Severus woke groggily, surrounded by warmth, and love, and comfort, and safety. It was still a rather odd sensation. Once his eyes had adjusted to the soft light in the room he looked around, remembering that he was in Gringotts. Neville was still asleep in front of him, he was lying on his side still. He leaned back into the warm presence behind him, looking up and finding Kingsley there, sitting with his back against the headboard and smiling down at him.
Severus couldn’t help but smile back.
He sat up, leaning against Kingsley’s chest, relishing in the feel of the arms wrapping around him.
“How long was I asleep?” Severus asked tiredly, looking over at Neville, his hand finding its way to his stomach, his thumb stroking it just a little.
“About 12 hours. Neville did wake up earlier. He had some food and we talked a bit before he fell back asleep. How are you feeling? Do you need anything?” Kingsley said softly, his hand moving to cover Severus’ on his stomach, their fingers intertwining.
“Tired,” Severus said, his stomach growled just a little. “Hungry. Were you gentle with Black? Was the rat Pettigrew? Was anything else revealed that I had missed? And has anyone checked Neville over, or gone over to Hogwarts to check the other Gryffindors, especially those in Neville’s dorm, and Percy Weasley’s one?”
“We were gentle with Black. He is innocent. Healer Greyclaw is keeping him in a different room whilst he recovers, especially since it will probably take quite a bit of work to get him declared innocent by the Ministry. Especially with Dumbledore’s hand in it. But he has proved rather useful. The rat was, indeed, Peter Pettigrew, and he has been questioned also. Not as gently as Black, don’t you worry. He has also supplied us with some more information about Dumbledore, the Death Eaters, the Dark Lord, and such. Even the Weasleys. Healer Greyclaw and King Ragnok have gone back over Neville’s previous test to see if we missed anything, but they will do another scan on him when he has rested specifically looking for anything in that time, just to be sure that all is clear. There is a team of both healer and warrior goblins making their way to Hogwarts as we speak to make sure all the Gryffindors are okay. Even King Ragnok is going with them, to make sure Dumbles doesn’t get in the way too much. And what would you like to eat, I shall go and grab it for you,” Kingsley said.
“There’s no signs of anything being done to Neville so far? He mentioned they sometimes woke up with scratches, cuts, and bruises that they couldn’t explain,” Severus said, worried.
“There are some minor signs of scratches and bruises, but nothing major, and no sexual abuse that we can find. But Healer Greyclaw said that she is going to do an in depth scan specifically looking for any potions, spells, sexual abuse, and such, during the times that he would have been in Hogwarts. I know Peter wasn’t necessarily smart, but if he has used anything, even something to hide evidence, then we shall be able to find out soon. As things go, though, given that the full history hasn’t seemed to pick anything up, they are optimistic that that is a good thing. They just know you and I would want a more in depth scan run, just in case,” Kingsley said, his voice gentle, also concerned for their boy, but he was trying to keep Severus calm. “What would you like to eat?”
“Did no one ask him if he had hurt any of the boys, anyone else in the dorms?” Severus said, ignoring the rumbling of his stomach for a moment more. This was more important.
“We did, but he… fell asleep before he could answer. Apparently living as a rat for the best part of twelve years isn’t the best thing to do for your health. He is being patched up, inside a cell, and will be questioned more thoroughly when he awakens. Now, take a moment to calm down and give your body what it needs, love. What would you like to eat? And drink? Our answers will come, but right now yours and our children’s health is a lot more important than any of that. At this moment we are all okay, and that is good,” Kingsley said, kissing the top of Severus’ head.
“Neville might not be okay. The bastard could have done something to him, he could have had help, knowing Dumbledore and-”
“Our answers will come, and when they do that is when we shall cross that bridge. Not now. Not when you need to eat something because you’ve been asleep for twelve hours. Neville and our baby need you to be okay, you can’t be that if you don’t eat because you are too busy worrying about things we don’t know about yet. Our answers will come, and then we can help him if he needs us to. We’ll help him through everything, no matter what. But right now, Sev, we need to get some food into you. So, what would you like?” Kingsley said, kissing the top of Severus’ head again. Severus leaned into Kingsley’s safe hold even more.
“Maybe some sausages, with some mash, some green beans, gravy, crispy onions on top, too. And a bowl of pickles, with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, on the side?” Severus said.
“Okay, and for your drink?” Kingsley asked.
“Some tropical juice, please,” Severus replied.
“Anything for pudding?”
“Not right now.”
“Okie dokie, I shall be right back with your food. I love you,” Kingsley said, beaming down at Severus.
“I love you, too,” Severus said, relishing in the kiss that Kingsley gave him, both of them smiling through it.
“I’m never going to get tired of hearing you say that,” Kingsley whispered against his lips, kissing him again.
“Hm, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing you say it either,” Severus said.
It was still odd to him that, despite everything, he had somehow found happiness. A family. Love. Things which he had never once in his life thought that he had deserved but there he was, with a man he loved, and two children. Perhaps more one day. Once everything had calmed down and they were truly free.
But he was happy.
Despite everything he was happy.
He just hoped that this wasn’t just a pleasant breather before the other shoe dropped and something terrible happened. Like the niggling thoughts in his mind liked to tell him would happen.
“I’ll be back. Please try and relax. It’s the weekend,” Kingsley said, gently moving Severus out of his arms so that he was sitting with his back against the headboard instead of the broad chest.
Kingsley kissed him again before getting off the bed and leaving the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Severus wondered if he would ever really get used to feeling happy.
Neville started to shift, and Severus looked down at him, smiling as he saw his son beginning to wake up.
“Mum,” Neville said, looking wearily up at Severus.
“Are you okay, Neville?” Severus asked, moving the hand that wasn’t still on his stomach to trail through Neville’s messy hair.
“Yeah, are you?” Neville replied, rubbing his eyes as he sat up, his own back against the headboard.
“I’m okay, thank you,” Severus said.
“Where’s dad?” Neville said, looking around the room for Kingsley. Severus smiled some more at the name for Kingsley.
“He’s gone to get me some food. Are you hungry? Thirsty? We can get you some food also,” Severus said.
“I’m okay for now, thank you. What… What happened last night?” Neville asked, smiling up at Severus nervously. His eyes worried. “Are you and Harry okay?”
“We’re fine. Just tired. I think, perhaps, we should wait for your father to come back before we talk about what happened, if that’s okay with you,” Severus said, and a flutter of hope moved through his heart and stomach at the words that left his mouth.
Your father.
Kingsley came back to them shortly after that, hands carrying a tray of food, and a goblet of juice for Severus. “Would you like to stay there, or sit at the table, love?” Kingsley asked, and Severus was sure his heart skipped a beat or two in that moment.
“I will sit at the table, please,” Severus said, moving to get out of the bed, hoping that his legs would work given that he hadn’t used them for twelve hours, and when he last did they weren’t working all that well then either.
Merlin, he was tired.
He made it to the small, four-seater circular table, though, and was happy when Kingsley and Neville joined him.
“Do you need anything, Neville?” Kingsley had asked before he sat down.
Severus smiled when Neville had replied, “No thank you, dad.”
Severus’ heart stuttered again at the brilliant smile tugging at Kingsley’s lips. But he enjoyed his meal in peace, watching happily as the two chatted about random things that he couldn’t focus on properly because he was too tired, and focused on trying not to worry too much about everything else that was going on outside the room they were in. The room in which their family of three would properly become a family of four… hopefully.
“You okay, Sev?” Kingsley asked, worried at the almost lost look in Severus’ eyes.
“Yes. I’m just tired,” Severus said, his voice soft as he looked at Kingsley.
“Well, thank Merlin we are at the Bank then, so you have the opportunity to rest without too much stress on your shoulders,” Kingsley said, his hand moving to cover Severus’ wrist, squeezing it lightly.
“Oh, well, you know me, Kingsley. I am never one to rest. Nor to stop thinking, or worrying,” Severus said, a little bit of a smirk toying at the edges of his lips.
“Oh, I know, love. But that is what Neville, the goblins, and I are here for. To make sure you don’t have to do too much and can actually get the rest you need whilst we do everything that needs doing,” Kingsley said, grinning.
“Yep. Though, if you could tell me what’s going on now, that would be great. I promise I can handle it,” Neville said, looking between the two of them. He was smiling, but it was clear that he was very concerned about whatever it was that was going on, which had had them moving to the Bank for the weekend.
Or longer if Healer Greyclaw had anything to say about it.
Kingsley looked at Severus and he nodded. Neville deserved to know. He was thirteen. He was stronger than any thirteen year old should have to be. He could handle it. And well, they would be there to support him, no matter what. Severus was sure of that.
“Okay, Neville, last night Sirius Black entered your mum’s quarters,” Kingsley said and Severus was sure he regretted saying it like that when Neville practically jumped out of his chair; fear, anger and concern crossing his features as he looked between them, although mostly focusing on Severus.
“What? He… he was there? When you got the elf to take me to my room, and you were asking me those questions?” Neville asked Severus.
“Yes, he was there. But he is innocent. He wasn’t going after Harry. He didn’t hurt me. We’re fine. He didn’t betray the Potters. He’s not a Death Eater. He didn’t kill those muggles either,” Severus said calmly.
“Then why were you asking me those questions?” Neville asked, confused.
“Because…” Severus wasn’t sure he could say it. He wasn’t sure that he could tell Neville that he had been sharing a bedroom with a grown man these past three years, hiding in plain sight as a rat.
“Neville, the man who did do those things… The man who is the Death Eater that betrayed the Potters to the Dark Lord,” Kingsley started, his voice ever so gentle, holding onto Neville’s hand with both of his. Severus’ wrist felt cold, he felt lost even as he dreaded the next part of that statement and whatever was to come afterwards. “He wasn’t arrested because he disguised himself as a rat for the last twelve years. A rat which has been sleeping in the same dorm as you, and your roommates for the past three years.”
“What?” Neville asked quietly, shock filling his voice. His eyes were wide, almost glassy with the tears that filled them.
“He hid himself with the Weasley family for the past twelve years. But we’ve got him now. He is in a cell here. The reason Severus asked you those questions was to see if you have any recollection of him doing anything to you, or if perhaps the other boys in your room had mentioned something at any point. Or anyone else in Gryffindor, even. We have gone back over your scans but Healer Greyclaw is going to be running some more in depth ones looking for specific things during certain times. There are a bunch of healer and warrior goblins at Hogwarts right now checking over everyone in Gryffindor, to make sure the man hasn’t hurt anyone. But, there is one person that we cannot scan anymore. So, do you know if Harry ever mentioned anything happening to him? We are going to question the man about these things, too, but he is currently unconscious and we need to know if anyone remembers anything, so we have more evidence, and so that they can get help,” Kingsley said, his voice still as calm as it could possibly be.
Severus, though, was not calm in the slightest. His heart was pounding as his mind ran wild.
He had no idea as to why the thought that perhaps the man had hurt Harry hadn’t crossed his mind before. But it was now. Loud and clear. His hands covering his stomach protectively at the thought of the bastard laying even a single finger on his now son. Because, if the rat was going to hurt anyone, it would be Harry, wouldn’t it? But they couldn’t check. All they had were half-arsed scans done by Poppy, and they didn’t cover everything, just most of it.
“Mummy, I’m fine. I promise,” Harry said within him and he breathed a shuddering breath.
“Do you remember anything? Did the rat hurt you?” Severus asked, his inner voice shaking.
“I don’t know. I… I mean I never slept very well, and I did hear some movement in the night sometimes. And… I don’t know. My memories are a bit foggy at the moment.”
Those words pounded in his mind and heart for… what felt like a really long time.
“Sev, love, are you alright?” Kingsley asked and for a moment he snapped out of his inner panic, looking at his partner with wide eyes as his partner looked back at him with so very much concern. His dark eyes moved from his own, to Severus’ stomach and back again. “Are you feeling okay? Do you need me to get Healer Greyclaw?”
“Harry… we don’t know if anything happened to him... If Pettigrew did anything to him… and if he did then we can’t-we can’t help him,” Severus said, his arms wrapping protectively over his stomach.
“I think you are helping Harry more than enough, Sev. He’s safe now, inside you, and you are doing a wonderful job looking after him. He’s safe, and that is all that matters right now. When we are able to question the rat, we will, and we will find out, and he can be punished for whatever the fuck comes out of his mouth. We can help anyone else that may have been hurt by him. That’s all we can do, and that is fine. Harry is fine. He will continue to be fine so long as we have him, and we will have him until we die, which will hopefully be a long ways away. We’re okay. You’re okay. Everyone else is going to be okay, too. I promise,” Kingsley said, his voice soft, reassuring, the light in his eyes flickering with so much promise and hope that Severus had no choice but to relax a little at his words.
It didn’t stop all the niggling thoughts, though. But he was sure that nothing could ever quiet the cacophony in his mind. Except maybe, one day in the future, when Harry, or whatever they decided to name him, was safely in his arms, and they were all safe, happy. Although, he was sure he would still be perpetually worrying about his children. His partner. Everyone else.
Hopefully, one day, it wouldn’t be quite so loud, though. Quite so overwhelming.
Because the world would be safer.
He took a moment to breathe some deep breaths. Trying to relax. He was there to relax. To spend a moment away from all the other stuff that was constantly shoved on him. But he was rather unsure on how to relax. He hadn’t been relaxed for even a moment of his life. Not that he could remember anyway.
“Sev, love, why don’t I go and run you a bath, and when you are done eating you can go and relax in there for a while. The water might help to soothe your muscles and whatnot for a bit,” Kingsley suggested, his hand holding onto Severus’ and squeezing it gently three times. A quiet I love you. “Then afterwards the three of us could start talking baby names if you’d like? Whilst we’re waiting for the rat to wake up.”
“Baby names?” Neville asked, looking between them confused.
“We’ve decided to give Harry a different name. A name that we get to choose as a family, like all the other families get to do. So that he can grow up being himself, instead of in the shadow of who he used to be. A memory of a life that no boy should ever have to live. We want him to be safe, and happy, and free from that. So yeah, we’re going to choose a new name for him,” Kingsley explained, a bright smile on his face.
“Ooh, that’s a good idea, that,” Neville said with a brilliant, excited grin on his face.
“So, my love, would you like a bath, or would you like to just rest out here for now?” Kingsley said, looking at Sev with kind eyes which were bright with so much love, and hope, and happiness.
“A bath sounds wonderful, thank you. But I am perfectly capable of running it myself. You and Neville can keep yourselves occupied with baby names or whatever else you want to talk about, yes?” Severus said, finishing off his drink and standing up, looking down at them both with a smile and a raised eyebrow.
“Of course we can keep ourselves occupied, love. Are you sure you don’t want me to run the bath for you? You deserve some pampering,” Kingsley said.
“You can pamper me later. I’m fine. I promise,” Severus said, making his way to the bathroom at the back of their rooms.
He closed the door behind him, leaning back against it, taking a deep breath. His hands went to his stomach again and pushed himself off the door, making his way to the large bath tub in the centre of the room, there was a dark blue fluffy bath rug circling the bath and the bath itself looked perfect for if he were to want a water birth.
If he got that far.
He shook his head, he couldn’t think about that. He was supposed to relax. He turned the taps and watched as the bath tub began to fill up, he added some bath salts and even some bubbles, too. He was supposed to relax after all. Bubbles were relaxing, right?
He undressed, letting the bath fill up, and he stared at himself in the mirror. His hands covering his still flat stomach which the niggling thoughts still told him would never round. No matter how much he tried to get his mind to be quiet, just for a moment.
He turned back to the bath and saw that the water was at a good height so he turned off the taps.
Maybe the bath would help.
He climbed carefully into the bath and allowed himself to lay back, his head resting against the padded headrest that covered part of the bath. His hands covered his belly again, under the warm water. And he breathed deeply for a moment, ignoring the tears that spilled down his cheeks because he couldn’t stop them, even if perhaps he wanted to.
He was being weak. He hated being weak.
But for once he would really love it if life, and his mind, would calm the fuck down.
“It’s okay, mummy. I’m okay. We’re okay. You’re okay,” Harry said within him and he couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle, tears still sliding down his cheeks.
“Yeah, we’re okay. Life is just… scary at the moment,” Severus said. It wasn’t a lie. A lot was happening. Not all bad, but even the not bad things came with a lot of fear. He had spent his life believing himself not worthy of family, of happiness, of love even. But now that he had it, anything could happen to tear them apart. And he was terrified that it would.
“Yeah, but at least we aren’t alone through it, right? We have daddy, and the goblins, and Neville, and others. They’ll help us get through it. And I’ll try my best not to leave you. I promise,” Harry said.
A quiet sob shook his body.
They weren’t alone.
He wasn’t alone.
“And I’ll try my best to keep you safe, and to love you, and make sure you’re happy. I promise,” Severus said, stroking his softening, though still flat stomach with his thumb.
“You’re doing very well so far, mummy. I am the happiest and safest I remember ever being. I know you love me. I love you, too. We’ve got this.”
He certainly hoped so as he took a deep breath and tried to relax some more.
“I love you so much, baby. Always.”
“Always.”

…

Severus wasn’t sure how long he was in the bathroom for, but he did leave eventually; shortly after he had to force himself out of the bath to vomit into the toilet, then freshened himself up; dressed in boxer shorts and wrapped in a deep blue, silk bath robe. He found Kingsley and Neville sitting on the bed, cross-legged and laughing with each other as they played wizards chess. It was a sight that had Severus softening, his rigid posture loosening as he smiled at them.
“Hi, mum, you feeling okay?” Neville asked, looking at Severus with worry in his eyes.
“Yes, I’m fine. I promise. How are you doing?” Severus replied, sitting on the bed also, running his fingers through Neville’s hair as his son leaned slightly into him.
“I’m okay. I promise. I will be okay, so long as you and dad are here. No matter what,” Neville said, smiling up at Severus.
“And we shall be here always,” Kingsley said, smiling at Neville before he turned his loving and concerned eyes on Severus. “You sure you’re okay? I thought I heard you being sick a moment ago, and I wanted to come in and check on you, but thought I’d give you your space.”
“I’m fine. It’s just some morning sickness. You know it likes to hit at any time of the day. Did you two start discussing baby names, or have we decided to wait for another time?” Severus said, raising an eyebrow.
“We decided to wait until a time when we could discuss them together. You are his mum, after all. You’re the one doing all the work to grow him. You should be part of the discussion, too,” Kingsley said, smiling brightly. “Although, obviously, if you want to wait until you are a bit further along then that is fine. I understand.”
“We understand,” Neville added with a nod.
Severus leaned back against the headboard, his hand flat on his stomach, his thumb rubbing softly up and down.
“I suppose it won’t hurt to start thinking of names now. Do either of you have any suggestions?” Severus said, his voice soft.
“I mean, Harry liked the stars, and plants. We could name him something celestial, or something like that. So that there is still part of the old him there. Which last name is he gonna have? Snape, or Shacklebolt, or both, or are you going to give him one of your Lordship names?” Neville said excitedly. “Are we even definitely sure that Harry is going to be a boy this time around? I mean, if your magic changed his DNA, and everything, is there a chance that he will be born a girl this time? That would be cool, having a little sister. I mean, you’re only just over ten weeks pregnant, and the sex of the baby doesn’t truly finish forming until around fourteen weeks, right? Something like that?”
Another thought that hadn’t occurred to Severus.
“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to come up with some girl names, too. Just in case,” Kingsley said, a light in his eyes as he looked between Severus’ eyes and his stomach. “I mean, I know this isn’t a normal pregnancy, but if we’re truly going to prepare like we would for if we had conceived naturally then it would make sense to think of some names for a potential daughter. Or even just some nice gender neutral names. And, if we don’t end up using them now, then we can always use them in the future. Supposing you want more kids, of course, and one of them is a girl.”
Severus couldn’t help but blush, a small smile lighting up his face at the thought of him and Kingsley having more kids one day. The thought that, perhaps, that was what Kingsley wanted.
“Hm, perhaps we shall wait and see how this pregnancy goes first, before thinking about any others,” Severus said with a little chuckle. “But we can come up with some girl names, too, I suppose. Just in case.”
“Of course, my love,” Kingsley said with a grin. “So, Neville, are there any names that you like?”
“What about Leo?” Neville said with a smirk.
“Hm, that would be rather awkward for the baby, though, if he were to be sorted into any House that’s not Gryffindor,” Severus replied with a smirk of his own.
“Ooh, wouldn’t it be cool if you guys had a kid that went into every House? So I’m your Gryffindor, and the baby could be in a different House, and you could have two more babies, too, and they could be in the other Houses. Then you’ll have Hogwarts covered, and the family will practically be running the place. Which is much better than what is currently happening there,” Neville said, sounding far too excited.
“Oh, so you want two more siblings after this little one?” Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Or more, yeah. But whatever you want to do is fine, mum. It’s your body after all,” Neville said.
“We’ll see,” Severus said, his lips tugging up in the corners, just a little.
He had always wanted a large family. Truly, he had. But he was too worried about whether his body would be able to handle this pregnancy at the moment, let alone any others in the future. One day, though, maybe he might be able to.
When things were safer in their world.
When he was healthier.
When he had a moment to not worry too much about everything, but life might just be okay for once.
Supposing of course, that this family he had found for himself was still together, also. Though he couldn’t, and didn’t want to imagine a world, a future, in which he didn’t have Kingsley, or Neville, or the baby inside him in his life.
He tried to relax some more. Not thinking about any of the possibilities he didn’t want, or like. He didn’t want to think about those anymore. He couldn’t.
Perhaps he should try and focus on the present.
They were all fine. They were all okay. Or as okay as they could be right now.
That is what mattered. Nothing else.
He stroked his stomach softly.
Everything was fine.
Everything would be fine.
It had to be.
He breathed deeply for a moment, listening to Neville excitedly ramble on, smiling at his son. And at his partner, who was looking between himself and their son with so much love and light in his expression that Severus had to be sure that nothing could ever tear them apart, right? And if something tried to, or even succeeded for a little while, they would come back together. Always.
Their family would be fine.
Always.
He would do whatever he could to make sure of that.
And he knew that Kingsley would, too.
It was the truth in his eyes.
They would be fine.
They had to be fine.