Albus watched as Harry fell asleep, but the young wizard's cries of 'No! You're Lying!' rang through his heart, mind, and soul. Once assured the young man was asleep he moved to the secluded bed in the private ward to sit with the man the other was grieving for. Severus was much too pale, paler than he normal was, and his breathing was shallow, as if a huge weight lay on his chest. Albus watched with saddened eyes for several moments before turning to leave the Hospital Wing.
The white-haired wizard felt his years as he made his way up the stairs to his central tower quarters. Once in his office he went to one of the many shelves containing books and pulled out a photo album and sat behind his desk. He opened the book and as he looked at the first picture, Fawkes, his phoenix, swept off his perch to land on the back of Albus' chair. Neither the phoenix nor the Headmaster noticed the translucent form that materialized on Albus' right.
Albus turned page after page of pictures while tears rolled down his cheeks to disappear into his mustache and beard. Fawkes broke the silence with a questioning trill.
"We're losing Severus, old friend." Albus said in a heartbroken voice and Fawkes gave a peculiar pain filled squawk. "Ah, you were planning to go to Severus when my time came?" The scarlet and gold avian bobbed his head and turned his attention back to the photo album.
Picture after picture they looked at and all the photos were of a certain thin, dark-eyed, and black-haired individual. They were pictures of him at his most relaxed, most concentrated and his most stubborn. From his days as a student running through the halls to his last days as a teacher, all the pictures were of Severus during the time that Albus knew him.
"Fawkes, I can't bury another child. I've lost all my blood children and I will not loose my heart one too."
Albus stood with an effort and shuffled to another bookshelf and searched the spines until he found the book he sought.
"Here we are, Fawkes. The answer I seek should be in this book." Albus said in a tired voice, but if you listened closely you could hear a touch of desperation.
Fawkes looked at the ancient and dark bound book and gave a trill of discomfort. The scarlet avian leapt off the chair and flew back to his perch. The phoenix gave the book a fearful glance.
"I know, Fawkes, but I'm willing to pay the price to keep Severus alive. He's just found what I was hoping he'd find all these years. I'm not going to let him die now that he's found love." With that Albus turned his attention to the reddish-black book before him and began to read. The title on the spine glowed brightly allowing the casual observer to read it: 'Rituals and Sacrifices'.
Helga Hufflepuff fled the office the moment she identified the book Albus pulled off the shelf. She had shed tears along side the Headmaster as he wept over the pictures of Severus. She decided to check on Severus and Harry before reporting to the others. She figured she'd have time before Albus found the self-sacrifice spell he was looking for. Helga reappeared in the Hospital Wing and headed to Harry's bed. She was shocked to find the bed empty. After all he was given the Dreamless Sleep potion and not even Severus could throw the effects off that quickly. Helga went to listen at the bathroom door incase Harry was there and needed help. As she approached she heard a quiet feminine voice talking.
"I'm sorry, Harry, he's getting worse and there's nothing I can do to stop it." Helga heard the medi-witch say.
A pain filled and bereft cry issued from Harry's mouth and Helga' blood would have froze at the sound if she still had flesh. She would bet a huge sack of galleons that the young wizard's agony was heard by those still in the Great Hall.
"Why don't you sit by Severus' bedside? He might not hear us, but he'll know you're there. I'll put up some silencing charms so no one will disturb you."
Harry nodded his head and Helga could see the tears trailing down his face. As she moved closer he leaned against the door from and drew his wand. Helga watched him stare at his wand for several long moments. She saw him mutter a spell, but didn't see the results. Being outside the medi-witch's charm Helga couldn't hear what Harry was saying to himself, though the look on his face indicated that it was painful. Suddenly Harry broke his wand over his knew and flung the pieces out into the Hospital Wing. He then headed further into Severus' room and sat as close to the bed as he could.
Helga took a close look at Severus and noticed how shallow his breathing was. They didn't have much time if they wanted to save both Severus and Harry. She was sure that Harry wouldn't live a day longer if Severus died. Helga wasted no time and dematerialized from the infirmary and reappeared next to her long time friends.
"What news, Helga?" Salazar asked, though his face was dour his voice had a wistful hope.
"The news isn't good." Helga sighed.
"Then that scream we heard was one of our boys?" Godric looked like he was on the brink of tears.
"It was Harry," Helga confirmed while her tears began to trail down her translucent cheeks. "Severus doesn't have much time left. He fed all of his magic to Harry, so the young man could eliminate Tom."
"I take it that Harry's not dealing well with the news?" Rowena asked absentmindedly as her eyes began to glaze over.
"No, he's not. If Severus doesn't make it, Harry will be following. He broke his wand."
That comment managed to pull Rowena from her thoughts and stopped Salazar and Godric in their tracks. Salazar's face became very still to the point that not a trace of emotion showed on his face. Rowena allowed several tears to fall before turning her attention inward. Godric showed the most emotion of the four. He cursed and muttered implications. He pace back and forth in agitation and then he began to repeatedly kick the corpse of Voldemort, which was still in the hall waiting for Albus to determine if it was safe to move. Helga let the tears flow as she waited for her friends input. Then she remembered Albus' search.
"Albus is planning on sacrificing himself for Severus." She informed them with a tinge of fear in her voice.
"He has the book then?" Salazar asked. Helga nodded her head and shuddered at the thought of the blood encrusted tome. "I'll deal with him once Rowena finishes her search."
Salazar would have said more, but was interrupted by a shout from the other side of the Great Hall.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Hermione Granger shouted, her wand pointed at the air above the dead Dark Lord, along with everyone else's.
Godric didn't hear the demand, lost in his grief as he was, and didn't react other than to become more vicious in his attack on the corpse. Salazar and Helga noticed that they had unconsciously allowed themselves to become invisible during their discussion.
"Accio invisibility cloak!" Granger cried into the silent hall. She was surprised that no cloak floated into her hand.
Hermione let several curses and charms fly off in Godric's direction causing several of the milling people to scramble out of the way. Godric remained in his own little world as he continued to take out his anger on the corpse of Voldemort. Mad-eye Moody walked up to Hermione and the two had a whispered conversation. Moody's magical eye was fixed on the area Godric was standing. Moody raised his wand and began chanting in Latin. Salazar and Helga looked at each other and broke their silence.
"That will be enough, young man! Put that away before you hurt someone. Salazar's baritone rang out into the Great Hall.
"Who said that? Show yourself!" Moody growled in response.
Salazar and Helga allowed their forms to become visible and listened in amusement as those in the Great Hall went slack-jawed in response. The majority of the people in the room didn't recognize Salazar and Helga, but the few that did were in awe, especially Hermione.
"You're…" The young witch started to say, but was cut of by Salazar.
"I know, you read all about me in 'Hogwarts, A History'." Salazar replied with mischief in his eyes.
"Sal, we don't have time for your games. Rowena, dear, would you make yourself visible?" Helga said and slowly the form of Rowena became visible, though her attention was still turned inward.
"What is going on here?" Moody's growl could once again be heard as he still watched the rocking corpse.
"That, over there, is Godric Gryffindor and he's a tad upset at the moment. It's better that we let him get on with his venting in peace." Salazar told the retired Auror.
"As to our situation," Helga continued, "Severus fed his magic to Harry through the bond that formed when they were married. Unfortunately he drained himself too much and if Rowena can't find a solution we'll lose him and Harry."
"If Snape's drained, how is it that Harry will die?" Ron asked with a puzzled frown.
"Harry will not wish to live if he loses Severus." Helga answered and looked exasperated when Ron gave her his patented 'I haven't a clue' look.
"I'll get him on track later." Hermione told the ghost.
"Got it!" Rowena crowed out loud causing several people to jump and draw their wands.
"What did you find Rowena?" Godric, finally calmed enough to be human, asked.
"We can feed Severus the magical energy he needs."
"How, Rowena?" Salazar questioned, hope evident in his voice despite his cold stature.
"With the wards we erected. We'll take them down, but instead of grounding the energy from them into the earth we'll channel them through us into Severus." Rowena replied with a look of fierce determination.
"Do you think it will work? After all Severus is your heir Rowena. The rest of us have no connection to him." Salazar stated while hoping she could refute his claims.
"He is bonded to your heir. That'll be a sufficient connection for this magic."
"Then I'll head upstairs and take that book away from Albus, before he does something foolish." Salazar dematerialized to the Headmasters office. Helga and Rowena continued to discuss the logistics for their plan while ignoring the people in the hall, who were staring in shock, especially after Hermione told them who they were.
"Excuse me," Arthur Weasley broke into the two founder's conversation. "Why are you here now? Why haven't you shown yourselves until now?" The elder Weasley asked while keeping a wary eye on Godric.
"We've always been here. We've watched over the school once we all left our mortal bodies behind." Rowena responded in a quiet voice that still carried throughout the hall.
"I've been advising the Headmasters of Hogwarts for centuries." Helga added. "The only reason we've made ourselves know was because of a pact we made before we died."
"Can you tell us?" Hermione asked and both women could see the ideas running through her mind.
"Yes, we can. We promised that we would join our bloodlines into one and that's why we were here today. Severus is Rowena's heir and Harry is Salazar's, Godric's and my own heir." Helga supplied to the bushy-haired witch.
"But your line was rumoured to have died our several generations ago," was Hermione's shocked response.
"Helga has always had phenomenal luck. She could fall into a cesspit and come out with a sack of galleons." Godric inject with a bit of humour in his ghostly eyes. He gave Voldemort's corpse once last kick before moving towards the rest of his audience. "The Potter's have always taken in strays, be they two legged or four. During the centuries they collected our heirs into their family."
"Too true, but I suggest we head up to the Hospital Wing and set up for the transfer." Rowena said. "Alastor, would you be so kind and recruit some Aurors to guard the school's perimeter? We'll be using the wards to restore Severus' magic and the school will be vulnerable until new ones are cast."
Moody gave a brief nod and moved off to the cluster of Aurors getting ready to transport the prisoners to the Ministry hold cell. Everyone else not occupied followed the ghostly forms to the infirmary.
Harry sat next to Severus' bed and held on of his hands for what felt like days. He had no concept of time and he watched every fall and rise of Severus' chest with the same attention he'd give to a snitch. As time progressed in Harry's warped world he noticed how much harder his husband's breathing became. Lost in despair Harry pulled out the dagger his transfigured from an empty potion vial. He knew time was running out for Severus and he didn't want to be alone, especially just after finding love.
With a trembling hand he drew the dagger over his left wrist. As he drew the blade across his wrist they sharp pain caused him to gasp and his right hand jerked. The dagger clattered to the floor, but Harry did enough damage to himself. He watched with morbid fascination as the blood poured out of the gaping wound. 'At least I won't have to deal with the pain of losing Severus,' was Harry's fuzzy thought. Once again he just sat there, having no inkling of the passage of time. As his vision blackened he kept his dimming sight on Severus. He never heard the shouted 'Harry', nor did he feel the hands that clamped over his bloody wrist. Darkness claimed him shortly afterwards and Harry knew no more.
The parade following the three founders arrived in the Hospital Wing and they entered to see Albus Dumbledore engaged in a screaming match with Salazar Slytherin.
"I need that book, you fool." Albus shouted at Salazar, his anger very noticeable in his stance as he glared at the ghost in front of him. "Without it Severus will die."
"No ones going to die, young man." Salazar said in a mild tone. Albus looked shocked at being called a young man and was about to retort when he remembered who he was arguing with. "You'll do no one any good by sacrificing yourself that way. You'll only taint Severus' life by doing that ritual."
"What am I supposed to do?" I refuse to bury another child, you relic." Albus snarled.
"No, Rowena's got another plan. We don't wish to lose our heirs." Salazar's still unruffled voice rang into the silence.
Everyone, but Hermione and Ron, watched the argument with wide eyes. Ron and Hermione went to the private room to visit with Harry since they didn't see him in the main room. They intended to sit with Harry during his vigil.
The two Gryffindors entered the room and froze in shock. Harry was sitting in a chair staring at his husband while a widening puddle of red formed on the floor below his chair.
"Harry!" Hermione screeched as she charged towards him. She clamped a hand around his wrist in an attempt to staunch the blood flow.
Ron ran out of the room, bellowing for Madam Pomfrey. His desperate yelling halted the on going argument between Albus and Salazar. When Ron told the medi-witch what Harry had done, Poppy grabbed several potions from her closet and scurried into the room. The founders, Albus and Ron were right on her heels. When they entered the room, Poppy had just finished closing the wound on his wrist and, with Hermione's help, was beginning to pour a blood replenishing potion down his throat. Sitting on the floor beside her were several healing potions and an energizing potion. One by one she poured them down his throat and making sure he swallowed them.
With a sigh she got up off the floor and used a levitating charm to lift Harry from the chair. Once she had him horizontal she ran a scan and tsked as the results.
"He's drained what little magic he had in his system. I don't know if he's going to recover." She told the crowd in the room. "Let me get him back into his bed."
As she began to maneuver him out of the private room she was interrupted by an irate, ghostly Godric.
"Where do you think you're going, woman?" Godric snapped.
"I'm bringing Mr. Potter back to his bed so he can rest." Poppy snapped just as irritably back at the founder.
"You'll put him in the bed next to his spouse, where he belongs. Idiots, the lot of you. They were just bound and you placed them in separate rooms, you've compounded the problem of their drained magic. If Severus couldn't feel Harry through the bond the marriage formed between them, then he might have thought that Harry died and lost his will to live." Godric snarled at the medi-witch.
Poppy did what she was ordered and placed Harry into the bed Severus occupied, after Hermione enlarged the bed to accommodate both men. Godric calmed once Harry was settled next to Severus. Albus was still aggravated, something no one in living memory has had the opportunity to see, and shooting glares at Salazar. Once his anger dispersed somewhat, Albus realized that he had all four of the school's founders in the room with him.
"Why are you all here?" Albus asked, for once not knowing what was going on in the school.
"We would have told you had you not gone insane and pulled that blasted book off the shelf. It was part of the headmaster's collection so it wouldn't be used. Next time I'll leave it in my pet's old lair." Salazar hissed.
"That's enough, Salazar. We don't have much time so we'll have to get started. Alastor should have enough Aurors in place around the school by now." Rowena calmly interjected before Albus and Salazar could start up again. "We'll have to feed the magic into both of them. The bond should equalize the magic levels in them. Ric and Helga, you two feed into Severus while Sal and I will do the same to Harry."
"What are you planning to do?" Hermione asked, looking like she was back in school listening to an interesting lecture.
"We're going to pull down the wards we erected when we built the school. Normally when wards and massive shields are removed the magical energy is channeled into the earth to be dissipated. This time as we pull the wards down we're going to channel the released magical force into Severus and Harry to bolster what they've drained from themselves. I'll explain it in more detail at a later date." Rowena answered, easily stepping into lecture mode despite the centuries that had passed since she was a teacher.
"Why are Godric and Helga feeding Severus and not Harry?" Ron asked, red-faced at having Salazar working on his best friend.
"This isn't about your stupid house rivalries!" Godric snapped. "Grow up, boy, or you'll never survive in whatever career you chose to pursue!"
"Godric and Helga excelled at defensive magic, which is what the wards around the school are primarily. Their shields contain much stronger magic due to their expertise, which is why they're feeding Severus the magical force from their wards since he needs more to recover. Salazar and I shall be using the magic from our own castings to bolster Harry's magic." Rowena explained before Godric decided to hex the youngest Weasley son.
"Are we ready?" Helga asked as she moved into position next to Godric.
"Salazar and Godric just nodded in response and Rowena whispered a 'yes'. Soon the four founders each touched their assigned patient and closed their eyes. The four chanted, in unison, a long string of Latin and began to glow. Hermione watched in fascination as the glow moved from the founders to their respective patients. The glow surrounding Godric, Helga and Severus was blindingly bright compared to the softly glowing trio of Salazar, Rowena and Harry. After what seemed to be an eternity the light faded and the founders moved away from the bed. All four looked more transparent than before, but the change in Severus was very noticeable. He was no longer had the deathly pallor and his breathing wasn't laboured anymore. Harry showed some color now that there was enough magic in his system to help the blood replenishing potion to work.
"Let's leave them alone now. They'll only need to be check for complications from here on out." Helga told the gathered people and shooed them out the door.
"When will they wake?" Albus asked with a last look at the two unconscious men.
"They'll wake when they're ready to do so. It could take less than a day or up to a month. It's all up to them and their body's ability to bounce back from strain." Rowena answered with a sigh of weariness.
"Why did you go through all this trouble to marry Harry and Severus? It could have been a huge disaster if they didn't suddenly find a liking for each other." Hermione asked and several other people voiced a similar sentiment.
"As Helga told Ms. Granger earlier, Severus is Rowena's last living descendent and Harry is the last one for Godric, Helga and I. Before our little disagreement about allowing those witches and wizards born in Muggle families to return to their homes sent us our separate ways, we had all agree to merge our bloodlines into one. Unfortunately it's been over 1,000 years and we're just getting there." Salazar answered the crowd, ignoring the hostile stares from the Muggle born.
"Ummm, how do you expect them to carry on the bloodlines? I mean there both male." Hermione asked with a puzzled frown.
"Severus is a Potions Master, Ms. Granger. It's a trifle for him to brew a Masculus Gravida Potio." Salazar lifted an eyebrow in surprise as the entire room gave him blank looks, with exception to his long time friends. "What do they teach you lot these days. It was widely used in our day. Just open the copy of 'Kriber's Tome of Break Through Potions'. It's a self-updating book in the restricted section."
"There isn't any book by that title it the school's library. I've read every single book in the school library and that wasn't one of them." Hermione informed the long deceased wizard.
"Ms. Granger there is no possible way for you to have read the entire restricted section. There are books in there that Madam Pince wouldn't have allowed you to check out." Minerva replied, hardly anyone in the room remembered she was there and as a result of her sudden entrance into the conversation some people jumped in surprise.
"Oh, she read all the books in there and in the teacher's reserved stack. Rowena and I have had several years of amusement trying to keep Harry from getting caught sneaking into the library to purloin the books for her." Helga chuckled in amusement at the memories.
"Ms. Granger! You…" Minerva started before she was interrupted.
"If Harry didn't smuggle the books out to me he, Ron and I would have died in our sixth or seventh year. Without the spells I gleaned from the books and Harry worked out the uses of we wouldn't have escaped the Death Eaters those two times we were cornered by them." Hermione said with a stubborn tilt to her head.
"Really there's no point in fighting over it now. We'll just have to wait until Harry recovers so he can open either Sal's vault or my own and retrieve a copy of the book. If you're lucky he may donate one to the school library to replace the missing one." Godric broke in to stem off an argument between the two witches. "Any other point is moot until Harry and Severus are back on their feet. It's up to them whether they wish to have children. Harry I'm sure would wish to, but watching Severus all these years makes me believe that he will not."
"It's all moot until they make their choices. We'll just have to sit and wait." Rowena said. "We all need a rest so it's best if Albus and the other's deal with their remaining guests while we recover from our casting."
"Would you answer one more thing before you go?" Hermione asked with a determined glint in her eyes. At the four's nod of agreement she launched into her question. "How is it you four are able to manipulate objects while our resident ghosts can't, well with exception to Peeves that is?"
"We ended up being spirits because our pact wasn't complete during our life times. Given the amount of power we possessed during our lives we retained much of our magical abilities. We not dissimilar to the school's poltergeist in some abilities, but we have a few that Peeves doesn't. One of which is, we can make ourselves corporeal for significant periods of time. Another is our ability to still use our wands to cast spells. Also since we founded the school, the house-elves are more than happy to fulfill any request we have." Rowena replied to the overly curious witch. She still wondered how the young woman ended up in Gryffindor.
"So one of you must have retrieved Harry's stuff from his uncle's place?" Ron asked hoping that for once his theory was correct.
"That would have been my doing," Godric replied with a short bow.
"You drove Harry nuts. He flooed everyone he knew trying to find out who brought the stuff to him." Ron told his house's founder with an amused grin.
"I didn't intend to alarm him at all, but I definitely wanted to dole out some punishment to those blasted Muggles." Godric smiled at the memory.
"What's more amazing is how you lot got them to admit something other than loathing for each other." Albus said with a great deal of admiration in his voice. "I've been trying for years and failed spectacularly."
"Well actually we didn't have anything to do with that," Salazar said with an annoyed grimace. He then muttered something that no one heard and elicited a chorus of 'What?' from the others present.
"What Sal's too embarrassed to say is, Harry's owl seemed to be playing matchmaker. She was the one who managed to get the two together. It certainly made our job easier." Rowena answered the curious crowd, which now included the rest of the Weasley clan and Hogwarts staff.
While Rowena was talking to the crowd, Helga wandered back to Harry and Severus' room. While Rowena and Salazar spoke about the two men's recently discovered feelings, something stirred in the back of her mind. That feeling was why she returned to the men's room. When they left the room earlier both Harry and Severus were lying on their backs side by side. They were no longer in that position. Both men were lying on their sides facing each other. Harry had his head buried in Severus' chest and the older wizards arms were wrapped protectively around the slight wizard's body. A quick scan by Helga showed they still were in the healing coma's their bodies forced them into. The positions the two were in nagged Helga insistently. It was like an itch she couldn't scratch. She looked out the doorway and scanned the crowd as she tried to stalk the elusive memory. She caught sight of Godric looking towards the doors of the Hospital Wing as if he was waiting for someone to enter. In a flash of sudden insight she remembered! Godric and his wife, that's what she was reminded of when Sal and Rowena started to talk about Harry and Severus.
She remembered when Godric first laid eyes on the woman who would become his wife. She had come to the school much older than their average student. She was from an old pure-blooded family that didn't believe in educating their daughters beyond those spells need to keep the house and house-elves in order.
Helga smiled at the memory of Genevieve storming into the castle demanding to be taught, swinging at her father and uncles with a skillet as they tried to bring her home. She was disowned on the spot, but that didn't matter to her. All thoughts of being cut off from her family evaporated the moment she locked eyes with Godric. Salazar, Rowena and she decided that Genevieve needed to be put on a fast track and arranged for private one on one instruction with all her teachers. There wasn't a time during her schooling that she didn't either have her nose in a book. Those few times she wasn't reading were spent in Godric's company. They were smitten and during their time as teachers they saw a few other instances of 'love at first sight', but never with people who were still of schooling age.
Genevieve and Godric married shortly after her schooling was done and Helga never recalled seeing Godric so happy. Sadly his private fairy tale came to a crashing halt when an aspiring Dark Lord came barreling down upon the village where he a Genevieve lived. Both escaped the village as their sons dealt with the 'Dark Lord'. Genevieve was badly injured and was taken to Hogwarts to recover. Every time the healer drugged Godric to keep him out of the way, Godric managed to find his way back to his wife's bed. Every time the healer left he found them in the same position Harry and Severus was still in. When Godric recovered his wits from the fog the potions gave him, he ripped into the healer telling him that forcing them apart was telling his wife that he was dead. He refused to be budged. Godric and the rest of them realized that Godric and Genevieve were tied closer than the marriage bonds. It took a little digging through Rowena's pile of tomes, but they found the answer. Godric and Genevieve were soul-mates. A rare occurrence in the wizarding world and she thought she was lucky to have met one such couple. To have the second soul-bound couple she's encountered be a part of her family is a delight that words couldn't describe. To think they played a part in opening their eyes to each other was indescribable. It also explained Godric's venom towards the medi-witch earlier.
Helga returned to the main room of the infirmary and watched as the conversations began to wind down and everyone began to disperse. Godric was still watching the doors waiting for someone to arrive. Helga began to suspect that his Genevieve was still at the school, much as they were. She moved closer to Godric and when he turned to her, she gave him a small smile.
"Figured it out did you?" Godric responded with a smile of his own.
"Yes, I did. They reminded me so much of you and Genevieve when I checked up on them." Godric grinned at her and turned back to the doors. Helga's smile brightened when a familiar form walked through the solid doors of the Hospital Wing.
Helga stepped back to give the two some privacy and wondered where Genevieve was hiding all these centuries.
"Helga it's wonderful to see you again!" Genevieve closed the distance between them and embraced her one time teacher.
"I'm pleased to see you once again, my dear. Have you been here all these centuries?" She asked and received a nod in reply. "And you didn't come to visit? I thought we taught you better manners than that." Helga chided.
"I have been busy. All the house ghosts have duties to perform during the school year. The students of Ravenclaw House know me as the Grey Lady and I didn't visit because I didn't want anyone to know you four were still around. Godric did manage to sneak a few visits in over the centuries. You know how people are. If they knew you were still here they'd never give you a moment's peace or bother to figure things out on their own." Genevieve replied, her joy at being in her mate's presence showed brightly in her eyes.
Helga watched with a smile as the two left the room. She slowly faded into nothingness and returned to her usual haunts when not manipulating thick headed headmasters.
Weeks past before one of the two unconscious men finally woke and, much to the dismay of the red-headed Weasley clan, the one who did was Severus. When Severus opened his eyes in the inner room of the Hospital Wing he wasn't aware of anyone but the young man nestled against him. To the shock of those who were watching over them that morning, Severus smiled brightly at the young man. He only became aware of the presence of the other two people when he heard the thud of a falling body hitting the floor.
He bolted upright in the bed, losing contact with his husband's body as he groped blindly for his wand. It took Severus a few moments before he realized where he was and he relaxed a bit. At Albus' chuckle his habitual scowl crossed his features as he glared at his mentor. A casual look around the room showed Filius Flitwick's unconscious form on the floor. A smirk of amusement graced his face as he turned to question is mentor. He didn't get a chance to voice his questions when the smaller form of Harry began to thrash in panic. Severus reached out and placed a hand on the smaller man's cheek and immediately Harry calmed down, snuggling closer Severus once he was reassured of the other's presence.
Once Harry was settled, Severus turned his attention to Albus, whose eyes were twinkling madly as he watched the two men. Severus glared and raised a questioning eyebrow and gave a pointed look to the still unconscious Filius.
"Filius wasn't prepared to see you smile, Severus. The sight was too much for the poor man." Albus said with grin.
"I don't smile." Severus growled.
"Ah, Severus, but you do. It was the first thing you did when you awoke."
"You two had better not go blabbing to the staff. It'll ruin my reputation, that is, if it survived the wedding."
"I wouldn't worry about that. Everyone still thinks you're your usual nasty self. You left a lot of bodies in your wake during the battle."
"Thank Merlin for small miracles." Severus rolled his eyes before turning his attention to the man lying beside him. "What would people say if the knew how quickly I fell in love with you?" He said quietly to the still man next to him, completely forgetting about Albus' presence in the room.
"Many will faint in shock and others will believe the end of the world is near. Severus Snape admitting that he has human emotions and needs will definitely be a moment to remember." Albus said with a chuckle before continuing in a more serious vein. "I'm happy that you finally realized that you are human and that you deserved some happiness. I'll admit finding out that your love interest was Harry was a bit of a shock."
"It was to both of us as well. We've only just started walking on this path together. The wedding was the crowning moment of a week of surprises and emotional ups and downs." Severus said and Albus saw everything Severus had kept hidden all these years beneath his mask.
"Just remember, Severus, you both deserve to be happy and you're both free to enjoy it."
Severus looked up at Albus in surprise and then gazed down at his left arm. The Dark Lord's mark was gone and all that remained was a puckered scar that could be passed off as a laboratory accident. Severus shut his eyes and shook silently in reaction. He allowed the relief to drown him for several long moments before he opened his eyes and replaced his emotionless mask.
"How long were we unconscious?"
"Almost four weeks," Albus answered quietly. "We're two weeks into the school year and before you ask, Ms. Granger is covering your class until you're ready to return."
Severus acknowledged the information with a nod and allowed his mind to wander back to the wedding. He remembered Harry's gasp of surprise and his nudging to attract his attention. He remembers his own shock at seeing the four ghosts hovering above Albus.
"If you didn't plan this fiasco, then I have to assume the four meddling ghosts did. The question is why?" Severus asked quietly.
"Yes, the ghosts did plan the wedding. Did you recognize them?" Severus shook his head and waited for Albus' answer. "They are Hogwarts' founders."
"Why would the founders want to interfere with our lives?" Severus snarled, partly at the meddling of four long dead people and partly because of the discomfort of portions of his anatomy falling asleep due to how Harry was curled up against him. He carefully adjusted how he was sitting and gently lifted Harry so that the younger man was lying between his legs with his back resting on Severus' chest. He turned back to Albus with a scowl. "Well?"
"Perhaps I should answer that." Severus whipped his head in the direction of the new voice and saw two ghosts standing in the doorway. One he recognized from the wedding the other he's knew for years since she was one of the house ghosts.
"What excuse are you going to give me?" Severus snarled at the translucent man.
"It's not much of an excuse, but given the pure-blood background you possess then you should understand this. It was an ancient marriage contract. Salazar, Rowena, Helga and I made an oath to join our bloodlines into one. We've waited over a millennium for that pledge to be fulfilled."
"How do you expect us to join your bloodlines? There isn't a charm or potion, despite everyone's efforts, that will allow us to have a child." Severus told Godric in a bitter tone.
Severus tilted his head forward allowing his hair to fall about his face so he could hide his pain from the others. He lowered his head so he could hide his face further in Harry's hair. Instead of encountering his husband's hair he felt a gentle touch on his cheek. When he opened his eyes, which he didn't remember closing, he saw shimmering emerald ones staring back. Harry's eyes were filled with love and worry, but Severus could see a rising insecurity and he realized that Harry heard the bitterness in his tone. He guessed the younger man thought that tone was in reference to him.
"It's not you, Harry, just some old memories rearing their ugly heads." Severus smiled at the younger man, who relaxed with the reassurance. Harry untwisted himself and looked back to the ghosts. Severus breathed a sigh of relief now that Harry was awake, but as he turned back to the others in the room he caught sight a scar on Harry's left wrist, one that wasn't there before the wedding. "Harry, what is this?"
Harry flinched at the question, but didn't get a chance to respond when the spirit of Godric Gryffindor interrupted.
"That ties in with the rest of my explanations." The ghost said, gaining the attention of everyone in the room including the now conscious Filius, who was managing to get to his feet. "To go back to joining our bloodlines, there is a way for you to conceive and bear children. The potion was developed not long after Hogwarts was founded."
"That male fertility potion has been nothing but a myth. Potion Masters have been trying to recreate it for centuries." Severus snapped in annoyance.
"We didn't know that the book disappeared from everywhere. Even Hogwarts' copy has vanished. It is possible that one of the previous Dark Lords was less than fond of same sex partnerships and had the books destroyed." Genevieve told the two men.
"There should be a copy in both Salazar's and my vaults. Now that Harry is married and our oath fulfilled the keys to all of our vaults will be made available to you both. You'll be able to retrieve them from the goblins once that mad medi-witch allows you to leave." Godric added.
"What's the catch?" Harry asked with a skeptical look on his face.
"Catch? What do you mean?" Godric asked, obviously confused by the question.
"The conditions, requirements or expectations you require; anything that will rear its ugly head and bite us in the arse at a later date." Harry's weary voice echoed in the room.
"Oh… There are no demands, though we do have a small request. If the two of you choose to have more than one child, we ask that you allow Albus and Minerva to train one of the children to take over the school." Godric said softly.
"Why would that be necessary, Godric?" Albus asked, a concerned expression graced his features.
"It's not necessary in the long run. Mostly it's just a bit of vanity on our part. We always hoped our children would want to run the school, but it never worked out that way. There are some spells imbedded in the walls of the castle that require renewing by members of our bloodlines, but they aren't critical ones." Godric responded, a touch sheepish at the admission.
"That's all well and good, but what does all that have to do with this?" Severus snarled, turning Harry's arm so that the scar across his wrist was visible.
"Sorry, Severus, we got side-tracked. Did Albus mention what happened when Harry started fighting Voldemort?" Genevieve asked the dark-haired wizard, who was glaring at everyone in the room and making Harry cower a bit.
"No. The last thing I remember was feeling Harry's energy depleting and realizing that I could send him mine through our bond."
"Which is what you did, but you gave everything you had to Harry and drained yourself comatose." Albus said softly with a hint of fright and grief lingering in his voice.
"You drained yourself so badly that your body was shutting down. You had no more magic to aid in healing your body from its stress. You were dying slowly." Genevieve took up the narrative once again. "Harry didn't take that news well and Albus had to drug him in order to get him to rest. His own magical force was at a minimum since he threw everything you and he had into the Killing Curse he killed Voldemort with."
"Harry managed to burn off the potion and moved to your bedside, they had put you in separate rooms. He found out from the medi-witch that you were steadily getting worse and he didn't take the news well." Godric continued the tale, keeping eye contact with Severus the whole time. "Harry did not wish to continue living without you and chose to end it. Only Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley's entrance foiled his attempt. It was then I realized that you two are much like Genevieve and I."
Harry and Severus looked at the ghost of Godric Gryffindor with expectant expressions, though Severus' had a touch of disbelief. Neither said a word as the ghost searched for the appropriate words. Severus' fingers stroked over the scar while he held the younger man to him tightly with his right arm.
"When I thought back at how sudden your change in attitudes towards each other was, I remembered when I first met my wife. We were inseparable the moment she crossed the school's threshold.
Genevieve and I are soul mates and so are you two. We didn't know that at first, though I know Helga's honoured to be a part of yours forming. When you both were set in separate rooms Severus' soul believed that Harry was dead since his magic was too depleted to find the bond between them. As a result Severus' soul was preparing to depart this world. The sensation fed back to Harry as he got closer to Severus and influenced his own decision to leave this plane.""Both you and Harry needed more magical energy to survive and Godric and the others pulled down the wards they set into place centuries ago and fed the released energy into you both." Genevieve took up the explanation. "Other than that there isn't much more to tell. Everything else is up to you two."
"We'll discuss it, but that's all we'll promise." Severus stated his eyes boring into those surrounding Harry and him. He felt Harry nod in agreement as he gathered his thoughts for his next comment. "I certainly won't endanger either of us with an unknown potion. It might have been an acceptable potion during your lifetime; it certainly won't meet my standards of acceptance."
"Fair enough, Severus. We'll leave you and Harry alone until Poppy comes to examine you two again." Albus said as he shooed the still speechless Filius out of the room.
The two ghosts followed the Headmaster out and Harry and Severus were left alone in the room. The two basked silently in the presence of the other, neither willing to break the fragile peace between them with words. Severus released Harry's wrist and wrapped his arms tightly around his husband. Harry turned his head so his cheek was resting on Severus' chest and his arms were draped over the arms encircling him. They fell asleep once they settle, Harry lulled by the sound of Severus' heart beat and Severus by the peace and love the other exuded. They remained that way until Poppy's entrance jerked them out of their slumber.
The medi-witch found herself at wand point after startling Severus awake. Harry was already off the bed, giving Severus freedom of movement, and had the metal water pitcher from the nightstand in hand and ready to throw.
"I see old habits die hard," she said dryly, pulling her wand out. "Now sit and let me scan you."
"Hurry up and get it over with," Severus snarled while Harry sighed in resignation.
Poppy took her sweet time dong the tests, ignoring Severus' glares and snarls as she worked. She started on Severus then moved onto Harry, running what seemed, to the two patients, to be a hundred tests. Finally she finished running every scan and test she could think of.
"Given what you two have been through you're both in remarkable health." She said while pocketing her wand.
"Good. We're leaving." Severus said, opening the cupboard where Harry's and his clothes were placed.
"Oh, NO YOU"RE NOT!" Poppy bellowed at the Potions Master.
"Yes, we are. I've never stayed here any longer than necessary and I'm not going to start now." Severus growled back as his patience began to fray. "Nor do I wish to deal with the endless stream of people who will be through here the minute Harry's recovery is leaked."
"You both need to rest. I know you, Severus Snape; you'll go straight to your laboratory and ignore everything I've ordered."
"Poppy, I want to spend my time alone with my husband." Severus gave the matron a pointed look.
"Besides, Madam Pomfrey, I've spent so much time here as a student, I don't want to start spending time here now that I'm not a student. We also wouldn't be able to rest with every self-important idiot from the Ministry filing in every three seconds. And let's not mention the reporters." Harry added with pleading eyes.
"All right, but you had better rest. I'll be checking up on you!"
With the medi-witch's reluctant permission the two men dressed quickly and fled to Severus' dungeon rooms. When they arrived Severus turned to lock and ward the doors so no one could bother them. Severus grasped Harry's hand and led the younger man to the sofa where they spent many comfortable evenings before the wedding just talking. As they sat, Severus noticed two things. Something was added to his rooms and something was different about Harry. On the table there were two sets of boots made of what looked like snakeskin to Severus. Next to the boots was a note addressed to Harry, but in a hand Severus wasn't familiar with. The change in Harry took Severus several moments of searching to find and he was aggravated that he didn't notice it sooner. It was so obvious considering how much he hated those horrid glasses Harry wore.
"Harry, what happened to your glasses?" Severus asked quietly when Harry looked at him with a questioning look.
"I'm wearing them…" Harry trailed off as he realized that his black framed glasses weren't on his face and he was able to see clearly without them. "I don't know," he said very softly.
Severus pulled his wand and rattled off several scanning spells. He didn't find anything wrong with Harry's eyes. Actually he didn't find any evidence of there ever being anything wrong with his eyes. He then turned his attention to the boots and letter on the table and scanned those. All he found was the sizing charm unique to the house-elves and nothing else. Harry gave him a questioning look and at Severus' nod picked up and opened the letter.
Dear Harry and Severus,
The boots are a small gift from the four of us. You both should recognize the skin. I know you've seen the creature it came from several times over the years. The house-elves have spelled the boots to size themselves the moment you put them on.
Harry, during our casting to heal both you and Severus from the magical drain you suffered I took the opportunity to reverse your eyesight. Considering it was from my side of the family that gave you such horrid sight. You'll never need the glasses again and believe me; they get in the way of personal matters.
Best wishes,
Salazar
"That answers that question," Severus muttered and turned to Harry. "Now perhaps you can explain why you felt this was necessary?" Severus rubbed his fingers over the scar on Harry's wrist.
Harry's eyes went blank as he tried to search for the proper words to convey the grief he was feeling as Severus laid there struggling. He was silent for several moments before turning to his husband with frustration etched on his face.
"I can't explain it," he said with a moment's hesitation. "Why don't you look and see for yourself?"
Severus looked at his mate in surprise and slowly picked up his wand. With a barely audible 'Legilimens' he delved through the memories Harry didn't try to hide. He saw and felt how tired he was and then the sudden rush of energy that Severus sent down their bond. He felt Harry's surprise at being alive and the surge of denial as Albus tried to brace the green-eyed man for the worst. He felt the agony that ripped through his husband's soul when Poppy said things were getting worse. He watched the memory of Harry snapping his wand and throwing away the pieces and felt the stabbing pain of the dagger biting into Harry's skin. All those images and feelings had panic and fear laced through them. He knew then that Harry wouldn't have survived yet another loss.
Severus ended the spell and threw his wand on the table. He looked at Harry with stunned eyes and gently pulled his husband closer. He held Harry tightly two him as he waiting for his mind to digest all he learned. Harry did not do things half way and he certainly wasn't doing holding back when it came to their relationship. Severus tilted the smaller man's head up and gently brushed his lips over Harry's. Slowly they deepened the kiss until the need for air became too great to ignore. Harry ran his hand down Severus' neck and plucked lightly on the concealed buttons of his robe. Severus halted Harry's hand before the younger man could start undoing the miniscule buttons on his robe.
"Are you sure you want to do this now?" Severus asked softly.
"Yes, please." Harry whispered back. A few moments later he smiled at Severus with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I won't be able to rest unless I'm tired. So why don't you tire me out?"
"Perhaps I shall." Severus replied with a chuckle as he pulled Harry to his feet and led the younger man into the one place in his rooms the other had never been, his bedroom.
Once inside they proceeded to undress each other, Harry cursing Severus' choice of robes each time he undid a button. After Severus had succeeded in removing Harry's clothes he took pity and muttered a spell that undid all the buttons holding his robes closed. Harry glared and quickly stripped Severus of the last of his clothing. They stood for a few moments to stare hungrily at each other before meeting halfway for another kiss. Severus slowly back up, taking Harry with him, as the kiss deepened until his fell onto his bed, pulling Harry down on top over him. He groaned when he felt the younger man's erection brush against his own. Harry chuckled and began to slowly map his husband's body with hands and mouth making sure to note all those places that made the taller man gasp. After a few more moments of torture by Harry, Severus turned the tables and responded in kind. When he couldn't hold off any more he prepared his lover and showed him just how loved he was. They held each other gently as the aftershocks of bliss ran through them and they allowed their exhaustion to drag them into oblivion.
"Come on Russ. We're hungry!" A young male voice rang out, echoing through the empty corridors of Hogwarts.
"Yeah, Russ, hurry." Another male voice yelled, agreeing with the first.
"If you're in such a hurry to stuff your faces then go already." Another voice echoed through the hallways. It was slightly older sounding and held a bit of stubborn dignity to it.
"You know they'll be mad if we arrived by ourselves." The two boys answered in unison.
"Then you'll just have to wait. If I drop what I'm carrying there'll be even more trouble." The older one answered.
The two boys made there way to the entrance hall and waited impatiently for the other to arrive. The two boys were the same age though they didn't look identical. One had black eyes and messy hair. He was slightly taller than the other boy, who was slight in build. The second boy had auburn hair and green eyes and, unlike the boy standing next time him, waited with a patient air, though that seemed to be eroding rapidly.
The third boy turned the corner and walked up to the two waiting for him in the hall. On his left hip he carried a little girl of about four years of age. Both of them had pin straight hair the color of raven feathers and bright green eyes. They boy was tall and looked to be in his early teens. With a sigh at his brother's impatience he slowly turned towards the Great Hall as the younger two boys ran ahead. He wasn't prepared when he opened the doors after his brothers disappeared into the Hall for the roar of sound that hit him.
"Surprise!" Shouted the dozens of people waiting in the hall and Russ was shocked and would have dropped his sister if someone hadn't already plucked her from his grasp.
He watched wide-eyed as everyone tried to get his attention. Now he knew why his brothers were in more of a hurry than usual. Everyone he knew was here. His Grandmum Molly and Grandpa Arthur were here along with his uncles Bill, Charlie and Ron. His aunts Ginny, Hermione and Fluer were mingling with some of the guests. He though he saw his uncles Fred and George sneaking out the Great Hall's side door. All his friends from Hogsmeade were starting to gather around him, talking about the latest Quidditch match and he saw those he's made friends with from the Hogwarts' student body following at a more leisurely pace.
A glance around the hall as he chatted with his friend told him that all the professors from the school were there including his Grandma Minnie, who was rising from her usual seat in the middle of the head table. He didn't see his parents anywhere, but that's not too unusual, they tended to keep a low profile and disappear into the shadows at the drop of a hat. He noticed his circle of friends parting as his Grandma made her way towards him with an envelope clutched firmly in her hand. She handed it to him with a flourish and smile smugly as he opened it. A bright smile of his own bloomed across his face as he scanned the contents. He just received his Hogwarts letter and once again he scanned the sea of people for his parents.
"Now do remember that come September you mustn't forget to call me Professor." His Grandmother reminded him.
"I won't forget. Father's threatened to skin me alive if I slipped. I like brewing potions, but I don't want to be that intimately acquainted with them." Russ replied with a mischievous smile that lit his eyes.
"Do you have any guesses as to which house you may be in?" She asked with a smile.
"I have a good guess, but I think I'll make father sweat it out. I may talk the hat into waiting a good half hour before it sorts me."
"Now if you can get it to say Hufflepuff you'll make my decade, especially if I can get a photographer into place before hand." Both laughed at the mental picture before slowly making their way through the crowd so Russ could greet his other guests. "We'll discuss your schedule tomorrow morning."
Russ didn't get a chance to answer as he heard someone shout across the hall.
"Sirius and Remus get away from those presents. They are not yours and you better not have pranked any of them." Russ heard his Dad yell across the hall.
"But Dad, he gets such neat stuff." Sirius whined his black eyes didn't hide his guilt at all from their Dad.
"Honest Dad, we didn't touch anything." Remus replied while hiding dung bombs in what he thought was a stealthy manner.
"You're not are you?" Grandmum Molly's voice rang out as she held up a few of the prank items they had hidden. "I swear you two are worse that Fred and George. OUT! Now, young men, march."
Russ laughed as his two brothers were dragged out of the room by their ears. He didn't have once ounce of sympathy for the two. They were as bad as their favourite uncles. As he watched them being escorted out by their Grandmum he spotted where is Dad was hiding. As we wove his way through the throng he noticed his father approaching from a different direction with his sister Lily perched on a hip. When he made his way closer he noticed they were talking to the portrait of Pop-pop, which Grandma Minnie must have brought down from her office for the occasion. There was only one person missing from the day and Russ didn't expect him to make it today.
"Did Granddad owl?"
"No, we didn't get one today. Give him time, he'll owl." His green-eyed dad responded with a smile.
"It's still early in the day, my boy." The potriat of his Pop-pop responded while popping a yellow candy into his mouth.
"I know. I just worry that's all. You know how hard it is for him." Russ responded with a sigh. He really was hoping he could come to visit today despite the time of the month.
He shook off his disappointment and looked up in time to see his father's eyes narrow as he looked over Russ' shoulder. Russ noticed his father's expression turn to one of smug satisfaction and he wanted to see what caused that look to cross the normally solemn face. He didn't get a chance to turn around since someone whispered in his ear.
"Happy Birthday, kiddo." A very familiar and welcome voice said cheerfully.
"Granddad you made it!" Russ said and enveloped the older man in hug. He missed the broad smile his father flashed at the other man.
"I see the improvements worked, Lupin."
"Better than you said they would, Severus. Not once ounce of pain during the transformations and none of the energy drain." Remus smiled just as broadly before releasing his 'grandson' and claiming Lily for a hug. "Where are the two terrors?"
"Being scolded by Molly for trying to lace everything in sight with pranks." Severus replied with a smirk. "I'm surprised you didn't hear her when you arrived."
"No, I didn't. How is everything? With the improvements to the Wolfsbane and the Fertility potion you must be too busy to sleep."
"Everything's fine. Harry's going to be taking over the first and second year potions classes for most of the school year so I can fill the orders."
Remus smiled and sniffed the air around him and focused is attention on Harry with a smirk.
"Are you two trying to compete with Molly and Arthur?"
Harry laughed and allowed Severus to answer while Russ watched on in amusement.
"Lily needs some company. After all the twins start Hogwarts in two years and she'll be all alone in the house."
"Besides, the staff would get bored with only Lily to dote on." Harry added with a laugh. Remus turned his attention back to Russ.
"Any guesses as to which house you're going to be in?" Remus asked the green-eyed future headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Don't know, but if you receive a black owl you'll know I was sorted into Hufflepuff." Russ replied with a smirk.
"Severus Salazar Snape, what a horrible thing to say, but true. Your father's changed, but not that much." Remus replied with a grin.
Russ laughed and listened to his parents and grandfather talk before wandering off.
Off in one corner of the room, well out of the way of the rest of the guests, four shimmering forms watched the crowd with delight. All four had bright smiles that would have demanded a smile from the rest of the room if they were visible to them. With a magically whispered happy birthday to the young man once again surrounded by his friends they returned to their refuge in the bowels of the castle.
A/N: We, the authors at Hproundrobin, would like to thank everyone who's reviewed A Wedding Story. Thanks for suffering through the museless dry spell and rest assured the other stories we're working on are continuing, we're just a little stuck because of real life and other issues. Thanks once again.