I Swear
As I always write at the start, I'm a member of the Snarry CZ/SK group, where the brilliant FemmeFragile came up with the Snapíšek gift exchange. This story was written as a contribution to it. This story was born from my crush on a character Alan Rickman played years ago. The character is Sinclair from the film Close My Eyes. I truly love this actor, and even though I know not all of you like to associate him with Sev, I can't keep that fact out of this story. Severus is hugely OOC here, but judge for yourselves. I'll be very happy for comments, which are practically the driving force of every author. Sorry for any mistakes, this story hasn't been edited. Thank you to Martina Petreková and the others for beta reading! If anyone would be interested in editing it, I'd be grateful. Enjoy the read!
I declare that the whole world of Harry Potter is the sole property of J.K. Rowling and that this story was not written for profit.
A man sat pensively on the windowsill. He propped his chin on his hand and stared, sometimes outside and sometimes at his reflection in the windowpane. What he saw wasn't so bad. Sandy blond hair, streaked with silver at the temples. Prematurely. Dark eyes, piercing and unapproachable, framed by thick brows of the same colour. The corners of his mouth curled upwards, telling the world that this man liked to laugh, but it wasn't so. Most of the time he frowned. He raised his hand and took hold of the locket hanging around his neck. He lowered his eyes and read the inscription. "I promise..." He frowned again and let go of the locket.
Sinclair Stevens sat in his flat in London looking out of the window. For as long as he could remember, and that wasn't all that long, he had been somehow exceptional. Or rather strange? It had been almost five years since he woke up in hospital with amnesia. They told him he'd had a car accident, but apparently he didn't own a driving licence. How could he have had a car accident? No other party was known. The car wasn't even his, and its owner had supposedly died several years earlier. He was quite confused by it all. The only things he knew for sure about himself were his name and date of birth. He didn't know where, or whether, he had any family, but he concluded he probably didn't. Nobody had come looking for him. At night terrifying dreams woke him and nothing helped. Nothing would chase them away. He saw countless psychiatrists. He tried various kinds of treatment. Some told him his brain was playing tricks on him, but he suspected he had forgotten something important. There were also some inexplicable events. Something like accidental magic, perhaps? Or did he just have a vivid imagination? Another strange thing was that he had a flat registered in his name and his own bank account. The police had told him about that too. But the neighbours didn't know him. He truly didn't understand it. With a sigh he got up from the window and went to make black tea. While he waited for the water to heat, he went over his successes. Three years after that 'car accident' he had become a writer. His stories about a school of magic were sought after and had become a cult. He had already published two very successful fantasy novels. At one book signing a fan told him he was the second Tolkien. He had created a world you could only dream of. He smiled at the memory with amusement. Women went mad for him. He could barely push them away. And that was another thing. He was sure he was gay. And another mystery came with that. He felt a strange restlessness inside him. Something, or someone, was missing. Something was wrong. When he wasn't having a nightmare, in his dreams he saw himself at an altar with some man. He couldn't see him properly. On the street he probably wouldn't recognise him. The distinguishing marks were messy hair and, as the man tilted his head for a kiss, a glint, perhaps from glasses. Severus frowned thoughtfully and pressed his lips together. Just then the kettle clicked, so he ran a hand through his hair and reached for it. He poured the tea and sat back down at his computer to continue his story. He was tired of staring outside and feeling sorry for himself. He put on his glasses and his fingers ran across the keys. He managed to write one single sentence when the doorbell rang. He ran a hand through his hair again and took off his glasses. He tossed them on the desk and leaned his elbows on it, tousling his hair. When the bell rang again, he got up and went to open the door with a growl. When he opened it, he stared in surprise at a shorter young man. Did he recognise him? A dull ache started in his head and his vision blurred. He urgently needed pills so a migraine wouldn't set in. Unable to think, he left the door open and went to the bathroom. Meanwhile the young man stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He sighed wearily and sat down on the sofa in the living room.
Harry had been looking at the dark brown varnish of the door, and suddenly he was staring at Severus Snape. His future husband. He had several reasons for staring. He was seeing him for the first time in almost five years, and on top of that he didn't look like Severus Snape. After the war too many wizards had threatened his life, and Harry simply needed time to clear his name. The Ministry hadn't been that hard a nut to crack, he had sorted that out quickly, even without the defendant present. No. The main problem was the wizarding public. At first only the Daily Prophet insulted Severus Snape. Then came small attacks on the street, and then bigger ones that nearly cost him his life. But that was finally over. Now was the right time for Severus Snape to finally come back. There was just one single little flaw. Harry sighed again. Hermione had used a memory charm. A strong memory charm. And on the man who was currently the only one in this world who mastered Legilimency and Occlumency. She had used it on the only man capable of reversing the charm's effect with that ability. But what do you do when that man has forgotten he can do it? Harry leaned forward and put his head in his hands. He knew a very hard time lay ahead of him, and time was pressing on top of that.
Severus had been afraid Hermione wouldn't do the charm well. He didn't want to lose his memories. But Harry believed it would be alright. And he wanted to prove to him that he wouldn't leave him alone in it. Out of desperation, and drunk, he had made an Unbreakable Vow. Severus Snape, if he had been sober, would never have agreed to it. After all, apart from their shared hatred, they had nothing in common. Unfortunately alcohol works wonders, and Harry had fancied Severus Snape since school. The vow said that within five years Harry would come back for Severus, marry him and have children with him. Of course, he knew the very next morning that what he had done was madness. He remembered his thoughts from back then. 'First of all, Harry, you idiot! That man won't remember you! Or that damned vow! So how will you convince him to marry you? Second, having children? You're both men, you troll! And are you going to brew the potion that would solve that yourself? In case it hasn't dawned on you, Snape won't even remember he's a wizard!' Harry leaned back frustrated against the sofa and growled at his own stupidity, when Severus came back.
After washing down a pill, the pain didn't ease straight away, but a few minutes in the bathroom were enough and it started to work. So he soaked his head with cold water and then towelled his hair dry. He left the towel around his neck and went back to the living room, hands in his pockets. He hoped the uninvited guest hadn't stolen anything from him. "Better?" a voice came from the sofa. Sinclair turned in that direction and let his eyes dart around that part of the room before he nodded. "Yes, thank you for asking. Who are you?" he asked gruffly. An indifferent expression on his face and his hands still in his pockets. Harry stood up and ran a hand through his hair. "Harry. Harry Potter, Severus. I've come to remind you of our vow and help you remember everything you've forgotten." Sinclair burst out laughing, which completely floored Harry. He had never seen Severus Snape with a smile on his face. And such a huge one. "Sinclair Stevens. Not Severus. You must have mistaken me for someone else," he interrupted him. Harry opened his mouth to object and then would have liked to slap himself. "Yes, that's the name you're known by now. I'm sorry, but that isn't your real identity. I'll explain." He pointed to the other end of the sofa. Sinclair was still standing, then took one hand out of his pocket and touched his forehead in a familiar gesture. 'So much the same and so different,' Harry thought. The impression only broke when he rolled up the sleeves on both arms and invited him. "Alright, I'll hear you out, Mr Potter. Would you like coffee or tea?" Harry saw his tattoo. Severus would never have rolled up his sleeves. He hated that mark, but 'this man is practically not Severus Snape,' he had to remind himself again. He took a breath and blurted out, "Black tea! I take it the same way you do." He smiled. Sinclair looked at him for a moment, then pressed his lips together and went to the kitchen.
Harry jerked, completely lost, because he had no idea what he had been doing for the last few minutes before Sinclair brought hot tea. He looked at him and smiled. But Sinclair didn't return the smile. He only smirked with the words, "Well, Mr Potter? I don't have all day for you." He leaned back and put his right ankle over his left leg. Harry watched it and opened his mouth. He stumbled a little. "Severus Snape was the cleverest and bravest man I ever had the honour of knowing." He raised his eyes and then concentrated on stirring his tea. "Have you never felt strange? I know you're a writer and it'll sound like an even bigger cliché to you, but you're a wizard." Sinclair looked at him for a moment and then started laughing. "I'm strange all over, Mr Potter. The information about me is public, so you must know I don't remember anything from my previous life. And that I'm a wizard? Fine, good joke, considering that's what my books are about." He sipped his tea and urged him on. "If that's what was supposed to convince me, I'm afraid it didn't work." Harry nodded and pulled out his wand. "Accio locket!" he commanded, and Sinclair grabbed his empty neck in fright. He watched in surprise as his locket flew into Harry's outstretched palm. "You got it from me," Harry sighed and looked at the surprised man. "Sinclair Stevens is a cover. There was a war in our world. You risked your own life to help defeat the darkness. You were a secret agent. Unfortunately, those who knew about you died during the war. At the end you were almost sentenced to death. Wizards all over the country wanted your head. To them you were that bastard's right hand." Harry sighed again, he felt exhausted and it didn't look very hopeful. In a short while he told him almost everything, including the last serious attack, after which he had ended up in St Mungo's hospital. But not in much detail. "For your safety, my friend and I came up with your new identity, and she wiped your memories. Unfortunately, at the moment you're the only person in all of Britain capable of breaking the memory charm. The second unfortunately is that you don't remember it. And the third unfortunately is that if you don't marry me, neither of us will survive." Sinclair couldn't answer right away. He looked at the window, raised his eyebrows and then brought his eyes back to Harry. He was trying to absorb all that information. It was dawning on him that it was probably true, even though it sounded truly unbelievable. But it explained all the oddities he had come across in the last four and a half years. "Why wouldn't we survive?" he asked sideways. Harry took a breath and went red. "Because I'm an idiot. And a troll. And a moron! Everything you ever called me during my school years." Sinclair blinked and listened to Harry's story about their Unbreakable Vow. "Brilliant," he said at last. He thought. However improbable it sounded, he knew it was true. Some parts of Harry's story exactly mirrored his nightmares. He got up, went to the window, turned on his heel to face Harry with parted lips, through which he hissed, practically like in the old days. "That's really brilliant! For years I've been floundering like a fish out of water and now I feel completely at rock bottom! After such a hard life, shouldn't I be doing well instead?!" He came back to the sofa and sat down stiffly. "I'm guessing that Severus Snape of yours would know how to get out of this. But I have no idea. I suppose I should put my affairs in order before I kick the bucket." Harry chuckled at the expression, but grew serious again. He put his hand on Sinclair's forearm and smiled. "Or you could just marry me! What's so hard about that?" Sinclair growled. "And how will I explain it to the media? I can't just disappear!" He frowned again. "How does it actually work? I became a writer and I write about wizards! How come nobody has attacked me since I became famous?" Harry swallowed. "First of all, have you seen yourself? You look completely different! Nobody would look for Severus Snape in you, and besides, you have a different name and completely different behaviour. Only a total lunatic could connect you with Severus!" Sinclair rolled his eyes and nodded. "Fine, you could just have said I was an unpopular bastard who needed a complete makeover." He got up, and Harry looked at him uncomprehendingly. "Are you going somewhere?" Sinclair nodded. "Christmas is coming and the markets have started not far from here. I need to come to terms with this somehow. It's not every day that someone tells me what you just did." He sighed. "Tell me one more thing, how do you actually picture what happens next?" Harry nodded and shifted in his seat. "I talked it over with Hermione. You can't just disappear from the public life of Muggles. We can't kill you off either. There'd be a problem when a fan of yours ran into you somewhere. And we won't turn you back into Severus Snape either. That sandy colour suits you." He chuckled. "You'll just gradually withdraw back into the wizarding world. In the Muggle world you'll become a recluse and.." Sinclair nodded. "Fine. Fine, I understand!" He looked at Harry for a while, and finally he felt that he wanted it himself. "Call me Severus. I'll try. I'll try to remember. But I have no idea how, and for now I don't want to hear any more!" He set off towards the door, where he took his jacket off the hook. "Will you come with me? If I'm to marry you, I suppose I should get to know you." Harry jumped up eagerly. He really liked the new Severus Snape!
Severus walked with Harry at his side. The winter air shimmered around them and the snowy lawns made Harry feel as if he had stepped into a fairy tale. On the way they talked about almost everything. Harry used the chance to take a good look at Severus Snape. He looked like a sporty middle aged man. A slim, athletic body in a light modern tracksuit without a hood, a brown scarf and a black wool coat. He simply couldn't picture the old Severus Snape. His cheeks had gone red in the frost, which gave him a youthful look, and his short hair, about 15 cm long, was clean and windswept. A little grey, but Harry suddenly realised what a sexy and desirable man he was. His eyes sparkled as he talked about his friends from the amnesia support group. "It's really funny. Sometimes their stories and experiences are priceless!" Harry nodded. He smirked when they finally reached the square. Severus took his hands out of his coat pockets and leaned against the nearest stall. "This is great, Harry, I feel as if I've found something I was missing." Harry smiled and watched suspiciously as Severus ordered two mulled meads with a smile. Severus put a cup in front of him and held out his hand with his own cup. "Cheers, then, Harry." Harry picked up his and was surprised to feel it was warm. "That's not alcohol?" Severus chuckled. "Oh, it is. Taste it and don't look at it as if it's going to bite you!" He took a sip himself to show it was fine. He shook his head until his hair fell into his eyes. He brushed it away and smirked. "Excellent. As it is every year, actually." And he looked around. "Mm, you come here every year?" Severus nodded cheerfully. "Yes. And I intend to keep doing it. Tell me, Harry. When we get married, is it forever? Some kind of magical oath?" Harry put down his cup. "For a start, let me tell you this is excellent alcohol. And now what you're asking." He looked into his eyes. "Yes. It's permanent. Do you want children, Severus?" Severus nodded. "Who doesn't?" Harry swallowed. "You didn't use to want them. For one thing you called all students empty heads, and for another you were ashamed of your genes." Severus looked at him in surprise. "I see. I can't imagine what would make me say something like that. These days I sometimes teach creative writing at the university and yes, I can't stand students. They don't try. Or they're not interested. But my own children? What made me say something like that?" Just then his head started to ache again. He clutched his head. "Ah, maybe I'll remember soon, eh?" he breathed out when the pain eased. He felt so strange. "Maybe, yes. Let me bring you books on Occlumency and Legilimency. I truly believe you'll be able to release your memories," Harry sighed. He felt the lovely moment was lost for good, but Severus didn't look that way. He shook his head, took his cup and carried on telling him about his almost five years among Muggles. Harry felt sorry that he was going to bring him back. He felt sorry that he would take away the life Severus clearly liked. And since he wasn't one of those who liked to lie, he told him. "You know, I'm sorry I'm going to take away the life you love so much." He fixed his eyes on the table. Severus looked at him for a moment and then swallowed. "You won't. I'm telling you stories here, but more often I sit at home on the windowsill and stare outside, wondering who I was before. Where my friends are, my family..." Then he burst out laughing and Harry looked back at him in surprise. "Apparently I had neither, but I'm still glad I got my answers. Now all I need is to get my memories back."
When they had finished, Severus ordered more. They stayed there until evening, and both drunk as lords, they tried to survive the walk home in one piece. Which didn't really work, because Severus was heavy and Harry was small. It didn't take long before they both went tumbling into the snow, laughing. Severus ended up under Harry and instinctively hugged him to protect him. They looked into each other's eyes, completely ignoring their surroundings. It was Severus who first pressed his lips to Harry's. Gently at first, then fiercely, and Harry returned everything very willingly. Neither of them tried anything more there. When they broke apart, Harry rolled into the snow beside him and stared at the sky. "It's as if I've found what I was missing. Yes. I feel that everything is finally right and in its place," Severus murmured and started moving his arms and legs and laughing. Harry turned to him and watched him. "Apparently it is. It's written in the stars and you belong with me." Despite the alcohol, Harry was grateful it couldn't be seen how red he was going. "What are you doing, Sev?" Severus started scrambling to his feet. "A snow angel!" He was swaying, but even so he helped Harry up too, and together they looked at his work. Harry started giggling and then burst out laughing. "This will be the most beautiful memory of my life!" Severus hugged him and gave in to that feeling of belonging. With his eyes closed, he kissed the top of his head. "You'll get more of those..."
A week later Harry helped Severus move his things. He gave him back the wand he had kept for him and showed him old photographs. Severus's family and Severus himself from his baby shoes onwards. Photos he had found in his house before it was torn down, because a fire had swept through it in which Severus had nearly burned to death. It was arson. But Harry didn't tell him that. He went on with photos of his own family and watched in surprise as Severus told him at one photo that he remembered that woman. His friend Lily. But they didn't go into it any further. There would be plenty of time. Harry started preparing for the wedding and had the news released in the wizarding papers. The next day wizarding London was flooded with newspapers carrying headlines an inch high, "Severus Snape Found!" and "Harry Potter Had a Secret Relationship with His Old Professor! Exclusive Interview!" As had been Severus's habit before, he sneered while reading. Then he threw the papers into the fireplace and rolled his eyes. "I had no idea they loved me so much." Harry shook his head. "You meant that sarcastically, didn't you?" Severus looked at him sideways. "How else? I thought sarcasm was my closest friend?!" Harry chuckled. "The wedding is tomorrow," he changed the subject. "An official will come to our house, and Hermione with Ron and Minerva. They'll be our witnesses." Various feelings mixed inside Severus, but he didn't show it. He only nodded. When Harry left him alone, he started thinking.
'I would rather enter this bond with my memory fully back. But a vow is a vow, and I'm certainly not planning to end up six feet under.' He leaned back in his armchair and continued his tormenting thoughts. 'It only took him a moment to win my heart. A kind young man. Always cheerful.' He sighed. 'Even if I wanted to, I couldn't walk away now.' He smiled crookedly. 'What if our bond puts him in danger? I clearly felt he was lying to me when he told me about the accident in my house. Someone started that fire.' He shook his head. 'So much hatred.' He leaned forward and made up his mind. That week had been enough for him to study the material on Occlumency and Legilimency. The principle was simple. Now it just had to work. He had no intention of taking the obvious warnings in the footnotes lightly. He didn't want to end up trapped in his own head. He went up to the bedroom, sat on the bed, crossed his legs and put his hands on his knees. He tried to clear his mind. He needed a clear and light head. He focused on his breathing. 'In' and 'out', he thought only of that. Finally he took his wand in his hand and whispered the incantation. He looked around in surprise. He knew it had worked. He was... Where, actually? It looked like a hall! And Severus remembered that the way it looked depended on his imagination. He set off into the depths of the adjoining corridors.
When he emerged from his trance like state, he looked at the window. Dark. 'Several hours, Severus...' he sighed. 'Once you'd have managed it in no time,' he growled at himself. Now he knew. He had found the place where his memories and his self were locked away. But to his surprise he found that almost nothing had changed. In those almost five years his self had rested and was apparently content to be so close to marrying Harry. 'Or,' it occurred to him, 'that's still to come. Your nature can't change in the blink of an eye.' Suddenly Severus wasn't sure of himself. He threw himself back onto the bed and frowned at the ceiling. Then he got up and went to cook them dinner. He was ready to tell Harry the results of his introspection.
Harry gave Severus as much space as he needed. He deliberately hid away in his study and thought. The wedding was knocking at the door. He had to laugh at himself. It was his dream, but not Severus's. His thoughts wandered further. Severus had been a very important figure for him since the start of his school years. He hadn't realised it before, he was too young, then a student, and on top of that he had tried his luck with women for a long time. Thanks to Uncle Vernon's upbringing it hadn't even occurred to him that he might be gay. Only later, when Ron mentioned his experience with one of their classmates and explained to Harry that there was nothing to it and that most wizards were actually bisexual, did Harry try to explore his inner self. He admitted to himself that he looked at men differently. He judged their eyes, their bodies and even their style. There might not be anything so strange about that, but his interest wasn't purely curious. It was downright appraising. And then it came, he met Severus Snape and his problems again. The first thing that caught his attention about his former professor was his hands. Long slim fingers on perfect slim palms. Almost feminine. Severus's tall figure, thin, yes, but extremely sexy, and finally his neck. Back then Severus needed protection, he had been attacked and threatened again. Harry offered to guard him and spent six whole days in his house. One evening Severus went to have a bath. That time he put his hair up, and Harry was truly struck dumb by the sight. That neck. Beautiful, like a swan's. Again almost feminine. Harry came back to the present and exhaled. Yes, now Severus looked different. But no less sexy. The hard black was gone, and in its place was a sexy, relaxed and friendly man with personality. He looked at his watch and jumped up. "Damn, dinner!" He ran to the kitchen, where he ran into the man he had been dreaming about all day in his memories. He smiled and went over to the counter. "That smells good!" He leaned over the pot, into which Severus was just sprinkling herbs. Severus smiled and looked at Harry. "I know you're a dunce when it comes to potions, but you cook well. You can help me." Harry burst out laughing and then stopped. "So you remember everything?" Severus nodded. "Yes. It took me several hours, but I opened that locked chest. I have to say my thoughts are mixed." Harry leaned his back against the counter, hoisted himself up onto it and sat there. Severus ran his eyes over him, but when Harry reached out and snatched a piece of carrot, he smiled. Harry took a bite and finally asked, "So tell me." Severus shook his head and started slicing mushrooms. "My memories aren't anything cheerful. I was afraid they would change my character, or at least how I see myself, but it didn't happen. I'm afraid it's still to come..." Harry cut in and, with his mouth full of carrot, said, "No! You don't have to be afraid. I'm completely sure there are only a few things Sinclair had differently. I noticed when I came for you at your flat that you don't see your Dark Mark as something ugly, you're not afraid to show it, and you were friendlier and maybe more trusting, but in reality there weren't that many changes." Severus watched his lips move and then leaned down and silenced him. Harry's eyes went wide and then he closed them, surrendering completely to the kiss.
Severus had always been a pedant. Normally he wouldn't let himself be interrupted from making dinner, but Harry was so sweet and desirable. As he sat on that counter biting the carrot, Severus felt arousal flood his body. He watched his lips move and then leaned in and kissed him. He was afraid Harry would back off, but to his surprise he felt him press against him and return the kiss. He immediately dropped what he was holding and moved between Harry's legs. He slid his hands under the T-shirt the Gryffindor was wearing and stroked his sides. Harry sighed and raised his hands to run them into that greying hair. Severus deepened their kiss as he slipped his tongue between his lips, and slowly moved his hands under his backside and lifted him into his arms. Harry wrapped his legs around his hips and his arms tightly around his neck. Without breaking the kiss, Severus tried to head for the bedroom. First he bumped into the wooden doorframe, until Harry laughed a little into the kiss, and then he tripped on a step on the way up. Fortunately he caught his balance with his load, and when they finally reached the bed, he tossed Harry onto it from quite a height. Harry grumbled in protest. Severus quickly pulled off his T-shirt and helped Harry wriggle out of his. Then he fell hungrily on his neck. Harry tipped his head back and gasped. Severus's cold fingers explored him in detail and his mouth wasn't idle either. Harry tensed when his lips closed around his nipple and began to suck. Harry was very sensitive and felt only the heat those lips spread into every limb. He growled grumpily when Severus set off to explore further. At his trousers he stopped and looked at Harry questioningly, Harry quickly nodded, so Severus sat up and with one quick movement pulled off his trousers along with his underwear. Cold washed over Harry, but he hungrily watched Severus get up from the bed and slowly, provocatively take off his trousers and underwear. Harry bit his lip and then reached out to pull him close. He kissed him fiercely and pulled him down on top of him...
The next morning Severus woke up first. Harry was curled up at his side. He looked at his messy black hair and smiled contentedly. He took a deep breath and gazed towards the window, which told him it was only just dawn. He had no intention of getting up, so he just turned over, reached for the duvet and covered Harry and himself more thoroughly. The Gryffindor wriggled a little, but more or less only to get closer to Severus and keep sleeping. Severus closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep again.
Around ten they were both woken by noise as someone demanded to be let in. Harry shot up and looked at the alarm clock. "Damn it, Sev! We've overslept! That'll be Hermione and the others!" He flew out of bed and pulled on his boxers. A T-shirt on top, and he ran downstairs. Severus followed him more slowly, but he didn't bother much with getting dressed. He pulled on fresh boxers and went. Inside he was laughing, because he knew exactly what faces that lot would make.
Harry opened the door out of breath and smiled at Hermione, Ron and Minerva. Minerva ran her eyes over his inadequate clothing, but said nothing. Harry invited them in. Before he closed the door, he wondered why Hermione was somehow quiet. The moment the door clicked shut and he turned around, he understood why. Severus, in all his glory, was walking down the stairs looking at them. Half naked. Harry quickly ran his eyes over the stunned guests, when Severus smiled provocatively and added, "Shall we all have breakfast together? Somehow last night has made me hungry." With that he ran down the last three steps and Harry took a breath. Ron was burning like a radish and Hermione was silent in shock. Surprisingly, Minerva began to laugh quite openly and followed Severus into the kitchen with loud laughter. "Well done, you rascal!" Hermione finally recovered too and took Ron's hand. Harry walked ahead of them, apologising for Severus's mad behaviour. In that moment he would have loved to hex him. When he walked into the kitchen, Severus was already preparing breakfast. Harry chased him off to get dressed and started chopping vegetables. Everyone at the table was quiet. When Severus came back, he went straight to Harry and hugged him from behind. He was wearing his beige hoodie and trousers. Harry loved both, because they were soft and lovely and warm. He forgot about the guests and let himself be swallowed by that fluffy fabric. Only Minerva's cough and a quiet sentence brought him back. "I'm glad you're so happy together in the end..." You could see she was embarrassed and slightly pink, but some kind of excitement about the situation radiated from her. Harry smiled and put the first plate in front of her. Then in front of Ron and Hermione, who were still silent. "You should get ready. The official will be here in half an hour," Ron said at last, and Harry nodded. He left them alone with Severus, who was sipping his tea and leaning casually against the counter. Hermione couldn't take her eyes off him. "You're not behaving at all like you used to," she breathed, and Severus raised an eyebrow. "What is used to? To be honest, I've already remembered everything, Miss Granger, or rather Mrs Weasley. I was afraid I'd be that unbearable bastard again, but those five years have left their mark on me." Ron smiled. "I think that's a good thing. Harry has loved you for a long time, and if you were that unbearable bastard again, you'd probably both kick the bucket before you'd let him get close to you." Severus burst out laughing. "Then it's a good thing my nature hasn't shown itself yet..." At that Hermione and Minerva burst out laughing too.
When the official arrived, everyone was ready, and Minerva had even transfigured an old dusty straw hat into a small flower for the lapels of Harry's and Severus's jackets. When she pinned it on Severus, she smiled at him and added, "Albus would be proud..." Severus didn't even blink. But he pulled her into a hug and smiled. The ceremony was quick, without unnecessary frills. But Harry was sure he would remember it for a very long time. He would remember Severus's eyes, which drank him in as he spoke his vows and told Harry he meant every word completely. Harry returned that look and tried to put into it all the love he felt in that moment. He would remember how Severus held his hand and squeezed it tightly when the time came for Harry's 'Yes'. The first married kiss came to the applause of all three witnesses and the official himself, even though it wasn't wild at all. Harry was grinning and would have loved to claim Severus all for himself. But he had to wait until evening.
When everyone had finally left, Severus went to shower and Harry went to the kitchen, where he began preparing an excellent dinner. He was almost done when music began to drift from the living room. Harry frowned, but the words captivated him. He put down his knife and checked the sauce with a glance. He walked into the darkened room all the way to Severus, who turned to him and kissed him blindly. Harry put his arms around his neck, but Severus shook his hands off. He took Harry's face in his palms and began to hum along with the singer, his lips shaping the song's promise that he would be there like a shadow at his side, for better or worse, until death parted them, loving him with every beat of his heart. Harry sniffled and covered the back of Severus's hand on his face. "Don't cry, Harry. I'll be here for you..." He wiped the Gryffindor's tears and kissed him tenderly..
THE END
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Mimosa Confiante
By day, I work somewhere between marketing, copy and campaigns; by night, I usually end up somewhere between fanfiction, cosplay and yet another “what if” that refuses to leave me alone. I write mainly in the Harry Potter and Mo Dao Zu Shi fandoms, most often Snarry, Snamione, HarryLu and WangXian. My healthcare background means that anatomy, medicine and far too much research occasionally find their way into my stories. Cosplay is another way for me to play with the characters I love, whether I stay close to canon or turn them into my own fanfiction and AU versions. In Diary of a Slytherin Girl with ADHD, I write openly about life with a brain that usually has far too many tabs open at once.
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