A/N: Ugh. I'm sore. Walking around all of Lakehead University campus all day yesterday is the most movement I've done since Spring Break started. :P So, woke up to all your lovely reviews and they made me happy. :P I love hearing what you think of the story and everyone is very excited about Harry getting his voice back. Though it is mentioned at the very beginning of this chapter, I'm going to address it here to for those of you who actually read these Author's Notes. :P Harry hasn't actually spoken in over five years so it's going to take a bit for his voice to come back. As such, he will be using his voice box still more than he'll actually speak. Anyways, hope you enjoy Chapter 9. :]
Warnings: Mentions of rape. Ron, Hermione, etc. bashing.
Harry hadn't tried speaking again the next morning instead using the voice box as if he didn't have his voice back. Severus wasn't particularly worried about it. He knew it would take some time before Harry could speak normally again. They had gone to breakfast where Professor Finn had openly hit on Harry despite Harry's insistence that Finn leave him alone.
"I'm going for a walk," Harry told Severus as they exited the Great Hall after breakfast. "If you want, I'll come back down and help you mark your essays."
Severus smiled at him. "Thank you, Harry. I would appreciate the help."
"I'll see you later," Harry said and left after receiving a kiss on the cheek while Severus went down to the dungeons.
Harry walked through the Entrance Hall and out onto the school grounds. While wanting some fresh air, Harry also wanted some time alone. He knew Severus would do nothing but support him but Harry couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed at being so incapable of speech when he was twenty-two years old. He knew he hadn't spoken for over five years but that didn't stop the thoughts deep in his mind that had been planted there since he was young; the thoughts of always having to be strong and never show anyone you were weak, and that he, as the saviour of the wizarding world, was not allowed to be weak.
Taking a deep breath, Harry attempted to speak. "S—Se—Sev—" He shook his head at being unable to say his partner's name. He paused for a moment to smile at the fact that he and Severus were actually together and had been for nearly a month. He returned to his task. "Se—Sev—Sev'ru—Sev'rus." Harry smiled and repeated it. "Sev'rus."
Harry's smile widened, proud of himself for accomplishing the task of being able to say Severus' name. He was about to say it again when he found himself flat on the ground, face down. He groaned at the new throbbing in his back and rolled over to find his attacker. He glared when his eyes found Ron Weasley, Hermione Weasley, and Lee Jordan.
Does Ron never work? He's always here, Harry thought absently.
"So you've got your voice back," Ron sneered and Harry glared at his once best friend. "Who'd you have to screw this time? Find more Death Eaters willing to make a deal?"
"I didn't screw anyone, Ron," Harry's voice box said as Harry climbed to his feet.
"So you're not going down on Snape? From what we saw in the corridor, it looked like you two were quite friendly," Ron said hatefully.
"What do you care? Last I remember, you all turned on me because I saved him," Harry said.
"It's because what you are and did is unnatural and disgusting, and the fact that you screwed Death Eaters for Snape makes it worse," Lee said.
"I didn't screw them! They raped me and you know it," Harry said angrily.
"Again I say that it's not rape if you agreed to it," Ron said and Harry glowered at them.
"What the hell do you want?" Harry said.
"For you to leave. No one wants you here so you need to just get lost. Everyone hates you and knows what a freak you are so leave. You're not wanted here," Ron said, beginning to approach him.
Harry stared at the redhead, trying not to let the words affect him.
"Harry, I wanted you around."
"I'm glad you're back, Harry. I've…missed you."
"I'm in love with you."
"I love you."
"I promise you."
Words Severus had said to him at some point in the last three weeks echoed through his head and he smiled. He looked up at the other former Gryffindors who were all glaring at him with complete and utter loathing.
"I don't care what you think or what this world thinks because I do have people who care about me and want me around. Yes, I agreed to the deal with the Death Eaters but I did it to save someone I cared about, something I would have done for any of you back then. Yes, I'm gay and I am with Severus. I don't care if you approve because you don't need to. You're not in my life anymore so it doesn't matter. If you really hate me that much, just ignore me or hate me in silence, from afar. You are the ones holding onto this, not me," Harry said. "Just leave me alone, forget about me. We'll all be happier that way."
Harry stared at them and walked away when they didn't say or do anything. He fully expected them to attack him while he was walking away but they didn't. He shrugged it off and circled the Black Lake once, still practicing with his voice, before returning to the castle and going down to the dungeons to help Severus. He let the wards shift around him and recognize him before opening the wooden door and walking into the private rooms. Severus was sitting at his desk, bent over what Harry knew to be essays and was attacking them with red ink.
Harry walked over to him and Severus looked up from the seventh year essay he was marking. "Feeling better?" he asked and Harry nodded.
"Yeah, I just needed some air, especially with the way Finn was at breakfast," Harry said, rounding the table to stand beside Severus in order to get the essays he would be marking.
Severus tugged on Harry's arm lightly, pulling him down, and kissed the young man. "He's quite infuriating."
"You're not the one he's been hitting on," Harry grumbled, taking the first to third year essays. Severus chuckled and kissed his cheek while he was bent down and Harry rolled his eyes. "You're a git," Harry said, walking over to the lounge chair after snatching a quill and a pot of red ink. Severus just chuckled again, returning to his own marking as Harry curled up on the chair and began reading first year essays.
They were quiet as they marked the essays, only the sounds of the scratching quills filling the quarters. Harry was over halfway through the second year potions when he stopped and looked at Severus who was still marking.
"Severus?" Harry said, breaking the comfortable silence. Severus looked at him in question. "How would you feel if I took an apprentice?"
"I would be happy for you and proud of you. Why do you ask?"
"I've been thinking about it for a while now and I've decided to take Elijah Sann as my apprentice," Harry said, biting his bottom lip.
Severus stared at him for a while, worrying Harry, before he stood up and walked over to the younger man. The Potions master knelt down to eye level with Harry. "You look worried, love."
Harry nodded.
"Why?"
"I just want you to approve of this," Harry said.
Severus reached out and took one of Harry's hands. "Why wouldn't I? I think it's amazing that you are considering an apprentice and Mr. Sann no less. He's been searching for an opportunity like this for a long time. I do approve, Harry, I'm proud of your decision," Severus told him. Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around Severus' neck, hugging the older man before pulling back and kissing him.
"Thank you, Severus," Harry said.
Severus squeezed his hand and smiled. "How's your voice?"
"The same," Harry said simply. "Like you said, it's going to take some time."
"It'll get strong again, just be patient," Severus said and Harry nodded, kissing him again.
They got ready for bed, Severus having convinced Harry—very quickly—to stay the night. Harry lay on his back with Severus' arm around his waist and Severus' head resting right next to his. Harry turned his head and leaned it forward until their foreheads were touching. Severus opened his eyes and looked at him curiously.
Harry took a deep breath and said without the voice box, "I—I lo-love you."
Severus smiled and brought Harry into a bruising kiss.
"Umm, hello?" a student said, walking into the infirmary. He had short brown hair, shaved quite close to the head. He had sea blue eyes and was a seventh year Slytherin. He looked around but only saw an overly large cat lying on one of the beds watching him, its two tails waving lazily. "Hello? Mr. Potter?" he called again.
Harry exited his office and walked over to him. "My apologies, Mr. Sann. I was preoccupied," he smiled.
With Severus' lips, an inner voice said and he shushed it.
"It's all right, Mr. Potter," Elijah Sann said, glancing at the cat that the Healer had stopped to pet. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, I did," Harry nodded. "Have a seat," he added, sitting next to Lileen. Elijah sat across from Harry on the next bed. "Now, I wish to talk to you."
"Have I done something wrong while I've been helping?" Elijah asked, worried.
"No, you have done an excellent job. That is what I wish to speak with you about," Harry said and Elijah nodded. "I have heard many times from Professor Snape that you are trying to get an apprenticeship but are having little luck."
Elijah sighed. "Yeah. I've asked a lot of people at St. Mungo's but they always say they're too busy. I helped Madam Pomfrey but it was too late for her to apprentice me to her. I'm still looking though and still asking around St. Mungo's."
"Have you applied to any universities yet?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, two. Both are here in England. I haven't gotten any responses yet," Elijah told him.
"Elijah, I have an offer for you," Harry said and the Slytherin looked at him curiously. "I would like to have you as my apprentice."
Elijah's jaw fell as he gaped in shock. "Are—are you serious?"
Harry smiled. "Very. I have thought a lot about it and discussed it with others. I am very serious."
"I can't believe this," Elijah said, jumping to his feet. "I—I mean, you—I—thank you!" he exclaimed and threw himself at Harry who chuckled and hugged the boy back.
"You're very welcome. I've appreciated the help you've been giving me lately and you are very talented in this field of work," Harry said as Elijah pulled away and sat back down. "At least you've decided on this career at this age instead of later like I did."
"What made you become a Healer?" Elijah asked.
"To be honest, I don't really have a reason. As I'm sure you remember, I never had much time to think about a career while I was in school. I had always thought I would be an Auror because fighting and Defence is all I thought I was really good at. Or, if I wasn't going to be an Auror, I was going to play professional Quidditch. Two years after I left England, I was in Spain and I ran into someone who then helped me with my voice, or lack thereof, and is now a close friend of mine. Since I really had nothing to do, or nothing I had to do, I became an avid reader and I studied everything. I became better at Potions. I found myself intrigued by Healing whenever I read about it and I liked the idea of helping people. My friend mentored me and I gained my Mastery under him," Harry explained.
"Who's your friend?"
"I'm sure you know him. He was here about a week ago with his two sons. The Spanish Healer, Jack Catella," Harry smiled.
Elijah's eyes widened. "You know Jack Catella?"
Harry chuckled. "Quite well. I'm a surrogate uncle to his sons."
"I can't believe you know Jack Catella. That's amazing. And you gained your Mastery under him?" Elijah said and Harry nodded. "That's unbelievable. And you came to work here of all places. You could be working for the bloody queen."
Harry laughed. "Language," he lightly admonished. "Yes, the fact that my mentor was Jack Catella can greatly influence where I work and I'm sure you right. I could possibly work for the queen. I chose to work here because, even though I'm not particularly fond of England anymore, I easily decided that I don't care that nearly the entire world hates me. I decided to come to the place where I had once felt I had a home. It was more of a personal choice than a career choice."
Elijah nodded. "Makes sense. Anyways, thank you so much again for this."
"It's my pleasure, Elijah," Harry said. Elijah smiled and left the hospital wing. A few moments after the young boy left, someone exited Harry's office.
"I assume it went well?" Severus said, walking over to Harry.
"He was very happy," Harry nodded.
"I told you it would be all right," Severus said, sitting next to him and accepting Lileen on his lap.
"It was nerve-wracking to ask," Harry said with a shrug. "I didn't want him to say no."
"You know he was never going to," Severus said.
"I was still nervous about asking," Harry said and Severus smiled, kissing his temple.
Severus ran a finger down the side of Harry's throat. "Have you been practicing?"
"It's been nearly a week since I got my voice back," Harry said. "I practice when I can and I think it's getting better. It's not quiet anymore. I just can't say long sentences."
"It'll be normal in a couple days," Severus said and Harry nodded.
Affair in Hogwarts!
It appears that Hogwarts is not quite the school we remember. Gaining the information from an anonymous source, it has been discovered that there is an illicit affair happening within the walls of Hogwarts between ex-Death Eater Severus Snape and Britain's saviour, Harry Potter. It was discovered not long after the final battle that Harry Potter was, in fact, gay, but to be in a relationship with Severus Snape is pushing limits.
We were told that there were some happenings in the few hours after the final battle that no one was aware of. It seems that, in order to save Severus Snape from a deadly snake bite, Mr. Potter made a deal with a few unknown Death Eaters. Apparently a consequence of this deal was Mr. Potter losing his voice.
Just how long have these two been secretly seeing each other? Why would Harry Potter save Severus Snape when their history is legendary? Now we must question how safe Hogwarts is with these two, especially as we have seen no sign of Harry Potter in the last five years until now. Where has our saviour been?
For more information on the final battle and Severus Snape, turn to page three.
For more information on Mr. Potter's deal, turn to page four.
For more information on the Potter/Snape affair, turn to page five.
Harry threw the paper down angrily and stood from his chair. He quickly stalked to the other end of the table, stopping behind Hermione and Lee.
"I cannot believe you told the Daily Prophet! You had no right to do this!" Harry yelled at them.
"We thought the world had the right to know," Hermione said. Harry glared when Hermione smirked at his voice box. "Miss your voice, Harry?"
"No, I don't! Why would you do this? What the hell did I ever do to you? What's between me and Severus is not illicit either! We're both adults!" Harry shouted.
"He was our professor. He's old enough to be your father. It is beyond disgusting," Hermione said.
"Obviously we don't care about the age gap! It's not ever going to matter! Wizards live double—sometimes triple— the time that Muggles do, so age doesn't matter!" Harry yelled. "God, what the hell is wrong with you? You had absolutely no right to tell anyone what happened, about what I did! That's my secret to tell, not yours!"
"You shouldn't have done it then, should you?" Hermione said and Harry glowered.
"Severus would be dead if I hadn't!"
"Who cares?" Hermione suddenly shouted back. "It's not as if you've ever cared about him before! Now you suddenly screw random Death Eaters for him! What else does he have you do? Huh?"
"Nothing! Hermione, I did it to save him! I had spent the year training under him and we came to an understanding, we became friends! Even if we hadn't, I wouldn't have left him to die! There is no one in this world that deserved to be hurt or killed less than him!"
"What about Charlie? What about Ron? What about Seamus?" Hermione yelled.
"I never said they didn't deserve it! I just meant that Severus deserved it less!"
Hermione jumped to her feet and leaned in close to Harry who didn't move away. "We never thought you'd ever choose a filthy Death Eater over us. We were your best friends."
Harry's eyes narrowed and he stepped closer. "He's not a Death Eater and you know it. Yeah, you were my best friends but apparently I wasn't yours because you turned on me pretty fast. I chose him because you didn't give me the option but I will always choose him over you now."
Suddenly hands landed lightly on his shoulders. "Leave her be, Harry, this will accomplish nothing. They can only hurt you if you let them," Severus whispered and Harry took a deep breath. He looked away from Hermione to find the entire Great Hall in silence and staring at him. He nodded and allowed Severus to gently pull him away after a quick glance at Hermione who was looking at them openly with rage and disgust. Harry shook his head sadly and left the Hall with Severus.
They didn't speak until they reached Harry's rooms and Harry gave the password. They were rarely, if ever, in their own rooms separately anymore. They were always in either Harry's or Severus' rooms together.
"Hi, Sev," Connor greeted, petting his kitten.
"Hello, Connor," Severus said and followed Harry through the portrait door. He watched as Harry fell heavily on the sofa, disturbing Lileen who mewed in complaint and seemed to glare at her master.
"I can't believe they told the Prophet. Everyone knows everything now," Harry said.
"They do not know of your alias and all you have done under the name," Severus said and Harry glared at him slightly.
"That doesn't exactly help," Harry said with a small sigh. "I don't know what I did to them to make them hate me."
Severus sighed silently and sat beside Harry who watched him. "You did nothing that you didn't mean or want to do. No, you didn't want to be attacked the way you were but you had meant to save me. They reacted badly but they are the ones paying for it."
"After I had saved you, I tracked down Ron and Hermione. They were happy to see that I was alive even if I needed medical attention at the time. I told them what had happened, what I had done and they completely changed. I had expected them to be upset and even horrified, but horrified at what had happened, not what I did. They started yelling at me, saying they couldn't believe what I had done and that I had done it for you. Then they said they regretted ever being my friend. They said they never wanted to see me again and that I should leave and never come back," Harry told him. "I stayed until the next day where the Daily Prophet came out. It said I was gay and a bunch of people had said something in the article. I went outside to get air and there were reporters everywhere. Ron, Hermione, and a group of others were there too. They were all grinning and laughing. I ran back to my rooms, grabbed all my stuff, and left. I Apparated blindly."
"Where did you end up?" Severus asked.
Harry chuckled. "Sweden." He was quiet for a while before he sighed and looked at Severus. "You were right. I was running away."
"No, you weren't because you had nothing to run from. You had done what everyone wanted. You had no obligation to England," Severus told him. "What you did was leave to make your life your own again."
Harry smiled at him. "I should have stayed until you had woken up," his voice box said.
Severus inclined his head. "I would have appreciated it. I would have liked a goodbye at the least."
"Well, I did say goodbye," Harry said and Severus raised an eyebrow. "You just happened to be unconscious at the time."
Severus snorted and smirked. "Yes, it is all my fault."
Harry grinned. "Exactly. I'm glad we understand each other."
"You are such a brat," Severus said, leaning close to Harry.
"True, but I happen to be your brat so it all works out," Harry said, giving Severus a chaste kiss.
Severus growled and Harry snickered. Severus shushed him effectively by taking possession of his lips again. "Insufferable," Severus breathed as they broke apart briefly. "Annoying…irritating…imbecilic…" he spoke between kisses.
"Shut up," Harry's voice box muttered. Severus chuckled silently, continuing to kiss the life out of Harry. Harry's hands were slowly inching under his shirt and up his stomach.
They both groaned in frustration as the first bell of the day rang. Harry's head fell forward and lay against Severus' shoulder.
"I have to get to my class before they make something explode and destroy my classroom," Severus said quietly even as he continued to hold Harry close.
"Gryffindor and Slytherin first years?" Harry said, playing with the buttons on Severus' shirt.
"Of course," Severus said and Harry laughed quietly.
Harry pulled back and looked at the Potions master. "Let's have dinner tonight, just us. I want to talk to you about something."
"We cannot talk now?"
"No, because you have to get to class and I have to get to the infirmary. Elijah only helps out on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Monday mornings," Harry said. "My rooms or yours?"
"We spent the weekend in mine. We'll eat in yours," Severus said.
Harry nodded. "Okay. I'll see you then. I have a lot of paperwork to do so I probably won't be at lunch."
"I'll send lunch to you," Severus said and Harry smiled. "I have to go. I'll see you later, love." He kissed Harry lightly before leaving and making his way to the dungeons.
A/N: So, again, more attacks from Ron and them. I have nothing against these characters (Ron, Hermione, Lee, etc.) but I've enjoyed making them the bad people for once. :P Hope you liked the chapter and don't forget to review. Thanks so much. :]