Lily's Charm: The Gift

Epilogue

June 1997

Severus frowned at a pair of canoodling seventh year Ravenclaws, with their limbs twisted into such a tangle on the stone bench, that Severus couldn't tell whose legs belonged to whom. One of them, a slight boy named Julian, spied Severus under his half-opened lids and tried to scramble away from his partner.

"Ten points apiece for impropriety," Severus said automatically. Both students scowled at that, but Severus ignored them and continued on his way. He swept inside Remus' classroom a moment later, not bothering to knock. Remus looked up from the parchment he was neatly rolling. He smiled as he began tying a blue ribbon around its middle.

"You have not finished marking final essays?" Severus asked, one eyebrow angled high in surprise.

"I have actually." Remus smiled at Severus' expectant look, and selected a scroll from one of the stacks. "Harry did quite well."

Severus took the proffered scroll, unwinding it with ease. A bright red O adorned the top of the sheet. "He will be pleased," Severus noted, doing nothing to subdue the pride he could hear in his tone. His eyes traced the essay quickly, nodding in satisfaction at Harry's obvious knowledge in the assigned topic. He handed the neatly re-tied scroll back to Remus, who placed it atop its original stack.

"How did he fare in potions?"

"An E." At Remus' amused look, Severus explained, "He would not allow me to help him."

Remus chuckled. "A perfectly respectable score."

"He was pleased with it," Severus agreed. "As am I," he added.

"He told me about the potions the two of you have been working on together," Remus said with a smile as he fastened the clasp on his teaching robes; he was still holding the blue-ribboned scroll. "He seems to be enjoying himself." Remus jiggled the scroll a little as he noticed Severus' attention on it. "My contract," he explained.

"You are staying on staff, then?"

"There's absolutely no reason why I shouldn't now-" Remus smiled. "-thanks to you and Harry. And since I am about to have an additional mouth to feed, it does seem the prudent course."

Severus raised an eyebrow, which Remus answered with a chuckle.

"And I enjoy it," he agreed. Severus nodded, though he could hardly claim the same. After calling for a house-elf to collect the scroll, Remus closed his classroom door behind them. The pair of Ravenclaws had taken their snogging session elsewhere.

"You've given Albus your contract already, I assume?" Remus inquired as they walked toward the main entrance.

"I have," Severus answered as they descended the wide steps to the lawn. The few students who had not yet made it to the Quidditch pitch, either waved or smiled at Remus as he passed.

"Daniel must be disappointed," Remus said, giving him what Severus knew was supposed to be a surreptitious glance.

"He offered me a full partnership," Severus agreed, not without amusement. It was a point of pride, to be certain, that Daniel, the man he had once worked with in a summer apprenticeship, had been so keen to convince Severus to join him as a partner in his apothecary business. But even had Harry not been his motivation to stay at Hogwarts for one more year, Severus would not have accepted the old master's offer. He could easily establish his own business, had he a mind to it.

"You still haven't told Harry?"

Severus flicked his dark eyes to Remus at the curious question. "I am not interested in Daniel's offer," he reminded Remus. "There is nothing to tell."

Remus nodded, though his lips were pursed in thought as they crossed the expansive Hogwarts' grounds to the towering pitch. "But you do plan to stop teaching after Harry graduates?"

"I do not enjoy teaching the way you do. I took the position on Albus' request." Severus nodded to Minerva as she hustled by on her way to the Gryffindor dressing tent. "And though I do not have any specific plans at the moment, it is unlikely that I will remain here without reason."

Remus smiled at that; almost a smirk. "Without reason?" he echoed. "Would another request from Albus be reason enough?"

Severus did not answer as they finally reached the dressing tent behind Minerva, who had already disappeared inside. Remus, still smiling, ducked in ahead of Severus.

"Harry! Your dad's here!" Dean called as soon as Severus stepped through, not surprised at all to see his professor in the tent; the entire team had gotten used to Severus' presence during both matches and practices.

Harry's head popped out from around a corner; he grinned. Minerva followed him, making Severus wonder why they had needed to have a private conversation; he frowned.

"Hi," Harry greeted both Severus and Remus cheerfully as he came over. Harry chuckled as Severus glanced toward Minerva, who was looking rather sheepish. "Professor McGonagall just wanted to make certain I understood how important this game is for the House Cup," Harry told Severus, making the comment a stage whisper. Severus raised his eyebrow at the elder witch, who had the grace to look abashed.

"You will do your best, and that will be enough," Severus said as he turned back to Harry.

"Well, it certainly won't do Slytherin House any harm if we lose today's game," Minerva said archly. Severus ignored her baiting, deciding not to remind her that Slytherin was only points away from overtaking Gryffindor this year. The destruction of Voldemort, as well as the loss of so many of the upper level Slytherins after Halloween, had helped a little in quelling animosity toward the Slytherins.

Draco's continuing bid for Harry's friendship--even after Lucius won his freedom--and Harry's inability to treat the other boy with anything other than sympathy, had helped even more.

"We aren't going to lose!" Ron objected, looking highly affronted that there was even talk of such a thing.

"Not with Harry as our Seeker," Ginny agreed with a grin. The others nodded enthusiastically, pumping fists into the air, and in general, whipping themselves into a frenzy. Minerva smiled smugly at Severus on her way out of the tent.

Amidst the general air of enthusiasm and jollity, Severus managed to secure Harry's undivided attention for a moment. "Do try to refrain from any stunts which will take you to the Infirmary," he said to his son, his fingers unconsciously straying to straighten Harry's leather shoulder pads.

"That wasn't my fault," Harry objected. "Cho tried to take my head off!"

"Mmm," Severus remarked with a glower as he remembered the way the jealous Ravenclaw Seeker had nearly stopped his heart with her little stunt. He had found an excuse to give her several detentions with Filch during her next Potions lesson.

"Besides, these are Huffepuffs," Harry said with a grin.

"Yes, well," Severus said with a reluctant nod, "do try to be careful, nonetheless."

"I will, dad," Harry promised solemnly, though the merriment in his green eyes gave him away. He just smiled at Severus' attempt at a stern glare. "You're going to have to relax a bit if you want me to consider the Canons' offer," Harry teased.

"That's about as likely as the Hufflepuffs winning today," Ron snorted from behind Harry; he colored under Severus' glare.

"He does have a point," Remus chuckled, from where he was surrounded by the rest of the Gryffindor team. Severus' glare had no effect at all on him. Remus simply smiled as he turned back to answer Ms. Bell's seemingly endless queries about Tonks.

"You have an entire year to make a decision about the Canons' offer," Severus reminded his son, who was nodding, while trying not to look too amused. "And," Severus said seriously, "you will have many other options to consider as well."

"I know," Harry agreed, sobering a little at Severus' solemn tone. They had revisited this particular topic numerous times, and each time they did, Harry was excited about a different career; apparently it was Quidditch this week.

"For now, however," Severus advised, not wishing to squelch Harry's excitement, "you have a match-"

There was a flurry of movement by the half-open tent flap. Everyone turned. Eyes widened in surprise as Albus strode in, with an exuberant Pomona Sprout beside him. Albus' eyes quickly scanned the room.

"Ah, Remus," he said with a twinkly smile. "Your wife is in labor."

"What?" Remus gasped, coming away from where the students were clustered around him. "But it's weeks too soon!"

"Everything is all right," Pomona soothed Remus, taking him by the arm and patting his back.

"But the baby-"

"Poppy has monitored the pregnancy all along," Pomona reminded him. "She's still monitoring him. He's perfectly all right."

Remus swallowed, but he nodded. Remus looked around, obviously dazed; he made no move to follow either Pomona or Albus.

Harry gripped Remus' shoulder. "Well?" Harry demanded with a grin. "Get going!"

"Oh...right," Remus murmured. But he didn't move at all.

"Come along, Remus," Albus coaxed from the doorway.

"You're going to be a dad!" Ginny spoke up from beside Harry; Harry slipped an arm around her waist.

Remus' face suddenly erupted with giddy delight. "I am!" he said happily, and Severus watched in vague amusement as the other man grabbed Harry and Ginny in an impromptu hug. He promptly released them, however, and hugged both Pomona and Ron in rapid succession, and before Severus realized what was happening, Remus had grabbed him as well.

The other man was laughing like a madman as the air was squeezed out of Severus' lungs, and then Remus pulled away, his hands coming to grip Severus' arms.

"I'm going to have a son!" he all but chortled in Severus' face.

"Yes," Severus answered in what he hoped was a dry tone--and not at all filled with discomfort or amusement, "and I am certain that Tonks would prefer that you be with her for the birth of your son."

"Oh!" Remus said, his eyes opening ridiculously wide once more. "Of course! I need to be there!"

"Then perhaps you should go," Severus drawled. Remus laughed and released him, much to Severus' relief. Hands patted enthusiastically at his back as Pomona and Albus escorted him out, followed by the excited Gryffindor team

"Were you so unglued when I was born?"

Severus turned to Harry, who was gazing at him curiously. "Yes."

Harry smiled, looking very contented at the answer. His eyes were dancing a second later. "Remus hugged you."

Severus kept his face perfectly composed. "You have a team to lead out to the pitch, I believe."

"And you didn't even seem to mind," Harry continued with a mischievous grin, ignoring the pointed suggestion. Severus favored his son with a scowl.

"He was unglued, as you put it," he sniffed, turning Harry toward the door. "I did not wish to create a scene."

Harry glanced sideways at Severus as they left the tent. He smiled, not bothering to dispute the statement.

They stopped at the entrance to the pitch, where the other Gryffindors were waiting.

"Suit up!" Harry ordered his gathered team.

"Good luck," Severus said as Harry fastened his helmet. And be safe, he added silently so only Harry could hear.

Harry grinned as he tugged his gloves more securely down on his fingers. Keep your wand at the ready, he returned, his storm dancing. Severus nodded, his own flames reflecting Harry's affectionate retort.

"But we are going to win," Harry told him. "Can't let my godson hear I lost to Hufflepuff on his birthday, after all."

"Your godson may very well be a Hufflepuff," Severus reminded him.

"Well," Harry said with a shrug, "as long as he'll let me teach him to fly..."

"On the broom you intend to give him?" Severus inquired, unable to hide his quiet amusement. Harry had talked about the planned present nonstop since Remus had told them that he and Tonks were expecting a boy.

"Godfather's privilege," Harry agreed with a grin.

"Jiffy up, Harry!"

Harry turned to his impatient team.

"Mount your brooms!" he called, which they immediately did. Harry took his place ahead of the assembled group. "Come on!" he shouted to the excited Gryffindors, flashing another grin at Severus. "We have a game to win!"

Two hours later, Harry caught the winged Snitch. He beamed at Severus in the stands as he held the golden ball high above his head; whooping loudly in victory. And even as surrounded by his colleagues as he was, Severus didn't fight the smile that slid across his lips.

The End

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has enjoyed this story. And especially to my reviewers. They are always greatly appreciated. There will be a sequel, to begin in a few weeks. I want to get a few chapters in before I begin posting. The sequel will have a bit of a different flavor, as it will feature Ginny, and Harry's friends, as well as some new characters, more prominently. But of course, Severus and Harry will be our primary characters. H/G shippers beware. :oP