CHAPTER 34

A/N: some of you felt that the kissing and love confession between Harry and Severus came too fast/suddenly. It is meant to be rushed. Severus is going to Death Eater meetings, and the time when Harry will have to confront Voldemort is nearing. Although Harry knows how skilled Severus is, he is nevertheless very worried about him; many things have to be done fast and unexpectedly because of Voldemort's influence on people's lives. People can no longer take their time. Considering that Harry is an impulsive Gryffindor, he will, in spite of his thoughtfulness and maturity in this story, still do emotional things spontaneously.
AND NO, this story as not yet over at all!

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When Nessa saw Severus and Harry holding hands, she took one look of them and crawled out of her portrait, her hissing staccato chuckle still echoing in the empty frame. Severus and Harry walked into their rooms. They leant towards each other and shared a kiss.

"Another one," Harry said, standing, raising his face for a second kiss.

"Are you that starved for physical affection?" Severus asked with a glint of humour in his black eyes.

"I feel so wonderful when you kiss me," Harry explained with disarming innocence. Severus smiled.

"I feel wonderful hearing that assessment," he murmured, giving Harry another kiss.

"You know…I was scared that you would be angry that I had torn up the divorce forms…that you might think me presumptuous."

"I daresay your subconscious absorbed whatever tender feelings I happened to reveal towards you, however much I tried to hide them from you. You must have had a certain sense of security if not of certainty. Also, you were not sorted into Gryffindor for nothing. You were bound to do something bordering on foolishly brave and imprudent."

Harry laughed merrily.

"I didn't realise how empty the dungeons were until I heard your laughter," Severus remarked. They stood close to each other in silence for a few moments.

"How did the meeting go?" Harry inquired softly.

Severus's already thin lips thinned even more.

"The Dark Lord…Voldemort…is eager to see you in July. He thinks it would be an excellent way of celebrating your birthday."

"Thirty-first of July, then. You said his name."

"Yes. I did," Severus said impassively.

Harry smiled.

"About high time."

Severus made a dour sound and gave Harry a gentle push.

An odd noise of several voices coming from the door distracted them. Frowning, Severus went over and opened it. Harry was amused and surprised to see that Nessa was not alone in her portrait. In fact, it was bulging with subjects who had deserted their other pictures and were all trying to fit into Nessa's portrait.

"Congratulations! We are celebrating your true union with Severus Snape!" Nessa said to Harry in Parseltongue, clinging to her pestle with all her might while a monk tried to dislodge her by pulling at her tail. Harry translated Nessa's words for Severus, who rolled his eyes.

Harry grinned.

"Thank you, Nessa," Severus said in a bored tone.

Nessa bowed her head at Severus and winked at him.

"It seems that the guardian of our quarters is celebrating rather heartily," Severus commented as he closed the door.

"Have you still got some of that elf-made wine? We've got to drink to our 'true union', as Nessa called it."

They went over to the sofa, and Severus Summoned the bottle of wine and two elegant wine glasses. Severus poured a small quantity for both of them.

"To us," Severus said gravely, raising his glass. The two wizards had dinner together. Harry nudged Severus's foot underneath the table from time to time. Severus, who had never been so close to someone before, found this embarrassing and annoying at first; but he finally nudged Harry's foot back tentatively.

As the days passed, both Harry and Severus gradually became used to the new intimacy between them and to expressing physical affection. Particularly Severus, who was not demonstrative, was unfamiliar with such a close relationship. It struck him as ironic that he had slept with Harry on his bonding night and knew nothing at all about how Harry would respond to caresses of an increasingly intimate nature. He also knew that time was short, especially for them; Voldemort's reign was putting pressure on people's lives, making them try to enjoy as much as they could in as little time as possible, for they did not know if they would survive to see the next month, the next week, or even the next day while the Death Eaters murdered and frightened everyone who did not correspond to their distorted view of the world. Nevertheless, Severus and Harry were aware that rushing a relationship would be the worst thing they could do. Also, they had the distinct advantage of being members of a powerful Order which kept an eye on Voldemort's moves. And, of course, they had met him in person; his weaknesses were evident at moments when he tried to display the maximum force of his powers.

In the meantime, Harry had informed his friends of the happy news; Remus had sent them a calm note expressing his gladness; Mrs Weasley dispatched a staggering assortment of sweets and insisted that both spend Easter at The Burrow with the rest of the family and family friends. Hermione was delighted, and Ron appalled but accepting ("Your husband will never really be my cup of tea, but if you two manage to survive together, then don't forget that you're both invited to Easter!").

"In a week from now," Severus said, scanning Mrs Weasley's invitation. Harry thought he looked vaguely uncomfortable. He is not used to receiving invitations, he remembered.

"Yes, it'll be fun!" he said aloud, giving Severus a hug.

It was indeed fun, especially for Harry. Severus, who did not appreciate society and gatherings, remained on his guard, though he made an effort to be civil and less stiff. Hermione beamed at them, offering them her congratulations. The best part, however, was the fact that Severus and Harry were to share not only a bedroom but also a bed.

"They are married," Mrs Weasley said, noticing Ron's shocked face. Hermione immediately piped up:

"Nowadays unmarried people also share beds. Domestic partnerships, for instance-"

Ron suppressed a yawn while Hermione went on. She broke off and glared at him.

"It is all very fine for you to yawn, Ron. You do know that same-sex partners are actually forbidden to marry in most countries?" she snapped. "Luckily, Wizarding Britain is more tolerant in at least that respect."

She gave Harry and Severus a warm smile as she helped Mrs Weasley set the table.

"Hermione has a very good point," Remus said, watching Tonks transform her pink hair into long red hair.

"As always," Ron grumbled. Then, looking at Harry and Severus:

"Be easy on the bed and keep the volume down."

"RONALD WEASLEY!" Hermione and Mrs Weasley shouted at the same time.

Severus and Harry were both rather nervous about sharing a bed together. When they stood in their little room in The Burrow, dressed in their pyjamas, Harry looked at Severus, suddenly shy.

"Do you mind that we're sharing a bed? I mean, we're not going to do anything, are we, er, we're just going to sleep, I mean we're not going to-"

Severus could not help himself. Seeing the brave Gryffindor fumble for appropriate words was too funny, and he laughed. Harry began to laugh as well.

"No, Harry. We are not going to have sex just yet. Though…" he stopped laughing and looked away from Harry, "I would not blame you if you never wanted to have sex with me after the consummation."

Harry took Severus's face in his hands.

"Severus, when will you stop feeling guilty?"

"There are times when I feel like a rapist, especially when I have to meet Voldemort and show him obscenities involving you and me. I know that you have forgiven me, but I find it especially hard to forgive myself."

"Rapist? Severus, you are starting to make me angry. For the umpteenth time: we had to do it. Not just me. It must have been harder for you. You had to…perform, so to say. You decided to protect me in spite of all. I love you. I trust you. Do you think I could love and trust you otherwise?"

"I slapped you the next day, and I broke your arm during that argument in my bedroom," Severus muttered.

"It was an accident. You didn't do it on purpose. I fell, and then I broke my arm. As for the slap...I was accusing you very unjustly. Severus…it was a really tough time for us both, but look where we are now."

Severus's eyes cleared.

As soon as they had slipped into bed, the timidity fell away from them; Harry snuggled up to Severus, who draped his arm around his shoulders and kissed his temple. The Potions Master smiled in the dark, finding it hard to believe that he was sharing a bed with someone he loved; that love had come to him, of all people, at last.

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