He barely heard the next words that came from Dudley's mouth, "What, so much of a freak that you couldn't get any women to go out with you?"
When the words registered with Harry, he couldn't help but laugh. "Who was hitting on who here? And I can't believe you were dumb enough to hit on him," he said pointing at Snape. "Trust me, seven years of classes with him as a teacher, not many would be brave enough to do that."
He watched Dudley's eyes grow wide as he registered the implication of the words. His face turned white and he sputtered slightly.
Severus Snape felt rage of the type he hadn't since James Potter and Sirius Black found it funny to torment him in school. Slowly he slid from the bar stool to face his former student. Without looking at the odious creature behind him he succumbed to impulse, something Severus Snape never did and fully blamed the alcohol for.
He wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and pulled him flush against his body. There was the barest hesitation before he lowered his mouth to his former student's mouth, kissing him deeply.
Harry stiffened in shock when he felt himself being kissed by Snape! He was in too much shock to react, except to drop his jaw. A mistake as it turned out when Snape's tongue invaded his mouth. Harry gave a slight shudder and tried to think.
The shudder was mistaken as a shiver of delight by the envious man watching. He was fascinated, watching his hated cousin snogging the gorgeous man that he had been watching all night, only just getting the courage to talk to.
Harry felt the approach of his jealous boyfriend and pulled himself together an away from the guy in front of him. Not that he could pull too far, the grip his professor had on him was very tight and he was still flush against the body when a very pissed off pair of men finally reached them.
"What in the hell is going on here?" demanded Draco. Harry could feel the much lighter waves of anger coming from Remus. He was far too shocked to formulate and answer, but Snape took care of that for him.
"This…man behind me is Dudley Dursley," Snape informed them, his voice dangerously silky. Harry felt himself shudder again at the tone and the glitter of rage still in the older man's eyes. "He implied that our Harry was unable to find himself a date. I was merely attempting to disprove the ridiculous notion."
Harry felt the shift. Anger still radiating, the focus shifting. He gave a start, unfortunately pressing him closer to the man in front of him, when he felt two more pairs of arms wrap around him. Remus and Draco had both folded themselves around him and Harry tried to bite back a hysterical giggle.
Just as it was about to erupt from him, he found his lips once again covered by the hated professor. When he pulled backwards, it was to encounter the firm bodies of his godfather, who's lips were engaged in kissing the side of his neck, more often 'missing' to kiss Snape's neck. Draco was kissing and nibbling on the other side of his neck, his hands wandering across Harry's chest playing with his nipples. At least, Harry hoped…prayed it was Draco's hands. If they weren't, Harry shuddered again.
He found his mouth released and quickly turned his face into Draco's neck. No sooner had he done that when he felt teeth nipping at his neck. The sharp pain caused him to gasp.
"Break the skin Remus and I will kill you a slow and very painful death," he muttered. He was trying to force himself to go along with this show, but it was just too weird. There was vibration against his neck when Remus chuckled. Harry felt his head being turned around and for a moment he feared Remus was going to kiss him and that was…no way! But no, Snape was once again kissing him.
They were interrupted by the sound of giggling. "Oh Merlin! This is HOT!" exclaimed Pansy.
"And extremely disturbing at the same time," muttered Hermione.
Harry finally yanked himself away when he felt a hand slid down to settle firmly on his arse. He didn't know who's it was and he didn't care!
"Um, loo. Gotta go. Um, yeah…" He stuttered. He rushed to the rest room and missed the three men turning their attention on the started and extremely envious man that was watching the events.
Harry found himself in a stall, sitting fully clothed on the toilet shaking. His mind was trying to process things. Dudley was in a gay bar. Snape was kissing him. Remus was biting him.
Suddenly Harry rushed out of the stall to the mirror. There in the mirror, his reflection. A bright red mark on the side of his neck. He shuddered. Oh sweet Merlin, Remus had …given him a hickey. EWWW! Draco was going to kill him. Both of them. And Snape was kissing him! Double EWWWW! Harry turned on the water and started to rinse his mouth out.
After several rinses, he was starting to eye the soap dispenser when the door opened. Harry looked up to see his cousin standing there.
"What do you want?" he snarled.
"Actually, er, I wanted to apologize," Dudley wouldn't look at Harry and missed the look of shock that Harry gave him.
"Apologize?" Harry was quite certain Dudley didn't even know the meaning of the word, much less how to do it.
"Um, yeah. Not just for what I said tonight," Dudley was now looking up at Harry. His eyes were shining with sincerity.
"I don't know what to say Dudley," Harry was feeling a bit unsure. "What brought this about?"
Dudley looked at him for a few moments. Harry noted idly that Dudley was biting his bottom lip nervously, the same habit Harry himself had. "I guess you could say I learned what it was to be a 'freak' myself."
Harry gave him a puzzled look.
"I'm gay Harry," Dudley said, looking at Harry like he should know what he meant.
Harry was trying to puzzle out that when it dawned on him. He had grown so used to the acceptance of the wizarding community. Now he remembered the occasional rants that his uncle would go on about the abnormality of gays and how dare they try to get the same rights as 'normal' people.
"Oh. What happened when you told him?" Harry asked.
Dudley looked away. "He was furious. He actually hit me. Told me to get out of his house and never come back. Only not that politely. I barely had time to pack a bag of clothes."
Harry almost felt sorry for Dudley who had always been so spoiled.
"Anyhow," Dudley suddenly looked at him with a grin. "He got his own back. The next day he went in to work and was mouthing off about his 'freak queer son' and turns out his boss' son is gay. So dad got fired. When he went home he found," at this point Dudley turned slightly green. "Um, when he got home he found Mom in bed with the neighbor's eighteen year old son. It was a real scandal. The kid was running out the door carrying his pants, Dad was screaming at him and Mum, the whole thing was a mess. They got a divorce. Mum occasionally calls to talk to me. But even she doesn't really want anything to do with me."
Harry was torn between wanting to feel ill at the idea of anyone sleeping with his aunt, and wanting to laugh. Seems they didn't need Harry's freakishness to destroy them. They did it all themselves.
"Anyhow, I have been living with friends, moving every few months. I can't get a real job. It isn't like I have any real skills. I didn't need any. Mum and Dad always took care of everything. It's left me with a lot of time to think. I've wondered about you, how you were and everything.
"I guess, it's sort of like being gay isn't it? I always called you a freak, but you can't really help it. It isn't like you chose to be a…well, you know? Any more than I chose to be gay. I was just born that way. Like you. I kinda wished a lot of times that I could see you to apologize."
At this point Dudley was looking at him with a rather embarrassed look. "Of course, when I get the chance I totally screwed it up. I'm really sorry. I guess, I was just surprised. And jealous." Dudley turned red at that confession.
"Jealous? Of me?" Harry asked in surprise.
Dudley nodded. "I always was really. I mean, you could do all sorts of stuff. I was just, overweight and failing classes. I was really good at whining. Then I saw you tonight with the guy I was seriously hot for," Harry shuddered. That reminded him of thoughts he really didn't want to be reminded of. His gaze returned to the soap dispenser.
"Anyhow, I just reacted. I turned back into the brat I used to be. I like to think I have grown up," Harry looked at his cousin.
"You have Dudley. I would never have imagined you could apologize, much less to me," Dudley gave him a hopeful smile.
"Um, I do have to confess something. Snape? He's not…"Harry shuddered. "He was just really mad. I used to think I was the only one that could get him that pissed. And um, the other guy, the brown haired one, his name is Remus, he is my …well, sort of godfather. And he and Snape are together. The blond god is mine." Harry smiled.
"Oh. Okay. Because that did seem sort of strange. But I thought maybe it was normal in your world." Dudley seemed uncertain how to refer to anything magical. "Really hot, but strange."
Harry shuddered again. "Okay, Dudley, I have to stop talking about or thinking about this because, I'm going to get sick. Let's go get a drink. My treat."
When they got to the bar, Harry found all of his friends with a round of drinks in front of them. They weren't paying any attention to their drinks, preferring to stare at the sight of Dudley and Harry walking together, for all appearances being friendly and smiling. Harry took advantage of their inattention to grab Snape's drink and down it in one very long drink.
He grinned at the glare he received. "Hey! You had your tongue down my throat, I think I can at least share your drink."
He moved down the line drinking everyone's drink until he got to his boyfriend. By then his pleasant buzz was returning and Draco was giving him a strange look.
"Are you okay Harry?" Draco asked, concerned.
"Perfect. Dudley and I made up, and two or three more drinks, I won't be able to remember the taste of…"another shudder, "Snape in my mouth."
He snickered when he saw Draco shudder. "That was just, ewww Harry! I think it is going to be time for me to schedual another therapy session!"
Harry was nodding. "Oh, and I told Dudley the truth about what happened."
Just then he looked up to see Dudley standing nearby, looking very awkward. The glares of his friends were all focused on him, not helping the situation at all.
"Um, guys," Harry waited until he had their attention. "It's okay. I invited him to join us. "Um, we sort of talked and, well, worked out our issues."
He fingered the mark on the side of his neck and glared at Remus. "Of course, now I have new issues to deal with!" Remus turned red when he saw the mark he had left.
"Oh my! Harry, that's um, I'm sorry," Remus was extremely embarrassed and felt slightly disturbed at the actions from earlier. Harry wasn't his son but it still felt wrong.
Quickly, hoping to stem off any arguments, Harry explained what they had talked about. He ordered a round of drinks for everyone and before long, they had managed to grab a booth. Harry squeezed against the wall with Draco on his lap to make room. Across from them Pansy was on Hermione's lap, Snape next to them and Remus next to Harry and Draco. At the end of the table was Dudley who had pulled a chair up.
They talked until closing time, Harry and Dudley had everyone laughing when they told the tale of blowing up Aunt Marge and even Dudley was laughing when Harry related the story of the ton-tongue toffee.
As they talked and drank, Harry and Draco were getting more relaxed. Draco twisted around slightly and latched himself on Harry's neck, the exact spot Remus had marked earlier. He whispered "mine" in Harry's ear before working the spot. Harry whimpered slightly as Draco made the spot larger and darker. His hand tightened on Draco's thigh, the other creeping up his back, lacing his fingers in his boyfriend's hair.
The night wore on and Harry was feeling a driving need to go home and use Draco to finish clearing his memory of the others kisses and touches. As they were leaving the bar, a thought occurred to Harry.
"Dudley," he waited for the other man to turn around. "You said earlier that you didn't really have a place of your own. Where are you staying now?"
Dudley reached up to run his hand through his hair. "Actually, I'm not sure tonight. I was thinking maybe my buddy Aaron might let me sleep on his couch."
"Um, I know that you aren't overly comfortable around, well, people like us, but if you want," he broke off when he heard the complaints starting already.
"Come on guys, he is my cousin, and you have seen, he's changed." Harry was glaring at his friends.
Finally everyone, except Snape, conceded and Harry turned back to his cousin. "If you want, we can take you back to our place."
Dudley looked a bit uncertain. "Um, are you sure? I…There isn't anything…"
Harry snickered. "Just don't eat or touch anything labeled Weasley Wizard Wheezes and you should be okay. But that holds for pretty much any of us."
With one final look of uncertainty, Dudley nodded. Harry explained how Side-Along Apparating would work before taking his cousin by the arm and Apparating them to the outside of their house. Dudley was confused by the fact that it appeared he was looking at a large, empty field.
Hermione volunteered to get George Weasley, who they had surprisingly enough, all agreed to have as their Secret Keeper. The twins had proven both their loyalty and the ability to keep secrets by not telling anyone who their original investor was. When the war was over, they had been swamped by letters, Howlers, marriage proposals, people trying to rescue Harry and Hermione from the clutches of the Death Eaters that had cursed them, Death Eaters trying to get revenge, reporters, and every other imaginable invader. They had then hid under the Fidelius Charm.
It was the combination of this and the fact that all of the kids except Hermione had no family left and all of them were alone in the wizarding world had prompted them to all purchase their house together. Except Severus, who made it clear that if it weren't for Remus, he would be perfectly happy to be living quite by himself.
They were explaining this to Dudley while waiting for Hermione to return. It was a very tired and confused twin that returned. He very reluctantly and only after making sure it was okay with everyone present, gave the location to Dudley.
Harry watched with amusement as the house flickered into view. The expression of awe on Dudley's face made him want to laugh.
"You own this house!" Dudley asked. His face was pale with shock.
"Yeah. It is in my name, but really we all bought it," he saw the others roll their eyes, knowing the amount they contributed combined was barely enough for one year payment but Harry insisted that it belonged to them all.
"There are 12 bedrooms, we'll have Dobby show you to your room. Um, be careful with Dobby at least for a little while. He may take some time to forgive you. Took a year to forgive Draco." Harry snickered as he remembered the meals that Draco was served and the pink shirts that came back from the laundry.
"Um, who is Dobby?" Dudley asked.
"Oh, er…he is a house elf. Um, a bit strange looking the first time…" he was interrupted by the arrival of the elf itself. Dudley gave a brief squeak of surprise. Harry watched as a single hand moved to cover Dudley's rear before stopping.
He smiled reassuringly at his cousin when Dudley looked at him. Dudley moved his hand back and grinned sheepishly.
"Okay, so still a bit unsure. But oh my GOD Harry!" Dudley was looking around the room in awe.
Suddenly he started snickering. "I am just imaging what Mum and Dad would have to say about this. Dad would be falling all over himself. Serves them right!"
Harry smiled. Dudley's acceptance of his life and magic felt good. For the first time, Harry felt like he might heal. He finally had some form of approval from his family. It felt good. While he acknowledged that he would never know what it was to know his aunt's love, maybe there was hope for him and his cousin.
A/N-Thanks for the patience in the split chapter. Only a couple more chapters left for the story. And all the sad parts are done. Please read, review, tell me what you think.
I am going to be working on my other story, Save Me, and will be starting a new one (after I finish this one). Any requests? Veela Draco, Severitus, accidently bonded Draco/Harry, or something else? I want to do a cliché my way, but want to know what my readers want to read.
Disclaimer-Oh yeah, should get this done as well. Not mine. Etc, etc, etc.