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

Big thank-yous to the person(s) who left stars since my last posting!! Much appreciated.

Here are the final chappies of book 2 - and life for our heroes is about to get a lot weirder..........

16

They talked into the dusk, Adele asking many penetrating questions. At one point in the proceedings, Severus muttered to Harry, “Young Sammy definitely gets his brains from his mother”, to receive a growl and a poke in the ribs, “Oi, shut it, you. Okay, you’re probably right, git”, to receive a squeeze then a kiss in his hair, “There was a remaining amazing thing that happened today, Harry”, Severus spoke so only they could hear. Harry looked up at him and grinned, “I know”. They had dipped out a bit and Harry glanced at the other four, now deep in discussion, Hermione leading the talk, something on the ethics of magic.

“Shall we go and cook?”, enquired Harry in a low voice for just his husband to hear. Severus arched a brow and murmured, “Fuck? What a capital idea”. Harry chuckled, “Oi, cloth-ears, I said ‘cook’, as in, make dinner while this lot are nattering”. Severus leaned close enough so Harry could feel the breath over his ear, “Frankly, I prefer my version”, then a sly tongue, just a touch, enough to make Harry shiver, but he pulled away, “Oh, no you don’t; later, baby. I’m starving and it has to be our turn by now”.

They trooped into the kitchen. Severus loved this space and flexed his hands in anticipation but first things first. He turned on Harry, grabbed him roughly around the middle, pushed him against the fridge door and kissed the living daylights out of him. He drew back and surveyed the effects with a smirk, “God, you look totally ravished, you gorgeous creature”. Harry tipped his head back and laughed weakly, “Bastard. Look at the state of me”, and indeed, his lips were full and bitten pink, his glasses were all skew-whiff and partly steamed up and his cheeks were a delightful roseate shade as he cast his lover a ‘look’ from under heavy-lidded eyes.

“Beautiful, just beautiful”, Severus murmured as he lowered his mouth for another kiss, slower and more considered, Harry met him eagerly, throwing passionate arms around him melding them closer. This time, both gasped and flushed as they emerged for air. Harry giggled and took a hand back, poking Severus gently in the chest as his stomach reminded him of it’s presence, “I’m still going to cook. I need to eat. Food first, then you in that order”. Severus whacked his bum lightly as they parted, “I’ll hold you to that, trollop”.

They had fun ferreting about in the kitchen figuring out what to cook, “I do a mean lasagne, if we’ve got the ingredients”, piped up Harry and so it was. They cooked side by side. Harry did the meat sauce and Severus made the cheese sauce. They dug out a pyrex dish and layered the ingredients together before stashing it in a hot oven. Harry closed the oven door while Severus had his wand out and cleared up.

It was only when he turned to the door, that he realised he had Adele as an audience, carrying the tea tray. He saw the exact moment at which her hands let go of it, the drop of a few inches before his wand was trained on it and with a simple levitating spell, he lifted it onto the kitchen counter, releasing it once it was safe and executing a short bow in her direction. She goggled at him and looked down at her hands, still shaped to the tray, “Thank you, I think”. Severus smiled at her, “Better than repairing all of the broken china”. She shook her head and turned, leaving.

Harry came over to his husband, “Show-off. Nicely done, though”, he threaded his arms around Severus, “Well, an hour ‘til dinner. Now what was that about an aperitif?” he licked his lips and gave Severus a look that made the older man want to eat Harry alive, so he proceeded to do just that, starting with his neck until a polite cough brought them round. Jed. Laughing at them. “You two are so horny all the time, do you make aphrodisiacs, Severus?” The man raised his head, “Don’t need to”, and caught Jed’s eye as he said so. Jed’s gut dropped at the intensity he read there. “Whatever”, he chuckled. Harry muttered, “Dinner in about an hour, it’s in the oven, excuse us”, before bodily hauling his husband from the kitchen, the sound of Jed’s cackles following them down the stairs, “I’ll call you when it’s ready. Have fun boys”, he called.

Harry kicked the door shut and toed his shoes off in a couple of moves, not taking his eyes from his lover. Severus, likewise was shrugging clothes off at speed and apparel flew all over the room. They glared lustfully at each other but didn’t touch, their breathing heavy as they wrestled out of confining cloth until they stood before each other, naked and aroused. Severus held his arms open and Harry stepped into the circle that closed around him as he did so. He shivered deliciously at the contact of skin, sliding his own hands over the planes of Severus’ chest, toying with his nipples making each hard before tipping his head back to be kissed, twisting his fingers into ebony hair, pulling Severus down to him pushing their bodies together. As their lips parted for each other, someone moaned as their tongues touched and slid over and around each other, the kiss deepening at it’s own pace.

~~~~~~~~~WS (explicit)~~~~~~~~~~~~

They steered towards the bed, falling over and giggling as they fell, hands everywhere, roaming and squeezing as their mouths bruised together. A barely whispered, “How do you want me, Harry?” A deep moan, “Inside...take me”, as lips fused together once more, no time for finesse, their passion hit them hard and Harry was on his back with his legs thrown wide, his hips canted up and after a murmured ‘lubricus’, Severus slid home. Harry shrieked as he was forcibly stretched. Sweat poured off him as he pushed back wanting that exquisite fullness. Severus paused just long enough to revive Harry’s erection that had sagged a little with the heated pain, then with a small kick under one buttock that told him Harry was ready for him, he moved, dipping his head to kiss his Harry while he fucked him, long fevered strokes that lifted Harry off the bed with each one, Harry arching to meet him as his prostate was repeatedly slammed. Severus came up onto his hands, “Wank yourself, let me watch you come”, he growled as he increased the stroke. Almost incoherent with desire, Harry obeyed, his eyes slits watching the play of passion on Severus’ face as his beloved watched him.

He could feel the base of Severus’ cock thicken and he squeezed hard with his arse muscles. At the same time, he gripped the base of his own cock with main force as Severus bucked a few short times and came deep inside him riding each wave with a low groan. He made to collapse over Harry but still felt his hard length, “You didn’t come?”, he gasped. Harry shook his head, “Want you, too, want to come inside you”. Severus kissed him lazily, “Give me a moment, and my arse is yours for the taking. Prepare me a bit first though”. He rolled to the side as he slipped out of Harry and rolled away from him.

Harry began at the back of his neck kissing and biting all along his spine until he pushed one leg up and sank his mouth into the crevice of his lover’s arse, entering and licking, making Severus produce these wonderful sounds that nearly made Harry come just hearing them. He pressed the flat of his hand against the base of his cock and slowed down while he used his fingers and tongue to stretch and prepare. He slapped Severus’ arse lightly, “Hup you come. Want to see you all open beneath me, ready to fuck”, and helped his beloved onto all fours then pressed Severus’ face down to his folded arms, “My, what a sight”, Harry purred, his own cock a bit limper now.

He carried on thrusting in fingers only this time he hit the sweet spot. His other hand he reached around to find Severus hard again, “You dirty man, you’re all hard for me again”. He leaned over Severus’ back, the tip of his cock in the crease of his lover’s crack as he rubbed his softer cockhead in it wanking Severus as he did so, then he started to piss, the hot liquid pouring over Severus’ balls and crack and cock, running over Harry’s hand as he wanked him then wetting Severus’ inner thighs before pooling around his knees, he cast the quickest lube charm ever as the stream lessened and his cock stiffened then was in in a single thrust, right to the hilt, he moved his hand furiously over his lover’s straining cock delighting in his speed of recovery as Harry knew he was close then he let him have it hard, pulling back and slamming in, his balls tightening, “Not gonna last”, he gritted out as he clenched his teeth together, threw his head back and came copiously with a strangled shout, jerking his hips furiously with each spasm. In seconds he felt sticky wetness over his hand as Severus came all over it and the bed, and they collapsed in the mess, chuckling, Harry raining soft bites and kisses over Severus’ shoulders.

As sanity returned, Harry felt about on the floor and located his wand, rolling them apart and murmuring a strong cleaning charm, “We made quite a mess”, he chuckled as he was gathered close and kissed. “Hmm. I think the mess was mainly yours, Mrs S”. Harry returned the kisses, “I know, but you were all spread so wide, so tempting, what is a boy to do?” Severus growled at him, “You are a very dirty boy and I think I will have to take you over my knee, but not just now. I’m knackered”. Harry laughed gently and smoothed sweaty hair away from Severus’ spent face before dusting kisses over cheeks, forehead and closed eyelids, “You are so beautiful, Mrs Potter and you look extra gorgeous when I’ve just fucked you”, Harry planted soft kisses on the slack mouth before snuggling up and wrapping Severus in his arms and they lay there a while in the dark just breathing and glowing.

~~~~~~~~~~WS (end)~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The light tap on the door wasn’t heard by either of them but a stronger knock brought them both out of sleep, “Dinner’s on the table, guys, or do you want it kept warm for you?” Harry called out, “Erm, give us five minutes and we’ll be there”. He kissed his grumbling husband awake. Severus wanted nothing more than to burrow into Harry’s chest and stay there the rest of the night but at Harry’s insistence, they rose and dressed again, stumbling around the room finding abandoned clothing. Harry laughed when he pointed out the lovebite he had made on Severus’ neck, “Would you like me to do something with that, lover?” Severus inspected it in the mirror, “No. Leave it be”, he said before taking Harry in his arms for a last kiss before they rejoined polite society again.

Sammy shook his head with mirth when he clapped eyes on them, “Bloody hell, you two look a sight. Good was it?” They both smirked at him then each other. Harry nodded, “Oh, yes, thank you”, he said in his politest tones that made Sammy laugh harder. “Get on with you, we’re eating round the table in the kitchen. Wanna beer?” They settled themselves and accepted drinks before tucking in. Harry was right, his lasagne was excellent and they inhaled their meal. Adele glanced at them from time to time, trying and failing to keep the smile off her face, “Ah, young love”, she commented as she shared a conspiratorial smirk with Hermione, “All you boys disappeared on us, you randy buggers, and left us ladies getting along splendidly. I know all sorts of secrets now”, she tapped the side of her nose and Sammy and Jed laughed aloud.

The atmosphere was sexy and laid back that set a pattern for the rest of the evening. Adele went home after she had eaten, and her son, Jed and Hermione all got hugs, Harry and Severus got warm handclasps, “I’ll call you, Xavier, in about an hour with that psychic’s number. Goodnight all and it was a great pleasure to meet you. If we don’t meet again, then have wonderful lives, all of you and thank you for all you have done for my son”. She left as Sammy and Jed waved to her until she turned the corner.

Sammy slumped in Jed’s arms in the hall, “I think that went well, don’t you?” Jed kissed him, “Bloody brilliant, if you ask me, but then we’ve always known your mum is okay. She’s a great lady and you know I love her to bits. She’ll be a lovely mum-in-law”. Sammy looked up at his taller lover, “How much do you want us to tell my new mum-in-law?” Jed shrugged, “Let’s just play it by ear for now, there’s no rush but your mum had to know, after all, you’re her darling sweet boy”. Sammy grinned, pink of face, “I’m your darlin’ boy, too, you know”. Jed descended, “I know, and now you will be for the rest of my life. I can’t wait”, before kissing Sammy soundly. They eventually parted and went back to rejoin their guests.

After such a wearing afternoon and a heavy meal, beer, spliffs and movies were the order of the night after Jed had taken the dog out. Hermione curled up with Paddy on the floor while the men coupled up, Jed and Sammy tangled on one sofa, Harry and Severus sprawled on the other and decided on a couple of comedies as their viewing. At some point a large bowl of hot buttery popcorn appeared as did other munchies and they sat laughing all night. Wishing each other goodnight, later, Severus smiled at his hosts, “Get a good night’s sleep, Sammy, Brewing tomorrow, I think”. Harry laughed, “What have you got in mind?” Severus considered a moment, the tip of his tongue touching the centre of his top lip, “Tomorrow we will be mainly brewing mosquito salve and lube, both are fairly simple to make and have..ah...practical uses”, before smirking at a red-faced Sammy and wishing them goodnight.

****

After the breakfast things had been cleared away the group split up. Harry and Hermione left the kitchen to call Ginny and to leave the room free for the brewers. Jed tentatively asked, “Severus, may I watch, or, better still, join in? It’s just if this doesn’t involve wands or magical ingredients or anything...”, he let himself dry up. Severus turned suddenly and regarded the man from close to, “These particular potions, you are right, involve neither incantation nor particularly magical equipment. Ordinary kitchen tools will more than suffice. Roll up your sleeves and dig in, although this exercise is for Sammy’s benefit and if ingredients are short then I will have to assign them to him”.

Jed beamed, “That’s okay, I appreciate that”. He handed Sammy his apron and donned his own. As good cooks they had an apron each and disposable plastic chefs’ sleeves that Jed dished out after they had tied their hair away. Severus was impressed at their level of pre-prep though he kept quiet. In the absence of cauldrons, they used stainless steel saucepans which Sammy carefully sterilised. They were keen beer-makers and had the sterilants on hand, doing the ladle and slotted spoon and a couple of table spoons and sharp knives for good measure.

Drying and laying out the basic tools according to the recipe that Severus had written out for them, they washed their hands and commenced. The first session was a simple exercise in following instructions to the letter and therefore Severus had elected to sit out of this one, merely staying on hand to oversee things. It was a simple mouthwash and all the ingredients were either in the house already or were seasonably available in the garden.

Putting on a latex glove apiece they headed out into the back garden and gathered the mint and rosemary, the borage and milk thistle that they needed. As they had requested to both have a go, once they were back inside, Severus had asked them not to confer and each to make his own potion in silence and if there was something either did not understand then to come to him.

Sammy ruined two before he got it right, tipping the waste away, much to Severus’ secret amusement. A true Black, all right. Unable to maintain concentration and allowing things to distract him before losing his temper. Jed, however, was a whole different kettle of fish. How Severus wished he could have schooled more like him. He followed the instructions to the letter. If they called for a half stir, then Jed made two marks opposite each other on the side of the pan and it got a half a stir. The man’s attention to detail was very good and his levels of concentration were off the scale. He simply shut everything out, including his irate partner who soon simmered down and started again.

There wasn’t much to choose between the finished results, but at this stage, Severus was interested in the process. Ah, it was a shame that Jed wasn’t magical. A stickler for detail like that would be a joy to teach. As usual, he got the dunderheads. They went straight on from that to their first proper brew that needed a base a catalyser and active ingredients in combination; the insect repellant.

This required several of the ingredients that Severus had purchased in Auckland and while Sammy was fascinated handling them, it was again Jed who asked the most astute and intelligent questions particularly about the uses of Asphodel, as they were using the dried leaves in this potion.

Severus explained the narcotic not to say catatonic effects of the powdered roots as they brewed and Jed was obviously listening carefully. Severus watched the mens’ movements, Sammy scattershot, a bit clumsy. Jed poetry in Potions motion, keeping ingredients neatly separated but near to hand, tools clean and in order so he didn’t even need to look, just had the right thing under his fingers as they closed over it.

Severus had to ask, “Have you done something of this nature before, Jed?” Jed turned briefly and flashed him a quick grin, “Yeah, I did catering college for a couple of years back in my twenties but the speed of the work was too much. You never had the time to do anything properly. It was all rush, rush, rush. No time to make your sauces just so, no time for that perfect icing on the cake, just do the bits that show, if you know what I mean?” The older man laughed aloud, “Ah, a man after my own heart”, and Jed turned back to his brew. He had a feeling that a compliment on his brewing from this guy was praise indeed.

Severus wasn’t concentrating as hard as he might and came out of a daydream to find Jed with his head over his saucepan and sniffing deeply. He started towards him then stopped. He watched Jed for a moment, but the man seemed perfectly all right and carried right on with his stirring, counting under his breath. This gave Severus some pause for thought. Surely the man should have experienced at least a little light-headedness, maybe itchy fingers or sinuses from handling the asphodel, but no, he seemed totally in control, even enjoying it.

Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione were sitting in front of the grate in their hosts’ bedroom talking to Ginny as she relaxed in her study before going home, “So, how’s our new magical coming along?”, Ginny enquired, raising one greeny-red eyebrow. They told her and of the expedition the previous day, meeting his mother and Sammy’s ‘coming out’ as a magical to his mum. Hermione said nothing of her excursion earlier in the week.

Harry spoke up next, “You’ll never believe it, but Sev’s got them making a potion with asphodel leaves in the kitchen!!” This made Ginny laugh out loud, “Well, surely his partner, whassisname? Jed isn’t it?”, Harry nodded, “He won’t be able to handle the asphodel, not without irritation to either skin or nasal passages if he gets a whiff of it. I hope Severus has them all covered up”. Harry grinned at her, “Oh, yes, They both are fairly serious cooks so they have sleeves and aprons and latex gloves and stuff. I watched ‘em get suited up before, I think Sev was quite impressed”.

She piped down. She knew better than to question a master’s methods after all. Harry made a request to borrow anything she could find in the Restricted Section of the school library on soul bonds to a squeal from both girls, “Harry, a soul-bond? When?”, Hermione squeaked. Harry blushed furiously, “Yesterday, as we landed from Auckland, just before Adele turned up so we didn’t say anything, but we think that’s what might be happening. Neither of us knows bugger all about these things so any info would be a bonus and it’s one thing that the Internet is no good for”, he sighed.

He was congratulated by them both receiving loving hugs from Hermione’ red stripy t-shirted arms and Ginny’s greeny-black robe-clad arms, “Why am I not surprised at this?” smirked Ginny as she pulled back again so only her head showed. Hermione giggled with her and batted Harry on the arm, “I don’t know, Harry being his usual dark horse”, she rolled her eyes and Harry put up with gentle ribbing from the two of them. “Don’t say anything yet to Ron or the others, we’re not sure yet and we haven’t had the time to see if our magic has changed or anything”.

Harry slipped off to see if it was all right to make some tea, leaving the girls talking privately. He peeked into the kitchen to see the others hard at work still and winked at his husband without saying anything to break the air of concentration, exiting as quietly as he had come, when he was brought up short by what he had seen.

He stepped back to the kitchen door to make sure. Nope, no masks, and Jed taking a deep sniff of the brew. He gasped at the kitchen entrance which made his husband’s head turn. Silently, he pointed over to Jed, mimed the sniffing and pointed to his own nose and mimed sneezing and scratching. Severus shook his head and barely suppressed a grin before waving his hands in a shooing motion at his husband.

The kitchen was off limits for now, so he went back to the room he shared with Severus and made a drink there, wandering into Hermione’s room for a spare cup before taking the three mugs upstairs. Ginny was able to come out of the fire far enough to sip at hers giggling that she was kneeling in one continent and drinking tea in another. Ah, magic. Marvellous stuff.

It was then Harry took a critical look at the bed in light of what he and Severus had likely discovered. A hair or two on each pillow spoke readily of whose side was whose, then Harry examined the reading matter at each side of the bed, doing a little detective work. On Sammy’s side, there was the book on Quidditch that Hermione had brought plus a fat bulging file with the name ‘Cowell’ printed in marker pen on the front that was obviously work plus a couple of magazines.

On Jed’s side table, however, were most of the rest of the books that Hermione had provided and there were numerous markers contained between the pages, a notebook half-closed around a pen sat on top of the lot. Harry smiled to see this, Jed wasn’t reading he was studying. Harry took a quick look down the list of titles, nothing on simple potions, so, scooting back to in front of the grate, he butted in and requested a first-year potions textbook, “Maybe second year as well, hon. Nothing with too many uncommon ingredients in”.

Ginny laughed, “Don’t you think it’s a weird way to spend a honeymoon, Harry? For myself, I’d far rather be baking on a Caribbean beach or something”. Harry shrugged, “I intend every day with that man to be a honeymoon, Gin, and if we can’t help a needy wizard or two along the way, then my name’s not Harry Potter-Snape. We won’t be here forever, we just need to find someone willing to train him in relative obscurity, then we’ll be on our way again”.

Ginny turned to her best friend, “What of yourself, ‘Mione?” She sighed and ran a hand through her bird’s nest hair, “Not yet, Gin, I’m not ready yet to come home. All I’ll say at this point is that I will be back before the summer holidays start from school. I’ve rented a car and I may take off by myself for a bit, do some serious thinking, but I’m taking this at my own pace. It’s a major decision I have to make here and I won’t rush it, and, no, I won’t call Nev yet either. I need some space and I’m being looked after very well here, the lads are all lovely to me and I’m having a good time”. Ginny’s sigh was audible but she held her peace. The Floo powder was running low so they said their goodbyes and closed the connection, Ginny and Hermione’s kiss lingered somewhat.

They sat side by side on the bed. Harry fidgeted and Hermione brooded. Eventually she enquired, “Is there anything wrong?” Harry frowned, “Dunno. It’s just something that happened in the kitchen earlier. We’ve been concentrating on Sammy a lot but what if he’s not the only one?” This got his friend’s attention. “Harry?” she frowned back. He sighed, “He’s all right near the asphodel, ‘Mione. He may not be as powerful magically as Sammy but he’s been so cool about it all and check out the bedtime reading, he’s studying”.

This threw her somewhat, “I never did do a proper dowse on Sammy. The magic just pours off him but I never noticed anything from Jed”. “Well, yeah, but what if Jed’s another Julia? A marginal? He seems more interested in it all than Sammy, to be honest. The night the three of us talked all night, it was Jed asking the most questions”. Hermione smiled, “Well of course he would, Sammy’s the love of his life and I’d want to know all about my lover even if I didn’t share those attributes. Perhaps he’s jealous or something”. Harry’s frown deepened and he shook his head, “Nah. I don’t think so. I think Jed is proud. He’s so proud of Sammy. I don’t think jealousy comes into it. He adores him. Can you dowse him?”. Hermione was thoughtful, “Okay, I will if he’ll let me”, and that was that for now.

The sound of voices, movement and running water from the kitchen told them that the brewing session was over and they wended their way there to see the others removing aprons and gloves while Severus Banished the residue from the pans. Harry entered casually enquiring, “How did it go then?” Severus turned to him, beaming. “Very well, very well indeed”. Harry sidled up for a quiet word and a kiss, “Gin told me Jed should have an irritation from the asphodel”. Severus rolled his eyes, “And here I was thinking that you had actually remembered something from all of your years in my class”. Harry swatted him, “Behave. I had a word with ‘Mione and she’s going to ask him if she can dowse him, she’s not done Sammy properly either yet so she can dowse them together”. Severus sighed, “Actually, that mightn’t be a bad idea. Though even if the man is a complete muggle, he has all the makings of a damned fine potions student. Sammy was more or less as I suspected but young Jed was, frankly, a revelation”.

Harry wandered over to the phials of potion laid out on the counter top and he had to agree with his husband, Jed’s really were a better colour and consistency in the bottle, his work area was neater, even his labels were more legible. They said nothing to either man as the kitchen was cleaned up and lunch started.

After lunch they lounged around and chatted for a while before Hermione requested that Sammy come with her to be dowsed, “I haven’t done it yet and I promised I’d do a proper job”. He followed her making eyes at the rest of the room and a gesture as if he were being bodily dragged away once he was almost out the door. Harry and Jed laughed and Severus frowned, “Ah, a Black, ever the pranksters”, he sighed. Harry groaned, “Oh, give over, Sev. What if he was a long-lost Weasley triplet and Fred and George weren’t twins after all, what of it then?” Severus grinned despite himself, “I would be in the vicinity of Outer Mongolia about now and you would not see my heels for the dust they throw up as I ran”.

Half an hour later a flushed Sammy was led back into the room. Hermione followed, her brow furrowed as she scribbled into a small notebook. “Okay, Jed, you now”, she looked up over her reading glasses. Jed looked distinctly perturbed, “Wait! There must be some kind of mistake. I’m no magical. I never had poltergeists as a kid or bust glasses and cups or swam as an otter even if it was in dreams”. Hermione’s face relaxed and she smiled, “Yes, and you didn’t react to inhaling asphodel fumes either and as a complete muggle you should have done. Come on, it only takes a few minutes and doesn’t hurt and you can be my control as I never get to dowse muggles for anything. Humour me”, she held out a hand and Jed scrambled to his feet.

He shrugged in a ‘this-is-a-complete-waste-of-time’ way as he was led out. They went into the master bedroom and Hermione instructed him to stand in the middle of the room, “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to get your kit off or anything. Damn!! Thinking about it, I could have asked and neither of you would have been any the wiser and I’d have had a good old perv at two jolly nice looking chaps. Never mind, next time I find a defenceless wizard....”, she smirked.

Jed returned the smirk, he quite liked this woman and her sense of humour and she really was wasting her time with him but he let her do her thing which consisted of waving her wand over and around him muttering various things and jotting notes down in her little book. Once or twice, she looked deep into his brown eyes as if searching for something, much as she had when she first met his partner and it was all he could do not to squirm under her scrutiny. It was as he gazed back that he got the feeling again that he was in the presence of real power. To relax him a bit, she asked how the brewing went that morning, “Was Severus a dreadful termagent? He was a terror at school”. Jed shrugged as she continued the dowse, “No, actually. He bollocked Sammy a few times and called me a ‘man after his own heart’ after I told him I’d been at catering college. I think he liked my prep-work although he said my potions were ‘very good’, too”, he described the quotation marks in the air at the salient points.

Hermione stepped back in alarm, “Bloody hell, he either really has lost his edge over the years or you really impressed him. My potions work was excellent at school and the best I ever got from him was one of his dry ‘hmmm, satisfactory Miss Granger’s’ before it was bottled. The most he would do was damn you with faint praise. We all thought he was a crap teacher but no-one can deny the man is a Master at his craft”. Jed shrugged again, “Well, I’ve had chefs that were loads worse than that anyway. I was regularly offered to be disembowelled by one of the tutors I had at college and as a catering student, you know how sharp those knives are!!”, he shuddered delicately.

She laughed as she stepped back from him one last time and shook her hands out, chafing her wand tip between her palms to discharge the reading. She made a few last scribbles as Jed made for the door. “Not so fast, Jed. Stay a moment. I would rather tell you this on your own first”. He stopped dead at the door and turned, “Oh? Is there something I should know about Sammy?” She smiled then and beckoned him back. “No, it’s about you. You’re a borderline magical, Jed. You won’t ever be as powerful as Sammy. He comes from a long line of wizards after all and I expected no less from the read I’ve just done, but you are stronger than that young lass Harry has told you about, the girl we met on Crete. She had no chance of really developing her skill and would have never made the roster of any of the wizarding schools, but you are different. Hogwarts had to exercise a selection policy, there were only so many places to go round each year and so, only the strongest were selected. Sammy slipped through the net completely and he should have been placed at one of the schools but you....Well, let’s say that if they had been short on numbers one year and this did happen frequently, then you would almost certainly have been offered a place. If, however, they had the more usual full compliment, then you may have been placed on the reserve list at least, not the first choice, I’ll grant you, but there is magic in there somewhere matey!!!”.

Jed paled visibly and looked as if he might faint. Hermione caught him and led him to the bed, “Sit down a minute, put your head between your knees. We suspected after this morning. Muggles get irritated skin or nasal membranes from either touching asphodel or inhaling the fumes and you did neither. Granted, you were wearing skin protection but you were caught sniffing at your potion and I was alerted by Harry and Severus. How would you like to handle this?”

Jed’s face when he looked up was a picture. Rapturous tears were threatening and his smile nearly split his face in two, “You mean....I can have a wand and everything?” She nodded, “Yes, though you will find it tricky to find one to suit. Only those with either very great power or relatively minor power have any difficulty. We can try you out with the wands I brought but as they were purloined with Sammy in mind, I doubt they’ll do for you at all. However, you will probably need to take a trip to London or Paris or Moscow to find the most extensive selections. I’m sorry to disappoint you”.

“Disappoint me? You are kidding aren’t you? Silly girl, you just made my year. No. My friggin’ century!!! You’re telling me that not only do I have some ability but that I’m trainable also?”. Hermione nodded. “You will never attain the higher echelons of magic-users but then, neither do ninety per cent of the wizarding world. You know that charm I cast yesterday to allow you to see the wizarding parts of those shops? Well, that probably wasn’t necessary for a start and you should be able to do most of the household magicks not to mention make some of the more complex potions that require spell-work as well as the solid ingredients, you will probably be able to raise certain classes of magical plants also as well as being able to fly on a broom under your own steam rather than wait for a wizard or witch to take you up with them. Harry pointed out that you seem to be studying the texts I brought rather harder than Sammy is?”

Jed grinned, “I had to keep his feckless nose to the grindstone while we were at college otherwise he wouldn’t have had a chance of passing his bar exams. I was always the swot of the two of us and I am interested in all of this, but, me, eh? Who’d’a thunk it?” He grinned like a five year old after Santa had just visited, as if all his Christmases had come at once and he bounded out of the room like his big daft dog whooping and cheering throwing punches at the air and generally leaping about as he went back to the lounge.

“I’m a wizard! I’m a wizard! Whoo-Hoo”, he pranced and danced, grabbing Sammy by the hands and jigging around the furniture with him. Harry laughed and Severus couldn’t help a chuckle or two. Hermione filled them in on her findings and Severus smiled fully then, “The lad has all the makings of a true potions enthusiast. I was delighted with his work this morning. I think I missed my calling. Maybe I should teach adults instead. More enthusiastic and so eager to learn. Once Sammy calmed down and didn’t let his temper get the better of him then he too was quite diligent. It was a very pleasant session although, as befits a true Black, potions will never be his metier”.

Harry glared at him but Severus held up a hand, “I’m not just talking about Sirius, Harry. Narcissa was a bit of a duffer as well by all accounts and Nymphadora was no better despite her extensive Auror skills, she only just scraped enough marks to be offered the training and despite Regulus’ adherence to the Dark, he was little better but at least he tried hard. Draco inherited his own ability from his father not his mother”. This mollified Harry somewhat.

They watched Jed and Sammy capering about that now included the dog, bouncing around and barking at the top of his lungs. As they calmed down a bit Hermione did test Jed with the remaining wands but as she suspected, they drew a blank. This did nothing to dint Jed’s mood as he’d expected it. Every time any of them looked his way for the rest of the afternoon, he was staring off into space wearing a slight smile and a dreamy expression. Sammy slid over to them at one point, “You guys are sure about this, aren’t you?” Hermione widened her eyes and regarded him sternly, “Xavier Samuels-Black, this is my job that I have done for many years. If I say your partner has magic then he has, end of story”. Chastened by her use of his full name, he backed down, “Please don’t call me Xavier, you sound just like my mum when she’s after rippin’ me a new one”, he said, sheepishly. After having met the lady in question she could quite believe it and laughed, “It’s okay, just don’t doubt my abilities. I know what I can and can’t do”. He nodded and apologised.

Hermione patted his knee in forgiveness and stood facing her hosts, her hands thrust in her jeans pockets, her head on one side thoughtfully chewing the inside of her cheek, a look Harry knew too well, “Right, you two, spellwork! Outside, now!!” Sammy leapt to his feet but Jed hung back, “You, too, buggerlugs, you’ll need to know this soon enough at least when you get yourself a wand. Watch and learn. Take notes”, she ordered in no uncertain terms. Jed grinned bashfully and stood also.

“You two”, she turned to her friends, “Go, have yourself some honeymoon. I’ll keep these two occupied for the rest of the day”. Harry grinned at this, “Well, Bessie needs her engine running and I was wondering....if it would be all right if we took off for the beach or something, maybe stay overnight and come back tomorrow lunchtime?”, he’d said it on complete impulse then glanced at Severus at his side. The look in the man’s eyes spoke of complete agreement and they shared a small smile. Sammy and Jed shared a similar look and shrugged, “Yeah. Don’t see why not. We can keep Hermione here entertained and we’ll see ya tomorrow”, Jed fished in his pocket, “Here”, he threw Harry a small object which Harry grabbed out of the air, “The spare key, let yourselves in if you’re early or there’s no-one in. We have to do some food shopping tomorrow”. They said their goodbyes and Hermione left to go outside with Jed and Sammy while Harry and Severus packed up a couple of things including the laptop. Severus said, “Wouldn’t it be safer to leave that here?” Harry grinned at him, “And have no music for our romantic evening? I think not!”

Severus stood at the window and watched Hermione prepare the space outside by casting a circle with her wand and watched her lips move as she incanted the ‘notice-me-not’s’ into the interior of it whereupon the three shivered out of sight and all that could be seen was an empty garden, the swing-seat moving slightly and small ruffles on the surface of the pool caused by the cool breeze rolling the first few fallen leaves across the grass.

****

It took a few tries to start Bessie and Harry pulled a face at his husband, maybe they had let the battery drain too far, they would have to call the others to help them bump-start her but on the fifth go she caught making them both smile, “We’ll have to give her a good run to charge her again, we can’t afford to not be able to start her in the middle of nowhere”, said Harry, relieved. He tossed Severus the road map as he reversed off the drive, “Here you go, lover, you navigate”. Severus couldn’t contain the grin as he unfolded the map and Harry quizzed him on it. “Ah, you know, we’re off in her again”, he shrugged as he patted the dash.

Harry flashed him a brief smile as he eased down the cul-de-sac before flicking his indicator left and they were heading for the main road again. Severus slipped on his reading glasses and pointed a finger at a point on the map north west of Wellington round onto the front of the ‘ankle boot’ that is the North Island and said, “Here. There’s sod all here. Let’s go there”. Harry laughed as he glanced at the spot, “Looks good to me. We’ll stay by the coast for now”. It was Severus’ turn to laugh, “Why am I not surprised? Well, you want to be making for…..”, and he named the road they were to look for, “Signposted to New Plymouth or Palmerston North. Hey, look, this empty space has a sodding great volcano in the middle of it”, and that decided it.

Once they were out beyond the city limits and out into the countryside again, Severus unbuckled his seat belt and went to put sounds on, “Is this all plugged in, Harry?”, he called as he booted up the laptop. Harry cried, “Ah hah, what are you putting on?” Severus replied, “A few summery classics unless there’s something you had in mind”. Harry grinned at him via the rearview mirror, “Whatever you like, love. Feel free”. Severus barked out a laugh, “Right now, that’s exactly how I do feel”, and he was whistling softly to Grieg’s ‘Morning’ as he buckled up again.

They stopped in a couple of out of the way places to pick up food from small supermarkets and general stores as they went. Not sure of the terrain up ahead, they pulled up near a wood and collected a couple of armfuls each for the belly of the beast as they referred to the range. Suitably stocked up they hit the coast road, Harry chuckling at Severus’ rendition of ‘O Sole Mio’ as he drove. He kept stealing looks at him as they bowled along pleased at Severus’ delight at being once more on the open road.

They pulled into a garage to refuel and Severus took care of that while Harry nipped up onto the roof unspooling the hose, attaching it to the standpipe while the garage attendant was chatting with his husband and filled their water tank to just over half way. This had been a major design fault when he had fitted it, placing it on the same side of the vehicle as the cast iron stove on board. It would have to be shifted to the opposite side next time he was back in Britain and had access to welding gear but for now he couldn’t fill the tank up fully lest it cause Bessie to list heavily over her right wheels knocking the steering and the balance out with the weight. One more modification to be done, he thought as he wound up the hose again and stowed it away before nipping into the shop and buying them both an ice cream on impulse.

After a couple of hours on the road, the terrain started to climb somewhat and the road lost sight of the sea for a while as they climbed and dipped over the shoulders of the foothills of the mountains to their right, the tree cover thinning out between the mountains and the sea. Harry was glad of their stop to gather wood. They saw the entrance to the coast road and turned, Harry was glad to be back within the sight of the sea again. They picked their way along twisty lanes looking for a suitable park-up along an empty bit of coast and found a tiny rutted track with grass growing up the middle that at first looked promising but it petered out in a field so Harry had to reverse back along it as there was nowhere to turn round.

After a couple of false starts they finally found what they were looking for, a wide deserted beach with tricky access that ensured they would have the place to themselves in the main, scrubby woodland at their backs with the volcano forming a dramatic backdrop to the whole. Harry whooped as he climbed out of the cab, tearing his shoes off as he ran pell-mell into the sea then proceeded to do cartwheels in the sand letting the wind at his hair and breathing deeply, then stripped off his wet board shorts and t-shirt and in just his boxers he dove into the clean blue sea.

Then a sight that terrified him had him running for the shore instantly. Jellyfish, very large, long and impossible to see the ends of. Dozens of them, just off shore. Severus reacted as Harry came barreling out of the water, “What’s wrong?”, he asked, seeing Harry’s pale face. “Don’t go in the water, Sev. Jellyfish. And we don’t know if these are the dangerous ones or not but I bet they can give you a nasty sting anyway”.

They were both a bit miffed at this but there was no helping it. Nature was bigger than them. Severus had a few bottles of antivenin of his own devising on board but the ingredients were better suited to tackling snake venom a phenomenon he was more familiar with. Jellyfish poison he wasn’t sure of as there weren’t as many poisonous ones in their half of the planet as there were in this half. Bummer!! No paddling or swimming then. No matter, they had the wide open spaces, the fresh air and each other and that would do just fine.

Severus dug a small depression in the sand and lined it with pebbles and small rocks as he had seen Harry do then lit a fire on the beach with some of the wood they had gathered while Harry showered off the salt and changed into jeans and a fresh t-shirt. Dinner was a simple meal of fresh fish and a stir fry of assorted vegetables cooked over the open fire with bread to dip up the buttery fishy broth in the frying pan, a most satisfying meal that Severus cooked. Harry observed as his lover cooked, proud that he was so keen on outdoor cookery for a man who had lived beneath the ground for a goodly portion of his adult life. Harry brought them out a few beers after dinner which they sat and drank in the peace and quiet of the evening watching the sun go down.

“Have we any of that grass left?”, Severus asked as he cleaned up the dinner dishes. Harry rooted it out and a few screwed up king-size cigarette papers, rolling a couple on Bessie out of the wind that was beginning to pick up from off the sea. While he was on board, he hung a couple of the small speakers out of the windows and cranked up the sounds a bit, fetched the cushions off the sofa and re-emerged back onto the sand arranging them into a comfy seat. He lit one of the joints on the fire and as one of their favourite smoochy tracks came on, grabbed his beloved for a slow dance. Severus moved into Harry’s arms and they kissed lazily as they danced, their shadows flickering with the firelight, bare feet sinking into the sand. They held each other tight inhaling the sea and the fresh air along with their own scents and let the intoxication sweep over them.

Severus drew back far enough to look into Harry’s eyes, “What made you do this, love? I’m not complaining but it seemed a bit off the cuff”. Harry explained what Ginny had said that morning, “And I agreed. Too much work and not enough honeymoon so I decided to do something about it, though I did say to her that I want every day of the rest of our lives to be a honeymoon”. Severus buried his face in Harry’s neck grinning, “I think it already is, Harry and I owe her next time I see her. She’s a very sensible woman, my sister-in-law”. This made Harry’s eyes tear slightly; that Severus was so comfortable with his girlie mates at least to finally consider them family.

They flopped down onto the cushions and straight into each other’s arms kissing deeply and rolling around divesting one another of clothing and touching and tasting everywhere. Severus ‘Accio’d the lubricant, a full bottle. He murmured as it slapped into his palm, “Thanks, Jed. This is his, a better texture than Sammy’s”, that made Harry laugh. “You nicked his brew, you naughty boy. Does he know?” Severus chuckled, “He will when he counts his bottles and realises one is missing. I consider it payment for the lesson and you know I never brew anything without it has an immediate practical use after all and we were running short”.

The tunes were chilled now and the fire smouldered around a few logs as they made love out in the open, miles from anywhere, feeling like the only people in the world. They made no effort to keep quiet or restrain themselves as Severus rolled Harry onto his back and took him gently, their bodies melding together in time to the music in the age-old dance as they made each other sticky and sweaty with the force of passion and the heat of love. There was no urgency, none of the frantic coupling, the attempts to stay quiet as first Harry then Severus howled their joy to the star-spangled sky before collapsing together breathless and sated.

They reiterated their love for each other as they relaxed in the fire’s glow holding on, stroking and kissing. “I will never grow weary of this, Harry. Never. Being out in the open like this, just you and the stars and the fire and the sea and I truly am a happy man”. Harry bit his lower lip and threaded Severus’ hair behind his ears to get a good look at his beloved by firelight, “Nor I, love. I want us to be off again soon, like this, me and you out on the road again. We need to sort Sammy out with a tutor then we can bugger off again. I couldn’t just leave him twisting in the wind though, poor lad, we tell him he’s a wizard and then bugger off. Nah, I couldn’t do it, babe, and even though it’s a bit of a busman’s holiday at the moment, it’s still an adventure. Who’d have thought that we would find ourselves, on the other side of the planet, teaching an untrained wizard of my own age, hey, and Sirius’ son at that!?” Severus chuckled as he buried his face in the warmth of Harry’s neck nuzzling him, “You bloody Gryffindors. I hope Hermione has worn them out today”. They both laughed at this.

Wrapped in a couple of Summoned blankets they talked softly as they gazed into the depths of the fire swigging beer and smoking blunts, saying nothing of consequence, sharing the love they felt and being wrapped in the eternal peace of the sea close by. They had both needed this little break. Harry had turned his phone off and they were completely incommunicado, an island of two, sharing food, drink, dope and each other far into the night. Harry summoned the quilt at some point and after a more fevered second session of love-making, they eventually slept under the stars wrapped together not knowing where one ended and the other began.

At dawn, Harry slipped out from the tangle of limbs and bedding to relieve himself, shivering as he came back to ‘bed’ inadvertantly waking his lover needing the same relief. They tangled up again seeking each other’s warmth. It definitely was not the middle of summer any more. They snuggled together and slept again until the sun was fully up.

Harry was the first to attain full consciousness, drowsing with Severus’ arms around him and the sound of his gentle breathing over that of the sea in his ear. He watched the waves advance and retreat over the sand before him and all was well in Harry Potter-Snape’s world. He felt Severus shift behind him mumbling and turned partially, enough to kiss him. “Mornin’ babe”. Severus opened one dark eye to see the love of his life looking down at him, shielding him from the sun. He blinked and woke fully to Harry filling his whole vision, “Mmmm. Mornin’ beautiful”, he replied, his voice still thick with sleep. Harry grinned as he leaned down to kiss him and Severus grabbed him rolling him on top of him.

“Sweet Harry”, he mumbled, still half asleep as he parted his lips for his beloved’s tongue and let it in, moaning low under his breath as he replied with his own, his hands sliding sensuously along warm skin and resting lightly on Harry’s arse pulling his husband closer, an impressive morning wood pressing the softer planes of Harry’s belly. Harry deepened the kiss, his own hardness embedded in his lover’s inner thigh. Under the quilt the heat built and the resultant sweat made the sliding together easier. Harry gazed at Severus from mere centimetres away making small digs with his cock into yielding flesh as he positioned himself between Severus’ legs which parted easily to allow him entrance. Their tongues danced and swirled together, hands held them close and the sun lit them as Harry found his lover’s entrance still stretched from the previous night. He quickly lubed himself and slid in in a practiced move to deep groans from them both. Severus gave himself up, tilting his hips to give Harry a better angle and was rewarded by deeper penetration and touches to his prostate that made Severus cry out and gasp as it was nudged repeatedly as Harry ground into him, rotating his hips sexily as Severus grabbed his arse holding him wide open as he was fucked. As the speed built, he sucked fingers into his mouth before plunging them into Harry’s arse as he was himself plundered feeling the strong muscles suck him in as he was mercilessly fucked. Harry came up onto one elbow insinuating a hand between them only to have it batted away, “No, baby, like this, riding your cock”, he gave an extra hard thrust for emphasis and Harry screwed up his face feeling his beloved tighten around him, “Fuck, that’s good”, so Severus did it again watching the play of feeling cross Harry’s face, then again and again seeing it unravel his beloved as he pushed back on the length filling him. His own orgasm hit him from left field and he gasped and grunted with the force of it twitching his pelvis randomly as he messed both of their bellies then was aware of the heat and the friction in his backside before Harry cried out and filled him in several deep long strokes.

He carded fingers through Harry’s messy curls, closing his eyes at the euphoria he was experiencing, Harry fell onto his chest short of breath and laughing softly, “Ye gods, Sev, you are the best fuck ever. I hope it’s always like this”. Severus grinned as he kissed his beloved, “My sentiments exactly. I am married to the sexiest, most gorgeous man on the planet. I love you so much, you adorable creature”, and his eyes told the truth of this. Harry looked down into those obsidian depths and was totally captivated. “Love you too, light of my life, my husband, my own”, his own joy apparent in shades of green.

They took their sweet time about untangling that morning. He had been right, they needed this time away, time to be themselves, alone. Time to express this deep love they felt and they revelled in it, more in love than ever, their eyes dripped love as they gazed calmly at each other. Severus brushed Harry’s hair from his sweaty cheeks, revealing the full beauty of his face for Severus to kiss which he did, over and over. It was impossible to tear their gazes apart so they didn’t, indulging to the hilt. This was more than mere love. This was the bond calling and they both knew it sinking into it’s embrace and feeling the warmth generated between them. They really did have to find out more about soul-bonds.

Eventually they could bear to part, rising slowly and a mite creakily, their bodies satisfied but a bit tired. Harry cooked breakfast that morning as Severus tidied the site. The only thing that disturbed them slightly was the number of jellyfish that had been left beached and drying out in the heat of the sun at the edge of the tide line. One, they reckoned, had to be at least twenty feet long. A far cry from the puny specimens they had encountered on British beaches. They steered well clear even of the dead ones and never ventured into the sea much to their collective disappointment.

Sometime after ten they were on the road back to Wellington. Harry kept his phone off. This was their time and they were loving it, re-connecting as they had. They had no sounds on as they drove but cast each other many loving looks along the road. They drove all around the base of the volcano before hitting the main road again and heading back to Sammy and Jed’s. When it was just the two of them again, they promised each other to return and hike up the mountainside to look down into the crater but this morning they just looked from afar and this was enough for now.

****

The first surprise they received as they turned into the drive was Hermione’s suitcases neatly lined up outside the house. The second was the hive of activity whirling around them as they used the key and entered. The other three were going a mile a minute until Harry snagged Sammy’s arm and enquired as to what was going on.

“Mum’s been round to take Paddy for a bit and we are going to England with Hermione”. Harry reeled at this information as Sammy shot off to do some more frantic packing. He snagged his best friend to see her with a frazzled expression, her hair even bushier and more electrified than usual. “Whoa, ‘Mione, what’s going on?” She paused a moment in her rush, “Oh, God”, she exclaimed before flinging her arms around them both, “There’s been a call from home. Ron rang me last night. There’s been a break-in at the Ministry. Someone has ransacked my offices. No-one can tell what they were after. We rang Adele last night and the psychic guy is named Roget Gundersson so we can’t trust him and I have to go home and the others are coming with me. It’s all been happening while you two were gone. It all kicked off big-style last night. Sammy and Jed have a reservation on the four-fifteen flight this afternoon as have I. Sorry it’s such a rush. We tried to reach you but I can only presume that you had turned your phone off, not that I blame you, but the situation is really bad and I need to get back”.

Harry held his hands up, “Whoa, whoa, ‘Mione, this is all a bit of a shock” Hermione saw the alarm on their faces and made herself calm down enough to sit a moment and talk to her friends. “Sorry about this, chaps. Ron called me last night and told me my office had been burgled. One of the security guys called him and he called me. The only thing that was untouched was my safe and that’s ‘cos I lock it muggle-style. I think they were after Graciela’s wand plus any evidence I may have collected from you guys vis-a-vis the last battle, but it’s all in my safe. I may be a witch but I wouldn’t trust some of those Ministry gonks as far as I could throw them so I used muggle combination locks on everything. We suspect that someone was after the evidence in Graciela’s case and has wrecked my office with dark spells trying to get at it but they didn’t succeed by all accounts. We called Adele last night for the number of that psychic guy? Turns out he’s a relative of the Gundersson lad. We cannot trust one so close to all the current mess to do with de Santos, not without a lot more research into his background and affiliations. We didn’t reveal Sammy’s real name to the guy. His mother didn’t in her turn, after all she is merely ‘Ms Samuels’ and nothing to do with the Blacks. Jed and Sammy have been calling their offices getting work put back for a while. Sammy had his current major case put on the back burner. Apparently there is evidence needing processing that may take months, so they have given the dog to Adele and are packing as we speak. They are coming back to England with me this afternoon”, she dried up and slumped down onto one of the sofas.

Harry and Severus were thunderstruck, “So what happens now?” Harry cautiously asked his best friend. Hermione shrugged then looked up into their eyes, “Sorry for springing this one on you guys”, she said gently, “We did try to phone you”, she finished lamely. Sammy rushed by them carrying a loaded suitcase placing it next to Hermione’s on the doorstep ready for shrinking.

Harry enquired of her, “So why the rush with the lads?”, he frowned in puzzlement. Hermione grinned, “I had this brainwave and firecalled Kingsley Shacklebolt. He’s retired now but is itching to teach these two after I explained it all to him. Do you mind? But I said they could stay at Grimmauld Place for now and Jed is itching to get a wand so he can train with Sammy. Fuck! It’s all moving so fast and I’m too old for this crap any more. I kind of promised them I’d take them to Diagon Alley with me but we simply cannot trust that psychic. He’s a full-on wizard all right, but he’s an uncle to Lars Gundersson, the paraplegic basketball player from Beauxbatons? The other ‘child of the prophecy’ as Nev was to you, Harry? The one that stood in the wings? Sharing Graciela’s birthday, two years older than her but unmarked by the new him. We can’t trust someone that close to the current situation even though he sounded like a nice guy, but we can’t go into this blind. We can’t take risks with Sammy given who he is and Kings offered to train them both. He’s prepared to come over here and the guys have offered him a salary and a place to stay. He is a member of the old Order after all and we have trusted him with our lives in the past”.

Jed grinned as he heard this, “Sorry about this Harry, but, just like you, we are ready for adventure and we have to do this. This is our chance and we have found a tutor. I did say to Sam that I would follow him, so we’ve left the businesses in the capable hands of our junior partners for a couple of weeks and are going to England to realise our destinies. If this guy, Kingsley wants to take us on then we’ll be back here with him within a fortnight and we’ll be putting him up. This is too good a chance to miss, surely you can appreciate that. You still have the spare key don’t you?. Make use of the place as long as you need to and when you’re done just post the keys through the letterbox. We’ve tacked our mobi numbers to the fridge in case you need to contact us along with Adele’s home phone number. You two have led us to this point and we would be daft not to take up this offer”.

Sammy agreed with his lover, he was so excited at the prospect, he was bubbling with it all. “Jed said he would follow me into training and so he is, bless him. We’re gonna get him a wand. If you are at all worried about our affiliations then we made a blood bond with Hermione to be on the right side of all this. I will not let the evils of my bloodline sully what I want to do”. Harry’s eyes widened as did those of his husband, “’Mione, you made blood bonds? What the fuck?” “Harry, it was expedient, they want the training and I am taking them into the heart of the Order. What did you expect? We hardly know these guys, even though we trust them on various levels, this has become serious and Kings kind of expected it, otherwise he wouldn’t have agreed to take them on. We’re not kids any more, Harry, and they know the seriousness of what they have done. This way, they will have the training that they both need not to mention that Ollivander is bound to have a wand that will fit Jed. I know it’s all a bit fast”.

They both reeled from it all as the others spun around them at high speeds. Sammy called, “Feel free to eat all the perishables and take with you what you cannot eat. All I would ask is that you take the rubbish out before you leave for the last time. Hermione has given us your e-mail address and your mobile number so we can keep in contact. We owe you two so much. A big adventure is starting for us both and we cannot miss this”. Neither Harry nor Severus could deny this and Kingsley would be an excellent teacher for them both, stern and exacting but patient with it; but it was all a bit sudden.

It seemed like no time later when the three piled into Sammy’s car, kissing the other two goodbye. The boys’ kisses lingering a bit on both of their mouths, just a hint of tongue from both of them. A wild and heartfelt hug from Hermione and thanks for rescuing her in her hour of need then they were all gone, leaving Harry and Severus with ringing ears and a loud silence as they shut the door. Even the dog was gone. Harry leaned against the door as he closed it, sinking to the floor. “Fuck, Sev, what just happened here?” Severus blew out a long breath before sliding to the floor beside his lover and muttering, “Buggered if I know, Harry. Buggered if I know”.