Chapter seventeen

That night Severus decided to remain with Harry, so after a light dinner Harry showered and changed into lose pants, Severus did the same, using a pair of Harry's pants just making them bigger then the two men held each other as they lay in bed.

During the night Severus woke to Harry's groans and murmuring, but he could not tell what his husband was saying. He decided to go into Harry's mind to see just what he was dreaming about.

Severus watched as a silver body appeared inside a cell of one of the men that had abused Harry. He knew what was about to happen so he decided to remain and watch. What surprised Severus was not the pain Rodolphus Lestrange went through, it was right after he died the silver body ended up in the last two cells. Harry's soul killed Crabb and Goyle as well, now all the men that abused Harry were dead. With the others, Harry had done one at a time, right now he did three. Severus believed it was because Harry's subconscious wanted it finished, wanted those men gone so he could finally put his past to rest.

Severus pulled out of Harry's mind to see his young husband's eyes opened but not seeing, they were glazed over.

'Harry, love.'

'Gone, gone, gone.'

'Yes, they're gone, now come back to me,' Severus caressed Harry's face until he blinked, 'Hey love.'

Harry turned his head, 'Sev, did I have a nightmare?'

'Not really, you were dreaming, so I went in to see what you were dreaming about.'

'Was it him?'

'No, it was the last three in Azkaban, you took care of them.'

'They're dead, gone?'

'Yes, it's over Harry.'

Harry's face broke, he buried his head in Severus' chest and cried, 'Over, oh god, Severus.'

'I've got you Harry, I will never let you go again. All of them are gone now.'

'I hope it means I can forget.'

'You will always remember Harry but I believe you can finally lay that part of your life to rest. It might not happen straight away, especially since you've only just remembered, but you will learn to live with it where it will not hurt as much.'

'I want to live, especially now they're gone, I want us to be able to have a normal relationship, without all that coming into it.'

'We will, just give it a bit of time.'

Harry nodded, his hand kept running up and down Severus's bare chest. He knew eventually he would be able to put his past behind him, he just hoped he could have a proper relationship with Severus, which meant sex.

Severus watched Harry's hand as it slowed it's movements until Harry was once again asleep. He hoped now they were dead that his young husband could move on, get past this and have the life he deserved.

Over the next few days Severus noticed Harry didn't seem as quiet as he was. He joined Severus in the great hall for dinner again, he spoke with the staff and some of his other friends, but ignored Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Severus knew Harry would move on, it would still take time, but it was time they all had now.

Severus looked up when he sensed something, like someone was watching him and he was right. Harry was standing at the back of the office staring at him.

'How long have you been watching me?'

'Not long, a few minutes. Do you know you're very graceful?'

'Most would say frightening.'

'Well, you can be frightening, but that doesn't mean you aren't graceful,' Harry moved into the office and sat on the end of the desk, 'Garrick liked my wands, he's agreed to adding the designs, he would like one done first to check how it works, but he doesn't see a problem with it. I explained about an idea I had and decided to try it and he said he should have thought about it himself.'

'Can you tell me what this idea is?'

'To add part of the person to the wand, they would be specially made wands,' Harry pulled out a wand and held it out to Severus.

'That is beautiful, you carved bats on it.'

'Hold it then I can explain more.'

Severus was curious so his hand wrapped around the handle of the wand, 'Oh my, it's like this is part of me. The three wands I've had never felt this…right before.'

'Apart from having a part of the bat as its core I found one of your hairs on the pillow, so I had Garrick add it to the wand. I didn't know if you liked bats and I know a lot of students have used that as an insult, but to me, the dungeon bat suits you, I always like that name. It's the way you looked and moved, especially how you grab your robes, you wrap them around yourself just like bat wings.'

'We've been mainly talking about our lives and what I know of your parents, but the truth is love, my animagus is a bat.'

'It suits you, so the wand feels right, the connection is strong?'

'Very strong, it's the strongest I've ever felt. So anyone that wants a part of them added to their wands can order it?'

'Yes, they still have cores from all different types of magical creatures, they will just have a hair from the person now. So from next week Garrick is going to start training me on how to make wands, but I'll be carving some at the same time. He is going to display the fake wands in the window so people can see what they look like. Naturally they will be more expensive but we're still working on the cost, we don't want only the rich to be able to buy them so the price rise won't be a lot. I don't really need the money but Garrick said I should be paid for the work I put into the wands.'

'Yes, you should or people will take advantage of you. But I can see many people placing an order, especially people like aurors. That little bit of extra power they can pull from their wands will make their job easier.'

'Yeah, it could make them feel more confident as well,' Harry pulled another wand out of his pocket, 'Last time I was here, when I was talking to Hagrid I was able to get one of his hairs. Since he was exonerated for opening the chamber of secrets which is why he was expelled I figured he would like a real wand now.'

'Yes, by law he can, so which animal did you add to his?'

'Since he likes many creatures I wasn't sure at first then I remembered Norberta, the baby dragon he had in his cabin. Charlie keeps him informed about it and I know Hagrid has been over to the reserve to see the dragon, so I figured it would be the best, but I did carve a picture of fang as well.'

'Yes, I remember hearing about the dragon, from Draco.'

'Yeah,' Harry shrugged, 'He tried to get us in trouble, we just stayed quiet, we didn't tell Minerva he was telling the truth.'

'Let's go for a walk outside, you can give Hagrid his wand.'

Harry smiled as Severus held out his hand, he loved to feel his own smaller hand being held by Severus's. Not only did it feel nice, it made Harry feel cared for, it also made him feel safe.

'I never knew why you seemed close to Hagrid,' Severus said as the two men walked down through the castle.

'Before Hagrid came to give me my Hogwarts letters when I was eleven, no one liked me. If anyone looked at me it was with loathing or fear, thanks to the Dursley's. Hagrid smiled at me, but I could see by his eyes that he was genuine. We talked a lot that day then he gave me Hedwig, my first ever gift. He just made me feel like I was worth knowing, that there were people out there that didn't think I was a freak or unworthy. He was my first ever friend.'

'He will always be your friend, Hagrid is very loyal. It will be hard on him when it's found out that Albus was not who he thought he was.'

'Yeah, it will, he cared about the old man. Do you think someone will say something about the teachers because of what he did?'

'Minerva and I believe some might, we have decided that all teachers will be questioned to make sure they do not have any interests in the children apart from teaching them. We thought it might be wise to have an auror question them and as the minister knows the truth, I'm sure he would approve our request.'

'He would, it would guarantee the safety of the kids and give the parents the knowledge that their kids are in safe hands as well. Truth serum or something else should have been used for years, there was Quirrell with Voldemort stuck on his head, then Lockhart who was a fraud, Moody who was Crouch and Umbridge that liked to torture students.'

'Yes, again something Minerva and I spoke about which is why we want all staff, new or old to be questioned.'

Harry and Severus approached Hagrid who was out in his vegetable garden, 'Hagrid.'

'Harry,' the big man hugged his small friend, 'Visiting your husband again?'

'Yes, but I came to see you, I have something for you.'

'It's remarkable Hagrid, Harry is very talented.'

Harry held out the wand, 'It's for you, I had Garrick make the wand but I carved the pictures.'

'Oh my,' Hagrid looked at Severus know nodded then closed his very large hand around the wand, 'Oh blimey.'

'Just take it easy Hagrid, you have not used a lot of magic since you were expelled. If you need any help ask one of the staff, we will not mind giving you some lessons.'

'Thank you headmaster, I may need them. But why does this feel better than my old wand?'

'I had part of you in it Hagrid, one of your hairs,' Harry grinned, 'I had the idea of adding a piece of people to the wand, not just the part of the magical creature, it makes the connection stronger.'

Severus smiled as Harry was once again wrapped in Hagrid's large arms, his husband was laughing, Gang was jumping around trying to get their attention. But one thing Severus noticed, Harry was more relaxed now. The lines around his eyes had faded, just a little, but it was enough to tell Severus that the stress Harry used to feel was slowly ebbing away. Soon his young husband would be the man he was supposed to be, more relaxed and more carefree. That is when Harry would be able to take the next step in their relationship, then they would truly be partners, not just in their hearts, souls and minds, but in their bodies as well.

The end: