Chapter Forty-five;

Sirius finally trotted back to Hogwarts at around 11PM and just as he came to Severus' door, Minerva was walking out. She didn't say anything to him just gave him a look and walked past him. Sirius sighed and walked up to the portrait, staring Salazar down. Salazar stared for a moment and then frowned, turning his view away before letting the door pop open. Sirius walked inside and took a look around, quickly seeing that the chambers were empty, he dragged himself to the bedroom door and cracked it open to poke his head in and saw Severus' figure under the covers. He stepped inside and closed the door, pulling his shirt over his head and wiggling off his pants and then climbing into bed to spoon up behind Severus and wrapping his arms around his waist to pull him closer.

Severus allowed him too, which Sirius found as a good sign as he expected to be thrown out. He moved Severus' hair off his neck and began kissing the back of his neck, nipping and licking gently. "Sev?" He murmured, nuzzling his neck.

"What…?" Severus whispered, Sirius could hear the frown in it.

"I'm sorry" Sirius said, pulling Severus as close as possible.

"I see…"

"I really am."

"Okay…"

"Sev, come on…"

"What?" Severus asked, pushing Sirius' arms off him.

Sirius sighed. "I love you." He said, resting his forehead against the back of Severus head. Severus stayed quiet which made Sirius frown. "I really do… I just… I say things, you know that. I don't think before I speak, and… I know you get embarrassed about those things, especially in public" Sirius began and then sighed.

Severus thought about what to say, turning his head to stare at the ground. "I can't face the staff again…"

"Yes you can, Sev…"

"No. I can't."

"Why not? I'm sure… they'll forget by the morning, or… they won't bring it up at least."

"They will not forget… and even if they don't bring it up – they know."

"Well… what do you want me to do? Obliviate them all? Because I will…"

Severus chuckled weakly. "I'd like to see you try to obliviate Albus."

"Alright" Sirius said, pushing up to sitting position.

Severus reached over and pulled Sirius back down, resting his head on Sirius' shoulder. "Don't, I was kidding."

"Was you now?" Sirius asked, smiling and wrapping his arm over Severus' waist and then turning to face him.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Albus would more than likely curse you to death."

"Oh?"

"—Which doesn't sound like a bad idea…"

Sirius nudged him. "Oi." Sirius smiled, placing a kiss to Severus' nose.

"Did you just kiss my nose?" Severus asked, letting out a quiet chuckle.

"Yes, yes I did. Did you know I loved you?" Sirius asked.

"You've informed me of that a couple of times, yes." Severus said, curling his lips into a s mirk.

"And?"

"And – I love you too… I guess."

"You guess?"

"Well – I think you have too much dirt on me now to say I don't love you."

"Always the Slytherin, aren't we?"

"Of course."

Sirius sighed in contentment, pulling Severus to him so his face would nuzzle Sirius' chest. "About the wedding, love."

"This month?"

"… What?" Sirius asked, a bit surprised.

"Minerva informed me that she and Molly could easily get everything together so we could have it by the end of this month or the beginning of next month – if we want." Severus said.

"Well… is that what you want?"

"I don't care."

"Sev…"

"No, I really don't. I mean… I just chose a summer month so we wouldn't have to take any time off for the honeymoon."

"The what?"

"… Honeymoon… don't…" Severus pulled away to lean up on his arms. "Don't people normally have honeymoons?"

"Yes, I just… never thought you were one for honeymoons."

"Yes – well I'm not usually one to let a Gryffindor in my bed, yet here we are, and now I'm bonding with him – I must be insane." He said, smirking down at Sirius and then leaning down to push their lips together for a quick chaste kiss.

Sirius pushed up to kiss him back and then pulled away. "Hmm, taking initiative?" Sirius asked, giving a chuckle.

Severus rolled his eyes and lied back down, resting his head on Sirius' shoulder. "Shut up, now yes or no – This month? Or summer?"

"This month sounds fine, I'm sure you could use some time off work for a… /honeymoon/." Sirius said, smirking once again.

"Hmm." Severus hummed, closing his eyes and wrapping his arm around Sirius to snuggle in his side and then slowly drifting off.

[Next day]

"I must admit, Sirius, most of us thought you'd be single by today." Remus said as he slowly nibbled at his lunch.

"You people have no faith in my puppy eyes…" Sirius joked, taking a sip at his pumpkin juice as everyone had a quiet laugh at the pun. "Anyway, Minerva – Severus told me you and Molly could get the ceremony ready for the end of this month? We agreed that would be better than waiting."

"Of course you did…" Minerva muttered, nodding her head. "I'll go contact Molly now." Minerva said as she pushed out of her chair and walked out.

Sirius sighed. "Still a bit mad, is she?"

"She feels the need to protect Severus – for all he's done for the war, and being the youngest on staff, well besides us, but he's been working here much longer. It's hard to explain." Remus said.

"No, I understand." Sirius said, giving a shrug of his shoulders and nibbling at his food.

Everything got quiet after that until everyone was almost done with their lunch. "So where are you two love birds going after the ceremony?" Rolanda asked, leaning over the table to look at Sirius.

"Oh… well, we haven't really chosen a place." Sirius said honestly. "Any recommendations?"

Everyone was quiet, considering places. "I could arrange a cabin somewhere… quiet? Secluded, possibly, I doubt Severus would be caught anywhere like Hawaii or another very popular place." Albus said, giving a curt nod.

"Yeah – sounds fine." Sirius said, smiling at Albus.

"I'll make arrangements." Albus said as he pushed out of his chair. "Now, I have a meeting with someone from the Ministry." He said, nodding and walking out.

After Albus left, everyone slowly scattered out of the Great Hall and last was Remus and Sirius, both sitting in silent, sipping at their pumpkin juice. "So…"

"You know there's a Gryffindor Quidditch practice starting in twenty minutes." Remus blurted.

"Really?"

"Yes. Shall we go and watch Harry?" Remus asked, turning to look at Sirius.

"Yeah, let's go!" Sirius said as he pushed out of his chair and walked with Remus out of the Great Hall and towards the Quidditch pitch.