Harry was currently sitting while holding a very long list written on parchment paper. Ginny told him to look over the financial estimates so that he can ready the amount they'll need to spend on the wedding. She has also been hinting that it would be nice if they'll have a house somewhere outside Britain for a change.
He had to admit, it was quite a sum of money, but he would do anything for his soon to be wife. He was startled when Padfoot and Moony arrived unattended in Grimmauld Place. Some part of him was glad that they already returned but another was worried because of the probability that they arrived due to the invitation he sent to them.
Sirius immediately hugged Harry before looking deep into his cub's eyes. The vibrant viridian was a bit glazed, just like how Mr. Potter told them about what their eyes looked like back then. Then it was true. Harry was indeed under that old coot's clutches. He wasted no time on taking a hold of their cub as he side-apparated them to Potter Manor.
They landed on the carpet with a thump with Remus following them not long later. Sirius grew wary when he noticed that the Manor was clean. Not a speck of dirt was visible. He called a house-elf and asked about the maintenance. The response made his blood boil, but apparently Harry wouldn't agree in the slightest.
"Ginny did this? How sweet of her,"
"How sweet-- she told the house-elves to clean out the Manor without even telling you! She didn't even told you that you own a Manor!"
"But Padfoot, I think Gin was only trying to keep it a secret to surprise me. You know how thoughtful she can be."
"Harry, think this over. This isn't right. You're not in your right mind! You really don't love Ginny!" Remus tried to explain.
"Of course I love Ginny! Both of us complement each other, and she's the perfect one for me." He defended.
"You said the same thing with Severus, remember, cub? You told me that you feel a connection with him, that you want to protect and love him." Harry halted for a moment before he started bickering.
"W-what are you talking about?! It's the greasy git, Sirius! I thought you hate Se-Snivellous?!" Sirius looked at him disapprovingly.
"I heard you stutter, Harry. You halted and almost said his name. I also told you that I wasn't acting like myself when those years happened."
"And you're still aren't! The godfather I knew would support me on my decisions!"
"That's not what Sirius meant, Harry! We're only saying what's best for you."
"What's best for me?! How can you know what's best for me?!"
"But cub! Dumbledore--" Sirius found that he cannot continue speaking for no reason.
"Dumbledore supports my decision on marrying Ginny! And to think that my own godfather doesn't give me his own blessing." Harry huffed as he paced around, crossing his arms.
"Look, this isn't going to change anything. But we want you to reconsider some things before going through this. Follow your heart, Harry." Remus bargained before signaling Sirius to let it go.
"Thank you for that advice, Moony. But I am sure that I want to marry Gin." After their conversation, Sirius and Remus bade goodbye not before escorting Harry back to Grimmauld Place. They still need to visit Severus after this. Unbeknownst to them, a certain red head saw the exchange and immediately went to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore cursed as he recalled what Ron told him about Sirius' and Remus' impromptu visit to Harry. He knew that the mutt and the wolf are a huge threat to their plan. They can convince Harry to cancel the wedding and focus more on his studies. He needs to act quickly before they can ruin their schemes. He told Ronald to call the rest for a meeting. Hence, here they were discussing about their next steps on achieving Harry's titles and vaults.
"What do you mean that there's a threat?!" Ginny shrieked when she heard that something may destroy her dreams on becoming Lady Potter.
"I'm afraid that Sirius and Remus have been contacting Harry without notice. I believe that they're trying to change his mind about the wedding."
"Why don't we just have Sirius sent to Azkaban again and have Remus registered to the ministry, I mean, he is a dark creature after all, and Sirius be convicted for attempted murder for the Shrieking Shack accident." Molly suggested as she tried to ease her daughter's distress.
"It could work, but Harry will get suspicious. We don't want to risk it. Besides, we will need Severus' as the victim and witness for the case, and I'm afraid that I haven't heard of him since his resignation."
"Where is he anyway? I didn't even knew that he resigned from teaching."
"It was stated in his letter that he has acquired a chronic illness and that he needs to resign to recuperate from this. He didn't mention where he had gone, though. It's such a shame. We could've gotten the Prince and Ravenclaw inheritances as well."
"Serves that greasy git. I bet he used that as an excuse to be with his death eater buddies." Ron sneered.
"Ronald! He helped us during the war, he isn't a bad guy, you know!" Hermione scolded her boyfriend.
"What do you propose we do, headmaster?" Dumbledore beamed at Ginny and announced his idea.
"I propose that we move the wedding tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! But there's still a lot to do, Albus!" Molly argued. They still hadn't finished the final plans for the ceremony.
"The sooner they get married, the sooner the threat is eliminated. They cannot intervene their bonding because I made it into an absolute contract."
"Do you think Harry will approve?"
"Nonsense, Ms. Granger! Slip this potion to Harry later and he'll be open to any suggestions you give him." he handed a small vial with a receptive potion.
"If all it is is settled then may we be excused, Albus? I have a wedding to plan after all."
"Yes you may. But make sure to treat Harry like you always do. Keep on dosing him the love potion even after the wedding. The lust potion would be given at a later date, we cannot risk violating on of the clauses of the contract." It was indicated that both parties must never have participated in any sexual activity for the contact to be eternally binding.
All of them were satisfied with their current plans. With the wedding on the way, it seems as though their goal was within reach. Each of them couldn't wait to satisfy their needs, and they would do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Severus morosely eyed the drip that was connected to his arm. It wasn't even an hour after he woke up that he started coughing and vomiting blood. They had to give him a bucket to vomit on because he cannot go the bathroom anymore. Healer Davis told him that it was his body shutting down because his magic is almost completely depleted at this moment. He lost his appetite shortly and they have to resolve to a muggle IV in order to sustain nutrients. He knew that he wasn't gonna last long in this world anymore. He took the parchment and quill with shaky hands as he thought of things that he would write down in his will. He made sure to divide all his possessions and properties accordingly to the Malfoys and his friends.
His quill came to a halt when he thought about Harry. He may not be the mate that Harry that wished for, he may not be the one that had captured his heart, but his was long had been taken by his dominant. He decided to leave his titles and the rest of his inheritance to Harry. That's the least that he can do for making him think that he's gonna ruin his relationship with Ginevra. Sometimes he can't help but wonder what the feeling of being loved is. Sure, no one wanted him because of his facade and glamours, he grew up in a home where cutting was his only release, but is he that much of a freak that he doesn't deserve happiness?
A knock on his door made him scramble and hide his Will. He sat up straight and gasped when he finally noticed the tears falling from his sunken cheeks. He barely had time to wipe it when Lucius entered with Sirius and Remus in tow. Severus listened closely as his brother told him about the reason of their visit. The raven's eyes widened for a bit before voicing out his disagreement.
"Look, I appreciate that you're concerned about me, but that does not justify your plan of ruining a loving relationship in order to keep me alive."
"But Severus! Harry's--" Sirius found that he cannot speak the words. What is happening?!
"Harry's perfectly happy upon...marrying Ginevra. I couldn't be happier for my dominant." he tried to smile in order to prove his statement but by the looks on their faces, it looked like he didn't convince them a bit.
"Severus, you can't be serious! I mean look at you! You're clearly not happy with this." Remus tried to reason out.
"My happiness does not matter. What only matters is that Harry's happy."
"You cannot mean that Severus! Do you really think that little of yourself?"
"It's not about me Sirius. Do not try to change the subject. I would do anything to make sure that my dominant is living the life he wants."
"Even if it kills you?" Lucius frowned.
"My death will only sever the bond that hinders him from loving her completely. There is no better gift that I can give my dominant than my demise, to be honest." Severus looked at his hands with glassy eyes as the three gazed at him with incredulity.
They cannot believe that Severus would even consider on death just to make Harry happy. Lucius was the first to recover from shock so he ushered Sirius and Remus outside. They went to living room to try and talk over some things. Severus was left sitting at his bed forcefully smiling as he quietly let the tears fall once again.
"What's happened to him?! The Severus I knew never gives up that easily!" Remus asked.
"I believe his instincts to please his dominant alongside his love for Harry made him blind enough to do anything to assure his happiness." Lucius said, feeling exasperated.
The three men were startled when an uneasy looking Draco came out of the floo. His face has a faint shade of red and his breathing was erratic. He looked like he had seen a dementor.
"Father! Father!"
"Dragon, What is it?! Did something happen?" Draco sat on the settee, catching his breath before continuing,
"Dumbledore somehow learned that you had a private conversation with Potter earlier. He was threatened that you would influence him to back out on the marriage. That was when Luna told me that the youngest Weasley announced that the wedding was moved tomorrow! We have to do something!"
