Chapter 24

Severus was inexplicably content the following morning. Actually, it was absolutely explainable. He'd seen Harry. He'd had a pleasant exchange with him. And while he was not yet ready to face what a fool he'd been over the previous, all-too-lonely couple of years, he was ready to pursue Harry the way he deserved to be.

Only one small obstacle lie in his way: Harry's engagement.

Severus stirred his coffee at the staff table. Students would be returning at the end of the month, but for now the Great Hall was quiet.

Within minutes he was no longer the only member sat at the table. Albus took his usual seat and smiled at Severus.

"Have you read the Daily Prophet?"

"Not yet."

"I found it very enlightening this morning."

"More on the trials?" Severus turned to Albus, ready to hear the new information.

"Oh no, nothing like that."

"Just tell me, won't you?" He grumbled.

Albus unfolded the paper and turned to a page somewhere in the middle and handed it over.

Severus's jaw dropped.

The magical photo replayed Severus kissing Harry's hand over and over.

Rita Skeeter had captured the photo through the shop window.

The short article posed rhetorical questions of Harry's faithfulness to his fiancé and outright accused Severus of having a weak moral compass.

Severus handed the paper back to Albus.

He leaned back in his chair and smiled.

Once again, he'd found himself to be the center of gossip, with Draco and Harry flanking either side.

He began to laugh. He took a deep breath and sighed. Then he began to laugh again. He began to laugh like a madman.

By this time Neville and Sprout became unwilling witnesses to Severus's apparent insanity.

Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.

Neville lifted the paper and showed Sprout the photo.

Severus finally caught his breath and dried his eyes.

"So you do still love him," Neville stated plainly.

"Of course he does," Hermione answered as she approached the table from behind the dais.

"'Still?'" Sprout questioned.

Hermione took her usual seat by Severus and leaned in close to him. "Tell me the plan," she whispered conspiratorially.

"No plan." Severus grinned.

Hermione pulled back from him, a look of frustration overtook her mousy feature. "So, you're just going to-"

"Court him. Publicly."

"Severus," she hissed in a whisper. "But what if he- I mean, I don't think he would- but what if he denies you? You'll be-"

"The subject of cruel mockery." Still, Severus smiled.

"It's not like you to open yourself up to such criticism. You're so private. I'm not sure this is the way to go about it."

Severus's smile finally faded. "No, Hermione. It's exactly the way to do this. I think it's really all Harry ever wanted. Just one grand gesture from me. His final weeks here I couldn't even face him. I spent every night watching him while he was in the coma, and then I couldn't muster a single word to say to him when he awoke. To fix this, I need to undo what I've already done."

Severus drank the last of his coffee hurriedly and stood. Hermione followed suit.

Neither needed to say a word for Severus to understand she would follow him to his quarters. Severus knew her well enough to know when she was trying to withhold information. The fact that she was following him told him she wanted to share said information, just not within earshot of the staff gathered around the breakfast table.

"Do share," he ordered as he closed the door.

"Draco is dreadful," she groaned. She collapsed dramatically into her usual seat.

"He's always been rather unpleasant in his own way, yes."

"No, he's..." she paused, seemingly mulling over her words. "He's inside Harry's head. Ron noticed it first, actually. I don't think this will be as simple as you're expecting."

Severus pursed his lips and raised a brow, wordlessly encouraging her to continue.

She sighed. "Draco schedules every moment of Harry's days. He tells Harry what to wear. He tells Harry what to eat. Harry asks permission to even write to us."

"That doesn't sound like Harry. He's always been marvelously defiant."

"Exactly. Harry says he likes it that way, that it takes the stress off of him to make decisions. Do you understand now? Draco is controlling him and has even convinced Harry that he actually enjoys it."

"That's abuse."

"It is. And that's only what Ron and I have been made aware of, so imagine what we aren't privy to."

Severus was enraged. "Why haven't you told me this sooner?"

"Severus, I've-" she took a deep breath, looking hopeless. "I've tried. Every time I've mentioned him around you, you change the subject and then you pout for the rest of the day."

"I don't 'pout.'"

"Yes, you absolutely do, Severus Snape. You have had your head so far up your own arse, pitying yourself for feeling like you had to push him away, that you haven't bothered to think about what Harry has gone through without you."

"I wanted what was best for him. I wanted him to have a fulfilling life."

Hermione stood, her face was pink with anger. "Maybe you should have asked him first."

Severus didn't move from where he stood, even as Hermione rushed past him.

She turned towards him once more, "Draft up the courting proposal. It's not the worst idea you've ever had."

She slammed the door behind her.

Severus sat at his kitchen table with ink and parchment before him, and a book on formal courting policy and procedure.

It was early afternoon before Severus knew it, and he hadn't written a word.

He'd stared at the blank paper before him, trying to reconcile that he'd given Harry up so that he could be happy, only for Harry to find himself in the hands of a manipulator.

He'd wasted two years of both of their lives. It was all for naught.

Harry James Potter, he wrote at the top of the page to begin the proposal. Severus stared at the name for a long moment.

The last time he'd written Harry's name was the night he'd written him a letter before the final battle, telling Harry to be courageous. It was his turn to take that advice.

How could one woo the saviour away from his fiancé? Did Severus even know Harry any longer? The change in a man between the age of eighteen to twenty could be significant. Severus knew that from his own early adulthood.

It took Severus another hour to continue writing the proposal. In what ways had Harry changed? Severus made a mental list.

He owned a shop.

He had typical responsibilities of an adult professional.

A home of his own.

No longer had a dark lord looming overhead.

But he had an abusive partner.

And he still loved Severus. Right? He had to. The way he'd looked at Severus, the way he blushed, the way he spoke. And Harry still adorned the bracelet around his wrist.

He then made a list of things that were likely to still be true of Harry.

Financially stable.

Desired a family.

Powerful.

Intelligent.

Wanted to be loved.

Enjoyed physical proximity and touch.

This was the Harry that Severus would now be facing. From this, Severus extrapolated a few offers he could make to Harry.

Offers he wished he'd have thought to make as soon as Harry was no longer a student.

Severus poured the hot wax over the envelope and pressed the metal seal into it.

However, he did not address the letter to Harry directly, fearing Draco's interference.

Instead, he sent it to someone who could deliver the letter to Harry by hand, someone who could be an unlikely ally.

Harry Potter

Care of: Sirius Black

12 Grimmauld Place

Severus scrawled atop the envelope.

Severus's heart palpitated fiercely as he watched the owl fly away, envelope in its beak.