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Severus Snape wasn't good. It had been engraved in his mind from birth, his childhood, and to most of his adult life. He wasn't good and didn't deserve anything good. So, it was a puzzling mystery as to what he did to deserve the life he was living at the moment.
He had a home -- something he never dared dream of having. He had two wonderful partners who loved him, a child who looked up to him and adored him. He was always wondering how and why.
Because right now, Harry was asleep on his chest while letting out the smallest breaths and snores. His tiny thumb rested in his mouth — a habit they were trying to get him to break. Severus moved the hand away from his mouth and watched it curl up against his chest. His hair was long -- twice as long as they usually let it grow because Harry claimed he wanted his hair to be just like his Papa's.
It was during small moments like this when he realized that he wasn't actually dreaming.
He smiled to himself, wrapping his arms around the three-year-old and closing his eyes. Loud footsteps made their way down the hallway leading to the living room. His eyes snapped open and saw James walking in, wearing only a pair of athletic shorts. He was shirtless and Severus could see the tiny beads of sweat trickling down from his forehead to his neck. The bird's nest he dared called hair was matted down and his glasses rested at the top of his nose. Post-run James was one of Severus' favorite images.
"Hey love," he gave Severus a toothy grin as he walked towards him. Severus tried his hardest to hide the blush that coated his cheeks at the pet name. "He fell asleep?"
Severus nodded, glancing down at the toddler softly snoring on top of his chest. "Tired himself out from all that jumping around."
“You’re the one who gave him sweets. Can't ever say no to him.” James chuckled, leaning down to place a kiss on Severus' lips. Severus was caught off guard but melted into the kiss regardless.
"You're sweaty. Get away from me." He mumbled against James' lips, never actually making an effort to move away.
"I'd rather not," James said, rubbing his face all over Severus' face. Severus shrieked -- a very manly shriek, might he add.
"James, you buffoon!" He whispered, making sure to keep his voice down so as not to wake up Harry.
James laughed, a belting laugh that always made Severus smile no matter what mood he was in. "Oh shut it, you love me."
"I won't dignify that with an answer."
"Did we wake him?"
"Go shower," Severus said as Harry began to squirm on his chest.
"I would rather watch you two," He sat down next to Severus on the couch. Severus pretended to be annoyed but he truly loved any chance to be close to the man he had the privilege of calling his partner. "I think he's waking up."
Harry started moving slowly against his chest, his small fist going up to rub his eyes until they slowly blinked open.
"Daddy?" He blinked at James who was in his line of vision before glancing up at Severus "Papa."
It had been months since Harry started calling Severus that and every time Severus came close to actual tears.
"Hi baby," James smiled, reaching up to tuck the strands of hair away from his son's face. "Did you have a nice nap?"
Harry nodded and let out a yawn. "Papa is comfy."
"He is, isn’t he?" James chuckled, reaching forward to plant a kiss on Harry's forehead, the sight made Severus' heart swell with tears.
"Can I have juice please, Papa?"
"Of course,'' Severus said softly, never actually having the heart to deny his son anything. "What type?
Harry knitted his brows together as if he was deep in thought about what kind of juice he wanted to drink. He looked so much like Lily when he did that. "Can I have apple, please?"
"Such good manners,” Severus smiled, unable to resist the urge to place a kiss on Harry's forehead. Harry let out a giggle and his face in Severus’ neck.
"Can I have some juice too, please?" Severus heard James ask as he stood up on the couch, with Harry in his arms so they could make their way towards the kitchen.
"Go shower," Severus said once again.
"Yes, Daddy, go shower, and then Papa will give you all the juice in the world!"
"Okay, gang up on me will ya?"
Just then, the three heard their front door click. Lily was home from work. She worked unusual hours at the ministry. Sometimes she was home before lunch or dinner and sometimes she wouldn't be home until late after dinner.
"Mummy's home!" Harry jumped up and down in Severus' arms pointing in the direction of the door.
"My loves!" Lily's voice boomed through the house as they heard the door close behind her.
Severus felt James sneak up behind him in the kitchen, his arms around his middle and his naked chest resting against his back. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his lips when he felt a light kiss on the side of his neck.
"Mummy!" Harry squealed once again once Lily finally came into view. Her red hair was thrown into a carefully put-together bun, wore her usual ministry robes over her clothes with her bag close to falling off her shoulder.
"Hello my darlings," she let out a happy sigh, resting her hands on her hips. "How are my favorite boys?"
"Mummy!" Harry squealed as Severus transferred him into his mother's arms.
"Hello sweetheart," Severus said, placing a kiss on her cheek as she held a very energetic Harry in her arms.
"Hi, Lils. How was work?" James reached forward to kiss her lips, then her nose. Severus watched the two and he could've sworn his heart skipped a beat.
“Tiring as always,” she said. “I'm just happy to be home. And James you stink.”
James, ever the drama queen, gasped, "Well, I'm gonna go jump in the shower since my family keeps telling me I smell."
Harry giggled and started chanting “Daddy’s stinky” while James left the room.
"How was your day, Sev?" Lily asked, taking a seat on one of the kitchen stools with Harry in her arms.
"Good. Harry was as energetic as always and of course, James was making me feel like we had two children instead of one."
He took out the jug of apple juice from the fridge. He opened one of the top cupboards to pull out one of Harry's many sippy cups -- a small green Slytherin one.
Lily laughed, bouncing Harry softly on her lap, "You gave your Papa a hard time today, Harry?"
"No. Love Papa," Harry said softly, his thumb finding its way back in his mouth.
"Love you too, my darling,'' Severus replied almost instinctively before turning to Lily. "We need to do something about the thumb sucking. It's a really bad habit.”
"He'll stop eventually."
"Do you remember what his healer said about it interfering with his growing teeth? That's why his teeth are forming so slow. Might need braces in the future."
"Okay he did not say that last part," Lily chuckled and grabbed Severus' hand in hers, intertwining her fingers with his. "You worry about the smallest things, babe. I honestly don't know how you do it."
"It's a gift," Severus said, trying his hardest not to smile while he put the cap back on the juice jug before setting it aside.
Lily leaned in, their faces only inches apart on the counter. "And I love you for it." Her soft lips gently pressed against his, a brief brush of lips the way they've done a million times. The action gave him butterflies every time as if he wasn't a grown man.
"Can I have kisses too?" Harry asked, his green eyes wide.
"Of course you may, little love," Lily said, placing a kiss on his cheek while Severus did the same to the other one. Squeals filled the room while Harry tried to squirm away from their kisses.
"Mummy, can we have a cuddle pile in your bed and watch a film please?" He asked as the two pulled away, giving him time to stop laughing so hard so he doesn't choke.
"A film before dinner? What does your Dad think about that?" Lily looked up at Severus, giving him one of her usual cheeky grins, making the man roll his eyes playfully at her.
"What film do you wish to watch Harry?'' Severus asked while he screwed the top of the sippy cup back in, making sure it won't spill.
The little boy took his time to think about his answer before blurting out, "Annie."
"Again?" Lily gasped exaggeratingly, making Harry giggle.
Severus smiled, placing the sippy cup in front of Harry who gasped before grabbing the cup with his chubby hands. "Thank you, Papa! And yes Mummy, again please?"
Severus chuckled and brought his hand up to push strands of hair away from his son's face while he sipped the sippy cup without seeming to stop for air. "Only for you will I sit through that again."
"We can watch it again my love," Lily said, placing a kiss on top of his black curls. she turned to Severus, reaching her hand out for him, their eyes locking and Severus could practically feel the love radiating from them.
"We can order out tonight if that's alright with you. Make a night out of it, what do you say?"
He found himself nodding, almost not paying attention to anything that was being said. He was too lost in the fact that these two, no three, beautiful people in this home with him were his family.
Lily seemed to know what he was thinking about. She squeezed his hand, bringing it up to her soft red lips before releasing it.
"I think Daddy's done in the shower, should we head in?"
Both Harry and Severus nodded and the three started making their way through the house passing several family pictures on their way to the master bedroom. Severus walked behind Harry and Lily and took it upon himself to make funny faces at the boy that made him giggle and call him silly Papa.
The door opened and the trio was met with James standing in the middle of the room with only a pair of briefs on and a towel in his hands as he attempted to dry his curls. Severus couldn't really recall a time when this man wore a shirt for longer than necessary.
"Hey, H. Did you get your apple juice?"
"I did," the boy nodded as Lily placed him down on the king-sized bed. He held up his cup towards his dad, offering him some of his juice.
"I'm good baby, but thank you," James chuckled. "What's the plan for this afternoon since we're all home?"
Severus pulled back the duvet, placing Harry inside while Lily took off her robes and then her button-up shirt, replacing it with a shirt Severus was one hundred percent sure was his.
"This one here wants a cuddle pile," she smiled, walking back to the bed and jumping on it, making Harry squeal in delight. Severus got in also, scooting over and beckoning for James to join.
The raven-hired man grinned, making his way towards the bed on Severus' side, immediately wrapping his limbs all around Severus. "I'm always down for a cuddle pile."
The four settled in. James on one side, Lily on the other, and Harry and Severus in the middle. Lily then wandlessly closed the window and curtains in their room since it was the middle of the afternoon and the sun was nowhere close to setting.
Their home was always peaceful. Whether it was filled with Harry's delightful squeals, or Lily's record player, or the muggle radio James was currently obsessed with. Severus found peace in every little thing and savored every moment.
The three got comfortable and Severus smiled to himself as the familiar sound of Annie talking to her friends at the orphanage filled the room.
It was Harry's favorite film and Severus had come to learn that once you become a parent, there's really nothing you won't do to keep your child happy. And that meant sitting through a children's musical for hours on end every week.
Severus heard Harry's voice sing along to Tomorrow, mispronouncing every other word. He felt James soft breath against his neck and knew he already fell asleep. James' arms tighten around his torso as his curly hair tickled Severus' chin. Lily's hand found its way to his hair, vining through it and pulling softly, just the way Severus liked it. She sang along with Harry, even knowing some of the dialects because of how many times they had watched the film.
Severus closed his eyes, savoring this moment for as long as he could.
Whatever good he had done in a past life to deserve this -- this happiness that was slowly devouring his body and soul, this love that filled his heart beyond way means -- he was grateful for it.