Till the Sea Runs Dry (2/11)
Title: Till the Sea Runs Dry(2/11)
Author: faynia and stormypup
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Rating: R
Warning: Highlight for warnings *Implied Mpreg*
Word Count: 2374
Genre: Romance, Angst, Drama, Mystery
Summary: (Sequel to Bonds of Water) Just when Severus is beginning to believe Harry will be happy living with him in the lake, someone decides that Harry needs to be free. No matter what the cost.
Beta'd by rakina and carpet_diemon.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Harry hopped up onto the large rock on the edge of the lake, watching his son play along the shore. He lay down on his stomach on the warm surface. Folding his arms, he rested his chin on his hands.
Douglas was trying to bring water from the lake to where he was building a castle, only to discover he couldn't keep water in his cupped hands. Harry let him try this a few more times, before taking pity and taking out his wand to cast Aguamenti at the sand near his son, splashing the four-year-old in the process.
Douglas' birthday was tomorrow, September 1st; coincidently it was the day that Hogwarts' term started. During Douglas' birth Harry had held onto the hope that Severus would have been able to hang on an extra few hours just to spare his son the nightmare of having to go back to school on his birthday. But he couldn't fault the man, he didn't understand that pain, and he never wished to either.
Douglas giggled and grabbed some of the muddy sand, smiling blindingly at his father. He went back to work on his castle, shooting glances up at the real castle up over the hill.
Harry hummed to himself, his eyes slipping shut as the sun warmed his back. He heard a soft splash somewhere behind him, and was just able to pull his feet out of the cold water and onto the rock before Severus managed to drag him in.
"Spoilsport," Severus said, coming out of the water and shaking freezing water on to Harry's back.
Harry screamed and laughed, trying to get away without falling off the rock. "That's cold!"
Douglas looked up at the cry then smiled to see his papa and his daddy playing. He went back to work on his castle.
"Try this.” Severus held up a vial to Harry. “I want to see if it has any effect. I think I'm finally on the right track."
"You really think so?" Harry eyed it with interest, plucking the vial full of lavender potion from Severus' hands. He held it up to the sunlight, admiring the strange colors swirling within it. "Will it taste bad?"
"Of course! Just drink it, will you?"
Harry grinned, and bent over to press a lingering kiss to his mate's lips. He laughed when Severus pushed him away. "Fine, I'll take it!"
He popped off the cork to sniff the contents, and then knocked it back in a single swallow. Ice flooded his veins and he shivered, shooting Severus an apprehensive look. "How will we know if it works?"
"Try and get to the shoreline and step out of the water."
Harry nodded, and, with a huge smile, took a running leap off the rock and back into the water. The splash he created was enough to cover the entire surface of the boulder he had just leaped off. He gasped as he surfaced, spitting out lake water.
Treading the water at a rapid pace, he neared the shore where his son was watching him.
"Whatchoo doin'?" Douglas asked, tipping his head back as Harry stood.
Harry grinned and held out his hands like claws. "Coming to get you."
Douglas backed away as Harry came out of the lake. In a few more steps his bare feet would hit sand. He paused, glancing over his shoulder back to where Severus lounged. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought Severus was asleep. But he wasn't. Severus was watching him just as closely as Harry had been watching their son earlier.
Taking a deep breath, he set one foot and then the other onto the shoreline. Nothing happened. Another two steps, and still nothing. Hope rekindled within him, and Douglas let out a gasp of shock.
"D-daddy?"
Harry chuckled, curling his hands into claws once more. Douglas squeaked as Harry lunged for him, and he ran away giggling. Harry chased after him, reveling in the feeling of warm sand beneath his feet.
"I'm going to get you!"
Douglas laughed harder, speeding up as Harry chased him back and forth along the shoreline.
"Papa, save me!"
Severus rushed to the shoreline, his eyes wide in wonder. Six long years in the lab and he was finally on a course that might lead to a final solution - freedom for Harry!
Douglas had turned and was running straight for him. "Papa! Papa! Help!" he cried through his giggling. Severus scooped him up, grinning at Harry, who still had his hands held out toward their son. Suddenly, his arms dropped, and he seemed be having a hard time breathing. Severus set Douglas down by his castle. "Keep building your castle, Douglas."
He hurried over to Harry, who was bent over, gasping for air. Severus reached him just as he collapsed. "Damn it," he cried, catching Harry in his arms and hurrying back into the lake.
Harry choked and spluttered, his body twisting and jerking in the water. His eyes opened painfully wide, and he grabbed Severus' arm as he shivered and coughed. He dug his fingers into that arm until he was certain he was drawing blood, but he couldn't let go. His body shuddered as he broke down into sobs.
"Breathe, love," Snape said, ignoring the death grip on his arm. "Just breathe. I'm sorry; I thought it would last longer. I'm so sorry."
Harry drifted into Severus' embrace, burying his head under his mate’s chin. "It's more than I could have hoped for." His wistful gaze towards the surface did not go unnoticed.
Severus held him tightly. "We're getting close, Harry. I can feel it. I'll have to make some alterations obviously, but Harry!" He pushed Harry away so he could see his face. "You never made it to shore before! How did it feel?"
"Merlin, Severus. It was wonderful." He twisted in their embrace and propelled himself up a bit. "You are wonderful," he breathed, his lips a breath away from Severus'.
Snape leaned in, kissing Harry softly at first, then more demandingly, needing to feel that he was alive and alright, that his body wasn't suffering for it.
"I will make it better," he said, pulling back. "You'll be able to walk on land again, Harry. I promise you'll be able to watch your son play Quidditch one day. You'll be able to fly with him. We're so close; I can feel it, just out of reach!"
Harry tipped his head back, staring up at the sky through the waves on the surface. "Come on," he said, returning his focus back to Severus' face. Harry knew his cheeks were still flushed and his eyes red, but his son wouldn't notice. He hoped.
Together, they surfaced to find their son standing on the shoreline watching for them. "You okay, Daddy?" he asked nervously.
"Of course," Harry said, smiling reassuringly. "Can I watch you finish your castle? It's looking really good." The distraction worked. Douglas went back to building.
Harry swam towards his boulder and pulled himself up onto it. He alternated glances between Severus who was swimming in an irritated manner in front of him, and their son, who appeared to be building a moat now. A really deep moat. He'd have to make him fill it in before they went home. He didn't fancy being lectured by the venerated Headmaster any more now than he had six years ago.
Snape finally ceased his agitated movements. "I'm going back to the lab, I have an idea. You're alright?" he asked Harry, though he was obviously distracted.
"I'm fine." Harry smiled reassuringly, splashing the man with his toes. "Go."
Smiling absentmindedly, Severus dove below the surface and headed towards his lab.
Harry shook his head, amused. His body still ached from earlier, but it would pass. He flipped back onto his stomach, letting the rays from the sun heat his skin as he watched his little boy finish off his castle.
*****
Severus didn't come out of his lab until late that night, right before Douglas was going to bed. The second he stepped into the living room, Douglas had practically tackled him, wrapping his arms around him tightly.
"Papa!"
Harry glanced up from the book he was reading with an easy smile. "You're out early."
Severus ran his fingers distractedly through Doug's hair. "I'm going to have to make a trip to Diagon Alley in the morning. Until then..." he shrugged. He was frustrated and tired. Thus far, everything he had tried to improve the potion made it unusable.
"Papa! Guess what?"
"What?" Severus asked, taking the opportunity to sit down when Douglas began dancing around him.
"S'my birfday tomorrow!" he exclaimed, scrambling onto to Severus' lap.
Severus smiled. "Yes, it is. Which means you should go straight to bed and go right to sleep."
Harry chuckled. "Was that a hint?"
"I don't wanna go to bed!"
"Give your papa a kiss," Harry said, standing. "I'll tell you a story before you go to sleep."
"Two!" Douglas cried, holding up two fingers.
"One," Severus said, kissing Douglas on the back of the head. "Now, off with you."
Douglas pouted, slipping off his lap and headed towards his room. Harry got up, winking in Severus' direction, before guiding Douglas into his room. He waited until Douglas was lying in bed. When the boy started to struggle with the sheets, he moved to tuck him in.
He lay down beside Douglas, wrapping an arm around him. "Right, so what do you want to hear about tonight?"
Douglas rolled onto his side and snuggled against Harry, burrowing his head against Harry's chest. "I wanna hear about Papa."'
Harry smiled. "What about him?"
"Tell me ‘bout when you first met him."
Harry pursed his lips in thought. "I think your papa should tell that story."
"Why?"
"Because I used to think he was mean."
"But...you love him now, right?"
"Course I do. I love him and you very much."
Douglas seemed to be thinking about this, before saying. "Good."
"How about I tell you the first time I heard Papa play his violin?"
"Yeah, that one!"
Harry grinned and began the story.
It didn't take long for Douglas to fall asleep, it never did. Harry stood, dusted a kiss over the four-year-old's temple, and then pulled the green blanket up snug under Douglas' chin. He stepped back, walking over to the oil lamp and turned the brass knob, dimming it.
Harry felt Severus move out of the shadows and he leaned back as arms wrapped around his waist. He exhaled softly as his gaze was drawn to the window above their son's bed. It never ceased to amaze him just how deep they were in the lake until this time at night. He flicked his wand, blocking the pressing darkness at the window, knowing it disturbed Douglas, and himself, to wake seeing it.
"I stood on the shore today," Harry said softly.
"It won't be enough until you can walk away from this place, go back out into the world."
"Home," Harry corrected him, "Not 'this place'."
Severus sighed and stepped away, leaving Douglas' room. Harry followed closely behind him.
"I didn't mean it like that," Severus said, waiting for Harry to join him on the couch.
"Why are you more concerned than I am that I can't leave the lake? I'm happy here with you and Doug. I don't need anything else."
"You can't deny the excitement you felt at standing on the shore."
"Of course not. It felt wonderful, and if that's as far as I ever go, that's alright," Harry said, snuggling against Severus' side. "For longer than I can remember, I've wanted a family, and now I have one. You gave me that."
Severus leaned his head against the back of the couch, closing his tired eyes. "I can't stop trying, Harry."
"I'm not asking you to."
They sat in silence for a time, then Harry said, "Your dinner is on the stove. Would you like to eat?"
"That would be lovely," Severus said, lifting his head and smiling at Harry.
Harry kissed him on the tip of his nose. "And, if you're not too worn out, Old Man, perhaps we can have some fun of the adult male variety?"
Severus smirked. "You're insatiable; you know that, don't you?"
"And you love it."
"Indeed. Perhaps I can eat later," Severus said silkily, pulling Harry onto his lap.
Harry smiled and began kissing down Severus' neck. "Mmm, indeed."
*****
Douglas tried to be extra quiet when he opened the door to his parents' bedroom. The room was dark, but a small amount of light from the hallway spilled across the bottom of the bed. His papa's pale, long, foot was sticking out from under the covers and he was snoring loudly. Daddy was snuggled up against him.
Douglas tiptoed to daddy's side of the bed, clutching his stuffed dragon to his chest. He'd learned a long time ago not to wake up his papa. He knew that if he woke up his daddy, he probably wouldn't be sent back to his own bed.
He stood next to the bed and began tapping Harry.
Harry grunted, his eyes opening slowly. He blinked a few times adjusting to the dim light as he tried to determine what woke him.
"Doug?"
"Daddy, I had a bad dream, can I sleep with you?" Douglas whispered.
Still feeling groggy, Harry sat up and pulled Douglas into bed with them, settling him between the two of them.
Severus grunted when Douglas began wiggling in to get comfortable. "What happened? Is he sick?"
"Nightmare," Harry answered, rolling on to his side.
"Hagrid wanted to eat me," Douglas said, burrowing closer to his papa.
Harry smothered his laughter in his pillow as he reached out wiping a stray tear off Douglas' cheek with his thumb. He caught Severus' eyes and smiled.
"You know he won't eat you though, right, love?"
"Papa would hex his bullocks off," Douglas said proudly.
Harry choked. "Where'd you hear that word?"
"Papa said it."
"When did I say that?" Severus asked, appalled.
"I dunno, but you said if Cadmus kept askin' you for somethin', you'd hex his bullocks off. What's a bullocks?"
"Never you mind," Harry told him with a stern glare. "I don't want to hear you say that again, you understand?"
"But Papa - "
"Douglas," Severus interrupted. "Go to sleep."
Douglas burrowed backwards into his papa's arms, shutting his eyes. He opened them only when Daddy snuggled closer, his arm going over him and settling on Papa's side. A light kiss landed on his forehead and he grinned, his eyes falling shut once again.
"Night, Papa," he murmured drowsily, "Daddy."
Harry smiled into the darkness as Severus began snoring again almost immediately. He hadn't been lying to Severus; there really was no place he would rather be than right here.
Next Chapter: Chapter Three
Author: faynia and stormypup
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Rating: R
Warning: Highlight for warnings *Implied Mpreg*
Word Count: 2374
Genre: Romance, Angst, Drama, Mystery
Summary: (Sequel to Bonds of Water) Just when Severus is beginning to believe Harry will be happy living with him in the lake, someone decides that Harry needs to be free. No matter what the cost.
Beta'd by rakina and carpet_diemon.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Harry hopped up onto the large rock on the edge of the lake, watching his son play along the shore. He lay down on his stomach on the warm surface. Folding his arms, he rested his chin on his hands.
Douglas was trying to bring water from the lake to where he was building a castle, only to discover he couldn't keep water in his cupped hands. Harry let him try this a few more times, before taking pity and taking out his wand to cast Aguamenti at the sand near his son, splashing the four-year-old in the process.
Douglas' birthday was tomorrow, September 1st; coincidently it was the day that Hogwarts' term started. During Douglas' birth Harry had held onto the hope that Severus would have been able to hang on an extra few hours just to spare his son the nightmare of having to go back to school on his birthday. But he couldn't fault the man, he didn't understand that pain, and he never wished to either.
Douglas giggled and grabbed some of the muddy sand, smiling blindingly at his father. He went back to work on his castle, shooting glances up at the real castle up over the hill.
Harry hummed to himself, his eyes slipping shut as the sun warmed his back. He heard a soft splash somewhere behind him, and was just able to pull his feet out of the cold water and onto the rock before Severus managed to drag him in.
"Spoilsport," Severus said, coming out of the water and shaking freezing water on to Harry's back.
Harry screamed and laughed, trying to get away without falling off the rock. "That's cold!"
Douglas looked up at the cry then smiled to see his papa and his daddy playing. He went back to work on his castle.
"Try this.” Severus held up a vial to Harry. “I want to see if it has any effect. I think I'm finally on the right track."
"You really think so?" Harry eyed it with interest, plucking the vial full of lavender potion from Severus' hands. He held it up to the sunlight, admiring the strange colors swirling within it. "Will it taste bad?"
"Of course! Just drink it, will you?"
Harry grinned, and bent over to press a lingering kiss to his mate's lips. He laughed when Severus pushed him away. "Fine, I'll take it!"
He popped off the cork to sniff the contents, and then knocked it back in a single swallow. Ice flooded his veins and he shivered, shooting Severus an apprehensive look. "How will we know if it works?"
"Try and get to the shoreline and step out of the water."
Harry nodded, and, with a huge smile, took a running leap off the rock and back into the water. The splash he created was enough to cover the entire surface of the boulder he had just leaped off. He gasped as he surfaced, spitting out lake water.
Treading the water at a rapid pace, he neared the shore where his son was watching him.
"Whatchoo doin'?" Douglas asked, tipping his head back as Harry stood.
Harry grinned and held out his hands like claws. "Coming to get you."
Douglas backed away as Harry came out of the lake. In a few more steps his bare feet would hit sand. He paused, glancing over his shoulder back to where Severus lounged. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought Severus was asleep. But he wasn't. Severus was watching him just as closely as Harry had been watching their son earlier.
Taking a deep breath, he set one foot and then the other onto the shoreline. Nothing happened. Another two steps, and still nothing. Hope rekindled within him, and Douglas let out a gasp of shock.
"D-daddy?"
Harry chuckled, curling his hands into claws once more. Douglas squeaked as Harry lunged for him, and he ran away giggling. Harry chased after him, reveling in the feeling of warm sand beneath his feet.
"I'm going to get you!"
Douglas laughed harder, speeding up as Harry chased him back and forth along the shoreline.
"Papa, save me!"
Severus rushed to the shoreline, his eyes wide in wonder. Six long years in the lab and he was finally on a course that might lead to a final solution - freedom for Harry!
Douglas had turned and was running straight for him. "Papa! Papa! Help!" he cried through his giggling. Severus scooped him up, grinning at Harry, who still had his hands held out toward their son. Suddenly, his arms dropped, and he seemed be having a hard time breathing. Severus set Douglas down by his castle. "Keep building your castle, Douglas."
He hurried over to Harry, who was bent over, gasping for air. Severus reached him just as he collapsed. "Damn it," he cried, catching Harry in his arms and hurrying back into the lake.
Harry choked and spluttered, his body twisting and jerking in the water. His eyes opened painfully wide, and he grabbed Severus' arm as he shivered and coughed. He dug his fingers into that arm until he was certain he was drawing blood, but he couldn't let go. His body shuddered as he broke down into sobs.
"Breathe, love," Snape said, ignoring the death grip on his arm. "Just breathe. I'm sorry; I thought it would last longer. I'm so sorry."
Harry drifted into Severus' embrace, burying his head under his mate’s chin. "It's more than I could have hoped for." His wistful gaze towards the surface did not go unnoticed.
Severus held him tightly. "We're getting close, Harry. I can feel it. I'll have to make some alterations obviously, but Harry!" He pushed Harry away so he could see his face. "You never made it to shore before! How did it feel?"
"Merlin, Severus. It was wonderful." He twisted in their embrace and propelled himself up a bit. "You are wonderful," he breathed, his lips a breath away from Severus'.
Snape leaned in, kissing Harry softly at first, then more demandingly, needing to feel that he was alive and alright, that his body wasn't suffering for it.
"I will make it better," he said, pulling back. "You'll be able to walk on land again, Harry. I promise you'll be able to watch your son play Quidditch one day. You'll be able to fly with him. We're so close; I can feel it, just out of reach!"
Harry tipped his head back, staring up at the sky through the waves on the surface. "Come on," he said, returning his focus back to Severus' face. Harry knew his cheeks were still flushed and his eyes red, but his son wouldn't notice. He hoped.
Together, they surfaced to find their son standing on the shoreline watching for them. "You okay, Daddy?" he asked nervously.
"Of course," Harry said, smiling reassuringly. "Can I watch you finish your castle? It's looking really good." The distraction worked. Douglas went back to building.
Harry swam towards his boulder and pulled himself up onto it. He alternated glances between Severus who was swimming in an irritated manner in front of him, and their son, who appeared to be building a moat now. A really deep moat. He'd have to make him fill it in before they went home. He didn't fancy being lectured by the venerated Headmaster any more now than he had six years ago.
Snape finally ceased his agitated movements. "I'm going back to the lab, I have an idea. You're alright?" he asked Harry, though he was obviously distracted.
"I'm fine." Harry smiled reassuringly, splashing the man with his toes. "Go."
Smiling absentmindedly, Severus dove below the surface and headed towards his lab.
Harry shook his head, amused. His body still ached from earlier, but it would pass. He flipped back onto his stomach, letting the rays from the sun heat his skin as he watched his little boy finish off his castle.
*****
Severus didn't come out of his lab until late that night, right before Douglas was going to bed. The second he stepped into the living room, Douglas had practically tackled him, wrapping his arms around him tightly.
"Papa!"
Harry glanced up from the book he was reading with an easy smile. "You're out early."
Severus ran his fingers distractedly through Doug's hair. "I'm going to have to make a trip to Diagon Alley in the morning. Until then..." he shrugged. He was frustrated and tired. Thus far, everything he had tried to improve the potion made it unusable.
"Papa! Guess what?"
"What?" Severus asked, taking the opportunity to sit down when Douglas began dancing around him.
"S'my birfday tomorrow!" he exclaimed, scrambling onto to Severus' lap.
Severus smiled. "Yes, it is. Which means you should go straight to bed and go right to sleep."
Harry chuckled. "Was that a hint?"
"I don't wanna go to bed!"
"Give your papa a kiss," Harry said, standing. "I'll tell you a story before you go to sleep."
"Two!" Douglas cried, holding up two fingers.
"One," Severus said, kissing Douglas on the back of the head. "Now, off with you."
Douglas pouted, slipping off his lap and headed towards his room. Harry got up, winking in Severus' direction, before guiding Douglas into his room. He waited until Douglas was lying in bed. When the boy started to struggle with the sheets, he moved to tuck him in.
He lay down beside Douglas, wrapping an arm around him. "Right, so what do you want to hear about tonight?"
Douglas rolled onto his side and snuggled against Harry, burrowing his head against Harry's chest. "I wanna hear about Papa."'
Harry smiled. "What about him?"
"Tell me ‘bout when you first met him."
Harry pursed his lips in thought. "I think your papa should tell that story."
"Why?"
"Because I used to think he was mean."
"But...you love him now, right?"
"Course I do. I love him and you very much."
Douglas seemed to be thinking about this, before saying. "Good."
"How about I tell you the first time I heard Papa play his violin?"
"Yeah, that one!"
Harry grinned and began the story.
It didn't take long for Douglas to fall asleep, it never did. Harry stood, dusted a kiss over the four-year-old's temple, and then pulled the green blanket up snug under Douglas' chin. He stepped back, walking over to the oil lamp and turned the brass knob, dimming it.
Harry felt Severus move out of the shadows and he leaned back as arms wrapped around his waist. He exhaled softly as his gaze was drawn to the window above their son's bed. It never ceased to amaze him just how deep they were in the lake until this time at night. He flicked his wand, blocking the pressing darkness at the window, knowing it disturbed Douglas, and himself, to wake seeing it.
"I stood on the shore today," Harry said softly.
"It won't be enough until you can walk away from this place, go back out into the world."
"Home," Harry corrected him, "Not 'this place'."
Severus sighed and stepped away, leaving Douglas' room. Harry followed closely behind him.
"I didn't mean it like that," Severus said, waiting for Harry to join him on the couch.
"Why are you more concerned than I am that I can't leave the lake? I'm happy here with you and Doug. I don't need anything else."
"You can't deny the excitement you felt at standing on the shore."
"Of course not. It felt wonderful, and if that's as far as I ever go, that's alright," Harry said, snuggling against Severus' side. "For longer than I can remember, I've wanted a family, and now I have one. You gave me that."
Severus leaned his head against the back of the couch, closing his tired eyes. "I can't stop trying, Harry."
"I'm not asking you to."
They sat in silence for a time, then Harry said, "Your dinner is on the stove. Would you like to eat?"
"That would be lovely," Severus said, lifting his head and smiling at Harry.
Harry kissed him on the tip of his nose. "And, if you're not too worn out, Old Man, perhaps we can have some fun of the adult male variety?"
Severus smirked. "You're insatiable; you know that, don't you?"
"And you love it."
"Indeed. Perhaps I can eat later," Severus said silkily, pulling Harry onto his lap.
Harry smiled and began kissing down Severus' neck. "Mmm, indeed."
*****
Douglas tried to be extra quiet when he opened the door to his parents' bedroom. The room was dark, but a small amount of light from the hallway spilled across the bottom of the bed. His papa's pale, long, foot was sticking out from under the covers and he was snoring loudly. Daddy was snuggled up against him.
Douglas tiptoed to daddy's side of the bed, clutching his stuffed dragon to his chest. He'd learned a long time ago not to wake up his papa. He knew that if he woke up his daddy, he probably wouldn't be sent back to his own bed.
He stood next to the bed and began tapping Harry.
Harry grunted, his eyes opening slowly. He blinked a few times adjusting to the dim light as he tried to determine what woke him.
"Doug?"
"Daddy, I had a bad dream, can I sleep with you?" Douglas whispered.
Still feeling groggy, Harry sat up and pulled Douglas into bed with them, settling him between the two of them.
Severus grunted when Douglas began wiggling in to get comfortable. "What happened? Is he sick?"
"Nightmare," Harry answered, rolling on to his side.
"Hagrid wanted to eat me," Douglas said, burrowing closer to his papa.
Harry smothered his laughter in his pillow as he reached out wiping a stray tear off Douglas' cheek with his thumb. He caught Severus' eyes and smiled.
"You know he won't eat you though, right, love?"
"Papa would hex his bullocks off," Douglas said proudly.
Harry choked. "Where'd you hear that word?"
"Papa said it."
"When did I say that?" Severus asked, appalled.
"I dunno, but you said if Cadmus kept askin' you for somethin', you'd hex his bullocks off. What's a bullocks?"
"Never you mind," Harry told him with a stern glare. "I don't want to hear you say that again, you understand?"
"But Papa - "
"Douglas," Severus interrupted. "Go to sleep."
Douglas burrowed backwards into his papa's arms, shutting his eyes. He opened them only when Daddy snuggled closer, his arm going over him and settling on Papa's side. A light kiss landed on his forehead and he grinned, his eyes falling shut once again.
"Night, Papa," he murmured drowsily, "Daddy."
Harry smiled into the darkness as Severus began snoring again almost immediately. He hadn't been lying to Severus; there really was no place he would rather be than right here.
Next Chapter: Chapter Three