Harry petted Ellwyn as she brought him his exam results. He didn't look up at the teacher's at the head table as he read over his results. He covered his mouth as he read over the shocking grades. 'Outstanding'. In everything. Even potions. Though he was two points away from not making it. He just made it to the boundary line.

He smiled faintly, wondering what Severus' reaction would have been. But he didn't look. He knew he would start crying if he did. Hermione had no problem crying, though, as she got the highest grade in the history of Hogwarts after Rowena Ravenclaw.

Ron who got 'Exceeds Expectations' in everything, even Potions—borderline grade of course—was only too happy to laugh with her and congratulate her.

Harry's heart clenched as he looked around, seeing Ginny and Neville smiling sweetly and congratulating each other softly. On the other end of the room he saw Luna and Draco walk to each other from their respective tables. He'd almost had that. Then in one dinner conversation he ruined it. He scrunched up his grade letter and shoved it to the bottom of his pocket, offering Ellwyn a piece of bacon before standing up and walking out of the great hall. The whole love-filled scene starting to make him sick.

Severus watched him from his place at the centre of the teachers' table. He saw the way Harry looked at his friends. He saw the blank expression he'd learned to read as concealed hurt. He saw as he scrunched up his grade letter as if it were nothing and saw as he shoved it into his pocket. He saw as he stood up and left the great hall unnoticed, not once looking up at him. And although it killed Severus to do so, he let him go.

-o-O-o-

Harry shifted in the ceremonial robes Narcissa had the Italian designer make for him. Since the man was such a well-known man—at least that's what others had told him—Narcissa had invited him to the wedding.

He was sure it was her aristocratic way of apologising for making him cry, or her Slytherin way of rubbing it in, that she had won and that Severus and him were no longer together. To make matters worse it seemed she had brought that friend of hers along, a clingy woman, pretty and about Severus' age.

Oh no, that wasn't the worse part. The worst part was that since Severus was family, and Harry the maid of honour, they were now all to be seated together in the reception. Compliments of Narcissa of course.

The vows were short and sweet, if a little bit bizarre on Luna's behalf, but Draco simply smiled brighter at her words. With their hands together, the wizard overseeing the wedding bound their hands with his wand, like a glowing golden ribbon tying their hands together. It reminded Harry of the unbreakable vow but later Hermione confirmed that it was just the similarities in vow magic and that this one was breakable.

Xenophilius sat smiling with tears in his eyes, with an empty chair separating him and Narcissa, who eyed the man with a raised eyebrow before looking proudly at her son. The empty chair for Luna's mother. Besides Narcissa sat Lucius Malfoy who seemed to be struggling to keep his emotions as contained as Narcissa and would fidget a little more, but still maintained the Malfoy grace.

And besides Lucius sat Severus, looking at Harry, not at the celebration. Harry blushed and looked away, back at the union.

-o-O-o-

And of course, that woman was at their table also, sitting beside Severus, and Harry right in front. Draco gave him apologetic glances every once in a while and Harry didn't blame him. He knew Narcissa had been in charge of the seating arrangements.

The woman had curly black hair and blue eyes, she was very beautiful but carried herself as smugly as Narcissa Malfoy did in her best days.

"Celestine, why don't you tell Severus what you do?" Narcissa said sweetly as Harry served himself some water and they waited for the food. What a prissy name. Harry kept his eyes up, smiling at everyone, especially Severus, waiting to see his interaction with this wench.

"I work with the German ministry of magic. Although, I've been working on my potions mastery for the last couple of years." She smiled sweetly at him.

Harry half chuckled half scoffed.

'Narcissa you bitch.' Harry thought to himself. Even though Harry tried to cover it up by drinking water, Celestine seemed to have heard him, and even Severus glanced at Harry for half a second.

"Forgive me mister Potter, but what do you do exactly?" She asked challengingly. Harry smiled fakely.

"Oh, I've been so busy getting through puberty that I simply haven't thought much about anything else." If Narcissa wanted to jab at his age then he could play along. Draco seemed to have trouble not choking on his wine and Luna patted him gently on the back. Celestine smiled and chuckled.

"Oh sarcasm, I sometimes forget how fond of it kids are, don't you agree Severus?" She asked turning to look at the groom's godfather. Everyone on the table saw Harry narrow his eyes at her. If looks could kill… and to be honest Harry's looks probably had the potential to.

Narcissa seemed to be enjoying herself whilst Lucius gave her a look that indicated that he would talk to her about this seating arrangement.

"How far along in your mastery did you say you were?" Severus asked, not answering to the question.

Celestine was only too happy to ignore Harry at this point and answered Severus' question. They talked back and forth and Harry replaced the water in his goblet with wine. He drank it all before getting a refill but waiting before he dunked this one down. Pity Krum hadn't been invited… because he would have loved to go sit with him right now.

"Are you sure you should be drinking that sweetheart? Aren't you fifteen?" Celestine asked.

"What are you, my mother?" Harry scoffed.

"You said you were in the process of trying out your wolfbane potion?" Severus cut in again and she nodded.

Finally the food arrived and everyone dug in. The food was exquisite, as expected of a Malfoy wedding. But the more this bitch talked to Severus the more Harry hated her. Especially because they had so much to talk about.

The only comfort Harry had was when it came to dancing and despite Celestine's hints Severus didn't ask her. Even when Narcissa was motioning him to do so.

"Mister Potter, why don't you ask me out for a dance?" Celestine asked and Harry had to wait a good thirty seconds to register what she'd said.

"I'd be delighted to." He said and she started getting up. "But I'm gay." He said and turned to the designer beside Narcissa who had perked up at Harry's words. "Would you like to dance?" He asked.

The designer was only too happy and nodded. He was for sure at least ten years older than Severus, but he was the kind of man that could be compared to a fine wine, the more years the better the result.

The flamboyant man had no trouble lowering his head to the back of Harry's hand, as if he were accepting to take royalty to the dance floor. Harry had the decency to blush at that and followed the other to the dance floor. Just like Viktor, this man had the ability of pulling Harry across the dance floor and making him look graceful in the process. And his accent. It sent thrills down Harry's spine.

"I believed you were Headmaster Snape's partner." The other said in his rich Italian accent. Harry chuckled.

"We're taking a break for a while." He said. "I want to travel."

"Oh? Is Italy in your itinerary?" He asked. Harry laughed softly.

"Maybe, if you can charm me enough to want to go." The man's rich deep laugh made Harry's heart race, and Harry started discovering the difference between love and lust. Not that he would act upon it.

The other did charm him, he made Italy sound like a paradise, and offered him his home whenever he wanted to visit Milan. However, as the songs changed, they were interrupted.

"May I cut in?" Severus said. The other smiled and chuckled as he saw Severus, bowing his head slightly and passing Harry to him.

"I hope to see you soon, Harry." The other said. Harry watched him go back to the table and Severus pulled him close, drawing Harry's attention back to him.

"Was that flirting I saw? You sure seemed very close with that man." Severus said as they moved on the dance floor.

"You seemed very close with Clarisa."

"Celestine."

"Whatever." They danced in silence. Harry not looking up at him.

"When are you leaving?" Severus asked him.

"Tomorrow… I'm going to Spain first." He said looking up at him with hope.

"No, Harry…"

"Why not? I want to be with you." Harry whispered.

"And I want to be with you." The other said.

"Then I'll stay."

"That would be selfish of me, wouldn't it?" Severus said. Harry looked at him hurt and looked down.

"I'll write to you." He whispered.

"I'll look forward to it." Severus replied, leaving Harry with that warm and fuzzy feeling once more.

"Kiss me." Harry whispered.

"That will make things harder Harry." Severus replied in hushed tones also. Harry looked at him desperately, as if he didn't give a damn.

"When have things ever been easy for us Severus?" But just as Severus was about to give in, Celestine came up behind Harry and tapped his shoulder. The song had finished. Harry stepped back and watched as Celestine stepped into Severus' arms.

Harry turned back to his table and whispered a quick goodbye to Luna and Draco, wishing them the best. Then going to find Hermione and Ron he bid them farewell. Then, before the song had time to finish Harry left the celebrations and apparated away.