Thank You Lord Voldemort

Chapter 21 - The Morning After

After the warm reunion they shared, neither wizard slept well that night. Alex kept waking, the strange scents and unfamiliar bed keeping him from sleeping deeply. He noticed that Severus also kept turning in his sleep. This most recent time Alex awoke he could tell it was getting close to morning so he didn't even try to fall back asleep. He rolled on his side to face Severus, this older Severus that had held him with such need the previous night. 'Maybe that's why Severus was having such a hard time sleeping now.' Twenty years is an awfully long time to

go without seeing somebody or being able to interact with them.

He looked closely at the man beside him. He still very much resembled his seventeen year old self, if Alex looked deep enough. It seemed that sleep seemed to smooth out the stern professor's harsh features.

Severus' hair wasn't as free-flowing anymore like it used to be in 1977, it seemed to clump together more now. Although, now that Alex remembered back to his own earlier years here, the professor's hair didn't seem quite as greasy as he remembered it being.

But, of course, Harry bloody Potter couldn't stand the git and probably made things out to be worse then they really were.

Looking back to Severus' face, there was no sneer or smirk upon those soft, thin lips he had felt on him last night. The nose now showed the signs of having been broken at some point after seventh year. He would have to ask about that.

Alex just hoped that Severus' passion last night would be long-lasting, and that it had meant something to him. Many things could have changed about Severus in the last twenty years. Was last night about continuing their relationship in this time, or was it just because Severus missed him and had pent up desires or fantasies about their time together? The younger wizard closed his eyes, leaning back against the ornately carved headboard. Was he just a fantasy in the eyes of this older Severus, or could there really still be a place for Alex in his life? His heart was the easy part. But his life, and things like real life would make this relationship a difficult one. Alex wasn't so naive as to think everything would be perfect.

He finally broke from his thoughts as Severus began to stir and finally opened his eyes. They both stared at each other a bit.

Severus opened his mouth to speak. "Alex, I..."

Alex didn't like the uncertainty in Severus' eyes. It wasn't a look he was used to seeing on the wizard. "Severus, it's okay. Trust me, I'm just as uncertain about this as you are."

Severus grunted, pushing his emotions below the surface. "That's quite uncertain then. The bathroom is down the hallway on the right. We will discuss things when we are both ready for the day."

They both went through the process of showering and getting dressed before sitting together in front of the fireplace.

Alex couldn't stand sitting in silence any longer so he cleared his throat lightly. "Severus, um, can I, may I still call you that?"

Severus' voice sounded tight as he answered. "Yes, yes, of course."

While Alex wasn't sure that he wanted answers, he decided he needed to ask. "When am I exactly? Was I gone the same amount of time that I was there?"

"Yes, you were. It is late June here. Just as it was when you... When you left."

"So, does everyone know where I was?" Alex's voice was shaking and unsteady.

"The order, Miss Granger, and Mister Weasley know the truth. The rest of the wizarding world believes you dead, including the Dark Lord."

"Oh."

"Now, Alex, you must decide what to do. Trust me when I say that the Dark Lord was upset that 'Alex' had gotten away from him. And, I doubt that he has simply forgotten about you. You don't forget a wizard that has absorbed some of your powers. My opinion is that it would be best to reappear as Harry Potter and say that you were in some sort of stasis all that time."

Alex nodded slowly. It seemed like a good idea to him.

He was getting nervous at the cold exterior Severus had erected, being used to the younger Severus' emotional face. He decided to be blunt. "What about us Severus?"

Severus inhaled sharply and turned to face Alex fully. He wasn't comfortable anymore having his emotions in plain sight, but he knew that he was giving Alex the wrong impression. So, he relaxed his face before answering as truthfully as possible. "Alexander, I've had twenty years to think over everything. If... If you will have me, I would like to make this work. I don't think that I could ever find someone like you. I believe that we still have much in common."

"It doesn't matter that I'm Harry Potter?" asked an unsure Alex.

"No. I've had all year to deal with that bit of information." Alex was pleased to see a playful smirk as Severus said that.

Alex smiled and pulled Severus to him, holding onto him tightly. "It will be such a relief to be able to tell you everything. I won't have to hide anything anymore." Suddenly Alex pulled back, shock clearly on his face.

"Where's your necklace? I don't remember seeing it last night either."

Severus pointed his wand at his chest a spoke a revealing charm. He then pulled the necklace outside of his robe. The snake instantly saw Alex and came to life.

~Master, how have you been? It's been so long. I thought you were dead. I only ever met one other speaker, but he was evil. No one could tell me anything about you. I thought you might be dead~

Before Alex answered the snake he had to explain to Severus what was going on.

"Severus, there are many things that I couldn't tell you about this necklace before. One of those things is that I can talk to it."

Severus nodded, he knew Harry Potter was a Parselmouth.

~I've been good. It hasn't been that long for me. I traveled through time~

~Yes, you are as I remembered you. You haven't aged~

Alex lifted his eyes to meet Severus'. "He's a bit more special than I told you before. He is not just a charmed necklace. He is the soul of a once living snake that was placed here by Salazar Slytherin to protect his wife. It is quite sentient."

Severus reached a hand up to touch the pendent, which instantly stilled. "I had wondered. I swore I saw him move sometimes." Wonder showed in his eyes.

Alex smiled as Severus' broad arms wrapped around him. Severus' husky voice whispered in his ear. "It is still the best gift I have ever received. It is my most prized possession. It has saved my life countless times."

"So what now?" Alex asked, timidly.

"Now Harry Potter must return," Severus said in a back to business tone. "I may still revert to calling you Alex in private though. And due to my duties I must still be nasty towards you. Luckily school ends in less than a week. I've made arrangements with Albus; we'll talk about them later."

"Severus, one last question. This is important." Alex paused for dramatics. "Who won the Quidditch match?"

Severus chuckled, breaking the tension that had plagued the morning conversation. "Those blasted Gryffindor's won, but we still got the Quidditch and House Cups."

"Excellent. So, should I just waltz into Gryffindor tower?"

Severus got a grand smirk on his face. "While I'd love to see that, I think the insufferable miscreants would attempt to hex you. Maybe I should walk you to the headmaster's office."

Alex nodded, but inside he was wishing he didn't have to face the headmaster. It was because Dumbledore didn't believe him that his parents died. Pettigrew could've been stopped before then.

Alex went to stand, but a hand on his arm stilled him. He looked back to his lover questioningly.

"I guess you are Harry from here on out. I love you H.. Harry."

Alex/Harry swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. "I love you too Severus. Just because everyone will call me Harry doesn't mean I'll turn back into a Gryffindor."

Harry leaned down, capturing Severus' lips in a strong, bruising kiss. He pulled back, gasping for breath. "We'd better go now."

Severus stood. "Yes, we had."

Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak, throwing it over himself. It wouldn't do to have anyone else see him walking the halls. Severus held doors for him as they proceeded to the headmaster's office. Once they reached the door Harry removed the cloak.

The headmaster immediately strode over and pulled Harry into a tight hug. "We've missed you my boy. I'm glad you made it back safely."

The headmaster pulled back, looking at Severus with that infernal, knowing twinkle in his eyes. He ushered them in and sat behind his desk, Harry and Severus sitting opposite him.

"I imagine you are here to sort out what next to do?"

Both men nodded.

"Good, because I've planned it all out. Harry, I'm sure you remember the chamber off the side of the great hall. I would like you to go in there. Most students will arrive shortly for breakfast; and when they arrive I will make a little announcement."

Harry wasn't sure he liked the idea of being announced in such a way, but he nodded none the less.

Severus draped the invisibility cloak back over Harry and walked with him from the headmaster's office to the chamber where he was to wait.

Severus turned to leave, but paused. "Harry, anything harsh that I say to you is just an act. Remember that."

Harry smiled as he pulled Severus to him. He pulled one of those thin lips slightly into his mouth, running his tongue along it. Severus inhaled sharply at the sensation and pushed Harry against the wall, deepening the kiss. Both were becoming aroused, but Severus ended the kiss.

"Expect a detention tonight Mister P ... Harry."

Harry smiled at the retreating form of his lover. He was glad that the man could no longer call him Mister Potter. He touched a finger to his now swollen lips and smiled. Outside the door he could hear the headmaster speaking.

"With less then a week left to this term at Hogwarts we must remember back to the first week. During this recent calm we must remember the attack that occurred earlier this year. As we all remember Harry Potter disappeared and has been believed dead. Last night, our missing student, classmate, and friend returned home."

Harry could hear the murmuring, almost shouting that took over the hall.

"We don't know exactly where he was, but he was in a sort of stasis. Now, he is not ready to be overloaded with questions, so I recommend that you interact calmly with him."

The door swung open and Harry looked out to see every face in the hall staring at him.