Chapter Text
"Sirius?" Asked Harry Potter while he walked the halls of number 12 Gimmauld Place in search of his godfather. "Sirius? Mrs. Weasley says dinner's ready!"
He was walking across the main hall of the second floor when he saw the half opened door to the only room Sirius had forbidden entrance: the room that contained the Family Tree of the Ancient and Noble House of Black. Harry knew that that door only opened with Sirius's blood, so he approached, wanting to investigate.
"Sirius?" He asked again, observing through the space between the doorframe and the door, managing to see his godfather absorbed, staring at a fixiated point in the tapestry. Harry opened the door completely, but Sirius's voice made him refrain from entering.
"You said he was dead." the animagus whispered.
"Sirius? What are you talking about?" asked Harry innocently.
"You said Severus died the day of the last battle…" Repeated the dark haired man, raising a hand to caress the piece of tapestry he was staring at.
"Yes. Hermione, Ron and I watched him die." Harry came closer to where his godfather was. Curiosity, as always, took over and he looked at where Sirius was touching the Family Tree.
Both men were dumbfounded at what they were seeing. The burnt piece of tapestry that had previously contained Sirius Black's face was back there, as if it had never been blasted away, the picture even resembled the actual image of Sirius Black. One strong branch united the face of the last black to the gaunt face of the man everyone thought dead: Severus Snape.
"I don't understand," whispered Harry. "You said hat this tapestry can't be tampered with in any way. The Professor died in my arms… Why does he appear here?" asked Harry, alarmed and confused. He too reached out to try to touch the painted face of his exprofessor, but a shot of electricity stopped him. "Ouch!"
"It's because Severus isn't dead." Whispered Sirius. "After the battle ended, you were in shock. I asked you if you'd seen Snape and told me, in a very detailed way, what had happened in the shrieking shack. After Ginny came and you fell asleep, I apparated as fast as I could there. When I arrived, all I found was a big bloodstain and a torn cloak, but he was nowhere to be found."
"Yeah." replied Harry. "I remember you said you didn't find the body. Draco came and said that maybe the Death Eaters that escaped took him with them." said Harry with a frown on his face.
"It's been a month since we caught the last Death Eater and not a single one knew anything about Severus…" Sirius continued staring at the tapestry and following with his fingers the branch that united him with Snape. Harry couldn't help but notice how his godfather was using Snape's name as if he had ever done it.
"Although there's something I don't understand… Why is Snape in the Black's Family Tree if he isn't one of you?" asked the boy with glasses.
"He isn't a Black through blood… but… I think the child growing within him is."
Harry's eyes opened like saucers when he heard his godfather's words, soon, the tiny branch that came out from the one that tied them together made sense. That new little branch was thin and small, as if it was jut froming.
Sudenly both men heard steps outside in the hallway and Draco Malfoy crossed the door into the room.
"Mrs. Weasley says you better come down immediately or she'll come herself to…" the blond man fell silent when he noticed where they were. Without permission he came closer to the tapestry and quickly looked for his mother's name until he found it. Hje felt his heart ache when he saw his father's gaunt face joined by a branch to that of his mother. Both faces had the date 2nd May, 1998 marked as death date.
"Draco?" Harry reached out to his boyfriend, seeing how the tears were about to fall.
"I-I'm fine, Harry." Draco replied, brushing the unshed tears away. "It's just… I miss them so much."
Harry hugged the blond boy and both turned to look at Sirius, noticing that he hadn't made a noise at all. The older man was still lost in his own world, caressing the new image in the Family Tree.
Draco immediately took notice of what was happening and let out a choked out sound.
"Severus is alive? But… how? Harry, you said he had died?!"
"I thought so. Sirius didn't find his body and no Death Eater knew a thing about him when we questioned them." said the dark haired boy scratching his head. Nothing made sense.
"We must find him." said Draco with finality. "That goddamned snake almost killed him, we don't know what state he is in currently, or if he could get help on time so that the venom didn't damage him permanently… If he's not receiving proper treatment, his condition could worsen and the pregnancy could be affected."
The words said by the blond boy managed to snap Sirius out of his stupor. Suddenly, worry for Severus and for the child he had just realized they procreated flooded him and he left the room in a rush. Harry and Draco went after him.
"Where are you going?" shouted Harry, running after his godfather. "You don't even know where he is!" Sirius stopped abruptly, making the two boys almost collide with him. "Listen, Hermione knows how to make localization spells, we can ask for her help after dinner. She'll leave tomorrow with Ron to go find her parents in Australia, I think she'd like to leave knowing Professor Snape is alive. She still feels guilty for not being able to help him after Nagini attacked him."
Draco looked at his boyfriend with a raised eyebrow, Harry only shrugged to excuse himself.
"Yeah… you're right… There's no need to upset everyone now." said Sirius, a little bit calmer.
An apparition sound in the kitchen alerted them; the three men took out their wands and, pointing towards the door, they marched on.
***
"Niffi is sorry Master, but Niffi being a good elf! Niffi not allowing for his little baby Master to die!" suddenly the domestic elf disappeared, reappearing a few minutes later with a furious and panicked Madame Pomfrey.
"What is the meaning of this!? Where have you bro…" words died down in the nurse's lips when she saw who was in front of her.
For almost three months she had believed this man to be dead! After Harry told them all that Severus Snape had done for them to be able to win the war against Voldemort, she had cried for the cruel way she had treated the potions master during that last year. Now, seeing him in front of her, alive and paler than he had ever been took a wheight off of her shoulders, but put another on. It was clear that the man could expire any minute.
"My God, Severus! How is this… What…?" she let out a shuddering breath while she knelt on the floor before him.
Snape was comfortably seated in an armchair, his arms resting on the arms of the piece of furniture. His eyes were closed, but it was obvious that he was conscious.
"Niffi brought the nurse, Master! The little baby Master is safe now!" Niffi turned to look at Madame Pomfrey with hope shining in his big, brown eyes and the nurse looked back at him with surprise in hers.
"Severus? What is your elf talking about?" Severus smiled softly and the nurse gasped when the wizard slowly took one of his hands to his slightly bulging belly and caressed it.
"It looks like I got pregnant a month before everything went to hell…" he said in a happily desperate whisper. "Go on, Poppy, cast your spells…"
The witch immediately took her wand out and started casting spells on the wizard. A few minutes later, a parchment materialized on the air with a slight golden glow, reflecting the diagnosys of the spells.
When the parchment stopped glowing, the nurse took it and examined it.
"You have too many internal injuries that are badly healed… and others…" Pomfrey squeezed her lips together when she read the 'minor injuries' report again. There were traces of sexual abuse that dated to at least four months ago. Severus slightly moved his fingers in an attempt to stop her from talking. The nurse continued with her diagnosys. "It looks like there's still some venom of that goddamned snake in your blood, that's what is causing your magical and physical weakness. Now it's too late to remove it, I can only recommend potions to strengthten you, but they won't be a long term solution. You may recover physically, but your magic will run out sooner or later. It's already reaching its limit, Severus. The struggle it takes to keep the pregnancy is rapidly consuming your magic. The only way to keep your baby alive is…"
"No." Severus interrupted her. "Potions will have to suffice."
"Severus it won't be possible!" Poppy exclaimed, frustrated with Snape. She knew how stubborn the man could be, but this time she wouldn't let him get his way. Then, a thought crossed her mind and it frightened her. "Tell me… Is the sire of the child dead?" she asked.
Severus took a few seconds to answer. "I don't know…"
A flash of pain crossed Snape's calm features.
The elf approached her and tugged on her apron to call for her attention.
"Niffi knows who the sire of the little Master is. Niffi can bring him for the little Master and Master Severus be okay. Please, Mistress Pomfrey, save my Master!" said the little elf with sad tears flooding his big eyes.
Pomfrey nodded more to herself than to the elf. "Is there a fireplace connected to the Floo network here? I need to bring my potions and other instruments." she asked.
"Yes. It is in the main room." replied Niffi, signaling to an open room at the end of the hall.
"Very well, Niffi. Please stay here until I come back, don't leave Severus alone. I will be gone just a moment." The elf nodded.
Pomfrey disappeared thought the fireplace. Meanwhile, Niffi occupied himself cleaning the room to conscience. In a quick snap of his little fingers, he freshened up the sheets on the bed and made it. A second snap later and Severus found himself bereft of his black clothes and dressed with a gray nightshirt, he was sure that the silk of the shirt would feel good in the clean skin of his master.
"Niffi…" whispered Severus, stull with hs eyes closed and his hand lightly caressing his belly. The elf turned to look at him with his ears stuck to his head in shame. "You are a very nosy elf, but very loyal too. Thank you."
The elf's eyes filled with tears again. With one of his old, little hands he squeezed the one Snape still had on the arm of the chair.
Minutes later, Pomfrey came back and started to cast spells and rub potions on Severus, also making him dring one or another. Niffi looked at his Master with relief in his eyes when he saw a small change in Severus's gaunt face.
"Niffi, please bring the sire of your little master. We will need him soon to perform the stabilization ritual." The little elf nodded and disappeared with a snap of his fingers.
***
When Sirius opened the kitchen door, he could see that the Weasleys, Hermione, Tonks, Remus, James and Lily were stunned looking at a curious elf that had appeared over Lily's strawberry-tuna salad (thank Merlin).
The elf was looking at each and every single one of them, until he turned around and found himself face to face with Sirius. Once he recognized the wizard's magic as the one that also belonged to that of his little baby master, his face brightened up. Niffi climbed down the table, accidentally dropping the salad bowl to the ground and ran towards the wizard. No one even noticed Lily Potter's annoyed face.
"Mister Black! Come with me please! My master requires your presence immediately!" The elf took Sirius's hand, but before he could snap his fingers to take him away, James and Remus had their wands pointed at him and ordered him to stop.
"Where do you think you're going with Sirius, elf?!" "Stop right there!" said both at the same time.
"Please Master Sirius, there's no time to lose! The mediwitch sent me to look for you! My master needs you! My little baby master needs you! Please!" begged the elf once more.
Sirius thought he had an idea who the elf's Master was.
Harry had gone in after Sirius, blocking Draco from going in too, so, when he heard the familiar voice of the elf, he pushed Harry to the side and rushed in before the elf desappeared.
"Niffi! What are you doing here?" asked the blond boy. A strange feeling was born in his chest when he saw the elf.
"Master Draco! There's no time to lose, my master needs Master Black! There is no time!" Niffi took Sirius's hand again.
"Take me there too, Niffi, please! I need to see him!" said Draco in a desperate tone. "Sirius, please. This is our chance to know where he is."
Sirius understood what the blond was trying to say, so he nodded and extended his hand for Draco to take. Before they could leave, Sirius addressed the others, apolgized for the commotion and promised that as soon as he could come back he would explain everything.
Whit a snap of his fingers, Niffi, Sirius and Draco disappeared.
***
Niffi appeared them right in the middle of the hall that led to the room Severus was in. Both men turned to look at the elf, waiting for any indication, but only the dark haired man received the signal to go into the room. Draco wanted to follow, but the elf squeezed his hand, effectively stopping him.
Sirius walked slowly through the hall until he arrived at the door. It was half opened, so he could see a weak ray of light trying to escape from it. The animagus opened the door completely and only could see a courtained bed that was recently made and an armchair that was in front of a window covered by gray see-through courtains. Sirius got into the room, closing the door behind him.
The room was a little bit cold, or maybe it was his nerves playing him a mindgame, he wasn't sure. But he wasn't prepared either for the pain that took a hold of his heart when he approached the armchair and saw a pale, thin hand squeezing the armrest.
He slowly walked around the armchair, and even knowing who was sitting there prepared him for what he found. Severus Snape was still sitting in his armchair, his eyes closed, sunken in and with pronounced shadows under them. His cheeks were sunken in too, his lips were chapped and faded just like the rest of his skin. His neck was marked by a horrible wound that seemed to be just starting to heal. The skin around it was red in some parts and purple in others; the blue veins could be seen easily through the transluscent skin that protected them.
Sirius travelled the lenght of Severus's body with his eyes, and when he saw the slight swell of the man's belly, he fell on his knees as if he had been hit; the air abandoned his lungs in a sob that made its way through the painful knot in his throat and tears started to fall like small rivers form the man's gray eyes.
One of Sirius's hands found its way over Severus's pale one that was caressing his belly and gently pushed it aside, to then be he who was caressing the slight bulge with both of his.
"Severus…" Whispered the animagus when he could finally breathe. "Oh… Severus…"
Sirius arranged himself between Severus's legs, shortening the distance between their bodies and leaning over him to deposit a sweet kiss over his belly, then another on his chest, right above the place thar guarded his heart. Sirius wanted to lean further and kiss his lips, but he knew he had no right, so he only cleaned his tears to stop them from falling on Severus's nightshirt when he rested his head over Severus's chest, and hugged his waist.
Severus opened his eyes. They were as dark as the last day Sirius had seen them. The pale man raised the hand that had been previously caressing his belly and placed it on Sirius's dark hair.
"Will you take it away?" Asked Severus in a whisper. Sirius raised his head to look at him.
"What?" he asked whithout understanding Severus's meaning.
"When it's born… will you take it away?" Severus's eyes were looking at him with sadness and anguish, then Sirius comprehended what Severus meant. A new painful knot formed in his throat forbidding him to speak. He could only deny with his head.
"I would never take our child away from you if that is what worries you." he finally replied. "I wouln't dare do something to hurt you that way after…" Sirius stopped himself. He didn't have the courage to look Severus in the eyes after what he had done.
That night came to the forefront of his mind; the night when the Death Eaters broke into Hogwarts with the intention of killing Dumbledore… The night everyone believed that Severus Snape had betrayed them… that he had never really been on their side.
That night, Sirius, enraged by the potions master's actions, went looking for him to confront him. Sirius more than anyone had felt betrayed by the man, and encouraged by the guts the alcohol gave him, went to look for him to Malfoy Manor, caring very little that the place was infested by Death Eaters. 'Fortunately', Snape had just apparated outside of the protections of the main gate. He had arrived alone and Sirius saw an opportunity to ambush him, stunning him and taking him away.
Sirius apparated them into a small cottage that no one knew about, almost hurting Snape when they landed. He entered the little house and went towards the nearest bedroom, throwing the unconscious body on the bed. Part of the sleeves of Severus's tunic ripped during the battle that night, exposing the pale skin of his forearms and the horrible contrast of the dark mark on his left forearm. Seeing the proof of Severus's trason laughing at him made his blood boil.
That mark was proof that Severus belonged to someone else and not him. He hated that mark of another on Severus as much as he had loved the man since the first day of their fifth year at Hogwarts, when the then weird teenager sat at the Slytherin table with the saddest expression on his face thanks to the knowledge that he was truly alone now: his housemates ignored him in the best case scenario, in the worst, they bullied him just like the Marauders, his mudblood best friend and Gryffindor had abandoned him when she finally realized how rotten he was… No one had mercy on Snivellus Snape.
Sirius decided then that he would leave a deeper mark on Snape, one that no one would be able to see, but that his treacherous love would never forget: he ennervated Severus's body, who slowly reacted and moved lethargically over the bed. Suddenly, Sirius had lost the majority of his clothes in the few steps it took him to reach the bed. Severus was still trying to fully regain his consciousness when he felt strange, hostile hands travel across his body. Those hands ripped his clothes and left him naked under a strange body.
The adrenaline in Sirius made the alcohol give way, he could feel everything a 100%, Severus's soft skin under his, the smell of smoke and vanilla in his hair, he could see the black of his frightened eyes even in the darkness… Love and hate exploded within Sirius at the same time; both sentiments fighting each other for the right to show on his face. Fury was stronger than both and then, in an outburst, he forced Severus to receive him in his most intimate part. Sirius didn't care if he made Severus bleed, he didn't care leaving the marks of his teeth on the pale skin of the potions master, he didn't care to leave his fingers imprinted into purple bruises on his delicate thighs nor taking his manhood in his hand and rub him until he made him reach a panful orgasm. Immediately after, Severus fell unconscious again. Sirius finished inside of him and got out of the bed, admiring with scorn and disgust his work of art. He got dressed and abandoned Snape in that little cottage. When he came back, two weeks later, the cottage had been burned to ashes.
Sirius still questioned himself if the scorn and disgust were really directed at Severus or were for himself.
One cold hand covered his, bringing him back to reality.
"Pomfrey says that we can't make it any longer. My magic and my body are weakening fast and soon I won't be able to sustain the strain of keeping the pregnancy stable. That's why Niffi brought you here." Severus whispered.
Sirius knew what he meant, after all, he had been there when Lily had fallen ill and needed James's magic to continue with the pregnancy. Had it not been for the stabilization ritual, Harry and Lily would be dead.
"Niffi!" Called Sirius. The elf appeared with a gentle 'pop' to not disturb his master. "Ask Madame Pomfrey to come. Tell her that we're ready to start the ritual." he said with determination. The elf's eyes opened like saucers with happiness. Nodding frantically, he disappeared. Moments later, steps were heard on the hall, The door opened and closed quickly.
"Very well… I've Sent Mr. Malfoy back to Grimmauld Place with clear instructions. If everything goes right tonight, tomorrow Severus will be able to have visitors." Severus could only sigh in resignation.
"Sirius, please help Severus climb onto the bed. He must be laying down so that we can start." said the nurse.
Sirius nodded and moved quickly, placing Severus's arms around his shoulders and lifting him from the armchair without struggle. Severus wheighted nothing! That worried the animagus, but he did what he was told and soon he placed Severus in the center of the bed. Sirius laid down next to him on his side. He took one of Severus's hands and placed it on his chest, right above his heart, then he placed one of his hands on Severus's chest, right where moments before he had kissed him.
"Very well… we can start."
***
Draco went back to Grimmauld Place a little bit unsettled. He almost tripped when he got out of the fireplace because of his distraction, but the strong arms of his boyfriend stopped the fall.
"Draco, love, is everything alright?" asked Harry. Tears started to fall from Draco's silvery eyes. Harry worried, but after seeing the faint smile on his lips, he let out a relieved sigh. "I told the others what happened. They all want to go to wherever Snape is and see for themselves that everything is okm soecually mom, but I suppose it won't be possible for the time being?"
Draco also let out a relieved sigh.
"Madame Pomfrey said that she would send her patronus as soon as the stabilization ritual ended. It looks like his condition is delicate and inevitably needs of Sirius's magic to be able to continue with the pregnancy and improve his health." Harry nodded, guiding his boyfriend towards a sofa.
Draco took a seat and let himself fall into Harry's arms. Knowing that his godfather was alive had given him back a little bit of the happiness that abandoned him when he thought him dead, along with his parents, but knowing the condition that his godfather was in put Draco again between the sword and the wall.
A few moments later all the Weasleys, Hermione, Remus, Tonks and Harry's parents entered the room. Molly rushed towards them and took a seat next to Draco, hugging him to her chest. The woman had adopted him like one of her sons the moment she knew the boy had lost both his parents. When he felt Molly's arms surround him, Draco let his tears take over.
"It's okay, darling. Severus will get better soon. I'm sure Madame Pomfrey and Sirius will do everything in their power to help Severus get better, you'll see." Draco nodded against her bossom.
Lily hugged James. She couldn't handle the anguish!
After a few moments, the redhead woman spoke.
"Draco? Did Madame Pomfrey told you when we can visit Severus?" Draco looked at her and blushed. It's not that he liked his boyfriend's mother in that way, but Lily was bery beautiful and sweet, and he would never forget that during his first year at Hogwarts she had been his crush… How innocent he had been.
"She said she'll send her patronus when everything is over." Lily nodded and exhaled.
***
Pomfrey waved her wand in complex movements, sometimes ordering Sirius to help Severus drink a potion. With every sip of it and every tendril of magic that touched Severus's body, the man's appearance got better and better. Soon there was no more potion and then, Madame Pomfrey ordered Sirius to drink in one gulp his potion: the tendrils of magic that connected her wand to Severus's heart detached from the wand and slowly made their way towards Sirius, connecting too with his heart.
Sirius could feel within him the faint beating of Severus's heart. He could feel how his heartbeat got stronger until they were on par with his own. Sirius could also feel the physical exhaustion from Severus, so, once the tendrils absorved within their hearts and the mediwitch allowed them to move, Sirius rushed to cover Severus with the blankets, tucking him in and tenderly kissing his forehead. Soon, the potions master fell asleep.
Sirius snuggled up to Severus so that he was surrounding him with his body, resting him against his chest and caressing his belly.
Pomfrey picked up her things with a flick of her wand. For the last time, she approached Sirius and Severus and casted a diagnostic spell on them both. The results were satisfactory, the magical swtabilization was a success.
"I promised Mr. Malfoy that I'd sent him a patronus with the results of the stabilization. I suppose that soon you'll have a lot of visitors." Sirius tightened his arms and Severus moved without waking. "Don't worry. I know Severus is in no condition to deal with people. He will just probably only let Draco and Lily come in." Sirius nodded. "Well, I'm leaving. I'll give instructions to Niffi regarding Severus's prenatal care and tell the others to not bother you for the time being." She said, caressing Severus's dark hair. Finally, she left.
When they were finally alone, Sirius looked at Severus's face, The potions master had never been a handsome man, but since Sirius saw him for the first time in the Hogwarts express, there was something about Severus that attracted Sirius. During the first four years of their schooling, Sirius had enjoyed antagonizing the weird, lonely boy, until fifth year came and he could finally acknowledge that he had acted that way towards Severus because he had wanted to be the only one that had his attention. He remembers feeling jealous of Lily, but until that day in the great hall he could finally comprehend why.
His fingers traced Severus's face, from his eyes to hsi protounding nose, caressing the thin neck, the skin battered by the venom of that snake; both hands caressed the chest of the sleeping man, Sirius could feel his ribs through his clothes. His hands ended up on the belly that housed his child. It was barely a small protuberance on the potions master's belly, but Sirius would make sure that the baby grew healthy and strong, and that Severus received the best care he could afford.
Sirius's lips caressed Severus's temple; one of the potions master's hand rested over one of Sirius's, that were above his belly, but Severus didn't wake.
Sirius couldn't help but think of that night that he forced Severus to be his… Think about what happened after. Sirius had spent two weeks before the battle looking for Severus without success. During the battle of Hogwarts they crossed paths, but Severus didn't even acknowledge him. Sirius had been willing to get on his knees and beg for Severus's forgiveness, beg for a chance to show him that he was not the monster he had known all those years… Now he had in his arms what he had most wanted during years and wouldn't let it go. He would make sure that Severus was the happiest man alive, he would compensate all the suffering he made him go through.
With a smile on his lips, Sirius Black fell asleep.