And I know. I suck at updating. Planning a wedding takes a long time, especially when you are trying to do so from a few states away. And even more especially when the caterer is an absolute git. Damn I want to kick them.
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Chapter 64Tallis lay sprawled out on his large bed next to Bill, enjoying the view.
Bill was absolutely perfect.
Sure, people said that all the time about their significant others, but Tallis was quite certain that he was right about this.
Bill not only had the height that Tallis had always wished for himself, but he was also perfectly built. He lacked the nearly overbuilt appearance of Charlie and he was miles away from Ron and the twins' gangliness that they were stuck in while trying to catch up to their bodies as they grew too quickly.
His boyfriend's pale skin had a slight golden glow—nothing resembling a true tan, but very definitely nothing like his Father's sallow paleness.
And as much as he knew Bill hated them, Tallis also delighted in the few golden freckles that he could still see. They faded a bit each year and Tallis prayed that they would never leave entirely. Once when he had been hiding from Dudley and his gang he had overheard a teacher comforting a young girl who had endured her classmates' harsh teasing over her own freckles. The teacher had announced that a girl without freckles was like the sky without stars.
Now Bill was no girl by any means, but Tallis couldn't help but feel that Bill without his freckles would be his own sky without the stars. He would simply not be the same without them.
He leaned over and licked a small cluster of freckles near Bill's nipple.
"Done checking me out?" Bill asked softly, his laughter evident in his voice.
"The view is unparalleled," Tallis murmured, leaning up a bit to reach his other nipple. He finally gave up and slid in between Bill's legs, leaning heavily on Bill's broad chest and rolling his hips gently against Bill.
Bill sucked in a harsh breath.
Tallis stopped his movement and looked down for a moment before reaching out a hesitant hand.
Bill held his breath, uncertain if any reaction of any kind would encourage his skittish lover right now or discourage him.
Tallis lightly ran his hand over Bill's thigh, gently stroking the golden hair. His eyes never strayed from the sight of his hand, seemingly unable to take in what was happening.
Almost of it's own volition, his hand snaked closer, his fingers running lightly through the curls and skipping by Bill's cock to descend lower.
Bill couldn't hold back a moan as he felt Tallis' slim fingers stroke his arse hesitantly.
Tallis nearly jumped at the sound, looking up frantically into Bill's face for confirmation that he was fine. He gave a crooked smile and a small nod before returning to his explorations.
At the tentative entrance of one slim finger, Bill gave up trying to restrain his appreciation and spread his legs wider, thrusting harder into Tallis. Merlin, it had been a long time. He nearly grinned himself as he saw Tallis' nervous smile become a genuine one as Tallis grew more confident, inserting another finger.
"Lube," he said hoarsely, not really wanting to stop but knowing that he would definitely regret it later if he tried this dry.
Tallis looked at him blankly.
"The lube's on the table," he said, gesturing to the side.
Luckily, Tallis didn't get upset over his lack of foresight into handling the basics of anal sex. He just gave another crooked smile and reached out a hand, silently summoning the lube and quickly putting it to use.
Gods, he had been waiting for this for a long time. Bill nearly screamed in delight when he finally felt his lover enter him for the first time.
SDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSD
Tallis hadn't moved from his position on top of Bill. He had collapsed there a few minutes ago and he simply could not bring himself to move. He didn't know how Bill handled not only being on top and topping gorgeously each time, but managing to not crush him at the end. Tallis couldn't move if he wanted to.
"Damn," Bill breathed.
Tallis giggled softly. Then, completely appalled that he had giggled he started to laugh louder.
"Damn," Bill repeated blankly. "Tallie, please don't ever make me wait another three years before you top again."
"That was brilliant," Tallis said as he got his laughter under control before a few more giggles burst out. He couldn't believe how free he felt.
Bill's strong hands moved up to hold Tallis closer, lightly stroking his back. "You ok?"
"Never better."
"Good."
Bill wanted to say more, but at the same time he had no desire to voluntarily bring Tallis' uncle into their bedroom, particularly when Tallis had finally managed to set aside such a major fear. Vernon had been a specter in their love life for as long as he could remember. It seemed that his reign over Tallis' sexuality had finally begun to draw to a close.
Bill was quite certain that this was not the end to all issues, but it was a damn good jump toward the end.
He rolled over onto his side, tucking Tallis into his arm again. They lay there silently for a few moments, both of them lost in thought.
Bill thought back to a conversation he had with Ron and Charlie over the holiday. He could almost feel the truth in it, particularly after Tallis had shared his sorrow and fear about his father leaving his job at Hogwarts. Tallis was terrified he would lose Severus—that Severus would, for some reason, decide that he no longer wanted a son (or worse, no longer wanted him as a son) and would leave him.
His mind drifted back to the short talk with his brothers…
"I've never seen him so happy before," Ron said softly, watching with his brothers from the terrace as Tallis and Severus walked slowly through the dead winter garden below, gathering ingredients that were somehow improved by harvesting them in the freezing temperature. Ron had stopped listening once he understood they were doing something boring involving potions.
"Either of them," Bill added.
"It is much easier on Tallis now that he doesn't have to pretend as much anymore. That is what has given him the strength to go through with this trial," Charlie said, sipping his rapidly cooling tea.
"The strain was getting worse," Ron acknowledged. It felt that each year his friend had to struggle more and more just to keep it together. He was failing miserably at projecting the Gryffindor image that the World expected.
"The muggles were getting worse," Bill said bitterly.
Charlie hummed his agreement, not making any comment over which strain had been affecting his friend more. "You know he'll probably never be ready to leave him, don't you?"
Bill gave a quick nod, his eyes never wavering from the slim form of his lover down below.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked.
"I don't know if Tallis will ever be ready to truly leave Severus—to move out—move away. Even if he does manage it, he'll never want to be far."
"You think?" Ron tried to imagine that. All of his older brothers had moved out when they finished Hogwarts. Bill had even moved to Egypt for a time and Charlie was still in Romania. He himself had no desire to move that far away, but it had never occurred to him to stay at home with his parents.
Bill cut in. "There's nothing wrong with it. It's not dependence in any way that seems harmful, it's just…they are so close. They found each other when they both needed it the most, and they bonded both as friends and as family at the same time. It's not that he needs his dad to make decisions for him, it's just that he seems to be soothed and rejuvenated by being in his presence."
"It's the constant reminder that not only does he have a family, but that his family loves him," Charlie explained.
Ron nodded slowly. "I can see that. I guess the Professor does give him something different from the rest of us. And I guess you're right…I can't see Tallis ever willingly moving away like you, Charlie, or like Percy. Even the twins, although they didn't go too far. I can't see him moving even that far away from the Professor." He paused for a moment. "Does that bother you Bill?"
"No. How can I grudge him something like that? Severus is a great man. I wouldn't mind living close by him for…well, for the rest of our lives. Or even in the Manor with him for a while."
"He has gotten a lot better since he found Tallis," Ron acknowledged.
The three brothers had drifted back inside shortly thereafter, shelving the topic for the day and possibly forever. As far as Bill was concerned, it didn't really need to be discussed. They would live wherever Tallis would be most comfortable. He was a wizard, after all, and could always apparate or portkey to work if he wanted to work somewhere far away or off of the floo network.
"What are you thinking about?" Tallis asked, pulling him from his reverie as he twisted around in his arms.
"This summer," Bill said with at least partial honesty. "Do you want to live in the Manor again?"
"I…yes, if you don't mind."
"Of course not. I just wanted to know if I should still keep the lease on the flat or if I should let it go."
"Does it bother you?"
Bill snorted. "I could be alone in my flat or I could be in bed with you. Which do you think I'd prefer?"
"No, I mean did you want me to move into the flat with you?"
Bill noticed that Tallis' voice sounded a bit thin and nervous. "No, I think I'd prefer the Manor. Not to mention it has far better defences set up than any flat could."
Tallis breathed a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief. "That's good. I was thinking I might stay in the Manor next school year too."
"You don't have to live here?"
"No. I can choose rooms with either or my masters for free or I can room outside of the school but at my own expense. I stayed here this year because dad was here, but I thought I might not bother next year."
"That would certainly make things easier for me if I didn't have to deal with the anti apparation wards all the time. I hate flooing to work every day."
Tallis smiled. "Good. That's settled then."
"Have you decided what to do about teaching this semester?"
Tallis sighed heavily. "I don't know. I want to outright refuse. Honestly—what does that say about how they see me that they are so willing to overthrow my education so quickly? This is an incredibly important time in my studies and the cavalier way they asked me to toss them aside is almost sickening.
"More though, what does that say about their hopes and expectations for the entire seventh year class that they are willing to have someone a mere one year older than them in charge of leading them through their most difficult semester? This isn't like some first year class, where if I mess up a real professor has six years to fix it in. This is these students last chance to learn this in a classroom setting unless they pursue a mastery. I want to tell the Headmistress to fuck off and find these kids a real professor."
"…But…?" Bill prompted.
"You and I both know I'll probably never say that. I have decided though to accept teaching either the third and sixth years or the seventh years. Their choice. I had thought to say I would only teach one class but I knew they would stick me with the seventh years. This way they might opt to give me the third and sixth so I am dealing with two classes worth."
"The seventh years would take less classroom time," Bill pointed out.
"They deserve more than a temporary junior professor during the last year of their schooling. They're preparing for the NEWTs for Merlin's sake!"
"And you just scored as high as their prior professor on your own NEWT. You'd do fine with them. They'd learn a lot from you."
Tallis shrugged. "I guess. I just think they deserve a real professor—a master in his or her field. Not a master-candidate."
"I understand. I can almost guarantee they'll shove you with the seventh years. There's no one else here that scored nearly as high as you."
Tallis' thin shoulders drooped. "I know. I wish I could just refuse, but seeing as I was rather instrumental in creating this whole mess to begin with…"
"You did not create a 'mess' Tallis," Bill said angrily. "If anything you cleaned it up. Don't take blame where it doesn't belong. Remember that you're doing them a favor to accept any of this at all. They could always at least make an effort to hire someone full time—hell, even part time. They didn't bother to place an advert in the papers. It sucks that it's all fallen on McGonicall to pick up the pieces, but I am certain that she can do so without heaping them all onto your shoulders."
Tallis nodded. "I'm going to tell dad tonight. I'm sure that in spite of her assurances to the contrary, I'll be hearing from the Headmistress by breakfast tomorrow. Will you come down to breakfast with me?"
"And risk missing the fireworks? I wouldn't skip breakfast for the world. I can't wait to see you put that woman in her place."
"I'll be nice."
"I'm sure you will be. It's your dad I'm interested in."
Tallis laughed. "Yeah. He's still pissed at the whole thing."
A sudden knock sounded at the door.
"Are you boys decent?" Severus' voice sounded from the hall.
"Erm…just a minute dad."
"Oh…meet me in the lounge later then," Severus said quickly, his blush evident in his voice.
The boys quickly threw on some clothes and Tallis snagged one of Bill's jumpers to pull on over. They hurried into the sitting room and caught sight of Severus pacing anxiously in front of the fire.
"What's happened dad?"
Severus pointed silently to the newspaper.
Bill grabbed it, holding Tallis close as they read it together.
Dumbledore Sentenced to Bentham's!
The Wizengamot made a startling announcement today when they formally declared Albus Dumbledore, former Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry, to not only be delusional but to be a dangerous psychopath.
The announcement came after many weeks of silence as the world has watched the trial for the murder of Harry James Potter, the Boy Who Lived, as closely as possible. Dumbledore, or rather, Inmate 75184 as he will be known for the remainder of his life, was called in to be questioned under oath weeks ago. No one had seen or heard from the man since.
Evidently, his testimony revealed such horrors that the Wizengamot made the harshest possible ruling on his mental status, deeming him too unstable and dangerous to even release their findings before his sentencing was completed. Dumbledore was stripped of his powers on Friday morning and removed to St. Bentham's Secure Center for the Criminally Insane by mid-afternoon.
Officials refused to comment on what 75184 revealed in the course of the trial to merit such a harsh sentence. We can only guess at what role the old man played in the death of our hero.
We will continue to keep you updated on the very latest of this trial.
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A/N: Yes, I'll explain more about Bentham's and the whole number thing in the next chapter.