Author: Drusilla Dax (drusilladax@gmail.com)

Pairing: Severus/Harry

Rating: R18 [post-OotP]

Summary: Harry and Severus finally get to discover how much they have in common.

Disclaimer: I'm just playing with other people's toys and nothing you think you know is mine. May I be forgiven in my next incarnation... Flamers will be adopted by my family (if you don't believe it's a threat... too bad for you!).

Readers: Mikee and Starkindler. The remaining mistakes are all mine, and I apologize for those.

//....// is for Parseltongue.

Slytherin Pride and Gryffindor Prejudice

Harry got the owl from the Ministry a fortnight after returning to Hogwarts.

It surprised him because Sirius had fallen behind the Veil over a year ago, and the legal parchment dealt with Sirius's death.

The young wizard read the parchment very carefully several times because he didn't trust the Ministry.

However, it didn't matter how many times he read it; it was so ministerially cryptic that Harry only understood that it was linked to Sirius's legal condition, a testament, and some Family Act.

Harry had started frowning the instant he broke the seal; now he was frowning and growling.

'What's wrong, Harry?' Hermione asked. 'Bad news from the Ministry? Are they pestering you?'

The young witch had become very protective, and she dreaded official parchments - Fudge was still his usual self, and he had a tendency to commit blunders when Albus was not right behind him, whispering directly into his ear what he should say.

'I'll tell you if anything is wrong the minute I can decipher the thing! It must be written in Old English, or maybe bloody Latin, but I don't know what it's about!' Harry hissed, deeply frustrated.

'May I have a look?' Hermione asked.

Harry handed her the parchment.

Two minutes later, he was troubled to hear Hermione admit that she didn't know what it was about either.

Then Harry noticed that Neville was pale, while Ron was fighting not to chuckle too loudly.

'Do you know what this is?' Harry asked his friends.

Neville nodded and paled even more.

Harry guessed that it must not be a good thing because Neville had changed since their visit to the Ministry. In fact, he hadn't looked that nervous since his last Potions lesson in fifth year.

'Help me understand this, Neville, please. I don't fancy being trapped by the Ministry once more,' Harry said.

'I got a parchment like that when my parents were declared irreversibly lost to our world,' Neville explained. 'It tells a member of a family that he's becoming the official heir. Your getting one of these could be a good thing, or a bad thing.'

'How?' intervened Hermione.

'Okay, remember that I'm just going to state things; it's not what I think, right?' Neville insisted.

Harry and Hermione nodded.

Neville went on, 'It's a very old tradition, and it's usually used only within some families.'

'So-called Purebloods,' Harry said.

Neville nodded. 'So, to make long and twisted things short and simple, Harry, it might be a good thing if the Family Council has decided that as the Potter heir, you were worthy enough to become the heir for the house of Black. It might be a terrible thing if they have decided not to acknowledge your mother's lineage. May I have a look at the parchment?'

Hermione handed it to Neville, but before he could read it, Ron laughed softly.

'What's wrong with you?' Hermione asked.

'He's being more stupid than usual,' Ginny barked.

She stood up, intending to flee her brother's presence.

'Oi! Gin! You have to admit that Harry is the Council's best option to still have a Black heir,' Ron said, just loud enough to make all the Slytherins growl.

Ginny slapped Ron and hissed, 'How would you feel if it had happened to you, Ron? Think of it! That is to say, if you have a brain! I'm beginning to understand that we might not have just one Percy in the family!'

With those words, she left the Great Hall.

'What did you mean by "best option"?' Hermione asked. 'If Sirius made Harry his heir, then he's the only option.'

'Maybe you should explain the situation to the lady,' Ron told Harry.

'What situation?' Harry asked.

'You know, about the Blacks and their little secret,' Ron insisted.

'What secret?' Harry wondered.

Curiously, Harry had a very bad feeling about all this.

'You know the one,' insisted Ron.

Harry looked lost.

Neville came to Harry's rescue by saying, 'Ron, Harry's mother was Muggle-born, and he was raised by Muggles. Do you think that anyone told him anything about that?'

'You don't know?' Ron asked, suddenly feeling stupid and ill at ease.

'When do I know anything about myself, my family, and those I love? It's Hagrid who told me that Mum and Dad had been a witch and a wizard, and I was bloody eleven!' Harry barked.

'You don't know, then,' Ron murmured, embarrassed.

'How come you know?' Harry asked.

'Don't you get it, Harry? It's one of those Pureblood nasty little secrets,' Hermione spat.

'What is it that I should know?' Harry asked Ron. His tone showed that Ron had better answer, and preferably fast.

'Sirius was not the last male in the Black family,' Ron said.

'I saw no one else on the family tapestry in Grimmauld Place,' Harry objected.

Ron was too mortified to go on.

'Sirius's father was a womanizer. He seduced a witch from another Pureblood family, and got her pregnant. Sirius's father was already married, and the witch didn't want to keep the child. He was given to foster-parents immediately after his birth,' Neville explained.

'I understand that this took place years ago, but our community has always been more open-minded about abortion,' Hermione intervened. 'If the child wasn't wanted, a potion was all that was needed.'

'Except that in some Pureblood families, witches do not use that kind of potion, because it's said to weaken the magical strength of the children who'd be made afterwards,' Neville explained.

'It's completely sick!' Hermione commented.

'That's the way they are,' Neville answered.

'So do you mean that there's a wizard, who is the heir of the Black family, but that this heritage is given to Harry because Sirius's father was an arsehole?' Hermione asked rhetorically, summarizing the situation in a rather colourful way.

'That's it,' Neville said.

Suddenly, Harry noticed that those of his fellows who were related to Purebloods were all looking at him, and Harry understood that they all knew.

They all knew, and he had not been told something that concerned him, once more; that brought the taste of bile to his lips. He felt even sicker when he noticed that the staff was pointedly avoiding looking at the Gryffindor table in general, and Harry in particular.

'Sirius knew,' Harry said.

'Yes, he did,' Neville answered.

'Who is it?' Harry asked.

'Mate, there's no point in torturing yourself over that. No one ever wanted to be linked to that greasy git,' Ron said.

Harry instantly looked at the high table.

There was one teacher who was not there.

'Snape?' Harry whispered.

Neville nodded.

Harry suddenly felt dizzy, and he turned greenish.

'Do you want to go and see Madam Pomfrey?' Hermione asked Harry.

Harry slowly shook his head.

'You do look sick, mate,' Ron said.

'What a surprise!' Harry spat.

Ron flinched.

Neville went to sit next to Harry so they could speak without the others listening to Neville's conclusion about the parchment.

'The good news is that the Council is granting you the heritage of the house of Black, because it is what Sirius's testament stated. There's no mention of your own line - though I guess that being the last Potter was important,' Neville said.

'Could you help me understand all this?' Harry whispered.

'Of course, I'll decipher the thing for you, and I'll tell you what you have to do. There are things to do, papers to sign, people to contact, either in the Ministry, or the Family Council,' Neville said.

'If I had grown up in a wizarding family, I would know how to deal with those things, right?' Harry said.

The Gryffindors who were not Muggle-born all looked elsewhere; they were too embarrassed.

'Are you going to accept the heritage?' a witch asked Harry.

He turned around and found himself an inch from Millicent Bulstrode. She had physically changed a lot over the years, and she was somewhat pretty now.

It was a good thing that Harry was still stunned, because he didn't answer straight away.

'Don't try to trap him!' Neville growled.

'Sod off!' Ron added.

Without flinching, the young witch looked at Harry and said, 'Well, I am not trying to trap you, Potter. When your bodyguards have explained what it is I mean to offer, remember that I was the first to do so. I am serious.'

With those cryptic words, she left.

'What was that?' Hermione asked.

'She's a Pureblood as well, though her family is much more recent than the Potters, or the Blacks. When there's only one heir left in a family, it is customary to seek a good marital alliance,' Neville said softly.

'What?!' gasped Harry.

'She was the first to ask you to link your heritages to hers,' Neville said.

'I won't keep my breakfast down,' Harry wailed.

'There are nicer witches. You can start having fun as soon as you receive your full heritage,' Ron said.

'Ron!' Hermione barked.

Anger ignited in Harry's veins.

Once more, he was given important information at the very last moment, right before he had to jump into the battle. This time, it looked like a mere legal technicality, but that made Harry even sicker than ever before.

Harry slowly stood up, took the parchment from Neville, and stored it in his bag.

Harry slowly turned to Ron and said - just loud enough for enough of his fellows to hear and share it with the whole school, 'I think it's high time you understand that even if I kill Voldemort, and I survive, I do not mean to be involved with a witch, ever.'

Harry left the Hall.

'Huh?' Ron said.

'You can't be that thick!' Hermione growled.

Neville patted Hermione's hand and said urgently, 'Careful what you say about Harry. If he said what I think he said, then Malfoy could be the next one proposing to Harry.'

Hermione gulped and squeaked.

'Maybe it'd be a good thing if you were to join Harry when I explain the parchment,' Neville offered.

'Thanks!' she said.

'After classes, the room you know,' Neville said.

Hermione nodded and then she realized that she'd be late to Potions if she didn't run, so she left in a hurry.

She found Harry sitting on the floor next to the door of the Potions classroom.

'Are you all right?' she asked, running to him.

He looked at her with tears in his eyes.

'Why does it always have to be like that? Why am I being told important things when no one can do otherwise? I'm disgusted,' Harry said.

'I do not doubt this, Potter. Now if you don't want to scrub cauldrons till the end of time, I advise you to join your classmates,' Severus coldly said from the door.

The Potions master looked paler than usual, and even more haunted.

'Harry has just been told,' Hermione intervened.

'Do not lie to help your friend, Granger,' Severus hissed.

Hermione was about to protest when Severus threatened to take points from Gryffindor, and she remained silent.

'She's not lying. I didn't know until I got a parchment this morning,' Harry said, standing up.

'Five points, Potter.'

'No one ever told me. Not even Sirius,' Harry insisted.

'Twenty points,' barked Severus.

'Make it two millions, sir, it won't change the fact that I didn't know!' Harry almost yelled.

Severus was about to growl something back when Harry added, 'For once, I swear that I'll find a way to prove that it's not a lie.

'One hundred points,' hissed Severus, 'and be careful what you swear, Potter.'

Severus pushed Harry and Hermione inside the classroom, and Hermione had the unpleasant feeling that Harry's big mouth might well have got him into something nasty.

Potions class was as unpleasant as usual for Harry, and yet he could not bring himself to be angry with his professor.

Even if the Dursleys despised him, the one thing that kept Harry sane was that he was absolutely certain that his parents had wanted him and loved him. They'd died to protect him. Harry could not begin to imagine how he'd feel if his dad had rejected him, his mother had given him away, and the rest of the community refused to acknowledge his heredity. It must be hell, day in, day out.

Harry was also wondering how Severus seemed to know that Harry would receive news from the Ministry. The professor was always there in the morning, even after Voldemort had had fun with him, but this morning he wasn't with his fellows. Harry reflected that a charitable soul might have informed Severus of the transference of the Black heritage to one Harry Potter.

Harry was either depressed or in a foul mood all day. He was impatient to have Neville help him understand bits of what was going on.

It turned out that Neville not only knew Severus's history, but he also provided Harry with a way to prove to the Potions master that he hadn't lied when he swore that no one had ever told him that Sirius and Severus were half-brothers.

When Harry and Hermione rushed to the Room of Requirement, Neville was already there, waiting for them, and Ginny had decided to join them.

Harry closed the door and walked to his friends.

'Nice to see you here, Gin!' Harry said, trying to be cheerful.

'You don't have to pretend that you're not pissed, Harry,' the younger witch said warmly. 'I came with Neville because there might be things about witches that might embarrass him.'

Neville blushed.

'Thank you for being so supportive,' Harry sighed, sitting down next to Hermione.

Neville and Ginny had summoned a comfortable parlour, where tea was awaiting them.

Ginny poured their tea; Neville sliced the cake.

'You know, the others think that you are overreacting, or that you should be ecstatic about the heritage, but I understand how you feel,' Neville told Harry.

Harry nodded his thanks; he suddenly found himself with a knot in his throat.

'Neville even stood up for you when Ron complained about the points you've lost,' Ginny added.

'Your brother did what?!' yelled Hermione.

It never was a good sign when Hermione reacted like that and forgot her grammar.

Ginny shrugged, handing a cup of tea to the other witch. 'He's the way he is,' Ginny said. 'You won't change him.'

'You are right, but it doesn't mean that I have to stand it and stay with him,' Hermione growled.

'Don't be too harsh, 'Mione,' Neville said.

'Why not?' she asked.

'Because there are things that have been drilled into our heads since birth, and it's difficult not to believe what our parents taught us,' Ginny answered.

'Look at Malfoy,' Neville added. 'I do feel pity for him, because the moment he realized what his father had in store for him, he also realized that he had absolutely no way out that would leave him unscathed.'

'All this is even more twisted than European nobility,' Hermione stated.

'We are even older,' Neville retorted.

Hermione didn't know what to say to that.

'Speaking of those points you lost, Harry. What happened exactly? We've heard people say things, but I don't trust the grapevine,' Ginny said.

Harry told them what happened outside the Potions classroom, and what he and Severus had said.

'What did Professor Snape mean when he said that Harry should be careful when swearing something?' Hermione asked.

Neville and Ginny sighed.

The younger witch was the first to answer.

'That's because as members of Pureblood families, there's only one way for Harry to prove to Professor Snape that he didn't lie,' Ginny said.

'I want to do it,' Harry said.

'There's a spell to say in front of the offended, then the offender goes to see the liege of the offended. The liege acknowledges the conflict, and puts another spell on the offender, who then goes back to the offended - usually the weight of the spells make that extremely painful - and when the offender reaches the offended again, the proof that the offender didn't mean to offend the other is given to the offended. If the proof is accepted, that's the end of it,' Neville said.

'What if it's not?' Hermione wondered, voicing Harry's question.

'Then the offender and the offended are free to duel to death,' Neville added.

'Charming,' Hermione said.

'How come you know all these things? Did your parents make you learn that by heart, or is there a handbook for general references?' Harry half-joked.

The nervous look Neville and Ginny traded did not bode well.

'There is a book, Harry. I'll lend you mine,' Ginny said.

Harry was too stunned to answer anything else but, 'Thanks.'

'You can have it afterwards,' Ginny told Hermione.

Hermione looked so eager to read it that Neville took pity and said he'd lend his to the witch.

'So, I can prove that I didn't lie, which is something I really want to do,' Harry said. 'Could you tell us how we reached such a ridiculous situation?'

'Why Professor Snape's biological parents reacted that way, and what happened to him, and why the heritage is given to you even if you're only a "half-blood"?' Ginny summarized.

Harry nodded.

'I already told you that Sirius's father was a womanizer. From what I heard during family reunions, he rather liked Snape's mother. She was a McNair, and both families were heavily involved in the Dark Arts. While Snape's parents were incredibly good looking, it is said that centuries of inter-marriages had them somewhat less intelligent than could be expected. When she gave birth to her child...' Neville's voice trailed off.

'Snape was like the ugly duckling, and Black and McNair were so disappointed that they sent their child to the Dorkins,' Ginny said.

'The Dorkins?' Hermione said.

'The couple who raised Snape,' Neville said.

'If his father was a Black, his mother a McNair, and his foster-parents the Dorkins, who the hell are the Snapes who adopted him?' Harry asked.

Neville looked at Ginny in a way that clearly meant "thank you for being there, I couldn't do this alone".

'Snape is the village where he was born. No one ever adopted him. He belongs to two of the oldest Pureblood families, but no one ever wanted him, even though he's extremely intelligent,' Ginny said.

'I heard my grandmother say that it was because he was cleverer than Sirius that Sirius started pestering him,' Neville said.

'I heard Dad say that it was his biological mother who asked that he be trained in the Dark Arts at a young age, and that he join Voldemort,' Ginny added.

'Why would an intelligent man such as Professor Snape do something so silly?' Hermione asked.

Harry gently placed one hand on Hermione's arm and said softly, 'You wouldn't believe the things I did to try to make the Dursleys love me.'

Silence fell in the room.

'Okay, feel free to think that I should be shipped to St Mungo's, but I need Snape to believe I didn't know his story before today. I can't explain to you why, but I feel it's important. Maybe I need him to realize that I'm not like the others, and... God! I don't know. It doesn't make sense, but I need to change the way he sees me. Will you help me?' Harry asked his friends.

They all agreed to help.

They had one day before Harry was to go down to the dungeons for his next tutoring session in Occlumency and Dark Arts.

That left the issue of the Black heritage.

'There are so many spells; there must be one to prove he's the actual last Black male heir. Why doesn't Snape sue me, or his dead parents, or prosecute the Ministry to get what's truly his?' Harry asked.

'Everybody knows who his parents were, but if his mother abandoned him, if his father refused to acknowledge him, and if his last relative on the Black side refused to recognize him in his testament, there is nothing he could do. The word of the Family Council is final,' Neville said.

'What if I were to refuse the heritage? Wouldn't it be given to Snape, at last?' Harry wondered.

'The Council won't allow you to refuse what you're given,' Neville said.

'And even if your mother was a Muggle-born, you are much better to their minds because your father acknowledged you, while neither Snape's father, nor his half-brother, recognized him, 'Ginny added.

'I can't refuse it?!' Harry yelled.

'Not really, because you opened the parchment,' Neville said.

'How was I supposed to know what was inside a sealed envelope?' Harry asked.

'There was the Council's crest on it,' Neville answered.

Harry felt like banging his head on the table, or maybe the wall.

'Harry could not possibly know that Council, and yet, he's bound to accept something he doesn't really want because he was supposed to know all that?' Hermione said.

Ginny and Neville nodded.

'Twisted,' commented Hermione.

'The story of my life,' Harry sighed.

'One more thing before we show you how to deal with Snape,' Ginny said.

'What?' Harry asked, frightened all of a sudden.

'Millicent is going to be the first one in a long list if you don't make an official statement about your preferences,' Ginny said.

'You mean, girls or boys?' Harry squeaked.

'That could be important, but if you were to state to the Council that you're not ready to consider magical engagement before a certain age, that would free you of all unwanted attention, without preventing you from having fun,' Neville said.

'And when did you tell the Council you'd be ready?' Ginny teased Neville.

'Twenty,' Neville said with a grin.

'God bless Mum and Dad for giving me so many brothers, I won't have to go through this,' Ginny chuckled.

'Er... Is it...' Harry's voice trailed off.

'You can ask us anything. We're your friends,' Ginny said.

'I think I might prefer boys. Is that going to be an issue as well?' Harry asked.

'Not at all. You might even be relieved to learn that you could get married, should you find a wizard interested in you,' Neville answered.

'Does it have to be a wizard?' Harry asked.

'No, Harry, no one will force you into a relationship. You can be involved with a witch, a wizard, or a Muggle of either gender. The Council will expect you to write a very precise testament so that the heritage would not be lost, were anything to happen to you,' Ginny said.

'Are there restrictions? I mean, do I have to designate a wizard as my heir?' Harry wondered.

'It has to be someone with magical abilities, but that's all. In fact, you're going to discover that there are many loops and holes in their rules, and if you know those rules, you can trick them,' Neville said.

They began planning some of Harry's future seriously.

The fact that some of the Gryffindors were giving Harry the cold shoulder, because of the points he'd lost, helped him a lot because that gave him time to plan his answer to the Council and his next meeting with Severus.

Harry was tempted to read bits of the book Ginny had lent him in no particular order, but Neville advised him to read everything, cover to cover, because that would help him see how the Council could be tricked. After only two chapters, Harry understood exactly what Neville meant.

Harry spent all his free time devouring the book, but he did so only after he mastered the spell he wanted to use to prove to Severus that he wasn't a liar.

Harry and Severus had been ordered by Dumbledore to start working together again after Sirius's fall.

It had taken Harry months to begin mastering Occlumency, and when Severus had reported Harry's progress, tutoring in the Dark Arts had been added.

Usually Harry went to the dungeons under his Invisibility Cloak, but today he had a good reason to go and visit the Potions master.

Severus was surprised and annoyed when someone knocked on his door at the exact hour when Potter was supposed to report for his lesson. He was even more surprised when he opened the door and found himself face to face with Harry without his damn cloak.

'I have an important question, sir. May I come in?' Harry asked.

Severus was so surprised that he let Harry in and closed the door behind him.

'I am here to ask you if you will give me permission to prove that I didn't lie the other day,' Harry said.

'Of course, Potter,' snorted Severus, 'you're going to swear on your wand that you told the truth.'

'No, sir, may I proceed?' Harry insisted.

Harry was calm because he felt that he needed to do this.

'By all means, Potter,' Severus mocked him.

Harry said the spell that Neville had taught him, and Severus gasped - no one had ever respected him enough to use one of the Pureblood spells in anything related to him.

'May I know who you deem to be your liege?' Harry asked.

Severus was blinking. He was rendered speechless.

'Sir? I need to know,' Harry insisted.

'You can't mean to go through with that old spell,' Severus said.

'I do mean to do it, not because I can't stand to have you believe that I'm nothing but a liar, or in memory of my father or of Sirius. I need to do it because I no longer want you to believe that I'm lying to you. It's important. May I know to whom I shall report my request?' Harry asked again.

'To the Headmaster,' Severus said.

Harry bowed and went to see Albus Dumbledore.

When Harry finally reached the Headmaster's office, he was already exhausted by the spell. Neville had spoken of weight, but Harry had not imagined that his friend would be speaking literally.

Albus cast the charm Harry needed to prove himself, but he did so reluctantly.

As soon as Harry exited the office, he was brought down to his knees, and it took him an hour to reach Severus's office thus.

When he was again in front of Severus, Harry fought to stand up, and he offered his professor his wand hand where sparks of magic were coursing.

Severus hesitated to accept Harry's hand.

'I swear that no one had told me what happened to you. I discovered it only two days ago. If what I just did is not enough, give me a dose of Veritaserum,' Harry said.

'Would you take a dose?' Severus asked.

'Yes, sir!' Harry said.

Severus took Harry's hand, but that was not enough for him. He'd spent his life being betrayed, so he could not believe Harry just yet.

Harry felt instantly better.

'Sit down, Potter. I'll prepare the potion,' Severus said.

Harry obeyed.

Severus turned to Harry and asked, 'Would you take another potion along with my truth serum?'

'Anything, sir. I'm fed up with you believing that I'm nothing but a liar,' Harry answered.

Severus smirked and decided to add a drop of a potion that would lower Harry's inhibitions. The combination was bound to give interesting results.

Severus gave two drops of undiluted Veritaserum to Harry, and one of the other potion. He placed the two phials on his desk and sat in front of Harry.

'How do you feel?' Severus asked.

'The first potion tasted good, but with the second it tastes like shit. On top of it, my knees are killing me, and I'm exasperated with you thinking that I'm exactly like the idiot my father was when he was my age,' Harry said.

'Interesting,' Severus commented, more to himself than to Harry.

Harry was looking at his Potions master, waiting for his questions.

'When were you told who my parents are?' Severus asked.

'I discovered about your father two days ago during breakfast when I got the parchment from the Family Council - happy bunch of arseholes, by the way. Everybody seemed to believe that someone had shared the information with me. Neville and Ginny told me about your mother after class on the same day,' Harry answered.

'Why did you say that you were disgusted? Is it because I share blood with your precious godfather?' Severus went on.

'No, it's because once more no one told me something important... And everybody believed that I knew, as if it were something as normal and natural as breathing, but it's not; just like when Hagrid told me that I'm a wizard, or when Albus mentioned the Prophesy after I ventured into the Department of Mysteries,' Harry growled.

'So, you didn't know,' Severus whispered.

'I never know anything. If I had known, I would have kicked Sirius for what he's done to you. If some so-called fucking Pureblood had seen it fit to lend me their sodding book of rules, I would have threatened Sirius to repeal the link there was between us, maybe that would have made him realize how wrong he was,' Harry said.

'Why would you have done that?' Severus asked, clearly surprised.

'Hellooo?!' Harry growled. 'Have your little visits into my brain taught you nothing? Maybe I should have asked you to take some potion, too - that would have been fun! Didn't you see how the Dursleys treat me? Don't you read in the papers that one minute the wizarding world worships me, and the next I'm a plague that's not good enough to be kept in the cupboard under the stairs in the house of the worst Muggles on earth?!' Harry exploded.

Severus was speechless.

While the professor was silent, Harry had nothing to do but look at him.

When Severus was thinking, and he was in the haven of his office, he tended to caress his lips. He had never noticed that, but he was about to be informed of that little habit of his.

'I bet you just don't know how sexy it is to watch your fingers caressing your lips,' Harry said.

Severus realized what he was doing, and for the first time in his entire life, he understood that he must be doing that rather often. He looked incredulously from his fingers to Harry, and back.

'Don't lie, boy!' Severus barked.

'I can't lie, and I'm no longer a boy, Professor,' Harry purred.

Severus grabbed the phial of Veritaserum and smelled its contents - which was a first bad move which showed just how moved the Potions master was. Smelling it was not as efficient as ingesting the potion, but it was bound to have some effect on Severus.

When he checked the consistency of the Anti-inhibition potion, it entered his system through his skin.

Severus realized how silly he'd been when he looked at Harry, who, for once, had seen what that would do.

'Leave, Potter!' ordered Severus.

'Why? Don't you think that it would be a good opportunity for us to make peace? I don't want to be your enemy,' Harry said.

Severus thought that he could be stronger than his potions, and curiosity got the best of him.

'Why did you say it was sexy?' Severus said.

'Each time you're deep in thought you touch your lips. I first noticed it when you were teaching me Occlumency... Your long sexy fingers on your thin lips. I imagined how your lips feel, and what else your fingers could do. I've been spending some entertaining nights, thanks to you,' Harry said.

Severus's eyes were attempting to reach house-elves' proportions.

'Don't tell me that you're only interested in witches!' Harry exclaimed.

Much to his eternal shame, Severus shook his head, and Harry's joyful grin made him feel happy in his turn.

Severus knew that Harry was telling him the truth, and yet he found it difficult to believe the young man.

'Merlin!' Harry gasped, moving uncomfortably in his chair.

'Stomach ache?' Severus asked, suddenly wondering if the combination of potions was such a good thing, and if Harry was not having an allergic reaction to them.

Bright green eyes looked at him, and ruby red lips - make that moist and kissable ruby red lips - told him the truth, 'Nope! 'Got a hard-on, and it's a bit confined in my trousers.'

Harry stood up slowly and took two steps to reach Severus.

'Funny! When you sit down, I'm taller than you,' Harry declared.

'What are you doing, Harry?'

'I don't want you angry with me. I just understood why it was so important for me that you believed me,' Harry said.

'Why is that?'

Harry reverently put his fingers on Severus's lips, and then brought his fingers to his own lips. Severus had never seen anything sexier.

'Even better than I thought,' Harry whispered dreamily.

Severus decided that his potions must not be working, or that Harry had taken something to prevent them from working properly. He pushed Harry away from him.

'Am I supposed to believe that perfect Potter likes the greasy git, the one no one ever wanted? What could I bring into your perfect life?!' Severus shouted.

'Perfect?!' Harry yelled.

'Perfect!'

'It would be fun to trade our lives!' Harry exclaimed.

'Of course! Harry Potter, the adored boy, would trade his life with the pariah that I am,' Severus spat.

'That's what you want? My life? I'd give it to you if I could!' Harry spat back.

Severus snorted.

Harry pushed Severus back, and he fell on his chair.

'Is that what you really want?' Harry growled.

Severus remained silent, but his eyes were burning with anger.

'Fine, Severus, I'll find a way to grant you that, and while you're walking in my shoes, you'll keep in mind what you'll be missing,' Harry swore.

'What could I be missing?' Severus smirked.

Harry snaked one hand around Severus's neck and brought their lips together in a demanding kiss.

Harry put an end to their kiss, leaving a panting Potions master.

'I'm going straight to bed, because I need a good wank after all that, but mark my words, Severus Salazar Snape, I swear that you'll be walking in my shoes as soon as I can make that possible, and you'll get to see how perfect my life is,' Harry said.

He walked out and left Severus alone.

Severus was caressing his lips, but not because he was deep in thought.

Severus's mistake was to believe that Potter could not find a way to keep his word.

Harry had managed to surprise him once, and that should have been enough of a warning.

Yet, Severus had been betrayed and lied to so many times that he dismissed Harry's promise - or threat - and never thought of it again until it was too late.

Severus had forgotten that someone had lent Harry a Pureblood reference book, and that Hermione Granger was Harry's best friend.

Severus dismissed what had been said in his office all the more after Hermione and Ron had a tremendous argument in the Great Hall - an argument that forced Albus and Minerva to intervene - and the two seemed to break up, and when Hermione spent more and more time with Harry - much to many Purebloods of either gender's chagrin.

Harry was "just a child", a "spoiled brat" and Severus could expect nothing from the boy.

Unfortunately, the Head of Slytherin was in for the surprise of his life.

He shouldn't have underestimated Harry's determination.

With the help of his friends, Harry plotted.

He worked hard to obtain good grades and get good N.E.W.Ts results.

He did some intensive catching up with Neville and Ginny in anti-Pureblood strategy.

He trained to survive Voldemort.

Harry James Potter refined his master plan for after the War...

Harry sat for his final exams, and survived.

He left Hogwarts and was sent to the Dursleys until he came of age, and he survived - without hexing any of the aforementioned annoying and limited Muggles.

While he was forced by Albus, and most members of the Order of the Phoenix, to remain under the protection granted by his aunt, Harry prepared his escape.

He did so in spite of the Family Council who tried to pester him because of his testament. Harry had decided that if anything were to happen to him, the Black and Potter heritages should be shared between Hermione Granger and Severus Snape. The Council wanted Harry to choose someone they deemed worthy, but Harry made it clear - and in fully legal so-called Pureblood terms, thanks to Neville - that if his first choice was not good enough, he'd give everything to one Tom Marvolo Riddle. The Council thought that a Mudblood and a bastard were a slightly better option.

Harry could not go to Grimmauld Place, but his friends helped him organize one or two things, and had not the final battle been so close, Harry and his friends would have enjoyed a housewarming on August 1^st, when Harry finally moved into his house.

Harry was ready for everything, and when Voldemort attacked the Ministry of Magic in London, Harry Disapparated to get rid of the Dark Lord.

Voldemort and his Death Eaters had not imagined that the wizarding community was truly fed up with the civil war situation, and the final battle was rather nasty.

Harry followed Voldemort's magic and found him hexing Severus.

Harry saved the spy and fought with Voldemort.

Harry survived, and the Dark Lord was annihilated for good.

Severus was seriously injured, but he was still conscious. He registered that Harry was taking him gently in his arms, and he was promising to take care of him.

Just before Severus fainted, he thought he heard Harry tell him that he'd keep his word.

Severus smiled, because he'd really like to have the brat take care of him.

Severus remained unconscious for three days.

When he woke up, he was in Grimmauld Place, in his dead half-brother's room.

He groaned and wished he had his potions with him. Whoever had healed him had done a rather poor job, and he wanted something to kill the nagging pain.

He slowly stood up and wondered why everything was in a faint blur.

He managed to reach the bathroom, where he hoped Sirius had kept some emergency potions. The man had been a moron, but he was nearly as paranoid as Severus - come to think of it, they were much alike.

Severus gasped when he saw his reflection in the mirror.

'I bet it'll be better with those on your nose,' Hermione said, placing glasses on it.

He turned to the mirror again, and the clear image of Harry Potter glared at him from behind his trademark glasses.

Harry had kept his word.

Severus Salazar Snape was walking in Harry James Potter's shoes.

Now he was the heir of the Potter and Black families, the Boy-Who-Lived, and the Wizard-Who-Survived (after killing Lord Thingy).

Curiously, Severus felt that this would be no pleasure cruise.

'How do you feel?' Hermione asked.

'Not too well,' Severus-in-Harry said.

'It's not exactly surprising. You've been hexed several times, and your fight with Voldemort must have been awful. It's Professor Snape who brought you to St Mungo's. Your Healers said that if he had brought you just five minutes later, you'd be dead,' she explained.

Severus clearly remembered being hexed by the Dark Lord.

When Harry had them swap their bodies, the young idiot must have shared his energy with him. If Harry hadn't kept his word, Severus would certainly be dead now.

Damn the boy for giving him a fully legal status in the wizarding community, and saving his life!

'Where is he?' Severus asked.

'No one knows. Albus is rather anxious to know what happened. Professor Snape was taken to the Ministry by Percy, and no one saw him afterwards, and Percy's been Memory-charmed,' she said.

'Could it be a trick of Fudge?' Severus asked, suddenly worried for his own body, and Harry's soul.

'Albus questioned him, but he did nothing for once,' Hermione answered.

Severus rubbed his brow, and his hand bumped into Harry's glasses. All that felt really strange.

'I'll leave you to use the bathroom, and I'll go and prepare breakfast for you. I'll try to keep the others away. I imagine you want some quiet,' Hermione said.

'Who's there?' he wondered.

'Albus, Alastor, Remus and Molly. The others are either helping the Aurors of the Ministry, or recovering from hexes or wounds,' she said.

'Who got hurt?' he asked, suddenly worried for the children and young adults who had been his charges but three days ago.

'Minerva got injured again; Poppy gave her an earful because it seems that she had never properly healed since we'd had Umbridge in Hogwarts, and she had never bothered to have a Healer cure her fully. She's going to be all right though; she's to stay in St Mungo's for a week,' Hermione said.

'If they can make her stay there for that long! The woman is extremely stubborn, and if she feels that she's needed outside the hospital, not even Albus is going to be able to order her to stay,' Severus said. 'Who else is hurt?'

'Neville landed on a wall, and all his bones got broken, but he's scheduled to come out of hospital tomorrow. Most of the others who got hurt are to be released today,' she said.

There was something in her voice that bothered Severus.

'Most of the others?' he asked.

'Draco is badly injured, and no one wants to pay for the potions he needs,' she said.

'He chose our side!' Severus exclaimed.

'Yes, but his father didn't, and Draco made his choice only a few weeks ago, and people hate Slytherins,' she answered.

'There must be something I can do,' Severus whispered.

'If you lend him the money for the potions until the Ministry gives him access to his own account, you might save him,' she said.

'How much does he need?'

'Five thousand Galleons,' she said.

Severus gasped and said, 'Unfortunately, I don't have that much money.'

'Do you feel all right, Harry?' she asked, slightly worried. 'You have a hundred times more than that.'

'You're right!' Severus exclaimed as he looked at his new reflection in the mirror.

Hermione placed one hand on his forehead and asked, 'Are you sure you don't want me to call a Healer?'

'No, I'll shower quickly and,' he paused and looked at the young witch. 'Will you help me help Draco?' he asked.

'Of course, Silly! Now that you ended the War, and we can live happily ever after, do you seriously think that I'm going to leave you, even for one hour?' she asked.

Severus gulped.

Harry must really be laughing hard. It was more than a joke he'd planned. Severus was not at all interested in witches, and he didn't fancy having to get rid of such a powerful witch. He wondered how intimate Harry and Hermione were supposed to be.

'You shower, I'll prepare your breakfast, and we'll try to escape the army downstairs,' she said.

She pecked his cheek, grinning, and left him alone.

Severus started to panic.

He had the strange feeling that it would be a very bad move to ask for help and tell people that he was Severus Snape trapped into Harry Potter's body. He knew that instead of asking why Harry had done that, they all would start blaming him for tricking poor Harry Potter into doing something nasty, something that deprived Harry of his heritages.

Severus knew the script all too well.

Everybody would blame him, even without knowing what had happened exactly.

Severus decided to check his condition and try to assess which kind of spell Harry had used after he'd rid Grimmauld Place of all unwanted visitors - certainly not before the evening... if he was lucky.

Severus showered and decided that if he had fooled Voldemort for years, he could fool the wizarding community for a few days - until he found Harry and had a chat with the brat who was doing Merlin knew what with his body!

Severus was rinsing the shampoo off his hair when he realized that someone might well have mistaken Harry for himself and abducted him to torture and kill him.

He got out of the shower, determined to ask for help, even if it meant that he would have to stand working with Hermione and confiding in her.

Severus was exasperated with Harry's bad sight, and looking for a towel, when he nearly jumped out of his skin as Albus practically crushed him.

'My dear child, Hermione just told me that you woke up!' Albus said joyfully, hugging Harry as if his life depended on it.

'Yes, and I badly need to breathe if I don't want to fall in a coma again,' Severus growled.

Albus let go of Harry, and he patted his cheek, which deeply annoyed Severus.

'I am so happy that you survived your duel with Voldemort,' Albus said.

'Well, barely,' Severus growled again. 'Now if you don't mind, Headmaster, I'd like to get dressed, I have things to do.'

Albus did not move an inch.

'My dear child, I am truly sorry that you had to go through such ordeals in order to defeat Voldemort,' Albus began.

Severus interrupted him and snorted, 'Ordeals.'

'I wish I could have protected your parents, so I wouldn't have had to send you to the Dursleys, and you wouldn't have had to face a powerful wizard repeatedly at such a young age,' Albus said.

Severus waved his hand in dismissal.

'Won't you use my name now that you're no longer a Hogwarts student?' Albus asked.

Severus shrugged.

'What are you planning to do with Hermione? She didn't say,' Albus said.

'Go and rescue Draco, and maybe see our injured friends. I'm certain Minerva would be delighted to have a good book to read,' Severus said.

Albus frowned.

'What's bothering you?' Severus asked.

'Nothing, Harry,' the old wizard lied.

'Then, Albus, would you mind telling me why you are trying to read my mind uninvited?' Severus hissed.

Albus was so taken aback that he said, 'It's the first time you notice the intrusion.'

Severus blinked.

So, the great Albus Dumbledore had no more respect for Harry's private thoughts than he'd had for Severus's.

'No one ever told you it's polite to ask first?' Severus asked, almost rhetorically.

'Well, I was just concerned that you wish to help young Malfoy,' Albus said.

'He's been spoiled by his parents, but he refused to take the Mark. I don't know how badly he's injured, but he doesn't deserve to suffer, and if I can help him, then I will,' Severus said.

'Maybe I should have insisted and obliged Cornelius to allow St Mungo's to have access to his vault to retrieve the amount of Galleons he needs for his potions,' Albus said in a whisper.

'There were Gryffindors to help first, no doubt. I heard that you're not doing much to find out what happened to your Potions master,' Severus said.

'I'm sure that Severus merely wished to escape for a few days and avoid possible mistakes,' Albus said.

'Maybe he tried to escape enthusiastic Aurors, but maybe he's been taken by people who think that he's an active Death Eater. Have you tried Location spells?' Severus asked.

Severus could see in Albus's posture - his twinkling eyes were still in a blur, courtesy of Harry's eyes - that the old wizard was rather annoyed to have a child telling him what to do.

'Nothing worked, if you must know,' Albus answered somewhat coldly. 'Now, you should not worry about him. You never have before, why would you now?'

'Well, Hermione told me that he saved me, and curious as it sounds, I'd like to thank him,' Severus said.

He had another motivation, but he was not sharing that with Albus.

'Now, if you don't mind, I want to dry myself, get dressed, and be gone,' Severus said. 'And I'd like some privacy.'

'Of course, my dear child, but I had to hold you and make sure you were all right,' Albus said.

He walked to the door, whose wards he had breached, and turned around.

'I hope you won't mind having the Order holding some meetings here,' the old wizard said.

'There is no more need for secrecy, so you can go to the Leaky Cauldron or Euston Station. I want quiet, and I want you to leave as soon as possible,' Severus said.

'Quiet. Yes, I understand,' Albus said.

The old wizard left the bathroom, and only then did Severus notice that Albus had not said he'd leave.

Growling, Severus found the glasses he needed to see properly, dried himself, and went back to his bedroom to find clothes.

He found the underwear drawer and was relieved to find boxers still in their wrapping. He didn't fancy wearing someone else's clothes - even if he was in that someone else's body!

He opened the box and found a piece of parchment in it, which was really strange. The boxers were Muggle ones, but the parchment was magical.

He looked at it, and it read "To SSS, from HJP".

So, Potter had left a message.

Severus activated the wards on his door with a mere snap of his fingers, and he sat down on the bed to read Harry's letter.

Severus was annoyed to notice that his hands were shaking.

He broke the seal and read.

"My dear Severus,

You told me often enough to be logical, therefore I decided to place this letter in a place where only you would be most likely to find it."

Severus was forced to admit that Harry's deduction was flawless.

"I don't know when you're going to read this, but if you do, it means that my plan worked. If my plan worked, you might be a bit concerned about your body."

'Understatement of the year, Mr Potter. You disappeared, for God's sake!' thought Severus.

"I think I should first tell you that I had somehow confided in Percy, and that he was extremely honoured to help me. Of course, I didn't tell him that I was planning to Memory-charm him! My plan is to keep my word and allow you to see how dreadfully perfect it is to be Harry Potter - honestly, I think that you're in for a nasty surprise. But if you read this, you must be wearing my glasses."

'Yes, and I'm having your sight corrected as soon as I'm sure that Draco is taken care of,' Severus thought.

"I learnt the spell to swap bodies by heart, and when I find the opportunity to cast it, I'll contact Percy, who is going to be the last to have seen Severus Snape. I have a nice plan for you while I am in your shoes; you have nothing to fear, I'll take very good care of you. If you find that being Harry Potter is what you want, then by all means enjoy being me. If you want to reclaim your own life, I have left one clue behind so you, and only you, can find me.

I'm writing this one week after you gave me the two potions.

You are going to find that I am but a sentimental Gryffindor - or just an idiot - but I really would have enjoyed spending time with you, and exploring a potential friendship, or maybe more.

I can't begin to imagine what your life has been like, but mine was not extremely funny either - if you doubt my words and what you saw in my memories, go and see the Dursleys, you'll understand, first hand.

I'm giving you what you wished for, but I'll miss you.

Enjoy the trip in my shoes if you can,

Farewell (?)

Your friend"

Severus was stunned that Harry had planned his disappearance in Severus's body, and that Percy had agreed to help.

At least, if Harry's plan had truly worked, Severus's body with its load of Harry's soul was safe and sound somewhere. Severus hoped that Harry was not taking his body to the Caribbean because his skin didn't fare too well in the sun.

The brat also had mentioned a clue, maybe Severus would try and find it, just to make sure that he could find his own body, if need be.

Right now, he put on the underwear and placed the parchment back in the empty box, and the box into the drawer.

Severus had barely placed clothes on the bed when the door to his bedroom was properly blasted. In one second, he had grabbed Harry's wand and was facing the intruder.

It turned out to be Alastor Moody.

'Are you mad?!' Severus yelled.

'I felt a change in the wards and feared that something was happening to you,' Alastor said.

'Well, maybe the house is acknowledging my magical signature, don't you think?' Severus growled.

Alastor growled in agreement.

'Besides, I think I can survive in an Unplottable place,' Severus added.

'You are so young,' Molly objected as she came into the room.

'I'm not!' Severus shouted.

'You are nearly a baby, Darling. We just wish to protect you,' she said. 'Why did you ward the door?'

'So that I could get dressed without having half the Order watching me,' Severus hissed.

'It never bothered you before,' Alastor said.

'Maybe because Harry didn't yell loud enough for the sound to reach your brains,' Remus said, entering the room in his turn.

'You should still be in bed,' Molly scolded Remus.

'I felt the shattering of Harry's wards, and I came to the rescue,' Remus said.

Severus looked at Remus, and he instantly understood why the werewolf looked as if he's had a front encounter with the Hogwarts Express. The last three nights had been full moons, and with Severus in a coma in Harry's body, no one had given Remus his potion, and the wizard had to surrender to the wolf. It must have been awful, and Severus felt sympathy for the other wizard.

Severus walked to Remus and invited him to sit on the bed.

While Severus had his back to the door, Molly took her wand and repaired the door.

'Brilliant!' Severus barked, turning around.

'Show some respect, young man!' Alastor hissed.

'You should have been the one repairing that door. I'm sure Mrs Weasley meant well, but now the door is going to creak, and nothing can be done,' Severus said.

Alastor and Molly knew that Harry was right, and they were embarrassed to be given a lesson by such a young wizard.

'You know what?' Severus said. 'I badly need some rest, and I can't relax with you around. Why don't you go back to your homes, and I'll owl you when I'm in the mood to see you?'

'You need us, Dear,' Molly insisted.

'Mrs Weasley,' Severus said slowly, his patience thinning, 'I need time to be alone and figure out what happened to me.'

'You need us to keep an eye on you,' she said.

'And the Order needs this house,' Alastor said.

Severus sighed.

He was beginning to understand what Harry had meant.

'Mrs Weasley, I am an adult. I want some days alone to rest. Get used to the idea, but do so in the Burrow, thank you. Moody, the Order can go to Albus's house, it's bigger than here. Now, sod off! I want you out of here immediately!' Severus said.

Alastor and Molly obeyed reluctantly. They were already planning to fetch Albus to make Harry understand how wrong he was.

The two no longer invited guests left the house instantly and when Severus turned to face Remus he saw that the other wizard was trying to stand up.

'Where do you think you're going?' Severus growled at Remus.

'You need to rest. I'll go back to my room,' Remus answered.

'You're too tired to walk down the corridor,' Severus said.

'I meant my room in town,' the werewolf said as he fought to try and stand up.

'All you have is a room?' Severus gasped.

'It's a nice Muggle B&B. The landlady charges me only for the nights I spend in her house,' Remus said.

Severus shook his head. He was not a friend of Lupin, but he wanted to be able to look at himself - even in Harry's skin - therefore he could not allow the sick wizard to venture into Muggle town in such a pitiful state.

Besides, Harry would be truly disappointed if Severus didn't take care of Harry's friends while Harry had promised to take good care of Severus's body.

Before he could seriously ask himself where that thought came from, Severus ordered Remus to lie down and sleep.

'Well, maybe we could all share breakfast,' Hermione suggested.

She came into the room with a huge tray floating behind her.

Severus quickly got dressed.

While he was making himself decent, Hermione filled three plates.

'Start eating,' Severus said. 'I must recharm the wards on the outer door.'

'You'll have the complete control of Grimmauld Place, but are you sure that you want to keep everybody out?'

Severus reflected that Harry would no longer be able to find the place, but if it was the only way to keep Albus out, then Severus was willing to give it a shot.

Not half an hour later, Grimmauld Place was under Severus's control, he had checked Remus's condition, and he was ready to go and rescue Draco with Hermione's help.

It took Harry and Hermione much longer than they had expected to reach St Mungo's.

From Grimmauld Place, they walked to a place where they could Apparate into the Leaky Cauldron, and from there go to Diagon Alley, so that Severus could withdraw the money that was needed to rescue Draco.

Even with Harry's wand, Severus's Apparition was perfect.

Hermione followed him.

There should have been no problem, except...

Except that Harry was the saviour of the wizarding community.

As soon as he was spotted in the London pub, people wished to have a word with him.

Some wanted to thank him for finally killing the Dark Lord.

Severus reflected that mankind was utterly weird.

Even though it was not technically him who had offed Voldemort, respectable witches and wizards were thanking him for duelling another human being to death, while Severus had nearly been sentenced to Azkaban when he was nearly Harry's age simply for bearing the Dark Mark and having admitted that he'd brewed potions for Voldemort.

There were a handful of lunatics who wanted to marry Harry. Severus was rather happy to have brought Hermione with him because the young witch enjoyed taking care of the wizards, and witches alike, who were willing to bed him.

There were also some people who reproached Harry for not killing Voldemort sooner.

One inch at a time, they finally managed to reach Gringotts where Bill welcomed them. Curiously, the sight of the Curse Breaker had a soothing effect on the crowd, and people resumed their activities.

'Thanks, Bill!' Hermione said, hugging the gorgeous wizard.

'I saw that they were even worse than usual. I thought that I might help,' Bill said.

'Worse than usual?' Severus said.

'Well, yes, I think that the last time I had to rescue you from similar idiots, it was not exactly as bad. Maybe I was mistaken because of their number today,' Bill said, shrugging.

Severus shrugged in his turn. Finally, maybe he didn't know at all what it was like to be Harry Potter, and maybe it was not so easy.

'Are you just helping Harry, or are you torturing Ron a bit longer?' Bill asked Hermione.

'A bit of both. Harry was seriously drained after his encounter with Lord Arrogant Idiot, and he's just kicked the entire Order out of Grimmauld Place, including your mother by the way. Ron has been an idiot, and I mean to have him wait a bit longer before I owl him,' Hermione answered.

Severus inwardly thanked Bill for obtaining such precious information for him about Harry and Hermione's exact relationship. He was relieved to hear that they were just very close friends.

While Severus was lost in thought, Bill told Hermione that she was right to teach Ron how to behave properly, and then he turned to Severus.

'I bet Mum was being her usual annoying mother hen. She's that way because she loves us, but she doesn't see that her love sometimes is just too much. You were right to kick her out of your home. I bet you need to recover, from pretty much everything,' Bill said.

Severus nodded. He was unable to voice an answer.

'I'll try to make Mum understand how you feel. I'm not out of the wood, but she's got to understand that you're no longer a baby,' Bill said.

'Thank you,' Severus answered very softly.

'What can I do for you?' Bill asked.

Severus told him that he meant to pay for Draco's treatment, that he wanted to buy a book for Minerva, and that he meant to have his sight corrected.

'Well, the easiest way is to have St Mungo's send us the bills. You fill in a form for us, and that's all. I could give you just a handful of Galleons to shop for Minerva,' Bill suggested.

'Excellent!' Severus said.

'Won't you need some money to go shopping? I'm not sure there's much left in the fridge and the cupboards in Grimmauld Place,' Hermione pointed out.

Severus nodded and was turning to Bill when the Curse Breaker said, 'All right, I'll provide you with a nice pouch of Galleons, and a handful of pounds, in case you want to venture into Muggle London.'

Five minutes later, Severus and Hermione had everything they needed; well, almost everything.

A Goblin was sent to buy a history book for Minerva, and when he was back with it, Bill led them through an old passage that secretly connected the wizarding bank with the hospital.

At the reception desk, they asked where Minerva was, and the nurse purred the answer. The instant Severus mentioned Draco, the same nurse transfigured into an iceberg.

Severus sighed and felt that helping Draco would be difficult.

Finally, being Harry was not as pleasant as Severus had thought it'd be.

What deeply annoyed Severus was that the nurse treated them as if they were toddlers, and she was really horrible with Hermione - apparently because the young witch was acting as Harry's bodyguard, and because she was a Muggle-born.

Severus Snape certainly didn't get the respect other Pureblood wizards got on a daily basis, but he was no longer used to being treated like a child.

He took Hermione's hand before she tried to hex the nurse for being so uncooperative, and they went to the office of the Healer in Chief.

Severus entered the room without knocking on the door, and the Healer who was sitting behind the desk was extremely surprised to see the famous Harry Potter in his office.

'What can I do for you, Mr Potter?' the wizard asked.

'Well, you could tell me why simple nurses are so stupid and limited, because I was trying to obtain information about a former classmate, but I would have got a faster and clearer answer from the ashes of Voldemort. Now, you could offer to help me, and do your job, helping an innocent wizard recover from serious injuries,' Severus said.

'Who refused to answer you?' the Healer asked.

'The nurse at the reception desk,' Severus said.

'I shall have a word with her. Who are you intending to visit?' the Healer inquired.

'Draco Malfoy,' Severus said.

The temperature dropped suddenly, but Severus was used to such reactions.

'May I remind you that you are bound by a magical oath to treat everybody? I was told that Mr Malfoy's treatment was not administered because it's expensive; therefore, I'm here to lend him the money until the Ministry is forced to give him his bank account back,' Severus said.

'But his father...' began the Healer.

'He is not his father! Will you do your job, or shall I have to owl the Healers Commission to tell them that you broke your oath?' Severus threatened him.

'He's a Slytherin,' the Healer said, as if it were reason enough to let Draco suffer.

'A bloody good reason not to heal him!' growled Hermione.

'You were rather happy to have a Slytherin brew the potion you needed for your son when you were unable to prepare the correct potion yourself,' Severus said.

The Healer paled seriously.

'Only Snape knew,' the man said.

'Professor Snape!' hissed Hermione.

'You'll have to thank Albus Dumbledore for the Occlumency sessions I had to take. It's incredible what you discover when delving into someone's mind,' Severus answered.

The Healer in chief was defeated.

The three of them went to Draco's room, and Severus felt sorry for his former charge, who was in a pitiful state.

The Healer in chief told Draco's Healer to cure him.

'Who's going to pay for the snake?' the Healer asked.

'I am,' Severus barked.

'It's a huge amount of Galleons,' Draco's Healer commented.

'He'll pay me back when he's strong enough to go to the Ministry and kick them,' Severus said, smirking.

'Dear God, remind me to go to Muggle hospitals when I fall sick. I wouldn't want to be poisoned for being a Mudblood,' Hermione said.

'I wouldn't allow them to harm you,' Severus said.

Hermione took his hand and pecked his cheek.

Severus briefly reflected that the witch was the best thing he had while in Harry's shoes. She may be a Gryffindor, but she had an incredible brain, and now that he knew he would not find her in his bed tonight, he was somehow looking forward to spending time with her.

Severus turned to the two Healers and asked, 'Are you going to heal him, or what?'

'I guess you didn't bring the Galleons with you,' Draco's Healers said with a sneer.

'I'm not stupid. I don't wander around with so much money in my pockets. Bill Weasley said the demand for payment could be sent to Gringotts,' Severus said.

'Unfortunately, we're out of forms for that. Too many people had to be treated since the final battle,' Draco's Healer said.

The man thought that he'd trapped the two children who were trying to help the filthy Death Eater's seed, who got only what he deserved.

'It seems that Bill anticipated your reaction because he gave me a form,' Severus said.

Both Healers were annoyed. Draco's Healer took the form, and ruined it with permanent magical ink.

'If you like your job, you will fill in that one properly, otherwise I swear that I'll Apparate straight to the Healers Commission, and I'll have your hide,' Severus said, handing the Healer another parchment.

Both Healers gulped; there was something about Harry Potter that showed that the young wizard was extremely angry. Since he had defeated the most powerful wizard on earth, they did not really fancy pestering him. If he wanted Malfoy healed, then he'll get the snake healed.

Severus and Hermione didn't leave Draco's side while the treatment was administered.

Draco's injuries were serious and painful. The treatment was awfully costly, but happily for the young Slytherin, the healing was almost instantaneous.

Draco looked around and frowned.

Severus invited the Healers to leave the room, and he sat on Draco's bed. Hermione settled on the other side.

Severus cast several charms that showed that Draco would be completely fine very soon.

Draco tried to protest, but Severus was stronger, and he made it clear that Draco needed his help.

'Pansy?' rasped Draco.

'She's alive,' Hermione said.

Both Draco and Severus saw that she was uncomfortable.

'Arrested?' Draco asked.

He tried to move a bit, but Severus prevented him from doing so.

'I'm sorry, Malfoy. Her Apparition to the continent was reported to the Ministry,' Hermione said.

Draco was still too ill to hide his feelings, and Severus and Hermione could clearly see how much Draco was moved and disappointed to hear that the Slytherin witch had decided to leave him.

'Why didn't you tell me?' Severus asked Hermione.

'You just woke up!' she answered a bit sharply. 'Besides, I couldn't guess you'd be interested to hear about the fate of Parkinson.'

'True enough, you're not a seer. I'm sorry,' Severus said.

Hermione smiled, and then looked at Draco.

'I know that you're not going to like this, but it would be a good idea to bring Draco to Grimmauld Place until he can kick ministerial asses himself; otherwise, one of those pseudo-healers is going to have him relapse, and what you did will have been in vain,' she said.

Severus nodded, and Draco looked at Harry.

'What have you done, Potter?' he asked.

'I paid for your treatment,' Severus said.

'Why?' Draco wondered.

'The Ministry froze your bank account until you're officially proven innocent. The Healers were not giving you the cure you needed because it's a bit high-priced. Harry lent you the Galleons,' Hermione told Draco.

The blond faced the other wizard and said, 'I'll give you the money back as soon as I can.'

Severus placed one hand on Draco's shoulder and said, 'I know you will.'

Draco collapsed on his pillow; he was properly exhausted.

'We've got to find a way to bring him back to Grimmauld Place,' Severus told Hermione.

Draco was about to protest, but Severus cast a light Sleeping charm on the blond.

'Maybe I could help you,' someone said from the door.

Severus and Hermione turned around and faced Minerva McGonagall.

'Aren't you supposed to be in bed?' Severus asked his old friend.

She waved her hand in dismissal.

'All right,' Severus said with a feral grin, 'You and Hermione keep an eye on Draco, while I go and have my sight corrected, and then we'll all go to Grimmauld Place. I'll allow you in only if you promise to rest.'

'How do you propose to make sure that I'm going to rest?' Minerva asked.

'Well, if you give me your word now and don't keep it in Grimmauld Place, I'll have you pinned under a sleeping werewolf,' Severus threatened her.

'Poor Remus! I'm too skinny to make a good pillow,' she said, which made them all chuckle. 'How is he?'

'In a dreadful state. The next few days are going to be extremely busy,' Severus said.

'I'm sure Molly is willing to help,' Minerva pointed out.

For the first time, Severus was truly embarrassed about what he'd done.

'What's wrong, Harry?' Minerva wondered.

'I asked everybody to leave the house,' he answered.

'Then, I am honoured that you're inviting me to stay with you,' Minerva said.

Severus smiled.

Hermione sent him to a Healer, while she planned an escape with the older witch.

Severus knew the corridors of the hospital well, and in the wink of an eye, he found someone who could charm his eyes. The Healer asked him if he wanted the charm to be permanent, but Severus opted for a charm that would work for three months.

Without glasses on his nose - and after a quick trip to the potions lab, he joined Hermione and Minerva, who had packed and were ready to go.

Severus had disconnected Grimmauld Place from the Floo Network, so they had to Disapparate.

Though she was indeed a bit tired, Minerva could Apparate without help, so she travelled alone with their reduced possessions in her sleeve, while Severus and Hermione took care of Draco.

Hermione opened the door, and Severus invited Minerva in as he led Draco in.

Severus reflected that it was strange that he fully trusted Minerva, but not his young charge. Now that she'd been invited by the rightful owner of the mansion, Minerva would again be able to find the proper street, but if Draco were to go out of the house now, he would be completely lost since Severus had not invited him in.

Hermione helped Minerva to one of the guest rooms, and Severus took care of Draco.

'I don't need to sleep!' Draco protested, as Severus led him to the bed that would be his during his stay.

'You do need to rest. You've been exposed to some intricate magic, and your cure was rather powerful, if efficient,' Severus said.

'Why are you helping me? I've been a brat all my life, and I always tried to pester you. I chose your side only because I didn't want to obey Voldemort, not because you were fighting for a good cause,' Draco said.

'I don't care about your past; I hope your future can be nice. I know what it's like to be alone,' Severus said, forcing Draco to lie down.

'I heard things about your relatives,' Draco murmured, eyes downcast.

'Let's forget about them, shall we?' Severus said, but at the same time he thought that a visit to the Dursleys might enlighten him.

Even though Draco didn't want to sleep, he fell asleep rather fast.

Severus left the blond alone, and as he went to check how Remus was, he heard that Minerva and Hermione were happily chatting. He felt happy to have them in Grimmauld Place.

Severus was beginning to feel lonely in Harry's life.

He knocked on his own door, which was ironic, but such a symbol for his entire life, and he walked in.

Remus was waking up.

Severus gave him three vials of potions to help Remus feel better.

'I'm sorry that you didn't get your Wolfsbane,' Severus said.

'Well, no one can blame Severus. He disappeared God knows where, and the cauldron of Wolfsbane he'd prepared for me was accidentally destroyed by an Auror, when the Ministry tried to search his quarters in Hogwarts,' Remus said.

'Tried?' Severus asked.

'I heard Albus say he didn't know what happened in Severus's quarters, but it was as if the castle was protecting the area. No one could go in; for all we know, he might well be hiding there in deep meditation, or catching up on sleep after years of spying activities,' Remus said.

'Even if he's not found come the next full moon, I promise I'll get you your potion,' Severus said.

'That's very kind of you, Harry, but you don't have to,' Remus said, blushing slightly.

'I heard it was something friends did,' Severus said.

'Thank you,' Remus almost sobbed.

'It's just a potion,' Severus mumbled, extremely embarrassed.

'It's so much more than just a potion. It's the lifeline that allows me to remain sane in spite of my curse,' Remus said.

'Then it is settled, I promise that you'll get your potion,' Severus said.

Remus could not imagine that beside the vials Severus had brought back, he had bought all the ingredients he needed to brew a cauldron of Wolfsbane. Severus had decided to brew in the evenings.

'Will you help me go back to my room?' Remus asked.

'You could stay here, and I could go somewhere else,' Severus said.

Severus knew the room had been his father's and Sirius's, and he was afraid to meet their ghosts here.

'It's your room now,' Remus objected.

Severus helped Remus to go back to his own room, and then he checked that Draco was still asleep, and he went to see the two witches.

He told them that he'd go shopping.

Hermione said she'd go with him, but Severus had things to do alone out of Grimmauld Place.

Severus managed to leave, but only after he swore on his wand that he wouldn't be out too long, and that he'd use a glamour.

Severus used a spell to hide Harry's true face only until he reached number 4, Privet Drive in Little Whinging.

Severus rang, and Dudley answered the door.

Harry's cousin froze and squeaked.

'Hello,' said Severus.

Dudley squeaked again.

The sound of the bell added to their son's high pitched squeaks made Petunia and Vernon come to the door.

'Hello,' Severus repeated.

'You,' Vernon growled, pointing one finger at the man in his nephew's skin, and turning red. 'You swore that you would never come back and bother us.'

'You said that you were leaving for good, that you had a house and enough money,' Petunia added.

'I'm not coming back here if this is what you fear,' Severus quickly lied.

'We no longer want a freak like you around here,' Petunia said.

Severus was shocked. Of course he had very often plunged into Harry's memories, but the Potions master had sincerely believed that the young wizard had recorded his memories in an exaggerated way, that the child in Harry had seen unlove⁽¹⁾ where there was merely strictness.

Now Severus could practically feel the Dursleys' hatred for Harry Potter.

Severus felt like kicking himself because he should have known that Harry was not lying. Come to think of it, the boy seldom lied.

Severus had gone through the same lack of affection.

His father, and later his half-brother, had always ignored him, as if he'd been a terrible mistake; the fly in their precious ointment.

His mother had never wanted him. Mr Dorkins even told Severus that she had personally insisted on how he was to treat Severus. He had slightly fonder memories of Mrs Dorkins, but the poor witch had to fight for her own safety, and she attempted to protect Severus only when she wasn't too hurt herself.

Severus thought of Harry, who had been loved for a year after his birth, only to be given to dreadful Muggles.

Severus sighed; he must have been out of his right mind when he told Harry that he wanted his life.

It was not Harry's life that Severus wanted; it was love that Severus craved.

'May I ask you one question?' Severus asked the Dursleys.

'No, leave us alone!' Vernon barked.

Severus felt their feelings for Harry, and was about to obey, when Petunia said something odd.

'Dumbledore swore that we would no longer see you,' she said.

In Merlin's name, when had Albus told the Dursleys that?

With a flick if his wand, Severus cast a perfectly legal Hypnosis spell on Harry's relatives, and ordered them to go to their kitchen. Severus closed the door behind him and followed them. With another spell, he explored Petunia's mind, searching for memories of Harry and Albus Dumbledore.

Severus saw the memories backwards. A handful of days before Harry came of age, Albus visited the Dursleys, and confirmed that he would keep his word and force Harry never to come back to Privet Drive, as they had agreed so many years before.

Severus also saw that when Harry was younger Albus had sometimes brought potions to heal the child when the Dursleys refused to spend money on the baby wizard. The potions were wrongly dosed, and it was sheer luck that Harry didn't have to be brought to St Mungo's.

Severus also discovered that since Albus had in his possession the key to Harry's vault, he had stolen from Harry a rather large amount of money he had handed to the Dursleys so that they would treat Harry better when he was a baby; that's why Harry moved from a box in the kitchen to the cupboard under the stairs.

Albus Dumbledore knew that and did not protect Harry. The man had no legal authority, and yet he had thrown a baby into the lion's den because he needed the child to fight the ultimate evil. The stupidest house-elf in the kitchen of Hogwarts would have done a better job than the Dursleys.

Severus exited Petunia's mind, he Memory-charmed the three Dursleys so they would never remember seeing Harry that day, and he froze them.

He had one last thing to do in that house: visit Harry's cupboard.

Severus opened the door and shivered because that reminded him of the cellar where Mr Dorkins threw him when the man was in a bad mood.

Severus sat down and cast a charm that would allow him to feel Harry's feelings for the place.

Like Severus, who had become very fond of the Dorkins' cellar because he wasn't hurt when in it, Harry viewed the cupboard as the place where he was safe; Petunia and Vernon didn't like even opening the door, and Dudley was just too big for it. There, Harry had dreamt of love, and of another life.

Severus understood Harry's feelings, and suddenly he remembered how it had felt to be kissed by Harry, and he just knew the younger wizard had been sincere.

Severus was ready to kick himself for being so suspicious, when he heard the characteristic sound of Apparition.

He jumped out of the cupboard and found himself face to face with Albus Dumbledore.

The old wizard lowered his wand when he saw Harry, but Severus kept aiming at Albus.

'You knew everything they did, and yet you did nothing. You never intervened,' Severus accused him.

'I did my best to protect you,' Albus retorted.

Severus snorted and then looked at the other wizard.

'What are you doing here?' Severus asked.

'I gave my word to your aunt that you'd stay away. I have left wards inside this house, and when you used magic, I came as soon as possible,' Albus explained.

'Do not worry, Headmaster, you will not have to fight me or Memory-charm anyone; I'm leaving,' Severus said.

'Child,' Albus began.

Severus swirled around and hissed, 'I never was a child.'

He Disapparated without another look at the old wizard who froze on the spot.

Albus was surprised by his protégé's reactions, but of course even he could not imagine what the real Harry had done for Severus.

Severus quickly went shopping and Apparated back home, except that Grimmauld Place didn't feel like home.

Severus was busy in the kitchen when he reflected that he didn't have a home, the closest he had was his quarters in the dungeons. After he had respected his birth mother's wish that he joined Voldemort, he didn't have many opportunities to do much for himself. All that Severus truly had was his savings from his Hogwarts wages, and that was far from enough to even rent anything.

Suddenly, Severus wondered if Harry was all right in his "shoes".

His silent interrogations were interrupted by Hermione, who came into the kitchen; she asked if she could help prepare lunch, and Severus discovered that she truly had a soothing effect on his wrecked nerves.

He was enjoying a chat about trifles when he realized that it was all a sham, and that Hermione Granger was chatting with Potter, not him. All of a sudden, it felt as if the void that Harry's life was sometimes, and the emptiness that his own life was, were merging in him, and that was deeply unpleasant.

Hermione saw that something was wrong. She hesitated a second and then took two steps to hug her friend.

'You don't have to,' Severus murmured.

He wasn't hugging her back.

'That's what friends are for,' she said.

'Why did you hesitate?' he almost growled.

'I know you prefer wizards, I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable, but you really looked as if you needed a hug,' she said.

'Oh,' was all Severus could say.

'Are you going to hug me back, or shall I have to hex you?' she teased him.

Clumsily, Severus hugged her back. Even if she was a witch - and Merlin knows that he'd never been much interested in them! - it felt nice to hold someone. His treacherous mind brought him back to that day when Harry had kissed him.

Severus was saved from arousing memories by Draco.

'Very touching,' the blond said from the door.

Hermione pecked Severus's cheek and turned to face Draco.

'I see that your nap did you good. You're practically your old self again,' Hermione said.

Draco glared.

'Come here, Draco,' Hermione ordered, one of her fingers pointing toward a spot an inch from her.

The blond wizard snorted.

'What? Too afraid of a Gryffie witch, Malfoy?' she teased him.

Draco instantly looked as if he'd been stung by a dozen bees. As straight as he could, Draco walked to the spot Hermione had indicated.

He was ready to be hexed, or punched, but not to be hugged in his turn.

'What do you think you're doing?' Draco protested.

'You're very far from being a friend yet, Draco, but I think that you need this,' Hermione said.

Much to Severus's surprise, a dam broke, and Draco collapsed on Hermione's shoulder. He apologized for his past behaviour, but the young wizard's main problem was that Pansy Parkinson had truly broken his heart.

'An engagement is for better or worse, so if she left when she knew you'd be in trouble, it means that she wasn't the right girl for you,' Hermione declared seriously.

'As much as it pains me to admit it, she's right,' Severus said.

Hermione hit Severus's arm and growled, 'What was that? Wizard solidarity? I've had enough stupid behaviour with Ron, so could you behave?'

'You two are going to be all right?' asked Draco.

Hermione nodded.

'We've been fighting for the past seven years. I guess that it will never change... much. He did and said very stupid things. I gave him time to think, and I've got all the Weasleys keeping an eye on him for me,' she said.

'What I did this morning,' Severus began.

Hermione interrupted him and said, 'You did what had to be done, full stop. If Molly is not happy with that, I can do to her what I did to Ron. I know how to handle Weasleys, and since Neville lent me his Pureblood reference book, I understand many things much better.'

Draco finally thanked Hermione for the hug, and the three of them worked in the kitchen. They were about to bring trays to Remus and Minerva when the older witch walked in with Remus, whom she was helping.

Before Severus could protest, Minerva said, 'I'm properly pinned under a werewolf, and he's almost asleep.'

Remus and Draco wondered what she meant, but while Severus was busy hiding his blush, Hermione told them that it was a private joke.

They ended up spending the rest of the day together, planning what each of them had to do next.

Minerva tried to convince Harry that now that she had helped them bring Draco here, she could Apparate to her cottage near Edinburgh. Severus very quietly told her that he would not allow her to endanger herself by not resting properly now that she had been completely healed.

'But there is so much to do,' she protested.

They were all together in the main parlour.

Hermione, Remus and Minerva were on a huge sofa, and Severus and Draco each had settled in a chair.

Severus looked at Minerva and said, 'You've been invited into this house, but not out of it.'

'What do you mean?' Minerva wondered.

'The wards have been modified, and if Harry says that you can't leave, then you can't. You'd better rest and let us take care of you,' Hermione said.

'Besides, I think that you and Remus could keep an eye on each other,' Severus added.

Thus Severus was trapping two Gryffindors with one sham; Remus was promoted to knight in shining armour, and Minerva was to play nurse and bodyguard.

Both nodded, and Severus fought not to chuckle.

Remus said that he'd leave Grimmauld Place as soon as possible.

Severus looked at the werewolf and decided that he didn't want to let Remus go on fighting his curse and the prejudices of the wizarding community alone.

'Why don't you move in here?' Severus asked.

Remus gaped.

The werewolf finally regained control and said, 'Thank you, Harry, but I can't. It's your home, and as you rightfully pointed out this morning, you need time all by yourself.'

'I've been spending most of my life feeling alone while surrounded with people; I'd like to know what it's like to live with friends,' Severus said.

Remus was too moved to speak, so he simply nodded, and that made Severus smile.

'Friends?' Hermione asked. 'Plural form.'

'Minerva is to stay at least for a week with us, you said you wouldn't leave me alone,' Severus began, and Hermione winked and nodded enthusiastically. 'Remus is moving in, and there's Draco.'

'What about me?' the blond asked suspiciously.

'Even if you're strong enough to go to the Ministry tomorrow, the papers that you're going to need to prove that you are fully innocent, and that your estate can be given back to you, won't be signed before five days at best. The War is over, and I don't wish to fight you. If you want to stay here with us until you can reclaim Malfoy Manor, you are welcome,' Severus said.

'Well, that is very noble of you, Potter,' Draco started.

'Harry,' Hermione stage-whispered.

Draco sighed, and went on, 'That's very noble of you, Harry. I hope you will come and visit my home someday, so I can show you the splendours of a well-kept Pureblood home.'

'I'll be delighted to see what you deem to be Pureblood good taste,' Severus retorted.

Remus chuckled.

'If I'm not mistaken,' Hermione told Minerva, 'the blond is deeply touched to be invited here.'

'Yes, and Harry is happy to bury the hatchet,' Minerva said.

Draco and Severus turned to the two witches and looked like outraged little boys, which made Remus laugh softly.

That being settled, Draco decided that he really had to go to the Ministry to straighten out his situation as soon as possible. Severus said he'd go with him because he wondered if the authorities wanted his statement about the events he witnessed during the final battle. He knew that he could escape trouble by telling them he remembered being hexed, but nothing beside that, which was the truth.

They all agreed that it might be a good idea to get rid of that quickly, so that Harry could enjoy true holidays for the first time in his life.

Minerva and Remus were the first to go to bed.

Hermione, Draco and Severus talked for a bit longer. Draco and Hermione had plans for the future, things they wanted to do and see. Severus remained mostly silent; he didn't know what he wanted to do.

Sleep eluded Severus most of the night. It had always been like that, but in the room where he was, it was even worse.

When Hermione came down for breakfast, Severus and Draco were already there.

Hermione froze.

'Where's Remus?' she asked.

On her way down, she had walked into his room to check that he was sleeping, but he wasn't there.

'Asleep certainly,' Draco answered.

'He's not in his room; I thought he was with you. Do you think he left?' Hermione asked Severus.

'Do not worry. He's resting well, but not in his room,' Severus said.

'Finally, you do have some taste, Harry,' Draco declared.

Severus was forced to laugh heartily.

'Not everybody likes both witches and wizards, like you,' Severus told Draco. 'It's true that Remus is rather good looking, but he only likes his opposite gender. He's not resting in my bed; he's mistaking a skinny witch for his pillow.'

'Remus and Minerva?' Hermione squeaked.

'There's no need to be shocked!' Draco exclaimed. 'Minerva is not that old, and with her Scottish blood, I bet she's still very good horizontally.'

'Stop thinking of me as a bigoted Muggle, will you?!' she growled, cuffing the back of Draco's head. 'I know that Minerva is not that old. I was just thinking that they'd both be too tired to do anything.'

'They didn't do much,' Severus said.

'How do you know?' Draco asked, rubbing his hands together.

Severus shrugged.

'I couldn't sleep, so I walked around the house. When I went back to my room I heard them. It's a very good thing. Minerva has been alone for too long, and Remus deserves to be loved,' Severus said.

'We all deserve to be loved,' Draco said in a whisper.

Hermione was right behind him; she leant over and pecked Draco's cheek.

'While I was up and thinking,' Severus said to change the topic, 'I remembered you said that Neville is to be released today, perhaps we could go and see him after our trip to the Ministry.'

'And invite him here as well,' Hermione chuckled.

Severus growled, but it was settled.

They left Remus and Minerva's breakfast on the stove and Disapparated.

They took care of Draco's problem first, and the young Slytherin met a member of the Order, who promised that he would take care of all the papers himself - within a week, Draco's rights would be fully restored. That Ministry officer was even entitled to record Harry's testimony about the final battle.

In the corridors, Hermione and Draco took to protecting Severus, who suddenly had even more fans than the average rock singer.

By chance they ran into Arthur Weasley, who was absolutely delighted to see them. Arthur understood Harry's reaction perfectly, and he told Severus that Molly now understood as well.

'I'll go and see her soon, but I need some more time,' Severus said.

'Of course! We all understand. Even Moody does,' Arthur added.

'That's something!' Severus chuckled.

Arthur grinned.

'Oh! Percy Fire-called me this morning at breakfast to tell me that Professor Snape had just brought in a sealed statement about the last battle. He said that Percy was all right when he brought him to the Ministry. Percy left him in an office where he stayed for three hours. When no one came to see him, he left. Percy might have had some magical accident,' Arthur said.

'Is Professor Snape really all right?' Hermione asked.

'Yes, Percy even said that he looked absolutely radiant and serene. He was wearing Muggle clothes and had come with a Muggle,' Arthur answered.

Severus was happy to hear that Harry was faring better in Severus's body than he was in Harry's, but that made him feel sad for some reason which he could not explain.

'You look moved,' Draco said, looking at Severus.

'He saved me,' Severus said.

'Well, now we know that he's alive and well,' Hermione said.

'I wonder who his Muggle friend is,' Arthur said, more to himself than to the others.

'His boyfriend, maybe,' Draco suggested.

'We've got to find you someone before you turn into a compulsive match-maker,' Hermione teased Draco.

While Arthur asked why Hermione was saying that, and what had happened to Draco, and while the two answered, Severus felt his lips tingling. He started caressing them, and he wondered if he had made a terrible blunder the moment he had dismissed Harry.

Severus was still lost in thought when he and his two friends reached the hospital.

'You're brooding, Potter,' Draco stated.

Severus didn't answer.

Draco and Hermione traded an anxious look, but didn't comment on the other wizard's behaviour.

The three found Neville's room as he was ready to leave with Ginny and Ron's help.

When Hermione walked into the room, Ron let go of Neville, who practically collapsed on Ginny, and Ron kissed Hermione as if there were no tomorrow.

'I've missed you, too,' Hermione said, when their lips parted.

'I've been an idiot,' Ron said, holding his girlfriend.

Hermione looked at Ginny, and both witches giggled.

'That must be witches' solidarity,' Draco said dryly.

All the wizards nodded, and the witches laughed at them.

Ginny had convinced Neville to come and rest for a few days at the Burrow, but when Severus said that he'd like to have them all in Grimmauld Place, Severus's invitation was accepted.

Severus could not have imagined that he'd love and hate the time spent in Harry's skin.

Of course, it was nice to have friends. In fact, Severus found out that the Gryffindors were not that bad - far from it.

What was awful was that Remus and Minerva were understanding that they really liked each other, that Ron was glued to Hermione, and that Neville was apparently involved with Ginny and the two were obviously interested in Draco. Draco was deeply surprised, but not hostile to such an opportunity.

Day after day, Severus got to experience first hand what it was like to be Harry Potter, and he saw how people thought that Harry belonged to them, and either worshipped or hated him.

His guests in Grimmauld Place should have made everything easier, but he was always reminded, one way or the other, that they were Harry's friends, not his. Even Draco was closer to Neville and Ginny than he was to Severus.

After just a week, Severus felt lonelier than he had ever felt in his entire life.

Once again, they were all spending the evening in the main parlour, but this time they were - all but one - chatting about their relationships.

Draco was inviting Neville to use the greenhouses in Malfoy Manor for his research, and they were planning to see Ginny during the holidays, and Hogsmeade weekends.

A member of the Board had offered Remus the DADA position once again, and he and Minerva were delighted to work together again.

Hermione and Ron were both starting the Auror training in September.

At one point during their talk Severus plunged into his thoughts, and he started caressing his lips without noticing it.

'What's wrong with your lips, mate?' Ron teased him.

Severus felt himself blushing, and wished he could kick himself.

'Nothing,' Severus lied.

'Are you troubled by the memory of a kiss?' Draco asked.

The blond was becoming too Gryffindorish for Severus's taste, and he growled, 'If you must know, yes, I'm troubled by the memory of a kiss.'

'Not Cho?' Ron almost squeaked.

That nearly made Severus laugh heartily.

'No, not a witch,' Severus answered.

'May we know who the lucky wizard who makes you all dreamy is?' Remus asked gently.

'I fear that you wouldn't approve. Any of you,' Severus said.

'Don't be silly, Sweetheart,' Minerva said. 'Look at us; how could any of us judge you?'

Severus snorted.

'We won't make fun of you. It looks like you like him a lot, and we only want you to be happy. Honestly, Darling, you haven't looked very happy recently. You survived the War, and you look as if you've got yet another battle to fight,' Ginny said.

'Maybe you're right. Maybe that's how I feel,' Severus whispered.

'Is it because of the wizard you like that you feel like that?' Neville asked.

'Not only,' Severus said.

He felt absolutely drained suddenly.

'Come on, spill the beans! Who is the bloke who kissed you?' Ron asked.

'It happened during Occlumency training,' Severus said.

'Yuck!' Ron exclaimed. 'Snape kissed you!'

Severus paled and began shaking.

'It was the other way round if you must know,' Severus said.

'Why did you kiss him?' Ron wondered, turning slightly green.

Hermione cuffed the back of Ron's head.

'Don't be such an ass! Professor Snape is not that bad,' Ginny almost barked at her brother.

'Do you like him?' Draco asked, dumbfounded.

'He's sometimes sharp when he tries to correct a mistake while we're brewing, but if you take that aside, he's absolutely brilliant, he's got incredible hands, and his voice could melt a cauldron if he wanted,' Ginny answered.

Ron, Draco and Severus were gaping. They lost their lower jaws on the carpet when Minerva added that she liked semi-long hair, and when Hermione declared that under his uniform Severus Snape hid a great ass.

'If you really like him that much, you should tell him. He's not a seer, you know,' Remus said kindly.

Severus nodded and resumed his daydreaming with lip caressing.

Not long after his confession, Severus excused himself and went to his room. His guests thought that he needed to think about what they'd said, but Severus meant to start brewing Remus's Wolfsbane.

Not one hour later, Severus had the nastiest surprise he could have in Harry's skin. Severus Snape was inside Harry Potter, but not Severus's gift with potions. In that body he simply was unable to brew correctly.

That was a highly unpleasant last straw.

He had promised Remus he'd get him a dose of Wolfsbane, and he meant to keep his word.

Severus ran to the underwear drawer; he wanted to read Harry's message again. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the empty box, or of the letter.

Severus started to panic; how was he supposed to find the clue if the letter was gone?

He tried dozens of spells and Summoning charms, to no avail.

Severus was about to storm downstairs and demand to know who had dared take the letter from his room, when Hermione came in.

'What's wrong?' she asked.

'I've lost something,' he growled.

'Is it something you really need?' she wondered.

'Do you really think I'd be so upset if I didn't really need it?' he barked.

'Are you sure you really need it?' she insisted.

Severus slowly turned to face Hermione.

'It took you longer than I had expected to figure out that I am the link to Harry, Professor Snape,' she said, not bothering to hide an impudent grin.

He gaped, but eventually managed to asked, 'How long have you known?'

She snorted like he would - had Severus still been in his own body.

'I helped Harry right after the famous Occlumency session. I found him crying. Thanks to your potions he was unable to lie, and I discovered quite a lot about him that night,' Hermione said.

'Who else knows?' Severus wondered.

'There was Percy to some extent, but that's all. Just you, Harry and me,' she said.

'So what the others said tonight about me is the truth?' he asked.

Hermione nodded.

Severus was speechless.

Well, almost.

'What you said...' his voice trailed off.

'Is the truth, because I've seen how Harry wraps your body in Muggle clothes, and I bet even you are going to like it,' she said.

'How could he do that? I know that he took nothing from his vault, and I know how much I've got in mine,' Severus said.

'You're not going to believe it,' Hermione giggled.

'Try me,' Severus said.

Harry had taken only ten Galleons from Severus's account on his way to Hermione's uncle where he would be living until Severus came to fetch him, or not. While Hermione's eccentric uncle had taken Harry out for lunch they had bought lottery tickets, and Harry had won an indecently huge sum of money.

'You're rich,' Hermione told Severus.

'Well, that's very nice for Harry, but I have a serious problem. I can't brew Remus's potion with Harry's hands. You must tell me where I can find him, we've got to swap back,' Severus said.

'After he Memory-charmed Percy, Harry went to your quarters and asked the castle to protect the area. He took a bottle of the Wolfsbane with him. We didn't know how you would be able to brew in Harry's body, and it looked like a good idea for Remus. I didn't know that the cauldron had been destroyed, otherwise I could have told Harry to bring Remus his potion,' Hermione said.

Severus could see that she regretted as much as he did that Remus didn't have the comfort of the Wolfsbane.

Severus sighed with relief.

'It's a good thing Harry took a dose; I won't worry about the timing to brew a new batch,' Severus said.

'Good. If you want, we could go and see Harry tomorrow morning', Hermione said.

Severus agreed.

Sleep eluded him again, but it was because he was going to see Harry again.

The next morning, Hermione and Severus Disapparated to Brighton.

Hermione led Severus to her uncle's house, and she let Severus ring.

A charming Muggle answered the door, and he immediately hugged Hermione; then he looked at Severus and smiled warmly. The man turned toward the house and yelled, 'Harry, your body is here!'

Severus heard china being hastily deposited on some tiles if the sound was any indication, and someone ran to the door.

It was utterly disturbing to get to observe one's own body from outside, and it wasn't astral projection.

'You've cut my hair!' almost shouted Severus when he saw Harry.

'Only half an inch. It was necessary because Voldemort's spells had burnt you. And hello to you too, Professor,' Harry said sadly.

'Burnt?' Severus gasped.

Hermione's uncle cuffed the back of Severus's head and growled, 'He saved you when he swapped with you. Your soul only survived because you were in Harry's skin. Hermione took care of the injuries Harry could not heal alone, and yes, we had to cut your hair because that Voldemort sure had been angry with you. Were it not for Harry, you'd be rotting six feet under!'

'Stupid boy! You could have died in my body when you swapped!' Severus barked at Harry.

Tears welled in Severus's eyes, and Harry retreated into the kitchen.

This time, it was Hermione who cuffed Severus.

'What do you think you're doing, Granger?!' Severus asked in a snarl, rubbing his head.

'Well, I'm doing something Harry will never do, but you deserve it for making him sad. Harry grew up with awful Muggles and he doesn't give a fuck about the Pureblood rules,' Hermione began.

'Language!' said her uncle.

She gave him a look that would have frozen Medusa, and went on lecturing Severus, 'Now if he hadn't swapped with you to keep his word and shown you how perfect it is to be Harry Potter, you'd be dead. Why did he save you?'

Severus came to the only logical conclusion, but he couldn't believe that Harry had developed feelings for him, and he snorted.

Hermione faced him and slapped him.

'If you are that stupid, you don't deserve Harry,' she hissed. 'I'll go back to Grimmauld Place, and when you Apparate back to your home, I'll be gone, Professor. Do not worry; I will not betray your stupid secret.'

The way she spat the word "professor" made Severus flinch.

'Grang... Hermione... I'm not used to respect and friendship,' Severus said.

'That's no reason to behave like a bastard,' Hermione's uncle intervened.

The word stung, but Severus nodded.

'Don't leave Grimmauld Place, Hermione. I'm going to give it back to Harry, and I'll go to my quarters in Hogwarts. I have a potion to brew,' Severus said.

Hermione tilted her head, and Severus wondered why she looked so worried suddenly.

'You must swap back inside Grimmauld Place because you changed the wards. If you were to do it here, Grimmauld Place would be lost, and Minerva would be trapped in it forever,' Hermione pointed out.

Severus paled.

'Why don't you go and chat with Harry? His room's the second door on the left, upstairs,' Hermione's uncle suggested.

'I'll wait for you two,' the witch said when she saw that Severus was hesitant.

Severus went upstairs, knocked on the door, and went in even though Harry had not answered.

Harry was looking out of the window. He didn't move when Severus came in, and closed the door behind him.

Now that he could look at his own body without being angry with Harry, Severus had to admit that Harry had taken very good care of his body.

The Slytherin green silk shirt Harry wore was astounding, as was the black pair of trousers. Severus was surprised that Harry hadn't tried to make Severus look ridiculous; it looked as if Harry was taking care of a precious gift.

Severus walked to Harry and gently placed one hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry was tall, but Severus was even taller, and it was strange for Severus to be slightly smaller than his own body.

'I'm not myself in you,' Severus whispered in apology.

Harry chuckled and turned to face Severus. There were still some tears in Harry's eyes, and without thinking Severus cupped Harry's cheek. That simple gesture made the younger wizard smile warmly.

'I guess that it must have been strange for you. Hermione briefly left the house yesterday after you told her you wanted to see me, and she phoned here. She said that you couldn't brew properly. I've had some surprises, as well,' Harry said.

'Such as?' Severus wondered.

Harry blushed deeply, and then he looked at Severus and smiled.

'Stop trying to give me wrinkles, and answer the question,' Severus said.

Harry heard that Severus was not angry with him; he smiled again and looked at his borrowed hands.

'My relatives always had me prepare the meals, so I told Andrew - that's Hermione's uncle - that I would cook for him. The day after the end of the War, he wanted to invite some friends for dinner, and asked me if I could do something. To make a long story short, thanks to your hands I did such an astounding job that one of Andrew's friends is ready to welcome me to the kitchens of his hotel whenever I want,' Harry said.

'You're doing better in my skin than I do in yours,' Severus stated.

'I gave you a real burden, and Hermione said that you did a fantastic job,' Harry answered.

'You were the one with a burden. Within a week you managed to find a way to be independent, and you've found a job. I did nothing,' Severus said.

'I hid among Muggles. I'm not sure I would have been strong enough to walk in your shoes in the wizarding world, you know,' Harry added.

'I was wrong to wish for your life. I understood how wrong I had been as soon as I woke up, but I couldn't admit it. When I tried to brew Remus's potion and failed...' Severus's voice trailed off.

From Harry's cheek, Severus's hand had settled on Harry's shoulder, and Harry took it and held it gently.

'Being a Potions master is the only thing that ever truly belonged to me, when I lost that, it was worse than anything,' Severus explained.

Harry nodded and said, 'I understand.'

'You're the only one who can,' Severus admitted.

Shyly, Harry looked at Severus and murmured, 'I missed you.'

'You kept your word to the letter. I missed you, as well.'

One inch at a time, Harry closed the space between them and simply hugged Severus. Hermione had been hugging Severus so many times since he'd woken up in Harry's skin that he was beginning to get the hang of it.

'You're not angry with me, right?' Harry asked.

Severus sighed.

'No, I'm not. I was retrospectively afraid for you. I'm not even angry with you about my hair, though I know that Minerva is going to be disappointed,' Severus said.

'Why?' Harry wondered.

'I discovered that she likes my hair, Salazar knows why!' Severus said.

Harry looked at his own body and asked, 'Is the spell on my... er... your eyes permanent? Now that I've seen what it's like to see without glasses, I understand that you had a brilliant idea to have a correction done.'

'They're your eyes, Harry. We both know that I don't really want to be Harry Potter, and you can't remain Severus Snape forever. I thought that it should be your decision to have a permanent spell cast,' Severus said.

Harry pecked Severus's cheek.

Severus blushed, and whispered, 'Silly brat.'

'What do you want us to do now?' Harry asked.

'We could go to Grimmauld Place and swap back, then all you'll have to do is to key the wards to your magical signature, and I'll go back to Hogwarts,' Severus said.

'Won't you stay with me in Grimmauld Place?' Harry said in a small voice.

'Why would I stay?' Severus asked.

'We could spend time together, and get to know each other,' Harry suggested.

'You can't possibly mean that,' Severus said, looking at his shoes.

'Severus, tell me what I have to do to make you understand that I'm not lying to you. Tell me, and I'll do it,' Harry said.

Harry didn't notice the tears rolling down his cheeks until Severus wiped them away.

'I'm sorry. I'm not used to treasures like you. All I know is manipulation and betrayal,' Severus said.

'I know, but that's not all that there is in this world. When I went to your quarters, I asked the Founders to protect your home. You've got the ingredients for next month's batch of Wolfsbane, you could stay with me. We could just chat or... whatever... something. Just be together,' Harry said.

Severus nodded, and Harry grinned, which made Severus growl "wrinkles".

Severus and Harry went downstairs to tell Hermione and Andrew that everything was all right, and that they'd both go to Grimmauld Place. Harry was packed in two flicks of Hermione's wand.

Andrew told Harry to come and see him whenever he wanted, and the wizards and the witch Disapparated to London.

Severus took Harry's hand to lead him into the house. They were still walking hand in hand when they reached the kitchen, and all their friends saw them.

Ron was gaping and pointing at Severus.

'Ronald Bilius Weasley,' growled Hermione. 'One nasty word and you'll be sleeping alone tonight!'

Ron looked at his girlfriend, at Harry, and then at Severus.

He gulped.

'Morning!' Ron gasped. 'Tea or coffee, Professor Snape?' he asked.

'Tea, thank you,' Harry answered.

Ron turned to the stove to cast a spell on the kettle.

Minerva finally reacted and rushed to the one she thought was her fellow, and she hugged Harry in Severus's body.

'My dear Severus, I'm so happy to see you!' she exclaimed.

Harry hugged her back and asked if they were all fine.

They all told him what they'd done since they last saw him. Harry was particularly surprised to discover the budding bond between Neville, Ginny and Draco.

'What happened to you, Severus? Were you threatened after the battle?' Remus asked.

'I... I had something to do. I had to go. I'm really sorry about your potion,' Harry apologized.

'It was not your fault. You couldn't imagine that the Auror sent to search your quarters would be prejudiced against werewolves,' Remus said.

Harry shrugged.

'It's strange; it looks like you're already influencing each other,' Ginny told Severus and Harry.

'What is strange is that you're interested in each other,' Draco said.

Harry pointedly looked at Draco, who was sitting between Neville and Ginny.

'Isn't there a saying about a pot and a kettle?' Severus asked Harry.

'It rings a bell,' Harry answered.

Hermione, Ginny and Minerva giggled.

'That has to be some witch thing,' Neville told Remus, pointing a thumb toward the witches.

Remus nodded enthusiastically.

Ron was glaring at Severus.

'You look different, Professor,' Ron finally said.

'May I remind you that you don't know much about me,' Harry said.

'You're right,' Ron grumbled.

Harry chuckled, and Severus understood that it was what he'd wanted to hear in this house: Harry's voice. Of course, to those who didn't know, it was just Snape chuckling, but Severus could hear Harry through his own voice.

Severus noticed that Remus was observing him, but he could tell that Remus was happy that Harry had found Severus.

'If Severus is moving in, maybe you could help him settle down,' Remus suggested.

'Would you like me to help you?' Severus asked Harry.

'Yes, please,' Harry answered.

Ron looked around at all the guests in Grimmauld Place, and said, 'I bet we are the oddest household in the wizarding world today.'

'Well, we don't know what the twins are doing,' Ginny said.

They all laughed heartily.

While the remains of the breakfast and the dishes were taken care of, Severus and Harry went upstairs to find a room for Severus.

'Where do you want me to stay once we swap back?' Severus asked.

Harry blushed.

'What?' wondered Severus.

Harry looked at his shoes and mumbled something.

'Just a bit louder, Harry, please,' Severus said.

'The master bedroom is big enough for two, even if... even if we just chat at night,' Harry said, blushing furiously.

At first, all that Severus could say was a string of onomatopoeias, and then he managed to gasp, 'Really?'

Harry nodded.

'In Merlin's name, why?!' Severus asked.

'I want to be near you, and I don't fancy being in that room all alone,' Harry said.

'I was all alone,' Severus retorted.

'May I remind you that it was your fault if we weren't together?' Harry snapped.

Severus shrugged.

They both went to the room Severus occupied, and Harry took Severus's magically reduced trunk out of his back pocket.

Harry was emptying the trunk and handing its contents to Severus, who spelled the items into the various drawers and to the pantry shelves.

There was Severus's Hogwarts uniform, and from the look of it, Voldemort had been very angry - even magic had been unable to mend some of the burns.

There were some Muggle clothes that Harry had bought.

'I hope you'll like them. They're very comfortable,' Harry told Severus.

'You should keep them,' Severus said.

'I'm not exactly your size, and magic doesn't always work well on Muggle clothes,' Harry answered.

Harry handed Severus the precious bottle of Wolfsbane, and then the very last item in the trunk was the key to Severus's vault.

'When I brought a statement to the Ministry, I also deposited the lottery money on your account in Gringotts. The Goblins were almost smiling,' Harry said.

'That was silly!' Severus said.

'Well, if you don't want it on that account, you can always change that whenever you want,' Harry said.

'That money is not mine!' Severus growled.

'Yes, it is!' Harry growled back.

They began fighting about the money Harry had won, and it soon became obvious that Harry didn't want to keep it, and Severus refused to accept it.

'You're the one being silly, Severus! Your hand picked the winning ticket, not mine!' Harry said.

'Idiot!' Severus hissed.

'You don't want to keep it?' Harry asked one last time.

Severus shook his head.

'Fine,' Harry barked.

'I'll give it back to you as soon as we've swapped back to our own bodies,' Severus said, absolutely delighted that Harry was finally being reasonable.

'Yes, of course... Provided that you find how to swap back,' Harry purred viciously.

Severus paled and asked, 'What do you mean?'

'I'm the only one who knows which spell I used on us, and I'm not telling you which one it was until you swear that you'll keep what I accidentally won while in your skin,' Harry said.

'I could ask Hermione,' Severus said.

'She told me what the nine spells that allow two people to swap bodies are, but I'm the one who chose. I am the only one who can tell you how to get your body back,' Harry said.

'I could give you some Veritaserum again,' Severus growled.

'You're in my body, Sweetheart. Your precious phials are stored in Hogwarts, in quarters you can't enter if you're not in your own body, and you can't brew,' Harry reminded him.

'Harry! Don't be silly! Remus needs the potion,' Severus exclaimed.

'Severus, I don't need that money. Can't you understand that you're the only treasure I'm interested in?' Harry said, sitting on the bed.

'Why?' Severus asked.

'Because from what I've seen of your life when you were training me, and from what I know about you, I really think we might build something together, if only you'd stop treating me like a child and you trusted me,' Harry declared.

'Each time that I have trusted someone, I've been betrayed,' Severus said.

'I'm not like that,' Harry murmured, on the verge of tears again.

Severus took a step toward Harry and pushed a lock of hair behind Harry's ear.

Severus was leaning to kiss Harry when the younger wizard stopped him by placing one finger on Severus's lips.

'Will you keep the money?' Harry asked.

'No, I want you to take it back.'

'Severus! You could accept it and donate it to Fudge, or Skeeter, or some useful charitable trust. Don't do that to me, please. You've been betrayed all your life, I've been rejected all mine,' Harry said. 'As long as you don't accept it, there shall be no kiss, and we won't swap back!'

Harry stood up and walked to the door.

'I'll sleep in the parlour,' Harry said.

He left the room and closed the door, leaving a stunned Potions master behind.

All day long, Harry was very civil with Severus, but all their guests could see that there was something odd between them.

Evening came, and they all went back to their rooms, except Harry, who took a novel and settled in the parlour.

'Won't you come with me?' Severus asked.

Harry ignored him.

Two hours later, the magic in the carpet in Severus's room was protesting under his pacing.

Severus was about to go downstairs to fetch Harry after accepting the money when someone knocked on his door.

Severus opened it, and was somehow surprised to see Harry standing there.

'May I come in?' Harry asked.

'Of course!' Severus answered with a warm smile.

'I've been thinking,' Harry started.

Severus tilted his head and waited, but Harry seemed deeply moved by something.

'Yes?' Severus encouraged him.

'I find it completely stupid that you don't want the lottery money, but if it's because I won it, then you can have it transferred to my account when it pleases you. I'm just asking you to do it yourself. I'm going to tell you which spell to use to have us swap back, and then I'll be going,' Harry said.

'It's for the best, Harry. It's your money,' Severus said.

'Yeah, Potter-money, nearly as filthy and worthless as the Blacks',' Harry whispered.

'That's not what I mean!' Severus shouted.

'That's how it feels,' Harry said softly. 'Let's say the spell, so I can just go.'

'Where?' Severus gasped.

Harry shrugged.

'What are you planning to do?' Severus inquired.

'You know, since the Family Council trapped me into accepting the Black heritage, and we had that argument, the memory of our kiss is the only thing that kept me going. I dreamt of what we might build, and I felt the depth of my feelings for you when I saw Voldemort hexing you. I killed him because of what he did to you,' Harry explained. 'If I'm nothing enough for you, there's nothing here for me. I'll give you your life back, and I'll try to find something in the Muggle world. Andrew will help me.'

Severus froze.

Severus felt as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff.

It was time for a leap of faith.

'I was on my way to fetch you,' Severus said. 'I want you here with me.'

'Really?' Harry asked, beaming and grinning.

Severus nodded.

The next instant, Harry was hugging him, and pecking Severus's cheeks.

'You're keeping the money. Really, it's not a joke, right?' Harry asked.

'Well, maybe I can afford to buy the ingredients to work on a cure for Remus,' Severus answered.

'I don't know the price of those ingredients, but if you don't have enough, I'm willing to help. Agreed?' Harry asked.

'Exactly how much did you... did I win?' Severus asked.

Harry summoned the statement of Severus's Gringotts account, and handed it to Severus.

Severus froze, and then he took to blinking.

'Are you all right?' Harry asked worriedly.

Severus couldn't speak, so he only nodded.

'Severus, you're starting to worry me,' Harry said.

'I've never seen so much money. I never thought I would ever have that much. I can work on Remus's curse. Hell! I could open my own lab and shop! I could stop working!' Severus said.

Harry could see how moved Severus was.

'If...' Harry began.

'Yes?'

'If you do that, maybe you'll need someone to sell your potions,' Harry said.

'Are you saying what I think you're saying?' Severus asked.

Harry nodded.

'I'd really like to work with you, if you decide to do that,' Harry said.

'Give me time to get used to all that,' Severus answered. 'You, keeping your word so faithfully, giving me independence if I want to leave my position at Hogwarts, wanting to stay with me and work with me. It's so extraordinary that I fear I'm going to wake up and discover that it was but a dream,' Severus said.

'It's not a dream,' Harry answered. 'But why don't we go to bed and try to have nice dreams?'

'Shouldn't we swap back first?' Severus wondered.

'Well, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I thought we might have some fun,' Harry suggested, blushing deeply.

'What do you mean?'

'Haven't you noticed?' Harry said very surprised.

Severus tilted his head, utterly lost.

'Haven't you tried... things since you woke up?' Harry asked.

'What kind of things?' Severus answered, not helping Harry at all.

'Are you making this difficult just for the fun of seeing me blush in your body, or haven't you noticed what happens when we touch ourselves?' Harry growled.

Realization dawned.

'What have you done with my body?' Severus hissed.

'Not much! Just a wank or two... or ten. It's your body, but it was as if I were touching you with my hands. I didn't know what your body likes, so I thought that since I know what I like, and you must know what you like, we could... well, you get the picture,' Harry confessed.

'That's all you did?!' snarled Severus.

'Seriously, Severus, do you think that I'd get screwed by any bloke in your body? First, I have too much respect for you, and then I'd like to be in my own body for my first time, thank you very much,' Harry growled back.

'Even if what you suggested doesn't exactly count as a full sexual intercourse, you will not be in your body,' Severus pointed out.

'Is it some sort of protection all those big words you tend to use?' Harry wondered.

'Maybe it is,' Severus granted.

'Are you opposed to the idea?' Harry asked.

'It might be... interesting,' Severus admitted.

Harry grinned.

'Wrinkles,' Severus growled softly.

Harry tried to undress Severus, but Severus batted Harry's hands away, and took care of his clothes himself.

Severus turned his back to Harry.

'It's my body; I see it naked on a regular basis,' Harry said.

'Maybe, but I feel naked and vulnerable in your skin,' Severus confessed.

Harry pecked Severus's cheek again and undressed, his back to Severus.

'Are you going to leave Hogwarts?' Harry asked as he slithered under the sheet.

Severus silently joined Harry in bed.

'What's bothering you?' Harry asked. 'What did I say wrong?'

Much to Harry's surprise, Severus gently took Harry's hand and kissed his wrist.

'Do you know why Albus offered me shelter in Hogwarts after I joined Voldemort?' Severus asked.

Harry shook his head.

'Just another thing that has been kept secret, yet this time, very few people know the truth,' Severus went on.

'What happened to you?' Harry asked, wrapping his arms around Severus.

'I understood at an early age that my male genitor had never wanted me. Between Mr Dorkins and some charitable Purebloods, I knew exactly where I stood on the Pureblood charts. In my entire life, I had contact only once with the female who bore me; that was when she ordered me to enter Voldemort's service. I was the youngest Potions master in the kingdom in five centuries. I thought that she was finally proud of me, but it turned out that she was indebted to the Dark Lord,' Severus explained.

'I'm so sorry,' Harry said, tightening his hold on Severus.

'I know now that your lot wasn't much better than mine,' Severus went on. 'When I understood that I had been used once more, I went to the Ministry to be judged and sentenced. Albus took that from me and made me his spy. He thought it was better, but that was only because he felt guilty.'

'Why?'

'Sirius didn't know who I was when we went to Hogwarts. I don't know why, but he hated me instantly, and we found ourselves in Albus's office even before being sorted. Albus let the cat out of the bag, and Sirius vowed to torment me from that moment on,' Severus explained.

Harry didn't know what he could say, so he softly kissed Severus's neck.

'I don't like everything in Hogwarts, but I like being the Head of Slytherin. It's another kind of revenge for the illegitimate child that they all see in me. However, I'm not certain I can go back after what I discovered about Albus,' Severus said.

'What has he done to you?!' Harry asked vehemently.

Severus wrapped his arms around Harry and held him back.

'Not to me, Harry. I discovered what he did to you,' Severus said.

Severus thought that what he'd discovered in Privet Drive belonged to Harry, so he shared everything with Harry. When Severus was through with his account, Harry was crying.

'I remember,' Harry gasped between sobs.

'What, Harry?'

'The box in the kitchen.'

Severus felt like hexing Dumbledore until the old wizard joined Voldemort.

'I'll resign tomorrow,' Severus said.

Harry dried his tears and said, 'Maybe you shouldn't forget such an important part of your life like that. Take some time to think about it.'

'My, my, being in my body is forcing you to be a bit more logical,' Severus teased Harry. 'I thought you had a big theory about our swapping bodies, shall we try it out?'

Harry smiled and placed the tip of a finger on Severus's right nipple. Severus was not particularly fond of having his nipples touched, but in Harry's body he immediately gasped. The night promised to be remarkable, if not refreshing.

'Interesting discovery you've made, Mr Potter,' Severus granted Harry.

'Well, it happened by chance. Every night since I kissed you - by the way, I'll have to find something to thank you for giving me those two potions - I've been dreaming of what we could do together. When I woke up in your body... well, I was... well, I could not join Andrew for breakfast in such a state, so I touched myself. It felt good, but weird,' Harry explained.

Severus decided to try an experiment, and he tickled Harry's navel, because it was an erogenous zone on Severus's body. Harry gasped and purred at the same time.

Severus was deeply amused to be able to fully arouse Harry with such a simple touch. After all, Harry was inexperienced, and trapped in a body that Severus knew extremely well.

The older wizard decided to tease Harry's navel, but what he hadn't taken into account was Harry's Gryffindor side, and his insatiable curiosity - and let's not forget that Harry had said repeatedly that he truly was interested in Severus, and that he wanted them to be more than friends.

In spite of what Severus was doing to him, there was one thing that Harry was dying to try on his body - and therefore on Severus - so he manoeuvred a bit, and fastened his mouth onto Severus's right nipple.

Severus felt pleasure radiate from that little bud down to his balls. Severus kicked the cover back and exposed his and Harry's arousals; at the same time, he threw his head back and hit the bedstead.

'Are you all right, Darling?' Harry asked anxiously.

Severus didn't even growl because of the endearment; he just nodded and gasped, 'Fantastic idea you had. Keep doing that.'

Harry grinned, and Severus barked nothing about wrinkles; he merely settled more comfortably, in the mood to enjoy whatever Harry would give him.

Harry loved to tease his right nipple while he wanked with his left hand, and he'd always wondered how it would feel if someone were to suck his nipple instead of just touching it. Giving this to Severus felt deliciously sinful, and arousing.

Severus was practically trapped under an enthusiastic Harry when the younger man took Severus's shaft in hand.

Harry knew the reactions of his body well, and within three minutes, he had brought Severus to the best orgasm he'd had in a decade - if not his entire life.

Harry had reduced Severus to a mass of jelly gurgling unknown onomatopoeias, and the young wizard quite liked the result.

When he stopped panting, Severus decided to repay Harry for his beautiful gift, and his most excellent idea.

'On your back, Harry; hands under your neck, and spread your legs,' Severus said.

Harry smiled and obeyed.

Severus first stimulated Harry's navel again, and that made Harry practically fly off the bed.

Severus settled between Harry's legs and caressed his thighs, which made Harry tremble delightfully.

Severus wrapped one warm hand around the base of Harry's shaft, and he teased Harry's balls with his other hand. His next move wrenched a shout of pure ecstasy from Harry as Severus sucked just the head of Harry's shaft as he would a lollipop.

It was the stimulation of his sac and the head of his prick that was Harry's undoing. Mere seconds after climaxing, he realized that he'd just come into his own mouth, even if it was Severus in his body. For a training session, it had been astounding, and Harry was sure that the memory of that night was bound to make him hard in one second flat in the future.

Harry opened his arms, and Severus slithered upward to rest on Harry's shoulder.

'I'm drained; let's swap back tomorrow,' Harry said.

Severus just nodded.

They spent a loving night without nightmares or ghosts, and woke up with smiles on their faces.

'Good morning, Darling,' Harry said, yawning inelegantly.

'Good morning, Dear,' Severus answered, not moving from his Harry-pillow.

'Breakfast?' Harry asked.

'I need tea,' Severus stated.

They reluctantly left each other's arms and used the bathroom before putting on bathrobes.

'Tell me which spell you used, and we'll swap back,' Severus said.

'I already told you,' Harry said with a cheeky grin.

'When?'

'Yesterday. At one point, when we were arguing, I told you without noticing,' Harry answered, and he left the room.

Severus was still asking Harry questions when they entered the kitchen, and joined their friends.

Severus tried to replay in his head what Harry had told him, and to combine that with the particulars of the spells that Harry could have used.

A short time after Harry's second cup of tea, Severus assembled all the pieces together. When they'd argued about the money for the first time, Harry had said "As long as you don't accept it, there shall be no kiss, and we won't swap back!".

Severus stood up, and walked behind Harry's chair. He took Harry's cup from his hands, and put it down on the table. Severus then tilted Harry's head to have a better access to the younger wizard's lips, and he said the spell to reverse the swapping as they shared a heated kiss in front of their guests and friends.

They both shivered as they reintegrated their own bodies, and only Hermione knew what had just happened.

'Even better than I remembered,' Harry purred.

Severus smiled.

All their male friends were pointedly looking at their own cups, but the witches were smiling.

Ron was growling a bit, but with a well-aimed kick, Hermione made him stop.

Harry seemed a bit lost now that things were supposedly back to normal.

Severus grabbed Harry's bathrobe and forced Harry to lean so Severus could whisper in his ear, 'Go out of this room to change the wards, and come back to me.'

Harry grinned and obeyed.

'Where are you going?' Neville asked Harry.

'I'll be right back,' Harry said, still grinning.

Harry keyed the wards to his magical signature, and the magic shuddered; it almost felt as if the house knew that Harry was fully back.

Harry walked back in the kitchen, and he was about to sit in the chair that Severus had occupied just a moment before when Severus surprised the hell out of Harry, and slightly pushed his chair back to invite Harry to sit on his lap.

Harry snaked an arm around Severus's neck and sat down with a contented sigh.

Those two wizards grabbed their cups and meant to finish their respective teas, except that the way Harry and Severus liked their teas was very different, and they had to trade their cups.

'Much better,' Severus said when he got the cup he'd been drinking in Harry's body.

Minerva understood what had been going on, and she squeaked, pointing at her friends. Ginny and Remus were the next to understand, and then Neville and Draco. Ron was the last to put two and two together.

'Why did you do that?' Ron asked.

Harry and Severus looked at each other and smiled, but didn't answer.

'Oh, Merlin!' Ginny wailed.

'What?' Draco asked her, gently wrapping an arm around her waist.

Ginny gulped and said, 'I think that "why" is not the important question here.'

'What do you mean?' asked Neville, manoeuvring to hold Ginny as well.

'When they swapped bodies is the question we should ask them,' Ginny said.

Harry chuckled.

'Their magical signatures!' Remus exclaimed.

'What?' Ron asked.

'If you felt our signatures change only a moment ago, it has to mean that we had swapped before my body was brought into this house,' Severus said.

'When? When did you swap? And why, for God's sake?' Ron asked.

'The reason why we swapped is none of your business,' Harry said.

'We might tell you when,' Severus added.

Ginny was very pale.

'Are you all right?' Draco asked his girlfriend.

Ginny looked at Severus and said, 'You were in Harry's body the evening we spoke of you.'

Severus nodded, and Ginny paled even more.

'I'm not angry,' Severus said.

'Really?' Minerva wondered.

'Of course not!' Severus said.

'What you did while in Harry's shoes...' Remus began.

'Severus told me everything he did, and I think it was brilliant,' Harry growled.

Remus smiled broadly and said, 'If you had let me finish my sentence before you jumped to conclusion, I would have said approximately the same thing.'

'Oh,' Harry said.

'It was fantabulous!' Hermione joyfully commented.

Severus smiled and held Harry tighter.

'And you don't know everything,' Harry told Hermione.

'You mean what Professor Snape did when he went shopping,' Hermione inquired.

Severus looked at her and said, 'You are too clever.'

'Thank you very much,' she said.

'Will you tell us when you swapped - if not why - and what Severus did that was so extraordinary?' Remus asked.

Severus and Harry looked at each other and smiled again.

Severus nodded slightly, and Harry began their tale.

'Why we swapped and what Severus did for me will remain our secrets, but I did it right after I killed Voldemort. It was the first time I had the opportunity to use the spell, and I had to do it,' Harry said.

'Why?' Ron asked.

'Harry saved me,' Severus said.

'Why?' Ron asked again.

'Severus would have died, and I could not let that happen,' Harry said.

'I don't think this is what your friend meant,' Severus added as neutrally as possible.

Harry looked at Ron as if Ron had betrayed him to a new Dark Lord. At the same time, Hermione cuffed Ron.

'Ouch!' shouted Ron.

'Gryffindors prejudiced against their own fellows,' snickered Draco.

'The snake is right,' Ron said.

'What?' Harry asked.

'I'm not wondering why you saved him,' Ron said. 'I'm surprised to see you with him, that's all. Maybe I should have said "why him?".'

'Why are you with Hermione?' Harry asked his friend.

'Because I fell in love with her,' Ron answered immediately.

'And I fell in love with Severus. When I understood that Severus's condition was hopeless, I would have died to save him,' Harry said.

'It would have been dreadful to wake up in a world where you would not be,' Severus said.

Harry turned to face Severus and briefly pecked Severus's lips.

'This is a dangerous association,' Draco pointed out.

Ginny cuffed him and growled, 'Careful what you say.'

'Even if we don't betray their secret, quite a lot of people are going to be against them,' Draco said.

'The Family Council,' Remus said.

'And Albus,' Minerva added.

'If we work together, we can beat them,' Hermione said.

'Have you got a plan?' Harry and Severus asked.

Hermione grinned.

The young witch shared her plan with Harry, Severus, and the others, and they had to concede that it was a simple question of strategy and timing.

It was so simple, in fact, that no one would imagine that those two wizards were planning something.

If none of those present in Grimmauld Place - now aware of Harry and Severus's secret - betrayed their friends, it would certainly work.

'Er... Hermione?' Draco said softly.

'What?' she asked.

'When we were sorted, the Hat yelled in my head that I was a Slytherin through and through, but of the worst kind. I was wondering...' Draco's voice trailed off.

'You want to know if the Sorting Hat placed me in Gryffindor because it would have been too difficult for a Muggle-born to be in Slytherin. That's it, right?' she asked.

Draco nodded.

'The Hat wanted me to be in Ravenclaw, but I asked to be sorted into the house that would allow me to become a better witch,' Hermione said.

'Ravenclaw would have been perfect for you,' Remus said, which earned him a punch on the arm from Minerva.

Hermione chuckled and said, 'In Ravenclaw, they would have drowned me in books, and I would never have known Harry and Ron, and I bet things would be much different for me today.'

'I would not be here if you hadn't been in Gryffindor with me,' Harry said.

'We all participated in some excellent team work,' Minerva concluded.

They all nodded and turned to their breakfasts again.

Ron was still looking at Severus and Harry.

'Ron, if you want to say something...' Harry began.

'Don't bark at me because I'm trying to understand why you had to fall for each other, mate!' Ron exclaimed. 'In fact, I think I'm beginning to understand.'

'No kidding!' snorted Ginny.

Ron stood up.

'Even my little sister has no faith in me!' he declared, his voice conveying his sadness.

'I understand,' Severus told Ron.

The young wizard sat down again.

'What is it you understand?' Remus asked Ron in his turn.

'It's quite simple, and twisted at the same time - a bit like Hermione's plan. It's all about love. It strikes blindly. One look around this table and it's clear,' Ron explained. 'A feline Animagus and a werewolf found each other, my baby sister has tamed two wizards who would have hexed each other but a handful of months ago, Hermione is succeeding in hammering things into my skull, so, of course, Harry and Snape are attracted to each other.'

Hermione pecked Ron's cheek, which made him blush.

'Love happens,' Severus whispered.

Severus gently caressed Harry's hair, and the younger wizard placed his head on Severus's shoulder.

'Salazar!' Draco murmured.

Neville leant toward Draco and asked, 'What?'

The room was silent, and they were all waiting for Draco to answer.

'My dear Neville, I'm going to plot something extremely Slytherin to make you pay for that, because I am now forced to say before our friends that I find Potter and my former Head of House cute together,' Draco said.

'Dear God, I'm screwed,' Neville gulped.

'You'd let me?' Draco asked with a feral grin.

Neville paled.

'I'd pay to watch,' Ginny said.

Neville paled even more.

'Ginny!' Ron exclaimed.

Minerva looked at Hermione, and both witches laughed softly.

'What's wrong with you, ladies?' Neville wailed.

'Don't be silly, Nev',' Draco purred.

'What?' Neville wondered.

'Neville,' Draco said patiently, 'I bet that just like Ron, Remus and I, the idea of two girls doing stuff together turns you on.'

Neville nodded.

'Well, you reverse that, and you get a very common girl fantasy,' Draco explained.

'You impress me, Draco,' Minerva said.

'I'm a Slytherin,' Draco answered.

'Is that true?' Neville asked. 'That it's a girl fantasy, I mean.'

'Oh, yeah!' Ginny and Hermione said in unison.

Ron blushed yet again, while Neville discovered new possibilities.

Severus and Harry saw Ginny take Draco's hand; the blond was looking at Neville with a new fire in his eyes.

'All this is absolutely incredible and fabulous,' Remus said, resting his head on Minerva's shoulder.

Harry looked at all his friends and smiled.

He was happy, at last, and with a little bit more plotting, he would live happily ever after.

'Shall we start?' Severus suggested.

They all nodded.

'To the Burrow, then,' Harry said, as he reluctantly left Severus's lap.

'Oh, by the way, you can now all come and go as you please,' Harry added.

'At last!' Minerva exclaimed.

'Don't overwork yourself, Minerva,' Severus advised her.

'I'll be happy to be able to go out and shop for the household,' she answered.

'And I shall keep an eye on her,' Remus added.

Severus stood up and shared a look with Harry. Both wizards looked at the other most improbable couple in the room and pictured their nocturnal activities. Their thoughts could clearly be read on their faces, and Remus was about to scold them when he noticed that all the others had the exact same look, and instead, he blushed deeply.

Minerva came to her lover's rescue and announced that they'd just shop for a handful of days, and then they'd come back to wait for the return of the happy plotters.

They left the house all together.

The two Weasleys and their lovers went to the Burrow. They Disapparated, and Ginny activated her family Portkey.

Harry and Severus walked hand in hand, and they chatted with Remus and Minerva until Hermione Apparated to them and told them that the stage was awaiting them.

Neville and Draco knew that Ginny would be transported into her bedroom, and they followed her magical signature.

Ron and Hermione Apparated straight into the kitchen where Arthur and Molly were having breakfast.

The Weasleys were absolutely delighted to have Ron and Hermione in the Burrow.

Ron launched the attack when he told his parents that he meant to marry Hermione as soon as he had a steady position somewhere.

Arthur hugged his son, and Molly practically crushed her future daughter-in-law.

'Oh, I am so happy!' Molly laughed and sobbed.

'There's more than us,' Hermione purred.

'What do you mean, Sweetie?' Molly wondered.

'Well, Ginny was with us, and she's got a surprise for you, too,' Ron said.

'A surprise?' Arthur asked, still holding his son.

'Ginny!' Ron called.

The young witch instantly ran downstairs.

Molly sobbed again.

Arthur and Molly didn't have enough arms to hold their children.

'What is this surprise that Ron and Hermione mentioned?' Arthur asked his daughter.

'You know that I'm no longer a little girl,' Ginny said.

'Of course, Darling!' her parents exclaimed in perfect unison.

They had seen her fight in the War, and she had faced Voldemort at eleven; therefore they knew that their little princess no longer was a baby. The Harry episode had taught them a lesson, as well.

'I have found the ones with whom I want to spend my life,' Ginny announced.

Neville and Draco were holding hands upstairs, listening to what was being said and waiting to be called onto the battlefield.

'The ones?' Arthur squeaked.

'A triad?' Molly purred.

She had been afraid to lose all her children, and now she was gaining more by the minute and that warmed her heart.

'Two wizards. They're perfect, and I love them. I hope you'll like them,' Ginny said.

'Do we know them well?' Arthur asked.

Ginny nodded.

'The first I found was Neville, but I bet you had guessed so,' the young witch announced.

'He's a very good boy,' Arthur said.

Ron growled.

'Young man,' Hermione told Arthur in a stage whisper.

'He's a very good wizard, and we'll be happy to welcome him into the family. Where is he?' asked Molly.

'Upstairs, with the other wizard,' Ginny said.

'Who is the other wizard in your heart, Ginevra?' her mother asked.

'Draco Malfoy,' Ginny answered.

Arthur traded a look with Molly.

'Come down, boys!' Molly shouted.

They were still holding hands when they entered the room.

'Come in, join us,' Arthur said. 'We won't bite.'

'We'll just skin you alive if you hurt Ginny,' Molly said.

'She already told me that she'd deliver me to Fred and George to be a guinea pig if I betrayed her,' Draco told them.

'Oh, there can be nothing worse than that,' Arthur declared. 'Welcome to the family!'

There was a major group hug in the kitchen, and Molly and Arthur invited all their children to share tea and cakes and toast with them.

'Well, we already had breakfast, and I believe we're not through with our surprises,' Ginny said.

Molly looked at the two young witches, wondering if one of the two was pregnant.

'Molly, really!' Hermione scolded her.

Arthur was completely lost, but Molly blushed.

'Then what is it?' Molly asked.

'Harry,' Ginny said.

'Harry? What's wrong with Harry?' Molly asked, suddenly worried.

'Nothing's wrong with Harry. He was exhausted - truly exhausted - when he woke up, and he was worried sick because of something I said,' Hermione lied.

Draco was forced to admire the Gryffindor witch.

'Why?' Arthur asked.

'He fell for someone, and he didn't know if his love interest was all right,' Hermione said.

'Poor Harry! I understand better,' Molly said.

'Who is she?' Arthur inquired.

'Er... Dad... Harry didn't fall for a witch,' Ron said.

'Oh! And the poor boy wondered how we would react,' Molly commented, falling in Hermione's trap.

'Especially when you discover for whom he fell,' Ron added.

'Who is it?' Molly asked.

'In fact, Harry is anxious to introduce you to his boyfriend,' Ron said.

'Where are they?' Molly asked.

'In London; would you like me to go and fetch them?' Hermione asked.

Molly and Arthur nodded eagerly.

Hermione Disapparated. She knew that Ron would carry on with the plan.

'Mum, Dad,' Ron said, 'Harry is really nervous.'

'Poor baby, if he didn't know where his boyfriend was, it's only normal that he was so edgy after he woke up,' Molly said.

'Where was his boyfriend?' Arthur asked.

'No one knew at the time,' Ginny said.

Before the Weasleys could assemble the pieces, there was a knock on the door.

'Come in!' Molly said excitedly.

If she had been like Albus, her eyes would have been twinkling more than a Christmas tree decorated by Flitwick under the influence of Firewhiskey.

Hermione was the first to come in.

Harry was right behind her, and he was holding someone's hand - someone who was staying just out of sight.

Arthur was curious to discover who had won Harry's heart.

Molly was just dying to know.

'Hello,' Harry said shyly.

'Do come in, Harry,' Arthur said joyfully.

'Really? You won't mind?' Harry said softly.

'Oh! Don't be silly, Harry! Join us and introduce us to the wizard of your dreams,' Molly said.

Harry came into the Burrow, and Severus followed.

Arthur and Molly looked at each other.

Hermione and Draco had their wands in hand, ready to face approximately any kind of reaction from the Weasleys.

Neither Hermione nor Draco was prepared for Molly and Arthur's reaction.

Molly patted her husband's chest with the back of her hand and said, 'You owe me one Galleon, Darling.'

'Yes, Dear,' Arthur granted his wife.

She patted his chest more insistently and said, 'Now, Darling.'

'Now we all know where the twins come from for sure,' Ginny whispered in Neville's ear.

Harry and Severus were still waiting for some sharp comment, but Arthur and Molly's next sentences were not exactly what Harry and Severus had feared.

'I think that it's a very good thing that you have finally decided to find someone with whom to share your life,' Molly told Severus.

'We're getting a sample of Slytherins in the family, and they're the best ones,' Arthur told Draco.

'We'll have to expand some of the furniture if we want everybody to sleep comfortably tonight,' Molly said.

Harry looked from Severus to Molly, to Arthur, and back to Severus.

'What? That's all?' Harry practically gasped.

'Oh, no... You're right, Harry,' Arthur said. He turned to Severus and said, 'Harry is like another son to us.'

'So if you hurt him in any way, you'll have to face the wrath of the Weasleys,' Molly added.

'I heard about the Fred and George solution,' Severus smirked.

'Excellent! You're warned, then,' Molly declared.

'That's all!' Harry exclaimed with an unnaturally high-pitched voice and waving the hand that was not in Severus's at the Weasleys.

'There was nothing to fear,' Severus said.

Harry slithered into Severus's welcoming arms, and they all smiled.

The happy plotters, one. The Weasleys, zero.

Of course, Molly and Arthur's reaction had been even better than in Hermione's best scenario - and they had discovered that Molly and Arthur had been taking bets on Severus's love life.

Now that Severus and Harry had the whole pack of Weasleys on their side, their next step was to trick Albus Dumbledore. It would be difficult, but not impossible.

Harry acted perfectly, and Molly thought that that other baby of hers needed time to start building a strong relationship with his former Potions master.

Harry said that he'd just come to say hello, as he'd promised, but that he wanted to go back to Grimmauld Place. Severus was using elementary psychology and body language to show the Weasleys that he meant to stay with Harry to protect the younger wizard.

Molly asked them to keep in touch, and Harry promised to Fire-call her soon.

Next, Harry asked all his friends to come back to his home with him and Severus.

As soon as the couple had Disapparated back to London, their friends kept on plotting according to Hermione's plan and told Molly that Harry was still feeling drained, and that Grimmauld Place was too full of bad memories, and that he needed them near him.

Ron and Hermione were immediately ordered to Disapparate.

The triad was to Floo to Diagon Alley after Arthur had spelled Ginny's Portkey again.

'Take good care of Harry and Severus, and tell them that we love them,' Molly told Ginny, Neville and Draco before they Floo'ed out of the Burrow.

The three nodded happily, and were gone.

It was only two hours later that Molly noticed that Harry had not invited her to Grimmauld Place, but she thought that Harry was certainly floating on a happy cloud, and she could wait.

Meanwhile, the plotters all met in the Leaky Cauldron where Minerva and Remus were waiting for them.

'You said you'd go back home,' Severus scolded his fellow.

'She said she had to be with you for the second part of the plan,' Remus whispered.

'She needs to rest,' Severus insisted.

'I'll force her to take a nap in the afternoon if all goes well,' Remus said.

'Why do you want to be here?' Harry asked Minerva.

'Sixth sense,' Minerva said.

'Oh,' was all that Severus said, but Harry felt his lover tense.

'What's wrong?' Harry wondered.

'As an Animagus, I possess some of the characteristics of my animalistic form. I feel that I've got to be here. It could be important,' Minerva said.

'Thank you,' Harry said, and he pecked Minerva's cheek.

'Tell me, Severus,' Remus asked his old schoolmate, 'is your knowledge about Animagi only academic?'

'I'm not telling you,' Severus said, one corner of his mouth rising almost involuntarily.

Harry looked at Severus, who leant and whispered something in Harry's ear.

'That's going to be interesting,' Harry commented saucily.

'May I know why, Mr Potter?' Severus purred.

Harry stood on tiptoe, and whispered in Severus's ear, 'I'll demonstrate tonight.'

Severus's Animagus form was not too extraordinary, but if Harry had the same - illegal - form, that could be interesting.

Right now, they had to take care of the second and penultimate stage of their trap.

While Minerva and Remus ordered tea and toast, the Weasleys and their lovers went into Diagon Alley. They preceded Harry and Severus there to observe how people would react to the couple.

Tom had not served Minerva and Remus yet when the Plotters, who had been spying on the reactions of the wizards and witches on the street, came back into the pub. Hermione briefly stopped by her friends' table and told them that they'd spotted several people likely to warn Albus Dumbledore of what was going on.

Hermione deemed that it was time for them to leave the stage to Harry and Severus. They could not risk having Dumbledore realize that it was but a trap, so now they were going back to Grimmauld Place to wait.

Minerva told her that she'd do her best to help Severus and Harry.

Remus and Minerva waited.

Severus and Harry were shopping in Diagon Alley; it was a bit to wait and make sure that their presence here would be reported to Dumbledore, and a bit to begin shopping for Severus's potion for Remus.

When Severus had everything he needed to start, he and Harry went back to the Leaky Cauldron, where they joined their two friends.

'People are wondering what's going on between you two,' Remus whispered.

'We heard,' Severus whispered back.

'A miracle Skeeter didn't Apparate in front of us!' Harry said.

'The bug can walk,' Minerva hissed.

The insufferable journalist had just entered the pub from the Muggle side.

Strangely, Severus and Harry were saved from Skeeter by the arrival of Albus Dumbledore into the pub from the wizarding side.

'How extraordinary to find you here!' Albus exclaimed joyfully.

'We had some shopping to do,' Severus said.

'Did you find all you needed?' Dumbledore asked.

Severus nodded.

'I'm happy to see that you are all right, my dear Severus,' the old wizard said.

'I heard some of you wondered where I went after the battle. I needed to rest properly, and I never would have imagined that Percy Weasley would have a magical accident,' Severus said.

'How did you manage to find Harry?' Dumbledore inquired.

'I went looking for Severus,' Harry said, blushing.

'Is that why you were so nervous?' Dumbledore asked.

Harry paled and nodded vigorously.

'Is... Is everything fine for the Order?' Harry asked, avoiding looking at his former headmaster, and almost leaning against Severus.

'How long have you been together?' Dumbledore asked.

If Severus had "taken advantage" of Harry when he was still reading at Hogwarts, then Dumbledore would have a very good reason to fire the spy he no longer really needed - though he was the best Potions master he could hope to hire. Severus was not loved by the members of the Board, and they had been pestering the headmaster about the Head of Slytherin.

Harry blushed furiously. It was because he remembered their kiss, and what they had done together before swapping back to their own bodies. Dumbledore thought that Harry was being shy.

'We're not together yet, Albus. However, if you think that the Board might not be too happy with my being involved with a former student, I can resign if you want,' Severus said.

Minerva had known Dumbledore for too long, and she saw that he was about to accept Severus's offer. She knew why she'd wanted to be there.

'It would be dreadful not to have you working with us. I can't think of a single Potions expert who would do your job, and I don't want to imagine how the Slytherins would react if you were not there to guide them back towards the light,' Minerva told Severus.

In one second, Dumbledore weighed up the pros and cons of having to replace Severus, and for the time being, the old wizard was not in the mood to look for a DADA teacher and a Potions master and Head of Slytherin.

'I do not wish to have any other Potions master, my dear child. I was just wondering when you had finally found some happiness,' Dumbledore lied.

'Oh, that's when I heard that he had disappeared that I understood how important Severus is to me, and when I finally found him quite by chance, I understood what I feel for him,' Harry said, blushing again.

'I take it you're no longer angry with me,' Dumbledore told Harry.

The younger wizard blushed even more, and looked pointedly at his lap. Dumbledore mistook that for an agreement, while Harry only wanted to avoid answering, and he kept thinking of the Animagus form of his boyfriend.

Dumbledore thought that he still controlled his precious little world, but he had fallen into Hermione's trap.

Eyes twinkling, he told Severus that he'd see him in September at the latest. Severus avoided answering by simply bowing.

Since Dumbledore could not begin to imagine that he was being tricked, he bade them goodbye and went back to his home.

The lucky Plotters escaped Skeeter and all the others by Disapparating straight into Grimmauld Place, where they could rejoice with their friends.

'He never noticed that you didn't answer!' Remus exclaimed.

'No! And I still don't know if I'm going to keep on teaching. My position is secured, but he might yet have to find a Potions master if my work on a cure becomes more challenging than the prospect of helping some Slytherins,' Severus said.

'If you don't go back, I won't either,' Minerva declared.

All her friends could see that the gentle witch was angry.

'What's wrong, Precious?' Remus asked.

'He's treating you and Severus very poorly. If Severus stays here to work on a cure for you, I won't go back to Hogwarts, especially if you're not there to teach Defence,' Minerva declared.

'He didn't follow the Board and offer the DADA position to Remus?!' Draco exclaimed.

Harry shook his head.

'He's the one who should leave Hogwarts! Remus was the best one we ever had,' Draco said.

'But I'm just a bloody werewolf, just good enough to starve among Muggles, or die in a war,' Remus answered softly.

His sadness broke Minerva's heart, and she decided that she'd stay wherever Remus stayed.

Harry winked, and she knew that she'd be welcome in Grimmauld Place if Severus found something that promised to help Remus, and they all worked together to brew a cure. She felt like purring.

Now the last threat Severus and Harry might have to face would come from the Family Council. With some additional Hermione-planning, they would defeat those bigoted idiots, as well.

The rest of the day was spent chatting.

Harry had kept a copy of the testament he'd sent to the Family Council, and they all analyzed its contents again.

Only Hermione, Neville and Ginny had helped Harry write his statement to the Council, but the others could find no flaw in it, and Harry was delighted about that.

Hopefully, they'd find a way to thwart the plans of that dreadful Purebloods club.

Once they could hope that Harry wouldn't be pestered by the Council, they began working on Remus's problem.

Remus told them everything he knew about his condition. They even used a spell to feel what it was like being a werewolf; they used some of Remus's memories to feel what it was like without, as well as with, the Wolfsbane. Remus was deeply touched that they all stayed to experience a taste of his monthly ordeal.

With that substitute experience to work on, they all shared ideas for a cure.

Neville came up with combinations of plants that Severus had not yet considered. Draco said that they could grow the plants in Malfoy Manor's greenhouse, and they planned a schedule. When Draco described the greenhouse, Neville pointed out that it would be a pity not to use that huge space. Harry said that they could grow ingredients, and that Severus could brew potions.

'In fact, you know what would be great?' Harry said nibbling on a cracker after dinner.

'From the silly grin he's got, I bet the happy Gryffie has some fluffy idea,' Draco teased Harry.

Harry pouted.

'Tell us!' Ginny encouraged him.

'If ingredients were grown in Malfoy Manor, some of them could be transformed by Severus here. Draco and Neville - and later Ginny - could work together. Severus and Hermione could brew together, and the rest of us could open a shop to sell the ingredients and the potions,' Harry explained.

'The rest of us?' Remus gasped.

Harry grinned and nodded.

'It would be like a family of the heart,' Harry said.

Severus saw that Remus and Ron were brooding a bit, because they had not much to bring into that association.

'We all need to work with people we fully trust,' Severus said.

'What could I bring to you?' Ron whispered.

'You never hexed Percy, even when he was a complete idiot, and you survived the experiences of the twins. You'd be great in a shop,' Hermione answered.

Ron shrugged.

'Do you really think that I'd join anything like that without you?' Harry asked Ron. He turned to Remus and said, 'You're a bit more my family than our friends here.'

Remus gave Harry a small smile.

'Family?' Draco murmured.

'Ginny is like a little sister, and Neville is a distant cousin - if I understood correctly - therefore you are included into my idea of "family",' Harry explained.

Harry's concept of family was not something the Slytherins were used to, but Draco decided that he rather liked what was being offered to him. He smiled.

'Well, either we keep talking about this all night long, or we go and get some rest,' Ginny suggested.

It was almost midnight, and they all reflected that it would be wiser to sleep.

Harry was blushing slightly, and he was smiling at Severus.

There was one thing that Severus needed to do, and he needed Harry not to be in the room. One look at Minerva, and the witch understood it all - they had not been working together for nearly two decades without knowing each other a bit.

Minerva stood up and whimpered.

'What's wrong, Precious?' Remus asked, helping his companion and Severus with their plan to help Harry.

'My leg is a little sore,' Minerva said.

'I'll help you go to your room,' Harry instantly offered.

The instant Harry and Remus left the room, Severus turned to Ron and Draco and hissed, 'If you make fun of him tomorrow if anything happens tonight, I'll make you pay.'

'We'll ward our room,' Neville said.

Severus nodded and went to join his lover.

'Huh?' Ron said.

'Are you tired, or are you really that thick?' Draco asked.

Ron slowly put two and two together.

They were in Harry's house, a house whose wards were keyed to Harry's magic. Harry was a virgin, and if he bonded with Severus...

'Very strong wards,' Ron finally said.

They all nodded.

Harry didn't notice that Severus had stayed a bit behind, and when he wished a good night to Minerva and Remus, Severus was right behind him.

Severus took Harry's hand and they went to their bedroom.

There was no point in warding the room; Harry's magic would annihilate any kind of warding magic if they made love tonight.

Severus closed the door and leant against it.

'Are you tired?' Severus asked.

Harry turned to face his lover and he shook his head, blushing furiously.

Severus opened his arms, and Harry rushed to him.

Severus wondered if it was a trick of the light, but he thought that Harry's eyes looked greener than ever - then again, maybe it was because Harry was about to experience something new, something strong, and something that was tickling Harry's magic.

Severus leant and brushed Harry's lips.

Harry whimpered.

Severus gently kissed the young wizard in his arms, and Harry almost purred.

Severus could feel it in Harry's magic that the younger wizard was deeply moved, and a bit lost.

'Severus, I...' Harry began.

'Shsh,' Severus said softly, placing one finger on Harry's lips.

Severus didn't think that it was the time for fluffy declarations of love.

Severus didn't realize that he was nearly as lost as Harry.

'What do you want us to do?' Severus asked.

Harry blushed again, but the way he looked at Severus told the Potions master what the young man wanted.

Severus was happy to be in Muggle clothes, it would be easier to undress.

Severus kissed Harry again and divested Harry of his T-shirt. Severus fastened his lips on Harry's neck and started unbuttoning the shirt Harry had given him. Severus waltzed them toward the bed.

Harry remembered the lesson of the night before, and he caressed Severus's navel, which wrenched a moan of pure pleasure from Severus.

Harry found himself on his back on the bed, and very much under Severus, who decided to torture Harry's nipples.

It felt even better than Harry had imagined, and he arched off the bed, his jeans-trapped erection seeking friction, and he gasped, 'Oh, my buggering bollocks!'

Severus licked Harry's right nipple once more and chuckled.

'I do wonder how colourful you can be,' Severus said.

'Oh, God!' Harry gasped, trying to catch his breath.

'If anything is too much for you, if there's something you don't like, just tell me. I'll slow down, or stop entirely. All right, Harry?' Severus said.

Harry nodded.

Severus briefly left the bed to fully undress, and he took care of Harry's trousers and underwear.

They had spent days in each other's body, they had experienced a bit together the night before, but what they were about to do was much more profound.

Severus kissed and licked and nibbled Harry's body. Severus worshipped his young lover, and he allowed Harry to explore him in return.

Severus was covering Harry's body and kissing him when Harry's magic began bubbling.

'What's that?' Harry asked, slightly worried.

Severus slowed down and pecked Harry's cheeks with tenderness.

'Sex is something powerful, mix it with magic, and it explains the way you feel,' Severus explained.

'Do you feel it?' Harry asked.

'I'm going to feel what you want to share with me,' Severus said.

'How?' Harry wondered.

'You should follow your instinct. You'll feel how to do it,' Severus said.

'Really?' Harry asked.

Severus remembered how vulnerable he'd felt the first time he'd done such a thing. He'd had feelings for the man to whom he gave his virginity, but the wizard had only seen in Severus the way to gather some special magic.

Suddenly Severus wanted this night to be one of Harry's best memories.

'I trust you, Harry. You have very good instinct when it comes to magic,' Severus said softly, holding Harry with gentleness.

The kiss Harry gave him showed Severus that he had found the right words.

Since Severus had more experience than Harry, and he'd spent some time in Harry's body, the older wizard could pleasure his young lover like a musician plays an instrument he knows well.

Harry's magic started bubbling again, and it wrapped both wizards in a golden mist.

Severus wrapped his fingers around Harry's shaft, but Harry stopped him. Severus looked at his lover and began moving down the bed to give him head, but Harry stopped him again.

'Are you sure?' Severus asked with intonations that were making Harry melt.

'Please. I want you,' Harry begged.

Severus took a phial from under their pillow.

Severus poured one drop of the liquid on his shaft, and he activated a spell that made the liquid coat his entire erection.

He put another drop on his fingers, and gently inserted it in Harry's opening.

'It's a special lubricant, Harry. If I say the spell now, you'll be immediately prepared. It protects from pain and unease, but will allow you to feel everything. Are you ready?' Severus asked softly.

'I...' Harry stopped. 'I trust you.'

Severus guessed that Harry had been about to say something else, but Severus thought that now was not the moment to comment on the feelings Harry thought he had.

Harry gurgled when Severus activated the spell, and the golden mist thickened.

'Need you!' Harry begged.

Severus caressed Harry's hair, and he positioned himself between Harry's legs.

'Does that feel comfortable for you? Is this what you want?' Severus asked.

'Oh, God, yes! I need you, Severus! I need to be one with you!' Harry practically yelled.

Severus positioned himself to enter his lover, and slowly and tenderly, Severus penetrated Harry.

'So good!' Harry purred.

Severus started feeling Harry's magic in his own body. Harry's magic was literally merging with Severus's, and in the process, Severus could feel Harry's love for him. It was strong, and it was real.

Harry didn't know why he was in love with Severus, but the feeling was there. Severus decided that he loved what Harry was giving him, and he drew strength from his magic to help him make Harry's first time utterly pleasurable.

Severus moved in and out of Harry's tightness, varying his angle until he found the exact one to make Harry see even more stars than he already did.

Harry's magic became brighter and brighter. The gold turned almost white, until Harry came, shouting his love for Severus.

Severus was brought over the edge by the force of Harry's orgasm.

All the magic in the house quaked.

Some of their magic did merge.

Severus gathered a crying Harry in his arms.

'I love you,' Harry sobbed.

Severus lapped Harry's tears, and then looked deep down into his young lover's eyes.

Harry was the first to be completely honest with him.

Severus's life had always been ruled by logic and duty, and it hadn't been that successful until now.

Draco looked pretty happy with his two Gryffindors, and Harry had already given him so much, so Severus decided to change things in his life.

He could not say aloud what he felt for Harry, but Severus kissed him, and their magic conveyed the feelings.

Against all odds, Harry's magic wrapped around the both of them again. That alone showed Severus that Harry was truly in love with him. In consequence, some of Severus's magic - the part that needed to be loved - reached out for Harry's.

'I love you, Severus.'

'I'll stay with you,' Severus answered.

Harry cuddled up against Severus.

They slept wrapped in their feelings, and it was their best night in a very long time.

The next morning, Harry new exactly what he wanted to do next.

'I'd like to share my heritage with you,' he told Severus.

'You already won a lot of money for me. I don't need what my father didn't want to give me because he didn't want me,' Severus said, pecking Harry's lips.

'Are you deaf, Love?' Harry asked.

Severus was rendered speechless.

'You can just nod, you know,' Harry added.

Severus was blinking. Harry was offering a magical engagement.

Severus knew that Harry would not betray him, and that he was not making fun of him. Severus felt Harry's fear of rejection echo in his own heart through what was left of the bond they had created when they made love.

It hit Severus like the Whomping Willow on a bad day; last night had not been just about Harry's virginity, or having sex.

They had made love, and Severus reflected that he might have been as much a virgin as Harry.

It was high time to try and be happy.

Severus did what Harry had suggested.

He nodded.

Harry beamed.

He knelt next to Severus and asked, 'Really?! You accept me? We're getting engaged?'

Severus didn't really trust his voice, but he whispered, 'I would be the worst idiot to reject you.'

His voice was so soft and tender that Harry felt like crying.

Severus kissed Harry.

The magic quaked again.

'What was that?' Harry asked, melting against Severus.

'You just shared the control of the wards with me. You have a gift with instinctive magic,' Severus said.

'I'm so happy...' Harry said softly. Blushing, he added, 'Darling.'

Severus kissed Harry again, and Harry's feelings echoed again in Severus's heart. Severus thought that it was merely a side effect of what they'd done.

'I think we should share our new plan with our friends,' Severus said.

'Do you think they'll be happy for us?' Harry asked.

'They're our friends,' Severus answered.

'Shall we go?' Harry asked.

'I must admit that I'm starving,' Severus admitted.

'So am I!' chuckled Harry.

Before they put on pyjama bottoms and bathrobes, Harry slithered into Severus's arms.

'You didn't even tell me what you had in mind for my Animagus form,' Severus teased his lover.

Harry blushed, but he whispered his idea in Severus's ear. The older wizard felt his cock twitch in anticipation, and there was no way Harry could not notice that.

'You like the idea,' Harry said softly.

'In the name of science we must test your theory as soon as possible,' Severus purred.

Harry grinned.

Harry's feelings felt contagious to Severus, and they were both still smiling when they reached the kitchen, where only Remus and Minerva were.

'Good morning!' Remus greeted them.

Harry almost froze. Remus looked better than he had in years, and in fact, so did Minerva.

Severus wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and encouraged him to walk toward their friends.

Harry had concluded that his magic had done that to Remus and Minerva, and he knew that they must know what he did with Severus - so much for keeping that part of his happiness secret.

'The rest of the family is still in bed,' Severus stated.

'They certainly kept chatting about what we could do together,' Remus said.

'There's no need to beat around the bush. It's because of me,' Harry said in a small voice.

'Harry,' Minerva said gently, 'the whole house glowed, and we all felt your magic. There's no way it could have escaped us, but we heard the others chatting long after you had fallen asleep.'

'So, they like Harry's plan,' Severus said.

'It's a very good plan,' Remus said.

'Excellent, because I've decided to stay here and brew potions,' Severus announced.

'Brilliant! Neville and Hermione kept us up most of the night to organize the greenhouse,' Draco said, yawning fiercely as he joined the others in the kitchen.

They all sat around the table, and Minerva and Remus served their breakfast.

'If you're not planning to go back to Hogwarts, let me know when you owl the Board, because I'll retire at the same time,' Minerva said, placing one hand on her lover's.

Severus nodded.

'If you two aren't going to teach me at Hogwarts next year, I'm not going back either,' Ginny said.

'You must sit for your N.E.W.Ts!' Draco barked.

Neville elbowed him and said, 'She said she wasn't going back to Hogwarts, not that she wouldn't sit for her final exams.'

One look at Ginny, and Draco knew that Neville was right, and that Ginny would not entirely stop reading. It was only her last year in Hogwarts that was out of the question.

'We could help you get prepared for the exams,' Hermione said.

'Thanks!' Ginny purred.

'This is beginning to really look like a family of the heart,' Remus commented, deeply moved.

They all nodded.

They ate in silence, lost in thought for some time.

'I think we should plan a bit more before sharing our project with the rest of the world,' Severus said finally.

'If we brew here, and if most of our ingredients are grown in Malfoy Manor, we only have to find some supplies until Draco, Neville and Ginny can provide us with what we need. There are ingredients that will have to be bought - unless we manage to go and find them ourselves. And the one thing that's going to be indispensable is a shop. We could start looking for one right away,' Hermione said.

Severus smiled warmly and answered, 'We can start looking for a shop this afternoon if you want. Harry and I have some shopping to do.'

'What for?' Hermione wondered, a bit disappointed to hear that they'd have to wait.

Severus intertwined his fingers with Harry's and said, 'We have to find gifts for each other.'

Hermione was about to ask why when she put two and two together.

Hermione rushed to hug Severus, while Harry ended up in Ginny's arms.

'My turn!' Minerva growled.

Hermione let Minerva hold Severus, and the older witch kissed his brow.

'A thousand blessings upon you,' she said softly.

Severus reverently kissed her hand.

Ginny gave her place to Minerva, who said, 'I wish I had kept you that night when Hagrid brought you to Little Whinging.'

Harry hugged her back and said that they might not be here if things had been any different.

'You'd better go and shop in Muggle London,' Neville pointed out.

'Why?' Harry wondered, lost in his newly-found happiness.

'You are the last Potter, and the heir of the Blacks. If the Family Council hears that you mean to bond with Severus, they might not be too happy,' Neville answered.

They were all forced to admit that Neville was right.

'We could shop separately. People wouldn't have to know what we mean to do with our gifts,' Harry said.

'There's a bit of Slytherin in you,' Draco commented.

Harry grinned, and Severus said that it was a good idea.

Harry would go shopping with the Weasleys and their companions, while Severus would go with Remus and Minerva.

Hermione added that they might kill two birds with one stone if they started looking for a shop at the same time. Severus teased her, but he agreed with her.

They got dressed and left for Diagon Alley, where they agreed to have lunch once the future betrothed had proper gifts for each other.

They first went to Gringotts, where Bill welcomed them.

He was delighted to see Ron and Ginny, and he was happy that they had found such good companions, but after the now usual "Twins threat", Draco and Neville were reminded that Charlie was very friendly with a horde of dragons.

Then they told him that they were all planning quite a lot, but that it was too soon to tell. Severus and Harry withdrew a healthy amount of Galleons, and they went shopping separately.

'Do you know what you want to buy?' Minerva asked Severus.

'I have an idea, but it might be wiser to go and buy that in a Muggle shop,' Severus answered.

With a flick of her wand, Minerva transfigured their clothes and they left.

'Do you know what Severus is going to choose for you?' Hermione asked Harry.

'I don't have the slightest idea. What's utterly weird and disturbing is that I don't know him that well, but I know that I want to stay with him. I'm not even afraid of that feeling,' Harry said.

Ron snorted, and his girlfriend cuffed the back of his head while his sister kicked his nearest ankle.

Draco chuckled, which made Ron growl.

'Be quiet, proud Gryffindor!' Draco teased Ron. 'If you dwell in the past, your life is going to be a nightmare.'

'Come on! One day, Harry hates the greasy git, and the next he's shagging him. I need time to get used to the idea,' Ron hissed.

'A bit louder, Weasley! I don't think people heard you... in Hogsmeade!' Hermione barked.

Harry froze and turned very pale.

Ron knew that he'd gone too far then.

'I'm sorry, Harry. It's so strange,' Ron said as an apology.

'It...' Harry paused, took a deep breath, and went on, 'We didn't happen overnight. There were lies and misunderstandings in the beginning. You should be happy for me.'

'I am happy for you, but after all we've been through, and since I didn't experience the Occlumency sessions, you'll understand that I'm a bit afraid for you,' Ron said.

'Will you get that stupid Pureblood prejudice out of the bone you dare call your head?' Hermione hissed.

Draco and Neville grabbed Ginny before she could hit her brother again.

'Hermione will be more efficient than any of us in that,' Draco whispered in Ginny's ear.

She had to admit that the other witch knew how to handle Ron.

'I don't want Harry to be hurt, and I don't know his betrothed that well. How come you can be a mother hen and I can't?!' Ron exclaimed.

Hermione shook her head. Maybe there was even a bit more of Molly in Ron than in Ginny.

'I'm in love, Ron,' Harry said.

'I know, silly, but if he hurts you, it's going to be a stay with the twins, and then I'll ship him myself to Charlie... with only my old broken wand to protect himself!' Ron said.

'He won't hurt me,' Harry said.

'Life can be weird, Harry. Maybe he'll say, or do, something someday that will hurt you,' Draco pointed out.

'Maybe there will come a day when we'll argue or shout at each other again, but I know that he'll never hurt me,' Harry said softly.

'You can't know for sure,' Draco declared.

'I know,' Harry answered.

Draco and Neville shared a look.

'Do you mind if we try something?' Neville asked Harry.

Harry shook his head.

Discreetly, Neville and Draco took each one of Harry's hands, and softly they said a spell.

The result of their test rendered both wizards speechless.

'What?' Harry asked.

Draco gulped and said, 'I didn't know it could be real. I thought it was a legend.'

'What?!' Harry repeated, slightly worried.

'You didn't say a spell to bond with him, did you?' Neville asked.

'No, we just... Well, I bet you know what we did. Minerva said that the whole house was glowing because of my magic, but we said no spell,' Harry said.

'Do you think they...?' Ron began.

'Looks like it,' Neville and Ginny said in unison.

'For once, I don't know what you're talking about, and I hate that,' Hermione said.

'And you're starting to worry me,' Harry added, looking at the other wizards.

Ron whistled.

'Oi! Care to enlighten the Muggle-born and the Muggle-raised?!' Hermione growled.

'I'm sure there must be tales that your parents told you, things so extraordinary that they had to be legends... fairy tales,' Draco began.

Hermione nodded, and Harry looked completely lost, wondering how that related to him.

'Well, we have been told that to link our fate to someone, there were only two ways. The legal one, with parchments and attorneys, and the magical one with Bonding spells. In the fairy tale of our childhood, we were told of a third way, a natural bonding. That was supposed to happen when the love of two people is so strong that it merges bits of their magic... naturally, without actually saying any spell,' Draco explained.

'Can I?' Ron asked, taking Harry's hand in his.

Harry nodded.

Ron said the spell Neville and Draco had said before.

'Bloody hell!' Ron gasped. 'If I ever say anything against him again, you can ship me to Charlie straight away.'

Harry was beaming with happiness.

'Do you think he knows?' Harry asked his friends.

'From what we know about the way he's been educated, I seriously doubt that he's ever been told about that,' Draco said.

Harry nodded slowly and repeatedly, apparently lost in thought.

'Draco, you're a Pureblood, and you were in Slytherin, will you help me find a nice gift for him?' Harry asked.

Draco was surprised and flattered by Harry's trust.

'Actually, there's one item that I saw once... in Knockturn Alley, of course. If it's not sold, it would be perfect,' Draco said.

'Won't you wish to buy it for Ginny?' Harry asked.

'It's terribly Slytherin, and I'd rather plot something with Neville,' Draco said.

Harry grinned, and they all followed Draco onto the nefarious street.

The shop they were looking for was blissfully empty, and the owner knew better than to advertise what Harry bought from him.

Harry's grin was contagious, and his friends were delighted to see him so happy.

'We could check if there's any shop that could be rented. We have time before it's time to meet the others,' Hermione suggested.

'Okay, but there's something else I'd like to buy for him, and if one of you makes fun of him, it'll be a Twins-Bill-Charlie treatment,' Harry said.

They saw that Harry was serious, and they wondered what else Harry wanted to buy.

Harry and Severus's teams met in the Leaky Cauldron at the appointed time.

Severus walked straight to... Hermione and asked, 'Have you found a shop?'

The young witch nodded.

Severus extended one hand toward Minerva, who gave him a Sickle, grumbling. Remus was holding Minerva and chuckling softly.

'She was one of yours, and I know her best,' Severus declared with an insolent smile.

Minerva growled.

Severus had known that Hermione would have managed to find a shop for them to sell ingredients and potions. The shop had been found a bit by chance. It was right next to the one Harry wanted to visit for a second gift for Severus, and while Harry and Ginny were making a choice in the shop, the others had visited the office of the real estate agent. They had an appointment in the afternoon to inspect the place from cellar to attic, so that they could all decide if it suited them.

'Did you find what you wanted?' Harry asked Severus.

'Yes, and you?' he answered.

'I found something absolutely perfect, and on my way back, I remembered something I saw in your memories. That box has to be opened now,' Harry told Severus as he handed him a white cube.

They had just ordered lunch, so they would not be disturbed by their waitress.

Minerva and Remus were curious to know what Harry had bought, and the others were dying to know how Severus would react.

The small box was just in front of Severus on the table. He practically jumped backwards when the box moved and squeaked.

'Is it a...?' Severus's voice trailed off.

Harry nodded and smiled.

To the surprise of all their friends, Severus smiled back and briefly caressed Harry's hand.

Among the handful of very personal memories of Severus's childhood that Harry had seen when Severus was still training him, Harry had once seen the day when Severus had found a kitten, and he asked the Dorkins if he could keep it. Mr Dorkins had tried to kill the small cat, and it had been the first time Severus dared to retaliate by casting a Dark spell at his foster-parent.

Severus opened the box, and in it he found a warm honey-coloured and blue-eyed ball of fur. The kitten blinked and meowed at her new master.

'Her name is Phoebe,' Harry said.

'Phoebe,' Severus whispered, extending his left hand toward his cat.

She jumped out of the box and licked Severus's hand; she was so small that she settled in his hand and fell asleep.

'She's adorable!' Ron exclaimed.

They all smiled.

'Thank you, Harry,' Severus said softly.

'I thought that she'd be a nice addition to the family,' Harry said.

When the waitress arrived with their orders, Severus placed his kitten on his lap.

They planned the visit to their potential future shop and enjoyed a quiet meal.

They met the real estate agent outside the shop, and even if it was rather small, it was very nice.

Ginny was sent to fetch Bill so that he could help them in their decision. One of the head goblins joined his Curse-breaker, and it was soon concluded that buying the shop would be more interesting than renting it. The goblin negotiated the contract for them, and when they came back to Grimmauld Place, Harry and Severus were the happy owners of the shop.

All their friends were very happy that their adventure was being launched so fast and so well.

They had quite a lot to plan, but they discovered a surprise waiting for them when they Apparated before Grimmauld Place. A dozen owls were waiting to deliver a dozen copies of the same letter.

'That reminds me of the time when I got my Hogwarts letter, and Uncle Vernon didn't want me to go,' Harry said.

Remus took one of the letters.

'It's from the Family Council,' he announced.

'What do they want now?' Harry growled.

'It's not for you. All those letters are for Severus,' Remus said.

'For me?' Severus asked.

'Bad news, I fear,' Remus said handing the letter he had in hand to Severus.

Severus cast a spell on it. There was no trick, so he pocketed it, and they entered their home.

'Hermione, I saw that you bought a newspaper, may I borrow it, please?' Severus asked once they all were in the kitchen.

She handed him the Prophet, and he immediately looked for official announcements.

'Severus?' Harry said softly, caressing his lover's shoulder.

Severus kept reading the paper, but he handed the letter to Harry.

Severus found the information he was looking for. He put the paper down on the table and he went to the sink.

Harry put the letter down on the paper, and he joined Severus.

Remus already had an idea of what was going on, but the others leant over to read what was bothering Severus.

The letter was addressed to Severus McNair, and in the paper the name of Severus's last cousin was one of the Death Eaters executed.

'Can they do that?' Hermione asked softly.

'Yes, Hermione, they can do that. They can give me a surname if it suits them,' Severus told her gently.

He was facing the wall, and Harry was in his arms.

'They had an alternative for the Black heritage with Harry, but I am the only McNair left. It must pain them to have to resort to an illegitimate heir,' Severus said bitterly.

'What are you going to do?' Neville wondered.

'They could pester me if they really want me to accept the McNair heritage,' Severus said.

'Are you going to share your plan with us?' Hermione asked.

Severus smiled at the young witch in a way that she had never seen him smile before. He whispered something in Harry's ear, and his lover laughed and nodded furiously.

'My first priority, Miss Granger, is to bond with Harry. I have a gift for Harry, and considering the situation, I think it might be a good idea to have witnesses after we exchange our gifts. I shall make a choice about the Council... tomorrow,' Severus said.

Phoebe meowed.

Severus walked back to the table, gave the paper back to Hermione, and put the letter in his back pocket after folding it.

Harry thought that it would be a good idea to warn Severus about their partial natural bonding, and he took Severus's hand in his.

'We'll be right back,' Harry said, leading Severus out of the kitchen.

'Keep an eye on Phoebe, will you?' Severus said.

'Of course,' Minerva said, and she transformed into her Animagus form.

Phoebe ran to the witch, purring loudly.

Severus and Harry smiled.

Harry led Severus to the parlour.

'I'm sorry the Council is doing that to you,' Harry said.

Severus opened his arms and kissed his lover.

'Honestly, Harry, I don't know if I'm going to open that letter or not, but I'll do what's best for us. If I can trick them in the process, it will be a nice revenge,' Severus said.

'At least, you knew better than open it straight away,' Harry said.

'I'm sorry I didn't believe you that day when you said you didn't know who my parents were,' Severus apologized.

'If we hadn't argued that day, maybe I wouldn't have a bonding gift for you in Hermione's bag,' Harry said.

'Mine is in Remus's sleeve,' Severus said, pecking Harry's lips. 'I can't believe that we're planning to bond.'

'That's what I wanted to talk about,' Harry said. 'We did something highly magical.'

'Beside finding each other and overcoming our initial prejudices?' Severus teased Harry.

Harry explained what Draco had said about their natural bonding, and Harry ended up on Severus's lap, while Severus digested the piece of information.

'That's amazing,' Severus commented, 'but it certainly explains why I'm not afraid to bond with you.'

Harry kissed Severus and cuddled up against him.

'Do we have to say our Bonding spells in front of our friends?' Harry asked.

'Those spells are very private. I thought we could legally bond with a spell, exchange our gifts, and then show them to the family, so that we have witnesses,' Severus suggested.

Harry nodded enthusiastically and asked, 'Where shall we go to say our spells?'

'We should stay inside the house, so that we won't be disturbed or interrupted,' Severus said.

'Which room?'

'Our bedroom would be more personal, but I fear we won't leave the room before tomorrow if we bond there. We could do it here,' Severus said.

'There's a sofa in here,' Harry commented saucily.

'Not big enough for me to ravish you properly,' retorted Severus.

Harry blushed, which prompted Severus to kiss him again.

'I know you don't like the bedroom much, but I'd rather do it there than here. We're going to spend years in that bedroom. It could be a nice way to ward it against our personal ghosts,' Harry said.

Severus agreed.

They went back to the kitchen to retrieve their respective boxes - and scratch Phoebe and Minerva's ear. Phoebe purred and Minerva growled.

'We'll come back soon,' Harry declared.

'Are you going to bond now?' Neville asked.

Harry grinned and nodded.

'Blessed be,' Ron said.

Harry beamed, and Severus bowed.

The last thing they heard in the corridor was Ginny and Hermione starting a list of things to do.

Harry and Severus closed their bedroom door and faced each other.

There was so much love in Harry's eyes that Severus felt his heart beat a bit faster.

Suddenly whatever Severus's parents had done felt secondary. His life had taken him one step at a time toward Harry, and it was all that mattered.

'How do we proceed?' Harry asked, blushing.

Severus felt blood rush to his cheeks as well. It was all so strange; he was about to link his life with Harry's, and he was not even afraid. Severus knew that it was the right thing to do - the only thing to do.

'Minerva told me that we had to say a Bonding spell - she taught me one - and then we exchange our gifts so that our magic and those tokens show the world that we have chosen to be together,' Severus said.

'Neville taught me a spell,' Harry said, smiling widely, and blushing even more.

'There's something I want to ask you first. Can we sit down?' Severus asked.

Harry nodded, and they settled on their bed - their unmade bed, which reminded them of what they had shared just a few hours before.

'The gift I have found for you is absolutely perfect, but it is a symbol for something more than just an engagement. I'll understand if you want us to respect the traditions and remain engaged for a year before we take a step further in our relationship, but I want you to know that I chose a gift for you that shows what I hope we'll share someday,' Severus declared.

Through their partial bond, Harry could tell just how moved Severus was.

'Severus, what I found for you is a marriage gift. Does it mean that we skip the engagement part and fully bond?' Harry asked softly.

Severus smiled and caressed Harry's cheek.

'I have an idea,' Severus said.

This time, it was Severus's magic that started bubbling around them. Harry's magic joined it.

'We're going to need the family, and we need to Apparate somewhere,' Severus said.

Harry placed his box on their bed, and Severus placed his next to it.

When they re-entered the kitchen, their friends froze, fearing that something was wrong, because it was all too soon for Severus and Harry to have already bonded. Their smiles made them feel better.

'Slight change of plan,' Severus announced with a cheeky smile.

'What?' Draco asked, lost.

'We're getting married,' Harry said.

Draco choked on saliva.

'Where do you want to go?' Minerva asked, while Ginny and Neville were taking care of their lover.

'To a highly magical place that is so infested with Muggles that the Ministry and the Council stopped watching it long ago,' Severus declared.

'Where?' Remus asked.

'Glastonbury,' Severus purred.

'Nice name,' Ginny commented.

Harry winked.

They all Apparated there, and half an hour later, Severus and Harry were back in their room, a married couple.

They sat on their bed again, and Severus handed his gift to Harry, who opened the box.

Severus's gift was two platinum wedding bands.

Harry reverently took one and placed it on Severus's right hand. Severus did the same for Harry, and they kissed.

'I love you, Darling! It's a beautiful gift, thank you!' Harry said.

Severus kissed his husband again.

'I love you,' Severus whispered in Harry's ear.

'Dear God! I bet that you could make me come just talking to me,' Harry whimpered.

That prompted Severus to kiss Harry again.

'We shall try sometime,' Severus whispered tenderly.

Harry blushed and handed his box to Severus, who opened it.

In it were two Bonding bracelets that had belonged to Salazar Slytherin himself.

'We can simply put them on or I can activate the Parseltongue spell on it,' Harry said.

'That could be interesting,' Severus answered.

'It would help me if you transformed just for a moment. It's easier for me to use Parseltongue if I'm face to face with a snake,' Harry said.

'All that just because you want to see what my Animagus form is like,' Severus purred.

Harry grinned, but Severus transformed into a green grass-snake.

//Beautiful!// Harry said. //Are you registered?//

//Of course, but I went to the Ministry at night, so that the clerk who stored my parchment didn't really pay attention, and was too tired to give a damn// Severus answered.

//Okay, you can transform back. I should be able to control the bracelets// Harry said.

//How do you know the spell?// Severus asked, before transforming back.

//Instinct, I guess// Harry answered. He looked at the bracelets and ordered them to bind him and Severus together.

The two white gold snakes stopped biting their tails and slithered onto Harry and Severus's left wrists, and they sealed the link by biting their tails again.

Severus was influenced by his Animagus form, and the use of Parseltongue was slightly overwhelming him.

Harry was the first to register what Slytherin's bracelets were offering them. Beside the Bonding spell, the couple could decide to link their lives completely, ensuring that neither of them would become a widower.

//I want that, Severus//

Severus nodded and lay on the bed, completely overpowered.

//Do you understand me?// Harry asked, straddling his husband.

Severus nodded.

//My sweet love// Harry purred.

Severus's prick pulsed against Harry's ass.

//That's going to be interesting// Harry commented.

'Impudent brat, I'm going to make you howl with pleasure!' Severus exclaimed as he manoeuvred the both of them so that Severus was above his husband.

The husbands completely ruined their clothes, and they managed to even deepen their natural bond further.

Their family of the heart had not imagined that this could happen, and they all suffered - so to speak, because none of them ever complained - from the side effects of Harry and Severus's magic.

Severus used every bit of experience he had to make love to Harry, and Harry listened to his instinct, and used Parseltongue as often as he could - that is to say when he wasn't whimpering or yelling, and when his mouth wasn't otherwise busy.

Sometime the following day, Severus and Harry went to see an attorney to have the necessary changes legally registered at the Ministry, and then they went to Gringotts where Bill frightened a good half of the goblins when he shouted with joy for his friends.

Ginny Fire-called her parents through the Floo, and told them what she was planning to do. At first, Molly was a bit disappointed that Ginny would not go back to Hogwarts, but since she would sit for her N.E.W.Ts and start working with her future husbands, and their friends, Molly gave Ginny her blessing; Arthur was simply delighted for all his children.

The next day, the Board sent a letter to Headmaster Albus Dumbledore to tell him that Professor Minerva McGonagall had contacted them, and that she was retiring to fully heal after the end of the War.

Dumbledore thought that the letter from the Head of Gryffindor, his old friend, had not reached him yet.

When a second owl arrived, Dumbledore thought that it was from Minerva, but it was only a second letter from the Board to inform him that his Potions master, and Head of Slytherin, would not come back to school.

Dumbledore needed three teachers, two Heads, and one Deputy Head.

And yet...

What utterly pissed him was Severus's new surname. It surprised him so much that he even spat some of his tea, and swallowed some down the wrong pipe. He couldn't believe that he had been tricked.

While Pigwidgeon had brought Minerva and Severus's letters to the president of Hogwarts Board, Hedwig had delivered a letter to the head of the Family Council.

Roger Ravenclaw had felt the Slytherin spell on the seal, and he imagined that Severus McNair had some questions to ask before accepting his heritage.

He opened the letter and read it.

One minute later, his shout of frustration was heard throughout the six-storey building of the Family Council.

Ravenclaw felt like burning the letter, but he was forced to archive it.

His secretary couldn't help reading it before burying the letter in stacks of parchments.

"Dear Members of the Family Council,

According to one of the oldest laws that you love so much, two wizards whose names were on your parchments have linked their lives before seven witnesses in the city of Glastonbury.

The present letter is to inform you of the change of name of Severus Salazar Snape, heir of the McNair family, and Harry James Potter, heir of the Potter and the Black families.

According to your rules, we inform you that our heirs - should anything happen to us - are Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom, Ronald Weasley, and Ginevra Weasley. If we ever manage to have a child, or adopt one, you shall be notified of this change in the number of our heirs.

We hope that you are going to appreciate the addition of a new Pureblood name on your precious list.

Post is to be sent from now on to our Potions shop, in Diagon Alley. Owls sent to our home will be ignored.

Sincerely,

Harry and Severus Glastonbury

P.S.: the instant you broke the seal on this letter, it broke the one on the letter you addressed to Severus McNair, thus granting that heritage to a wizard you never acknowledged as your equal. The heritage of the McNair family has been transferred to Severus Glastonbury by your own hand."

Finis

Iani Ancilla's challenge:

Snape is a bastard. We all know that. But what if it weren't just a matter of personality? What if he were Black Senior's bastard son, Sirius's illegitimate brother? That would explain the hatred between the two, and many other things...

Must haves:

-Snape is Sirius's illegitimate brother, they have the same father but a different mother.

-Snape/Harry pairing

-Severus and Sirius both know (knew) about their being half-brothers.

Could have:

-Snape isn't an actual surname, it's just the name of where Severus was born (Snape is the actual name of a town in Britain, just like Flitwick).

-Severus didn't take his father's surname because he was a bastard, but he didn't take his mother's, either, because she was from an important family (like the Malfoys) which didn't want any scandal.

-Harry finds out about Snape's origins because he's talking with someone about the 'toujours pur' and he points out that the Snape family isn't on it, even though Snape must be a pureblood since he was a DE.

-After Sirius's death, Harry inherits all the Black fortune, while Sev gets nothing because he's illegitimate.

It's completely up to you to decide whether to follow canon or to make it an AU with Sirius alive, and whether Severus's origins are a secret or everyone in his generation and older knew about it already. I'd like to see the other kids' reaction to the news, and maybe Harry defending Snape, but it's not necessary.

1. I decided to use this word because it's the title of a Japanese film that inspired me.