It had been six months since Harry had come to Hogwarts. He was officially eight months pregnant and currently pacing in Dumbledore's office.

"I'm ready. I don't see why we can't go right now," he said angrily.

"We still have much planning that needs to be done, my boy. We do not want to go in unprepared," Dumbledore said calmly.

"You are unprepared. I am not. All you have to do is get me to Voldemort. We can worry about the others later. If we knock out their main support then they are weaker than if we go in for them all at once."

"Have you talked about this to Severus?"

Harry stopped pacing. "No. He thinks I'm going to go after…" he paused, "…after I am no longer debilitated. I don't want him involved in the final battle anyway. He has enough blood on his hands." The Gryffindor sat down and sighed. "I don't want to wait any longer than necessary. I'm ready."

Dumbledore's solemn eyes looked into Harry's unyielding emerald orbs. "You were forced to grow up much too fast."

"Yes, well, we do what's needed in times of great desperation. Putting the hope of the Wizarding world on the shoulders of a boy is just another necessary evil I suppose."

"I'm so sorry for failing you, Harry."

Harry didn't correct the old man. He knew that Dumbledore meant what he said. He had failed Harry; Taylor was just a product of that failure. "We all fail at some point in our lives, Headmaster."

"Too true." The Headmaster sighed. "I will call the Order together tonight. Tomorrow night we will make our move."

Severus was sleeping on the couch when Harry walked in. With a smile on his face he walked over to the passed-out Slytherin.

"Severus," he whispered. "Wake up."

Obsidian eyes met emerald. "Where were you?"

"I went to see Madam Pomfrey," he lied easily.

"Good, I thought I would have to drag you down there myself."

Harry smiled. "Severus, can we do something tomorrow? I want to do something with you. I need a break from training."

"Of course. What do you want to do?"

"Can we have another picnic? I had so much fun last time."

"I'll have Dobby pack us a basket tomorrow."

"Good." Harry stood up. "Let's go to bed now. I'm exhausted and my feet are killing me."

As promised the next day Severus had a picnic basket made up and the couple was now making their way into the bright clearing.

Harry sighed. "I missed this place."

Severus laid out the blanket and lay down. "Me too."

Harry walked over and curled up next to the older man. "I wish we could just stay here like this." Harry settled his head on Severus' shoulder.

"Wishes are for fools," Severus said bitterly.

"You wish Harry were back."

"Yes; but I've long since accepted that he may not return."

"Do you want to go swimming?" Harry asked changing the subject.

"I thought you wanted to stay here like this?" Severus teased.

"Oh, come on." Harry got up and pulled Severus to his feet. "I feel weightless in the water and that is something I would give anything for right now." Harry took off his robes but stayed in his boxers and t-shirt. Severus followed suit.

Harry cast a warming charm on the water before jumping in. "Oh, this is so much better."

Severus smiled and climbed into the clear water. "I want to show you something." Severus cast a bubblehead charms and they went under water. Severus pulled Harry through the water to an opening under one of the rocks. The two surfaced inside an underwater cave.

"Wow." Harry looked around the large cavern. The water was casting a golden reflection on the stony walls. "Merlin, Severus, this is beautiful." Harry turned around to get a better look. His eyes settled on a blanket that was lying out on the sandy shore. "You planned this, didn't you?"

"Perhaps." Severus grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him ashore onto the blanket. "I wanted to talk to you. I had planned bringing you down here a while ago but because of certain – complications, I had to put my plans on hold. Anyhow, to the point," Severus grabbed a small green velvet box from behind a rock.

Harry gasped. "Severus!" He grabbed the box from Severus' hands and opened it. His eyes filled with tears. It was the most beautiful ring he had ever seen. The band was white gold with a Celtic knot design. It was simple but that made it that much more for Harry.

"Would you do me the honor of bonding with me?" Severus asked anxiously.

"Anyone would be an idiot not to."

"So that's a no?" Severus joked.

"Shut up. Yes, I will bond with you." Harry slipped the ring onto his finger and waited as it warmed and resized to fit his finger perfectly. Harry leaned over and kissed Severus soundly. "Thank you"

"No, thank you."

The two lay down on the blanket wrapped in each other's arms. They fell asleep like that without ever touching their food.

It was a couple of hours later that Harry woke up. He slipped from his fiancés arms and conjured a quill and parchment. He wrote a quick note to Severus and kissed the other man lightly before leaving the cave for Hogwarts. Dumbledore was waiting.

The ring -