Our Little One

.~*~.Our little one.~*~.

Chapter Three

Memories

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This chapter is not from any particular first-person POV.

This chapter is wholly flashbacks.

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4th of November, 1995

***

Double Potions. With Slytherins. And professor Snape on his worst mood.

What else do you need to spoil one's day?

Harry couldn't imagine anything worse at the moment. Snape was even more annoying than usually, and Slytherins' nasty remarks didn't really help the case. He was tired because he had spent half of the last night reading over and over Sirius's letter - it seemed that they were just about to catch Wormtail, and then he'd be free.

"Potter, are you awake? You should add those bat ears soon, if you don't want your potion to get spoiled!"

He shivered and quickly put last ingredients into his cauldron. Snape was clearly totally pissed today. He wondered what had caused such an anger. On the other hand, Snape was always angry.

But, on the other hand, he usually didn't see girls coming out from Snape's class room crying. At least not seventh years' Advanced Potions class. And at least not Slytherins.

Yes, something was clearly annoying Snape today.

Harry felt somebody looking at him. He turned his head carefully after making sure that Snape wasn't looking at him. His gaze met a pair of eyes, full of sympathy. When he returned the gaze, the owner of the eyes gave him an encouraging smile and nodded slightly. 'Try to stand him', the other person mouthed. 'I'll kiss you better after the lesson.'

Harry grinned and returned the nod. At least one person knew exactly how to make him feel better.

Then he concentrated again to his potion, determined to not let it burn. He'd show Snape that even somebody other than Draco Malfoy could brew a successful potion. Although looking on his mood, Snape would probably take points from Gryffindor for making the Slytherins look worse.

What the heck. He couldn't care less on the moment.

Suddenly he heard something that made his heart skip a beat.

"GRIM! IT'S A GRIM!" Parvati screamed. Lavender didn't say anything. She just fainted, making no sound at all.

"Oh, shut up," Hermione sighed, rolling her eyes. "Snuffles is only a dog. Okay, he's maybe big and black, and he probably looks like some imaginary monster, but he's only a dog. Aren't you?" she asked then, turning towards the dog and smiling.

The dog gave her a wide, happy grin before sitting down on the floor. Professor McGonagall stepped in after him.

"What's this, Minerva?" Snape asked, irritated. "As you can see, I have a lesson going here. And I have clearly forbidden bringing that mutt into my classroom under any circumstances!"

"This is straight order from the Headmaster," McGonagall replied, looking exactly as stern as usually. "I have an announcement to make to every class, and this 'mutt' is involved in it."

Harry took a quick breath. He glanced at Hermione and Ron, who were both beaming at himy. Then he took a quick glance behind him. Someone was still looking at him. He smiled, and he got back a smile and a thumbs-up. Then he turned back towards the front of the classroom, listening carefully when McGonagall took an official-looking parchment from her pocket and began reading it.

"With this announcement, Sirius Black is a free man, who has committed no crimes. He has a public apology from the Ministry, he'll have back his wand and all his properties..."

At this point Harry didn't hear anything else. His head was whirling over and over one thought: Sirius was free. And Harry was free as well, free of his Muggle relatives. His godfather's name had been cleared, and Harry could live with him, and there was no need for hiding any more. Everything seemed almost too good to be true.

When McGonagall finished reading the parchment, the black dog turned back into Sirius. Parvati screamed. Lavender, who had just received back her consciousness, fainted again. Several cries bursted out from mouths of surprised students.

Sirius ignored them all. His eyes were locked at Snape, who just stood there, staring and looking even paler than usually - if that was even possible. Sirius walked nearer to the Potions Master, who still hadn't moved a finger, leave alone speaking.

Sirius stopped in front of him. The whole class room fell silent. "Well?" he asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"And I didn't believe," Snape murmured, almost too quietly to be heard. Then, to the great surprise of both McGonagall and the students, he kneeled down to the floor. "I apologize," he said softly, his head bent down. Then he repeated, "I apologize. I should have believed you... of all the people."

Harry looked at the Potions Master, surprised. What did he mean? If someone, Remus was the one who anybody could expect to believe Sirius - like he had believed. Snape had always been his worst enemy... right?

Sirius's next gesture, however, surprised him - and all the others - even more. "Forgiven and forgotten," he said with an equally soft tone. Then he gave his hand down to the kneeled man, who grasped on it. Sirius pulled Snape up, and then, seemingly ignoring all the other people in the classroom, enveloped him in a warm, comforting embrace. "Forgiven and forgotten," he murmured again, this time with his face hid in Snape's hair. The Potions Master didn't reply with words, but he embraced the other man back even tighter.

Harry stared. He knew that everyone other was staring as well. He recognized this gesture. The embrace wasn't one of those warm, brotherly hugs that Sirius and Remus sharedevery now and then. This reminded him more about... Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione, just before they kissed each other.

Professor McGonagall looked equally surprised at first. Then her lips curved into a dry smile. "It looks like the class is dismissed. Away, the lot of you." Then she disappeared from the door.

Everyone began collecting their stuff, talking excitedly. They all gave the two men careful glances before going out. At last there were only five people left - Sirius, Snape, Harry, Ron and Hermione.

The two men had stopped embracing each other. Instead of that, Sirius still kept his hands on Snape's shoulders while the Potions Master had wrapped his own arms around Sirius's waist. The were looking each other in the eye, completely oblivious to everything around them.

Harry coughed politely. The two men turned to look at them. Snape slowly took his hands off from Sirius's waist, and Sirius let his hands down as well. A little flush creeped on the faces of both of them. Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Snape was blushing, of all the people! "Am I horribly mistaken," he asked, trying to keep his voice calm, "if I assume that you're maybe something more than just old friends?"

Snape snorted. "Oh, no," he replied dryly. "I walk around hugging men every now and then. Haven't you noticed?" He took a short step nearer to Sirius, who wrapped his arms around the shorter man's shoulders, looking at the students over his head.

"We even got engaged once." Sirius smiled sadly. "They took the ring from me when I was thrown to Azkaban. I hope they still have it."

Snape didn't say a word at first. Instead of that, he put two long fingers down his collar. Then he pulled up a long, thin metal chain. In the chain hung two silver rings, one shining sapphire on each. "They don't," he said with hoarse voice. "I kept it as well as my own. I have your wand safe also."

Harry saw tears forming in his godfather's eyes. "All these years," Sirius whispered. "Even when you didn't believe..."

"I didn't maybe believe," Snape replied, with a little smile on his lips, "but I never gave up hoping."

"Romantic Snape," Ron murmured. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"Hush," Hermione hissed. She looked attentively at the two men. Attentively, and a bit... cautiously. Harry suddenly began feeling nervous when he saw the looks on the faces of his two best friends. They didn't seem to approve the situation at all.

Sirius put his hands behind Snape's neck and opened the lock. Then he carefully removed the rings from the chain. After that, without any hesitating, he put the smaller ring into Snape's left ring finger. The Potions Master merely smiled before returning the gesture.

"Ergh," Ron growled. "Romantic Snape involved with Sirius. I have to get out of here!" He turned around and hurried out of the room. Hermione followed him in an instant, after giving Harry a suspicious glance over her shoulder.

Sirius looked after them, looking sad. "Pity," he said, shaking his head. "What a pity." Then he glanced cautiously at his godson. "Does this disturb you, Harry?" he asked, sounding suddenly worried. "I know that most of the people don't like gays. And I know that you don't like Severus very much..."

"That was the understatement of the year," Snape murmured dryly. "Or maybe more like something along the lines of the understatement of the decade."

Harry chuckled. "You aren't serious, right?" he asked grinning. "Can you really imagine that I'd walk to my boyfriend and tell him, 'By the way, I just decided to not to talk with my godfather anymore because he happens to be a gay and is engaged to your favourite teacher. Give me a kiss now.'"

The two men merely stared at him. Then Sirius echoed slowly, with a very soft tone, "'Boyfriend'?"

Snape said with equally soft and a little bit amused voice, "Favourite teacher'?"

On the same second a pale, blonde head peered inside from the door. "Ah, there you are," Draco said cheerfully when he saw Harry. "I've been looking for you." He stepped inside and grasped Harry's hand. "Would you mind if I stole Harry?" he asked from the two men, mischief playing in his silver eyes.

Sirius snickered. "We have nothing against it," he said, seemingly struggling against laughter. "Go ahead if you want him."

"Thanks." Draco grinned and wrapped his arm around Harry's. "And congratulations to you two," he added, nodding towards the two rings on their fingers. Then he dragged the Gryffindor outside with definitely too much strength for someone with a body as short and slim as his.

"Sorry that I didn't come earlier," he said once they had gotten outside the class room. "But with your friends there, it felt best not to stay. So when I saw them leaving, I decided to come in to check back on you. Only to make sure that you hadn't killed Snape, you know."

"Say it like it is," Harry commanded with a teasing smile. "You couldn't hold back your curiosity, so you came back to see what was going on."

"Maybe," Draco grinned. "Or maybe I just decided it would be best to take you out from there before those two couldn't hold themselves back anymore. Who knows how traumatic it would have been to you to see your godfather and most hated teacher making out in front of you?"

"I think that at that point, I'd have run away like Ron and Hermione," Harry chuckled. He felt a little sting in his chest. If his friends couldn't stand Sirius and Snape being together, what would they say about his and Draco's relationship?

"Ran away?" Draco echoed. "So they're homophobic, are they?" He didn't need any other answer than Harry's sad expression. "Oh, my poor boy," he sighed, hugging him tightly. "Don't worry, love. I won't let them upset you." Then he gave him a slight grin. "Hey, at least you don't have to worry about your godfather's attitude towards us, right? And I don't think that Lupin would be any more upset - I mean, he's been Black's best friend for half of their lives. I'd be completely surprised if he didn't know."

"I don't know if he knows about Sirius," Harry murmured, "but at least he knows about us."

Draco looked completely stunned. "Err... You didn't say what I think you said, right?" he pleaded. "Our werewolf professor doesn't know about us?"

"Yes, he does," Harry replied, slightly amused. He enjoyed seeing Draco so surprised. He hardly ever managed to surprise the cunning Slytherin, so when he did, it was always a great victory for him. "He had somehow found out. He talked to me about it on one of my extra DADAs with him a month ago. He seemed to be only happy, nothing else."

"What if he tells somebody?" Draco asked, now very worried. "Snape and your godfather won't tell anybody, not after seeing your friends' reaction. But he doesn't know how they'd take that! And if he doesn't know about my father... What if he tells?"

"Calm down, Draco, dear," Harry smiled. "He can keep a secret. Hell, if he hasn't told Sirius - and he hasn't, you saw how surprised Sirius was - then why'd he tell anybody else? To be honest, I'm much more worried about Snape."

"Why?" Draco asked, confused. "He'd never tell anybody! At first, he doesn't want to spoil dad's mission, and at second, he doesn't want to upset your friends."

"I don't think so," Harry said bitterly. "I think that he'll be only glad to have something to use on his advantage against me. He's made my life a living hell these past years! I don't see any reasons why he'd stop now, Sirius on his arms or not! He'll probably tell everyone during some Potions lesson, and then we'll be both as good as dead - Gryffindors will kill you and Slytherins will kill me!"

"He's my godfather, he'd never do that to me. And he isn't that bad, you know," Draco smiled. "It was all only keeping up the Death Eater facade. And when he doesn't have to keep it up any more..."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked. It was his turn to be confused. "He's still a spy, right?"

"No, he isn't," Draco said with a bit sad smile on his face. "Didn't you know? The knowledge needed for capturing Pettigrew came all from him. This time Voldemort found out who was behind the betrayal. He knows that Snape is a traitor. He can't leave Hogwarts for a single moment, or they'll kill him the second he steps outside."

"Oh." Harry was very pale. This was serious, he knew it. If Voldemort had discovered one of the spies... "So there's only one good Death Eater remaining, right?"

"Right," Draco nodded. He looked even sadder than before. "My father. We have to hide this even better than before, if we want to defeat Voldemort."

"So I'd better hurry to the Gryffindor tower," Harry pointed out. "See you tonight." He pecked his boyfriend quickly on the lips and ran away.

~*~

23rd of May, 1998

***

"You betrayed me, Lucius Malfoy," Voldemort shouted. "And you'll pay for it!" He raised his wand and pointed at the traitorous Death Eater. "Dorama Salviara!" A beam of light, purple colour with a sickening shade of red, bursted out from his wand and flew towards Malfoy.

"NO!" screamed someone with a voice full of agony and fear. A figure of a man rushed towards the men and jumped between Malfoy and the evil curse.

Many things happened at the same moment. Harry and Dumbledore both pointed their wands at Voldemort and shouted in unison, "Avada Kedarva!" Sirius let out a weak, helpless scream and ran towards the victim of Dark Lord's curse, Snape following on his heels. Lucius Malfoy kneeled down, gently taking the moveless body of Remus Lupin into his lap, and began slowly rocking the unconscious man on his arms like he had been a little baby.

Harry looked at the fall of Dark Lord Voldemort, totally drained of all feelings. He didn't feel any kind of triumph, not relief, he wasn't happy, but not really sad, either. He was just - empty. Like he had already felt everything, done everything, and there was nothing else left for him.

The young wizard turned around, leaving the moveless body of Voldemort behind, and walked towards the group gathered together some way afar. He stopped in front of them, looking at each of them, one by one. He didn't say a word, but the question was pretty easily seen on his face as well as on everyone other's.

Malfoy raised his silver eyes to meet Harry's emerald gaze. "He will survive," he said softly. "He will survive. Werewolves are Dark creatures. The curse can't cause any permanent harm to him."

"Why?" was all that Sirius asked. His question was barely more than a whisper. They all had to really concentrate to hear him at all. "Why did he do so?"

"Wouldn't you have done the same, if Voldemort had tried to curse me instead of Lucius?" Snape asked, gently stroking his husband's arm.

"You mean... You don't mean..." Sirius wasn't able to finish the sentence.

"Yes, he does," Malfoy whispered. "Remus and I... we are in love with each other. We have been for so long..." He embraced the unconscious man even tighter and murmured something into his hair.

"And... what about Narcissa?" Sirius asked. He still didn't seem to believe, leave alone approve this surprising relationship between his best friend and the head of Malfoy family - the traditional opponents of both the Black and the Potter families. It had nothing to do with being on Dark or Light Side - he knew very well that Malfoy was in the Light. It was just... they had been raised to hate each other, no matter what. Harry and Draco's love had been more like a big joke to him - besides, Draco's mother was Snape's sister, so he couldn't totally disapprove the boy without upsetting his own lover. But Lucius Malfoy, and love deep enough to make Remus ready to sacrifice his own life without hesitating - that was too much for him to accept.

Malfoy snorted. "Arranged marriage," he explained. "We have never loved each other. Respect is the only thing between us. She never said anything about my and Remus's relationship, and I never even blinked when she had her own affairs around. It's worked pretty well all this time."

"What was that curse?" Harry asked, crouching down to take a more careful look at the werewolf. He wanted anything else to think about than this - everything was already so difficult. He didn't need more confusion in his already messed-up life.

"Dorama Salviara? It's a very nasty dark curse," Malfoy replied. "It was originally created for endless torturing. In old times it was one of the Unforgivables, but nowadays it's mostly forgotten. It is the only other curse than Avada Kedarva that is capable to end one's life all by itself. But while Kedarva takes your life immediately, Salviara takes it through horrible pain and suffering. It lasts for three days running, or until the victim is dead - less than ten people have ever been able to survive after being hit with Salviara curse."

"And you're sure that it doesn't affect Remus the same way it would have affected you?" Sirius asked with a very dangerous tone. "Because if he dies..."

"If he died, I'd end my life myself," Malfoy replied dryly. "I couldn't bring myself to live after his death. But he won't die of this, he won't even feel any pain. As I said, werewolves are Dark creatures, no matter how harmless they are most of the time. This curse was created centuries ago, when all Dark creatures fought on the same side with the Dark wizards. They didn't want to accidentally kill their allies who were fighting in the middle of the Light wizards. Therefore, the curse only puts all Dark creatures, including werewolves, into a deep, dreamless sleep until those three days have lapsed and the curse has gone away."

They all were quiet for some time. Harry couldn't take his eyes away from Remus, because he didn't know where he'd look if he didn't look at him. There seemed to be nothing to focus on. The last seven years of his life had been directed to this night, to the defeat of the Dark Lord who had killed his parents. And now it was over, and when even Remus's surprising gesture and the curse had been explained to him, there seemed to be nothing left for him to do.

He tried to get up, but didn't manage. Sirius gave him his hand and pulled him up. His godfather looked at first at him, then at the collapsed body in the middle of the clearing. "Nice work," he said at last, smiling that cheerful, mischievous grin Harry had so many times missed during the long, dark years of the war.

Then Sirius turned towards Snape, who had said something, and Harry was completely lost. He heard some cries behind him.

"Voldemort is gone!"

"We won!"

"Is it true? Is it really over?"

"Oh, thank Merlin!"

And then Draco was there, everyone was there, McGonagall and some Aurors and everyone, and Harry wasn't fully aware of what was happening. He felt like he was just about to collapse. Then there were Draco's arms around him, keeping him up, holding him, small hands gently rubbing his back, soothing him. Harry cried, and Draco cried as well. They didn't cry in sorrow, but in joy and relief, because the nightmare drawing shadows in their life was finally over and they could start a new life together.

"It's over," Draco sobbed against Harry's shoulder. "It's all over. Voldemort is defeated." Then it was Harry's turn to support him, keep him on his feet, mumble sweet nothings into his ear.

"Harry -" said somebody behind them. Then he heard a quick breath and some stumbling steps.

Harry felt how his heart sank. He had recognized Ron's voice. Slowly he turned around to face his friends. He didn't take his arms from Draco's waist.

"I see," Hermione said as she reached Ron's side and saw who was standing next to Harry. "I see. And I understand completely." Her face was a mask of shock and slight disgust.

"No, I don't think you understand," Harry said softly, shaking his head. He felt so sad about losing his friends like that - but he couldn't imagine his life without Draco. "I don't think you understand at all."

Then he grasped Draco's hand and he and his lover turned around, holding hands. Slowly they walked away. For a moment Harry hoped they'd ask him to stay, that they'd apologize, but they didn't. His two best friends just stared at him when he at last joined the group of the most important people in his life.

Remus was already lying on a magical stretcher, Lucius holding his hand with a mix of love and concern on his face. Sirius was there as well, standing next to Snape, smiling slightly at the approaching couple. "They didn't take it very well, huh?" he asked when the teens reached their side.

"Didn't take it at all," Harry replied dryly. "I thought that Ron would have hexed us to death in an instant if he'd only been able to decide which one of us should go first. And Hermione was like McGonagall on her worst."

"They'll get used to it," Snape said with more sympathy in his voice that Harry had ever heard - after Sirius had been freed, he'd become more than civil, but he still wasn't very eager to show his feelings.

"I doubt that," Draco pointed out. "You two have been together for nearly a year and half now, and they don't seem to be very used to you two. They don't even talk to you if you don't ask something from them in class!"

"Even if they don't, you'll always have us," Sirius said firmly. "We'll always be there for you, Harry. You know that. And if your friends can't approve you like you are, then they don't deserve to be your friends at all."

"Yes," Harry said. "Maybe you're right."

"I am," Sirius said without hesitating.

Then the stretcher rose into the air, and Pomfrey started to lead it towards the castle. The five men around began walking with her, leaving their old lives behind to the clearing, where Voldemort's corpse had already begun to rot away.

~*~

26th of May, 1998

***

Lucius Malfoy sat beside Remus's bed in the Infirmary when Harry, Draco, Sirius and Severus walked inside. The blond man acknowledged their approach with a slight nod, his eyes still focused on the unconscious man on the bed.

"He's not awake yet?" Sirius stated the obvious as they settled to stand beside the bed.

"No, he isn't," Lucius replied, stroking slightly his lover's moveless hand. "But he should wake up at any moment. It has been three days already; the curse should wear out soon."

"Good," Severus said. "It's full moon the day after tomorrow. He has to be healthy for Wolfsbane to have effect on him."

Lucius now turned his eyes from Remus to the Potions Master. "I haven't thanked you yet for providing him with it," he mentioned. "Even when he got fired from here for a year, you still sent him his monthly doses. I don't know how I'm ever able to thank you enough for that."

"No need to thank me," Snape replied, shrugging. "He's not only Sirius's friend, but one of mine as well, and Merlin knows I don't have too many friends. I was only glad to help him with it."

"Still. You made it all so much easier for him." Then something seemed to light up in those silver eyes. It was some kind of... mischief. Harry had seen it before - in Sirius's eyes, just before he did something totally hilarious - like sending Severus a howler with a message "I LOVE YOU!", or creeping in his Animagus form to Trelawney's bedroom in the middle of night (although Dumbledore had forbidden the latter after Trelawney'd had a heart attack and almost died). "Severus, Black... Would you do me a favour?"

"Sure," Severus replied, "what is it?"

"Come here," the blond said, getting on his feet. "I'll explain you." He gestured them to follow him. They three walked into the corner of the room, leaving Harry and Draco alone beside the bed.

The two boys glanced at each other. "Well, they'll tell us if they want," Harry said, and shrugged. "And if they don't, they wouldn't tell us even if we asked them. So there's no use to ask anything anyway."

"I think we'll eventually find out," Draco replied. "It has to be something involving Lupin. And I have a small presentiment about what it could be."

Harry raised a questioning eyebrow, but Draco only grinned and shook his head. Harry sat down on the bed next to Remus's, pulling Draco into his lap. Then he wrapped his arms around the smaller boy's shoulders.

For a moment they just sat there, looking at the unconscious werewolf, not thinking about anything in particular. Harry just enjoyed the sensation of Draco's warm body in his lap, the blond head pressed against his chest, the long-fingered hands gently holding his wrists.

Suddenly Draco stirred. "Look!" he urged. "I think he moved!"

In an instant the three older men were coming towards them. Harry looked at Remus, looking for a sign of awakening. Then he saw it: A little stir of the fingers laying on the bed.

Remus moved his hands again, now more clearly. Then he slowly opened his eyes. "Lucius...?" he whispered, looking for the man with his still unfocused eyes. "Lucius, where are you?" His voice was gaining a more and more distressed level. Then he yelled, "Lucius!" sounding terrified.

And then Lucius was there, grasping his hand and squeezing it gently, comforting him. "I'm here, Remus dear," the blond replied, soothing him. "I'm right here. And it's all because of you, love."

"What?" Remus blinked. Then he let out a sigh of relief. "Oh," he said. "So I was able to save you from Voldemort?"

"You definitely did so," Lucius admitted. "And Voldemort has gone now, Remus. The Dark Lord has died for good. At last we can live together."

Remus blinked again. He obviously had hard time trying to understand what was going on, because the remains of the curse still hung on him. He slowly turned his head to look at the other people. Then he smiled slightly. "You're all here," he sighed, relieved. "You're all alive."

"Yes, we're all alive," Sirius replied, his whole face beaming with joy and happiness. "And we're doing very well in every aspect. At least now when you're with us again."

"Oh." Then he turned his glance to Harry and Draco. "I'm sorry for you," he said softly. "I hope you'd have more understanding friends. At least I'd expected more from Ron. Someone with brothers like Charlie and Percy should be much more approving."

"How'd you know?" Harry asked, astonished.

"I've seen how they've been treating Sirius and Severus," Remus replied dryly. "And you're holding Draco's hand like you were afraid of him flying away. You wouldn't be like that if everything was okay."

"Well... you're right. They haven't even looked towards me for three days." Then the last part of Remus's comment reached his brains. "Charlie?" he asked. "And Percy? You aren't serious, are you? And how do you know that?"

"Oh yes, I am grave serious," Remus grinned. "Who do you think Percy came to ask for advice when he noticed his new, odd feelings towards Oliver Wood? And Charlie - well, let's just say that he's just as popular among young men as young women..."

"If you've finished discussing that, could you please get up and wear some clothes?" Lucius asked, raising an eyebrow. "Pomfrey said that because sleeping is your only injury, you're allowed to get up as soon as you wake up. I don't want to waste a single moment of being able to show the whole world that you're mine."

"Are you really sure about that?" Remus asked with a slight grin when he got dressed in the clothes Lucius had brought for him.

"Oh yes, I am," the other man said, and smirked. "Come on, love. We still have time for dinner, if we keep hurrying."

"So you're asking me for a dinner?" Remus asked with a teasing smile. "Sounds great. Let's go." He took the offered arm and walked with Lucius out of the Infirmary. Sirius and Severus followed, Draco and Harry right on their heels.

When they entered the Great Hall, everyone fell silent. All the students were, of course, used to see Sirius and Severus together. The last three days had left them prepared to see Harry and Draco together as well. But, despite all the rumours and gossip, no one had really believed that Remus Lupin could be involved with Lucius Malfoy.

Now they saw it. They saw Remus in new, black velvet robes, walking towards the staff table, arms linked with Lucius Malfoy, who was looking just as aristocratic as usually in his equally black robes. Sirius and Severus, walking behind them, got nearly no looks at all, and Harry and Draco only few more as they parted from the adults and made their way towards the Slytherin table.

No one was anymore surprised when Harry calmly sat down next to Draco. After Ron and Hermione had abandoned him on the day of Voldemort's defeat, he'd noticed that there was no one else he could sit with but Draco. Surprisingly the Slytherins seemed to be much more tolerant than the Gryffindors. After Draco had told them that no, Potter didn't have him under any curse or charm, they had approved their leader's choice without any problems at all. Of course most of them were still wary and careful around Harry, but because none of those who still were left at Hogwarts were on the Dark Side, they were civil and almost friendly towards him.

Now they were both surrounded by curious questions. Everyone wanted to know if this was a joke - "No, it isn't", if Remus and Lucius really were together - "So it really seems", if Draco had known before - "Of course I did - he's spent the last two summers in our home", and what Narcissa thought about it - "She couldn't really care less, believe me."

In the end of the dinner Harry noticed that something was happening at the staff table. He looked curiously at all the female professors and at least half of the male ones, who seemed to be equally interested in something he couldn't see properly. In fact, what he did see told him very well what he didn't see.

He saw Remus, looking totally astonished. In front of him was Lucius, who had seemingly kneeled down, since there was only his head in sight. Then Remus said something, and Lucius got on his feet with a triumphant grin, making a little gesture towards Sirius and Severus.

Those two now murmured some spells towards their throats. It seemingly was Sonorius, because soon Sirius's voice echoed in the Great Hall, clearly heard by everyone. "We've been asked to tell you all," his godfather told with a mild amusement in his voice, "that the divorce of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy has taken place nine o'clock this morning."

"We're also delighted to tell," Severus continued, "that Lucius Malfoy has just proposed to Remus Lupin, who has, to the great joy of us all, accepted this request."

"That be all," Sirius hastied to add. "Thank you." Then he took off the spells.

Harry glanced at Draco. "Did you know about this?" he asked.

Draco shook his head. "No, I didn't," he said. "Of course I knew that he was eventually going to do that, but I didn't know exactly how and where and when. I certainly didn't expect it to happen this soon." He smiled happily. "It seems that we all have a new life ahead us, don't you think?" he asked.

"Right," Harry replied, being very careful not to look towards the Gryffindor table, where his former friends were surely giving him, Draco and their four adult friends angry and disgusted glares. "A new life."