A/N: Thank you reviewers
Tropic - Thank you and there is already another story in the works. There will also eventually be a sequel to this one.
Calani - Okay
Ms. Padfoot - Thank you. I hope you like this one too.
Charley4 - I think you skipped chapter 21.
Kaelleigh - Thank you for reviewing.
DxInsider - Yea! No more Voldy!
Jaded Angel8 - Thank you! Your story is going great as well!
Englishgirl - Yeah!
Darkphoenix - Thank you. I'm sorry I left you guys with those couple of cliffies.
Shirriez - soon, but I have another fic that will start the day this one ends. It won't be a sequel. The sequel to this won't be fore a while.
Mikee - Glad you liked it. (Runs screaming from pun)
Fairygirl131129 - Okay. Thank you.
Toria - Yup!!
Xikum - There are still a few loose ends to tie up but some of them might wait for the sequel. I'm glad you liked it.
Starlina - Yup. Thank you.
Stayblue - Thank you.
Feenamon16 - Thank you.
Disclaimer - my imagination isn't nearly as good as JK's so obviously I didn't create any of these characters.
Tangled Relations
Chapter 22 - Rest and Relaxation
Harry opened his eyes to see that he was now in the entrance hall of Hogwarts. His uncle was holding onto him and he felt safe now.
"Harry can you walk?"
"Yea, if you help."
They were both weak from using so much magic and Severus wasn't sure if he could levitate Harry the whole way without dropping him. When they reached the infirmary Severus levitated Harry onto one of the beds just as Poppy bustled out. "Back again Harry? Don't you see enough of me?"
Harry just glared back at her. His uncle sat down next to him and held his hand tightly. Harry squeezed his hand in return. It was nice to have someone to take care of him for once.
Poppy finished scanning Harry. "Well Severus you did a great job with the external injuries. There is some internal bleeding that the potions slowed but Harry will need to lie still for a couple of days and wait for it to finish healing on its own. It will be really sore to the touch so I will give you another pain relieving potion when this one wears off. The main order I have is for you to rest and relax."
Severus nodded to her. "I'll make sure he lays still."
The potions master turned to summon a book to read while he sat with Harry.
"Please don't leave Uncle Sev." Harry stated.
Severus leaned over Harry and kissed him on the forehead. "I'm not leaving you Harry, ever. You mean the world to me."
Harry smiled, "Thank you. You mean the world to me too."
Severus wiped a tear that had made its way down his cheek and pushed Harry's fringe back off of his sweaty forehead and gasped when he saw that the scar was almost gone. He then pulled up his sleeve to see that his dark mark was completely gone. Harry saw him looking and gasped as well.
"Is my scar gone?"
"No Harry. But it is very faded. If I didn't know it was there I wouldn't see it. You were brilliant tonight with that sword. I didn't know you were the heir of Gryffindor."
"Either did I but Voldemort seemed to think so. I guess it comes from the Potters."
Just then the doors to the infirmary burst open to reveal a very troubled looking woman with silvery hair and green eyes. "How is he Severus?"
Harry smiled at her; "I'll be fine Grandma."
She smiled back and gave him a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay. I rushed here as soon as Albus flooed me. I think you have a fan club waiting out in the hall dear."
"Well, if Ron, Hermione, or Draco are out there you can let them in."
Severus strode over to the door and peeked outside. Harry could hear what seemed like a hundred voices asking how he was. After a few seconds the door closed and Harry could see his uncle walking back to the bed with Draco, Ron and Hermione in tow.
Of course Hermione smothered him in a hug. "Oh, Harry. Are you okay?"
Ron pulled her back; "He'll be fine as long as you don't smother him to death."
They all chuckled but Draco stayed near the door.
"Draco, they don't bite. Come here."
Draco walked over to stand between Hermione and Mrs. Snape. "The rumor is that Voldemort is gone. Is it true?"
Harry sat up in bed and prepared to tell everyone the story. After taking a sip of water he began telling them everything that happened once he disappeared.
Ron was horrified, "Zacharias, that bloody traitor, I'll kill him." His face reddened as he remembered that his professor was standing there as well. "Sorry sir, but I mean it."
Snape grinned at him almost causing him to faint from shock. "Your language is excused. But I think Mr. Smith has plenty of other people to worry about."
Harry continued his story after the interruption stopped.
This time it was Mrs. Snape, who interrupted, "You did a summoning charm from two towns away?"
Snape ran a hand through Harry's hair and smiled. "He summoned it quietly, without shouting, from two towns away and when it came flying through the window Voldemort didn't know what hit him."
Hermione whispered, "So he's really gone."
Draco did the unthinkable and pulled Ron and Hermione into a hug, "He's gone! He's gone!"
Harry smiled at Draco and a shocked Ron and Hermione and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Ron, Hermione, I know this may be hard for both of you but Draco is also my friend now. He turned down Voldemort's mark two months ago and I have been helping him with defense lessons ever since. I think that it's time that we all started being friends together."
Ron and Hermione both looked over to Draco who was currently inspecting the tiles on the floor. Ron approached him first. "I .. I would like to give it a shot. You've done alot to hurt us over the years but if Harry trusts you I should to. Truce?" He said extending his hand.
Draco grinned and shook Ron's hand. "I will do my best to make it up to you."
Hermione thought on it a little while longer and was still pondering what to say when Draco approached her. "Granger, I'm sorry for the prat I've been the past six years. I've done some pretty mean things to you and called you some horrible things. I really regret them. I hope that one day you can forgive me. I know it will take a while."
Hermione looked up and saw the truth in his eyes. "I will give you that chance Malfoy. Just don't try to rush me."
"Agreed."
Severus smiled at the three of them and glanced at the time. "It's time for dinner everyone. I think that the three of you need to go to the great hall. I'm sure that the headmaster will make a speech. I will be staying here with Harry. Go along now."
Ron, Hermione, and Draco all gave Harry a hug and told him that they would return later and left for dinner.
Harry smiled at his uncle who was stretching before sitting back down in the chair. "You could go to dinner if you want to or at least conjure up a more comfortable chair."
Severus raised an eyebrow before transfiguring the stiff hospital chair into a high-backed leather easy chair. "That's better. You should probably take a nap Harry. You must be tired from all of those curses even though the physical damage was healed; the healing process uses much of your energy. You also used quite a bit of energy summoning that sword."
Harry rolled onto his side so that he was facing his uncle. "I am tired but I can sleep later. Right now I want to talk. I don't want to hide anymore. No more fake detentions. I want the world to know that you are my uncle and that I love you."
Severus stood up and pulled Harry into an embrace rubbing Harry's back in the process. "I love you too son." He quickly released Harry as he felt him stiffen. "I'm sorry. I .. I know I'm not ..."
Harry reached out to him to pull him back over. "It's okay. I was just shocked. I would like nothing more than to be your son. I wish I was. I want to remove the charms too. I want to look like I'm supposed to."
"Oh Harry. What did I do right in this world to deserve you? I am the happiest man alive. I am so proud of you. I will have Albus summon the appropriate paperwork from the ministry. We can't remove the charms until you have fully recovered from your injuries. Are you sure about this? I don't want to rush you."
Harry smiled broadly, "I've never been more sure about anything."
___________________________________________