Disclaimer: I own the plot, the rest belongs to JKR.
The Mirror of Etamluos
"Luosruoy Fo Flahreht oehtnah treht ono it celfron wohsi"
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Chapter Four: The Howler
Harry was correct about Severus sitting at the Head Table with Howler after Howler coming by owl for him. He never opened them, always threw them over his shoulder while sorting through his mail. It became a regular experience to hear witches and wizards of all ages screaming at the top of their lungs at Severus for defacing and cursing their beloved Boy Who Lived. What Harry was definitely NOT expecting was the Howler that arrived from Molly Weasley one morning.
Everyone in the hall knew her scream from howlers that various Weasley children had received through the years, and no one said a word when they saw it dropped in front of Harry. Harry went pale, having never received one before and was vaguely wondering what on earth he was about to get yelled at for. Ron looked at it and said, "Harry, run for it."
Harry shook his head, "Obviously someone wants to be heard, and I'd rather be with friends. Don't know what it is I did though."
Hermione took one look at it and said, "Harry should I get Remus and Severus?"
Harry shook his head looking up towards the head table, "They're already walking towards me, Snuffles too. Well, let's get this over with."
Harry opened it with a feeling of dread and at the first words went pale and rigid with shock. "HARRY JAMES POTTER! MARRYING AND BONDING TO A DEATH EATER! HAVE YOU GONE MAD! YOUR PARENTS DIED FIGHTING AGAINST YOU-KNOW-WHO AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY THEM! I DON'T CARE WHAT DUMBLEDORE SAYS! OR THE MINISTRY! THINK OF THE SHAME YOU'RE BRINGING YOUR PARENTS! YOUR FATHER DIDN'T EVEN GET ALONG WITH THAT BASTARD IN SCHOOL! IN SCHOOL, HARRY! THAT'S HOW OLD HE IS! WHAT IN MERLINS NAME IS WRONG WITH YOU! IF YOU GO THROUGH WITH THIS MARRIAGE AND THIS BONDING YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME IN MY HOUSE YOUNG MAN! NEVER AGAIN! OVER MY DEAD BODY! AND YOU CAN JUST FIND YOURSELF A NEW BEST FRIEND BECAUSE RONALD IS FORBIDDEN FROM EVER SPEAKING TO YOU AGAIN! HOW DARE YOU TURN SIDES AFTER EVERYTHING YOUR PARENTS GAVE UP FOR YOU! LILY AND JAMES DIED PROTECTING YOU FROM THAT CRETIN AND THE FIRST THING YOU CAN DO IS RUN AND KISS HIS ROBES AND MARRY INTO HIS RANKS! YOU DISGUST ME!"
Fred, George, Ginny and Ron were all jaw-slacked with tears starting down their cheeks at the words, Hermione was sobbing in Ron's arms and Harry was frozen in his seat, tears streaming down his face without making a word. Fred looked around stood and said, "Right, Weasley's let's go send one back to Mum. I'll give her a Weasley Howler. Harry as far as the four of us are concerned you're our brother. I'm not going to pretend to understand what it is between you and Snape, but if that's what makes you happy by Merlin Harry! You deserve it! Your Mum and Dad knew all along that he was on the side of light, and they would have been proud of the Wizard you've become. We'll be owling the rest of our family now. George, Ginny, Ron, let's go. NOW."
They all nodded, stood up to go and Ginny flung her arms around Harry sobbing against him and said loud enough for the hall to hear, "I don't care what she says, I saw you down in that Chamber Harry, no one knows that bastard better then the two of us. Saying you joined up with Riddle is like saying Dumbledore did. I'll make her see Harry, don't worry."
Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny and sobbed with her, both standing in the middle of the great hall not caring that they had the attention of the entire school on them. Ron threw his arms around both of them and pulled them close, soon making it a three-way hug between Ron, Harry and Ginny. When Severus, Remus, Albus and Minerva reached the group Hermione held them back a bit and said, "Just let Ron and Ginny take care of him now. He needs this."
Minerva nodded and said quietly, "I'll show that Molly Weasley how a howler works."
Albus shook his head, "Minerva not now, Harry needs us."
Remus was stoned faced, "God I hope Snuffles doesn't over react to this."
Ron and Ginny lead a sobbing Harry out of the hall, closely followed by Hermione, Fred, George, Remus, Severus, Sirius, Minerva and Albus. Within minutes they were all inside Albus's office after some minor directing from Albus, they all sat with cups of hot chocolate and tea. Harry was curled up in between Severus and Sirius, crying slightly more controllably on Severus's shoulder and holding onto Sirius for dear life. George finally realized that the dog curling up with Harry and Severus wasn't a dog at all and said, "So who's the Dog? That isn't a dog trait to instinctively curl up with someone when they're hurting like that when they're not the owner of the dog."
Harry calmed down and chuckled and said, "Fred, George, do you remember that lovely gift you gave me in third year? When I couldn't go to Hogsmeade?"
Fred and George nodded and said in perfect unison, "Of course we do Harry, we owe our joking careers and lives to the Marauders."
Remus choked on his tea, Sirius made a strangled sound and Severus looked very interested in what they were going to say. Ginny looked around and said, "This is another one of those secrets that I'm not going to get to know am I?"
Harry took a deep breath and said, "You were right out in the Hall Ginny. You and I know a version of Tom Riddle barely anyone else cares to know, I know we can trust you with this and Merlin knows I would trust Fred and George with my lives. Lovely thing about Gryffindors, well most of them. Anyway, Professor Moody, err, Crouch confiscated the Map fro..."
Fred and George stood up in unison and yelled at Harry, "YOU LOST THE MAP?!?"
Harry winced, "I know, I know. Not like I nee... er. Never mind."
Fred and George were instantly sobbing and hugging one another, George started the melodrama by saying, "Oh Merlin, what would our dear, dear friends Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and Worm..."
Hermione and Ron yelled in unison, "DON'T SAY THAT RATS NAME!"
Fred and George blinked, dropped their jaws and sat down in shock that Hermione yelled. Harry smiled and looked at Remus who was frantically shaking his head at Harry trying to tell him no when Harry said, "Gee, I wonder Moony what would you say?"
Fred turned on Harry, "Moony's here?"
George was instantly curious, "You know the Marauders Harry?"
Remus sighed, "I see I'm not getting out of this. Harry's a second generation Marauder. James was Prongs. I'm Moony, and that lump on Harry's lap is Padfoot, more commonly known as Harry's godfather and my loveable dog Snuffles. Though technically he's my husband and soul mate."
Fred and George's jaws dropped and instantly George squeaked out, "A Marauder? A Professor? That's not possible! Not with all their pranks! There's no way!"
Fred burrowed his brow in concentration and said, "Then who's Wor..."
Hermione and Ron once again in unison yelled, "DON'T SAY THAT RATS NAME!"
Harry sighed and said, "You two can't yell that every time they say it."
George suddenly came out with, "Wait, if Professor Lupin here was in on it, and Harry's Dad, then wouldn't Sirius Black be one of the four? Is tha..."
Harry interrupted before he could go any farther, "Sirius is innocent, he's also my godfather and the lump that is currently trying to squeeze between Severus and I that's going to get charmed out the window if he doesn't knock it off. Got it Padfoot?"
Sirius growled at Harry and obediently got off to trot over to Remus, who scratched him behind his ears. Ginny squeaked, "Tha..That's Si-Sirius Black?"
Harry nodded, "Ginny trust me on this one, I would trust Sirius with my life. He'd only hurt someone if they were trying to hurt me or Remus."
Sirius transformed into his normal self and sat on Remus's lap grinning slightly at the room. Ginny squeaked out, "Are you sure Harry?"
Harry smiled and Remus chuckled, "Sirius COULDN'T hurt a fly if he wanted to."
Severus snorted and said, "Shall I remind..."
Harry interrupted, "There's really no need to share that incident with them is there Severus?"
Severus sighed, "Fine, but he's still a murder hungry rabid dog in my opinion."
Harry kissed his cheek before saying, "And we're all glad he didn't succeed. Aren't we Padfoot?"
Sirius grumbled under his breath and Harry glared at him and said, "AREN'T we Padfoot?"
Sirius mumbled a little louder, "Yeah, Yeah, thrilled."
Fred suddenly piped up with, "So you two are Marauders?"
Sirius and Remus nodded, the latter rather reluctantly knowing were this was likely to go. George and Fred were instantly on their knees bowing before Sirius and Remus and crying out, "Our Heroes!"
Harry snorted, Sirius and Remus blushed a ripe red and Hermione started chastising them, "Honestly! Leaving behind a map like that! Do you know what kind of trouble they caused because of that bloody map? I should have made Harry turn it in during third year! Right when we found it! Someone was bound to have seen that Pettigrew was on it at some point!"
Harry interrupted her ranting with, "Not to mention Sirius's every move, 'Mione."
Hermione sighed, "Fine, I'll shut up."
Albus intervened, "Harry you can explain the rest later. Come with me, Severus you as well."
Harry and Severus stood up and followed Albus and Minerva into a side room, Severus holding Harry close and Harry leaning on Severus for support. Once in the other room Albus and Minerva pulled Harry into a hug and Severus closed the door. While trying to stand off to the side Severus got pulled into the hug by a very firm hand from Minerva who whispered, "This is a family hug, meaning the entire family, not just the blood relations Severus."
Harry snuggled into his great grandparents and Severus relishing in the warm embrace. Albus sighed and said, "Harry and Severus I know Molly's words hurt both of you today. I just want you to know that I firmly believe my granddaughter would be thrilled for the two of you, happy that you both found peace at some point in your lives. Or at least are well on the way to having it together. I for one am glad that you two have accepted this and seem to be getting along fairly well."
Minerva nodded her agreement and said, "Just remember we're both here for you two, for anything. And what matters isn't what ignorant fools like Molly Weasley say about your sacrifices for the war, what matters is that you two know what you're fighting against and keep doing so the way you are."
Albus smiled at them and said, "Why don't you two take a minute and we'll be waiting for you in the other room."
Harry smiled and said, "Thank you both."
Minerva snorted, "Harry we should have just shut up and raised you ourselves. We only hope that we can make up for this somewhat. Now are you two both ready for the ceremony tomorrow?"
Harry grinned and nodded, Severus nodded and gently pulled Harry a bit closer. Albus smiled at both of them and said, "You both remember that for the uh, ceremony to be uh completed that you need to um, consummate the relationship. Correct?"
Harry and Severus both blushed and looked anywhere but at Albus and nodded. Minerva laughed and said, "Oh don't worry about it! Now just remember that with the bonding there's always a slight chance for a child and unless the two of you want to deal with that I highly suggest you brew up some contraceptive potion Severus."
Harry mock glared at her and said, "Are you implying that I can't brew a potion myself?"
Severus snorted and said, "Harry you wouldn't even know where to start making it."
Minerva and Albus just smiled and left and Harry sighed and leaned into Severus's embrace. Harry smiled and breathed in what was slowly becoming a familiar, calming scent that he'd learned to associate with Severus. Slightly musky, mixed with mint and oil. Harry had discovered Severus's hair wasn't greasy at all, but smooth and in Severus's opinion ruined by the daily toil of a Potions Master. Harry merely laughed at that and said he should spend more time there and perhaps then his hair would become manageable.
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The Mirror of Etamluos
"Luosruoy Fo Flahreht oehtnah treht ono it celfron wohsi"
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Chapter Four: The Howler
Harry was correct about Severus sitting at the Head Table with Howler after Howler coming by owl for him. He never opened them, always threw them over his shoulder while sorting through his mail. It became a regular experience to hear witches and wizards of all ages screaming at the top of their lungs at Severus for defacing and cursing their beloved Boy Who Lived. What Harry was definitely NOT expecting was the Howler that arrived from Molly Weasley one morning.
Everyone in the hall knew her scream from howlers that various Weasley children had received through the years, and no one said a word when they saw it dropped in front of Harry. Harry went pale, having never received one before and was vaguely wondering what on earth he was about to get yelled at for. Ron looked at it and said, "Harry, run for it."
Harry shook his head, "Obviously someone wants to be heard, and I'd rather be with friends. Don't know what it is I did though."
Hermione took one look at it and said, "Harry should I get Remus and Severus?"
Harry shook his head looking up towards the head table, "They're already walking towards me, Snuffles too. Well, let's get this over with."
Harry opened it with a feeling of dread and at the first words went pale and rigid with shock. "HARRY JAMES POTTER! MARRYING AND BONDING TO A DEATH EATER! HAVE YOU GONE MAD! YOUR PARENTS DIED FIGHTING AGAINST YOU-KNOW-WHO AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY THEM! I DON'T CARE WHAT DUMBLEDORE SAYS! OR THE MINISTRY! THINK OF THE SHAME YOU'RE BRINGING YOUR PARENTS! YOUR FATHER DIDN'T EVEN GET ALONG WITH THAT BASTARD IN SCHOOL! IN SCHOOL, HARRY! THAT'S HOW OLD HE IS! WHAT IN MERLINS NAME IS WRONG WITH YOU! IF YOU GO THROUGH WITH THIS MARRIAGE AND THIS BONDING YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME IN MY HOUSE YOUNG MAN! NEVER AGAIN! OVER MY DEAD BODY! AND YOU CAN JUST FIND YOURSELF A NEW BEST FRIEND BECAUSE RONALD IS FORBIDDEN FROM EVER SPEAKING TO YOU AGAIN! HOW DARE YOU TURN SIDES AFTER EVERYTHING YOUR PARENTS GAVE UP FOR YOU! LILY AND JAMES DIED PROTECTING YOU FROM THAT CRETIN AND THE FIRST THING YOU CAN DO IS RUN AND KISS HIS ROBES AND MARRY INTO HIS RANKS! YOU DISGUST ME!"
Fred, George, Ginny and Ron were all jaw-slacked with tears starting down their cheeks at the words, Hermione was sobbing in Ron's arms and Harry was frozen in his seat, tears streaming down his face without making a word. Fred looked around stood and said, "Right, Weasley's let's go send one back to Mum. I'll give her a Weasley Howler. Harry as far as the four of us are concerned you're our brother. I'm not going to pretend to understand what it is between you and Snape, but if that's what makes you happy by Merlin Harry! You deserve it! Your Mum and Dad knew all along that he was on the side of light, and they would have been proud of the Wizard you've become. We'll be owling the rest of our family now. George, Ginny, Ron, let's go. NOW."
They all nodded, stood up to go and Ginny flung her arms around Harry sobbing against him and said loud enough for the hall to hear, "I don't care what she says, I saw you down in that Chamber Harry, no one knows that bastard better then the two of us. Saying you joined up with Riddle is like saying Dumbledore did. I'll make her see Harry, don't worry."
Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny and sobbed with her, both standing in the middle of the great hall not caring that they had the attention of the entire school on them. Ron threw his arms around both of them and pulled them close, soon making it a three-way hug between Ron, Harry and Ginny. When Severus, Remus, Albus and Minerva reached the group Hermione held them back a bit and said, "Just let Ron and Ginny take care of him now. He needs this."
Minerva nodded and said quietly, "I'll show that Molly Weasley how a howler works."
Albus shook his head, "Minerva not now, Harry needs us."
Remus was stoned faced, "God I hope Snuffles doesn't over react to this."
Ron and Ginny lead a sobbing Harry out of the hall, closely followed by Hermione, Fred, George, Remus, Severus, Sirius, Minerva and Albus. Within minutes they were all inside Albus's office after some minor directing from Albus, they all sat with cups of hot chocolate and tea. Harry was curled up in between Severus and Sirius, crying slightly more controllably on Severus's shoulder and holding onto Sirius for dear life. George finally realized that the dog curling up with Harry and Severus wasn't a dog at all and said, "So who's the Dog? That isn't a dog trait to instinctively curl up with someone when they're hurting like that when they're not the owner of the dog."
Harry calmed down and chuckled and said, "Fred, George, do you remember that lovely gift you gave me in third year? When I couldn't go to Hogsmeade?"
Fred and George nodded and said in perfect unison, "Of course we do Harry, we owe our joking careers and lives to the Marauders."
Remus choked on his tea, Sirius made a strangled sound and Severus looked very interested in what they were going to say. Ginny looked around and said, "This is another one of those secrets that I'm not going to get to know am I?"
Harry took a deep breath and said, "You were right out in the Hall Ginny. You and I know a version of Tom Riddle barely anyone else cares to know, I know we can trust you with this and Merlin knows I would trust Fred and George with my lives. Lovely thing about Gryffindors, well most of them. Anyway, Professor Moody, err, Crouch confiscated the Map fro..."
Fred and George stood up in unison and yelled at Harry, "YOU LOST THE MAP?!?"
Harry winced, "I know, I know. Not like I nee... er. Never mind."
Fred and George were instantly sobbing and hugging one another, George started the melodrama by saying, "Oh Merlin, what would our dear, dear friends Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and Worm..."
Hermione and Ron yelled in unison, "DON'T SAY THAT RATS NAME!"
Fred and George blinked, dropped their jaws and sat down in shock that Hermione yelled. Harry smiled and looked at Remus who was frantically shaking his head at Harry trying to tell him no when Harry said, "Gee, I wonder Moony what would you say?"
Fred turned on Harry, "Moony's here?"
George was instantly curious, "You know the Marauders Harry?"
Remus sighed, "I see I'm not getting out of this. Harry's a second generation Marauder. James was Prongs. I'm Moony, and that lump on Harry's lap is Padfoot, more commonly known as Harry's godfather and my loveable dog Snuffles. Though technically he's my husband and soul mate."
Fred and George's jaws dropped and instantly George squeaked out, "A Marauder? A Professor? That's not possible! Not with all their pranks! There's no way!"
Fred burrowed his brow in concentration and said, "Then who's Wor..."
Hermione and Ron once again in unison yelled, "DON'T SAY THAT RATS NAME!"
Harry sighed and said, "You two can't yell that every time they say it."
George suddenly came out with, "Wait, if Professor Lupin here was in on it, and Harry's Dad, then wouldn't Sirius Black be one of the four? Is tha..."
Harry interrupted before he could go any farther, "Sirius is innocent, he's also my godfather and the lump that is currently trying to squeeze between Severus and I that's going to get charmed out the window if he doesn't knock it off. Got it Padfoot?"
Sirius growled at Harry and obediently got off to trot over to Remus, who scratched him behind his ears. Ginny squeaked, "Tha..That's Si-Sirius Black?"
Harry nodded, "Ginny trust me on this one, I would trust Sirius with my life. He'd only hurt someone if they were trying to hurt me or Remus."
Sirius transformed into his normal self and sat on Remus's lap grinning slightly at the room. Ginny squeaked out, "Are you sure Harry?"
Harry smiled and Remus chuckled, "Sirius COULDN'T hurt a fly if he wanted to."
Severus snorted and said, "Shall I remind..."
Harry interrupted, "There's really no need to share that incident with them is there Severus?"
Severus sighed, "Fine, but he's still a murder hungry rabid dog in my opinion."
Harry kissed his cheek before saying, "And we're all glad he didn't succeed. Aren't we Padfoot?"
Sirius grumbled under his breath and Harry glared at him and said, "AREN'T we Padfoot?"
Sirius mumbled a little louder, "Yeah, Yeah, thrilled."
Fred suddenly piped up with, "So you two are Marauders?"
Sirius and Remus nodded, the latter rather reluctantly knowing were this was likely to go. George and Fred were instantly on their knees bowing before Sirius and Remus and crying out, "Our Heroes!"
Harry snorted, Sirius and Remus blushed a ripe red and Hermione started chastising them, "Honestly! Leaving behind a map like that! Do you know what kind of trouble they caused because of that bloody map? I should have made Harry turn it in during third year! Right when we found it! Someone was bound to have seen that Pettigrew was on it at some point!"
Harry interrupted her ranting with, "Not to mention Sirius's every move, 'Mione."
Hermione sighed, "Fine, I'll shut up."
Albus intervened, "Harry you can explain the rest later. Come with me, Severus you as well."
Harry and Severus stood up and followed Albus and Minerva into a side room, Severus holding Harry close and Harry leaning on Severus for support. Once in the other room Albus and Minerva pulled Harry into a hug and Severus closed the door. While trying to stand off to the side Severus got pulled into the hug by a very firm hand from Minerva who whispered, "This is a family hug, meaning the entire family, not just the blood relations Severus."
Harry snuggled into his great grandparents and Severus relishing in the warm embrace. Albus sighed and said, "Harry and Severus I know Molly's words hurt both of you today. I just want you to know that I firmly believe my granddaughter would be thrilled for the two of you, happy that you both found peace at some point in your lives. Or at least are well on the way to having it together. I for one am glad that you two have accepted this and seem to be getting along fairly well."
Minerva nodded her agreement and said, "Just remember we're both here for you two, for anything. And what matters isn't what ignorant fools like Molly Weasley say about your sacrifices for the war, what matters is that you two know what you're fighting against and keep doing so the way you are."
Albus smiled at them and said, "Why don't you two take a minute and we'll be waiting for you in the other room."
Harry smiled and said, "Thank you both."
Minerva snorted, "Harry we should have just shut up and raised you ourselves. We only hope that we can make up for this somewhat. Now are you two both ready for the ceremony tomorrow?"
Harry grinned and nodded, Severus nodded and gently pulled Harry a bit closer. Albus smiled at both of them and said, "You both remember that for the uh, ceremony to be uh completed that you need to um, consummate the relationship. Correct?"
Harry and Severus both blushed and looked anywhere but at Albus and nodded. Minerva laughed and said, "Oh don't worry about it! Now just remember that with the bonding there's always a slight chance for a child and unless the two of you want to deal with that I highly suggest you brew up some contraceptive potion Severus."
Harry mock glared at her and said, "Are you implying that I can't brew a potion myself?"
Severus snorted and said, "Harry you wouldn't even know where to start making it."
Minerva and Albus just smiled and left and Harry sighed and leaned into Severus's embrace. Harry smiled and breathed in what was slowly becoming a familiar, calming scent that he'd learned to associate with Severus. Slightly musky, mixed with mint and oil. Harry had discovered Severus's hair wasn't greasy at all, but smooth and in Severus's opinion ruined by the daily toil of a Potions Master. Harry merely laughed at that and said he should spend more time there and perhaps then his hair would become manageable.
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