Chapter 11

Severus illuminated the tip of his wand and looked at the clock on his bedside table. Quarter past two and he was still wide awake with no signs of that changing anytime soon. He rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling, listening to the maddening sound of his own pulse in his ears.

The trial was tomorrow and, loath as he was to admit it, he was terrified. Despite Harry and Ron's assertions to the contrary, there was every chance that the day would end with him being carted back off to Azkaban. This time, he was convinced that he wouldn't survive his incarceration.

He had been back in the outside world too long, had too long to accustom himself to comfort and safety, too long to regain his sanity and health again. If he went back to that hellhole now, he would be a lost cause and would, in all probability, be dead within six months. He cursed himself for yielding to such melodrama; there was a time when he would have accepted his fate with stoic fortitude, but not so anymore.

Of course, there was a dim corner of his brain that whispered to him that he had never had so much to lose, that he was terrified at the thought of being parted from this happy existence…at being parted from Harry. He growled and threw the bedcovers aside, lying in the cold for a moment before he rose and left his bedroom.

He padded softly down the stairs and turned on the standard lamp in the corner of the room. It emitted a pleasantly soft light and didn't feel so stark against the blackness of the night. He sat down on the sofa and buried his head in his hands, trying to steady his breathing. His pulse was still racing and his mind felt foggy. There were too many thoughts in his brain, and they were all jostling for attention. He didn't know which to try and examine first.

He hardly knew who he was anymore. There was so little left of the man he had once been that it seemed he had none of his old coping mechanisms. He had allowed himself to be open and vulnerable, he had allowed himself to rejoice in his freedom, to begin to seek some redemption for his past transgressions.

He had let himself learn who Harry was, let himself see the man as he now was rather than the boy he had always believed him to be. That, perhaps, had been his most foolish mistake to date. In letting the scales fall from his eyes, he had unwittingly fallen in love with the man who was left when the persona of The Boy Who Lived was nothing more than a memory turned to smoke.

Where did that leave him now? He was damned if he knew. His conversation with Harry merely days before had cleared the unbearable tension between them, had made Harry finally stop avoiding him, but they were no nearer a resolution, and Severus was no closer to understanding the man he lived with. If his brain were anymore muddled, he was fairly certain it would explode.

"Have you no more sense than to sit down here in nothing but pyjamas?"

Damn but the man could move like a cat when he wanted to. When had he acquired such stealth? He felt a blanket settle gently around his shoulders and he looked to see Harry sitting across from him, wrapped in his own cosy-looking dressing gown.

"Can't sleep?" Harry asked softly.

Severus shook his head and burrowed a little deeper into the warmth of the snug blanket.

"Me neither," Harry admitted, tucking his feet underneath him, looking endearingly boyish as he did so. "It will be alright."

"I wish everyone would stop saying that," Severus said with more annoyance than he meant to. He shot Harry a look of apology and said, "I've never taken well to meaningless platitudes."

Harry smiled and said, "As we are all well aware. We say it because we believe it, because we mean it."

"As well-intentioned as I'm sure you are, as strong as your faith is, it is still no guarantee," Severus argued. Doubt was the oldest and most familiar of all his enemies, and he almost welcomed it as an old friend as it seeped into his blood once again.

"I know," Harry said, nodding his head, and Severus felt gratified that the man hadn't tried to placate him. "It's just…the alternative is too painful to think about."

They were silent as they looked at one another, and Severus could see that Harry truly meant it, that his return to Azkaban would affect him in a way that he couldn't quite understand. He knew Harry cared for him, and he now understood a little more of the man's motives thanks to Ron, but the majority of Harry's mind still puzzled him.

"I can only imagine how you must be feeling about tomorrow," Harry said quietly, "but all we can do is face what it brings and try to withstand it. I know that sounds trite but it's true. We have the best legal team representing you and a whole host of people who are testifying on your behalf. We're in the strongest position we can be."

Severus nodded, though he was no more convinced than he had previously been. He was curious as to the 'host of people' who were testifying on his behalf. He was sure that if he had asked he would have been told, but something had stopped him from doing so so far. He would find out tomorrow he supposed, but he wondered at who might be there, at who would willingly speak for him.

"I let myself get complacent," he said eventually, his voice echoing in the stillness of the room.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked with a frown.

Severus sighed and leant his head against the back of the sofa, staring up at the ceiling, feeling Harry's eyes rove over him. "I let myself become accustomed to life here, to an existence outside of that damned hellhole. I don't think I'll survive if I have to go back," he said, finally giving voice to the thought that was troubling him so much.

Harry took a deep breath and Severus continued to look at up the ceiling as he heard the man say, "I won't say you won't be going back, not when I know it annoys you, but you have more strength and resilience than any person I've ever known. You were made for survival, and if the worst does happen, you'll survive it. There's no other outcome."

Severus snorted and tilted his head to look at Harry. "Your faith in me is extraordinary." He had meant to say it with a sneer, but it seemed that that particular facial expression was no longer part of his repertoire.

Harry smiled that funny little smile of his and reached out to loop his forefinger around Severus' own. It was a light touch, a touch with the promise of more, and Severus felt his body respond as it always did when Harry was near him.

"My faith in you has always been unwavering," he said, and Severus' eyebrows rose sceptically. Harry gave him a sly grin and continued, "I once had total faith that you were a complete and utter bastard. I once had unswerving faith that you were my most hated and reviled teacher. I once had faith that I would never think of you as anything but my enemy."

The grin softened to a warm smile and Harry looped one finger after another through Severus' and gave them a squeeze. "Now I have faith that you are one of the bravest and best men I have ever known."

A lump seemed to have formed in Severus' throat, and he struggled to swallow around it. God, how he loved the man opposite him, and here that man was, speaking of him as though he was worth more than he knew he was. He had a sudden impulse to bring Harry's hand to his lips and brush a kiss over his knuckles, but he resisted. Whatever was happening between them was too tentative to risk with an ill-timed gesture.

He could think of no fitting response and so simply took a deep breath and said, "Do you think it will really only last a day?"

Harry ran his thumb over Severus' long fingers and said with a decidedly displeased look, "They normally only last an hour. The fact that an entire day has been set aside for it is, at least, promising. It means they aren't considering the outcome a foregone conclusion."

Severus rubbed his free hand over his stubbled chin, feeling older than he had done in years. "I just want it to be done with, finished. I can't stand this, waiting on the cusp of it, wondering if it will swallow me whole."

Harry moved closer to him on the sofa and slid an arm around his shoulders. Severus felt himself being gently coaxed into the man's hold and before he could protest he found himself nestled against Harry's chest. One hand was still entwined with Harry's smaller, more tanned one, while the other rested on Harry's thigh, achingly close to the man's lap.

If he had wanted, he could have reached out and tempted the man to arousal, could have pinned that beautiful body beneath him and teased it into ecstasy. This was not the time for that, however. Now Harry was offering only comfort, was being as open and demonstrative as he always was, and Severus could do little more than sit there and accept it.

He was in love with the man, that much was certain, but something was holding Harry back, something was stopping him from crossing the tentative boundaries that existed between them. Harry touched him so easily, showed his affection so openly that for him to stop things from becoming sexual confused Severus. Still, if he knew nothing about Harry, he knew that the man's honour was of paramount importance to him, and whatever way he acted, it would be with that in mind.

With that to consider, Severus decided that he could count himself lucky if he could continue to enjoy Harry's displays of affection, these soft caresses and gentle touches. He would push for nothing more, he deserved nothing more after all. For now, this was enough.

The next morning Severus shooed away all offers of breakfast and couldn't even bring himself to drink a cup of coffee. He dressed with shaky hands and had to use a shaving charm for fear of cutting himself.

Harry was nervous too, Severus could tell. His smiles weren't as natural and he was quieter than usual, speaking only when necessary. He had also foregone breakfast but had given in to sipping at a strong cup of tea, heavily sugared.

Severus spent most of the time they were sitting at the kitchen table staring at the clock, and as time ticked on he felt as though his stomach had turned to lead. He heard the sound of Harry placing his teacup in its saucer and he looked across at the man who gave him a wan smile and said,

"Time to go."

Severus nodded, trying to summon up a little of his old implacability. He had survived worse than this, faced down worse foes than those sanctimonious Ministry arseholes, and he was determined that this wouldn't be the thing to push him over the edge.

Harry stood first, and after a few deep breaths, Severus followed him into the living room. Harry bent to retrieve a battered old rucksack that was sitting by the front door, and Severus' eyes narrowed as he watched the man sling it onto his shoulder. It had been sitting there the previous night, and Severus had meant to ask what it was there for. Now though, although curious, he found he had bigger things to worry about.

Harry moved to stand in front of him and gave him an encouraging smile before he held his hand out. Severus took it and Harry pulled him close, wrapping his arms around his waist. It was as close as they had ever been and Severus had to use every ounce of self-control he possessed to stop his body from reacting.

He placed his hands on Harry's shoulders and Harry tilted his head up, the freckles on his nose standing out starkly against the creaminess of his skin. Everything in Severus' mind was screaming at him to lean down and meet Harry' lips with his own, and he was so sure he saw the answering emotion reflected in Harry's eyes. He held himself back; the next time he kissed Harry he wanted to make sure that the other man wouldn't run from it. He had to do it in a way that would ensure whatever guilt Harry felt just melted away.

"We'll be coming back here later," Harry said softly, his expression resolved. "I'll make us a celebratory dinner and we can open that bottle of brandy Drake gave you for Christmas. Then we can sit in front of the fire and toast your freedom until the sun comes up."

Severus summoned up a smile and brushed the hair from Harry's forehead, noticing how faded the familiar scar seemed these days. "Until tonight then," he said quietly, not trusting his own voice.

Harry's jaw was set firm and something in his face bolstered Severus' own rather lacking confidence. Harry smiled up at him then gave his waist a gentle squeeze. "Hold on tightly," he murmured.

Severus did so and closed his eyes, knowing there was no turning back now. He felt the pull of Harry's magic as they apparated away from their safe little haven and he had to take a couple of calming breaths before he allowed himself to open his eyes once again.

They were in what Severus assumed to be an antechamber to the main courtroom, and as his eyes adjusted he was staggered to see how many people were already there. All the Weasleys were present, as was Maggie, who was looking smarter than Severus had ever seen her dressed in well-tailored turquoise robes that looked striking against her black hair.

Harry's hold loosened, though the man's hand remained at the small of his back, generating a comforting warmth through his robes. He continued to scan the room and found that there were many former students from all houses assembled, and, to his surprise, McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout were gathered together in a corner, nursing rather grey-looking cups of tea.

"I didn't realise so many people would be here," he murmured to Harry, feeling suddenly overwhelmed. "Are they all here to testify?"

"A fair few are," Harry replied softly, "but a lot are here just for support."

Severus found it hard to process that fact. He had never been a popular man and he hadn't done a thing to endear himself to a single person in the room. It was inconceivable to him that they would wish to stand by him, that they would think him worthy of their time and energy.

"Would you like a tea or something?" Harry asked, his hand still resting gently on Severus' back.

"No thank you, I doubt my stomach would welcome any offering at the moment," he replied, earning himself an understanding smile from Harry.

"Oh, there's Neville," the man said, looking to where Ron and Draco were standing. "I didn't see him behind Ron, bloody great lummox."

Severus followed Harry's line of sight, disbelieving that the student whom he had tormented so mercilessly would be there on his behalf. When his eyes finally alighted on the man, he thought perhaps that Harry had made a mistake; the man standing with Ron and Draco resembled little of the podgy child he had once know.

While it was true that Ron dwarfed him, he had gained a few more inches in height and lost several pounds in weight. His face was angular now rather than round and he seemed to have lost the constant air he had once had of a baffled, bewildered fool. He spoke with Ron, his expression serious, his manner confident. It was only the smile, slightly crooked with a hint of self-deprecation, that convinced Severus the man was indeed his former student.

Ron and Draco were obviously continuing as a couple, and Ron had his hand resting on the small of Draco's back, his thumb drawing lazy circles against the fabric of Draco's shirt. As Severus watched, he realised it wasn't all that dissimilar from the way he was standing with Harry. Would people look at them and think they were a couple? Unlikely. As far as he knew, no one in the room had suffered a mental breakdown.

"You're looking rather green around the gills," said Ron as he, Draco and Neville approached. "I don't think it'd go down too well if you chucked up in the courtroom. Bloody funny though."

"Do shut up," Severus said, rolling his eyes at the man.

Ron grinned. "There's the Snape we all know and love. Just fix them with that patented glare and they'll be putty in your hands.

"You know, you could have supported me from a distance, say a few hundred miles," Severus replied, realising how natural it felt to speak to Ron this way. It was almost as though they were friends.

"It's good to see you, sir," said Neville, extending his hand. Severus was amazed to note that it wasn't shaking, not even a little.

"And you, Mr Longbottom," Severus said, shaking the proffered hand. It was cool and dry, not the clammy mess Severus had been expecting. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"I'm testifying," Neville said, his calm and confident manner producing the opposite feeling in Severus. He never thought he would find himself feeling inferior to Neville Longbottom of all people.

"You are?" he asked, surprised.

Neville nodded and clasped his hands behind his back. "Along with a few others who were there during your tenure as headmaster."

"I'm doomed then," Severus said dryly, and Neville smiled.

"Let's hope not, hey?"

The next half an hour passed in something of a blur for Severus. Everyone, it seemed, was eager to speak to him, and he found himself shaking hands with his former colleagues and students alike. Minerva declared him to look better than she had been expecting, Sprout and Flitwick echoing the sentiment. They were all still teaching at Hogwarts and Minerva had been made Headmistress, although, by her own admission, she had little authority thanks to the Ministry's constant interference.

It was a topic that Harry seemed well-versed in. He spoke with the usual fervour that Severus had come to expect from him in these matters, as did Ron, who seemed to think that they were inching ever closer to a review of the current system as it stood. It was welcome news to Minerva, who was as stressed as Severus could ever remember seeing her. The responsibilities of managing a school that was serving as a spearhead for the Ministry's machinations were weighing heavily on her, on all the teachers bar a few, and Severus knew the situation was untenable.

He spoke with several former students, those who had been out of school for many years and those who been there during Harry's time. They ranged across all four Houses and had either served a period of time in Azkaban themselves or had family members who had.

Severus was staggered by his conversations with them. They spoke to him respectfully, expressed sentiments of regret for how he had been treated and many even thanked him for the sacrifices he had made for the war. His Slytherins, those who had turned their back on Voldemort, still seemed to look to him for guidance, and many seemed hopeful that he would resume that role in their lives.

It was all very overwhelming, and Severus was almost relieved when an official entered and declared them ready to start. Harry gave his arm a squeeze and said softly, "I'll be in the gallery. This will all be over soon, we'll be home before you know it."

Severus could do little but nod and attempt a smile before he was led away into the courtroom. He wished he could have kept Harry by his side for the whole sorry business, to draw strength from his presence, to feel that warm hand on the small of his back, but this was something he had to face alone.

His heart raced as he stood in the dock and he paused to try and bring himself under control. It had been a long time since he had had to employ any of the skills he had used as a spy, but he found himself calling on them as he awaited the start of his trial. He assessed the room he was in – large, three exits, a spectator's gallery and a judicial bench upon which his would-be jailors sat.

Many of the people who had been in the antechamber were now seated in the gallery, and out of the corner of his eye he could see Harry sitting there with Ron and Draco. He didn't dare chance a look in the man's direction. One moment of eye contact and his resolve would waver, he would be able to think of nothing but being back home, safely locked away from the rest of the world.

Hermione, Blaise and Blaise's uncle came to take their seats in front of him. Hermione and Blaise began a whispered conversation as they consulted their notes, while Reuben, Blaise's uncle, turned to speak to him.

"Not a bad board for the hearing, as it turns out," he said in low tones. "There are one or two absolute vipers, but the majority are a fairly measured lot. Our luck's in."

"You'll forgive me if I reserve such a sentiment until I am officially acquitted," Severus replied, and Reuben gave him a wry smile.

"Ever the optimist," he said with a small incline of his head.

"I am seldom disappointed."

Reuben nodded and took his seat. Severus actually had more faith in the man than he had let on. He was perhaps the most competent person Severus had ever met in his life, and if anyone could bring about an acquittal, it was him.

A gavel was struck and a hush fell over the room. The officiant read out the charges and Severus tried to not wince at each one. The case against him was laid out by a woman who was acting, for all intents and purposes, as the prosecution. Severus vaguely recognised her; she had been a few years behind him at school, a Ravenclaw and more ambitious than any Slytherin.

Harry had mentioned her a couple of times, she was leading the charge against the Slytherins and had lobbied fervently to put them, and keep them, in Azkaban. He couldn't help but think as he listened to her speak that he must have looked like a gift-wrapped present to her.

When she was done, Reuben stood and put his case forward. He was an impressive man, with a flair for theatrics that never bordered on gauche. He outlined Severus' role as a double agent and the part he had played since the first fall of Voldemort, then went on to list the many ways in which he had aided the war effort.

McGonagall was called to testify as to his tenure at Hogwarts, both while Dumbledore was alive and while Severus served as headmaster. She was forced to admit that Dumbledore had never confided in her as to Severus' allegiance, but that the man had always insisted that he was to be trusted.

Former students were called to attest to the fact that he never pressured them into joining Voldemort or taking the Dark Mark. Several of his Slytherins swore that they had been under the impression that he was actively guiding them away from such a path, and had felt that they could rely on him to protect them if they turned from their families.

Draco took the stand and, although nervous, he spoke with conviction about the Vow his mother had made on his behalf. He told the board how he had been chosen to kill Dumbledore and how both he and his mother knew he would never be able to do it. He stated, very firmly, that without Severus' intervention, he would be dead and buried by now.

Neville was then called upon, and as he stood with his back straight and his head held high, Severus wondered if perhaps it was someone brought in in Polyjuice form. He didn't falter once, and addressed the board clearly and articulately. He told them how Severus did everything he could to protect them from the Carrows and how he had personally taken control of detentions set by them to ensure the students came to no harm.

He swore that Severus had turned a blind eye to their activities in the Room of Requirement and so had enabled them to fight from within. Everything the man said was true, but the way he said it, with such passion and determination, had all the members of the board paying attention. If he came through this a free man Severus determined to buy Neville Longbottom the most expensive bottle of whisky he could lay hands on.

Finally, it was Harry's turn to speak. He took his place in the witness stand and Severus was struck by the air of dignity and competence that the man radiated. He had had months to get used to this adult version of the boy he had once known, but as Harry stood there, hands clasped behind his back, Severus suspected that there were no lasting vestiges of that boy any longer.

"Mr Potter," the lead board member began, "we have heard you speak many times in defence of Professor Snape and your previous testimonies have been recorded. What is it you would like to say to us today?"

Harry smiled his most charming smile and placed his hands on the rail in front of him. "Ladies and Gentleman," he said, his voice soft but unwavering, "as Madam Raiment points out, I have spoken at length in defence of Professor Snape. This has come as a surprise to many, as there were few who didn't know of the antagonistic relationship we had for several years.

"I stand here today to tell you all that Severus Snape is the finest man I have ever had the privilege of knowing. The sacrifices he made for nearly 20 years are too great and numerous to list. He risked his life time and time again in order to gain information for Professor Dumbledore and the Order, he feigned loyalty to Voldemort in order to get close to him so that we might know of his plans and endured years of mistrust and hostility from those who believed him a traitor.

"I can personally attest that Professor Snape has saved my life on more than one occasion, and I wouldn't be standing here today without him. Professor Dumbledore believed in him wholeheartedly, without caveats or doubt. He trusted him quite literally with his life and with mine, and knew that the Professor was the only person who could carry the burden he placed on his shoulders.

"That this man was locked away for his actions is the grossest miscarriage of justice. We would not have won the war without him, you would all not be sitting here today without his actions. We have our liberty to thank him for, and I for one plan to spend the rest of my life finding a way to properly show my gratitude.

"You know have possession of Professor Snape's memories, which include a conversation with Professor Dumbledore in which the man begged Professor Snape to kill him. I ask you to examine all the evidence that has been put before you today and use your sense and judgement to return the Professor's liberty to him."

There was silence for a moment before the lead board member cleared her throat and said, "Thank you Mr Potter. Your defence of the Professor has always been…remarkable. It's good to know that some things don't change. You may step down."

Harry nodded and did as instructed, passing Severus on his way back to the gallery. He looked up and met Severus' eyes, his own bright and steely with resolve. Severus found it difficult to look at him, taken aback as he was by the speech the man had just made. He felt humbled and shocked all at once, his emotions a jumbled mix inside him.

"Well," the lead board member continued, "we will hear the closing statements from both sides and then we shall adjourn to make our decision. Mr Zabini, Ms Warrender, please approach the bench."

Severus was numb. He sat staring ahead at nothing, his mind a blur, the events of the day making little sense to him. He had never believed it would happen, not really, not in his heart of hearts, and yet it had. He didn't know how to make sense of the world anymore.

There was a hand at his shoulder, squeezing, applying pressure, then it was at his neck and the pressure turned soft. A voice murmured in his ear and he knew it was trying to coax him back to where he was meant to be. He didn't know if he had the strength to do it though.

"How about a drink? You must need one, I know I bloody do."

He turned to look at Harry, trying to let the soft hand at the base of his neck ground him. "I…don't know," he said eventually, his voice ringing in his ears.

Harry smiled and gave his shoulder a pat then stood up and moved to the cabinet in the corner of the room. He poured them both a generous glass of brandy then brought them back to the sofa and offered Severus one.

Severus took it with a shaking hand and brought the glass to his lips, taking a gulp and letting it burn a trail down his throat. Harry sat back down next to him and took a more measured sip of his own drink.

"You know, George won't let you get away without having a proper celebration. He conceded today but he's determined there'll be a party."

Severus shook his head and said, "I don't think I'd be capable of such a thing until I can get my head around it."

"Freedom will do that to a person," Harry said gently. "I for one plan to spend the next month celebrating."

"I can't quite believe it," Severus said, taking another large gulp. "Free and exonerated. It makes no sense. After all this time…I…I just can't process it."

The hand was back at his neck again and Severus closed his eyes as he focused on its gentle movements. "You have all the time in the world to accustom yourself to it. You're a free man, no one has any claim to you anymore," Harry's voice whispered softly close to his ear.

No one but you, Severus thought as he kept his eyes closed. He took a deep breath and said softly, "What you said on the stand today…" he trailed off as he opened his eyes and met Harry's.

"Yes?" Harry prompted.

"Did you mean it?"

Harry smiled and moved his hand around to rest gently on Severus' cheek. "You already know the answer to that." He took a deep breath and seemed to be weighing something up for a moment or two before he said, "Feel free to give me a smack on the nose, I can't say I wouldn't deserve it, but if I don't kiss you in the next 30 seconds I think my head might explode."

He leant forward and brushed his lips softly against Severus'. It was the tenderest, sweetest kiss Severus had ever experienced and he felt his breath stripped away from him. He could have spent his entire life doing this, lost in the man he loved, the man he owed his life to. Harry's lips were soft and warm, this kiss a world away from the first one they had shared.

It was gentle and slow, two souls making each other's acquaintance properly for the first time. Harry's hand was still on his cheek and his own was resting in Harry's dark hair, fingers twined gently through the tresses. He had never felt closer to another person in his whole life and some remote part of his brain whispered that he would never feel this way about anyone ever again.

Harry pulled back and smiled shyly up at him. "Are you going to give me a smack on the nose?"

"What do you bloody think?" Severus said, his voice gruff.

Harry laughed and shook his head. "This is still very, very messed up, but I can't pretend I don't feel what I do. Perhaps…perhaps we can take this slowly? I want to give this a chance, I owe it to myself, to you."

Severus' heart leapt within his chest. Harry wanted this, wanted him, and was prepared to give the whole bizarre thing a go. To be granted his freedom and this wonderous opportunity in one day was a heady thing indeed, and if he hadn't been sitting down, he surely would have collapsed.

Harry was waiting for an answer, but he couldn't find any words to use to reply. He settled for simply nodding, damning the absence of his usual eloquence. Harry smiled and placed a quick peck to his lips before pulling away, meeting Severus' eyes and biting his bottom lip, as was his habit.

Severus couldn't stop himself from smiling, and he said, "If we're to take this slowly then I'd advise you to refrain from that action. I can't be held responsible for what I might do in the face of such provocation."

Harry laughed and said with an endearing blush, "Fair enough. Perhaps I'd better go and grab a shower, remove all temptation." He stood and looked down at Severus, his green eyes searching. "Are you ok? Today was…overwhelming.

Severus nodded. "I will be. It will take some time to get used to."

"No rush, that'll be our mantra eh?" he said with a grin, moving over to the stairs and grabbing the rucksack he had taken with him to the trial.

"Harry, what is that?" Severus asked, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.

"Oh," Harry said, the blush intensifying. He looked down at the rucksack for a moment before he said, "It…it was plan B."

"What do you mean?" Severus asked with a frown.

"I had every faith that you'd be acquitted but…there was a small part of me that thought perhaps it might not happen. I told you that I wouldn't have seen you back in Azkaban and I meant it, you weren't going back there while there was breath left in my body." He patted the bag and said, "In here is everything we'd need to go on the run, fake passports, driving licenses, bank cards to a muggle bank account that I've been diverting money to, shrunken clothes, food, drink and a tent we could have stayed in until we sorted something more permanent."

Severus was stunned and could do little but stare at the bag in Harry's hands in wonder. "You're joking?" he asked quietly. Harry shook his head. "You…you would have done that…for me?"

"That and so much more."

"Harry…I…"

"It doesn't matter," Harry said, looking a little embarrassed. "We didn't need it in the end. I'm going up for a shower, be down in a bit."

He padded softly up the stairs and Severus was left sitting on the sofa in a state of utter shock. He was free, Harry had kissed him, Harry had been prepared to go on the run to stop him from returning to Azkaban. These facts swirled around in his mind, overwhelming and bewildering him. The only thing he knew for certain was that he intended this moment to be the start of a new chapter in his life, one he would grab with both hands.

AN: Well, I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter more than I enjoyed writing it! I'm not overly keen on trials but this one had to be done! Please let me know what you thought of it.

Big thanks to my beta, Tania.