Chapter 1

I sit up slowly and lean back on the pillows Clarisa had propped up for me before she had fallen asleep earlier, I have been sleeping on and off all day as this is one of the rare days I get to myself to recover. I look beside me and gently card my fingers through my wife's fiery locks that are splayed about her pillow, 'my wife.' a small smile turns my lips despite the pain that is now becoming apparent. I groan quietly before slowly removing the duvet from over my legs and waist, a sudden hand nearly makes me lose the battle with my bladder as it has scared the crap out of me.

"Let me help you." Clarisa says quietly, sleepiness still present within her red eyes.

I scoff and gently remove her hand from my arm as I start to get out of the bed, my feet touch the black shag rug that she had made me buy. Stating that it was too cold in the dungeons for me not to have some sort of carpeting to protect my feet from the chilling stone, I finally concede to her point as I flex my toes within the soft fabric. Clarisa is already at my side as I try to stand and nearly fall backwards as pain radiates throughout my spine and legs,

"Here love," She holds a pain potion in front of me as she forces me to sit back down to take it. "You can take this now but you might have to forgo the one in an hours time."

"I'll be fine dear." I know Clarisa can hear the pain within my voice but I know she is right, I can't risk taking the potion now when I'll need it for the other three I'll have to take in an hour. I slip from the bed and her grasp once more; seeing the walking cane beside the bed, I grab it and lean heavily upon it as I walk my way to the bathroom. I knew my wife would be outside of the door; as per her usual habit as of late, she is always nearby and never has left me by myself for too long. I'm grateful but also perturbed that I constantly have to have someone by my side, we have yet to inform most of the staff of what is going on. Alexander had just told them to leave Clarisa and myself alone for the time being, at least the elder wizard has the sense to keep his trap shut.

I am still rather angry with the old man.

I sigh in relief as I finish my morning routine, my back resting against the wall as I try to convince my body to obey. My muscles are aching something fierce as exhaustion and fatigue begin to consume my senses, I call for Clarisa quietly as my will to remain standing fades. Red hair covers my face and shoulder as she catches me partially sliding down the wall, the cane falling from my hand as I prepare to catch myself. I can't help but breathe in the strawberry scent that is clinging to my wife's hair, the soft strands tickling my skin as she hoists me to my feet. For such a petite woman, she is incredible strong. I lean heavily upon her; trying to steady my weight so I don't take us both down, she walks me slowly back to the bed after summoning my cane to her hand non-verbally.

"Get some sleep, I'll let Harry know we have to reschedule." Clarisa mentions quietly as she shuffles around me to make sure that I am comfortable. I still her with a hand upon hers,

"It will be fine, I'll meet with him. Need to get this over with regardless of my condition or not, better now then later." I see her nod as she goes back to straightening the blanket but not pulling the duvet over me, she knows I only like the duvet at night time, when it got the coldest within the dungeons.

"Should we tell Minnie? She will be returning soon having been asked to become the headmistress, Alexander isn't happy about that either mind you." I narrow my eyes at my wife's underlining meaning, she sheepishly looks at me. "He blames you, you know that Sev."

"And pray tell why I should give one rats ass what he thinks," I pause and pull Clarisa to sit on my lap; or in her case, straddle. "Stop this infernal shuffling, it's driving me mad."

I press my lips against her supple soft ones, I gently cup the back of my wife's head as I bring her as possibly close as I can. She wraps her arms around my shoulders, despite my condition, there is nothing that will stop either of us from enjoying each others embrace. I break the kiss but continue to hold my wife flush against my chest, my fingers carding through her soft strands as she lays her head upon my shoulder. I still am on cloud nine even after three months, the reality still not sinking in that the witch within my arms is actually mine, my wife. I still cant fathom why her mother had trusted me with her most precious gift but the woman had, I can't seem to give enough back to the older red head. Instead, it's the pair of red heads that seem to be giving to me lately. Their time and efforts spent revolving around me and my health, their sincerity clearly within their eyes and within their facial expressions, I don't know if I would have survived without the pair.

"I hate to break this up," I growl as Clarisa startles within my arms, causing an immense amount of pain to course through me. A hiss leaving my lips afterwards as she gets up to confront the new comer, her uncle to boot. "But Auror Potter is in the great hall awaiting your arrival."

"Shut it headmaster and get out of my chambers." I hiss through barely parted lips, my anger taking the best of me at being interrupted with my wife. "You have no rights to intrude upon my privacy." I snap with finality, brokering no arguments.

"Uncle I think it wise you leave before you agitate my husband more," Clarisa stands in front of me to shield my sight of the older man, "tell mister Potter we will be out soon, maybe offer him some refreshments."

"Very well."

The door shuts and as soon as it does I groan, I needed my potions.

"Can you-"

"On your bedside dear."

I bristle as I am interrupted by the woman in front of me, I know she means no disrespect but just the simple act of being interrupted has been one of my pet peeves since I became a teacher. I see the four vials that I need to take and decide that ten minutes early wouldn't hurt, besides I have a meeting with a certain Gryffindor I have not seen in years.

I down the contents quickly and in secession, grimacing at the putrid taste of all of them combined. As the pain recedes, I am able to finally get out of the bed without any help. I start to dress in a pair of black trousers and a simple white long sleeve button up shirt, nothing more and nothing less. Over the three months I had stopped wearing all the clothing I have done in the past, I wanted a new image and this is the way to do it, starting with my wardrobe. I feel so much better without so many clothes restricting my movements, and how hot they had been. I'm surprised that I had not passed out just from sheer heat exhaustion, that and the fact that I am around boiling cauldrons all day.

"You ready Sev?" Clarisa calls out from the living room, I'm guessing she had decided to make coffee as the smell comes through the bedroom door.

I slowly walk out into the living room and see her with a mug waiting for me, she smiles at me sadly then points toward the door. Alexander is standing there looking like he is choking on something, I pay no mind to the man as I walk over to my wife and give her a chaste kiss and thank her for the coffee. I sit down; ignoring the man within my living quarters, my eyes fixed upon my wife, who is sipping her coffee while subtly looking at me. I sigh,

"Is there a reason you are still within my private chambers?" I ask, barely masking my rage that the man is still within my housing.

"Why is Auror Potter here?" I scuff, "Why am I being replaced?"

"I think that would be quite obvious."

I sneer as I drain the last of my coffee and grab my usual cloak that I wear around the school, the pain having receded from the potions not too long ago. I growl again trying to make Alexander understand that I did not nor did I need his company, after everything that had happened, I want nothing to do with the aged man. Clarisa once again stands between me and her uncle,

"I warned you to leave my husband alone uncle..."

There is a threat below the surface and it has all the hairs upon my arms rising on end, my wife is very volatile when confronted. I watch with subtle fascination as Clarisa and Alexander face off with just simple looks, I smirk as my wife does not back down from the man beside my door. Alexander finally concedes as neither myself or Clarisa seem to back down; neither of us cowing to the man, leaving with a huff out of my quarters.

"I believe it's time we pay Potter a visit," I grab for my wife after placing her cloak upon her shoulders. "I want this over as soon as possible."

I place my left hand within Clarisa's; interlacing our fingers together, barely holding back a genuine smile while enjoying being with my wife. Her soft, smooth hands pressing against my rough ones, a small smile gracing her thin lips as we walk from the dungeons.

There is so much noise as students bustle about, trying to get into the Great hall for what I assume is lunch time with it being daylight outside. A lone first year Hufflepuff bumps into me and tries to stutter an apology, I'm completely sated as I watch my wife deal with the poor child. I decide to take charge of the change I wish to see,

"What's your name?" I ask the little girl as she stares at the floor and her books held tightly to her chest.

"L-Lillian. Sir." The poor child is scared out of her wits and I can hear it within her voice.

"Do remember to make friends and don't be afraid to come to us if the need ever arise." The girl looks at me and her eyes are wide as saucers, I lower down onto my haunches trying to make her feel better. "You don't have to do this alone, okay?"

The girl nods vigorously as I bid her toward the hall, Clarisa places a gentle hand upon my back as I rise to my full height. I smile at her and we move forward toward the main hallway, where; no doubt, Potter is waiting.

I see the boy; turned man, stand sheepishly by the grand front doors that lead to the courtyard. His attire screaming Auror, from his black trench cloak, to his under dress that is of deep navy. A black leather belt around his waist and button up shirt is a stark contrast to what I was use to seeing. The boys shirt is of a slightly brighter navy blue compared to the deep, almost black pants. I smirk as I arrived before the boy turned man, something I never thought I would see. The Potter child and myself had come to agreement that he most likely wouldn't have survived the confrontation with the mad man, we both had put our differences aside at the end of the sixth year. That was the year I finally stopped seeing the boy as Jame's son and more of Lily's, his childish antics were an underlining cry for help.

I withdraw into my thoughts for a moment as I wonder why I couldn't see this boys truest nature, why had I been so blind to what the child had been so desperately laying in display. I look the young man once more; before approaching, he has grown considerably since I have last seen him.