Severus hadn't been sure whether to tell Harry what Charlie had said or not. He didn't want to ruin the night for them, but he didn't wish to lie. He assured Teddy though that his kitten would be waiting for him when he got home. He prayed he was right, he thought how much the little fur ball meant to Teddy. He ended up telling Harry, and letting him know Charlie thought he could help. Harry was pale when he heard it was poison, and they were both thinking the same thing. Lucius was told, and he promised to look into it as well.

Harry and Severus put the concerns aside and headed into town for their date. They had been invited to a few parties, but opted not to go. It was their first as a couple, and the two wanted the night alone. It was little surprise that they were headed for the coast.

Severus went to take him. "I hope you don't mind."

Harry shook his head. "We both love this place."

Severus kissed him. "A more romantic man would have whisked you away to Paris or something."

Harry smirked. "If I wanted a more romantic man, I'd have gone for Lucius."

Severus snarled. "If you even look at my best friend….."

Harry cut him off with a kiss. "You know Lucius isn't even bi."

Severus still growled. "That doesn't mean you can't look."

Harry cut him off with a kiss. "I am not into blondes. I much prefer the dark haired sort."

Severus wound an arm around him. " Muggles say blondes have more fun."

Harry shrugged. "I tend to think red heads have the leg up."

Severus' eyes clouded. "Red heads."

Harry heard the snarl. "I meant George."

Severus led Harry to the beach. "I want to think of no one but you tonight."

Harry more than agreed. For a moment they both thought about the cat. They both were thinking the same thing, about who may have done it. But there was no proof, and no way of knowing how she'd even know about the cat. Charlie had taken Sev with him and Rodger, as they were going to the Burrow, to keep an eye on her. Severus had offered to keep her, not to ruin the men's night, but they reminded him Charlie was a vet. The cat likely would be fine by morning, but they wanted to make sure. Charlie cared about Teddy a lot, and would care for his cat.

Harry found that Severus did have a romantic side to him. He had seen it before, and had stopped accusing the man of using Lucius to do it. The man might not seem it, but he could be romantic and thoughtful, when he put his mind to it. His Christmas gift was a sign of that.

Harry was surprised by the dinner on the beach. "A picnic?"

Severus smiled. "It's usually what you'd have on a beach."

Harry agreed. "But your…."

Severus kissed him. "Let me worry about that."

Harry was worried. "I didn't plan a trip to the hospital for tonight."

Severus laughed. "Such little trust in me or your own skill."

Harry smirked. "I recall you were the one who didn't trust."

Severus motioned. "Sit."

Harry sunk down. "I can summon a chair."

Severus ground his teeth. "Just watch."

Harry was amazed when the man managed it. "You bent your knee."

Severus kissed him as he sat. "I managed a bit."

Harry had continued to work with him, but only once a week. His other colleagues agreed, the other leg had only slim chance of improving. Severus just needed exercise now and to get his leg moving. Really they no longer did rehab, it was just an excuse for a date more. But he was happy to see his boyfriend was able to join him for a picnic. He smiled at it, and the fact Severus had the same food from their first date, not the food from their first picnic but the restaurant on Diagon. There was music as well, warming spells since it was winter.

Harry was amazed, when a movie was projected after dinner, into the sky. Lucius was one of those introduced such technology like the television, with wizard stations, and this was his newest product. Sirius always had one, a television, but it had always been using muggle stations.

Severus pulled Harry into his arms at midnight. "Happy New Year."

Harry smiled. "Happy New Year."

Severus kissed Harry passionately but were drawn apart by fireworks. "Should I be worried he is lurking?"

Harry laughed and pointed. "George sent them with me. I set the timer spell."

Severus lowered Harry against the blanket. "You know this means we will spend the year together."

Harry smiled a little. "I didn't know you were one for superstition."

Severus' mouth left his neck for a moment. "I make my own destiny."

Harry was moaning as the man explored his neck but stopped him. "No."

Severus looked up. "I'll stop if…."

Harry kissed him. "Not here."

Severus nodded. "Not on the beach. I wish I could carry you."

Harry kissed him. "Don't apologize."

Severus led Harry into the room he once had. He was surprised when he found candles. "Someone was busy."

Harry led him to the bed as the candles lit. "I had a feeling."

Severus lowered Harry down onto the bed with him. It had been years, long before his leg issues, since he had made love. He knew, even before he regained his legs, that he could though. Using his wand to disrobe them both and cast contraception, he continued where he had left off. His mouth explored the beautiful body, determined to make Harry a snake that night. He took such pleasure in every hiss and moan he elicited from his partner, as his mouth and hands explored. He was slow and careful as he took Harry, knowing his lover was a virgin, making him want more. And it worked, as after a breather, Harry had encouraged him on for more rounds. He was happy to accommodate.

Harry smiled as they eventually drifted off just before dawn. "I guess I was right when I told Teddy we'd have a late night."


Harry and Severus had waited until nearly lunch to head back to the manor. They had waited nearly three months, and they didn't regret it. Severus was not moving in with Harry yet, but they were ready for the step. He knew Severus was going to go back to teaching; he had made that clear enough. Harry knew it didn't mean he had to work at the school though. If they wed, he could live at school, and still work at the hospital. It would be quite the commute, but it was possible. Or there was a similar hospital in Scotland, and he likely could get work there as well. But they were nowhere near marriage yet. They had taken the next step, making love, but still not close to it.

Harry and Severus took Teddy to the Burrow after lunch. They had promised to take him out, but he seemed to have forgotten about it. He was anxious to see his kitty, and make sure she was okay. Lucius said he was distracted by the horses, but not that morning.

Harry picked up his son. "I am sure she is okay."

Teddy shook his head. "I see her Daddy."

Andromeda spoke up. "I told him Charlie would have called if she was sick."

Teddy pouted. "I see."

Harry kissed his son. "We will go. I am sure Molly won't mind."

Severus turned to his brother. "You will look into it?"

Lucius nodded. "You know I will."

Ted was pale. "I can't believe anyone would target his cat."

Severus looked to where Harry was with his son. "At least it was the cat and not Teddy."

Lucius agreed. "She would gain nothing from hurting Teddy."

Severus grunted. "What does she gain from hurting his cat?"

Ted thought. "A warning but not murder charge."

Lucius thought he made sense. "She is a fool to risk it though."

Severus went to take Harry. "No one ever accused her of being intelligent."

Harry and Teddy went with Severus to the Burrow. Charlie and Rodger had mentioned they would be spending the night there. All of the siblings were going for the holiday, except for Ginny of course. And those without a house in town, Percy and Ron did, were staying there for the night. Molly was always happy to have company, and she wouldn't mind them coming for lunch. She would have enough food for them.

Molly was not surprised when she saw them come in. Charlie had been reluctant, but he had told them about the cat. He hadn't planned to, but him bringing a cat with him to the house, needed some form of explanation. Molly had never been a fan of them in her house.

Teddy looked at Charlie. "Uncle Charlie, Sev?"

Charlie smiled. "She is right here."

Rodger smiled. "A bit of warm milk, and the fur ball went away."

Teddy cuddled his kitty. "I worry Sev. You no sick again Sev."

Harry looked at Charlie. "Thank you."

Charlie looked at Severus and back. "It was."

Severus understood. "Do you know what? I can….."

Charlie nodded. "I had a friend test it. It was a minor dose of rat poison."

Harry was rigid. "What if Teddy had…?'

Severus calmed him. "But he didn't. Teddy knows better than to eat cat treats."

Charlie added. "It was a very low dose. And it was something needing ingestion."

Harry felt some relief. "I just don't understand why this happened."

Ron had come over. "I think I can."

Ron hated to rat out his sister, but he had to. He had always been the one to support her, even when his parents were not. The two were so close in age; they had always been very close growing up. Percy was the lone one, as Bill and Charlie were close, and of course the twins had been too. But he had been shaken when he heard about the poison, and how close it had come to Teddy. He loved Harry as a brother, and his son too.

Hermione spoke. "Ginny was at our house just before Christmas. She'd have been near the gifts."

Harry was confused. "She'd not know about the cat."

Ron sighed. "We got a toy for the cat for Teddy. She knew."

Severus thought. "She also may have heard us in the store."

Hermione apologized. "We didn't think she'd try anything."

Harry looked at Severus. "Can Lucius use this?"

Severus had already headed for the floo. "I hope so."

Molly was pale. "She just got released."

Hermione turned to her. "She'll lose her parole. At the very least, she'll get the six years she should have got."

Teddy was oblivious as he cuddled. "Daddy she not very playful. She sleepy."

Charlie knelt. "She had a bit of a late night. In a day or two she'll be back to normal."

Severus kissed Harry. "I'm going to speak to Lucius. I'll come back for you two."

Harry agreed, he and Teddy would stay for lunch while he went. They hoped Teddy would go skating with them as planned, when done. They needed to keep their mind off Ginny, and everything. Last night had been amazing, and all they wanted to do was take Teddy out skating. He was Harry's priority and he wanted his son to have as normal of a life as possible.

After lunch Harry saw Severus appear. "Any news?"