Chapter four

'Um, yeah, I suppose, but I haven't got long, I'm helping repair Hogwarts, especially since I'll be living here from now on, so it's my home,' Harry turned to face Severus, 'You might as well finish eating then help professor Dumbledore and I'll join you in a few minutes.'

'Yes my love, go spend time with your friends, just remember not to go too far.'

'I won't, if I did I'd be running back to you,' Harry kissed Severus very passionately before standing up, 'Won't be long,' he smiled then moved around the table, 'So lead the way Hermione,' the three friends walked away, 'What's got your wand in a knot Ron?'

'Seeing two men, but him for one, then my sister, you promised not to hurt her again.'

'It's not like I knew anything about this. Dumbledore didn't think it would be needed that's why he never mentioned what my mother did.'

Hermione stopped at the end of the Gryffindor table, Harry slid onto it facing his friends.

'Surely there must be a way to get out of this Harry. You promised Ginny if you survived that you two would have a future together.' Hermione said.

'I wouldn't have said that to her if I knew I was already bonded, I wouldn't have even dated her if I knew. Dumbledore told me these bonding's are done quite often in the magical world and he did say he considered telling me years ago, but figured I had enough on my mind, so he stayed quiet. Like he said before, he didn't think he'd ever need to activate the bond, now I'm glad he did, I haven't been happier. But there isn't anything to do and I don't want to. This bond is so strong, so my love for Sev is going to make sure we stay together.'

'But why would your mother want you to marry someone you didn't like or that didn't like you? It's like what you told us, your life was never yours, decisions were made for you before you were born, this is the same. Don't you feel like your choice of who you end up with has been taken out of your hands?'

'I did at first, but this bond brings out feelings we never knew we had, that had always been there. Yeah it makes us want to be together, but it's stronger than normal and that's because there were deep feelings for each other that we never realised, hidden behind all those snide and snarky comments. Dumbledore said it's because we're soul mates, it was always meant to be. But none of that matters, I want to be with Sev, I need to and I haven't been as content as I am now. I've finally found what I've always wanted and we're perfect for each other, in every way. It's like we were made for each other, we just had to find one another, now we have.'

'I know the family isn't going to be happy about this, Ginny being hurt, again.'

'It's not my fault, think of it this way, I could get this reversed which means Sev dies, I won't let that happen. Would you let Fred die if Dumbledore reversed both? It's basically the same thing, you asking me to let the one I love die, so right now I'm going to be selfish and I'm going to be a right bastard as you've called me enough times. I want Sev you want to keep Fred alive, if one dies so does the other. Now I really have to go though, we need to get this place repaired. Oh Ron, tell Ginny if she wants a quidditch career then she'll have to return, that's how teams find their new players, scouts come to the games that are held here. Anyway, need to get back to my lover,' Harry hopped off the table and strolled down the other end where Severus and Dumbledore were working on one of the busted walls.

Severus put his arm around Harry, pulling him close, 'I'm glad you weren't long my love.'

'I can't be away from you Sev. But now we have to get to work and later you can help me shop. Oh, just so you know Sev, we're getting you new clothes, no more looking like a bat.'

Albus laughed loudly, 'I have wanted Severus out of those black clothes for years Harry, but I could never make him, not like you can.'

'Oh Harry, I like my black robes, please don't do this?'

'You can wear black, but you're also going to be wearing colour, they can be dark colours, just not all black.'

'Anything you say love.'

Harry smiled, 'Don't pout, you'll look great, trust me.'

'I don't have a choice and if your mother was alive today I would hex her.'

'Oh you wouldn't because you love me.'

Severus gave a reluctantly smile, 'Yes, I do, let's just get to work.'

'Yeah, we should, there's a lot to do.'

'Since you two disappeared for a few days, I put a statement out regarding everything I asked Severus to do and why I made everyone believe I was dead.'

'Did you mention our relationship Albus?'

'No, it's not my place, you and Harry will have to release that bit of information yourselves. It will be quite a shock and so many girls will be upset. Harry has been named Witch Weekly's most eligible bachelor, which you aren't. Maybe you will be their most famous married wizard. Poor Severus, he is in for a lot of hate mail, check for curses.'

'No one curses my love or they will find themselves at the end of my wand.' Harry said savagely.

Severus smiled, 'My hero and protector.'

'Always and it's what my mother wanted, for us to protect each other. But I like the idea of protecting you, I have to keep that gorgeous body safe.'

'Oh, you like my body and not me, that's nice.'

'Oh Sev, don't be thick, your body is just a bonus that I get to play with.'

'I really do not need to hear this, I have been celibate for a lot of years.'

'You should find a new love professor. You told me love is the most powerful magic there is, so everyone should have someone to love, even the great Albus Dumbledore.'

'Oh he's really become cheeky hasn't he Albus. I wonder if Lily did more to this charm than we thought?'

'No, Harry is finally showing a bit of his father's personality now he doesn't have to think of danger anymore.'

'I think it's a bit of my father and my godfather, two people Sev never liked,' Harry smirked making Albus chuckle while Severus grimaced, 'I'm not going to hex you unless you don't do what I want.'

'Oh you really are a cheeky brat. But we are supposed to be working.'

'I know, but it's fun to have you like this. You don't have to worry Sev, I'm not the type to make anyone do anything you don't want to, and I like your serious, antagonising side. Think of this as well, we are so opposite to each other so this relationship is bound to work.'

'I do believe you are right Harry, opposites attract, you and Severus are so opposite it's like you are from different ends of the earth,' Albus smiled then went back to repairing walls. He knew Severus and Harry were supposed to be helping, but they couldn't stop touching each other. It was like Lily Potter always knew these two men, her son and her old childhood friend were meant to be together because that's what Albus was seeing, two men that were perfect. Even though they had a long way to go as this relationship just started, Albus had a good feeling that everything would be fine for Harry Snape-Potter and Severus Snape-Potter.

With the help of Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, Harry Potter put out a statement regarding his marriage to Severus and the bond his mother performed on them when he was a child and how that bond saved Severus life after the battle. But there was also information on how Severus saved Harry's life many times over the years he was at Hogwarts. He sent his statement off with one of the school owls before the three men sat at the staff table ready for dinner.

'You said you want to help Severus in his class, did you change your mind about being an auror?' Albus asked.

'Yeah, I don't want to fight anymore, I'd like to do something a little calmer but I have no idea what that is.'

'I'm sure you will figure it out while you do your last year.'

'I'm still not sure about that, I just feel way past being a student anymore. At the moment I'm looking forward to helping Sev with his classes. It might give me time to work on something.'

'What if you find you need your N.E.W.T.s, it will be too late? If it's about sleeping in Gryffindor tower you won't be, you will be with Severus in his rooms.'

'Even though I know I can't be away from Sev, it's not that. I just feel too old to be considered a student. I sometimes feel older than you professor.'

'Yes, I suppose after your life, you would feel like that. But now, if you've finished eating, I would like to speak with you and Severus in my office.'

'There's nothing wrong is there Albus?'

'No, there's just something I need to discuss with both of you.'

Albus, Severus and Harry left the great hall and went straight up to Albus' office where he sat behind his desk, Severus and Harry sat on the small sofa.

'I think it's time for you to show your true self Severus.'

'We discussed this Albus, I know my main reason is gone now but it does help.'

'Yes, it did, but a lot has changed. I do not believe you need to leave it there just to keep the students in line. You have a reputation; that is what will keep the students in line.'

'What's going on Sev, keep what?' Harry asked looking confused.

'Let me explain first,' Severus sighed then turned to face Harry, 'When Albus first asked me to take the post of potions master, we discussed how I should act and look. So even though my robes were what I liked to wear anyway, we worked on other parts of me,' Severus pointed his wand at his face removing the glamour, 'As you can see, my nose isn't quite as big or hooked.'

'Oh my,' Harry ran his fingers down Severus' nose, along his high cheek bones and his fuller lips, 'You're gorgeous.'

'You see Severus, I told you Harry would still love you.'

'Looks never worried me Sev, I always look at the way people are, if they care about others over themselves, to me that's attractive. This bond might have force us to acknowledge hidden feelings, but I did love you the way you looked before, that should tell you how I am. But why though?'

'One was to make myself more intimidating to students as I was the youngest teacher here. But another was being a death eater, Albus thought my looks wouldn't make the dark lord take me seriously. Tom Riddle as a student disfigured some other students, Albus could never prove it was him but we all knew it was him. The children at the orphanage that he hurt, they were both very good looking, he made sure they weren't. It seemed he did not like people with good looks. So I pretended that my nose had been broken, that my skin began to turn pale and my lips, well the thinner they were the better I could sneer, it seemed to work.'

'It worked, sorry but we all used to say something about your nose, lips and hair. But you see, even without the bond I still loved your looks that weren't really you. I have to admit though, you are gorgeous and you're all mine.'

Albus chuckled, 'Yes, but you can explore Severus later Harry, there's more I need to talk to you about.'

Harry sighed, kissed Severus before facing Dumbledore, 'Okay, it's going to be hard to keep my eyes off him now and I have to keep everyone else away from him. Once some of the students get to see my Sev, I'm going to be fighting to keep them away from him.'

'I only want you my love. But I'm glad you like my looks, it feels good to be my real self, I have not done that in a long time.'

'So Harry, the glamour Severus used. Apart from him do you know a lot of students have used that charm over the years?'

'I remember hearing a few girls talking about covering up their pimples or bad skin using a glamour until they could brew their own potion for pimples.'

'When was the first time you heard about the glamour charm?'

'First year, I remember Flitwick talking about it, why?'

Albus and Severus glanced at each other before they both looked at Harry ready to reveal what they knew.

'We know you have been using a glamour to hide all your old scars,' Severus squeezed Harry's hand when he tensed, 'You don't have to hide anymore.'

Harry lowered his head, 'How did you find out?'

'That day in the hospital, when you saved Severus life, Poppy decided to do a full diagnostic charm on you. Right after Severus woke up a piece of parchment appeared and started to write down all your injuries, at the same time the words were spoken. So I remove the glamour to see for myself what you looked like. Only Severus, Minerva, Poppy and I know though Harry, I made sure to enchant the area we were all in at the time. Now tell me, how long did that go on for?'

'Until my first Hogwarts letter arrived. They realised I would be staying here and learning magic, that scared them. From then on I was given more food, not as much as them but more, I wasn't hit anymore or made to work as much as I used to.'

'I tried to keep an eye on your over the years, but you rarely left the house and when you did I never saw a mark on you.'

'I found some of my aunts old makeup and used that. One day, this was just after I got my Hogwarts letters, and while she was out I went through her room and found some more, some she wouldn't miss or think she ran out or something,' Harry pulled his hand out of Severus', 'I suppose you don't want to be with me now.'

'Why would you think that?'

'Well, look at you then look at me, my body is ugly.'

'Your heart is beautiful, your soul is beautiful, you are a beautiful person my love. Like what you said before, I'm the same, looks do not interest me, it's what is inside someone that I find attractive. Even though your mother was a very beautiful woman, it was her caring nature that I loved about her. So will you remove the glamour and finally be your true self?'

Harry slowly lifted his head, saw sincerity in Severus' eyes, so he nodded then his glamour was gone showing his true face, scars and all.