And that's all, folks. I hope you enjoyed the ride! I just put up a much less angsty and milder snarry story here called Discretion and Valor, if you're looking for a new read.

CHAPTER 64

Epilogue—Thirteen Years Later

Harry called up the stairs, "Lukas Andrew Prince, get your lazy bum down here this instant! We're due on the platform in five minutes, and you've yet to finish packing!"

Their oldest son, a dark-haired imp adopted three years after the end of the war, poked his curly head outside his bedroom. "Dad, I'm just… er… double-checking things. I'll be right down." His expression looked a bit too innocent for Harry's liking.

"Uh-huh. I wasn't born yesterday, Lukas."

"Nor was I." Severus materialised behind Lukas and made him squeak in surprise. "Translated, that means you are trying to see how many Weasley products you can fit in your trunk without being caught."

Lukas didn't flinch, but the pink flush spreading up his round cheeks gave him away. "Papa! I remember you warned me against those."

"And as that is neither affirmation or denial of my statement, I will assume it is correct." Severus produced a burlap sack and held it out. "Go on then."

Lukas muttered mutinously and removed a veritable mountain of joke and prank products from his pockets, dropping them into Severus' bag. Both parents had enough experience of the boy to know he had more hidden, but they chose to feign ignorance. Harry didn't want to deny him the opportunity to have fun, after all, and neither did Severus. Still, they would also prefer that he not be expelled right out of the gate.

"There you are, Papa," Lukas said with a scowl. "Can I finish packing now?"

"May I, and watch that attitude, young man, or your father and I may decide you are best served by walking to Hogwarts."

Severus would never follow through on that threat, but the effect it had on Lukas made Harry struggle to hold in a laugh.

"Yes, Papa! I'm going!" Lukas dashed back into the bedroom and had his trunk out the door in ten seconds flat. "I'm ready, see? So I can still ride the train, right?"

Severus chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Of course." He frowned and looked about. "But where is your sister?"

"Hiding, I think," said Harry. "Mia, come out, little one. Don't you want to see Teddy? He'll be at the train station too."

Mia, their eight-year-old daughter and a shy little blonde, had a bit of a childhood crush on Teddy Lupin, Tonks' Metamorphagus son. Luring her with promises of meeting the young man never failed to draw her out of hiding.

Well, almost never.

After a moment of silence, Harry Summoned the map he had made for their home and checked for her name. Ah. The orchard. No wonder she hadn't come.

"She's outside, Severus. I'll get her, if you can just help Lukas finish up. I'll get Kiko from the owl roost for him too."

"Of course, beloved."

Severus helped their son levitate his trunk down the stairs while Harry ducked out after their wayward daughter. He found her hiding under a tree heavy with ripe red apples, bright golden hair flowing in the breeze. He picked an apple from the tree, polished it on his shirt, and held it out to the little girl.

"Hey there, sunshine."

Mia muttered into her hands. Her aura flickered with fear and uncertainty, so Harry sat beside her and laid the apple on her knee.

"Want to tell your daddy what's wrong, little love?"

She sniffled and tugged at her skirt. "I… I'm afraid. There's so many people. What if they're mean to me?"

"No one is going to be mean to you," Harry replied, a bit of protectiveness seeping into his tone. "Did you forget who your fathers are? No one's stupid enough to pick on our kids. Not even Crabbe and Goyle's lot, and that's saying something."

Mia giggled into her hands, but her mirth faded fast. "Will Uncle Draco be there?"

"Not today, sweetheart. He's tending Papa's apothecary while we get Lukas ready for school, but we can visit him and Uncle Dean later. Fiona and Felix will be home too." Dean and Draco's adorable—and rambunctious—twins had brown skin, black hair, and hazel eyes full of as much mischief as the Weasley set. They had three years before they started Hogwarts yet, and Mia adored them.

"Yeah." Only this time, her usual enthusiasm for seeing Teddy and the twins fell flat.

"Mia, honey, what's the matter?"

Fat tears formed in the little girl's big, blue eyes. "I… I just… I don't want Lukas to go, Daddy! I don't want to be alone!"

Harry's heart panged. He wrapped his daughter in his arms and kissed her head. "I know, sweetheart. But Lukas will be home every other weekend, and you have plenty of friends to keep you from being too lonely in the meantime."

"But it's not the same. They're not family, Daddy. At least, they're not here all the time. I… I just don't want to be alone."

Harry hugged her tighter. "Well, as it happens, we wanted to talk to the both of you about this the first student-parent weekend, but I suppose now is as good a time as any. Come on. Let's get some apples for Lukas and Papa and we'll let you in on a little secret your Papa and I have been planning for a while."

Mia smiled hesitantly. "You have a surprise for us?"

"Yes, baby. Now go get your Papa."

Mia giggled and dashed away, her apple in hand. Harry Summoned three more apples from the tree and followed at a more sedate pace, though he detoured to the roost to pick up Lukas' pet cat. The black half-kneazle liked to rest near the sunny spot and chatter at their owls. Harry sometimes wondered if she could understand them.

Severus met him by the gate and kissed him briefly, love warm in his touch. "Everything is well, love?"

Harry passed Kiko to Lukas and nodded. "She's all right, though worried about being alone with Lukas so far away. So I thought we might share our surprise with her sooner than planned. Is that all right with you?"

Severus glanced to their son, who had set Kiko at his feet and was busy trying to stuff handfuls of prank products into his pockets.

"Lukas."

The boy stiffened and dropped a handful of Canary Creams. Kiko sniffed one and let out a yowl of mistrust. Smart cat.

Lukas stuck his hands behind his back and gulped. "Y-yes, Papa?"

"Leave off the pranks for a moment and come here."

Lukas frowned, no doubt bemused that Severus hadn't scolded him about his illicit joke products, and went to his father's side. "What is it? Am I in trouble?"

Severus looped an arm around the boy's shoulders. "No. Your dad and I simply wish to discuss something of importance with you both." He dropped to one knee and opened his arms to Mia. "Come, little one."

She rocketed into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder. "I don't wanna be lonely, Papa!"

"I know. And… well, do you know that potion your Papa has been testing with Uncle Draco for the past year or so? The secret potion? I think it's time to tell you about it."

"Okay, Daddy. What?"

Severus gave Harry a look full of deep, abiding love. Harry slipped his hand into his husband's hair and let his touch soothe his nervous mate.

Severus leaned into the caress and took a deep breath. "Well, you see, Mia, since your father and I are both male, we cannot have children together… ah, the usual way. But this potion makes that possible. It takes of our magic and… other things…."

Severus flushed bright pink and Harry struggled not to giggle. Other things indeed.

"Anyway, it blends magic and part of our genes to create a healthy embryo, which will then grow to be a baby inside of a surrogate—a woman willing to bear the child for us, as our bodies cannot hold babies. Do you understand so far?"

Mia scrunched up her nose. "I think so. Your potion means you and Daddy can have a baby, but a girl has to carry it?"

"Yes, exactly."

The penny dropped for Lukas. "Wait, wait. Are you saying you and Dad are going to have a baby?"

Mia gasped, her eyes going as round as saucers. "A baby brother or sister?"

Severus patted her head. "A little sister. She will be here in five months."

Mia squealed and threw her arms around Severus. "Papa! Oh, a sister! Can I name her? Can I play with her? Will we be friends?"

Harry chuckled and pried her away from Severus so he could breathe. "Hold on there, Princess. She has to grow before you can play with her. Little babies are fragile. Remember when Kara was born? Remember how Aunt Luna showed you how to hold her and told you to be very gentle?"

Mia nodded vigorously. "I remember! I'll be good, Daddy! I promise."

"Good. I know you will, princess." Harry gave their son a worried look. "And Lukas, how do you feel about this?"

Lukas shook himself as if coming out of a daze. "I… I guess it's okay. But does that mean… I mean, she's yours, not like us." He waved a hand to indicate himself and Mia.

Severus frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, she's not adopted."

Severus gave his son a stern look. "I will have you know, Lukas Andrew Prince, that the fact that you do not carry your fathers' genes does not make you any less ours. You have been our son since you were two. That has not changed and never will."

Lukas sniffled. "Well, yeah, but if you have one of your own—"

"It will change nothing. You are our own, too."

"But…."

Harry knelt in front of their son and held his shoulders. "Listen to me, Luke. You're always going to be our son, okay? And your father and I know more than anyone that blood doesn't make a family. There's a reason you've never met my aunt and uncle and never will do. Aunt Petunia might have a blood tie to me, but she treated me like rubbish."

"But you get along fine with Uncle Dudley."

"Well, I do now, but not for a long time when we were growing up. My aunt and uncle raised me, but they're horrible people, and they hurt Dudley too. And that should tell you that blood doesn't always act like family."

"The same is true for my father," said Severus in a soft, sad voice. "He was abysmally cruel to me, though Mother was always kind."

Harry slipped his arm around Severus' shoulders and tugged the man against his side, knowing talking about his past always hurt Severus.

"That's right," Harry said, in part to spare Severus from the need to elaborate. "And then look at Granny Weasley! She's no relation to any of us at all, but she's adopted all of us into her clan—you're as much her grandchildren as Louis, Victoire, and Dominique. So, you see, it's not blood that makes us family, but our bonds." Harry squeezed Lukas' shoulders. "And nothing will ever change our bond to you or to Mia, you understand?"

Lukas gave him a tearful nod. "Promise?"

"I promise."

"So do I," said Severus with a sad smile. "We love you, little one. As much as ever. We simply wanted another child and chose to utilise a different method this time."

Mia held out her apple to Lukas. "Do you want this, Luke? It might make you feel a little better."

Lukas took the apple with a tentative smile. "Thanks, Mia." He hugged his sister and gave his parents a firm nod. "Okay. Then, as long as we're still your kids too, I'm happy about having a new little sister. Maybe next time you can try for a brother though."

Severus choked. "Next time?"

Harry laughed and stood, brushing off his denims. "Let's get through this baby first before we plan for another one." He chuckled and helped Severus to his feet. "And we'd better go. We're going to be late. Sev, do you have the portkey, love?"

Severus held out a broken hairbrush. "Right here."

"Okay. Everyone touch a part of the hairbrush and don't let go." Harry picked up Lukas' pet in one arm, placing his other hand on the brush head, and watched to make sure both of his children had a firm grip on its handle. "Ready? One… two… three! Portus."

The brush glowed blue, the world shifted and tugged him along with a jerk, and Harry landed on the platform of the Hogwarts Express. Severus caught him before he could fall on his arse and brought his husband close against his side.

Grabbing a stunned Kiko from his father, Lukas called out to his soon-to-be classmate and was off like a shot. "Teddy! Teddy, guess what? I'm going to be a big brother again!"

Mia wailed and ran after him. "No fair, Luke! I was going to tell him!"

Harry chuckled and laid his head on Severus' shoulder. "We've done pretty well by them, don't you think?"

"Mm. And by ourselves." Severus placed a kiss on the top of Harry's head. "I am happy, love. We have built a beautiful life together, and I am excited to meet our little Celia."

"So am I." Harry turned and caught Severus into a tender kiss. "I love you, you know."

Severus chuckled softly. "I am an old man."

"Bah. Those few silver threads only make you sexier."

"I love you too, husband mine."

Harry pulled his husband in for a kiss and sighed against his lips. Yes, this was where he belonged. Severus' fingers threaded through Harry's curls and wrapped around his waist, and—

"Dad! Papa!" Lukas' outraged cry rang throughout the platform, drawing far more notice than Harry and Severus' gentle kisses had done. "Not in front of my friends!"

Harry broke the kiss laughing. Severus' joy was softer, quieter, but his emotions radiated happiness and love. Harry slipped his arm around Severus' waist and sighed, contentment rich in his heart. Merlin knew they still had their share of troubles, and memories of the war still pressed in too close in the dark of the night sometimes, but they had sure come a long way. They had beaten back the evil of the world, and made their community a better, happier place for it.

Children like Teddy, like Millie's half-vampiric son, Bill's Veela daughters, and Hannah Abbott's half-dwarf children could grow up peacefully, without fear of being treated like creatures. Harry's kids needn't fear the stigma of Severus' dark past either. The world had become less judgmental, less fixated on heritage and blood and purity of lineage. Thank Merlin for that, too. With a community focused on making sure everyone had a place of their own, people were happy. And happy people didn't grow up to become dark lords—or at least the sane ones didn't.

Harry smiled as Luna's emotional signature approached. "Lu and Nev are coming, Sev."

Severus chuckled. "If I didn't know better by now, I would think you had Feathersprites of your own."

Harry didn't have time to answer before Luna caught him in a warm hug.

Luna murmured, "You felt me coming, then?"

"Of course."

Harry kissed her cheek, taking care not to catch her eye scarf. She didn't wear it at home, but in public, she used one to keep strangers from grimacing away from her scars. Severus was working on a potion to reduce them and, he hoped, restore her sight one day, but until then, Luna's spirits kept her safe enough. Harry wondered if she would even want her sight back if Severus managed to create the potion for her.

"Yes, I would," Luna said without missing a beat. "I would like to see what my little girl looks like through my own eyes, but I'm content to wait. Even if I never see her here, I will one day."

Neville ran his hand through her hair and gave her a bright smile. "You will, love. I have faith that between Severus and Draco's brewing abilities, Harry's medical knowledge, and the quality of my greenhouse, we'll work it out soon. I mean, look what we did for Mum and Dad! I never thought I'd have my parents back, but there you are."

Ah, the Animamentis cure. Slytherin's early soul magic experiments had inspired it, and years of study and careful magic and potions manipulation had perfected it. In the end, the cure for Cruciatus-induced madness worked much like the basilisk vaccine in that it was part-potion, part-spell. It tapped into soul magic—only healing magic, so there was no risk—and the power of the afflicted person's own soul could usually overcome their madness and heal their minds. It didn't always work, but thank Merlin, the cure had proved to be a lifesaver for Frank and Alice.

"They were able to see Kara's birth, at least," said Luna with a smile. "I am glad. It's always lucky to have grandparents at a baby's birth."

"Well, it's a good thing we can count on Molly to commandeer everything about Celia's birth from the nappies to the midwife, then," said Severus with a chuckle.

"Midwife?" Harry snorted. "Mum is the midwife."

Luna laughed. "Then we're in the best of hands."

"True." Severus greeted the Longbottoms with a hug and an air kiss for each. "How is little Celia? Is she kicking still?"

"Oh, quite often. I believe she is a little quidditch player in the making."

Severus shot Harry a mock glare.

Harry chuckled. "Don't give me that look. You'd love her if she turned out to be the seeker for the Cannons."

Severus gave him a soft smile. "I would at that." He laughed and pulled Harry against him again. "Ah, a new baby on the way. I am so happy. Merlin, just look at us, my Harry. We are so different from those broken men who took half-done vows so long ago. And yet, I would not change a thing, except to trust you sooner."

Harry kissed Severus, lightly this time so as not to embarrass their children. "I'd do it all again for you, you know. For you, our children, and our extended family." He looped an arm over Luna's shoulders. "I've never regretted a day."

"Then I suppose I have done well by you," Severus murmured.

"You have, love."

Harry laid his head on Severus' shoulder, watching his children play with their friends and his oldest son prepare to embark on his own adventures at Hogwarts. He leaned his head on his husband's shoulder and smiled, a little bittersweet for the son he would miss, but still happy. He had been fortunate, he thought, to find this after so many years of anguish and strife.

The world was peaceful and quiet again, and his family loved him. Harry held Severus closer and closed his eyes. And he had Severus. In his heart and soul and his being, he would always have Severus. And Severus would always have him.

Harry looked up at his son's call.

"Dad! Papa! They're calling us onto the train." Lukas hugged Harry tight and kissed his cheek. "I'll miss you. You promise you won't be upset if I'm in Slytherin?"

"Not at all, or did you forget your Papa was head of Slytherin house?"

Lukas gave a nervous chuckle. "Um… oops?"

Severus ruffled his hair. "There is no chance in all the realms that you are a Slytherin. You are a Gryffindor, through and through. But if, by some strange whim of fate, you should find yourself with the snakes, know we will be as proud of you for wearing green as we would for any other colour."

"Especially your Papa, Lukas," said Neville with a wink.

Harry snorted. "I happen to quite like Slytherins myself, thank you."

Severus smirked. "And thank Merlin for that, as you're bonded to one for eternity."

Harry gave Severus a warm smile. "I'm perfectly okay with that."

"As am I, my Harry. As am I."

~… Fin …~