Eyes

Previously

“I don't know Ron. He seemed pretty adamant about it. If he had been the one to tell, wouldn't he have been proud to say it?” Hermione sounded worried.

“I think Hermione might be right. In which case you just told him, and now it's going to get told to everyone.” Harry sounded defeated.

~X~

The room was empty with the exception of the three of them. After a minute a thought occurred to Hermione. She made her way as fast as she could down the stairs after Draco.

“Hermione, where are you going?” Ron called. Harry stood in silence.

“I'm gonna fix your screw-up!” Hermione's voice sounded harshly as it echoed up the stairwell and Ron winced at the venom laced in it.

“What do you think she's going to do?” Ron asked his friend.

Harry just shrugged, staying silent. He was as far lost in thought as possible. Everything was over. He knew Malfoy would tell everyone that he could just because he could. It'd ruin him and Severus and Malfoy knew it.

“Harry. I really am sorry. I honestly thought that it was him.”

“I know Ron.” Harry's eyes were glued to the floor. This was the end...

~X~

Hermione got to the bottom of the stairs and saw the blonde boy walk around the corner of the corridor. Just as she started towards him a group of Ravenclaw girls came around the corner facing her and she slowed down. She didn't want anything to look suspicious. Rounding the corner her hopes fell as she saw that the hallway was filled with students. Looking around she finally spotted Draco standing about ten feet from her amidst his friends, all of them talking and laughing.

Draco caught sight of her and edged his group closer to where she stood.

“Hey Crabbe, you know what I overheard just a few minutes ago?”

“What?” Crabbe asked.

Draco glanced over at Hermione before saying as loudly as possible, “I heard that Potter and Snape are sleeping together.”

Hermione sighed. Her plan wasn't going to work now.

“No bloody way.” Crabbe had a cross of disbelief and disgust on his face. “Who the hell would want to sleep with him?”

Draco got mildly defensive. “Professor Snape's not that bad.”

Crabbe laughed as he answered, “I meant Potter.”

Draco laughed with Crabbe and the group of friends joined in. “Wow, Crabbe, you actually made a joke! That's a great one.”

'Damn it.' Hermione thought to herself. There was no way that she could Obliviate him now. Not when she'd heard him tell at least twelve other people, not to mention how many ever passing by. She couldn't Obliviate all of them. That would be suspicious.

Shaking her head she turned back around and started back towards the Astronomy tower. They'd have to figure something else out now.

~X~

Harry and Ron got halfway down the hall when they ran back into Hermione. From the looks of this section, you'd never be able to guess that at least forty students stood right around the corner, although the hall was filling with a quiet din.

“It's no use. I was going to Obliviate him before he told anyone, but the hall is filled with people and I just heard him tell his friends.” Hermione gestured towards the corner with tears starting to form in her eyes. It wasn't often that she failed so miserably at something that seemed so simple.

“It's alright Hermione. You're right. You told me that this wasn't going to end well and I didn't listen to you.”

She shook her head. “No, don't think that.” She wiped the tiny tears away before they had a chance to fall. “So, what are we going to do now?”

Harry stayed silent another moment before answering. “We go see Severus. Then we go to Dumbledore. They both have to know about this. The ceremony has to be now.”

Ron and Hermione both nodded and the three started towards the dungeons where the Potions Master most likely was.

~X~

Snape sat at his desk grading papers from his first years when a knock sounded on his office door and he momentarily went back a few weeks earlier. That day his life had changed for the better and now things seemed like they were going to be perfect.

“Come in.” his monotone drawl called out. The door opened and his boy- no, his fiance walked in, causing Snape to smile, and he then noticed that Harry wasn't alone. Harry had a mix of emotions on his face that he couldn't quite place and that worried the man. “What's wrong?” he asked standing up as Ron shut the door behind the three students.

“Malfoy found out about us. He's already told at least a handful of students.” Harry told him. Hermione nodded and Ron looked at the floor shamefully.

“I can surmise from the look on his face, that it is Mr. Weasley's blunder that caused this to occur?” Snape asked gruffly.

“Severus, he didn't mean it.” Harry said, almost scolding the older man.

“If you say so.” Snape grumbled and Ron looked at him mildly hurt. It wasn't as if he had done it on purpose.

Harry walked over and placed his hand on Snape's cheek. The older man stiffened at the touch, conscious that there were others present.

“We have to go tell Dumbledore. I figured that we'll have the ceremony now before anything else happens, if that's alright with you.” Harry told him looking into his eyes.

Snape stared into those bright green eyes, the same ones he saw his future in and he relaxed. Smiling he nodded. “You're right. We should tell him now.”

Harry turned to face his friends. “You two head to Dumbledore's office. We'll catch up with you; I want a quick word with Severus.”

Snape looked at the back of the younger man's head. When had he started to only call him that? He hadn't even noticed.

“Ok, mate. We'll let Dumbledore know once we see him, if you're not there by then.”

Harry nodded and the two of them walked out of the room. The door shutting created a final sound and the room was plunged into silence. He turned back to face Snape.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked the older man.

Nodding, Snape took hold of Harry's hand and said, “As long as I am with you, everything will be fine.” Harry smiled and leaned up to kiss the older man. “Let's get going then.”

The two men left the office room knowing that neither would return the same as before.

~X~

Hermione and Ron stood at the bottom of the stairs. “How could you have forgotten about this?” Ron asked annoyed.

“I wasn't thinking about actually getting into Dumbledore's office.” Hermione huffed. But it was a good question. How could she not have remembered that you needed a password to get past the gargoyle to the stairs up to Dumbledore's office.

“Sometimes I don't know about you. Would this help you think straight?” Ron asked as he leaned over and kissed her lips. He held himself there a moment before stepping in closer to her and placing his hands on her shoulders. A slight noise from down the corridor had him stepping back leaving Hermione in shock.

She stared up at Ron as a slow smile spread across her face. “It's about time.” She whispered to herself.

Almost reading her thoughts, Harry echoed as he and Snape walked up to them, “It's about time. Didn't think you were ever to going to have the courage to do that.” he told Ron.

Ron smiled and chuckled lightly, a small blush crossing his face. “Well it just seemed right.” He cleared his throat at the look he got from Snape. Looking up at the teacher he told him, “We don't have the password to get into Dumbledore's office.”

Snape nodded. “I figured as much.” He stepped towards the gargoyle and whispered the words, the only way the creature would accept them according to how Dumbledore had changed it this time. The stone creature stood and stepped out of their way.

The four of them ascended the stairs and the sound of the gargoyle repositioning himself before the doorway echoed up behind them.

Once at the top Snape rapt on the door and it immediately opened. Dumbledore sat at his desk and called for Snape to enter.

Upon looking up at the sound of multiple footsteps he found Harry, Hermione and Ron standing to the side of the Potions teacher. He smiled and gave a curt nod. “So I would assume this shall be the time that you wish to have the ceremony?”

Harry nodded enthusiastically the elderly gentleman stood. He walked around the desk and Harry cut him off before he could say anything else though.

“Professor there's something we need to tell you first.”

Dumbledore tilted his head and nodded. “Go ahead.”

Harry stepped forward and looked at Snape before continuing. “Malfoy found out about us being together and told at least a small group of other students. I'm truly sorry Professor, I really didn't mean for this to happen.”

Ron stepped forward. “In truth it was my fault. I honestly didn't mean for it to happen though.”

“Please,” Dumbledore held up a hand to silence them both. “Tell me what happened.”

Harry began to recount the events and Dumbledore nodded every so often. He stayed silent a moment and answered.

“Unfortunately for you, Mr. Malfoy is correct. He is not the one that told me. If anything you should have just asked in the first place.” Harry nodded slowly. Ron and Hermione looked at each other. Snape stood still watching his fiance and the headmaster.

Dumbledore continued. “At any rate, it was not a student that told me. You may not have noticed it, but...” here he pointed up at a portrait that hung high up on one of the walls. At the moment it was currently occupied by an older, sleeping gentleman and at the sight of him Snape made a small noise of recognition and understanding. Dumbledore continued. “There resides a dear, old friend of mine, one Horace Slughorn. He's the one that told me of you two.”

“How would he have learned of us though?” Harry asked.

“You probably never noticed, hell I forgot the frame was even there, but he was the Potions Teacher before me. Therefore, he still has a frame hanging in my office, just as I'll have one up to replace his when I'm no longer Potions teacher.” Snape answered.

Hermione picked up finally understanding, “He must have seen you last week and come straight to Professor Dumbledore.”

The elderly man nodded. “She is correct. Anyway though, would you like to proceed?”

“Yes, please.” Harry told him. Snape nodded.

“Well then, if you would kindly stand here. And you here...”

The old man proceeded to place the four of them in various positions in front of the desk. Once everyone was set, he pulled a sheet of parchment from a stack on his desk and a quill. Pulling his wand, he pointed it at the paper and muttered something under his breath. Words formed on the page in neat script and he placed it back on his desk. Standing before them as a priest would he held his hands before them.

He spoke after clearing his throat. “Severus Snape. Do you promise to stay by Harry's side through the rest of his days here as a student?”

“Yes, I do.” Snape replied smiling gently down at Harry.

“And, Harry Potter, do you promise to stay by Severus' side through the rest of your days here as a student?”

“Of course I do.” Harry told all of them.

Dumbledore turned and picked up the page from his desk. He read aloud. “Then as Headmaster I announce that you are within a school-bound marriage. You shall both sign this document stating that henceforth you shall be bound as a married couple until the student graduates, in which case this contract becomes null and void. Other provisions are if the student transfers schools, if one of the participants dies, or if the teacher looses his or her position as a member of the teaching staff.”

He handed the page and quill to Snape first who signed the line marked 'Teacher' who then passed it to Harry. He signed the line marked 'Student'. Dumbledore took the outstretched page and continued to read from it.

“Do you two, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, swear that you are here of your own free will and that you are here as witnesses to confirm the validity of these proceedings, should they be needed?”

“Yes.” Hermione and Ron both answered. Dumbledore handed the page and quill to the two of them and they each signed the designated 'Witness' lines. Ron finished his signature and handed the sheet of parchment back to the gray-haired wizard.

“Then, as Headmaster I announce that the two of you are Husband and eh,” he made a quick amendment to the document and continued, “Husband. You may kiss if you wish.”

Harry smiled and leaned up on his tiptoes and gave Snape a quick kiss. It was all they needed. At least he thought so.

Snape didn't agree of course. He pulled Harry's body tight to him and held him in tight embrace giving his lips leave to kiss the boys' as they pleased.

Dumbledore stood lost in thought, Hermione just smiled at how happy her best friend was while Ron had a slightly less than pleased look on his face when the sound of the door opening quickly interrupted all of them.

One look at what was happening in the room almost had the woman at the door passing out from disbelief.

“Merlin, it's true!” came the voice from Professor McGonagall.

Dumbledore could be heard muttering to himself past the sound of the door shutting, “I knew that I forgot to lock that door...”

Snape and Harry stepped away from each other. McGonagall continued, looking directly past everyone to Dumbledore. “I just heard this rumor going on around the school that Harry and Professor Snape were sleeping together, and had been for the past several weeks. Then I come in here and see them together for my own eyes. Pardon my judgment and brashness for saying so, but Headmaster how could you allow this to occur?”

Dumbledore took a deep breath and answered. “My dear Minerva, there is an old Ministry ruling that allowed for me to wed these two in a school-bound marriage contract. We actually just finished the ceremony. Now, even if the Ministry did find out about it there is only a very minimal amount they could really do to break it.”

“Headmaster, 'if' the Ministry hears of this? Of course they will! That rumor, now known to be truth, sounds like it's gone through this school faster than pixies fly. They'll be lucky if the Ministry hasn't heard about it by morning.”

“That's something I believe we are both prepared to deal with.” Snape answered her.

“And you Severus!” She stalked towards the older man. “You, allowed your feelings to lead you to bed with a student! You'll be lucky to keep your job!”

“No, please, don't sound so upset by that thought.” Snape answered her sarcastically.

“Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger. I would have expected at least one of you to have talked him out of this.”

Ron just looked at her and Hermione, who wasn't as used to being scolded by teachers as Ron was, looked at the floor in shame. Finally McGonagall turned on Harry. She took a step forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Mr. Potter. I know that you possess great courage, and I don't know what in Merlin's name you were thinking but I find it hard to believe that you stepped forward and initiated this yourself.”

Harry stared her in the eyes. Never would he admit that Snape had been the one to confess originally. Only if Snape said it himself. McGonagall removed her hands from the boy's shoulders.

Everyone stayed quiet for several minutes as the tension slowly dissipated. A quiet tapping came from the windowsill, breaking the silence. Dumbledore stood and opened the window allowing the small brown owl to hop in onto the sill.

It held out it's leg and Dumbledore took the tiny scroll of parchment it held out. After receiving its four sickle fee, it flew off and the elderly man opened the scroll.

The piece of parchment floated into the air and read off in a distinct, bass voice:

The following witches and wizards are to report to the Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Education, Courtroom Five, at precisely 10:30 AM, tomorrow for a disciplinary meeting. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, the portraiture of Horace Slughorn, Draco Malfoy, Harry James Potter, Hermione Jean Granger, and Ronald Bilius Weasley.

Discussed will be the inappropriate relations conducted between persons, Potions Teacher Severus Snape and Fifth Year Student Harry James Potter. All others listed will be required to attend and will be used to present evidence about said inappropriate relations. Be prepared to present all knowledge regarding the event(s) in question.

The scrap of parchment fluttered to the desk, settling next to Dumbledore's hand.

Everyone stared at it, some wishing it would go away, others knowing that things weren't going to be easy the following day.

Finally McGonagall stated the obvious. “We are all to be at the Ministry tomorrow at 10:30. It's getting late, we should be settling in and getting ready for tomorrow.” In truth it was a little early; only closing in on 9:00 o'clock, but the last few hours had wiped everyone's energy. All present nodded.

“I'll send word through the pictures that Horace is to be in his frame tomorrow before we leave.” he stated, causing everyone to focus on the fact that the retired professor had awoken and wandered off at some point during the ceremony. “Severus,” he continued, “I suggest that you notify Mr. Malfoy of his summons tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, I shall do that now.” He nodded slowly. Looking down at Harry...his husband, he placed a quick kiss on his lips and left the room.

His footsteps echoed down the stairwell as Dumbledore repeated what McGonagall had stated only a minute before. “You should all be going to bed. You all know what to wear tomorrow.” He waved his hand languidly and everyone exited the room, leaving Dumbledore to his thoughts and how he was going to try and make this work out for the two lovers.

~X~

Despite the fact that the Slytherin dorms were located near the dungeons, they were surprisingly warm. Snape walked up the narrow flight of steps into the Fifth Year's rooms and walked towards where he knew Malfoy's bed was. The curtains were closed and Snape announced his presence by clearing his throat and knocking his knuckles gently against one of the four posters.

Malfoy opened the curtain setting the book he was studying aside and looking almost surprised by the teacher standing there.

“Firstly I need to tell you that you have been summoned with the rest of us to be at the Ministry of Magic tomorrow for a disciplinary hearing. It is required and you will be ready to leave by 10 AM sharp; wear appropriate robes. Secondly, I wish to know why you told everyone about Harry and myself.”

Malfoy looked around as he stood. Everyone else was either studying in bed, or asleep. If he whispered, no one would hear him.

He told him, “At first I hated Potter because he didn't want to be friends and he thought himself too good despite being a half-blood.” Snape's lip twitched at the mention of this fact, but Malfoy missed it and continued. “Then when I heard from Weasley that you two were sleeping together something snapped. Not only was he too good to be with anyone but a traitor and a mud-blood but he had stolen you from me.”

Malfoy stepped forward into Snape's personal space and whispered up at him, placing his hands on his chest and looking him directly in the eyes. “Really though...what does he have that I don't?”

Snape stepped back and just stared at the boy in disbelief. He shook his head and told him, “If you have to ask then I'll never tell you. Make sure you're ready in the morning.”

Snape turned and walked away turning towards his own sleeping quarters pondering something that seemed unfathomable.

He couldn't get a single woman to go out with him, not that he'd actually wanted anyone other than Lily of course. But what was it about him that had young boys falling at his feet, wanting to be his?

He was just never going to understand it.