May 17, 1999

Before they even got out of the room, Mr. Hawthorn had protested the use of the memories without validity that they weren't tampered with. So the Chief Warlock summoned the Unspeakables to take the vials and test that they were not messed with and straight out of Harry's mind as it happened. Everett extended the recess for two hours to have this done, knowing that Ginny and Molly were obviously trying to push that the memories couldn't be used. It was clear she was guilty and giving herself away, still, until the verdict came in, she had the right to a full and fair trial.

For the extra time, Draco had stepped out only for about ten to fifteen minutes. He returned when the order was made to extend the recess, then he guided Severus and Harry out silently other than to follow him. So they did, and they got handed off to an auror who took them to a door on another level and opened it, motioning for them to go inside. Severus and Harry were confused to see inside the room looking like their bedroom at Hogwarts.

"Um?" Harry asked.

The auror held out a folded piece of parchment to them as Severus took it. "I'll return ten minutes before the end of the recess." Then he left and closed the door on his way out. As soon as the door clicked, it locked and a timer appeared above it. A countdown for the next hour and thirty minutes. Assuming, the end of the timer was set to go off at the ten minutes remaining of the break.

"That was odd…" Harry stated. "What's that parchment, Sev?"

Severus opened it up. "A note from Draco." Harry leaned closer to read with him.

One theory the specialists and I spoke of was that the piece of Ginny's magic inside you might just fade with nothing to attach to given your child was blocking it. When Harry reported feeling your magic, Severus, I realized it was proven right. The Chief Warlock is aware of the circumstances behind why I did this. The room you're in is actually your bedroom at Hogwarts.

It is a new concept, but tested and safe. I guess you can call it a different way of transport, it's like a portkey and apparition twisted into one but no naval tug or whipping around. You just walk through a door and you're where you want to be. I arranged the space you're in quickly, but you only have until the timer runs out. With the piece of Ginny's magic gone…

The proper enchantments are in place and no one can enter it but you two. You know what it means. Magic between you two can flow again. Same rules as before, and I'll know if something happens. There's still time to reverse the last two weeks…Make it count. See you afterwards. Enjoy.

-Draco

"Is that…Is this his way of telling us to…?" Severus blinked in surprise.

Harry grinned and immediately wrapped his hand around the back of Severus's neck and pulled him down to crash their lips together. Severus melted into the action, returning it after the letter dropped from his hand. The older male set his hands on Harry's hips as the kiss deepened for a moment longer until they pulled apart for air and because Severus felt their child kick him.

"I believe the demand is quite clear, from your godson, my healer, and our child." Harry teased. "Make love to me…Please? I need you."

"As my lord wishes," Severus scooped Harry up in his arms with a wandless and non-verbal feather light charm. Harry giggled as Severus brought him over to their bed and set him down before moving up beside him and capturing his lips again.

. . .

The two finished within the hour and thirty minutes, and just lay naked under the covers while snuggled up close. The release of magic had been incredible, and happened more than a few times. Harry was tired, but didn't feel weak anymore. Severus was running his fingers up and down Harry's arm, both relaxing.

"We should get up and get dressed. Timer runs out in fifteen minutes to get back to the room," Harry sighed.

"Hey…You cut the time in half today by offering your memories for viewing. It'll be over soon," Severus told him. "We watch a few memories, it'll be easy for the Wizengamot to see that Ginerva is not only dangerous, crazy, obsessed but also a liar. We'll be home in time for dinner…And if you're still up for it, we'll go another couple rounds or just strip and lay together naked." He offered.

"Really know how to motivate a guy, Sev," Harry giggled. "We'll see how I feel."

"You're alright though? No early labor warning signs?" Severus inquired as they slowly detangled themselves and got out of the bed.

"I feel fine, love. Extremely pleasured and sated for the moment." Harry told him as Severus gathered Harry's clothes first and helped him to get into them before his own. The timer sounded as the door unlocked and Draco came in.

"You two look like you had a good time." Draco remarked.

"Shut up, godson," Severus shot the man a glare.

"What, no thanks?" Draco grinned. "I pulled off a miracle here."

"Yes, Dray…We appreciate that you found a way in so little time to let us have sex. Don't boast about it…" Harry rolled his eyes. "You're here to do your check?"

"Quick one, then we have to get back. I informed the Chief Warlock of the situation in full regarding Ginny's magic having kept Severus's magic from reaching you or the baby. I explained the theories and possibilities. He's fully aware that she doesn't know the spell she did failed, and will make an attempt after the viewing of the memories to claim you and her are bonded." Draco said.

"But obviously, not only will she find out it failed…It will land her in more trouble for an attempt at forced bonding, and possibly pre-meditated forced sexual assault because all bonding requires consummation." Severus remarked. "And it might be a long shot…But attempted murder? What she did, if it lasted, was weakening Harry and the baby…"

"Long shot, but possible. I'm not sure what new charges they could tack on for this." Draco continued checking Harry and the baby's vitals. Finally, he ended the spell and stood straight. "Everything looks good from however many times you did it in the last hour…We still have to watch for early labor, but as long as Harry isn't experiencing any of those symptoms…It's safe to keep having sex once a week, or more if you like."

"Will bear the generous orders in mind." Harry replied. "Let me pee and we can go back…" he waddled off to the bathroom.

It was fifteen minutes later when they had returned to the courtroom and everyone took their seats. Harry was allowed to sit with Severus as it was just memory viewing. The teen picked very specific memories to show Ginny's lies and that she needed serious help. Harry was still fine with just obliviating the girl. She wouldn't get better in Azkaban. She'd go crazier. Or plot revenge when she got out.

Ginny hadn't stopped glaring at Harry and Severus since they entered. Well, Severus decided to carry Harry in his arms. Everett called the court to order by banging the gavel. "Alright. Welcome back. I trust everyone had a good break." Everett asked. There were nods and murmurs.

"Excellent. Now then, we will be viewing Mr. Potter-Black's memories. They have been verified as his and also untampered with." He eyed Mr. Hawthorn before the man could say anything. "I understand they have an order to them?"

"To understand the descent of madness-," Lucius paused. "Level of obsession and danger to Mr. Potter-Black that led to the protection order, you honor." he reworded, hiding behind his composure at the outraged look Ginerva and Molly made that he called Ginny crazy.

"Careful, Mr. Malfoy…" Everett warned.

"I do apologize, Chief Warlock. I've been working very closely with Mr. Potter-Black since the situation began and I can only describe it as-," Lucius started.

"Love! It's true love and he's ignoring my baby girl for…For that Death Eater! Allowed himself to get raped, and knocked up!" Molly shouted. "It's ridiculous this is even a matter for debate. My daughter is innocent. The only moment of insanity was her attacking Harry because he riled her up over the marriage contract that's been in place since the kids were fifteen."

"Mrs. Weasley!" Everett scolded harshly. "I believe I warned you once that another outburst would have you removed. Aurors, take her back to her cell. She is nor longer permitted to sit in support of her daughter as she cannot control herself."

Aurors approached and grabbed Molly by the arms, pulling her out of the room. Ginny was now tearing up, wanting her mother back because she was alone on her side of the room other than her defender…Who knew she was guilty too.

"May I inquire about this marriage contract?" A member of the court asked. "Is it true? Is there one that Mr. Potter-Black is refusing to adhere to because he knows that imprisonment from crimes can invalidate a contract if harm was done from one person towards the other?"

"Well, for starters…I didn't even know that was a thing, so definitely not that…" Harry informed. "There was an illegal contract drawn up by Albus Dumbledore and Molly Weasley during the summer of 1996, after the death of my godfather, Sirius Black." He began.

"You honor, if I may direct the court's attention to the blown up version of the contract in question…" Lucius levitated the parchment up and enlarged it for all to see. "This is what Albus Dumbledore and Molly Weasley arranged for Ginerva Molly Weasley and Harry James Potter to be married under. You will find that it is outlined for two scenarios."

"One being before the final battle with Voldemort, assuming he would die. However, the second scenario is that if Mr. Potter-Black lived after the battle was over and Voldemort vanquished, they'd marry no later than his twentieth birthday. Both situations have revealed that everything was set up to screw over Mr. Potter-Black, leaving him absolutely no say in anything regarding his own life, estate, finances…Even intimacy." Lucius continued.

"You will see that there is a strict fidelity clause attached to Mr. Potter-Black so he could not be unfaithful…But it appears Miss. Weasley would have free reign to sleep with anyone she wanted." Lord Malfoy paused. "However, this was just to reveal that this is the contract Mrs. Weasley has mentioned. This contract, as I said to start, is not legal."

"It was drawn up by Albus Dumbledore, who was not even Mr. Potter-Black's guardian at the time. As we all know, Sirius Black was never given a trial, therefore he was never actually convicted of any crimes but still shut in Azkaban for twelve years, and considered a felon for the following two until his untimely death." Kingsley spoke now.

"Albus Dumbledore was Chief Warlock at the time and he knew Sirius was innocent. He also harbored him a Black family home for those two years as a felon. But…Since Sirius was not a convicted criminal, then he maintained his custody over his godson." Lucius continued. "So Albus Dumbledore set this up illegally. Secondly, Mr. Potter-Black was legally and blood adopted by Sirius before the contract was drawn up…"

"This means that only Lord Black, at the time, could approve a marriage contract for one of their family members. Before Sirius's death, Sirius was Lord Black and being Mr. Potter-Black was his son…He became Lord Black the moment Sirius passed. And Mr. Potter-Black did not approve this contract either. The contract is void and Mr. Potter-Black is not obligated to adhere to it in any way." Lucius informed. "The cause of Miss. Weasley's harmful and could have been fatal attack to Mr. Potter-Black and his unborn child was a result of her realizing that she did not have the security of the contract to force Mr. Potter-Black into marriage."

"Mr. Potter-Black, if I may…" A member said as Harry looked at them and nodded to go ahead. "When did you learn of this contract and not reveal its illegal and void status earlier?"

"I was not informed until August 29th, 1998, madam." Harry replied. "It was discovered that the goblin managing my Potter affairs was on Dumbledore's payroll and the bank noticed discrepancies. It was discovered the other goblin had committed treason and was promptly arrested. The new goblin put in place saw to see everything and reached out to me directly…"

"It would appear that all my mail was being rerouted to Dumbledore over the years, and then to Molly Weasley. I was not receiving notices until the new goblin in charge of my account decided to summon Kreacher, the Black family elf, to deliver this missive to me in person. I went to the bank, spent the day there learning quite a bit of what was kept from me. It was a very stressful day." Harry added.

"It's the day you decided to sleep with a stranger and get pregnant!" Ginny glared. "I was supposed to be your first. Dumbledore said it was our first time that would take the block off your magic!"

"Look at you go, Ginny…" Harry stated. "You just got all worked up and jealous that you admitted something you knew about that Dumbledore did and show your obsession with this plan you believe Dumbledore and your mother assured you to get me and everything that belongs to me."

The girl instantly shut her mouth. "I admit that I did go out to a muggle bar and under a muggle disguise with the alias of Scott to relax. Hooking up with someone while drunk had not been in my goals for the evening, nor getting pregnant. I thought the person I slept with was a muggle too and my lack of wizarding education is a result of me not knowing male wizards could get pregnant by other male wizards."

"And that other person you believe to be a muggle, that was Mr. Snape?" Everett asked.

"Yes. But I didn't know that until later on before Christmas when Mr. Draco Malfoy, did the paternity test ritual potion. Until that point, I only knew I slept with a man named Howard who I thought was muggle. Severus and I both understand what it's like to go out and only be seen for what we've done…Me as the boy who lived, and him as a former Death Eater…" Harry informed.

"So, completely unplanned, it seemed we both had the same idea to go out as someone else to avoid the attention." Severus shrugged.

"I'd still like to see these memories, if they provide any more proof of what we just witnessed in Miss. Weasley's…Overly believed idea that she belongs with and will have Mr. Potter-Black." Everett informed. "One of our unspeakables will project them in the intended order to see the sequence leading us to the protection order."

Just like that, the room darkened a bit and it fell quiet as the memories played from a third person view, but the unspeakable had said it was valid to do with memories that you don't see from a personal point of view, but from someone else. The first images were that of Ginny's light questioning after the war, then it moved into the day in the hall where several people told Ginny that Harry needed to focus on himself.

And then everything just kept playing until Christmas where everyone witnessed the scene of Harry having agreed to finally have that talk about maybe getting back together, but it was his own thoughts that had said he couldn't be with someone so unsupportive. And it was more proven when Ginny opened her gift, a set like Hermione had gotten and Ginny immediately took the ring as a proposal.

It went until everyone saw Harry snap in frustration and hurt that Ginny only cared about what she wanted, that she didn't really love him at all. They saw Harry go off about his struggles, his thoughts, what he was dealing with after the war, had dealt with during too. The offers Voldemort gave him to join and he refused, the pain of losing Sirius and Remus. How he had wanted to just rest after he died to save them.

It wasn't giving up, it was a sacrifice to destroy the piece of Voldemort's soul inside Harry. The next memory was when Ginny revealed Harry's pregnancy to the school. Harry even allowed the showing of his memory in limbo with his parents, Sirius, and Remus…How they told him the choice was his, but they knew it wasn't his time yet. He still had a life to live and when his time came, they'd be right there waiting for him.

Then there was the scene in Severus's office when Harry went into preterm labor. And finally, the scene from the day Ginny got arrested. When it all ended, Harry was actually almost asleep on Severus. "Well, Miss. Weasley…Anything to say for yourself?"

"I suppose it doesn't quite matter, you've all decided I'm guilty of just being in love. Harry and I were perfect for one another. I was raised like all the other heiresses to be a good wife, mother…Proper lady. And he chooses…Him," Ginny said. "But Harry is mine. Even without everything else. The spell I cast on him was a binding curse!"

"That means we're bonded and none of his testimony can be used against me! And without that memory proof, you have nothing to convict me with besides the violation of the protection order, which was a moment of insanity." Ginny stated. "By the old laws, we're bonded and he's mine. Snape can have his kid, but only the children I bear will be legal heirs to the Black and Potter lines and I will be Lady Potter-Black!"

"You're very sure of yourself, Miss. Weasley. Even if what you say is true, and with your obsession, I have no doubts about the spell you cast, which is also illegal, mind you. So thank you for that confession…" Everett said. "However, you're forgetting one very important thing…" Ginny looked at him with a smug look. "Bonding is only completed through consummation."

"You may have initiated a bond, but it's not complete, therefore it's not legal at any capacity." Everett informed. "Mr. Malfoy Jr. made me aware of the spell you cast during the recess and that it is what caused Mr. Snape's magic to be blocked from reaching their child. This left all the magic support for the baby up to Mr. Potter-Black alone, weakening them both."

"What you've done is attempted forced bonding, pre-meditated sexual assault and line theft. One might even push for a pre-meditated murder charge on the unborn child. We saw the orb Mr. Snape had in his office where you and your mother discussed killing the baby. Your plans to trap him, possibly use highly regulated potions." Everett revealed.

"We found you guilty upon viewing the witness testimonies and all the memories, Mr. Potter-Black's notebook of everything you've done. His own memories. The only reason you got this trial was because we were legally required to do so. These changes were implemented after it came to light that Mr. Sirius Black was falsely accused, arrested, and thrown in prison for twelve years without a trial." He continued.

"The bond will form as soon as he gives birth, the baby won't protect him anymore." Ginny scoffed.

"Except that your bit of bonding magic faded earlier before the recess. Harry told me he felt Severus's magic flowing to the baby after they said I love you and shared a kiss." Draco said. "It would appear your attempt is not stronger than the love they have for their child and one another."

"No, he's mine!" Ginny snapped.

"Then we'll test it. I have an unspeakable here who has been working on a spell to reveal bondings between people. We shall see if yours is there. If it is, we'll revisit this…little hiccup and make arrangements." Everett called forth the unspeakable. She cast the spell as a string of Ginny's magic appeared, but had no connection to it. The unspeakable then did the same to Harry, finding that his string was not only connected to Severus, but it was golden.

"What does this spell reveal?" Everett asked the unspeakable.

"That Miss. Weasley's magic, nor soul is bonded to another. The noted black color represents that there is no bond and that she does not have a soulmate." The unspeakable revealed. "Whereas Mr. Potter-Black's magic and soul are connected and bonded to Mr. Snape's. The golden color reveals that they are bonded officially as soulmates."

"Even if all this had worked, Ginny...I never would have given you kids. The second I found out about the contract, before the goblin told me it was invalid, I was prepared to get steralized magically, and the muggle way. Never have kids. The Potter line would die with me, and I'd arrange it in my will to go to charity. The Black line would have been fine as Draco is considered a Black heir..." Harry paused.

"Because of his mother's side of the family. Narcissa was a Black before marriage." Harry told her. "You would have tried and tried and never gotten pregnant from me and to get out of the marriage, I very likely would have killed myself. That is how far I was willing to go to never be under someone else's control again. You have lost. It is over."

Ginny screamed in rage, making a move to get towards Harry and Severus stood in front of him, hand out. "One more step towards my family, Miss. Weasley, and I will make you wish you died down in the Chamber of Secrets…I assure you that I do not need a wand to cast spells and I have quite a few I created that only I know the counters to."

"Harry, as revealed, is my bonded. And the child he carries is mine. I'm well within my rights to dispatch you and not a single person in this room, the building, or the world can stop me from defending my family…" Severus warned. Aurors had her held securely immediately after the threat was issued.

Harry knew he was safe, but the fact she pulled what she did was terrifying. While Severus stood before him, Draco and Hermione were on either side of Harry to console him. "It's okay, Harry, just breathe…She can't hurt you. None of us will let that happen." Hermione said.

"Severus," Draco got the man's attention. "If we're permitted to leave now, I believe you should take Harry home. It's been a trying day and he needs to rest."

"Of course." Severus turned to pick Harry up in his arms and the teen buried his face into the man's neck, eyes closed.

"You're free to leave. Miss. Weasley will be taken to her cell. A new one, away from her mother, so they can't scheme further. Ginerva Molly Weasley, we find you guilty and sentencing will be discussed and issued tomorrow. Harry, you're not required to attend if you don't want to. You have my apologies for the suffering you've had to endure because of Miss. Weasley." Everett said.

"Take him home. I will be by soon to check over Harry," Draco said. "Poppy and I will decide if bed rest is still required given how close the due date is."

Severus nodded as he carried Harry out of the room. He collected their wands along the way and then an auror appeared to take them back to that door from before so they could avoid the press. He assured the door would not be accessible again once they were through. Once home in their quarters, Severus set Harry down on the bed gently, waving his wand to get the boy into comfortable clothes and then adjust him to be comfortable.

Severus joined Harry to cuddle, as he'd promised. They'd shared a kiss and exchanged another I love you before Harry knocked out from fatigue. Severus chuckled and just held him, allowing himself to relax. The danger was over, Ginny would never threaten them again. Now, all that was left to do was have their baby, graduate/retire, and enjoy life.