Chapter 2:

Accusations:

Harry sighed, wiping away tears as his thoughts returned to the present. The war was over, and as Severus had said, he had given him something to fight for, a reason to win the war and live. Not too far away, Draco stood over the bassinette that held his sleeping daughter, Abbey. He was glad that Severus had given him a reason to fight, but at the same time, he also felt hatred and betrayal whenever the man entered his thoughts.

Draco looked up in concern, hearing his husband's sigh. "Love, are you all right?"

Harry nodded with a tired smile. "Yeah," he said softly. "I was just thinking."

Draco moved over to him. "Thinking about Severus?" Harry nodded. Draco exhaled heavily as he knelt at Harry's feet, taking his hands gently. "I know you miss him, Harry," he said softly.

Harry was about to protest this, but Draco cut him off.

"It's all right, you should. I know you love me, but I also know that I'm not your first or even second love. Severus and Abbey are, and that's how it should be. I love you, Harry. I always have. I was so happy when Severus asked me to take care of you, and my heart broke to know that he was only asking because he knew he wouldn't be here to do it himself. He was good at hiding his feelings, Harry, but he loved you. He loved you very much. I think that was one reason why he allowed himself to join with you, to get you to see you had something to fight for, a reason to live. I think he knew that he wouldn't be coming back to you, and he wanted to leave something of his with you that symbolized his love for you."

Harry glared. "Symbolize his love for me? He killed Dumbledore!"

Draco said nothing and Harry sighed, wiping away fresh tears. "Bring her to me?" Harry asked. Draco nodded and turned, going to the bassinette and gently picking up the tiny baby. He returned, and placed her in Harry's arms, then bent to kiss his forehead before turning and leaving them in peace.

Tears fell silently from Harry's emerald eyes as he looked down at the tiny baby in his arms. She's beautiful, Sev, he thought as he gazed down at her to see the tidy black hair. Abbey opened her eyes and he smiled when he saw a deep blue gaze, knowing one day soon, that it would be onyx. She looks like us, Harry thought as he rocked her gently.

She has your hair, and eyes – my nose; thank Merlin; and my smile. Harry sighed heavily. I don't know where you are Sev. Merlin, why'd you do it? Harry exhaled heavily. I'm so angry with you; you betrayed not only me, but Dumbledore as well. He trusted you and you betrayed him! You killed him! And yet, looking at our daughter, I can't help but thank you, for giving her to me, giving me a reason to fight Voldemort and win, I can't help but love you, always. Harry smiled and moved his now sleeping daughter back to her bassinette. A calm and loving feeling settled over his heart as he watched her sleep before turning and going to find his husband.

Harry sighed and plopped down on a bench in a beautifully manicured park. It had been three years since that night that Draco had spoken to him, saying that it was all right for him to love Severus and Abbey more than he did him, and he'd become angry.

Yet, over the following years, Draco had pushed him more and more to have another child. Harry didn't tell him that he actually wanted one, he couldn't bring himself to be with Draco though he had tried many times, he couldn't even let the man kiss him anywhere but on the cheek or forehead. Every time he thought to allow this, his stomach felt like it tied in knots, and a sense that he would be betraying Severus came over him, though he couldn't bring himself to admit that he felt anything but hatred toward him, not even to himself after that night.

It was the fact that Harry would not allow Draco to touch him that brought on many fights, the worst of which was this morning, ending with him taking Abbey and leaving the manor grounds for the first time in almost four years.

Abbey had done nothing but whine and cry for Draco since they left, a trait of Draco's selfish behaviour he had always hated, that had rubbed off on her, and so after nearly two hours, he'd dropped her off at the Weasleys' house, telling Molly and Hermione that he needed some time alone. The Weasleys knew of the fights Harry and Draco had been in, and nodded when Harry instructed them not to allow Abbey to leave with Draco, if he came looking for her. They asked Harry what had happened but he brushed them off.

Harry then wandered into the park feeling glum, lost in his thoughts.

"Pardon me, Sir," a man's voice baring an Irish accent broke through his fog and he jumped in surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn' mean ta startle yah," the man said when Harry looked up; his eyes misty with unshed tears. Harry blinked and the man came into focus. He was tall, but stood hunched over, and was rather gangly with thinning, shoulder-length hair just a shade or two lighter than the Weasleys', and pale blue eyes. He was wearing a red and white polo, tan trousers, and worn dark brown oxfords. "I was wonderin' if yah might know where I could find a Mister Harry Potter." Harry didn't answer, but eyed him suspiciously. He didn't sense hostility or magic from the man before him. "I've bin searching for 'im for some time now," the man said. "I have a message for 'im."

"What's the message?" Harry asked finally.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Sir," the man said. "But I have orders that it's ta be delivered ta Mister Potter alone."

Harry watched him a moment longer before standing and replying. "I'm sorry, I can't help you. I'm not sure that Mister Potter wishes to be found."

"That's a shame, Sir," the man said as Harry turned to go. "Mister Snape will be greatly disappointed."

Snape… did he hear right, or were his ears playing tricks on him? Harry froze; his breath hitching as a mix of strong emotions flooded him. He turned slowly, eyeing the man in disbelief. "You're looking for Harry Potter to deliver a message from a dead man?"

"Dead," the man asked. "Mister Snape's not dead. I talked ta' im a few days ago."

Wait... Had he heard right, he wasn't dead? Harry had to sit down as his heart thumped against his chest, his breathing became erratic as the mixed feelings of hate and hope, and love became a maelstrom within him. "Ar-are you talking about Severus Snape?" Harry asked the man, swallowing nervously.

"Yes, yes," the man said lightly, sitting down on the bench beside Harry.

Harry swallowed once more. "A-and who are you?"

"Oh!" The man said incredulously. "Beggin' your pardon, sir, please forgive my rudeness! My name's Jackson, Jackson O'Malley."

"Please," Harry said. "Let me have the message." Harry saw Jackson look at him oddly and cut him off, as he was about to protest. "I'm the one you've been seeking. I'm Harry Potter."

"Are yah, now?" Jackson asked, and Harry nodded when the man smiled at him. "Well then," Jackson said with a grin. "I'm ta tell yah that Mister Snape has been lookin' for yah for some time. I believe he assumed that yah were with Mister Malfoy, but when he went ter the manor, he was unable to gain access through the wards."

This news shocked Harry, and he scowled. Draco had lied to him; he must have reset the wards to deny Severus entrance to the manor when he was working on them to prevent the press and fans from bothering Harry. Was Draco protecting him? Even though he was angry with Severus over Dumbledore's death, there was that part of him, the part of him that loved the father of his child, that had always hoped that his eyes had played tricks on him, and he hadn't really seen the man he loved kill his mentor. Was Severus really a killer? Had Draco reset the wards preventing him entry to the manor because he was trying to kill him as well? No, he thought and shook his head. That didn't make sense. Why then would he give him a child, a reason to fight and win?

"Please," Harry asked. "Take me to him." Jackson looked uneasy. "It's all right," Harry said, smiling reassuringly. "If you think of where he is, I can apparate us there."

"All right," Jackson said, standing to his feet. "I'm ready whenever yah are." Harry stood, Jackson took his hands, and Harry apparated them away. They arrived in a dark entryway, a pale, bluish light filtering in through the window. Harry glanced around noticing that unlike Malfoy manor, this one's furnishings were comfortable looking antique furniture. "Welcome to my home, Harry," Jackson said softly and without accent, making him turn with a start.

"This is y-your home? But I thought," Harry trailed off into silence as he looked around once more.

"I am sorry for the deception, Harry," Jackson said, drawing Harry's attention once more. "It was necessary however. I wasn't sure that Draco wasn't watching you." Harry studied Jackson suspiciously a moment before he continued. "As I told you, I was unable to enter the manor."

Harry's eyes grew wide in surprise when realization dawned on him; he knew this man's voice.

"S-Severus," Harry asked in a voice trembling with uncertainty. The man he knew as Jackson O'Malley nodded with a smile, and Harry stepped forward, running his hand over the man's cheek. "It's a disguise, but why?"

Severus nodded his smile fading. He stepped back quickly when Harry drew his wand, glaring at him angrily, and saw tears rolling down his cheeks. "Harry?" Severus asked, paling, and for the first time in Harry's recollection, if this was indeed Severus, the man actually appeared afraid. "Harry, what's wrong?"

Harry was standing in front of him, trembling so badly that he could not hold his wand steady. "You – you killed him!" Harry cried, tears streaming down his flushed cheeks.

"Killed who?"

"Dumbledore," Harry yelled. "You killed him, I saw you!"

"Harry," Severus said. "Please, believe me. It wasn't me."

"Yeah," Harry asked, his wand arm still shaking. "Who was it then?"

"It was Rodolphus Lestrange," Severus answered. "Bellatrix and several others suspected that I was a spy, and not working for Voldemort after all. Bellatrix had Voldemort's ear, and advised him to let Rodolphus join in the siege of Hogwarts disguised as me using the Polyjuice Potion."

"Prove it." Severus sighed heavily, and turned to walk away. "Where are you going?" Harry asked angrily.

"To prove to you that I didn't kill Albus," Severus replied softly. "Come with me."

Reluctantly, Harry lowered his wand, his hand still trembling, and followed Severus stiffly from the room.