Chapter eleven
Two days after Harry left the hospital wing, Albus informed Harry and Severus that Ginny was fined ten thousand galleons which she will have to pay off once she gets a job. But there was more, it seems this was Ron's idea and his mother went along with it. So not only was Ginny going to serve two hundred hours of community service at Hogwarts, but so was Ron. Molly Weasley was going to be serving hers at St Mungo's, cleaning. Albus explained that Ron and Ginny would be serving it wherever he thought was necessary, so Mr. Filch will have a lot of help, but so would Severus, whenever students coated the potions room with whatever they had been making. Harry instantly said that he would be with Severus during those times, he would not leave Severus alone even if he could take care of himself. Albus already had that worked out.
After Harry healed from his second procedure, he had decided to take some time before having the next lot done, he figured during the holidays. So Severus and Harry decided it was time to get their other robes.
They were both shaking their heads as they were being fitted for the most expensive and outrageous robes they could ever wear, there were for the opening feast.
'Severus, is that you?'
Harry and Severus lifted their heads, 'Draco, what are you doing here?'
'Getting new robes fitted for Hogwarts. The minister said I have to, it's part of my release agreement. I wanted to return anyway. I thought it'd get it done before everyone else turned up.'
'Yes, the minister sent me a letter explaining your punishment. You are lucky Draco, you could have ended up in Azkaban with your parents.'
'I know, but it's not like I had a choice. You know what my father was like.'
'Yes, I know. It won't be an easy year for you but if you keep your head down and just concentrate on your studies that will get you through it. I will help as much as I can, but not like before.'
'I will be fine, I just want to finish off my education, especially now he's gone and my father is locked up. I want to be a healer now I don't have my father planning my life.'
'Good, then speak with Poppy when you return. If she can see that you are behaving she might give you a recommendation. I will but only if you behave.'
'I will, and um Potter, thanks, for what you did?'
'I did what I had to but you helped me Malfoy, it's a way I could pay you back for that. I'm curious though, he called you by your name Sev, why?'
'Draco is my godson.'
'Oh, okay, makes sense now.'
'Yes, but what's with the robes Severus, not your normal style?'
'Harry and I decided to wear something different, mainly for the opening feast. But we have a few other robes for just the school year.'
'Has this got anything to do with all the lies that seemed to be printed about you two?'
'Yes, my so called friends are causing trouble. I never wanted to show I had money, I didn't want them to feel uncomfortable. But they are causing a lot of trouble for me and Sev, so now I just don't care anymore. I'm going to be assisting Sev in his classes, I have to get myself a gold cauldron.'
'That would definitely show you had money. So all those old and sorry, ugly clothes you wore were because you didn't want them to feel uncomfortable?'
'No, I couldn't get to my vault to shop. My muggle relatives couldn't know about it, so I only wore my cousins cast offs. When I would shop for Hogwarts stuff I was usually guarded, I had to be quick, no time to buy for myself.'
'You also don't have your glasses on anymore.'
'I got contact lenses, again back to having time. I thought about them a few years back but couldn't get into London. So a healer, not something I would have seen you doing.'
'I always wanted to be a healer, my father wanted me to be a lawyer or go into politics.'
'I'm proud of you two,' Severus smirked.
'Why?' Harry grinned.
'You're talking civil to each other instead of trying to curse each other, proves you are growing up.'
'The wars over Sev and if Malfoy can finally think for himself and stop being a prat, I don't have anything against him. But you have to remember, he is a snake, I'm still a lion, old habits die hard.'
'You're married to a snake so behave love,' Harry hissed as he grinned, 'I do not want to know what you said, not until we're alone.'
'I could just imagine,' Draco murmured.
'There you go, all done. I will have these ready by the end of the week.'
'Thank you Madame,' Severus nodded, they both carefully removed their robes before they stepped down, 'We'll go finish our shopping. But if it's alright with you love, I would like Draco to join us for dinner one night this week?'
'Yeah, sure, he's your godson.'
'I'll send you an owl Draco.'
'I look forward to it, and thanks again Potter. Maybe we can get through a year without trying to kill each other.'
'Yeah, maybe we will,' as Harry and Severus went to leave Draco stuck his hand out to Harry who shook it giving the blond a smile.
Severus led Harry into a jewellery store, 'My godson was eyeing you off, I will have to watch him.'
'Sev, not in a million years, I love you.'
'I know and I also know my godson would never hurt me, but I will give him a warning.'
Harry chuckled then wrapped his arms around Severus, giving him a kiss, 'Let's find a nice watch each.'
They looked around at a lot of watched; Harry found one that he thought would look great on Severus. When he picked it up the owner nodded so Harry fastened it to Severus' wrist.
'What do you think?'
'I like the emeralds; they remind me of your eyes. Yes, it's very nice. Now you try this one,' Severus fastened one to Harry's wrists, 'I think it suits you.'
'I like it,' Harry smiled as he looked up into Severus' eyes, 'So we'll get these then head to get some new cauldron's.'
'Yes,' this time Severus signed for the watches, they never bothered taking them off their wrists, they were just given a receipt and boxes the watches came in.
Harry and Severus were walking hand in hand up the gobbled street, 'Do you have a family crest?'
'The prince family does, as you know my father was a muggle.'
'I was just thinking, maybe we could get something made with the Potter and Prince crest or have something made to represent Snape. What do you think?'
'Not Snape, even though I do use the name I did not like my father. But we could see what the Prince and Potter crests look like together. I have never seen either so I do not know how they will look.'
'I haven't seen the Potter crest I just know we have one.'
'Then how about we buy the gold cauldrons but we take them to the jeweller to have the crests done?'
'Yeah, that would be nice.'
'Then let's finish our shopping.'
Apart from buying their solid gold cauldrons which this time Harry paid, they went to get two new brooms, the latest Firebolt which was only released after the death of Voldemort. The owner of quality quidditch supplies made Harry take two broom servicing kits, as appreciation for what he did during the war, which he did reluctantly and only because he could tell how much it meant to the man. Harry figured he wouldn't get much more time to shop soon, so they also went into a few men's clothes shops and both men got some more clothes for weekends. One thing Harry talked Severus into getting was a beautiful swede coat that went to the middle of his thighs, with silver buttons with snakes decorating them. Harry also bought a similar coat but found one with owls. He always loved Hedwig and this will always remind him of his faithful owl.
After they delivered the cauldrons to the jeweller they went to Gringotts to find out about the Potter and Prince crests. They had been surprised with how similar they were, the Potter crest was a p with two crossed wands. The Prince crest also had a p, two crossed wands and a crown sitting above the tops of the wands. They took the picture back to the jeweller who said he would own a few different designs that would incorporate both crests. After that Harry and Severus went back to Hogwarts, just in time for dinner. They had not realised how long they had been gone, but it turned out they had been in Diagon alley almost the entire day.
Harry nor Severus told the staff about their robes for the opening feast, but both believed they would out do Albus Dumbledore's flamboyant robes. Severus' were a deep green with silver trim, representing his Slytherin heritage but also the Prince family was represented by the colour green. It also had a lot of silver moonstones around the bottom, down the join in the centre and on the cuffs and collar. The clasp at the top was a diamond encrusted snake. Harry's robes were silver in colour which was the colour that represented the Potters; it had emerald green trim, emeralds around the bottom, down the join, on the cuffs and collar. The clasp at the top was a diamond encrusted lion.
Severus had noticed that since the two large scars on Harry's face and neck were now gone, he had gone back to his happy playful self, sometimes so much so he would shock the staff when bringing up something personal, especially about their sex life. The scars on his arms, his legs, stomach and back were hidden by clothes, so Harry was going to have those done during the holidays.
'You look gorgeous love,' Severus stood behind Harry while he was staring in the large mirror, he slipped his arms around his husband, then kissed his neck.
Harry smiled, 'I feel better, but it's you that is gorgeous,' Harry turned in Severus' arms, 'These robes are so un us, but I like them.'
'Yes, I do not think I have ever worn something so…different. I believe we are going to shock Hogwarts.'
Harry laughed, 'I think you're right but I also think you are going to have students swooning when they see you, oh you are so beautiful.'
'As long as you loved me that is all I want.'
'You know Sev, I've been doing a lot of thinking about us. Okay, my mother did the bond, but our feelings that were brought out were more than what that bond should have been. Our family crests are very similar, so much so they look like they belong together. We hate being apart, more than just what the bond requires for the first year. We are also so in tuned with each other, it's like we can sense what the other is feeling or thinking.'
'Yes, I have done a lot of thinking about that and there might be a reason. I do not know much about soul mates, but I do know there are people out there that can see when two people are true soul mates. From what I remember if a couple are in close proximity to this person, they will see an aura around both people, it will move towards their soul mate. It did seem very unusual that your mother would have bonded us, she could have bonded you to Albus or Alice Longbottom as I know the Longbottom's were good friends with your parents. Lily spoke with your father and godfather about this, I was not in the room when they discussed this, but they agreed to allow me to be bonded to you. There were so many around back then that could have easily bonded with you and kept you safe, yet Remus suggested this bond as protection and to use someone outside the circle of friends, but there were others, not just me. So why was your mother so adamant on it being me to bond with you?'
'Do you think there might be something written down that would tell us if my mother could see soul aura's or soul mates?'
'There might be, if there was it might be in your vault or even in that house.'
'Maybe during the holidays we could make a trip to both. Dumbledore did tell me he enchanted the roof in the house to make it stable, for when they got my parents bodies out of there. It's also enchanted to my magical signature.'
'Have you thought about how it would be to enter that house?'
'Yeah, I have a few times. I don't remember any of it but the dementors did make me hear it. I don't know how I will be except I know I could if you were with me. You give me strength to do things I never thought I could.'
'I will be with you love, never doubt that. But we should head to the great hall; the students will be arriving soon.'
'Okay,' Harry kissed Severus, they held hands and headed up into the main part of the school. They both smiled at each other before walking into the great hall. They couldn't help it, they laughed loudly at the looks on all the staff members faces, even Albus looked stunned.
'Oh my, I knew you were responsible for getting Severus out of his old black robes Harry, but this is incredible,' Minerva said smiling at the two men.
'I think you both look amazing and you match without being in the same type of robes, very nice,' Albus smiled.
'Thank you, not my usual robes but I do like them,' Severus and Harry took their seats which was on Albus' left, Minerva on his right. Not long after they sat down Minerva got up ready to greet the new first years.
'The sounds of excited children returning,' Albus nodded towards the doors.
'They're on their way in,' Harry grinned then turned so he was facing the great hall. When he saw Neville and all his other friends they waved to Harry who waved back, but he could see they were surprised by his robes. Harry couldn't help but grin hugely with the looks on Ron, Ginny and Hermione's faces as they walked in alone and as they sat everyone moved away from them. Both Ron and Ginny glared at Harry who were both in their old robes, which were too short for them.
'It seems those three are going to be shunned,' Severus said taking Harry's hand, kissing his palm.
'Looks like it, but they brought it on themselves so I have no sympathy for them.'
Albus tapped his glass to let the students know it was time for silence, Minerva brought the first years in and it was more than anyone had ever seen before. The sorting hat just spoke about Hogwarts and the four houses, but it did say that the four houses were now more united than ever before. Harry and Severus received looks from students and staff at the mention of this. They figured if a Gryffindor and a Slytherin could marry, it was going to have an effect on those two houses. The sorting took longer than ever before, Albus said a short welcome back speech before the food appeared.
'I don't think I've ever seen the great hall so crowded before,' Harry lent forwards, 'Has there ever been this many students before Professor?'
'No, I went through some old history papers of Hogwarts in regards to student population. This year will have the most Hogwarts has ever seen. Apart from two lots of first years, there are also the students like you who should have left already but have returned to finish the education they could not do last year. I know we lost a few older students due to the war and some of the Slytherin's who were revealed to be a true supporter of Tom ended up in Azkaban, but we still have more than any time in history,' Albus explained.
'I can believe it, it's so incredible.'
'It is and having you assist the staff will actually help, with this amount of students. You could say there will be at least twenty students more in all the first and seventh year classes.'
'I'm looking forward to it professor,' Harry sat back and continued eating, 'So maybe next year we could have a baby?' he whispered.
'If you wish, you know I want children Harry. So maybe a nice holiday once the school year has finished then we can talk about it.'
'So a trip overseas, do you have any place in mind?'
'There are a few that have taken my interest, we will sit down and work it all out when we have time.'
'There's one or two places I heard about that sound nice, but you would know more than I would. So we'll get a map out and you can explain about what other countries have to offer.'
'I can do that, now finish eating so I can get you back to bed.'
'I like the sound of that,' Harry grinned then placed a strawberry dipped in chocolate into Severus' mouth. The two men were oblivious to the looks they were receiving while they fed each other strawberry's. All Albus did was smile, with the familiar twinkle in his eyes.
