***11 October, 1986-9:17 a.m. ***

Severus slowly opened his eyes. For a split second, he was unsure of the foreign surroundings. Then a smile grew across his face at the remembrance of the night before. It was the first time he had ever awakened with a woman by his side. It was a sensation that Severus thought he could definitely get used to. He shifted his body to face the direction of the unfamiliar distribution of weight in the bed.

There she was... still sleeping. It had not been a dream.

Lucy was on her side, facing him. Her bare arms were wrapped tight around one pillow whilst her face was half buried in another. Her golden hair was plastered across her alabaster skin. Severus gave a slight chuckle when he noticed she was drooling into her pillow. On the half of her face Severus could see, he could tell she was smiling as she dreamed.

Had he done that?

He couldn't help but to stare at the angelic creature with whom he was now sharing a bed. He was glad she was still asleep, for he could feel the heat flush across his face at the memory of the night before.

Severus could not even remember opening the door to her bedchamber, but he knew he must have. By the time they had come to their senses, Lucy was standing on her knees atop the bed; Severus was leaning over her, kissing her as if he would die otherwise. The moment they realised where they were and what was about to happen, they stopped and simultaneously asked the same question.

"Are you certain?"

The next kiss had left no doubt in either of them. At first, the act had been quite awkward as Severus was fearful of hurting Lucy or the baby. He was quite willing to let Lucy direct the course of their love-making and before long… passion took over for the rest of the night, until they fell into each other's arms in one final cry of ecstasy.

When Severus opened his eyes, he was sure he was waking from an impossible dream.

But now as he lay in bed bare-chested and propping his head up in his hand, Severus couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of it all.

Lucy.

Did this funny, intelligent, and beautiful witch really love him in the same way he loved her? Severus had to admit it, without meaning to, he had fallen in love.

It was a miracle how love came into his life...unasked and unearned.

Thinking back over the past year and a half, it was as if Severus were being given a second chance at redemption he felt he really didn't deserve. The night before, he confessed everything to Lucy, yet she did not recoil from him.

The abuse of his father... the neglect of his mother... his humiliation at the hands of the Marauders...his willing recruitment into the Voldemort's ranks.

For over a year after that fateful day he called Lily that horrible name, Severus had desperately tried to get Lily to forgive him. When it was clear that she had chosen Potter, the catalyst for that disaster, over forgiving him... in a bid for acceptance, Severus turned to those who had been trying to collect him for three years... the Death Eaters.

Severus took the Mark only a week after he became of age. It took less than a month to regret that decision, but unfortunately there was no going back. It was no coincidence the Dark Lord had targeted the young for recruitment.

It was a fortunate happenstance that the Dark Lord was more interested in Severus' skills as a potioneer than in his ability to wreak bloodshed. At least he never had physical blood on his hands. But that did not mean that Severus still had did not nightmares over his part in the Dark Lord's endeavours. Just because Severus never saw the first hand results of his handiwork, did not mean that he did not bare the guilt and shame for what he had created.

That fateful night, when he interviewed for the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor, at the Dark Lord's behest, Severus had no intention of revealing the conversation he had heard between the headmaster and Sybil Trelawney. He thought it was all claptrap anyway. But the Dark Lord never trusted any of his Death Eaters and never sent them alone.

Mulciber had accompanied him to ensure that Severus would not suddenly have a change of heart and appeal to Dumbledore's assistance. He had been watching Severus from the shadows.

Severus thought that was a futile move. He would have simply asked for Dumbledore's help after he received the post.

So when Severus overheard the prophecy made by the wannabe mystic, he had no choice but to reveal it to the Dark Lord or else Mulciber would inform the Dark Lord that Severus was withholding information. In which case, Severus would have been a dead man.

Once Severus discovered that the Dark Lord had intended to act on this information and who the intended target was, at risk to his life, he sought out Albus Dumbledore. That night, Severus became a spy for the Light and swore upon his life to do anything to protect Lily and her family.

It was still a mystery to Severus, and everyone else, why Lily had named him a godfather to her son. But at some point she had obviously forgiven Severus for the sins of his youth. Somewhere, deep inside, Severus had felt this, but refused to dwell on the possibility. He felt it was too late to go back. As far as Severus was aware, Lily believed Severus was a Death Eater. What possessed her to name him godfather?

It was no small irony that Sirius Black, Potter's trusted best friend, had been the traitor and that Severus, the former Death Eater, had actually been the one to protect Potter's progeny with his life. How could Lily have known?

For the first time ever, Severus was willing to put the past were it belonged…in the past. Chances are he would never know why Lily chose him. Now, it did not seem to matter. Harry was his son, every bit as much as he had been Lily's and Potter's. Severus was determined to give Harry a better childhood than his own.

Severus had become a father, and a five year old, mop-headed miracle had magically vanished away years of heartache and bitterness. That miracle had led to the one that now lay beside him. Could Severus dare dream of others? Perhaps a wi…

Severus put that thought out of his head and dwelled upon the words Lucy said last night.

Adopt Harry.

It was possible. Severus was just as much a Muggle citizen as he was wizard. Harry was also in the Muggle records, as he had been 'raised' by horsey faced Petunia and her whale of a husband for four years.

If Severus adopted Harry through the Muggle courts, it was true; it had to be recognised by the wizarding community, just as if Harry had been born to him.

Severus gave an uncharacteristic sigh. When had his life become so blessed? More importantly why?

He gazed at his other blessing. She too, was carrying the child of another man. It was especially obvious to him last night. Strange, how he was not put off by the thought of her carrying Musgrave's child? But then again, Musgrave had given up all rights to fatherhood when he tried to kill the child and enslave Lucy.

Why Amortentia was even legal, was beyond Severus. The callousness of Musgrave's attempt was astonishing. Severus wondered if the man had once been a Death Eater.

To Severus, that baby was a part of Lucy, just as Harry was a part of Lily. Once again, Severus was named godfather. And once again, Severus was willing to be more. He would love and protect Lucy's daughter as his own, if she would let him.

He gingerly reached across to move a strand of hair from Lucy's mouth. The gesture was enough to awaken Lucy from her slumber. One eye slowly opened and she gave her new lover a sleepy smile.

Lucy smiled. It hadn't been a dream.

The memories of the night before had filled her dreams. His touch... his voice... his scent... the feeling of him inside her. Severus made her feel like a woman in ways she never dreamed of.

She awakened to the sight of Severus smiling down at her. For the first time in far too long, she felt content with her life. She had almost forgotten what it felt like.

But then again, she had never really felt like this. She must have been some kind of idiot. How could she have ever mistaken the little-girl infatuation she once had for Kenneth as love? It was so thin and shallow in comparison to what she felt for this man now beside her.

Looking back, Kenneth had been set on perceptions. He was very sensitive about how others viewed him as well as Lucy. Kenneth had an urgent need to turn Lucy into his idea of the perfect wife and mate. Lucy had come to resent him because of it.

She had definitely resented the move to Great Britain. She resented him getting her pregnant without consulting her. She resented his attempts to manipulate her.

Funny…,now she was thankful for his failed attempts to control her. Lucy was very much looking forward to meeting the little girl that was growing inside her now. She wanted to be a mother.

She was thankful for Kenneth taking her away from home. If he hadn't, she would have never met Severus.

Severus.

It had not been Lucy's intention to fall in love with her friend, even after her split from Kenneth. In all honesty, she had not believed herself worthy of Severus Snape. Yet by some miracle, Severus not only did not pass judgment on her past mistakes or carrying the child of another man, he loved her despite of it all.

The man had been through so much. She had sensed a quiet strength in him from the very first moment they met. Lucy was aware of Severus' past mistakes, but until last night, she had no real notion of how deeply his past still haunted him, how unsure he was of himself.

But the demons of Severus' past served as testament to how good of a man he truley was. By some miracle, he had risen above the heartbreak and bitterness to find the power to love again.

That little miracle was a green eyed, raven haired imp.

Like Severus, Lucy was at a loss to understand why Lily would have named him godfather at that particular time. Perhaps, she had perceived something in their blood connection.

Whatever the case, Lucy was grateful for the deed. It was in that deed that redeemed Lily in her eyes. How could she have abandoned Severus so readily? Everybody says things they regret in the heat of the moment at some point on their lives, usually more than once. But obviously Lily had eventually seen her error.

In her heart, Lucy said a prayer of thanks to Lily and hoped the woman heard it wherever her spirit now resided.

Lucy knew that Severus would have remained lost without Harry. That darling boy.

Lucy had been serious in her suggestion that Severus adopt the child. Severus could not love that child anymore if Harry were of his own seed.

That boy was a miracle in more ways than one. He had somehow miraculously saved the wizarding world. He had somehow miraculously saved Severus. And in a way, he had miraculously saved Lucy too by bringing her close to Severus.

Lucy loved that child. She would protect Harry every bit as much as she would protect her own, every bit as much as Severus would protect him, every bit as much as Severus would protect her child.

Lucy need not wonder how she came from the depths of despair to the pinnacle of happiness. Her answer lay right beside her.

"G'mornin," she mumbled as she reached for Severus' hand.

"Good morning," he whispered back, as he took her small hand and kissed it.

Lucy's face was still half buried in her pillow when Severus leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Did you know that you drool?" he said playfully into her ear.

"Did you know that you snore?" she answered back sleepily. It was a lie.

"I do not snore," said Severus, slightly taken aback.

Lucy yawned and stretched then propped herself up the same way Severus had done himself. "How do you know? You cannot hear yourself in your sleep."

"I'm certain if I snored, Harry would have mentioned the fact long ago," Severus countered as he moved Lucy's tousled hair from her shoulder.

Lucy took the pillow she had once been hugging and tossed it at Severus. He caught it before it could hit its mark. "Well I couldn't just let you get away with that drooling remark," she said. She leaned over and gave Severus a peck on his hooked nose. "I don't know about you, but I'm famished."

"There won't be much left in the Great Hall by now," Severus said as he watched Lucy swing her legs to the side of the bed and sit up. She was covering her front with the sheet, but he back was left completely exposed. She heard Severus' breath hitch. Lucy turned her head and gave a knowing smile.

Severus moved across he bed towards her and slipped his had under the sheet. Lucy craned her neck back as she allowed Severus' kisses to slowly move down to her shoulders. Severus guided her back into bed and they both realised that they were hungry for something more than breakfast.

An hour and a half later, Severus appeared from Lucy's shower, wearing a housecoat he had a house elf bring him, along with fresh robes. He forgot to ask for toiletries and he had to resort to using Lucy's.

Lucy was also in a housecoat, sitting at her small dining table in front of the kitchenette. There was a covered platter in the middle, a bowl of fruit, as well as a pot of coffee.

Lucy was busy writing. Her rabbit was sitting on her lap as Lucy absentmindedly fed her a piece of banana. Severus walked over and gave Lucy a small kiss under her exposed ear. She turned her head and kissed him on the lips. "I could definitely get used to this," she sighed. "You smell purty." She could smell the lemongrass and citrus soap that Pawpaw made for her.

Severus smiled "I shall endeavour not to stand too close to my other colleagues today," he looked curiously down at her copperplate handwriting.

"What are you working on?" he asked.

"A list of materials and supplies I will need to begin Wodworth's project…Sit down. I've been waiting for you." Lucy picked up Thor from her lap and put the bunny at her food bowl in the kitchen along with what was left of her banana. She then returned to the table.

Severus took a chair opposite Lucy. When she sat back down she took out her wand and Vanished her writing.

Severus removed he tray from the serving platter. There were crepes and bacon along with the fresh cut fruit. Severus was thankful not to find grits. "What supplies do you need?" he casually asked.

"Oh…cochineal, woad, lampblack, carbon, verdigris…as well as some others. As much as I would like to get a hold of some lead and sulfate of arsenic, I don't dare handle those with the baby, even using protective measures. I will also need the primary flight feathers from a swan to make the quills I need… Most of my other supplies are in good shape. Can you recommend a reputable apothecary?"

"I can provide you with much of what you need," Severus said as he loaded a plate and passed it to Lucy.

"I appreciate that Severus, but I will require more than you can practically provide. I would deplete your stores," she said as she took the offered plate. "Besides, the British Museum will be paying the expenses."

"There are a couple apothecaries that I highly recommend. You can get what you need at Slug and Jigger's in Diagon Alley. Mr. Cline in Knockturn Alley will not deal with you without an introduction and since you do not require anything rare or of dubious nature, there is no need to venture there."

Severus continued as he put fresh strawberries atop his crepes. "I gather Wodworth has you working with an illuminated manuscript, but thus far, you have neglected to mention which one or what you will be doing with it."

Lucy gave a sly grin. "I haven't neglected a thing," she said cutting into her crêpe. "I'm not at liberty to divulge the details right now. But I promise to let you know as soon as Uncle Albus sets up the extra security measures."

Severus took a sip of coffee and put down his cup, "If it is such a secret, should you be telling me at all?"

Lucy swallowed her bacon, then dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "Actually…I could tell you but I want it to be a surprise. For security reasons I have to let two others know where my scriptorium is located, in case something was to happen to me. Of course Uncle Albus will need to know, as the manuscript will be housed here. And you are not only my personal choice… but also the most logical."

Now Severus was really curious. "The most logical?"

Lucy eyes twinkled, much like her uncle's. "You'll understand when you see the manuscript."

Severus gave her a curious look but their breakfast conversation soon drifted to Harry. Severus brought up his desire to speak to Petunia and seek out a Muggle barrister. "That is marvellous, Severus! If you need to take some personal time off, let me know. I can take over your lessons for a time."

"I'm touched by your offer, but what of your own lessons."

"That's the beauty of having a resident ghost…built in substitute. Professor Binns cannot fool me. I have caught him listening in on classes and perusing my books. I have no doubt that he would be willing take over for a while if the need should arise."

The breakfast dishes cleared themselves and Lucy and Severus got up to go and change. Before they went back into Lucy's bedchamber, she stopped. Lucy turned to Severus and ran her fingers along the edge of his house coat. She looked a little nervous. "Severus? Will Harry be alright with this…with us?"

Severus gave a thin smile as he brushed a strand of Lucy's hair behind her ear. "It just so happens, Harry has been trying to convince me to kiss you for a week. He actually made me promise to tell him if I kissed you."

"Excuse me?" Lucy choked out in her mirth.

"Yes, it seems that the Weasley twins put him under the impression that you would come to 'like me' should I kiss you."

Lucy tapped her chin in contemplation. "So that's how it works… I think I need to test this theory." She wrapped her arms around Severus' neck and pulled his face down to hers and gave him another deep kiss.

When she pulled away, with her most cloying Scarlett O'Hara impression, she went into a soliloquy. "Why… Professor Snape, Suh… Ah realise that five minutes ago, I did not know you from Adam. But now that we have kissed thusly…Mah little 'ol heart would just shrivel up and diah, should you evah spurn mah affections."

Severus looked at Lucy as she batted her eyelashes ridiculously and gave him a syrupy smile.

Severus tried to stifle his laugh but couldn't. He gave Lucy a peck on her forehead. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Oh…I can think of a couple of things," she teased as she ran her fingers down his chest, "But no time for that now," She sighed as she tapped Severus' chest and turned towards her room. "I really do need to get to Diagon Alley and I suppose you should be picking up Harry soon."

"Harry is spending the day with the Weasley's. I am not expected until tea." Severus said as he followed Lucy.

Lucy perused through her wardrobe. "Then would you care to accompany me?" She asked as she picked out her clothes.

Severus was sitting on the edge of Lucy's bed, pulling up the trousers the house elf had laid out for him. "I do need to replenish my supply of asphodel."

Lucy turned towards Severus, clutching the dress she had chosen. "Asphodel? Do you mean to brew Alf's potion for him when he returns?"

Severus stood up and faced Lucy as he buttoned his white linen shirt. "Your father went over the formula with me for that express purpose."

Lucy just stared at Severus for a moment. Severus had told her that Alf…Remus… had been one of the infamous Marauders, albeit not as malicious as the others. No wonder Severus gave him the cold shoulder last week. This gesture was magnanimous of him indeed. Lucy walked over to where Severus stood and raised on her toes to give him a soft kiss. "You never cease to amaze me, Severus Snape."

***4:14 p.m. ***

Severus and Lucy stepped out of the Floo and into the Weasley's sitting room. It had been an interesting trip to Diagon Alley.

In Slug and Jigger's they had come across none other than Lucius Malfoy. It was Malfoy who approach Lucy as she spoke to Mr. Jigger over the quality of kermes she required.

Malfoy had recognised Lucy from the Consulate Christmas party the year before. He somehow knew that Kenneth had been imprisoned but not the reasons why. The fact that he knew at all was surprising. The Consulate, as well as Albus, had worked hard to keep Kenneth's arrest under the radar of the media. The Consulate did not want the public relations nightmare and Albus did not wish to cause Lucy any more stress than she was already under.

Lucius had offered his condolences to Lucy, especially since she was obviously expecting the man's child.

Needless to say, Malfoy was confused when it was apparent that Lucy was not distressed over Kenneth Musgrave's arrest and the look on his face was positively gob-smacked when Severus Snape offered his arm to Lucy and escorted her from the shop.

Severus told her it was best to avoid Lucius Malfoy if at all possible. Severus knew for a fact that the man was a former Death Eater and that Malfoy's loyalties were questionable at best. Lucius Malfoy's vast amount of money had kept his associations hush-hush. Few were aware if his dubious past.

For some reason, that news had not surprised Lucy. She had only met the man once before, but felt he was slimier than a dissected flobber worm.

Lucy's shopping was done for now and when she and Severus returned to Hogwarts, they enjoyed some brief alone time in Severus' bed before they Flooed over to pick up Harry.

When Severus and Lucy stepped out of the Floo, the children were outside playing Gobstones. Arthur Weasley was in his favourite chair reading the Muggle London Times. Molly was sitting on the couch, catching up on her sewing. They both looked up as the couple stepped from their fireplace.

"Severus…Lucy." greeted Molly as she put down her sewing. "Did you enjoy Mystics?"

"It was lovely, Molly. Thank you," Lucy said as she took one of Molly's hands and gave her a kiss on the cheek in greeting.

Arthur arose from his chair and Severus stepped over to him. "I have something that belongs to you." Severus indicated what he meant by tapping his pocket where Arthur's shrunken turntable and album now resided.

"Lucy…I'm stealing Severus away for a moment if you don't mind." Severus followed Arthur out the kitchen door and into the garden. Harry looked up from where he was playing with the children.

"Daddy!" Harry cried. Severus knelt down and scooped up Harry as the little boy ran into his arms.

"Did you behave yourself for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?" Severus asked, picking Harry up.

"Uh-huh," nodded Harry enthusiastically. "Did you kiss Miss Lucy?"

Severus tousled Harry's already muffed-up hair "You…are incorrigible." Severus put Harry back down. "Go say goodbye to your friends and then run along inside. Miss Lucy is inside waiting for you."

"Okay!" Harry shouted. He ran over to say his farewells to the Weasley children.

Severus and Arthur continued out to the shed. "So Severus…Did you kiss Miss Lucy?" Arthur asked.

The only answer he received was Severus clearing his throat.

Arthur let out a hearty laugh and slapped Severus on the back. "Bully for you, Severus…Bully for you."

Ten minutes later, Severus and Arthur came back into the house.

Arthur paused for a second to admonish the twins for splashing Percy as they washed their hands at the kitchen sink.

In the sitting room, Molly and Lucy were sitting on the sofa. Harry was perched atop Lucy's lap and Ginny was in Molly's. Ron was sitting cross-legged on the floor, chatting with Harry.

The women turned their heads to see their men come into the house. Severus leaned over and gave Lucy a kiss. "Are we ready?"

The reaction among the children was priceless. Percy rolled his eyes as Fred and George gave each other high-fives. Ginny was silent, her mouth was agape like a codfish. Ron scrunched his face and exclaimed "Eww!"

And Harry..."It's about time!"

None of the children understood why the adults suddenly broke out in laughter.