Chapter six

Everyone in the great hall fell silent as Harry Potter, the headmaster and the minister for magic stepped into the room. Harry nodded to Severus before he sat beside Ron and Neville.

'Is something going on or is the minister here about the ice sculptures?' Neville asked.

'Yeah, because we all got notes saying the headmaster is making an announcement,' Ron said.

'The minister knows everything so he decided to stay for dinner and the announcement, which will be right after we eat,' Harry nodded his head so Ron and Neville would lean closer, 'I explained about what I heard from those two and part of the announcement is connected to that. Let me just say I'm sorry, but I had to keep this a secret, for now, I didn't want any trouble. I know you're curious, but you'll hear in a minute.'

'We are, but we'll wait,' Neville said as he lent back.

'We will mate, but you sound serious, it's not about any danger, is it?'

'No, nothing like that, I just know you two might be a little pissed at me. But I will talk to both of you right after dinner, maybe a few of you, I need to explain more. Let's just eat so you will know.'

Neville and Ron glanced at each other both wondering why Harry though they would be upset with him, they were also curious about what the headmaster was going to say.

When the deserts were finished, all the students seemed to look towards the staff table waiting for headmaster Snape to stand.

Severus glanced at Harry then waved him up, so Harry stood and walked behind the staff table and stood between Severus and Kingsley.

'These ice sculptures were done by someone that had no idea he was doing them. Madame Pomfrey explained that sometimes when a person suffers through loss or any type of traumatic event then they could have nightmares, but in rare occasions people will sleep walk; that is what she believed happened here until she received more information. Now there is a reason behind why he did this, his subconscious wanted the truth known and the only reason the truth was kept quiet was so there wouldn't be any innuendoes or accusations. I explained to the staff the truth about this person and Madame Pomfrey explained why this person made the ice sculptures,' Severus saw Harry nod and point to himself so Severus nodded.

'I was the one sleep walking and making those sculptures, but I have no memory of doing it. Now even though I did lie to my friends, it was so I could ease them into the truth,' Harry glanced over at his friends, 'Sorry,' Harry shrugged, 'So this truth is, Severus and I married and have been for seven months,' Harry removed the charm from his hand to show his wedding ring.

'Harry's subconscious wanted our relationship to be known, we only kept it quiet so Harry would not be accused of having help with his school work. He was worried that some would believe I coerced him into a relationship; that is not the case. As most of you know, Harry would turn up here every day to help the staff repair the castle; he would spend every night here with me, talking. As both of us had a connection to Voldemort we knew that we could understand what each other were feeling. Harry was suffering from depression, so speaking with someone that knows the whole truth about his life and his connection to such a dark wizard is what helped Harry deal with all that. During that time we developed feelings for each other, so like other couples, we dated until it was Harry that asked me to marry him. So hopefully now the truth is out, no more sculptures of our private lives will be revealed.'

'I hope so to, maybe you can seal us into our room so I can't get out through the night.'

'I believe Harry has a good idea headmaster. All I can say is I know these two men very well and they are happy together, but one thing I did notice, Harry and Severus are alike in many ways, so I can see this marriage lasting a very long time,' Kingsley shook Severus' hand then hugged Harry.

'You are all free to go to your house rooms,' Severus turned to Harry, 'I will escort the minister out Harry then meet you in our rooms.'

'I have to speak with them first.'

'Then bring them up to my office,' Severus leant closer to Harry, 'They might need a strong drink,' Severus and Kingsley walked off with Harry chuckling before walking over to his friends.

'Let's go talk unless you're really angry with me.'

'No, maybe a little, I always thought I'd be your best man mate,' Ron said.

'Yeah, and we didn't get to celebrate our little Harry is now married,' Neville smirked making Harry scowl.

'Come on, you lot, not Hermione or Ginny though, the rest, follow me.'

'Oh now he's married to the headmaster he's going to order us around,' Seamus smirked.

'Smart arse Finnegan.'

Harry and his friends left a shocked Hermione and Ginny still sitting at the Gryffindor table, but Harry couldn't help laughing because they realised they nothing they do now can ever get them his money.

'Everyone take a seat,' Severus gestured to the chairs, then floated a glass with a small amount of firewhiskey to everyone, his glass had more and so did Harry's.

'We thought Severus would be accused of talking someone a lot younger into a relationship, we were also worried that someone might curse him if they believed that.'

'I was also concerned that some would accuse Harry of cheating when the test arrived. Harry studies with all of you and even when he is here in our private rooms, we do not work.'

'No, we have other things we do,' Harry smirked.

'I believe you showed your friends too much already love, no need to add to that.'

'Okay, we get your reasons, but did my sister have anything to do with this?'

'Why would Ginny have anything to do with this?' Hannah asked.

Ron, Neville and Severus glanced at Harry clearly telling him it was up to him if he wanted to explain.

'A few weeks after the fighting, I heard something. Now that night I spoke with Severus about what I heard and he explained some ways I could protect myself.'

'At the time we were only friends, talking about how we felt because of the war.'

'There was on idea Severus gave me that I really liked and it would only work with us. Okay, see, yes the idea to get married was so I could protect what was mine, but after we married we did develop feelings for each other.'

'So what did you hear?' Hannah asked.

'I overheard Hermione and Ginny talking about making me marry Ginny so she could become lady Potter and they could share my money.'

'Those bitches, oh sorry sir,' Hannah blushed brightly.

'It's fine Miss Abbott; I said something similar when Harry told me. I explained to him about blood wards he could add to his vaults, or connecting his magical signature to them. I also mentioned marriage but with a contract. So if someone married Harry this contract meant they could not enter his vaults without Harry's permission. When Harry asked me to marry him since I am gay I immediately signed the contract, once we were legally married, he had every protection there is. Not just about his money, but if he ended up curse, then it would up to me to see to anything that needed to be done. We were concerned they might resort to using the imperius curse even though they know Harry can fight that curse off. What a lot of you do not know, but there are other ways to control people, dark spells and strong and very dark potions that will make the drinker agree to anything, and those cannot be fought off. But since we were married, it would not matter as we were legal and would remain so for a year, if we wanted to divorce after the year, we could. Once this year was up and everyone saw the way Harry treated Miss Weasley and Miss Granger we hoped that would give him extra protection because who would believe Harry fell in love with her so suddenly. It would be immediately questioned.'

'So some of those snarly comments to Hermione and Ginny were so everyone would know you didn't like them anymore?' Susan asked.

'Some were, yeah, but like the other night, they were talking about slipping me a love potion. They seem to forget that I have great hearing.'

'Harry really said what gay blokes do which shocked the common room, but it made them two shut up, finally,' Ron said, 'My sister was spoilt, she was used to getting her own way and she was upset that we were poor. When Harry told us he was gay, both of them refused to believe it, or if they did they acted like Harry was traumatised by everything he had been through. All this happened a couple of weeks after the fighting, but when Harry explained about his parents estate and that he was Lord Potter-Black, they got worse. I already noticed a change in Hermione but after that she really changed, that's why I broke up with her then told mum and dad to ask her to move out and back in with her parents. So even though she did leave she turned up every day to see Ginny and as she was an adult, my parents couldn't really say no. I would usually leave when she was there, go to Bills or Charlie's, meet Harry there just so we could talk without them always following us.'

'That's terrible Harry, you saved Ginny's life, well, you saved all of us, but you were twelve when you saved her and she treats you like this.'

'Yeah, that's why Sev decided to marry me, so no one would use me.'

'Since Harry was already depressed, I did not want this to make him worse. But for the marriage to look real he would need to marry a man. But I made sure no one could accuse me of using Harry for his money. I have always lived a simple life, as most of my adult life I lived off a teachers wage, money does not interest me and I had to make Harry promise not to buy me anything. The only time I relented was for our wedding rings, as Harry wished for something that I could never pay for. I would have been happy with simple wedding rings.'

'Yeah,' Harry blushed a bit, 'I wanted platinum, which isn't cheap, but I've asked Sev if I can get him other stuff, he refuses every time. I thought Ron was stubborn, Sev's worse.'

'So how does it work, when we all leave?' Hannah asked.

'From tonight Harry now lives with me, he will just study with all of you. Again that is so people do not believe he is using me to help him pass his tests.'

'We saw you a few times, after the fighting, you looked fine to us,' Dean said.

'I'm used to hiding my feelings dean, I had no choice. I knew the Slytherin students who had parents who were death eaters would report back to them. I was not going to let Voldemort know I was scared. So it became second nature to hide my feelings. Ron knew, Sev knew, Ron was used to seeing me when it was just us and Sev realised how being connected to Voldemort was making me feel,' Harry knocked back his drink surprising everyone.

'Yes, he started drinking, a lot, I eased him off that when we started talking.'

'Yeah, sorry Sev, it's just all this. I really can't believe I did those sculptures though.'

'Why didn't we see wet clothes near your bed?'

'Kreacher would take my robes and shoes, cleaning and drying them before bringing them back.'

'So we won't be seeing any more sculptures, because they were good,' Seamus said.

'I am going to see how I go awake, but they won't be of me and Sev, I might do all of you.'

'Okay, just don't put me and Hannah into any type of position, or naked.'

'Don't worry Neville, everyone will be wearing clothes.'

'Even though I wished you could have told me mate, I get it. Sometimes we do talk and forget they are around, they might have overheard us. But after this year is finished, we have to celebrate that you're married, the first one of us to get tied down,' Ron smirked.

Harry and everyone else laughed, even Severus, 'I believe we can work something out, after we come back from our holiday, don't you think Harry?'

'Yeah, we could, have a big party at the house. We'll work it out and let you all know.'

'We should get back and start our homework,' Neville said before he hugged Harry, but then everyone hugged Harry and everyone shook Severus' hand wishing them all the best. Harry explained he was going to skip studying tonight, his first night living with his husband.