Chapter 25

"Would you please stop fussing? I can make a cup of tea perfectly well."

"You're supposed to be resting."

Harry sighed and placed the kettle back on the stove, looking across at Severus with a resigned smile. "I've been resting all day. I thought I'd go wild and pour boiling water over a teabag. What can I say? I like to live on the edge."

Severus resisted the quirk of his lip and tried to keep his expression severe. "You've only just been released from the hospital, you need to be in bed."

"Severus," Harry said, sounding as though he might be counting to ten in his head, "I've spent the last six weeks in bed, the majority of those in a coma. I'd quite like to be upright for at least one hour a day."

Harry shuffled past him and placed a quick peck to his cheek then moved into the sitting room, snuggling down into one of the armchairs. Severus knew he was being overprotective, but the procedure Harry had gone through hadn't been a small one.

Both he and Draco were recovering well, but they were limited when it came to their magic. They had been assured that all their magic was intact, and that none of Patrick's was lingering in their system, but they had to be careful and reacclimatise themselves to magic gradually.

The coma itself had left both of them weakened physically and they had been put on a regime to gain the weight they had lost and to strengthen their muscles again. Ron and Severus were keeping a watchful eye on both, though it wasn't always appreciated.

Severus unfolded his arms and moved into the living room, sitting in the chair opposite Harry. Teddy was fast asleep in bed, having had a busy day with George and Neville, who had taken him to a nearby animal sanctuary where he had fed goats and had a ride on a donkey. He was out for the count and Severus was taking the time to enjoy having Harry back home.

Harry sipped at his tea then placed the cup back in its saucer and looked at Severus over the rim. There was something in his expression that Severus hadn't seen for a while and he steeled himself for what was to come.

"We need to talk, don't we?" Harry asked eventually setting his teacup aside.

Severus sighed and sat a little straighter in his chair. "I suppose we do."

"I've been waiting for you to say 'I told you so'."

"You know I would never be so crass," Severus said, slightly insulted that Harry would think so meanly of him.

"Perhaps I'd deserve it. That was what I was thinking…when I was chained to that wall, Patrick telling us what he was going to do to us. I was thinking that you were right…as always…and I was an idiot."

"It gives me no pleasure to have been proved right. Dear Merlin, I would have given everything to avoid what happened."

"I know," Harry said with a tired nod of his head. "It doesn't change the fact you had to save me…yet again. And here I am, an incompetent fool who can't save his own skin…the boy who killed Voldemort thanks to sheer blind luck and everyone else's assistance."

"Is that truly what you think of yourself?" Severus asked, leaning forward onto his elbows.

"What evidence is there otherwise?" Harry asked bitterly.

Severus took a breath and a moment to collect himself. Throttling Harry would do no good, no matter how much he might wish to. "Harry, there is no braver or better man alive as far as I'm concerned."

Harry snorted and Severus glared at him. "I won't have you wallowing about in self-pity because a madman with a psychotic agenda tried to take your life. You weren't to know – "

"Yes I was!" Harry countered, his voice rising. "I had the death threats and I didn't take them seriously. I put myself right in his path and couldn't defend myself when he came after me."

"Stop this," Severus said firmly. He stood up and moved to stand in front of Harry, gripping the man by the upper arms and hauling him up to stand so they were face to face. "Harry, if it weren't for you I would likely be dead by now, a wasted corpse rotting in Azkaban. If it weren't for you, countless others would still be left there and no one would be fighting their cause. Every day you stand up to injustice and endure threats on your life because of it. You are a remarkable man and I am humbled that it is me you have chosen to spend your life with."

Harry's cheeks flushed and a tear rolled down his cheek. "Will I always need you to save me?" he asked, his voice small.

Severus brushed a thumb across his cheekbone to wipe the tear away and said, "Would it be so very awful if you did? I'll always be here, after all." He sighed and took Harry's hands in his, then said, "I have protected you for as long as I can remember. At first it was a chore, something I had to do to soothe my conscience. I acted upon orders and did what I could to keep you safe because I knew it was necessary. Now…I would protect you with my dying breath because I love you and the thought of a world without you in it is not one I can bear."

Harry let out a noise that sounded like a sob and threw his arms around Severus' neck, burying his head against Severus' shoulder. Severus held him tightly, so relieved to finally have the man back in his arms where he belonged.

"The weeks have felt like years without you," he whispered into Harry's ear. "There were times when I thought you'd never wake up."

Harry clung on a little more tightly and before Severus knew it Harry had apparated them both to their bedroom.

"Harry," he said softly, "we don't have to do anything. You're still recovering."

"I've been asleep for the past few weeks," Harry countered, pulling back to look at Severus. "And I've missed you."

Severus couldn't help but smile at the man. It had been a long few weeks and he had missed more than just Harry's company. "Are you sure?" he asked, and before he could blink, Harry had spelled both their clothes off. "That answers that question," he said with a smirk.

Their bodies met and melted together. It was so achingly familiar and to have Harry back in his arms was too wonderful to put into words. They kissed their way over to the bed and Harry pulled Severus down on top of him. Severus' lips moved to Harry's neck and Harry keened beneath him. The man was so responsive to every touch, every kiss, and Severus drank in the noises that only he could make the man make.

Everything blurred, nothing mattered but the man beneath him. He touched every inch of Harry's skin, worshipped it with his fingertips, teased it with his lips. His brain refused to think, refused to process things the way he usually would. All he could do was feel.

Harry's hands brushed softly over his skin and he shivered with pleasure. He couldn't tell where he ended and Harry began and he had no idea how their lubricant found its way into his hand, but there he was, his fingers buried deep inside the man, stretching and preparing him.

Harry moaned and begged and Severus' senses reeled with the beauty of those noises. No one but him had ever done this to Harry, no one but him had ever joined with the man so completely. It made his head spin that Harry had given him this gift but Severus knew that he would never take it for granted.

He sank inside Harry and watched as pure pleasure flashed through Harry's eyes. He moved with deep, measured thrusts, feeling overwhelmed that he was able to do this, that Harry had been returned to him. He was surrounded by the man, gloriously taken over by him as he thrust ever deeper.

Harry's hands gripped his forearms tightly and his legs were wrapped around Severus' waist, guiding him, begging him with his body. Severus could deny him nothing, reaching down to wrap his hand around Harry's straining erection as they moved in perfect tandem. Harry came with a strangled cry, covering Severus' hand and his own stomach with his release.

Severus thrust in earnest and came moments later, the blood pounding in his ears. Tremors ran through him and he tried to catch his breath as Harry pulled him forward into a sweeping kiss. It was with great reluctance that he withdrew from Harry's body, wanting to be as connected to the man as he could be for as long as possible.

Harry wrapped himself around him and Severus felt their sweat-dampened skin connect. While Harry had lain there in that hospital bed, it had felt as though they would never be this way again. He buried his nose in Harry's hair and breathed in the familiar scent of apples.

"I love you," he murmured softly and Harry nestled in deeper.

"I love you too," Harry whispered back. "Are you still going to marry me?"

"What do you bloody think?"

"I've just tied that for you. Leave it alone!" George said, batting Severus' hands away from the bow tie at his throat.

"Why do I have to wear this bloody thing?" Severus growled, doing his best to glare at George.

"Because we said so," Draco said imperiously, turning back to where Severus' waistcoat was hanging and charming the creases from it. "You want to look good for your wedding, don't you?"

Severus snorted at the idea of 'looking good' for anything, but even he had to admit that the wedding robes that Harry had picked out were exquisite. They were a dark navy blue with a paler-coloured waistcoat, every inch of the outfit tailored to perfection. He could only imagine how beautiful Harry was going to look.

They were having the wedding at the Burrow, and the guest list was comprised of only their closest friends. Molly had outdone herself and the garden, where the ceremony was taking place, looked breath-taking.

They were getting married under a beautifully decorated arbour and, as it was December, the whole area had been covered with warming charms. The garden itself had been charmed with snow and icicles and the whole place looked like a winter wonderland. The lingering part of Severus' old self wanted to sneer at the sentiment of it all, but he simply couldn't find it in himself anymore.

Draco handed him the waistcoat and he shifted into it before George moved behind him and held the outer robes up for him to slide into. Both men came to stand in front of him, crossing their arms and looking at him as though he were some kind of exhibit.

"Draco, my man," George said with a grin, "I think we've done a fine job."

"My sentiments exactly," Draco replied, mirroring the grin. "I'm sure all Harry's second thoughts will disappear the moment he sees you."

"Very funny," Severus drawled, questioning his reasoning for appointing these two lunatics as his best men. He wondered how Harry was faring with Ron and Hermione. No doubt Ron would be sitting with a beer in hand offering several wry comments while Hermione flitted around trying to make sure everything was perfect. He wondered if the man was as nervous as he was.

He knew without a shadow of a doubt that Harry was the person he was meant to spend the rest of his life with. He had been having dreams for the past couple of weeks that when they met under the arbour that Harry would look at him and shake his head, saying, "I'm sorry Severus but I can't do this. This was a mistake, I can do better".

It was ridiculous, of course it was. He knew that Harry loved him, that he wanted nothing more than a future with him, but part of him couldn't believe that he had been granted such a miracle. It had taken him a long time to believe that he wasn't unworthy of the man, that others didn't think Harry insane for settling for a creature like him.

People were happy for them, he knew that. Molly had told him how proud she was, Arthur had told him that he had never seen Harry so happy and all the people they knew and loved were gathering in the garden to celebrate their relationship.

He thought that perhaps there would always be part of him that doubted the good things in his life. He had experienced so little joy, so little happiness that he would always question his good fortune and it would take time to accept that no one would strip these things away from him.

There was a knock on the door and Molly came in, guiding Teddy in front of her. She smiled at them all and said to Severus, "Teddy wanted to come and check on you."

Severus smiled and picked the little boy up, holding him close. "You look very smart, Ted," he said as Teddy snuggled into him. "Have you got the rings?"

"Auntie Molly's got them for now," Teddy said, starting to play with the dark red rose in Severus' buttonhole.

"And you know what to do?" Severus asked.

Teddy nodded seriously and said, "When the woman with the funny robes asks who has the rings I have to come and give them to her."

"That's right. It's the most important job in the whole ceremony. We wouldn't trust anyone else to do it."

Teddy beamed and Severus pressed a kiss to the boy's sandy mop of hair. "Have you seen your Pa?" he asked. Both he and Harry were still getting used to Teddy calling them 'Dad' and 'Pa', but both men were delighted by it. For Severus, every time he heard the word 'Dad' he felt his heart swell.

"He looks very handsome," Teddy said with a grin. "So do you, Dad."

"Very kind of you to say so," Severus said with a smirk.

"You do," Teddy insisted. "You're not the same kind of handsome as Pa," he said, and Severus couldn't help but laugh. How true that was statement was. "But I think you're very handsome," Teddy continued with his usual air of resolve.

"There is no opinion more important to me than yours," Severus told him. "But don't tell your Pa I said that."

Teddy giggled and Molly said, "Come on now young man before you crease your dad's robes."

Severus set Teddy back on the floor and smoothed the boy's messy hair. "I'll see you down there, sweetheart. Remember, you're the most important part of the day."

Teddy drew himself up taller and puffed his chest out slightly before he waved at them all and let Molly lead him out of the room and back down the stairs. Severus was well aware of the look of utter fondness on his face, but he adored Teddy and was incapable of hiding it.

He would never have imagined that the small boy who came to stay with them all that time ago would one day become his son. Teddy and Harry were his future, were the things he cared most about in the world and today would cement the three of them together properly.

"You're getting that soppy look on your face again," said George, clapping a large hand on his shoulder. "Do we need to douse you with ice water?"

"You can try," Severus told him with a raised eyebrow.

"We can forgive you a little soppiness on your wedding day," said Draco, flanking Severus' other side. "But try not to go too misty-eyed or you might end up being sectioned."

Severus had caught himself in the mirror several times throughout the morning and had barely recognised the man looking back at him. He would never have imagined that not only would he be this happy, but that he would allow himself to show it.

There was another knock at the door and Ron's head bobbed around the doorframe. He grinned and said, "Time to go, Sev. We're going down with Harry. Give it a couple of minutes then you guys come down. You know he'll flip his lid if you see each other before the ceremony."

Severus rolled his eyes. Harry was sticking with tradition down to the letter and had stayed at Ron and Draco's the night before while Severus stayed at the cottage with Teddy. It seemed that Harry had been waiting his whole life for his wedding day, and he was determined to do it right.

"See you down there, groomie," Ron said, ducking back out of the room before Severus could throw something at him.

"You ready to do this?" George asked with a smile.

He took a deep breath and nodded, then followed Draco and George out of the room and down the rickety old staircase. He knew that Harry would be in place on one side of the garden, and he moved with his best men to stand in his assigned place. He could hear the happy murmur of the guests and he tried to bring his nerves under control.

Harry wasn't going to change his mind, he wouldn't leave Severus all alone to a cold and unhappy future. This was it now, it was going to be the two of them against the world.

The music started and Draco gave him a nudge. "Come on, let's get this show on the road!"

They stood behind him and all three began their temperate walk. As they rounded the corner, Severus saw everyone seated, their faces a blur of smiles and tears. He neared the arbour and saw the woman who was officiating and who, as Teddy had declared, was indeed wearing funny robes.

Finally, he saw Harry as the man made his way towards him, and his breath caught in his throat. It was so cliché to be overcome with your partner's beauty on your wedding day, but he couldn't help it. Harry looked stunning in his matching navy robes, his hair brushed back and held in place with some sort of charm. It accentuated the strength of his jaw and the sharpness of his cheekbones and those beautiful green eyes sparkled with joy and happiness.

Harry grinned at him and he did his best to return it, hoping that Harry didn't misread his feelings of being overwhelmed for a lack of enthusiasm. They stood in front of the officiant, who welcomed them with a warm smile. Ron and Hermione took their place behind Harry, both looking resplendent in green, while George and Draco stood behind Severus. Severus could practically feel their smiles boring into the back of his head.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the officiant said, beaming at the assembled guests, "it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to witness the bonding of Severus Snape and Harry Potter."

It was a simple service, understated but heartfelt. The officiant wasn't over the top or too saccharine, much to Severus' relief, but it didn't stop both Molly or Hagrid from shedding many tears and blowing their noses like trumpets.

Teddy performed his job admirably, and Severus and Harry couldn't stop themselves from sweeping the little boy up between them and peppering him with kisses before he went back to his seat. The rings were exchanged, along with vows, and Severus was overcome with a feeling of security as the delicate wedding band was placed on his finger.

The marriage license was signed, witnessed by Ron and Draco, and that ridiculous Creevy boy was there with his camera to capture the moment. He had been hovering around for the entire ceremony and Harry had wrangled a promise from Severus weeks ago that he wouldn't fling a variety of hexes at the boy.

It seemed only a few seconds had gone by, but suddenly Severus heard the officiant say, "You may now seal your union with a kiss!"

Harry moved closer, smiling up at him with the brightest smile Severus had ever seen. "Fancy giving your husband a kiss?" he whispered and hearing that word seemed to chip away at the last shard of ice in Severus' heart.

He reached out and grabbed the man, holding him firmly then tilting him backwards in his arms. There were several oohs and aahs of approval from the guests but Severus didn't hear a thing as he leant down and kissed the man who now, inexplicably, was his husband.

There was a loud cacophony of applause and Severus heard George and Ron whooping and cat-calling behind them. He set Harry back upright and they finally broke apart. Severus was taken aback by the look of pure joy on his husband's face. In that moment, the last flicker of doubt flew from Severus' mind. He was wanted, he was loved.

They were both lost in a sea of people who wrapped them up in hugs and handshakes, congratulating them and professing how happy they were. Severus was ready to hex all of them out of his personal space within a few minutes. It may well have been his wedding day, but there were limits to a man's tolerance.

He was rescued by George, who grabbed his arm and cleared a path, loudly pronouncing, "Let the man through! Can't you see he hates you all?"

"You should have gone into public relations," Severus said with a glare, shaking his arm free from George's grasp.

"Now, now," George said, reaching up and patting Severus' cheek with a grin. "You can't glare on your wedding day."

"He can do what he wants on our wedding day," said Harry, appearing at his side and beaming up at him.

Severus slid an arm around the man's shoulders and pulled him close. He could feel his wedding ring on his finger, an alien piece of jewellery that somehow felt as though it had been there for years. He looked down and saw the matching band on Harry's finger and his stomach flipped.

The next few hours passed in a blur of champagne, food and dancing. It was overwhelming that all these people who had come to mean so much to them both had all gathered to celebrate their love for one another.

Severus spent time with Minerva and Flitwick, glad to be able to chat with his former colleagues in a more relaxed setting. He had always held Minerva in high regard and, although he may never admit it to anyone, he felt a certain amount of affection for her.

Things at Hogwarts were still difficult, and she was struggling with all the problems that that brought with it. A different person might have thrown in the towel long ago, but not her. She would weather the storm and Severus hoped she could continue to do so for many more years to come.

He talked with Hermione and Blaise, who were inching ever closer to becoming a couple, and to Neville and Haizea, who seemed to have fallen head over heels for each other after only a few months of dating. Haizea had started a savings fund from the wages she earnt for the purpose of gaining her Potions Mastery in a few years' time. The wheels of Severus' head had already begun to turn, and when the time came, he would offer her a partnership.

The Weasleys were all there of course, en masse, and several times throughout the evening Severus found himself lost in a sea of red. To Molly, Severus seemed to be the best thing since sliced bread and it was an alien feeling to him. She had never forgotten the fact that he had saved George's life, nor that he had taken steps to help George heal afterward.

Both she and Arthur also seemed to be under the impression that no one would have been better for Harry and that no one would have been capable of making him so happy. It baffled Severus. He didn't understand how anyone could think he would be the best option for someone so young and beautiful, someone who could do a thousand times better, but he was slowly learning that some things just couldn't be questioned.

Teddy flitted around the whole group for the entire reception. He was allowed to stay up past his usual bedtime and was taking full advantage of that fact. While he had Victoire to play with, he loved the company of all the adults and it was very clear that George and Ron were his favourites.

Both men had boundless energy, the product of growing up in a large family perhaps, and they both genuinely enjoyed entertaining Teddy.

The little boy bounced between Severus and Harry, and it was second nature to Severus to conduct a conversation with Teddy propped on his hip or to try and eat while Teddy clambered up into his lap.

While he had married Harry because he loved the man more than anything in the world, it felt good that they were providing Teddy with a stable and secure family. Any decisions they now made would be about their lives together as a family and what would benefit their son. It was more than Severus could have ever hoped for and he wished he could have gone back in time and told that spectre in Azkaban that there was a future for him.

Molly and Arthur took Teddy back to the Burrow with them around 9 o'clock. Severus and Harry had insisted that it wasn't necessary, but Molly had simply winked at them and told that they were entitled to a proper wedding night.

Eventually the proceedings wound down and Severus found himself snuggled with Harry on the sofa, Ron, Draco and George lounging on the floor and finishing off the last of the champagne. The day had been a whirlwind and Severus' head was spinning from it all.

"I can't believe you've made an honest man of him!" George said, his speech slurring as he upended the last of the bottle into his glass.

"After he spent so long mooning over you!" Ron added, his eyes pointing in slightly different directions.

"I did not moon!" Harry protested, but Ron and George simply sniggered while Draco gave him an indulgent smile. "I was just…you know…"

"Completely head over heels?" Draco supplied for him. "I know the feeling," he said, reaching out to run a hand through Ron's hair and receiving a soppy smile in return.

"Yeah, 'cause you two didn't moon around after each other did you?" Harry said, trying to roll his eyes, but apparently regretting the action, wincing and burying his head in Severus' shoulder.

Severus chuckled and pulled him closer. Harry was an adorable drunk and he himself was feeling more tipsy than he had in years.

"Then of course Sev moved in here and he started mooning around after Harry," George said, taking a gulp of his champagne and managing to spill half of it down his front.

Severus would have argued and tried to defend his honour but he was banged to rights. He had fallen for Harry after only a few weeks of living with him and apparently hadn't done too well hiding it. Of course, if anyone had told him back then that Harry would one day be his husband he would have had them carted off to the nearest psychiatric ward.

"So when's it your turn?" George asked, turning to his brother. "You must be itching to get that ring on Drake's finger."

Ron and Draco exchanged a conspiratorial smile and Ron slung an arm around the blond's shoulders and pulled him close. "There will be a wedding at some point, no doubt about it. Right now, we're going to focus on the baby," Ron said, a wide grin splitting his face.

There was stunned silence for a moment before Harry spluttered loudly to Draco, "You haven't drunk anything alcoholic all day! Oh my God! You're having a baby!"

"He catches on quickly, doesn't he?" Draco asked Ron, and soon everyone was on their feet, wrapping them both up in hugs and practically yelling words of congratulations. Draco, as the only sober person in room found the whole thing very amusing and excused himself from the circle citing his need to breathe.

"I call godfather!" George said, ruffling Ron's hair.

"You're already the uncle, you can't be godfather too!" Harry protested. "Does Molly know yet?" he asked, his eyes bright with excitement.

Ron shook his head. "Not yet, and I'm sorry if we've stolen your wedding day thunder."

"Don't be daft, this is wonderful news!"

Harry beamed up at Severus and Severus lowered his head to place a gentle kiss to his husband's forehead. When the time was right, a couple of years down the line, they would have an announcement of their own to make and their family would be complete. For now though, they were going to enjoy each other and Teddy and embark upon married life together.

AN: Oh ye of little faith! You all thought I'd have Harry wake up with memory-loss. As if I'd be that cruel! Well, it's just the epilogue to go now my lovelies, and then we're done. I hope you all enjoyed the wedding, please let me know.

Big thanks, as always, to my beta, Tanja.