Chapter three

Poppy, with help from the other healers and Minerva, got Severus and Harry comfortable in two separate beds in one of the unused staff quarters.

'I have no idea why you wanted Harry in here Severus but I am placing a lot of trust in you, do not abuse that trust,' Kingsley said in the voice he used as an auror.

'Harry will be perfectly safe with me, and congratulations, you will surely make a better minister than you're two predecessors.'

'Thank you. Now I will give you today to heal, but tomorrow I will need answers about what went on here while you were headmaster. Oh and by the way, Minerva is officially the headmistress.'

'Minerva is the best person for the job and deserves it,' Severus saw Kingsley looked towards Harry, 'He will come to no harm Minister, ask him.'

'I'm fine Kingsley and you saw the memory, you can trust him and know I'll be fine.'

'Alright Harry, if you need me, I'll be around.'

Severus and Harry watched the minister and his auror leave before Harry got off his bed and sat beside Severus.

'I thought you died Sev, I really did. I didn't have time to do anything and that hurt.'

'Its fine Harry,' Severus reached up and put his palm to Harry's face and felt him lean into it, 'It's over and remember what we talked about if it was ever over.'

'Are you still going to stick to that promise you made me?'

'Yes, but please think about this Harry, you're young, you might find yourself wishing that neither of us made that promise.'

'That won't happen, we talked all that out. I know it was a while ago, but I haven't changed my mind.'

'Alright, I haven't either. But do you know what I would like Harry?'

Harry's face split into a huge grin before his lips captured Severus. They wrapped their arms around each other until Harry was lying beside Severus even if he wished he was lying between the potions master's legs.

'I missed you Sev, then it was so hard thinking you betrayed me. Why couldn't you have given me some clue, some hint that all was not what it seemed?'

'It was too dangerous Harry, Albus knew this was going to be hard on you, but we both realised we had no choice to make you believe I really killed him and betrayed you. It would have been too dangerous if anyone worked it out and it would have caused problems if anyone found out we had a relationship that was more than just teacher and student.'

'I know, but I feel terrible, I tried to curse you, called you a coward,' Harry buried his head in Severus' shoulder and felt Severus' hand brush down his hair, 'I'm so sorry.'

'You never have to be Harry, never and it actually helped, they truly believed you hated me. You know Bellatrix was always suspicious of me and still believed that I planned something with Albus. But when you chased us and tried to curse me, she finally believed I was on the dark lord's side.'

'Can't you stop calling him that now, he's dead. You don't have to fear that he's going to call you,' Harry placed his hand over the faded dark mark, 'It's over Sev.'

'And you can explain everything in a few days. What will you're friends say when they find out?'

'They'll be shocked and probably disgusted but I don't care. You know how I feel and I know how you feel. It took me too long to get you to admit that. Merlin, I had to blow you to get you to finally say my name.'

'Did you have to say that, you do realise how long it's been since I've had you inside me.'

'The same amount of time as me, but we're both got a few days before anything can happen, no matter how much my mouth is watering right now. It's heating up just thinking about what I want to do to you.'

'Alright, enough Harry,' Severus took a couple of deep breaths, 'You've made me rock hard now.'

'Sorry, I'm the same though as I'm sure you can feel my cock against your thigh. But tell me Sev, when are we going to tell everyone? I don't want to keep this a secret anymore.'

'Let's get all these answers the minister has out of the way. But are you going to live with me when we leave here?'

'Yes, I said I was. You do still want me to, don't you?'

'I do, I'm just concerned about what everyone will say.'

'I told you I don't care about that.'

'Harry, this is going to be big news. You killed Voldemort, so you're going to be known as a hero or whatever new name they come up with. What do you think they will say when they find out you're legally married to me and have been since you were sixteen. Everyone will think I coerced you or tricked you into this, maybe used a potion on you to make you marry me. You know my reasons and have for more than two years now, but we did play it well Harry, we played the part of enemies to the point everyone believes you hated me, more, that you detested and despised me.'

'I know Sev and I know what everyone will say. But I don't care, we're partners in every way and that's what we both wanted. You never talked me into anything, it was all me and you know it.'

'Alright, we'll drop it. We both know what we want and that's to finally have a life together,' Severus kept his hand running down Harry's hair, 'I've loved you for so long, now I get to show it.'

'I know just like I love you, we can get to show everyone how we feel, all the time. But we have to do something about these two small beds. Can't we tell McGonagall so we can share a bed even if we can't do anything?'

'Alright, we'll tell her later and I can transfigure the beds so it's one big bed. I've missed having you wrapped around me off a night. With how clever Miss Granger is, it's a wonder she never picked up on the fact you hardly slept up in Gryffindor tower.'

'I know, but I made sure they never needed to check on me and had a story ready in case they found my bed empty.'

'What about the Weasley's Harry? You did date Ginny. You and I know the reason, but I don't think they will like it, they will see it as using her.'

'Yeah I know, they will hate it and find it hard to believe I would do that. We'll explain it all to them when we can. I know I'm tired and need to sleep, but I'm so hungry. You probably are as well.'

'I could eat my love.'

'Oh I missed hearing you say that Sev,' Harry sat up and looked down at his partner and saw the love Sev had for him written all over his face, 'We'll sit and eat, then you call McGonagall so we can change this bed.' Harry stood up and helped Severus to his feet, then over to the small couch, 'Kreacher,' Harry called but he was still staring into Severus' eyes.

'Master Harry called.'

'Yeah, could you bring some food for me and Severus please, you know what we both like Kreacher and some tea as well?'

'I will return shortly, but it is good to see both my masters are well.'

'We're fine thank you Kreacher,' Severus gave the old elf a suspicious look before he gazed back at Harry, 'I saw him and the other elves fighting. What did you do to him Harry? He was a miserable little shit, now he's pleasant.'

'The locket he has around his neck used to belong to Regulus Black. You know how much Kreacher loved Regulus, so after that and some information, he was good.' Kreacher returned with a tray of food, bowed to both Harry and Severus before leaving again. 'Hermione, Ron and I stayed at Grimmauld Place for a while and he looked after us. But no more Sev, eat, you need it just like I do.'

'Just a minute,' Severus pulled his wand from his sleeve and sent his patronus doe off.

'When I saw that I thought it was someone else, I refused to believe it was you. I only did when Neville started to explain about some of the things you stopped happening around here.'

'I was so close Harry, I was going to risk everything and let you know. But we both agreed, we had to keep it between us until it was over. I got to hear more things that I could pass on.'

'I know,' Harry sighed, 'but it's over and we're finally together, just liked we talked about, so let's eat.'

'First there's something we both need to do, so have you got them love?'

Harry smiled then reached into his pouch and pulled out two rings, he slipped Severus's ring onto his finger, then let Severus slip his ring onto his finger.

'Oh this looks good that we can finally wear them properly.'

'Yes and never have to take them off again,' Severus picked up Harry's hand and kissed the ring before they both started eating. But not once did they take their eyes off each other. Just as they were finishing, Minerva McGonagall turned up. They knew they had a story to explain to her and she was going to be the first one shocked at the news that Harry Potter and Severus Snape were married and have been for nearly two years, since Harry turned sixteen.