You and Me Against the World

Chapter 2: Wolf and Saviour

Poppy informed him during his appointment that morning that there would be a staff meeting that night, which he didn't have to attend, where she would be informing the staff of his condition, and the support he would need. So, of course, that led to him lying on the sofa all day, ignoring the fact that he had lesson plans to finish, because he was too bloody nervous for what was to come.

He had spent the past week worried out of his mind about everything. Trying desperately to distract himself from pain, sickness, and fear with work and anything else he could think of. He was half hoping that Poppy would just get it over with so that he could deal with the blowout long before the kids were due to arrive, but she had to wait until the few staff members that left for a short break after the party had returned. And now they had, since the school year was due to start in two days.

His baby was okay though. And that was all that really mattered at the moment.

There was a knock on the door. And he couldn't stop himself from flinching at the harsh sounds that reverbrated through his rooms.

"Severus, I know you're in there," Lupin shouted from the other side of the door, and he stiffened, his hand stilling on his flat belly, grimacing as a cramp ran through it, "Open up," he said.

Maybe Severus could just floo away. Go somewhere else for a while. Who cared that the school year was about to start? Certainly not him.

"Severus, I'm not going anywhere until you open this damn door and talk to me," the wolf growled, he was still knocking, too.

If he stayed quiet, if he didn't move from his spot, would the man leave? Surely he couldn't stay there all the time. He would need to leave at some point. To go to the loo. To eat. To drink. To sleep.

His floo went off and he looked at the fireplace to find Harry walking into his rooms, the young man looked at him with concerned eyes as the banging continued.

"Severus, you can't just leave. We need to talk about that abomination in you,"

Severus stiffened, his heart clenching in pain, but he watched in shock as Harry growled angrily at the door and stormed over, ripping it open to glare at the man on the other side, who stared at Harry in shock, fist in the air.

"Do you want to repeat what you just said, Professor?" Harry snarled.

"Harry, I don't know what you are doing here, but this has nothing to do with you. I know you were at that meeting, too, but what goes on between Severus and I isn't up to you," Lupin said softly.

Harry smirked at the man, "Maybe that's true. However, Sev and I have become friends since he woke up from his coma. And you know what I am capable of, and willing to do for my friends, don't you? Literally anything. And you have just hurt my friend by calling his baby an abomination. So, either you can leave on your own, or I will make you leave,"

"It's going to kill him," Lupin said, almost desperately.

"Maybe. But it is Sev's choice as to what he wants to do with his body and his baby. I think he has had too many choices taken from him in his life, and as someone who has been in that kind of a position, I am not going to try and take this one from him either. The most important of them, too. So, if you want this pregnancy to have as little chance of killing him as possible, I would suggest you maybe not cause him any stress. And considering your obvious views on the matter at hand, you are capable of nothing but stressing him out, so leave him the fuck alone, before I make you. And if you ever, and I do mean ever, call his baby an abomination again, your own baby, I will hurt you in ways you can scarcely imagine. No one deserves to hear things like that. Especially Severus, and his baby," Harry said.

"Harry, you wouldn't do anything to me," Lupin said, smiling at Harry.

"You want to bet on that?" Harry said, raising an eyebrow, "It's not as if I really know you. You spent most of my life ignoring my existence. So, if you have nothing nice to say to the man you put in this situation, then leave,"

"This has nothing to do with you, Harry," Lupin growled.

"It has nothing to do with you, either, Professor. You clearly want nothing to do with the baby. So don't have anything to do with the baby. Let Sev attempt to do this, and leave him alone whilst he does so, you know, so he and his baby have the best chance possible. But considering you don't want anything to do with the baby, you shouldn't be here trying to butt your nose into Sev's business. So leave," Harry said fiercely.

"You don't have to protect Severus, Harry. He is an adult. I just want what is best for him," Lupins said.

"What is best for him is for him to decide for himself," Harry said, his voice still very fierce, "Not for you, or anyone else, to decide for him. If he wants to try and have this baby, then he has the right to do so. No one else has the right to decide this for him. And I know I don't have to protect him. He is fully capable of protecting himself, he has been doing so his whole bloody life. But, for once in his life, I think he deserves someone in his corner. Someone who is actually willing to help him. And if I am the one person to do that, then so be it. I will protect him. I will help him. And I will do whatever he needs me to do, so that maybe, he and his baby might make it through this,

"You, as this baby's father, should be the one to do those things. But you clearly don't want that role. You don't want to help him, you want to control him. And I think Severus has had enough of being controlled. So leave him the fuck alone before I make you. I've had enough of people thinking it is okay to take choices away from people, thinking it is okay to control people. It isn't. And if you don't want this baby, that is fine, but don't push that onto Sev when all he needs right now is love, and care, and support. It's his choice, and his alone. If you don't want anything to do with it, then don't have anything to do with it. And LEAVE," Harry slammed the door in Lupin's face.

Then green eyes were looking into black ones, the green ones showing a large amount of concern.

"You didn't have to do that," Severus said.

"I know. But Merlin did I want to," Harry said with a grin as he moved over to Severus, who really didn't want to sit up so he just lifted his legs so Harry could sit down then laid them back down on the younger man's legs. Harry smiled down at him, his eyes still concerned.

"Why were you at the meeting?" Severus said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, McGonagall gave me the Headboy badge for some reason, and refused to take no for an answer," Harry shrugged, "The head students, and the prefects were all there, we were told to arrive early so we could be told about the changes and such, and be prepared for any questions the other students may have, especially the younger ones,"

Another cramp tore through Severus' stomach and he took a shuddering breath, swallowing thickly as he gently rubbed the flat plane.

"Are you okay, Sev?" Harry asked softly.

"Marvellous," Severus said bitterly, "My baby's the size of a vanilla bean seed," his lips twitched upwards slightly.

"That's tiny," Harry said with a grin, "Amazing, though. It is hard to imagine that one day we were all that tiny," he chuckled breathily, "And everything's okay so far?"

"So far," Severus nodded, his heart clenching again.

"That's good. And how have you been doing? Do you need anything?" Harry asked seriously, looking at Severus with worried eyes.

"For everything to stop hurting would be lovely. For myself and my baby to survive the next thirty seven weeks, and beyond. For Lupin to leave me alone, which he won't. To not have my private life dumped onto everyone in this castle. I mean, I know it's for the safety of me and my baby for everyone to know so that they can help me, if I need help, but do they have to know that Lupin is the father? Actually, do they have to know that I'm pregnant? Especially this soon in the pregnancy. I mean, if it doesn't work out and I don't die then everyone is going to be all kind, and pity me, and I… no. Apart from Lupin, of course, who will be there telling me it was all for the best, because then I won't die. Then there are the explanations they will all be expecting as to why I am a bearer and yet I was such a bastard. Honestly, I think I would just like not to be here. I don't trust anyone here enough to deal with this, but I have nowhere else to go," he swallowed thickly, looking up at the young man he had become friends with, somehow, in recent months.

The young man who reminded him so much of his once best friend.

"You'll be okay, Sev. And so will your baby," Harry said earnestly.

"You shouldn't say things you know might not be true," Severus whispered.

"You are the strongest person I know, Sev. I know that you are capable of getting through this pregnancy, just on sheer will to have your baby at the end of it. But, in terms of everyone knowing… You're a Slytherin, the best one I know, use it to your advantage," Harry said, a smile on his face, even as he raised an eyebrow of his own.

"How so?" Severus said.

"Well, first of all I am sure you could find many a way to use the students and even some of the other staff members to keep Lupin away from you. Second of all, no one is going to want to mess around with you, or in your lessons, at all, because they will be too scared of hurting you or the baby. Use that to get people to do what you want them to do, but in a nice way, the way you were always meant to be. The way you can be now that the old men are gone and us people with souls can sort things out. Help the students the way you always wanted to be helped, nurture them, and they will behave, and I am sure you will even have some keen potions students willing to help you out whenever you need help, even after your pregnancy. Plus a load of babysitters ready and waiting. You and your baby are going to be just fine, you will have nearly everyone in this castle fighting to protect you from every little thing, and the big things too. This baby, after everything we have all been through, is hope for a future. And we need to protect that future, so that we don't fall into darkness again. I'm sure you can think of other ways to Slyther your way through this, too," Harry said.

"How can you be so sure?" Severus said, hating that he was showing any signs of weakness, but he felt too many emotions to really care at that moment.

"Because, you have survived through far worse than a difficult pregnancy, with nothing to look forward to on the other side, and have come out stronger each time. If all of those things couldn't kill you, then this isn't going to. And with your blood and magic running through your baby's veins, plus those of a werewolf, I am sure that your baby is the strongest one to ever be conceived. Plus, you now have the added benefit of hope. Hope for happiness, a better life. You didn't have that before, you didn't have hoards of people fighting to protect you before, to help you, to look after you. But now you will. Now you do have hope, and sometimes that is what makes a difference. You survived through times without it, you can survive this with it. You, and your baby, are both miracles, and you will survive this because I am not giving you another option. I will be here to help in anyway I can, and I am sure I won't be the only one either. So yeah, you'll be fine, and that is how I can be sure of it," Harry said sincerely, smiling at Severus and patting the hand that was on his belly gently, leaving his hand there after doing so.

Severus swallowed thickly, "I hope so," he whispered.

"Would you like anything to eat or drink? I can call Kreacher to get some bits for you?" Harry said.

"Maybe some peppermint tea, and some toast, please," Severus said, feeling a familiar churn of nausea in his stomach.

"Any toppings for the toast?"

"Butter and raspberry jam,"

"Sounds good," Harry said before calling out for his house elf, who happily agreed to the demands.

"Why are you so keen to help me?" Severus asked, "I mean, after everything I've-"

"You have spent the last seven years helping me, protecting me, doing whatever you can to keep me alive. I think it's time someone does the same for you, now. And I want to do it. You would do the same for me if I was in your position right now. I think, if she were here, my mum would want to help also, maybe, or she would want me to help you. But, I really do just want to help you, Sev. You're my friend. And as I told Lupin, I will do whatever I can for my friends," Harry said with a smile as he helped Severus sit up next to him just before Kreacher popped back in with a tray of toast and tea that he placed on the coffee table.

"Is there anything else that Kreacher cans do for you, Master Harry?" Kreacher said dutifully.

"Yes, can you keep an eye on Professor Lupin for me, please? Maybe block the floo network in his rooms, office and classroom so that he can't floo here. And if he tries to, or thinks about using another floo then temporarily shut that one off. We need him to be around Severus as little as possible so that he doesn't cause too much stress. And maybe drop some of those prank potions that, erm, Fred…" he swallowed thickly, "and George gave me, into his tea or whatever occasionally. Or just anything you can think of to make his life a little more annoying,"

"Any limitations?" Kreacher said, a grin on his face.

"Yes, don't physically hurt him, or kill him, unless he does something that physically harms Severus or the baby. Not that I think there is a major chance of that happening considering the amount of people, and elves, and poltergeists, that I am sure will be around to help protect Severus and baby, but you know, he is apparently smart so," Harry shrugged.

"Wolfy sir will not be getting near Sev's and his baby if I, and the other elveses, have anything to say about it," Kreacher growled.

"Good. Thank you, Kreacher," Harry smiled and the elf popped away, Severus watching in bewilderment, "Look, we have the elves on our side, too. Things are going to be just fine," he smiled brightly at Severus.

"Whatever you say," Severus mumbled as he bent forward to pick up his tea, sipping on it slowly, and trying not to sigh as the soothing warmth hit his stomach, easing it slightly.

And if he allowed himself to feel a tiny smidge of hope, then no one had to know about it… and maybe it was okay.

Hiya, how are you all today?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. What's going to occur, I wonder? I would love to hear your thoughts if you would like to share them.

Also, I have Tumblr now. My username is marauderingpaige if you want to go and give me a follow over there. I also have one more focussed on personal life and writing, username is paigemakepeacewrites. And I have a Discord server, too, a new one! If you would like the link then feel free to drop me an email (my address can be found on my profile) or message me on social media, or join my Facebook group, and I will happily share it with you.

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