Disclaimer: Can be found in the first chapter.

~*~

Chapter 24: The Happy Ending

~*~

It had been just about a year, and Harry's control started to slip again. He had trouble dealing with the 30th of April, due to the events leading up to it the last year.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Severus asked, looking up from the essays he was marking.

"It's the 29th," Harry said, his eyes on the floor. "Tomorrow.."

"Harry, he can't hurt you anymore," Severus said, moving to kneel in front of his fiancée. "Dumbledore is still in Azkaban."

"I know," Harry said, his eyes meeting Severus'. "The date haunts me."

Severus leaned forward and kissed Harry softly. His hand went to the younger man's cheek, his thumb gently rubbing it.

"Everything will be just fine," Severus said, after pulling away. "Only another month, and we'll be married."

Harry smiled, his eyes lighting up. He was so excited for the wedding that everything else paled suddenly in comparison.

"I love you, Sev," Harry said, before kissing the older man soundly.

"And I love you," Severus said, after the kiss.

~*~

Harry was so overwhelmed with emotion the day of his wedding. He couldn't believe that he and Severus were actually getting married. He had cried three times before breakfast. Luckily, he had Hermione with him.

"I just can't believe it, Mione," Harry said, looking up at his best friend. "I'm getting married!"

"I know, Harry," she said, smiling at him. "It's incredible."

"I just don't believe Severus wants me in this way," he said, putting his head in his hands. "It's almost like a dream, and I'll wake up and I'll be the lonely person I was two years ago."

"Oh, Harry," she said, sitting next to him and wrapping her arms around him. "You know this isn't a dream. You can't sleep."

This earned her a chuckle from Harry, a smile gracing his face. She smiled back, before mercilessly tickling him. After a few minutes, Hermione stopped the tickle fight before ushering Harry into the bathroom.

"Shower and get dressed in your robes, we've got to be to the Great Hall in an hour," she said, before closing the door.

~*~

Severus was pacing the headmisstresses office nervously. He hadn't seen Harry since dinner last night, and he needed the young man in his arms as soon as possible.

"What's up, Sev?" Draco asked, watching the older man.

"I need to see Harry," Severus said, looking at Draco, panic in his eyes.

"Calm down, Severus," Minerva said, looking up from her desk. "He'll be with you in just over an hour. Go take a shower and get ready. You'll be married by two."

"I'm getting married," Severus said, a smile gracing his usually dour face.

Draco and Minerva were shocked. It wasn't everyday that Severus Snape smiled. The action made his face lose ten years. The usual frown lines and worry creases were gone.

"I'll be back," Severus said, heading into the bathroom.

~*~

Severus was standing at the front of the hall, the Weasley's and his few friends filling the small seating area. He was standing proudly in his navy blue robes. The music began playing and Severus' breath hitched as he saw Harry coming down the aisle, on the arm of Arthur.

Harry's robes were the exact shade of green in his eyes. He had Poppy magically fix his eyesight, so he didn't need his glasses any more. His ring shined as light hit it, reminding Severus how much he loved the younger man.

As Harry got handed to Severus, a kiss was placed on Harry's knuckles.

"We're all together today to join Severus Snape and Harry Potter in marriage," Minerva said, smiling between her two favorite people. "Though Harry's years as a student didn't harbor the greatest feelings between the two, they now have gotten past all of that. Before I continue, Severus and Harry, would you please recite your vows?"

"Harry," Severus said, smiling to the younger man. "Through the years, I have wanted nothing more than to take you into my arms and comfort you. Unfortunately, we both had a madman to worry about. I did my best to protect you before and after each encounter, and when you defeated him, I wanted to be the person you ran too. I only found out about your heritage because I was being a royal prat, but through everything, I have grown to love you for you. I would put my life on the line to protect you, and I would give anything to see a smile on your face all the time. I love you, Harry, with all my being."

"Sev," Harry said, smiling at the slight blush on his soon-to-be husband's face. "I have always admired you, though at times I wished I hadn't. When I started school, you were the only teacher to look past my fame and see the young boy I really was. I appriciated that above all else. When you and I fought side by side against Voldemort two summers ago, I could feel the beginnings of the bond forming. I had secretly liked you since the fifth year, a fact which only Hermione knew. After the rough start of my seventh year, I could see nothing but a hopeful future for us. Over these last two years, your quirks and eccentricities are things that I have grown to love, almost as much as I love you, Severus."

"Please present the rings," Minerva said. Draco stepped forward, presenting each man with a ring.

"Severus, repeat after me," she said, looking to the older man. "I, Severus Snape, present this ring as a symbol of my eternal love and devotion. I swear to protect and cherish you, so long as we both shall live."

Severus repeated Minerva and slid the ring onto Harry's finger. Harry then did the same, sliding the finger onto Severus' finger.

"Severus, do you take Harry to be your husband?" she asked, smiling slightly.

"I do," Severus said, his eyes bright and smiling.

"Harry, do you take Severus to be your husband?" she asked, looking to the younger man.

"Of course, I do," Harry said, smiling to his new husband.

"I now pronounce you husband and husband," Minerva said, proudly. "You may now kiss one another."

Severus stepped over to Harry and kissed him deeply as he wrapped his arms around the younger man. Harry wrapped his arms around Severus as he returned the kiss. The audience broke into applause as the couple broke apart and started down the aisle.

~*~

"A toast," Draco said, at dinner later that evening. "To Harry and Severus. May your years be filled with happiness and passion."

Glasses clinked around the room as the toast was agreed to.

"Harry?" a voice called from the door.

"What Ron?" Harry said, flatly.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Ron asked, wringing his hands.

"Yeah," Harry said, sighing. He turned to kiss Severus and whispered "I'll be right back."

"What?" Harry asked, glaring at the redhead.

"I'm sorry I was such an ass," Ron said, sounding uncomfortable. "I should have given S-S-Severus a chance, like Hermione, but I was too hurt by the way you acted towards me. I let Dumbledore warp my mind into thinking you hated me. I'm sorry, Harry."

"Promise to never do anything like that again?" Harry asked, his look softening.

"Of course," Ron said. "I would really like to get my best mate back, and I'd really enjoy getting to know his husband."

Harry smiled and hugged Ron.

"Let's get back to dinner," Harry said. "You can sit in your spot."

"My spot?" Ron asked.

"I didn't have a best man," Harry said. "The only person I wanted it to be was you."

"Harry," Ron said, hugging him again.

The two walked back into the hall and approached the table. Ron sat to Harry's right, much to the surprise to everyone.

"It seems we have a late addition to the wedding party," Severus said, smiling as he knew Harry's day was now complete.

~*~

The reception had began not long after dinner had finished. There was a DJ, playing a collection of muggle and wizarding music, much to the joy of the few muggleborns who were in attendance.

Harry had requested a certain song be played for the wedding party. He heard "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls begin playing as he pulled Severus onto the dance floor. Severus had been slightly surprised, but when he and Harry started dancing, and Harry began singing with the song, things suddenly made so much sense. He snickered as he heard Draco gasp when Hermione started singing as well.

"I don't want the world to see me," Harry and Hermione belted out. "I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's meant to be broken, I just want you to know who I am."

Severus kissed Harry deeply after that, effectively silencing his young husband. He gently pressed a thought into Harry's mind.

"I have always seen what you were," Severus thought, his tongue entering Harry's mouth. "And I will always see you that way."

Harry sighed into the kiss, giving himself over to his older lover. Their kiss lasted until the end of the song, and a handful of catcalls were shouted out.

"The next song is dedicated to Draco and Hermione, courtesy of Narcissa," the DJ said, before playing "Wonderwall" by Oasis. Draco and Hermione looked happier than ever in each other's arms, as Ron stood by watching with a small smile on his face.

After the song, Draco got on one knee in the middle of the dance floor.

"Hermione," he said, bringing another ringbox from his pocket. "Since we got to know each other two years ago, I couldn't see myself with anyone other than you. You're smart, beautiful, and you've always tried to see the good in people. Will you marry me?"

"Of course, Draco," Hermione said, tears spilling down her cheeks. Draco slid the ring onto her finger and stood before kissing her softly. Harry and Severus were amongst the first to start clapping and cheering. The next song came on, and the majority of the group started dancing to the song.

"Care to dance, Ron?" Luna asked, stepping over to the redhead.

"Sure, Luna," Ron said, leading her to the floor. "I'd like that."

~*~

The reception went long into the night, with many people leaving in the light of the sunrise.

"I love you, Harry James Snape," Severus said, standing atop the stairs outside Hogwarts.

"And I love you, Severus Tobias Snape," Harry said, sliding his arm around his waist.

"Now, about that honeymoon," Severus said, looking into Harry's eyes.

~*~

A/N: It's hard to believe that this is done. It's been a fun four months writing this, and it's been a labor at some points.

Harry and Severus were always my favorites in the book, and the more I thought about it, and the more I read stories on here, it seemed only proper that they end up together. Sure, Sev's twenty plus years older, but Harry's always been mature for his age.

I'm going to post another chapter as a goodbye, update, thank you thing within the next couple of days, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Maybe you'll see your name in the list of thank yous.

I'm still on the fence about writing the side stories, though the Ron one has been started. I have it posted. Go to my page, and find "The Awakening" (or go to this link .net/s/5692810/1/The_Awakening ) if you'd like to read that as well.

It's been a fun ride, and maybe I'll start another story soon. Who knows.

Much love

-KD