Authors Note: Thanks for all your support and a special thanks to Lilly-flower15 and Mickieskids for the reviews.
Time
Chapter six
Happily ever after
Harry is very happy. He had taken over for Umbridge at the end of Ron's fifth year. It was a bit strange to teach his old classmates but after redoing his own OWL year as often as he had, Severus felt more like a class mate than any of the ones he had before he got stuck in the loop. He was still friendly with Ron and Hermione but he did not spend a lot of time with them. The things he went through without them were too life changing. They also still don't understand why Harry had not just killed Voldemort.
Severus had wondered too but in his case Harry had only to say "Voldemort killed without remorse."
Ron and Hermione were additionally told that Harry doesn't ever want to do that himself and couldn't possibly know if he'd have it in him to feel remorse for the monster he had become. He does feel sorry for him and sometimes wishes he had gone back much further. Enough to teach the poor lonely orphan he once was what it means to be loved and to treasure love. Tom, the young boy he once was, can't have been born evil. Granted, some say that children conceived under the influence of a love potion can't feel love but Harry can't believe there aren't much more of those than most assume. And he doesn't believe they all end up as bad as him, just with less power to become that dangerous. No, Harry is certain that growing up in an orphanage during the war with little who truly cared for him after that was enough. Especially since he had learned to expect certain responses to certain actions from him. Meaning that every time someone might have shown they cared he saw it as a result of his manipulations and such an exploitable weakness rather than seeing the person as a cherished ally.
Maybe if Tom hadn't been smart enough to manipulate people that easily he could still have found real friends in time once he went to Hogwarts. This way it was already at least almost too late and no one managed to penetrate his walls behind which he had hidden his loneliness. And after creating his first Horcrux at such a young age it certainly was too late to safe him. His soul was too mutilated by that act alone.
Still pondering that he feels a hand squeeze his hand and smiles at Severus. He always seems to notice when Harry was deeply in thoughts instead of listening to what was going on. He notices the new first years enter the great hall. His sister among them. The siblings having been told about who their parents really were and their brother when their parents had picked them up from a neighbour in America who had watched them while they fought death eaters at the ministry. Not that the muggle neighbour knew that.
The two were very surprised to say the least but thought it cool to have such a famous big brother and that he would be their teacher at Hogwarts. They also liked their new brother-in-law whom Harry had married on the 31st of July. He would celebrate his birthday when he had for the last few years as Malcom. His adopted fathers had calculated it to match the original one from the point he travelled to when he'd returned and such it was more accurate to celebrate another year despite the fact he wasn't born on that day. And he didn't want to wait much longer to marry his Severus and to have a good long holiday until school starts again.
Severus hadn't noticed before Harry finished the time loop, hardly seeing him outside of his bedroom in Hogwarts, but Harry had developed a tendency to get lost in thought at something while sleepwalking through his Hogwarts years. He knew enough about what to do there that it wasn't too noticeable then either, especially since he rarely was in dreamland when alone with Severus. He still isn't when alone with him but like now during the welcoming feast he was gone as he was for all the others in this last loop and many before that.
It's a good thing Severus got his attention back so he could smile at his sister who looked nervous. No one had told her how she would be sorted. He knew Fred and Gorge had tried to tell her the same story with battling a troll they had told Ron.
Rose had just laughed and then asked her brothers how they would send the one setting a troll on Harry Potter's baby sister to the hospital wing because there probably wouldn't be much left of him.
Harry had calmly told her that if he wouldn't kill Voldemort he wouldn't kill anyone. But he was partly the reason Lockhart had lost his memory permanently and that Umbridge was send to Azkaban fearing Centaurs more than Dementors so they probably still won't dare and if someone does try he'd just deal with the troll first, before it gets to any first year. He wouldn't risk letting anyone get hurt.
Fred and Gorge called him a spoil sport for ruining their fun but Harry just didn't want his baby sister be scared.
Charlie and Bill also visited often now that they always knew where to find their cool cousin. Both were still very fond of him and love to reminisce about one game or another they played. Including how they had cracked him up playing dragons and how Charlie had snug off to Hogwarts just to find his Malcom. They had been fond of their cousin ever since and to all the Weasley children he was a cousin. He had always send presents and written letters even to Percy when he had stopped talking to his parents had stayed in touch with Malcom after all the other boy had said he'd stay out of any conflicts as he had in the past so he wouldn't push either him nor his parents to adopt the others view. Still, he did eventually threaten Percy to drag him to his wedding by the ears if he has to. And eventually Percy had agreed to join Harry on a visit to the Burrow where most just ignored the year. Though Molly hugged him a lot and told him how happy she was to have him back and the twins Fred and Gorge just told him not to hurt their mother again or they'd prank him. Ron had asked if that meant they'd stop pranking him if he hurt their mother once and then came back.
They hadn't truly stopped pranking Percy when he was there though. They just didn't only prank him and not too much so Ron gave up on that plan.
Now Harry can clap for all the students that were sorted no matter what house, though he was a bit more enthusiastic when Rose was sorted into Slytherin.
Severus just joked "A Potter in Slytherin, the world will end."
"And you can't even be mean to her by taking points because of her dad. After all if you do your own house loses." Harry grins.
"Detention is an option." Severus points out.
"There is a risk I fall asleep if you're back late because of that and won't make out with you." Harry warns and whispers "While I'll intend to reward you every day you didn't give my sister a reward."
Severus shivers "I think I'll just give her a stern talking when she misbehaves and let you choose punishments when needed." Severus replies.
"Very good idea." Harry replies and gives him a short kiss. "Will we study for my mastery later?"
"You mean make out and claim you studied? You already passed it seven times in other loops you said." Severus frowns. He might want to be open about their relationship but that doesn't mean he likes to be kissed in front of his students and risk his reputation.
"I do need to study under a master for some time." Harry shrugs "And it's not like they can check what we do when we're alone."
"The time frame was never clarified and considering that everyone knows about your time travel with the repetition. Add that with the potion you developed that cured the Longbottoms and you can sit the test any time." Severus points out.
"I'd have to create a potion." Harry shrugs.
"Again, cure for the Longbottoms." Severus waves him off.
"I'm considering testing another." Harry shrugs. "I have developed it and think that one is better, if it works."
"What is it?" Severus asks.
"A cure for Remus." Harry shrugs. "If I can cure werewolves they might die out so to speak and than you don't need to fear them."
Severus stares at him and then asks with an angry glower "And you want to study? With me? And act like there is anything I might be able to teach you?"
"I'm sure there are some things you can teach me, using those very talented hands." Harry purrs seductively.
"We were talking about potions." Severus grumbles though Harry sees the corners if his mouth twitch.
"You were." Harry shrugs "I was thinking about seducing my lovely husband."
Another small twitch and Severus points out that the food appeared and they can talk after the feast.
Harry waves his sister once and she just smiles up happy to be there. She had heard a lot about the school over the years and is glad to go there. She had temporarily considered to go to Ivermory because she herself grew up in America and having her brother as a teacher might have a few down sides too. But so far the brother she, until recently, only knew as a close family friend named Malcom, had always been great fun and had always been there for her when needed. Unless he was visiting his friend which he had done a lot in the last few years. But she still loved him and wants to know more about him now.
And she wasn't the only one. All her new classmates had a ton of questions already. Especially about Harry's mental state. His initial refusal to fight Voldemort for the ministry was commented on negatively a lot by the prophet. The quibbler that had interviewed Harry a lot had been more focused in the fact that Harry had still kept everyone safe until he had made his point and the way he had been treated he had a right to be upset. The Quibbler also mentioned that the negative option of the prophet might be due to the fact that Harry refuses to give an interview to them.
Most people didn't care that Harry had given the minister a piece of his mind because he had taken such good care of the situation. Still his mental state had some people worried because he is very powerful and been through a probably traumatic event with being stuck in a time loop.
The wedding with Severus seemed to calm people again. Despite Severus being seen as a dark wizard and former death eater it at least showed that Harry wasn't as uncaring as the dark Lord. He loved someone and that also had reminded people on how protective he seemed of his family. Especially Percy Weasley whom he had protected from harm by the dark Lord.
Rose enjoys to tell everyone who listens that sure, her brother us a little different but in a good and fun way and always says that being normal is boring anyway.
Later that night, Severus returns to his room from the common room and talking to his snakes, including a warning to better have a good eye on his sister in law to the usual welcome speech. Harry is already there not having a head of house possition. At least not yet, though Severus has no doubt that will change when Minerva retires. Or if she becomes headmistress because Dumbledore died. There is no doubt in Severus' mind that Dumbledore won't leave the castle alive. He'll never just retire.
Upon his return he finds Harry writing in one of his note books. "Don't tell me you plan to actually study after all?"
"Why? Would you be disappointed?" Harry asks grinning at his husband.
"Maybe a little." Severus replies "What are you focusing on?"
"I read about a potion that enables males to have a child. It was used rarely due to the dangers. I'm trying to make it safer." Harry carelessly says.
"And why are you working on that particular one?" Severus asks worriedly.
"Because I want kids with you. Obviously." Harry shrugs "But I can fix it tomorrow and now we practise." Harry grins and walks closer to kiss his husband.
"I'm not good with kids." Severus worries. He had hoped Harry would be fine with just the two of them.
"Don't be silly. The Slytherins admire you and look up to you. And I'm here for the cuddly parts. Don't worry, together we'll rock this parenting thing. And if not, we have Aunt Molly to help us. She ought to know a thing or two about parenting."
"If she doesn't know more after seven kids I pity her." Severus chuckles.
"See, and she'd help her favourite nephew with anything." Harry says.
Severus sighs and says "But just one, at least until we see how it goes. I really am bad with kids, especially small kids."
"Ever been around one you loved?" Harry asks and Severus snorts shaking his head. "See, you can't know how you are until you try. And I bet you'll be a great father. At least as good as Arthur, probably better. I mean Uncle Arthur is great but I think he could be more strict on occasion. Molly is doing most of the heavy lifting there. And we both know you can be strict and don't back out due to crocodile tears in puppy eyes."
Let's just wait a bit and see how being married and your job here work out. And finish all the masteries you planed."
"Wow, you finally motivated me to do my potions mastery test." Harry just grins but then he kisses his husband and Let's himself be distracted for the rest of the day.
Two years later Orion joins Hogwarts and Harry once again claps louder for him than all the others when he's sorted into Slytherin.
As Severus had thought two years before, Harry is a head of house, just not of Gryffindor. He became the first honorary head of Slytherin during his own pregnancy because they had already decided that while Harry would carry the child, Severus would stop working as a teacher and sell potions instead. He could stay in the castle with Harry as his husband and he could theoretically eat in the great hall but the baby was born two month ago and Severus taking care of it and he didn't want his baby girl into the close vicinity of that many germ ridden adolescents that might have been god knows where and gotten god knows what infections. And the volume of that many over exited teens was usually much too high for sensitive baby ears anyway.
It had taken Harry a while to talk Severus into quitting his teaching job and the only reason he had was because as Harry kept reminding Severus, he hated teaching. He loved brewing but teaching, not so much. Harry however loved teaching. And it's not like Severus can't work at all. Severus had been very worried about raising an infant though and only agreed to try and swore to barge into his husband's lessons every time he needed help.
By the end of last year the Slytherins had already accepted Harry who told them he had been a Slytherin in some of his loops and actually preferred the house of Snakes. Which Rose had already told them long before Harry had been pregnant.
It had helped that he was much less strict and still was there for them as much as Severus since his first day at the school. Even Draco Malfoy had learned to get along with Harry eventually. They weren't exactly best friends but at least could talk peacefully with each other.
After welcoming his students in the common room and sending them off to bed, Harry returns to his own rooms. "Hey love, how is Daisy?"
"Asleep." Severus calmly says "Into what house was Orion sorted?"
"My current one of course." Harry grins "He's a Slytherin like his sister."
"James is going to despair." Severus grins evilly.
Harry just grins amused. "You still don't like him do you?"
"No I do not." Severus just replies though he and James actually can converse peacefully. Even Severus and Sirius can stay mostly peaceful around each other. They only fight on occasion when Harry isn't there to force them to behave. "Anything else special about the feast?"
"I don't like the new potions teacher." Harry sighs. Dumbledore had hired one for two years in the hope Severus can work again once Daisy is a little older. Poppy also offered to watch her but neither Severus nor Harry want her to be with others that soon.
"Why, what's wrong with her?" Severus asks. She was a two years younger Ravenclaw and had recently passed her mastery in Potions. Severus does remember her almost stalking Malcom back in their time as students. He even knows that she had occasionally talked the older student from her house to tutor her. Always when Severus wasn't around to glower. Which is why Severus also wasn't happy about her being around his husband again.
"She keeps asking questions about you." Harry grumbles sounding jealous.
"What kind of questions?" Severus wonders surprised.
"How we get along now that we have Daisy and how I managed to talked you into watching her and if I have to help you a lot after class and why you didn't carry the child that I had to!" Harry grumbles "Like I even would want it any other way. I much rather carry a baby than deal with your mood swings from the hormones I know I was probably annoying you a lot. Can hardly believe you haven't left me."
Severus grins a bit "I would never and you really weren't that bad. I know some who were worse. And just so you know, you have no reason to be jealous."
"I know. She is probably too shiny for you. She looks a bit like a Malfoy." Harry chuckles.
Severus just raises an eyebrow and assumes he himself used that word in connection with Lucius in a loop he can't remember. "She was trying to scope her chances with you, didn't you notice she was almost stalking you when we were students? She apparently still likes you."
Harry looks at his frowning husband and then says "Me? Is she stupid?"
Severus glowers "You don't consider me stupid for having married you, do you?"
"No, but anyone who thinks I might leave you for them, after everything we are through." Harry grins and kisses his husband. "Trust me, for me we've been together for ages. I'll never leave you for someone I barely noticed at Hogwarts. I wouldn't even have remembered her name."
"Poor woman. She'll be so disappointed." Severus smugly says. He's still a bit worried about her being able to see Harry so much while the fact that Daisy needs a lot of attention and often cries during the nights, severely cuts into their private time.
Which is why two years later he insists to take Poppy up on her offer and work as a teacher again. Everything to be rid of that woman. And as soon as she had a different position and couldn't return, Severus would talk to Harry about a second child. Brewing and raising his own child eas much better than teaching a class full of snot nosed brats.
