Chapter nine

Harry had woken not long after the matron had treated his face, then Harry and Severus talked while they waited for the skin to be crafted into place. Severus also explaining about the pictures Albus took. So even though Harry wasn't keen on everyone seeing him the way he looked right now, he understood the reason

Albus, Minerva, Neville, Luna and Poppy stepped over to the bed; Poppy went straight to the skin and started to treat it with charms and salve.

'Still numb mate?' Neville asked.

'Yep which I'm pleased about.'

'We were down in the great hall with the others, Madame Pomfrey explained how everything had to be sterilized, but they wanted to be here. Hannah and all the girls keep wincing and even shedding some tears thinking about all this. They all want to see you but they understand that you won't be feeling up to being friendly once this numbing spell wears off.'

'I appreciate their concern, but they didn't need to hang around.'

'They still think of you as their leader Harry and want to support you, just like Neville and I do,' Luna smiled.

'All of you are good friends Luna, Harry knows that,' Albus smiled.

'Alright Harry, you need to stay still, this will take about twenty minutes,' Poppy very carefully placed the new skin over Harry's face then started doing her charms again before applying more ointment, 'Done and I don't see any problem with it working perfectly.'

'So you won't tell by looking at it?'

'No, not once it's healed which takes about a week. Now though, the numbing spell will start to wear off at any time. I don't want you to move for at least an hour apart from sitting up to eat.'

'Thank you Madame Pomfrey,' Harry looked at Severus who helped Harry sit and placed a couple of pillows behind him but made sure he stayed covered, 'So how does it look?'

'Red, painful,' Neville said, 'but it'll get better. We'll go now though, let you and professor Snape have some time alone, before you start groaning in pain.'

'That's one thing Neville, he might be in pain but you won't know it. Harry's very good at covering up what his feeling,' Severus said.

'Yeah, I've seen him do that as well. Just remember; you're going to get a lot of visitors over the next few days and there's no use telling everyone they don't need to.'

Harry smiled, 'Thanks,' he watched his friends leave before the matron, Dumbledore and McGonagall leave, Severus called Kreacher to bring food, tea and juice for both of them, 'So you think it'll be noticeable?'

'No one will be able to tell there was a scar there or new skin, it just takes a while before that happens. Now tell me the truth, are you feeling anything?'

'Yeah,' Harry shrugged, 'my thigh and face are beginning to sting.'

'It's wearing off, it won't be long before you will feel it all. Poppy left the potion for you.'

'After the hour can I leave here?'

'Yes, just remember though, move slowly and do not bump or touch either area.'

'I think once I feel it Sev, that's all I'll be thinking about.'

'Finish eating, you haven't eaten much over the last few days. I know part of it was to do with today, but it was also worrying about what else they might say.'

'Yeah, what they did hasn't worked, but it doesn't mean they won't go after you.'

'There isn't much more to know about me Harry. Albus released the statement, it was mentioned that I was a death eater at one time.'

'Yeah, I know, so I've been trying to think of anything that they might use to hurt you. There is one thing but I never told them, I never told anyone, it had nothing to do with anyone.'

'Okay, eat first then you explain,' Severus handed Harry a fork which made him smile, 'Eat.'

'Okay,' Harry ate his lunch, drank some tea then ate some more, 'I found out that it was you that relayed part of the prophecy to Voldemort. I was crazy with anger Sev, I yelled at Dumbledore, I wanted to kill you. But after a few weeks even though you were still acting like a bastard, I realised that we all had roles to play. At that time you were a death eater, it was your job to do whatever you could. But when you found out it meant me you went to Dumbledore. Hermione and Ron knew I was distracted with something but they also knew I wouldn't tell them if I hadn't already. I know you wouldn't have done that if you knew he would have gone after me, which meant my mother, but you tried to stop it happening.'

'I am so sorry about that love.'

'Its fine Sev, I let that go a long time ago. Yeah I was pissed at you for a long time, but hearing how far you were willing to go to protect me when I was James Potter's son, that told me what type of man you really were. I'm just worried that one of my nightmares might have mentioned it because of how angry I was. If I was angry or worried about something I usually dreamt about it I just don't know if I talked about it.'

'Harry, you have to remember that being a death eater, allowing those students to be punished; I've had my fair share of disturbing stories written about me. You went into my memory that time; you saw how humiliated I was. During those years I often had people say cruel things to me, not just your father and godfather. You know what it's like, you've heard or seen what some students can say to someone that is poor. Like your fight with Draco after the quidditch match. I know he was insulting the Weasley family, but you cared about them, and their words hurt. But my skin got very thick over the years, I had no choice. So stop worrying about me and what might be said. It's time now to concentrate on you and getting better.'

'I never told them what I saw when went into your memory that day, only Sirius and Remus knew because I was confused and I know they would not have told anyone,' Harry squeezed Severus' hand, 'It just hurts, in here,' Harry's other hand went to his chest, 'Thinking they might say something about you. It's like my mother knew there was more when she bonded us. I don't know Sev, I just know that I love you, so much. You're my life and I don't want anything to ruin this.'

Severus took Harry's hand off his chest and placed it against his own, 'Nothing will ruin this. You can feel it Harry, we belong together, we're soul mates. Maybe that's what your mother sensed, that our souls were meant to be joined, we just had to find each other.'

'We did, but do you think we would have if Dumbledore didn't do that spell?'

'Impossible to say, I don't think I would have approached you, that is not who I am. I'm normally very reserved, I keep to myself and I always believed I would live out my life alone.'

'I know I wouldn't have said anything and that was mainly because you intimidated me for so long. I might have been able to talk to you, thank you for everything you did, then apologise for what I called you, but to say something personal, I don't know. When I thought you died in the shrieking shack, I did think about you a lot. Wondering if you would know how sorry I was for what I said. Sirius said they are always with me, so I thought maybe you knew.'

'Since I never passed on, I can't answer that. One thing I can answer, us and our lives. Both of us Harry, we had to live the way others wanted, not how we wanted. When it was over it was the first time that we could choose how we want to live. It was like everything was leading to us finding each other. We can share more with each other because we are similar in a lot of ways, which to me means we are meant to be together. Now no more serious talk, it won't help the pain in your face. It's time for my young lover to stay quiet; we don't need words to say how we feel.'

Harry smiled but felt the pain in his face, so he relaxed his face but kept staring into Severus' gorgeous eyes and Severus was staring into Harry's eyes. They could see it, the love, that's all they needed to know, it spoke volumes, it spoke for eternity. It made them think that maybe Lily Potter did know more than she let on, she knew they were meant to be together, forever.

Severus helped Harry to his feet, then slipped his robe on, 'You see, the material will not touch your thigh.'

'No, it doesn't, but standing is sure painful.'

'It's putting pressure on that part of your leg,' Severus held Harry's hands while he stepped into some slippers, then went to his other side, and slipped his arm around Harry's waist, 'Now we take it nice and slow.'

'Yeah, I can feel it already. But with my face, I have to remember not to smile or do any type of expression.'

'Yes, it will stretch and pull which will not help the grafting.'

'Remember not to touch either area Harry and come back first thing in the morning.'

'I remember Madame Pomfrey and thank you.'

Poppy nodded as she watched the two men slowly leave her hospital before she went back into her office to make notes in Harry's file.

It took a while, but Harry and Severus made it down to the ground floor of the castle. Severus thought Harry would want to go straight to their rooms, but he was surprised when Harry said he would like some sun. So again taking it slowly they walked down the stone steps and onto the grounds.

'What are you doing out here?' Neville asked.

Harry forced himself not to smile, 'I wanted to get outside for a while. But I thought all of you had left.'

'We were about to, but how are you feeling Harry?' Susan asked.

'Sore, I have to make sure I don't smile or frown, nothing. So I'm forcing myself to keep my face neutral.'

'Then we'll make sure not to make you laugh, or cry,' Seamus smirked.

'Yeah, I don't need either. But I wanted to ask all of you, are you planning on returning when the castle is fixed?'

'We've all been talking about that, yes, we thought one year where nothing dangerous happens is what we need.'

'Do you really think we can have an average year at Hogwarts? No dementors, no inept teachers, no escaped supposedly killers, no Umbridge, no dragons or spiders. There's bound to be more I didn't mention,' Neville said.

'No triwizard tournament or rouge bludgers, no Hagrid's giant three headed dog or giant chess sets or devil's snare. There are a lot of things you didn't mention Neville.'

'You'd know more than we would Harry; you were usually involved in everything.'

'Most of the time it wasn't my doing, I just found myself in those situations.'

All the friends laughed, 'Sure Harry, anything you say,' Padma smirked.

'It's true, well, most of it is true.'

'Okay, we're heading out, but you will get visits from all of us. For now, rest, you look terrible.'

Harry had to really concentrate to keep his face straight, 'I know, but you're going to make me laugh if you keep going.'

'Sorry,' Neville grinned then all the friends waved leaving Severus and Harry alone.

'I wanted your opinion on something Sev.'

'Anything love.'

'Those three, since everyone knows what they are doing, do you think they will return to do their last year?'

'Hermione will not want to pass up the opportunity to sit for her N.E.W.T.s. Ron I could see not returning except he is in a relationship with Hermione, so that's hard to say. Ginny on the other hand wants to play quidditch, the only way to get on a team is for scouts to see the players here at Hogwarts.'

'Yeah, unless she went to the teams now and asked for a try out,' Harry saw Sev look away, 'What?'

'There was a story in this morning's Daily Prophet, not about us love, so relax. But someone, I would say one of those that just left wrote a story about those three, Ginny was mentioned and how she seemed to like the idea that you had money. But it went further with her, it mentioned how she wanted to play quidditch and how being the saviour's girlfriend would almost guarantee a spot on a team. Ron had a lot said about him as well, about how having the saviour as his brother in law would make him more popular and treated like a celebrity. There wasn't much said about Hermione apart from the fact she was the one that told Ron and Ginny about your scars.'

Harry sighed, 'You know, I can't feel sorry for them, they brought this on themselves. So hearing that, I'm not sure Ron and Ginny will return, Hermione won't be able to help herself. If Mrs. Weasley has her way though, they will be back.'

'If they do return how will you handle that?'

'Ignore them even though they deserve worse, but Neville and the others have already done more than they should. But since I will be assisting you in your classes then they will just have to get used to seeing us together. If Ron still wants to be an auror then he will need your N.E.W.T. Level class to be accepted, Ginny won't take that, Hermione will, probably, even though I have no idea what she wants to do.'

'Albus said you will be down as an official member of staff, an assistant, so you will have the same rights as all the other teaching staff. Are you going to be satisfied doing that Harry, just helping me in my classes?'

'Yeah, I like being with you but it will help the younger kids know how to cut and grind properly. Sometimes and even though you can be yourself now, you still get this look which intimidates the younger kids so much that sometimes they don't hear what you say.'

'I suppose it's just part of who I am since I was playing that role for so long. How about for a variety, you help some of the other teachers. You are good at most other subjects, charms, transfiguration and of course defence. You could also help Hagrid with all his beasts.'

'Yeah, that's an idea, as long as Hagrid doesn't have blast ended skrewts again, anything else I can handle. But would the other teachers like having me assist them?'

'I don't see why not, you could help the ones struggling by showing them the right wand movements even how to hold a wand properly. Most first years think they just have to point the wand and the spells will come.'

'I know I felt like that, but my first charms class showed me how hard it really was. I might speak with Dumbledore see if he can find out if the others want or need help.'

'Think of this Harry, there will be two lots of first years starting. The muggleborns who couldn't come last year and there was some that never came because their parents refused to send, so all them along with the normal eleven year olds will be here this year.'

'I forget about those kids, so there will be lots of kids in each class, eleven and twelve year olds.'

'Okay, I saw the pain then, let's head inside, you've had enough sun for a while.'

'Yeah, it's getting worse, more my leg because I'm standing on it,' Harry and Severus walked inside but they never noticed a couple down at the gates staring in. Whether that meant another story or not they would just have to wait and see.

Over the next couple of days, Harry tried to keep the pain from showing, especially when he's friends were visiting, but it just got too hard. He's treatment was going well and the skin was grafting just like it was meant to. Albus kept taking pictures of Harry to document every part of his first procedure and even some of those pictures showed Harry's pain. When the pain in Harry's leg got bad, Severus would make him sit and levitate him around even with Harry complaining that he would be fine.

By the end of the week you could hardly tell Harry had a scar there even if it was still a little red, he was healing nicely just as he's thigh was. Harry and Severus got inventive with their sex life so they could still have some relief without putting too much pressure on Harry's face or leg. By the time Harry's face was completely healed, Albus had sent those pictures off with another small statement in regards to Harry's recovery. Everyone in the magical world got to see how far Harry Potter was willing to go so he wouldn't look different, that he wouldn't attract more attention, that he could be a normal young man.