Someone Else's Life

Ten: Someone There

The worst is over now and we can breathe again.
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away.
There’s so much left to learn, and no one left to fight.
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain.
--Seether featuring Amy Lee “Broken”

Sleep departed with ease for once, and slowly Harry felt that he was coming back to himself as his eyes fluttered open, and he couldn’t stop the silly smile that spread across his face as he realized that he was wrapped up in a pair of porcelain complected arms. He sighed and took one of the limp pale hands in his and brought it to his lips, brushing a soft kiss against it. There was a faint snort of noise and a groan from against his shoulder as Draco began to wake up.

“Wha time is ‘t?” he heard from his lover, and the smile on Harry’s face melted into a grin.

“Don’t know, but I love waking up with you,” he answered back.

“You love it so much you had to wake me up?” the blond grumbled, and raised an eyebrow as he noticed the grin on Harry’s face. “At least one of us is happy to see the sun at this ungodly hour.”

“This is nice,” Harry whispered.

“What is?” Draco asked.

“Knowing I have someone there, someone who is strong enough to pick me up when I hit the ground and break,” he answered.

The blond rolled his eyes. “Then I suppose I should make a career of it as you are always broken, Potter.”

The dark haired boy grinned. “As long as you love your job…” he trailed off as the blond caught his lips in a kiss.

When they parted the blond spoke, “Always, but I would adore you more if you brushed your horrid teeth.”

“I could say the same for you,” Harry shot back, to which the blond stuck out his tongue, while Harry reached for his glasses on the nightstand and put them on.

Harry turned over and ran his hand through the rich, silky platinum blond hair and smiled as his lover moaned. He was about to kiss Draco when the door of the room was opened and Madam Pomfrey gasped, her eyes widened in shock. She looked around the room and noticed Sirius sleeping fitfully in the other bed and then turned back to the two boys lying on Harry’s bed.

“Mr. Potter, and…” here she trailed unsure of how to address him.

The blond smirked at the awkward moment and supplied her answer. “Mr. Black or Draco is sufficient enough. As you may or may not know, Harry and I share a bond. It’s perfectly all right that we share a bed. Of course if you are adverse to the idea, you could take that up with the Egyptian God Anubis. I’m sure he would love to discuss the romantic ties of his descendants with the school mediwitch of Hogwarts.”

The woman huffed up and narrowed her eyes at the boy. “Now you look here, Mr. Black, or whatever it is you wish to be called. This is a medical facility, and one which I would very much think you should appreciate and respect, as when you came to me over the summer, I nursed you back to some form of decent health myself. It is most inappropriate for you to share a bed with my patient, considering his condition and both of your ages!”

“If it weren’t for me, he would have been dead upon being brought to you,” Draco snapped.

“Do you honestly wish me to believe that you resurrected Mr. Potter from the dead?” she asked.

“Well how do you explain him?” Draco challenged as he indicated with a nod Sirius Black.

“Well…” Madam Pomfrey said and was unable to continue in her flabbergasted state.

There was a chuckle from the door and the two boys and Madam Pomfrey turned toward the door. “Come, come Poppy, you have denied the boy visitations with me as the sole exception. I’m sure both were in need of the other’s company, and you honestly cannot deny that,” Albus Dumbledore said as he entered the room.

“Albus, they are two teenage boys and they have spent the night together, in the same bed! It is unseemly,” she said.

“Unseemly for two boys or because of the situations that could arise from overactive hormones?” he asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

“Hormones, Albus, hormones,” she snapped.

She then huffed up, walked over to the bed, which Draco reluctantly rolled out of, thankfully clothed. Madam Pomfrey then fussed over taking Harry’s vital signs for a few moments, as he groaned and told her he was fine.

“I’ll be the judge of that Mr. Potter,” she answered sharply and briskly.

Finally she was done with her examination and then went over to wake up Sirius and look him over as well. Once she was done, Draco climbed back into the bed to be closer to Harry and Albus took a seat in the chair by the window. He smiled knowingly at the boys and then leaned back in the chair.

“In times of shadows, it is always an inspiration to see two such hearts come together. You are very lucky to have found your other halves. Completion of souls is so rarely found in these our darkest hours. And Harry, you have known darkness far to recently. Luckily, our young Draco here possesses such a rare and precious gift, and bears the responsibility wisely,” the old Head Master answered.

Draco looked at the man in confusion. “Most would have said I acted foolishly.”

The old man chuckled. “In matters of the heart, to act foolishly, is to be wise, for you follow your heart.”

“Dumbledore, why are you here?” Harry asked.

“Good question my boy,” Dumbledore answered. “It has come to my attention that the two of you share a soul bond, as was declared by a God. A God of Death, no less, which makes such a bond unbreakable, and most peculiar and interesting. Considering your ages, both of you so young and still in school, and yet both of you old enough to be responsible for yourselves, I come with a proposition for you. You can of course decline, and I would gracefully accept your answer either way. I see a time for light in this time of darkness. The two of you already share a bond, so why not declare so formally? It would be my honor to perform such a ceremony, and Harry, I presided over the joining of your mother and father, a most happy of times. It would be an honor, if you decide to do so.”

“Are you talking about a wedding?” Harry asked.

The twinkle brightened in the old man’s eyes. “I will leave you two, as you have many things to discuss. Take as much time as you need in deciding. A joining is a wonderful occasion, but one of responsibility and dedication from both parties. Do not enter into this lightly in whatever you decide,” Dumbledore said, then stood up, and left the room, leaving Harry and Draco staring after him, and Madam Pomfrey looking over a drowsy and grumbling Sirius.

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“Oy! Harry, how are ya?” Ron asked anxiously as he entered the room, happy and relieved that his friend was still breathing.

Hermione followed a moment later, and Harry looked at the pair of them with a sheepish smile, unsure of how to proceed. How did one tell his friends that he was sorry and couldn’t remember almost killing himself? He turned to the chair that was next to his bed, the chair occupied by the platinum haired boy that had brought him back from across the plains of death, Draco.

Hermione took one look at Harry laying there on the uniform infirmary bed and rushed to his side, sweeping him up in a bone crushing hug she’d obviously picked up on from Molly Weasley. Harry patted her back and when she finally let him go took in great lungfuls of much needed air.

“What’s all this then?” Harry asked innocently, and Hermione burst into tears.

His eyes bulged and then he looked up at Ron who was shooting him a dark look, and then he turned to look at Draco. Draco sighed and then glanced down at the floor. “They know what happened Harry. I couldn’t see you, and it was eating me away. I can usually hold my secrets, but not this time, it was greater than me. They needed to know. They are your family after all.”

“How could you?” Hermione finally choked out through her tears. “I never thought you would be so selfish and stupid, and have you any idea what this has done to any of us? What it did to Draco? Harry we love you, and you could have come to us. Besides we already knew about you and Draco. It really wasn’t that much of a shock to us.”

Harry’s eyes grew dark with anger, as he spoke in a chilling tone. “It was me and it wasn’t. I don’t remember anything from the moment I saw that bloody photograph. Something happened, and then I woke up and Draco was holding me and there was blood and then nothing. It was like being swept away. I was real and I wasn’t. It was like someone or something took possession of my body and I was lost. I was so scared, but when I woke up I felt peace, maybe because I was in your arms, Draco. I don’t know. Maybe it was my fault or maybe it was something else. I don’t know where to cast the blame myself. All I know is that I woke up twice that day in a pair of arms that belonged to someone who loved me and I knew that I could fade and be at peace with that single memory. I wasn’t scared for that last moment, cold, but not afraid, not then.”

“So you were really…” Ron couldn’t bring himself to say the last word.

“Maybe. I remember why I thought I was fading. There was this steady sound, two actually, both were in time, and then one started skipping beats, steadily slowing, until that final beat rang out. Is that death?” Harry asked. “It was almost nice. Surrendering to the darkness was so easy. I don’t even know if I tried to fight it.”

“Would you do it again?” Draco asked icily.

Harry turned to look at the blond, and couldn’t read anything in those grey eyes. Harry swallowed and then took Draco’s left hand, turning it palms up and tracing the scar over the heart line with his fingertips. “No,” he answered. “I couldn’t. I know now how much I’m need here, wanted here. I could never leave you. At least not willingly. You know I never even saw my parents.”

“Harry,” said a deep voice from across the room, and all eyes turned to look at the man that had spoken, Sirius Black. “Have you thought anything about what Dumbledore said to you this morning?”

Draco sat up straighter in his seat and looked at Harry. Harry turned to him, their eyes locked, grey with green, and then Harry swallowed, and Draco felt his heart plummet from his throat to his stomach.

Harry smiled shyly and squeezed Draco’s hand. “I’ve given it thought, and I like the idea. I think only friends and family should be present of course. I wouldn’t want a spectacle made of such a special occasion. As soon as possible, after all I’ve a new set of dress robes, and I would like to christen them with a memorable occasion.”

Draco’s eyes filled with surprise and a smile rose to his lips. “You would really go through with it? But where would it be held? And what would I wear? Who would stand for us? Where would we get rings?…” Draco asked in a steady stream.

“Wait a minute,” Hermione cut in. “What are you talking about?”

Harry shook himself as though waking from a dream. “If it’s all right Ron, would you stand as my best man?”

Ron’s eyes bulged. “Best man? For what exactly?”

Draco rolled his eyes and looked at Ron and Hermione, and spoke with a smirk, “For the wedding of the century of course. I think you should wear red dress robes, as green would clash too horribly with your hair, don’t worry, Harry has a set of red you could wear. Blaise would probably stand for me, and I’m more than certain he has a very fashionable set of green dress robes. I know you have a set of very fetching silver dress robes Harry, as I insisted you order two sets. It’s only fitting that we wear something that is above houses. I have a set of fine black robes. Of course you know that, we ordered them together at Madame Maulkin’s…”

“You just thought of getting married this morning and now you are suddenly discussing a wardrobe and best men? Are you mad?” Hermione asked in obvious shock.

“We’re already bonded Hermione. It makes no a difference when we make it formal, and I think it would be nice to have an intimate private joining,” Harry said, the excitement brimming over in his voice.

“I think the guest list should be limited, Severus, and the staff of Hogwarts, Dumbledore obviously, and the Weasleys, as they are your family, and Hermione,” Draco said.

“And my friends of course, Neville, Seamus, and Dean. Oh we can’t forget Remus and you of course Sirius,” Harry added.

“Oh,” Hermione said huffily, “If you are going all out, why not have Colin Creevey there as well to take photos?”

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Draco answered. “We would want a few mementos of the occasion. Photos would be wonderful. Now that still leaves us with a set of rings to find, and a date to set, perhaps something at night. A wedding under the stars.”

“But not on a full moon, as Remus would be unable to attend,” Harry answered.

Draco nodded and then grinned. “Next Thursday.”

“That’s a week from today!” Hermione said, and Ron’s eyes were once again bulging out of his head.

Sirius looked at his godson and noticed how the boy seemed to glow in the presence of the blond boy. He smiled and wondered how it felt to know the love of the other half of your soul. Sirius had lived with many regrets in his life, but none so great as the betrayal of his other half. Although he thought they were moving into things a bit too fast, he found that he was rather happy for them, and could grow accustomed to the blond, perhaps even like him, if he was what made Harry so happy. Sirius shook his head as the conversation picked up.

“Yes, only a week. We should begin preparations. We should find a setting, perhaps the rear garden near the greenhouses. Oh and of course the invitations must be sent post haste. Only a week to find rings? However should we find the perfect rings?” Draco finished in a flustered state.

A voice from the doorway provided the answer. “I think I have a set that would be most fitting. I would consider it an honor to pass them down to you, Draco.”

“Severus,” Draco said and turned to the door. “I couldn’t ask that of you.”

“The rings were meant to join lovers, as you and Potter are obviously joined in some sense of the word, I see no reason in denying the rings their proper use. Besides they do no more than gather dust in my silver coffer. They are platinum bands of coiled Celtic knots. You’ve seen them once before, as I recall. You always were such a curious child,” Severus Snape said.

Draco shot a look to Sirius and then back to Severus. “But those rings were custom made by wizard craftsman. They were made for you. I couldn’t… We couldn’t.”

Hermione and Ron exchanged a look and then looked at how Harry was looking from Sirius to Snape and then to Draco.

Snape sighed. “I have explained this to you once before Draco. Accept the rings as a wedding gift. They are of no use to me, and I would see them given to a more deserving pair.”

The blond took a deep breath and reached for Harry’s hand as he replied, “Very well. Thank you, I know what those rings mean to you.”

“Yes, well, sentimentality is usually not my cup of tea,” Severus answered.

“Of course it is,” Draco answered smartly, “When a shot of bourdon is added.”

They smirked at the shared old joke, and everyone left in the room stared at the pair, realizing how close the Potions Master and the blond were. Finally Snape looked around, seemingly remembering where he was, and snapped back to his old ways.

“I will see to informing the headmaster of this new development. Thursday night, correct? I suggest about ten o’clock. Oh and Potter, as you are well enough to plan a wedding, I so look forward to seeing your amateur intellect returning to my classroom tomorrow morning,” Snape said in his usual snarky tone, and without so much as a look in Sirius’ direction he turned and left the doorway of the room with an impressive sweeping of his robes.

A few moments later Madame Pomfrey came bustling into the room. “Ah, Mr. Potter, as you are obviously in a much better state of health you are free to go. However I suggest that you not return to classes until the morning. Also, do make an effort to attend all meals.”

Harry nodded vigorously and smiled happily, relieved that he was leaving the infirmary. Hermione and Ron smiled at him, Ron patting him smartly on the shoulder. Draco called a familiar name, “Dobby.”

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at him in confusion, and then the house elf suddenly appeared, dressed oddly, and smiling at Draco.

“What’s it Master Draco have Dobby do?” the elf asked.

Draco looked at the elf; his brow rose as usual at the sight of the elf in such ridiculous clothes and then said, “Bring Master Potter a pair of jeans, and a green shirt. Oh and you also moved his trunk to my new rooms?”

“Of course, Dobby moved it, and is bringing the clothes at once sir,” Dobby said with a nod.

“Thank you,” Draco said gently, and the elf looked at him strangely before bursting into tears.

“Dobby never once heard a thank you from Master Draco before. It sounds so beautiful,” the elf wailed as he disappeared with a crack to attend to his tasks.

“Blimey, are all house elves nutters?” Ron asked.

“At least he’s not as bad as Kreacher,” Hermione answered, and from across the room Sirius seconded that motion.

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Harry sighed as he began the walk to Gryffindor Tower, and then remembered his room with Draco. He sighed and changed directions to the Head Boy and Girl’s Common Room. He gave the password and slipped inside. He looked around the room, hardly believing that he shared this with Draco, and to an extent Hermione. He hurried up the stairs to the Head Boy’s room, the room that should have belonged to Blaise, and quietly entered it. He noticed his trunk next to Draco’s at the foot of the bed, and grinned. He hurried over and began to dig through it, intent on finding the shirt given to him by Hermione last Christmas, it had of course come with a book, a hard back edition of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, which had surprised him and provided a most interesting and entertaining read. The shirt of course was a nice one, a shimmery whitish-golden silk button up shirt, white because he couldn’t possibly mismatch it with anything (not even a pink skirt, as the note inserted in the book from Hermione had read). Ron had received a similar shirt in a golden color, which oddly enough complimented his bright red hair.

Harry smiled as he found the shirt, thankful that he’d managed to keep it hidden from Draco. He could surprise him with the shirt. Harry then gathered a pair of boxers, socks, and pair of black trousers. He ran his hand through his hair, wondering if he was over doing it, getting dressed up for his first dinner at Hogwarts since his first day there. He let out his breath and decided that if it was for Draco then it was worth it. He then looked at the tennis shoes that he was wearing and shook his head. He quickly transfigured them into a nice pair of black leather boots he’d once seen in a window of a shoe store in London, one of the times his aunt had to take him along on one of her shopping trips. Needless to say he was pleased with the results of his spell.

He ran a hand through his hair, wondering if he’d forgotten anything. He then made a made dash for the showers, but upon arriving at the bathroom, he discovered it filled with steam. He groaned and was about to sneak out, when he heard a familiar voice call out, “Who’s there? Granger, are you trying to get a glimpse of male perfection?”

Harry couldn’t help the laughter that rippled from his throat and through his parted lips. He heard the glass doors being opened and then saw a platinum blond head turning this way and that, eyes squinted and trying to see through the haze. “Harry? What are you waiting for? Join me.”

Harry rolled his eyes, placed his fresh clothes on the marble counter, and began to undress. He pulled his newly transfigured boots off and set them carefully next to the counter. He then took off his glasses, and placed them next to his clean clothes and quickly tore off whatever else he had on. He was in the shower with Draco a moment later, assaulting the blonde’s pale mouth with a hunger bred of desperation and fervent adoration.

When they parted Draco looked Harry over and his expression turned to one of puzzlement. “Since when have you had this? I’ve never seen it before,” Draco asked and traced something on Harry’s chest, directly over his heart.

Harry looked down and squinted. It was a black tattoo, a symbol really. He took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen it before either,” he answered, and then Draco took in a sharp breath.

“Harry, I know what it is,” he said in a low voice.

“Well, what the bloody hell is it?” the dark haired boy asked in annoyance bordering on hysteria wondering how and when he’d gotten such a strange tattoo.

“It’s the Eye of Thoth. Similar to the Eye of Ra, but it is of the left eye, rather than the right. The Eye of Thoth is the left eye of the Egyptian God Horus. It is a representation of the God Thoth, who was the God of the moon, magic, and oddly wisdom, which I don’t see as a quality possessed by Gryffindors, unless Granger, but she is quite unique,” Draco answered.

“Does this have anything to do with that book you mentioned, the Book of Thoth?”

“Well, Thoth was the God believed to have written a sacred book of magic. A book filled with secrets. It’s as legendary as the Book of the Dead. I think Anubis marked you, although why he marked you with the Eye of Thoth is beyond my intellect,” the blond supplied.

“Maybe he was marking me as yours. You said Thoth was the god of the moon, and I think of the moon whenever I see you, and you have seen the Book of Thoth,” Harry suggested.

Draco looked at the boy in surprise. “Harry, have you actually said something clever? I am so proud of you, but don’t allow that sentiment to go to your head, I am sure it will rarely be repeated.”

“At least these new marks mean something good,” Harry whispered, and captured Draco’s lips gently, causing the blond to moan.

When they parted the blond asked, “So are we to tell the world?”

“Yes, but we won’t tell them the date, until it’s done and we are joined formally,” Harry answered.

“You don’t think Dumbledore will hold a ball for the occasion?” Draco asked.

Harry’s eyes widened in horror and then he began to swear as he got soap in them. As he finally managed to get the soap out of his eyes, and the stinging had grown considerably less he answered, “I should hope not.”

“Afraid to dance?” Draco asked.

“Well,” Harry said with a grin. “I would be dancing with you, so you should be the one afraid. I’m not all that graceful on a dance floor, and you would complain the entire time about how I’ve ruined your shoes and made your feet sore.”

Draco moved in closer to the boy and putting shampoo into his hand reached up to the dark haired boy’s head and began to massage the boy’s scalp, building a good lather within the ebony strands of silk. “I’m not a girl, Potter, and I could teach you to dance.”

“You teach me?” Harry asked with a snort of laughter, careful to keep his eyes shut to avoid getting soap in them again.

“Scared Potter?”

“You wish,” he answered and then leaned into the spray of water to rinse out his hair.

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They were dressed and finally ready for dinner, with seconds to spare before fashionably late had flown out the window and left them going down to the kitchens for their supper. Draco looked Harry up and down appreciatively, admiring the snug black trousers, and what he termed as the mother of pearl silk shirt and boots. Harry was equally impressed with the emerald green button up shirt, green trousers, and brown leather shoes that Draco wore, things, which he said he’d acquired recently.

The pair then left their common room and headed toward Great Hall. They looked at each other, before pushing the door open and entering together. The whole of Great Hall grew silent and every head turned to look at the grand entrance of the pair as they made their way toward the Gryffindor table. The girls stared in open-mouthed shock and want as the two dashing young men made their way to the table and took a seat side by side across from Hermione and Ron.

“Blimey, Harry,” Ron said as they sat down. “What’s the occasion?”

“We’ve an announcement to make after dinner, now pass the mashed potatoes, and oh, is that treacle tart?” Draco answered in Harry’s stead, and the two of them began fixing each other’s plate.

Finally dinner was eaten and conversation was once again lively and running rampant through Great Hall. Several questions had been thrown in Harry’s direction. It seemed that everyone wanted to know how he’d ended up in the infirmary and what it had to do with Draco and Blaise. Harry simply shrugged off the questions and sighed. Unfortunately, Pansy had gotten bold in the past couple of days in Harry’s absence and approached the Gryffindor table.

“What’s this Potter? We heard you were dead. Pity it wasn’t true,” she said with a tittering laughed, and was joined in by Crabbe and Goyle who were practically joined at her hip as her muscle.

Harry was about to stand, but Draco put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. He stood in Harry’s place and narrowed his cool grey eyes at the girl. “Pansy, I thought I warned you on the train. Well, I suppose one such as yourself could do with a reminder every now and again,” he said, and from the corner of his eye noticed that the teachers at the staff table were beginning to stir.

“By Thoth, I command thee sit and be still,” he said in a voice that held a whimsical, almost airy quality, his left hand raised toward the staff table, and the teachers could not stand from their seats, and those that had stood, promptly sat. Their eyes widened as they looked at the boy as he turned to fully face Pansy Parkinson and her two goons, the rest of Great Hall also watched raptly.

“Draco,” Harry said, and reached out for his lover’s hand. “You don’t have to do this. You’ve nothing to prove.”

“But I think I do, Harry,” the boy answered and then a gleam of his old self returned in the swirling depths of mercury. “Now, Pansy, Pansy, what have I told you about redundancy? Repetition is a fool’s method of trickery. Be original if you must attempt to be incessantly annoying. As for using Crabbe and Goyle as your muscle, well, they were mine first, so I know their weaknesses. Now tell me, since you are a Slytherin, do you like snakes?”

The girl’s eyes widened and her nostrils flared in fear as the cold, icy blond smirked at her, his left eyebrow cocked in a mocking fashion. She swallowed thickly. “Why?” she nearly choked on the question.

The boy’s smirk grew into a twisted grin as he held up his right hand, fingers splayed skyward and said, “Serpensortia.”

A coiled black snake with darting tongue suddenly took form in his hand, as if it were being created by the air. The room crackled with a strange energy, and everyone gasped as they realized that Draco was using wandless magic. The boy smiled, and looked at the snake in his hand. He lifted his left hand and gently stroked the smooth black head of the serpent. Its tongue flickered out, tasting his finger, and it nestled its head against his finger, accepting the touch as friendly. Harry heard the snake’s hiss, and he looked up startled at Draco.

“What isss it you wisssh of me, Dragon? Lord of Flying Serpents, what dossst thou wisssh so humbly of me?”

Draco brought the snake close to his face and met the glowing amber and ebony eyes of the snake. When he spoke it was in a tongue that only Harry and the serpent could understand. “You have taken form by my hand, and the elementsss around you. Would you do my bidding? Whatever I wisssh of you?”

The snake inclined its head in acceptance and flickered its tongue in response. Draco then held the snake out to Pansy. “Now Pansy, you’ve seen a glimpse of what I am capable of. Let me tell you what I have in my hand. This is an Egyptian asp. They are highly poisonous, more so than even a cobra. She will do my bidding as I see fit. Keep that in mind. Of course, I have more effective means of convincing you, but awakening your dear Grandmother Opal is a bit too theatrical for the moment.”

The girl nodded stiffly, her eyes never leaving the snake. Draco withdrew his hand, and lightly stroked the snake, and then he turned and looked at the staff table, his words echoing in the hall as he spoke, “By thy will be free.”

The staff table came alive abruptly as the teachers struggling to stand shot up from their seats, all of them looking in shock at the boy standing in the hall with an asp coiled in his hand. Harry stood up as well, and put his hand on Draco’s shoulder. Pansy quickly retreated, tail betwixt her legs, back to the Slytherin table, Crabbe and Goyle following her lead.

Draco looked at Harry, and his good natured smirked was returned in full force. “Now I believe is the perfect time for that announcement.”

Harry took a deep breath and looked around, at the eager faces of his classmates and at the curious glances from the teachers. Letting out that deep breath he began, “Well, er…”

Draco rolled his eyes and sighed, and finally Harry summoned that famous Gryffindor courage and spoke in a steady voice. “Draco and I have been declared soul bound by a God, and to make the declaration official under wizard law, have decided that a formal joining would be appropriate. We would like the ceremony to be performed by Professor Dumbledore, as he has already offered.”

“What?” Professor McGonagall screeched and turned a menacing glare on Albus Dumbledore and then upon noticing the calm behavior of Severus Snape after just hearing that his godson would be marrying Harry Potter, turned that same glare on the Potions Master. “You knew?!”

“Well, Minerva, as the boy’s godfather I am privileged to hear such foolish notions first. I am also providing the rings,” he answered calmly, and he tried to hide the satisfaction he got as Minerva looked on the verge of an apoplexy.

While this was going on at the staff table, the whole of Great Hall burst into a flurry of gossip and various questions were thrown at Harry and Draco. Harry looked at Draco and the snake still coiled in his lover’s hand.

“What is her name?” he asked as he looked at the snake.

Draco looked at the small serpent in his hand and then at his dark haired lover. “Sesheta, after the Egyptian Goddess of writing, philosophy, and inspiration.”

Harry smiled and looked at the small, but deadly snake. “Hello Sesssheta,” he hissed in parseltongue, and she looked at him and then toward Draco, realizing that the two were bond mates.

She uncoiled and drew closer to Harry, and flickered her tongue against his cheek. He smiled warmly at the snake and knew she had accepted him as a friend. “Hello to you too, Lion,” she hissed in return.

With that Draco, Harry, and Sesheta left Great Hall behind, and headed to the Head Boy quarters, leaving the flurry of gossip and arguing amongst the professors behind them. Draco decided that he would ask Blaise to stand for him tomorrow…

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