The day that the ritual could be held finally arrived as did those who had insisted on being part of it. Lucius and his family arrived as did Remus, the members of the Weasleys who were still loyal to them, and of course Susan and Luna.
Madam Pomfrey came into the bedroom the morning the ritual was to be held. "Are you ready for this Fabian?"
Fabian was sitting on the bed next to Harry. He reached out and held his husband's hand. "We're ready."
Severus looked at the two men. "Are you sure? We could wait until the babies are born. Harry wouldn't want you to risk his cousin."
Fabian shook his head. "I know in my heart that this will work. Harry should be awake for when his daughter comes into this world and his cousin as well."
Madam Pomfrey moved towards them, her wand out. "The procedure should take only moments. I'd prefer if you'd take a sleeping draught."
Fabian nodded and agreed to be given the potion and though he was out with it, he was also put in a full body. The draught was for his heart rate, the bind to ensure no movement, making it easier for her to perform the required spell.
She waved her wand when she was sure both spells were complete and slowly a small vial appeared and filled with blood. "It's done."
Regulus looked down at his husband. "How are the babies?"
She waved her wand over Fabian. "It does not seem either baby was affected by the procedure. I'll keep him out for a few hours just to make sure."
Regulus sighed a deep breath of relief. "Thank Merlin; I don't think Fabian could stand loosing his great niece or his daughter."
Severus came over to the two men. "Thank you. For both my husband and our daughter's sake, thank you."
Madam Pomfrey cast a spell on the vial. "It will keep it until night. The ceremony should be performed after the moon comes up."
Severus looked at the blood knowing what hope lay in the small amount of blood. "Tonight. I could have my husband back with me tonight."
Poppy left them alone and Regulus turned to him. "You will. I know there is a chance that he might not come back, but I know Harry will come back to you."
Severus wished he had such confidence. "I just wish it was sundown already."
Severus left the room and moved down to the stables. He had not been riding since he and Harry had gone to Ireland. He had not liked riding nearly as much as his husband and had not ridden without Harry. He wasn't sure why but he had Judas saddled and took him for a ride on the grounds.
When he returned to the stables he was surprised to find someone stroking Quaker's nose. "Remus."
Remus looked up from the horse. "Regulus told me you might be out here. I couldn't find you but I seemed drawn to the horse."
He took the horse and put him into his stall. "That's Harry's mustang. You're the only one other then Harry I have seen Quaker allow near him at all."
Remus looked a bit surprised. "I have never been a horse person. I guess it's the wolf in me."
Severus led the man out of the stables and explained how the procedure had gone the morning. Remus was delighted to learn his future great god-child was a little girl. Severus spent the afternoon speaking with Remus and the Malfoys, desperate for some distraction from his thoughts.
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Susan, Luna and Severus stood in the room where Harry had been laid out, all three of them dressed in their founder's robes and with their crowns on their heads, Harry in his robes and the sword of Gryffindor by his side. The founders would have a part in the ceremony to call back Lord Gryffindor.
Severus turned to look at Regulus and at Poppy who held the vial of blood. "We're all here and the moon is up. We should start."
Lucius had been called to perform the ceremony and stepped forward with an old chalice. "We are here to call forth the soul of Lord Harry Gryffindor Potter Black-Snape, from beyond the gates."
Severus stepped forward. "I lord Severus Slytherin-Snape call my husband's spirit forward through the blood of the founders, as Lord Slytherin."
Severus dropped blood into the cup and Luna followed suit. "As do I, Lady Luna Lovegood Ravenclaw."
Susan was the last to step forward. "And I Lady Susan Bones-Hufflepuff."
A small ring of smoke rose from the chalice. Lucius spoke. "Lord Gryffindor's soul has been named, who speaks for Lord Black."
Regulus came forward. "I Regulus Arcturo Black, Uncle of Lord Harry and a member of house Black offer my blood to call back Lord Black."
Lucius pricked Regulus' finger and added his blood. "Lord Black has been summoned back. Who will speak last for Lord Potter?"
Severus came forward. "By the blood of our daughter, the future Lady Potter-Snape, we call back the spirit of Lord Potter."
As the last blood was added a great swirl of smoke rose from the chalice. "By the blood of his families we call back the spirit of Lord Gryffindor Potter Black-Snape from the gates of the spirit world and back into his body. We call upon you to return to your body and your life."
The chalice was placed at the lips of Harry and poured down, Harry's throat massaged to get him to swallow. "Come back to us." Everyone chanted.
They all stood watching in awe as Harry's eyes began to flutter open and Severus was nearly in tears when he heard "Severus?"
Severus sunk down into the bed next to his husband. "Harry. Thank God you're back. Please tell me you're all back."
Harry looked like he might actually laugh. "Yes. I'm all back. What kind of question is that?"
Severus just kissed his husband. "No question at all. I am just so grateful that you have come back to me. I need you."
Harry looked at everyone else in the room. "Why is a quarter of the order standing in our bedroom? And how did I get back to Prince Manor?"
Severus realized Harry didn't remember what happened. He turned to the others. "Can we have some time alone?"
The others all nodded and started to leave the room except for those. Regulus and Fabian remained behind though they kept their distance. They both knew they'd be part of this conversation.
Severus brushed a hair from his husband's eyes. "Harry, what is the last thing that you remember?"
Harry spotted his Uncles. "We went to find Uncle Fabian and Dumbledore cornered us. I made you guys leave and I got caught. Dumbledore took me and..."
Severus pulled his husband to him. "You remember?"
Harry was shaking. "Percy, he was supposed to break me. I kept praying you'd come for me. You did but I, I don't know what happened. Everything went black."
Severus explained as gently as he could what had happened. "We had to perform a ritual to bring you back. I thought I had lost you."
Harry held tight to his husband. "I knew you'd come for me. I kept holding on to the hope you'd come for me. It was the only thing that kept me going."
Severus took a deep breath. "Harry, in order to bring all of you back we needed Potter blood. You were the last Potter, we needed a child."
Harry went rigid. "No. Please no, I wasn't pregnant, I'm not pregnant from Percy? Please tell me he didn't succeed."
Severus calmed him down. "No. Madam Pomfrey performed a spell similar to a muggle treatment, to give us a child."
Harry looked up at his husband. "I'm pregnant? You got me pregnant while I was out?"
Severus had been worried his husband would be angry. "We fertilized an egg from you. We had to save you Harry. I didn't want to when you were asleep but I knew you wanted a child and I thought you'd agree if you knew. Please understand."
Harry stopped him. "I do. I wish we had been able to do it together but..." he looked at his belly. "How come I am not pregnant? Have I lost the baby?"
Fabian stepped forward. "It was too much of a risk for you and the baby. I agreed to carry the baby for you."
Harry looked at his Uncle. "My child is growing inside of you?"
Fabian nodded. "I wish you could have carried your own but I didn't want to risk you. Your daughter and mine are three months along and healthy."
The words sunk into Harry's mind. "Daughter? We're having a little girl?"
Severus kissed his husband. "Yes. And you'll have a little girl cousin too."
Harry looked at Fabian. "Thank you. Thank you for doing this for us."
Fabian shook his head. "We should be thanking you. You gave me back to my husband. We'd not have our child if it wasn't for you."
Harry accepted hugs from both men and they left Harry and Severus to have some time alone. Harry lay in his husband's arms. He couldn't believe he had been out for three months, or the fact that he was going to be a father. He wished he had the baby in him but he understood.
Severus turned him to look into his eyes. "Are you sure you're okay with this? I know this isn't the way we should have had our children."
Harry nodded. "I wish I was carrying the baby and that we had it the normal way but I am happy. I want that little girl in my arms. I want your baby."
Severus was relieved and so happy his husband had come back to him. "I'm just grateful that I have you back."
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The next few weeks Harry made a slow recovery. Though he was physically okay he had the pain of the rapes he went through and the confusion of being a mom but not carrying his child or his husband. He was happy to be back and happy about the baby but it would take time for him to heal. Remus and the Malfoys returned to France and Luna and Susan to school but there were still people around to help him recover.
Harry had spent a lot of time with Fabian so one afternoon a month after he woke Severus went to Fabian's room to find him. "I haven't seen Harry all day."
Severus was surprised for he had not seen his husband either. He called Dobby. Dobby bowed. "Master Harry had me saddle horse. Master went out for a ride."
Severus was a bit shocked for Harry had not been out past the garden yet. "Dobby, have Judas saddled for me please."
His own horse was waiting for him in the courtyard when he came outside and he headed out along the grounds in search of his husband, worried to why Harry might have gone riding out alone without telling anyone.
He spotted Harry. "Harry, what are you doing out here?"
Harry turned to look at him. "I just needed to get some air. I went to the stables and Quaker seemed dancing for a ride. I just needed to get away."
Severus understood. "I was just worried. It's not like you to go off without telling anyone where you're going. "
Harry dismounted the horse and Severus came over to sit next to him on the rock. "I've just been thinking a lot about this war and everything that has gone on."
Severus lay a hand on him. "You're not having the nightmares again are you?"
Harry shook his head. "No. You're bond with me has helped. It's not even Percy. I just, I want this baby so badly but I still can't deal with Fabian having her."
Severus sighed. "I thought it was best. I was worried that if you carried it and woke up pregnant, you might, I thought it would hurt you and the baby. I'm sorry if I was wrong. I thought I was doing what was right."
Harry stopped him."You did what you thought was best, and it was. And when she's born I'll be happier then I've ever been. I want your children."
Severus pulled him to his chest. "And I want yours. And when this war is over we'll have more, and one of us will carry them next time."
Harry smiled and turned to look at the manor. "Are we going to raise her here? Is this our home? Or London at Grimmauld, or where?"
Severus shrugged. "We can have more then one you know. It'll be safer here for her until the war is done."
Harry looked at the horses. "We can teach her to ride horses and even a broom one day. She can chase a puppy through the grounds and learn to swim."
Severus felt his heart lighten. "You know this is the first time since just after we married that we've spoken of the future beyond the war."
Harry nodded. "I was so focussed on the war and getting revenge on my former allies for Hedwig and the war. I realize now there is so much more to life."
Severus was happy that his husband was coming back to him. "There is."
The two of them got back on their horses and spent the rest of the afternoon out riding on the grounds. Harry went back to his studies the next day for while he wanted to focus on the future, if there was to be a peaceful future for his daughter, he had to end this war. They made it a point to no matter what happened, if they were at the manor, they'd ride every day, rain or shine. Life was too short.