The Journey Cycle Pt 2: New Zealand (pt 2 complete

Series Title: The Journey Cycle

Novel Title: Part Two: New Zealand

Novel Summary: After a hasty marriage back in England, Harry Potter-Snape and his new husband are once more on the move. But instead of making a graceful exit for their honeymoon, they are forced to run when news of the new Dark Lord’s doings reaches them.

On the far side of the world they are invited to a gay motor bike rally by a group of friendly natives and go on to form friendships that will last a lifetime. But just who is the blond biker who bears more than a passing resemblance to Draco Malfoy and Harry’s long-dead godfather? And what relevance does the club that their new friends belong to have with the new Dark Lord…..?

Series Summary: A new global conspiracy is uncovered as they journey and soon, Harry and his friends are deeply embroiled in plots and machinations that take them right around the world and even beyond it……

Who is this new Dark Lord and what is his connection to a global clandestine muggle organisation? What is the relationship between one of their new friends and Harry’s long-dead godfather? The connection between a fellow traveller on the road and a former staff member of Hogwarts? Just what was the final curse that Voldemort cast? And what was the mysterious illness that took Severus and Harry’s previous lovers from them in the prime of their lives? Will this be Harry’s battle once more?

Read on and see……

For those of you squicked by watersports, I have started and ended all such scenes thus: -

~~~~~~~~WS~~~~~~~~~

To enable you to pass them by without losing the essential flow of the story.

Character death (Snape/Harry): Everyone dies!! Eventually!!!


A/N: A note on spoilers: This is reasonably canon-compliant up to and including book six and all these novels will return sometimes to any and all of them

This is a series, therefore these pieces must be read in order, they will make little sense otherwise as the action continues from book to book.

So, take this out to the hammock, set a large jug of something cold and either fizzy or alcoholic at your side and take time in the sun to continue with Harry and Severus on…..the next leg of……..

The Journey.

Enjoy! Review!

The Squig.


1

By the time Harry arrived there was a large press of his invited guests around the door to the Registry Office. With Ron’s burly help keeping the milling crowd at bay he arrived inside in one piece. The scene inside was one of relative peace and calm compared to the bear garden outside.

He entered the large room to see Severus pinning on the buttonholes according to his list. Harry smiled at the look of concentration as he pinned one to Ernie Weasley-Macmillan’s lapel before he burst through the double doors. Severus stepped back and turned to see Harry standing in the doorway.

Ernie watched as Severus Snape’s expression totally changed as he turned from him to see Harry Potter framed thus. He smiled. So hex him, he was an old romantic and he knew love when he saw it and this was love, make no mistake about it. He watched as they moved towards each other and hugged, not Harry’s usual hug but the one reserved for Snape, the special hug, the one that said, “I’m home now. We’re together again” and Ernie was a mite jealous.

“So. Are you ready for this?”, Harry enquired. Severus smiled widely before gathering Harry to him, “Fuck, yes. I want to be yours, and for you to be mine”, before kissing him. They pinned on each other’s flowers as the registrar invited the guests into the Registry Office and they were left outside the door on their own.

Arms wrapped around each other as soon as they were alone. Harry asked, “Are you ready, Mrs Potter?” Severus lightly whacked Harry’s arse as he held him, “Of course, Mrs Snape”, he purred. They kissed tenderly then Harry threaded his arm through Severus’ as the Wedding March struck up, the doors of the room were held open and they both swept in and up to the registrar’s table.

After the celebrant asked the usual questions of all those present.....which boiled down to,...Is anyone going to stop this wedding in a dramatic fashion?, to receive no answer; she continued.

She asked them to join hands. They were both shaking but they held each other’s gaze, Harry with his glasses down his nose, his head tilted forwards slightly and Severus was blasted with the full force of the green gaze without glass before it. He reached for his Harry instinctively and Harry reached back. In a daze, they recited their vows, placed the enhanced rings and stood back for the final part of the ceremony.

So lost in it all, Harry nearly missed the final instruction. “The grooms may now kiss”. Severus hadn’t and swept Harry up into his arms and kissed him all warm and loving. No tongue. Harry leaned up for the kiss of his life and was brought up wanting.

He tipped his head back, eyeing his lover, “Now kiss me like you fucking mean it”, he growled. Severus flicked around a quick glance, a remnant of his paranoia making him hesitate then gave in, it was his wedding day after all and descended, lips parted, ready to take Harry in and so he did, devouring his beloved, drowning in him before he remembered where he was and desisted. He was vaguely aware of cheers around him as they parted, red of face and short of breath.

Harry unwound his arms from around his husband’s neck and held the sharp-featured face between his palms. “Well, Mrs Potter, we did it”, he whispered, his nose centimetres from his husband’s. Severus’ face lit up, he could feel his eyes fill and his throat close, “Indeed we did, Mrs Snape”, he croaked then pulled Harry into a mammoth hug, “We really are married, Harry. I love you so much”, he buried his face in Harry’s unruly hair. Harry smiled, crushed in the embrace and returned it, burrowing his face in the crook of Severus’ neck, inhaling his familiar scent amidst the chaos of the wedding.

The swift planning, the whirlwind of invites and replies, the suits that they had made, the flowers, the booking of the Registry office, organising the reception, arranging accommodation for friends from near and far and the whole done in a matter of weeks. They had set the date first then flew around making the arrangements. Hermione and Ginny had proved invaluable in this, and now, here they were, married.

Harry sagged a little and Severus chuckled into his hair and held him tighter. Harry had borne the brunt of the organisation and despite his elation, Severus could feel the fatigue in the slump.

They kissed again, slower and less frenetic. A gentle cough brought them round, the registrar, grinning and softly suggesting that they might like to sign the register now. They moved apart until only their hands were joined then sat side by side as first one then the other inked his new name with a flourish. They were now the Messrs. Potter-Snape.

Photo flashes went off again. Harry had asked his old mate Colin, who had handled a lot of Harry’s press in the past, to intervene between himself and the Press once more. As usual, Colin was delighted with the job and Harry knew that the nuptials would get at least an accurate write-up if not full of the overblown gush that passed for Society events in the Prophet. Harry by far preferred Colin’s dry acerbic reportage.

And Harry had made Colin swear at wand-point that there would be no kisses, however chaste for the vultures to speculate over. For the huge fee that Harry was prepared to shell out, Colin laughed and gave his Wizard’s oath.

Spilling out onto the steps of the Registry Office, there was the obligatory throwing of the two small bouquets. Hermione’s eldest caught one, her cheeks flushing bright pink as she was there with her first real boyfriend, a callow youth of fifteen to her fourteen. The second was caught by Lavender Neeley, nee Drabble, nee Butler, nee Brown. Her blush was as girlish as Esme’s had been but it didn’t look too cute on a woman on whom her experiences lay heavy; her eyes were more calculating as she eyed the latest of her beaux.

Harry glanced up at the rapidly greying sky as he sought out a couple of brollies that the Office kept handy for such occasions, the rain started as he was shepherding folk into the taxis that would bear them to the reception.

There was much chat and hugging and congratulations as the crowd milled about, Severus, Harry and the three ushers helped everyone into cabs. Finally the last one took Harry and his new husband plus Ron, Harry’s best man and a frail Minerva, who had stood for Severus.

In the chaos that reigned at the hotel, Harry lost sight of his beloved as he rushed into the foyer helping folk out of wet coats as the downpour had started in earnest. The maitre’d came bustling up to Harry red-faced apologising for a disaster in the kitchen but the meal would be a little late…. “and would sir please accept umpteen crates of free bubbly to ease the situation?” All this said with barely a pause for breath. Harry just nodded as he regarded the arrivals in dribs and drabs plus others yet to arrive for the reception alone and just nodded, “Sure, go right ahead”, he murmured as the short man bustled away again.

Harry found himself in the middle of a big wet hug, the Weasley twins, whose Continental Floo had let them down and they had missed the ceremony much to their disgust. Harry was delighted to see them at long last and they freed themselves from wet coats and gulped down a couple of glasses of champagne apiece before checking for muggle hotel staff and then unshrinking their gifts once the coast was clear, “We suggest you open these when there’s just the two of you”, George said, a sly wink saying more about the parcels in Harry’s hands. Fred leaned in, “Oh, aye, you quite traumatized our kid at Christmas”. Harry laughed, “Well, they should have asked us first. Anyway, we don’t ‘share’ any more. That was down to the ‘four’”. The greying redheads nodded, “We thought not. Ron’s face when he told us was a picture, though”.

Harry laughed harder as he moved away before more people claimed his attention. Where was Severus? He hadn’t clapped eyes on him for over half an hour. Maybe he was just doing the host thing in the main room while Harry did the meet and greet in the foyer. It was George, coming back from the main room that made Harry frown, “Oi, Harry, where’s hubby, then, only he’s not in there?”, he inclined his head to the man room doors whence he had just emerged.

He shrugged, “Loo, maybe?”, then was distracted again. It was only an over exuberant hug by Hagrid that brought his attention to his wand by pressing it into his body along with attempting to break every bone in his upper body in an embrace as he was engulfed in soggy beard. “A’righ’ ‘arry. Yew tew looked luverly standing there, sayin’ yer vows, now. So where is ‘e, yer new ol’ man, so ter speak”, he guffawed at his own wit. Harry disentangled himself, “Nice to see you, too, Hagrid. Please, step inside and have some champagne. I need to find Severus”. “A’righ’, Harry. By, mighty ol’ storm blowin’ up outside, glad ter be in in the warm. See yer later, yeah?” Harry turned, “Storm, Hagrid?” The half-giant guffawed, “Aye, quite impressive, though yer cannae hear it in ‘ere, mind”.

That galvanised Harry. He went in search of his two ‘sisters’ and found them in a huddle with friends. “Sev needs me and he’s gone AWOL. Can’t tell you, but I need someone to do meet and greet”. Hermione and Ginny nodded and accepted. Harry thrust the grubby parchments with the guest list into their hands and exited stage left. He snagged a bottle of champagne from a fridge in the corner of the room and stole a couple of glasses from a nearby tray, then shrank them and thrust them in his pocket.

He grabbed someone in a uniform slightly more important looking than a bell boy. “Excuse me, are there basements beneath this place?” The man looked taken aback, Harry smiled, “I’m with the wedding party and I’ve lost a five year old that his mum asked me to look after, she’s at the loo and I know he likes to be in cellars when there’s a storm and I’ve lost him and that’s why I ask”. The man looked Harry up and down a couple of times and decided he looked frazzled enough and led him to a door in a rear corridor. “I can’t leave this floor, otherwise I’d come and help, but if he’s gone this way, there’s not much harm he can get into down there”.

Harry thanked the man and opened the door cautiously. A flight of steps led straight down and once the eyes had adjusted, it was gloomy but not dark within the small room at their base. As Harry let the door close behind him, he felt very cut off from the noise and the fuss. It was quite nice actually, there was a low background hum, the heating or the A/C, Harry thought. It was very relaxing.

He descended and called out softly, “Sev. Are you here?” There was a sharp rustling sound to Harry’s right as he rounded the bottom of the stairs and a small sound. Harry followed it back under the steps down which he had come, veered around two wheeled hampers full of what looked like clean laundry and found his beloved under the stairs, his knees drawn up under his chin, arms wrapped around them and face hidden by them.

“Oh, Sev”, Harry murmured as he crouched in the small space and knelt, scooting up to his beloved and taking him in his arms. Severus was shaking. Harry just sat there and soothed for a while until he felt Severus relax in his arms somewhat. Harry felt a mumbled, “Thank you, Harry”, against his chest before Severus raised his head slightly, “What took you so bloody long, anyway?”, he snipped and Harry laughed, “How many people have we got coming to this shindig? Over a hundred? I was hot and had undone my jacket. It was when Hagrid crushed me, I felt my wand vibrate. We should be doing this together. The kitchens are going to be late with the food and they’re giving us a load of free champers to compensate and I’m out front doing all the welcoming by myself”, Harry finished hotly.

Severus sighed and slumped again, “Sorry, Harry. You know I am not a big lover of crowds and when coupled with a thunderstorm of biblical proportions....”, his voice tailed off as his head pitched forward again. Harry lifted his chin until black eyes met green. “The minute Hagrid told me of the storm, I came to find you. I’ve left the girls doing the greetings so I can’t stay down here long but I just wanted to see that you were okay”. He leaned forward slightly and kissed him.

It took a moment before Severus responded but answer he did, parting his lips for Harry’s tongue, pressing with his own in a sweet slow kiss. Harry withdrew first and patted his pockets pulling out bottle and glasses, re-sizing them before releasing the cork with a soft ‘pop’ and pouring for them both. He handed Severus a glass. “You know, we should be in the thick of the party, but when anyone asks me of the memory of the day, it’s going to be us on our own hidden away down here, sipping a drop of the old shampoo. Here’s to us, my darling, now and for ever”, Harry raised his glass then drank.

Severus drank along with him gazing at this man who had just joined lives with him and felt his eyes fill, “Thanks for coming down and finding me, Harry, you saved me yet again”. His tone turned serious, “This isn’t the first time you’ve saved me, Harry for all you go on about me saving you”. Harry hushed him with a finger to his lips, “That’s part of what love is, Sev, stepping in where the other cannot. We’re probably about even on the saving front, not that I’m counting. It just is, Sev. It’s what you do for a love like this”. This made Severus smile even while he blinked and two fat tears escaped.

Harry made a high-pitched noise in his throat as he licked the tears away and he felt his own choke him and fall, “Fuck, but I love you, Mrs Potter”, he sniffed and they were in each other’s arms again, kissing for Britain. As they came up for air, Harry chuckled, “At least, there is an oasis of calm in all the chaos and I get you all to myself for a while, selfish I know, but this is our day after all”.

“Hhhmm, I am quite in agreement there, Mrs Snape”, Severus purred, alternately swigging champagne and nuzzling Harry’s ear.

They sat side by side in the shadowed space holding hands and quaffing. Harry gave them both a top-up and sat back against the wall, “Sev, answer me something?” Severus cast a glance his way, “Hmmm?” Harry looked ahead, a speculative cast to his features, “If you had known about gay marriage, would you and Remus have done the deed?”

This was a little out of the boundary and Severus was taken aback, “Answer me something first”, he dissembled, playing for time. Harry shrugged, “Yes, okay”. Severus turned to him, “Would you and Draco, had he been able?” Harry turned to him and grinned, “Oh, yes. Like a shot. Does that surprise you?” Severus found himself smiling at the answer, “Strangely enough, no, but as to your own question, then the answer is either yes or no, depending on when we were apprised of this knowledge”.

Harry laughed aloud, “That’s my Sev, complicated to the end. Explain yourself, my love”. Severus faced ahead and did just that. “When Rem and I first got together, then yes, I would have. We were both starved for love and touch. But later...”, he hesitated, “Later, we had the burden of familiarity, the staidness of routine, we had grown used to each other...”, he tailed off. Harry stayed silent and the narrative was continued. “I think towards the end, we got bored with each other”. Long silence. Harry still said nothing. Severus poured another glass and downed it in a few swift gulps. “Hell, Harry, if he hadn’t become ill, then we would have been no more anyway, but after the sickness started....well....I couldn’t leave him, could I?”

He cast a wet look in Harry’s direction. Harry was stunned by this news. “Did you argue?”, he whispered. Severus shook his head, “No, I just think we were almost at the end of something. Sometimes I think the interactions we used to have with you youngsters was what kept us going through the last few years until his illness hit. This has surprised you?”

Harry nodded, “We always thought that you two were rock. In it for life. The epitome of the cosy old married couple. We sort of envied you, Drae and I, and we often said that we wanted that cosiness for ourselves. I had no idea”. Severus sighed, “We didn’t have any adventures beyond opening the shop. I think”, his voice lowered, “I think I have a hankering for adventure that I was never allowed to really express until I met you. I’ll tell you this, if we carry on at this rate, I’ll certainly never be bored. And I think that was the problem with Rem and I, we had said it all, done it all with each other, but of course, now I know, I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of life and with you, I will finally see it all” Severus ended on a wistful sigh.

Harry was thoughtful at this, “I think it’s what attracted my ex to yours. The protocol, the rules. Even though Remus was a werewolf, when Drae got past that, he saw a man who upheld or wanted to see upheld all the traditions, not the piss-takers that you and I were, the mavericks, the rule-breakers, the ones who would go against the law if it was stupid or puerile. Draco would always be chiding me on one aspect of my conduct or another, the queen, but he was always such a wonderful hostess”. Severus sniggered, “We haven’t even got a home to call our own. Never mind the social niceties”. Harry rounded on him, swigging more champagne, “Bollocks, we’re already a two-home household. We have Bessie and the houseboat, which we are going to have to name, you know”.

Severus could feel his spirits lift with the air pressure in the basement and knew from his storm radar that it was lessening though he said nothing to Harry, he was enjoying the alone time with him too much. He replied, “It has to be a female name, does it not?” Harry laughed, “But of course, though I’m not really up to thinking about it today”, he poured them more champagne.

Severus sat quietly and sipped, taking Harry’s hand in his. “I’m glad we’ve done this, Harry”, he said, gently. Harry squeezed his hand, “So am I, Sev, so am I”, he sighed and grinned as Severus opened his arms wide and Harry fitted perfectly within. As the weight of the arms settled about him, Harry sent up a silent thought, “Thanks, Drae. Thanks for letting me go”, before he sank into something that Draco could never really offer and something that Harry really needed, someone to care totally for him.

Someone to be the fucking strong one. Instead of him.

Severus seemed to divine his mood and tightened his hold. Harry rejoiced. He’d never been able to truly surrender before and now he could, smiling into Severus’ shoulder before lifting his face, the move read and replied to, both looking like that into each other’s eyes. So much unspoken, so much passion that raged just beyond, the wells they hadn’t tapped.......Yet.

Lips brushing lightly together, sometimes more arousing for the tease that will be fulfilled. A tentative tongue shyly meeting it’s mate. Tasting. Gentle suction. Oh, just there. A moan. Deep. Almost certainly Severus as Harry drills his mouth with his wanton tongue, then another sound, higher in the throat as Harry’s tongue is played with, toyed with, supple lips, agile tongue, slight nips with teeth. Harry tips his head back. He is so oral and is in lick, suck, tongue-fuck heaven now as his mouth is mined for the sweetness within.

They need air and pull away slightly, “I want you”, Harry purred. Severus licked a kiss-swollen lower lip, “Me too. You have no idea how much, right now” Harry looked down, “We should get back, there’s a party going on without us”. Severus lifted Harry’s chin and kissed him again. “How long would it take us?”, he whispered urgently. Harry pushed him back against the wall and straddled him, “Not long, sweetheart, believe me. Want you, whichever way we do it”, he gasped out, before fitting them both together and they pushed into each other, Harry rising and falling even though they were both still dressed.

Hands fumbled at fastenings, trousers and underclothes were pushed aside and their cocks rubbed in a glorious friction, hot and urgent. It didn’t take long, stressed and tense as they were, to go over the edge and each made a delicious mess of the other before cleaning each other up with wands and doing up their clothes again and slumping against the wall for support.

Severus chuckled, “I don’t think I’ve come that fast since I was fifteen”. Harry was dubious, “Oooh, I don’t know. There were a couple of quick-fire finishes when we first got together”, he murmured. Severus grinned, “There’s been more since. I do believe the storm is over if my feelings are correct. I think that I am fit to join polite society again”.

They banished the come and the smell but retained a little of the dishevelled appearance and the slight slippage in clothing and the tell-tale red faces as they insinuated themselves back into their own party. Just before they opened the basement door and rejoined the madness, Severus turned to Harry, “I don’t want to be away from you today”, he said. Harry grinned and took him into his arms, “So don’t be”, he whispered, “Stay close and joined all day, all year, all our lives. C’mon, Sev, It’s me that lets you lead when it comes to being demonstrative. I’ll never overstep your boundaries”. They kissed on the cellar stairs, long, loving and deep, “Harry, with you, I don’t want boundaries any more. Show me how”, his state sated and glowing.

Harry was astounded at this and threw his arms around his husband, mindful of what he had said earlier and they entered the dining room, fortuitously just as the food was ready to be served. They took their seats to cheers at their state. Harry smirked and mock-bowed to a few people. Severus merely looked a little dazed and flushed. Fred remarked to his twin, “Looks like Harry really does it for him. Never mind, bro, we tried, we really did, but it’s Harry for him from now on”. George looked at the two and couldn’t help but agree.

The hotel wasn’t that great but the food was superb and everyone tucked in. Harry looked out over the tables. This thing had escalated out of control a bit but he had relished his time in the basement with Severus, the girls doing their social thing to the max covering for them both. Until they had appeared. Looking like that. Sated. Smiling. Relaxed and thoroughly fucked. Harry looked out over the tables and smiled as he ate. While not a social animal, he was glad that the folks here were here. At least there were no gatecrashers until his eyes roved over the tables and spotted a white-blond head bent over food. His heart lurched. He quizzed Hermione to his left.

She half-turned, “Xavier. He lives in London nowadays. With his boyfriend”, she said, significantly. “You weren’t here to greet a significant number of your guests but I didn’t let anyone through that wasn’t on the wish list, except him”. Harry smiled at her and thanked her, “It was complicated, ‘Mione. Nothing to do with the wedding, if you must know, though I can say no more on pain of death”. There was a presence behind him, a kiss behind his ear, “Now come on, Mrs Snape. On pain of death!!! I am not that bad, surely”. Harry turned, laughing, “I have never revealed your little secret and nor would I though a pack of Dementors were at my heels”.

Severus gathered Harry to his chest and finally admitted it to the girls. “I am afraid of thunder. What can I say? Being a resident of the dungeons for many years I was never really exposed to storms or there was always somewhere to run to”, he admitted ruefully. “Harry has been taking care of me while I cower below ground and that’s why dinner was delayed today, or part of the reason at any rate”.

The girls glanced at each other realising they were a layer of the onion closer to these amazing men, real friends not suffered because of who they were married to. Hermione muttered to her erstwhile girlfriend sometime that night, “We need to visit these two as us two”, and it made perfect sense to Ginny remembering the intimacy of the houseboat, the cooked breakfasts, the trips out. She could handle that. No problem.

She watched as the food was served, as the newly-weds fed each other, their total involvement in each other and grinned, she had got their quilt right. It should have been these two all along. Ginny had been worried when she stitched the foursome fearing it to be a little out of bounds but as she had spoken, first to Remus before he died and then had witnessed the depth of feeling between Harry and Severus at Christmas, she finally got it, how deep their love ran beneath the surface, informing every corner of their lives.

There were speeches after the meal. Ron standing and making the first. A loving and humorous paean to his life with Harry as a best friend that made the assembled company alternately laugh and cry in equal measure.

Hermione added her piece before Severus stood. “Harry and I haven’t always seen eye to eye”, he stated baldly to sniggers barely veiled around the room. He smiled at them and continued, relaxed. “Yes, Harry and I were bitter enemies for many years until we had to work together to defeat Voldemort”, several people flinched still at the name. “At that time we gained a new respect for each other as I paired off with Remus and he took Draco as a lover. We four were great friends and this has led to the pairing you see before you, making our vows before you all. Draco couldn’t marry and Remus did not want to and now, here we are, the two of us and I’m humbled.

The things I have learned from this man, the love I have been given when I thought love was past and gone for me, the new things I have experienced, all are down to this one man, the love of my life, my very own, Harry Potter-Snape”. There was an enthusiastic response people clapping wildly. Harry received some heckling, “Why Snape?” Harry answered as calmly as he could, “Because he sets me on fire, because he loves me like no other. Because he’s mine”, he purred with a feral grin fixed to his face then turned to smile into the face of his lover before being unceremoniously dragged into Severus’ arms and kissed until he was panting for breath to cheers from his friends.

As befit custom, they led the dancing, Severus leading Harry in a swift two-step around the floor before they settled into a sexy tango then gave the floor to the DJ who played more contemporary music that got the majority of their guests up to dance.

Harry clung to his lover and swayed them both until he felt answering movements from his lover and they were locked together despite everyone’s attempt to cut in and dance with either groom, he hung on to his man and had him all to himself.

George Weasley addressed a table full of ex-Gryffindors. “The only way any of us will get a dance with Harry is if we forcibly separate him from his hubby and I don’t reckon that’s much of an option. Do you?” The table watched as Harry spun round the floor in his beloved’s arms and shook rueful heads, “Nope, not today”, Ginny giggled. Hermione chuckled, “Have you ever seen either of them look so happy?” as she leaned back in the chair she was in, sipping at her lethal cocktail and none of those close to the two could disagree. They watched the lovers on the dancefloor.

Minerva McGonagall materialised at their table, having overheard the last portion of the conversation. “Hermione, help me out, dear. I’ll take Severus, you grab Harry for me, there’s a good girl”. The table turned to her to see the mischievous sparkle in her eyes, the still-straight back despite her ninety-some years that she wore lightly. She hung her light walking cane on George’s chair and held a hand out to Hermione, “Shall we?”, and the two women walked out on to the dancefloor. Ron rolled his eyes, “Good luck to them”.

Hermione paused Minerva until the end of the piece, and as the band struck up again they pounced. Minerva grabbed Severus and Hermione took Harry’s hand as the next waltz began, slow and bluesy, very like the one that they had practiced as lower sixth years for the Ball to win a bet that they were good dancers even though neither of them had a dancer’s bone in their bodies. They had heard of the bet over the grapevine and had set out in secret to become the best. They both grinned at the shared memory and swung into the dance, Harry leading his best friend away.

Severus held Minerva correctly and swung her about the floor precisely until she dug him in the ribs, “Och, c’mon, laddie, I know ye can dance better than this”, before Severus let his posture loosen and catch the rhythms, “Sorry, Minnie, it’s been a while since I danced with anyone but Harry. No-one fits the same...”. Minerva smiled at this and took a long look at the man in whose arms she danced, noting the tan, the relaxed face, the easier smile. “He’s changed you”, she murmured. Severus shook his head, “No he hasn’t. He found me. He dug me out of hiding, Min. This is me. What you see now. Not the tortured mess that did a job he hated. For pity’s sake, I hated teaching. I was never cut out for it. It was the only thing I could do under the circumstances. You know...”. Minerva nodded, “I know, Severus, We all know you hated the job, and most of us knew why you were there at Hogwarts and what it was costing you even though you treated everyone like shite, dear, but we put up with you and at the end, you four were bloody brilliant, but no-one was surprised when you left us”.

Severus smiled, “I never regretted leaving, not one bit. I had no money, or not much, I was in love, Voldemort was gone and things looked good. I made a good apothecary. It’s a skill I will always have, wherever we end up”, his smile turned wistful.

Minerva frowned slightly, “So, you’re not back amongst us for keeps?”, Severus shook his head, “I very much doubt it. I rather think that Harry is planning a surprise for me that involves being on the other side of the world”.

As they danced, Minerva stiffened in her displeasure, “You know, Severus, that people here in the wizarding world see Harry as a bit of a figurehead. It would be nice if he was back amongst us, at least for a while. You know, for many years there have been those that would like to see him in politics or some other public office”, Severus held her away slightly, gazing into her eyes and had a sudden flash of what it was really like to be his Harry with everyone wanting their pound of flesh from him and he felt a frisson of understanding go through him, “I think we have other plans, Minnie”, he murmured, and they left it at that.

Harry swung Hermione round, “Bloody hell, ‘Mione, I’m so fuckin’ happy”. Hermione laughed and kept up with Harry’s energetic style of dancing for a while then slowed him down, red-faced and panting a little but once again able to speak, “Phew, I can tell”, she got her breath back and the dance slowed and they moved into each other’s arms, “I love him so much”, Harry murmured to her as they moved around the floor, she smiled, “It’s written all over the pair of you”. She stepped back slightly as the steps demanded, “That quilt of Ginny’s was right, wasn’t it?”, she asked, calmly. Harry took a deep breath and nodded once, “We are definitely the right way round this time although...”, he hesitated and bit his lip, “If this was me and Drae....I would have married him like a shot. Just thought you ought to know that”, he mumbled and she caught him again in her arms.

She murmured, “You are so lucky to find such a great love, not once but twice. Your love for Draco, I sense, was completely different from the love you have for Severus”. Harry grinned at her, “Oh, yes, but make no mistake, I loved Drae”. Hermione’s eyes filled, “Of course not”, and they hugged. As the music changed they stayed together as partners, this was a great place for a chat as the band were not too loud, and Hermione asked, “So, what happens in the future?” Harry grinned secretively at her and patted a pocket on his jacket that crackled with paperwork, “Bessie leaves us in less than two weeks. We have another ten days after that then we need to fly out and get her, rescue her from the horrid rough sailor types”. Hermione giggled at the image, “So you have a date for shipping out? Where are you going this time?”. Harry leaned forward and whispered, “Say nothing, ‘cos I haven’t told Sev yet, but the container that Bessie is in will be landing in Wellington, New Zealand”. Hermione’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped, “Wow, you really are going to the other side of the world”. Harry looked sad for a moment and Hermione called him on it. “You know, I asked Sev what he wanted for a wedding present and, do you know what he said? He said, “I just want to leave England again, with you”. He loves the travelling and so do I. We’ve learned so much about each other. Hard not to, when you live within arms reach of each other. It’s weird, that’s what I thought he’d hate most, being cramped up in that small van with me......”

Hermione smiled at him, “I personally think that’s what he’s needed for years”, she declared, Harry called her on it, “Oh, come on, Harry, all of us knew that Remus was the strait-laced one. Severus has always been a passionate man. Now he has someone to knock his socks off, on a regular basis”. Harry blushed and grinned like a loony as they covered floor space in their slow waltz. “I always knew you’d understand”, he muttered. She gazed into his eyes as the music took them, “He really is the one isn’t he?”, as they dipped and spun. Harry nodded, just the once, just barely, feeling like a traitor to his previous love but inside knowing that he spoke the truth. Draco could never have been able to cleave himself to him and Severus could and had, willingly. He glanced at Severus, whirling his ex-colleague about in the lively folk dance that was being played. He and Hermione dipped out and sat in relative privacy.

Severus saw Minerva back to her seat and went to seek him out and slump down beside him. Harry and he exchanged a look that Hermione would remember to the end of her days, the look she described as ‘love, personified’. The look Severus gave Harry as they found each other again before Harry was overcome and launched himself at his husband, kissing him fiercely. Severus groaned at the back of his throat and responded, before drawing apart, mindful of his surroundings. Harry planted a quick kiss on his nose, “It’s all right, love, we are married now, we can kiss in public. It may only be in the Muggle world...where we’re married, but it’s still legal in either....”, his voice was cut off by a kiss that deprived him of sense.

Hermione wiped stray tears from her eyes at the sight. Her best friend was really happy at last. He had someone truly his own and she felt the familiar tug of mild envy as she watched them kiss. Had she and Neville ever been this much in love? Perhaps, but had never been so demonstrative with each other, Neville being a little shy in this regard. She sighed as she watched her husband spin around the floor with Ginny, her husband had always been a superb dancer, since the Yule Ball in fourth year. A clumsy so-and-so in everyday life, it was as if Neville escaped his klutzy persona on the dance floor and she caught his eye and smiled as he led Ginny expertly.

She watched a while longer, then seeing Severus and Harry apart for more than a few seconds, she sidled up to her best friend. Harry turned, grinning as she fetched up beside him, and he threw an arm around her, kissing her cheek wetly. She drew away slightly, “Harry, I don’t expect you to remember tonight, love, but I’d like you and Severus to pop into the office sometime this week if you can find the time. We’ve been working on a new development of one of my colleague’s and I think you two are ideal candidates”.

Harry’s curiosity was piqued, “C’mon, ‘Mione, spill the beans”. She shook her head, “I refuse to talk ‘shop’ at a social occasion but I will tell you this, she’s been working on a way to slow down Pensieve memories, you know, so that every nuance can be caught by the viewer, very like a film being enhanced and slowed to give more detail. I can’t say much at this time as we’re still at the experimental stages with this, but if you left us with a memory of ‘that’ night, then we have something we can work with. Up to now, Pensieve information can only be viewed in real time and as you, yourself have said, it’s impossible to pin down what he said at the crucial moment, but by slowing it all down, and Christine reckons she can slow it to frame-by-frame, we can read his damn disgusting lips and determine the curse he cast against Remus and Draco”.

Harry was wide-eyed as he regarded her, “Bloody hell, ‘Mione, this could be a real breakthrough”. She laughed a little tipsily, “Well, it’s not brilliant but it is an excellent new technique and applicable to any Pensieve testimony. She applies sound enhancement, too. She’s a bloody genius when it comes to muggle electronics and her ideas stem from this. Hurrah, for muggle-borns, I say”. She lifted her glass in salute and Harry followed. Severus leaned around Harry to determine what was enthusing his husband so and Hermione repeated her information. He was as equally flabbergasted as Harry. “Let me get this right, you read the Pensieve pictures, but considerably slowed down, add a little sound and we get to know the curses that that bastard inflicted on our exes?” Hermione shrugged and nodded, “Well, that’s the idea anyway. It’s the invention of a colleague of mine, she’s worked for years to develop this and you know how slow the wizarding world is to catch on to anything new. If this helped to solve your problems then it would be a superb test case to take before the Board to get this new method approved for wider use”.

The older man nodded sagely, “Well, I’ll happily contribute what I saw, although I reckon Harry obtained the better view at the time, given our proximity”. Harry agreed. “It’s my view that you need. It’s a shame this method wasn’t ready before either of them died, but there’s no helping that. I’m glad of it now. We might be able to put this behind us at long last and move on. Just remind us and we’ll be there, ‘Mione”.

Neville came back to the table with Ginny and wondered at the animated conversation his wife was having with the happy couple that made them all look a little amazed. Hermione filled him in and he smiled, “So you’ve agreed to do it?”, he enquired of them. Harry nodded, “Bloody dead right!!”, Harry exclaimed, “We have always wanted to know what he cast that night and I’ve never been able to ‘lip-read’ it in a pensieve fast enough, everything happened so fast that night, and as no immediate injury was caused, we just ignored it, as you know, and carried on. We had no idea of the devastation he wrought that night and now we have a chance of finding out”.

Neville took his wife’s hand and led her out to dance, leaving the newlyweds alone to ponder on this latest development. Anyone who looked over at their table could see the two in earnest conversation, heads together as they discussed the implications of this. They weren’t allowed to cogitate for long before the announcement was read out over the speakers from the DJ booth that it was time to cut the cake.

The splendid two-tiered confection was wheeled in and the guests gathered around in a state of high excitement. A large knife was produced but Minerva tottered up to the table and offered an alternative cutting implement, the ancient dirk that had belonged to a certain Godric Gryffindor that she still carried in the small scabbard around her thigh. She hitched up her trailing skirts discreetly and drew the blade, handing it to Harry ceremoniously by the handle.

“Is this what I think it is?”, his eyes were round as he saw the ancient heraldic device of the house of Gryffindor on the pommel. Minerva’s eyes twinkled in a way eerily reminiscent of their dearly beloved ex-headmaster. “Oh, yes, Harry. It surely is. No more suitable use for it could I possibly imagine”. Harry showed the short lethal knife to his husband whose eyes stood out on stalks as he regarded it. “Minnie, surely this is....?” The older woman smirked, “Aye, for sure it is, Severus. If it doesn’t offend your sensibilities too much....”. The man shook his head and wrapped an arm around his younger spouse. “I have nothing to do with that place any longer, Minnie, but this..... this is a wonderful gesture”. She smirked, worthy of Severus at his best, “Aye, laddie, I was bequeathed this from Albus on his death. It has passed down to every Gryffindor head teacher since Godric himself, but once the chain was broken, then it could leave Hogwarts and as most of you know, a Slytherin took over from me on my retirement and so the knife passed into my personal possession and now here it is, cutting the wedding cake of the most famous Gryffindor of all time. Apposite, wouldn’t you say?”.

The tension was palpable as Harry closed his hand around the knife. Several wondered if Severus would lay hand on it and all watched agog. Severus smiled at his husband and closed his larger hand over Harry’s and the flashbulbs popped as they made the first cut, to cheers from everyone.

Harry was perhaps one of the few that knew. That Severus didn’t give a hoot any more for the puerility of the old house system that had existed at school. That this was a gesture meant to appease all of the ex-Gryffindors and so it did, as the blade bit into the soft fruit cake beneath the stiff royal icing.

Harry deftly sliced and divided the cake, dishing up the pieces onto napkins and small plates as requested. As people left the table with their cake he spied a tow-blond head in the queue and finally got to speak to his so-called son-in-law. He greeted him with a grin, “You should have brought your boyfriend”, he said with a smile. Xavier bowed his head, “Joel’s working. Otherwise I would have brought him. I felt cheeky enough inviting myself and crashing your ‘do’. I know this is not what my mother intended for me or her late husband, my father, but what is, is. No doubt, I will be expected to wed in the same way, and now I fully understand. Is being gay heritable from father to son?”, his voice was uncertain. Harry took both of his shaking hands in his, “I don’t know if gayness is a gene that is capable of being passed on, Xav, but I am proud of you that you can be your real self. Maybe now, the world will change with my marriage to another man. Do you mind terribly that I have wed your dad’s godfather?”.

Xavier smiled, shaking his head, and Harry ached to see how much the lad resembled his father. The lad hugged him and backed off with his piece of cake, “Good luck to you both, I know how important you both were to my dad, as godfather and lover. Can I ask you something, Harry?” Harry nodded, the tears flowing freely, “Anything, Xav, just ask it”, he sniffed.

“Would you have married him, were you and he free to do so?”. Harry smiled widely, “Yes. Definitely. If we could have done as Sev and I, then, yes, I would have married him, and, yes, I would have done the asking. I loved him so much. He was my world until he died”, he stated simply. Xavier’s eyes filled and he let the tears fall. Harry moved to him and held the young man in his arms as he cried. “You were better for him than my mum”, he mumbled, “You really loved him. I hate all this dynastic shit that has been dumped on me”. Harry had no reply to this and said so, telling the boy of his self-imposed celibacy while he waited for Draco to join him again. Xavier bowed his head at this information and was humbled. Before he moved away again, he mumbled, “You really were the love of father’s life and I’m proud of that. Gaius may not see it this way, but I can. Thanks for your honesty”. The lad hesitated a moment until Harry called him on it.

“Are you two off again or do you mean to stay?” Harry smiled, “We are away again soon. We have no intention to stay in England despite the many who would wish us to. You are not the first to ask me that today and I’ve no doubt that there will be others before the night is through”. They hugged again and the lad drew away, happier than he had been when he arrived. He had the answer he wanted. That Harry had truly loved his father.

There was a commotion at the door that barely registered with the newly-weds until Lavender appeared at their table. “Sorry to interrupt, guys, but there are two people asking for you both. They say they have just arrived from Greece and that you knew their great-auntie. A couple of Aussie muggles”.

Harry frowned a moment then his face cleared, “Did they give their names?”, he asked. Lavender smiled, “Yes, Jon and Julia”. Before the last syllable had left her lips both Harry and Severus had risen from their seats, “Where....? What....? When....?”, they turned to the doors to see the two sheepish blonds being held back and both signalled to the doormen to let the pair go and rushed up to them and held out welcoming arms for hugs that both of the visitors rushed into.

Eyes turned towards the commotion, recognition dawning on a number of faces, particularly those of the previous Christmas celebrations, mindful of a barbie, a bonfire, a New Year spent naked in a swimming pool in Crete and the newcomers were engulfed in hugs of welcome.

After an effusive ‘hello’, Jon and his sister were led to a table, their bags leaned against a handy bit of wall. Harry dipped out to reception and laid aside a room for them both before returning and making his two new guests welcome. Various folk washed up to the table to welcome the two total strangers or to greet them like the fellow travellers that they were. Minerva was frankly curious as she plunked herself down a mite unsteadily in a chair at Harry and Severus’ table.

Harry did the honours regarding introductions, “Minerva, meet the great niece and nephew of one of your, sadly, ex-colleagues, Irma Pince, who passed the other year. Meet Jonathan and Julia. Julia is a border-line magical. Jon a squib. We spent last New Year with them and swam naked in a swimming pool with these lovely people”. Minerva was a little taken aback, but rose admirably and introduced herself as a friend and colleague of the young folk’s passed Aunt, “We were great friends as well as colleagues”, as she shook their hands, then hugged them both.

The appearance of the two Aussies brought the inner circle to Harry’s table. Ginny greeted them effusively as did her brother, Hermione and her husband, who showed a couple of photos from his wallet of the gang enjoying their New Year sojourn in Crete. Minerva chuckled at the frank pictures and turned not a hair at the nakedness displayed, seeing it for the innocence it really was. Then she realised the import of their travelling experiences to the two celebrants and smiled inside. It was highly unlikely that these two would be settling on England’s shores any time soon and she took back every word she had said.

The music changed again to tracks that both of them knew. Harry and Severus went back to the dancefloor in a daze and wrapped arms around each other as they moved together to the music. Harry pulled his husband down for a kiss that would have heated Hogwarts in February as they danced. Severus felt reason slip away as he held the love of his life close. Their eyes met momentarily before their lips met feverishly and Severus made his want plain in a kiss that took his Harry’s breath away, sweeping him into warm willing arms as the feeling took him. “Want you, my love”, the simple murmur into a sensitive ear, purred in that voice that made a puddle of poor hapless Harry before he pulled away, a slave to the newest beats, twitching mobile hips as the rhythms took him back onto the dancefloor, enticing his lover, not to be drawn under any circumstances.

Harry grumped at this and tried harder until his beloved capitulated under the beats and let himself go, swaying and twitching to the rhythms, releasing his lower back under Harry’s hand and relaxing enough to do this ‘modern dancing’ malarkey with his love and not feel out of place as the beats slowed enough for Harry to take him in hand and sway with him to the new music and they moved sensuously together, two seriously making one on the dancefloor. The track ended with them kissing for Britain. The next track failed to move them from their clinch as the kiss continued. They were danced around as the kiss deepened around them and they ignored all the outside influences as their tongues battled in each other’s mouths. Deeper. Harder. More.

Gasping, they remembered where they were and carried on the dance until the track ended and they bleared their way back to their seats, eyes on each other and no one else. Severus sat upright on the banquette and Harry sprawled over him. Severus gathered him into his arms and held him tight for a moment before Harry pulled free, fishing in his jacket pocket. “This is what we want, love”, he stated simply, handing over the wad of documents.

Severus rooted about in his own pocket for his reading glasses and set them on his nose, perusing somewhat dazedly, the documents placed before him. “Less than two weeks? You bloody marvel”, he exclaimed. Harry had been busy on Bessie, adapting her to their new requirements. A bigger shower space. A smaller footplate for the stove. A less deep cupboard for the computer that gave more square footage back to the bus, a bigger fridge. They had learned as they went along.

“New Zealand!!”, he exclaimed, louder than he had intended to then reined himself in and flushed as he looked into Harry’s smiling face. He looked into those dancing jade eyes and pulled his new husband to him for another kiss, “We really are off again, aren’t we?”, and Harry nodded against his chest, “It’s what you said was your deepest wish. It’s all booked. We have a container booked for Madam at Tilbury docks. We have to drain her of fuel before we see her off in her tin box, then we follow in a few days. We’ll probably need to crash on our good hosts’ floor for a few days but we can stand that and then we are off to the other side of the world and will work our way slowly back. We will truly be travelling by the skin of our teeth, this will test us both”.

Severus glanced at his new spouse, “Which way do you intend for us to travel, love?” Harry beamed, “Well....New Zealand, then Australia, then maybe back through Asia or we can take a trip to the Americas. I know that the things you really want to see are there. Maybe the India-Nepal route, maybe the bits of navigable China, whatever the government will let us see, then north, maybe, but we will need to bypass recent trouble spots and war zones. The earth is not a peaceful place, Sev, there will be places where we are not welcome and others where we may have to hide the fact that we are a) gay and b) married”. Harry finished by slumping against Severus’ shoulder.

Severus flung his arm around Harry and pulled him close, “What about Africa? I thought you said Bessie could tackle mountains and deserts?” Harry looked up, “Wow, you certainly seem to relish a challenge. Africa could be the most difficult and also the most satisfying, for so many reasons. And we get to see Egypt, maybe smoke some hash high in the Rif mountains, cross the Sahara and see some of the most stunning country on the planet. Sounds like a plan to me”, then grinned up at his husband.

Who bent his head slightly and kissed him, Harry returned it, his head tipped back, glasses askew, relishing the taste of his beloved. As they came up for air, Harry murmured, “Africa, it is, love. After we’ve done New Zealand and Australia”. The next leg of their world tour all sorted. If they were needed, they could be called, e-mailed. Harry felt a frisson at the thought. As the visions of a masked man in a wood before a blazing fire, branding iron held aloft invaded his thoughts as his head drooped, he sat up suddenly to find himself in strong arms, “It’s all right, Harry, you conked out on me for a moment there”, a kiss to his temple.

Harry blinked and looked around furtively, “Sorry”, he whispered. Severus held him with one arm, the other hand brought Harry’s face up, “You’re worn out. Look at you. There are deep shadows under your eyes. I’d like to get you back home to Bessie soon”. Harry smiled at this and at the fact that Severus thought of Bessie as home. “D’you know?”, he slurred slightly, “I’d like nothing better, although I fear....”, he tailed off as he pulled his chin from his husband’s grasp and laid his head on Severus’ chest, “I’m so knackered that you won’t get much of a wedding night”, he mumbled.

Severus smiled as he stroked Harry’s cheek, “Harry Potter-Snape, every night is like a wedding night with you, even if all we do is lie curled up and sleep”. Harry shyly looked up, his eyes suspiciously damp, “Sorry, babe, but I suspect tonight may be one of those”. Severus looked down and was lost in the pools of viridian and watched as Harry’s eyes slowly closed, “Need oneuvmanaps”, the words ran together as Harry zoned out in Severus’ arms.

The man shook his head as he cradled Harry’s sleeping head in his arms. This was something he hadn’t seen Harry do since during the war, when the stress levels were at their highest, suddenly zonk out on him like this. Back then, amidst the long and arduous training sessions, Harry had been given to suddenly dropping asleep for short naps in Draco’s arms or draped across his lap. No more than ten minutes at a time, then Harry would be as alert as usual. Hermione, breathless and back at the table, smirked and asked, “Harry having a nap? One of those naps?” Severus held on tight and nodded, “I’ve no idea what brought this one on. It was pretty sudden”.

Hermione barked a short laugh, “Behave, Severus, he just married you. And you think this was stress-free for him?” Severus gazed levelly at her, over the years he had really grown to respect and love this woman, “Of course not”, he replied, one degree away from snappish, “But he’s been so busy with the bus and everything. He’s worn out, poor love”. Severus lifted Harry’s head slightly and kissed his forehead.

Her stare softened and she reached out laying a hand on his arm, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be suspicious or anything, but I love him to bits....and....look after him. You are just what he needs.....he....you....are the first person who.....looks after him....instead of expecting to be looked after”, her voice petered out in an embarrassed murmur as she reached out and pushed a fragment of hair from the sleeping Harry’s brow before retracting her hand quickly, “Sorry, should be you doing that sort of thing”. Severus held her wrist and placed her hand back on Harry’s sleeping brow, “He loves you too, Hermione. I would never take that from you, nor from any of his friends. I thought Christmas would have illustrated that”.

She watched as his shoulders slumped even as he held his beloved and her heart nearly stopped, “Oh, no, you don’t. I know you love him to bits. Today is the expression of that, and I’m so glad”. She paused and watched Severus’ head come up again as he regarded her warily through obsidian eyes that she couldn’t read but she was sure the sleeping Harry could, “Oh, come on, Severus. You are the first person ever in his life who looks after him. Properly, the way he needs”. She watched as his arms tightened slightly around his sleeping beloved and grinned, “Yes, exactly like that. Harry always had people looking for him to do something, perform miracles for them, especially once he killed Voldemort, then people who looked up to him, then people who stood beside him or behind him expecting him to lead from the front, then there was you, and you look after him”, she shrugged and glanced at the sleeping man in his arms.

Severus gave in to instinct and kissed Harry’s forehead, “I will always love him. You know that, don’t you?”, he was asking Harry’s best friend but he was gazing at the asleep face of his husband. She caught the look and a lump in her throat made her swallow. “He always had to be strong for Draco, you know, he treated him like spun glass and Draco let him. Harry has this thing about saving people”, she paused and Severus laughed dryly, “Don’t I know it. Unbeknownst to himself, he has saved me, yet again. Remus, Merlin rest his soul, made me a human, and your friend, Harry Potter, made me me again. Someone capable of enough love as to make him want to cleave to me for the rest of his life. I am awed and humbled by the sheer strength and depth of his love for me and I love him in my feeble turn, beyond life itself. I will love him and care for him, believe that I will, for the rest of our lives”.

They shared a smile and just then, she had no doubts whatsoever that this man would do right by her best friend and her eyes filled as she watched Severus gather Harry to him as he continued to sleep, rubbing a cheek in his hair, closing his eyes, filling his senses with his lover’s aroma.

She watched idly as Severus settled Harry across his lap on one arm, draping the other over him, smiling a bit lopsidedly. She poured them both wine rather messily and giggled, “You know, I always thought that these naps of Harry’s were as much about the hug as the actual sleep, he always ended up draped over someone at school, either me, Ron or, latterly, Draco, now you. I wonder why he does it?” Severus accepted the proffered glass and shrugged, “I have no idea, but I rather like it actually”, hiding his smile in the glass as he sipped.

“Ha! You don’t fool me, Severus Snape, you’re turning into a softie in your old age”, she waved her glass, grinning. Severus laughed, “Certainly am, and it’s all his fault”, then he looked down at Harry and smiled slightly, “Aye, it’s all his fault, and I love him for it”, he murmured. “I thought I knew myself, Hermione, and I was thoroughly resigned to that, and I fucking hated it. For years I never had any idea that I was even capable of loving another, let alone being so blessed twice. Today, I feel like the luckiest man in the world”, he put down his glass and picked up Harry’s hand, kissing the knuckles, “For one thing, I never thought of myself as affectionate in the least and now....”

She sipped at her glass and tipped her head slightly to scrutinise him, “Perhaps you never had much of a chance to express it or perhaps Harry just inspires it in people. I myself wasn’t a particularly huggy sort of girl as a child. Come on, I’d rather have hugged a book at that age, but Harry always was demonstrative and you sort of did things like push a bit of hair out of his face or something, straighten his collar and he’d fling an arm around you for a moment to make a point. It was never remotely sexual, well, maybe for about five minutes in third year, there was a torrid ‘look’ as I recall, but you would do these things when he slept. I mean, Ron, you’d just leave snoring on the sofa, but Harry, you’d take off his shoes and Summon a blanket for him. Does that make sense? Or am I rabbiting?”

The man smiled, “A bit, but, yes, perfect sense, although...”, he paused a moment, flicking a glance around the room, no-one was near, “I felt a complete idiot for panicking the way I did in Germany. It could have landed us in all sorts of trouble, not to mention the exposure we received in Florence. I had no idea that he would be recognised that quickly”, he looked back down at his husband and gently removed his glasses as Harry moved slightly and sent them askew, placing them carefully on the table. Hermione sighed, “Well, welcome to the world of ‘Harry Potter’”, she described speech marks in the air, rolling her eyes.

Severus nodded, “I understand. It’s total anonymity from now on. I really love it. We’re just a pair of middle aged queers on the road in this funky van. We hike, we stay in some excellent billets, we eat good food and meet some good people on the road. As a lifestyle it has a lot going for it. I’m really looking forward to the next leg, New Zealand and Australia, we could be gone many months this time, hopefully even a year or two. It doesn’t do to rush through these things”.

Hermione’s laugh was light, “To be honest, I had a bet with the Weasley twins how many days you would last cooped up in that van. I said a week, the lads gave it a fortnight. We were all delightfully wrong and as we told you, we went out to dinner to celebrate in your absence. I’m glad the bug has bitten you both ‘cos I know it’s something Harry always dreamed of doing”. Severus nodded thoughtfully, “I did wonder myself, when I first clapped eyes on her, but he had gone to so much trouble to make space for the two of us. I know he felt guilty doing all this so soon after Draco’s death but...we knew....even then”. Hermione regarded him, “It was pretty bloody obvious to everyone but the proprieties were observed and Draco gave his permission after all”. “Hmm”, he continued, “Well, after all that, I was determined to make a go of it and I loved it, right from that wonderful first night in Marbella, sleeping in laybys tucked up in Bessie with the last of the fire in the stove, sleeping under the stars in Spain and Crete, watching the light reflecting off the canal onto our ceiling in Venice, even the places I’ve been to bed have been different and new, not to mention the days. It’s great”, his voice tailed off as he drifted into memory alternately sipping his wine or stroking Harry’s arm.

The music changed then as he mused and folk headed back to the large debris-strewn table with fresh drinks. From out of nowhere, waiters appeared and cleared most of the rubble away and served hot tasty snacks, perfect for the late hour. The smell of food created an exodus from the dancefloor and then Harry was back, blinking wildly and looking around to meet the misty eyes of his beloved, “Sorry, did I crash out on you?”, he shyly enquired as he stretched slightly. Severus put down his glass and wrapped both arms around Harry and lifted him against his chest, “Yes, but only your usual, about ten, fifteen minutes. Hermione has been keeping me excellent company”. Harry pulled back far enough to see Severus’ face and Severus released one arm to hand Harry his glasses. Harry donned them in a practiced move one-handed then smiled sleepily at his husband, “Hello. I’m married to you”, before kissing him lightly. He turned and grabbed the wine, gulping a large mouthful to a small frown from Severus then turning back to his husband and kissing him thoroughly. Severus smiled around that cool wine-tasting invading tongue and answered with his own, a moan escaping before he could halt it. They drew away slowly finally parting with a last touch of lips which spread into smiles.

Severus purred, “Welcome back, Mrs Snape”. Harry replied with a sleepy grin trying to stifle a yawn and bowed his head, gently butting his husband’s chest, “Bloody hell, I’m knackered, Sev. The last three weeks have finally caught up with me and I could sleep for a month”. Severus gathered him close again, “It’s all right, Harry, love, we’re together for ever now. I’d love to take you home and curl up with you”, he murmured. Harry smiled and let the yawn out, “Sorry, love of my life, but I did tell you that you wouldn’t get much of a wedding night out of me”. Severus held him tighter, “Ssshhh, darling, let’s go back and sleep”.

Harry mumbled, “I don’t want to sleep in the spare room tonight. Bessie’s fit again. I want to sleep in our bed. Just us on our own, not disturbing the family”. They were currently billeted in Hermione and Neville’s driveway with a room in the house for their use but Severus understood Harry’s point, “Yes, of course. Bessie doesn’t still reek of paint, does she?” Harry sighed, “There may be a vestigial smell left but it’s only faint. I moved all our stuff back onto her only yesterday and lit a fire to banish the aroma so she should be okay”.

They both stood and began to ready themselves for departure, well-wishers crowding around to wish them all the best. They had planned to take a taxi or hire a car to take them back to the house so they could receive the traditional send-off, boots tied to the car’s rear bumper and everything, but Harry was too tired and simply wanted to Apparate. Severus slipped away momentarily to settle up with the hotel that had put on such a good meal for them all and he left a hefty tip for the waiters, the whole thing had been organised in such a hurry and the hotel staff had put on a splendid meal for them at such short notice. The manager shook his hand and wished him joy at his new marriage and assured him that the people who would be staying with them would have the best of care and that the party were welcome to the use of the ballroom all night if they wished. Severus thanked the man and headed back into the ballroom.

He gathered up their belongings and surreptitiously shrank the large pile of wedding gifts. Most of this would have to go into storage but no matter, opening them could wait until the morning. Right now, he wanted them both to get back. They sneaked into a quiet corridor, and, holding Harry tight, he apparated them both away.

They landed a little untidily on the stretch of lawn between Bessie and the house. Laughing, they clung to each other making their way in the dark, their eyes taking a moment to adjust. Harry paused them both and turned Severus to him and throwing his arms around his new husband, kissed him soundly. The house loomed black and silent behind them and Bessie was dark before them. Pulling out of the kiss, they stumbled over the lush grass and Harry tripped, dragging Severus down with him. In truth, they were really quite intoxicated and they grappled with each other in the grass, rolling over and over chuckling, until Severus had Harry pinned beneath him, Harry’s arms locked with one hand over his head and loomed over him.

Harry wriggled seductively under him and Severus lowered himself with a low growl, “Mine at last, Mrs Snape”, before finding Harry’s lips in the dark and resuming their kisses. He pulled back and could just make out the gleam in Harry’s eyes, the dull sheen of his teeth as he grinned before he felt his head yanked down again and he released Harry’s hands and was caught off guard as Harry used his knee and his agility to tip them both over with a cry, “Ha! Gotcha!”, before sinking down to find an earlobe to nibble and lick. He could feel the low moan rather than hear it and heard the growled, “So, Mrs S. I might get my wedding night after all, or do you just intend to tease me, you gorgeous trollop?”

Harry chuckled, “When do I ever tease you?”, he tried and failed to sound affronted as Severus ran his hands up under Harry’s shirt and planted small open-mouthed kisses along Harry’s neck, “All the bloody time. Your very existence is a constant tease to my every sense”.

A light coming on and the sound of curtains being drawn alerted them to their hosts’ return and they collected themselves dusting themselves down and tiptoed to Bessie’s door, giggling like conspirators. Severus exclaimed as they reached the door, “Damn, too narrow to carry you over the threshold”. Harry unlocked the door and opened it, standing on the step above his beloved, “Never mind, hop on and you can carry me to bed”, he murmured in a tone that made Severus shiver. In a trice they had the door shut behind them, Harry murmured a ‘Lumos’ and they both gasped.

The place had been ‘decorated’ in their absence. Bessie was festooned in swags of early roses. Petals covered the floor. Paper hearts and a home-made banner reading ‘Just Married’ graced the walls. There was a note in lipstick on the wardrobe mirror, ‘The candles are scented, we made them ourselves. The fire is laid in the stove and there is a pan full of our very own hot chocolate on the stove and a bottle of champers in the fridge. Have a nice wedding night!!!!!!’, and was signed by the three Granger-Longbottom children.

Harry laughed, particularly at his husband’s frown, “Oh, you grumpy git, this is so sweet. I know it’ll take ages to clean up, but still, it’s a nice gesture. I bet they had help from either mum or dad. I suspect mum in this case. Hermione always was a closet romantic”.

Severus looked at the joyful expression on Harry’s face and decided it really was worth it after all and the gesture was rather nice. He took Harry into his arms, “So what is it to be, Mrs S? Shampoo or chocolate?” Harry grinned, “To be honest, I fancy the choccie myself. I think I’ve had enough alcohol for one night, and I know that Esme makes a mean cup of hot chocolate”.

He lit the camping gas burner and placed the pan atop it fishing out a spoon to stir it with while Severus organised mugs mindful of the conversation that he had had with Hermione. As he set them down he caught a whiff from the warming chocolate. He bent his head over the pan then drew away sharply, “Just a minute”, he frowned and took the pan from Harry’s hand and sniffed at it again. “The bloody imps, there’s something in this that bears absolutely no relation to either the cocoa bean nor milk”. Harry watched as Severus made a few diagnostic passes with his wand, staying silent as his man scowled into the pan.

“The little blighters”, he murmured after a fine purple mist rose over the thick liquid, “They’ve dosed us. A powerful aphrodisiac”, he sighed, “It wouldn’t be the first time someone’s tried to slip me something of this sort. It happened all the time at school, and you wonder why I hated teaching”, he shook his head ruefully and laid the pan to one side, “Shame really, the chocolate smelled heavenly but it’s ruined. There’s enough potion in here to keep us ruddy rampant for a week. The berks”, he rolled his eyes to see Harry laughing.

Harry went to the fridge to fetch some cold spring water when he saw a note fastened to a container. He lifted it out, recognising his elder ‘niece’s’ writing, “Here’s some chockie that hasn’t been adulterated. I told the boys not to be such dicks, but do they ever listen to their big sister? Not!!! I hope you like the flowers and stuff. That was my idea though I’m afraid it was dad who got through your locking spells so we could arrange all this. I left fresh milk as well. Hope you have a nice time. Don’t wear each other out!!!!! See you soon. Mum and Dad have forbidden us from disturbing you tomorrow!!! Hur hur hur!!!! Have fun, love Esme xxxxxx (and several little hearts)”. Well, the girl was only fourteen after all.

Severus vanished the last lot and proceeded to mix up a fresh batch in a clean pan while Harry made the place a bit more presentable sweeping the rose petals from their bed. He noticed the binding quilt was now on the bed, too. Aaahh, they were a welcoming family to stay with but he couldn’t wait until it was just himself and Severus back on the road again. He slumped down on the bed as he felt his second wind drain away again to leave the feeling of utter tiredness in it’s place. The mood had been broken a bit and he was too tired to retrieve it. He kicked off his shoes and sat against the head end of the bed stretching his legs out. Severus passed him a steaming mug and smiled slightly as he noticed the shadows beneath Harry’s eyes. By now, if he was honest with himself, he was also feeling the last few weeks catch up with him and a deep lassitude steal over him.

He spread out next to Harry and they both sipped at their drinks. Harry climbed down off the bed and undressed before hopping in under the covers, “Join me, love”, he invited. Severus blew out all the candles save the one beside the bed, shed his own clothes and clambered in beside his husband and they slumped together all wrapped in each other’s arms as they drank exchanging thoughts and memories of the day in quiet voices. Severus took Harry’s empty cup and placed it on the side with his own, blew out the candle and took Harry into his arms, “Sorry, Sev”, came the sleepy mumble, as Harry buried his head in Severus’ shoulder. Severus smiled, kissing the top of Harry’s head, “It’s all right, love, I’ve lost the mood myself and I’m very tired. Let’s just curl up and hold each other while we sleep. It’s still a bit hard to believe that we are wed at long last. I was stunned when you asked me out of the blue like that”. He paused as he settled down, his arm around his beloved, “But I’m bloody glad you did. Wedding night or not, I’ll remember today for the rest of my life and the look in your eyes as you promised yourself to me for life. I love you and I always will”. Harry was too choked to say much beyond, “Love you, too, now and forever”, and they gently kissed goodnight as the day overcame them and sleep took them.