Severus's flat was in a period building on Queensferry Road, about ten minutes from Dean Village, and fifteen minutes from Wartsmoth. He usually only spent his summers there but, now that Harry was to be living with him, he had decided to take up permanent residence there. It was a three bedroom flat, with Severus utilizing the master suite with a walk-in closet and bathroom as his bedroom, while the other two rooms were used as a study and library, while the final one as a meditation room. There was a living room, dining room, kitchen, two other bathrooms, and a balcony off the living room, where one could sit out and watch the traffic go by if they had a mind to.

Harry was pleased when Ron agreed to get the twins, Lee, Bill, and Remus on board to help with the moving process, and, within three days of his birthday, he was living with Severus. Harry was currently standing by the window, looking out at the traffic; it was overcast that early August day, so sitting outside wasn't really appealing to him. Andressa, exhausted from scurrying about her new home, had fallen asleep on the couch, and was quiet, the slight trickle of rain that fell from the sky effectively putting her asleep. Ron, the twins, Lee, Bill, and Remus had just left after helping out with the final bits and bobs of Harry's belongings, and Severus had agreed to walk them out.

"Is it everything you ever imagined?" Severus asked, walking into the living room and putting his arms around Harry's waist.

Harry leaned back, arching himself slightly so that his head was positioned next to Severus's head, and he found he was perfectly at ease for their physical contact. "It's better," he said quietly, reveling in the sensations of Severus running his hands up and down his body. "We don't have to hide anymore. The Board of Governors won't come after you. I'm officially over eighteen-years-old. I'm no longer your student. Plus, Riddle and those cronies of his are locked away for the foreseeable future..."

"Are you all right?" Severus asked.

Harry sighed, gently pulling himself from Severus's embrace so as he could turn around and face him. "We're together, right?"

Severus smiled. "I consider you my partner, Harry. Of course we're together."

Harry felt his heart slamming in his chest at the words. "I... I wanted to ask you something."

"Ask me, then."

"How would you feel about coming to see Amelia with me?" Harry asked. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I don't want to hide you, from any aspect of my life."

"She knows?"

"She knows you as Stephen Silvers, a chemist who lives in Culross," Harry replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "We met at a pub a few times and I willingly and without coercion went back to yours."

Severus arched an eyebrow. "Did we engage in sex?"

Harry sighed. "I may have implied to her that I lose my virginity to you after it happened. I know that Amelia doesn't want me engaging in reckless behavior, but when I told her I was in love with you... I can't describe the look on her face."

"Horrified, was she?"

"More like relieved, especially when I told her that you were in love with me, too," Harry told him with a smile. "She... I saw her about a week before my birthday and she assumed that there was progression within the relationship. Naturally, I had no idea we'd be moving in together, but I told her that you and I were quite serious. Anyhow, she's told me that she would like to meet you, if you're amenable to it. If not, I'll drop the subject and let her know that you're not interested in—"

Severus stepped forward then, embracing Harry and meeting his lips. "Of course I want to meet Amelia, Harry," he told him quietly. "I love you. You mean everything to me, and now that we no longer have to hide, I don't have any desire to do so. I'll go to as many appointments that you want me to, Harry, provided that you want me there..."

Harry tightened his grip on Severus. "I'll always want you." He hesitated.

"Something else on your mind?"

Harry flushed. "Well... I was hoping that, now that we're alone, we could attempt to leave Andressa napping where she is on the couch there, and slip off to the master suite, and christen the bedroom properly. However, if you don't want—"

Severus grinned wickedly down at Harry then, before he kissed him deeply, whereupon he tugged his arm back to the master suite, and shut the door behind them, for however much he loved Andressa, he didn't want her interrupting time with his lover.

. . .

"Harry, there's nothing to worry about."

Harry swallowed, knotting his fingers together where they sat inside the café, located just around the corner from Amelia's office. His appointment was scheduled for half an hour later, but he found that even a mug of tea wasn't helping the situation. The biscuit he's gotten as well, was still lying, half-eaten, beside the mug upon its saucer. He turned his head and looked outside at the summer rain falling, deliberately not looking over at his lover. "I know," he said softly, and swallowed.

"Tell me what's bothering you."

Harry sighed. "She'll make the connection, you know that, right?" he asked, hunching his shoulders slightly as he turned to stare at the nut-brown color of the circular table they were currently sitting at. "Amelia. She'll figure out that you're Stephen Silvers, and have been this whole time, not to mention that I actually went to the same school as her daughter did, being in the same classes, and all. What if she...?"

"Harry," Severus said gently, reaching across the small table and clutching at his former students' hands. "You must know, by this time, that we've done nothing wrong. At least, in the eyes of the public. The only thing that can be said was that I should have held off for another month before I permitted myself to..."

"No," Harry said, his tone firm as his eyes locked onto Severus's. "Don't you ever say that. I mean..." He broke off then, clearing his throat in a sorry attempt to keep his voice from trembling. "You don't regret it, do you?"

"Our relationship?"

He shook his head. "No, I meant... Our first time together."

"The law says that I must," Severus said plainly.

"The law is wrong," Harry told him, his voice fierce. "I love you, and I wanted it as much as you did... I mean, you did want it, didn't you?"

Severus smiled then, a truly happy smile. "Yes," he said simply. "Of course I did, Harry," he went on, gently cupping Harry's cheek and caressing it with the pad of his thumb. "You know how much I love you."

Harry smiled, his eyes prickling slightly with unshed tears. "I..."

"Yes?"

He shook his head, finally permitting himself to sip the rest of his tea, and finish his biscuit. "I know that Amelia wouldn't want us to be late."

Severus chuckled, but nodded his head. "I am quite sure you're correct." He finished his mug of coffee before he got to his feet, and offered Harry his hand. "Shall we?"

Harry took Severus's hand and they walked out of the café together, pulling their jackets closer around them as they sped down the street. Turning the corner, they came to the white stone building which housed Amelia's office, and trooped up the wet staircase and inside. The foyer was done up in beautiful black and white tile, and had a Victorian chandelier suspended from the high ceiling. The ceiling itself was wrapped with golden gilt, which gave way to a cream color and some beautiful water-color looking flowers in pale pastel colors.

Harry gently squeezed Severus's hand and guided him in the direction of the grand staircase, made from elegantly-carved cherrywood and sporting a red center carpet nailed to the stairs themselves. Once up the stairs, Harry mentally counted the doors until they reached the end of the hallway, pulling open the one in the very center, and tugged Severus inside. Squeezing his lover's hand one last time, he let it go, and crossed over to the receptionist's desk, and smiled at the young woman behind it.

"Hello, Penelope," he said to her. "I'm here for my three-thirty."

"Good to see you again, Harry," Penelope replied, smiling pleasantly at him, typing in some information onto her rather large desktop computer, before she looked around him. "Oh! I take it this is him, then?"

"It is," Harry said, positively beaming then as he extended his hand to Severus. "Severus, this is Penelope Clearwater," he told him. "Penelope, this is Severus Snape."

"Harry's partner," Severus said, and extended his hand to her. "Harry's told me how exceptional you've been in welcoming him."

"Part of my job, sir," Penelope replied, smiling politely at Severus as she shook his hand. "Harry was always a special case, though. Did you know he was the first person, other than Amelia and her family, of course, who asked me how my day's been going?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "I knew Harry to be polite, Miss Clearwater, but I am appalled that it took so long for your sake."

Penelope smiled, and finished checking Harry in. "Well, you're kind to say so, sir."

"How is your day going, Penelope?" Harry asked.

Penelope smiled at him. "Well, thank you. Chester and I just celebrated our two-year anniversary last week." She raised her arm then, showing off a lovely solitaire diamond ring. "Proposed and everything, right there in my parents' living room, where we'd all gathered. It was quite a shock, but, naturally, I said 'yes'."

"Congratulations, Miss Clearwater," Severus said.

"It'll be Mrs. Davies by the end of next year," Penelope replied with a sweet giggle.

"Penelope's a student at Edinburgh, too," Harry told Severus.

"A third-year, so I'm close to being nearly halfway done with my Bachelor's Degree," she said with a smile. "Chester's already graduated, and he's working at his father's architect firm, Designs by Davies," she explained, obviously very proud of her fiancé, and Severus nodded, having heard of the company.

"And what are you studying, Miss Clearwater?"

"Teaching," she replied. "My goal is to get my Bachelor's in Education and History. I'm thinking of a secondary school," she told him.

"Severus is a professor, too," Harry put in.

"Oh, yes?" Penelope asked. "What do you teach?"

"The sciences," Severus told her.

"Oh, how fascinating," Penelope said, and got to her feet as Amelia's office door opened, and the therapist stood there, smiling. "Oh, Dr. Bones. It's that time already, isn't it?"

"Yes, dear, it seems to be," Amelia said with a smile. "Harry, why don't you come in? You, too, Mr. Silvers," she said, giving Severus a knowing look and beckoned the two of them inside her office.

Penelope smiled at Harry and Severus, waving them off and resumed sitting at her desk, checking in appointments and answering phone calls.

Harry gripped onto Severus's fingers as they walked into Amelia's office, and she considerately shut the door behind them. Harry moved to his customary seat, the couch against the wall, and was relieved when Severus moved to sit beside him. He nodded when Amelia offered them cups of tea, and Severus opted for one as well. As they waited for the kettle to boil, Amelia sat across from them, notepad, clipboard, and pen in hand, and regarded them.

"So, this is the famous Stephen Silvers?"

Harry swallowed. "Yes."

Amelia nodded, and turned to Severus. "Are you or are you not Severus Snape, Professor of Sciences at Wartsmoth Academy?"

Severus sighed. "I am." He crossed his legs then, and stared at Amelia. "And is this the time that you call the constables?"

Amelia blinked, her brown eyes confused. "Why would I do that? Harry is no longer a student at Wartsmoth Academy, and he is eighteen." Her eyes sparkled slightly then. "As far as I know, no wrong-doing has been committed."

Severus looked at Harry, and then back to Amelia. "I see."

"But, Amelia," Harry protested, shaking his head. "I told you what happened on the night of the top-marks trip," he said quickly. "You know very well that Severus and I..."

"You told me that he was Stephen Silvers at the time, Harry," Amelia said with smile. "As I said, no wrong-doing went on." She sighed, putting aside her writing implements and supplies and got to her feet as the kettle went off. She poured the three mugs of tea, placing them and a place of biscuits, three spoons, a bowl of sugar, a pint of milk, a platter of lemons, and a jar of honey onto it, and brought it back towards the session area. "Besides, Severus had already graded your exam by that time, so it wasn't as if any of the work you performed in your physics class was too terribly important to your end-of-year marks."

Harry sighed, sitting back on the couch. "No. No, I suppose not."

Amelia nodded, and looked over at Severus. "I know he loves you."

"As much as I love him," Severus replied, wrapping Harry's hand with his. "I tried to stop, from the time he expressed an interest. We succeeded for a time, but it was no way to live. We literally could not stay away from one another, Dr. Bones."

"Amelia," she told him, and Severus nodded. "Normally, I wouldn't condone such behavior, and I would not hesitate to report it to everyone under the sun. However, in this case, I found that I could not, simply because of all Harry had been through," she explained. "Harry didn't deserve to have something else taken away from him, someone he loved, especially at such a difficult time in his life. I would not put him through that. The system, quite frankly, failed him, Severus, and I would not be the cause of further unhappiness for him."

"You don't see it as jeopardizing your integrity?" Severus asked.

"Not to mention your license," Harry put in.

Amelia shook her head. "No, I don't. All doctors must take an oath to do no harm. I would be causing harm for you if I stirred up trouble, making Severus jobless and his reputation besmirched, plus your own life in tatters for the umpteenth time Harry. I believe that reporting this, which I absolutely refuse to do, would do the ultimate harm. You told me that you wanted to live your life. I suppose it's a life with Severus?"

"Yes," Harry said immediately, finding that he was crying now. "Yes. I can't explain it, but I was drawn to him..."

"Talk to me about that," Amelia said. "If you don't mind, Severus."

Severus shook his head. "Not at all. I've often wondered why myself."

"Because you... You never treated me any different," Harry said quietly.

Severus sighed. "I know I was horrible to you..."

"No, you don't get it—I welcomed it," Harry said.

"Harry, I don't think..."

"Severus," Amelia said, cutting in gently, "let Harry speak."

"Right. Sorry," Severus said.

"I welcomed it, Severus, because it meant that I wasn't getting special treatment. All these people wanted to be my friend in school, because I was the only person that Riddle tried to kill, but failed. I got a bullet to the head, Severus, and it's nothing short of a miracle that I somehow managed to survive. However, nobody could just leave it at that, and they wouldn't let it alone, to the point where all I wanted to do was ignore everyone. Ron, Hermione, and our other friends were amazing, and they helped me through it like you wouldn't believe. It was bad enough that Riddle killed my parents, but to have total strangers come up to me at random points in my life to constantly point it out was, quite frankly, awful."

Severus swallowed. "I had no idea you felt that way."

Harry smiled. "You wouldn't have, Severus, because you nor I took the opportunity to stop our childless bickering for a moment. But it was all right, in the end, because you weren't treating me like I could walk on water. I hated it when professors, Headmaster Dumbledore, and other students at Wartsmoth did that. And not to mention the strangers."

"I didn't know, Harry. I didn't know."

"Well, now you do know," Harry replied, reaching out and touching Severus's face. "From the moment I first saw you—really seeing you, after I looked at your meditation journal, plus the chemistry textbook I had... I suddenly understood you for you. I wanted more than anything to speak to that person, to get to know them. Little did I know how alike the two of us were, and the moment I found out the reasons for that, all was forgiven. I don't know what I would have done in the same situation growing up, knowing that I didn't have anyone there for me that understood it and were there to help me. But know, just know, Severus, that I'm here, and I'm never going anywhere."

Severus found that tears of his own were suspended in his eyes, waiting to create wet paths down his cheeks. "I love you," Severus whispered.

"I love you, too," Harry replied, accepting Severus's embrace and kissing him, relieved that Amelia didn't attempt to interrupt them for a moment.

. . .

Harry snuggled closer to Severus that morning, despite the fact that they had to get up early and catch a train from Edinburgh to Devon, to the Weasley residence. Hermione was turning nineteen-years-old that day, and both Harry and Severus were due to make an appearance. Molly and Arthur had known about the relationship between the two of them since graduation, and, while slightly taken aback, both had been tremendously supportive of the two of them.

Harry pushed closer, savoring the smell of sandalwood and chamomile that was inexplicably drawn to Severus. It was a Saturday, thankfully, so his partner wouldn't be missing valuable time with his Wartsmoth science classes. He had prepared his lecture and lessons for next week ahead of time, and so this meant that he wasn't allowed to grouse about leaving Scotland for the day. It made Harry terribly excited to bring Severus along, because it meant that they truly belonged to one another, and were even going public with their relationship.

"Harry," Severus whispered, wakening to Harry's lips pressing repeatedly up and down Severus's jaw, and he smirked, burying his face into Harry's hair.

"Good morning," Harry greeted, pushing himself flush against his lover. "Oh," he said, his tone darkening then as he felt Severus's excitement. "Very good morning..."

"We have a train to catch," Severus said, knowing he would lose the argument as Harry dove underneath the blankets.

"We have time," Harry informed him, trying not to laugh, as he affixed his lips around the head of Severus's cock.

"Fuck, Harry," Severus said, dragging his fingers through Harry's hair. "How do you know how to do that so well?"

"Learned from the best," Harry replied, before wrapping his lips around it again.

Severus moaned as Harry secured his hand around the base of his erection, and then pulled off of it, proceeding to lap at his balls. "Harry..." He moaned, arching up to meet his mouth. "Harry, don't stop..."

"Never," Harry whispered.

Severus groaned a few moments later, spilling his seed into Harry's willing mouth and then dragging his lover upwards, meeting his mouth and kissing him, feeling that sinful part of his mind moan with delight at the notion that Harry tasted of him. He held Harry in his arms for a few moments before he persuaded him to get up and take a shower. Severus perused through his dresser, figuring out what would be appropriate to wear for the party that day.

"Severus?"

Severus looked up, spotting Harry standing in the bathrooms' doorway. "Yes, Harry?"

Harry grinned at him. "Did that take too much out of you?"

Severus cocked an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

Harry nibbled his bottom lip then, considering it. "Fuck me?" he asked.

"I believe I told you that we had a schedule to keep."

"We do," Harry replied with a nod. "I was just thinking that we could kill two birds with one stone this morning."

"And what are you proposing?"

"That we shower together," Harry said simply. "I was thinking that you could fuck me before the washing begins."

Severus grinned evilly then, crossing the room and wrapping his arms around Harry's waist with hunger in his eyes. "I'm always going to want to fuck that delicious arse of yours," he whispered in Harry's ear.

"R-really, Severus?"

"Really. Now, get that delicious arse into the shower," he said, cupping it for a moment before shoving Harry towards it, and Harry grinned at him over his shoulder.

They made the train with plenty of time to spare, and Harry kept a good grip upon Andressa as they made their way to their previously booked compartment. Harry moved to a seat by the window, and Severus moved to sit beside him, a bag in his hand, which carried the gifts that Harry and Severus had gotten for Hermione. Harry had bought Hermione a laptop—a bulky, three-dimensional cube-looking thing that Severus was unconvinced would ever legitimately become a thing. Severus had opted for a more traditional gift, all four volumes of Torts, which Hermione would need to be taken seriously at Oxford that year. His grandparents had had an impressive library, which he had inherited upon their deaths, and they had all four volumes in pristine condition and, since Severus had no need of them, believed that Hermione would be a wonderful new owner of them.

"It's a seven-hour journey," Severus said softly as they rumbled through the Scottish hills at a medium pace, holding both the gifts for Hermione, as well as a duffel bag.

Harry nodded, wondering what the duffel was for. "It is."

Severus smiled. "Tomorrow is Sunday."

Harry blinked. "Yes, I know."

"Well, I figured that we would stay somewhere in Devon this evening. That way, we won't have to rush away from the festivities, and merely go to sleep."

"You're sure?" Harry asked.

Severus grinned. "I made the reservations at the beginning of the month."

Harry shook his head then, leaning back in the trains' seat.

"What is it?" Severus asked.

Harry smiled slowly then and reached for Severus's hand. "Nothing. I just don't understand what I did to deserve you," he said simply.

"You deserve it all, Harry."

"So do you, Severus. So do you."

Severus and Harry arrived in Devon a bit before two, and hired a cab to take them the rest of the way to the Weasley residence in Ottery St. Mary. It was a pleasant car ride, and the driver took a liking to Andressa. When they arrived on the grounds of the Weasley farm, Severus paid the man as Harry darted out of the car, by which time the door was thrown open, and Ron and Hermione were running eagerly towards him.

"You're here, you're here, you're here!" Hermione chanted, and made a grab for Andressa, who let out an excited bark at the attention.

"Nice to see you, too, Hermione," Harry said with mock-bitterness.

"Leave it, mate—she's been talking about Andressa all morning," Ron said, rolling his eyes and embracing Harry. "You all right? Train trip go well?"

"It was quite all right, I assure you, Mr. Weasley," Severus said, coming up behind them, and Ron immediately released his hold on Harry, who stepped backwards, with Severus instinctively wrapping an arm around him.

"That's wonderful to hear, sir," Hermione said, smiling radiantly up at him.

"Happiest of birthdays, Miss Granger," Severus said.

"It's 'Hermione' of course, sir," she told him.

"Then I shall be 'Severus'. That goes for you, too, Mr. Weasley."

Ron nodded. "Call me 'Ron', please."

"Harry," said Molly, bustling out of the house and wiping her hands on a tea towel, before she threw it over her shoulder and came towards him. "You must come inside. We're going to start eating soon, and Arthur, Hermes, and Jean cannot wait to see you."

"Sounds great," he said, letting her go.

"Ah, Severus," Molly said, and embraced the man briefly. "You'd best come in as well. The twins are inside with Angelina and Lee, and I know that they'll make good on their threat to eat all the food in sight."

"Not the finger sandwiches!" Ron cried out, grabbing Hermione's hand, who herself was still holding Andressa, and pulled her back into the house.

"You made finger sandwiches, Molly?"

"Oh, yes," Molly said as the three of them walked towards the front door. "We've also got chicken, ham, roast beef, some fish and chips that the twins insisted on bringing, and some delightful Cornish pasties that Jean made," she went on as they stepped inside, heavenly aromas filling all of their noses. "Then, for dessert other than the cake, is an apple crumble, bread and butter pudding, treacle tart, and a jam roly-poly," she explained.

"That all sounds wonderful, Molly. Thank you," Severus replied, watching as Harry stepped into the living room to greet the eldest Weasley—William, Severus believed his name was—his beautiful wife, Fleur, and their daughter, Victoire.

"Oh, let me take that from you, Severus," Molly said, motioning to the bag he held, and smiled at him as she took it, and moved it to a lace-covered table across the room, which was already plenty laden with various wrapped gifts.

"She's just gorgeous!" Harry cooed at Victoire, who was quite close to a year and a half. "You two must be so happy."

"Happy that she looks like Fleur? Yes," Bill said with a laugh.

"Would you like to 'old 'er, 'arry?" Fleur asked with a smile.

"Please," Harry said, and reached out, carefully holding the little girl in his arms, who inspected him for a moment, before laying her head on his shoulder. "Oh, my," he whispered.

"She likes you," Bill said encouragingly.

"It gives my arms a break," Fleur said, stretching her arms out this way and that, and made a pleased sound when Bill gently began massaging her shoulders. "You are too good to me, William," she whispered.

"How's things at the bank?" Harry asked, gently rolling on the balls of his feet to keep little Victoire calm.

"Zhey are quite all right, thank you," Fleur replied with a smile. "I'm spending more time 'ome with zhis one, and I find I like it much more zhen zhe bank."

"I got promoted to manager of our branch," Bill explained. "We've discussed it, and Fleur wants to be at home with the children."

"It is vhat I know," Fleur said with a shrug. "I 'ad to 'elp raise my leetle sister, Gabrielle, and I 'ave missed my daughter."

"I love coming home at the end of the day, and seeing them together," Bill confessed. "Fleur is always making sure the house is clean, that Victoire is happy... And, very often, she will cook my favorite meals."

"I never 'ought such a man vould be so simple to please," Fleur said.

The rest of the day went swimmingly, with both Harry and Severus tucking in to their respective meals with gusto. When the gift presentation arrived, Hermione was floored at the books that Severus had brought for her, and deeply moved that they had come from his family library. She was also shocked by the laptop that Harry had bought her, as she had yet to receive one, and said that the note-taking process would be so much easier now. Time went by quickly after that, with pudding time arriving and the sun slipping over the horizon. Severus called them a cap to take them to the hotel for the night, and they said goodbye to everyone in turn before the cab took them away.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Harry asked.

Severus smirked. "No," he replied.

Less than twenty minutes later, they arrived at the top of a hill, where a beautiful, brick manor-looking building stood. Severus smirked as Harry's jaw dropped, and paid the driver handsomely before he retrieved the duffel from the boot and moved to follow Harry, who held Andressa in a protective manner in his arms. They walked through the stone archway leading to the entrance of the hotel, which was called The Victoria, and stepped into the lobby.

"Good evening, my name is Romilda," said the pretty, fresh-faced young woman behind the receptionists' desk, who sported flowing black hair. "Welcome to The Victoria Hotel. How may I assist you?"

"We have a reservation," Severus said politely, stepping forward.

"Very good, sir," Romilda replied, pulling the ledger towards her. "What's the name under the reservation, please?"

"Snape," Severus replied.

Romilda flashed Severus a smile before bending her dark head towards the ledger again, and ran the pad of her index finger along it until it came to the name in question, whereupon she tapped it against the paper. "Ah, yes. The Victoria Suite, already paid in-full," she said with a smile, before turning around and grabbing the correct keycards, and handed one to Severus and the other one to Harry. "Our restaurant, The Jubilee Room, has a special Saturday dinner option. As you two are guests here, and we're not full this evening, you have no need of making a reservation to attend."

"Is that our only dining option, Romilda?" Severus asked.

Romilda shook her head. "Of course not, sir. If you wish a more informal evening, by all means, go to The White Room. And there is always room service if you're feeling a bit knackered after such a long day."

Severus nodded. "Thank you, Romilda. You have been exceptionally helpful." Severus nodded at her then and put his hand on the small of Harry's back, who seemed all to pleased to leave the foyer of the hotel and move towards the lifts. Peeking over his shoulder, Severus nearly grinned with glee at Romilda's shocked expression, and was suddenly aware of how much she had been ogling Harry, and about how he wanted to stake his claim.

"I'm feeling The White Room tonight, Severus, if that's all right," Harry said softly as they stepped into the lifts.

Severus nodded. "Of course, Harry. Whatever you wish."

Once they were upstairs, Severus and Harry changed their clothes and situated Andressa, who immediately fell asleep on the window embrasure. Severus was about to leave the room with Harry, were it not for his minx of a lover suddenly darting forward, pulling Severus into his arms and arching himself against him.

"As much as I appreciate the sentiment," Severus said, lowering his head down to Harry's so as he could kiss him, "I would like to know why you're in such a mood, so that I can attempt to help you replicate it in future."

Harry grinned up at him. "It's you."

Severus blinked. "Sorry?"

"I'm in this mood because of you."

Severus shook his head. "Explain it to me, please."

Harry shrugged. "I'm in this mood because you're wonderful at being you, Severus. You're kind and generous and considerate..."

Severus growled mockingly. "I am no such thing."

"...a terrible liar," Harry said, and grinned up at him.

"Perhaps I am only terrible when I know I am lying," Severus said with a shrug.

"Perhaps," Harry said, pulling himself closer still to Severus. "But I can't help but be happy. I'm living my best life, here, in this moment, and I wouldn't change a thing."

Severus smiled. "Are you sure?"

"More sure than I've been in my entire life," Harry said, pushing himself up on his toes so that he could kiss Severus again.

. . .

Harry began at the University of Edinburgh on the final day of September, and was pleased that Headmaster Dumbledore had written to the chancellor, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as its principal, Baron Stewart Sutherland, on behalf of Andressa. If he followed by the university's protocol, he was permitted to have her with him at all times. It seemed as if, perhaps, in this one situation, bearing the name of 'Harry Potter' seemed to work well in his favor.

He had emailed with Ron and Hermione, due to begin at University College and Oxford University respectively, and learned just how pleased they were in their new roles. Ron had sought advice from Rolf in the coming weeks after qualifications for the bootcamp for Scotland Yard, and Harry didn't question it further, remembering his encounter with Oliver Wood and feeling particularly guilty about it. Hermione, meanwhile, was all too happy about her weekly teas with Rufus Scrimgeour, who delighted in sharing war stories about cases, the courtroom, and particularly nasty habits that young barristers could pick up, and, her favorite part, how to avoid the nasty habits altogether.

It was a delight to hear from Bill and Fleur, who immediately told Molly and Arthur, who quickly told Ron and Hermione, who promptly told Harry and Severus, that Fleur had left the bank, in the wake of her announcement that she was pregnant again. Harry was pleased to hear that piece of pleasant information, because he was becoming more and more convinced by the day that his organic chemistry professor, Quirinus Quirrell, had it in for him. Even the stammer the professor seemed to have going for him seemed to vanish whenever Harry found himself on the receiving end of a wrong answer—which hardly ever happened—and the professor seemed to delight in using double entendre in which to deliberately trip him up.

Finally, the first term had ended and he would never need to see Professor Quirrell again, as he had passed the subject and was permitted to move on. Autumn had passed rather quickly that year, and winter had arrived, and thus the Christmas holidays had gone by, it seemed, just as fast as autumn had done. Luna had reached her eighteenth birthday in early February, and Rolf had surprised her with a proposal, much to hers and everyone else's delight. Xenophilius, Harry knew, had always been extremely protective of his only child, but seemed to like Rolf very much as a suitable partner for his daughter.

On Valentine's Day, one day after Luna's eighteenth birthday and engagement, Harry was out quite late that Sunday night. Classes for him that term didn't begin until ten o'clock that morning, but as he slipped into the flat he shared with Severus close to nine, he knew that he was in hot water. Severus was sitting in the living room, Andressa on his lap, and trying to thumb through Harry's copy of A Brief History of Time. Harry had said he would be spending the better part of the day studying in the library, but, of course, it hadn't been the entire truth. He shut and locked the door of the flat behind him, and made his way into the living room, spotting Severus almost immediately.

"Good evening," Severus said, his tone curt, and he didn't look up.

Harry sighed, knowing he was in for it now. "Severus..."

"How was the library?"

Harry swallowed. "It was lovely—"

"Wrong," Severus said, slamming the book shut, and causing Andressa to lift her head in a moment of confusion. "Wrong, Harry. I went there to surprise my boyfriend with a picnic this afternoon, because I was under the impression that you enjoyed Valentine's Day, despite the notion that I believe it to be utterly saccharine."

"I do enjoy it, Severus," Harry replied, treading carefully. "And it would all depend on what time you got there. I wasn't at the library all day."

"You weren't?"

"No, something came up, and I had an appointment to keep," he said.

Severus's lips pressed to a thin line. "You've finished with Amelia," he replied. "I thought you told me that your last session was the fourth one I went to."

"And it was," Harry agreed. "I didn't have an appointment with Amelia."

"Oh? And who did you have one with, then?"

"An estate agent," Harry told him.

Severus sighed. "So, that's it, then?" he asked, getting slowly to his feet without disturbing Andressa further, and moved to the other side of the room.

Harry blinked. "Excuse me?"

Severus whipped around then. "If you were unhappy, you could've told me," he said, his voice tightening slightly with untapped devastation.

Harry scoffed. "Unhappy? Please. I'm happier than I've ever been—"

"Then why the estate agent, and why the secrets?" Severus demanded. "You've been distant as of late, Harry, and I don't understand..."

Harry crossed the room then, and put his arms around Severus. "I'm sorry," he said, and smiled up at him. "Look, the reason why I've been so quiet is because I was working on something top-secret, for you."

Severus blinked. "For me?"

"Of course," Harry said, reaching into his pocket and bringing out a key, which he promptly dropped into Severus's hand. "Happy Valentine's Day."

Severus shook his head. "I don't understand. What is...?"

"It's the key to our home," Harry told him with a smile.

Severus's jaw dropped. "Our home?"

Harry grinned, wrapping his arms around Severus's neck. "Yes, our home. I've told you more than once how long I'm going to be with you—forever. So, I used the part of my fortune that I had access to before turning twenty-one, and again at twenty-five, to buy us a house. I'm in this forever, Severus, and we deserve more space for a wonderful life."

"Where is it?" Severus asked.

"Midlothian," Harry said proudly. "It's a seven-bedroom detached house, with land and trees all around it, and a massive garden..."

"Seven bedrooms?!" Severus demanded.

Harry smiled. "Yes. Enough for a master suite, an office for each of us..."

Severus swallowed, weighing the key in his hand. "And children?"

Harry hunched his shoulders. "I know we've never discussed it..."

"Somehow, I would have remembered if we had," Severus put in.

"I want children," Harry said simply, running his fingers up and down Severus's back. "I've always wanted children. But, if it means I have to give them up to keep you, then I will. You're the love of my life, and I'm not letting you go, ever again."

Severus stared down at Harry. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I want children, but I would be fully prepared to give them up, if it meant that I can be with you," he said.

Severus sighed. "You don't have to give up a thing."

Harry blinked. "What?"

"I'll have children with you, Harry, if it means that much to you."

Harry shook his head. "No, Severus. Don't do it or accept it just because I want them. You have to want them, too."

Severus smiled, leaning down and pressing his forehead to Harry's. "I want them because you want them, Harry," he stated with a smile. "I never wanted them before, but, now that I have you, I want them. Does that make sense?"

Harry's breath hitched in his throat then. "You know it... It does," he replied.

"So... You've bought this house?"

Harry nodded. "Yes."

Severus pulled him closer then, his heart thundering. "When can we move in?"

. . .

Once Harry and Severus moved in—spending the Easter holidays making sure that everything was perfect—they knew that they were on the right track. Since it was Harry's first year of university, he was looking forward to the few weeks off he got during the summer. When Severus left on the first of June to head into the city, Harry thought nothing of it, and focused on the meal he was dead-set on preparing them for dinner that night. When Severus returned—hiding the bag from Garrick Ollivander's Lapidary somewhere that he thought his boyfriend would never find it—all was well.

They traveled to Wiltshire a few days later, to meet Draco and Neville at the Malfoy Estate for Draco's nineteenth birthday. Narcissa was just as polite as always, and delighted in presiding over the event. She watched Draco and Neville with her dark eyes, beaming at the notion that her son had found someone wonderful. She looked quite a bit younger, now that her divorce from Lucius was finalized, and kept staring at Alastor Moody from across the room, who Draco had invited as a friendly gesture. The looks were returned, and Harry, Severus, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Neville, Dean, Ginny, Luna, and Rolf all had to hide their various forms of amusement as they spoke to one another.

"Your matchmaking skills are on point, Draco," Hermione said, beaming at him.

"Let's hope this one sticks," Ron put in.

"He's a far better improvement over Lucius," Draco growled. "I'm sure that, if push came to shove and they did get serious, Alastor would treat Mother right."

They wouldn't all come together again until the end of the month, where they celebrated Ginny and Luna's commencement from the Upper Sixth Form. It was quite a trek when, afterwards, everyone connected to the group went to the train station, hopping a train for the Weasley family farm to celebrate. They each had to get different cabs on the other side, however, and, once Harry and Severus arrived, Harry realized that everyone else was already inside. As he moved towards the door, Severus put a hand on his arm to stop him.

"Fancy a walk?" he asked. "It's such a beautiful night, and it would do us good to stretch our legs a bit before heading in there."

Harry smiled at him. "Very well, then."

Harry and Severus proceeded to walk the grounds on the Weasley property, and remembered coming there many times as he'd grown up. Favored memories always seemed to revolve around football, and kicking the ball back and forth on the grounds. Once, during one of his first times being there, one of the twins had deliberately kicked the ball into Molly's vegetable patch, liking to use it as the goal. Harry had gone to retrieve it and Molly had seen him, lightly scolding him for getting too close to her swedes, and Harry had apologized. Molly, however, had quickly assessed the situation, and assured Harry that she did not blame him.

"Have I lost you?"

"No, never," Harry said, shaking his head, and relayed the story.

"Do you like swedes?"

Harry laughed. "Not particularly, no."

Severus smirked. "Noted," he replied.

They continued walking around the beautiful grounds, hand in hand, hearing the cows, horses, pigs, and sheep in the barn a few yards away. Harry was a little surprised as they actually wandered into the barn, and saw a beautiful horse, called Errol, who the Weasley family had had for years, all saddled up with a two-person saddle and ready to go. Severus assisted Harry up onto the trusty horses' back, and climbed aboard himself, reaching in front of Harry to guide the reins of the beautiful creature out of the barn. They made their way towards the edge of the property itself, where you could actually see the horizon clearly, and Harry marveled in all the colored needed to make such a beautiful sunset.

"Are you happy?" Severus asked from behind him.

"Mmm," Harry said softly, leaning back so that he was in Severus's arms. "With you? Of course I am. Always."

Severus sighed, pressing a kiss into Harry's hair. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Harry said, managing to turn around so that he was facing Severus. "Are you all right? You sound a bit strange."

Severus nodded. "Just nervous."

"Nervous? About what?"

Severus swallowed, reaching into his pocket and holding a box in his hand, which caused Harry to gasp a little at the sight of it. "I love you, Harry, and I always will." He opened the box then and showed off the ring that lay inside. It was a gold band, with rune-like etchings upon it, the runes themselves separated by rubies. "Harry James Potter, will you marry me?"

"Oh, my god," Harry whispered.

"If you don't like it, we can always..."

"No!" Harry cried out then, launching himself forwards then and throwing his arms around the love of his life, to the point where Severus had to grip onto the box to keep it from going flying off somewhere. "I love it, and I love you, and yes!" he said breathlessly.

Severus pulled back then, staring at Harry. "'Yes?'" he asked.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Harry crowed, holding out his arm, to which Severus promptly slipped the ring onto the correct finger. Harry let out an exalted shout then and threw his arms back around Severus, anchoring his mouth to his lover's and kissing him breathlessly. "Let's just hope we don't have to wait forever..."

Severus sighed. "The law is wrong," he said softly, remembering the conversation he'd had with Harry possible, about an entirely different law. "Let's just hope that Hermione is among those who can change it."

"She will," Harry assured him with a smile.

"You're sure?"

"Hey, you've met Hermione," Harry told him with a laugh, nestling in his arms, letting out a laugh as Severus pulled Errol gently by the reins, and led them back to the barn. "She won't stop until she gets her way. A stubborn girl, that one..."

"Yes, but in this case, she'll need it," Severus said softly, pressing a kiss to the crown of his fiancé's head, and tried to keep the tears of joy from flowing.

. . .

After Harry and Neville had turned nineteen, and Ginny eighteen, not much happened much for the next four days. Then, when Severus presented Harry with a pair of plane tickets, and a voicemail on their answering machine from Ron and Hermione, saying that they would be delighted to take Andressa for however long they were gone, Harry's heart soared. He had never been to Saint Lucia before, but was determined to make the best of his travel experience. Other than parts of Scotland and a few select places around England, Harry had never been anywhere, and he was delighted to share in the sights with Severus.

The one-bedroom residence at their accommodation had a sliding glass door, in which one could go out and look upon the lovely view; the resort was surrounded completely by crystal blue water, and there was a small pool just outside the door. The bedroom boasted a king-sized, four-posted bed, which Harry couldn't wait to be fucked on. It was truly the most beautiful place that Harry had ever seen before in his life, and he couldn't believe how fortunate he was to be sharing it with the love of his life.

"Want to go for a swim?" Severus asked.

Harry grinned, nodding. "Sure." Immediately, he tore through the rest of the house, which was only a few feet, and opened the sliding glass door, and began stripping off his clothes.

"Harry?"

"Hmmm?" Harry asked, looking over his shoulder at Severus as he grinned, and dropped the polo shirt he had been wearing.

"Your trunks are in your suitcase."

Harry rolled his eyes. "No need for trunks."

Severus cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"Really," Harry said. "Come out here, and I'll show you."

Severus stepped forward and into the sunshine, automatically pulling his new pair of sunglasses down over his eyes. "All right, I'm here."

Harry grinned. "As you can see, there is a particularly high garden wall," he explained, "plus, this is considered to be private property."

Severus gave a nod. "Yes."

"And, if you recall correctly," he said, toeing off his sandals, which Severus didn't miss at all, "I seem to remember that we got all of the pamphlets and things about tourist activities and whatnot in the main building."

Severus crossed his arms. "That's true."

"And," Harry added, stepping forward as he began to slowly unbutton Severus's shirt, "I may have put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on our front door."

Severus's eyes widened. "You didn't."

Harry grinned up at him. "Oh, but I did."

Severus rolled his eyes. "You're as bad as Moody..."

"Moody, who is Deputy Commissioner of Scotland Yard, whose bravery managed to get your fiancé back to you, not to mention Narcissa's fiancé now..."

"Yes. Certainly did move fast, didn't he?"

"Speak for yourself," Harry replied, getting Severus's shirt off and running his hands up and down his own fiancé's hardened and toned stomach.

Severus growled, pushing Harry away from him to take off his shorts and boxers, before kicking off his own shoes and doing away with his own shorts and boxers. He then took Harry by the hand and led him towards the small pool upon the deck, which was cooling to his warm skin. He smirked then as Harry paddled closer to him in the water, and nestled in his arms.

"Are you all right?" he asked him.

"Never better."

"Hmmm," Severus allowed.

Harry looked up at him, smiling slowly. "And you? Are you all right?"

"I should think so."

Harry grinned, cupping Severus's face in his hands and kissing him. He found it difficult, as time went on, to stop looking at the man. Of course, not many people would find him attractive, but, in Harry's eye, he was the most gorgeous specimen he'd ever seen. His glossy black hair, captivating black eyes, thin lips, high cheekbones. It hurt him whenever Severus was overly critical of himself, and it was almost as if Severus was faulting him for finding him attractive in the first place.

"Lost again?"

Harry shook his head. "No."

"Then, what is on your mind?"

Harry smiled, placing his forehead up against Severus's, and delighting when the man shuddered openly with desire. "Us," he replied. "You."

"Oh, yes? What can there possibly be to think about me?"

"A great many things, Severus."

"Oh?" Severus wanted to know, raising an eyebrow. "Care to share?"

Harry mulled over Severus's question for a moment, permitting himself to drag the pads of his fingers on the surface of te water. "It's something, and nothing..."

"Tell me," Severus said, his arms feeling good around Harry's waist.

Harry sighed. "I love you."

Severus smiled at the declaration. "I love you, too, Harry. Always."

Harry wetted his lips then, and Severus wanting nothing more than to capture that tongue, but knew by now that Harry wanted to say something else, and so he remained silent. "All my life, I wanted to find my home..."

Severus inclined his head. "Oh, yes?"

"Yes," Harry said softly, pulling himself closer to Severus. "And, for quite a significant period, I thought it could be Wartsmoth, or the Weasley farm, and then with Remus, but..."

"It's all right, Harry. Tell me."

"But now, I realize... I realize that my home is wherever you are," Harry said softly, and raised his eyes to look up at his fiancé.

Severus's eyes widened. "Do you mean that, Harry?"

Harry nodded. "Every word, Severus. I mean it. I love you."

"I love you, too, Harry," Severus replied, tilting the younger man's chin up and meeting his lips for a moment. "Always," he whispered, his breath hot, pressing as close to Harry as he could, and slipped his fingers inside of Harry, causing his lover to mewl with pleasure, as he pulled them into deeper water.