive way.

"How often do you need to do this, Potter?"

Harry looked at the Professor, who was sitting upright again though Harry could see the minute tremors running through his body. "Um, once a week sir. Four days separate."

"The duration of this agreement?"

"Until the Winter Hols, sir. Or at least until we have a plan to get out of the castle."

There was a sharp breath but Snape nodded. "Very well. Anything else, Potter?"

"When you're called, I would like you to tell the Dark Lord about my Inheritance. Implicitly or Explicitly, you decide what is best." Snape looked at him; there was no mistaking the shock.

"You do realize what you are asking of me, Potter? And the risks that could befall you?"

"I do; but if there is an off-chance that I could, perhaps, find an alliance in him, and protect my child, then I will do it. Do not tell him about my pregnancy – I will inform him of that on my own, if I decide that it is a good atmosphere. If not, then we'll just figure something else out."

Snape nodded. "I will do as requested. Is this all?"

Harry felt guilty at how tired the Potion's Master sounded and nodded. "Yes sir. This is all."

"I trust you three can see yourselves out then."

Hermione took out the three containers from her bag and placed them on the desk. Harry watched carefully as Snape stared at her before looking back down again.

"Ms. Granger?"

"Basilisk venom, scales, and blood, sir. As payment for your help and silence."

Snape took in a sharp breath. "You do realize how valuable this is, Ms. Granger? What you have just given me?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "I do sir. I gifted you 2100 galleons worth of product, not including the fact that the scales have been imbued with the magic of Hogwarts for over a thousand years."

Harry's breath caught when he heard the value of the basilisk products, suddenly understanding why Ron had insisted that the 3 jars were more than enough. Anything more and Snape might have felt like it was charity. Snape stared at the jars but nodded, looking faintly overwhelmed by the payment.

Harry stood carefully and grabbed onto Ron's arm when his legs began shaking again. He stopped at the doorway however and turned back to the Professor who had yet to look away from the basilisk parts. "Thank you sir, for helping us. Thank you for everything." Harry gave a small, tentative smile when the Professor looked up and then turned away, leaning against Ron.

If he had looked back, he would've seen a shocked Potion Master or heard the soft, "Of course."

Author's Notes:

Ummm, it's a thing? Snape has a heart? Here ya go? *gestures to the chapter that they posted*

I hope I portrayed the awkwardness and hesitance well enough - and poor Sev with all his calming draughts... he'll likely need more as time passes 😂😅

So, the next chapter is coming... I don't know when but after I update all of my other stories. You'll know because you'll get a notif saying that this was updated with chapter 7 out! That'll take like 2 months tops so I hope y'all have some reading material...

Or I just give into my horrible impulse control and update early, that could happen too I guess. May or may not, I'm not a seer :P

It's not too long but hopefully it can sate you until then?

That being said, I adore comments! Leave your thoughts, inquiries, and ideas down below!