Aftermath of War

*******Chapter 7

Saturday came quickly for the pair. Harry was excited but Severus wasn’t. Severus dreaded what the Weasley’s would think about him being there. Well, that wasn’t completely true, he could care less what they thought of him, it was how would they treat Harry for him being there. In just a couple of hours the guests would arrive. The house-elves were pleased that they would be having a party. It had been since Harry’s first birthday that there was a party in the house.

The week had been spent finishing off the research for the modified wolfsbane potion as well as Harry exploring the house more. They also spent a lot of time together getting to know each other better. During Severus’ time at Godric’s Hollow, he had also started a few other research projects. He was tempted to ask Harry if he could stay there. The libraries in this house along with the ones in the vault rivaled even that of the Malfoy’s and Hogwarts themselves. There were very few if any dark arts books, but many on defense and potions. As it turns out Godric and a few of the other Gryffindor turned Potter lines had many potions masters, as to why Harry was terrible in the subject remains to be seen. To Harry’s credit though Severus admitted there were few on the planet as talented in D.A.D.A. as Harry was. Harry was indeed a very powerful wizard and Severus felt blessed to have him in his presence.

“Bishy” Harry called out, running around his room frantically trying to get ready for his guests.

“Yes Harry, what can I get for you sir?” Bishy asked, Harry had finally gotten most of the house-elves to stop calling him master. He was kind to them, he tried to get them to take payment for their hard work but they refused. Ohl, Hl, Hermione would just have to deal with it, he was a very kind “master” though.

“Bishy, can you make me some dress robes for tonight’s dinner please? I totally forgot about it and now I don’t have dress robes for it, I am so sorry for putting you in pinch like this.”

“Oh Harry, is no pinch, Bishy be back in 20 minutes with dress robes, you want Bishy to pick color or do you want to pick a color?”

“You pick Bishy and thank you so much; you’re a dear.”

“Yes Harry, does Master Severus need robes too?”

“Yes please Bishy, black if you please.”

“Yes sir, back in 20 minutes.” With a pop she was gone.

Harry paced around the room waiting for Bishy to come back.

“Harry, you need to calm down, everything will be fine, it’s not like you don’t know who is coming, and you have known them all for years. They all love you like their own; you have absolutely nothing to be worried about.”

“I know that Sev; I just want everything to be perfect. I just want everyone too see that I am finally where I belong. I think I want to take a few years to myself to figure out just exactly who I am. I want to do things with my life, and now I am free to do so, but do you know what else Sev? I find myself wanting to do all these things with you. I can’t explain it, but something in me is telling me we belong together. I don’t think it’s the house talking either.”

“Harry, I don’t know about a few years, but for right now I have to admit I want too be with you for as long as I can. I do care about you greatly. But for right now lets just try and get through this dinner party ok? We can discuss everything else later. Are you sure you want me there tonight? Are you sure you’re ready for them to see what we have, how we feel for each other at this point in time?”

“Sev, I want them to see how happy I am and part of the reason I am so happy is because you are in my life, and you cared enough to try and help me with my nightmares. What we have is a wonderful, beautiful thing, if they can’t understand it, to hell with them, they never really loved me if they want you out of my life. You make me happy and if they love me they will want me happy as well regardless of who it is that is making me happy.”

Severus looked at Harry in complete awe. Harry was so mature at his young age it was almost a shame that he never had a childhood. He was forced from his childhood by uncaring muggles, a psychopathic dark lord, and quite a few death eaters. “Harry you are wise beyond your years, you truly are and that is one of the many things I like about you.” Harry turned away blushing at the compliment.

“Well Sev really, if you had to live through the things I did you might be wise beyond your years too.” Harry said so softly that Sev almost didn’t hear him at all. Severus walked up behind Harry and wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed the top of his head.

“I am so sorry you had to grow up like that, no one should have to. But, I must say I do care very much about the man you have become. Everything you grew up with, how the muggles treated you and lets not even mention The Dark Lord, everything he put you through. All the attempts on your life, you turned out to be one of the most kind and generous people I have ever had the privilege of ever knowing, for that I am honored.” They lapsed into silence and just stayed near each other, Severus holding onto Harry, and Harry leaning back into the embrace.

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The guests arrive, all within 15 minutes from the earliest to the latest. Severus standing next to Harry, greeting the guests. Everyone had been warned that Snape was there, no one minded except Harry hotheaded redheaded best friend Ron Weasley. When Harry caught sight of the look in his friends eye he physically cringed back and he knew then and there this was not going to be a good night. Even Mr. and Mrs. Weasley hadn’t minded. Which proved they really did care for Harry. He’d always known Ron was jealous of his unwanted fame, but allowed it to continue with the fiery tempered boy. But if it continued tonight it would be put to a halt. This was his house and everything happened on his terms. If that meant forbidding his supposed best friend of almost ten years then so be it.

Once all the guests were in the room Harry had picked out and had appetizers in he entered the room with a flurry of robes reminicent of the Potion’s Master.

“Welcome everyone to my home, Godric’s Hollow. I want to thank you all for coming to my self-appointed house warming dinner party.” Harry said with quit a bit of amusement in his voice. He looked over to Remus who hadn’t been in the house, since it was rebuilt. “Some of you will notice nothing has changed sine my parentved ved here when I was a baby.” Harry had a shining of tears in his eyes but not enough to fall, he saw the emotion’s playing on the werewolf’s face and it almost broke his heart. Sirius was comforting his long time friend in hopes of not spoiling the evening. Harry then turned his eyes to the Granger’s and the Weasley children. “And some of you have never seen this home before. I will give you a small tour after dinner has been served, you’ll need the energy, this house is huge.” Everyone laughed with the young man, who had begun to cast wary looks at Ron, since he was scowling at Severus with a murderous gleam in his eye. Harry looked back into Severus eyes and noticed he saw the look as well.

Everyone mingled and drank whatever their hearts desired, after about thirty minutes of mingling a bell announced that dinner was served. Harry led everyone to the formal dining room where Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger ‘ohhhd’ and ‘awwwed’ over the settings. The meal was pretty much silent everyone enjoying their rack of lamb. Desert was Cherries Jubilee everyone enjoyed it immensely. When they had all retired to the sitting room, the questions began flying at Harry. None of the questions had bothered him; they were all friendly questions about when had he decided to rebuild the house, questions about his family history, then Ron asked a question.

“Why Snape Harry? Out of all the people in this world why him? Why the evil slimy Slytherin git?” Ron seethed sneering at Severus the whole time. Harry jumped up from his chair anger so immense it was tangible by all those present. Mrs. Weasley also stood.

“Ronald Weasley! How dare you say such things about Mr. Snape in Harry’s home? I’ve never been more ashamed of you than I am right now.” Mrs. Weasley shouted at her youngest son. Harry placed a calming hand on the fiery woman’s shoulder and she calmed almost instantly. The effects of the house at work again.

“It’s all right Molly” He addressed the Weasley matriarch, while giving an icy glare worthy of Severus’ own at his former best friend. “I half expected as much from him. He never could get passed his jealousy of my fame, you know Ron, the fame I never wanted. Maybe you’d like to grow up like I did, locked in the cupboard under the stair, have a madman after you for all of your life, like I did. Kill people before you’re twelve years old just to stay alive, like I did. Have visions of what said madman did to muggles every single night until he was finally taken care of by me. Would you like to have my fame? You’re more then welcome to it, but if you do take it, have the life that goes with it. I thought you’d at least care enough about me to want me happy Ron, but I guess that’s just too much to ask of you.” Harry was livid. He waved his hand and Ron’s eyes grew wide a split second before his hand flew to his forehead and he collapsed to the ground in pain.

Harry saw people approaching Ron with concern, he held them back.

“He’ll be fine; he’s just getting a small taste of what I had to live with most of my life. Like I said, if he wants the fame, he has to have the life that goes with it.”

Harry let it carry on for about twenty minutes before he cancelled the spell with another wave of his hand.

“Ron, get out of my house and don’t you dare come back until you can respect my choice, because they are just that, mine.” Harry waved his hand and Ron was deposited on the front stoop. Harry turned to the rest of his guests giving them an apologetic look. “I am so sorry I ruined everyone’s night.” No one was blaming Harry. They’d seen Ron giving evil looks to Severus who’d been acting quite civilly to everyone there including Ron.

Everyone told Harry not to worry about it and took their leave. Severus took a still slightly upset Harry up to their rooms and both got ready for bed and cuddled themselves into a comfortable peaceful sleep.