A/N: As always the notes are at the end :) The MPREG will be coming soon, this is going to be a nice big long story and the process of conception takes a while so bear with me. Unlike some MPREGs I'm not going to skip anything or make it go too quickly.
Chapter Summary: Harry and Sev face a reporter from The Daily Prophet and meet an unexpected ally.
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. Beta by Kristine Thorne
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Chapter Seven - Judgement
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An hour later they were all grouped in the Defence classroom again, fortunately, Harry thought so at least, the Prophet reporter hadn't arrived yet.
"What I want to know more than anything," Hermione began before everybody had got seated, "Is how the use of Polyjuice potion fits into all of this. Apparently, this potion was used to allow the real Professor Snape to leave with Harry while somebody else impersonated him. Not only did this 'Snape' act as a Potions and Psychic healing master, but he also left to join the enemy and committed various atrocities against Order members, personally I find it hard to believe. Who was it that was supposed to be taking the Polyjuice potion to become Snape, Harry?"
"It was Albus Dumbledore," Harry said to audible gasps from all those present, although Meg the Mediwitch had known this she seemed to have failed to pass the information on.
"And who told you this?" Hermione asked in her superior voice, "Snape himself?"
"Albus came to Severus in a dream and told him, I saw it in a vision and Severus recognised him from his eyes, we didn't know what Albus was planning before that," Harry tried to explain. "It was why Professor Snape and Albus Dumbledore both seemed to leave at the same time, Albus took on the role of Snape full time to become a more convincing Death Eater."
"Basically this is all information that Professor Snape gave you when you were where exactly?" Hermione continued.
Harry stiffened in annoyance, so much for control he thought, he felt as if he was on trial, "We were staying in a house on the west coast of Scotland," Harry answered.
"So you only had Professor Snape's word for it then, or who you thought to be Professor Snape anyway, we've been caught out by that one before haven't we Harry? Are we going to find the real one locked up in a magic trunk I wonder?"
"If you do, don't open it," Ron muttered to himself.
Harry was livid and it took all his willpower to keep his hand off his sword, "I have proof that this is the real Severus Snape and I will not share it, I will not participate in this, Albus Dumbledore, apparently very effectively, doubled as Professor Snape, for Severus' safety as much for my own," Harry snapped.
"It can't have been Dumbledore," Hermione argued.
"Well it was," Harry snapped back.
As if on cue, Severus now handed Harry Dumbledore's letter exonerating him from all wrongdoing and read it out to all present. The letter, carrying Dumbledore's unmistakeable handwriting and magical signature, explained the period over which he had used the potion and confirmed his own responsibility for everything that had occurred in that period. It was evidence that even Hermione couldn't argue with. Hermione responded by going visibly paler but she didn't say anything. She certainly wasn't about to apologise to Severus.
"So is Albus Dumbledore dead?" Ron asked through Hermione's uncharacteristic silence.
"We believe so," Severus answered, "I believe that he took a suicide potion whilst still in his disguise, he wouldn't have been able to maintain the deception in a full war situation for long."
It was as everybody was trying to digest that information that the reporter from The Prophet arrived in a flurry of cloak.
Harry smiled charmingly at the reporter as he entered and made sure that he was standing so close to Severus that they couldn't possibly cut him out of a photo shoot no matter how hard they tried to exclude him. It was time to see whether his plan would work, Harry thought.
"Once and for all the wizarding world will have its proof that Severus and I killed the Dark Lord and a very large number of his followers," Harry announced once he had finished giving the reporter the basic details of their story and the camera had taken all the pictures. "But first I must announce that Severus Snape and I will be taking the positions of Headmaster and Defence Master from September and Hogwarts will reopen, I must thank everyone who has submitted applications for teaching positions so far, we will give them all our fair attention."
Harry smiled to himself as the hushed whispers filled the room and the glowers were for once not directed at Severus. Of course they had only received Professor Trelawney's application but it would seem that there was meant to have been some sort of boycott arrangement in place and they were now all trying to accuse each other of breaking it.
The reporter from The Prophet was scribbling furiously with his quill.
"Now for the proof," Harry announced once the noise had settled again, Harry drew his sword, "I would like the reporter from The Prophet to examine the spells that have been cast from this sword, as you would a wand, it should tell you all you need to know, then you may examine Severus' sword in the same way. We will not hold them together as the information will become mixed."
"Sounds reasonable," the reporter admitted, "I will be able to tell the identity of those killed and their magical leaning, certainly if the Dark Lord and his major followers are among those slain it should be very clear."
Hermione didn't look happy, but then Harry suspected that nothing other than Severus being guilty of evil would make her happy. Or dead, Harry thought, she would like that too, another good reason not to hold the swords together again.
Harry held out his sword, he could have sworn that the serpents winked at him as they wound round his wrist. The reporter approached him and placed a hand on the sword and held it there, seemingly deep in thought for several minutes.
"I see many deaths, many curses to stun, some prominent Death Eaters were killed recently with this sword, the Dark Lord was not killed by this sword." The reporter eventually announced.
Harry was not surprised, it was exactly as he had planned it, he felt Severus shifting nervously beside him as he was unaware of the plan but Harry could trust him to retain his stern countenance. Harry put his sword away in the midst of a stunned silence.
"Severus, please could you draw your sword?" Harry asked his Kin.
Severus dutifully took up his sword and held it out for the reporter to examine.
Again the reporter placed his hand on the sword and this time Harry was waiting with anticipation along with everybody else. Let them put this in their pipe and smoke it, Harry thought to himself in expectant triumph.
"I see many deaths, many curses to stun, some prominent Death Eaters were killed recently with this sword," the reporter repeated for Severus' sword, "This sword was used to kill the Dark Lord, the Dark Lord is dead and his putrid soul is banished from this plane, the war is over."
Whilst the reporter still had his hand on Severus' sword, Harry quickly drew his own, just for a minute, he could not risk more.
The reporter was a little surprised but managed to speak, "The swords join as one when held together."
"What about the prophecy?" Hermione demanded. "You were supposed to kill the Dark Lord Harry, you said that you had."
Harry smiled, he had been expecting her to mention it sooner rather than later, "The prophecy was fulfilled, we are Kin, we are as one, it doesn't matter that the death was by Severus' hand, he is as much a part of me as I am a part of him, we are one," Harry stated the power of the Bond and the swords surging through him again, his voice becoming a passion filled hiss just before Severus broke the link for him, "I think that concludes matters."
"On the contrary," the reporter interceded, "The Dark Lord has clearly been defeated and for this we all owe you our lives, I have no choice but to recommend you both to the Ministry for the appropriate honours. Admittedly the Ministry is in disarray at present but I am sure that the matter will be given the highest degree of attention."
"To have the opportunity to play a valuable role in the rebuilding of the wizarding world will be an adequate reward," Harry commented, for once playing the publicity machine to his advantage, "You can quote me on that."
"Such modesty Mr Potter," the reporter commented as he scribbled again with his quill.
"Snape, Professor Snape," Harry said pointedly to the reporter hoping that he would be sure to print it as Harry wished.
Harry looked around the room, Hermione was still scowling and Ron was clearly too stunned to close his gaping mouth.
'Professor Snape?' a familiar but recently absent voice spoke in Harry's head, he turned his attention to the voice, he wanted words with it.
'Well hello Alexian,' Harry responded to the voice, 'Or should I say Valarius?'
'Thank you for looking after him,' Valarius continued.
'The pleasure is all mine,' Harry responded with amusement.
'Severus' personal things are at Lucius Malfoy's house,' Valarius added.
'Great! I don't really want to go there,'
'You don't have to, just open the window.'
Harry suddenly became aware that all eyes were on him and somebody was calling his name. He had been so intent on talking to Valarius that he had become quite distracted.
"Harry, what ever is the matter?" Hermione was demanding.
"Nothing, I am fine," Harry replied turning to the windows, for some reason he had to get one of them open and he thought it was probably a good idea to do it very soon. "It's very hot in here," Harry continued, fanning himself with a hand and making for the nearest window. Harry could see that Hermione looked suitably puzzled, it was actually quite cold as there was no fire burning and it was a cold day for April, but it was too late to amend his excuse to a more believable one. Harry reached over and opened the large window and a strong cold breeze blew into the room, causing a quantity of disgruntlement from the other occupants.
Harry returned to Severus' side and waited, not at all sure what he was waiting for, surely he wasn't about to see an owl pass through the window with all of Severus' personal belongings. Severus leant down to Harry's ear.
"Are you going to tell me how you did that?" Severus whispered to Harry.
"Parseltongue," Harry whispered back, "Asked them a favour."
The impasse of events would have started to get awkward were it not for the fluttering that was suddenly heard at the window. A winged creature came in through the opening carrying in its claws a large wooden trunk, it certainly wasn't an owl, the bird flew lower and Harry was delighted to see that it was Albus Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes. Fawkes lowered the trunk to the ground at Severus' feet and flew back up into the room, he then flew towards the two Kin and Harry held out an arm for him to land. The bird did not want Harry though and Severus was forced to hold out his arm as a perch when the bird flew directly at him, obviously expectant of being accepted. Severus stood awkwardly holding the bird on his arm as Fawkes folded his wings then gently and affectionately snuggled up to him. The phoenix then squawked gently and rubbed his head against Severus' chest, clearly showing a form of allegiance.
Harry smiled, Severus had just adopted himself a new pet, or rather Fawkes had just adopted him. For the first time since he had returned Harry felt that there was hope for their settlement at Hogwarts, surely nobody could question the allegiance of Albus's phoenix.
The Prophet reporter left promptly, obviously keen to get back with his news, using the rest of the day to prepare a version for printing which would no doubt be fanciful and inaccurate.
"Right, applications for teaching posts," Harry announced, wanting to get on with the rest of the meeting as soon as possible, "I see no reason why those who held teaching positions before the school closed should not resume them in September."
"With one noticeable exception," Hermione interrupted.
"Do you not wish to continue in the position of Potions teacher?" Severus asked in a rare break of silence.
"I assumed it wouldn't be mine to take," Hermione added watching Severus warily.
"As Harry says, those who already held posts may continue, surely you do not expect me to teach Defence, Potions, Psychic Healing and be Headmaster too?" Severus continued in a tone that Harry knew would annoy Hermione.
"I merely assumed that it would not be mine," Hermione snapped.
"You are welcome to it," Severus added, making it a clear that he was thankful to be free of the post, "Of course I will be tutoring your teaching technique over the coming months, to make sure that you are up to the strain of dealing with troublesome Gryffindors."
Harry could have sworn that he saw Hermione visibly cringe at the prospect, "Do I need to apply for the post?" She asked.
"I think I am quite well acquainted with your talents," Severus responded, "There will be no need."
"I think that we should abandon all that 'House' stuff, what do you think Severus?" Harry said changing the subject to break the stand off that was developing.
"Some of the dorms have already been reassigned to none students, it would make sense to restructure." Severus agreed.
"Also, we will need a lower school for all those children who live here but are below the normal acceptance age of eleven. And we need to arrange an open day once we get the wards reinforced; nobody is going to want to come here if Death Eaters can still come flying in. If there are any left that is. " Harry added.
"Who will deal with House points and detentions if there are no Houses and no House Heads?" Hermione asked.
Harry hoped that she wasn't setting herself up to find fault with everything either of them said, but he suspected that it might well be the case.
"We can have a Head of House, as in head of all domestic matters, someone who is not a teacher ideally, I think Ron should do it," Harry suggested, hoping that he could start to win some of those gathered around to the new leadership, "Those suspected of wrong doing will be sent to Severus in the first instance, then I myself will deal with the severity of punishment to be given if expulsion is inappropriate, then I propose that the individual teachers hold the detentions if the transgression took place within class time."
"So you'll be expelling any child who takes a small step out of line then," Ron commented harshly, referring to Severus' record regarding discipline in the past.
A year ago Harry would have agreed with Ron, but he wasn't now going to explain that it might all have been due to PMS. Harry now suspected that PMS might well have been responsible for some of the former Professor Snape's more colourful outbursts over the years at least. "A three tier system will be fair, I will ensure it," Harry insisted, "You will be fair won't you Severus?"
"A harsher teaching manner is possible and necessary where the Headmaster is likely to let the students away with murder. However, a Headmaster may be strict and firm and may leave the mollycoddling to those more suited for the task, whilst effectively maintaining a balance and order within the establishment," Severus answered.
Ron gave Severus a puzzled look and Harry was amused by his Kin's choice of phrasing.
"I believe that was a 'yes'," Harry clarified.
"Does he even know what fair is?" Ron addressed Harry, "You do remember what things were like don't you? We have many orphans housed here now, many of the children will have emotional problems."
"All our situations have changed," Harry replied almost snapping, he was sure that now Severus wasn't so lonely and suicidal things would indeed be very different. They were Kin now and had prospects and a future, many reasons for living a life, Harry knew that he himself felt much different now to how he had in the past, "We will be making decisions together, you do expect me to be fair don't you Ron?"
"We would have expected Harry Potter to be fair," Hermione interrupted.
"Well there we are then," Harry spoke before Hermione had a chance to add a comment about him being a different person who was not to be trusted as he suspected she may be about to. "I will arrange an open day for two week's time, that should allow us to sort out security."
"In any case," Hermione continued with a note of expectant triumph in her voice, "I believe things will be sorted out for definite when Professor McGonagall gets back, then we'll see who is Headmaster and whether things will be fair or not. I am sure she will have many words to say on the subject."
"I doubt even she can question the allegiance of Dumbledore's phoenix," Harry responded.
The bird was still with Severus and if anybody had cared to notice they would have seen him stroking Fawkes gently on the head and the bird leaning against his chest with his eyes closed as he did it. Severus seemed to be cutting himself off from the conversation and had his attention wholly focused on the phoenix.
"Everybody else is satisfied," Harry suddenly snapped, "Except you two, even The Prophet reporter thought we ought to be commended. Yet you two, Hermione, you especially, can't even give Severus and I the slightest chance. What is your problem? Was it something the other Snape did? If so, that can't be our fault."
"No," Hermione replied but Harry suspected that she was lying.
"You know, I have had enough of this for one day, if Severus and I are needed for anything we will be in the grounds, strengthening the wards with our extremely powerful swords, to keep you all safe," Harry said turning to go.
"We're only worried about you," Hermione called after Harry.
Harry turned to face her, "Then there is no need, Severus is kind and attentive, I am not being forced into anything. Severus is a very good man when he is not being constantly goaded. I wish you wouldn't keep criticising and insulting him, he is not as we once thought he was. People behave as they are treated Hermione, the way you are going on, I am surprised that he is managing to remain as restrained as he is."
Harry signalled to Severus that they were leaving and Fawkes immediately flew down to pick up the trunk, they were halfway to the dungeons before Harry slowed down.
*****
"Are you going to leave him alone now?" Ron asked as he and Hermione walked back to Gryffindor tower.
"We can't just leave it, we have to find a way," Hermione persisted.
"Bloody hell, I tried didn't I? You saw what happened didn't you? You can't keep verbally attacking them, it isn't working, Harry is going to leave for good before he listens to a word you say now. You need to back off, why can't you just be normally over hormonal?"
"Do you have any bright ideas?" Hermione snapped.
"No, but every time you have a go at him he just gets annoyed and runs off, we have to be a lot more subtle."
"We tried that, he wouldn't play chess."
"Let him bring Snape with him, leave it for a while, sooner or later Harry will come to you and he won't have his shadow with him."
"Professor McGonagall will sort this out, she knows that creep as well as anybody."
"Right," Ron said, thankful of any excuse to get Hermione to leave it alone, he had noted the dangerous look in Harry's eye that Hermione was too self-absorbed to notice, he thought they might be in bigger danger for opposing the Kin than they realised. "Professor McGonagall will definitely know what to do, let's just try to ignore the weird things and be normal friends, pretend as if there's nothing going on. Try to be nice to Snape."
"Fine, whatever," Hermione agreed reluctantly, "Hey, do you think THAT was Albus Polyjuicing as Snape? Fawkes went to him after all and it would explain why Harry could be friends with him."
"Why?" Ron demanded, short on patience, "Why would a man we all love give himself all that trouble?"
"Hmm," Hermione mumbled, finally giving up.
*****
Harry and Severus instructed the house elves to find Fawkes a suitable perch to put in their quarters and then all three went outside into the grounds. It was a dull cloudy day but at least it wasn't raining and the Kin walked together to the edge of the wards with Fawkes flying close behind them.
"I will set the wards," Severus spoke to Harry, "Just hold your sword and keep an eye out for anybody coming close to us, we'll have to break off if they do."
Harry took out his sword and held it in his hand, "I thought that saying we were friends would be the easy way," Harry told Severus, the situation was really starting to get him down, "I hope I get pregnant soon, I need something to look forward to."
Severus reached a hand out to Harry's shoulder, "I think we should take lunch and supper in our quarters tonight, I feel my patience wearing very thin and no doubt the story will hit The Prophet tomorrow. I imagine that all hell will break loose then."
"Wherever Professor McGonagall is I am sure she will be back in a shot when she hears that we have returned, whatever the mission is," Harry commented.
"Won't that be a fun reunion."
"Let's just go back to Will," Harry suggested.
"Fine, if you can think of a way to explain your increasing size and a little surprise after nine months," Severus reminded him.
"Shit,"
"Exactly," Severus said holding Harry close, "Let's set these wards, we'll go slowly and make sure they're very strong, then we'll have to make an additional perimeter check to make absolutely sure."
"Oh dear, this could take all day." Harry commented, risking a small smile and taking Severus hand.
Severus took hold of his sword and began his work, the Kin Bond between himself and Harry helping to make the strongest perimeter ward that Hogwarts had ever been protected by.
Long after dark, when they returned to their quarters, Harry and Severus found a small pile of envelopes on the hearthrug awaiting their attention. Severus sat down on the sofa but Harry scooped them up and opened a few.
"Applications for jobs," Harry informed his Kin, "Some from existing teachers, some from other people who live here but who know a post will not be filled because the previous teacher is dead. Just about all of the posts have applicants apart from Transfiguration, but we know who will want THAT."
"That and the Headmaster's position," Severus commented.
"Really?"
"Yes, for definite," Severus answered.
"Oh," Harry said opening the last letter, "An application from Hermione, I thought you said she needn't apply?"
"I did," Severus answered with a wry smile, "You didn't expect your little friend to do as she was told did you?"
Harry smiled too, "No, I suppose not. Anyway, it means we have a start, most of the teachers on board."
"You think that will make a difference when Minerva gets here?"
"We have Albus's parchment bequeathing the jobs to us, there's nothing she can do about it."
"If you think Hermione can cause waves, you've seen nothing yet, she might not be able to take us from the post but without her support we will find the going very difficult."
Harry sighed, "Want a nice bath?" He asked.
Severus looked dejected and very worn out, "I thought I would get us some supper and then go to bed, you stay up for a while if you want to."
"I am tired too actually," Harry responded, it was very much the truth.
"Fine, well get your little friend Dobby to bring us some food then we'll go to bed."
Severus remained slumped on the sofa and Harry threw some floo powder into the hearth and stuck his head into the resultant green fire. When Harry had finished ordering their supper he turned round to find that Severus had removed the top half of his robes and was sitting in just his pants and undershirt. The undershirt was crumpled and undone at the neck. Fawkes had flown down from his new perch to sit on his new master's lap and was rubbing his head against Severus' chest.
"Somebody else loves you," Harry commented trying to cheer Severus up, "And you have all your personal things back."
"Stop being positive," Severus grumbled.
"And we have choccy cakie," Harry said standing up and leaning over Severus, he held out a piece of cake and attempted to feed it to his Kin.
"We can not have chocolate cake for our supper, there better be something else down there on that tray," Severus protested.
"Who says?"
"I do."
"Eat," Harry commanded holding the cake to Severus' mouth.
Harry was pleased to see that Severus wasn't prepared to put up too much of a fight and as he opened his mouth, Harry shoved the whole piece in.
"This is disgusting," Severus mumbled through a mouthful of sticky chocolate cake and a fair amount of icing.
"Yes, it is isn't it," Harry said ducking down for a kiss.
When they finally parted both Severus and Harry's faces were covered in chocolate and Fawkes had flown back to his perch in disgust.
Severus however, seemed to have relaxed a little and Harry handed him the rest of his supper, the savoury portions they were supposed to have eaten first.
It wasn't long before they both were sat on the sofa feeling extremely full and enjoying a mug of hot milk.
"Bed?" Harry asked, honestly feeling so tired that he didn't even know whether he wanted to have sex or not. They had used the swords for a long period of time to get the wards in place and he was feeling rather drained. Since Severus had done most of the work, Harry suspected that his Kin must be feeling worse.
"Yes, bed," Severus agreed getting to his feet.
It was as Harry was preparing to stand that another letter came flying out of the fire. He bent down to pick it up but it wasn't addressed to the Headmaster it was addressed to Severus personally. Harry handed it over to Severus and waited to hear what it contained.
Severus smiled in what Harry thought was grim amusement as he read, "It's from Hermione, she says she would like her first teacher training session tomorrow, won't that be fun?" Severus eventually explained.
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TBC soon
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Chapter Summary: Harry and Sev face a reporter from The Daily Prophet and meet an unexpected ally.
__________________________________________________________________
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. Beta by Kristine Thorne
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Chapter Seven - Judgement
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An hour later they were all grouped in the Defence classroom again, fortunately, Harry thought so at least, the Prophet reporter hadn't arrived yet.
"What I want to know more than anything," Hermione began before everybody had got seated, "Is how the use of Polyjuice potion fits into all of this. Apparently, this potion was used to allow the real Professor Snape to leave with Harry while somebody else impersonated him. Not only did this 'Snape' act as a Potions and Psychic healing master, but he also left to join the enemy and committed various atrocities against Order members, personally I find it hard to believe. Who was it that was supposed to be taking the Polyjuice potion to become Snape, Harry?"
"It was Albus Dumbledore," Harry said to audible gasps from all those present, although Meg the Mediwitch had known this she seemed to have failed to pass the information on.
"And who told you this?" Hermione asked in her superior voice, "Snape himself?"
"Albus came to Severus in a dream and told him, I saw it in a vision and Severus recognised him from his eyes, we didn't know what Albus was planning before that," Harry tried to explain. "It was why Professor Snape and Albus Dumbledore both seemed to leave at the same time, Albus took on the role of Snape full time to become a more convincing Death Eater."
"Basically this is all information that Professor Snape gave you when you were where exactly?" Hermione continued.
Harry stiffened in annoyance, so much for control he thought, he felt as if he was on trial, "We were staying in a house on the west coast of Scotland," Harry answered.
"So you only had Professor Snape's word for it then, or who you thought to be Professor Snape anyway, we've been caught out by that one before haven't we Harry? Are we going to find the real one locked up in a magic trunk I wonder?"
"If you do, don't open it," Ron muttered to himself.
Harry was livid and it took all his willpower to keep his hand off his sword, "I have proof that this is the real Severus Snape and I will not share it, I will not participate in this, Albus Dumbledore, apparently very effectively, doubled as Professor Snape, for Severus' safety as much for my own," Harry snapped.
"It can't have been Dumbledore," Hermione argued.
"Well it was," Harry snapped back.
As if on cue, Severus now handed Harry Dumbledore's letter exonerating him from all wrongdoing and read it out to all present. The letter, carrying Dumbledore's unmistakeable handwriting and magical signature, explained the period over which he had used the potion and confirmed his own responsibility for everything that had occurred in that period. It was evidence that even Hermione couldn't argue with. Hermione responded by going visibly paler but she didn't say anything. She certainly wasn't about to apologise to Severus.
"So is Albus Dumbledore dead?" Ron asked through Hermione's uncharacteristic silence.
"We believe so," Severus answered, "I believe that he took a suicide potion whilst still in his disguise, he wouldn't have been able to maintain the deception in a full war situation for long."
It was as everybody was trying to digest that information that the reporter from The Prophet arrived in a flurry of cloak.
Harry smiled charmingly at the reporter as he entered and made sure that he was standing so close to Severus that they couldn't possibly cut him out of a photo shoot no matter how hard they tried to exclude him. It was time to see whether his plan would work, Harry thought.
"Once and for all the wizarding world will have its proof that Severus and I killed the Dark Lord and a very large number of his followers," Harry announced once he had finished giving the reporter the basic details of their story and the camera had taken all the pictures. "But first I must announce that Severus Snape and I will be taking the positions of Headmaster and Defence Master from September and Hogwarts will reopen, I must thank everyone who has submitted applications for teaching positions so far, we will give them all our fair attention."
Harry smiled to himself as the hushed whispers filled the room and the glowers were for once not directed at Severus. Of course they had only received Professor Trelawney's application but it would seem that there was meant to have been some sort of boycott arrangement in place and they were now all trying to accuse each other of breaking it.
The reporter from The Prophet was scribbling furiously with his quill.
"Now for the proof," Harry announced once the noise had settled again, Harry drew his sword, "I would like the reporter from The Prophet to examine the spells that have been cast from this sword, as you would a wand, it should tell you all you need to know, then you may examine Severus' sword in the same way. We will not hold them together as the information will become mixed."
"Sounds reasonable," the reporter admitted, "I will be able to tell the identity of those killed and their magical leaning, certainly if the Dark Lord and his major followers are among those slain it should be very clear."
Hermione didn't look happy, but then Harry suspected that nothing other than Severus being guilty of evil would make her happy. Or dead, Harry thought, she would like that too, another good reason not to hold the swords together again.
Harry held out his sword, he could have sworn that the serpents winked at him as they wound round his wrist. The reporter approached him and placed a hand on the sword and held it there, seemingly deep in thought for several minutes.
"I see many deaths, many curses to stun, some prominent Death Eaters were killed recently with this sword, the Dark Lord was not killed by this sword." The reporter eventually announced.
Harry was not surprised, it was exactly as he had planned it, he felt Severus shifting nervously beside him as he was unaware of the plan but Harry could trust him to retain his stern countenance. Harry put his sword away in the midst of a stunned silence.
"Severus, please could you draw your sword?" Harry asked his Kin.
Severus dutifully took up his sword and held it out for the reporter to examine.
Again the reporter placed his hand on the sword and this time Harry was waiting with anticipation along with everybody else. Let them put this in their pipe and smoke it, Harry thought to himself in expectant triumph.
"I see many deaths, many curses to stun, some prominent Death Eaters were killed recently with this sword," the reporter repeated for Severus' sword, "This sword was used to kill the Dark Lord, the Dark Lord is dead and his putrid soul is banished from this plane, the war is over."
Whilst the reporter still had his hand on Severus' sword, Harry quickly drew his own, just for a minute, he could not risk more.
The reporter was a little surprised but managed to speak, "The swords join as one when held together."
"What about the prophecy?" Hermione demanded. "You were supposed to kill the Dark Lord Harry, you said that you had."
Harry smiled, he had been expecting her to mention it sooner rather than later, "The prophecy was fulfilled, we are Kin, we are as one, it doesn't matter that the death was by Severus' hand, he is as much a part of me as I am a part of him, we are one," Harry stated the power of the Bond and the swords surging through him again, his voice becoming a passion filled hiss just before Severus broke the link for him, "I think that concludes matters."
"On the contrary," the reporter interceded, "The Dark Lord has clearly been defeated and for this we all owe you our lives, I have no choice but to recommend you both to the Ministry for the appropriate honours. Admittedly the Ministry is in disarray at present but I am sure that the matter will be given the highest degree of attention."
"To have the opportunity to play a valuable role in the rebuilding of the wizarding world will be an adequate reward," Harry commented, for once playing the publicity machine to his advantage, "You can quote me on that."
"Such modesty Mr Potter," the reporter commented as he scribbled again with his quill.
"Snape, Professor Snape," Harry said pointedly to the reporter hoping that he would be sure to print it as Harry wished.
Harry looked around the room, Hermione was still scowling and Ron was clearly too stunned to close his gaping mouth.
'Professor Snape?' a familiar but recently absent voice spoke in Harry's head, he turned his attention to the voice, he wanted words with it.
'Well hello Alexian,' Harry responded to the voice, 'Or should I say Valarius?'
'Thank you for looking after him,' Valarius continued.
'The pleasure is all mine,' Harry responded with amusement.
'Severus' personal things are at Lucius Malfoy's house,' Valarius added.
'Great! I don't really want to go there,'
'You don't have to, just open the window.'
Harry suddenly became aware that all eyes were on him and somebody was calling his name. He had been so intent on talking to Valarius that he had become quite distracted.
"Harry, what ever is the matter?" Hermione was demanding.
"Nothing, I am fine," Harry replied turning to the windows, for some reason he had to get one of them open and he thought it was probably a good idea to do it very soon. "It's very hot in here," Harry continued, fanning himself with a hand and making for the nearest window. Harry could see that Hermione looked suitably puzzled, it was actually quite cold as there was no fire burning and it was a cold day for April, but it was too late to amend his excuse to a more believable one. Harry reached over and opened the large window and a strong cold breeze blew into the room, causing a quantity of disgruntlement from the other occupants.
Harry returned to Severus' side and waited, not at all sure what he was waiting for, surely he wasn't about to see an owl pass through the window with all of Severus' personal belongings. Severus leant down to Harry's ear.
"Are you going to tell me how you did that?" Severus whispered to Harry.
"Parseltongue," Harry whispered back, "Asked them a favour."
The impasse of events would have started to get awkward were it not for the fluttering that was suddenly heard at the window. A winged creature came in through the opening carrying in its claws a large wooden trunk, it certainly wasn't an owl, the bird flew lower and Harry was delighted to see that it was Albus Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes. Fawkes lowered the trunk to the ground at Severus' feet and flew back up into the room, he then flew towards the two Kin and Harry held out an arm for him to land. The bird did not want Harry though and Severus was forced to hold out his arm as a perch when the bird flew directly at him, obviously expectant of being accepted. Severus stood awkwardly holding the bird on his arm as Fawkes folded his wings then gently and affectionately snuggled up to him. The phoenix then squawked gently and rubbed his head against Severus' chest, clearly showing a form of allegiance.
Harry smiled, Severus had just adopted himself a new pet, or rather Fawkes had just adopted him. For the first time since he had returned Harry felt that there was hope for their settlement at Hogwarts, surely nobody could question the allegiance of Albus's phoenix.
The Prophet reporter left promptly, obviously keen to get back with his news, using the rest of the day to prepare a version for printing which would no doubt be fanciful and inaccurate.
"Right, applications for teaching posts," Harry announced, wanting to get on with the rest of the meeting as soon as possible, "I see no reason why those who held teaching positions before the school closed should not resume them in September."
"With one noticeable exception," Hermione interrupted.
"Do you not wish to continue in the position of Potions teacher?" Severus asked in a rare break of silence.
"I assumed it wouldn't be mine to take," Hermione added watching Severus warily.
"As Harry says, those who already held posts may continue, surely you do not expect me to teach Defence, Potions, Psychic Healing and be Headmaster too?" Severus continued in a tone that Harry knew would annoy Hermione.
"I merely assumed that it would not be mine," Hermione snapped.
"You are welcome to it," Severus added, making it a clear that he was thankful to be free of the post, "Of course I will be tutoring your teaching technique over the coming months, to make sure that you are up to the strain of dealing with troublesome Gryffindors."
Harry could have sworn that he saw Hermione visibly cringe at the prospect, "Do I need to apply for the post?" She asked.
"I think I am quite well acquainted with your talents," Severus responded, "There will be no need."
"I think that we should abandon all that 'House' stuff, what do you think Severus?" Harry said changing the subject to break the stand off that was developing.
"Some of the dorms have already been reassigned to none students, it would make sense to restructure." Severus agreed.
"Also, we will need a lower school for all those children who live here but are below the normal acceptance age of eleven. And we need to arrange an open day once we get the wards reinforced; nobody is going to want to come here if Death Eaters can still come flying in. If there are any left that is. " Harry added.
"Who will deal with House points and detentions if there are no Houses and no House Heads?" Hermione asked.
Harry hoped that she wasn't setting herself up to find fault with everything either of them said, but he suspected that it might well be the case.
"We can have a Head of House, as in head of all domestic matters, someone who is not a teacher ideally, I think Ron should do it," Harry suggested, hoping that he could start to win some of those gathered around to the new leadership, "Those suspected of wrong doing will be sent to Severus in the first instance, then I myself will deal with the severity of punishment to be given if expulsion is inappropriate, then I propose that the individual teachers hold the detentions if the transgression took place within class time."
"So you'll be expelling any child who takes a small step out of line then," Ron commented harshly, referring to Severus' record regarding discipline in the past.
A year ago Harry would have agreed with Ron, but he wasn't now going to explain that it might all have been due to PMS. Harry now suspected that PMS might well have been responsible for some of the former Professor Snape's more colourful outbursts over the years at least. "A three tier system will be fair, I will ensure it," Harry insisted, "You will be fair won't you Severus?"
"A harsher teaching manner is possible and necessary where the Headmaster is likely to let the students away with murder. However, a Headmaster may be strict and firm and may leave the mollycoddling to those more suited for the task, whilst effectively maintaining a balance and order within the establishment," Severus answered.
Ron gave Severus a puzzled look and Harry was amused by his Kin's choice of phrasing.
"I believe that was a 'yes'," Harry clarified.
"Does he even know what fair is?" Ron addressed Harry, "You do remember what things were like don't you? We have many orphans housed here now, many of the children will have emotional problems."
"All our situations have changed," Harry replied almost snapping, he was sure that now Severus wasn't so lonely and suicidal things would indeed be very different. They were Kin now and had prospects and a future, many reasons for living a life, Harry knew that he himself felt much different now to how he had in the past, "We will be making decisions together, you do expect me to be fair don't you Ron?"
"We would have expected Harry Potter to be fair," Hermione interrupted.
"Well there we are then," Harry spoke before Hermione had a chance to add a comment about him being a different person who was not to be trusted as he suspected she may be about to. "I will arrange an open day for two week's time, that should allow us to sort out security."
"In any case," Hermione continued with a note of expectant triumph in her voice, "I believe things will be sorted out for definite when Professor McGonagall gets back, then we'll see who is Headmaster and whether things will be fair or not. I am sure she will have many words to say on the subject."
"I doubt even she can question the allegiance of Dumbledore's phoenix," Harry responded.
The bird was still with Severus and if anybody had cared to notice they would have seen him stroking Fawkes gently on the head and the bird leaning against his chest with his eyes closed as he did it. Severus seemed to be cutting himself off from the conversation and had his attention wholly focused on the phoenix.
"Everybody else is satisfied," Harry suddenly snapped, "Except you two, even The Prophet reporter thought we ought to be commended. Yet you two, Hermione, you especially, can't even give Severus and I the slightest chance. What is your problem? Was it something the other Snape did? If so, that can't be our fault."
"No," Hermione replied but Harry suspected that she was lying.
"You know, I have had enough of this for one day, if Severus and I are needed for anything we will be in the grounds, strengthening the wards with our extremely powerful swords, to keep you all safe," Harry said turning to go.
"We're only worried about you," Hermione called after Harry.
Harry turned to face her, "Then there is no need, Severus is kind and attentive, I am not being forced into anything. Severus is a very good man when he is not being constantly goaded. I wish you wouldn't keep criticising and insulting him, he is not as we once thought he was. People behave as they are treated Hermione, the way you are going on, I am surprised that he is managing to remain as restrained as he is."
Harry signalled to Severus that they were leaving and Fawkes immediately flew down to pick up the trunk, they were halfway to the dungeons before Harry slowed down.
*****
"Are you going to leave him alone now?" Ron asked as he and Hermione walked back to Gryffindor tower.
"We can't just leave it, we have to find a way," Hermione persisted.
"Bloody hell, I tried didn't I? You saw what happened didn't you? You can't keep verbally attacking them, it isn't working, Harry is going to leave for good before he listens to a word you say now. You need to back off, why can't you just be normally over hormonal?"
"Do you have any bright ideas?" Hermione snapped.
"No, but every time you have a go at him he just gets annoyed and runs off, we have to be a lot more subtle."
"We tried that, he wouldn't play chess."
"Let him bring Snape with him, leave it for a while, sooner or later Harry will come to you and he won't have his shadow with him."
"Professor McGonagall will sort this out, she knows that creep as well as anybody."
"Right," Ron said, thankful of any excuse to get Hermione to leave it alone, he had noted the dangerous look in Harry's eye that Hermione was too self-absorbed to notice, he thought they might be in bigger danger for opposing the Kin than they realised. "Professor McGonagall will definitely know what to do, let's just try to ignore the weird things and be normal friends, pretend as if there's nothing going on. Try to be nice to Snape."
"Fine, whatever," Hermione agreed reluctantly, "Hey, do you think THAT was Albus Polyjuicing as Snape? Fawkes went to him after all and it would explain why Harry could be friends with him."
"Why?" Ron demanded, short on patience, "Why would a man we all love give himself all that trouble?"
"Hmm," Hermione mumbled, finally giving up.
*****
Harry and Severus instructed the house elves to find Fawkes a suitable perch to put in their quarters and then all three went outside into the grounds. It was a dull cloudy day but at least it wasn't raining and the Kin walked together to the edge of the wards with Fawkes flying close behind them.
"I will set the wards," Severus spoke to Harry, "Just hold your sword and keep an eye out for anybody coming close to us, we'll have to break off if they do."
Harry took out his sword and held it in his hand, "I thought that saying we were friends would be the easy way," Harry told Severus, the situation was really starting to get him down, "I hope I get pregnant soon, I need something to look forward to."
Severus reached a hand out to Harry's shoulder, "I think we should take lunch and supper in our quarters tonight, I feel my patience wearing very thin and no doubt the story will hit The Prophet tomorrow. I imagine that all hell will break loose then."
"Wherever Professor McGonagall is I am sure she will be back in a shot when she hears that we have returned, whatever the mission is," Harry commented.
"Won't that be a fun reunion."
"Let's just go back to Will," Harry suggested.
"Fine, if you can think of a way to explain your increasing size and a little surprise after nine months," Severus reminded him.
"Shit,"
"Exactly," Severus said holding Harry close, "Let's set these wards, we'll go slowly and make sure they're very strong, then we'll have to make an additional perimeter check to make absolutely sure."
"Oh dear, this could take all day." Harry commented, risking a small smile and taking Severus hand.
Severus took hold of his sword and began his work, the Kin Bond between himself and Harry helping to make the strongest perimeter ward that Hogwarts had ever been protected by.
Long after dark, when they returned to their quarters, Harry and Severus found a small pile of envelopes on the hearthrug awaiting their attention. Severus sat down on the sofa but Harry scooped them up and opened a few.
"Applications for jobs," Harry informed his Kin, "Some from existing teachers, some from other people who live here but who know a post will not be filled because the previous teacher is dead. Just about all of the posts have applicants apart from Transfiguration, but we know who will want THAT."
"That and the Headmaster's position," Severus commented.
"Really?"
"Yes, for definite," Severus answered.
"Oh," Harry said opening the last letter, "An application from Hermione, I thought you said she needn't apply?"
"I did," Severus answered with a wry smile, "You didn't expect your little friend to do as she was told did you?"
Harry smiled too, "No, I suppose not. Anyway, it means we have a start, most of the teachers on board."
"You think that will make a difference when Minerva gets here?"
"We have Albus's parchment bequeathing the jobs to us, there's nothing she can do about it."
"If you think Hermione can cause waves, you've seen nothing yet, she might not be able to take us from the post but without her support we will find the going very difficult."
Harry sighed, "Want a nice bath?" He asked.
Severus looked dejected and very worn out, "I thought I would get us some supper and then go to bed, you stay up for a while if you want to."
"I am tired too actually," Harry responded, it was very much the truth.
"Fine, well get your little friend Dobby to bring us some food then we'll go to bed."
Severus remained slumped on the sofa and Harry threw some floo powder into the hearth and stuck his head into the resultant green fire. When Harry had finished ordering their supper he turned round to find that Severus had removed the top half of his robes and was sitting in just his pants and undershirt. The undershirt was crumpled and undone at the neck. Fawkes had flown down from his new perch to sit on his new master's lap and was rubbing his head against Severus' chest.
"Somebody else loves you," Harry commented trying to cheer Severus up, "And you have all your personal things back."
"Stop being positive," Severus grumbled.
"And we have choccy cakie," Harry said standing up and leaning over Severus, he held out a piece of cake and attempted to feed it to his Kin.
"We can not have chocolate cake for our supper, there better be something else down there on that tray," Severus protested.
"Who says?"
"I do."
"Eat," Harry commanded holding the cake to Severus' mouth.
Harry was pleased to see that Severus wasn't prepared to put up too much of a fight and as he opened his mouth, Harry shoved the whole piece in.
"This is disgusting," Severus mumbled through a mouthful of sticky chocolate cake and a fair amount of icing.
"Yes, it is isn't it," Harry said ducking down for a kiss.
When they finally parted both Severus and Harry's faces were covered in chocolate and Fawkes had flown back to his perch in disgust.
Severus however, seemed to have relaxed a little and Harry handed him the rest of his supper, the savoury portions they were supposed to have eaten first.
It wasn't long before they both were sat on the sofa feeling extremely full and enjoying a mug of hot milk.
"Bed?" Harry asked, honestly feeling so tired that he didn't even know whether he wanted to have sex or not. They had used the swords for a long period of time to get the wards in place and he was feeling rather drained. Since Severus had done most of the work, Harry suspected that his Kin must be feeling worse.
"Yes, bed," Severus agreed getting to his feet.
It was as Harry was preparing to stand that another letter came flying out of the fire. He bent down to pick it up but it wasn't addressed to the Headmaster it was addressed to Severus personally. Harry handed it over to Severus and waited to hear what it contained.
Severus smiled in what Harry thought was grim amusement as he read, "It's from Hermione, she says she would like her first teacher training session tomorrow, won't that be fun?" Severus eventually explained.
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TBC soon
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