Raising Harry

PetuniaxSeverus, Harry

Rated T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

Raising Harry

Epilogue: Happy Ever After

1 Year Later…

Severus slowly awakened from his slumber, his circadian rhythm bringing him to the world of wakefulness. He used to wake up at five-thirty every morning, but since being married to his wife for the past year, he had been able to sleep at least another hour, if not two. Thinking of his wife, he turned his head to look at the woman still sleeping with her back turned to him, her blonde hair splayed on the pillow like soft golden waves. Rolling onto his side he wrapped his arm around her, his face pressed into her neck as his hand rested against the swell of her six months pregnant stomach.

The day Petunia found out she was pregnant came as a surprise to the both of them. The one to suggest she was had been Harry when he took notice that his mother had been gaining what seemed to be healthy weight and had practically eaten an entire jar of pickles Hermione's uncle had made for them. That being enough to convince Petunia to take a test, she allowed Severus to brew a Pregnancy Detecting Potion and after a drop of her blood to it, Severus was able to confirm that she indeed was expecting. Harry had been excited at the prospect of having a little sibling, and when the shock eventually wore off, Petunia too was ecstatic. Severus though had been in the most shock but his heart swelled with fatherly pride at the prospect of his family growing bigger. They had just celebrated their first wedding anniversary two weeks ago and on the same day had found out they were expecting a baby girl.

Smiling Severus rubbed his large hand over Petunia's stomach before holding her close, being careful not to squeeze her large tummy. He held her sleeping form for about ten minutes before he decided to rouse the blonde from her sleep. Sitting up slightly, Severus kissed along Petunia's neck up to her ear before whispering into it, "Wake up, Petunia."

Petunia groaned slightly as her eyebrows scrunched together before turning her head towards the younger man. Opening her blue eyes, Petunia peered up at him for a moment before smiling softly and greeting, "Morning Sev."

"Morning. Time to wake up now."

"Do I have to?"

"I suppose not, but we did promise Harry to take him shopping for his supplies for his being a Sixth Year Ravenclaw student. And he'll be back from spending the night with Black soon."

Petunia nodded before sitting up in their bed, a hand resting on her pregnant tummy before stretching her stiff limbs a bit. Once she stretched she got out of bed, quickly making her way to the bathroom to relieve herself. Severus chuckled watching her walk towards the connected bathroom, her walk a slight waddle due to her stomach. She wasn't really large yet, but because she had always been thin her stomach seemed large on her, even though it was only six months. He waited until his wife had exited the bathroom, having washed her face and brushed her teeth as well, before going in to handle his own business. Once that was done he left the bathroom to change from his sleepwear to regular clothes. As he put on a pair of dark blue jeans, white V-neck shirt, and black boots and socks, Petunia put on a royal blue maternity dress and tan colored flats. Taking her wand, she waved it at her hair to pull the blonde tresses back into French braid going down her back, a few locks hanging loose around her face. When they were both set, they left their bedroom and headed down the stairs, Severus holding Petunia's hand along the way.

Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, Harry walked through the front door and smiled at his parents. Moving to hug them both he greeted, "Hi, mum. Hi, dad."

"Hello darling," Petunia replied in greeting, kissing the sixteen-year-old on his cheek. "Did you have fun with Sirius?"

"Yeah, I did. We had a lot of fun, and we spent time with Remus, too. But guess what? Sirius introduced me to the woman he's been seeing, and she's a Muggle; her name is Gwen."

Severus raised an eyebrow before saying, "I seem to recall Black saying he'd never date a Muggle. I wonder what changed his mind."

Harry grinned at his aunt and said, "Mum did. He said that though she was a newly discovered witch when he first met her, she was more Muggle than anything and he found that Muggles were quite interesting and even wouldn't be opposed to dating a Muggle woman. And between you and me, he's really smitten with Gwen."

Severus nodded slowly before ruffling Harry's unruly hair, telling him to take his overnight bag to his room so they could have breakfast before heading to Diagon Alley. As Harry went upstairs, Petunia smiled up at her husband before asking, "Nothing snarky to say about Sirius and Gwen?"

"No, because I understand being rather smitten with an amazing Muggle woman," he replied, referring to when it was believed Petunia was a mere Muggle when he had begun a romantic relationship with her.

Petunia smiled sweetly at him before kissing him softly on his lips. She moved towards the kitchen, intent on starting breakfast as Severus followed, putting on a pot of coffee. Harry soon joined them in the kitchen to assist Petunia, and before long a hearty breakfast was laid out for the three of them on the table. The three of them ate and talked, Harry mostly discussing the classes he was going to be taking his Sixth Year, mostly being excited for Apparition class, as well as N.E.W.T.-level Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. He knew for a fact he'd have those classes with Draco and Hermione, the three of them having scored rather high in those classes on their O.W.L.s, though he'd have Herbology with Neville. Not only was he excited for classes, he was just happy to be able to see his little gang of friends again.

"I'm can't wait to hear what everyone did over the summer. I know Hermione traveled with the Malfoys to France, Ron and his family went to America, and Vincent and Greg traveled to America, but I can't wait to hear what Susan, Neville and Luna did," Harry said. His smile widened upon thinking about the dreamy blonde witch he had been smitten with since being a Fourth Year.

Severus smirked before casually asking, "You will be asking Miss Lovegood to a few Hogsmeade weekends, I presume?"

At Harry's deep blush Petunia giggled before saying, "I'm surprised you haven't asked her to be your girlfriend yet."

"I…I don't know if she wants to date me," Harry replied almost shyly.

"I'm sure she likes you a lot as well. Just pluck up your courage and ask her when you're ready."

"That might never happen, Petunia," Severus said. Looking at his adoptive son and said, "If Miss Lovegood is as you say she is, and deducing from my own personal observation of you two together, she will agree to a date with you regardless of whether you ask her or not. She seems to always know things others don't, something I haven't seemed to figure out yet. Anyway, my point being is that Miss Lovegood will be delighted to be in a relationship with you and she likes you for who you are, so don't waste any more time and ask her already."

Harry stared at his father for a moment before smiling and nodding, turning back to his breakfast. Petunia smiled at her husband appreciatively before taking a sip of grape juice. Severus nodded at her and took a sip of his black coffee. Harry had been feeling a bit insecure, and Severus had quickly helped to quell it. The blonde loved watching her husband and child interact, having loved it since Harry was but four years old and Severus was completely awkward with the amount of affection Harry displayed towards him. To see them now being completely natural with each other, being father and son, it warmed her heart greatly.

The new term at Hogwarts went on without a hitch, and Harry was pleased to see that Remus Lupin had been reintroduced as DADA professor. During the first Hogsmeade weekend Harry finally asked Luna on a date with him to which the blonde enthusiastically agreed, and three dates later they were officially dating. Severus would always be amused seeing the two of them together, even more so seeing them on double dates with Draco and Hermione. Even so, he was happy that his son was happy and that nothing crazy had happened since the term began.

In October it was announced that Dumbledore had escaped his cell in Azkaban and was attempting to sail away but had been caught by a Dementor and had been Kissed on the spot. Many witches and wizards mourned his death, though Petunia and Severus couldn't help but feel nothing at the news of the old man's death. He had brought a lot of hell upon their lives and thus cared not about the news. Though when November rolled around, an eagle Patronus had flown into the Great Hall one morning during breakfast—a week before Thanksgiving—towards Severus. Severus instantly knew it was Petunia, his wife being able to produce her own Patronus the year prior, and the message it relayed was simply 'It's time'. McGonagall had excused both him and Harry, allowing them to head to St. Mungo's to be present for the birth of baby Snape.

Two hours later Petunia had given birth to a healthy baby girl with her mother's blue eyes and father's black hair. The MediWitch had been positive that the girl would break hearts as she grew older, making both Severus and Harry instantly more protective of her than they were already going to be. Holding her in her arms had been rather surreal for Petunia; she hadn't held a newborn since Dudley and wasn't even sure she would birth another baby since him. But here she was sixteen years later, holding her newborn baby girl in her arms.

Harry had gotten a chance to hold his new sister and couldn't help but state that she had both Petunia's and Lily's nose, him chuckling when Severus let out a sigh of relief at the news. However when Severus held his daughter for the first time, his black eyes shown with tears as he peered down into her tiny face. He never imagined himself having a family or child of his own, always having believed they were just out of reach for him, even believing that he didn't deserve them. And yet some higher power deemed him worthy to have found love—a true love—with an amazing woman, become a father to her charge, and even a husband to her. And now he had been blessed with a child of his own. Yes, he had Harry but this feeling was definitely different. Even so, he knew that he'd love this child the same way he loved Harry.

Passing their daughter back to her mother, Severus said, "We need to give her a name."

Petunia looked down into her daughter's little face before smiling and saying, "Her name…her name is Eileen Lillian Rose Snape."

Severus smiled at the name Petunia bestowed upon their daughter, paying homage to their mothers and the one person they both loved and lost fifteen years ago. Harry smiled at the name as well before telling his parents he was heading back to Hogwarts to deliver the news to his friends. But before he left, he grinned at them and said, "Now our family is complete."

"Yes, yes it is," Petunia replied before her boy left the hospital room. Turning to look up at her husband, Petunia told him, "You know, I don't think I ever truly believed in a happy ever after until you and Harry came into my life. And now with this little one, I don't need anything else to make me happy."

Kissing his wife Severus smiled at her and replied, "I feel the same. You, Harry, and Eileen are the most important people in my life and I know I have my happy ever after with you three." Giving her one more kiss he whispered, "I love you."

The blonde smiled lovingly at the man in front of her and replied just as softly, "I love you, too."

The Potions Master smiled at the woman he loved more than anything before turning his gaze down to their daughter. Blue eyes stared back at him as he looked at her and he stroked a long finger against her soft cheek. Eileen scrunched her nose a bit before smiling up at her father, instantly pulling him under her little spell. She was so precious, yet Severus had a feeling she would have just as much cheek and be just as much trouble as her older brother. Black eyes looked at Petunia and Severus asked, "Are you ready to raise this little one?"

Petunia smirked at her man and replied, "If we can raise Harry, we can definitely raise this child, no matter how much trouble she causes."

The couple laughed softly together before cooing over their daughter, ready to embark on another chapter in their lives involving Eileen. Yes, they had been through an amazing journey in the process of raising Harry, and they wouldn't trade it for anything. And they knew that they would go through another amazing journey raising their daughter. They were together, they were happy, they were a family, and they couldn't ask for anything more.

Author's Note: This is the end of Raising Harry. This is my longest and most proud piece of written work yet, and I hate that it had to come to an end. But alas, all good things do eventually. Thank you all so much for your support of this story and following me along Harry's, Petunia's, and Severus' journey to happiness. I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I did. Again, thank you all so much! XOXO, SehunsBae37.