Chapter ten

Since it was only a week away, Harry moved all his clothes and personal belongings into Severus' quarters. Now Harry had to tell Hermione, she was the only one he wanted to know that he was married and Severus only wanted to tell Draco. So they were both sitting in Severus private quarters waiting for Hermione and Draco to arrive.

'How do you think Draco will take this news?'

'He will be shocked, probably speechless, what about Hermione?'

'A little surprised but since she accepted us so quickly I don't think it will surprise her that much.'

'We're about to find out,' Severus got up to answer the knock on the door, 'Come in Draco, Miss Granger.'

'Severus,' Draco stepped in and saw Harry Potter sitting on the sofa, 'Potter.'

'Hello Malfoy, hi Hermione.'

'Harry, professor,' Hermione smiled.

Severus sat beside Harry and gestured for their guests to take a seat, 'We asked you both here to share some news with you.'

'As you are the only two that know about our relationship, we thought you should know about something else,' Harry smiled.

'Harry and I were married yesterday.'

'Oh that's wonderful,' Hermione got up and hugged Harry, then smiled at Severus, but ended up giving him a quick hug embarrassing her and Severus, but it made Harry laugh.

'Well I'm surprised, congratulations Severus, Potter.'

'Thank you Draco, but as Harry is my husband, could you please use his first name?'

'I suppose I could, this doesn't mean we have to like each other, does it?'

'No, it doesn't Draco, but you and I know our past was all based on him and what we were both involved in. So I think we can put all that behind us. Naturally I don't think we'll end up friends, too much has happened in our past, but maybe we could at least be civil to each other especially since you are Severus' godson. Think of this as well, apart from our marriage connecting us, we're also connected due to me being godfather to your cousin.'

'My cousin, which cousin?'

'Nymphadora's son Draco, they named Harry godfather before they died. Andromeda is your aunt and grandmother to Teddy; we spend time with the boy at her home.'

'I do not have anything against my aunt or my cousins, I'm not like father. I'm not sure she would accept me as part of her family after what he did.'

'Andromeda is a very nice woman Draco. She didn't like me to start with, but we talked a lot. We both realised that we're all Teddy has, we're his family, so we got to know each other and she doesn't hold anything against me, I'm sure she won't hold your father's beliefs against you if you wish to see her. So what I was saying before, about being civil to each other, I'm willing since we will see each other in a more personal way than we have before.'

'Yes, we will, alright, I can be civil to you…Harry, for my godfather's sake.'

'That's all we're asking Draco, so thank you.'

'Why didn't you tell me Harry, I would have liked to be with you?'

'Sev and I wanted this to be just us. But we are going to organise a small gathering of friends to celebrate with us after the school year is out. We'll have that at the house.'

'Alright then, I suppose I can see how you would like to have your marriage private. You've always been a very private person when it comes to your feelings Harry, professor Snape is the same.'

'Yes, we are the same in that way Miss Granger.'

'Sev, she's my best friend, can't you call her Hermione when we're not in class, like I'm going to be calling Draco by his name.'

'Yes, I suppose I can, Hermione,' Severus smiled at her. 'We just ask if you don't mention this. We know word will spread because Harry will be living here and not in the dorm rooms. We just wish to keep it quiet for a bit longer.'

'I won't say anything,' Draco said.

'I'll keep it to myself, I'm used to that with Harry,' Hermione smiled making Harry laugh.

Even though Draco was still a little stiff and tense being with Harry and Hermione, he did speak with them along with his godfather because he realised he would probably spend a lot more time alone with them, something he will have to get used to.

The following day, Harry and Hermione went to get all their Hogwarts supplies and since both of them did miss a whole year, they needed everything including new school robes, they had both grown since the last time they were students. So after filling bags with books, quills, inks, potion supplies and clothes, they met up with Ron to have some lunch. Ron and George got into an argument because George wanted Ron to stop seeing Harry, like his mother he blamed Harry for Fred dying. Ron finally snapped and yelled at George saying he was Harry's friend and if George didn't like it, then to find another partner. George actually looked shocked that Ron would choose his friend over his brother.

'Ron, go talk to him, I know his hurting and I'm fine with him blaming me. He needs support right now, his families support.'

'No Harry, he is not going to dictate who my friends are and I think him and my parents are wrong, Bill and Charlie are like me, they don't blame you and they don't think the others should. Let's just forget about it, if he keeps going, then you might see me at Hogwarts next week.'

'I hate this; I'm causing a rift in your family who have always been close.'

'They were close with you as well. How many times did mum say you were like her son, now she's acting like you're a death eater or something, it's wrong and their pissing me off. Now don't worry about this mate, you have enough to worry about, starting back at Hogwarts when a whole year has gone by without being there, it's going to be a big adjustment.'

'I know, even though I've been at the castle, Hogwarts and the other one, to be a student, restricted like that, it's going to take a while to get used to. Not Hermione so much, she'll be in the library a lot, like always.'

'Naturally,' Hermione smiled as she watched her boyfriend and best friend roll their eyes. That used to make her upset, now it amused her so she would often say something to make them roll their eyes because it showed how much the three friends knew each other. Only one thing wasn't known by one of them, Ron had no idea about Harry's relationship with Severus and wasn't sure how he would take the news when it did get out.

The day before Harry and Hermione had to leave for the new Hogwarts, Harry decided that now he was legally married to Sev he would tell Ron. So Harry and Severus were sitting at the table talking quietly with a cup of coffee in front of them when Hermione and Ron stepped inside.

'Professor,' Ron nodded awkwardly.

'Mr. Weasley, how are you settling in to working in your brother's shop?'

'The work's great, it's just a bit strained at the moment. George isn't happy that I'm still friends with Harry.'

'Yes, Harry explained how your family are. It's a natural thing to lash out at someone when a loved one dies. I'm sure they just need more time.'

'I hope so, it's making visits difficult.'

'Do you want a drink or a cup of tea?'

'No, I'm good mate.'

'I'm fine Harry, thank you.'

Harry glanced at Sev while his friends sat down, 'There's something I want to tell you Ron, and the only reason I never told you before was because of someone's job. I was worried that if you got angry you might let it slip.'

'Is this about you and professor Snape making eyes at each other?'

'Making eyes,' Severus' eyebrows rose as Harry laughed.

'Well, we do Sev, I just never realised Ron saw it,' Harry turned back to Ron but Sev reached out and took his hand, 'Yeah, it's not allowed for a student and teacher to have a relationship, so we were going to keep it quiet.'

'I get that, but normally it wouldn't happen as all the teachers are old or grumpy, sorry professor,' Ron shrugged.

'It's fine Mr. Weasley and you are right, normally this would not happen, but it has, in the past.'

'So did you want to tell me now since I won't be at Hogwarts or Castle Potter?'

Harry scowled, 'Hogwarts, and no, that's not the reason,' Harry turned to stare into Severus' dark eyes, 'The rules don't apply anymore, not with us.'

'Oh, did you use the fact that you're allowing them to use your castle as Hogwarts to make them agree to this?'

'No, you know I won't use my name for anything Ron, I won't use the castle either. No, what this is about, well,' Harry grinned hugely, 'Sev and I got married.'

'Holy fuck,' Ron blurted out as his eyes went wide, 'My best mate gets married and I wasn't invited.'

'I wasn't either Ron, they wanted a private ceremony. They only told me yesterday,' Hermione shook her head, 'And don't swear even though I realised Harry and professor Snape just shocked you, it's not nice.'

'I know and I normally wouldn't say that, it just slipped out. So you really got married, how does that work, you know, two men, do you take one of your names or what?'

'We combined our names, so I'm Harry Snape Potter and Sev is Severus Potter Snape. We could have taken the same last name, but both of us are the last in our families, so we decided to keep out last names just take each other's as our middle names.'

'If Sirius was alive today, I think he would be locking you in St Mungo's, then hexing professor Snape.'

'I think Sirius would hex me as well. He did say to me once he didn't care who I ended up with as long as I was happy, but I think our relationship would have pushed that to the limit.'

'I could see how much Black loved you, but no, he would not have liked the fact I'm shagging his godson.'

Harry burst out laughing at the shocked look on Ron and Hermione's face, he moved until he was sitting on Severus' lap making him laugh again as they both gaped at him.

'It's true, he does shag me, but I shag him right back.'

'Alright,' Ron held up his hand, 'I might know that's happening, but I do not want to hear about it. Blimey, everyone's going to know aren't they?'

'Soon, we're trying to keep it quiet, for a bit longer. Harry needs to settle back into being a student and a teacher's assistant and I need to try and control more students in my class than ever before.'

'That's the other thing we wanted to mention, professor McGonagall is bringing in teaching assistants. Now she said it was me that gave her the idea and the fact I'm letting them use the castle, she has time to get Hogwarts built and take her time, so the extra funds can go to teaching assistants. Now after this year I'm being given first choice at which subject, which will probably be transfiguration. But this year I'm going to assist Sev, it's so he can help me settle in with handling students because I will be basically like a teacher while I'm assisting, but I'll be a student when I'm not.'

'Teaching assistant, that is a wonderful idea. Is teaching something you would like to do Harry?' Hermione asked.

'Actually yes, see while I was still staying at Hogwarts I spoke with professor McGonagall and said that in my later years I would love to teach.'

'That is when she held a staff meeting and told me what she would like to do and how Harry gave her the idea, also why he's being offered this straight away. I can show Harry how to act with other students, especially ones that he's friendly with. During your classes Harry will be just another student, he will be assisting me with the lower years until he finishes.'

'Um, I don't want to sound rude or anything professor, but sorry, most students never liked you unless they were a Slytherin. What if you don't get any student that wants to be your assistant, will you just keep going alone?' Ron asked tentatively.

'Yes, but I know of at least five students that will be eighth years that would make an excellent potions teacher. Once Minerva lets the students know, I don't think I will have a problem requiring an assistant.'

'Malfoy would be one, wouldn't he, he was always good at potions?' Ron asked.

'He is very good at potions, but no, he wishes to be a healer. He has always hoped he could work in the mind damaged ward. He has his reasons that I can't go into, but it is something he has always wanted to do.'

'Do you know Draco is Sev's godson and we will be seeing each other a lot?' Harry laughed again at Ron's face, 'We talked, he's fine, we're going to be civil even if we'll never be friends. He likes to spend time with Sev and since we live together it means we'll spend time together, Hermione as well since we're best friends.'

'Yes, Draco and I spoke after leaving here; we're also going to be civil from now on.'

'Blimey, so many changes, it's hard to catch up. Anyway, I wanted to mention something to you Harry, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Ginny and I got together and talked about mum, dad and George, well, and you. We all agreed that we won't be having family dinners while they are blaming you.'

'Ron, don't; give your parents and George time. I know what it's like to blame someone. I did after Sirius died, I blamed Dumbledore for not telling me about the prophecy. Everyone needs an outlet or to blame someone when someone dies. I appreciate what you're doing, but leave it, I'm sure they'll be fine with time. If this upset me at all I would be kicking George out of his shop, but I'm not because I know what it feels like to lose someone.'

'You do, but what do you mean kicking George out of his shop?'

'Oh, um, I own the land under Diagon Alley,' Harry shrugged, 'The goblins have been trying to get my family to sell for years, none will because it keeps them in line,' Harry saw Hermione's eyes widen as she stared, 'What Hermione?'

'Oh…my…god,' Hermione just sat there staring at Harry but Harry, Severus and Ron had no idea why or what was wrong.