Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Harry Potter.

Note: Too many people asked for a second instalment so of course I comply with wishes. So here it is, let's begin.

Severus Snape sat at the Head Table, watching Harry James Potter push his food around his plate. His dark eyes narrowed, this was one of the last occasions that the seventh year students would be joining the other students at lunch.

None of the other students at the Gryffindor table seemed to notice, through many of the seventh year students were blearier eyed, showing that each house had a good party last night to celebrate the end of the NEWT's.

As he watched Hermione Granger leaned over towards Harry, pushing something at him and asking him something. Harry's eyes briefly flashed up towards him and the younger wizard smiled before turning back to his friends.

"Minerva, can I have a word with you about this summer?" Severus glanced at the Headmistress. The stern woman with her hair high up in a bun smiled at him and followed his line of vision as she said.

"But of course, Severus. I take it Harry as told you then."

"Yes, Minerva he has." Severus answered, tightly.

"Good, may I offer you my congratulations?"

"No, you daft woman, you may not." He told her, cursing himself and his newfound happiness because truly a child wouldn't change him in the slightest, no bloody way.

Hp

"How did Snape respond, Harry?" Hermione's voice in his ear, her elbow at his side and her nagging to eat more were distracting but Harry had to smile, if only he didn't feel so tired all the time.

"Does the reason of me sitting here, in one piece without brawling my eyes out, perhaps makes you realize that he responded well?" Harry told her, pushing his food around. He wasn't hungry.

"Yeah but mate, she is a woman. She needs to know what he said and how he said it." Ron leaned across the table, taking the salt from Harry which Hermione had just passed him.

"Ronald!" Hermione hissed at their red-haired friend. Ron merely gave a shrug, his mouth too full of food to answer his girlfriend.

"Alright, if you must know, he asked me to marry him." Harry picked at his food again, ignoring the undignified cry beside him and the clatter of utensils to show that Hermione had caught on. Ron was choking on his food.

"The greasy git asked you to marry him? Oh man, Harry, that is wonderful, right?" Ron was a bit uncertain when he noticed Harry's expression. His best friend smiled and said.

"Yeah, course it is. I…I am just so tired all the time. Perhaps I should take a nap. I was so afraid to fall asleep during the NEWT's that I didn't sleep much at all during the night. I thought I wouldn't pass them. I have been studying mostly at night."

"I am sure that you can go up to the hospital wing and sleep before your examination. By the way, have you already told Snape that?" Hermione turned to her friend. Harry smiled at her.

"No, it slipped my mind with everything that was going on last night. I will ask him now…"

"Sorry, mate, he just left with McGonagall." Ron glanced over at the Head Table and Harry followed his gaze. Two places were empty, the one in the middle and the one to the left.

"Oh, I guess I will wait in his chambers then until he comes back. He has a free period after lunch. I am not really hungry anyway and I am sure he will be back soon. I will tell you about it tonight or tomorrow, okay?" Harry was already halfway up from the bench and all Hermione and Ron could do was nod as they watched their friend leave. While a huge burden might have fallen off of Harry when he told Snape, the pregnancy would still be hard on him and they were secretly glad not to be there when their friend would start to have mood swings.

Hp

Harry hummed to himself as he approached the portrait to Severus' chambers. The portrait swung open as soon he gave the password and he entered. He sat down on the couch, a yawn overtaking him.

Severus' chambers had always been home to him, they had become so in the time he spent here. Severus wouldn't mind when he simply sat down to read or to cuddle with him on the couch and after last night…Harry still shivered at the memory.

The warmth in Severus' eyes and the look on his face when they had eaten their dinner and then the hands that had roamed over his body in the bathtub, well it had made him shiver.

When they had adjourned to the bed, it had taken him some time to find release but eventually it had happened, their lovemaking lasting long.

This morning he had woken around the same time as Severus and he had sat in the common room for a while, talking to some of the other students. He hoped Severus would return soon, he had to ask him to come with him to his new examination tonight. He wanted to share it with the older wizard.

Harry glanced up at the books, perhaps he could read a book but a yawn was splitting his face. Perhaps a nap on the couch would be just as pleasant, just a little while, just some time to shut his eyes….

Hp

Severus returned to his chambers with his robes billow behind him. It was settled, Harry could stay with him at the castle throughout the summer where they could plan their bonding ceremony.

Severus ran a hand through his hair as portrait swung open. Truth be told, it had been a relief to know that Harry was pregnant and not thinking of leaving him, through his relief was short lived when he began to realize he was going to be a father. Him, of all people.

He stopped when he noticed Harry was asleep on the couch. A smile lingered on his lips at the sight of his younger lover so wearily upon the couch. Harry was tired from his studying and the extra stress of a baby only made him more tired.

Severus allowed his cloak to slide off his shoulders, going towards the couch with the reason to tuck it around Harry. The barest hint of tanned flash at the younger male's waist made him pause, surely Harry wouldn't mind if he had a look.

Severus had, all through out the night resisted the urge to lay his hand on Harry's flat stomach. It was a tender gesture he didn't do. But now he found his eyes drawn to it.

Carefully he lifted Harry's shirt, displaying softening muscles and tanned flesh. His eyes were mapping out the area he knew so very well and he cautioned place a slender hand below Harry's navel, taking care to snatch it away if the younger male woke up.

He could sense Harry's magic and where it divided in Harry's magic and his own and something entirely different that was their child. His breathing caught when he realized that it was his child growing beneath that skin, his child that Harry was giving him.

He was unaware of the smile that had come to his lips or the fact that he had crouched down to better rest his hand there.

"Severus?" Harry's sleepy voice made him glance up and his younger wizard smiled at him in a way that made Severus' heart suddenly thump ten times faster.

"Our baby is growing there." He said, indicating the place where his hand seemed frozen to the skin.

Harry bit his lip as he said. "Yeah, it is. All right then?"

"Yes, brat, it will be all right." And as Severus rose to kiss his beloved, he knew that with a certainty that they would be all right.

Hp

Severus held open the door to the Hospital Wing for Harry. His brat greeted Madam Poppy Pomfrey, the mediwitch with a smile. The matron's eyes lifted up to meet his own and she said with a surprised smile. "Ah, Severus, what brings you here? I am still full of stock. Let me get Mr Potter settled and then I will come to you to…"

"I came with Mr Potter, Poppy."

"Oh, Severus, I know as the Potions Master you would find this an interesting case but…."

"I am here for moral support." Severus wondered if she was doing it on purpose.

"I didn't know that you and Harry had bonded so…well…."

"One tends to do such a thing when impregnating his lover." Harry was stifling his laughter.

"But why haven't you said so in the first place, Severus? Well come on, then. I am glad Harry has finally decided to share this news with you. It is all very exiting of course. I knew it had to be a powerful wizard to accomplishing this feat." Poppy was smiling at him.

Severus merely raised an eyebrow. He followed Poppy and Harry to the very back, where a section of the ward had been closed off with curtains. A bed stood there and Harry sat down, a little shy of a sudden.

"And perhaps you decided not to ask Mr Potter?" Severus crossed his arms over his chest and then snapped at his brat. "I have seen you naked before so get on with it."

He was a bit anxious but Harry didn't need to know it. It would make it very real suddenly. He swallowed thickly as Harry removed his shirt and lay down. Fingers curled around his hand as Poppy summoned a chair and Severus knew Harry was nervous as well. He squeezed his brat's hand.

"Well, Severus, Harry was very insecure with how you would react. He was happy and very surprised when I gave him the news. This might feel a little bit cold, dear…." Poppy held up a tiny device which rattled a little. "So how did you respond?"

"The right way, you can be assured, Poppy."

"Oh, you asked Harry to marry him, declaring your undying love and devotion for him hold still, Harry."

"Will you just get a move on, woman; I have other places to be." Poppy glanced up to see Severus glaring at her, the specks in his cheeks telling her that she had been right but he was too embarrassed to say anything. She had always known that Severus was capable of great love and was only waiting to be rekindled by the right person.

For a while, especially when Poppy had been duty bound to report it to the Headmistress, especially if the student decided to keep the child. She hadn't known about the relationship between Severus and Harry but Minerva had been extremely pleased with the situation, saying it was a good thing, leaving Poppy in doubt.

"Yes, ah here it is." Soon she had printed out a picture of an impossible small space with a tiny flickering. Harry fell silent when he saw it and then gave it to Severus, being very quite. The smile was still in place as he sat up on the bed. "The child is fine. It is growing well for the first trimester. If you wish to find out the sex of the baby, I can see if I can find out next time?" Poppy glanced from one male to the other.

Severus was watching the picture, his hand trembling ever so faintly. "Is there anything that I need to know in dealing with Harry? Or something that I can do…"

She smiled and said. "No, through keep him away from your laboratory. There are some ingredients that can be dangerous but I am sure you will know those. The other things, I am sure Harry can help. Is there anything else?"

Harry sighed and then said. "I have been very tired lately…."

"Have you been getting enough sleep?" Poppy was stern now and Severus placed the picture in his pocket for later. His throat was suddenly dry and there was a funny feeling in his stomach.

"Well with the NEWT's I was up studying a lot lately but I can't seem to catch up on my sleep….I even fell asleep today on the couch…" Harry was embarrassed and he glanced at Severus.

"That might occur a little bit more until you are fully rested. The strength needed for your body to sustain this child is hard and especially with exams. Especially when with the exams you don't sleep as much as you would need or eat less. I suggest that you take it easy for a few days and allow your strength to get back to you. You will need rest but I think that within a few weeks when you are in the second trimester, you will feel much better and your energy will be much more balanced. If there are no more questions then I will need to attend to another student which I expect soon."

Poppy smiled at Harry and she watched as Severus rose and closed the curtain behind her. She put the scanning device away and then she heard Harry say. "I guess it means that you will be forced to give me back rubs then since this is your fault…"

"Mmm, I can think that is a nice trade of seeing you grow fat with my child."

"Yeah, well, you wanted a family."

"Seems I wasn't the only one."

"No, but like hell you will be there for the labour, holding my hand the entire time."

"Suppose the Wizengamot will consider my trial again if I murder Harry Potter too?"

Poppy smiled to herself as she heard Harry's low laughter and she knew that there wouldn't be any more loving parents then the two abused wizards sitting beyond the curtain.

Hp

"Severus?"

"Mmm…"

"Severus, wake up please?"

"Potter, it is twelve of clock at night, I am sleeping."

"It is one minute past twelve actually but guess what day it is today?" Severus could clearly hear the smile in Harry's voice.

"Tuesday, I don't know, Harry, can't I answer that question in the morning?"

"It is my birthday and our anniversary. Do you remember that a year ago we couldn't be in the same room together without being naked?"

"Yes and see that it has led us to. I know it had to go wrong sometimes…"

"You were the one who forgot the charms." Harry snuggled in closer against Severus' side, hiding a yawn. The bulge that was at Harry's waist was pressing against Severus' side and Severus shifted to accommodate to the weight and then lay a hand on Harry's stomach, keeping his brat still.

At four months, Harry had blossomed into all smiles and even more happiness. The exhaustion and morning sickness had quickly elevated once the vacation had begun. They had been planning their bonding ceremony and had even gone shopping for dress robes.

"Mrs Weasley send me a howler again last night. She thinks it is my fault that you don't have a white robe."

Harry shifted and Severus turned his head so he could see the frown on the beautiful face of his lover. "That would be extremely hypocritical, don't you agree? Virgin white while I am four months pregnant, yeah right, who are we kidding?"

"Ourselves, we had begun seeing each other for casual shag, actually…"

"Yeah, hence the reason you were going to ask me to marry you when I graduated." Harry laughed softly at him and Severus cursed himself. Harry knew him too well.

Whatever had begun between them a year ago had blossomed into love and Severus knew he had been lost when he gave Harry his present during Christmas, a snitch broach, infused with his magic, claiming Harry to him. Never before had he considered Harry to be his husband but the thought of ever losing the younger wizard agonizing.

"Well, I had to do the right thing. I couldn't leave my child to grow up with the last name Potter, poor child; it will be destined for sheer dumb luck and stubbornness."

"Yes and with your legacy it will be able to hold a grudge for an extremely long time and of course the trademark Snape nose." Harry's voice was dropping lower with sleep.

"Heaven forbid." Severus breathed as he heard the soft, sleepy murmur that came. He ran his free hand through the dark fringe and then allowed it to fall to Harry's shoulder. He kissed Harry's forehead and then settled down, saying. "Happy birthday, brat.

Hp

Harry waited until the bell had run indicating the lunch hour. He raised his hand and knocked, twisting the silver ring on his finger with the green bands woven into it. "Enter." The tired voice of his husband came and Harry entered the dungeon office.

Severus glanced up at him before rising. "Is something the matter…?"

"No, everything is well. In fact, I think the baby is kicking." Harry allowed the hesitant smile to burst forward as Severus was at his side in two steps. The long elegant hands were already cupping his five month bump and Harry sucked in a large breath.

The dark eyes were intently staring at him and Harry waited until he experienced the butterfly movements he had been experiencing for an hour now. The school had started about a week ago and while Harry helped Severus as much as he could by grading the essays while his husband brewed, he was beginning to settle down and started to look at ways to decorate the nursery.

"Harry, perhaps it is too soon…" Severus' voice was patient but he was already drawing his hand away, wondering what would happen if somebody walked in and saw them like this.

The next moment his hand tightened in the fabric when a cautionate kick came to his hand.

"See, I told you so." His husband stubbornly protested, ignoring the strange look on Severus' face.

"There is no arguing with you, now is there?" Severus sighed, finally pulling his hand away. He did so reluctantly before swooping down to claim his husband's lips. He heard the soft sigh of contentment that Harry gave him when his young lover broke away.

Harry smiled at him and Severus said, cursing himself as he did so. "If you go to lunch now, I promise I will run you a bath and a private dinner tonight for us…three."

And as Harry gifted him with that beautiful smile again Severus knew, he was quickly becoming addicted to that smile and that was something he didn't like at all.

Hp

"Absolutely not! No child of mine will ever be named James, Sirius or Remus and I am not even considering Peter!" Severus spat, looking up from his book.

"Well fine, but the child won't be named after each of us either. I don't want to be named Severus as a middle name!" Harry held his distorted belly. At 6 months pregnant it would have been high time to think of baby names and the nursery.

But to decide such things also meant that he would have to come in terms with his fear of not being a good parent. He had been having nightmares for weeks now but his adeptness of hiding his nightmares made sure that Severus wouldn't know.

"There is nothing wrong with Severus!" His husband looked livid.

"And no Salazar or Godric either. Poor child." Harry bit his lip. Perhaps tonight to pick out names and to discuss things hadn't been such a good idea. Severus looked tired and his temper was even worse then normal.

"Why do we have to decide this now? I am sure that there is still plenty of time…"

"Because I don't want to have to hurry through this, Severus. It is harder and harder for me to move around and I don't want you to do this all on your own!"

"You think I am incapable of making these decisions on my own, Potter!"

"No, I want to include you into this. It is your child as well." Harry bit his lip again.

"I know that because you won't let me forget it!" Severus snarled at him.

"Do you want to forget it then?" Much to his embarrassment Harry felt tears beginning to form in his eyes.

"Oh, not this again!" Severus sighed, closing his book with a snap. It was the last straw and Harry rose, throwing the book with baby names down the ground as he hissed.

"Fine, I will leave you then. I had hoped to discuss this with you but obviously I was wrong. And, pick a name, see if I care. And yes, this again. I am tired; my back hurts from having to carry this extra weight around while I try to be nice to you while you had a rotten day. And yeah, I know that it isn't easy on you, well it isn't for me either. I don't ask for much. I just ask for a small measurement of your time and then you can go back to your precious book, Severus, obviously it is more important then family."

He got up and waddled to the bedroom, banging the door shut behind him.

Hp

"I am sorry."

"You don't even mean that. You are just saying it because it is the right thing to do." Harry hissed, ignoring the lean body of his husband standing in the doorway. "You never apologize, Severus, it is something you don't do. Just like I don't do giving in, right?"

He cursed his tears, especially when Severus approached the bed and sat down, keeping a fair amount of distance and said. "I am truly sorry. You were right. Just because my day has been rotten doesn't mean I can excuse it by taking it out on you. Will you forgive me?"

"No!" Harry turned his back to Severus.

He felt the bed dip and then those long elegant fingers on his back, kneading the tense muscles. "Has your confident been shaken so that my very words and tone can reduce you to this teary mess?"

"My confident hasn't been sound since we started. What if I can't do it?" Despite himself and his intentions, Harry found himself leaning into the welcoming touch.

"Then we will try till we get it right."

"Oh no, no more kids or next time you carry them."

"It isn't what I meant, Harry. We know what our parents did was wrong so we won't repeat their mistakes. We will just have to try harder to make it right. If you consider forgiving me, I will rub your back further."

"Only if you promise to help me decorate the nursery. It is only three months away, you know."

"Trust me, brat, I know." And with Severus's warm lips at his temple Harry allowed his tears to continue to fall feeling safe with his Potions Master.

Hp

"How about Caleb?" Harry opened his eyes, grunting softly in reply.

"A simple yes will do as well, brat." Was the murmur he received before he allowed sleep to overcome him once more.

Hp

"The next one to make a mistake will serve a detention with me tonight and I will take points, again." Severus snarled at his fourth hour class, feeling the headache pounding behind his eyes. He longed for nothing more then to go back to his rooms to sit with Harry to await the arrival of their child.

Harry was cranky and easily angered and he was big, that was something that Severus couldn't deny. Nor could he deny how much he adored his brat right now. His attitude aside, Severus was anxious for their child to be born.

He had read up on the subject and it was decided to cut the child from Harry, much saver then the normal labour and Severus did hate seeing Harry in pain. Two more days from now and then they would hold their child in their arms, finally, Severus longed to have his Harry back again.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair before snapping at his class, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw second years. "Well, get to work!"

The children scurried out of sight, too fearful to speak and Severus growled at the ones who did try to stare at him. The children gulped and hid their gazes from his dark one.

A knock on the door came and Severus forced himself to be patient. It couldn't be Harry…his brat was back in their rooms and didn't like walking at all at the moment.

"Enter!" He snarled.

Professor McGonagall entered and the students gasped when they saw the Headmistress. Professor McGonagall merely smiled at them and then approached Severus, recognizing the mood her Potions Master was in.

"Yes, Headmistress?" The Potions Master in question growled and Minerva smiled at him, recognizing the waning patience of the dour man.

"Harry has need of you. He has gone into labour and he is in a lot of pain."

"Oh, I will come once I get the class settled…." Severus forced himself to be calm. To go storming up to the Hospital Wing wouldn't do anything good now. He knew that it would take hours for the child to be born but his husband was the Boy Who Lived so things were always unexpected when they happened to Harry.

"I think you need to go now, Severus. We promised him to get him when the pain was beginning to become very intense and he has been very strong but he needs you greatly…"

Hold on a moment

"Just how long has the brat been in labour?" Minerva gazed at him and Severus found his throat suddenly dry. His hand curled around his wand and the other around the table.

"Shortly after breakfast. Go on, I will take over your class and cancel the rest of your classes. Your husband is more important than your classes." Minerva's voice was soft.

"Oh Merlin, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

6 hours, Harry has been in pain for 6 hours without me. I should have known something was wrong…I should have… Severus did his best to calm his racing heart and thoughts.

"Harry didn't want to. Now, take a deep breath and a sip of water and then go and take your place by his side to await the arrival of your child." He received a pet on the arm and he was send on his way, dazed as he was he managed to grab some potions he might need for later.

Hp

"It hurts." Harry moaned, curling into himself, hard as it was. Sweat was making his hair wet and his glasses slip down his nose but he hadn't anticipated when he went up to the Healing Wing after breakfast for a sore back that it was actual labour.

He could hear Madam Pomfrey moving about, feeling a wet cloth on his head as she spoke softly to him and then checked his process again.

The doors banged open and Harry tensed despite himself.

"Where is he?"

The sharp cry made Harry smile. That was Severus' voice, his husband was here. Harry moaned when another contraction passed and he closed his eyes tightly.

"Oh move over! That is not the way to do it!"

"Severus Snape, I am a qualified Mediwitch and I am more then capable of stroking somebody's hair!" Madam Pomfrey's voice was stern.

"Is that so? Do you know the way Harry purrs underneath your touch when you do it the right way? Did Harry purr?"

"Uhm no…."

"Then there you go. Now move, go do something usual, like delivering this child." People beside him moved and other hands stroked his hair, just the way he liked it, soothingly stroking his scar.

A hand grasped his and Harry held tightly. "Hush, brat, I am here."

"Was about time you got here." He managed to pant, opening his eyes. The black eyes that met his were his lifeline, keeping the pain at bay as the contraction ebbed away.

"Perhaps you could have sent for me before, and then I would have been here sooner. I thought we agreed to cut the child from you?"

"Yeah, well you know me, been crossing lines since I arrived." Harry clenched his teeth when another contraction pained. He heard Severus such in a deep breath when the grip upon the slender hand tightened. "I will remember this pain the next time you make advances."

"How can I help it when you have such a delicious arse?" Severus shifted.

"I will top next time." Harry panted.

"Not likely, brat. But shall we focus upon one thing at a time, I am afraid your mind may not be able to handle much more." Harry strengthened himself from the obvious affection in Severus' voice as he tried to breath through the next painful hours.

Hp

"I thought you said that it was going to be a boy?" Severus glanced down at the small bundle of blankets Harry held in his arms before back up to Madam Pomfrey who huffed at him.

Harry crooned softly to their newborn daughter, too absorbed in the small wonder they created.

And what a wonder it was. The child's eyes were dark and her nose was small, like Harry's. Her lips were well formed and her hair as black as midnight, plastered to her head at the moment.

"Remind me not to place any confidence in you next time I come for a consult." Severus sat down on the edge of the bed as Professor McGonagall smiled at the baby in Harry's arms as the younger wizard glanced up, beaming with joy.

"We only discussed male names so we need a name for a girl." Harry's voice was hoarse because of his cries but all his pain had been forgotten the moment their daughter entered the world.

"We will leave you alone to decide on a name." Minerva McGonagall pulled a still stunned Madam Pomfrey away from the new parents.

Very carefully Severus pulled the blankets away to peer at his daughter.

"All right, Severus?"

"And adequate job, Mr Potter. We did well…" The older wizard sighed. Truth be told he was overwhelmed by the emotions he was experience. He was proud of Harry and he felt a sudden intense love for his daughter who he barely even knew.

This was something he had done right in his life, together with Harry. A daughter to cherish and to hold and who would never turn from him. A daughter who he would enjoy teach and watching grow together with Harry. Something to show that he loved Harry more then anything and that their love and magic had created his being.

"So how about a name?" Harry hesitantly asked, allowing Severus to take her as he leaned wearily against his husband's side. Severus thoughtfully gazed down at her and then said.

"Aurora Lily Potter-Snape." He glanced at his husband as Harry beamed at him.

"Perfect." Harry merely said, yawning and as Severus kissed him and together they looked at their unexpected miracle it was indeed perfect.

The end

No, there will most likely not be a third instalment. I do hope that you all liked it. Review of course.