Chapter 11- 1997
Severus was stood in the Potions classroom. He knew Alex/Harry was due back any second now. He had waited outside the classroom door twenty years ago while his soul mate and Professor Dumbledore were inside waiting for him to be sent back to his own time.
The Boy Who Lived reappeared in the Potions classroom. It was late, everyone was at dinner. Only Severus was there, waiting for him to arrive. He was stood beside his desk looking tense.
Harry looked at Severus. He could not sense anything from the man and his face was completely expressionless. Shooting a glance at his right hand he saw that his lover was still wearing Slytherin's ring. It gave him hope.
Severus noticed the movement and suddenly realised that his expression hadn't changed since Alex came back. It was his patented emotionless mask. He carefully lowered it and smiled faintly at his old lover.
The teen relaxed and flew over to embrace him, (You waited for me, love?) He asked.
(Of course I promised I would didn't I?) Was the amused response in his mind. Severus hugged his mate back tightly, breathing in Alex, 'no Harry's', unique smell. That wonderful smell of love and home that he had been missing for the past twenty years.
(I love you, Sev.)
(I love you too. Merlin, how I have missed you!) Severus exclaimed then he noticed what had been nagging at him, the only difference between Alexander Frost and Harry Potter. The scar. "You still have your glamour on, love."
As he spoke the infamous scar reappeared, just as he remembered it. "So…you don't mind that I'm Harry Potter?" Harry asked cautiously finally getting to the root of what had been bothering him since he met Severus.
"To me you will always be Alex. You once said that there was a mask you showed the world and I think I saw some of it when you were in the past. After you disappeared I went over my memories and realised that I knew some of those mannerisms. Your mask is Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived. Alex is who you really are." Severus answered in an even tone.
They kissed passionately. Severus broke away a little breathless after several minutes. "As much as I would love to continue this, it is not the place. Do you want to go meet your friends now?" He asked quietly silently fearing the answer. He had not seen his mate in twenty years and did not want to leave him, not even for a day.
Harry kissed him softly and then spoke, "They have only spent ten months without me. It has been twenty years for you. You deserve tonight."
Severus smiled brilliantly at his love; it felt like he had not smiled in years, he probably hadn't actually. He cast an invisibility spell on them, "So that no one sees us," until they reached the Potions Master's rooms.
Thankfully the corridors were empty, everyone was still at dinner. They paused outside a painting on the wall. (We're here.) Severus told him. The door guardian was a portrait of Salazar Slytherin Harry noticed. 'Ironic considering Sev is his heir and holds the same position he did at Hogwarts.'
"Gryffindor is in there too but he spends most of his time behind the frame," Severus informed Harry, "These are the dungeons after all and he is the original Gryffindor."
As Severus spoke the portrait Slytherin turned and beckoned to someone they could not see. Gryffindor shuffled into the picture and smiled at the couple. "We'll talk later. There is much we have to discuss." He said.
"Very well Godric." Severus sighed exaggeratedly.
Harry was so happy to see that this 'new' Severus was still the one he fell in love with. He had feared that twenty years had changed the man irreparably.
Diligo victum vics He hissed in Parsletongue. It was the password. The portrait of the last soulmate couple swung forward and Severus walked into his quarters with Harry following behind him.
Harry looked at his mate in faint surprise. 'He speaks Parsletongue?' He smiled. Now he wasn't the only known Parslemouth except for Voldemort and he would get to use the snake language more often. He did like it; it simply rolled of the tongue. Other people's reactions to the sibilant language were usually priceless too.
When the door swung shut Severus grabbed Harry and kissed him. (Are you sure this is what you want?) He questioned his lover telepathically. (I am older now, used.)
(Of course.) Harry replied and kissed him back. (You're not used. Yes, you're older but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Think of all the things you can teach me…) He trailed off suggestively.
Severus groaned at the thought and, without breaking the kiss, picked up his mate and carried him into his bedroom. One advantage of the age difference was that Severus was now bigger and stronger than Harry and his smaller lover fit into him perfectly. As he put Harry down Harry kept hold of him so he was pulled down on top of the younger man. Moving lower to kiss Harry's neck Severus felt his lover's hands pulling at his robes impatiently. He smirked as he felt the other's annoyance at the amount of buttons. Finally Harry just waved his hand and the buttons were undone magically. The green-eyed young man removed his lover's clothing and feasted his eyes on the adult body of his love. There were many scars Harry noted but he thought that they just made Severus more attractive; he had his own scars that the glamour had covered up not just the lightening bolt one and they all told a story. Each one had a meaning, a past. Harry longed to know them all personally and then kill the ones who inflicted them. The older man noticed Harry's staring and became self conscious about the amount of scars he had. Harry's sensed the direction of his lover's thoughts and hurried to reassure him, (You are beautiful to me Sev.)
Severus continued his exploration of his lover's body. He had not seen it in twenty years after all, time dulled the memories. He remembered that Harry was slightly ticklish on his sides and that his neck was particularly sensitive. Twenty years of waiting for his lover to return had made him slightly impatient, however, and he quickly moved down his mate's lithe form.
While Severus was preoccupied with removing Harry's robe Harry took advantage of his distraction and switched their positions so that he was on top of Severus. He began to kiss every inch of that delicious alabaster skin he could see. (Tonight is for you, my love. Let me do the work.)
His lips promptly found Severus' need and without warning took the whole of his lover into his mouth. Severus moaned and called out, "Alex!"
It was not long until the pleasure was too great and he climaxed. Harry swallowed his mate's seed and continued gently sucking on the rapidly softening cock.
Severus pulled him up for a kiss and felt Harry's erection digging into his thigh. He moved his leg forward and Harry moaned into his mouth. The teen soon came and the couple lay on the bed, limbs entwined.
"I've missed you so much." Severus murmured.
"I'm so sorry Sev. I would have given anything to stay with you. I almost didn't go back. I was going to fight it but I knew that I had to return. Were you angry when you found out who I really am?"
"I was shocked more than anything. It was a gradual realisation more than anything. When you apparated to the Burrow and I was called along with Albus I noticed the changes in you. You looked so much like Alex that it sent my mind reeling. It couldn't be you. You were Harry Potter. As time went on and you recovered I saw more and more things about you were similar to Alex. I guess subconsciously I knew it was you. I just wasn't ready to accept it yet. When you disappeared I spent a lot of time thinking about it. I'd treated you so badly. I wondered if you'd even want me when you returned even after all you said when I was seventeen." He confessed.
Harry frowned, "I hope Remus talked you out of it. I knew exactly what and who I would come back to. I respected you greatly before I vanished, truth be told I also thought you were sexy but I fell in love with you in the past. Nothing can change that." He said joining their right hands so their soulmate rings glowed briefly in the dim.
Severus smiled softly at him and they began to kiss again. Despite having an orgasm less than half an hour ago Severus quickly hardened, as did Harry but with the rampant teenage hormones that was to be expected. Harry felt his lover's erection and summoned the lubricant. He handed it to his mate and rolled onto his stomach.
The older man simply stared at the young man now beneath him. . 'I still can't believe he's mine.' He thought. Regaining his senses he quickly put some of the home-made lubricant onto his fingers and worked them inside his mate. When he was finally loose enough, he slowly thrust into the young man. The feeling was so intense. This was what he had been missing for the past twenty years. He stopped as soon as he was fully sheathed. He knew that if he moved he would come too soon.
After a few minutes Harry couldn't stand the stillness anymore. He clenched his muscles around Severus' cock and shifted back impatiently.
There love-making was slow and passionate. Harry felt worshipped. It was as though Severus was paying homage to his body as he thrust into it again and again each time hitting that sweet spot. The climax was slow to build up and achingly sweet. Exhausted, Severus didn't even move out of Harry and they both fell asleep with smiles on their faces.
Harry woke up early the next morning aching pleasantly. He felt Severus' cock still embedded in him and smiled, loving the full feeling. 'This is where he belongs.' Harry never wanted to feel alone, he wanted Severus in him all the time but he knew that it could not be. 'I can just see everyone's faces if we were to walk into the Great hall naked and joined like this.' He thought and had to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud. He wiggled. Severus woke up when he felt the movement and grew hard again. He froze, unsure of whether Harry wanted another go around or not. The younger sensed his hesitation and showed him that he did indeed want another go around. They made love, faster and harder than last night then went for a shower.
Severus had to leave after eating breakfast, he had a class to teach and his absence from the Great Hall would already have been noticed, but he returned to his rooms when he finished teaching for the day. After casting the invisibility spell on Harry again - his cloak was in his dorm in Gryffindor Tower - they went up to the headmaster's office. When Harry saw Dumbledore he was almost blinded by the twinkle in his eyes.
"Welcome back, Harry," He said with a smile, "I see that you and Severus have worked out your differences at last." He finished wryly. "Lemon drop?"
Harry shook his head and turned to his mate with a sly and rather smug smile. Then he looked back to Dumbledore and saw his smiling at them benignly.
"Sir, where are we going to say that I've been all year?" Harry asked.
"I think it would be best if we were to say that you were sent away for training, don't you think? Although Mr Weasley and Miss Granger are aware of the truth." The older man answered.
Harry sighed, glad that he would not be forced to lie to his best friends. This way his relationship with Severus could be explained more easily than they had just suddenly stopped hating each other.
"Yes, they spoke to Lupin and he sent then to me for further information as to why you were sorted into Slytherin." Severus said wryly. (Love, your friends have sent me a few funny looks since then. I believe that they know about us. Bill Weasley was, after all, a second year in our seventh and the whole school knew about us thanks to your father's rather large mouth.)
The memory of their public outing by James Potter suddenly rushed into Harry's mind. It had been in February, Alex and Severus had been walking out of the library laughing quietly at a shared joke when the Marauders came around the corner. Never one to miss an opportunity to bait Severus, James quickly assessed the situation and took a lucky guess, "So…you're shagging Frost then Snape? Poor boy. What on earth must you have promised him or told him to make him submit to you like that?"
Severus' cheeks had erupted but he stayed silent. He knew from experience that it was better to ignore the Gryffindor.
Alex, on the other hand, was fed up of his father's arrogance and decided to take him down a peg or two. "Do you have something against homosexuals Potter? I really hope you don't or else the Marauders might have a little problem. After all Lupin and Black have been shagging for a year now or didn't you know? Has it ever occurred to you that the world is not as black and white as you see it? There is no black and white; only grey. The sooner you realise this the better. War is coming, little boy. Will you be able to handle it?"
James Potter had been stumped, gobsmaked and utterly speechless. Before leaving Alex had sent an apologetic glance at Remus Lupin who nodded almost imperceptibly. Sirius Black didn't even notice the exchange; he was too busy being shocked to notice anything at the moment.
Harry questioned Albus, "So you will announce my return at dinner?"
"Yes, I think that would be best. Come to my office at the start of the evening meal and I will take you down." Dumbledore stated.
Harry nodded, 'How ostentatious does he want to be?' he asked his mate. 'Come on. I disappeared during a Potions class and am being re-introduce to the school at dinner.'
Severus snorted in his mind and moved as though to get up. Harry got up as well but Albus stopped him.
"Oh Harry would you mind remaining behind for a few minutes. I wish to talk to you."
Harry sat back down and looked at the elderly man curiously.
"I wanted to offer you the Defence position, Harry. I realise that you haven't even gotten your NEWT results yet but you are more than qualified for the job. It will keep you at Hogwarts and Severus," He added with a smirk, "If you wanted you could always study for your Mastery during the summer. What do you say?"
"I'm a little surprised, professor. I don't know if I can teach. I would want to be a Master first. May I'll think about it and give you my answer at graduation?" He answered slowly. Harry wanted to discuss it with his soulmate first. He wasn't sure if Severus wanted the Defence position or not.
"Of course. I'll let you get back to Severus now, Harry." That was a clear dismissal.
The Gryffindor stood up and headed to the door, as he opened it Dumbledore spoke again, "Oh and Harry? I'm happy for you and Severus. I saw how he changed during the time you were in the past."
Harry blushed Gryffindor red and left as fast as he could. He met Severus at the bottom of the stairs. He had waited for his mate.
(He just offered me the Defence position, Sev. There are rumours around school that you always wanted the position. If you do then I'll decline.) He told his mate honestly.
(Don't you even dare. I have no interest in the cursed position for myself. The only reason it appeared that way was because I knew that you would take the position. You were perfect for it. Every time Albus hired another incompetent fool it was another reminder that you still hadn't come back to me. That's why I was such a bastard to the Defence professors … well that and most were complete idiots. I am perfectly content with my Potions.)
When they got back to the dungeons Harry started asking Severus about what had happened since he left and Severus finally got the answers to questions he had had for twenty years. He had also introduced Harry to his familiar, Noir. A black mamba snake that he had found in the Animal Menagerie five years ago.
Pleased to meet you, Noir Harry hissed to the snake on his mate's lap.
So you are my master's mate. The one he has often spoken of. The snake hissed in reply. He flicked out his tongue, smelling him.
Apparently Noir decided that he liked him because he slithered off of Severus' lap and up Harry's arm onto his shoulders where he wound himself. Severus smirked at the sight. Noir was notorious for being as surly as his owner and had never climbed another. Clearly this was another example of how snake and owner's tastes coincided.
The time for Harry's announced return had arrived. He listened from a side corridor as the headmaster told the school that Harry had been in training for the past ten months. The people who had been in that fateful potions class frowned in confusion but did not contradict him. Harry walked into the Great Hall when he was summoned. Ron and Hermione jumped up from Gryffindor Table and tackled the stunned boy to the floor, Hermione almost in tears. Gryffindor erupted into cheers as did Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Slytherin clapped unenthusiastically, many of the seventh years remained stone-faced. Draco Malfoy looked torn between relief and disgust.
Later that night Harry, Ron and Hermione were alone in the Common Room. Harry silently put up a privacy charm and accepted the expected barrage of questions.
"So you were sent back in time to your parents' seventh year." Hermione stated matter of factly.
Harry nodded, "1977."
"Did you get to meet your parents, Harry?" Ron asked. He and Hermione had been comforted in Harry's absence by the thought that he would be with his parents.
"I was friends with my mum but my dad hated me. I was a Slytherin and a male who was friends with Lily, being the jealous git he was he didn't like that. The fact that I was gay made him only slightly less hostile. But it was great to see them. They were so young and carefree," He answered with a bittersweet smile, "They all were. Voldemort hadn't touched their lives as devastatingly as he would yet."
Finally Ron couldn't talk it any longer and burst out, "Snape?"
Harry understood perfectly and blushed a brilliant Gryffindor red before nodding shyly.
"Why?" a Gobsmaked Ron asked.
"He's not what we always assumed, Ron. He's funny, smart, sarcastic as hell yes but sweet and thoughtful. Not to mention gorgeous." The teen rhymed off with a glassy look in his eyes.
Hermione heard and recognised the emotion in his voice and considering what the older man had said and his expression while he said it the professor still felt the same way. Besides she had calculated that Harry would probably come back yesterday and when she went down to the dungeons, without Ron, she found the classroom door locked. After glancing at the Marauders Map she found that Professor Snape was inside. Harry hadn't returned to the dorms last night, yet it was apparent that he did return to his time then. That was all she needed to know. "I'm so happy for you, Harry. You managed to find perhaps the one person in England that doesn't care that you're Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived. I'm glad that you got to meet him twenty year ago. Maybe he wasn't quite as…harsh then."
"He was always harsh, 'Mione. His name is Severus after all and it suits him perfectly." Harry joked. Severus in Latin meant harsh.
Ron wasn't as easily convinced as his girlfriend but he would give the professor a chance. Harry deserved to be happy and Ron would accept anyone who made his brother happy, even Voldemort himself if he had to.
The following Saturday Harry went to find Remus Lupin.
"Hey Remmy." He said lightly from the doorway of Remus' office.
"Harry, or should I say Alex, welcome back." The older man replied with a knowing smile. "Come in."
Harry sat down and spoke up after a moment, "I just wanted to thank you for being my friend even when my dad and Siri hated me. I know that must have been hard on you."
Remus could see that the young man had been hurt by his father and godfather's hostility towards him and hastened to reassure his pseudo-godson, "They didn't hate you, you know. But you defended Severus and you were also a Slytherin. I'm afraid that neither of them lived long enough to mature to the point where they didn't think that all Slytherin's were evil. Lily once told James that Alex was the one who convinced her to give him a chance. He was grateful to you but never got a chance to show it, you had left by then."
Harry smiled sadly, "At least I got to see him again. Siri too. I miss him."
"So do I." Remus agreed sombrely. He had lost his lover for the second time when Sirius fell beyond the Veil. "Now judging by the fact that I can smell Severus on you I'll just go ahead and assume that he did meet you last night." He added with a teasing smile to lighten the moment.
Harry blushed a wonderful Gryffindor red. He seemed to be doing that a lot recently; quite strange really he had never been a blusher before. "Yeah. I was terrified that he would hate me when he found out who I was. I half expected to re-appear in an empty classroom completely alone.
"I had expected that from you to be honest. You always have been so unsure so…self-conscious especially when it came to relationships as both Harry and Alex. Though you were fine once you and Severus got together. To be honest you seemed perfect for each other." Remus commented.
Harry quickly got Sev's permission and told Remus what they had learnt twenty years ago at Christmas when they put on the soulmate rings of Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor.
"Wow that is amazing. And you say that all the rumours of what soulmates can do are true?" He asked.
Harry nodded. "So tell me…what was Severus like when he found out who I was? I have his version of events but you know what he is like."
"Well, he was actually scared that you wouldn't want him anymore," he held up a hand to stop Harry, "But I managed to convince him. Anyone with half a brain could see that you two were crazy about each other, even the Gryffindors knew it." He joked.
Harry laughed then said emotionally, "Thank you Remus, for everything."
"Come here, pup," And he wrapped his arms around the boy, "Your parents would have been so proud of you. You know I think Lily may have begun to suspect your identity. She once said to me when you were one and playing with your toys in the playpen that you reminded her so much of Alex. I think it was your goodbye that made her consider it. Along with a few things you had said about your life. Then to our surprise we turned to look at you and you were floating in mid air while your toys acted out a play for your entertainment. You did magic quite often while you were at Godric's Hollow, we always knew that you'd be powerful. Didn't half scare the hell out of us sometimes though." He said to the crying teen in his arms.
Harry sobbed for the life he never had and the family he couldn't remember unless Dementors were near. Not that seeing your family die were particularly good memories but they were memories and the only ones he had had of his own until he went back in time.
The teen spent the rest of the day with Remus, discussing things that had happened just after he left. For example, Remus, unlike Severus, would know more about what happened to his father because Sev and Lily didn't see very much of each other once she and James were married, only at the Order meetings.
Graduation came quickly and although he had not taken his NEWT's with his year he had taken them in 1977 as Alexander Frost and was very excited to find out how he had done. When Dumbledore reached his adopted name on the list and called out, "Now this particular young man took us quite by surprise. He managed to score the highest marks in the history of the school in Charms, Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Alexander will you please step up for your diploma."
The whole school frowned as one in confusion. Who was this boy? No one had ever heard of him much less remembered spending the past seven years at school with him. Each of the houses was looking at the others, searching for the mysterious young man.
Harry Potter stood up and without looking back resolutely walked over to the head table ignoring the mutterings coming from behind him. He had not allowed anyone to see his results so he allowed himself a quick glance at Ron and Hermione. Ron had his mouth hanging open in shock but Hermione was smiling at him proudly, she noticed him looking and mouthed, "I knew you could do it."
Then he glanced at Remus Lupin, one of his study partners. He was also looking at him proudly. Remus remembered just how smart Alex had been and wasn't surprised by his NEWT results.
Finally he snuck a peak at his lover and soulmate. He had purposely kept his results a secret from Sev but had the sneaky feeling that the Slytherin had guessed at them. As usual when it regarded Harry Potter Severus was staring at him in hate and disgust but Harry knew that it was just a façade because he felt the pride and love the man sent through the bond to him.
As he reached out to take his diploma Draco Malfoy snapped out of his stupor and called out, "But that's not his name!"
Dumbledore answered him carefully, "Mr Potter took the exam under a pseudonym as he took the exams during his training." He handed the Gryffindor the scroll and said quietly, "Congratulations Mr Frost."
Harry smirked at that. He looked down at the scroll and saw the Slytherin crest on the top which made his smirk even more pronounced. After shaking hands with his professors he went back to his seat and was instantly set upon by his house mates. He refused to answer any questions and Dumbledore quickly began calling the rest of the students up.
(I'm glad all our revision paid off. I set the record for Potions and History of Magic and came first in our year in Duelling.) Severus commented as Hermione was getting her diploma.
(Me too. Congratulations. It was a shame that I was sent back before the championship match though.) Harry had been disappointed that he had missed out on the chance to duel with the best in his year. No doubt his father and godfather would have been there and he would have seriously enjoyed hexing their arses into next week.
Severus sensed his lover's thoughts and sent a mental equivalent of an amused smirk, (I did that myself, love. I will show you the memory later.)
Unfortunately, they were unable to see each other in private for the rest of the week. As they had already taken their exams the seventh years were allowed to roam round Hogsmeade and Hogwarts as they pleased. Many parties consequently ensued but Harry, unlike his friends apart from Hermione who only went to the odd one, spent all his time in the library researching new curses. Now that his lover was back Severus ached to spend as much time with him as possible. 'Imagine the pupils reactions if I went over and kissed him senseless' He thought in amusement as he watched Harry discreetly at dinner. The soulmates were condemned to talking telepathically at night.
Latin translation - Love conquers time