Severus would look for a home perhaps for holidays and the odd weekend, he had more than enough to do it comfortably, but it would wait. Remus refused money, he tried to pay his old friend back, but Remus was stubborn. Severus could do little, but he found Remus still owed the bank a bit of money for his cottage, so he paid it off, and he ordered some new clothes. It wasn't much, but he remembered when he was released from prison, Remus had been waiting for him. He had been embarrassed all he could offer Severus was this pitiful job and room, but he had given him literally the clothes off his back. Remus faced nothing but ridicule and intolerance since he was bitten, except for the rare friends, and yet he had such an amazing heart.

He passed his mastery, a first class, a week after his name was cleared, and Horace had retired happily. The man had devoted his entire life to the school, rarely ever leaving the school, and had a nice savings as well as pension. He had bought a home in Kent, and was going to try and relax, or so he told Severus. He had always known Severus would go far, wanted him to take over for him one day, and felt a father's pride as he handed over the mantle.

Remus smiled as he watched Severus settle into his new rooms."I thought you may go back into the dungeons for your lab, and Slytherin."

Severus went stock white. "I have got too use to having windows again."

Moving across the room, Remus was kicking himself, he had not even thought about his words. He should have known after ten years in a black cell, with no windows, he would not want to return to the dungeons, even the name was bad. He could work down there, but he would never feel comfortable down there.

Remus looked around at the three walls of bookcases, most empty, except the ones on either side of the windows. "I am sure now you will fill these soon."

Severus smiled. "Don't even try to find ways for me to spend my fortune. I will get you to let me pay you back one day."

From the look on Remus, he knew his old friend had been notified by the bank, that the last of his mortgage had been paid off. He could also see Remus was wearing some new clothes, so obviously the tailor had kept to his time line. Remus made decent money, he only taught part time but his text books meant he made a bit more then what Severus would just teaching, and now he was not saving up for a house. But Remus was never a man to treat himself, even when he had the money. The extra money he would put away for emergencies, and for his godson.

Remus saw his look "I will be giving you back the mortgage money as soon as I can. But the tailor would not take the clothes back."

Severus shook his head. "You will do no such thing. You do everything for everyone Remus, you deserve to be thanked. I owe you so much more."

He reminded his old friend it was not only monetary, he believed in him when no one else did, and that meant the world. He would never have known Abraxas believed in him and wanted to be there for him, and he knew Remus inspired the boys. They may have come up with the plan to clear his name, and surprised him with it, but they believed in him in part due to Remus. They didn't know him, and Lucius and Sirius thought him guilty, but Remus had shown them other wise.

Remus put a package down on the table. "That came to the hall for you during breakfast. There is nothing but your name, but I recognized the owl."

He didn't need to ask whose owl, he recognized the script. "Send it back for me will you?"

He had wanted to go to the trial, to see the two people who sent him to prison punished, but for two reasons, he hadn't. One the room he still had nightmares about, remembering all those people calling for his blood, the dementors, and the sentence rung in his head. The other had been Lucius, he could not see him again, he couldn't look into the eyes of the man he once loved with all of his heart.

Remus picked it up but he stopped. "I know it is hard, but should you not at least open it? It could be something from Abraxas, from when you were kids."

Severus shook his head. "I'm sure Lucius burned every trace of me as soon as he could. I doubt there was even a photo of me left."

His whole life was in the manor, anything his father hadn't destroyed, was sent to the manor when his mother died. Remus knew there was at least one photo, it was how Draco knew Rabastan was the hooded man, and he also knew Lucius had the pendant now. He knew it wasn't his place, if Lucius wanted to make things right, he'd need to do it on his own. Remus was not certain the man would ever earn forgiveness, he had hurt Severus so bad, but he knew Lucius would try.

Severus watched as Remus left him for a bit. "Why couldn't you just believe me Luc? I would never have doubted you."

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Draco and Harry were happy to be back at school, they hadn't really seen each other since the trial. Harry had spent most of the time with his Uncle at his home, and Draco and his dad had gone away, needing some time together. Lucius had taken the rest of the summer off after the arrest, for the trial, and to be with his son. He was shaken badly from what he heard, not only about Severus, but his son. Lucius would never forgive himself, for what he had allowed to happen, to both of them. He and Draco spent a few weeks away talking, and they were going to go to counselling, which Lucius knew his son needed for a long time.

It was a few weeks into the school year, and they were happy to see Severus teaching potions, and actually see him. The man still avoided any alone time with them, but Harry had seen him at his quidditch practice, and he and Remus were as close as ever.

Draco looked at Harry as they left potions in October."We have to find some way of getting my dad to come to school."

Harry sighed. "I'll help but I'm not sure it will work. I mean Professor Snape must be pretty hurt after what your dad did to him."

Both of them knew it was not simply Narcissa and Rabastan, they may be the reason he went to prison, but he had suffered a more painful betrayal. Lucius had admitted to his son, after he over heard some last Christmas, his own part. He knew his dad had turned his back when Severus begged him to help, and had believed the lies. They were like Harry and Draco, they had been best friends since nearly the cradle, and fell in love. Well Harry and Draco had the first part, but they would never admit the second, though all their friends could see they had crushes on each other. Their friends wanted to play match maker, as they were.

Draco headed for the stairs. "Dad stayed with that woman all those years, to punish himself. I know he still loves Severus a lot."

Harry caught up."That is all and good, but even your dad can't simply sweet talk his way out of this mess he has made."

Malfoys were as stubborn as they came, and even they would admit that, and they usually got what they wanted. They rarely took no for answer, and either sweet talked their way into or out of something, or they used their money and power. Harry had fallen prey to his best friend more then once in the past.

Harry smirked. "I doubt your father can simply sweet talk his way out of this one. And Severus doesn't look to be one to be bribed either."

Draco laughed a bit at that. "I will tell you a secret; Malfoys have never been above grovelling. And when he is done, Dad will romance him off his feet."

Harry had never taken his best friend for the true romantic, he was usually a bit more practical, but he learned new things every day it seemed. Draco knew his dad had been miserable for years, and his true love had been Severus, so in his mind it was natural, they were meant to be together again.

Harry spotted his Uncle across the way. "Your dad may have some competition. I could be wrong, but I always thought there was more between those two."

Draco shook his head. "I love your Uncle, you know I do, but they aren't meant for each other. Maybe we can hook him up with your dad."

Laughing at that, Harry reached to see if Draco had a fever, for his friend seemed not himself. His dad was bi, but he was a bachelor for life, and even if he was looking for more and he and Remus were repairing their bond, they were friends. And before Draco said it, not all friends were meant to be married.

Draco shrugged."I care about your Uncle, and want him happy, but I truly hope my dad wins."

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Lucius was out at the bar with Sirius of all people, in the month since his son went back to school, he found he hated facing an empty house. He had hated his whore of a wife, but there had always been sound in the manor, even if it was screaming. He knew part of him keeping her around had been to do with that, and as his son said, punishing himself for what he had done. There was always a part of him that had known Severus was innocent, though he would never admit it, and he buried the guilt, under the misery of his marriage, and he anger as well. He could not let himself be happy, thinking of Severus in that cell.

Sirius called for more whiskey. "You know we could go looking for some men. We are both single, and you have been a monk for over twelve years."

Lucius shook his head. "I have never dated, as insane as that sounds. I mean I have never gone looking for someone."

Severus had been in his life since they were toddlers, and he couldn't even remember when he first realized they liked each other. He could remember that first kiss when they were twelve. And he definitely could remember the first time they had said the word. They had been together for three years since their first kiss, but at fifteen, after a big quidditch game, they shared a kiss, and for the first time, they said the words..

Sirius knew where his mind was. "Have you even spoken to him? You're a governor as well as a parent; you can go to the school"

Lucius sighed. "I sent him a package with some things from his childhood, but it came back unopened."

Sirius was he one who was called a fool sometimes, but Lucius was the bigger fool, and he had no problem telling his friend that. If the man wanted Severus back, he was going to have to try a lot harder then that, Severus would give him a real fight. Sirius tended to think the fool deserved what ever he had to do, to prove it.

He clapped him on the back "If you love him, go and fight for him. I'd be prepared for sore knees though, there is sure to be a lot of grovelling involved."