Resolved

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Chapter 8 - Resolved

As the spring approached, Lily noted how the world was coming to life again. The buds were forming on the trees; lush greenery was peeking out from the melting show. Everywhere she looked, she saw life thriving, but inside her heart, she felt she was dying.

Harry was growing so fast! She could hardly believe he was going to be two-years old in only three months. Each day he spoke more and more, and finally, one day he called Severus, “Daddy.” She cried uncontrollably upon hearing that.

Severus rubbed her back as they lay in their bed later.

“It isn’t such a terrible thought, is it, Lily?” he asked as he kissed her between her shoulder blades.

Lily had long since forgone wearing anything to bed. Severus was either insatiable or he just craved her. Either way, he made love to her in some fashion every night, save when she was having her period. She believed that if she wanted him, he’d even have sex with her during that time of the month as well!

She couldn’t believe her attitude. Here was her best friend, the man who'd loved her longer than anyone, who had saved her and her son, who worshipped her body like she were a goddess, and she was sulking because her son had called that man “Daddy!” Well, he was in the purest sense of the word. He fed him, changed him, played with him, read to him, hell, he even took it upon himself as the man in the boy’s life to toilet train him! He loved Harry. He loved her. He wanted to marry her and have more babies with her.

“No, Severus,” she whispered. “It isn’t a terrible thought at all.”

***

One night in June, she was playing with Harry on the rug in front of the fire. Severus came out of their bedroom dressed in his best robes.

“Lily,” he called out to her.

She turned to him and gave a low whistle. “Severus Snape! Where are you going in that get-up?” she teased.

He smiled weakly. “I am off to visit the Malfoys.”

Lily’s smile disappeared. Her green eyes snapped. She picked up Harry, and as she walked by him, she hissed, “Don’t you dare move!”

After she got Harry situated in his room, she came out and marched towards him with murder in her eyes.

“You made a promise to me, Severus! A promise! You swore you would never go back to that life!”

“Lily, I’m not!” he said in his defense. “I still have my job to do. I’m here after all as a cover for my real job—as a spy!”

“Severus! Those days are over!” she said happily. “You are free—free! You can live your life without having to consort with those evil people.”

“Lily, Lucius is still a threat. He is growing more powerful with the Ministry every day. I see the subtle signs. Lucius is nothing if not subtle. He lied about being under the Imperius Curse, and he is a threat to you and to Harry. He has a small band of followers, and he is spouting his pureblood rhetoric. Lily, he has to be watched carefully. He trusts me. Keep your enemies close, Lily. That way you’ll see the poison as they try to slip it in your cup. Remember that!”

She looked somber, and he lifted her chin to look into her eyes. She couldn’t see him.

“It’ll never be over, will it?” she whispered softly, her eyes looking beyond him.

He took her by the shoulders and made her focus back on him. “I will never stop until it is. However, Lucius has a son. He’s Harry’s age. Lucius will fight to the death to keep his son safe and give him the life he feels he deserves. He is extremely dangerous.”

“You would do the same for Harry, wouldn’t you, Severus?” she whispered.

His brows furrowed. “Whatever you mean, Lily?” he asked worriedly.

“Just that you think of Harry as your own son, right?”

“You know I do. I love you and Harry.”

Lily’s eyes began to shine brightly as she stared at the wizard before her. “You would keep him here and teach him everything about the dark arts, defense, potions—you’d make sure no one ever hurt a hair on his head, wouldn’t you?” she asked desperately.

“Of course, Lily. You don’t even have to ask.”

“I love you, Severus,” she blurted out as she embraced him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

Severus was overcome with her ardor and her declaration of love. He picked her up and took her to their bed. Lucius would wait.

***

She made love to him. She had never truly made love to him before. He had made love to her, worshipped her, adored her, yet still after all this time, she had never really made love to him.

She straddled him after stripping him of his clothes and took control over his body. He was speechless. She was frantic, riding him so hard and desperately, they both climaxed together within minutes. Panting, she slid off him and lay next to his glistening body.

“This must be heaven,” he whispered slowly.

He turned his head to her and looked deeply into her lovely green eyes. “Lily, you were so beautiful,” he whispered.

“When?” she asked.

“Just now. I watched you as you came. Your face was so beautiful. You are just so beautiful. I-I wish I could take you with me. You would be the most devastating witch in the room!”

He got up and went into the bathroom to wash up. The reality of what he'd said hit her.

He’ll never be able to take me out on his arm. Not as long as people like Malfoy are around, he will always have to spy and place himself in danger. I’ll never be free.

Something snapped inside Lily Potter. Everything became clear and focused in her mind, and the answer was simple. She wished Severus luck as he left and, after she had cleaned and dressed herself, went to take care of her son and explain to him her plan.

He was playing nicely with his blocks. She picked him up and rocked him as she talked.

“You are The Boy Who Lived, Harry. I should have died with your real daddy.” She looked into his green eyes, the eyes she had given him, and brushed her finger over the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

“Harry, Severus is going to be your mummy and daddy now. He’s going to love you and take care of you. You’re going to be a great wizard, Harry Potter. Severus will see to that. He’ll care for you like Lucius cares for his son. You’re not a Mudblood like me. You are a Potter. They were as pure-blood as they come. I’m a witch, so even though your mother was a Mudblood, you will at least be a half-blood in their eyes. Severus is a half-blood, and he is accepted. Harry, I’ll only hold you back. It’s not fair to Severus, either.”

She held Harry close to her and kissed him. “Oh, Harry, I pray to God Severus will find a good witch who will love him how he deserves! Now, you go to bed now. Sleep, and in the morning you’ll have a new life. Severus will love you and watch over you as his own.”

She leaned over and kissed her son. His hands played with her long, red hair.

“I always promised you a future, sweetheart. You shall have one. Make sure you find a good wife and give me lots of grandbabies!” She laughed as she cried. “I love you.”

She left him to sleep, and she walked into Severus’ private potions storeroom. She calmly looked for what she needed and went into his lab. There, she methodically created the potion she needed. She sat down at Severus’ desk, took up his quill, and wrote him a note. It read,

Severus,

Lily