A/N: For those who do not know, Sebastian's birthday is April 6.

Chapter 23

Harry could not believe he was finally engaged to the love of his life. He really had not expected Severus to ask him let alone do it the night of their son's birthday. They haven't even talked about marriage before.

It was a surprise, a definitely good surprise. He loved Severus and he knew Severus loved him, no question about that. Harry honestly had been thinking of asking Severus himself but didn't think the man would have wanted to get married to him, his 20-year-old ex-student, this soon, not even a year in their relationship.

It hadn't even been 24 hours since Severus proposed to Harry and Harry was already feeling both anxious and excited, though mostly excited. Both of them decided they'd announce their engagement during the apothecary's opening on the 11th, that's in four days. They would, however, be talking to Sebastian very soon.

No matter how early others think it may be to bond themselves to each other, Harry knew there will be no one else for him. While he never believed in soulmates before, and even after knowing he'd fallen mysteriously pregnant to his possible 'soulmate', Harry still was doubtful of the entire concept. He wasn't really sure if Severus was his soulmate but damn if he'd let any myth get in the way of his happiness. He had already offered himself once because of a prophecy. He won't let another fate dictate his life. Severus was his choice and his alone, not manipulated by some sort of deity, not by any magical compatibility. He did not fall in love with Severus just because they have a son together. No, he fell in love with the man because Severus was... well, Severus. The man he used to hate with all his being, who used to make him feel so unworthy as a wizard. The man who saved him in more ways than one, probably irritating Death by now. The man who packed up his life in a matter of days and moved straight to the middle of nowhere at the other side of the earth just so he could be with his unconventional, still uncertain family. The man who took him to a muggle aquarium just because he wanted Harry to experience the only happy memory he knew as a child. The man who left the bedside lamp on when they slept because Harry hated the dark. The man who loved Harry as Harry loved him.

It wouldn't be surprising for those who had seen Harry and Severus together. Severus may not be the kind of person who shows affection publicly but everybody could see how much Harry held importance in his life by a mere palm on Harry's lumbar curve whenever a loud sound erupted as if he was ready to protect him at any moment. By a casual flick of gaze to Harry whenever someone mentions the word 'love' or 'family'. By the sheer amount of devotion he had to let the Weasleys connect their floo to Prince Manor.

If anybody had anything negative to say in their decision then Harry could honestly say they should go fuck themselves.

The night after Sebastian's birthday, when the little family finished dinner and was ready for bed, Severus and Harry decided to let their son know of the recent developments.

Severus stood at the side of the toddler's bed, casually leaning on the wall while Harry sat on the bed, back resting on the headboard with Sebastian in his lap as he combed through the boy's long hair that definitely needed another cut.

"Seb, papa and I need to tell you something," said Harry.

The recently turned three-year-old tilted his head to the side, brows furrowing in question. Severus moved from his place and sat next to Harry, placing a hand on the child's back.

"Your daddy and I will be getting married, little prince," Severus informed lightly, half-certain that their son understood what it meant.

Sure enough, the boy peered at them both and in a soft voice, asked, "What's maweed?" (What's married?)

Harry continued brushing Sebastian's hair perhaps to keep his hand occupied, "It means papa and daddy will be together forever, my love."

Sebastian gazed at them as if they were silly. "You not geder now?" (You're not together now?)

"Of course, we are. Being married means we will be together forever and ever," smiled Harry.

"Oh," Sebastian nodded gravely like it absolutely answers everything before grinning at him, "Book now, dada?"

Both Harry and Severus let out a laugh, Severus' smaller than Harry's but a laugh nonetheless. They weren't worried what the toddler might think of the news perhaps because they knew he will either be happy or forget about it altogether. It seemed like the right bet was the latter.

Harry finished reading The Fountain of Fair Fortune to Sebastian and tucked the sleepy boy in bed, kissing his temple and then letting Severus do the same. They don't usually do this together, only on special occasions or when Sebastian's feeling a little sick.

Severus walked inside their own bedroom only to see Harry staring at the ring on his finger. The older wizard climbed into bed, took Harry's hand, and placed a soft kiss on top of the ring.

"What are you thinking?" asked Severus, clutching on Harry's hand over his own heart.

"You don't have a ring," replied Harry casually.

Severus snorted, "It is fine, love. If you want, we can choose my ring together."

"We don't need to," said Harry, and before Severus could react, Harry held out his free hand to the side as a black velvet box zoomed from Harry's dresser. The hand that Severus clutched twisted to clutch on Severus' instead. Harry copied his previous actions and placed a kiss on Severus' knuckles before placing the velvety box on the man's palm.

"Harry... what is this?" asked Severus, voice a little shaky as he held the offered item.

Harry smiled at him genuinely, "Go, on... open it."

Severus reverently opened the little yet surely expensive gift and gasped. Right there gawking at Severus was a sterling silver ring with an emerald stone in the middle.

"I bought that when I checked the property in Diagon Alley. I thought I'd have to be the one to propose and I was too preoccupied last night to think about this," Harry explained in nonchalance though a blush crept into his cheeks. Severus loved how Harry was still innocent even after showing Severus how wild he can be in bed.

"This is beautiful, my love... the color of your eyes," smiled Severus, pulling Harry for a quick passionate kiss.

Harry withdrew from the kiss and sent Severus a wry grin, "I chose my eye-color for your ring and you chose yours for mine. Such egos we have, babe."

Severus chuckled as Harry took the ring from the box and said, "I don't think I need to ask you anymore," before gently placing it on Severus' finger.

Harry then pulled him in for a much more passionate kiss, both hands on each side of Severus' face, holding him in place as he ravished the man's mouth. Severus let himself be submissive to Harry's carnal explorations.

It was like all of Severus' luck in his life came down to this: him wrapped around Harry's arms in bed with a promise of a beautiful life together and a perfect little boy sleeping in his room. Severus could honestly not need more.

This is it. Harry would finally have his apothecary in Hogsmeade. Theoretically, he should have felt the same way when he bought his first apothecary in New Clethall but he didn't. P&P Apothecary was different. First, he had a wider scope of customers in the UK. He might have had deliveries to other apothecaries before but it was never made public. Second, it was something he personally planned and enacted. He didn't merely buy the shop and continued the business. It was a little more gratifying. And third, he had Severus with him to open the shop. When he had the apothecary (really, his old shop was seriously only called apothecary), Sebastian was barely 7 months old and he hadn't technically opened it as he only just continued the existing business.

Harry originally refused to let people know he owned the shop. He wanted to use Henry Evans in the documents. He didn't want to succeed just because people thought of him as a celebrity and that they would only buy from him just for the idea of it. Severus, on the other hand, argued there was nothing wrong about that, and it wasn't like he'd sell fake, overpriced ingredients and half-arsed brewed potions. He would not be tricking the people as he technically hadn't endorsed his own shop and sold them as merchandise. Hell, if he wanted that he could have just named the shop, Harry Potter Apothecary, that way everybody would know. He wasn't exactly announcing to the world of his new endeavor, it's just that he didn't have to hide it as well.

Harry had one major problem though. Since the shop opening date was announced in The Daily Prophet, a huge number of people might flock in later. He and Severus were supposed to announce their engagement. Though both also did not plan on hiding it to the public, they still did not want to be mobbed on the same day.

Harry invited their friends earlier than the opening time instead. Since it was the first day, the shop would open at lunch so before then, Harry and Severus gathered everyone: the Weasleys and their respective partners, some of the Hogwarts Professors, Neville and Hannah, Luna and his husband, Rolf, Dean, Seamus, Dennis, and even Kate and the twins came to visit.

His three friends from Australia instantly got along with his old friends. Harry could even swear he saw the Mark and Lucas on one corner with the Weasley twins. He should watch out for that, two sets of twins will be the start of an apocalypse. Kate and a 3-month pregnant Luna were chatting as well. He didn't think the two would get on that fast. Kate was much more like Ginny, a wild, free-spirited girl. Though if he'd think about it, the new friendship made sense. Luna is no way conventional... eccentric if he's being honest. Kate would definitely have fun talking to her.

Severus glanced at Harry significantly, Sebastian safely tucked on his chest, likely on a nap again. Every time Severus held him like that, he could not help but swing him a little, making Seb fall right to sleep.

Harry sighed and nodded. Severus suggested that they announce their engagement before the opening so everyone who deserved to know beforehand could hear it from them. After all, everyone else will know soon if they sneak a look on their fingers.

"Alright, listen up," called Harry which immediately silenced the room. Harry always had that power, to catch a room's attention by a simple order. "Thank you for coming today. But before we officially open PP apothecary, we have something to announce."

Someone, probably Ginny, muttered jokingly to Charlie under her breath, "I'll bet you ten galleons they're going to announce their engagement."

Harry having heard it chuckled and responded, "Well, you're going to be ten galleons richer, Gin, because Severus and I are going to get married!" Harry then raised his hand to show his engagement ring.

The girls (and Mark) squealed at the news while the rest exclaimed their congratulations. Minerva had this smile on her face that made Harry think she'd known all along. Ron came over and clapped Severus on the back, an act both men were surprised by and both quickly ignoring their little friendly interaction. Even though Ron accepted Severus fully in Harry's and Sebastian's life, they still had this made-up feud between them. Harry knew though that Ron came to secretly like Severus' personality and Severus secretly liked the red hair's sense of humor.

The rest of Severus' friends came to him and expressed their congratulations as if he wasn't marrying his ex-student half his age. Severus who still had their son in his arms merely nodded in gratitude.

Harry supposed it was something he wouldn't fully understand until Bill told him their age-gap wasn't that unusual in the wizarding world. Magical people tend to live longer than muggles. Twenty years between them was still considered within the normal range.

Harry smiled to himself, feeling elated at the acceptance of the people around him. It may be because all of them already went through a war, two for others, and that made them more emotionally mature than some. Harry glanced at Severus who was gently rocking Sebastian and sighed happily before moving closer. Without saying anything, Harry leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on the corner of his lip, in front of all their friends, and Severus didn't even care.

No one noticed a man lurking outside the shop, peering at the unfolding events inside, a furious expression on his face.

"Kill them, torture them. I don't care!" exclaimed Lance, slamming both hands on the table.

"What? Finally realized Potter won't come crying in your arms?" taunted Rabastan Lestrange while his brother snorted beside him.

Lance scowled at the brothers. "You do what I tell you and you get paid. You finally get your wish to kill Henry and that traitor."

Both men smirked evilly. They have been waiting for this moment ever since a certain Australian sent them an owl. No, they have been waiting for this since their master's demise. If it weren't for Potter and that traitor Snape, those disgusting mudbloods, they would have ruled the world as they pleased. The Lestranges were good purebloods, the purest of all. They deserved to be honored and rewarded, not hiding in the depths of Romanian forests feeding off wild animals and stealing from locals because they could not access their vaults. They shouldn't be following the whims of a rich, crazy, narcissitic mudblood just so they could live the rest of their lives in comfort. Potter and Snape will get what they deserved.

Lance was enraged. When he found out in the British papers that his Henry was opening a new apothecary, he wanted to visit him. To see him and talk to him, to finally ask why he rejected him that night in the men's room, to know why of all the available men, he would choose someone unworthy of him.

But when he saw them announcing their upcoming wedding, Lance lost it. Screw the plan of taking Henry. Screw them for getting married. Screw punishment, Henry was supposed to be his. Only his. If he can't be his, then he can't be anyone else's.

Harry was glad he hired Dennis. He didn't need to be in the shop all day since the boy managed well enough, giving him time with his family.

Harry found Severus and Sebastian inside the office, Severus patiently started teaching Seb how to read. He sat on the armchair and had the toddler on his lap as they both read into the My first magical alphabet, one of the books Severus personally bought for the occassion. The man was actually serious when he said he would be teaching their son when he turns three. In the span of a week and a half, Sebastian's speech ability significantly improved. The little boy had even began calling Harry daddy insead of dada, not that Harry minded eitherway. Severus just thought it was a little more formal if Seb called him daddy than dada eventhough it was adorable. Who would have thought Severus Snape could teach a toddler decently and calmly?

He walked over behind the pair and bent down to kiss the top of their heads. Severus turned his head upward to give his fiancé a better kiss on the mouth before going back to his original task.

Whenever Harry came into Sev's office/library, he would always go straight to the window behind the desk as it had the most beautiful view of the fountain court. When he passed by the man's desk, a certain manila-wrapped box caught his attention. Severus doesn't usually receive owls in his office. They've been receiving countless owls since Harry made their relationship known a few months ago. All mails were directed to the sitting room and sorted by one of the house-elves.

"Hey Sev!" called Harry, coming to check on the box. "There's a package from an RR on your desk."

At the mention of the initial, Severus instantly got to his feet with a startled Sebastian in his arms, and bellowed, "Harry! Get away!"

Harry who was surprised by the sudden sound fell backward on his arse. They didn't have time to react when the package started ticking. While Severus had no idea what the sound was, Harry had watched countless action movies with Kate enough to know that that was the sound of a muggle bomb countdown.

Severus hadn't noticed Harry's panicked face because Sebastian had started crying in his arms. Harry clumsily got to his feet and immediately yelled at Severus to take Sebastian and run. Severus, having realized what it was, quickly placed protection shields on their son as he and Harry ran to the door, Sebastian sobbing in fear, holding onto Severus' neck like a lifeline. Times like these, both wanted to curse the vastness of the office/library and the existence of anti-apparition wards.

They were barely out of the door when the bomb ticked faster, signaling it's end. Harry didn't know what else to do. Sebastian was with them, their baby boy. He knew they could not get away fast enough to safety so Harry pulled out his wand, pulled Severus and Sebastian protectively on his back, and with all the magic he could force out from himself, erected the most powerful shield he, and probably anyone, could manage, just in time for the loud, horrible sound of a blast erupted, like a thousand confringos were packed into one big explosion.

His heart was pumping out of his chest, he could feel the blood flowing in his veins to his head and his breathing turned erratic. He could still feel the body pressed behind him as an arm wrapped crushingly on his waist but couldn't hear anything. The rush of adrenaline finally declined as dust filled the air and rubbles of stone gathered around them. Harry dropped on his knees, too shocked to move. He hadn't heard Severus screaming and Sebastian's wailing over the ringing in his ears and hadn't noticed the blood coming out of his nose and ears. All he knew was the blast hadn't hurt his family. That was all it took for Harry to finally succumb into darkness.

A/N: ... and that's the dropped shoe right there