Chapter Text
The Gryffindor common room was buzzing in gold and red. The Quidditch team had just won the last match of the year and everyone was celebrating, laughing, drinking butterbeer and dancing under charms that made the tapestries shine like fireworks.
James Potter, the victorious team captain, was pretending to smile and enjoy the party. But outside the vibrant celebration, his eyes wandered around. Not with pride, not with excitement but with unease.
Remus was in a corner, shoulders hunched, staring into the fire. James walked over, like he always did when he noticed something was wrong.
"Moony, you okay?" he asked, worried.
"Just a headache," Remus muttered, too tired even to lie properly.
James nodded slowly. "Wanna go up to the dorm?"
Remus gave a weak laugh and nodded. "Please."
Without hesitation, James put an arm around his friend's shoulders and helped him upstairs. Inside, he guided Remus to bed, helping him lie down carefully. He covered him with the blanket, adjusting it gently.
"Thanks, Prongs... Now go enjoy the party," Remus whispered, almost asleep.
James went down but didn’t return to the party. He crossed the common room without looking anyone in the eye. The air felt heavy and a strange urgency filled his body. Sirius said he was just grabbing something from the dorm and would be back. But he didn’t come back.
James climbed the stairs, winding through dark corridors until he reached the boys’ bathroom. The door was slightly open. A faint light escaped through the cracks.
And then he heard it.
Muffled whispers. Suppressed laughter. Moans.
With a trembling hand, he pushed the door open.
His world stopped.
There, on the enchanted tiles that warmed the feet, Lily Evans was sitting on top of Sirius Black’s hips. Both naked, their bodies entwined, faces full of pleasure.
James stood frozen for a long second. The air seemed to disappear.
He said nothing.
He didn’t shout.
He didn’t cry.
He just... closed the door firmly. And something inside him broke. Forever.
James didn’t sleep that night. He wandered the dark halls like a ghost, fists clenched and jaw tight. The world he knew, that he had built with youthful arrogance and dreams of bravery, had collapsed.
And amid the ruins, a dark idea was born.
A name emerged from the shadows of his past like a stubborn whisper.
Severus Snape.
The boy he hated. The boy Lily loved, somehow. The one James always humiliated out of insecurity. Because deep down he knew he’d never have Lily completely while that name lived in her thoughts.
And now... he wanted revenge. Something she’d never have.
The next morning, James arrived at Potions class several minutes early. Severus was alone, obsessively stacking bottles on his desk.
"Snape."
His voice sounded like steel scraping stone.
The boy turned, black eyes full of disgust. "What do you want, Potter?"
James crossed his arms. "I want to make you a proposal."
Severus scoffed sarcastically. "You really think you can manipulate me like you did with Lily?"
"Sirius and Lily were together last night. Fucking," James said, hitting the words hard, wanting to see the other’s reaction.
The bottle Severus was holding almost slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor.
"So what? What does that have to do with me?" he snapped indignantly.
"I want revenge. And you’re going to help me."
"Fuck off, Potter. I’m not your toy or your emotional weapon," Severus said, offended, eyes flashing.
"It’s not just revenge. It’s legacy. I want you to carry a Potter heir. Something Lily will never have. A Potter name, inheritance rights. Protection. Power," James smiled, big and bitter.
Severus tried to laugh but the sound died in his throat. The intensity in James’s eyes disarmed him more than he wanted to admit.
"You’re completely crazy," he muttered, looking away.
"Maybe. But this is a chance for revenge. You hate me, hate her, and hate the world that forgot you. And part of you, Snape, wants more. Wants to win in life."
Silence.
James took a step closer, now only inches from him.
"You’re an omega. I’m an alpha. We can do this quick. No passion. With a magical contract if you want."
Severus stared at him. Long and hard.
Because James’s pain was a cruel mirror of his own.
And maybe... it was time to turn the blade another way.
The silence hung between them like a rope about to snap.
Severus stared at him with dark, pale eyes, like he was standing on the edge of a cliff. Because he was. The gap between who he was and who he could become. Between his shame and his pride. Between the hate he felt... and the chance to use it.
“Alright,” he finally said, voice low like dripping poison. “I accept.”
James didn’t move right away.
But then he smiled.
Not a sneer. It was calm. Dark. Almost... animal.
“Good,” he muttered, voice rough. “Let’s seal this the right way.”
Severus’s eyes narrowed. “Isn’t the contract enough?”
“Enough for the paperwork,” James said, stepping forward, eyes burning with alpha instinct. “But not for instinct.”
Severus didn’t back down, but his fists clenched at his sides. “What do you plan to do?”
James got closer, now so near that his scent something like wood, wind, and heat flooded Snape’s senses. The magical presence was suffocating. The air thickened, grew warmer. Sparks of the bond buzzed in the space between their skin.
“You know what an alpha does when an omega accepts a bonding mark,” James whispered, voice low against his ear.
Severus turned his face just enough to glare sideways, tense, defiant.
“Just do it. I’m not fragile.”
James growled, low. "I never said you were.”
Then he grabbed Severus firmly by the waist, pulling their bodies tight. His other hand landed at the back of Severus’s neck, digging into his black hair. Without giving time for more words, he tilted his head and bit.
James’s teeth sank into the left side of Severus’s neck just above the collarbone, where the skin was thin and pulsing. The bite was deep, magically precise, triggering the natural alpha-omega bond spell.
Severus arched his back, breath catching. It hurt. Hurt in a raw, intimate... and forbidden way. The blood flowed warm. But before a drop hit the floor, James licked the wound.
His warm tongue slid slowly over the wounded skin sealing the bite with a spell that activated the connection. There was no kiss. No tenderness. It was instinct. It was magic. It was war.
Severus trembled.
James pressed his forehead to his.
“It’s official now.”
Severus’s body still buzzed, caught between pain, adrenaline, and a strange heat he’d never felt before.
“You’re mine,” James whispered, in a deep tone that sounded both like a promise and a sentence at the same time. “Until the end.”
Severus gasped, eyes locked on his. "Then make your revenge worth it.”
James didn’t answer with words.
He just kissed the mark again, this time without teeth. Just lips. Warm. Slow. Sealing the pact that would change both their fates forever.
The taste of Severus’s blood burned strong on James’s lips.
The bite was sealed, the magical bond activated. An invisible, pulsing line connected them, humming in the air.
Severus trembled with excitement, leaning against the bench in the room, breathing heavy, eyes half-closed and pupils dilated.
The heat of the bond flooded him inside hot, wild, undeniable. It was like his body was screaming for something his mind still refused to accept.
James licked the fresh mark again. His warm tongue slid firmly over the wound, sealing the bite with instinctive saliva an ancient, powerful, real alpha-omega ritual.
Severus let out a rough sigh, his body arching toward the touch without thinking.
James looked up, amber eyes burning in the soft light of the room.
“You’re shaking,” he said, low and rough, but still gentle.
“Your scent’s burning me inside,” Severus whispered dryly. “I should hate this.”
“But you don’t.”
“No…”
James grabbed him firmly by the waist. Their bodies were so close they could feel their hearts beating out of sync but slowly syncing.
“The bond wants more,” James murmured.
“Then… give it,” Severus said, looking at him like he was accepting a sentence of fire.
James didn’t wait for another invitation.
His hands started stripping Severus quickly and eagerly. It was a dance of control and surrender. The uniform fell, revealing pale skin marked only by the bite still pulsing on his neck. James tugged open Severus’s pants firmly. Severus’s breath quickened with every layer of clothing that fell.
James undressed silently, eyes never leaving Snape’s. The air between them boiled heavy with magic, instinct, and resentment turned desire.
When both were naked, James gently pushed Severus against the dark wooden table. The cold touch contrasted with their warm bodies.
Severus let out a weak moan feeling the taller body over him.
James brushed his nose along the curve of Severus’s pale neck.
“You want me?” he asked, eager.
“I want… and I hope to forget you after,” Severus murmured with a broken half-smile.
“Too bad you won’t,” James replied. “Neither will I.”
James’s hand went down to Severus’s hip, gripping firmly while the other held the back of his neck, fingers tangled in dark hair.
Without warning, James lifted the omega, sliding the thin body easily between his arms. Their hips aligned, and Severus felt the hot hardness pressing against his opening.
“The bond’s gonna open you. Your body was made for this,” James whispered against his ear before biting lightly.
“Then prove it,” Severus breathed out.
And James proved it.
He entered him firmly not brutal but intense. The magic bond softened the invasion, preparing the omega’s body for the alpha. Even so, Severus gasped loudly, fingers digging into James’s shoulders hard, head thrown back.
The world seemed to stop.
It was just them.
Just the sound of skin against skin.
Muffled moans.
Severus’s eyes closed with every deep thrust into his.
James’s mouth stayed glued to the mark, like he wanted to reaffirm every second.
“You’re mine now,” he whispered with each move. “Inside. Outside. My omega. Mother of my heir. My legacy.”
“Go deeper,” Severus gasped, eyes wet with a mix of pleasure and anger. “Mark me until I feel it.”
James growled low, the sound vibrating in his throat, and bit again, above the first mark, while pushing even deeper.
Severus moaned loud and bit James’s earlobe, pulling lightly with his teeth as their hips slammed together with firm, steady, deep rhythm. The heat growing between them wasn’t just physical it was magic, ancestral. A dense, primal energy burning inside and out.
Severus’s body shook with every thrust. His hands pulled. His legs pushed. The moans mixed with the heavy breaths and the sound of skin sliding against skin. His neck was marked, wet from James’s tongue, and his belly seemed to already react to the bond sealing with every move.
“I can feel your knot coming,” he murmured, almost without voice.
James didn’t stop. The heat rising up his spine hit the limit. And when he felt Severus’s body tighten around him like a call, like a plea to be filled he gave in to instinct.
“You’re gonna be the one,” he whispered against Severus’s sweaty skin. “The first and only to carry my name and blood.”
And with that last push, James came deep inside the omega.
The bond reacted like a spell triggered. A wave of energy swept the room, making the candles flicker and glow bright gold before going out, like they’d done their job.
Severus gasped hard, his whole body shaking as he felt the thick heat invade his belly. The ancient fertility spell worked silently, sealing the seed inside, recognizing the omega’s body as the rightful vessel.
And then… silence.
James didn’t pull away.
He stayed inside, caught by the knot, face resting against Severus’s marked neck. They breathed together like only the other could keep them standing.
Severus broke the silence with a rough murmur: “So… it’s over?”
James gently licked the newest mark, almost tender. "It’s just beginning, darling.”
Chapter Text
The return to routine at Hogwarts felt like ash in his mouth.
The Gryffindor common room still echoed with laughter and over-the-top stories from the last Quidditch match. Sirius was laughing loudly, bragging about how he'd blocked three goals in some "impossible" way. Lily smiled beside him, her eyes sparkling like there wasn’t a dirty little secret burning in her hands.
James watched from a distance.
His body was there, but his mind... was somewhere else in the castle. With a name that now carried the weight of his legacy. With Severus Snape, whose silent, dark presence had become a shadow entangled with his own.
He hadn’t confronted them. Not yet. Silence was more powerful than any scream.
That night, in the Gryffindor dormitory, Remus slammed the door shut and stared Sirius down, his golden eyes burning with fury.
"You're a shitty friend, Sirius."
Sirius raised an eyebrow, tossing aside the book he hadn’t really been reading. “What are you on about now, Moony?”
“You fucked your best friend’s girlfriend. In the bathroom. During the party. Like he was some kind of idiot.”
Sirius’s grin faltered. “You... don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I do. You disappeared. She disappeared. How can you just pretend nothing happened?” Remus stepped forward, fists clenched. “You’re not just reckless. You’re cruel.”
Before Sirius could answer, the door creaked.
James walked into the room.
They both froze like they'd been hit with a full-body bind.
James tilted his head, expression casual. “What’s going on here? Some kind of problem?”
Remus blinked, then scoffed and looked away. “Ask Sirius.” And left, slamming the door behind him.
Sirius cleared his throat, pretending to look for something on the desk. “Moony’s just stressed. You know how he gets.”
James crossed his arms, still with that half-smile. “He said something about... betrayal.”
“Oh, that?” Sirius gave a weak laugh. “At the party... I kinda... left with a girl. That friend of Alice’s. The one Remus liked. He found out. That’s why he’s so... pissed.”
James stared at him. Just for a second. But in that second, something shattered—loud and quiet all at once, like a blade slicing clean through flesh.
“I see,” he said, like he believed that obvious lie.
That night, James walked through secret passages only the Marauders knew. His destination: the Room of Requirement. Severus was already there, dressed in a warm robe, eyes burning with tightly controlled anger.
When James approached, the magical paper he held lit up in the Omega’s presence.
Severus took the offered parchment, titled Potter Inheritance Contract. A document recognized by both the Ministry and magic itself. The words shimmered in silver ink, curling and twisting like snakes.
Precise clauses:
~One heir born from the magical union of James Fleamont Potter and Severus Tobias Snape.
~Full inheritance of the Potter name and estate to the legitimate heir.
~Lifelong protection of the Omega carrying the heir, officially recognized as mate.
~No future bond with any other partner unless the magical union is formally dissolved.
~Breaking the contract results in a cursed name and the loss of all future lineage.
The Omega read each line without flinching. His eyes met James’s.
“You ready?” the Alpha asked, wand in hand.
“You?” Severus replied firmly, chin high.
They signed, each word sealed with ancient magic. When the parchment glowed gold and vanished into thin air, something unseen settled between them.
A pact.
An alliance.
A new future, forged from pain and the hunger for revenge.
_________
Winter came early that year.
Snow began to fall before November even ended, blanketing the Hogwarts towers in thick silence—like a quilt of forgetting. The lake froze at the edges, owls beat their wings against biting winds, and the castle seemed to hold its breath between cold stone walls.
Deep in the dungeons, Severus was hunched over a stone sink, vomiting.
The acid burned his throat. The smell of potions made it worse. He gripped the edges of the basin like it was the only thing keeping him from drowning in uncertainty.
James stood behind him, arms crossed, watching silently. He didn’t offer comfort. But he didn’t leave either.
“How long?” he finally asked.
Severus spit and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. “Three weeks late for my heat. And the nausea’s been going on for days.”
James nodded, calm. But his golden eyes flashed with something—recognition. It was real now.
“The contract is working,” he said simply. “It’s happening.”
Severus closed his eyes. “That’s what I’m hoping.”
James didn’t reply. He just stepped forward and placed a firm hand on the back of Severus’s neck. Not a caress. Just presence. Weight. A shared burden.
In the Gryffindor dorm that night
Remus couldn’t sleep.
He stared at James’s empty bed. Then at Sirius’s, where he slept like nothing in the world was wrong.
Something had broken between the three of them. Remus could feel it. And he hated when he could feel something but couldn’t name it.
Lately, Remus had been watching James closely. Noticed when he vanished after dinner. When he came back smelling like... dungeons. Potions. And something else. Something ancient and instinctual. The scent of marked magic.
And tonight, he followed him for real.
He saw James slip behind a tapestry, disappear into a hidden corridor, and go down into the deepest levels of the castle.
Then he saw another, thinner shadow enter after him.
Severus Snape.
Remus couldn’t believe it. But he was too smart to deny the obvious.
James knew about the betrayal.
And now... he was with Snape.
Something was forming in the shadows.
Remus finally closed his eyes, heart pounding hard.
The pieces were shifting. The chessboard, once smooth and simple, was becoming something warped. A place where love and revenge mixed like poison in tea.
And Remus... hated knowing he didn’t understand it all yet.
Notes:
Author's Notes
Here it is, chapter two of the story so many of you asked for! I read and reread the first part over and over again trying to find a good way to continue, and after a lot of brain-crunching I finally wrote something I’m happy with. 😅 This story will probably have a maximum of 5 chapters, because honestly I’m not that creative right now to turn it into a 20-chapter saga lol. But I really hope you enjoy what I’m trying to build here, full of drama, tension, secrets and twists. Thank you so much for reading and leaving comments, it really means a lot and keeps me going 💜
Chapter Text
In the Great Hall, during dinner, Lily was watching James from across the table. He was eating in total silence, eyes distant, face serious. Like his mind was somewhere else entirely.
She felt a chill deep inside. A suffocating discomfort when she realized he barely even looked at her anymore.
With a quiet sigh, she sat beside Sirius and forced a small smile. "He barely talks to me lately. Did something happen?” she asked, clearly worried.
Sirius raised an eyebrow, thoughtful. “James gets weird in the winter. Maybe he’s just feeling down,” he said with a shrug.
“I don’t think it’s just that,” Lily murmured. “It’s like he’s not even here.”
Sirius leaned on the table and gave her that mischievous, teasing look. “You’re still so pretty, Even with that sad little face.”
She let out a soft, awkward laugh. “Sirius, I’m serious. I’m really worried.”
“I’m serious too,” he said with a grin. “Lucky me, being the shoulder to cry on for someone this gorgeous.”
Lily sighed and set her fork down.“Thanks for being here, Really I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Sirius didn’t answer. He just wrapped an arm around her shoulders, eyes still scanning the room, watching James and Remus eating quietly like nothing was wrong.
But something was.
It was early morning when snow covered the Gryffindor tower windows, blurring the enchanted glass with a frosty haze.
Remus was finishing getting dressed, buttoning up his shirt with slightly shaky fingers. He kept glancing at James, who was lying on his bed, distracted by a Potions book.
The silence in the dorm was heavy, and the tension between the two of them almost felt physical. Remus took a deep breath, stomach in knots.
He walked closer. He couldn’t hold it in anymore. “We need to talk.”
James didn’t look up. “About what?”
“You. And Snape,” Remus finally said. His voice was quiet, but steady.
James froze for a moment. Took a deep breath. Then slammed the book shut and stood up, heading to the shelf to put it away.
“How long has it been, James?” Remus pressed. Now he could tell James was really listening.
The silence stretched, tight like a pulled cord. James’s jaw clenched, and his eyes shone with restrained fury.
“Since the day after the betrayal,” he said flatly.
Remus went still. “So you really know...”
James stepped forward. His voice was low but cold. “Of course I know Sirius and Lily screwed in the bathroom during the victory party. I saw it happen.”
Remus stumbled back a step, shocked. “You... you saw them?”
“Yeah, But I didn’t confront them.” James’s breathing was heavier now. “The next day, I went to Snape. And I made my choice.”
Remus looked stunned. “And now... you’re with him?”
James let out a dry, humorless laugh. "We’re bonded. Alpha and omega. He’s pregnant, I’m going to be a father.”
The silence between them shattered like glass on stone.
“You... you really did that?” Remus whispered, eyes wide. “Out of revenge?”
James lifted his chin, steady. “That’s how it started. And now he’s carrying my heir. And as crazy as it sounds... I’m okay with it. In a way you’d never understand.”
Remus didn’t respond. He just stood there, lost between hurt and frustration, staring at a friend who suddenly felt like a complete stranger.
________
That cold morning, Severus had already started his day in the infirmary. He looked pale as a ghost, lips dry, stomach upset. His Slytherin robe was draped over a nearby chair while Madam Pomfrey checked him with her wand.
“Your magical pressure’s all over the place, Severus. Are you not sleeping well? Not eating right?” she asked, clearly concerned.
“I’m trying,” he mumbled, voice rough with exhaustion.
She crossed her arms, looking frustrated. “You’re pregnant. Your body needs more than your stubbornness is giving it.”
Severus lowered his eyes. “I don’t want anyone to know yet. It’s getting harder to hide...”
“You don’t think people are going to notice eventually?” she said seriously.
“Not yet,” Severus said, avoiding her eyes and grabbing his robe to put it back on.
She sighed and ran a hand down her face.
“Fine. If that’s what you want, we’ll keep it secret for now. But you have to promise me you’ll eat properly from now on.”
Severus nodded slowly. “I promise.”
Her tone softened. “And you’re coming back here more often. For checkups, got it?”
He gave a faint smile and nodded.
When he left the infirmary, the hallways were empty. A cold silence hung over the castle. Severus walked toward the library, wrapping his robe tightly around himself. He wanted to review the Transfiguration spell for class later.
Once he got there, he sat in one of the tables in the back. His fingers were freezing, but his thoughts were even colder.
James showed up a few minutes later, uninvited, like a shadow. He came up with a plate of food: buttered bread, some biscuits, and a green apple.
He set it down in front of Severus without a word.
Severus glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
“I’m not an invalid. I can get my own food.”
“You’re not,” James replied calmly, no sarcasm. “But you’re taking too long to eat. You think I haven’t noticed?”
Severus looked away, annoyed. He grabbed the apple and bit into it hard.
“I never imagined you’d be this kind of alpha.”
James raised an eyebrow. “What kind?”
“Caring,” the omega replied, chewing the apple and moving on to the biscuits.
James tilted his head slightly. “Why wouldn’t I be? You’re carrying my heir. I respect you for doing that.”
Severus stared at him, surprised. "You? James Potter, the lion’s golden boy? You respect me?”
James didn’t answer with words.
He stood slowly and stepped closer. Brushed his fingers gently along Severus’s cheek. The touch was light, almost reverent.
“I’m trying my best here, Severus,” he murmured, voice rough.
Severus looked into his eyes for a moment. He could feel that touch. Warm. Dangerous.
He turned his head away, shivering slightly, like James’s touch burned from the inside.
“You don’t have to do this,” he said in a low whisper.
“Do what?” James asked, still close.
“Pretend you care.”
James took a deep breath. He sat beside him, unhurried, elbows resting on the old wooden table. The smell of books and old parchment hung between them.
“I’m not pretending,” he said. “I’m just trying to understand what all this means.”
Severus held the biscuit in shaky fingers, but didn’t bring it to his mouth. His dark eyes, usually so sharp, looked dull and deeply tired.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” he murmured.
James lowered his gaze, like from him words weighed heavy on him.
“No. But here we are.”
There was a long moment of silence. Only the soft sound of wind against the tall windows of the library broke it.
Severus leaned back in his chair, one hand resting over his still-flat belly.
“Some days, I wonder if I made the right choice.”
James slowly turned to look at him. There was no anger in his eyes. Just quiet sadness.
“Do you regret it?”
Severus hesitated.
“No... It just hurts that this is what had to happen for it to start.”
James reached out, laying his hand close over Severus’s, close enough that the omega could feel the warmth.
“I know the way we started wasn’t normal. But I want to be good. I want to be here. For the baby. And... for you. If you’ll let me.”
Severus swallowed hard.
“What about Lily?” he asked, his voice soft and strained. “And Sirius?”
James closed his eyes for a moment, like the question hit him.
“I can’t look at them the same way anymore. Something broke for good.”
Severus nodded slowly. That feeling, he understood. The quiet kind of broken that never really heals.
“If this is real...” he began, eyes on the half-eaten apple. “Then I need to know you’re staying. That you’re not going to disappear and leave me.”
James stood up, walked around the table, and knelt in front of him. He took Severus’s hand gently, lacing their fingers together.
“I’ve made a lot of bad choices, Severus. But this time... I’m choosing to do the right thing. Take care of you. And our baby.”
The omega’s eyes shimmered for a second, but he looked away before any tears could fall.
“You’re being way too dramatic for someone who knocked me up in a classroom,” he said with a crooked half-smile.
James burst out laughing, surprised by the omega’s sass.
“But you liked it...”
“Shut up,” Severus shot back, but the corner of his mouth gave away a faint, almost invisible smile.
James looked up at him, softer now. He stayed there, kneeling, holding that pale hand with quiet care.
And in that moment between them, a truce was born.
Notes:
And here it is, the third chapter as promised! 💚 I tried not to take too long to write it, and I think I managed to keep up the pace. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Text
Six weeks in, Severus was already feeling different.
Not just on the inside. On the outside too, though the signs were still subtle: heavier sleep, morning nausea, that strange heat crawling up the back of his neck, making his skin burn for no reason.
The way he’d subconsciously protect himself, holding books in front of his chest like a flimsy shield. The way his hand would drift to his stomach when he thought no one was looking.
But James saw. He always did.
In hidden hallways. In the quiet dungeons, where the light was dim and privacy spells hung in the air like invisible veils. That’s where James would come close, not with words or promises, just with a presence that said more than anything he could’ve said out loud.
No touching without permission.
No trying to take over.
Just… gentle gestures.
Warm blankets started showing up in Severus’ room, neatly folded on his bed. Anti-nausea tea waited on his desk, still hot, still smelling sweet. Small things. Quiet things. But always there.
And when Severus, curled up and sick in the middle of the night, cried softly, scared out of his mind that someone might find out what was happening to him, it was James who held his back steady.
He didn’t say anything, Didn’t ask questions. Just looked at him with this deep, calm gaze that swallowed all the chaos, and made it easier to breathe.
One night, when he couldn’t sleep, Severus wandered through the cold halls, pulled by something quiet inside. He found James in the Room of Requirement, like the room knew exactly what he needed.
The fire was already going. Warm light cutting through the shadows.
“Can I sit with you?” Severus asked softly.
James just opened his arms.
Severus sat in his lap, looking for some quiet place to hide. He wrapped his arms around James’ neck, resting his face there, where the warmth felt safest. For a while, they just breathed together.
Then Severus whispered, voice barely audible even that close,“I don’t wanna get fat, James.”
James didn’t answer right away. Still reading, he turned the page slowly, like he was really thinking about it.
“You won’t,” he said calmly. “You’ll just be carrying our kid, in a little belly, no fat.”
Severus shut his eyes tight.
“I wasn’t made for this. I’m not sweet, or fragile. I don’t wanna keep feeling this… weak.”
James closed the book, set it aside, and ran his hand down Severus’ back with slow, steady fingers.
“You’re not weak, love. You’re just adjusting to carrying new life. That’s not weakness, that’s bravery.”
The silence between them, once full of things left unsaid, of broken pasts, got a little lighter. It wasn’t just pain anymore, not just revenge. It was something else… something new.
They were both made of sharp edges, and slowly, they were learning how to cut each other less.
Eventually, they ended up lying down together. The bed James had conjured in the Room of Requirement was softer than Severus expected, layered in thick blankets and warmth spells.
His belly wasn’t showing yet, not through his clothes. But he could feel it, alive, beating quietly inside him.
James lay beside him, on his stomach, eyes nearly shut. Sleep was coming slowly.
Severus broke the silence. “Do you still love her?”
He didn’t look at James when he asked. The doubt had been sitting deep in his chest for a long time, like a stone sinking with no bottom in sight.
James took a moment to answer. Maybe he’d dozed off for a second. But when he spoke, his voice was solid.
“No. What I felt for her… it’s gone. For good.”
Severus let out a long breath. Some of the tension that followed him day and night cracked just a little.
“That’s what I want to believe most,” he whispered.
He reached out slowly, fingers brushing through James’ dark brown hair. The alpha didn’t pull away he just… slept.
And for the first time in weeks, Severus fell asleep too, not from exhaustion, but from a rare kind of peace.
__________
In the Great Hall, the clatter of cutlery and loud chatter was the norm. Four houses gathered together. Students distracted by the cold and all the homework piling up.
But then a sharp scream cut through the noise, grabbing everyone’s attention.
"ATTENTION, HOGWARTS STUDENTS! LOVE IS IN THE AIR!"
It was Peeves, the mischievous ghost, zooming in circles near the ceiling. He cackled like he’d just found out the biggest secret of the century.
"BLACK AND EVANS, SNOGGING IN A CLOSET! BRA OUT, PANTS UNDONE!"
The whole hall froze.
Dead silence.
Sirius and Lily had just walked in and stopped in their tracks. Every single head turned toward them.
Shock.
Whispers.
Stares.
And then… everyone looked at James.
He was calmly sitting at the Gryffindor table. He finished chewing a bite of bread, wiped his fingers on a napkin, and stood up with an eerily calm expression.
"I already knew." The words dropped like a curse.
More silence.
James looked at Sirius and Lily with a calm that felt almost cruel.
"I’ve known from the start. And I let you both think you could hide it."
Lily turned pale. Sirius tried to speak, stepping forward, but James raised his hand.
"I don’t need your excuses. I’ve got more important things to take care of."
He left the Gryffindor table and walked across the hall like a silent storm. Every step echoed louder than the whispers.
Everyone watched, stunned, as he stopped at the Slytherin table, right in front of Severus.
James held out his hand. Firm. Steady.
"Come on. You don’t need to hide anymore."
Severus stood slowly, surprised, hesitating for a second. Then he took the hand.
And in front of everyone, James looked around at students and teachers and spoke loud and clear.
"We’re together. And he’s carrying my child."
The reaction was instant.
Gasps. Whispers. Shocked voices.
Severus, though pale, held his chin high. James squeezed his hand, and they walked out of the hall side by side, all eyes tracking them like they’d just watched something impossible happen.
Then came the whispers.
"Evans cheated on Potter?"
"With his best mate?"
"That’s messed up."
"Sirius Black. Family traitor and now a friendship one too. Figures."
"She always seemed so perfect."
"A snake in heels."
"What a shame."
"Potter walked out of this with dignity."
"Snape’s pregnant? With Potter’s kid?"
"This is gonna end up in Hogwarts history books."
Over at the Slytherin table, students were already gossiping and snickering. Regulus Black leaned back in his chair, watching his brother still frozen in place, unsure whether to chase after them or vanish into the floor.
Regulus raised his pumpkin juice toward the door where James and Severus had gone.
"Well played, Peeves," he muttered with a sharp half-smile."Maybe now my brother will finally learn the world doesn’t spin around his ego."
He drank alone, while Sirius's world crumbled behind him. And James and Severus's started to become something unshakably real.
The next morning came with a different kind of cold.
Not snow. Not wind sneaking in through the windows. But something sharper. Quiet. Merciless.
Lily walked down to breakfast and immediately felt the stares. No admiration. No envy. Just judgment.
"Did you see her face?"
"Miss perfect, huh?"
"And with his best friend?"
"Betrayed her boyfriend. Her house. Everything."
"She’s got no dignity left."
She tried to sit tall, to keep her head high. But when she looked toward the Gryffindor table… No one called her over. No one moved to make space. Even Mary McDonald looked away.
Across the hall, James and Severus sat side by side at the Slytherin table. Hands brushing under the table. Eyes meeting in quiet moments that said more than words ever could.
Lily stood up and left before managing to swallow a single bite.
That night in the shared dorm.
Sirius sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. Remus leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"I wish I could explain," Sirius began.
"Explain what?" Remus wasn’t angry. Just drained. "That you fell for your best friend’s girlfriend and shagged her in a bathroom? Or that you thought you could lie to him forever?"
Sirius looked up, his dark eyes full of frustration.
"I didn’t plan it. It was confusing. It happened fast."
"And it was selfish," Remus replied. "James worshipped you. You were like a brother to him."
Sirius stood up suddenly.
"I know! You think I don’t?!"
He punched the wall, breathing hard. "I lost him. I lost everything."
Remus looked at him for a long moment.
"Yeah. You really did."
And he left the room, leaving Sirius alone where they used to laugh together.
Lily, walking alone through the castle, ran into Severus one morning near the hospital wing. He looked pale.
"You’re really with him?" she asked, tense.
Severus didn’t turn around. Just kept walking.
"I am."
"And… you’re really having his baby?" she asked quietly.
Severus stopped and turned. His tired eyes met hers with steady calm.
"You heard it all in the Great Hall. I don’t need to explain it again."
Lily flinched like she’d been slapped.
"I didn’t want it to end like this."
Severus raised an eyebrow slightly.
"No one ever does. But actions have consequences. Now you’re the girl who destroyed the man she claimed to love. And I’m the one helping him move on."
He walked away, leaving her frozen in her own regret.
Notes:
Here is Chapter 4! The truth has finally been revealed 🙏 Lily and Sirius were exposed by Peeves 🤣 Who would have thought, huh? I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it ✨🫂💚♥️
Chapter Text
Winter had finally taken over Hogwarts completely.
The rooftops were covered in a white blanket so thick that even the gargoyles seemed numb. Inside the castle, the portraits wore painted scarves and sang out-of-tune Christmas carols. The fireplace flames roared intensely, casting golden shadows against the stone walls. The halls were decorated with pine branches, red ribbons, and small enchanted stars floating in the air.
The students’ anticipation was palpable. Cheerful groups ran through the corridors with trunks floating behind them, and gift lists exchanged hands under nervous smiles. It was the last breakfast before the Christmas holidays.
James sat at the Gryffindor table, holding a mug of tea in his hands. Beside him, Severus nibbled on a piece of buttered bread, clearly uncomfortable with the occasional glances he still received. But he held them all with pride.
Then, suddenly, a white owl as pale as the winter sky glided over the tables and landed in front of James. The bird's amber eyes fixed on him, and he immediately recognized the handwriting on the envelope even before touching it. It was from his mother.
He opened it slowly, his fingertips trembling slightly.
“My dear James, your father and I are expecting you home for Christmas. And please bring Severus with you. He is part of our family now and will always be welcome under our roof. We’ve already prepared a room for both of you, and the house-elf spent days selecting the best calming herbs for pregnancy. We’re proud of you.
With love, Mom.”
James stared at the letter for a long moment. Then he turned to Severus, who, noticing the look, raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
“Bad news?”Severus asks.
“No.” James extended the letter. “Good news.”
Severus took the parchment carefully and read it slowly. His hands trembled a little as he reached the end.
“They... want me to come?”
“They do. You’re part of the Potter family now. Welcome.” James smiled gently.
Severus leaned back in his chair, staring at the letter with dark, almost disbelieving eyes. “They must be insane.”
“No more than I am,” James replied with a subtle smile. “But the good kind of insane.”
Severus took a deep breath. He was nearly three months pregnant. His body had begun to change quietly: lighter nausea, but constant fatigue; his belly still discreet, but firm to the touch. His world was unstable, but in that moment, there was something that felt steady. Warm.
A house. A family. A home.
“Do you want me to go?” he asked, voice low.
James raised his hand and placed it over Severus’s without hesitation.
“I do. With everything that comes with it. With you. With the baby. With the grumpiness. With all the books. With the coldness that hides your courage.”
Severus tried to look away, but failed. There was something in James's eyes that held him. It wasn’t just passion, it was purpose.
“Then I’ll go,” he said, almost in a whisper.
“Great.” James gently squeezed his hand. “Let’s make this Christmas something you’ve never had before.”
Severus didn’t reply, but inside, something warmed. And for the first time in years, he began to like Christmas.
__________
Snow was falling in heavy layers when the train stopped at the small station near Godric’s Hollow.
Severus sat huddled on the bench next to James, his wool scarf pulled up over half his face. The landscape looked like something out of a fairy tale: snow-covered houses, trees glowing with enchanted lights, the distant scent of pine and chocolate in the air.
But inside, everything was noise. Insecurity. Doubt. Expectation. Never in his life had he been welcomed by a family for Christmas.
James held his hand firmly as they stepped off the train. “You’re shaking.”
“It’s cold,” Severus lied.
“You’re a terrible liar,” James whispered, and kissed his temple lightly.
The Potter mansion in Godric’s Hollow was old and enchanted, with large windows warmed from the inside, garlands floating over the doors, and an irresistible aroma of freshly baked cookies. But that wasn’t what impressed Severus.
It was the way Euphemia Potter, James’s mother, opened the door with a genuine smile, arms ready to embrace him as if he were a long-lost son.
“Severus!” she exclaimed without hesitation, pulling him into a firm hug. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you!”
Severus froze at first, but... there was warmth there. Real. Human.
“I... thank you for having me,” he murmured, not knowing what to do with his hands.
“Nonsense,” she said, pulling him inside. “You’re part of this house now. And that grandchild you’re carrying is going to be spoiled from day one.”
Mr. Fleamont Potter followed soon after, with a calm smile and kind eyes. He shook Severus’s hand firmly, without hesitation.
“I’m glad you came. James hasn’t shut up about you since he wrote us about the bite and the bonding.”
James blushed. So did Severus.
The room the Potters had prepared for them was cozy: the fireplace was lit, the large bed covered with red and green embroidered quilts, old books about Quidditch on the shelf alongside potion ones, and in the corner, a small enchanted wooden cradle, still empty... but waiting.
Severus stood silently in front of the crib.
James came up behind him and hugged him by the waist, resting his chin on his shoulder.
“They did this for you. And for him... or her.”
“It’s strange,” Severus said, almost voiceless.
“What is?”
“Being welcomed.”
James didn’t reply with words. He just held him tighter.
Then Severus shivered slightly.
A subtle sensation. Like a bubble bursting from inside. A magical, living vibration.
He placed a hand on his belly, eyes wide.
“James...”
“What?”
“I felt it.” His voice was hoarse. “It moved.”
James froze. Then slowly, he placed a hand over Severus’s belly, his eyes fixed.
Another movement. Gentle, like a secret being revealed.
“It’s really... here,” he murmured.
Severus turned slowly to face him. “Do you think we’ll be good parents?”
James smiled, not that arrogant smile from before. A real one. Calm. Grown.
“I think... we already are.”
And that night, lying under the warmth of the fireplace and the cozy silence of the Potter home, they fell asleep together with a tiny heartbeat inside Severus, like a distant bell announcing that, finally, something new was beginning.
___________
The Potter dining room glowed with a warm elegance. The long table was decorated with floating golden candles, enchanted porcelain plates, and a soft charm that made snowflakes fall gently onto the tablecloth, disappearing before touching the food.
The aroma of roasts, mulled wine, pumpkin pies, and walnut cakes filled the air. Euphemia coordinated everything with grace and magic, wand in hand, and a constant smile on her face. Fleamont carved meat with precision, while James enchanted the silverware to play at dueling.
Severus watched it all with a mix of fascination and caution. He had never had a feast like this. In his house, Christmases were silent, cold, and empty there were no presents, and affection was as rare as magic among Muggles.
Euphemia noticed.
After dinner, while James and his father laughed by the fireplace about a story involving goblins and runaway brooms, she approached Severus with two steaming mugs of cocoa.
“Come with me for a moment.”
He followed her into a small room beside what had once been a study, now a reading lounge. The walls were covered with enchanted photos: little James flying on a tiny broom, tripping over books, laughing with missing teeth.
Euphemia sat on a cushioned sofa and gestured to the seat beside her. Severus hesitated, then sat, holding the mug in his hands like a shield.
“You feel out of place, don’t you?” she asked, directly.
Severus tightened his grip on the mug. “I don’t belong in places like this.”
“But you’re here now.”
“Because of the baby,” he murmured, almost like an excuse.
She smiled gently. “That too. But not just that. James chose you. And you chose to stay.”
Severus looked at her, cautiously.
She went on, her eyes distant, looking at a photo of James at six years old, covered in mud.
“James has always been intense. Impulsive. But behind all the arrogance and boldness, he’s a boy with a huge heart the kind who protects those he loves until the end. And he loves you. I see it.”
Severus blinked, as if the words had struck something fragile.
“He’s never said that.”
“He doesn’t have to.” She leaned a little closer. “Sometimes, love is easier to see in actions than in words.”
Severus looked away, his throat tight.
“You’re going to be a good father, Severus,” she said firmly. “And if you ever feel lost, I want you to know you can count on me. On us.”
Severus nodded with difficulty. “Thank you.”
Euphemia smiled, then pulled something from her pocket: a small enchanted lion teddy bear.
“We used to put this in James’s crib when he was a baby. It protected him from nightmares. I want you to have it.”
Severus took it as if it were something sacred. His hand trembled.
“I’ve never... had anything like this. Before.”
“Now you do.”
And in that moment, more than with any spell or bond, Severus realized he was becoming part of something bigger. Something he never had. Something he was now helping to build.
Family.
Notes:
We're getting close to the end, my loves! 🫂💚 I'm so, so happy you all asked me to keep this story going. Writing this chapter was such a joy. I actually got emotional while working on the scenes with James's parents. 💔It always breaks my heart that, in the original universe, they never got to meet Harry. But here, they absolutely will. They'll love him, care for him, and be right there in their grandbaby’s life. ❤️🩹 Thank you for being here with me. 💚♥️
Chapter Text
Summer in Godric’s Hollow was warm and gentle, with the scent of wildflowers in the air and sunlight spilling over the hills like honey.
The Potter house now belonged to James, after Mr. and Mrs. Potter decided to finally enjoy their retirement and travel the world. He and Severus had renovated the upstairs what used to be James’s old bedroom was now a wide, sunlit space with light wood furniture, airy curtains, and a magically enchanted crib that gently floated, as if rocking the air itself.
Severus was nine months pregnant. His belly was round, heavy, tight beneath pale skin. His movements were slow, deliberate. Every step was calculated. Every breath, deep.
James had basically become his shadow.
He made every meal, checked Severus’s magical pressure three times a day, and even kept track of how many stairs he climbed. Their love had become something raw and real full of tiny acts of care, shared silences, and fingers laced together as they fell asleep.
That afternoon, Severus was sitting in the armchair by the window, reading a potions theory book, while James packed a small bag with diapers, restorative elixirs, and a protection charm passed down in the Potter family.
“You won’t need all that,” Severus mumbled.
“Oh yes I will. What if the baby decides to show up on a thunderstormy Tuesday?”
Severus gave a faint smile. “It’s sunny today.”
That’s when he felt it.
A sharp pressure. A hot pop inside his belly, followed by a wet rush between his legs.
Severus’s eyes widened.
"…James.”
James immediately froze, turning around with a worried face.
“What? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“My water just broke.”
The world paused for two seconds.
Then James absolutely lost it.
“Merlin. MERLIN! IT’S TIME?! IT’S ACTUALLY TIME?! I’M NOT READY!” He ran in panicked circles for a second or two, grabbed his wand, dropped it, picked it up again.
“James,” Severus said, trying to stay composed even as the contractions started rolling in like waves. “Call the midwitch.”
“Yes! The mediwitch! M-Mrs. Pembroke! The one from St. Mungo’s! Right. Right now!”
He pointed his wand at the fireplace. “FLU. FLU NOW!”
The flames turned green, and with a shaky voice, he shouted:
“Midwitch Pembroke’s house! It’s Potter! The baby’s coming!”
Her voice came through immediately, calm and unfazed, like someone who’d handled dozens of births (and hysterical husbands) before.
“Breathe, Mr. Potter. Get the room ready. I’ll be there in just a moment.”
James rushed back to Severus, who was now gripping the armchair with white knuckles, jaw clenched.
“Bloody hell, this hurts,” Severus muttered, sweating.
James knelt in front of him, his warm hands on Severus’s thighs, eyes locked on his.
“You’ve got this. I’m right here. I swear, I’m not leaving your side. Not for a second.”
Severus glared at him pale, tense, but solid.“You did this to me. Now deal with the consequences.”
James laughed, breathless. “Fair.”
The contractions came faster, stronger. The lights in the house flickered, as if the surrounding magic was reacting to the new presence trying to be born.
And outside, the still-sunny sky began to shimmer with golden specks, like the world itself was getting ready to witness the arrival of someone important.
Someone new.
Someone who carried a little bit of Severus, a little bit of James…
And everything made of hope.
__________
Midwitch Pembroke arrived in under two minutes, cloaked in emerald green and surrounded by a sterilization charm that filled the air with the scent of lavender and mint. She carried an enchanted case that unfolded midair, revealing vials, towels, potions, and softly glowing magical tools.
“Room ready, Mr. Potter?” she asked firmly.
“Yes! Yes! Everything’s ready. The bed, the sheets, the protective charm on the crib, I checked it all twice!”
Still sitting in the armchair, Severus let out a sharp sigh through clenched teeth. "If he says that one more time, I swear I’ll give birth in the kitchen just to spite him.”
The midwitch laughed. “Ah, still in good spirits. That’s a great sign.”
But Severus was shaking now. The contractions were fast and brutal. His body curled in on itself instinctively, and those usually sharp eyes… were now full of something new: vulnerability.
James gently carried him to the bedroom, gripping his hand tight.
He laid him down on the freshly made bed as Pembroke cast charms of protection and calm around the room. Soft lights appeared on the ceiling. A magical cushioning charm floated around the mattress, and the temperature adjusted itself to Severus’s comfort.
“Deep breaths, Mr. Potter,” Pembroke instructed. “You’re almost there.”
“‘Almost’ is a very… optimistic word,” Severus growled, sweat dripping down his temples.
James stood beside him, holding his hand with both of his.“I’m right here, love. Breathe.”
With each contraction, Severus crushed James’s hand like he was trying to break bones. James didn’t complain. He’d let himself be torn apart a thousand times if it meant sharing the pain.
“One more, Severus. Push now,” Pembroke said, firm and steady.
Severus screamed.
Not from weakness, but from raw, primal strength. From a body giving everything to bring life into the world. From a heart opening up, even after years of being surrounded by walls.
James whispered in his ear not spells, but words that were magic.
“You’re incredible.”
“I love you.”
“It’s going to be okay.”
“He’s almost here.”
“I’m with you.”
“Always.”
And then, in the middle of that final, desperate, tear-soaked, sweaty push came the cry.
Loud. Alive. Whole.
Time seemed to stop.
The midwitch held the baby in her arms, wrapped in warm cloths and glowing softly. His eyes were shut tight, his mouth wide open in a mighty protest against the brand new world.
James went completely still.
Severus, pale and gasping, body shaking, reached out with both arms.
“Give him to me.”
The midwitch smiled. “It’s a boy.”
Severus held him to his chest. Tiny. Warm. So light and yet heavier than the whole world.
James sat on the edge of the bed, running his fingers gently over the newborn’s head, already full of dark hair. The baby’s eyes were closed, but his face… had something of both of them. A firm little chin. A sharp nose. A slightly curved mouth.
“He’s perfect,” James whispered.
Severus looked at him for a long time. “He deserves a name. A strong one. A name with legacy.”
James nodded. “What do you have in mind?”
Severus looked back down at the baby. “Harry Elias.”
James smiled. “Harry Elias Snape Potter?”
“No,” Severus said, locking eyes with him. "Harry Elias James Potter.”
James went silent for a moment then nodded, eyes shimmering.“Perfect.”
The baby calmed down on Severus’s chest, and the whole house seemed to exhale with relief.
And there, at the end of the day, in a room warmed by love, fear, and redemption, three hearts beat together for the very first time.
A new story had begun.
Notes:
Author’s Note
And here it is, my loves, the end! 💖 I really hope it didn’t take me too long to post. Unfortunately, I had a little setback and got a bit sick because of this chilly weather 😅. But I gave it my all to bring you this ending with all the love this story deserves. I truly hope it touched you in some way. ❤️🩹💚♥️
Oh! And there’s one little thing I have to mention (because I just can’t keep it to myself LOL) did you notice the midwife who delivered Severus? Sooo… she was inspired by a character from Hogwarts Legacy! 🌟 I based her on the lovely Sylvia Pembroke, the aurology specialist which is a painting, to create this special character who had the honor of bringing Harry into the world 🌹
Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for being with me all this way. 🫶✨