Well, everyone got what they wanted from Harry. An explanation about what happened eight days ago during the final battle. As it turned out, Harry ended up being the master of the Elder Wand because he disarmed Peter Pettigrew while captive at Riddle Manor, thus counting as a defeat and making Harry the new master.
Voldemort killing Pettigrew had been useless, not that anyone was crying over the rat animagus's death. In other realizations, it became known that Harry always knew he had to die in the fight because the end of the prophecy said neither lived while the other survived. Harry willingly walked to his death and accepted it without fear, and he let Voldemort hit him with the killing curse.
However, Harry did not fully die; he went onto limbo where Albus Dumbledore met him and they spoke. It was realized that Harry was an unintentional horcrux made by Voldemort from years back when the killing curse rebounded and destroyed Voldemort's body. A piece of his already tattered soul latched onto Harry, through that famous scar.
It was the reason they were linked, for the visions, feeling emotions and why Harry could easily sense or hear the other horcruxes, see through Nagini's eyes. So when Voldemort killed Harry, he really only sent them to limbo to separate. Voldemort destroyed his own horcrux, leaving Harry free of him to be able to return to finish the battle.
In the end, as it came out, Harry's sacrifice for the people he loved is what protected them from Voldemort. Just as Lily Potter had given her life for Harry, and that love protected Harry through his blood until Voldemort used it to return at the end of fourth year.
Voldemort had never been able to hurt Harry because of Lily's sacrifice, and it was Harry's own love that protected Severus and all of Harry's friends and family. It was sacrificial magic that if Voldemort had tried to attack any of them; it would have failed. And Voldemort touching Severus got him burned because of the bond; there had been blood involved.
And the most interesting and shocking part of the explanation was learning Harry possessed all three of the Deathly Hallows, but wasn't willing to take the chance of people wanting to seek their power. So Harry did the only sane thing he could and shattered the stone with the Elder Wand, then snapped the Elder Wand in half.
The only Hallow still in existence was the Invisibility Cloak, and Harry said he would use it to live a long, fulfilling life before handing it over to his own heir; then he'd greet Death as an old friend. Harry had also used the Elder Wand to repair his own wand, as Ollivander said he would be able to do if he was the Elder Wand's master. Now, Harry had his Holly wood, and the Yew wood with their Phoenix Feather cores.
Harry had said he could use the Yew as a backup because it still chose to serve him. No one cared. Harry was alive and everything was going to be okay. Of course, Harry had choices to make about his life now that it wasn't all about destroying Voldemort.
Minerva McGonagall had offered for Harry to return to school for his final year, this offer was extended to Hermione, who had almost immediately agreed, and Draco had said he would return too. Ron was undecided, and Harry was too. Harry also had to wonder about his husband's plans, if he was going to return to teaching or go into potions business.
Then there was whatever Kingsley wanted to talk to Harry about now that the explanations were over. It was just supposed to be explanations, and apparently it had turned into a party to celebrate Voldemort's defeat and most were asking the seven who traveled with Harry what it had been like on the run.
Harry just wanted to go home and relax with his husband; the two of them needed to talk too. It wasn't a bad talk, but Harry wanted to discuss with Severus about them remarrying and bonding. This time, with everyone who hadn't been able to see it before as it was kept quiet.
"Severus?" Narcissa got the potion master's attention. "Is Harry alright?"
"Yes, why?" Severus inquired to the witch.
"Because I haven't seen him in the last half hour." Narcissa pointed out. "Have you not noticed your husband's disappearance?"
"I assumed he was mingling with his friends." Severus remarked. The woman made a good point, glancing around the room, Harry didn't seem to be anywhere in sight. However, Severus caught where his husband had gotten to. Harry was outside of the manor, and leaning against a post. Ivy and Hedwig were with him. "He's outside."
"Why would he be out there?" Minerva asked.
"I think he's just feeling overwhelmed by everything. You know Harry hates the fame, and being the center of attention." Draco suggested.
"He might also be debating the choice you gave him, Minerva," Lucius mentioned. "Returning to school."
"I don't see why he wouldn't return. It's not as if he wouldn't pass with his skill." Minerva shrugged a bit.
"That might be why he doesn't, Professor." Ron stated. "Harry knows more than Hogwarts has taught him, in addition to what he was taught there."
"Harry has always been above the class, Headmistress." Hermione admitted. "He was teaching sixth and seventh year spells as only a fifth year, remember?"
"He'd make a fine teacher." Severus informed.
"Are you trying to convince me to ask him to be my Defense professor, Severus? Are you not returning to teach?" Minerva questioned.
"To be perfectly honest with you, Minerva, I was only teaching at Albus's request." Severus revealed. "When I went to Dumbledore to ask him to hide the Potters, he did it with my vow that I'd do anything in return. Albus employed me as Potions Professor to keep me safe within the school since he informed that Voldemort would one day return. Albus asked me to protect Harry when he came to Hogwarts, for the same reason. One day, Voldemort would come back." He explained.
"When fourth year came around and Voldemort did indeed return, I went to Albus to tell him the mark had darkened and he asked me if I was prepared to go back into Voldemort's service as a spy for the Order. I agreed, and told Voldemort when he asked why I did not appear at his rebirth, that I had gone undercover into the Order for him while he was away. It was enough to return to the inner circle." He paused.
"But I was only teaching to hold my position as a spy to protect Harry. And for no other reason. I promised to protect him in return for Albus offering me sanctuary, and when I learned Lily died, I promised her I'd keep her son safe."
"I take it then you will not be returning?" Minerva pushed.
"I'll make you a deal. If Harry returns to complete his final year, Minerva, I will return for that year…But when he graduates, I am resigning. If Harry does not return, you have my resignation now." Severus told her.
"More than fair." The Headmistress nodded in acceptance.
"I don't know if I can go back," Ron chuckled. "For once, in the last seven years…It would be a…Dare I say, normal school year."
"That might be the only reason Harry goes back, Mr. Weasley," Severus stated. "The normalcy he's craved for years…" He informed. "Normal school to have classes and hang with friends. Normal life with family. He told me it's the one thing he's always wanted, more than anything."
"Well, he has a family with the Weasley's. Always. I unofficially adopted the boy into the family when Ron, and the twins broke him out of the Dursley's in second year with the car." Molly said as Arthur nodded.
"He's legally adopted as a Black." Sirius added.
"He's unofficially part of the Malfoys too. Draco sees him as a brother," Lucius mentioned.
"And Draco sees Severus as an uncle, who is married to Harry," Narcissa smiled.
"I see him as a little brother." Hermione beamed.
"He's told me I'm like a little sister to him." Luna said.
"Good friend to the rest of us," Dean nodded with Seamus, and Hannah.
"I see him like a brother. We were born a day apart, after all and I don't have any siblings." Neville admitted.
"Didn't Harry say once that most of our families are actually connected?" Pansy looked to the others.
"I believe so, but things got so crazy that he never revealed how." Blaise agreed.
"Oh, maybe he'll tell us now!" Angelina suggested.
"Tell you what?" Harry wondered as he returned to the room, only having heard the end of the conversation that he just suspected was about him. "Did I miss an explanation about something?"
"No. Well, something you said you'd tell us before, but never did." Severus told him.
"What haven't I told you?" Harry arched a brow.
"A while back, you mentioned that a lot of families…Intersected. We wondered if you might tell us?" Lucius hoped.
"Oh Christ…" Harry thought about it. "Alright, fine…" He sighed. "The Family tree for where I began tracing from begins with the Peverell Brothers." He took a breath. "The three brothers are Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus. It's an undefined connection, but Salazar Slytherin connects into Cadmus, likely a marriage. A lot of information on people is missing, but moving on."
"Descending from Cadmus and Salazar connects the Gaunt family to them. First down were sibling pair, Rionach and Gormilaith Gaunt; sisters. Rionach marries Willian Sayre and their daughter Isolt Sayre, who is one of the founders of the American Wizarding School, Ilvermorny. Isolt married a muggle man named James Steward and they had two kids, as well as adopted two boys named Webster and Chadwick Boot." Harry said.
"Alright, so first connection is…Boot family? Like, Terry Boot, that Ravenclaw from school?" Blaise questioned.
"Yes. Terry Boot is a descendant to either Webster or Chadwick. I do not know the link. The tree is missing bits, but blood doesn't lie in these connections, so…" Harry paused. "However, Isolt never had a family of her own as her aunt, Gormilaith, killed them all and ended the Gaunt family on the American side. Except for one of Isolt's daughters, Martha Steward the Second. She was a squib, married a friend's brother and lived life as a muggle with him. Not sure if they had kids."
"Now, moving into the Gaunt family here in Britain is through Cornivus Gaunt. He's the ancestor to Marvolo Gaunt, who had two kids, who I'm sure you're familiar with are Merope and Morfin Gaunt. Merope is Voldemort's mother, or as he was born, Tom Marvolo Riddle. Merope married a muggle, Tom Riddle Senior, via love potion. With Voldemort's death, of course, the Gaunt line has now ended entirely." The teen said.
"Where's the link between your families?" Lucius asked. "Ignotus, correct?"
"Ignotus had a son that isn't named. But that son had his own child, who became the granddaughter to Ignotus. Her name was Iolanthe Peverell and she married my ancestor…Hardwin Potter who was one of seven children to Linfred of Stinchcombe, also known as the Potterer, which then condensed to just Potter." Harry informed calmly.
"The next link is to someone only listed as Mr. Potter, who married Miss. Fleamont and asked her son, Henry Potter, that her maiden name continue on while on her deathbed. Keeping his promise to his mother, Henry had a son, who he named after his mother's maiden name, Fleamont Potter and he married Euphemia and they had my father, James Potter, who married my mom, Lily Evans, and then had me." Harry explained.
He paused, only a moment. "But that's not all. While Gaunt and Potter connect from the brothers…There are other family connections as well. It's not forbidden knowledge that Pureblood families marry into one another…" He said.
"Pureblood mania…" Sirius reminded.
"Hush, Sirius…" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Right, sorry. Go on, let's see you remember the family tree I showed you. I don't even remember the whole thing." Sirius grinned.
"I'm curious, continue…" Narcissa invited.
"Obviously, my family extends out through my mother Lily. She had one sister, my aunt, Petunia, who married my uncle Vernon Dursley and they had my cousin, Dudley." Harry stated. "The next connection is actually the Black family. Let's start that tree with four people named Licorus, Eduardus, Alexia and Phoebe Black. Of the four, only Licorus Black married and had kids."
"Licorus married Magenta Tripe and had Cygnus and Arcturus Black, both the first, and then Misapinoa Black. Misapinoa married into the Bilshwick family through Jimbo. Cygnus Black married a woman named Ella Max and they had four kids; Elladora, Sirius Black the first, Isla, and Phineas Nigellus. Isla married into the Hitchens family through Bob. However, only Phineas had kids with his marriage to Ursula Flint." He let that sink in.
"Flint as in Marcus Flint, former Slytherin?" Draco inquired.
"And Phineas, as in one of the former headmasters of Hogwarts?" Severus questioned.
"Yes," Harry nodded to them. "The kids of Phineas and Ursula were five in total; Belvina, then Cygnus, Phineas, Sirius, and Arcturus Black all the Second." He continued. "Sirius the Second went on to marry Hesper Gamp and had three kids, Lycoris, and Regulus Black the First, and Arcturus Black the Third. Arcturus married a woman named Melania Macmillian. And yes, that connects Ernie Macmillan from school to the tree," Harry gave it a moment. "Arcturus the Third and Melania had two kids, Orion and Lucretia. Orion Black married Walburga Black, which brings us to my beloved godfather Sirius Black the Third and his brother, Regulus Black the Second as Orion and Walburga's kids."
"Atta boy, Harry!" Sirius cheered. "I'm so proud!"
"Shut off the water works you overdramatic pain in my rear. I love you, but Merlin above…" Harry sighed. "Alright, now back peddling to Phineas again. Arcturus Black the Second married Lysandra Yaxley. Cygnus Black the second married Violetta Bulstrode, and yes, it means Millicent Bulstrode is in the tree too." He mentioned before someone else decided to ask to confirm.
"Now, Cygnus and Violetta had four kids. Cassiopeia, Marius, Pollux and Dorea Black. Dorea married Charlus Potter. And no, I don't know where the connection of who Charlus is, but I'm assuming he's got to be a descendant to one of Linfred's other six kids. Given where he sits in the tree as far as placement; he sits next to Henry Potter's parents, so it's possible he was Henry's uncle." He remarked.
"Now, Pollux Black married Irma Crabbe. Ready, now here's where it gets interesting with that whole purebloods marrying into one another. Irma Crabbe, who took the Black last name, and Pollux had three kids. Cygnus Black the Third, Alphard and Walburga Black. Continuing as I'm sure Narcissa has made the connection into this as Cygnus Black the Third and Druella Rosier married, having Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa Black." He paused.
"Narcissa married Lucius, and had Draco. Bellatrix married Rodolphus Lestrange, who also has his brother, Rabastan Lestrange. Andromeda married Ted Tonks, having Nymphadora…Who is currently married to Remus Lupin, which connects the Lupin family, and they have their son, Edward Remus, or Teddy." Harry stated.
"Now, go on…There's much more to the Black family." Sirius pushed.
Harry shook his head slightly. "Going back to Arcturus Black the Second and Lysandra Yaxley…They had three kids. Calidora, Charis and Cedrella. Ready, more connections. Calidora married Harfang Longbottom, and had two kids; Augusta and Algie Longbottom. Augusta has one son, Frank Longbottom, who married Alice and had Neville." Harry informed. "Charis married Casper Crouch, they had a son, Bartemius Crouch Sr, who fathered Bartemius Crouch Junior."
"And with their deaths, I am certain the Crouch line has died out too. Cedrella Black married Septimus Weasley, and they had three sons. One is unknown, but there was a Bilius Weasley, and then Arthur Weasley, who married Molly Prewett. Molly had two brothers, Gideon and Fabian. The mother and father's names are unknown, but the mother's sister is Muriel. I do know that Muriel's brother married Lucretia Black, making another connection between the Blacks and the Weasley's. Harry remarked.
He started again after a moment. "Now, obviously, Molly and Arthur have seven kids. William, but called Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ronald or Ron, and Ginerva or Ginny. Bill is married to Fleur, connecting her family." Harry informed. "And I believe, so far, that's all of it until more is added." He shrugged.
"Well…FUCK. That's…What, thirty-some-odd families?" Pansy blinked.
"Thirty-five." Hermione corrected. "That's insane."
"That's just mad." Ron remarked. "Harry, how in the name of Merlin do you remember all that?"
Harry shrugged. "Just do. Oh, and it's thirty-seven, Hermione. My marriage to Severus adds both the Snape and Prince lines. I've yet to explore those two and find where they go."
"I might be able to help with that," Severus assured.
"Can't wait." Harry smiled.
"You know what I just noticed…Your scar is barely visible, Harry," Luna mentioned.
"Sev and I noticed a few days ago. I doubt it'll ever disappear, but it's faded quite a bit." Harry nodded.
"So, Mr. Potter-Snape…Have you given any thought to returning to school?" Minerva wondered.
"I mean, I kind of have to in order to take my NEWTs." Harry remarked.
"Yep. I'm with ya, mate. Guess we're both going back." Ron nodded.
"Guess we'll see you in September, Headmistress." Harry informed.
"Ah, that reminds me. Harry, can I have a word?" Kingsley requested, nodding his head for them to step out.
"Uh, yeah, I guess." Harry stood up and walked beside Kingsley out to the backyard of Malfoy Manor.
"What do you suppose that's about?" Draco inquired.
"Haven't the faintest idea." Severus shrugged.
Outside, Kingsley already made sure they were off to the side and used a privacy bubble so no one was listening in.
"What's up, Minister Shacklebolt? You're pulling me aside and this is some kind of secret discussion pertaining to wizarding security?" Harry asked.
"Harry, as you know…Throughout the war, there have been many deaths in the ministry. None more than the Auror Department." Kingsley started. "The guard is dangerously low on aurors, and I'm sure you know that even with Voldemort gone; there are still plenty who fled the battle and are out there. Plus the added factor of there always being another."
"You made your point that there will always be dark wizards to chase and stop, Kingsley…It's why I want to become an auror. That's why I'm going to return to school, so I can pass NEWTs and graduate to apply for the program." Harry informed. "What does this talk have to do with me, unless there's another prophecy about me I don't know of?"
"Nothing has come up, Harry, but…On the matter of your desire to become an auror," Kingsley paused. "Harry, given the state of the department…The new ministry has…Waived the normal requirements to get into the program because we need aurors to rebuild the force. I've decided to extend the invitation to you directly, and formally request that you join the force." Harry's eyes widened some.