"No, no, no! Fred pay attention!" Arthur yelled across the lawn as Fred's corner of the huge tent began to fall, the redhead turned to watch one of Fleur's cousins cross the grass, her pale blonde hair falling in a long sweep to her slim hips. She shot an unrepentant smile at Fred as he scrambled to right his corner.
Fleur's family had arrived just after breakfast and had been moving around the Burrow in small flocks of blonde hair and titters of French. Molly looked like she was one thinly veiled insult from committing homicide.
Harry was fairly certain that Severus would be the first in line to offer his help and he wouldn't even use his wand. They'd spent the last three nights trying to sleep through Ron and Uncle Elias' snoring, which Harry was half convinced might actually involve a bet on who could be the loudest.
Thankfully the rest of their roommates were quiet sleepers. Ginny had been surprisingly pleasant after the first morning and Harry could only assume she'd finally gotten over whatever crush she'd had on him. He'd woken up when she had climbed down from the bunk overhead and he'd caught her sad smile when she'd seen the way Severus was wrapped around him. Over the last few days they'd managed to get back to nearly what they'd had once, and were working a less strained friendship.
Severus had been dealing with everything in his typically cynical way, but had willingly helped where he could and even been persuaded to keep an eye on the twins as they assembled the fireworks, earning himself a lifetime of hand knitted Weasley sweaters and a firm kiss on the cheek from Molly.
Harry had been helping Ron de-gnome the garden when Fleur's family began arriving and had the singular pleasure of watching his best friend make an immediate fool of himself in an attempt to catch the attention of any of the alarmingly attractive cousins. It took Harry several hours before he realised that he had caught the eye of one of them, too busy with the increasingly long to-do list that Molly seemed to add to every few minutes.
Harry had sat down in the shade of a tree for just a moment, Hermione dropping beside him a minute later, when a glass of what looked like iced pumpkin juice was thrust in front of his face.
Harry took it but didn't drink, his gaze following the pale hand up to a man he didn't recognize. He had pretty cornflower blue eyes and his hair was a darker gold than most of his family but he was dressed just an impeccably as the rest of them. Harry couldn't tell how tall he was from his seated position but he looked to be right around Harry's height and maybe only a couple years older. Harry had to stop his lip twitching when he realised the man looked like a younger, more attractive version of Lockhart.
"You are Harry Potter, yes?" the man asked, his accent even thicker than Fleur's.
Harry nodded and sent a narrow eyed look at Hermione, who looked like she was trying not to laugh. He leaned back to better see the man looming over him, the short, dry grass prickling his hands and sticking to the thin layer of sweat on his arms.
"My cousin Gabrielle speaks most fondly of you" he continued, undeterred by Harry's silence.
When Harry just blinked up at him, the man shot him a smile full of so much confidence Harry was somewhat surprised it didn't physically hit him.
"Perhaps if you are not too busy you would take a walk with me?" he asked with a look so blatantly suggestive that it might have been more modest if he'd just stripped down. If his expression was anything to go by it would be a very short walk to the nearest large bush.
Harry choked on air. He carefully set the glass to the side, his paranoia of taking anything from someone he didn't know kicking in. He very briefly considered 'accidentally' spilling it on Hermione, who had turned a truly alarming shade of red in an effort to keep her face straight.
"Erm...sorry, but I'm a bit busy" Harry tried tactfully, pushing himself up from his elbows. He could feel the way his face was burning and wondered if anyone had ever spontaneously apparated from embarrassment.
The handsome face fell, a perturbed look coming over it and making him look so much like Lockhart had right before he'd obliviated himself that Harry was scooting backwards before he could stop himself. He doubted the man had been turned down often.
"Perhaps later then, when you have time" he tried again, a thread of impatience in his voice.
"Listen mate, I'm sure you're great but there isn't going to be a time that I'm not busy, yeah?" Harry said, his voice a little harder.
A slow flush started in the pale skin of the man's neck and seeped up to his cheeks.
"I see. My apologies Mr. Potter if I overstepped. I have simply heard so much about you from my family, and I fear I am a bit enamored" he said with a forced smile.
"I suggest you go be enamored elsewhere" a deep voice snarled from behind the young man, making him jump.
Severus approached with his graceful glide, somehow giving the impression of billowing robes even in trousers and a button up. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone and Harry couldn't stop the small flutter in his chest when he noticed that Severus had rolled his sleeves halfway up his forearm. He was so self conscious about the dark mark, even the smeared broken remains, that no one really saw it but Harry.
Harry had been trying to convince him that no one would stare, that it was proof of how far he'd come and not something to hide, but today was the first indication that Severus might actually be listening.
The smile that Harry turned on him was a touch brighter than the situation warranted, but Harry didn't care. He reached a hand out and tugged Severus down next to him, only for the man to sit close enough that it couldn't be mistaken as simple friendship.
Fleur's cousin darted a fast look between them and quickly backed away, stuttering out an apology and excuses half in French as he fled.
Hermione snorted a sharp laugh before she fell over on the ground, giggling madly. Her hair was pinned up but long strands had fallen free and were collecting small leaves and sticks from where she was rocking her head back and forth as she laughed.
"Perhaps you'd like to go for a walk" she uttered to the patch of grass in front of her. "Harry, you should have seen your face ."
Harry just groaned and dropped his head into his hands. "Why can't people take a hint? Am I too nice the first time?" he asked his knees.
"Yes" came the reply in stereo.
Harry made a face at both of them.
"Whatever" he muttered, turning his attention to the man beside him. "How are you wearing all black right now? It's so hot" he asked, mildly horrified. Harry himself was in a ratty t shirt and a pair of jeans that would have looked like they were full of stylish holes if only there was more jean and less hole.
A hot gust of wind came in, as if to emphasize his point, carrying the smell of dry grass and and heated pavement, the sound of Fred and George arguing drifting along with it.
He got a shrug for his trouble, Severus not bothering to justify his wardrobe.
"Your dress robes are solid black, aren't they?" Harry asked with an air of resignation.
Severus cocked an eyebrow at him and lifted the corner of his mouth in a sardonic smile.
Harry sighed and let his head rest on the shoulder of the man who, for some reason, insisted on dressing like a cliche of the dungeon bat everyone had called him.
Harry dropped his hand to trace along Severus' left forearm, the tips of his fingers barely brushing over the raised edges of the mark.
"I'm proud of you" he whispered, making sure that only Severus could hear him.
Severus swallowed heavy and learned against Harry, letting their hands slip together.
"Oi! We all taking a break then?" Ron yelled from across the lawn, where he was sending long lines of white ribbons up to hang gracefully from tree branches. At least that's what Harry thought he was trying to do. So far it just looked like he'd managed to tie a few branches together.
"Oh for Merlin's sake" Hermione said as she rolled to her feet to try and figure out what Ron had done before Molly could see the mess. She brushed off the bits of grass stuck to her bare legs as she wandered over, a small forest still stuck in her hair.
The small moment was broken, but as Severus stood to go rejoin the group Harry watched him push his sleeves up a little further.
The day had cooled and was slanted with amber light before they were done with the outside decorations. The yard of the Burrow had been transformed into something as welcoming as it was beautiful, delicate fairy lights blinking between branches that trailed flowing white ribbons and the sound of evening crickets had just started when the sharp crack of apparation broke the peace.
Harry was balanced on a rickety stool in the crowded Weasley kitchen, the toes of his trainers hooked around the bottom rung when he caught the sound of Arthur's voice steadily raising. Harry shared a glance with George before following him from where they had been pressed into labor making dough for something Molly was creating. They were both covered in flour from a small disagreement about the best seeker ( it's Krum George, it's the only thing he has going for him, he has to be the best ).
They arrived slightly behind a small crowd and Harry pushed himself closer to the front, aiming for the head of black hair he could see looming over everyone else.
With a few wiggles and a small but useful application of his elbow, Harry made it to Severus' side just as he heard one of the last voices he wanted to ask for him.
Harry tried to back peddle but was far too late, the ranks of guests closing in behind him. Severus stepped up to his side as Scrimgeour caught sight of him.
"Mr. Potter, I really must insist that we speak" he said, trying to look around Arthur's shoulder.
"Now Minister, I'm afraid that's up to Harry. If he wants to see you he can, but otherwise I'll need to ask you to leave" Arthur said, his normally kind voice carrying a thread of steel. The man hadn't survived raising seven children without learning how to stand his ground.
"Might I remind you Weasley, that last I checked you were a Ministry employee" Scrimgeour said, disgruntled.
"And since when does being a Ministry employee mean I have to open my home to the Minister?" Arthur responded, his voice losing what little welcome it had held.
Harry stepped forward before the situation could get any more out of hand and halted Arthur. "It's alright Mr. Weasley, I'm sure he wouldn't be here unless he had to be" Harry said, noticing the way Scrimgeour's eyes narrowed.
"Alright Harry" Arthur motioned for them to follow him after a moment of deliberation.
"I need to see Ms. Hermione Granger and Mr. Ronald Weasley as well" the Minister tacked on, making the older redhead shoot a suspicious look at him.
Ron and Hermione had been close enough to hear and pulled themselves out of the crowd to join them. Severus had already taken his usual place at Harry's right, his formerly black shirt now dusted with flour where Harry had brushed against him.
Arthur led them to the front room and only left when he received nods from all four of them.
"Mr. Snape, I don't believe you're needed here" the Minister said with a small flair of satisfaction. No doubt he was remembering Severus thwarting his attempt to speak with Harry over Christmas.
"Yeah well we want him to stay" Ron spoke up from his spot on the couch. The declaration made Severus' eyes widen slightly but he hid his surprise well.
"I'm afraid it's a matter of legal confidentiality. I cannot disclose the items of a will with anyone that is not a recipient."
Harry shifted forward, suddenly understanding what this was about. He shared a glance with Severus that had the older man giving him a short nod before striding from the room.
"You have Dumbledore's will" Harry said, not making it a question.
"Yes I do" the Minister said, taking a chair adjacent to the couch the other three had settled on.
"Why are we just now hearing about this?" Hermione asked. "Dumbledore died over a month ago." She was sitting pressed to Harry's side, her shorts and bare legs streaked with dirt from helping to rearrange the garden into pretty meandering paths.
"There were proper legal channels that needed to be observed" Scrimgeour said, not bothering to couch the obvious lie in anything more believable.
"What is it then?" Ron asked, blue eyes holding a small hint excitement.
Scrimgeour paused long enough to give them all a hard look before reaching into the briefcase at his side. He pulled out a long piece of paper that was filled with curling calligraphy and read from it.
"To Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it"
At this the Minister handed Ron a small metal object that looked something like an old muggle lighter. Ron flipped it open and they watched as the candles burning in the corner lost their flames to it. Ron flicked it open again and the flames sped through the air to fix themselves back in their rightful spots.
"Cool" Ron said, earning himself an elbow to the side from Hermione.
"To Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in the hope that she will find it entertaining and instructive"
The Minister read as he held out a small battered book to Hermione. She took it carefully and flipped open the front cover with a puzzled look. When nothing but a slightly battered cover page was revealed Scrimgeour sat back in frustration.
"And finally" Scrimgeour read out the last of the will as he slipped a pair of thin gloves on.
"To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill."
The Minster pulled something bright gold from the case, holding it out to Harry with a look of barely concealed triumph. And Harry understood. They'd only brought everything to them because they had exhausted all other avenues. They needed Harry to key whatever it was that Dumbledore had left him since a snitch had a singular unique trait, that it would keep an impression of the last person to touch it.
Harry held out his hand, waiting, and Scrimgeour dropped the snitch into it, watching avidly.
The seconds dragged out with no reaction, and Harry eventually withdrew his hand, cradling the snitch in it.
"I don't understand" Scrimgeour muttered to himself.
"Unless there was something else, I'm sure you can see that we're all very busy" Hermione said, rising.
The Minister seemed to shake off his confusion and stood, putting a hand out to halt them. "Mr. Potter, I'd like to discuss the possibility of you coming by the Ministry. I believe it would do a great deal of good and boost public morale if you were seen showing your support" he said with forced cheer, his eyes hard.
"I'm sure it would Minister. Only problem with that is I don't support what the Ministry is doing" Harry answered, ducking past Scrimgeour before the man could get over his shock of such a boldfaced refusal. Ron and Hermione stayed on his heels and by the time the Minister had the thought to follow them a wall of angry potions master was blocking the door.
"Mr. Snape" Scrimgeour said warily.
"Minister" Snape replied, one eyebrow raised in a thoroughly unimpressed look.
"Right then, I suppose I'll be going" the Minister said, retreating out the way he had come, feeling the burn of black eyes well after he was out of sight of Snape.
Severus woke to the thunder of feet on the stairs and had just enough time to prop himself up on his elbow before the door of their room was tossed open and what appeared to be the entire Weasley family stuffed themselves into the small space between the beds.
A beat of silence, then an overwhelming "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY" was shouted, banishing any possibility of a lie in. Severus felt like someone had rung a particularly redhaired bell in his ear.
Ron appeared to have missed the Weasley call to arms and uttered a tiny undignified squeak before tumbling half off the middle bunk, almost kicking one of the twins. Fred. It was probably Fred.
Harry jerked upright, his hair standing in a fuzzy halo around his head and red creases on his cheek from his pillow.
"Whasit?" he muttered, eyes huge.
Molly stepped past the wall of her children, still in a pair of pyjamas with huge waving flowers all over them and an old tatty dressing gown. She leaned down and kissed Harry on the cheek, patting his shoulder gently.
"Come down to breakfast dear, we're having pancakes" she said with a fond smile.
This seemed to bring Harry out of his early morning confusion faster than Severus had ever seen. Harry graced her with a wide smile before clambering out of bed. He'd stolen a pair of Severus' silk pyjama bottoms and had to lean down to roll the cuffs so he wouldn't step on them, his bright red Gryffindor t shirt meshing oddly into a distinctly Harry sort of outfit.
Harry was halfway out the door when he looked back and motioned for Severus to hurry, right before he was swept away in a tide of Weasley's.
Hermione hopped down from the top bunk, still clad in her own reasonable plaid pants and plain t shirt.
"Come on then" she said around a yawn, tugging on the sleeve of Harry's t shirt that he'd resized weeks ago when he'd claimed it for himself.
"I'll be down in a moment," he said, reaching for his pile of neatly folded clothes he had laid out the night before.
A small hand on his arm drew him to a halt "If you bother getting dressed you'll be the odd man out," she said, eyes fixed on his waistcoat and pressed trousers.
Severus took a hesitant step back from the clothes, but his eyes kept falling to his forearm and the smudged dark mark, the t shirt not anywhere near long enough to cover it. Rolling his sleeves was one thing, but the idea of not having the ability to quickly flip cuffs down was making his stomach tight.
"Hey, it's just family, alright?" she said, her hand gripping his wrist for a second in a reassuring squeeze before she released him.
"Harry's family" he responded without thinking.
"Yours too" she shot back. He gave her an incredulous look, not fast enough to school his expression.
Something painful tightened in his chest at her easy answer. Severus didn't have family. He didn't have people who loved him, who cared whether he was comfortable or safe. He didn't have anyone.
But you do, a small voice whispered. You have Harry.
Severus ruthlessly pushed the voice away, not willing to accept it. The sick churning in his stomach that had been growing since Harry had uttered those three terrible words rose up, pushing at his throat like bile.
He couldn't love Severus. He simply couldn't, he just didn't know any better yet.
He had just wanted Harry so badly, if only for a moment. He knew Harry would leave him when he found out that Severus was the one responsible for his parents deaths. Some small cowardly part of him had been so relieved at the thought that he would die without having to watch green eyes turn hard with hatred. It was little surprise that fate wouldn't give him even that.
What would it be like, to see Harry's patronus change again, to know that he had lost something he never expected to have in the first place? Maybe it would go back to a stag, or perhaps something that represented someone like that absurdly pretty boy that had been trying so hard to lure Harry away.
Severus was so lost in thought that he stumbled into to riot that was the Weasley kitchen before he realised they had arrived.
Across the room, Harry glanced up and smiled at him, the private smile that he kept just for Severus. Severus couldn't stop the small smile he sent back, his heart beating too fast.
He had to tell him.
Soon. Not today. Let him have today.
Harry's birthday sped by, a mix of sudden celebration and last minute scrambling for the wedding. He got his favorite breakfast from Molly, along with a new knitted scarf, made just for flying with wind resistant charms on it.
Ron got him a book on Quidditch history along with a quietly muttered "Sorry mate, I was gonna get you a book all about how to charm a witch but I don't think the old dungeon bat would like that".
Hermione got him a new traveling kit for stationary, a clever little shrinkable writing desk with brand new quills.
The twins got him a full set of their newest items ( not even on the shelf yet Harry, they're dead useful ) and a book that Harry took one look at before he slammed it shut, his face flaming red as the twins howled with laughter. It only made him feel slightly better when he noticed that Severus must have guessed what the book contained and turned an even darker shade of red than Harry.
Bill and Fleur had given him a set of hand carved lion bookends that he planned to replace the weird carved skull set in the Black library with as soon as they returned and Charlie had made Harry a new set of dragon hide gloves from a female horntail that had died of old age in his care.
Severus had quietly handed over a box of potions, half of which Harry had only run across in old texts. They did everything from making someone truly invisible, to allowing him to lock a charm permanently to any object. Hermione had nearly fallen out of her seat in jealousy.
They day was gone before he realised it and they were all climbing blearily to bed, last minute preparation for the wedding and party the next day finally finished.
"Hey Severus?" Harry said softly, his voice reaching only as far as the man he was stretched out next to.
Severus hummed a sleepy questioning noise.
"You alright?" Harry asked. He had noticed that Severus had been a little off the last couple of days. Nothing really alarming, but just a bit distant.
Severus tensed at the question before letting out a slow breath. "I'd prefer to answer that after we get home" he said.
Harry sat up and looked down on the shadowed angles of Severus' face, all that he could see of him in the dark. "I'm not going to like this, am I?" he asked, his heart beating in his throat.
Severus didn't answer, just stayed quiet and still, waiting to see if Harry would push or grant his request. Harry sighed and lowered himself back down into bed, resting his head on the dip of Severus' shoulder.
"Thank you" the deep voice whispered into his hair, long fingers curling over his side.
Harry sighed again but let it go. Severus would tell him when he was ready, and it wasn't like it would be that bad. They'd gotten through so much together in such a short amount of time, Harry couldn't imagine anything worse than what they'd already faced.
Severus glanced up as he walked into the front room, meeting Harry's eyes just as amusement took over his face. Despite the room being expanded, it was filled to the brim with wedding guests, all moving like shoals of lost fish, eddying around worn furniture and the occasional floating tray of food.
"I'm buying you dress robes in every color" Harry threatened as he dodged his way across the room, trying not to run into any of the slew of family finishing up last minute gifts or trying to find their partner in the mess of witches and wizards.
Severus gave Harry a small smirk, even as his eyes roved over the young man. Harry had found a set of robes in a soft charcoal grey and paired them with well cut black trousers and a matching waistcoat over a tailored dress shirt the same colour as his robes. He'd even managed to make the wildness of his hair look intentional instead of his usual just off a broom style.
Severus tore his eyes away when he realised he was staring.
A warm hand landed on his chest and fixed a small button that had missed it's eyelet before smoothing down his own rather strictly cut robes.
"You look great" Harry said with a slightly nervous look in his eyes, his gaze roving over Severus' outfit before a sudden frown took over his face.
Harry turned, searching the crowd for someone " 'Mione did you make us match?" he shouted across the room at the neatly dressed witch, her own dress a soft silver with tasteful touches of black embroidery. Severus narrowed his eyes at her, her dress much too close to the colours of the Malfoy crest. She smiled at Harry and waved a quick agreement before turning and fleeing out the door, revealing a long green ribbon braided into her currently smooth hair.
Severus brought his attention back from what was surely a joint outfit planning on Draco and Granger's part and noticed that he and Harry did in fact match. Where Harry's robes and shirt were grey, his were black, and where Harry wore black, Severus had an exact match to his charcoal grey.
"No one is going to believe we didn't do this on purpose" Harry groaned.
"Would you like me to change the colour?" Severus asked, secretly amused when Harry seemed to forget he was a wizard.
"No, Hermione put me in this and she'd likely kill me if I changed it" he replied, neglecting the rather obvious solution of Severus changing his own outfit.
Severus hid a smile, letting Harry get away with the excuse. He rather liked that it would be so obvious that they matched, a silent reminder to cousins with wandering hands that Harry already had someone. He shoved down a little harder on the guilt and fear that was building in his chest. Not today.
The crowd in the front room began to disperse at Molly's faint yell from the yard, everyone heading out to the large space behind the Burrow for the ceremony.
Severus let his mind wander as they got to their assigned spots with the family, a very nervous looking Bill Weasley standing under an arch filled with golden balloons. Charlie stood beside him and a tiny old wizard Severus didn't recognize took the spot as the officiant.
A large purple carpet was rolled out, slender golden chairs for the guests placed in neat rows and a veritable sea of white and gold flowers decorated everything that a wand could reach.
A hush took the crowd when the music started, coming from everywhere, and Fleur's younger sister Gabrielle walked gracefully up the aisle, letting soft petals fall from her hands. A few steps behind her came the youngest Weasley, dressed in a shimmering gold gown and holding the thin golden rope that would symbolically bind the couples hands.
Fleur appeared just as Ginny took her spot by the arch, looking lovely in a simple white gown and a delicate tiara. She took on the aisle like it was holding her back from the man she loved and she gave the impression that she was gliding smoothly even as she arrived at the arch much faster than her bridesmaids.
A short but tasteful ceremony followed and Severus watched with an appalled sort of curiosity as Molly burst into tears, Granger not far behind. He should mention that to Draco. Any woman who could go through what Granger had without shedding a tear but sobbed at a wedding was one that had a skewed sense of priorities.
Severus turned to whisper his amusement to Harry, only to find emerald eyes swimming a bit.
"What?" Harry hissed as the guests began to move toward the large tent that would hold the reception. "People cry at weddings, that's just what they do" he said defensively, swiping at his cheeks.
Severus raised a hand in surrender, not willing to pursue that particular argument.
It took Severus less than five minutes to locate a small table in the back and settle himself in for an evening of watching the Weasley boys make fools of themselves. Not that they didn't usually, they just had the added incentive of a hoard of part Veela.
Harry and Granger dropped down at the table with him, the former carrying a plate piled precariously high with an assortment of finger foods and a glass of wine, all of it no more than a stumble away from disaster.
"The only explanation is luck" Granger said, her own glass of wine hanging from her hand, her eyes fixed on the plate that had made it to the table without ruining a single set of dress robes.
Harry sent her a half hearted glare but was busy arranging his tiny sandwiches into his preferred eating order, from least desirable to most. Severus hated himself a little for knowing that.
A small packet of pretzels appeared in front of him, along with a bowl of fruit Harry had balanced somewhere on his plate.
Severus took them without comment; his stomach had gotten used to some small amount of food every couple of hours and had started protesting when he didn't eat often enough.
Harry managed to get through his whole plate before he was dragged away to dance, Fred Weasley snatching him by the hand and throwing a parting wink at Severus.
Hermione joined him a little later, rescuing him from a tiny old witch who seemed to be insulting everyone they passed, including her dance partner. Harry's face had frozen into a mask of barely concealed aversion and he'd been casting pleading looks at their table for several minutes before Granger broke, smiling wryly in response to Severus' muttered 'weak' on the way by.
Hermione and Harry did several turns around the room until Ron cut in and swept Granger off in a twirl of silvery fabric and uncoordinated stomping, Granger's laughter trailing in their wake.
Severus had managed to scare off the one person who had been either too drunk or too stupid to know better than to approach him and was settling back with a glass of firewhiskey that Arthur had dropped off when Harry threw himself down, sweaty and breathing hard.
They didn't say anything, just sat quietly and watched the party as Harry caught his breath. Lovegood and her father were attempting to teach some sort of odd dance to any who had the misfortune of catching their eye and one of the twins had managed to convince one of Fleur's cousins to dance, sweeping her around the tent like he was trying to see if veela were capable of flight.
The scrape of a chair brought Severus' attention back to his table, to find Harry being led away once again, this time by none other than Victor Krum. The Bulgarian proceeded to spin Harry around the floor with little apparent care for either the tempo of the music or whether Harry was actually enjoying himself.
As Severus watched Harry's face fell into a frown, and he began answering whatever Krum was asking him in shorter and sharper sentences. Severus was getting short glimpses of their faces as they spun and Harry was looking more and more unhappy.
At one point Harry jerked his head over and looked rather searchingly at the elder Lovegood, but he didn't seem truly alarmed, so Severus left it be.
He could feel his shoulders relaxing as the song came to a close and got up to fetch a whiskey for Harry. He didn't drink it often but Severus suspected it wouldn't go amiss.
It took several episodes of dodging and one stern look at the twins before he'd made it back to the table, only to pause at the lack of Harry. Severus glanced around, puzzled. He was certain Harry would have returned by now.
It took him several minutes to locate him, and when he did Severus felt a flare of irritation tighten his mouth. Harry had been trapped into another song, but this time by one of the cousins. Not, thankfully, the one from several days past, but an astoundingly pretty young woman was giggling and patting his chest as they swayed awkwardly, Harry's hands balanced on her shoulders as if he feared to let them drop lower.
Just then Harry looked up and caught his eye, green eyes going from glazed boredom to fiery pleading as soon as he'd sighted him. Severus sighed heavily, glancing around briefly to see if Granger was available to rescue him, but no convenient witch showed herself.
Severus set their drinks on the table and wound his way through the dancers, easily stepping through the couples around him. When he got to Harry the younger man gave him such a look of naked relief that he almost laughed, and had to wonder what the poor girl had been subjecting him to.
"Pardon me, but if I may?" Severus said, making the girl jump. She turned huge blue eyes on him blankly, blinking at his pointed look. She looked him up and down, taking in his stern features and black robes with a small curl of distaste in the corner of her mouth.
"Ah, yes I suppose" she said, her accent thick as she held out a reluctant hand to him, casting a look at Harry that promised she'd come back to him just as soon as she got away from the strange man trying to make off with her.
Harry's hand snaked past her and slipped into Severus', and with a small yank he had pulled them flush.
"Sorry, haven't gotten to dance with my partner at all tonight, have to excuse me" Harry said in a rush to the girl, ignoring her stunned look.
Harry gave him a blinding smile for his rescue and paused swept them around to the other side of the floor as the song ended. They stayed still for a moment, waiting for the next piece to start as Severus turned Harry's last words over and over in his mind. A commonplace piece came on and they stepped out, a bit overplayed at weddings and somewhat heavier in major than Severus preferred but tolerable nonetheless.
They had made it halfway through the song before Severus let go of the tightness in his shoulders and started to enjoy the simple act of moving through familiar steps with someone who moved with him so well. It struck Severus then that he and Harry hadn't done this since their relationship had changed.
"So, partner?" Severus felt the words slip from him, his teeth snapping shut too late to keep them to himself.
Harry's steps faltered before he smoothed them out again, dancing silently as he considered his response.
"I don't know what to call you. It seems weird and wrong to call you my boyfriend. Significant other just makes me think we're thinking about getting a divorce and I can't think of anything else" Harry answered, his cheeks flush.
Severus couldn't help the tiny snort of laughter than escaped him at Harry's explanation, but he gathered Harry a bit closer, enjoying the feel of his arm tight around the other man even in such a public setting.
"Partner is… acceptable" Severus finally said, feeling a huge breath rush out of Harry at his acceptance. The title was thrilling and Severus had to forcibly stop himself from wondering how long he'd be allowed to hold it.
The comparison between the last time they danced in the room of requirement and their steps across the tent was stark. Harry no longer leaned away from him, no longer kept a careful barrier of air and tension. His face was more relaxed and he let himself brush against Severus and most startling, he spent the remainder of the song looking up at Severus with a small smile.
Severus was so lost in his thoughts, in the wonder of discovering exactly how much Harry had held back, that he missed when the song changed to the next, absentmindedly shifting his steps to follow Harry's.
"One more?" Harry asked, laughter in his voice.
Severus humped but didn't move away, deliberately ignoring the stares he could see from the corner of his eye.
They made it through to the end of the second song, stepping off the floor just at their table. Harry stretched up and brushed a light kiss over his lips, making Severus' cheeks burn, but he leaned down to return it regardless of how embarrassed it might make him.
Harry tasted like butterbeer and the curry from one of the tiny meat skewers and underneath it all just like himself. Severus made himself pull away, having forgotten for an instant that they weren't alone.
Severus glanced up at the sound of a throat pointedly clearing, to meet the narrowed brown eyes of Molly Weasley.
He locked his legs to prevent himself from stepping away from the warning in the woman's face. The realization that no one had told her hit him just as Harry slid his arm around his waist and Severus had to stop himself from jerking away. Something that felt close to terror was creeping up his spine.
"And how long has this been going on?" she asked, her voice harder than Severus had ever heard it.
"Since he resigned as a Professor from Hogwarts" Harry answered promptly, looking much less nervous that Severus thought he had any right to.
She looked Severus up and down in a way that he'd never had anyone do, as if she could see all the dark bruised pieces of him and she was trying to decide if what was leftover was good enough for one of her children. Severus could answer that for her easily. It wasn't.
Her dark eyes focused in with laser intent on Harry "And you're happy?" she asked sharply.
"Yes Mum, I'm happy," Harry said answering her and acknowledging her right to ask the question in the first place.
Her face cleared as if it had never seen a frown and she stepped forward to pat Severus gently on the cheek "No need to look so scared dear. Welcome to the family." She bussed Harry on the cheek before she wandered off to terrify someone else.
Severus let out a low hissing breath "You didn't tell her?" he whispered furiously, turning to face a confused looking Harry.
"What was I supposed to do, corner her when she was trying to get the wedding ready and update her on my relationship? Do I look like I want to die? Do I look like I want you to die?" he asked, incredulous.
Severus turned away, not having a good response. With the mood Molly had been in over the last few days she very well might have just killed Severus instead of checking to make sure her adopted son was a happy participant.
"If I die at the hand of a Weasley I'll haunt you for the rest of your miserable life" Severus said as he stalked back to his chair, leaving Harry to follow him with a small huff of laughter.
The party was starting to wind down, couples and families sitting in groups and chatting softly over drinks. Hermione let herself fall into the chair next to Severus, grateful beyond belief for the cushioning spell for her shoes that Draco had sent along.
Their writing had been sporadic, only a few sentences here and there when he could get away. He managed to let her know that his Father had returned to the Manor, along with most of the Azkaban escapees.
She'd opened the notebook late one night and caught him for the first time in weeks. Draco had kept his end open longer than he probably should have but neither of them suggested that he leave. They'd fallen into their normal round about way of writing and updating each other when she mentioned the wedding.
He had latched onto the planning with an air of desperation, and she'd played along, knowing there were things he was having to see, to do, that he needed to escape.
As it turned out there were unexpected perks to dating the rather vain Malfoy heir. The man knew considerably more than her about fashion and what materials would be most comfortable in the heat. He even knew a charm that actually worked on her hair.
She had jokingly suggested she wear Slytherin colours and he'd told her she'd be forcibly removed from such a Gryffindor gathering if she dared to.
The short conversation had however reminded her of something she'd heard Neville mention about older families having colours on their coats of arms. It had taken only a few minutes in the Black family library to find the Malfoy colours, which were so close to Slytherin that it was laughable, but she'd settled on owl ordering a dress in silver with small hints of black embroidery and a thick, dark green ribbon that she had Tonks twine through her hair.
She felt a bit silly about it all but when she'd said so, Tonks had responded "It's not silly. You should never feel silly about doing something that makes you feel closer to someone you miss."
So she'd danced with most of the Weasley's, avoided a fairly tenacious Victor Krum and rescued Harry from over enthusiastic partners and old women alike, all while wearing the colours of a man she was supposed to hate. She felt a little closer to him, even though it was impossible for him to be there.
Hermione wasn't sure how Severus had done it all those years. At least she had people who knew, who could help. Draco wasn't alone either, not like Severus had been.
She couldn't help smiling a bit when Harry and Severus had danced past, and had even gotten a picture with one of the wizarding cameras Molly had placed around for guests. She would be asking for a copy from Fleur and Bill later on. Hermione didn't think she'd actually seen a picture with Severus in it and she was sure Harry would want one.
Hermione was brought out of her idle thoughts when Harry dropped a butterbeer on the table next to her before falling into the nearest chair. He'd lost his robes and had rolled up his sleeves sometime in the last little while, and the top few buttons where loose on his dress shirt, revealing the neckline of a glaringly orange Chudley Cannons shirt that Severus was eyeing with distaste.
Hermione was just turning to look for Luna among the dancers when the silvery flash of a patronus dropped through the top of the tent and into the middle of the dance floor, a pool of silence and stillness spreading out from it. Everyone froze, several people stumbling to a halt as they clung to their partners when the music screeched and stuttered. Across the room Hermione watched Ron stumble, spilling his cup of punch down the leg of his trousers.
The silver lynx opened its mouth and spoke in Kingsley Shacklebolt's low voice.
" The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming"
A beat of silence. Two.
Then people were running, disapparating on the spot with sharp cracks that jarred those next to them with the sudden vacuum, pulling the flowing cloth of dresses in invisible gusts, tiny cyclones of fear buffeting the dance floor.
"The wards!" Harry shouted over the sounds of panic "the wards are gone."
Hermione had only an instant to understand what that meant before a bright red streak of a stunning spell whipped past her face, close enough that she could feel the crackle of the magic over her skin.
"Ron!" she yelled, trying to find her friend among so many who looked so much like him. The colourful whirl of guests became a frantic finger painting of chaotic smears, blocking her view across the room.
She could hear yelling, a familiar voice coming closer as it yelled the same garbled thing over and over. It was only when Lupin managed to break free of the crowd around him and stumble toward them that his words made sense.
"Severus, get Harry out. They're after him, they've come for him!" the werewolf shouted, his long hair a tangled mess as he was pulled back into the mass of people, his shield bursting out to hover around everyone.
A small scuffle broke out in the group in front of her and she had an instant to see long black robes and a bone white mask break free of the disarray before Ron barreled out of the crowd and knocked her into Harry and Severus, who had both thrown shields up when the screams started and were busily stunning anything that could possibly be a Death Eater.
There was a twisting feeling of compression, and Hermione forced her magic to stop fighting as soon as she understood that one of the men around her was trying to apparate them.
A void of blackness and then they were standing on a dark road, a few run down houses around them and no one in sight. The silence made her ears ring, her whole body thrumming with the need to run, to fight, but there was nothing there but a broken down fence and still air.
"We have to go back," Ron said, frantic as he spun toward the rest of the group, his knuckles bleached of colour on his wand. The whites of his eyes stood out like frantic beacons in the darkness, fear coming off of him in waves, his magic ruffling the edge of her dress and making the hairs on her arms stand on end.
"Everyone was getting out Mr. Weasley, we cannot go back," Severus answered, but Hermione was barely paying attention. She summoned the notebook from her cuff and caught it as it flew out with the force of her magic. She frantically flipped through the pages to see if Draco had time to leave her anything.
Hermione, you have to run. There's something happening tonight. He won't tell anyone what the plan is, but it's something big, and Dolohov thinks he might be going after Potter. Get everyone out of there.
Please see this. Please.
Hermione closed the notebook with shaky hands, the warning long past being useful, guilt clawing sharp fingers into her throat. She should have checked it sooner.
She glanced around again, taking in the few lights on the street and the long stalks of dead grass lying flat in the ditch. Weak moonlight filtered through trees that hung heavy over the road, lone branches stretching almost low enough to touch. The concrete was old and worn, the paint in the center long since washed away but for faint flecks, a suggestion of orderliness, long since lost.
Ron was pacing back and forth across the cracked pavement, his robes flipping around behind him with each sharp turn, his polished boots scuffed and dragging over a small hump in the pavement with a low scrape at each pass. His fists were clenched and he looked as if he were thinking of apparating back regardless of what Snape told him to do.
Just when Hermione was certain Ron was going to disregard Snape, a glowing silver weasel appeared, bounding out of the bushes down the lane. It paused in front of them and spoke in Mr. Weasley's voice.
" Everyone's alright, don't worry. Harry, you and Severus are being looked for, you cannot be seen. Hermione, they're already taking muggleborns into custody, stay with Harry and Severus. Ron, stay with the others until we can be sure no one is looking for you. Your Mother and I love you, don't worry about us."
Ron let out a noise like a kettle coming to boil and abruptly sat down in the middle of the road, his arms flopping out as if his strings had been cut. His robes puddled around him as he dropped his forehead to a raised knee and pulled air in with sharp jerks of his chest.
"Blimey" he wheezed finally, to no one in particular.
A tiny chime broke the silence, coming from the notebook still in her hand. She tore it open, flipping to the latest entry.
Are you alright? Did you get out? He kept me at the ministry, I just heard that a second raid happened at the Weasley house.
Hermione summoned a pen and crouched down to use her lap as a writing bench, her soft silver dress pooling around her ankles.
We're fine, we got out.
Thank Merlin. I have to go. We're clearing out the ministry, try to keep everyone away, he brought dementors
be safe
"What's happening" Snape demanded, his face as harsh and cold as she remembered from their first year, but there was a tightness she was only just starting to recognize as fear around his mouth and in the way he clutched at Harry's shoulder.
"Draco says that they're clearing out the ministry and to keep everyone away, that there are dementors with them. That's all he had time to tell me" she answered, carefully sending the notebook back into her cuff.
"Harry, send a message to Tonks and let her know. It's not likely any of the Aurors would be stupid enough to try and retake the ministry but I'd prefer not to be proven wrong" Severus said, striding over to forcibly set Ron back on his feet.
Harry nodded and sent his glowing raven winging across the sky with a short message for the Order as Severus motioned for everyone to follow him.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, the clack and scuff of shoes echoing through the heat rising off the road, before Severus turned off onto a cracked drive, tufts of grass and weeds pushing up between the broken and uneven concrete. From what she could see of the front lawn, it looked as though no one lived there, unmown grass and a rock garden wall half tumbled down.
Ron stumbled a little as they got to the porch, the peeling brown paint flaking off where he caught himself on the siding. Severus ignored him and placed his palm flat on the door, muttering a few near silent words. With a grinding click the door swung open, letting out musty air that smelled of books, mildew and a faint hint of cheap liquor.
Lights flared to life as they stepped in, the inside no better than the outside. Worn brown carpeting covered the floor, almost bare in the hall and a once gold, moth eaten couch took up most of the small space in the front room.
Bookshelves lined the walls and in the far corner was a door and a thin staircase. Severus set the fireplace to light as he strode through, smoke rolling out for an instant before the charms in the chimney could kick on
Hermione shuffled a few steps inside, her low heels catching on the bent metal strip that separated the yellowed linoleum in the entryway from the dusty carpet. The ceilings hung low and water stained, making her feel like she should crouch even though they were tall enough to allow Severus to pass through without ducking.
Harry took a few steps ahead of her and froze, staring at a small door that she hadn't noticed. It looked like it led to the coat closet and she couldn't understand the pain and rage darkening his eyes.
"Spinner's end" he said, his voice strange and tight. It wasn't a question, but Snape nodded in agreement anyway, his gaze fixed on the thin strip of off colour wall between the bookcases.
"Right. We need to get back to Grimmauld" Harry said, his mouth pinched.
"I need a few things, then we can apparate from the back yard" Severus answered, already pulling books from the shelves.
"Do you need any help?" Hermione heard herself asking, shooting looks between Harry and Severus. The tension in the room and the way Harry was looking more and more like he was going to set fire to the place was making her antsy.
Snape paused before he tilted his chin at a smaller bookcase pressed against the far wall. "All of those if you've got room."
Hermione nodded and set to work.
It took them less than twenty minutes to gather everything from the house that Severus needed, and when they stepped into the overgrown back garden, tension seemed to fall from his tall frame. Harry had slipped an arm around him, as if to steady him on the rough ground, but he clung too tightly and his eyes still held deep shadows.
Harry and Severus disapparated first, just in case something had gone wrong and Grimmauld was compromised. Separate they were both intimidating duelers, but together they stood a good chance against a fair number of Death Eaters.
Waiting the agreed upon five minutes was harder than she thought it would be, and Ron's resumed pacing wasn't helping her nerves. Where the slow drone of crickets was once soothing, it now grated, filling the air and covering soft sounds, like the scuff of a shoe or a strained breath. She wouldn't know if someone was in the shadow of the leaning fence or just behind the decrepit shed until it was too late to do anything about it.
Finally, just before she was going to check her spellwork, her wand chimed. She shared a glance with Ron before he twisted on the spot and disappeared. Hermione waited just long enough to be sure that Ron had cleared the garden before she yanked her magic around herself and spun away.