CHAPTER 15 - HARRY'S BIRTHDAY (part 1)
Notes:
Hi, dear reader!
Here we go with another chapter!
This one is on the shorter side, but it's the first part of Harry's birthday, I felt the chapter was getting too long to be just one.
So, without further ado, HERE WE GO!
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Harry had almost arrived at the anti-apparition wards when he heard the 'crack' announcing Ron and Hermione's arrival. A split second later they apparated together, holding hands and looking around.
"Hey, guys!" Harry shouted from behind the Gate, "Coming!"
Ron and Hermione turned around at the same time, their eyes softening as they saw him walking towards them. Harry crossed the Front Gate and wrapped one arm around each of his friends as he laughed.
"Long time no see, mate!" Ron joked though it hadn't been that long this time around, "Happy birthday! How have you been?"
"You must tell us everything, how's Snape treating you? Are you bored at the castle?"
"Herm, slow, down, let him breathe for Merlin's sake…"
"You're the one to talk!" Hermione spat back.
In all that time, Harry hadn't had the chance to even open his mouth. Hermione and Ron looked at each other with fire in their eyes, and Harry looked at them and burst into laughter. They both turned to look at him, Hermione raising an eyebrow in a gesture that instantly reminded Harry of Severus, as he shook his head.
"Guys, you haven't changed one bit, even as a couple," Harry said as he shook his head.
At that moment another loud 'crack' was heard, and behind them, Ginny apparated.
Harry looked at her, her red hair blowing in the wind and smiling at him.
"Harry!" she said as she ran towards him, "Happy birthday!"
He said nothing as she threw herself at him, wrapped her arms around him, and pressed her lips against his.
It all happened very quickly, he barely responded to the kiss, taken completely by surprise.
He could distantly feel Ginny's warmth close to him, her smell surrounding him... and yet.
And yet, inside Harry's mind, it was all very distant. The smell, that flowery scent he'd learned to recognise as Ginny's own smell, wasn't enticing anymore. It didn't make him feel like he was floating on clouds. The warmth didn't awaken in him desires he had never felt before.
It was all a blank.
His head was spinning a million miles an hour, his body static as he let her kiss him, until she finally pulled away.
"Th-thank you," he stammered, feeling his neck and ears impossibly hot, "how are you, Ginny?"
"Much better now!" she said as she smiled up at him.
Harry smiled too but was afraid his smile didn't reach his eyes.
He turned to Ron and Hermione, closing the distance that separated him and Ginny from them.
"I was thinking of walking to Hogsmeade, what do you think?" Harry asked. Hermione shrugged as she nodded.
"Excellent idea, I miss Madam Rosmerta's Butterbeer," Ron said, licking his lips.
"We'll see if there's any," Harry said with a giggle, beginning to walk. "The other day we found out with Severus that there was a shortage of Butterbeer and Hogsmeade shopkeepers were protesting."
"You found out where?" Ginny asked.
Harry smiled. "On the papers. Every morning when I heal Severus's wound, we read some of the crappy stories the Daily Prophet publishes. It really astonishes me how terrible they can be!"
Hermione giggled but Ron shook his head, his nose wrinkled.
"Still with that, are you?" Ron said, pulling a face.
"Still with what? Severus?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ron's scowl turned into a disgusted grimace as he stopped dead in his tracks.
"You're calling him Severus now? SEVERUS?!" Ron's arms were gesturing wildly.
"Yes, Ron, Severus. It's his bloody name, for Merlin's sake…"
Harry breathed in and out, trying to calm down as he shook his head.
"Oh come on, we've been through this. Spending time with Severus has shown me he's not the person we believed he was. And it's shown him that I am not James Potter, or even Lily. We're friends now, just like you, Neville, and Luna," Harry's voice tightened, his fists clenching as he struggled to keep his tone steady. "I don't understand why that bothers you so much."
"Because it's him!" Ron shouted. His jaw tightened, and he ran a hand through his hair, "It's the git from the dungeons, it's…"
"Yes, and I am the son of his mortal enemy," Harry interrupted. "If he has learned to forget all that, you should too. I don't understand this hatred towards him! After all, all he's done to you is deducting points from Gryffindor."
"He didn't...!" Ron said, his hands in the air. "You must be bloody delusional, Harry!"
"Ron, that's enough," Hermione intervened.
Harry turned to his left, where Hermione was standing, looking at Ron with a stern gaze. Ron's ears turned bright red, and he turned around, huffing and starting to walk, his steps heavy on the ground. Harry's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to maintain control. The tightness in his chest was suffocating, and he could feel a knot of anger and disappointment forming in his stomach.
Ron's words seemed to echo in the quiet moment before Ginny, who'd been standing behind them, took a step forward. Her brow knitted together as she glanced between Harry, standing beside her and Ron, already walking away.
"Harry, it's not just Ron," Ginny said quietly. "You've been spending so much time with Snape lately when you used to hate him not three months ago. And we remember the things he did. Maybe you know things we don't, but still, it's Snape. It's…weird."
She then ran after his brother until she caught up with him, a few yards ahead.
Harry breathed out, looking at the dry path as he sighed and started to walk, Hermione falling in step with his pace, much slower than Ron and Ginny's.
He felt a wave of weariness wash over him. That had gone dismally. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, closing his eyes shut. Why was it so hard to understand that someone could change?
People can change. He'd seen it in Severus. He'd felt it in his bones, he himself was not the same he was a year ago. Hell, hadn't he himself changed from the boy who had first arrived at Hogwarts? If he could evolve, why couldn't Severus? Why couldn't Ron? The realisation felt like a cold, sharp truth he struggled to accept.
He couldn't help but feel isolated, Ron had always been a pillar in his life. But this time, it didn't look like he would budge. His emotions tangled with a sense of being fundamentally misunderstood.
"They'll come round, Harry, don't worry," Hermione said as she patted him on his back.
Harry only shrugged, his shoulders sagging as if the weight of the argument had pressed down on him.
"I just... I didn't want to argue about this," he said, barely above a whisper, his eyes downcast.
Hermione seemed to want to say something, but she closed her mouth. Harry shook his head, his teeth sinking into the inside of his cheek. A cold knot formed in his stomach, and he pressed a hand against his abdomen, feeling it tight.
When he raised his gaze, his eyes fixating on the red-haired young man walking ahead of him, Harry was sure. He couldn't let this go. And he wouldn't.
He then shook his head and walked ahead, to where Ron and Ginny had stopped to wait for them, near the entryway to Hogsmeade.
Once he caught up with them, he planted himself in front of Ron, looking straight into his blue eyes, his gaze fixed.
"Ron. I don't want to argue, and even less today," Harry said, his voice firm. "But I just want to say one thing. Whether you like it or not, I don't care. Just accept that Severus is in my life now, and I'm in his, and we're friends. That's all you need to do."
"But Harry," Ron's voice came out soft, and something in Harry's insides roared at the thin, soft voice he used, "Come on, mate. It's Snape! Don't you remember how many times you'd insulted him? How he hated you just for existing? And you're telling me that he's become your friend now?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Harry said, clenching his teeth. "Either you accept it and we move on, or you don't. Up to you, mate."
"I just can't wrap my head around it," Ron said, his voice wavering slightly. "How do you go from seeing him as a horrible teacher to calling him a friend? It's not easy to forget how he was, no matter how much you tell me he's changed."
Ron looked from Harry to Hermione, then to Ginny. She stood stiffly beside him, her eyes darting anxiously over Harry's face.
"Harry has been spending the summer with Snape. He probably has seen him in moments we haven't. Maybe he has changed?" Hermione said in a high-pitched voice.
"I just wonder, Harry... what exactly have you seen?" Ginny asked, taking a step towards him.
Harry shook his head.
"I won't tell you what Severus has told me in confidence," he replied. "You'll have to make do with what you know."
"Well, and how do we know to trust him or not?" Ginny pressed, her eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"You don't. That's the thing, I'm not telling you to trust him, or even to like him," Harry said. "I'm just telling you I do. Just respect that."
There was a beat of silence until Hermione scoffed.
"You know, Harry, of all the people you could've befriended, I can't say I'm surprised," she said. "I've always said that you and him were pretty similar…"
"Hmm?" Harry asked, interested.
"Yes, remember that first Defence class in sixth year? I told you, he sounded exactly like you, the way you speak about the Dark Arts and their power and pull," she went on. "You truly are similar in a lot of ways."
"You truly have no idea, Herm," Harry said with a soft smile.
Ron finally nodded his head, his gaze softening slightly. He didn't say anything, but the small gesture was enough for Harry.
Ginny's arm looped around Harry's, her touch warm and steady. His smile faltered; a sudden urge to pull away clashing with his resolve to stay still, his muscles tensing.
As they walked into Hogsmeade, Harry's stomach continued to churn, the disappointment lingering. His eyes strayed to Ron and Ginny ahead, and a sense of unease settled deeper. This was supposed to be a day of celebration, but it felt anything but.
Once in town, it seemed like all the Severus affair had been forgotten and Ron's mood improved. It was the first time they saw Hogsmeade in summer and it was different from the normally snowy sight they visited.
Its streets were clear of snow or ice, and the temperature was nice, with a sunny day but a gentle cool breeze blowing.
"The three broomsticks?" Hermione asked as she led Ron towards the quaint pub.
"I assume it won't be as packed as normally," Harry replied, then he turned to Ginny, "by the way, where's Charlie? I thought he would join us."
"He will, later on," she replied, "he had a bit of work to do with Mum, but he'll join us at lunchtime."
"Fantastic," Harry said with a smile.
The walk towards the pub felt unusual; there were no students rushing about. In fact, it was almost empty, just running into a few villagers from Hogsmeade. The stone floor resonated under their feet, and the shops had a distinct look without snow covering them. It wasn't the first time they walked around the village without snow, usually on the first visit of the year in Autumn there wasn't snow yet. But still, it felt distinct.
They entered the pub, their eyes adjusting from the bright sunlight to the dimly lit room inside. The usually bustling pub was almost deserted, with only a few patrons scattered about. The familiar scent of whisky and other drinks filled the air. Harry noticed the lone figure at the bar, drinking straight from the bottle, and the quietness made the occasional creak of the floorboards and clink of glassware seem louder.
"Weasley!" Madam Rosmerta's voice said from behind the counter, "Oh, and Potter and Granger too, and Miss Weasley! How wonderful! What brings you here in this scorching heat?"
Harry observed as Ron walked to the counter, his ears a bit red but his head held high. Hermione crossed her arms as she waited for Ron to speak to her, and Harry stifled a giggle.
"Hello, Ma'am, nice to see you," Ron said, his voice a slight tremor but with a smile on his face, "I'm glad to see the place up and running again!"
"Oh, it takes more than a few Death Eaters to finish us off," she said with a sidelong smile, "But what about you, young man? I thought you would be off enjoying your newfound glory!"
Harry had to cough discreetly as Ron's ears and cheeks turned bright red, and he shook his head.
"I thought so too! But Harry is staying in the castle for the summer and we came to visit him. Can we get four Butterbeers, please?"
"Absolutely! Would you like a room for yourselves?" Rosmerta asked, gesturing to Harry, "I know how uncomfortable it must be."
Harry then nodded, tousling his now longer hair so it would partly hide the scar. The scar under his eye was always visible, despite his longer hair and stubble.
"Yes, thank you, ma'am," he said from behind Ron, "we'll be very grateful."
"No problem at all, follow me," she said as she walked behind the bar.
She led them behind the bar and drew a curtain. Her blonde curly hair moved as he walked decisively, her steps the mark of someone who has walked them hundreds of times. Harry nodded his thanks as he followed her, and as she pulled the curtain, was face to face with a small room. It was tiny, but still had a few rounded tables and puffs on the floor, and two low couches. The sunlight filtered through two small windows, providing enough light to see the faded velvety color of the puffs and the brown leather of the couches.
"We'll be great here, thank you, ma'am," Ron thanked her. Madam Rosmerta only nodded her head.
"I'll be back with your butterbeer in a jiffy," she replied as she drew back the curtain, giving them privacy.
Harry looked around and decided to sit on one of the puffs, stretching out as it moulded to his shape. Ron laughed and let himself sink into the puff next to Harry, giggling as it conformed to him.
Hermione huffed and sat down, much more graciously, on one of the couches in front of them, while Ginny sat beside her.
"I like this place, we should rent it more often," Harry said, looking around at the two only pictures of the walls, of what seemed like to be old wizards. "Ron, speak to your friend so we can access this during the year."
"I tried, but it's always packed," Ron said as he shrugged.
"Oh, you rascal!" Harry said as he nudged him and laughed, Ron's ears turned red and Hermione crossed her arms again, "Oh Herm, come on, it's just a joke. Don't get mad…"
Hermione was saved from responding when Rosmerta came back with four Butterbeers. On her other hand, she was balancing a plate with pumpkin pasties.
"It's on the house," she said as she left the plate in the middle, "enjoy!"
"Thank you, ma'am!" Harry said as she smiled and left the room, her curvy waist moving with her steps.
Harry took the first sip of the Butterbeer and closed his eyes, surprised to taste for the first time the sweet taste of the Sugar Shrub. He licked his lips with pleasure. This wasn't the only Butterbeer he'd tasted, and lately, he hadn't had the pleasure, but he couldn't deny it: Rosmerta's brew was incomparable.
"Ah, I will miss this next year," Ron said as he took a big sip of his own Butterbeer, "can you imagine living without this Butterbeer?"
"Many people live without it, Ron," Ginny said as she arched an eyebrow at her brother.
"Yeah, and others prefer other drinks. McGonagall prefers firewhisky, for instance. Though with her Scottish heritage, I'm not surprised," Harry said as he chuckled, "if she were a man, I bet she would wear kilts all the time."
"We are in Scotland after all," Hermione said, "to be honest, I never cared much for this version of it. Too sweet for my liking."
She took a small sip and licked her lips, wiping the foam away. Ron watched her, his eyes transfixed; and leaned over to kiss her. Harry, though not surprised by the kiss, leaned back on his chair and avoided looking at the scene. He could feel Ginny's gaze on him, but he pretended to be fascinated by the painting beside the window—a wizard with a big, scruffy black beard and long hair.
Harry shook his head. He truly didn't mind that his two best friends were together now, but it did make him feel a bit… awkward. It wasn't just Ginny's obvious desire for his attention. It was also the fact that their dynamic had shifted. The trio that had always been inseparable now felt a bit off-balance.
Not that either of them had ever said anything or consciously turned their backs on him, but it was clear that their relationship had changed. Now, it often felt like Ron and Hermione, with Harry tagging along. The bickering between Ron and Hermione had never stopped, and Harry assumed it never would. But now it felt different—more like an exclusive club he wasn't quite part of. And then, there was Ginny, her eyes boring into him, but he refused to look up.
Harry took another sip of his Butterbeer and, setting it down, idly scratched at the marks left by previous patrons on the dark wooden table. He noticed the scars of past revelries, even a burn that looked like it came from a curse.
Someone had fought here.
As he sat there, he felt a peculiar absence. Before the Horcruxes, before the war, before everything... Ginny had been a guiding light in his path. He remembered her red hair blowing in the wind as they played Quidditch, the way her lips felt cold and warm at the same time. Her flowery smell, that he had always smelled at the Burrow and never realised it was her. Just her.
He could recall with precision the way the beast in his chest roared every time he saw her with Dean. And the way it purred when he kissed her in the Gryffindor common room, in front of everyone, after winning that Quidditch match.
Yet now, that beast was dormant. His chest was silent.
The intensity and fervour that had once stirred within him had faded, as distant as his life before the war.
His thoughts drifted to Severus, of what he would be doing and whether he'd be walking around and doing his exercises.
And suddenly, as if catching himself, he frowned and shook his head. He had already spent time with Severus earlier; he could survive without spending the entire day with him. Yet, the question lingered: why was he thinking about him now?
But for some crazy reason, some reason Harry couldn't explain, he wished for a moment he could apparate into Hogwarts and pop by the Hospital Wing.
Ginny's loud voice took him from his musings.
"Honestly, you two," Ginny said with a teasing grin as he kicked his brother under the table, "could you save some of that for later? We're in public!"
"Oi, what's that for?" Ron asked, but he finally let go of Hermione's lips. He pecked her once more and sat back down on his puff beside Harry, his ears and neck red. Hermione was blushing furiously and avoiding Harry's eyes.
Harry shook his head, wanting to dispel the thoughts that had been plaguing his mind, he was here and now. He could visit Severus later.
His fingers went to the chain around his neck, taking the charm from under his shirt.
"Guys, look at what Luna gifted me," he said, showing off the charm dangling from his neck.
"It's a charm! Oh, Harry, it's beautiful," Hermione said as she held the charm in her hand, observing its intricate adornments.
"Yeah, she placed a protective spell on it too. And she made it herself," Harry said as he smiled, remembering Luna's letter.
"Luna has always been great at crafts," Ginny said, also admiring the charm as she leaned on the small table.
She leaned even more on the table, Harry allowed her to grab the charm, and for one second, their eyes locked. Ginny's were hungry, starving, and there was a fire that, time ago, Harry had longed to see. Ginny tugged at the charm slightly, offering a lopsided smile as if inviting him closer.
He leaned forward and trapped her lips into his, kissing her softly, gently.
He felt her lips, slightly chapped and warm, and tried to focus on the kiss—the way her breath brushed his cheek, her tongue grazing his lips.
But no matter how hard he tried, his mind remained distant.
He tried to summon any emotion from the kiss, but the feeling just wouldn't come.
The beast within remained asleep.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled away and looked at her. She was blushing slightly, her red hair falling along her beautiful and slightly tanned face, and she smiled.
"Glad to be with you today, Harry," she said, her smile warm.
Harry managed a smile, but he couldn't ignore the uneasy sensation coiling in his chest. He breathed when he didn't see Ginny's eyes narrowing with suspicion.
A peculiar sensation tightened in his chest, leaving him with an uneasy, almost hollow feeling. He couldn't quite grasp what it was or what to make of it.
"Harry, we have presents for you too!" Hermione said, her voice barely containing her excitement.
At Hermione's words, Ginny was the first to open her bag and offered Harry a wrapped package. "Happy birthday, Harry."
Harry took it, weighted it in his hand, and upon opening it he found a set of protective gloves. "Wow, Ginny, this will definitely come in handy!"
"I imagined it would. Dragonhide gloves are resistant to magical and physical attacks, perfect for duelling and any dangerous tasks you might face. You need all the protection you can get, right?"
"Right, of course. They're brilliant!"
Harry's gaze dropped to the gloves. He traced their edges, as if trying to draw some comfort from their texture, his mind drifting to the unspoken thoughts he had about his future. A quiet unease settled in his chest, like a question he hadn't yet voiced. The gift, meant for a path of combat, seemed to contrast with the quieter, less defined direction he'd been considering.
He pushed the gloves aside and blinked, taking a deep breath in silence before he raised his gaze and looked at his friends again.
Hermione was next, and with a smile that she couldn't contain, she took her beaded bag that had seen so many adventures. From it, she took two packages.
"This one is from Ron, the other is from me," Hermione explained as she gave him the packages.
"Wow, this is great. Thanks, guys!" Harry exclaimed as he held the presents Hermione was handing him.
He opened Ron's gift first, and it revealed a beautiful wand holster. It was made of dark brown leather, its strong smell wafting the room, with intricate ornaments carved onto it. From the looks of it, it could be worn on his waist or on his arm, inside the sleeve.
Harry examined the wand holster, running his fingers along the carved leather. His gaze lingered on the intricate details, a small smile tugging at his lips. His mind took him to the several moving pictures he had seen in his History books. All those great wizards had intricate wand holsters, and Harry never thought he'd had one of his one days.
Harry's hand trembled slightly as he held up the wand holster, his throat tightening as he tried to speak. He cleared his throat, his voice coming out softer than he intended. "This is... really something, Ron," he said, his words trailing off.
Ron shrugged, beaming at him. "Figured you could use it for your Auror training. And knowing you, gotta keep that wand ready for action, right?"
Harry nodded, leaving the wand holster on the table, and turned to Hermione.
Finally, her eyes filled with a mixture of determination and compassion as she pushed her gift on the table towards Harry. Unwrapping it, Harry found a thick, beautifully bound book. It smelled old, like those old books in the library. The title, though, took Harry aback: "Healing the Wounds: Physical and Mental Recovery for War Survivors."
"Herm, this... this is perfect," Harry murmured, still in shock.
Harry ran his fingers over the embossed title on the cover, the leather's warmth grounding him. He turned the book slowly, savoring the familiar, comforting scent of old pages. He smiled, and his eyes seemed to soften as they lingered on Hermione, the book's comforting weight grounding him amidst the swirling thoughts.
"I thought it might help, not just with Snape, but for you too," Hermione said, her voice soft and low. "It covers both physical injuries and the mental aftermath of war. You've been through a lot, both of you, and this could be useful."
Harry looked up at her, deeply touched. "Thanks, Herm. Really, this means a lot."
Hermione smiled, her eyes glistening in the sunlight, "You're welcome, Harry. I know you'll do great things, whatever you choose."
He closed the book and left it on the small table, smiling up at his friends.
"You guys are the best," Harry said. He lifted his glass of Butterbeer with a grin. He took a slow, steadying sip, the warmth of the drink spreading through him, a comforting contrast to the emotions swirling inside him. As he glanced around at his friends, he took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing. "This has been the best birthday," he added, his voice low.
They all cheered to his words and drank their Butterbeer, and Harry's eyes crossed with Hermione's. While Ron and Ginny might take a while longer to understand, he knew she was supportive of him. And that, for Harry, was immense.
.
An hour later, they decided to leave The Three Broomsticks and have lunch outside at one of the many food stalls in the village. The warm sun and bustling crowds made it a perfect day for exploring Hogsmeade. Charlie caught up with them after lunch, when they were walking back to the castle.
"Hey, hold up!" he shouted from behind them when he apparated.
"Charlie!" Harry said as he smiled, "Glad to see you."
"Glad to see you too, Harry, and happy birthday!" Charlie said with a big grin on his lips.
Charlie patted Harry on the back and squeezed his shoulder firmly. Harry was momentarily reminded of Severus's words about Charlie being "too much of a brute," and he tried to contain his giggles. He glanced at Ginny, who rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Are you heading back to the castle?" Charlie asked.
Ginny arched an eyebrow. "Obviously. Where are you off to?"
"Oh, I was tasked by Mum to give this to Harry," he said, handing over a box. Harry opened it to find homemade cookies from Molly, their delicious scent filling the air.
"Mmmm," Harry murmured, inhaling the soft smell of honey and chocolate. Molly knew his sweet tooth well. "Thank you, Charlie. Be sure to thank her for me."
"I will," Charlie said. "Shall we head to Hogwarts, then?"
They started to walk up to the castle, Hermione and Ron bickering about something while Ginny tried to keep the peace. Harry took advantage and broached the subject he was eager to discuss with Charlie.
"Charlie, is the visit to Severus still on?" Harry asked, glancing sideways at his friends to make sure they were out of earshot.
Charlie looked at him and nodded, his long hair swaying.
"Of course, if he's willing, I'd love to see him. But I don't want to make him uncomfortable. So if he doesn't want to, I understand."
"No, he… he didn't seem convinced at first, but he finally agreed to it," Harry replied. "He's in the Hospital Wing still, the only resident there. All he asked was if it could be just you alone."
Charlie glanced back at his siblings and Hermione, walking ahead.
Harry followed his gaze and sighed, burying his hands in his pockets. He wished things were different, that Severus could be part of their group without all the baggage and history between them.
"I argued with Ron earlier. He and Ginny are still having a hard time with it. I know Snape was awful and cruel, but we all understand he had to play that role, don't we?"
Charlie nodded, his eyes distant.
"I've said it before, Harry. Snape became worse when you arrived at the school. He wasn't that bad when I was there. Strict, perhaps, and demanding, but not unlike McGonagall. And he was never cruel to us."
Harry nodded emphatically.
"I know. I've talked to him about it at length. We've discussed his role, what he was forced to do, and what he chose to do," Harry said. "Heck, Charlie, he's opened up to me. We're talking about Snape here—he never opened up to anybody. Maybe Dumbledore. And now he finally trusts me. We understand each other better."
"And from the way you speak, you like him," Charlie whispered, and Harry's eyes shot to him, widening. "Not like that, but you enjoy his company, don't you? You enjoy spending time with him."
Harry nodded, a smile curving his lips as he remembered the times he had made Severus laugh.
"I do," Harry said. "He's so intelligent, Charlie, he knows about everything. He's funny too—once you catch his sense of humour." Harry paused, a fond smile playing on his lips. "And even in his state, even in the Hospital Wing and bedridden, he wanted to look after me and protect me. When he doesn't have to anymore."
Harry's mind drifted back to their early-morning and late-night conversations in the Hospital Wing. The time Severus had admitted he didn't know what to do with his future, the time he told him about McGonagall pressuring him.
The times Severus's eyes had spoken for themselves, or when Harry's heart broke when Severus sought refuge and comfort in his arms. The few times he'd cried and buried his face in Harry's neck; as if he wanted to melt with him. How his lower lip quivered, the way he hid his face with his hair.
And that night, after their argument, when Severus had admitted he didn't want to lose him.
That, Harry realized, was the moment everything shifted.
He saw, plain as day, that he was important to Severus, and that he was fighting it because he was terrified of being hurt and abandoned again. From then on, both of them made a conscious decision that their friendship was important, and worth spending time on.
"If you've spent so much time together, that means he also enjoys your company," Charlie continued with a lopsided grin.
Harry giggled, Charlie's words taking him out of his musings, his smile widening.
"If he didn't, I would know. I bet he would've already hexed me, with or without a wand," Harry chuckled. "He truly sees me, and we've discovered we have a lot in common. But with Ron... I don't know. I guess it'll take a bit for them to see past their mutual hatred. And I speak for Severus as well. I don't doubt it would take time for him too, but it would eventually happen."
"Understandable," Charlie said, "So yeah, I can go up by myself, don't worry. Will you stay with them?"
He gestured to his siblings and Hermione, still walking ahead in the path that led towards the castle, already visible through the trees.
"Yeah, I'll keep them away from the Hospital Wing while you entertain Severus," Harry said with a mischievous smirk. "You might need a bit of patience for that!"
Charlie laughed and winked before heading inside the castle and up the marble staircase, his feet taking him toward the Hospital Wing.
.
Notes:
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO that's it! What did you think?
Those of you that were worried about Ginny, now what? I mean, Harry is starting to realise something's not right with him and Ginny, but WHAT exactly?! AHH it's going to take a while for him to see it! (he can be sooo thick when he wants to lol)
Any predictions? Anything you'd like to see? Let me know in the comments, I appreciate your insights and thoughts, and I try to include them if you have any suggestions!