Order of Merlin

Order of Merlin
by ladylancelot

Pairing: HP/SS
Summary: Harry and Severus have a secret relationship and on the annual award ceremony Harry decides to come clean.

Note: I found this little story on my harddrive, polished it up a tiny bit and decided to share. It was one of my first HP/SS stories ever written so I apologize if it is a little rusty from being hidden on my computers for so long.


“Please stay.“ Harry looked delicious as he was sprawled all over his bed and those green eyes would be haunting Severus for the rest of the night. As much as he wanted to stay and for once wake up in the arms of the person he dearly loved, he knew that there were too many things separating the both of them.


“You know I cannot.“ Severus' voice was muffled as he bent down to tie his shoes. “Besides, it was you who insisted that our two worlds would never mingle.“


“I did not ask you to marry me or declare your undying love in front of that stupid mass tonight in the ministry.“ Harry sighed softly. “I just want to fall asleep in your arms for once.“


For a moment Severus was tempted to stay but shrugged it off as nonsense. Harry was the hero of the wizarding world, their saviour and cherished advisor for the Minister of Magic Kingsley Shaklebolt. Witches all over Britain mooned him and the Daily Prohphet featured one or two cover stories about him a month. This public image was so solid that Harry did not dare to come out in fear of unsettling the fragile balance of the wizarding world after Voldemort.


“We talked about this and we agreed that for the time being this arrangement was ideal.“ The potion master straitened up and took a short glance into a mirror on the wall to check his hair. For the faint chance of anybody watching him when he left the house it simply would not do to look as if he just left a lover's bed.


Flopping back on the mattress Harry nodded grimly, his face set into a tight expression of stubbornness. It would take a mere kiss to brush the frown away from his expression but Severus knew that if he did, the temptation to stay would be unbearable. He knew his lover well enough after almost seven years to trust him to understand.


“And we will see each other at the ministry meeting tonight. I would not miss the chance to see Remus accept his Order of Merlin.“ Snape smirked as he imagined the werewolf fidgeting for words as he stared into the bright stage lights. It would be worth enduring the whole sordid affair but as Headmaster of Hogwarts it was expected of him to attend the ceremony.


“Can we see each other after that?“ Harry asked hopefully. “Maybe play a game of wizard's chess?“


Severus snorted softly. “In all those years you have not improved in that blasted game and still you want to play it every week. Sometimes I sincerely question your intelligence.“


“It is not so much about the game but the time spent with you Severus. Since there is not much we can do together except make wild passionate love it is one of my favourite past times.“ Harry's voice was laced with love and it were these moments that leaving was the hardest.


“One day we will be able to do everything together,“ Severus said stoically and he knew how worn that sounded even to him but it would have to be sufficient for now. “Sleep tight Harry.“


With that he left and returned to his school to his life were Harry Potter was not present.

The atrium of the Ministry of Magic was filled with witches and wizards dressed in fashionable robes and Severus was glad he had decided to wear his most expensive robe- of course in dark black. Remus was clinging to his wine glass, softly reciting his acceptance speech over and over and Severus contemplated if he had ever seen the man so nervous before. Not even when he had married Sirius in a small private ceremony in Hogwarts four years ago had he shaken so much.


“For god's sake Remus, stop repeating those three sentences or I have to hex your mouth closed!“ Severus grunted and took another sip from his red wine. It was donated by Draco Malfoy for this occasion and it was indeed excellent. It must have costed a small fortune but he knew for a fact that the blonde could afford it.


“I just wish it was over and done with. I hate public speeches with a vengeance,“ Remus muttered unhappily.


“Where is your husband?“ Severus asked casually attempting to distract the werewolf.


„He wanted to talk with Hermione if I am not mistaken.“ Remus peered into the general direction of the huge Weasley clan and smiled. “There he is arguing with the twins.“


“He is a real sweetheart,“ Severus said sardonically.


Remus chuckled softly. “One of these days you will fall in love Severus and find out that it is the little faults that make people endearing.“

Severus wanted to object but it was this moment that the lights on the huge stage were lit and Kingsley approached the microphone.


“Dear fellow witches and wizards! I am delighted to welcome you to the annual ceremony where we honour esteemed members of our world for their brave deeds. I want you to give a warm welcome to my personal aid and advisor, the saviour of our world Harry Potter!“


Loud applause accompanied Harry as he stoically made his way into the stage lights. He looked handsome with his cerulean robe and witches all over the atrium began to sigh.


“Hello everybody, I welcome you to the awarding ceremony for this year's Order of Merlin.“ He smiled warmly and for a second his lovely eyes caught Severus'. And he winked.


Severus inhaled deeply but nobody had noticed. That blasted boy!


The dreadful affair started now with wizard after wizard and witch after witch accepting their Orders and giving long tearful speeches. Even Remus managed to stumble onto the stage, accepted his award gracefully and blurted out his thanks. Severus could not help but roll his eyes when Sirius met him half way down the stairs.


Harry smiled warmly into their direction and once more went to the podium.


“We are almost done with this year’s awards but there is one last award that was long overdue. Some heroes chose to stay out of the stage lights but their work is as important for our society as anybody else. Kingsley and me have decided to honour a wizard tonight with a special Order of Merlin for outstanding achievements and defeating Tom Riddle would not have been possible without him. I am very grateful that I can call him a trusted friend- please give a warm welcome to Severus Snape, headmaster of the esteemed school of Hogwarts.”


Severus felt as if he stumbled into one big hole and as he saw the people turning into his direction, smiling and applauding enthusiastically he forced a strained smile on his face. And straightening his shoulders he rose from his seat and strode over to the podium politely accepting the award from Kingsley who beamed at him and gave him a tight hug.

Turning to Harry Severus rose one brow in challenge and was surprised when the young wizard hugged him tightly obviously forgetting protocol completely. Drawing away from Severus, Harry walked up to the microphone once again.


“Now, we have a delicious meal waiting for you and after that the classical orchestra will entertain us all with some of their pieces.”


One last time the audience cheered and then the sordid affair was over. When the three wizards reached the bottom of the stairs Kingsley turned to several official guests and Harry and Severus were on their own for a moment.


“I should kill you,” Severus muttered with a murderous expression but Harry saw the affection underneath.


“Actually it was Hermione's idea because we are all quite fed up with you coming up with reasons each year for why this year is not the right one.” Harry used the hustle of witches and wizards to cling ridiculously close to Severus who was frowning.


“I would be careful Harry because there are several people who have started to get suspicious.” Severus said under his breath suddenly understanding what Harry hated so much about these ceremonies.


Harry however huffed and shrugged his shoulders. “Let them, I am tired of pretending just so that those people won't get a heart attack.”


Remus and Sirius were waiting for them by a lovely table a bit to the side so that they could at least pretend to dine without everybody watching them.


“Harry, that was a lovely speech,” Remus said with an honest smile.


“As much as I hate to admit it, this was long overdue,” Sirius muttered clearly feeling uncomfortable with his train of thoughts but then he raised his glass of wine into Severus' direction. “To you Severus!”


Everybody imitated him and Harry dashed one of his brilliant smiles into the potion master's direction. Much later Remus and Sirius were on the dance floor swaying to a romantic song when Harry put his hand over Severus'.


“May I have this dance Professor Snape?” he asked his green eyes shining with love.

The red wine must have gotten to Severus' head because he just nodded and let the younger wizard lead him onto the dance floor. They attracted a couple of sideways glances when Harry pulled the potion master closer, slowly moving with the music.


“People are beginning to stare,” Severus said and wanted to extricate himself from Harry's embrace but his lover held him closer.


“We both sacrificed so much for this world Severus already and I won't go on living a lie.” His green eyes peered into his lover's with a seriousness so rare. “So this is the last chance to back off, love because in a second the wizarding world will have a collective heart attack.”


Raising one hand and caressing Harry's cheek, Severus shook his head.


“It is much too late for giving you up- I love you.”


One of those radiant smiles broke out on Harry's features and then he pressed his soft lips against his lover's pulling him closer.


Somewhere far away Severus could hear gasps and some shocked mutterings but it was not difficult to push those away and enjoy the kiss- especially since he knew that he himself had taught Harry how to.


Slowly Harry pulled away and then placed his cheek against his lover's shoulders, letting Severus take control of their movements.


Letting his black eyes drift through the room he was surprised to find many warm gazes and only very few dismissive ones. Giving them all one of his sneers Severus could not help but feel as if he was on top of the world, with his lover by his side


Harry snickered against his black robe.


“Now some of them might understand how I felt as a student,” he said.


Severus turned his face down and frowned.


“Why is that?”


“Your sneer is really impressive and I know for a fact that many of your students past and present can not endure it for prolonged periods of time.”


“Well you are mine,” Severus stated matter of factly the warm ring in his voice filling Harry's heart with pleasure.


“As a matter of fact, I am and now the rest of the wizarding world knows,” he replied and snuggled into the warm cotton of his lover's robe.


He had a feeling that tonight he would fall asleep in Severus' arms and wake up there as well.


Feeling a rough slap on his shoulders Severus spun around and faced the Weasley twins who grinned madly with their girlfriends by their side.


“About time you two,” one of them- Fred?- said. “We thought you would never come clean.”


The other read head nodded emphatically.


“We had bets going on already how long it would take. Turns out I won quiet a bit of money tonight.”


Pulling his lover into their embrace again Harry closed his eyes letting the music carry him away.


Severus grunted softly.


“Congratulations,” he spat. “And now piss off.”


Once they were gone both wizards continued their dance and their life as an official couple. Somewhere from the back of the room sitting next to Minerva Albus chuckled.


“Finally, those two were giving me a headache. Now would you like to dance my dear?”