You Can Live: Chapter 23
I should probably give you the bad news first, well it's not exactly bad, just news. I am leaving for college next week! This means: updates will be more sporadic and will not be as scheduled. Sorry for that, but education comes first. This in no way means I am not going to finish my stories. They will be updated, and I will not leave you hanging. Just don't expect an update every Saturday like I have been doing, thank you.
Besides that, I have upped my crazy level and on top of the college thing and writing 3 multi-chapter stories at the same time, I have written a one-shot featuring Loki, of course. It is a bit dark, no bad ending, but the drama did take me a bit by surprise. So check it out: THE TONGUE'S GREATEST FEAR.
Oh MY GURDY! WHAT IS THIS? A HAPPY CHAPTER?! WHAT? Check it out ;)
No slash here, only guardian/ward psuedo-parent/child relationship and friendships.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, except for the plot. I would be able to afford school if that were the case.
Warnings: SEE CHAPTER 1 FOR WARNINGS AND OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES!
I Need a Calming Draught!
True to his word, Severus woke Harry an hour before Hermione and Ron were due to arrive for dinner. The young wizard went downstairs and found the Shepherd's pie and the fruit pie all perfectly done and preserved. Harry thanked Snippy profusely, but the house elf simply smiled and shooed him from the kitchen.
"Master Harry has done enough for today." So, Severus and Harry went to the living room to wait for their guests. They read in companionable silence, until the floo came to life. Harry jumped to his feet, a huge smile on his face, while Snape took his time. He smiled as his ward was soon engulfed in the arms of his Weasley friend, and then exchanged a gentler embrace with Ms. Granger.
"Ronald, be careful," Hermione reproached, her eyes not so subtly going to the bandages around Harry's throat. Severus saw Harry fingers twitch as if to go to his neck, but they stayed at his side and the young man just smiled.
"It's fine, Hermione. I'm doing a lot better now." His friends smiled and Severus stepped forward, offering his hand.
"It is nice to have you here under…normal circumstances, instead of emergencies." They each shook their ex-professor's hand, Ron a bit less cordially than Hermione, but civil nonetheless.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you for letting us come over and visit." Snape inclined his head.
"Of course. I would not begrudge Harry companionship outside of my own, unless he has work to do." That got Hermione going. She wanted to know all about Harry's apprenticeship, because Harry had made the grievous error of not informing them of his decision.
"I decided I wanted to apprentice under Severus for potions. I really got into it this last year, and…I'm sorry Ron but I just couldn't be an Auror. I've done enough fighting to last me a lifetime." Ron shrugged it off. He was a bit upset, but more so because Harry hadn't told him rather than him changing his mind. They fell into easy conversation, Harry and Hermione making sure Severus was included. Harry, though, was surprised at how calm Ron appeared to be. He wasn't fidgeting or sweating, and Harry threw him a curious look. Ron indicated they should speak in private and they excused themselves. Hermione and Snape were wrapped up in a conversation on house elf rights and barely paid them any heed.
Once they were out of ear shot, Harry asked him.
"Are you alright? I guess I just expected you to be a bit…more anxious." Ron took a deep breath and casually leaned against a wall.
"Yeah well, Dad had to slip me a Calming Draught otherwise I wouldn't have made it through the floo. I have an extra in my pocket just in case. You think this will work?" Harry laughed and shoved Ron playfully in the shoulder.
"It'll be fine, Ron. Besides, I'm sure she'll take anything at this point. Just don't have me ask her for you." That got his friend to smile a bit and they returned to the others, who were still in a heated debate. To ensure Ron would have time to ask the question, Harry suggested they move on to dinner. Once they sat, Snippy popped in with the Shepherd's Pie and a side of beans that Harry had thrown together on a whim, knowing how much his friend could eat.
"Thank you, Snippy," Harry smiled at the happy house elf.
"Yes, this smells delicious, Snippy," Hermione commented as they began to pass the food and fill their plates.
"Oh, Snippy did not make the food. Master Harry made the food. Snippy does not want Master Harry to wear himself out, but Master Harry insisted. And he let Snippy try some!" The house elf was so excited, while Harry nearly blushed under the praise. Ron bumped shoulders with Harry.
"I didn't know you could cook like this, Mate. It smells about as good as Mum's." That was high praise coming from a Weasley, and Harry just about beamed.
"Never really came up, I guess. The house elves cooked at Hogwarts, your Mum always made a feast at the Burrow and there wasn't much of a chance in the tent." Harry turned to Snippy, who was still standing there, wanting to see there reactions when they tasted her master's food.
"Snippy, I want you to take some for yourself as well, alright? But only when you feel comfortable to." Harry understood some of how house elves worked, and didn't want Snippy to feel pressured to eat with the witch and wizards present. Usually house elves were lucky to get any leftovers or scraps, and then they had to eat them from the garbage. Snippy almost started crying happy tears when Harry said that, and he was afraid he had offended her. However, she just smiled, nodded and popped out of the room without a word. Harry looked anxiously towards Severus.
"I didn't say something bad, did I?" Severus smiled and shook his head.
"No, Harry, you are just uncommonly kind. Much like your mother." Harry smiled down at his plate, and they began eating. The food, as predicted based on the smells, was delicious, and Ron, despite his being exceedingly nervous, shoveled in as much as he could. Harry was getting excited as well, and Snape had to give him pointed looks to ensure he ate everything on his plate. Hermione didn't miss them, but she did not comment. When Harry saw Ron eyeing the dishes and contemplating a third serving, he decided to step in.
"I also baked a pie, Ron, so you might want to save room. Or would you rather go on a walk first?" Ron met his eyes, and Harry could see the panic in them. Luckily, Hermione made up their minds for him.
"We might as well have the pie now, or Ron will just be thinking about it the entire walk." The Golden Trio laughed, and Severus cracked a smirk, while Snippy took away the main courses and returned with dessert. Harry insisted upon serving and started handing out slices.
"I hope you don't mind, Sir, but I used the cherries and some of the peaches George and Clara gave us." Snape shook his head.
"Not at all, Harry. You know they love hearing that their produce is put to good use." Ron gratefully took a plate laden with dessert, while Hermione perked up at the mention of George and Clara.
"Are they neighbors, Harry?" she asked as she accepted a slice of pie. Harry shook his head.
"No. There's a farmer's market in town, and George and Clara own a booth there. They are really nice and seem to like giving us more fruit then we paid for." Hermione smiled and they all enjoyed their pie with the occasional comment here and there. As Ron got more and more anxious, the conversation got less relaxed and more tense. To Ron, it seemed like they were finished all too soon. Snippy cleared the plates away, and Harry smiled at his friends.
"How about that walk?" They all stood but Severus declined.
"I'm afraid my old wound is acting up again. I think I shall stay in. Enjoy your walk." He inclined his head at the trio, and he and Harry met eyes before he exited the room. That just left Harry with finding an excuse to get back inside. It would be strange if he left right off the bat. So, the three of them headed off into the night. The sun hadn't set completely, leaving them with plenty of light to see by. A slight breeze ushered in the cooler air of evening as the crickets started their daily peroration.
"Harry, I didn't want to ask this at the table, but how are things going with Snape?" Hermione asked. She and Ron were holding hands, while Harry had his shoved in his pockets. He smiled at them.
"Really great actually. We've come to an understanding. We're both new at this, and are willing to work through any issues that arise. I did get myself into a bit of a scrap the other day but-" The couple stopped in their tracks.
"Harry! What do you mean? What happened?" Hermione laid a hand on Harry's shoulder turning him to face her, and Ron also didn't look too pleased.
"Yeah, Mate. You can't go around saying stuff like that and not explain." Harry let out a sigh and shrugged.
"We were in town, and I saw something weird in an alley. I walked over and saw some idiots torturing a cat with a snake. They didn't like the fact that I told them to knock it off, so they knocked me around a bit. Someone…saved me, and I went back to Severus." Harry ran a hand through his hair over the spot that had collided with the brick wall. "Had to call Draco again, cause they gave me a nasty concussion, but it was fine." Ron scoffed and shook his head, and Hermione sighed.
"You find trouble everywhere you go. Can you promise us you won't get hurt for at least a week? Please?" Harry smiled at the tease, but honest concern in his friend's eyes, and shrugged.
"You know me, Hermione. I can promise you anything, but it's not always in my power to keep it." His friends accepted that with a few murmurs of assent and they continued walking. It really was a lovely night, and Harry would have loved to keep walking and talking with his friends, but he knew he had to give them time alone. They weren't very far from the house and were still within the wards. He stopped dead in his tracks and put on his most convincing 'I've done something stupid face' on.
"Oh! I need to wrong back really quick. Left some potions ingredients out. Snape will kill me if he sees it. I'll be right back." He didn't give them a chance to counter as he turned and jogged back to the cottage. Harry found Snape sitting in a chair by the window with a perfect view of his two friends. Without pulling his eyes away, he addressed Harry.
"How long until Mr. Weasley stops hyperventilating and asks her?" Harry got in position to watch.
"Don't know. He had to take a Calming Draught before he even showed up." Severus snorted, and they settled in to wait.
Ron and Hermione watched their friend hurry back to the house he shared with their old potions professor. Hermione shook her head, since it seemed Harry never grew out of his poor habits, while Ron was trying to calm his breathing, all the while palming the small box in his pocket.
"I'm surprised really." Ron raised a brow at his girlfriend.
"At what? It's Harry." Hermione laughed.
"Right, but I'm surprised at how much Harry has changed this last year. Maybe it was the lack of Voldemort, but he really seemed to brighten instead of pulling away. I think we have Severus to thank for that." Ron reluctantly agreed, but only out of principle. He couldn't deny how much the old bat had done for Harry before, during and after the war. Snape saved his best friend and was giving him a good, safe home. Nothing much he could bang on there. Instead, he turned to the matter at hand. Harry had suggested he ask Hermione in the garden behind the house, and steered them in that direction.
Once they made their way there, he found the place was perfect. As the sun had finally set, the night sky was completely clear offering a wonderful view of the stars. In the garden there was a beautifully carved stone bench, under a tree. Lighting bugs danced above their heads as they sat together. Ron watched Hermione's face as she looked up at the stars, smiling and beautiful as always. It was now or never. Taking one last deep breath, Ron took hold of Hermione's hands and got down on one knee in front of her. Hermione met his eyes and couldn't fight the smile.
"Hermione, you have been my best friend for years. When we first met, I thought you were the prettiest girl I had ever seen, and every year I got more and more flustered when I saw you. We've…been through so much darkness and loss and evil, but still held on to each other. I'm hoping," Ron pulled out the small box from his pocket. "that you'll be willing to go through a lot more with me, by my side," he opened the box revealing a gorgeous woven golden band with a fire sapphire set in the middle, "as my wife. Well, Hermione?" Ron's face was red and he was having a hard time catching his breath. "I know you've been waiting for me to ask you this for a while now. Will you marry me?" Hermione was blinded by happy tears running down her face and barely got the words out as she nodded.
"Yes, Ron. Yes, I'll marry you!" She practically fell off the bench as she wrapped her arms around her fiancé, and they laughed and smiled and held each other tight, before she finally pulled back enough to let him get the ring on her finger. As soon as he slid it into place, fireworks flew into the sky, letting out burst after burst of color to celebrate their union. Hermione looked up in surprise and Ron just smiled. Harry came out of the cottage, Severus not far behind, and beamed at his two best friends. Hermione saw the look on his face, and laughed.
"You planned this whole thing, didn't you? Figures," she looked back at her fiancé. "You two." The couple stood and Harry went over to congratulate them. As soon as he got within arms reach though, he found himself pulled into a group hug. The trio embraced each other and pulled back to find matching smiles on each of their faces. Only Severus noticed that Harry's fireworks became brighter and more magnificent as the friends embraced and celebrated the wonderful moment. And if he smiled, well no one would believe them if they did say anything.
Well? Happy chapter! This one was actually pretty fun to write. :) I promise the angst will be back ten fold next chapter. Please Review :)