Chapter Text
How much had he changed in the last few years, Ron wondered as he watched the ending of the magical adoption by both Cho and Hermione. He sat next to his siblings, having Theo at his left and grabbed his hand when the magic started taking effect.
If first-year him would have realized that by the end of fifth year he would have a Slytherin boyfriend, he wouldn’t have believed it. Never. But now he had. He was friends with most Slytherins, even took part in clubs that were hosted by these ‘slimy snakes’ – as he used to call them. And he had been the reason why the blood-traitor status was no longer implemented in their family’s magic. Little Ron would have probably screamed at him for having Snakes as friends and as a boyfriend.
But Theo was so much more than just a snake. He was super smart and understanding. Magical Theory usually took a little longer until it was stuck in Ron’s head, while he could understand things that he could physically try and fail or succeed at much better. But theory… ugh.
That however had never deterred Theo from helping him understand. And Ron had never been happier. While Wizards Chess was something his boyfriend didn’t seem particularly happy about and skilled in, he still played with him. Though he was mostly pushed towards Draco who loved to try and take him down – he had only managed once.
And so, as he watched his best friend and Cho being adopted by their universe hopping friends, he held Theo’s hand in his, squeezing it softly. Happiness was something that ran deep in the Weasley family, something with the family magic apparently. But he had never felt it as much as right now.
When the adoption was finally over, he ran towards his best friend and pulled her into a tight hug. Harry just fell around both their necks, destroying their centre of gravity and they all landed on the floor laughing.
“Welcome to the family!” Harry said with a big grin and pulled Hermione into another hug.
“Hey! I want a hug as well!”
“You just had one!” Harry said, trying to scootch away from them while Hermione laughed, trying to free herself from both of them.
“Boys!” she called out while Harry pulled her even closer.
Ron sniggered and got back up, being suddenly pulled into a hug from Theo. “I can give you a hug instead” he whispered into his ear and Ron felt himself blush deeply. He turned in his boyfriend’s hug and kissed him.
“Alright guys, we have reserved a whole restaurant for us” he heard their Muggle Studies professor’s voice and when he looked away from Theo, he saw adult Harry waving them all outside. “Come on, you’ve seen each other over the summer plenty of time.”
Theo grinned and grabbed Ron’s hand. “Not enough” he said to Harry and stopped in front of him. “Narcissa didn’t let me leave every day to see him and you didn’t allow Ron to come visit me.”
“Seriously, Theodore” Harry started and chuckled, “you should be able to spend one day apart from each other. We allowed you to either bring Ron over or go to him for all but one day!”
“One day too many!” Ron interrupted and grinned as he pulled Theo with him, following the steady flow of children and adults. He quickly found his friends again and placed an arm around Harry’s shoulders. His best friend laughed and did so as well.
“Did you complain to older me?” he asked with a knowing grin.
Ron had just wanted to argue, when Theodore cut in. “Naturally. It may have been important for Ron to be at home for Ginny and Percy’s birthdays, but why in the middle of September?”
Harry laughed and clapped Ron on his back. “I think you have a stalker at your hands, Ron.”
“And you don’t?” he asked, motioning over to where Draco was walking next to his family, always glancing back at his friend with differing looks of love-struck.
“I didn’t say that.”
Theo laughed and squeezed Ron’s hand. During their walk through the Ministry, Hermione suddenly stopped walking and waited for them to catch up. When they did, both Harry and Ron separated so she could walk in the middle, having both their arms around her shoulders.
“I love you all!” she said with a big smile. “I never thought that our lives could have changed so much!”
Ron nodded and looked towards the front of their little group where the older Version od Draco was walking with his mother and sister. “I fully agree. Who would have thought that two professors could have changed our lives so much? Before they came to Hogwarts, I never would have thought about talking to a Slytherin.”
Theo laughed. “Pretty sure you were talking to Draco a whole lot.”
“Yeah, but like civilized, Theo!” Ron argued and leaned over to kiss his cheek. He grinned when Theo turned red and glanced at him. Hermione sniggered and pulled both Ron and Harry closer.
They headed to Muggle London, where adult Harry had indeed reserved all the tables in a small restaurant and they sat down and ate and celebrated. While Ginny and Luna sat at a table with Anouk and her children, Ron sat at a table together with his best friends, Draco, Theo, Neville and Susan Bones. They were talking about school and the last few months in their lives.
“I can’t believe that we’re going back to school and there’s no death threats out there for us” Hermione said and grinned as she leaned over to let the waiter take away the empty salad dish. Ron saw the waiter looking slightly confused, but didn’t show it more and continued cleaning the table.
Draco sniggered and leaned into Harry’s side. “Yeah, well, who says that there isn’t? Maybe my father is still out there somewhere.”
“Pretty sure our professors have seen him being arrested” Susan Bones argued and grinned. “And besides, we have the world’s greatest duellist in our midst.”
“Yeah, Snape isn’t here at the moment” Harry commented sarcastically which made Ron snigger and Hermione slapped his arm lightly. When the waiter disappeared, he looked at Hermione. “How are the werewolves then?”
She grinned at them. “Well enough. Marrok is still mad at Abe for continuing to try and keep Bill in the country.”
“I heard about that!” Ron said and laughed. “Apparently, there have been multiple changes to Bill’s excursion team. He has actually asked our parents if there is a way to control a wolf or a vampire, because they manage to delay his curse breaking thing.”
While there were multiple people laughing around the table, Neville seemed thoughtful. “I guess it might be hard to let go of a loved one, especially letting them go to do something dangerous.”
Theo leaned over and whispered into Ron’s ear, “don’t even think about following your brother’s footsteps.” He turned quickly and kissed his boyfriend. He didn’t intend on becoming a curse breaker, but it if meant he would get such attention from Theo, maybe he could pretend to do so…
“Well, he could go and ask for Ministry protection” Susan offered, but she grinned a second later, “though I seriously doubt that would keep his mates from him. Have they already offered to turn him?”
“Multiple times” Ron sniggered at that. “Bill went to a library to look through creature catalogues and every time they come up about turning him, he’s mentioning another creature that he wants to turn into. Last I heard, he offered to turn into a humanoid dragon so Charlie could take him awa from them and take care of him.”
Harry chocked on his water and started laughing while Hermione and Draco sniggered. Theo grinned, having been around when Bill came up with that idea. It had actually been partially his to begin with. Ron had invited him to stay for a weekend when his brother had come home and complained about it again.
Ginny, being their favourite sister, had taken this complain entirely too serious and suggested a dragon and Theo came up with the rest. From the looks these two had thrown each other, Ron was glad to know that Theo was gay and not interested in his sister. They had also then spent the rest of the day behind closed doors, coming up with something to help his brother out.
To say that Theo was a welcomed part in his family’s rows was an understatement. And him being Slytherin that had greatly surprised Ron.
As soon as the celebration started, it also ended again. Ron bid goodbye to his friends and then his boyfriend who was heading home with his foster family. He hugged Hermione tightly, wishing her and her somewhat new family all the best and then hugged his boyfriend again.
“Will we see each other again before Hogwarts?” he asked as they walked to the Leaky Cauldron to go home from there.
“Unlikely” Theo said, “unless we coordinate out school shopping in Diagon.”
“I will make sure of that” he said and nodded determined.
Theo chuckled and pulled him closer. “Good. I’ll write when Narcissa’s planning on going and we can meet again, yeah?”
Ron nodded and walked to the floo first. Theo followed him and waited by the fire. When Ron grabbed the fistful of floo powder and let it fall, he loudly said “Weasley Burrow”. Flames flared up around him just as he heard his boyfriend.
“I love you.”
As the flames spit him out in his home, he couldn’t find his footing and tripped over the carpet, falling into the couch, where he stayed in shock. Had Theo just told him that he loved him?!
When Ginny floo’d in, she sniggered at his shocked expression and told him she would use that memory as a way of threatening him to get things. Ron couldn’t even understand what she was saying, still too shaken by the fact that his boyfriend had told him that he loved him.
Ginny just laughed. “We’re back mum, I’m flying in the garden!”
“Be careful!” he heard their mother calling back from the house and Ginny waved at him, leaving him to maul over the fact that he probably should have said it back… maybe would just write a letter to his boyfriend, asking him if he really meant it… Or maybe he would just wait for their shopping trip to Diagon Alley.
Or pretend he hadn’t actually heard it through the roaring fire.
*
Watching the children heading back into the Great Hall after such a traumatic start to the summer was like a dream to Remus. Actually, just being back at Hogwarts as the DADA-professor was a dream. Once again, he had been a little late, since Carrie hadn’t wanted to let him go, so he had missed the first staff meeting, but Minerva had just told him to come to Hogwarts whenever he would be able to. As long as it was before the children were to enter the school.
He had arrived last night and enjoyed a late night snack with Harry, Draco, Rose, Jan, Severus and Minerva. It seemed as if half the staff had been staying in their quarters. It still had two doors at the beginning, Harry explained that while Minerva had started a child care centre close to the medical wing, Cho would still have her children over the weekends and on evenings, nights and mornings. So, having her in Ravenclaw tower was a bit of a risk.
While Remus watched the students walk into the Great Hall, he smiled over all the faces he still recognized and as it seemed, a lot of students still knew him as well.
“Professor Lupin!” a seventh year Ravenclaw called out and waved at him. Remus chuckled, recognizing Abigail Richardson. “We’re glad you’re back!”
“Lupin’s back?” he heard several children saying and grinned even broader when after that seemingly the entire student body walking into the Great Hall was waving at him and welcoming him back. The second years seemed confused, until he heard several whispers telling them that he was the best DADA professor ever to exist. Remus seriously doubted that.
Professor Sinistra lead the new first year students into the Great Hall, their numbers had nearly doubled from when Remus had seen the first sorting a few years ago. Thanks to Narcissa’s continued political work, he could smell several creatures in the room. This was the new era of Hogwarts.
As the hat called out for the first few students, they were placed in Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaws. They all received the same number of cheers. The students had clearly gotten closer together over the last few years.
And finally, once even the last student had been sorted to Gryffindor, Minerva stood up with a giant smile. “Welcome back, students of Hogwarts. We welcome you back to possibly to first calm year in a long while.” Several people chuckled. “I am the headmistress of Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall and I want you all to know that if there are any problems during your year, you can come by my office. For any first years, the office is hidden behind the gargoyle on the right to the seventh floor. Pull the gargoyle’s ear and you won’t have to enter a password.”
She then motioned to the professors. “As you can tell, we’ve had several changes to our staff, first of all, letting go of Dolores Umbridge” the hall erupted in cheers, “and re-hiring Remus Lupin as DADA professor.” Her last words were swallowed by an enormous amount of cheers and applause that Remus feared for the glass ornaments in the corner where the house points were counted.
He still grinned and stood up, bowing to the cheers getting even louder.
“Don’t let that get to your head, wolf” Severus whispered into his ear when he took his seat again. Remus winked at him, making his mate chuckle.
Minerva meanwhile continued with the new professors and finally came to her own role. “As many of you know, I’ve been the deputy headmistress, Head of Gryffindor house and Transfiguration Professor at the same time. My duty now will be only as the Headmistress of Hogwarts. Therefore, I will introduce to you our newest member of staff, Head of Gryffindor House and Transfiguration professor Sirius Black.”
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me” Severus groaned while the Gryffindor table started cheering. “I thought he was going to go back to the Aurors.”
Remus sniggered, having sat on this secret ever since he had heard Minerva offer Sirius the job. “He decided against following the Aurors, who have imprisoned him without questions, a few weeks ago. I’m surprised you haven’t noticed him, honestly.”
“I’ve been a it preoccupied by having to promise Carrie to visit her every other day, apparently.”
“So basically, when I’m not visiting.”
Severus smirked. “Exactly, wolf.”
That nickname always sent a shiver down Remus’ spine. And Severus clearly knew it, judging from his smug look. He should kiss that grin from his face and see how he liked it when his mask fell in public. Remus grinned over the thought but decided that he much more liked to live in peace.
“She’s going to skin both of us alive, when the exams start and we have no time to visit.”
“Undoubtably. She’ll try and distract us with every means possible.”
“We shouldn’t let the children in on that, otherwise they will most certainly help her in her endeavours.”
Severus chuckled softly. Remus turned back to Minerva just when she announced one of the newest things around Hogwarts. “As you are all aware of, with our new Minister of Magic and Chief Warlock, Hogwarts has opened its doors to creatures and wizards and witches alike.” Applause roared through the hall like rain in a stormy night. “Professor Lupin will be your contact person to everything surrounding creature problems. While we are currently working on getting more creature professors here, he has offered to be our point of contact. You can find his office on the third floor on the right.”
Then she wished everyone a good first evening and sat down to the feast appearing on the tables. Remus grinned when he looked over to see Harry, Draco and Sirius conspire something. It seemed to him as if there were many great pranks to come from this.
“I think I’ll quit after this year” Severus said, his eyes also down with the three men. Though Remus could hear the fondness and sarcasm from his mate.
He grinned. “Cassie would be overjoyed.”
Severus snorted and took a sip of his wine. “Why weren’t you offered the Head of House title?”
Remus smirked at him. “Minerva asked me. But honestly, that would mean more time away from you and Carrie. If I was the Head of Gryffindor House, it would mean that I couldn’t leave during the weekend… Carrie would have undoubtably skinned me alive for that decision.”
“She would have come here and visited you instead.”
“Don’t worry, love” Remus took a sip of his own wine. Their discussion had been long and Remus had wondered if they should involve Severus since he did belong to their little perhe, but in the end, he had already made a decision. “We did discuss it. You know, with Carrie about to have a child… I wanted to have the option to leave the school.”
Severus nodded and smiled softly. “I understand. It’s probably not the best idea to have her child’s fathers in school away from her.”
Remus shrugged his shoulders and placed a hand on his arm. “She has the packs, Sev. She’s not alone, don’t you worry about her. That’s the reason why werewolves live in packs.”
As the feast came to a close, Severus got up and walked to his Slytherins. Remus watched as Sirius went over to the Gryffindors as well, and the other heads of houses leading their students back up to their Common Rooms. At the Ravenclaw table, Remus found Cho Chang and Abigail Richardson carrying two children out and he grinned as he found the two of them waiting at the door.
Quickly, he found Harry getting up as well and ruffled through Draco’s hair which made him gasp in horror while the students who had seen this were sniggering over their antics. As Harry walked closer to Cho, Ryuu stretched his tiny arms towards him and he took him from Abigail’s arms. And together, they left the Great Hall, walking up to their personal quarters.
“You’re stalking, Rem” he heard Draco saying next to him as the Slytherin sat down in the chair his godfather had vacated a few minutes before.
“If it’s public display of affection, that’s not stalking” he countered with a grin.
Draco hummed noncommittedly and grinned at him. “I’ll tell Harry to keep staring at you and Sev and see how much you want to argue about that after a month.”
Remus laughed softly as the last few students left the Great Hall. “He won’t commit to a month of staring.”
“He’s persistent, trust me.”
Chuckling, Remus got up as well. “Can I invite you for a night cap?”
Draco smiled and shook his head. “Not today, sadly. Rose invited herself and Jan over. If you’re interested you can join us as well. I doubt any of the children will stay in their Common Rooms with Cho living next to us again.”
Remus laughed softly. “They will definitely use that as an excuse.” He shook his head. Luckily, Miss Chang was in her seventh year, so only one more year of having to deal with children coming by… then again, Hermione and young Harry were only in their sixth year. So maybe two more years of getting visits most nights. “I’ll ask Severus if he’s interested in joining your little soirée, but I’ll doubt it.”
“Sirius might join as well, so there’s that problem.”
“Severus said he would quit when he realized it.”
“I said the same actually” Draco sniggered at that. “And we’re all bidding on how long he might be able to stay the stern Head of Gryffindor House. Minerva thinks he will last half a year.”
“Wait, really?” Remus laughed and shook his head. “I think at least a year. Then he’ll realize that the great outdoor is calling him instead.”
Draco nodded. “I also believe that Sirius may just need some help on figuring himself out. What better place than Hogwarts, where he will be constantly challenged by the lions himself?”
“Oh he’s going to lose his head. I think I’ll change my answer to two months.”
Laughing, Draco got up and bid goodbye, following Rose out the door. The redhead placed an arm around his shoulders and he did the same to her. Remus wondered if the students had already realized that they were siblings or if they were starting the rumour that Draco was no longer on Harry’s side. That would not end well.
Chuckling softly, he turned and walked down into the dungeon, heading towards Severus’ private rooms. He wondered how long his mate’s starting speech was going to be and closed the door, right when the floo flared up and he caught sight of his other mate.
Carrie smiled at him and he greeted her with a tight hug. No, things were going to be good for once. This was where he wanted to be, where he felt good and happy. And where his wolf was safe and happy too.
And as they settled onto the couch with a few blankets around them, waiting for Severus to appear, Remus realized something. He didn’t need wealth and riches to be happy with himself. He just needed his two mates, his eventual little werewolf and a place to call home for that.
*
Severus stood on Hogwarts grounds and watched as the children along with Draco and a few other professors were building the fire for Halloween. When he looked back to the castle, he could see Remus and Harry sitting on the stairs.
They had just passed Harry sitting there and Remus had decided to stay there with him. “It’s a shared memory” he had said with a grin. “You wouldn’t know.”
He didn’t know indeed. However, what he did know was the Hogwarts had transformed entirely. His fear of the Gryffindors running rampant through the halls now that Sirius Black was the Head of Gryffindor house had been proven wrong. The Black Lord had surprised everyone (and himself honestly) by the fact that he could lead a house. Severus knew that Minerva had a close eye on the mutt, and she had told him in secret that if Sirius managed to go to Beltane without any problems or with showing that he could stop whatever problems were growing around his house, he could get offered the position indefinitely.
He smirked and turned back to the rituals the children were preparing. However, he had thought that they would need a lot more help. Instead, they had actually been rather productive and were pretty much done for now. And so, as they packed up everything and walked back up to the castle, Severus joined his adult godson.
“Is your husband joining us as well?”
“If I can convince him, I’m sure” Draco answered with a chuckle. He looked towards the castle and waved as Harry send him a smile. “He’s a lot less scared of rituals since Beltane. And I believe that he wouldn’t dare stay away now that parents are allowed to come over for the festivities.”
Severus chuckled at that. “Regulus made his decision then?”
“Can you blame the guy? If I were him, I would also have to think about going to a place where he has two sons and celebrating Halloween.”
“And he did lose a lot” Severus added, thinking about how Regulus had always gushed over James when nobody else was around. The fact that he had lost him so early in life was probably the saddest thing he had ever experienced.
When they reached their respective lovers, Draco leaned over Harry and whispered something that made the Gryffindor grin broadly and accepted Draco’s hand to get up. He had this incredible love-struck expression on his face and leaned in to quickly peck Draco’s lips, which the Slytherin seemed to allow. They left, their hands still intertwined.
Severus turned to his mate. “Please tell me we’re not that openly in love. I can’t any longer call myself the dungeon bat if I were to look at you this way.”
Remus laughed and shook his head. “Don’t you worry, love. You look menacing the entire time, I’m the one who’s so disgustingly in love.”
That did not help at all. Maybe he should go and visit Carrie and ask her what her opinions were. He had wanted to see her actually, though he had promised Remus to stay for Samhain. Well then, maybe he could run away tomorrow and hide away in the werewolf community for a day or two.
The celebrations were due to start after dinner. Minerva had set a new thing with the festivals, since the Muggleborn wizards and witches were also included. During the first two years, attendance was mandatory so that they could learn about their traditions. After that, they could choose if they wanted to participate or not.
As for Halloween, there was dinner first, then there was an hour in which the parents could arrive and walk around the school. And then, Samhain would take place outside, still on Hogwarts grounds. It was new and not many original Muggleborns were okay with it, however, even Narcissa was able to convince them that there had to be an introduction to this ‘new’ culture.
Despite some pranks from the Weasley joke shop, dinner went quietly and soon enough the parents were allowed to arrive. Severus placed himself close to the entrance of the castle, but still hiding in the shadows. If there was something he liked to see, it was a good child-parent-relationship. He had seen too many bad ones, so that it warmed his heart to see them getting along.
The first ones to arrive where the Weasleys, unsurprisingly. Ron and Ginny Weasley went to greet them, the male Weasley child pulling Theodore behind him. Severus chuckled softly at the look of slight annoyance from his Snake, however, there was the love-struck expression whenever Ronald turned around… Draco used to say he looked like that whenever Carrie or Remus wanted something from him. And Severus believed him.
“Hi mum! You’re not going to believe this, I got turned into a werewolf!” Ron greeted his parents.
Severus frowned at that, having seen no evidence of that fact. However, as soon as Molly Weasley had the shocked expression on her face and started fretting over the child, it was clear that the boy was joking. And he quickly let it know.
That was impressive, apparently, all Weasleys were able to have untasteful jokes and pranks. Severus smirked and shook his head – he didn’t like to admit it, but he liked that stunt the Weasley boy had pulled.
“Oh stop that, Ronald! Your brother has been doing the same and I’m not ready to have a furry problem in the family!”
The only Weasley girl rolled her eyes. “It’s not a problem anymore, mum. And besides, isn’t Bill transforming into a dragon?”
Severus snorted at that and looked out over the castle grounds, where the parents were currently walking up from Hogsmeade. While he had intended to hide for the rest of the parents’ reunion, he saw a face that made him stop.
Regulus Black.
He had thought that his friend from childhood wouldn’t really think about coming. The man was clearly a Lion in the Snakes nest. He could tell that Regulus felt slightly uncomfortable in the middle of so many other people who had probably heard that he died as a Death Eater. And there were quite a few people who were whispering behind his back.
So, instead of hiding in the shadows, Severus walked out of the castle and went over to greet his friend. Regulus seemed thankful for that, judging by his eyes and slightly relaxed stance.
“Hey there, Reg. I didn’t know you’d actually make it.”
Regulus chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “I had to promise Harry that I wouldn’t skip parents-things for the next two years” he said in a low voice so not everyone was hearing it. People were too nosy these days.
And since Regulus had said ‘two years’ Severus guessed that he was talking about his little son, not the adult.
“Yeah, well, you are his father” he said with a grin. They walked up over the grass to the entrance of the castle. “How long did you think about coming here?”
“Too long, honestly” Regulus smirked. “I contemplated forging an ailment. However, I believe that Harry would have held this against me for the rest of my life.”
Severus laughed at that. “Both your sons, I’m sure.”
Regulus nodded and opened his mouth to say more, when they were interrupted by a boy practically charging into his body and Severus could only reach out to stop them both from falling. He saw a head of unruly hair and the next second the boy stepped back, his eyes glowing with happiness and pure joy.
“You made it! I was so afraid that you won’t be able to make it!” Harry said with wide eyes. “Draco told me not to worry, but I just… I wanted to celebrate this with you!”
Severus could see the moment his friend decided to lie to his son, a vow to never tell him that he considered not coming tonight. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world” he said with a soft smile. “Why don’t you wait over by the castle entrance, I just need to quickly finish this discussion with Severus. Ten seconds, top.”
Harry nodded and smiled at Severus, before he ran off again. When had his life turned into students smiling at him? He was getting soft, Remus couldn’t lie to him about that.
“Not a word to my sons, Sev” Regulus said with a low voice. “I know exactly what you’re allergic to and how to get that from a random potion. I know my brother would do everything to protect me.”
Severus laughed softly and held his hands up in the air in mock-surrender. “I won’t toll them that you considered not coming today. Only a Black knows how to effectively threaten someone.”
Regulus nodded darkly and quickly raised his eyebrows. “Damn straight.” And he headed up to the castle, where Severus could see his son and Draco, along with Theo and Hermione standing there. Apparently, Narcissa had also arrived just now.
Smirking, Severus went to the fire that the professors were starting. Regulus had never said that Draco couldn’t hear about this. As he looked over his shoulders, he saw his friend placing an arm around his son and pulling him closer. Harry seemed to blossom under this attention and Severus chuckled.
Who would have thought that the world had come to this?
*
Far away and though still close to here, in a pocket universe between the universes imbedded by the white nothingness and the stream of souls, Lady Death smiled. The peace and calm that surrounded her favourite universe had finally settled and the humans seemed to have become peaceful themselves.
How surprising still, that this universe hadn’t needed a higher power or literal gods and goddesses to balance itself. All that was needed were humans from a different universe. Then again, these humans were her Master and his soulmate, so there was something special about them, definitely.
It was nice to know that the universe that was so confusing and harsh had finally found peace. Now there was one less world that she would need to keep an eye out for. Lady Love had already placed her eyes on another world, though Lord Time was still sceptic. And the Fates were also slow to act themselves.
“Sister” Lord Time spoke up behind her.
Lady Death turned, she hadn’t heard him enter this time. In the white room full of universes, only a handful were glowing under the caress of the Ladies and Lords.
“Brother” she said and bowed her head gently. “Have you come here to reprimand me?”
“You see the worst in me” Lord Time said, a ghost of a smile on his lips. Lady Death knew that he liked all their brothers and sisters the same. And at the same time, she knew that only she could make him smile like that. “Lady Magic has approved of your final act. Only if we work it during the night and Humans Ginevra Molly Weasley and Patrick Parkinson are asleep.”
Lady Death nodded. “Thank you.”
She hadn’t believed that her plans had gotten such fast actions. Usually, things went on for longer, decisions taking half a human’s life span. And those were the fast decisions, the emergency ones. All Lords and Ladies had apparently gotten a weakness for her master and his husband.
And so, she waited next to her brother, until nighttime crossed both universes and as soon as the two humans were benumbed, she pulled her master and his husband to the realm between realms. Arcturus Harrison Potter-Black stood in the room with wide eyes, shock and slight panic moving through his mind. His husband appeared the same, though he also quickly checked where the Master of Death was standing.
The humans were so easily frightened.
“What…” Arcturus said and turned to Lady Death with a frown. “Why are we here? Is there something that we still need to do?”
Lady Death shook her head. “Don’t worry, Master” she said and watched gleefully as her brother slipped into the shadows, to stay undetected, nonetheless still supervising everything. “The Fates and all the Lords and Ladies have discussed your situation. You were pulled from your original universe without getting the option to say goodbye. I know, it may be a bit late and you might have already figured out how to live without your friends, however, we’re giving you the options for a farewell.”
She could tell that both men went emotional just then. Her master could barely keep his tears at bay. And his husband too had a hand in front of his mouth as if to keep himself from loudly crying.
“The humans Ginevra Molly Weasley and Patrick Parkinson are asleep, so they will remember this as a dream” Lady Death explained. “While there was a problem with the Time Turner and different versions of you have started living your lives, they have noticed that some small things are not the same as they used to be. Maybe a little explanation wouldn’t hurt them.”
“Is there a way we can have them in the same dream?” the little Slytherin said, hopefully. “They have spent some time together.”
“Sadly, human, shared dreams isn’t an option, since that universe doesn’t have that. You will have to bid goodbye separately.”
Her master looked at his husband and nodded. They were clearly waiting for a chance to say something to their friends for a while. Lady Death sent them both to the dream worlds of their friends. She then decided to follow her master without him noticing.
The dream changed with her master’s appearance. It turned from a forest with slight monsters of human minds to a calm relaxing opening. Lady Death had always wondered how humans came up with their own monsters. In the middle stood human Ginevra Molly Weasley who seemed a little confused.
“Why are you still thinking about unicorns in horror movies, Ginny?” her master asked with a chuckle and the girl squealed and fell around his neck.
“They’re so scary, I never realized.”
“But in real live, they’re really gentle. I don’t know how you keep on mixing that up” he laughed and shook his head. “How have you been?”
Ginevra grinned. “I’ve been drafted for the European Quidditch league! Felicity as well! I can’t believe that my dream is finally coming true!”
Arcturus laughed and hugged his friend. “I’m so glad that you got there! You have been working for it hard, I know. I just wish I could see it.”
“You will, don’t worry. Somehow, I believe that wherever you are, things will not go so different for me. The European Quidditch league will be my future whether I know it or not.”
The human seemed to realize that Lady Death’s master wasn’t the one from her universe. She was clearly rather smart. Lady Death smiled at that and decided to keep an eye on her as well. Her Master would probably appreciate the updates sometimes.
Her human quickly started to explain his journey so far and what he had done. Ginevra seemed entirely too smug when he revealed that he was now married to Draconis Lucius Malfoy. And before long, Lord Time pulled them all back into the pocket universe between all the others. Lady Death smiled at the humans. “It’s just a short visit, I’m sorry.”
Draconis Lucius Malfoy-and whatever other names he had accumulated over the last three years, rubbed some tears out of his eyes. Arcturus went over and hugged him closely.
“A little is better than nothing” the Slytherin wizard said and sent her a thankful smile.
Lady Death bowed softly. She then turned to her master. “Have you had any memories outside of your mind palace in the last couple of months or better yet, years?”
Arcturus frowned and seemed to be trying to remember. “Not really. Should I?” he turned to look at his husband who seemed confused as well.
“I only had them the first few weeks after we hopped the universe” his husband said.
“Yes, true, I remember. They were probably two or three months, after that… I can’t think of one.”
Lady Death smiled at that. “When you transferred the universes, your minds had to figure out how keep you safe, so the sorting of the memories was left a bit forgotten. Since it hasn’t happened for a while, it means that you’re perfectly safe in your current universe. Your mind can concentrate on your mind palace again.”
“Oh, that… makes a lot of sense, actually” her Master said and snorted at his husbands outraged look. “I know you never think things make sense when I’m in the middle of it.”
“Yup” Draconis confirmed and grinned, before he turned to Lady Death and bowed in appreciation.
Lady Death returned the bow and sent them back to their universe. She had done everything she could have for them and their world. It was time to move on to a new one and help along there… while obviously still keeping watch over her favourite humans in her favourite universe.
No one could stop her.
*
Sitting in the garden, looking out over the small estate they had, Draco closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Even though the Christmas holidays were unusually warm, there was still quite a lot of snow around. The Thestrals clearly didn’t mind at all. Their flock had pretty much doubled the size now that they had started to reach out to other dealers again. From what Anouk had said, they all seemed pretty surprised and happy that the Potter estate was back and dealing with Thestrals again. Even the Indian dealers were happily discussing handing over a few animals.
The house had welcomed them back when they had arrived from their work in Hogwarts with a warm embrace. Well almost, Draco still had to duck an attack from random doors, but he couldn’t be happier about that. Also, the house knew when she shouldn’t attack, for example, when he was carrying cake or drinks around the house. Or in his new job as playground equipment for Anouk’s small children.
He grinned, still with closed eyes, when he heard a high-pitched whistle. At the sudden noise, Draco opened his eyes and looked up to where it was apparently originating from.
Through the calm afternoon sky, he could see a giant eagle flying circles over the property. He crossed his legs and watched as the animal circled something once more until it went into a deep dive. It certainly had the same moves that Harry had when he had seen the Snitch. The impressive wing span spread out again as it reached the floor and the animal smoothly landed only a few feet away from Draco. Clearly looking smug about the landing.
“Good show” he said and grinned. “You look like a real animal.”
The Animagus transformed and Harry shook the feathers off. He grinned at Draco and shook his head, as if he wanted to make sure that no feathers were left over. “You mean not like the first time.”
“Honestly, what idiot thought you could fly after having just transformed a minute ago?” Draco joked and smiled delighted at Harry’s quick laugh.
“No clue” he said and walked closer, leaning in for a kiss. “Pretty sure I’m married to that idiot who pushed me off a building, though.”
Draco threw his head back and laughed, unable to kiss his husband. “I’m so sorry, I swear I thought you weren’t going to fall so easily!”
Harry chuckled. “You should feel lucky I know how to apparate while falling or flying.”
“I feel very lucky, yes” he pulled Harry down into his lap and grinned when his husband yelped surprised. Draco chuckled and kissed his forehead. “I can’t believe we did it. This whole mess is actually over… It feels…”
“Wrong, I know” Harry added and leaned against him. “I constantly feel like I’ve missed something big. It can’t be over just yet, something will bite us in our leg…”
Draco nodded and pulled his husband closer, his arms around his waist. “Yet, I do think that’s it’s over.” He showed him his arm which had been graced by a weak Dark Mark, like before they had transferred universes. It wouldn’t look like that if the Dark Lord was really gone.
“Will you let me take you to a Muggle tattoo shop now?” Harry asked and snuggled into his embrace. “I’m sure they can figure out how to either get rid of it or hide it. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll ask Regulus for a potion that will get rid of it.”
“We can go to the tattoo shop after Christmas” Draco said and placed a kiss on Harry’s hair. The reason why he had never wanted to get rid of the Dark Mark was because of some weird sense of self-punishment. He had placed Death Eaters in the school, had destroyed his family’s reputation… However, in this universe, he hadn’t done any of the things. Instead, he had fought with his husband and gotten rid of everything dark and dangerous so their children could live in a safe world.
Harry chuckled and looked out over the snow-covered land; Draco followed his look. The Thestrals clearly enjoyed playing in the white powder. With young Harry staying with his father and the other children over at the Black property to decorate for Christmas, it was so incredibly quiet.
Before they could continue talking, an owl flew towards them and landed on the table. Harry pulled out a treat and accepted the letter. Draco wondered how his husband was always ready to have owl treats around. Or he mostly had them around.
The Gryffindor unrolled the parchment and Draco leaned over his shoulder to read the letter as well. He could feel the magic through Harry’s own magic and their werewolf bond. It came from the wolves, so that… still had many options. However, he could feel Severus’ magic surrounding the letter, as if he wanted to make sure that they were getting it.
Dear friends
We have good news for everyone! First and foremost, we welcomed our daughter Serena Ariel Snape-Lupin-Brager of the Astra-pack to this world yesterday. Both, mother and daughter, are healthy and ready to take over the world.
In second news, you are welcomed to join the bonding ceremony of Severus Snape, Remus Lupin and Carrie Brager in five days. We have finally made a decision and while it is possible as a werewolf to live unbonded, with a child in our care, it is safer for everyone to bond.
With our deepest pride and love
~ Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Carrie Brager
Other guests are welcomed to join, you are going to be forced to attend. If you want or not. You’re the only reason why this thing here worked out as well as it did. Thank you for everything you did. ~ Rem
Harry sniggered at that and Draco smirked. “I wouldn’t have thought anything else really” he said with a grin.
“I thought they would have gotten bonded much earlier, to be frank” Harry said and leaned back into Draco’s embrace.
“I don’t know” Draco shrugged his shoulders. “I could see Sev and Rem just being happy as an unbonded perhe. But Carrie… she would make sure that they would actually get to be a family.”
Harry nodded at that. He looked up at him and Draco felt the enormous amount of love he held for his husband swell in his chest. The love in these beautiful eyes was messing with his mind. He pulled Harry closer and kissed him softly.
“We should write a congratulations card” Harry said when he moved around in Draco’s lap, but didn’t actually get up. He just wanted to sit more comfortably, it seemed.
Draco grinned at that. “We should, yeah” he agreed, keeping his arms around his husband’s waist. Harry chuckled at that and placed his head on his shoulder.
“I love you, Draco. Always have. Even if I didn’t know it.”
“I know, sweetheart. And I love you too” Draco whispered into Harry’s ear. He accio’d a few blankets, dropping them around them. Then, they silently watched the snow fall. And for the first time in quite a while, there was this soft calmness, this peaceful atmosphere surrounding them.
That didn’t last long though, as Draco felt the house telling them that the floo room had just activated. Harry hummed softly and turned to look at him with a smile. “It’s just our family.”
“Good to know” Draco said and stayed seated, arms around his husband. As the noise from the children drew closer, he smiled at noting specifically. Who would have thought that in a crazy life like this, he would feel the happiest he had for a long time?
And as the children ran outside, Draco kissed his husband’s hair again. “You make me so incredibly happy.”