90

CHAPTER NINETY:

"You are running yourself ragged," Severus said softly when Harry returned to Hogwarts that evening, the Potions Master's long fingers reaching out to cup his lover's cheek.

"I know," Harry sighed, leaning into the touch and closing his eyes. "What else can I do, though? I made a public announcement that I would attend every single trial, and you remember my oath to the Order as well as I do…"

"As a phoenix rises from the ashes, so will I work to restore Britain to a healthy state. May this Order be my witness," Severus quoted quietly.

"So mote it be," Harry whispered the response the Order had given, sealing the oath that he would do everything he could.

"And yet you cannot do everything, Harry," his lover pointed out quietly, and Harry stepped forward into Severus's embrace.

"I know, Severus – and it's not fair to you, either, but there's so much left to be done…"

Severus made a disagreeing noise. "You have already delegated much of the work to others – Minerva is working on Hogwarts along with, or perhaps in spite of, the Hogwarts Board of Governors; Madam Bones is spearheading changes throughout the Ministry, even as Madam Longbottom pursues law and order; you have made a great step in defending the rights of house elves by giving yours respectable positions and clothing, Hogwarts is safe, and Dumbledore meets his end in a week. You have done far too much for Britain already."

Harry clearly disagreed, but Severus wasn't done talking yet. "There is no need to worry about me, either – or have you forgotten that I have my own obligations to keep me occupied? You have all the best of intentions, towards Britain and towards me, and I can wait. Britain cannot. And I know that it is pointless to tell you to take a break and relax, for you will not until this situation is resolved – but you should, and will, take some precautions that mean you can let down your guard some. Wear the strongest protective artifacts you can find, hire a bodyguard, and trust someone else to keep you safe for once. Wear a ring that detects poison in food and drink – I have one if you do not – and eat without fear. Custom order an amulet that warns you if an object is a portkey. Protect yourself passively instead of dedicating all your attention to being constantly on your guard," he said intently into Harry's ear. "It is doing you no favors to be constantly on edge in this way."

Harry remained silent for a moment, then exhaled abruptly, relaxing bonelessly in Severus's arms. "You're right," he agreed softly.

"Of course I am," Severus sniffed haughtily, but Harry only managed a tired chuckle. "Come," he said gently, pressing a kiss to Harry's temple. "Let us go to bed; there will be time enough to deal with things tomorrow."

OoOoO

The newspapers the following day shocked the student body. Both major trials of the previous day were huge surprises – everyone had expected the Parkinsons to end up in Azkaban, and nobody had expected the Greengrasses to be Death Eaters, let alone true ones – and Harry was so proud of the Greengrass girls, sitting at the Slytherin table with visible emotions but their heads held high. Well, Daphne at least had her head held high, with Astoria burrowed into her side as they read the newspaper together, but alone the fact that they were in the Great Hall that morning made him more proud of them than he could say.

The mood towards the Greengrass girls seemed mostly sympathetic, too – the article made it quite clear that their parents had deceived them their entire lives and they were innocent of their parents' crimes, and the students seemed inclined to believe that. It didn't hurt that the Prophet had highlighted Harry's statement about being a close friend of Daphne's in the future as well as the fact that he had taken over the Greengrass business, ensuring that the reputable side of the business lived on.

The mood towards Pansy Parkinson, however, was not so positive. Most everyone was positively surprised by the revelations of her parents' true feelings, but with her clear stance Pansy had made herself quite unpopular. The Parkinsons had given a brief statement to the Daily Prophet saying that they were disappointed by their daughter's clear refusal to even discuss it, but didn't seem inclined to cast her from the family or bring her to order as the reporter seemed to think they should. Harry was inclined to think it someone else's problem until he remembered that Pansy had said she'd live with Draco – who was a Black and thus was Harry's responsibility. He had, of course, expected Pansy to be his responsibility after the trial anyway, but somehow he didn't think she'd want to go along with learning about Muggles.

Sighing, Harry knew that he'd have to discuss it with her – the Parkinsons had already agreed to learn about Muggles in exchange for continued use of their home and a monthly allowance, but it could get nasty if Pansy refused to accept the same deal but was financially supported by her parents. Certainly she wouldn't be allowed in Black Manor without accepting the house rules, so maybe she'd end up being her parents' problem after all.

"What is weighing on your mind now?" Severus's smooth voice intruded on his thoughts, and Harry gave his lover a smile.

"Pansy," he replied, and Severus nodded.

"She cannot enter your home without your permission," Severus pointed out, and Harry nodded.

"You're suggesting I make sure that she stays someone else's problem?"

Severus spread his hands as if to say "why should you take responsibility for someone else's problem in the first place", and Harry laughed.

"You're right," he agreed with a fond smile. "I'll write her a letter informing her as much, and one to her parents letting them know that she will not, in fact, be staying with Draco. Wonder how they'll react to that?"

Severus turned back to his breakfast without comment, appearing manifestly unconcerned about the Parkinsons, and Harry followed his example with a smile. His lover was right – let others deal with their problems.

OoOoO

Meanwhile at the Gryffindor table, Hermione was finding it hard to focus on the conversation flowing around her. She supposed it was due to her pounding heart and the cramped feeling in her stomach at the thought of what would happen once she finished eating.

Today was the 25th of March – and the Hogsmeade weekend Neville had asked her out for.

She tried to tell herself sternly that she knew Neville a lot better now, and that it would be a Hogsmeade trip very similar to the others – but fact was that it would be her first date, their first date, and she was nervous.

Hermione had tried dressing up a little, since they were allowed casual dress on the weekends, but had eventually settled on sensible clothing and a serious effort to get her hair to behave – magic never seemed to help, but eventually she had managed to recreate the curls she'd had at the Yule Ball the previous year, though tied back in a high ponytail instead of the fancy up-do she had attended the Yule Ball with. She still wasn't sure whether the boys' reactions to her look were good or bad, but Hames' big grin and thumbs-up from the Head Table had made her feel a lot better.

Then someone tapped her on the shoulder and Hermione turned, absently glad she didn't have any food in her mouth when she gasped at the breathtakingly stunning flower Neville stood holding out to her.

"Oh, it's beautiful," she breathed, reaching out hesitantly to take the white flower that seemed to glow with an inner light. "What kind is it?" Stroking a petal with a fingertip, she found it to be as silky smooth as satin, and its scent reached her nose even without her having to lean closer.

"It's a camellia," Neville said softly, an undertone of happiness to his voice; one he usually had when speaking of plants, though Hermione had found over the past week that he had the same undertone when she was impressed at him. That usually involved plants, admittedly, but his recent accomplishments in Potions class had showed her more of the boy who tended to hide from attention.

"It's perfect," she smiled delightedly up at him, deciding then that she didn't care to finish her breakfast. Holding the flower carefully in her right hand, she stood and, after stepping over the bench, slipped her other hand into Neville's, giving it a tiny squeeze at his surprise. "I'll see you later," she beamed at her seated friends before walking out of the hall with Neville.

"Have you eaten?" Hermione thought to ask only once they were in the entrance hall, and Neville blushed slightly as he replied that he hadn't.

"Sorry," Hermione apologized with a slight blush of her own, but Neville shook his head, giving her hand a tentative squeeze.

"We can get something in Hogsmeade, if you'd like – you didn't finish your breakfast either, right?" he smiled hesitantly, and she smiled back happily.

"That sounds perfect." She had a feeling her first date would be just that.

Before they stepped out into the sunshine, though, a voice had them stopping where they were.

"Harry?" Hermione asked curiously when they turned to find Hames jogging towards them. "What is it?"

"Just wanted to give you each a portkey," he said as he approached, "and remind you to keep an eye out for trouble." In his hands he held several basic chain necklaces each with a plain disk hanging from it. "I used these for the Order; they'll send out a distress signal if you put your wand to the disk and say 'help', and if you put your wand to it and say 'rescue me' it'll portkey you to Order headquarters. The Fidelius is down," he added at Hermione's questioning look. Stepping closer he slipped a chain around Hermione's neck, then repeated it for Neville.

"The only other person who'll have one of these today is Severus – I'll be at the Ministry again, and won't be able to rush to your aid should anything happen, but Severus will be there as quickly as he can. If you feel at all threatened, use it," he said intently, catching their eyes in turn. "Things can escalate quickly, and if you feel there might not be enough time for Severus to reach you, use the portkey, alright? Especially if either of you is injured, grab the other and get the hell out of there." After a final intent look he smiled. "Hopefully it won't come to that, though, so have a good time and take care of each other. Try not to worry too much," he smiled at Hermione, who was biting her lip. "You can take care of yourself, and Neville's a solid defensive type. You'll work well together. So go on," Harry turned them around and gave them a little push. "Enjoy the good weather!"

They left with an uncertain look back at him, and though he felt regret for their wary demeanors that took much of the levity away from what he knew was their first date, he knew he couldn't let them go without a word of warning. He'd have done it earlier had he thought of it, but it had been the previous night's reminder of the Order that had brought to mind the disks they had used on their missions.

"Would it not have been wiser to have them stay on the school grounds?" Severus's voice said from behind him, his arms sliding around Harry and pulling him back against his taller lover's chest. To display such affection in public he must have cast a serious notice-me-not spell on them before hugging him, Harry knew.

"Wiser, yes," he replied softly, "but despite the risks, they shouldn't have to hide from some unknown threat that isn't even after them, but me. Besides," Harry said with a wry smile, "Hermione's been in more dangerous situations."

Severus's silence agreed with him, both of them thinking of the Golden Trio confronted with an escaped convict, a werewolf, a hippogriff, a time turner and Dementors in their third year. It didn't make it any easier for Harry to let them go.

"I believe there are some things I need to purchase in Hogsmeade today," Severus said then, loosening his hold on Harry and stepping away. His fingers lingered on Harry's shoulder for a moment longer. "I will see you for dinner." With that the man left, leaving his lover behind with a far lighter heart.

"Thank you, Severus," he whispered, knowing that Severus didn't need anything from Hogsmeade and was only going because Harry was worried about his friends. The image of Severus hovering in the general area of Neville and Hermione like a menacing shadow was an extremely comforting one.