Severus was in the middle of teaching one of his afternoon classes when he realised something he had said to Lupin. That something being the words, “The people I love.” He had used those words to refer to the goblins, whom he had loved for years as if they were his family.
And Kingsley.
His family.
And Kingsley.
It was still rather a shock to him that he had a family now. He had grown used to the goblins a little over the years, but even their antics still shocked him. But now, in the matter of a couple of short weeks, he had a partner, the man he had been slowly falling in love with over the years and who had finally revealed his own feelings, and he had two sons; Neville, and the little one he carried within him. And Kingsley had talked a few times about more children in the future, too. Supposing Severus wanted them, he had said.
He had a family.
And he was in love with Kingsley. He just couldn’t admit it out loud yet.
He was in awe of how his life had changed. So very quickly, too. This wasn’t the kind of life that he had ever even imagined he could have. He had wanted it, sure. Longed for it even. But he had also been so very sure that this, that love, and family, and warmth, and home, was never going to be in his reach.
Despite his awe, though, despite his happiness, he was wary. He was terrified that it would all be taken away from him. Especially his sons.
His hand went to his still flat (mostly, there was a little bit of thickening there, not very much though) stomach and a student asked if he was okay, clearly concerned. Which was another thing that shocked him. Awed him. Most of the students (there were only three students that had anything against him being pregnant with Harry Potter) were all liking his new side, the side he had been forced to hide for so very long but was now letting out because he didn’t want to pretend anymore; not that he ever did was to pretend anyway, but he certainly didn’t want to pretend when he had children, no, he was going to be himself, and hopefully he could still keep everyone safe as he did so; but they were also concerned for him, not just for Harry, who was no longer going to be called Harry, but they didn’t know that yet.
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” he replied, his voice softer than any he had used yet, but he didn’t particularly care.
He just wanted to be himself. His fully true self. He wanted to show the softer sides, but also show that he was still strong, he was still fierce. And he would protect his family, and the students in this school, with everything that he had.

…

The rest of the day passed without much trouble. All the students focused on their potions properly so as not to blow anything up. His encounters with the staff were at least civil, though most of them were really quite supportive of Severus. Dumbledore, of course, tried to speak to him, as did Lupin, but he ignored them as much as he could. Though he did certainly love the bruise blossoming on Lupin’s face. He smirked whenever he saw it. He smirked even more upon hearing some of the students talking about it excitedly as if it were some wondrous tale.
He spent a good deal of time in the Slytherin Common Room after dinner to help some of the students with some homework, to answer any questions they had, to help them with whatever they needed. It was something he liked to do. He wanted them to know that there were options. That they could go to him whenever they needed someone. That they didn’t have to follow their parents if they didn’t want to, that they could and should always be themselves. No matter who they were. He feared that far too many Slytherins before now, including him, had rather lacked any caring adult to go to. An adult that actually cared about their wellbeing anyway, and not where they could get them. A lot of their parents/guardians didn’t do that.
But it was as he was walking back to his quarters that he felt like something was going to go wrong. Or that something was waiting for him. There were chills, goosebumps, up his arm, and spine, and neck. And he just, well, he just felt off. It was almost like his magic was trying to warn him. But perhaps not of something dangerous. Not totally.
He was rather confused when he found the black dog that had seemed to be following him these past weeks, the one he had seen playing with Fang that very morning, sitting on the floor outisde the door to his quarters, looking up at him curiously. Then the dog turned its head to the door, tilting it, obviously wanting to be let in.
He swallowed thickly. He didn’t know why but something about the dog felt… off. But he didn’t know why, or how, and it didn’t feel threatening. It didn’t feel like it wanted to hurt Severus. And well, perhaps he felt bad that the clearly alone dog had nowhere else to go.
He sighed, “Come on then.”
He let the dog into his home, and he went to the kitchenette to prepare a bowl of water for the poor scraggy thing.
Only for the bowl to fall to the floor and shatter upon him turning around to find Sirius Black, still in his Azkaban get-up, standing in his living room.
He was sure, for a moment, that he forgot how to breathe.