The last two days were mostly peaceful as Harry spent time with his friends and worked on packing up his things to leave Hogwarts for the summer, which Harry would be spending at Severus's place due to their arrangement. Harry felt bad about guilting Severus into agreeing to the marriage, but Harry needed to escape Sirius's madness of having lost his best friend and trying to still live it up through Harry, who was his father's doppelganger.
Harry knew he looked like his dad, but he wasn't his father and Sirius needed to be able to differentiate the two, even Remus agreed that he'd been worried about Sirius's mental state after being cleared from charges, but knew Harry wanted out of the Dursley's, so he vouched Sirius was okay to let him take custody of Harry at the end of third year. Harry did feel bad about this marriage he was basically forcing Severus into, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad and it was only for a year. When Harry turned seventeen, they could end things and go their separate ways.
Well, except for the fact that Harry would have one more year at Hogwarts to get through. However, they'd only see one another during meals or classes; it would be fine. Severus seemed like he was okay with things, except for keeping it on the downlow. Harry understood the man's worry; if they weren't careful, Severus could end up in a lot of trouble. Not just with the ministry, but also the dark lord, who Harry knew that Severus spied on for Albus.
Today was June 23rd, a Sunday night and the students had already left Hogwarts on the train and reached King's Cross. Harry had spent the ride with Draco and friends, just having a good time and plotting what they'd do with their summers and being overjoyed that there were only two more years of school to go. A couple had ideas of what they wanted to do after Hogwarts. When the train stopped in King's Cross, students fled out onto the platform to get their things as Harry saw Remus waiting for him after Harry waved goodbye to his friends, and their parents, who were there to pick them up.
"Hello, cub," Remus smiled softly.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry inquired.
"I got him to get checked into St. Mungo's…" Remus admitted. "He understands he needs help from his years in Azkaban, and to also properly learn to cope with losing his best friend, whom you look just like." He added while shrinking down Harry's trunk and allowing him to put it in his pocket. The only thing Harry kept at full size was his owl, Hedwig.
"Has he asked what will happen to me?" Harry wondered.
"I told him it was worked out and you were staying between friends from your house, though I don't know what you're actually doing." Remus informed.
"You will eventually…Just don't be mad, Uncle Remy…" Harry looked down a bit. "I didn't have another choice."
"Just tell me what you did, Harry…A basic idea so I know you're going to be alright?" Remus asked.
"I called in that life debt Snape owed my dad." Harry stated. Remus stared at him, surprised. "I'll tell you soon. Just know I'll be with him for a while."
"I trust you, Harry…" Remus sighed. "Come along now." He led Harry off the platform, then into the muggle world and out of the station. Reaching the apparition point, Severus walked out of the shadows.
Harry was first to jump and see him. "Professor, what the bloody hell!?" Harry scolded as Severus grinned a little.
"Merlin, Severus…" Remus put a hand over his heart.
"I'm here for Harry." Severus informed.
"He's mentioned that he called in the debt and staying with you…" Remus remarked.
"Staying with me ensures he does not end up with his muggle relatives again. That's all you need to know, for now…" Severus said.
"I'll never disagree with anything that keeps Harry safe…" Remus stated.
"Good. Harry, I'm sure you're familiar with side-along apparition?" Severus asked.
"I am, sir," Harry nodded.
"You'll come with me then. We're going to Grimmauld to collect your things." Severus informed.
"Am I permitted to visit to see my nephew, Severus?" Remus inquired. "While he stays with you?"
"At my leisure, Lupin…" Severus replied.
"I will, of course, always ask first to ensure it won't interfere with your schedule." Remus assured. "I love you, cub and I'm never far if you need anything. Just-,"
"Don't need you on the full moon or the day after it," Harry nodded to him gently. "I love you too, Uncle Remus," Harry hugged him. Remus kissed the top of Harry's forehead and embraced the boy tightly.
"I'll see you soon, Harry." Remus let go and walked off.
"When you're ready, Potter…I don't have all day." Severus remarked.
"Give me a break, would you?" Harry asked. "My godfather is in St. Mungo's for lord only knows how long and I won't see Remus all the time. They're basically the only family I have left…" He commented, but took Severus's arm. "Let's just go…" He sighed. Severus didn't say anything further as he apparated them into the room at Grimmauld Place and Harry let go. "I won't take long…You can wait in my lounge if you want," Harry started to leave the room and Severus followed quietly. Getting up to the first floor,
Harry spelled the lock over his space open and walked into the sitting room. "I'll be done quickly. I don't have much to pack." Harry informed before turning to the left and headed through a door, which was his bedroom. Severus looked around for a few moments, then finally sat down in a chair close to the fire. This lounge oddly reminded him of his own sitting room at home.
. . .
Harry didn't take long to pack up the things he didn't want to leave behind, which was mainly clothes and some important albums. Harry told Kreacher to keep the place safe and ordered the elf to never speak of seeing Harry and Severus there together, also that if anyone asked; Harry was in his room taking a nap or working on summer assignments and didn't want to be disturbed. Kreacher, of course, having seen the decline of his master's mind, nodded to Harry and promised to obey him. Severus shrunk down Harry's things and then they apparated an alleyway between two buildings.
"Where are we…" Harry asked.
"This is Spinner's End, in Cokeworth…" Severus informed. "This way," He urged Harry to follow.
"My mum's family used to live here, I heard Aunt Petunia talking about it with Vernon…" Harry mentioned calmly as he followed Severus out of the alleyway and to a building on their left.
"I'm aware. I saw them often and of course, I went to school with your mother." Severus said as he walked up the steps to his home and spelled the door open. "Come along, we mustn't dawdle," He insisted. Harry quickly followed the man inside to find a hallway. "My house is very easy to navigate…We're in the entry hall, just over here is the sitting room and kitchen behind that. There is a small backyard and all the bedrooms are upstairs. My basement is my personal potions lab, never go down there unless I am down there and never enter unless I've given you permission to do so."
"Yes, sir," Harry nodded.
"For now…You will have your own room." Severus told him. Harry nodded again. "My room is the first door on the right after the stairs. The other two rooms are one a bit more down on the left and then one right at the back of the house. The bathroom door is after mine on the right. There is a half-bathroom down here on the main level and between the kitchen and sitting room." He explained. "You can choose whichever room you like to use." He added. "Go on and get unpacked. We'll talk tomorrow of how things will be here and…Other details regarding the…Wedding."
"Alright." Harry responded. "I guess this is goodnight then?"
"Yes. I'll be heading down to brew some things. You're free to familiarize yourself with the house, or sit and read in the sitting room. You can also get started on any of your summer work if you choose to. I will see you for breakfast," Severus walked away from him and headed through a door and presumably, to the basement, but then he returned. "Excuse my forgetfulness that you can't do magic outside of Hogwarts because of that blasted trace. Go pick the room you'll use now so I can unshrink your things."
"I was actually about to ask about that…" Harry smiled. "I was allowed to use magic at Grimmauld. Something about it being protected enough that the ministry wouldn't be able to track my wand."
"That's due to the charm the house is under. Unplottable, undetectable except to those who know about it. My house is warded, but not undetectable or unplottable. Using magic here would alert the ministry of there being an underage wizard here and they know I do not have children. It would be a giveaway that you're here. And our marriage may emancipate you from guardianship, but it will not give you a free pass on using magic as you're still underage." Severus mentioned. "Now, move along upstairs. I brew for Madam Pomfrey over the summer to restock her stores for the upcoming year and it takes me the entire two months to get her a good start and then of course, I restock my own stores and prepare ingredients for the year I teach."
"Right, sorry. I won't bother you," Harry responded. Harry then headed up the stairs to the rooms Severus said he could pick from and quick glances from both had him heading for the one at the back of the house. Harry pulled his things from his pockets and set them down on the floor as Severus flicked his wand to enlarge them back to full size. "Thank you, sir," Harry stated.
Severus gave a nod of acknowledgement to the thank you, then turned and headed back down the stairs. Harry felt like things could be tense for a while and Severus had the right to feel angry towards Harry. The request was very out there and went beyond the boundaries of basic favors considering Severus was his teacher and also his head of house. And Harry had asked the man to marry him so he wouldn't end up back with his abusive relatives.
Harry wasn't even sure how much Severus knew about all that, nor how bad Sirius's mentality was and Harry didn't feel he had to know everything as long as the reason was good enough that Severus, surprisingly, agreed to the request of his own will and only asked Harry to call in the life debt so that Harry couldn't use anything over him in the future. It was a fair request of Severus that Harry could agree to since Severus was going to marry him.
Harry took a breath as he looked around the room from the door frame. There were three windows, two on the wall across from him, and one the wall next to the bed. The bed in the corner against the wall the door was on, then a nightstand next to the bed. There was a desk farther down and next to the window. On the left side of the room, there was a closet door and next to that was a standing dresser that had four drawers on it.
On the two intersecting walls near the last window were bookshelves, and then there was one more bookshelf between the windows too. It was a nice little room, bigger than what he had at the Dursley's, but smaller than the room he had at Grimmauld. Harry set his wand on the nightstand first, there was no use holding onto it since it was much like the Dursley's where he couldn't use magic.
That was fine, Harry didn't want to cause any trouble to Severus, he was already going out of his way for him. Harry let Hedwig out to stretch her wings and then set up her extendable perch close to a window so she could leave at her own will or when delivering letters for him. Harry then got down to putting clothes away, then books and albums before trinkets he hadn't wanted to leave behind.
Around 9:00 pm, Harry was done and decided on a quick shower before he'd go to bed. He didn't know if he had a set bedtime with Severus, but Harry didn't want to stay up late; it'd been a long day. Harry headed out of the room to the bathroom and took his bathroom items with him, including his own towel. Harry took his pajamas too, it would just be easier to have everything.
Harry used the bathroom first, then got the shower going. It was a fast one, only taking six minutes, and then Harry dried and dressed himself. Harry combed his hair, brushed his teeth, and finally left the bathroom with all his things, only to crash into Severus who was coming up the stairs.
"Sorry, sir," Harry backed up quickly.
"You are fine. I was only coming up to tell you that I have my own personal bathroom in my room so if you desire to leave your toiletry items in this one, you're welcome to." Severus informed, eyeing the items in Harry's arms. "You can leave any dirty clothes or towels in there as well, my house elf will collect things to wash them." He added.
"Alright." Harry replied. "I'll put things there tomorrow, I was just heading to bed." He informed.
"I bid you a good evening then. Breakfast is at 8:00 am." Severus stated before he turned to get into his bedroom.
"Goodnight," Harry went back into his room and set his things down before drawing the shades closed on his windows and crawling into bed. Harry yawned and took off his glasses to set them on the nightstand. Harry cuddled under the blankets and soon drifted off to sleep.
. . .
The next morning, Harry woke at 7:15 am as the light crept through the shades and hit him in the face. Harry sat up in the bed, rubbing his eyes and then reaching for his glasses before finally getting out of the bed. Harry made it up quickly, then grabbed a set of clothes and his shower things before exiting the room to head to the bathroom, which was just up the hall and on his left. Harry entered and closed the door; he did his business first and then set up his items neatly on the sink and in the shower.
Harry grabbed a quick shower and then dried off to dress into a pair of black jeans, a dark green t-shirt with a gray collar. Harry wore black socks and a pair black sneakers. After Harry brushed his teeth and hair, he left the bathroom and headed downstairs to find Severus in the kitchen, already sitting at the table off to the left.
"Fifteen minutes early to breakfast? I'm astounded considering you're always rushing into my class moments before it begins." Severus remarked.
"There's a huge difference between your house with just us and a house-elf in it as opposed to Hogwarts, which has hundreds of students in the halls, sir…" Harry reminded. "Not everyone just walks to their classes, most are stopped to see friends or snogging in hidden alcoves." He added. "It's not easy to just rush through and compared to all the other classrooms, the dungeons are the farthest away."
"I suppose." Severus agreed as he went back to looking at his paper, a copy of the Daily Prophet; he saw a headline about Dolores Umbridge being arrested and facing a trial.
"Made my morning to see that headline…" Harry stated.
Severus moved the paper to see what he was talking about, and realized Harry meant Dolores's arrest. "Indeed, many complaints came forward at the end of the year when it came out that she tried to use the Cruciatus curse on a student; it was never released who and Albus won't tell the staff anything more than as the curse goes, no one lasts more than a year in the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
"Good, hope she gets sent away…" Harry scoffed angrily.
"What do you know about what happened towards the end of the year? I know she was not your favorite person, dare I say you hated her more than you hate me." Severus informed.
"I don't hate you, Professor," Harry revealed. "I didn't particularly like you always targeting me in class, but I didn't hate you. I assumed you had some kind of problem with my dad after fourth year. The interactions between you and Sirius were hard to ignore and miss that there was tension and clear history…" He continued.
"I seemed to have missed noticing how observant you are…" Severus stated, more to himself, though. "However, I do not believe that you had nothing to do with Umbridge's arrest."
"Nothing at all…" Harry said quickly.
"Then you wouldn't mind telling me how you ended up in the Forbidden Forest with Granger and Umbridge and only you and Granger returned?" Severus asked. Harry shut his mouth. "If we're to be married, I'll expect no secrets or lies, Potter…What did you have to do with it?"
Harry sighed and slumped back in his chair. "I…Had a vision of Sirius getting the cruciatus curse by Voldemort…And was worried about him. I knew Dumbledore had left for something and Umbridge basically took over the school. She was monitoring all the floo connections except her own, and I was only trying to contact Grimmauld to ask if Sirius was okay."
"She caught me in her office and Hermione had been there, trying to help me out and also make up for how she walked away from me like the rest of Gryffindor did in fourth year…I was the student that Umbridge tried to use it on; she thought I was trying to reach Dumbledore to return and kick her out of her high inquisitor spot. When she was going to use it, Hermione got her to hold off and said that we were trying to call Dumbledore…"
"To ask about his secret weapon, which was in the forest…She was going to obliviate us and the centaurs came to take her away. Hermione and I returned and I rounded up some friends to go break into the ministry and make sure Sirius was okay…"
"Merlin's Beard, you really do find trouble everywhere, don't you?" Severus asked.
"It finds me." Harry argued. "The only thing I've ever wanted was a peaceful, normal school year and so far…I'm five for five on failing that." He folded his arms over one another and looked out the window. "I've just accepted that my life is never going to be normal or safe, at least not until Voldemort is gone…Or gives up on his crusade to kill me. Or maybe it's my destiny to kill him, so says the prophecy that I'm the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord…" Harry muttered.
"Even if I do that, it won't change anything. I'll still be the boy who lived. I'll be the one who defeated the dark lord, saved the world…I'll still end up in a spotlight of fame and glory that I don't want. My life will never be normal and I've given up hoping for it. I gave that up in fourth year. You can only hope for so long, ya know? I refuse to keep hoping and be disappointed, that hurts more."
Severus stared at the boy before him and took in what he said. Maybe he was wrong about Harry; it was clear that depression was still active as ever and Harry was trying to still smile through a mask that Severus did see right through. Before he could say anything, his house elf appeared with breakfast for them and left with a bow.
"We'll talk after breakfast." Severus said.
"Yes, sir," Harry nodded.
With that, the two began to eat their morning meal in silence since Harry didn't want to bother Severus while he was also reading the paper.