A new home
Severus was able to apparate normally until he was four months pregnant, after that he was only able to do it occasionally and only to get to his medical appointments or to Penny’s clinic. This made it impossible for him to get to Edinburgh from Hogsmeade to work on the trial so Penny popped into the cottage three times a week to bring the data to him. Harry, however, noticed his omegas discontent during his trips home over the weekends and so he suggested they ask Skye his real estate agent start looking for a new house for them in Edinburgh within walking distance of Penny’s clinic. Severus was surprised the alpha would suggest such a thing but Harry had continued to surprise him with what he would do to ensure Severus was happy.
Severus was very well aware Harry would prefer a property with acreage and may be in close proximity to water. Severus understood this desire as he too would like to live in such a property however while his work was located in Edinburgh a property there made sense. Therefore he agreed to the alpha's plan to look at the houses Skye had found. The first one was a five-bedroom house in Trinity which both Harry and Severus liked very much. Severus however was conscious of Harry spending so much money just on him, and he suggested they could rent something for now and buy a more suitable family home when the children were a little older.
Harry gave Severus an embarrassed smile and pulled out a real estate brochure advertising a seven-bedroom property in Ballachulish on Loch Leven. “Skye has already contacted the seller for me,” he confessed and Severus burst out laughing.
“You were going to buy both alpha?” He asked when he managed to contain his mirth.
“Well I was thinking about it, I want you to be happy, and I know you will love this place as much as I do once you are able to travel properly again. I do want the kids to have a place to run and play, but there is a lot to be said for living in a city with a wide variety of things to do,” Harry justified.
“You don’t think three houses in Scotland is a bit much?” Severus asked “Maybe you would prefer a place in England perhaps closer to Wiltshire?” he pressed.
Harry shrugged “You are talking to a man who lived in a cupboard until he was eleven Severus. I am not sure there is such a thing as too many houses, we could look in Wiltshire too if you like,”
Severus frowned he had never had the chance to tell Petunia Dursely nee Evans just what he thought of her. He had considered doing it at Dudley’s wedding but had not wanted to ruin the day for the happy couple. Dudley had married Rachel Abbott, the same woman he had brought to their bonding ceremony. Harry had told Severus she was a squib relation of Hannah Abbott and Severus had considered the chance of magical grandchildren on top of being forced to meet him at her son’s wedding, as Harry’s husband no less, might almost be revenge enough now he was not so sure.
“Alpha there really is no need for such a big house in Edinburgh,” Severus told him.
Harry raised an eyebrow “I thought you liked it?”
“Of course I like it, but…” Severus started to object but Harry cut him off.
“But nothing it’s in a wonderful spot near enough to the clinic that you could walk on a nice day and it will be big enough for us all to live comfortably,” Harry insisted.
“Alpha I don’t want you spending so much money on…”
“On my husband, on my children?” Harry cut in. “Tell me Severus who else should I spend it on? I have more than enough money. Let me do this for you, please,” he requested, giving Severus his best puppy dog eyes. Severus rolled his eyes, but he did understand Harry’s need to provide.
“Speaking as a man who lived in a ruin of a house all but destitute for the better part of his childhood, I see the appeal of having several houses. It would provide more security for the children,” he said very quietly.
“We can always sell it when we no longer need it, but I have the means, so let me provide this,” Harry reminded him.
Severus sighed deeply “Thank you alpha, I appreciate it very much,”
“Sev, I know you hate me asking but…” Harry tried.
“I am fine Harry, I promise. You know the full extent of my worries. I have told you everything. I am very happy that I can give you these two children. But I still worry about my plans and how this will affect them. I do not wish to simply raise children. I had hoped that might change as the pregnancy progressed but it hasn’t, yet,” Severus told him, pressing his forehead to his alphas forehead.
“You still have bad days,” Harry observed.
“No more than before alpha, but yes, I do,” he agreed.
“The house in Ballachulish has a separate cottage maybe for a nanny?” Harry pressed.
Severus had considered this proposal of Harry’s and it was perhaps not such a bad idea as long as neither the elves nor Narcissa felt slighted of course.
“It is something to think about Alpha but in the meantime, I believe Skye is still waiting for us downstairs,” he said with a smirk.
Skye MacCleod was not quite a squib but she had not been magical enough to attend Hogwarts and so she had forged a career in Real Estate. She had just opened her own Real Estate Agency with her muggle partner Eòin Russell. Eòin had been disinclined to take on magical clients but Skye had insisted they take on Harry Potter.
Harry kissed his husband on the cheek and took his hand leading him down three flights of stairs to the kitchen where Harry instructed Skye to purchase both houses on his behalf.
The agent smiled and assured Harry it would be taken care of and she would be in touch soon. She had begun to doubt her inclination to take on this alpha, however, the commission she had just made proved her instinct had been right and any annoyance she may have felt moments before evaporated instantly.
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Severus woke alone in his new home several weeks later, Skye had expedited the process as much as she could securing the property on a thirty-day settlement. It had not taken long to move in Harry had purchased all new furniture and had professionals deliver and unpack it. Severus only needed to bring his clothes and personal items.
He was still in shock at Harry so blithely buying two houses, he had worked his whole life and would not have been able to buy one of them. The houses he had owned he had inherited he had sold Spinners End for a pittance in Harry’s sixth year. He had been in the depths of despair the war was imminent and his promise to Dumbldore was weighing heavily on him and he had not expected to live past the end of the war. As a result, he had brought very little into his marriage. Harry had claimed the Prince Lordship so that it could be passed on to one of their children but that was not his money either.
None of this mattered to Harry of course but Severus still sometimes felt unworthy of Harry and today might be one of those days. He decided that rather than sitting around on his own and ruminating he would walk to the clinic and check up on the trial progress. The results so far had been very pleasing with those participants taking the actual potion improving at a much faster rate than the control group.
He forced himself to get out of bed and went to have a shower and get dressed, he made himself a sandwich to eat on the way and he walked ten minutes to Penny’s clinic. When he arrived he noticed the door to the study room closed which was unusual so he sought out Penny in her office. “Severus, how lovely to see you, is everything alright?”
“Yes, I just er, well the new house is quite large and the elves are still packing up the cottage…I thought I might do some work on the trial data but the study room…” he said uncertainty in his voice.
“Of course, it's a big move and only natural you might feel a little lonely,” Penny empathised. “I am afraid the study room is in use today, one of the groups who meet here is using it, as the heating in the meeting room is being fixed today. I am sure I can find you a space though…maybe you might like to join the group,” she said slowly.
Severus raised his eyebrow “What group is it?” he asked.
“It’s one I've mentioned to you before, it is for pregnant omegas and those who have recently given birth who are experiencing depression,” Penny told him.
“I see,” he replied looking down.
“It might help for you to meet some people, maybe make some friends,” she suggested “people who understand,”
Severus could see her point it would be nice to have people to talk to especially with Harry so far away now, but he was not the most pleasant person and couldn't imagine there would be people in this group of Penny’s who would tolerate his general bad temper.
“I am not certain that I am suited to groups Penny I am not much of a social being,” he told her.
Penny smiled “I think you might be surprised Severus, why don't you give it a try, I will come with you we can sit at the side and observe and then if you still don’t think it is for you we can leave,” she offered.
“Penny, I…alright,” he sighed, “I will try,” for all he was prickly and did not appreciate people sticking their noses into his business. He was lonely and what Penny was suggesting was only a small risk. The last small risk he had taken had turned out not so bad in the end. Harry was a good alpha who loved him and took good care of him and it would please him if Severus could make a friend or two.
“Wonderful,” Penny exclaimed “Come with me,” she stood up and led Severus back down the hall to the closed door where she knocked sharply before opening it.
They stepped inside and Severus noticed his usual study space was full of armchairs and there were twelve people sitting in them all looking at a muggle screen on which was projected a list of healthy foods. The presenter was a woman Severus was familiar with her name was Rose. She was a witch but she had a muggle degree in something called Health Science. Penny indicated that they were just there to observe and she smiled at Severus before continuing on with her presentation about the value of good food, exercise and sunshine.
Severus had heard it all of what she was saying before, in fact, he had given this very advice to students who were struggling at Hogwarts when he was their Head of House. There was certainly a lot to be said for eating well and taking care of your body and it did help with taking care of your mind too.
Severus let his attention drift to the others in the group, they were all omegas three had young babies in their arms, another two had portable baby carriers at their feet, one of the women who was holding a baby in her arms had two carriers at her feet. The other seven were pregnant and ranged from barely showing to ready to burst. There were only three men in the room all the others were women. Severus didn't mind, he generally found the company of women less stressful than men, though perhaps that was only because of the type of men he had to deal with in the past.
He found himself watching the woman who was nursing a baby in her arms while another one slept in one of the carriers at her feet. She had light brown hair with a few wisps of grey at her temples and she looked to be about his age. She had closed her eyes, she was not asleep but she looked peaceful. He wondered if she could possibly be like him, she seemed so at ease with her children.
The woman it seemed felt him watching her, she opened her eyes and met his gaze with clear pale blue eyes and she smiled at him. The presentation ended several minutes later and the woman put her now sleeping baby into the carrier beside her other baby. They looked to be less than a month old not Severus was an expert, the woman stood once the baby was settled and made her way across to the chairs he and Penny were sitting on and she sat down beside him.
“Hello,” she greeted softly. “I have seen you around here but we've not met before, my name is Morgan,”
Severus realised then that he had seen her before as well “Yes, I think I must have recognised you I am Severus and I apologise for staring,”
The woman laughed “Not to worry, do you work here, Severus?”
“Not as such, I developed a potion which is currently being trialled through the clinic I come in to oversee the data, but I am also a patient of Penny’s,” he told her.
Morgan’s eyes went wide “You are Severus Potter-Prince?”
“Yes, I am, ” he replied.
“It is a pleasure to meet you I have been reviewing your data, I am an analyst. I work here on a freelance basis my husband is one of the healers overseeing your trial the results are very promising so far,” she said with a genuine smile.
“Thank you, I am very pleased with the results. My next challenge is to make it safe for pregnant people,” he told her.
“That would be truly wonderful for people like me,” she said with a sad smile.
Severus hesitated and said softly “And me too,”
Morgan’s smile widened “How far along are you?”
“Almost five months. How old are your babies?” He asked in return.
“Six weeks yesterday,” Morgan said looking over to where her two little girls slept in their carriers.
“What are their names?” Severus asked
“Sage and Rumi,” Morgan replied. “Identical twin girls, both omegas,” she added sounding a little sad.
“Well congratulations,” Severus offered softly.
Morgan turned back to look at him. “Do you know what you are having?” she asked.
“A boy and a girl,” Severus answered.
“Oh you are having twins too, how lovely,” she said a little mechanically.
“It will be quite the change for me,” Severus replied.
“Oh yes it certainly will,” Morgan said, then she leaned forward and put her hand on his arm. “Would you like to meet the others in the group, Severus? We are all fairly friendly unless it's and particularly bad day, but we all know how that goes sometimes,” she said with a smile.
Severus hesitated and then said “Yes, thank you I think I would,”
Penny smiled as she watched Severus follow Morgan and be introduced to the rest of the group. She sat back and watched for a while, and in the end, he didn't notice her leave.
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Severus found to his very great surprise that he got along quite well with the other omegas in the group and soon he found himself attending every meeting. He even caught up with a few people outside the group, mostly with Morgan, but he had also met up with Dylan and Sean for coffee and a stroll through Botanic Gardens on two occasions.
Morgan was a delight. She was smart and funny but she was also snarky and a little prickly. She was highly educated with Masteries in Potions and Runes as well as her muggle qualifications. Severus had been surprised to find someone he clicked with so well. She was easy to talk to and he found himself telling her things that he had never told anyone other than Harry and Penny. He felt comfortable with her, so much so he invited her and her babies to his home for lunch.
They were relaxing in the sitting room with a cup of tea after lunch Severus was nursing one of the twins, he had forgotten which one, they were identical and they were babies, Severus was loathed to admit it but all babies looked the same to him even if they were not identical twins.
“Pardon my impertinence,” Morgan said as she put the baby she had been holding back in her carrier. “...but you seem to be about my age, will these be your first children?” she asked.
“Yes, they will be. I was caught up in the wars and my job,” he offered by way of explanation. “I only mated with my alpha two years ago,”
“Oh!” she gasped “Are you…were you Severus Snape, the Severus Snape,” she asked her eyes wide.
“Yes, the one and only as far as I know,” He replied carefully.
“I am a little surprised I hadn't put that together before, not that I really had a role in the wars, either of them. We lived in dark times there for a while. We certainly owe you a debt, Severus, and not just for your potions,” Morgan said warmly.
“Thank you, I appreciate you saying so, but it was not me who ended the war,” Severus replied neutrally.
Morgan smirked at him “The way I heard it Harry Potter would have been completely lost without you,” she said.
Severus raised an eyebrow “What exactly did you hear?”
Morgan sighed as she sipped her tea. “You know that I am an analyst. I have a muggle degree in psychology and data analysis. I deal with sensitive data and at the end of the war, I was employed by the ministry to help them analyse and catalogue the data from the trials. I was at your trial Severus, I heard Lord Potter-Black speak for you, I wrote down his words for the record,” she told him.
“I see, yet you did not recognise me?” he asked curiously.
“I recognised your voice but I could not quite place it, I was not allowed in Wizengamot. I am an omega, I sat in a room off to the side supervising the recording and ensuring there were no inaccuracies. I had a team of archivists working with me and three Aurors guarding us,” she said with a hollow laugh.
Severus eyes widened he had never thought about it before but there was a reason why only betas were employed as ministry assistants. Omegas were only allowed in the Wizengamot if they were on trial.
“How did you come to have the job then?” he asked curiously. “The Ministry only employ alphas and betas usually.”
Morgan flushed “Well, not to blow my own trumpet but I am one of the best in my field and they required the best. The person who recommended me did not tell them I was an omega, so they didn’t know until I turned up. The minister was going to replace me when he found out. It was your Alpha who made him keep me on. He wasn't happy about the room I was forced to work in, but even Lord Potter-Black can't change the Wizengamot completely. I kept the job at the agreed rate of pay and I was satisfied with that,” Morgan told him.
Severus was at a loss for words so he changed the subject. He made a note however to mention this to Harry the next time he saw him.
“Are your daughters your first children?”
“Yes, they are. Andrew and I had not intended to have any children. He is an alpha but he is the third child, his mother wanted a girl. Anyway we were both very career focused and happy as we were but then the war happened and Andrew’s two older brothers were both killed before they could mate and have children, so now he is Lord Abernathy and must produce an heir,” Morgan explained.
“Oh, I see,” Severus said, understanding the sad expression Morgan had when she revealed both her girls were omegas.
“It was difficult for me to give up my job and well my independence, the pregnancy was hard on me. Though my mother-in-law was less than impressed with my ‘dramatics,’ I mean what use is an omega if not to have children?”
Severus snorted “Indeed,” he said with a sneer.
“I suppose you must be in a similar situation?” she asked.
“Yes, honestly I never expected to find a mate, let alone ever have children. I would have said and in fact, I did say, quite incessantly, that I was not suited to such things. Then Harry came along,” Severus answered.
“Is that why you have struggled with the pregnancy?” Morgan asked.
“Partly, but I was not well after the war, the things I did…was forced to do, they weighed heavily on me. That was part of the reason I believed myself unsuitable for any kind of relationship. Harry helped me to get through my PTSD, Penny helped too obviously. That is the main reason I have struggled, the depression is pre-existing and well the stress of the pregnancy and the changes to my life…you understand,” Severus sighed he would never have expected to be here talking to someone like this, but Morgan understood she was in the same position and Severus had rarely felt so comfortable in the presence another person, Harry and Narcissa aside, Morgan was a good friend.
Morgan nodded she understood.
“Harry needs a male alpha heir for the Black Lordship. The Potter and Prince Lordships could go to female alphas,” he told her. “I agreed in our contract to one pregnancy,”
“So you are hoping for alphas then?” Morgan asked with an understanding smile.
Severus hesitated “I am yes, but I would never say so to Harry. He just wants healthy children. He cares little for pureblood nonsense as calls it, but I can’t help hoping he will have the heir he requires once these two are born,”
Morgan nodded her understanding “Andrew and I will have to try again of course and hope for an alpha male next time,” she said sadly.
Severus felt her pain.
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Harry stumbled out of the floo into his husband's arms, Severus rolled his eyes and caught the alpha before he fell. “Such grace alpha,” he teased.
Harry smiled “I am afraid I am only ever graceful on a broom omega, I leave such things as flooing gracefully to you my love,” he said and drew Severus to him for a kiss.
“I have missed you, Severus” Harry sighed as they drew apart.
“I have missed you too, alpha,” Severus replied.
“Why do I get the feeling you are just saying that to make me happy?” Harry asked stepping back to study his husband. The man looked well, really well. Better than Harry had seen him in quite some time, it seemed living in Edinburgh suited him.
Severus smirked “Does it make you happy Harry?” he asked in a mischievous tone which Harry had not heard in several long months.
“Yes, Severus it does, but so does seeing you like this, you seem so relaxed and well happy,” he said desperately wanting to know what had changed in the three weeks since he had last seen his omega to put colour into his cheeks and a smile on his face.
“Thank you alpha, I am glad you think so,” Severus told him taking him by the hand and leading him out of the sitting room and into the kitchen. Where he had tea and a freshly baked chocolate layer cake filled with chocolate ganache and covered in chocolate buttercream icing.
Morgan had given him the idea she too had struggled all through her pregnancy with not being able to brew, but in the last few months, she had discovered baking. “It is different, yet very similar to brewing, you will be surprised,” she assured him. He had doubted her, but she had been right. Baking was similar enough that it helped fill the hole left by brewing and different enough to pose a serious challenge, one in which he could lose himself for a short while at least.
He sat Harry down poured the tea he had prepared just before Harry arrived and then took the lid off the cake dome on the table. “Would you like some cake alpha,” he asked casually.
Harry looked at the delicious-looking chocolate layer cake with buttercream icing and smiled “Severus? Did you make this,”
“I did alpha, it is almost like brewing,” he said with a smile.
Harry’s heart swelled as he took in the smiling, clearly proud of himself omega. “I would love some Severus, it looks delicious,”
Severus cut his cake noting that the layers were set nicely and the slice looked perfect as he slid it onto the plate in front of Harry. He passed him a cake fork and said “I hope you like it,”
Harry took the fork and cut into his cake, determined to say he loved it no matter what. The chocolate taste exploded in his mouth, the soft gooey texture of the cake and smooth rich ganache combined to create a chocolate sensation and the moan which escaped him boarded on filthy. “Oh Sev, this is divine,” he exclaimed.
Severus' smile widened and picked up his own fork. “I am so glad you like it alpha,” he said and he closed his eyes as the rich chocolate taste exploded in his mouth.