January, 26, 1999
Draco knew that Harry was likely to hate him after this, but Draco did what he felt he had to in an emergency. If Harry died, the baby died. It was his job as Harry's healer to see him through the pregnancy safely and give the best care. And in Draco's decision-making process, the best care was not letting Harry or the baby die if he had a way to save them. That saving was telling Severus he was the father and getting him to transfer magic energy to the baby to take the strain off of Harry's magic.
Surely, there were exceptions to the confidentiality rule. Like the fact Severus was also the baby's father and it was emergent that he knew the situation to help. But right now, everything looked okay. Harry would wake in a little bit and Draco would have to tell him what happened. If Harry wanted Madam Pomfrey to treat him after that, Draco would understand.
"Now, Draco." Severus repeated.
The blonde sighed. "You did sleep with Harry, Uncle Severus…You just didn't know it was him."
"I do not follow. I would know if I slept with a teenager who is twenty years my junior!" Severus remarked. "Explain." He ordered.
"You didn't know it was him and he didn't know it was you." Draco stated. "You were both in disguise."
"Draco, any time I go out drinking, I go under disguise. Too many people know me as a former Death Eater in the wizarding world." Severus scoffed.
"This wasn't the wizarding world. Are you gonna hush and let me tell you the story or not?" Draco glared at his godfather. "August 29th, last year. Harry and you met in a muggle nightclub called Oblivion, you were both in disguise…You didn't recognize one another."
The potions master stilled, his normal stoic mask melting away to reveal wider eyes, mouth hanging open a bit. "You were both drinking. Drunk, but not enough to not know what was happening. Harry's recount of the night was you two making out near the bathrooms, then shagged in one of the stalls before leaving the club and going your separate ways." Draco informed.
"I remember that night, but I didn't have sex with Potter. Even if he were under a disguise, I'd have sensed his magic and known he was a wizard. You don't just miss something like Potter's magic…It's pretty noticeable and recognizable." Severus remarked. "I slept with a muggle named Scott. He was in his late twenties. And as powerful as Potter is, I don't believe he has the necessary skill to glamour himself for multiple hours. It wasn't him."
"Harry wasn't using a glamour, Severus." Draco paused as the man looked at him quickly. "He's gonna kill me for this…" Draco closed his eyes. "Harry has a Black family ability. He's a metamorphagus." Severus's eyes widened. "And he can hide his magic. So he changed his look with that power, made himself look older and went out for the night."
"He thought you were a muggle too, named Howard." He saw his godfather's face contort to realization. "Everything I'm telling you is the truth, Uncle Sev. You brewed that paternity potion yourself, taught me the ritual. And the results are that you are the father."
"And he's known it's me since the potions were finished?" Severus inquired.
Draco nodded. "He's been putting off telling you, Nerves. Busy. Rough days. The Ginny crap." He paused. "I've been telling him to tell you. He's…Just scared you're going to hate him. I told him you wouldn't because this was an accident. Neither of you knew who the other was, it was a drunken night…You cannot be upset with him for that."
"I can be upset he's been keeping it from me!" Severus glared. "It's my kid too and I had the right to know as soon as he knew I was the father."
"Back off, Severus. You may be my godfather and I love you as an uncle and second father…But Harry is a friend and my patient. I'm not going to let you be around him or the baby if you're going to be angry and yelling. Or treat him like you did before the war ended, acting like a bully. Harry doesn't need the stress. Male pregnancy is already high-risk." Draco warned.
"I understand you're upset he hasn't said anything, but it's been a rough couple of months for him. You two have never had a good relationship before. If you want to be part of this, you're gonna have to put grumpy old Potions Master Severus Snape away and treat him like a real person. Like you two slept together and that he's pregnant with yours and his child." Draco told him.
"You will not treat him the way you did before, am I clear? Not like James Potter's son. Not like Lily Potter's son. Not like Sirius Black's godson. And not like Remus Lupin's unofficial nephew." Draco warned his godfather. Severus bit back the next set of words he was about to say.
"I will be completely honest with you, godfather…" Draco paused, gaining the man's attention. "While Harry decided against terminating the pregnancy when he found out…He has not yet decided what he wants to do in regards to raising the child, but hat-,"
"Like hell he'll give my child away!" Severus retorted.
"You will calm yourself this instant or I will bar you from the infirmary on the grounds your anger is detrimental to Harry's and the baby's health. You are the baby's father, and with you this close, it picks up your energy. Anger would be counterproductive to the goal of creating a stress-free environment!" Draco warned. "What I was saying before you interrupted me…"
"Is that once Harry is awake, you two can discuss things going forward. But you will not be angry or demanding with him, Severus. I mean it…" Draco folded his arms now. "The only time he considered adoption was before he knew you were the other father and that was because we weren't sure how to locate the other father given the circumstances of different identities when you slept together. Granger brought up seeing something about determining paternity, that's why I brought it up to you and Poppy…" he paused.
"But since we know it's you, Harry and I spoke before the holidays about it because I told him he needed to tell you. I advised him to wait until after Christmas, so he could use that time off away from the castle to relax and understand that given the situation, you won't hate him because you never have. Now…I've already told Harry that if he does not want to raise the baby, and you do…He can sign over his parental rights and walk away. I've also told him that you two can always co-parent and reach some fair agreement on custody without having to involve family courts."
"But that will be between you two. Now that you know you are the father…You and Harry will be spending a lot of time together for these energy transfers. I suggest you quit being a git, and learn to communicate with Harry like a civilized human being. If you two are to navigate this adventure, you'll need to get along. Harry will probably need a little time to come around, so be patient. And help where you can." Draco stated.
"Is there anything else about this I need to be aware of?" Severus asked.
"I am certain Harry can fill you in on anything else you have questions about. I've already said quite enough that he may wish me to no longer be his healer. I will understand if that is what he wants." Draco said.
"Ginerva." Hermione remarked as Severus looked at her.
"Excuse me?" Severus questioned.
"Ginerva Weasley is a matter of major concern. You've seen her obsessiveness, and we believe Molly Weasley is coaxing her daughter in ways to get Harry for herself." Hermione mentioned. "In the beginning, Draco asked Blaise, Theo, and myself to act as Harry's guards. So she can never corner him. We don't know what she'd attempt. But that was before she knew he was pregnant…And now, we feel it's only going to get worse."
"Do you believe she may try to harm the baby or Harry to get what she wants?" The man pushed.
The group of friends nodded. "We don't know what…But it's a possibility. Harry confided in us shortly after the reveal to the school of him being pregnant that he overheard her talking to friends about it being set in stone that Harry would be hers, that she'd be Lady Potter. That his bastard kid wouldn't be Potter Heir and she'd make Harry have kids with her as many times as it took to get a boy." Hermione said.
"She admitted that she would ride his fame and have everything she wanted…And there was nothing he could do about it. I believe this was when she was under the assumption that the other father of the child would not be present in the child's life…So she intended to marry Harry, she told him she'd adopt the kid, be it's step-parent…But then Harry overheard all the stuff I mentioned and it confirmed for him what she's really after…But he's also scared of what else she'll say or try to get what she wants." Hermione frowned.
"You should have seen him on Christmas…I've never seen Harry that emotional before. And it was all over Ginny assuming that the ring in the jewelry set that he got for me, Luna, and Pansy too, was him silently proposing to her. Her and Molly immediately jumped on the wedding train, saying they could plan it for after graduation. But Harry lost it on her that they weren't getting back together. Ever." Granger sighed.
"Lost it how…?" Severus pushed.
"I haven't heard about this either…Tell us. Harry won't hear a thing." Draco assured. "I need to know where his head is, Granger. If he's stressing out, it's risking him and the baby…"
Hermione nodded, and gave them a summarized version of what Harry went on a tangent about. It took a good twenty minutes to get through. But she took a breath, her eyes obviously filled with concern for her brother-figure. "Like I said…I've never seen him like that, and I've seen him in a lot of moods before. I always knew he was holding things back, but not all that. That he wished he hadn't survived again. That he almost joined Voldemort on multiple occasions. That no one ever saw how much he was hurting, that he needed help and no one cared just because they were all relying on him…" She trailed off.
"That the only one who did see through the mask was the Dark Lord. We all knew he suffered, that it couldn't have been easy…But to hear it all from him, his perspective. His thoughts…I'm worried. Ron is worried. So are the rest of the Weasleys who are not Ginerva and her mother…" Hermione said. "Molly, of course, said nothing to Harry's confessions and went to coddle Ginny, who only cried that Harry refused to get back with her."
"You think that's what we see when he's with us? When we think he's happy? That it's just a mask?" Pansy inquired.
"Before Hermione said all that, I might have denied the possibility…But after? I can't. He's miserable, stressed," Theo began.
"He's what would be diagnosed as someone with severe depression. And regrettably, it's not unexpected with all he's had to survive…As he stated to Miss. Granger. And as headmaster, I should be concerned about his mental stability…But he did end that rant with saying he didn't want to feel that way anymore. That he wanted to stop just surviving and start living. To be happy." Severus stated.
"We'll watch him…" The man added. "And that girl. It seems she's pretty convinced that she will marry Potter. She's who we need to monitor. Potter is understandably depressed and scared, but he recognizes that it's not what he wants to be. So he's making strides to overcome it. Support is all we can offer him while he takes that journey."
"We can't do anything to her unless we hear of or see her attempting something with Harry. But we need to be careful, especially if this gets out that you are the father, Uncle Sev. I do believe that would be the bombshell that causes Ginerva to just lose it and do something drastic." Draco said. "Severus, is this going to cause any legal problems?"
"We know it was an accident, but the ministry…The DMLE and Wizengamot will not agree. They won't see it the way it really happened. And now that you're aware and involved, the truth will end up coming out. Eventually. Whether by someone overhearing, noticing you and Harry close, or after the baby is born and someone sees the likeness of you and Harry in it, or sees you two together…" Draco reminded.
"I do not know. While Harry and I are both adults, he is still a student in this school and I am the headmaster. It may cause some trouble…" Severus admitted.
"It shouldn't. The rules say no teacher/student relationships. But you are not Harry's teacher." Hermione claimed. "You are the headmaster of the school, but Harry is not a student of yours in any classes. You're not teaching him. And at the time this happened, neither one of you were on school grounds and school wasn't in session. Nor did you know it was the other."
"Whatever the case…Once Harry awakens, I will explain things to him. And perhaps we can consult my father on the matter of legalities." Draco suggested. Severus nodded quietly. "He shouldn't be asleep too much longer…We'll leave you alone. Remember…" He trailed off.
"Calm, civilized…" Severus repeated.
Draco pulled everyone away, and had them exit the hospital wing. Severus took a seat in the chair recently vacated by Granger, and looked over Harry. His eyes glued to the pregnant belly where his child grew in Harry's womb. His mind continued to go over Draco's story, and there was no lies in it. Everything matched up from that night, Harry had been Scott while Severus was Howard.
It had been an unforgettable night too. Severus recalled telling Scott that perhaps they'd run into one another again, share another night. And here they were…Just inches away from one another, under the same roof. There had been a connection, it was admitted by both of them. Severus wasn't sure if that was still there, Potter probably lost any feeling for Howard when he learned who Howard truly was.
Time would tell. Severus knew that, for now, he and Potter had to talk and figure out how to get through the rest of the pregnancy. And how Severus could help. All this time without the other father, the pregnancy had to be rough. He wouldn't give the boy trouble, and hopefully, they could at least co-parent the child. Right now, Severus could only wait for Harry to awaken.
. . .
It was well after dinner time when Harry began to stir. Severus had left to attend the meal, but Poppy promised to alert him if Harry woke while he was gone. Draco, and his friends also stayed clear knowing how serious it was for Harry and Severus to talk to one another. Draco advised Severus not to lay into Harry right away when he woke up because he was going to be confused, and probably still tired.
Harry groaned a bit, turning his head side to side before his eyes fluttered open and blinked a few times before reaching for his glasses blindly. Severus pushed the object closer to Harry's hand as he grabbed them and slipped them on his face. The first thing he took in was being in the hospital wing, and then looking to his left, he saw Professor Snape. Something about the man's face told Harry that he knew Harry was pregnant with his child.
Why else would Snape be sitting beside him with that calm demeanor, but also seem a little concerned? Harry sat up a bit, slowly, adjusting his pillows to recline and then keeping his hands in his lap as his fingers played with one another.
"You know. Don't you? That I was Scott, and that this baby I'm carrying is yours?" Harry asked, keeping his head down.
"Yes, I do." The older male replied.
"How did you figure it out?"
"Draco told me." Severus responded as Harry looked up quickly. "Do not be upset with him. He did not have a choice, and it was to help you and the baby." Harry continued to play with his fingers, anxiety obviously high. "You collapsed from exhaustion near the library, your friends brought you here. Draco was having tea with me when Madam Pomfrey fire-called to say you were brought in."
Severus paused. "Draco's scan revealed that with how far along you are, despite how powerful you are, your magic alone is not enough for you and the baby. We pushed for the solution of who the other father was, and realized Draco knew, so we made him tell us."
"Us?" Harry glanced over.
"Your friends were here as well. Granger, Zabini, and the lot of them." Severus said. "Draco revealed it was me, despite my denial and confusion. He said he'd explain after I transferred some of my magic energy to the baby. Once he assured you were both going to be alright, he told me everything." He paused. "I accepted how this came to be. I am not upset."
"You're not upset with me for going this long without telling you?" Harry questioned.
"I am not happy about it, no. You've been trying to do this alone, near risking a full magic drain that would endanger you and the baby, when you've known since before the Christmas hols, Potter. I could have helped if I knew, taken some of the strain off you involving the baby's needs for energy and magic…" Severus paused.
Harry glanced down. He knew he should have said something…Last month was when the exhaustion began to hit bad as Harry's body had to cope with school and being pregnant, and Harry's magic was being split multiple ways. Having Snape's help with providing for the baby would have taken strain off him.
"But I understand you had your concerns regarding it coming out, so I'm not as angry as I was when Draco revealed things." Severus finally said. "And I know now, so we'll figure out how to ensure the baby gets a balanced, and steady source from us from now until you give birth. There's still four months to go…It should be enough time."
"I was going to tell you…" Harry admitted. "I swear I was, Headmaster. It just got busy over last weekend. I forgot about some assignments that needed to get done for Monday, and then Sunday was a rough day with feeling sick. Not like…Sick-sick. Morning sickness, which hits randomly throughout the day."
"I am educated enough to know that morning sickness does not mean solely in the morning." Severus informed. "I understand that your efforts in telling me have been challenging, along with your worries of the outcome."
Harry glanced down. "If I may alleviate one of them, I do not intend to be absent from the child's life." A pause. "It is my understanding that you have not made a decision regarding your own place…So if you should decide you do not want to keep the baby, I will assume full custody of him or her."
"In the beginning, I was not sure what to do…I'm only about to be nineteen at the end of July. There was…Well, there is still a lot going on since the war ended. I wasn't…" He trailed off. "I am not in the best place mentally from the war or the years before Voldemort's return after his fall from the first war…"
Severus nodded, understanding. "So there's that, and then I learned I was pregnant…And I didn't even know that was a thing. So that didn't help in trying to settle things happening. I still have no idea what I'm going to do for work…Not that I have to. I could just live off my fortune, but I don't believe in handouts. I've worked all my life to get where I am, I see no reason to stop now…" Harry stated.
"Being a teenage parent is difficult without the right support system. I do not believe you have that issue." Severus admitted. "But again, it is your decision. I have made mine."
"Like I said, in the beginning, I had no idea what I would do regarding the baby. But every day, I feel like I'm growing more attached. I don't think I could just…Give the baby away to someone, worry all the time how they're doing. If the people who have them are treating him or her as one of their own…" Harry said softly.
"I would hope you trust that I would not mistreat our child." Severus looked slightly offended at the assumption.
"Not you. This was before I knew who the father was…" Harry commented.
"My apologies." Severus replied. "You are leaning towards keeping the baby?"
"Not fully decided yet, but yes…Let's call it leaning towards." The teen responded. "It depends on if you and I can get along and co-parent our child. I don't want there to be a bunch of drama between us over the past. I don't want us having to go to the family courts to decide a visitation schedule. Or fight over custody. If…If I decide to stay present in the child's life. I'm…Tired of fighting, no matter what the reason for a fight is for. I'm just…Over it."
Severus understood, what Granger said earlier mirrored what Harry just said about being sick and tired of fighting. "With all the fighting you've done in the war, like many others who fought in the first and second…It is understandable that you'd be tired of fighting and want to avoid it." Severus told him. "But in regards to the possibility of us co-parenting our child…The past is in the past, Harry. The way I treated you was part of my position as a spy-," Severus started.
"Perhaps that works for after the Dark Lord returned and you went back to spying in 1995, Headmaster…But it does not excuse the way you treated me my first four years here. When I was just like my father. I know he was an arse to you with his friends…I saw your memories and I am disappointed that three people I looked up to and idolized were bullies…"
Harry paused. "But even at that…What they did had nothing to do with me. I did not bully you. And yes, I look like my father, but it did not mean he came back from the dead and used a potion to de-age himself just to give you a hard time as an adult…You also always threw my fame in my face, like I relished in it when in reality, I really couldn't give a flying fuck about it. Pardon my forward cussing…I have no filter these days cause being brash and rude seems to be the only way to get people to leave me alone."
"I won't penalize or judge your decision to be upfront with your words. You, like me after years of being used and abused, grew a backbone. And the general public doesn't like when people finally use it." Severus told him. "I don't mind. I prefer honesty." He recalled what Granger said earlier about how Harry ranted over Christmas that Harry was sick of being polite and gentle cause people don't respond to it. Not in regards to him, at least.
"However…You're right, and there will never be enough apologies for how I treated you, Potter. You had little or no choice at all in being part of the war, just like me. And I didn't see that because of past grudges…I was petty and behaved immaturely in becoming what I hated. I realized bullying you wasn't doing anything more than hurting you when you were already suffering." He paused.
"But I can't turn back the clock. All I can do is say I'm sorry and hope you'll forgive me so we can move forward together to raise our child. I-If you choose to remain in its life." Severus added, not wanting to assume or pressure Harry into it.
"I appreciate the apology, and I forgive you." Harry told him. "Well…I forgave you a long time ago. I hated how you treated me…But I understood too. It's hard to be bullied and then fight the desire to bully back. I get it…I not only look like my dad, but I inherited quite a few of his trouble-making traits too. And Dumbledore always let me, Ron, and Hermione get away with breaking the rules…Just like he did to the Marauders."
Severus wasn't expecting Harry to understand how he felt, the way he saw things. "The only difference between me and them is that I wasn't a bully. I didn't want to become what I hated. But I also know that while those facts brought you anger…Seeing me brought you pain, and regret. Because you could also see me and see my mum…" The potions master didn't even try to hide the flinch.
"Because you still blame yourself for her death, and my father's when you took the part of the prophecy you heard to Voldemort and then he chose to target me. You still believe you set it all in motion. You didn't. If it wasn't you, it would have been someone else. Things probably would have gone the same way, and my parents would have died for me whether I was a year old or twenty-five." Harry told him.
"I do forgive you. I forgave you after the Occlumency lessons, when I saw why you hated me so much. Because of my father, and his friends. It wasn't just me looking like my dad…It was that Sirius was my godfather, and Remus was my uncle. And Pettigrew…He's the one who actually sold my parents' location out. And maybe you didn't know that when I first came to Hogwarts, but you knew after third year." The teen mentioned.
"I know you were awake after I hit you with that spell. I could feel it…I've always been good at picking up others' magic and energy." Harry informed. "But yeah…I forgave you a long time ago. And the years you've spent protecting me, I'm sure my mother has too. I think now…You need to forgive yourself and understand that you may have taken half that prophecy to Voldemort…"
"But you didn't tell him it was me, he made that choice. And the moment you knew he was targeting me, you went to Dumbledore to put my family into hiding. My parents knew it was you who brought the information that I was being targeted. So really…It was because of you I lived. If you hadn't said anything, there would have been no warning. Voldemort would have likely attacked before I was born. But you warned them, so they were able to hide safely for a year and when Voldemort did come…They both did whatever they could to protect me."
"So you saved me. Your warning made my parents aware Voldemort would come, and when he did, they fought knowing they could die. And they didn't care as long as I was alive. I know you asked Voldemort to spare her…My mum." Severus's eyes widened. "He kept his word, you know…He didn't kill her."
"Voldemort showed me, when he possessed me at the ministry…He showed me that night. He did ask her to stand aside three times, and when she refused, he pushed her out of the way. When she saw him go for me, she jumped in front of the curse. He didn't kill my mum, Professor…Not intentionally."
"Her sacrifice happened because of you. Because she knew you asked for her to be spared in exchange for me…And she refused. So really…You're the reason I became the boy who lived. And it was her sacrifice that protected me from the killing curse, caused it to rebound and destroy Voldemort's body and a piece of tattered soul latched onto me. And me being a Horcrux was the power I had that the Dark Lord knew not. Which ultimately sealed his fate sixteen years later." He paused.
"Maybe you did give him the prophecy that made him choose to target me…But you are also responsible for being the reason I lived and had the power to vanquish him. And you were the one to pass that information so I knew what I had to do to defeat him. I could never hate you for that. Neither could mum or dad. They forgave you. I forgive you. You say you want to leave the past in the past, then forgive yourself for the role you think caused all my suffering and understand that it saved my life and brought the defeat of Voldemort. It's time to put it behind you."
"Thank you." Severus nodded, grateful for the teen's acceptance. He never expected Harry to break things down like that, and it was…Comforting for the regret and guilt he'd been carrying all these years. Like Harry, when he learned he lived, he hated it. Carrying all that weight of the things he'd done. But everything Harry just said…Severus understood the gravity and depth of his decisions in a new way that didn't hurt so much.
"How do you know your parents forgave me…" Severus wondered curiously.
Harry smiled lightly. "I suppose you won't just buy that I know?" Severus shook his head. "I have ways, but it's best I keep them quiet for now. Can't spoil all my surprises, how would I ever keep you on your toes about what I'm up to?" It was a tease, but it lightened the mood and the older male's lips turned upward into a small smile and he let out a laugh. "For now…Let's leave it at whispered voices all around me. I'm very in tune with nature after nearly a year on the run and living in forests." Harry told him.
"Fair enough. For now…One day, I hope you'll tell me more. Maybe establish an acquaintance or friendship type of relationship, if we both raise the baby?" Severus hoped.
"Something tells me that we're going to end up in each other's lives for the rest of them no matter what, so I feel the chance of that is very high." Harry admitted.
"So…Do you know the gender of the child?" Severus wondered.
Harry shook his head. "No, I didn't want to find out. If you want to, Draco can tell you. He knows since he does all the scans."
"It is fine, I do not mind waiting to find out." Severus informed. "How do you feel?"
"Still pretty tired. But I'd like to get up to use the loo and eat something." Harry confessed.
"I can help you to the restroom?" Severus offered when he saw Harry struggling to get out of the cot.
"No, no…I'm fine. It just takes me a minute to get up from being down so long." Harry got to the edge of the bed and took a few tries to get to his feet, then slip on his slippers. Severus didn't get in his way, but he watched to make sure the teen didn't fall. He understood that the situation was awkward and Harry didn't fully trust him as he would Draco or his other friends.
"Is there anything in particular you'd like to eat? I can put an order in with the elves." Severus inquired.
"Nothing special. Just something to eat. I do need my nighttime potions though. Draco could bring them from the dorm, he knows where they are." Harry said
"I will worry about your potions and dinner, you go to the lav. I know that frequent bathroom use is among the symptoms that last all pregnancy." Severus mentioned.
"You have no idea." Harry muttered as he moved to the bathroom.
Severus quickly summoned an elf and got Harry some dinner, then he sent another elf to Harry and Draco's room to retrieve the potions Harry needed from the room. By the time Harry came out of the lavatory and reached the bed. Severus watched as Harry eased himself down and went to adjust the pillows.
"Let me help you?" Severus offered.
"You don't have to…" Harry told him softly. "I can do it. I'm not incapable."
"I know you are not, Harry. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should have to when someone else can and is willing." The potions master stated. "We both had a hand in the conception of this baby. I have missed out on five months of this…"
"To be fair, I missed the first two months…" Harry mentioned as Severus adjusted the pillows for him, following Harry's hand motions of how he wanted them. "I found out when I was about nine weeks." Severus actually gave him a look of not understanding. "Two months and a week along."
"You'll have to forgive me, I am not familiar with much regarding pregnancy." Severus admitted. "But my point is that I want to help where I can for the rest, Harry. Please?"
"Help with what exactly?" Harry questioned. "We gonna switch off carrying the baby?"
Severus didn't comment on the sarcasm. He did know that mood swings were also a frequent symptom of pregnancy and sarcasm was a warning to speak carefully. "I just want to help you in any way I can, Harry. Whatever I can to make this easier on you. Draco told me male pregnancy is high risk and can be rough. And I want to be part of this, come to the check-ups if I can?"
"The check-ups are twice a month, usually in me and Dray's dorm." Harry stated. "I guess we could move them to the infirmary though, so you can be part of it." He added afterwards. "As for helping me, not much you can do, Professor. You can't go on late-night snack runs, massage my feet and back, or run me baths at night."
"Well, no. I can't be in the private dorms unless it's an emergency with a student." Severus said.
"And a student can't be in staff's personal quarters." Harry replied.
"I'm sure we can find a loophole in the rules. But I do want to help, Harry…If you need anything, please, let me know." Severus told him. "I can make things happen. I'm not Dumbledore good, but I'm a Slytherin and I'm very resourceful." The teen agreed, nodding.
"For all of my remaining sanity, please don't ever become Dumbledore good. Just stay you, as you've always been…Not like asshole potions teacher you, but the you that you are right now with me." Harry told him. Severus didn't understand the context, but he also sensed Harry didn't want to talk about it right now.
Severus brought the moving bed-tray up to Harry's level so he could eat and then also the potions he took for the evening. "I shall leave you to eat. I have a few things I need to get done."
"You didn't have to stay here the whole time I was out." Harry remarked.
"Of course I did. You're carrying our baby, and collapsed from magic drain. Draco told me I should stay in case the baby needed more energy from me in order for you to wake up." Severus informed. "And that us being close without me transferring energy and magic is good for the baby. It can pick up on both of us. But we can talk more this weekend, if you like. I'd like to be brought up to speed on things."
"I guess we can do that." Harry nodded.
Severus got up from the chair. "I'll send you word once I check my schedule."
"Okay." The teen replied.
"Good night, Harry."
"Goodnight, Headmaster." Severus left the room just as Harry was getting into his dinner.