Everything and Nothing

Harry absently traced the scar on the back of his hand with a finger. He really should be paying attention to potions class, but a sense of unease distracted him. He was lucky to be in the class; at first, Snape hadn't wanted to accept him. He supposed Dumbledore, or maybe McGonagall, had talked to him about Harry's desire to be an Auror, and therefore strong-armed the man into accepting Harry at the N.E.W.T. level.

So he continued to trace "I must not tell lies."

When the door to the classroom slammed open, everyone flinched, including Snape.

Four Aurors entered the room, followed by Dumbledore. One of the Aurors spoke. "Severus Snape. You have been accused of treason and of being a Death Eater. Please open your left sleeve."

In somewhat visible shock, Snape unbuttoned his cuff and pushed his sleeve up. Severus students gasped at the strong black tattoo on his forearm.

"Severus Snape, you are under arrest." The Aurors surrounded Snape and began leading him out.

"Headmaster," Snape started, looking towards Dumbledore. But Dumbledore turned away, looking every bit the betrayed. In the last seconds before Snape was pulled from the door he fixed his gaze on Harry. Harry who knew he was a spy for the Order.

Harry focused on Dumbledore, who stood for a few moments. He then turned and walked to Harry, a determined look on his face. "My deepest apologies, Harry. I didn't know," he said softly, but so that most of the class heard his words.

"But professor-"

"You are all dismissed. I'd ask that you not speak of this, but as it will soon be common knowledge, there's very little reason to do so."

Slowly the students filtered out until only Harry and Dumbledore remained. "Sir? Why did you do that? Snape's part-"

"I'll have to ask you not to mention anything you might know about Professor Snape to anyone. It is for everyone's best interest that this happens, Harry."

"But you've just sent him to Azkaban! He might even get Kissed for this!"

"Why is this troubling you so much, Harry? You've never liked Professor Snape, and he's never liked you."

Harry was about to protest further, but decided against it.

"Why don't you take the rest of the day off to rest? I know it must be hard for you to deal with this. We were all betrayed."

"Yes, sir." Harry returned to his dorm, head heavy with thoughts. He didn't like Snape, to be sure, but the man was a part of the Order. He couldn't be a Death Eater. Not a faithful one, anyway. There had been plenty of times during Harry's stay at Hogwarts when Snape'd had the chance to capture, or ever kill, Harry, but he had always tried to save Harry.

Had Professor Dumbledore just condemned an innocent man to Azkaban?

And that led to a flood of new thoughts. What if Snape wasn't the first innocent man Dumbledore had sent to Azkaban? What if Dumbledore had know Sirius was innocent, and hadn't done anything for him?

But why would Dumbledore send Sirius to Azkaban if he knew Sirius was innocent? If Sirius had been free, Harry would have been raised by him, not the Dursleys. Harry would have grown up in a loving home where he knew about magic...

And wouldn't have been so pathetically grateful to Dumbledore for bringing him to Hogwarts and away from the Dursleys.

It was in those moments, hidden behind his bed curtains, that Harry decided what to do. He would defeat Voldemort. But more than that, he would bring Dumbledore down. It would take a great deal of work to achieve that, but his efforts would be worth it. Because while Dumbledore and those loyal to him were in power, Snape would stay in prison. If he took over, he could free Snape, and maybe even clear Sirius' name.

---

Things in Hogwarts were very different after Snape's arrest. Professor Vector was appointed the temporary Head of Slytherin, and potions classes were canceled until a new teacher could be found. The Slytherins had taken to moving in packs due to the other houses' hostility. Their Head had turned out to be a Death Eater, what proof was there that they hadn't joined Voldemort as well?

Without Snape, there was no teacher that showed any fairness to the Slytherins, and they quickly fell to fourth place in house points. The house prefects did what they could, but it was never enough. So they tried to make themselves as unnoticeable as possible.

The Quidditch ban Umbridge had placed on him hadn't been lifted, and Harry didn't bother to ask about it. Without Quidditch he had a considerable amount of time on his hands that he spent in the library. When he exhausted the general resources, he asked Professor McGonagall for a full pass to the restricted section. With no hesitation, she gave it to him..

It wasn't long before he found a way to be rid of Voldemort. It was a Dark Curse, but since hearing the prophesy, he knew that was the only way of ensuring Voldemort wouldn't come back again.

After that, it was just a matter of biding his time. Once Voldemort was gone, Harry would use the fame and publicity he received to discredit Dumbledore and his followers. After all, if he thought about it , Dumbledore was a Dark Lord that just didn't use Dark magic to get what he wanted.

But in the meantime, he had an owl to send.

---

Lucius Malfoy turned the envelope in his over. On the front was his name in an untidy scrawl. He opened it and pulled out a letter written in the same hand.

Lucius Malfoy- If you weren't already aware of it, let me inform you- Voldemort will be defeated soon. You could go to him with this information, but it won't really do him any good. After Voldemort is defeated, then I plan to topple Dumbledore's influence. If you aid me, then I will help you regain the political power you lost last year, and maybe gain even more. This is a one time offer. If you are interested, send a reply with the owl. If not, I will find someone else to help me.

The note wasn't signed, but Lucius had a fair idea of who sent it. "Well, Mister Potter," he mused. "You are becoming more than just Dumbledore's pawn. This shall be interesting to watch." Lucius penned a quick reply and sent it off with the nondescript owl. "Quite interesting."

---

Once he had secured Lucius Malfoy's help, it was ridiculously easy for Harry to defeat Voldemort. The spell he found allowed Harry to absorb part of Voldemort's consciousness, giving him greater knowledge of many things. And Harry used the new knowledge, the Slytherin thought processes, to discredit Dumbledore. Lucius became his right hand man, taking care of the politics that Harry shouldn't have knowledge of. By the end of Harry's seventh year at Hogwarts, public opinion of Dumbledore had turned, and Lucius was preparing to run for the position of Minister of Magic.

Lucius' first act after being elected Minister of Magic was to issue full pardons for Sirius Black and Severus Snape. Though Sirius' pardon was posthumous, it gave Harry access to everything Sirius had inherited.

Harry went to Azkaban to retrieve Snape, worried about the man's mental state. He need not have, though.

"Potter," Snape growled when he caught sight of Harry. "What ever are you doing here?" Aside from being even thinner than before, Snape looked the same as when Harry had last seen him.

"I'm retrieving you, of course. You've been given a full pardon and monetary compensation for your wrongful imprisonment."

"And just how did you manage to convince Fudge to do this?"

"Ah, Fudge isn't Minister anymore. Lucius issued the pardon about an hour after he was sworn in this morning."

"Lucius? Malfoy? And how did you get to be on such good terms with him?" Snape tried to conceal his surprise and confusion, but Harry saw it.

"He and I made an agreement about a year and a half ago. He helped me defeat Voldemort, I helped him become Minister and have a great deal of say in what he does."

"I'm sure Dumbledore enjoyed that arrangement."

"Dumbledore? He hasn't been seen for about four months now. He wasn't doing a good job as Headmaster, and I told him so. He disappeared not long after that. Shall we be leaving? Unless you'd rather stay here?"

"No, we are leaving."

---

Though Severus would never admit it, he was immensely jealous. In the four years since his pardon, he'd spent a great deal of time with Harry Potter and Lucius Malfoy. Two years ago he'd been appointed the Headmaster of Hogwarts, a position he enjoyed as he had time to experiment with his potions as he never had as a teacher. Harry and Lucius visited him frequently, three or four times a week.

But today, Harry was alone. At twenty-two, Harry had a presence that dominated a room, overpowering everyone, even Severus. And Severus always enjoyed when that presence was focused on him.

"I have a very important topic to speak to you about, today, one that I'd rather not discuss with Lucius present. Not yet, anyway."

"Anything at all, Harry. What do you need to know?"

"Is there a certain age that is considered too old for a wizard to get pregnant?"

"Well, how old is the wizard? The cutoff for a safe pregnancy usually falls somewhere around sixty."

"Good. That's much older than I thought it would be. I need to you make me a potion that will allow for a male pregnancy, then. I think I need a few heirs."

"If I start it tomorrow then it should be done in about a week."

"Great. Just owl me when it's done and I'll come for it."

"Of course, Harry."

"Thank you, Severus. I'd better go now before Lucius gets too suspicious."

"We wouldn't want that, would we?" Severus swallowed thickly as Harry left the room. Finding out that Harry and Lucius occasionally shared a bed had been painful. And now, to prepare a potion that would allow Lucius to bear Harry's children? It was time to give up the hope of ever having Harry for himself.

---

Harry reappeared a week later when Severus told him the potion was finished. "Is there anything else you need to do tonight?" Harry asked when Severus held out the bottle.

"No. Why?"

"Because now you are. Bottom's up, Severus."

"Excuse me?"

"You made a potion to allow for male pregnancy. I'm telling you to drink it so I can ravish you, and hopefully create a child."

"But- me?" Severus stuttered. He wasn't quite sure if he could believe what Harry was saying.

"Honestly, Severus, I've never seen you lost for words. Who else would I choose?" Harry stepped up to Severus and wrapped his arms around the older man's waist.

"But what about Lucius? Why not him?" Severus looked down at Harry. It was odd- for a man with so much presence, Harry was shorter than Severus by almost eight inches.

Harry laughed as he stretched up to kiss Severus quickly. "Even if I wanted him to, could you really see Lucius pregnant? He and I have fun together, but that's all it'll ever be. I need a consort, and you're the only one I'd ever consider for it. Now drink your potion. The more time we spend talking out here the less time we have in bed." Harry turned serious. "You are the only person I ever want to do this with. I've debated this over with myself for quite a while now. I wasn't sure how you'd react, if you'd want me back."

Severus took a deep breath and returned Harry's embrace. "I will always want you."

A smile spread over Harry's face. "Good. Now I do believe we have a child to conceive. So if you would take your potion?"

"Yes, I suppose we will be rather busy tonight." Severus downed the potion, shuddering as tendrils of magic shot through him. Once the feeling was gone, he leaned down to cover Harry's lips with his own.

Harry leaned up into the kiss. Severus' mouth was slightly sweet, the aftertaste of his potion, undoubtedly. Harry pulled back reluctantly, looking up at Severus. "You've got to have a bedroom hidden around here somewhere.. We should head that way."

Severus laughed lightly, and Harry thrilled at having caused that sound. "I do believe you have a point there." Severus reluctantly pulled away from Harry, taking the younger man's hand in his. Down a short hallway was Severus' suite.

Harry impatiently pulled Severus back into the bedroom. "I've been waiting so long for this," Harry murmured against Severus' neck as he unbuttoned Severus' robes.

"How long?" Severus asked hesitantly.

"Years. Two or three at least. This all started because of you, you know. The day you were arrested. Dumbledore had no right to do what he did to you. Gods! To this day I'm disgusted by what he did. I wanted to get you out of Azkaban."

"And you did. You've done so much for me. I don't know if I'll ever be able to repay you," Severus said softly, leaning his forehead against Harry's.

"Just love me, that's all I'll ever need." Harry pushed Severus' robes from his body, revealing a pale but solid chest. "You are the most beautiful man I've ever seen. I love you."

"Me? Beautiful?" Severus blustered. "You've seen Lucius; how could I ever compare to that?"

"Lucius is a good looking man, and he knows that. I know what he's like, though. To me, he will never be as utterly perfect as you are. I'll never love him."

Severus didn't answer but started on Harry's robes. Soon their clothing pooled on the floor and they faced each other bare. "You are the one that is perfect," Severus whispered. Harry took Severus' hand in his and led him to the bed.

---

"Do you think it worked?" Harry asked, curling up on Severus' chest.

"We'll know in a couple of days. And if it didn't, we'll just have to try again. I did make a rather large batch, just to be sure."

"Well, even if it did work, we'll still keep trying. As practice for the other children."

"And just how many do you plan on me having?"

"Three or four. I'll carry some of them as well, Sev, so don't worry about that."

"Of course, Harry. Goodnight."

"Night, Sev."

---

End