May 4, 1999
Harry was currently in the middle of his 36th week and today officially marked one month until the teen's expected due date of June 4th. Today was May 4th and it was a Tuesday. Like always, Harry went through his day of frequently drinking water, using the bathroom, and taking breaks while he traveled between destinations in the school. He attended the classes he still took physically and self-studied for Potions since he couldn't attend that class due to the harmful fumes with brewing. Everything else for Harry was going great.
Being with Severus was really the only change, but it wasn't a big one because like Harry told the man when they made it official a week or so ago, it felt like they'd been together for a bit since Severus learned the truth that he was the baby's father. They talked about it that day, admitted that with Harry living with the man, them having sex at least once a week, and everything else…It seriously looked like they were a couple but one that didn't make things public. And they couldn't anyway, not until both were out of Hogwarts in mid-June.
The two made love that night after Harry got the promised massage from his love. The lotion really was good as Severus explained to Harry that it was built with how much the teen loved his nightly baths in mind. It had an infusion of oils and salts to help relieve body aches, reduce swelling, and it was warming too. Severus mainly used it on Harry's back, legs, ankles, and feet. This had now become an every night thing, the massage.
Ginerva was getting annoyed that Harry wasn't getting jealous or even looking at her anymore. Harry could tell she was sick of being with someone else since it wasn't working and now she was going with the problems in the relationship thing that would inevitably lead to a break up to hopefully get Harry to check on her and be friendly so they could get close again. But the teen wasn't falling for that since he knew the whole plan.
Harry was just going to quietly wait his time until he didn't have to see Ginny again after Hogwarts, then he'd let the bank send notification that the marriage contract wasn't active or even legal. Grimmauld was safe and so far, Severus and Harry had been discussing plans for after Hogwarts and if they'd be living together or not. Severus admitted that he didn't quite want to remain at his childhood home in Cokeworth.
But Harry was also unsure if he wanted to remain at Grimmauld. It was fixed up, modernized, safe…But it had a lot of memories too. They'd been discussing that if things were going well between them after the baby was born, maybe they'd just get a place of their own together. Somewhere quiet, enough space for them and maybe more kids later down the line. Start fresh with their family. But for now, it was just the two of them spitting ideas.
Right now, it was dinner time in the Great Hall. Harry was already present and sitting with his friends, he was having a pretty good day. A good as one could be at eight months pregnant, at least. He hadn't gotten a chance to see Severus all day except this morning before Harry left for breakfast, and then after classes ended, Harry spent time in the library then his dorm to get more work done. He looked forward to the meal ending and then heading to the Headmaster's office to enjoy the night with Severus.
Speaking of the man, he'd just come in and headed for the staff table. Taking his seat, he gave a few announcements then summoned the food onto the tables. Harry and Severus caught one another's eyes across the room, sharing a look with a small conversation. Severus asking Harry if he was okay and Harry assuring he was. While bringing his attention to his food, Harry caught Ginny's eyes.
The girl was grinning like she was up to something and it made him weary. "Harry?" Hermione asked and the teen looked to his best female friend. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. Just…I caught Ginny staring at me, and I know she does it all the time, but this one…I don't know, it's making me uneasy. It's not that lovey-dovey look, it's…She's grinning like she's won and about to get everything she wants." Harry admitted to her and his other friends he knew were listening.
"She can't touch you, Harry," Blaise reminded. "Restraining and no contact order is in effect still."
"That doesn't mean her looking at me like that sets me at ease. She's up to something…I've got a bad feeling." Harry said softly.
"Hey, if she tries anything…She has to get through us to get to you." Theo informed. "We got your back."
It should have assured him, but it didn't. Taking a deep breath, Harry began to eat his dinner and chat with his friends. About half-way through the meal, Argus Filch entered and trotted up to the head table, bending to speak with Severus and then standing. Severus did the same and left the table after whispering something to Minerva, who followed suit. Both made their way down just as three aurors made their way into the hall.
Immediately, Harry looked at Ginny, who was smirking. "Shit…They're gonna arrest Severus. They know…They know he's the father of my baby…" Harry felt panic rise in his chest.
"Hold on…Wait," Draco told Harry. "How do you know?"
"Ginny was grinning before, now she's smirking…I think she got fed up with the fake relationship to make me jealous, then try to be friendly so we'd get close again for another chance between us and told her mother about the scene in the office the day of the early labor scare…" Harry revealed quietly.
"You know the department wouldn't waste a chance to lock Severus up. If Molly went to them with what Ginny saw, they have probable cause for a warrant to arrest him…" The teen added. "I have to stop this."
"Harry, stay down. If you get involved now, it will only confirm their suspicions. All they have is Molly's word…" Hermione stated.
"Which is worth more than Severus's because of his past and Severus can't lie and deny the baby is his. It'll come out anyway once the baby is born there will be no mistaking mine or his magic." Harry remarked. "Molly probably lied, said Severus raped me and the whole one-night stand thing was just a cover story."
"Just wait," Draco informed Harry. "Let's see what happens. If they do arrest him, I'll call my father and we'll get this straightened out. Okay? Breathe…You're only a month from your due date, Harry…I don't want to have to worry about Severus getting freed and you being in labor without him…"
Harry gave him a nod, taking a few breaths to relax, but his eyes were on the scene in front of him. Gwain was there, and two others who Harry didn't recognize, not that it mattered. They met Severus and Minerva in the middle. Then Harry watched as another auror came in, escorting Molly towards Ginny, who stood and both joined the rest of the group.
His heart plummeted into his stomach as Severus lowered his head a bit, eyes closed. Minerva gasped and Gwain sighed. Molly was holding Ginny, both grinning triumphantly. Gwain said something as an auror pulled out wrist shackles. "Dray…" Harry said quickly.
Minerva said something else, her eyes narrowed and motioning around then towards outside the hall. She must have told them to at least arrest Severus beyond the view of others, but the aurors didn't care. "Severus Snape, you are under arrest for sleeping with one of your students who is a minor."
Harry's eyes widened. "St-Student? Minor? No, this shit stops right now." Now, his eyes narrowed as he went to stand up. Draco tried to stop him, but Harry jerked away and walked from the table as they were leading Severus to exit. Draco followed, as did his Slytherin friends. Hermione did too, but she had sent two patronus messages off first.
"Mr. Potter, go back to your seat." Minerva said.
"No. Why is the headmaster being arrested?" Harry demanded from Gwain. Due to closeness, Ginny already felt the first zaps of warning that she was violating the order and had to stop, she scoffed as Molly whispered something and then the girl relaxed.
"Mr. Potter…We don't want to make this a big thing in front of everyone for your sake. You know what happened, the evidence is clear…" Gwain looked at Harry's stomach. "I promise he won't hurt you again…"
"H-Hurt me?" Harry said, surprised. "Just what exactly were you told that you believed Snape would ever hurt me."
"Harry, dear…" Molly came up beside him, hands on his shoulders. Harry shrugged her off with a glare. "Ginny told me everything that happened. It's alright, you don't have to hide the truth anymore to protect Snape and what he did to you…"
"Oh, yes…I'm sure. She told you about the day in the headmaster's office where she stressed me out so much that I nearly went into labor. I hardly see that warranting an arrest." Harry remarked.
"Harry, I'm only trying to protect you! I saw everything…How unprofessional and inappro-," Ginny began.
"Stop talking." Harry ordered. "Take those cuffs off him, now." He said. "The headmaster has done nothing wrong. You have no grounds."
"You poor thing…He's made you believe that, hasn't he?" Molly frowned. "Don't worry…Once he's away, we'll get you the help you need to stop believing this man is innocent. I'm sure he's the reason you put that order on Ginny in the-,"
"He is innocent! He hasn't done anything to me!" Harry glared.
"He is not innocent! He is a Death Eater who mentally and emotionally abused you for years, and he raped you! That's why you won't name the father of the baby…It's him!" Molly snapped.
The room went silent.
"Ever cross your mind I won't name the father because it's nobody's fucking business but mine and the other father's?" Harry narrowed his eyes at her. "Severus Snape is a war hero, former Death Eater. Pardoned from any of his crimes during the war because he was spying for the Order of the Phoenix to bring Voldemort down. I personally spoke on his behalf, so did Hermione, and Ron."
"Might I also remind you that if not for him, I never would have known I was supposed to sacrifice myself to destroy the piece of Voldemort's soul that had linked to me when I was a baby. The psychotic bastard would still be alive, Severus would be dead…And we'd all be living in a new but dark world. So how about a little gratitude for the sacrifices we made. That he made for us to win." Harry remarked.
"What is going on here…" Came Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice. The man walked up to the group. "I received an emergency patronus from Miss. Granger that Severus Snape was being arrested on fabricated information."
"Minister Shacklebolt," Gwain bowed his head. "Mrs. Weasley came into the department today to speak with me and made a claim that her daughter, Ginerva Weasley, witnessed an unprofessional and inappropriate scene between Mr. Snape and Mr. Potter."
"Go on…What was inappropriate and unprofessional?" Kingsley asked.
"He-," Ginny started.
"I was not speaking to you, Miss. Weasley. Do keep silent unless you are spoken to. That goes for you as well, Mrs. Weasley…" He paused. "Robarbs?"
"Miss. Weasley informed her mother that when she was in the Headmaster's office a while back with her head of house, Minerva McGonagall, for a disciplinary meeting with Mr. Snape. Mr. Potter was already in the office. Miss. Weasley watched as Mr. Potter was in a lot of pain and Mr. Snape had touched him too intimately for it to be seen as concern…"
"He was also calling Mr. Potter by first name, holding him like a lover before whisking him off to the infirmary. Miss. Weasley knows of their history and believed that given the concern over Mr. Potter, that Mr. Snape was the father of Mr. Potter's baby seeing as Mr. Potter has refused to name who it is…" Gwain explained.
"Mrs. Weasley claimed that it must have been rape because her daughter and Mr. Potter were in a relationship and betrothed after the war. But suddenly, Mr. Potter called off all the plans and terminated the relationship over Christmas. Upon returning, it came out Mr. Potter was pregnant…But he won't say who the father is." the man added.
"We believed there was enough evidence to get a warrant for his arrest, Minister." one of the aurors said. "When we arrived today to inquire…Miss. McGonagall corroborates the scene from the office happening, and Mr. Snape did not deny being the father of Mr. Potter's child."
Kingsley looked at Severus, then back to the aurors. "Did he confirm or deny the allegation of rape?"
"We just told you that he-,"
"You said he didn't deny being the father of Mr. Potter's baby…You have not told me if he confirmed or denied the accused claim of sexual assault." Kingsley stated. "Did he admit to that?" None of the aurors spoke. "Mr. Snape…Did you rape Mr. Potter?"
"I did not." Severus replied.
"Robarbs, I am not sure how you're running the department but I assure you that you cannot just arrest someone without proof of a crime. He didn't rape Mr. Potter." Kingsley informed.
"But he confessed to being the baby's father! He is twice Harry's age, Minister Shacklebolt! Surely this can't be legal, Harry is his student and-," One of the aurors began quickly.
"Silence." Gwain ordered. "The minister is right…What we were told was a claim, but you didn't investigate it properly. There was supposed to be…Questioning and taking statements from Mr. Potter and Mr. Snape. You didn't even ask to speak to Mr. Potter and see his side. Just because Snape is the father, doesn't mean he took advantage of the boy he's been protecting for years. You jumped over all that for the arrest warrant…"
"Silence, from all of you!" the Minister demanded. Then he looked at Harry calmly. "Mr. Potter, the floor is yours on the events that took place?" Kingsley invited.
Harry nodded. "When I got pregnant, it was from a one-night stand that took place in August 1998. I was drunk, and in a muggle nightclub. It had been a hard day, and I just wanted to go out one night to relax, have fun and not be me. Not be Harry Potter. I wanted…Normal. I happen to be a Metamorphagus," He paused a moment. "So, I changed my look and clothes, went out to the club…"
"For what happened the night I conceived this child…" Harry took a moment. "I was dancing and tipsy, me and the person I slept with bumped into one another. We apologized to one another, decided to refill our drinks when the people we'd been dancing with wandered off. Had a great time, got drunk…Snogged by the bathrooms for a bit, entered the male's lav, picked an empty stall and shagged."
"Was incredible too. Afterwards," Harry began again, "We both said hope to run into you again, he gave me his number, and we exchanged names. I'd been using Scott. He had used Howard. That was it, we both left. I thought he was just a muggle…That was until my roommate, Draco Malfoy, who was a healer in training…Convinced me to let him diagnose me."
"I'd been sick and Draco took notice, so he did a scan and that's how I found out I was pregnant, about nine weeks along…Eventually, Draco worked with Madam Pomfrey and Severus to make the potion to determine paternity." Harry said. "Because again, I had no idea who I had slept with that night. Thought the guy was a muggle, Draco is the one who told me only wizards could get other wizards pregnant…"
"Can confirm." Draco added.
"The results of the ritual potion said Severus Snape was the father. Imagine my shock. I admittedly kept quiet until after Christmas. But when I collapsed from exhaustion, Draco revealed to Severus and our friends that my body couldn't handle the magic drain of classes, the pregnancy and so on…And that Severus was the father." Harry explained.
He was taking heavy breaths, using the closest object to keep himself steady. "Harry…" Severus tried to get to his side but the auror held him still with a glare. "Let go. I have to help him, he and the baby need me."
"You will stay here, Snape." The auror glared.
"You stay away from him, Severus! How could you impregnate him…" Molly tried to get closer to Harry, but the teen shifted from her a bit.
"I didn't-," Severus started.
"I already said that we were both disguised as muggles in a muggle club. I hid my magic, Sev did the same. We were drunk." Harry glared at her.
"Sit down, Mr. Potter," Poppy commanded, bringing him a glass of ice water. "You are due a month from today, I do not want you going into labor early…Despite better circumstances than last time…" She helped Harry to sit and had him drink, also putting space between Harry and Molly. "This situation is stressing him…Uncuff Severus at once! Harry and the baby need him!"
"Do not argue with me, young man!" Poppy snapped. "Male pregnancy is already high risk and dangerous as it is, more so that this conception was done without the use of any potions. This is a child from two powerful wizards, and it needs both of them to get what it needs for development of the baby itself and the baby's magical core. I'll not risk either of their lives on this ridiculous claim! Uncuff him at once…Minister, please?"
Kingsley nodded to Gwain, and the man then nodded to the aurors under his command. Severus immediately jerked from their grip and knelt beside Harry, wrapping his arms around the teenager and pulling him close. "It's alright now…Breathe, love. No stress, all this will be taken care of. Relax…I'm right here for you and the little one." Severus soothed, one hand on the protruding belly.
"Madam Pomfrey? While you're overlooking Harry, would you like me to continue the explanation?" Draco asked.
"Yes, please, if you do not mind, Mr. Malfoy…" Poppy replied.
"After I revealed who the father was because Harry told me when I asked what had him stressing out before Christmas…Severus had demanded an explanation. I instructed him to first do an energy transfer to help stabilize Harry and the baby, he did so without complaint. Afterwards, I revealed to him that about Harry being in the club…yaddi-yadda, he couldn't deny the truth after I told him everything." Draco began.
"I left with mine and Harry's friends so Harry and Severus could talk about what they'd do. Eventually, they agreed to let the past go and they would co-parent their child equally. And obviously, it was agreed that they needed to keep things quiet to avoid…This."
The blond continued. "I reached out to my father for legal advice and we all agreed that there was nothing the aurors could do to Severus because the conception of the child happened outside of Hogwarts' term. It happened August 29th, 1998. Two days before the first day of school. And Severus didn't even become involved in Harry or the baby's life actively until I made the revelation that he was the father, which was after Christmas, when Harry was almost five months pregnant."
"But Mr. Potter did confess that the two of them are in love, together, and still have sex!" An auror argued.
"Doesn't matter. What they're doing isn't illegal. In fact, it was medically necessary for the child. As Poppy stated, this is a child that wasn't developing properly in either physical or magical terms. I am the one who instructed them to spend time together so that having Severus close would balance the magic output from Harry. When it wasn't enough, I told them that they needed to get together a couple times every day…"
"And also spend the night together. Fridays and Saturdays, Harry would stay overnight with Severus in his personal quarters," Draco paused. "WHICH," He said before anyone tried to cut him off. "Was legal because it was after school hours."
"As a former educational board governor…" Came Lucius's Malfoy's voice as he strolled up, his wife on his arm. "I can assure you that the school day starts at 9 am and ends at 3 pm. Anything before 9 am and after 3 pm is free time, including meals. Even lunch time doesn't count as part of the school day."
"Also, while Severus is the headmaster of Hogwarts…He is not considered a teacher at Hogwarts. He is not teaching any students, therefore, Mr. Potter does not qualify as his student. And if you want to get really technical…Mr. Potter is not a student at all. Enrollment of students is first year to seventh year. Mr. Potter did not attend his seventh year of Hogwarts." Lucius stated.
"The adults who returned to complete their schooling are back willingly and listed as Eighth Year in a fifth house to separate them from the other students attending years one through seven. They are not actually enrolled, are they? Those who missed their final year on the seven-year enrollment were given the offer to return to make up for the missed time." The man informed.
"At any time, due to their ages and this having been an offer…They could leave and have no repercussions. When you are enrolled as a student, you can't leave until you're seventeen and have passed your NEWT exams. These adults, given their missed time because of the war…Were given a waiver to not need their NEWT exams." Narcissa chimed in.
"And I am the one who told Severus and Harry to start actively having sex." Poppy huffed. "The magic released during that act was what the baby needed to grow. And every adult here knows that sex is something couples expecting a baby do. These two are no different, though I'm delighted to hear you're finally together." She smiled at Harry and Severus.
Lucius held out the file to Gwain. "This is a folder containing everything I've said, as well as the sworn statements from my son, who has been Mr. Potter's healer since the discovery of the pregnancy, and also his trainer, Poppy Pomfrey, of their findings and treatments during the course of the pregnancy…"
"You will also find the mirrored statements of Severus Snape and Harry Potter from their own points of view about their night together, learning of the pregnancy, and how they came to the agreements of living together having sex for the sake of their baby's growth. I assume somewhere along the line, recently, they discovered they'd developed feelings for one another." Lord Malfoy said.
"But again…That's not illegal." Minerva jumped in now. "As Deputy Headmistress, I will confirm that I did witness the scene that Miss. Weasley reported in the Headmaster's Office…But what was wrong about it was that I saw Mr. Potter in a lot of pain and thought something was wrong, when he fell weak against me, I told Severus to come help."
"I noticed the concern too, but I've always known that Severus cared for Harry over the years even if they butt heads. All Severus did was pick Harry up in his arms and took him through the floo to the Infirmary. There was no inappropriate touching, nor unprofessionalism. He was acting like a concerned adult for a pregnant teenager in the school. And this was on a weekend, so not during school hours anyway." Minerva retorted.
"And the results of that day?" Kingsley asked.
"Mr. Potter had a stress-induced panic attack at the closeness to Miss. Weasley, who seems to be obsessed with him and a future together they will never have. The stress pushed him into early labor, but I was able to stop it in time and warned Severus that if it happened again, I might not be able to stop it a second time. I expressed that the baby, nor Harry, would survive if they didn't find a way to boost the development of the baby by the time delivery came around." Poppy said.
"And your suggestion had been for them to-," Gwain started.
"Have sex? Yes. And live together. The closeness would be good." Poppy nodded.
"I am not obsessed!" Ginny stamped her foot down. "Why is it so wrong that I'm in love with him and just want another chance?"
"It's not wrong to be in love, Ginny…Everyone deserves love and happiness with someone. What is wrong is that you and Harry were together and things ended before the horcrux hunt. I know he said maybe you could talk about getting back together after the war…" Hermione paused.
"But Harry expressed to you and others many times that he wanted to focus on school and healing from everything over the years." Ronald came in, linking his fingers to Hermione's. "Harry suffered the most. Lost the most. Sacrificed the most, Gin. And he did it to see that bastard destroyed…"
"All he asked for was time to heal, focus on himself for once…And you wouldn't support it. You didn't support him. All you cared about was you. Made it about you and having to wait." Draco scoffed. "We were all there that day at school when he asked you to back off and let him heal or he wasn't taking you back."
"I have everything she's said or done written down in a notebook, but it is what led to the restraining and no contact order. And even with that…" Harry motioned to Ginny standing at the eight foot limit. "She's still as close as she can be and making it all about her…I told her on Christmas with all the Weasleys, and Hermione present, that it was over for good."
"So whatever Molly or Ginny told you that Severus raped me, stole me away or was forcing me to be with him…It's a lie. Severus hasn't forced me into anything. No potions, no spells. Everything we've done is explicitly our decision to do for us and the baby. Ginny only did this because she's pissed I won't be with her again…" Harry stated.
"And she's under the impression that with me out of the way, she'll get Harry to herself." Severus added.
"He's mine!" Ginny raged. "Harry has to marry me! We're bound by a marital contract created by my mum and Albus Dumbledore, who was Harry's legal guardian at the time it was made! And that kid you two have will not be heir. The contract says that the first born male child between Harry Potter and Ginerva Weasley will be heir to the Potter line."
She smirked now, arms folded over one another. "And there's nothing you can do, Harry. You can't have him, Snape, and as soon as Harry turns twenty, the magic of the contract will force him to marry me." She expected Harry to gasp, be shocked, slump in defeat…But all Harry did was laugh.