Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
The Truth About You-Know-Who's Death
Harry Potter, age 15, has finally agreed to open up to us about the events taking place on July 20th. On the date in question, Harry and friends were walking down the street in Diagon Alley when three death eaters appeared and kidnapped them. When asked where he was taken, Harry's only response was "I don't know where they took us. All I could focus on was Voldemort."
Here's what he had to say:
"We landed in a field. Not sure where. We didn't wait for him to start talking. I took him on while Hermione (Granger) and Ron (Weasley) started battling death eaters to keep them off of me. All I remember from then on was a flash of green light and he fell. It seemed like everyone forgot what they were doing-just waiting to see if he would get back up. He didn't and we apparated back to Diagon Alley before his followers could register what had happened.
"I don't remember anything after that point. I've been at home processing my emotions on what happened. In the end of it all, I killed a man. A deranged man with a horrendous moral code, but a man just the same. I had to address that with myself before I could come out with what happened to the public."
When asked about his love life, Harry simply had this to say:
"I've had an amazing man by my side for awhile now. His identity shall remain anonymous until the ceremony that the Ministry of Magic has requested of me in a few days."
Harry closed the newspaper and finished off his morning tea. He didn't need to read the rest of the article. It was just a bunch of information about the celebration he was going to be going to at the ministry tonight. He sighed and stretched before going to put on the outfit that Frederick had whipped up for him. Apparently, Tom got a matching one as well.
It was absolute black with small strands of sparkling red catching the light every now and again. The inside was lined with blood red silk. Fetching, but professional. He donned his clothing and knocked on Tom's door. His breath caught at how handsome his partner looked.
He had already put in coloured contacts and now had vivid purple eyes.
"What's with purple? I thought you were going with blue, like how you had before your eyes turned red."
"Yes, well. Apparently blue contacts over red eyes makes them look purple. But I've looked into it. There's a very small percentage of people that have violet eyes such as this naturally."
"You look amazing, by the way. If we didn't have to leave, we'd both be undressed already." They left and arrived to the ministry. They entered through the employee entrance as requested and were led up to a stage curtain. Harry could hear the minister's voice booming through the atrium on the other side of the heavy fabric.
"And now, for continued acts of incredible bravery and for saving the Wizarding World once more; I now present one Harry James Potter with the Order of Merlin; First Class!" Cheers rose to incredible heights and rose higher still when Harry was pushed through the curtain. He inhaled and smiled at the crowd before walking to the minister. He accepted the medal and the minister pulled him in to talk to him without the magnifying spell catching his voice.
"Would you mind giving a few words Mr. Potter?"
Harry nodded. "Of course, Lucius." The shrewd look the blond gave him told him that it wouldn't take long for him to figure out who he really was. Putting that information aside for later, he turned to the crowd.
"Thank you. I'd like to say a few words, if you'll allow me." The crowd was swept with silence. "First and foremost, I'd like to thank my father Severus Snape. For without his assistance, I would have been dead many years ago. I'd also like to thank the Weasleys. Without them, I wouldn't know the true meaning of family. And thank you to Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger; without them helping me every step of the way I would have been killed long ago...and I'd also like to thank one more person. I would like to thank Tom." He gestured to Tom who was standing on the stage and hadn't been noticed before now. "Without him, I would not be able to accept a hug. I wouldn't be standing here today, confident in the person I am. I wouldn't have had the determination or ability to kill Voldemort without him." As he spoke, Tom stepped nearer to him until they were face to face. "Thank you, for always being everything I need." Tom's fingertips grazed his cheek as he was pulled in for a kiss.
The crowd went wild at the display.
"Alright, alright. I do have one last thing to say. Don't ever forget that circumstances create who we are. There is a time when each of us needs to choose between what is easy and what is right. When faced with this choice, the right way is the path we should choose. All Voldemort knew growing up was hate. And when Albus Dumbledore discovered this he had to make a choice. Instead of taking the time to teach Voldemort kindness, he choose the easy route of ignoring the warning signs. It would become someone else's problem later. And it soon became the world's problem-then it became my problem.
"Because of someone making the easy choice, thousands have died. I have had to kill before reaching seventeen. Just don't forget that the difference between the easy way and the right way may result in the loss of life, innocence and peace." Lucius stepped forward and directed the mass of people to the ballroom where there was music and refreshments.
"Will you be joining us Harry?" The curtains had been pulled shut and Harry glanced up at Tom.
"What do you think?"
"I think we shall play a little cat-and-mouse with the press. What do you think?" Harry smirked and nodded as they were led to the press room.
"Here's the deal. I'm agreeing to a press conference but there will be three rules. Rule one, each individual gets one singular question that I will answer. Rule two, I do have the choice of turning that question down. In this event, you'll simply have to find another question that I will answer. Rule three, there will be respect at all times. No talking over each other and no pictures without permission. Permission does count for your singular question. Now, who would like to go first?" Hands shot up into the air and he started with a middle-aged man in the middle.
"Mr. Potter, could you tell us a bit more about your mystery man Tom?"
"Tom has been my partner for almost a year now. He has supported me in everything I've set out to do and has somehow managed to not go crazy yet." He moved on to the next person.
"What sort of future do you two see yourselves having?"
"I see myself with Tom for a long time. I'm officially off the market."
"You turn sixteen tomorrow. How do you feel knowing that you'll be able to spend your sixteenth birthday with your father, Severus Snape?"
"I mean, it feels great. Knowing I get to spend my birthday with my father, my surrogate family and with Tom makes me happier than you can imagine."
"What was your childhood like, growing up with muggles?" Harry froze and his eyes took on a glossy look to them for a moment before Tom raised his voice.
"Rule four, no questions about childhood unless they pertain to Hogwarts. Thank you." The rest of the hour was spent answering questions for the press. Only the last reporter asked for a photo.
"Is there any way we could be allowed to photograph the two of you kissing?" Before Harry could answer, Tom had pulled him in and pressed their lips together. They smiled and gazed at one another as the reporters quickly filed from the room.
"Would you like to go home, Harry?"
"Anything to get you out of these clothes, My Lord." It didn't take long for them to get home after that.
Harry plopped down two bowls of oatmeal on the table and turned to fetch the berries before Tom made his way to the table for breakfast. He had woken early and had decided to let the elves do something other than breakfast today. Before he made to the kitchen, he staggered and caught himself on the wall. Strange. I must have tripped on myself. He brushed his moment of clumsiness off and went to find the berries.
Breakfast was a rather dull affair. Severus didn't come around for meals as often anymore as school had started up once more and that left the room quieter than he was used to. Things livened up once Tom arrived for his morning meal and they chatted about how Harry was feeling about his studies from the day before. He had opted out of another year of Hogwarts as he didn't want his celebrity status to affect his learning.
"Tom, I wanted to ask you something." Curious eyes met his and Tom prompted him to continue. "What would it take for you to allow me to have a garden next year? You've got what was once a garden long ago-it's mostly weeds now."
"What makes you think you need to wait until next year?"
"Uh, because the winter will kill everything so nothing will have a chance to properly take root right now? It's October Tom." Sarcasm dripped from his tone as Tom smiled and shook his head.
"Greenhouse wards do exist you know. Tell you what, you've been way ahead of your studies compared to others your age. Let's ditch the rest of this weeks lesson plans and I'll teach you how greenhouse wards work. Then, once you've managed to get enough of them up to protect the plants from unfavourable elements and animals I'll let you have a garden in your spare time. Just don't forget that studies come first." Harry beamed and polished off the rest of his meal.
As Harry learned about wards and the different effects they could have, he thought about the sort of plants he would wish to have. He definitely wanted to grow vegetables and fruits, it'd be nice to always have a snack handy while he was outside. And he did love flowers, but he'd have to pick and choose carefully as to what kinds he wanted to grow. There was only so much space and he had to work within the confinements of where the garden used to reside.
It only took him a few days to properly ward off the garden area. Tom had added a rather complex ward with him, allowing snow and rain to fall and stick around like it normally would, but the plants would remain unaffected.
It wasn't uncommon to see Harry working in his new sanctuary. He spent an entire week pulling weeds and uncovering stone paths. It only took the elves a few minutes to get the fountain working once Harry had cleaned the entire thing from top to bottom. He rather liked the look of a pure white marble fountain and this one seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.
He took his time turning the dirt over and adding fertilizer and had managed to make a map of the garden and it's paths so he could plan out what he wanted where. Before long, he had an impressive garden mapped out.
"Tom?" The man in question looked up from the book he was reading. "I was wondering if we could go to a nursery?" Surprise overtook Tom's face and his eyes widened.
"A-a nursery? Harry, what are you telling me?" Harry started laughing, doubled over with mirth. The thought occurred to him that he was grateful that Nagini didn't happen to witness their conversation. He'd hate to have to break the news to her that it was a simple misunderstanding.
"Not like that! A nursery is what muggles call places that grow seeds into plants. The young plants are then either sold to muggles for gardens or grown to adulthood for flower arrangements." Tom laughed once he realized his mistake.
"Yes, we can go to a nursery. Be sure to grab a jacket Harry, it's chilly out today." Tom apparated them to a town Harry had never been to and Harry looked around at the architexture. It was intricate and simple all at the same time.
"Tom, where are we?"
"A small town not too far from the mansion. They have the most amazing floral displays in the spring, I thought you'd want to visit where the flowers look best." Harry nodded and asked where their destination was.
"Excuse me, miss? I was wondering if you knew where the local nursery or floral shop may be?" Tom turned his charm to maximum as he chatted to the older woman about where to find the town's nursery. "Come on Harry, it's at the end of the next street over." They walked in a comfortable silence, taking in the town and its charm.
"Good afternoon, how can I help you gentlemen?" They walked in and Harry took a deep breath of scented air.
"Hi, I'm planning out a garden and was wondering if you had any recommendations? Here's my plans so far." He pulled out his map and they talked about the benefits of lilies versus daffodils and whether or not he really wanted lily of the valley right next to tulips or the lilac trees. The soft ding of the bell went off once more and an older man walked in.
"Hi Mr. Jenkins. I'll add this week's rose to your monthly tab." The gentleman nodded, selected a white rose and made his way out once more. "Poor fellow. His wife passed away ten years ago. He puts a new rose on her grave every week and pays us on the first of every month for the ones he gives to her. White was her favourite."
They carried on for a little while longer and the shopkeeper grabbed all the seeds he would need to make his vision come to life. He was just about to pay as an idea came to him.
"How much does Mr. Jenkins pay for his roses every week?" She gave him a small smile.
"I only charge him what they cost me. He has trouble affording them, her sickness cost him most of what he had saved. His monthly bill is fifteen pounds, give or take." Harry pulled out his wallet and handed her an extra two hundred pounds.
"That's for Mr. Jenkins's roses. In the spring, plant some white roses next to her headstone and whatever will be left, use for his monthly tab. The world could use less worry."
With tears in her eyes, the shopkeeper accepted his payment. "That's what Mrs. Jenkins used to say. Thank you."