Deserving (Final Chapter)

CHAPTER 28


When Harry got home he found Severus waiting for him in the sitting room. The rest had gone to sleep. Severus put down his tea and was going to help Harry with his cape when Harry motioned him to stay put.

“Finish your tea.”

“It is too hot. I can help you while I wait for it to cool.”

Harry tossed his cape on to his chair and went to Severus crouching down in front of him.

“Have you taken a sip?”

“Yes, Sir, but as I said it is too hot.”

Harry placed his hands around Severus’ who had the tea cup wrapped with his two hands.

“You know, if I take a sip, I will know all of your secrets,” said Harry with a suggestive smile.

“That is but a wives’ tale,” said Severus, not knowing why his pulse had taken up speed.

“I don’t know; I’ve heard it really works. Let’s find out, shall we?” and with that he took a sip of the steaming cup. “Ummm, yes, definitely, oh I could have told you that,” he said as he seemed to be reading Severus’ secrets in mid air.

“You jest,” accused Severus.

“And you have finally learned how to distinguish it,” he said, placing the cup on the side table and bringing Severus to stand in his arms. “How is Baby doing?”

Harry was unprepared for the flood of information he was about to receive.

“He giggled and played all afternoon. You should have seen him run with Nicky and Richard. It is as if he has woken from long slumber. Richard is ecstatic that Baby now comes when he calls and he made sure to include him in all of Nicky’s and his games. And Mr. Sly, you should have seen him. He was on all fours playing with them. It was hard to tell who was…”

“Wow, seems like I missed a lot of the action,” Harry said as he nibbled on his husband’s ear.

“If you had not left in haste you would have enjoyed the events, but for some reason that only you and Merlin know, you left a house full of guests,” said Severus, trying to sound cross and failing miserably with his husband nipping at his earlobe.


“I told you, you are mine and it is my job to protect you,” Harry said, tangling his fingers in Severus’ hair.

“How will you prevent them from coming to get me? They believe me to be…”

“Stop, I have told you, I will protect you. I made sure he will keep away from you and my child. Now, about celebrating Baby’s recovery, what do you say if we go upstairs?” and without waiting for a response Harry popped them both out of the sitting room and into their bedroom.

“Take off your clothes and get in bed while I freshen up,” said Harry, leaving Severus in the room.

When Severus got into bed to wait for Harry he noticed that his tea appeared, now at the perfect temperature. Severus smiled at his husband’s consideration.

***


Harry decided to keep Single on his toes, so he began to make very public appearances. He would arrive in his Gryffindor Quidditch uniform riding the latest and fastest broom on the market to public events like professional quidditch games, grand store openings and to congratulate the running candidate at the public hearings. He even attended the World Quidditch Tournament, riding Charlie’s old but still intimidating dragon. Months of these public appearances kept Single and his men at bay till one night when Harry, Severus, Millicent and Sly were sitting by the fire late one night.

Severus was the first one to notice the floo stir. Permission was granted and Dennis came through, followed by Robert, the nursery designer, his wife and two children.

“Harry, we need to hide them. They’re hot on our trail,” Dennis managed to pant out.

Severus, using his years as spy had the good sense to get the family away from the floo, where if someone was to firecall would not be able to spot them. Then he turned to Millicent and Sly.

“Follow,” was his simple command. He led all six of his little snakes to the cellar door and had them go down into the dark entrance. Then he called for Kreacher and had him vanish the door.

“Shouldn’t he get them to safety?” questioned Harry.

“Single will begin to suspect if every time he comes to this house your elf goes missing,” answered Severus.

Harry had to agree. He turned to Dennis.

“Now, can you explain why Single would be after a former Gryffindor?”

Dennis looked at Snape and Snape turned away.

“So are you two going to tell me what is going on?”

Dennis seemed uncomfortable but Snape was obviously not throwing him a lifeline.

“Well, you see… um. Well, you know how Robert is a Gryffindor, well…”

“His wife is not,” Severus decided to finally intervene.

“What do you mean, his wife is not?”

“You are a Gryffindor. You are married to a Slytherin. You are in the same situation as Mr. Robert.” explained Severus as if speaking to a very slow person.

“A Slytherin! Is she a marked one?”

“Harry! What difference does that make? It is a family, with little children, on the run. Do you have no heart?” squeaked Dennis.

Severus looked very cross at his husband. Harry was about to address that when the floo flared up again.

“Dennis,” Severus warned his husband and Harry whipped out his wand and made Dennis disappear.

He walked to the fireplace and saw Single’s face in the fire. Single asked for entrance and Harry knew it was useless to try to keep him out. So he guided Severus to sit on the floor and he accioed a pillow so Snape could rest his head.

“I will call Ron as soon as they leave,” whispered Harry.

Single and his men were granted permission and no sooner had they entered the sitting room they took their wands to the floor and Severus was tied down instantly. Kreacher could not help his instinct to help his friend and came running into the room which of course landed him in an ivy cage. Severus began to struggle in an effort to aid his little friend, defeating Harry’s purpose with the pillow and the lying on the floor so he wouldn’t hurt his neck.

“Where is he Potter?” asked a menacing Single.

“You have bounded him to the floor,” answered Harry.

“Not your Marked One, Creevy, the kid with the camera,” said an aggravated Single.

“Dennis? Why would I know where Dennis is? I am only responsible for my Marked One and as you can see I don’t let him out of my sight.”

“You lie! We followed his trail here. You are hiding him and his Death Eater Friends.”

“Death Eaters! Look I might not know where Dennis is but I do know one thing: he does not hang out with Death Eaters.”

“He was spotted with Robert Carty the allegedly ex-husband of Slytherin Cristina Sillas. We have evidence that indicate that Mr. Carty was not abandoned by his wife and children as he made us believe. It seems he has been hiding the Slytherin…”

“Exactly when did it become a crime to have been sorted into the house of Slytherin? Because I’ve got to tell you as an Auror we have not gotten any amendments to the Wizarding Laws.”

“Miss Sillas was just wanted for questioning but she opted to become a fugitive by not showing up to her hearing.”

“So what is it Single, questioning or hearing? ‘Cause I think you should look up the difference. And while you are at it you might want to look up the difference between Death Eaters, Marked Ones and Slytherins, since you seem to have them all lumped in as one and the same thing.”

“Look, Mr. Potter, I have not come here to discuss politics with you. I came here because I thought that you would not want a Death Eater or any of his family members to go without punishment.”

“I have told you before, Single, Death Eaters are at Askaban.”

“Is that filth that lieslays on your floor not a Death Eater?”

Harry felt his blood boil. How dare Single insult what was his. Harry’s rage took over his magic and his hair stood up at all different angles, the air crackled and sparked with the force of his anger. That was all it took to make Single and his men flee.

When Harry finally gained control over his magic he ran to Snape’s side and surveyed him to make sure he was alright.

“Kreacher,” pleaded Snape.

“He is alright. I will call Ron and both of you will be fine.”

“Mr. Creevy?” asked Severus with concern.

“Oh right,” and again Harry pulled out of his pocket a miniature version of his friend.

“You allow him to call the Professor filth, how could you?” protested the little Dennis in Harry’s hand.

“Do you want to go back to your regular size or should I stick you back in my pocket where I can’t hear your rant?” warned Harry and with one swift movement of his wand Dennis was back to his normal size.

Harry leaned into the flames and called out Ron’s name. Soon Ron and Gaby where back to help Severus and Kreacher. Harry helped Severus up and saw that once again he had hurt his neck.

“Now look what you’ve done. Why couldn’t you stay still? This is how you get hurt. You know I told you I would take care of you. That goes for Kreacher too.”

Ron rolled his eyes. “If you had read the book I gave you for your seventeenth birthday you would know that they like the attention we give then when they are in distress.”

“Ron, what the bloody hell are you on about?”

“It is called the damsel in distress syndrome.”

“Let’s not go there,” said Harry, rolling his eyes.

Severus got up and went to Kreacher’s aid. Ron saw that his elf’s aid was needed and took Gaby next to the cage. Severus grabbed Kreacher and did not let him fall to the ground out of fear that he would be imprisoned again.

“Sir, Millicent,” was all that Severus had to say for Harry to realize that Millicent must be tied to the cold cellar floor.

Harry waved his wand and the cellar door appeared and no sooner had he opened it when Rob’s children came running out with their parents close on their tails. Rob stopped to explain that the children did not like dark places then went to help his wife comfort them. Harry, Severus and Dennis hurried down. Sly had Baby in his arms trying to calm him down. He was yelling for his mum. Severus took Kreacher close enough so he could free Millicent. Once she was free, Sly shoved them out of the way and helped Millicent up.

“Here you go Mathew, here is your mum,” reassured Sly keeping both mother and child in the safety of his arms.

“Mathew?” questioned Severus and Harry.

“It was my father’s name,” said Sly, looking at Millicent and hoping for her approval. “My mum used to say I was the only one capable of making him laugh.” He was feeling the heat on his face. Why had he done that? “I simply thought that… well, Baby isn’t a proper name and a fine kid like him deserves a proper name…” Millicent was simply looking at him and he could not read her. “I know it is very forward of me to name your child. I know I am a fugitive of the law and that is probably the last person that you want naming your child…” Still Millicent was looking up at him without any reaction. “I am sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Mathew,” said Millicent as if trying it on for size. “I think it is a beautiful name, a dignified name. But why would you give him such a beautiful name when his father…”

Sly stood up tall and commanded full attention from Millicent. “Do not every mention that foul creature who was capable of hurting his own son and a defenseless woman. I assure you I will get my time with him and he will not be a pretty sight afterwards.”

Millicent looked up at him. It was what prince charmings did. Could it be possible, could a man like Mark Sly want her and her child?

Harry looked at Severus, hoping he would answer all of his unvoiced questions. Snape simply looked at the couple with an approving smile.

“Snape?” prodded Harry.

“Yeah, Snape, draw poor Harry a map. He seems to be lost. I have only been here a couple of minutes and I can see what is going on, but Harry has always been on the slow side when it comes to these things,” teased Ron.

“Ron! What are you on about?”

“Nothing, nothing at all. I will leave the explaining to the husband that you hate but turn to him for guidance when you’re lost. The same husband that you seem to be intent on making sure he is not physically hurt,” said Ron with a raised eyebrow.

“I swear, you make no sense,” countered Harry as Snape discreetly guided the quarrelsome couple out of the cellar in order to allow Sly and Millicent some time alone to sort out things.

Harry was going to argue with Ron when he noticed that Rob’s family on the couch. Rob stood up and extended his hand out to Harry. .

“Thank you Harry. I owe you big time. If Single’s men get a hold on my family they are sure to separate us,” said Robert.

“This is insane. How can he come after her just because she is an ex-Slytherin? How can he get away with that?” protested Harry.

“For most people, the terms Slytherin, Death Eater and Marked One are one and the same thing and Single takes advantage of that for his own need of vengeance,” explained Rob.

“Need of vengeance? What exactly is his gripe?” questioned Harry.

Rob looked at his wife before answering the question.

“His son was rejected by a Slytherin,” explained Rob.

“THAT IS WHY HE IS BENT OUT OF SHAPE?”

“Harry, his son committed suicide when he was rejected,” explained Dennis.

“So his son couldn’t deal with rejection, why not go after the person who rejected him?”

Rob looked at his wife and then to the floor. Dennis did the same. Harry understood.

“So he has a personal vendetta against your wife,” concluded Harry.

“Now you understand why it is so important to get them to safety,” said Dennis and with that he whipped out his wand and cast his patronos. “Tell them where we are located.”

Harry looked at Dennis. “What have I told you about getting too involved with all this? Your father deserves some peace of mind.”

“Harry I have told you Pops is alright with all this.”

“Well, I am not!”

“Wait, wait one second,” said Dennis rolling up his sleeve. “Let me look. No… I don’t have a mark therefore I can’t have a Guide, so guess that means no one has the right to tell me what to do,” said Dennis in his most sarcastic voice.

They all turned when they noticed that Ron was putting Gaby down. Kreacher was put down also..At that same moment they saw a beautiful smoke like figure of a cheetah run in.

“Help is on its way,” bellowed the cheetah.

And sure enough the doorbell rang. Harry went to the door not wanting Kreacher to answer. He was surprised to see Oliver Wood standing at his doorway. He welcomed him in.

“What? Have you forgotten how to use the floo?” teased Harry.

“Your house is being monitored. It was safer to use the door,” replied Wood.

Harry was surprised to see that Rob’s family was no longer waiting with the rest.

“Who are you?” asked Dennis with his wand in hand.

“Dennis, it’s alright, this is Oliver Wood. You know the famous Quidditch player? He was the captain of my team back in Hogwarts,” said Harry, motioning with his hands for Dennis to put his wand away.

Dennis looked at Snape who gave him a silent nod. Dennis then took out a large coin out of his pocket and Wood did the same thing. They brought the two coins together and they disappeared. When both men looked at the contents of their palms they found the coins back in their possession.

Harry felt a small pang in the pit of his stomach. He did not own one of those coins. He was not part of the trusted circle. Severus went into the kitchen and brought out the family. The boys recognized Wood instantly.

“Wow, its Wood, Dad,” said the youngest.

Rob ruffled his son’s hair. “It sure is,” he said with a smile.

“I am here to lead your family to safety, but we can’t move until we get the signal,” said Oliver, stretching out his hands to shake Rob’s.

“That’s not necessary, they can stay here, there is plenty of room,” said Harry.

“No can do, mi amigo. This time it is too great of a risk. And besides you have managed to piss off Single. He is keeping a close watch on your house for anything that can give him a lever on you,” explained Ron.

“I am afraid Mr. Weasley is right, Sir, it is too great of a risk. The family should leave England at once,” added Severus.

They all turned when they heard the little voice speak. “Dad, we don’t have to stay here in the house with the dark cellar and the wizard that doesn’t like us, right?” asked the older of the two children.

Cristina wrapped her arms around her son protectively. She looked up at Harry in horror as if expecting him to latch out at her child. Harry looked at the scared mother and child.
“I better go upstairs. Don’t want to scare any children. Make yourselves at home,” said Harry as quickly as possible and with that he vanished.

***


Harry did not answer to the knock on his bedroom door, but that did not keep Ron from entering. Harry turned to see who had entered then turned back to look out the window.

“How old are you and you’re still crawling up under that window?”

Harry did not care to answer.

“Look, you’ve got to understand, he’s a kid.”

“Who’s afraid of the boogie monster,” said Harry, not turning from the window.

“After the war, Draco, Gregory and Crabe spread the news of how you had saved their lives, Draco’s twice and for one split second the Slytherins thought that you would be on the side of truth no matter what color it was wrapped in, but then you entered that room, then you denied him decent clothing and health care and that hope was shattered,” said Ron and waited for Harry.

“And now children and woman fear me.”

“Well, let’s not get too melodramatic here. She probably simply told him that they were going to the house of someone that was not quite a friend.”

Harry did not answer; his sight intent in the moon that was shinning outside his window and thinking how nice it would be to take his broom and just ride and ride up to the moon.

“Listen, there are two little frightened kids downstairs and I was thinking that maybe you and I can help them take their minds off of their present situation. You know, show them what we used to do when we were facing peril.”

“You want us to show them how to whine?” said Harry, turning for the first time with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, you know we are dads now. We should know how to twist the truth a bit.”

“I don’t know what kind of dad you are but I am never going to lie to my kid.”

Ron looked at him in mock horror. “So… no Santa Claus for little Richard?”

“WHAT! Why not?”

“Well, you know since you do not lie to your kid. And I suppose that would nix the Easter Bunny also.”

“He loved hunting for eggs. I wanted Kreacher to dress up as the Easter Bunny but Snape wouldn’t hear it.”
Ron’s eyes grew three times their normal size and then began to laugh.

“What?” questioned Harry, not understanding where the burst of laughter had come from.

“Kreacher dressed as the Easter Bunny,” more laughter, “I would pay good money for that one,” even more laughter, “you think I can sell that one to Hermione?”

“Yeah, well good luck with that one. I am guessing that if Snape who knows his place as my spouse didn’t go for it, you’d be hard press to get Hermione to comply.”

But Ron’s laughter stopped at Harry’s words.

“I have a good wife, Harry. The fact that she has the ability to think for herself doesn’t make her less of a good spouse.”

“But how do you know who is in charge?”

“We have never had the necessity to point that out. Why that is so hard for you to understand is beyond me,” he said looking with pity at his long time friend.

“In a family… in a real family…”

“Like the one you grew up in?”

Harry looked into his friend’s eyes.

“They were a family. They gave Dudley everything a kid could ever want. And my aunt always kept an orderly and clean house. And she made sure Dudley never needed anything…”

“Well, having you as her personal elf, helped,” interjected Ron.

Harry bowed his head. He was so confused. The Dursleys were a family. The only family he had ever seen up close and personal. Aunt Petunia always gave Uncle Vernon his rightful place…

“Harry, think of what they did to you. Are they really the models you want to follow?”

“We don’t treat anyone like that around here. And if your informants are any good they can tell you that.”

“I don’t need informants to tell me that you treat anyone who knocks on your door with decency. But I do need you to understand that Severus is an adult. He is a very smart and, as much as he would like to deny it, caring person and he deserves to be treated with respect.”

“You may not believe this but from the day we got married, I have treated him with respect.”

Ron gave him a little smile and placed his hand over Harry’s right shoulder. “That’s good to hear Harry. That’s good to hear.”

***


Harry brought down his collection of brooms which earned him the children’s approval very quickly. He had them hovering around the sitting room and jumping from one broom to another. Harry had collected all the models that he had ever owned and even some he didn’t. Ron was making sure that the youngest was staying on the Nimbus 2000 when a patronus came running into the room. It bowed its head in front of Wood and everyone began to get the family ready for their trip.

“Isn’t there anything I can do to help?” asked Harry, looking at his old Quidditch Captain.

“Not unless you want to part with one of those brooms. The ones I was given to transport the family are a disgrace,” he said taking out the miniature brooms from his pocket.

Harry looked in horror. They were older than the comet series.

“You will need two of them. Take these they are the latest and fastest models I have.”

“Harry!” cried Wood and Ron. “You can’t do that.”

“Look, we’ve got to get them to safety and if I know you Oliver, you have the latest model. They will need to keep up with you. And plus they will have a better chance if they can out-fly Single’s men,” justified Harry, handing over his two best brooms.

The two little boys were glowing at the idea of riding on the two neatest brooms in the world. Harry felt that those smiles were worth his brooms and even more so when he lifted his face and saw that Snape was glowing with pride.


***


The family was ready to go with a huge food basket prepared by Kreacher that Ron had to cast reducto on when Severus came down from the bedroom with a small parcel that he tried to hide but Harry saw. He said something in whispers in Cristina’s ear, handing her the little parcel and then the family was gone. Dennis was saying his good-byes when Harry asked him to stay but Dennis rejected the offer. Harry’s disappointment did not go un-noticed to Severus.
Sly looked over to Millicent who was carrying a sleeping Mathew. He reached down and took him from her arms.

“It’s time for us to go to bed also,” he announced with Mathew in his arms and Millicent holding on to one of his arms. And they went up the stairs in this same way.

“How long has that been going on?” questioned Harry.

“Since her first dream,” explained Snape.

“Are you going to tell me what you gave Cristina?”

“I have never kept secrets from you, Sir.”


A/N
Wow! you really did like last chapter. The reviews just kept on coming in from both sites. Thanks. I have been so busy but I feel I always have to make time to write so I can let out some stress an get some possitive feedback.

I have gotten a couple of reviews saying that they do not write English very well but they had the need to review. If it helps, I dont write English very well, LOL, Spanish is my native language. If you prefer to write in Spanish please email me the review at Tana97@aol.com.

If there is anyone here who read "Esclavitud" I wanted to share with you that it has been translated into Chinese. I am very excited about that and wanted to share.

Moon of the Sea
Luna del Mar