Well, Harry had his mind blown at the minister of magic's offer. Join the aurors, without his NEWT exams or finishing his last year at Hogwarts? It was…An incredible offer and God, how could Harry turn it down. He couldn't, truthfully. However, there was a part of him that hesitated. Harry worked hard in school to be able to pass and join the way it had been with the strict requirements. If felt wrong to just bypass all the struggles he faced, or the hard work he did to land this career choice.

"Kingsley, it's…Wow, it's an opportunity I don't want to refuse. It's the only job I've ever wanted, but to just jump over everyone-," Harry began.

Kingsley raised a hand to stop him. "I plan on extending it to all who participated in the battle as well. Everyone who fought on the Hogwarts grounds that day. Everyone who chose the Light, those who joined the Order. Obviously, still only those who are of age."

"Kingsley, you're…Asking me to become an auror without finishing school?" Harry inquired.

"Do you really believe you need to finish, Harry? If it were normal circumstances, yes…It would be required of you to finish, and have made outstanding grades to even be considered for the program. But as I told you, the force is very small and we need to rebuild. I know you are well versed in various kinds of magic from your time as a student, side lessons with Severus and Remus, and all you learned on your own."

"I saw your grades, and the force has agreed you would have been a student they accepted if you finished. However, we relaxed and waived the requirements. We want you to join us. There will still be training, but you already excel remarkably well in many of the aspects you'd learn in the typical three-year training." Kingsley explained. "The offer is there. If you're only planning to return to school to pass NEWTs and join the program, I'm extending the offer out now that we'll take you without complete education or NEWTs."

Harry stood there, surprised. He understood, of course, the force took a hit and they were heavily recruiting. Kingsley was asking him personally, not just because he beat Voldemort, but his magical ability and skills gave him an edge in the program. But there was that little niggle in his heart about not finishing, perhaps there was a way to do both. "I'll make you a deal…"

"I'm listening."

"I'll accept the offer, and join, but I want the chance to take my final exams without having to attend seventh year. If that makes sense?" Harry prayed that it did.

"You want the exam records to show you took your final tests, passed, and be considered a graduate with a full education without going through the last year?" Kingsley inquired.

"I'm all about my achievements, Minister. I want the proof that I did it. To me, just joining without them feels like a free pass. And I understand why you're relaxing the requirements, but this is more of a personal thing for me. I want to be able to say I took NEWTs and finished school without being there, yes." Harry told him.

"Is that all?" Kingsley laughed. "I'll make the arrangements and let you know. I know you and your husband had some trip planned after the war, so I will inform you that the program won't begin until September, like the school year usually goes. We're hoping to get a decent sized group for the training regime. But I will arrange your exams to be taken by June. Standard needed for the program I assume?"

"The core classes we took, excluding History of Magic, if it's not required. I'd also be fine with taking Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, and Care of Magical Creatures. I took a fair few of those in younger years. I'm really just doing them to try and have confidence that I did well enough in those classes to take the advanced exams for them." Harry mentioned.

"Done." Kingsley nodded and shook Harry's hand. "Now, I do hope you know I'm announcing this to everyone. Minerva will need to be aware you're not returning, but the offer is going out to your friends present too."

"Fine by me." Harry smiled.

"Excellent. Come, we'll return then." Kingsley put a hand on Harry's shoulder and the two returned inside the manor.

"This seems serious…" Severus mentioned softly.

"Not at all." Kingsley reassured. "Minerva, forgive me…Harry will be recanting his original decision to return to school because he's accepted my offer to join the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as an auror."

"Minister, there are strict rules in joining and you can't without NEWTs." Minerva argued.

"And I'm the minister, Minerva. I make the rules, therefore, I get to bend them." Kingsley chuckled. "The reality of the situation is the war took out a lot of our forces, particularly in the auror department. If we were to have another battle on our hands, we would lose as we don't have the manpower. It was decided in a meeting to waive the old requirements to join the program. I've already extended it to Harry, and I will now do the same to others."

"Every person who participated in the final battle against Voldemort and his Death Eaters, who is of legal age, can now freely join without their NEWT exams. There will still be training, but reformed in order to rebuild quickly. Training will begin in September after a short series of tests and exams to gauge everyone's strengths, skills, and weaknesses. That is how we'll group them for training. Harry here, has already agreed to join and I will openly admit that I hoped people knowing Harry was working with me to restore the damage of our world would be an inviting inspiration." Kingsley stated firmly.

"Hey, I was only going back for those exams to be able to join. If we don't need them, then I'm in, Minister Shacklebolt." Ron put his hand up.

"I would, but I prefer working with potions…Or healing." Draco shrugged.

"Oh, then there is another option…We need quite a bit of healers too, if you're interested, Mr. Malfoy. Same rules, requirements are waived to rebuild." Kingsley told him. "I've heard good things about your skills from your godfather. You'd make a good addition to the Healer's Force."

"Done." Draco nodded quickly.

"Wonderful all around. Decisions from the rest don't have to be tonight…Pass the word along to other friends. They can send their responses right to the ministry, auror department. Robards is handling all that. He can be an ass sometimes, but he follows orders and he knows to accept anyone who fought in the battle who is of age." Kingsley stated. "But I thank those of you who have stepped forward tonight."

"That being said, Minerva, you have my official resignation." Severus faced the witch.

"Understood." Minerva nodded acceptingly.

Harry finally rejoined his husband, relaxing against him. "If you're tired, Harry, we can go back home." Severus offered.

"I'm alright, Sev." Harry assured. "I am tired, but I'm enjoying the peace with everyone. Besides, I only have like…Twenty-percent magic left to gain back. Another good night of rest should take care of that."

"You do seem to be sleeping better." Severus chuckled.

"Not having to look over your shoulder all the time, wondering when the next fight is, does wonders on a teenager not being stressed the hell out by a murderous, psychotic dark lord." Harry sassed. Severus rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You know you love me."

"Undoubtedly." Severus replied. "Faithfully forevermore." He added.

Harry gave him a kiss and then relaxed against his husband. Harry was tired, but this was a great day overall. Harry had planned to return to school, just for the sake of getting his NEWTs and going on into the auror program but then Kingsley offered him and many others something amazing; to join without their NEWT exams. Harry had to say yes, with conditions; he wanted the satisfaction of saying he took them, earned his way in with the grades and skill to back it up.

Harry wouldn't hear it later down the line that he was chosen because he was the boy who lived twice, and the one who defeated Voldemort. Plus, Harry could say he finished school if he took them and he had confidence that he could take them without the last year of school and pass. Harry honestly looked forward to it, becoming an auror and having the life he and Severus planned. Of course, Harry had to see other things through about all that. Not that he didn't love Severus, but the grounds on which they married and bonded were for the wrong reasons. Harry wanted to make it right, if they were spending the rest of their lives together, happy, and in love; Harry wanted to marry him under those terms.

Harry had actually already been to the bank to make a withdrawal, and then shopping around for the perfect ring. Harry had been keeping it on him, in his bag waiting for the right moment to ask. What could be better than everyone around? And Harry had figured out how to say it too.

"I was going to do this later, but since we ended up on the topic…" He paused and pulled his head off his husband to look him dead in the eyes. "Would you marry me?"

Severus blinked at him. "Harry, have you suffered some kind of amnesia?"

"Can you just answer the question and not be over-analytical about it? Would you marry me?" Harry asked.

"We're already married, and bonded, Harry." Severus reminded him, raising his hand to show the ring that sat on his left hand's ring finger.

"Yes, I do see that. There's something missing," Harry told him as Severus inspected his ring. Harry grabbed Severus's hand from under the table and put the small box in his palm, using light magic to flip it open. "For muggles, the engagement ring sits before the wedding band to represent that engagement comes before marriage." Harry told him. "I ask again…Will you, Severus Tobias Prince-Snape, love of my life, my soulmate, marry me?"

"Harry…Of course I will, yes." Severus agreed as Harry slid the ring on his finger.

"Wonderful," Harry gave him a kiss.

"Forgive me for asking, but why did you just propose to him when you're already married and bonded?" Sirius decided to question.

"I'm…Kind of curious myself, Harry," Severus mentioned.

"Because I wanted to ensure we were married for the right reasons." Harry told him as Severus arched a brow. "I'll explain." He paused. "Almost two years ago now, our marriage and bonding was agreed upon set conditions for specific reasons. I needed to be emancipated to leave Sirius's guardianship. We made a deal that you would marry me so I could be emancipated if I protected you from negative fall out about the decision. I also promised you freedom from Voldemort, and protecting you from him as you protected me from him over the years. Our marriage was a business deal set to end when I turned seventeen. Yes, we still married. Yes, we still bonded. But it wasn't out of love."

He paused for a moment. "So I felt that if we're going to have this future we planned as lovers settling down to enjoy our life together, then we should properly adjust the marriage foundation to being a willing decision to tie our lives in marriage and bonding out of love. When we said our vows, and exchanged rings; we agreed under false pretenses. What we agreed, at the time, wasn't out of love, desire, anything. We were doing it because that was part of the deal. I want to fix it." Harry revealed.

"We became friends, we dated and fell in love. I do believe the next step in line is engagement, then marriage." Harry told him. "This time, I didn't march in and tell you that I needed you to marry me. I asked you to. And this time when we take our vows, everything we say will be true because we're marrying out of love."

"And after that we can go get that little house in a quiet village to live in, work doing jobs we love, and maybe adopt some kids along the way." Severus agreed.

"Besides…" Harry chuckled a little. "Let's see how strong that bond becomes when we do it because we want to, not because we have to…" Severus flushed.

"Well…Why wait?" Narcissa suggested. "You have everyone here now that you'd invite, there's plenty of food and drinks. Lucius could perform it again. It's not like you'd have to re-register your original marriage and bonding certificates. You have your rings we can use again. Oh! And I have your wedding clothes upstairs! I kept them pristine, just for the occasion you two might fall in love and decide to do this all over again. I couldn't have planned this better than right now if you gave me a year to do it."

"It's up to two." Lucius offered. "I'd be happy and honored to remarry and bond you."

"What do you say, Sev?" Harry asked him.

"You wanna do this right now?" Severus inquired.

"Yeah, why not? We redo it all now, more than enjoy the consummation tonight…And next week after that massive memorial service and recognition celebration are over, you and me disappear for a couple months to travel the world. We see everything, and you take me on that foods of the world tour you promised on our first date. Then we come back to find the perfect house to live in and start our family so we can live normal lives…" Harry offered. "Everything we planned for after the battle. Battle is over, war is won. It's time to live our lives our way. My way is with you at my side as my husband,"

"My way is with you at my side as my husband." Severus agreed. "Do it, but one change…"

"Name it." Harry invited.

"Minister Shacklebolt marries and bonds us that way I can have Lucius as my best man. He's my best friend and I think you'd want yours too." Severus stated.

"Done." Harry nodded. "Kingsley, would you mind?"

"It would be my esteemed honor." Kingsley bowed.

Narcissa clapped her hands. "Excellent! Then upstairs we go to get you both ready. Lucius, I trust you can manage down here to prepare it."

"Yes, darling." Lucius replied.

"This is actually happening?" Sirius asked Remus.

"It's happening, my friend. Harry and Severus are getting married and bonded to one another today, out of love." Remus patted his back.

"Ron…" Harry looked at his friend. "You were my first friend, and you are practically my brother…It would mean the world to me, if you stood as my best man?"

"I'd be honored." Ron nodded. Harry slipped off his ring and gave it to Ron.

Severus did the same with his own ring, but gave it to Lucius to hold onto. Draco held onto the engagement ring as it would return to Severus's finger once the wedding band was back in place. "Dray…I need a favor." Harry whispered to him.

"What is it?" Draco asked.

Harry whispered something in his ear and Draco gave an understanding look before nodding. "Thank you."

After that, Harry and Severus went upstairs with Narcissa to get changed while Lucius began working to get everything ready outside, in the same place as before. The guests used magic to transfigure themselves into proper attire while Draco went to do what Harry asked of him.

. . .

An hour later, it was 5:30 pm and everything was ready. Out in the back gardens of Malfoy Manor, Kingsley stood in place at the altar while guests were seated in a horseshoe like formation so everyone would be able to see the ceremony performed. Lucius had done a great job, but it was likely just memory of the first wedding.

This was still a surprise to people, but it didn't matter because it's what Harry and Severus wanted, and after all the shit they'd been through, that everyone had suffered with Voldemort; happiness was not only earned, but deserved. Lucius stood in his place as Ron was across the way in his. When Harry and Severus stepped into sight, it had been the most shocking thing for everyone to see what they were wearing. None more than Severus. In white.

"I think I preferred the quiet ceremony we had where people weren't staring at me so shocked." Severus told Harry.

"It's just because you're in white, love." Harry giggled. "If I recall…When we first did this, you said it remained to be seen that you were attending a funeral. How's that looking now?"

"I amend my statement. I'm not going to a funeral, but I am finally beginning my life." Severus confessed.

"Come forward, boys," Kingsley motioned to the circle.

Walking side by side, Harry and Severus entered the circle as Kingsley flicked the rest of the stones into place.

"Welcome friends, family, and loved ones. All who come in peace to witness the union of Severus Tobias Prince-Snape and Harry James Potter." Kingsley started. "We are here today to celebrate with them and to share in their triumph as they proclaim their love for one another and the bond their souls have formed together." He finished.

"Severus and Harry have chosen to commit to one another today for the rest of their lives, but they understand that the love they commit to is dynamic and fluid, and what we celebrate is the eternal connection between the souls of Severus and Harry, no matter what physical form their love may take."

Kingsley started again after a pause. "Having spent some time with Severus and Harry, I've seen the evidence of that connection between these two souls. Here in this moment, the love that Severus and Harry share between their spirits is undeniable." He informed. "Severus. Harry. Let there be no mistake. The vows you make today signify that your souls are bound eternally, whether or not your bodies are."

"You make these vows today with the understanding that you are committing to be a partner to one another, and to honor the connection your souls now share with one another. These vows are sacred, and they should not easily be broken, as you make them to one another in the sight of these loved ones as witnesses." Kingsley paused. "Knowing this, Severus and Harry, is it your intent to enter into this commitment to one another?"

"It is." Harry and Severus said together.

"Then we shall proceed." Kingsley nodded. "You both have a candle on this altar, you must light them to be recognized as the ones bonding with your left hands."

Severus and Harry faced the candles across from them. Severus pulled his wand with his left hand and a flame ignited on his candle, then he put the wand away. Harry repeated the action with his own wand at the same time.

"Let us begin. Connect your left hands, please?" Kingsley asked. Severus and Harry linked their left hands together as the minister of magic pulled out the braided rope of six colors. Then let us begin. "Severus and Harry," Kingsley prepared to set the braided ribbon of colors over their hands. "Will you share in each other's pain, and seek to protect one another from it and ease each other of it? And will you share in one another's hardships and toil, so that the two of you may grow together?" He asked.

"We will." Harry and Severus replied.

Kingsley made the first wrap of the rope around their hands. "Will you share each other's joy, rejoice in it with one another and look for the best always? Will you share in each other's dreams and work together to fulfill them?

"We will." Severus and Harry said again.

Another wrap. "Will you use your anger to strengthen and temper the bond between you two and will you honor and respect, treating each other as equals in this bond?"

"We will." The two repeated.

"Then let the binding be so." Kingsley wrapped their hands again. "Three times these cords have woven around your hands to bind you together. Three signifies those present, two for you and one for the magic that binds you. One can be overpowered, but two can defend and three cannot be broken. It not only binds, but protects you together in magic. By the powers of three, so mote it be."

He tied the strands together in a knot that kept their hands bound. What didn't go unnoticed were the ropes giving off a magical essence that became visible for only a moment. "Now, the rings…" Kingsley put his hand out as Lucius and Ron grabbed them from their pockets and gave them to Kingsley.

Kingsley handed one ring to Severus, then the other to Harry. "Now it's time to seal your bond with the exchange of rings. The ring has a special significance because it is a symbol of unbrokenness. It is also a symbol of completion. Severus, please repeat after me-,"

"I got this one, Kingsley." Severus interrupted. "Harry, I promise on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your dreams, and to help you navigate the maze of life together as our love grows with us." Severus set the ring back in place on Harry's left hand ring finger.

"Harry, now you…Please repeat after me; Severus, I promise on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your dreams, and to help you navigate the maze of life together as our love grows with us." Lucius repeated.

Harry gently slid the band onto Severus's finger. "Severus, I promise on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your dreams, and to help you navigate the maze of life together as our love grows with us."

"Severus and Harry, having proclaimed the bond of your souls together in the sight of these witnesses, and based on the strength of that bond, and the power vested as British Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt; I now pronounce you married as husband and husband." He announced. "Please seal your bond with a kiss!"

Their hands still bound by the ropes, there was no hesitation this time as Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco had seen the first time. Harry and Severus leaned in quickly to press their lips together in a passionate kiss. It didn't go unnoticed by anyone that the ritual circle began to flash with a dim glow of gold when the kiss started. The guests realized this was the soulmate thing, how they knew that they were. The circle reacted to their union, blessing it.

As the kiss ended, the two flames from their candles sparked and joined together to magically light the one candle in the middle of theirs. The glow finally stopped before the ropes loosened enough to let them pull their hands free after Kingsley nodded to them that it was okay to do so. The ropes remained levitation in the air before tightening up to a beautiful knot that preserved the three rings from when wrapped around their hands.

"The ropes should have fallen by now, that signifies the end of the ceremony." Remus mentioned.

"No, it's just like before. This ritual cannot be completed without blood exchange." Lucius informed. "You two know what to do." He told the males. "Kingsley, you're officiating. You have to use that blade to cut their hands. They will do the rest."

Nodding, Kingsley grabbed the ritual blade off the altar and took Harry's hand and made a cut across his palm and then repeated the action with Severus's palm. Severus and Harry connected hands as their blood mixed on touching and dripped three times into the bowl below them. "Kingsley, the main candle in the blood." Lucius informed.

Kingsley took the candle and let it touch the blood as it immediately lit and burned off to nothing. The joint candle's flame burst and then died out. The knotted ropes finally stopped levitating and dropped as Severus and Harry ended up catching it together; their blood staining the cords as they placed the rope on the altar, checking that their hands healed and then they shared another kiss while everyone was clapping. Yeah, this day had been perfect but Harry and Severus knew that tonight would be even better and magical.