N/A: At long last, the Christmas chapter! Just to let all of my readers know, it took me quite some time to finish this chapter. I struggled with it for a long time, so I hope you all think it was worth my hard work! The next chapter may not be out until after New Years, so enjoy this one! Happy Holidays!
Ch 27.
In the Garden Matris
Christmas morning dawned bright and early, not that Harry knew that, since his room was underground. He awoke to the sounds of Remus and Severus' whispered voices outside his bedroom door, seemingly arguing about something. Throwing his covers aside, Harry slipped his feet into his slippers and walked over to the door. Remus and Severus paused in their whispered arguing as the door opened to reveal a sleep ruffled Harry.
"What are you two bickering about this early in the morning?" Harry asked incredulously, running a hand through his helplessly rumpled hair. He was amused by their sheepish expressions, but he tried to hide it.
"Well, it's a moot point now that you're awake. Come, there are gifts to open," Severus said, pulling Remus along down the hall by his sleeve. There was something concealed in his right hand that Harry couldn't exactly see, but he didn't even try to spy what it was as he followed the two men into the sitting room.
It had taken some convincing and a little bit of begging on both Remus' and Harry's part, but they had finally gotten Severus to allow a small Christmas tree to be set up in the sitting room. Remus had charmed some fairy lights, and Harry and bought a few ornaments to hang upon the tree. They'd even convinced Severus to hang his own monogrammed ornament on the tree while listening to Christmas carols on the Wizarding Wireless. They'd allowed him a stiff drink that night.
There were packages of many shapes and sizes lying under the tree, the soft glow of the fairy lights gleaming off the shiny wrapping and sparkling bows. Harry felt his heart swell as Remus plopped himself on the ground beside Harry instead of taking an armchair, and he nearly lost control of his emotions as Severus rolled his eyes and joined the powwow on the floor. Remus leaned forward and grabbed three similarly wrapped packages, which Harry recognized as the Weasley jumpers. He couldn't wait to see Severus' reaction.
They all three opened their packages at the same time, Harry ripping the paper clean off, Remus carefully undoing the spell-o-tape, and Severus meticulously removing the paper so that not even a corner was torn. Harry snorted.
The Weasley jumpers were noticeably nicer this year, which seemed a bit strange to Harry. His jumper was a soft grey, made out of what looked and felt like cashmere instead of the usual yarn-like material. A little note was tucked into a bar of Honeydukes chocolate, and he pulled it out.
'Harry,
I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas! We miss you here at the Burrow, but it's good that you have your own family to spend the holidays with now. I learned a nifty charm over the summer hols that could knit cashmere jumpers! So much nicer, don't you think? Make sure Severus wears his at least once! Happy Christmas, Harry; we love you!
Molly and the Weasley family'
Harry looked over as Severus unfolded his own jumper, which was a beautiful muted sapphire. The lack of adornment was obvious, but that could only be considered a good thing, in Severus' opinion. He cocked an eyebrow as Harry smirked at him, and Remus chuckled softly, holding up his own ruby jumper.
"It brings out your eyes," Harry said to Severus with a snicker. He received a half-hearted glare before he shockingly watched the Potions Master pull the jumper on over his night shirt, which he was still wearing.
"It looked warm," he said in explanation as Remus followed suit and pulled on his own jumper. Harry shrugged and slipped his on too, noticing that the new material was indeed warm and much less scratchy than the material Molly usually used.
Remus leaned forward once more and dug around under the tree. He made a noise of discovery as he pulled out a particular package and handed it to Harry, smiling warmly at him. "It's not much, but I saw it and it reminded me of you."
Harry took the small rectangular package and tore the wrapping off. The box inside was black and velvety, reminding Harry of jewellery packaging. He carefully opened the lid and smiled when he saw what was inside. A gentle silver bracelet lay wrapped in red velvet, the links in the shape of snakes and lions, alternating. He lifted the bracelet out and held out his wrist so that Severus could put it on for him. He turned to Remus and smiled, launching himself at the man for a tight hug.
"Thank you, Remus."
Remus held him close and sighed contently before releasing the young Gryffindor. "You're very welcome, Harry."
Harry reached under the tree and pulled out a gift that looked to be the shape and size of a book. He handed it to Remus and smiled shyly, but offered no explanation until Remus had carefully torn away the paper to reveal a beautiful glittering picture frame, sans picture, that had the word 'family' engraved on it in ornate letters.
"We don't have a picture to put in it yet, but we will. I guess it's my way of reminding you that even though Severus will be my father legally, I still consider you to be just as much a part of my family," said Harry, blushing slightly as he saw the moisture gathering in Remus' eyes. He hadn't meant to make the man cry.
"Oh, Harry. It's beautiful; thank you," Remus choked out, pulling the teen into another hug. He looked over the untidy black hair to Severus, who had cleared his throat and blinked quite rapidly in order to control his emotions. They locked eyes for a minute. Remus had never been so happy before in his life.
Harry finally pulled away and wiped the tears from his cheeks, laughing slightly as Remus did the same. This was proving to be a very emotional Christmas indeed, and he knew it wasn't going to stop there, either. He reached for another package, feeling his heart beat double time as he handed it to Severus. He was so nervous; he was surprised no one else could hear his heart pounding.
Severus accepted the gift and unwrapped the silver paper, letting it fall to his lap as he opened the small black box. He gasped as he recognized immediately what lay inside. His gut instinct was to get angry, but he quickly pushed it away as he lifted the now shining, golden pocket watch from the velvet lining of the box. He flipped the clasp, watching as the spring-loaded door clicked open to reveal the face of the watch, newly restored and working, the hands ticking the seconds, minutes and hours away. He immediately looked for the initials engraved in the gold; E.P.S. His mother's initials.
Severus looked up at Harry, who looked like he was ready for an explosion of epic proportions. A glance at Remus revealed a hopeful expression. He looked back down at the watch in his hands, the gold chain curled neatly underneath it. It looked just as he remembered it when his mother had given it to him, telling him to keep it safe for her while he was away at school. The reason it had stopped working was because his father had smashed it under his heel in a fit of rage. It had never worked the entire time Severus had had it. That was the summer before his mother had passed away. He felt the moisture on his cheeks before he even realized that they were tears. He had no idea what to say.
"I...Harry, this is...I can't even begin to explain how much this means to me..." Severus whispered, closing his hands around the watch and subconsciously holding it close to his heart. He remained speechless for a few moments before reaching towards Harry and pulling the boy into a tight hug. "Thank you."
Harry was shaking quite noticeably as Severus held him close. He'd been so afraid that the man's reaction would be one of anger and betrayal. This emotional display was certainly not what Harry had expected. The pocket watch obviously meant much more to the Potions Master than even Harry had suspected. "You're welcome, Sev. I knew it meant a lot to you, and I had it fixed up completely the muggle way. No magic was used on it."
Severus felt a sort of relief at that. He had thought it had been fixed by magic for sure, but Harry had been considerate enough to respect his wishes. He didn't know why it was so important, but he didn't want this watch to be touched by magic. Maybe it was because magic was the reason his father had inadvertently killed his mother.
"It means the world to me, Harry, truly it does," Severus said as he released the boy. He took a deep breath as he reached underneath the tree for a slightly larger, flat package. His hands shook as he handed it to Harry, sharing a significant look with Remus.
Taking the package carefully, as it was obvious that it was fragile from the way Severus had handled it, Harry slowly tore the paper away, revealing the back of a picture frame. He turned it over once the paper was gone, and felt all the air rush from his lungs as he read the flourishing script at the top.
Certificate of Adoption
This document hereby states that Severus Tobias Snape is now the legal guardian and father of Harry James Potter-Snape, approved and signed by the Head of Wizarding Family Services and the Department of Magical Adoption. It is recognized as a binding document by the Ministry of Magic.
Head of Wizarding Family Services Casewitch and Curator Ad Litem
Gerald H. Cooperman Adeline Luther
Minister for Magic
Cornelius Fudge
Harry hadn't realized he was crying so hard until Severus – his father – pulled him into another hug, smoothing his hair down as Harry clutched the framed document to his chest as if his life depended on it – actually, his life did depend on it. He clung to the sapphire jumper as he cried himself out into his father's shoulder.
"Merry Christmas, Son," Severus whispered into Harry's hair, earning himself a tighter hug and a mingled laugh-cry from the Gryffindor as the teen pulled slightly away, wiping at his blotchy face embarrassedly.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to cry all over you. It's just...I can't believe it's finally real. I have a father now...I have a father," Harry gasped out, tears still sliding down his cheeks even as he smiled at his new father. He took a deep breath and looked down at the framed certificate once more before looking back at Severus, feeling his heart doing somersaults in his chest.
"Merry Christmas, Dad."
And that was when Severus lost the last of his iron-clad control over his emotions. He looked over at Remus, who was looking the worse for wear as his bloodshot and streaming eyes met Severus'. The Potions Master gestured for the werewolf to move closer, and a sort of group hug was initiated.
The door to the dungeon quarters opened, admitting Draco, who was smiling broadly as he held up his own Weasley jumper to show it off. He paused as he saw the tender moment being shared by the new little family, and felt suddenly bereft and awkward.
Harry looked up and smiled a watery smile at his boyfriend, extracting himself from the group hug so he could attack the Slytherin with a hug and a quick kiss, encouraging the blonde to put on the jumper.
Remus and Severus stayed close together on the floor near the tree, smiling as they watched Draco and Harry show off various gifts, including the framed adoption certificate. Remus reached across Severus' lap towards the tree, lifting one of the few gifts left there and handing it to Severus. It was small and square, wrapped in shining green and silver paper.
"It took me a long time to figure out what to get you. I knew it had to be something special, something less typical than potions ingredients or anything of the like. I very nearly gave up and bought you a new cauldron, until I thought of this." Remus gestured then for Severus to unwrap the gift, subconsciously holding his breath as the Potions Professor tore away the paper to reveal what was unmistakeably a ring box. Severus' head snapped up quickly to meet Remus' eyes, his jaw hanging slightly open. Neither of them noticed that the two teens in the room had turned to watch the exchange.
"Remus..." Severus whispered, afraid to open the box, but beyond excited for what it could possibly mean.
Remus smiled as he gently opened the ring box in Severus' hand, drawing everyone's eyes to the contents. A simple yet elegant titanium ring lay inside, gleaming off the light produced by the fairy lights on the Christmas tree. Engraved in tiny letters on the inside of the ring were two words; Nunquam Unus.
"Never alone..." Severus whispered as he lifted the ring from the box and studied the small engraving.
Remus took Severus' left hand and the ring and slid it onto the man's ring finger, showing that he also wore a similar ring on his own left ring finger. He must have just slipped it on. "We cannot get married because of the laws still governing against same-sex marriage, but I want you to know that if we could, I would marry you in a heartbeat. This, at least, will represent what we mean to each other. I love you, Severus."
Severus sighed contently as he pulled Remus close for a kiss, cupping the werewolf's cheek as he lingered against his lips. Severus heard a sniffle and broke away from the kiss, looking up towards Harry and Draco, who were beaming at the two men in a very watery way.
"It's all so surreal..." Harry whispered, earning himself smiles from his parents as Draco kissed him gently on the cheek.
"One more, then I think I've reached my emotional quota for the next ten years," Severus said in an amused voice as he reached for another package and handed it to Remus. He felt his gift would pale in comparison to the one he had just received, but it was too late to change it now.
Remus chuckled as he accepted the gift and carefully tore away the paper. A small wooden chest was revealed, made of fine smelling cedar. A saying had been burned into the wood, a saying that Remus would never expect to show up on anything Severus ever gifted to him.
"I Solemnly Swear..." Remus whispered, clicking open the latch and opening the chest. Inside laid two spun glass figurines; a stag, and a shaggy dog. The inside lid of the chest had the rest of the saying burned into the cedar, and Remus read it out loud as well.
"...To Accept You; Past, Present, and Future." Remus had no idea what to say. This meant so much more to him than he could ever explain. That Severus was willing to cast aside his feelings towards the people who had made his life as a teenager a living hell for him; it was priceless. He was broken out of his reverie by Severus getting to his feet. He was afraid he had offended the man, but in the next second his breath was stolen once more. Where Severus had stood there was now a rather large, rather sleek black panther, it's dark eyes immediately recognizable as the Potions Master's.
A squeak of surprise sounded from the two teens standing a few feet away, but Remus paid them no heed as he reached forward and gently caressed the panther's silken head. He laughed as Severus-the-panther nudged his hand and gave a soft purr of affection. As Remus drew slowly away, Severus transformed back into himself, smiling down at his lover, who quickly got to his feet and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I did it for you," Severus whispered against the werewolf's ear, causing the man to shiver slightly in his embrace.
"I know. Thank you, Severus," Remus replied, kissing the man firmly on the lips as they pulled away from each other.
Harry was beaming at the two men, though he fixed Severus with an indignant look a second later. "Why didn't you tell me you were learning how to become an Animagus? I want to learn!" he exclaimed, Draco nodding beside him that he too wanted to learn.
Severus sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes, though it was obvious he was only putting on a show. "Maybe I will deign to teach you both over the summer, when we have more free time to do so. Trust me; it is not an easy feat. I commend James, Sirius, and Peter for managing to do so while still students."
Remus smiled indulgently at his lover, causing Harry and Draco to both roll their eyes and snicker at the doe-eyed expression.
"Come on, I want to give Harry his gift!" Draco announced, pulling Harry towards the door with him.
"Hold on just a few minutes, Draco. There is no way in Salazar's name that I am leaving my quarters in my night clothes," Severus said with a slight smirk. He and Remus went to go change their clothes as Harry pulled Draco into his room, changing his own clothes as well.
Once everyone was dressed, all in their Weasley jumpers still, of course, they all headed up to the Entrance Hall.
"Where are we going, Draco? Please say you didn't get me something huge and expensive," Harry groaned as the Slytherin dragged him out of the main doors to the school, the two Professors following behind. A thick layer of snow already covered the Hogwarts grounds, and the white sleet was still falling steadily to the ground.
"You'll see," Draco hedged. They walked across the grounds, past Hagrid's hut and pumpkin patch, past the greenhouses, and over a steep slope just behind the castle.
Harry could see that a large portion of the land had been fenced off with short, white picket fences. The snow couldn't touch the ground there, as if it had been charmed. As they got closer, it was clear that they were looking at a garden, although Harry only saw two different types of flowers. He looked over at Draco, his expression questioning.
"You told me in Hogsmeade that even if I couldn't place a gift in my mother's hands, I could still give her something. I thought the same was true for you, so I asked permission from Dumbledore, and got Professor Sprout's help in planting this garden. The yellow ones are daffodils, part of the Narcissi genus, and the pink and white ones are Stargazer lilies, part of the Lilium genus."
Harry knelt down beside the fence, reaching towards one of the Stargazer lilies and brushing its soft pedals with his fingertips. They were exotic looking, but so beautiful. Beside it was a simple, yet still elegant yellow daffodil. They actually looked quite nice together.
There was a marble plaque set into the ground just in front of the fence that Harry hadn't noticed before. He brushed the snow away from the engraving with his gloved hand.
In Memory of Lily Evans-Potter and Narcissa Black-Malfoy
Semper Nostrum Viscus
"The Latin means Always in Our Hearts, or some variation of, at least. I've never been good at that stuff," Draco mumbled with a frown. He'd asked Dumbledore to pick out the phrase simply because he couldn't think of anything significant or heartfelt. He was happy with the simple words the Headmaster had chosen.
Harry laughed gently as he traced the words, his knees growing wet and cold from kneeling in the snow for too long. He didn't care. He allowed Draco to help him up by the hand, brushing the snow from his trousers and cloak. Harry pulled the Slytherin close and placed a chaste kiss on his lips, smiling as Draco seemed to melt in his arms.
"Thank you...I love it," Harry whispered, returning the embrace as Draco pulled him into a tight hug for a few seconds. When they parted, Harry had another gift in his hand, taken from his inner pocket where he had hidden it.
"It's not nearly as great as your gift," Harry said with a shrug as he handed the ball-shaped package to his boyfriend.
Draco carefully unwrapped the heavy thing, whatever it was, before giving Harry a bemused look as the glass orb in his palm glowed with a swirling red mist. He recognized it, vaguely, but he couldn't quite remember what it was. The mist turned a soft blue even as he watched it swirl.
"It's a Rememberall, but it's a special kind; a Memory Jogger. Hermione started researching ways to help jog your memory a bit faster than it's been coming back on its own, and she found out about these. It's charmed so that the mist will turn blue whenever something around you starts to jog your memory. It's best that you not be told outright about the things you've forgotten, but to just help your memory along by reminding you of familiar things. With this, you'll know if there's something that's going to help you remember. There are other colours of mist as well, all with different meanings. Once you have all of your memories back, the mist will disappear. After that, there's a charm that will turn it into a normal Rememberall," Harry explained, hoping Draco wouldn't be offended by the notion of the gift. He was afraid Draco would take it completely the wrong way, but Hermione assured him that Draco would understand and be appreciative.
The swirling mist faded to a blood red again as Draco gripped the ball gently in his palm. He sighed, wondering what memory the little glass sphere had jogged, and why it seemed to have ebbed away. As he looked up at Harry, the orb turned blue once more.
"First year...flying lessons. I stole Neville's Rememberall and threw it, trying to get you in trouble when you flew off to get it. I'm the reason you were the century's youngest Seeker," Draco said, as if in a trance. The mist turned a murky red, then swirled a bright purple.
"That means the memory is slightly warped, or wrong. I think taking the credit for my Quidditch position might have done that," Harry chuckled, watching as the mist turned red once more.
Draco smirked and shook his head at the Gryffindor, feeling a slight sinking feeling in his stomach as he remembered the anger and jealousy he had felt on that particular day. He didn't like that feeling at all, but was sure that he'd get to feel it many more times before he got his full memory back. He was careful not to display his emotions as he hugged his boyfriend and thanked him.
S~S~S~S
Christmas dinner was slightly more crowded this year than previous ones, as more parents had let their children stay at the castle for more protection. Dumbledore still insisted that they all share one table, however, and so they all gathered at the Hufflepuff table for the succulent feast.
Harry was sitting between his father and his boyfriend, with Hermione sitting across from him still gushing over the book on ancient love spells that Harry had gotten for her. The Potions Master had rolled his eyes a few times already at the girl. Harry spotted a new shiny bracelet on her wrist, and she sheepishly admitted that it had come from Ron. Harry had only received the traditional Weasley jumper; nothing from just Ron. He tried not to let this bother him as he pulled a cracker with Draco, getting showered in confetti as Draco's ears were turned into elf ears.
"Severus, take them off of me!"
The Potions Professor just continued to guffaw into his mug of mead as Draco pulled helplessly on his pointy ears.
Remus and Hermione pulled their cracker next, and a loud bang reverberated around the hall as Remus sprouted two rather large reindeer antler. Severus laughed even harder, garnering most of the table's attention as they became entranced by his laughter; they'd never heard him actually laugh before. When they noticed the antlers currently bedecking Remus' mussed hair, the whole table joined in on the raucous laughter.
After all the wizards cracker had been pulled, nearly everyone at the table was covered in confetti, or was sporting some type of festive body part. Hagrid's snow white beard and hair looked quite fitting underneath his Father Christmas' hat. Professor McGonagall, however, was not very pleased with her blinking red nose. Severus was grumbling as he tried to remove the giant angel wings from his back. They actually looked quite stunning on him. Hermione giggled as Harry cracked a joke about the angel of death. Severus cuffed him on the back of the head.
The feast came to a close after Dumbledore had risen and thanked everyone for a most joyous holiday, finally giving out the spell that would undo all of the festive cracker's spell work. Most people left their strange holiday decorations in place, though Severus and Draco both immediately removed theirs. Remus cursed under his breath as his antler got caught on the door frame on their way out of the Great Hall.
Down in the dungeons, Harry, Draco, Severus, Remus, and Hermione all sat in front of the fire, sipping eggnog and relaxing after a fun and eventful day. Hermione was curled up with her book beside the fire, Harry's blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Harry and Draco were playing a game of wizard's chess with the new board Remus had given Draco. Harry was losing badly. Remus and Severus sat together on the couch, watching the chess game commence as the fire warmed them.
"This is the best Christmas I've ever had. It's hard to believe the world is in such a horrible state of affairs when it feels so peaceful in the castle," Severus said quietly, smiling faintly as Remus toyed with the ring on his finger.
"We should enjoy it while we can. Something is bound to happen soon. It's all been too quiet, and even the Order have absolutely no leads. Things will happen soon, bad things, so remember this day," Remus said just above a whisper. He looked quite forlorn as he watched Harry lose for the third time in a row. He hoped the boy's duelling strategy was better than his chess skills.
Severus frowned at his lover, reaching up to turn the werewolf's face towards him. "I thought being overly pessimistic was my job? Remus, everything will be alright. Harry has much to learn still, yes, but he's much more powerful than anyone gives him credit for. Do not underestimate him."
"If anything happens to him, Severus, I don't think I could take it. It would kill me..."
Severus brushed the hair back from Remus' worried eyes, caressing his slightly stubbly cheek with the back of his hand. "Nothing will happen to him, Remus; I'll make sure of that."
Remus sighed heavily as he leaned into Severus' touch, taking comfort from the man's affection. "I wish I could be as confident as you about it, but I'm so scared for him. I wish I could do something to take that burden off of his shoulders."
"I told you that you would make a very good father, Remus, and I was right. I feel the same way, and so much more than that as well, and Harry's only been my son for a day. We'll get him through this, I promise." Severus pulled his lover close, kissing him gently on the lips. He rolled his eyes as the two boys and Hermione made 'awing' noises.
Remus smiled as he pulled away, still with eyes only for the Potions Master. "Teenagers..." he drawled in a precise mimic of Severus' voice, earning a smirk from the man and chuckles from the teens. It had been a wonderful Christmas indeed.
S~S~S~S
New Years was approaching fast, and Harry was actually excited for the new year to begin. He had a family, a boyfriend, and good friends; what more could he ask for? Well, other than that a psychopathic Wizard with a vendetta against him would just snuff it already. He just hoped that things between him and Ron would be alright after the break ended in just a week.
Now that the adoption was official, it had come time for the wards to be put in place. Early in the morning, much earlier than Harry appreciated, Severus woke him up and led him very sleepily to the Headmaster's office. Severus knocked gently with the Phoenix-shaped door knocker, waiting for the gentle reply from the other side.
"Ah, Severus, Harry! Good morning, my boys. Thanks so much for that exciting variety of socks, Harry, they were most tasteful. I enjoy opening my sock drawer every morning! And that Persian mead is delightful, Severus; it goes very well with the biscuits Remus gifted to me," Dumbledore rambled on cheerfully as he pulled an ancient looking tome from a locked cabinet behind his desk. He set it down heavily on the desk, shaking his blackened hand distractedly as he retook his seat behind his ornate desk.
"You're welcome, Professor. Hermione, Draco and I had quite a lot of fun picking them out for you," Harry said with a soft chuckle. They had spent nearly three hours picking out the most intriguing magical socks of all varieties. Some of them would scream horribly loud when they needed a wash, and there was a pair that would change colours with your mood. Harry's favourite pair by far were the ones that warmed your feet when they sensed you were a little chilly. He had bought a pair for himself as well.
Severus rolled his eyes good naturedly and offered the Headmaster a slight smile, trying not to let his eyes linger on the cursed appendage lying dead and useless on the desk beside the overlarge tome. "It is one of my favourites as well, though it would be a good idea if Rosemerta were not informed of such; she'd feel so betrayed." He allowed the Headmaster a soft chuckle before growing more serious, glancing briefly at the Wizard's dead hand. "And how is your hand doing, Albus? Any trouble with it?"
Dumbledore was perusing a rather worn page in the tome, clearly written in another language, Gaelic perhaps, quite intensely before glancing over at his shrivelled hand. "It is in the same condition it was just after the curse took effect. I cannot use it, and I hardly have any range of motion in my wrist. The pain potion you've been supplying me works wonders, I assure you." It was clearly the end of that conversation as Dumbledore made a noise of discovery and pulled out his wand, smiling up at the Potions Master and young Gryffindor.
"Now, this warding spell must be performed by three people; the guardian, the ward, and a witness. We obviously all know our roles, so let us begin learning the spells. Each of us has a different part in the spell, so let's begin with Harry's part."
Dumbledore spent fifteen minutes teaching Harry how to pronounce the words perfectly, correcting him at least fifty times before he got it right. It took about ten minutes to teach Severus his part, and then he repeated his own part a few times just to make sure he had it right.
"Alright, is everyone ready? The way the spells are performed is very similar to that of an Unbreakable Vow, which Severus at least is very familiar with," Dumbledore chuckled, ignoring the half-hearted glare that the Potions Master fixed him with.
"Sir, these wards are different than the bonding spell, right? We'll have to do that separately as well?" Harry asked, trying to repeat the strange words of the spell in his head over again just to make sure he didn't forget it.
Dumbledore nodded succinctly, rolling up the sleeve of his wand arm, preparing to perform the warding spell. "Yes, the bonding spell that must take place is separate from this one. We will work on that after we have the wards established; they are of utmost importance."
Harry took a deep breath, glancing over at Severus and receiving a questioning look from him. "I was wondering, sir, if there was a way to include Remus in the bonding spells. If Severus has to welcome me into his family as his son, then Remus should be included in that as well."
Dumbledore smiled warmly at Harry, the twinkle in his eyes a little over-bright, causing Harry to blush. "That would indeed be possible, Harry, but only if Severus and Remus were to be joined in a bond themselves first. As there isn't a binding connection between the two, Remus is not technically considered to be a part of Severus' family, all sentimental feelings aside. However, I believe that is something that Severus and Remus need to discuss and decide upon, as it is not a thing to be taken lightly. We can put off the bonding for a bit so that things can be discussed, if that is what you wish?" The Headmaster had directed this last to Severus, who looked slightly put upon, but nodded firmly without hesitation.
"Jolly good! Now, let's get these wards in place, shall we?"
S~S~S~S
Remus absolutely abhorred marking midterm essays. Well, any essays, actually. He loved teaching, oh yes, and even giving lectures tickled his fancy, but marking essays was on his top-ten list of hated things. It wasn't that he minded the work, it was the reactions he received from the students who did not score very high. One bad grade on an essay could ruin a student's career plans, cast a shadow over their holidays, or simply send them into a panicked anxiety. On the other hand, the students who did well always seemed very cheered when they received their essays back with glistening red 'O's adorning the top of the parchment.
Remus sighed heavily as he crossed off yet another piece of bad information on a seventh year's midterm. Really, the of-age students should know better! His musing was interrupted quite welcomed when Severus returned from his meeting with the Headmaster, although Harry was no longer with him.
"We apparently need to have a very important discussion, Remus."
Bugger. And he'd thought he'd gotten out of hard work for the time being. "Oh, what about?" the werewolf asked with honest curiosity as Severus sat down on the sofa beside him and conjured a tea service.
Sipping at his tea for a few seconds gave Severus just enough time to rearrange how he should voice the subject. It had been skirted, brushed aside, and generally ignored in a strange silent consensus, but it was time to break the seal on the subject.
"Harry brought up a very good point during our meeting with the Headmaster. As you know, a bonding must be performed between Harry and me in order for the wards to take full effect. The point of the bonding will be for me to invite Harry in as a true and wanted part of my family. My parents are deceased, I am an only child, and any extended family is either very much out of contact or deceased as well. I have no blood family to speak of, Remus. Now as my partner, I do consider you to be family, and so does Harry, but because there is no current binding between us, the bonding spells I must perform with Harry will not recognize you as such."
There was a long silence as they both sipped tea, drinking in the herbal warmth as well as the heavy tension of the conversation they were embarking on. Remus knew what was coming, yet he still couldn't help wonder what Severus was getting at, exactly.
"I thought Professor Dumbledore had assured Harry that whoever adopted him need not have any family in order for the bonding to work?" Remus asked, already knowing that that was not what this conversation was about. He wanted to hear the words, to know exactly what Severus wanted of him.
"That is still correct. However, Harry and I would like that to be changed. We want to include you in the bonding, Remus. If you cannot contest for second parent adoption, this is the next best thing. The only thing that is stopping us from doing that, is the lack of binding between us. We would have to perform a bonding of our own before the spell I use with Harry will recognize you as part of my family," Severus explained calmly, hoping Remus had picked up on the obvious, blinking, bright red insinuations that he had thrown in there.
Remus gulped, taking a deep drink from his tea before looking back up at his lover, meeting his dark eyes directly. "So...you are saying that we should perform a bonding ceremony?"
Severus knew Remus was playing stupid on purpose now. The man was highly intelligent; there was no way he could not be faking this ignorance. He kept his cool, however, and indulged Remus' dumb-act. "Yes, I think we should perform a bonding ceremony. There are many different types, and many different ways, but I think that the best option would be The Joining of the Souls."
Remus closed his eyes for half a second before opening them once more to meet the Potions Master's intense gaze. "Severus, the bond between Sirius and I still exists within my soul, even if Sirius' soul has passed on. I would...I would have to severe the bond before being Joined with you."
"I am aware of that, Remus."
The silence was most definitely uncomfortable now. Remus had drained his teacup, but he didn't want to refill it and give himself more time to stall. He knew that this was a crucial step in their relationship, and lingering too long or saying the wrong thing could very well ruin everything. He thought of Sirius, and that wonderful day of the Joining. Oddly, he could also remember precisely the way it felt when Severus, who had been an important part of the bonding, had tipped his head back to offer the special potion used in the ceremony; the way his hand felt slightly tangled in his hair, and the gentle way he placed the chalice against his lip to keep from spilling. Remus fingered the ring on his left hand, glancing over to see that Severus was mirroring his actions. Could he really severe the very last tie he had to his deceased lover? Could he put Sirius behind him so completely?
Squeezing his eyes closed and praying for strength, Remus reached out blindly and caught Severus' left hand with his own, opening them only when he felt the Potions Professor gently squeeze his fingers. "Alright, I can do it. Sirius is gone, and I have you and Harry now; there's no sense in holding on to that last piece of what once was. I love you, Severus, and I want to give you all me."
Severus let out a long breath he had not been aware he was holding, pulling his lover into a tight embrace. He kissed the werewolf's neck gently, sighing contently as Remus melted against him. "Thank you, Remus. I love you too."
Remus pulled away from the embrace and took his wand out, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He closed his eyes and gave his wand a very distinct flick, directing the tip of the wand at himself. "Discerpo vinculum intus mea anima."
A soft blue glow illuminated Remus' chest as the spell took effect. He flicked his wand once more, and the blue glow left his wand to linger in the air. With a determined look and a confident tone in his voice, he waved his wand at the glow. "Finite incantatem!"
Severus pulled the werewolf close, placing a gentle kiss on his temple as the man melted into his arms. It meant everything to him that Remus was willing to break his last remaining tie to his late lover, even though it obviously hurt him to do so. "Thank you for letting go..." Severus whispered against Remus' ear.
"Thank you for giving me the strength to," Remus whispered back, leaning his head comfortably on the Potions Master's shoulder. He felt relieved as well as saddened, and hoped desperately that he had made the right decision. He knew he had when Severus kissed him more passionately then he'd ever been kissed before.
S~S~S~S
Since the warding spells that had been performed between Severus and Harry would not go into full effect until the bonding occurred, the Joining of the Souls ceremony had to be performed quite quickly and on the fly. Since Severus was a very private man as it was, and privacy and secrecy were essential to survival, the ceremony was not made into a huge affair as it had been when Remus had performed the same with Sirius. It would be a quiet, private ceremony with very few people there to witness it.
All in all, however, Harry was extremely excited. The two different bonds would ensure, at least on a purely magical level, that both Severus and Remus were considered his parents. He wasn't sure exactly why it was so important that it be official on some level that Remus be included in that, but strictly symbolic didn't feel like enough. Remus deserved to be recognized as his father too, Ministry regulations be damned.
Dumbledore had ensured that the Great Hall be clear of any lingering students as the few people who had been informed of the ceremony gathered. Harry, Hermione, and Draco were allowed to attend, of course, and a few members of the Order had even come, much to Severus' chagrin. Most of the guests were quite curious and shocked to hear about the relationship between Severus and Remus, but everybody managed to mask it fairly well. The staff were all there, naturally, but most of them had been aware of the relationship for awhile, so none of them were really that surprised. Dumbledore performed the ceremony expertly and efficiently, and only a few murmurs of surprise were heard as Severus kneeled to Remus, and not the other way around.
A small sort of reception was held afterwards, though Remus and Severus both insisted it was just a friendly get together to celebrate. Dumbledore just chuckled and humoured them by treating it as informal as possible, allowing guests to come and go as they pleased, lingering by the snacks and striking up conversations.
Harry, Draco, and Hermione were having a blast, dancing to the music blaring from the Wizarding Wireless, drinking butterbeer, and snacking on the trays of food the house elves had provided. There were very few people joining in on the dancing, but when Tonks dragged Professor Flitwick out to the dance floor and Metamorphosed herself to his height, the entire room was in stitches as they danced an elegant waltz.
Most of the guests had taken their leave as the sky outside darkened. Harry was chatting with Tonks and Fred and George when Dumbledore came up and pulled him aside, Severus and Remus following along. They entered the small chamber off to the side of the Great Hall, closing the door behind them.
"These wards are very important, and so a very limited amount of people are aware of them. Therefore, it would be better if we performed the bonding between Harry and Severus now, in private, rather than make it a public affair. Are we all agreeable to this?" The Headmaster asked with a warm smile, his sleeves rolled up as he twirled his wand happily in his one healthy hand.
Harry looked over to Severus, who caught his eye and nodded, Remus shrugging from beside his lover. If it was ok with the two Professors, it was fine with Harry. He smiled at his parents and turned back to Dumbledore. "That sounds fine to us, Professor."
"Good, good! Now, if Harry and Severus will please kneel before each other. The spell is quick and simple, so we shan't keep your few guests waiting."
The Head of Slytherin and the young Gryffindor knelt together, facing each other. Harry offered his adoptive father a small smile and received a hesitant grin in return. This was it, the final step that would ensure Harry's safety, and forever bind him to his adoptive father. He was ecstatic, but he was also slightly humbled. Harry remembered his birth parents, the people who had died to give him life, and felt an upsurge of gratefulness. His mother's sacrifice couldn't protect him any longer, but it had kept him alive until that time when he found an alternative in Severus, who had already vowed to protect him before they'd even met.
Harry's smile widened as Dumbledore instructed them to take each other's left hands, feeling Severus' larger hand squeeze his reassuringly as Dumbledore moved his wand in a wide arch over them, reciting a long phrase of Latin. Harry felt a tingle start from the fingertips of the hand holding the Potions Master's, which travelled up his arms and spread throughout his chest. When he looked up into Severus' eyes, he knew the older man had felt the same strange sensation. When the spell was over, Severus stood first, helping Harry up by the hand.
"Well, it has been quite the emotional couple of weeks now, hasn't it?" Severus sighed as Remus came up beside him, placing a hand gently on his arm. He seemed exhausted, but actually happy. The faint lines that usually marred his features due to stress, anger, or just general unpleasantness seemed to have faded away, replaced with a relaxed expression that made Harry feel at ease.
"Yeah, if I never cry again it will be too soon," Harry said with a dramatic sigh, earning himself a soft chuckle from Severus and a smile from Remus. As they joined the few others still lingering in the Great Hall, Tonks bounded up to offer her congratulations.
"I hope you guys have a long and happy life together. Harry couldn't ask for better parents," Tonks said with a cheeky grin, winking pointedly at the Potions Master, who rolled his eyes at the Auror. She turned to Harry, who was hiding his laughter behind his hand.
"I've got to get going, though. I've been given night patrol in London tonight since I got out of my afternoon shift to come here. See you soon, Harry, and happy new year!" She gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, earning herself a very heated glare from Draco, who had just walked up with Hermione.
"What the hell was that all about?" Draco asked in a huff, making Hermione giggle from beside him. He glared at her, too.
Harry shrugged with an innocent look, brushing off Draco's affronted expression. "Nothing, Tonks was just saying goodbye before she headed to work."
"You know what I mean, Harry," Draco hissed with narrowed eyes. Severus and Remus had moved on to talk to Kingsley, while Hermione tactfully walked away and pulled Fred and George into a conversation about their improved Day Dream potion formula.
Harry frowned, pulling Draco off to the side so as not to be overheard by anyone. "Honestly, Draco, she was just saying bye. She didn't mean anything by the kiss on the cheek. She's my friend, and much older than us, I should like to point out."
Draco looked sceptical for a few more seconds before sighing, his shoulders dropping as he took in Harry's honest expression. Maybe he had overreacted, just a little bit. "I'm sorry; I guess I just got really jealous when I saw her touching you. I don't like other people touching you that way."
Harry smirked, pulling Draco close, despite all of the other people in the Great Hall. "Clearly, love. You don't need to worry about that at all. I want you, and only you," he whispered against his boyfriend's ear, feeling an excited thrill shoot through him as the Slytherin shivered against him.
With a smirk he hoped only Harry would be able to see, Draco leaned in and gave him a long, lingering kiss, gaining a few whispers from the remaining guests. Neither of the teens cared, however, and continued to get lost in each other's arms.
S~S~S~S
The Daily Prophet the next morning had a huge headline that made Harry cringe and hide his face as he noticed the accompanying pictures. He passed the paper to Severus, who nearly spit out his tea as he saw the front page.
"Bloody hell!"
Remus looked up from his breakfast at Severus' expletive, shocked by the man's uncharacteristic cursing. He leaned over to look at the front page, and shouted his own colourful expletive.
The-Boy-Who-Lived-to-Be-Gay
This reporter has gained exclusive knowledge that one Harry James Potter, formerly of Little Whinging, Surrey, is involved in an intimate, same-sex relationship with than none other than Draco Malfoy, escaped convict and confirmed Death Eater Lucius Malfoy's son. These two images were obtained at a secret bonding ceremony between two of Hogwarts Professors, who will remain anonymous. According to an inside source, Potter and Malfoy have been an item for quite a few months, but had yet to display any sort of affection in public, until now.
One must wonder just exactly what Harry Potter is thinking, getting involved with a Death Eater's son. Has the supposed Chosen One lost sense, or has he been compromised by the other side? Readers and this reporter alike would very much like to know; who's confunded Harry Potter? Rita Skeeter, out.
The two pictures framing the article were of Draco and Harry in various states of snogging, pressed very close together from toe, to hip, to lips. It was a very embarrassing picture to have your parents see, let alone the entire Wizarding World. Harry gulped as Draco came running into the Great Hall, his face quite horrified.
"How the hell did Skeeter get in the castle?" the Slytherin demanded loudly. He was obviously just as upset about the article as Harry was. Harry was just about to answer when Remus gasped and spread the paper out on the table so everyone could see the smaller article below the slandering starring Draco and Harry.
"Look!"
Auror Goes Missing After Night Shift Patrol
During a night time patrol of London's clubbing streets, second year Auror Nymphadora Tonks suddenly fell off the map, befuddling the Auror Department, who monitor their personnel quite closely during night shifts. Twenty-four year old Tonks, an ambitious young woman who joined the Auror Corps four years previous, was last seen outside a Wizarding pub, checking the wards on the building to ensure the safety of the patrons. A struggle occurred, and Ms. Tonks was taken by her attacker or attackers. There has been no more information on who the suspect(s) who abducted the Auror might be, but anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Head of Magical Law Enforcement.
In a surprising and somewhat shocking decision, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has declined to comment on the case of the missing Auror, and has made no attempt to set up a search for the young woman. Head Auror and prospective Minister of Magic candidate Kingsley Shacklebolt has threatened to resign from his position if Minister Fudge does not make an effort to find Ms. Tonks. Many other members of the Auror Corps, trainees and seasoned members alike, have also threatened to resign from their positions.
After the news was given to Ms. Tonks' parents, Andromeda Tonks (née Black) and Ted Tonks, this reporter managed to get a quick statement from the worried parents.
Said concerned father Ted Tonks; "Our daughter is missing, possibly abducted by one of the escaped Death Eaters who have yet to be apprehended again. Cornelius Fudge's lack of proper action is disgusting and cowardly. The man deserves to be run out of office, and by all means, we hope he will be. We hope and pray for our daughter to be returned safe and sound, and encourage her abductors to leave her unharmed. We love you, Dora. Stay strong."
An information Floo network has been put together by concerned Ministry personnel and Wizarding community citizens. Please do not hesitate to contact the information network or Department of Magical Law Enforcement if you know anything about Nymphadora Tonks' whereabouts.
Harry was shaking by the time he finished reading the article. Tonks, who he had just seen last night right before her shift, was missing, possibly abducted by the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange or Lucius Malfoy. He turned to Severus and Remus, who were sharing concerned and apprehensive expressions.
"You didn't know anything about this at all, right?" he asked, feeling a strong sense of foreboding as he realized that Dumbledore was missing from the breakfast table.
"Of course not, Harry. We would have told you straight away had we known, I promise," Severus assured his son, who looked about ready to burst into a fit of rage. He'd need to head the boy off before he gained a head of steam to attack with.
Harry sighed in relief, taking his father's word as fact purely out of trust in the man. He felt his stomach roil and was nearly sick as he imagined what could be happening to Tonks that very minute. He stood from his seat, gaining worried looks from Draco, Hermione, Remus and Severus.
"I don't feel so good," he muttered, quickly extracting himself from the table and making his way out of the Great Hall. He hurried quickly to the front doors, hearing foot steps behind him as he burst through the doors, ran down the steps and across the grounds. Harry only stopped when he reached the beech tree beside the lake, gasping for breath and clutching a stitch in his side.
Someone walked up behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder. He didn't bother to turn around; he knew it was Severus. "Harry, are you alright?" the Potions Master asked quietly.
Harry let out a strangled breath as he shook his head jerkily, signalling that he was definitely not alright. He couldn't explain how grateful he was when Severus pulled him into his arms, holding him close to his warm, solid chest. Harry clutched at his father's robes, struggling to keep his emotions intact.
"It's not fair. Tonks didn't do anything to anyone! Why her, of all people?" Harry croaked, his face still buried against his father's chest, slightly muffled by the many layers of robes.
Severus sighed as he rubbed Harry's back gently, hoping he could find the right words for the boy. "She didn't necessarily have to do anything to anyone, Harry. Just being on the side of the Light made her a target. I'm sure the Order are searching for her. I'll make sure of it, Harry."
Harry choked back a sob as he held tighter to Severus' robes. He couldn't afford to let himself get so emotional; he needed to stay strong so he could help with the search for Tonks. "This is all my fault. They wouldn't have taken her if she wasn't associated with me. I want to help look for her, Dad."
Severus felt his stomach do a flip at the sound of Harry referring to him so comfortably as his father, but he didn't let it affect him so much that he lost his sense. "It isn't your fault at all, Harry. Do not blame yourself for something you had absolutely no control over. You don't know where she is, or who may have taken her or why. I'm sorry, Harry, but it won't be possible for you to help with the search. There are others out looking for her; you need to stay safe here at the castle."
Harry felt like screaming and yelling that it wasn't fair, that he wanted to help search for Tonks because Severus was wrong and this was all his fault, but he knew better. He knew Severus was at least right that he couldn't leave the castle; he'd only put more people in danger by doing so. Staying curled close to Severus, Harry sighed dejectedly, wishing he could do something, anything to help. "I hate this..."
"I know, Harry. I'm sorry," Severus whispered, smoothing down the Gryffindor's unruly hair as he tried to offer whatever comfort he could. That Harry would immediately blame himself for the Auror's disappearance saddened Severus greatly, making him wish he could take such a heavy burden off his son's shoulders. He still wasn't used to the fact that his son was Harry Potter. Severus held the boy closer still, hating the way he shuddered against him, and how he couldn't do anything to help it.
A/N: I know; I'm horrible for leaving you with a cliffy on Christmas! Just think of this three updates in one month as a sort of Christmas gift, because I usually never update that frequently. I'll try to get the next one out as fast as possible. Thanks for reading, and please review! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!