Chapter 39

Severus stared after the door. He felt unsure of himself. What had Harry gone to do? Why did he need Severus to remain here?

The instruments lay lifeless against the Ravenclaw table. The romance of the room had seeped out of the doorway after Harry, leaving the room eerily empty and dark.

Finally, after a long wait, Harry stepped through once more.

He smiled at Severus as the candles and instruments sprung to life once more.

"You see," Harry said triumphantly. "I don't need to be fixed."

"No," Severus agreed as Harry approached. "You're perfect as you are."

Harry took Severus's hand in his own and kissed the back of it. He turned back towards the door. "Kingsley?" He called.

Kingsley stepped into the room, looking very unsure of himself. He looked around the room and his face quickly turned to an expression of awe. "Wow, Harry," he breathed.

"Sorry it took so long," Harry told him. "Kingsley took a bit of convincing."

"What-?"

"I remembered I saw him earlier. He was here visiting Albus. As a ministry official, he can conduct a wedding."

His hands and face suddenly felt cold. "Harry, I-"

"You said you'd marry me tonight." Harry looked as if he felt he'd made a mistake. It broke Severus's heart to see it.

"Harry, of course I would. I will," he amended. "But, your loved ones aren't here. I know how important they are to you."

"Not as important as you. We began this alone. Why do we need anyone else to make it official?" Harry chuckled. "Besides, I feel I ought to marry you before you panic and run away again."

Severus smirked. "Are you trapping me, Harry Potter?"

He shrugged. "Trying to, yeah. Any qualms with that?"

"Absolutely not."

Kingsley led them to the front of the room. The candles twinkled like fairy lights. The music softened to a delicate tune.

He led a quick ceremony, he bound their hands together. Severus kissed his husband.

Harry Potter has become Harry Potter-Snape in a small ceremony lead by ministry official Kingsley Shacklebolt at Hogwarts last night. It makes this reporter wonder as to why the ceremony was so rushed, and kept under wraps. What secret is being buried? I shall keep you updated, dear readers.

Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet

Harry sat at the settee, his legs strewn over Severus's, each with a book in their hands. It felt just as it had at the safe house, Severus mused. No expectations, no care of the outside world.

That is, until a knock sounded on his door. Harry startled, which previously would have sparked a magical incident, but this time nothing happened. Harry had it under control. Severus's theory had proven to be correct. Draco's suppression of Harry's magic had exacerbated his problem. But it seemed to be mostly fixed now. Other than Harry's orgasm from the previous night, their wedding night. Harry reached climax, causing the furniture in the room to levitate briefly then slam back to the ground.

Harry grinned at him shyly, "Practice will make perfect."

"Promise?" Severus teased.

"Oh yes," Harry said before kissing him good night.

Severus groaned as he stood. He pulled the door open to reveal Ron and Hermione.

"Without us?!" Ron demanded, pushing Severus to the side and barreling into the room towards Harry. Hermione shrugged at him in an apology for her boyfriend.

"It wasn't about you," Harry said simply and unapologetic.

"I just figured I was your best mate n all," Ron grumbled.

Hermione took her usual seat. "Sirius won't be too happy."

"He never is," Harry laughed.

"The Quibbler said you two got married so quick because you're pregnant," Ron said.

"What? No! Is that even possible?" He looked to Severus panicked.

Severus shook his head. Harry let out a breath of relief.

Harry and his friends talked for a long while, asking how it had happened. Harry showed them his ring on his left hand. He told them that the rings still harboured the same powers as before. He could reach Severus wherever he might be in the world.

Harry was happy, and Severus loved to see it. A lull in the conversation lead way for Harry to tell them, "We're moving away."

"What?" They both said in surprise.

"I thought the plan was for you to marry Snape, sorry, Severus then live here at Hogwarts, but work at your shop and all that."

"You always said Hogwarts was home," Hermione added.

"There is one place that feels more like home," Harry told them.

Severus was as confused as they were. They'd only barely discussed the option of moving away. Where was home to Harry? Grimmauld? Severus loved Harry, but living there as a married couple seemed absurd.

Harry looked up at Severus who still stood by the fireplace. He smiled beautifully at him. "I went to get Kingsley from Albus's office. He seemed unsure about performing the wedding, but I told them both that we had plans for the future, that we both knew this is what we wanted. And, er, Albus said he understood."

Harry paused, as if Severus would be able to see where this was leading. Finally he continued. "Albus is gifting us the safe house." Harry stood. Severus took a long stride across the sitting room. He wrapped his arms around his young husband and looked into those brilliant green eyes. He pressed his forehead to Harry's and took a deep breath. "When do we go?" He whispered.

"Whenever you wish."

Severus handed Albus his official letter of resignation. The old man took it and shook his hand before pulling him into a warm hug.

"Come visit occasionally."

"No promises there."

Albus laughed kindly.

"What possessed you to give us the home?"

Albus sighed and sat at his desk. "I've no children of my own to leave it to. You and Harry have both been like children to me and... and I've not always done right by either of you. To be blunt, I've used you. I've used him. I had honourable reasons, of course, but you both deserved more than that. From me. From the world. Where would any of us be right now if it weren't for the two of you? I can think of no one who deserves happiness more than you and Harry. Take the home, make it yours, make one another happy."

Severus thanked him and turned to leave the office but Albus stopped him. "Oh, and Severus? I do love you. Always have."

Severus's lips parted to respond. He loved Albus in his own way. But he couldn't quite get the words to come out the way they so easily came out for Harry. He closed his mouth and nodded. "Goodbye, Albus."

Harry could have maintained his shop on his own, floo into the flat upstairs every morning and floo home every evening, but he was ready to cut his ties with the town. With the world, really. He looked around the shop. It was surprising how quickly the dust settled after only a few days of not being in. He turned on the lights and walked through the shelves. He hired Luna Lovegood to run the shop for him. He'd asked Remus, but he'd politely declined. He left a few notes around the shop for Luna. Tomorrow would be her first day running it. He was sure it would be overrun with books on mythological creatures soon enough, but he didn't mind. He chuckled at the thought.

He walked up the old, creaky stairs. A few boxes of Luna's things were gathered at the door. He flicked his hand and they moved to the side. He opened the door and flicked on the lights. The flat was empty, save for the settee and Harry's desk. He'd leave those here for Luna's use. He walked through the flat slowly.

His time with Draco hadn't been wholly horrible, had it? Draco didn't exactly deserve sympathy, according to his friends or Severus- but Harry hadn't been a proper partner to Draco either. He never loved him the way a partner should. He was distant, at times he was cold. He hoped Draco didn't completely regret their time together. He hoped to one day see a wedding announcement of Draco's, assuring Harry that he was happy and healthy. Harry stepped into his old room, across the hall from Draco's. The bed was stripped of all sheets, blankets, and pillows. But a folded note lay atop it.

He opened it without hesitation. He knew Draco's handwriting.

Harry,

I withheld things from you. But I never outright lied to you. I did love you. I still do. I will say with absolute sincerity that I hope you and Severus have found happiness together.

I am bitter. I am not too Slytherin to admit that. I think I could have one day made you happy. But even if I couldn't, I'm glad that Severus can. Be well, Harry. I will miss you always. Perhaps one day we can push aside the bitterness and be friends. I know that day will not be soon.

If, for whatever reason, you find that you'd like to reach out for me, I will be here.

Love,

Draco L Malfoy

Harry sighed. He tossed it into the air. It immobilized and hovered overhead. He pointed to the letter and watched it burn. The ashes fell to the mattress, forming a neat pile of grey dust. He pushed his hand out, opening the window and watched the ashes stream out into the warm air outside. He formed a fist and the window closed.

They'd been married twelve years today. Severus didn't particularly care for flowers, but Harry saw the way he would hesitate over the bouquets of irises when they walked through the market on Saturdays. He stopped and bought a bouquet.

He stepped through the door of the safehouse, as they still warmly called it. He looked around the sitting room. The delicious smell of pasta wafted through the house. It was tradition that they make pasta on holidays, as they'd lived on it while tucked away here so many years ago.

"I'm home!" Harry called out.

"Food's almost ready," Severus called back.

Harry followed the sound and smell into the kitchen. He handed Severus his wrapped gift and bouquet of irises and kissed his lips.

Severus looked over the gifts approvingly. "I have a gift for you, too. Open them after we eat?"

Harry nodded and took his seat at the table.

"How'd you know I liked them?" He asked as he placed the irises into a vase and filled it with cool water.

"I've seen you look at them in the market. Why are they the only ones you like?"

Severus placed the vase on the table and smiled. "My mother grew them in her garden."

"Twelve years together, and I still learn something new about you every day."

"Every day?" Severus challenged, an eyebrow raised. "And what did you learn yesterday?"

"That you really, really, really like it when I do that thing with my tongue..."

"Perhaps I'll let you do it again tonight, if you're lucky."

"If you're lucky, you mean."

Severus bent to kiss Harry's cheek. "Oh, I am. I am very lucky."