Pretty Boy

Chapter 52

Talking and Bonds

The next few days were extremely busy to say the least, between Remus and Sirius working, and Severus and Harry doing their thing too. Severus was brewing more anti Cruciatus potion for the American branch of St. Mungo's. Harry was putting the final touches to his blue prints and giving John the go ahead to start construction. He had also put enough money into a vault for the man to get all materials he would need. Only after getting a vow that the money would only be used for his buildings. Harry wasn't stupid, and didn't trust easily so the vow it had to be. Severus approved of his decision giving someone a vault full of money could be too much temptation sometimes. Harry might have a lot of money, and maybe hadn't spent much of it but at the end of the day it was Harry's money and nobody else's. It was three days later before Harry managed to finally tell them he was bonding to Severus.

It was eight o'clock at night on the third day Sirius Black had been elected as Minister of Magic that he stood in the lounge of Snape Manor. He looked exhausted but utterly elated and cheerful - excited to see his godson again. Harry and Severus were already sitting down on the sofa, Harry had a large mug of hot chocolate and Severus had coffee. There was a big tray filled with treats and a pot of coffee and tea. It was testament to how far they had come when Remus and Sirius sat down and calmly helped themselves.

"How's it going?" asked Severus curiously.

"There are so many legislations! I had no idea how many restrictions had been placed on creatures." said Sirius shaking his head in dismay. "We have to hold a meeting for each and every one of them to abolish them. Unfortunately I can't just abolish them all…it's also up the Wizengamot. Thankfully they are in a listening mood; there are still nearly a hundred to go."

"Really? That's surprising I assumed they were all just placed at the same time." commented Severus a surprised look flashing across his face momentarily.

"No they have been added over the years, a very surprising number by our beloved Dumbledore." sneered Sirius, his lip curling in disgust.

"You are bloody joking?" choked Harry surprised.

"No I abolished two of them today, stopping them getting a decent education." sighed Sirius sadly. Dumbledore had been a manipulator indeed; he had fooled them all for so long. Playing the benevolent Headmaster to perfection for years. Yet it had taken one young eleven year old boy to begin unravelling them, and to come back for vengeance when he was nineteen years old. Now twenty years old he had gotten his revenge and yet more information was coming to light about the so called champion of Muggles and Muggle born's.

"I wonder how he kept that quiet," said Severus almost to himself, the others nodded agreeing completely with Severus' statement.

"Severus and I are going to be bonded. We want you to be our witnesses, err, well best men however, it goes here." said Harry suddenly out of the blue surprising Remus and Sirius.

"We'd love to!" exclaimed Remus before even Sirius could open his mouth.

"Which bond are you going to perform?" asked Sirius calmly and curiously. He knew his godson wouldn't and couldn't find anyone better than Severus. Severus was a good man, and it had taken him a very long time to see that. Hey, better late than never as the saying goes at the end of the day. A year ago he would have pitched a fit worthy of a two year old deprived of their dummy. Plus as much as it pained him to admit it, only because he wished his godson was more … childish and happy than anything else; that wasn't ever going to be - Severus was the perfect match for his stoic severe cautious godson.

"The soul bond." said Severus with a note of finality in his voice.

"You do know what that means don't you?" squeaked Sirius in surprise whatever bond he had suspected they would perform it wasn't that one.

"I know I'll die if Severus does and vice versa." said Harry rolling his eyes at his overly emotional godfather.

"Well congratulations to you both, when are we attending the ceremony?" asked Remus patting Sirius' leg in comfort. He knew what Sirius was going through, they had just got their godson back and now he was going to be married. They both wanted to see him be a child a normal teenager, even if he wasn't technically one anymore. He was too serious for a boy at the age of twenty but then again having the life he had it was no surprise.

"Two days," said Harry.

"So soon?" asked Remus "How did you manage that?" his voice full of wonder and surprise.

"Come on Remus, you know the power my name holds." smirked Harry wickedly.

"He had the man swear a vow; we went three days ago. The others all had too many guests, and good reputations, that would hurt the chapel so he refused to move them. Having Harry Potter marry there meant everything to him, so he eventually moved someone. Of course it was after Harry and I suggested quite frankly of getting married in Gretna Green." chuckled Severus nastily.

"You are both evil," laughed Sirius amused he would have loved to have seen the vicar's reaction to that. Harry Potter the boy who lived, the second time vanquisher of the Dark Lord Voldemort marrying like a Muggle in a gaudy place like Gretna Green.

"At least we do not pretend to be anything but!" sneered Severus lightly; his eyes alight with amusement showing both Remus and Sirius he wasn't truly being vicious.

"The Weasley's and Grangers have been sniffing around the Ministry. I got word from Shacklebolt they are worried about Dumbledore. I'm not sure, but I think they are going to be trouble." said Sirius while they were on that topic.

"I knew it!" hissed Harry grinding his teeth furiously.

"I think they are hoping Dumbledore will help them get Ginny Weasley married to what's mine." growled Severus furiously, perhaps he should have listened to Harry.

"I hadn't thought about that!" exclaimed Sirius shaking his head in dismay. He knew about it, Severus had told him all about Ginny Weasley's obsession about his godson. Also the need Harry had felt to permanently silence them and stop them bothering him. He couldn't blame Harry for that; he just didn't want his godson to become a third time murderer. Although technically he hadn't killed Lucius Malfoy, Alastor Moody, or Albus Dumbledore just Voldemort.

Just Voldemort, as if he had been happy about Harry having to do it. He wasn't any happier about it than when he found out all those years ago. Then again there was a big difference between a baby and twenty year old. At least Harry was old and wise enough to know he had done it to live, not to end it for the ungrateful Wizards and Witches who didn't want to get of their backsides and do something.

"What are we going to do then?" asked Remus a frown marring his now constantly unscarred face. The potion Severus had created had worked wonders for the werewolves. Those that couldn't afford it were being told to go to the Ministry and get money there to help pay for at least half of it. Some of them were getting the leftovers from the batches Severus made as well. With the werewolf's getting jobs it wasn't going to be long now before they could afford it themselves anyway, this change had been a ling time coming.

"It's nothing I can be involved with now," cautioned Sirius "People are being questioned under Veritaserum when they are giving high standing jobs. Minerva McGonagall was brought in and questioned before she was allowed to become Headmistress of Hogwarts."

"I know Minerva keep's in touch she wants to have a word with me later on today." said Severus nodding curtly.

"Subtly trying to get me to come," snorted Harry in amusement.

"Minerva is a smart woman, I wouldn't be surprised if she has put two and two together." smirked Severus wryly.

"Glad its Minerva if we can trust anyone with discretion it is her," replied Remus gratefully.

"Mmm there isn't another I'd trust with the secret," agreed Severus.

"She seemed awfully stiff to me," said Harry not understanding where the fondness for Minerva McGonagall was coming from. He had barely spoken two words to her in his year at Hogwarts. Minerva hadn't been a proper official part of the Order just close to Dumbledore. Or rather she was until the whole sordid business started.

"If she had known it was you Harry, she would have been fawning all over you." smiled Sirius in amusement.

Harry shuddered, his entire face contorting in horror.

Sirius and Remus burst out laughing at Harry's look, Severus just smirked in amusement. They had of course been jerking Harry's chain; Minerva had more restraint than that. Or at least Severus hoped she had or Harry wasn't going to like her much at all. Harry was truly horrified at the thought of someone being overly emotion with him. He didn't know how to deal with it and would rather snap at people. Pretty much like himself.

"When are you going to Hogwarts?" asked Remus curiously after his amusement had dimmed down. His amber eyes were still bright with laughter though he had a lot to be happy for lately. Things were finally looking up for him, he would have just been happy with having Harry back. Yet he had gotten all this too, his freedom, and his happiness and found a very good friend in Severus Snape.

He was going to see his godson (not officially but it's what he thought of him) married and perhaps be able to marry his long time partner Sirius Black one day as well. He had lost hope of ever feeling normal when Umbridge had made the legislation act. He had never imagined this would all come to pass.

"Twenty minutes," said Severus smoothly, nine twenty she had written in her letter. Sirius and Remus had been there now for almost an hour, he would need time to get to Hogwarts.

"So back to our main worry what are we going to do about the Grangers and Weasley's?" asked Remus.

"You, Harry and I will get together soon if the situation hasn't been resolved. Hopefully when news of our bonding reaches the papers they will back down. Get over their deluded hopes that Harry would somehow fall in love with her and they would live happily ever after." said Severus his lip curling at the words coming out of his mouth. Happily ever after, he didn't believe in such things. However, he looked over at Harry and he felt his lips' twitching perhaps it wasn't so absurd after all. Not that even on pain of death he would ever admit it. He wondered though silently if Harry felt the same - some part of him obviously did or he wouldn't have wanted the soul bond. He and Harry had sat down the morning after he asked, after Sirius Black had been named Minister. Looked through the old bonds they could do and made up their mind together. There was magical bond, marriage bond, heart bond, love bond and the most inseparable one - soul bond. It in essence did all the above married their souls, hearts, their love and their magic together as one. It was true if one died the other would follow shortly, Severus wouldn't want to live without Harry in his life. He never wanted to go back to the life he had lived before Harry had miraculously levitated him wandlessly to his flat from the street. He didn't know how Harry had managed to do it without falling unconscious, so tightly his magic had been bound.

"Of course," said Remus nodding his understanding, obviously Sirius wouldn't be a part of whatever they did. The wolf in Remus growled threateningly at the thought of anyone endangering his cub. Their new lives they had worked hard for and created for themselves. If he had to kill the four of them himself to save Harry and keep him happy he'd do it in a heartbeat. He didn't want him committing any more murder, he had no idea Sirius and Severus and himself were having exact same thoughts. It was a good job Bill was no longer part of their little group. Now that Voldemort was gone he had gone back to his job full time and had been welcomed back into his family. None of them were bitter towards the ginger haired man; his family's rejection had hurt him a lot.

"I understand if it was just the female Weasley but why the hell are the rest of them going through with it?" asked Sirius exasperation first and foremost of his features.

"Good question…I thought the Grangers were supposed to be smart," said Remus a look of general confusion on his face.

"They are supposed to be, unfortunately Dumbledore has manipulated them for years apparently…" sighed Severus shrugging his shoulders helplessly. He hated the Grangers, he honest to Merlin hated teaching them but to think they had been manipulated he could feel a small measure of pity.

"Maybe it's not just them…who else has he manipulated?" asked Sirius grimly.

"Only they four were in the Order, typical Dumbledore sending children out to do adults jobs." scoffed Severus.

"Yes too true," mused Remus, feeling gratification for what Dumbledore was going through after everything he had done. Harry had gotten the best revenge on the old fool - Death truly was too good for him. Remus hoped with no small amount of glee that Dumbledore lived that way for years.

"We must get going," sighed Severus looking at the clock on the wall.

"Alright, I need sleep I'm going in at six tomorrow morning, yet another Wizengamot meeting." sighed Sirius, "I'll see you tomorrow I finish earlier…what time is the ceremony?" he finished.

"It's not tomorrow, it's the day after and it's first thing." finished Harry smirking in amusement.

"I know I just wanted to know the time so I can make sure I have time off for it." said Sirius rolling his eyes good naturally.

"Alright see you both later, and it's six o'clock one hour before the Daily prophet prints and two before they are delivered." smirked Harry wickedly.

"You have this all planned don't you? Why am I not surprised?" grinned Remus his amber eyes twinkling blindly almost similar to Dumbledore's.

"We Slytherins like to plan, we don't rush in where angels fear to tread." said Severus a smirk gracing his lips.

"Ah Severus! So pleased to see you come in!" said Minerva, causing Severus to blink in bewilderment. Minerva had a small Cheshire grin on her face that was rather, scary. "You brought him! I didn't think you would." she said.

"Hello" said Harry coolly coming into the room properly. Staring bluntly at her studying her curiously wondering truly what the others saw in her.

"It's nice to meet you, Harry Potter, my name is Minerva McGonagall, you can call me Minerva should you wish it." she said gesturing them to sit as she took her seat on the Headmistresses chair. Which was level with the others instead of a raised platform like Dumbledore had his. No doubt another way to make himself feel more important.

"Thank you," said Harry rather bluntly, not saying it was nice to meet her because truthfully Harry didn't know what to make of her.

"Tea? Coffee?" she then asked getting down to it.

"No thank you, we both just had something," said Severus bluntly, the war might be over but he wasn't chancing it. He truly didn't want to offend Minerva by actually checking it.

"I'm sure you are curious about why I called you up here?" asked Minerva.

"Of course," said Severus cocking an eyebrow curiously at her.

"Here." said Minerva handing over an envelope.

Severus opened the letter curiously but cautiously, his eyes widened in surprise. He had been given five thousand galleons, and half the shares in an apothecary and a Herbology garden. He would never have to buy any ingredients again with what he had just been given. From Frank, Alice and Neville Longbottom in appreciation for what he had done. The Gringotts check was already signed and sealed once he handed it in, it would go to his account.

"That's some thanks you got there Severus," whistled Harry in grudging respect.

"Indeed," said Severus.

"A lot of people have begun donating to you, helping you make the potion for those in need. A charity has been set up for those who are affected and cannot afford It." said Minerva.

"I did not have any intentions of selling it individually, has St. Mungo's been charging the families?" asked Severus his eyes narrowing in anger.

"Oh no, not at all but you do realize a lot of other less known hospitals could never dream of being able to afford such potions for their patients." explained Minerva quickly.

"St. Mungo's isn't the only magical hospital?" asked Harry curiously.

"Oh no, there's a small hospital in Scotland who has more patients who suffer from insanity through the Cruciatus curse than St. Mungo's ever received. Same with Wales and Ireland, St. Mungo's has only two branches that I know of. One in America and the other of course in England." explained Minerva delighted to just be able to teach Harry something.

"St. Mungo's is expensive; I believe a good bulk of the Longbottom estate has gone into keeping them there. Which was why Neville Longbottom came to school with a second hand wand." said Severus.

"Then how did you get so much?" asked Harry bewildered. "What happens to those who cannot afford care? It's free in the Muggle world here why isn't it the same for the magical world here?" completely angry.

"The Longbottom's are or rather were as well off as the Potters. They have given me only what it would take for a months stay in St. Mungo's. Instead they have given me something more valuable and something I'd appreciate." replied Severus patiently surprising Minerva greatly.

"Also it may be free in the Muggle world…I wouldn't know, but it isn't here. Potions and buildings cost money; the Ministry doesn't supply enough to St. Mungo's for them to care for so many without needing help. Emergency operations and such are free but long term staying costs." said Minerva.

"That's just bloody ridiculous!" cried Harry shaking his head in dismay. The Muggle government cared more for the lives of their people than the Magical world did.

"I suppose so" said Severus. He had no doubt Harry was thinking of those who couldn't afford medical treatment. For all the snapping, sneering and harsh words Harry liked to show the world, he truly had a big heart.

"Was this the only reason you asked me here?" asked Severus doubtfully.

"I was wondering if perhaps Harry would like to become my Potions teacher…since I lost two recently." Minerva mock glaring at Severus sternly.

"Ask me again in a year's time…then you might just get your wish. I want to let the fawning die down, experience normal life before I do anything." said Harry. Minerva didn't know what he had done before; he had worked since he had left Hogwarts. Not something he was proud of, but it had kept a roof over his head and food in his stomach. The past year he had learned everything he could, hardly taking a break. Well it was about high time he thought about himself for once. Well this was that time, he was going to marry Severus and be happy for a while before he thought of working. It's not as if he was strapped for cash. Even if he had all the money in the world he knew he would work some day. He wouldn't live off the money his parents had given him forever. It just wasn't in his nature; he had been working for too long now, the boredom would kill him. "I'm not making any promises though."

"Very well then," said Minerva smiling.

"There is something else I wanted to ask you Minerva, if you would perhaps attend mine and Harry's bonding ceremony. Only Sirius, Remus and perhaps you, Filius and Poppy will be coming. I have yet to ask Poppy or Filius of course, but you were always very supportive off me and you knew the truth about my … spying duties." said Severus, they had seen him unfortunately. Bleeding, shaking and staggering back to his quarters, it wasn't long before one of them was always waiting on him to help him from time to time. Thankfully by the end there Severus hadn't been cursed too badly, possibly because of what he had done to the Dursley's.

"I'd love to!" she said louder than her normal tone, that and her wide eyes was the only indication that proved she was surprised.

"Thank you," said Severus smoothly.

Next chapter the bonding and then the end :) R&R