After the war

The pair had spent the days until the new date of the memorial quietly within the confines of the school. A few more conversations with the portrait of Dumbledore had reassured the old man that Fudge had got his just desserts, and that he and Percy Weasley would never betray anyone again.

Fireze had agreed to take the bodies deep into the forest, so that they would never be found, and when he came back, he told them that the Aracnomantulas had eaten them in revenge for Hagrid.

Now Harry stood in the Potion Masters quarters, dressed in his dress robes, and watching Severus button his up. He moved over as he saw the man reaching for his hairbrush and took it from his, brushing out the long silky hair himself.

"What is your fetish with my hair?" Severus asked, even as he relaxed back into the attention.

"Its glorious, all soft and silky. Its something that I'll never achieve with this mop I've been saddled with, so I'll live vicariously through yours, if you don't mind." Harry said with a smile.

"No, you carry on." Severus said, closing his eyes contentedly at the motion of the brush through his hair. Harry's smile turned loving, and tender.

He finished with the brush, and tied the hair back with a leather thong at the nape of the older man's neck.

"There, done. I suppose we had better go then." Harry said, his mood sobering rapidly. Severus rose and looked down at Harry.

"You're sure you want to be seen with me there?"

"Severus, you and I are going to be spending a very long time together. People will see us together all the time. They'll have to deal with me being in love with Hogwarts snarky potions Master." Harry reassured him, leaning up on his tip toes to press a light kiss to his lips.

"Then lets go." Severus said, holding out an arm to Harry. They left his quarters, out into the still unwarded school, and apperated together to the ministery hall where the memorial was being held.

The place was already busy when they got there, but one of the Aurors who had been cleared under Veritasserum hurried over.

"Mr Potter sir. The building is secure, and there has been no sign of Fudge or Weasley in the area. Now that you are here, the anti apperation wards are back up, and all the doors are guarded. There is no way that they can get in if they turn up here." He reported bowing his head respectfully at Severus.

"Good. Will we be ready to start on time?"

"There are still people outside, but they will all be in before we are due to start."

"Thank you. We will be back stage, checking the charms on the memorial stone." Harry said.

"Yes sir." The man said, scurrying off again.

"I can't wait until all this is over, and I can just be me, instead of the boy who lived, the boy who killed mouldyshorts, not expected to tell people what to do." Harry sighed.

"You know you are unlikely to get that wish while you are anywhere in the public eye." Severus said softly. Harry looked up at him thoughtfully, and nodded once.

"We'll talk about that when we get back later. Not here where anyone could be earwigging." Harry said, looking at the reporters scattered through the throng.

"Agreed." Severus said, leading the way through to the stage, his height, and the fact that many of these people had been taught by him an advantage in getting them to move out of his way.

They made it backstage, and worked together to check the charms on the stone. When thet were done, Harry checked it by laying his hand against the stone, and the names of those he was mourning lit up amoung those carved into the stone.

"So many." Harry said, lightly brushing his fingers over the glowing names. The staff and students, the Weasleys, who had become a family to him, Remus. Severus lay his hand alongside Harry's, and a few more names lit up.

"Mr Potter, it's time." The Auror they had spoken to on arrival said, hurrying up to them.

"Thank you." Harry said. The curtains drew back from the stage, and he stepped up to the podium, Severus a silent presence at his shoulder.

Everyone settled and went quiet, looking at them.

"We are here today in memory of those who fell in battle to end this war. To bring down Voldemort and allow the rest of us to live in freedom. This will not be some official standing up here, talking about people they didn't know. This is for us, we who have lost loved ones, and friends. Anyone who wishes to speak of those they have lost, to allow others to share their memories, they are welcome to speak. We have as long as we want here. Severus Snape and I are here in memory of the fallen of Hogwarts, the staff and students whose courage and willingness to sacrifice on the feild of battle helped clear the way for me do what I had to do, and in memory of the Weasley family, all of whom fell, ending a good, kind and honest line."

Harry spoke for a while about some of his memories, the twins and their pranks, the love shown to him by all of the family, the support and knowledge of the staff of Hogwarts, then stepped back for Severus to talk of his colleagues. Once they had said everything they wanted to say, they quietly stepped down to the floor, sitting in the seats the aurors had saved for them, and leaving the floor open to anyone else who wanted to speak.

There was a shuffle, and a young witch, heavily pregnant, walked up to the stage to share her memories of her lost husband, the first of many.

It was very late when they returned to Hogwarts, falling tiredly onto the sofa in the rooms that were quickly becoming theirs.

"I never expected so many to speak." Severus said, pulling the thong out of his hair and tossing it onto the table.

"No, but I'm glad they did." Harry said, leaning his head on Severus's shoulder.

"Yes. They should be remembered as more than names by everyone." Severus agreed.

There was a musical singing sound, and a phoenix swept into the room, dropping several large parcels on the table before flying off to perch on top of one of the bookcases.

"Hey Fawkes. Glad you're still around." Harry said tiredly.

"He has brought the sorting hat, and the books and such that were missing." Severus said, looking at the table.

"Do you mind if we look at them tomorrow Fawkes? It's been a very long day." Harry said.
Fawkes trilled and tucked his head under his wing.

"Come on Severus, let's get some sleep." Harry said, pushing to his feet and holding out a hand to the other man. They went through to the bedroom, closing the door against the outside world.