*9*9*9*

Severus sat at his desk staring at the assortment of oddities on his desk. A scroll, three memories, a journal, Harry's latest letter and a small package wrapped in bright paper with a card, "Happy Fourth My Heart".

He opened the journal first, it was Harry's he knew that from the fact that it was in Harry's drawer and because it was filled with Harry's illegible scrawl. There was so much written about Severus, about how he was so sharp and severe but also how he was gentle and caring. Harry had written about their first kiss and the tingles he had gotten every time Severus touched him. The first time Severus had taken Harry, how patient and gentle he had been with the virgin.

Everything Severus and Harry had done together was in this journal and there was nothing about any illicit affairs, if anything there were long passages about how Harry was afraid Severus would find someone smarter and better looking than Harry and leave Harry.

Severus snorted at the absurdity that anyone would leave Harry Potter. Then the irony of Harry's greatest fear of abandonment was also Severus' greatest fear.

He shut the journal and pushed it away, not wanting to read anymore.

He figured the small package and eyed the memories and the letter. He opened Harry's letter first.

It was a letter of apology and explanation and begging forgiveness that Harry didn't need. If someone should be begging for forgiveness it should be Severus.

Just as Draco had said Harry had spent much of the night with a sobbing Hermione who had not only miscarried but her husband had left her with a dismissive shrug when he had found out about her miscarriage. Harry had wanted to go to Severus or at least him but Hermione wouldn't let him go, and Severus had warded the floo against everyone save Harry and no one could get to the door.

Severus sighed and tucked the letter into the journal. He was still fiddling with the package as he eyed the silvery liquid and the scroll.

He fetched his pensieve and selected one of the memories. It took him a moment to orient himself but when he did he found he was in the Hogwarts library.

Harry came into focus and so did Hermione. They looked to be about 15 or 16 but Severus couldn't be sure.

He watched as Harry fidgeted and Hermione asked if everything was okay and it looked like Harry was debating with himself, wondering if he should tell her something.

Severus heard the faint, 'I think I'm gay,' before Hermione practically squealed and launched herself at him. Then suddenly they were all at the Burrow and Hermione was holding tightly to Harry's hand which earned them the glare from Ron. Everyone was completely accepting of this revelation which is more than what Harry was expecting.

Severus was pulled from the memory back into his own office. He carefully put the first memory back into its container before adding the second memory into the pensieve.

It took him a moment to recognize the living room at Grimmauld Place, when the Burrow had been destroyed Harry had gifted the house to the Weasley's and Molly had taken it upon herself to redo the whole house. It was lighter and more open, much more inviting and afternoon tea friendly then the elf heads and screaming portraits had been.

Judging by the look of those assembled, Harry, Draco, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and several other Weasley's, it looked to be after the war.

It appeared that they were questioning Harry about his just revealed relationship with Severus.

Harry had finally had enough it seemed of them questioning his decisions and his relationship and his lover.

Severus listened in awe as Harry delivered a passionate speech about Severus, his faults and his redeeming qualities. How he had sacrificed his life for the war. How the man had saved Harry more times then the young man could count and probably even knew about. Severus hadn't wanted to join the Deah Eaters but his family had been threatened and as much as he hated his father he wasn't about to loose his mother or his younger sister. As Harry finished his speech he stood and left them to think about what they had all just heard.

As Severus was pulled out of the memory he sat back and thought that perhaps he had been hasty in his assumption that Harry didn't want him.