Chapter 9: Second Chances
There was definitely a strengthening tingle of something… magic between them.
And it was getting stronger, fast.
Severus' face was buried in Harry's hair but Harry could see the golden swirls of magic swirling around the room, and so could everyone else who looked on in shock. Much like Harry was. Draco was gurgling happily as the magic washed over him in a gentle caress.
Harry smiled at his baby who was waving his arms and legs through the magical storm that was brewing.
And then he heard it, a gentle, "Harry, Sev," in a voice that he had never heard before.
Well, that was a lie, he had heard it all through his third year around the Dementors. He sucked in a breath, so did Severus, as the rest of the room gasped, and he turned to find a golden, yet ghostly visage of his mother standing a few feet away, a small smile on her face.
"Mum," he whispered, at the same time as Severus breathed, "Lily,"
"I am so, so proud of you both," Lily said, smiling sadly at them.
"But," Severus started, but Lily shook her head, cutting him off.
"I forgave you a long time ago, Sev. I was going to tell you after the war, when we could actually be in a room together, but it wasn't to be it seems. James told me what he did, and I was appalled to say the least. I am sorry I didn't believe you. I am sorry I didn't listen. I am sorry I hurt you the way I did. But know that I still love you like the brother I never had. Thank you for looking after Harry for me, despite everything that looking at him must have made you feel. Which I understand, now, must have been incredibly difficult for you,"
Harry looked between them questioningly, but the pain on their faces made him not ask. If Severus wanted to tell him, he would, when he was ready. He didn't want to pry into something that wasn't any of his business.
"And Harry, you brave, amazing boy," Harry blushed brightly, looking back at Draco to hide a little bit, but also to check that his baby was okay, and found him still dancing in the magic, Harry smiled at the sight of his tiny limbs waving around. He looked back at his mum when he thought the blush might have disappeared, and saw her smiling lovingly at him, "I love you, so very much. And I'm sorry that I wasn't there to raise you. I'm sorry you were raised with Tuney. I'm sorry you have been hurt so badly by so many. I'm sorry that you're involved in a war you shouldn't be involved in. But know that I do love you, so does James. And we're so very proud of you, and everything that you have already accomplished. Though, please, please, be your true self in class. It pains me to watch you dumb down your essays, and tests, and not show that you can do a spell or potion straight away. I know why you do it, but please, for me, be yourself, in everything you do,"
Harry blushed again, but nodded. He was going to do so anyway. He wanted his son to grow up being proud to be his son. And not for his fame, but for who he was.
He moved to pick Draco up gently, and smiled as the baby gurgled happily at being in his arms again. He still did his little dance, though, even as he snuggled close to Harry's bare chest.
Lily smiled at the three of them, her smile bright, and yet there was a sadness there also.
"He's gorgeous, and I am so proud of you both for taking to parenting so well, even though it was sudden," Lily said gently, "And although I hate what you have all been through, and yes, Harry, I have seen everything," Harry cringed, "Believe me that there were many times I wished I could show up to haunt that bloody sister of mine, and more importantly, her husband. But despite that I hate what you have all been through in your short lives, I am happy that you have been blessed with this bond. That you all have a family now. And that you have a chance to truly heal. Even though it might take a while,"
Severus turned his head into Harry's neck and Harry could feel his tears. Harry turned into him slightly, blushing as he caught his mum's smile.
"Sev, it's okay," Lily said gently.
"How… How is it okay?" Severus choked, "I k-killed her,"
"You saved her from her pain, Sev. She would have died soon, and it would have gotten progressively more painful, you know that. She is at peace now," Lily said, her ghostly form kneeling in front of them as the magic in the room spiked, "She doesn't have to stay dead,"
Severus' head turned to look at Lily so fast that Harry thought he would give himself whiplash, if such a thing could happen to wizards. Though given some of their modes of travel he assumed they were relatively safe from it.
"How?" Severus whispered.
"Death," Lily said conspiratorially, as if that answered everything, "He, and one of Harry's ancestors, Ignotus Peverell, are rather fond of Harry's ability to evade Death, even without meaning to. That is what they say anyway, but I can tell they are really rather fond of him as a person. I have heard more than once that he is Ignotus' favourite descendant," Lily grinned at her son, who, again, was blushing, "Anyway, he spoke to Narcissa when she passed on, and gave her some options because Harry knows how much she means to you, Sev, and because he rather hates how she was treated, and those chains. He wants her to have a proper life. But, she wants you two to pick what she should do. She will be okay with anything, even if you pick for her to stay in the afterlife,"
Harry gulped, so did Severus, "What… What are the options?" Harry asked.
"The main one is for her to be reincarnated, so that she can have a proper childhood, and life, but how she does so is dependent on you two should you want that for her," Lily said, "She can be reincarnated now, or she can be reincarnated later, but it would depend on who her new parents are. If you choose for another couple, or person, to be her parents then she can be reincarnated now. And you can choose her parents also, according to Death, that way you can be part of her life if you want to be. Or, alternatively, you can wait, until you are both ready for another child. And she can become your daughter,"
Harry looked down at Draco and imagined having another child. He could see it, a few years down the road, when they were safe. He had always wanted a large family. And a large part of him really wanted to experience pregnancy properly. To feel his child grow within him, feel their magic, feel their movements.
"There are, of course, other options. Death also said that he can revive her, but de-age her to a young child. Then someone, even yourselves, can adopt her, and she can have a normal childhood, and not be forced into marrying someone, etc. Or, she can stay in the afterlife, and you can both see her again when your time comes, which won't be until you are both old, grey, and have had a good life. Or, she can become a ghost and stay with you both, and Draco. It is up to you, though,"
Harry looked at Severus, who was looking at his knees in shock and sadness.
"Sev, what do you think?" Harry asked gently.
"I… I don't know," Severus said.
"Okay, that is okay. Well, do you feel like you can wait for her? Do you feel like you can wait for me to get pregnant again, and have her as our daughter?" Harry said.
Severus looked at him with pained eyes, filled with tears, and Harry could tell how much it hurt him to shake his head.
"That's okay, Sev. Do you know of anyone else, who will be good parents, who can have her now? Who will let us be involved? Who wants to get pregnant?"
"I don't really have much of a social life, Harry," Severus muttered, "I'm not close enough with anyone for them to tell me if they are trying for a baby or not,"
Amelia cleared her throat and they both looked at her, shocked to find her looking nervous and Kingsley looking at her in awe.
"Erm, well, Kingsley and I are getting bonded soon," Amelia said, and Harry beamed at her, "I… I wouldn't mind becoming a proper mother. Only if it is okay with you both, though, for Narcissa to be our daughter. We would, of course, let you both be part of her life. And you are both invited to our bonding, but that is besides the point," she blushed as Kingsley kissed her cheek, "I want a baby, and if you are okay with it, I promise to try and be a good mother to her. She definitely won't be forced into any marriage. And if anyone dares to do what Lucius did to her then I will be having more than just words with them,"
"So will I," Kingsley growled.
"Is that okay with you, Sev?" Harry said, beaming still at the news that his favourite human adults were getting bonded.
"It's okay if it's not okay with you. We understand. And we can have another baby," Amelia rushed out.
"No," Severus said, and they all look at him, shocked, "You two will be amazing parents. And, I would rather her have a whole life of happiness, from birth, than from a few years old, where even bad memories can stick. I think… I think I will be okay with waiting nine months to meet her, again," he didn't seem entirely sure.
"Are you sure, Sev? We can have her revived and de-aged if that helps you deal with this. Will you really be okay?" Harry worried, holding Severus' hand and squeezing it gently.
"They will be wonderful parents, Harry. She will be happy with them. I can live with that. I can live with knowing that she is happy her whole life. With good parents, a big sister in Miss Bones, and us, and anyone else. She deserves people who have the power to protect her properly from what could happen to her, and who have the experience, and… I can't wait years for her to be back. I know and understand why we can't have her now, and I am okay with that, so long as she is okay, and happy. We can have other children. And she can grow up loved, and happy. That is all I need to know to be okay with this," Severus said, looking at the body of his friend, his sister in all but blood, and nodding to himself mostly.
"Okay, if that is what you want, Sev," Severus nodded again, a bit more sure of himself this time, "And you both are okay with this, too?" Harry asked Amelia and Kingsley.
"More than okay with this, Harry," Kingsley said in awe.
"Definitely," Amelia said, a bright smile tinged with a little sadness from her eyes on her face, "Though we will probably change her name,"
Severus chuckled, "She always hated her name," he reminisced sadly, though a smile was tugging at his lips, he looked at Lily, "It will really be her?" he asked, needing to be sure.
"Yes, Sev, it will really be her. Her soul, but no memories of her previous life. She will look different, obviously, and her personality will be what it was meant to be, should have been, had she been raised by the right people, and not forced into a marriage she didn't want, and such. She will be okay, with all of you protecting her, and all of us watching over. She will be able to mother her children the way she wants to, she won't be abused, she will be okay,"
"She won't be having children until she is at least forty," Kingsley muttered not that quietly, causing the room to chuckle slightly.
"I do believe that is her decision, young man," another voice said, this one deep and croaky, which sent shivers down everyone's spine as they turned to look at the black clad mysterious figure that stood behind Lily.
"D-death?" Harry said, his voice shaky even as he held Draco closer to him.
"Indeed, young one," he said in a now cheerful voice, "Don't worry, I am not after anyone in this room, yet. Not for a long time at any rate. And especially your son, my sister wouldn't be happy if I interfered with her magic like that. No, I am here to perform my own ritual to make sure that our dearest Amelia here becomes pregnant with Cissa the next time her and Kingsley… well, I am sure you need no explanation," he chuckled at the blushes in the room, the darkest being Amelia's and Kingsley's, but they were both smiling brightly, Amelia's hand on her stomach.
"Not that there is much else to do, my magic has been in the room since Cissa died, but, you know, sometimes I just have to come to the world of the living," his voice was booming with laughter.
Then the gold, ghostly visage of Narcissa stepped out from behind Death and Severus sucked in his breath painfully as he stared at her.
"I'm okay now, Sev. You saved me from more pain. I wanted you to do it, because you love me. You're my brother. I love you. I trust you. I trust you more than I trust anyone else. Though I suppose now that might change a little because I will have the life I always dreamt of, rather than the one I was burdened with," she smiled at Amelia and Kingsley before kneeling in front of Harry and Severus, looking down at Draco with eyes filled with love and pain.
"You will both be amazing parents to him, I know it. And as much as I would have loved being your child also, I know why you can't, and I am happy with the choice you made. More than happy really. I will have parents who love me, cool uncles, a sister who will love and protect me, and a cousin around the same age who I can be friends with. And I will be safe. Happy. Cherished. And you will all be able to, and want to protect me, more than I ever was before. I won't be hurt again, not in the ways I was in this life. And I am so grateful to be able to have this second chance at a life. Just remember, I love you, Sev. And I don't hate you for what you did, you did it for me. Thank you for everything you have done for me, for Draco. You kept us somewhat sane. And I can't thank you enough really, but all those years of friendship really do mean the world to me," Narcissa said, both her and Severus crying again.
The magic intensified and Narcissa stood, placing a ghostly kiss on Severus', Harry's and Draco's cheeks.
"You'll be okay, all of you will be, in time. I know it. And I know what you had to do will hurt you for a while, Sev. I really do. You never were a killer. But I will be back with you soon, even if it is as someone different, better. And you have all these amazing people around to help you through it. And you can get revenge for me, and Draco. They have proof now," she sounded genuinely excited.
"He will pay," Severus growled.
"I know. And you will heal. You will be happy. And so will Harry and Draco," she said, "I'm ready," she turned to Death, who nodded at her.
"Very well," Death said, starting to wave his cloaked arms around, the magic getting even more intense, the gold brightening.
"See you soon, Sev,"
"See you soon," Severus muttered painfully and he watched as his friend faded into a tiny golden ball which soon floated across the room towards Amelia who watched in awe, along with the rest of them, as the ball entered her stomach and settled with a white gold light.
The magic in the room started to fade and Harry looked back at his mum to see her starting to fade.
"No," he whispered, standing and walking closer to her, where she stood beside Death.
"It's okay, baby. You'll be okay," Lily said.
"But-"
"Harry, I can't stay forever, even though I wish I could. But I will always be with you, in here," she pointed at his heart, "And above also, watching over you, and waiting for you to join your father and I. Which won't be for a very long time if I have anything to say about it. You will be okay, eventually. You will be safe. You will be happy, with your family. I know it. I love you, Harry,"
"I love you, too," Harry said, tears leaking down his cheeks.
"Keep looking after him for me, Sev," Severus nodded tearfully, "I love you, brother,"
"I love you, too, Lils,"
Then she was gone, and so was Death.
The room was silent until Draco broke it with a whimper that told Harry he needed food. Harry took a shaky breath and sat back on his bed, back against the headboard to feed his son.
Amelia took a shaky breath, still looking down to her stomach in awe, "Right, erm, Severus are you okay with us taking her body to the Ministry for evidence? We will release her to you when we are done," she said shakily as she looked at the body on the bed.
Severus nodded as he sat next to Harry and wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder, Harry leant into him gratefully, trying to get control of his emotions as he looked at his baby.
"Right, well, we'll be off then," Kingsley said, a grin on his lips as he looked at Amelia, even as sadness shone in his eyes, "We'll be sure to send you both an invite to our bonding,"
"Congratulations," Harry said, smiling happily at them.
Kingsley ruffled his hair and Amelia kissed his forehead gently before they went over to the body and used a portkey to vanish from the room.
"Well, that was rather eventful," Healer Greyclaw's voice cracked slightly as she rushed over to Harry and Severus, "Are you both okay? What a stupid question, of course you're not. Do you need anything?"
Harry smiled at her, "No, we'll be fine, eventually,"
It was a shock to him that he truly felt that way.
That he truly felt that, one day, he would be okay. He would be happy.
And so would his family.
He would make sure of it.