After the too long talk that lasted about 20 minutes, Harry and Draco were escorted back to Severus' rooms and immediately feel asleep.
'You think they're going to be okay?' Remus asked as he accepted the scotch that Severus offered him.
'I don't doubt it.' Severus replied, taking a generous sip from his own tumbler.
Remus sighed, 'I still don't understand Ron,' he said tilting his glass the amber liquid caught the light just so.
'What's there to understand? The boy is mentally unstable, probably from a stray curse in a battle that no one knows about.' Severus replied watching Remus' glass in fascination.
'What if it is?' Remus asked suddenly.
'Well he's being given a full psychological examination, I'm sure they'll figure it out then,' Severus replied hoping for Harry's sake that his personality had been altered by an outside force and that his friend just didn't abandon him out of petty jealousy as it seemed to be.
The pair sat in silence, it wasn't until after a second refill that Severus asked Remus something that had been nagging at him, 'are you attracted to my godson?'
Remus looked both taken aback and startled at the question. His first impulse was to deny it, in fact he had started to speak but cut himself off by snapping his mouth closed. He hadn't thought he was attracted to the young blond but now he realised that he had been just as worried about Draco as he had been about Harry. Actually he had been more worried about Draco then Harry. 'I... initially was going to deny it but I think I am coming to care for him. I want to seriously hurt Ronald for what he did to Draco and Harry.' Remus replied carefully not wanting to anger Severus.
Severus hid his smile behind his glass as he took a sip, 'then you should know that after this fiasco is over, I plan on presenting Draco with adoption papers. He has been my son since he was born, more so when he started school and I wish since he has lost his own to give him my name. To give him a family that cares for him.'
Remus nodded, 'You both deserve to find happiness where you can,' he replied raising his glass in silent toast, 'but does Harry know?'
Severus returned the toast and took a sip before replying, 'it was his idea,' he replied and found Remus spluttering out his mouthful of scotch lightened his spirits considerably.
'Harry isn't going to...' he trailed off not able to say "adopt Draco as well" for some reason.
Severus laughed, 'Merlin no! As he said that it would be "redonkulously awkward", and also seeing as Harry is 2 months younger than Draco probably not possible.'
Remus let out a relieved sigh that mixed with a laugh and seemed to relax. 'So you would be okay with me if I asked to court Draco?' he asked not looking at Severus afraid of what he might see.
'I would be a mite hypocritical if I said no wouldn't I?' Severus asked.
'But I'm a werewolf,' he started to protest.
'If you're going to talk yourself out of caring for my son then I suggest you leave now. However I believe that you are well suited for Draco. You are patient, caring and loving. You would let him heal from the atrocities that have been committed against him and prove to him that he is worthy.' Severus surprised Remus with the passion with which he spoke.
Remus gave Severus a lop-sided grin, 'Harry was right it worked like a charm.'
Severus suddenly realized that not only had he given Remus permission to date his son but had also defended the man to himself and listed all the reasons Draco should be with Remus. 'Oh that Brat is in so much trouble when he's healthy again.' He growled lowly.
Remus chuckled in amusement, 'I apologize, it was low trick we played,' he offered.
'Indeed,' Severus accepted the apology with a nod of his head, 'it was also a very Slytherin thing to do.' They sat in silence for a while both thinking of the two boys asleep in the other room. 'Just remember if you hurt him I will cut off your testicles and feed them to Moony.' Severus said almost jovially.
Remus cringed and crossed his legs, 'I have no intention of hurting Draco in any way,' he replied his voice full of conviction.
Severus merely nodded in a "we'll see" sort of way.
*
'So Miss Granger, why exactly did you assault Mr Weasley on the pitch this afternoon?' Shacklebolt asked as the other auror took photos of Hermione's bruised hand. The first two nameless aurors had taken Ginny, Ron and Cormac to the ministry.
'Because he was out of line, and he has been since April. I was sick of listening to him complain about how Harry gets everything and how if it had happened to anyone else then no one would care.' She explained passionately, her face going a lovely shade of pink.
'What about Draco? Do you care about what happens to him?' he asked.
Hermione met his gaze dead on, 'I do,' she replied.
'Why?'
'Because Harry trusts him and I trust Harry.' she replied.
'Do you? Your actions over the last few months tell me otherwise.'
She had to look away, clearly ashamed, 'I do and I was a fool not to. Harry has been leery of Ron for a while now I just thought that Harry was being paranoid. I thought Ron wanted to be with me for me not because I was so lose to Harry. I just wanted a boyfriend,' she admitted in a voice not much louder than a whisper.
Shacklebolt seemed to soften slightly. The girl was honestly sorry she had chosen Ron over Harry and while she didn't seem at all sorry for breaking Ron's nose Shacklebolt really couldn't blame the girl for her actions. He probably would have done it a lot sooner!
'Thank you Miss Granger,' he said turning to Minerva, 'I'll leave whatever punishment to you Headmistress.' Then he took his leave the photographer following him.
Then Hermione was alone with Professor McGonagall and she suddenly found the floor very fascinating. 'I believe this warrants a detention tomorrow night with Professor Snape, I don't want to see in my office again Miss Granger, you have a lot to make up for.'
'Yes Professor,' Hermione replied hanging her head. After a moment she turned to leave.
'That was nice right hook though I don't think I could have done better myself.'
Hermione blushed returned the small smile that McGonagall had given her and slipped out the door.
She was surprised to find Charlie waiting for her.
'Charlie? What are you doing here?' she asked him trying not to blush any more than she already was.
'I was waiting for you, is everything okay?' he asked pushing himself off of the wall.
Hermione nodded, 'I have detention with Professor Snape tomorrow night, but that's it. No one seems too angry about me breaking Ron's nose.'
Charlie gave her a dazzling smile, 'I think the one upset about Ron's nose is Ron,' Charlie replied offering her his arm. 'Are you hungry?'
Hermione was startled with the random question but realized as her stomach gurgled loudly that she was indeed hungry, 'starving actually.' She replied with blushing again.
'Care to accompany me to the kitchens? The amount of gossip going on in the great hall is enough to drive anyone bonkers.' He said looking slightly put out.
As they headed to the kitchens Hermione asked about the dragons that Charlie looked after and Charlie asked Hermione what she wanted to do when she graduated. The pseudo-impromptu not-date that Charlie and Hermione had ended later than either of them realized and Charlie accompanied Hermione to the Gryffindor tower. When he had asked her to dinner in the kitchens it was because he just wanted to give her a distraction from everything. He never realized that by spending one evening with Hermione Granger it would permanently render him smitten.
'Thank you, Charlie, I had a wonderful time tonight,' she surprised them both by standing on her toes and giving him a sweet soft kiss to his lips.
He was still standing there almost twenty minutes later with a goofy, dumbstruck look to him when Neville came running down the hall. Charlie didn't seem to notice the late teen so Neville slipped by him and into the common room.
'G'night Neville,' Charlie said wistfully as he finally walked away looking to all the world like he was on some powerful euphoria-inducing drugs.