Chapter 13:

Bad Dreams and a Wish Come True:

Remus stood looking out the window, brooding while Abbey sat in the chair by Harry's bed; the chair Severus had used. He may have tolerated the man over the years, but that never meant that he actually liked him.

"Why, Harry?" Remus muttered under his breath, exhaling heavily as he looked out the window. The sky was a bright blue, marred only by a few thin, white clouds and the sun was shining brightly, mocking his dark mood.

"No," Harry murmured, shifting restlessly on the bed.

"Daddy?" Abbey asked, worry filling her voice, causing Remus to turn.

"No," Harry muttered, shifting again. "I won't let you. No, get away!"

"Daddy!" Abbey cried fearfully.

"Go get Madame Pomfrey, sweetie," Remus said quickly and hurried the girl out the door.

"No," Harry cried as the girl left the room. "He's innocent! I won't let you take him!"

"Harry," Remus murmured, stroking the hair off the younger man's face, finding it damp. "Harry, it's okay."

"Get away!" Harry cried, not hearing the man. "I won't let you take him. I love him!"

Remus was thunderstruck. It was as though Harry had answered him in whatever dream he was having and he jumped back as though he sudden touched something hot.

"What's going on here?" Madame Pomfrey asked, bustling into the room following behind Severus. "I'll go get some Dreamless Sleep," she said when she saw what was happening.

"No, wait," said Severus, causing her to pause and look at him curiously. Severus ignored her, going to the chair by the bed, hearing Harry's mutterings, and took his hands gently, shuffling Remus out of the way. "Harry," he called softly, combing his fingers through the young man's wet hair as he listened to what he was saying. "Harry, it's all right. I'm okay; I'm safe. Please, Harry," he murmured. "Open your eyes. Wake up, Harry."

Remus scoffed when nothing appeared to change and moved closer to Severus, a bit irritated that the man had pushed him aside. "We need to talk. Come by later. I have a class to get to." Turning, he bid good-bye to Abbey and Madame Pomfrey before heading out the door.

"Severus?" Poppy asked, but the man shook his head, combing his fingers through his lover's hair.

"Papa?" Abbey asked fearfully.

"Poppy, could you?" Severus asked. The mediwitch nodded and led the little girl from the room with the promise of a treat. "Harry," Severus called softly, lowering his gaze to the pale hand he held. "Come on, Harry. Please, open your eyes. It's time to wake up. I'm okay, love. Everything's all right. Wake up, Harry. Open your eyes and see."

Harry moaned and Severus looked up, watching his lover with urgent concern. Harry moaned again, shifting uneasily and slowly opened his eyes. Turning, he saw the man beside him. "Sev?" Harry whispered his voice hoarse from intermittent cries and disuse.

"Oh, Merlin!" Severus murmured in relief and slid from his chair to the floor in an effort to get closer to the young man, without squashing him into the bed. "Are you all right Harry?" He gazed questioningly into the younger man's emerald eyes as he combed his long, slender fingers through his lover's hair.

Harry took a mental inventory and nodded slowly. "Sev," he whispered again. "What – what happened? Is – is everyone all right?"

Severus looked at him strangely for a moment and then caressed his face once more. "You fainted, love," he murmured. "You've been unconscious for three days."

"Three days?" Harry rasped in confusion and Severus nodded. "Is – is everyone all right?"

Once more, Severus looked at him oddly. "I – I don't know what you mean, Harry. Why wouldn't everyone be all right?"

Harry groaned and hid his face, his body wracked with dry sobs. "I – I suppose they'll be contacted now," he muttered, burying his head in his pillow.

"Contacted?" Severus reiterated. "Harry," he said gently, trying to comfort the young man, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "What are you talking about? Who will be contacted?"

"The Ministry," Harry mumbled, sobs wracking his body once more.

Severus was thoroughly confused. Madame Pomfrey told him that Harry might experience a little disorientation when he awoke, but this was much more than 'a little'. He had to find out what Harry had seen in the apparently dark visions he had experienced while unconscious.

"Harry," he said gently, trying once more to comfort his lover.

"Who – whose been elected Minister?" Harry asked quietly.

"Harry, please," implored Severus. "Tell me what's going on."

"Oh,God!" Harry cried in anguish. "I killed them. I killed them all." Severus looked at the young man in surprise, but Harry spoke again before he could ask. "Minerva and Remus. Abbey! Where's Abbey? Is she all right? God, I didn't hurt her too, did I?"

"Shh, Shh, Shh," Severus crooned, taking Harry into his arms as he rose and sat on the bed. "Its okay, Harry," he murmured, kissing the young wizard's temple now and then as he ran his fingers through his dark locks soothingly. "No one's coming for you," he whispered, kissing Harry's temple once more as he rocked him gently.

Harry looked up at him in confusion. "No one's coming?" Severus shook his head. "Why?" Harry asked, knowing he deserved to go to Azkaban for what he'd done.

Severus smiled at him gently. "No, Harry," he said softly, caressing the younger man's face. "No one's coming. You fainted, Harry. I'm not entirely sure what you saw, but it was all a dream, just a bad dream. Everyone's fine. Abbey is, too. She's with Poppy."

"Poppy?" Harry asked weakly as he looked around.

"Yes," Severus said, seeming to read his lover's mind. "We're at Hogwarts. Abbey, Lupin and I brought you here after you fainted."

Harry sighed, relaxing into the man, relief flooding him as he closed his eyes, swallowing dryly. "Mmm," he moaned softly. "Water."

"Are you all right, now Harry?" Severus asked, looking at him in concern. The young man smiled slightly and nodded. "All right then," he said and helped his lover lay back down once more as he eased from the bed. "I'll go and get you some water." Harry reached out and grasped his hand as he turned to go. Severus looked down at the young wizard's hand and then up to meet his emerald gaze, smiling reassuringly. "It's all right, Harry," he soothed, caressing his lover's face. "I'll be right back, I promise." Harry nodded and released his hand, albeit reluctantly.

Severus returned a few minutes later with a glass and jug of water. He halted in the doorway, fear rushing through him in an instant. Harry looked so pale against the blankets on the bed with his eyes closed. No, he thought fearfully, hurrying over to the bedside, placing the glass and jug down before turning to his lover, kneeling by the bed. It can't be, not now. Please, Merlin, don't take him away.

Hearing movement close by, Harry opened his and turned to see the man kneeling beside him, his face hidden by his hair. "Sev?" Harry asked weakly and the man jumped, startled by the sound.

"Oh, thank Merlin," Severus said as relief washed away his fear. "I – I thought I'd lost you." Harry gave him a wane smile as his lover rose and poured him a glass of water. "I was only gone a moment," Severus explained, placing the glass down and turning to help Harry sit up again before handing him the glass.

Harry took it, his hands shaking slightly, and drank greedily, the cool liquid soothing his parched, aching throat as Madame Pomfrey walked in. "Ah, Mister Potter," Poppy said, brandishing her wand. "It's good to see you're awake." She allowed Harry to finish his glass of water as she proceeded to run her scans. "Well, all seems to be all right," she said finally, nodding curtly before turning to Severus. "You haven't?"

Severus shook his head. "No," he answered. "Not yet."

Harry looked from the mediwitch to his lover in confusion, but remained silent, not yet trusting his voice.

"Are you going to tell him?" Poppy asked. Severus nodded but said nothing and she turned her attention to Harry. "Tell me, Mister Potter, when was the last time you ate?"

"Um," Harry stammered, trying to kick-start his brain. "The – the night before Severus found me," he answered after a moment.

"What?" Severus asked sternly, causing Harry to fidget, feeling like a scolded student. "Why didn't you say something? We could have stayed at The Three Broomsticks so you could have eaten."

"And what about you?" Harry countered. "You couldn't have."

Severus shook his head. "That's not important, I had breakfast," he said.

"Enough!" Poppy said as they glared at each other. "Severus," she continued, turning to address the older man. "Harry seems to be doing well enough, but I will leave it to you to tell him what we spoke of, and make sure he eats."

Severus nodded and turned his attention back to his lover, who looked annoyed and confused. "Where's Abbey?" Harry asked, wondering why he had not seen his daughter yet.

"She's off with a friend," Severus answered.

"A friend?" Harry asked and watched his lover nod, trying to stifle a chuckle. "Who?" Harry asked, irritation lacing his voice as he glared at the man. He was annoyed to find that she was not with Poppy as Severus had said.

"Dobby," Poppy answered in a disapproving tone, eyeing Severus, and Harry closed his eyes with a groan, remembering the elf's attempts toprotect him.

"Severus," Harry whinged. "Why?"

"Well, I," Severus started, but turned to Poppy with a meaningful look and she nodded before departing.

Harry watched their exchange, a confused expression on his face before Severus turned to him. "You were?"

Severus leaned over and took Harry's hands gently. "I sent her off with Dobby to explore, so I could talk to you about something alone," he admitted. "It's nothing bad," he hurried to continue when he saw a look of fear flash across his lover's face. "It just… unexpected."

Harry relaxed a little, but struggled to sit up and rose from the bed. Going to Severus, who watched him in concern, he straddled his lap. He was glad when his lover encircled him with his arms, for even the trip was short, his legs were shaky and the man's support was the only thing keeping him up when he reached out, fearing that he'd fall. "Tell me," Harry murmured, wrapping his arms around Severus' neck.

Severus swallowed, lowering his eyes; he flushed slightly before gazing into the emerald jewels of his lover. "You got your wish, Harry," he whispered.

"My wish?" Harry asked, thoroughly puzzled.

Severus nodded before resting his forehead against Harry's, drawing the young man closer as he wrapped his arms around him more securely. "You're pregnant, Harry," he said softly and chuckled when he saw his jaw drop. Reaching up, he combed his fingers through his lover's soft locks. "Poppy said that you fainted because you were exerting too much energy and there was so much stress in the situation that your body had to shut down while it was adjusting." Severus sighed softly, leaning back slightly, though he still held Harry in his arms. "You can hit me if you like," he murmured, lowering his gaze once more.

Harry was stunned. He was pregnant! He and Sev were going to have a baby! Suddenly, he realized what Severus said and looked at him in confusion. "Why would I hit you?"

Severus flushed, not looking at him. "Because," he started and then paused, finally raising his gaze, his head cocked sideways as he shook it to get the hair that has fallen, out of his eyes. "Because I couldn't believe it when Poppy told me it was mine," he murmured. "I… I thought you'd been with Draco – especially since I had told you that a male pregnancy was only possible when both parties were magical."

Harry glared at him and punched him in the shoulder – not too hard, but hard enough. "How dare you think I would ever be with him," Harry grumbled sulkily. "Merlin knows I would rather be with Hagrid!" Severus balked at this, looking somewhat sick, making Harry chuckle. "Relax," he soothed, trying to stifle his laughter as he rubbed a hand over the man's back. "I haven't. Come on, Sev," he murmured somewhat condescendingly. "I told you I hadn't let anyone touch me… not after you."

Severus collected himself, swallowing dryly and giving him a wry smile. "That's good to know," he murmured. He shuttered slightly, and made a disgusted noise. "I don't know which is worse… Hagrid or Malfoy?" He reached over and filled the glass Harry had used, taking a drink as though to wash away some foul taste. "Glad to know it was neither."

Harry smiled; amused to see he could pull the wool over the other man's eyes. He sobered though when reality set in. "But Sev," he whinged. "I don't want to do this again…"

"Do what again?" Severus asked, looking at him in concern. Does he truly not want to have another baby? Does he not want to have my baby?

"I don't want to raise another baby," Harry murmured, lowering his eyes so that he didn't see the pained expression that passed over his lover's features. "Not alone."

Severus heart lifted, Harry had said he didn't want to raise the child alone, he hadn't said he didn't want it. He smiled down at his lover, nudging their foreheads together to get his attention. "Who says you'll be alone?"

"But the trial?" Harry argued as he looked up in surprise. "You left… to help me," he finished softly.

Severus nodded. "Yes, I did leave," he admitted. "Tiberius and Dumbledore agreed that it would be best if I were here with you. Albus stayed along with all but Lupin and Abbey. We needed to get here soon and I couldn't apparate, so Lupin brought us here. Albus thought it safer for us to be here than at St. Mungo's. A special edition of the Prophet was sent out that evening; I'm a free man, Harry," he explained, kissing the young man's temple. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

"Oh, Sev!" Harry cried happily, shifting to curl up in his lover's lap, burying his face in his neck as he clung to him, tears of joy rolling down his cheeks. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Harry," Severus replied, holding the young man to him.

"Does Abbey know… about the baby?" Harry asked quietly, looking up after a few moments, a smile on his face.

"No, not yet," Severus answered, wiping Harry's tears away gently. "She was in here with Lupin when I talked with Poppy outside." Harry nodded, settling into the man's arms once more. They sat there a while, silently planning their future. "Harry," Severus said after a moment. "You should really eat something. Lupin asked me to go talk with him after his class ended, which should be soon. He'll want to know you're awake. I could call Dobby to bring Abbey back to sit with you if you like; she'll be happy to see you're awake."

Harry nodded tiredly; the few steps from the bed to his lover had really zapped his energy. He really didn't want Severus to go yet, but knew he was right; besides, he really didn't the 'Dragon Lady' yelling at him for not eating. "All right," Harry murmured.

"Winky!" Severus said and with a pop, a house-elf with large brown eyes appeared. "Mister Potter needs to eat," he announced, looking to the elf that nodded. "Make it something light, soup perhaps?" He turned to the young man and Harry confirmed the request with a nod. "And to drink…"

"Water is fine, Winky," Harry finished. "Thank you." The elf nodded once more and popped back out.

"All right," Severus said, looking down to the young man in his arms. "Let's get you back into bed. Poppy would kill us both if she knew you had gotten up so soon." Harry groaned, but said nothing, allowing his lover to cradle him in his arms and then tuck him back into bed after setting him gently on the mattress. "You look exhausted already," Severus commented, running his fingers through his dark fringe as he gazed into his emerald eyes and Harry gave him a wane smile as he nodded.

"Well, you need to eat. I'll have Abbey come sit with you to make sure you do, but leave instruction with Poppy that she's to let you rest if you fall asleep. I'll be back when I can, love," Severus said softly, caressing the young man's cheek with the back of his finger. Harry groaned once more at the implication that his three year old would be 'looking after him'. Severus chuckled, kissing him softly and departed.