Chapter 8

Harry was not sure whether he was surprised to see Draco Malfoy or not. When he had met Lucius Malfoy his second year he had started thinking about both Malfoys and analysed the behaviour of them. His result had been, and never changed since, that Draco acted too much like his father that it could be an act, an act to hide his true side, his true thoughts. The other option was that the elder Malfoy had raised his son in a way that the younger one idolised his father so much that he copied him in every way possible. If Harry had to admit anything than it was that he always hoped that his first idea was the true one, that Draco only bid his time until the chance came where he found a place he found acceptable and that was worth the risks. He was after all Slytherin enough to understand the way one thought.

"So you wanted to join 'my side'? What do you expect from this side? Why choose me over the man your father is so loyal to?" asked Harry once he realised that none of the others would be saying anything.

Draco swallowed hard. He thought he was prepared to face Potter, but know when he saw him earlier than he expected he found that he wasn't as prepared as he thought he was. Nonetheless he tried to explain his reason, "It was my father who taught me that a Malfoy bows down to no one and he was the one to raise me with the pride of a Malfoy and what does he do? Every time his so called Lord calls he goes there and bows down to the hem of the Dark Lords robes like an obedient lapdog. I never wanted to do this, but until now there was no other option available except Dumbledore and he never was one I wanted to take. He knew too much to be able to trust him and what he did with you is just the proof for this."

"How do we know that we can trust you?" asked McGonagall.

Draco took a deep breath before answering, "You don't. All I have are my words. However, I'd be willing to repeat this under Veritaserum if you don't believe me."

"Trust? A Malfoy? I have never before heard of a situation where you could trust a Malfoy," said Severus, before Harry interrupted him, "For now it will be enough. All we need to do is give him the chance to proof that we can trust him. That he didn't lie to us."

Harry could see the relief in his once nemesis. He saw it as another sign that he made the right decision. Before he could say anything more however, he was interrupted by Poppy, "I am needed in the Hospital Wing. Severus, you won't mind if use your fireplace, would you?"

"No, no, feel free to use it," answered Severus, clearly startled out of his thoughts.

And before anything else could be said excused Minerva herself next, "I'll be going to, lest someone is searching for me. I'll also inform Ms. Granger that Harry woke up and that she might come over tomorrow." And within seconds both women were gone.

Startled by the last sentence, Harry turned to Severus and asked, "What did she mean with telling Hermione? I didn't know that she cared?"

"Did I forget to mention it last night? Ms. Granger came to Minerva the day after you arrived. Apparently she wanted to apologize and after she missed you the day you arrived she planned on doing it the very next day. She used her time over the summer holidays to think over what she had done and said and about what this meant for you. I'm afraid that Mr. Weasley did not do anything like that however," answered Severus.

Draco, who was confused about what they were speaking about, asked, "Why wouldn't she care about it? The last I know of you were still friends? Although I was a bit surprise by Weasley's response to the article…"

"They did not take it very well that I'm gay… I thought about Hermione reacting the way she did and that her opinion could be changed, however Ron reacted even faster. I didn't know that he was so homophobic, I mean I know that the twins are gay and that Charlie and Bill are either bi or gay. I thought that he knew," explained Harry.

Draco was surprised by this, "Wow, and here I thought all wizards didn't mind with the exception of the few one that have a bad experience with someone gay, but that usually gives them a reason, no matter how warped up it might be… That reminds me, why are you here? I thought that the Hospital Wing would be a better place to go to or some other teacher. Everyone knows that the two of you don't get along that well."

"To be honest, Draco, Harry and I got along very well for the most part of the last school year and with the… it was revealed that I'm actually his soulmate," answered Severus, trying not to remind Harry on what happened the summer.

"You're his… no wonder the name wasn't revealed. The wizarding world would have had a field day, but it actually explains why you're here instead of somewhere else. For what it's worth, I hope you get better soon. Who else am I supposed to argue with after all?" concluded Draco with a wide smile, "I'll be leaving then. I'm sure I'll find the way on my own, no reason to worry."

Harry couldn't help himself, but call after Draco, "Don't forget to be sure that you truly want to go this way, lest you decide to join with Voldemort after all. I wouldn't want to have to fight you when we can argue so well without hurting each other."

Severus couldn't stop a smile at the banter between the two. The night before Harry wasn't saying anything and now he was nearly his old talkative self again. He thought about waiting until he heard the portrait closing or just getting into bed beside his mate right now, when he heard Draco calling, "Professor, there are two Aurors here to speak with Potter. Should I let them in?"

Sighing, he turned to Harry, "Somehow I doubt that we'll be getting any peace anytime soon. I'll be back in a second. I only hope they did send someone sensible."

Once he entered the next room he said, "Let them come in. No need to let everybody see them in front of my quarters. It will only lead to questions that are better left unanswered."

A moment later Severus Snape was never gladder to see Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Do try to keep this at a minimum. Although he is a lot better than when he first woke up, he's not over it yet."

Making sure that the portrait was closed, Severus led them to his bedroom were Harry waited. Severus could see the nervousness in his lover. He kept moving from one side to the other and playing with the cover.

"I'm sure you remember these two. They came to take your testimony about this," said the Potions Master, hoping to calm his mate.

Tonks smiled as best as she could, considering the reason they were here and said, "We'll record this so if Poppy decides that you're not up to the trial at the date it is set for we'll have something to show the judges. Don't worry, it won't be that long and we already have Poppy's statement. Severus you might be asked a few questions as well considering who you are."

Both Harry and Severus nodded that they understood everything and the questioning began.

"Please state your full name and date of birth."

"Harry James Potter. July 31st, 1980."

"Severus Snape."

"Mr. Potter, what is the opinion of your relatives concerning the wizarding world?"

"They hate everything magical and they want to have as little as possible to do with it. They even tried to keep my Hogwarts letter away from me until Hagrid gave it to me himself."

"Who did know about their opinion?"

"As far as I know? The Weasley's and Hermione Granger. I'm also sure that at least a few teachers must have known as well. Considering the trouble they had to go through with getting the letters to me and the fact that the first was addressed to 'The Cupboard Under The Stairs'. At least this is what I thought until I heard what Severus knows about this. Other than that I had asked Professor Dumbledore since my first year here to be allowed to stay during the summer holiday's like I already did all other holidays. So he must have known something."

"How did the Dursleys' treat you before you came to Hogwarts and after you were accepted?"

"Before my first year at Hogwarts… They tried beating the magic out of me and told me that my parents died in a car crash and that they were drunk. They would also punish me if I was better than my cousin in school. Sometimes I would be locked in my cupboard for days without food that is if they could live that long without me doing all the housework. It got better after the first letter. They were afraid that someone knew and put me in my cousin's second bedroom. They even treated me better. All I had to do was complete a list of chores, which was still quite long and if I didn't finish it on time I would get punished depending on the mood my uncle was in. However after my first year they put bars in front of my window. I think the Weasleys still have from when the Twins and Ron freed me. They got a bit bolder than the time between me getting the letter and starting at Hogwarts, but nothing like before. That changed again however when they found out that I am gay. They returned to their previous treatment, if not worse. They somehow did not need me anymore to do the chores; therefore they did not have to watch out as much about injuring me."

"How would you compare the treatment of your cousin to your own?"

"They treat him like a king, anything he wants he gets and I just told you what they thought of me."

"How did they find out that you are gay and how did the miscarriage happen?"

"I told my best friends – former best friends that are – that I am gay and neither of them took it well, although I heard that one of them was willing to apologize. Ron called me a fag at Kings Cross Station and my uncle overheard it. About the… it happened on my birthday. Poppy had placed protection spells on me so the child is safer, but on my birthday, during a beating, which I received daily at that point, the spell broke. I could feel it…," at this point Harry stopped speaking.

Severus, seeing Harry's discomfort looked at the two Aurors questioning and receiving a nod he climbed in bed with his lover and took him in his arms, comforting him. He could feel Harry's tears and kissed him gently on the forehead, whispering sweet nothings to him.

The Potions Master felt not entirely comfortable with the two Aurors watching, but it was still better than watching his beloved in so much distress. After a while Harry looked up at the Aurors and signalled them that they continue, never leaving Severus' embrace.

"Why do you think Dumbledore knows about this and how much do you think he knows?"

"My first letter was addressed to the cupboard that I was sleeping in and he was the one that placed me with the Dursleys. There are two possibilities. He never checked up on me or he knew what went on and never bothered to do something about it. And I think he should have checked once I asked him to stay at Hogwarts. I even offered to take over some tasks around Hogwarts. Shouldn't he have become at least a bit suspicious and talk with my relatives why I would want to stay at Hogwarts the whole year? And at the end of the last school year I practically begged to be allowed to remain at Hogwarts and while I was reluctant to tell him that I was pregnant, the fact did not sway him one bit. I know that Poppy told him about my cousin's diet and that this isn't healthy. He couldn't have spoken with my relatives since none of them said anything and they were oblivious to me being pregnant."

"Professor Snape, do I understand it correctly that Albus Dumbledore threatened you to end the relationship between Mr. Potter and yourself. What kind of threats were it and why did you do as he said?"

"He threatened me to fire me on the accusation that I would favour Harry, which many can tell you that I did not. However knowing my past, I knew that the majority would not believe me, especially since I started tutoring Harry, most students do not ask otherwise I would help them as well, and his grades actually rose. I had a hard time making the decision. I do not favour teaching, but on the other side would it have meant leaving Hogwarts. Back then it was not known that Harry and I are in fact soulmates and I was afraid of loosing Harry, that he would start looking for someone younger and more beautiful than me. You have to understand that I thought I wasn't worth his love since he is simply perfect. In the time I hade to make the decision I sadly did not realise that I would have been able to settle down in Hogsmeade and see him every Saturday the students were allowed to leave Hogwarts. I also could have asked him to visit me in the holidays, but in the little time I had to decide I did not realise this and in the end I decided to end the relationship and still be able to at least be close to Harry than possibly loose the relationship and any contact to him. Would I have known that we are soulmates I would have never even considered it."

"Thank you for your answers, we'll contact you again with the date for the trial," said Tonks once she made sure that everything was recorded, "I'm sure we'll find our way out alone. Just stay in bed, it's a lovely picture."

At this Severus blushed, while watching the two Aurors leave. All Harry did was snuggling closer to his mate, craving the warmth and safety.

Chapter 9

At the same time the Dursleys were sitting at their breakfast table. They were startled out of their quite breakfast when someone at the door rang. Deciding to tell the person at the door his mind about disturbing people while eating he stood up and went to the front door. Once there he forcefully threw the door open and was about to start a tirade when he saw who stood on the other side. He did not need to be a seer to recognise the two men in purple robes as wizards.

"What do you want? We do not tolerate your kind around here. If you'd please leave at once, before I call the police!" said Vernon Dursley angrily.

One of the two wizards stepped forward holding out a paper for the man to take and said, "We are here to question you and your family about Harry Potter and your treatment of him. We can do this here and fetch you for the trial or take you with us immediately. Considering your stance we have to think that you might try to hide, therefore we will take you with us. If you want, this is the official papers about this and even your muggle police will not question their rightness. We will be leaving by portkey which I think you'll prefer to happen without any of your neighbours watching."

Once Harry had calmed down enough he started enjoying being back in Severus' embrace, but after all what happened he still graved more. He wanted to be closer to him again, the question was only how close he dared to get. Before he could change his mind again he kissed him at first on the shoulder, where his face rested, and than he slowly trailed a path over Severus' throat to his mouth. After one passionate kiss however, his lover pulled back and looked at him, "Isn't this a bit fast after what happened, are you really sure you want this?"

Harry didn't know what he said, all he wanted at this moment was to forget and continue to kiss, to feel loved in this way again, and to feel worthy. "I don't know. I know that I want this, but I don't know how far… just kissing for now, to forget at least for now, to feel as if everything was normal."

"I don't think we should go further, but I think that we continue with what we are doing now," and with that Severus initiated the next kiss.

This was the way the spent the next time until the portrait of Salazar interrupted them again, "I hate to interrupt you again, especially now, but there is a kind woman at the door who asks to speak with Harry. She is very insistent, but that's surely through her red hair… a pity that she did not live a millennia ago. I'm sure that she would have been pleasant to be around… and quite beautiful she is too…"

While Salazar continued to moon about the woman at the door, Severus reluctantly stood up and went to open the door. In the meantime Harry decided to talk with Salazar about whom he thought this was, "Salazar, if this is who I think you are speaking about, than she is already happily married and has 7 children."

"7 you say? It is difficult to find someone willing to get this many, a pity truly. Maybe I can convince someone to get a picture of here around here, so I can try my luck with the picture version…," was all Salazar said, dismissing the fact the she was happily married.

All Harry could do was chuckle at this. When Severus entered with Molly Weasley both were surprised to find him amused. Seeing their confused looks, Harry took pity on them and explained, "Salazar seems to have taken an interest in you and when I told him that you were happily married and had 7 children all he said was that it was difficult to find someone willing to get so many. The next thought was whether he could convince someone to get a portrait of you around here so he could try his luck with you."

Now Molly Weasley was laughing as well and turned to the portrait who still was thinking about possible ways to ask her out, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I am very much in love with my husband. Maybe we get the chance to meet in a future live."

"Truly a pity that you weren't born in my time, my dearest Helga unfortunately did not share my opinion about the right size a family should be… Quite a lucky husband you must have. My congratulations to him. I will not disturb you any longer and will go back to my duties," responded the portrait.

"About the reason I came here… I read in the Daily Prophet what happened and Ginny wrote to me about Ron's reaction. To think that he didn't even tell me anything. I'll have to talk with him once I'm finished here, but you are more important now. I wanted to know how you are and tell you that this is not the end of the world. I should know, after all I went through it once…," started Molly.

Harry was surprised, "You went through it as well... how did you get over it? Did you…"

"I'm still thinking about it. I had Charlie and Bill to take care of, when I was attacked one day by Death Eaters. It was just the beginning of the war. I took a nasty hex while Bill called for help, but it was too late for my daughter. I was already far enough to find out. It was a pretty shock and I couldn't even take care of Charlie and Bill so depressed was I. In the end it was them and Arthur that helped me. They told me that maybe it wasn't supposed to be, that she wasn't ready yet to face this world. It was actually one of the reasons I got so many children. I was desperate for a daughter, knowing that it would be my little girl being ready for this world. I know that they aren't the same and I still cherry my lost girl, every year I go to her grave, although it is empty it helps me to accept what happened, and talk with her. Another reason is that I know that I am needed by my other children and that one day I will be reunited with her, when I am no longer needed here, when it is my time to go, which won't be for some time. And the same goes for you. You are still needed here, by Severus, by Minerva, by all the other Weasleys… and I am sure that you are supposed to enjoy fatherhood one day. I think that the higher ups decided to wait until it is safe again, once your child wouldn't be in immediate danger. One day, you might get a family as big as mine. And if you ever want to speak about it then I'll be there for you. Just know that you are not alone," with the last words Molly took Harry in her arms and pulled him close, "Know that I think of you like another son. You'll always be welcome at the Burrow. And the same goes for you Severus. I can see how happy you made him last year and I hope that nothing ever comes between you again and you better be treating him right, show him how you feel."

"I learned much last year and I'm glad to be able to learn even more how to be more open with my feelings. Harry is a good teacher, when he is not pretending to be fine when he isn't," the last was said with a small smile, showing that it was taken with humour, but also a warning to get help when it is needed.

"I give my best and I am already feeling better. Between the times that I'm crying that is…," said Harry, looking down at his hands at the last bit. He was not comfortable to speak about not feeling well, "But Poppy already taught me well to come to her if I'm feeling sick. I'm after all often enough in the Hospital Wing. She usually explains me how something works… Maybe I'll become a Medi-Wizard one day."

"That is a good job and I'm sure that you'll do good in it," encouraged Molly, "Don't forget to come to me if you want to talk, no matter what time it is. I'll be there for you. And now I'm going to have a word with Ron. That he never realised that half is family is gay or bi."

Harry wished a small goodbye, before pulling Severus back to bed. Talking about what happened made him feel bad, but he didn't mind as much to have survived than the night before, when he first woke up. He actually started looking forward to things again, to going out with Severus, enjoying their time together, even to going back to lessons. Molly was right, the world was not yet safe enough for his child, but he would make sure that it would be soon enough.

With these thoughts in mind Harry snuggled closer to Severus and fell back asleep.

When Poppy came over later in the evening to check Harry once again she found them both still asleep and decided not to disturb them. She knew that Severus needed as much rest as Harry. He might not have been the one to miscarry, but it was still his child, his son. She knew that Harry did not want to know the gender beforehand, but she still performed the test and now she was glad she did. It might help get Harry closure. She knew what Molly Weasley went through having been the first witch there. It was her very first miscarriage case and she was still in training, but it had been her idea to bury the child although there was no body left due to the miscarriage. A sad idea considering that she got it when she had to bury her own brother who died in the attack that cost Molly Weasley her first daughter.

Silently she left the room again and headed back to the Hospital Wing, she could perform the tests the next morning as well.

TBC…