This is the last chapter folks. Thank you all for following this, it was wicked fun to write. There is a very heavy possibility for a longer sequel. Usual disclaimer: JK Rowling is the owner of these boys, I just rent them from her on the weekends. ;)

'For now' turned out to be twenty minutes. That was how long Remus and Severus were able to touch and savour each other before Harry started wailing.

Severus huffed and leaned his forehead against Remus' shoulder. "I changed the last one."

"Technically, I did. There was another explosion, after you left."

Huffing in irritation at Remus' sniggering, Severus withdrew and slipped out of bed. He grabbed his silk dressing robe, and wrapped himself up in it as he made his way to the nursery. He murmured Lumos, so that he didn't have to switch on the harsh overhead light which would startle Harry.

"Just how much have you eaten, that you've soiled several nappies in a few hours' time?"

A hiccupping cry was the only response he got.

Severus picked the boy up and tucked him under his chin, prepared to take him to the table, but he stopped after a moment. "You're clean," he muttered, after feeling the baby's bum and not smelling the noxious fumes he had earlier. He looked into Harry's eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Dada," Harry whimpered and buried his nose against Severus' neck.

Unsure of what to do, Severus moved to put him back in the cot, but Harry wouldn't have anything to do with it, showing his displeasure very loudly. "All right, I won't put you back," Severus assured him. "Hungry?" he asked, trying to think of things that could be wrong.

Harry just rubbed at his eyes, snuffled, and promptly fell asleep, ensconced in Severus' arms.

"Bugger." Leaving the nursery, Severus entered his bedchamber and sat on the bed next to a shirtless Remus. "He refuses to sleep in his cot."

"That doesn't surprise me," Remus said, laying his hand on Harry's head, gently stroking the flyaway locks. "He's been jostled about, feared abandonment, I'm sure, and heard a lot of screaming. I'd be stressed, as well."

Thinking about earlier, Severus grimaced. "There may be another reason," he said hesitantly.

Remus frowned and sat up. "What?"

Sliding fully into the bed, the dark wizard lay on his side and placed Harry between himself and Remus. "Do you know about Legilimency?"

Mirroring Severus' pose, Remus lay too, studying the other man. "It's powerful magic; I know that."

"It gives the wielder the ability to enter the thoughts, memories, and ideas of the person they wish to 'observe'. I've been studying it for many years, as well as its counter attack, Occlumency."

"What does that have to do with Harry?"

Snape stroked his jaw in contemplation. "I glimpsed a fraction of Harry's mind earlier this evening."

Remus' eyes widened. "What did you see?"

Closing his own eyes against the images, Severus blew out a pent up breath. "Lily's death and..."

"And?" Remus prompted when it looked like Snape would rather not talk about it.

"The Dark Lord," Snape whispered.

Darting his gaze to a now peacefully slumbering Harry, Remus paled significantly. "What are you saying?"

"I need to see more."

"How?"

Lying on his back, Harry apparently felt safe, as his deep breathing indicated.

"By entering here," Severus said, placing his fingers lightly upon the boy's forehead near the scar.

"Can it be done in one so young?"

"If I'm careful."

"I trust you."

Severus narrowed his eyes and snapped them to Remus. "Why?"

The werewolf smirked. "Because you care for Harry."

Severus snorted. "You know nothing."

"I know a lot more than you think," Remus said softly. "He's peaceful around you. When children encounter people in their lives, they have an innate sense of their intentions, character and personality. He trusts you, whether you acknowledge it or not. Therefore, I trust you." He waggled his eyebrows. "Plus, it helps that you smell good." Pointing to his own nose, he smiled. "It never lies."

Rolling his eyes, Severus tried to hide a smirk and almost succeeded. "It will be easier on the boy if he's asleep when I perform the spell."

"I'll keep watch that you're not disturbed, or in case of any trouble."

Nodding, Severus gingerly touched his fingers to Harry's skin and whispered, "Legilimens."

It was as he expected: chaotic. Thoughts weren't fully formed and were filled with images with no discernible dialogue. That was, until he carefully slipped deeper into Harry's subconscious. There, Severus found an oily darkness that clung to him, luring him with whispered promises of power. How intoxicating it was—sickly sweet like opium, begging him to take just one more whiff and succumb to the dark need that always lay beneath the surface of his flesh.

He backed away as much as he could and still remain in Harry's head, but it was extremely difficult. It was almost like quicksand: seemingly harmless until you stumbled into it. Then you were gone almost before you knew it. He thought he was through the worst of it, when he was blindsided with a memory no child could ever have.

Murder. Specifically, that of James and Lily. Everything, from finding Godric's Hollow to the confusion and rage at the boy's survival, was swirling here in this remote corner of Harry's brain. Thinking he'd seen enough, Severus started to withdraw, but was shocked to come across none other than Peter Pettigrew. He was whispering things to Riddle, nodding with a malicious smirk that gave Severus chills. How on earth was Pettigrew involved in all of this? Needing to know more, he plunged deeper into memories that were clearly not Harry's.

Scene after scene of Pettigrew's treachery was presented; some were easily accessed, others, however, were damned near impossible to reach. Severus almost lost himself within them. What unnerved him most, though, was the glimpse of a ring, beautiful to behold, and Tom Riddle caressing it like a lover. It then switched to a scene where Riddle was older, possibly after his leaving Hogwarts, and in a ramshackle building, placing the ring inside a golden box and hiding it beneath the shack's rotting floorboards. Severus was about to study this particular memory closer, when Riddle turned and stared straight at him.

"Snape."

His name was only whispered, but it was enough to make him leave Harry's mind immediately. Shaking, pale, and about to vomit, Severus rolled off the bed and ran to the bathroom. He clutched the sides of the porcelain bowl and emptied his stomach, his eyes squeezed shut as if that would stop what he'd seen.

"Severus?" Remus asked quietly from the doorway.

Spiting the remaining bile into the water, Severus stood on unsteady legs and flushed the toilet. "I'm fine," he said, waving off the other man. "It was draining; that's all."

"You look like you've seen a ghost." Remus soaked a flannel with tap water and handed it to Severus. "Put this on the back of your neck. It'll help."

"I know how to take care of myself," Snape snapped and pushed the wet cloth away. He shoved his way past Lupin and into the bedchamber, only to stop and study a still slumbering Harry. "You have no idea what sort of trouble we've inherited."

Remus came to stand just behind him and followed his gaze. "Again, what did you see?"

Severus told him what he'd witnessed, especially the part about Pettigrew, though he wisely left the encounter with Riddle out of any discussion. He was already paranoid enough; he didn't need a werewolf that was constantly looking over his shoulder, creating even more stress. It wouldn't be good for Harry. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

"So Peter betrayed them," Remus whispered after several moments. "That means Sirius is innocent!"

Cursing himself five times for a fool, Severus mentally berated the imprudent decision of not curbing his tongue. "Is he?" he drawled.

Remus frowned. "You know he is."

"I think not. I have the scars, emotional and physical, to prove it," Severus hissed.

"You would hold a grudge, even now?"

Backing the taller wizard against the wall, Snape sneered. "You weren't the one tormented!"

"But this is a man's life—his freedom!"

"Then, by all means, prove him innocent," Severus said with disdain. "You lack a key player in this whole debacle: Pettigrew. Assuming he's not dead, I can guarantee that, even if you find him, he won't let you take him alive."

Remus wanted to argue with him, but he knew Snape was right. Unless they could find Peter, it would be futile to try and free Sirius. "We need to tell Dumbledore."

Severus snorted. "He is the last person I would tell. I suggest you take that to heart."

"Why?"

"Our dear Headmaster is just as manipulative, just as wily, as the Dark Lord—if not more so. There is some game afoot here and I feel that we are just the pawns, waiting for someone to make a move. Better to be on the defensive rather than run blindly into a situation like a bloody Gryffindor."

Ignoring the blatant invitation to a verbal spar, Remus rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. "So what do we do now, then?"

"Research." Severus made his way back to his side of the bed and slipped under the covers, placing the arm that held the Dark Mark away from Harry. "But first, sleep."

"That's it? We just sleep on it?"

Yawning, Snape muttered a Nox to extinguish the lights. "Suit yourself. Stay up and worry, if you like."

"You're impossible!" Remus threw his hands in the air and climbed into bed on Harry's other side.

"I doubt anything more will happen tonight, with Harry sleeping right here, and I'm past the point of exhaustion. If I am to be of any use, I need to rest, even if it's only for a few hours."

"Fine," Remus said begrudgingly. "I'm quite tired myself. Research will just have to wait for tomorrow."

"First sensible thing you've said since I had the unfortunate luck to meet up with you again."

The dark room held a tense silence. "I never approved of what James and Sirius did to you, you know?" Remus murmured.

"Too little, too late." There was a shifting of covers and a slight whimper from Harry. "The damage has already been done. Leave it alone."

"My apology still stands," Remus muttered and fell asleep soon after.

"Mister Lupin, what're you doing in the Restricted Section?"

Remus gave Madam Pince an affable smile. "Looking for a book, of course." He gave her a cheeky wink.

She was not swayed by his charm. "Maybe if you would tell me what you're looking for, I could locate it for you."

He grimaced somewhat. "See, that's the problem. I have an idea what I want, but nothing specific."

"Then what, in general, are you seeking?" There was exasperation in her voice.

"Something in the area of personality transference, maybe?"

Pince frowned for a moment, then moved over to a section that had many thick tomes, all with weighty chains attached to them. "You might find this section helpful. Do be careful with this one, though." She pointed at a red leather-bound volume. "It will steal your soul, if you read it aloud."

His brows rose into his hairline. "Thank you for the warning." He watched her nod and leave—he supposed on some errand or off to reprimand a student.

After a night of heavy sleep for Severus, Harry and himself, it had been decided that Snape would try to give the boy a bath, while Remus would begin the research. Several theories abounded between him and Severus, so there was a lot of material that needed sifting through.

Taking Magick Moste Evile from the topmost shelf, Remus sat at a desk near the bookcase containing the section Pince had indicated. He honestly feared moving from the area while holding one of the books, imagining all sorts of terrible things that might happen. Having skimmed the contents, he began with the introduction.

"Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak, nor give direction."

What the hell was a Horcrux? He flipped through the pages, searching with growing frustration at finding nothing more. Reaching the end leaf, he slammed the book closed, which he quickly regretted, since it started to growl at him.

"Sorry," he muttered and stroked the spine. The growls lowered to rumblings.

"Why is that book snarling at you, Lupin?"

Remus had only himself to blame for the near heart attack Severus gave him by sneaking up behind him. "Are you always so light-footed?" he grumbled.

Severus quirked a brow. "Are you always so anxious?" He switched Harry from his left hip to his right.

"Sometimes." Remus stood and walked over to the men who were now a part of his life. "Do you know what a Horcrux is?"

"No, what is it?"

Harry happily sucked on his dummy, his hand firmly wrapped around Severus' lapel. His verdant eyes looked at Remus, and he seemed to finally decide he wanted to be held by him. "Papa."

Unable to help the smile that graced his face, Remus gladly took Harry and cuddled him close, inhaling his freshly washed scent. "How was his bath?"

"We are never to discuss this travesty," Severus snarled. "I ended up changing my robes. Twice."

"Maybe we should give him his bath together—one to hold him, the other to wash?"

"It bears thought." Severus stroked his bottom lip in concentration, unaware that Remus watched the motion with flashing eyes. "I've not heard of a Horcrux," he said, suddenly changing the subject back. "What is it?"

They moved together to exit the library and headed towards the Great Hall for a leisurely lunch. "I have no idea. I was hoping you had more information."

"Did you reference other books on the subject?"

Glancing around, Remus leaned in and whispered, "I don't think there'll be any more information. What I read said it would not be discussed."

With Lupin so close, Severus was able to look his fill without seeming obvious. "There are other libraries," he said with a devious smirk.

"Where?"

"Like I'd tell you." Severus spied Dumbledore already seated at the head table. "If you can keep the Headmaster occupied for a couple hours, I'm sure I could find something."

"Why don't I like this idea?"

Snape shrugged. "You're not Slytherin enough?"

Any retort Remus had was forgotten when Dumbledore stood and made his way towards them. "My goodness, you boys do clean up quite well."

Harry was still curled into Remus, while Severus stood next to them, arms crossed. "You'd be clean too, if you'd taken as many dousing as I have this morning."

"Trouble?" the Headmaster asked, amused.

"None that couldn't be handled." Severus manoeuvred around Dumbledore and made his way to a seat at the table.

"I'm guessing it was like trying to bathe a cat: full of hissing, spitting and quite terrifying to behold, at least on Snape's part," Remus said. "Sir, would you be available to accompany me to Hogsmeade this afternoon?"

Dumbledore had kept his gazed trained on Severus, though Remus was speaking to him. "Hmm? Oh, yes... of course."

"Good. Harry could use some more clothes, and I'm absolutely pants at that sort of thing." Remus followed the Headmaster to the table, and sat next to Snape. When Dumbledore was suitably distracted, Remus leaned over and murmured, "You have three hours this afternoon."

Severus shouldn't want the wolf to linger near him, but that didn't stop him from gasping when Remus stole a quick kiss just beneath his ear. "I'll see what I can find."

"If I were a Dark text, where would I hide?" Severus said aloud in the Headmaster's chamber.

For a good hour, he perused shelves, cupboards, desks and niches in search of any pertinent books regarding Horcruxes. Holding his hand a few inches above each item, he slowly made his way around the room, until he reached a painting of a bowl of fruit that hung midway on a wall behind the large desk. It was clearly Muggle in origin and spoke of mediocre skill. What intrigued Severus the most, though, were the almost impenetrable wards surrounding it, indicating that something precious lay hidden behind it.

It took him forty-five minutes to get past the wards, and he got a few singed fingers for his efforts. Finally plucking the painting off the wall, Severus frowned at seeing just another section of wall and not a hole or other concealment spot. He was putting the painting back when he scraped his knuckles across the rough stone, smearing traces of blood onto where it would be hung once more. Instantly, a small, rectangular hole that held a slim volume was revealed.

"Blood magic," Severus harrumphed in disgust. Setting the frame to the side, he snatched the book and looked it over. "Secrets of the Darkest Arts." It thrummed with malevolent energy, and it was all he could do not to succumb to its seductive allure. Though he despised Dumbledore for keeping the D.A.D.A. position from becoming his, he now understood the reasoning behind the Headmaster's refusal to let him teach the class. How easily he could fall into that trap again, like an addict.

Strengthening his resolve, he made an exact duplicate of the text and placed the original back in the slot. He re-hung the painting, adding to the wards that had been in place with something a little stronger than blood magic. Severus was, after all, dark in nature; his magic should reflect that. Tucking the volume inside his robe pocket, he quietly left the Headmaster's office.

When Remus returned from his trip, his arms full of a cranky Harry, and packages floating behind him, he handed the squirming child over to Severus and collapsed in the nearest chair. "Being a parent isn't as easy as it looks," he groaned while stretching.

Harry calmed immediately the moment he spotted Severus. "Dada!" he cried, reaching for the man's face with sticky fingers.

Severus winced when the goo-covered digits slapped onto his cheeks. "What on earth did you feed him?"

"We passed by Honeydukes and a lolly caught his fancy." Remus ran a hand through his shaggy locks, leaving them standing straight up in some areas due to his own sticky fingers.

Severus had to cough to cover the chuckle that threatened to let loose at the sight. The dark wizard returned his gaze to Harry. "A thorough cleaning for you, then." He disappeared into the bathroom with the child in tow.

Remus sat slumped in the chair and stared at the low fire in the grate. It had been rather tedious spending time with Harry and Dumbledore, when he was used to the almost complete solitude he'd had since leaving Hogwarts. Factor in that, within a week's time, he would need to head to his old haunt, the Shrieking Shack, for his transformation and that he was suffering from a near constant itch to touch Severus, and he was ready to give up and let someone Avada him.

He didn't know if Dumbledore had bought the story of his needing new things for Harry, but the old man had remained with them the entire time. Hopefully, Severus had obtained some sort of information that could be useful, for Remus surely couldn't do anything like that again. He was about to nod off, when Snape appeared in his line of vision and made himself comfortable in another chair, off to Remus' left.

"Harry's sleeping for the moment." Severus steepled his fingers and pressed his lips against them in deep contemplation. "I found something," he offered quietly.

Remus leaned closer. "What?"

Severus nodded in the direction of a small book lying upon the coffee table. "I've read most of it. What I could, at least; some of it is in an unfamiliar language. What I did read, though, was..." He swallowed thickly. "Disturbing."

"That bad?" Hearing that from Severus made him want to throw the thing into the fire, but he gingerly picked it up and opened it to the first page. "Immortality," he read.

"No!" Snape whispered harshly. "Do not read aloud! There are all manner of Dark spells and content in there, some triggered merely by being spoken."

"Sorry." Remus looked sheepish. Head bent over the book, he read silently, gasping every now and then, or closing his eyes and shuddering after reading some passages. When he came to the chapter on Horcruxes, he darted his gaze to Severus. "Is this..."

"Yes... in great detail, I might add."

Remus read further, covering his mouth to keep from sicking up, and growing paler by the minute. At one point, it became too much and he flung the book away from him, standing quickly. "My god, Severus," he choked while pacing. "How... why... I can't believe..." He gave up trying to verbalise anything.

Severus watched him stride back and forth in the small lounge. The time had come for them to make a decision regarding Harry and, while he wished he could be the sole guardian for the boy, he knew it would be an exercise in futility if he tried to do things on his own. There were too many variables in a situation such as the one they were in, and he knew that—when it came right down to it—if Harry were threatened by anything, Remus would gladly lay down his life to protect him. Severus' heart twinged a bit, to know that the werewolf wouldn't do the same for him and that his crusade to free Black might very well jeopardize all of their lives.

"You have a choice before you."

Halting his pacing, Remus frowned. "What kind of choice? About what?"

"Seeing as I was in the Dark Lord's employ for several years, I can almost guarantee that, if that book is indeed correct, he created a Horcrux—likely more than one."

"In this, we are in agreement," Remus said, sitting once more. "What does that have to do with a choice?"

Lowering his eyes, Severus began fiddling with the long row of buttons on his coat. "You must make the choice of either helping me find these Horcruxes or committing yourself to freeing Black." He gave the other wizard credit for not answering right away.

Remus leaned back in his chair and stared into the fire, his gaze pensive. After what seemed like hours, he slowly rose and made his way over to Severus, only to kneel in front of him. Without permission, he unfastened the buttons on Snape's left cuff and rolled the fabric up to reveal the Dark Mark. "Why did you take this?" he asked in a hushed voice.

Throughout the entire scene, not once had Severus reprimanded Remus for his presumption and, even now, he did not have it in him to chastise the wolf for being curious. "I was angry, disgruntled, arrogant, and opportunistic—everything a megalomaniac looks for in his followers."

Smiling ruefully, Remus nodded. "I know we have never really seen eye-to-eye on much of anything, save how dreadful nappy–changing can be, but I'd like to think that we can at least come to care for each other, yes?" He gave Severus a hopeful look. "I mean, it would make the raising of Harry much more tolerable, if we were—"

His prattle was effectively ceased when Severus captured his lips in a searing kiss. Severus deepened it, when he heard Remus moan, and threaded his long finger through the sandy-blond strands to hold him in place for his assault. "Do you care for me?" Severus whispered against Remus' mouth, with a nip at the plump flesh.

"I'm afraid I could. More than you can imagine."

"Then what is your choice?" Severus hated giving Lupin the chance to reunite with his old lover but he wanted no second thoughts in that matter. The whole ordeal would be nothing less than deadly if there were any doubts.

Remus leaned his forehead against Severus'. "I cannot say that I won't stop trying to free Sirius," he murmured but quickly amended his words when he felt Snape stiffen. "However, I want to help you and Harry—you two are my family now and I protect what's mine."

"I expect nothing less than a Wizard's Oath in return if I am to believe that."

A hint of vulnerability entered Remus' gaze. "Do you not trust me?"

Severus cupped his face and caressed the soft skin of his cheeks. "I trust you to do what is right for Harry, but these things we'll have to face will be like nothing we've seen before. If I'm correct, and I usually am—" he glared at Remus' snort before continuing "—each of these Horcruxes contains a piece of the Dark Lord's soul. The man was cunning, devious and manipulative in life; if these items are imbued with even a portion of his soul, they could hold sway over your own life, convince you of things that aren't real." He looked at Remus pointedly. "Convince you that Harry and I are the enemy."

Eyes widening, Remus finally understood what Severus was asking of him. "I swear upon the blood of Merlin, upon the blood of my forefathers and the magic of my chosen house, Gryffindor, that I will protect, care for, and defend Severus Snape and Harry Potter to the best of my abilities or my life be forfeit. So mote it be."

Finding his heart in his throat, Severus repeated the same oath, substituting Slytherin for Gryffindor and Remus for himself. When he muttered, "So mote it be," there was a flash of blue light that filled the room momentarily before disappearing, leaving behind a slight weight bearing down upon their shoulders.

Both men took some time to sort through their thoughts, silence reigning until Remus said, "I want to see Harry."

Rising together, they made their way to the nursery. A Lumos was cast, and the soft, pulsing light shed enough brightness to allow them to see that Harry was slumbering peacefully on his stomach, his small bum stuck in the air.

"Do you think we should tell Dumbledore what we know?"

Severus snorted. "He probably already knows. That's why he's keen on keeping tabs on the boy." He shook his head in disgust. "I won't let him treat Harry like a lamb for the slaughter."

Tears fringed Remus' lashes. "How do we get rid of whatever is inside of him?"

"Research." Severus clasped Remus' hand in his. "It may take years to find out everything but, if it keeps Harry safe, so be it."

"And what about us?"

Leaning over, Severus pressed a soft kiss to Remus' stubbled jaw. "I'm sure we can find ways of relieving the stress, don't you think?"

Instead of answering verbally, Remus closed what little distance lay between them, wrapped Severus in his arms and nuzzled his neck. He nipped at the taut column of corded muscle, hoping he left several marks behind.

They were moving towards the door when they heard a sound that stopped them in their tracks. A loud squelch filled the air, followed by an intolerable stench, and both wizards groaned.

"Papa," Harry whimpered and stood wobbling by the cot rail.

Barely stifling a snort, Severus patted Remus on the back. "Looks like it's your turn." He quickly exited, leaving the werewolf to change Harry's dirty nappy.

Biting back a retort, Remus lifted Harry from the bed and laid him on the table to unzip his pyjamas. "Your dada is a coward," he whispered conspiratorially to the youngster.

Harry gurgled in response and kicked his legs. "Luff Dada."

Remus couldn't help but smile. "Yes, I know you love Dada."

"Luff Papa."

Tremulously, Remus brushed away the wayward locks that always seemed to obscure the toddler's vision. "I love you too, cub."

After the nappy had been disposed of, Remus sat with Harry in the rocking chair for a bit, humming several lullabies in hopes that the boy would fall back to sleep. When Harry's breathing evened out, Remus remained in the chair, contemplating the direction his life had taken just a few short days ago.

He had once been aimless and searching. Now, he had a family, responsibilities, and a sworn duty to keep said family safe in the coming years. He foresaw years of researching ways to destroy Horcruxes, of him and Snape keeping their noses low to the ground in order to smell approaching danger, thwarting one attempt on Harry's life after another. He also saw an opportunity to build something rare and wonderful with Severus, the solid beginning of their mutual attraction definitely playing a pivotal role.

Could he come to love Severus as much as he had loved Sirius? Thinking back to Severus' hesitant question about if he cared for him, Remus thought that yes, he could, maybe even beyond the mere infatuation he had felt for Black. He knew it would be all or nothing with Severus, and he was prepared to risk the same.

Even if Severus refused to ever change another nappy in his life.