It's My Life
Officially, Harry was sixteen years old today. Yes, it was the 31st of July. Harry, of course, was throwing a party. Well, Severus gave him permission to do so. Harry invited only close friends; he still had to watch the secrecy of the manor. Harry did invite Minerva too, she was like a grandmother to him. Everyone would be arriving either through floo or apparition to the gates around 3:00 pm. Right now, it was only about 11:45 am. As Severus had promised to Harry, the man was tutoring him in potions and defense against dark arts.
Harry spent the rest of his time studying up on the advanced things from the other core classes he would have to take his NEWTs in. Harry did tell Lucius and Severus to set it up for him to take his NEWTs in all the classes he'd taken at Hogwarts over the last five years. Harry figured that if he was going to give this a shot, he might as well go all in. Harry did find time to spend with friends and his boyfriend, of course, but no one aside Severus and Lucius knew about the situation where Harry was taking his NEWTs early.
The date had been set for a week before school term was to resume. Harry was also still waiting on his OWL results to come in as it should be any day now, and truthfully, he was a bit nervous about them. Everything going on with the trial, Umbridge, and then losing Sirius made that whole testing ordeal unbearable and Harry felt he might not have done well.
If Harry wasn't preparing for NEWTs, he was trying to find more information on the soul pieces thing. Harry didn't have nearly enough to say for sure what the magic was, but Lucius mentioned dark and probably rare, which is why Harry couldn't find anything on the subject. At the moment, Harry was working with Severus in the lab. This had become an everyday thing for them after breakfast and until lunch.
Severus would brew to restock the infirmary at Hogwarts while Harry would do an even amount of studying and brewing NEWT potions under his father's watchful eye and teachings. After lunch, Harry and Severus would work at defensive magic, but as Severus expected; Harry was pretty well versed in that department and didn't really need to be taught much. Around 2:00 pm, Harry would usually go off to get his summer work done, but it wasn't just him studying for NEWTs.
Harry did work on assignments due in case he failed the exams and would be returning to school as a student. Minerva already informed that Harry was excused from the work because of the situation, pass or fail, but Harry wanted to do it because it worked as a refresher from the last five years. The woman admired Harry's drive, and just told him not to overwork himself with it all.
The situation had also been set that if Harry failed, Severus would take over DADA and Horace Slughorn would return as potions teacher. Horace was on standby to floo himself to Hogwarts on the 1st of September if Minerva said he was needed. That took some stress off Harry to wonder that if he failed, there was no back up in place and that the old teacher had agreed to come back. Currently, Severus said that once Harry brewed what he was working on, they would go up for lunch. Harry was just adding the last ingredient to his potion and following the instructions as Severus had written them.
Harry took a deep breath and looked at his father. "Dad…I think I'm done?"
Severus walked over. "You were working on Polyjuice, right?" Harry nodded. Severus ladled some of the potion into a clear bowl and lifted it to inspect the work. Harry sat quietly on the stool, nervously awaiting his father's judgment on the work. Finally, the man put it down and gave Harry a smile. "Perfect."
"R-Really?" Harry asked.
"Would I ever lie to you, son?" Severus patted the boy's shoulder. "Yes, it's perfect. Well done, my boy. I'm proud of you." Harry smiled. "Just remember that during the exam…If it has not changed, you have to brew everything at the same time. Whatever potions they choose for you to demonstrate, and it has to be in their required frame of time. I don't know what ones they'll select, it changes every year, that's why all these potions are taught during the school year. You're learning nine months of work in two, less than, even."
"I know…It's still daunting, but…I'm feeling more confident about it with all these lessons." Harry replied.
"I'm glad to hear it. Confidence is good, just don't get arrogant or cocky." Severus chuckled. "You've got the makings of a potions master, Harry. It's in your blood, my boy. Don't forget you come from a long line of them."
"I know. But one thing at a time. I really like teaching…" Harry admitted. "Before all this, I had actually thought about being an Auror…That was until I realized I'd be spending my life doing exactly what I'm trying to get out of now. Chasing dark wizards, Voldemort wannabes. Nope, all good on that."
Severus laughed a little. "Fair reasoning. But yes, Harry, you did very well on this. I'd give it an O if you did it in my class."
"Thanks, Dad…" Harry sighed in relief. "Would you call it mastered, or still need practice?"
"Mastery is when you can do it without the instructions, son. Do you feel you can brew this without the writings right in front of you?" Severus asked.
"No, definitely not." Harry replied. "But maybe brewing it a couple more times, I could." He added.
"Then you have your goal set." Severus told him. "That's another thing, I don't think you can have it written down during the exam. You're expected to know certain brews off memory. And this is one of the selections, so I would study it some more."
"Alright, will do." Harry nodded. "Oh…I wanted to ask if there's still one thing I can take at Hogwarts, if I pass NEWTs and end up becoming a teacher…"
"What is it?" Severus wondered.
"Apparition." Harry stated. "You said if I passed, I'd be considered an adult, which is when you're allowed to take the licensing. I know they offer a twelve-week course through Hogwarts. I just wondered if maybe I could still take that, even if I'm a teacher and then go for the licensing after the class. Or would I still have to wait until seventeen?"
"You know, I don't know…But I'll talk to Lucius and find out for you, alright?" Severus stated.
"Okay. Thanks, Dad. Now, I'm starving. Let's go eat lunch." Harry remarked.
"Go on. I'll meet you upstairs as soon as these finish. About ten minutes." Severus informed.
"Okay, Dad." Harry got off his spot and grabbed his notes on the potion, then he headed upstairs.
. . .
As told, Severus joined Harry at the table in the dining room for lunch with everyone else. The time ticked away and soon, it was 3:00 pm and people were arriving right at the ballroom, where the party was being held, via the floo network. Minerva arrived with Pamona and Filius, Harry said she could bring them. For friends, it was Hermione, the Weasley's, Neville, Luna, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnegan. Obviously, Harry's Slytherin friends were already present due to living at the house. Luna's father, Xenophilius came, but everyone called him Xeno. Hermione came with the Weasley's, and George invited Angelina Johnson while Fred invited Alicia Spinnet.
The brothers were both in relationships and seeing these women, but Neville, Seamus, and Dean traveled on their own without adults and Hannah Abbot, very close to Neville, came too. Lucius, Narcissa, and Remus were present too, but Harry let Remus invite Nymphadora, because his uncle really liked her. It was going to be a great day, well, afternoon into night. Harry was excited, but of course, there was that tidbit of hurt that Sirius wasn't here for this. Harry had a moment this morning over it, but promised he wouldn't let it get to him the rest of the day.
"Okay, everyone's here. We can say it now…" Draco chuckled.
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" The group said together.
Harry smiled. "Thanks, everyone." He said as Severus called first hug to his son, then Harry got a hug from Draco and they shared a small kiss. Molly and Narcissa were next, giving Harry a hug and kiss each on the cheek. Most everyone else was hugs, or handshakes.
"Harry, this is a party. Where is the music!" Hermione asked.
"It's coming." Harry pulled out his boombox. "Patience is a virtue." He chuckled as he got the batteries into the back and then set it on a table. Harry tapped it with his wand and the music started playing at a high enough volume to enjoy a party, but not so much that people couldn't talk to one another.
Like during New Year's, the adults were sitting around together to chat while the teenagers had a good time standing and catching up since school ended about a month and a half ago. This was going to be a good afternoon into night and Harry felt like he'd needed this after everything. Harry knew he chose what he did, to study and attempt to take his NEWTs early for a chance to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. However, it was stressful to spend his days doing school work, studying for exams on material he'd be spending the next two years learning, and trying to not let anyone know what was really going on. It was decided to keep things quiet, just so no one got bent out of shape over the decision or try to alter what Harry chose.
The hours passed by as everyone had already eaten dinner and picked at the snack table. Harry had already opened gifts from people, though he'd insisted he didn't need anything when the invitations were sent. Harry got his usual things, like notebooks, parchment, and quills. Books were donated to him, and he got clothes too. Those were definitely from Narcissa and Molly. Draco got Harry a dragon pendant with a green gem as the dragon's eye and it replaced the necklace that Severus had given Harry at the start of fifth year. Harry reconfigured that necklace to a bracelet like Severus's was.
Speaking of his father's gift, it was combining Harry's lordship rings so he didn't have to wear so many on one hand. The ring was now gold with three smaller clear gems on top. The middle represented the Potter ring, then the right was for Slytherin, and of course the Black was on the left. Each gem had the house's emblem and the letter of the family. So P, S, and B. Harry now wore this ring on his right hand ring finger and was immensely grateful to just have one to wear and none of the charms were affected.
Remus gifted Harry something more meaningful. Albums. Ones of the Marauders' time in Hogwarts, but Remus managed to get Peter out of the shots he'd originally been in. Another album was the wedding of James and Lily. Then one was of Harry's first year of life. Remus admitted he went to Godric's Hollow to get the last two and found that they'd been protected from destruction. Harry thanked his uncle with a hug and promised he'd take good care of them. Other small gifts had been sweets and treats.
The books Harry got ranged on topics from proper etiquette to rules and traditions on politics, then things he was studying currently. Those last few obviously came from his teachers, wanting to give him everything he needed to study to pass. Narcissa and Lucius were responsible for the others he got. Harry loved everything and asked Dobby to send it to his room and just leave it in the sitting room so he could sort it later tonight. The teenagers were now back to having a good time on the dance floor, enjoying the music.
"How's he doing with everything, Severus?" Minerva inquired lightly.
"In which context? Mourning his godfather or preparation?" Severus wondered.
"Both." Minerva replied.
"He's doing better with losing Sirius, we had a long talk about not burying the pain to avoid outbursts of anger." Severus chuckled.
"He had a moment where it became too much, didn't he?" Pamona sighed softly.
"Beginning of the month, Harry got worked up about me remaining a spy." Severus enlightened.
"He understands why you do, though, doesn't he?" Minerva asked.
"And I understand his fear of me doing it, so I've stopped." Severus told them as they stared, shocked.
"Severus…" Tonks, or Nymphadora, said. She preferred Tonks. "We needed that information."
"Then send your own spy, but I refuse. I promised Harry I'd stop." Severus revealed.
"You made the unbreakable vow to Harry that you'd never spy again." Lucius chuckled.
"Severus, did you really?" Minerva gasped.
"Nothing means more to me than my son's wellbeing and happiness." Severus said. "Forgive me, Minerva…When I started spying, it was because Albus made me on my promise of doing anything he wanted to make sure the Potter's stayed in hiding. The moment the Potter's died, that promise was broken. The moment Albus put Harry with the Dursley's, he was no longer safe. The voids the agreement I made with Albus to spy for him." He explained.
"When I spied for Albus, it was out of obligation to ensure Lily and her family were safe. And over the years, it was to protect Harry. I always knew the risks of my choice…That was until I became a father. It's not just me I have to worry about anymore," He paused as he looked at Harry. "I have a son to protect and be here for. I vowed to Harry I would never spy again after he got worked up and admitted to me that he couldn't take losing another father."
"Oh, the poor boy…" Pamona frowned. "He already lost James, and doesn't want to lose you."
"Not just James, Sirius too. I'm sure you're not aware, but Sirius blood adopted Harry in April on my allowance, and it was so Sirius could name Harry his legal heir and son…So Harry could inherit everything Black left behind." Severus informed. "So when Harry lost Sirius, he didn't just lose his godfather…He lost, technically, another father. The reason the pain hit so hard was because Harry realized this. He lost James, lost Sirius…He didn't want to lose me too and trust me, the dark lord was none too happy to find out Narcissa and Lucius defected from his side."
The man continued. "I came back the night Harry had the outburst more tortured than ever before. Harry knew it wasn't safe for me to keep spying, that the dark lord probably suspected me to not be loyal to him anymore. I think someone snuck into the trial, reported things to him about not having the dark marks anymore. That I adopted Harry. Harry's outburst had been fear of losing me, pain from losing Sirius. Harry gave me an ultimatum. Spying, or him. What meant more. Of course I chose my son."
"Speaking of the Malfoy's…Why are they living here?" Minerva wondered.
"Voldemort took over the manor, that's why. Harry offered it to them, as thanks for saving him from the Dursley's last August. It's been a year since then. Tomorrow, in fact." Severus said.
"Shocking how fast the time has gone," Narcissa mentioned.
"Shocking how much happened this year." Lucius agreed.
"And…How's Harry doing on the other thing?" Filius asked.
"Very well given the time constraint. I sense he's a bit overwhelmed with how much he's studying and doing to prepare, but handling it better than I anticipated he would." Severus admitted. "Just this morning he brewed me a perfect Polyjuice potion without me standing over his shoulder to guide him. Next, he's working on doing it without the instructions. Last week he mastered Draught of the Living Death, and a couple others."
"How's he doing with Herbology?" Pamona questioned.
"Seems alright with it. I don't know. I'm only tutoring him for potions." Severus said.
"How about Transfiguration? Charms?" Minerva inquired.
"I don't know. As I said, he studies those on his own time. I'm only assisting with potions. We had done Defense too, but there's nothing I can teach he doesn't already know from reading last year. I taught him, perhaps, five things he didn't know, but he knew the rest. He's got what it takes to not only teach the subject, but become a master in it." Severus informed. "Same with Potions."
"His mother was exceptional with Charms, and I've seen that in his grades during class." Filius beamed.
"His father had a knack for Transfiguration too. I've no doubts he'll ace those." Minerva nodded.
"What about History of Magic?" Pamona pushed.
"He seems confident in that one." Lucius remarked. "And he's signed up for the exams of the electives he took the last three years too."
"That's a lot of exams." Minerva realized.
"It was Harry's decision, we're just supporting it and helping him where we can." Severus told them. "He's set to take them the last week of August. Two per day, written and physical."
"Even Saturday and Sunday?" Filius asked.
"Yes." Severus nodded. "I will bring Harry to the school myself on the 1st, Minerva. He'll either be with us as a sixth year student, or your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." He stated. "Harry's NEWT exams will be graded the day taken and he'll receive the scores by no later than 4:00 pm on the 1st of September. So we'll arrive before the students do, and that will allow Harry time to settle in wherever he ends up."
"You must be very proud of him, Severus," Minerva smiled.
"You have no idea." Severus nodded. "But even without this, I've been saying atta boy or that's my boy since the first time he ever told Dumbledore off in fifth year."
Severus never took his eyes off his son, who was talking with his friends. The potions master was so happy to see Harry having a good time, laughing and smiling like he hadn't in weeks since Sirius's death. It was a good feeling and Severus was still shocked he got to experience the joys of fatherhood through adopting Harry.
While Severus had doubts a year ago, they were gone now. Severus would never regret this decision and he was going to enjoy a long life away from the dark lord with his son. Soon, the world would be at peace. Tonight, though, Severus just wanted to celebrate Harry's sixteenth birthday with him and all their friends.