Severus Snape paced the cold stone floor of the Hogwarts dungeon, his mind racing as his heart pounded in his chest. The small vial in his hand felt impossibly heavy, the faint blue glow of the potion inside confirming what he’d feared for weeks. He was pregnant. Pregnant—and the father was none other than James Potter, the golden boy of Gryffindor and, as cruel fate would have it, the boyfriend of Lily Evans, the one person Severus had once held closest to his heart.
His fingers tightened around the vial as he replayed the events of that fateful night in his mind. The heated words exchanged after a long, frustrating Potions study session. The way James had stormed into the library where Severus had been hiding, still fuming from an argument with Lily. And then—somehow—it had all unraveled. Words turned to confessions, confessions into touches, and touches into something far more intimate.
Severus had told himself it was a mistake, that it would never happen again. And yet here he was, standing alone in the dungeon, bearing the consequences of a moment of vulnerability.
But James… what about James? Severus clenched his jaw, anger and anguish warring within him. James had made no promises that night—why would he? He was already spoken for.
“Severus?”
The familiar voice startled him. He turned sharply to see James standing in the doorway, his messy hair more unruly than usual and his hazel eyes searching Severus’s face.
“What are you doing here?” Severus snapped, slipping the vial into his robes.
James stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. “I needed to talk to you.”
“About what? How you plan to humiliate me next? Or is this just another game to you, Potter?” Severus hissed, his voice trembling despite himself.
James winced, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Look, I know I’ve been an arse to you in the past, but that night… it wasn’t just a one-time thing for me.”
Severus froze. “What are you talking about?”
James hesitated, then took a step closer. “I mean it, Severus. I’ve had feelings for you for years, but I didn’t know how to deal with them. So I lashed out, tried to cover it up. But that night… it wasn’t just a mistake. Not for me.”
Severus stared at him, his chest tight. “You’re with Lily.”
“I know.” James’s voice cracked. “And I care about her, I do, but it’s not the same. It’s not fair to her—to any of us. I’ve been lying to myself, and I can’t do it anymore.”
Severus’s hand instinctively went to his robes, his fingers brushing the hidden vial. “So what are you saying? That you’re ready to throw away everything for… for this?”
James stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. “Yes. I am.”
Severus shook his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. “You’re a fool, Potter.”
“Maybe,” James admitted. “But if you’ll let me, I want to be a fool with you. I want to be there—for you, for…” He hesitated, his eyes darting briefly to Severus’s stomach as though he already knew. “For whatever comes next.”
Severus’s breath caught in his throat. “You don’t even know—”
“I know enough,” James interrupted, his voice steady. “And if there’s even a chance that we can make this work, I’m willing to try. I’ve wasted enough time pretending I don’t care about you. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Silence hung heavy between them as Severus searched James’s face for any sign of deceit. But all he saw was sincerity—earnest, frustratingly Gryffindor sincerity.
“Fine,” Severus said at last, his voice barely above a whisper. “But if you hurt me again, Potter, I swear—”
“I won’t,” James promised, his eyes shining with a determination that made Severus’s chest ache. “Not ever again.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Severus allowed himself to hope.
Severus pressed his back against the cold dungeon wall, every muscle in his body taut as he watched James process his words. He hadn’t intended to tell him so soon—or perhaps at all. But when James had declared he wanted to make things work, something inside Severus had cracked. The truth had spilled out before he could stop it.
“I’m pregnant,” he’d whispered, barely loud enough to hear over the thudding of his own heart.
James blinked, his hazel eyes wide. For a moment, Severus thought he might deny it, laugh, or worse—walk away. But then James’s face broke into the brightest grin Severus had ever seen.
“You’re… we’re having a baby?” James asked, his voice trembling with unbridled excitement.
Severus nodded stiffly, his hand hovering protectively over his stomach. “Yes. Though I don’t know why you’re so thrilled. This is hardly ideal, Potter. We’re still in school. I—”
Before Severus could finish, James surged forward, scooping him up in his arms with a whoop of joy. “Merlin, Severus! I’m going to be a dad!”
“Potter—put me down!” Severus protested, his pale cheeks flushing as James lifted him effortlessly off the ground. But James was too elated to listen. He spun Severus around, laughing like a child who’d just been told Christmas was coming early.
“This is incredible,” James exclaimed, finally setting Severus back on his feet but keeping his hands on his waist. “I never thought—I mean, I knew I wanted a family someday, but with you? It’s like—like fate, Sev!”
Severus scowled, brushing himself off as though James’s enthusiasm might be contagious. “Fate? This isn’t some fairy tale, Potter. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. We’re seventeen! We don’t have jobs, money, or even a proper place to live. How exactly do you plan to raise a child?”
James sobered slightly, his grin softening into something gentler but no less determined. “We’ll figure it out. I’ll figure it out. You won’t have to worry about a thing, Severus. I’ll take care of you both.”
Severus folded his arms, his dark eyes narrowing. “And how do you plan to manage that? Magic your way into a house and a steady income? Newsflash, Potter: life doesn’t work that way.”
“Maybe not,” James admitted, taking Severus’s hands in his own. “But I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll talk to my parents—they’ll help us. I’ll start working as soon as I can, even if it’s just odd jobs in the summers. I’ll do whatever I have to, Severus. You’ll never have to go through this alone.”
The sheer conviction in James’s voice made Severus’s chest tighten. It was maddening how easily James could make him believe in impossible things, like a world where this could actually work.
“And Lily?” Severus asked, his voice quieter now, almost fragile. “Have you thought about what this will do to her?”
James flinched but nodded. “I’ll talk to her. She deserves the truth, and I owe it to her to be honest. But I can’t stay with her when my heart’s not in it. My heart’s… it’s here. With you.”
Severus looked away, his throat tightening as emotions he didn’t want to name threatened to overwhelm him. “This still feels like a mistake,” he muttered, more to himself than to James.
James tilted Severus’s chin up, forcing their eyes to meet. “It’s not a mistake. Not to me. This—this baby—isn’t a mistake. And neither are you.”
For a moment, Severus let himself believe it. Let himself believe in James’s promises and the fierce determination in his eyes. But doubt lingered at the edges of his mind, whispering reminders of all the ways this could go wrong.
Still, as James leaned forward and pressed a tentative kiss to his forehead, Severus allowed himself one small, fragile hope: maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.
—
James stood outside the Gryffindor common room, shifting nervously on his feet. His usual confidence seemed to have deserted him as he rehearsed the words he needed to say. Breaking up with Lily wasn’t something he wanted to do lightly—she was brilliant, kind, and had always treated him far better than he probably deserved. But it wasn’t fair to her to keep pretending he could be someone he wasn’t. His heart belonged elsewhere, and the truth could no longer be ignored.
He stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Lily, who was sitting by the fire with her Transfiguration textbook open on her lap. She looked up at him with a bright smile, and guilt twisted in James’s chest.
“James!” she greeted warmly, patting the seat next to her. “What are you doing down here? I thought you had Quidditch practice.”
James cleared his throat, ignoring the way his stomach knotted. “Lily, we need to talk. Privately.”
The smile faltered on her face, but she nodded and followed him out of the common room. They walked in silence until they reached an empty classroom. Lily crossed her arms, her green eyes sharp.
“All right, what’s going on?” she asked, her tone cautious but concerned.
James rubbed the back of his neck, unsure of where to begin. “Lily… you mean a lot to me. You always have. But I can’t keep lying to you—or myself.”
Her brow furrowed. “Lying? About what?”
James took a deep breath, the words feeling heavier than he’d anticipated. “I… I’m in love with someone else. I have been for a long time.”
Lily’s face paled, her arms falling to her sides. “What? Who?”
“Severus,” James admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know this probably sounds insane, but it’s the truth. I’ve tried to deny it, but I can’t anymore.”
Lily’s lips parted in disbelief before her expression hardened. “Severus? Severus Snape?” Her voice rose, incredulous and tinged with anger. “You’ve got to be joking, James.”
“I’m not,” he said firmly. “That night, when you and I had that fight and I stayed out late—things happened. And now…” He hesitated, unsure of how much to say. “Now I know where I need to be. I’m sorry, Lily. I never meant to hurt you.”
Lily’s hands clenched into fists, her green eyes blazing with fury. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Him? You’re leaving me for him? After everything I’ve done for you? After everything he’s done to me?”
“Lily, this isn’t about you and him,” James said desperately. “This is about—”
“No,” she snapped. “This is about him. He’s always ruining everything, James! First, he turns into this bitter, spiteful person who throws away our friendship, and now he’s taking you from me? Do you have any idea how humiliating this is?”
James opened his mouth to respond, but a cold, quiet voice spoke from the doorway before he could.
“Funny,” Severus said, stepping into the room, his expression carefully blank. “I don’t recall asking for any of this.”
Lily turned on him, her anger boiling over. “Of course you didn’t. You just slither around in the shadows, ruining things without even trying.”
Severus’s lips twitched into a bitter smile. “If only I had such power.”
“Don’t,” Lily warned, her voice shaking. “Don’t act like you’re innocent in all this. You knew he was with me. You knew.”
“Do you think I wanted this?” Severus snapped, his composure cracking. “Do you think I wanted to be dragged into your perfect little world, or to watch you swoon over him for years? If anything, I’ve spent most of my life trying to stay away from both of you.”
Lily’s eyes narrowed. “Then why are you even here?”
Severus took a deep breath, his gaze meeting hers with a mixture of defiance and resignation. “Because there’s something you don’t know. Something you deserve to know.”
She crossed her arms, her expression guarded. “And what’s that?”
Severus hesitated, his hands instinctively moving to his stomach. “I’m pregnant, Lily.”
The room fell deathly silent. Lily’s eyes widened, her face pale with shock. “You’re… pregnant?”
“Yes,” Severus said, his voice low but steady. “And before you ask, yes, it’s his.”
Lily looked between the two of them, disbelief etched into every feature. “This can’t be real. This… this can’t be happening.”
“I didn’t ask for this,” Severus said softly, his earlier anger fading into exhaustion. “But it’s happening, whether any of us are ready for it or not.”
Lily took a step back, her arms wrapping around herself as if to shield her from the weight of the truth. Her voice, when it came, was hollow. “I can’t believe this. You’ve ruined everything, Severus. Everything.”
Severus didn’t respond, his dark eyes unreadable as Lily turned and fled from the room, leaving him and James alone in the heavy, suffocating silence.
As the door slammed shut behind Lily, Severus remained rooted to the spot, staring at the empty space she had left behind. His throat felt tight, his chest heavy with guilt and the echo of her furious words. He flinched as James’s arms suddenly wrapped around him, pulling him into a firm embrace.
“Well,” James said after a moment, his voice tinged with an awkward kind of cheerfulness, “that didn’t exactly go as planned.”
Severus stiffened but didn’t pull away. “That’s the understatement of the century,” he muttered. “She hates me now more than ever.”
James pulled back just enough to look at him, his hazel eyes warm and steady. “She doesn’t hate you, Severus. She’s just upset. She’ll come around—she always does. Lily’s strong like that.”
Severus scoffed. “I doubt she’ll forgive me for this. Not in this lifetime.”
James shook his head, smiling faintly. “You don’t know Lily like I do. She’s angry, sure, but she’s got a big heart. Once she calms down, she’ll see this isn’t about choosing sides or ruining anything. It’s about something bigger—our family.”
Severus blinked, caught off guard. “Our… family?”
James’s grin widened, his hand slipping to rest gently over Severus’s stomach. “Yeah. You, me, and this little one. You don’t know how much this means to me, Severus. I’ve always wanted a big family.”
Severus raised a skeptical eyebrow. “A big family? At seventeen? You can barely keep up with your Quidditch schedule.”
James laughed softly, his gaze softening as he kept his hand in place. “It’s not about timing, Sev. I’ve always imagined myself with kids someday—kids I could love and spoil, who I’d teach to fly and drive crazy with dad jokes. And now, knowing that’s actually happening, and that it’s you I get to do it with? It feels like everything’s finally falling into place.”
Severus stared at him, a mixture of disbelief and something suspiciously close to hope stirring in his chest. “You’re insane,” he muttered, though his voice lacked its usual bite.
“Maybe,” James admitted, grinning, “but I wouldn’t have chosen anyone else. You’re brilliant, Sev, even if you don’t see it yourself. And I promise you, we’re going to be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”
For a moment, Severus let himself relax in James’s embrace, leaning into the warmth and certainty that James seemed to radiate so effortlessly. But the memory of Lily’s hurt and anger lingered, gnawing at him. With a sigh, he gently pulled away.
“I need to go find her,” Severus said quietly.
James frowned. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? She might need time.”
“Maybe,” Severus replied, straightening his robes, “but Lily deserves better than this. If there’s even a chance to fix things, I have to try.”
James nodded reluctantly, stepping aside to let him pass. “Okay. Just… don’t let her talk you into doubting yourself, all right? We’re in this together, no matter what.”
Severus paused in the doorway, glancing back at him. “I’ll try. But don’t think for a second that I’m doing this for you, Potter. This is for her.”
James smirked, leaning casually against the wall. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, Sev. Go on, then. Show her that famous Snape stubbornness.”
Rolling his eyes, Severus left the room, his mind already racing with what he might say to Lily. As much as he wanted to believe James’s optimism, he knew that some wounds took longer to heal than others—and his history with Lily was more complicated than most. Still, he owed it to her to try. If nothing else, she deserved the truth from him, no matter how messy or painful it might be.
—
Severus found Lily in the Quidditch stands, her fiery hair vivid against the gray sky. She sat hunched over, her shoulders shaking as she buried her face in her hands. The sight struck something deep in him—guilt, remorse, and an uncomfortable sense of inevitability. For all the complicated emotions that lingered between them, he hated seeing her like this.
He climbed the steps slowly, his boots crunching against the frosted wood. She didn’t look up, but he knew she’d heard him. The silence was heavy as he sat beside her, leaving enough space to show he didn’t want to intrude but close enough to show he cared.
“Lily,” he began, his voice soft and hesitant. “I’m… I’m sorry.”
She wiped at her eyes, still not looking at him. “Sorry for what?” she asked, her voice thick with tears. “For being with James? For carrying his child? Or for ruining everything I thought my life was going to be?”
Severus flinched, the words cutting deeper than he cared to admit. “I didn’t plan this, Lily. I didn’t plan any of it.”
She finally looked at him, her green eyes blazing through the tears. “But it happened, didn’t it? James was my world, Severus. My dream. And now—” Her voice cracked, and she turned away again, shaking her head. “Now it’s all gone.”
Severus clenched his hands in his lap, his nails biting into his palms. “Your world? Your dream?” he echoed, his voice low and tense. “You built your dream around a man who spent years making my life hell. Do you think that didn’t hurt me? Watching you choose him, defend him, while he made me feel like I was worth nothing?”
Lily froze, her breath hitching. “That’s not fair,” she whispered.
“Isn’t it?” Severus shot back, his tone sharper than he intended. “I made mistakes, Lily. I’ve never denied that. But so did you. You forgave him for everything he did to me, yet you’ve never once considered how much that cost me. You chose him, Lily. And now you’re angry at me for what? For something neither of us planned?”
Lily’s lip trembled, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she looked out over the empty pitch, her fingers clutching the edge of the bench. The silence stretched between them, heavy and unyielding. For a long time, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Lily stood, brushing off her skirt and wrapping her arms around herself. “I don’t know what to say, Severus,” she admitted, her voice quiet and tired. “I can’t keep going in circles about who was right or wrong. Maybe we both were. Maybe none of it matters anymore.”
Severus looked up at her, his dark eyes searching her face for some hint of what she was feeling. “So where does that leave us?”
She hesitated, her gaze softening slightly. “I forgive you,” she said at last, her voice trembling. “But I can’t… I can’t be around you right now. I just need time.”
He nodded slowly, his chest tightening. “I understand.”
Lily gave him a faint, watery smile before turning and walking away, leaving Severus alone in the stands. He watched her until she disappeared from view, the weight of their shared history settling heavily on his shoulders.
For the first time, Severus realized that forgiveness didn’t always mean things could go back to the way they were. Sometimes, it simply meant letting go and moving forward—even if it meant moving forward apart.
—
The cobblestones of Diagon Alley bustled with activity as witches and wizards flitted from shop to shop, their robes swishing in the chilly air. Severus walked alongside James, cradling their infant son, Harry, close to his chest. The baby cooed softly, his tiny hands grasping at Severus’s cloak while James carried a bag of potions ingredients they’d just picked up.
“Look at him,” James said with a grin, peering over at Harry. “Already trying to grab onto your robes like he’s going to start brewing potions tomorrow.”
Severus rolled his eyes, though his lips twitched in a faint smile. “If he does, he’ll probably be better at it than you ever were.”
James laughed, nudging him lightly with his shoulder. “Careful, or I’ll tell him all your embarrassing school stories when he’s older.”
Before Severus could retort, a familiar flash of red hair caught his eye. His steps faltered, and his grip on Harry tightened instinctively. Lily Evans was standing just ahead, her back to them as she examined the display in the window of Flourish and Blotts.
“Sev?” James asked, noticing his hesitation.
“She’s here,” Severus murmured.
James followed his gaze, his expression softening when he saw her. “Do you want to keep going?”
Severus hesitated, his emotions tangled between guilt and longing. But before he could decide, Lily turned, her green eyes landing on them. For a moment, she froze, her gaze flickering between James and Severus before settling on the baby in Severus’s arms.
The world seemed to slow as she approached, her steps tentative. When she was close enough to see Harry clearly, her breath hitched.
“He looks just like you, James,” Lily said softly, her voice tinged with something unnameable. Her gaze dropped to Harry’s eyes—dark and deep, like Severus’s. “But those eyes…”
Severus adjusted his hold on Harry, his voice steady but quieter than usual. “He has my eyes.”
Lily nodded, her expression flickering with a mix of emotions—grief, longing, and something bittersweet. “He’s beautiful,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
“Do you want to hold him?” James asked suddenly, his tone warm and inviting.
Lily looked at him, startled, and then at Severus, who gave a small, reluctant nod. Slowly, she reached out, her arms trembling slightly as James helped guide Harry into her embrace.
The baby squirmed, his tiny hand brushing against Lily’s face. A tear slipped down her cheek as she smiled at him, her heart aching with what could have been but also filling with a strange, unexpected joy.
“I’m happy for you both,” Lily said after a moment, looking up at them. “Truly. I… I didn’t think I’d ever be able to say that, but I am. You deserve this, Severus. After everything…”
Severus’s throat tightened, and he nodded stiffly. “Thank you.”
James slid an arm around Severus’s waist, his grin as boyish as ever. “We’ve been meaning to ask you something, actually.”
Lily raised an eyebrow, shifting Harry slightly so she could meet James’s gaze. “What’s that?”
“Well,” James began, glancing at Severus for confirmation, “we were wondering if you’d be Harry’s godmother.”
Lily’s eyes widened, her mouth opening slightly in surprise. “Me? After everything that’s happened?”
Severus spoke before James could. “Lily, you’ve always been an important part of my life. And James’s too. I know things… didn’t turn out how any of us expected, but I think it’s only right that you’re part of Harry’s life.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked down at the baby in her arms. For a long moment, she didn’t say anything, and Severus worried she might refuse. But then she looked up, her expression soft and full of something like hope.
“I’d be honored,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
James whooped, clapping her on the shoulder. “Brilliant! Harry’s going to have the best godmother ever.”
Severus allowed himself a small smile, relief washing over him. He reached out and gently took Harry back into his arms, the baby yawning as he settled against his chest.
As the three of them stood there, a quiet sense of peace settled between them. It wasn’t perfect, and the scars of the past still lingered, but for the first time in a long time, they felt like they were finally beginning to heal.