âWhy does he have to be here?â
Lily groaned, leaning forward, setting her head on the table. Sheâd had nightmares about him. It had all been brought back up, clearly, now that she couldnât avoid the man. He was going to be constantly around; like the bloody black death. Oh, she knew that they didnât help themselves. They physically couldnât, which was part of the problem, wasnât it? This was where it had all stemmed from. In a sense, deep down, she knew that they were entirely innocent. She wasnât a complete and utter fool. She knew that her actions in the past had never been particularly helpful. However, what was the point on dwelling upon any of that? There was no turning back.Â
She didnât know any of them were going to be able to trust him.Â
The redhead looked up, watching as James incessantly walked back and forth, rocking Harry. âLetâs stop wasting our breath talking about him.â
She scoffed, âYou canât help but insult him the moment he walks in the room.â It was going to make the atmosphere so intolerable. That much was certain. âWeâre just going to have to get on with it. We just need to be careful about we say and do around him. I just⊠I want to trust Albus. Why wouldnât I want to trust him? Weâve never had a reason not to. This is completely left-field for him. This is mad. He must have some sort of insane reasoning behind all of this, because I canât keep turning it over and over in my headâŠâ She trailed off, looking towards the door, âJames, go and put him down.â She rolled her eyes as James, yet again, acted like a petty teenager toward Severus. She knew that she hadnât been the kindest, but she wasnât going to throw cruel names at him. What would be the point in that?Â
She watched him, very purposefully so, as he moved to get some water.Â
âIf youâre here to fuck me over again, Severus. I am going to kill you myself, if I am given the chance.â
She noticed him tense up. Good. As he should. âI hope you feel such shame about what youâve done. If Albus is right about you. If. I hope you go to sleep at night and envision the lives that you and your litle pals have ruined.â She said all of this, whilst stirring sugar into her mug of tea. âYou⊠I am furious.â She huffed, shaking her head. Did he have anything to say for himself? Probably not. What could he say? She knew that she was right.Â
What a lovely conversation.Â
Severus sighed and looked at her. âLily, when this is all over, if Iâm still alive, please put my out of my misery,â he said. âI canât think of anyone else who deserves the pleasure more.â
He grabbed a granola bar and a water bottle, before leaving the kitchen again. No reason to bloody stay there any longer than he needed to. It hurt him to hear that from Lily, to see her look at him with such hatred, but what else did he expect? He had fucked her over, through and through. He knew better than to think that calling her what he had had been the only thing to send her over the edge. He knew it was a lot of other things that had built up. He had changed, but he was trying to change back. For himself more than anything. Because she damn sure wouldnât want it to be for her.Â
Severus groaned to himself as he heard incessant cooing coming from downstairs. What was that noise? He heaved himself out of bed and exited his room to go investigate. For once, heâd been given a night off, and he had wanted to sleep, but it didnât look like that was going to happen.Â
He walked downstairs and saw Dorcas playing with baby Harry. He rolled his eyes and tried to retreat, but she saw him.Â
âHi, Severus,â she said cheerily. She had always been the nicer one to Severus, so he didnât have much reason to despise her. He hadnât a clue what she saw in that dog though. âCanât sleep?â she asked.Â
âNo, not with all this laughter,â Severus drawled as he eyed the baby. âWhere are his parents?â
âOut on a date,â she said. âI offered to babysit. Though itâs never a job for me. I love my perfect little baby boy,â she gushed as she nuzzled her nose against Harryâs, who let out that infernal giggle once more. She looked over as Severus started to walk back up the stairs. âDo you want to hold him?â
âWhat?â Severus asked, stopping on the first step. He came back down and walked over to her. âWhy would I want to hold him?â
âI dunno... Babies in wars are kind of rare, arenât they? Kind of reminds you what youâre fighting for. The future. Youâre one of us now, so... you see that, right?â Dorcas smiled, stroking Harryâs hair.Â
Severus sighed and didnât respond to that. Narcissa had recently had a baby as well and he had spent extended time around him. He bloody missed them so much. Why couldnât he have stayed with them? They had been the only ones that had stuck by his side all these years, even through all the bad. He looked at the boy, who was staring at him curiously. âI donât think his parents would want me touching him.â
âYouâre probably right,â Dorcas said. âYouâre more than welcome to sit in here with me though.â
âYeah,â she laughed. âI could use the company. Itâs been a while since you and I have shared more than two words with each other. Itâll pass the time. Maybe even make you sleepy,â she grinned. She cradled Harry close to her chest, then patted the space on the sofa next to her with her free hand. âCome sit with me.â
Against his better judgment, he obliged. Severus looked at the boy, who was still staring at him. âHe seems rather advanced for a one year old.â
âHe is. So clever,â Dorcas said happily. âHave you been around a baby before?â
âYes. Draco,â Severus said. âLucius and Narcissaâs son. He was born a couple months before Harry. I spent a lot of time around him,â he said. âChanged many nappies.â
Dorcas laughed, which caused the corners of Severusâs mouth to upturn just a tad. âYouâre an expert then.â
âSomething like that,â Severus said. It was rather unnerving, seeing a baby with James Potterâs face but Lily Evansâs eyes. He was almost cute. Almost. Ugh.Â
Just then, the door opened and in came the parents in question. Severus looked over and instinctively stood up to retreat. Fuck.Â
âWhat are you doing near my son?â James snapped. He had been drinking. âDorcas, how could you let this snake near him? Heâs just a baby.â
âSeverus wasnât hurting anybody,â Dorcas snapped back. âHe was just sitting here talking to me. He didnât even touch Harry.â
James took Harry from Dorcas and glared at Severus. âYou keep your greasy hands away from him, do you understand me? Youâre lucky I donât curse your bollocks off.â
Severus barely held back a groan. âI have more important things to do than kidnap and corrupt your spawn. And Iâd advise you not to make idle threats unless you plan on following through. In which case, I assure you, you will lose,â he said darkly.Â
âEnough,â Dorcas said, waving her hands angrily. âYou two are no better than children. What sort of example do you think this sets for Harry?â
âI donât care,â Severus hissed. He stormed back up the stairs and retreated to the safety of his room. Serves him right for leaving his sanctuary. He would not be making that bloody mistake again.Â