A.N. Sorry guys, again this chapter is unbetared. Any mistakes are my own, no matter how hard I try to search them out some always manage to get past me. I’m really trying to get this fic finished asap because I’m starting university in October and won’t have much time to spend on FanFiction after that. So sorry if anything seems at all rushed.

Chapter 8

Lily Potter was acting strangely, Harry decided as he was eating breakfast. The students had been back for nearly a month now and Harry was getting settled into teaching. The children had mostly gotten over their crushes and his apprenticeship was going well. Severus seemed pleased with his progress and had even started giving him the fourth year essays to grade, though Harry was unsure if that was to give him added responsibility and practice or simply because Severus truly hated marking.

But his mother was still looking at him with that smile. ‘What is she doing?’ Harry did not understand women, they communicated on a completely different level. Thank Merlin he was gay. At one time Ginny had tried to attract him but her attempts at flirting just left Harry confused and wondering if she had anything in her eye. It had taken Ron and Hermione telling him that she fancied him for the innocent Gryffindor to twig. He had blushed for an hour apparently. But he had let Ginny down gently and under a month later she had been dating his roommate, Neville, she had really brought him out of his shell. He had been an excellent member of the Order.

He turned slightly to his lover and whispered, “Sev, why is Lily looking at me like that?”

Severus glanced over at his colleague, with a faint snort he muttered to his lover, “She wants you to confide in her, Harry. About our relationship.” He added.

“But I’m pretty sure that she already knows,” Harry was confused.

“That doesn’t matter. She is your mother, biologically, even if she did not raise you herself, and she wants her son to tell her that he is seeing someone. Women love details.”

Frowning, Harry nodded. He was meant to be going to their quarters tonight. ‘I’ll tell her then, I guess’. The twenty year old now ex-orphan felt that tonight would come much sooner than he wanted it to. The couple left the great hall for their first class, fourth year Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw.

***

The time had come. Time always flew when you didn’t want it to. Harry made his way to his parents’ chambers at eight o’clock that night.

His mother met him at the door and hugged him, she did that often, Harry had gotten used to it, Molly Weasley had been similar. After all, Lily had lost over nineteen years with her son, now that he was ‘back’ she wanted to recapture the lost time. He hugged her back with a smile; in truth he enjoyed it as well. He had spent nineteen years without his mother’s love. It was nice to have them here, it was his first year wish all over again. The Mirror of Erised had depicted it perfectly. Only he was older now.

James waved at him from the couch; he wasn’t nearly as tactile as his wife. “So, how are you enjoying teaching, son?”

“It’s great, dad. But I did have some experience to begin with so I only had to learn how to discipline them really.” Harry sat down opposite his father.

Lily sat down next to her husband, “When did you teach, Harry?” Was there anything he hadn’t done? Wrestled trolls, killed dark lords, and flown a hippogriff. Her son had led quite an interesting life. She feared he might get bored here in the castle in their world, where things were calm and uninteresting the vast majority of the time. His appearance was the biggest thing in over ten years. She didn’t want him to leave.

Harry smiled in recollection, “Fifth year, we had a terrible DADA professor so Hermione talked me into teaching a group of students to get us through the exam.”

“I take it they all passed?” James saw the proud look on Harry’s face.

He nodded, “With flying colours. Five of them became Aurors. And as far as I know nearly all of them fought for us in the Order.” Not to mention most of them were dead.

His parents smiled at him. Then Lily spoke up, “So Harry, how is your apprenticeship going? Are you and Severus still getting on well?” The look on her face told Harry that she knew exactly what she was asking.

His face heating up slightly Harry nodded, “It’s going very well. Severus is a wonderful instructor.” He paused. Lily looked expectantly at him so he continued, “I suppose I should tell you that Severus and I are .... erm .... well .... we’ve begun a ... erm ... a relationship.”

The elder male Potter’s face froze slightly. Then he frowned. “A relationship?” James’ voice showed his confusion.

“Yes. We’re seeing each other.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful, darling.” Lily gushed happily. “The two of you make such a cute couple. Don’t you think so James?”

He didn’t look like he thought so but James nodded and agreed anyway after a warning look from his temperamental wife. Harry hoped that his father would accept it soon.

“But you have to remember to keep your relationship and your apprenticeship separate, my dear. He may be your boyfriend but he is also your master, he can only be one at once.” Lily cautioned her son.

“I’m well aware of that, mum. Don’t worry, I know when our relationship doesn’t apply. I’m not going to have a problem with that and I doubt Severus will either.”

“So, when did this start?”

Harry decided that discretion was the best way to go, “It’s a pretty recent thing to be honest.” ‘Two weeks six days.’ His mind informed him helpfully. “So, dad, how are the Defence classes going this year?”

His attempt at a conversation change was eagerly latched onto by James who wanted only to forget what he had just heard.

The green eyed man left an hour later, he had an early mentoring session with Severus in the morning. Thank Merlin it was Wednesday, nearly weekend, Harry wanted some alone time with his lover. He was going to be busy marking the younger year’s essays for the next couple of nights.

When he got back to his room Hamila was curled up before the fire waiting for him. [How did they take the news then?] She hissed.

Harry sat down beside his bonded familiar and basked in the comforting heat of the fire, [My mother took it well, she already knew. But my dad was surprised. He is not a fan of Severus and I doubt he will ever be really.]

As Harry and his snake talked, James was on his knees in front of the fire. Almost as soon as his son had left he had decided to firecall Sirius and Remus.

Within two minutes the Marauders were together in the Potter’s living room. Lily was glaring at her husband with disapproval while Remus just looked confused.

Sirius, as usual, cut straight to the point, “What’s up?”

His oldest friend huffed, “Harry’s seeing Snape.”

Sirius gaped. Remus just exchanged a knowing look with Lily, after Harry’s strong defence of the man he had suspected that he had feelings for him. He mouthed to her, “How long?”

“He says it’s a recent thing.” She gestured back. “But I think almost a month.”

By this time Sirius had come out of his stupor and was enraged, drawing James in with him.

“Harry and Snape? That can’t be! Snape has to have given him something. We need to get Poppy to check him over.” Sirius was all for storming to the dungeons and forcibly dragging Harry to see the mediwitch. It took Lily and Remus stunning the two Gryffindor men to stop them. They levitated their captives over to the couch.

Lily towered over her husband and his best friend. “James Ignatius Potter, Sirius Orion Black, I am ashamed of the both of you. It has taken nineteen years for us to get Harry back and now you are trying to dictate who he can and cannot date to him. We did not raise him, as sorry as I am for that. We are not his parents in the normal sense of the word. We did not heal his bloody knees when he fell over. We didn’t buy him birthday presents every year. And we certainly have never had to deal with his teenage crushes, his broken hearts, his teen rebellions. He is a grown man, well aware of what he wants and needs and he wants Severus Snape. Who are we to say he cannot have him?” She trailed off, breathing heavily.

From his position behind her shoulder, Remus was strongly reminded of their own Hogwarts days. The fiery redhead had often stunned and then berated the dark haired pranksters. He put in his own commentary, “Guys, I think Harry knows what he is doing. He has been through more than we can imagine, more than most wizards twice his age, a fling with someone his own age wouldn’t be right for him. He wants maturity, something Severus can give him. Besides, he was a soldier. No doubt he will still have nightmares or be twitchy occasionally, who better than an ex-spy to deal with that, to understand him.” Remus still remembered that he had landed on the floor stunned when he and his husband had startled Harry the night they met. Harry was a battle-hardened solider, not a coddled twenty year old boy.

The redhead released the stunning spell, “Well, what do you say?”

Her husband spoke up first, “I know we didn’t raise him, Lils. We never got to see his first day of school, never got to tuck him in after reading a story. We never even got his first word. But he is still our son. However, I will accept that we can’t dictate his romantic relationships. That doesn’t mean I’m happy with it though.” He had a petulant tone that made Lily think of when he had been told off by their professors twenty-five years ago.

Sirius wasn’t quite as accepting, “But Lily, Mooney, it’s Snape!” He backtracked quickly when Lily raised her wand again, “But I won’t do anything about it,” She lowered it again, “All I will say that if he hurts a hair on his head then James and I get first dips on the greasy bastard.”

The two level headed ones nodded their agreement. If Severus hurt their baby then he would be punished. But Lily doubted the Potions Master would, she had never seen him act like this with anyone. The man’s eyes lit up when they lighted upon the younger man. He smiled as they conversed. Snape had even begun to speak more to the other professors, had become slightly sociable. And she had no reservations that it was all due to Harry, her baby’s influence.

Remus, for his part, decided that they all needed to see the couple interact in order to be happy, “Why don’t we invite everyone over for dinner Saturday night, Siri? We can tell Harry to bring Severus and then we can all see for ourselves whether they make a good couple or not.”

After thinking about it for a minute Sirius nodded, “Alright.”

“No pranks.” Remus said definitively.

Sirius’ shoulders drooped, “You’re no fun anymore, Mooney.” He pouted.

The following morning Lily and James struck. They met Harry on his way up to the Great Hall for breakfast, something that should not have happened considering that their rooms were closer to Gryffindor Tower than the dungeons so they had to come over to the other side of the castle to ‘bump’ into him. Still Harry hid his suspicion and greeted them warmly. Lily chattered on about inconsequential things, Harry nodding and generally agreeing with her, until suddenly she said, “So you will come round to the Marauders Den on Saturday night won’t you, love. Of course you’d have to bring Severus.”

Harry stopped dead. His eyes wide, “What?”

James couldn’t help it. His son looked like a dear in the wandlight. He burst out laughing.

Lily shook her head at her husband’s antics. “Remus and Sirius darling, they have invited us all round for dinner on Saturday night. They haven’t really seen much of you and want to get to know you better. Since they know you’re seeing Severus they extended the invitation to him as well.”

The green eyed man felt trapped. There was no way for him to refuse. These were his parents and godparents. And he had had such a nice weekend planned with Sev too. Would the older man forgive him? Would he even go? “Alright mum. But I’ll have to see if Severus wants to go.”

“Of course, dear, of course.” The grin that spread across her face was blinding.

Harry suddenly decided that he didn’t feel much like breakfast, made his excuses and got out of there as quick as humanly possible. He went straight to the labs. Knowing that Severus was going to be there, brewing supplies for the Hospital Wing before the first class of the day.

He barged into the room, startling the brewing man, not that he’d ever say so. “We have a problem, Sev.”

Blinking the Potions Master cast a containment charm on the cauldron he had been overseeing and turned to his agitated lover. “What is wrong?” Severus had never seen Harry like this. The young man was usually so unflappable it was making Severus nervous to see him like this.

Harry looked Severus in the eye, “We’ve been invited round to Marauders Den for dinner on Saturday. I have no doubt that it is intended as a way to analyse our relationship in a private setting.”

‘Grimmauld Place? Wasn’t that where Sirius Black and his werewolf husband lived?’ “Black and Lupin?”

His partner nodded, “Yes. I mean my mum and dad will be there too but yeah. They invited us.”

Severus sighed softly, “I take it we have to attend.” They had planned an excursion into Muggle London for that weekend but obviously that would have to be cancelled.

Harry frowned slightly, “If you don’t want to go I’ll make your excuses.” But there was a hint of hurt in his eyes. He had never asked Severus for anything before and he wouldn’t even go to a meal with him. Severus caught the look.

He tried to make it up to his lover, “Of course I don’t want to go. What man ever wants to sit in a room with his lover’s parents and godfathers all night?” Without a pause he carried on, “But I’m not going to abandon you to them and let them think that everything they ever thought of me was right. I’ll be there by your side all night, Harry.”

A small smile had lighted upon Harry’s lips. “Really?”

The older wizard nodded.

Harry ran over to him and kissed him passionately. When they pulled back Severus commented with a smirk, “Just be glad there are no Snapes to deal with.”

Laughter rang out in the dungeons.

The next few days went by in a blur for Harry, he was scarcely aware of the marking he did. Even the students noticed a difference in him. He still attended to their lessons without fail and assisted them when they required but it was almost mechanical, not the teaching assistant they had become accustomed to with sparkling eyes and warm smile.

One particularly concerned Gryffindor actually stopped him in the corridor between classes and enquired what was wrong.

Harry almost laughed, “Nothing is wrong, Mr Owen. Thank you for your concern but everything is fine.”

The boy didn’t look completely convinced but nonetheless he nodded and let Harry walk on.

That evening when he went down to Severus’ chamber as usual he commented on the boy’s concern. “I had not realised I had been noticeable in my distraction.”

“I believe that the only reason the students noticed is that you are currently their favourite professor, they pay special attention to you. Mr Owen, in particular, has a crush on you.”

Harry’s face lit up in a light blush.

A wicked smirk broke out across Severus’ face. “Imagine the looks upon their faces if they knew of us.”

“Then they would start speculating on the particulars of our relationship and I for one do not want to have to face those whispers in the classroom.” Harry frowned in thought.

Severus shivered at the idea, “No indeed not.” That was one of the reasons for keeping their relation discrete. Students did not think of their professors as sexual creatures as a general rule, when confronted with obvious proof denying this fact they usually went over the top. The older man turned to his lover and kissed him. Drawing back he spoke softly, “No, I would definitely not wish those insolent cretins to be discussing us like potion ingredients.” Then he kissed Harry again.

They stayed like that, necking like teenagers, for some time before they broke away, both aroused. Harry’s hand caressed Severus’ face, it was relaxed and content in a way he had never seen on the other Snape. A softer kiss later, Harry decided that he was very close to falling in love, if he hadn’t already. The thought scared him a little, anyone he had ever loved was dead, but here there was no Voldemort, no danger. Here he could love Severus and the only thing he had to worry about was this bloody dinner tomorrow night. Still, he kept his revelation to himself. They had not been seeing each other for that long, declarations of love, no matter if felt or not, weren’t needed in his opinion.

Seeing as it was a Friday Severus decided that he would ask Harry if he wanted to spend the night. Not in a sexual way, he knew that Harry wasn’t ready for that yet. But to sleep next to someone was an intimate act too. So he asked.

He was shocked by his answer. Harry had almost thrown himself over Severus in his excitement. Then he had blushed a wonderful Gryffindor red and started stammering his apologies, ashamed of his actions. Sometimes, though only occasionally, he did things that showed his true age. Severus found them endearing and truth be told, he was glad that Harry didn’t seem to have been too damaged by the war he fought. He was still able to laugh, to blush. ‘To love?’ His mind whispered traitorously at him.

Severus couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. A deep, throaty chuckle. Once he composed himself he couldn’t resist teasing his younger lover, “A bit eager there, Mr Evans?”

“Always, Mr Snape.” Harry recovered enough to reply.

“Perhaps we should retire then, Harry.” Severus suggested with a small smile.

He showed Harry to his bedroom, a large green four poster bed dominating the space. There were small tables either side of the bed, each with a lamp on, it was obvious which side of the bed Severus generally slept on as that table was covered in books.

Before awkwardness could set in the Potions Master called for a house elf.

A small creature with the Hogwarts crest on its tea towel appeared, “What can Moffy get for Professor Snape sir?”

“Could you bring Mr Evans’ night time things, please?”

“No problem, Professor Snape sir, Moffy is doing that right away. Moffy is fetching Mr Evans sir’s night time things. ” She disappeared with a quiet pop.

Harry looked to Severus with a smile. The exuberance of house elves never failed to amuse him.

Moffy reappeared within a minute hand placed some space clothes for the next day on the chair in the corner, vanished the toothbrush to the bathroom and then turned to Harry, “Moffy is very sorry Mr Evans sir but Moffy could not find sir’s pyjamas.”

A light blush coloured Harry’s cheeks, “its fine Moffy, you wouldn’t be able to find any as I don’t wear them.”

He couldn’t move his gaze after the elf bowed and left, knowing that the dark gaze of his lover was on him.

There was a slight clearing of the throat and then he spoke, “You do not wear pyjamas?”

The younger man shook his head in a negative. “No, I sleep in my boxers normally.”

Aiming to ease his lover’s embarrassment Severus commented, “Ahh, that is understandable. I had wondered myself if I would have to find the top to the sleep pants I generally wear to bed. Now I see there is no need.” He gave Harry a smirk. “You may use the bathroom first, it is through the door on your left.”

As Harry prepared for bed, Severus located his sleep pants from the drawer where the elves placed them every day and removed his shoes and socks.

They exchanged places as Harry exited the bathroom in just his boxers, having deposited his clothes in the hamper within. Each man, however, had taken his fill of the view of the other.

Hoping he wasn’t being presumptuous but feeling too awkward to do nothing Harry climbed into the bed on the side with the bare bedside table, pulling up the covers, the dungeons were rather cold after all. He felt his heart beating, it felt like it was trying to break out of his chest and do a tap dance on the dungeon floor.

Severus took a couple of minutes in the bathroom to calm himself. It would not do to scare Harry, the man might be twenty years old but he was innocent in sexual matters. He was well on his way to loving the smart, kind, funny younger man and had no desire to ruin this relationship by moving too fast. He would even face dinner with the Potters and Lupin-Blacks for Harry. No small feat.

Once he was in control of himself he opened the door and stepped out into his bedroom where he spotted Harry, curled up in his bed. The image looked perfect to the previously lonely man. With a small smile at his lover Severus crossed the length of the room and climbed into the bed beside Harry, who turned to face him.

“Thank you for letting me stay over, Sev.”

Severus captured his lips in a kiss as a response.

After a little bit of manoeuvring they found a position that was comfortable, Harry with his back against Severus’ front with Severus’ arm draped over him.

“Goodnight Harry.”

“Goodnight Severus.”

By the time morning came around their positions had changed slightly. Harry woke first, used to raising early. His first coherent thought was ‘my pillow feels different’. He reached his hand over and suddenly realised why, his head was being cushioned by his lover’s chest. When he tried to move away he found he could not. Severus’ arms were around his torso, holding him in place securely. Deciding that he liked this position, Harry lay his head back down and dozed lightly.

An hour later Severus awoke. The first thing he was upon opening his eyes was Harry’s head on his chest. He tightened his arms around the younger man for a second, alerting the dozing Harry that he was awake.

Harry turned his head to look at Severus. “Hey.” He commented sleepily.

“Morning.”

The younger of the two men lifted his head and leaned in to kiss the lips of his lover.

It was about thirty minutes later that they finally got up out of bed to prepare for the day ahead which they spent together, talking, kissing, brewing and reading comfortably in silence.

It was after dinner that night when Harry finally returned to his rooms. As he stepped through the door behind the portrait he nearly fell over Hamila.

The basilisk had reared up on her tail like a cobra and was hissing angrily, [Where have you been? You did not return last night. A creature smelling like your food appeared and took some of your clothes and you never came back. Never told me where you would be.]

Harry felt thoroughly chastised. He had not stopped to consider Hamila, he knew that she had mild abandonment issues after Salazar had left her, no matter that after his death his portrait had often come back to speak to her, to explain why he left. He kneeled on the floor and hissed apologetically, [I am truly sorry I did not inform you as to my whereabouts Hamila. I got caught up with Severus and forgot that you would be concerned.]

‘If snakes could sniff disdainfully then this one most certainly would be’, Harry thought.

[Next time I expect to be informed, my bonded.]

Harry nodded, hearing the underlying threat. If he failed to do so he would encounter much more than just an angry basilisk. [Certainly, my dear. Now, are you hungry?]

Upon receiving an affirmative he called upon a house elf who delivered to his room a large rat, already dead. The elf had a look of mild distain on its face, they had tried to feed Hamila other things but this was what she insisted on having.

Just before she unhooked her jaw Hamila paused to ask curiously, [So, did you have an enjoyable evening?]

The snake’s bonded just blushed and left her to her rat.

Sniggering softly the shrunken basilisk concentrated on her meal. Humans were so easy to rile.

**

Harry was panicking. It was six o’clock and he was pacing the length of his loving room, Hamila curled up on the couch hissing comfortingly at him. Salazar was in the portrait above the fireplace observing the unusual behaviour from the young man.

He heard a knock at his frame and quietly went to investigate.

There was Severus, dressed in a hunter green shirt and black pants, looking quite calm.

“Why is Harry panicking at the moment? All I can get out of him is broken fragments.” Salazar asked the Head of his House.

The Potions Master’s eyes widened. ‘Harry was panicking? Why?’ “Well we have been invited to dine with his parents and godparents tonight.” That was the only explanation he could come up with but Harry had not seemed worried earlier when they had parted. “Would you permit me entrance, Lord Slytherin?”

Salazar thought about it for a second. Severus did not have the password. But he knew that Harry would not deny him entrance and the young man really needed him at his moment in time so he ignored the rules of guardianship and nodded, revealing the door a second later.

Severus opened the door slowly. When he stepped in he saw the state Harry was in and was hard pressed not to laugh. He had never seen his apprentice or lover so nervous. On every pass of the couch Harry would hiss a reply to whatever Hamila was saying.

It took only a couple of seconds for Harry to realise that he was no longer alone with his basilisk familiar. His head snapped up, [Severus,] he hissed, [how did you get in here?]

Slytherin, now occupying his previous spot above the fireplace, answered for him as Severus had no hope of understanding the snake tongue Harry was spouting, [I let him in, young one. You need to calm down. It is only dinner.]

[How is it only dinner? This is going to be an interrogation, only without outright torture it will be subtle, laced with kindness and well meaning. Why did I agree to this?] Harry had stopped pacing now.

Severus went over and caught his lover in an embrace. He whispered in his ear, “Listen Harry, this is your family. There is nothing to worry about. They love you, nothing you did could stop that, even dating me. They have spent nineteen years without you, they will not risk losing you now. All they want is what is best for you. Calm down.”

The shorter man rested his head against Severus’ chest, listening to his heartbeat. The two remained there for nearly ten minutes before Harry started laughing.

The two Slytherins in the room looked at each other in confusion. Had he lost it?

Harry broke out of the embrace and sat down on the couch beside Hamila who slithered onto his lap, still laughing. The confused look on the face of his lover and door guardian made him laugh even harder.

Wiping tears from his eyes he apologised. “Sorry, sorry... I was being an idiot wasn’t I?”

Severus broke into a smile, it made his face look younger. “Yes you were. I’m glad you’ve gotten over it. I take it you have never had to deal with taking a lover home to your parents?”

His lover shook his head, “No, never had a lover to take home before. Molly and Arthur would probably have acted just like Lily and James are though.”

“Molly and Arthur? Weasley?” Shock laced Severus’ voice.

“Yeah. They kind of adopted me into their family, Sev. I was Ron’s best friend.” He caught sight of the clock. “Anyway,” he stood up, “come on. We have to go.”

Before he could move anywhere Severus moved in and kissed him soundly. After breaking away he answered the unasked question, “I won’t get a chance to do that for some time now.”

Harry smiled at his lover and pecked him on the cheek before leading the way to the door. [Bye Hamila, Salazar. I’ll be back later tonight.]

[Have a good time tonight, young one.] Salazar encouraged him.

It had already been arranged between them that Lily and James would meet Harry and Severus at Hogwarts’ gates. Harry had not yet been to Sirius and Remus’ home so he did not know the apparition coordinates.

Both Lily and James came forward to embrace their son. Severus hung back at the display of family affection. But while Lily also extended her embrace to Severus, which made him rather uncomfortable, James took a more distant route and put out his hand.

With a brief look at Harry, Severus also out his hand forward and shook the appendage of his lover’s father, his old school bully.

In an action that was apparently pre-decided by the Potters Lily moved to take Severus’ arm and James took Harry’s to apparated them to their destination for the night.

It was James that knocked on the door to the house of two out of three of the Marauders. It was answered by both men.

Remus and Sirius welcomed Harry with hugs, Severus was greeted by Remus with a handshake and by Sirius with a slight nod and a glare.

The group was led inside by the couple. Sirius joined them in the living room while Remus returned to the kitchen to check on dinner. They had no house elves, Remus didn’t think it necessary. Sirius might have but one look at his husband had convinced him otherwise.

Once they were settled comfortably Harry asked a question that had been in his mind since they arrived, “So how long have you lived here then?”

“About fifteen years or so.” Sirius replied thoughtfully. “Before that we were in this poky little flat in the centre of London.”

“What about Grimmauld Place?” Harry was curious what the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix and his home for two years was in this universe.

“Grimmauld Place? The ancestral Black home? It is shut up. I closed it when I inherited. There are some dangerous things in there.”

“Not to mention that portrait of your mother in the hallway.” Harry quipped with a smirk.

Sirius started. “I see you’ve been there.”

Lily and James were looking on in faint surprise. Harry had never told them where he had been trained. They had assumed that it was Hogwarts or somewhere in the ministry.

The young man nodded, “You gave it to the Order to function as their headquarters. I was trained there for two years. No offense but your mum really was a bitch.”

“Harry!” Lily was shocked.

Sirius placated her, “It’s ok, Lils. She was. Anyone manage to get rid of her in your world?”

A wicked grin broke out over his face as he replied, “I did. Blasted her right out of that damned portrait and then burned the thing.”

“Well done. Bat deserved it I’m sure. Oh yeah, dinner’s ready,” Remus appeared at the door.

Harry and Severus went into the spacious dining room last, following the others. The table was circular, Harry noted absently.

That meant that he was seated next to his mother and lover while facing his godfather. Severus on the other hand found himself with Remus Lupin-Black on his left side and James Potter opposite him at the table.

‘The arrangements could most definitely have been worse.’ He thought wryly. If he had been seated next to Sirius he could not have promised that the evening would go smoothly. As it was Lupin was a much more acceptable choice than his husband.

Remus had already set the food out on the plates. He had made a roast beef dinner, a typical English dinner.

It looked lovely and Harry informed Remus this with a smile. ‘His own Remus Lupin had not been much of a cook, generally more of a toast or sandwiches kind of man.’ Apparently this Lupin had learnt how to cook during the last twenty years.

“Thank you Harry.” Remus responded to the compliment with a wry glance at his husband. If Sirius was allowed in the kitchen while Remus was cooking then the result was never good. The man either started adding unnecessary ingredients or telling his werewolf mate that something looked wrong.

The group began eating, odd comments interrupting the silence.

“So, dad, tell me. Was the Triwizard Tournament held at Hogwarts in what would have been my fourth year?”

James Potter nodded, “Yeah. That was the year the Hufflepuff boy, Diggory got chosen.”

Harry felt a lump appear in his throat, “Did he win?”

The elder Potter shook his head, “No, Victor Krum from Durmstrang won. Bloody good flyer that boy. Plays for Bulgaria now.”

Lily looked at her son, “Who won in yours, darling?” If she didn’t get it wrong, and to be honest she rarely did, something about that knowledge had upset her Harry.

“Well, technically I did. But Cedric Diggory and I drew really. We agreed to make it a draw, a Hogwarts win.” Harry’s eyes went dark with memories.

Under the table, Severus placed his hand on his lover’s knee to comfort him. Damned if he was going to let Harry be upset and not, even if this was the mutt’s house.

“Will you tell us about the Tri-Wizard Tournament in your universe, Harry? We will tell you about this one, if you wish.” Lily had an understanding look in her eyes but Harry really didn’t want to talk about this.

“It doesn’t matter what happened in my Tri-Wizard Tournament. The one in this universe is the one I should know about. I’m sure it was a highly publicised event, therefore it would seem odd if I didn’t know anything.” Harry pointed out.

He saw the faces around the table frown, all except Severus’. ‘Was that too harsh?’ Harry wondered.

Surprisingly, Sirius was the one to let it drop, he launched into a dramatic re-telling of the events five years ago. Punctuated by short arguments with James about the accuracy of his story.

He had everyone close to crying with laughter, except Severus of course who merely chuckled quietly occasionally, with his replaying of some of the tasks.

It seemed that they were not all that dissimilar from his own. Dragons made up the first task. However, it was not the mer-people that the second task involved getting past. That had been different, instead of going after what they would miss the most the competitors were challenged with going into the Forbidden Forest and locating a baby phoenix, Fawkes in fact, as he had just experienced a burning day.

However the third task was the same, though without the sabotage that Harry’s had contained. The winner, Victor Krum had taken the trophy and that had caused the maze to disintegrate, leaving him stood in the middle of the now bare Quidditch pitch holding his prize high. There had been no attacking of the other champions by those under the Imperious.

When asked about his own Tri-Wizard Tournament Harry would only reply that his second task was different, he had to go into the lake to retrieve something but other than that the tasks were the same. He refused to answer any further questions, stating that, “You do not need to know about another universe. That world is no longer my own. I have to know about this one. Learning about my past, about what happened to the people in my universe can only serve to upset. Be content with your lives here. Please.” His pleading emerald eyes tugged at the heartstrings of everyone present.

For his own part, Severus agreed with Harry. He had no desire to know about the life of the Severus Snape Harry had grown up with. That man had experienced a completely different set of events for the last twenty years than he had. A person’s experiences moulded them, therefore this Severus was not the same one as the other.

The rest of the group, however, had not yet reached the same conclusion, they wanted to know about the events of Harry’s life. Not thinking that perhaps Harry wished to forget them.

In an attempt to assist his lover, Severus struck up a conversation with Lily about their school days, which the Marauders quickly joined in on.

It was close to one o’clock the following morning when the Potters and Severus returned to the castle. Lily and James left the couple at the foot of the stairs in the entrance hall.

Harry and Severus headed off to the dungeons. They came to Harry’s room first. Salazar was waiting there.

[Well, how did it go?] He asked Harry curiously.

“It was fine Salazar, just as you and Hamila predicted. We ate and we talked.”

“Though I will admit that we were watched for any signs of strange behaviour,” Severus interrupted. “I got the dirtiest look off Black when I put my hand on yours. Almost made me want to keep on doing things just to see his reaction but I resisted.”

Harry shot him a grateful look, “Thanks.” He didn’t know what the man would have done if provoked by Severus.

“Goodnight, Harry.”

“Goodnight Sev.”

They shared a brief kiss before Harry entered his room and Severus continued on down the corridors to his own quarters.

As Severus was lying in bed that night he found that he missed Harry’s presence by his side. Maybe he would see if the younger man wanted to make their ‘sleepovers’ more of a common occurrence. ‘Tonight was not too bad.’ He thought. ‘But then, I would do pretty much anything to please Harry.’