Harry ran the cloth up and down the handle of his broomstick, watching as it shimmered in the dappled light coming in the window. There was only one week left until the beginning of the school year, and he wanted to be organised start the term off right, that and he was married to the headmaster, so it was basically a requirement. To think that Voldemort had been gone of a year, and he had been married nearly 2 years was to say the least surreal at times.

Harry wouldn't have it any other way; he had literally found his soul mate, during a tumultuous and harrowing time. The Dark Lord had been on the rise during his 6th year, as per Albus Dumbledore's request; Harry and Severus were forced to work together in an attempt to bring the darkness to an end.

What started out as a somewhat explosive relationship at first, soon developed into one of trust and respect, it was in that time that Harry saw a whole different side to the snarky Potions Professor who had goaded and belittled him for the last 6 years. He had always had a little crush on the Professor, something about him always caused Harry to become flustered and quite hot under the collar as well as other places, but he wouldn't talk about that.

During those long hours of rigorous training only fostered his feelings, Severus revealed to him later that he had harboured those same thoughts and feelings, but for the sake of professionalism and the impending war, he kept them close to his chest. Little did either of them know that it was their unrequited feelings that held the key to defeating one of the world's darkest wizards?

After a particularly nasty nightmare, Harry had landed outside the Potions room drenched in sweat and trembling with fear, Severus took him into his private rooms, bundling him up near the fire and wrapping a blanket around his shoulders. The Potions Master offered soothing words of comfort reassuring him that it was only a nightmare; he would protect Harry from harm.

Staring into the depth of midnight coloured pools, Harry knew right through to his very soul that Severus was the one, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Whether by legilimens or some other magical mean, Severus captured Harry's lips in a tender, passionate kiss that he all but melted into, spark ignited in his veins, his heart pounding in his chest.

Pulling away for some much needed air, panting heavily, eyes blazing with wanton lust in the flames, Severus took the road less travelled and explained to Harry that as he was underage, things couldn't progress any further, Merlin knew he wanted them to. Harry agreed it was for the best; Severus finally knowing how he felt was more than he could ask for in that moment. Harry's mature view of the situation only made him love the young wizard more.

The next morning Harry awoke to a strange mark over his heart, it was the infinity sign with a snake entwined around it, not really knowing what it meant or if it was something to do with the Dark Lord, Harry went to Severus, the Potions Master was sporting the same mark only a lion occupied the infinity symbol rather than a snake. One tentatively touching the marks a burst of light erupted above them coming to rest on the respective marks, a golden glow shining over them, as quickly as it had happened it was gone.

Seeking Albus' advice on the strange marks that had appeared, the headmaster was only too delighted to inform his favourite boys, that Mistress magic had seen fit to make Harry and Severus soul mates, it was a rarity that two powerful wizards such as themselves found someone that their soul truly connected with. Going by the familiar gleam in the headmaster's eye, Severus suspected that it wasn't as rare as they were made to believe, not in his and Harry's case anyway.

This didn't go over well with a certain ginger haired witch, who had been trying to sink her claws into Harry for sometime, Ron and Hermione were supportive, they only wanted their friend to be happy and of that was Severus so be it. It was their love that had ultimately defeated Voldemort during the final battle; Harry and Severus' unconditional love for one another, combined with their magic was enough to send the Dark Lord to his fiery demise.

The piece of his soul that had attached itself to Harry all those years ago, shattered as the darkness came to its knees, he hadn't ever needed to walk to his death, as Albus had first predicted he would have to do in order for the madman to be destroyed.

The same couldn't be said for the castle and all the lives that had been lost during the battle. The dark magic so complex that it would take a prolonged amount of time before Hogwarts was able to welcome students back into its walls. A month after the war had ended; Harry and Severus married in a private ceremony, much to the demise of Molly and Ginny Weasley, the matriarch casting Harry aside for the abnormal way he chose to live his life.

Ron and Hermione had decided to remain friends, a relationship wasn't for them, and Molly was outraged at this and hadn't spoken to Ron since. Arthur who watched his family being torn apart, left the Burrow and moved to a small flat near the Ministry. Ginny still maintained that Harry was the one she was supposed to be with and wouldn't give up until he was hers.

Harry was putting the lid on his broom polish, when he felt the presence of his husband in the room, dark obsidian eyes watching him intently.

'You ogling me Sev?' Harry asked

'Of course, there is a lot to ogle my love' Severus said in that low rumbling tone that set Harry's body on fire

Chancing a look, Harry saw that his husbands eyes were darkening, filled with lust and desire, he could feel the heat settling in his belly, the blood rushing to his crotch. He stood and walked into the familiar embrace, shivering as Severus' hands moved down to cup and squeeze his arse. Harry let out a whimper

'I have to meet Ron and Mione for lunch soon' Harry muttered as Severus started an assault on his neck

'You can be fashionably late darling' Severus muttered rubbing his hardness against Harry's thigh

'Oh gods' Harry moaned, Severus scoping him into his arms and heading for their bedroom.

'Sorry I'm late' Harry panted as he plonked down on the seat outside the cafe in Hogsmeade

'I can see why' Hermione chuffed 'Harry?'

'What?' Harry answered

'Your shirts on inside out' Hermione chuckled

'Crap' Harry muttered looking at the shirt that was indeed inside out and on backwards to boot, he waved his wand and the offending garment righted itself

'Hussy' Ron mumbled

'Shut up' Harry remarked 'You want me to remind you of the items of clothing you were missing when we caught up for drinks?'

'Point taken' Ron conceded the tips of his ears going pink

'All ready for the term?' Hermione asked, wanting to change the subject

'Yep, looking forward to it' Harry replied 'never thought it would get here'

'Me either' Ron agreed 'Might finally have that quiet year we've always talked about

'Let's hope so' Harry replied 'We have certainly earned one'

'Earned what?' came a familiar drawl

'A quiet year' Hermione smiled

'I'm all for that' Draco answered sitting down at the table, Seamus beside him 'as long as the hero here behaves himself'

'Yes it was all my doing Drake, how will you ever forgive me' Harry said dramatically

'I don't know Harry, it will be incredibly difficult' Draco sighed heavily

'Prat' Harry mumbled

'I've got some great ideas for Quidditch' Ron interjected

'I hope one of them will be making your favourite sister captain?' Ginerva Weasley smiled

'McGonagall makes that choice' Ron said stiffly 'Go away Ginny'

'Not very polite Ron, I came to see Harry' she swooned

'He doesn't want to see you Ginny' Ron spat

'How's Uncle Sev Harry?' Draco chimed in, knowing exactly how to get the red head to scamper

'Tired' Harry smirked 'Feeling a bit frisky before lunch'

'I hope you took care of that?' Draco replied 'can't have my godfather unsatisfied

'I did indeed' Harry said smugly 'more than once'

'Not bad for an old bloke' Draco conceded

'I don't disappoint' Harry said smoothly

'Don't talk like that Harry, you will see that I am the one you should be with, not that overgrown bat' Ginny stated

'That's my husband you're talking about, so I suggest you leave' Harry growled

'It's alright Harry' Hermione said gently 'Leave Ginerva'

'Fine, she huffed 'Remember Harry whatever spell he has you under won't last forever'

'Merlins sake' Harry breathed running a hand through his hair 'What ideas did you have for Quidditch Ron?'

Harry and Ron were both returning to Hogwarts in a teaching capacity that year, Harry as the new flying instructor and Ron as coach for the house Quidditch teams. Hermione was going to be a teaching assistant to Minerva McGonagall, Draco, Seamus, Neville, Luna, Katie, Vincent, Greg and Cho were all returning as students to complete their final year, unfortunately so was Ginny, but Harry wasn't about to let that worry him.

'Let's order I'm starving' Ron announced, his stomach giving a grumble in agreement

'Want to share something?' Draco asked Seamus softly

Harry smiled at the pair, they had been inseparable since the war, and Seamus seemed to balance Drake out, show him that he was worthy of being cared about.

His blonde friend was smitten with the Irish Gryffindor. Neville and Hermione were the same as were Ron and Katie. The two biggest shocks were Crabbe and Goyle who had once been Draco's sidekicks.

They had both come from a family of Death Eaters, before the war broke out; they sought refuge from the impending battle and their parent's wrath at turning their back on the Dark Lord.

Severus got them to safety with help from Kingsley Shacklebolt; to look at them now you wouldn't think they were the same two people, Vinnie with Luna, and Greg with Cho.

They ordered lunch and enjoyed the sunshine, laughing and talking about the year ahead, Harry couldn't be sure, but he thought he could see a flash of ginger coloured hair glinting in the light, a few shops down from the café they were seated outside of. Pushing the thought from his mind, he continued to eat.

'You've been very quiet tonight' Severus said as he came into their sitting room, to find Harry staring out the window watching the stars coming to life over the tops of the trees of the forbidden forest

'Just thinking' Harry replied quietly

'What about?' Severus said, coming to sit beside him on the window seat

'The new year' Harry answered 'nothing exciting'

'Miss Weasley?' Severus countered, Draco had told him about the incident in Hogsmeade

'A bit' Harry whispered 'Don't want her causing trouble'

'Harry look at me' Severus turned his husband around to face him. 'I will not allow her to cause you one ounce of grief, don't forget that I am headmaster and if she dares to put one toe out of line, I will gladly keep her in detention for the whole year, 7th years don't take flying class, so you needn't worry about that, Minerva has already chosen Miss Bell to be captain for Gryffindor so Miss Weasley won't have any say over how Ron coaches the teams'

'What would I do without you?' Harry smiled

'Suffer terribly no doubt' Severus mused 'Come on time for bed'

Straightening his robes and smoothing his hair the best he could, Harry walked out of his and Severus' rooms and headed for the Great Hall, his husband had left to go and greet the students as they walked into the newly restored castle. Harry was meeting Ron and they were going to the welcoming feast together.

'Remember when that was us' Ron said quietly as they entered the hall, watching the first years wait nervously to be sorted into their houses.

'Yep, seems like a hundred years ago now' Harry answered 'At least there won't be the same house rivalries there was when we were here'

They took their seats and listened as Severus gave the welcoming speech, focusing on the New Year ahead and the need for unity and change now that the magical world was a safer place.

There would no longer be segregated seating for each house during meal times, encouraging students from all houses to mingle and forge new and lasting friendships with their fellow students.

Harry was in awe watching the beautiful man that was his husband, give such a passionate address, his mark tingled slightly, whether from the speech or the fact Harry was imagining his Severus naked.

Later that evening a ginger haired witch seethed with rage, as the head of house announced who the prefects were going to be and who the chosen Captain of the house team was.

It was the lack of hearing her name being called that had her face turning an angry shade of red. It was all bloody Ron's fault, she fumed his stupid girlfriend had been made captain because she was shagging the coach.

'Shouldn't there be a conflict of interest in choosing Katie for captain?' Ginny snapped 'Can hardly be counted as fair, if my brother is the coach'

'As Mr Weasley is responsible for all four house teams and Miss Bell for Gryffindor then it will not pose a problem Miss Weasley' Minerva replied in her no nonsense tone

'Well I'm going to appeal the decision' she muttered

'You may take up the matter with Headmaster Snape if you so wish' Minerva said stiffly, knowing full well she would do nothing of the sort

Leaving her with that thought, Minerva bid the Gryffindor common room good night and left through the portrait of the fat lady.

Ginny raged silently, glowering over at Katie who was surrounded by people congratulating her on making captain. When the crowd had dispersed and students went to their dorms, Ginny sidled up beside the newly appointed captain.

'I had better make that team' she whispered viciously in Katie's ear

'You'll try out like everyone else' Katie snapped 'Don't ever threaten me again Ginerva'

'You won't win without me' Ginny scoffed 'Hope you don't want that house cup too badly'

'Keep going and I will gladly take that chance, you're not indispensable Weasley just remember that' Katie snarled, turning on her heel and walking up to the girls dorms, thankfully she didn't share with the irate ginger.

Ginny slumped down onto the couch in front of the fireplace and stared into space, Katie would see sense, they wouldn't have a hope without her on the team, she was the best chaser there was without a doubt, Katie knew that, she was too busy listening to what her brother was whispering in her ear, to see what was right in front of her.

Perhaps she would ask McGonagall for permission to use the Quidditch pitch for extra practice before the tryouts came up. It wouldn't hurt to get some extra time in, even though she could fly without any problem at all. In the very least it would the rest of the try hards to shame when it came time for the selection.